At Your Service || 𝕝𝕖𝕧𝕚 𝕩 𝕡𝕝𝕦𝕤 𝕤𝕚𝕫𝕖 𝕙𝕚𝕤𝕡𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕔 𝕠𝕔

Chapter Two

WARNING: this chapter will mention eating disorders, which may be disturbing to some readers. For anyone who may want to read this but not read about the ED, I will mark where it begins and ends with "[••••••]". As someone who is suffering with an ED, I know this subject can be tough and I want to make sure none of my readers feel uncomfortable.

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People didn't seem too happy with the Survey Corps. I would hear conversations about how they were a waste of money and food in the square. I learned to bring up the Survey Corps in conversation to distract the vendors so I could steal food or whatever else I wanted.

They were definitely passionate about their disdain

The conversation was still the same as the Survey Corps came into the city. They looked beaten, tired and broken, yet the towns people continued their harsh rhetoric. I watched them come in, peering past the different bodies that surrounded me.

I heard they had left yesterday morning, yet they were back by this afternoon. There wasn't that many who supported the Scouts, and after this, I doubt there were too many left.

The whispers started to become yells once the commander passed by. I didn't stay around to see that.

Instead, I walked the cold, damp back alleys as I always did for 8 years. Food was getting harder to find since those Titans broke through Wall Maria. The more people that came in, the less shelter I had. I started to dread sleeping in a cold back alley and bathing in the river in the countryside.

Speaking of bathing, I needed one.

So, as usual, I decided to do my daily routine thievery. And since everyone was so distracted by the scouts appearance, I was able to snatch some oils and soaps before anyone could notice. I stuffed them in my apron pocket and headed towards the gate with a stolen wooden bucket and wash board in hand.

The garrison regiment had come to know me quite well through out these 8 years, but not because they caught me stealing. Not at all; I have never been caught. Instead, they knew me for my daily walks into Wall Rose. The cramped up buildings within Karanes weren't my cup of tea. My daily walks and baths in the river were a way for me to escape and unwind from the daily struggle within the alleys.

"Good afternoon, Mariana" one of the garrison soldiers called to me

"Hello, Tobias" I smiled to him and the rest of his garrison friends

Tobias was an older man, about the same age as my father would have been then, with lighter blonde yet graying hair, pale skin with a red toned face. He had more face wrinkles than my father and his voice was rough from the years of drinking and smoking.

"A lovely day for a walk?" Tobias asked

"Just like everyday" I smiled

Before I could leave, we heard the commotion from the streets as the scouts came closer, still being bombarded with questions and yells from the townspeople.

"What you think about that, Mariana?" Tobias asked, nodding over towards the Scouts

"I don't know" I answered honestly "I would have joined them if I wasn't so chubby"

"They're a waste of money if you ask me" Tobias whispered

I narrowed my eyes and punched his arm

"I didn't ask, you lazy drunk" I joked, but yet I still had some seriousness in my tone "You drink half the day away. Maybe you're the waste of money"