neighsaying | inbox | labyrinthum

People avoided me anyway.

[ Mostly because they were scared of her, not because she smelled of something bad or overwhelming.

Stepping into the store, she holds the door open for Jean to follow before she nods her head. ]

Do you like tea? I can get you some.

Not me.

[ It's important that she knows that. She could be covered in blood and titan gore and he still wouldn't avoid her!

He steps in, looking around and looking just the tiniest bit overwhelmed by choice, although he doesn't panic the way Sasha or Connie might. It makes him move a little closer to her. ]

Sure. I never really paid much attention back home.

[ So probably just the regiment's standard issue black tea, and the occasional chai for the holidays. ]

[ She often was covered in blood and titan gore, so she appreciates the sentiment. ]

I wouldn't either.

[ What she means is she wouldn't avoid him, but that might not come across particularly well. The soap had been overwhelming a little, but this? It feels like she's being assaulted by herbs and scents, nose wrinkling before she starts to poke around. ]

I'll get the captain's and my own.

[ He's been around her enough to understand what she means, and he shoots her a grateful glance all the same. Ego boost +1!

Either way, he sympathizes with her not enjoying the collective smells of many different kinds of tea. He follows her, just to pay attention to what she's getting for herself and for the captain, and offers to pay if she wants. ]

[ It takes her a little while to find the right ones, poking around the shop with her scarf tugged up over her nose, before she finally finds it. She picks up a couple of the boxes before she turns her attention back to Jean. ]

These ones.

[ And then she stops. This isn't tea, but... Lifting it into her hands. It's cocoa. ]

We should get this too.

[ He's familiar with the concept of cocoa, but it's not something they get often. Still, when he sees it, his expression brightens. He already noted the availability of milk, here. ]

That's a good idea. For the Captain?

[ She shakes her head. ]

This one is for us. For our house.

[ Something extravagant, uniquely so. It still feels like an expensive commodity. ]

Tea for the captain, cocoa for us.

[ Uh oh, a three hit combo - a unique gift, us and our house. Jean turns an impressive shade of pink before he clears his throat.

She's so sweet, does she even realize it? ]

T-that's a good idea. Niccolo taught me how to make it once.

[ He waves her towards the counter where they can pay. ]

Then you'll make it better than I will.

[ She follows after him, deliberately making sure she can slip in first so he doesn't try to pay for her. She has her eye on you, Jean. ]

Do you want to have some tonight?

[ Wow, how dare she. He's just flustered enough that he doesn't put up a fuss when she slips ahead and pays; it gives him time to get his blush back under control so he doesn't stumble over more words. ]

Well, he only showed me once, you could secretly be the master of it. And... that'd be nice, we could all three have a cup.

[ Gotta include Eren! He seems fond of the idea, though. ]

We'll practice. Apparently, we have time.

[ Not that she necessarily believes that yet, but...

Purchases made, she slips back to the doorway. ]

Anywhere else?

We should make the most of the time we have anyway.

[ If he went home tomorrow, he would be sad that he hadn't shared a cup of cocoa with her. So they might as well do it tonight, so that they have no regrets about it.

He follows her out the doorway, shaking his head. ]

If you want, we can take a look around, but the only other store Erwin mentioned sold things like oils.

Edited (word change) 2023-12-11 20:47 (UTC)

That's what everyone is saying.

[ She'll trust it eventually - just not yet.

For now, she's happy to slip out into the fresh air, breathing out softly. ]

Do we have things for dinner?

[ The fresh air is very nice, and now the only scents they're laden with are the soaps and the tea they've picked out. Jean glances around as he answers her. ]

We have some things, if we're okay with a simple stew or breakfast for dinner again, but we could make something healthier if we picked up some more vegetables. [ Pausing. ] And meat, if we wanted it.

[ Meat being relatively cheap here compared to home is just a wild thought still. ]

There's a lot of meat here... We should get something nice.

[ Another luxury. Will they ever get used to it? Free access to so many things that were out of their reach before. ]

I want some. And some bread. And potatoes.

[ ... Sasha would've loved this place. ]

We should make a roast, with some potatoes and dinner rolls.

[ ... He knows who she's thinking of, because he's thinking of her too. He exhales softly. ]

I wished for her back, you know. I didn't know you would be here but - I thought, if Mikasa takes this deal, she'll wish for Eren. So, I'll wish for Sasha.

[ And Eren is back, in a sense. But Sasha isn't here. He's not bitter, but he does miss her terribly. There's still some guilt, that he didn't wish for Marco, but... there are reasons for that. ]

That's a good idea.

[ Mikasa holds her bag closer to her chest, that familiar defensive mechanism, as if she can protect her heart from the sour feelings by doing it. ]

... I did. That's what I think I wished for.

[ And it came true, didn't it? Which means... Maybe Sasha will come back as well. Maybe they'll be lucky. ]

I want to see her again.

[ He'd hold her hand if she had one free, so instead, he steps closer, moving to rest his hand on the small of her back. A comforting gesture, for two friends missing one of their close ones. ]

I saw her, at the end of - everything. She saluted me and Connie... she was smiling.

[ He chuckles, and it sounds wet, but he's determinedly not crying. ]

I hope you get to see her again, too.

[ Mikasa welcomes it, leaning into the touch gently. It’s just enough that she doesn’t feel prickled by the comfort and can instead take it for what it is. ]

She was happy to see you. You and Connie.

[ Mikasa could understand that. To see lost friends again… ]

I’ll try to hope. Maybe she’ll come here too.

[ She's definitely not someone he can just lay an entire hug on without having a good reason. He usually just waits for her to indicate some need for comfort, generally. He's been taking more liberties here, though. ]

We were always a package, weren't we. When we could steal Sasha away from you.

[ Gently teasing, that tone. He nods in agreement with her. ]

... Let's see what the biggest roast we can find is. We'll make a meal worthy of her.

Only when I could steal her from you. And Connie.

[ People who were never meant to be apart. There were so many of them now, torn apart by war, the titans or the effects of Eren and the Rumbling.

Nodding her head, she tries to focus and walk. ]

We might even have leftovers.

I swear those two were secretly twins.

[ He knows it hurt Connie a lot to lose her. They'd always been attached at the hip even before they adopted Jean into their group. It almost perfectly coincided with the losses of Marco, and then Reiner and Bertholdt. ]

A meal like that? There better be leftovers. Don't let Eren eat it all.

[ He's teasing; Eren wouldn't. But they'll have a fun time debating over which cut of meat they can get the biggest piece of. ]

Edited 2023-12-11 22:58 (UTC)

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we'll get levi fruit tea another time --

levi isn't important now, only cocoa

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wrappage~