sunspotted | inbox | seasonsrpg

Hey Marco.

Looks like some of us will be making Calendars for next year. I could photograph you in a few outfits. I have a camera and everything.

What do you think? :P Marco Bott, twelve months a year.

[He's learning emojis!]

[Marco gets an image of a sketch. It's the two-handed sword they have talked about.]

I got the materials. Do you want to come to the forge to work on it?

On 12/24, a delivery is made by a Fairy service.

There are two presents from Jean. One is a big magically reinforced package that says "Gear Blades for when you need them" that has, like the name suggests, ODM gear blades, made with different steel than their normal ones are. The note attached to the package says they're good against monsters in this world and are more durable. It also says that he can make more later, if necessary.

The second package is smaller, but still rather big. It's the two-handed sword Jean has been working on, and his spare Floating Cape (with instructions on how to use it). There's also an invitation to come eat dinner with Jean and Mikasa during holidays.

The card simply says: "Happy Holidays from Jean"

OOC note: You know the deal with the sword, have fun choosing what it looks like etc.

Edited 2023-12-21 17:59 (UTC)

[ On the Solstice, a package appears on Marco's doorstep. It contains a Tentacle Rescue in its own dedicated storage bag. There is also a photograph taken with a Memory Camera; it shows Marco and Jean laughing together as Cadets.

A note accompanies the package, written in Reiner's neat (Eldian) script: ]

Marco,

The photograph was taken with a Memory Camera. I thought you might want one from that time period.

The tentacle thing is called a Tentacle Rescue. It's a weird-looking rope that's actually really useful. It'll latch onto anything (even stuff our gear can't!) and hold onto you so you don't fall. The only downside is that it's clingy and doesn't realize when you don't need it to hang onto you. Just nudge it back if it starts climbing your leg or something.

- Reiner

Edited 2023-12-22 03:11 (UTC)

[A wrapped box with one weird little moth guy plushie enclosed.]

You wanted something that reminded me of home, and this little guy looks kind of like one of the Abnormalities I used to work with. But cuter and softer. -Evangeline

[Hijikata wants to return Marco's generous holiday surprise, so he finds out where he lives from Jean, and a couple of days later Marco will come home to a little wrapped box containing a Perfect Temperature potion, a Spread Stick, and a Companion Brooch, along with a festive card.]

Marco,

Thank you for your thoughtful presents. I've really been enjoying them (regards from my mentee whom I shared the cookies with, too). It's impressive that you can already make whole gemstones! If I were an autumn power holder, I'd probably only focus on making the ground break open.

[That's not ominous at all, right... maybe he should have included some more context?]

The Perfect Temperature potion will keep you from suffering in the heat or cold of the Segments. The Spread Stick will infinitely spread whichever condiment you touch with it - very good to have in an emergency! The Companion Brooch is only for decoration. I wish you and your loved ones happy holidays.

Toshirou Hijikata

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

Can we meet? I need to talk to you.

[A week after New Year's, it's Shoto's "cat" who leaves his stealth gifts for Marco; a note which reads:]

Marco—

Sensei ended up sharing those gifts you'd sent. I'd feel wrong without sending things back; and moreover, I owe you my thanks——whether or not you truly remember, I was the kid you found in that maze, though there's no real way to explain that. All I can say is it'd meant the world you'd help. So this is my way to send words back, saying "thank you" for staying besides, even if you won't know this "me" just yet. Please accept it and do your best.

- Sincerely, Shoto Todoroki

[Please find enclosed:

A dozen (simple but edible) cookies
A handmade wreath of white hydrangea, small cut lilies and pinecones
A sturdy and silver-clasped traveling satchel]

May the new year find him well!

Did you know that the Jaw Titan can purr? I don't know if that's something all Titans can do but the Jaw definitely can. I need to talk about how cute this is to someone who will understand.

The dream is always the same. It always starts with the Beast titan collapsing, its fall rattling the buildings, rattling the entire world, and Galliard and Pieck left alone on the battlefield. Time folds in on itself, and Galliard turns to see Pieck plunging towards the ground, her Panzer armour burning and twisted, her titan mangled. With the bitter, horrible certainty of dreams, Galliard knows she's dead, that the thunderspear blew her apart from inside her titan, and he's the only one left on the battlefield.

He surrounded then, dark shadows looming up all around him, and they're all gone, they're all dead, Pieck burning in a building's shadow, Reiner crushed under collapsing buildings, Zeke sliced into pieces by Levi's blades. He's alone, and the Attack Titan looms above him, filling the sky, filling the world, and his titan's arms and legs fall apart under flashing silver knives. He's lifted into the air, the crystal jammed back in his mouth, and Galliard tries to twist out of the Attack Titan's hands but he's caught, he's trapped, and the hideous pressure builds on his face until the crystal shatters and pours down his throat and...

And he wakes up.

The room is dark, Marco a slumbering hulk under the blankets beside him. Galliard sits up; he's wet with sweat, his heart thundering so hard he's amazed that it hasn't woken Marco up. He runs a hand through his hair first. It's not on fire, thankfully; every time he has the dream here, he's afraid that he'll wake up and be surrounded by those white flames, the ones that bake with heat and burn even him. It hasn't happened yet, but the fear of lighting the bed, and possibly Marco, on fire is almost as bad as the dreams themselves.

No fire tonight. Good.

Galliard gags then, barely managing to muffle the sound behind one hand. When he takes his hand away from his mouth, it's dark with blood. The shards... his throat is full of crystal shards again, shredding and bleeding the lining of his throat. Worse yet, they're wedged between his teeth, stuck there and waiting to fall down his windpipe and drown him.

He gets up as quietly as he can and staggers towards the bathroom. There's only one way to deal with this that he's found, only one thing that makes it feel like the shards are gone. The fact that they aren't really there at all is something he can repeat to himself for hours, but it makes no difference. They're there, they're real, and if he doesn't get them out, they're going to lacerate his mouth and suffocate him on his own blood.

quest board this time wanted to remind me about the place i died in.

freaking hilarious.

maybe im taking it harder than i should but it really sucks.

[Most likely he's sensitive to the whole death topic due to the mission in the manor.]

Hey! Happy Birthday.

If you don't have any plan for the day, can you come over? I have something I want to give you but its easier if you come to me rather than the other way around.

[He may have baked a cake. It's not perfect, but it's a cake. Mikasa helped, but most of it is Jean's mess.

But also the main gift is in Sunwaning.]

To: ~~Jean's important friend~~ Marco Bott

I am moving to a new address. I know you are not technically part of my squad, but you are welcome to reach out to me all the same, as needed.

Captain Levi

[ There's an address along with coordinates included for a house in Coldreach. ]

[ It is, in fact, the house he bought with Hange; he feels some ways about moving in without them, but in a way, it will serve as a shared memory, too. Besides, he himself only agreed to move because Hange and Erwin wanted more space, and the latter is still here. It's just as well that they honor their shared effort. ]

[ Reiner will receive a similar message, while Eren, Jean, Mikasa, Sasha, Historia and Falco get slightly warmer, more informal ones. ]

[Immediately after this.]

[Once Jean got the confirmation Marco was home, he made his way there... and promptly just attaches himself to his best friend (he and Reiner were pretty similar in managing their upset, it seems). Sure, he waited long enough to be inside, at least, but it was still faster than usual hugging.]

[Extra nostalgic whiny Jean for you.]

I'm so bored. Really, what do people who don't train or even jog do on their spare time? I've been trying to draw, but I can't get the right mindset.

One silly fractured bone and you're forbidden to even run too fast.

On December 24th, a package is delivered by fairy delivery services. The package card says "From Jean. I hope this will bring some fond memories for you. I painted it from memory so feel free to tell me if I got it wrong."

Inside there is a painting. It's done as accurately as possible, but it's of 104th smiling about something in their cadet corps uniforms. Most of the focus is on Marco, Jean, Connie and Sasha but there's a lot of recognizable people in the background.

There's a small signature of Jean's in the right down corner.

[ On the Solstice, a package from Reiner is delivered. It contains a miniature sculpture of the Jaw Titan molded from a deep blue stone scattered with tiny white crystals, giving the effect of a night sky.

Marco may note that the Jaw Titan's proportions have been modified, giving it an cute "chibi" vibe.

There is also a note written in Reiner's neat Eldian script. ]

Marco,

Happy Solstice. I thought you might like this. Imagine his face if he knew his Titan could look so cute.

- Reiner

Why's Reiner asking me if you're a butt guy?

[ On June 16th, a delivery shows up at Marco's door. Within it is a Safety Pin from Riki's Rewards, as well as carefully written instructions on its use.

In the same handwriting is a note: ]

Happy birthday.

- Reiner

Did you know, Levi and Hijikata don't actually like each other very much. And yes, you remember right, I'm with them on an expedition.

Along with the lovey dovey Reiner and Eren.

How did I end up here.

you know an outing went well when you gotta be bridal carried out of danger.

anyway, we're out of the fortress.

inbox | seasonsrpg

text; un: seasalt

text; un: jean | before brainblast arc

Delivery

gift delivery

delivery

Delivery

text; un: jean | after anon confessions

Delivery!

un: abnormalitylover, text, nsfw inevitable