seasonsrpg | [Closed Log] Fireflies are stars that couldn't journey to the skies

What's better than a beach? A beach at dusk with fireflies.

Erwin has never seen so many at once. They would come out as the sun went down in the summertime in the little garden of his family's home, but there were never as many in the city as when they visited the countryside to see his grandparents. There, they flourished, but it was still nothing compared to this.

If he'd had shoes when whatever magic had transformed him, ten-year-old Erwin has already lost them, rolling his pant legs up to his knees and running into the edge of the surf and out again, laughing joyfully as the waves chase him across the sand.

Eventually he finds a jar - whether someone gave it to him or he picked it up himself, and walks along the beach in feet coated with sand, holding out his hand for fireflies to land on. There's hundreds - thousands, maybe even millions of them, blinking softly in and out, and he manages to coax a few into the jar, like captured starlight.

When he spots the dark haired boy, Erwin approaches eagerly, all big blue eyes and eyebrows that he definitely hasn't grown into yet, his blonde hair windblown.

"Hello!" he greets, perhaps a bit over-friendly. "Did you catch any?"

The sound of a voice nearby startles Levi at first, though he seems to relax almost immediately once he realizes it's another kid. He turns his head a little to inspect him, definitely judging, eyes scanning up from sandy feet (gross, Levi is absolutely still wearing his shoes despite the fact they look a couple sizes too big for him) to giant eyebrows, then flickering to the already non-empty jar the boy is holding.

It looks like he's been having better luck with it than Levi so far, or rather, Levi is too scared to really chase them properly -- which they seem to want -- because he worries he might squash them in the process, and they're so pretty it's better to admire them from a distance than risk breaking them, because that inevitably happens when he gets his hands on anything delicate or beautiful, doesn't it?

Still, the question has his face scrunching up in a slight frown.

"I will," he says a bit defensively, sounding sort of like he's giving a prep talk to himself, or maybe just preemptively stopping the other boy from questioning his abilities. ~~There's a hint more yeehaw in his speech than usual.~~ "'M not in a rush."

If he notices the scrutiny, it isn't apparent - just as Erwin doesn't seem to notice how this other boy is small for his age, or perhaps seems a bit undernourished, or anything else normal people might find off about him. For the most part, he just seems excited to have met a potential new friend.

He holds up the jar, which has about three fireflies in it already, and a lid with holes poked into it twisted on loosely.

"If you catch some, we can put them in here! Or if you leave the lid off, sometimes they fly in on their own. Did you know they're actually a kind of beetle? The ones that fly are the males looking for a mate, and the females signal to them on the ground."

Erwin rattles all this off without hardly pausing for a breath. But he stops, and points to Levi's shoulder, grinning. "Look! One's landed on you!"

That is honestly an impressive amount of words to exhale like this, except it's a lot more interesting and less gross than the rants usually leaving Kenny's mouth. ...okay, he might need to contemplate more on the gross part. He knows beetles, but the ones he's familiar with tend to be big, in dull, dark colours, and definitely not pretty.

The crunch isn't too bad sometimes, though.

But these look just like little lanterns come alive, and it's utterly fascinating -- and he's maybe looking at Erwin's jar with a little bit of jealousy, up until the other boy points at his shoulder and he's quickly turning his head to look at it and tensing, somewhere between elated and disgusted, because on one hand, he's been Chosen, and on another, he can really see the legs and mandibles and whatever else up close like this and it's maybe ruining his handfuls-of-stars daydream a little.

"Yeah, well- something landed on your face," he shoots back, pointing at Erwin's eyebrows in return, except his determination to never show weakness falters when the firefly starts casually strolling up his shoulder and toward the neckline of his shirt and he looks down at it again, pulling on his sleeve a little in an attempt to keep it at bay, his voice suddenly smaller; "Takeitoff."

Blue eyes definitely go cross-eyed trying to focus on Levi's finger, and there's a moment of definite confusion, and then it clicks and-

...there's a brief, crestfallen expression that takes over. It's definitely not the first time someone's tried to make fun of his eyebrows, though, so a moment later, a smile takes over again, if somewhat more reserved than earlier. Erwin opens his mouth to say something, but then the other boy seems suddenly afraid of the firefly that's crawling its way closer to his skin.

"It's okay," he says kindly, and holds out the jar for Levi to take. If he doesn't, Erwin will tuck it between his knees before reaching out with both hands to coax the firefly off of Levi's shirt and onto his palm. He holds it between them, the little light glowing as though just for them.

"It won't hurt you, see?"

--Oh. Oh, now he feels kind of like shit, staring at that hurt look. It's not like the other boy can really do anything about the giant caterpillars camping on his brow, not more than Levi can do about being a scrawny little runt -- for now, he's definitely going to be tall and terrifying when he's older! -- and it seems he's sad about that, too.

Maybe Levi should apologize... but Kenny never apologizes, he just changes the topic and pretends nothing happened, so clearly that's the optimal course of action to get along with someone. He chews on the inside of his cheek for a moment, and reaches out to take the offered jar, slow and careful, like he's afraid it might shatter just from contact with his hands.

He almost seems to forget about the creepy crawlie on him for a moment, bringing the jar closer to his face, apparently feeling safe to examine the creatures once there's glass separating them, eyes wide. Then he glances at where Erwin is scooping the firefly off of him.

"I know that," he blurts, finally turning to face them, still a bit apprehensive but calmer than before. He leans in a little closer, the dim light now falling on both their faces, as if they're huddling around a single match in the harsh of winter. His eyes dart to the side before he finally admits, "But I might hurt it."

That's why he's been reluctant to touch them, even if he wasn't particularly enjoying having one on him all the same.

"...you're good at this." Being gentle, catching fireflies, whichever.

Erwin tilts his head at the smaller boy quizzically for a moment. It's a fair worry, but not one a lot of other children seem to think about often. There's something interesting about him that Erwin can't quite put his finger on, but also something really familiar, although he knows for a fact they've never met before. He'd remember someone like this, worried about hurting a smaller creature than him.

Erwin beams though, at the compliment, practically radiating sunshine ~~out his eyebrows~~ at the praise, clearly happy to have impressed his new friend (because they are friends already, right?).

"I've caught a lot of bugs before. Mama doesn't always like it, but papa says it's good to be curious as long as you're careful." Papa says that often, actually.

"I could teach you, if you like! You just can't hold them like between your fingers, or grab 'em with your fist. You gotta make a bubble with your hands, like this-" He demonstrates, gently cupping one palm against the other over the firefly to make sure there's space between them, but not enough for the bug to escape. It starts to flutter against his fingers, so he opens them again, and it starts to drift away, clearly unharmed.

"See?"

(They're absolutely not friends!!) ...that is a much better look on him, though. Fine, maybe Levi can play along with that whole friend angle if it means Erwin's dumb, ultra-eyebrowed expression stays bright like this.

His own face clouds a little this time, when the other boy talks about his parents. Ma died years ago, though he remembers her gentle voice and soft embrace, and how pretty she was, so contrasting with the shithole they were living in. He doesn't think he ever had a dad, or at least he doesn't remember it. He does have Kenny, but it's not the same.

Had, a little voice at the back of his head insists. It's been weeks since he's seen him. Maybe he's not coming back this time. He tells himself that he's been gone for a week or two at a time before, that maybe he's held up by something important, maybe work came up, surely, he's coming back any day now -- and yet, somewhere beneath his soul, same place that instinct takes over from when he loses his cool, he knows there was something final about the way he had walked away the last time.

No. He can't let himself spiral into that now. Instead, he tries to focus on what's in front of him, frowning slightly in concentration as he bends down to carefully rest the jar on the ground between them and tries putting his hands together the same way. It seems... easy, too easy almost, there has to be some kind of a catch.

"Like this?.."

Erwin is about to ask what's wrong when he notices that dark look, concern foiling his eyebrows a bit, but then the other boy ducks to put the jar down (very carefully), and comes back to make the same shape with his hands. He nods enthusiastically.

"Yeah! Just a little wider though-" Carefully he reaches to touch Levi's hands, encouraging him to make a little bit more of a tent shape, just a little more room between his palms. He can't help but notice how small they are, fingers almost delicate, but he's very gentle.

"There, like that!" He smiles, catching the smaller boy's eyes again finally. "I'm Erwin, what's your name?"

Levi's frown darkens when the other boy touches him, but he seems to decide to allow it -- at least for a few seconds, or however long it takes him to rearrange his hands. He takes note of the new shape, memorizing it, then moves his hands apart and makes it again a couple more times to get down how it feels.

Then he turns toward the nearest firefly and catches it.

He leaves a too-big gap between his index and middle fingers, trying to get a look at his prize, and the firefly quickly wiggles back out through it, but he doesn't look too discouraged, shooting a short glance toward Erwin before trying again.

"...Levi." Just Levi.

The frown either has no effect or goes unnoticed. Erwin nods enthusiastically as Levi tries it on his own a couple times, and then gives an encouraging "Yeah, you got it!" when the smaller boy catches one on his first try.

Erwin stoops to pick up the jar again, holding it carefully in both hands and taking a step or two back to give Levi space to practice.

"Levi..." he says, trying out the sound and shape of it, and smiles. "That's a pretty name."

Levi side-eyes the other boy again. What the hell is he smiling about now? He sure seems to be doing it a lot. It's preferable to the sad expression he had a little ago, but it's weird. Nobody is that happy.

...though, he has to admit, twirling among the dancing lights and holding them in his hands feels just about what he remembers of happiness.

Not to mention... getting a compliment for his name? He never considered it anything, let alone pretty, it had always just been his name, though he supposes he liked the way it sounded when his mom said it. Now he's definitely thinking it over again, though, his face perhaps getting a little flustered, as he concludes that maybe it is a pretty nice name.

At least while he's not overthinking it...

"It's got 'leave' in it," he mutters, looking a bit deflated again, and parts his hands to let his first firefly into his jar.

How could he not be happy right now? There's millions (billions?) of fireflies, a beach, the weather is neither too warm nor too cool, and he's made a new friend.

Erwin hadn't meant to fluster him, but it is kind of cute the little flush that comes over Levi's face. He doesn't say it, though, but holds the jar steady for Levi to deposit the little creature inside, and then carefully puts the lid back on. It's got holes in it, enough to ensure airflow but not so that anyone can escape.

"Leave...?" What did he mean by that? The sound is there, sorta, but...Erwin tilts his head.

"I think it's nice to say. How do you spell it?"

Everyone always leaves.

Part of Levi wants to just say it, but another part of him refuses. He's just met this kid. He shouldn't be laying his life story at his feet, not when it could possibly be used as a vulnerability. Right? He seems so nice, though... too nice, almost.

He scoffs and grumbles something ineligible. He glances at Erwin again at the request. He... has no idea how to sound out his name, but he can write it, he's learned that when his mom was still around, even.

So he crouches down and draws his index finger through the sand, slowly spelling out LEVI in fairly neat, if a bit childish, printed-like letters.

Erwin says the letters as Levi draws them in the sand, oblivious to the fact that Levi maybe doesn't just tell him because he can't. This is better, anyway.

"L...E...V...I...Levi." He says the name carefully, like it's something special - because it is, as far as he's concerned. "There's no leeeave in it at all, silly!" He may have drawn out the vowels in the middle, just to make them sound very different, as though it's obvious.

Erwin holds their precious jar under one arm as he crouches down next to the smaller boy and writes his own name in similar letters, just below Levi's: "E...R...W...I...N."

Levi frowns, confused when Erwin reads it letter by letter, but seems to brighten up a little and give him a nod once he says it normally.

And then he huffs and elbows him in the side -- not very hard -- because he knows that, but it sounds different than it looks, so it was still a valid observation!

The frown returns a moment later, this time in concentration, his lips moving soundlessly as he reads the name, apparently prep work to make it easier for himself -- he can read, but it still takes a little more effort than might be expected for someone his age, and he still tends to read things aloud to make sure he got it right when nobody's around to hear.

"Erwin," he then says happily in one go a few seconds later, sounding almost a little proud. "Hey, that's your name." And now he knows how to write it. And their names are right next to each other. That feels... kind of nice, actually. Almost like having friends.

It doesn't hurt - if anything, it tickles, so the touch just makes him giggle a little, squirming a bit.

Another radiating smile overtakes him when Levi says his name, a warm fluttery feeling in his chest kind of like the little lightning bugs in his jar. He nods, bumps their shoulders gently together.

"Yeah!" They are friends. Erwin reaches out, draws a circle around their names, then lines radiating outward from the circle, like a sun, or a starburst. He looks at it, toes curling in the sand. It looks right.

He grins at Levi.

"Let's catch more, Levi!"

Damn, the little nerd must have more padding than Levi does at this age, and he's maybe a little irritated about his totally painful hit not being so, but the little laugh is just... endearing. Yeah, whatever then. Fine.

He stares at the drawing of the sun, not entirely sure what it is, but it does make him think of warm lanterns and also the light in the sky he saw earlier today, and that seems appropriate, somehow, for both of them. He's not sure what makes him think that, but--

He nods, reaching out to pick up his own jar from the ground where he'd placed it earlier. If they're going to be catching more lightbugs, he wants a lantern too, though he doesn't mind helping the other boy fill his up first. It's... fun, surprisingly so.

"...What're your parents like?" he finally dares, because he is curious, even if it's a painful topic for him. But it sounds like Erwin still has his, so maybe it's fine to ask, because he can't help but wonder what it's like to still have them at this age.

Well, Erwin does have more mass generally (not difficult to do, Levi is such a slight little thing), but he also might be a bit more used to bullies aiming to hurt with that kind of thing, so he might have instinctively leaned away just enough to take off any actual edge. So far, he doesn't think Levi actually means to hurt him.

If asked, he couldn't really explain the sun - it'd just felt right. A heart would, too, except that it's not the sort of thing you do with someone you just met, even if he thought about it for more than a minute or two, he'd realize that Levi feels strangely familiar.

Erwin follows Levi away from their names so they don't get trampled, and starts to unscrew his jar.

"Oh! They're the best. Papa teaches at the school - I'm in his class this year! I thought it might be weird, but it's like listening to him talk at home, too. He has a beard and wears glasses and reads to me by the fire at night sometimes. Mama is so pretty...she always wears her hair up, but papa likes it best when it's down. She's a teacher, too, but she teaches young ladies how to sew and do embroidery and stuff and how to talk - sorry, speak properly. Sometimes she she teaches me, too, and she knits me things!"

He tugs at the corner of his sweater-vest to demonstrate - see!!

"What about yours?" Because it's polite to learn about other people in return, and also Erwin is just as curious.

Well. If anybody bullies him here, he should let Levi know. :)

It does feel right, though he would likewise not be able to explain it. There's that fleeting sense of familiarity, there's the brightness of that smile, a sense of a greater purpose, somehow, but it's all smoke-like, unable to be caught or perceived.

Levi listens with some fascination. Does he even know what a 'school' is? He's probably heard about it at least, right? Just like he's heard of sun and stars, even if at this point he hasn't seen, or perhaps just doesn't remember them, but he'd probably be able to name them if he did. Even if he's never been to school himself, he can at least conceptualize it (perhaps wrongly, in part) from what he's heard of it.

That all sounds... terribly fancy, honestly, especially Erwin's mother. Who the shit cares about speaking properly? As long as you're convincing, it's fine, right? That's what Kenny always said. The vest looks nice, though. Yarn is probably something of a luxury in the Underground, but people are also much more likely to know how to sew, for example; most of the time they're making and repairing their own stuff because who can afford to go to the tailor's that often? So he probably knows about knitting, too, and he's maybe a little jealous that Erwin has something his mother made for him.

He looks down and kicks at the sand a little.

"Dead," he says simply, not wanting to get into the details, though he does add, "My mom was really pretty, too." Bet she was prettier than Erwin's, in fact, but he'll keep that to himself. He wonders if she had been able to have a life more fitting of her grace and beauty if she didn't have him.

"...what's school like?"

Oh.

Erwin softens, reaching for Levi's hand to give it a gentle squeeze.

"I'm sorry."

He's had friends who had lost one parent or another, but hasn't known personally many actual orphans, especially not his age. Many parentless children end up going off to military training when they hit twelve. That's a couple years off for him.

He smiles a little, though, nodding. "Yeah, I can tell." Because kids look like their parents, and it isn't hard to imagine looking at Levi that his mother must also have been beautiful. They both deserved to have a good life together.

Erwin lets his hand fall away, and brightens again. "It's great! You get to learn about new things and see your friends every day." Nerd alert. "Sometimes it's hard to pay attention when you have to sit still for a long time, but we get to go out and play a few times in between lessons."

Well, that sounds like yet another avenue for preying on the weak, even if it's less despicable than what the rich fucks do in Mitras and below. Still, kids are being sold the promise of a better future at the cost of signing off their lives... some of them becoming part of the problem later on, no doubt.

Not that Levi knows about any of that at the moment.

Instead, he blinks in confusion and glances at Erwin with maybe the tiniest hint of fluster, because how can he possibly know that? He's never seen her!

You can? he almost blurts, but decides it's probably just the boy's way to comfort him by not arguing.

"You could see them anyway," he points out flatly, but he looks somewhat fascinated all the same. Imagine having time to just -- sit around and learn things all day and then, as if that's not a celebration in itself, you have a break from it by going out to play some more? What world is this? It kind of sounds amazing, actually. He's always been interested in new knowledge, even if it can be pretty sparse in his experience -- unless it's something related to fighting techniques or merchant routes in the neighborhood.

"...So when do you look for food?"

He's seen Levi, and he thinks Levi has pretty eyes and a nice face, so of course his mama must have been pretty, too.

Erwin doesn't quite understand that - if he's not in school but his friends are, then he wouldn't be able to see them, and if they're not in school, they're at home or with their parents, so school is clearly the best place for seeing friends?

But it's the question that really kind of confuses him, those extra large eyebrows furrowing a little bit as he frowns.

"What do you mean? We have breakfast at home, mama makes me a lunch to take to school, and then we eat at home, after papa brings homes groceries from the market."

Levi probably thinks his eyes are plain and dead and ratty, but then, it's not like he's really had anybody comment on his appearance aside from his height anyway.

The secret is being friends with other kids who have never heard of school, Erwin. That's what Levi is used to; hell, the kids used to have their own little gangs, some of which would eventually last into adulthood. Not that he's really close enough to anybody to call them friends; Kenny is liked well enough in the Underground but he's also feared.

He blinks and tilts his head slightly, looking vaguely confused.

"You can get enough from the market for three meals and three people?" he double-checks, sort of poking at his fingers as if helping himself count one more time just in case he got it wrong. "Is your dad rich?"

That is... really not the bar for what rich is, Levi...

The more of these sorts of questions Levi asks, the more Erwin starts to put a few pieces together. His mother gone, going to look for food, not going to school, asking if his father is rich for being able to afford meals for their small family. It's maybe then that he notices a little more the condition of Levi's clothes, the thinness of his arms and wrists.

...oh.

Erwin shakes his head. "No." He pauses, frowning a little. Maybe they are rich, if Levi can't afford to buy food for himself every day. "I don't think so? There are people in the city who are really rich, though. They have big houses made out of stone and servants."

He pauses, holding the jar with a few fireflies.

"...do you want to get something to eat?"

gimme a bb - also pretend I have a bb erwin icon

he's always bb

true <3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

lmao baby erwin so smooth-

the smoothest~

call him pretty and tell him about school things

ok he will~