[Finnick frowns. Shit, did charity fuck him over once again? He really should learn he can't please everyone...]
No, it's just until he can get on his feet. And I mean, you're staying here too, so I should have made sure you were okay with it... I can gently urge him to figure it out soon, I just...
[His brows are knitting together and he looks a little like a worried mom.]
He's a kid, y'know? I don't want him to have to worry about money and living on his own before he's ready to, especially when that means going into the amplitheater, and we both know what can happen in there...
[Eren and Finnick, it seems, have quite different views on children. When Eren was (what he guesses is) Kel's age, he wouldn't have considered himself a child, and he would have survived just fine on his own, even without a bed or a big brother to take care of him. He did come to the realization at some point that children shouldn't be made to go to war, kill, and fight before they can even understand what they're doing - but, that...really wouldn't be the case here. Eren just doesn't have much empathy for the situation, nor sympathy. Charity isn't really his thing.
[It is Finnick's.]
Like I said, it's your decision. I still have my own place to go if I want to. [His words aren't meant to be hurtful, nor a threat, but he doesn't exactly sound happy (because he doesn't want to leave).
[Finnick and Eren had similar experiences, but took opposite things away from it. Normal for people who've experienced trauma, and Finnick doesn't begrudge him for it.
He looks a little more distraught at Eren mentioning his own place, then tries to even himself at the reassurance that he isn't leaving at this moment.]
Right. Um... Of course, you can spend more time at your place and do your own thing if it's tough to be here. I get that.
[If Eren needs to take a step back from this, he can't blame him, but it does still hurt a little, and worry him. Finnick... Wants to be able to offer his space, or his resources, to people who need it. If he and Eren live together, a compromise between that charitable desire and Eren's needs will be tricky.]
We'll have to... Talk about what this means for the future, if you're wanting to live here with me, I guess. Because I could see myself making this a habit, but I can try to work on it.
I... Like you being here. You don't have to live here if you don't want to, though. I know it's fast- if it works better to keep your own place, that's fine too.
[Life is better with Eren here. They both sleep well, they have a routine (somewhat), the place is clean, he has someone to bake bread for, and they both drink less. But, whether they live together or he just spends a lot of time here, either one is truly fine with Finnick.]
[Eren's quiet for a moment, seeming to consider something. He straightens a bit, and looks at Finnick with a steady gaze.]
Alright, then. I'll put my rent from District 6 toward this place, then. You can use what you were paying here to rent somewhere for your friend until he can pay on his own.
[He doesn't mean for it to sound like a command - just a suggestion, really, but he thinks it's a pretty logical compromise. Finnick said this will happen again in the future, and Eren doubts they will always have this option, but for the time being...]
[Finnick blinks and furrows his brow, processing this for a few moments.]
Oh... Okay.
[Hes not sure what to say, whether to thank Eren or not, since this seems to just... Logically work for everyone involved. Still, it's a lot of money? But money he'd be paying anyway? Unless Kel wasn't here...???
Whatever. He knows Eren doesn't care about being thanked, of all things.]
If you're sure you can afford it, then... That would work great.
[He brightens a little, looking back at Eren's face again.]
[Eren doesn't give much of a shit about money either, honestly. He's never had it before. It's not like he's mad he won't suddenly have a bunch of credits he hasn't had this entire time anyway.
[Eren sighs. There's no malice to it. Finnick brightens, and there's a solution - so, he can live with some kid sleeping on the couch for a few nights while Finnick rents a place.
[Eren lifts his hand and brushes his thumb over Finnick's bottom lip.]
[It feels good to make Finnick smile. Eren had to sit with that for a while the first time he realized. It's a dangerous way to feel. There are things that Eren just can't compromise - they just haven't reared their heads yet, somehow...
[It didn't fall apart tonight, though Eren saw the fear in Finnick's eyes. When will he destroy him?
[He kisses with love he can't express in words; always does.]
[Finnick feels the love in the kiss- it's always there, and it's always in his actions, even if his words and his face don't necessarily show it. For a while, Finnick expected Eren to sort of... Blow up at some point, but it hasn't happened yet. Not even when Finnick brought a strange kid into their house. What he's found instead is a quiet, steady determination that he really likes.
He deepens the kiss for a few moments, then breaks it.]
Let's go to bed. That kid wore me out.
[Hopefully Eren can briefly tolerate him, or avoid him. He doesn't want to see Kel's face messed up. Finnick pulls Eren to bed by the hand.]
[Eren allows Finnick to lead him to the bed. He sits on the edge, idly toying with the device on his wrist. He's not accustomed to taking it off, but the cold weather has made it irritating against his skin. He removes it without quite thinking, setting it on the nightstand nearby.
[Finnick asks something...
[Eren turns to him, brow furrowed in genuine confusion.]
[Eren's expression softens into something between understanding and...vague amusement, even? It's still a subtle shift, but somewhat less so than normal. He figures Finnick is just showing off a new trick.]
[Finnick's expression turns from one of expectant interest to confusion with a slight fall of his smile. Wait, hold on, what did he say? He laughs a little and shakes his head quickly with a blink.]
My... My brain just completely stopped working, say again?
[Finnick realizes that he hasn't misheard; Eren is just speaking complete gibberish. The sounds coming out of him are more guttural and harsh than usual. Is he okay?
He's smiling a little, too, which should make Finnick happy, but instead increases the strangeness of the situation and makes his heartrate pick up just a little with momentary panic. His brow furrows in concern.
Is Eren having a fucking stroke? Is Finnick?]
Are you okay? Why are you talking like that? Are you fucking with me?
[Eren's expression fades very quickly into a frown. Finnick is panicking; it makes Eren nervous too, where he'd felt lighthearted a moment ago. He flexes his hand as he's wont to do, feeling that annoying itch on his wrist again.
[He glances at the device on the night stand and holds up a finger for Finnick to wait, calm. He doesn't want to talk again if it's going to disturb Finnick more.
[Eren slips the device onto his wrist...Has he ever taken it off in front of Finnick before?
[As soon as Finnick speaks again and Eren realizes he can understand, he'll raise his eyebrows and hold out his wrist, tapping the device, then pointing to Finnick.]
[As Eren puts his device back on and taps it, Finnick looks around, forgetting where his is for a moment. Oh, right, in his pocket. He gets up and digs it out, holding it in his hand and looking at Eren again.]
[He relaxes with relief when he can understand Eren again.]
Different languages?
[Panem only has one language. Theoretically, others once existed, but it's never been a day-to-day reality for him in his life, to encounter others who speak so differently. It perturbs him a bit, that he and Eren had such a stark difference between them without even knowing it. More disturbing is that the device changes his perception of even the way Eren's mouth moves and the sounds it makes. He wants to know Eren as he truly is.]
I don't like that- the translating. I want to know how you really speak.
Well- yeah, I know what language is. My world only has one, but I heard there were different ones in the past. I guess it makes sense that people from other worlds would speak differently... But it honestly never occurred to me until now.
[He sits cross-legged, his hand finding Eren's to fidget with.]
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No, it's just until he can get on his feet. And I mean, you're staying here too, so I should have made sure you were okay with it... I can gently urge him to figure it out soon, I just...
[His brows are knitting together and he looks a little like a worried mom.]
He's a kid, y'know? I don't want him to have to worry about money and living on his own before he's ready to, especially when that means going into the amplitheater, and we both know what can happen in there...
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[It is Finnick's.]
Like I said, it's your decision. I still have my own place to go if I want to. [His words aren't meant to be hurtful, nor a threat, but he doesn't exactly sound happy (because he doesn't want to leave).
[There's a pause.]
I don't plan on that now.
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He looks a little more distraught at Eren mentioning his own place, then tries to even himself at the reassurance that he isn't leaving at this moment.]
Right. Um... Of course, you can spend more time at your place and do your own thing if it's tough to be here. I get that.
[If Eren needs to take a step back from this, he can't blame him, but it does still hurt a little, and worry him. Finnick... Wants to be able to offer his space, or his resources, to people who need it. If he and Eren live together, a compromise between that charitable desire and Eren's needs will be tricky.]
We'll have to... Talk about what this means for the future, if you're wanting to live here with me, I guess. Because I could see myself making this a habit, but I can try to work on it.
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Do you want me to live here with you?
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[He looks away and says more quietly:]
Yeah.
I... Like you being here. You don't have to live here if you don't want to, though. I know it's fast- if it works better to keep your own place, that's fine too.
[Life is better with Eren here. They both sleep well, they have a routine (somewhat), the place is clean, he has someone to bake bread for, and they both drink less. But, whether they live together or he just spends a lot of time here, either one is truly fine with Finnick.]
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Alright, then. I'll put my rent from District 6 toward this place, then. You can use what you were paying here to rent somewhere for your friend until he can pay on his own.
[He doesn't mean for it to sound like a command - just a suggestion, really, but he thinks it's a pretty logical compromise. Finnick said this will happen again in the future, and Eren doubts they will always have this option, but for the time being...]
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Oh... Okay.
[Hes not sure what to say, whether to thank Eren or not, since this seems to just... Logically work for everyone involved. Still, it's a lot of money? But money he'd be paying anyway? Unless Kel wasn't here...???
Whatever. He knows Eren doesn't care about being thanked, of all things.]
If you're sure you can afford it, then... That would work great.
[He brightens a little, looking back at Eren's face again.]
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[Eren sighs. There's no malice to it. Finnick brightens, and there's a solution - so, he can live with some kid sleeping on the couch for a few nights while Finnick rents a place.
[Eren lifts his hand and brushes his thumb over Finnick's bottom lip.]
So. It suits you, then. That's what we'll do.
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Okay.
[God, he loves this man. But he hasn't said that part yet, so he just wraps his arm around his neck and kisses him.]
we could dip into the language idea here if u want c: (leaving it open ended in case)
[It didn't fall apart tonight, though Eren saw the fear in Finnick's eyes. When will he destroy him?
[He kisses with love he can't express in words; always does.]
yaaaa
He deepens the kiss for a few moments, then breaks it.]
Let's go to bed. That kid wore me out.
[Hopefully Eren can briefly tolerate him, or avoid him. He doesn't want to see Kel's face messed up. Finnick pulls Eren to bed by the hand.]
What did you do today?
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[Finnick asks something...
[Eren turns to him, brow furrowed in genuine confusion.]
What did you say?
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I said, what did you do today?
[He takes off his shirt and shimmies out of his sweatpants, which have the device in the pocket.]
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I didn't know you spoke another language.
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My... My brain just completely stopped working, say again?
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You can't understand me? [He points to himself, shakes his head. He really has to fight that smile. What's going on?]
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He's smiling a little, too, which should make Finnick happy, but instead increases the strangeness of the situation and makes his heartrate pick up just a little with momentary panic. His brow furrows in concern.
Is Eren having a fucking stroke? Is Finnick?]
Are you okay? Why are you talking like that? Are you fucking with me?
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[He glances at the device on the night stand and holds up a finger for Finnick to wait, calm. He doesn't want to talk again if it's going to disturb Finnick more.
[Eren slips the device onto his wrist...Has he ever taken it off in front of Finnick before?
[As soon as Finnick speaks again and Eren realizes he can understand, he'll raise his eyebrows and hold out his wrist, tapping the device, then pointing to Finnick.]
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[As Eren puts his device back on and taps it, Finnick looks around, forgetting where his is for a moment. Oh, right, in his pocket. He gets up and digs it out, holding it in his hand and looking at Eren again.]
Say something...?
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Different languages?
[Panem only has one language. Theoretically, others once existed, but it's never been a day-to-day reality for him in his life, to encounter others who speak so differently. It perturbs him a bit, that he and Eren had such a stark difference between them without even knowing it. More disturbing is that the device changes his perception of even the way Eren's mouth moves and the sounds it makes. He wants to know Eren as he truly is.]
I don't like that- the translating. I want to know how you really speak.
[But then he won't understand him. Hmm.]
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[Eren hadn't for a long time; there's no judgment in his tone whatsoever.]
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[He sits cross-legged, his hand finding Eren's to fidget with.]
Is that dumb?
cw: fictional racism, genocidal ideology
It's ignorant, but it's not like that's your fault. I was ignorant too, and I hadn't even heard of past languages.
Now I know - I speak Eldian. It's the name of my race, but apparently a lot of places in my world speak it.
[Interesting, since most of the world also advocates for the eradication of the Eldian race.]
bb boy is so dumb
[Right, Eren isn't a regular human, since he can transform into a Titan...]
I don't think mine... Has a name? It's just... What we speak. Would it be human language?
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there are two types of guy in this situation
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; n ; we can probably wrap here
ok! bookend