(no subject)

[sacrificusdux]

WHO: Erwin Smith, and you!
WHERE: Heropa, FL: grocery store, Residence #028, other places?
WHEN: Various times,April 19th and onward
WHAT: Enjoying the modern world.
WARNINGS: Possible canon spoilers. Angst.
Prose or brackets are fine.



A. Grocery Store

[Who knew eggs came in red, blue, green, all the colors of the rainbow. It almost seemed like a waste of perfectly good eggs to just paint them colors and hide the, at least that was the gist of what Erwin seemed to think this holiday referred to Easter was about. How the rabbit with the big ribbon tied around its neck was involved, that was another mystery.

His mission here today was something far more important than investigating colored eggs- they had run out of tea and were running low on coffee. Obviously, this meant that a trip to the store was in order. He had found he was rather particular about his coffee here, there were so many choices though, with different kinds of beans and roasts. There was nothing like it back home.]

B. Residence #028- open to roommates

[One of his new habits Erwin found himself indulging here was being able to grab a few peaceful moments with a cup of hot coffee, straight from what was now becoming is favorite piace of technology, the coffee machine, along with the various books he had managed to get his hands on. Everything from nature, to history, to politics, there was a stack of a few books by his elbow.

Tonight's reading? A book on the history and myths of the Great Wall of China. Fascinating stuff, at least to someone who had always lived behind walls before.]

C. Wildcard

Anything you want! This can be used as catch all for any logs if necessary.

Comments

b.

[alofts]

It's possible we're European. [ It was the made the comment with the same off-the-cuff air reserved for predictions of tomorrows weather. Levi approaching the tangled mess that was their history with the same import he would give guessing at if he whether or not he needed an umbrella tomorrow was not beyond the pale. ]

If that was why you were reading about some big ass wall. [ Coffee was his last choice but it was hot and ready. The mug Levi seemed to prefer, a worn white and blue ceramic thing with a chipped handle, was set down on the table before Levi fell into the chair opposite Erwin. ]

[sacrificusdux]

It is, there are similarities. Yet I wonder why there is nothing in the history which could refer to the Titans other than vague mythology. [ It's something that he wonders about, especially considering his own theories about their own history, theories which were dangerous to say the least. ]

It's an interesting history, though it turns out the wall was not exactly efficient at keeping anyone out in reality. [Erwin commented thoughtfully as he closed the book to look up at Levi.]

[alofts]

Think I read about that. Greeks? All of it was bullshit, but it gives us some insight where the name came from.

[ Without Hanji fueling their need to pull at the fraying threads that held the mystery behind titans together slowed progress. It only felt right they should make any and all ahead in her unfortunate absence. Levi was left to mull over if it would do them any good in the long run between periodic breaks for coffee. ]

It's been difficult. [ Levi admitted as he retreat behind his coffee mug. Though not without breaking the steady gaze Erwin kept him in. ] Forcing myself to bother with what could very well be our history.

[sacrificusdux]

Yes, the Greeks. There are no references to them devouring other than one Titan devouring his offspring in fear of being overthrown by one, however. It is a start though.

[There is that glint in Erwin's eyes once more, his gaze never wavering.]

We have to know. If it was covered up once more, it can give us an indication of how they were able to change history a century ago as well.

[alofts]

Devouring their offspring. [ Levi repeated in a distant voice. And without losing that dreaminess to his voice fell back onto wholly Levi-like behavior. ] Maybe we just solved the mystery behind shifters. Titans just shit them out.

There was some woman at the store that asked me if my parents were religious when I handed her my card. Something about my name, but I ignored her. [ It was the first time Levi spoke of himself or implied to even having a past. Even if it wasn't in many words. ]

Still, I got curious. [ He shrugged with still red shoulders poking out through the loose collar of the long sleeved he always wore when he had no intention of leaving the house. ] 'Erwin' is of German extraction, apparently.

[sacrificusdux]

It's something to look into. [Erwin said with a raised eyebrow. The mystery of the shifters in the 104th training class was still gnawing at him here, there was that itch to know just how and why they were behind the walls. What was their goal?]

Religious? She didn't explain the meaning? [he asked, curious as he leaned forward.] If our names have meaning here then it stands to reason this could be humanity's future.

[Which brings up even more unanswered questions, however.]

[alofts]

[ Levi shook his head. ] I didn't ask because I thought she was rude and obnoxious.

[ Not the answer Erwin wanted, but Levi knew he wasn't going to hold his inability to put away with some random stranger against him. Pulling rank each and every time Levi acted out would turned Erwin grey years ago. ]

Or its past. [ Shit. Regretting it the moment he said it, Levi twisted in his chair until he faced the bay windows that made the living room feel vacuous. Frown more severe, highlighted by the street lamps that faced the front the house. ]

You're right. We would have had a leg to stand on if this is the state of the world before everything went to shit.

[sacrificusdux]

Of course. [No, not the answer he wanted but it was the answer he expected, there is the hint of a smile on his lips.

But all hints of amusement vanished at Levi's next words and silence falls between them for a moment. Erwin's expression is dark as he bowed his head slightly.

It's more than a sobering thought if this was their past, if humanity was simply doomed to live, and die, imprisoned by not only the Titans for the rest of their existence.]

The Central Military Police have gone to great lengths to conceal the truth from us, what that truth may end up being. It was not the Titans who have taken this away from humanity, if this is true.

[alofts]

[ Thumb pressed tight over the rim of the mug with his knuckles bone white in the vice-like grip he held the chipped ceramic handle in. The recoil from the shadow that fell over Erwin. ]

Central Branch is the omnipresent knife in the dark. [ Levi agreed in his own, cautious way. He didn't look at Erwin right away, but when he did he leaned over with elbow on his knees and mug hung between his legs in his still firm grip. Eye contact unwavering when he spoke. ]

I'm an aberrant person. I can't fully appreciate the opportunities these strange circumstances have allotted us, or think far enough ahead to know what to do with this information. [ He made a breathy noise through his nose; an almost laugh. ] But you can.

[sacrificusdux]

If this is our past, even more reason to be aware. The knife may yet still be at our backs even now. [Erwin said slowly before picking up his cup of coffee.

His eyes settled on Levi's once more, holding his own mug with both hands. He didn't say anything until he took a long drink of coffee, it was starting to get a bit cold.]

Even if it's true we will not remember any of this upon return to our own time and place, I fully intend to make use of these advantages we are afforded here nonetheless. [Because even if they forgot, there was still the chance, however small, they could change the course of humanity's future in some way.

A pause, and then-] Is there anymore coffee left?

[Never mind the late hour, it seems he's staying up tonight.]

[alofts]

Even if what's true? [ Levi jerked forward; coffee spilled over the the rim of his mug. In his sudden loss of equanimity failed to notice coffee staining the carpet at his feet. He thought perhaps Erwin assumed he already knew, but that was unfortunately not the case. ]

No this is... [ His gaze dropped to his mug. Any other time he might have felt a twinge guilty for killing the last of the coffee at an hour when everything was closed. Any other time when Erwin hadn't thrown that new information at him he might have even apologised. ]

Before I wait for the other shoe to drop [ The mug was put on the table and Levi pushed off his chair. ] Maybe now would be a good time to inform you of the single malt I acquired a short time after your arrival.

[sacrificusdux]

I have not yet verified this information. There would be only one way for us to test it first hand and that is to somehow find a way to return to where we were before. [Erwin said calmly, looking up as Levi jerked forward. His eyes watched the coffee slosh to the floor, it was unfortunate but it seemed tomorrow he would have to get some more.

He set his own now empty mug down with a bit more care, nodding.]

I believe you may be right.

[alofts]

You do that. [ Levi griped, already a foot in the open kitchen that shared the floor space with living room. Duty was one thing, but no one had to pretend they were eager to return.

Glasses were dug out from the depths of some seldom used top shelf and a cork popped. Pixis drank like a fish and Nile always looked like he was walking off a bender, but Erwin never seemed to have that privilege as commander. Which Levi found deeply ironic because of the three of them, Erwin was one with the reason. Neither of them were partial, but they knew good liquor. ]

We'd never see this shit outside of Sina. [ Marching backing into room Levi hastened to comment before his lips were wrapped around his own glass. Wordlessly he handed Erwin a glass then dropped into another chair. This one further from the coffee stain he now both acknowledged and loathed, and catty corner to Erwin. ]

[sacrificusdux]

[Erwin took his own glass, swirling the liquid around with an appreciative look.] I don't believe I've seen anything quite this good in a long time.

[While Niles and Pixis indulged their own vices, Erwin found he never really could afford to after his training days. There was often too much at stake to allow himself to be anything less than clear headed at all times.

But tonight he had that luxury to lean back in his own seat to take a long drink, letting himself savor it with a small smile.]

Fit for a King, indeed.

[alofts]

[ Levi took another pull and suppressed the urge to shudder when that familiar burn wormed its way down his throat and hit the pit of stomach like a stone. The tension in his burning shoulders and perpetually sour expression didn't lax, but he frowned a tad less severely. ]

Found it at the grocery store. [ He shrugged. It was still good, and as far as he was concerned the only thing fit for a corner was arsenic. ]

If you're planning on toasting anything feel free to leave me out of it.

[sacrificusdux]

For anyone to buy? [He could only imagine how happy Pixis would be here and that actually gets more of a smile from him before he downed most of the glass. The burn was more than welcomed, he could feel slightly more warm already.]

We don't need to toast. [He says heavily, anything they might toast to, including their fallen comrades sacrificed for the hope of what they now enjoyed, would never be forgotten. Instead he settles for downing the rest of his glass. Perhaps he didn't indulge as much as his fellow commanders but that didn't mean he was a lightweight.]

[alofts]

For anyone to buy. [ He confirmed then polished off what was left in his glass. It was the indecorous way to take what was regarded as a gentle's drink, but Levi would be last to care. As long as he could feel the heat course through him in any place other than his suffering shoulders. ]

I suppose a Saturday night without the world as we knew it looming over us is reason enough to leave the bottle here. [ Levi left any further remarks to fall by the wayside as he leaned over and put three fingers of single malt back in his glass. He really didn't need to say what drinking alone without a contempory would be like. ]

[sacrificusdux]

I suppose we can afford one night. [As soon as Levi set down the bottle, Erwin took it to refill his own glass. When was the last time when he was able to set aside everything which at was at stake, to let the world simply pass by without him for a few moments?

He must have been a child, before the day his father had risked it all to tell his theories to his foolish son.

Levi's company was appreciated as he took another drink, feeling the warmth spreading to his fingertips as his posture relaxed slightly, becoming less tense.]

[alofts]

We're out of practice.

[ Levi more so, but between the two of them there was no 'turning off' with them; not without its own problems. There was never any kicking your feet up in the Underground, and the only thing that changed there when he came into the Corps the uniform.

Back pressed against the chair with his feet hiked up under his legs he leaned back and drank in lieu of another word. That comfortable silence where nothing that nothing needed to be said passed between them like an old friend. There was nothing compare it to because while the silence wasn't new the undeniable wave of peace was a stranger. The empty glass went down after who knew how long and the wrinkles seemingly burned into Levi's brow finally appeared to vanish. ]

Anyone could have shown up. [ His face pressed against the side of the chair; his voice was heavy and slow, but lucid. ] At least it was you.

[sacrificusdux]

Mhmm. [There is nothing to be done with years of being on edge, waiting for the world to end, the expectation that today may be the last day they saw before being devoured.

The second glass finished, a third was poured as well as another for Levi. There was no question if he wanted it, as strange as this was they needed this.

Glass in hand, he let his head lull back, letting it rest against the back of the seat for a moment. When Levi spoke again, he took his time moving, shifting as he looked at the other.]

And at least you're here too. [Glad you're here. Maybe there was a reason for it but at the moment, he let thought pass without further consideration.]

[alofts]

[ Levi extracted himself from that warm ball he coiled himself into to take his third glass without second thoughts. The third glass went down faster than the last two and the burn less severe. ]

I'm either going blind [ Levi looked from Erwin to the bottle and back again. All the energy drained from him he couldn't hold a proper grimace. ] or we killed half that bottle.

[sacrificusdux]

[Erwin downed the rest of his third glass before picking up the bottle to peer at it, blinking for a moment. He hadn't thought the bottle would go by that quickly.]

We've finished just under half. [He said as he refilled their glasses for a fourth round before what was left in the bottle was set down. This is the most he's drank in many years, it's almost surprising out well he's handling it so far.

Then again, his hand is shaking slightly as he raises the glass to his lips again but nonetheless is careful not to waste a single drop.]

[alofts]

[ Levi picked the up by rim and clinked their glasses together as Erwin raised his. A small gesture he wasn't drinking more than he had in who even knew how long out of some skewed sense of obligation. He felt the weight of every muscle in his body as he drained his fourth glass and the blistering taste was nothing more than a dull sting. ]

More than half now.

[ The glass almost slipped out of his grasp when he set it down. He held the back of his chair as he pushed himself onto his feet to steady himself. Careful not to lose anymore self-control than the last hour or so robbed him off he was deliberate with every step he took away from the support of the chair. It was only a few steps forward before he leaned over with one hand on the arm of Erwin's seat and the other pressed against his brow. Levi's voice was still low and long suffering. ]

Shit that was enough.

[sacrificusdux]

[Erwin clinked his glass against Levi before downing his own glass. His were certainly shaky now, he nearly set the glass down side ways before taking a moment to set it down the correct way.

As Levi came over to where he was sitting, he leaned forward slightly. He wasn't sure how well he would be able to handle a fifth glass, blinking at Levi's hand to his forehead but not pulling away.]

This is an accomplishment, even if we couldn't finish off the bottle.

[And that was for the best.]

[alofts]

[ Levi waved him off and sank down next to him because it was the closet spot now besides the floor. Having something very real to compare it too it wasn't an exaggeration that he felt like the floor had been pulled out from under him and he was in freefall. Forehead pressed into the heels of his palms just to feel something cool against his swimming head. ]

Truly a victory. [ He just needed a moment to appreciate it. ]