seasonsrpg | [closed] levi, no: vol.1 (bad at communication)

[He's going to find out, even if accidentally. Good luck, Hijikata.]

I can understand that what happened caused them to be worried about all of us going out anywhere. But I feel like it's still overreacting.

[Jean holds in a sigh. Somehow he feels responsible for this mess, even if he really shouldn't.]

Besides, you returned safe and sound. That's what should matter.

[ Good luck indeed... ]

We're all on edge. [ He agrees, tiredly. ] But that's not your doing.

[ Levi had been... overreacting about Hange ever since they showed up being no longer dead, at least compared to how aloof he could normally be. The latest stretch of everyone's nerves may be because of Jean, but he's not the one who started it. ]

They're fine now, I think. We talked.

[ It... honestly went better than he expected. ]

[ Also, since I was not aware it would be a thing when we started... Jean is free to notice that Levi seems to have finally removed the last of his bandages. There's a few scars running down his face that had been partially obscured before, and his right eye, while intact, looks cloudy. ]

...

[Jean sort of disagrees with that, but then he doesn't know anything about the future or what happened there so he doesn't say it out loud. The fact is that him dying didn't help anything.]

I feel like talking about things is something we should have been taught back in training.

[He certainly doesn't know how to do that most of the time.

Anyway, as he opens the box of tea he brought, he changes the subject.]

You've healed pretty well. That's good to see.

Didn't your mother teach you that?

[ Which, you know, totally excuses Levi from having any semblance of communication skills. ]

[ He's half tempted to bitch some more about how it's not exactly "well" when you're missing two fingers and left blind on one side, but he has to acknowledge that he did absolutely get lucky. Most people did not survive such events, and he not only managed to live through an explosion in the face, muddy river water and a world-ending battle, but he's even walking on his own two feet right now, if with some help. ]

[ He has the urge to touch the scar on his cheek but forces it down before his hand really moves much. ]

[ Good thing Hange was there, is another thing he wants to say, but he's not sure whether or not that's part of the whole Thing that Jean's better off without. At least, he probably shouldn't tell him that Hange died, not without consulting them first. ]

...yeah.

.... I don't have the best relationship with my ma.

[He's mature enough to admit it nowadays, at least. And maybe even regret what a horrible teenager he used to be. Like, a lot. If he could he would save his parents and then apologize to her for everything. They'd be so proud of him for having a wife and all.

It was still well compared to most people not even surviving what Levi has been going through. It's all in the context of the wounds.]

Ever thought of reaching out to the network to ask if anyone has healing powers strong enough to heal the rest? There's a lot of strong powers out there.

[ Jean of all people not having a good relationship with his parents? Levi calls bullshit. ]

Let me guess, you were a colossal asshole to her. Most teens have a phase like that. I doubt she holds it against you.

[ It's... probably meant as reassuring? ]

[ But anyway. ]

[ The possibility presented seems to catch Levi offguard, so much so that he's quiet for several moments and just sort of staring at Jean, his eyes just a fraction wider than during his usual stares of silence. ]

...No. I haven't.

[ Was that... something that was possible? Could somebody really just make his vision, or his fingers, or even his goddamn knee come back? ]

[ That sounds too good to be true. But at the same time... Levi isn't sure how he feels about it. Would it feel right, now that he's associated his injuries with the end of fighting, with peace, with everything that changed him as a person? Hange risked their life to save his, and that uneven stitching across his face is the only thing he has to remember them by back home. His hand lifts to feel it for a moment. He does have them here, but it still feels meaningful because he knows that wasn't supposed to be the case. ]

[ Finally, he makes a small dismissive noise. ]

...I'm not very good with the... "network".

Yeah, probably not. She's not the type to be mad for too long anyway.

[Still, there's a lot for him to apologize about. They're probably all just met with a hug from his mom. Which he would very much like now. As a teenager he was very embarrassed by hugs for some reason. Silly teenager. (Jean you're 19).

Jean's not surprised to hear Levi's not good with the network, but he nods.]

It's something to keep in mind, at least.

[ Mothers don't seem to be for the most part, as far as he can tell. ]

[ But hey, maybe Jean will see her again. Everything is possible here, right?.. ]

[ Honestly, someone should probably just do it for Levi. But with how hesitant he seems about the thing, nobody can be blamed for wanting some kind of confirmation from him first. ]

...yeah.

[Maybe Jean will bring it up with Hange sometime. It seems they would be the best person to touch that subject. Or any subject.]

So... how did the mission itself go?

[ so it would seem... ]

Fine. We didn't find what they wanted, but we still got paid.

[ Which is the important part here, clearly. He's set for several months now! ]

[ And, you know, there were giant metal dragons, but who's keeping count. ]

That's usually the good part about the quests. They rewards you just for the effort.

[Which was nice, since you never knew what to really expect.]

Huh. That's new.

[ Back home, the higher-ups were always drilling Erwin, and later Hange, for "results", often withholding funding to that end. Every damn expedition ended up being some red tape fight. ]

[ Being paid for just "trying your best"? Hah. This really is a miracle world. ]

[ The kettle finally starts whistling, and Levi gets up to pour Jean and himself a cup of tea each. It might be plain black, or maybe it's the one with dried peach pieces again. ]

[ He sits back down, musing for a moment before finally continuing, something that keeps gnawing at him every time he hears something like this, every time he looks at someone he knows is dead and gone back home, every time he witnesses these kids being able to just live their lives-- ]

...Ever think this place sounds too good to be true?

Edited 2023-07-28 21:48 (UTC)

[Jean thanks him for the tea, of course now he needed to wait a bit for it to cool down, so he didn't do anything about it yet.

He blinks at Levi's question.]

... a little. A part of me's waiting for something to go terrible wrong and ruin everything.

[ Sounds like Jean understands how Levi feels, then. And that's not accounting for the possibility that his injuries might get... fixed more, one day. Just everything about this place, and everyone here, and-- ]

[ Okay, there's definitely some more people he would like to see. The point is, this is already so much more than he had made peace with back home. ]

...Yeah. Or to get woken up and realize it was all your mind playing tricks on you moments before death.

[ Is this even real? It sure feels that way, and yet. ]

It's gotten a little easier to actually get used to this being the reality now, after being tossed around in so many worlds. I still sometimes wake up, expecting I need run straight into a battle or expecting I'll see the barracks around me.

[The difference was that Jean and Mikasa had been at this for years, now. Levi and the others have started started. Would it get easier on them? Jean couldn't promise that. Not with them being through more, in the future. But...]

We just need to take it one day at a time.

Even after years, huh.

[ It's... both a little discouraging, knowing that that feeling never really goes away, but also comforting. He wouldn't want to become complacent with this new reality, wouldn't want to take it for granted when he knows it can still be ripped away. ]

[ It's fine. It's probably fine. ]

[ Jean might be different from the Jean he knew back in their world... but he's still grown. He seems... mellowed out, almost, at least until he butts heads with Eren. ]

Didn't think patience was your thing.

[ He's half-joking. ]

[Jean is tempted to say that he was patient enough to wait for Mikasa to notice him, but truth to be told, while he did yearn for her and wasn't really interested in anyone else, he hadn't waited for her to actually to notice and choose him. He was ready for it, but never expected it. So when it happened... he was the happiest ever. And now she was his wife.

So he mostly just looks amused at that.]

Usually it isn't.

[He finally takes a sip of the tea. It's definitely good and while he's no expert, it's definitely better quality than anything he's had. Not that there was anything wrong with the tea bags.

There's one more thing Jean wants to bring up.]

Do you mind if I take a look at your knee before I go?

[ There were many things wrong with the tea bags and the quality was only one of them!! ]

...Why?

[ He doesn't sound argumentative, just confused. Jean wasn't a doctor, right? Not even a science guy at that. It would make more sense if Hange had asked that, but the guys at the research center seemed to be doing well enough... ]

[They're just so convenient...

Jean only now realizes it's yet another thing he hasn't really brought up on things he's learned while traveling these worlds. Well, as good as time as any.]

I studied under a doctor for a year. So I thought I'd offer to give it a quick check since you haven't had the chance to visit the doctor's yet, right?

[ Levi makes an annoyed noise. ]

I visit them all the time. [ But he hasn't had the time to do so since returning from the mission, and he... probably should. His leg did experience some strain there, but he doesn't feel much worse for wear, if maybe a bit tired. ] But fine.

[ He has definitely not heard about this before and honestly, he's having some trouble picturing Jean as a doctor of all things. But he has no reason not to trust him, and if he thinks he can figure something out, well. ]

[ It's not like Levi doesn't want to get back fully on his own feet. ]

[ He turns in his chair and starts unclasping his brace, loosening the straps enough so that he can slip it off and roll up his pant leg. There are visible scars, both from the titan bite and the operation, but it seems to all be healed up. ]

[ There's probably nothing particularly wrong with the bones underneath, either, though some chips may be missing, or a juncture may be a little more wobbly than it should be. ]

You're really full of surprises.

I've just had time to pick up new skills I wasn't able to before.

[It's not really something he would aim for, himself. It just happened, since his magic was what it was. Plus it did become a useful tool for various situations. Even now that he no longer had healing magic.

Jean kneels on the ground in front of Levi to take a look at the knee. It's the first time he sees it for himself, but he can definitely imagine how bad it was before - especially with all the other wounds he had. Not that he knows how any of them had happened or if they're even related.

He works carefully, not putting too much pressure on the knee as he tests it a little bit.]

It looks like the trip hasn't put too much strain on it, so your healing hasn't gone backwards, at least. The bones have healed pretty well too, even if some chips are missing, but it shouldn't affect the progress too much. You will definitely need the brace for a while longer, but I think it can be adjusted a little bit to support the right parts of the leg to help with the healing progress more. But that needs to be done by a professional, rather than me.

[But at least Levi can be aware that the brace might not be completely supportive right now? Well it is, but it could be slightly better which might make walking more pleasant.]

[ He supposes he did. He certainly finds himself with an abundance of time nowadays, now that their entire regiment isn't fighting to survive. He hadn't exactly gone out to learn new things aside from the whole winter power thing though. Maybe that's a sign he's getting old. ]

[ He patiently suffers through Jean poking and prodding and moving his leg -- not that he knows much about that, but it kinda feels like being handled by a doctor -- and huffs once he's finally done. It's not like he solved anything but he supposes it's an extra kick for him to go see those guys again. He knows he should, but he doesn't want to. ]

[ To be fair, it's not like this brace was custom made for him. He'd just gotten it for his metal titan (mecha) trials and kept it. Maybe if he has one properly made and fitted, the results indeed would be better. ]

Fine. I'll pay them a visit.

[He's just been an apprentice, not a miracle worker. All he can give is some advice and a nudge to go and see someone. Which he did.

Jean gets back up to finish his tea.]

I recommend it, at least.

[ He huffs softly and leans down to roll his pants back down, then secure the brace on top, tightening the straps maybe a little too much. It's something of a comfort, after spending years squeezed in by the belts of their gear. ]

Any other new tricks up your sleeve I should be aware of?

Uh.

[Probably saying he learned how to swim isn't important, even if it's the first thing that pops into his mind for some reason. Hence the stop.]

I also studied under a blacksmith for a year so I know how to make weapons. Swords especially. I'm planning on looking into how to make blades for our gear.

[closed] levi, no: vol.1 (bad at communication)

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