entrancelogs | It's a bird, it's a plane!

Entry tags:

It's a bird, it's a plane!

Who: Levi and YOU
Where: The Gardens
When: July 1st
Rating: ...Let's go with PG-13 for language
Summary: Levi's entrance into Wonderland is less than graceful.
The Story:

[Yo, Levi

Why was that annoying voice ringing in his ear? Maybe because that old fart was the last thing he heard, that and the sound of gunfire. Not a pleasant thing to dwell on, but most things in the mind of the Captain were not pleasant to begin with.

The cold chill of the wind whipped through his hair as the goosebumps started to form on his skin. What was going on? He remembered it was chilly in the town they had been in, but this was a bit much. It was then that his stomach began to turn into his throat. His head spun even though his eyes were shut. This feeling of sickness was something he could only describe by comparing it to when 3D gear failed to catch. It was the feeling of falling.

Steel eyes snapped open at that to see the it wasn't just a feeling; he was falling, and from quite the distance. Above him was nothing but clouds, the sides of him were nothing but green plains, and below him was stone and water. His mind raced for a moment when he realized that was nothing for him to catch onto. Even with his 3D gear strapped to his sides, there were useless with no trees or buildings. His best bet was to get into the water, and hope that he didn't become a stain on the stone walkway.

He was falling fast, he didn't have time to think of another plan. His body turned so that he his stomach was to the earth with his legs and arms spread to slow his body down. It wasn't until the last possible moment that he tilt his body to fall feet first and collide into the water of the pond. The splash had enough force for quite a bit of water (and fish) to be displaced outside of the pond. Lucky for him it was deep enough for him to survive, but the crack he heard and the pain that was now in his left arm meant he didn't come out of this unscratched.

With his arm now held close to his body he pushed off of the bottom, but with nothing but his legs to power him back to the surface he found himself starting to sink once more. With stabbing pain in his body, he moved his arms to unhook his 3D gear from his hips. He would just have to get them later, right now he needed to figure out what the hell was going on.

There was a loud gasp for air as he broke the surface. Green algae hung off the side of his head and in his ear. How repulsive. His face was twisted into a disgusted sneer as he shook it off of him and latched onto the side of the pond. He finally had the time to see where exactly he was. The sun was warm, he could hear birds now and for some reason he heard music too. This was all too calm, where was the shitty town he had been in? The blood, the gunfire? This manor was one he had never seen before, and these gardens...they looked like they belonged in Wall Sina.]

What the fuck is this shit?

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"Y-yes, please come in," he beckons, leading them towards the mansion. In the back of his mind, he hopes to any god that might be listening that they don't run into Annie. None of them are ready for that yet.

"This is, um..." Armin pauses, not because he is unsure of himself, but because the truth is ridiculous, "well, this isn't anywhere near the Walls, as I'm sure you've already concluded. They call it 'Wonderland'. Everyone insists that it is in a world separate from our own, and quite frankly, after my time here, I'm inclined to believe them. It seems to operate by a set of rules all its own, ones that even us residents have a hard time comprehending..."

No. Too complicated. Start over.

"We don't know how we are brought here, nor how to get out. The forest and sea are very literally impossible to traverse, so even if there is something beyond them, there's no way of telling what. People only leave when it is their time, and none of us know when that is. I have been here for... 3 months, and still no such luck."

The Mansion, huge and opulent, is in view. It makes the finest dwellings in Sina look like doghouses in comparison.

'Just dropped in.' ...Did the captain just make a joke? Eren chooses not to comment. Instead, he obediently follows orders, taking charge of carrying the 3D maneuver gear. With another quick glance, he checks to make sure that Levi is fine to walk on his own before moving to follow Armin.

As he listened to Armin's explanation, both the first and the second, he tried to stay focused. ...But seeing how little of that he truly understands, he's not entirely sure if he's succeeding.

"Three months?" Eren repeats. He scrunches his brow together. No, no. That couldn't have been right. He must have misheard. The grounds and mansion were just so dominating that he'd gotten distracted. Yes, that had to be it.

Levi's couldn't hold back the look of surprise on his face. Three months? How? He just saw Armin that very day, it had only been a few hours tops.

"Wonderland? What a dumbass name." His shoulder shifts as he walks along side Armin, another shock of pain jolts his body. His jaw stiffens, but other then that he didn't react to it.

He opens his mouth to speak again, but his words cut off when he sees the manor. Damn, this is better than the royal castle itself. "Is that where we are staying?" It's giant, how the hell did he miss this place?

Edited 2014-07-02 02:25 (UTC)

"Time is a relative thing here. I've experienced it myself in a very rare situation. I first came here for about a month, and returned home exactly as I had left it, with no memories of the mansion, as if nothing had happened at all. Then, three months ago, I was brought back. Although it had been a few weeks in our world, eight months had passed here. The numbers don't add up at all-- common sense cannot be trusted."

Armin looks back at Levi, and nods.

"This is where everyone that has been misplaced lives. I would say between two and three hundred people reside here as of now. It... tends to have a mind of its own. I can explain it all with time."

Edited 2014-07-02 02:34 (UTC)

Ah. So that's how it was. For some reason, hearing all of this so matter-of-factly from Armin makes it a little easier to accept. He feels like he should apologize for leaving Armin on his own for so long, but that can wait until later.

"A mind of it's own? Do you mean it's dangerous?" he asks instead.

He was about to ask who Armin had to black mail to get in here, but then he started talking about the other residents. Guess there were more people trapped in this place, and they all lived here.

"If Armin has survived for 3 months then it can't be that dangerous." Because sorry, Armin. You are fit more for research and dressing like a girl.

"Is anyone else we know here? Erwin? Hange?" There must be someone else besides them, right?

"Only very, very rarely, and not without due warning," he shakes his head at Eren; Levi is right (as much as being chosen to double as a woman over actual women may hurt his masculinity), "on the contrary, life here is generally idyllic, the amenities are wonderful, and I haven't seen a Titan the entire time I've been here..."

At Levi's question, Armin's normally endless font of words shrivels and dies in his throat. He can't deny an order, nor can he lie. Now that his comrades are here, as Annie had warned him so long ago, he will have to maintain a double standard to keep order. He swallows thickly.

"...Annie Leonhart, sir. But before you take action, I beg you allow me to explain the situation."

That was a name he hadn't been expecting. Eren doesn't know what to say, because he still doesn't know what to feel towards the other shifter. It isn't like with Reiner or Bert - Eren will make sure they are slaughtered painfully. But does Annie deserve anything better? His instincts and hurt trust tell him 'no'.

"Annie..." He feels a little sick. "So this place even brings in people like her." Instead of running off to find her on impulse, he'll wait for Levi's response and orders. It's not like he knows where to start looking anyway.

While Levi was listening he was also taking in the scene around him. This place was odd, too peaceful even. When Armin spoke of how he hasn't seen any Titans in that area, well that was a little odd as well. He didn't think there would ever be a time when those beasts weren't looming over them. It wasn't that he didn't believe Armin, but it was something that he would have to look into himself.

However, hearing that name made him stop in his tracks. Did he hear him right? No, it couldn't be. Leonhart was in a crystal prison of her own doing, and under lock and key by the military. Armin did say that something about the time frame being jacked up, this much be how.

While his express didn't change much, his frown became deeper, and his furrowed brow increased, but the fire in his eyes could only be matched by those that burnt in hell. Armin was a smart kid, he knew this. Hell, he could probably match Erwin for intelligence, and it was because of that reason that Levi wasn't on his way to kill her-- that and the broken shoulder.

"Explain." Make it good.

Armin feels Levi's eyes burn into him, and realizes that this is his only shot at keeping up his end of his bargain with Annie. He can barely stand before Eren, to whom he knows Annie has caused so much pain, and say these words without feeling like his actions were a betrayal... But what he did was how he knew how to handle the situation best. Perhaps this can still be salvaged.

"Annie arrived in this world shortly after I did," he begins, standing up straight and at attention as he gives his report, "she seemed extremely agitated, so in order to reduce casualties to any of the innocents in the mansion, I confronted her unarmed. It was a risky move, but after explaining the situation, I came to her with an ultimatum: if she would lay low, play by the rules and harm no-one, I would in return speak to no-one of her true identity as a titan-shifter and her attempts at human genocide in our world."

"I've been keeping an extremely close eye on her since. After some time, I've come to some conclusions."

A small part of himself feels dirty for what he's about to say. What he's done to Annie is emotional manipulation, pure and simple. But it is a means to an end. If it would benefit humanity, he will continue to do it.

"One, is that I believe she feels extreme guilt over what she has done. She remained distant her entire time among humans to try and separate herself from what she had to do, whatever her mission is, but despite all her efforts it did not work."

"And two, is... I don't entirely understand why, but she holds a very strong softness towards me. She calls on me here on a rather consistent basis, simply for companionship. The more that I indulge her, the more obvious it becomes. The barriers that she keeps up with others seem to fall apart when I'm around her."

He takes a deep breath.

"I've been using her guilt and her fondness for me to try and see if I can manipulate her actions. Simply, I reward her with my time when she exhibits behavior that benefits me. It's changed his disposition quite a bit. Someday, I hope to extract information out of her in this manner."

"So, in order to maintain the trust I've been building with her, I have to beg you not to attack her. If you did, she would surely crystallize herself again, and we would be left with nothing. I'm confident that my methods will bear fruit someday, so... please, humor me."

"What she 'had' to do? What sort of thinking is that, Armin?" No, maybe Eren does understand what he feels towards Annie now. He wants to feel hatred for her, but thinking about her only ever brings out memories of his own failures. Eren flexes his hand, looking down at the space between his wrist and thumb.

"How could you even pretend to be nice to her?" He doesn't mean it in an accusatory way, but he can't manage to hold back the rough edge in his voice. In a way, Eren actually admires the part of Armin that has enough control to look Annie in the eyes and speak to her, as if she isn't a murderer. Only Armin could be smart enough to manipulate a dangerous enemy, like Annie.

Armin, if it was anyone else doing this plan, he would have branded them a traitor right along with Annie and gone after her this very instant. Two things were stopping him through: his busted shoulder, and the fact that even Erwin himself couldn't have come up with a better plan than this.

He knew Armin only did what he had to do to survive and keep her from killing others. He did good, but he wasn't ready to admit that yet.

"You can control her then?" He didn't like this, but Armin was right. Even if he wanted to attack her, she could just harden and then they would be back to square one. Besides, the only one here next him that had the means to fight a titan without much collateral damage was Armin, and he wasn't the best at combat. He needed a better battle plan before confronting her than to just run bull headed in. "I can't fight until my shoulder heals, but if you think you can tame her then I'll allow it until another Squad Leader arrives."

If they arrived. He knew the Erwin was in jail right now, and he didn't even know where Hange was, but if Annie can get out of crystal then a human prison should be no problem for Wonderland.

"Do you understand what I'm saying, Armin? She is your responsibility now, and if I think that for even one second that you cannot keep her under control, I will." That wasn't a threat either, that was a promise.

Edited 2014-07-02 20:58 (UTC)

"It's not what I believe, but what she believes," he turns to Eren, "no matter how I try to convince her otherwise! And don't get me wrong, it's sickening, I don't know how she can look me in the eye after turning her cheek to you the way she did. But I have to set that aside..."

Armin digs his fingernails into his palms to force himself to calm down. If he wants this to work, he'll have to steel his spine and bury his own emotions.

"Yes, sir!" he says, and salutes to Levi, "I will do everything in my power to maintain the current situation. If I fail, please do not hesitate to correct it!"

"Yeah, I know." Eren says, letting out a heavy sigh to let off steam. What a situation.... He never in a million years would have imagined he'd think this, but Eren almost wishes he was back home, walls, titans and everything. At least there the ocean was a sign of freedom, rather than something that traps you on the grounds of a mysterious manor with Annie.

"Since it's you, I'll go along with it." He tries to smile. The creases in his brow are still there, but for Eren's face, that is a default expression. At least now, the usual, determined spark seems to be returning to his eyes. And since Levi has given the go-ahead, there isn't much else for Eren to do about the matter, other than to give Armin his support.

"But I can't avoid her forever. Eventually, Captain or I will cross paths with her. What should we do?"

"I'll kill her if I see her." Not even going to lie there. Even if he did just tell Armin to keep going with the plan, he knew himself better than that. He might be fine now with her not near them, but he knew as soon as he saw her the rage would be enough for him to lose it.

You don't just kill his entire squad and get away with it. She can feel guilty all she wants. She knew what she was doing, she couldn't have thought that her actions didn't have consequences: and that was going to be his blade in her spine.

"I won't seek her out." Not yet. Not until he knows that he can defeat her for sure. "But I can't promise anything if she comes to me."

Edited 2014-07-02 22:18 (UTC)

Having Eren behind him is a huge relief. Levi was one thing, but if he had to operate under his best friend's disapproval... He isn't sure he'd be able to continue his mission. Eren meant far more to him than any information he might be able to get out of Annie with his hackneyed plan. For a fleeting moment their eyes meet, his message is clear: Thank you.

"I'll contact her privately and inform her of the current state of affairs-- conveniently leaving out your injury, of course. With a little luck, I should be able to convince her to avoid you. I could never match her in her Titan form, but Eren in Titan form with your back-up, Captain... That would not be an easy battle to win. She should realize a stalemate is in her best interest."

The Captain's words don't come as a surprise. If (or when) it came to a fight, Eren wouldn't mind assisting him, either. Petra, Eld, Gunther, Oluo - they were just a few of many, many Survey Corps soldiers that had been killed in the name of whatever Annie had been fighting for, yet their passing had left the deepest scar for Eren. He couldn't imagine what Captain Levi, who had known them a lot longer than him, was feeling.

Even in spite of this, there's something Eren feels he must do. "I'm fine with avoiding for now. If you need some one to take her on, I'm fine with that, too. But eventually, there are things I need to say to Annie." Not now, but one day. Before anyone else died, or 'went home,' or hid themselves away inside of a crystal. "Do you think that would be okay?"

Outrage. That is what he was feeling. The murderer of his friends, his allies and comrades was right here within reach, and he could do nothing to stop her. His eyes narrow as he steps again toward the mansion.

"I told you what I was going to do, Eren. What you do is your choice. Make it one you don't regret."

With each step he took he curses this world; for breaking his body, for bring her here, and for making him helpless about her. To fight here, which he knew he was going to at some point, he would need something that was stronger than his blades. Something that can cut through that damn crystal. He had time now to plan, he wasn't going to waste it.

"And learn from the choice you made last time." The words began to sting his tongue the moment they left his mouth. He shouldn't have said that. He knew it wasn't Eren's fault they were dead, but he didn't want him to forget that in the face of an old friendship. He was mad and had nothing but anger and frustration in his body and mind. Why wasn't Hange here with him? At least she was good for keeping him calm and translating.

"Where do we stay in this big ass place, Armin?"

Edited 2014-07-03 01:34 (UTC)

Armin has the advantage of being more detached from Annie's crimes than Levi and Eren. The deaths that she caused aren't personal to him. They are numbers, not names and faces, although a loss to the Corps stings all the same.

"If you want to speak with her, I'd suggest you do it with me around, or over the communicators," because telling Eren no is out of the question, "in or over some sort of environment where she doesn't feel threatened. She can still be very cagey if she's cornered."

"There are rooms available on every floor of the mansion that you can claim as long as someone isn't already living in them. The common areas like the Kitchen and Dining Hall are on the first floor, and the Library is on the second and third. I personally live on the tenth floor-- that's at the top of the Mansion."

Because heights make him feel more secure. Smaller class Titans would have a hard time making it that far up.

As if that isn't a sore spot already. At Levi's words, Eren visibly flinches, quickly lowered his gaze. So after all of that, maybe the captain really does blame him... He should have known. "Yes, sir," Eren manages to push out the words without his voice shaking.

That was cruel, Captain. The last time he chose to trust his squad, he'd chosen to trust you, too.

He doesn't say anything else, nodding along as Armin explains things. Later, he'll try to remember to ask more about these so-called 'communicators.'

It was cruel for him to say, but Eren needed to hear it. Too many times had Levi made poor choices in his past, and too many times he had hell to pay for them. First Farlan and Isabel, next his squad, and god knows how many other people who were killed in the Female Titan battle as well as the fight he couldn't take a part of.

He was just as guilty for their lives as well. Maybe if he hadn't been injured he would have been in the fight for Wall Rose. Mike may have lived if he had been there to back him up. He wasn't heartless, Eren. He just didn't want you to end up like he was. And he had no idea how to explain that to the boy other than by bitter words from a war broken man. So for your own sake, learn from the past.

"We stay together: 10th floor it is then." Good job Armin, he was just thinking about going to the top floor for that very titanlogical reason.

Edited 2014-07-03 03:05 (UTC)

"Yes, sir," he nods in agreement, just as glad to have them at hand. He knows that Annie lives on a lower floor too, and has little reason to come up, so that reduces the chance that they run into each other by mistake, "does that wound need treatment? There are doctors here I know of that can, or I can make do myself..."

He will learn from Levi's words. There are many ways to grow, and loss is one of them that Eren is already familiar with as well. The difference between this time and that time is that the people he has to protect now are Armin and Captain Levi himself.

Forcing himself not to act too moody, he halfheartedly pitches in on the conversation. "It looks pretty bad, sir."

As much as he wants to say it was nothing to worry about he knows better. He could barely lift his arm right now without it throbbing in retaliation. He needs to get better quickly if they had any hope of trying to get out of here...and if he wanted to take Annie down.

"I don't care who looks at it, as long as it gets fixed. Quickly. "

"As you say-- erm, please excuse me," Armin mumbles, nodding politely as he edges closer to Levi. He usually gives his irate Captain such a wide berth that getting close enough to touch him is extremely awkward, "if I could just look at it for a second, to see if it's within my capabilities..."

Without waiting for reply, he quickly prods here and there, around his shoulder and collar, lifting his arm to see his range of motion and so forth.

"Ah, that's a clean break there on your clavicle. Your arm and your scapula are okay, thankfully. That just has to set, and your arm put in a sling to discourage movement. But it should heal well, I think."

Armin spending so much time around Hange has certainly paid off.

It's a bird, it's a plane!

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i'll gladly change if you'd like something different!

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