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seasonsgreetings2023-10-13 12:35 am
seasonsmods) wrote in seasonsgreetings2023-10-13 12:35 am
Entry tags:
Test Drive Meme #5
Test Drive Meme #5
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION
You arrive in an unknown space, dressed in white clothes (player choice what kind of clothes, as long as they cover everything). Whatever was happening to you before no longer happens. It's like everything was put on a pause and you were transferred away from the situation without you realizing it happened.
The space that you find yourself in is one of these four options:
An empty landscape filled with snow and ice, almost like a blank canvas.
A field with cherry blossom trees and spring flowers.
A sunny beach near an ocean that seems never ending.
A quiet forest with falling autumn leaves.
All of the spaces seem to continue endlessly. No matter where or how far you walk it almost seems like you're not moving at all. There are no animals here - just those who happened to wake up there at the same time, in the same place. Everyone is wearing the same kind of plain, white clothes.
Despite the possible rollercoaster of emotions you might be feeling, the place somehow feels familiar. Like somehow you belong there.
And it looks like you're not alone.
After half an hour has passed the surroundings change as everyone is teleported into a room with all the other new arrivals, no matter what space they woke up in. It's a large place with plenty of seats to sit in and beverages to enjoy. Medical attention is offered to those who need it and the doctors here are very prepared for any challenging situations.
Here, in this room, everyone gets an answer to where they are and why. A hologram of a man appears at the center of the room, waiting to be heard. He brings a message on behalf of the leaders of Ellipsa.
The Message [ Click to Expand ]
Hello, my name is Olwen. I'm one of the leaders of Ellipsa as it currently is. I'm also one of the four who summoned you here.
Our world is in trouble and we need your help. I apologize for tearing you away from your world and forcing you to come here but I hope you understand. The magic we used doesn't let us ask in advance, nor does it let us choose who we bring here.
This world is composed of four Seasonal Segments. All of them represent one of the seasons. They were the places we used to get our resources from, but now they're dangerous places no one should go into unless they have the power to fight back. All of them have their own sets of powerful monsters and natural catastrophes.
We used to have plenty of people here who could control the powers of the four Seasons. We called them Seasonal Power Holders. Unfortunately, due to a tragedy you can read about later, we lost almost all of them. Now only four of us remain and the world is in chaos. We have done our best to protect the world, but we need more power holders to do that.
That's where you come in.
All of you have been assigned to one of the seasons. Whatever space you were in just now is what season you represent. You will learn different skills based on the season and those skills are going to help you save this world.
These powers don't interfere with your own natural powers. They use a new energy that has formed inside of you. It's harmless to your health, but it's vital to your seasonal powers. Your own powers should still work, even if the dark energy outside the city might interfere with them.
Unfortunately bringing you here wasn't as simple as it sounds. We couldn't do anything about how to keep you anchored to this world other than making a simple spell that helps with it. That is, you need to touch someone else who is not from this world ideally at least once a day. It will help you stay in control of your powers and boost your magical energy. If you don't, the consequences aren't very good. But as long as you hold someone's hand or give someone a handshake, you should be fine.
That's all I have to say about the situation. The staff of the Research Center will give you more information about housing and other necessary things. I will, however, promise that you will be sent home once the situation becomes better. That's the least we can do.
The hologram can be viewed in private in a separate room later, should someone wish to look at it again. For now, the staff of the Research Center hands everyone their new smartphones with their small flower lucky charms (the flower is anything the player decides). They're also told that the building next door is where everyone can find a room assigned to them with some of their belongings there and possibly even any animal companions. Those concerned about their mount-sizes companions are welcomed to the stables downstairs to see if their friends are there. The mounts are allowed to stay there until you find a place more suitable for them.
In the Arrival's hall there are also several stands with information pamphlets.
First type of stand is for the local Guilds and about the benefits or joining one.
Second type of stands is for the Welcome Center that aim to show otherworlders what the world is like and help guide people in the beginning of the journey and helps in getting settled into the new world. They even have people to help if you're unfamiliar with the new phones.
Third type of the stands is for The In Touch Support Group that is led by the Otherwordly Ambassador, Kamisato Ayato. The pamphlets have contact information for businesses looking to help Otherworlders. They also focus more on the lore of the World and what they have discovered so far, as well as a guide on what to think about when preparing to venture out to the Segments.
Once you get your smartphone and necessary information, you're urged to go out and find your apartment. After that whatever you want to do is up to you.
Part 3
The building next door is where everyone can find their new apartments. As you enter, you're told by a friendly native that for the first two months you can live anywhere rent-free and five meals a day are paid for you. After that they get a monthly payment that helps with some of their living expenses, but otherwise they have to have a job to support themselves.
All of the apartments are comfortable, two bedroom apartments with all necessary utilities. They are also completely soundproof. Sometimes the magic system, however, does glitch and you might find yourself rooming with a stranger. This is not the intention and the staff will immediately prepare you your own room if you ask them. But maybe having a roommate isn't all that bad?
In the Arrival's hall there are also several stands with information pamphlets.
First type of stand is for the local Guilds and about the benefits or joining one.
Second type of stands is for the Welcome Center that aim to show otherworlders what the world is like and help guide people in the beginning of the journey and helps in getting settled into the new world. They even have people to help if you're unfamiliar with the new phones.
Third type of the stands is for The In Touch Support Group that is led by the Otherwordly Ambassador, Kamisato Ayato. The pamphlets have contact information for businesses looking to help Otherworlders. They also focus more on the lore of the World and what they have discovered so far, as well as a guide on what to think about when preparing to venture out to the Segments.
Once you get your smartphone and necessary information, you're urged to go out and find your apartment. After that whatever you want to do is up to you.
The building next door is where everyone can find their new apartments. As you enter, you're told by a friendly native that for the first two months you can live anywhere rent-free and five meals a day are paid for you. After that they get a monthly payment that helps with some of their living expenses, but otherwise they have to have a job to support themselves.
All of the apartments are comfortable, two bedroom apartments with all necessary utilities. They are also completely soundproof. Sometimes the magic system, however, does glitch and you might find yourself rooming with a stranger. This is not the intention and the staff will immediately prepare you your own room if you ask them. But maybe having a roommate isn't all that bad?
All throughout the city, a festival is taking place. It's the festival to honor the dead. The areas are decorated with aesthetically appropriate lights and different flowers. Upon a closer look it becomes clear that all the flowers are bundles of flowers, based on the otherworlders' flower charms. Where a characters' flower is depends on their Season, but all of the appear in the Nightwake Center district.
The main part of the festivities is to light candles in various places. There are even floating lanterns, that can be either launched to the skies or put on surfaces of water. Those who have lost (= to death) someone at any point in their life will receive a message from them in their dreams and otherwise pleasant dreams about them if they light up a candle during the festivities.
Those who have died before (back in their world or on Ellipsa) will receive a protective light around them if they light up a candle. This light will also let the natives know to treat them with kindness and respect during the festivities. They will even receive special bonuses at some of the shops and restaurants, like discounts or extra items. The light itself will decrease any damage done to them for the rest of the month. The light will dim "when needed", but even as it's not easily noticeable, it will continue to protect.
Characters may receive both of these effects.
The second part of the festivities involves making small ghosts made out of paper or cloth. These crafts are for the local ghosts to possess so they can be seen by everyone. Once the ghosts have possessed the crafts they will hover around the place, experiencing the festivities better than in their ethereal form. Only ghosts that wish to move on to the afterlife will possess the crafts.
Some of the ghosts gather at the Blossomcrown Park where magical crests have been set on various tables there. These ghosts are those who have been waiting for this moment to pass onto afterlife. Everyone visiting the bonfire will be given a special flower wreath. The goal is to wait for one of the ghosts to move and take hold of the wreath (literally holding onto it with their craft ghost forms) before placing it on the crests together with another person. This will help the ghosts to cross the border into afterlife. The wreath disappears after the ghost has passed on. This ritual can only be done at this time of the year, as the air is filled with a mysterious essence that helps with passing on. The scientists have yet to properly determine what the essence truly is, but it seems to concentrate on the park and at least it's not dangerous for the living.
The park also has some places to just sit down and enjoy the atmosphere at the park. There are also some food and drink stalls.
The final part of the festivities is the multi-day Costume Party Masquerade happening in the largest airship of the city. The ship circles around the whole city of Nightwake, occasionally stopping at the dock and taking new passengers (or letting old ones out) before continuing on again. The airship is special, as it has a giant ballroom in the middle. There are also cabins, some more private and some more communal for those who just want a quick place to crash rather than a proper room.
Everyone who boards the airship must wear some sort of a mask, but they also have to be in a costume of some sort. Those who don't have either or both will be guided to a dressing room where the magic will pick them whatever they are missing at random (= of player's choosing) and dress them (their current clothes will be waiting for them at the airship station later). No one escapes the rule of a costume and a mask around here!
A magic is also applied to everyone's mask, making it harder for anyone to recognize the person wearing it (possibly even those who know them very well). This is said to add some level of mystery to the evening. Of course the spell will pause whenever someone takes off their mask and that may reveal a secret to someone. No one will just automatically forget if they saw someone take off their mask.
The music encourages people to dance and be brave in asking a stranger to dance with them. Thanks to the atmosphere of the masquerade, touch energy will feel even better than usual, even if you'd be "fully loaded".
Another sort of magic sneaks into the party, as people's costumes start to take over their personalities. Someone dressed up as a king might start acting all regal, while a vampire look-a-like might try to bite someone in their neck. Some might even lose the sight of who they really are and completely take on their new roles for the time they're in the airship and in the costume.
Fairies will start trying to bomb people gone weird with water balloons, as a splash of water on their faces will wake them up from the trance (even if the said person is wearing a mask). They're even teleporting water balloons for others to toss - especially if it looks like someone is acting a bit too dangerously.
Another way is to strip them out of their clothes, but that might be something reserved for the privacy of a cabin, rather than the ballroom.
Even once someone has been freed from the spell they can unfortunately be spellbound again later on - but it's just less likely.
- Ask your questions related to the TDM here.
- The TDM is available only to friends of the mods and their friends. If you want to play in the TDM, please leave a note here to inform us who invited you over. We will get to you as soon as possible.
- Test Drive is open for current characters to make a top level as well. New characters can add TDM on their subject line to indicate they're new!
- Current characters cannot access the starting area again to meet new arrivals. They can, however, be at the Research Center when the newbies are teleported in.
- The TDM is game canon so anything in the TDM can happen for your character(s) in the game as well.
- Smut is not allowed on the TDM. You can play situations leading to it, but if the thread is turning into smut, please move it to a private space such a post in your character's journal, or a locked post in the game's log community if you decide to app!
- Check Locations: City to find more areas to explore inside the city. Every place in the districts are open.
- Similarly, Locations: Segments is useful for outdoors adventures.
- You can find monsters to encounter on Beastiary.
- FAQ has information on characters' smartphones as well as general things about the world that might be handy.
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No, scratch that. Reiner knows he's lost his mind. It shattered to pieces in Paradis, fracturing along fault lines that he'd spent years denying. Reality twisted and warped around him, throwing him into a state where he didn't know who or what he was. He's better now—doing better, at least—pieces of his sanity cobbled together through sheer determination.
Then he looks up from the candle, and he sees Marcel's ghost.
… Fuck. When did he start hallucinating on top of everything else?!
But wait. No, Marcel was younger. Much younger. Why would his ghost look older? Reiner stares for a moment, gold eyes wide, lips parted in mute surprise. Then it clicks.
There's only one person who bears such a strong familial resemblance to Marcel. Only one person who would greet Reiner after years apart by nudging him with a boot.
Recognition flashes across Reiner's face, surprise replaced by something like wonder, hope shining in his eyes.
"Porco?" he asks from where he still crouches, just in case he's wrong. Just in case his mind really is playing yet another cruel trick on him.
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He hisses softly when Reiner calls him Porco, but bends down to offer a hand to hoist him to his feet. "Galliard. And yeah. Get up. We need to compare notes."
Like why you're so young, Reiner, and where are they, and why are they here, and a million and one other questions. Galliard knows--although it'd be a challenge to get him to admit it out loud--that Reiner is smarter than he is, and he needs Reiner to be smart right now and clear some of this up for him.
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He stares at the offered hand for a second before reaching out to take it, letting Porco help him to his feet. Squeezing Porco's hand a little too tightly. Holding on a moment too long. Trying to convince himself that this is real.
"Holy shit," he breathes out, unable to help himself. He's taller than Porco now. Much taller. When did that happen? It's a minor thing for Reiner's mind to get caught on, yet here he is, struggling to process it. Not since seeing Gabi has the passage of years—the time missed while on that island—hit Reiner so hard.
But no, there's no time to gawk. (Even though that's exactly what he's doing, staring at Porco's face like he's trying to burn it into his memory.) Porco—Galliard says they need to compare notes. Reiner nods, his attention snapping to the matter at hand. Filling Galliard in. Formulating a plan. Finding out when Galliard is from and whether or not he has the Jaw. Ensuring that they're protected.
Reiner has prepared for this. He just thought Bertholdt or Annie would follow him here first, not Porco.
"Right," he says. "Let's walk."
Better to get moving. Otherwise, Reiner might just keep staring at Galliard, trying to resist the urge to reach out and grab onto him, wanting to ensure that his comrade is actually here.
Reiner starts off along the water's edge, head up, eyes scanning for familiar faces. Once they've settled into step, he speaks again.
"When did you get here?"
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Of course, Reiner doesn't hug him, and instead just stares. Galliard can feel himself flush, and takes his hand back from Reiner, only to reach up and shove his face away.
"Something wrong with my face?" There shouldn't be; he checked in the mirror before leaving his apartment, and everything has grown back. There's no chunk missing from his head, no blood staining the lower half of his face. He looks normal again.
When Reiner starts walking, Galliard falls in step beside him. They walk along the water, and Galliard looks around curiously. He wants to know about the lanterns, but Reiner asks a question first.
"Yesterday." He glances back at Reiner... impossibly young Reiner. It's like looking into the past. "How old are you right now?"
no subject
Reiner hasn't been entirely alone among enemies. Gabi is here, older than she ought to be, yet beloved as ever. However, Reiner considers Gabi a family member to be protected, not an ally in a potential conflict. Not a comrade with whom Reiner grew up. Galliard is different, no matter how tempestuous their relationship.
Every other time Reiner has met someone from their world, the first encounter has been strained at best and violent at worst. Is it any wonder that he winds up smiling a little when Galliard pushes his face?
He shakes his head in answer to the question, not trusting himself to speak. ("Your face is wonderful. You look like your brother. I've missed you.") Then they're off along the water's edge, Galliard's answer coming quickly.
Yesterday. That's good news overall. It means Galliard probably hasn't run into anyone from the Survey Corps—or if he has, they haven't recognized him. That gives them more options. More time.
He glances over when he feels Galliard's eyes on him, eyebrows rising at the question. "Let me guess," he says, "you remember me older? Twenty or so with a goatee?"
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"Uh... yeah." Galliard isn't sure how Reiner pinpointed that so quickly. "You're twenty-one or something, and you've got a goatee." He tilts his head, looking up at Reiner out of the corner of his eye. "How do you know that?"
Something else occurs to him, something that could be both wonderful and terrible. "Are there other people from our world here?"
Because how else would Reiner know what he looks like in the future?
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At least Galliard arriving from so far in the future answers a few questions. One: Galliard must have the Jaw. Two: Galliard must know about Marcel.
Reiner has no right to feel relieved that he doesn't have to break the news about Marcel's death. He feels that relief anyway, and he hates himself for it.
For now, Reiner does his best to shove those emotions aside, bottling them up to deal with later. (Or not.) Right now, he needs to bring Galliard up to speed.
"Yeah, there are. My cousin Gabi is here. You know her," he says, glancing at Galliard. It isn't a question; Gabi has spoken enough about Galliard for Reiner to be sure. "She told me what I look like in a few years.
"That's an important thing to know about this place: it doesn't care where or when you're from. For me, the year back home is 850. I was in the middle of a battle in Paradis when I suddenly woke up here. It's been five months since then. I was seventeen when I got here; I'm eighteen now."
Hopefully, Galliard doesn't need too much time to process that. Reiner has questions about that battle, suspecting that something goes horribly wrong at some point during the fight. But his focus remains on filling Galliard in, so he keeps right on talking.
"Between you, me, and Gabi, there are three of us from Marley. And there are over half a dozen from Paradis, all members of their military."
As a Good Eldian, Reiner ought to immediately call them devils, spitting on their existence and claiming they befoul this place. That's what his mother would want him to do. But Reiner can't get the words out. Too compromised. Too much of a half-assed piece of shit.
"There's an informal ceasefire," he continues. "I've been working to establish a non-aggression pact. There are factors at play that make fighting here pointless. Unfortunately, there's been a delay on their end; either they're having trouble agreeing on terms, or they're deliberately stalling."
Reiner shrugs. He has no way of knowing which it is, nor has he been in a position to push for it. Now that Galliard is here, things have changed. Reiner needs to get the Scouts to agree to something. He needs to keep his comrades safe—on both sides.
no subject
He winces when Reiner confirms where he's from. That means there's a conversation coming that he really, really does not want to have. While their past might be rocky, he's not looking forward to telling Reiner about how balls-up that mission went, and everything, everyone that they lost. He heard all about it from Pieck, and it won't be a pretty discussion.
The reveal that there are Paradis people here goes over a bit better than Reiner might have thought. Galliard simply nods, and keeps walking. An informal ceasefire sounds better than active hostilities, which is about all Galliard can expect, especially if they're all from different times. And Reiner is oddly positioned to be the one to lead it, although Galliard wishes Reiner were a little bit older, a little bit more experienced. The Paradis people are jumpy and unpredictable, and it'll take a strong person to keep them calm.
"One question, then. Is Eren Jaeger here?" That would be a problem. That would be a big problem. The other ones from Paradis all seemed okay enough; Pieck even liked a few of them. But the ringleader is going to be an issue.
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Maybe Reiner should've anticipated it. Galliard must know about Eren's Titan, and the fact that Eren possesses the Coordinate. He must know that the mission to reclaim it fails, even if Reiner himself remains fuzzy on the details. Still, Reiner didn't expect to have to tackle the issue of Eren quite so quickly.
It's an unpleasant reminder of circumstances back home. Of the fact that the fragile, unnamed thing that he and Eren have here is just that: something they have here. Stolen time.
"Yeah, Eren is here," Reiner says, no venom coloring Eren's name. "We're not fighting."
A colossal understatement. But Reiner really doesn't know how to explain his relationship with Eren. What would he say? We've been fucking since I got here, and sometimes we go on dates…? Somehow, he doesn't think Porco would take that well.
"He's…" Reiner starts to say, then trails off, brow furrowing. A moment later, he tries again. "Most of us were pulled here straight from our world. We didn't have any choice. Eren is different. He went somewhere else before coming here; he chose to leave our world and go to that other one. Whatever happens in the future, I don't think Eren wants any part of it."
Revealing how very little Reiner knows about said future, his ignorance maintained through the actions of himself and others, a combination of steps both deliberate and unconscious.
no subject
Speaking of which...
"He's bad news. Him and Zeke both." Because yeah, fuck the Jaeger brothers, but extra fuck Zeke in particular. "If Zeke ever shows up, you should avoid him. Don't listen to anything he says."
Zeke's betrayal had hurt worse than anything else, in Galliard's mind. His callousness about attacking his former comrades, his turn towards Paradis after the massacre in Liberio, the way he willingly and consciously killed Colt and turned Falco... both are things Galliard can't forgive. He could live another two hundred years and not be able to forgive Zeke. His distaste for Eren is more unformed, more general, but Zeke? He has reasons to hate Zeke.
Galliard groans softly and runs his hand over his face. Why does Reiner have to be so fucking young, and why does he feel the need to protect Reiner from what Galliard knows is coming? This would be so much easier if he could just spill everything he knows, all the ugly, sordid details, but it'd be like telling a ghost story about someone's future. Would Reiner even believe him? Even if he did, would what Galliard knows fracture Reiner's mind even further? He remembers how messed up Reiner was after that battle, how distorted his view of the world and himself was, how he almost lost his titan over it. Is there a point to doing that to him here?
Somewhere, in the back of Galliard's mind, Marcel's ghost stirs and whispers: it would be cruel for no reason, and you know it would be.
Fucking Marcel. Galliard spent years wishing he had his brother's memories, and now that he does, Marcel is using the opportunity to turn him all soft and kind and gentle, the bastard.
"You know him better than I do." Galliard stops and grabs Reiner's sleeve, trying to get him to turn around and look at him, to meet his eyes. "But trust me when I tell you that I have no reason to believe him, whatever happened in this world or another one. I can... I can get along with the rest of them. The ones from Paradis. The whole monsters and devils thing is all bullshit anyway. But I can't... I can't... make nice with Eren or Zeke Jaeger."
this tag just kept going
But as Galliard speaks, Reiner's stubborn, ingrained need to protect his comrade finally wanes.
Because Galliard isn't Hange, an enemy Commander with their own motivations in mind. Nor is Galliard Gabi, whom Reiner adores but who doesn't know Zeke like Reiner does. Galliard is different. Galliard and Reiner grew up together, the "Golden Boy" Zeke serving as an inspiration and guide for both of them. They know Zeke. If whatever Zeke becomes is so terrible as to turn Galliard against him, then…
Before Reiner can verbally articulate that, Galliard groans and rubs a hand over his face. Reiner gives him a quick, concerned look, wondering what he said to elicit such a reaction. (It must be Reiner's fault; it usually is.) Then Galliard stops and grabs his sleeve, and Reiner comes to a halt, turning to face Galliard fully.
Without the distraction of walking, Reiner immediately finds himself staring again, drinking in Porco's familiar-yet-unfamiliar visage. Why is he so fixated on it? He didn't stare at Pieck or Zeke this way when they arrived in Paradis. Maybe it's because Reiner has been the only Warrior here for so long, isolated in a way that he hasn't experienced since he was six or seven years old. Or maybe it's because Porco (and Marcel) looms so large in Reiner's memory: a childhood rival Reiner thought he finally surpassed, only to learn that his victory was undeserved.
Reiner's gaze wanders only briefly, eyes jerking up to quickly scan their surroundings when Galliard calls the monsters and devils thing "bullshit." Ingrained caution. Old fear that someone might overhear. The walls are thin in Liberio, and there's always someone looking to improve their lot by fucking over a neighbor.
He doesn't go on a rant about loyalty, though. A stark difference from the fanatic he used to be.
Then Reiner's eyes meet Galliard's again, focused and attentive. Weighing Galliard's words. Considering the situation. Calculating the best move. Figuring out how to move forward without murdering anyone in the process. (He's had enough of murdering friends.)
He's unsurprised that Galliard can't trust Eren. Reiner knows precisely how dangerous Eren is, how vengeful and terrifying he can be. At the same time, Reiner does trust Eren, bonds of blood and betrayal and bone-deep understanding binding them together. He still expects Eren to turn on him at some point, enacting that promised revenge. But for now… Well, they're stealing time, aren't they? They can move forward, right?
Reiner isn't Marcel. He's a charlatan, not a true leader. But he has to keep trying, doesn't he? What else is he supposed to do other than continue to move forward?
"Okay," he says. "I won't ask you to be nice to Eren. Just don't attack him, all right? It won't do any good; it'll just set off a powder keg." His gaze dips, focusing inward as he admits, "I can't let Gabi get caught in that."
That's Reiner's real concern. Not the civilians that would inevitably die in a clash of Titans, but the fact that it would put his beloved cousin in danger. He won't let that happen to her. He can't.
His eyes flick up, focusing on Galliard again. "If we scrub Zeke's name from the non-aggression pact, I believe we can push it through. Their Commander didn't like me wanting to protect him. Then, if Zeke ever shows up here, we can do whatever you want with him."
We, we, we. What a joy it is to say.
yeah, mine are getting progressively more verbose too
He nods at Reiner's offer. The guy keeps staring at his face like there's something wrong with it, but Galliard is chalking this up to Reiner weirdness. He supposes it would be pretty odd, to see someone you'd last seen as a child, suddenly grown up and talking about things that haven't happened yet.
"Yeah. Yeah, okay." Galliard waves one hand dismissively. "Let the Paradis people have him. Do they have that Levi guy here? Zeke is scared to death of him. Let him go nuts on his ass."
Is it cowardice that Galliard doesn't want to face Zeke himself? A little, maybe. The Jaw versus the Beast is going to be a quick battle that won't turn out in Galliard's favour, and if Zeke was in his human form, Galliard isn't sure he could face him down without an embarrassing emotional outburst. If they want an all-out titan brawl, he'd be there for that, but he can't take the Beast without backup.
The Eren thing sticks a bit more in Galliard's throat, but he nods in agreement to that too. "I can't beat Eren on my own, anyway."
Maybe, if Galliard got lucky with a sneak attack, and Eren didn't have that Ackerman woman waiting in the wings to sucker punch any opponents who were getting too much for him, it would be a fairer fight. But while Galliard isn't a strategist, he's not an idiot either, and he's not going to throw away whatever chance he has in this world on a battle he knows he can't win. There's no point.
That said, he's not opposed to the idea of fistfight while in their human forms. Titans, no. Dirty, street side scrapping? Possibly.
But he won't tell Reiner that.
"So how did you talk them into parlaying with you at all?" Galliard starts walking again, expecting Reiner to follow. "You're outnumbered and matched on titans. Why'd they agree to even consider a non-aggression pact?"
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A muscle twitches in his jaw at the mention of Levi. So, Zeke finally realized how dangerous Levi is, huh? Apparently, it was too little, too late. Reiner can't mock Zeke's fear—not when he's afraid of Levi, too. It's hard not to be, what with his last memory from home featuring Levi nearly killing him. It's almost enough to make Reiner feel pity for Zeke. Almost enough for him to argue, saying Zeke can't possibly deserve whatever fate Levi would bestow.
("Not so smug now, huh, you piece of shit?" Levi said to the corpse as he aimed a kick at Zeke's severed head, sending it bouncing away.)
But Reiner trusts Galliard. Six years apart, and he still trusts his comrade more than nearly anyone else. So he only nods, accepting Galliard's decision. If Zeke shows up, the Survey Corps can have him.
When Galliard agrees not to go after Eren, Reiner does a poor job of hiding his relief. Good thing Galliard resumes walking when he does; it may spare Reiner from having to explain why that relief is so intense. He quickly moves to catch up, falling into step just as predicted, breathing out a half-laugh at the question.
"I was hoping you could tell me. I figured it was some future shit." He gestures vaguely as if to encompass the future and all its shit. "One of them implied as much. It's not as though they have any reason to trust me. Most of them are f—"
The word catches in Reiner's throat, a verbal stumble over friends that he promptly pretends didn't happen.
"—they're soldiers I trained with when we infiltrated their military. Levi is here, too. And Hange, their Commander."
Reiner falls quiet for a moment, then shakes his head. "I don't know. My best guess is that they don't want to deal with the destruction a fight would cause. It's not like Titans can tip-toe around civilians. Even if they managed to beat me, it wouldn't last." He looks over at Galliard, arching a brow. "Do you wanna know another weird thing about this place?"
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"I could, yeah." Reiner has given Galliard the answer he needs: the Paradis military are from different times too, which means some of them might even know him. If there's someone from Galliard's time here, they'll know about their uneasy alliance, know that Galliard and Pieck went against Marley to try and help them save the world. "Do you want to hear it, though? Feels kind of weird, telling you about things you'll experience that haven't happened yet."
He catches that verbal tic, and he can imagine what word Reiner actually meant. He'll let it pass, though. Pieck had been closer to the Paradis people than he had, and she'd liked some of them, said they were okay. She'd mentioned Hange, even, saying the Commander was bizarre but decent enough, that they knew what no meant and didn't pressure her any further after being rebuffed. Galliard can respect that. He won't be volunteering for titan studies any time soon, but if Pieck said they were okay, he'll take that as truth.
"Yeah? What else is weird?" Besides absolutely fucking everything, Reiner.
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He thinks back to a conversation with Eren, when Eren asked if Reiner wanted to know the future. He thinks of his answer, one that hasn't changed in the weeks since: "It would be easier for others if I did. I don't know if it would be easier for me. I don't know how my mind would handle it."
What's worse? Remaining ignorant, or risking breaking his brain even more? How would he function? What would he think he was? Would he be any help to Galliard at all like that? To Gabi?
Fuck, he hates this. He hates that he broke. He hates that he's still broken. He hates that Bertholdt isn't here to pick up the pieces and patiently explain. He hates that he can't make a decision in front of Porco, of all people.
Reiner turns his eyes forward again, trying not to look too troubled.
"Later," he says. Much later. Not never, but off in the far away later. "That'll be a long conversation, and there's still a lot to fill you in on about this place."
It feels like an excuse. He tries to believe otherwise.
"Right, another weird thing. Death isn't permanent here. Not for people like us from other worlds. If we die here, we come back inside … giant flowers." He makes a face—giant flowers! ridiculous!—and looks at Galliard again. "That's why fighting here would be pointless. Anyone who died would just come back."
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Because let's be real, Reiner: some of those answers are going to suck. Some of them are going to be brutal, ugly conversations--like what happened to Bertolt, for example--and Galliard isn't going to spring those on him unprompted. Once upon a time, he might have. But not now. Not anymore. Still, Galliard is also still the same person, and he's not going to censor himself if Reiner asks direct questions.
"Wait, what?" Galliard stops walking again and gapes at Reiner for a moment, his expression quickly changing from surprise to anger. "Are you serious?"
Flowers? Flowers? What the hell!
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Then Galliard stops, anger overtaking his expression. As Reiner halts in turn, he thinks, Well, that was quick. But then Galliard continues speaking, and Reiner realizes the source of that anger.
"I know!" he exclaims, glad that someone else finally realizes how fucking absurd that is. "It's ridiculous! They're giant, person-sized flowers." He makes a broad gesture—person-sized flowers!—and shakes his head incredulously.
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Nuance! Nuance and subtlety! Just what the conflicted mind needs!
The flowers, though... there's no nuance or subtlety to Galliard's opinions on that. He makes a face when Reiner indicates the sizes of the things.
"Stupid." Coming back in flowers. "Why do people here die, anyway? Seems pointless, especially if you just come back in a flower."
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"It's only us Otherworlders who come back. If you kill a civilian here, they'll stay dead." Not that Reiner would suggest doing so. He's just a bit blasé about the possibility. Blame the quarter of a million corpses at his feet.
"I never wondered why we die here," he admits. "I don't know what dying here would do to our Titans, either."
Nor does Reiner intend to find out. For all that he believes he should've died instead of Marcel—a belief made more potent as he looks at Porco, the familial resemblance dizzying—Reiner isn't actively looking to do so. He just happens to charge headfirst into danger, hurling his body between his loved ones and any threat. It's fine.
"This place is a walk in the park compared to our world," he continues, "but it does have its dangers, especially in the Segments. Things can go south rapidly out there. Some of the magic can even mess with our Titans." He glances to the side. "I ran into something this month that caused my Armor to start crumbling off me. If I'd been alone, it would've ended badly."
His eyes return to Galliard's. "So don't go out into a Segment alone, all right? Take someone with you. Even if it seems unnecessary."
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"It wasn't your fault, you know." If someone had told Galliard, even a few days ago, that he'd be forgiving Reiner for what happened to his brother, he would have laughed. It's incredible what difference a few days, and one memory share from the Founding Titan, can do to someone's perspective. "What happened to Marcel. It was an accident. He never blamed you for it."
Ugh, gross, feelings! That's enough of that, time to focus on the more pressing issues at hand. Much more of this and Galliard will be forced to acknowledge that he was an utter shit to Reiner for way too long. "What are the Segments?"
Yeah, Galliard has had enough of people messing with his titan, so he's going to take this advice seriously.
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Reiner freezes. His breath catches in his throat, eyes wide, so stunned that his expression slides straight past surprise and into blankness. He stands there staring at Galliard, waiting for the catch. Waiting for the insult. Waiting for the blame that he knows is his to carry. Waiting for even more guilt to drag him down into the earth.
Porco doesn't blame him, though. Instead, Porco tells him it was an accident. That Marcel never blamed him.
And Reiner just stands there, as frozen as he was on that day. As frozen as the moment Ymir's Titan rose from the earth, and Reiner was too fucking slow to move.
"I…"
That's all he can get out. Porco moves right on, asking about the Segments. Reiner takes a breath and tries to do the same. He's supposed to be filling Porc— Galliard in, right? That's what he's done this whole time, bringing Galliard up to speed as quickly as possible. Ignoring his own feelings to focus on the task at hand. Biting his tongue to avoid saying how happy he is to see Galliard, or how lonely he's been, or how much Porco resembles the long-lost Marcel.
Marcel, who never blamed Reiner.
Marcel, who was a true leader.
Marcel, who should have lived.
"The, ah. The Segments are outside of the city. Nightwake, it, um." Reiner's eyes dart to the side, his head following, turning so he isn't looking at Galliard. Trying to get his shit together. Trying to pretend there are no tears clinging to the corners of his eyes.
Breathe, dammit. Breathe.
"… Nightwake is the name of this city. It has different districts: Amberfall, Coldreach, Dayrise… The whole thing is surrounded by a magically polluted river with only a few bridges spanning it. The Segments are on the other side of those bridges. There's a Segment for each season. As long as you stay in Nightwake, you're mostly protected. A magical barrier acts like—"
Like a wall. Like Maria. Rose. Sheena.
Reiner made Bertholdt and Annie go forward. He made them push on, breaking down Maria and later attacking Rose. He stepped up to lead. He had to because Marcel was dead. Because Marcel was gone, dying in Reiner's place.
Annie's voice rings in his head: "You were supposed to die a minute ago, right?! If you're feeling bad about it, then die right now! TAKE THE BLAME AND DIE!!"
A traitorous tear trickles down Reiner's cheek. He wipes it with the heel of his hand, unaware that his posture has curled inward, adopting the trapped, guilt-ridden air that will haunt him later in life.
"Sorry," he mutters, hurriedly wiping away another tear.
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Reiner apparently hadn't been ready to hear the truth about Marcel. But, Galliard thinks, he also desperately needed to hear the truth. Reiner kept Marcel's secrets for a long time, even in the face of relentless abuse from Galliard, but this is a Marcel secret that needed to be shared.
"C'mon, you big goon." Galliard takes Reiner's wrist and leads him to a nearby bench. Once there, he'll try and push Reiner to sit down, then takes a sit himself. If he's going to be forced to feel things, he's going to be sitting down while he does it!
"You know how shifter memories work, right? How you can see the memories of the person who had the titan before you?" Most of the time, anyway. Galliard never thought to ask Reiner if he could. "I could see Marcel's. And Ymir's, the woman who had the Jaw in between us."
Not technically at the same time, but hey, Reiner lied about Marcel's motivations to Galliard for years, so he's going to lie about when precisely he was able to see Marcel's memories. Wheeee, keeping the 'lying about Marcel' train going strong! At least this time, though, Galliard is lying to spare someone's feelings, just like Reiner did for so long for him.
"So you know I'm telling you the truth when I say he didn't blame you." He elbows Reiner then, but gently. "Just like how you know that I was supposed to get the Armoured Titan until Marcel lied to protect me."
If nothing else, that should prove that Galliard is telling the truth.
"I have a theory, now, about our titans. The Jaw and the Armoured. Want to hear it?"
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It feels good. Good in a way that goes beyond the touch energy that anchors Otherworlders to this place. It feels familiar. Right. Safe.
Reiner trails along, following where he's pulled, his free hand wiping more tears from his cheeks. Once started, he can't seem to stop them. How could he? Galliard is here in Ellipsa, a fellow Warrior finally joining him after months alone. Porco is here, claiming that Marcel never blamed Reiner for his death. How the hell is Reiner supposed to keep it together in the face of that…?
Galliard pushes him onto a bench. Reiner complies without resistance, his shoulders still curled in, chin dipped in an attempt to hide silent tears. Thanks to their newfound height difference, it's a futile effort as soon as Galliard settles down beside him.
He nods at Galliard's question: he knows about inheriting memories, having experienced it himself. Then he sits still, listening, occasionally brushing another tear from his cheek. It still doesn't make sense. Reiner is responsible for Marcel's death; he knows that. Yet it's impossible to refute Galliard's words, especially as he drops the truth of why Reiner—the weakest and worst of the bunch—was chosen to inherit the Armored. That's not a secret Reiner, Bertholdt, or Annie would have willingly shared. If Reiner had his way, he'd have taken it to his grave.
But Galliard already knows, and the elbow that nudges Reiner's side is gentle.
Reiner swipes a hand across his cheek before he looks over, finally meeting Galliard's eyes again. "Sure," he says, distantly pleased that his voice doesn't sound quite as shaken anymore. Certainly not as shaken as he still feels. "What's your theory?"
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Galliard waits until Reiner is sitting down and, if still leaking tears, at least not actively crying before he starts talking.
"You know how we always thought the Armoured was there to defend the Jaw?" It makes sense on the surface. The Jaw is powerful but easy to damage; Galliard knows he can only take a few hits before he goes down. He's not a veritable wall like the Armoured. "I think it goes both ways, now. I think the two titans are supposed to work together, because they're both strong where the other one is weak."
The Jaw is little and fast, but can't take hits; the Armoured is powerful and durable, but has difficulty with faster-moving targets. When the two are put together, they should, in theory, be unstoppable.
"And I think that applies to the people in the titans, too."
Galliard hopes he doesn't need to spell it out, but what he's trying to say is this: of course Marcel jumped in and shoved Reiner out of the way. He was the Jaw, Reiner was and is the Armoured, and that's just how things are supposed to work. The Jaw protects the Armoured, and the Armoured protects the Jaw. Both are good alone; both are better together.
"So what I'm saying is I'm not mad at you anymore. I get it now. And," and this is the hardest part to say, and Galliard has to stop and take a breath before he continues, "and I'm sorry I was such a shit when we were kids."
Especially since he always was the better man.