[ The day before, Dolph will receive a text message reminder and a note about where Jean's cottage is, and a suggested time of arrival. Hilariously, it's right next to Erwin, Levi and Hange's; it was intentional on their part.
Eren and Mikasa are not here, Jean having shooed them out for their own dinner date so Dolph wouldn't have to worry about others. Jean is making use of the abundance of supplies here; he's making a recipe he swears he remembers his mother making that he found in a cookbook, although hers lacked the dairy elements due to scarcity.
It's tartiflette savoyarde, which despite the fancy name is potatoes layered with bacon and onions, then covered in garlic, cream and reblochon cheese. Jean's had to substitute the cheese that's here for that last one, but he's pretty sure it's going to taste amazing regardless. He's made a salad to go along with it and nabbed a white wine so that it's not all heavy food that he's serving Dolph.
It just means the aroma emanating from the house is likely positively decadent, when he opens the door after Dolph knocks, a little flushed from the heat of cooking but looking pleased. ]
this is . . . a lot. at least a lot more than he's ever had. sometimes alex and dolph would scrounge things up, pretend they're having a fancy meal. make a joke out of it. his breath stutters. ]
[ Okay he can't... quite say that with a straight face. ]
Food's one of the things I'm actually good at. I can't exactly offer to teach you how to kill monsters, and I get the feeling you're already set on that front. It's, you know - nice, to care for people like this.
[ It's what he does for his partners - who are actually his partners now. ]
[ dolph blinks, a bit perplexed. in his view, jean has been incredible nice. nicer than anyone dolph's ever met. and he hasn't asked anything from dolph. it's overwhelming and uncertain and he's not sure what he should be doing, what he should be giving back.
he swallows, his throat dry. it's nice to care. he wanted to care. he wanted to be nice. his eye contact breaks for a moment. ]
There isn't much to say. I don't remember a lot of it. Not my parents, not my life. Nothing before the military. Just . . . hazy parts. Living on the street. Drugs. That kind of stuff.
[ He frowns a little bit. Drugs aren't exactly a forbidden substance back home. They're just something you can abuse too much off, like alcohol, so he's not judging Dolph for them. ]
Do you think it was the drugs that make it hard to remember, or - did the military do something that made you repress it or forget?
I had - [ He corrects ] - have a friend who... did that for a while.
You've done enough. And I haven't — [ he hasn't given anything back. jean hasn't asked for anything. dolph is at a loss, really. no one just gives him anything. ]
[ He gives Dolph another grin before he insists he should have some of the food, a little of everything at least. It's as delicious as it smells, and he'll absolutely insist Dolph take some of it home. ]
[ dolph eats politely, doing his best to give compliments, though they're sparse and not very verbose. he lacks the vocabulary for them. once he's eaten his fill, he will take the remainders at jean's insistence.
action; backdated to dec 29th! sorry this is late
Eren and Mikasa are not here, Jean having shooed them out for their own dinner date so Dolph wouldn't have to worry about others. Jean is making use of the abundance of supplies here; he's making a recipe he swears he remembers his mother making that he found in a cookbook, although hers lacked the dairy elements due to scarcity.
It's tartiflette savoyarde, which despite the fancy name is potatoes layered with bacon and onions, then covered in garlic, cream and reblochon cheese. Jean's had to substitute the cheese that's here for that last one, but he's pretty sure it's going to taste amazing regardless. He's made a salad to go along with it and nabbed a white wine so that it's not all heavy food that he's serving Dolph.
It just means the aroma emanating from the house is likely positively decadent, when he opens the door after Dolph knocks, a little flushed from the heat of cooking but looking pleased. ]
Happy birthday! Come on in.
no worries!
this is . . . a lot. at least a lot more than he's ever had. sometimes alex and dolph would scrounge things up, pretend they're having a fancy meal. make a joke out of it. his breath stutters. ]
This is all for me?
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I did promise a nice dinner, didn't I? There'll definitely be leftovers, you can take them home.
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[ softer. ]
This is really nice.
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[ Okay he can't... quite say that with a straight face. ]
Food's one of the things I'm actually good at. I can't exactly offer to teach you how to kill monsters, and I get the feeling you're already set on that front. It's, you know - nice, to care for people like this.
[ It's what he does for his partners - who are actually his partners now. ]
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he swallows, his throat dry. it's nice to care. he wanted to care. he wanted to be nice. his eye contact breaks for a moment. ]
You are nice.
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[ He gives Dolph a little grin. ]
When I was younger - I was that 'tell it like it is' kind of kid, so I wasn't known as being very nice.
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I don't know about that. I didn't really have a . . . childhood.
But it's who you are now that counts. That's all I care about.
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Do you want to talk about it? I mean - I joined the military at twelve, but I know people who joined a lot younger than that.
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There isn't much to say. I don't remember a lot of it. Not my parents, not my life. Nothing before the military. Just . . . hazy parts. Living on the street. Drugs. That kind of stuff.
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Do you think it was the drugs that make it hard to remember, or - did the military do something that made you repress it or forget?
I had - [ He corrects ] - have a friend who... did that for a while.
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It's possible. They . . . put a lot of work in me. And Eden lies to protect their interests.
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It's who you are now that counts. That's what I care about. And I wanted you to have a good birthday, instead of an okay or bad one.
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This . . . is the first time I've ever celebrated it.
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[ He laughs softly. ]
You'll just have to enjoy the meal to the fullest then.
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It's a gift - not a transaction. I promise I'm not gonna lord it over you later.
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Is there nothing you want?
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[ He shrugs, giving him a small smile. ]
Don't think about what I want. Instead... if there's ever something you look at and go, 'I want to give that to Jean', feel free to.
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You really want to be my friend? I have a shit track record with those.
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[ What's that, the echo of Erwin is abounding? ]
And I'm feeling lucky, I guess.
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Let's hope it holds out. I'll trust your luck over mine.
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[ He gives Dolph another grin before he insists he should have some of the food, a little of everything at least. It's as delicious as it smells, and he'll absolutely insist Dolph take some of it home. ]
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he pauses. ]
That was lovely.
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Jean smiles again, the corners of his eyes crinkling. ]
I do my best. If you want to learn an easy food pairing, white wines work with heavy food like that - it cuts through the richness of the dairy.
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me crying i'm sorry dolph he's just stupid and new to poly
im crying
holds jean in my hands this shingeki is so stupid
bless,,,
at least he achieved it in the other thread
he did, I'm proud!!