V ✖ ＫＩＬＬ 【Log】

[inhisdebt]

Who: Mikasa Ackerman, Jean Kirstein, Armin Alert, Marco Bodt, & Eren Jaeger [If he'd like to]
What: Jean has been having emotional issues and Mikasa feels the need to talk to him in private about it. It is also Mikasa's birthday today and even though she won't say anything about it, it seems the others have found out. [Keeping them both in one log to keep from multiple posts]
When: February 10th
Where: Casa AoT
Style: Starting in 1st, but I can change to 3rd if wanted.

[She's warned Jean right off the bat that Marco had no memories of ever dying and yet... He's still let his emotions give away that something was wrong. Not that Mikasa really blamed him... She knew it would be hard on him, but she thought he'd still understand what was required of him. If he didn't want Marco to know that he'd died or something was wrong, he had to be strong and try to keep from Marco being worried that he'd done something wrong when he hadn't.

So seeming as Jean is opted to stay in a motel with what was going on with Marco, she made her way to where he was staying temporary(because she wasn't going to allow him to stay there for long). So early in the morning, Jean will hear knocking on his door.]

Jean, it's me. We need to talk.

[ L A T E R ]

[It was Mikasa's birthday, but she'd never really put much thought into it. Most people were happy to have their birthdays happen, but for Mikasa it was just another day. She had other things to worry about back at home, so she never expected much. Why should that change now? Despite not saying or doing anything about it, it seems that her new roommates had a different idea about her birthday.]

Comments

[neighvarily]

[Jean's sitting on the bed, which was never unmade. His head perks up when he hears Mikasa's voice, then, he jumps up in a brief panic, rearranging things and hiding something he doesn't want her to see before making his way to the door. He leaves it wide open, cursing himself that he doesn't have anything to offer. His mom would yell at him if she knew.]

Come in.

[He pulls the chair out, but the bed is probably more comfortable, but the bed is also...

Forcing himself down a different train of thought, he quickly blurts out.]

Sit wherever you like. What did you want to talk about?

[inhisdebt]

[Luckily for him, she doesn't even really think about that. As he opened the door, she took a seat next to him with a small sigh.]

I'm just going to get straight to the point here.

I understand seeing Marco again is difficult when he has no memory of what happened, but if you keep letting your emotions get the better of you, he's going to suspect something is wrong, if he hasn't already.

[neighvarily]

[She did just get straight to the point.

Jean stood back up, pacing the room. He'd already thought about that. Marco was still, thankfully, oblivious to the real reason behind his reaction, but what he thought wasn't much better. He knew he couldn't continue like this, not if he didn't want to him to learn of what happened.

His voice comes out more of a groan, weary and at a loss for alternatives.]

I can't just pretend everything's normal. I tried that, and you can probably guess at what happened.

[inhisdebt]

[She let out another sigh.]

I know... It's hard... but I don't think having Marco think you're mad at him is going to be much better.

I... [She paused for a moment.] When Armin came.... I didn't want to tell him about Annie for obvious reasons... I was trying to protect him from any more needless pain. He's already been through so much... and I couldn't do anything to protect him...

[She knew him being in a different world without her made that difficult, but she still can't help but feel like she's failed him.]

But I guess... he already knows about Annie.

The point is... it's not going to be easy and it's going to hurt to have to act like everything is fine, but if you want him to be happy and remain privy to what happened... Well.. you're going to have to do your best to keep it to yourself.

[neighvarily]

I don't know, it sounds good to me. [Marco would get over it. He might even get mad at him for it and move on. The likelihood of that actually working was miniscule, but he felt like being stubborn about it.]

[Mikasa, Eren, and Armin had always shared a disturbingly close wavelength. He could only imagine how difficult it was for her to come to that conclusion.

Or maybe he could do more than that. He normally wouldn't have thought of Marco as someone needing protecting, but everything was different now.]

There's not much of any other choice, is there? We can't win no matter what we do here. Marco might be happy now, but what happens when he leaves? He can't stay in this place forever. [He paused.] The same goes for Armin, you know.

But I guess we just have to deal with this shitty situation and keep him ignorant of it.

[inhisdebt]

Well... We could always just tell him, but I... I don't think that's a good idea personally. I'd at least wait until he's more adjusted to Genessia. He has a lot to deal with as it as currently.

[She paused for a moment before letting a small sigh.]

He might leave, and that's always a risk but.... Isn't it worth it if it means he can be happy and worry free? No one is going to be stuck here forever... We'll end up leaving eventually and we don't even know when for sure.

[ Birthday time ]

[inhisdebt]

[halffreckled]

[ Marco had planned this just right to be home at the same time that she was. he sat nervously with a box in his hands until he knew Mikasa was here. when he saw her, he rushed to her and held the box out to her as he bowed his head and looked at the floor ]

It's not much and I'm so sorry. But I wanted to get you something to thank you for letting me stay here... And letting Jean stay here. [ he knows he's a handful ugh. when Mikasa opens it, there will be a lovely cake on the inside and on the side without the red polka dots, her name is in cursive in fondant in a navy blue color ]

I didn't know exactly want you wanted. I guessed on the color choices... But the inside is half chocolate and half vanilla, just split down the middle. Happy birthday, Miss Mikasa. [ YES HE IS BEING SUPER POLITE HE OWES HER SO MUCH ]

[inhisdebt]

[Once Mikasa got back, she wasn't expecting this. She had a vague idea that it was her birthday, but she never really put much thought into her birthday. So Seeing the cake and hearing what he said, she was in awe for a moment.]

It's...

[Wow, she didn't expect much nor has she told anyone about her birthday. The only way they would have known was if it was Armin or Eren who said something. The cake was very pretty and she's not used to such things, even being here.]

I... Thank you. It's perfect. But I... You didn't have to do this for me. I'm glad to have you guys around and I don't mind letting you stay here.

[halffreckled]

No, no, you deserve it! I'm really glad that you like it though. [ LOOK HOW PROUD HE LOOKS OMG ]

[inhisdebt]

T-Thank you.. Really.. I didn't really expect anything to be honest...

[titan_hunter]

[It's not that the date itself crept up on him unawares. But after living for so long in a world where just training and fighting to see another day was the expected quota in life, he'd lost touch a bit with the whole tradition of giving birthday gifts and now there were so many options that he honestly had no idea what to pick for MIkasa.

Which was why Eren was flipping through magazines for ideas, anything at all that might just jump at him with how fitting it would be for Mikasa. It was even more dire since she had managed to give him a very precious gifts as well in the form of the Katana he had propped up against the couch. He was so focused on that search that he didn't even realize someone was waling up on him.]

[inhisdebt]

[The katana was something she wanted to give. She wanted to give him something he'd find useful at least. Upon returning home from talking to Jean, she looked to see if anyone was around. Seeing Eren look at something, she decided to go over to him since he was around. Taking a seat near him..]

Whatcha looking at?

[titan_hunter]

[It was more than useful. Having a man made weapon to use with his own hand was about as close as he could get to what he had back in their original world. Then again given the plan and how they had been on the run, Eren hadn't actually worn his gear in weeks. After all he and Historia were vital individuals that were meant to be kept safe at all costs. That was until their bait plan failed and he got captured by the true royal family.

But those worries were trivial at this moment. What was not trivial was the fact that Mikasa had snuck up on him somehow or maybe he'd been too focused on finding a gift he hadn't felt her come in. Either way now he was sitting with the one person he really didn't want to see just yet.]

M-Mikasa?! You're back.

[He says after quickly shutting the magazine and almost hiding it behind his back.]

[inhisdebt]

[She hadn't so much "snuck up" as he just didn't realize she'd come in.]

Yeah, I finished what I needed to do.

[And that was obviously suspicious...

To probe or not to probe...?

Probe.]

Did I interrupt you or something?

[neverfeltthatway]

[Even though he's just arrived and the date across the worlds he's visited have not been contiguous, there's no chance Armin would ever miss Mikasa's birthday. However, he doesn't have much money and doesn't know where any of the shops are. Normally, he wouldn't let that stop him - but after all that's happened to him, Armin doesn't put much value in material possessions. Not that he ever did, but his death and a year getting used to liminal space, owning nothing more than he could carry with him at all times has exacerbated that.

Besides, being back with her and Eren - it's bigger than that, it means more to him than he could ever convey. He wants her birthday to represent that, to remind her what she means to him, and how grateful he is to have her in his life.

It doesn't take long for him to figure out what to do, though. He finds her in her - their room at one point when they're the only ones in the house.]

Mikasa, could you come out to the kitchen for a moment? I have something for you.

[inhisdebt]

[Upon returning home, she didn't really expect anything. Sure Eren and Armin would know about her birthday, but she didn't say anything otherwise. With everything back home, birthdays weren't really a priority for her.]

Armin? Yeah, sure.

[Something for her... Did he get her something for her birthday? She didn't really need anything, to be honest, but she made her way to the kitchen.]

[neverfeltthatway]

I know you don't need anything, and it's not like I have that much to give, either. But... coming here a few days ago, seeing you again when I never thought I would - it made me think about all you've done for me, how you've always looked after me. And... what you mean to me. I w-wanted to get you something that could show you that, even just a little. S-so...

[They reach the kitchen. On the table sits two small chunks of bread - coarse, base fare, nothing like the quality of bread they usually have here, or even in the military. Instead, it's reminiscent of their years as refugees, when this was food for an entire day, if they were lucky. Beside it stands a lone, lit candle.

He turns to Mikasa, giving her a tentative smile and hoping she understands the gesture, hoping that those birthdays - hidden away in the corner of a shed, or on their shared bed, covered in dirty clothes and ratty blankets not nearly adequate to fight the cold - mean to her all that they do to him.]

H-happy birthday, Mikasa.

[inhisdebt]

A-Armin...

[Her expression softened hearing what he was saying, but then totally got caught off guard upon seeing the bread and then the candle. She knew well enough that they could get proper food here, but she immediately got what he was going for. To be honest, she was a little speechless; not because she didn't appreciate it, but because it made her think of how far they've gotten since those days.]

T-Thank you. It's perfect.

[Mikasa really didn't show much physical affection, but for some reason Armin could always seem to make her want to. Walking over to him, she gently hugged him. She was just happy that he was doing better and that she could see him again. She'd missed him a lot, so while he'd been here it had been a little surreal.]

[neverfeltthatway]

[They had indeed come a long way from those days when they had to work the fields to earn their measly rations of bread. Armin remembers those days. He remembers the days he was sent home early because he couldn't keep up, and thus earned only half a meal. And he remembers how by the time they found somewhere to sit and eat, there was as much food on his plate as there was on Eren's and Mikasa's - regardless of how he protested.

He wouldn't still be here if it wasn't for them, so many times over.

He's a little surprised by the hug, but he returns it gladly. It's been surreal for him too - once Eren left him as a Traveler, he'd been convinced he'd never see either of them ever again. Coming to Genessia... might be one of the best things that's ever happened to him. It gave him Mikasa back.]

I'm glad you like it. [His words are quiet, almost a whisper, and a little muffled because of how he's pressed against her. After a long moment, he pulls back and smiles at her with tears in his eyes.] Make a wish.

[neighvarily]

[As soon as Jean had learned the date of when he arrived, Mikasa's birthday had come to mind. He wasn't sure about the math, but it hadn't been cold back home, and she had been here for five months, so it was close enough and he wanted to do something special for her.

He'd never admit it, but he had her birthday memorized over his own.

After allowing himself ample time to freak out, he gathered the things he intended to give in a simple, brown paper bag that did nothing to hint at what was inside, but was more of a practicality than anything. He gathered his other few belongings too, as this was probably the last day he could afford to spend at the hotel.

Jean kept his eyes skyward, pretending to ignore the crowds to calm his own nerves. It wasn't quite dark yet, but he had waited, procrastinated even, until later on in the day. He reached her door, knocked a few times, and tried not to fumble with the items in his hands.]

[inhisdebt]

[Mikasa didn't like the idea of having him stay in a hotel, but she did what she could. He always knew he was welcome there. By this point, the others had already surprised her with birthday wishes and other such things. Opening the door, she was a little surprised to see him so soon.]

Come on in. Let me help you with some of that.

[Offering to hold some of the stuff.]

[neighvarily]

No, it's okay.

[A little too defensively, he pulls away the stuff. Stepping inside, he briefly looks around, then smiles cautiously at her.]

Happy Birthday, Mikasa. I, uh, got you this...

[Reaching into the bag (and nearly dropping his other stuff in the process), cursing, and putting the stuff down before he continues, he hands her a petal pink card that says Happy Birthday, Mikasa

- Jean, in neat, if not bolded, handwriting.]

But if you could just close your eyes for a second, you don't mind doing that, do you?

[inhisdebt]

[Taking the card, she looked to it before reading inside. Really... It had to have been Armin or Eren that said something...]

Thank you, I appreciate it.

[And then at the question.. she gave a slightly confused, curious look.]

Oh uhm.. sure.

[She didn't know what he was planning, but she'd find out in a moment. Closing her eyes, she waited for him to do whatever he was going to do.]

[neighvarily]

You're welcome.

[He started to reach for her hair, before he realized his hand was trembling from nerves and how strange the action might be. Completely silent for a moment, he pulled the item out, thrusting it into her hands.]

Okay, you can look.

[He wanted to shut his own eyes, unsure how she would react. As soon as he had seen it, he thought it would look good on her. He didn't even expect her to wear it, but it was there if she wanted, now that her hair was longer. She deserved something nice more than anyone he knew.]

I can--I mean...I asked the person how to use it, so I can show you how to wear it. If you want. It's fine if you don't.