#gaby grant my beloved

[bartonbones]

a lot of you would be very embarssed to follow me if you knew how seriously i took freddy carter's horse show

[decimatlas]

Under the ‘read more’ are the details of my OC, Zelda Klein, who exists in the Shingeki no Kyojin / Attack on Titan universe. This description contains spoilers for the end of the series, so please proceed with discretion. 

YOU ARE A WEAPON, AND WEAPONS DON’T WEEP. YOU ARE A WARRIOR. YOU ARE CHOSEN –––– YOU ARE NOT WORTHY. 

Tears of joy fell in the Klein household as their child donned yellow. It allowed them to live better lives, at the small price of the livelihood of their own. The goal was red. It was far more noble, a rightful sacrifice. To inherit a Titan was the highest of honors to them –– to die for Marley was perhaps the only thing higher. But that red would never come; her beloved comrades would be whisked away, and her family would mutter about how she wasn’t good enough. How she had failed them. 

But she was a Warrior. It was all she knew. It was her only purpose. Her steadfast loyalty to the Warriors proved to the Marleyan generals that she had potential to be an asset. And so, she was granted the privilege to keep her identity, but as mentor and teacher to a new generation. Despite her young age, Zelda would soon become the drill sergeant for the Warrior Unit – she would be the first face they saw in the morning, and the last they saw at night. She was the first Eldian outside of the Warriors themselves to be given any sort of power over the candidates, and she did not take this privilege lightly. 

As she grew older, Zelda slowly began to realize that her loyalty was not to Marley, nor was it to the ideals the Warriors were said to uphold. No –– her loyalty was to her own: her mentees, to the Warriors themselves, especially to her comrades who had bravely ventured to Paradis. A final shift stirred within her at the enlistment of Gabi Braun. She was so young, an echo of what she, Reiner, and her other comrades once were. And she was willing to cut her life short in the name of Marley. It stirred a conflicted feeling within her. This was her home, these people were her family. But were they being treated unjustly? Were children meant to be born with a goal to die? 

THE MORE YOU LOVE, THE MORE YOU SUFFER, THE MORE THE DEVIL OF PARADIS CAN TAKE FROM YOU. 

The Devil of Paradis came to reap some time later. He took her home, and two of the children she came to know as her own. She hardly had time to mourn Udo and Zofia before she was left with no choice but to jump into action. Find the others, the children – Reiner. Urge him to fight. Fight. Fight. If not for their lives, for that of their loved ones. She would join the battle to retaliate against Paradis – against the Devil himself. With no Titan abilities to protect her, Pieck would ensure Zelda’s safety, for to her and the rest, she was a Warrior in all but blood. 

THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS...

Growing up, Zelda had heard whispers of the Rumbling, but it was no longer a whisper. It was now a reality to all, and it threatened to mercilessly crush all she knew and loved. An alliance had begun to form – a small group from Paradis had the same goal as her: to stop the Rumbling, no matter the cost. If not for their lives, for that of their loved ones. Alongside familiar faces, and others that she had only heard of through Reiner, Zelda joined the alliance. She had no powers to offer, no skill with the gear they used to zip around, but she had her will, her mind, her skills in battle, her undying loyalty... and the albeit rusty ability to co-pilot for Onyankopon. 

THERE’S NO MORNING GLORY. IT WAS WAR; IT WASN’T FAIR.

Zelda had some memory lapses after she was salvaged, unconscious, from the mangled wreckage of the flying boat with Onyankopon. She was told she transformed into a titan, but she was somehow soon... herself, again. She would find that the Battle of Heaven and Earth was over, and she would eventually take on a new role as a Peace Ambassador between Paradis and what remained of the world. 

ALL THAT BLOODSHED, CRIMSON CLOVER.

Sergeant Zelda Klein.   Born in 833 in Liberio, Marley.  Former Warrior Candidate to inherit the Armored Titan. 

[floweryotter]

My ML Season 5 wishlist

So now that we are officially in hiatus, I will enlist all the things I theorize or want to see next season so when it finally premieres, I can keep track of what ends up happening

I'll keep it pinned so I can keep adding new stuff it occurs to me or that I remember thinking in a past time or that I heard from someone else and loved the idea

First theories, speculations and headcanons:

The first episode will start with the continuation of Strike Back's last scene / GUESSED CORRECTLY (by Gloob's first minute release of Evolution)

The miracuclass will fight - or at least try - not minding they have no powers anymore / GUESSED CORRECTLY

Parisians will also sum up to the fight in one way or another / IN PROCESS (by Gloob's first minute release of Evolution)

The rich adults will be relevant for Hawky's plan, especially Tomoe / IN PROCESS (did you saw Multiplication’s teaser... yeah...)

Adrien is gonna remember about Felix's monocle and find out what it was for... / FAILED (Gabi has it...)

The episode titles are mostly kwami-related but also universe lore-related / IN PROCESS 

LB will start to be more open with CN little by little until she finally addresses what happened with Chat Blanc / IN PROCESS (Ladynoir conversation in Perfection my beloved)

Adrien won't trust Felix any time soon and will keep mad with him

Adrien will punch Felix in the face (i know... too ooc...) / HALF-FAILED (I will take Adrien launching the basketball to Felix’s memory in “Multiplication” as a partial succes lol)

Su-Han will finally do something productive and start training LB and CN / FAILED (the bitch has been MIA since Evolution, tho I hope his at least back for the finale)

Chloe actually gets redeemed for good / IN PROCESS (LISTEN! I have a new theory that she can still change for good if they get rid of Audrey at the end)

Secret code between Adrien and LB to know he is the real one / FAILED (yeah i don't think this will happen anymore)

Gabriel will have the "brilliant" idea to wear all the miraculous and perish :) / HALF-GUESSED HALF- FAILED (ok he will perish but not because of the miracoulous, but because of CN's cataclysm... lol?)

An episode will be named "Adrien" / FAILED (I had this in mind but never wrote it here so I'm updating)

Theories, speculations and headcanons from this post:

Alix will finally become the permanent holder of the rabbit miraculous in “Reunion” / HALF-GUESSED (happened in “Evolution”)

Alya will reunite with Trixx in “Reunion” “Illusion” (changed due to recent evidence in “Evolution”) / FAILED (she it didn't happened)

We will see Felix again in “Reunion” (new one) / HALF-GUESSED (Ok he appeared  in “Multiplication” so... much earlier than I thought)

The kwamis will reveal against Gabriel in “Deflagration” / HALF-GUESSED (Plagg cataclysming his own miraculous was chef's kiss)

“Revelation” will have some of the main problems and mysteries solved / HALF-GUESSED (at least we saw a little of wha's going on with Lila, but there's so much more we still don't know...)

“Confrontation” will be mainly about the Agreste-Graham de Vanily / FAILED (well I wouldn't have ever imagined this was gonna be school centric and having Lila be the main villain again)

We will see the Order of the Miraculous in “Collusion” / FAILED (I WAS SO WRONG HAHAHA but what happened at the end is still sooo grounbreaking)

LB will do some guardian badass move in “Revolution”

“Representation” will show us more context about the kwamis

We will see a wish granted in “Conformation”

New theories, speculations and headcanons:

The scarf will make an important comeback

We will see an upgrade of Chat Noir’s costume or powers in “Destruction” / FAILED (the only thing that was destroyed were my theories about this lol... oh and Mothriel's arm)

Ladynoir will recover part of the miraculous in “The Kwamis’ Choice” / HALF-FAILED (probably...)

[ihamtmus]

ngl gabi, I'm also very entertained by your descent into queen's thief madness. One of my irl besties has been hard core obsessed since middle school (you have, in fact, reblogged some of her art!) so it's like honorarily one of my things. Feel free to holler in this direction, especially if it's about how great costis is :D

HELLO WHY YES LET'S SCREAM ABOUT COSTIS THEN

dude so i love costis so much. i love him with my whole entire heart. and - what's curious - i loved him instantly the moment he appeared in koa which is probably because i did know some spoilers and saw some qt posts before starting the series - and i think one of the posts i saw was that heart locket meme with the caption "costis my beloved" and i, the impressionable fool that i am, took one look at the guy and (despite knowing next to nothing about him except that he was the Big Soldier from some fanart) immediately went "OH IT'S COSTIS MY BELOVED" and it went downhill from there. and here i am. here i am, and wherever it is (it's in love with costis obviously), i'm deep in it.

here i'll admit an uncomfortable truth: the entirety of acok, while sophos was the narrator, i was waiting for gen to appear again but with costis??? he has my undivided attention, yeah, let's read an entire book about the guy and then another! it's honestly amazing how i wasn't annoyed At All by his pov in koa despite him being a new character (probably because the book focused on gen anyway but STILL). it's even more remarkable how utterly i adored thick as thieves despite my fave character appearing only near the end - granted, kamet was a HUGE reason for that but costis too. omg costis too. oh my costis oh my friend

what a madman, honestly. like what is this guy even, what is he doing. like, who punches a king like that. omg i adore him

i adore seeing gen through his eyes, i adore seeing how he went from hatred and disdain to being ready to die for the guy. and i adore him on his own, how he's so honest and reliable but also quick tempered and So Exaspersted and he stresses so much about doing the right thing and being true to himself (the whole self respect thing) - and when he went to the king to confess he told the queen and that baron about him looking out the window, like... costis my beloved indeed but also why are you so embarrassingly relatable at times my guy? ahhhh

and when i thought that i couldn't love him any more and that his relationship with eugenides was all i needed, thick as thieves happened and i lost my mind. which is why this answer is so utterly incomprehensible - i finished reading tat like two hours ago and i barely got up from the floor i ended up on and i can't make myself start reading the last book because it's the last one and it will kill me. so so so

but anyway costis in tat has my heart (and kamet obviously too but that's another story). the guy is so resourceful and quick-thinking and smart actually?? but more importantly he's SO gentle and patient and kind. he does lose his temper but he's quick to apologise. so he's the king's favorite obviously but he's also my favorite, one of my favorites at least, and i'd die for him. so

now i'll try to start the next book while y'all either prepare for a lot of screaming or block queen's thief tag because i will not shut up about it for the foreseeable future

also dude omg now you have to tell me which art was by your friend fjdncksndkcn 👀👀👀

[yo-la-gusanito]

Broken (Hércules Mulligan x reader)

Words: 1988

Warnings: I speak Spanish for which my English is bad, so this story is written by the translator (telling this) so I am very sorry if something is not understood, pain, separation, pregnancy, deception, mention of SMUT.

I never thought this beautiful story would end like this.

"Love, really, you have to go to England as a spy," you say as you walk around the living room following your husband Hercules Mulligan.

"My life" he turns around and looks at you "everything will be fine and if something happens or you have any concerns do not hesitate to talk to my friends" he kisses you and he runs to the door and throws one of  the many pictures of you breaking the glass.

He looks at you with serious fear, which gives you a warm smile.

"Calm down my love is only broken but still alive"

I regret it so much the day I gave you my heart without knowing what time you would break it later.

It is a warm summer day and you are in the park taking a walk with Hercules.

"You know you're one of the best things I had and will have" kisses your hand.

"You are so sweet, for this and other things are the reason why I love you.

Our wedding, God was one of the best days of my life ...

Hercules puts the engagement ring on your ring finger after you did the same.

"You can kiss the bride"

And in less than a second Hercules had hit his lips against yours.

Time passed quickly and in less than what a rooster sings he was already on his way to England and accompanied by this, from my side came some "rare" symptoms.

A week after Hercules left you get up in the middle of the night and run to the bathroom to drop all dinner, staying there for a long time.

(...)

A terrible cravings accompany you and with this your period is overdue and two weeks, on the advice of your mother you go to the doctor.

When I learned that something inside me grew, it was happiness and pain, the happiness was because I would be a mother, but on the other hand I knew that I would be alone during the whole process.

"You will tell Hercules about him or the little one" asks Eliza who accompanied you to the doctor.

"No, I just want him to keep doing what he likes ... if he likes it"

Everything was beautiful until the letter arrived ...

"Mrs. Mulligan, there is a good letter several letters from England," says Luci, a slave whom you consider your daughter.

You get up heavily from the couch where you are "from Hercules?" Questions.

"I'm afraid not, ma'am." She hands you the letters and helps you to sit back down on the couch and then leave.

You breathe heavily because the pregnancy was more difficult than expected but here you are rubbing your five month old belly.

When you open the letters you run out of words.  They are letters from your husband but addressed to another woman telling that the nights they spent together were splendid, that she misses her body, she would like to escape from her house to form a family with her, among a million other things.

You start counting them with your eyes full of tears and there are more than twenty letters shared only in the last month, knowing that you open more new this month.

You leave the cards and cover your eyes while crying inconsolably no matter what others will say but it seems that everyone looks at you with concern.

"Something happens, ma'am," Mary asks another slave.

"Read the letters" you say as you point them with your trembling finger through spasms.

You're broken, everything he told you was a simple lie or truth, he said he missed you but he was happy to serve his homeland or just sleep with another woman, and telling him that he doesn't know of his son who may be born before he  I arrived.

"I'm so sorry T / N," Luci says again as he leaves the cards.

Those stupid letters were the beginning of the end or rather my end.

Those letters arrived for two more months, accompanied by the letters of Hercules which seemed worried about not answering his letters.

"Madam, I think I could send you a letter saying she is alive at least," Luci says as she gives you a pen, inkwell and a sheet.

You sigh running your hand through your very bloated stomach and write.

Mulligan Hercules

I'm fine .

T / N Mulligan.

and deliver it to Luci while another slave enters the room with another round of cards.

I could not break those things little by little, a stupid paper was killing me little by little, so I decided to eliminate it ...

You put the bag full of all the letters that Hercules and you exchanged during their courtship, a few days before their wedding, and the current ones (before you will find out that they cheat you) along with those of the stranger who (would no longer be so unknown already  Alexander sent them to you simply by changing some data to make it look like it comes from England).  Being the last of these unopened because you already know that it would come.

The bonfire illuminates your entire room and without you noticing you throw a lot of cards while thousands of tears ran down your face.

You burned a large part of them but you left the first ones of when you found out that I was cheating you and you opened two at random to verify that they were still with that relationship and when confirming it you keep it in a drawer of yours to burn the rest again.

But ... no matter how broken I was, there were always good people who helped me during the baby's journey, and when the day came I swore to see the very stars for the pain suffered.

"Just push a little more Mrs. Mulligan," says the doctor.

You squeeze your mother's hand while giving your last strength and that's when you first saw the little one you wanted to see so much and here was John Mulligan.

Luckily the cards stopped and with John everything seemed rosy and he was everything to me it was my main step but something broke when I read a letter from Hercules.

My beloved T / N

I am so sorry for what I committed, it all began as a mission to blackmail the wife of a British high-ranking officer.

Things got out of hand and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD FORGIVE ME I slept with her, it wasn't just once but there were several.

But the bad things do not end there she wrote a few days ago saying that she is pregnant and to hide she told her husband that the son is his.

I don't know how you like this but I want you to know that in all the encounters with her I was thinking of you.

She loves You.

Always yours

Hércules Mulligan.

You remain silent reading the letter, you feel the tears on your face but these are not of sadness much less of shame but of fury.

You leave John for a moment in the room and go get a pen, inkwell and an hour.  You go back to your desk and look at John to see that everything is fine and you start writing.

Mr. Mulligan.

To the great coincidence of not only having or expecting a child in England, you have one here for about two months.

With all due respect, fuck you.

The mother of your son who is going to have your last name.

T / N T / A.

"You think it's okay," you ask Luci.

She reads "if it's okay" after that she went from your room.

That was the last letter I received from him and from outside people I learned that he would return when the revolution is over.

Time went well with which I was armed little by little.

You are in the bathroom next to John who is playing with the foam of the bathtub while throwing some giggles when you splash it.

(...)

It is a stormy night to which you cannot fall asleep due to little John crying beside your bed in his crib.

You get up and carry the baby in your arms and with gentle movements you support the baby while walking around the great hallways of the house until his crying stops.

(...)

You find yourself trying to feed your baby while all slaves look closely as the baby stains you with porridge (he can already ingest something other than milk).

"This is harder than I thought" you grab a cloth and wipe your face.

"Well girl that's what it means to be a mother," says Gabi, the oldest of all slaves.

"Yes, I know" you grab the plate and the spoon again to try to feed the baby again.

(...)

His first flu had all the staff telling you worried to the point that everything literally everyone had to take turns sleeping and caring for the child.

When he recovered it was a relief.  The whole place once again had its brightness granted by its little one.

And next to this came beautiful surprises.

You are preparing to go shopping with your baby, you put it in a cart and turn to go find your hat.

"M-mama"

You freeze and turn quickly to see your children babble frantically.

You call all helpers and all canceled departures.

Everything came beautiful I almost forgot about him but what made me remember him was always my little baby.

The revolution was a very important fact but with this time later someone brought to your home someone unwanted.

A noise is heard at the door to which Luci approaches to open it to meet with neither more nor less than with Hercules Mulligan.

"Mr. Mulligan-"

"Where is my wife" asks entering the house which I do not spend more than a year.

"In her room with little John" she covers her mouth when she realizes I name John.

Hercules does not think twice and is already climbing the stairs to what used to be his room.

When he opens the door he is stunned when he sees you finishing giving him milk from your chest.

You stare at him while holding your baby in his arms.

"He is-" he says with tears.

"If you" cut it "he is your son John Mulligan"

Hercules falls on his knees while crying and laments over everything he did.

You approach him and look at him for a long while as he laments about everything he has done.

"Hercules" he looks at you and you give him a neutral look "I don't know if I will forgive you to be your wife again ... but for now concentrate on spending time as your little son"

You duck and put your son in his arms, which snuggles instantly into your Hercules chest or what you thought was yours.

"It's beautiful" he cradles the baby while he grabs a finger while he sleeps.

You stay watching the scene feeling like everything inside you collapses again, knowing that if he hadn't joined the revolution he could be with his baby since he was born and you wouldn't have broken.

You let the tears run down your face, taking a few steps behind your husband as he gets up to go to bed the child.

"You must hate me"

"Since I received this" you approach the drawer and take out the cards that caused everything.

He is silent watching the drawer missing all the letters he wrote to you.

He tried to explain everything but it was already broken and a simple forgiveness would not remedy everything he did.

He just broke me and the broken glass no matter how you fix it will be visible cracks that will cause it to break again and again.

[aotimagines]

Heya!! Your scenario with Reiner returning to Liberio was one of the most beautiful I've ever read!! I've wanted to request something like that for a while, and the last chapter (97) left me devastated, so I'd like to ask for a scenario where Reiner's fem s/o is aware of his suicidal urges and tries her best to comfort him and to be there for him... If it's too uncomfortable to write it's okay, just skip this ask!

Aw, anon, I’m seriously blushing. Thank-you so much for saying such nice things! I...got really carried away with this. Like 1.1k words carried away for something that was supposed to be a short little blurb. Anyways, this can be considered a sequel to this piece, but it can be read as a stand-alone piece as well. Massive trigger-warning as this involves the scene from chapter 97 as well as massive spoiler warning for those who don’t read the manga. With all of that out of the way, I hope you enjoy! 

It was unusual for Reiner to skip out on meeting youafter breakfast.

Now that he was here, home and alive and safe inside of Liberio’s city walls, thetwo of you were always seen side-by-side whether it be running errands togetheror taking a leisurely stroll. No one knew when the beckoning call of war woulddisturb this thinly-veiled sham that the Marley officials called peace but, for now, all you wanted to dowas savor the time that you had been granted with your boyfriend.

If you could find him through the sea of people wanderingaround the market, that is.

After receiving a tip that Reiner might have been holedup in one of the offices that held war information and weapons (you’d have tothank Pieck for the heads up, later), you clutched your satchel tighter to yourchest and made way through the streets. Occasionally, you’d smile at citizensthat passed you by, echoing hollow good-morningsand ­nice weather today, right justto seem amicable. While you might harbor a secret resentment for all the trialsand tribulations the Marley government put Reiner and everyone else through,the people in Liberio were mostly innocent. The only crime that they’d have totheir names is cowardice—a trait that you understood well.

“Reiner?” you called once you entered the trainingfacility, eyes darting around for any signs or traces of your boyfriend. Giventhat it was still early in the morning, you were unsurprised to see the lack ofpeople skulking about. Humming beneath your breath, you stopped in front of thedoor that led into the office area Reiner often used for study and, more timesthan he would admit, alone time. You didn’t knock before entering and maybethat didn’t matter. Somehow, you doubted it would have spared you from thesight of Reiner—your beloved, tough, dependableboyfriend—with the barrel of a gun shoved in the back of his throat.

The both of you froze—him from disdain and frustrationand you from fear and complete disbelief. You felt numb; too confused to cry,and too furious at him to comprehend anything else besides marching over to himonce he removed the gun from his mouth, snatching the rifle by the end, andthrowing it to the floor without a single care about scruff marks or damage.

It fell to the floor with a noisy clattering, yet thesound was fleeting. Chest heaving, you stared down at Reiner, eyes glassy andnarrowed while awaiting some sort ofexplanation for the sight you had just witnessed. When nothing came, you surgedforward and gripped his shoulders, nails biting into his skin through hisshirt, leaving behind faint crescent-shaped marks.

“What the hell were you thinking? How could you do something like that to me? To yourmother—to Gabi and Falco?” you demanded, your vice-like hold on his shouldersonly tightening. If Reiner felt any pain, his face didn’t show it. Rather, hesat there quietly while you screamed at him, silently taking in everything thatran incessantly through your mind.

Silence trickled back into the room, save for yourlabored breathing. Your throat was rubbed raw, vocal chords spent, yet yourefused to back down until he gave you an answer. You were his girlfriend, for God’s sake! If he couldn’ttalk to you, then who could he turnto?

Head bowed, your eyes flickered to the window directlybehind his head. “Were you going to do it?” When your question received noanswer, you dipped your head down, fury frothing back to life inside the pit ofyour stomach as you asked again, this time with more bite to your tone, “Reiner,were you going to do it? Answer me,damn it!”

“No,” he croaked and the crumbly, cracked foundation ofthe walls he had spent so much time piecing together began to dismantle rightbefore you. His golden eyes reflected the hopelessness he felt but hereiterated one more time, “But not because I didn’t want to. I’m too much of acoward to go through with it, even after I tried to change. I still have thingsI have to do.”

The anger that had been bubbling inside of you quelled athis distraught answer as sadness curled around your heart. “Why didn’t you say something?” Had Reiner not beenpaying close attention, your words would have been lost due to how quietly youspoke. You slid your hands from his shoulders up to his face, holding hischeeks in order to peer down into those golden eyes you had come to love andadore, repeating, “Why didn’t you let me know how you were feeling? If youcouldn’t talk to me, then why didn’t you talk to your mom? If—if this is aboutyour titan powers, Pieck and Porco could—”

“It’s about Paradis,” Reiner swiftly interjected, “andeverything else. All of it. It’s too much and I feel it slowly crushing me. Ican barely keep my head above the surface but you and the rest of the kids; Ican’t leave you just yet.”

Tears freely rolled down your face, but you concealedthem by tugging Reiner closer, his face buried in your stomach while your armswrapped around his shoulders. “I know something’s been bothering you since yougot back, Reiner. Please, just talk to me. I promise I’ll listen.”

With a heaving sigh, Reiner slowly confessed everythinghe had been through since he received the Armored Titan’s powers. Fromdiscovering his father and learning the truth all the way to what trulyhappened during the fight in Shiganshina; he didn’t leave a detail out. True toyour word, you were silent throughout the whole thing, clearly unsure of whatto say or how to even relate.

“You think I’m some sort of heretic now.”

“No,” you protested, peeling Reiner back from your holdin order to meet his watery stare. “I don’t think that at all. I think you’resomeone who has had the weight of the world on their shoulders and—and got toolost in a mission that was too unfair to ask of a child. I don’t blame you forbeing attached to them or feeling guilty over losing Marcel, but none of that is your fault. We’ll keepthis between us…as long as you promise to come to me when you’re feeling likethis. I don’t want to lose you.”

Reiner didn’t have the heart to tell you that,eventually, you will lose him due tothe inheritance ceremony. Instead, he bit down on his tongue, curled his armsaround your waist, and leaned his forehead back into your stomach. “How did Iget so damn lucky?” he questioned incredulously, earning a soft chuckle from youas he stroked his hair.

“Dunno. Guess you hit the jackpot because I’m here forthe long-haul. I’m not going anywhere, Reiner—I promise.”

There were a lot of things Reiner Braun didn’t believe inanymore, but the promise you made him? That was the one thing he could put hisblind faith in.

[sparda3g]

Attack on Titan Chapter 111 Review

While it’s only a matter of time before everything goes straight to hell, the series can hold off the action aspect for a bit longer and yet, maintain the sheer quality with its suspense. This chapter is no exception. One of the fond elements of the series is suspense and it was well-executed here with the intensity of a man’s will for vengeance and the amount of twists and turns that had me gasping. All those info, big or small, that have been scattered for past couple of chapters are all coming together.

The beginning culminates everything that has happened involving with Eren and establish his “faction” name. It was funny for Survey Corps to call them “bastards” at first, but even for them, it was uncomfortable. Instead, they will refer them as Anti-Survey, which is the easiest name calling, so I expect their symbols to be upside down from its counterpart. But really, they are better known as Yeager Faction. Simple, but easy to call apart.

Hange elaborates the detail of the faction’s highly likely agenda. Based on the collected sources, she believes they intended to reunite Eren and Zeke. They also want to present themselves as rising power and killing Darius off was their sign. They sure made a hell of a point, I’ll give them that. The seed of the faction grew when the military began to kill time with no progress in sight. Granted, there were some, but patience is key and they had none. The final nail to the coffin is the call to replace Eren’s Founding Titan. It make sense on why Yelena treated him like God. They don’t want a replacement; what they have now is their only hope.

This has gotten messy for everyone involved. The faction is basically Survey Corps 2.0; 100 members or possibly more are part of it. I don’t know if Hange should really take the punishment for something that is more of everyone’s fault, but since she does accept it, I guess I have to go with it. She seem to hint her endgame development to be retirement, but we’ll see if she survives first. Rogue is still a douchebag for pressuring her and saying nonsensical words about turning into a titan out of nowhere. It may be panic talk, but he’s still a prick to belittling her further.

Before everything goes south there, Commander Pixis breaks the sourness and take command from there. I have to say, he’s one of the few higher-ups that I really like and this chapter serves him well. He’s the only one there with a cool head (no pun intended?) and get the corps back in order. Even after the tragic event, he remains in control and get the plan moving ahead to protect and secure every possible location for Eren to stop by, including Historia’s. Armin says that he’s next in line to take the corps control. I’m perfectly fine with that. So what’s the plan? To surrender to Eren. I take my words back.

Hilarious how Pixis says it with a straight face, yet have everyone shocked and depressed. He had them a bit hopeful earlier, but saying they have been defeated killed every piece of it. Hell, he already surrendered the military earlier, so he’s fine. This upset one person because it would mean Darius’ death would go unresolved. It’s like never getting your revenge, you will always feel defeated. Pixis does make a point though. He did begin his reign from the revolution, so to die by it is a poetic sendoff. I mean he did die from his own art as well, so the more the merrier.

The part that increased my respect towards Pixis is how he will handle this mess from this point forward. As comical it sounds of him to plan to surrender to Eren, he’s not going to submit. His agenda is to negotiate with the faction by surrendering themselves and learn their demands. Otherwise, well, Civil War, here we come. Where’s that meme? As for Darius’ death, he wants to keep it a low profile. Even if it does mean ignoring his death, it’s a small price to pay to protect thousands. That’s a difficult task for a soldier, so I applaud him for taking this approach. He got the corps motivated; a fine start for him.

Mikasa shines nicely in this chapter. I know fans tend to associate her with Eren this, Eren that, but when it comes to outside of it, she does shine nicely as a character. Case in point, her chat with Kiyomi. After Pixis warned Kiyomi that her safety may be in jeopardy once the fighting begins, she approach to Mikasa like she’s her mother. Despite having a “home” for Mikasa to return to, she was born and raised in Paradis Island, so she’s going to stay and fight. The best part is when she calls Kiyomi out on her actual reason to pray for Paradis Island and it all boils down to finance. That felt so good to expose the BS Kiyomi has been spouting.

It is funny how her characteristic resembles an anime character with the comical reaction like sweating bullets or drooling over money, yet remain in a serious nature. At the very least, she does admit that finance does rely on the “Rumbling” and if that fails, they are done. I guess you can say the clan has become a greedy one. It’s no worse than those folks who worshipped Meowth from Pokemon and seek for payday. Hell, if only Meowth does exist in Paradis Island, let alone us in the real world.

The only part that remains questionable is despite her admitting to her true reliance, she didn’t lose her pride and respect Mikasa’s mother’s wishes. Therefore, she will protect her. Perhaps it is true that she wants Mikasa to return “home.” Maybe it’s the only truthful part of her. Throughout the corps’ discussion, there’s this iffy feeling that she may know something is coming and she’s not saying. Certain panels emphasized her expression to say she’s hiding something. Maybe it’s nothing, but after the chapter was done, I’m not so sure.

Although Hange has been a mentally wreck for a while, she does keep up with the situation and has a good hunch on the faction’s motive. Even if they were to tell everyone about the true plan, Survey Corps wouldn’t keep them at peace. She and others have to expose Zeke’s scheme before it gets worse. It’s her theory, but it’s pretty damn believable. Their first stop is restaurants since it is Marleyans’ work environment that Yelena protected. The rest of the chapter focus on one restaurant, but it’s easily the best part as it is riveting, engaging, and emotional.

Mr. Braus and the family attend the restaurant where Nicolo is working at. I’m happy that the promise was being settled here, so it leaves a good feel impression. Gabi is there looking part of the family already. Almost look like Kaguya from romcom series if you ask me. Everyone is smiling and laughing, like peaceful times. Everything feels charming, even if we knew the story behind it.

Kaya recaps the story between Nicolo and The Braus Family. It all stemmed from the loss of Sasha. Gabi and Falco now knows Nicolo is a Marleyan, but what they gloss over big time is Sasha was the one Gabi killed. Instead, they were shocked that Nicolo and Sasha was a couple. If that was true, that just make me think Isayama is a bit of an asshole. Joking aside, oddly enough, it’s funny how Gabi is stunned to believe Eldian and Marleyan can mate as it shouldn’t happen because….reason!

Isayama and his humor strikes again when Falco was on to something, suggesting something bad is happening, but in reality, it’s the food that compels him. It’s time for Shokugeki no Kyojin as everyone is having a foodgasm. Hm, Kyojin sounds odd, but then again, so does Eren. Anyway, it’s amusing to say the least. Then it gets awkward when the Survey Corps arrive.

Everything seems fine in the beginning. Nicolo cooperates with them without resistance, have a room for them to sit, how kind of him, and things are looking pleasant. That is until Jean wants to sip on the wine that only Higher-ups can drink. Nicolo snatch it rapidly like it was his prize possession. He even resorts to racism to push Jean away from the wine. Damn, he really loves that wine, doesn’t he? A while ago, I was theorizing about the possibility of the wine to be poison or something. It faded out, but this moment brought it back and the possibility has gone through the roof. Falco and Gabi fake their reason to go to the bathroom and follow Nicolo. This is where it gets seriously intense.

I always thought someday, Gabi as Sasha’s killer would play a role somewhere and this is the time. To be honest, I didn’t expect it to play it here, but Isayama is clever at setting up the stage. Gabi feels assured to speak to another Marleyan and explain her story of how she got into the island. Long story short, she was imprisoned after killing a few Survey Corps. This sparks a huge curiosity from Nicolo. Once he asks her about a female soldier, I begin to shake with fear. When she gleefully responded yes, shit is about to hit the fan really bad.

All the good feelings died the moment Nicolo learns who killed her beloved Sasha. All it was missing was a suspenseful soundtrack to absorb your attention even deeper for what’s about to happen. I like to use The Dark Knight track, “Why So Serious,” mainly the beginning. Nicolo lost his cool and aim to kill Gabi with the same wine he was protecting. Falco comes to save her, but damn, that was a bad blow to the head. Nicolo didn’t mind too much, because he is filled with rage. It doesn’t stop there. He brings them to the family’s table to perform an act. The title: Revenge.

The intensity keeps on growing with the entire family now knows who killed Sasha. I thought Gabi was only tossed away, but she got punched hard in the face. Her nose is broken and she looked dazed like she’s about to collapse. I don’t know if the fans still hate her, so take it as a reward or sympathy. Honestly, I find it difficult to take a side. I know killing another is morally incorrect, but after Nicolo’s testimony, it’s hard to object it.

This whole settlement should have been easy, but the conflict is difficult. Nicolo may want revenge, but he was kind (I guess?) to hand over the opportunity to Mr. Braus. Not even a son-in-law, yet he acts like one. Survey Corps invades, but he has Falco as his hostage. All he wants is to pay back Sasha; put a closure to her death. Isayama is great at timing the chapter’s theme. First, we have Darius’ death left unresolved for the sake of peace; now, we have Sasha’s death to be decided.

What stung me bad is how Nicolo truly did love Sasha and how much she meant to him. She gave him life to live through hell. I don’t know if this is true, but supposedly, Sasha wasn’t trying to say meat as her final word, rather it’s Nicolo. Niku is meat. She was one syllable away before her final breath gave out. That’s downright sad. It’s harder to hold back when seeing her one more time through Nicolo’s words. Dammit! They were a pair and for a small panel time, I’m actually torn. How can I argue against that?

I really like what Isayama is doing with Gabi’s development. The lessons she has to learn are hard but necessary. In this moment, it’s fear of what “devils” are about to do. The irony twist is her so called people of righteousness is the one out for vengeance. To be honest, I did feel bad for her. Yes, she has said and done idiotic things, including here, but she has been living in fear and lies, so I can’t fault her too much. Being a child does help as well, considering the limitation of a mindset. The expression of things coming to an end does strike me. It’s Mr. Braus’ call now, wielding the knife to decide her fate.

If there’s anyone that you can say the best man of the chapter, it’s undoubtedly Mr. Braus. That speech about him and his daughter in the forest is teary. Looking at young Sasha is sad enough, the two bonding together like a family is even sadder. The speech is about a child being let go to roam around the forest; protecting, fighting, and eventually, die. They lived in the forest for a long time. It was then he let her go out of the forest, only the world was a giant forest. The striking point is how it ties in to the whole theme of the chapter.

Mr. Braus hands over the knife to his wife to say, “He will not kill Gabi for revenge.” It’s his responsible for letting Sasha die out in the forest. Adult is responsible for their children’s fate. If they are let go out of the forest, there is hope for a greater future. Otherwise, history will repeat itself. This is a deep metaphor for act of cycle. If one gets revenge, another will arrive. Then another. And another. Where does it end? If one leaves, a change will be made. It’s unbelievable how Mr. Braus now appears with more panel time and already he’s the man of the hour. Next time I watch Season 2, I will cheer like hell when he’s on screen.

I’m glad for Nicolo decided to let go of his darkest desire and give in the chance to move away. Otherwise, it could have ended awfully. Still, I feel bad for him. As powerful that scene was, I find the next scene powerful in its own way. Seeing Mikasa treating Gabi is a sight for sour eyes. After what just happened, Gabi is overwhelmed, finally questioning the devils do they not hate her. That simple question holds tons of weight. It’s the wake-up call she truly needed.

To add more to it, a sudden attack emerge from behind, but Mikasa quickly stops it. To Gabi’s surprise, it’s Kaya, the same child who protected her identity and helped her to fit into the family. Moment like this always gets me. One moment a friend, another moment an enemy. It reminds me of Avatar: The Last Airbender, whereas Zuko fits in well with the villagers, but once his identity is revealed, everyone hates him in a single flip of a switch. That one panel shot with Mikasa stopping Kaya from stabbing while holding Gabi tightly is a great shot. A former friend trying to kill a newfound enemy that is protected by thought-to-be enemy. Poetic.

This scene was needed to show how life can be unpredictable at times. Nothing is set in stone. Gabi has to see it for herself and rightfully so. She basically got a taste of broken friendship. What’s more is she actually feels remorse. Seeing Kaya in tears and anger open her eyes to see the damage she has caused. To recite Mr. Braus’ words, she must leave that forest. Otherwise, she’s doomed to be part of endless cycle. Isayama is really doing a hell of a job. I’m really intrigued by this development. But, he has one more to throw in.

The secret of the wine is revealed. It’s not poison as some, including me, predicted. It’s worse. It’s Zeke’s spinal fluid. Holy crap. This really stunned me. This is why build-up, even if it halts the action, can raise the shock factor really high. This means the Higher-ups are screwed. All it takes is Zeke’s roar and they’re done. I guess Rogue and others are going to explode after all. This would mean Zeke really is planning behind their back, unless the faction knows about it as well, which it is likely. This is crazy. The cruel twist they’re going to get. However and sadly, Falco is now part of the factor as well.

When he got smashed by the wine bottle, some part went into his mouth, which essentially means he drank some. Because of it, he will be victimized with the rest. Gabi wasn’t there to hear it, but this will break her if she knows his fate. Even worse, Reiner may lose his cool if he loses his sole purpose to live. My God, the setup is so good right now, I don’t know what to think.

Bottom line, this chapter was great. The build-up continues to be compelling and intriguing with pieces here and there to consider over. All key moments/segments in the restaurant were exhilarating and emotional. Plenty of strong moments left me awed and inspired. Mr. Braus is practically MVP by a large margin, but others did well in their role. The ending revelation was shocking; leaving the future chapters even more anticipating. The setup has been stellar and it’s growing more and more. Whatever it leads to, it’s going to be a hell that everyone will remember.

[decimatlas]

ZELDA KLEIN ; your girl is a soldier. and her mouth tastes like fear and blood, dust, fire – home and battlefield.

Under the ‘read more’ is the bio for my original character, who exists in the Shingeki no Kyojin / Attack on Titan universe. This description contains spoilers for the end of the series, so please proceed with discretion. 

BASICS

FULL NAME. Zelda Klein TITLE. (Former) Warrior Candidate for the Armored Titan, (Current) Sergeant BIRTHDAY. August 25, 833 AGE. [timeline dependent] 21 GENDER & PRONOUNS. Cis female, she/her SEXUALITY. Grey/Bisexual ETHNICITY. Eldian SPECIES. Human OCCUPATION. Drill Sergeant, Warrior Candidate Unit RESIDENCE. Liberio, Marley

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

HEIGHT. 5'3" (160 cm) WEIGHT. 121 lbs (55 kg) HAIR. Brunette EYES. Blue BUILD. Athletic SCARS. Scar along her left palm, scattered scars littered on her body TATTOOS. None PIERCINGS. Earlobes FACE CLAIM. Victoria Pedretti

PERSONALITY

ZODIAC. Virgo MBTI. ISFJ-T (The Defender) ENNEAGRAM. Type One (The Reformer) ALIGNMENT. Neutral Good

RELATIONSHIPS.

PARENTS. Lina and Friedrich Klein SIBLINGS. None SIGNIFICANT OTHER. [verse dependent] Default: Reiner Braun @knightinsourarmor

LORE / art credit.

YOU ARE A WEAPON, AND WEAPONS DON’T WEEP. YOU ARE A WARRIOR. YOU ARE CHOSEN –––– YOU ARE NOT WORTHY. 

Tears of joy fell in the Klein household as their child donned yellow. It allowed them to live better lives, at the small price of the livelihood of their own. The goal was red. It was far more noble, a rightful sacrifice. To inherit a Titan was the highest of honors to them –– to die for Marley was perhaps the only thing higher. But that red would never come; her beloved comrades would be whisked away, and her family would mutter about how she wasn’t good enough. How she had failed them. 

But she was a Warrior. It was all she knew. It was her only purpose. Her steadfast loyalty to the Warriors proved to the Marleyan generals that she had potential to be an asset. And so, she was granted the privilege to keep her identity, but as mentor and teacher to a new generation. Despite her young age, Zelda would soon become the drill sergeant for the Warrior Unit – she would be the first face they saw in the morning, and the last they saw at night. She was the first Eldian outside of the Warriors themselves to be given any sort of power over the candidates, and she did not take this privilege lightly. 

As she grew older, Zelda slowly began to realize that her loyalty was not to Marley, nor was it to the ideals the Warriors were said to uphold. No –– her loyalty was to her own: her mentees, to the Warriors themselves, especially to her comrades who had bravely ventured to Paradis. A final shift stirred within her at the enlistment of Gabi Braun. She was so young, an echo of what she, Reiner, and her other comrades once were. And she was willing to cut her life short in the name of Marley. It stirred a conflicted feeling within her. This was her home, these people were her family. But were they being treated unjustly? Were children meant to be born with a goal to die? 

THE MORE YOU LOVE, THE MORE YOU SUFFER, THE MORE THE DEVIL OF PARADIS CAN TAKE FROM YOU. 

The Devil of Paradis came to reap some time later. He took her home, and two of the children she came to know as her own. She hardly had time to mourn Udo and Zofia before she was left with no choice but to jump into action. Find the others, the children – Reiner. Urge him to fight. Fight. Fight.If not for their lives, for that of their loved ones. She would join the battle to retaliate against Paradis – against the Devil himself. With no Titan abilities to protect her, Pieck would ensure Zelda’s safety, for to her and the rest, she was a Warrior in all but blood. 

THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS…

Growing up, Zelda had heard whispers of the Rumbling, but it was no longer a whisper. It was now a reality to all, and it threatened to mercilessly crush all she knew and loved. An alliance had begun to form – a small group from Paradis had the same goal as her: to stop the Rumbling, no matter the cost. If not for their lives, for that of their loved ones. Alongside familiar faces, and others that she had only heard of through Reiner, Zelda joined the alliance. She had no powers to offer, no skill with the gear they used to zip around, but she had her will, her mind, her skills in battle, her undying loyalty… and the albeit rusty ability to co-pilot for Onyankopon. 

THERE’S NO MORNING GLORY. IT WAS WAR; IT WASN’T FAIR.

Zelda had some memory lapses after she was salvaged, unconscious, from the mangled wreckage of the flying boat with Onyankopon. She was told she transformed into a titan, but she was somehow soon… herself, again. She would find that the Battle of Heaven and Earth was over, and she would eventually take on a new role as a Peace Ambassador between Paradis and what remained of the world.