titanscience | Seasons inbox

[ That alone would be enough to fight for this world, wouldn't it? Even if it only afforded a better life to a few of the kids, it's more than they could have ever had at home. Levi would be happy to protect such a safe haven for them with his own life, if he had to. ]

[ But it's more than that. He gets to have something too. He even gets to have someone he lost. They're probably spending more time together than apart at this point even with all of Hange's work at the research center, and it's just not enough. Another year sounds better. Then another. Then another, and another, and another. He doesn't expect it, he never does, but he maybe lets himself be wistful for a moment. ]

[ And hell, if they can adapt to this strange new world, then maybe the Survey Corps can, too. It doesn't have to be about responsibility, the weight of humanity, or endless death here. It could simply be about exploring, about discovering new things, about riding out to see the world for themselves. It doesn't have to be antithetical to freedom, not here, not when it's just them left in it. ]

[ Levi drinks up that little smile like sunlight itself and thinks that he's done good. ]

Yeah.

[ Of course they will be. He promised and he takes his promises seriously. Moreover, he wants to be here. He wants to get to do silly little things like birthdays and housekeeping and the kids' weddings and whatever else everyone gets up to, because they're alive and they found a place here. ]

So stay out of trouble. If you piss me off, you're getting kale juice instead.

[ Oops, guess what time it is? Time to lighten the mood because the feelings are getting Too Real! ]

[And just like that, they turn back to their bickering selves once again.]

Ehh?! But that kale juice is so yucky. I refuse. I'd rather take poison!

[So cruel!! But shortly after, Hange lets out a laugh as they continue to munch through the brownie.]

Why don't you stay out of trouble, it's not like you're always the innocent one! Or you're the one who's going to be drinking kale for his birthday... hehe..

[Because that's only a couple months away, and time really does fly when you're having fun. It will be here before they know it.]

[ Don't threaten him with a good time, Hange! ]

Fine by me. I heard it's really good for the bowels.

[ Let's be real, if one of the shingekis was going to start making kale and spinach smoothies, it's probably Levi, and he'd probably like the taste too... ]

[ Hange does have a point about him not staying out of trouble as much as he probably should, though. But is he going to acknowledge it? Nah. ]

Then you can have my serving too. That's how much of a good friend I am!

[Enjoy your yucky kale juice then, and becoming intimately acquainted with the toilet afterwards]

[The brownie has almost been devoured by now, the only piece remaining being that which Levi had taken from his own serving.]

Are you sure you didn't want this? Last chance!

So much that you wouldn't eat something you hate? I'm impressed.

[ Delivered in a complete deadpan, of course, because he is in fact not impressed at all. That's not how being a good friend works! Hange is one, though, just not for that reason. But it's petty bitching hours o'clock, so it is what it is. ]

[ HE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE KALE JUICE AND HIS SWEET RELEASE, THANKS. ]

[ He waves a hand dismissively, generously letting them have the rest. ]

I'm good.

You're loss~~

[In goes the last forkful of brownie.. actually it's a bit too much, so Hange can hardly keep their mouth closed while chewing it, and then it ends up being hard to swallow so the entire cup of tea gets gulped down in one go...]

You know, if you ever get bored of doing missions, I reckon you could sell chocolate bread for a living! Though it may not pay as well...

[ Levi is definitely grimacing slightly and judging them but it is their birthday so he doesn't admonish them and instead leans over to dab at Hange's mouth with a napkin where the thinks some of that tea and chocolate mix may have leaked out due to lack of space. Don't mind him. ]

Ha. Maybe if I get too old for action. [ Or too injured. Though honestly it's super weird to think about it, and he quiets abruptly after that. Never in his life has he been in any situation to consider "when I get old", but now... he kind of is? And he doesn't know what to do with it. It feels alien. Unreal. Terrifying and calming at the same time. ]

[ Being able to retire? Could it actually happen?.. ]

[ He clears his throat, looks away. ] ...actually, I was thinking of trying to make a new tea blend. Not for a job, just...

[ For fun. Shit. Now that's a new one for them. ]

[Hange leans forward to let him dab at their mouth once they notice that he's doing it, giving a quick 'thanks!' before swallowing the rest of it.]

[An elbow rests on the table, its hand propping Hange's head up as they listen to their friend talk about tea blends. Of course it would be tea related, that's so Levi, and the thought of it causes a sincere smile to grow on Hange's face.]

As a hobby, you mean?

[One could say that Hange has too many hobbies, simply because they often find something that interests them and delve right into it, but Levi seems much the opposite, in that regard. If he wants to blend tea, then he deserves to have access to all the tea in the world!]

Have you thought about growing some? I have some pots on my balcony that I'm trying to grow, just various things, so if you want to plant some I don't mind. I have to water everything anyway.

[ Levi does notice that smile, of course. It seems that Hange is excited about the idea of tea cultivation? Makes sense, he supposes. They did always enjoy studying plants especially, and this is basically that, if with a bit more artistic freedom than pure science. Well then. Guess he'll just have to keep them in the loop about all of his new tea discoveries so they can keep smiling like that. ]

[ (And so, the mirror of "roomba face" is born...) ]

Yeah. A hobby.

[ Has he even had a hobby before now, aside from cleaning? He's not sure. But, well, this place was supposed to be all about a new life, so he supposes it's par for course. Still surreal, though, just like the idea of an achievable retirement. ]

Naturally. That's the point, isn't it? Starting from scratch. [ He could probably just buy the leaves and herbs and spices and experiment with that, but it didn't seem as fun as knowing exactly where everything came from. Okay, and maybe he didn't entirely trust the novelty stores. ]

[ He seems to perk up when Hange mentions sharing their little garden. ] ...I'd like that.

[ With how often he's in their apartment anyway, it probably wouldn't be any trouble for him to water it himself, but this would let Hange feel involved and they were clearly eager to take part in it, judging from that serene, warm expression on their face. ] Just let me know which ones are empty so I don't uproot one of your projects.

[Hange is a little excited for tea cultivation- that ongoing curiosity of theirs enables them to easily conjure up enthusiasm when a new potential project makes itself known after all- but the cheerfulness is mostly due to Levi's own interest in it.

Something that has nothing to do with missions, or combat, or worrying about the state of affairs at home. Something simple, and relaxing, the cultivating of new life. It's why Hange likes growing plants too, and they are more than eager to share any knowledge they possess.

Alright! Operation: Tea Growing is officially in business!]

Of course! It's more fun that way. I have a few pots that are already empty, but they need soil. We could get some tomorrow- er, I mean later today- if you want?

[No point in waiting on it. Hange has the tools available at least to get the project up and off the ground, and since Levi has a key to the apartment already he will be able to come and go as he pleases, unless he decides to move it over to his own place.]

[ Cultivating life without sending it off to die in water later, at that. Yeah, having their own garden really sounds nice, doesn't it? There's not a lot of space for plants here, but maybe if they lived in the outskirts of the city, with a plot of their own land, maybe-- ]

[ He shakes it off, focusing on the present, and the present is that they're just fine where they are, aren't they? ]

Tomorrow is fine. We should do what you want today.

[ He surely went a long way from "Who cares about the day you were born", huh... ]

[A little cottage by the edge of the forest... perhaps a stream nearby... a nice dream, right?]

Hmm..

[Well, that answer comes easily enough. Hange had mentioned it briefly earlier, before the unexpected nap.]

I wanted to go to the gardening shop anyway, to see if they had a particular plant. The one I saw on the picture box.. it eats insects! A plant that eats animals, that's crazy, right Levi? I want one!

And if we're going there anyway... we can buy other supplies. That's what I want.

[Birthdays only carry meaning if you are able to share them with the people you care about, after all. This way, they can both get things they want.]

[ So nice... too nice for someone like them, right? ]

[ But wait. They're not at war anymore, not in a world that tries to tear them down in every which way. Would it really be so terrible to try to follow it this time?.. ]

[ Levi blinks at the sudden information blurb about the apparent insect-eating-plant, not quite following but happy to hear Hange be excited about anything anyway, his expression softening a little again before he's giving them a suspicious look. ]

How big is this animal-eating plant?

[ HE'S ALREADY SUSPECTING THEY WILL USE IT FOR SOMETHING NEFARIOUS but it's all in the name of banter of course. He's definitely coming with them. ]

[This really is the second chance none of them thought they would receive. What better way to spend it, chasing after all the wonderous things that can give life meaning, be it creating new memories with your best friend, being able to try peaches for the first time, or in this case growing murder plants.]

Huh...? It's small, like this.

[Hange holds out their hands, forming a gap between them that is maybe eight inches wide, give or take.]

It's too small to eat anything substantial! So things like Parsley will be safe. They eat bugs! Like I said- neat, right?

[ Absolutely, all of that. And also wetblanketing said best friend when they get too overzealous about growing murder plants. ]

Sure. And it's not going to grow ten times that size if you feed it something weird?

[ JUST MAKING SURE. ]

As far as I know nothing like that happened.. but you never know with the magic in this world, right? What if there's somehow magical soil that I don't know about! Then it might grow to be three meters tall!

[Just imagine Levi! Isn't it great!]

Heh.. just a thought. If something like that really exists, I'll be sure to use it on your tea, too.

[ YEAH HE'S ALREADY WINCING from the mental image of a titan-sized carnivorous plant but the rest is just a punch below the waist. He gives Hange a long, hard stare. ]

Oi. Spoken like somebody who wants to take more baths.

[ Has he spent a disproportionate amount of time trying to convince Hange that baths are nice and fun? Yes. Is he still going to use it as a threat? Also yes. ]

Ehh?? No way! I'm using my birthday immunity, you can't dunk me today.

[Is birthday immunity even a thing? It is now, by declaration of the commander!]

[After letting out an exasperated huff, it quickly morphs into a soft laugh. Levi, you're actually a funny guy.]

So you'll come with me, right?

To the garden shop, I mean.

That's not a thing.

[ He doesn't sound certain. Maybe it is a thing. It's not like he knows shit about birthdays. Besides, he supposes the Commander doesn't stink yet so they can decree a non-bathing holiday on such an occasion. ]

[ He'd probably have some opinions about being called funny -- or maybe he thinks he is funny, just like he thinks he's talkative -- but luckily Hange keeps it themself. ]

[ He gives them a flat look. It's not even a question, is it? ]

Of course I'll come with you.

It's a thing. Annika said it on her birthday, remember!

[Yes we are taking social rules from our period era soap operas now.]

Yay! I'm glad! [Seriously! Just look at that beaming smile!]

This is already the best birthday I've had in years, so thanks Levi!

[ He frowns, trying to recall that particular episode. ]

...that was immunity to her chambermaid's negativity, not dunking. [ Pause. ] How many different immunities does it include?

[ Oops, he's just rolling with it?! ]

...tch.

[ He won't say things like "you're welcome", but he certainly will accompany them to the store and then they can dig around in pots of soil together. Nice and peaceful. ]

It includes everything that the birthday-person wants it to include! That's why it's birthday immunity!

[there is no way this can backfire when it comes to be Levi's birthday, and Hange is trying to get him to do annoying things because of it!]

[The little 'tch' only makes Hange smile even more, such a typical response but they know he cares. Hehe.]

I'm going to make a list of what we need.

[Hange takes a moment to grab a notebook and pen from the living room before coming back, grabbing another square of the chocolate bread and working on a list of what they want from the garden shop.

Once that is over with, Hange talks some more about the carnivorous plants, eventually succeeding in getting Levi to join them in the living room to rewatch that part of the plant documentary they had on, so he can also see it in all its bug-squishing glory.]

That's too damn convenient.

[ But yes, he's totally filing this information away to use on his birthday because he's sure Hange won't agree to just pretend to having forgotten it. On another hand, he's not even sure if he wants that anymore, either. This place is... different, and perhaps it's fine to give that day some significance here. ]

[ He'll let them handle the list, then, and make him suffer through the documentary (he honestly kind of gets into it after a while though, probably even cracking some inquiries about whether the plants also shit, since they're eating the normal way). ]

[ And then they'll probably head to the store to get the things on the list and spend the rest of the day digging in the dirt (and then cleaning everything because of course). ]

Edited 2023-11-16 22:56 (UTC)

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wanna wrap it up or do garden adventures? :')

i WANNA do it but lets wrap else i wont do anything new this month hah ;; future botany arc tho

secret continuous botany arc offscreen