[ Jean lets Eren tug them close, wrapping his arms around him. He closes his eyes, listening to Eren's heart beat against his own.
Eren is here. Eren is alive. For better or worse, he does his best to stay here. Despite all of Jean's fears and resentments, he's happy that Eren is here.
He exhales softly, his breath making Eren's hair flutter. ]
I love you.
[ It seems important to tell him, in this moment. ]
[Eren's cheek is pressed to the side of Jean's head. His husband's voice is only an inch from his ear. It makes his skin prickle. He pulls away and nips at Jean's lip, but it's far more affection than anything with heat. He takes a kiss afterward.]
[ Jean returns the kiss, soft and affectionate. The affection is what truly makes his heart thump a little harder; being touched just to touch each other, not in order to achieve anything. ]
My beautiful Eren.
[ No one owns Eren, but for today, for a little while - just his. ]
[Some shiver flutters in Eren, but he doesn't shudder. The kisses are still chaste, even when pressed into the junction of Jean's neck and his shoulder. Eren is far from beautiful, but he wants Jean to think so. He wanted Mikasa to think so. He remembers the first time they saw his body for everything that it was, and his stomach flipped at their praise.
[Even if it's only by aesthetics, he'll allow Jean to think he's beautiful, and he'll allow Jean to have him. It's fallen from his lips a hundred times by now - I'm yours, I'm yours. Eren may truly belong to know one, but his heart belongs to many, and he wants Jean to carry his piece forever.
[ He lets go of Eren reluctantly, but with a smile. He pulls pieces of clothes out of the wardrobe; the outfit he described, and the similar outfit for Eren, with the looser, tucked-in shirt and the dark jacket that looks like Maruki's. There's a pattern of birds on the hem and up the back that matches the pattern on Jean's vest, coordinating them both.
Jean even twists Eren's hair up into a little bun, unless he insists on having it down. Either way, Eren looks good, and matches him as well. He grabs a bag to stuff some swimsuits and sandals for the hot springs, and then takes Eren's hand. ]
Ready to go?
[ If so, time to head to the portal, and the airships. ]
[To the airships, they go. Jean was right. It's entirely different seeing one up close under less dire circumstances. More than that, they're huge, with comfortable seats, standing room, and windows to observe from. There don't appear to be any massive hatches to leap out of for an enemy attack. That's nice, actually.
[Eren sticks close to Jean. He's been as quiet as ever, but he's not scowling quite so much as he normally might. Not that he looks any more friendly to strangers, but Jean can probably tell. He seems rather fixated on one of the seats near the back, right by one of the windows. He nods that way.]
[ They're made for luxury, not attack; it means the design is completely unique to Jean as well. He openly marvels at some of the details as they move, but he keeps his footing sure.
Eren looks positively intrigued, by his standards, and when he nods to the back seat near the window, Jean obligingly leads them there. He lets Eren get in first so that he can be alongside the window, slipping in after him and tucking the back under their feet. ]
It'll be a couple hours, according to the attendants.
[ Long enough to enjoy it, not so long they'll have a chance to sleep. ]
[At least, it seems that way to him. It may still be Lumindeas, but they'll be far, far away from the portal to Visium. It doesn't make him nervous, really. There's something else there. Eren never stopped wanting to see new things.]
The sky is taller here somehow.
[Birds can only fly to the tops of the trees in Visium, right? Or maybe it's only Dreamers that have to abide by those rules. These airships go meters and meters above the ground.]
[ Especially now; Lumindeas' sky seems more open than Visium's. Indeed, from the window, Jean can spot Visium in the distance, and it looks miserable, surrounded by clouds and jutting shards of crystal.
He looks away to Eren, instead. ]
Yes, it's a location in the Crystal Spires. Apparently, there's hot springs tucked away in the mountains.
[ There's a brochure, if Eren wanted to peruse, advertising all the supposed benefits. ]
[He'd rather look out the window, and he does. He's lost in it for a little while. He's seen things from this height before, but it was so wildly different. He doesn't know how to feel. For a little while, he loses where he is entirely.
[Eventually, he seems to remember Jean is next to him, and glances back to look at him.]
Last winter, we went to a hot spring too. I remember. [As if just now.]
[It's best not to mention Mikasa, really. Perhaps it would be kind of Eren to allow Jean to reminisce, but one of them will go home to her, and one will not. He doesn't like to be reminded. What's more - and as much as he loves Jean - he doesn't truly believe that anyone can understand Mikasa and he's bond aside from he and Mikasa. Deep down, he considers them to be the end all be all, not anyone else.
[ At Eren's question, he tilts his head back a little, thinking. ]
I was thinking it'd be nice to get away from Visium for a little bit. I know this place isn't new to the locals, but it's new to us - and we really haven't had a chance to just look around much.
[ He shrugs one shoulder. ]
If I could have swung it, I would have suggested riding down near the forest on the horses.
[ He knows Eren isn't happy here. He knows one day he will leave, but he wants to appreciate the time he has here. ]
No one here seems to have any idea how to handle a horse. We should...
[Eren finds that he's been leaning against Jean. It's been a while since he's been able to do so so naturally. He lets his weight rest fully against his husband's shoulder, reaching down to take his hand. His thumb moves lightly over the knuckles.]
[ Whatever Jean is going to say in response, he holds it when Eren says that he loves him. His smile turns fond, his fingers closing around Eren's tightly. ]
I love you too, Eren.
[ And whatever that makes Jean - weak, a monster as well - he doesn't care. He loves him.
They talk a little more on the flight, making idle plans, but there's plenty of companionable silence as well, watching the crystal spires glitter. Eventually, hot springs come into view, glittering pools with small bathhouses around them.
The airship lands, and they take their leave. Jean indicates a single gender hot springs that looks relatively unoccupied. ]
Lets try that one. Supposedly these are made for the dragonkin, so they're very hot.
[ If it's too hot for Jean, he can just enjoy the steam coming off it, so it's a win in his book.
Jean nods at the look, lifting a small cloth bag. ]
Wouldn't leave us hanging.
[ They're just simple canvas shorts, and not anything fancy. He knows from previous experience the towels will be provided.
The man manning the spring station lets them know the rules, including insisting on no touching anyone's bits, ya hear?, which only makes Jean flush and nod, thinking of his previous experience with Mikasa. But, either way, they go through the motions they need to do and meet at the edge of the hot spring. ]
[And, then, they dip into the water. It is hot, but clearly not dangerous. Eren's skin itself doesn't steam, so it shouldn't cause them any damage - and they wouldn't let just anyone in if it weren't safe, right? Well. Maybe Eren doesn't necessarily trust that - still, it seems alright.
[It's wonderful, actually. Eren sinks in all the way down to his shoulders as soon as he's in, briefly closing his eyes.]
[Eren nods his head. Jean now in the water, he scoots over close, their legs touching. A passing dragonkin employee glances at them, and Eren glares back. Eventually, it leaves.
[He turns back to Jean.]
You're already turning red.
[It occurs to him that this isn't unlike what it felt to be trapped in a titan's stomach, but...thinks better of it, for once.]
Jean. The rest of your night is free, too, isn't it? Stay with me.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
MUKI JACKET
Eren is here. Eren is alive. For better or worse, he does his best to stay here. Despite all of Jean's fears and resentments, he's happy that Eren is here.
He exhales softly, his breath making Eren's hair flutter. ]
I love you.
[ It seems important to tell him, in this moment. ]
no subject
I love you. [That's ever true.]
no subject
My beautiful Eren.
[ No one owns Eren, but for today, for a little while - just his. ]
nsfw? mention? sort of?
[Even if it's only by aesthetics, he'll allow Jean to think he's beautiful, and he'll allow Jean to have him. It's fallen from his lips a hundred times by now - I'm yours, I'm yours. Eren may truly belong to know one, but his heart belongs to many, and he wants Jean to carry his piece forever.
[Eren pulls away.]
Let's get dressed. We'll be out all day.
no subject
[ He lets go of Eren reluctantly, but with a smile. He pulls pieces of clothes out of the wardrobe; the outfit he described, and the similar outfit for Eren, with the looser, tucked-in shirt and the dark jacket that looks like Maruki's. There's a pattern of birds on the hem and up the back that matches the pattern on Jean's vest, coordinating them both.
Jean even twists Eren's hair up into a little bun, unless he insists on having it down. Either way, Eren looks good, and matches him as well. He grabs a bag to stuff some swimsuits and sandals for the hot springs, and then takes Eren's hand. ]
Ready to go?
[ If so, time to head to the portal, and the airships. ]
skipping ahead wheee
[Eren sticks close to Jean. He's been as quiet as ever, but he's not scowling quite so much as he normally might. Not that he looks any more friendly to strangers, but Jean can probably tell. He seems rather fixated on one of the seats near the back, right by one of the windows. He nods that way.]
no subject
Eren looks positively intrigued, by his standards, and when he nods to the back seat near the window, Jean obligingly leads them there. He lets Eren get in first so that he can be alongside the window, slipping in after him and tucking the back under their feet. ]
It'll be a couple hours, according to the attendants.
[ Long enough to enjoy it, not so long they'll have a chance to sleep. ]
no subject
[At least, it seems that way to him. It may still be Lumindeas, but they'll be far, far away from the portal to Visium. It doesn't make him nervous, really. There's something else there. Eren never stopped wanting to see new things.]
The sky is taller here somehow.
[Birds can only fly to the tops of the trees in Visium, right? Or maybe it's only Dreamers that have to abide by those rules. These airships go meters and meters above the ground.]
no subject
[ Especially now; Lumindeas' sky seems more open than Visium's. Indeed, from the window, Jean can spot Visium in the distance, and it looks miserable, surrounded by clouds and jutting shards of crystal.
He looks away to Eren, instead. ]
Yes, it's a location in the Crystal Spires. Apparently, there's hot springs tucked away in the mountains.
[ There's a brochure, if Eren wanted to peruse, advertising all the supposed benefits. ]
no subject
[Eventually, he seems to remember Jean is next to him, and glances back to look at him.]
Last winter, we went to a hot spring too. I remember. [As if just now.]
no subject
When Eren glances back, he smiles. ]
We did. Though I wasn't thinking of that when I suggested this.
[ Hot springs make him think of Mikasa, but he doesn't mention her. He doesn't want this to be a sad memory. ]
no subject
[A question comes:]
What were you thinking?
no subject
I was thinking it'd be nice to get away from Visium for a little bit. I know this place isn't new to the locals, but it's new to us - and we really haven't had a chance to just look around much.
[ He shrugs one shoulder. ]
If I could have swung it, I would have suggested riding down near the forest on the horses.
[ He knows Eren isn't happy here. He knows one day he will leave, but he wants to appreciate the time he has here. ]
no subject
[There's a beat, and then.]
You really should get your own horse, though.
no subject
[ It's a tease with no heat, and he squeezes Eren's hand gently. ]
I have the shards for it. I just haven't been wishing for much.
[ They may be at odds at their captors, but Jean distrusts the system as much as Eren does. ]
I'll do it when we go home, though.
no subject
Elke might get a little irritable if we both try to climb on. That's all.
You should ask for one from the Survey Corps.
I'd like to ride with you. [Again.]
no subject
[ Jean scoffs, but smiles when he says it. ]
Riding together would be nice - it's been a long time since we've done that.
[ No mission, or titans chasing them. ]
we can skip to hotsprings after this if you want <3
No one here seems to have any idea how to handle a horse. We should...
[Eren finds that he's been leaning against Jean. It's been a while since he's been able to do so so naturally. He lets his weight rest fully against his husband's shoulder, reaching down to take his hand. His thumb moves lightly over the knuckles.]
I love you. Jean.
no subject
I love you too, Eren.
[ And whatever that makes Jean - weak, a monster as well - he doesn't care. He loves him.
They talk a little more on the flight, making idle plans, but there's plenty of companionable silence as well, watching the crystal spires glitter. Eventually, hot springs come into view, glittering pools with small bathhouses around them.
The airship lands, and they take their leave. Jean indicates a single gender hot springs that looks relatively unoccupied. ]
Lets try that one. Supposedly these are made for the dragonkin, so they're very hot.
no subject
That's good for me. At the bath house in Visium, I can barely feel the heat.
[He glances at Jean.]
You brought something to change into?
no subject
Jean nods at the look, lifting a small cloth bag. ]
Wouldn't leave us hanging.
[ They're just simple canvas shorts, and not anything fancy. He knows from previous experience the towels will be provided.
The man manning the spring station lets them know the rules, including insisting on no touching anyone's bits, ya hear?, which only makes Jean flush and nod, thinking of his previous experience with Mikasa. But, either way, they go through the motions they need to do and meet at the edge of the hot spring. ]
SFDSDFJSLKDFJ NOT THE NPC DIALOGUE
[It's wonderful, actually. Eren sinks in all the way down to his shoulders as soon as he's in, briefly closing his eyes.]
Yeah. That's better...
NAW FUNNEH BIDNESS
Oh, that's worth the flight.
[ He, too, sinks down to his shoulders, looking over at Eren and the way his dark hair fans out behind him in the water. ]
Hot enough for you?
JSLDFKSJDLFJSDF
[He turns back to Jean.]
You're already turning red.
[It occurs to him that this isn't unlike what it felt to be trapped in a titan's stomach, but...thinks better of it, for once.]
Jean. The rest of your night is free, too, isn't it? Stay with me.
no subject
Not all of us like being boiled.
[ His eyes have slipped closed as he speaks; despite his words, the heat is nice. He'll get out when it's too much to bear.
Eren's words make Jean open his eyes again, giving Eren a smile. ]
I was planning on it, love. We can fly over to Stellari when you want, and book a hotel, or stay in one of the rooms here.
(no subject)
sighs @ reply by email coding fail
LIKELY STORY
pushes you into hot water. like a lobster <3
throws fish at u
throws your PREPARED PLATE in the GARBAGE
SON of A--
(no subject)
let me know if u wanna wrap or keep going? I'm down for w/e!
THA GLIDERS THO (we could skip to that?)
AS DISCUSSED IN DMS o7