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minyoongijjangjjangmanboongboong · 6 years ago

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Penumbra: An Interactive BTS Horror Story Part VI

Premise: Seven friends return to their old high school for one last night of mayhem before the building is condemned. But everything is not as it seems… What will the group do when they find themselves trapped in a warped hellscape with no means of escaping?

That…is up to you.

The Rules: To participate in this story, all you need to do is vote. At the end of each chapter, you will have five hours to make a decision via the poll provided. Do this or do that: you decide. Whichever option receives the majority of the votes is the path we will all follow together so please…choose wisely.

Your first unanimous choice. Very interesting. Yoongi follows Hoseok.

Now what will the boys do? Vote here. Want to know more about the characters before you vote? Read this.

Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

Masterlist

WARNING: This story contains material that some readers may find frightening, disturbing, or unsettling. If you are sensitive to graphic imagery or dark situations, proceed with caution. Please read at your own risk.

Yoongi watches Hoseok’s back retreat and rushes after him. Over his shoulder, he shouts, “Please be careful! I’ll bring him back!”

Jimin and Jungkook watch him go with wide eyes, still standing in the doorway. All Yoongi can do is have a little faith in them. Surely, they’re much more capable than he thinks they are. They can take care of themselves…

Right?

Yoongi shakes his head and follows Hoseok’s trail. He rounds the corner Hoseok had taken and finds a winding hallway he doesn’t recognize. He has no time to ponder it, forced to sprint at top speed after his friend whose silhouette is becoming smaller and smaller. This new hallway shoots off in a million directions, dark corridors leading into places Yoongi will never know. The wallpaper is peeling in the corners and the ground is marred with missing boards.

Yoongi continues his mad dash down the hall, but pauses in his tracks when he hears distinct, chesty sniffling. He whips his head around and turns to see a stairwell, lit only with a flickering fluorescent bulb coming from several stories up. The sniffling is quiet, but it’s not coming from this floor either. With a sigh, Yoongi takes the stairs and slowly ascends to the first landing. He glances around the dark cement slab and finds nothing, but the sound of crying is growing louder. He hops up the next flight of stairs and finds a figure huddled in the corner, hunched over. Briefly, Yoongi panics wondering if this is truly his friend or simply another trick of this hellish building. But as he watches the darkened figure’s shoulders rise and fall with a quiver, he knows his fears are unwarranted. Carefully, he approaches and slides to the ground beside Hoseok. The boy says nothing as Yoongi’s arrival, simply shifts slightly away, further into his corner.

“That was a very stupid thing to do,” says Yoongi, but his tone isn’t scolding like he expected. It’s simply…tired.

Hoseok lifts his gaze and looks at Yoongi. His eyes are bloodshot and his skin looks pale, sickly. He’s probably getting hungry and exhausted, just like the rest of them. Yoongi sighs and places a hand on Hoseok’s knee, patting it a few times. Hoseok is edgy as he receives the gesture with wide eyes.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Yoongi says.

Hoseok sniffles and wipes beneath his nose. “Why’d you come?” he asks through his tears.

Yoongi shrugs and examines his cuticles. “You shouldn’t be alone in here. It’s dangerous.”

“You came for me last time too,” Hoseok says carefully, as if he can’t trust Yoongi.

He glances away and watches the floor, the third-floor hallway stretching out through the open doorway. “Like I said,” he begins, pouting slightly, “it’s dangerous.”

“Doesn’t seem like something you’d do,” Hoseok says. “Let alone twice.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes. “Are you really gonna make me say it, Hoseok?” he asks, turning his dark eyes to his friend.

Hoseok seems startled and leans away, frightened. “Say what?”

Yoongi sighs. “I care about you,” he says quietly. “All of you guys.” He digs the toe of his sneaker into the floor, disrupting the fine layer of dust sitting there.

“You do?”

“Did you really not know?”

Hoseok shakes his head. “I thought you only hung around us because of Jin.”

Yoongi’s eyes go wide. “You really thought that?” he asks.

Hoseok shrugs, still visibly wary. “Yeah.”

Yoongi can’t deny that Hoseok’s words hurt him. They sting as they strike his chest. He shakes his head and runs his hands through his hair. Back when they first woke up, Taehyung had mentioned something similar. That Yoongi didn’t care. Yoongi’s stomach feels cold. His best friends…do they really think so lowly of him?

And could he really blame them?

“I love you guys,” he says quietly, unable to look Hoseok in the eyes. “You know my relationship with my parents is…rough.”

Patiently, Yoongi awaits Hoseok’s response. But it doesn’t come for a while. “Yeah…,” is all he says.

Yoongi rubs his nose and shrugs. “For a while, you guys have been like…like my family. My parents, they hated that I wanted to pursue producing. You remember how it was,” he says with a sigh. “They’re so stubborn and emotionless. They don’t wanna listen to anyone and they’re way too cautious,” he says, then pauses and breathes out a wry laugh. “Now that I think about it, the things I hate most about them are the things I hate most about myself.”

Hoseok is quiet for a long moment before, gently, he reaches out and takes Yoongi’s rough hand in his soft one. “I’m sorry I doubted you,” he says in a whisper.

Yoongi shrugs. “I don’t tell you guys enough how much you mean to me,” he says, then shakes his head with a grunt. “It’s hard for me…you know, to…talk about that kinda stuff.”

Hoseok nods and gives Yoongi’s hand a squeeze. “I understand,” he says. “I should have known. You don’t say how you feel, but you show it.” Hoseok’s voice carries a smile. “Like when Yujin broke up with me and you came all the way to my apartment with like two boxes of ramen and your pirated copy of Train to Busan.” Hoseok pauses to laugh.

Yoongi remembers that night, and can’t help but laugh too. He’d arrived at midnight at Hoseok’s apartment and pounded on the door until he opened up, eyes puffy and cheeks red from crying. Wordlessly, Yoongi had pushed his way inside and set his items down on Hoseok’s crooked dining table, removing the ramen from its boxes and slamming bottles of soju on the tabletop. Hoseok, stunned, had followed after him in the messy apartment, picking up his strewn about clothes and folding them, tossing them into the darkness of his bedroom before Yoongi could see them.

Yoongi saw them anyway.

“What are you doing here?” asked Hoseok with wide eyes, practically swimming in his massive sweatshirt.

Yoongi shrugged and pulled his laptop from his backpack. He tossed a look over his shoulder at Hoseok. “I downloaded Train to Busan and I wanted to watch it. I figured you’d be free.”

Hoseok blinked at him, scanning his small living room for a moment before turning back to Yoongi. “I…I mean, isn’t Jin home?”

Yoongi shook his head. “Nope. Working.”

Hoseok scratched his head and pursed his lips. “What about the other guys?”

“Do you wanna watch it or not?” asked Yoongi, turning with a hand on his hip.

Hoseok’s eyes went wide and he nodded. “Y-yeah! For sure. I’ve heard it’s really good,” he said.

Yoongi nodded and removed his jacket, sitting in front of the TV and fiddling with the cables. “I’m gonna plug in my laptop. Start on the ramen and open some soju for me, will you?”

Hoseok startled and nodded. “Yes, Sir!” he called with a laugh.

Yoongi was so relieved when he laughed like that. All day he’d been worried about him. Ever since Jimin texted him about it, asking him to be a bit gentle towards their broken-hearted friend, Yoongi hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. He’d stared at his monitor at the studio for hours, unable to find even one punch of inspiration. His coworkers had teased him for being so air headed all day, but all he could think of was Hoseok, crying alone in his apartment, too sad to even reach out for help.

Hoseok chuckles now and shakes his head. “I texted Jin during the movie to ask how work was going and he said he was at home,” he says. “I shouldn’t have been so suspicious of you.”

Yoongi shrugs and picks at a loose thread on his shirt. “It’s this place. It’s getting to your head,” he says.

Hoseok inhales slowly and nods. “You’re right.”

“Let’s head back,” says Yoongi. His chest feels tight, like he might cry. He never knew that Hoseok had found him out. Being understood by someone, being cared for by them…the feeling of it almost overwhelms Yoongi.

Yoongi stands first and offers Hoseok his hand to help him to his feet. Hoseok dusts off his pants and offers Yoongi a very soft, faint smile. He holds on to his hand for a moment. “I think you’re really brave,” says Hoseok, staring at the ground. “To be able to do what you love even though your family disapproves…I think you’ve got a lot of courage.”

Yoongi blushes and his back stiffens. “What?”

Hoseok shrugs and retracts his hand. “I dunno. Coming after me, thinking of what’s best for the group even if it makes people mad, running around this place by yourself,” he says. “I think you’re probably the bravest one of us.”

Yoongi clears his throat and rubs his neck. All this time, he’s thought of himself as a horribly cautious, safe person. Perhaps this place has brought something out of him that he didn’t know was there. Yoongi takes a bracing breath and remembers his family. He’s always been too afraid to talk to them honestly about everything that happened, about them telling him he was a disappointment, about him telling them he hated them…he’s always wanted to break the silence. But he’s been frightened. Frightened that opening up meant opening a door that can’t be shut.

But now, the thought of never seeing them again, never having the opportunity to tell them he loves them, being forgotten…

“Say,” he says with a cough as Hoseok smiles beside him. “If we make it outta here, I’m gonna visit my parents.”

Hoseok grins. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

Hoseok hooks an arm around Yoongi’s neck and laughs loudly in his ear. “That’s a great idea!”

Yoongi swats him away and shoves his hands in his pockets. “Let’s just get back down to the boys.”

Hoseok chuckles and follows behind him. But as Yoongi turns to descend the stairs, what is waiting at the landing below them makes his blood run cold and his heart kick up like a train engine.

“I wonder if they’re okay…,” says Jungkook, peering across the classroom toward Jimin.

Jimin sits with his back against a few upturned desks, watching the ground. His heart is hammering. Four hours now he’s been trying to force himself to be brave, to be strong, to be tough. But now that he has someone depending on him, he can’t seem to shake his own persistent fear. Jungkook looks to him like a little brother, eyes round like saucers and face flushed with worry. Jimin is worried too, but he’s backed himself into a corner. He can’t express his own concerns for fear of worsening Jungkook’s. His resolve is shaking with every passing minute without the older boys. He’s not cut out for this. He’s not cut out for being in charge, for protecting people. He’s cut out for comforting people after the bad thing happens, not preventing the bad thing. But Jungkook is looking at him with such a neediness, an indescribable wishfulness. There’s something in his eyes that’s pleading with Jimin. And Jimin feels the full weight of his friend’s pleas on his shoulders.

He clears his throat and nods, staring at the floor once more. “I’m sure they’re fine. It’s only been a minute.”

“What about the others? Tae and Jin and Namjoon?” asks Jungkook.

Jimin doesn’t know what to say. Empty platitudes? Promises that they’re fine when he can’t even convince himself of it? He simply presses his lips thin and sucks in his breath. The classroom is cold now that the others are gone, and distantly Jimin can hear faint groaning, like the building itself is stretching. He’s unnerved, and his senses are alight with adrenaline. He’s the first line of defense now. He’s the oldest.

And now Jungkook needs him.

How long has Jimin spent needing other people?

He swallows and forces a smile. “Don’t worry too much. We’ll reconnect soon, okay?” he says gently, scooting towards Jungkook and wrapping an arm around his broad shoulders.

Jungkook looks at him with knitted brows. He hasn’t been the same since they all arrived in this place. None of them have. Something about this building seems to pry a person open and reveal the true thing underneath. Jimin can remember all the fun times they all had together, the nights that felt like they’d never end, the moments he wished would last forever. The everyday worries and doubts that shook his world seem to him now so trivial, so small. He longs for the days when his biggest troubles were if his dance was good enough or if he would pass an audition. Now, those fears seem so far away. Like they belong to someone else, like they never belonged to him at all.

“I keep thinking about what that girl said,” Jungkook whispers, leaning into Jimin’s side. “About being Taeyong’s sister.”

Jimin stiffens and swallows his fear. He nods his head. “Yeah?”

“What if…what if when you die here…nobody remembers you? What if you’re just…erased?” he asks.

Jimin shivers, but tries to keep Jungkook from feeling it by leaning slightly back. “Let’s not think about that.”

Jungkook shakes his head. “It’s all I can think about.”

“Instead of that, try thinking about all the things you’re gonna do when you get out,” says Jimin with a nod. “For me, I’m gonna go to Seoul and watch the sunset on Achasan. Taehyung says it was really pretty when he went a few years ago. I’ve been thinking about it ever since.”

Jungkook nods. “Can I come with?”

“Sure,” says Jimin, then hums. “You know what else I’m gonna do?”

“What?”

He smiles. “I’m gonna take singing lessons.”

Jungkook chuckles. “You sing fine.”

“But I’ve always wanted to.”

Jungkook nods. “I’m gonna sleep on the beach, even if it’s illegal,” he says.

Jimin laughs. “What else?”

Jungkook’s voice becomes stronger and he leans away from Jimin’s side with a small smile. “I’m gonna burn my old college textbooks. They bum me out.”

Jimin can’t help but laugh. The kid is talented in many ways, but his grades were always pretty poor. He’s always been more interested in sports and anime and video games. “That’s a good idea,” says Jimin.

“And I’m gonna travel to Europe.”

“Europe?” asks Jimin with a grin. What a grand plan.

Jungkook nods, resolute. “Yeah. I wanna see the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben and Alhambra.”

Jimin laughs. “Those are really amazing places.”

“I wanna take pictures,” says Jungkook, glancing around the room. “Even a place like this can be beautiful if you photograph it right.” He smiles slightly and points to the corner of the room. “Look at the light there.”

Jimin looks, but all he sees is a shaft of gloomy, flickering light. “Yeah?”

Jungkook nods. “The light is capturing the dust particles,” says Jungkook, inching closer to it. “Like they’re suspended. And the yellow juxtaposed against the grey walls and tables…it looks kinda hopeful.”

Jimin halts and reposes, taking another look. Now that he sees through Jungkook’s eyes, the scene is a lot prettier than it was upon first glance. The light is a gentle, hazy yellow, dimming and brightening, a patch of brightness in a dark room.

“Jungkook, why haven’t you ever told me about wanting to take pictures?” asks Jimin, brows furrowed.

Jungkook shrugs and continues staring at the light, transfixed. “I was scared,” he says. “I was scared that saying it out loud meant I’d have to really do it. And if I really did it…,” he pauses to sigh. “If I really did it I might fail.”

Jimin scans his friend’s young features. He’d seen him as a child, all energy and smiles and carefree innocence. He seems older now, wiser. His brow is low and his lips are parted, but his eyes are hard as stone and resilient. There’s something more to him now. And Jimin’s shattered nerves settle a little.

The door beside them opens with a slam and the two boys scramble to their feet, ramming into one another as they rush to the side of the classroom, away from the door. Jimin’s heart is thundering and he can’t hear anything over his pulse. The other boys know the knocking code. They’d never just throw the door open like that, especially since it was locked.

Whoever opened it is incredibly strong…

Jimin peels his eyes apart and stares at the doorway. But it’s empty.

Except for the palpable chill that’s seeping through.

Jungkook’s eyes are blown out wide and Jimin can’t feel his hands. Nonetheless, something in Jimin overrules his fear and he takes a step in front of Jungkook, reaching an arm out to keep him from rushing forward. That weathered determination in Jungkook’s eyes…Jimin wants to protect it. His arms are shaking as he extends them out to either side, making sure Jungkook is pressed with his back against the wall.

“Jimin! What are you doing?” he asks in a tense whisper.

Jimin shakes his head. “Stay behind me,” he says.

Jungkook swallows hard and reluctantly nods his head. “Okay,” he says quietly.

Loud footsteps boom down the hall, and they only get louder as they approach. Jimin’s heart races, but he steels himself and sets his jaw. Isn’t there a quote like that? That courage is not the absence of fear, but the overcoming of it? Jimin can’t remember, but as he hears the sound of something hard and metallic dragging on the floor, he isn’t so sure this is a fear he can overcome after all. He pressed his back to Jungkook and the two stand shaking, awaiting whatever fate is approaching them.

It almost doesn’t surprise Jimin when he sees the silhouette standing in the doorway, its smokey outline distinct against the dark hallway. There’s nothing to his face but the suggestion of lightly glowing eyes and a nose that just barely extends. His body is broad and his large hand grips the handle of an old, bloody axe beside him. He stares into the classroom and Jimin knows there’s nothing he can do to hide. Jungkook jumps as the man swings his axe, breaking the door off its hinges, and where its mouth should be there emerges an eerie hint of a sadistic smile. In his surprise, Jungkook lets something clatter to the ground. His knife.

Fight or flight, isn’t it?

Without a second thought, Jimin hurls himself onto the floor and grabs the knife, but the man’s axe is quickly upon him, slicing into the ground just an inch away from his head. Jimin screams and jumps to his feet, holding the knife so hard his knuckles are white and his skin is straining. The man cocks his head to the side and slowly sidles up to Jimin, coiling back and swinging once more. Luckily for Jimin, he’s fast. He lurches out of the way in time to sustain a minor scrape to his arm. It stings and his skin is wet with blood, but Jimin is grateful at least that it isn’t worse. The man seems agitated as he closes on on Jimin once more, this time aiming for his head. Jimin ducks as the heavy axe whirls around.

This won’t do. This dance of dodging and attacking has only one possible outcome, and it’s not favorable for Jimin. He’s gotta do something quick or both he and Jungkook could be looking at their demise.

Quickly, an inkling of a plan takes form in Jimin’s mind and he jumps back to his feet and rushes toward the wall, cornering himself. “Jimin!” screams Jungkook, but Jimin silences him with a glare.

The man approaches him and draws his arm back. Jimin can only hope he can predict what this man will do next. The man laughs. “Got…,” he begins, as if even the act of speaking is a labor, “You…”

Jimin swallows and takes a steadying breath. The man swings again, and once again aims for Jimin’s head. Relief floods through Jimin’s veins and he ducks just like before, only this time he rushes out around the man’s side. With his immense force, the man has lodged his axe momentarily in the wall. Just like he had with the floor. He struggles briefly to pull it out, and in that moment Jimin seizes upon him, jamming the knife into the man’s neck. He pulls it out as the man cries out in what Jimin hopes is pain, and he notices that a black liquid is oozing out of where the wound would be. Again, Jimin lunges and forces the knife into the man’s side, then his shoulder, then his back. Anywhere Jimin can reach, he stabs. And everywhere Jimin attacks, the man seems to bleed.

With a frustrated grunt, the man yanks his axe out of the wall and his elbow clocks Jimin on the side of the head. Dizzy, Jimin falls to the ground. The room is spinning. Is this it then? The end? All the man has to do it swing once more. Jimin is incapacitated. His head is throbbing and his body is stunned from the force. He can feel a bruise beginning to form. He’s an easy, vulnerable target.

But to his surprise, the man, clutching his side and dragging his axe, rushes from the room, leaving a trail of black liquid behind him. Jimin pants as he lays on the floor, sitting halfway upright as he stares after the man. He’s moving fast now, but he’s grunting as if he’s angry. Perhaps Jimin made a mistake.

But he is certain about one thing.

He is not as vulnerable as that man thought.

“Jimin!” Jungkook cries as he slides on his knees to help Jimin up onto his bottom. Jimin groans, holding his head with his free hand and dropping the knife. “Jesus! I thought you were gonna die,” he says, hugging him tightly.

Jimin strains against him and squints from the pain in his head. “I’m fine,” he says. And, for the first time in a long time…he really believes it. “What are we gonna do now?” he asks, turning to Jungkook.

He swallows hard. “I…I don’t know.”

“I don’t know if we should stay here,” Jimin worries aloud.

Jungkook nods. “But…if we leave, what if we can’t find the others? Aren’t they gonna come here to find us?”

Jimin glances out into the hallway, into the unknown, and rubs his forehead tenderly. “But if we stay here…we might be sitting ducks. I don’t think he’ll let his guard down again.”

“He was injured,” says Jungkook with his lips agape.

Jimin nods. “It seems like things aren’t as hopeless as we thought…”

Jungkook sets his lips thin and looks at the floor. “I don’t know what the right move is.”

Neither does Jimin. But something in his gut is telling him which option is best. And maybe it’s the adrenaline, but he wants to listen to it.

#bts #bts fanfic #bts fanfiction #bts horror au #bts horror #bts horror story #bts ot7 #bts imagines #bts reactions #bts scenarios #bts angst #bts au #bts au fanfic

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sunyoonandstars · 6 years ago

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BTS mini series || Friday Night Club || You x (?), feat. OT7 as High School students || CHAPTER 1

This is an interactive (!) Breakfast Club kind of High School AU. For the sake of the story, all members are of similar age here.

fluff, slice of life, hints of angst, future smut, and possible romance

Pairing You x (?) || Will be decided by your choice/a poll after Chapter 1

Word count 5.790

Synopsis You find yourself in detention on a Friday night in the middle of summer at a new school. And for company, you have seven equally handsome and troubled young men. Which of them will you decide to get to know better? Your choice might just as well change your life ...

"So, what you're going to do is pair up and confess your sins and secrets to each other. Nothing too naughty. Just whatever you're comfortable with. Up here, in front of everyone, in a back corner of this room or, if you like, in a broom closet or god knows where. As long as you do it. And I need you to be honest here, with me and yourselves. Also, I'm basically a human lie detector. I will be able to tell if you didn't do it, just saying. So, find yourself a partner and get started." Mr. Wong claps his big hands, full of zest for action. "Ladies first!"

Suddenly, all eyes are on you.

"Ms. Y/l/n, please stand up and pick your partner."

With a pounding heart, you push back your chair and get up, taking a last look around, staring directly into each of the handsome faces surrounding you before you decide to follow your instincts and make your choice ...

🎶 PLAYLIST 🎶

CHAPTER 1

"Great," you mutter to yourself upon opening the door to the stuffy, almost empty classroom. A room full of clichés. And, apparently, you are one of them.

You have no idea why Mr. Wong considered it to be necessary for you to join this sad circle. Even though you haven't been attending this school for long, a few faces already seem familiar, and not all of them earned their reputation by being straight-A students and class president, as did pretty boy Park Jimin in the far right corner of the room. His is the only name you remember as you make your way to a vacant seat without establishing eye contact, even though you can feel the seven boys staring at you curiously.

"You're late," Park Jimin comments from his corner. When you turn around, he isn't even looking at you but instead fiddling with an expensive-looking silver pen.

"To detention," you finish his sentence as you plop down onto one of the ridiculously uncomfortable chairs and let your backpack drop to the floor, the very second Mr. Wong makes his presence known by demonstratively clearing his throat.

"I thought I made myself clear, Miss Y/l/n Y/n," the teacher starts out in his soft, yet firm tone, a bland smile stretching his thin lips which, however, doesn't reach his eyes. "You shouldn't view this as detention. This is an opportunity for the eight of you to deal with your issues and be better students, maybe even find friends. Since all of you seem to have certain difficulties adhering to our school's high standards, I believe it to be a good idea to actually talk and find out what troubles you before we are forced to, well, adopt more drastic measures."

"But we are being detained against our will, right?" the guy to the far left of the room, seated where the daylight doesn't reach, raises his voice. Only now do you even really notice him. It seems, though, as if he didn't want to attract attention in the first place. Shoulders hunched, pale-faced, dark hair falling into his face, hood pulled up, he sits there, a smirk plastered on his, what appear to be naturally pouty, lips. You wonder why you haven't seen him before on campus.

"Yes, Mr. Min, that's right, but -"

"So it is detention then."

"No. It's -" Mr. Wong stammers, barely keeping his countenance by the looks of it.

"So, I'm free to go?" the guy named Min cocks his head to the right, his eyes becoming visible for the first time as a strand of his soft hair shifts slightly. Those eyes, red-rimmed, appear to be infinitely tired but at the same time alight with life, dark and deep like bottomless wells, full of stories and ideas.

"No, Mr. Min, you are not!"

Mr. Wong takes a deep breath to calm himself.

"Anyway. Director Ko was ready to give up on you bunch of delinquents –"

"That's a little strongly worded, don't you think?" the tall, silver-haired guy with the cute nose in the front row cuts his teacher off. You believe to remember him from the time he sat some girl's notebook on fire, by accident as he claimed. Kim something. God, why are you so bad with names?

"Exactly!" Park Jimin agrees with him, suddenly agitated. "I don't even belong here with these –– people."

"Ha! That was a close one, Park," the hooded vampire guy scoffs. "What did you wanna call us? Weirdos? Losers?"

"You're pretty close," Park Jimin hisses back at him.

"Come on, guys. This isn't much fun as it is. But do you really have to make it unbearable?" The slender, red-haired boy seated right in front of you turns around to glare at the both of them. "I know you're gonna hate me for saying this, but let's just make the best of this and get it over with, everybody."

He winks at you as he notices you staring and throws you a gleaming smile. Now you remember. He's the dancer, famous all around town for his charm, skills and freestyling.

"I can't believe I'm actually saying this," Mr. Wong continues. "But I'll have to agree with Mr. Jung. Let's all try and be civil and learn something from this experience. Otherwise, you will be back in this very same room next Friday after classes, as well. And the Friday after that, and the Friday after that."

"Yes, we get it," Min Vampire grumbles.

"Well, then there shouldn't be any further issues," Mr. Wong darts him a glare. "Whatever happened to your uniform, young man? This may not be detention, but it's still not leisure time. Take off that ridiculous hoodie."

"But I'm cold."

"It's the middle of July, for God's sake! It's 32 (90) degrees in the shade. Take it off."

"What if I don't?" Min Vampire provocatively raises a brow at him.

"I don't know what has gotten into you lately, Min Yoongi. But if you keep this up, your behavior will have serious consequences. Don't you care about anything anymore apart from your precious music? What about your poor, troubled parents? Your grades? Your future?"

"Will you stop harassing me if I take the fucking hoodie off?"

"Language, young man! And I'm not harassing you," a despairing Mr. Wong objects, throwing his arms into the air. "I'm trying to help you, boy. Can't you see that?"

"I don't need your help. And I don't want it."

"Fine," the teacher eventually gives in, already busy packing up his things while ceaselessly shaking his head. "I see staying here with you is pointless anyway, so I'll turn my attention to tasks that will actually benefit from it. If you need anything, you can find me in the principal’s office. I will check on you regularly. Here is a list of assignments you're expected to complete in order to be able to leave this building later on."

With those words, he takes a stack of papers from his bag and sets them down on the teacher's desk.

"If even only one of you doesn’t complete these, all of you will be required to stay for the night or the whole weekend if that's what it takes. This is your last chance before expulsion, and next year all of you will be seniors. So, leaving this fine institution and transferring to another High School at this time will most likely have a severely negative effect on your final grade. I hope today you finally come to realize what your misconduct may cost you and change your habits."

Mr. Wong pauses for a few impactful seconds and tries to make eye contact with each of us.

"Your parents have been informed and agreed to my methods. If you don't believe me, here are their signatures. I will be present to watch over you at any time. The end of the semester is closing in, so I have plenty to do around here anyway."

"Mr. Wong, you must be mistaken. I'm not supposed to be here," Park Jimin objects once more, this time getting up from his chair. "I can't be. What I did can in no way justify expulsion. I've been an exemplary student ever since I started attending this institution."

"That may be true, Mr. Park. And I am well aware of your great contributions and outstanding grades. But your behavior clearly shows that you are highly lacking in the social department. Those anger issues of yours have no place in this school and none in society, either. If you don't change your ways, even your talents and intellect won't get you very far, I'm afraid. And no teacher I know is willing to put up with you any longer. So you better change your approach to the people around you, or the school board will have no choice but to expel you."

"But –"

"No backtalk. I'm leaving you to yourselves now. In about an hour I will be back. I expect to see results by then."

Without looking back, Mr. Wong turns on his heel and leaves the room, locking the door behind him.

"Great. Now we're his prisoners," Min Yoongi groans, shaking his head before he goes on to place it on the table top, using his folded arms as a cushion.

Right. Finally, you remember him. He's the guy who's always sleeping in class but somehow seems to know the right answer whenever a teacher wakes him from his peaceful slumber, silently hoping he's going to make a fool of himself. You just never saw his face before. Because, well, he's always asleep.

A sudden movement to your right demands your attention. It's Park Jimin, striding to the front of the classroom, his step determined and his expression almost solemn. You never quite noticed how well-composed his body is until now when he passes you so closely his elbow brushes your shoulder. You can tell by the confidence and fluidity of his movements that he is a dancer, too, although you've never seen him perform. Without further explanation, he picks up the assignments and starts handing them out.

"Seriously?", Min Yoongi grumbles, barely lifting his head. "I'm not gonna do shit. This is illegal. He's not even allowed to keep us here in the first place. He locked the fucking door."

"Well, I don't intend to spend the whole weekend here," Park Jimin shrugs, obviously unimpressed. "There's an essential maths exam to take place on Monday, and I didn't bring my learning material. But be assured that I'm not going to let you ignorant dumbass ruin my final grade."

"What did you just call me?" Suddenly wide awake, Min Yoongi sits up straight, exasperation apparent in his widened eyes.

"An ignorant dumbass," Jimin repeats calmly, leaning in closer with each word.

"What the fuck!?" Yoongi gasps, getting up so abruptly, his chair falls over with an earsplitting bang. By the looks of it, he’s ready to fight and Jimin's posture clearly shows that he's only waiting for his opponent to throw the first punch. The tension building up between the two of them is palpable.

"Enough now," a deep, smooth voice cuts through the nervous silence. Immediately following his words, the chem lab guy steps in the middle of the two squabblers and holds each of them at arm's length, maintaining a firm grip on their shirts. "You two were best friends before you decided to run against each other for class president, remember? You were basically inseparable. This is just ridiculous. Get over yourselves, or we'll be here till Monday."

"He started it," Yoongi snorts, his eyes burning holes through Jimin's perfect visage.

"Well, you basically asked for it," Jimin retorts with a grin.

"Shut it! Both of you," chem lab guy silences them. "Pull yourselves together. We're not kids anymore, and this isn't the time for your bullshit. Didn't you hear what Mr. Wong said? This is our last shot. And I deserve being here just as much as you do, Jimin. I didn't even do anything, but here I am, and there's nothing I can do except for dealing with it. And I suppose you do the same."

With one last pull at their collars, chem lab guy lets them go and returns to his seat. Jimin follows suit, sitting down with his arms crossed in front of his chest, still breathing heavily, whereas Min Yoongi merely puts on a pair of hi-fi headphones and apparently goes back to sleep.

The whole room falls quiet since everyone else grudgingly starts skimming the printout before them. Except for the redhead in front of you. Rocking his chair backward and forward, chewing on a pencil, a smirk playing on his rosy lips, he eventually leans back far enough so he can rest his arm comfortably on your desk.

"That was Namjoon, by the way. Kim Namjoon. The guy who separated them," he whispers, pointing his chin in silver-haired-chem-lab-guy’s direction.

"He seems okay. Why's he here?" you can't help but ask, your curiosity getting the better of you.

"Oh, he keeps destroying school property," the redhead chuckles, watching his classmate go through the list of assignments. "Unintentionally, of course. Namjoon's just hella clumsy. He's really tall and grew so suddenly, his extremities just can't keep up, you know. But the teachers call it vandalism. They believe he does it on purpose, to get attention and to work through some issues they have at home. But, from what I know about him, there aren't any. Namjoon's a decent guy. His grades are just slightly above average, he reads grownup books and listens to Hip Hop. There's nothing wrong with him. He might be the only one of us who doesn't deserve to be here."

As if he just now remembered he was even talking to someone, the redhead abruptly turns around and extends a hand for you to shake. You do so reluctantly.

"My name's Hoseok, by the way. Jung Hoseok," he smiles at you gleamingly. "But my friends call me J-Hope. It's kinda my stage name."

"You dance, right?"

"Oh, you've heard of me?" he wonders aloud, genuinely surprised as it seems.

"There's no way I didn't. You're kinda famous around here."

"I guess I am," he shrugs nonchalantly, grinning goofily. "You want me to spill all the gossip? You're new to this school, right?"

"Yes. How’d you know?"

You can't hide your puzzlement.

"Well, otherwise I would've noticed you sooner, obviously. I only saw you a few times around campus, but you caught my eye right away. Not a lot of girls manage to do that." Again, Hoseok winks at you, causing a hot blush to creep up your neck and settle on your cheeks.

"Y/n was the name? Y/l/n Y/n?"

You nod your head yes, unable to speak, your throat suddenly as dry as a desert.

"That's a pretty name. It suits you."

"Oh, stop it," you mutter. "It's nothing special. And neither am I. But I'll gladly take you up on your offer."

Hoseok questioningly arches a brow at you.

"I believe you promised me some gossip. A quick who's who? I'd really like to know who I'm dealing with here."

"Oh, sure," he agrees, slightly disappointed if you're not mistaken. "Where shall we start?"

Exhaling a sigh, Hoseok takes a look around, still leaning on your desk.

"Well, I don't think Park Jimin requires an introduction," he starts, lowering his voice to an almost inaudible whisper. "He's from a good household, a straight-A student, class president, one of our school's best athletes, a talented classical dancer, a mathematics genius, dangerously handsome and on top of that our resident number two crush boy, closely following the one and only Kim Taehyung as our school's ultimate heartthrob."

"Kim Taehyung?"

He points at 'Dorian Grey' how you have come to call him. You have seen him before, often times, roaming the school's corridors, untouchable, staring into space, his head always somewhere else, up in the clouds. This unreally beautiful young man with his shiny, caramel-colored hair and delicate hands who is currently seated in the second row, next to the shy boy with the starry eyes and the most adorable nose you've ever seen. The two of them whisper constantly, seemingly lost in their own world.

"I'll come to him later," Hoseok explains. "Anyway. Jimin has trouble acknowledging his mistakes sometimes. He always needs to be the best, to be right. So, when teachers or students are 'too stupid for him to deal with', he, well, tends to lose his patience. He keeps aggressively correcting our math's teacher who does not appreciate Jimin's input. That's basically what landed him in here. But I think the anger isn't actually in his nature. Jimin surely has a temper. I believe, however, that these little escalations only happen thanks to his parents and the insane amount of pressure they put on him. You see, they want, no expect him to excel at everything. But it's kinda lonely up there on the top. Thanks to his competitive nature, Jimin doesn't really have friends. Sure, there are people circling around him like vultures, hoping his 'fame' will somehow rub off on them. But none of them have his back. He was friends with this Yoongi character for years. Don't ask me why, though. Anyway, they sort of drifted apart during the last election for class president. Ever since then, Jimin has been more of a loner, claiming he's too busy to have friends. But I think he just really needs someone to show him he's being appreciated."

"I see," you mumble, catching yourself staring at the gorgeous, full-lipped boy in awe.

"Well, over there we have Kim Namjoon. I mentioned him before."

While you listen to Hoseok's narration, your eyes wander to the prementioned who is currently immersed in the lecture of the worksheet before him. His chin protruding slightly, teeth absentmindedly gnawing at his lower lip, brows furrowed to a frown, he studies the printed lines intently, massaging his temple with the knuckle of his thumb. The dark, silvery grey color of his short hair complements his complexion and gives him the appeal of a mysterious intellectual.

"He's another model student, in a way. His grades are not as good as Jimin's, and he struggles in certain areas, like maths or science. But he's a thinker, highly intelligent and very sensitive, even if you might not think so based on your first impression of him, especially judging by his strong build. He's excellent at languages, social studies, philosophy and just joined an art club. He's also widely read and knows a lot about literature. Namjoon spends most of his free time at the library or looking up music. We get along quite well. Actually, he makes an effort to be neutral, so he gets along with almost anybody, although most people consider him a geek, so he doesn't have a lot of friends, either. He's still very kind and generous with everybody and tries to help where he can. Last term, he saved my ass when I was about to fail my English class."

"Then why's he in here?"

"Like I said. Our Namjoon here keeps damaging, or rather demolishing, school property. By accident, though, I'm convinced. On his death roll are a couple of hairdryers, two doors, I think, a few Petri dishes and glass flasks, a window, a hand-towel suspender, three soccer balls, a tennis racket, a blackboard, a few TVs – I could keep going, but I believe you catch my drift."

You nod in agreement, unable to keep your lips from smiling while you watch Namjoon shift in his seat, still focused on his assignment.

"Namjoon keeps pleading innocent," Hoseok continues, sadly shaking his head. "But both his parents and the teachers are confident he's acting up because he's in some kind of 'rebellious phase'. The guy is seventeen, for God's sake. He suddenly shot up like a palm tree. He's a teenager. His body can't handle the changes, so he's a little clumsy, sure, but he means no harm. Grownups can be so ignorant."

"I couldn't agree more," you scoff bitterly, drawing circles on the bottom right corner of your assignment sheet.

"So, who's next?" Hoseok mutters, more to himself. "Ah, right. Kim Seokjin. Mr. Worldwide Handsome, as he likes to call himself."

You look up and in the direction Hoseok is pointing in.

"Ah, right," you nod. "He's the guy all the girls want to marry when they get out of school."

"That's right," Hoseok snorts. "Seokjin comes from a wealthy family. His father is some big CEO, and his mother is a former Miss Korea. That's probably where he got his good looks from. He's not precisely our school's brightest student, but that does in no way diminish his popularity. He takes up third place, right after Jimin, on our school's list of the 'most eligible bachelors', you might say. And he's the number one flower boy. All he has to do is blow them a kiss and the younger girls fall for him like cut-down trees."

Hoseok rolls his eyes.

"Then why's he in here?"

"I think, first and foremost, this punishment was encouraged by his parents themselves."

"What for?"

"Because Seokjin keeps making jokes in class. He's basically famous for being our school’s top class clown and keeps rambling on about wanting to become a famous comedic actor or entertainer or something."

"Oh," you think out loud. "I imagine his parents are not too fond of that idea."

"Yeah, especially not his dad. Seokjin once mentioned that they want him to take over his family's corporate empire some day. It's a shame, though, because he is good at what he does. He always makes everyone laugh, even the teachers, and you can tell it makes him happy. It's so sad that his parents can't see that and want to take away what's best for him. They even had him kicked out of drama club."

Clicking his tongue, Hoseok slowly shakes his head, eyeing Seokjin sympathetically. Your gaze, as well, lingers on his amazingly handsome features for a few more seconds before it goes on to focus on Hoseok's next target.

"Over there, you see the boy with the hazel coconut hair and the undercut? The one with the many piercings?"

"Yeah. He looks cute."

"Oh, does he now?" Hoseok suggestively wiggles his eyebrows at you.

"I meant nice," you quickly correct yourself, cheeks blushing furiously.

"Yeah, sure." Hoseok playfully pokes your arm. "Anyway. He's kinda shy. His name is Jeon Jungkook. I think his friends, well, his only friend, calls him Kook or Kookie sometimes. Which really fits him, I think. Because you're right, he appears to be cute at first sight."

„Appears to be?"

"Well, he's got the soft baby boy looks, sure, but he isn't necessarily one. Partly he might be. But he's stronger and much fiercer than he lets on. Hidden underneath that oversized uniform of his are pounds of sheer muscle. Jungkook's our school's top athletes. A fast runner, a skilled boxer, a supreme weightlifter. He does parcours and stuff, too, and lately Jimin has been teaching him some dance moves, I think. The teachers like him because the poor boy is so insecure that he's always quiet and obedient in class. Jungkook basically only landed himself in here by being a good friend."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Him and Taehyung over there," Hoseok points to the duo sitting huddled together in the front, so close to each other their arms are touching. "They are inseparable, literally. Always have been. And even though Jungkook is a few months younger and clearly the shier of those two, he has this guarding instinct and protecting drive when it comes to Taehyung. You see, Taehyung is the dreamy kind. His head is in the right place, and he's not dumb, might I add. But his mind is a wandering one. He see's the world through some kind of kaleidoscope, you know. Differently than we do. More colorful and from an artistic point of view, I guess. He's an art nerd, by the way. Very gentle soul, romantic, may appear kind of cold at times. Taehyung is very sociable, but not always the most social, if you get what I mean?"

"I guess, yeah," you shrug your shoulders, your eyes glued to Taehyung's gorgeous side profile. He seems to have some kind of power over you already. The longer you look, the stronger it gets. He's pulling you in like a magnet.

"Anyway, our Taehyung isn't exactly the toughest when it comes to defending himself against the evil in this world and dealing with nasty comments made by those who are envious of his charm and beauty, seeking to put him down. So that's kind of Jungkook's role, you know. He's always by his side, there to protect Taehyung against any sort of abuse. Taehyung doesn't exactly come from the best of families. His folks are very poor, so he's always had to deal with bullying. He's only here on a scholarship because he's practically a child prodigy, that's probably why a lot of kids hate him. You see, Taehyung took part in one of Korea's most prominent art competitions about two years ago and won third place. And he was competing against grownups there, mostly."

"Really?", you gasp with wonderment.

"Yes," Hoseok confirms, almost proud. "He's a special boy, although he usually keeps those magnificent thoughts of his to himself, probably because he's tired of being called an alien, freak or weirdo. But if you listen to him, I think you might learn something."

"So, why's he in here?"

"Oh," Hoseok scoffs. "Because he's always late and keeps missing classes that aren't, you know, art."

"Ah, I see."

You can't help but be fond of the artsy boy.

"And Jungkook? Why's he here?"

"Oh, sorry," Hoseok giggles. "I kind of drifted off there for a second, didn't I? Well, Jungkookie here received this punishment because he keeps getting into fistfights, or rather starting them. Whenever someone attacks or offends Taehyung, Jungkook kind of loses it. He's very timid, usually, like I said, so he lacks the confidence to settle things verbally and doesn't know what to do with himself. That's why he lashes out, I guess. And those poor rich boys don't stand a chance against him. Oh, I forgot to mention. He's also here on a scholarship, as is Min Yoongi. Because our school makes a point of fostering exceptional talents, in the arts as well as in other fields. So, Jungkook came here as an athlete and Yoongi because of his significant achievements in science competitions."

"Oh, I see. I didn't know they were so generous with scholarships here. It's not exactly Korean standard."

"No, it isn't," Hoseok agrees, leaning back so far now, he's basically lying on your desk. "But our principal also comes from a poor family. Everything he accomplished, he owes not only to his sharp intellect and spirit, but also to the generosity of people like himself who recognized his merit early on and saw to it that it was being nurtured. So, he took it upon himself to do the same for young people from similar backgrounds. If you don't mind me asking, aren't you here on a scholarship, as well? Sorry, if that was too direct. I just heard a rumor and got curious."

"No, it's all right," you brush off Hoseok's concern with a gesture of your hand. "It's true. I'm here on a sort of literary scholarship, you might say. I wrote a few essays, poems and short stories that received positive feedback in competitions and apparently attracted some attention. One day, there was this letter in the mail, signed by Principal Ko. He invited us to take a look at the school, and, of course, my father insisted on going. Before we left, the Principal offered me a scholarship, and my father agreed immediately."

"You don't sound too pleased with his decision."

"You're very observant."

"Why, thank you!" Hoseok smiles at you, his beautiful features twisted into an adorable grimace.

"So, why don't you like it here?", he goes on to ask, serious again in a matter of seconds.

"We had to move and leave my hometown so I could go here. My father has to drive hours to work every day, I barely even see him. Our relationship was bad before that, ever since my mother passed away, but now it’s just – worse.“

"Oh," Hoseok gasps, one hand shooting up to cover his pink lips. „Your mother – I had no idea. I’m so sorry!"

"It's all right," you lie, lowering your head, so your face is concealed by a protective curtain of hair, hiding the tears clouding your vision. "It's been years since she left us. Since then, we're not really a family anymore. I don't have any other relatives I know of, so it's just my father and me. And all he ever does is scold me and tell me to do better. The things he values most are money and reputation. I'm not like that, though. I wanna live. I wanna have adventures and write about them. I need to feel things. To see them, hear them, taste them. Everything. I can't lead the life he wants me to. So we don't get along all that well. Just last week he told me I shouldn't 'rest on my oars'. That I practically didn't even deserve this scholarship because all I did was lock myself in my room and write."

"Oh, damn," Hoseok sharply inhales through his teeth. "That's bad. How can he say such a thing?"

"It's what he believes," you shrug, attempting to appear unaffected.

"Y/n, why are you here, if I may ask?", Hoseok breaks the awkward silence that had settled in between the two of you for a few minutes of you pretending to read the assignments given to you by Mr. Wong when all you really did was stare at the blank, white spaces in between words.

"Me? Oh, you don't wanna know," you chuckle. "It's pathetic."

"I do. I want to know. What did you do?"

"You see, we were given this homework," you begin, struggling to withstand Hoseok's straightforward gaze and maintain eye contact. "We had to write a thousand word essay about our life in English class. And all I wrote was 'My life sucks'."

"But I thought it was a thousand word essay?"

"Yes. And I wrote 'my life sucks' three hundred thirty-three times."

"No, you didn't!", Hoseok shouts out, bursting into laughter, the sudden sound turning a few heads.

"Yes, I did," you snicker, for the first time since the incident occurred actually feeling proud of your childish action.

"Are you in Mrs. Kim's Engish class?"

You nod.

"So, I'm sure she made you write it again."

"Yes, she did. Two times. And I kept handing in the same text. When she asked me why, I told her the truth. That my life indeed does suck and that I hate it. Everything about it."

"Wow, that sounds kinda black and white to me. I'm sure there are some grey zones. Stuff you kinda enjoy doing. Like writing. Writing's fun, right?"

"No," you shake your head, steadily holding Hoseok's glance. "Not ever since I moved here. I've been writer's blocked, feeling uninspired. It's like torture to me."

"Ah, I get it," Hoseok mumbles, giving you a sympathetic look. "So that's why I never see you smile."

His statement hits you like a blow to the gut.

"I wonder what it looks like."

"What?" you ask.

"Your smile. Won't you show me? Just this once?" he tilts his head, placing his chin on your hand on the table and blinking up at you out of chocolate brown puppy eyes, lips pursed into an endearing pout. "Pretty please?"

"We're in detention. There's no reason for me to smile."

"But it's summer. The sun's out. The weather is nice.“

"Exactly," you scoff.

"I don't get it," Hoseok frowns.

"I hate summer. I hate the sun. And don't even get me started on smiling."

Your reply earns you a low chuckle from Min Yoongi whose face has now entirely disappeared under his sweater's hood.

"Oh, you're one of those," Hoseok comments, feigning repulsion. "I'm kidding. You're okay. I kinda like you, Y/l/n Y/n."

"Wow, was that supposed to be a compliment? Thank you so much! I feel like a whole new person now. I'm honored, really,“ you tease Hoseok who, in response, turns his back on you with a disgruntled nose scrunch.

During the minutes to come, he doesn't turn around again, and you can't quite tell whether he's merely pretending to be offended or if you actually hurt his feelings.

"Hey! Psst! Hey!", you hiss at him, trying to get his attention. "Hoseok! Jung Hoseok!"

Jimin darts you an annoyed glance.

"Hoseok! Come on, don't be like that."

You reach out and tap his shoulder with the back of your pencil.��

"Come on. I'm sorry."

No response.

After another futile attempt to get Hoseok's attention, you eventually take your worksheet and tear off the upper right corner to scribble a message on the blank paper.

Hoseok. I'm sorry. I can be a dick sometimes. I didn't mean it like that. I'm really glad you started talking to me. You're the first person at this school who showed the least bit of interest and kindness. Don't take what I said too seriously. I'm an idiot.

Quickly, you crumple up the note and throw it at him. It hits Hoseok's head before it lands right in front of his nose, in the middle of his spreadsheet. He hesitates before he reads it, all the while being carefully observed by you. His reaction still comes as a surprise to you.

"It's okay, stupid," he grins in turning around. "I was just pulling your leg. But I'm glad you like me, too."

"Wait, I never said –"

Right then, the classroom door flies open and Mr. Wong enters, his step suspiciously light.

"So, it's been almost an hour, time for your second assignment," he announces with a broad smile.

"But I didn't even finish the first one," Taehyung objects, his tone whiny.

"That's okay," Mr. Wong says. "The essay can wait. You may write it later, at home even. Now, however, it's time for a joined activity."

"Oh, great," Min Yoongi grumbles from underneath his hood.

"And all of you are going to participate. You, too, Mr. Min."

The namely mentioned merely gives off a dissatisfied grunt.

Suddenly, all eyes are on you.

"Ms. Y/l/n, please stand up and pick your partner."

Who of the seven boys will you pick as your partner for this intimate assignment? Who of them do you want to get to know better? Who of them captured your interest?

🗳 Vote here. Your choice will be crucial to the further development of the story.

Thanks for reading and voting. I hope you liked it so far! ☺️💖

The next Chapter will be posted next Wednesday, at the latest.

Here you can find the matching PLAYLIST. And, if you feel like checking out more of my fiction, my Masterlist. 🙃

NONE of the GIFs used are mine. Credit goes to the initial creators. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.

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kingfallshistoricallibrary-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Episode Sixteen: Santa Clause Ain’t Comin’ to Town

[podcast music]

[King Falls AM music]

B: You’re off the charts excited, Sammy. Are you sure this isn’t about Christmas vacation?

S: Not at all, I've just finally got something big to bring to the table spooky stuff wise, and I cannot wait-

B: You are glowing, man, I can’t wait to hear this.

S: Good evening, ladies and gents, and welcome to King Falls AM, that’s 660 on the AM dial. And this is our last show of the year, our last show before our big Christmas break, as Ben mentioned.

B: Lets not say big, it’s just a break, but we’ll be right back here literally on New Years Day. Thanks, Merv. But we’ve got a hell of a show for you.

S: Okay, can I just get a few minutes off the top to talk about today’s discovery?

B: I was literally just saying the floor is yours, Sammy.

S: Okay, alright, so you know sometimes I'm a little bit, uh, skeptical, when it comes to-

B: Literally everything, you are skeptical of every phenomenon that has crossed our paths.

S: I wouldn’t say every.

B: Oh, I would. Do you wanna recap? There was the alien abduction, the-

S: *laughing* No, no, no, I think you know your stuff, so, you should know that I'm very excited to bring my own bit of King Falls lore to the table tonight.

B: Before you press on, are you sure this is a good idea?

S: What do you mean?

B: I'm not trying to be, argumentative here, but the last time you brought in a find of your own like this, you brought Howard Ford Beauregard the Third into our lives.

S: That was a mistake, and we have talked about that.

B: I know, I'm just saying. Be super sure about this one, huh?

S: This is nothing like HFB3.

B: Then please continue, my friend.

S: So, I was out doing a little bit of shopping earlier today at the King Falls mall-

B: Was it crazy crowded? I still have to pick up something special for. My mom.

S: It was crowded, not Black Friday crowded, but nicely, darkly, opaque Tuesday, if you will.

B: Okay, cool.

S: We all know that gift is not for your mom, by the way.

B: Whatever.

S: So. I'm at the mall, I make my purchases, but I'm all worked up, I got an appetite, and I'm not gonna wait in line at the eatery with the Christmas people, you know? So I'm thinking, why not go the three minutes away to Frickard’s?

B: Traitor. But, I get it.

S: So I make the drive over to my favorite froggery, a number 5 fricassee with extra frog puppies-

B: You actually eat the frogs there, man? I heard they poach them directly from lake Hatchineha.

S: Don’t say that, they are a fine sponsor of the show.

B: Facts are facts.

S: Okay, so I get there and pulling up, right beside me, is this beautiful candy apple red corvette. It was a beauty, let me tell you, early 1960s, but the closer I look, the weirder it gets. It’s got bells, like sleigh bells, all over this thing-

B: Lets, uh, move on, Sammy.

S: So I look over at the driver, this bigger older gent steps out of the car, red suit, red tie, massive white beard.

B: Sammy, I think we should-

S: Tiny little glasses, rosy red cheeks, and the friendliest damn face I've ever seen. He introduced himself as Chris.

B: So you run into a mall Santa running late for work?

S: Oh, this was no mall Santa, Ben, this was the Santa. We made chit chat, and there was only one available table, so with it just being myself and him we took it-

B: You had lunch with a mall Santa.

S: Ben! He knew my name, without me saying it!

B: You’re a radio sensation, Sammy, lots of people know your name.

S: Do they know my childhood address? What I got for Christmas when I was six? I don’t think so.

B: Oh, jeez, you’ve got a Santa stalker, buddy. Either that, or Creepy Carl got released on bail. Moving forward-

S: He knew all this stuff, Ben. My wants, my likes, good things and bad things. Y'know I'm pretty protective of my personal life, Ben.

B: Yeah, I do, Shotgun.

S: This was Santa Claus, real as day, right here in King Falls. Not only that, but he told me that he actually vacations here part of the year! Think about that, the big guy hanging out here! Dude, why are you looking at me like this?

B: Do you know how many older gentleman in the world dress up as Santa Claus, Sammy? A lot. It’s a job for some folks. Some of them go to hospitals. It’s a big deal for some folks. This was one of those guys, just pulling your chain, Sammy. Santa living here part time is, *scoffs*, I doubt very, very seriously that this guy you met-

S: It was him. I don’t understand why you’re so hell bent on dismissing this. If a caller called in with this story, you’d be on a mission.

B: I'm not hell bent on dismissing you, I'm just looking at this from all angles, how about that?

S: Are you saying King Falls isn’t good enough for a Santa vacation home? A second house?

B: Not at all. That’s ludicrous….did he tell you I said that?

S: Ah ha! So you know I'm right.

B: No, Santa, I mean, mall dude Santas are tricky, I don’t trust them. Look at this wedge he’s driving, man.

S: You know something about this.

B: You want me to tell you what I know?

S: I do!

B: Here’s the scoop. I know you met some guy. I know he’s not Santa, because Santa would not go to Greg Frickard’s place to eat. I know-

S: You’re full of it.

B: You wanna put this to the callers? We can poll this thing out.

S: I think I do, Ben, this guy knew what I got for Christmas years ago. He knew about Wolfington the terrier, which I got for Christmas, as a kid, he knew it all.

B: Okay, King Falls, do you think Sammy met the real Santa Claus earlier today? Think about this, and give us a call. 424-279-3858.

S: You are on, buddy. I'm not gonna be the only person here-

B: Operation King Falls Kringle!

*banjo music*

Randy: Howdy y’all, it’s Randy Mcmullet from Mcmullet’s international palace of snake skin boots. And I'm here to let you know we’ve got some rattlin’ news for you. After this sensational success of black mamba Friday, it’s time to roll out our next deal of the year. This weekend it’s our annual secret Santa albino snake skin special. We’ll have all our whitesnake choices at our unbeatable dark snake prices. So slither on down, just outside of town, at the corner of route 72 and Old Bombing Range Road. Mcmullet’s International Palace of Snake Skin Boots. Where we fill your boots, with savings.

[King Falls AM music]

S: What the hell was that about?

B: It’s about saving money on boots, man.

S: No, whatever you yelled, right before the commercial.

B: I don’t know what you’re talking about, I sneezed.

S: I'm watching you.

B: Watch away, Sammy. Pick a line they’re all lit up! Like Christmas!

S: You’re way too smug, I don’t like this. Lucky. Line. One.

B: An excellent choice.

S: Good evening, you’re on with Sammy and Ben.

Cynthia: First off, Sammy, obviously you’re off your rocker. Santa lives in the north pole!

S: Hi Cynthia.

C: Secondly, are you for real shopping at the King Falls mall? Do you have a death wish?

B: What are you on about, Mrs. Higgenbaum?

S: It honestly wasn’t that busy.

C: I'm not talking about crowds! I'm talking about the gang of vampires that live in the mall. Just waiting for the perfect time to strike.

B: What?

C: Of course you wouldn’t know, Ben.

B: I'm pretty up to date on my-

C: Obviously you are not, or you’d know about the gang of vampires that live in the mall.

S: Cynthia, thanks for calling tonight, even if you are dead wrong about Santa. Now, would you like to expand about this, uh, the-

C: Gang of vampires.

S: Right.

B: How do you know they’re vampires, Cynthia?

C: Pale much? Check. Dark clothes? Check. Never ever out in the light of day? Check!

Ben and Sammy overlapping: Talking about hot topic, aren’t you?

C: They just glare at you, soulessly, when you walk in! Eyeing you up and down, probably looking for a good vein.

S: Or a neck tattoo.

C: This is not to be made light of, Sammy, you’ll see.

B: They’re just goth kids, Mrs. Higgenbaum.

C: Oh please! Like you know! Let the record state that when King Falls is overran in a lost boys type fashion by these emo vampires, that I tried to warn you. And you just laughed!

S: What do you recommend, Cynthia, should we stock up on garlic and stakes?

B: I think just knowing our parents loved us enough should do the trick.

C: Laugh it up, you dumbs. You know I hate telling I told you so, but I will tell your ass I told you so so fast! Merry Christmas!

*hang up noise*

B: So, we’ll count that as a no. Oh and one, Sammy.

S: Line five, welcome to King Falls AM.

Finn: Hey Sammy, hey Ben!

S: Hey Finn, long time no talk buddy! You doing alright?

F: Oh yeah, never better. Just had to get a couple of shots, y’know?

B: That’s good to hear, Finn. What’s your take on this?

F: Oh, I was actually just phoning ‘cause I wanted to tell you fellas Merry Christmas before it was too late.

B: Merry Christmas to you too, Finn. Stay safe out there on the roads.

F: You know it.

S: Thanks for calling in, Finn, and y’know we’re glad that you’re feeling better. We were pretty worried about you.

F: Aww, you fellas! Howl at the moon one little time and you guys get all worried.

S: It was more than once, Finn.

F: You know what I'm saying. It’s not like I'm going to sleep and waking up naked in a field somewhere with chicken feathers and god knows what all over me...on the regular.

S: That...is...uh. Good to hear, Finn.

F: Just every now and then, y’know?

B: Okay. You, you take care of yourself. Happy holidays.

F: You know it!

*hang up noise*

B: That was another-

S: Don’t count that. Finn didn’t comment on it either way.

B: I’ll mark it as “Switzerland”. Another call?

S: You bet your ass another call. You pick a line.

B: Uhhh, line three, good evening and welcome to-

Hershel Baumgardner: You goofy sons of b**** hung up on me last time I called! When I get my dick beaters on you, there’ll be hell to pay!

B: Uh, we must have been having phone difficulties, Hershel, we would never...did you call during the electrolocaust?

HB: I called two damn weeks ago Ben Arnold, don’t you electric holocaust me. You gotta wake up pretty damn early in the morning to scoot one past Hershel F. Baumgardner.

S: Hershel, we are so sorry the phones were malfunctioning last time you called. Are you on tonight to talk about Santa's appearance and possible living in King Falls?

HB: Santa who? Santa Livingston? I haven’t heard from that son of a b*** since the beaches of Normandy.

S: Santa Claus, Hershel.

Hb: No! I ain't here to talk about no Santy Claus. You two need to grow the f**** up.

B: What’s on your mind, Hershel?

HB: Don’t rush me, you two toned pecker sniff. I’ll get to it when I get to it.

S: Hershel, do you think-

HB: Motherf****. I had it before you opened your damn trap. I’ll ring you later when I can think of it, and you better not hang up on me again.

S: You do that, Hershel, if we don’t hear back from you before then, have a Merry Christmas.

HB: You two going somewheres?

B: It’s our Christmas break, but we’ll be back live on New Year’s Day.

HB: You know what my generation called breaks?

S: They weren’t just breaks?

HB: We called it being f***ing dead, ‘cause that’s the only break you get in life, you free loadin’ radio commies. Enjoy your break, and vacay or whatever you pansy bastards call it.

B: Happy holidays to you too, Hershel.

HB: I didn’t kill Hitler to say happy f***ing holidays…*trails off, mumbling*

*hang up noise*

S: Ladies and gentleman, Ben and I are talking about the appearance of Santa here in King Falls earlier today. I was told from the jolly one himself that he enjoys staying in the Falls quite a bit when he isn’t in the busy season. Ben says otherwise.

B: Have you or anyone you know ran into this phoney Santa saying he’s squating here? If you have, give us as call *cough*OperationKingFallsKringle*cough*

S: I knew you were up to something!

B: Please, you’re paranoid because you’re losing. Line two, this is King Falls AM.

Troy: Hey fellas, Merry Christmas! Or Happy Hanukkah, if that’s the way your dreidel spins, or have a good Kwanzaa, etc and so on.

S: Merry Christmas, Troy.

B: Are you not supposed to call us on duty?

T: I'm on break, Ben, dammit all. Don’t start. I'm calling to tell you something important.

B: This again? You’re a broken record. Bye, Troy.

S: Don’t. Let him speak.

B: *scoffs* Whatever.

T: Thanks, Sammy. And right off the bat, I wanna tell you I believe you saw what you say you saw.

B: Troy! Come on! You know the drill!

T: I'm not saying he was or he wasn’t. I'm just saying if you saw him, I believe you. Maybe a man just wants to lay low, far away from the spotlight. I mean, King Falls is a heck of a town to retire to.

S: Mark that down, Ben.

B: He’s only saying it just to spite me.

T: That ain’t close to true, and you know it Ben Arnold. Now if you’ll permit me, I've got a gift for you.

B: If this is your friendship, I hope you kept the receipt.

T: It’s actually not that. Though it’s ripe for the picking whenever you want it, Ben.

B: Don’t hold your breath.

S: Come on. Do you wanna bring it by the station Troy?

B: Don’t.

T: Well, the problem is that I bought it online and I'm, I'm having it shipped here, and well...seems it's going to be a little late.

B: Of course it is. You can’t even get a Christmas present right, try. Just give it up.

T: We were best buds growing up. I ain't giving up on that. Or you. I mean, you’ll see. You and me we’ll be back where we started just as sure you can say pickled pied piper.

B: Next caller.

T: That’ll work too. Well, I’ll quit yacking and make like a shepherd and get the flock out of here.

S: Take care, Troy. Merry Christmas to you and yours, buddy.

B: Bye already.

T: Catch you later, future buddy.

*hang up noise*

B: We have time for one or two more before break, you wanna keep going or give it up?

S: By my count, we’re tied.

B: Glutton for punishment. Call it.

S: I'm gonna go back to lucky line one. Happy holidays, you’re on King Falls AM.

??: Hey man, I wanna talk about this Kris Kringle business.

S: We’re all ears, sir. Have you seen him around town, or am I just being fooled by a facetious Saint Nick?

??: The way I see it, uh-

B: Hey, who are we speaking with?

??: That don’t matter none.

B: Right. Uh, what were you saying, sir?

??: I just think that a man wants to lie low in a place where he’s not gonna get bothered, or pestered, or recognized, then good for him. Maybe life got too stressful, or he didn’t wanna buy a caddy for everyone he met. Hell, maybe he followed the love of his life to this small podunk crazy haunted town. Maybe it’s because he found out that Rose makes the best peanut butter banana sandwich you ever laid eyes on.

S: Are we still talking about Santa Claus, sir?

??: Of course.

S: Okay. It just seemed like maybe we were talking about somebody else for a second. Like yourself.

??: Don’t be cruel, Sammy. I'm just a teddy bear. A teddy bear with nothing to hide. I say if old Saint Nick wants to hang out in this spooky place then so be it. We can’t have *singing* suspicious minds *back to normal voice* about it. Just let it be.

B: Sir, I, I don’t wanna make this about you, but you sound a lot like the king of rock, and, I-

??: Yeah, little less conversation, Ben.

*hang up noise*

S: I'm just gonna say that I think that guy knows what he’s talking about, Ben.

B: Still doesn’t mean anything.

S: Why are you fighting me so hard on this, Ben?

B: Okay, I'm not saying you’re right-

S: But I'm right.

B: But, but! If somebody as important as Santa Claus were to have a vacation home or hide away spot in King Falls, and he doesn’t!

S: And he does.

B: But...maybe it’s for a reason. Like a specific reason. Like, maybe he doesn’t wanna be bothered with a bag of mail every day. An email address overflowing with wants and needs. Non-union worker issues. Maybe the wife wants a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the great white north a few times a year without TMZ knocking on the door. If that were the case, and I, I don’t think it would be fair to call attention to it.

S: If that were the case.

B: Right. If that were the case. Now, I do not think that’s the case at all, I mean this is a case of mistaken identity. Or maybe you were tricked by a chubby, merrier than thou prankster who is just too friendly to not keep the appearances. But. I don’t think you really saw the real deal here. And he certainly wouldn’t live in King Falls for a few weeks every year if you did see him.

S: Huh. Maybe...maybe I was mistaken?

B: It could have been anybody.

S: I think you’re onto something, Ben. I think I was, uh. Huh. I think was misled.

B: Maybe so.

S: Oh, well. Okay then.

B: We good?

S: Yeah, I think we’re good. Uh. So I hear we got a hell of a show lined up for tonight, is that right?

B: Ha! Better believe it, buddy. Right after the break,- *ho, ho, ho!*

S: Sorry about that folks, somebody must owe Chet some money. Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for hanging out with us on this chilly winter’s night. We’re just getting started here, but we’re gonna take a quick break to pay some bills. If we don’t hear from you before then, Merry Christmas to you and yours from King Falls AM.

??: Merry Christmas!

8 notes · View notes

kingfallstranscripts-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Episode 16 : Santa Claus Ain’t Comin’ To Town

(King Falls AM theme plays)

Ben: You are off the charts excited, Sammy. Are you sure this isn’t about Christmas vacation?

Sammy: Not at all. I’ve just finally got something big to bring to the table, spooky stuff wise, and I cannot wait.

Ben: *laughs* You are glowing, man. I can’t wait to hear this.

Sammy: Good evening ladies and gents, and Welcome to King Falls AM - that’s 660 on the AM dial, and this is our last show of the year. The last show before our big Christmas break, as Ben mentioned.

Ben: Let’s not say big, it’s just a break. We’ll be right back here literally on New Years Day. Thanks, Merv. But we’ve got a hell of a show for you.

Sammy: Okay, can I just get a few minutes off the top to talk about today’s discovery?

Ben: I was literally just saying, the floor is yours, Sammy.

Sammy: Okay, alright. So, you know sometimes I’m a little bit, uh, skeptical when it comes to -

Ben: Literally everything. You are skeptical of every phenomenon that has crossed our paths.

Sammy: I wouldn’t say every.

Ben: Oh, I would. Do you want a recap? There was the alien abduction, the -

Sammy: *laughs* No - no, no, no. I think you know your stuff. So, you should know that I’m very excited to bring my own bit of King Falls lore to the table tonight.

Ben: Before you press on, are you sure this is a good idea?

Sammy: What do you mean?

Ben: I’m not trying to be argumentative here, but the last time that you brought in a find of our own last time like this, you brought Howard Ford Beauregard III into our lives.

Sammy: *sharply* Okay, that was a mistake and we have talked about that.

Ben: I know! I’m just saying...be super sure about this one, huh.

Sammy: This is nothing like HFB 3.

Ben: Then please continue my friend.

Sammy: So, I was out doing a little bit of shopping earlier today at The King Falls Mall and -

Ben: Was it crazy crowded? I still have to pick up something special for...my mom.

Sammy: It was crowded. Not Black Friday crowded, but nicely darkly opaque Tuesday, if you will.

Ben: Okay, cool.

Sammy: We all know that gift is not for your mom, by the way.

Ben: Whatever.

Sammy: So, I’m at the mall, I make my purchases, but I’m all worked up and got an appetite and I’m not gonna wait in line at a mall eatery with Christmas people, ya know? So, I’m thinking, why not just go the 3 minutes away to Frickards?

Ben: ... Traitor. But I get it.

Sammy: So, I make the drive over to my favorite Frogery. A #5 Frick-a-Seed with extra frog puppies...

Ben: You actually eat the frogs there, man? I heard they poach them there directly from Lake Hatchineha.

Sammy: Don’t say that! They are a fine sponsor of the show.

Ben: Facts are facts.

Sammy: Okay, so I get there and pulling up right beside me is this beautiful candy apple red Corvette. It was a beauty, let me tell ya. Early 1960′s, but the closer I look, the weirder it gets. It’s got bells, like sleigh bells, all over this thing -

Ben: Let’s, uh, move on Sammy.

Sammy: So I look over at the driver, this bigger older gent steps out of the car...red suit, red tie, massive white beard -

Ben: Sammy, I think we should, uh -

Sammy: Tiny little glasses, rosy red cheeks, and the friendliest damn face I’ve ever seen. He introduced himself as Chris!

Ben: So you run into a mall Santa running late for work?

Sammy: Oh, this was no mall Santa, Ben. This was thee Santa. We made chit-chat and there was only one available table, so with it just being myself and him, we -

Ben: You had lunch with a mall Santa.

Sammy: Bennnnn, he knew my name without me saying it!

Ben: You’re a radio sensation, Sammy. Lots of people know your name.

Sammy: Do they know my childhood address? What I got for Christmas when i was 6? I don’t think so!

Ben: *laughs* Oh jeez, you got a Santa stalker, buddy. Either that or Creepy Carl got released on bail. Moving forward -

Sammy: He knew all this stuff, Ben! My wants, my likes...good things and bad things. You know, I’m pretty protective of my personal life, Ben.

Ben: Yeah, I do, Shotgun.

Sammy: This was Santa Claus, real as day, right here in King Falls! Not only that, but he told me that he actually vacations here part of the year! Think about that! The big guy hanging out here! *scoffs* Dude, why are you looking at me like this?

Ben: Do you know how many older gentleman in the world dress up as Santa Claus, Sammy? A lot. It’s a job for some folks. Some of them go to hospitals. It’s a big deal for some folks. This was one of those guys. Just pulling your chain, Sammy. Santa living here part time is *sputters* I doubt very, very seriously that this guy you met -

-Sammy: It was him. I don’t understand why you’re so hell bent on dismissing this! If a caller called in with this story, you’d be on a mission!

Ben: I’m not hell bent on dismissing you. I’m just...looking at this from all angles. How bout that?

Sammy: Are you saying King Falls isn’t good enough for a Santa vacation home? A second house?

Ben: I’m not saying that at all! That’s ludicrous...d-did he tell you I said that?!

Sammy: A-ha! So you know I’m right.

Ben: No! Santa- I mean, mall dude Santas are tricky. I - I don’t trust them! Look at this wedge he’s driving, man!

Sammy: You know something about this...

Ben: *sputters* You want me to tell you what I know?

Sammy: I do!

Ben: Here’s the scoop: I know you meant some...guy. I know he’s not Santa because Santa would not go to Greg Frickard’s place to eat. I know -

Sammy: You’re full of it.

Ben: You wanna put this to the callers? We can poll this thing out.

Sammy: I think I do, Ben! This guy knew what I go for Christmas years ago. HE knew about Wolfington the terrier, which I got for Christmas as a kid. He knew it all!

Ben: Ha, okay, King Falls: Do you think Sammy meant the real Santa Claus earlier today? Think about this and give us a call: 424-279-3858

Sammy: Heh-heh, you are on, buddy. I’m not gonna be the only person here -

Ben: *quickly* OPERATION KING FALLS KRINGLE

(Cuts to commercial: Banjo Music Playing)

“Howdy y’all! It’s Randy McMullet from McMulletson’s National Palace of Snake Skin Boots, and I’m here to let ya know we got some rattlin’ new for ya. After the sensational success of Black Mamba Friday, it’s time to roll out our next deal of the year. This weekend it’s our annual Secret Santa Albino Snakeskin Special. We’ll have all our white snake choices at our unbeatable dark snake prices. So slither on down just outside of town at the corner of Route 72 and Ol Bauman Range Road. McMullet’s International House of Snake Skin Boots! Where we fill yourboots, with savin’s!"

(Welcome to 660 plays)

Sammy: What the hell was that about?

Ben: It was about saving money on boots, man.

Sammy: No, whatever you yelled right before the commercial.

Ben: *laughs* I don’t know what you’re talking about. I sneezed.

Sammy: ... I’m watching you.

Ben: Watch away, Sammy. Pick a line, they’re all lit up. Like Christmas.

Sammy: You’re way too smug, I don’t like this. Lucky Line 1...

Ben: An excellent choice.

Sammy: Good evening, you’re on with Sammy and Ben.

Cynthia: First off, Sammy, obviously you’re off your rocker. Santa lives in the North Pole!

Sammy: *sighs* Hi, Cynthia.

Cynthia: Secondly, are you for real shopping at the King Falls Mall? Do you have a death wish?!

Ben: What are you on about, Mrs. Higenbaum?

Sammy: It honestly wasn’t that busy...

Cynthia: I’m not talking about crowds! I’m talking about the gang of vampires that live in the mall... just waiting for the perfect time to strike!

Ben: What?!

Cynthia: Of course you wouldn’t know, Ben.

Ben: I’m pretty up to date on my -

Cynthia: Obviously you are not...or you’d know about the gang of vampires that live in the mall!

Sammy: Cynthia, thanks for calling tonight. Even if you are dead wrong about Santa. Now, would you like to expand about this, uh, vam-

Cynthia. Gang of vampires.

Sammy: Right...

Ben: How do you know that they’re vampires, Cynthia?

Cynthia: Pale much? Check. Dark clothes? Check. Never ever out in the light of day? CHECK!

Ben & Sammy: She’s talking about Hot Topic...

Sammy: Aren’t you?

Cynthia: They just glare at you soullessly when you walk in. Eyeing you up and down, probably looking for a good vein.

Sammy: Or a neck tattoo.

Cynthia: This is not to be made light of, Sammy! You’ll see!

Ben: They’re just goth kids, Mrs. Higenbaum.

Cynthia: Oh, please. Like you know! Let the record state that when King Falls is overrun in a Lost Boys type fashion with these emo vampires that I tried to warn you! And you just laughed!

Sammy: What do you recommend, Cynthia? Should we stock up on garlic and stakes?

Ben: I think just knowing our parents loved us enough should do the trick.

Cynthia: Laugh it up, you dumbs. You know I hate telling people “I told you so” but I will tell your ass “I told you so” SO FAST! *politely* Merry Christmas! *hangs up*

Ben: So... we’ll count that as a no. 0 and 1, Sammy.

Sammy: Line 5, welcome to King Falls AM.

Finn: *faint sounds of the highway* Hey, Sammy! Hey, Ben!

Sammy: Hey, Finn! Long time no talk, buddy! You doin’ alright?

Finn: Oh yeah! Never better! Just had to get a couple shots, ya know?

Ben: That’s good to hear, Finn. Uh, what’s your take on this?

Finn: Oh, I was actually just phonin’ cause I wanted to tell you fellas Merry Christmas before it was too late.

Ben: Merry Christmas to you too, Finn! Stay safe out there on the roads.

Finn: You know it!

Sammy: Well, thanks for calling in, Finn. We’re glad that you’re feeling better. We were pretty worried about you.

Finn: Ohhhh, you fellas. Howl at the moon one little time and you get alllll worried.

Sammy: It was more than once, Finn.

Finn: You know what I’m sayin’! It’s not like I’m going to sleep and wakin’ up naked in a field somewhere covered in chicken feathers and god knows what all over me... on the regular. *sounds of scratching *

Sammy: That... is, um, good to hear, Finn.

Finn: Just once every now and then, ya know?

Ben: *laughs nervously* Okay, y-you take care of yourself. Happy Holidays.

Finn: You know it! *hangs up*

Ben: That was another-

Sammy: Don’t count that! Finn didn’t comment on it either way!

Ben: I’ll mark it as Switzerland. Another call?

Sammy: You bet your ass another call. Y-you pick a line!

Ben: Uh, line 3! Good evening and Wel-

Herschel: *low sounds of a boat motor and crickets* You two goofy sons of (censored) hung up on me last time I called! When I get my dick-beaters on ya, it’ll be hell to pay!

Ben: Uh, we...must’ve been having...phone difficulties, Herschel. We would never. Did you call during the Electrolocaust?

Herschel: I called two damn week ago, Ben Arnold! Don’t you “Electrolocaust” me. Gotta wake up pretty damn early in the morning to scoot one past Herschel F. Baumgartner.

Sammy: Herschel, we are so sorry the phones were malfunctioning last time you called. Are you on tonight to talk about Santa’s appearance and possible living in King Falls?

Herschel: Santa who? Santa Livingston? Haven’t heard from that son of a (censored) since the Beaches of Normandy...

Sammy: Santa Claus, Herschel...

Herschel: No, I ain’t here to talk about no Sante Claus. You two need to grow the (censored) up.

Ben: What’s on your mind, Herschel?

Herschel: Don’t rush me! You two-toned pecker sniff! I’ll get to it when I get to it.

Sammy: Herschel, do you think -

Herschel: Mother (censored)! I had it before you opened your damn trap! I’ll ring you later when I can think of it, and you better not hang up on me again!

Sammy: You do that, Herschel... if we don’t hear back from you before then, have a Merry Christmas.

Herschel: You two goin’ somewhere?

Ben: It’s our Christmas Break! But we’ll be back live on New Years Day.

Herschel: You know what my generation called “breaks”?

Sammy: *under his breath* They weren’t just breaks?

Herschel: They called it being (censored) dead because that’s the only break you get in life. You freeloading radio commies! Enjoy your break or vaycay or whatever you pansy bastards call it.

Ben: Happy Holidays to you too, Herschel!

Herschel: I didn’t kill Hitler to say Happy (censored) Holidays... :*mutters under breath* *hangs up*

Sammy: Ladies and gentlemen, Ben and I are talking about the appearance of Santa here in King Falls earlier today. I was told from the jolly one himself that he enjoys staying in The Falls when he isn’t in the busy season. Ben says otherwise...

Ben: Have you or anyone you know ran into this phony Santa saying he’s squatting here? If you have, give us a call *coughing* Operation King Falls Kringle.

Sammy: I knew you were up to something!

Ben: Please. You’re paranoid because you’re losing. Line 2, this is King Falls AM.

Troy: Hey, fellas, Merry Christmas! Or Happy Hanukkah if that’s the way your dreidel spins. Or h-have a good Kwanzaa, etc and so on.

Sammy: Merry Christmas, Troy.

Ben: Are you not supposed to be calling us on duty?

Troy: I’m on break, Ben! Damn it all! Don’t start! I’m calling to tell you something important.

Ben: This again? You’re a broken record. BYE, TROY.

Sammy: Don’t... let him speak.

Ben: Tsk. Whatever.

Troy: Thanks, Sammy...and right off the bat I wanna tell you I believe you saw what you say you saw.

Ben: Troy! Come on! You know the drill!

Troy: I’m not saying he was or he wasn’t. I’m just saying, if you saw him... I believe ya. Maybe a man just wants to lay low, far away from the spotlight. I mean, King Falls is a heck of a town to retire to.

Sammy: Mark that down, Ben.

Ben: He’s only saying it just to spite me.

Troy: That ain’t close to true and you know it, Ben Arnold. w, if you’ll permit me... I’ve got a gift for ya.

Ben: If this is your friendship, I hope you kept the receipt.

Troy: It’s actually not that. Though, it’s ripe for the picking whenever you want it, Ben.

Ben: Ha, don’t hold your breath...

Sammy: *sighs* Come on. Do you wanna bring it by the station, Troy?

Ben: DON’T!

Troy: Well the problem is I bought it online and I’m having it shipped here and well...seems it’s gonna be a little late.

Ben: *laughs condescendingly* Of course it is. Can’t even get a Christmas present right, Troy. Just give it up!

Troy: We were best buds growing up and... I ain’t givin up on that. Or you. I mean, you’ll see. You and me, we’ll be back where we started just as sure as you can say “pickled pie piper”

Ben: NEXT CALLER.

Troy: That’ll work, too! Well, I’ll quit yackin and make like a shepherd and get the flock outta here.

Sammy: Take care, Troy. Merry Christmas to you and yours, buddy.

Ben: Bye, already!

Troy: Catch ya later, future buddy.

Ben: We have time for one or two more before break. Ya wanna keep going or give it up?

Sammy: By my count, we are tied.

Ben: Glutton for punishment...you call it.

Sammy: I’m gonna go back to Lucky Line 1. Happy Holidays! You’re on King Falls AM.

Caller: *Heavily Elvis Presley sounding* Hey, man, uh - I wanna talk about this Chris Kringle business.

Sammy: We’re all ears, sir. Have you seen him around town or am I just being fooled by a factitious St.Nick?

Caller/Probably Elvis: The way I see it, uh -

Ben: Uh, who are we speaking with?

Caller/Elvis: That don’t matter none.

Ben: Right. Uh, w-what were you saying, sir?

Caller/Elvis: I just think that a man wants to lie low in a place where he’s not gonna get bothered or pestered or recognized than good for him. Maybe life got too stressful or he didn’t wanna buy a Cadi for everyone that he met.... Hell, maybe he followed the love of his life to a small Podunk crazy haunted town. Maybe it’s cause he found out Rose makes the greatest peanut butter banana sammich you ever laid eyes on.

Sammy: Are... we still talking about Santa Claus, sir?

Caller/Elvis: Of course!

Sammy: Okay, it just seemed like maybe we were talking about someone else for a second. Like yourself...

Caller/Elvis: ♪Don’t be cruel♪ Sammy. I’m just a teddy bear. A teddy bear with nothin to hide. I say if Ol’ St. Nick wants to hang out in this spooky place then so be it. We can’t have ♪suspicious minds!♪ about it. Just let it be.

Ben: Sir, I-I don’t wanna make this about you, but you sound a lot like the King of Rock and I -

Caller/Elvis: Yeah! ♪Little less conversation♪ Ben! *hangs up*

Sammy: I’m just gonna say... I think that guy knows that he’s talking about, Ben.

Ben: Still doesn’t mean anything!

Sammy: Why are you fighting me so hard one this, Ben?!

Ben: Okay... I’m not saying you’re right...

Sammy: But I’m right...

Ben: But! But! If somebody as important as Santa Claus was to have a vacation home or hide away spot in King Falls - and he doesn’t!

Sammy: And he does...

Ben: But...maybe it’s for a reason. Like a specific reason. Like maybe he doesn’t wanna be bothered with a bag of mail everyday. An email address overflowing with wants and needs. Non-union worker issues. Maybe the wife wants a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the great white north a few times a year without TMZ knocking on the door. If that were the case, and I-I don’t think it would be fair to call attention to that.

Sammy: If that were the case...

Ben: Right! If that were the case. Now, I do not think that’s the case at all. I think this is the case of... mistaken identity. Or maybe you were tricked by a chubby merrier than thou prankster who was too friendly to not keep up appearances. But I don’t think you really saw the real deal here...and he certainly wouldn’t live in King Falls for a few weeks every year if you did see him.

Sammy: Huh. Maybe...Maybe I was mistaken...

Ben: It...it could’ve been anybody.

Sammy: I think you’re on to somethin, Ben. I think I was, uh... huh. I think I was mislead.

(Holiday music starts playing)

Ben: *laughs* Maybe so!

Sammy: Hmm, well... Okay, then.

Ben: We good?

Sammy: Yeah, I think we’re good! So I hear we got a hell of a show lined up for tonight, is that right?

Ben: Oh! You better believe it, buddy! Right after the break!

(Sleigh-bells and Santa in background) Ho-ho-ho!

Sammy: Sorry about that, folks! Somebody must owe Chet some money. Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for hanging out with us this chilly winter’s night. We’re just getting started here, but we’re gonna take a quick break to pay some bills. If we don’t hear from you before then, Merry Christmas to you and yours from King Falls AM.

(Sleigh-bells and Santa in background) Merry Christmas!

#king falls #king falls am #kfam #podcast transcript #transcript #16 #Santa Claus Ain't Comin To Town #podcast

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snkpolls · 4 years ago

Text

SnK 131 Chapter Poll Results

The chapter poll closed with 2,192 responses. This month’s poll results were brought to you by @momtaku, /u/staraves, Crunchwrap, u/_Puppet_, Luna. Thanks as always for your support.

RATE THE CHAPTER 2,118 responses

This was a standout chapter for the fandom, garnering a positive rating from over 90% of respondents and an average score of 4.68 which makes it the highest rated chapter since 122 - and in the top 5 in the history of the poll! Many of you were eager to express your enjoyment of it, with this question getting the most responses it has since chapter 102 (over two years ago!). As we go deeper into the endgame, it’s good to know enthusiasm is going strong.

Yams is a damn genius. This is one chapter I have not been able to stop thinking about or rereading. It's just... its so fucked up and SO. WELL. DONE.

I really, really loved this chapter. My favourite so far probably.

This is the first time I cried after a chapter. It hit me so hard.

Almost made me quit the manga. We finally got a confession from Armin, but right in the middle of all that grief, I couldn't enjoy it. Poor Ramzi and Halill, and all other innocent people beyond and within the Walls.

This chapter has had a ripple effect on how I’m seeing the series now in retrospect. I’ve been re-reading the manga , & I’ve become very melancholic after the Rumbling , knowing everything was leading to this.

This was a phenomenal chapter. Thank you Isayama for everything.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WAS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT?

2,137 responses

Finding a favorite moment in a tragic chapter isn’t easy but we managed. “Child Eren’s moment of happiness” tops the list with an impressive 30% of respondents. “Seeing the reality of the rumbling” (18.8%), “Eren’s tearful apology to Ramzi” (15.9%) and “Getting Eren’s thoughts on the Rumbling while in Marley” (13.8%) round out the top four.

Very cool to finally see the destruction caused by the rumbling and some more insight into Eren's character

I like that this chapter showed perspectives from both the initiator of the rumbling (Eren) and the victims of his choice. It makes you sympathize with Eren, but at the same time, terrifies you with the price humanity has to pay.

Definitely one of the most depressing, if not the most depressing chapter thus far. Isayama brilliantly handled the transition between Eren's despair and the result of Eren's despair (Rumbling). Beautiful artwork. Great cliffhanger. Definitely a 9/10.

Tragic, Terrifying, Heartbreaking also Awesome because atleast AruAni became somewhat cannon

beautiful art as usual

The freedom scene with kid eren is the most beautiful/horrifying scene of the manga.

I also loved the Annie and Armin talk, anyone who says it's shipping cringe is a child, this was a long time coming and it was executed beautifully. (I also love how Hitch was mentioned twice, she would be proud of Armin this chapter.)

Ramzi and Halil deaths were the saddest part of this chapter, and I don't know about Ymir, but I guess she's helping Eren.

The panel showing the wall titans faces, especially the one shown on the right with empty eye sockets, gave me the chills. Can't wait to see how things will go down between the gang and Eren.

WHO WAS THIS CHAPTER’S MVP? 2,144 responses

This month giving us the most harrowing chapter in a while made it feel wrong to be looking for an MVP amidst all this despair, and almost half of you agree (47.5%). Just over a quarter of you believe the Eren focus earned him the spot (28.9%), with 9.4% choosing Armin and 9.1% selecting best bros Ramzi and Halil. A distant minority of you chose Annie and Birb, the former of which coming dead last. Poor Annie, you’ll be more popular than a bird one day.

the true mvp was the depression we got along the way

Eren needs a hug

Eren needs to be put down.

I really admire the way Isayama deeply makes you care for a character in a few panels, like he did for those two - relatively unknown - boys.

Annie is the best girl

birbs are the rreak mvp since chap 1

EIGHT MONTHS AFTER FIRST APPEARING IN THE MEMORY SHARDS, WE GET FEZ-KUN’S STORY. DID IT LIVE UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS? 2,121 responses

Only a month ago, the fandom had no idea what to make of the mysterious Fez-Kun. The plucky pickpocket had a simple but effective story, and knew more secrets than he could possibly have understood. A perfect half of respondents were pleasantly surprised with Fez kid’s part in the story. 41.2% were content as it was about what they expected. 6.2% wanted to see a more in-depth picture but alas, that chance has been crushed mercilessly along with Ramzi’s hopes and dreams (and… the rest of him). 2.5% just weren’t into anything that let Eren lean into some morally black territory. Don’t worry, there are still plenty of grey shades here. Very dark shades of grey.

I didn't expect Ramzy's story to be expanded on, but it's so brutal to see the man he's been talking to killing him, his brother, his family and his hopes.

I know Ramzi and Halil were plot devices, but damn their death hit hard.

I think Eren saving Ramzi is foreshadowing. He knew Ramzi was gonna die in rumbling, yet he saved him. Same will happen, after someone reaching him and reminding him who he is, Eren will stop this madness and die. Or I wanna be hopeful.

even if i'm satisfied with Ramzi's story, I wish there would have been more to it because it is a tiny bit dissapointing but it's more or less what I expected.

Ramzi and Halil didn’t deserve death

i think everybody who dies in this rumbling will get back alive same will happen to halil and ramzi they will come back alive

Ramzi and Halil's deaths were so horrible but so good to see, because this is what it means when you destroy the world. You don't get to pluck out the nice ones and enjoy killing the bad ones. It's the height of cruel selfishness. And no amount of apologies changes that.

Ramzi and Halil deserved so much better

WHY WAS EREN DISAPPOINTED THAT HUMANITY EXISTED OUTSIDE THE WALLS? 2,117 responses

There’s been disagreement over exactly what Eren meant when he said he was disappointed that humanity existed outside the walls and our poll reflects that. Just over a third of the fandom (34.2%) take Eren’s words literally and believe that his disappointment was with any existence of humanity since it marred his pristine childhood vision. The second most popular option is that he was disappointed in the attitudes, selecting “he was disappointed to discover all of humanity was filled with violence and oppression” (29.5%). We deliberately left off an “All of the above” option but that didn’t stop more than 50 people from writing it in.

He is disappointed at the fact that he has to fight humans with homes, families, pasts and futures and not mindless titans.

It's also a clear contrast between the outside world Armin envisioned and the one Eren wanted. Armin genuinely wanted to know more about it, Eren wanted his worldwide natural park to walk on. When it was full of civilization, he wanted to get rid of it. Like any typical villain wanting to purify the Earth of all the worms infesting it.

When he discovered that humans are just as cruel within the walls as without, it put his entire journey into perspective. He could not be Eren the hero or Eren the explorer and ultimately meant that the sacrifices made by his comrades were negligible in comparison to the big, cruel world , at least in his own mind.

He thought of all the beautiful landscapes and stuff that Armin showed him. Too bad there's these stupid humans in the way. Makes sense to eliminate the entire human population ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Everyone's fight against titans was pointless and the people who caged them could enjoy the things that Eren will never experience. The world is not a uninhabited landscape open to explore it, the world didn't need them and their freedom wasn't a possibility to enjoy it like the others civilizations do.

The world was out there and yet they did NOTHING to help Eldia

yes, eren is disappointed because there are now more enemies. but more than that, he's disappointed that they're not the monsters he's imagined them to be. that he can't kill them without feeling guilt and remorse.

he would never be able to enjoy the freedom he wanted because the clock is ticking and he will have to keep on resisting the whole world till the end without ever having time to properly realize his dream

I think he's disappointed in the fact that he's feeling sorry for humanity outside the walls just like Reiner used to feel sorry about people inside the walls. When he discovered Reiner was a traitor, he especially hated that part of his behavior, and how he realizes they're not that different, and in any case he's worse because at least Reiner had his child soldier brainwashing as an excuse

His disappointment is as bad as it sounds, having to deal with humans outside the walls was too bothersome for him and when the option to wipe them out was available to him, he was more inclined to take it, instead of fight for another resolution.

Typical privileged White boy outraged by prejudice and hatred OUTSIDE the walls, as if that didn't exist in Paradis already.

Any hopeful expectation Eren had of the outside world were completely decimated. Not only did he discover that humanity hadn't perished, but they actively contributed to or blissfully ignored Paradis' hell. In addition, the outside world is exploiting one other for resources. Paradis’ synthetically concocted hell is just part of a game to the outside world (there’s some uncomfortable real-world allusions here and I think it’s important that it’s being explored). Eren thought he was the saviour of humanity only to discover everything's he's done was for naught, humanity's the problem in his eyes.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF EREN’S CONTRADICTORY NATURE? 2,106 responses

Deciding to crush the vast majority of the world and its citizens kind of takes a mental toll on people. Who knew? 48% of respondents think Eren’s emotional breakdown side by side with determination to reach freedom at any cost is simply him deciding the results will be worth his immense guilt. 23.2% think it’s a very human case of cognitive dissonance, and that Eren’s just trying to juggle his conflicting values. 19.2% believe his mental state is fraying at the seams reminiscent of the way Reiner’s did. 6.8% don’t buy that there’s any contradiction being shown here.

He was willing to throw away his humanity to become the monster that brings change

He's being a hypocrite. His guilt doesn't hold any value because it's entirely his choice. He's apologizing because there's no greater good, just his selfish dream.

He's never been okay, it's just that we're finally seeing him for who he is without the "protagonist illusion".

I don't think it's contradictory though. He's grieving sure, but he's also going along with his plan. Because he wants to be free.

He's not mentally stable and it shows

He's to some extent influenced by the Shingeki and/or its previous holders

He's trying to convince himself that humanity is evil sl he won't feel guilty about what he's doing

Hes a fully grown adult who knows better, no matter how bad he feels he doesnt deserve sympathy

The future cannot be changed and Eren is a slave to the attack titan's objective to push foreward

This chapter shows a lot of parallel between Eren and Reiner, he even said himself that he's worse than Reiner in the genocide that he's created. says himself that

What a fucking asshole

When Eren saw the future he knew the rumbling was inevitable so he is the one having to carry to burden of being ‘humanity’s enemy’ whether or not it was Eren to fulfill the rumbling it would’ve happened either way so he isn’t immediately a devil

Erens nature isn’t contradictory. He’s just now becoming self aware of the impact of his violent nature

He feels guilty about his actions and feels sorry for people who are going to be killed, but on the other hand - he is selfish and will do everything to reach his perfect reality.

Humans are an amalgamation of their actions. They sometimes arrive at destinations they did not fully intend. They may also realize too late that the path that they’ve set down is leading them in a direction they are not happy with, but eren is too far gone. He’s sane, understands he is objectively evil, but cannot turn back.

He totally snapped and turned into the psychopath that was sleeping inside of him for a long time. It was indeed very dangerous to entrust him with more power than he can handle.

Isayama did the same thing with Zeke. I think he likes the idea of the cool, mysterious guy, but it falls flat when the motivation doesn’t line up & the characters turn out to be crying & weak to fit the narrative once it’s revealed.

I don't know how to word this, but he is caged in his own vision to the point where any human decency and the ability to think is killed. Only a selfish, hateful and childish shell remained that is throwing a tantrum over his childbook fairytale not being true. It's not the same as Reiner, because Eren chose this. He wanted this, it is his fault. He had the power to stop this, but didn't. He can apologize as much as he wants, but he isn't feeling sorry at all.

He feels guilty, which is why he is having a mental breakdown like Reiner.

He’s having a mental breakdown but it's worse than Reiner's

painfully obvious this chapter was just Eren trying by all means to justify the Rumbling. Not because of some noble intention or cornering them into the inevitable, but just because he wanted to erase the world.

the eren reiner parallels man.. they never stop

IN HIS FINAL MOMENTS, RAMZI SEES AN APPARITION OF YMIR. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? 2,104 responses

Ymir has finally appeared since we last saw her in chapter 122, and her presence as well as motivations are seemingly shrouded in mystery. Over a third believe she is watching everything but not necessarily feeling good or bad about it (32.1%), and some of you think she may be questioning her decision (16.2%). A minority of you opted to choose that her appearance means she is enjoying seeing it unfold (9.6%), or that we are witnessing a phenomenon related to titan deaths that have occurred all this time (7.5%). The most popular choice, however, (34.6%) is simply expressing bewilderment at the Evangelion-esque shenanigans we’re seeing.

Ymir could be the one doing all the actions of destruction since Eren let her free.

i really think after ymir appeared again even tho eren freed her that she's regretting giving him the founder's power and will have a role is taking him down

the presence of Ymir intrigues me and I hope that in the next chapter we will have her point of view.

I think Ymir is the one who's been pulling the ropes for a long time. Whenever Eren thinks there might be another way (especially throught he disappearance of the Eldian race) he compulsively thinks that he just CAN'T accept that, like there's a force driving him towards seeking freedom.

I hope that Ymir appearance means that she is counting and seeing Eren victims so she can create them Again without Eldian hate

Ymir being outside, and Kid Eren appearing in the paths might have a connection. Ymir was a grownup when she was killed but inside the paths she was shown a kid. Same as Eren being shown in the paths. This might signifies Eren is not in control of the situation but Ymir is.

I have had theories for a while about Ymir possibly turning on Eren, whether this is to save the world to show she is better than Eren, or to bring Paradis to destruction as well to show she is just as bad.

WHAT IN THE EVA?

Loved the Evangelion reference. YAMS YOU MADLAD!

Ymir might be the true enemy

WHAT THE FUCK IS YMIR AYANAMI DOING THERE?

WHAT IS KID EREN DOING HERE? 2,099 responses

Child Eren appears in one of the most stunning panels of the chapter, but what does it mean? Two options came out on top, with the idea that Eren is mentally regressing to a child (37.9%) edging out that it’s symbolism comparing child Eren to current Eren (36.1%).

I think we are going to see different Eren during the rumble, the past with Eren as a child, the future perhaps with a more mature or elderly Eren and the Eren of the present.

Adult Eren is incapacitated and Kid eren took his place through paths, will wake up for the "see you later, Eren"

Adult Eren unknowingly brought kid Eren’s consciousness to the present while he was sleeping under the tree. This is part of his “dream” that he had at the beginning of the story.

It is symbolises Erens mentality as a kid and how his flawed ideology doesn't hold up to the real world he faced outside of the walls. Also to cope.

Eren is the only character who cannot overcome the cycle of violence, so he will die.As you know, only without people can you become absolutely free, so he enjoys it when he realizes that nothing else binds him.

He has taken over paths from ymir, but since he is not bound by anything, he can do whatever the hell he wants, and is the reason he connected to armin while speaking to him.

It shows that Eren is not fully in control of the PATHS. For example in this scene, he remembers Armin because of his memory as a child talking about freedom with Armin then Armin suddenly appears although Eren himself didn't wish for something like that to happen thus it's just to show that PATHS connecting all Subjects of Ymir even in different timeline.

This links in with Floch... Eren loves Floch.

He was dreaming about the past and accidentally used the power of the Founder to show his younger self a vision of the Attack Titan's current point of view.

He's a sociopathic freak

It is symbolic of his old dream that he will have to give up on soon.

Can I say all of the above again? I saw it as a representation of Eren in his most pure, idealistic state which is then contrasted by the realistic horror of the destruction he is causing.

Brought into the present by adult Eren to give his younger self a taste of freedom without all the guilt. This is the beginning of the long dream kid Eren awakes from in Chapter 1.

Child Eren's Evangelion/Devilman(Crybaby)-esque "elation" seems like a metaphorical emotional release (and P A T H S shenanigans).

Something about the kid-Eren “freedom” scene is just so incredible and impactful; fully restored my faith that Isayama will deliver an amazing finale for this masterpiece.

THE MORE I LOOK AT THIS PANEL THE MORE MY HEART HURTS. ITS SO BEAUTIFUL YET SO DAMN FUCKED UP. GOD. FRICK. FRIIIICKKKKKK

KID EREN FINALLY WITNESSES “THAT SIGHT”, BUT WHAT DID HE ACTUALLY SEE? 2,113 responses

The world-shattering reveal almost a year ago of Eren gaining an important glimpse into the future, characterised as “that sight”, was finally answered in this chapter -- or was it? The majority of you believe kid Eren was merely enjoying the view from above that filled him with freedom, blissfully ignorant to the carnage of the rumbling (50.8%). Close to a quarter (23.8%) think he was able to see the rumbling but was enjoying the freedom in spite of it, with a small portion (5%) believing all the death was a part of his glee. Some aren’t yet sold on the idea that this is “that sight”, perhaps believing we will see it later (20.4%).

I don't think that his inner child is aware of the rumbling. He is only focused on the scenery and wants Armin to see that too.

A world without any walls is what kid eren always wanted to see. Through paths, kid eren achieved this (without seeing the death)

HOW WILL ARMIN BEING ABLE TO SEE KID EREN THROUGH PATHS AFFECT THE PLOT? 2,114 responses

Child Eren showing up was confusing enough, but he had to see Armin through paths too!? What does it mean!? A majority, at 55.5% think it foreshadows Armin’s coming importance in whatever the endgame turns out to be. Almost a third, at 28.6% think that it also opens up the possibility for other characters to connect with Eren through paths.

Armin was the person Eren has been sharing his dreams with. He is mentally showing his friend that the realisation of their dreams is finally at hand.

Eren can call forth anyone he wants, but if he doesn't want to see them I'm not sure if they could get to him

It foreshadows Armin and Eren clashing on a deeper level. I don't think anyone can actually stop Eren at this point.

Eren is so suped up with in this final form and with Ymir's "support" that when he thought about Armin it created a link through the paths.

Armin gets to briefly see the old "idealistic" Eren again. The one he can somewhat see eye-to-eye with and incidentally "created".

I think it might be just a visual metaphor on how Armin and Eren never really understood each other while sharing the same dream and that Armin is realizing that (I mean that the dream of "seeing the outside world" didn't mean the same thing to them). Or it might be that Eren is in a comatose sort of state and that since he technically is in control of paths, his thoughts are "sent" to Armin since he's reflecting on their shared dream

It shows Eren and Armin both want the same end goal. Though they disagree on the means of getting to it

The world is not like the one he saw in Armin's book. Hence why he contacted him, this is his way of reaching for his vision of freedom that he was denied because of the trauma of the wall.

Reference to the ocean scene where Eren was depressed and Armin excited, now its reversed

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ARMIN AND ANNIE’S TALK ON THE SHIP? 2,124 responses

While this tiny moment of apparent romance was a delight for the 20% of the fandom who expressed “Whoo hoo Aruani is canon!!”, the remaining 80% were slightly more subdued in their reaction. The largest percentage (35.3%) was happy that the build up between their characters had some payoff. The second most popular selection had nothing to do with Armin or Annie at all with “I just wanna know what’s up with the birds” garnering 26% of the vote. Lastly, 11.2% felt like this moment was completely out of place, selecting “Now’s not the time for love drama Isayama.”

We better see Armin and Annie kiss next chapter

The Armin/Annie was not that necessary, I’d loved way more a more "group" discussion with Mikasa, Jean n Reiner in it. Old 104th days style

Besides the shipping moment, Annie just came to terms with that she’s still not alone, which is huge for her character

I'm not sure if Isayama knows how unnatural aruani is. These two had a grand total of 3 interactions, and sparing each other still isn't prone to romantic feelings blooming on either side.

a bad fking attempt by isayama at romance, should have stuck with eren historia love child

The aruani was unexpected but nice xD I don't exactly ship them but they are cute in this chapter(I can't help but feel one of them is getting a death flag because of this though💀)

What about them talking about all the shit she did or has been through? I wanted to see that.

SHE'S NOT TAKING MY MAN ISTG SHE'S NOT ON MY WATCH

Ship and let ship, this is actually a very intresting pairing and I think the scene flowed very naturally. But I still hope that in the future manga focuses more in the plot and not in the ships. I'd hope the same from fandom, but of course that's too much to ask...

This was a nice moment away from death and destruction

They’re definitely gonna die soon

am i the only one who don’t ship annie and armin? like bro... she squashed your little friends like bugs

Yoo bitch AruAni is canon LETSS FUCKING GOOO Love this cinnamon couple..More canon couple please Yams!

CANT BELIEVE ARMIN IS TRYING TO GET A GF WHEN MILLIONS R DYING HES FR A HOE🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️

I only saw Bertolt there.

Maybe it's just me but i dont see anything romantic about the scene to me i prefer the weird friendship they have

While it seemed slightly out of place I’m glad Isayama touched on their “therapy sessions”.

Oh God no please don’t do this, Annie isn’t they type of character that needs any sort of romance in her story to be happy

Both aruani is canon 🥳 and wtf Isayama not the time…

c'mon falling for an enemy uncounscious girl with whom you have wangsty once-sided talks, a girl you manipulated to capture and used as a bait against enemies, really ???

They’re finally talking, I’ve been waiting so long for them to talk things out, also I really like Annie’s character development! And finally CANON, I’ve been waiting for sooooo long!!!!!!

I selected the bird because I feel threatened by it but also WOO HOO ARUANI IS CANON

I really enjoyed the scene between Annie and Armin. I think it further cements AOT as a very human narrative. They both know there are bigger things going on, but that doesn't allow them to turn off their very human emotions, which come out in a moment of rest. I don't believe this will necessarily lead to more romantic scenes between them, unless the ending of the story is far more hopeful than I expect it to be.

WHY DO YOU THINK EREN APPEARS TO BE IN A SLEEP-LIKE STATE? 2,088 responses

Not long after his grand arrival on the shore, Eren seems to be having a little nap. 45.3% of respondents think he’s relying on his base instincts for his walk around the world. 15.8% think he’s wide awake but just trying to ignore the squishy things he’s stepping on. Turns out it’s actually pretty tiring to declare war on the world, or so say 14.2% of you. 12.1% think it’s no coincidence his apparently sleepy face was shown right after the intense stare of birb, and 8.8% think that the image hints at a secret puppet master pulling Eren’s strings. We received a lot of comments suggesting Ymir might be the big bad after all - now how is Eren gonna earn that sweet sweet freedom if he’s not willing to bust a few billion skulls, eh?

He left the Attack Titan on auto-mode

i just wish to know that....now that Eren has a long ass neck.....will he come back as a human or....he will be like this forever

Symbolic of the fact that he isn’t really seeing the sight. It’s a fools errand like Eren’s goal.

I think it is symbolic. The 'adult' in him is sleeping while the 'child' in him is taking the reigns.

His consciousness has been transferred to his titan's brain. He's essentially an Attack Titan battery .

He is dreaming, ignorant to the destruction below and seeing the freedom he envisioned as a kid.

his consciousness is in PATHS dimension and he's controlling things from there

How the fuck is he sleeping when the wall titans are executing complex commands, like diving under ships and surrounding the city?

I don't think he is sleeping. He rather looks beaten and devastated and just numb to what he is doing in order to cope.

I figure that bc he's so big, he kind of has to be like this. Normally when he's in his titan with his eyes open, he's being active. I think that although he's set the titans in motion, he's in a more passive role now. He also can't be all that active when he's that huge, right?

I honestly don't know. I can speculate its connection to Ymir's apparition and child Eren's lucid dream?

He's irrevocably fucked thanks to good old Gabi and her rifle.

He's losing his will to live. Also leaves an opening for Armin to wake him up like he did in Trost.

HE'S THE SLAVE NOW

Maybe he is actively controlling / managing something else at the time? Maybe something crucial we don't know about yet, I don't believe that he is just exhausted.

His adult self is asleep now because his child self is having fun in his perfect world. Eren is mentally weak as adult but his inner child is strong and is reaching everything Eren always wanted - freedom and happiness.

He’s unable to regenerate due to controlling all the colossal titans, or just won’t because he wasn’t in Titan form when his head was blown off, meaning he will eventually die

i feel as if having eren not be in control would be mildly disappointing because the manga has done so much to set up erens decent into madness and how his actions became so extreme, i would be disappointed if all of that went to waste.

I would guess that Eren might be sifting through future memories at the moment. Looking at the "unknown world"/"the scenery" that made him smile wistfully instead of being horrified/the thing "beyond hell" Eren mentioned to Falco.

His adult self is sleeping now, while his young self is having fun.

I think hes not fully in control (maybe ymir calling the shots)

I'm kinda torn between him operating on base instincts and him being controlled by someone (Ymir?) so I'm gonna go with both as the possibility.

Maybe he really doesn't want this? I think Ymir's the one in control

Ymir is controlling him

He is not the one driving this titan, Ymir is.

Really? You talk about his eyes being closed and not the fact that he has the neck structure of a turkey!?

THE FINAL PAGE ENDS ON ARMIN’S HOPEFUL WISH FOR THE EXISTENCE OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD HE ENVISIONED AS A CHILD, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK? 2,101 responses

Despite the darkness this chapter brought to the story, Armin ends on a hopeful note. The top two options were 36.8% thinking there’s a possibility Armin will in fact be able to stop Eren. and 33.7% believe Armin to be too optimistic, and that it won’t pan out the way he wishes.

Armin's recalling of his childhood dream with Eren in the last page made me think there's still a hidden solution to resolve the dilemma.

This chapter also shown Armin not wanting to give up with reconciling the Eren he wanted to see and the actual Eren. He hears no evil.

Tragic ending, yes, but I don't think Armin's hope is misplaced all the same. I think Eren cannot be stopped without death, but I also don't think the entire world will be destroyed, and I don't think it will end hopelessly.

Either Armin’s gonna save humanity or everybody just dies the end 😹

That one bird that was perched on the ship might be the symbol of peace. But I'm not sure how that peace is going to be achieved if the option's still on the table.

I hope the alliance is able to save Eren from doing this unthinkable sin.

Probably a blossoming hope through Armin breaking Eren from Ymir's plan uwu

I think Armin could join/support Eren

THIS CHAPTER CONTINUED THE BIRD MOTIF, THIS TIME HAVING A FOCUS ON SCENES ENDING WITH A BIRD STARING DIRECTLY AT A CHARACTER. WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?! 2,067 responses

The Spy Birds theory seemed a bit nutty last month, but I don’t trust that seagull one bit. And it looks like many of you agree because that nutty theory has gone mainstream! The majority of respondents (54.1%) think that the birds are under the influence of a higher power, mainly that of Eren (27.4%) or Ymir (26.7%). 26.6% don’t think the birds are suspicious, they’re just free, man. 13% just reckon Isayama has moved on from his love of drawing thicc horses, and birds are the cool new animal. No complaints here. But I still don’t trust that seagull.

The birds are up to something

Animals sense danger coming from nature before humans do.

bird is symbol for freedom, but some bird like crow and raven in some culture are symbol for death.

I think that pigeons are watching me through P A T H S

Black birds symbolize the people's doom , white bird that flew to armin symbolises hope

black birds: death ; seagul: garbage :))) I dunno, the seagul was so random. It means they are approaching the shore?

EREN IS BRAN STARK IN AOT UNIVERSE LET'S GOO

I dont sure its eren or ymir. But i hope there is something about bird. I hope there are a huge plot twist

Might be another Odin parallel if Eren is using them, but I don't really see why he'd bother. I don't think he needs to do recon.

FREEEEEEEDOOOOOM

Last time I thought that the bird theory was a little far-fetched but now I think that's 100% the deal. That seagul is just somehow way too focused on to be just a random animal.

I commented in the previous poll that the birds are surveillance cameras and i’m even more convinced now. And isn’t it poetic that the Wings of Freedom logo is made up of a pair of black and white wings, representing the different interpretations of freedom pursued by Eren and Armin.

This is all just a Genjutsu by Itachi

my personal favorite theory, it’s zeke seeing everything transpire through the power of the beast titan

Pure!Boy Armin gets the seagull because he still has DREAMS and Eren gets crows because he wants to feast on human flesh.

WHAT'S UPP WITH THE BIRDS AAAAAAHHH TELL ME

I don't know but is really cool if you see it as a symbol of hope/freedom. Birds are the only kind who will not going to be tumble over the rumbling.

I think it's about the colors, black is dark, just like the destruction Eren is causing to the world (including Ramzi and Halil) and white is bright, just like the peace that Armin wished for and is aiming to achieve with the alliance

HOW DID THIS CHAPTER AFFECT YOUR VIEWS ON THE RUMBLING? 2,100 responses

If we thought seeing the reality of the rumbling would be a game changer when it comes to our view of it, we were wrong. Only 5% of people who formerly supported it no longer do. For the rest of us 44% do not support the rumbling and 30% do. Most curiously, 21% claim to have no opinion. More on that below when we mirrored this question about our views on Eren.

I still don't support The Rumbling, I just want it to stop. It doesn't do anything good for anyone, even Eren himself, and this awfully awesome chapter proves it. I totally expect that via P A T H S.FM Armin and Mikasa could stop him (and save him, physical or psychologically, idk) . It's the only plausible way.

I think the rumbling is justified but I don’t think the civilians who had nothing against Erin don’t deserve to die.

I don’t think there is any other solution, and that’s the point… His outburst at Hange tells me that he was desperate for something. This is coming from Eren who can essentially see everything and inherited multiple people’s memories. If he couldn’t come up with it, I don’t think anyone else can (aside from Armin? But I’m not holding my breath). The 50-year plan was a delusional fantasy at best, technology would evolve rapidly and nullify any threat the Rumbling poses.

I was still kind of hoping Eren had something up his sleeve that wasn't mass slaughter, but I guess we're going there

I believe the full rumbling is a morally grey decision, but I’ll concede and say it’s on the darker end of the spectrum. ultimately eren will have to answer for what he’s done, necessary or not killing millions of innocent people is a horrible thing to do.

The world was never peaceful, and never will be. The Rumbling was inevitable, nothing could stop that.

ON A SCALE FROM “IT’S JUST A FLESH WOUND” TO “HOLY SHIT THIS IS AWFUL”, HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PORTRAYAL OF THE RUMBLING? 2,110 responses

This probably didn’t need to be asked but we did it anyway. For the vast majority of us, the portrayal of the rumbling was overwhelming in terms of sheer horror. “It’s awful! I love it!” seems to be a common reaction.

Whelp... we wanted to see the rumbling. I guess be careful what we wish for.

I am once again reminded how gory SnK can be.

No holds barred. This is the sad, traumatic truth that we asked for.

RIP in pieces Clown-kun

At this point, it makes me sick to read pro-rumbling posts. Normally, when you like a villain or a morally grey character (Eren went past this point long ago) you enjoy seeing how their mentality works. And this is fully respectable, but not the "uuuh my baby did nothing wrong". If we did the same with our kings Floch and Zeke, it would be crazy, wouldn't it?

I’m glad the Rumbiling was shown in its full glory. It didn’t hide anything about the situation and was very gory. I’m glad we were shown what happened to the people during it, and not just after.

I can't feel engaged in the rumbling when it has been the default scenario since the sea, but more specifically 123. The boy had a death flag the size of Marley and now he's dead. Thanks for the shock, Yams. I'm interested in the potential of everything else. I hope I didn't follow this story for the final conflict to be whether to save more people or less people

It was great to see the Rumbling in its full gore. Isayama showed it masterfully and rly put emphasis on how terrifying and disturbing it is. I was never anti or pro of it before, bc I'm just enjoying the view as the reader, that didn't change, and I still like Eren bc he is a very entertaining character.

I loved seeing how awful everything was. Ofc in real life I wouldn't support it, but narratively? Wow!

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE RUMBLING? (MULTISELECT) 2,109 responses

This chapter didn’t hold back in its brutal display of the rumbling, and it may be difficult to find the words to describe it, so we gave you twelve. A clear majority are able to agree on it being both tragic and terrifying, closely followed by those who would describe it as unavoidable, distressing or immoral. The choices in the minority included describing the rumbling as awesome, justified or heroic. Fun fact, over a third of the people who chose “heroic” also described it as some combination of “excessive”, “immoral” and “indefensible”. Talk about mixed feelings.

HOW DID THIS CHAPTER AFFECT YOUR VIEWS ON EREN? 2,093 responses

If we thought seeing the horrors of the rumbling would be a game changer when it comes to our view of the person who unleashed it, we were wrong. This chapter did nothing to change the minds of the 40% who support Eren and the 30% who do not. Only a minority (8.3%) said this chapter made their support for Eren wane.

We were most curious about the 20% who selected “I have no opinion.” When we’ve waited so eagerly for Eren’s POV, how could a quarter of the fandom be neutral on how it affected them? Was this a failure on Isayama’s part or were our poll options poorly worded? We decided that rather than having no opinion, “I don’t know what to think yet” might have been the better cop out...err I mean *neutral* option :P

I was one of those that was convinced that there had to be something more to the Rumbling, and this chapter shocked me to my core by revealing that there really isn't. Eren is just that disturbed. We wanted Eren POV but we weren't ready for it. Now I just want to see how Armin and Mikasa end this.

i love eren so much nothing can make me hate him but he is insane... all this and for what. THEY COULDNT HAVE TALKED IT OUT??? i feel so bad for eren he clearly does not want to kill all those people man...

We finally have Eren's pov now; I still don't know how to feel about it, but I'll always support him.

Eren is a character who really disgusts me because of his fucked up delusion of fReEdoM but I love him at the same time because he's really well written, this boy is a fascinating mess.

This chapter seems to have made things pretty straightforward. Eren is a lot of things but he’s not one to go back on his word. He said he was gonna rumble and now he’s doing it. Not sure why people are having a hard issue saying he wouldn’t have done it. Uhhhh hello he’s nuts

i get eren's side but i just wish that there was another way to bring freedom and justice without genocide

I support eren as a character, however if his actions were translated to real life I would disagree with them. At the end of the day, genocide is not ok. He could’ve wiped out military bases, but civilian deaths is not ok. HOWEVER, for the sake of fiction, & the fact that there’s no decent alternative, it’s team Yeager.

Deep down his choice is selfish and this is why he is ashamed of it, the rest are just justifications. And he is not the only character who has selfish objectives hidden over good intentions, Erwin fought for humanity, but deep down he wanted to prove his father right, and Reiner on his quest to "Save Humanity" was just a mask to become a hero.

Really I want to see Eren fufill his dream, I’m still supporting him.

Ymir might have a role to play in his mental state.

Not to support the rumbling or anything, but I do feel sorry for Eren. He's like a cornered animal that attacked in panic and that attack's freaking deadly.

Even though the rumbling is tragic, this is Eren truly getting his way, no matter what. It's a rare thing to see in any literary work, and although I'm curious as to what the downfall/tragedy of his character will end up being after this, I love it all because for what feels like the first time, a character with bad intent is using the god power to accomplish their goal, and I can't get enough of it.

WHAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT EREN THIS CHAPTER 2,111 responses

Empathy for Eren is the theme for nearly 70% of the fandom with “I feel for him. He’s in a tough position” (43.7%) and “my heart aches for him” (22.1%) being the top two selections. On the opposite and more extreme ends of the spectrum, those who think he’s the greatest (15.1%) and those who think he’s the worst (14.9%) are nearly evenly matched. Interestingly only 4.2% expressed “I have no opinion” on this question compared to more than 20% on the question above.

Eren is my favorite character but I also don't support his actions.

I was disstressed for a few days after it. How did it go to this? I kept reading this far just because I wanted Eren to be happy and have his happy ending, and what do we have now?..

I feel bad for eren, he's in a position no one would want to be, and he hates what hes doing no matter how much he needs to

This chapter could possibly stablish once and for all Eren as a unchangable character since he has reached a point of no return.

Eren is GOAT, the rumbling is wrong but I still love eren

This entire chapter just reaffirms the fact that Eren has always been a self absorbed, self-pitying child from the very beginning

I don't get how people can still support Eren just because he cried a little.

To think that all the shit that has happened since RTS (Sasha killed, Liberio attacked, Tybur murdered, Zackley assassinated, Nile and Pixis titanised, Levi forced to decimate his own titanised squad and then nearly dying, Jaegerist coup, Shadis beat up, Historia pregnant AND ANYTHING ELSE I'VE FORGOTTEN) is all because of some long, convoluted plan for one single boy's childish, problematically simplistic, black-and-white dream for "Freedom" is. I can't. I'm tired. Eren's pov is so outrageously outlandish that I can't relate. At all.

I cant feel bad for Eren, he is the only person responsible on his guilt and sadness. Also genocide is the worst option and even Eren says it.

He was sheltered his whole life; he has no proper context or framework for concepts like racism and war between humans. He “optimistically” thought his fight was that of human vs titan. That's why I don't blame him for coming to the Rumbling conclusion after the basement reveal. I give him a lot of credit for empathizing with "the other side" and I do believe Eren tried his best to come up with alternative solutions.

I feel for Eren, he was sold the idea of a perfect, peaceful, untouched world, ripe for discovery, filled with the beauty and awe of nature, but in reality it was full of cruel xenophobia people who hated his very existance. I don't support the rumbling but i understand why Eren did it.

Eren is obsessed with his perfect vision of "Freedom" where there are no limits to his will, but sadly for him, he lives on a reality where others exist and as long he has to interact with them, there are going to be limitations he is going to be bound. So even if he kills everyone outside the island, there is going to be another "wall" he needs to overcome.

Seeing Eren cry and hear his doubts actually made me just more angry with him: "If you are so sad about the fate of the outside world then fucking change the future, don't just give up!!!!!!!" He seems to be very clung in the idea that the future is set and there is nothing he can do to change it.

Okay but look at Eren's centipedal Hell's creation's TINY BUTT. It's so funny seeing that little boney ass on this gigantic thing

EREN SEEMS TO HAVE MANY MOTIVATIONS. HOW WOULD YOU RANK THEM?

This one was interesting. With this chapter’s iconic imagery of kid Eren spreading his arms declaring “this is freedom”, it’s unsurprising that most of us agree with that as a very important motivation for him. His friends were also chosen as a very important motivation, though not as much as his love for freedom. Historia and her child just edged out the motivation of the people of Paradis, though interestingly it has less “somewhat important” votes and more “not important at all votes”, making it clearly divisive even if it has more “very important” votes.. But the motivation with an even more divisive perception is revenge, with nearly an even split between those who view it as very, somewhat and not important at all.

Everything Eren is doing is for the sake of his friends and Historia, there was no other choice to protect the island.

I think that the only thing what matters to Eren is freedom and reaching the perfect world he saw in his dreams after reading Armin's book. The dream of his inner child is playing the most important role in his life. Eren is ready to sacrifice his friends, his mentors and people on Paradis - just to see the special scenery and finally feel FREE.

Feel sad to see eren need to do all of this, but i know its for his friend and paradis

I hope that Eren doesn’t harm the alliance

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU FEEL POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY ABOUT EREN, DO YOU THINK HE IS BEING PORTRAYED AS A VILLAIN AT THIS POINT IN THE STORY? 2,098 responses

It’s truly a testament to Isayama’s strength as a writer when a character’s deliberate annihilation of billions is met with a majority response of “there are no villains or heroes here.” 57.1% think that as tragic as the situation now may be, nobody in this manga really qualifies as villainous. Or at least, not when our feisty protagonist is involved. 33.7% think the manga is a tale of a hopeful boy slowly turning to the dark side. 5.6% see this all as part of a hero’s tumultuous journey. Finally, 3.5% think it’s unfair to cast Eren as a villain since he’s not the one in control. Gotta say, if Eren is not the one destroying the world he really shouldn’t have said he was going to destroy the world.

This chapter just proves that Eren ISN'T a complete villain. I disagree with the rumbling, but what Eren's going through is something that I empathize with.This chapter just made it easier for me to keep rooting for everyone, even though a completely happy ending is not an option anymore.

I really hope Eren's in for a change of heart soon. I hate the idea of him being the final villain. He's definitely redeemable. Even he is eligible to have a dark foil and rival. Maybe we'll get that later on in Zeke who I feel is also redeemable.

More and more of the story is unveiled, I really like how this is going. Ever since knowing the outside world I have decided that Eren is no longer a hero but then he is not a villain either so does everyone in the story. I like Eren a lot but I'd say that I just like to observe, to see, never to support or to oppose. So this chapter is really amazing to me as I managed to see more about Eren.

eren is a villian whether you like it or not

I feel Walter white Vibe from Eren.

Eren is evil period!!!! There is no justification for mass murder. If he wants to savr his ppl then just wipe out the army, navy, air force, warriors and the leaders period not everyone including INNOCENT ppl....

EREN IS GOAT. He is portrayed as a hero who makes tough choices that no other shitty shonen character even can do.

Eren needs to stop the rumbling. It maybe justified his needs but the people outside the walls didn't deserved it. They're both each other's enemies. He used to say people outside the walls are monsters but he became one himself. He desired freedom but in the end he was a slave to his own desire.

Isayama could chose to make him some what of a villainous character, or he could chose to set it up as if eren is more of an anti hero doing then wrong things for the right reasons

DESCRIBE THE CHAPTER IN ONE WORD 1,543 responses

No superlatives to describe how great or awesome this chapter was this month. The Rumbling hurt us all (well done, Yams, mission accomplished). That being said, it looks like we’re all masochists, considering this chapter is in the top 5 highest rated chapters since chapter 91.

Tragic [169; 4.69]

Sad [89; 4.73]

Pain [77; 4.86]

Depressing [69; 4.75]

Heartbreaking [48; 4.77]

WHAT ARE YOU MOST HOPING TO SEE NEXT CHAPTER? 2,089 responses

With what we want next chapter we find it especially surprising that the majority are ready to give Eren’s perspective a break. Since google sometimes fails us in displaying the data, we’ll just list it all out. Of the options we provided, our wishes for next chapter from most to least popular are: Let’s keep it with the Eren POV (23.4%), The alliance reaching Odiha (22.4%), WHERE TF IS LEVI??? (10.6%), I could go for a few more mental breakdowns (10.1%), More Ymir being mysterious (7.9%), WHERE TF IS LEVI??? (10.6%), SAVE US ZEKE (8.9%), Oh god go back to Historia please (8.5%), Finality for Floch (6%) and More birbs ovo (2.2%)

Yo where tf is Rico

I want to see levi

fuck yeah more mental break down, I'm ready to be depressed

I really want to see more of Armin and kid Eren in Paths next chapter. That one panel was super interesting and I would love to go back to it.

hurt me more isayama

Please yams I want to see Flochad kill Hange, that’s all I ask for.

Zeke returns next chapter pleaseeeee

HOPE WE GET TO SEE HOW THE ISLAND IS DOING NEXT CHAPTER

It's getting to the final and I don't like that

as only 3-4 chapters are left, I dont think we are going to get another eren POV, I am still dying to see the conditions of the other main characters, whereas zeke and floch are unfinished mysteries.

someone from alliance is dying soon

I've gotta see more Historia. What is she doing and thinking right now? What is her role moving forward?

Just shut up with historia in this survey. She's irrelevant. Now I hate answering your polls.Never again!

i literally don't know what to expect next chapter like yams is just THAT good

WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES? 2,025 responses

The platforms where we discuss the series remain relatively unchanged with Reddit providing the plurality of responses. Thank you Reddit! We appreciate it. That said, we’d love to see this chart balance out a little more so please feel free to share the poll wherever you discuss the series. That includes the 5 of you degenerates on Snapchat.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE CHAPTER? 553 responses

Uhhh *disappears*

ZEKE-KUN PLEASE BE A GOOD ONII-CHAN AND SAVE THE WORLD FROM YOUR TROUBLED LITTLE OTOTO

listen, birds are pretty cool ok

Beautifully tragic, exactly what I wanted to see from Eren after being shown in a villainous light for 30+ chapters. Being introduced to a new character, in particular an innocent child and then finally revealing his name and story was a perfect way to show the true horrors of an indiscriminate near-omnicide, it definitely brought tears to my eyes.

(😢) SIE SIND DAS ESSEN UND WIR SIND DIE JAEGER (😢)

As expected of Isayama-sensei, it's exactly right.

Annie being revealed as aromantic is the unexpected happy development in this tragedy.

Kiddos, the "it's just fiction" argument refers to the fact that you are allowed to *enjoy* watching fucked up things in fiction because people, in general, can distinguish between fiction and reality. It does not mean writing essays to *justify* said fucked-up things that happen in fiction, because you almost certainly start bringing your own real-life logic to fictional events. Aka, mixing up reality and fiction. Showing your true colors. Allowing your beliefs to slip into discussion. Whatever you call that.

THE BIRDS HAVE PATHS, I CALLED IT LAST CHAPTER!

Annie has always had a hard time expressing her feelings and that she has had complexes for a long time. I'm glad Armin was able to tell her what he was thinking because it will give Annie more confidence. Plus, Annie has always been introverted and I love that Isayama tells us more about her character.

The ravens are a reference to Odin’s, a mythology character. He has two ravens, they symbolise memory and mind/thought.

What a manga.

what eren did is right you can come up with any other solution

What in the everliving fuck is going on? Can we go back to factory reset and knock some sense into Eren before he starts having wild ideas like this one? Please

BEST SHIP FINALLY HAPPENING PROPERLY AHHHHH MY BOY ARMIN IS FINALLY TALKING ABOUT HIS FEELINGS EVEN IF IT'S SUBTLE

If Eren is the bird he really is Armins WINGman.

I KNEW ARMIN LIKED ANNIE! But seeing Annie blush was a nice surprise. I thought she was the ice queen in terms of romance.

This poll is bias toward historia. I wish if y’all stop the shipping b.s

birds are supposed to symbolize freedom in most cultures, innit?

This chapter was so important to me. It showed the reality of the rumbling, and that scenery, and most importantly, Eren's true feelings on the genocide, including his now split younger self. He feels guilty about it, he knows it's bad yet he has to do it because he has no other option if he wants Paradis and everyone he loves to survive. During my life I have had a lot of instances where I had to sacrifice a lot in order to survive, including disociating and splitting my personality in two, crushing my own feelings to do what had to be done, so characters like Eren are very relatable in that sense to me. In a kill-or-be-killed situation, there is no place nor time for doubts nor mercy and you have to do what you have to do.

Very interesting, trágico and raw, but also liked the comparison between different concepts of the world and freedom between Armin and Eren. Also loved all the AruAni moments, they were not only adorable but also helped those two characters talk about things they needed to open up about since a long time ago lol.

I want to get off Mr. Isayama's Wild Ride

Am I the only one who can't take the alliance seriously?

Wasn't really feeling the AruAni moment, but other than that top tier chapter can't wait for more.

Armin possibly realizes Eren isn't in the right state of mind. If Eren is projecting himself as a child, then Armin might be able to come up with a plan to stop what he is doing.

Fantastic, worth the wait.

Fav chapter yet. Fall of Wall Maria got overthrown as the most depressing event in the series for me.

Favourite line in AOT :"SIT DOWN"

I don't want it to end, but I am very happy about the direction the manga is going.

I felt for eren

This chapter was legendary, it hit all the right notes for finally giving Eren's POV. The shot of child Eren above the clouds will go down as one of the best panels ever... also Eren's line about "disappointment"... fantastic it gave me chills.

I find ‘the cycle of revenge’ storyline tiring. I’ve seen it so many times before and there isn’t anything new being covered here. I just feel tired and sad honestly. My last (and probably unfulfilled) hope for the series would be for Levi to make it through this, work things out with Zeke without violence and be able to move on in his life. He could help the survivors of the rumbling and reestablish civilization, maybe open his tea shop, see the world, maybe fall in love. I don’t really care. I just want to see my boy alive and doing okay for himself. A ridiculous thought for this series, I know. With 3-4 chapters left I feel we will most likely just be left in a misery marinara. I’m soaking in it right now.

I have too many thoughts on this chapter, I wouldn't know where to begin

i wanted him to save ramzi, but i didnt at the same time?? i was glad he didnt spare him, but im sad he didnt?? i dont know why

I just want everything to end already

i just want the best ending for all characters, esp Eren.

I like how Isayama is pushing the cognitive dissonance that i have of what side i should choose.....he is really fuckin with me at this point. All the thinking has now made me kinda numb

I like Isayama drawing birds and see the art improvement through the chapters :D I announce August is the Eek Appreciation Month dedicated to the Wings of Freedom! EEEEEEEEEEEK

I like that it pretty much ended the discussion of Eren having other plans. He's been totally honest the entire time. If he had other plans, why'd he put his friend in danger by having them fight against him?

for real had to pause for a bit at many points in this chapter lmao

Maybe this is why he never talked to his friends- he didn't care about discussing what's right for them, he just wanted his FrEeDoM and would walk over children to get it.

Glad to see Armin and Annie being cute, they deserve a few moments of happiness.

Glad to see Eren’s thoughts and feelings about the rumbling. There are a lot of loose ends that I was hoping to have some answers for in this chapter but it didn’t happen in this chapter, which just made me more intrigued.

Glad to see that Eren's uncaring exterior was finally dispelled this chapter

God I can't see this ending good and I just really want this to be over soon. Never rooted as much for an MC to die as now.

Which of the following best describe how you feel about the rumbling? Pointless, it won't achieve anything.

while i find aruani cute i still find it weird since she literally was crying the previous chapter. i was disappointed that we didn't get to see all the alliance

Why tf is Ymir in the realworld!?

WHENS MAHVEL

SS ARUANI GONNA RUMBLE THE SHIP HARDER THEN EREN RUMBLED THOSE POOR CHILDREN, TAKE THAT NONBELIEVERS no really, this was built up from s1, and they have wonderfully complementing personalities. Sad that half the fandom gets triggered from any het ship (and vice versa)

Crack theory: Eren has two personalities which is why he acts in contradictory ways. The "evil" nature is in kid Eren and the "good" nature is in the bird. There is no consciousness in his actual body anymore.

Genocide route best route

Way better than the last chapter. 130 was just good art and shipping bait which felt like it was forced for the sake of the end of a volume. This chapter was amazing and balanced its multiple purposes effortlessly, as opposed to the clunky nature of the previous chapters. Probably the best chapter since Ymir's backstory. I love how Armin tied into it, we haven't seen he and Eren's shared dream brought up for a while, as it had faded into background despite being such a driving force for both characters before the timeskip.

I was sure that the dichotomy between Eren's motivations was clearly between his friends/the people he wants freedom for, and his own quest to soothe the anger he has in his heart. Essentially is he doing this for love or hate. Yet we get a third motivation introduced this chapter, of him achieving his child self's dream of freedom in a wall-less world, and what do you know it's tied into "that scenery/that sight", Isayama you genius. What does this mean about those other motivations, though? Is everything false and it's just what Eren is telling himself? What's the lie? What's the truth? What to believe…

It might just be because Eren subconsciously called to Armin. So if more memories surface, more characters can talk with him potentially.

Time loop theory!

Timey Wimey P A T H S shenanigans.

Even if I'm not surprised, it's disappointing to see how Eren is the worst Jaeger after all. He used to make bad decisions trying to help "humanity", but now he just thinks he's right, when not even half of Paradis agrees with his ideas.

I hate Eren from the bottom of my heart. He's disgusting, a total piece of shit. And I love Isayama for giving me all these feelings. He's the real GOAT here.

Really made me wish Isayama hadn't gone for the ~mystery~ of Eren becoming the villain and had instead at least given us the flashbacks in chronological order. The way this long-awaited PoV reveal has been done has felt so clunky and awkward.

I honestly don't understand those who used to support the Rumbling but no longer do after this chapter; maybe they are the same kind of people that romanticized Omnicide and kept defending it as the "morally correct thing to do" and that they "would most certainly do it" if they were in Eren's shoes... Until the reality hit them and all of their posturing like a bag of bricks - i.e. the typical edgy keyboard warrior.

As a pro-Rumbling fan, I always knew this was the expected outcome; if anything this chapter was everything I hoped that Isayama would show to us because it once and for all disproved the idea that Eren has a plan beyond the Rumbling. A Lelouch ending (which I hope doesn't happen) can still be pulled, but its not something that Eren is actively working torwards, but the end result if the alliance somehow stops him.

rumbling go brrrrrrrr

Zeke is controlling the bird with his beast Titan ability that he learnt from the paths realm

"what will my mother think of me?" Ashamed of you, eren, duh.

I really can't feel sorry for eren when this is ultimately the choice he made. There were always other choices up until the point where he killed many world leaders in his attack on Marley.

A bit sappy but understandable. From a egoist point of view Eren is justified in his actions, but of course this just reaffirms the Eldians "monstrous" nature to them. The Eldians dont have a realistic out unless the titans are truly gone forever if Eren loses. Curious about the birds.

A freckled girl appeared. That's progress.

BRUTAL.

Also what about the Eldians living outside of Paradis Island? IMO they are the ones suffering the most

Can he even be stopped?

Can people stop saying that because you enjoy the direction of the story that you’re a genocide supporter? I like shooter games too but I’m obviously not going to go kill anyone, everyone needs to chill out with the moral policing, you sound like the Tipper Gore crowd. Is the rumbling justified? No, but it’s a great direction for the story and it was inevitable once it was established what was in the walls. Chekhov’s gun had to go off sometime, I’m actually surprised how many people seem to be agonizing over this.

Can't put it into words how amazing AOT has become and is just stepping over each level taking one step at a time !!!

Can't wait till next one

Changed the opinion of many people on eren's genocide

Chapter confirmed Eren is NOT the father

Cruel just like the world

This chapter re-assured me that that first scene of Mikasa is the moment she says goodbye to a dying Eren.

Damn bro it’s great

Dang. When this is animated, I guarantee a lot of youtubers and just the anime fandom in general will think this is the best series of all time.

Eren is one of the best MCs of all time.

Eren is one of the most tragic characters on manga

Eren is the best protagonist

Eren is the GOAT but is also wrong and needs to die real soon

EREN IS THE GOATTTT. AOT IS THE GOATTTT. ISAYAMA IS THE GOATTTT.

Eren is truly the best developed main character from any shonen series, this chapter made my mind.

Eren loses it, again

great job Isayama. well done you madman

Great painfull chapter, Eren having a breakdown Made me so sad and depressed, I wish him to achieve freedom

Greatest manga of all time

greatest piece of fiction of our generation

Hange is right, this is not an acceptable solution

I cried while reading it no joke

I don't even know what to say about Eren. Sure, this chapter is showing his guilt, but that definitely does NOT justify his actions. EXPLAIN YOURSELVES, YEAGERISTS, EREN STANS!!!!!! (sorry I'm just angry about him)

I still think there needs to be a twist, because for me the character development still doesn't work. Eren and Historia have both forgotten common sense and do awful stupid things for stupid, hollow (plot) reasons, and the 104th this entire arc have both become somewhat useless and self-righteous at the convenience of the author. I don't care if the whole arc happened this way just because clearly Isayama wants to have the rumbling as the last arc, but if this was his objective he should have been more focused on character consistency and less on the mystery of it all. It still all feels less like the choices of actual characters than plot convenience, and it gives me the same sensation of the Serumbowl, which I thought was the nadir of the series.

If truly there's won't be some last minute twist it's just bad character writing in service of a plot decided in advance. Same with Historia and the 104th. Who cares about character consistence? Not Isayama, apparently

For some reason Eren wants Armin to the what his is doing.

Honestly, of all the characters Armin is the last I'd want succeding in stopping Eren. Let Mikasa have the spotlight, damn it.

Beautiful pain

Beautifully drawn but very gory

a person can gladly become a devil or a god if he has to, for justice.

A truly sad and terrifying chapter. I never understood how anyone could support this. Don't get me wrong. I understand plotwise why it had to happen. I knew Isayama would show us this. This part was unavoidable for the story he's trying to tell. Doesn't mean I have ever supported it, or that I ever will. But hey at least Aruannie is cannon, so that's a silver linning to this absolutely horrible chapter.

PS. I never wanted to punch a fictional character in the face as much as I want to punch Eren's. Alas, he's not real and I will never get the satisfaction of doing that.

Adding onto child eren's freedom panel, i believe it represents the idea of freedom he had wished for before he was betrayed by the world itself.

All hail the mad king

All that suffering, for what. You won but at what cost

IT MAKES MY HEAD SPIN AND THE FORSHADOWING BUILD UP TO THIS CHAPTER IS JUST *chefs kiss*

It really shows that Attack On Titan isn’t an ordinary story. It is a storyline filled with emotions, tragedies and somehow the cruel reality that this world possesses.

It shifted through a lot of POVs, it was pretty good.

It showed the rumbling and Eren in much more impartial way.

It was crazy to finally see in Eren's Head but all it did was confirm the things I was thinking for awhile and put me more on his side.At this point I'm ride or Die Eren Yaeger just so I can see how this all ends.

It was good, but I wish we would've gotten more with the rest of the crew going to Marley.

Listen, I really love Eren, I have deeply felt for him. I still do, I relate too much with his own traumas but since the timeskip. I have distanced myself from him and I don't and have never supported on his stance for genocide because he set this up with Zeke and pushed Marley to go into war while they didn't want it in the first place. However I have too much of a strong emotional connection to him so I understand him and I admit, it made me doubt a little bit on some of my stances. Since Eren is so different from who he was back before the timeskip, I have always assumed and the manga has not proved me wrong, that he's being influenced by something or someone which is feeling on his traumas, anger, depression and dissapointments. So I am still extremely optimistic about him.

Jesus Fucking Christ

its funny how the dream dies with reality

Its great to finally get some of Erens thoughts but it’s just made me think he’s not acc the one in control

My tears create a whole new ocean.

no opinion really, chapter felt kinda flat and repetitive in parts

Alliance supporters learning that Eren is suffering with all this shit and isn't trash and pitiful like their hypocrite babies who were genociding their own people in the last 32 volumes.

Amazing. The way Eren developed from this angsty little child to someone who's willing to kill everyone to achieve his childhood dream and save his pals is truly wonderful.

Rumbling go wee

I found it tragically ironic that Eren just has a passing thought of what his mom would think of his actions, and it reminds me of how he wouldn’t listen to her when he was younger. Do you think this is a subtle indication that Eren hasn’t matured from the thought processes of a selfish boy, or does he truly hold weight and more consideration to what his mother (and other people) would think? Personally, I think he is more aware of outside views, but just refuses to accept that reality because he is so stuck on his own desires.

It's one of the pivotal scenes because atleast I know that within Eren he still at somepoint have consicience and shows that at somepoint he can be stopped.

Rumbling goes rumble

Eremin <3

Yams makes me confused! I dunno!

Collosal Titans go brr

CONFUSING IN WAY TOO MANY PARTS!!! where to start or stop... from ymir to bird to child eren is all confusing af but nice :)

Depression and depression

Did we really need to spend that many pages on that AruAni BS? So much for fucking 5% being left.

Dis gon be good

Let's get the final confrontation underway!

Welp, there is absolutely no defying it: Eren is the big bad and there is no secret plan to make it up.

Let’s get ready to RUUUUUUUUMBLE!

LETS FUCKING GOOO

Levi and Hange convo when? Armin and Annie end of the world sex when? Jean confessing to Mikasa when? Floch suprise killing Connie or Jean when? Floch getting thrown over board to die at sea rather than being shot when?

LOLZ at anyone still defending the rumbling after this chapter portraying it as something heroic or justifiable

Make me feel. Make me feel more.

Man, this is rough.

Overall well rounded chapter. Time to get back to alliance and Historia after this though.

Poor Eren. But I kind of understand.

Ppl who are calling Eren GOAT or saying they were only sad in this chapter bc Eren cried are legit psychopaths.

Seeing Eren’s POV and reasoning behind pursuing the rumbling makes me feel for him. We know he cares about his friends, paradis, etc. I am at a loss of words for this chapter. However I will say this, Armin in paths with Eren is not a coincidence. I think isayama is foreshadowing of a conversation THEY’VE ALREADY HAD, and what’s to come..

Isayama is being stingy about letting his characters talk to each other properly. I mean really how many scenes do we have left on this boat while the rumbling goes on? When there’s still so much to be said. Wasted chapter imo, a lot more could’ve been said and done.

E+H=Y

Eren confirmed that he will kill everyone. The rumbling cannot be stopped.

Even though we have gotten some insight on Eren's pov, it has created more questions than answers. His motives are still very confusing and we are still being kept in the dark

Every chapter update makes me sad :( the story has gotten so tragic and i love it but oof. I didnt think it could get sadder but Isayama proves me wrong every month

Every new released chapter is better than the last one. I love these series. Props to mr. Hajime Isayama 💪🏆

Exactly what we needed, have more faith now.

Exceeded my expectations. The last two chapters were mindblowing after a slow mini Arc at the port. Isayama can really pull ar your heartstrings with flashbacks and Eren's pov.

Thanks Isayama for the microscopic eremin crumbs

that kid eren scene though... easily the best scene the series so far

That was damn perfect

That was f***ing amazing and awful at the same time. I want this series to end, but actually no. Keep going Isayama. You crazy motherf***er.

the "beyond the walls" talk between armin and eren is being brought up again and im emotional now thx

The ending's gonna disappoint people, no matter how well/badly it's executed. Chapter was cool, but overhyped imo

The pacing seems slow, but then again, it was recently nodded to that the manga won't end at Chapter 134 or 135 but 136. And Isayama does have everything planned out for a long time. I don't think he'll disappoint.

the significance of many things in the story are too epic, carla and mikasa look alike, grisha and eren look alike, historia and dina even look alike, the repeating actions, along with the intricate history formed, give us a lot to speculate but nothing to confirm.

I am somewhat sad for eren, to see the point that he has reached by having that freedom that he longed for so much but that I hardly think exists is sad, I don't know how the hell this is going to end but hey I don't know

I can't even begin to imagine how this is going to look in the anime. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

I can't imagine how the manga will end in a few chapters

I can't wait for 132.

I can’t believe this

I can’t wait to see this chapter voice acted, holy shit.

I loved the context that Eren's apology provides, really gives some much needed insight on his thoughts about the future during the timeskip

I need him to talk to mikasa and armin!

On this poll, I noticed that there's nothing about Mikasa haha. I want her to have a moment for the next chapter, or appear on Eren's memories. We know she's gonna be playing a big role for this arc.

I like where the story is going and I can’t wait for the anime so I can show AOT to everyone.

I think Eren is going somewhere. If he wanted to rumble the world, he can control the titans even from the safety of Paradis. I think he is going to that tree under which Ymir fell.

I think it focuses on Eren a bit too much. Maybe show us some Levi? Thank you.

i think reiner is gay

I am currently not taking a side. Not with Eren or with the Yeagerists or with our heroes. I'm just here to see how it all goes down and how Isayama wants to play it out. I've been enjoying every single chapter and being so moved it's insane. F the ship wars and the bs, this story is much more than that. And tragedy is written all over it. Ok brb getting my tissues prepared for next chapter.... 👍

I don't know how many more issues we're going to have but I worry that the story is going to come to a screeching halt and leave too many questions unanswered. Isayama has got so many plates spinning, narratively speaking, I have no idea how he is going to finish them or if he'll finish them at all.

Just a series of gut-punches one after the other after every panel, oof this chapter affected me more than any other. It also made me wonder about how the planet in general would be affected. Like how would ecosystems change? Will Eren only go after the civilized countries and then stop? Or will he not let a single person survive outside the island and just actually steamroll the whole planet? If he does, wouldn't that change climates and stuff? What's about the animals and plants? Am I thinking too much about this? How will the drastic changes affect the Paradisians? All this assuming the alliance doesn't manage to stop him (which is likely)

although initially him and reiner seemed to pursue the same path, eren initial motive was to wipe them all and he said it multiple times, I don't believe he has guilt nor remorse because "it was all set from the very start"

We also got a seamless reintegration of the theme of what it means to be a "good person", something both Armin and Annie have grappled with as far back as Female Titan arc, and it's great to see it re-emerge in the context of the rumbling. Annie is an underrated character. Isayama could have had her come back with some bullshit royal blood or daughter-of-Kruger twist, but instead he decides to integrate her into the conflict as her own person and make her a more interesting character than Reiner (sorry Soul).

Eren is allowed to have emotions, he should be able to feel terrible about himself for having to wipe out most of humanity. But he also believes that this is the only way. He begged Hange if there was another way, he WANTED an option that didn't end with the world being rumbled. When Hange had no ideas, and no else had a plan that would keep Paradis safe, he felt like he had to move forward, towards freedom.

Eren is neither right or wrong in his decision. Killing innocents, destroying entire ecosystems and ending human civilization is morally bankrupt. In many ways his plan is short sighted, but when I say this, my stance comes from a logical standpoint rather than a moral one(the political instability of the island, the precedent it sets, the danger he put his friends in). The *most* moral thing to do was a partial rumbling(there are still some issues both logistical and moral) and while 2 wrongs don’t make a right, I hold Marley and many other nations equally at fault for not being willing to end this diplomatically. Their scorched earth policy brought this on. It’s unfortunate that their citizens are paying the price for their governments crimes. But you can’t threaten to wipe out an entire civilization with no negotiation and not expect a desperate response like a full rumbling. This doesn’t absolve eren of responsibility of his actions, but the rumbling is an extremely unfortunate even that was 100% avoidable if diplomacy had been an option.

Eren, no! That’s all I can say at this point! Armin please, I’m begging you, stop your mans.

Eren, what the fuck?

Eren's self pity doesn't change the fact that he's killing millions of innocents and he's not going to stop despite it.

Eren’s guilt over his actions doesn’t mean a thing considering he’s still doing it. The fact that he saw the future and did nothing to stop it (and actively made it happen) makes him even worse. I don’t feel sorry for him in the slightest.

Even though Eren has the skeletal structure as an (I don't even know.. turkey/bird.. eh...) people are still going to simp the shit out of him on twitter, like jfc-

Eren wanted to destroy all life outside paradis not because he wanted outside world to be just a wonderland of blazing fire , grasslands etc. but because the people outside are making it impossible enough for him to realise his dream of total freedom

I would like to add that AruAni scene was, in my opinion, really important for both armin and Annie character development, since they're having a romance scene with the theoretically enemy (armin is from paradis and Annie is from Marley). I think this represent well that people from Marley and people from Eldia can live together, without violence. (I wish I could write more, but English is not my first language)

I'm glad we're finally getting things more thoroughly from Eren's perspective. Up until now, his motivations and thoughts have mostly been discussed by other characters, but we finally get to hear from him directly. This chapter mostly confirmed what I suspected, that Eren isn't heartless, but he was also a tragic character that was perfectly aware of the destruction he was about to bring upon so many people. Overall really good, can't wait for the next chapter, whatever it may be.

I'm happy that Isayama made clear what an egoist and violent nature Eren always had, since he was a child: he's not an hero, not an avenger and surely not the "chad goat" some teen edgelords think.

I'm literally shaking so hard rn

The wall titans were always an obvious metaphor for "what if Japan had WMDs", but in this chapter this is made even more obvious when there is nothing left from migrant children but two dark kid-shaped splatters on the ground, which is a pretty clear visual reference to citizens of Hiroshima leaving nothing but scorched silhouettes behind when the atomic bombing happened.

Ironically, there was a popular twitter thread this week about the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and despite not being very familiar with the topic itself, I was somewhat amused to find the arguments in the comments to be very familiar. It's payback, it's to prevent future war, it was justified because of Japanese government's war crimes, Japanese citizens were indoctrinated and racist and would NEVER give up fighting foreigners so bombings were a mercy, it's collateral damage, etc etc.

The warriors deserve much better than being used as props.

There's 99% chance this series is getting a downer ending

They had it coming. The world was warned yet they still provoked him so much. I feel for Eren..

What is the most disappointing thing is how selfish and unreasonable mankind can be. So much hatred between so many people and nations, the world of Attack on Titan is a cursed one. So much blood spilled everywhere, and why? Is it because it's justice? Or is it because it's mother nature? Or is it because mankind is known for bloodshed and selfishness? So much hatred has blinded people, they no longer care to listen for the reason. Nothing matters to them, just their goals. All of this pointless conflict when people can simply try to speak up, try to understand each other, simply make bonds. If people could only live with a bit more empathy... All we can do is hope that so many deaths will have any meaning. Or perhaps Genocide/omnicide never had any meaning... Perhaps all of this was pointless strife.

This chapter confirmed Uri's predictions during his conversation with Kenny by the river. It remains to be seen now whether the alliance will be able to stop eren. I am sad for the world and for Ramzi and his brother. The pictures were horrible to watch (Isayama is very good at drawing emotions).

i'm...so very tired

I’m freakin cryin i need someone to hold me

Slowly, everything is coming back in its place. I am super dedicated at this point to the manga and I just hope Isayama is gonna be able to reach the perfect conclusion for such all these years of construction.

So Eren is a fish Titan...?

Still pro-rumble

Such a tragedy this whole story is. Really heartbreaking to witness. But so meticulously done and masterfully written.

Somebody said, maybe Eren and Zeke were actually fighting or going on memory journey schmuck in the Paths currently, that's why Eren is sleeping and automatically runs the titan on the outside.

If zeke didn’t pull this shit up in the first place none of this wouldn’t happen

Starting to reconsider the time-loop theory being wrong. Everything is literally coming full circle.

Isayama youre a genius but you love seeing us hurt and confused dont you 😭😭😭

It bothered me how surprised people were that Eren did the rumbling and it was sad. He's been saying he was gonna do it for ages, and now he is. What's with the surprised pikachu fandom?

Jesus Christ everyone needs therapy

Please end this story with happy ending!

#snk poll #snk polls #snk chapter 131 #snk 131

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snkpolls · 6 years ago

Text

SnK S3E06 Poll Results (Manga Reader Version)

The poll closed with 490 responses. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Please note that this is the results of the manga reader poll. Anime only watchers are suggested not to read if you do not wish to be spoiled about certain events! Anime only viewers, click here to view your poll results!

NOTE: Another week, a few more mess ups and overlooked things. Upon realizing that we are rushing ourselves a bit too much and the poll dropping in quality is the unfortunate side effect, we will be moving the poll to Tuesdays from this point forward. This will allow us more time to see what others are discussing, think up questions, make sure we’ve touched on all of the important points, and to proofread more thoroughly before publishing. Thank you for being patient with us throughout this whole process! We apologize for our mess ups over the last couple of weeks.

RATE THE EPISODE 478 Responses

Overall the episode got high rankings and positive reviews!

I loved it, just wish they had given the Grisha vs Frieda segment more time and fully animated it rather than show it in flashes and stills. Though it wouldn't surprise me if they do later when we get his full story.

It was awesome! I'm starting to enjoy this season more with each episode. I'm hyped for the action next episode.

the best episode so far

Once the uprising arc is done, this episode will definitely be included in my favorite episodes list.

I was skeptical at first of the changes they were making to Frieda's foreshadowing, but the sequencing of events in the episode made up for it! Everything flowed so smoothly, from Eren's memories to Historia's, introducing the concept of mindwipe immunity followed immediately by Kenny's old talk with his grandpa. Each point led right into the next.

This week's episode felt almost slow with the way it ended. I'm not complaining, although I feel the sting of all those missed moments that got cut off prior to this.

This episode was freaking awesome. I keep replaying the scene where Eren sees Grisha's memories. The whole sequence and the OST is amazing!!

When it comes to rating these last few eps, I keep second-guessing myself on how to rate them. On the one hand, they've been fairly faithful to the manga and the animation, as always, has been top notch. So in that aspect they are good and deserve a high rating. It's just that the Uprising arc is so incredibly dull to me, that I am also not exactly excited about these eps and probably will skip all of them on future rewatches. But the anime is not to blame for that. ¯\_㋡_/¯

ep of the season so far

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SCENES DID YOU ENJOY THE MOST? 485 Responses

Eren unlocking Grisha’s memories was the big moment of the episode, winning the majority vote. Followed closely is Historia unlocking her memories of Frieda, Rod’s retelling of Grisha’s attack and Kenny’s flashback to his talk with his grandpa.

I also enjoyed the Ackerman talk, it gives more significance to what’s to come in the future

OPENING SCENE WAS BOMB

I absolutely love Frieda! She was the greatest sister ever. Too bad she had to die so young. I liked her voice as well :) The scene with her and Historia symbolized peace, love and happiness, while the scenes in the crystal cave symbolized pain and sorrow. I liked that.

KENNYKENNYKENNYKENNYKENNY

Is it weird that I liked the Zacklay part more than the flashback? C:

My fav scene was when Mikasa and Levi were talking about Mikasa's past and their awaking of power

Really liked the focus on each character when Levi asked them if they were ready to get their hands dirty. They looked resolved.

The Ackertalk!!!!!!!!

ON A SCALE OF “I’D RATHER IT WAS DIFFERENT” TO “SAWANO IS A GENIUS!” HOW MUCH HAVE YOU BEEN ENJOYING THE SOUNDTRACK TO THE SEASON SO FAR? 482 Responses

As expected of Sawano! The majority of respondents are enjoying the music this season. A few think the picks could be better, however.

The OST in this season has been awesome.

To the music part: I haven't found a track that really stands out, I want something as good as youseebigttgirl

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO EREN’S MEMORY SEQUENCE? 477 Responses

The majority of respondents were overall pleased with the way that Eren’s flashes of the altercation in the cave went down. A few would rather it have been different.

Frieda was beautiful and that's all I care about

I love the way wit did Eren's eyes during the flashback sequence. Honestly it made me feel more like dead

I loved it, some amazing voice acting with Erens scream at the end

While the fast flashes made total sense to me as a narrative choice I would have personally liked it better if it was Slower

Great paths depiction, mindblowing OST, not biggest fan of how they presented goblin Eren in just two still images

Pretty awesome. I don't like how Frieda's titan looks however, I thought that the manga design gave off a far more divine and powerful aura than the anime one, which honestly just looks like a regular titan with different eyes.

The P A T H S visuals were beautiful but I feel like the flashbacks themselves could have been done better. The RIP Grisha scene was practically still images when it could have been one of the most visceral and intense moments in the series. Idk I just found the flashbacks themselves very underwhelming

openly sobbing

Eren’s shocked expression while seeing those memories/listening to rod talk makes me feel bad for him all over again, but WIT also gave a lot of shots of his abs and back muscles *-* like, idk if I wanna hug him or fuck him

could've been much better. kid Eren screaming after realizing he ate his dad was heartbreaking though

HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THE MECHANICS OF ZACKLEY’S “ART”? 479 Responses

It goes without saying that most respondents were put off by Zackley’s torture device, although there’s a sizable amount who did find it amusing. Generally speaking, most fans aren’t happy about the scene being included overall.

AoT will end, but Art will last forever

I HATE THE SHIT MACHINE!!!!!!

I cant believe we got the shit machine! Art is still alive!

I feel kinda tired of the whole shitmachine stuff. What is so special about some old, fat, ugly, nude, sweating dude who was forced to drink own piss? Why so many fans is obsessed with it? The episode had so many great moments - but almost everything I'm actually hearing about it this dumb shitbitchmachine.

I still fail to see what that machine added to this part of the story....

HOW DADDY IS ERWIN’S NEW HAIRDO? 480 Responses

Although there were mixed responses, overall the fandom is digging the new hairdo. Many even think Commander Handsome is looking even more dashing than before! ;)

Can we get more scenes with Erwin being Commander Handsome?

Erwin looks much younger now on my opinion XD

OMG ERWIIIIIIIIIN SO HOT

GRISHA’S EYES WERE GLOWING GREEN BEFORE HE ATE FRIEDA, AND THEY STARTED GLOWING PURPLE AFTERWARDS. DO YOU THINK THIS HAS ANY MEANING? 481 Responses

The overwhelming majority believe that the glowing eyes do have significant meaning. We covered this concept in more detail a few questions down!

Erens attack Titans eyes glow green too, I think it's just for effects

Yes, Frieda was not tasty and Grisha's stomach hort a lot after eating her

I didn't even noticed XD But I'm not sure if it has any meaning

Super saiyan

Frieda's eyes were purple during her Titan transformation. Grisha's eyes changing to the same colour after he ate Frieda, meant that he gained the Founding Titan power, gained Frieda's memories and the memories of the previous Founding Titan holders.

It could hardly be a slip of the hand in the animation department. They did it for a reason

The purple is the same as Frieda's Titan so it's likely because he came in contact with a Titan with Royal Blood and that changed his Titan's eye color

it's his magical girl transformation

WHICH TITAN WORE THEIR CHEST HAIR BETTER? 478 Responses

This was a close one! But ultimately Grisha inched just a few percentage points above Zeke. The commentary also reflects this and, frankly, we are a bit concerned. Are you guys okay?

Gaston ain't got nothing on Grisha Titan's chest hair.

Grisha's titan can spank me

Titan Grisha can mount me anytime.

WHEN FRIEDA READS HISTORIA THE FAIRY TALE, THE “GOOD GIRL” CHARACTER IS NAMED KRISTA. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS ADDITION? 478 Responses

It was a close split between excitement over seeing (or rather, being reminded) how Historia got the name “Krista” for her persona and those who are questioning the validity of the name in the book. We also received plenty of snarky reminders that we overlooked the detail of this being mentioned in chapter 51. Perhaps it’s time for us to take a week off! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I love how they’re differentiating the Marleyan legend from the Eldian one

I thought I was supposed to be Ymir, but I think it’s a really interesting addition to how Historia got the name Krista.

Since we know Rod gave her the name Krista, it felt kinda irrelevant. It also somehow implies that Krista's personality is the result of what remained in Historia's head from Frieda's preaching which I don't think was necessary to justify at all. Historia could've chosen to be the kind of girl Krista is by herself.

I love how, as time passed and memories changes, Ymir Fritz became Krista Lenz. And so, both Ymir and Historia got named by someone else after the same person. I love it.

It's not really an addition since her name appeared in the manga (at the beginning of chapter 51 when Historia goes crazy)

It did make things pretty confusing. I think that the government could've entirely changed the story of Ymir and the titan's and renamed Ymir in the books, and that's why she is now called Christa.

On one hand I think it's appropriate because the Reiss family didn't want Historia to know the Eldian history, yet I think the specific name of Krista wasn't a great decision because as I remember it, Rod was the one who made Historia take on the name Krista, so to suggest that Historia chose it because of that story is inconsistent.

‪Historia did say Krista was “a girl from a book she read as a child” in chapter 51, but learning in chapter 86 that the girl is Ymir Fritz led some people to believe that, back then, Historia was referring only to the girl's personality and not her name. The anime just clarified that in Frieda's book she is indeed named Krista, perhaps suggesting the story has different versions in Marley/the world and Paradis.‬

IT’S CONFIRMED THAT GRISHA’S AND FRIEDA’S TITANS HAD GLOWING EYES, SIMILAR TO THE PURE TITANS THAT THE COORDINATE CONTROLLED, DO YOU THINK THIS RELATES TO EREN’S EYES GLOWING IN LIBERIO? 466 Responses

As reflected above, most respondents believe that the glowing eyes do bear significance. 41% of voters believe that it’s indicative of the power of the titan taking over its host, while 32% believe the significance is something else. 16% of voters think it’s simply just a cool aesthetic effect.

I don't understand anything any more

Woah I've not thought about that enough to give an answer!!

I have no fucking clue, this stuff is confusing.

I honestly just think those titans happen to have glowing eyes. Nothing more.

WHICH TRANSITION DID YOU LIKE BETTER? 479 Responses

70% loved the transition of Kenny looking into the knife and revealing his younger self.

I truly love Kenny <3

Kenny is beautiful and the transition from younger to older Kenny in the reflection of his knife was my absolute favorite part of the entire episode.

Kenny was a highlight in this episode once again, I especially loved the flashback scene with him and grandpa Ackerman talking about family history after Levi and Mikasa's Ackertalk. The transition back to Levi was really unsubtle, though.

WHICH PV SCENE ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST? 482 Responses

Generally, the majority are most looking forward to the showdown between Squad Levi/Hange vs. the Interior MP Squad. About 31% of voters altogether are looking forward more to more Jaeger/Reiss focus, however!

Can I vote again for Hange is a BAMF?

i honestly don't care at all about the interior MP v.s squad levi fight. I just wanna get back to the reiss/jaeger action

Give me Levi yelling Hange's name or give me DEATH

can't wait for the next episode and the showdown!!!

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE EPISODE?

Finally we arrived to my favorite part of this arc. Even though it doesn't have that much action as the other seasons, this is the part I love the most. Knowing how Eren got the Attack AND the Founding titans, Historia becoming the rightful queen of the walls, Levi's backstory, Kenny's dream and his friendship with Rod Reiss' brother, learning that there's a world outside of the walls by Keith Shadis; all of this until the fight against the collosal and armored titans back in Shignashina district and everybody discovering the sea.

Now I finally understand why Kenny killed so many MP officers. I used to believe he had done that for fun. Now I know he did that to protect his family. I really enjoyed the moments between him and his grandpa - it made me to feel how important the bloodline was for him.

I'm a bit disappointed that they made Frieda's titan hair black, I was hoping for it to be a lighter colour, and I preferred the lighter hair a bit more. But overall her titan form was pretty cool!

They left out the part where Kenny tells Rod he is looking for a bathroom because he has to go #2! ಠ_ಠ How could they skip that after they included the whole poop machine scene?! I also wasn’t sure how I felt about the girl being named Krista in the book being read to Historia. I thought that was supposed to be Ymir. Otherwise, the episode was superb.

Erwin is my husband and I love it when he goes into Commander Mode™. Also so not ready for more information about Levi’s childhood, and yet also I need to see Little Levi™ at the same time

FRIEDA WAS GREAT

Now that two big plot points are over (the overthrowing of the government and Grisha’s deed) and another one is under way, I can say this season is so underwhelming compared to the manga. There is no suspense, no feeling of satisfaction, no tension, because they cut too many parts in the beginning that hinted at future events (eren’s experiments for examples) and simplified characters’ moral struggles that i think are understandable only to us manga readers because “we know”. I think, for a story (the one of uprising) that relied on suspense so much, this lighting-fast, confusing pace just made every victory totally underwhelming. I’m left with a feeling of “oh...okay” and i am hating it because the Uprising Arc is my favorite manga Arc.

With this episode I'm back to being sad about how coldly Erwin is portrayed again, but I guess that is just the way it's going to be. I don't think anyone can be as successful of a leader as Erwin has been with such a cold and uncaring facade, so I'm just going to agree to disagree with Isayama and WIT how a character like Erwin should be portrayed. The only positive about the anime is how Erwin's developing depression is really hammered home in this and the previous episode. From the manga it was quite unclear to me how all that had happened, but now I can see the progression very clearly starting from Erwin's little talk with Zackley the Creepy Artist and continuing with Pixis' merciless opinion of Erwin and his gamble.

Yeah for all the flashbaCks! And omg Frieda!! I love her sooo much! I was looking forward to see her in this episode and I'm not disappointed at all! I just wanted to hug her and little Historia! ;-;

THOUGHTS ON EPISODE 5:

104th celebrating their freedom was dope

I really loved this episode because Erwin had his chance to shine for once. I especially loved the foreshadowing of what a huge mistake they might have just made with the coup d'état. And I loved seeing my second favourite commander, Nile, as well! He's been growing on me for a longer while now, but the anime is really reminding me how Nile has always been a sensible but kind person.

Episode was ok. The cinematography of the episode was rather lacking at points and without some of the conversations with Nile and Pixis, the confrontation is somewhat oversimplified.

The conversation between Erwin and Zackley broke my heart. Implying the two would have anything in common is outrageous, and Erwin's reaction to the comparison is the proof of it. Erwin was so human and vulnerable in that moment that I thought finally they did justice to his character.

EREN'S ABS WILL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH TO REPLACE ERWIN'S AND LEVI'S ABS!!! THAT'S THE WORST BETRAYAL EVER, WIT!!!!!

I like that there is more and more dialogue and information during the recent episodes!

i thought it was good. at the time i was sad the "do you remember your father's sin" reveal wasn't the cliffhanger but since it was the opening for this episode and it was amazing in my opinion i have no problems.

Eren is hot

Erwin=Daddy

That cliffhanger with Historia was great! I wonder if they'll be able to replicate the one in the manga where it looks like she's about to inject herself. It'll be disappointing if they don't.

The Hange monologue at the end, however, with Levi's input was really weird and it didn't make much sense to me how they could infer so many ""clues"" about the truth and the Reiss family from what Hange was telling. The same is true about Armin's sudden but oh so convenient musings about how Eren inherited his titan powers. It was clear foreshadowing, but really badly executed.

i was waiting for this question on ep 5 poll, thnks! Well my thought were "there's no way they'll animate the shit machine" and "I WANT MOAR LEVI"

WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES? 468 Responses

We overlooked a platform this week, our apologies!

Oi where's the 4chan option

Thank you again to everyone who participated. We’ll see you back on Tuesday!

#snk poll #snk polls #snk spoilers #snk s3 #poll results

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