#im mad this show made me care about mecha anime

[neonscandal]

Thinking about how Eren cried while looking over the tent city of refugees in Marley. When Mikasa asked, "Has something happened here?", he replies, "No, not yet," knowing already the fate of the boy from the market when the Rumbling takes place.

Every time he drifted from a reverie, it was one of pain and grief for what he felt had to be done, the lengths he'd soon travel to protect Armin and Mikasa. A will so strong it rooted in the Attack Titan holders before him. Each time, the numerous possible paths toward peace or resolution were pruned as he continued forward until only two remained.

What a lonely curse to forge a path alone, knowing your footsteps were always guided toward destruction and hatred. Lonely in its execution by driving a wedge between himself and those he'd do anything to protect. Lonelier still in his refusal to fully avail his companions of the truth which, ultimately, made them unknowingly complicit in his plan to exalt them as heroes while vilifying himself.

He confided in Floch, radicalized by the tragedy in Shinganshina, and Historia, the Worst Girl Who Ever Lived, who would eventually hold the world's blood on her hands because, while they may be earnest, they too would justify any means for a fruitful end. In confiding with Mikasa and Armin, he notably robbed them of their agency to enact change by rewriting their memories. At the end of the day, he knew them to be better. Certainly better than the devil who would take the bloodiest path of least resistance.

Obviously, he had the gift of foresight but, without that, would he ever have doubted their resolve as they consistently doubted his allegiance? His intentions were extreme but I also think about how alienating it is to realize that the people he'd do everything for still had doubts as to what was in his heart.