#the strategic genius: ARMIN

[person-behind-books]

“i know but even so all of us just have to push foward” hanji’s words keep echoing in erens ears.

floch’s arms are tight around him as he drags him away from armin but with a burst of strength that floch doesn’t expect he knees him in between the legs and makes his way back to the roof.

he isn’t a genius like armin. can’t command the scouts like erwin.

he isn’t special.

his only value is his ability to turn into a titan. 

captain levi has the syringe against erwins arm but upon erens landing he gets up a murderous look in his blood covered eyes.

rod reiss had only needed a drop of the spinal fluid to turn into a titan.

if humanity needed erwin but mikasa and eren needed armin and there was only one titan shifter the answer was obvious.

captain levi would feed berthold to erwin and armin would die.

but eren can’t let that happen. he can’t have armin die. not kind smart armin who only ever wanted to see the ocean.

“i’m a titan shifter” captain levi stops in his tracks. 

“we both know armin is smarter than me.” a look of understanding flashes over captain levi’s face. eren would maybe call it soft if he didn’t know better.

“in that syringe is enough to transform them both” captain levi stares into his eyes for a few seconds before turning around.

he doesn’t diminish him by asking him if he’s sure but just nods.

captain levi is just as human as the rest of them and he was on the verge of losing his friend or losing one of his squad members, his loyal comerade.

but he’s also a solider and he can see, just as clearly as eren had, the strategic value eren has in comparison to armin - if you discount the titan powers armin wins.

and what eren is offering. it’s tactically the best choice.

eren doesn’t care for that. he just wants- needs armin to live but that is the reasoning that will archieve this goal so he uses it.

armin is the lesser fighter so levi injects him first. maybe it’s also a kindness of him. this way he can see armin one last time.

captain levi moves to protect erwin and eren in case armin fixates on the wrong target but he immediatly grabs berthold and hungrily shoves him into his mouth.

there is a sick crunch of bones together with a cut of scream before steam errups from armins nape and he burts out, healthy as he had been just hours ago.

eren could cry from relief and because he will die soon he does. but he doesn’t want armin to see him die so he doesn’t rush over instead he turns to captain levi and nods.

*

levi doesn’t know what to do.

having erwin eat jaeger is the best choice but his mind is warring inside of him.

the part that loves erwin wants him to die, to be free of this aweful world, to finally be at piece, while the selfish love he holds tells him to keep erwin close, alive.

the part that hates erwin, for his machinations, for his part in isabel and farlans death, want to hold him accountable, to have him live in this world a little longer to have to deal with the mountain of corpses he’s standing on.

jaeger is standing in front of him. determination and relief practically radiating off of him, but levi can also see the fear in the tremble of his hands.

he knows whatever choice he makes will leave him guilty until he dies but he had long since sworn not to regret his choices.

he returns his nod at jaeger and because eren is still so young with his sixteen years he gives him a short hug.

it’s uncomfortable and he hates every second of it but this is for jaeger and it’s his apology.

jaeger seems grateful for it, if confused.

*

mikasa notices too late what happened.

hanji is dragging her away and she can hear eren struggling against floch some ways to her right.

she’s to numb to do anything. she just hangs there like a limp ragdoll, letting her grief fill her every bone, and doesn’t move even at the pained sound coming from floch.

hanji sets her down on a roof and she blindly stares at the roof armin is breathing his last breaths on.

she can see a blonde titan shove something in his mouth and wonders detachedly if they’ll go to the jaegers home now.

but then there is a second transformation and suddenly she notices that floch and eren aren’t on the roof with them.

but that means.

eren.

oh no.

the numbness gives part for raging grief and before anyone can react she is speeding towards the second blonde titan.

she doesn’t know if it’s armin or commander erwin. doesn’t know what she can do.

she just knows that she needs to get there before it’s too late.

*

eren is grateful.

after that bewildering but strangely comporting hug captain levi went over to erwin and injected his arm with the rest of the spinal fluid.

erwin transforms into a tiny titan, only three meter to armin’s ten, and eren makes his way over to him.

every cell in his body is screaming at him to run away, to kill the titan, to survive but he’s made his choice.

this is the price for armin’s life and he refuses to let it go unpaid.

he doesn’t move as erwin grabs him. doesn’t struggle as erwin shoves him into his mouth, doesn’t transform as erwin bites though his spine, doesn’t fight as his consciousness leaves him.

*

armin wakes to crying and warm arms around him.

he doesn’t know how he got here, the last memory he has is filled with berthold’s heat, but he knows he shouldn’t be alive.

when he opens his eyes there is mikasa.

behind her he can see jean, connie, hanji, levi and erwin.

he doesn’t see eren.

then hanji shifts and he can see erwins right arm. the arm he had lost to a titan.

armin shouldn’t be alive and he knows the only reason he is is that he has become a titan shifter.

but armin also knows that the only way to regrow an arm was to be a titan shifter.

there had been only berthold - they hadn’t managed to capture reiner.

but he can’t see eren.

he twists out of mikasas grip and throws up. he he hadn’t- couldn’t have- not not eren.

*

when erwin looks at levi he sees guilt.

but he als sees a resolution and a lack of regret.

what paints him is the hatred he also sees in levi’s gaze.

he hadn’t been very concious at the end of things but he remebers flashes.

a sting in his arm, levi and jaeger - so small before him, eren in his fist. 

he knows what must have happened. understands it when he is told that arlert had almost died to take down the colossal titan.

he also understands that the reason he is alive is because levi had choosen hate.

years ago levi had sworn to kill him, hours ago levi had told him with pain in the eyes that he’ll finally have fulfilled his promise, minutes ago levi had told him with cold eyes that he was now a titan shifter.

*

mikasa had been too late.

as she had arrived erwin had pulled himself out of the second titan’s nape.

she would have broken down there but then movement had alerted her to armin.

so wonderfully alive and healthy. 

eren was gone. it was an earthshattering pain that filled mikasa at the thought.

but mikasa had lost eren once before. back in trost she had resolved to stay alive to protect his memories, to ensure people knew he lived. if nothing else she would survive for this. but she had armin in front of her. he was retching and horrified and needed mikasa at that moment.

mikasa had been too late. eren was gone, this time there would be no miraculous return, but armin wasn’t.

and armin was in front of her and even if she had been to latelatelate for eren she could still help armin.

(Cossposted on Ao3 where it’s minimally edited)

#eren jäger #eren yaegar #levi ackerman #armin arlert #mikasa ackerman #erwin smith #erwin smith lives #eren yaeger dies #major character death #could be classified as #suicide #cw suicide #cw cannibalism #kinda #(you know how it is with titans) #aot #snk

[storytimewithnova]

Part 2 Murderous Riddles: Classroom of Shadows - Titans Collide

Chapter 1: Unexpected Convergence

It was another ordinary day for the students of Class 3-E in Kunugigaoka Junior High School. However, little did they know that their lives were about to take a sinister turn. As the bell rang for the start of the day, the familiar yellow octopus-like creature, Koro-sensei, awaited his students' arrival in the classroom.

To their surprise, on entering the room, the students found themselves not alone; unfamiliar faces adorned the classroom. A group of anime characters had mysteriously joined their class. Startled but curious, the students exchanged cautious glances.

Among the newly arrived figures was Eren Yeager, the protagonist of "Attack on Titan." His intense gaze hinted at the horrors he must have experienced. Next to him stood Mikasa Ackerman, the skilled and stoic fighter, and Armin Arlert, the strategic genius.

Koro-sensei beamed with excitement, reveling in the unique opportunity. "Welcome, welcome! It seems we have some extraordinary visitors today. Allow me to introduce you to Eren, Mikasa, and Armin from the world of 'Attack on Titan.' They will be joining us for our next adventure!"

Chapter 2: Trapped in Walls

As the initial shock subsided, Koro-sensei explained the peculiar circumstances surrounding the convergence of two anime worlds. His explanation left the students and the newly arrived trio bewildered, but also intrigued. It was clear that destiny had merged their paths for a purpose.

Suddenly, a chilling gust of wind passed through the classroom, causing the windows to rattle and the students to shudder. Unbeknownst to them, the infamous Titans that roamed the "Attack on Titan" world had breached the boundaries of their reality and entered their familiar classroom.

Realizing the imminent danger, both Class 3-E and the trio from "Attack on Titan" sprang into action. Working together, they devised a plan to protect themselves and find a way back to their respective worlds.

Chapter 3: Shadows and Secrets

As they explored the newly transformed school grounds, the students noticed strange riddles etched onto the walls. These riddles seemed to hold the key to unlocking the mysteries surrounding their predicament.

Each riddle they solved led them deeper into the shadows of the school, where unsettling secrets awaited. With every step, their unity grew stronger, despite their differences in backgrounds and abilities.

Meanwhile, Koro-sensei and Eren found a peculiar connection between their worlds. Koro-sensei's assassination skills and Eren's discovered ability to transform into a Titan proved invaluable. Together, they formed an indomitable force against the menacing Titans that threatened their very existence.

Chapter 4: Unraveling the Truth

As the group delved further into the heart of the school, they uncovered a nefarious plot. A shadowy entity had orchestrated this convergence, using the Titans as mere pawns in a deadly game. Their ultimate goal was to seize control of multiple anime worlds, including the Assassination Classroom and the universe of "Attack on Titan."

With each riddle solved, the group grew closer to exposing the mastermind responsible for their entrapment. They soon realized that to free themselves, they needed to uncover the truth behind the riddles while simultaneously combating the Titans that continued to swarm the school.

Chapter 5: The Final Showdown

Armed with newfound knowledge and forged alliances, the unified group confronted the mastermind behind the convergence. In a climactic battle that tested their strength, skills, and resolve, they fought for their lives and the fate of their worlds.

Backed by the knowledge of assassination techniques and the ferocity of the Titans, the students of Class 3-E and the trio from "Attack on Titan" launched a final assault. As each enemy fell, they inched closer to victory.

In a sudden twist, Koro-sensei sacrificed himself to save his students, delivering the final blow to the mastermind. His selfless act allowed the remaining members of Class 3-E and their newfound allies to return to their respective anime worlds.

Chapter 6: Rebuilding and Moving Forward

After their harrowing adventure and triumphant return to their respective worlds, the students of Class 3-E found themselves facing a new set of challenges. The events that unfolded during their convergence with the world of "Attack on Titan" had left a lasting impact on their lives.

Now tasked with rebuilding their classroom and healing the emotional wounds that lingered, the students reached out for support. Counselors were brought in to help them process their experiences, offering guidance and reassurance as they navigated the aftermath of their adventure.

Meanwhile, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin returned to the unforgiving world of Titans, their encounter with Class 3-E having profoundly affected them as well. Determined to learn from their newfound allies, they dedicated themselves to honing their skills and developing strategies to better combat their formidable enemies.

As days turned into weeks, both Class 3-E and the trio from "Attack on Titan" maintained a connection, sharing their progress and discoveries. Through letters and occasional visits, they exchanged advice, stories, and the lessons they had learned from their time together.

Chapter 7: The Ripple Effect

News of the convergence between the Assassination Classroom and the world of "Attack on Titan" began to spread throughout various anime universes. Characters from different series became curious about the remarkable events that had unfolded and the bonds formed between the two groups.

An unexpected alliance between these worlds began to take shape. The characters realized that there was strength in unity, that the convergence had not only brought danger but also the potential for collaboration and growth. They saw the opportunity to learn from one another and face their own challenges with renewed determination.

Slowly but steadily, the characters from different anime universes began to form connections, communicating through letters, virtual meetings, and occasional joint missions. They shared their unique skills, insights, and experiences, forging powerful alliances that transcended their original stories.

Chapter 8: Uniting Against a Common Threat

In the midst of the newfound camaraderie, a grave threat emerged that transcended the boundaries of any individual anime world. A powerful entity, known as the Shadow Lord, rose to power, seeking to plunge all anime universes into eternal darkness.

Realizing that they could not face this threat alone, the united characters banded together, forming an alliance spanning multiple anime worlds. Each brought their own unique strengths, knowledge, and abilities to the table, creating a force that the Shadow Lord could not ignore.

Guided by their shared experiences, the students of Class 3-E, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, alongside characters from other anime series, infiltrated the Shadow Lord's domain. They faced treacherous landscapes, cunning traps, and deceptive riddles, all designed to test their resolve and unity.

Chapter 9: The Darkness Within

United by their unwavering determination, the allied group confronted the Shadow Lord in a final battle. However, unbeknownst to them, the Shadow Lord had been feeding off the negative energy generated by their convergence, growing stronger with each passing moment.

As the battle raged on, the Shadow Lord revealed its true form - a grotesque creature born from the darkest corners of their fears. Its malevolent power began to corrupt the hearts and minds of the characters, turning their alliances into bitter rivalries.

Friendships shattered, trust was lost, and chaos ensued. The once-united group now turned against each other, consumed by the sinister whispers of the Shadow Lord. In this twisted turn of events, the convergence that brought them together became their downfall.

Despair and darkness engulfed the anime universes, leaving nothing but devastation in their wake. The world of Titans fell under the control of the Shadow Lord, its inhabitants forced into a never-ending nightmare, with no hope of escape.

Epilogue: The Reign of Shadows

In the aftermath of their shattered unity, the characters from different anime series found themselves trapped in their own individual worlds, all under the Shadow Lord's control. The once-vibrant anime universes became stagnant, devoid of joy and hope.

The students of Class 3-E, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, now bitter enemies, could only watch in anguish as the world they fought so hard to protect crumbled before their eyes. They were haunted by the memory of their brief alliance, a stark reminder of what could have been.

Bound by the darkness that consumed them, they were forced to serve the Shadow Lord as instruments of destruction. Their once-noble goals became twisted, as they aimed to spread fear and despair among the remaining pockets of resistance.

And so, the anime world fell into a never-ending cycle of suffering, forever under the reign of shadows. The coalition that had briefly formed in the face of adversity was but a distant memory in the hearts of those now consumed by darkness.

In the end, the sinister powers of the Shadow Lord prevailed, leaving the anime universes forever trapped in a perpetual nightmare. The legacy of the convergence between the Assassination Classroom and the world of "Attack on Titan" would forever be one of tragedy and despair.

[madraleen]

Attack on Titan manga Post-Time Skip Overall Thoughts, Part 1: Only Ymir Knows.

I decided to do an overall-thoughts first and then post the commentaries. It kind of turned into an essay, so I split it in two parts. None of it is mean, but it is critical. To be clear: I love Attack on Titan; just thinking about it gets me emotional. This is why I’m writing this- to make peace with my gripes, get it out of my system and watch the anime in peace. These are fairly initial thoughts. It’s been less than a week since I’ve finished the manga (and lost my mind in the process, lol), and it’s such a rich and complex narrative that I’m sure I’ll change my views here and there. Proceed at your own discretion.

To begin with: Few works of fiction have made me so engaged and have made me feel things so strongly and viscerally like Attack on Titan- both parts of it, regardless of my gripes. I consider everything pre-time skip a masterclass in writing. I consider a lot of things post-time skip absolutely great, a lot of them decent, and some of them sloppy. 

The ideas presented range from good to great, but the execution of  some of those ideas is poor. I don’t think the ending is awful. It’s decent. But decent compared to the brilliance of Part 1 and some of Part 2 is a little insulting for such a body of work; I know it could have been done better; we all do.

I will not touch on Eren in this part. He gets a Part 2 all on his own, because Eren’s handling is my major issue in Part 2. Here are the miscellanea.

My boy Armin: His mind was criminally underutilized. All his strategic genius went out the window. He upped his compassion and pacifistic nature, but the brilliant thinker of Part 1 just wasn’t there. He also never got closure in his story. He never felt like he lived up to Erwin, he tells himself he hates himself, and none of that gets resolved. He never gets a conclusion with Annie either.

Mikasa the world-trotter: How did she get back to Paradis with Eren’s head? How did she manage to establish a life on the very island she betrayed?

Mikasa and Armin, our lords and saviors: It should have made sense, but it felt unearned. Mikasa and Armin were far from central to the story in Part 2. They were part of the ensemble, and suddenly the fate of humanity comes down to Mikasa’s choice and how it relates to Ymir’s love, and Armin’s supposed to save everyone? Great concepts, unbelievably rushed and sloppy execution. These things needed foreshadowing and time to breathe.

My one and only Levi: It’s such a shame that we never got to see flashbacks in his own POV, especially how he got to join the Corps and how he came to be so close to Erwin.

Our Queen Historia: I cannot understand how she became so irrelevant after becoming the Queen.

The ammo conundrum: Unlimited thunder spears and gas. Their running out has been such a prominent, limiting thing in the series, yet it never was an issue when they were fighting on Eren. I’m half-convinced that they just didn’t fly around much, so I’m not sure if this is actually an issue.

No one seems to care about the Hallucigenia creature. No one questions it, questions if it's dead, questions what it is or where it came from. It’s the one thing that causes everything, it’s legendary, IT’S RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES, and yet.

The time paradox: I don’t like wibbly wobbly timey wimey narratives. I don’t like it when characters from the future affect characters from the past and create a time paradox where the past was never different and the outcome was always the same because time exists all at once. I can’t wrap my mind around there not being a starting point. This is 100% a personal preference and I do not hold it against the manga.

All in all I just think it became too complicated for its own good. Too many POVs to do them all justice, too many threads to give them all a payoff, and… well,  not enough Eren. Which leads us to Part 2~

#attack on titan #attack on titan manga #attack on titan spoilers #i legit lost my mind and this is how i cope #manga #manga commentary

[spezialistin]

tag dump

#tag dump #the girl who is worth one hundred soldiers: MIKASA #the humanitys strongest soldier: LEVI #the humanitys last hope: EREN #the strategic genius: ARMIN #the widely respected commander: ERWIN #the quirky scientist: HANGE #the voice of reason: MARCO #the natural leader: JEAN #the enthusiastic optimistic: CONNIE #the intuitive food lover: SASHA #the loyal warrior: REINER #the cautious warrior: BERTHOLDT #the analytic warrior: ANNIE #the incredibly intelligent warrior: PIECK #the arrogant warrior: PORCO #the compassionate warrior: FALCO #the passionate warrior: GABI #the strongest warrior: ZEKE #the fervent follower: YELENA #the kind queen: HISTORIA #the prideful and perceptive girl: YMIR #I'm with you: RIVAMIKA #take your hands off her: JEANKASA #I'm glad I did: MIKANNIE #you are family: EREMIKA #I'd want it to be stopped by someone: REIKASA #he nearly seemed like a different person: BERUMIKA #the power trio: ERERIVAMIKA #the shiganshina trio: EREARUMIKA

[spezialistin-archived]

tag dump

#tag dump #the girl who is worth one hundred soldiers: MIKASA #the humanitys strongest soldier: LEVI #the humanitys last hope: EREN #the strategic genius: ARMIN #the widely respected commander: ERWIN #the quirky scientist: HANGE #the voice of reason: MARCO #the natural leader: JEAN #the enthusiastic optimistic: CONNIE #the intuitive food lover: SASHA #the loyal warrior: REINER #the cautious soldier: BERTHOLDT #the analytic warrior: ANNIE #the incredibly intelligent warrior: PIECK #the arrogant warrior: PORCO #the compassionate warrior: FALCO #the passionate warrior: GABI #the strongest warrior: ZEKE #the kind queen: HISTORIA #the prideful and perceptive girl: YMIR #the fervent follower: YELENA #I'm with you: RIVAMIKA #take your hands off her: JEANKASA #the power trio: ERERIVAMIKA #I'm glad I did: MIKANNIE #you are family: EREMIKA #the shiganshina trio: EREARUMIKA #I'd want it to be stopped by someone: REIKASA #fight with me: GLOBAL ALLIANCE

[heartotaku]

Why SNK's ending failed us in every conceivable way.

-SPOILERS AHEAD-

first of all, let me get this off my chest- the way hange died. is that a way to send off a legend? so unsatisfying and an absolute waste of potential.

what was the whole point of the liberio attack and getting the war hammer titan? just for revenge? or for scaring the world to protect paradis? like that worked. it's like eren had no objective in any of his actions in s4.

speaking of eren. post time skip eren is character assassination. he's a whole new person and there was no satisfying way to justify his actions.

what was the whole point of eren discussing his plans with floch and historia (2 idiots) and not with his best friend armin who is a strategic genius? even if he knew that his friends would oppose his plans, doesn’t that mean they actually have a freaking point and his plans were shitty in the first place?

historia did absolutely nothing as queen except get preggo with farmer boy.

why didn't zeke stop the rumbling which he was totally against by just exiting paths and running away or killing himself? he only did so when armin told him to.

annie was given a happy ending when that sadistic wench spun around soldiers like a yoyo while reiner suffered from mental anguish and bertolt died a horrific death?

the hallucigenia (weird spine creature) started this whole thing and we know nothing about it. is it natural? magical? Is it the devil? Is there another one? could it create another founding titan? did it choose ymir or was it an accident? this thing kicked off the entire mythos of the series and we know nothing about it and no one seems to care.

ymir's actions are incomprehensible. why did ymir choose eren over royal blooded zeke like it should have when eren wanted to start the rumbling? what made him special?

why did ymir make titans according to human rules? why did she make titans for the marleyans, who opposed the royal bloodline? what sort of rules governed all the titans?

why did she disappear in the end? was she in love with that rapist king and was looking for a way to detach from him through mikasa killing eren? did she seriously not find closure through another couple in the past 2000 years?

now back to eren- if you start a genocide why would you half-ass it??? what’s the point of the rumbling if you stop midway? killing 80% of the population and angering the rest of the world further while making eldians more subjected to hate and left totally defenseless is the height of stupidity.

if eren thought that people would truly believe the alliance to be capable of killing him then i have no words for it. there is no way the rest of the hundreds of millions of people on earth would ever look at them as the good guys if they know that eren himself allowed them to be victorious & they didnt actually see the battle to prove otherwise. 

what tf was eren’s motivation? freedom? revenge? an eye for an eye? did he achieve anything at all? was paradis saved in the end? what was the point of making dina eat his mom and his father killed the reiss family? did he even try to influence or change the future? the time travel stuff was unnecessary and served no purpose except to tell us that eren was a genocidal maniac. but apparently we learn that it wasnt the case. he actually was doing paradis a favour 🙄

what did isayama try to even prove with this ending? there’s no true freedom in this world or that war never ends? eren just went from being one of my favourite protagonists to a senseless plot device, albeit an attractive one, i’ll give him that for his man bun and his rippling abs. 

signing out.

#annie leonhardt #eren jaeger #mikasa ackerman #levi ackerman #snk #aot #sasha blouse #attack on titan #snk ending #aot ending #shingeki no kyojin #hange zoe #reiner #armin arlert

[angstyantoinette]

Yandere! Armin Arlert Headcanons

AGED UP I REPEAT ALL CHARACTERS ARE AGED UP-

This little blonde ball of curiosity is verrryy toxic in my Yandere version. 

Armin knows how innocent he looks to other people and by playing on this, coupled with his practical and analytical genius status, boy is it so very easy for him to gain the trust of his comrades, friends and especially his Beloved. 

I feel as if Armin wouldn’t be picky with a particular type, but never being attracted to an unkind or particular person he would be disgusted by in any way. 

He may fall for someone who is slightly colder, or who doesn’t really know how to respond to kindness. In that scenario, Armin would be overjoyed, but very patient and giving with them; if he wasn’t Yandere. 

I see him as very touch-starved and wanting, but afraid to be clingy for fear he would drive his Beloved away. In this case he would dote on you as best he could in his environment, making you fall for him even more. 

You would him as endearing, and like most, innocent. Armin is smart; one might say way too smart for his own good, and being a Yandere, I feel this makes him just as dangerous as those willing to use physical violence/methods on their Beloved. 

He knows that you just love his little quirks and his way of thinking. If you tell him this, he may think you only see him as valuable because of his skill for strategizing. But when you reassure him that you just love him for him, he just falls in love with you even more. 

He’s worrisome about you. Every time he makes practise with your ODM gear until you’re bruised, and exhausted, ready to run into his awaiting arms. Rewarding you with cuddles and affection, Armin’s love isn’t exactly conditional; but it still isn’t normal.

But that’s if you accept his feelings, with Armin being a Yandere or not, and with your knowledge or ignorance. 

If you don’t accept his feelings, whether it being for your personal reasons, or because you…um, like someone else, to put it nicely; 

YOU’RE FUCKED. 

He’ll smile, nod his head, maybe try a little too hard to act like he’s okay with your decision. But you understand, after all, it’s not like you haven’t been rejected before. 

“We can always be friends, Armin! I’m here for you okay?” 

“Yeah, Y/N, whatever you say…” 

About a few weeks after his rejection, with all of the support from Eren, Mikasa and the others, Armin is slowly descending into a deep depression. 

He was so sure of his feelings for you. They were his most prized possession. You made him laugh, you made him blush and god you made his pitiful life seem so much more worth living. You were the ocean, and he just wanted to drown myself in you. Like the sun he saw so rarely, you were the ray of pure light that made his body burn. 

He lay awake at night, taunted and enthralled with the thoughts of you in so many different scenarios….maybe in particular, different positions. 

[Yes, those kinda positions. Armin’s not always that innocent, y’all.]

He knows that the more he thinks of you in these appetizing ways, in these hurtfully satisfying scenarios, he’s never going to be able to get over you. 

Rather, he’s not even going to try.

Being trapped in his fantasies, Armin is horrifically aware that these feelings are incredibly toxic, for the both of you. He just won’t let you go. Whatever it takes, Armin will commit whatever crimes he must to keep you in his life. 

He sees you as being misunderstood, especially if you’re typically a colder person, hard to read, detached. Some people compare you to Levi, but Armin just knows that you, like the Corporal, have far more depth than you let on. 

His intrigue doesn’t let up for a long while, as you’re constantly surprising him in new and amazing ways. You’re used to his deep interest in you after a while, but you still don’t understand him. 

Armin thrives on your confusion at first, but if it drives you away from him, he’ll go into tactical mode. Staying up all night,figuring out who is calling your attention to them rather than him and what his next move should be. 

With his intelligence, Armin keeps his sizzling bafflement and envy under wraps. He tells himself that maybe he had unerved you a little. He can get like that sometimes, surely you understood him well enough to know that?He obviously did find you interesting and he was willing to momentarily abandon Eren and Mikasa just to fuel his endless curiosity. 

Keep in mind, this is after you reject him, and his desperation to just know you and love you is greatly overwhelming him to the highest degree. You just won’t allow him to really see you, to understand you. 

Eventually, he snaps. Just not in the typical yandere way. We all know that Armin feels as though he is a nuisance, a self-proclaimed burden so he keeps most of his feelings inside, and lets them loose to either prove a point, or while under stress. 

It takes a minute for him to decide what to do with you, because he knows that once he has made a choice, it has to be the right choice. He has to know and map out a detailed plan, whether it’s doable, whether he’s able to pull it off by himself, etc.

His analytical skills come into play, and he plans everything from the location, time, the equipment needed at exactly what time. By this time, he will have comepletely left you alone; abrupt and brash, and just as he planned, you were surprised. Yes, he wanted to get to know you, and you couldn’t help but feel even slightly violated and maybe even disturbed. 

Your like anyone in the world, have natural curiosity and interest in just about anything. But the unfamiliar feeling of unsettlement around Armin just felt…off.

You secretly knew of his deep infatuation; people always seemed to determined to figure the silent types out, to crack them open, decipher their many secrets. In terms of this analogy, you sort of understand, maybe even sympathise with his endless novelty toward your character, but even so…just why?

Maybe it was the fact that you felt bad for him, in a sad, puppy love kinda way. Maybe you saw him as a traumatized individual, just putting his assumed coping mechanism to work, with you just in the innocent line of fire. 

If he kidnaps you at all, Armin will smother you. Telling you how much you mean to him, explaining that only he can access your wonder and intrigue. Because, after all, he worked this hard to get you; why would he ever share you with anyone else? 

Although he will be stern, he’ll always be nice about it, rewarding you or not. 

You’re an enigma to Armin Arlert, keeping him guessing, testing his patience with all of your being. You don’t know it, but soon you’ll be in his possession.

I headcanon him as seeing your refusal, your blatant rejection as some kind of ‘disease.’ You haven’t even seen the best of him yet, why make up your mind about something that you know almost nothing of? Oh well, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other very soon. He’ll bare his injured soul to you, and you’ll have mo choice but to do the same for him. It’s what married couples do after all, right?

Just let him love you, Y/N. Let Armin adore you. It’s the best thing to do if you want everyone to live.

Glassy, still sapphire eyes simply stared at you in the weak light of a stolen candle. You couldn’t quite pinpoint what they were saying, those beautiful, dangerous, albeit loving eyes. But yet, they also held malice in their abyss’. Endless, bottomless, simply divine they were. That was all you knew.

“Why…do you lie to me?” he murmered. A small, rough palm came to rest against your hollowed cheek, fingertips gently tapping against the skin. Realising how close he truly was, you tried your hardest to get away, shifting in your place in the surprisingly plush, old bed, but all it took was a flash of blonde hair to whip past your face, before he succeeded in holding your arms down.

While he never did this explicitly to punish or harm you, Armin always knew just how to exert his power. Never mind the boundaries that he installed in you the day of your arrival; he didn’t care for them as much as you had to pretend to.

This Armin was unhinged. Normalcy could never be considered in this relationship. He could never understand the pain he put you through. To Armin, it was all in the name of his devotion. All of his interest had been rooted in one fact; you refused to love him.

Once he figured out that you wouldn’t couldn’t love him of your own accord, he became enamoured with something he just knew he could never have.

He had never even thought about taking you, drugging you, dragging you to a secluded spot in the woods, or an out of bounds room, derelict over many years.

“I never intended to take you like this, bunny.”

Swallowing hard, you tried to look him in the eyes, gently lifting your head higher and higher until his blue pools of mere unhinged insanity met your own pained orbs. Seeming to like this, he smiled.

His perfect teeth looked more like fangs in the dim, weak moonlight. It had felt like he had managed to suck every molecule of beauty from even the most simple of things.

His voice sounded like the devil; harsh, unforgiving lilting tones of false hope daring to stroke you face and make you think you had a good chance at happiness.

You didn’t know when he stopped being Armin and began being a monster. You didn’t know if the lines could be blurred any further.

“I never wanted this, Armin-” 

“Don’t play with me, bunny,” he snapped. His slender fingers wound themselves in your clean hair, twisting and searching for a soft spot to pull. When he found it, he lightly tugged; barely, but you still winced from the thought of the last time he did this. 

You still wanted to believe that he was quiet, sweet Armin who still had an unstoppable fascination with you, but he was harmless then. Or was he? Was he faking his intentions? Did he have it planned from the very beginning? 

You wanted to choke yourself for believing his simple demeanour, his dedication to the cause of the Survey Corps just like everyone else. He was a liar. He was a predator in all ways, ensnaring you, his perfect prey. 

Only now had Armin realized just how confused you were. 

You didn’t understand his love for you. You thought he hated you! 

Now that wouldn’t do.

Armin could have have kicked himself. All of his stern discipline and rules stemming from his love and protection meant that you mistook for him being cruel. He was doing this out of his devotion! 

How could he assume you would understand if he never told you, if he never proved his love?

“Armin, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything, I swear-” You took a deep breath, cutting yourself off. Now was not the place or time to be losing your composure; you still were trying to get used to the fact that you were being held against your will. 

“Hush”, he suddenly murmured, gently taking your chin in his fingertips, before moving them to tenderly cup your face, his eyes darting anywhere that he could lay his gaze upon.

The gestures were so tender you found your cheeks erupting with a wild blush, the burning shame hitting you moments later when your hatred and slight fear hit you like a slap to the face. 

Your embarassment only got worse when you felt his soft lips kiss your throat, his warm breath flush against your skin. His hands found themselves back in your hair again, stroking it, petting it, twisting it round and round his finger. His right hand caressed your nape, spreading his fingers so that they only just covered the width of your neck, and he pulled you closer, so that your head was nuzzled into his neck, buried beneath his love and fascination.

It all clicked. 

Armin wasn’t just interested in you. 

He was obessed with you.

Obsessively in love with you. 

You felt pathetic. You felt weak. But in a strange way, you also felt loved. 

You had no choice but to resign yourself to his touch, letting your head fall limp as he cradled you to his chest.

“Good bunny.”

#yandere aot #yandere snk #yandere armin #armin arlert x reader #attack on titan #yandere #headcanons #yandere attack on titan #Headcanon #hc's #armin x reader

[mendespideys]

in need of saving | e.y.

pairing: eren yeager x reader 

warnings: mentions of fighting, swearing, blood, etc. it’s angsty

summary: eren’s emotions get the best of him and you’re his last hope. based on the line “you’ve been talking with your fists” from when you love someone by james tw.

a/n: this is my first ever drabble/fic/one-shot (whatever you wanna call it) of aot. my husband made me watch it, i became obsessed and now i am here putting my obsession into my writing lol. hope you guys like it. enjoy! 

also, to the people following me for marvel/sm content - i’m sorry lol

gif credit 

it was no secret that eren jaeger was slowly but surely losing it. maybe not losing it, but definitely losing his cool. and a lot more frequently than what everyone had deemed normal for him.

because it was also no secret that eren was known for losing it time and time again. everyone in the 104th cadet corps had seen the green-eyed boy pick a fight more than once - especially with jean. the two of them seemed to bubble with anger just at the sight of one another and no one really knew the real reason why. 

whether it was jean using what was definitely eren’s least favorite nickname he had ever gotten (suicidal maniac) or eren making a comment about the redhead being a coward - the two of them could barely get along on a good day. 

but, lately, everyone seemed to be getting on eren’s bad side. horse-face was no longer the only insult coming from him and it certainly was not the most cruel one that had slipped past his lips either. eren’s anger - or whatever it was - was no longer only focused jean. he seemed to be taking his feelings out on everyone. everyone except you. 

even the captain and the commander had been getting their fair share of snarky comments and attitudes from the titan shifter. while they were undoubtedly unable to hold their ground, eren was definitely crossing lines he shouldn’t have. 

and, so, you were forced into your current situation. 

“tch,” captain levi pushed himself off the table he had been leaning on. “the brat is out of control. while i have no problem beating the living shit out of him, i doubt more fighting is what he needs.”

hange nodded. “it seems he’s either too tired to heal himself or he chooses not to. his injuries are taking longer and longer to disappear. we have to do something before it’s too late.” 

before it’s too late. 

you shuddered. the thought of something happening to eren sent a shiver down your spine. worrying about him was like second nature to you and the only one who appeared to understand you was mikasa. 

“with all due respect, commander,” armin spoke up, his bright blue eyes studying the room before continuing. “we have all tried. he doesn’t want to listen to any of us. it’s pointless.”

a sigh fell from his lips, as a subconscious hand rubbed his bandaged shoulder. poor armin. even the innocent, genius best friend had been unlucky enough to experience eren’s wrath. 

“everyone but y/n.”

your eyes darted toward the mention of your name and you met captain levi’s steady gaze. you cowered under his intense stare, feeling other eyes on you as well. you cleared your throat, feeling a weird sense of pressure in the pit of your stomach. 

“i’ve tried, too,” you swallowed thickly, refusing to remember all the times you had tried to talk him. “i- he doesn’t want to listen.” 

“you haven’t really tried,” levi remarked. “the brat’s picking fights left and right. every little thing seems to set him off and you are the only one who can get him to stop. y/n, we all see the way he looks at you. eren might be humanity’s last hope, but right now, you’re his.” 

your heart was thumping in your chest. you had noticed the difference in eren’s actions toward you as well. the touches that lingered a little bit longer than normal, the longing stares he thought you never noticed, the way his anger practically melted away when his name left your lips... 

but to hear someone else confirm it aloud felt weird. foreign. because you had pushed those observations to the back of your mind, desperate not to over-analyze any of them. the two of you were just friends. 

a knock on the door startled you out of your messy web of thoughts. the door opened before either one of the superiors could give permission to do so, revealing a timid yet determined sasha. she addressed the whole room, but her brown eyes were on you. 

“um, sir, sorry to interrupt, but eren and jean are back at it again and i’m afraid neither one of them is stopping, sir.” 

no one seemed to notice the half-eaten potato clutched in her hand - or if they did, they chose not to mention it - as she saluted the captain and commander. you were already practically out of your seat before she could finish and the look from sasha that went unnoticed by everyone else certainly did not go unnoticed by you. 

you followed hot on her heels, your gaze fixated on her bobbing ponytail as she scurried through the hallways but your mind totally elsewhere. there was an uneasy feeling bubbling deep inside you and no matter what you told yourself, you couldn’t shake it. 

while eren did lack the ability to take control of his emotions and strategically plan out his next moves, his brute strength and impeccable hand-to-hand combat techniques made up for it. therefore, you were more worried about jean than eren, to say the least. 

so, to say you were surprised when you entered the field and laid eyes on the two was an understatement. the sight you had imagined and prepared yourself for was nowhere to be seen. instead, the one eren was injuring was himself. by the look of it, there definitely had been a fight between him and jean, but the latter was merely watching connie’s attempts at stopping the brunette. 

you came to a halt immediately, unsure of how to process the scene playing out in front of you. a trembling hand mutes a sob, which is now nothing more than a pained whimper as your eyes traveled up and down eren’s body, mentally assessing his injuries. 

his nose was definitely bleeding. this wasn’t an unusual sight as it tended to happened a lot during his early experiment stages with hange. but you weren’t prepared for the bruising that was already forming and there was no doubt in your mind that his nose was broken. 

his forehead was stained red as well, strands of his growing hair sticking to the sides of his face. it was impossible for you to appraise the extent of the damage as you were unable to determine the origin of the crimson liquid. 

everything seemed to happen in slow motion and too fast all at once. at the sight of the your group, connie’s attempts were replaced by captain levi’s with mikasa not far behind. hange made a beeline for jean, who was muttering frustrated nothings while rubbing his jaw. 

so eren had gotten a few hits in. 

a gentle nudge brought you back, once again, from the dark chaos within your mind. you met armin’s blue orbs, attempting to ignore the pure worry swimming within them. his eyebrows arched as a silent plea and you followed his gaze to where eren was wildly trashing against the captain. 

in any other situation, you would have laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. the captain’s height was a frequent talking point among your group and there was no denying how small he looked compared to eren’s towering frame. in any other situation, you also would not have bothered hiding how impressed you were with the captain’s ability to overpower the younger boy. 

“y/n-” levi warned, voice strained, as the bloodied boy continued to attempt resisting him. 

with a nod (to convince yourself or as a response to levi, you were unsure), your unsteady legs carried you toward the two of them. eren’s eyes were wild with determination, his nostrils flaring with anger. but you quickly realized when walking closer that there were a dozen other emotions pooling within his emerald orbs. 

“eren,” his name fell from your mouth with ease. skillfully, you maneuvered your hand around his flailing limbs, placing your palm on his swollen cheek. “eren, it’s okay. hey - stop, it’s okay, i’m here.” 

it was as if a boulder had fallen off his shoulders. his actions halted immediately and his entire body relaxed at the sound of your voice. you wouldn’t have believed the effect you had on him if you hadn’t just witnessed it. levi reluctantly let go of eren, still on stand-by in case the boy would try anything.

“y/n,” your name fell from his lips just as easily, his voice nothing more than a whisper. 

and just like that, he crumbled underneath your touch. you fell to the ground with him, ignoring the pain as your knees came in contact with the hardened dirt beneath you. bringing your other hand up as well, you trapped his face, forcing him to meet your gaze. 

he didn’t try to look anywhere else. he couldn’t. the pained look he was giving you was almost too much and you resisted the urge to look away. his bottom lip was trembling, the slit in it leaking blood with every movement. you found yourself having to withstand the yearning to kiss the pain away. 

“eren, what’s going on with you?” you tried to maintain a steady voice but there was no doubt that everybody could pick up on the worry behind every word. “this is- you can’t keep doing this. you have done nothing but talk with your fists and you need to stop. you can’t go picking fights with everybody over the smallest things.”

eren didn’t respond. the mixture of dirt and blood - both dried and fresh - and the threat of nightfall made it hard to see, but the violent jerks of his body made it obvious: he was crying. your own tears fell as well as sob after sob raked through his body. 

“i can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s wrong,” you swallowed down your own cries, your mind focused on nothing but helping the heartbroken boy in your arms. “eren, i need you to talk to me. please?”

“w-why? you shouldn’t- i’m a monster. a stupid good-for-nothing bastard. you- why do you want to help me?”

anger coursed through your veins. you wanted to beat the living shit out of whoever had made him feel this way about himself. they had absolutely no right. eren’s cries echoed in the twilight. you didn’t check if your comrades were still an audience. frankly, you didn’t care. 

“you want to know why? because you’re human. because you have the abilities you have. because i truly believe you’re one of humanity’s last hopes. because you deserve to have someone believe in you the way you believe in saving all of us,” you inhaled deeply, overcome with emotion. “because i love you.” 

eren’s sobs stopped just like that; as if they had an off button that you just pushed. the momentary silence - which felt way longer than you would ever admit - was broken by a sound somewhere between a shaky sigh and a surprised gasp coming from eren. 

you couldn’t bring yourself to regret your confession. you didn’t feel an ounce of remorse and definitely not any embarrassment. maybe it was due to eren also showing vulnerability or maybe it was because you had practiced said confession more than once. 

you didn’t care. he knew. he knew now and that was all that mattered. 

his eyes searched your face. you weren’t sure for what, but you assumed for a sign of wether or not you were speaking the truth. your features held nothing but earnest as you returned his analyzing stare and it seemed to satisfy his silent investigation. 

“i feel- it’s too much. too much pressure. i don’t know what i’m doing anymore. i’m not- there has to be someone else. i-i can’t do it... so many people. they’re all dead because of me. i’m not strong enough to-” 

the last drops of self-control you had were eliminated by his proclamation. while it might have been difficult to comprehend for some, you had understood every word and with each broken sentence, your heart ached more and more. 

eren’s disjointed admissions were halted by your lips on his. you didn’t know where your newfound confidence had come from but you were grateful for its presence. his lips molded against yours almost instantly - so effortlessly. 

you ignored the taste of iron just as eren ignored the stinging from the cut on his lip. while the kiss was nowhere near being sexual, it was definitely more than just a peck. your lips moved together in pain and understand and love and relief. 

unwillingly, you pulled away. suddenly aware that you more than likely still had an audience, the fresh evening air felt good against your flushed cheeks. the two of you remained silent, attempting to revert your breathing patterns back to normal. 

eren rested his forehead against yours. you were sure sasha could practically hear the way your heart was stammering in your chest. and if not, eren definitely could. with each thump, your chest tightened and you were sure that if human bodies had not been designed with rib cages, your heart would have been long gone. 

your thumb caressed his cheek, his fresh tears smearing with the dried crimson in the process. a gust of wind took ahold of the few pieces of hair framing your face. eren gingerly grabbed the loose strands, tucking them behind your ear. he had done so countless times before, but something just felt different this time around. 

“i love you, too,” he whispered, the previous insecurities long gone from his voice. he had never spoken truer words. 

you smiled. “let’s get you cleaned up, yeah? and i think you might owe someone an apology.” 

eren’s limbs ached and although he didn’t want to admit to that, his body betrayed him. he had just barely stood back up when his trembling legs buckled. he prepared to meet the cold ground and the pain that would ensue, but a pair of hands caught him before it happened. 

you were just as surprised as eren appeared to be as levi attempted to steady him. it seemed the captain hadn’t ventured far. hyper aware that he probably had heard every word shared between you and eren, you didn’t dare meet his eyes. 

you sprung into action immediately, moving to eren’s other side. he winced as you navigated his arm around your shoulders, causing you to sputter out apologies while doing so. captain levi’s amusement didn’t go unnoticed by you or eren, but neither of you decided to comment on it. 

with you and captain levi both being significantly shorter than eren, supporting his weight was easier said than done. after some trial and error, though, the three of you were able to move almost seamlessly. 

eren’s strength was wavering by the second, you could tell, but he had enough left to come to a halt when you neared his most recent victim. you met jean’s eyes, hoping he could sense how apologetic you were. he confirmed with a nod then turned his attention to the boy who seemed to be getting heavier and heavier in your arms. 

“i’m sorry, jean, i-i honestly don’t even know... i’m sorry.”

“what? no ‘horse-face’?” the redhead chuckled, almost sadly. you realized that they had already cleaned him up. “don’t worry about it, eren. you did more damage to yourself than me anyway.” 

jean placed a hand on eren’s arm that was thrown over your shoulder. the interaction was brief but seemed to mean a lot to the both of them. then, they nodded and jean walked back toward the remainder of the group. sasha and connie were both saying words to him that you couldn't hear. 

you could feel the distressed stares that armin and mikasa were both sending in your direction. you gave them a nod, promising that their childhood friend was okay. he would be, at least. you had already made it your mission to ensure it. 

as you and captain levi hauled eren toward his dorm, the severity of the situation began feeling heavy on your shoulders. eren had definitely broken more than a few rules and you were sure captain levi would make sure he was punished for his insubordination. 

you weren’t entirely sure you would be off the hook either. sure, you hadn’t broken rules or gone against direct orders, but you hadn’t exactly abided either. captain levi could easily find a reason for why you should receive punishment as well and no one would even question it. 

captain levi’s steel eyes followed your every move as you opened the door to eren’s room, you could feel it. it didn’t feel like his typical burning glare but you couldn’t quite place your finger on the emotion behind the action either. 

as if sensing your thoughts that were now moving a hundred miles a minute, a groan came from eren. you watched them both quietly as captain levi managed to plop eren down on the chair you had placed next to the bath. another groan escaped the green-eyed boy and you could tell he was exhausted and in pain.

“captain, i’m-”

“tch. save it, brat. we have all been there and if they haven’t, they will. i’m surprised it took you this long. you’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for, kid,” levi interrupted, turning his attention toward you. “y/n, i trust you’ll take good care of humanity’s last hope. i’ll see the both of you at breakfast tomorrow morning.”

“i- yes, sir.” 

captain levi left without another word, leaving you and eren alone for the first time all day. you suddenly felt hesitant, unsure of what to do next. eren’s grunts of frustration filled the silent room as he began - well, tried to anyway - removing his tunic. 

you swatted his hands away gently, removing the article of clothing with ease. you had seen eren’s bare body before but you were still just as awestruck. this time, though, his skin was littered with scrapes, cuts and bruises of almost every color imaginable. you swallowed the urge to yell at him. 

the silence continued as you washed his body ever-so-gently. once you had been able to get him into the tub, that is. more than once, you had to momentarily stop your actions to check if eren had either fallen asleep or passed out. 

every time, his eyelids would flutter open instinctively, as if missing the warmth of your touch the second it disappeared. his green eyes would widen until they landed on you and he would relax, his lids falling shut once again. 

the silence wasn’t uncomfortable; it was filled with unspoken words of gratitude and affection. the two of you enjoyed it to the fullest - maybe even a little too much. reluctantly, you stopped running your fingers through his brown locks that never seemed to stop growing. 

eren didn’t protest when you told him it was time to get out despite how much he wanted to. he also didn’t protest and tried his best to help when you began putting a change of clothes on him. he didn’t protest when you whispered it was time for bed, either. 

he did protest when you attempted to take your leave, however. 

“stay,” it was a soft plea that pulled on your heartstrings. “please?”

and, so, you climbed into bed with him without hesitation. he nuzzled into the crook of your neck so quickly that it seemed like second-nature to him and was asleep within minutes, his soft snores the only sound within range. 

well, you had definitely broken rules now. but you decided that eren sleeping next to you was more than worth whatever form of discipline captain levi could ever devise. you would handle whatever it was with pride if it meant you could stay like this forever. 

/ / / / / 

ok, um, this didn’t exactly go where i had envisioned it to but i’m not really mad? idk. i had to put some levi x eren in there bc i live for their mentor/mentee relationship. if you made it this far, please send me some asks and let me know what you thought 🥺

#aot #snk #attack on titan #shingeki no kyojin #eren jaeger #eren yeager #eren jaeger x reader #reader x aot #aot x reader #levi ackerman #armin arlert #mikasa ackerman #sasha braus #sasha blouse #connie springer #jean kirstein #hange zoë #reader x eren jaeger #eren yeager x reader #eren jaeger x you #eren jaeger x y/n #eren yeager x y/n #snk x reader

[lostinthewiind]

Brave Heart: Chapter Thirty-Seven

Attack on Titan

Rating: Mature

Warnings: sexual themes, death, gore, mature themes, extreme violence, body horror, blood, weapons, major character death, age-gap relationship

Steam billowing from the red hot muscles that lined every inch of its body, the Colossal Titan continued its destruction of Shiganshina. With entire buildings being swept up and tossed into the air with ease, the overgrown, abandoned town Vera had grown up in as a child was now being reduced to flame and ash before her very eyes.

"Oh no. Look at all those houses up in the sky. One of them could be yours, right, Eren?" Connie remarked, clearly trying to fill the silence. "How's it feel to have your own roof over your head again? Get it?!" He broke out into uncontrollable laughter; an obvious coping mechanism considering what the seven of them were currently facing.

"Sasha, could you smack him for me?" Jean rolled his eyes.

Nodding, Sasha smacked Connie over the head with one of her thunder spears. Connie's laughter immediately died down after the metal had bounced off of his skull.

"It doesn't look like Bertholdt knows our location." Mikasa directed the conversation back in a helpful and relevant direction.

"You're right," Armin agreed. "He's just scattering burning debris to turn Shiganshina into a sea of flames."

As yet another roof caved in due to the falling debris—this one much too close for comfort—the group turned back to Armin once more, hoping that he had used the time it took for everyone to gawk at the Colossal Titan to think up some crazy smart plan.

Vera, however, could tell that Armin still had nothing, and she couldn't blame him even a little bit considering the fact that the only thing going on in her mind currently was how terrifying the Colossal Titan looked and how she wished she were back behind the safety of wall Sina.

"Hey, Jean . . . can you take over for me?" Armin requested.

Jean's face flushed with confusion. "What?"

"I don't know what to do. I'm worried I'll screw up," Armin admitted. "I made a mistake thinking we could talk to Bertholdt and look where it got us. Please, Jean, you're suited for this."

Without another word of hesitation, Jean accepted his new role as the squad's leader in stride. "Move!" he ordered. "Make for the river. Everyone aboard Eren. Conserve our gas."

Following Jean's instructions, Vera and the others climbed aboard the body of Eren's Titan and hung on as they started toward the body of water.

"Eren, at some point we'll have to get Bertholdt's attention. But until then, we need to stay out of sight," Jean strategized out loud for everyone to hear. "Hey, Armin. I'm all right with judgement calls, but I don't have some genius plan for getting us out of this. In the end, you're the one we're gonna be counting on."

Eyes wide, Armin swallowed his fear and nodded.

Hand gripping onto a lock of Eren's Titan hair to keep her balance as she stood upon his shoulder, Vera tried not to think about the state of Shiganshina and those who had been trapped within the blast radius when the Colossal Titan had transformed. As far as they knew, that single explosion had wiped out the entirety of Hange's crew, including Hange themself, and more likely than not finished off Reiner if he hadn't already succumbed to his own injuries already.

And as if Vera hadn't had enough on her mind already, a series of loud crashes followed by a cacophony of helpless screams echoed through the air from the other side of the wall, just barely loud enough to be heard enough over the Colossal Titan's rampage, but loud enough nevertheless.

Vera's grip on the lock of Titan hair tightened and her mouth went dry. Absentmindedly, her hand lifted to the collar of her jacket, as if the pin hidden there was an object she had turned to in times of need for years and not less than twenty-four hours.

What was happening on the other side of the wall? Was it worse than what was happening on this side? Was the Beast Titan slaughtering the Scouts who had been ordered to protect the horses? Had one of those screams belonged to Levi?

Before Vera could attempt to calm the brewing storm in her mind, the same noise repeated. Crashing followed by screaming. God, so much screaming.

Vera opened her mouth to ask if anyone else had heard what she had, but the pained expressions on her friends' faces answered the question before she even got a chance to ask.

"We've been through worse," Vera said aloud, but the sentiment was meant to calm herself down more than anything else. "We'll be okay."

Vera's comrades nodded in agreement, and with that, they collectively turned their attentions back to the task at hand. The Colossal Titan was slowly but surely making its way toward the wall still, so that was their first priority.

"Yell at him, Eren!" Jean ordered. "We can't let Bertholdt get any closer to the wall!"

Opening his gigantic Titan mouth, Eren let out a piercing screech. Just as they had hoped, the Colossal Titan stopped in its tracks and turned around to look at them.

"He heard you," Jean pointed out the obvious for good measure. Seconds later, however, the Colossal Titan turned back around and continued on its previous path. "The bastard's ignoring us! He's heading straight for the wall."

"So what do we do now, Jean?" Connie asked. "If he gets there-"

"We're not letting him!" Jean wasn't willing to give up so easily. "Hey, Eren, tackle that lanky jerk's leg!"

Eren, who was always more than willing to fight when it come down to it, began charging toward the Colossal Titan's legs.

"Hold on." Connie's wide eyes scanned over the monstrous Titan they were quickly approaching. "Do we actually have a plan for this?"

"With that steam he puts out, he can make our ODM gear useless," Sasha reminded everyone. "It won't connect."

Jean huffed. "You think I don't know that? I'm well aware, but we have to give it a try anyway. We can figure out his weakness as we fight."

"I can kill him." Mikasa stared up at the Colossal Titan, her dark eyes set and brows furrowed. "You guys keep him distracted. Connie, give me your thunder spear."

"Sure thing." Connie began handing over his weapon.

"I'll go with you," Vera volunteered. Mikasa glared back at her, clearly worried about how she would fare with the wound on her side, but Vera paid it no mind. "I'm not out of the game just yet and three thunder spears is better than two. Don't worry about me."

"Listen, Armin, odds are we're still gonna need a plan from you." Jean looked over his shoulder at Armin. "So stop moping and observe him from afar. We have to believe we can win this!"

Armin swallowed hard. "Right!"

As Eren turned the final corner, now running right at the Colossal Titan, Jean gave the order to scatter and everyone jumped off of Eren and went their separate ways.

Letting out a battle cry, Eren grabbed hold of the Colossal Titan's leg, the entire thing larger around than Eren's entire Titan. Despite the discouraging size difference, Eren still gave it his all and managed to slow the Colossal Titan down a little by pushing its leg back.

Connie and Sasha shouted encouragements from the rooftops, clearly surprised that the hail-mary plan had worked even a little bit in the first place. The celebrating was cut short, however, when the Colossal Titan lifted its leg with Eren still hanging on and kicked out, sending Eren's Titan flying into the wall.

Everyone let out an involuntary gasp at the sight of Eren's Titan laying unconscious on the top of the wall, steam rising from the many body parts that now needed regenerating.

"Eren's not moving." Mikasa couldn't take her eyes off of him.

"He's still alive though! Focus on keeping Bertholdt off him," Jean told her before resuming his role as leader. "Well, screw it, then! Plan or no, I'm not just gonna sit around and wait to get slaughtered! Let's take the fight to him! He doesn't know about the thunder spears yet. Sasha and Connie will help me distract him. Mikasa and Vera, you guys go for the kill!"

With what little plan she had to go off of and nothing but determination and fear fueling her, Vera took to the sky.

Suspended in the air directly in front of the Colossal Titan's face, Jean, Connie, and Sasha began hurling insults at it. It was clearly a distraction, and the simplest mind could figure that out with ease, but it only took the few seconds that the Colossal Titan had spared the ridiculous trio for Vera and Mikasa to sneak around from behind and strike.

Ignoring the shooting pain in her side, Vera gave everything she had as she thrust her final thunder spear toward the nape of the Colossal Titan's neck. Before she or Mikasa could get a hit, however, a burst of steam shot out of the nap and blew the two girls away.

In the chaos, the three deployed thunder spears had been propelled away as well, pulling them free from their detonator lines and causing a succession of explosions behind Vera and Mikasa seconds before their anchoring lines gave way and they started falling toward the ground.

Now with fresh burns to accompany the still bleeding injury beneath her ribs, Vera landed less than gracefully upon the nearest rooftop before collapsing to her knees. Mikasa joined her soon after, not in any better shape, and Armin quickly came to their aid.

"It's not bad. A bit of shrapnel from the thunder spears got me," Mikasa answered Armin's unasked question as she gripped her left arm tightly. "What about you?" She looked to Vera.

Vera wished she could continue to play off her injuries as no big deal, but the side of her white button-up was almost completely stained red now and the bleeding was continuing after the wound had been put through more stress from the Colossal Titan.

"It hurts," Vera admitted as she pulled out her blade and used it to cut off a strip of fabric from her cloak, which she then tied around her waist as a makeshift bandage. "I doubt I'll bleed out from this though, and the burns are minimal, so I'm not tapping out yet."

"Good." Mikasa nodded before looking up at Armin with desperation in her eyes. "Tell us, is there a way that we can fight back?"

Armin trembled on the spot as Jean joined them. From the way he was staring expectantly at Armin, it was clear he was waiting on a brilliant idea as well.

"I don't know," was all Armin said at first. Unable to think of a way to defeat the enemy they were faced with, the squad was forced to stand helplessly while the Colossal Titan got closer and closer to the wall with every step it took.

Then, from the dust and steam that Shiganisha was bathing in, emerged yet another problem to deal with: the Armoured Titan.

"How?" Vera felt complete and utter defeat wash over her. "How is he still alive?"

Blue eyes fixated on the Colossal and Armoured Titans before her, Vera almost missed the slew of green flares that had shot up into the sky beyond the wall. Almost. Another bone-chilling echo of screams rang out through Shiganshina, and when Vera turned her attention to the direction it had come from, she saw the coloured smoke in the air.

She wasn't given time to question what it meant, however, which was probably for the best. The last thing Vera, or any of her friends, needed to know right then was that, at that very moment, the Scouts on the other side of the wall were laying down their lives for nothing more than a sliver of a chance at victory.

"That bastard," Jean seethed, still focusing on the Armoured Titan. "What will it take to put him down for good? Why won't he just stay dead? What the hell do we do against something like that?" He then turned to look at Armin. "Hey, Armin, I think getting Eren out of here safely might be the best we can hope for."

Armin, however, didn't tear his eyes away from the Colossal Titan for a second. "He's thinner," he said.

"What?" Vera cocked a brow.

"The Colossal Titan. He's gotten a little thinner." He finally spun around. "Guys, it's exactly like Hange said. Our best bet against the Colossal is a battle of attrition. You remember her experiments with Eren? He could only transform up to three times. If that's the case for a Fifteen-Meter Titan, a Sixty-Meter might be even less efficient. And then there's his steam. I think he must be burning through flesh and muscle tissue to produce it; everything except for his skeleton."

"So what are you saying?" Jean asked.

"He's saying he has a plan," Vera breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God."

Armin nodded. "I do have a plan. The rest of you need to draw Reiner away. Eren and I will defeat the Colossal Titan ourselves. The two of us can do it, trust me on this."

"All right, then." Mikasa's expression was void of any hint of doubt. "You leave Reiner to us and get going."

Jean cracked a smile. "Sure took you long enough. You had me thinking we were all gonna die here."

"Don't worry." Vera winced as she stood before clapping Jean on the back. "Still plenty of time to bite the dust."

With that, Armin went one way toward Eren while Vera, Mikasa, and Jean went back toward the others. After explaining the plan to Sasha and Connie, the remaining group of five headed for Reiner.

"Fly just close enough to him to get his attention," Jean told everyone.

"Got it!" Vera and the others chorused.

Things, however, quickly derailed before the plan had even really begun. As the Scouts zipped toward their target, ready to keep him busy and distracted, the Armoured Titan simply ran past them without sparing them a second glance.

"He ignored us?!" Connie questioned.

"He's focused on Eren," Vera observed the direction Reiner was heading in.

"Then we'll just have to kill him!" Mikasa snapped before chasing after Reiner, not even bothering to wait to see if anyone was going with her or not.

Not giving anyone the chance to catch up, Mikasa fired a thunder spear into the back of the Armoured Titan's knee before detonating it. As desired, the Titan lost balance and quickly crashed to the ground, buying the group some time.

"If we can't get Reiner's attention, we'll have to finish him off right here!" Mikasa looked to Vera for support, who nodded in agreement. "Our job is to protect Eren and Armin."

"Yeah, I know that." Jean quickly got on board with the last-minute plan.

"We've only got three thunder spears. That's all," Connie said. "But . . ."

"We've got to try anyway!" Sasha finished her friend's sentence. "Because there's no way we're gonna win if we don't fight."

As they closed in on Reiner, his glowing, yellow Titan eyes staring up at them from the ground, Jean glanced toward Vera. "You still at peace with all of this?"

"Yup," Vera grunted. "This bastard has died about three times over in my eyes, so at this point, it's just like killing a ghost. This time, we're just finishing the job once and for all."

As they were about to mount the final attack, a flash of light emanated from the Colossal Titan as it began to pour steam out of every single pore on its body. Vera couldn't see Eren or Armin from where she was standing, so the only thing she could do was hope they hadn't gotten caught in the blast and focus on her own task.

After stopping atop a nearby roof to go over how to best utilize their remaining thunder spears, the group of five got to work before Reiner had managed to regain his bearings after his fall.

Jumping out first, Jean screamed out, effectively drawing Reiner toward him and acting as bait. Next, Connie and Sasha approached from the sides, aiming two of the three remaining thunder spears at the Armoured Titan's jaw.

This step went wrong, however, when Sasha's thunder spear detonated before she managed to fire it. With a pained yelp, Sasha's unconscious body blasted back through the air from the explosion. After using his own thunder spear, which did little damage alone, Connie scooped up Sasha's injured body and carried her to safety.

Vera knew she should have been worried about Sasha but all she could think about was the fact that they only had one thunder spear left and it wouldn't be able to get the job done alone.

With Reiner's jaw hanging slightly loose from one side instead of completely open like the plan had called for, all Vera could do was stare into the yellow eyes of the Armoured Titan and listen to her heart beating in her ears. What was she supposed to do now? Was she supposed to try to take out the other side of the jaw herself? Or did she go straight for the nape anyway?

"Vera, it's too risky!" Connie shouted as if he could read her mind.

"No, it's perfect!" a familiar voice retorted, and before Vera knew what was happening, Hange was swinging in from out of nowhere and deploying their final thunder spear into the other side of the Armoured Titan's jaw.

As soon as the spear detonated, the Armoured Titan's jaw dropped open like it was supposed to. "Now's your chance!" Hange yelled to Vera. "Get him!"

Yellow eyes piercing her own, Vera swallowed hard, trying not to think about the man behind the glowing orbs. Then, like a wave had crashed over her, Vera felt calm flow through her entire body. Exhaling slowly, she looked past the hard exterior of Titan before her and smiled softly.

"I've never been very good at apologizing, but I'm sorry," she breathed out as she stepped toward the edge of the roof, final thunder spear at the ready. "I'm sorry it had to end this way."

Then, without a single thought of doubt crossing her mind, Vera lunged forward and launched her spear into the open mouth of the Armoured Titan. With a harsh tug of the detonator line, she launched herself backward to avoid the blast and escaped to safety.

Just like the Reiss Titan had, the Armoured Titan combusted from the inside out, and with an explosion of bright red and yellow, the Titan blew apart and Reiner's body was shot outward.

As Vera landed upon the rooftop next to Mikasa and Hange, a ground-shaking thud rippled through Shiganshina. Looking over her shoulder, Vera was beyond relieved to see the Colossal Titan collapsing, meaning that whatever Eren and Armin had done, it had worked.

It was then that Vera breathed easy for the first time since she and the others had left the safety of wall Sina the evening before. Somehow they had managed to defeat both the Colossal and Armoured Titans with minimal injury—that was, as long as Sasha was going to be okay.

Adrenaline finally starting to leave her sore and exhausted body, Vera let her knees buckle from underneath herself and let out a groan of pain when she landed harshly on her backside.

"We did it," she drew in a long, deep breath as she fell onto her back and closed her eyes—the pain in her side starting to take over her senses now. "I think the worst is over."

#lostinthewiind #attack on titan #brave heart #fanfiction #AoT #OC #original character #eren jaeger #mikasa ackerman #armin arlert #levi ackerman #erwin smith #story #titans #tumblr fic #wattpad #jean kirstein #historia reiss #annie leonhart #reiner braun #hange zoe #bertholdt hoover #connie springer #vera kline #sasha braus #ymir fritz #reiner braun x oc #levi ackerman x oc

[jeanandthedreamofhorses]

Erwin’s True Successor

Hange has always doubted their suitability to succeed Erwin.

The situation turns into absolute chaos under their watch. They, like everyone around them, wished they had Erwin to turn to, as the man who always had a solution no matter how complex the problem. He was practically the Survey Corps’ messiah. And they were boots Hange found too big to fill.

They blamed themself heavily for the current crisis. Hange is without a doubt a capable commander and a fine intellect, but they couldn’t forgive themself for not being able to solve the Gordian knot of world politics that was suddenly landed in their lap. Could even the likes of Erwin accomplish that?

Nevertheless, the crushing burden of Erwin’s legacy weighed on their mind.

Yet despite those doubts - and even motivated to action by them - it is in this chapter that Hange proves themself to be a true successor to Erwin’s legacy. By going out in the same manner as he did, Hange pays homage to the selfless message Erwin sacrificed his life for.

Hange charges towards certain death to protect the last remaining hope for humanity just like Erwin did in Shiganshina. And just as Erwin gave up his dream in his devotion to that greater goal, so does Hange give up their own national self-interest to preserve a future for the outside world. The two of them gave themselves up completely for the good of strangers.

Hange is dogged by the same ghosts Erwin was, and feels the same heavy weight of their sacrifice on their shoulders. Levi remarks on Hange’s similarity to their predecessor in their last moments.

Hange also feels the same familiar guilt over the deaths of their comrades, as well as the pressing need to take responsibility for it all.

Erwin may have been an ideal image to Hange, and so they may not be able to see their own limited self in him. But Levi can. Levi knew the true Erwin, moments before his death: the wretched Erwin, the vulnerable Erwin - in short, the human Erwin. So when he sees Hange make their decision...

His eyes glaze over with the same pain he felt at losing Erwin, but - for the same reason he didn’t resurrect Erwin - he understand and respects Hange’s decision. He allows their sacrifice.

He does this because he sees Erwin in Hange. He recognises them, especially in this final gesture, as his true successor. So he says the words that represent the dream that Erwin died for; the words which commit the Survey Corps to sacrifice their lives for the future and freedom of humanity. “Dedicate your heart”. 

He now says these words he’d never said before, because he acknowledges that Hange is sacrificing themself for the ideal expressed in those words. Before, Levi could never accept loss, but since Serumbowl he understands the necessity - and tragic beauty - of sacrifice. And so he can at last say the words.

Through their sacrifice, Hange fulfils the legacy of not just Erwin but of all their fallen comrades. Which is why they look on Hange proudly in the afterlife, and why Erwin confirms they were a worthy successor to his role.

Whether the final scene is just a vision in Hange’s dying moments, or a representation of the true afterlife, it nonetheless gives Hange the psychological catharsis needed to complete their journey. They finally feel they have lived up to the promise they made on joining the Survey Corps, just as Erwin did on the day he died. That is why the chapter is named after the symbol that represents the Survey Corps’ dream - ‘The Wings of Freedom’.

Hange has now passed the torch to Armin, perhaps thinking that a strategic mastermind like him was a more appropriate successor to the genius of Erwin than themself. But this chapter, Hange demonstrates why Erwin chose them. They are the true successor to Erwin’s spirit: his courage to sacrifice all for humanity. That, above any practical skill, is what keeps the dream of the Survey Corps alive.

#shingeki no kyojin #snk 132 #snk meta #hange zoe #levihan #erwin smith #levi ackerman #snk spoilers #aot spoilers

[levisnackajack]

The Wrath of War

Chapter Nineteen

He didn’t visit her again.

A constant vortex of hurt spiraled within Eden. Her mind never left her at peace. Nausea became such a great part of her; the poor girl had forgotten what it felt like to be healthy.

She constantly stayed up, wondering where she had gone wrong; what she had done to offend him and whether their shared, heated moment was just a miscalculation caused by the depths of trauma inflicted upon them during the hours beyond the walls.

Her thoughts would pierce her brain with such intense magnitude; she would often fall asleep with tears still streaking down her face.

Eating was another burden. Mikasa, or Sasha, or even Jean would come to her and force her to eat. She just didn’t have it in her to continue pretending Levi didn’t excessively impact her.

That was one of the only things she’d look forward to in her life; getting back on her feet and her friends’ constant visits. Sasha and Connie would always try and make her laugh with their foolish bickering and mindless ideas. Historia would sit with her quietly; pulling her hair into small braids or just combing the tousles out. Mikasa would come and read to her, attentively ensuring her plate was licked clean. Eren and Armin would pop by as well and try to ease her mind from her injuries by reminiscing about their childhood. Armin would remain quiet most of the times, leaving the talking to the other boy.

And then there was Jean.

Sometimes, he would visit her very early in the morning; before training. He would talk to her about the upcoming missions and then bicker with her about their equivalently effective combat skills, always smirking when Eden would say she could still kick his ass, albeit all the fractures she’d grown accustomed to.

He would also come and visit her late at night when she yet again couldn’t close her eyes in peace and beckon sleep. They would talk about life beyond the walls, wondering just how different people would be...if there even were any people left.

But, Eden never uttered out a single word regarding her and the Captain to anyone. Her friends could see the dimness in her eyes- the fiery flame long extinguished by a reason unbeknownst to them. The charcoal-haired girl physically wouldn’t bring herself to let the words roll off the tip of her tongue; afraid it would bring a wave of emotions that would subsequently make her crumble.

Yet, her eyes would always flicker towards the door; hoping she’d see the man her heart yearned for walk in.

After nearly two weeks, she could finally start going on walks around the HQ. She’d stroll around before the brink of dawn or at some ungodly hour during the night; afraid she’d accidentally fall captive to a pair of soft, steel eyes.

Her ribs and head trauma had slowly healed and Eden began craving the taste of being out sparring with her friends again.

Then one day, she was laying in bed, reading one of Mikasa’s book when a timid knock sounded from the other side. She perked up quickly, snapping the book shut whilst meekly affirming to the other individual that it was okay for them to enter.

Her heart faltered in disappointment; eyes threatening to well up with tears yet again as Armin walked in shyly.

Eden sent him a sweet smile, thanking the fact that he was still not close enough to see how her bottom lip wobbled. He returned the grin as he walked towards her hastily.

“Eden,” her childhood best friend greeted, sitting beside her on the bed, handing her a blossoming chamomile flower.

Eden’s heart clenched at the flower.

“How are your ribs?” Armin inquired whilst placing his hands on his lap, fingers twitching as he pulled at his sleeves.

“I’m as healthy as a horse,” Eden replied cynically, running a hand over her face as she blinked back at him. She could tell there were something specific on his mind by the way his brows furrowed. His physiognomy was no secret to her; she could read him like an open book- just like she could read both Mikasa and Eren.

“I’m sorry about that day,” he suddenly blurts out; startling the girl.

There it was.

“What are you talking about?” She asked him softly, pulling her knees to her chest, listening to him snivel. He shook his head, lowering it as he spoke.

“I lost control of my emotions. Instead of jumping into action as soon as that titan grabbed you; my feet felt cemented to the ground. If Jean wasn’t there...-” Armin snapped his head away from the girl, tears swimming in his eyes, grazing down his cheeks rapidly.

“Armin,” she called out for him, her voice sickly sweet as her heart cracked at the sight of the boy crying. She took his hand in hers, gently urging him to look at her.

The rigidness in her eyes dissolved as she helped him calm down, the smile on her lips reassuring and warm. “Don’t ever blame yourself for what happened. Truth be told, I probably would have reacted the same way. Seeing you get picked up by a titan...or Eren...or Mikasa...I’d just be petrified. There’s absolutely no way for me to recover if I ever lost you,” Eden whispered to him, pulling him into a gentle embrace.

His arms wrapped around her tightly, body shaking with the tremors of the quiet sobs that spilt against Eden’s shirt. She held him there; her mind recollecting the way she’d hold Armin every time they’d catch him beaten under his bullies’ boots. Their other two friends would chase them away, but Eden would stay behind and calm Armin down. He was like her baby brother, and watching him feel guilty for freezing utterly broke her.

“Armin you’re so bright and such a genius. You can’t deny that fact when Commander Erwin bestowed the previous expedition’s strategic plans to not only Hange, but to you too. Shit happens, we’re at war. You froze, but you had a comrade that was there to help out. Don’t blame yourself for ‘what if’ situations,” she continued, pushing the sun ray strands of hair out of his eyes.

Nodding tightly, Armin wiped the tears away, clearing his throat awkwardly. “I suppose you’re right. It’s just, the thought makes me sick to my stomach, Eden.”

In turn, the girl hummed in agreement; handing him her untouched glass of water that sat upright on her nightstand.

After about an hour, Eden finally managed to steal Armin’s memories of that dreadful day away, even if it were just for a short period of time. She spoke to him about training and Eren and the horses in the stable- pretty much anything to keep his wrestling thoughts at bay.

That was until, Armin gazed at her through curious, sea-blue eyes, his words making her heart feel like it was squeezing her throat shut.

“So are you and Jean...like a thing now?”

She sat there blinking at him for a long moment; trying her best to keep the thick layer of emotions off his radar.

“We were...something,” she began, and for some reason, the glint in Armin’s eyes made her feel reassured. Like it was okay for her to finally reveal her inner thoughts. He always had a way of assuring the girl that she could share anything with him. It was just the kind of person he was.

“It was nothing official; but it was there. But, Jean decided it was best to end it. I guess I have no one else but myself to blame for that,” Eden sighed, her chest shaking as she closed her eyes- begging for the tears to not glisten across her pupils. But, it was too late.

“Why would it be your fault?” Armin urged her. He knew what type of person Eden was, too.

She was a sensitive girl that had troubles expressing her feelings. When they were growing up together, he would always be the one holding the paintbrush, urging her to paint out her feelings- convincing her that nothing harmful would come her way if she opened up about all that bubbled up within her soul; weighing her down.

Dropping her head, she let out a loud sob. It was now her turn to break down. Thinking back to Jean; guilt ebbed away at her conscience. “It just is. He’s such a sweetheart and being with him felt comfortable. He was someone I can wholeheartedly trust and rely on to stick by me through thick and thin. A-and I feel so lost, it’s like I’m drowning in my own thoughts,” she continued, her voice cracking, filling up with immense pain to the brim.

“Perhaps something happened that led him to reaching his ultimate decision?” Armin inquired, shifting closer to Eden as he rubbed a soothing hand over her back.

The broken girl cradled her head with her palms, shaking from side to side at the flickering images of Captain Levi washing through her mind. It was like torture, watching something that brought up so many sickly emotions within her over and over again.

Speaking about it was even worse.

“Everything is so unclear to me, Armin,” she cried, the feelings seeping out of her unstoppably, “He came here and told me he couldn’t be with me anymore because he didn’t want to feel like he was sharing me with someone. He wouldn’t dwell on it; but he reassured me that whatever happened, he’d be by my side. He also told me that when he pulled me out of the titan’s grasp, I had called for the Captain instead of him before passing out.” Eden ducked her head, wanting the blankets to swallow her whole.

She had never admitted anything regarding her and Captain to a single soul; afraid that she spoke it out into the world, it would solidify whatever emotions scorched her body to a different extent.

Armin patiently waited for Eden to recollect her messed up thoughts, her sobs low and heart wrenching- sending around the type of pain that makes ones organs shrivel up inside their body.

“I’ve always had such a hot and cold relationship with the Captain. Sometimes, he’s so good to me; and he looks at me as though I am an equal instead of a freshly-recruited Scout. Then, other times I feel like he’s the cruelest person in the world. He kissed me, you know?” Eden began rambling; finally ready to rid herself of all the baggage holding her heart. “He came in after Jean had left and we spoke. Then, he kissed me...”

There was a long pause as Armin processed her words carefully, trying his best to conceal the fact that his friend had just confessed to kissing the most intimidating man on base.

“I think it’s perfectly understandable for you to feel confused,” Armin began, his soft, comforting voice sounding like a beautiful melody to the heartbroken girl.

She stared at him through thick tears; speckles of green and brown swirling around her pupils when she blinked.

“I’ve noticed the way he looks at you during training, but naturally, I disregarded any additional thoughts just because I always assumed he was just highly impressed by your skills. But, now that you’re saying all this, it makes sense,” Armin mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck as he smiled back at her.

“Nothing makes sense,” Eden spat the words out as though they were laced with poison, wrapping her arms around her knees tightly. “He kissed me and he’s not spoken to me in nearly two weeks. I feel like I can’t keep up with this game.”

“Eden, you’re one of the strongest people I know. I’m sure you’ll get through this without my opinions clouding over you. But, you should just listen to your heart. Your heart is the one thing that can dictate your feelings and truly make you realize what it is you want exactly. Open your eyes and look for the thing yearned by your heart.”

His words had struck a cord in her. Long after he had left, Eden thrashed in bed, thinking hard about what Armin had neatly laid before her.

She sighed to herself, pressing her palm against her chest, feeling the way her heart beat behind her ribcage.

“What the fuck do you want?” She muttered before concealing her body under the thick duvet and falling into the grips of a deep slumber; for the first time in a very long time; feeling somewhat at peace.

-

The following few days, Eden caught glimpses of the Captain here and there. But, he never advanced towards her; therefore she never approached him. Often, he’d catch her stare from afar and his eyes would shift away almost immediately. It made Eden’s chest burn with displeasure as she’d huff irritably and stalk off the other way.

But, what she’d never know was how Levi’s stormy grey eyes would always fixate on her retreating figure; drinking every single detail about her in before she’d disappear back into the castle

Spending the days watching her comrades train from afar; she felt too afraid to actually move closer to them. She’d watch the way Levi’s hair would be ruffled by the wind’s slender fingers. The way his features would contort into an irritated sneer if someone messed up during any part of the training sessions.

Then one day, she waited by the stone walls of the HQ, arms wrapped around herself; watching her friends gasp for air after finally finishing their seeming endless amount of laps. The sun was setting, a warm orange blanket tainting the earth.

Jean stalked towards her, chest heaving as his cheeks were painted a pretty soft shade of pink. Eden raised a brow at him, pushing herself off the wall as she met him halfway.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to pass out because he made you run a few laps...-”

He glared at her menacingly before letting out a snort. “Are you kidding me? We’ve been running for the past hour and a half, nonstop. Did you not see what he did to Connie when he bent over to ‘tie his shoelaces’?”

Eden laughed as the memory of Levi pulling Connie up by the ear flickered through her mind. “Poor boy. And to think he thought that he had come up with a sly excuse to rest.”

Jean offered to accompany her on her walk and they fell into a whirlwind of conversations about everything. She’d tease him about his stance and he’d bully her about her tousled her; immediately apologizing when she feigned offence.

“I thought you knew how to take a joke, Jeanie-boy,” she snickered at him, gently elbowing him when he glowered at her.

“I can take a joke darling. I just don’t know how far I can push it,” he muttered under his breath, draping his heavy jacket over her shoulders when a cool breeze settled around them.

“Oh you! Although always making fun of your fighting skills; you know that deep down, I sincerely admire your upper cut punches,” she retorted, eyes glinting up at him when his lips curled into a smirk.

“Now, that’s what I’m talking about. Do keep going...-”

The sun was a long forgotten memory for the day as grasshoppers chirped into the darkness; the two soldiers' boots grinding against the pebbles as they made their way around the front area of the headquarters. Eden swore that she’d seen someone walk into the stables with her peripheral vision before brushing it off solemnly; knowing for a fact that if someone did go to tend to the horses; it most probably wouldn’t be the person she was craving to see.

Taking his jacket out of her extended grasp, Jean began making his way up the steps towards the grand entrance of the base when Eden spoke up softly.

“I want to stay out a little longer. I’m so sick of laying in bed all day. This is the only form of exercise I can add to my new routine. And as much as I’d love to take up your offer to spar in secret; my nurse would beat me back into bed if she did find out. Trust me when I tell you, she wasn’t exactly nice when she caught me doing sit ups in my room one morning,” she sighed tiredly, rubbing her eyes until stars peppered her vision.

“Oh right, no problem, I’ll leave you to it and pass by to hang out later on tonight. I need to eat now,” he rambled, stepping back down towards Eden, causing her to stiffen ever so slightly at the gentle touch of his fingertips brushing her hair behind her ear.

She looked up at him with widened eyes as he craned his neck, planting a faint kiss at the corner of her mouth.

“I miss you,” Jean muttered out grimly as he ran his fingers through her wavy hair. Her heart began galloping in her chest as Armin’s soft voice gently beckoned her to recall his words.

What does your heart want?

Eden reluctantly took a step back, tenderly catching his wrist with her fingers. “Jean, I...-”

“I know, I know. See you later, darling,” he replied quickly, kissing her knuckles before walking away; leaving Eden alone with her overwhelming thoughts.

She walked for a long time, kicking the rocks from under her boots; tucking at her hair as she thought deeply about her life.

It was strange to think about the little, frail girl she once was- constantly disregarded as a human being by her ignorant parents. She’d always seek comfort in her friends, until one day, she decided it would be best to bottle up her emotions and tuck them far away from everything in the universe.

Eden was so deep in thought as she glared down at the ground; she didn’t pick up on the heavy, impending footsteps stalking towards her from behind.

She yelped as someone caught her by the wrist; twisting her around, slamming her body against the wall. Dropping her head, Eden let out a cough as the heavy air collided with her lungs.

Her heart skipped a beat; butterflies rousing in her stomach once she looked up to see her Captain pressed against her firmly; his eyes holding traces of seething somberness. She felt like she could cry out of happiness; but that ecstasy blended with the pain and anger she grew to feel for him after falling asleep every day, cradling her fractured heart.

“Captain,” she sighed out, inclining her head to face his ever so slightly as she felt his hips pressed against her in place. It took all within her not to bite her bottom lip as heat spread through her body like an unrestrainable wildfire.

Levi’s pupils grew darker as he listened to her soft, pleading voice. He held her wrist beside her head; using the weight of his body to keep her unmoving. It seemed like his plan ricocheted back towards him when she began writhing against him, a slice of his stoic façade ebbing away

His iron grip grew stronger as he leaned in towards her, tilting his head to the side as he watched her wide, amber eyes gaze at him.

“You guys didn’t seem very much ‘broken up’ to me,” Levi snapped at her, noting the way her eyes flickered to every single inch of his face.

Eden wanted to free herself from him; but the more she squirmed; the harder it was for her to focus on his words. Albeit the anger that ran its course through her body; the ultimate amount of proximity between them made her heart beat so fervently. She barely heard his words over the sound of her blood rushing to her ears.

She looked at him through hardened features and Levi’s eyes widened at the flicker of her lashes and the bittersweet blush that freckled her cheeks.

Parting her lips as she held his heated stare, Eden slowly retaliated, “We are broken up, sir.” Her words flowed through her lips as though she had just uttered out a sinful confession.

Levi’s eyes flashed with what seemed like contemplation; as if he was thoroughly processing each word in his head. Their eye contact didn’t waver as Eden grew to completely forget about the coldness of the nighttime wind. She stood pinned against the wall by Levi in the most staggering of ways. Every little twitch her body couldn’t hold in; she’d feel his body against hers and it drove her insane.

Levi huffed under his breath, the forearm pressed against her throat gently moving away so he could grip her hair with his fist.

He tilted her head to the side. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Eden watched his eyes flicker to her lips and she curled them slyly. Capturing his stare once more, she raised a brow.

“Is that a challenge?”

A dark glint blazed in his eyes as silky strands of hair fell over them. He leaned his head towards hers slowly, halting in the last moment when their noses brushed; lips a breath away from touching.

Eden’s chest moved rapidly as she tipped her chin up to meet him halfway; but a cruel smirk ghosted over his lips.

“I guess it is, brat,” he retaliated after a long pause before pulling away altogether. He stalked off authoritatively, leaving Eden burning up against the coldness of the stone wall.

Tags: @idiot-juice-enthusiast   ,   @hadassackerman   

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE FOLLOWS, COMMENTS, REBLOGS, LIKES AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT ME ANONYMOUS MESSAGES. You literally make my heart smile. 

As always, link to the story in AO3 can be found here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28919136/chapters/70952145

#attack on titan #aot #levi #levi ackerman #levi ackerman fanfiction #levi ackerman fanfic #levi x oc #levi ackerman x oc #eren yeager #mikasa ackerman #jean krischtein #armin arlert #sasha braus #connie springer #hange zoë #erwin smith #fanfiction #fanfic #slow burn #enemies to lovers #ao3 #ao3 fanfiction #anime #manga #manga edit #levi ackerman imagine #levi imagine #levi ackerman smut #levi smut #shingeki no kyojin

[jaegerbroshoe]

Eren was the son of a doctor and people thought he was illiterate? Lmfao. Not to mention, he wrote exams and took notes during his military training, and he came out in the Top 10 of his class, which requires you to be good overall in every category. So...it was clear from the very beginning that he’s a) literate, and b) smart. You don’t have to be a strategic genius like Armin to be considered smart. 

Oh and the fact that he saw what the government was doing to its people too shows you he’s smarter than the average indoctrinated person. He can think for himself unlike a lot of you :)

#this fandom likes to paint eren badly even when it contradicts facts and evidence from the manga #sounds oddly similar to real life with people shitting on scientific findings #eren #snk character analysis #snk fandom #rant #my opinion

[notesfrome]

My preliminary takeaways for AoT Episode 46:

1. They included the scene of my girl Hange being the strategic, brilliant genius that she is! \o/

2. I live for Levihan interactions and Levihan standing side by side, no matter how short or brief, cos I’m obsessed like that.

3. Historia. She’s at her coolest here, they really did her justice.

4. Eren angsting and beating up himself will somehow never be not funny to me. And Armin’s literally like “oh my gawd can u not”.

All in all, good episode! 

#attack on titan s3 #episode 46 #anime spoilers #levihan #hange being a boss #levi being levi #historia being awesome #eren being bratty

[kdtheghostwriter]

Super Late SNK #105 Recap

No memes and such here. I’m very far behind the Fandom Discourse. To the point that I don’t even know what the peeps are talking about. I have a string of explanations for this, including: working, tuning up my car, writing a Batman movie, various others.

So, I won’t waste time with a pithy setup, because this was a chapter that was pretty straightforward considering recent events.

I know the fandom has been split on this for months, but I personally am very happy to see that Rogue!Eren is canon. Not just that: it seems the Jaeger Brothers Two tag-teamed on this daring escapade. As expected of Zeke-san, his cooperation tells us nothing of his true intentions, holding on to his record as the shadiest character in manga history. Good stuff, mate.

Hajime Isayama also holds the record for being the most stubborn mangaka of all time. Years and years after she was supposed to get got, Sasha goes down. I was around long enough to see the great angst this caused (on this site especially). If it was going to happen, I agree with it happening here and the reason why can be found in the narrator’s line on the final page.

Until they are able to balance what they’ve gained with what they’ve lost, they cannot help but keep going...

Sound familiar? Shingeki no Kyojin is a story about destiny and the ways we fight against it. The cycle of violence between the Eldians and Marley has remained unbroken for 100 years. Eren traveled behind enemy lines, in part, because he was tired of spinning in that wheel. He wants a way out, as does his brother. But as mythology tells us - time and again - rebelling against your fate comes at a price. Eren’s plan was genius - a true strategic marvel. Marley has lost two more titans, their top military brass and their entire naval fleet. Yet, he still lost Sasha, one of his best friends who has been by his side for almost seven years. The odds aren’t even, and this knowledge is enough to bring Eren back to himself, away from Kruger’s hold.

I’d also like to point out this panel right here...

This is a beautiful panel. Visually it’s great, but the subtext is superb, as well. Gabi, a character written off for months as completely insufferable halts her path of revenge long enough to finally acknowledge what we all knew: Falco Grice is the best friend you could ask for in this shit-stack existence. Which is why he joins her on the blimp and saves her life yet again. Shout-outs to the many users I saw predict the two kiddos going to Paradis. It wasn’t the most popular outcome, but it’s damn sure the most interesting.

Stray Thoughts

Trapdoor-kun isn’t Connie. It’s a female Marley soldier, and she’s huge. Storytellers from all media could learn from Isayama’s habit of making new supporting characters female by default. Can’t wait to hear her story.

Jean’s comment to Eren about Sasha’s death is indeed very in-character for him, and objectively true. He and Eren have always been close. Will that change now?

I look forward to seeing how the EMA dynamic has evolved after four years. Have Mikasa and Armin grown closer as Eren recedes further into his own warped mind, fighting against the will of the First King and his successors?

Zeke and Levi are one anachronism away from Rush Hour 5 and you know it.

“I’m counting on you, Commander Lobov!“ “I already told you, I’m just a recruit!“ Damn, you’re gonna out yourself as a Redshirt?

This story has one of the more nuanced takes on mental health I’ve seen. Reiner’s split personality (and the events that caused it) is tragic and compelling, as is Eren’s undiagnosed depression.

Floch’s rally cry for “The New Eldian Empire” was very distressing and uncomfortable. It’s like we can’t help but go in circles.

#snk meta #shingeki no kyojin #shingeki no spoilers #snk 105 #eren jaeger #zeke jaeger #levi ackerman #mikasa ackerman #armin arlert #connie springer #jean kirschstein #sasha braus #gabi braun #falco grice #cw: mental health

[snk-oc-guide]

Guinevere Arlert

Sorry it’s a bit long!

Name: Guinevere Arlert Meaning: White shadow, white wave. Nickname: Gwen Alias: Eve Smith

Age: 26 Gender: Female Species: Human Birthday: 13 May Birthplace: Wall Rose (Undefined town) Current Residence: Wall Rose Sexual Orientation: Bisexual Relationship Status: Complicated Languages Spoken: German, English

rowan: i said this before but, the inhabitants of the wall speak in a made-up “un-named” language. all other languages are since dead to them. unless a specific family’s ancestors have worked hard on preserving their “mother tongue” and have passed it down exclusively to the family through the years. it would be easier to just delete the “languages” section from your bio completely.

Life-Long Dream: Explore outside world Goals: Join Survey Corps Likes: Animals, cooking, combat technique Dislikes: Strength training, loud sounds (people based) Bad Habits: Muttering, avoiding eye contact, unclear speech Hobbies: Cooking, 3DMG training, combat Fears: Being touched, her brother and sister dying, The Walls falling.

Personality: Sweet, shy, cunning, quiet

Gwen has a lot of trust issues concerning physical contact. She has an extremely high IQ and is agile and sneaky. She comes across as very shy when you first meet her. That said, even people who have known her for years still find she’s quiet, reserved and even skittish in some situations. The only time she’s really ever comfortable and ‘in her element’ is when she’s on a mission. She’s completely focused and ready to give commands.

rowan: the definition for “cunning” is “having skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit.” if she is shy and sweet, than i doubt she is going to be cunning or manipulative at all.

also, being shy, it won’t be easier for her to “take the lead” and give orders, despite missions being her element. it would be something she has to work past and grow out of. instead of shy, i would call her “antisocial”, in which she is awkward in social situations, and/or doesn’t really want to be in other people’s company/interact with them. just because she is quiet, doesn’t mean she is shy! but people always assume that, so i would keep that assumption in the bio. as i can see a bunch of the characters making that mistake.

Favorites:

Foods: Sweet rice, fruitcake

Colors: Blue and light grey

Seasons: Autumn

Activities: Cooking, horse riding,

Time of Day: Dusk

Appearance:

Height: 5’ 2”

Weight: 54 kg

Hairstyle: Short, slightly curly, kept in a messy bun mostly.

Hair Color: Blonde

Eye Color: Hazel (red and gold hints)

rowan: hazel eyes don’t have red tints to them, or any eye color really. that’s a bit too unnatural for the snk-verse. hazel eyes typically look like a mix of brown and green.

Skin Tone: Pale beige

Body Shape/Build: Small build, squishy tummy

Birthmarks: Several on her neck

Scars: One on her right ankle from a piece of shrapnel impaling it.

Health:

Memory (any issues with this?): None

Sight (do they need glasses?): No

Mental: Mild anxiety, Social Anxiety Disorder

Physical: Average

Sleep patterns: 4 hours (at most)

rowan: definitely not a healthy amount of hours to be sleeping.. especially with that “at most” there. if you’ve ever had to run on only four hours (or less) of sleep, then you’d know it’s shit and you feel sick and sluggish. that behavior from a soldier could be fatal.

if she has a reason for lack of sleep (nightmares, perhaps?) then at least raise it up to 5 hours in the least.

Allergies/Other: Mild touch aversion

Abilities/Statistics:

3DMG: 8/10- Technique is refined with natural aerial balance

Intelligence: 11/10- Classed as a technical ‘genius’, high factor IQ

Martial Arts: 7/10- Technique is ideal, however strength is somewhat lacking

rowan: strength behind hits is a big part of fighting. if her strength is a problem, then her stat should be lower. an idea of something is nothing when compared to putting it into action. i would give it a 5 or 6.

Battle Skill: 8/10- Endurance and strength are missing factors

rowan: no idea what battle skill is supposed to apply to, so i’m crossing this out. in my opinion, battle skill speaks for fighting abilities and strategic plays, but martial arts and strategy is already listed. so it cancels out.

Agility: 8/10- Naturally balanced on the ground, but speed is only used in short bursts

rowan: for someone who gets at most, 4 hours of sleep, her agility should be about a 4 or 5. she may feel energetic at one point (a side effect of being sleep deprived), but that short spark will die down and she’ll just be tired and slow-going.

Strategy: 9/10- Intellect contributes greatly under pressure

Initiative: 7/10- When in command of her squad, she does well with coordinating attacks and formations, however struggles when placed elsewhere

rowan: unless you’re going to remove “shy” trait from her personality, her initiative needs to be much lower. i would put it at a 3 or 4. shy people, definitely won’t be the ones to take control when the situation allows it.

if she is shy, and can’t exactly lead because of it, i wonder how she is commanding her own squad at all.

Teamwork: 3/10- Fearful of people and struggles with communication when not in her own squad

Passion: 10/10

rowan: overall, these stats need some work. it’s odd that she seems to be good at everything except teamwork. it looks a little too op, and a lot like levi’s stats.

Affiliation: Survey Corps Grad. Rank: 2nd Status: Alive

Relationships:

Parents: Unnamed (Deceased), Erwin Smith (adoptive brother)

Siblings: Armin Arlert (younger brother), Kira Arlert (twin sister)

Love Interest: Levi Ackerman

Best Friend: Erwin Smith

Friends: Mikasa Ackerman, Eren Jaeger, Armin Arlert

Heroes: Levi Ackerman, Erwin Smith

Quote: “Never to suffer would to have never been blessed.”

History/Life:

Eve Smith was born Guinevere Arlert. At age eight, she was playing with her twin sister, Kira, in the street with the other girls in their neighbourhood. Her little brother, Armin, was just 1 year old. After the sun went down, they continued playing hide-and-seek in the back streets, alone. Gwen was grabbed by unknown hands and knocked out. When she woke up, she was tied up with many other young girls and boys. All she heard was voices talking about all the awful things old men would do to the children. She was regularly beaten over the course of the week’s journey. Lucky for her, a squad of soldiers intercepted and took her to the nearest town. She was given to the Smith family and told, for safety purposes, her new name was Eve Smith.

rowan: the kidnapping thing is a reasonable and realistic event. giving a random child to the smith family? not so much.. and for safety purposes? what safety purposes? it doesn’t click to me.

from what i’ve read, gwen doesn’t have anything special or extraordinary about her to make her a prime target for constant kidnappings. she was probably just unlucky that time. plus, the squad of soldiers intercepted the and took in the kidnappers, thus the danger was over and she should have been sent home.

Gwen grew up very close to Erwin, they both showed an avid interest in the outside world. Gwen was very quiet and nervous, hardly talking to anyone but Erwin. When he decided to join the military after their father was killed, she went with him, to join the Scouts. Upon joining, she showed natural talent with the 3DMG and was very agile. Her endurance and strength training was a struggle for her though, but she made up for it with her intellect and agility in gymnastic feats.

When training, she met Kira. Identical twins, but complete personality opposites. Once realising they were sisters, they became very close again and formed a tight bond, Gwen and Kira graduated at age 16, 2nd and 6th rank, respectively. Once graduating, Erwin and Levi were sent to the South Scout regiment and Kira and Gwen were sent to the North. After two years showing off high skill and ability, they were moved to the Elite squad, Gwen eventually taking over as Captain Arlert (from graduation, she earns this rank after a total of eight years). (Story takes off sometime between now and next paragraph)

rowan: if gwen was kidnapped at age eight, she would still be able to remember her original family clearly. thus, she would remember kira, and already know she is her sister.

also, there is no such thing as the “south regiment” or “north regiment” there is only “the scout regiment”. another note would be that levi isn’t in the story yet.. he doesn’t enter the survey corps until much latter, when erwin has already taken place as the commander, and he is captured and forced into joining.

i should also point out that erwin and her wouldn’t have been in the same training corps, since he’s older than her (early thirties at least).

After a long mission, in the year 854, with few casualties, they return to Wall Rose. A parade through the streets with the body of a 6m Titan they captured and two days later, Gwen and Kira sit on the streets with their elite members, Tristan, Morgan, Enid, and Gareth. They spent the day on their 3DMG sets, traveling to the South, where the Southern Regiment are returning the next day.

When they arrive, Gwen waits in the crowd, excited to see Erwin. They watch as the Scouts arrive, beaten and weighed down with the dead. The people are not happy. Captain Levi walks up front, clearly exhausted and defeated. Abuse is hollered from the crowd, majorly differing from the reception they got. Kira grips her sister’s hand and pulls her out in the street, stopping the Scouts from moving forward. Kira screams back at the crowd, angered and vengeful. Gwen spots a young man rushing towards Levi from behind with a stick poised to strike. On an impulse, she wrestles him to the ground, gaining an advantage by surprising him. Once other Scouts assist in holding him down and Kira helps her sister up, Erwin finds them. Levi mutters a word of hurried thanks and leaves. Erwin offers them a room with the South Scouts.

I don’t know if she’s too sue-ish. I’d love any constructive criticism or  comments you have!

rowan: overall, gwen could use a little tweaking. i would completely overhaul her backstory. you could keep the part where she is kidnapped, but do not have it so she is given to the smith family. just send her back home.

so! yeah! just work on the things i pointed out (or at least think them through) and you’ll be good to go.

#submission

[arlingtonpark]

SNK 103 Review

CONTENT WARNING: includes discussion of american politics and Donald Trump. 

“There’s no need for us to worry. The battlefield is under our control now. We’re closing in on all our enemies. They decided to make their entrance using their ‘vertical maneuvering’. So they don’t have much in terms of weapons or fuel. In other words, they’re in the middle of enemy territory with no supply lines. They’re cornered rats. The Marleyan army should be surrounding this internment zone, so there’s no escape route. The Paradis forces never had the numbers to take on Marley in a proper war.”

Pieck is supposed to be the genius here, right? So if they’re saying the same things I was saying, does that mean I’m a genius, too?

As Pieck said, this is largely correct, however, that does not mean that victory is assured for Marley, as we saw in this chapter.

The Marleyans made a number of critical errors. Both Porco and Pieck let their feelings get the better of them, and they both charged rashly at the enemy without thinking, which for Pieck opened her up to a surprise attack. Porco may yet escape unscathed, but ultimately, it would’ve been better if he had strategized first before charging in. What’s more is Pieck’s inexcusable incompetence, which led to Zeke’s apparent death. She was supposed to cover his rear. That means her position is behind him, yet she foolishly repositioned herself to be in front of him, leaving Zeke wide open so Levi could kill him.  

Zeke and Pieck are now both down, Armin is not far away, Eren is free again, and the Marleyans won’t be getting as much reinforcements as they thought they would. All in all, this is a definite improvement from Paradis’ perspective.

Whether or not this is the start of a more long term improvement in the situation for them depends on a couple of unknowns. Whatever the Survey Corps’ plan is, it involves the placing of lights at various places, and it involves taking out the Warhammer titan and disabling Pieck either within a certain amount of time, or by a certain time. Whatever ace they have up their sleeve could potentially win them the fight, or at least get them out of this predicament. Eren also apparently has an ace up his sleeve since he’s “not done yet.” I can’t fathom what they could be planning, but that just makes things more exciting.

Just a thought, but earlier Willy said that it was possible that Paradis was working with one of Marley’s enemies. Koyomi is apparently an ambassador of her country since she was seen at the gala rubbing elbows with other ambassadors, and she’s shown to care for the Eldians, which could be seen as a hint at her country’s general attitude towards Eldians. Perhaps the Survey Corps has reinforcements of their own coming to the fight.

That would explain why it so important to eliminate Marley’s titans as quickly as possible. Marley is the dominant world power because of their titans. That implies that no other military can match the group of titan shifters that make up the backbone of Marley’s military. But the Survey Corps specializes in killing titans, which is why they are tasked with eliminating the titan shifters in time for Hizul to arrive and mop up the remaining non-titan aspects of Marley’s military.

I had previously said that Zeke’s apparent duplicity could just be a feint on Isayama’s part, but now I’m really starting to think that it might be re-nope, just kidding, I’m still not convinced. My official stance on this is that there are too many unknowns to say beyond reasonable doubt that Zeke and Eren are in league. For example, we don’t know the exact circumstances of why Eren came to Marley in the first place, which is pretty damn important for determining if he would even want to ally with Zeke at all. However, I’m going to play devil’s advocate here and argue the opposite of what most people seem to believe because being contrarian is fun.

In the past, Zeke had said he hoped to never face an Ackermann again. Now he’s literally calling one of them out. I will acknowledge that I cannot account for this inconsistency, but I doubt that Zeke’s death is part of some grand plan on the part of the Eren or the Survey Corps. I can, however, think of some good excuses for some eyebrow raising things we see in this chapter.

Yes, Zeke flat out says that Eren isn’t his enemy, but that isn’t a hint at their being allies. It has been a consistent theme of this series that people are forced to do unsavory things due to unfortunate circumstances. Zeke cares about Eren, but him having to oppose him anyway due to the circumstances would be in line with this series’ themes. Eren is not the enemy, but he is the opposition.

And the panel where we see that Levi is keeping the time for some reason? I sure some people would interpret that as Levi timing out when to attack Zeke on the assumption that Zeke being “killed” was preplanned somehow. My explanation for that? Well, Jean has repeatedly made clear they have a schedule to keep. Clearly, time is an important component of this operation, and in that case, it makes sense that some high ranking, or perhaps even all, soldiers would have a watch on their person to track the time. And the choice to show Levi doing this when Zeke is calling him out is just part of Isayama’s ruse.

The baseball glove Eren had earlier when, in the same chapter, Zeke was also shown with one? Simple: it’s just a metaphor and nothing else. The glove is used to highlight the differences between Zeke and Eren in what was at the time the present situation. Eren had previously said he was on bad terms with his family and he was at the moment on his own in enemy territory. Thus, Eren having the glove and ball but no partner to play catch with is a metaphor for his isolation. Zeke, meanwhile, does have a partner, and that emphasizes that Zeke is not alone, that he is in familiar territory with people who care about him, or at least respect him.

I could go on all day, really, just pulling these explanations out of thin air. I am, after all, a Pieck level genius.

The final thing to talk about is, ironically, since they’re the first two people we see, Reiner and Falco.

That was some quick thinking on Reiner’s part, he deserves great credit for that. I think he’ll live. He may have said he wished to die, but the thing is that statements like that are usually spur of the moment type things. If someone says they wish they were dead, they’ll usually walk that statement back if you give them time (sometimes as little as a few seconds) to think about it some more. Beyond that, Reiner cares about Falco and confirming that he did indeed survive requires that Reiner not be dead, so that by itself should be reason enough to motivate him to heal.

This also confirms that Reiner’s suicide attempt from earlier would indeed have killed him, regardless of whatever that nervous system mumbo jumbo Isayama used to save him back in Shighanshina is.

So, can the cycle of violence be broken?

The answer is yes, in theory anyway.

Many people believe that humans are predisposed to conflict. That is a very rudimentary way of thinking. In reality, there will eventually be peace for the same reason that organized society exists at all: ultimately, cooperation is preferable to conflict. In the long run, everyone benefits more when people are working together than when everyone is trying to kill each other. Really, it’s just obvious.

Human beings are rational. This means we assess the situation and perform the action we believe will carry the most benefit. For ourselves, our loved ones, our ideals, our nation. This does not mean that the right choice is always made, but it does mean that violence is not the natural state of humanity.

The one confounding factor here that is preventing this peace from coming about is human tribalism.

Human behavior is tribal in nature, meaning that we view others that we identify with in some way as being “one of us,” and people we don’t identify with as being “one of them.” It’s a natural, human inclination.

White people identify with other white people.

Gay people with other gay people.

Floridians with Floridians.

Yankees fans.

Whovians.

Fandom itself exists because of this. Fandoms are tribes, though of course tribal instincts are weaker for fandom compared to other social group identifiers such as race.

Donald Trump is now our President because of tribalism.

The white race has always dominated American society. However, in recent years, it has become fashionable to conclude that white people will lose their dominance in the coming decades. White people are projected to no longer be the majority racial group by 2050, though they will still be a plurality of the population.

Before 2016 put a damper on things, there was much talk of “the Obama coalition,” or the “coalition of the ascendant.” The idea was that the voters who made Obama president, black people, Hispanics, women, etc. (in other words, people who aren’t white men) would form an enduring and dominant bloc of voters that would steer national politics in their favor.

At the expense, it was and is felt by many, of white people.

The thought of one’s social group, one’s tribe, losing its social standing and dominance inspired great fear in many white people, and so they voted for Trump, who promised to “Make America Great Again.”

It would be remiss of me to not say, though, that not all Trump voters are racist. The above paragraph only applies to Trump’s core base of supporters. So in other words, about 25% of the adult population. The rest voted for Trump not because of the racism, but in spite of it, and that in itself is another example of tribalism at work.

Donald Trump is many things: a predator, a misogynist, a racist, a blowhard, a bullshit artist, a moron, a narcissist.

A Republican.

In the words of Brendan Nyhan: “Partisanship is one hell of a drug.” Many people voted for Trump simply because he was a Republican and not a Democrat.

To be sure, there was a great deal of wishful thinking involved.

“He’s not as bad as people make him out to be.”

“He’ll appoint a conservative to the Supreme Court.”

“He won’t really be calling the shots. Paul Ryan will be the power behind the throne.”

All these and more were excuses people told themselves to justify voting for Trump in spite of knowing about his more … unsavory characteristics. People will overlook (or even rationalize!) despicable behavior by their own side simply because it’s their side that’s doing it. They may even simply refuse to believe their side could do such things.

Relatedly, there is the concept of negative partisanship. This refers to the phenomenon of people rooting for one team because they hate the other. They don’t like their team either, but they hate the other, so they (half-heartedly) support it regardless. It’s the lesser of two evils taken to its logical extreme.

The point behind this looong, seemingly unrelated digression is to highlight how powerful of a force tribalism can be. It is “a hell of a drug.”

You see it most obviously in Willy’s plan. Marley is an imperialist aggressor, yet Willy was clearly banking on the world’s fear/hatred of Paradis trumping whatever reservations they have with working with Marley. It’s textbook negative partisanship.

In this war of Paradis vs the world, tribalism runs rampant.

The world hates Paradis, and if Floch’s views are indicative of anything, a sizable number of walldians probably hate the world in return.

Eren was willing to kill innocent bystanders, including children, because it was in the name of fighting for his tribe.

Floch just flat out wants to kill as many people as he can because they’re not a part of his tribe. They may not be involved in the fighting (they were, after all, civilians) but they’re still with the Marleyan tribe. The enemy.

Can we overcome this? Can we break the cycle of hatred and tribalism?

This will surprise many people, but for all the anti-immigrant talk among Trump supporters, most do not actually live near large immigrant populations. In other words, their fear of “the other,” of those who are not a part of their tribe, is most likely based on a lack of interaction with those “others”.

This is the key, and it’s a total cliché. Actually interacting with “the other” is the solution to the puzzle of tribalistic hatred.

RBA thought the walldians were vaguely defined evil entities, devils. But then they actually interacted with them, and saw them for the people they were.

The same will almost certainly be true for Floch. It was true for Eren, even if he still thought killing children was a necessary sacrifice to make on the altar of defending his tribe.

In other words, fear of “the other” can be overcome through familiarity. The tricky part is actually getting everyone to calm down and see everyone else as people. The walldians who see the outside world as just a vaguely defined threat need to rethink their worldview, and the members of the outside world (those who aren’t complete garbage like Sergeant Gross or whatever his name was) also need to look past their hatred.

I just hope that people will not read SNK and be influenced to take a cynical view of the world. It is not human nature to be violent. Those who look at others with fear can come to love and accept them. The scenario Isayama has crafted here is simply not generalizable, and it would be a mistake to apply the apparent take aways of this story to our world. Which, of course, can only be seen as a flaw in Isayama’s storytelling.

Just look at California to see what I mean.

38% of Californians are white. 39% of Californians are Hispanic. That’s right, white people are a close second behind Hispanics as the largest racial group in California, and it’s starting to show. The lower chamber in the state legislature is majority non-white. One of the state’s two Senators, Barbara Boxer, who is white, retired in 2016 and was replaced by Kamala Harris, who has a mixed Indian/Jamaican heritage.

White people still retain significant power though. The upper chamber in the legislature is overwhelmingly white, the state’s other Senator, Dianne Feinstein, is white, and the top contender to serve as Governor for the next eight years, Gavin Newsom, is also white. However, this continued dominance of positions of power is entirely vestigial and it will decline as time goes on.

The same holds true for New Mexico and Hawaii. White people are either not dominant or clearly losing dominance in these states.

And yet, I see no news reports of white Californians, New Mexicans, or Hawaiians throwing hissy-fits over their clearly diminishing dominance over society. White people are a minority in those places, and unless I’m missing something, they seem pretty chill about it.

Because tribes can coexist. It’s just a matter of opening oneself up to others.

An important thing to mention, though, is the status of black people. Black people have always been seen as “the other” and even in California, where 7% of the population is black compared to 12% of the general US population, anti-black sentiment abounds, though in subtle ways, most notably in the form of NIMBYism. 

However, real progress is being made on that front in California, and in the US as a whole, there seems to be a real commitment to racial inclusiveness among the younger generation. Real progress is being made, though unfortunately a world where black people are seen as equal to white people is a long time coming. 

The only thing left to do is speculate about where the series is heading. This chapter is the start of volume 26, which I assume will be the fourth of five volumes in this story arc. My guess is that the battle will continue for the remainder of volume 26 with volume 27 wrapping up this current arc before dovetailing into the next, and most likely final, arc of the series.

#shingeki no kyojin #attack on titan #spoilers #snk 103