Victory Road Inbox

[notvaljean]

Hi, this is Jean... [loud crackling in the background, the sound of sighing] ... and Blitz. We're busy right now and can't answer, so leave a message and we'll get back to you.

Comments

audio;

[schachmeister]

[Being a teenager is tough and hellish and emotional. Why can't they just skip this whole stage?

Armin makes a soft, agreeing sound.]

I understand what you mean. [He's keeping his voice neutral, trying not to let what he knows of the rest of the book colour his words. He really wants Jean to see it all for himself.] I don't trust them much either. Except for Tyrion. He seems pretty unlike the rest of his family.

audio;

[notvaljean]

[It would be easier if they could just go into a cocoon and emerge on the other side fully formed men.]

Yeah, Tyrion is okay. But that's because his dad treats him like shit.

[Because he's shiny? It's unclear if Tyrion is shiny or just oddly colored. Either way, his dad treats him like shit.]

I don't like Catelyn Stark either.

audio;

[schachmeister]

I think she is interesting. The things she does... they aren't always the right things, but I can understand her reasoning.

audio;

[notvaljean]

She's making decisions that are alienating potential allies for her pride. She shouldn't be so bitchy to Jon Snow or Theon Greyjoy. They're not Starks, but that doesn't mean they won't fight FOR the Starks in the future.

audio;

[schachmeister]

Like I said, I don't think she is doing the right thing exactly, but I understand why she made those decisions. It's not Jon's fault, but having to raise your husband's bastard son cannot be easy. He'd be a constant reminder that her husband was unfait--

[Armin's words cut off with a sudden yelp, and there is an odd noise as if something is impacting the gear. And also yowling. Very affronted yowling.]

Ah, hey, Sly. Don't--

audio;

[notvaljean]

Yeah, but it sounds like everyone was fucking around with everyone else back then. Look at the king, I am convinced those kids aren't his, and...

[And what the hell is that?]

Sly?

[That sounds like some familiar affronted yowling.]

Sly, what's the matter?

audio to video;

[schachmeister]

He's-- wait.

[There is some fumbling, more yowling, and Armin muttering things to Sly before their audio conversation switches to a video one on Armin's end.

First thing Jean might notice is that since him going to Goldenrod, Armin seems to have gotten a haircut, now barely brushing his ears and leaving his neck exposed. The second thing he might notice is that Sly got himself up all over Armin's lap and was apparently trying to grab the gear from him.]

He keeps trying to steal my gear for some reason. I don't know what got into him. He was napping with Circinus only just now.

video;

[notvaljean]

[Jean waits, listenting to Sly yowl and feeling vaguely guilty. He has an idea what this might all be about, but he honestly only thought he'd be gone for a day or two! And even when it became clear that he was staying for awhile, he thought Sly would be happier on the islands. Shiro is there, who Sly loves, and Circinus, and all Sly's stuff. All he'd have over here is Blitz and Gulliver and a bunch of trash Meowths to bully.]

Sly, c'mon, stop trying to...

[Wait a minute, hold the phone here!]

What happened to your hair?

video;

[schachmeister]

Oh, uh.

[Armin stops trying to deflect Sly for a moment to reach up and touch his hair, brushing it away from his ear slightly self-consciously. He's been adjusting to this new cut, and it certainly is a lot cooler and easier in some ways, but ah, would Jean think it looks stupid?]

Shiro and I went to get our hair cut. There was a little incident and mine ended up a lot shorter than intended.

video;

[notvaljean]

[With Small Yellow no longer fending him off, Sly grabs the communicator with both paw-hands and brings it forward for a brief, vicious headbutt. Then he pointedly drops it and curls up in Armin's lap with his back facing Jean. Harrumph! HARRUMPH, HE SAYS!]

It looks good.

[It does, too, and makes Jean suddenly question his own, recent decision to grow his own out. It's been getting longer and he's been putting off getting it cut, but now he's second-guessing himself.]

It makes you look older.

video;

[schachmeister]

[Armin scrambles to scoop up his gear again after Sly drops it, but he does hear those compliments.]

Really?

[There is a bit of a pleased flush on his face. He knows he looks like a kid, so something that makes him look a bit more mature and older is always okay in his book.]

It took some getting used to but it is really nice and cool like this. And it doesn't get in my eyes as much.

video;

[notvaljean]

I"m honestly surprised you kept it long for as long as you did.

[Like, didn't it get caught in his gear and stuff? And isn't it a bitch to detangle when he gets out of the ocean?]

But yeah, it looks good. Whatever incident happened ended up in your favor.

video;

[schachmeister]

I guess it's just what I got used to. I've always had my hair like this.

[And he never really thought about it enough to change it. Which is why he always just requested Mikasa to cut it a bit shorter rather than make any changes.]

I was Shiro's fault, really, but maybe I should thank him instead.

video;

[notvaljean]

Do I even want to hear how it was Shiro's fault?

[Yes. Yes, he does.]

I've been thinking about growing mine out.

[As evidenced by how it's already shaggy and starting to get in his eyes.]

video;

[schachmeister]

The reason the hairdresser was so distracted is because she was very busy trying to flirt with Shiro.

[A sigh and a shake of the head.]

He didn't notice at all. He was genuinely surprised when I told him. He's as bad as Eren.

[Seriously, Jean. Armin is still boggled. It had been so thick and over the top and she had laughed at one of his puns that Armin had slowly been dying of second-hand embarrassment for the girl. And Shiro hadn't realised a single thing.

The other comment makes him look a bit surprised though, his hand absently falling to Sly's back to stroke the meowth.]

Really? You always seemed to like it short. What made you change your mind?

video;

[notvaljean]

Pffft... why am I not surprised?

[Yeah, that sounds about right. Poor hairdresser girl, completely barking up the wrong tree.]

Because I can, I guess? I don't have to worry about getting it caught in gear wires or grabbed by a titan or anything, so why not?

video;

[schachmeister]

She was about as subtle as Hannah used to be.

[Maybe it is time, but in some ways, it is starting to hurt less talking about the people they trained with that didn't survive Trost.]

That's fair. Besides, if it doesn't work out, you can always trim it again. That's the advantage of growing out your hair.

[As he strokes Sly's back, the Meowth pushes into it with, quite frankly, over the top purring, rubbing his face against Armin's shirt with a performance worthy of the poke-Oscars.]

video;

[notvaljean]

And let me guess, Shiro was just as clueless as Franz was at first?

[It's weird, but somehow the memories don't sting as much anymore. It's kind of weirdly nice, remembering their friends like this.]

That's what I figured. A lot of the guys at work have longer hair and... really, Sly?

[Are you trying to make Jean feel guilty? Because it's working, you filthy trash cat.]

I only thought I was going to be gone for a couple days, you drama queen.

video;

[schachmeister]

[Oh, is it working? Let Sly do more of it.

After rubbing his head showily against Armin's shirt, he rolls and sprawls out on his lap, showing off his delightful, soft belly. Don't you just wish you could stroke this belly, Jean? Because you can't. Because you left.]

Sly, that is a little over the top...

[Though Armin does understand the feeling of being abandoned.]

He usually isn't this bad. He behaves like normal for the most part.

video;

[notvaljean]

So I guess this means you miss me, Sly?

[Because Sly sure as shit doesn't care this much when Jean is actually around.]

Do you want Armin to put your ball in the PC and send you to Goldenrod? I can pick you up tomorrow if you want.

video;

[schachmeister]

[Oh, now Jean wants to take him along? Hah! You've missed your chance, sir. You have missed your chance. Sly is just fine here. And he is certainly not missing anyone. Not at all. You presume, sir. You presume

With a small huff, Sly turns his face away, bringing one paw up to his face to primly start cleaning it.]

Do you want me to send him on anyway? I'm certain he'll behave better once he's with you.

video;

[notvaljean]

No, it's fine. I mean, he's clearly doing okay there on his own. He doesn't need me around anymore.

[Good thing Sly has his face covered, because Jean is nodding pointedly at Armin. Yes, please, send him his embarrassing trash cat. Maybe he can play with Mabel's Meowth and hunt Rattatas in the dump.]

video;

[schachmeister]

[Armin catches on after a moment, and it is good Sly isn't looking at him because his face would've given him away immediately. He nods and mouths a 'tomorrow' at him.]

Cats don't need anyone, Jean. You know that.