Open broadcast | backdated to the first day of second liminal

[rustyhonesty]

This is my first time actually trying to make a message through the whole network... hopefully this will work.

[Jean sounds rather exhausted as he talks. While he had been away from the dungeon for some time, he still hasn't really recovered completely. Not with all the damn emotions and thoughts he had to process. Now he had finally sorted out the most important things so he was ready to talk with others to apologize or just explain.]

To anyone who interacted with Jan Wirths at the previous Jaunt. If there's something you need to talk to me about with that, I'm at workshop for most of the time. I know there were some things that he did that were rather fucked up.

[That's actually an understatement, at least in Jean's mind.]

... and well, if someone wants to tell me a bit more about Persona's, I would appreciate it. Now that I've rested I might understand any explanations a bit better.

And then things that happened in the dungeon... I'm ready to talk about them now.

[He's really been avoiding everyone for some time now. Especially one called Eren Jaeger, who he heard perfectly well over the network the other day. He almost adds "Jaeger stay out or I'll feel worse" but

1) Mikasa wouldn't like that
2) Eren would yell at him
3) Headache guaranteed

So he just leaves this as this.]


(ooc: Jean is back from his dungeon and can be found mostly from the workshop!)

Comments

[bite_the_hand]

[Jean, please, stop and think about this for a moment. For you, Reiner and Bertolt's betrayal was a long time ago. For Eren, it had happened mere hours ago. He claimed to be exploring Liminal Space to get his head around things, and he was, but he was also thinking about how those bastards sat there calmly, even pretended to feel bad, when he'd told them about his mother. When in reality it was their fault the whole time. How many more of the people he trusted were traitors? How many people outside of this closest friends and the Captain could he actually believe in? It was so easy to jump to wrong the conclusions when thinking with that, even if it wasn't Eren. Doubly so since it is.]

Give me one good reason why I shouldn't! You turned your weapons on your comrades! Do you think that can be excused just because you weren't hiding the 'Titan Power' like them!?

Mikasa, he really did hurt you!? [The emotions on his end were still strong, complicated and hard to untangle beneath the surface but it was hard to tell because that surface was a tidal wave of hurt and rage. They could not hear him just yet but if they could the roaring yell he was letting out would likely be of any surprise to them.]

Armin, why should I!? He's admitting to almost killing you! Both of you!

[rustyhonesty]

[Too bad he knows where Eren comes from, but is completely forgetting about it right now. He understands why he would think like that. At least later he will. When he remembers or is reminded about the fact.]

If you'd think about it, you'd know, but I think you're just looking for an excuse to fight by labeling me as a traitor!

[Action]

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin bangs the door to Jean's room open.] Jean, shut up! [He's yelling, mouth set, and he's visibly furious - but the next moment he turns around and throws his arms wide, physically blocking the door to the room.]

I know, Eren, I was there. Calm down - Jean's being an idiot, but he's not a traitor! You don't understand what's going on here.

[callyourname]

No, it wasn't him who hurt me -- it's more complicated than that. Besides I'm fine now.

[ But this isn't surprising considering where he's from... Hell, this reaction wouldn't surprise her even if he was from anywhere after that because things back home tend to change so fast. ]

Eren, calm down. I'd trust Jean with my life.

Network -> Action

[bite_the_hand]

I understand that he tried to kill you both! What else is there to know!? Mikasa, why are you protecting him!? How can you say that!? He's admitting to being the one that hurt you!

Were the three of us the only members of the 104th that actually wanted to to help humanity and each other!?

[As he's yelling in their minds, anyone in the hallway around Jean's room would now be able to hear the sound of 3DMG being used to approach rapidly. Almost as soon as he finishes yelling in everyone's heads Eren comes skidding into view as he disengages the Maneuver Gear... But the handles were still in his hands and, more alarming, each had a blade attached and ready to be used. Seeing Armin in front of the door he lowered his weapons but did not sheath them. His body language and movements screamed of killing intent, expression twisted in fury, tears at the corners of his eyes he hadn't even noticed yet threatening to spill over.]

Armin, you're protecting him too!? Why!? [Eren shakes his head.] Forget it, that doesn't matter! Get out of my way!

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin stands resolutely in front of the door, arms still spread wide so Eren can't get past.]

No, Eren! I'm not moving, so you can either attack me or you can calm down and listen.

[bite_the_hand]

[After that announcement, Eren just stared at his friend in shock. The killing rage was still there but as long as that confusion got him to stop long enough to actually talk...!

[He stood like that for a few seconds that must have felt like an eternity. Then with a sigh that sounded more like a growl he stowed his blades back in his gear. He still held the handles of his 3DMG loosely in his hands, so it would only take him a few seconds to draw them again, but for now he was relatively unarmed and willing to listen. At least so long as Jean stays the hell over there because dammit Armin why are you standing at his open doorway like that that's just asking for a knife in your back right now.]

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin lowers his arms a little, but doesn't move out of the doorway.]

It was during the jaunt, Eren. Neither Jean or I were ourselves. You don't understand what infiltrating is like - you're a completely different person. You don't remember your own life, and you - the real you - have no control over your actions when you're them. Jan was a bounty hunter, and Min had a price on his head. It wasn't personal, and it had nothing to do with me or Jean.

Jean wouldn't hurt me, Eren. I trust him.

[bite_the_hand]

[Thankfully Armin seemed to be getting through to him. The more he spoke the more confusion and uncertainty crept into Eren's expression. But just when it looked like he might actually calm down soon, Eren made another growl-like sound and shook his head, steeling himself.]

But isn't this Infiltrating crap just screwing with your memories to make you think you're supposed to be there!? So anything he'd do there as that Jan guy, he'd do the same now! We can't take that chance!

[He of course doesn't even realize some of the utterly horrible things that attitude would imply about Armin, or how badly saying those things might hurt someone with so many different Infiltration roles behind them. He doesn't know what it's actually like yet, so how could he think one of the few people he can still trust implicitly would do anything as horrible as what Jean was confessing to, Infiltrated or not?]

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin looks absolutely stricken for a moment, hurt as he thinks of all the things Eren is inadvertently blaming him for. Then his mouth sets in a hard line, and he does his best to shake it off - he knows Eren doesn't know what he's talking about, but it doesn't entirely make him feel better about the accusation.]

No, Eren! That's not what it's like. [Armin runs a hand through his hair, frustrated. He could continue to try to explain, but it's something Eren can't truly understand until he experiences it himself. He shakes his head again, voice quieter and expression tired.]

I know what I'm talking about. Please, Eren. You don't need to trust Jean - trust me.

[bite_the_hand]

[The words are barely out of his mouth when Eren realizes that maybe he really fucked up here. The look on Armin's face makes him physically recoil, taking a single step back as his angry expression melts away to one of confusion and regret.]

[Eren takes a deep breath and lets it out as a frustrated sigh, forcing himself to relax. He tucks the handles to the 3DMG securely back into their holsters at his side.]

I guess I shouldn't run my mouth off about things I don't really understand yet... I'm sorry. If you think we can still trust him, I'll trust your judgement.

[callyourname]

[She lives right next door or something, so guess who is right behind you very soon, Eren? Maybe she was going to tackle him from there, who knows?]

You really shouldn't... But we trust him completely, so it's just something to get used to.

[Jaunts, that is. Or infiltrating, or seeing your friends infiltrating. All of that, actually.

This kind of feels like the wrong place to talk about this but if they (Jean, Eren) still have something to say to each other, well, she's waiting for one moment longer to do anything about taking him away from here. ]

[rustyhonesty]

[Jean's been quiet in the background for the time being and once Mikasa shows up to speak for him, he feels even more guilt. They both are here to defend him, even if he made a complete fool out of himself.]

... I wouldn't hurt either of them or the captain, if I'm myself. That's one thing you can trust about me.

[If Eren happens to look at him, he'll notice the look on Jean's eyes which means he's serious about this... though he'll avoid Armin and Mikasa's eyes for now.]

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin swallows hard a moment, not paying Mikasa or Jean much attention yet. This is something he needs Eren to understand.]

Eren, the way you live your life can change everything about a person. So you can't trust anybody when they're infiltrating, not anybody.

Not even me.

[bite_the_hand]

[That's very good of you Mikasa because SOMEONE has to be ready to tackle Eren to the ground and stop him from doing stupid shit he'll later regret.]

[Eren jumps a bit at the sound of Mikasa's voice, whipping his head around to look at her.] Mikasa! When did you get here!?

[He turns back around when Jean speaks up. For all Jean's expression showed his seriousness, Eren's eyes gave an unspoken threat and promise. He'd backed off for now but Jean would have to tread carefully until the start of the next Jaunt to avoid setting Eren off again.]

[Eren didn't glare long enough to give the full effect though. No, the way Armin was looking at him now demanded his attention. But what his friend had to say made Eren's eyes go wide with confusion and disbelief... Before shaking his head in denial.] What... What are you saying, Armin!? You're one of the only people I can trust! That I can always trust! You can't honestly expect me to believe you'd do something like what he's confessing to!

[neverfeltthatway]

Yes, Eren! I would. If I'm infiltrating, it doesn't matter what I'd do, or what I think is right. For that period of time I'm not me - and I won't know you. I... I've been people that would have killed you without a second thought, if you'd gotten in their way.

Please - you have to promise. I, I couldn't stand if you got hurt because you trusted me.