fiddlestick | aefenglom IC Inbox

[ this is the first time he’s been here to actually come for something, expect a turn, or even a someone. perhaps arrivals, or . . . maybe more, he didn’t know. eren was drawn to his mirror and that was the only fact to it— a tall frame decorated with broken chains of brass, half skeletal faces and metal wings of freedom, of blades with odd handles, and now— a wooden crutch, bars, and copper bent enough to look like slabs of crystal, and a hammer.

he’s seen good, and he’s seen bad. he’s seen things to open his mind and make decisions to seal his fate clean. the first thing he remembers is being called to speak with yelena, and the last thing he remembers was gabi braun raising a high caliber rifle to him and bracing himself for what would happen next, equally scared to death that he wouldn’t make it to the outstretched hand of his brother. he’s stopped crying because of sasha. it was a strike through his heart that he already had to live fleetingly, but the hole and the liability still remain like stains. everything just came and went so quickly that now eren remains seated here, in front of his mirror in a hollow afterglow.

everything in between has been an eruption of feeling in a matter of seconds. he’s tried running through it earlier, tried fissuring the glass with his fists, kicks and grabs nearby props of iron decorating the other mirrors to hit it with and go home. now more than ever did he need to take those last few steps, maybe a dive, or hope the bullet wouldn’t take his consciousness so abruptly. his doesn’t budge. the only thing left was a barrier between him and his reflection, now.

none of this was about him. his tongue flicks. it all slips away as easily as the storm had come on his surface. he can taste elliot coming already, and with more focus put into it, what he should’ve done earlier— his bond goes mute. ]

[Elliot was typically up this late. For a night owl like himself, he found it to be his favorite time to compose. The world was quiet, his bonds and friends were asleep, no tasks to be done - it was just him and his music.

So it was odd at first, feeling activity from Eren's bond at this late hour. Out of curiosity, he pings it a little to see if anything was wrong. It's then he notices that Eren wasn't anywhere near the direction of his house, but rather closer to the Coven, the mirror house. And something felt...off about it. At first he tries to rationalize it - but eventually concern and anxiety wins out, and he finds himself grabbing his shoes and heading out in the direction of the bond.

Following the bond, he winds up heading towards the mirror house. As he gets closer, the feelings get stronger. It's...such a whirlwind of them: determination, worry, grief, desperation, flashing by so quickly-

But the one that makes him break into a run was the sudden muting of all the feelings.

A few moments later, the doors of the mirror house opens up. It's dark and empty in here, as to be expected in the middle of the night. Elliot, unsure where his bonded is in this place, starts wandering the rooms, calling out]

Eren?

[ well— here they go. eren’s seated on a stool he’s managed from one of the dusty corners of the building, pulling his elongated hair back to roll itself into a bun. even like this it seemed longer, the ball he ties far larger that the little pony tail he was used to keeping. it might fall away eventually, but, it’s enough to get it all out of his face for the time being. after a moment, he speaks up, and the tone is: ]

Over here.

[ concise. possibly on the verge of phlegmatic— he is trying his damned best. it’s not dark for him— his usually slit pupils are enlarged for the task. ]

[Not dark for Eren, but Elliot had normal human eyes so it's dark enough. He ends up creating a little ball of light to float alongside him and act as a flashlight.

His hearing is good enough to pick up on Eren's voice, following the sound until he spots his Bonded. A sense of relief washes over him as he approaches him. Even with the light, it's still too dark for him to notice the change in Eren's ponytail right away- especially when he's too busy feeling relief that his Bonded was still here. He'd heard the stories of people going to the mirror house before disappearing forever.]

Thank goodness, you're still here. [He walks quickly over to him, hand reaching to touch Eren's in the usual manner] I'd heard people come here before disappearing, so I got worried.

[Not that he didn't want Eren to find his way home, he knew the guy wanted to go there. But there was no guarantee those who disappeared went home. ]

What're you doing out this late anyway though? You're not usually one for late night strolls.

[ not unless it’s full moon, he’s right about that. eren was more diurnal than he’s ever been nocturnal, only being misled from sleep when there was too much energy or anxiety to deal with— only a few days a month at most, nothing more or less.

he touches his hand, and . . . it takes a moment for eren to return some sort of gesture. it isn’t because he doesn’t want to— he’s not in the right mind, he feels. elliot was not armin, or mikasa, or any of his friends at home. he might even have succeeded, or not, if it weren’t for the tremendous cliffhanger the mirrors left him with.

elliot did not deserve, nor did he need, to become some sort of outlet to everything that had occurred. finally, the dragon’s opposite hand comes over his bonded’s briefly, before it slips away, back to himself and his lap. ]

You’re not wrong. [ somewhat. eren shifts in his seat to elaborate, only moving where his arms are— elbows resting on his legs. ] My mind went home. My body stayed here.

[

yeah he knows ]

[Elliot notices the unusual hesistation, the stiffness in Eren's response. There definitely was something wrong here. Something that Eren wasn't ready to tell yet, from the muting of their bond. It's worrying alright.

And Eren's explanation? Only serves to confuse]

Your mind...went home? L-Like you had a vision or something?

It’s what it felt like.

[ he stands, hands in his pockets and finding actual relief when there’s a piece of glass in there— not because it was sharp, but the sense of safety it brought after so much time using it (he thinks, time has now officially become confusing). the only thing his fingers do are subtly stroke at them, not enough to cut but enough to feel the rigid edge.

eren keeps to the front of his mirror, reflection staring back at them as he eyes the newer decorations, one by one. ]

Everything started playing out on the mirror. From the second I left home until further. [ there’s a pair of cuffs that eren pulls at— one end is whole, and the other is broken. ] I was there. The memories came, the feelings too. [ the brass chains creak, and eren lets them go, swinging and clattering against the mirror’s surface. ] And now I’m here.

[ he wishes the glass broke. he wishes it broke to take him back and let him live what he had to live through— now it just feels like a nasty joke being played on him, and for a second, despite understanding . . . he hates this. ]

Wow, that's...

[Elliot watches him, the ball of light with him floating over to illuminate Eren and his mirror. He's never seen someone else's mirror before. A lot of the symbols on it don't make much sense to Elliot, but they do give him a rather bad feeling. Chains, skulls and blades aren't really universally known to be good things.

But at this different angle, he notices something. The ball of light goes up to highlight Eren better]

....Not just memories and feelings. Your hair's longer.

[Not by a super large amount, but enough to be noticeable. There's no way Eren could grow that much hair that quickly between now and the last time he saw him.]

I'm not sure how, but in some sense, you did go home.

[ there’s a key dangling around there somewhere— probably the only non-lethal looking thing that described eren’s mirror. that and the wings on either side.

he was sitting here the entire time, so how his hair came to lengthen was, well, weird, but weird had grown to become a massive understatement when involving magic. it was still just a big . . . mystery. he knows about the hair, and that part he can’t provide answers. he only pulls back a few strands to accompany the flow back of his horns. ]

None of it matters if we’re all still here. [ not just him. he didn’t choose to come back here and mind jump to home and back. someone still kept the protective walls up to keep them from going through, and now, more than ever, did he want to unravel who, how and why to find a path of reversion. eren presses his head against the mirror, and with his fist raised— frustratingly yet holding back, bumping his fist against it.

it’s a waste of energy to try and break it again. ] We’re still on square one.

I wouldn't say that.

[While Eren might be feeling angry and frustrated at being denied going home, Elliot was thoughtful, calculating. Elliot knew how to focus on working with what reality gave you.]

This answers a big concern I had about being here, that we'd miss stuff back home. But if you remember from the exact second we left here, that's not a worry. What we need to do will be there waiting for us when we return...so we don't have to rush here.

[They can take their time and do what they need to do here properly. Elliot knows that this worlds problems weren't technically his problems, but it didn't feel right just leaving all these people to eventually die from Cwyld. He wanted to help where he could.

But he also knows Eren is probably having a moment here. ]

...I'm sorry you didn't get to stay home longer.

[ good for you, he would say, if he was willing to let his feelings run rampant and his tongue free. his judgement is clouded with anger and the last time he spoke his thoughts with rage he nearly hanged hange from the other side of his prison cell. time was already a fickle thing when it came to home, with those coming from earlier or later times. how was it for them?

it just cleared a hunch, left him with more questions and no sure answer. yes, a moment is being had, but he’s at least moderately wise about it. ]

Everything is waiting right where I left it.

[ “right?” consider it a mildly strained little “don’t be sorry”, since he knows elliot is probably just. trying to help the way he can? it’s unfair and yet such a damn bitter answer for him to swallow. just need to know what happens next after being shot dead, if there even is a next. his brain didn’t register the sound, too fast a projectile before his eyes opened back here.

god fucking damn it.

one more bump against the mirror’s surface with the lower part of his fist, before eren’s turning around, eyes low and ears flat. ]

Let’s get some air.

[He doesn't need the feedback from the Bond to tell that Eren is unhappy with what he said. Body language and the strain in his voice was enough to tell him that. Eren was...in a mood. It was easy to imagine why. Whatever Eren was trying to do at home was very important to him, enough that he was driven to get home despite it meaning he'd have a short life because of it. And now, he was ripped away from it, possibly right when he was in the middle of it. That'd make anyone moody.

Which...fine. He can let it slide for now. Give Eren some time to work out those feelings. So he clasps his own hands in front of himself before nodding]

...Alright.

[On cue, the little ball moves ahead to guide them out the way Elliot came in. Elliot will start to follow after it. For a moment, he slows and considers taking Eren's hand, but then decides better of it- moving on ahead to hold open doors for the other.

Eventually they'll come outside. It's still dark out, with sunrise not being for several more hours. Stars can be seen in the sky, and the air is fresh and cool especially compared to the dusty mirror house. The usually busy Coven is dead quiet, with no one wandering the streets.

Elliot looks back at Eren, as if watching to see what the other does before deciding to act or say anything.]

[ a good choice, for the time being. eren keeps his hands in his cloak pockets either way, giving no room for hand holding to occur and possibly making an attempt awkward at best. not a good time. maybe in a few days? he shoulders the doors open when elliot holds them out for him, and only keeps going once the other lets go and continues moving.

the air is cooler out here, refreshing and holding a touch of the coming scent of rain. it should happen later, the clouds are far and the sky, for the time being, is clear and brilliant with the stars alight and the waxing crescent of the sister moons beaming rays. he looks up, just keeps looking— and sighs through his nose when he’s come to a stop and folds his arms. the flaps of his membranes need some adjusting, as do the way he stands: more on the balls of his clawed feet than flat against the ground. it felt weird to stand flat now, but then again, he isn’t all too accustomed to his balance.

the result: some back and forth swaying, or stepping when he’s about to lose balance. ]

What do you at this hour, anyway?

[ u are like wide awake my ginger friend (he is trying his best to get over himself) ]

[He notices the change in Eren's posture mostly because well- it adds an sege or two of height, standing on the balls of his feet like that, making him tower against Elliot even more. Which man, is so unfair. Witch's magic hasn't made him grow at all, and Eren was already tall enough.

Okay, petty thoughts put aside, he then notices Eren wobbling and swaying, so he'll reach out his warm to the other to help steady him.

But ah. Right. That is a good question]

Huh? Oh, I usually compose. I'm usually busy during the day, so it's easier to sit down and focus on my music when everyone's asleep.

[Which sure explains how he's able to pursue his music and tend to all these different things during the day. Also, why it's so rare to see him in the early morning.]

[ his dragon feet are getting bigger, growing pains aside. you’re gonna b tiny af. eren steadies himself with the other’s shoulder, only briefly. his ankles are . . . a little too high up to settle his heel down, and holding them too low brings strain. more or less in between, then, arms to himself once he’s got it.

maybe he’ll have less trouble with a tail (not that he thinks of it). ]

Not a morning person. [ he says, eyes up and arms crossed back into themselves again. the air gives him clarity, cools of the steam collecting from his shoulders and his ugly thoughts— it helps. and he supposes, it’ll help if he speaks of something else.

not that he wanted to avoid the subject of what had just happened to him. it was . . . irrelevant. ] I wasn’t either, when I was a kid.

[He'll continue standing close, even once Eren pulls away, just in case he's needed again for balance. He wishes there was more he could do to help but there really was only so much you could do for a foot completely restructuring itself.]

Nope, not at all. The only time I like seeing a sunrise is if I stayed up for it. [He knows this is a frivolous topic that doesn't matter. But if it's helping Eren, he'll keep it up]

Oh yeah? That makes it sound like you got converted to it though.

[ it’s helping. elliot could tell momentarily, when there’s a crack in eren’s shield. never gone, would the sensations be and susceptible memories to go with them, but they could always be subdued.

what eren has done through all his time home was nothing short of this, except here he has nothing to truly hide. only a friend he really wanted to protect right now, short and ginger-light hair going along with his dumb procrastination. ]

His name is Keith Shadis. [ ah, keith. he’s sorry about him to. ] Drill sergeant.

[He feels the crack, even if it's just momentary. It's strange how reassuring it feels. He's only had this bond for about two and a half months now, and he's still grown so used to feeling his Bonds along with his own feelings. ]

Oof, yeah. Drill sergeants love the early mornings. [A knowing sigh. He knew all too well about military habits. Yet in all his dad and Thors' attempts, it never really caught on. Another sign he wasn't suited for that life]

Well, if you ever feel inclined to come back to this side, I wouldn't turn away occasional company. [Occasional, since he really did use this time for music work]

[ elliot knows his words well uwu ]

You’ll see me around.

[ especially around those days, perhaps. eren decides to sit and rest his ankles now, propping a leg up closer to his chest and just. looking up. just looking up and listening to the insects chirp. the bond bleeds, though not entirely open— what drips from eren is heavy reverie. ]

And I’ll be fine.

[ because he knows you’re worried af ]

[That gets a smile out of Elliot, happy at the prospect of spending more time with Eren. He liked the guy, okay.

He'll sit down with Eren, his own knees bending and his arms wrapping around them. He's close to Eren, but he's still respecting his personal space. The feeling he's getting from him is a relaxing one, not unlike playing an instrument. A fitting emotion, on a night like this.]

I know you will be. [Worried or not, he's being truthful] You're one of the strongest people I know.

[Eren has proven himself to be resilient, adaptive, over the last few months. He had such a strong will, but it wasn't detached from reality. ]

And I won't ask what you're hiding from me. [Because he knows he is. Even before this memory update, he'd see Eren in the coven classes about creating mental blocks.] Even if it's something bad.

[ something bad, something good. whatever word you call it, he didn’t quite care anymore. it wore him down, but it gave him hope. it made him horrible, but it kept him going.

faintly, eren replies. ]

It’s just mine. [ neither nor. his burden, his vow, and his actions. ] We all have them.

Aha, sure, but you seem to have more than most.

[His tone more light and teasing than accusatory. He's really not trying to pry for information here. As such, he'll change the subject]

Oh yeah, my waterproofing spell's all done.

[ eren’s placid to it, nevertheless. no sneers or feelings that would reject it, and lower do his walls come, undone. there’s nothing in there but a buried unhappiness— but god damn is there hope worth fighting for that throws it all under a rug.

he’s less angry, but the feeling is there, still, and easy to rile if something prods too far. mild relief pokes out of the cloudy storm beneath his greater emotions, and he sighs out, eyes up to the sky that prepared for morning showers in some hours. ]

I’m going to get markings for it later. [ because . . . there is a thing, that he’s thinking about. ] Not far away from my changes in full.

[ at least he won’t be surprised when he suddenly. gets big. ]

[Elliot hadn't expected that wall to come down, honestly. He figured it'd stay up for awhile. So there's a bit of surprise coming from Elliot as he realizes he fully feels that Bond again. Some parts of it feel different than before, a different energy from Eren in a sense. Something's changed, and the effects will reveal themselves in the days to come.

But...it's still familiar enough that Elliot relaxes for now. Even the buried unhappiness, well, it's not like Elliot doesn't have his own share of that. Instead there's just affection and acceptance towards Eren. No prying emotions, no distrust. His nerves of course, were ever present, but it's radio background noise ]

Oh yeah, your tattoos. I did some reading up, I think I should be able to apply enchantments to tattoos just fine. Might wear off sometimes though...

[So that'll be a thing to keep in mind. And ah, right the changes. Elliot looks over Eren. Physically he's changed a lot over the past few months. ]

Yeah...you're really dragon-y now. With how you're walking now, I wonder if you'll get a tail like some other dragons I've seen.

It . . . Might even help with balance.

[ in actuality, so— he doesn’t actually mind! he’s never minded much to begin with. while he’s sitting, he lifts his foot and moves his toes and flexes his joints, all clawed or scaled, or both.

the tattoos are a good thing to look forward to, even if he’ll have to get more enchantments to them every so often. after a moment longer . . . eren clears his throat, stabilizes on all limbs before lifting himself up in a slow stand. ]

We should get going. I have to check on someone before I go back, too.

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september 1st

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