@eferalis || starter call.
   “sorry about earlier, mikasa.”
   they join mikasa on the steps, looking out into the twilight trees beyond. they’ve done about all they can do for now -- looked over moblit’s sketches and notes, written down their own recollections and theories. there isn’t much more to be done until eren wakes and they can run more experiments. but they’ll have to be more careful this time. today, they got a little--
   “i guess i kinda freaked you out, huh? i can get a little, uh, carried away sometimes.” they smile ruefully, ruffling their hair in a consternated way. they went too far today -- squad leader, do you have any human compassion at all? -- and they hardly even realized it until afterward, and yet there are still two warring voices inside of them: one is shamefaced, you have to do better, but the other still thrums with the thrill of discovery, what more could we have learned if we’d gone a little farther--
   they stamp that voice down for now, leaning their arms on their knees and linking their fingers, watching mikasa from the corner of their eyes. their voice is serious. “but i promise, i won’t let eren come to any harm.”Â