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So...dragons are common in your world, but you can be human too.
[ He considers that. ]
I guess I'm a little opposite. I'm human but I turn into a monster.
[ He considers that. ]
I guess I'm a little opposite. I'm human but I turn into a monster.
A monster?
[ surely that's not the proper term for it. ]
[ surely that's not the proper term for it. ]
A 15 meter tall humanoid monster called a titan.
[ He clarifies but only that far. He's bad at doing this out loud; text is easier. ]
[ He clarifies but only that far. He's bad at doing this out loud; text is easier. ]
[ so it did have a name. ]
And there is no way to prevent this transformation? Do you have control over it?
And there is no way to prevent this transformation? Do you have control over it?
No, I...I have control over it. It won't randomly happen or anything.
[ He'll just busy himself stirring something while he talks because this is always a lot to deal with out loud. ]
People from my bloodline can all potentially become titans, but it's not usually reversible. Most titans are mindless man eaters. But there's nine that are different, that can shift back and forth. We have various powers. Mine, the Attack Titan, is a melee fighter.
[ It's more than that but Eren never talks about anything else his titan can do. ]
I have three of the Nine Titans. I can only use two though.
[ None of this is really a secret so he doesn't mind sharing. He has no idea what Rafal will think. But Rafal isn't even human! So maybe this is less weird? ]
[ He'll just busy himself stirring something while he talks because this is always a lot to deal with out loud. ]
People from my bloodline can all potentially become titans, but it's not usually reversible. Most titans are mindless man eaters. But there's nine that are different, that can shift back and forth. We have various powers. Mine, the Attack Titan, is a melee fighter.
[ It's more than that but Eren never talks about anything else his titan can do. ]
I have three of the Nine Titans. I can only use two though.
[ None of this is really a secret so he doesn't mind sharing. He has no idea what Rafal will think. But Rafal isn't even human! So maybe this is less weird? ]
[ rafal nods as this is all very normal. ]
So then why are you afraid of it?
Or are you simply afraid of what you will do with all that power?
So then why are you afraid of it?
Or are you simply afraid of what you will do with all that power?
I'm not afraid of it.
[ He's had enough time learning to control it. He's afraid of other things. Maybe it's kind of the same in the end. ]
...I already know what I'll do with it. There's only one way anything at home can end. That's why I don't want to go back there.
[ He's had enough time learning to control it. He's afraid of other things. Maybe it's kind of the same in the end. ]
...I already know what I'll do with it. There's only one way anything at home can end. That's why I don't want to go back there.
Ah, so you're afraid of your future.
[ that makes. perhaps if rafal knew the cost of his own actions, he would have taken a different path.
or would he? it's hard to say. ]
You don't think it will catch up to you?
[ that makes. perhaps if rafal knew the cost of his own actions, he would have taken a different path.
or would he? it's hard to say. ]
You don't think it will catch up to you?
Yeah. I guess I am. I thought I'd accepted it but it's been a year since I left, so...
[ Can you undo acceptance? It's not that he doesn't accept it. It's that he remembered how to feelings. ]
It has and it hasn't. A couple people from home lived through that future. The rest of them have no idea. It would hurt them to know, so I'd rather they didn't.
But what happens there could never happen here. It could only happen at home.
[ Can you undo acceptance? It's not that he doesn't accept it. It's that he remembered how to feelings. ]
It has and it hasn't. A couple people from home lived through that future. The rest of them have no idea. It would hurt them to know, so I'd rather they didn't.
But what happens there could never happen here. It could only happen at home.
And yet the fear persists.
Or perhaps it does because others may learn of it? I suppose that makes sense.
Or perhaps it does because others may learn of it? I suppose that makes sense.
[Alfred has left a bouquet of red-and-white-striped lilies for Rafal, alongside a variety of flavored candy canes.]
[There's also jar candles with sweet holiday scents like gingerbread, sugar cookie, and frosted cranberry.]
[Finally, there's several wrapped gifts, all of them books of poetry by various authors.]
[ this is . . . so much. much more than rafal ever expected. he contacts alfred. ]
What is all this?
What is all this?
I follow the tradition of holiday giving every year. And I wanted to get gifts for you anyway.
Oh, you'd like it. There's all sorts of sweets associated with this time of year, too. Cookies especially. Some people even make little houses out of gingerbread.
I could come back over and we could make cookies and a gingerbread house together. What do you say?
We can do it at the café I work at. It'll have all the ingredients we need.
[ rafal sighs.
he waits for alfred at the cafe, his apron on. ]
he waits for alfred at the cafe, his apron on. ]
[Before too long, he comes up to him, panting from the sprint.]
How did I do?
How did I do?
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