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[cantilevers]

[Since Fabian hadn't died or become morbidly sick due to eating the flowing mushrooms that could be found in the caves, he had invested much of his time to exploring for sources of them and potential ability to translocate them successfully for future harvesting purposes. They had determined the amount likely necessary for the manufacturing of alcohol fermented from the fruiting bodies, so it had to be sustainable as far as he was concerned.

Vander was off down one of the side caves that had dewy moisture on the rocks and was crouched down examining the ground where he had translocated a few fruiting bodies. They seem to have taken to the limited resources here, which meant that he was pulling another mushroom from the hand-made satchel that he had to transplant another.

He hummed softly to himself, yet still kept his ears peeled for signs that someone else was in this particular cave. He wasn't too interested in being jumped for the sake of it, but hey, he'd welcome company.]

[hygienist]

[As Vander was working on the ground, collecting his samples of the mushroom and other fungi and whatnot, Levi was busying himself on the ceiling of the stony cavern. He had crawled and climbed up along the walls and somehow managed to hoist himself. With his strong legs securely wrapped around on the the damp stalagmites on the ceiling, he was hanging upside down like a bat as he kept mining rocks and minerals with his bare hands. It was hard, exhausting work that took a lot of strength and agility. And even though he luckily possessed plenty of both, and probably could hang there for as long as he needed to, it didn't mean that he didn't feel the strain on his muscles or sweat run through his forehead.

He really misses the ODM gear....

The sound of quiet humming echoing against the cavern ceiling reaches him and makes Levi to look down, dropping some of the dust down. Even all the way up from the ceiling it really was impossible to mistake Vander's statue to someone else. The guy was enormous - only a head or two shy away from reaching the smallest titan's height. Levi squints his eyes, trying to see just what the other man was doing down there on the ground. Probably looking for food or other resources. That would make sense in his books.]

[cantilevers]

[Vander was used to the sounds of caves with its life fluttering about the ceilings amid the stone. He wondered how many were surprised by the liveliness of the cave systems, though for him it was simply comfortable. Perhaps that was why he didn't immediately notice that he wasn't alone as he was finishing up his transplanting.

He rose from his crouch at the same time he dusted his hands on the thighs of his pants and turned to look for another location for mushrooms and also new areas where they might be growing down here. He took a few steps before lifting his gaze to the stalagmites and froze at the sight of a person clinging to one of them with an extraordinary showing of lower and upper body strength. He tilted his head, admiring the other man's ability to remain up there. A rare talent.]

What are you mining for up there?

[hygienist]

[Vander stands up and Levi turns back to his own work, the small hands reaching up to cavities within the cavern ceiling, feeling up for possible irregularities within the rough, hard rocks. But his focus is once again disturbed as the man below him demands his attention. Levi cranes his neck, looks back down and clicks his tongue.

Then, he lets go off the rocks with his hands, hanging briefly upside down just from his legs that were tightly wrapped around stalagmite. He takes a deep breath and begins to bend his entire upper body backwards, nearly doubling himself in half like an experienced contortionist. His hands reach for the rock behind him and once he grabs it he frees his legs that he could swing his body back and forth. Once he has enough momentum he tosses himself toward one of the pillars. And after that, he swiftly climbs down like an acrobat. You know. Just like that. Easy.

Once he makes his way back down, feet firmly planted on the ground there's a slight shortness breath from him. But that doesn't stop him giving Vander the ever so usual unimpressed glare as he stares the man up and down.]

Doing a run for Reginald. What about you? Looking a place to squat a shit?

[cantilevers]

[Vander was fully aware of the kind of strength and fortitude necessary to hang like that from a ceiling without a harness or pulley-system to suspend a person. He admired the younger man being able to make that look easy as he knew he could never last up there that long. He was out of shape compared to his young days but even then, the best he would count on was free climbing up buildings and rock faces. The other man was clearly atheltic and skilled.

He gave room so that Levi could come down without him potentially being underfoot. He looked up where Levi came from, trying to determine what minerals were in veins up there. The dim light did not allow an easy determination, but hopefully the other man had found what he was looking for.]

Ah, what's he looking for these days? They always have some errand they want ran by someone.

[He shook his head and gestured behind him to the glowing mushrooms.]

Cultivating mushrooms and checking on the ones I planted to see how well they survive transplant. This place has a fairly steady supply, but I'm looking to distill some alcohol from them.

[hygienist]

[Right. He had almost forgotten that Vander was one of the chattiest type. Well, it fit the picture. In his own experience most of the dreamers very also social and chatty. Erwin and Hange both were like that -- just like the timid looking brat Armin, who would talk endlessly when he thought Levi or other high ranking officers weren't around.

He huffs air out between his lips and takes out a cloth from his jacket's breast pocket to wipe his dirt covered hands clean in slight irritation.] Just some crystals. That and smooth rocks.

[He raises a doubtful brow at the mushrooms behind them. He could remember Vander talking something about starting to brew alcohol. It was all part of his grand plan to bring them together as a society or some other shit. Levi's still not sure whether he believes in that dream or not, but then again, it could very well be the addict in Vander talking.]

You often sniff random shit you find on the ground?

[cantilevers]

[Ah, that was a common ask from Reginald, so it wasn't surprising to him to find out that was it. He honestly did wonder what they did with all that since he hadn't seen a lot of them building things or even adding the additional to their stock. Who knew. It probably didn't matter, as it did bridge a gap when it came to the disparity of resources.

He looked up at the area where Levi had previously been holding on to. Obviously the other man was looking for smooth rocks up there.] You had some success up there? I'd be willing to lend a hand if you like.

[He appreciated how skeptical and crabby the other man was, full of suspicion and crassness. It was definitely the kind of person who he interacted with on the daily in the undercity. He took no offense and continued down the tunnel a little further to check on some mushrooms glowing in a crevice within the stone wall.]

No way, I leave those antics to Fabian. I'm more of a tactile person myself.

[hygienist]

[The suggestion makes him huff out a dry laughter.]

Yeah. No offence but I seriously doubt you could haul your big fat ass all the way up there. [Vander was not only tall. But he also looked strong enough for the mining job, sure. His arms were nearly as thick as Levi's entire body, after all. But agility and nimble? Yeah, no. He really didn't inspire trust on those fields. He'd be like a Titan in a glass shop. Or Eren in Stohess District.]

Fabian. Which one is that?

[cantilevers]

You know that using 'but' in a sentence mitigates anything in the before, so honestly, you probably do intend to be offensive. [Vander was absolutely not offended in the least, of course. He was out of shape compared to a few years back, waning in his twilight and yet still strong enough to put people in the dirt when he needed to. He made a point of touching his ass though.] I think my ass still looks rather good at this age. My chest and belly? Yeah, that could use some work.

[However, he was completely undeterred by the conversation topic regarding what he could and couldn't be trusted to do.] Nice hair, nice face, definitely flirted with you within the first two sentences of meeting you. Calls himself a Captain of a seafaring vessel. You'd know him if you'd met him. [He gestured at Levi with a hand.] Basically take that and make it opposite in every way in physical height and handsomeness and personality attributes and that's Fabian. No offense.

[He smiled cheekily.]

[hygienist]

Fuck you. What are you? A word police? [He scoffs in return and rolls his eyes as he neatly folds the cloth and tucks it back into his breast pocket. All orderly and clean. With that done he takes another look at Vander, the dark grey eyes looking up and down before clicking his tongue. Yeah, he guesses Vander is in pretty good condition considering his age. People rarely grew that old within the walls - unless they weren't from the inner circle. That or 'special' as that weepy old ass Shadis had put it.]

Nah. It definitely is giant. One fart from you and we'll have another cave in. [He continues. However, while his face continued to stay on its default unimpressed setting, his voice was a hitch or two lighter. He was clearly joking here.

Levi stops and thinks about Vander's description. Good looking, friendly. He supposes there's couple that could fit that description.] Can't say I know anyone like that. Also? Fuck you.

[cantilevers]

Sorry, sweet stuff, but I don't fuck people that look like children. [Ah yes, they had reached the stage of insulting one another to breach the gap of their differences and have a good chuckle about it later. Thank Janna this man actually had a sense of humor and wasn't all stabby-stabby, oh-so-serious gangster. And look, they were both educated, so they knew the nuance that could and would cause offense to people who might not have benefited from education of any sort.]

And I suppose any wind you pass would squeak out of you for ten minutes because you're clenched so tight. [Vander shouldn't lower himself to this, but honestly, it was amusing. He was bending down to pick a mushroom in full bloom of itself and tucked it into his hand-made pouch. It was both to collect an item and allow Levi a better look at how large his ass was apparently.

He stood and turned back, tilting his head with a sardonic expression.] Uh huh. I could introduce you to him. He's a good time. [He made a considering face.] Also? What did I just say? Though... I suppose I wouldn't even need to kneel for any fun times with you. The height disparity is completely in my favour.

[hygienist]

Haha. Making fun of my height. Never heard that before. [It definitely was the most obvious and the low hanging fruit when it came to insulting Levi. And he had faced a lot of scrutiny and demeaning comments because of it as his stunted growth had been nothing more than a shining testimony of his origins. That he was hardly better than the filth in sewage. Of course there had been less of that as the years passed. No one really dared to insult him anymore, so in a way, hearing Vander dish it like this was refreshing. It reminded him of home.]

You know a lot about tight asses then? Should've known. [Hahaha. Because you're so huge. Get it Vander.]

To get high on mushrooms and whatever poison you'll be cooking? Nah. I'll pass.

[cantilevers]

Hardly. I appreciate how your height would make you a good time. [Vander knew people who were half of Levi's height in the Lanes, and they too had to face off against size jokes. Just as he faced off against them for being a taller than average trencher. It was all the same when it came to being crass with one another. He doubted that Levi cared enough to pick a fight with him over it; there wasn't much sting of insult between them. In his mind, it was just a casual back-and-forth between them.]

More than I should probably. I know one when I see one squeaking out diamond dust in their pants. [Ha, because your ass is so tight, you make diamonds, Levi. Enjoy it.

[He made a disparaging noise, shaking his head.] I'm not a crazed alchemist. Besides, I think you'd enjoy my cooking. It's better than most down here so far.

[hygienist]

[Vander was absolutely right in his assessment. Levi was, perhaps, the least insecure man out there. He had standards, obviously, and took care of himself whenever he could. But he wasn't worried about how others would perceive him if he didn't follow the latest trends or try to style his hair with pomade. Besides, it's not like he could affect his height, so why lose sleep over it.]

So, you were sweet on me after all? Should've said so. Freak. [He huffs out another dry laughter as he crosses his arms over his chest and lifts his chin up a bit, watching Vander to work on the ground.]

Well, fuck. You figured out my secret. I'm filthy rich, my shit is diamonds and piss liquid gold. [See? He can laugh at himself.]

That ain't gonna be much of a challenge, you know. Worm meat gets shitty pretty quickly.

[cantilevers]

[Some men and women were confident with the worth and cared little about other's attempts to devalue them. He appreciated that about Levi, that the man didn't puff up and have a chip on his shoulder about slight comments. It was similar to him; he cared little if someone decided to try to insult him because he was fully aware of who he was. He also knew he could punch their teeth out if he wanted to, and there was no point wasting his time and effort on someone that was just chirping.

He shrugged his shrugged his broad shoulders as if to say "you got me" about that comment.] What can I say? You called me rude and told me I was looking down on you for our first ever conversation, and I just knew you were a hot little thing that I'd probably sit on someday. [He was joking, of course. They both were clearly.

He tipped his head as if waiting for Levi to pop a squat and drop a diamond right now.] Richest man in the underground. Green Corridor much love you. [A pause for consideration.] So does your gold piss come out as little nuggets or a single stream of molten gold that then hardens?

[He hummed in agreement.] Bat stew isn't too bad. Need a lot of the little buggers though.

[hygienist]

[A grimace appears on Levi's face.]

I was gonna say that get me at least some of that dinner before asking about my dick. But you can keep your gross-shit infestation stew. [He had eaten a lot of questionable things to his hunger as he was young, from dirt to maggots and what have you. Bats even, yes. But he had seen what the diseases they carried did to people. A painful death that spread among the sewer kids like fire. It was enough to have him swear off from them. ]

[cantilevers]

Hey, bats are very clean animals. [And he using some food safe methods. He knew how to gut and clean them properly at least, which was saying a lot when one considered how many worms were being butchered all over the place.] It's also cute that you think that your dick would be the most interesting part of you I'd ask about.

[He leaned against the wall of the cave casually. Obviously they had hit that level of familiarity.]

You want to get a bite to eat though?

[hygienist]

Oh sure. Clean as sewer. [He scoffs, clearly not warming up to the idea. There were just some things that were bad for you, such as rot and mold. And as long as there was giant worm meat on the table he was not desperate enough to go back to bats] Could've fool me. You're the one who talks about my like you want to hold it.

[Levi eyes Vander, raising one curious brow up as the mini-giant lounges against the wall as if he was weighting his options here. Then again, he was hardly in a position to turn his nose up to free meal.]

'lright.

[cantilevers]

Not sure what kind of sewers you're exposed to that would be so clean. [Vander could make his case, but honestly, he wasn't that committed to the idea to force anyone to eat his food. The other option was worm which was crawling around in the dirt which happened to be crapped on anyway.

He held his hands up in the air as if to plead his own innocence on this matter.] Whoa, pal, you're awful fixed on your own dick. You should you don't want me to hold it or something? You're allowed to ask. [This meeting was going far more productively than the last one that was for sure.

He gestured for Levi to follow him as he began to head out of the caves.]

What are you willing to eat, hmm?

[hygienist]

Fucking luxury sewer obviously. Shiny and proper enough for one to bathe and drink from. Fucker. [He scoffs, feeling a slight sting of an irritation. He was as thick-skinned as they came and hardly ever cared enough to get angry at things. But after spending over two decades trapped in that dark underground, where even the air had been rotted from all the waste and decay, it did sit poorly with him for someone to joke about the underground. Even if the other person claimed to know what they were talking about. Which Levi still doubted.

But he wasn't going to waste any energy on the argument. It was hardly worth the effort.] Uh-huh, sure whatever. You're the one who keeps talking about it.

[He uncrossed his arms and let them fall to his side as he decided to follow the larger man into the tunnels.] Not bats. [He scoffed a reply. But after a brief moment he decided to offer the other one a bit more than that.] Most meat like that was bad in the underground. Rats, bats and other shitty vermins like that were no good. You were better off digging mud. And even above meat was scarce. Only rich fat assholes and their pissy pets could afford it.

[cantilevers]

Huh, you come from a high-to-do place by the sounds of it. [He knew that couldn't be true because of how Levi talked about the place and could easily be provoked into responding to casual questioning with suspicion and insult. Of course, their undergrounds were different; his might have been oppressed, but it was a lively place with vast industries and enough infrastructure that meant it was livable. By the few details he had managed to pull from Levi, that underground seemed poised only to allow a population to rot away to nothing.] Do you all have access to water or is it just run off from above?

[As they began to make their way out of the particular cave branch, he held out his hands in surrender.] Okay, okay, no bats. I'll whip you up some delicacy. [It absolutely would not be a delicacy; he had bartered hard with Scraps before, but she was a hard bargainer so it would take more than what he had to restock everything that he would normally keep in his kitchen.] Ah well, some of us don't exactly have a choice when it comes to vermin or starving. Fruits and vegetables are expensive and have to be imported, and we don't have room for animals. Fishing is our main source of protein.

[He glanced back at Levi, considering.] What's your favourite food?

[hygienist]

Oh yeah. So pristine and shiny. That's the reason why all the assholes from above come to fuck around with us. Just to enjoy that quality time. [Again, not true at all. There was only one reason why the MPs would come down to their hole of rot. But Levi's not looking for pity or sympathy with his words, as he is pretty certain that Vander here understands what he's talking about. There is no underground without above society, after all. People who'd either seek out to exploit or abuse the weak, or both.]

There's a couple of wells. But they're heavily taxed so most people gather around the small canals in the ceiling to gather the rain water. [The same it was with most of the other resources, really. If you could not meet the taxes, you'd either have to rely on your luck to catch something or stealing.

Levi lets out a low hum as a response to Vander's rambling. Fair enough, he thinks. Rats and other critters like that were a perfectly good meal, especially if you happened to catch one without any parasites or fleas. And of course, more often than not you did not have any other choice than to take the risk.

The dark grey eyes looks up to meet Vander's, brows knitting slightly together into a frown as he considers his question. Levi had never really took time before to think about his preferences when it came to food. Even after leaving the underground he hadn't had much choice in what he ate, seeing that Survey Corps rarely got to enjoy same benefits as MP's or the garrison. It had always been just rations and whatever they could scavenge and gather. Erwin had been exception, of course. He had been a commander and thus able to wine and dine when not out in the field. And there had been times when Levi had been able to indulge in those pleasantries.

But that felt like a lifetime ago.

He stays quiet for a while, mulling over his answer before he gives it.]

Fruits and vegetables. Never been fan of meat.

[cantilevers]

[Vander was very well aware that there was always a shiny city sitting atop an underground, and the disparity in living conditions seemed to be rather profound in both cases that he had now heard of. In that, they were united, though it did seem to him through their occasional conversation that the underground Levi was raised in had far more restrictions. Zaun was a city build for the purpose of exploitation after all with key trades and industries used to keep a population in check and make them too tired to mount resistance often. They were slaves, but they were not expected to simply lay down and die as it seemed in Levi's underground.

And yet, he did feel a certain kinship with another underground individual. The root of their hardships remained similar even if the power plays were different.] Ah, yeah, desalination was our issue when it came to taxation for water. Otherwise, it was what rolled down from above in the pipes and what we could purify. It's amazing we didn't smell worse than we did. [The smell down here would be bad enough in time.

He nodded his head, and he felt similar. Apples had always been his favourite as a boy, and stealing one came with incredible risk. Still, using a knife to peel off bits of it to eat with that crunch and the taste; it had been one of the best memories of his childhood even now. He had, of course, shared it with his best friend; it was a defining moment that made them question why they had to struggle so much while Piltover could have such sweet riches any time they wanted.]

Come on, let's go see if Scraps has any dried fruit or vegetables to share, shall we? Nothing like being fissure folk and sharing a meal; the one uniting aspect of life. Unless you prefer alcohol?