003M action;

[toobig]

[For once, Bertholdt is outside of his apartment. This is a very strange thing, considering he's always closed up inside away from everyone. Despite his shyness, even shut ins have to get groceries and Bertholdt had decided to take his work with him, stopping to sit in the park before he heads home. It's not too hot out, which means he won't overheat, around five o'clock in the evening. It's getting a little cooler out generally now anyway.]

[He can be seen sitting on a bench in the park with a thick manuscript in his hands, checking through each page slowly. After a while he'll pause in his work to light a cigarette and relax back against the bench. For anyone who's only known Bertholdt over the Network, it might be alarming to find out that he's 6'5". While he's sitting down, it's apparent that he's really tall regardless.]

[He's not a big talker, but maybe he'll appreciate some company?]

Comments

[schild]

Yeah. [ Ryan's too busy looking down at his feet to even notice Bertl messing with his cigarette. Ryan's having what you'd call a bit of a crisis. ]

So I found out those... might be called "titans." Apparently what I can do is something they could.

[toobig]

Titans?

[He stares at him a long moment, tilting his head to the side. Why... does that sound familiar? And not in the "yeah, we all learn Greek mythos in high school" way.]

I know about... Mythological Titans. The ones Zeus defeated, that sort of thing, but...

[schild]

These are... different, I think. They might be immortal, but they definitely heal with steam. That girl, Ellie, said she had an echo about it.

[ Ryan believe it. He doesn't want to, but now he's seen it for himself... ]

[toobig]

Oh... her too? I didn't... I wasn't sure anyone else knew about all of this.

[Maybe that was why she'd taken an interest in him?]

The... the steam is what connects everything, I think. I've never heard of any kind of legend like that, though. Wouldn't there... be some kind of record of that happening, even in old sagas and epics...

[Bertholdt always tries to see things from a logical writing perspective, but...]

[schild]

Yeah. You might wanna keep quiet about it though, that's the thing... [ Ryan pauses here, trying to think back on the scene he'd tried so hard to forget. ]

I don't know what these titans are, whether they're a race or bad guys or whatever, but... I remembered something pretty... vividly... Something I definitely couldn't have survived if I wasn't... maybe a little immortal.

[ Does that even make sense...? ]

[toobig]

You... you remembered almost dying?

[He's staring at him worriedly, brow furrowed. Why... was this happening to them? His own Echoes were frightening, beyond one of them... and now it was the same for Ryan? He was too nice, he didn't deserve something like this.]

[Hesitantly, Bertholdt moves his free hand to rest on top of Reiner's own.]

Maybe... it has something to do with the rapid healing?

[schild]

[ Ryan doesn't move away, not by a long shot. He came to Bertl for support, after all. ]

It was definitely that. [ In fact, Ryan is just gonna go ahead and grab Bertholdt's hand, squeezing it tightly. ]

I was... crushed. But I didn't die. And I healed fast enough to break free and... carve something on this thing's hand... It was so weird...

[toobig]

[He's-- sweaty as usual. But he squeezes back.]

You must have been pretty agile then. [--Thinking to try and make Ryan feel better about the whole thing.] Did you have a sword?

[schild]

[ Ryan's too shook up to even bat an eye about sweat. The distraction helps, though. He can't help but feel like he's being complimented. ]

Oh, I did, actually. I cut myself free-- I kept steaming the whole while.

[toobig]

A big burst of it?

[Maybe he had done that too, at some point...]

[schild]

Kind of. It was everywhere-- It kinda sprang out from all my injuries. It was pretty awesome.

[ It sounds cooler when you talk bout it with friends!! ]

[toobig]

That... sounds pretty cool, actually.

[He's honest! Squeezing his hand again.]

Being invincible like that... it's amazing.

[schild]

Right? That's how I felt... invincible.

[ Ah yes, much better to focus on that than the mean ol' monster that squeezed him to a mushy paste. Ryan squeezes back, smiling a bit. The weight on his shoulders has obviously lightened up. ]

I guess I know what I have to look forward to, huh? I doubt I could heal that quick now, but maybe someday...

[toobig]

Yeah... I mean, god forbid something like that actually happen.

[He takes a small drag off his cigarette, knocking a knuckle against the wood of the bench out of habit, sighing out smoke.]

But the idea that you'd be okay... well, it makes it a little better.

[schild]

Yeah, at least I hope so. Wouldn't wanna abandon you.

[ Ryan bumps his shoulders against Bertl's, laughing a bit. He's gonna scold youu. ]

You smoke? [ NOT GONNA LIE, IT'S ATTRACTIVE AS HELL. ]

[toobig]

[Oh wow he's blushing. Ryan didn't want to leave him...? That's... well, it's kind of really gay.]

Just stay safe, okay?

[And then-- Does he tease him, or just ...]

Obviously not.

[schild]

I will.

[ Ryan really means it. And well, maybe he likes that sass of his too. ]

I had no clue! You didn't when we went to lunch... so I guess it's not much?

[ How do you say "I don't want you to get lung cancer" without saying... that. ]

[toobig]

[He better like his sass, he's only going to be getting Bertholdt out of his shell more and more after all.]

[Bertholdt flicks his ashes.]

Mostly when I'm working. I-- get stressed a lot, so... it helps.

[He smoked like ten cigarettes on the way home after that Echo are you kidding.]

[schild]

Ohhh, I see.

[ Man, how do you say it?? Ryan loves seeing Bertholdt be more outward, and he really does seem to be stammering less... ]

Worth the risk?

[ Now you get two salads, Bertl. And no dessert. ]

[toobig]

[But he wanted dessert...!]

What...?

[Oh. He lets out a little sigh.]

I don't smoke that much... it's-- uh, just... I-I feel less nervous and...

[schild]

Okay, okay. [ Aw he made Bertl upset that's not what he wanted... ]

Sorry. I guess there's no not-rude way of saying that, huh? If it calms you down, that at least makes sense...

[ He sighs AGAIN. ]

I don't mean to come off as a dick, cigarettes just remind me of work.

[ How many fires do you wanna bet started with poor cigarette disposal? ]

[toobig]

Oh... I guess I didn't think about that.

[He's very responsible about it!]

I'm sorry.

[He's basically finished with it anyway, so he leans down to snuff out the butt against the concrete walking path, and puts it into his foil pack to throw away later.]

I'm just... used to people having no reason beyond... uh, walking really close so they can hack like one breath of smoke is going to kill them. Or telling me off for, uh, "compromising" their allergies when I, uh, only smoke outside by myself.

[schild]

As long as you're reasonable about it.

[ It's nice of him to try and go outside, where he won't bother people, at least. Better than people who feel the need to smoke right out on the sidewalk... or next to things that are flammable... ]

I mean, you're an adult-- I'm not gonna tell you it's bad for your health. Sounds like people are usually dicks to you, I'm sorry about that.

[toobig]

[He shrugs.]

People are usually dicks to me no matter what. I'm used to it.

[schild]

What, really?

[ But why? Ryan's just gonna go ahead and wrap his arm Bertholdt's shoulders. It might not help, but it's all he can do. ]

They're obviously missing out.