Hello Anon, yes, I am indeed old as balls. Fifty years old in fact, which probably makes me older than everyone in the surviving cast apart from Pixis and Zackley. Levi is catching up on me but he has a way to go yet and tbh I’m not sure he’s gonna make it. And yes, you’re right, I do relate more to the Vets and the other older characters, than to the 104th. At my age I’m afraid I have limited patience for teenage angst, and I have very little interest in stories where the kids save the day yay! It was the older characters that first hooked me into SnK, and that’s where my interest remains. Creating complex, compelling and ambiguous characters is where Yams real talent lies, and I think this really shines through in the older characters in the series. And I don’t mean just the Veterans; Kenny, Pastor Nick, Dimo Reeves, Uri Reiss, Eren Kruger, and many others, are all really fascinating characters. One of the things I love about Yam’s older characters is that you can really see the toll that life takes on them. You can see the impact that Levi’s childhood, and all the loved ones he has lost, has on him as an adult. You can see the way Erwin’s life is shaped by his father’s dream, the way the guilt of all those lives lost weighs him down. These are characters who have lived, and their lives have shaped them.
But it’s not just that. These are all interesting characters in their own right, but it’s their relationships that really bring them to life, and it’s no secret that the one relationship that I am concerned with above all others is Levi and Erwin’s. Despite the wildly fantastic setting of the canon story, and the exaggerated tragedy of their lives, Levi and Erwin have an utterly believable adult relationship; one that is based on mutual trust, respect and understanding. It frustrates me enormously when people deny their canon relationship, despite Yams being at paints to explain it repeatedly in the guidebooks. I want to shake them and ask what the hell they think a relationship looks like when you’re an exhausted 30 + year old war veteran who has spent their entire life fighting for survival. It looks like this; finding someone who you can trust with your life. If you were to ask me what characterizes a successful adult relationship I would say it’s exactly this; mutual trust, respect and understanding, and when push comes to shove, the willingness to do everything in your power to help the person you hold most dear, even if that means letting them go. Sorry this has turned into a bit of a rant Anon, but it does frustrate me a little when I see people negating what to me looks like a deeply touching and believable adult relationship. Perhaps that’s just a perspective that comes with age though.
Why would Levi still choose then for Erwin’s death when he knew all that Erwin was striving for was a mere few dozen yards away? Erwin’s entire existence in the military was to reach the basement. Levi had to tell him to take lead of the charge. If he was really thinking in terms of Erwins good, would he not see it best to let his dream come true? (2/2)
This is topic I’m always happy to discuss, anon! Thank you.
You’d think dreams coming true would be best, and maybe in some stories it is, but not Attack on Titan. Look at what the basement revealed. And look at the hell of Armin’s existence. That would be Erwin blowing up ports, stepping over dying kids, and being the “god of destruction” if the situation were reversed.
What’s important to remember is that moments before the suicide charge, Erwin had given up his dream. At Levi’s insistence, he entrusted Levi with finishing his work. He made his decision. He’d proven to himself what his priorities were and what sort of man he truly was. As a result, Erwin was freed from the guilt and doubt that had long tormented him. The expression on his face as he smiled and thanked Levi was evidence that he was finally at peace.
Reviving Erwin would be undoing all of that. It would be bringing him back to the guilt and doubt and hell of his existence. When Levi realized this, he chose to let him go.
No matter how painful, I’m grateful for Levi’s decision. As the manga progresses, that becomes even more true. He died at peace, surrounded with love, his dignity and humanity preserved. Erwin might disagree, but for me and Levi, that’s way better than any basement truth.
Bent on revenge, superpowered Levi makes a deal with the leader of the Legion, the half-robotic, very charismatic Commander, Erwin Smith.
Superhero AU based on Acwnr. Rated for violence, swearing, as always.
Extract:
He looks like a classicist’s wet dream. Perfect waves of blond hair, sinfully sharp jawline, the shoulder-to-waist ratio of a comic book hero. And those eyes. Blue goddamn eyes that look like they would put the blue of the sunlit sea to shame.
The man takes another step towards Levi -and he smiles. Shit, he even has fucking dimples. For some reason, that pisses off Levi. With a low snarl, he strains his muscles against the binds -and they snap.
The man freezes. His eyes gleam brighter than before and his smile actually widens.
Levi snatches up his blades, flings them at the man, and turns around and bolts.
I kind of like the “Levi tries to seduce Erwin to get the Lovof documents” idea but Levi would be so bad at flirting and seducing, sooo bad at it, absolutely terrible
and now that I mention it, I’d love to read a fic in which he tries so hard and fails even harder and Erwin knows exactly what is going on and is having so much fun
(same anon about Levi’s question to Erwin) I think that neither of them would have left the SC, maybe Erwin would have avoided expeditions, but he would still be very involved, but even if he had decided to retire I think that Levi would have stayed in the SC.
Hello Anon! Sorry I’ve been sitting on your ask for so long, I never seem to manage to get on top of my inbox. I’ve already answered several asks about Erwin’s answer but I don’t think anyone has asked why Levi asked this question in the first place. Levi frequently asked Erwin directly what his plans were, but I think there was more to it in this instance. Immediately before Levi speaks up, Erwin has asked Levi if he can trust him to use the serum depending on how the situation develops.
The implication appears to me that Erwin will not be there to make the decision himself. I think Levi is asking Erwin whether he believes he will survive the missions. Erwin replies that he doesn’t know, and Levi, as always, accepts his answer.
As to what would have happened if Erwin had survived, I am absolutely sure he would have continued as Commander as the Survey Corps and turned all his efforts to seeking a resolution to the conflict with Marley, and I think Levi would have done everything in his power to help him achieve that aim. I don’t think he would have turned his back on the Survey Corps and walked away, how could he? But if he had, I am absolutely sure that Levi would have followed him.
Thank you again for your thoughtful ask Anon, and apologies once again for being so slow to reply.
Procrastination Station 