sunspotted | inbox | seasonsrpg

You've not mentioned Dojima that much... he's a police officer here like Hijikata, then?

[ Guess who's immediately curious now that Jean has associated it with something stronger than people he's talked to! He watches as Jean works the metal while he waits for a response. ]

[Clink Clink.]

Yeah, he's Hijikata's partner at work. Though we met through different circumstances.

[Clink.]

He might start fretting over you, too, since. Ah... There was this quest where you saw people who you've lost. And he was with me when I saw you.

Oh?

[ Then Jean explains and ah, yes, there's that odd feeling when he thinks of the fact that he's died and left his friends alone to mourn him. It's not his fault, but he always feels for them. ]

So if he acts like he's seeing a ghost, I shouldn't go boo at him.

[ His tone is light, but he dares to reach out and squeeze Jean's shoulder in comfort. ]

[Jean smiles at him for the shoulder squeeze. It was all better now, that Marco was here.]

I think you should always avoid doing that.

[He looks uncomfortable, a little.]

... did I mention Reiner, Eren, Armin and I went to a fucking haunted hallway? I was almost kidnapped by a ghost possessing a crane hook.

Why do you keep having these strange encounters with ghosts?

[ Marco gives Jean a look. ]

Was this a haunted hallway in the house you burned down, or different?

That's what I want to know.

[He groans. Twice a test of courage, then the possession artifact...]

Different. There was a "test of courage" in Sunwaning. Reiner thought it would be a fun bonding experience...

What Reiner thinks is fun and what you think are fun are very different, I'm starting to believe.

[ It didn't sound like Reiner intended it to go that way, to be fair! But Marco has to tease Jean all the same. He takes a noisy sip of his drink. ]

Maybe you've got ghost appeal.

Uh huh.

[More clinking and turning the steel around.]

Don't even joke about that. I don't want to deal with any more ghosts.

[ Aww, he had a whole bunch of magic touch jokes lined up!

But, he can see this does bother Jean a little, so he lets it go for now. ]

Did you pass? The test of courage, I mean.

Barely. I don't think anyone was pleased about anything that happened there.

[Though Jean was practically the only one who shrieked over regular ghosts.

They continue talking about random, mundane things, luckily getting away from the ghost subject, as Jean continues to work on the sword, occasionally taking a break to chat and drink the frog egg tea.

The shape is starting to be more clear, but it's already been a while and the next part would need a little assistance, so he starts wrapping up. At least he can make the fire go out faster, so it doesn't take ages.]

Alright... I think I'm done for today. I'll ask Reiner to come and help me with some of the phases, since I need his help with a few other things anyway.

[And Reiner was happy to help.]

Careful, once you unlock metal manipulation, I'll make you work, too.

You say that like I'm upset to be put to work!

[ Truly, Marco has been doing odd jobs here and there, but he's not sure where to apply himself. Jean has so many skills that are practical and he can sell weaponry. Marco could be a guard, but he's not very intimidating and he doesn't like to fight humans. He supposes he could get a regular job at a diner, but that seems so... pedestrian after everything he's been through.

Pedestrian is good, but he wants something a little more interesting. ]

Anyway, I think I have a while before I learn anything like that. I can give you some crystals if you want, though.

[Jean had experience on both kinds of jobs, even if being a stable boy was pretty close to what they did in military. But running an agility park for pets was completely unrelated, at least!]

I could probably use them for handle decorations and such. I'm always looking for new things to add to those.

[He gestures at a handle he has been slowly working on. It has a dragon etched to it. Still in the works, but you could see clearly what it was becoming.]

It's kind of like I'm combining my art hobby with forging.

It is, and both are coming out really good. Do you still do hand drawings?

[ Marco remembers being very impressed with them. He's impressed with the dragon etching, too, and examines it before he leans back. After a moment, he lifts his hands and holds them together, closing his eyes for a moment.

When he pulls his hands apart, he's created small chunk of red jasper stone that he puts on the table. ]

For your dragon's eyes!

Yeah. I actually started doing them again recently. It's nice. I can show you some of the drawings at some point - a lot of them are things I remember from Avalon and Empatheias.

[As one may guess, one sketchbook is full of Mikasa- But he has also focused on memories from the two other worlds. Especially Empatheias, that didn't have sort of phone cameras.]

Thanks. They'll definitely look nice on it.

[He finishes up putting the forge things away, making sure the fire is out and not in danger of lighting itself up again when he's not here. Then he even finishes the iced tea, that had some left.]

Did you want to do something else? I'm closing shop for the day.

I'd love to see that - especially what you remember from other worlds.

[ He waits patiently, finishing his own drink. When Jean asks if he wants to do something else, he hums in consideration before he nods. ]

I'm intrigued by those Trust weapons you mentioned earlier. Do you think we have time to go check them out today?

[Fine, he'll bite the bullet and contact Marco.]

Can we meet? I need to talk to you.

[Jean makes a mental note to gather all the images he's drawn about the other worlds into the same place so he would easily show them off.

Jean smiles brightly at that.]

Yeah, I think so. We should do it. Both of our guilds are the closest... which one do you want to go to?

Sure. Is everything okay?

[ Although he remembers the anon post he was pretty sure was Jean...]

Everything's fine. I just need to tell you something.

[Well, everything's actually not 'fine' but he doesn't want to start explaining in text.]

Want to meet at Solarpeak beach?

Sure, I'll meet you there.

[ Oh, Jean.

Either way, he lets Galliard know he's heading out and then walks and teleports down to the beach. He's wearing a pair of boots (not his uniform ones), jeans, and a thick sweater despite it being in Solarpeak; he's found the beach is frequently windy. He loiters at the sidewalk, waiting for Jean. Once he spots him, he waves a hand. ]

Hey!

Edited 2024-01-02 23:51 (UTC)

[Jean runs a little warmer, thanks to being a Summer, so he's just wearing jeans and a regular green t-shirt, along with some comfortable sneakers. He waves back at Marco before he gets to him.

Trying to look as neutral as possible isn't really working; instead, he looks kind of awkward mix of neutral, worried and sad.]

Hey. Thanks for coming.

[ Jean does look awkward and sad, which makes Marco look worried. He steps a little closer, concern writ large across his face. ]

Anytime. You'd do the same.

[ He sticks his hands into his pockets. ]

So... what'd you need to talk about?

[The worried look on Marco's face makes Jean freeze a little bit. What if this wasn't a good idea, after all? He could still probably come up with something else that was bothering him.

No. He should just get over with, since he has a chance to do it. Not all people have.

But why the hell is saying 'I'm sorry' out loud so hard. Jean holds his right wrist with his left hand. A nervous habit.]

I needed to tell you... that I'm sorry.

[Jean doesn't wait for Marco to ask 'why', instead he continues.]

I'm sorry I wasn't able to make sure you stayed alive. That you had to go through what you went through. I didn't... I didn't even come looking for you, even if I didn't see you around. Maybe if I'd actually worried about you earlier, you'd still...

Jean...

[ Marco curls his right hand - the one he'd lost to the Titan back home - when Jean apologizes. He feels his words get stuck in his throat as he listens to Jean, to the grief in his voice and the way he holds onto his other hand.

Marco swallows and then steps forward, wrapping his arms around Jean tightly. He squeezes him with all the strength he can manage - more than he used to be able to - and shakes his head. ]

I can accept it if you want, but there's no reason for you to apologize. What happened -

[ His voice catches, and he sniffs a little. ]

I was the one who stepped out to talk to Reiner and Bertholdt. I was the one who got myself killed instead of keeping quiet.

[Initially, Jean freezes when Marco hugs him. Honestly, he wanted to get through this without tearing up, but it was a mission impossible. Marco just broke the dam, making tears appear in the corner of his eyes.]

But... if I'd looked for you, I might have reached you in time... maybe you wouldn't have overheard them or- I could have killed the titan before it reached you...

[These are things he plays in his mind often. Scenarios of saving him. Somehow. Living in a 'What if' mindset. It was tiring.

Perhaps, in a way, he just needs to get all of them struck down. Accept that there was nothing he could have done. He couldn't do it on his own, for some reason, even if he knew deep down he wasn't at fault.]

inbox | seasonsrpg

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

casually sets up arena manager

foreshadowing oo

no subject

no subject

no subject

text; un: jean | after anon confessions

no subject

no subject

no subject

oops almost jean on jean action

I'm sure Jean's have things to apologize from each other too-

older jean v younger jean

that might end up as a fight on beach

no subject

no subject