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[neighsaying]

INBOX (UN: OMNIDIRECTIONAL) text / audio / video / action This is Jean. Leave a message, and I'll reach back out when I'm available. [ Previously was thunderspear ] code credit

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[neighsaying]

I mean, I doubt he made it up for fun.

[ His expression is a little amused as he says it, though, looking at Eren. He has a feeling he won't find it too hard to pick up the basics, but he doesn't say that. ]

We can make it a competition. Loser has to do dishes or something.

[ Jean's (mostly) teasing, judging by the smile instead of the smirk on his face. ]

[wintolive]

Gee. High stakes, Jean. [With a little eyeroll, but he's clearly pleased.

[So, the first present was a success.

[Onto the one that actually means something. Eren's smile fades a bit. He glances away, reaching up to scratch self-consciously at the back of his head.]

Okay. Come...sit down. [It's muttered. He takes the smaller package and holds it in both hands instead of hiding it behind his back. And he takes a seat on the couch.]

Don't give me shit for this...

[neighsaying]

[ He wants to ask if Eren wants to up the stakes, but Eren looks a little nervous about this gift so he doesn't add on the commentary. Instead, he follows Eren, carrying the sword with him and setting it down on the coffee table (heavily; it's loud).

He's curious again, that much is clear. When he sits, he sits close enough for their arms to brush. ]

I won't.

[ He means it! He suspects he won't be tempted to give him any shit about it, though. ]

[wintolive]

[Eren is more than a little nervous. He's still getting used to being vulnerable with Jean-- Hell, he's not used to being vulnerable with anyone, and to him, this gift is...a big deal.

[A really big deal. As serious as the rings waiting for him and Mikasa...]

I'm gonna hand you the package, but when you open it, don't do anything with it yet. Just--

[Oh, fuck it.]

Here. [And he hands him the small box. Inside: two carefully crafted, braided wrist bands. One is slightly smaller than the other one. They're made of fine leather - not cheap on the shards front - with three silver beads in each center, held in place by more complicated braids.

[He spent ages trying to pick out the right ones...]

[neighsaying]

[ The instructions leave him with questions. He can also tell how nervous Eren is, which in turn makes him a little nervous; though he doubts Eren got him anything dangerous.

He opens this one a little more carefully, all the same, and when he opens the box he pauses for a moment. They look like bracelets, at first guess, but there's two of them. They're also definitely of a quality made to be worn, not something you dress up in. ]

Eren...

[ He sounds a little surprised, a little touched. They've never really done gifts like this, though Jean was the one who gave Eren a necklace. He did it under the guise of something to remind him of Armin, though. ]

[wintolive]

[Eren's cheeks have gone pink, his heart racing. He rushes through the emotion, taking the larger wristband out of the box before Jean can. He tugs on the older boy's hand.]

Listen...[His voice is quiet, somewhat anxious.

[He takes Jean's hand with both of his, turning it palm-up. For a moment, he just...holds it, running his thumb gently over the other boy's palm - admiring, appreciating, savoring. He gives it a gentle squeeze. And then he takes the wristband and ties it carefully around Jean's wrist.]

I tie yours...you tie mine...

And we don't take them off. Not until they break on their own...

[He isn't looking at him. His eyes are on Jean's hands.] Or it's bad luck...

[Not that Eren really believes in things like "good" or "bad" luck, but...

[It's a promise, unspoken. Only destiny will break them apart. They won't choose to do it on their own.]

[neighsaying]

[ Jean didn't know that's what it was, at first. A pair of bracelets, yes, a matching set of something, which was already quite sweet of Eren. Then Eren takes his hand, and Jean doesn't pull it back, watching him examine his head. He listens, and he knows after a moment: this is something, a tradition, from Shiganshina.

They don't have traditions like this, in Trost. It's usually a ring - two rings; one to show you're promised, and the other when you're married. If you can't afford it, it's just the one ring for both.

And yet - this feels appropriate for the two of them, watching Eren's nervous hands tie it around his wrist. A promise for the future that they tie around each other. ]

Oh...

[ It's barely a word, just a soft exhalation. He turns his hand over to look at the bracelet, but it's not the decoration that matters to him. It's the knot, securely tied, and they're sized perfectly. No extra strings to catch in ODM gear.

He doesn't know what to say; for once, he doesn't try to figure it out. Instead, he takes Eren's hand in one of his own - smaller than his, now; they've always been smaller, but even more so than he remembers. He brushes his thumb over his knuckles, turning it over as he takes the bracelet with his other hand.

In the same manner Eren had, he ties the bracelet securely against Eren's skin. The hand he chose is the one Eren bites when he transforms into a Titan; he made the decision deliberately.

His fingers rest against the leather knot. ]

No bad luck for either of us. [ He swallows slightly. ] Okay?

[wintolive]

[Eren isn't sure if Jean recognizes the tradition or not. As far as he knows, it's unique to Shiganshina and Shiganshina only. And that speaks immeasureable volumes.

[Eren loves his home. It was a cage, yes. But it was where his mother lived, where he came home to hot meals and a warm bed, where he and Mikasa and Armin grew up together, racing to their tree on the hill.

[Eren loves his home. And he misses it so painfully that sometimes it feels as though he can't breathe. Every day, he's plagued with the knowledge that he'll never return - not truly. Never truly, no matter what's rebuilt, revitalized - if that ever happens at all.

[There's a terrible weight to this promise, to the fact that he's let Jean in on this very sizable piece of his heart. He didn't tie the bracelet lightly. And Jean doesn't tie his lightly. Eren can feel that same weight in return, and he thinks that, yes, Jean must understand.

[He swallows down something in his throat, then leans forward to bump his head against Jean's shoulder. If he were the type to say "I love you," maybe now would be the right time. Instead, he merely nods.]

This is a promise...[His voice is very soft.] You get it, right?

[neighsaying]

[ It's a piece of Eren's home that he's sharing with Jean. He might not know that Eren will never truly return home, but he understands the significance of sharing it all the same. Eren has never been one to be very open with the history of Shiganshina. Most of what Jean knows, really, comes from Armin.

He understands the promise, though, what it means now and what it'll mean in the future. In his mind, it's a promise for Eren to try, too. To try to live, to try to change a horrible ending. Jean doesn't know if it's possible, but he can't give up on Eren either.

Eren leans his head against Jean's shoulder, and Jean curls a little closer to rest his head against Eren's. ]

I do - I get it. I promise.

[ I love you. I won't let you go without a fight. ]

[wintolive]

[I won't go without a fight...

[Eren takes a deep breath and lifts his head. With Jean's so close, he lets his nose brush against the other boy's cheek as he goes. It's very nearly a nuzzle.

[He lifts his hand - the one with the wristband now tied to it - and runs his knuckles over Jean's cheek. Damn handsome bastard. When will he start growing stubble like that...?]

Let me kiss you. [Mikasa would rather not, which Eren tries to understand. But maybe Jean will...]

[neighsaying]

[ Their promises are the same, so they're settled. Jean's lips lift a bit in a smile at Eren pushing closer to him, brushing his knuckles over his face. Mikasa has her reasons for not wanting to kiss Eren, and Jean understands them. They're not the same as his, though; when Eren asks, Jean huffs out a small breath. ]

Yeah - that's okay.

[ Always weak to Eren, even when he shouldn't be. He turns his head a little to make it easier for Eren to kiss him. ]

[wintolive]

[A little thrill at that. He'd been half-expecting a rejection. Eren sits up a little straighter, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Leaning in, he tucks a finger under Jean's chin and kisses him. He knows there are boundaries here; it isn't a hungry sort of kiss. But it's not rushed or teasing like it was under the mistletoe either. It's soft, and slow, and sweet. Eren wants to savor it, to feel the way it feels - and it feels like a thousand goosebumps breaking out all over his skin, a pleasant chill on his spine. He could kiss Jean forever, actually.]

[neighsaying]

[ There are definitely limits, and he knows Eren knows them. He brings his hand up to cup the back of Eren's head, his fingers threading through dark brown hair. This kiss feels much more deliberate than their one under the mistletoe. Its another promise, and Jean responds sweetly, moving his lips against Eren's.

Kissing Eren is nice, the same way kissing Mikasa has been. He only pulls away when he feels like he's at risk of wanting to push it deeper, and unconsciously, he licks his lips once they're far enough apart. ]

[wintolive]

[It's enough. Eren might want more, but that's what the future is for, and he's decided to make that future happen - the future where he can kiss Jean until he goes blind from want and then continue. If nothing else is worth fighting for, then that can be, at least - right?

[He pulls away, the smallest of smiles on his face.

[He did a pretty good job, huh?]

You're not so bad at that.

Kiss me whenever you want, okay?

[neighsaying]

[ He did a good job.

Though at Eren's request, Jean chuckles, not meanly. ]

I will - but not in front of Mikasa, okay?

[ Yes, even cheek kisses. He wants to respect her limits, and rubbing where they are different in front of her face feels cruel. ]

[wintolive]

[At this, a young little frown.]

Just because she doesn't want to, you can't? Seems unfair...

[neighsaying]

It's not that I can't. But we're partners - all three of us. It's mean to do something she doesn't want in front of her.

[ He leans forward and presses a kiss to Eren's cheek. ]

You wouldn't like it if I got a croissant if you couldn't have one and ate it in front of you.

[wintolive]

Yeah, but she doesn't even want to...

[Which he looks a little injured about. He's also incredibly fucking stupid for even thinking that, especially since that's not what she said.]

[neighsaying]

That's not true and you know it.

[ He knows Mikasa wants to, he just knows that those four years yawn between her and Eren. ]

Regardless, she isn't kissing you right now, and you should respect that. Just like I am.

[ This just means Jean is going to escort Eren to the door a lot when he leaves... ]

[wintolive]

[Not without some irritation:] I am respecting it.

[That, and they all more or less agreed that Eren could have his fun too - again, just so long as it isn't in front of Mikasa.

[He sighs. There's no reason to ruin their good moment. He shifts around on the couch, flopping against Jean's chest with a small huff.]

Well, when we're alone, I want some. Got it?

[neighsaying]

Greedy.

[ But Jean clearly has no qualms with this, seeing as he leans down to kiss Eren again. ]

[wintolive]

["Greedy". When it comes to this? Yeah. Maybe. Maybe he deserves a little greed.

[Jean makes him feel so much better about everything...

[Eren's hands find his boyfriend's face, lingering there once the kiss ends.

[Then he unceremoniously squishes his cheeks - hard.]

Eh. You like it too.

[neighsaying]

[ How dare you squish his cheeks, mister. ]

I do, but you don't have to be such a brat about it.

[ Guess! Who's! Getting his sides tickled. ]

[wintolive]

Woah! Hey!

[He is not ticklish! He is not! He's only writhing around like a fish out of water because--]

Will you fuck off? Cut it out! [He is indeed laughing, by the way. He sounds entirely pissed at the same time, though.]

[neighsaying]

[ Jean does it a few seconds longer just to prove he's not listening to Eren before he does back off. He leans back against the arm of the couch, laughing until his cheeks are red.

Completely off guard for any revenge. ]