[The thought of keeping his eyes closed had crossed his mind, but...it was too easy for one of them to slip up that way. All it took was something to catch them by surprise, or a moment of forgetfulness- and their eyes might open. At least with a hug, you were holding onto another person and therefore kept in better check.
And well...honestly, deep down? There was a small bit of him that wanted to indulge. This was in many ways embarrassing and he plans never to breathe of this to another soul .... but it was also nice. Nice to indulge, just a little. ]
My favorite places? [He gives a soft laugh] Well, the beach was really nice. A lot cleaner than what you get back home. But I haven't much chance to really explore the city enough to have a favorite place yet.
[Has he seen stuff? Sure. A number of places now. But it's not like there was one place he had in mind as a favorite- not like the places he could name back in NYC. It was too soon for that]
What about you? You've lived here a lot longer than me. Tell me about your favorite spots.
[ It was worth the shot— and mission accomplished. He can feel Elliot smiling, and peeks his head up just a bit to see it in action. Nothing above that, just . . . Just enough of an eye swerve to see some of him, no thought bubbles included.
He starts thinking back on what everyone's said already, and, honestly, they had something of a point. Why was there anything wrong with something good? Sure, he might have to take this at molasses pace to figure himself out, but— maybe he did like him.
And maybe he could let himself explore it a bit more, just to be sure. He didn't want to break his face, and natural worries still remained. Ask him out? Nooo no way. Too much. Too sudden. Too weird on his part, and it might be for his friend, too. They were still friends, above all. That came above everything for Eren.
It's time for him to give a smile of his own, a propped up knee falling sideways. ]
Honestly? The beach, when it's empty. [ That's. Not helpful. Memories and the marathon that earned him a new nickname aside, he really had enjoyed the beach, the ocean view, that massive straight road he can speed down— and the last time, with the violin. ] And there's a road you can speed nearby, with a view like that . . . Last time was— really great, too. [ Speaking of his car! ] Guess I gotta show you around more?
[ Eren would see a smile on Elliot's face. It's not a huge smile, but it's clear enough to tell that Elliot is at least a little happy - entirely thanks to Eren. Not only that, but he's still got a pretty prominent blush on his cheeks. Though with his eyes shut right at the moment, he doesn't catch Eren looking at him.
And even if Eren doesn't think it's helpful, Elliot does. With his eyes shut, he tries to visualize the beach the way Eren might see it, and what melody that might sound like.]
Heehee, I thought last time was great too. [Aside from the whole...sudden memories coming back. The rest of it was perfect. A memory to cherish.] I'd really it if you showed me around. You can even take me speeding on that road.
[ He's— he's all red . . . Well, he was too. Hard not to be (and on that day, Eren still didn't get it). This airman is also grateful for eyes being closed— having them open up to a guy staring at you might be a little more than ungraceful. Time to look ahead, into nothing as the doof smile stretches. ]
It's a d— [ When you quite verbally go kjhgfd. Mind, no. It's not a date. ] Deal.
There's the woods, too. I used to go hiking with Titan around there all the time.
[ God did he just suggest that uHRM. Backpedal, backpedal all the way. Sure, the stars are beautiful when there isn't too much city light taking the thunder, but, wow, geez, he doesn't want to give Elliot the wrong idea, not that it was a wrong idea, but he swears there is a mOVIE ABOUT THIS. ]
N— nah, I mean, not, uh— maybe just, hiking around, y'know? [ Does this still sound suspicious, or is it just him. ]
[Hilariously what Eren is thinking about giving the wrong idea didn't even cross Elliot's mind. He's not even near that ballpark. He's just worried about exerting that much physical activity because he's a total weakling.]
Hiking? W-Well, okay. I guess I should try to get some exercise.
Hope you like trail mix and bug spray. [ And the rather hilarious image of Eren stuffing his pockets with jerky and creating some sort of scenario. It's a true fact, he reincarnates as Bear Grylles. ] You don't see that many trees in New York City, right?
[ Hah, marching songs? Never. What goes on at the fort stays at the fort. ]
You've been missing out. The woods, not the marching songs. [ One thing's for certain, during this whole sit around— Eren's losing that tense edge to him. He's . . . Actually what a calm and soothed Eren would look like. It was good. It was nice. He's not moving at all, and if you let it he might even stay past his hour. ] Promise we'll take it easy.
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And well...honestly, deep down? There was a small bit of him that wanted to indulge. This was in many ways embarrassing and he plans never to breathe of this to another soul .... but it was also nice. Nice to indulge, just a little. ]
My favorite places? [He gives a soft laugh] Well, the beach was really nice. A lot cleaner than what you get back home. But I haven't much chance to really explore the city enough to have a favorite place yet.
[Has he seen stuff? Sure. A number of places now. But it's not like there was one place he had in mind as a favorite- not like the places he could name back in NYC. It was too soon for that]
What about you? You've lived here a lot longer than me. Tell me about your favorite spots.
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He starts thinking back on what everyone's said already, and, honestly, they had something of a point. Why was there anything wrong with something good? Sure, he might have to take this at molasses pace to figure himself out, but— maybe he did like him.
And maybe he could let himself explore it a bit more, just to be sure. He didn't want to break his face, and natural worries still remained. Ask him out? Nooo no way. Too much. Too sudden. Too weird on his part, and it might be for his friend, too. They were still friends, above all. That came above everything for Eren.
It's time for him to give a smile of his own, a propped up knee falling sideways. ]
Honestly? The beach, when it's empty. [ That's. Not helpful. Memories and the marathon that earned him a new nickname aside, he really had enjoyed the beach, the ocean view, that massive straight road he can speed down— and the last time, with the violin. ] And there's a road you can speed nearby, with a view like that . . . Last time was— really great, too. [ Speaking of his car! ] Guess I gotta show you around more?
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And even if Eren doesn't think it's helpful, Elliot does. With his eyes shut, he tries to visualize the beach the way Eren might see it, and what melody that might sound like.]
Heehee, I thought last time was great too. [Aside from the whole...sudden memories coming back. The rest of it was perfect. A memory to cherish.] I'd really it if you showed me around. You can even take me speeding on that road.
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It's a d— [ When you quite verbally go kjhgfd. Mind, no. It's not a date. ] Deal.
There's the woods, too. I used to go hiking with Titan around there all the time.
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Heehee, okay.
The woods huh? Haven't been there. [What a surprise] - You're not suggesting camping, right?
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N— nah, I mean, not, uh— maybe just, hiking around, y'know? [ Does this still sound suspicious, or is it just him. ]
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Hiking? W-Well, okay. I guess I should try to get some exercise.
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Hope you like trail mix and bug spray. [ And the rather hilarious image of Eren stuffing his pockets with jerky and creating some sort of scenario. It's a true fact, he reincarnates as Bear Grylles. ] You don't see that many trees in New York City, right?
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[Because eff marching songs tbh. Marching songs take something he loves and twists it into a sickening form.]
Not really. I mean there's parks and Central Park, but I don't think that really counts for "woods".
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You've been missing out. The woods, not the marching songs. [ One thing's for certain, during this whole sit around— Eren's losing that tense edge to him. He's . . . Actually what a calm and soothed Eren would look like. It was good. It was nice. He's not moving at all, and if you let it he might even stay past his hour. ] Promise we'll take it easy.
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Okay then, I'll look forward to it. Just try to make sure I don't walk into a poisonous thicket or get eaten by a wolf, okay?
[.....Elliot might have no real idea what actually happens in regular woods]