[ Because, naturally, they have pre-determined meeting places. Annie insisted on it, and it makes her feel secure when things are getting too hot for her tastes. She'll be waiting. ]
[He does know, and before too long, Reiner will be there, waiting. His arms are folded, unconsciously defensive even as he waits for Annie. He knows this is probably going to get ugly.
[ She could have beat him there. Instead, she'd found she needed to steady her breathing and just calm down. That unaccustomed sense of panic is like ice water in her veins.
She'd already come out and laid out her own failures before Armada to get reassigned. The last thing they needed was for him to run off and get involved in some kind of high-profile incident. When she finally approaches, she looks calmer than she feels. ]
I was stupid. [Is all he can say, but to his credit, he does look her squarely in the eye. It's easier said than done. Anyone who knows Annie should understand why.]
[ It's almost physically painful to admit that, but she forces the words out. Sometimes, she could be honest.
She looks away briefly before covering herself to regain eye contact. Whatever deal he had with this stranger, it hasn't done them any good. The truth was that they should have never let themselves get separated. Nothing else mattered there. ]
We didn't think about what counted here. You can't forget what counts.
Reiner just stares at her for a moment, winded and gaping at her like a fish out of water. She's right, of course. It is their fault. They didn't go after him, didn't stick close and watch his back like they should have.
He closes his eyes briefly, as though that would block out the pain. It didn't. It never did.]
I won't. [He can't.] ...But we could use him. He's strong.
Bullshit, Reiner. If you want to try to be a hero, that's on you, but don't act like your madman is a good gamble.
[ She's convinced the risks aren't something they can afford, and she's holding steady. They were two different issues in her mind. What happened to Bertolt was their own fault, and completely incomparable. ]
He isn't crazy. He can eat people. He takes their mind, their memory--even their form. I've seen it. [His words are lower now, but suddenly he hesitates and shakes his head. He's not winning this battle. He isn't sure he wants to. His words sound crazy. Has he fallen so far already?]
Forget that for now. There's something else we need to talk about. Hange and Levi approached me. They say they want a truce.
[ That's... pretty fucking crazy. It'd take a lot to derail her, but it turns out that Reiner knows exactly what to say to adequately change the topic. ]
[That makes his teeth grit a little, but Reiner doesn't respond. Lashing out at Annie isn't the right thing to do here. If anything, he should be glad she hasn't twisted the barbs ind eep just yet.]
I don't know. If the CDC wins, our whole world dies. That doesn't mean I don't trust them not to stab us in the back when we're least expecting it.
[For now, he keeps what they said about the CDC reviving recruits to himself. He's pretty sure Annie would just scoff at him.
[ Reiner was going to drive her crazy at this rate. They wouldn't need to worry about allies and enemies if she was utterly off the deep end. He's getting involved in too much, too fast from her perspective. He's...
Unfortunately, he's absolutely right in at least one regard. ]
I don't know. I wanted to talk to you first. [Before he even agreed to consider anything. He knows he's already screwed up with Alex, and he's not eager to repeat that mistake.]
[ She's still worried what will happen if they're caught killing their so-called CDC comrades without some sort of approval. They haven't earned enough good will. ]
But don't hesitate to kill them if you have to. We'll lose if we do.
We're more valuable to the CDC than they are. [It's simple fact, in his mind.] If they attack us, we defend ourselves. No excuses. [It sounds so easy, to say it.]
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-07-01 01:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-07-01 01:11 am (UTC)[ Because, naturally, they have pre-determined meeting places. Annie insisted on it, and it makes her feel secure when things are getting too hot for her tastes. She'll be waiting. ]
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Date: 2014-07-01 01:15 am (UTC)Worst of all, he knows he deserves it.]
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Date: 2014-07-01 01:21 am (UTC)She'd already come out and laid out her own failures before Armada to get reassigned. The last thing they needed was for him to run off and get involved in some kind of high-profile incident. When she finally approaches, she looks calmer than she feels. ]
What are you doing, Reiner?
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Date: 2014-07-01 01:29 am (UTC)He was--He reminded me of us. He was a monster.
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Date: 2014-07-01 01:47 am (UTC)[ Her gaze is cold, furiously so. ] Are you going to risk us for all of them?
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Date: 2014-07-01 03:51 am (UTC)I was trying to help us. I'd never... [He'd never intentionally hurt her.]
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Date: 2014-07-01 05:12 am (UTC)[ It's almost physically painful to admit that, but she forces the words out. Sometimes, she could be honest.
She looks away briefly before covering herself to regain eye contact. Whatever deal he had with this stranger, it hasn't done them any good. The truth was that they should have never let themselves get separated. Nothing else mattered there. ]
We didn't think about what counted here. You can't forget what counts.
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Date: 2014-07-01 05:05 pm (UTC)Reiner just stares at her for a moment, winded and gaping at her like a fish out of water. She's right, of course. It is their fault. They didn't go after him, didn't stick close and watch his back like they should have.
He closes his eyes briefly, as though that would block out the pain. It didn't. It never did.]
I won't. [He can't.] ...But we could use him. He's strong.
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Date: 2014-07-02 11:48 pm (UTC)[ She snarls this at him, eyes bright and focused. ]
Be smart.
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Date: 2014-07-03 12:09 am (UTC)[He snaps back, his fists shaking.]
What if he's right, and he saves everyone? What if he proves himself?
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Date: 2014-07-03 12:16 am (UTC)[ She's better at confrontation, and gives her something to focus on. ]
They're nothing against us.
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Date: 2014-07-03 12:54 am (UTC)[The words aren't wielded like a weapon. If anything, he throws them down like they're his last gamble. He doesn't have anything left.]
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Date: 2014-07-03 01:16 am (UTC)[ She's convinced the risks aren't something they can afford, and she's holding steady. They were two different issues in her mind. What happened to Bertolt was their own fault, and completely incomparable. ]
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Date: 2014-07-03 02:01 am (UTC)Forget that for now. There's something else we need to talk about. Hange and Levi approached me. They say they want a truce.
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Date: 2014-07-03 02:08 am (UTC)Don't tell me that you believe them, too.
[ There's more than a little venom there. ]
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Date: 2014-07-03 02:18 am (UTC)I don't know. If the CDC wins, our whole world dies. That doesn't mean I don't trust them not to stab us in the back when we're least expecting it.
[For now, he keeps what they said about the CDC reviving recruits to himself. He's pretty sure Annie would just scoff at him.
It does sound impossible, after all.]
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Date: 2014-07-03 02:31 am (UTC)Unfortunately, he's absolutely right in at least one regard. ]
What terms?
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Date: 2014-07-03 02:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-07-03 02:42 am (UTC)If they want a truce, we need terms. Good ones, I guess.
[ After all, it's not like they're the ones with a disadvantage here. ]
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Date: 2014-07-03 02:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-07-03 02:52 am (UTC)[ She's still worried what will happen if they're caught killing their so-called CDC comrades without some sort of approval. They haven't earned enough good will. ]
But don't hesitate to kill them if you have to. We'll lose if we do.
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Date: 2014-07-03 04:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-07-06 03:56 pm (UTC)[ She falls quiet a moment, thinking. ]
If we have to deal, I almost want the 104th involved directly. Negotiations might mean nothing from higher ups, I don't know...
[ But Reiner would know. He'd been in their unit, so she trails off. ]
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Date: 2014-07-07 12:48 am (UTC)Eren won't dare cross them. Mikasa will listen to whatever he says.
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