#eren analysis

[clfixationstation]

The dynamic is NOT Eren gets angry, Armin soothes him. It's Eren gets angry and Armin does damage control for him. Eren slips into despair and Armin gives him hope. Armin gets tangled in his own anxieties and hopelessness and Eren comforts him. Eren encourages him, puts his faith in him, gives Armin the confidence to flourish.

It goes both ways. They have such understanding of each other, such kindness and respect they reserve only for each other (& Mikasa of course).

[happybird16]

I'm going to make myself cry typing this but here we go..

I think one of the points of Attack on Titan is that humanity is forgetful. Doomed to forget, actually.

Our main cast are heroes, not just the surviving ones. Levi deserves to have statues built of him. The surviving members of the 104th even went on to become politicians, traveling the world to help change things for the better. I have no doubt that they had buildings named after them, streets and parks named after them. There were probably history books specifically dedicated to each and every one of them.

But humans are forgetful.

There were no photos of Eren. He probably only continued to exist in history books, where he was demonized and vilified for decimating the world. By the time their fingers started to get all wrinkly from age, Mikasa and Armin probably forgot what Eren looked like. What he sounded like.

Time passes and humans forget. Statues crumble, buildings rot and fall apart. People forget figures that used to be significant. History books are changed. Even atrocities eventually become dulled in humanities collective memory. Bombs turn everything to dust. Humans are doomed to forget and repeat their mistakes again and again and again.. and I think that's the point.

[chrollohearttags]

CHARACTER ANALYSIS: EREN JAEGER AKA EJ THE DON

so in honor of me finally reviving Reverb, I decided to do some character analyses and info cards, if you will. These were so much fun (and a lot of work) to make and I really hope y’all like them. I was heavily inspired by a wonderful, talented mutual of mine and her amazing character analysis she did for her series a while back! As always, y’all know reblogs and comments are appreciated!! (Fair warning, this is a long read but it’s been in the works since last year and I hope y’all enjoy)

╔═*.·:·.✧ ✦✧.·:·.*═╗ ╔═*.·:·.✧ ✦✧.·:·.*═╗ ╔═*.·:·.✧ ✦✧. ✦✧.

name: Eren Michael Jaeger | date of birth + sign: March 31st, 1998 (aries sun) | age: 26 | aliases/nickname: EJ, Eren, EJ The Don, The Underground God, Rennie | pronouns: he/him/his | sexuality: straight (but a bit bi-curious) | race/ethnicity: white, italian/turkish + german

song in the video: ChainSwang - BONES (slowed and reverb ver.)

biography and early life: Eren was born in Montclair, New Jersey to his mother Carla and father, Dr. Grisha Jaeger. The couple met while Carla was working as a bottle girl at a gentleman’s club called Starlets in New York, when she was nineteen years old. (age gap oops)

Grisha, who was working at Mount Sinai as part of his residency, was twenty seven at the time and married to (but separated from) socialite and heiress, Dina Fritz. The two were a classic case of opposites attracting and it didn’t take long for their bond to flourish from a one night fling to something far more. A year into their relationship, Carla learned that she was pregnant and Grisha, who had annulled his first marriage some months prior, proposed right away and the couple settled in the suburbia township to raise their newborn son. Eren was described as a ‘very enigmatic and unique child’. Growing up, he was said to have always had a natural inclination towards music. From playing on toy keyboards to babbling songs into his Spider-Man karaoke machine at just three years old, it seemed that early on, the young prodigy was shaping his destiny. Eren attended the Montclair Township Charter Elementary, alongside his childhood best friends, Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Artlert, who were among many of the children of affluent families. He was extremely intelligent and schoolwork was a breeze. The problem was that he could be less interested! Eren struggled to focus and with maintaining relationships, which worried his mom. She took him to therapists, sought counseling and even considered moving him to alternative school when he began getting into trouble.

She worried what would happen to him…but luckily, her fears were for nothing because soon, Eren would show her and the entire world his true purpose. When he was ten years old, Carla enrolled her son in lessons for piano and guitar. During this time, he began to really hone his musical talent, and needless to say, he was a prodigy. All but mastering everyone he picked up. This seemed to be the area that little EJ most thrived in. Even his friendships began to grown. Having left New Jersey before they went to middle school, Mikasa and Armin were the only two people he'd bonded with. But eventually, Eren found companionship in several people from all walks of life and other areas of town. He didn't care about how much money someone had or what they looked like, he just enjoyed like minded people. Finding himself hanging out, playing basketball, skating and of course, making music. However, his father was less than pleased with his academic performance and new group of comrades. As the son of a prestigious doctor, Eren knew that his father wouldn’t approve of his hobbies if his grades weren’t up to par but he never expected that the catalyst for his dreams would be their falling out..when Eren was 15 years old, he made the decision to leave home and emancipate himself from his parents after a horrendous fallout with his dad.

It came as a shock to his friends, who felt that his life was objectively better than their own. However, it was the principle and anyone who truly knew the situation..knew that it was a long time coming and much deserved. Years of being put down or not acknowledged for refusing to follow in his footsteps and the final straw came when his father's cowardice and lying caused him to lose someone very important to him. Something that Eren could not forgive (explaining this later in the story!) After receiving $300 from his older half brother, young EJ boarded a bus to Miami, not looking back once. And he was fully prepared to make a life for himself, one not attached to his dad's name..no matter the cost. After arriving in Florida, Eren would work odd jobs to provide for himself and found housing at a local boys home in the Northside area. Just two blocks from Ocean Shore High School, where he finished out the remainder of his junior and senior years. It was then that he met fellow classmates and future group members Connie Springer and Onyakopon 'Ony' Baptiste (he doesn't canonically have a last name that I am aware of so I gave him one and I will explain it in his own backstory). The three of them immediately bonded and only grew closer when they played on the varsity basketball team together and began working at a local shoe store in the Aventura Mall. This would be the first time that the world would get a glimpse into Eren's musical talents when his friends would record him singing Miguel's "Sure Thing' in the backroom of the store and posted it online.

career: After going viral, Eren began to take his craft even more serious. Going from penning rhymes in his notebook between periods to doing makeshift recording sessions in the chorus classroom, he would post covers and original songs to a YouTube channel as well his Sound Cloud. He would save a portion of his paychecks and do yard, mechanic and janitorial work for neighbors to procure studio time. He eventually saved up and purchased a MacBook, and began making instrumentals. It was during this time that he began working a temp job for a local underground club, where artists like Denzel Curry, Ice Billion Berg and Pouya got their starts. Hired to clean up after sets and during closing, Eren would listen in on the performances, watching, studying and observing the rappers' movements. Having never done an official performance, it was an area he had no experience in. But during an open mic night at the club, he got an opportunity and didn't miss! Debuting one of his now infamous tracks, First Degree, Eren once again shocked everyone with how talented and charismatic he was. It was almost as if rapping and singing came as naturally as speaking did. Now 18 years old, graduated from high school and riding the momentum of his first stage set, Eren continued to grind. Working by day and recording and writing by night. It was then that he began going by the name EJ the Don after Ony joked about his New Jersey and Italian origins, implying that he must have 'mafia ties' because he assimilated into life in this rough area so well. His image and brand slowly came together afterwards..embracing the dark, edgy aesthetic coupled with his buttery smooth voice and unique lyricism, Eren was in a league all on his own.

And it didn't take long for the rising star to catch the attention of some big names in the industry, including renowned Neo-Soul artist and five time Grammy winner Vivian James. Who was not only doing a show at the Miami Amphitheater for a music festival but scouting prospects for the talent agency giant, Ackerman Management Group. Known for catapulting the careers of some of the biggest names in music, modeling and acting. Still building his reputation, EJ got the chance of a lifetime when he not only received a job request but an invitation from Vivian herself, looking for a backup vocalist and pianist. Naturally, being a huge fan on top of a starving artist, Eren immediately accepted and the rest was history! Vivian was blown away that he was able to recite the songs verbatim and so perfectly on such a short notice..so much so, she gave Eren an offer he couldn't refuse: an audition with AMG on the condition that he would work as her protege regardless and it was a no brainer. Two days after his nineteenth birthday, EJ the Don officially signed with Ackerman Management Group, the family business of his old childhood friend, Mikasa. Who was going by the stage name Mika ASH. But it wasn't smooth sailing for the new rap sensation..although he was Vivian's protege, he captured the attention of other executives who was interested in more than his music. Unfortunately, it caused them to try and take advantage of him, both career wise and physically. Eren persevered and focused on what his goal truly was and that was sharing his gift with the world. Six months after being signed, he released his first EP, Living Dead Boy. He went on tour shortly after and released Living Dead Boy II: The Casket Chronicles a year later. Fast forward and Eren took the 'horrorcore' rap scene and the internet by storm, with his gritty wordplay and captivating visuals. Ten years later, he is hailed as the Underground God and widely credited for reshaping the genre as a whole.

musical muses: BONES (the character playlist can be found here), $uicideBoys, August Alsina, Jon Dretto

notable achievements: LivingDeadBoy I sold 50,000 units its first week and debuted number seven on the charts. But his debut single, First Degree was number two on the charts and widely viral on social media. LivingDeadBoy II: The Casket Chronicles sold five times with 250,000 units and at just 20 years old, EJ had his first sold out tour in North America. His debut album was very successful and received two Grammy nominations. (even though he doesn't give a shit about awards and accolades) EJ the Don has released over ten EP's and five mixtapes, as well as three studio albums, one being a visual series. He has gone on to produce, write with and direct for several other artists, including Prince Cee + Ony the God, his high school friends and fellow musicians. He has earned 2 VMA's and appeared in a BET Hip Hop Awards cypher. He has headlined two North American tours seperately and three international ones alongside his groupmates. EJ has made many accomplishments in his ten year rap reign and is far from done.

personality traits, flaws, etc: Eren can be described as very emotional by some yet stoic in the same breath. He can be temperamental, not thinking hostile actions through sometimes. He acts of his own accord without considering other peoples’ feelings. He’s very blunt, and won’t hesitate to speak his mind. He CANNOT hide his true feelings for shit (if his mouth doesn’t say it, his face surely will.) There are times when he’ll go days without answering his phone or making contact with anyone because he loves being in his own little world. Friendships, partners..it honestly doesn’t make a difference if you’re around or not. Especially when he’s locked in, working on important projects. He shuts down when he doesn’t want to deal with something and you’ll have better luck catching a pig flying than him apologizing or doing what he’s told! In the same vein, Eren can be very emotional..it’s almost like a dam breaking. When he finally cracks, it’s hard to control the flood with him. He gets really intense, whether he’s crying, laughing or angry. He’s very passionate when he cares about something and he’ll let it be known. Behind that rough exterior is a gentle, sweetheart of a man that just throws his all into whatever or whoever he loves.

relationship status: Eren is currently seeing the influencer and rising star of pole dancing, (Y/N) (L/N). The pair has been in a low key relationship for some months now, taking it slow and really getting to know one another. Although they started with a hot and steamy romance, sprouting from years of loneliness and celibacy from them both, they’ve really grown to care deeply for one another. He puts a lot of effort into making sure he contacts her regularly bc it is not easy to keep his attention and always gifts her the most expensive and thoughtful things. He never seen himself as the lovey dovey type, but anyone that knows EJ..will tell you that he’s fallen head over heels for miss (L/N)!

physical descriptors: EJ is 6’3, just barely 195 pounds with a slender but toned frame. He’s been working out quite a bit since his last project and tour so he’s a little more jacked than before. He has several tattoos including full sleeves with various pieces he’s been getting since he was 16 years old. A few of his most notorious being the serpent and chain going around his hand all the way to his shoulder, the pink rose with the name ‘Ma’Kiya’ tattooed in one of the petals on his back (🌚) and his mom’s name. He has dark green eyes, brownish black hair that he wears in a half up-half down style most of the time. Occasionally though, he’ll wear it down and grow out facial hair. He’s always wearing some sort of jewelry..his infamous ‘The Don’ chain, as well as his bottom silver grills. His fashion sense varies on his mood.

hobbies + interests: when he’s not in the booth, Eren is somewhere tinkering with cars! He particularly loves older model vehicles and will spend days working to fix them. He loves going to the racetrack, sitting in the skybox like a little kid and watching drag cars and motorcycles go down the strip. He also loves to paint and draw, even designing a majority of his tattoos. (fun fact: he gifted (Y/N) a portrait of one of his favorite photos of her on her birthday.) and of course, he’s a huge gamer. His fans look forward to seeing him on Twitch, being stressed out by whatever franchise he’s delving to at the moment. Especially when he’s with his friends or (Y/N).

@violetxxvenom @shamelesshoefairy @shawtuzi

[4everinyour-roaa]

eren IS the cycle of hatred, he carries not just his own hatred for his enemies, but he also carries that of grisha's, kruger's and all the previous shifters.

he even perpetuates it into his child self, by the act of turning dina to carla he grows that need for revenge in his young heart, fueling his own hatred for the warriors and marley.

which is why the rumbling was never going to free ymir, or break the cycle. you cannot break the cycle of hatred with even more hatred, and more violence.

so it makes sense for the character who symbolizes unconditional and selfless love to be the one who breaks said cycle with her choice.

even in the selfless act of killing her loved one for the sake of the greater good, that very same act was also done out of her love for him.

so as opposed to eren who fought out of hate, mikasa only ever fought out of love.

[cosmicjoke]

Ackerman Relationships and Why Comparing Them is Invidious and Pointless:

It really, really pisses me off when people say the relationships between Kenny and Uri, Levi and Erwin, and Mikasa and Eren are "the same", that they're meant to parallel and mirror each other, because it's always this agenda driven stupidity of trying to "prove" some preconceived idea that they've already decided is the objective truth. They love to claim that the "Ackerbond" is real, that it's their blood that makes them loyal, or some magical bonding process unique to Ackerman's that makes them this way, all as a means of proving that either, a. Levi was "in love" with Erwin and put him above humanity, or b. Mikasa was really the hero all along because she was able to "let Eren go", while Levi supposedly wasn't able to do the same with Erwin.

I mean, never mind that Levi very literally let Erwin go. They never consider how it was this moment in the story, Levi letting Erwin die, that set the example for Mikasa to eventually be able to do the same with Eren. God forbid they acknowledge that Levi served as a mentor figure for all of the 104th and that they all learned from him, including Miksasa, and became better and more enlightened people through their association with him. You know, like any young person should from their association with an adult. These people also never seem to be able to answer what it is about letting Erwin die that actually benefited Levi, but I digress.

They always do the same, stupid thing, resort to the same, idiot argument, quoting a single, vague answer given by Isayama in a random interview about how Levi and Mikasa are like "knight" figures, and using that as some kind of irrefutable proof and evidence that Levi's relationship with Erwin is meant to be exactly the same as Mikasa's relationship with Eren. The thing about this claim that's so irritating is that, as usual with these sorts, they completely ignore this little thing called context, again, to push their agenda. They quote Isayama, and think that alone is all one needs to understand the dynamic between these six, different characters, completely foregoing consideration of the actual events of the story, or the fact that Kenny, Levi and Mikasa are all distinctly individual, characters, who's reasons for being loyal to their respective "people" are unique to them specifically. They completely ignore their individual personalities, they completely ignore the unique circumstances and reasoning behind their loyalty, and simply reduce it down to "Ackerman bonding, lol". It's so fucking stupid. Not only has Isayama himself debunked this notion in an interview (one which these people conveniently ignore when talking about this), but it was debunked within the story itself by Zeke. There is no Ackerbond. There is no magical link or bond between Ackerman's and anybody that's dictated or related in any way to their heritage or blood.

Levi, Mikasa and Kenny have individual, unique relationships with other characters, and those relationships are defined by their individual personalty traits and the unique circumstances surrounding the formation of those relationships. It has nothing to do with any of them being Ackerman's. It has nothing to do with their blood.

So I'm going to go over each of these situations, and lay out why it's an invidious comparison between all three of the Ackerman characters, and how it leads to misconceptions and wildly off the mark interpretations when one approaches analyzing these characters with the assumption that they're meant to "be the same".

Let's start with Kenny and Uri.

People love to present this idea that Kenny was "in love" with Uri (lol), again because it pushes their agenda of trying to prove Levi was in love with Erwin, either because they're incapable of viewing Levi through anything but a shipping lens, or because they want to paint Mikasa as somehow superior to Levi by claiming she was able to let go of the love of her life, while Levi wasn't. Kenny wasn't in love with Uri, though, and wasn't beholden to Uri through some magical bonding process driven by his Ackerman blood, the same way Mikasa wasn't beholden to Eren and Levi wasn't beholden to Erwin through any such magical connection, either. Kenny was "loyal" to Uri because he considered Uri to be the ultimate embodiment of power and believed it was that power that allowed Uri to be compassionate. Kenny knew he himself was a bad person, and he wanted to know what it felt like not to be. He wanted to know what it felt like to care about other people. He mistakenly believed that what made Uri a compassionate person was his power, and so he decided his own, best chance to become like Uri was to do his bidding in the eventual hope that it would present him with a chance to become a Titan himself. That's literally the reason Kenny worked for Uri. It wasn't because he was in love with Uri. It wasn't because "Uri was his person". It wasn't even because he cared about Uri. Kenny didn't care about anyone but himself. Something manifest in the very fact Kenny sought a way to feel compassion. Because he couldn't. And his inability to grasp on any level what compassion actually is or where it comes from is proof of this in and of itself. Kenny aligning himself with Uri was because he knew if he worked for the royal family, he would be able to get closer to finding a way to steal the power of the Titans. That's it. That was Kenny's reasoning. It's why he continued to work for the Reiss family even after Uri died. He was pursuing his goal of becoming the ultimate power in his misguided attempt to be a better person. Do I even have to lay out how the reason behind and nature of Kenny's relationship with Uri is completely different from Levi's with Erwin, or Mikasa's with Eren? I shouldn't have to.

Okay, now onto Levi and Erwin.

I've talked enough about Levi's relationship with Erwin that I don't have to go into great detail here. But just like people love to do with Kenny and Uri, and for the aforementioned agenda, they also love to say Levi was "in love" with Erwin, and they often use this claim to paint a picture of Levi as a selfish person who was willing to "sacrifice humanity" for the love of his life. Blah, blah, blah. I've gone over this a million times, so I won't do it again. I'll just lay out the actual reason Levi was so loyal to Erwin. It wasn't because he was "in love" with him, it was because he believed in Erwin as a leader. He saw Erwin as a superior person to himself because he believed Erwin was able to see something he couldn't, that he had a vision that Levi didn't, and that, as a result, he was someone worth believing in and following as a leader. He saw Erwin as capable of leading humanity to victory over the Titans. It's important to make this distinction, though. He didn't see Erwin as essential to saving humanity (we know this because Levi was twice willing to let Erwin die to save Eren), but he saw him as someone capable and important in that fight, as someone worth following because he had what it would take to make victory possible. He let Erwin die, he felt safe in making that choice, because he also believed in Armin the same way. He believed Armin had the capability to become a leader for humanity. Levi's loyalty to Erwin had nothing to do with love or personal, romantic feelings. It had nothing to do with obsession or blind devotion. It had nothing to do with a personal dream or desire to be with Erwin. It had to do with trusting in Erwin's judgement as a leader and believing that following him could both lead humanity to victory and also allow Levi a means by which to help people himself. Erwin showed Levi a path by which to help others, and so Levi chose to follow his lead and allowed Erwin to utilize his strength toward that end. That's it. That's Levi's relationship with Erwin in a nutshell. That's why Levi was loyal to Erwin. Again, I shouldn't have to explain further how totally different this is to either Kenny's relationship with Uri, or Mikasa's relationship with Eren.

And finally, Mikasa and Eren.

Mikasa is in love with Eren. That's the nature of their relationship. Mikasa feels this way about Eren because he saved her life and gave her a new family after she'd lost her own. Mikasa followed Eren, not because she believed in him as a leader, and not because she thought being around him would gain her power or help her become a better person, but because she had a personal dream of them ending up together in a romantic relationship. She had a personal dream of Eren returning her affections and them getting to live happily ever after, as a family. It's that simple. Mikasa joins the Survey Corps because she cares about Eren more than anything or anyone, and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect him, including imperiling her own life by joining the most dangerous division of the military. Mikasa's relationship with Eren is what so many people mistakenly think Levi's relationship with Erwin is. Mikasa is willing, for almost the entire story, to kill anyone or destroy anything if it means keeping Eren safe. I've already laid out how entirely unlike Levi's relationship with Erwin this is. Levi was always willing to let Erwin die if it was necessary to the mission of the Survey Corps. Mikasa wasn't able to do the same with Eren until the very end of the story. Why? Again, because unlike Levi with Erwin, Mikasa prioritized Eren over humanity. Levi joined the Survey Corps to fight for humanity, not Erwin. He fought for humanity under Erwin's guidance, to be sure, but it wasn't for Erwin. It was for humanity. Mikasa joined the Survey Corps to keep Eren safe. She joined the Survey Corps for Eren. Again, I shouldn't have to explain further why this makes Mikasa's relationship with Eren incomparable to either Kenny's relationship with Uri, or Levi's relationship with Erwin.

It completely takes away any complexity or individuality from these characters when you group them all together and say they're all meant to be alike, or meant to be a mirror of one another. It robs them of their individual personalities and motivations and reduces them down to some monolithic avatar on which to project your own, personal desires and fantasies. It ignores their individual characterization and circumstances within the narrative of "Attack on Titan" all in the name of confirmation bias. You want Levi to be in love with Erwin, well, then, you have to compare his relationship with Erwin to Mikasa's with Eren, or Kenny's with Uri, and say all three were rooted in the "blind devotion" of love. You want Mikasa to be "the real hero" of AoT, then you have to also claim Levi was in love with Erwin so that you can then compare his supposed failure to let Erwin go with Mikasa's heroic sacrifice of Eren in the end. These people aren't looking at these characters with any kind of objectivity. They approach their understanding of them with their minds already made up about who they want them to be and what they want to personally believe about them and the story, and then twist their actions to fit their preconceived notions, instead of assessing these characters on an individual basis, considering their individual personality traits and motivations, or their circumstances within the context of the story itself, and then forming an opinion on them.

You can't compare any of their situations, because all three situations and all three characters are completely different to each other. Kenny's relationship with Uri is nothing like Levi's relationship with Erwin, or Mikasa's relationship with Eren. Levi's relationship with Erwin is nothing like Kenny's relationship with Uri, or Mikasa's relationship with Eren. Mikasa's relationship with Eren is nothing like Levi's relationship with Erwin or Kenny's relationship with Uri. Why? Because these three characters aren't the same people. They have completely different personalities from one another, completely different motivations, completely different outlooks and completely different circumstances they're facing. It's not fair to any of them to claim they're all alike, all driven by the same thing, or the same purpose. It reduces all of their characters to something they're not when you do that. It robs all of them of their essential core as characters. It makes them boring.

You have to assess all of these characters individually, on their own terms, with consideration to their unique personalities and motivations and circumstances. If you can't do that, then you aren't ever going to be able to form an accurate understanding of who any of them are.

I'm sure that one moronic Mikasa stan that keeps coming into my inbox will see this, so I dedicate this post especially to you, asshole. Maybe one day you'll learn to love your favorite characters objectively and without having to tear other characters down or grossly mischaracterize them in some pathetic attempt to make your fav look better. But I kind of doubt it. In the meantime, have fun continuing to delude yourself.

[sonofthesaiyans]

Hats off to Jean Kirstein, the Scouts' unlikeliest hero.

Honor dictates that I say a few words to honor the birthday of one of the 104th's strongest and most naturally gifted soldiers.

Jean Kirstein is a character who, at one point, I would have said had one of the most impressive arcs of any individual character in Attack on Titan. Once content to keep himself to the sidelines in service of the royal government, Jean has really come a long way from when we first met him in the early days of season one.

Jean has always been abrasive and cynical, holding on to no fantasies about the miserable world he and his friends have long been trapped in. But in spite of all he's gone through, he's shown a keen sense of judgement and natural leadership that has allowed him to survive again and again in a situation he at one point would have been all to happy to look the other way, and never turn back. In a world where insanity dominates between the Titans and humanity, Jean always seems to know what to do even when he's at an utter loss of what the outcome could be, and he's so often been a voice of reason when faced with the panic of his comrades or the zeal of his friendly rival turned mortal enemy, Eren.

His old pal Marco recognized this potential in Jean, and it seems Marco's words have resonated strongly with Jean long after his own demise. Understanding what was at stake, he took a hard look at what he signed himself on to and charged at it head on. Through and through, he's proven a dependable ally to those serving by his side and ultimately, under his own command. One of Jean's greatest assets, and perhaps in his own mind his greatest curse, is his nobility. Whatever his faults and failings, Jean has always sided with the greater good, and is one of the most incorruptible characters on Paradis. He's been pushed to his limits every bit as much as the rest of his circle......And through it all still stands tall.

By no means flawless, and I actually have some far stronger opinions about Jean in spite of the fact that I rarely ever comment on him around here.......And that's a discussion for another day.

For tonight though, gotta acknowledge the impressive track record of a guy who probably never should have been a Scout in the first place.......And somehow has lived to speak of the experience after going through Hell and back time and time again.

Seriously, Jean Kirstein would have been a worthy contender to become Commander of the Scout Regiment, or second-in-command under Hange and/or Levi. Whatever the case, he's certainly been an asset to the greater cause of freedom, and perhaps understood the meaning of what that was far better than Eren himself EVER did.

Keep moving forward as you always have, Commander Jean.

Happy Birthday to a man worthy of wearing the Wings of Freedom.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh, and one last thing; If you really do truly love Jean, then for the love of all that is good and just.........

Do NOT even think about it with the lame as hell Horseface jokes. I think the fact that I acknowledged not just Jeanmarco, but also "Jeankasa" up here is being pretty generous as it is. So please, don't push it, alright?

Besides, I can name five other characters who look more like horses than him.....

[the-last-thread-of-my-sanity]

I’ve been thinking lately about how much the ‘curse of Ymir’ really does affect the psyche of each of the nine shifters and how it impacts the ending of the story.

Up until the end of Season 3/Chapter 87-88, the reader and the viewer have no idea that the shifters have a limited amount of time to live. They seem to possess this god-like power and they can rejuvenate and survive almost any injury. They seem unstoppable.

This is what motivates Erwin to create a plan to take one of the nine shifter powers with the serum- having another Titan in your arsenal would make a difference in winning the war.

But what the Paradisians don’t know is how holding the power of the Nine just perpetuates a cycle of violence and cruelty. It’s a curse as much as it is a power. No matter how brilliant or grand your scope is for what you can do with this near limitless power, you have to contend with the fact that you will only have thirteen years to do it.

This revelation to me is the what colors the entire last arc of the story leading into and after the time skip.

For Zeke, it amps up the level of desperation he has for accomplishing the euthanization plan- relying on Eren was still a variable that was largely unpredictable, and he trusted him more than he probably would have if he weren’t running out of time.

Going back further in the story, it retroactively explains why Ymir (of the cadet corps) would go back with Reiner and Bertholdt at all- a seemingly nonsensical choice when it seems she has something to live for in her relationship with Krista/Historia. But Ymir knows she has little time left. She has no future. So she chooses to surrender.

For Annie, it shows her desperation to get back to her father, a man who showed her very little affection, and yet if she could just make it back maybe she could live at least a year or two with him and make at least one happy memory with the man who raised her to kill.

Armin, I honestly feel the most for, because what he and everyone else thought of as his salvation, was actually just saddling him with a curse. And heaps of responsibility to try and be grateful for it. He went from a character with a singular and wholesome conviction, to someone wracked with guilt and forced to solve the world’s problems with limited time and resources.

In Reiner’s case, I actually think the fact that he knows he is going to die is the only thing actually keeping him alive in the tail end of the story. He wants so badly to face retribution for his deeds, and he can only find the strength to keep towing the line because he knows his violent demise is guaranteed.

Characters like Pieck and Bertholdt seem to accept their lot in life- but deal with this internally and develop their own sense of morals despite it- albeit in different ways and in Pieck’s case with a shade of pessimism. Falco and Marcel stand out as a characters who see the farce for what it is- but still want to subject themselves to it in order to prevent someone they love from suffering through it in their place.

Eren, though, it’s easy to see how discovering he has already lived more of his life in powerless ignorance than what he has left is what ultimately causes the collapse in his character. Combine that with the way that he sees ‘future memories’ and doesn’t see any future beyond his own, and suddenly you have a naturally impulsive and violent person living in the most fatalistic reality ever. It makes perfect sense that his fall from grace is near immediate and precipitous.

What difference does all that power make if all it means is that you become a tool for destruction with no future? That you will be forced to curse someone else so that this cruel power will continue to exist? That is the true legacy of Ymir and the Eldian Empire- you can have near limitless power, but you will never have true control over your own life.

And it makes for such interesting discussions and questions about power and mortality and agency- and all the seemingly ‘correct’ and ‘incorrect’ ways to respond to their dilemma.

Anyway, it is always ‘thinking about the moral quandary of the titan shifters’ hours around here…

[acmeangel]

I have to get this off my chest because, to me, it has always been obvious that the “Ackerman bond” is not a real thing. Eren is doing olympian-level mental gymnastics to explain away Mikasa’s decade-long behavior toward him as some Ackerman-power-related curse/bond, because he was 1. a dumb teenager who couldn’t come to terms with his feelings or Mikasa’s feelings, and 2. knew that The Rumbling was going to happen and needed Mikasa to not love him for her own sake. And Zeke was basically like “lol uh that’s not a thing buddy” because he saw right through that. Is it not possible that Kenny, Levi, and Mikasa are all simply loyal to people they care about? As if Armin, Hange, Ymir — and pretty much every other main character — didn’t also exhibit fierce loyalty and dedication?

I dunno, I just much prefer the version of the story that involves complex, real feelings from Eren and Mikasa, and portrays the strength of loyalty, rather than some soul-bond-curse-thing that strips three very unique characters of their personal agency and dilutes them down to nothing.

[lingering00]

YumiHisu were a romantic symbol of Ymir Fritz

Aot Analysis

Ymir Fritz

It all began with Ymir. Her and her entire village was enslaved and their tongues sliced off. Her 'deification' caused by an accusation, as the entire village relied on her kindness to bear their punishment. And like some mere doe, the archers chased her in a forest. She then met a prehistoric creature that would give her titan powers.

It was a chance, the audience would say. She could finally escape that oppressive empire. But poor girl developed some kind of stockholm syndrome. Ymir was a simple girl with simple desires and yearnings. All she wanted was love, and she liked the idea of loving someone. Unable to explain that to the audience with her sliced tongue; she did with her scream in her titan form, with her fist that killed opposing empires. All of which was for the king, but doing it for the empire was her job.

Historia Reiss

Historia's father tells her the tale of Ymir Fritz (where she was referred to as Krista) Her father encourages her to be like Krista, depicted as a kind girl and as told in the tale that she made a deal with the devil to gain freedom. Her father used this not to encourage her pursuit of freedom but rather for her to want the founding titan power as he wanted to live a long life; those who possess titan powers get to only live for 13 years after obtaining it. Her father wanted to keep their title of being the royal family possessing the founding titan power.

Ymir

(different from ymir fritz)

Ymir was once just a nameless child beggar in the streets of Marley. She was taken by a cult, and they claimed that she had royal blood—a descendant of their all powerful 'goddess', Ymir Fritz and named her after her. She was worshipped by a group of people. As an oblivious child, she assumed that people worshipped her for her own self, but it was only her 'royal blood' which she does not truly have.

technically both ymir and historia were nicknamed from ymir fritz' names, Ymir and Krista

Similar to Historia and Ymir Fritz, Ymir thought of fate as a concept; everything that happens has a cause and effect—that if she chooses to carry this great burden, she would save her people and that would be her great fate. Instead, her and including her people all got sent to paradise, where they got injected by titan fluids and transformed into mindless titans.

Ymir Fritz thought the king would love her, but even after all she did for the empire and positioning as his mistress, he didn't.

Historia chose to position as the queen of the walls, but it was to help people, not what she desired.

Ymir positioned as a royal blooded, to find out that it was all a lie—she was still a nobody, and such a thing like fate is fake.

In the eyes of citizens, those who held great authority were viewed as having many privileges; it wasn't really the case for these women, they were all forced to carry a job that masqueraded their dreams.

YumiHisu symbolizing Ymir Fritz

As the military police planned the assassination of Historia, Ymir stepped in and offered Historia freedom. Ymir represented a chance for freedom for Historia, the same way the prehistoric creature was a chance for freedom for Ymir Fritz. Although she didn't exactly refuse and Ymir eventually chose to leave Historia, she didn't accept it right away. The same way Ymir Fritz didn't take her chance for freedom in her life, and it led for her soul in the afterlife to be eternally enslaved by the holders of the founding titan. Eventually, Historia took the position of being the queen of the walls, she even bore a child even though she was a lesbian baddie.

Both Ymir Fritz and Historia were left unhappy with their past decisions.

[clfixationstation]

The only thing I dislike about Eren's death is that he's always felt trapped, and in the end his only freedom was death. Like, that's depressing as hell for any person that could feel similarly...

[inkedkatt]

[diariodeunrincondemi]

Although everyone is talking about Armin and Eren's dialogue (which was amazing), for me the heartbreaking moment was that of the civilian refugees being cornered between the cliff and the advancing titans and the man lifting the baby to pass it back, in a desperate gesture to save him.

A father assuming, in the midst of terror, that he was going to die, but wanting to save his son, because it was better for his son to be an orphan and have a chance to live than to die in that terror.

And that moment is heartbreaking because it is full of realism. Because we still see it today on live broadcasts in the news: adults doing everything they can to protect and save their children in the midst of terror, hoping that it will end and they can live. Because there is nothing more horrible than the death of a person who could not experience life.

[rivai-hana]

IT ENDS WITH US🥰😘 💚💜

levi and hange are living a peaceful life in my dreams

[sunflowersunite]

Hi, Sun (can I call you that?). You're a writer of Eremika, so you're experienced in writing Eren and Mikasa. What are your tips on writing Mikasa in particular? Her characterisation, manner of speaking, or body language, etc. And if you're very experienced in writing Armin, how would you imagine their relationship to be after Eren's death, as well as Mikasa's relationship with Annie as Armin's love interest?

Hey Star! Sure you can call me Sun, that's a really nice nickname 😃

I loved this question, thank you for asking! I do my best to make sure everyone is in character in my fics, it's very important to me (as it is for most fanfic writers), so that was a really interesting question to receive. This way I get to voice what goes through my head every time I open my documents lol. (If I may, are you planning to write Mikasa or is this out of curiosity?)

So here are some points I consider.

Writing Mikasa:

Characterisation

The short answer to what I keep in mind when writing her is:

love

strength

duty.

For the long answer, here it is (prepare for an essay)

So, starting off. I originally wanted to start with a different point in mind but let me begin with what is the most important part of Mikasa: her love. This is what she yearns for deep down, a peaceful life full of love.

🌾 Mikasa has strong emotional connections with those she cares about, most importantly Eren and Armin. She will not hesitate to do whatever it takes to ensure their safety. Venturing deeper into her mind, the future she imagines for herself specifically includes people, namely Eren.

Everyone has their own desires, Armin dreams of seeing the ocean and Eren dreams of being free. Surely both boys want the whole EMA friend group to be together while they live their dreams, but Mikasa has explicitly stated that all she ever wanted was to be by Eren's side. Everything else matters little, she can be inside the walls all her life for all she cares.

[! Of course this does not mean "all she cared about was Eren", a girl in love can care for others as well and we've seen what Armin, Sasha and others mean to her. Romantic feelings don't suck the meaning out of everything else, people seem to forget that for some reason.]

🌾 But here's the thing: saving humanity is also important. Mikasa initially joined the Scouts specifically to be by Eren's side and protect him. However as she grew, she developed a strong sense of duty much like Levi's. She had compassion inside her from before, caring for those in need and making sure they don't suffer the same trauma she went through. Eventually she chose to sacrifice her love and future to save the world, showing extreme selflessness and proving once and for all her benevolence.

(for me that character development was why neither Eren nor Mikasa were brimming with joy in the cabin, and why I don't find full comfort in cabin AUs. This life is what Mikasa wanted in the beginning, to be with her beloved and not care for all that death around her, but now, leaving her friends at the mercy of Marley doesn't sit right with her. Abandoning her duty doesn't feel right for either of them anymore).

-- second point: strength.

🌾Mikasa is well aware of how strong she is, her skills and limits, and she doesn't underestimate herself. She doesn't waste time being humble; if she knows she can accomplish something, she steps forth because she's confident in her skills.

Also, she's more action-oriented than thought-oriented. Others do the thinking and she does the fighting, same as Levi. That doesn't mean she can't think obviously, but her strength lies elsewhere. She leaves the thinking to the thinkers.

--Point number 3: Mikasa has a strong sense of duty.

🌾She's aware that out of almost everyone around her, she is the strongest and she has the biggest chances of success, so most of the work is up to her. Kind of like Levi, who always zipped across forests and towns in ODM gear to make sure everything went according to Erwin's orders (because who else could handle it better than him? He's the strongest).

Mikasa knows she is strong, so if an enemy ambushed them and kidnapped Eren, out of everyone she is more responsible. (To avoid misunderstandings, Mikasa isn't at fault for everything that happened to Eren in the story. What I wrote above is what I imagine goes through her head, not mine).

[fun fact: Eren's deepest desire, so deep that he himself didn't realise until it was too late, revolved around people as well. Eren's whole deal was that he never grew up, the angry kid inside him just shouted louder and louder, filling all his senses with anger, leaving no room for healing.

But in his very last moments, when regret had brought him down and he wished he hadn't listened to that voice, he admits "I don't want to die. I want to be with Mikasa, with all of you". Also in the post credit scene of the movie, we see him focusing on Armin and Mikasa's company more rather than anything else because he cares for people. So he and Mikasa are much more alike than what we see at first]

I will split this answer into two or three parts, so that's the end of the first. Again, thank you for asking me 😃 I had fun thinking about this. I kind of turned it into an Eremika analysis as well but Eremika is very important for Mikasa and also it's me we're talking about, so that was bound to happen. I don't know your opinion on Eremika but I hope you don't mind it. I hope you're satisfied so far!

[4everinyour-roaa]

mikasa and eren are both contrasting characters,

eren deals with a lot of insecurities, mikasa carries a lot of pride.

eren is constantly thinking about the future (quite literally living in it considering titan memories due to the founding and attack), while mikasa constantly thinks about the past.

eren is angry and impulsive, mikasa is calm and collected with a clear idea of what she wants to do.

eren allowed people to enter his heart including reiner and annie which explains his sadness finding out about their betrayal, while mikasa only concerns herself with the people that she loves and has no room in her heart to care about more after her trauma.

even in the way they love each other, all mikasa wants is to be by eren's side even if it means risking her life, while all eren wants is for her to be safe even if it means their separation.

and interestingly enough, their character development is basically becoming who the other used to be, in s4 mikasa starts to be more like eren from s1, and s4 eren is more like mikasa in s1

[cosmicjoke]

AoT Short Stories Vol. 4: The Former Underground Jail- Levi & Eren:

Okay, again, I'm honestly just struck so much by Levi's kindness, and the awkward but resolute way he tries to express it. I'll never, never understand people who don't get this about him.

So this story revolves around Eren's early days of being in Levi's Special Operations Squad, and having to be kept in a cell in an abandoned castle after a marching exercise ordered for the entire Survey Corps ends up being aborted due to a heavy rain. Because it isn't just Levi's squad that Eren is around here, they have to take the precaution of keeping him separated from the rest of the group, as they still don't know what the nature of his Titan powers are, or whether the can be trusted.

Levi is left keeping watch over Eren in the cell, and notices how miserable he is, sitting in his soaked rain gear. Eren points out that members of the SC don't trust his Titan powers, and they don't want to add to their already substantial worries:

"'That's right', his commanding officer Levi said before turning the lamp in his hands towards Eren. The young man almost looked like an abandoned puppy there with his rain gear still on as he dripped with water, not revealing his expression. Levi's already furrowed brow deepened even further.

Ugh... He looks like one of the beggars in the Underground City. All alone in both body and spirit, just wandering... He's supposed to be humanity's big hope?

Levi let out a loud sigh before delivering a short order.

'In any case, take off that wet rain gear and give it here. You look like a sewer rat. I'll dry it off using the fire upstairs.'

'... Okay.'

Eren lifelessly unlatched his gear, then wrung the rain out of it before handing it to Levi. He noticed Eren's cold and trembling hand and spoke to another one of his soldiers waiting upstairs... He couldn't it if Eren stayed this depressed.

'Petra! Team up with Oluo and guard Eren.'

'Yes, Sir!"

Here we see see Levi's great compassion on full display. He feels awful for Eren, and can't bear to see him so depressed, but doesn't know how to comfort him at all. He compares in his mind the way Eren looks to the beggars on the streets of the Underground City, and wonders how someone who looks that way is meant to be humanity's hope. We can see here Levi's own conflict in putting so much of a burden on the shoulders of someone who's clearly not equipped to handle it. They don't have a choice, but Levi clearly realizes that Eren isn't someone who should be in the position he is. More than that, Levi clearly wants to cheer Eren up, but struggles with knowing how to do so. This is the thing people don't seem to understand about Levi. He's the kindest and most compassionate man, but again, because of the way he grew up, he was never taught the proper way to express that kindness and compassion. Nobody ever showed him how to be gentle or sweet, even as he longs to be. The very fact Eren's clear depression is bothering Levi so much speaks volumes. He doesn't want to see this poor kid suffer. He wants to relieve that suffering, but doesn't know what he can do to lessen it. He's torn between keeping the rest of the Survey Corps safe, and helping Eren. So he calls Petra down to look after Eren for him, knowing she's more well-equipped than he is to doing and saying the right things in order to bring someone comfort.

"When Petra descended the stairs and saw the despondent boy with slumped shoulders alongside her superior officer unable to fully handle the situation, she seemed to recognize what was going on.

'Understood. Um... So is he staying locked up here until the rain stops? That seems a little...'

'That's the decision for now. I'll go check with Hange. If this castle is built to be sturdy, it shouldn't have trouble keeping Eren in check no matter where he might transform... If I know that for sure, I'll give him permission to walk around.'

'Good. I hope he can. Looks like squads with some of your corpsmates are here too, Eren. You want to meet them, don't you?'

'I don't know. I'd be happy to, but...'

'I'm sure they'd love to see you! You've been training away from them for so long.'

Seeing Petra cheerfully encourage Eren made Levi realize once more that he had made the right choice selecting her for his squad.

'Either way, stop sulking like that. This weather's irritating enough on its own.'

'S-sorry.'

As he watched his officer climb the steps from behind, Eren's lowered face wore an expression that had grown the smallest bit more relaxed."

Again, we see that it isn't a lack of wanting to be kind on Levi's part that makes it a struggle for him to offer Eren comfort here, but simply a lack of knowing how to. Petra understands this about Levi, and realizes immediately what it is he's asking her to do, and launches into saying all the right things to Eren to offer him that comfort. This really does demonstrate in such a powerful way just how kindhearted Levi truly is. He thinks about how he was right to select Petra for his squad, upon seeing how easily she's able to encourage and lift Eren's spirits. He picked Petra because he saw her own, great kindness and compassion, and unlike him, an ability to appropriately express it. Levi's own kindness and compassion is every bit a match for Petra's, he just doesn't know how to express it in a way that others will understand. He tries, but it always comes out in this very blunt and at times seemingly rude manner, leading people to think he's callous and cold, when it's exactly the opposite. He tries to help Eren here by offering to dry off his wet clothes for him and then promising to talk to Hange to see if the castle is a safe enough environment to let Eren walk around freely in. He doesn't want to keep Eren in that cell. He wants him to be able to roam around freely and talk with his friends. He calls Petra down specifically because he doesn't want Eren to feel so bad, and he knows Petra will know the right things to say to lift him out of his despair.

Levi's kindness just kills me, as does his own, personal struggle to express it. It really highlights the tragedy of Levi's life, that someone with such a loving and compassionate heart was raised in an environment and by people that made it so difficult for him to convey those feelings to others. Levi's life growing up in the Underground tried so hard to snuff the kindness out of him, but all it really managed was to make it harder for him to express that kindness in a way that could be understood. This is why I'm always going on and on about what an amazing person Levi is, that through all of that, all of the hell he grew up experiencing, and his own struggle simply to survive, he never lost hold of his inherent empathy for others. He never let the cruelty of his life turn him cruel. The tragedy in Levi's struggle is in how it warps people's perception of him, making them think he's some unfeeling, cold-hearted person, when in reality, he cares more deeply and feels greater compassion than anyone. It's tragic to realize Levi's already horrifically awful childhood continues to affect him so profoundly into adulthood, to the point it causes him to be completely misunderstood by his peers. It must cause an immense sense of isolation in Levi, this struggle to make his actual feelings known, and to have people assume he's something he's not, just because he was never taught how to properly express himself and what he means. He tries so hard, though, both to show he really does care, and to offer kindness and comfort in whatever ways he can, even when it makes others look at him like there's something wrong with him. That's exactly what Dimo Reeves meant when he called Levi "awkward but kind". And that really is a testament to what a good person Levi is. He doesn't really know how to offer his kindness, but he tries anyway, because he feels so much intense compassion for everybody.