titanscience | Seasons inbox

[ It's the next morning after their long talk at the bar -- not quite early morning, considering Levi had to stop elsewhere first. ]

[ But it's still early enough to be a nuisance -- who sleeps, anyway? -- when he's doing that telltale knock-tap pattern on Hange's door again. ]

Hey. I wanted to let you know I'll be going out on a quest for a while. I don't know how long I'll be gone, but I'll keep Mikasa updated (she's staying home with our pets).

Normally I wouldn't inform about going out on quests, but it's going to be a longer one so I wanted to give a heads up.

[ After receiving a troubling text from Jean, Levi is soon at Hange's door again. He did consider sending them a note via Eren mail (what is texting when you can make your subordinates run around with shitty little written messages?) but he has some... reservations that he wants to be there for to deal in person. ]

Jean fucked up. [ He announces as soon as the door opens. Good morning to you too, Hange. ] Thought you'll want to know.

[ Doing this in person is a bad idea for a multitude of reasons. There isn't enough trust on either side; anything could go wrong. So Reiner resorts to using new technology, having already seen that Hange knows how to use it.

When the video clicks on, it shows Reiner seated at a table, his hands folded in front of him. His clothing is plain enough, his long-sleeved shirt the classic dark green he favored in Paradis. But there's one addition: on his left arm, he wears a red armband with a nine-pointed star. A Warrior's armband. ]

Commander. [ There's no hostility in his tone; he sounds calm, respectful. ] I'd like to discuss a mutual non-aggression pact.

[ After this whole bit of bullshit Eren tears the note off the fridge and goes straight to Hange's apartment, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

He bangs on the door, maybe harder than necessary. This is an overreaction, sure, but he's Eren, and consider: Jean just literally died a month ago. He has no idea what quest Levi took or who he's with or what they're doing.

If there is anyone he trusts not to die, it's Levi, sure, but...listen, this is not the point. Maybe Hange knows where he is, though, and coming over here is faster than texting or calling. He likes the phone just fine but his first instinct in this case is face to face. ]

Did you know me and Zeke have the same birthday?

[ On September 5th, a special delivery arrives at Hange's apartment, the box magically chilled to keep its contents at the perfect temperature.

Within the box is a peach-flavored ice cream cake with "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" emblazoned on the top.

There is also a small, ~~pineapple~~ spineapple-shaped card containing Reiner's neat handwriting, written in Eldian script: ]

As promised. Happy birthday.
- Reiner

[ Levi will swear up and down that he doesn't bother with birthdays, or remembering them, because every day that you get to spend alive is already special or something. But, well. It is perhaps a little less bleary here than it was in their world, and perhaps he's had enough downtime to consider smaller things, and perhaps he's just too damn happy to have Hange back after accepting he was finally left alone in the world. ]

[ It's some ungodly early morning hour on September 5th when Levi lets himself into Hange's apartment and proceeds to deep clean the entire place top to bottom. He'll conveniently not wake Hange up if they're asleep, but if they're not, they might be asked to move their legs at some point as he's committing an attack on floor with some kind of an industrial vacuum that leaves the roomba in the dust. ]

[ Once the entire place is as spotless as it can be (and weird potion ingredients are tidily sorted into clean boxes), he retreats to the kitchen. He's made chocolate for Hange before, apparently, so he's going to do that again, except with some extra steps this time because again, he has the time and energy to spare (and maybe he wants to remind Hange of something that he doesn't want to actually say, like how he's grateful for them or how watching them be happy fills his heart with peace). ]

[ Soon enough, there's the sweet, rich smell of what has to be some version of chocolate brownies wafting across the apartment, and the kettle with tea water is whistling as it comes to a boil. ]

[ There's some extra loud knocking before Levi lets himself into Hange's apartment and immediately starts looking for them. He looks -- well, he kind of always looks a bit high-strung, but it seems more so now, and he's only wearing one rubber glove, which is definitely very unusual. ]

Oi. Four-eyes. Something weird is going on.

If I remove Zeke's name from the terms of the mutual non-aggression pact, can we finalize it?

[With both Hange and Erwin being here, it's sort of hard to decide which one to contact about this, but he decides to go with Hange. They're someone he's interacted with more, and they've been around longer.]

I managed to make new blades for the ODM gear at the forge. They're made from different steel than the original ones, but should work well against monsters here - and won't break as easily, either.

I'm thinking about making a delivery to everyone who has a gear here, but I thought I would let you know first.

On 12/24, a delivery is made by a Fairy service.

There are two presents from Jean. One is a big magically reinforced package that says "Gear Blades for when you need them" that has, like the name suggests, ODM gear blades, made with different steel than their normal ones are. The note attached to the package says they're good against monsters in this world and are more durable. It also says that he can make more later, if necessary.

The other present is a lot smaller. There's a set of two daggers (made by Jean) and a magical pouch meant to keep samples that are picked up fresh.

The card simply says: "Happy Holidays from Jean"

OOC note: You can pick the design for the daggers yourself; they're definitely customized in a way that reminds of Hange.

Edited 2023-12-21 17:59 (UTC)

[ On the Solstice, a package appears on Hange's doorstep. It contains a Mermaid Necklace with instructions on its use. (Wear it and get/stay in water.) There is also a very large, pretty shell that Reiner picked up off the bottom of the Great Ocean Lake. (He just thinks it's neat!)

A note accompanies it, written in Reiner's neat (Eldian) script: ]

Commander Hange,

The necklace will allow you to explore the sea as much as you want without being confined to the shore or air.

- Reiner

[ Levi had taken to Hange's instructions and made sure to measure his new, shadowy fingers against a metal ruler they got him every morning. Just like the Guild Leaders suggested, it seems to stop right around when it's "normal" size, and after waiting some more to make sure it stopped, Levi's finding himself at Hange's door at ass o'clock again (the couch crashing has temporarily been suspended since Eren had proven once again that he still needs to be babysat more strictly. At least he's doing a good job on the floors). ]

[ As soon as they're aware of his presence, he's holding up his right hand in front of their face in lieu of a greeting. ]

...it hasn't changed for five days. I think it's done.

[Hijikata's present arrives in the mail on December 25th. It's a big illustrated book on Ellipsa's native fauna. Alongside it comes a small bag of colourful candy canes. The litte card reads:]

Hange,

I hope you're enjoying these festive days! Luckily nature never goes totally dormant here, what with the static seasons, so you can always continue your explorations. Let's go questing again in the new year! Take good care of yourself until then.

-Hijikata

[ soon after Armin's departure, Levi shows up wherever Hange is and drags them off for a walk. it seems he doesn't want to be alone right now. he'll seek Erwin's comfort, later, too, but Hange is the one who had actually knew the boy as long as Levi did. ]

[ they go to the beach, look at rock pools and stare off into the ocean/sea. the mood is rather gloomy, but they'll talk it out a bit; at least Armin isn't dead, and he's going to do good things with the world he's inherited. it's just a shame they didn't get more time with him here. ]

[ Levi allows Hange to pick up some shells, not finding it in himself to deny them anything that may improve their mood at least a little bit. they probably talk and hug and reminiscence before finally heading back. ]

[ little do they know, they will have to repeat the entire process by the end of the month, once in a short amount of time, they get Moblit and Farlan back only to discover that they will be going back to being dead. this time, there might be more violence and destruction of property (or chucking of rocks and sea creatures), but ultimately, they're still there to comfort each other, as they had grown to ever since they ended up being the only two veterans left. ]

establishes dominance over your inbox,,

text; un: jean

action;

video; un: reiner

erenmail! well, sorta

text; un: reiner (31 july, evening)