"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me," Armin says with his best, blandest smile.
Erwin is honestly impressed. Most fifteen year old boys would show some hesitation when left in a stately room in the main courthouse, alone with the leaders of the three military branches -- and their leader, too. Of course, most fifteen year old boys don't have best friends that can turn into fifteen meter class Titans.
Armin doesn't even waver as Generalissimo Darius Zackly peers at him over his spectacles.
"You are here to give testimony in Eren Yeager's place, since he is unable to do so himself," Zackly says. Eren is still passed out down in the courthouse dungeon, and Mikasa refuses to be separated from him. The Military Police -- all well aware of her abilities where certain parts of the anatomy are concerned -- don't dare to force the issue.
"Well, I'm sure you've already seen everything I have to say in the reports," Armin says. "Instead, let's not waste time and move on to the actual issue -- what is going to happen to Eren."
Nile looks like he's about to launch into a loud and impassioned speech, so Erwin makes a small movement that Nile is bound to notice out of the corner of his eye. It distracts and throws him off for a moment, which is all Armin needs.
"This is a very volatile situation," he says. "I'm sure there have already been many unreasonable demands made, like executing him or using him as an experiment. But I think it would be in everyone's interests to settle this matter quietly, without any... scandal."
Armin pulls out a little black book. Every man in the room recognizes it -- it appeared in the prelude to some of the most pleasurable experiences in their lives.
And they suddenly realize that, at the time, Armin had been busy taking notes. Scandalous notes.
They gulp.
Yes, it would be better to avoid a scandal, wouldn't it?
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Erwin is honestly impressed. He knows that the kids started out as, well, kids. That Armin could be sneaky and insightful enough to accumulate such a record from the get-go makes Erwin wish he could get that talent in his corner.
And that book. He could definitely use that book in his corner.
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Pixis is amused. He's too old and too shameless to worry about scandals. Having a reputation as a complete eccentric also helps. He admitted to wanting to score with a hot Titan. How much more depraved can you get?
He pretends to go along with Armin's cute intimidation tactics because he honestly likes the kids, thinks they have their uses, and also because Helga would be quite upset if something happened to them.
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Nile hates them and their little black book.
One night. One night of indiscretion!
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Zackly coughs into his fist and smooths his beard.
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The thing is, Armin doesn't just keep notes about their customers' preferences. He notes down when they visited, for how long, with whom, anything they said, anything they did.
And if someone perhaps saw something on a piece of paper that just happened to fall out of their pockets while they weren't using their pants... Well, Armin might take note of that too.
He's also a good listener. The girls are always telling him things. All kinds of things. He's like the house councilor. Or a priest.
Does that make his little black book a sacred scripture?
YOU ARE READING
The Red Light District
FanfictionWith the fall of Wall Maria, the three of them discover that Armin's grandfather was more connected than they realize, and that they have just inherited a brothel in the inner city. A very classy brothel, that's popular with the military. Thread: ht...
