BERTOLT

[bloodread]

Comments

[bloodread]

You're a soldier, yeah? Isn't that what war is? [ His reply comes a little delayed, not from shock or surprise, the lines of his face still tight and rigid. No, his hesitation comes from the fact that war and its atrocities are something that was taught to him, imbued in him, like any teenager from post WWII Japan even if he's far removed from the situation himself. ]

[perspire]

It's more than that... The army at home doesn't fight against people... It fights against Titans. Giant creatures that do nothing but eat humans.

[bloodread]

[ No one in their life has ever called Akira smart and for good reason, he's always been a punch first, ask questions later type of guy. But he is perceptive, sometimes deceptively so and it's the wording that catches here.

He doesn't think about the ramifications of asking before he goes ahead and does just that. ]

...which side are you on?

[perspire]

[ he doesn't answer just yet ]

There are walls that keep the titans out.

Four years ago, I destroyed one.

[bloodread]

You gonna keep going? [ There's more to it than that, he's sure of it. Nagako bristles from where she's curled, though ultimately stays put. ]

[perspire]

[ he takes a deep breath ]

There's a lot. If you want me to stop at any point, just let me know.

Where I spent the past four years, I wasn't from there originally. The people there... don't even know there's an entire world past their walls. That they live on an island. I was sent there with my friends to infiltrate and find something important.

[ a beat ]

I can turn into a titan.

[bloodread]

[ A beat and then something that almost sounds like a laugh. ]

Punching me isn't eating me, you know. [ He'll wave a hand to indicate to keep going, if there's more Bertolt has to say. ]

[perspire]

[ he lets out a short huff of breath that could be a laugh too ]

I would rather not eat anybody more. I had to eat someone to get my power in the first place. [ why is aot like this ]

It's... we trained for years, for the chance to be selected for this mission and to get these titans. We left our home in Marley to travel to Paradis Island. When we got to the walls, I transformed into my titan form and kicked a hole into it.

[bloodread]

[ Akira gives Bertolt a look that says it all "why." but he doesn't interrupt. ]

Sounds simpler than blowing it up or anything complicated. What happened after?

[perspire]

Titans swarmed into the hole and well-- what do you think happened then? In the chaos we managed to slip in, forge our records and pass ourselves off as other refugees moving from the outer wall to one of the inner walls.

[ he sees the "why" and just starts to answer ]

We needed to find something Marley needed to get stronger and wipe out the Eldians living there. [ a pause ] I'm an Eldian from Marley. We... were told that Eldians were devils. I wanted to prove that we weren't... and get my dad medicine that he needed.

[bloodread]

You did it for them. [ He unfolds his arms and then sits on the ground before speaking again. ]

Do you have Yakuza where you're from?

[perspire]

I did.

[ he tilts his head ] Yakuza? What's that?

[ joins him on the ground, drawing his knees to his chest ]

[bloodread]

Organized crime families, pretty much. My best friend is the heir to one of the biggest Yakuza families around. He's been blackmailing people since he was ten, burying people since he was thirteen, and scheming since he could talk.

[ Faintly, there's a shadow of a smile here. ]

I associate with "bad people", so what's another one?

[perspire]

[ it takes a moment, but he lets out a genuine laugh ]

I'm glad I met you, Kijima.

[bloodread]

[ He is too much of a tsun to reciprocate, so the momentary glance away will have to be enough. ]

Yeah, yeah. Don't make me punch you again.

[perspire]

[ for once, this icon is accurate ]

I might punch you back this time.

[bloodread]

...you really are a masochist, huh.

[perspire]

... people might really think that about me now, huh?

[bloodread]

[ Rather than snark back immediately, Akira seems to think about this. ]

People go with whatever's loud and in their face, so yeah. [ He forgot who said that during trial but he was distracted. ]

[perspire]

[ lets out a sigh at that ]

Thinking about everything, it makes sense, but... [ just sort of. awkwardly shrugs ]

[bloodread]

But what?

[perspire]

It's not like I enjoy it.

[bloodread]

Getting hurt? [ Just to make sure. ]

[perspire]

Yeah, it's just something I accept as happening.

[bloodread]

[ > Akira will remember that. ]

What do you like?