The sound of cool night air and papers rustling filled the silence between the two.
A night wrapped in candle light and the bustling streets of Stohess.
“So, what did you think of our new recruits?”
“Generally? They’re a pain.”
“I meant our little trio.”
“Jaeger’s a piece of work I’ll tell you that much.” his head leaned back “Ackerman is fairly well in combat..”
“She takes after another Ackerman I know.” Levi scoffed at that, he always thought it was a load of b.s.
“I’m nothing like that nut job-“
“Easy.”
The man grunted, not fond of being ordered around often.
There were a couple minutes of silence. Yet they were on separate pages. One was relaxed enough, ready to engage in conversation once more, while the other was.. a little more uncomfortable.
“…”
“Arlert is talented..reminds me of you when you were younger..”
Erwin smiled “Am I not talented anymore? My dear captain?”
Levi scoffed, hard, as if to sweep something under the rug
“You know damn well that’s not it. The boy keeps rambling on about a ‘sea’. He’s certainly got dreams.”
“… Levi.”
“Yes, sir.”
He let out a breath, opening the window with his arm.
“It’s only a matter of time before I am..relieved of my duties.”
“Don’t tell me you’re quitting-”
“No, Levi.”
“Then-“ a struggled faint gasp escaped him, “Damnit Erwin don’t speak that way.”
“Just, humor me for a second.”
“…”
“Once that moment arrives, will you follow my orders one last time?”
“I would follow you into hell you know that well. I just wish you would stop thinking about charging into it.”
The man laughed, but they both knew, it didn’t matter how much they did or didn’t want it, the hour would come.
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“Why am I thinking of that at a time like this.”
The sea lapped gently against the shore, revealing a blue seashell buried against the sand.
“Captain! It’s all so salty!?”
“Well don’t just drink it, god knows where the hell it’s been.”
The man glanced at the shell, reluctantly pocketing it yet another brushed his finger as well, a black one.
He huffed, a small smile appearing.
“Damn you Erwin, even from hell you still haunt me.”
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At the former commanders grave lie many bouquets of flowers, the most common being gladiolus, fitting the man’s life.
Yet under lay two seashells.
The two almost like parallels of the captain and his commander
There were days where even the best detective, could be the most oblivious person in the room.
It didn’t matter how many attempts he made, she was ignorant. It didn’t take a genius to see the intelligence in the apothecary, but to not investigate it further?
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“Jinshi the ‘eunuch’ and Maomao the Apothecary.”
The two were always rumored of having some sort of connection.
After the war Jinishi’s office was drowning in paperwork, a nightmare for the man, more work meant less leisure time, which meant he couldn’t simply see his ‘toy’ as he wanted.
With the little time he acquired he was accompanied by Gaoshun to the pleasure district, into the famous Verdigris House. It was uncommon to come and not visit the three princesses, or at least attempt to.
However, for Jinshi it meant so much more him than courtesans, it meant the cat that he has yearned for before he knew it. What was a toy at first became a staple in his life. What he risked his title and life for sat in front of him, grinding herbs like he hadn’t traveled all this way solely for her.
+ - + - + - + 🌙 + - + - + - +
- “Did you come here solely to annoy me?”
- “What do you take me for? Some sort of rascal?”
The apothecary grunted, grinding the herbs a little harder. And Jinshi knew he would have to try a bit more
- “Well, I’ll have you know I came because I wanted you to check my stitches.”
A lie slid right out of his mouth, maybe it counted as a half truth. But either way it seemed Maomao couldn’t read him, as if he was able to read her either…
Jinshi scooted a bit closer to her, a frown like some puppy dog trying to get attention from its owner.
- “So pay attention to me..!”
- “I’m busy.”
His arms snaked around her, raising to steady her hands, grip firm.
- “But I came all this way..”
Maomao couldn’t argue with that statement, setting the bowl down and turning towards the eunuch, hands nearing his face.
- “Do you.. plan on coming back..?”
The apothecaries hands hesitated for a moment before adjusting the man’s bangs to check out the scar. Turning his face almost roughly.
- “At the moment no, I have plenty work to do here at the Verdigris House.”
Though he wasn’t facing her, he might as well have grown ears and let them droop. Once she let go he gently took her wrists, looking into her eyes to at least attempt to get a read on her.
- “But why? What was so bad in the Outer Court?”
- “There was nothing particularly bad.. just I have work to do here..”
Jinshi let go, as if he had touched her for too long.
- “Well, people.. ask for you a lot.” A pout painted his face. “They practically storm my office and ask when you’ll be back.”
Again, only a half truth, it is indeed true, people do ask where she’s gone. Lady Lihua, Lady Gyokuyou but most of all, Jinshi missed her. Though she gained him a fair amount of complaints, life was better with her. But he would never say it. Not to Maomao, not to Gaoshun, and he even rejected the thought to himself.
