[ Hm. That sounds fake, because who would enjoy spending time with him without getting anything out of it? Well, okay, he guesses a few people might, mysterious as it is. But as long as said positive emotion happens, he's not too concerned about the exact source. This is... something they both need, perhaps. Levi knows they can't truly repair what's been broken, but perhaps they can at least be... less tense. More like things used to be. He'd like that, he thinks. Those shitty brats... ]
[ (Also, he'll probably be a little heartbroken if Eren ever says he actually hates cleaning to his face. He had such hopes!..) ]
[ Anyway. It seems his suggestion is accepted, and he does his best to look unsurprised. Rather than turning back home, they head down another alley toward the main street of the block, one with several shops and restaurants. He thinks for a moment. That sounds fancy as fuck, though most stuff around here does. ]
[ Of the two of them, surely Levi is more enjoyable to be around when nothing is happening, but they both apparently suck at realising how others feel about them. Emotional intelligence? Couldn't be these guys.
He follows to the street, trying to remember where the nearest place that serves burgers is. They always seem indulgent to him. He can't believe you can just get shit like that every day for low cost. Even after so long, food just existing without any issues is amazing.
If he were different, he might laugh at that answer. But alas, he's still just Eren. He raises an eyebrow, though. ]
It's…more than just cheese. There's meat, too.
[ He's not good at explaining this, partially because he didn't even try, but it's easier to show than tell anyway. He glances down the street and it snags his memory. ]
We'll get them. They're amazing. I think you'll like them.
[ He imagines anyone would, because who wouldn't, but especially people like them, deprived of meat so often and for so long.
Now it's his turn to lead the way down the street toward the burger place. ]
[ Listen, you can be emotionally intelligent and in denial when it comes to yourself! ]
[ Most things in this place seem indulgent to Levi -- hell, plenty of things did back home, even, and this is incomparable to that. He had been shocked by the abundance and low price of teas for the most part, since that was something he bought regularly, but it's not like he hasn't noticed the outright ridiculously small amounts of money you needed to purchase things like meat. Maybe it's because of the magic?.. ]
I see.
[ He's imagining cheese with meat now, still very far from the actual concept of a cheeseburger, but at least he'll get to see one soon... As is, he's not so sure if he'll like it, but Eren seems (very slightly) excited about it so he'll go along with it. ]
Fine, I'll try it.
[ He's just going to follow along until they make it into the burger place, and then he's going to stare at the posters and menus with some confusion because the weird multi-layered buns look very different from what he was expecting. ]
[ Eren likewise figures the food accessibility is a magic thing. It was in Folkmore (he's pretty sure). As long as they have it, though, might as well eat up.
He tried a burger before he knew what it was called. He's still not sure why ham burger. Cheeseburger is the same thing but with cheese, but they're not ham at all? Who names these things?
Anyway!
He orders a regular cheeseburger. It never occurs to him that he could ask for it with extra something or without something. He's not picky in the slightest, though, so would he change anything? Having preferences is hard, okay.
Then he looks at Levi. ]
The fried stuff is good too. "French fries" is just potatoes, but they're fried and salty. "Onion ring" is covered in dough or something and fried.
[ Surely magic is the only way anyone can ignore food scarcity in an enclosed territory, right? Right. Good talk. All the more reason to abuse the comforts of this place while they have the chance, since it could be gone tomorrow! ]
[ There is... a lot of fried stuff here, huh? Levi carefully studies the menu sheet; the stuff on it honestly looks too colorful and shiny to be food in his opinion but okay, whatever, he's being adventurous or something plus, Eren likes it, so! ]
...huh. [ He does know both potatoes and onions, even if they look nothing like the stuff in the pictures, and he imagines either would go well enough with the weird round sandwich. ] Which one do you prefer?
[ Otherwise maybe he'll just get one of each and they can share? ]
[ Eren watches Levi look at the menu. This isn't really the kind of stuff they even order at home. At home, Eren usually gets pizza or stir fry or something. Soggy fries? No thanks.
He considers the question. Which does he like better? ]
Fries. They're less greasy. But if we get both then you can try whatever. It's not like I can't afford it.
[ He remembers Hange worrying about him having enough money. Levi's never said anything about money that he immediately recalls, but you never know.
(Did you think we were done throwing back to other arcs? Never.) ]
Milkshakes are like ice cream, but you drink them.
[ That sounds weirder than it is, probably. ]
Chocolate is the best one.
[ Out of everything he's ever tried, nothing has come close to chocolate. ]
[ That's how these things went, right? At least it's not the entire gaggle of teens here this time, Levi's wallet might actually feel it in that case. (Briefly, he thinks of Sasha, and his expression clouds slightly. She would have loved this. She probably would have stuffed a potato into her burger. She'd eat Levi out of the apartment and he'd probably let her.) ]
Alright.
[ Guess they're getting milkshakes, too! Or at least Eren is. Levi might just get a water instead, or maybe he's feeling adventurous enough to get the same thing. After all, they went all the way out here and they've got the cash, and this is supposed to be fun. So why not? ]
we can wrap this any time if we run out of ideas or w/e i'm just clearing tags orz
[ Eren won't raise too much of a fuss about this, but there's no reason it's Levi's responsibility. It's not like either of them buys much! ]
I don't eat this kind of stuff all the time, but sometimes it's nice to get whatever you want and not worry about it.
[ Eren isn't all that self-indulgent most of the time. He largely doesn't think about it; that's a lingering side-effect of spending most of your life waiting to die.
Anyway, food ordered. We love reusing ideas and forcing people to sit and awkwardly talk in this house apparently so: instead of the food being ready right away, they get a little plastic disc. Eren takes it and makes a face. ]
This thing will "buzz" when the food is ready. I'll find a table.
[ He doesn't explain what "buzz" means. It doesn't really buzz in Eren's opinion; it vibrates loudly against the table, which is worse! He and Reiner found this out. Maybe he'll remember that and hold it instead of putting it on the table (he won't). At least there is a table to sit at, not too close to other people. Eren figures Levi will appreciate that part. ]
[ But he wants to. Shut up and let him treat you, brat! ]
[ He seems pleased enough with the table choice; it lets him have his back to a wall and a fair distance from all the other people. He's also quite curious about the food, and Eren seems to be happy (as much as he can seem anything nowadays), and all is well until- ]
[ The table vibrates, and Levi's up on the bench with his eyes wild and fists drawn up the next moment, because clearly this is a danger somehow. ]
[ He finally catches on. Fine, fine, Levi can pay. It's not like he thinks Levi is short on money. He doesn't think any of them are. It's not like any of them are materialistic. Eren would guess Hange buys more things than anyone, just to mess around and break them try to learn about them.
Eren's eyes go wide because Levi reacts so suddenly to the sound, the vibration.
He reaches for the disk thing on the table. ]
It's just the buzzy thing. It's fine. It's just really annoying.
[ That's one word for it! He and Reiner had been startled by it the first time, too, vibrating across the table like that. ]
I'll go get the food.
[ He stands up, slowly, waiting for Levi to settle again. The disk is still buzzing, little red lights on it blinking. Who the hell invented this kind of thing? And why? Even holding it is a little irritating, the way it vibrates like that, harder than the phone does. ]
[ Oh good. At least one of them hasn't been making incorrect conclusions about the other's financial situation! ]
[ Levi stares at the buzzy thing for a few more moments, then slowly slips back down into his seat. He indeed looks annoyed. ]
I don't like it.
[ But apparently it's announcing good news, so, whatever. He's just going to stay put and wait for Eren (with his spry and intact legs) to bring the food back. And also glare at the buzzy thing and probably chuck it into the other end of the restaurant if it doesn't shut up, but who's keeping count. ]
[ No incorrect conclusions about finances, just interpersonal relationships! They're doing great. ]
Me either.
[ Luckily for everyone the device in question shuts up after the food is picked up. Eren brings it all back to the table, hands a little full. He sets it down and goes to get a bunch of napkins (mostly for Levi's sake) before coming to sit down again. ]
I hope you like it, Captain.
[ Neither of them are picky about food, of course, but surely some things are better than pizza stew others. ]
[ Can't always be right about everything! Plus it's not like he's really been making it easy with all those questionable besties rituals. It's fine. ]
[ BLESSEDLY, the plastic nuisance falls quiet, and Levi sighs. So far it sounds like everybody hates the thing. You'd think that would be enough for the owners of this place to swap it out for something else, but nooo. ]
[ Eren comes back with food and napkins (good thinking!) and Levi pulls one of the burgers to himself, inspecting it for a moment. ]
It's meat and bread, right? What's not to like?
[ He's tempted to get a knife and fork, though a quick glance around the restaurant suggests that apparently it's supposed to be eaten by hand. Hm. ]
[ He takes a bite and... it's actually pretty decent? There's definitely a lot more flavor than he's used to. Unfortunately, there's also sauce suddenly dribbling out the other end, and he sets it down with a slight grimace. ]
[ They indeed do, and Levi will do his best to suffer through it until he gets the chance to dart off into the bathroom, but he still has a slight grimace on his face as he arranges the paper around the burger so he doesn't have to touch it directly with his hand and slowly, carefully, takes another bite. Some sauce drips on the tray and he almost shudders, but at least he hasn't smeared any on his face (yet). ]
[ He'll grab a couple of fries to shove into his mouth as well for the complete experience, and take a few moments to chew and consider. ]
Yeah, sure. It's very... rich?
[ The flavor is nice, but he honestly doesn't think it tastes anything like any meat he's had the chance to try so far. Maybe the sauces are messing it up. ]
[ This was maybe poorly chosen because of Levi's intense dislike of messiness, but whatever. Eren still likes burgers because they're so…unlike anything they could have found at home. Meat, cheese, whatever else. He doesn't care about the texture, just the taste.
Fries are probably less messy at least? ]
Yeah, rich is a good way to put it. I don't think it's like other stuff I've tried.
[ After a couple minutes: ]
Do you have a favourite food here you've tried? Something you never saw at home?
[ Eren is aware that Levi grew up in the Underground, so his perspective is different. But still, they'd all been living with scarcity the whole time Eren was in the Scouts, up until the Marley volunteers came and started cooking sometimes - that man that liked Sasha, always cooking things. Eren barely remembers the time they spent with the volunteers now, caught in the tide of other memories. ]
[ It's fine. He can wash his hands later. Also his face. And then his hands again. The point is, he's able to suffer a mess when it's necessary, and this is... well, re-bonding with Eren, sort of, so clearly it's important enough to overlook some discomfort. ]
[ ...He still keeps the paper in an attempt to lessen the amount of sauce that ends up on his fingers, though. And, of course, he still manages to eat it more cleanly than most people might, even if he looks a little stiff as he uses the provided paper napkin to clean up. ]
...I don't know. Most of it is good.
[ This is really a food paradise, compared to back home overall and especially the underground. Sasha would have loved this place, huh? Levi doesn't know if he can pick a favorite; it would probably change depending on what's the freshest memory in his mind. Anything from the fancy peach cake to the pancakes that Erwin makes most mornings nowadays. ]
[ But that's a boring non-answer, and they're trying to have quality time here, so after a moment he adds; ]
[ Levi thinks pizza raisin stew is perfectly good food, but variety is still nice. Plus, yes, they're having a normal time and they're going to continue doing so! ]
[ Levi looks somewhat surprised that he's actually tried something Eren hasn't. It was usually him leaving new dishes for Levi to try as if he were a stubborn stray cat (not wrong), so he'd just assumed he knew it all by now. ]
It's... a bit like cream, but it tastes like fruit. We should get one after this.
[ After he spends five minutes in the bathroom washing his hands... ]
i think we can wrap here and assume they got smoothies ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
[ He knows milkshakes come in strawberry but he only ever gets chocolate. This smoothie thing is a foreign concept, but one of the few things he actually likes is food. Or drinks, whatever. ]
[ But clearly the only way to know for sure is to try it! ]
[ So once they're finished with the food and the cleaning up, they'll be walking another bunch of blocks to some juice place where Levi buys them smoothies (it's peach, of course). ]
[ While he's not exactly at ease, he does seem to be getting less tense around Eren, and by the time they make it home (after extensive reviewing of smoothies obviously, and some smooth poop jokes to go with it), things feel... closer to normal than they have in a while. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dreamsofwings) wrote2021-07-13 03:17 am
no subject
[ (Also, he'll probably be a little heartbroken if Eren ever says he actually hates cleaning to his face. He had such hopes!..) ]
[ Anyway. It seems his suggestion is accepted, and he does his best to look unsurprised. Rather than turning back home, they head down another alley toward the main street of the block, one with several shops and restaurants. He thinks for a moment. That sounds fancy as fuck, though most stuff around here does. ]
...I've had cheese.
[ Is that any similar?? ]
no subject
He follows to the street, trying to remember where the nearest place that serves burgers is. They always seem indulgent to him. He can't believe you can just get shit like that every day for low cost. Even after so long, food just existing without any issues is amazing.
If he were different, he might laugh at that answer. But alas, he's still just Eren. He raises an eyebrow, though. ]
It's…more than just cheese. There's meat, too.
[ He's not good at explaining this, partially because he didn't even try, but it's easier to show than tell anyway. He glances down the street and it snags his memory. ]
We'll get them. They're amazing. I think you'll like them.
[ He imagines anyone would, because who wouldn't, but especially people like them, deprived of meat so often and for so long.
Now it's his turn to lead the way down the street toward the burger place. ]
no subject
[ Most things in this place seem indulgent to Levi -- hell, plenty of things did back home, even, and this is incomparable to that. He had been shocked by the abundance and low price of teas for the most part, since that was something he bought regularly, but it's not like he hasn't noticed the outright ridiculously small amounts of money you needed to purchase things like meat. Maybe it's because of the magic?.. ]
I see.
[ He's imagining cheese with meat now, still very far from the actual concept of a cheeseburger, but at least he'll get to see one soon... As is, he's not so sure if he'll like it, but Eren seems (very slightly) excited about it so he'll go along with it. ]
Fine, I'll try it.
[ He's just going to follow along until they make it into the burger place, and then he's going to stare at the posters and menus with some confusion because the weird multi-layered buns look very different from what he was expecting. ]
no subject
He tried a burger before he knew what it was called. He's still not sure why ham burger. Cheeseburger is the same thing but with cheese, but they're not ham at all? Who names these things?
Anyway!
He orders a regular cheeseburger. It never occurs to him that he could ask for it with extra something or without something. He's not picky in the slightest, though, so would he change anything? Having preferences is hard, okay.
Then he looks at Levi. ]
The fried stuff is good too. "French fries" is just potatoes, but they're fried and salty. "Onion ring" is covered in dough or something and fried.
[ Other stuff he might or might not know. ]
no subject
[ There is... a lot of fried stuff here, huh? Levi carefully studies the menu sheet; the stuff on it honestly looks too colorful and shiny to be food in his opinion but okay, whatever, he's being adventurous or something plus, Eren likes it, so! ]
...huh. [ He does know both potatoes and onions, even if they look nothing like the stuff in the pictures, and he imagines either would go well enough with the weird round sandwich. ] Which one do you prefer?
[ Otherwise maybe he'll just get one of each and they can share? ]
no subject
He considers the question. Which does he like better? ]
Fries. They're less greasy. But if we get both then you can try whatever. It's not like I can't afford it.
[ He remembers Hange worrying about him having enough money. Levi's never said anything about money that he immediately recalls, but you never know.
(Did you think we were done throwing back to other arcs? Never.) ]
Milkshakes are like ice cream, but you drink them.
[ That sounds weirder than it is, probably. ]
Chocolate is the best one.
[ Out of everything he's ever tried, nothing has come close to chocolate. ]
no subject
--Oi, I'm paying.
[ That's how these things went, right? At least it's not the entire gaggle of teens here this time, Levi's wallet might actually feel it in that case. (Briefly, he thinks of Sasha, and his expression clouds slightly. She would have loved this. She probably would have stuffed a potato into her burger. She'd eat Levi out of the apartment and he'd probably let her.) ]
Alright.
[ Guess they're getting milkshakes, too! Or at least Eren is. Levi might just get a water instead, or maybe he's feeling adventurous enough to get the same thing. After all, they went all the way out here and they've got the cash, and this is supposed to be fun. So why not? ]
we can wrap this any time if we run out of ideas or w/e i'm just clearing tags orz
[ Eren won't raise too much of a fuss about this, but there's no reason it's Levi's responsibility. It's not like either of them buys much! ]
I don't eat this kind of stuff all the time, but sometimes it's nice to get whatever you want and not worry about it.
[ Eren isn't all that self-indulgent most of the time. He largely doesn't think about it; that's a lingering side-effect of spending most of your life waiting to die.
Anyway, food ordered. We love reusing ideas and forcing people to sit and awkwardly talk in this house apparently so: instead of the food being ready right away, they get a little plastic disc. Eren takes it and makes a face. ]
This thing will "buzz" when the food is ready. I'll find a table.
[ He doesn't explain what "buzz" means. It doesn't really buzz in Eren's opinion; it vibrates loudly against the table, which is worse! He and Reiner found this out. Maybe he'll remember that and hold it instead of putting it on the table (he won't). At least there is a table to sit at, not too close to other people. Eren figures Levi will appreciate that part. ]
we can!
[ But he wants to. Shut up and let him treat you, brat! ]
[ He seems pleased enough with the table choice; it lets him have his back to a wall and a fair distance from all the other people. He's also quite curious about the food, and Eren seems to be happy (as much as he can seem anything nowadays), and all is well until- ]
[ The table vibrates, and Levi's up on the bench with his eyes wild and fists drawn up the next moment, because clearly this is a danger somehow. ]
The fuck was that?!
no subject
[ He finally catches on. Fine, fine, Levi can pay. It's not like he thinks Levi is short on money. He doesn't think any of them are. It's not like any of them are materialistic. Eren would guess Hange buys more things than anyone, just to mess around and
break themtry to learn about them.Eren's eyes go wide because Levi reacts so suddenly to the sound, the vibration.
He reaches for the disk thing on the table. ]
It's just the buzzy thing. It's fine. It's just really annoying.
[ That's one word for it! He and Reiner had been startled by it the first time, too, vibrating across the table like that. ]
I'll go get the food.
[ He stands up, slowly, waiting for Levi to settle again. The disk is still buzzing, little red lights on it blinking. Who the hell invented this kind of thing? And why? Even holding it is a little irritating, the way it vibrates like that, harder than the phone does. ]
no subject
[ Levi stares at the buzzy thing for a few more moments, then slowly slips back down into his seat. He indeed looks annoyed. ]
I don't like it.
[ But apparently it's announcing good news, so, whatever. He's just going to stay put and wait for Eren (with his spry and intact legs) to bring the food back. And also glare at the buzzy thing and probably chuck it into the other end of the restaurant if it doesn't shut up, but who's keeping count. ]
no subject
Me either.
[ Luckily for everyone the device in question shuts up after the food is picked up. Eren brings it all back to the table, hands a little full. He sets it down and goes to get a bunch of napkins (mostly for Levi's sake) before coming to sit down again. ]
I hope you like it, Captain.
[ Neither of them are picky about food, of course, but surely some things are better than
pizza stewothers. ]no subject
[ BLESSEDLY, the plastic nuisance falls quiet, and Levi sighs. So far it sounds like everybody hates the thing. You'd think that would be enough for the owners of this place to swap it out for something else, but nooo. ]
[ Eren comes back with food and napkins (good thinking!) and Levi pulls one of the burgers to himself, inspecting it for a moment. ]
It's meat and bread, right? What's not to like?
[ He's tempted to get a knife and fork, though a quick glance around the restaurant suggests that apparently it's supposed to be eaten by hand. Hm. ]
[ He takes a bite and... it's actually pretty decent? There's definitely a lot more flavor than he's used to. Unfortunately, there's also sauce suddenly dribbling out the other end, and he sets it down with a slight grimace. ]
...It's leaking.
no subject
[ He completely forgot it also has sauce. But…oh, right. It's messy. He should have thought of that, but hands wash, don't they?
To his credit, he is doing his best to eat his own without making a mess he'll get scolded for. Burgers are a little messy, though, so rip him. ]
It's just sauce or something.
[ That's what the napkins are for! ]
It still tastes good, right?
no subject
[ He'll grab a couple of fries to shove into his mouth as well for the complete experience, and take a few moments to chew and consider. ]
Yeah, sure. It's very... rich?
[ The flavor is nice, but he honestly doesn't think it tastes anything like any meat he's had the chance to try so far. Maybe the sauces are messing it up. ]
no subject
Fries are probably less messy at least? ]
Yeah, rich is a good way to put it. I don't think it's like other stuff I've tried.
[ After a couple minutes: ]
Do you have a favourite food here you've tried? Something you never saw at home?
[ Eren is aware that Levi grew up in the Underground, so his perspective is different. But still, they'd all been living with scarcity the whole time Eren was in the Scouts, up until the Marley volunteers came and started cooking sometimes - that man that liked Sasha, always cooking things. Eren barely remembers the time they spent with the volunteers now, caught in the tide of other memories. ]
no subject
[ ...He still keeps the paper in an attempt to lessen the amount of sauce that ends up on his fingers, though. And, of course, he still manages to eat it more cleanly than most people might, even if he looks a little stiff as he uses the provided paper napkin to clean up. ]
...I don't know. Most of it is good.
[ This is really a food paradise, compared to back home overall and especially the underground. Sasha would have loved this place, huh? Levi doesn't know if he can pick a favorite; it would probably change depending on what's the freshest memory in his mind. Anything from the fancy peach cake to the pancakes that Erwin makes most mornings nowadays. ]
[ But that's a boring non-answer, and they're trying to have quality time here, so after a moment he adds; ]
Have you ever had a "peach smoothie"?
no subject
[ He's not fond of pizza raisin stew, but he's also not enough of an idiot to say that while they're having a normal time!
He takes a drink and thinks. ]
I don't know what smoothie even is…
[ Smooth what? Like the mochi he'd had once or twice? Those were smooth, but…it's probably not like that. ]
no subject
[ Levi looks somewhat surprised that he's actually tried something Eren hasn't. It was usually him leaving new dishes for Levi to try as if he were a stubborn stray cat (not wrong), so he'd just assumed he knew it all by now. ]
It's... a bit like cream, but it tastes like fruit. We should get one after this.
[ After he spends five minutes in the bathroom washing his hands... ]
i think we can wrap here and assume they got smoothies ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
[ He knows milkshakes come in strawberry but he only ever gets chocolate. This smoothie thing is a foreign concept, but one of the few things he actually likes is food. Or drinks, whatever. ]
We'll get one, then.
sounds good ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
[ But clearly the only way to know for sure is to try it! ]
[ So once they're finished with the food and the cleaning up, they'll be walking another bunch of blocks to some juice place where Levi buys them smoothies (it's peach, of course). ]
[ While he's not exactly at ease, he does seem to be getting less tense around Eren, and by the time they make it home (after extensive reviewing of smoothies obviously, and some smooth poop jokes to go with it), things feel... closer to normal than they have in a while. ]
[ Progress! ]