[She is once again reminded that this 15-year-old has (had?) the fate of humanity on his shoulders.]
[Then he’s kissing her ass so she’s not gonna dwell on it.]
Heh, really? [A side-glanceover, as if to look for the mark.] Usually you’re the one bruising me up. You just saying that?
[Eren snorts, pausing the walk to lift his hoodie and the shirt underneath up, revealing a nasty purple bruise right on the ribcage. He doesn't seem to mind it though.]
[This is not a game they should be playing while Aubrey’s holding a sharp object. She at least manages to drop it as Eren’s counter-elbow shoves her towards the nearest wall; thankfully not far, as the maze is a tad claustrophobic at this juncture.
[It also lets her make a quick recovery. If one other thing has been improving, it’s her reflexes; donning a smirk, she tries to jab him in the arm. Who needs a weapon when fists will do?]
[The jab is received, half because Eren doesn't actually think she'll follow through with it. His fists go up on reflex, but he refrains from actually hitting her when he remembers that she is not, in fact, one of his comrades from back home; instead, a civilian who barely knows how to hold a sword. He wonders how well she can take a punch.]
Are you sure you wanna do this right now? [He doesn't sound upset; in fact, wears a cocky, self-assured smirk as he plants his feet in a fighting stance.]
You kidding? [Fists up! Her stance isn’t trained, but Aubrey doesn’t have a reputation back home for nothing. Granted, no one in their right mind takes that risk when she’s waving a nail bat around, but, details. She’s sure acting like she’ll follow up.]
Been dying to hit something since I got here. [It’s free therapy!] Lucky you.
[Aubrey lets out a winded noise at the counter-hit, which she really should have been more prepared for. God damn he hits hard—but, still grinning like an idiot, Aubrey manages not to stumble too far, and as she catches her breath she rears back—
[A headbutt he is not expecting. She nails him, sending him stumbling backward into one of the maze walls, the wind thoroughly knocked out of his chest; yet, he's still laughing - wheezing, but laughing.
[He's needed this.
[Pushing himself away from the wall, he gets back into a fighting stance.]
Come at me.
[He taunts her, folding his fingers in a "come here" gesture. If she takes the bait and charges at him, he'll perform The Grapple (you know the one) that Annie taught him, attempting to flip Aubrey onto the ground.]
[But she gets up anyway, fixing her bow a smidge, and eyes Eren’s stance. The trained soldier doing that is one thing. And the more moves Aubrey the civilian can get up her sleeve, the better.]
[He stoops down, knees bent, then shows a slow and disarmed version of what it will look like when he actually does rush at her, intent to grab. Staying in that position, he guides her arms where they'll go in the grapple.]
Hold right there. Then take your foot...
[He nudges her shoe with his own, then instructs her on how to swipe his legs out from under him while she pulls him back.]
You'll see how it feels as soon as you've got it. I'll go easy the first time so you can see how to do it - just follow through!
[And then, with very little warning, he jogs away a few feet, turns, and runs at her.]
[Tricky move. Aubrey watches the demo closely, and when Eren rushes her for real, she does her best to mirror. It probably won’t flip him over, as her aim’s not quite there on a first go, but she’s kicking hard enough to leave a good bruise.]
[It causes him to stumble, at least, and true to form, even without the precise grip, she manages to lift him off the ground a few inches. Eren laughs.]
Come on. Don't pussy out now. I'm coming back at you.
[And he does. He'll repeat it as many times as he has to until she manages to get him on his back.]
[Something something concept they’re not going to even begin unpacking right now. Well, fine with Aubrey; hell knows she’s got steam to blow off.]
[And it does take another few tries, each kick harder than the last, but by the fourth or fifth attempt she’s aggravated enough to swipe with prejudice. That one should get him down flat.]
Gah, finally! [She scuffs at the dirt, somewhere between triumphant and with leftover annoyance—mostly the latter, really. No, it does not occur to her (with her better impulses missing) to help Eren up.] Took long enough.
[Eren lands hard on his back, the wind momentarily knocked out of him. His first reaction is the natural one - a momentary surge of pain and shock. Once he can breathe again, there's a little groan as he pushes himself to sit upright, rubbing at the back of his head where it met the ground. But then he's laughing and jumping to his feet, excitedly jostling her shoulders.]
Don't look so sour. You did it! Try that move on anyone who fucks with you. I promise they won't see it coming.
[All right, pal, the shoulder jostle is a little much—but his laughing encouragement does a lot to soften the inevitable shove back. The elbow to his chest ends up borderline playful.]
Psh, yeah, yeah. I guess it’s a pretty good move. [Not like she appreciates the lesson or anything, wolf-boy.] The more ways to fuck ’em up, the better, right?
Right now, I'm trying to learn as many weapons as I can too. This lady Vex is teaching me archery, and my-- [Pause. Uh.] Thorfinn and I have been hunting in the woods.
I've got my ODM gear back now too - I oughta show you. Maybe you'll want some of your own. [He looks a little too prideful at that - almost boasting.]
[“My”…? Aubrey’s in no position to pry, though. Thorfinn’s name rings a bell, but between the Wonderland nonsense and Eren continuing, the recognition doesn’t quite click yet.]
[More relevant:] “ODM gear”? [Funny name for a weapon.]
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[She is once again reminded that this 15-year-old has (had?) the fate of humanity on his shoulders.]
[Then he’s kissing her ass so she’s not gonna dwell on it.]
Heh, really? [A side-glanceover, as if to look for the mark.] Usually you’re the one bruising me up. You just saying that?
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[Eren snorts, pausing the walk to lift his hoodie and the shirt underneath up, revealing a nasty purple bruise right on the ribcage. He doesn't seem to mind it though.]
Proof you actually managed to land one.
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[It’s ass-kissing if she doesn’t know how to take a compliment—]
[Aubrey’s eyes go wide at the bruise reveal.] Holy shit. I did that? [She kinda feels like she should apologize, but! That’s proof all right!]
Damn. Guess I’ll have to go easier on you. [Just gonna play smug, unwarranted as it may be.]
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I've taken a lot worse than a dull sword to the ribs. You'll have to try harder than that if you wanna do some real damage.
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[Smug moment over.] Sheesh, alright, alright. I get it.
[Grumbling, but not inaudibly,] You’d think you want me to hurt you.
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It shows you're learning. I wouldn't want you to hold back. That's the kind of shit that'll end up getting you killed in real combat.
I can take it.
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Alright, if you say so.
[With no warning, she elbows him harder than strictly necessary.]
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[Elbowing her back much harder than strictly necessary.]
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[This is not a game they should be playing while Aubrey’s holding a sharp object. She at least manages to drop it as Eren’s counter-elbow shoves her towards the nearest wall; thankfully not far, as the maze is a tad claustrophobic at this juncture.
[It also lets her make a quick recovery. If one other thing has been improving, it’s her reflexes; donning a smirk, she tries to jab him in the arm. Who needs a weapon when fists will do?]
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Are you sure you wanna do this right now? [He doesn't sound upset; in fact, wears a cocky, self-assured smirk as he plants his feet in a fighting stance.]
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You kidding? [Fists up! Her stance isn’t trained, but Aubrey doesn’t have a reputation back home for nothing. Granted, no one in their right mind takes that risk when she’s waving a nail bat around, but, details. She’s sure acting like she’ll follow up.]
Been dying to hit something since I got here. [It’s free therapy!] Lucky you.
[With that, she throws a punch.]
is this not straight up flirting rn
[—lo and behold, his dodge is a bit too late. The punch lands on his ribcage and he laughs.]
[Then, he aims a punch straight to Aubrey’s gut. He doesn’t hold back one bit.]
kiss with a fist~
[Laughter? Alright, weird response, but—
[Aubrey lets out a winded noise at the counter-hit, which she really should have been more prepared for. God damn he hits hard—but, still grinning like an idiot, Aubrey manages not to stumble too far, and as she catches her breath she rears back—
[How’s about a Headbutt?]
de ja vu perhaps incoming
[He's needed this.
[Pushing himself away from the wall, he gets back into a fighting stance.]
Come at me.
[He taunts her, folding his fingers in a "come here" gesture. If she takes the bait and charges at him, he'll perform The Grapple
(you know the one)that Annie taught him, attempting to flip Aubrey onto the ground.]no subject
[Bait taken; she’s having too much fun not to.]
[Cue Aubrey getting kickflipped, and subsequently thoroughly winded. She lies flat on her back, gasping, laughing.]
Wh- What the fuck was that?!
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Get up. I'll show you how to do it. You can flip someone twice your size with a move like that.
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Get out.
[But she gets up anyway, fixing her bow a smidge, and eyes Eren’s stance. The trained soldier doing that is one thing. And the more moves Aubrey the civilian can get up her sleeve, the better.]
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[He stoops down, knees bent, then shows a slow and disarmed version of what it will look like when he actually does rush at her, intent to grab. Staying in that position, he guides her arms where they'll go in the grapple.]
Hold right there. Then take your foot...
[He nudges her shoe with his own, then instructs her on how to swipe his legs out from under him while she pulls him back.]
You'll see how it feels as soon as you've got it. I'll go easy the first time so you can see how to do it - just follow through!
[And then, with very little warning, he jogs away a few feet, turns, and runs at her.]
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[Tricky move. Aubrey watches the demo closely, and when Eren rushes her for real, she does her best to mirror. It probably won’t flip him over, as her aim’s not quite there on a first go, but she’s kicking hard enough to leave a good bruise.]
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Come on. Don't pussy out now. I'm coming back at you.
[And he does. He'll repeat it as many times as he has to until she manages to get him on his back.]
RNG’d this and got the highest possible count. gg
[Something something concept they’re not going to even begin unpacking right now. Well, fine with Aubrey; hell knows she’s got steam to blow off.]
[And it does take another few tries, each kick harder than the last, but by the fourth or fifth attempt she’s aggravated enough to swipe with prejudice. That one should get him down flat.]
Gah, finally! [She scuffs at the dirt, somewhere between triumphant and with leftover annoyance—mostly the latter, really. No, it does not occur to her (with her better impulses missing) to help Eren up.] Took long enough.
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Don't look so sour. You did it! Try that move on anyone who fucks with you. I promise they won't see it coming.
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[All right, pal, the shoulder jostle is a little much—but his laughing encouragement does a lot to soften the inevitable shove back. The elbow to his chest ends up borderline playful.]
Psh, yeah, yeah. I guess it’s a pretty good move. [Not like she appreciates the lesson or anything, wolf-boy.] The more ways to fuck ’em up, the better, right?
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Right now, I'm trying to learn as many weapons as I can too. This lady Vex is teaching me archery, and my-- [Pause. Uh.] Thorfinn and I have been hunting in the woods.
I've got my ODM gear back now too - I oughta show you. Maybe you'll want some of your own. [He looks a little too prideful at that - almost boasting.]
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[“My”…? Aubrey’s in no position to pry, though. Thorfinn’s name rings a bell, but between the Wonderland nonsense and Eren continuing, the recognition doesn’t quite click yet.]
[More relevant:] “ODM gear”? [Funny name for a weapon.]
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