#Reiner Route

[dizzy-pixels]

Chicago time

[bastart13]

This is not how anyone designs visual novel sprites, but I always have to make sure they're height-proportionate because I get freaked out when characters are described differently to their sprites

(also I may or may not be recreating Love & Legends)

[joogios]

Zeke Jaeger deffo sterilised himself as part of the euthanasia plan but that really doesn’t matter because Reiner still managed to inherit most of Zeke’s mental health issues

[sadiecoocoo]

jean is more of the third wheel than connie :)

The pains of being a multishipper 😔

[der-kreuzfahrttester]

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[whovian223]

New to Me - June 2024

New to Me #boardgames - June 2024 @games_delicious @garphillgames @PlayRenegade @BitewingGames @doomlings @firstfishgames @ulible @StrongholdGames

May was a really boring month for new to me games, so much so that I was wondering how I could correct that for June. How about seven? No, that’s no my winning lotto number, though it should be. That’s how many new games were played in June, and two of them were mine. That just adds to the goodness. That being said, the Cult of the New to Me was not impressed, at least at first. The oldest…

[shiorihyugawrites]

The Devil's Bride

Aurora Jaeger, Eren's long-lost childhood friend, was taken from him when they were children. After years of suffering under Marleyan control, Aurora is reunited with Eren while he’s undercover in Marley, igniting a bond neither of them expected. Despite her gentle nature, Aurora breaks her vow of pacifism to save Eren’s life, solidifying their deep connection. Secretly married before the Raid on Liberio, Aurora is swept into Eren's world of chaos and destruction. As the Scouts learn of her existence, tensions rise on the airship home. Mikasa’s heart shatters, and Levi demands answers. And Eren will stop at nothing to protect the only light left in his dark world—his bride, Aurora.

In this journey of love, loyalty, and war, Aurora must reconcile her innocent heart with the brutal reality of the man she loves, while Eren faces the truth of what he’s become. (Eren x OC)

Chapter Fifty Two

A/N: OSTs for this chapter are “Friendships” and “Splinter Wolf”

Aurora cringed from the pain lancing through her lower body as Falco led her through the winding palace gardens. His grip on her arm was gentler than she would have expected from someone who had just tried to kidnap her, but she could still feel his nervous tremor. Gabi, on the other hand, marched ahead with her rifle clenched tight, scanning every intersection and doorway for any signs of Jaegerists. Aurora’s heartbeat pounded in her ears, each step causing her dress to drag uncomfortably. Her mind spun with worry for her baby’s safety, and she could feel sweat trickling down her temple despite the chilly air of these marble halls.

Gabi paused at an intersection, flattening herself against the hedge. Her glare flicked to Aurora, and her teeth ground together in frustration. “Which way is out?” she demanded through clenched teeth. The younger girl’s brown eyes shone with anger and something akin to desperation.

Aurora breathed heavily, trying to steady her voice. She pointed with a trembling hand toward a passageway that sloped downward. “T…there’s a servants’ corridor that leads inside near the kitchens. If you take that route, you might avoid the main guard stations.”

Gabi narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious. “How do I know you’re not sending us into a trap?”

“I’m in no position to set a trap,” Aurora managed weakly, trying to keep her voice calm. “I just want this to be over. And I… I can barely walk.”

Falco cast a concerned glance at Aurora. She looked as though she was on the verge of collapsing, her steps slow and shaky. The hem of her dress was visibly damp, and he couldn’t help but notice a wet patch spreading across the fabric. A sick feeling churned in his stomach. This wasn’t just sweat. It meant something else—something serious.

Gabi, however, was too riled up to care about that. “I don’t trust you,” she snapped, shifting her gun from one hand to the other. She looked back at Falco. “Make sure she keeps moving. If she’s lying about the route, we’ll find out soon enough.”

Falco hesitated, glancing between Aurora and Gabi. “She’s… she’s really in pain,” he murmured. “She might be telling the truth. Look at her.”

Aurora licked her dry lips and nodded, swallowing a wave of nausea. “I’ll do whatever you say. You don’t have to hurt me, or the baby.”

At that, Gabi’s eyes briefly darted to Aurora’s abdomen, and her expression flickered—barely noticeable, but Falco caught it. Gabi’s earlier stance had been so fierce, but some part of her hated this, he could tell. In an instant, Gabi hardened her gaze again, forcing away any traces of doubt. “Then keep your mouth shut and move.”

They pressed on, following the route Aurora had indicated. Each step was torture for her, sharp bursts of pain spreading across her midsection. Her mind wandered to Reiner’s cousin, Gabi… and now she realized that the girl forcing her along might indeed be that Gabi. Reiner had spoken so often of her, of how talented and headstrong she was. A pang of regret fluttered in Aurora’s chest.

She cleared her throat, glancing at the girl’s angry profile. “You’re Gabi, aren’t you?” she rasped. “Reiner’s cousin?”

Gabi jerked slightly, her grip on the rifle tightening. “How do you know that?” she demanded, voice tense.

Aurora swallowed. “He talked about you,” she said softly, “always. He never gave up on you or your people in Marley. Even now, he’s fighting out there, trying to protect everyone. Trying to protect you.”

A flash of uncertainty crossed Gabi’s face, though her jaw clenched in an effort to maintain control. “Shut up,” she hissed, refusing to look Aurora in the eye. “Reiner’s a traitor.”

Falco’s brows furrowed as he watched Gabi wrestle with the sting of Aurora’s words. Aurora, meanwhile, continued, albeit with difficulty. “Reiner isn’t a traitor. He’s just… he realized the truth about Paradis. We’re not the devils he was taught we were. And he—”

“Quiet!” Gabi snapped, whipping around and raising the butt of her rifle. For a heartbeat, it seemed as though she’d swing it right into Aurora’s temple. Aurora instinctively flinched, bracing for impact. But then another hand caught the rifle—Falco’s. He gripped the barrel, preventing Gabi from delivering the blow.

“Stop,” Falco pleaded, his voice trembling. “She’s pregnant, Gabi. She can’t even run away if she tried. We… we don’t need to do this.”

Gabi locked eyes with him, her face twisting with anger. “I am so sick of hearing people say we don’t need to do this. Of course we do! We have our orders. People died because of her husband! My friends, my home…” Her voice cracked on the last word, and she yanked the gun free of Falco’s grip. She aimed it at Aurora’s stomach, but Aurora’s next words caught her off guard.

“They wanted to spare the Eldian internment zone,” Aurora said, nearly breathless with pain. “Eren is going to do the Rumbling, but… but he promised Reiner, Pieck and Porco he’d spare Liberio. For your sake. For all of you.”

Gabi’s eyes widened in fury, and she let out a harsh laugh. “You think I’m that stupid?” she spat. “You devils will say anything to save your own skin.”

Aurora was about to respond when a fresh contraction crashed over her, sending a cry ripping from her throat. She stumbled, clutching her abdomen. The world spun around her. Warmth trickled down her thighs—her water was definitely broken. She let out a whimper. “Please… it’s the truth. I’m not lying,” she gasped. “You don’t have to believe me, but you can’t deny that I’m about to—”

Before she could finish, a cacophony of shouts echoed from somewhere behind them. Dozens of footfalls hammered on the palace floors, voices raised in alarm. Jaegerists and none other than Historia Reiss herself appeared at the far end of the hall, weapons drawn. Several armed men spread out in a semicircle, instantly surrounding the two children and their captive.

Gabi’s stomach dropped as she realized they were pinned. Falco let out a small gasp, stepping back a pace. Aurora, still hunched over, knew this had been exactly her intention—to keep Gabi and Falco talking and distracted until help arrived.

Historia brandished a rifle, her normally calm face twisted with worry and anger. “Let her go,” she demanded, voice shaking with emotion. “She’s in labor—can’t you see that?”

Gabi’s fingers tensed around her rifle. Her eyes darted between the rows of leveled guns, the stone-faced Jaegerists, and Aurora’s labored breathing. With trembling lips, she grabbed Aurora, pressing the barrel of her gun right against the pregnant woman’s belly. “Stay back!” Gabi shouted, her voice cracking under the strain. “If you move, I’ll shoot her.”

Falco blanched, tears gathering in his eyes. This had spiraled into a nightmare. He reached out as though to calm Gabi, but she didn’t budge. He could see Aurora’s face blanching, tears escaping her eyes as her body trembled with fear and pain. Meanwhile, the Jaegerists froze in place, furious and desperate, unable to act.

Historia raised her free hand, palm outward, signaling everyone to hold back. Her voice dropped, laced with desperation. “Please,” she murmured, taking a step forward despite Gabi’s threat. “Listen to me. She’s about to give birth. If you shoot her, you—” Her eyes flicked with horror to Aurora’s stomach, as though the gravity of the situation was too big to truly comprehend.

Gabi’s heart hammered so violently she thought she might faint. She kept her gaze locked on the ring of firearms. It was all too much: the baby, the screaming, the hall full of adversaries, and her own spinning emotions. Gabi pressed the gun firmly to Aurora’s belly. “We want her alive,” she hissed at the Jaegerists, voice ragged. “You don’t get to order me around. You—”

Suddenly, Aurora jerked away, fueled by adrenaline and a fierce protective instinct for her child. She twisted her body just enough to spoil Gabi’s aim. The rifle went off, and the bullet streaked across Aurora’s thigh, slicing the flesh in a hot, stinging line. Aurora cried out, stumbling, but it wasn’t the mortal injury Gabi had threatened. She had done it. Gabi had hesitated, lacking the will to truly pull the trigger and kill Aurora.

That momentary lapse was all the Jaegerists needed. They surged forward in a flurry of movement. One man kicked Gabi’s rifle out of her grip, another seized Falco’s arms before he could raise his own weapon. Gabi shouted in furious protest, but her words were drowned by the din of stomping boots and angry voices. Guns pressed against their backs. Falco let out a ragged sob, guilt and fear mingling in his throat, as a soldier twisted his arms behind him.

Historia ran to Aurora, who had dropped to her knees, clutching at her bleeding thigh and her contracting belly. Fresh tears glossed Aurora’s cheeks, and she leaned against Historia with a choked whimper. “I… I’m okay,” Aurora whispered shakily, though the searing pain across her thigh and the ongoing labor left her face pale as a sheet.

Gabi, pinned face-down, roared in desperation, cursing them all. “You devils! You filthy island devils! You’ll pay for this!” She fought against the Jaegerist’s grip, tears streaking her cheeks. “You can’t just kill us—”

A Jaegerist pressed a rifle barrel to Gabi’s head, ignoring her frantic struggles. Another soldier had Falco subdued, a blade pressed to the back of his neck. Falco’s eyes welled with tears, breath ragged. He stared in silent apology at Aurora, who, despite everything, shot him a gaze of pained sympathy.

The Jaegerist with the gun to Gabi’s temple growled, “We should kill these brats. They almost kidnapped Eren’s wife, nearly murdered her! They deserve a bullet.”

A wave of tension rippled through the group as several soldiers murmured agreements. Falco was trembling violently now, eyes wide and terrified. Gabi, too, looked stricken, her bravado cracking under the reality of facing summary execution. The soldier cocked his weapon, his finger hovering near the trigger.

“No!” Aurora’s voice cut through the chaos, sharper than any blade. Despite her anguish, she mustered the strength to raise her head. “They’re just children,” she pleaded, tears sliding down her face. “Detain them, lock them away, but don’t kill them.”

A hush fell over the hall. The Jaegerist glared at Aurora, his lips twisted in frustration. “But they tried—”

“I know what they tried,” Aurora rasped, her body throbbing with pain. “But… I can’t have their blood on my hands. We are not… devils.”

Historia placed a hand on Aurora’s shoulder, feeling her friend’s trembling. She then turned a fierce stare upon the Jaegerists. “It’s Aurora’s call. If she says spare them, then we do it.”

Grumbles of discontent rippled, but the soldiers ultimately obeyed. One forcibly yanked Gabi’s arms behind her back, snapping metal cuffs around her wrists. Another did the same to Falco, who sank to his knees, tears slipping freely now. Gabi spat more curses, her voice breaking, but no one flinched at her threats.

In the tumult, Aurora’s body seized again, another wave of contractions wracking her. She let out a low groan, her vision blurring. Historia lunged to support her, hooking an arm around her shoulders. “Someone help me get her back to the doctor!” she cried, voice tinged with alarm.

A burly Jaegerist with a more compassionate expression stepped forward without hesitation, scooping Aurora into his arms. She clung to his uniform, face contorted in pain. The soldier wasted no time retracing their steps toward the palace, maneuvering through the crowd of tense fighters who parted to let them pass.

As they hurried away, Aurora’s gaze lingered on Falco for a moment, their eyes locking in a silent exchange of regret. Falco swallowed hard, not knowing what to feel—guilt for what he almost did or relief that Aurora had spared his life.

Gabi, her cheeks red and wet, struggled in the soldier’s grip, but she could only watch helplessly as Aurora was carried off. She felt an unfamiliar pang in her chest, a swirl of rage and confusion. This woman, the bride of the devil, had just saved them. She couldn’t understand it, didn’t want to understand it. All Gabi could do was stare hatefully at the ground, her voice lost in the flurry of Jaegerist commands.

Within minutes, Aurora was back in the safety of the palace’s medical suite, Historia never leaving her side. The doctor rushed to check her vitals, eyes flaring in concern when he saw the bloody graze on her thigh and the accelerating contractions. “She’s in active labor, five centimeters dilated.” he announced, voice low but urgent. “We need to prepare.”

Historia gently brushed Aurora’s sweat-damp hair off her forehead. “It’s okay,” she murmured, forcing a soothing smile. “You’re safe now.”

Aurora’s chest rose and fell in rapid breaths. She managed a nod, tears shimmering in her icy-blue eyes. Every thought in her mind circled back to Eren, out there on the battlefield, risking his life for the future they had dreamed of. A future for them and their child. She clung to that vision like a lifeline, inhaling shaky gasps of air as another contraction began to build.

Outside, footsteps and hushed voices coursed through the palace halls as Jaegerists dragged Gabi and Falco to a secure cell. The children’s fate was now in Paradis’s hands, while Aurora’s fate rested in her own strength and the doctor’s skill.

Despite the pain and terror, a quiet determination burned inside Aurora. She would see her child born into this world. She would hold on long enough for Eren to come back, no matter how dire the war might be. And if she could show even one frightened child that their so-called enemies were not devils, perhaps there was still hope for a new beginning.

…

Meanwhile across Paradis in Shiganshina…

Shots rang out from the few remaining Marleyan soldiers scattered along the crumbling streets, followed by the ear-splitting blast of anti-titan artillery. The smell of gunpowder, scorched metal, and raw earth blended into a suffocating haze, and the air itself felt charged with dread and desperation.

Eren, encased within the towering form of the Attack Titan, stood near the smoldering remnants of one of Marley’s advanced cannon units. His crystallized fists still glistened from the last barrage he had deflected, and steam poured off his Titan’s shoulders where enemy shells had shattered pieces of hardened flesh. He paused just long enough to scan the horizon, searching for a glimpse of a familiar silhouette: the lanky, ape-like figure of Zeke’s Beast Titan. But there was nothing except swirling smoke, rubble, and the monstrous forms of allied Titan shifters locked in battles all around him.

In the distance, Porco’s Jaw Titan hurled itself at a line of enemy tanks, mouth parts snapping violently as he battered through steel with agonizing effort. Half of his Titan’s face had been shot away by an anti-titan round, leaving him fighting in a gruesome state of half-exposed muscle. Guttural roars ripped from his throat each time he lunged for the next cluster of tanks. He was losing strength rapidly, but a fierce determination burned in every ragged step he took.

Not far from Porco, Reiner’s Armored Titan staggered like a wounded animal. Entire sections of his armor plating had been chipped away by Marley’s specialized shells, leaving sections of his Titan’s flesh riddled with gaping holes. The Armored Titan fought on with single-minded purpose, but the toll was evident. Reiner looked exhausted, slamming into squads of foot soldiers with heavy swipes of his arms, only to be met with fresh rounds that tore deeper into his body.

Above them, Pieck, in her Cart Titan form, tried to cover the battered retreat of several Jaegerists. She was on her tenth transformation at least—an astonishing show of endurance for any shifter. Yet her body trembled with each movement. She crawled across the broken cobblestones, pivoting the turret to pick off a wave of soldiers creeping behind a ruined building, but the recoil sent her nearly toppling to her side. Steam hissed from cracks in her Titan’s hide, and the once-strong limbs quivered under the strain.

“Keep pushing!” Jean hollered, voice nearly drowned by the cacophony of gunfire. He lifted an Inferno Blade, bright with the potential for unleashed fire, and hurled it at an oncoming Marleyan tank. The device detonated on impact, engulfing the steel behemoth in a raging furnace of flames. Some of the Jaegerists cheered, but their voices were laced with desperation. There were just too many enemies, too many guns, and too many foreign troops determined to wipe them out.

High above the fray, an airship bristling with weaponry soared in circles. The silhouette of half a dozen more airships danced behind the dark clouds, each one disgorging paratroopers at intervals. Those soldiers drifted down in parachutes, rifles at the ready, landing behind the more obvious lines of defense. The entire battlefield was a swirling mass of chaos, bullets whizzing through the air, occasionally finding a mark in Jaegerist bodies or lodging themselves in Titan flesh.

Eren’s gaze roamed the sky, the Attack Titan’s jaws clenched in silent rage. They had been expecting Zeke to show himself and summon a legion of Pure Titans with his scream, but so far, that particular horror had not materialized. And now Eren realized with grim certainty that Marley had brought enough conventional firepower to lay waste to Shiganshina regardless of whether they used Titan transformations. The entire area felt like it was only moments away from being obliterated. Walls stood scorched and cracked, centuries-old stone shaken to its core by the relentless bombardment.

He took a deep breath and roared in frustration. 

The sound reverberated through every jagged alley, through the battered city gates. Shiganshina’s defenders let out a collective cheer at Eren’s warcry.

Levi, perched atop a half-demolished tower, ground his teeth in frustration as he watched.

“Dammit,” he snarled under his breath,watching as Armin struggled to keep the navy fleet at bay. Sure enough, another line of at least twenty ships powered through the wake left by the destroyed vessels. The Colossal Titan had noticeably less steam than before. The might of his nuclear transformation had taken a massive toll, and now he stood as a partially exhausted giant whose power was draining by the second.

Down on the ground, the Attack Titan’s head turned in the direction of the battered shoreline. Eren signaled to Levi by slamming his hardened fist into the rubble at his side—a gesture they had arranged in the event communications became too scattered. Levi nodded from afar, then barked orders to the Jaegerists around him, directing them to fortify positions and remain vigilant for the arrival of Zeke.

The next moment, a shrill, unfamiliar buzz cut through the sky—six more “flying boats” soared in from the western flank. They bristled with machine guns that spat death down onto the city below. Dozens of Jaegerists crumpled under the barrage of bullets before they could dive for cover. Fires sparked as random shots ignited the leftover black powder from shattered artillery shells.

Levi shouted at his men to fire, but their bullets and Inferno Blades seemed laughably insufficient against planes that zipped through the air with terrifying speed. Armin was too far away, locked in place by the second wave of warships. Mikasa, Jean, Connie, and Sasha took aim from nearby rooftops, trying in vain to strike the planes with thunder spears. The devices soared upward but fell short or missed due to the unpredictable flight patterns. The few that did make contact merely skimmed a wing or grazed the body of the aircraft, nowhere near enough to bring a plane down.

“How are we supposed to fight these things?” Connie shouted as a hail of bullets forced him to duck behind a crumbling section of wall. His heart pounded. He’d faced mindless Titans for years, but never had he felt so powerless against an enemy. The giant weapons of Marley had been horrific enough. Now these planes soared overhead like predators picking off prey from above.

Eren let out an anguished roar from within his Titan. The muzzle of a plane’s gunfire stitched red-hot bullets across his Titan’s ribs, sending chunks of flesh splattering onto the ground. He staggered, nearly toppling one of the few intact structures left in the district, but managed to steady himself. Beneath the Titan’s hardened brow, Eren’s eyes darted around, searching for a solution. If those planes were allowed to continue strafing them at will, the entire defense would collapse.

That was when Armin came out of the Colossal Titan’s nape and waved a frantic arm. Levi, noticing Armin’s gesture, bounded closer, hooking onto debris with his ODM gear until he landed precariously near the massive steaming shoulder of the Colossal Titan.

Armin leaned toward him. “We have to bring down those flying boats,” he shouted, voice tight with urgency, “or we’re finished!”

Levi wiped sweat and dust from his brow. “No kidding. But how do we do that?”

Armin’s gaze flicked to Eren, then back to Levi. “We could throw some of us at them,” he said, swallowing. “Send us flying the same way we fire thunderspears. But this time…we use our bodies and aim for the planes.”

For a second, Levi just stared, trying to decipher if Armin had lost his mind. Then a spark of understanding hit him. “We use Eren’s Titan strength,” Levi muttered, pressing a hand to his temple. “He can literally launch us at the planes.”

Armin nodded, lips pressed into a thin line. “We’re out of time. There’s no other way. Those planes are tearing us apart, and we can’t reach them otherwise.”

Levi let out a dry, humorless chuckle. “We’re going to get ourselves killed, Armin. This an Erwin-level crazy plan.”

“Do you have a better idea?” Armin asked softly.

A breath of silence. Then Levi scowled. “I’ll handle it.” He pivoted, hooking his grappling line onto a chunk of Armin’s Titan and slid down to the ground, landing in a puff of dust. Without wasting a second, he rushed to Mikasa, who was sprinting across a ruined street, hair singed and cheeks streaked with grime. “Mikasa!” Levi called out, bringing her to a sliding stop. She looked up, panting, eyes wide with a mix of confusion and determination.

He grabbed her shoulder. “We’re going after those planes. Eren’s going to throw us.”

Mikasa’s brows knit together. “Throw us?” she echoed, voice tight. “That’s insane.”

Levi’s gaze flicked to the battered chunk of sky where the planes circled, continuing their onslaught. “It’s our only shot. We need to take them out from the inside.” He pointed at the planes weaving overhead. “We bring them down the same way we’d take down a Titan: take out it’s control center.”

Mikasa hesitated for a heartbeat, then her expression steeled. She gave a curt nod, gripping the hilt of her blades. “Let’s do it.”

A bullet tore through the air, clipping a nearby Jaegerist soldier who crumpled in a scream of agony. Levi and Mikasa jerked around, their hearts pounding. This had to happen now, or not at all. They manuevered through the rubble, dogged by whizzing bullets, until they reached Eren’s Titan form. With a roar, Eren slammed his crystal fists together, acknowledging them. They swiftly explained the plan, and Eren responded with a violent nod, steam pouring from the Attack Titan’s teeth as he readied to fling them into the sky.

Around them, Marleyan foot soldiers and the few allied nations that had landed continued to flood the city. The thunder of artillery resounded from every corner, forcing many Jaegerists to take desperate cover behind half-demolished walls. Reiner’s Titan was down on one knee, about to stand again, while Pieck’s Cart Titan was pinned in a crater. Porco’s Titan lunged at a wave of flamethrower-wielding troops, ignoring the pain scalding what remained of his Titan’s jaws. It seemed like all of Paradis’ defenders were at the limit, battered and exhausted in ways that defied sense.

Levi clenched his fists, glancing at Mikasa. “You ready?”

She swallowed hard, eyes flitting to the ominous planes. “Yes.”

Eren’s Titan reached out, cupping Levi in one massive hand and Mikasa in the other. The rest of the scouts and Jaegerists looked on in a strange mixture of horror and hope. Some cheered, some simply stared. Then Eren braced his Titan form, legs bent, arms drew back, and with an explosive grunt, he hurled them skyward. The sudden rush of wind slammed into Levi’s face, his stomach lurching as he soared higher and higher. His reflexes roared to life, flicking the triggers of his ODM gear to steady his trajectory. Beside him, Mikasa performed the same routine, the pair of them cutting through the air like twin missiles.

The first plane never saw them coming. Levi latched onto the side of the fuselage with a grappling line, then twisted his body to yank the pilot’s cabin hatch open. Screams erupted from inside as the pilot and gunner realized, too late, that Levi was upon them. In one fluid motion, Levi slashed the occupant’s throats, specks of blood spraying onto the controls. With no one left to guide it, the plane dove, spinning. Levi leaped out onto a protruding wing, used it as a platform to launch himself back into the air, and reeled out his ODM cables to find stable ground on a half-demolished tower.

Meanwhile, Mikasa had landed on another plane, hooking her cables into the tail. She flung her blades forward, severing the gunner’s arms in a single blur of steel. The pilot tried to swing the plane away, but with a deft combination of gear maneuvers, Mikasa scrambled across the surface of the plane. The pilot, trembling, reached for a sidearm, but she cut him down before he could pull the trigger. The plane careened, tail rattling violently. Mikasa timed her jump just right, releasing a cable from the hull and firing it at a battered tower below. She swung down, panting, as the plane crashed in a plume of smoke, sending debris crashing onto unsuspecting Marleyan troops below.

The thunderous applause of the Jaegerists briefly shook the battlefield. Two of the monstrous machines were down, but there were stil fourl more in the sky. Eren roared again, making it clear that the plan was to launch Levi and Mikasa once more. Levi and Mikasa soared again, repeating the assault. But the plane nearly skewered Mikasa with machine gun fire, forcing her into a frantic scramble midair. Mikasa narrowly avoided the plane’s spinning propeller by Levi swooping over to grab her, but she experienced whiplash. He jerked them aside, cursing under his breath, saving her life by the slimmest margin. At last, the fourth plane spiraled to its doom, its fuselage cut open. The occupant tumbled out, screaming, before crashing onto the jagged rooftops.

Mikasa, dangerously close to passing out, was firmly in Levi’s arms as he aimed them both for the ground, hooking onto a sturdy portion of street. He gently set her down, only to see the color draining from her face. A medic rushed over to help, but Mikasa insisted, through ragged gasps, that she was fine. The back of her head was bleeding, though, so the medics guided her away, leaving Levi to finish off the last two planes.

Blood pounded in Levi’s veins as he found the nearest titan shifter, Reiner, who was still upright and lumbering across the rubble. With minimal words, Levi signaled. Reiner’s Titan reached out, enveloped Levi in its massive hand, and hurled him skyward just as Eren had done. Levi soared up once more, bracing as gunfire zipped by. The pilot tried to veer away. Levi angled his ODM lines, hooking onto the plane’s landing gear, then yanked himself upward. The occupant’s horror was palpable as they realized Levi had somehow boarded them mid-flight. A moment later, steel glinted, and the pilot slumped. Levi jumped free in the same instant, letting the plane spiral out of control.

Now only one plane remained, weaving erratically through the sky. Levi latched onto the wing, using every scrap of skill to maintain his balance. Below, he could see the entire battlefield: Shiganshina in flames, monstrous titan shifters locked in mortal combat, Jaegerists and foreign soldiers alike dying in droves. Smoke blanketed the horizon where Armin’s transformation had scarred the coastline. A wave of sorrow flickered in Levi’s eyes at the sheer scale of carnage, but he stowed it away, refocusing on the pilot. He dashed across the wing, swords flashing. The pilot slumped forward, blood on his chest. Another soldier in the back of the plane seized a parachute, evidently planning to jump, but Levi lunged. They grappled, nearly fell from the cabin, and in the scuffle, the plane lurched downward.

But then, Levi glimpsed a shape near the back of the plane, half-hidden by shadows.

 A figure stooped among crates, waiting. Then the figure moved, and in a flash of recognition, Levi’s heart iced over—Zeke. The plane began to spiral. Zeke grabbed a parachute and shoved the plane door open. Levi slammed the last occupant’s head into the side of the plane, swiftly ending that threat, then scrambled for purchase as the entire craft rattled in a death spiral.

Zeke, clinging to the door, locked eyes with Levi for a split second. The hatred between them felt tangible, a living force that made the cramped space even more stifling. Levi’s lips twisted in a snarl, and he dove forward, blade aimed to cut off Zeke’s limbs. But Zeke was faster than Levi expected; he flung himself from the plummeting aircraft, pulling the parachute’s cord. The canopy blossomed, halting Zeke’s plunge.

“Dammit,” Levi spat, unhooking his gear from the plane’s interior. He fired a line at the parachute’s harness, yanking himself out right behind Zeke. The plane crashed behind them, exploding in a roar of metal, sparks, and flames that showered fragments onto the unsuspecting soldiers below. Levi landed on a broken rooftop, stumbling from the impact. Zeke, suspended above him, descended slowly. Levi retracted his line, using the momentum to lunge midair. He clamped a hand on Zeke’s harness, the rest of his body braced as they both swung precariously.

Zeke glowered down at Levi, an expression of cold fury and disgust. Then he opened his mouth, drawing a sharp breath. Levi’s eyes widened.

“No you don’t!” Levi barked, hacking with one blade at Zeke’s arm, cutting it off. The attack was enough to break Zeke’s concentration momentarily, but not enough to stop him from belting out his scream from the top of his lungs. Levi’s blood ran cold.

From the corners of his vision, Levi saw that the airships that had been hovering overhead had dropped open its hatch. Dark shapes began to pour out, plummeting toward the battlefield. At first, Levi thought them to be bombs, but his stomach twisted in horror when a ring of energy and steam enveloped those falling forms. The thunderous booms of dozens—no hundreds—Titan transformations echoed across Shiganshina. Pure Titans manifested in midair, some half-formed as they slammed into the city, each one a new threat. It was a horrifying repetition of Zeke’s earlier tactics, only now on a far grander scale. Screams split the air, and entire squads of Jaegerists were crushed beneath the hulking bodies that impacted with savage force.

Levi’s heart pounded. He had to subdue Zeke now and get him to Eren. Zeke tore off his harness, landing on a wide street corner. Levi dashed forward, swords raised, but he saw the familiar lightening crackling at Zeke’s feet.

“No!” Levi yelled, hooking his gear to a broken spire overhead and propelling himself at Zeke.

But the lightening struck and Zeke shifted, bones cracking, flesh expanding. In a surge of steam, the Beast Titan erupted, towering over the burning remains of Shiganshina. Its long arms swung with shocking speed, smashing aside a chunk of building. Levi, forced to pivot in mid-swing, tumbled behind a half-collapsed watchtower. He panted, gaze narrowing at the monstrous figure. The Beast Titan’s hand clenched a chunk of rubble, and with a grunt, hurled it at Levi.

The projectile shattered the watchtower, nearly burying Levi beneath the debris. He leaped clear at the last second, hooking his line onto a stable section of wall. The entire battlefield seemed to hush for a moment, all eyes drawn to the towering Beast Titan that had just appeared. Reiner, Eren, and Pieck all reacted in alarm, but none could break free from the swarm of Pure Titans rampaging around them. Armin, in the distance was pinned down by a relentless barrage of artillery from the shore.

Levi squinted, adjusting his grip on his blades. This was the final confrontation he had dreaded and yet anticipated. Zeke, monstrous and cunning, had to be taken alive to enable Eren’s plan. But as far as Levi was concerned, Zeke only needed to be barely alive for Eren’s plan to work. And Levi intended to make Zeke suffer.

The Beast Titan glowered, lips curled back in a derisive snarl. Zeke’s voice reverberated within that ape-like mouth: “I told you, Captain, you should have died back then. You can’t stop me now.”

Levi’s response was wordless. With a burst of gas from his ODM gear, he launched himself forward, determined to cut through the Titan’s nape, tear Zeke from within, and drag him to Eren if it killed him. All around, newly transformed Titans howled, stomping dangerously close. The entire battlefield was a chaotic storm of Titan screams and warfare.

Yet, in that moment, it was only the Beast Titan that mattered to Levi. He soared through the dust-choked air, swords glinting in the morning light, expression set in unwavering resolve. Zeke, meeting Levi’s gaze through the Beast Titan’s primal eyes, felt a shudder of fear course through him. He swiped a massive hand to block Levi’s approach, but Levi darted aside with superhuman reflexes, blade scraping across thick fur and flesh.

The Beast Titan roared, twisting to hurl another chunk of debris, but Levi pressed onward. The scene was set for the final clash, a final test of wills in a war that had already claimed too many lives. The entire city of Shiganshina trembled under the footsteps of new Titans, the screech of artillery, and the unending echoes of men and women fighting for survival. And at the center of it all, locked in a swirl of fateful inevitability, Levi and Zeke faced each other once more.

~

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[lovestruckremix]

The 4.0 update for Love & Legends Remix is out now on Itch.io! This massive update includes...

Altea Season 6 and Season 7 (episodes 1 to 6)

Alain Season 1

Reiner Season 3 (episodes 1 to 6)

August Season 1 (episodes 1 and 2)

Progression system and improvements for Helena's route

Gallery redesign + UI improvements

Quality of Life Improvements, bug fixes and more!

Download Here!

Patch Notes

[zhoras-bitch]

If you're missing Lovestruck on the second anniversary of the app going down, here are some wonderful links to indulge your nostalgia.

1. @ls-salvation-squad's YouTube Cannel with recordings of all Lovestruck stories, routes, shorts and specials. They also have Emily Verma's route from Queen's Gambit and some bits from Kisses & Curses (other Voltage US apps). More about the latter @searchingkissesandcurses.

2. Their itch.io page with a reconstruction of the Lovestruck app for Mac or PC, which has:

all seasons for all characters from Edge Case: Love's Pursuit and My Siren Crush

season 1 of Fiona Eichen's route from Wicked Lawless Love 

season 1 of Mackenzie Hunt's and Vanessa Helsing's routes from Havenfall is for Lovers

3. The itch.io of the phenomenal @beamycomet, who is working on their own version of the app too. Their version works for Mac, PC and Android and has:

all seasons of Helena Klein's route from Love and Legends

seasons 1-2 of Altea Bellerose's route from Love and Legends

season 1 of Reiner Wolfson's route from Love and Legends

all specials of all characters from My Siren Crush

season 1 of Lexi Sweetwater's route from My Siren Crush

Plus, they have some of these available in a version for web browsers, although they are not developing that one further.

If there are any other projects that I have not mentioned here, please reblog and tell me!

[slttygeto]

༉‧₊˚. episode 02: right here

preview: ". . . It triggered a chain of thoughts that was unstoppable like a relentless river. It sculpted its route through the toughest ground, unyielding in its attempt to carve Shuji’s touch into your memory. Now, he existed in both realms for you. A boy that had once seemed so intimidating being the subject of your dreams was your last straw. Therefore, you left."

content warning: cursing, mention of violence.

word count: 4k

➜ ┊: @softshuji @sin-and-punishment @kariatenoh @reiners-milkbiddies @citrusteaa

༉‧₊˚. reblog + comment!

➜ episode one

➜ masterlist [echoes of time]

Who would’ve known that Hanma would continue to torment you even after his departure? You haven’t seen the man in a few days, however you can count the hours you’ve spent thinking about him—of his dual toned hair, his golden eyes boring into yours. The way his grip on your hips was firm yet so gentle, a contrast to how he seemed to be living his life. His presence lingers in every corner of your mind, your goodbyes bittersweet.

He was the subject of your every dream, and when the first ray of sunlight hits your face, you are painfully reminded that he wasn’t next to you anymore—you didn’t even want him to be next to you! You start to blame your own celibacy. Your lack of action must’ve taken a toll on you if you were having embarrassing dreams of a man you barely hung out with for an hour.

As you prepare your morning coffee and plan out the rest of your day—Saturdays were for cleaning, you hated cleaning on Sundays. Even as you scribble down on your notepad, your thoughts wander away and find refuge in the forefront of your mind where your most recent dream plays on repeat.

It’s a teenager Hanma, a sight you never thought you’d see again. He looks the same, maybe a bit younger and far more excited to impose himself on those around him. It’s near sunset, Hanma drags you to the same ramen shop you visit on Fridays before heading home. He orders a tokotsu with extra pork belly and spicy miso broth, whereas you opt for your usual order of shoyu ramen. Your seats are close to one another, something you’ve learned to get used to. Hanma was a touchy person, often discarding his respect for other’s boundaries yet somehow, you were an exception of that. The only time he ever imposed himself, or his touch on you was when you were walking together and a ground of rebels dared start a fight in his neighborhood. His hands rested on your shoulders before he leaned down to whisper “stand back” in your ear—a habit you realize didn’t wither away over the years—before moving towards the group of rebels. They left defeated.

Your orders are here, and steam rises from the bowls in gentle wisps. You feel your mouth watering at the combinations of vegetables, chicken and soy sauce based broth. The texture is lighter than Hanma’s ramen, but you find that you’re more fond of the complex flavors that envelop your senses than the ones the tonkotsu offers.

“It’s hot,” he says in a deep voice, but as a teenager his voice still cracks. “Be careful.”

You’re not sure why your dream is so vivid, why it is offering so many details after a single meeting with the tall man? But you continue down dreamland lane, and you recall more specifics.

“Ah!” you hold a hand to your mouth, your spoon resting near your bowl as you start to blow out the steam from your hot meal. You should’ve listened to him.

“Told you to be careful,” he sounds annoyed, but still reaches for your face to grab it. You don’t fight back, his rough hand holding your jaw like a rag doll. “Open up.” He takes notice of your swollen lips, then you stick out your tongue and it’s reddened—clearly affected by the hot broth.

“You risked your mouth for this, silly girl.” His eyes glance up to yours and he chuckles at the way you’re glaring at him. He lets you close your mouth, but doesn’t pull away from your jaw. You’re used to him staring you down like this, it was Hanma after all. A figure shrouded in malice and darkness, holding Shinjuku’s streets in an unwavering, iron grip—one that eases up in your presence, because no one’s ever seen him act the way that he does with you. His soft stares and less unhinged persona are reserved for you and only you, and one could swear you put him under a spell. But which? And how could you? A mere conversation with him on your way out of school, offering him water and asking if he was okay despite the blood coating his clothes not being his was all he needed to lessen the glares and soften the punches.

“I want water,” you blurt out, getting yourself out of his grip and breaking the eye contact that had your stomach twisting in knots. He doesn’t look away, watches as you continue to soothe your tongue by fanning it. Getting up from his seat, he walks towards the small fridge in the corner of the shop before grabbing a bottle of cold water.

He hands you the bottle and before you could thank him properly, you feel his lips collide against yours so softly—you would never think that the boy was kissing you. Because he wasn’t, he gave you a small peck and then proceeded into his seat like nothing happened. Maybe he was aiming for the corner of your mouth, maybe he didn’t mean to get so close to you—

“I knew if I didn’t do it now, I’d never do it.” Referring to the kiss. But then again, the tapestry woven from your imagination doesn’t seem to be the result of reality blurring with fiction—but rather a trip down memory lane.

Your pen falls from your hand as you hold a hand to your mouth and lean back in your leather seat.

He kissed you. He kissed you when you were teenagers and that’s why your bond was never the same. Navigating a relationship as kids must’ve been a strange and foreign area, and instead of communicating things—you two never spoke to one another again and each went their own way.

No wonder the memories of the man had a beam of sunlight cast upon them, you felt too warm as you remembered your times with him—but to forget such a detail…You want to smack yourself on the forehead.

Something on your wooden desk vibrates and you reach for your phone all whilst trying to process what you just remembered. However, you choke on your coffee when you read the contents of the messages.

XX

you never changed your phone number did you?

Could it be him? There was no way he kept your phone number—you read that it’s an unknown sender, but for some reason your gut is telling you to text back and find out who it was.

you

who is this?

XX

why so formal, doll? It’s me.

You can see the grin behind the screen, and you get this violent urge to smack him.

you

where did you get my phone number

XX

never deleted it

He doesn’t beat around the bush as always.

you

and? do you need something?

XX

to open the door for me

What—there was no way. You scramble out of your seat and out of your office, your phone still in your hands. You’re about to reach for the entrance door until you feel your phone buzz again.

just kidding

but do look out of your balcony

This time, you’re not sure if he is telling the truth. You hesitate for a few moments, staring down at your screen. Even if he was standing outside your building, you’re not sure if this was safe. If he was safe. Then your phone buzzes again, this time he’s calling.

You answer the phone call but remain silent on the line, the sound of cars honking and random people walking past him is the only thing you hear until he chuckles and it resonates in your ear.

“I can see you hiding behind the curtains, doll.”

“What do you want?” you try to be appear harsh, stern but it was pretty obvious that you held no personal grudge against the man to be so cold with him. Perhaps a little scared with his unknown line of work that hinted at crime and illegal activities, deep down you knew that it was only a matter of time before Hanma crept his way back into your life. You didn’t want to question how he was able to find out where you live—perhaps you should.

“Did you have brunch yet?”

“Huh?”

“Food, woman. Did you eat?” the answer was no. You were in the middle of having coffee when he called, and you were planning for a rather long day ahead of you so you try to decline the offer you knew was coming.

“It’s cleaning day for me.”

“I didn’t ask that.” Why was he giving you attitude?

“Yeah, but I’m saying it.” You glare at your phone as you step away from the balcony and into your room. Subconsciously, you reach for your closet and open it to see what you could wear out for brunch.

“Alright then, I’ll drop you back as soon as we finish eating. How about that?”

“And where are you taking me?”

“You’re all about detail, doll,” he doesn’t mask his amusement. “I like that.”

Trying to hide how flustered you are, you clear your throats to change the topic—remind him of your question.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Shinjuku Terrace city.”

The place he takes you to is a bustling culinary adventure located near the Shinjuku station. As you step into the lively dining complex, the smell of different kinds of foods hits your nostrils. The food hub offers a variety of restaurants and cafés, all lined up in order of what to try—first is a cute cat café that catches your attention, the smile that travels to your lips grabbing Hanma’s attention before he continues to walk in the direction of the brunch place.

It still feels like too much. Your lips remain sealed as he stops in front of a brunch place. Brooklyn Pancake House. With its charming façade and its large glass windows, it allows so much natural light to flood in and it feels like the coziest place to go to on a date.

Right, a date. This is what it felt like, but Hanma doesn’t say anything and neither do you.

As you step inside the shop, the large yet intimate dining space offers a cozy and inviting atmosphere. You weren’t ready to admit it yet, but Hanma had good taste in finding hang out spots. Speaking of which, you notice how he chooses the table in the deepest corner of the shop, away from people’s prying eyes. He sits so he can see anyone coming or exiting the establishment. You don’t question his decision, rather quietly sit facing him with your hands neatly folded over your lap.

“Jesus christ,” he chuckles. “You’re acting like I’m holding you hostage.”

Your cheeks feel warm as you scramble to grab your phone. “I’m not—I just—“

“It’s fine, that about you didn’t change as well.”

Your eyebrows furrow in confusion, and you’re unable to bite your tongue for too long.

“I’ve grown, you know? I changed. Why suddenly come back and try to befriend me?”

That was an amazing question, worth a hefty sum of money—because Hanma wasn’t sure of the answer. Just like the other night when you asked him about his line of work, Shuji cannot provide with an actual answer. Having a routine helps raise a teenager who develops a sense of security, improved behavior and healthy habits— none of which Hanma Shuji had at fourteen. He doesn’t remember a day where his mother wasn’t drunk, but he doesn’t blame her for it. At thirteen, he catches his father in bed with another woman. He doesn’t hesitate to tell his mom, and from then on develops a raging hatred for his old man. His father tries to crawl back into his life on many occasions, but one stands out the most to the dark haired boy.

It’s a few hours until midnight, his mother was wasted on the couch and Shuji sits at the kitchen table with a chocolate bar and one lit, thin candle. There were no happy birthdays, no clapping like the previous years—just a home that was slowly crumbling and a boy easing his way into a life of drugs and violence. He hears a knock at the door, at first not bothering to get it, when the banging intensifies is when he reaches for the door knob and twists.

“Shuji my son!” Stands the serial cheater with a pathetic look on his face. “I missed you, how are you—“

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Never had the boy spoken to his father in such tone, but the adult’s responsible and authoritative image was gone along with their memories together.

“To check on you of course--!”

That night, Hanma discovers two things. One, he is good at throwing punches. Perhaps, the best and worst thing his father’s ever done was to make him watch boxing matches with him as a kid. Two, he learns how to treat his own wounds without his drunken mother stirring awake and tossing an empty beer bottle at him.

Amidst the chaos that was his personal life, a mom that was barely present and a father having long forgotten about the family he’s made, you were the only constant in Hanma’s life. For twelve months, three hundred and sixty five days—you offered the boy what his parents failed to do for the first twelve years of his life, before eventually giving up. It’s ironic how the number twelve keeps finding him over and over again. He drops you near Okube koreatown at 9:12PM, texts you this morning at 10:12AM, doesn’t hear from you for twelve years—he hopes he doesn’t wait for another twelve to earn a seat in the comfort of your heart.

As he comes back to his senses, he notices that you’re scanning his face with a newfound curiosity—most likely wondering what’s taking him so long to reply.

“Just wanna catch up,” he grabs the menu and scans the options for coffe. “For old times’ sake.”

“Could you at least try to sound believable?” you make a face at his ridiculous statement. Despite not having seen the man for so long, you knew based on the bored expression and nonchalance about life that he hasn’t had anything exciting going on in his life for some time now.

“If I did, I’d kiss you.” He sets the menu down, now fully staring at you. “Does that sound believable to you?”

So…Blunt.

“Seriously—“

“Why did you leave?” His voice is back to its bored tone, he takes off his glasses and rubs the bridge of his nose. “You know, that summer. I know we grew apart, but why did you leave?”

“I needed to start a new chapter.” You weren’t lying, but you weren’t saying the truth either. Starting fresh, enrolling into a college in a different city—those were the excuses you made for yourself and your parents in order to convince them of this huge step. Life was a mess during your first year, you dated a guy and broke up with him after a few months. There was no chemistry, yet he still ended up being the one to take your virginity. Tumbling like a house of cards, your plans for the perfect love life and its elaborate structure fell apart by the gentlest touch of Shuji’s lips. He had been your first kiss, the first to put his lips against yours, steal away something you’d cherished so dearly—annoyingly, you weren’t mad. You remember vividly the longing you felt for his lips days after the shared kiss, wanting to feel more of his touch, wondering if a kiss on the forehead would ever happen.

It triggered a chain of thoughts that was unstoppable like a relentless river. It sculpted its route through the toughest ground, unyielding in its attempt to carve Shuji’s touch into your memory. Now, he existed in both realms for you. A boy that had once seemed so intimidating being the subject of your dreams was your last straw. Therefore, you left.

“How did it go?” he stares deep into your eyes, striving to pierce through your soul and read you to filth. You aren’t sure if he’s always been like this, or if it’s something life had to teach him. Your eyes drift to his hands, noticing the familiar sin & punishment tattoos carved onto his skin. It makes your own prickle, the ghost of a searing touch tickling the back of your hands.

“How did what go?”

“The new chapter.” He adds stress on the last two words, the hint of a smirk hovering over the edge of his lips.

“It was okay, I have some friends at work,” he seems to find that funny as he snorts.

“Those aren’t your friends, baby girl. Those are your colleagues.”

“They can also be my friends,” you glare annoyingly. You don’t like when people assume they know you better than yourself, and Hanma wasn’t an exception.

He leans back against the dark leather seat, lips twitching with amusement. “Sure they can.”

The waiter come and takes your orders—a breakfast combo of pancakes, eggs and bacon for Hanma, and pancake stacks for you. He opts for a double espresso and you choose a café latte. The conversation afterwards is very limited, but neither of you seem to mind the silence. You notice how Hanma glances at his phone more than a few times, typing not so aggressively on his screen. It makes you wonder yet again—what does he do for a living?

Your food comes and you eat it silently, Shuji steals glances at you to assure that you’re enjoying the food and is amused when he sees the expression of happiness painting your features. The pancakes are light and airy with a hint of sweetness that complements the velvety smoothness of the butter. You feel like you’re floating, indulging into a celebration of comfort before you’re brought back to reality.

When it’s time to leave, Hanma’s hand finds the small of your back. A gesture as natural to him as breathing, and you fold like a house of cards in a soft breeze. You let him guide you to the car, and the silence finally comes to a halt once the door to the driver’s side opens.

“Thank you for the food.”

Hanma seems to freeze at your words, but he recovers quickly and starts the car. Without sparing you a glance, he drives off. “It’s nothing.”

“Did you stay in touch with some friends from back then?”

“Yeah, Chifuyu and I are kinda close but he works abroad so we never got the chance to meet.”

Chifuyu Matsuno. The name is more than just familiar, Hanma knows the man personally. He remembers him in his teenage years as this annoying blonde guy who would always interfere on his missions, and as Toman grew and spread its vines over the streets of Tokyo, dominating each corner, the two men were forced to interact more than either of them would enjoy. They barely acknowledged each other’s presence as kids, which was also the case for them as adult men. But upon hearing Chifuyu’s lie, Hanma can’t help but wonder just how little you know about gangs in Tokyo.

“Works abroad hm,” he taps his fingers on the steering wheel at a red light, glancing at his watch. “Did he tell you what he does exactly?”

“I never bothered to ask,” you admit. Sure, you stayed in contact but everytime you tried to ask the dark haired male what he does abroad, he would switch the topic to something else. So you dropped it. A part of you was uneasy about the whole thing, how he disappears for days and then randomly texts you from a new number—tells you it’s temporary before switching back to his old phone number.

As a law abiding citizen, you are no expert when it comes to running away from the law. However, you’ve always suspected that the group of delinquents Chifuyu and Takemichi would hang out with were up to no good, even as teenagers. Revenge crimes, visceral and intense fights. It was ruthless back then, the teenagers combatting one another with a ferocity that left you disinterested and repulsed.

Moving back to Shinjuku refreshes your memory a bit. Years spent away from your hometown made you forget about the violence you had witnessed as an adolescent. Prior to meeting Hanma Shuji, Chifuyu boasted about Toman all the time. He had introduced you to the concept of biker gangs, mentioning each and every name he could remember. Black dragons, Tenjuku, Valhalla—and obviously the one he was in. A notorious and influential force on the streets of Tokyo, operating under the command of Sano Manjiro himself. You understood the pride Chifuyu took in belonging to such a well organized biker gang, perhaps finding it fascinating that they were able to function within such structured hierarchy.

Upon hearing that Chifuyu lost his friend in one of these brutal fights, you lost interest in them. But the names are like shadows that forever linger at the tip of your tongue.

Before leaving Tokyo, you had heard that Toman was spreading. Like a creeping shadow of dusk, it’s enveloped the town. Its influence a ferocious power that couldn’t be stopped but the thought of it performing illegal activities never crossed your mind. You’d turn on the TV every once in a while and frown when there’s yet another morbid announcement.

Breaking news: "Two people identified to be 26 year old HINATA TACHIBANA and 25 year old NAOTO TACHIBANA tragically die amidst a violent clash between two rival gangs, one of which identified as the Tokyo Manji Gang."

Your memory is like a dusty attic and upon hearing the familiar name, your heart stills. Like a treasure long forgotten, craving to be discovered, Toman reappears at the forefront of your mind. A timeworn tapestry, each thread holding the echoes of past and barely any interactions with the biker gang.

Reaching for your phone, your thumbs hover over the screen, contemplating whether you should start typing the message. Surely, you were wrong. There was no way for someone as sweet as him to be involved in such monstrous group of people.

hey

you haven’t texted me in a while

how’s everything?

You received a response five days later from an unknown number. It served as proof to confirm your suspicions.

Glancing back at Hanma, your eyes take in every small detail about the man. From his freshly shaved beard, his sharp jawline and cheeks littered with barely visible acne scars—to his lips that happen to sit in their usual frown. His lashes are surprisingly long, they flutter against his cheeks every time he blinks. Stealing a quick glance at his neck, there’s a tantalizing glimpse of dark ink peeking from beneath the fabric of his top. You let your brain go over the never ending possibilities of what could be adorning his skin, somehow leading you down a path of sinful fantasies—you pinch your own thigh.

He exudes an aura of authority and power, his confident and composed demeanor enhancing his charm. For now, you leave the subject of his work at the table and walk away from it with a shadow of doubt. You’ll come back to it when ready.

You ignore the gnawing feeling that you should look more into it, that youu should press him about the matter. Clearly, he's not ready to talk about it.

Or he simply can't.

➜ ┊: here's chapter 2! i have a whole list of headcanons concerning shuji's past or rather childhood and none of them are happy. but you'll notice that stuff like that comes haunting him back as an adult. anyway, hope you enjoyed reading!

2024 © all works belong to @slttygeto. do not repost, translate or steal any of my works.

[dizzy-pixels]

I'm trying to figure out why I don't care for Aldric unlike Alain when it comes to their love for the Witch Queen. And I think it's because Alain at least knew the Witch Queen before she went crazy and still had hopes she can be that way again. Plus since he had no other friends or family, the Witch Queen was his whole life. Abandoning her would like abandoning himself because he's nothing without her in his eyes.

But Aldric was surrounded by love, first in line for the throne, and had everything. And he fell for the Witch Queen for whatever reason, betrayed his people and gave up everything for her for some reason we're never given besides "love." But why??? Why does he love her? She never interacts with him on screen so we don't even know what their relationship was like or would be as he died after she's resurrected. So it's hard to care for him. He's just a traitorous simp.

[turn-my-hollow-purple]

What the AOT Characters Get Armin for His Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVELY ARMEEN (guys I love him so fucking much it's not funny... I wish he was real)

Eren: a stack of random books... he knows nothing about the books, nor does he know if Armin wants them but he gets them nonetheless

Mikasa: she gets him a little notebook and pen set, a classic stationary combo, along with a beautiful seashell (because she knows how much he loves the sea)

Jean: gets him a collection of historical books and atlases to appease Armin's love of geography and history... tries to play it off cool but really wanted to get Armin this heartfelt gift

Sasha and Connie: they make a homemade card for Armin as well as baking him a cake (it's absolutely horrible but it's the thought that counts right?)

Levi: "doesn't do gifts" but he does wish Armin a happy birthday and says something very sweet when the two are alone; "I'm proud of you, Armin."

Erwin: gets Armin something vintage and rare like a pocket watch or compass, as they share their love of historical stuff

Hange Zoe: they share a crap ton of notes and drawings with Armin that they claimed they "made just for him", but in reality they kinda forgot it was his birthday...

Annie: a kiss heheh (jokes guys); she loves him obviously but is sooooo bad at gift giving, so she gives him this cool like switchblade that she fashioned herself

Reiner: also goes with the stationary route to get Armin something like some cool pens and papers

Bertholdt: also isn't the best at gift giving but he's also a creative little pookie so he hand-makes Armin like a bracelet out of some sea shells

Historia: wants Armin to be a plant dad soooo bad so she gets him a cute little flower to take care

Ymir: just gets Armin a rock... she doesn't really care that much

[casualaruanienjoyer]

Hi Stella 💕

What do AOT characters do to de-stress after a hard day?

Helloo!! I hope you're having an AMAZING day! Thank you for sending me this!

What do AOT characters do to de-stress after a hard day?

Eren: He likes to sit and chat with his friends, maybe play some games together. He's having fun until others start winning instead, and then ends up sulking in the corner. This was supposed to be about HIM!

Mikasa: Jogging! What better way to get rid of your stress than by running away from it? She likes listening to music and taking scenic routes around town. Some people say she's still jogging to this very day.

Armin: Nothing beats chilling in bed and reading a book that he loves. Get all comfortable, pjs on, hot drink by his side, reading light on. This man knows where it's at!

Annie: She will, most likely, be cuddling up to Armin as he reads. Sometimes she enjoys doing crosswords together, read mystery books or scroll on her phone. It's quiet, but they both enjoy this shared silence.

Jean, Reiner, Onyankopon: What better way to unwind than to go to a bar with your friends. After a particularly stressful day, you can find Jean, Reiner, and Onyankopon drinking in town. It's all fun and games until Jean and Reiner start making out and Onyankopon becomes the third wheel. Every fucking time.

Pieck: Bath time! This woman will spend HOURS in the bathroom, reading or watching movies while taking a hot bath. She has many bath bombs, scented candles and the sorts. She completely ignores everyone who bangs the door.

Connie, Sasha, Gabi, Falco, Historia, Ymir: These guys have a D&D campaign going and they are DEDICATED. Falco somehow ended up being the dm and he's been so evil with his players. Connie is on death saves, Sasha is already on her second character, Historia and Ymir still have no idea how to play and Gabi's killing all his npcs. Everyone is screaming. Ah yes, truly a relaxing activity for them.

Levi and Hange: They enjoy having tea in the living room together. Hange's brought a bunch of foreign tea flavours and each time they meet like this they try a new one. They even made a score board to see which one will win by the end of it.

Zeke: This man comes home, strips down to his underwear and just watches TV, dad style. Maybe even drink a beer and eat some chips. Nothing beats this freedom.

Yelena: Sometimes when she isn't plotting the destruction of the world in her spare time, she will go out on dates. She's seen so many people that she lost count. It's not that she's looking for anything serious, but DAMN it feels nice to eat for free every day.

[callie-the-creator]

bertholdt dating a deaf reader would include...

sfw. warnings: mentions of bullying.

author’s note: this was posted on my wattpad, so there is no need to worry if you see it there. other than that, there is nothing else to add!

• in all honesty, how it was revealed that you were deaf was a little embarrassing. it happened during the first day of the cadet corps when everyone was being debriefed and publicly humiliated in front of each other because commander shadis wanted to ensure every abled person was morphed into a model soldier. it didn't take long for it to be your turn.

— "sorry, sir! i can't hear you!" shadis, at first, thought you were being a smartass and before he could yell at you some more, you added, "i'm deaf!"

— "then why the hell are you here?!"

• from there, you explained that you wanted to not so much fight for humanity by physically driving the titans back but stay back and help formulate strategies and plans.

• fortunately, shadis was merciful enough to let you stay, though it took some convincing. that and once his superiors heard about your case, they were torn but eventually you were allowed to train with the others. 

• alas, you were completely oblivious to some of the bullying happening behind your back...

• you struggle with communication and social skills, such as simply not understanding a joke that everyone else is laughing at. when that is happening, you usually write down on a piece of paper to ask just what is so funny, but they usually brush you off by either ignoring you, saying "oh, it's nothing", or something of that nature.

• the first few months were hell on earth for you. if anything, you preferred the physical training over anything because that meant you wouldn't have to worry about trying to communicate with any of the other cadets since the same can't be said about sparring or the wasteland excursion training (an exercise where the cadets are split into two groups and make a round trip through the wasteland. they leave the training base at the same time on separate routes, retrieve an object at the checkpoint, and return to base. they exercise aims to test their vigilance in tedious, low-risk situations).

• in terms of bullying, you experienced quite a variety of things. being ostracized, taken advantage of when it came to sparring or other team activities since everyone knew you were at a disadvantage, or people trying to talk to you but you didn't know what they were talking about.

— "can she seriously not hear a thing?"

— "what a weirdo."

— "hey, y/n, can you even speak?"

• bertholdt didn't like how differently everyone was treating you just because you have a disability, it reminded him all too much of his father and the prejudice eldians face from marleyans. so, when he's finally had enough, he steps forward and tells everyone to cut it out. from there, he becomes friends with you and follows you everywhere to help you in any way he can.

— of course, this didn't blow well over with annie or reiner because bertholdt is sympathetic toward the enemy but it's not like they could stop him.

• it's from there where bertholdt did things like open the door for you, carry your things, intentionally pick you to be his partner in sparring so no one else would be rude toward you, try his best to translate things if someone was trying to talk to you (by writing down on a piece of paper).

• obviously, it didn't take long for you to develop feelings for him and the same can be said for bertholdt! ☺️

— he thought you were so sweet and precious...you needed to be protected and although he wasn't the best option for this, he still wanted to do his best to make you feel safe.

• so...within a few weeks, you two started going out! bertholdt couldn't care less about the stares he got— he was used to them— but if you ever pointed it out, he would make up excuses to make it seem like the judgmental glares were aimed toward him and not you. it wasn't like he wasn't used to it already and the last thing he wanted was to see you unhappy.

• a few years went by and close to graduation, shadis gathered everyone to tell them that the government had been working on a way to communicate with the hearing-impaired. sign language. shadis said it would be easier to talk to you that way. many people were against learning it because they thought of it as a waste of their time, saying that they had enough issues learning the specifics of titan killing.

— all in all, the only people that were willing to learn— aside from you— were christa, mikasa, bertholdt, armin, and connie & sasha (even though they can be a bunch of numbskulls at times).

• bertholdt spent many nights trying to perfect his sign language. it sort of pissed off some of the other guys in the cabin because of just how late he would stay up! he can't remember how many times he's accidentally pulled an all-nighter and only knew when he heard the bell for muster.

• when he signed to you the first time during supper, he was so nervous, afraid that he might offend you if he messed up any of the signs but was relieved and proud of himself when you understood him and offered to teach him some more which he gleefully agreed to.

• bertholdt likes that you two have this language that not everyone in the cadet corps can understand, that way he can be cute with you without the other boys knowing and making fun of him for it

[megumimania]

AOT LONDON BOY HCS PT 2

featuring: reiner, onyankopon, armin

a/n: this is part two of these hcs, part one is here! thanks for tuning in its kinda rushed my bad 😪, likes and reblogs are greatly appreciated!

ARMIN

-armin would be from islington or finchley maybe even south, but I don’t see him living in like bougie areas such as kensington or chelsea or like richmond

- him and eren went to the same primary and secondary together

-armin was literally his get out of jail free card because of his stellar reputation in academics

-he always gets free stuff from the corner shop or the chicken and chip shop

-doesn’t own a car, he either bikes or takes the tube because he cares about the environment and doesn’t want to add onto the extra pollution in london

-his dress sense is very casual like a t shirt, a pair of loose fitted trousers and some trainers but when he cant be bothered he’ll wear a tech fleece

-he has a very good sense of direction, like he knows the fastest routes for anything, like when eren and connie dragged him to carni (if you went this year im saur jealous 😩 but anyways) and it was time to get home armin found a quicker route that got them back pretty fast

-knows all the best secret spots in london for anything! which makes hanging out with him more fun because you experience a new part of london when you’re together

-he isnt a fan of eren’s scamming ways but when eren asks for help he always answers as long as he’s not a part of it

-london men i feel like are terrible with their feelings but armin is the exception, he would be very open with you about his feelings and such

-reads so much, you’ll catch him at hyde park or greenwich park reading till the sun sets

-he smokes cigarettes but he’s trying to cut it out for you

-his playlist would be very diverse since he’s been brought up in a multicultural area, like it would go from bashment, to rnb, drill to pop

-unlike his unserious counterparts *cough cough* eren and connie, he’s very loyal!

ONYANKOPON

-my ghanaian king, shoutout to my ghanaians!!

-he speaks twi so well that people forget he was brought up in the uk

-he would be from peckham or lewisham for suree, he’s deffo been dragged around by his mum round rye lane market on a saturday morning carrying that trolley with him

-he goes to a pentecostal church, he’s always leading youth service and helping out at church events.

-the aunties love him for this because he’s the perfect son that they don’t have and they just love him in general

-ony can cook and im being for real, so you guys never eat out unless ony wants to show you to a new niche restaurant somewhere

-he has snap but doesn’t have a bitmoji because he thinks it’s immature 😕 but eventually he caves and makes one because you ask him too

-hes always promoting his boys stuff whether that be music,

-he deffo went to an all boys secondary and then he went to a mixed sixth form after, he gives me those vibes

-he used to go to the library to link girls after school 😭 he had a big playboy phase but hes calmed down

-he used to be one of those people at stratford westfield trying to sell you magazines before you enter

-hes not stingy with his money, hes always spoiling the people he loves

-he has a bunch of caps and grills that he likes to rotate out weekly, he has great style

-he works in corporate london so its rare that you dont see him outside of a suit and tie but he always makes time for you

-ony is always holding your bag for dear life when you go to bait areas like oxford street or westfields or like the tourist spots because people be getting their shit stolen loool

-he loves late night tesco trips anything that he can do at night i.e late night walks, drives etc

-bossman is always giving him discounts on stuff because ony is loyal customer.

REINER

-look at that man and tell me he wouldnt be from essex tell me!! like thats pure dagenham material right there

-if you search up a typical person from essex, he would come up

-he probably owns those skintight chinos with those ugly polos with the church shoes

-he tries to downplay his accent a bit since sometimes its hard to understand him but when hes upset his accent comes through in full force

-always at spoons or at the club till early hours

-reiner gives me bricklayer vibes so thats what im gonna roll with

-when he comes home from work in summer hes like hot and sweaty but it makes his biceps glow so its kinda sexy idk

-has a bunch of tattoos, most of them are birthdays of family members and a picture of his grandma who passed away

-has a british bulldog called belle, the dog is fucking scary but reiner thinks the world of her and thinks she can do no wrong

-listens to mainly dnb, garage, techno

-downs pints at the pub like it’s nothing, he has a high alcohol tolerance

-proper geezer that’s all i have to say tbh!

[whovian223]

First Impressions - Cascadero

First Impressions - Cascadero @BitewingGames

Another first impressions post, mainly because I doubt this game will come out to our game days again, other than maybe one more time (I prefer to review a game after 3 plays). These first impressions posts are not reviews exactly, because I’ve only played the game once (and sometimes that one play might be slightly wrong, like this one). But I want to let you know some information about a game…