Eren might not consciously intend it as manipulation.
This Eren might not. The other one — the one existing throughout too many years, pulling strings in his own past — probably would. Eren in the present, even confused as he sometimes feels, isn't quite that unhinged.
Or he could just be deluding himself. He's been manipulative since he was a kid. It just shows up in different ways. If he was accused of it, he'd get mad, defensive. But he'd pulled some innocent friend act on Reiner long enough to attack him. He's never been above playing dirty.
He is aware, however, that as far as words go, as far as being smart goes, he can't hold a candle to Erwin, or Hange, or…or Armin. He never could. He doesn't know how to solve problems without destruction, without violence. He's as resolved as he can be right now to see this thing through. Eventually he'll accept that there is no other way.
He just doesn't know how to get Erwin on his side and keep him there long enough for it to be too late. That's what it has to be. He has to get Erwin to be ready to kill a whole lot of people, but spare Zeke. It's a hard sell. Zeke decimated their numbers. Erwin would have died there, too, sacrificing himself to give Levi time to take down the Beast Titan.
And Levi. Would Levi be okay with it? Eren knows the answer, but Levi will follow Erwin…won't he? Whatever Erwin does, Levi and Hange will be right there. The rest of the Scouts will be with them, even if they don't always agree.
He's seen the ending, though. It has to be that. Where in time can't he see? How is so much still confused and clouded? (Spoilers: he did half of this to himself.)
He checks back in to the conversation and shakes his head.
"We can't take them head on," he says, an agreement. "They have…"
Weapons we don't, he wants to say. Machines. Things that fly. That sounds insane, and even Eren isn't entirely sure of what he's trying to describe.
"…more titans than we do," he finishes, which is true. They only have two. Three, counting the Founder, but it doesn't really count as it is. They still have Annie taken out of Marley's ranks, but that leaves the others. Reiner, who Eren has never quite beaten in a fight. The Cart, whatever the hell that one does. Carries…a gun? Yeah, he's not sure. The Jaw, since there is no way they will let Ymir live. Eren can't even feel bad about it; she made her choice.
Zeke, the Beast Titan, an opponent that should not be underestimated. Eren knows Zeke will help him, but he also knows Zeke is dangerous. They all saw it, went through it.
And the War Hammer? Does Marley ever actually use it? What is it, exactly? A man on a stage yelling dramatically. The taste of blood. Explosions in a harbour. That's the one Eren has to take. He doesn't understand how he knows it's that one, but it is.
"You can do a lot without being a titan," he adds, which isn't flattery. Eren has never in his life pandered to anyone like that. It's just true. "You can do strategy and all that."
Eren's words are far from eloquent, but it doesn't matter. Erwin is the smartest person he knows, probably. Erwin or Hange. He shoves thoughts of Armin out of his mind as best he can. There has to be something Erwin can see, think of, do, that Eren can't yet. Anyway, he's well aware he's still a military asset. Even if Erwin doesn't see him that way, Erwin isn't the whole military.
"We can't let them get past the shore," he says, staring off into nothing like he sometimes does. He still has one hand on the horse's neck. The animal's nostrils flare, sensing something off, but she doesn't shy or turn to bite him or anything. Their horses deal with way more stressful things than Eren being weird.
4 MORE years later l-lol
This Eren might not. The other one — the one existing throughout too many years, pulling strings in his own past — probably would. Eren in the present, even confused as he sometimes feels, isn't quite that unhinged.
Or he could just be deluding himself. He's been manipulative since he was a kid. It just shows up in different ways. If he was accused of it, he'd get mad, defensive. But he'd pulled some innocent friend act on Reiner long enough to attack him. He's never been above playing dirty.
He is aware, however, that as far as words go, as far as being smart goes, he can't hold a candle to Erwin, or Hange, or…or Armin. He never could. He doesn't know how to solve problems without destruction, without violence. He's as resolved as he can be right now to see this thing through. Eventually he'll accept that there is no other way.
He just doesn't know how to get Erwin on his side and keep him there long enough for it to be too late. That's what it has to be. He has to get Erwin to be ready to kill a whole lot of people, but spare Zeke. It's a hard sell. Zeke decimated their numbers. Erwin would have died there, too, sacrificing himself to give Levi time to take down the Beast Titan.
And Levi. Would Levi be okay with it? Eren knows the answer, but Levi will follow Erwin…won't he? Whatever Erwin does, Levi and Hange will be right there. The rest of the Scouts will be with them, even if they don't always agree.
He's seen the ending, though. It has to be that. Where in time can't he see? How is so much still confused and clouded? (Spoilers: he did half of this to himself.)
He checks back in to the conversation and shakes his head.
"We can't take them head on," he says, an agreement. "They have…"
Weapons we don't, he wants to say. Machines. Things that fly. That sounds insane, and even Eren isn't entirely sure of what he's trying to describe.
"…more titans than we do," he finishes, which is true. They only have two. Three, counting the Founder, but it doesn't really count as it is. They still have Annie taken out of Marley's ranks, but that leaves the others. Reiner, who Eren has never quite beaten in a fight. The Cart, whatever the hell that one does. Carries…a gun? Yeah, he's not sure. The Jaw, since there is no way they will let Ymir live. Eren can't even feel bad about it; she made her choice.
Zeke, the Beast Titan, an opponent that should not be underestimated. Eren knows Zeke will help him, but he also knows Zeke is dangerous. They all saw it, went through it.
And the War Hammer? Does Marley ever actually use it? What is it, exactly? A man on a stage yelling dramatically. The taste of blood. Explosions in a harbour. That's the one Eren has to take. He doesn't understand how he knows it's that one, but it is.
"You can do a lot without being a titan," he adds, which isn't flattery. Eren has never in his life pandered to anyone like that. It's just true. "You can do strategy and all that."
Eren's words are far from eloquent, but it doesn't matter. Erwin is the smartest person he knows, probably. Erwin or Hange. He shoves thoughts of Armin out of his mind as best he can. There has to be something Erwin can see, think of, do, that Eren can't yet. Anyway, he's well aware he's still a military asset. Even if Erwin doesn't see him that way, Erwin isn't the whole military.
"We can't let them get past the shore," he says, staring off into nothing like he sometimes does. He still has one hand on the horse's neck. The animal's nostrils flare, sensing something off, but she doesn't shy or turn to bite him or anything. Their horses deal with way more stressful things than Eren being weird.