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[It doesn't suit him. He's doing it anyway, because the only other choice is no choice at all. Maybe he would have considered himself a coward for it, a few years ago. Maybe he still does. But that's how things are, right now. Realistically.
Being pragmatic and being idealistic aren't things that coexist happily. Nothing about this has been easy for him.
At length—]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
ok
[Wether or not he'll be able to take her advice—to fit it into his worldview and his habits—remains to be seen. But he'll make that call when it comes to it. For as stubborn a soul as he is, Eren has never been a stagnant one.]
Being pragmatic and being idealistic aren't things that coexist happily. Nothing about this has been easy for him.
At length—]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
ok
[Wether or not he'll be able to take her advice—to fit it into his worldview and his habits—remains to be seen. But he'll make that call when it comes to it. For as stubborn a soul as he is, Eren has never been a stagnant one.]
[Keep your head low. It's a timely reminder, really. For the first time since his consignment, his Survey Corps superiors are gone—MIA or transferred away. He's not without allies (like Parker), comrades and family (Mikasa, Petra, Jean, Marco,) peers, people he likes. But he's fast run out of authority figures that he respects enough to flat out heel when he's told to, and that's been a big part of what's kept him in line so far in the first place.
He's grown up a lot in the past year or so. Learned caution, sort of, sometimes. But he is not, by nature, prone to policing himself very well when his blood is up. Time to find out just how far he's come.]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
you too.
[He'd be pretty damn furious if you got yourself axed, Parker.
On the bright(?) side—]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
this is more cdc brass than we've seen before
[Pre-existing personnel on the planet. The "Prospector," who even seems to make Honey nervous. It means they need to be careful, yeah. But it also means things are changing. They're not in the static pattern they'd been holding since Ajna. They might actually find some answers, now, instead of living in isolation and ignorance. Even Honey doesn't seem to know why they're here. It won't be like Macha.]
He's grown up a lot in the past year or so. Learned caution, sort of, sometimes. But he is not, by nature, prone to policing himself very well when his blood is up. Time to find out just how far he's come.]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
you too.
[He'd be pretty damn furious if you got yourself axed, Parker.
On the bright(?) side—]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
this is more cdc brass than we've seen before
[Pre-existing personnel on the planet. The "Prospector," who even seems to make Honey nervous. It means they need to be careful, yeah. But it also means things are changing. They're not in the static pattern they'd been holding since Ajna. They might actually find some answers, now, instead of living in isolation and ignorance. Even Honey doesn't seem to know why they're here. It won't be like Macha.]
[ It is that. It is, too, an opportunity. To dig more. To know more. To search, to discover, to learn. It is the only path they can take, has been for a while-- learning about them. Know which gears make the CDC turn, even if they are the smallest of all. Even if it won't further them much, it is still a step forward rather than backwards.
It is still hope. ]
FROM: parker@cdc.org
we'll keep in contact. i'll talk to you later.
[ At least they are still on the same team. ]
It is still hope. ]
FROM: parker@cdc.org
we'll keep in contact. i'll talk to you later.
[ At least they are still on the same team. ]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
yeah.
[Not much more to do about it right now, until the Prospector shows his face. Until they can dig out a better idea of what the hell they're doing here.
Though, after a pause, before he lets her go—]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
are you from earth
[A lot of the humans on the crew seem to call "Earth" home. Given the rumors flying around after people spotted some familiar sights during the drop, it's probably no mystery why he's asking.]
yeah.
[Not much more to do about it right now, until the Prospector shows his face. Until they can dig out a better idea of what the hell they're doing here.
Though, after a pause, before he lets her go—]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
are you from earth
[A lot of the humans on the crew seem to call "Earth" home. Given the rumors flying around after people spotted some familiar sights during the drop, it's probably no mystery why he's asking.]
[ Pragmatism and idealism can only coexist in a person at the cost of breaking them. Amber thinks she has seen it happen firsthand, but hopes it doesn't have to be so for him. ]
FROM: amber@cdc.org
I'm jogging around the facility. We're bound to meet if you hang out by the entrance.
FROM: amber@cdc.org
I'm jogging around the facility. We're bound to meet if you hang out by the entrance.
[The facility is big—bigger and more established than any other rendezvous or CDC supply they've been given on a mission, and he's still working at figuring out what it means.
It's also only so big. What it means right now is that even if he doesn't answer her message, it's quick work to push past the low buzz of busy and unfamiliar CDC personnel to the gates to test her theory. And he does, leaning against the side of the facility and facing the dam, frowning down into the new red light of his cuff as he skims through Honey's list again to make sense of it.]
It's also only so big. What it means right now is that even if he doesn't answer her message, it's quick work to push past the low buzz of busy and unfamiliar CDC personnel to the gates to test her theory. And he does, leaning against the side of the facility and facing the dam, frowning down into the new red light of his cuff as he skims through Honey's list again to make sense of it.]
[ Routine is a good way to keep one's sanity in a place where nothing ever stays the same. Comrades come and go. Some die, others transferred to more perilous assignments and new faces arrive every other week. Even the Instructors aren't here to stay. Amber wouldn't admit that Armada's wordless departure was troubling. No, not upsetting. Let's settle at troubling.
She doesn't slow her pace until she nears her starting and now her end point, right in front of the gate, only to walk slower and quieter that she might try to surprise him with a tap on the shoulder. ]
Boo.
She doesn't slow her pace until she nears her starting and now her end point, right in front of the gate, only to walk slower and quieter that she might try to surprise him with a tap on the shoulder. ]
Boo.
[It's troubling. Eren had not been exactly friendly with the instructors, had engaged them near-strictly for information (or arguments.) Because he had no interest in building a loyalty to the CDC, and trusting the brass to be more than that is hard when all they do is speak in riddles.
(Though Warriorhead had said and done some pointed things that had given him pause, made him wonder.)
But he's not stupid enough not to find the timing fishy as hell. He remembers Amber offering to ask Honey why she killed Dagger, if she saw her before he did. Back on Aquada, when Honey had been her instructor but not yet Eren's as well. Turns out there was no need, Honey bragged it out loud before either of them got to the post. (Turned traitor. Working with protesters, rebels.) He's reading that particular conversation over again with a habitual amount of laser-focus. A furrowed brow and a tense jaw and little regard to anyone who might be trying to (succeeding to) sneak up on him.
His reaction is swift. A little jagged, if not explosive. He's always sort of strung tight, these days.
His shoulders pull stiff when she taps them, fingers curling closed over his cuff as his hands pull into fists. His head snaps up, expression set in a reflexive scowl that smooths out to confusion as her voice registers.]
What the hell, Amber?
[Just say hello like a normal person.]
(Though Warriorhead had said and done some pointed things that had given him pause, made him wonder.)
But he's not stupid enough not to find the timing fishy as hell. He remembers Amber offering to ask Honey why she killed Dagger, if she saw her before he did. Back on Aquada, when Honey had been her instructor but not yet Eren's as well. Turns out there was no need, Honey bragged it out loud before either of them got to the post. (Turned traitor. Working with protesters, rebels.) He's reading that particular conversation over again with a habitual amount of laser-focus. A furrowed brow and a tense jaw and little regard to anyone who might be trying to (succeeding to) sneak up on him.
His reaction is swift. A little jagged, if not explosive. He's always sort of strung tight, these days.
His shoulders pull stiff when she taps them, fingers curling closed over his cuff as his hands pull into fists. His head snaps up, expression set in a reflexive scowl that smooths out to confusion as her voice registers.]
What the hell, Amber?
[Just say hello like a normal person.]
I can't believe this is the last thing in my ic inbox
oh my god why are you back here
why are you doing this to me
why are you doing this to me
can't a girl dig up old threads and wallow in nostalgia at 4 in the morning on a monday
i don't judge your lifestyle, ambi
i don't judge your lifestyle, ambi
you judge my lifestyle frequently
I'm sad the game died just as they were becoming actual friends 8( weh
I'm sad the game died just as they were becoming actual friends 8( weh
i'm sure that's not true
me too... ugh don't remind me.... they were turning into really cute friends in spite of... everything
me too... ugh don't remind me.... they were turning into really cute friends in spite of... everything
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