[ it had been a question more to gauge viren than to truly wonder— and at least, he sees someone who doesn’t live off of a faraway fantasy (or, who knew— maybe eren was wrong to think the way he did, but he didn’t think so). he allows emotion to pass, and sees the man, the dragon before him, simply be who he was. human. he was only human with his own priorities as everyone else did.
it isn’t too heavy, but after a moment, eren’s palm finds viren’s shoulder, and gives it an understanding squeeze. ]
I don’t know what I’d do if Historia was killed. [ he considers continuing, but before that. ] My island’s Queen. But before that, she’s my friend.
[ a very. very good friend. once his hand has had enough, eren slips it back to himself. if the enemy killed historia . . . hah, everything would’ve been for nothing. absolutely nothing. all those deaths, those innocents, the sacrifices, comrades and even more friends lost along the way— it would shatter him into pieces that he probably wouldn’t be able to put back together again. eren was abominably strong, both of spirit and mind, but there was so much someone, anyone, could take before completely losing it.
he doesn’t even want to think about it. it’s possible for him to know the outcome of his events, but not the in-betweens. ]
It’d put everything done until now to waste. [ so, hm— ] It’s not always the strongest who survive. It’s the most persistent, and the most monstrous.
[ his bias now would say that he hopes viren’s side survives— but that’s so damn unfair. he doesn’t say it. only nods, with solidarity. ]
[ viren is, for a passing moment, visibly shocked at that response - eyes grown wide, without an immediate response of his own. empathy, if perhaps for inexact reasons, is not what he anticipated, much less a comforting touch. he may have judged eren to be ruthless (monstrous), yes, but he does think he is -- kind, in a way. he wonders how much of this is a result of all that alcohol imbibed, if the other dragon would even remember the entirety of this conversation.
and then he's even more curious, if his queen knows he considers her to be a friend, first, a monarch second. perhaps it doesn't matter. it's a nice thing to have. ]
... Right.
[ there is thankfulness, somewhere; viren could even manage the overflowing, flowery type of agreement, but he thinks the other has at least earned a moment of sincerity with him being more reserved with it. ]
That is what your goal is, then...? [ it's hard not to recall, the question about paying the price for freedom: ] Freedom for your people, the Eldians?
[ u thought he’d forget!!!! eren is a born natural at keeping all this alcohol.
back then, that question hadn’t been to draw alarm to something he was sure to commit. in the end, he did little compared to the resistance, and the slaver’s bay manager hadn’t lost his life in vain. he had a family, who would suffer, but eren too would have a family, and then, hundreds of families, than would also suffer and die out if he was not home to protect them. if he never returned home, if he were bound to the chains of another word.
he had so many priorities, as shitty as he had felt to have done it, that it was little to pay, to an already heavy bounty on his head.
the question had been, back then, to allow others the freedom to think, and assume. you learn far more about others that way than you think. people who are quick to snap, to draw their weapons, to throw their lives away, use their heads or become bystanders. there’s so much, and he knew he couldn’t do anything alone.
with a heavy heart, and not a lick of pride in it, eren confirms: ]
Yes. [ his tail sways, settles, and coils right along his feet. ] It’s us, or them. I choose us.
[ there is something... refreshingly candid about that response, that viren can almost admire. ]
[ there's no excuses, nothing to temper the harshness of it, just an answer that's impossible to twist. ]
[ of course, their circumstances differ, which may impact with how forthright they are with one another; neither of them can really do anything about situations at home while here, besides continue to strive towards returning. here, perhaps the most the other could receive is judgement, of which viren finds - after the length of this conversation - he lacks any to share. ]
That is what it takes, isn't it.
[ he lets out a small breath, almost a sigh. not quite, though. ]
That sort of determination [ and eren knows, he thinks, has reminded him. it will take more than that, yes, but ] should take you far.
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it isn’t too heavy, but after a moment, eren’s palm finds viren’s shoulder, and gives it an understanding squeeze. ]
I don’t know what I’d do if Historia was killed. [ he considers continuing, but before that. ] My island’s Queen. But before that, she’s my friend.
[ a very. very good friend. once his hand has had enough, eren slips it back to himself. if the enemy killed historia . . . hah, everything would’ve been for nothing. absolutely nothing. all those deaths, those innocents, the sacrifices, comrades and even more friends lost along the way— it would shatter him into pieces that he probably wouldn’t be able to put back together again. eren was abominably strong, both of spirit and mind, but there was so much someone, anyone, could take before completely losing it.
he doesn’t even want to think about it. it’s possible for him to know the outcome of his events, but not the in-betweens. ]
It’d put everything done until now to waste. [ so, hm— ] It’s not always the strongest who survive. It’s the most persistent, and the most monstrous.
[ his bias now would say that he hopes viren’s side survives— but that’s so damn unfair. he doesn’t say it. only nods, with solidarity. ]
no subject
and then he's even more curious, if his queen knows he considers her to be a friend, first, a monarch second. perhaps it doesn't matter. it's a nice thing to have. ]
... Right.
[ there is thankfulness, somewhere; viren could even manage the overflowing, flowery type of agreement, but he thinks the other has at least earned a moment of sincerity with him being more reserved with it. ]
That is what your goal is, then...? [ it's hard not to recall, the question about paying the price for freedom: ] Freedom for your people, the Eldians?
no subject
back then, that question hadn’t been to draw alarm to something he was sure to commit. in the end, he did little compared to the resistance, and the slaver’s bay manager hadn’t lost his life in vain. he had a family, who would suffer, but eren too would have a family, and then, hundreds of families, than would also suffer and die out if he was not home to protect them. if he never returned home, if he were bound to the chains of another word.
he had so many priorities, as shitty as he had felt to have done it, that it was little to pay, to an already heavy bounty on his head.
the question had been, back then, to allow others the freedom to think, and assume. you learn far more about others that way than you think. people who are quick to snap, to draw their weapons, to throw their lives away, use their heads or become bystanders. there’s so much, and he knew he couldn’t do anything alone.
with a heavy heart, and not a lick of pride in it, eren confirms: ]
Yes. [ his tail sways, settles, and coils right along his feet. ] It’s us, or them. I choose us.
no subject
[ there's no excuses, nothing to temper the harshness of it, just an answer that's impossible to twist. ]
[ of course, their circumstances differ, which may impact with how forthright they are with one another; neither of them can really do anything about situations at home while here, besides continue to strive towards returning. here, perhaps the most the other could receive is judgement, of which viren finds - after the length of this conversation - he lacks any to share. ]
That is what it takes, isn't it.
[ he lets out a small breath, almost a sigh. not quite, though. ]
That sort of determination [ and eren knows, he thinks, has reminded him. it will take more than that, yes, but ] should take you far.