dreamsofwings: (66)
Eren Jaeger ([personal profile] dreamsofwings) wrote2019-08-22 10:34 am
Entry tags:

open post;



some possible plot ideas here.
offeredhearts: (Of my reasons for defying reason)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2023-09-12 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, three are in our possession." Erwin doesn't refute that they will unlock the power of the Founder. It's something he thinks about constantly, given that it is likely still Marley's goal to retrieve it somehow. "But in terms of physicality, we are working with two."

There's no way to know how quickly they may face retaliation for this latest victory. They will likely have escaped back to Marley, to regroup and strategize. How often did boats come, he wonders? Was there a pre-arranged rendezvous interval? How long did it take them to make the trip from the nearest point? Without any ideas or hints about these answers, it's difficult to know how soon to expect another attack - which is why finding the touchpoint on the island as quickly as possible is his top priority.

Erwin hasn't shifted his focus from Eren, silently taking in the details of his posture, the tension tight in his arm as he grips the gate. For a moment, Erwin thinks of himself at fifteen, wonders if he wouldn't have completely shattered under the weight of such power and expectations. Naturally, he'd like to think not. But if enough people had tried to steer him toward a different goal, who's to say he wouldn't have gone off on his own? Levi and Mikasa notwithstanding, it's still remarkable that Eren has been as compliant as he has been, thus far. Luckily their goals have aligned.

But that could change.

"I would like to avoid either scenario, if possible." It's perhaps a diplomatic answer, but Erwin notably doesn't refute it outright. Although that may have more to do with the fact that eradicating an entire group of people that likely far outnumber the whole population of their island is an unfeasible goal, as far as he's concerned.

"Even if we are a people in exile, this is still our home to defend. If Marley insists on continued aggression, we will respond in kind." If they prove that they can defend Paradis well enough, maybe Marley will be more open to diplomatic discussions.

One of the horses has noticed their presence, and comes trotting up to the fence, whickering a greeting and waiting expectantly - possibly for a good rub on the nose, or a treat from a pocket. Erwin retrieves two halves of a dried apple and hands one to Eren before stepping up to feed the other to the animal, rubbing fondly between her ears.
offeredhearts: (Default)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2023-09-20 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
It's amazing, really, what animals can do for people. The horses have always been an important part of the Survey Corps, so often their lifelines out beyond the walls. They lose them nearly at the same rate as their soldiers, their losses often nearly as keenly felt. Caring for them is a vital part of the corps activities, almost ritualistic and therapeutic for some. Erwin has both seen and felt the comfort in it. He thinks he sees a little bit of it in Eren now, a handful of moments where their conversation and the unhappy events of the past several months seem to just wash entirely away.

Erwin waits a little while before responding, letting those moments stretch. Their time is limited, now, with Eren's already a third over. They should hold onto the peaceful moments for as long as they can.

"I know," he agrees, although Erwin files that part about the titans in the walls as a point of interest to return back to. "We are at the disadvantage of being forced to prove them right. By threatening us they force our hand to choose, to lay down and accept death, or to fight for our lives, and for some of us to turn ourselves into the devils they believe us to be to protect the rest."

It still feels as though there is a piece missing. Why, after more than a hundred years, did Marley suddenly feel the need to increase its violence against the people inside the walls? More than four generations have gone by since the initial exile, and aside from an apparent steady stream of forcibly transforming people into pure titans, wandering in unceasing nightmares, it seemed as though they had been content to let them be.

Sending in agents to track down Grisha Jeager could have been done more covertly than using children with the power of the Armored and Colossal titans.

Resources is his most prominent theory. Perhaps Marley is in need of more land or minerals, or is aware of something that even they here on Paradis have know knowledge of. Is the island in a place that has suddenly become of strategic importance?

These are the sorts questions that spin almost unceasingly through his mind. There is so much to know about the outside world that it burns deep and hot in his core, not unlike the raging, impossible heat of the Colossal titan, now infused within him.

Erwin blinks, as though coming out of a trance.

"Eren, the memories of the moments of inheriting a titan are suppressed, so for years you weren't aware you were carrying it." Two, technically, as he's already pointed out. "But looking back on it...is there anything from your time as a cadet that you can recall that might have been a sign? A feeling or a memory you didn't understand?"
offeredhearts: (ways we accept as part of fate's decree)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2023-10-09 03:42 pm (UTC)(link)
It helps that Erwin doesn't hear it as a barb. In fact, it stands in almost direct opposition to some of the crueler things said to him throughout his life, which have always put doubt in his judgment, painted him like someone who is somehow wrong or broken for having the goals and desires he does.

What's more, Levi's choice has left him yet with that heavy burden to carry; to make Armin's sacrifice, and that of all those Erwin lead to their deaths that day and all the days before to have meaning. If they simply allow Marley to wipe out their people, anyone they left behind whom they loved or could have loved, what would have been the point, in the end?

For their sake, they must now not just fight for survival, but as always, for their right to thrive.

Erwin had already made a choice to become a devil. Perhaps it is only fitting that he take on that role in the most literal sense. He flexes his right hand and looks to Eren, fixing an intense blue gaze on him, full of unwavering conviction.

"Yes. If that is what it takes, and they cannot be convinced that we are no threat to them otherwise." But there are ways to do that without widespread violence - or at least attempted, anyway.

His gaze shifts back to the horse, softening a little. The animal alternately noses at them both, looking for more treats, and he reaches to scratch lightly just behind her ears as he considers Eren's answer and question.

"I see." He knows Hange has interviewed Eren a number of times with similar questions, but Erwin is trying to align similarities in their experiences. Aside from the obvious physical changes, it's hard to pin down if he really does feel differently, or if he thinks he does because he is already aware of the power he now carries. There is a sense of something, but it could easily be dismissed by someone who wasn't told what happened.

"Nothing of particular consequence. My dreams have been...strange, but I think primarily of when I-..."

He stops, aborting the sentence. For all that he's been called a monster, will rise to the reality of his new situation, the thought and even flashes of memory of eating another person (a young cadet, Bertolt, caught between childhood and adulthood and generations of horror) still make him feel physically ill.

Erwin takes a moment to push the feeling away, and continues along another thread.

"Once or twice I believe I've had a glimpse of something that might have belonged to Bertolt, but the memory is...not definitive."
offeredhearts: (Default)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2023-12-29 05:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Erwin takes it that he'll get used to the strange memories filtering in, the dreams. Perhaps a little of the idea that he ate someone, but in truth he doesn't think he'll ever quite be over it. It is strange to think of it, to know that others bore witness to the act. Part of him thinks that they all look at him differently, think of him differently, and it isn't entirely just because he now carries the power of the Colossal Titan, but because they've seen him do one of the most horrific things, one of the most terrifying things that could be suffered by any human being - the things they've all fought to prevent.

Even if it isn't true, he feels it. Those memories are there, in all of them, even though he himself only has glimpses of it, feelings.

Becoming a monster, indeed. Now he has completed that transformation.

"...yes," Erwin agrees quietly.
offeredhearts: (Of my reasons for defying reason)

5 years later sob

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2024-03-27 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
We can't just wait for them to come.

Erwin turns a steady, clear gaze to Eren. It's at once piercing and veiled, his expression even. It seems almost an innocent, logical conclusion. Reiner and Zeke escaping along with the Cart Titan, taking the knowledge of what's happened back to their people likely means an even bigger retaliation. It would seem prudent, therefore, to be proactive, perhaps even to make a bigger move first. Yet there are too many variables, too many unknowns he hasn't had time yet to tease out.

But there's also something subtly...sinister, almost, about the suggestion, and the question that follows. Erwin isn't entirely sure if Eren intends it as manipulation, would ordinarily say that he wouldn't consider Eren capable of that sort of subtlety. But it sets something off in his mind, vibrating like a string being plucked. It's clear enough the answer Eren is hoping for, prodding at the idea that they should be doing something, and something significant, at that.

"Unfortunately, it's too early to say what they may or may not do next. They failed to completely eliminate us or capture you to bring back with them, so I expect their return will not be a pleasant one. We have gained much by finally obtaining the knowledge that your father left for us, but there is more yet we do not know, including what may have changed in the years since that time.

For now, I plan to focus on rebuilding our forces, and eliminating the remaining titans outside our walls. A frontal assault will be meaningless otherwise. And," he pauses, looking down at his right hand. Regrown. Healthy. Whole.

"Like you have done, I believe I should train myself in understanding this new power. That will take time, and require considerably more space."
offeredhearts: (strange how this journey's hurting)

tagging every 4 months-

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2024-11-10 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
The addition makes Erwin smile a little, just enough of a curve to his lips and a crinkling of his eyes to be there. It's a little distant, not quite wry as he looks out across the pasture, as though he can see all the way to the sea. They're on an island. Isolated. Contained. There's no clear indication yet of just how far away they might be from anything else. They can navigate by stars, but they have no practical knowledge of how to build or maneuver a ship across such an endless expanse of water.

He wants to see it more than anything. His palms practically tingle at the thought, of reaching that shore and looking out to see a perfectly flat, open horizon.

Supposedly, the whole of the world is against them. Regardless of what Grisha Jaeger had recorded, Erwin is well aware that this is only the recording of one man's account and experiences. While he doesn't necessarily doubt the truth of what was written, humans are never uniform in their beliefs. They may yet find allies in the world beyond, or uncover many more sides than even perhaps Grisha knew. There are possibilities, but it's impossible to guess at what shape they have until they have the chance to actually go out there and see things for themselves.

But first, their island.

"Strategy, yes. Although I doubt that they are not without their own military thinkers." Sending young soldiers in to infiltrate their ranks - yes, someone certainly had a specific plan in mind. "Still, I do not intend to rely on one or the other, and will consider all of our assets. You are correct, Eren; we must discover their landing points and eliminate or control any infrastructure there." If they're lucky, Marley never bothered to establish more than one place of entry. Why would they, confident enough that their populations would be well contained behind the walls?

Erwin lifts a hand to smooth a palm down the horse's neck below Eren's, a steadying touch. She flicks her tail, eyes shifting between the two of them as she shifts her feet. Their horses are perhaps the most precious resource they have, and now so many of them are gone, along with their riders. Perhaps with this so-called victory, Erwin will be able to recruit yet more people to bolster their numbers; perhaps some from the garrison might request to join. Once they begin to fully eliminate Titans, even more will come over. It'll take time, but it'll happen.

But there will always be the shroud at his back. The ghosts of all those who got them there. Not a night has gone by when he hasn't heard the echo of thundering hoofbeats, the screaming of dying men and horses, the quick flash of shadow overhead of rocks sailing overhead.

Erwin realizes there's a sick pull in his stomach, his hand faintly trembling against the soft auburn hair of the horse's neck. Finally deciding she's had enough of the strange atmosphere, she chuffs and turns away, trotting back to her scant companions in the field.

The Commander swallows down the thickness in his throat, and drops his hand.

"Anyway, I expect to begin training this ability in the coming days. I would like to request that you be on hand to assist in my initial attempts, as someone who has experience."

Of course Erwin could simply order Eren to be present, but especially with so few of them left, it feels important to build a tighter coalition of trust by asking rather than outright demanding. Perhaps it's just an illusion of choice, but sometimes it still makes a difference.