[And she doubts that's going to happen any time soon, if the results she'd been told meant something. If it were based solely on experience then there's no doubt that there were many others who would've taken to the role more kindly than her subordinate. However, one glance at the list of leadership roles tells her another story entirely.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
I'm not Warriorhead, and therefore what I say shouldn't be taken as his word, but it seems like he's chosen those who could potentially learn the most from obtaining such a position.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
If he told you to be careful, it's likely that this is a more physical approach for that warning.
["You've grown." He hadn't had the time to think too heavily on the note attached to his assessment grades. If this is Warriorhead's way of teaching him a lesson—
No better way to make him very aware of the repercussions of his actions than to put them under a spotlight, to tie the lives of the rest of his squad to them in a more official way.
But promotion or not, his loyalty does not lie with the CDC itself. Not by far.]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
what do you think, Squad Leader?
[What does he do about this? Erwin had told him to lie low, and he'd managed to attract attention in the wrong direction anyway. If screws up, it's not just his neck he's risking.]
[To be fair Eren, you weren't exactly lying as low as you probably should've, but things have already been set into motion and all they can do is work with what they have.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
I doubt you'll be able to sway Warriorhead to reconsider his options through words alone.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
With that said, there are two things you can do:
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
One, purposely perform terribly as a leader short of straight up insubordination. A mistake here or there is part of human nature, and they can revive whoever you lose anyway.
[Ouch.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
Or two, take advantage of this promotion and learn what you can from it. We have a long road ahead of us Eren; the skills and lessons you learn here will undoubtedly help you in the future.
[What are you talking about he was totally...under the radar....
But jfc, Hange. Near immediately following the receipt of Option Number One:]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
I won't do that
[Just because the CDC can bring people back doesn't mean they will. They've seen it happen both ways. And just because he's unsure about his promotion doesn't mean the people under his command should pay for it. It's cowardly, and it's unacceptable. It pisses him off just thinking about it, kicks him out of the stunned and uncomfortable uncertainty that he'd been caught in and galvanizes him back into purpose. Because Hange is not wrong about the long road ahead.
By the time Warriorhead offers him a subtle out, he's already made up his mind. Option Two it is.]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
I'll figure it out. We're not dying here. I'll do whatever it takes to keep something like that from happening
[Because people die in a war but that doesn't mean you should lie down and accept it. He's under no illusions about being any good at playing the leader right now. He'll make himself good at it if he has to.
[The immediate response isn't a surprising one to receive, and neither is Eren's determination to succeed for the sake of others. In the six months they've been a part of the CDC, she's watched the teen face his own set of hardships and develop as a soldier.
But they still have a lot way to go, and like Eren, Hange's determined to succeed as well.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
Levi and I are here.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
Use us to your advantage, Eren. We won't turn you away if you need advice.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
Of course, sometimes good leadership comes at the spur of the moment.
[What he really means is "thank you." Because Hange's been acting commander for months, now. If he hadn't admired her before—and he had, for slightly separate but no less important reasons—he has plenty more reason to, now. And that's not something he's shy about admitting. (Lets be real, Eren's always been the biggest fan of the Corps in general.)]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
I won't let you down
[He's not entirely sure how, yet. But it's a start.]
[They've all grown closer over the months, faced the same gains and losses that forced them to become stronger. They're a tighter packed unit, and while any of them could be reassigned at any day, she can't help but grow attached anyway.
Because while Eren's always been special as the symbol for Humanity's Hope, she's watched him grow as an individual as well, and she's watched enough people die too soon to appreciate something so simple.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
Try not to let yourself down either.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
I'll be making my usual rounds now, but it looks like there's a place in the ship that'll accommodate your titan's full height, so I want us to investigate later.
One of the training rooms I stumbled across might be able to accommodate for your size! I wasn't able to measure it accurately myself, but I can guarantee you at least won't crush yourself.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
But he didn't.
[And she doubts that's going to happen any time soon, if the results she'd been told meant something. If it were based solely on experience then there's no doubt that there were many others who would've taken to the role more kindly than her subordinate. However, one glance at the list of leadership roles tells her another story entirely.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
I'm not Warriorhead, and therefore what I say shouldn't be taken as his word, but it seems like he's chosen those who could potentially learn the most from obtaining such a position.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
If he told you to be careful, it's likely that this is a more physical approach for that warning.
no subject
No better way to make him very aware of the repercussions of his actions than to put them under a spotlight, to tie the lives of the rest of his squad to them in a more official way.
But promotion or not, his loyalty does not lie with the CDC itself. Not by far.]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
what do you think, Squad Leader?
[What does he do about this? Erwin had told him to lie low, and he'd managed to attract attention in the wrong direction anyway. If screws up, it's not just his neck he's risking.]
no subject
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
I doubt you'll be able to sway Warriorhead to reconsider his options through words alone.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
With that said, there are two things you can do:
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
One, purposely perform terribly as a leader short of straight up insubordination. A mistake here or there is part of human nature, and they can revive whoever you lose anyway.
[Ouch.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
Or two, take advantage of this promotion and learn what you can from it. We have a long road ahead of us Eren; the skills and lessons you learn here will undoubtedly help you in the future.
no subject
But jfc, Hange. Near immediately following the receipt of Option Number One:]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
I won't do that
[Just because the CDC can bring people back doesn't mean they will. They've seen it happen both ways. And just because he's unsure about his promotion doesn't mean the people under his command should pay for it. It's cowardly, and it's unacceptable. It pisses him off just thinking about it, kicks him out of the stunned and uncomfortable uncertainty that he'd been caught in and galvanizes him back into purpose. Because Hange is not wrong about the long road ahead.
By the time Warriorhead offers him a subtle out, he's already made up his mind. Option Two it is.]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
I'll figure it out. We're not dying here. I'll do whatever it takes to keep something like that from happening
[Because people die in a war but that doesn't mean you should lie down and accept it. He's under no illusions about being any good at playing the leader right now. He'll make himself good at it if he has to.
(He's probably going to need a lot of help.)]
no subject
But they still have a lot way to go, and like Eren, Hange's determined to succeed as well.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
Levi and I are here.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
Use us to your advantage, Eren. We won't turn you away if you need advice.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
Of course, sometimes good leadership comes at the spur of the moment.
no subject
I understand ma'am
[What he really means is "thank you." Because Hange's been acting commander for months, now. If he hadn't admired her before—and he had, for slightly separate but no less important reasons—he has plenty more reason to, now. And that's not something he's shy about admitting. (Lets be real, Eren's always been the biggest fan of the Corps in general.)]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
I won't let you down
[He's not entirely sure how, yet. But it's a start.]
no subject
Because while Eren's always been special as the symbol for Humanity's Hope, she's watched him grow as an individual as well, and she's watched enough people die too soon to appreciate something so simple.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
Try not to let yourself down either.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
I'll be making my usual rounds now, but it looks like there's a place in the ship that'll accommodate your titan's full height, so I want us to investigate later.
no subject
And to be frank, after the kneejerk working himself up in knots over this, blowing off some steam (literally?) is probably not a bad idea. So.]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
where is it?
no subject
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
One of the training rooms I stumbled across might be able to accommodate for your size! I wasn't able to measure it accurately myself, but I can guarantee you at least won't crush yourself.
[How comforting.]
no subject
Yeah, that's reassuring, Hange.]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
Might?
[Not crushing himself is good. Not crushing anything (anyone???) else is probably better.]
no subject
It's a good thing we're in such a well-stocked ship, but I doubt we'll have to do anything too drastic.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
So when are you free?
no subject
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
Whenever you're ready, Squad Leader.
[Famous last words.]