[IC] [AoT 1x1] - 'Grim Tales'

[Jeep Wrangler]

The back of the Nape was shattered, for some reason his quick-thinking shift hadn't fully formed the usual Bone-like texture that he called Nape-Armour. It left him open, vulnerable to extraction. If, for whatever reason, the Survey were using her once again to look for the very beast he was, then he'd be left in a deadly position for apprehensive actions. The swords dug deep down into the naked nape, slowly tearing skin and muscle until Grant had felt a prod on his shoulder, there was a searing pain. He was still in a black visual state, not being able to see, only hear what is going on. The beast was dead, she had dug into the vital point of survivability and killed the danger lurking within the world. Grant could feel the Sword, digging into his own Human-shoulder. She wasn't obviously used to cutting other people out of napes, and so his size contradicted her expert knowledge on the Titans themselves. He flinched as sunlight hit his back, his eyes slowly fluttering awake. His shoulder flourished blood out of the Beast's deceased opening and spluttered it all over the attacker...Grant was exposed...Shit...

[RainbowFactory]

I quickly put the swords away, ignoring the blood that was all over my clothes and body, then pulled the man out of the opened nape. "W-what happened? What's wrong with you?!" I burst out, trying my best to keep both of us balanced on our feet. My hands were tightly wrapped around his stomach so he wouldn't fall, but loose enough that he could still move and breathe. While I stumbled around with his partly limp body, I stared at the titan body that was slowly disintegrating into dust. I looked back towards the man and moved us around enough that I could see his face. A face I immediately recognized.
"You..." I said in a low tone having no emotion in my voice.

[Jeep Wrangler]

The visions came slowly, hearing muffles. There was only the sounds as he felt himself being dragged from the enormous carcass, his shoulder still aching as it bled constantly. He could feel his arms and knees regain certain strength as he managed to catch a single sentence in his fading earshot. The words so harsh and brutal that he might as well of been dead. No emotion, no pity. He could feel the sorrow in his fingers after the goodness experience shuffled through his blood and heart. Something was new, and something wasn't right. He felt himself feel pitiful to himself, start to hate himself. He heard her addressing towards himself. Shit...shit...shit shit shit shit shit...what was he doing with himself?

"I-I'm...I-I'm sorry..." He muttered, her head tilting in angered motion as he began to plead slightly. Tears formed within his eyes, making him feel worthless compared to her. "I-I'm sorry...F-for...for not being Nira...for having him d-die...for r-ruining live's over and over...f-for being a b-beast that is constantly w-wanting you dead...I'm sorry! I'm s-so sorry!" He was broken down in tears...the beast had been slain, for now...and now he was just a whimpering man...wanting death to come quickly so he would not regret his own actions.

[RainbowFactory]

A stab of pity came to me again. This man was crying in my arms, but I didn't even understand why. With a sigh I lightly hit him on the forehead with my own, a thing I did to one of my child-hood friends to show peace and agreement, then made a quiet snicker. "Take deep breathes through your mouth then out your nose. Make sure your eyes are closed when you do this," I whisper to him then walk over to my horse that wasn't far from where I was standing. I put the man onto the back side of the horse then put my hood onto his head.
I get in front grabbing the reins then say under my breath, "Is it alright if we go to the walls?" I had this feeling that I knew he wouldn't accept this offer, but I shouldn't be surprised anyway. We could just go the windmill, but still. Something was telling me that we should go to the walls. While I waited for his answer, I could hear loud thumps in the distance. I look towards the direction I hear it from, and notice an abnormal running towards us possibly because it was attracted by the loud noise. "You have thirty seconds to say yes or no, or we're leaving."

[Jeep Wrangler]

Being dragged felt strange as he began to move slowly in the pacing of breathing. In through the mouth, out through the nose. In through the mouth, out through the nose... He began to question why she was suddenly helping him. Was Hope preparing to kill him elsewhere when she had gained for trust, or read she cautionous about the same threatening idea? All these questions quickly buzzed into his mind. Then she began to request a trip to the walls, something he couldn't do. He looked up at her as she rejoiced him of the incoming Foe, somehow able to break through the defenders on the first wall. It might've gotten through the northern or southern walls, seeing as he had no idea how they were coping, minus the blockade made at Yupian.

"N-no! Not...Not the walls...please...they'll....they'll kill me." Grant muttered, something oddly similar to what Nira had said that past half a year or so. It still wasn't explained, everything from your he knew her to his knowledge of Nira, which made a good plan in his mind if why he hasn't perished to the skilled female Titan.

[RainbowFactory]

The time was up, but he managed to answer me right when I finished counting down. In a matter of seconds I whipped my horse's reins and sped off, hoping that we were a little faster than the small titan running behind us. I pulled out a sword in my right hand, my strongest, then waited for the titan to catch up. The titan jumped at us, but I slashed at its eyes making it fall to the side, and put its hands over its face. I made my horse gallop faster before the titan could heal, and successfully made it to the front of the windmill.
I got off of the horse while putting my sword away, then looked at the man that was still on the horse. I realized that the titan managed to get a small bite off of my cape, but was glad that it didn't get him instead. "C'mon, lets get inside,"

[Jeep Wrangler]

As he found himself being dragged back into the little Windmill once again, Grant was placed down onto the floor. He could sense the danger of her wanting to end his life right now...It was clear that Grant would not make this out alive unless he somehow explained everything properly. Who knew, but maybe the lesser anger within his soul was enough to save himself from a permanent seizing of his own life. It was incredible how Human life was based upon killing one another, as well as killing what is needn't to be left alive. He looked up, bruising and sweat pouring from his forehead. His temperature was high still, and his body shook slightly. His head hung low as he muttered deeply, knowing what was coming next.

"I'm...guessing you want answers...t-to who I am...and...why the Grim Titan isn't Nira....."

[RainbowFactory]

I sigh then turn towards him. "Look. Like I've said before, I don't remember much and explaining is least likely going to help. All I remember is that one god damn moment when I shifted inside the walls. Just tell me your name and end it there," I tell him, obviously not wanting any explanations at the moment. I was too terrified and tired that I could barely talk, having to pause every few words. I bet he's surprised that I'm not forcing him to say anything, I thought as I walked up to the man, taking my cape off of him and putting it back on myself. "I still have this feeling that we should go back to the walls, I mutter under my breath. Once I got my cape back on a wiped the sweat off of his forehead with the back of my hand, making a faint smile and snickering every few seconds.

[Jeep Wrangler]

He stuttered, making weird mutters as he moaned. "G-Grant....Grant Trinity...Ex-Western and Eastern Garrison Unit. Worked alongside many people in many great battles...Annella...Nira Kileko...Lance...Ryuu..." He paused, catching a deathly breath for life. He felt a hand wipe across his head gently, removing the disgusting scent of sweat and blood. "Yuri Tynko..." He began to mutter loudly. "The famous soldier...saves lives...fought in the Western Siege, side-by-bloody-side...grew up together...were friends together. He misses me, I know it...I miss him...But he hates my form, my lies and framing of Nira. All my acts that were a result of that one shift you made in the East. It...it killed my wife...my daughter...they took my son away. He looked upset, facing her as his longer hair covered his eyes in a light shade. "I tried to kill you...hunt you down for months. I had you...You...did the fire thing......I never wanted to be the evil beast. I wanted to use my power to plug the hole in Yupian...God...I...I tried to kill you...I killed at least Thirty of my own in panic....I'm...I'm a monster....please...don't take me to the city....there are Military AHSS Gunmen wanting m' head....p-please....don't...." He looked down again, grabbing a near empty bottle from his left, apologising for explaining. He had no idea sure knew Yuri...

[RainbowFactory]

Even though I didn't want him to explain anything, I still carefully listened anyway. When he finished I made a faint smile, then kissed his now clean forehead. "Calm down, you don't need to apologize. You should just rest. I still need to refill my tank, too. Can I at least try to bring you one of the areas inside the walls where they're least likely know you? I rarely go refill my tank alone," I tell him, running my fingers through his messy hair then heard my stomach growl. "Well, I'm starving now that I think about it. Can we please go to the walls at some point?" I ask, giving him a puppy face and widening my chocolate brown eyes. Even though we might get captured in the walls, I always have a back-up plan for certain situations, just not all of them.

[Jeep Wrangler]

There was deep confusion in his mind as the friendly amd calming guesture hit his forehead, but after hearing her questioning and requests for going to the walls, he continued to shake his head. He didn't want to go back. Every Wall was looking for him, and they should've come to Mydleton, but there was a feeling of Yuri holding them back. Instinct had him saddened. He soon shook his head again, muttering for her to go alone if she had to. Grant didn't need to eat....the form made him never hungry....the changes his human form has undergone made him.......Not hungry. He didn't want to go back. They didn't want him to go back.

[RainbowFactory]

I sighed once again then took off my gear, placing it next to the doorway. "I'll just wait for the next Survey Corps mission to search the area again. One of my friends leads a group, and he knows that if I don't come to the walls for a long time he'll automatically bring a cart with supplies," I say while fixing the gear, then walked back to Grant. I didn't get very close, tumbling to the ground and passing out in a matter of seconds from exhaustion, and starvation.

[Jeep Wrangler]

He cautiously listened to her words. Grant wasn't entirely sure of whether to trust her now or not. Though there was that rush of goodness within his rampage, he still had the hunch of killing her for his own safety. She was bound to turn against him, slaughter him into a pile of mush until he was no more than just a bloody corpse and nothing more. It shuddered him slightly, as he perked up to ask another question, reaching for yet another bottle to his left. "S-so...what's it like...b-being...being the Flaming Titan?"

[RainbowFactory]

I paused for a moment, thinking for a minute or two before answering. "Well, the titan teeth didn't help my reputation even before anyone confirmed that I was a shifter, but at least it's easier to chew food... Having the extra ability of fire is helpful at certain times, but I still remember accidentally burning a few things like my horse, and several carts we brought on scouting missions.." I tell him while remembering about that time when I burned my horse Jean on his side, leaving a black lightning-looking mark on him. I opened my mouth to continue talking, but quickly shut it just in case I start rambling on about being the Flaming Titan. With a snort I just pointed to the bottle then asked, "What's that?"

[Jeep Wrangler]

He listened with a thin grin on his face. For some reason, there was a great deal of pride in him getting Hope to admit what she was, and that all that time he spent actually helped him decide who she really was...He looked up, shutting his mouth lightly as she did too. She questioned his beverage, an attempt at small talk. Strange after what had happened half an hour ago...when they were in locked combat...

"T-this...Uhm...Small drink....uhhh...vodka...I believe. The branding states that it is c-called Devil's Pride, something that has stayed with me for a long...long time...It started in the training Camp...where me and...and....and Yuri...drank it together. It...it has a sweet fruity taste...Yuri was extremely in love with it, and you could say it completely challenged his love for Annella...g-geez...seems weird that the two sort of worked it out amazingly...Y-you...ever heard or Yuri...of Annella? Not even me? I...I am quite well known now...uhhh...Grant Trinity...." Grant quietly looked down. It was true. He was known for so much. Nearly topping the 132nd Western Trainee Squad...Surviving the Mission deep into Yupian...for saving thousands upon thousands in the struggle for Klorva...for having leadership in the take-back of Klorva and the last stand at Yahkell...for taking amazing care of everyone in the Eastern region's wall defence...and now...for being a gigantic monster...for killing more than a hundred Scouts without little conciousness...for betraying mankind without any intentions...

[RainbowFactory]

I listened carefully to his explanation--I love drinking so this easily got my attention especially at the vodka part--trying my best not to make twitching motions with one of my eyes from the amount of stuttering that came from him. When he finished I looked back at the bottle pausing for a quick moment of silence then asked, "May I take a sip?" After another moment of silence I quickly added on, "Y-you don't have to give it to me, I just want to try it out of curiosity..." I didn't really want to completely destroy reputation I had with Grant, trying my best to be polite to him and have some small talk, without bringing up anything that might lead to another rampage.

[Jeep Wrangler]

Grant lifted his strained head, looking bleakly at her. Before he could answer, he reached out for the minute crate beside him. He wrapped his large fingers around the top grasp of the glass bottle, lifting the beverage with ease. He would eye the bottle, making sure the Cork was stuck in tightly to avoid spillage. The eyes pried around the labels, the embroilment within the glass. Though it wasn't ice cold, the conditions of the weather and building had kept it somewhat cool. It was strange that he was used to the shivering sensations, so much that it seemed like he had built an immunity against the freezing temperatures. Obviously that wasn't true, but it did always make him wonder...

"T-take this...drink slowly a-and...don't chug it. You get a better taste when it barely flows out in great mass." He rolled it over slowly, then taking a moment to eye it as it rolled to her feet. He looked away awkwardly, trying not to bring up anything that might lead to either one of them out-bursting into anger, destroying his beloved building. A hint of trouble struck his mind. "You've committed a serious offence...rampaging through the Eastern districts...killing more than I have...yet you still are used by the Survey Corps as a tool and allowed to re-enter for food and gas...this world...odd...Captain Ryu told me that before his passing..." He dared mention. Though Ryu was someone who trained with Grant and Yuri, he was a well respected Captain eventually of the Western Survey Corps, later moving to the Eastern like Grant himself. Ryu told Grant about Hope in a secret meeting...which lead to how he knew who she was.

[RainbowFactory]

Hope tried to patiently wait for him to give him the bottle, following every inch of movement Grant made. When he finally rolled the bottle to her feet, she slowly bent down to pick the bottle up, while listening to him carefully. After a pause, he mentioned the rampage that she had through the Eastern districts, making her tighten her grip around the bottle but not change her expression. She couldn't think of a response right away. The rampage through the district was the only thing she could remember without any help, but without hesitation she quietly told Grant, "I occasionally got picked on for hanging out with weaker cadets, or even Aaron, but even becoming a captain of my own survey group didn't help. One of my own members..." Hope trailed off, not remembering who the member was or what they said, but knew that at that time she had enough with everyone, which triggered the shifting.
After a few moments of silence, she pulled the cork out of the bottle with ease and did what Grant told her, trying her best to resist the temptation to chug everything down. Once she drank a quarter of the bottle, she set the bottle down and pressed the roof of her mouth with her tongue, deep in thought.

[Jeep Wrangler]

"June...June 12th, I think. An important day to me. It was my graduation day...my shift day...my day of gaining purpose, only to lose it many years later. I've lived a rough life, as you can guess, with everything. Like the Western Siege. Changed everyone, it did. You must've just been to young to join the training programme when it harmed many lives. For friends...I went into the Siege with 6 Friends, gained at least 8 or 9 more just as the dawn rose. Corporal Yuri, he was then, was our Squad Leader. I was his wingman, Lilith also with us. Lilith was this hyperactive woman, always had a thing for Yuri. Teki, her brother, more serious yet fragile. Lance Corporal Sinatra Oakmont. Very serious man. Older than us, by a good few years, though less able in leadership. Vera, Yuri's laughable sister. Then there was Annella. Annella was this nervous girl...Just a year younger than Yuri. She was both Frail and Strong. We never became friends with her until our training days, and yet she still wasn't one of the most known. She had combat skill, leadership problems, even as a Lance Corporal, and was stunning to look at...even for a married man I could admit that. Yuri had eyes on her for years...years and years. T'was the first sending in that changed it. A few of us, minus Sinatra and Annella were selected for a mission within the Yupian aftermath, top secret shit, y'know? We lost Teki and Vera, several soldiers we barely knew. I suffered short term facial damage, Yuri was traumatised, though promoted to Sergeant...Lilith...in tears. She lost her brother whilst he tried to save Yuri. He...suffered, Yuri did, a bite to his chest and stomach. He still has teeth marks in his body, haunting him...eventually it kicked off only days ter. We fought to defend Klorva, only to lose it and 2/3 of those on it including Sinatra and his new squad. Only within fourteen hours...fucking fourteen. You, Hope, are lucky to have missed it. Then came our Last Stand. 4233 Soldiers of the Western Garrison, 731 freshly trained and 823 transferred from other regions went to defend the city. It took 27 hours for the world to silence...and I kid you not when I say that only 32 Soldiers were left standing. 4201 Fucking military lives pointlessly ended. In front of our eyes. We did it to..protect...to serve...to conquer. The 32 of us became 'Heroes', Yuri. Two members...of our own Squad, Charlotte and Marx survived...they were out friends. You took part in an Operation, I know, to take Klorva back as we recovered...but Fuck...32...30-Fucking-2 soldiers managed to win it and I was one of them. Me...a freak, traitor and monster. I was moved to see my family and serve in the East whilst Yuri took a trainer programme with Marx...he...ended up with Annella eventually...they are still....happy....happy...the death of my own spouse always makes me think...positively...about how Yuri got what he deserved..." Grant sighed, after telling a random story, bottle in hand. He apologised for his monologue.

[RainbowFactory]

Hope listened carefully, even though she was walking around the windmill and looking around, taking a sip from the bottle she was given every few sentences. When Grant finished and apologized, she waved her hand at him to show a simple sign that she likes to listen to stories like this. It was one of the only types of entertainment Hope had, she she might as well go along with it. After a few steps she stopped on her tracks, thinking over Grant saying that there were only thirty-two survivors left. Somebody came to mind, making her quickly ask, "Do you know somebody named Caroline Tsuyoi? She's currently a Garrison member, so you might have heard of her or at least talked to her some point, right?"