[ 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.
["Love". Eren isn't turning red due to the heat. He's always been one to blush. That didn't change just because he started wearing a mask.
[He wants to tell Jean that he likes it. To call him that more. But he doesn't. Just looks at the water and nods, leaning in a bit closer against Jean's shoulder.]
We'll do that, then. I don't plan on taking one of the houses here. I don't plan on moving the farm either.
[Maybe now isn't the best time to talk about things like that, but...it comes up anyway.]
Whatever you choose to do...that's fine too.
[Eren's not really sure if he believes that, but he has no right to force Jean to live in a wasteland. He won't impede his freedom to choose.]
[ He squeezes back, reassuring. The mention of Dolph makes him think of plans of a house in the future. ]
I'll see how he feels - he might.
[ He exhales softly. ]
We have been talking about getting a house, after we're married. But I would still be at the farm, too. He wants space that he knows is his own... You know how he gets about feeling like he's intruding.
[ He knows, knows Eren would give Dolph any space he asked; the garden, a room of his own. But Eren also may understand Dolph wanting a space that's wholly his from the start. ]
[Anyone could see the logic in wanting space for themselves, but it still stings Eren to think of either of them leaving longterm. Jean assures him now that he'd still stay somewhat at the farm, but Eren doesn't know if Dolph would do the same...
[It's not his place to argue, however. Those two can have a real marriage together. Could Eren even really blame them if they wanted to spend every night together? Maybe. But he'd let them. He'd let them both go if it meant that they'd be happier.
[His eyes are on the water, jaw tight. He nods.]
I get it. [He has spaces of his own - spaces Jean doesn't and never will know about, like the Windmill, and he, Maruki, and Akechi's secret space in Stellari. Eren said he wasn't looking for a place to stay here. It's because he's already found one.
[So, he can't possibly argue.
[He'll focus on Jean, since Jean is here; his heart aches for Dolph anyway.]
I'm not at the farm every night either. As long as you came back sometimes, I wouldn't be angry.
[ What has he heard them called - mother in law houses? Close enough to Eren, but with space for Dolph to spread out. He still would be more than happy to keep all three of them in the farm, though.
It's a different dynamic to Eren, himself, and Mikasa, but he finds that he likes those kinds of things - where all the people he cares about are together.
For now, though, he curls his hand to pick Eren's up, lifting it out of the water. He kisses the tips of his fingers gently. ]
I'll come back more than sometimes. You're my husband too, you know.
[Jean lifts Eren's fingers, speaks kind reassurances. It makes Eren's heart flutter, than squeeze. Eren is his husband, too, and Jean only hates one of them.
[But he hadn't considered a house on the farm. He likes that idea.]
I can't make any promises, but I'll see if he likes that idea too.
[ Jean presses a kiss to the back of Eren's hand, next, and then turns his head to kiss the tip of his nose. Wordless reassurance, though he makes sure to stop there in case the workers get cranky about more. ]
let me know if u wanna wrap or keep going? I'm down for w/e!
[ The forehead tilt is so endearing, and Jean obligingly presses a kiss to that spot as well. ]
I'll tell him, I promise.
[ He is, however, hitting the limit of how long he can spend in the water. He moves himself to sit on the edge, instead, so he can watch Eren or hang his feet over his shoulders. ]
[Jean is allowed to free himself from the boiling waters. Eren makes him rest his legs over his shoulders, holding onto them like he's about to hoist him up and carry him around. He doesn't though. Instead, he lays his head back on his husband's thigh, stares up at him, and talks all night. They stay in the hot springs until the sun goes down, and the employees warn that the air ship is making its last trip back to Stellari. It's only that risk of being stranded that lures them back into the city, where they'll find somewhere to rest.
[Together. It's a good night. They'll never be perfect. That's fine. They never were anyway.
[For however Eren feels about Jean, his own mistakes, the rift they've caused, he feels loved tonight. It matters.]
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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
[He wants to tell Jean that he likes it. To call him that more. But he doesn't. Just looks at the water and nods, leaning in a bit closer against Jean's shoulder.]
We'll do that, then. I don't plan on taking one of the houses here. I don't plan on moving the farm either.
[Maybe now isn't the best time to talk about things like that, but...it comes up anyway.]
Whatever you choose to do...that's fine too.
[Eren's not really sure if he believes that, but he has no right to force Jean to live in a wasteland. He won't impede his freedom to choose.]
sighs @ reply by email coding fail
I didn't think you would move either of them. I'll probably purchase some space to set up a kitchen here for Thermo, though.
[ He sighs softly. ]
And of course I'm going to stay with you on the farm.
[ His hand finds Eren's, hooking their pinky fingers together. ]
Someone has to watch Frog when you're not around, after all.
LIKELY STORY
[Relief. Eren squeezes their pinkies together under the water. He should be honest, here, while he feels he can.]
I'm glad.
I wouldn't want you to go. Not for good...
[...]
I don't know if Dolph will stay. But I'd like him to.
pushes you into hot water. like a lobster <3
[ He squeezes back, reassuring. The mention of Dolph makes him think of plans of a house in the future. ]
I'll see how he feels - he might.
[ He exhales softly. ]
We have been talking about getting a house, after we're married. But I would still be at the farm, too. He wants space that he knows is his own... You know how he gets about feeling like he's intruding.
[ He knows, knows Eren would give Dolph any space he asked; the garden, a room of his own. But Eren also may understand Dolph wanting a space that's wholly his from the start. ]
throws fish at u
[It's not his place to argue, however. Those two can have a real marriage together. Could Eren even really blame them if they wanted to spend every night together? Maybe. But he'd let them. He'd let them both go if it meant that they'd be happier.
[His eyes are on the water, jaw tight. He nods.]
I get it. [He has spaces of his own - spaces Jean doesn't and never will know about, like the Windmill, and he, Maruki, and Akechi's secret space in Stellari. Eren said he wasn't looking for a place to stay here. It's because he's already found one.
[So, he can't possibly argue.
[He'll focus on Jean, since Jean is here; his heart aches for Dolph anyway.]
I'm not at the farm every night either. As long as you came back sometimes, I wouldn't be angry.
throws your PREPARED PLATE in the GARBAGE
[ What has he heard them called - mother in law houses? Close enough to Eren, but with space for Dolph to spread out. He still would be more than happy to keep all three of them in the farm, though.
It's a different dynamic to Eren, himself, and Mikasa, but he finds that he likes those kinds of things - where all the people he cares about are together.
For now, though, he curls his hand to pick Eren's up, lifting it out of the water. He kisses the tips of his fingers gently. ]
I'll come back more than sometimes. You're my husband too, you know.
SON of A--
[But he hadn't considered a house on the farm. He likes that idea.]
A house on the property. I'd like that too.
I'd like that a lot, actually...
no subject
I can't make any promises, but I'll see if he likes that idea too.
[ Jean presses a kiss to the back of Eren's hand, next, and then turns his head to kiss the tip of his nose. Wordless reassurance, though he makes sure to stop there in case the workers get cranky about more. ]
let me know if u wanna wrap or keep going? I'm down for w/e!
Tell him that I signed off. Tell him it would...[Make him "happy"? He doesn't use that word anymore, but...]
Tell him he's welcome. As long as he wants.
I'll tell him too.
THA GLIDERS THO (we could skip to that?)
I'll tell him, I promise.
[ He is, however, hitting the limit of how long he can spend in the water. He moves himself to sit on the edge, instead, so he can watch Eren or hang his feet over his shoulders. ]
AS DISCUSSED IN DMS o7
[Together. It's a good night. They'll never be perfect. That's fine. They never were anyway.
[For however Eren feels about Jean, his own mistakes, the rift they've caused, he feels loved tonight. It matters.]