[ Is it just him or is something a little off? Well, only one way to find out— he was needing things to distract his mind anyway. ]
we'll be there in 20 minutes tops
[ He keeps to his word, even picking up the pace to get there in 15; he's goes by foot, as exercising (with good music) was half the recipe for keeping to a clearer head. Plus, it gives Titan a bit of a rundown on his energy. Soon enough, Ann will be able to spot Eren while he's looking around for anything blond and bouncy— he's easy to differentiate, using the exercise uniform given by the Air Force with that massive, muzzled dog trotting at his heel.
Just as a precaution. Titan's still a working dog, even if he's off duty. If he happens to nab a smaller dog by accident . . . Yikes. ]
[ twenty minutes, got it. ann will be there right at the twenty minute mark. she looks...different? her hair's in her usual ponytail but she doesn't have any makeup on this time. she looks...tired. exhausted, rather. it's unusual; she's usually brimming with energy while she's on the job and would look a lot happier to see eren and titan around.
it's easy to spot eren despite how crowded it is. she gives him a little smile and a wave, at least attempting to be her usual self, and then goes over to greet titan. ]
[ Ah— there she is. Titan's the first to notice, giving a tug at the leash before Eren catches sight and follows along, giving the excited dog a little extra leash to happily greet Ann. You are treat girl, with lots of sunny smiles and pats, and good boys. You are treasure. He met you ages ago and he still loves you. There are no slobbers with this muzzle on, but he certainly pants ecstatically, licking over it and tail a wagging storm.
On the other hand, Eren gives a tight lipped greeting in return. He knows a tired person when he sees one, especially someone as vibrant as Ann. ]
We just got here. [ He clips Titan's leash off the collar, trusting him to stay with them (and boy does he, it Ann) as they stroll— maybe they can sit somewhere. ] Rough study night?
[ what a good boy. ann is showering him in good rubs and pats and scratches, and it gets her smile to widen just a little more. this is what she needed. she is tired, emotionally and physically, and seeing titan just....brightens her day. ]
[ He'll start walking when she does, and his partner prances up by her side and trots. Every day's a good day for a walk— especially if you need it. Eren at least hopes that bringing Titan would help lift her up a little. There's no hiding that the shift here is palpable, though. ]
[ titan is such a good dog... eren's trained him well. she gives titan another pat on the head before they start walking and ann takes a drink from the water bottle she brought with her. ]
Hm?
[ ...so...eren's noticed, huh? ann was hoping he wouldn't but...it's pretty obvious from how she looks, isn't it? ]
It's just...been a long week. Bad memories and stuff.
[ He might be dense for some things, but there are others that he's pretty sharp to catch in the air. Plus— with Ann such a bubbly thing, it was easy to note a drop, as slight (or not) as it was. ]
[ it's hard for her to talk about shiho when she hasn't ranked up her social link with eren that far yet. but she can talk to him about other things! ]
Sorry, I'm not trying to be a downer. It's just...the people around me are...going through really hard times. And I just--some of it's my fault, some of it isn't, and I hate that I can't do anything to fix it.
[ A blind eye he won't turn, and at least she's talking; he's even done it himself, before, as subtle as it was. ]
That doesn't make you a downer, Ann.
[ It's normal. It sucks, and he wants to punch it when it happens to him. ]
We can always do something about things— sometimes it just the hard way, but. [ He considers something, letting his eyes wander over just to check on Titan. Still at their heels, looking up at ann frequently. ] There's . . . Always a way.
[ she gets what she's saying and admires his determination, but... ]
Eren, I... I broke someone's heart. And--I can't do anything to fix that, can I? Not when I'm...with someone else.
[ and she's not about to break up with that other person, too. that would just be unfair. ]
I don't know... I feel so...helpless. And I just really needed a friend today to talk to. I know you didn't come out here to listen to me rant, so let me know if you just wanna...chill or something.
[ —Oh. That's the field they were talking about. Experience that Eren was still toddling in, he's only been on two dates in his life, one out of peer pressure years back that followed a rather long date hiatus (and disinterest to really date at all) then, this one that . . . Might go places, for the first time in his life.
It took some backbone, but he thought he handled it well. Which is what makes him pick an eyebrow up at the mention of "breaking someone's heart" while with someone else. He waves a hand rather immediately, as if to say "forget about this chill shit". ]
You know I won't leave you hanging like that, Ann. [ He shakes his head. ] C'mon, we'll find somewhere to sit.
[ There are benches, and trees— but Eren seems to be going more for a tree. Not that many people pass by there like benches do. ]
[ he's already starting to rank up in ann's book. seriously. they may not know each other well, but that he's so caring and so willing to listen to her? what a good guy, she thinks. she gives titan a scratch behind the ears before following him towards a tree, away from the more crowded areas of the park.
she's assuming he means they're going to sit on the grass, against the tree itself and not up in the branches, right... so she's going to do just that! ]
Seriously, I can't thank you enough for this. I...really needed someone to talk to about this stuff.
But of course the tree's roots are the better place to sit! Nice and cool and mostly isolated. Eren only reminds Titan to heel (with the word Fuss), followed by sitting and allowing him to do the same. The dog happily sprawls his belly across the grass, within petting distance. ]
It sucks a lot more than we'd think . . . [ But maybe he should come with a slight warning label. With a hand brushing along Titan's belly, he props a leg up and rests the other. ] I'm far from expert, but let me have it.
[ Maybe what he's heard could help out, too. Or hey, maybe his own two cents (that should come with that label). ]
titan is such a good boy. he gets some pats because ann thinks he's a good doggo who deserves all the love, and is lucky to have such a great owner! she gives him some belly scratches while eren speaks. ]
I don't know... Some of my friends [ one of them being her boyfriend, but she doesn't want to expose him!! ] have gotten some really bad memories and they're having a really hard time coping with it. I just...I feel like everyone's shutting me out, too, and not letting me help.
Then again... I don't know what to do that can help.
[ Eren listens quietly, but attentive at his absolute best. He didn't call her to sit and talk it out to pretend to listen and stare into nothing. He hasn't had . . . Bad memories to that point, perhaps one that was oddly melancholic while the rest remained as bits and pieces of nothing special: a quaint childhood, possible military training and getting beaten— that last one was tense, and harsh, but nothing that would break him. What he felt then actually made him feel stronger.
Which was weird. Even weirder was the mention of dissection, but he was too woozy to hear it all too well. But. Anyway, after dipping into his own thoughts, Eren wets his lips. ]
They don't want to talk to you, or see you— That sort of thing?
[ she knows he's listening, and she really appreciates it. she's grateful and she will make it up to him one of these days, she swears--and her memories up until recently have been confusing but not unpleasant. it was only when she'd remembered shiho jumping off of the roof that ann couldn't take it anymore.
she doesn't want to remember anything else. she's afraid of what she'll find. ]
Yeah. They're just pushing me away. I mean, I have my own issues, too, but I usually talk it out with people. Like right now, y'know? So maybe that's why I can't understand why they're shutting me out.
[ Eren was . . . Probably more likely to keep himself away from people at a strained time rather than talk most things out. Sure, if it was something that could be helped, he wouldn't ban himself from talking about it and seeking advice—
But something personal with little change to it possible, he can only imagine until it happens to him. ]
I've avoided people before, when I'm upset. [ Not saying why or who, but he figures it's a valid point of view. ] Not because I don't want the help— [ He gives a light huff, because it's something he's always had. ] I don't want to hurt anyone.
[ Be it physically or emotionally, with a shove or with words. When you don't have your head in the right place, things could get out of hand. ]
[ ...she understands, now, what mary and cleo and mako are trying to do. they don't want to hurt her--anyone, really. cleo did mention something like that... still, ann doesn't know how much she likes it, and she turns to eren, trying to understand. ]
But...sometimes it hurts more if you don't let the people who care about you help. Mm...Maybe I'm just being impatient. I guess some people just need time to heal on their own.
[ impatient and selfish, she thinks. she hopes that eren won't take what she said the wrong way. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text > action!
we'll be there in 20 minutes tops
[ He keeps to his word, even picking up the pace to get there in 15; he's goes by foot, as exercising (with good music) was half the recipe for keeping to a clearer head. Plus, it gives Titan a bit of a rundown on his energy. Soon enough, Ann will be able to spot Eren while he's looking around for anything blond and bouncy— he's easy to differentiate, using the exercise uniform given by the Air Force with that massive, muzzled dog trotting at his heel.
Just as a precaution. Titan's still a working dog, even if he's off duty. If he happens to nab a smaller dog by accident . . . Yikes. ]
action!
it's easy to spot eren despite how crowded it is. she gives him a little smile and a wave, at least attempting to be her usual self, and then goes over to greet titan. ]
Hey, you two! Did I keep you waiting long?
action!
On the other hand, Eren gives a tight lipped greeting in return. He knows a tired person when he sees one, especially someone as vibrant as Ann. ]
We just got here. [ He clips Titan's leash off the collar, trusting him to stay with them (and boy does he, it Ann) as they stroll— maybe they can sit somewhere. ] Rough study night?
no subject
Something like that, yeah.
[ she moves to stand back up, facing eren. ]
Wanna go for a walk around?
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[ He'll start walking when she does, and his partner prances up by her side and trots. Every day's a good day for a walk— especially if you need it. Eren at least hopes that bringing Titan would help lift her up a little. There's no hiding that the shift here is palpable, though. ]
What's going on?
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Hm?
[ ...so...eren's noticed, huh? ann was hoping he wouldn't but...it's pretty obvious from how she looks, isn't it? ]
It's just...been a long week. Bad memories and stuff.
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Wanna talk about it?
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[ it's hard for her to talk about shiho when she hasn't ranked up her social link with eren that far yet. but she can talk to him about other things! ]
Sorry, I'm not trying to be a downer. It's just...the people around me are...going through really hard times. And I just--some of it's my fault, some of it isn't, and I hate that I can't do anything to fix it.
no subject
That doesn't make you a downer, Ann.
[ It's normal. It sucks, and he wants to punch it when it happens to him. ]
We can always do something about things— sometimes it just the hard way, but. [ He considers something, letting his eyes wander over just to check on Titan. Still at their heels, looking up at ann frequently. ] There's . . . Always a way.
no subject
Eren, I... I broke someone's heart. And--I can't do anything to fix that, can I? Not when I'm...with someone else.
[ and she's not about to break up with that other person, too. that would just be unfair. ]
I don't know... I feel so...helpless. And I just really needed a friend today to talk to. I know you didn't come out here to listen to me rant, so let me know if you just wanna...chill or something.
no subject
It took some backbone, but he thought he handled it well. Which is what makes him pick an eyebrow up at the mention of "breaking someone's heart" while with someone else. He waves a hand rather immediately, as if to say "forget about this chill shit". ]
You know I won't leave you hanging like that, Ann. [ He shakes his head. ] C'mon, we'll find somewhere to sit.
[ There are benches, and trees— but Eren seems to be going more for a tree. Not that many people pass by there like benches do. ]
no subject
[ he's already starting to rank up in ann's book. seriously. they may not know each other well, but that he's so caring and so willing to listen to her? what a good guy, she thinks. she gives titan a scratch behind the ears before following him towards a tree, away from the more crowded areas of the park.
she's assuming he means they're going to sit on the grass, against the tree itself and not up in the branches, right... so she's going to do just that! ]
Seriously, I can't thank you enough for this. I...really needed someone to talk to about this stuff.
no subject
But of course the tree's roots are the better place to sit! Nice and cool and mostly isolated. Eren only reminds Titan to heel (with the word Fuss), followed by sitting and allowing him to do the same. The dog happily sprawls his belly across the grass, within petting distance. ]
It sucks a lot more than we'd think . . . [ But maybe he should come with a slight warning label. With a hand brushing along Titan's belly, he props a leg up and rests the other. ] I'm far from expert, but let me have it.
[ Maybe what he's heard could help out, too. Or hey, maybe his own two cents (that should come with that label). ]
no subject
titan is such a good boy. he gets some pats because ann thinks he's a good doggo who deserves all the love, and is lucky to have such a great owner! she gives him some belly scratches while eren speaks. ]
I don't know... Some of my friends [ one of them being her boyfriend, but she doesn't want to expose him!! ] have gotten some really bad memories and they're having a really hard time coping with it. I just...I feel like everyone's shutting me out, too, and not letting me help.
Then again... I don't know what to do that can help.
no subject
Which was weird. Even weirder was the mention of dissection, but he was too woozy to hear it all too well. But. Anyway, after dipping into his own thoughts, Eren wets his lips. ]
They don't want to talk to you, or see you— That sort of thing?
no subject
she doesn't want to remember anything else. she's afraid of what she'll find. ]
Yeah. They're just pushing me away. I mean, I have my own issues, too, but I usually talk it out with people. Like right now, y'know? So maybe that's why I can't understand why they're shutting me out.
no subject
But something personal with little change to it possible, he can only imagine until it happens to him. ]
I've avoided people before, when I'm upset. [ Not saying why or who, but he figures it's a valid point of view. ] Not because I don't want the help— [ He gives a light huff, because it's something he's always had. ] I don't want to hurt anyone.
[ Be it physically or emotionally, with a shove or with words. When you don't have your head in the right place, things could get out of hand. ]
no subject
[ ...she understands, now, what mary and cleo and mako are trying to do. they don't want to hurt her--anyone, really. cleo did mention something like that... still, ann doesn't know how much she likes it, and she turns to eren, trying to understand. ]
But...sometimes it hurts more if you don't let the people who care about you help. Mm...Maybe I'm just being impatient. I guess some people just need time to heal on their own.
[ impatient and selfish, she thinks. she hopes that eren won't take what she said the wrong way. ]
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Give it a little bit of time. But, [ Speaking from experience again, ] Make sure they know you're still around.
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[ aka ann was a little pushy in getting them to open up. ]
It's like they always say: patience is a virtue...or something like that, right?
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