Labrynthum Inbox

[13thcommander]

Hello, this is Erwin Smith. Please leave me a message, and I'll get back to you.

Comments

[Voice]

[walkinggunshow]

This is Shiranui Kyo speaking. I just wanted to inform you I completed the two mugs you had requested. I had wanted to spend some time on adding more detail toward the fancier mug you had wanted. Should they meet your approval we can continue with what we agreed upon.

[Voice]

[13thcommander]

Hello, Shiranui! Thank you for the update. Can I come by your shop and see what you've done so far?

[Video] sometime after the event

[borntolove]

Hey, just wanted to say, no hard feelings. I know you weren't in your right mind. Dealt with that before. And I do hope you're alright.

[Video]

[13thcommander]

Thank you, Doctor. I'm glad you had the sense to get away.

[A pause.]

They wanted you badly. You, specifically, for all your knowledge and wisdom. If they ever come back, please stay somewhere hidden and safe. Your knowledge in their hands would be... devastating.

action;

[reviling]

[ Shortly after this little interaction. ]

Levi stalks back to their treehouse home immediately in a troubled mood. He finds Erwin at their kitchen table, doing something or other, and without even offering any sort of greeting, blurts out:

"Erwin, we need to talk about this guy Kimbley you're all buddy-buddy with lately."

He's stopped on the other side of the table, arms crossed tightly over his chest as though trying to contain a clearly unsettled energy that's thrumming through him, tightening his shoulders high and tense.

[13thcommander]

Erwin has spent the day peacefully chatting with people on Sleepr and working on getting a stew ready for dinner. The entire treehouse smells like slow-cooking meat and vegetables, and Erwin hasn't done anything goofy or experimental with it; he's only used the ingredients he remembers his mother using when she made stews, or the ones made by the Survey Corps cooks after missions over the wall. He has, perhaps, gone the slightest bit ham with the garlic, but that's because it's so much cheaper and readily available here.

He looks up when he hears Levi come in, and is ready to gently tease him about this 'commander of my heart' business when he sees the look on his face. That shuts down any teasing immediately, as does Levi's declaration.

"All right." Erwin turns off his communicator and sets it aside, giving Levi his full attention. "Have you been talking with him too?"

Obviously Levi has, or he wouldn't be this stirred up, but Erwin is ready to hear what Levi has to say.

audio.

[cacaesthesiac]

Erwin! Who would you say is more doglike? You or Levi?

audio.

[13thcommander]

Neither of us? Levi is more like a cat.

Why are you asking?

action - the day after the Fallout(tm)

[tostand]

[ Jean was right; it was probably a good idea to wait, when her anger isn't so burning mad, and she feels less intense. The anger is still there, a quiet rage inside of her, but it's less likely that she is going to end up getting herself into more trouble, the threat of violence taking a break for the threat of tears to come instead.

Jean is beside her as they approach the commander's door, and Mikasa's face is set in a straight line: she's hiding behind her usual deadpan irritation, tucking it away for later. Hopefully, Erwin doesn't do anything to inspire any more rage inside of her because she's not sure if she would be able to cope with that.

She doesn't look at Jean as she lifts her hand to knock on the door, just in case her attention wavers. She also hopes that Levi doesn't answer: that will be awkward for him more than her. ]

[neighsaying]

[ Jean's glad that asking her to wait a day worked out in curbing some of the anger. He's sure this is still going to be a shit show, of course, he's a realist after all, but maybe it won't end in blood and tears, just blood or tears.

Jean would like to hold her hand or put his hand on her back, but he recognizes the straight line of her back and knows better than to. Instead he has a similar expression on his face, trying for neutral. He's still bad with masking his eyes, though, and there's clearly anger and grief in them.

He folds his arms and waits after she knocks, not saying anything. ]

Gift Delivery!

[neighsaying]

[ The week of 12/24, Erwin will find a nicely wrapped, flat present on his doorstep, along with two more labeled for Levi and Hange.

Inside, there's a cook book that advertises itself as a mix of 'Gnomish' and human recipes. The Gnomish recipes ... might be a joke, seeing as they call for children's laughter and toadstools; the human side seems to be actual, real recipes. Jean has also commissioned a tiny replica of the Wings of Freedom, in pin form, that sits on top of the book.

There's also a sealed, wrapped bag with pain au chocolate inside it, made with dark chocolate; they look to be hand made.

There's also a little handwritten note from Jean. ]

Erwin -

If you figure out how to actually make the toadstool muffins, you'll have to share the recipe with me. Tell Levi happy birthday for me.

- Jean

[13thcommander]

[A few days later, a basket ends up on Jean's doorstep. It contains a dozen muffins, which are an odd shade of dark red and smell very faintly of mushrooms. If anyone is brave enough to eat one, they'll taste decent enough. They're better with plenty of butter and a hot drink.]

[There's a note tucked into the basket, written in the careful printing of Erwin's left hand.]

Jean,

The secret is to use mushrooms in place of eggs.

[That's not ominous in the slightest, Erwin, good job.]

gift delivery

[nohero]

[ On the Solstice, a package appears on Erwin's doorstep. Inside is a handsome chess set with stone-carved pieces, well-made and ready for heavy use.

A note accompanies it, written in Reiner's neat (Eldian) script. (It is the second note of its kind: the first one started with "Commander." He's trying!) ]

Erwin,

You strike me as a man who would enjoy this. If you already have a set, consider this a spare.

- Reiner

[13thcommander]

[A few hours later, Reiner gets a photo sent to him. It's of the chess set, out of its box and set up on a small table. There's a fire crackling behind it, and two chairs on either side of the table.]

I hope you'll indulge me in a game.

[Jesus Christ, Erwin, are you trying to be nice or auditioning for Jigsaw? This is a man who is still figuring out tone in text.]

Gift Delivery

[wintolive]

[On the 25th of December, Erwin will find a package on his doorstep addressed to him. It's long and rectangular; inside is a custom-made sword from the local forge. There is also a package containing fruit, arranged in an aesthetically pleasing manner, and a bag of high quality medium roast coffee.]

Commander Erwin,

I hope this is alright. I got everyone swords for Christmas because I figure they might be useful one day. I won't use mine recklessly - promise. Yours is custom made to fit your measurements. There's fruit and coffee too.

I'm sorry for everything.

Thank you for telling me the truth.

- Eren

[13thcommander]

[The response is prompt--Erwin is up early today.]

Thank you very much, Eren. Will I be seeing you later today for Levi's birthday?

A wise man once told me that the truth, however ugly it might be, is better than beautiful lies. I'm sorry our own truths are the way they are, but I would rather know them than live in ignorance. It takes a strong, brave man to face his destiny with his head held high; it takes an even stronger, braver one to try and change what he doesn't like about his future.

If you need any help in your journey, all you have to do is ask.

--Erwin

Christmas Delivery

[madcuriosity]

[Delivered quite kindly by the mail mice to Erwin is a bag of homemade potpourri and a little handmade Christmas Pixie. Last but not least, there are some Christmas cookies (some are a little misshapen but it's clear they were made with care).

Attached is a card inside is delicate handwriting:]


MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. ERWIN!
I made the cookies myself with some help!
Hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
Again, Merry Christmas!

Love,
Alice Liddell

[13thcommander]

Thank you very much, Alice. I hope you have a lovely holiday season too.

text; sometime after Sleepr goes up

[neighsaying]

Are people starving or lazy? I've had like three people ask me to make them food.

[13thcommander]

[Well well, sounds like someone is having an interesting day.]

A little of both, I'd imagine.

Perhaps they never had time to learn how to cook in their home worlds.

text; sometime afterrrr the event? no pressure, i know you're busy!

[neighsaying]

Hey, that arm of yours: how do you end up maintaining it? Does someone check over it for you or do you do it yourself?

[13thcommander]

When it gets tired and worn down, Dolph heals it for me.

[fromshadows]

[ ooc : open logs will be posted on the 6th and 7th of July, where players can make their own toplevels and tag into others! 🥳 ]

action;

[reviling]

[ Same night as the lantern festival. ]

It's after nightfall when Levi returns to their cottage, the sky dark, but not yet so late in the evening. He'd excused himself from Finnick's company and walked home alone, needing the air and the space, hoping that his thoughts might slow once there was more room for them to spool out and unravel in relative solitude.

In a lot of ways, this is...new territory for him. Sure, when Hange was here, they had all piled together on multiple occasions; the two of them had been romantic, sharing kisses and comforts and dances in the kitchen. But that had all been there already for some time and had only needed a little uncovering. This is - different. Finnick is new to both of them, and maybe that is too much for comfort. Levi doesn't know Erwin to be a jealous man; surely their bond is stronger than that. The things that test it are each other, rather than any outside force...and Levi can't imagine Erwin doing anything that would make him need or want to detach from the man who gave him the sky and wings to fly through it.

The anxious, awful part of his mind can't help wondering if the reverse is true, though.

Attraction is such an alien thing to him, really. That it's happened at all and with someone completely new, and so quickly is both a little exciting and also confusing. The constantly vigilant, suspicious part of him that never fully goes away wonders if this is somehow a trick; Finnick is charming and intelligent and charismatic, as so many manipulators can be. But Levi has also been around enough people who have suffered grief and loss and trauma, and by now he can recognize that real vulnerability well enough to know when it is and isn't performance. Finnick has always felt real to him, to this point.

Until tonight, he hadn't even really realized what these feelings had been.

And now...

"Fuck," he mutters, and pushes open the door. The loafers come off, and Levi toes carefully into his slippers, glancing around to their cozy reading nook for his husband. No point in putting it off, after all.

"...Erwin?" Curious, calm, a touch apprehensive.

[13thcommander]

Erwin had chosen not to go to the lantern festival, excusing himself by saying he has nothing he wants to wish for, he already has everything he needs. Which is true! But there's also the fact that lantern festivals memorialise the dead, and knowing that he'll be one of the remembered dead soon enough was what really kept him away.

It's fine. He's spent a calm, peaceful evening in the cottage, and when Levi returns, Erwin is settled on the couch, a book open in his lap and Burnt Rice snoozing beside him, fluffy white tummy turned towards the ceiling.

"Hello, Levi." He looks up from his book, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiles. "The kettle is full, if you'd like some tea."

action; early september

[sadpoem]

[They've had a splendid poetry lesson. Sunny is doing well. It isn't entirely due to Erwin. Sunny isn't sure that he truly believes "the truth will set you free," but it's done something.

[Sunny is terrible. He did something terrible. But when he told Aubrey, she didn't run away. They're alright. Sometimes, he's even happy. And he can speak a little more strongly now.

[Part of that is due to Erwin, however. His teacher is kind, encouraging, patient, and smart. Sunny thinks the world of him - tells everyone about him that he can. And he's far more comfortable hanging out in his kitchen now that they've been doing it a while. He seems to be in an alright mood, despite his ever subdued demeanor.

[As the lesson is wrapping up and they are enjoying there tea, something occurs to him. He looks up at Mr. Erwin.]

Could...I show you something? [He thinks Erwin may like this.]

[13thcommander]

[In complete honesty, Erwin thinks he may enjoy their poetry lessons more than Sunny does. It's like a mental retreat for him, a chance to imagine himself in a kinder, gentler world, a world where he could have been a teacher and nothing more. A world that didn't need him to mould himself out of steel and determination, a world that needed poets more than warriors. He looks forward to Sunny's visits, and takes the time to choose the poems carefully, levelling up their difficulty as Sunny's speaking improves. He is always gentle and encouraging, but he's also unrelenting in challenging the boy.]

[They haven't gotten to The Jabberwocky yet, but Erwin has grand plans for when Sunny is ready for that beast.]

[They're done with the lesson now, though, and enjoying some tea when Sunny asks him a question. Erwin tilts his head, intrigued. Sunny doesn't usually offer things like this, and it's piqued his interest.]

Yes, of course.

[Burnt Rice strolls into the kitchen and winds herself around Sunny's ankles. Hello, young friend!]

text; un: omnidirectional ~nebulously late october

[neighsaying]

Erwin, hello.

I have a question for you - did you pick out the rings you and Levi wear, or was that something he did? I need help picking out one for Dolph.

[ It's important to mention Dolph. He knows Erwin and Levi are closed to him, so it feels important to let them know this is happening. ]

video;

[13thcommander]

[Wait wait wait, hold on here. Erwin knew Jean and Dolph were close, but buying rings? Wedding rings? What the hell has he missed?]

[No text response, Jean is getting a video.]

What's going on with you and Dolph?

October 14th

[reviling]

Although they passed the year mark in Somnius a couple months ago, perhaps what really drives home the passage of time is that it is Erwin's birthday for the second time in this place. That feels stranger than anything...but he's grateful for it. Perhaps more than anything.

Much has happened lately, and since they seem to thankfully be more or less in a pocket of peace, Levi's decided that some extra pampering is in order; perhaps a nice breakfast and a ride together, a soak in the tub and time curled up on the couch together, reading or napping.

Or whatever Erwin wants to do, really.

He's prepped some things for breakfast, anyway, having been up at his usual before-dawn hours. Perhaps nothing will be able to fully mend his permanently damaged sleeping habits, but he does sleep better and longer lately, pressed close to his husband. He'd carefully slipped away hours ago, but now he slips back, gently moving Burnt Rice out of his spot and sliding back under the covers next to Erwin, where he leaves a soft kiss to the bridge of his nose.

If Erwin starts to wake, he'll greet him with a little: "Hey."

[13thcommander]

It's funny, really, how readily Erwin's wish has been granted. He remembers falling asleep on the night before Shiganshina--really not sleep, more like an anxiety-wraught half doze that deepened into uneasy rest for the last few hours before dawn--and thinking to himself, if only I had more time.... And time, here, has been granted to him. Over a year now, and while he hasn't made a fuss or mention of it, he's very aware of his thirty-eighth birthday approaching.

Thirty-eight. Two years older than he should be, and a year older than his father was when he died. At this rate, he might even make it to forty, and truly be an old man.

Erwin is used to Levi vacating the bed ahead of him, and has taken the opportunity to sprawl out across their shared bed. When he feels the mattress shift, he rolls over, half-asleep, and reaches out for Levi, aiming to pull him in against his chest.

The kiss across the bridge of his nose makes Erwin smile, although his eyes still aren't open yet. "Good morning, Levi. What time is it?"

( video )

[laserhawk]

Do you have a moment?

( video )

[13thcommander]

Of course, Dolph. What can I do for you?

[Action- 12/25 gift delivery]

[waterfawn]

[During 12/25, Erwin will have a package delivered. Inside is a selection of teas and a knit lap blanket with his name embroidered on one of the corners.] Hello Erwin! I wanted to make you something for the season and also reasoned that a nice drink can go along with a blanket. I hope the coming year is good for you and Levi both. - Eilonwy

[backdated to 12/25]

[fragmentaryblue]

[There's little fanfare about this gift. Blue doesn't know exactly where Erwin resides, so she leaves it to the mail-mice to make this delivery. The package is light, rectangular, wrapped in brown paper tied with a string, easily held in one hand. A note has been fastened to the cord, writing in vine-like script across the plain card:]

I hope you'll enjoy these. I've copied them as best as I can remember.
-Iris

[Upon opening the package, he'll find a book-- more like a journal, really. Each page has been hand-written in the same script with poems and verses, none of which are currently found in the village library. Some may bear some resemblance to literature from the most common version of Earth, but others are from entirely different versions of history. On the inside cover, an additional note has been inked: Teachers affect eternity.]