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levis-coffeecup · 3 years ago

Text

chapter 5| Olive Cloaks and Helpless Eyes

WC-6.5 k

Content/Warnings

canon- compliant, canon-typical violence, descriptions of PTSD, grief, depression, heavy angst and themes, strong language, self-hate, death of minor characters.

Author's Note

Song for this chapter is je te laisserai des mots by Patrick Watson. I definitely recommend listening to it, for a better experience.

This story has been cross-posted on both Wattpad and AO3, feel free to check it out on those platforms, if you are more comfortable with them.

Chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Masterlist | Playlist | Other Works

AUG 845

Levi leans back onto the door of Mae's house, as he sits on the steps waiting for her to return.

A fight brews in front of him. A scrawny man gets caught red-handed, trying to steal bread from the vendor, who sits with baskets of bread on the floor.

The passersby don't even bat an eye, as punches are thrown around. And the homeless men, lined on the street, peek through the blanket they sit huddled in. Watching how things unfold.

Earlier fights like these would only happen in the evacuation centers, but these days they happens on the streets as well.

The scrawny man is thrown to the ground with a jab to his stomach. He is weak and Levi can see his spine popping through the shirt as he tries to get up. His lanky arms shake in rage as he fists some soil in his hands. He lifts his rand up and throws it on the vendor's face.

It's a lousy technique quite really, but also effective if you're lucky.

The vendor staggers back, as the soil prickles in his eyes.

In an instant the homeless men spring to their feet. Gathering around the vendor, grabbing as much bread as possible. And he can only scream, as people rob him of his only hope of earning some money.

People stop, as they see the vendor stumbling around helpless and anguished, rubbing his watery eyes that burn in pain.

They swallow thickly, should they help him? Or steal a piece for themselves? Because god knows they need it.

Wall Rose is on the brink of destruction. The land has been milked dry, the wastelands are barren and infertile, hardly producing much crop for consumption.

People are starving on the streets, begging for a morsel of food. The price of which has increased so much that it has become unaffordable to the middle class as well. The taxes are skyrocketing and earning even a single penny has become equivalent to finding a drop of water in a dried up well.

And since the Operation to reclaim Wall Maria has come out, the chaos has only tripled in number.

The economy is at an all-time low, and people know that sending the evacuees outside will only make their lives easier. But most families have someone or another, who once resided in Wall Maria. An Uncle, a friend, a sibling or just a friend, who they learned in school with.

And no matter what the benefits entail, they are still losing their loved ones. And how can they openly agree to lead their loved ones to their own death?

So they riot and cry, banging their fists against the doors of the civilian court. They plead against this unfair system, desperate to somehow get their relatives out of that horrid operation.

The Royal Government listens to them. They set a fee, a price to get a person out of those evacuation centers. A price to let them live as a regular citizen.

But Levi know it's all a pretense, just some shitty policy, to give people hope, but only until they break down and realize that it's all fucking impossible.

It's just like the surface citizenship fee in the underground, so high that you won't be able to make up for it even if you worked your entire life.

He sighs quietly, as he looks ahead. It's hell everywhere. Sometimes he wonders if it's even better than the Underground. Sure the sky looks bright and pretty. But in the end it's all the same. The same bullshit again and again.

The crowd in front of him gets bigger, as people push and pull, yank each other's hair. Fighting for the resolution that has settled in their mind.

Far towards the end of the street, he catches her silhouette.

Her strides are small and heavy, and her shoulders have drooped forward like that of a wilted flower. Hands push her around as she walks through the fighting crowd, but yet her head hangs low, unable to take its gaze off the ground.

Time flows slower and every step of hers only increases the worry that hangs in Levi's heart. "Mae."

"I'm not in the mood today," her voice is wobbly and low, almost lost amidst all the commotion happening right in front of her house. She fiddles with her keys, not even sparing him a glance. The sound of a small "click", fills the air and the door opens.

It has been like this for 2 weeks now. Him finding her door locked and waiting on her porch. And her telling him that she's not in the mood to teach him.

"Mae-" before he can complete, the door shuts close in his face.

Mae stumbles inside the house, hands heavy with the bags she is holding, and eyes burning with unshed tears. A few steps more forward and she flops to the floor.

The bags fall, its contents spilling outside along with the tears trapped in her eyes.

Her ankles are still sore from all the walking, and her mind body craves the rest it has been ridden of for so long.

She's been doing this for days now. Knocking door to door, asking for any job. Cleaning the bathrooms, being a maid, she'll do anything. As long as it pays, any job is fine.

The clinic isn't doing well. People come injured and weak from all the brawls they have been fighting. But they hardly have any money for food, how will they have some for treatments ?

It's so bad that even her own expenses are coming out of her savings.

Ailments are only increasing as food becomes scarce. And people are suffering physically, economically and even mentally. The least she can do is not let them die just because their pockets don't have enough cash.

So she treats the patients that come to her either ways. Some days if she's lucky she gets a few dimes, some days an apple, and sometimes it's just a heartfelt smile.

But smiles aren't going to help her get enough money to get her parents out of that dreaded mission.

Knocks reverberate, and her head turns back towards the door. Whoever it is will have to come another day, she doesn't want to see anyone right now. She doesn't want anyone to see her breaking down like this.

But the knocks continue to echo through the door. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and they still stay persistent.

Her patience wears thin, and she gets up and lumbers towards the door. Hoping that its someone important, who has been knocking for so long.

Standing on her toes, she glances through the peephole.

It's Levi. She sighs as she wipes the tears off her face. She doesn't want him to see her like this.

A shaky hand extends forward, twisting the knob and the door swings open.

Levi can see how miserable Mae is by her disheveled appearance, and yet she flashes him a tight-lipped smile, despite the red in her eyes

"Stop acting, you're not fooling anyone," He says, words cutting like a chiseled knife. Sharp, swift and deep. And Mae can feel the heaviness growing in her throat.

That's the fucking problem, isn't it? She's always failing, failing at being a doctor, failing at saving her parents and even failing at putting on a pretense.

Her lips tremble as she swivels her head. He can see the wobble in her step as she walks back towards the heap of dresses in the center. They are splayed all over the floor, spilling out of the bags. And she sits beside it, an even bigger mess than all that's around her.

Her hands reach out, as she starts folding the garments on the floor.

He kneels down beside her, helping her wind up all the mess. Her gaze is still down, fixated on the clothes she is folding, but he doesn't miss the tears on her cheeks. They roll smoothly, in silence.

The air is thick, laced with fragility, and Levi tries his best to figure out what's happening.

His fingers rove over the dress in his hand. It is soft and brighter than the faded clothes she wears every day.

"You were selling these." He says. His gaze is soft, and she completely misses the worry that flocks in his eyes.

"It's all I have," she murmurs, her voice hoarse and feeble.

At the end of the day, she is just one in a hundred others, trying to save her loved ones. How could she be naive enough to think that she'd actually collect that ridiculous amount of money

Her eyes glance away, looking for any sort of distraction. They land on the cream-colored fabric tossed aside to her far left.

She reaches towards it and hovers it up in the air. Levi watches its flowy netted cloth sway in momentum, and the white silk that shines underneath it.

A crisscrossed lace covers the center of the bodice, forming a knotted bow in the center of the waistline. And floral embellishments decorated the zigzagged hem of the skirt.

"It's pretty isn't it." Mae almost smiles as she thinks back to how pretty she feels in that dress, it accentuates her features perfectly. Levi decides he likes it too. It's dainty, beautiful in a delicate way.

Her mind wanders to the days her dad would come home very late. Working extra shifts just so that he could make her this beautiful dress.

"I got it for my 18th birthday." She presses the dress to her chest, a little closer to her heart. A whimper escapes her throat, and her shoulders shake as the dress falls to the floor.

She knows it's all useless, who would care about dresses when food itself is scarce?

But how can she give up on her parents, who have done everything just to make her happy? Who have loved her unconditionally and have always wished for her best?

How can she stand still and not do anything when even they know that a few months from now they are going to have the most brutal death she can ever imagine?

"Le-vi," her voice cracks "I can't save them... I can't...save them." Her palms press into her eyes as buries her tears in them.

Levi doesn't know what to say, he never knows what to say. He's too brash for his own good. Even at times when he wants to be comforted, he can only focus on the bitter truths of this unfair world.

Silence hovers over, and her sobs echo off the walls, piercing his ears and he can only look at her helplessly.

"I'll get you some tea?" He believes it's the only thing he can do. His blunt words bring no solace, and no one wants to be with someone who can shatter their delusions in seconds.

She doesn't say anything, nor does she look at him. But Levi walks away on his own, searching for an escape from the emotions that sheath the atmosphere like a deathly fog.

The kitchen is bleak, almost drowning in darkness. The curtains are closed, stopping the sunset rays from painting the room orange. The candle on the counter flickers dimly, and the shelves that were once stocked with fresh fruits are almost empty, with just some bread and vegetables in them.

As the months have passed, the economy has only dropped lower. Resources are slacking and at this point, having anything other than bread is a luxury.

For once in his life, Levi feels lucky.

He doesn't earn much, but most of his living expenses are covered by the Survey Corps budget.

This is one of the rare times in his life where his meals aren't compromised, and he has a bed to sleep on, despite the tumultuous situation. And it's been so long since he has felt such safety and stability.

Grabbing the cold metal handle, he opens the shelf. The packet of tea that he kept here a month ago is right in front of him.

His eyes travel across the shelf boards, searching for milk or any other condiments. But they are barren, empty and colorless.

His fingers slide down his pocket, to find some cash in it. Sugar is missing and she likes her tea sweet.

Stepping out of the kitchen, Levi finds Mae curled up on the couch. Piles of clothes are still scattered on the floor, some folded and some messily cluttered.

He walks towards her, and stares at her sleeping figure. Faded tear trails are smeared across her cheeks. Her hair is rumpled, strewn across the couch, in messy waves. Her nose is still red and eyelids, closed.

He doesn't know what he would do if his family was headed to their death, and he couldn't do anything about it. But he sure knows that no words could pacify him in a situation like that.

His hand finds its way to her head, patting it gently. A soft sigh escapes his lips. Maybe if the money is enough he'll also buy some fruit bread. That's the closest thing he can find to pastries at the moment.

━━━━━━━━━━━━

OCT 846

The weather is getting cold, the windows are wide open. And the hot tea cupped in Levi's palms is the only thing keeping him warm.

The candlelight flickers dimly in the jarring cold, and he stares at Mae's hunched form. She sits in front of him, reading the article he just finished writing moments earlier.

Dark bags weigh heavy under her eyes, and her shoulders are drooping down. He can see the trail of goosebumps that run up her arm. She doesn't care to wear a sweater in the cold wind. She doesn't care to make her hair anymore. And she has been like this for so long, that Levi doubts if she'll ever get out of the pit she's fallen into.

She takes his classes more often as well. 2 hours every night. And Levi knows it's all just a pretense. A futile attempt to distract herself.

It has become a routine by now. Mae gives him a topic, he writes while she brews some tea in the meantime.

They take a break. He drinks his tea, and she points out his mistakes.

And then she reads out to him. The Musings of a Murderer.

It's an interesting story, about a killer who leaves clues about his next victim, in all his previous murderers. And also the most relaxing part of Levi's day. He drifts into the story, curious to know what comes next.

Sometimes, she flips the table and asks him to read it out instead.

But he doesn't dare to do it all by himself. So many words are jammed into one single page, and their font is so small. Levi is intimidated just by the sight of it. And he doesn't want to attempt to read out loud and make a fool of himself.

His gaze shift to Mae, watching her eyes rove over the same line again and again. She's taking way too long to read a small paragraph, merely a 100 words long.

She needs a break, and Levi doesn't understand why she's pushing so hard when she's at her limit.

"I'm a captain now." He breaks the silence. It's not like she needs to know any of his business, but the atmosphere is heavy. And he is tired of seeing her exhausting herself relentlessly.

Her gaze shifts from the notebook in her hand, to him in surprise. Reading and writing is vital and even though Levi is working on it. He isn't proficient at either of them. And yet he's made a captain, to guide people at the upcoming mission.

Then he must be good at what he does.

Mae leans back on the couch as her gaze flits down.

A little voice at the back of her head says that maybe he can save her parents. She's teaching him for free. He would return the favor, won't he?

She can show him their faces, and he can get them back inside the walls in one piece. It's just two people, isn't it? It's not like she's asking him to save all her friends and her relatives and everyone she has ever known.

"Levi," she calls out. Her eyes meet his and she stares at him.

For some reason he always looks tired. The dark patches under his eyes never lighten. Nor does the permanent frown on his face ever fade away.

And for someone reason seeing him, remind her of the despondent daughter and her wounded father whom she failed to save. And the feeling of guilt that came along with it.

So many nights have passed since then, spent crying about how much of a disaster she is. And then her mind reminded her of the life she took, and every time she fell into an endless pit.

The burden of a life is gloomy and sluggish, not running in her mind constantly, but it finds her when she's at her lowest. And in that vulnerable state, it hits her straight and sharp.

There is no escaping it because she knows that she only has herself to blame.

Then how can she pass it on to someone else, when she is well acquainted with that feeling of heaviness.

What will she do if Levi fails to save her parents, and then he suffers from the same devils. And carries the same burden that cripples her everyday. How can she impose something like that on him?

Levi still looks at Mae expectantly. An eye brow raised up, as he waits for what she'll say.

"How much longer will I be able to be with them?" Her voice comes out weaker than she expected.

Levi's body tenses. The Survey Corps often visits the evacuation centers, to check up on the physical state of the evacuees. And by now he is well habituated with the horrible condition they are in.

It's a dire situation, it really is. The evacuees are cramped and stocked, just some disposable means to an end. Still hated for not dying in titan territory. And now they prepare to go back there, with neither horses nor any formal training.

The government is out of funding, most of their money being spent on feeding the evacuees. The taxes have increased, but so many have fallen under the poverty line that they can hardly pay. It's a game everyone is losing.

Restaurants have shut down, no one stays in hotels anymore, and who even has the money for books, dresses or any other desires that their hearts harbor.

At the end of the day, it's just a matter of a couple thousand lives versus the whole of humanity. And as cruel as it sounds it's also necessary.

"3 months," he utters with his usual indifference

"3 months..." Her voice trails off, and he can see the slight quiver of her lips as she looks elsewhere.

The silence is deafening, leaving the sound of him occasionally slurping his tea.

"I'm sorry, I know I should feel happy for you, but I just can't," she blurts out. "My life is such a mess, there's too much on my mind." Tears leak from the corners of her eyes. She wipes them away in haste.

The thoughts in her head get louder in the settled silence. And in her tiredness she forgets to finish reading the report, and giving the feedback that Levi awaits.

"I'm planning to make a trip to Sina... I'm going to sell my dresses."

Her dresses are far plain compared to what they wear in Sina, and they are second hand.

"You are not going to get much money from it." He speaks the truth, breaking any delusions she has, before she actually tries something and realises it's useless.

"I know, but every moment my parents are getting closer to their death... I want them to be happy in the little time they have, and whatever money I make, I can use it to do something for them."

"Do you need anything?" He speaks with sincerity. He's going to be busy from now on, but he'll try to help her with whatever he can.

"I'll be fine, I saved up some money." Levi frowns, and his jaw clenches. As if he doesn't know that already.

It clearly shows when he looks at the kitchen cabinets. Earlier they had some bread and vegetables, now it's mostly empty, with just a slice of bread.

And she doesn't even have tea, unless he forces her to have it. By now she has it his way as well. With no sugar or milk, that is a luxury she can't afford anymore.

"I'm going to meet my friends as well, they are in the eastern district... I won't be able to do much for them."

Levi sits confused, unable to figure out why she is sharing all of this with him. If it's comfort she wants then he doesn't know how to give it. Heck he doesn't even know what to say next.

Tears glisten in her eyes, but she doesn't let them fall. Instead, she smiles "I'm sorry for over sharing.... Let's get to reading shall we."

He clicks his tongue, a little annoyed by how she pretends that everything is alright when its clearly not. Placing his empty cup on the table, he gets up and sits beside her on the couch.

Mae picks up The Musings of a Murder, and opens it. But this time Levi doesn't feel the usual excitement budding in as she starts reading.

Her speech is expressionless. Her words are slurring, and she fumbles through the passage. Dragging her finger along every line yet not pausing at any punctuation or sentence end.

She's tired, so awfully tired.

"I want to read today." Levi speaks the words out and Mae turns towards him.

Her eyes are tinged red at the corner. Her skin is dull, and her hair is knotted in her simple braid.

She's tired, so awfully tired.

Levi takes the book from her hand, and she gives in without a word

He reads slower, hesitating and every word as his eyebrows crease in tension. She corrects him at a few places and explains to him the meaning of a few words.

Another page and he gets more confident.

She is silent, and his mind brims with assurance. He must be pronouncing everything right, because she isn't correcting him anymore.

Halfway through the next page, a heavy weight slumps on the side of his body.

It's her again. Eyes closed, face relaxed and her head resting on his shoulder.

Levi's face softens a little. For once, she looks peaceful.

So he sits still. She deserves some rest.

━━━━━━━━━━━━

JAN 846

Winter is here, and the poppies have wilted. The flower fields are barren, and the trees stand naked. The cold bites at Mae's hands as she trudges down the familiar path to the warehouse.

Her sandals are worn out, and its rough straps agitate her skin with every step. The lunchbox in her hands is long cold, and she counts the seconds as she reaches her destination

3 hours from now and her parents will be gone from this world.

The cold turns her nails blue. Her steps are heavy, and she doesn't know how she's finding the strength to physically move forward.

The warehouse comes to sight. It is gray and dull, overbearing just like always. The door is slightly ajar, but the wastelands are empty, as if they have been abandoned already.

Tears blur her vision, and everything starts looking disoriented.

It's been 6 months since the reveal of that cursed expedition, and time has flown by so fast.

Her dresses were sold. And in return she got plenty of mockery and some money. But it was enough to buy some vegetables and grains. And Mae used it all to make her parents home cooked meals.

For months, they were having bread every day, and now that their life itself was slipping away, they deserved to enjoy good food at the least. So every Sunday she would travel to the center, with some home cooked food, packed in a tiffin.

Some days the money still fell short, and she could only sleep on the couch, trying to silence her empty stomach after she reached back home.

Often she would feel a hand petting her head. And she would wake up to see Levi, with some bread in his hands. Somehow he was well aware of her schedule, and she would find him waiting on her porch for her return.

Then his duties as a captain started catching up, and he didn't have much time for her anymore.

But Mae still managed well on her own. She visited her parents every week, she also met her friends and relatives. She worked hard at the clinic, gathering as much money as possible. And every week she fed her parents healthy, colorful meals.

All that she had planned, she had done. Then why did everything feel so useless? Why was the heavy feeling of grief not replaced with satisfaction? She tried so damn hard, then why was she still losing her parents?

Her steps get heavier and her ankles falter as she falls to her knees. The jagged road pricks her soft flesh.

Any ounce of strength left in her has now vanquished, her resolve is crumbling. Her bones ache and her heart bleeds for their suffering.

She cries into her palms, feeling their warmth rather than watching the cursed warehouse.

A gentle tug on her dress pulls her out of her thoughts. A small boy stands in front of her. His unruly hair sticks to his forehead and his body is unhealthily skinny.

"Don't you worry, miss. We will defeat those evil titans, and then we will all be happy, with enough food in our plates," he chimes.

She inhales sharply as she watches the hope glistens in his eye, sparkling, brown and wide.

Her arms reach out to him, hoping that this boy is just a figment of her imagination. And his young soul doesn't have to face the terror that awaits him a few hours from now.

But her fingers retract as they touch his skin. It is dry and flaky. And her shoulders tremble as she imagines the brutal end he's going to meet.

She lurches forward pulling him closer as she cries into the crook of his neck. He wraps his arms around her as well, and she can feel his bones digging into her frame. "You are young enough to stay behind? Why are you going out?" she murmurs against his skin.

"All my family is here with me, I don't want to leave them," he replies thoughtfully.

A figure looms over them, casting a shadow on both of their figures. Mae looks up as the boy breaks the hug.

It's a woman. She's not very old, but her eyes are heavy with tears and her lids are swollen. And she is wrapped up in the recognizable cloak that everyone in the evacuation center wears these days.

It is swampy in color, designed to match the thick green grass that awaits in titan territory, so that the evacuees can hide themselves better. Or maybe it is just to differentiate them from the civilians who aren't a part of this mission.

"Come to me dear," the woman mutters sweetly, as the boy climbs up in her arms. She bestows a kiss on his forehead, and then scowls at Mae.

The both of them walk away and the boy waves back enthusiastically at Mae as his figure fades farther and farther, until he disappears behind the walls of the warehouse

And Mae wipes her eyes, as she holds on to the little resolve she has. She takes a timid step into the shelter.

The air is heavy, and she can't help but feel so lonely in a room full of people. It is silent, unlike most days where bouts of fights occur on a regular basis. People sit close to each other, with their heads buried in their knees.

Everyone is decked in green, as if they are inhumane, mechanic workers with no choice or authority.

Her parents sit together, huddled at their usual spot. Mother's arm is draped over father's shoulder. And her head is hidden in the crook of his neck, but from the way her frame is shaking Mae knows she's crying

Father is right beside her, petting her back as he whispers reassurances in her ear.

Her feet start moving thoughtlessly, and she only finds them stopping when she's sitting on the floor with her parents, resting her head on her mother's lap.

"Oh my sweetheart," her mother says as she pets the hair on her daughter's head.

And Mae winces as she feels the suffering in mother's palms. Rough and dry, blistered from all the day, she would plow the fields.

Tears come easily, falling on the fabric of mother's worn out dress.

All these days, she tried not to let her tears slip by in front of parents. To be strong for them and to lessen their own pain. But she can't help it anymore. She's been holding them in for months now and her strength has withered out.

Her father fondles her hand in his, and she looks up at him, through her teary gaze.

Bald patches are scattered all over his head, and deep lines border his wise eyes and his forehead. And the little pot-belly he had, now curves into his spine.

He has aged so much just these months that he looks twice his age.

She pushes the lunchbox towards him. Today she has prepared his favorite dish.

His hands reach towards it far too eagerly. The food is cold, but it warms him to the bone.

All these days that she had bought food for them, she never had some herself. Because she was well aware that their struggles were much worse than hers. And whenever her mother brought a morsel of food in front of her mouth, she denied it. Telling her that she had a heavy breakfast this morning, and she was full.

But today as her mother says," Have some food with us before we leave." She can't help but give in to her heart's desire and have the closest thing to a family dinner.

They sit like that for a long moment. In stretched silences, dying smiles and weary eyes. Sharing the little amount of food that the lunch box contains.

The moment feels warm yet frosty, sweet yet bitter. And her parent's company only reminds her of the vacant void they will leave in her heart.

It's a mere stroke of luck that keeps her stay safe. She's a citizen of Wall Maria as well, but somehow she is safe from the catastrophe that her parents face. But does she deserve this? Will she be able to live without her parents?

"Father take me with you as well, I don't... I don't want to be here without you." Her face contorts into one of pain and her voice dangles on the edge of begging.

"Listen here Mae, are we all sacrificing our lives for you to come and die with us as well?." Her father speaks, and Mae presses her lips into a thin line, as she shakes her head.

"We are doing it, so that you can live a better life, isn't it? Things can go back to how they were before all this happened."

"But it will never go back to how it used to be..." Her voice trails off hoarse and congested.

"You will find strength, Mae. Maybe someone else will come along and give you a helping hand, or maybe you'll have to push yourself all by yourself. But you'll do it, because in the end you are all you need." Her father speaks with confidence, and when she looks at him, he flashes her an assuring smile.

But she stays still. Unable to listen to his words or understand them. Finding strength feels hopeless and all she wants is to be with them.

A heavy silence hangs over, it's their last moments together, and no one knows how to make a goodbye less painful.

In a matter of minutes. A strident voice pierces the air. "Evacuees assemble."

People get up and step out of the shelter. It almost seems mechanical, as if they all have surrendered to their fate by now.

Her parents get up as well. Mother straightens the creases on her father's cloak, and as they stand, they leave some space for Mae, in between them

Mae settles there, holding both their hands in her own, tightly.

The sun sets, leaving the sky in hues of pink. Then darkness takes over, things get bluer and bluer. Coldness creeps again, and a fog hangs over. Blanketing the land with an eerie glow.

They blend into the horde of people that step out of the evacuation center. And for a crowd of 1000s everyone is grimly silent. The only sound in the air is that of twigs cracking under people's feet. And teeth clattering against the cold.

They walk along the line of dying trees and barren fields. It's a reminder of their failure, and how they were unable to bear any good crop on these wastelands.

Maybe if they had succeeded, then they wouldn't be marching to their deaths as a burden that humanity can't carry.

Every step treads heavier, increasing the beat of their heart and the anxiety that churns their stomach. There is nothing left to say, just the tears that are streaming down their faces.

Time flies away, and in what feels like minutes, the evacuees enter the city of Jinae.

Mae looks around as she walks down the familiar streets of the town.

She sees cruelty in every nook and corner. She sees cruelty everywhere.

Alleys where children would run playing tag are now filled with people marching towards their death. And the vendors that made the bustling market, now stand rock solid. Rooted in their spot, as they watch the scene unfold, aghast.

The world is cruel.

People gather on the streets, and even in the darkness of the night, the fear that lingers in the air is palpable. Then the gates of Wall Rose appear into vision. Outside which lies Trost and beyond that lies death.

Mae's grip on her parent's hand tightens as she watches the Garrison soldiers move forward, to open the door.

Her parents turn back, and their features are blurred by the thick veil of tears in her eyes. Her hands jerk forward, cupping their face as she traces the lines, on their face, for one last time.

Her mother pulls her into a hug and Mae can feel her breath on the side of her face. It's weak and trembling, like a stretched out band, that will break any second now.

She's going to miss her so much.

Caroline Edler. The aroma of home-cooked meals that floated in her house. The lessons taught under the flickering lamp light and the love that held her together when things were falling apart.

The gates of Rose open and Mae flinches at the jarring sound. This is it, the dreaded moment. Silence fills the air, and no one dares to move a step ahead.

Her father wistfully stares , as she cries into her mother's arms.

Once she was a little child, small enough to fit in his hands. Now she's all grown up, taking care of her parents all by herself.

One day she'll get married, one day she'll have kids. And he won't be there for any of that. He won't be here to see his little daughter grow anymore.

His hand reaches atop her head, and her head swivels in her mother's embrace

Mae's eyes are glimmering, fresh with tears meeting his just as wistfully. This time there are tears in his own as well. This is the first time she has ever seen her father cry.

In an instant, she's embracing him. And he can feel his shirt dampen as her tears wet his skin.

"Oi," He cups her cheeks and looks at his daughter for one last time. She has always been the most beautiful girl in his eyes.

He presses a tender kiss on her forehead.'' Are you going to bid us farewell with such a tear-stained face? Won't we be able to see you smile? For one last time."

The sentence makes her cry even harder. And she sees the patience that reflects in her father's wise eyes.

Dieter Edler, the strength that held the walls of her house. The long shifts that ensured that everyone had all that they wanted. And the warm eyes that sensed every low in her mood, and held her together.

Always so patient, so determined, so wise. And she's always tried to be like him.

Mae tries to smile, but it crumbles in the flow of her tears.

The bell rings and its echo spreads terror throughout city. The time to let go is finally here. Garrison soldiers pierce into the crowd of people, forcing the evacuees forward as the evacuees find their feet frozen.

Mae cries in her father's arms, and holds her mother's hand, unable to move, or let them out of her grasp.

Hands pry her away from them . And she looks back at the soldier who's pulling her away from her parents.

"I'm sorry miss... I'm so sorry." Sympathy reflects in his eyes, as he gently holds her back.

Her parents smile at her through their teary faces as they turn towards the gates. And then they lumber away, hand in hand, a heavy step forward at a time.

She blows them a kiss, but they don't turn back.

Their fading silhouette is blurred by the ceaseless onslaught of tears in her eyes. The evacuees trudge forwards into Trost. And soon their olive cloaks vanish into the darkness.

The show is over. Civilians disperse, in a hush, shoulders bumping into each other as they walk in the opposite direction. But Mae stands still in all the commotion.

She realises it's not just her parents that she has lost.

Far away in the eastern districts, carts loaded with another 1000s rush towards Trost. Somewhere in those cramped boxes are her friends, sitting with eyes as teary as her own.

She has lost everyone today. Friends, cousins, acquaintances, everyone... People that she didn't have the money nor time to go and meet. And with them, a part of her is ebbing away.

A heaviness spreads all throughout her chest. It is pain. The light in her eyes burns away, as a rush of wind sweeps by, people are moving back to their houses. The evacuees are gone, out of their sights, out of this wretched world.

A few more people stand, just as frozen and suffering the same fate as hers. Silent rivers stream down their cheeks and their shoulders quiver with grief. But she fails to see them.

All she sees is herself, alone and lonely, drowning in the darkness of this world. All she sees is a part of herself, forever lost at the cruel, mercilessness of the world.

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networkingdefinition · 5 years ago

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The 10 Different Types of Lawyers You Could Be

Official Website: The 10 Different Types of Lawyers You Could Be

How many times have we imagined being the next excellent lawyer, like Clarence Darrow or the imaginary Harvey Specter? Growing up, many of us pictured standing in a court room and also obtaining our male to admit his regret through a collection of chess steps or locating the actual killer as well as letting your customer leave a totally free male– the power of the imagination.

The justice system isn’t all concerning sending out away drug dealerships, abductors and rapists to prison with 20-year life sentences. It additionally involves safeguarding copyright, protecting companies from unimportant legal actions and also making certain the right member of the family gets grandfather’s collection of classic drachmas and also Deutschmarks. Simply put, there are several kinds of law to practice.

As you look for a brand-new job, you require to evaluate the various types and then determine which among these branches fits your abilities as well as rate of interests. Do numbers tickle your funny bone or does sticking it to unethical companies offer you satisfaction? Whatever the instance, let’s check out the many types of law as well as the various types of legal representatives.

1)– Criminal-Lawyer-. For the most part, a lot of youngsters enter into law because they wish to specialise in criminal justice. This role not just prosecutes or safeguards accuseds that have been charged with a criminal offense, yet it additionally involves a solid acumen of arraignment, apprehension, bond, plea arrangements and a whole host of issues relating to the criminal test.

You could think that daily criminal legislation is akin to episodes of Law & Order, but it is a sluggish, brooding and irritating system. Criminal legal representatives will invest more time on documentation and also legwork than supplying Oscar-worthy efficiencies in the court.

2)– Corporate-Lawyer-. Company lawyers are critical to having and operating a firm. Companies have their own legal departments for assistance, advice and also elementary everyday legal features such as conformity, administration, preparing legal files, preparing federal government records, negotiation and administering training workshops.

A corporate lawyer will certainly have been experts understanding in all type of related fields, like the tax obligation code, government regulations, state/provincial regulation and also probably also global treaties. In a global economy, a business regulation group is more vital than ever before.

3)– Intellectual-Property-Lawyer-. Intellectual property has actually metastasised right into a geopolitical concern, particularly as the economy has actually gone global. It has actually come to be harder than ever before to protect copyright, working as controversial problems in international trade negotiations, as we have actually seen throughout the US– China trade negotiations or the numerous grievances with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

While not specifically among the sexiest sorts of attorney, the primary role of a copyright attorney is to establish and also shield IP. Attorneys will guidance their clients and handle issues pertaining to the following:. – trademark law – licenses – copyright – technology transfers – licensing – industrial design – distribution This is just one of the most sought-after lawful professions today.

4)– Tax-Lawyer-. As any living human– hell, even the dead ones!– can vouch for, tax obligations have come to be significantly made complex. Federal, state/provincial as well as regional– tax obligations are providing every person a brain haemorrhage. Probably that is the way politicians and politicians like it. That recognizes?

A lawyer who concentrates on tax obligations will basically stop their clients from getting involved in difficulty with their appropriate nation’s tax obligation authority. This individual will give audio advice– at a cost if there is a tax concern to be resolved.

In addition, a tax legislation expert will have a number of various other day-to-day tasks, including:. – evaluating intricate tax matters. – talking and also bargaining with the government. – maintaining confidential tax obligation documents for clients. – staying up to date on both crucial as well as mundane tax issues. – creating strategies to resolve monetary issues crucial to customers.

5)– Family-Lawyer-. One of the more disappointing branches of the legal profession is possibly family legislation. You see pairs that once loved each other participate in bitter divorce process. You witness kids being utilized as pawns and also their hearts being damaged. You see brother or sisters fight for an item of property.

From youngster guardianship as well as support to the department of marital residential property to alimony, these attorneys will certainly litigate and prepare files (postnuptial arrangements or separation documents, for example) for all type of household matters.

6)– Immigration-Lawyer-. Migration has changed right into one of one of the most controversial public policy problems to date. In the middle of transforming political trends and geopolitical stress, governments have concentrated a lot more on immigration legislations, policies as well as techniques that makes relocating from South Korea to Australia or from Pakistan to the United States a lot more intricate.

Consequently, an immigration attorney is vital should you want to relocate to one more nation for company or personal factors. An immigration expert will get in touch with, recommend as well as assist customers on asylum, citizenship, naturalisation, green cards, visas and evacuee condition. They will certainly likewise handle deportation and employment concerns, which are currently necessary topics in specific parts of the world.

It needs to be kept in mind that migration lawyers will invest much less time standing for civil disagreements in court than other kinds of lawyers.

7)– Employment-Lawyer-. The state of the modern-day workplace gets on test. Sexual harassment, racial discrimination, wage disputes and so forth are all part of work law that has actually not just gone to court but also stired up a worldwide conversation. Like IP or tax lawyers, employment lawyers are coming to be increasingly needed by both employers as well as employees. Work attorneys will commonly offer guidance and services to a varied range of employment-related topics, like agreements, interoffice partnerships as well as compensation. Given that a growing variety of jurisdictions are taking on rigorous laws, codes and also laws in the labor force, it is important to keep up to day on these enhancements and also modifications.

8)– Personal-Injury-Lawyer-. Whenever you take a trip on the open road, there are typically 3 kinds of ads you will see: junk food, new smart devices as well as accident.

Injury attorneys help clients who endured significant mishaps, including a slip and fall in front of a service, clinical negligence or an auto accident. While some might frown on this type of legal representatives, they basically obtain what you are owed in the form of damages for injuries perpetrated by various other events– blatantly or accidentally.

9)– Real-Estate-Lawyer-. In the past, when you bought a home, you acquired a home mortgage, authorized the act and also received your tricks. Today, the process to purchasing a house– removed townhouse, residence or condo– requires an ocean of paperwork, a swimming pool of costs and charges, and also a riverbed of challenging realty terminology that calls for the knowledge of a grammars professional with experience in Greek, Latin and also fairly possibly Aramaic. Or, you understand, possibly just a real estate lawyer.

A real estate lawyer works with customers to assess assessments, prepare evaluations, draft leases, full acquisition arrangements, get economic agreements as well as sign deeds. Normally, anything that is connected with your residence, besides a home loan, requires the interest of a real estate legal representative.

10)– Bankruptcy-Lawyer-. A growing variety of customers are inching towards bankruptcy. Whether it is due to the fact that they lived past their means or they entered an economic situation from a task loss or the fatality of a member of the family, many people are declaring personal bankruptcy. This heart-wrenching and challenging process must not be done alone– it requires the assistance of a bankruptcy lawyer.

Personal bankruptcy attorneys will suggest customers on qualification, various alternatives, types of personal bankruptcy as well as what would certainly function best for that individual’s specific situations. They will certainly additionally extend feasible options to bankruptcy that could be worth discovering. Eventually, this line of work involves counselling individuals on lowering their financial obligation lots, selling off possessions as well as paying creditors.

Put simply, there are lots of kinds of law to practise.

An immigration legal representative is critical ought to you wish to relocate to an additional country for organisation or personal reasons. Like IP or tax lawyers, work lawyers are coming to be significantly required by both staff members as well as companies. Or, you recognize, maybe simply a genuine estate legal representative.

Personal bankruptcy attorneys will certainly suggest clients on qualification, different options, kinds of bankruptcy and what would function best for that person’s certain situations.

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[clickbank-storefront-bestselling]

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equitiesstocks · 5 years ago

Text

The 10 Different Types of Lawyers You Could Be

Official Website: The 10 Different Types of Lawyers You Could Be

It needs to be kept in mind that migration lawyers will invest much less time standing for civil disagreements in court than other kinds of lawyers.

8)– Personal-Injury-Lawyer-. Whenever you take a trip on the open road, there are typically 3 kinds of ads you will see: junk food, new smart devices as well as accident.

Put simply, there are lots of kinds of law to practise.

Personal bankruptcy attorneys will certainly suggest clients on qualification, different options, kinds of bankruptcy and what would function best for that person’s certain situations.

[clickbank-storefront-bestselling]

0 notes