Are you nervous of what someone might find in there? Or is it just a breach of your privacy?
[ it’s a simple question, curiousity and innocence behind the words. flat wouldn’t blame him if he were nervous, as the mental landscape is one where truths are difficult to hide. perhaps they’ll sit behind walls of strange symbolism, but if someone able to decipher it or able to pierce through it comes in…
man, what a relief that he has trained himself against mental attacks! haha! ]
Actually, wait, did you say you have a horse!?
[ a brisk change of the subject, but that’s how it is with flat. a constant stream of thoughts, all the time. ]
That’s so cool! Since they’re cities, there’s not enough land in Monaco or London to have a horse stabls, so I’ve never seen one outside of TV. What other animals do you have?
[Eren might have continued with Flat's original line of thought, but he shifts topics so quickly that it's hard to imagine bouncing back. At any rate, it's a conversation that Eren has probably had a thousand times by now. Eren is sure that a lot of people think Flat is stupid, but he doesn't buy that. There's no need to warn him about mind control or being watched. They're being watched every second regardless...
[So, fine. They'll talk about horses instead.]
Too many. Three horses, a goat, a land dragon, a thousand cats...
Just come by if you're that curious.
[He's beginning to care very little about who is/isn't on his property, so long as they stay away from his house.]
Oh! I appreciate it, but animals don't really like me very much!
[ this is said all very cheerfully, without much concern. conversationally, even. le chien has always bared his teeth at flat and growled about how he should have killed him when he had the chance. actual animals were a bit less belligerent, but flat still remembers a couple scratches and hisses from stray cats simply because he came too close to them.
ah well, such is the life. ]
But I'm surprised! And I guess also not that surprised? You seemed like an introvert, so being surrounded by animals is totally something I was expecting, but agreeing to let a stranger like me to join wasn't. Could this friendship be mutual?
[ could it be that he considered eren to be his friend this whole time? well, of course he did. but just because he does doesn't mean that it has to be a mutual feeling. ]
[ said without hesitation. he says it with a certainty that rivals his certainty that living beings need air to breathe. ]
I mean, what do you think of me as? An acquaintance, probably? And maybe that's stretching it. 'Acquaintance', 'comrade', 'colleague', 'ally', etcetera... there's so many ladders that people have to climb to get to 'friend' and so many different words that you have to use. I think it's too complicated, so I figured I'd simplify it a little!
[ if flat is friendly with everyone that he meets, why wouldn't he consider someone a friend after meeting them a couple times? they've shared secrets (as unimportant as they might have been for either of them) and thoughts, so why shouldn't he consider eren someone that he thinks of as a 'friend'? ]
It's just more efficient that way. Not trying to pressure you or anything, though. You can think whatever you want, though I'd prefer if we were both straightforward with each other.
[Huh. It's not entirely illogical, he supposes. Some of his reasons for not wanting to make friends are similar enough. How can both routes be so much work?]
I don't consider us friends.
[There's no cruelty to that. It's as factual as Flat saying he does consider them friends. Straightforward.]
I didn't particularly consider you anything. You're interesting to talk to, though.
That being said, people are always wandering on and off of the property anyway. It really has nothing to do with friendship.
[ flat doesn’t seem to be deterred by eren’s response. for starters, he expected something along those lines (though he can’t help but think that “interesting to talk to” is, in fact something, but sure, eren) and because the honest conversation is something that flat appreciates. no having to read between the lines or having to try to interpret someone’s half truths.
quick, straightforward, and simple— it’s as efficient as it comes. flat couldn’t be any more delighted. ]
You’re pretty interesting, too, you know? You’re like a jaded antagonist that wants to destroy everything and start with a clean slate because you lost your faith in humanity after a life-changing event.
[ in other words: the opposite of flat’s viewpoint. but in flat’s eyes, even this is an experience worth digging into and enjoying anyways. ]
[Oops! He's been pretty good at guarding his innermost thoughts from prying minds thus far, but that little exclamation slips right through. He does the mental equivalent of clearing his throat, but the dull shock is probably still present somewhere in the background.
[Clearly, more has managed to slip through than he intended, Flat has some ability otherwise, or...his powers of deduction are shocking.]
[ though perhaps not easy to visualize due to the lack of physical presence, there is a moment of curious hesitation, not dissimilar to a dog tilting its head in confusion. did he say something totally off the mark? it'd be a shame if he insulted eren.
though when eren confirms it, flat's all cheer. ]
Oh, that's great! Well, sort of, I guess! But great that I got it right! [ looks like he just guessed? ] You reminded me of a friend of mine, and he's kind of similar. You both have the misanthropy thing going on pretty strongly, it's pretty interesting to see even if I don't agree with it!
It was pretty dicey for a while due to this and that, but eventually I got him to come around.
[ flat sounds genuinely pleased about this, but there's something not all that unlike the cat that got the canary. considering that his relationship with that person had only started because he was meant to kill flat... the place where they're at now is nothing short of a great success.
but that's not eren's story to hear, so he'll pivot the conversation again. ]
So, are you totally friendless or do you consider the people you're close to with a different term?
You're talking to a dead guy too, you know! And I think I have enough energy to continue trying to befriend people! Maybe your skill needs some optimizing?
’I decided a while ago I didn't want to make any more. I'm dead and it's tiring.’
[ flat parrots eren’s telepathic message back right at him— with a mental voice that is exactly like eren’s had been at that moment; same cadence and tone. ]
I mean, if you wanna say that you’re tired of making friends, then just say it with your chest. You’re DONE with friendship! You’ve hit your max quota, prospective applicants may exit stage left, do not pass go and do not collect 200.
Don’t blame it on being dead, though. That’s a silly thing to do!
Because as far as I know, right now your heart is beating and pumping blood into your brain and each of your limbs. You might be dead in your world, but you’re alive in this one, whether you like it or not.
[ and flat truly does wonder: does his dear teammate like it or not? ]
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no subject
[ it’s a simple question, curiousity and innocence behind the words. flat wouldn’t blame him if he were nervous, as the mental landscape is one where truths are difficult to hide. perhaps they’ll sit behind walls of strange symbolism, but if someone able to decipher it or able to pierce through it comes in…
man, what a relief that he has trained himself against mental attacks! haha! ]
Actually, wait, did you say you have a horse!?
[ a brisk change of the subject, but that’s how it is with flat. a constant stream of thoughts, all the time. ]
That’s so cool! Since they’re cities, there’s not enough land in Monaco or London to have a horse stabls, so I’ve never seen one outside of TV. What other animals do you have?
no subject
[So, fine. They'll talk about horses instead.]
Too many. Three horses, a goat, a land dragon, a thousand cats...
Just come by if you're that curious.
[He's beginning to care very little about who is/isn't on his property, so long as they stay away from his house.]
no subject
[ this is said all very cheerfully, without much concern. conversationally, even. le chien has always bared his teeth at flat and growled about how he should have killed him when he had the chance. actual animals were a bit less belligerent, but flat still remembers a couple scratches and hisses from stray cats simply because he came too close to them.
ah well, such is the life. ]
But I'm surprised! And I guess also not that surprised? You seemed like an introvert, so being surrounded by animals is totally something I was expecting, but agreeing to let a stranger like me to join wasn't. Could this friendship be mutual?
[ could it be that he considered eren to be his friend this whole time? well, of course he did. but just because he does doesn't mean that it has to be a mutual feeling. ]
no subject
That's an interesting way of phrasing it.
[He doesn't sound upset, really; curious...]
Did you consider us friends while also assuming I didn't feel the same way?
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[ said without hesitation. he says it with a certainty that rivals his certainty that living beings need air to breathe. ]
I mean, what do you think of me as? An acquaintance, probably? And maybe that's stretching it. 'Acquaintance', 'comrade', 'colleague', 'ally', etcetera... there's so many ladders that people have to climb to get to 'friend' and so many different words that you have to use. I think it's too complicated, so I figured I'd simplify it a little!
[ if flat is friendly with everyone that he meets, why wouldn't he consider someone a friend after meeting them a couple times? they've shared secrets (as unimportant as they might have been for either of them) and thoughts, so why shouldn't he consider eren someone that he thinks of as a 'friend'? ]
It's just more efficient that way. Not trying to pressure you or anything, though. You can think whatever you want, though I'd prefer if we were both straightforward with each other.
[ because it's more efficient! ]
no subject
I don't consider us friends.
[There's no cruelty to that. It's as factual as Flat saying he does consider them friends. Straightforward.]
I didn't particularly consider you anything. You're interesting to talk to, though.
That being said, people are always wandering on and off of the property anyway. It really has nothing to do with friendship.
no subject
[ flat doesn’t seem to be deterred by eren’s response. for starters, he expected something along those lines (though he can’t help but think that “interesting to talk to” is, in fact something, but sure, eren) and because the honest conversation is something that flat appreciates. no having to read between the lines or having to try to interpret someone’s half truths.
quick, straightforward, and simple— it’s as efficient as it comes. flat couldn’t be any more delighted. ]
You’re pretty interesting, too, you know? You’re like a jaded antagonist that wants to destroy everything and start with a clean slate because you lost your faith in humanity after a life-changing event.
[ in other words: the opposite of flat’s viewpoint. but in flat’s eyes, even this is an experience worth digging into and enjoying anyways. ]
no subject
[Oops! He's been pretty good at guarding his innermost thoughts from prying minds thus far, but that little exclamation slips right through. He does the mental equivalent of clearing his throat, but the dull shock is probably still present somewhere in the background.
[Clearly, more has managed to slip through than he intended, Flat has some ability otherwise, or...his powers of deduction are shocking.]
That's quite the specific assessment.
Yeah. Fine. You're right about that.
no subject
[ though perhaps not easy to visualize due to the lack of physical presence, there is a moment of curious hesitation, not dissimilar to a dog tilting its head in confusion. did he say something totally off the mark? it'd be a shame if he insulted eren.
though when eren confirms it, flat's all cheer. ]
Oh, that's great! Well, sort of, I guess! But great that I got it right! [ looks like he just guessed? ] You reminded me of a friend of mine, and he's kind of similar. You both have the misanthropy thing going on pretty strongly, it's pretty interesting to see even if I don't agree with it!
no subject
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[ flat sounds genuinely pleased about this, but there's something not all that unlike the cat that got the canary. considering that his relationship with that person had only started because he was meant to kill flat... the place where they're at now is nothing short of a great success.
but that's not eren's story to hear, so he'll pivot the conversation again. ]
So, are you totally friendless or do you consider the people you're close to with a different term?
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I could say that's because I barely know you, but you've already pegged me as a misanthrope, right?
[The tone is close to condescending, but Eren isn't offended.]
I decided a while ago I didn't want to make any more. I'm dead and it's tiring.
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[ in other words: skill issue, eren. ]
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[ flat parrots eren’s telepathic message back right at him— with a mental voice that is exactly like eren’s had been at that moment; same cadence and tone. ]
I mean, if you wanna say that you’re tired of making friends, then just say it with your chest. You’re DONE with friendship! You’ve hit your max quota, prospective applicants may exit stage left, do not pass go and do not collect 200.
Don’t blame it on being dead, though. That’s a silly thing to do!
Because as far as I know, right now your heart is beating and pumping blood into your brain and each of your limbs. You might be dead in your world, but you’re alive in this one, whether you like it or not.
[ and flat truly does wonder: does his dear teammate like it or not? ]
no subject
Ha...
[Just that. Not quite a laugh, not quite not. It's a dry, bitter amusement.]
You're right about that too.
A lot of people probably take you for an idiot, don't they?
no subject
Yeah, they do all the time!
WRAPPED >:3c