IC Inbox [Victory Road]

[angewiesen]

Please leave any mail for Jean here, whether of the electronic or physical variety! He'll get back to you ASAP!

Comments

Backdated to after Sasha contacted Armin about *that* subject.

[schachmeister]

Jean! I think I owe you a congratulations.

And you owe me a drink.

[angewiesen]

Okay. What are we celebrating?

[Because Jean honestly had no idea of what Sasha had been up to.]

[schachmeister]

Well, Sasha told me about some recent developments.

[angewiesen]

Ah, got it. Yeah, I was kinda leaving that up to her. I think she's still kinda shocked about it.

Even when, y'know, I've been trying to get her to notice me for like a year now.

[schachmeister]

Well, you know Sasha. Subtle hints don't really work on her. Plus, she still seems to be under the impression that you are only into girls like Mikasa.

[angewiesen]

Yeah, that's the impression she's given me too. She doesn't think she's attractive. I've been trying to prove her wrong, but she seems really stuck on it. I honestly don't know if there's anything I can do to change her mind.

[schachmeister]

Maybe just try complimenting her every day? You two are dating now. And compliments hit different when coming from a partner instead of just a well-meaning friend.

[angewiesen]

Yeah, that's basically what it's come down to. I guess it'll just take time.

[It was still baffling to Jean, who barely needed more than a single word of admiration to boost his ego, but... Well, he'd keep picking away at it.]

[schachmeister]

I'm really happy for the two of you. [A wry smile.] Even if I did have to field some, ah, personal questions from Sasha.

[angewiesen]

Personal questions?

[He's confused-- If they were, uh, y'know, wouldn't Sasha ask another woman? What kind of "personal" info could she get out of Armin? Was she digging for dark secrets or something?]

Should I be worried, or embarrassed?

[schachmeister]

Let me put it this way... do you remember the last time I invited you out on my boat?

[angewiesen]

Holy shit. She asked you that? What are you even going to tell her? Doesn't she know anyone--

[No. The answer is no. Jean actually realizes it himself.]

This is exactly why I haven't even brought it up...

[schachmeister]

I don't believe I am about to advise you on this subject but--

Maybe you should? I'm not saying you need to immediately, uh, go for it. But maybe talking about it will help put her mind at ease? She's really worried about her lack of experience.

[Armin has considered advising Sasha to maybe talk to Angel? But then, uh, would that be too much? Would Angel be down with that? Maybe he should talk to Angel first and then she can approach Sasha if she feels comfortable?

Actually... that might not be such a bad idea.]

[angewiesen]

No, no. If anything, you're probably in the best position to give girlfriend advice. You've got the whole monogamous relationship thing down to a science now. Angel is proof. I can admit that.

[When Jean openly admits that someone is better at something than he is, something VERY SERIOUS is going down.]

How? How the fuck do your broach a subject like that? Just bringing up the fact that your partner is some kind of mega-virgin, casually, without making them feel like a freak? That's not possible. That doesn't happen.

[You should have seen him struggling to just be nice to Sasha when she was sick. It was an endearing attempt, because he was really trying, but he wasn't terribly good at it. It was a muscle he neglected to use all that often. There's no way he could handle something this sensitive delicately.]

[schachmeister]

Well, for starters, you probably shouldn't use words like mega-virgin.

[angewiesen]

See? I didn't even think about that! It just came out!

[schachmeister]

You'll need to start learning to think about these things a little if you want this relationship to work.

It is Sasha, so she does know what you are like, but still, girls can be sensitive about these kinds of things. You need to be a gentleman.

[angewiesen]

I do. I'm trying. But it's like... My nasty shit attitude gets to speak up in my head first, and then I gotta pause and start thinking about all my words and what they'd sound like, and sometimes I still can't figure out the nice thing to do... But yeah. All my first impulses suck. They're terrible.

[schachmeister]

I'm sure they aren't all terrible.

[Well, his... first battle instincts are on point, at least? And while it is true that Jean can be bluntly honest, it's not so bad that he ruins friendships.

Not anymore, at least.]

And at least you recognise all of that about yourself? Having bad first impulses can cause trouble, but not as much as having those same impulses and not even realising you do. You're not the same little brat from our training days anymore.

If you are worried about your impulses getting the better of you while trying to talk to Sasha about this, have you considered writing it out in a letter first? I don't mean you have to give Sasha that letter, but just to get your thoughts in order.

[angewiesen]

Gee, thanks. Little brat? You really manage to sour a compliment...

[Not that he didn't agree, but come on!]

I get what you're trying to say. But you're right about not giving it to her. Actually giving her a letter would be the worst idea ever. Her reading isn't that good. She'd think it was some kind of jab at her.

[schachmeister]

Considering how you used to act, little brat is practically a compliment.

If it was any other subject, I'd suggest practising the conversation with someone else first, but I don't think you are going to want to do that.

[angewiesen]

I try not to think about it. Remembering that makes me cringe. But I think part of the problem is that those memories are still the most recent for Sasha. She still knows more of that Jean than she knows of this Jean. Does that make sense?

And yeah, no. Not happening. I don't think I could even look myself in the mirror and say those things out loud.

[schachmeister]

It's true that Sasha doesn't have the same memories you do, but you shouldn't underestimate the time the two of you've spent here. You've already shown her that you aren't the same boy we remember. We might not have seen you grown into the person you are now, but we've all seen the end result.

[angewiesen]

Most of the time, I'm glad you guys don't remember the things I do. A lot of it is just... You know. [Traumatizing.] But it'd sure make things easier.

[schachmeister]

I know it's not the same as us having been there and knowing exactly what happened, but if there is ever anything you want to talk about, you know we will listen, right? Not that you have to talk if you rather wouldn't but. You don't have to hold back on our account.