maskormenacelogs | (no subject)

WHO: Mike Zacharius & Erwin Smith
WHERE: The beach.
WHEN: Vaguely afternoon.
WHAT: Friendship! Sand! Water! Super serious soldier types not being super serious for once (maybe).
WARNINGS: Nothing at the time being!

Mike had heard about the beach - it wasn't hard, considering how it seemed extremely popular at the time being. (He'd heard a few of his coworkers mention things like "perfect beach weather", and that was usually followed up by complaints of having variable work hours.) Erwin had even invited him to go to the beach, and now they were finally doing that.

So far the beach was living up to all of Mike's expectations. Granted, he didn't really have many besides "a lot of water", "sand", and "people went there". So far it wasn't lacking in water, sand, or people. It was impressive and a little overwhelming, and he's just a little mystified as to how there's nothing dangerous about any of this. Maybe he's gotten too used to living a life of certain death and a few weeks aren't enough to break that sort of paranoia, but he finds it hard to believe there's nothing lurking in the depths.

"So this is the ocean?" He squints out across the ocean, shielding his eyes with one hand. "It's different from what I expected."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I know, I thought the same thing when I first arrived. Nothing quite prepares you for seeing it in person," Erwin said thoughtfully as he looked at Mike. Even after months here, it was still difficult to believe they had the opportunity to see a world that those behind the Walls couldn't begin to imagine. Or were even allowed to, for that matter. While it was a sight Erwin knew he could never take for granted, he was beginning to become used to the sight of it and idea that it was just within reach.

"You've seem to be adjusting fairly well here," he said after a moment, it was his way of asking if that was true. This world may not have presented with life or death situations every day but it didn't mean that it was always so easy to simply get by.

"It's pretty nice." Nice is a bit of an understatement, but...It's really the best way to describe Mike's current life in Heropa. Strange, unsettling, and bizarre work too, but mostly it's just been nice to not be afraid. It's not great knowing that he's dead - and he never really considered the possibility of an afterlife before, always being too concerned with making it through the present - but having a few more moments with his friends before his time here runs out is more than he could have ever asked for.

"I've been doing my best." He appreciates Erwin's concern, and it's kind of strange to think that Erwin might be worried even if it's completely understandable. He's known Erwin for years and he isn't sure he'd ever know how to handle Erwin being emotional. "Everyone here's been really helpful with the adjusting, too."

It's his way of thanking Erwin for just...being here. He's not sure what things would be like for him if he was alone in this place. He'd probably be worse off and worried about what was happening back home - at least now he knows his friends are alive, even if it's only for the time they're spending away from home.

"I'm glad to hear that," Erwin said with a nod. Erwin himself wasn't accustomed to dealing with emotions either, even though here there was nothing else to focus on to distract him from anything brought up by seeing his best friend alive once more. It's not certain how much time they have to spend here, he learned that lesson when he had been brought home for a period of time. He was certain what awaited him back home but that was something he didn't permit himself to dwell on, the day would eventually come but it wasn't now.

"That's good. It can take time," he said as he looked at Mike carefully, though in his own way he understood what Mike was saying. Even around Mike he kept the facade up though, out of habit but the concern was there. "Even then, there are things I'm sure I'll never be entirely used to," he admitted, after almost a lifetime spent on edge, living any other way seemed nearly impossible.

Mike nods back at Erwin, dropping his hand to his side. He feels much luckier than he has any right to be, and maybe that's why he hasn't just completely broken down just yet. He doesn't quite know how to articulate it, and there's a part of him that feels guilty - because why does he get this second chance when there were dozens upon dozens of soldiers that deserve one too? Soldiers that were younger than him, soldiers that could have done so much more with their life here than Mike would.

But he wasn't about to complain about getting a chance, even though he feels selfish. "Is it the food?" Are you taking care of yourself is the unspoken question, and he fixes Erwin with a critical look. This was a man who would cut off his own arm to survive, but that just makes Mike worry even more. It would be easy for Erwin to get fixated on something here and ignore his own needs, especially considering the hell they had come from and the near-paradise they were in now. (Perhaps the most worrying thing is that he thinks cutting his arm off was a perfectly reasonable thing to do.) "I still can't eat a lot of it. Don't think I'll ever be able to, honestly."

"Sometimes. I would avoid anything processed or with dairy in it," Erwin said with a nod. The unspoken question hangs between them for a moment, Erwin knows he can't just say he's fine, that everything is alright because Mike has always been able to see (smell?) right through him even when he when he had the mask in place. They had known each other too long for Erwin to try to hide it anyway and the look Mike gets back isn't a reassuring one. Even if their situation is different, Erwin still put his own personal needs second to whatever else he had to do.

"I don't think many of us will ever be able to tolerate some of the food here," he agreed, though it wasn't just the food he was referring to. There were many things they all carried over from home, letting go and adjusting wasn't always an easy task.

"I might have learned already." He huffs out a small laugh. He's going to spare Erwin the details, but chances are he already knows exactly what happened to Mike.

He stares at him for a few more moments, before inhaling slowly through his nose. The scent of happiness from the other beach-goers almost overpowers everything else, but he pretty much knows what Erwin would be feeling anyways. He hasn't changed that much from the last time Mike saw him, even if he was now down a limb. Then, slowly, he nods.

"Probably not. But the Corps has usually been pretty good at adapting," he nods. He believed everyone would make it through more than okay, even if it could take them all months and years. Or at least that's what he wanted everyone to be capable of. They deserved it.

"Ah, yes. For me it was the coffee creamer," Erwin said with the hint of amusement. He didn't need to know details, he can imagine his friend's reaction well enough having experienced it himself. Once was really enough to enforce that particular lesson.

"Yes and we have an opportunity many have given their lives so humanity may be free of the Titans," Erwin said with a nod of agreement. He had made peace with himself long ago that he wouldn't be alive to see humanity get to this point so to be here suddenly was still disconcerting at times. He wasn't sure if he would ever able to adapt completely without feeling at odds with this world.

"And what about us? We could adapt to anything beyond the Walls before," he asked honestly, curious if this is something Mike has thought of. Even after a mere few months here, Erwin was feeling that tireless restlessness which caused him to toss and turn through the night or to give into taking the sleeping pills.

Mike makes a face at that, but he's glad for the lack of details. He appreciates it, he really does.

He hums in thought, looking back across the ocean. It's not something he'd ever think he'd see in his life - he wasn't even sure if such a thing really existed on their world - but it's there and he can't deny it. It takes him a while before he answers, because he's not quite sure what to say. This world is...different. It has it's own set of threats and difficulties but it's nothing like the constant threat of being eaten.

He shrugs. "I'm not sure. It might take a while or we might not ever adapt complete," he sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "But for now we don't have a choice. I'm not worried about me, though."

He resigned himself to this life as soon as he arrived.

"I'm not worried about you either," Erwin agreed, it wasn't a lack of caring but he knew that Mike and Hange, and Levi to a more limited degree, had more of a capacity to connect with the world around them with a genuine connection.

"This may be the only chance we get after all," he said as he paused to take off his shoes when they ventured closer to the shore. It was one of the few indulges he allowed himself, walking barefoot through the shallow surf. No, he wasn't sure if he could ever get used to this but he would try to enjoy it when he was able to.