Technology giant Eldia-Marley establishes an unconventional form of psychotherapy. Levi, the team lead of its Survey Corps Department, is recruited for an even more unusual application of his employer's greatest operating system. Rated M. Loosely inspired by the Kinsey Reports and Masters of Sex. Eventual Levi/Eren.
A/N: Still don't own Attack on Titan.
Happy Friday! Here's another plot-building chapter. I know that I introduce a lot of characters here. I hope it isn't too clunky and boring. Also, I'm not a physiology expert by any means. Apologies for typos/grammar!
Have a wonderful weekend and please leave a review.
Also, thanks to greenprozium for your lovely review! I dedicate this chapter to you~
Without Consequence
"Levi, have you already met my brother Eren?"
Taking a moment to scan the younger man's face, Levi extended his hand. "No, I haven't," he slowly responded, shaking Eren's warm grip and taking a seat across from him and Zeke. Gabi and Falco were on the opposite end of the table with their mother, who was making sure that they ate dinner and not just dessert.
"Eren's a recent Shiganshina State grad. Hey, did you know that Levi here actually studied Psychology at Founder's? He's been working with Paradis for years now." Zeke enthusiastically mentioned to his brother.
Eren addressed Levi directly. "Have you ever tried Virtual Psychotherapy yourself?"
"Myself no, but I've worked on many memory recovery cases. We're hoping to expand Paradis beyond experimental use and get into the Healthcare system."
"So until now, most of this 'memory recovery' has been privately funded experimentation." Eren surmised.
Levi nodded as he poured himself a glass of water. "Mostly. The bill that's stalling in Senate now would guarantee government funding. It could mean more jobs in my field and cheaper psychotherapy for the average person."
"The average person would find mind control a little disconcerting." Eren countered.
"That's why the bill is struggling to pass isn't it?" Pieck's small voice threw off all three men at the table. Zeke glanced at his wife as if she had grown a second head. Their children's bickering over the last piece of pie ceased.
"It's controversial," Levi began. "Eldia carried out some treatments but after all the protests, they've been cutting back. The bulk of the cases that I've worked on are for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or individuals with mood disorders. Schizophrenia and Dementia are less common but we get them from time to time."
The last part made Eren look at his older brother, who immediately cleared his throat. "Speaking of creating jobs, aren't you looking for work, Eren? With anticipation of the bill passing, I think the Director wants to add people to our team."
The long-haired millennial turned his gaze to Levi, who could feel himself growing uncomfortable with their close proximity from each other. Maybe it was how Eren presented himself like a hippie that made Levi feel that he was on the anti-Paradis side of the debate.
"Yeah, I didn't think I'd stay in Rose after graduation so I'm late to the job hunting game. I've got enough saved up to cover rent for the next two months but all the Ubers to my interviews are draining me."
"Don't you stay in Rose, Levi?" Zeke wondered. Levi talked himself out of lodging a butter knife in the man's throat.
"I could give you a ride home if you need one, Eren." The tension in the room seemed to ease with Levi's generosity. Eren happily obliged for the free lift and the conversation steered to more mundane themes for the next hour.
Zeke announced that it was getting late. Although Levi wanted to assist with tidying up, Zeke and Pieck were having none of it. With some anxiety at being left alone with Eren, Levi watched the pair clear the table and usher the little ones upstairs.
The earlier promise of driving Eren home resurfaced in Levi's mind as he sat tracing a line of dust on his side of the table with a paper napkin. His eyes met Eren's when the family of four was out of earshot.
"Are you really turning in for the night?" Eren asked.
"If you're suggesting that we go get 'turnt up' then I regret to inform you that there is no party animal behind all this," Levi indicated his face, adorned with eye bags and slight crow's feet.
"I thought you had more energy, considering how you're obviously up and running around at one o'clock in the morning." Eren gave Levi a challenging smirk.
Levi was more than grateful when Zeke abruptly peeked into the room, "Heading out, guys?"
Eren said yes and thanked his brother for the meal. Levi did the same as he stood up from the table. Ignoring how he only came up to Eren's shoulder, Levi exited Zeke's house to go unlock his jeep. Eren followed suit and stepped into the passenger's side. Levi literally had to hop into the driver's seat. He could tell Eren was masterfully resisting the urge to snicker.
"I didn't think I'd run into you a second time." Eren spoke halfway through the silent ride back to the other side of town.
"There wouldn't have even been a second time had I been an axe murderer. You should be more careful approaching strangers like that." Levi dryly muttered, noting how Eren couldn't tell if it was an attempt at adding humor to the awkwardness.
"God, you sound like my sister." Eren laughed, letting his eyes roam over Levi's figure for the umpteenth time. He knew that Eren had been doing that since they got in the car together, but he concentrated on the road instead of Eren's furtive sideways glances. "Shit, I forgot to call her after my interview." The younger man's palm met his forehead in frustration.
With slight panic, he directed Levi to a duplex just a few blocks away from Rose Estates. There was a light on upstairs. "She's awake. My phone died earlier too so she's probably worried." Eren released the latch on the door and slid out of his seat once the car door was open.
He suddenly turned around and smiled, "Since you're not an axe murderer, maybe we can go running together sometime?" Under the moonlight, Levi could clearly see the striking color of Eren's eyes and map out the texture of his slightly tanned skin. He wanted to kick himself for focusing on such minute details, but he was still recovering from the shock of actually seeing him again.
"Sure, if you can keep up." Levi teased before unceremoniously speeding off. The stunned expression on Eren's face grew distant in his rearview mirror.
xxxXXXxxx
Mikasa was standing by the window when Eren entered the upper level of her duplex. He took in his sister's glassy stare. The short length of her new haircut was still something he was getting used to. She had kept it down to her back since there were kids.
"You went and saw Dad today," Mikasa sympathetically shook her head and retreated towards the living room sofa. "Has it gotten worse?"
"They're saying that the Dementia is still in its early stages," Eren replied softly. "He still thinks that he's a doctor, talking to me like I'm his patient or something. Doesn't even realize that he's in a mental hospital."
"Eren," Mikasa's sad tone did not prevent him from going into an angry rant. "I know that Zeke used Paradis to sabotage him. The damn thing is a lobotomizing tool, not the fucking future of Healthcare. The Tyburs and the Reisses are trying to everyone into puppets."
Mikasa furrowed her brow, "Was Zeke there with Dad too?"
"No, I went to his place afterwards. Hardly any reaction when I told him about Dad's condition." Eren ran a hand through his hair in exhaustion and threw himself onto the nearest sofa chair near Mikasa.
He felt her hand cover his shaking fist as he seethed, "We have to destroy every last one of those... things."
Mikasa inhaled before letting out a steady breath. "You have to be patient, Eren. We'll make our move when the Virtual Community launches next week. It's too soon to go on a rampage now."
They sat together in the darkness contemplating for a few minutes before Mikasa gently squeezed Eren's wrist. "I'm going to bed. You should get some rest too." She left Eren alone to go upstairs where sleep beckoned her. Lacking the desire to call it quits, Eren reminded himself to charge his phone.
As he plugged in the charger, his mind drifted to Paradis, to corruption, and then finally to Levi. Perhaps Zeke had plans to use Levi as well. Eren thought about keeping his distance from Levi but a part of him wanted to make sure that the man would be safe from the wolf in sheep's clothing that was Zeke.
The small screen on Eren's Nokia lit up the room. Not long after its wallpaper and icons loaded, an email notification rang.
Paradis Launches in One Week...
xxxXXXxxx
After days of presentations and questions, Hange was at the end of their figurative rope. Some Psychology Departments at top-notch universities and facilities expressed genuine interest in the sexual behavior study. Other conservative institutions were quick to turn their noses up at the idea of trying to revive a survey of the nation's sexual tendencies.
Recruitment, on the other hand, was an entirely different venture. The Virtual Community of Paradis was undoubtedly filled with well-off individuals. Getting Levi on board and covering the cost of both Paradis and 3DMG for him was not just out of a sincere act of kindness. Hange was set on avoiding under coverage of the general population.
Young adults, in particular, were the target demographic for receiving financial assistance to participate. The budget approved for the study ensured that a fairly good size could be
accommodated. Broke college kids increased the visibility of class diversity, something Eldia-Marley was hoping to promote more of.
"Arlert, Armin?" Moblit called out from the office within Shiganshina State University's Center of Sciences. Hange was permitted to use the space for screening students. A fragile-looking blonde stood up in the slightly crowded waiting room. "Here! Excuse me," Armin made sure not to step on anyone's toes while Moblit guided the student to where Hange was scribbling away at a notepad in what was usually a physics classroom.
"How's your week going so far?" Hange beamed at the blonde when the two came face to face. "G-good!" Armin excitedly responded.
"May I get your personal gender pronouns before we get started?" the psychologist clicked their pen and brought the utensil to the white surface of their notepad.
"Oh, sure! He, him, his." Armin hurriedly gave while scrambling to find a desk that was closest to Hange. "And yours?" he took a seat and kindly asked. "They, them, theirs." Hange replied.
"Now, as Moblit explained in the recruitment email, we're going to be going over your sexual history to see if you'd be the proper candidate for this study. I just wanted to clear up some chronological stuff here first." Hange articulated.
Armin nodded and Hange took it as their cue to start the screening.
"You're twenty-two and this is your senior year in college, correct?"
"Actually, it's my fifth year. I decided to pursue a Psychology minor in addition to my undergrad in Honors Political Science. So I guess I'd be considered a super-senior."
"Let me just correct that here then," Hange made a note. "And your sexual preference?"
"Um, bisexual."
Hange quickly made another note.
"And you became sexually active from the age of…?"
"Fifteen or sixteen."
"Fifteen okay. Are you currently sexually active?"
"Yes." Armin answered succinctly.
Hange went through the next round of questions. Clearly, this Armin fellow had a couple of notches under his belt—sexual and intellectual ones. He seemed bed-shy but once Hange got past the superficial, he actually turned out to be the complete opposite. Hange felt confident that Armin would do just fine in the Virtual Community.
Some of the interviews that day did not go as smoothly. In the end, Hange had no issue deciding whom to ship out Paradis and 3DMG to. "Send one Arlert's way as well," they yelled over at Moblit as the two were going over candidate profiles at the end of the day. "I think he was in the focus group," Moblit curiously stared at the case folder.
Removing their glasses, Hange approached Moblit from the far side of the office. "That's too much of a coincidence."
"I agree. Even though the focus group was completely anonymous, I just have a hunch. Some of the answers he gave to the questions matched one of the transcriptions I printed off for the Virtual Community project. It could just be a coincidence like you said." Moblit brushed the idea off and continued shifting through the piles of candidates.
There were many more to get through, so Hange had Moblit powered through the stacks that were still left on both of their desks.
xxxXXXxxx
"Today we'll focus on patient follow-up. It'll be a break from all the claims we've been working on," Levi had gathered Kirstein and Blouse outside the conference room. Zeke strolled their way with three new hires in tow. "Hey, Levi, think you can handle three more? I know that I'm supposed to be helping Petra and the others with claims today."
Levi gave the three newcomers behind Zeke an once-over before replying, "Sure, but we're starting on outreach today. They'll have to get introduced to the billing side later." Zeke gave the team lead a thumbs up before stepping aside for his entourage to introduce themselves.
"Reiner Braun," the bulkiest of the three with the blonde military cut stepped forward and grasped Levi's hand firmly. Next was the tall and lanky Bertholdt Hoover, who timidly gave everyone a small wave. Annie Leonhart, who kept her hair in a neat bun, was the last to wrap up the formalities. Levi took all five Survey Corps recruits and had them settle in the room where Willy Tybur and Rod Reiss gave their speeches a week ago.
He remembered that Paradis' Virtual Community was launching this week.
This week felt longer than it actually was. Between the textbook-like training and what felt like baby-sitting, Levi did feel somewhat back in his own element. Zeke would check up on the new recruits and then go help with the billing side. It left Levi with follow up and outreach.
The rest of the training went on without too much trouble or confusion. Levi made the effort to assign easy follow-up with donors, mostly private research institutions that were supporting Eldia-Marley's studies. When he assisted Annie with a phone call to a private mental health facility out in Ragako, however, the training derailed somewhat.
"We no longer support the use of Paradis on our patients. Our facility has done enough studies to show that Virtual Psychotherapy is investigational and not medically necessary." the representative on the phone had sturdily declared. The call had been on speaker, making all the heads turn as the negative vibe permeated throughout the training room.
Annie remained stoic but fired back with "I understand that but if the patient is requesting our device, the facility's duty is to help treat the patient, not limit their options."
"Look, we don't support the Paradis bill. It's in our revised policy, which you can access on our provider portal," the person on the other line snapped.
Levi took that as a sign to intervene "Hi, I'm Annie's trainer and team lead, Levi Ackerman." he started. "Annie is just doing some practice here to get used to follow-up. Is there a supervisor or manager around that I can speak with?"
After some silence, the rep relented and put him on hold. The recruits all sat through several loops of Opus Number 1 before Levi could finally speak to somebody. It was the supervisor, who spouted the same tune about policy updates and mandates and blah blah blah. Levi resolved to have Erwin examine the issue further.
"That was definitely an outlier. If your phone call turns into a political debate, please come get me." he advised the new hires, who were scribbling notes about the phone call that Levi just ended.
Friday couldn't have come soon enough, but it finally arrived. Levi stared at the second hand on the clock of the training room wall. At four thirty, he said goodbye to the team and transported himself to his desk to pull up his timesheet. As soon as he clocked out, his phone vibrated.
It's launching tonight.
Levi stared blankly at Hange's text. He wasn't aware that they were back but now he felt obliged to go and chat with them. Which would probably take forever knowing how Hange was.
Avoiding Zeke's new cubicle (management moved him a few feet down from him), Levi took his usual path to the laboratory-filled side of Eldia-Marley's campus. Two weeks ago, he and Hange were in one of the smaller labs. Levi, however, confusingly stalked around the maze of rooms until he found the psychologist in their office.
A set of 3DMG was neatly spread out on their desk. Next to it was a Paradis VR headset. "Don't just stand there, put them on," they clicked their tongue. "I'm gonna show you how this stuff works before you go home and get frustrated with it all by yourself." Hange said as they rose from their swivel chair.
Levi noticed that Hange was already in gear. He grabbed a hold of the body straps and slipped them over his chest and legs. It felt like he getting ready to bungee jump. He hesitated to slide Paradis unto his head.
Having always been on the spectator's side, it was an odd feeling knowing that he'd be using Paradis on himself for a change. "I'm not gonna start reliving repressed childhood memories once I put this thing on, am I?" he glared at Hange.
"The version of Paradis that you're talking about only stimulates the temporal lobe of the human brain. That's why patients can access their long term memories," Hange explained while fetching another Paradis headset. "This Paradis that's being used with 3DMG interacts with the parietal lobe, which processes touch and other senses."
Levi eyed the other Paradis that Hange placed over their ponytail. "So no; its purpose is to help you feel, not remember." they elaborated.
"What's stopping Eldia-Marley from developing a version of Paradis that can control all parts of the brain?"
"Paradis focuses on one lobe over the others to eliminate the risk of brain damage. Having it mess with all those lobes will probably leave you brain dead. You actually think we're trying to create an army of brain-dead, brainwashed idiots?"
"I don't know. Yes."
"Jesus, Levi, you really do need to get laid. You're like those conspiracy theorists on the YouTube."
"It's just YouTube, you don't need to say 'the YouTube'"
"What?"
"You don't need—never mind, just, show me how this works already."
"It's already working. We're logged into the company's server, so it's a bit tamer than the one you'll be using for the study." Hange brought their hand up in mid-air to have a virtual see-through screen spread before their fingers. It was their work desktop, filled with all their folders, document shortcuts, and jpegs.
"Wait, you mean to say we're already in Paradis?" Levi failed to contain his bewilderment. Hange launched an application that prompted for the name of a "desired environment" and they typed in Downtown Mitras. Hange's office began dissipating around them as the lively nightlife of the metropolis became their new setting.
Levi was at a loss for words. The pedestrians and cars whizzing past him all looked so real. "They're non-playable characters. Once you're in the Virtual Community server you'll actually have to watch for people and vehicles," Hange guided Levi to a less busy sidewalk where they watched simulations of people going nowhere.
The business casual outfit Levi was wearing that day no longer had the 3DMG accessories strapped around it. He couldn't even feel the small weight of the VR headset. The transition had been nothing short of seamless. "So right now our bodies are in your office but our avatars are here in Mitras," he confirmed.
"Correct. When you log into the Virtual Community server from your home, you'll start from a virtual version of your base as your Titan avatar. Then you'll enter the coordinates to the location where you want to go. And when you're ready to logout..." Hange demonstrated how to log off by pressing their hand against the nape of their neck.
The desktop screen from earlier appeared before them with the dialogue box reading, Are you sure want to LOG OFF?
"This is your titan and only your touch can bring up your desktop screen. I've already been using Paradis but for new users it'll ask permission to access your files and junk." Hange ignored the desktop message and it eventually disappeared.
"Why would we need to grant Paradis access to our files? Aren't there high profile people in the Virtual Community trying not to have their privacy compromised?" Levi tried talking over the boisterous sounds of party-goers and angry drivers.
"With access to your files, you can share pictures or documents but only with your permission. If the server detects any hackership, then the Cyber Police Brigade or the server's administrators take action. They make sure none of that happens and can force your titan out of the community if they deem it as a threat to user safety."
Levi nodded, eyes following the waves of city dwellers in the sea of virtual reality. He knew the Virtual Community had to be filled with rich snobs. No one could afford something so close to reality. It was almost like playing God.
"Do I just wait until someone approaches me?" he asked himself and Hange. "It's up to you. Just remember, it's not reality. So what happens here can't affect you in the real world." Their words reminded Levi that there was most likely a dark side to this Virtual Community.
Sure, a bunch of wealthy people could be using Paradis to get off, but there was no ruling out the danger. If the computer could simulate vehicles, it could very well spawn deadly weapons. The Cyber Police Brigade would only provide the illusion of security, which was ultimately left in the hands of users. Levi started to reconsider his decision to be one of Hange's guinea pigs.
"I'm ready to log off now." He stated. Hange, slightly disappointed to end the adventure so soon, gave Levi a comforting smile. "No one's going to hurt anyone, Levi. Besides, these titans are indestructible. You'll brain will process pain, but your actual body won't take any damage." they emphasized, reiterating their explanation from two weeks ago.
"Yes, I know—"
"Why are you so afraid to let yourself feel anything?" Hange half-blurted out of a mixture of frustration and concern. "You find an excuse to not let yourself be human. I swear to you that the chances of someone getting hurt—of you getting hurt— are so slim it's nearly nonexistent!"
Levi lowered his gaze to the ground-not-ground below. "I'm not worried about getting hurt physically." he murmured. When Hange processed his words, they finally understood. In the silence that fell between them, Levi imitated Hange's logging off from earlier. He felt the familiar atmosphere of Hange's office engulf him.
Hange also came to before saying to Levi apologetically, "You don't have to do anything that you don't want. I know this is just a study, but it means a lot more to me than that."
"There's so much stigma around Paradis, sex, and VR. I just want to get rid of it and find a way for people to stop seeing Eldia-Marley as some evil corporate giant. They made me the psychologist that I am today." Levi felt the heart in Hange's words. He sighed and glanced at the clock on the wall. They hadn't been in Paradis that long.
He told Hange that it was best that he go home and rest. Maybe the stress of the week was finally getting to him. Hange did not protest. They made Levi promise to call them Saturday just to check in. Levi obliged before leaving Hange's work space with an inelegant farewell.
That night, he didn't run into Eren during his midnight run. It was unsettling yet comforting. Levi knew it was best not to get attached to anyone who associated themselves with Zeke. But he had no motivation to run around the entire neighborhood like he normally did.
Ever since he got home, he had been ignoring the FedEx package carrying his 3DMG and Paradis headset sitting by the door. What was so hard? Set the thing up, log on, and "get laid." It wasn't rocket science.
Maybe he was having second thoughts.
Two weeks ago he didn't know about Eren.
He wanted to see Eren again. And Eren was probably not going to be using Paradis.
Levi told himself not to get his hopes up. How many times had he read too deep into a cute guy's friendliness back in college? Eren probably wasn't even looking for anything serious. At least in a fantasy world, Levi could get a quick fix and not have to worry about any repercussions.
The sound of paper hitting carpet in Levi's apartment made him jump. It was the flyer for Furlan and Isabel's charity event. It was going to be this Sunday. Levi tacked the paper back on the wall and stared at it miserably. Other people were moving on with their lives while he was acting like a kid afraid to dip his big toe in the deep end of the pool.
He turned to the packages by his door and made his choice.
Do you give Paradis permission to access your files?
Yes.
Please agree to the terms and conditions before logging on.
I agree.
Thank you. Please wait while your titan loads.
Bubble wrap and shreds of FedEx boxes neatly rested in the corner by Levi's garbage. He sat on his couch donning the harness and headset along with the best attire he could fetch at the last minute. The Asus laptop sat opened to the Paradis website on his dining room table. The virtual screen before him notified Levi that his avatar had been completely loaded into the Virtual Community server.
Levi placed Downtown Mitras as his desired location.
His apartment faded out of existence as the world that he thought he knew transformed around him.