maskormenace | 001 [video]

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001 [video]

[He's got the run down, he's been taken to his new place, and now he's being left to absorb all the information. Which, really, seems more like something out of a really bizarre fever dream. This kind of stuff isn't the kind of thing that happens in real life, but it's not like he's in a position to argue what is and is not possible.]

Good evening. [The sun is setting and Mike briefly straightens up to press his fist to his heart. It's an odd salute, but it and the uniform he wears will definitely be familiar to some. He's not the first member of the Survey Corps to come through the Porter, but he doesn't know that yet.] My name is Mike Zacharius.

[He pauses, a grimace passing over his features. He certainly feels and looks like he might throw up at any minute, but luckily for everyone watching he's so-far managing to handle it.

Um. Right, he's doing a thing.]

I'm a member of the Survey Corps, so if anyone knows if there are any other members here, I'd appreciate the heads up. If there aren't...Anyone who could explain what's happening here would be fine.

[This is exactly why he doesn't really do rousing speeches outside of combat. How do you communicate with people? But, hopefully someone out there will take pity on him.]

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[ That list had been shakily passed to his hands by someone down the ranks in a different unit; he didn't remember their name, but as soon as he looked over the file he knew everyone one listed would be burned into his memory as one more name being thrown onto the pyre. Gelgar, Henning, Lynne- and Nanaba. Senior members tasked with escorting recruits placed under their stopgap command during the mystifying breech of Rose. All pronounced dead on the abandoned grounds of Castle Utgard.

Mike Zacharius had been listed as missing, and you learned early on in the Corps that it was a far crueler way to pronounce someones passing when they tinged it with impossible expectations one of your own would come miraculously stumbling out of the treeline. They never did.

Phone gripped tight in his hand, knuckles bloodless and bone white. Gunther swung in the trees like a lose branch; Eld and Oluo had their eyes fixed on the horizon as they lay splayed over the greenway, and Petra was looking up at him. ]

Mike? [ In a way, they had had been looking at him. Levi's eyes were wide and grey like the empty barrel of a gun. ]

[Armin is not well acquainted with the man in the video, but he recognizes him, and of course as a member of the Survey Corps he feels obligated to reply. It seems an odd non non sequitur, answering these sort of calls in modern clothes - this time a blue tank top printed with flowers - though his posture remains poised.]

Armin Arlert of the Survey Corps, sir. Erwin Smith, Hange Zoe and Levi are all present in Heropa currently, and seven others, from the 104th Training division, have also been brought here by the Porter.

[It's a relief to see Levi - really, it would have been a relief to see anyone from the Corps, anyone he knows is on an equal level as him, and it being someone he's known for years and someone he knows can be trusted only makes it better.

The look on Levi's face stops him cold, though. It's a look he recognizes and that he's seen hundreds of times before on dozens of different faces. It was the sort of look people gave what little they could salvage of those that fell in combat, and seeing it directed at him...It makes him wonder. Does Levi know? Does anyone know about what happened to him, about the titan that could talk and took his maneuver gear from him? Or does the look come from something else entirely?

He has so many questions that he doesn't know how to ask, and that he's not even sure if he should. He always knew that his mortality is fleeting, but it doesn't seem like something to question right now.]

Levi.

[A shake of his head, a soft sigh. He doesn't know how to proceed.]

I...How long have you been here?

[That's safe, that's better than asking do you know I'm just a corpse, but it still feels wrong when Levi is giving him a look like that.]

I recognize you.

[Not that it's difficult. The 104th had been pretty remarkable as far as Corps recruits had gone, and Armin was no exception.

If though saying that might be kind of weird, but. Y'know, it's the truth.]

Nobody from any other squads?

A while.

[ The answer comes quick; his mouth faster than his head, and he almost hates himself for it. As if he had any right to be flippant at the exact moment where it was critical he at least try to pretend he was still human. One side of his mouth quirks downward and a thin brow flicks high an close to his hairline.

Mike was perceptive the same way a goshawk could see the field mouse make the slightest bend in the grass that gave it away, or how the bear knew to rouse every spring. It was instinctual and keen, and had been a permanence to his character that Levi knew without a shadow of a doubt that his sudden loss of self-possession did not go unnoticed. Of course he fucking noticed, Levi was close to swearing. Creating the pretense of being just short of a statue it was hard not to see he had just given Mike the whole fucking funeral march with one look alone. ]

I'm at [ 'Home' wasn't the right word; it lacked a certain contact between them. ] one of the government issued houses right now. If they brought you that way you're probably only down the street.

[ Levi went quiet for a moment, but even stone-faced as ever his eyes flickered as he deliberated over something. ]

Erwin is still at work, and I think he would also tell you that you should come here. Where we know it's secure so we can fill you in.

["A while" is vague and just makes Mike wonder even more, but this isn't the time or place to question. There's so much he wants to question, even if he's not sure how much he can get out of Levi asides from the obvious. Somehow everyone knew what had happened - or maybe they didn't but had been able to make an intelligent enough guess to know he'd never be coming back - and now the Commander and the Corps' strongest soldiers were here (and what is it like with them gone? what as happening in their homes?) and Mike feels guilty for being relieved.

Maybe it doesn't matter if they're here or not, but maybe it does.]

I was taken to residence thirty-one.

[He looks around briefly, nostrils flaring as he takes a deep breath.]

I can come find you.

[Just follow the scent of soap and shock. Shouldn't be too hard.]

[ Levi feels something he can not describe as anything other than profound carding its fingers through his chest where it settles heavy as a stone. It could be any number of thing ranging from a wave of relief that was unfamiliar to him, or that his view of the impossible had undergone considerable redefinition twice now. ]

Sniff your way down to house number twenty-eight.

[ His back goes straight and his eyes narrow, and for a moment he feel very much himself again. Levi was going to make fire up the kettle. ]

[Hange can't believe her eyes. Surely this was a trick. Surely someone was messing with her as some sort of cruel joke. It couldn't be. Mike was...

she gapes at the camera for a long time before barely managing a whisper]

... M.... Mike...?

[then, in typical Hange Zoë fashion;]

MIIIIIIKKKEEE!! MIKE MIKE MIKE MIKE!! MIKE!

Where are you?! Are you alright?! Are you hurt?! Ahhh, ANSWER ME!

Survey Corps. What army?

[He doesn't look Amestrian, that salute and uniform are unfamiliar, and she doesn't know of any 'Survey Corps,' but it's possible they're a unit in the West or South of the country. Maybe they're from the same world, at least.

At least he's not Drachman, she can tell that much.]

[Perhaps Armin shouldn't be surprised Mike recognizes him, after all, he has a close relationship with Eren, who's very much of interest, and Mikasa, who is among the strongest humanity has to offer. Of course his own accomplishments aren't exactly without note, either. Still, he blinks a moment.]

Not as of yet. As for our situation, I believe Erwin and Levi have been here the longest, though I have also made an effort to form an understanding. [Armin realizes he called Erwin by his first name instead of 'commander' just then, well, sooner or later Mike's going to find out everything.]

[He smiles, which feels unnatural and probably looks a little unnatural, but he's never really been all that personable and expressive. Still, some part of him wants to reassure Levi even though, logically, he knows it's unnecessary.

He doesn't say anything before pocketing his phone and ending the call, but, well, that should be expected. Why say goodbye when it'll only take him a few minutes to walk down the street? (Levi should expect a certain level of awkwardness from him anyways. It's not like he's ever been all that personable.

Still, it's nice that someone is close to him. Expect him soon, Levi. There's a lot of explaining to do.]

[Holy shit.

Well.

It's not like it's an unexpected reaction, but it still manages to stop Mike in his tracks. Jesus. What is he supposed to do with a shrieking Hange?]

I'm fine.

[Which he is, surprisingly and luckily enough. Most people don't get to say that after running into titans.]

I'm...at my residence. Thirty-one.

[calm down hange please.]

From the Walls.

[Because that's obviously an actual answer. But, really, he can't think of a better one to say. It's not like the Corps were like the Garrison or MP and had a set station or anything.

He raises an eyebrow at the women, who looks entirely unfamiliar, but it's not hard to assume that she's probably military as well. Maybe not his military, but he's not sure what kind of differences there could really be between worlds.]

I was close to Wall Rose before being brought here. Are you familiar with it?

Never heard of it. The only wall I've ever heard of is my own Fort Briggs.

[The nose always knows who to keep a watch out for, Armin. Always.]

How long has it been? [The familiarity is odd, but...Mike supposes that things are different here, and if Armin and the rest have been in this place for a while things might have changed.

He can just ask about it later, anyways.]

And have you had any luck understanding this place? [Can you tell him why it smells so bad?]

I guess you're one of the people from a different world, ma'am. There's no Fort Briggs that I'm aware of in or out of the Walls.

[Automatically] Sir.

It would seem so. What are the 'walls' you speak of?

I apologize, sir.

There are three of them, and they were built a century ago to protect the remains of the human population from titans. Maria was breached a few years ago and the Survey Corps had to switch their operations from exploring beyond the walls to making sure they weren't breached again and find out who or what had been behind the breach.

[ Something behind the bridge of his knows between the space in his skull around his eyes went hot and needled him, feeling hackles rise. Where did Mike construe that he should put on a face for him; he knew when tired platitudes were thrown his way and hated him a little for it. Levi wasn't the one with questions. It wasn't him that came walking home long after the papers saying he never would had been signed.

The kettle starts to hiss and rattle over the cast iron oven burners but before he pays it any mind Levi grabs his phone. There were several iterations of the same message he hurriedly typed in ('please come home now' was stupid and he never said please; 'get the fuck back here' would just incite more questions and probably a dressing down) until Levi whispered screw it and messaged Erwin three words whose meaning could not be misinterpreted.

mike is here

Levi hit send with one hand and yanked the kettle off the stove at the exact moment he heard heavy footfalls striking the stone walkway leading up to the front door. There was no denying it; he knew that gait. ]

Inside.

[ Door thrown open before Mike could even knock, Levi stands in the doorway dressed down in his work cargos and a sweater that hands off his shoulders with a hem just shy of being down around his knees. His sharp, narrow eyes dart over Mike's expansive shoulders on the alert for nothing and anything as he moves aside to let him in. ]

Edited (what is html) 2014-07-10 01:11 (UTC)

You didn't read the packet?

[ derek's tone of voice implies that he doesn't think highly of said packet. ]

[the same thing you always do; keep calm and sniff on]

You are?! Thank goodness... thank goodness!

31? Ok! I have to see you! I'll be there quickly!!

[It gets easy to compartmentalize and accept things when they're happening to you, though. Mike is...Well, he's not okay with anything that's happening and he definitely doesn't understand how, or why any of this is possible, but...

It's something that happened and he doesn't see why other people should suffer because he never would have made it back to the rest of the Corps. He doesn't want to see people mourn him or be shocked by his appearance, and maybe that's a little bit selfish of him, but he made his bed and he was fully intending on sleeping in it. Second chances weren't something soldiers like him got often, after all.

He doesn't even pretend to be surprised at Levi already at the door, and he steps inside with little fanfare. He does raise an eye at the sweater, though. He didn't know Levi to lean towards over-sized clothing (he assumed that Levi would be staunchly against anything that made him look smaller than he already was), but who knows what kind of life Levi was leading now.

Mike looks around the house as he stands in the entryway, feeling a bit like he's intruding on something.]

It's...nice here.

[Smells warm and cozy.]

I skimmed it. [He shrugs.] It didn't seem very helpful for my specific problems.

[He can do calm. The sniffing might have to wait until he gets adjusted.]

Yes, I am.

[A pause. Better prepare himself for a whirlwind.]

I'll meet you outside.

[It smells a bit better out in the open, and he's not sure his still unknown roommates would appreciate the inevitable chaos that will come from their reunion.]

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