bravenewworld | video;

[the warp band video is as grainy and black and white as always. When it comes on, it's pointed toward the kitchen table. Laid out on the table are feathers. Three of them are about three feet long, and another four are between a foot and six inches. Even without color, it's possible to tell that these aren't just any ordinary feathers. These feathers seem to be made of gleaming metal, the individual barbs at the base coalescing into solid steel just a few inches higher.

Then, Eren speaks]

Hey. I'm finally done molting, so I have a new crop of feathers to sell or trade. Molting sucks. But at least I can make some money off of it. I used two of them to make new swords for myself, and then payment for the blacksmith, and then a few weren't really high enough quality to be used…

uh. Oh! If you don't know, Skarmory feathers make some of the best swords ever. They're light and just flexible enough to not break, and they hold an edge like no one's business. [Eren turns the warp band to himself, and he draws one of his swords. It only vaguely resembles the feathers on the table] You just have to take them to one of the blacksmiths in town and you can get whatever kind of hilt you want on it. The smaller feathers make good knives and stuff.

Anyway, prices are negotiable, but don't expect to get these cheap. They're worth a lot more than you'd think, but I'd figure I'd try and sell them over the warp bands first. I know there's lots of Guards and Rangers and [he makes a small gagging noise] Swords check the warp network a lot. [pause] Even if you don't need a blade, they make good gifts.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[.....

Bertholdt hasn't talked to Eren in a while but things seemed to have blown over. The taller boy doesn't forgive him but considering they will be on the same team soon.. it's best to keep his enemy's close..... for now.] I hope the molting process fares you better next time..

Ah.. Bertholdt. [yeah. Long time no talk. He's seen the other shifter around, just because they both do wall duty and stuff, but... he hasn't talked to him since that incident.

And now Levi had gone missing, not here to mediate]

Ha. It probably won't. It sucked last year, it sucked this year, and it'll probably always suck. But at least it's only a few weeks a year.

Keep clean.... [He's not sure what his tone is doing, having mixed feelings on the other. Mentioning the past doesn't seem like a good idea, Bertholdt's not the most sociable person but he knows little things about conversation with humans. No mention of their past interactions and no mention of the growing Pupitar nesting in his basement.]

Shallow baths daily can cut itching..

Yeah, I figured that out pretty fast. I was in the bathtub for an hour or two every day after work.

Your skin might turn extremely sensitive as you take a more Pokemon-like forum, I'd consider your molting periods experience for what is to come.. [Bertholdt's looking rather shaggier himself too, having evolved recently. He's seen the effects...]

E-eh?! [Eren's eyes go wide] I don't want to look more like a Pokémon! Aren't these damn feet enough?!

Considering I've-- [Maybe that isn't the best for Eren to know.] ...I've seen changes in other shifters as they evolve and grow.. even those without different evolutions seems to change over time..

You've gotta be kidding me... [he drags his hand down his face] Unbelievable.

[Bertholdt just.. looks away from the band. Almost feeling bad for breaking the news but, honestly, shouldn't the other have known that by now? Eren isn't even human and yet--] No, I'm sorry...

Ingest more calcium, dieting could always help. [At this point, Bertl doesn't really care.. sorry, Eren. u dum.]

[Eren is also a dumbass. He considers himself much more human than Pokémon] What's the point of this damn power if my other form is just going to keep creeping up on me? Ugh.

Why?

.... [He should honestly just shut his mouth, nothing will come of arguing.] Human beings are weak a-and... I'm not sure your reasons of wishing to stay as one...

[He'll regret that comment.]

[Eren looks like he's about to go off on Bertholdt again. But he actually doesn't. He pauses, looking aside and biting on his lip. Then back to the camera with determined look]

You're wrong. Humans aren't weak. They ruled this world for hundreds and hundreds of years, and they didn't lose that because of weakness! It was because they lost compassion... Humans are... just as strong as Pokémon. I was born a human. It's what I was most of my life. It's... normal. Maybe you were born a Pokémon, so that's what's normal for you. [he snarls a little] But don't tell me humans are weak!

.... [Not shockingly at all, that ended badly.

Bertholdt's not a fighter, Eren. He's not going to argue with you, Pokemon are the most dearest subject to him and yet Bertholdt isn't going to fight blindly with someone that clearly will never change.] I'm sorry.

[You can tell how little he actually cared, that sorry felt more like he was apologizing that Eren was wrong more so then genuine regret.] I don't feel this is the subject for you and I to discus.

[Humans and Pokemon alike both lived and prospered together on this earth for years, all thanks to the bond humans had together with Pokemon -- not the other way around. Power, it's something humans will always crave. They sought to control the only creatures to give them sympathy for being to weak to strive and prosper on their own. That is something anyone should find unforgivable.

As for Bertholdt, he wasn't born a Pokemon, but much like all humans.. he needed them to survive. When other humans cast him aside -- Pokemon aid him. He'll never understand the other boy and it seems his opinion of Eren will always be shrouded in a blatantly feeling of superiority which is..... a new feeling for Bertl.] I'm ending our call now Eren.. goodbye.

[Eren expression changes from sheer determination to something softer. A bit... confused, perhaps. He's not used to people backing down on him so quickly] I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree then, huh?

[Eren doesn't feel the same superiority that Bertholdt does. Eren seems... well, confused. Here he is trying to be this guy's friend and he's just blowing him off. But that's fine. Eren isn't all that good at making friends, so he's not particularly surprised.] Yeah. Alright. See you around.