sawney

worrier princess ~ rivetra fan ~ writes things as slowdog on A03

[sawneythelazy]

Did you ever notice our girls hand here? Looks like a little I love you 🤟 if you ask me 😍… all the signs are subtle, also I think her cloak was the one that faded last.. but that one might be a stretch. Thoughts?

Oh woah - I hadn't seen that no! Very coy! Her expression too says it all really... and then you have to think, is that her, or is that his projection of her? Interesting! Thank you for bringing it to my attention !

[trylonandperisphere]

Wow. The patience, kindness and calm communication skills. Outstanding.

From raindovemodel

[loveislattes]

This made me cry. I wish all situations could be handled as perfectly as this

[fatsexybitch]

I just want to point out the core of what the diffuser did in this conversation

They recognized that the mother was also expressing a vulnerable truth about herself - that she felt like a bad mother because her child was expressing gender feelings she wasn’t equipped to help with - and met her where she was, a concerned parent with limited information - to point her where she should be heading, research and resources.

Im going to make more of an effort to stop reflexively pushing people away when they express biases and make more of an effort to hear the underlying fears when i can

[redseeker]

“it’s easier to love ourselves when we feel loved as ourselves”

damn that is so  powerful though

[the-haiku-bot]

“it’s easier to

love ourselves when we feel

loved as ourselves”

Beep boop! I look for accidental haiku posts. Sometimes I mess up.

[thegrandmarsh]

@radley-writes

Peer review

[randomramblesofaraven]

I passed peer review! Thank you. I think these are important skills for everyone to learn. x

[sawneythelazy]

Brown Boots month by months snippets!

October

“Hey Levi, great costume!” 

Hange and Erwin approached him in their respective ridiculous attire, Hange as a ‘mad scientist’ and Erwin with a long black and red cape with a popped collar and…eyeliner?

“I’m not wearing a costume.” Levi grumbled.

“Oh. Right. Well I suppose you’re scary enough without one!” They beamed.

“And you call this dressing up do you?” He sneered, grabbing the front of their stained lab coat. 

“Of course!” They chuckled, “Not one of these items is regulation. For one thing the goggles are far too big, and the-”

“Spare me.” Levi ruffled their messy hair and released their coat from his grasp, then turned to Erwin, “And…what are you meant to be? A man whose eyebrows grew so bushy he couldn’t see to pick normal clothes out of his closet?” 

Erwin smiled widely, “Not familiar with the chilling tales of Dracula, Levi? I think you’d enjoy them as the cold, solitary type.” 

Levi’s brow twitched, “You always did love a ridiculous spectacle.” 

“All these ghosts out haunting us,

They follow us day to day,

We’ll let them know that they’re welcome here,

All this tragedy what else can we say?

So darling don your hat, your cloak, your mask,

In this world our love gone so fast,

We can be whatever we want…”

The audience clapped the end of the song and the band began to pack down their set-up, Moblit doing a call out for any donations to the Scouts. 

Levi, under the spell of a beautiful witch, was drawn towards the stage.

Erwin’s voice glanced off his back, “Where are you going Levi?”

“To have some tea, with ginger.”

—

Erwin’s smile grew exponentially as he watched the short man walk away in his classic black jacket, dissolving into the costumed bodies of the crowd.

“You know, you really do look like a demon when you smile like that.” Hange teased.

“ERWIN!!” 

Erwin and Hange looked over their shoulders to see the irate face of Nile Dok stomping towards them, dressed as a dog.

“I see my packages arrived safely Nile. Thank you for being here and showing your support for the Scout Regiment. We’ll be taking donations after the effigy burning.” 

“What the hell are you playing at?! This outfit is tailor made!” Nile barked, gesturing to the shaggy brown all-in-one.

“Don’t you like it? I think it’s very fitting.”

Hange was screeching with laughter as Nile howled,

“Why?!”

Erwin smirked, “Don’t you remember? You always used to say ‘it's better to be a living dog than a dead lion.’ Would you like adrink? Let’s fetch you a tankard of mead. It’s on me.”

Hange and Erwin began to walk off towards the makeshift bar, chuckling, with an enraged Nile in tow, growling;

“How did you even get my measurements you psychopath-”

---

Read Brown Boots!

[sawneythelazy]

Brown Boots month by months snippets!

September

Petra was smiling widely at the shambolic game happening on the dining table, when she felt a presence behind her at the counter. Her heart stopped as she was suddenly boxed in either side by two strong arms and she felt a warm puff of air by her left ear;

“Here.” 

Levi’s left hand appeared over hers which clasped a knife she was using to chop parsley for the soup’s garnish.

His voice was quiet, just above a whisper, heated on her neck, and she was breathless,

“Gather the leaves together first in this hand,” His right hand did so, “Then place it on top of the blade to help control the movements. Use the point as a pivot while you cut.” 

Then, hands over hers, he demonstrated, slicing the leaves so that they were minced finely into tiny ribbons as his body pressed into her back and caged her in against the counter. Her breath quaked. His thumb lightly brushed the skin of her hand. They were in the middle of the common room, and yet, none of the squad had clocked their position at all: Gunther and Oruo were barking chess rules at one another between fits of coughing, and when she glanced over her shoulder she saw Eld with his back turned, humming tunelessly, stirring and seasoning the pot.

The herbs now perfectly cut, his body withdrew and a coldness took its place around her as she watched him pace to the table, casually pull out his chair and sit at the head. He gave her a pointed look, something like smug challenge as she continued staring at him in disbelief.

She suddenly remembered one of the first things she’d learned about him: he was only seen when he wanted to be. It was like he was proving something to her, no matter who came close to discovering what was between them: Clara, the squad, anyone, he would be able to get away with it with them none the wiser.

---------

FYI there was a lot to choose from in September, which you'll see if you read Brown Boots here! There were some of my fav moments in the story that I didn't pick because I think they work best with the old slow burn...

[sawneythelazy]

Brown Boots Monthly Snippets!

August

Eld noticed it but Gunther didn’t right away. 

Eld kicked him under the table, and Petra’s eyes were so wide that Eld thought he could see their entire common room reflected in them, in the very centre of that reflection, a small ruffled square: the new cravat.

Gunther, who was trying to read the morning paper scowled at Eld;

“What?”

Eld mimed at him to shut up, and tilted his head towards the kitchenette, where the wearer of the new cravat was pouring out his morning coffee. Gunther dropped the paper.

It took Oruo several moments to pick up on the rest of the squad’s staring.

“What’s the matter? You all look constipated.” Oruo announced, moving to pick up the small milk jug and stopping, instead tapping his teaspoon firmly on the rim of the cup with a swagger that tried to sell the pointless action.

Petra’s frown line deepened, “No milk this morning Oruo?”

Eld tried not to smirk at her accusatory tone. Oruo always had milk.

Oruo scoffed, “Milk? Me? Never. Always hated it. Ruins the taste of a perfectly decent cup of coffee.” 

“Is that right.” Gunther mumbled skeptically.

“Indeed so.” Oruo replied, then, the three pairs of curious eyes watched, astounded, as the man placed the fingers of his left hand around the rim of the coffee cup, and began lifting it towards his face. His hand was shaking, fingertips clearly unused to such an action, he ended up bringing his head down towards the cup and then was in a kind of hunched position, from which he took a hesitant sip of his drink and instantly sprayed a disgusted mouthful back out.

Eld snort-laughed as Oruo irately put the cup back on its saucer.

“It was too hot ok?!” He barked.

“You’re sure about that?” Petra offered dubiously, 

“I doubt it was too hot man, it’s been sat out for a while.” Eld added. 

The redhead continued, “If you want milk in your coffee, just put milk in it.” 

Oruo grumbled, pouring the rest of the cup down the sink, and immediately began scrubbing it.

As they assembled in line at the athletics circuit that morning, the Captain’s gaze lingered on Oruo a second longer than normal, and his brow twitched.

---

Read Brown Boots here!

[sawneythelazy]

Brown Boots month by months snippets!

July

Bloodshot blue eyes, wide, square teeth and the stinking breath of the beast along with the suffocating pressure on all sides of his torso played on a terrifying loop through Oruo’s brain at destabilising speed; then, at the end of it all, the spinning shadow of the Captain cutting death down in its colossal tracks, a god of destruction.

He was the perfect soldier. And now, Oruo owed him his life.

Oruo sniffled, his weakened legs shaking, for the horror hadn’t ended there; that would have been far too easy on him. Following on from his flailing dance with death was the gruesomest scene  he’d ever seen, burned into his mind with such shocking clarity he could see it colour for colour even now. Ilse Langnar, or, the headless corpse that once was Ilse Langnar, sat in the hollow of a tree, like some fucked up throne, blood crusted into her cloak and shirt.

He couldn’t think of any of it without a full body-jolting shiver and the ghost of the titan’s grip claiming him. Later back at the barracks he’d written a letter to his little sister Erika, asking for more information on what the occult made of headless corpses and hollowed-out trees, and for her opinion on those omens. He didn’t believe in all that crap, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

In light of the mission’s horrifying events it was a miracle he’d spotted any shift in Captain Levi’s behaviour at all, but still, a tiny voice nudged him to pay attention as the man’s tone again considerably softened as he addressed Petra, and then requested a change to their regular riding formation, placing Petra front left by his side; Oruo’s usual spot for long distance journeys.

“She’s been the Captain’s favourite since she joined man. Haven’t you noticed it before?” Eld muttered, not giving Oruo’s complaint a second thought as they readied themselves for the journey back.

“Yeah.” Gunther echoed, “As far as I’m aware she’s the only one of us that didn’t have to go through that gruelling day of ‘extra’ training.” 

The three men shuddered, remembering the horrendous intensity of what they each thought was a one on one combat session with the Captain, only to find out that it was a one on one cleaning session with the Captain to ‘beat out every bad habit’. 

After a minute Eld broke the silence;

“She’s pretty fast on horseback anyway, she’ll be good at relaying messages.” 

“But that was my spot - I fire the flares, I relay the messages.”

"You can fire flares from any point in the formation.” Gunther said dismissively, mounting his horse.

“Right, it’s not a big deal.” Eld commented, reattaching his blade boxes, “Besides, I’ll bet he just changed it because he assumed you’d be riding back with the medical carts.”

Pfft. 

Sure, his whole body ached with bruising from being crushed in a giant fist, and sure, he was shaky on his feet, struggling not to constantly whimper in response to his ordeal, but no fucking way in hell was Oruo Bozad being relegated to the fucking medical carts. Until he was down and out completely, Oruo was an elite soldier and he travelled with his elite squad.

Read here!

[sawneythelazy]

I love the Rivetra and to console myself that it is real I like to ask the opinion of other fans to ship 😂. Do you also think that there were romantic feelings on both sides? If yes, why ?

Hello!

So sorry it's taken me so long to respond to this!

I think that what is so amazing about the characters of Levi and Petra in aot, how they are presented in both the manga and anime is that it can be read either way! The thing about them having romantic feelings for one another is that the potential is absolutely undeniable, and I think the fact that so many people recognise this and come to the internet to search for evidence of it is proof enough of its viability.

Personally I also think this is what makes their relationship so fascinating to me - you can choose to read so much into the small moments - it's giving a kind of Jane Austen level of subtle gesture to show us what could be a deep well of feelings on both sides. To me, that is so much more interesting than when characters openly admit and express their feelings - I live for the tortured soul who is so very in love and so very "not allowed" to be in love hahaha

The first time I watched aot I didn't pick up on their potential connection until Petra died - and then suddenly it was like a whole new world of depth unravelled, and I felt like we as an audience saw a side to Levi that we hadn't seen before. The fact that it's Petra's body we see fly from the cart, Petra's badge that's given away, Petra's body is the last he comes upon and the one he stops at, and that it's Petra's father that comes to speak to him is what made me think that they might have had feelings for one another - though again this is not proof, just what I like to think. There were 3 other members of the special ops squad who we did not see have any post death interaction with Levi beyond him mournfully passing their bodies.

That for me was enough to justify thinking they might have had feelings for one another, or at least, that Petra held a special place in his heart romantic or otherwise - not to mention that on re-read/watch, you can find so many other moments before the squad's death that can feed into this theory if you wish!

Whatever your opinion of their true feelings, I think the importance of these characters to one another is absolutely undeniable, and that is what makes them so fun to explore.

Sorry that was very rambly but I hope I sort of answered your question!

[sawneythelazy]

Brown Boots month by month snippets!

It's been over a year, but why not eh?

June

Erwin was stood opposite Levi’s desk briefing him on the new blade boxes, which had been re-designed to be a whole twenty percent lighter than before. The Special Operations Squad were to trial them in training first, to make sure they were still sturdy enough for the most extreme movements the scouts had to undertake. If they were able to train without any hiccups, the new design would be deployed throughout the regiment as the standard.

Again though, at nine-thirty PM exactly, a light knock graced the door. Erwin looked a touch startled turning over his shoulder as Petra slipped in, head bowed. 

Levi opened his mouth, but Erwin got there first,

“Ah, Petra.” He flashed his charming smile, that knowing one with just enough courtesy that he couldn’t be accused of anything, “Assisting Captain Levi with his paperwork again I see? Good of you.” 

Levi’s nose wrinkled in distaste. Erwin was always ahead of the damn game. 

“Yes sir.” Petra saluted.

“Petra, your help won’t be required. Dismissed.” Levi stated blankly.

Petra nodded, hand already on the brass doorknob to leave but was stopped by Erwin’s voice.

“Hold your horses Petra.” Erwin held out a hand towards her to stop her, but his eyes never left Levi’s scowling face, “Don’t be rash Levi. In the coming days you’ll have several evaluation reports to fill out regarding testing these new blade boxes, on top of your regular work, which I need not mention again, is already overdue. It seems to me you might greatly benefit from the help.”

Levi’s cheek twitched as the two men entered a fierce stare-off lasting over a whole minute. 

Levi’s eyes narrowed.

Erwin’s eyes narrowed. 

Petra was frozen in place for the duration, hand still clasped around the doorknob, eyes flicking between them.

She opened her mouth, “I-”

“Go Pet.” Levi announced. 

His heart stopped.

“-Tra.” He tacked on, but Erwin’s wily smile had already comfortably unfurled across his face.

Levi remained a blank mask, but his blood raced about the network of his veins punching him in every vital organ and he battled not to react to his own idiotic slip up.

Petra’s eyes looked twice their size and she was again vacillating between the two men. She swallowed, giving Levi a nod and twisted the doorknob, pulling the door open-

“Stay Ms Ral.” Erwin commanded, “That’s an order.” 

Petra slowly closed the door again.

“Thank you. Well then. Now that’s settled I’ll leave these with you.” Erwin placed some of the new evaluation forms on Levi’s desk. “I trust you’ll have the overdue work with me by tomorrow, now that you have another pair of hands.” 

“Whatever you say, sir.” Levi bit back sourly, scowling into a corner.

Erwin merely looked on with contentment as he gestured for Petra to take her seat across from Levi, and she gingerly complied.

“I wish you both a pleasant evening.” 

And with a final affirming nod and artful glance, Erwin left, closing the door into an unpleasant, penetrating silence.

Levi was humiliated that Erwin had pulled rank, and humiliated by his own slip of the tongue. He still wasn’t entirely sure how it happened, wasn’t like he ever called her that before… 

A moronic oversight; he’d let himself be caught off-guard by the unexpected stand-off between Erwin and himself. Though he prayed that she hadn’t noticed the error, or at the very least, that she realised that that was all it was, an error, quickly corrected, a nothing.

He grit his teeth. A cocktail of embarrassment and bad humour was festering inside him, and there was no way he wasn’t going to be an asshole, not unless he kept his mouth shut.

---

You can read the whole thing here!

[sawneythelazy]

do you think you’ll ever go back to writing brown boots? it’s one of my fave rivetra fics ever

Hello! Thank you so much that's super sweet :)

Yes - I am really trying to fit it in because its so close to the end - and managed to come back a bit to it last month finally... It's been a silly old year of ups and downs and me agreeing to do too many things - but I haven't forgotten <3

Very sorry to everyone waiting for it - I'm so lucky people are interested, and thank you endlessly for your patience!

Slowdog

[thatalmondgirl]

The Tilt Shift

After an incident expels Levi from the Survey Corps, he returns to the depths of the underground. With no friends left, he forges his own path, hellbent on unfinished business.

As the stakes rise and the bitter war against titans wages on above, a lone soldier ventures down to bring him home. After all, she has a mission to do, and only he can complete it.

Read the final chapter here (Ao3) 

[sawneythelazy]

!!!!!!!

[certainbonksaladranch]

For @soaringcadenza Petra teaching Levi how to make cookies

I am starting to enjoy creating backgrounds☺️

[sawneythelazy]

GORGEOUS! <3

[thatalmondgirl]

The Tilt Shift

In the depths of the underground, a man sits and waits. He is impossible to find, so she must be found by him. After all, she has a mission to do, and only he can complete it. 

Read chapter 2 here. 

[sawneythelazy]

omg I have been waiting for this one for such a long time! can't wait to read 👀

[sleeperswakewriting]

May I ask ackerbaby scene from 7 ways to love your petra🙏

Omg this couple is so far away from babies I think janitor Levi would die if Petra got pregnant. Maybe in the future when Petra is editor in chief and he’s her assistant 😘

[sleeperswakewriting]

Rating: G

Word Count: 1k

I gave in since it’s father’s day 😩

“Daddy, I want pancakes—”

A fist slams on the table and silverware rattles while another voice cuts in. 

“We had pancakes last week. I want waffles!” 

Levi pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a deep sigh. He counts to fifteen — five seconds past his usual ten, but today, he needs it. 

It’s Father’s Day, which means it’s Sunday, and their nanny is off duty. While Levi prides himself on taking care of most of the household chores himself, handling two ravenously hungry six-year-old twins makes his temples throb. 

Ellie—short for Eleanor—a spitting image of him, but with the fire of Petra, scrunches her nose in defiance. Her hair is cut into a bob, and her hazel eyes dance. “The sprinkles melt better in a waffle. With pancakes, they just slide off. It’s only practical.” 

Seguir leyendo

[sleeperswakewriting]

Bride prompt 💖

After Petra’s death, Levi imagines her as a bride if they would have had a romantic relationship (also, her father’s words to him appears in his mind imagining it)

happy friday, here's some angst!

word count: 900

Rating: G

“What do you think about a fall wedding?”

“Tch. You really want to get married when everything is dying around us?”

She whirls around, and her cheeks puff into a petulant scowl that he adores. The golden rays of sunset catch every lock of hair, her freckles prominent in the heat that just died down. He can’t say no, not to her, never to her. So he sighs while Petra swings her legs over the bridge. 

“If that’s what you want,” he concedes and takes her hand. “But when we’re old and celebrating our anniversary with leaves and frost, remember that I told you so.” 

She pinches his thumb and her smile is blinding. “It’s settled, then. Mid October, right after the expedition. That way we can go on our honeymoon. You’ll ask the commander?”

He grunts and peers to the horizon. “I owe Erwin another Titan capture for a week off.” Then his voice lowers while he smirks, his lips ghosting the shell of her ear. “But it’ll be worth it. You, me, a cabin in the woods alone.”

A shudder washes over Petra, her breath hitching as her legs press together. “That sounds amazing,” she whispers. Levi traces a line from her ear to her cheek, then captures her lips in a kiss. Sixty days. Only sixty more days until they will be husband and wife. Levi never thought he’d be the one for semantics on a piece of paper, but he proposed first. He wants everyone to know that she was his. 

And maybe in this shitty world, maybe a declaration of love is daring. 

Petra always dared.

Fate had other plans, though. Levi didn’t plan on coming back to the old barracks — a lifetime ago, with the ghosts of comrades in the stray socks and personal items strewn about. He supposes after Stohess, he wants to decompress, and he finds it hard at an inn. There’s comfort in the routine; his tea, the roaring fireplace, where you hang your laundry. 

No one talks about the company, though. All of these things are haunting as his footsteps echo the empty halls of the once vibrant Special Ops Barracks. Dust lines every corner, and streaks of light pour through the open curtains. One of Eld’s hair ties is on the sink even though Levi told him to put it away. Gunther’s comb remains in place under the mirror. Oluo’s lotion that he swore by. 

Petra’s things aren’t here. That’s in his bathroom after she unofficially moved into his bedroom. 

There’s a rap at the door that shakes Levi from his memories. Frowning, unsure of who could be visiting while the Scouts were put on temporary disbandment, he opens the door, his eyes squinting in the sunlight. 

There’s a courier with a large white box in his hands. 

“Delivery, sir!” the courier says, dropping the box carefully at Levi’s feet. He holds a clipboard out to Levi and procures a pen from his pocket. “Sign here, please.” 

“I didn’t order anything,” Levi protests, but lazily scrawls his signature.

“Well, someone did. And we have specific instructions it needed to be delivered by September first. Good day.” He tips his hat and is off before Levi can inquire further. 

Levi brings the unlabeled box to the dining room. Cobwebs weave the sconces together, and he viciously bats them away while striking a match to the nearest oil lamp. The box is too large and light to be gear, and all packages like that go through the admin office first. No, this is personal, and a sick feeling of violation churns in his stomach. Whoever’s this is, he can send it to their family, one last gift. 

Opening the lid, the air knocks from Levi’s lungs. Vision dizzy, he steadies himself on the table, his palm slapping the wood. It’s bad enough that she haunts his dreams, but seeing this—

It’s Petra’s wedding dress. 

He recalls the day she went into Trost with Nifa and Nanaba. Giggling, with coy smiles and puckered lips, she teased him about all the outlandish accessories she was going to buy just to embarrass him. 

“You’re embarrassing yourself by marrying me, no amount of gaudiness is going to compare.”

He’d forgotten all about it. She mentioned the seamstress said it would take a while and between Trost and Eren, the only reminder Levi has is her ring around his neck.

Holding the dress out, he can see her form. Her height, just a few inches shy of him. The pink ribbon around the waist, how she admitted to wanting a romantic wedding with roses everywhere. Embarrassed by the fact, Levi assured her no one would lose respect for her over a couple of flowers. 

“Go fucking crazy. Get them in your hair. How many times in your life can you order a ton of flowers?”

The veil is simple, and Levi’s throat tightens at the image of roses creating a crown over her. More like a halo now, and he tightly holds the dress to his chest. He closes his eyes. 

“I still think she’s a bit young to get married…”

Every father would say that. Levi wasn’t old-fashioned enough to ask for permission, but Petra was overjoyed at the prospect of her father walking her down the aisle. 

“He never thought I’d get married with my commitment to the Scouts.” She bats her eyelashes at Levi. “Who would’ve thought I could have both?”

He sways to an aimless tune as he holds the dress. He imagines Petra’s smile, how she would’ve cried and he’d tell her she’s being too sappy even though he’d feel the same way. 

The fabric is soft beneath his fingers and he thinks how white is fitting for a bride. 

Even better for an angel.

[sawneythelazy]

Brown Boots month by month snippets!

Almost missed this one! 😅 It's a long snippet too, all for one joke at the end... ^^

May

May’s clearer weather meant that the squad’s sparring sessions were moved outdoors from their usual location of the small gym. The sky was blue, the sun bright and birds were singing. Spring was Petra’s favourite season, because it felt like the season of hope; the season of potential, and who were the scouts if not agents of change - seekers of a new dawn? Also it was an opportunity to see the Captain’s bare arms in broad daylight.

It wasn’t hot per se, but they’d all put on their matching black vest tops - it wouldn’t take them long to break a sweat once they began sparring.

“Listen up.”

Captain Levi stood in the middle of a rope ring several metres in diameter placed on the freshly cut grass.

“Today’s session will be different.” 

The squad side-eyed one another.

“You’ll be sparring against me. As a group.” 

A ripple of raised eyebrows ran through the line of them. The Captain cocked his head,

“Well? What are you waiting for?” 

The squad were a flurry of flitted looks, then they instantly saluted perfectly in time;

“Yes sir!” 

Before spreading evenly around the edges of the large rope circle. 

Well this was interesting. Petra supposed it was a good measure of their teamwork skills and an opportunity to gauge their improvement; hers especially. The Captain had been teaching her to spar one on one for a time, but the past month or so they’d gone back to cycling around everyone. She took it as a good sign, that now she was good enough that she wouldn’t embarrass him. On one occasion in hand to hand combat against Eld, she’d actually managed to sock him in the jaw, and caught the Captain’s subtle nod of approval from across the gym…which caused her heart to skip a beat.

Not today though. She wasn’t going to be distracted by his perfectly sculpted arms, his strong legs, his toned abs in the tight vest, nor the droplets of sweat rolling down his neck. When she clocked the razor-sharp lines of his chin and cheekbones, the adorable point of his little nose, she wouldn’t lose focus. And if she caught his stormy eyes, ever-intense under his thin, glowering brow, beautiful behind his inky bangs…she would concentrate on the next best move, because that was what he needed from her.

He was so darn fast. 

The second the squad jumped inside the rope to begin the spar, the Captain turned and sprinted with terrifying directness towards Eld. He was half the size, but he punched Eld so hard in the stomach that the taller man was instantly winded and doubled over, then expelled the blonde from the ring with a powerful kick. The three remaining squad members grit their teeth, sweat forming across their foreheads in beads while Eld lolled about on the grass, groaning.

Petra pursed her lips. Darn it. He knew that they’d be relying on Eld to give signals and keep them together, so he’d taken him out instantly. That was the thing about the Captain, he was famous for his physical prowess, but the reason for his success was that he was always thinking.

“Use your brain. You don’t wanna die? Think.” 

He’d said it time and time again, with most frequency when they were beyond the wall.

Think, Petra. Use your head.

She darted out of his eye-line and gestured to Gunther: ‘swap positions’. She knew Gunther’d caught her meaning. Oruo spotted it too, and took the initiative to run towards the Captain as a distraction, which she was grateful for. After their week of training cadets last month, Oruo’s signature egotistical recklessness had diminished significantly; now he would generally try and listen to the movements of the group before spiralling off to ‘take care of things’ on his own.

She was planning on a rear attack and began running at him from some metres away, but the Captain had instantly read the manoeuvre. He was always several steps ahead - literally in this case too, as Petra couldn’t even make it near him before he’d spun and knocked Oruo to the ground then revolved to be face-to-chest with Gunther, where the two men locked arms. Oruo griped as he lamely got back to his feet, and Petra still wasn’t close enough by the time Captain Levi outmanoeuvred Gunther and managed to push him so he stumbled back several steps. The Captain span to her in challenge, and she stopped in her tracks.

Apprehensive, the three squad members re-set themselves surrounding him. 

He jutted his chin, which wasn’t nearly as provoking as the fact that not a single hair on his head was out of place. Petra almost wanted to smirk; he’d clearly used his calm demeanour to goad people many times before in such a setting. They were still soldiers, and they had too much pride not to fall for it.

Then, for two solid minutes the Captain evaded the three of them; predicting every punch and kick, ducking and weaving but throwing no attacks of his own. Petra made a noise of irritation - this was classic, he was tiring them out. 

Think. 

She stopped throwing punches, and instead danced around in the same way, mirroring him, offering no attacks. He immediately noticed the change, and his eyes glued to her curiously, all the while still evading the errant arms and legs of the other two men.

He clairvoyantly ducked a split second before Gunther’s weighted punch, which instead soared over his head and smacked Oruo hard in the jaw, who went instantly flying from the ring with an elongated “Blaaaaaaarrrghh”. The sound tailed off comically as Oruo flew further away, landing in a heap by Eld. It was at that point Petra realised that in his evasion of their attacks, he’d been slowly moving the group towards the rope to make ousting them easier. 

“Shit.” Gunther looked panicked as the Captain promptly turned and kicked him in the gut sending him sailing back towards the centre of the ring. 

Petra saw her opening. As his leg came down from his brutal kick, she appeared behind and tripped him so he fell backwards, but not before he’d grabbed her arm and dragged her down too. 

She was not going to be distracted. 

She was not going to be distracted. 

Except…she was currently straddling her Captain. Oh hell. 

She was leant over him, frozen, the tips of her ginger bob were almost grazing his cheeks as she stared, astonished into his grey eyes; the awkwardness of the their position having thrown her so much that she found, though internally screaming at herself to move, to get the hell off him for Maria’s sake, none of her muscles were responding. Sickeningly, she realised that her strongest urge was to squeeze her thighs to feel him between them more intensely, to sit back fully onto him. Just as the warm tingling of desire began seeping, sap-like through her, his brow scrunched sharply, and grabbing firmly onto her shoulders, he cast her off him to the side and she rolled along the grass, dazed. 

By the time she’d collected herself and got back up, Captain Levi and Gunther were again engaged in a fierce scrap. Gunther was trying to catch her eye, vexed that she’d left him to fight alone for so long. She shot him an apologetic look, and with one hand sliding under her vest across her chest, ran at the pair, just as Gunther was solidly booted from the ring.

The Captain span to her, readying a punch, but then instantly froze in place. 

At the end of her outstretched arm, the point of Petra’s short, blunted knife was gently pressing into his Adam’s apple. It moved a little with his shallow gulp.

“You never know if your opponent will be armed, sir.” She said, panting.

His slate-grey eyes pierced hers, unfaltering, as his upper body gradually relaxed and he slowly raised his hands in surrender.

“Good.” He said quietly. His eyes lingered. 

Their small moment was broken by the raucous cheering of the guys outside of the ring. Petra dropped the knife from his neck, and laughed with relief.

“Where the hell d’you get that?” Oruo called over, scratching his head.

Petra beamed, “I sewed a pocket into my sports bra.” Then she caught Eld’s eye, “Guess that’s what you'd call a booby-trap!”

***

You can read Brown Boots here! I'm hoping to have some actual free time one of these days to come back to it - so close to the end too!

[sawneythelazy]

Brown Boots month by month snippets!

This month includes the homage to old comedy show Green Wing where pt1 partly got its name! This is from the chapter where our fav squad are given a bunch of green cadets to train for a week, and it naturally turns into a dumb competition...

April

“First things first. What’s this?” Oruo spoke haughtily, removing a blade from his blade box and holding it up so it shone in the morning light through the equipment shed’s small, high strip of windows.

Eld raised his hand, 

“A blade.” He said flatly.

“Not - you-” Oruo huffed, already a little flustered, “Yes, clearly it’s a blade you blockhead, I meant what kind of blade is this?”

“That’s not what you asked.” 

“Yes it is.” Oruo said, a vein moving in his temple.

“No, you said, ‘what’s this.’” Eld said, repeating Oruo’s earlier intonation.

The cadets began to titter and Eld could see that Petra was biting her lip in an attempt to remain professional. Gunther looked less than amused.

“Well I meant what type of blade is this.” Oruo bit back, “Anyone? Well not anyone - not you Eld.”

Eld put a hand to his chin, “Hmmm. No, I dunno.” He replied, smirking. The cadets were outwardly giggling now.

“I said not you!” Oruo raged, “And how can you be second in command if you don’t even know what kind of-” He stopped, taking a deep breath to try and calm himself, a finger and thumb pressing into the bridge of his nose.

“It’s a segmented flesh-paring blade made from the highest quality ultra hard steel. It has low density, meaning it can break easily if it comes into contact with something too hard, but it’s lightweight and perfect for use against the titans when two are used together.” Gunther said evenly, “Now, please get on with it.” 

Read Brown Boots here!

[carpisuns-archive]

shoutout to slow creators!

i know it can be disheartening to work so slowly when it seems like everyone around you works so fast and churns out great content left and right. i know it's easy to get frustrated with yourself for having to spend so much time on one thing and sometimes it's hard to stay motivated long enough to finish. but the things you make are so good, and taking lot of time on something isn't a bad thing. creation can be a very painstaking process, but the amount of love and care and effort and attention you pour into your work bleeds through. people can feel it. they appreciate it. they see how hard you try and they see how your thoughtful approach to creation affects the quality of the end product. speed is definitely a skill you can develop and chances are as you practice more and get more comfortable with things, you'll be able to work faster. but no matter what, the things you make are worth waiting for. keep creating! you are wonderful!

[lunar-rainclouds]

Things I keep telling myself

[sawneythelazy]

put it in my pen name to try and remind myself its fine haha