[Being so far behind the times, it's taken a lot of wrestling with himself to accept the fact that Annie and Reiner aren't who he wants them to be. In some ways he's still struggling with it, because he's always been better at dealing with things head on instead of in hypotheticals. But he's not stupid. And the possibility of compromise isn't one that had ever really occurred to him, once the lines in the sand had been drawn on both sides. (You don't negotiate with traitors.)
So, quickly—]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
Compromise?
[After everything they say has happened, what is there to compromise about?]
[It isn't like Hange hasn't put a considerable amount of thought into what's occurring between both sides. However, she's used to making lackluster compromises for humanity's sake. The idea of striking a deal with traitors leaves a bitter taste in her mouth, but—]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
Yes.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
I know this won't easy, but we wouldn't be compromising if I knew this wasn't going to help us prepare for the bigger enemy.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
We have to make use of the opportunities we have available to us, even if it means working with traitors.
[He's yet to properly hit the same levels of burning, spitting rage at the other shifters that he had (that he will) back home. Without seeing it for himself, without a target and a threat to face down, it's mostly settled into a sharp and sick simmer caught somewhere in his chest. That said, he's still. You know. More than a little bit biased. She can't be serious.]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
With all due respect ma'am —[Because he really does like and respect Hange, and text takes enough effort for him to remember his formalities most of the time. The bigger enemy, though left vague, is a pretty obvious leap in logic to the CDC itself. But the Survey Corps brass had been the ones to impress on him that he can't trust Annie and Reiner anymore in the first place.]—You can't really think we need help from them.
[The enemy of my enemy is still an enemy of humanity.]
[It's true. They've purposely withheld the knowledge beforehand, but she's a firm believer of granting her subordinates the power of information whenever they can afford to do so. In this case, they revealed the shifters's identities so that they could protect themselves.
And now she's suggesting a compromise for the very same reason.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
There is a possibility that we might never have to call for their aid.
[There's no doubt in her mind that many of their soldiers would prefer that.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
However, what's apparent to me now is the fact that we have neither the men or resources to focus on two different enemies.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
We're in a vulnerable position either way, but I would rather ensure that everyone is aware of where they should be investing their energy.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
If nothing else, it'll keep them off our backs. But it'll only work if both sides are willing to perform that much.
[Thankfully for Eren, Hange's patient when it comes to matters that are actually important. She's willing to answer, so long as he's willing to listen.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
They will.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
We can't allow ourselves to doubt them. This won't work otherwise.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
For now: will you be able to at least agree to a ceasefire?
[As much as he chafes against it, the best way to get Eren to cooperate with something he doesn't like is to get him to understand why it might be necessary. So as unhappy as he is with the conversation, it means a lot that she's willing to have it. (As a superior officer and de facto Commander in Erwin's absence, she doesn't technically have to.)
Still, this is somewhat more drastic a disconnect than usual. It's complicated in a few ways. Goes against the grain of him in others. He's radio silent for a while. Long enough to be worrying, maybe.
After several long minutes, carefully, as if typing it is just as difficult:]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
Yes ma'am. I will agree to a ceasefire if they will.
[If they break their word then all bets are off. But he can try. In effect, a ceasefire's not all that different from what they've been doing for the past few weeks already. It's still hard. He's supposed to believe they'll hold up their end of the bargain. But he hadn't wanted to believe they were traitors, didn't want to doubt them in the first place, and he'd been wrong. But he does want to believe in Hange, and in the rest of the Corps, and with the CDC breathing down their necks and holding humanity hostage against them, he doesn't have any better options. If she thinks this is the right thing to do—for the Corps, for humanity—then for now...he can try.]
She doesn't expect her soldiers to wipe the identities of those who've personally threatened humanity and provide a blank slate. They all have every right to hate the shifters and what they could potentially stand for. It wasn't an easy thing to accept and cast aside, not when they've been trained specifically to protect the human populace. In Eren's case, as one of the few Shiganshina survivors, it must be especially hard.
However, Hange's methods have always been unconventional. She's shifted her priorities about the titans once already; to her, this isn't all that different in the long run. They must be willing to take risks, to broaden their horizons and capture any opportunity they can allow.
Hange can't claim this is the right thing to do, but for now it's all they have.]
[It's...especially hard. Even alone in the of his rover and far away from the shifters and farther away from the ruins of Shiganshina and the remains of humanity. It's hard. Accepting what's happened, (what's going to happen, in a future he should remember but doesn't.) Being so close and having to hold back. Again, he takes a while, holding the blackglass too-tight, knocking his head back against the wall of his bunk to vent his frustration in a too-small and very-unsatisfying way.
There's a lot more he'd rather do (rather say) than go along with this. But it's settled. (Is it? Words are cheap, he can't forgive Reiner for what the Armored Titan did, he can't trust Annie even if some part of him still wants to.)]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
Roger that, Squad Leader.
[But he'll be there. Because as hard as it is, it's not about what he wants. It can't be. Not here.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
So, quickly—]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
Compromise?
[After everything they say has happened, what is there to compromise about?]
no subject
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
Yes.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
I know this won't easy, but we wouldn't be compromising if I knew this wasn't going to help us prepare for the bigger enemy.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
We have to make use of the opportunities we have available to us, even if it means working with traitors.
no subject
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
With all due respect ma'am —[Because he really does like and respect Hange, and text takes enough effort for him to remember his formalities most of the time. The bigger enemy, though left vague, is a pretty obvious leap in logic to the CDC itself. But the Survey Corps brass had been the ones to impress on him that he can't trust Annie and Reiner anymore in the first place.]—You can't really think we need help from them.
[The enemy of my enemy is still an enemy of humanity.]
no subject
And now she's suggesting a compromise for the very same reason.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
There is a possibility that we might never have to call for their aid.
[There's no doubt in her mind that many of their soldiers would prefer that.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
However, what's apparent to me now is the fact that we have neither the men or resources to focus on two different enemies.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
We're in a vulnerable position either way, but I would rather ensure that everyone is aware of where they should be investing their energy.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
If nothing else, it'll keep them off our backs. But it'll only work if both sides are willing to perform that much.
no subject
To his credit he does try to understand.]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
what if they don't?
[Perform that much.]
no subject
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
They will.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
We can't allow ourselves to doubt them. This won't work otherwise.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
For now: will you be able to at least agree to a ceasefire?
no subject
Still, this is somewhat more drastic a disconnect than usual. It's complicated in a few ways. Goes against the grain of him in others. He's radio silent for a while. Long enough to be worrying, maybe.
After several long minutes, carefully, as if typing it is just as difficult:]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
Yes ma'am. I will agree to a ceasefire if they will.
[If they break their word then all bets are off. But he can try. In effect, a ceasefire's not all that different from what they've been doing for the past few weeks already. It's still hard. He's supposed to believe they'll hold up their end of the bargain. But he hadn't wanted to believe they were traitors, didn't want to doubt them in the first place, and he'd been wrong. But he does want to believe in Hange, and in the rest of the Corps, and with the CDC breathing down their necks and holding humanity hostage against them, he doesn't have any better options. If she thinks this is the right thing to do—for the Corps, for humanity—then for now...he can try.]
no subject
She doesn't expect her soldiers to wipe the identities of those who've personally threatened humanity and provide a blank slate. They all have every right to hate the shifters and what they could potentially stand for. It wasn't an easy thing to accept and cast aside, not when they've been trained specifically to protect the human populace. In Eren's case, as one of the few Shiganshina survivors, it must be especially hard.
However, Hange's methods have always been unconventional. She's shifted her priorities about the titans once already; to her, this isn't all that different in the long run. They must be willing to take risks, to broaden their horizons and capture any opportunity they can allow.
Hange can't claim this is the right thing to do, but for now it's all they have.]
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
Then it's settled.
FROM: hange.zoe@cdc.org
I'll see you in two hours, Eren.
no subject
There's a lot more he'd rather do (rather say) than go along with this. But it's settled. (Is it? Words are cheap, he can't forgive Reiner for what the Armored Titan did, he can't trust Annie even if some part of him still wants to.)]
FROM: jaeger.eren@cdc.org
Roger that, Squad Leader.
[But he'll be there. Because as hard as it is, it's not about what he wants. It can't be. Not here.]