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

[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.

[ ...wow. (Although, honestly, Levi would be just as impressed about him learning to swim.) But that would just be so incredibly useful? They'd found some magic in shops that could replicate the gas, but not the blades, and Jean is just about to solve it? ]

...not bad.

[ That's high praise, coming from Levi!.. ]

[It is quite a praise, all things considered. Jean just nods.]

I'll keep you all updated on that, once I start figuring things out.

[He finishes the tea, then.]

Thank you for the tea.

Good. Let me know if you need samples.

[ Levi is stingy, not to mention the majority of the monsters here are much smaller and softer than titans, so he's probably still abusing the first pair of blades since his arrival. Maybe second, but he definitely has plenty left. ]

[ He nods slightly, because really, the mere act of him sharing tea with somebody already says more than he could ever hope to achieve in words. ]

...Anytime.

[ Come over more often, Jean! Bring Mikasa, too! It's probably something like that. ]

I have a used set of blades at least, to reference to.

[He can break them apart if necessary for studying. Maybe even melt the metal if possible. He'll have to think. But he's already started making plans about it.]

Do you want me to put the cup somewhere before I go or... wash it or something?

...The monsters here are different. You could talk to Hange or somebody from the Research Center, experiment with materials.

[ Most of them don't seem to need Ultrahard Steel, and on the other hand there may exist something even more efficient here for the creatures that have shells or armor. ]

[ ...he gives Jean a blank look of... pity? Sorry, favorite child, he doesn't trust you with washing dishes. He'd just have to redo it himself later anyway. ]

I've got it. Don't worry about it.

Edited 2023-08-31 21:40 (UTC)

[Jean nods in confirmation to Levi's suggestion. It's definitely beneficial to see what options there might be since Ultrahard Steel was hard to just obtain anyway. And most monsters didn't need it.

Jean feels the tips of his ears heat up. Of course. He should have guessed that, but he wanted to be polite. Too bad, he's actually good at washing dishes! But he won't argue that since it would seem like a child throwing a tantrum probably.]

Alright. Have a good rest of your day, Levi.

[He manages to keep his voice neutral enough as he then takes his leave.]

[ Maybe he'll get to prove it one day. Unfortunately, today is not that day it seems. ]

Yeah. You too.

[ Levi will see him off, then return to properly wash the teacups. ]

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

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