INBOX for Consignment

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braun.reiner@cdc.org
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I should have done something.

[Anything. He should have stopped it from happening.]

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I'll do something.

[ It's a fledgling attempt at showing her care for him. She's not exactly good at this, but she's trying. ] If you want.

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[He looks at her for a long moment, mulling her offer over. He isn't shocked or indignant by it. If anything, he feels guilty that she even has to offer.]

It's my fault. I have to be the one who takes care of it. [He appreciates it, Annie. He just can't put anything else on her shoulders.]

[sweeptheleg]

Alright. If that's what you want.

[ She wouldn't have minded, but she'll respect his decision. If that's what he wants, there's no point to argue it. Reiner could handle whatever he was responsible for.

(No, he couldn't.) ]

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[He really couldn't. They both should know better by now.]

I want to ask you about someone. Big Boss.

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That old man? What?

[ Annie's terrible at volunteering information, but Reiner well knew that. She's not unwilling to tell him what she knows, though. He's the only person that gets that treatment now. ]

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He keeps asking stuff. [It's a descriptive statement, to be certain.]

He says he knows you. I don't know if I can trust him.

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You shouldn't trust anyone.

[ Simple as that. Still, she continues to speak. ]

He's shown me some moves. Hand-to-hand. I've never seen anyone fight like him.

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[That's how it has to be now, huh? Reiner's quiet at that before he just offers a nod. She's right, after all.]

Maybe I'll ask if he can teach me.

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[ This is how it's always been for Annie. Welcome to her world. ]

He'd be... not a bad ally, maybe. [ An awkward pause, then she adds: ] He can take me down no problem.

[ In short, she's utterly amazed by his technique. ]

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[Reiner actually looks surprised at that, but he recovers eventually. Sort of.]

Really? ...I guess that's not a surprise. [He'd kicked Reiner's ass pretty easily.]

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What the hell's that mean?

[ There's a soft undercurrent of tension. It's not too serious, but she's a little disgruntled that he'd say that. ]

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...

He kicked my ass really, really easy. And you make it look easy, so...

[sweeptheleg]

We'll have to see if that assessment is right sometime.

[ Reiner, she's gonna kick your ass. ]

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[Why did a chill just suddenly run down his spine...?]

Uh...

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"Really, really easy."

[ She's going to keep that little quote in mind. ]

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...You know I didn't mean anything by that, right?

Annie?

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Yeah.

[ She eyes him steadily, considering. ]

Sorry if I've gone too soft for your tastes. A weak girl like me...

[ Now she's just fucking with him. Maybe. ]

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[Okay, Reiner. Be cool. Time to take a risk.]

I heard you beat the crap out of Mikasa.

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[ That is a better topic. ]

That's how I found out that old man could fight. He didn't give me a chance to take her out.

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[For the first time since the lockdown, Reiner almost smiles.]

Bet she was spitting mad. Probably wasn't even grateful that he saved her.

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Don't know. He choked me out.

[ She ducks her head for a moment, eyes bright. Amusement didn't show easily on her features, but it was lurking. ]

Still, maybe that's true.

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[Choked her...? His jaw sets firmly at that, but he stays silent. He's not about to question Annie, especially when she already has reason to thoroughly kick his ass.]

Hey. You know I trust you, right?

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[ Any obscure sense of humor evaporates, her eyes falling half-shut as she looks to a point on the ground by her feet. ]

I'm not someone to trust.

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I wasn't telling you so that you could argue. I just want you to know. [His mind is made up.]