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[wintolive]

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[headhooligan]

That’s the thing. I [can’t] don’t want to let my guard down.

[She didn’t think he’d respond right away. Not that sleep would’ve helped....]

That sword training saved our lives. Multiple times.
Thank you.

[wintolive]

Don't thank me. That was your doing, Aubrey.

I'm glad to pick up again whenever you want, but if your friend isn't doing well, you should stay with him for now. Maybe we can do some drills outside of his house or something.

I'll bring you two some food later today too.

[headhooligan]

[Outside his house. Ha…
[Eren will get to see that decrepit bridge.]

Yeah... When you come by, maybe we can practice outside. Sunny’s hard to wake up. [Multiple times she’s paused to make sure he’s still breathing.]

I know he doesn’t talk much, but I think he appreciates the delivery. Thanks.

If I’m not by the window when you get here, knock. I should be up.

giggling bc I am the Mun

[wintolive]

Honestly, I've never even seen the guy. He must be asleep every time I deliver. He never comes out.

> action, if tis cool

[headhooligan]

He’s been through a lot.

[Probably… raises more questions than it answers. She doesn’t want Eren to think badly of the poor guy, is all. But Sunny has secrets Aubrey’s in no place to divulge, if she even knows him at all…

[Why is that such a common fucking theme? Ugh. Even if Eren responds, Aubrey’s putting the phone down for a bit.

[…Aaand falls asleep, practically on the spot. Eren will not see her by the window. She’s right beneath it, where the sun doesn’t reach to wake her up first.]

lmk if I misunderstood this and I'll change it

[wintolive]

[He doesn't see Aubrey. That's strange. She's not the type not to show up, but she did just say to knock if he didn't see her. He ascends the ladder - it seems damaged, but it's still sturdy enough to climb. Has there always been a bridge between these two houses? He knocks.

[What would you like to do?]

all gud!

[headhooligan]

[She bangs her head on the windowsill.]

[Sunny is a deep sleeper. Aubrey opens the door slowly, as if that might make it quieter, and not all the way. She’s still rubbing crust from her eyes.]

Hey, Eren. He’s still out of it, so… [A hand extends to to take the food delivery.] Be right there.

[wintolive]

[Eren nods, merely passing the food through. Aubrey doesn't look too good.]

bridge liberties GO (lmk if you want changes)

[headhooligan]

[Aubrey’s doing great. She leaves the food by Sunny’s bed, along with a note as she usually does when headed out, and then Eren gets to see whose house the bridge connects to.

[A chunk of the overgrowth has been cut back, on Sunny’s side; the other half has only been cleared enough for a path. At this point the withered plants may be supporting the structure in their own right, as boards at either end have been pried to shreds; the midsection creaks and sways just from Aubrey’s brief crossing. She doesn’t seem to care.

[It takes some effort just to wrench her own door open, still tangled at the hinge. The ladder extending from the house also looks untouched; Aubrey scales down, real sword in tow, as if the uneven rungs are already second nature. (They were definitely not like this before.)

[She does, at least, look more awake when she stands before Eren.]

All right. Let’s go.

[wintolive]

Hold on...

[Something's not right. Probably a lot. Aubrey's his friend.]

What happened out there? [Training can wait.] You're shaken up. I can tell...

[headhooligan]

I said we can g—

[Easy, there. Eren’s her friend. She won’t snap at her commander.

[Steeling her nerve; a quick nod back to Sunny’s house.] A lot happened. His arm’s mangled. But it’s– fine. [Insistent.] We’re safe now.

[Her hands haven’t left the hilt of her sword. It’s not drawn yet.]

[wintolive]

[Eren watches Aubrey. He sighs (doesn't make a show of it, at least).]

There's an important part of being a soldier. You have to cope once its over somehow.

Rely on your comrades. We faced the same hell.

[headhooligan]

[It makes sense. Eren would know exactly what a shaken civilian looks like. Aubrey’s not fooling anyone.

[Annoys her more, though. She looks away.] I mean… shit, I’m fixing his house. [Who knows how long it’ll last.] Town’s all busted.

[What do you want me to do?] How are you coping?

[wintolive]

I'm coping fine. [Are you, though?] But I understand the position we're in. Now, more than ever, we should be a team.

I'm on your side. Always.

[headhooligan]

[Fists close around the sword. The bandages are gone now, but one palm still stings from the pressure.]

I don’t… know what you want me to say. [She feels like she’s done something wrong. It’s not Eren’s fault.]

[wintolive]

[She hasn't done anything wrong, he's just...worried about her; shit at showing it, apparently.

[He'd put his arms around her if he didn't think she'd shove him away. He's not the type to ask for something like it.]

[She went through something horrifying. He just wants to help. He's never been good at that.]

I can't make you tell me how you feel.

It'll come out eventually either way. [He's heard enough comrades, waking up in the night, screaming for their mothers as if they were still facing down titan maws.]

[headhooligan]

[Aubrey thinks she’s either been sleeping like a rock or not at all. If anything’s come out… Sunny hasn’t told her.]

All right, well. [She draws her sword—notices, belatedly, she grabbed the real one. Curses under her breath.] Guess that’s one way.

[She turns abruptly, back to the ladder.] I’ll get the other one. Don’t want to hurt you....

[wintolive]

[Seems like Aubrey hurts Eren every time they talk lately. She writes him off like it's nothing. It pisses him the fuck off.]

You spent two weeks using the real one. Come back.

[He's got his too. It's less deadly than an ODM blade, though he's also equipped with those. He has to be prepared for anything for the time being.

[He doesn't want Aubrey to hold back, but he will. He won't hurt her.]

[headhooligan]

[She pauses, hand barely on a rung.] Yeah? [Glares over her shoulder.]

How do you think it’ll come out? [Like a slathering animal, intent on killing the nearest living thing? Aubrey remembers it in flashes. She’s tried not to.]

[wintolive]

You can't do anything to me that hasn't already been done.

[He prepares his blade in a guard stance.]

Try to land a strike. [He won't let her.]

[headhooligan]

[ … ]

[Fine. Aubrey steps back from the tree. She hasn’t drawn her sword since before they reached the clinic. Started to, once or twice, when a stray noise or villager scared her on the travel back; but it’s never come out. It couldn’t. Sunny was right there....

[He’s sleeping now.]

[Without warning Aubrey swings, slashing sideways as if raking down a swarm of foxes. Blade hits blade, not skin; metal makes such a different sound than the dull thunk of wood. No hesitation; Aubrey draws back and lunges for his midsection. Her eyes are wide. She can’t let the enemy get close…]

[wintolive]

[Eren knows grief, knows rage. It has to come out somehow, right? That's what he told her. Aubrey's eyes are wild. She doesn't hold back an ounce. Eren blocks each strike, jumping and dodging. He's never been the poster child for coping. If this is what Aubrey needs, fine.]

Hey, Aubrey. You might actually hurt me if you knew what you were doing.

[headhooligan]

[Part of her knows it’s Eren; sharpened instincts don’t care. She never did have to strike down a person in Sunny’s defense; maybe that’s her only respite. Each swing is more desperate than the last, harsher, less coordinated; just one blow, is the simple, easy objective, and she can’t do it.

[When she first picked up her bat, she bashed a bin to pieces. It felt good. Nails snagged, made it harder; made it better, the catharsis, but by then she didn’t need to as much anyway. Had other stuff to keep her busy.

[Lately it’s just been a sleepy boy and her own head. That’s been something.

[Eren taunts her, and she snarls back, wordless. It’s like she’s right back where they started, flailing and useless. This is why he wanted her to fight, isn’t it?

[She stabs for his face. That wasn’t in the training.]

[wintolive]

[Eren isn't expecting the blade to come slashing toward his face. He stumbles back, ducking his head out of the way. The razor sharp blade still grazes his forehead. Awful lot of blood vessels in the face. Rusty red pours down his face. The dodge sent him to the ground. He glares up at Aubrey, blade still poised in front of him.]

Don't stop.

[headhooligan]

[Disturbing fucking sight. Sunny’s face dripped red, too. So did the wolf’s—

[The wolf.

[She plunges the blade down, aimed for the skull, not caring where or if it hits. If Eren blocks right, it could easily skew crooked, hurting him or her or both or neither; Aubrey’s throwing her weight into it.]