titanscience | Seasons inbox

I never really have any rivals, I didn't really feel jealous if friends received praise or compliments.
Usually it was the opposite, I was happy for them!
Especially after being in the survey corps for a while and you realise that nobody is going to be around forever.

[You are trying, Reiner, even if it's only because you're drinking. Hange wonders if tomorrow, he will forget that all of this happened..]

I hope we can get everyone to sign it soon too.
Even though I don't think it would be taken that far, I don't want anybody else to have to die
Regardless of where they came from originally.
Even if death isn't permanent here...
In a way I think that's worse?
It's still going to hurt..

Yeah, I
I wish I knew some stuff then that I know now
I didn't, though
We were just dumb kids

[ There's a pause. Then: ]

Almost dying sucks
Remembering it sucks

[ … Apparently, that might be all he has to say about that. ]

We didn't know any better either
But we cannot change the past
Which is why we are focusing on the future, right?!
Dying sucks, and fighting sucks, so let's try to put a stop to it!

I hope you dont forget about this conversation when you wake up tomorrow
If you do I'm gonna eat your peach cupcakes for myself

No!
Don't eat them!
I'll remember!
And if I ever forget, we wrote it all down, right? I can reread it
I forget stuff sometimes
It sucks
But I won't forget this!
Spineapple promise!

Right!
The only way it could be gone for good would be if the both of us decided to delete it
But I think I'll hold on to it!

Don't worry I'll still bring them tomorrow
Spineapple promise
🍍🤝🍍

[ Somehow, Reiner manages to avoid a hangover. (He can probably thank his Titan.) After getting back to his apartment and kicking off his birthday with a scorching shower, he reluctantly starts scrolling through his text messages to see how much damage he caused.

Some conversations went markedly better than others, even if they make Reiner wince in the light of day. Some he can barely remember. And then there's… ]

"Spineapple promise"…

[ Why did his drunken self coin a whole new term? More importantly, what are those little pictures Hange used in their message?

He's busy trying to figure those out when he hears a knock at the door, walking over to answer it in far more casual attire than Hange will have seen: loose pants and a t-shirt, his phone still in hand. ]

[Hange is also dressed fairly casually too, though that is not too uncommon these days when not out and about causing trouble or taking on missions.

Once the door opens, Reiner will find Hange stood on his doorstep with a smile, a small box of cupcakes in hand that have little fruit toppers- mostly peach, but two had been exchanged for pineapple.]

Reiner! Happy birthday!

[ Reiner's eyes widen, not expecting to find Hange on the other side of the door. Then his eyes drop to the box, and— ]

You remembered.

[ Quiet surprise, tone holding a faint trace of wonder. As if Hange were the one who got completely plastered the night before, not him.

A second later, Reiner realizes there's no reason Hange wouldn't remember that drunken conversation. He meets their eye again, his expression markedly open: touched by their gesture and unprepared to conceal it.

He reaches out to accept the box, his next words sincere: ]

Thank you.

Of course I remembered. It was only last night.

[Then again, Hange wasn't the one wasted enough to start texting "the enemy", so maybe it really is a surprise to Reiner that they showed up instead of 'forgetting' about it.]

You're welcome. There's a whole dozen in there, I figured you could share some with Gabi. Or eat them all yourself! They're yours after all.

[After handing the box over Hange remains in place, not expecting to be invited in or anything like that, but perhaps they can at least have a friendly conversation for a moment.]

[ Reiner nods, still rather bowled over by Hange's generosity. He'll certainly share some with Gabi. (And isn't that a show of trust? Sharing food with his cousin without worrying about poison?) ]

Thank you.

[ Repeating himself, but he wants his gratitude to be known. Then, after the barest hint of hesitation, contemplation and decision crossing his face one after the other: ]

Do you want some coffee?

[ Inviting Hange inside, albeit for a decidedly Marleyan beverage. ]

[Coffee.. certainly an acquired taste. It's a little too bitter on it's own but manageable once you get some sugar into it. Plus, it's great at keeping you awake!]

[But never mind that, because Hange sees it for what it is. It isn't about coffee, it's about being offered an olive branch in return. A coffee branch?]

...Sure, I'll take some coffee.

[ Reiner nods and steps back to allow Hange inside, shutting the door behind them. The apartment is tidy but lived in, clean but not to Levi's standards. A Turtwig sits in a chair beside the living room window, sunning herself in the early morning light. She turns to look at the new arrival, blinking slowly, curious but apparently unbothered by strangers. There are a few library books on the coffee table, reference materials about edible plants in Ellipsa and so forth. A notebook sits beside the books, Reiner's neat handwriting (Marleyan script) filling approximately half the page.

Reiner heads toward the kitchen, which is open to the living room. There's a table there with more chairs than he and Gabi actually need, but it means there's plenty of room to sit if Hange chooses. (And, of course, there's seating aplenty in the living room.) In the meantime, Reiner gently sets the box of cupcakes on the kitchen table, then heads to the counter, starting the work of setting coffee to brew. ]

Those little pictures in your last message, [ he says over his shoulder. ] What are they called?

[Hange takes the cue and enters the apartment, coming to a stop at the point where kitchen meets living room, taking a look around as they wait to see which direction Reiner takes.]

Ah! A Pokemon! ...Turtwig, right? It's a grass type, like mine!

[A kind girl on the network had given all sorts of info to Hange regarding the common pokemon found here in Ellipsa and what the different 'types' meant.]

[They're also curious about the stack of books on the table- someone here is obviously working on something- but Hange doesn't want to push their luck and get kicked out for snooping too much so they'll remain in this spot for now.]

Hmm? Pictures?

[Hange has to actually pull the phone out and re-check their conversation from the night prior, but they understand soon enough.]

Oh! Those are called "emojis"! Neat, huh? You can add them to messages fairly easily.

[ "Emojis"? Reiner has never heard the word, nor does he know how to add them to messages. He nods in acknowledgment, resolving to ask Hange to show him how once the coffee is on.

In the meantime, he glances over his shoulder, a little smile on his face as he looks at his Turtwig. ]

Yeah, she's a Turtwig. Her name is Panzer. You can say hi; she likes getting her head and shell scratched.

[ Should Hange choose to scratch Panzer's shell, they'll find that it's moist and made of soil. Panzer is a very healthy Turtwig! ]

I have a Sprigatito. I named him 'Parsley', because his tufts of fur look like leaves.

[After being given permission, Hange walks on over to the snoozing creature, kneeling down beside it in order to offer a good soft pat to it's head. Panzer seems receptive so Hange moves to scratch her shell just as Reiner suggests, not expecting it to feel so much like, well, dirt!]

Ah! These 'pokemon' really are amazing creatures, don't you think?

[Panzer seems to be enjoying it, doing that little turtle shake as different parts of her shell get scritched.]

Nice to meet you, Panzer!

They really are amazing. There's such a wide variety, too. I can understand how people spend years studying them.

[ With the coffee brewing, Reiner turns and makes his way toward the living room, smiling again as he spots Panzer's little dance. It's admittedly strange to trust the Commander of the Survey Corps with a creature that Reiner loves so much. But at the same time, it feels … appropriate, somehow.

Hange is eccentric and often bewildering, but they're not a malicious person. Panzer seems to approve of them, clearly relishing the attention. And most importantly, Hange brewed the potion that saved Gabi. That's a debt that Reiner isn't sure how to even begin to repay. ]

She likes playdates with other Pokémon. We could see how she and Parsley get along if you want.

I agree! I'm rather envious about it! And their native world sounds so peaceful as well..

[Hange's voice sort of tapers off into silence after that, choosing to focus on petting the pokemon instead. Partly envious that people of that world don't have to fight wars and get to just enjoy discovering all these wonderful animals, but mostly it is due to their current situation. Their own world is a mess and certainly not peaceful, and they aren't exactly comrades in Reiner's eyes.]

We could meet at a park some time and let them get to know each other. Parsley shares several traits with a regular 'cat' [Meaning he can be rather capricious in nature depending on his mood] but he warms up to other Pokémon rather quickly. He really enjoys testing his strength against others! --Erm, when he feels like it, that is.

[Being a cat, sometimes he'd much rather nap in a tree than battle it out, then another time he'll be trying to start something when the other pokemon just wanted to play in peace. Talk about being strong-willed!]

[ Reiner has heard a bit about "Pokémon battles," but Panzer has yet to participate in any. She seems to prefer a quiet life of snoozing in the sun and receiving scritches. Who knows, though? Maybe Parsley will awaken some dormant competitive streak. ]

He sounds like a handful. [ Reiner nods. ] Meeting at a park sounds good.

[ Neutral ground. Besides, Reiner doesn't intend to continue living in this building for much longer. He's more comfortable with Hange these days—enough to invite them inside for coffee, at least. However, Levi is another matter entirely.

It'll be better to have some distance and not feel cramped under the same roof as his enemies, especially while the situation remains nebulous. (It'll make sleeping much easier.)

Hearing the coffee dripping in the background makes Reiner realize he trailed off into silence, just watching Panzer wiggle. He pulls himself from his thoughts. ]

Those emojis you mentioned. Would you mind telling me how to use them?

He is! But I like him, he's fun. [Plus, it's nice to have a little companion around for company when Hange is on their own.] I don't plan on leaving the city for missions this week, so you can message me with a good time.

[Hange is quite content to continue fussing over the Turtwig so the silence is fine, and honestly goes unnoticed until Reiner finally speaks up again]

Oh, sure.

[Panzer's shell has left their hands a little moist so Hange simply wipes them down a trouser leg to be rid of it- good enough- before pulling out their phone from a pocket.]

Take your phone out too, and I'll show you.

[Getting up from the floor Hange takes a seat at the table instead, positioned so that Reiner can easily see the screen without needing to be shoulder-to-shoulder.]

When you are writing a message, you see this button here? With the small dots? You want to press that one, and then hit this one on the left that looks like a smiling face.

[Sure enough it opens up the emoji keyboard with its different categories, from expressions to animals to objects.]

See? you can pick whatever yout want. Press the button with the dots again if you want to go back to letters. I just discovered them recently, but I think they're fun!

[Hange taps away at their phone for a moment before a message pops up on Reiner's screen:]

🐢☕️🧁🍍🤝🍍

[ Reiner obediently pulls out his phone, taking a seat opposite Hange at the table. He's an attentive listener, a lifetime of lectures (from two different militaries) instilling the ability to … well, sit down, shut up, and pay attention, you'll only hear this once. Not that learning how to use emojis is a detail-intensive process. But still, that base 'shut up and listen' is there.

When the message pops up on his phone, Reiner's face breaks into a smile. Has Hange ever heard him laugh before? They have now: a low chuckle escapes him, like a big kid with a new toy.

Reiner says nothing for a moment, teeth catching his lower lip as his smile fades slightly, concentrating on the screen. Then he sends a message to Hange: ]

🐈🍃🚶🛝🌳

[ He looks so proud of himself. ]

[It certainly is the first time Hange has heard him laugh! It beings a smile to their face, it's nice to see him not looking so serious and gloomy all the time.]

[Their own phone makes a little buzzing noise as the message comes through.]

Hah! It's Parsley in the park!

[See isn't this fun? Another one comes back in response:]
🐢🐈🍃🚶🚶🛝🌳

🏖️⭐🐟🪣🏖️

There's plenty of faces to use too with various expressions! Some of them are kind of funny.

[ Reiner's smile reappears as Hange's next message comes through, clearly having a good time "deciphering" it. ]

Yeah? I'll have to check those out, too.

[ The sight of the star sparks a memory. He glances over at the coffee pot, noticing that it's finished brewing, and stands to grab mugs as he continues speaking: ]

That reminds me: you were right about the name of those creatures. "Starfish" is an outdated term. They're called "sea stars" now, at least in this world.

[ Yes, that encounter stuck with him enough to look up information about sea stars. ]

Mmm, but I wish they had ones that looked like sea-robbers. Then it'll look like me!

[There is a severe lack of pirate emojis! And ever since the conversation at Levi's, eyepatches have become synonymous with sea-robbers now..]

[Hange sets down the phone to face Reiner as he offers up the information he found regarding the starfish.]

..Huh, really? Then I wasn't that far off... that's what I would have called them to! Well- I did, but I mean if I was the one who got to give it an official name, it would be 'sea-star'.

You know, a little while after that I got stung! The water is full of all sorts of interesting creatures!

[ "Sea robbers"? Reiner has no idea what Hange could be talking about. Who would rob someone on the sea? How would they even do it? He tries and fails to immediately wrap his head around the idea.

But he's soon distracted, glancing over his shoulder as he begins to fill two mugs with coffee. ]

You were stung? By what?

It was a jellyfish!

Which is a strange name.. I understand the 'jelly' part because it was soft and squeezable, but it doesn't look like anything like a fish to me. For one thing, it has no gills, or fins.. then again, the starfish isn't a fish either, is it?

[Oops, getting distracted by the etymology here...]

Its poisoned noodles got me though, when I was wading through the water! [Hange has since learned all about the proper name for all the jellyfish parts, but poison noodles sounds cuter and so it sticks] Levi ended up carrying me to the hospital. Eren helped get us off the beach, too!

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