[closed] This blood on my teeth is far beyond dry

[warrioreidlos]

Characters: Reiner Braun and Armin Arlert; Reiner Braun, Bertolt Hoover and Annie Leonheart.
Date: Throughout the latter part of January
Location: Various
Situation: Various
Warnings/Rating: Spoilers for the AoT manga

[ooc: Just a catch all post for several scenarios. No open starters at this time, but if you'd like to plot something, you can always contact me.]

Comments

[wreckingbert]

[Bertolt brightens when he sees that razor and, having wrapped his towel firmly around his waist, reaches for it.]

Thank you.

[He comes from a hairier class of people, and he's about two days out from having a full beard. It'll feel good to get all this crap off his face, and he steps up to the mirror and begins lathering up.]

[warrioreidlos]

It's nothing.

[He claps his hand on Bertolt's shoulder for a moment, before he quickly changes out of his own clothes, with the same kind of lack of caring Bertolt had had about being naked in his presence, reaching for the clean set. He's still intending to go for a run. Doesn't seem sensible to shower only to need another one once he is back. This concept of unlimited hot showers still hasn't quite sunk in.

Somewhere around pulling on his shirt, Reiner pauses, almost contemplative. His voice is idle, but his brows are knotted, and his shoulders tensed.]

I'm gonna talk it over with Annie too, but... I'm thinking of meeting up with Armin.

[wreckingbert]

What?

[Bertolt turns to look at him, one side of his face covered with shaving lather and the other still sporting bristly black hairs.]

Why?

[He knows Armin better than either Annie or Reiner, and he thinks that’s a terrible idea.]

[warrioreidlos]

Because we can't afford discovery. These people need to think we are just humans.

[He rubs his neck. Listen, he thought this through, okay? Have a little faith.]

Eren is here as well. You know how he tends to react first, think later.

[Bertolt might know Armin the best, but Reiner thinks he can understand how Eren thinks. It's nicely straightforward and black and white.]

He knows we are not on his side anymore. If he sees us and loses control, we'll be forced to face him down as a titan. He might force us to shift as well to deal with him. We can't let that happen. The only one who can put a leash on him is Armin. We need his cooperation.

[wreckingbert]

[Bertolt listens, watching Reiner closely the whole time. He can think of multiple arguments against what his friend is planning, but he can also tell that Reiner has made up his mind about something and won't be easily dissuaded.]

[He shrugs and turns back to the mirror, lathering up the other half of his face.]

Talk it over with Annie, then do what you think is best.

[warrioreidlos]

I won't do anything stupid.

[Except maybe meeting Armin, that is probably stupid.

He sighs, pinching his nose for a moment.]

I just don't want a repeat of what happened last time we met.

[wreckingbert]

Huh?

[Bertolt starts scraping the razor along his cheek, shaking the hair loose into the sink. He remembers the last time they saw the Survey Corps, but he doesn't remember anything in particular about Armin.]

[warrioreidlos]

Right. You weren't here then.

[He and Annie had things happen, man, while you weren't here. Slightly embarrassing things in retrospect, though he still stands behind what he did. Which, actually, let him just busy himself tugging on his shirt.]

[wreckingbert]

[Bertolt doesn't say anything, just tries to catch Reiner's eyes in the mirror. To most people, he would just look slightly quizzical. To those who know, however, he's wearing his 'what the fuck did you do now, Reiner?' expression.]

[warrioreidlos]

[It was a quality moment of Reiner, no.

Reiner hesitates, but then Bertolt has a right to know. It might bite them in the ass later after all.]

I punched Eren.

[wreckingbert]

[The fact that half the city isn't gone leads Bertolt to believe that it ended at punching and everyone stayed human.]

Are you going to punch Armin?

[warrioreidlos]

[He snorts. This is probably a bad time for a joke, which means it is a good time for a bad joke.]

I wanna talk to him, not kill him.

[But Bertolt probably deserves some more explanation. Or maybe he just wants to defend his actions to the one person he is pretty sure agrees with them. He knows Annie still doesn't agree with what he did.]

Annie was going to turn herself over to their hands so I could keep my cover. [He shifts slightly.] I just couldn't stand aside and do nothing. They can't have her.

[wreckingbert]

[Yeah, Reiner punching Armin would probably end in decapitation, even without him using his titan form.]

[Bertolt's eyes widen at that, and the razor blade stops, hovering near his neck.]

Did she think that would work?

[Bertolt rather distinctly remembers Eren and Armin both being aware of what he and Reiner are, and fails to see how Annie giving herself up would have changed anything. Moreover, he completely agrees with Reiner. They can't have her, end of story, full stop.]

[warrioreidlos]

I don't know. Eren wasn't reacting to me as if he knew what was going on, but I think Armin still knew anyway.

[There was more to it, probably. The way Annie had seemed so shattered that first week. Even now she isn't the same as she was before Trost. Bertolt must have noticed it, though Reiner isn't going to tell him how bad it was right at the start. Some things... some things didn't need to be talked about.]

I just punched Eren and grabbed her before she could do anything. I figure, if we run into him again, he'll probably want to pay me back for that. That's why we need Armin to keep him under control.

[wreckingbert]

[Bertolt finishes shaving and rinses off the razor, watching the soap and hair swirl down the drain. He thought he'd gotten out of a bad spot by ending up here; turns out everything here is just as complicated and awful as it is back home. But at least there's food here, and they're all together, and only two people know they're mass murdering monsters. It could be worse.]

[He has the feeling that back home, it's going to get a lot, lot worse before it gets any better.]

[He turns around, setting the razor blade on the sink, and claps one hand on Reiner's shoulder, giving the heavy muscle there a little squeeze. It's not for him to say what's right anymore. All he knows is that he'll defend Reiner and Annie with his life.]

Can I borrow some of your clothes?

[If it were just he and Reiner, he could walk around in a towel, but he'd like to get covered before he goes back out there and sees Annie.]

[warrioreidlos]

[With a sigh, Reiner reaches up, prodding Bertolt between the eyes.]

You gotta start paying attention, Bertl. I already got you your own clothes.

[He gestures over to the closed toilet where he left Bertolt's change of clothes. He recognizes Bertolt might just be trying to change the subject, but he allows it. He figures this is as much of a go ahead for his plans as he is going to get from Bertolt. Now all he needs to do is inform Annie.

Giving Bertolt a little nudge towards the toilet, he grins.]

You know you look pretty ridiculous in my shirts.

[wreckingbert]

Right. Thanks.

[It was definitely an excuse to change the subject. Reiner's plan isn't one Bertolt can entirely sign off on, but he won't try and prevent him from it either. He never could talk Reiner out of something when he put his mind to it anyway.]

[He starts putting the clothes on, pausing to marvel at how soft and well-made the fabric is. These are clothes like they must have behind Wall Sina.]

I look like a little kid.

[A little kid with his stomach hanging out.]

[warrioreidlos]

[Reiner gives him a pointed look that sweeps up along his frame. All six foot four of it.]

Ain't ever seen a kid like that.

[Technically they are still kids, being only seventeen, but Reiner hasn't really felt like a kid in years.]

[wreckingbert]

[Bertolt tugs the shirt over his head, and it fits like a glove. It's amazing how Reiner knew exactly what size to get, and it's even the right color.]

Because I'm not wearing your shirt.

[He smiles at his friend, the expression quick across his face, before bending to pull on his pants. Again, they fit like they were made for him. Geesh, Reiner, did you secretly take his measurements while he was sleeping?]

[warrioreidlos]

[Is that weird, that is not weird, shut up

He snorts a little.]

Even wearing my shirt doesn't suddenly shrink you down a foot or two.

[Even a foot shorter, Bertolt'd still be taller than some of the guys from their squad. He'd still be taller than Annie. Not that that is a giant accomplishment.]

[wreckingbert]

A little kid wearing his big brother's shirt.

[Bertolt's stomach chooses that moment to growl again, loudly, and he glances down at it.]

Uh…

[There's more food in the kitchen, right?]

[warrioreidlos]

[He laughs at the loud growl of Bertolt's stomach.]

Man, just go eat some more. We've got eggs in the ice box if you can manage to figure out that stove. I think it's a stove, at least.

[It looks like a stove, but Reiner hasn't found a place yet where he can put in the wood to make it heat up.]

[wreckingbert]

Thanks.

[Bertolt starts to leave, but pauses in the doorway, half-turning and putting a hand on Reiner's shoulder.]

It's going to be okay?

[warrioreidlos]

[He figures Bertolt might have meant that as a comfort, but it is hard to find much comfort in his words when he is sounding so unsure of himself. Though, really, that is sort of par for the course with Bertolt.]

Yeah, I know. Don't worry about it, we'll figure something out.

[The we means as much as I here. That is his job, after all. Making sure Annie and Bertolt are okay.]

[isnotokay]

[ While they were off getting cleaned up, Annie's managed to get up and get dressed before ending up back at the table. Her hair is still sticking out in all directions and a hairbrush lay on the table like she clearly intended to do something with it without getting that far, but at least she has pants on.

She has her arms folded in front of her, chin resting on them as she stares at nothing in particular. But, again, pants! It was probably some sort of improvement. ]