[ While Jean's spent a good portion of his formative years trying to one-up the boy in front of him, trying to beat him in arguments or fights or find some other way to prove his superiority, it's never actually nice seeing Eren go quiet like this. Leaving Eren of so few words, retreating into himself, is never a victory. Jean first saw this four years ago when Eren began to change. He would often slip deep into his thoughts and stopped reacting at every push of the button. It was a bit like watching a candle lose its light. He doesn't like it. When he speaks to Eren he wants the guy to push back, to yell and shove and proclaim his often stubborn notions. Their relationship isn't a normal one, but that's how it works. ]
Shouldn't we get a choice too? [ On his side of things it just feels like they've been thrown through loop after loop, and every time they try to make sense of a situation everything flips around again. Going to find Eren was the only decision they actually managed to make on their own, the only time they were moving toward something rather than chasing the chaotic circumstances. ]
I'm not stupid, and I'm not idealistic like the others. I know exactly why you did it.
[ Because he's cowardly, he understands the fear of having the whole world come against you. Because he's been trying to do the right thing, he understands why genocide is wrong. Because he's known Eren for so long, he knows that Eren's doing all this because he cares about them. Jean's in a unique position right now, standing at the crossroads of so many different perspectives. ]
I want to live, but ... Eren. You don't have to save us.
[ Eren's not the founder, and he isn't some messiah the Jaegerists make him out to be. To Jean, he's still the jerk who flipped him when they were 12 and forced him to get better at fighting. He doesn't think they've ever asked Eren to save them, but have they been putting pressure on him all this time? It's likely. He remembers the many times he's told Eren 'We're counting on you.'
He wants to believe that if they all put their heads together a better option would arise, but even he isn't sure it will. ]
now that i have changed all my icons i must use them
Shouldn't we get a choice too? [ On his side of things it just feels like they've been thrown through loop after loop, and every time they try to make sense of a situation everything flips around again. Going to find Eren was the only decision they actually managed to make on their own, the only time they were moving toward something rather than chasing the chaotic circumstances. ]
I'm not stupid, and I'm not idealistic like the others. I know exactly why you did it.
[ Because he's cowardly, he understands the fear of having the whole world come against you. Because he's been trying to do the right thing, he understands why genocide is wrong. Because he's known Eren for so long, he knows that Eren's doing all this because he cares about them. Jean's in a unique position right now, standing at the crossroads of so many different perspectives. ]
I want to live, but ... Eren. You don't have to save us.
[ Eren's not the founder, and he isn't some messiah the Jaegerists make him out to be. To Jean, he's still the jerk who flipped him when they were 12 and forced him to get better at fighting. He doesn't think they've ever asked Eren to save them, but have they been putting pressure on him all this time? It's likely. He remembers the many times he's told Eren 'We're counting on you.'
He wants to believe that if they all put their heads together a better option would arise, but even he isn't sure it will. ]