app

[bulwarks]

Player: Liah
Contact: serves
Age: 27
Current Characters: n/a

Character: Eren Jaeger
Age: 15
Canon: Shingeki no Kyojin
Canon Point: End of Chapter 69

Background: Wiki link (please note there are spoilers for up to ch88 on there)

Personality:

Freedom is a dream, more than a reality where Eren is from and has been Eren's dream since he was younger. (“I have a dream, it’s to exterminate the titans and leave this cramped walled up world. My dream is to explore the outside world.”) He learns of land beyond the walls, walls which make humans seem more like cattle to him, and he starts to fight to get out of his situation and to see the world for how it is described in textbooks. This shows that Eren hates being caged, he likes to run free, to see and breathe in a world that can be dangerous, but there's nothing holding him back. To him a person who has the ability to roam where they want is a person that can truly be happy. The fact that Eren has always had the Survey Corps as his goal says a lot for his determination as well. His family reprimands him but he still wants to join. It's not entirely about heroics, either, he's just aware that the Military Police seem to do nothing in comparison to the Survey Corps. He wants to feel like he's doing something, but it does also go back to the fact that he associates the Survey Corps with freedom as they can travel outside the walls.

Eren's hatred with feeling caged and trapped only rapidly grows when the titans break through. Eren finds his house collapsed in on his mother and while they may argue often, he does love her dearly. He desperately tries to stay behind to get her out, and in the end is dragged away by Hannes to stop him being eaten as well. He's not the type of person to leave someone he cares for behind, no matter the situation. This is partly because of his lack of self preservation, sure, but it's just because he values human lives. Even if people are content with living like cattle, that doesn't mean they deserve to die. In fact, seeing his mother being devoured is mentally scarring enough that when someone brings up the attack during the training he almost can't stomach his food. He has to cover his mouth as the memories flash over him. The most notable thing there though is how he deals with that pain. Any normal human would break down and cry, but Eren has channeled that trauma into hatred. It's not something new that fuels up inside him, but a reaction that's ingrained into him -- the ability to turn feelings into anger to cope. That's what it all is, a coping mechanism for how cruel their world can be.

Before the titans broke into Shiganshina, there are two instances where Eren shows his anger. Firstly, Armin was often bullied by other kids in their town as he was more of a book worm than anything else. Eren is the type who despises bullies, and whenever he caught sight of Armin being kicked or verbally abused, he'd step in with a swing of his fist. It'd often land him in trouble because he was too weak, but the point is that he'd easily rush in and get himself beaten up if it meant Armin was saved. Eren's father described him as someone who can't easily make friends because he's prone to anger and can be a bit of a jerk, but Armin is one person he fought tooth and nail to protect. This really shows that he has a pretty good judge of character, even if it doesn't seem like it at times. Really, it's more than likely that the bullies in his area were against everything Eren stood for and he wouldn't be friends with them no matter what. He's very particular about the people he's close to, but those that gain his trust he is insanely loyal to to the point where he'll rescue his friend from inside a titan's mouth and get eaten instead.

When it comes to Mikasa, this instance shows just how fucked up and unstable Eren can be. Eren was only 9 at the time, had never met Mikasa before, yet still went to her rescue. In this case, however, it meant that as a small boy he took on two kidnappers single handedly, murdered them without an ounce of remorse, and taught Mikasa how to survive ("If you lose, you die. If you win, you live. If you don't fight, you can't win!") and how to take control. Realistically, a boy at that age should have no inclination to violence and murder, yet Eren loses control and shows no remorse. He only told his father that he hadn't murdered anyone, that he'd killed two beasts that sometimes looked like humans. This is because to him anyone who can treat a young girl in the way they did wasn't human. They didn't deserve to be classified as such. After, Eren gave Mikasa his red scarf and was more than happy to have her live with them -- a huge contradiction to what his father had said previously about him being unable to make friends. This contradiction could be again because he can see goodness in Mikasa. She's been through hell, but given that she listens to his advice and helps him fight back, she's aware of what it means to live in this world.

Eren's loyalty is primarily to Mikasa and Armin. Despite often telling Mikasa that she needs to stop coddling him, if anyone says anything about her or does something he doesn't like he'll snap. When Eren is put on trial because of his condition and Mikasa's humanity is questioned he jumps in for her ("Wait! Maybe I am a monster but she has nothing to do with that! Nothing at all!"). He turns it all onto himself, so they no longer have the need to look at Mikasa at all, and makes sure he takes the brunt of the scrutiny in her place. When the Military Police are trying to kill the three of them, he turns part of himself in a titan to protect the others, even though it would make the Police panic more. It means they'll be safe, even if it also means Eren might be pushing himself closer to death.

Eren has a tight grasp on what he believes to be best for humanity. He wants to save every last person he can, even when there is a huge risk. When Armin delivered the plan to block the hole in the gate at Trost, Eren said he'd do it even when he wasn't sure if he could. He took the title of "Humanity's Hope" and tried to become the strength for everyone, even though he knew some people would hate him for what they'd have to believe in--a person who could become a titan to kill other titans--and he swore to do his duty by picking up the boulder and using it to block the gate. Trost would never have a gate leading to Wall Maria again, but it would be better than Wall Rose or Wall Sina eventually falling because they couldn't secure the town. Eren would make that sacrifice for mankind, and it'd come back to bite him in the ass all over again. The importance of this is how far he's willing to push himself for the sake of mankind. In fact, when held captive with Rod Reiss attempting to have his daughter Historia to eat him to regain his titan form and power, he begs her to do it if it will help mankind. This is even for the people who almost sent him to be dissected, because he understands that when it comes to human emotions, fear is one of the strongest.

Additionally, when the female titan chases the Special Operations squad he yells that they need to do something to stop her from killing everyone, he's doing it with every precious life in mind. To him, they are supposed to be the absolute best--if they can't stop this titan, who can? What kind of hope do they have? It's also a question about himself - "Why should everyone die for me?". Later, when he's thinking about their deaths he asks himself why he made the choice he did--the choice that lead Petra and the others to their deaths--his answer is based on him understanding his habit of screwing up pretty often, he does carry guilt for every life that his mistakes takes in the balance. This again shows that while he might sometimes be quick to anger, he's extremely caring at heart. Not only that, but given the chance he would change everything about their world in a heartbeat. He grew close to the Special Operations squad, spent time with them and learnt their habits, likes and dislikes, talked and laughed with them--they became friends, and in a way he'll keep them in his heart as he moves on to keep fighting too. More importantly, perhaps, this also helps him grow as a person into someone who considers their actions more carefully.

What makes Eren unique is that he's well aware of his flaws. He knows that he's over emotional 99% of the time. He knows that he doesn't consider his responsibilities enough--but he aims to change that (“The only child here... is me. I'm just a kid who knows nothing except letting out his own feelings.”). He wants to be seen as someone dependable, he wants people to look towards him for hope and reassurance. He wants to grow up and help the world, because he believes he's capable of it. Following this, he is capable of asking for help and listening to others when necessary.
He asks different members for help with the 3D manuever gear training and that kind of thing is usually beyond him. Not only that, but in later chapters when their battles aren't just about titans, he carefully listens to the plans that Erwin and Armin prepare and actually follows them. He's capable of controlling himself, especially after learning from past mistakes. This shows that he definitely has capabilities to grow over time, and that he really won't be stuck in this over emotional teenage state forever.

Problems arise when it comes to the other shifters. Annie, for instance, helped Eren through the training. She taught him how to counter attack, how to use the opponent's weight against themselves in hand to hand combat. He progresses quickly with her help, but it's because she helped him so thoroughly that he can't seem to believe it when it turns out Annie is the Female Titan Type that tried to kidnap him. It takes Annie shifting in front of his eyes to believe it, and even then he's too hesitant to shift as well. He doesn't want to fight a friend, because that's what she became to him. He's sentimental when it comes to friendship, knowing how easy it is to lose it in this world without things like this happening.

Another of his close relationships is with Levi. In a way, Levi is his guard, he's the one who holds a sword to his neck should he go on a rampage, but he's also someone who believes he really is going to help humanity survive. When Eren accidentally 'sets off' his titan shifting abilities while picking up a spoon, it's Levi that tells the rest of the squad to back off because he believes Eren meant no harm -- and that kind of trust actually is a lot more important than the trust he's had thus far. Levi could easily end his life if necessary, but he never does. He supports Eren through difficult times, and while he absolutely sucks at comfort, he gives him guidance while Eren deals with his sorrow over Petra, Auruo, Erd and Gunther. Not only that, but considering Levi is seen as "Humanity's Strongest" he's almost like the epitome of the Survey Corps. He's a source of strength, someone people look towards, and is someone that understands the burdens they're stuck with.

Eren undergoes hours of countless experiments lead by Hange just to gain some kind of insight into how his titan body works, how long it can last, what it can or can't do. When they're aware of the titans in the walls he tells them he'll definitely try to harden his skin like Annie was capable of doing, because if he could do that he could mend the wall that was currently broken. He is fully aware that there's every possibility that it won't work, and in the end it doesn't, but he keeps trying even though exhaustion claims his body over and over. Hange really pushes him to his limits until he's so exhausted he unlocks memories in his head. Bad memories, too, but even after those he is willing to get up and try again.

It isn't only his actions that shows his determination either, Eren often manages to speak in a way that he strikes inspiration in those that might be struggle with their choices. Before the 104th training squad are to choose the division they wish to join, Eren gives the group a speech about how the military police are cowards who hide within the inner walls, leaving everyone else as sacrifices. He adamantly believes that joining the Survey Corps is the only way to fight back, that humanity has a chance if they work together. He doesn't waver as he proclaims this either, he's too passionate about that belief, even while people around him shrink away and think he's crazy.

The strange thing about that, however, is that despite using that kind of speech, he says it in a way that almost doesn't seem offensive as well as though he knows that it's the understandable human emotion to want to choose the path with the safest route. Really, he might be willing to die for the cause, but not everyone else is. Somehow, most of the 104th training squad end up staying to join the Survey Corps anyway. Even Connie tells Eren later that his speech did something. That they all listened and thought hard about it, and that it helped their choices. The deaths of their friends aided their decisions too, of course. In fact, the one person who is perhaps the most heavily affected by what Eren says is Jean. Even though Eren and Jean are often fight more than get along, he has an incredibly capability to get through to him. His hard headed ways that are unwilling to bend force Jean to consider other things that he might consider too outrageous otherwise. Really, Eren isn't only a "hope" for humanity, he also does a good damn job of making those around him see a light at the end of the tunnel as well--no matter how bad things get.

It's really not the first time Eren has said something in a way that people really can't help but believe in him. Eren's words sparked confidence in others when the Colossal Titan reappears after five years, it's Eren who brings himself back into focus and starts yelling orders. He doesn't let himself get caught up in surprise, and acts more like a foundation for the others who might be scared or lost. This shows that his resolve is stronger than any inner conflict he may face.

While Eren often appears to be a dumbass that's too focused on his goals, it's not entirely the case. While Eren's been hefted with a hell of a lot of responsibility for a 15 year old, he does pay attention to the people around him. Honestly, during training he didn't talk to Christa too much--she was closer to Ymir and Sasha--but he does later tell her that he always thought she seemed phoney to him (“I don't know about the others, but I really didn't like how you used to be. I always felt like you were just trying to act that way, you were unnatural and kind of creepy. But. The way you are now isn't bad.”). Too sweet, too gentle, too nice. When her past is revealed and her identity as Historia revealed, Eren tells her that he prefers her like this, even if it means shes more distant. When she's like this she actually seems like a real person, because with the lives they lead no one is that untainted anymore. He doesn't completely understand the reasons behind it, but because he's always been the type to keep pushing forward no matter the situation, he makes sure that now she has the chance to change things that she can.

Abilities:

• Combat: Eren is exceptionally skilled at hand to hand combat and actually came out as one of the top in his class after Annie in this sector. She taught him moves that he used on other classmates who didn't take training seriously, but also that came in handy even in his titan form when fighting other titans.
  
• Swords/3DMG: He can use the titan fighting equipment of his world well. This enables the user to "fly" through cities by using something similar to grappling hooks and cables and swinging around. They require gas cannisters to function properly and blades sometimes need replacing.
  
• Titan Form: Eren is able to "shift" into a 15m class titan. (Here it's smaller as he usesd to be only 4m, but he's improved since then) This is following a sharp pain, usually him biting his hand to "ignite" the transformation. In his titan form he has exceptional strength that can even lift boulders half his size.
  
• Regeneration: Eren can regenerate, even having his limbs cut off at one point that regrew over night. In his titan form this is much quicker to the point where he can regrow his arm in mere minutes. He cannot, however, focus the energy to one specific area.
  
• Endurance: In his titan form Eren is able to keep going despite hinderences. He's had parts of his body eaten, chopped off etc and has still kept going. This is partly due to his determination and rage as well as the body itself mind you.
  
• Hardening: Thanks to drinking one of the bottles from Rod Reiss Eren is able to harden his body to armor himself from attacks. On top of this, he can also create hardened pillars of what seems like very durable rock from his body, that even when he separates from them stay strong.
  
• Coordinate: Eren possesses what is called "the coordinate" power and with this he can control other titans to attack or stop with a shout. At present he has no idea how to control this power.


Samples: