genessia | Kind of a catch all?

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Kind of a catch all?

A. Patrols.
[ Security for Genessia city isn't as interesting as he hoped it would be. Jean didn't expect much, but more than doing what he currently was seemed better. A funny thing, really, since this was exactly what he wanted every day of training back home. A boring, safe life. But now that he'd seen the kind of destruction he had back home and been at the mercy of seven witches, boredom should be the last of his worries.

It wasn't. In fact it feels more surreal and easily broken than anything. Like he's waiting for the other shoe to drop any time.

So, he ducks into shops, exploring the city, and keeps his eyes sharp. Are you a troublemaker he gets to arrest? How about someone who just happens to be there for chit chat? ]

B. Attack on Mansion!
[ Sleepless nights aren't a new concept. Jean punches a pillow roughly and flops onto his back, kicking his legs in frustration. His eyes are wide open, staring at the ceiling. The strangeness of sleeping in a big bed with the knowledge he wouldn't be sharing it with anyone any time soon hadn't worn off yet. Part of him still expects someone to nudge open his door, pad across the room, and climb in with him. Whether that be a dog or person, it didn't matter.

Instead, he finally gives up and tosses the covers off, soon wandering into the other areas of the mansion.

On September 2nd, he ends up with a feather duster in hand, cleaning light fixtures.

On September 4th, Jean wanders into the library. The obviousness of it being Armin's space has him backing back out immediately, though. ]

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[Ted walked through the hub of the world so often, he considered another method of travel besides left and right. How about...backflips? That would mean he could exercise and travel all at once!

So a colorfully dressed man with an inconsistent shadow will be flipping around, being only moderately careful. He's good for chit-chat after this latest round of troublemaking.]

Edited 2016-09-04 18:40 (UTC)

[ For a long moment Jean just stares at the man backflipping, dumbfounded by the fact he's doing it in the first place. Well, he did ask for a break from boredom right? He's content to let the man go do his weird thing, until said man nearly knocks something over.

So, excuse Jean while he makes his way over and-- ]

Hey! Knock that off already! You're gonna hurt someone doing that.

[Even when 100% upright, Ted has a hard time keeping up with the world around him. The constantly shifting perspective of backflips makes that all but impossible. Jean's address throws off his rhythm, talking breathlessly.]

"h-what? No it's all right I'm learning poise and balance-" [Smack! Ted's backflipped straight into a crosswalk post. He groaned and slid to the earth, splayed ingloriously. The universe paid him no mind, keeping his physical shame to a minimum. Thanks a lot Jean, you totally threw off his groove!

He kips up and makes a full recovery, of form and ego, panting and laughing at once.]

"Heh, heh...your prophecy came true, in a roundabout way. Do you often predict the future?"

[Airy has a thin book open in her hands as she heads to the library's exit. She's reading and walking, intent on what's scrawled on the pages. She isn't completely paying attention to where she's going and smacks into Jean as he steps inside.

Her book clatters to the ground and a look of panic crosses her face.]

Oh, I'm so sorry!

[ Being that Jean is not an immovable rock, he makes an "oof" sound and reaches for the nearest thing to stabilize himself. His hand lands on the door frame as his eyes land on the person that bumped into him, then the book.

He has never literally run into so many people as he has here in Genessia. Both times were his fault too, dammit.

His jaw clenches for a second and he lets the frame go. ]

What the hell is it about people running into each other in this place? Is it just me or do you all not look where you're going?

[ He's not saying so but he's including himself in that "you all". ]

[Airy's shock quickly flutters to worry. She reaches down for her book and holds it against her chest as if to keep herself from finding the page that she'd been reading a few seconds prior.]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean too. I just...

[She feels like she only has excuses.]

Sorry.

B. Part 1

Armin is used to sleepless nights as well - sometimes, those are preferable to nights like this. He tosses and turns, his breathing short and uneven - the soft noises of protest and shallow moans coming from his room make it very clear that his sleep is not pleasant or restful. If Jean looks into the room, he'll see Armin's face is twisted into a mask of pain and fear.

B. Part 2

"Jean?" It took Armin a moment to notice someone's presence in the room, so by the time he glances up from his book, Jean's already backing out the door. Caught unexpectedly at an unguarded moment, he doesn't manage to disguise the sadness and the hurt at seeing Jean continuing to try and avoid him. He still has no idea what he's done - but Jean's made his wishes pretty clear, in Armin's opinion, despite the other night. He turns away and doesn't say anything, trying to respect Jean's decision - no matter how much it hurts.

Edited 2016-09-06 00:13 (UTC)

The halls of the mansion in the middle of the night vaguely reminded him of the Crossing. A lot of walking and long hallways, but admittedly fewer doors and definitely less people. It was lonely, but in a way that felt manageable in comparison to daylight hours. There was less of a chance that he would run into anyone, so it made him relax more while he wandered around. Aimless though it was, it gave him more to do than just stare straight at his ceiling and try to sleep when he knew he couldn't.

Jean hadn't known which room was Armin's and wasn't interested in finding out, though a part of him did wonder. The problem was, he was closer than he thought when he heard soft sounds that cut through the silence. They had something in his chest tightening, his feet drawing him closer to the door, where he hesitated. He knew the distinction between whimpering moans of pleasure, Armin's better than anyone's, and when someone was in distress. It didn't take a genius to figure this one out.

Despite his best efforts to tell himself he had no right to comfort Armin anymore, he twisted the knob and gently pushed the door open. Even in the dim light, as he drew closer, he could see the misery and before he could stop himself Jean pressed a knee onto the bed and reached to take hold of Armin's shoulder. He gently shook him. "Hey Armin, wake up. It's a nightmare, you're safe."

Armin doesn't wake up - but he turns toward Jean when he senses another's presence. A look of tremulous and vulnerable hope on his still-sleeping face, he reaches out for the other boy.

The grip Armin has on him is nearly laughable - and yet, it's just enough that Jean would actually have to break away to get loose. At present, though he's still trembling, it looks like Armin is ever-so-slowly relaxing - Jean's presence a balm for his troubled dreams.

Being held onto like this was so familiar to him, that it was second nature to lay down in the available space and pull Armin against himself. Only after he'd done it, had he realized that he had and lightly cursed to himself.

A part of Jean didn't care because Armin needed the comfort, while the other part felt brittle and raw. This wasn't his Armin, but it was still Armin and he cared for him. Probably too much for this one's comfort. Hell, it was too much for his own at the moment too, given the simultaneous familiarity and how alien it was to be in Armin's bed holding him. They fit a little different, but he still smelled the same.

Fingers lightly brushed hair from his cheek, though he said nothing.

Armin comes easily, curling up against Jean, his head resting gently against his chest. His arm coils a little more firmly around his friend, and he sighs.

Gradually, as he lays against Jean, his trembling subsides and his breathing returns to normal.

Yet the more relaxed Armin got, the more tense Jean started to feel. The strain it took for him to repress what's come naturally for months started making him feel more and more on edge. He wanted to stroke the other man's hair and kiss the top of his head, but he was very sure those were probably unwelcome.

Instead, he let his hands fall to loosely hold onto Armin, swallowing as he closed his eyes. As he tried to focus on being glad Armin was calming down. He knew his friend was still asleep, though. His breaths were too shallow, and it had him wondering if it was possible after a while to slink back into the night before he actually woke up to find Jean in his bed.

In truth, Armin wouldn't mind those actions as much as Jean seems to suspect - although the assumptions that would come with it would certainly be alien to him. Alien, but not automatically displeasing.

He continues to breath more deeply, at ease with Jean's presence. Perhaps he'll shift in the night, but curled around him like he is, it seems unlikely Jean would be able to extricate himself without disturbing Armin. Whether or not he'd actually wake up is anyone's guess, if Jean wants to take that chance.

The word 'miserable' probably doesn't even begin to describe how Jean felt at the moment. But then, that was also the immediate response to feeling trapped. Not by Armin's arms or small fame keeping him in place - that felt familiar to him, even comforting - but by the emotions he was soon flooded with. Loss, uncertainty, and feelings for Armin that were misplaced toward the current man he was in bed with. It was complex.

Eventually, when it became all the more apparent he was stuck there and the emotions roiling through him began to wear on him, Jean relaxed. Exhaustion crept up on him, and soon his eyes began to droop. Before he knew it, his legs were tangled with Armin's and he was out like a light.

Curled up against Jean, for once Armin sleeps soundly. He wakes earlier than his friend, quiet and calm. Mentally, he puts his troubles aside for a moment as he considers the boy next to him.

It was a surprise, true - but on some level he was aware that he wasn't alone, and though Armin rarely admits to his nightmares, he's not fool enough to deny the clear reason for Jean's presence in his bed. Even so, there's something more going on between him and Jean, and he really doesn't understand it. He'd acted strangely when he'd arrived - he'd come from somewhere else, like Armin, and it had changed him. It had changed their relationship, and without context he doesn't understand how. He only knows that since then, Jean has been avoiding him as best he can - which makes his presence here, if anything, even more puzzling.

Gently, Armin extricates his limbs of their tangle, moving away from Jean and over to the other side of the bed before ceasing his retreat and relaxing once again. If Jean is trying to avoid him, he won't drive him away with their closeness, giving him the space he might need. There, he stays, his expression filled with quiet wonder - almost tender as he contemplates his friend.

The strain of worry and tense muscles were completely gone as he slept, probably making Jean look the most peaceful he's been since coming to Genessia. His grip on Armin hadn't been tight, allowing the smaller man to slip from him easily. It hadn't disturbed him initially, but the sudden lack of warmth contorted his features to say he wasn't pleased by his absence.

After some long minutes, Jean finally stirred. His first reaction was confusion over the amount of space between them, looking rather put out by it, actually. There was even something of a pout. Then he yawned, stretching slightly to get some of the stiffness from his muscles. His eyes soon rested on Armin, looking at him curiously, and something clicked.

That somehow woke him up, almost as if a cold bucket of water were dumped straight onto him, and with it, it brought all that tenseness back to him. In fact, he probably looked suddenly lost. Like he didn't know what to do or what to say, because he had been avoiding Armin for weeks, and now suddenly he was in the other man's bed. Jean was a piss poor liar, so he knew the truth was the only thing that he could fall back on instead of saying something stupid like he got lost.

Yet it all had him shifting to lay on his back, almost in defeat, but more trying to avoid Armin's eye contact.

"Good morning," He grumbled.

Once he saw that the library was Armin's space, the plan had been to backtrack and stay out. To make sure he didn't disturb his friend or move into his space uninvited. It was the best for both of them, especially after the other night, where he realized it was harder to forget the connection he'd made with the Armin he knew and the feelings he'd built. It made things more simple for himself to separate them. To make sure there was his Armin and his friend Armin.

The problem with that had been the fact they were both still Armin. Still with the same interests, the same mind for things. The same beautiful blue eyes and silky blonde hair. The products they washed themselves with were different, but there was also still that underlying smell that was his own that Jean recognized the other night.

It was all messing him up, and sleeping in Armin's bed curled together only seemed to make the ache in his chest worse.

The plan when he saw the library was not to get caught by his friend. He failed spectacularly at that, just hearing his name called. Against his better judgement he turned back toward the door and rest his hip against it, standing on the threshold.

"Sorry. Did I disturb you?"

[Look who happened to be walking by. She wasn't at work at the company today because it was her day off, but of course she'd be out doing her patrols. Suddenly she stopped noticing him and decided to go drop in. Literally. She dropped down from the roof she was on.]

You seem distracted.

[ Jean doesn't jerk, per say, but he's grown more accustomed enough to not having people literally drop to the ground in front of him, that it might startle him a little. Which only seemed to annoy him, considering at one point that kind of thing hadn't phased him. Apparently he needed to put his guard up more.

He lets out a frustrated grumble and tenses up. ]

Just bored.

[ At least he's honest about it? ]

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Kind of a catch all?

A. Genessia City Patrols [Action]

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A. Patrols [Action]

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Part 1

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Part 2

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