For Levi, it hasn't been that long in comparison -- whether or not that was the only time since early childhood, he had wept when their battle was finally over and he feels no shame about it. The sheer rawness of it had dulled a little over the peaceful months here, especially since he at least got Hange back, never truly needing to settle into a new routine without them -- but it could never truly go away. Too many lives, promises exchanged, late conversations had and battles fought. He'd always carry them with him.
And now, he has another one. He's got Erwin back, too -- and he'd actually had time to grieve him, to accept the world without him, not that said acceptance was any less forced than a square hollow 'accepting' a triangle peg, to learn to live with that hole in his heart because there was never going to be a miracle. Now there has, and it somehow feels less believable because of it. He wonders if this is how Hange would feel if Moblit showed up here. And then he wonders if Jean's plan might actually work, if perhaps they might be able to bring everyone they know from their world here so they could live their lives without the kind of suffering they felt to back home.
He doesn't pull away, allowing Erwin the comfort of continuing to hold onto him, in a little more subtle way now, and he finds himself comforted by it, too. His fingers curl loosely around the other man's as if to assure him.
"It is," Levi agrees, his voice still a little choked at first, still stuck somewhere between crying and laughing, but instead he just settles into himself again. "The technology and the medicine, and don't laugh, but they have fucking magic here too. Sometimes I can't tell which is which."
He's not entirely sure how much of a rundown of the place Erwin actually needs, since it seems he got the orientation... but he sure remembers being lost as hell after his, aside from being able to locate his place to live. The kids seemed to have an easier time, somehow, despite them all coming from the same world; Armin had been 'posting' on the 'network' days after he showed up and Levi still needed help figuring out how to use the damn 'phone' to pay for groceries sometimes. He wasn't even that old! Anyway--
"Have you seen the picture boxes?" He means TV, which is clearly a marvel of modern science. "Hange took mine apart the moment they got here." Because Erwin should know they're here, too. And while it might sound like a complaint, but there's a subtle fondness to his expression, like he's glad they found something to be excited about more than he's upset about the damages, which is true. Honestly, he was excited too, if about different appliances, as Erwin is about to find out in a moment. After all, just because he never had proper education or time to appreciate the intricacies of the natural sciences doesn't mean he hates technology.
"Hot water in the bathroom never runs out. There's machines that wash your clothes for you. And these little pancake looking things that clean the floors." His voice sounds just as flat as always for most people, but Erwin is one of the lucky few who can probably detect fascination in his tone.
(Guess who's been slowly getting roombas for everyone he knows whenever there was an occasion. Guess what Erwin is getting for his birthday once he realizes what day it is.)
"And-- we can stay here. We don't have to go back."
They don't have to go back to being dead that is, Erwin and Hange and Eren and anyone else who might (hopefully) show up next.
An important piece of information he was ready to torture out of the city leader had he not offered it for free, as soon as he realized people were showing up here even after death, and he imagines it's something that should put Erwin's mind a little at ease in that regard, assure him that he has all the time in the world to explore the wonders of this place.
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And now, he has another one. He's got Erwin back, too -- and he'd actually had time to grieve him, to accept the world without him, not that said acceptance was any less forced than a square hollow 'accepting' a triangle peg, to learn to live with that hole in his heart because there was never going to be a miracle. Now there has, and it somehow feels less believable because of it. He wonders if this is how Hange would feel if Moblit showed up here. And then he wonders if Jean's plan might actually work, if perhaps they might be able to bring everyone they know from their world here so they could live their lives without the kind of suffering they felt to back home.
He doesn't pull away, allowing Erwin the comfort of continuing to hold onto him, in a little more subtle way now, and he finds himself comforted by it, too. His fingers curl loosely around the other man's as if to assure him.
"It is," Levi agrees, his voice still a little choked at first, still stuck somewhere between crying and laughing, but instead he just settles into himself again. "The technology and the medicine, and don't laugh, but they have fucking magic here too. Sometimes I can't tell which is which."
He's not entirely sure how much of a rundown of the place Erwin actually needs, since it seems he got the orientation... but he sure remembers being lost as hell after his, aside from being able to locate his place to live. The kids seemed to have an easier time, somehow, despite them all coming from the same world; Armin had been 'posting' on the 'network' days after he showed up and Levi still needed help figuring out how to use the damn 'phone' to pay for groceries sometimes. He wasn't even that old! Anyway--
"Have you seen the picture boxes?" He means TV, which is clearly a marvel of modern science. "Hange took mine apart the moment they got here." Because Erwin should know they're here, too. And while it might sound like a complaint, but there's a subtle fondness to his expression, like he's glad they found something to be excited about more than he's upset about the damages, which is true. Honestly, he was excited too, if about different appliances, as Erwin is about to find out in a moment. After all, just because he never had proper education or time to appreciate the intricacies of the natural sciences doesn't mean he hates technology.
"Hot water in the bathroom never runs out. There's machines that wash your clothes for you. And these little pancake looking things that clean the floors." His voice sounds just as flat as always for most people, but Erwin is one of the lucky few who can probably detect fascination in his tone.
(Guess who's been slowly getting roombas for everyone he knows whenever there was an occasion. Guess what Erwin is getting for his birthday once he realizes what day it is.)
"And-- we can stay here. We don't have to go back."
They don't have to go back to being dead that is, Erwin and Hange and Eren and anyone else who might (hopefully) show up next.
An important piece of information he was ready to torture out of the city leader had he not offered it for free, as soon as he realized people were showing up here even after death, and he imagines it's something that should put Erwin's mind a little at ease in that regard, assure him that he has all the time in the world to explore the wonders of this place.