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levi-supreme · 2 years

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A- Z Headcanons of Erwin Smith

Characters: Erwin Smith feat. small mentions of Mike and Levi.

Genre: Modern!au with tiny references to the snk canon if you can see it

Warnings: SFW, fluff. Some suggestive content.

A/N: Happy Birthday Commander (big tits) Erwin Smith!!!!! I wrote him a smutty fic for his birthday last year, so I shall give him something more family-friendly and relatable xD

Also, this one is dedicated to my bestie/sister-in-law Mrs Mia Smith @ack3rlady <333 these are highly inspired by our daily conversations about our husbands so I hope you'll like it 💖

Check out my other modern au!Erwin headcanons here!

A: Attention

Erwin is really attentive and pays a lot of attention to small details. He's the kind of person who remembers a lot of small details, and will hardly forget his schedules and plans.

However, due to his attention to detail, some people might find that Erwin is nitpicking too much. People might also think that Erwin is micromanaging too much as he wants everything to be perfect and in order.

B: Behaviour

Erwin is always calm and collected no matter the situation. He is always polite to people younger than him and respectful to those older than him as well.

Erwin is always the most grounded in his circle of friends, and people tend to depend on him due to how knowledgeable he is too. Erwin is very sensible and intelligent, and hardly does anything that would harm his image.

C: Career

With Erwin'a charisma and great leadership, he would do well in organisations that requires discipline and order, such as the military, the police, or the navy. He would be a very persuasive and charismatic leader who leads with knowledge and compassion.

I can also foresee Erwin doing really well in a political career. He is extremely persuasive and charming, and he can easily garner support from the general public and citizens as well. Likewise, he would also stand firm in his beliefs and work for the rights of the people.

Erwin would also do well in the corporate world, such as opening up his own business, working as a financial advisor, or a fund manager. He makes daring moves and investments, and even though they might be risky, Erwin's wit always bring the organisation he is working for to new heights.

D: Dating

I think Erwin would be someone who enjoys going on classic dates like in the good olden days; a dinner and dance, a late night movie at the outdoor cinema, a walk in the park. He loves spending quality and undisturbed time with his lover, and he loves diverting all his attention to them.

However! Erwin finds thrill and excitement in other kinds of dates too; arcade dates, shopping dates, beach dates, hiking dates just to name a few. As long as he's with his lover, anywhere would always be the perfect date.

E: Energy level

Erwin's mood is always calm and relaxed, so he doesn't have random bursts of energy. He's always on-the-go, and he is always doing something.

Erwin hardly has mood swings as well, unless he is too stressed up at work. Erwin does not really like surprises and impromptu occasions, and he prefers having a plan than to work on spontaneous bursts of energy. Therefore, Erwin would also behave as such, and he is always predictable and easy to go along with.

F: Fashion

I feel that Erwin would have a preference for long sleeve shirts, knitwear, and sweaters. He would like to wear light coloured clothing too. Colours like khaki, beige, ivory, and mother-of-pearl would look very nice on him. Baby blue and sky blue would complement his eyes too.

His wardrobe has a large variety of business suits, formal wear, and also more casual button-ups and tailored trousers. Erwin's wardrobe is more colourful during the spring and summer.

I also feel that Erwin is the kind of person who collects watches, and he has many watches for different suits and occasions.

G: Games

I don't think Erwin plays a lot of games, and he isn't interested in them as well. However, he might just give in to peer pressure and join Levi and Mike on games like Counter Strike and Call of Duty.

Erwin would probably enjoy playing card games like Blackjack and Poker, and somehow he manages to bluff really well. He would also enjoy strategy games like chess, shogi, go (wei qi), and reversi.

H: Hobbies

Other than reading and chess, I think Erwin would enjoy exercising a lot. He does a mix of aerobic and anaerobic activities, and running is his favourite. He usually goes to the gym with Mike and Levi where they would help to spot one another while at the weight machines.

I think Erwin would secretly enjoy crocheting too. It's hard to see Erwin sitting down for hours crocheting something, but Erwin is really good with his hands. He sometimes crochets gifts for his lover too.

I: Interior

I can foresee Erwin's house to be really wide and spacious, with not too many decorative items and furniture. Erwin would have paintings hung on the wall, and there would be bookshelves around the house too.

Erwin's bedroom is really simple, with a single bed, a small armchair by the window accompanied by a floor lamp. Erwin spends most of his time in his study/home office, where he would spend the most effort to maintain as well.

His home office would be bright and well-lit, with bookshelves by the wall too. Erwin has a preference for white lights and he loves opening his window during the day too.

J: Jealousy

Erwin would definitely not be a jealous lover, for he trusts his partner wholeheartedly. He doesn't worry if his partner is going out with friends of the opposite sex, as long as he knows where they're going.

However, Erwin can be a little possessive, especially if he sees someone hitting on his partner. He would switch from a calm demeanour and become a little stern, exerting dominance over the other party so that they know his partner's taken.

K: Kinks

You can't deny this, but Erwin definitely has a size kink. He finds his smaller-sized partner really desirable, and he loves how protective he can get over his partner.

Also, Erwin really loves holding his partner by their waist. The subtle act of putting his hand around their waist, or on the small of their back while walking makes him feel really 'manly', and he can be protective of his lover too.

During sex, Erwin would be a really gentle and sweet lover, always making sure his partner is feeling good. However, he definitely has his rougher moments too. Erwin would enjoy taking his partner from the rear, and he would get so turned on whenever he pulls his partner up by the hair or limbs so that he can take a good look at their blissful face.

L: Love language

Erwin is someone who wouldn't hesitate to spend his money on his lover. No, he doesn't necessarily splurge, but he loves pampering his lover with purchases. If his partner sees something they really like, Erwin would buy it. Erwin would also pay for meals and desserts, for the groceries, for dates, and anything that involves finances. Erwin wouldn't let his lover spend a single cent.

Erwin would also enjoy spending undisturbed time with his lover too. I feel that Erwin would sometimes be too engrossed in work that he forgets to separate work and personal time, so he would really appreciate spending quality time with his beloved. Even though it's activities like watching tv, cooking, or even doing chores, he appreciates all the little moments spent together with his lover.

Erwin would be so good at giving his lover words of affirmation! He loves singing praises of his lover, and he loves encouraging his lover with his words too.

M: Marriage

Erwin would look forward to married life so much. To him, it's more than being lawfully wedded under the law. Getting married means a commitment to spend their lives together, and a decision to be devoted to his lover for the rest of his life. It is also a promise to be by each other's side, supporting each other in everything in life.

Erwin would have an elaborate wedding proposal; he would enlist the help of his friends to make the occasion perfect. He would probably bring his lover to a place with sentimental value; like the place the went on their very first date.

N: Nicknames

Erwin would love nicknames such as 'sweetheart', 'dear', 'darling', and 'love'. They're simple, heartfelt, and not too cheesy as well.

Erwin would probably be embarrassed if you call him names with a slight tease, like 'babe', 'handsome', or 'hot stuff'.

Erwin probably got nasty nicknames in school because of his thick prominent eyebrows, but he definitely doesn't mind them. He even thinks they're funny (Mike called him Eyebrows, Levi called him Shitty Brows).

O: Outbursts

Erwin would be pretty well-natured and doesn't have much of a bad temper, but do not make him angry! He would flare up and shout at the top of his voice when he's angry, and his anger would last a long time as well.

Erwin also does not like to be challenged, therefore he does not appreciate being questioned about his choices and actions. He would be irritated if someone showed him any doubt towards his decisions and abilities.

P: Parenting style

Erwin would be the father who always tries to educate and be there for his children, just like how his father had been there for him when he was younger. Erwin would be the role model in his children's lives, showing them all the right examples and teaching them the right values and morals.

Erwin would also have his fair share of being a fun parent without forgetting about education. He loves bringing his children to the museum, science centre, planetarium etc for them to learn and expand their knowledge while also having fun.

Erwin wouldn't have preferences for a daughter or son as well, but I feel that he might be sliiiiiiightly biased to having an elder son and a younger daughter.

Q: Quirks

Erwin would unfortunately be a snorer, a very loud one too. He's constantly working and always busy, and he snores really loudly. Sometimes he even scares himself with how loud he sounds too.

I feel that Erwin would also tend to rub his eyes a lot too, because of how dry they always are. He knows it's a bad habit, but he can't help it. He carries eye drops around with him all the time.

For some reason I feel that Erwin prefers eating white meat opposed to red meat, so you'll see him enjoying chicken and fish more than others. However, he definitely wouldn't say no to a nice steak! Erwin's favourite fish is codfish, and he likes eating seafood like shrimps too.

R: Romance

Erwin is 10/10 a very romantic lover! He would remember the dates of anniversaries and birthdays at the tip of his finger, and he would plan for these celebrations way ahead too.

Erwin would pamper his lover just the way they love and want without asking for anything in return. He would be a very devoted and loving partner as well.

During sex, I feel that Erwin would pay a lot more attention on the foreplay and build up than the actual sex. He loves to pleasure and slowly prepare his partner, and he loves making his lover feel good as well. Erwin would prefer to be the dominant one in bed, but he wouldn't oppose to switching things up once in a while too.

S: Sweets

Erwin wouldn't enjoy sweet stuff too much, but he definitely enjoys eating baked goods like cupcakes, muffins, cookies, cakes, and doughnuts. Erwin loves taking his coffee black, and it goes well when he's eating a sweet treat as well.

He would probably avoid treats like caramel popcorn, candy floss, lollipops, hard candy, or anything that has too much sugar. Erwin would also dislike anything with whipped cream as well.

T: Television

Erwin probably doesn't watch much tv, but he enjoys watching shows like Breaking Bad, Prison Break, Sherlock, and The Crown. He would also enjoy shows that are educational, like the history channels and BBC.

Erwin would prefer DC to Marvel, and he probably has a secret collection of DVDs of DC movies that no one knows about.

U: Unwind

Erwin loves to read as a form of unwinding. Magazines, bibliographies, self-help books, fiction anything! Erwin also enjoys reading the newspaper, and prefers hard copies of them than digital copies.

He also likes exercising and sweating it out. Erwin prefers aerobic activities that gets his heart pumping, like running, swimming, and cycling. Erwin usually runs about 5km to 8km each time he's out for a run.

V: Vacation

I feel that Erwin would enjoy visiting somewhere warm and sunny even though he doesn't really like the heat. Erwin loves listening to the waves, and loves being near the sea too. He would enjoy visiting countries in South East Asia, such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, or Singapore.

Erwin probably grew up in the city, therefore he would love visiting countries that have a slower-paced of living as well. He would enjoy strolling around the city, visiting historical sites and learning about the country's history, study their architecture, and learn about the cultures of the people there.

W: Weather

Erwin loves the summer! He would enjoy getting a little tan, and he loves wearing thinner shirts during the hotter days as well. He does complain about the heat occasionally, but he loves the longer summer nights.

Erwin also likes it when its windy. He loves seeing the leaves sway with the breeze, and he loves the feeling of the wind through his hair as well.

X: XOXO

Kisses with Erwin are always deep and passionate. Erwin loves kissing his lover, and he always has to kiss his lover goodbye before leaving for work.

Erwin loves cupping his lover's cheeks with his hands while they kiss, and he definitely wouldn't object to a little more tongue too. However, he wouldn't be that affectionate in public!

Erwin's hugs are really warm and comforting given how big his build is. Erwin also loves enveloping his lover in a tight hug. Whenever his lover is in a bad mood, Erwin's hugs would definitely make everything better.

Y: Yearning

Erwin wouldn't be too affected if his lover had to leave him for a while, be it an overseas work trip, or a short getaway. Erwin would constantly be in contact with his lover, making sure they're having their meals and getting enough sleep. He would constantly send them messages, and video call each other every night too.

Erwin keeps the house neat and tidy during his lover's absence, and he would want them to returning to a clean and tidy home. Erwin would reach the airport early to wait for their return, and welcome them with a big hug.

Z: Zodiac

Erwin is born on 14 October, making him a Libra. Libras are known to be very charismatic individuals, and are always the spotlight in any occasion. Libra men are also extremely charming, and you would definitely find yourself become attracted to Erwin the first time you see him.

Libras, however, are rather vain, and pay a lot of attention to their appearance. Libras might also find it hard to settle down in a relationship, as they prefer to socialise and widen their circle.

Tagging: @cinnamonlevi @jean-prettyboy-kirschtein @hannie2kay @lilshades

#erwin #erwin smith #erwin headcanons #erwin smith headcanons #snk headcanons #aot headcanons #shingeki no kyojin #attack on titan #snk #aot #levi.supreme

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lostcauses-noregrets · 2 years

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Hi Lost. I just read Irascible and it was INCREDIBLE! Levi was glorious, however Erwin seemed to be a little off character compared to aot. In AoT he did actually consider hurting other so he stayed "single", or rather he was with someone who would get his lifestyle. He also lacked his sharpness and decisiveness. He's still a pretty well-written character, just different, so my question is do you know any fics that feature Erwin closer to original? Thanks

This is a really interesting ask, and there are several different issues wrapped up in this question. First of all I’m glad you enjoyed Irascible, it’s one of my favourite Eruri fics. Irascible Levi is indeed glorious, especially once he slips on his leather jacket. I also adore Hanji in this fic, however in many ways it’s Erwin that really makes it for me. Irascible Erwin is not universally popular and I have a few moots who aren’t keen on this fic because of the way Erwin is characterised. Irascible Erwin is quite different from canon Erwin in some ways, so I can understand where you’re coming from, however as I see it, his actions are consistent with his character, within the confines of the story. It’s quite clear that there was only ever one path Erwin could choose if he wanted to have any kind of successful life, and that path involved marriage and children. Erwin would never have been able to have the career he chose, without the wife and kids, the barbecues and the church potlucks. I’m not sure I agree that Irascible Erwin isn’t sharp and decisive, he wouldn’t have been able to conceal his truth for so long without bending all his formidable intelligence and skill to the ruse. In fact he’s so successful that he even managed to fool himself. It took Levi to come along and show him that he’d built his life on a lie. Is this different to how canon Erwin is characterised? Yes, undoubtedly, but one of the things I love about Irascible is that it’s one of the few fics I’ve read that deals convincingly with the way homophobia destroys lives. So I actually can imagine a man like Erwin behaving like this in the type of community and time period where Irascible is set.

Which brings me on to the second part of your ask “do you know any fics that feature Erwin closer to original?” This question is pretty much impossible to answer because it entirely depends how you read the original character, and which aspects of the character you choose to focus on. Every reader has a slightly different take on the canon characters and that’s just fine, that’s how reading, and indeed writing, works. My perception of Erwin’s canon character is likely to be subtly different from yours, so I could recommend a fic where I think Erwin is perfectly in character, all your demons and desires and dark sides by @brightlyburning1 for example, and you might read it and disagree. Similarly, there are some wildly popular takes on both Erwin and Levi’s characters that just leave me scratching my head. For what it’s worth though, I’ve for an old rec list of some of my favourite fics here: Lostcauses favourite fics. I’m also really enjoying the characterisation of Erwin in two other fics I’m reading right now; When in doubt, use violence by no_tengo_porque, and Ailes de la Liberté by littlelightbeams.

#asks #eruri #fic rec #snk

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zooterchet · 1 year

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40 Pound Box of Rape (For UMass-Amherst RTS Counselors)

Ernest Champlain: Canada Department.

Jacob Charlebois: MI-6 Narcotics Bureau.

John "Snipier" Charlebois: Yiddish Black Hand Catechism Varientes.

Raymond Elois Charlebois: Kaiser's Lodge.

Michael Raymond Charlebois: Saudi Arabia.

Steven Ernest Charlebois: RIN Germany.

Rongo Jennerson: SDF Mercenary.

David Michael Charlebois: Hamas.

Chip Charlebois: Massachusetts Gambling Commission.

David Sant Charlebois: Bretonwoods Trade Summit, Munitions Engineering, East India.

John Winston: Organized Crime Commission FBI.

Charles Winston: Thai Intelligence Google.

David "Chet" Charlebois Achievements:

1987: Fall of the Berlin Wall, Rabbinical bet rigging to produce prostitutes from athletes’ wives, INTERPOL, farting horses; funded by Polish-Jews, pork investment, out of mill lumber, Gentile slaves.

1991: Bim Skala Bim shut down, child prodigy schools for Jews, listening to 1980s ska or hardcore.

1991: Ryan Taylor, is placed as recovery of SDF agent, Jerry Robinson’s grandson, on the MBTA, cooperating on contract lift, “Rungo Jennerson”, “47”, SDF mercenary. The hit on the Space Needle, the last Faraday Shield against aliens, the West Coast, not hit by Scientology, traded for the Pentagon, at Logan International Airport.

1992: Education through film and TV, Hitler’s Goebbels system, labeled as “limbergh cheese”, a German soldier, a sped, through paleontology book report; the rise of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

1994: Pillow biter no longer gay, biting a hot dominatrix’s butt, if she doesn’t want you all tied up; future political careers of economists (and female accountants, for politics; Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, AOC).

1995: Pat Stanley, freed from dairy slavery, from older brother, corrupt NSA agent, Andrew Stanley; “Rock Superstar”, by Cypress Hill, printed, the future of the American-Jewry; Fidel Castro.

1996: The 9/11 conspiracy revealed, through “Morph”, Matt Lennox, Keanu Reeves prevents plane number 11. “nil”, Dave Charlebois, assists.

1996: Will Morgan Jr., descent of Jefferson Davis, through mother, “Lou”, recruited for FBI, to redeem family legacy, of Adolf Hitler; for the Mossad, their unit formed by Hitler, to come for G-d; “Egads”, and Velma, his future wife; “Jinxy”. Superman.

1997: The downfall of EMC’s production forensics, of children, the rise of Stalin, in computing, contact with Ireland.

1997: The reveal of Michael “Thresh” Nguyen as a Quake cheat, in common tournament; reform of online sports, to favor honest players, the corruption of the video game industry ended. Bowser wins, the Madison family, the future rise of anti-conscription laws, when challenged.

1999: The death of Alice Charlebois, the investigation into slave compounds for spies, run by Mossad, Russian agents; the beginning of the Insane Clown Posse, through the Voodoo Wizard, Christophe Stevens, the stolen toy set; “you lost this”.

2001: The firing of Alan Quimp, alias “Michael Fleming”, head of the Hopkinton history department; Rambo, First Blood, to avenge Woody Harrelson Sr., trapped by Cuban state police, “aliens”.

2001: Stopping six planes, on 9/11, through Mickey “Mouser” Blitzen’s descent, Adam Palmer, mixed with the Man Show’s “The Fox”, Erwin Rommel.

2001: The placement of Bellicheck, as the head coach of the Patriots, not the Vikings, to sabotage the Yakuza, the police automotive federation, not the actor’s guilds, the British cops protecting Jews from anti-Semites, by frame of Jew Hunter if hunting police; a slave’s draft, into the United States Marine Corps, if an anti-Semite, a poisoner.

2002: The George Soros election campaign, “Team Sauerkraut”, Barack Obama’s model for the Presidency. Hopkinton High.

2003: The murder of Carlin Sarkesian, Napster/RIAA/Metallica/Mustaine agent, through Putin, the assertion of Citizen’s Rights, the end to the 3/5ths Compromise, the slavery on auction of the poor if favored by man changing name, the Canadian Jewry, INTERPOL. Chris Hansen is fired, and joins the Freemasonic Temple, for George W. Bush, the O’Neill traitor to the Morningstars.

2003: The refusal of Boston police, to control Cuban marijuana, the blockage of soil composites, to grow poisonous pot for Cubans, for the exchange of alcohol necessary, the contract for Governor Dukakis, head chair of Chas T. Main, through acting Sergeant, George W. Bush. The end of Bush, Huckabee, Kerry, McCain, Obama, Charles, Andrew, Edward; freedom for Brazilians, against Israeli preferential buying, of the hands of Hispanic kids burned and torn, in exchange for cocaine, produced by kids with faces burned from nitric acid, sold as slaves to produce cocaine, stomping it in barrels, instead of ceramic ablate, for gloves, sold as tank heat sinks, for a modicum of price, Israeli domination of the Middle East; Swedes, not proper Jews; Mizrahi, Aryans, Palestinians, Latinos.

2004: The downfall of the CIA Mounted, the Governor’s Association; the domination of marijuana, to control the Western Hemisphere’s politicians, for political associations, the Masonic Lodge, the police associations, the Ignatians; the police associations.

2004: The theft of the Israeli Irish riddle, to control “Germans”, Irish without wedlock, given to the FBI, through Freedom of Information Act, through Janine Swanson, “MK”, with self as “ULTRA” operative, domestic intelligence, to retaliate against Israeli film portraying marital testaments, improper spy tactics, homosexual behavior, and pro-sectarian politics, to retarded, Jews, blacks, and gays.

2004: The Van Meter riots, in Southwest dormitory, against French External Security, for rigging poker; the Boston Red Sox pennant, discharging James “Whitey” Bulger from Boston politics, freeing the Irish from the Talmud.

2005: The beginning of the Gotham project, upon successful print of the Nolan series; jobs for COIN, instead of free pay, the rogue FBI DC Comics project, now owned by Time Warner Cable, to prevent another al-Qaeda.

2005: The sabotage, of the New England Patriots, for the Giants Superbowl, for US Navy money, to hunt extraterrestrials, with sonic torpedoes, from the Nixons, the Pratts.

2005: The printing of the Afghan peace paper, for Robert Sullivan, with Arabic banned for Afghan women, so they can be psychologists, not dominatrixes, dog trainer lesbians, for Afghanistan to be a cafeteria, under future President Barack Obama’s vision, for the Northern Alliance, the Afghans, to replace the Taliban, the Indians of writer’s homosexual pederasty, to replace Afghan invaders.

2006: The murder, of several civil rights activists, abusing work wage laws, to guarantee employment, through producing “fraus” and “overmen”, drunk mothers, and drunk children by birth, through Hopkinton PD, the reform of labor laws given factory patronage through police.

2007: The informed tip, on John Washburne, Marvel research writer, enslaving Israeli pilgrims, to be prison inmates, in Jim Shooter’s tradition, for the Disney buyout, set up in 2004, simultaneous to the popularity of Mackelmore’s “Thrift Shop”, bassline from 2004 used for trumpet, from Erika, through Van Meter resident Ryan Lewis, Van Meter 251, living across the hall from Van Meter 252, spring of 2004.

2008: The election of Barack Obama, through McCain revealing himself as KGB, a labor slave trade, a Rabbi, mimicking Barack Obama, but Muslim, whereas Barack is a Protestant Catholic, a Mafiaso, a counter-Israeli, with Soros, a Yakuza banker.

2009: The beginning of the downfall of Likud, through five advisors, the Bond films, with Bond as each, facing themselves, the enemy, until Hillary Clinton’s downfall, upon orders of Benjamin Netanyahu, paymaster for EON Israel, for Yaphina’s takeover

2010: The report on Dr. Joshua Golden, and the MI-6 Child Study Committee, as having fraudulent degrees, to the Boston FBI field office, through e-mail circuit, special agents appointed without name or cloak, to investigate Boston state police, for using “edutainment” for officers, incompetent police using Saudi movies and European medicine, considered ant-American, communist (insurance industry or police tactics).

2012: The election of Barack Obama a second time, refusing Romney’s reforms of Obama Care, the refusal of police officers of commitment power of prison, through the film, “Idiocracy”, any non-police agents refused care as inmates, allowed open movement, defeat of Masonic Lodge of Germany (Hamburg RIN, Berlin, claiming Irish sovereignity, full blown war against Lutherans in Ireland, by Irish Sinn Fein, IRA, and Belfast English Marines).

2013: Investigation of Clubhouse program, seeded years earlier, as implicit fraud, through Boston journalists; shut down of View Askew Productions, as Italian Mafia, Jewish and Protestant Catholics, the prohibition of marijuana on Jewish orders, anti-Catholic.

2016: The legalization of recreational marijuana, in many states, and the election of Donald Trump, hypnotized by Donal Logue’s performance of Bullock, for being a cop broker of property, into lesbian women (women that change their hair style, in the middle of a relationship); fascists, now owned by the US military, out of the SDF.

2020: The print of Cyberpunk 2077, the end of marital rape by state police, the submission of bodybuilders to homosexual moralities, the refusal of women if ‘shredding’, ‘jacked’, or ‘ripped’, an incompetent soldier; an anorexic prison bitch, a punk scumclown.

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kojinnie · 3 years

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AOT Characters’ Modern Jobs Headcanon; The Vets Edition!

The jobs that The Vets would have in modern!au, their workplace antics and their back story. There might be some inaccuracies when describing the job as obviously I don’t work at these industries to know its intricacies. Most of the jobs are office jobs. Enjoyyyy!

My Masterlist .::. Pt. II: Zeke Yeager’s Modern Jobs Headcanon

Most recent work: Dream Me Home (Before Shiganshina) | reader x erwin smith

A/N: I really need to finish a presentation deck due tonight for an early morning meeting tomorrow but of course, this comes first hahaha

erwin!

A/N: Basically lawyer!erwin is the way to go, innit?

He's in his 40s, so he may have a settled career

He came from a white-collar, middle-class family. So he wasn’t silverspoon-fed, but his parents had enough money to put him through good school

Got a scholarship to go to one of the nation’s finest law schools

Kept it lowkey in college’s social circle, graduated with summa cum laude, developed a strong academic relation with his professor, and got recommended for an internship at top law firm at the capital city

Starting his career as a corporate lawyer, but then built his expertise as white-collar crime attorney

In his early 30s, he represented a union suing against conglomerate corporation in a big case that had national coverage, from then on he began to know his calling

Expanding his portfolio and became well-known for defending workers, consumers and civilians against corporate fraud scheme

Currently doing a lot of pro-bono cases for deprived victims of big corporate fraud. You would see him frequently gracing your local newspaper we love us some socialist king

On the side, he often writes for law journal and fills in as guest professor at local universities for summer courses

Established his own law firm with some of his partners, specializing in white collar crime and labor & employment law

He’s damn accomplished, but never really had any time for self-indulgence. Even after he becomes a household name in the country, with tens of attorneys working under him, his employees would still see him working on New Year’s Eve

He was always attentive to his employees, though. Although he has a very strict, borderline no-life work ethics, he never forces his employees to follow his habit, in fact he despises when his employees works on holidays and can be seen blaming himself for it a bit of a hypocrite but thats ok

He still takes metro to work. He prefers a very lowkey, ordinary lifestyle because he fears if he shows any knack for indulgence, he will be susceptible to gratification from potential enemies or crooked politicians

Definitely a sight to see at the workplace, for he's tall and always oozes a sense of authority in the way he speaks and carries himself generally

His emotional intelligence is top-notch, you would never meet someone who is able to be very objective and calculating, while being kind and compassionate at the same time

His fellow attorneys put a lot for respect for him, and hundreds of applicants come to his considerably small firm every week, because a lot of aspiring attorney find him inspiring to work with

He wasn’t oblivious to his shiny reputation, but he’s trying his hardest to not let the compliments get to his head. Sometimes he doesn’t give himself enough credit for it

Was approached by one of the political party’s committee to run for local senate, but turned it down

basically he’s perfect if you like a man who’s never home for christmas

Hange!

A/N: Ok ok, I really wanna see Paleontologist!Hange because it has always been my fave dream job, but I want Hange to be out and about with people so here it is

Hange is the type to be incredibly good at one thing, that she will dedicate her whole life for that pursuit, but will be awfully oblivious to a whole lot of things (not intentional of course, they just have a very limited attention span) (they wouldn’t know who kanye west is or what tiktok is)

Like Erwin, they came from a middle-class family. While Erwin’s parents might have been teachers, accountants or other common profession, Hange came from a family of academician and researchers

Hange studied Human Geography at uni, but later found passion specifically in its relation to industrialization and urban development

Hange aims to advocate for a better living condition for workforce, and nearby inhabitants of industrialized city detroit would be a beautiful city if only they let hange designed it

Hange is a professor at university, where they also led a non-profit research think-thank that also serves as pressure group for better government policy.

The university that Hange teaches in, is also the uni where Erwin teaches in summer. They’re close-knitted colleagues as they share similar passion. Erwin relies on Hange a lot for some intellectual insights to help his cases

Hange is relentless in their cause, you may find Hange everywhere! From street protest to a hearing in the government court. They are passionate and will do anything for the cause they believe in

Hange was once hired by the government as an independent consultant for a new housing project, but left because they grew to be frustrated by the government’s bureaucracy and their outward reluctance to follow Hange's recommendation

Hange spends a lot of time overseas, consulting and advocating development in newly industrialized countries

On Hange’s birthday, her fellow researchers surprised them with a ‘pampering day’ where they took them to an optometrist because Hange had been complaining about their eyesight for a YEAR that gave them a lot of migraines, but was always either too busy or too lazy to go

Hange never really considers themselves as working, because they enjoy their job very much. Hange likes to spend months observing a community, talking to people for hours, and trying their best in understanding their problem

Out of so many great qualities that Hange has as a researcher that meets different set of people everyday, prejudice or preconceived judgment is completely absent in Hange’s demeanor and perspective

Hange doesn’t get a lot of free-time, even if they do, they’d wander around the city to do a little observation. But when the weather’s bad and they’re stuck at home with their pet lizard, they would logged into Quora to answer random internet questions

They’re an avid writer for National Geographic, and one time Hange won a pitch to make a documentary about an industrial city project they were working on

After the docu-series got broadcasted, Hange gained a small but passionate and loyal fans on the internet. You could even find a subreddit dedicated for Hange’s works

for real I want to be Hange. I want to have that kind of passion in life

levi!

A/N: I spent a lot of times thinking about Levi’s job in modern!au. Because here’s the thing, either we adopt his unfortunate childhood into its modern!au equivalent, or let’s just recreate his whole upbringing. But I think his personality stems from a specific things he experienced during childhood, so let’s not dismiss that.

Levi came from a struggling working class family. I reckon his parents might have had worked multiple jobs to sustain their living expense. Unfortunately they both passed away when Levi was very little, and left little to no inheritance

Levi’s parents were not close to their extended family, so when they died, Levi was admitted to the system and had to brace several foster families who didn’t really pay attention to him

Little Levi had come to realize that life’s all about survival and so he had been able to fend on for himself since very young age, he never asked for things

His uncle, Kenny, finally won custody over Levi when he was in elementary. Kenny made money from small-scale racketeering here and there. Levi never asked what he did for living, as long as he got food to eat and tuition paid off

Kenny was emotionally absent, but he loved spending time with the oddly quiet little child, teaching him a lot of crafts, from carpentering to how to flay pig’s skin

Levi didn’t really care about getting into college, and thought that he’d probably end up working for his uncle, so he put his bare minimum throughout school, although he was really good with numbers, especially in math, accounting and finance

One time in high school, Levi’s teacher asked him to sign up for the olympiad team, Levi turned it down because he thought that was a rich kid thing

He didn’t even apply for college, and worked odd jobs after high school. Probably working as cashiers or assistant to retail shop’s owner for couple of years, enough for him to afford a cheap studio apartment on his own

One of his bosses came to acknowledge Levi’s talent, and trusted him to handle the company’s accounting

By sheer luck, the company hit it big, and Levi found himself running the day-to-day accounting of mid-sized business with over 300 employees

He made good money already without a college degree, but with a new-found confidence Levi applied for uni, where he chose to study accounting (of course)

Although he was confident with his skills, he understood he needed to widen his horizon and network -- thus uni

Levi was one of the oldest members of his cohort in uni, but graduated with highest distinction

After graduating, with his skills and experience, it wasn’t hard for Levi to score a job at top accounting firm

There, he discovered an interest for forensic accounting, where through audits, analysis and investigation, he basically finds out if a company is doing fraud and embezzlement or not

This is where he came to know and get acquainted with Erwin and Hange (yippie they’re together again)

The firm he works for was assigned to investigate the finances of a troublesome company that had been sued by its workers for a jeopardizing working condition. Erwin was on the case, and Levi helped him with evidences for legal proceeding.

By chance, Erwin introduced Levi to Hange. At first, Levi would find Hange annoying and overtly energized, but after learning the things they have done, Levi grew to appreciate Hange’s passion (and secretly wants to have more of his positive outlook)

Levi is fucking good his job. In short amount of time, he could get a really ideal position in the office. He was almost foolproof, finding even the tiniest bit of discrepancy in his audit. He’d get assigned to the big league case/project.

Although really good at his job, he’s not a social person, especially in his office. He couldn’t understand the lavish lifestyle that finance and banking people often lead. He will only show up to office party if it is really necessary for him to show up (usually to receive some kind of informal awards for, again, being so fucking good)

He leads a no-bullshit attitude at the office, largely because of his background. He is a self-made man, and is not easy to impress by some young executives from posh school that talk bigger than they can chew

His cold, seemingly dismissive attitude gained him a reputation of being scary, when actually he is very considerate

One of the things he enjoys doing is to actually teach, he really likes when a new kid at the office come to him with none of that pretentious, big talk, and really asks for his guidance. He would love to teach you a thing or two

He would frequently check on his mentee, just to keep up with their development

And he doesn’t take credit too. When his mentee makes a milestone, he believes it’s 100% your work

If you’re his mentee, he probably doesn’t give a crap about your personal life, so don’t expect him to make small talk about that (and don’t ask him about his personal life either). But he really cares about your skill and career development

Same with Erwin, he leads a very ordinary lifestyle. He doesn’t go out often and would rather reading detective novel with his cat on the couch

He likes to spend Sunday at Uncle Kenny’s house, because he finds himself worried about the old man very often. They became close as Levi grew

Overall, Levi is a really kind and caring person if you know how not to push his button

#aot #snk #aot headcanons #snk headcanons #aot modern au #levi ackerman #hange zoë #erwin smith #modern headcanon #lawyer erwin smith #professor hange zoe #accountant levi ackerman #attack on titan #shingeki no kyojin #kojin writes

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artbyrivaille · 3 years

Text

Hair ☕

Okay, so at the outset, I would like to emphasize that English is not my mother tongue and I am still learning. But writing is my hobby and I decided that I will try my skills here too, in English, I invite you to write requests, I hope you will like it!

3,5k words!

=================================

She was strong. She was a good soldier, commander, companion.

But she was also a beautiful woman with an amazing figure who was envied by many. Despite being quite short, because she was only five feet three, she had long slender legs. Overall, she was considered a beautiful woman. However, she had short hair.

Her hairstyle was practically identical to Levi's, but no one accused her of trying to look like him, as she was cutting her hair that way long before Ackerman joined the survey corps.

Oh, she and Levi. It was quite a sneaky topic, let alone the rumors around the body. They were often seen in each other's company, people interpreted it differently.

Some said it was just a friendship and a bond they established when Ackermann was part of her branch at the beginning of his career. And the others insinuated the supposed romance of the two. Well the versions were really different, but the truth was that y/n and good captain Levi were just two great friends. The woman was one of the few people who knew the man's past, and shared with him some facts about her. Because they both came from the Underground, however, and managed to get out of there on their own, and not with the help of scouts, as was the case with Levi.

At first they were not very sympathetic, quite the opposite. They had very similar characters, which theoretically should indicate that they will get along well, but that was only theoretically. In practice, they got on their nerves terribly.

But despite this aversion to a man, it was precisely this that helped him the most after the death of Farlan and Izabel. She provided him with comfort, help and warmth. Something no one else could give him. It was thanks to her that he recovered so quickly, and he was in the place where he was at the moment.

At some point their relationship began to take a less formal path. More and more often they stayed at each other's offices, helped each other with Erwin's sentences, that is, documentation. They drank tea together, despite the fact that the brunette was a coffee advocate, she made an exception for Levi and almost completely gave it up. They had similar problems, especially those with sleep, may both of them suffer from insomnia, so when the entire corps was asleep, they sat in the two of them over documents, or simply spent their free time together.

Y/n did not even know the exact moment when she began to care in this other, more intimate way on the short captain. It came overnight. Of course, she was behaving the same as before, after all, she was not some horny teen, but a mature woman, but at the moment when she was going to the black-haired's office, or she just knew that he would see him, her body was flooded with heat. And maybe she wouldn't care so much if it wasn't for the fact that she had short hair.

She loved the short haircut, the long hair simply irritated her and disturbed the soldier's everyday life, but she was afraid that they might be an obstacle to any closer relationship with Ackerman.

***

She sat quietly in her office filling out paperwork for Erwin. She nervously tweaked her hair, which was longer than usual, because every time she tried to cut it, something was getting in the way and that was how it was already quite long.

The silence in the office was broken by the sudden opening of the door through which entered a black-haired man with pliers and a towel in his hand. He closed the door with a bang and set the items on the coffee table, then looked at the woman poring over reports and other documents.

"You have long hair." He said suddenly and walked closer to her chair, and when he was next to him, he entangled his hand in her dark strands. She breathed a breath and leaned against the back of the armchair, massaging her temples at the same time giving herself to the caress.

"I didn't have time to cut them off because of the last expedition, and with all the crap Erwin did, I have more work to do than ever. And Hanji keeps following me all the time and asks if I managed to convince Bushbread to do experiments on titans." She explained in frustration then exhaled her mouth with a whistle.

"Tch, fucking shitty glasses. Come on, rest a little, cut off your hair, and you will give me a haircut." He replied then pulled the woman's chair back and, grabbing her hand, led her to the bathroom. She was so tired of it all that she didn't care, and the presence of a cobalt-eyed woman was calming, so she didn't resist. "Get your hair wet." He gave the order, which she followed by putting her head in the shower and then she wet her hair with a stream of water. Ackermann handed her a towel, which she grabbed and dried her hair.

Let the two go back to the brunette's office, meanwhile she took off her jacket and threw it on the couch, which Ackermann only huffed, but said nothing. She sat down without a word on the low stool that the man had prepared at that time. He ran a hand through her hair a few times and began carefully trimming it.

"Can I ask you a question?" She finally gave up y/n, unable to withstand the silence in the room

"You ask them anyway, so why do you ask me for permission." The bored man replied by which l/n raised the corner of her mouth in a small smile.

"What do you think about women with short hair?" She asked, and black hair stopped breathing for a moment. What the hell was that about? Is this some kind of provocation?

"What am I supposed to think. They are no less feminine because they do not have long hair, their appearance does not define a person." He replied quite neutral, not realizing that he had just kindled a little ray of hope in his friend's heart. "And why do you ask?"

"Because I care about someone, and all in all, I wanted to know your opinion." Ah yes. His heart leapt into his throat, and his stomach seemed to have a 3D maneuvering device. Someone did she like? But who the hell. After all, the only men with whom she spent time was himself, Erwin, sometimes he encountered Moblit in the company of Hanji and Mike. Who could steal her heart enough to make her care about her hairstyle? Probably Erwin. That fucking perfect general.

Maybe Levi didn't have complexes as such, but he was always a little jealous of Smith. He had a perfect body, he was tall, intelligent, had a high position in the military, and he came from a non-poor family. He was nothing compared to the blonde, he had nothing to offer. And he would like so much to have her with him.

"I'm done." He muttered softly brushing single hairs from the woman's clothes. She got up from the stool and unintentionally combed her dark hair. She looked beautiful, but he wouldn't tell her that.

"Your turn." She said and took the pliers from his hand. This time it was he who sat on the stool. He involuntarily smiled under his breath and closed his eyes at the woman's gentle touch. He was literally like a docile kitten. Why couldn't she be his?

***

He had been avoiding her like plague for about two weeks. He was irritated by the lack of a black-haired woman around him, but he knew that if it was like before, he would take the blow even worse.

A blow that would never come.

Y/n really didn't know what she could do wrong. After all, everything was fine, and then overnight Ackerman began to avoid her. Maybe he just got bored?

At first she explained his ignorance with overwork, in the end everyone in the command had their heads off. But when one day in a row she saw him sitting quietly with Petra, she knew it was not it. By the way, seeing a redhead in his company, something broke in her. What did this teenager have that she did not have? Did their relationship really mean nothing to him? So many questions, so few answers.

And this way almost every evening she landed in Erwin's office with Hanji with a bottle of whiskey or vodka, depending on what Smith had in the bar. Erwin and Hange really couldn't comprehend the change in brunet's behavior, and the sight of a really hurt l/n was so pathetic as to be nasty.

And so the next evening the three gathered in Smith's office where they once again debated about the captain's behavior.

"I do not feel it completely, so change the attitude towards people overnight.

I know that our curly pedantic has its own rules, but without exaggeration." Hanji announced, finishing the rest of the whiskey from her glass.

"Maybe something made him do it?" Smith replied, then grabbed his chin.

"Tch, and this thing is called Petra Ral, really fascinating." Black-haired girl summed up pouring herself and Zoe whiskey.

Their conversations were so loud that they interested Ackerman who was just about to make himself a cup of tea. But when he heard three familiar voices, he stood at the door of Smith's office, listening to what was being said.

"Don't take it for granted." Erwin said and frowned by the high concentration of alcohol in his glass.

"So what could be the reason Levi is ignoring me then? Just like logic Erwin, there are two options, or he has something to me and he distorts what is unfortunately but impossible because he always treated me only as a friend. Or he just shoots with Petra, and that's what I believe more. "Did they talk about him? What romance with Petra? And y/n cared for him the way he wanted it, but he's just an idiot and he broke it? He held his breath for a moment and tried to enter the room, but stopped himself and continued to stand still.

"Like it or not, I have to agree with the above. Although I keep my fingers crossed for the first version." Squeaked at the end of the woman, which caused a loud sigh of disapproval from y/n.

"Shut up Hanji, I don't want to hope again for something that will never happen." She growled angry and hurt. She really cared about him. Not on any Erwin, Moblit or Mike, but on him. On a goddamn Underground thief with a hard character and misophobic aspirations. Damn it, don't let this be a dream.

He walked away from the door and headed for his office. He has even forgotten why he left it at all. He sat down at the desk and stared blankly at the sky until the very morning, trying to put everything in his head. He must try to fix what he broke.

***

Like a day like every other day. There was no expedition, no surprises, just an ordinary day in the recon. Well, maybe almost. Because Ackerman had been nervous and a little stressed since the morning. And it wasn't just because he wanted to talk to y/n seriously, but largely because he couldn't find her anywhere. As to spite that day, she sank underground, his only salvation could be Erwin. Which office was on his way to. The evening and dinner time was approaching, so he wanted to come to him before her, to look for the presence of a woman at the last meal, if necessary.

He entered the office without knocking, Smith merely looked up from the mountain of documents he had probably been studying since this morning, then turned him back to the sheets of paper.

"What you want Levi?" He asked breaking the silence prevailing in the room. He was pretty sure why this one had come to him, but preferred not to reveal all the cards at once.

"Where is y/n"? Erwin sighed and then put down his quill and straightened up in his chair. He was afraid of Levi's reaction, but what could he do if the milk had already spilled?

"She went on a mission. She should be back in two or three days at the most." He replied with a straight face in the middle being a bit irritated by the reaction of the black-haired man.

"What mission? And why the hell didn't I know anything about this." Ackerman asked, very angry with the news once again.

"Maybe because you've been avoiding her for a long time? Maybe because it's a secret mission, I'm not obligated to tell you everything, Levi. I respect you and treat you as a friend, so I will give you some friendly advice. Think about what you really want and don't screw it up. I don't think I need to tell you what I'll do to you if you hurt her, not to mention Hanji." A faint smile affected his lips at the end of his speech.

"It's none of your business anymore. Thank you for the information." He replied coolly and, not worried about the threat of his friend, left his office.

So he was supposed to wait? He hated waiting. Uncertainty burst him from the inside, these few days will probably be a real nightmare for him.

***

It was well past nine o'clock, so most of the Corps' soldiers were resting in their quarters. Only a few officers were still in the courtyard. And Levi was watching them from his office.

Week. She has been gone since fucking week.

And he was consumed not only by uncertainty, but also by fear. Because they didn't know anything, not even Erwin, who entrusted the woman with this mission. Through it all, the captain was irritated and angry from day to night. Everyone wanted to be as far away from him as possible. Even Petra must have found out about his bad mood when some two days after y/n's departure, she felt bad for the fact that she smiled at him instead of focusing on cleaning. The last time he was afraid was when he first left for exeption.

Suddenly, a horse ran into the courtyard, on the back of which was a scout, but he was clearly unconscious, barely clinging to his mount. At first, Ackerman did not move from his place, but when he heard the screams about the return of squad leader l/n and summoning the medics, he sprinted out of the office.

When he was already leaving, he saw only a brunette, which two cadets were carrying on a stretcher to the infirmary. There was blood everywhere, and the worst case scenario flashed through his mind. She might have died.

He knew that they would not let him into the infirmary anyway, and the cadets didn't know anything, the only option was once again Erwin. What a mission it was to make her come back like this.

He hurried to Smith's office and threw open the door. He did not care about the surprised face of Hanji, who was sitting on the blonde's couch, but he walked over to the man and grabbed him tightly by the collar of a white shirt.

"What was that mission? And why did you send her over there alone, don't you care that she's just fighting for her life?" He was screaming at the top of his throat, he didn't care what everyone thought of him right now, he didn't care about the consequences, he only cared that he could lose her before he actually possessed her.

"In Stohess there is a man who leads the gang. It interfered with various shipments and the like. They are also active in the Underground. The task was to diversify into their ranks, apparently she did not quite succeed." He replied with stoic calm which made the black-haired man even more angry.

"Have you been really fucked up? Such a mission is not a job for one person, it is for the rest. Such matters should be handled by the MP's, not us!" He shouted and pushed the blonde back so that he almost fell from his chair.

"Only that they interfered mainly with transports to our corps. Mostly those not entirely legal. You know very well that a large amount of drugs and medical equipment we have is not entirely legal, but it is needed. I wanted to send the two of you on this mission, because both of you know the Underground, but she did not agree to you taking part in this mission. Probably because you were not getting along at that point." The man explained succinctly, and Ackerman said nothing. It was his fault, his goddamn fault. If only he wasn't such an asshole, nothing bad would have happened.

Until now, a silent Hanji came up to the shorter man and put her hand on his shoulder, the latter turned towards her, close to crying. Holy shit what she did with him.

"You'll finish later, for now, go to her." She ordered, and he nodded and without a word headed for the infirmary.

***

"When will she wake up?" He asked one of the medics, who was just finishing treating single wounds on the body of an unconscious woman.

"She should wake up in the morning. But probably not for long, he has to rest a lot now. She lost a lot of blood, it is surprising that she was even going here alive." She replied and got up from the small stool, putting the remnants of bandages and other medicaments on a silver tray. "But take it easy, she will get out of this, squad leader l/n is a damn tough woman, not just character. She will lick it." She added after a moment with a slight smile on her face trying to cheer the man up.

"I know she's strong." He replied quietly, his head bowed and his hands folded.

"So just be patient. I think she survived because she had someone to return to." She laughed softly and just left the room, leaving the slightly confused captain with the unconscious woman.

He slowly walked over to her bed and sat down next to it on the wooden chair. He grabbed her chilled hand and pressed it to his lips, giving it a tender kiss. He had to wait.

And so the hours went by, and Levi spent them thinking about his feelings for the woman and simply gazing at her adoringly.

She was so beautiful, he loved everything about her. From a smile that could not be seen too often, ending with short hair. He was lazily combing them almost all the time, not being surprised how pleasant they are. He did not even notice that it was starting to dawn, and the soldiers of the corps were slowly waking up to start another day of service. He also did not notice that Erwin accompanied by Hanji arrived in the room in the meantime, but when they saw the man sitting next to the y/n, they only smiled at each other and left, leaving them alone, of course they gave each other high five for fruitful cooperation.

"Wake up now, because these feelings will blow me up soon." The words were coming out of his mouth involuntarily. His eyes were closed, he tried to focus, to be patient. "I overheard your, Hanji and Erwin conversation about me. I really was an idiot. I shouldn't be away from you, that's why you're here at all. If I hadn't, you wouldn't be lying here, I wouldn't have allowed it. I have plans to blame Erwin for letting you go on this mission alone. But you don't know how much I was bursting from the inside by the thought that you care about someone, and that someone is not me. I was so fucking jealous. Ugh, feelings are a pain in the ass. You don't even know what you're doing with me. I just love you, and I love everything about you." There was a silence in the room, and the man breathed a sigh of relief, finally blurted out into the crowd of thoughts.

"Even my short hair?" Silence, a hoarse voice broke the silence in the room. The man immediately opened his eyes and straightened in his chair, a smile spread across his face at the sight of the woman's open eyes.

"Even short hair." He replied and once again ran his hand through it, and placed the other on her cheek.

"I heard everything, you idiot. Love you too." She said and smiled broadly as he reciprocated.

"I love you too." He replied and pressed their lips together in a kiss.

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colossal-fallout · 3 years

Text

AOT ~ First date H/C's

NSFW included. 18+

Levi, Erwin, Jean.

Coming soon;

- Reiner, Porco, Pieck. Eren, Armin, Connie. Hange, Zeke, Miche.

- More Fallout content

Remember I am always open to requests 🗣️

Levi;

"You. Meet me tomorrow at five and we'll do something. Just the two of us. Which means I don't want any of your flunkies following us around."

Levi asking you on a date is something he's been pondering and sitting on for a while. He wanted to be sure. Also, it was definitely more of a demand.

Levi is not one to do these things casually. He asked you because he sees potential with the two of you. One that can be worked around your career's of Titan slaying.

Of course when he first laid those steely Grey's on you, he was intrigued but kept at a distance.

As time flickered by his desire to get to know you more in a private setting grew, so he knew it was time.

Obviously he isn't going to wear his uniform, and you're surprised to see him dressed like the fancy ass he is; with his jacket and cravat.

He smells devine. He bathed before he got dressed, in oils and petals (Old ways of using bubble bath I guess)

Levi takes you somewhere high class to eat. One you're not extremely comfortable in, being used to your humble and basic living as a soldier. But it doesn't take much for him to help you relax as he explains he used to feel the same; but working and living in such ways definitely merits a treat from time to time.

He asks a lot of questions. Not in a way it seems like he's prying. He just wants to know you better. Where were you born? What are/were your family like? What interests you? How good are your hygiene practices?

He doesn't talk much about himself. That is for a waaaay later time.

After you've eaten (Which he insisted he pays for) he takes you for a walk around the town as you continue talking.

He's a really good listener. He takes everything in and makes mental notes of certain things.

He walks you back to the barracks. He makes sure it's somewhere no one will wander by.

"I enjoyed having dinner with you. If you'll allow me, I'd like to take you out again one day soon."

This time it's less of a demand. The tiniest smile pulls at one corner of his mouth when you say yes.

Levi won't kiss you on the first date. Don't kill me. He just wouldn't. He bides his time with these things and likes to be totally sure of someone.

But when he does, it'll be fantastic.

He'll just simply take a step closer to you, his eyelids heavy as he stares at your lips, wrapping one arm around your waist and pulling you against his chest.

He'll wait for your reaction. If you don't pull away then that's when he'll go in for the kill, his lips hungrily yet slowly devouring yours.

- NSFW -

When the time comes where you both feel ready to take things to a more physical level... Wow. That pretty much sums it up.

The passion though. Thinking about it is making me weak at the knees.

You're one hell of a special (and lucky) person to be in bed with Levi fucking Ackerman.

He will not hold back. All this wanting you from day one but restraining himself most certainly pays off, big time.

He'll be slow and sensual, mapping your body with his mouth and remembering all the areas that seem more sensitive. Oh, that nip of the teeth behind your shoulder made you gasp? He'll stick a mental flag in there.

Dexterous with his fingers and tongue, he'll eat you out with your legs over his shoulders. He likes to be able to slide his fingers in nice and deep.

You're his now. You sealed that contract the moment your clothes fell to the floor. And because you're his, he's going to show you that no one else will ever make you feel as good as he will.

He'll fuck you all night. He'll have you whimpering, quivering, begging... Your legs will be weak for hours after all the shaking while he makes you cum again and again and again.

Erwin;

"I would be honoured if you would accompany me to dinner tonight."

Erwin Smith would ask you on a date in the same fashion some knight would ask a fair maiden.

You have to be pretty f'ing special to catch the commanders eye and you have done for a while now.

You can tell he hangs out with Levi a lot because he takes you to the same fancy restaurant as Levi would take you to.

But when you meet up with the commander and he is waiting for you, a beautiful bouquet of flowers in hand... Your heart (and pants) just melt.

Erwin will lavish you with compliments. He'll make you feel like a total queen.

"You look... Amazing, Y/N"

"The colour of that dress contrasts your eyes beautifully..."

Erwin would be willing to kiss you on the first date. He would start by kissing the back of your hand as you're about to say goodbye, his eyes looking up and sharply piercing into yours.

He's intelligent. He' knows body language and from that kiss on the hand he will know if you'd be comfortable with a more intimate kiss.

If you are, he'll ever so gently cup your face with one of his large hands and softly press his lips against yours, closing his eyes and pulling you in close.

He handles you like some delicate flower at first. A gorgeous being that he doesn't want to soil with his dirtied hands from all hes done over the years.

- NSFW -

Erwin Smith in bed though... He will be mind blowing, no doubty 'bouty.

He will relax you with fine wines, not so you get drunk but so you're comfortable, warm and at ease.

He'll start by kissing you deeply, his hands running tantalisingly close to your crotch as he explores you.

He'll dead set pick you up, bridal style, and carry you to his bed.

Erwin is an extremely passionate lover, his kisses are hungry yet soft. Soft yet firm at the same time. The room would quickly become steamy as he discovers you with his mouth and hands.

As soon as that long, thick dick enters you, there's no turning back. Ever.

It hits every single spot perfectly without much effort, but by god's does he put the effort in, making it that much more insane.

Erwin takes you slow for the first time. Not only does he use this to gather intel on your preferences but he wants to slowly get you adjusted to his beast of a cock.

Jean;

"So I uh... Was wondering if you weren't doing anything later if you'd... Wanna grab some food? You know... Just the two of us?"

Jean would have a crimson hue etched over his face when he asks you. He's a little more shy than Erwin and Levi.

"Are you asking me on a date, Jean Kirstein?" You'd tease.

He'll pull himself together. "Yeah. As a matter of fact... I am."

A date with Jean would be so lovely. You two would go get food, go for a walk and stargaze; laughing, joking and having deep conversations the entire time. Never would you fall into an awkward silence.

Hand holding. Definitely. He would adore holding your hand and showing you off, not to mention being able to have your satin soft skin touching his.

You'll hold hands while watching the stars, the end of the night drawing near. This is when he'll make his move.

His heart will be thudding in his ears and his palms will begin to get a little damp.

But darn it, he's wanted this for so long he refuses to screw it up.

Since you're both lying down he'll roll over onto his side and just place his hand on your face, gazing down at you in awe.

He waits for your reaction.

After a few moments he lowers his head and inhales deeply through his nose as your lips connect and you slide your tongue into his mouth.

He's doing the most goofiest victory dance in his head right now.

- NSFW -

Jean is nervous as hell but also very excited, trembling slightly as he kisses you and lays you down onto his bed.

This lovely lad will take care of you so well, in more ways than one.

He adores wrapping his arms around you protectively when you're being intimate. He would die for you and this certainly comes out in how he fucks you.

Or most of the time, makes love to you.

He praises you a lot, totally unbelieving he has you and how lucky he is.

Firm caresses, a lot of gasping and pants holding your hand and deep kisses.

You'll give a whole new meaning to "Horse face" because you'll bloody ride it like one.

He's amazed by you the entire time as well as afterwards. Jean is a 10/10 good boy and his aftercare is second to none.

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erensnubs · 3 years

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𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒀𝒐𝒖

Colt Grice x F! Reader Dystopian AU

Chapter 3

Word Count: 1.3k

"Uh hey? You seem lost in thought. "

You shook your head to focus your gaze to the man in front of you. Sandy blonde hair, tall, strong build, and murky green eyes. Considering his body type you assumed he worked somewhere on the Garrison Regiment or one of those cowards, correction, Military Police.

"Yeah, uh do I know you?"

Strangers always approach you when you go out in public. You like to joke how it's because of your adoring looks and alluring aura, but in truth it's just because,

1. You lived with Levi (the ladies are crazy for him)

2. People gossip about you, Hange, Levi, Erwin and Moblit thinking all of you are in some sort of love pentagon

3. You were in the news when you gave Public Health Service Announcements from the government

4. This usually applied to men, some women but not only did you have a wealthy salary, you had a reputation and apparently people like that

"No, I just wanted to talk to someone. It gets tiring to talk to the rich folks," he said sheepishly.

You looked at him inquisitively. The man didn't know who you were.

"Why does it tire you?"

He sighed and walked over next to you and leaned himself on the wall, "They push the same agendas all the time and they talk about trivial, stupid things. It's the same thing over and over again."

He gestured by raising his pointer finger and circling it around in the area, "It gets tedious and they act like it's so important and hilarious every time."

Then he turned to look at you, "But you out of all the people I've seen. You didn't really talk that much only to yourself. What are you thinking about?"

His questions startled you as your eyes squinted and tried to analyze this man. He saw what you were doing and his green eyes followed yours, like you were playing a game of cat and mouse. If that's how it's going to go, you thought. I guess I'll play.

"Why do you ask? Did my mutterings seem incoherent to you?" You countered.

He smiled, "No, it's just you seemed so at peace by yourself, I had to ask what you were thinking about for a person as busy as yourself to be so calm."

Ah so he did know you. So much for having a normal conversation. Not that it was normal in the beginning.

He looked at your disinterested expression and started to apologize profusely, " Oh shit, I didn't mean to offend you. You were just walking around and talking to lots of people… you looked busy and important that's what I'm attempting to say."

Your mouth parted slightly then you slowly closed it. Who was this man? Why was he so straightforward?

Good job probably fucking up your chances with talking to her.

Colt POV Fuck.

She didn't answer and I could feel blood pumping through my head and my face heating up.

Was she disinterested in me? Tired or bothered? Even worse did I come off to her as a "nice" guy that was just trying to get into her pants?

The silence between us was tangible, I felt like I could grab it and wring it out to try and continue this conversation.

I didn't even know this woman's name and yet she still captivated me.

Maybe it was the way she walked up the stairs of the Opera House, her head up high and unfazed. Maybe it was when I locked eyes with her for a split second, before her attention was turned to someone else. Maybe it was the way she smiled so fakely at these people that I wanted to laugh out loud, at her and the fact they couldn't tell it was fake.

Maybe it was the contagious laugh she had, the way her passive personality changed when surrounded by friends. Or the way she flirted with people.

I could tell I sounded like a creep but I've seen her before moving to "Paradis". She was on the news, vigorously explaining concepts, ideas things I never would've thought of in million years. The way she spoke with such passion and feeling about these people's lives, which up until a year ago, I couldn't care less about.

This woman standing next to me, who was probably bored out of her fucking mind, inspired me to find a job in the government, specifically the research and weapons development department. I was still interning at various places before I actually started, but I'm making progress… I'm getting there.

It wasn't her intelligence, or her passion that captivated me. It was her passiveness… her "wallflower" persona if you will, that she puts on to mask, to observe. Why would someone as powerful in wealth and government act that way? How did her personality change from laid-back to bright? Her flexibility confused me and I wanted to find out more. She had the ability to make me be passionate about something other than pleasing my parents…. Why was she so reserved?

Maybe I thought,I shouldn't make assumptions. Yes she was my inspiration, but I didn't even know who she was, what her name was. Living in Marley, we didn't have information on the government officials like the people here so their names were always:

Commander of the Survey Corps

Military Commandant of the Military Police

Or hers:

Head of Research and Data Department

I only knew a title, and a face to match but now I'm looking at her in the flesh. Her presence was underwhelming, but there was a weight to it that I couldn't understand. Was it melancholy? Or was she just a complete mystery to me?

And voila, here I was invited by my manager at the research center for the Science Museum taking me as his plus one, to this formal event.

And here she was, my BIGGEST inspiration, my literal REASON why I wanted to work for the government and I can't even say shit to her?

"I was thinking about possibilities and outcomes for a certain person if I told them to do something," she says finally.

The silence broke, and she looked at me, leaning her head against the wall tilting her face in an alluring expression. Her eyes looked glazed, from the glowing light and I couldn't help but stare at that calm expression. The golden lights of the chandelier reflected on her eyes and they seemed to dance, so softly.

Her lips were slightly parted, chapped on the top, smooth on the bottom as expected of a busy woman, but I have never in my life wanted to touch something more in my life.

I snapped out of my trance and looked at her wide-eyed. So she was thinking about certain possibilities of a hypothetical situation? How far does this woman prepare?

But this was the hard part, I think. How to tell her that "Oh by the way I basically switched careers because I saw you give a speech a year and a half ago and I was inspired" without making it feel weird.

Don't think Colt, just do.

I quickly shook my head and without even thinking I reached out to grab her skirt.

My thumb grazed her fingers slightly, but I still held onto the hem of her dress. She still didn't pull away.

Her eyes locked onto mine in a "what the" expression but I steadied myself, even when the blood rushing through my head was pounding, the sound so loud the only thing I could hook onto was her eyes.

And her dress of course. What the fuck Colt, are you falling in love or something?

I remained calm as I looked at her very, VERY surprised expression. Her body was pulling away from mine, I could feel it but her dress stayed between my fingers.

"Can you tell me about it? While we dance together?"

Prev/next

#colt grice x reader #colt x reader #colt grice #aot fic #colt grice fic #attack on titan fic #aot ff #levi ackerman #hange zoe #erwin smith

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wall-maria-fritz · 3 years

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The Wingman (Erwin Smith x Marie)

Chapter 4: The First Letter

Reposting this because I am officially overhauling my @levi-lives blog, in lieu of this one because SOMEONE Tumblr won't let my posts show up from there anymore! grrrr.

@levi-lives blog is still up tho, if you would like still see my original posts

The Wingman: MASTERLIST

Author’s Note:

Daamn this is a pretty long one! I thought you lovelies deserved a thicc update for all the wait 💙

And because of that, we got more song inspos than usual for this chapter: Mystery of Love by Sufjan Stevens, Strawberries and Cigarettes by Troye Sivan, and come out and play by Billie Eillish

I also forgot to mention last chapter that I named Marie after my favorite impressionist artist, Piérre Bonnard! You’ll see why 😉

Chapter 4: The First Letter

Erwin was thankful for the cool summer breeze as he made his way into the nearby town’s post office to receive his letters from Derek and his mother. A small smile graced his features when he found the two envelopes greeting him when he opened his letter box. One bearing the Wings of Freedom seal of the Scouting Legion, the other a postage stamp from Wall Rose.

He quickly opened Derek’s letter first, Erwin’s blue eyes skimming over the words written on an official Scouting Legion stationary. Erwin was surprised to read that his brother would be visiting again very soon. Derek was under orders from Commander Shadis to retrieve some files at the Cadet Corps’ Archives Office. But more than that, Derek wanted to meet with him saying, “I met a very pretty girl, and I wanna introduce her to you.”

Which was code for, “The Intelligence Division of the Legion has made some discoveries you’ll want to know. Meet me at my aforementioned destination.” Which in this case, was the Archives Office.

Derek Smith was privy to all sorts of confidential information thanks to his position as Deputy Section Commander at the Scouting Legion’s Intelligence Division. Perhaps Derek sharing sensitive information to his brother could cost him his life, but the brothers— as true sons of Jonathan Smith— were adamant in doing whatever it takes to know the truth of the Walls.

Erwin grimaced.

‘And I’m no stupid little boy anymore,’

Erwin pushes back the dark memories.

Moping wasn’t going to help his father’s legacy.

Ever since the suspicious death of their father, the Smith boys have taken it upon themselves to prove their father’s claims that the history of the Walls is more than meets the eye. Which was why Derek— being the elder brother— decided to join the frontlines of the Scouting Legion in pursuit of this knowledge, while Erwin would climb the ranks of the Military Police and uncover the truth from within. The brothers agreed that they would cover more ground if they split up this way.

And worst comes to worst, their mother would at least still have one son around to take care of her.

Erwin opens his mother’s letter next, the familiar loopy scrawl, and the nostalgic smell of home which oddly seems to stick to all her letters, comforting him.

My Darling Erwin,

I’ve just received the carnations, darling. As always, they are beautiful! Please put in a good word for the florist who arranges these. They have such artistry! I will be potting them after I write this. Maybe I’ll place them at the kitchen windowsill so I’ll be reminded of my brave and handsome sons whenever I wash.

And perhaps my brave and handsome sons would remember to visit their dear old mother? Don’t worry, nothing is wrong. Everything is fine. Mother is quite content here with her tulips and carnations, but I do miss my baby boys.

Please tell your brother to be very careful out there. You too, Erwin. If you will not take care for yourselves, then do it for your father and I. Your father would never forgive me if any harm came upon you boys. And it would break my heart.

Mama loves you very much, and I pray that the Goddesses would protect you both everyday. Come visit me soon, darling. I promise I’ll bake you your favorite strawberry pie! With the extra maple syrup, just the way you like it!

Much love and kisses,

Mama.

Erwin smiled softly. It was always nice to hear from his mother. He was glad he chose a good florist for his mother’s flowers. His mother only deserves the best. And he definitely misses her and her strawberry pie.

‘Derek and I should visit mother again soon. ‘

Erwin was tucking in the two letters into his jacket pocket, when he heard a familiar name.

“You’ve got another big one, Miss Marie!”

Sure enough, Erwin sees Marie Bonnard accept a rather hefty looking box from the mail concierge. She gave a bright smile to the young man behind the desk despite the heavy bulk in her arms. “I got it, Tom, thank you!”

Tom blushed at Marie’s undeniably pretty smile. “A-are you sure? I could—“

Marie gasped at the sensation of two strong arms lifting the box out of her grasp. When she looked up to snap at who dared try to take it away, her hazel eyes widened.

“No worries Tom, I’ll help her bring it home.”

Erwin’s easy smile and smooth voice made carrying the heavy box seem like a piece of cake. ‘Well, considering how big this guy is, it probably was.’ The thought made Marie want to cross her arms and stomp her feet.

Tom looked between her and Erwin. Marie could almost see the gears turning in the young man’s head, and the unspoken ‘Oh’ in his lips. “I see, of course sir.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Don’t be ridiculous Erwin, I’m more than capable of carrying it myself.” Marie moves to get the box back, when she notices something.

“Besides,” she begins, as her hazel eyes rove up the unmistakable military uniform Erwin was wearing. They zero in on the crossed sword insignia of the Cadet Corps. “Don’t you have training to go to?”

Erwin’s brilliant blue eyes sparked in amusement. “It’s a Saturday. So no training for today. I got all the time in the world, Marie.” The blonde smirked as he easily pulled the full weight of the box into his arms. “And we both know you’re going to hate lugging this around beneath this heat.”

Marie regarded the man before her. If there was anything she knew about Erwin, it’s that he took what he wanted and there would be no stopping him to it.

And she will hate lugging the box around beneath the harsh sun. Marie harrumphed.

“Fine.”

——————————

The pair walked out of the postal office and into the bright glare of the summer sun in relative silence. The nearby weekend market was having a busy morning, and Marie didn’t miss all the women who have stopped in their errands, pausing their weekend shopping to look up at the vision that is Erwin Smith. They would then notice her by his side, and would either turn away in disappointment or look at her with eyes that wished she’d go away.

Marie rolled her eyes. She’s seen so many girls beam with pride to be seen walking beside Erwin back at the College of Wall Rose. And now, Marie doesn’t understand what was so nice about having complete strangers stare and be hostile towards you for no reason.

Out of curiosity, she peeked up at Erwin’s imposing figure, seeing if any of this attention affected him at all. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t.

Erwin’s handsomely cut profile, with his straight nose, high cheekbones, and perfectly chiseled jaw simply looked ahead, paying no mind to all the longing looks he was receiving.

Of course. He must be so used to all this already.

The summer breeze picked up and slightly ruffled Erwin’s blonde hair, making it glint and gleam against the sun’s brilliance. He looked like a golden hero sculpted by the hand of a god.

It was also then that she caught that familiar whiff of sandalwood and aftershave.

As if sensing her gaze, Erwin’s blue eyes flit at her. A small smirk quirked at his lips. Marie hastily looks to her front. A blush already forming at her cheeks from being caught staring.

“Is the box from your family?”

Marie was just a tad bit miffed that Erwin still hasn’t broken a sweat from carrying such a heavy load.

She shook her head good naturedly, “It came from a very sweet old lady from Wall Rose. She’s been my penpal for a few years now. She likes to send me boxes of treats and goodies when she knows I’ll be away from Wall Rose for the summer.” Marie looks up thoughtfully, ”Well, she does like to say that I’m like the daughter she never had. More so now that her sons are away.” She smiled softly. “So I guess it sorta is from family.”

Erwin smiles back at the wistful look in Marie’s hazel eyes, “She sounds wonderful.”

“How about you? Did you have to clean out your admirers’ dozens of love letters from your letter box?” Marie teased. Erwin raised an eyebrow in mock surprise.

“What admirers?”

Marie lightly swatted at Erwin’s arm. He just laughed saying, “If by admirers you mean my mother and my imbecile brother, then yes.”

Marie glanced at Erwin, “You have a brother?” The blonde nodded, “An older one. He just wrote to me that he’ll be visiting back from the Scouting Legion.”

That made Marie’s eyebrows scrunch together in confusion.

‘Erwin Smith training in the Cadet Corps, now an older brother in the Scouting Legion? The Smiths clearly don’t need to pursue a military career if they don’t want to. So what are they doing playing soldier?’

It was then that Marie noticed that they’ve arrived at the corner of her apartment block. “We’re here.”

——————————

The apartment was small, but homey. Just enough for one person to stay in. Erwin noticed the small personal effects that littered the space, which spoke about the girl living within it. Little things, like the paint brushes submerged in a jar of water, and the rolled up tubes of paint beside it. As well as a magazine featuring a popular musical that was showing in Wall Rose, sitting on the small kitchen table.

But what really stood out about the apartment was the variety of flowers which ornamented the place. Marie noticed Erwin’s blue eyes taking in all the flora, and briefly waved at the flowers, explaining that she liked to dabble in Ikebana.

Marie takes the magazine off the table and gestures for Erwin to place the box on the kitchen table she just cleared. “Would you like some tea?” Came Marie’s distant voice, already busy pouring warm water into two teacups. “Thank you,” Erwin replies politely as he approaches a nearby window across the kitchen table. A small plot of white and pink carnations at the windowsill has caught Erwin’s attention.

Marie turns to Erwin with the two fragrant cups of tea, only to find him admiring the carnations. She places a teacup in front of him at the window ledge. “My mother was a florist before she had me. So I try to read the botany and floristry books she left behind whenever I can.”

Erwin’s blue eyes look to Marie in disbelief. How could she be so nonchalant at downplaying an obvious skill.

“Try? Marie, they’re lovely.”

Marie blushed at the compliment, not quite sure if he was referring to the flowers or… something else.

The pair stood before the window, gazing into the view outside, as they took a sip of their tea. A comfortable silence enveloping them.

Erwin raised an eyebrow the moment he took a taste of the sweet tea. Marie smiled, “ That’s strawberry tea from the same lady who sent me the box. You like it?” Erwin looks back to the carnations at the windowsill. A softness settling over his features. “ My mother would make these for me back home. It’s my favorite.”

He turns to look at Marie only to find that her smile has turned into laughter. Who would have thought Erwin Smith would have a sweet tooth… or be a Momma’s boy.

Erwin’s lips and brows quirked in amusement. “What?”

“Oh nothing, I just didn’t think you’d be such a momma’s boy!”

Erwin rolled his eyes.

“Hey, if it’s any consolation,” Marie begins, her laughter dying down. “It’s my favorite too,” she winks.

That caught Erwin off guard. He hastily took another sip of his strawberry tea to fight down a blush.

Marie grew quiet and thoughtful.

“I’m sure your mother doesn’t like that fact that you’re out here. Especially with your brother serving the Legion.”

Erwin turned somber. “No. She tries to convince us to leave everytime we visit her.” The blonde felt the woman beside him take a breath, readying herself for the one question which burned at the back of her head.

“Then why don’t you? You’re Erwin Smith! You’re more than capable of excelling in whatever field you put your mind to in Wall Sina. You can be whatever you want. You don’t need to risk your life in the military.” Marie reached out a hand to gently caress the embroidered crossed swords on Erwin’s chest. “So what are you doing here?”

Erwin’s face was a picture of calm. For many people, the Military was a great gamble for survival and security. They would be willing to endure the hardships of Cadet Corps training, risking their lives in the process, if it meant daily meals, a place to sleep, and a chance to enter the Inner Walls if they were good enough to qualify for the Military Police.

Erwin understood Marie’s confusion on why he would willingly choose to pursue a military career. But she seems to have forgotten that some men take the hard path for a purpose.

His blue eyes were distant as he placed his teacup down. “Isn’t the simple wish to serve humanity an acceptable enough reason?”

Marie’s hazel eyes were unconvinced, but she gave a small shrug anyways. “I suppose,” she replied as she sipped her tea.

“How about you?”

Oh no.

Erwin’s gaze turned intense, as he asked her the one question she’s been dreading.

“What are you doing working as a barmaid? Why aren’t you off spending your summer looking for a husband like the rest of the girls at Wall Rose?”

Now Marie set her own cup down. Erwin watched in interest as something steeled and solidified in Marie’s hazel eyes.

“Because I don’t need one.”

Marie closed her eyes and sighed, “Besides, I’m nothing like the Wall Rose girls. I always have to work for what I get. And that includes College. I work during the summer and try to earn enough to pay off what my scholarship doesn’t cover.”

She looked Erwin in the eye. “That’is why I’m working as a barmaid.”

Marie was prepared to find pity in Erwin’s eyes. Instead, she found wonder. His lips slightly parted as he tucked a stray strand of ginger hair behind her ear. He moved closer to her and drew in a breath.

“You’re right. You’re nothing like the girls from Wall Rose,” Erwin’s smooth baritone sent shivers down Marie’s spine.

This close, Marie could feel the warmth radiating from Erwin’s body. She could smell the distinct sandalwood and aftershave that made her head go hazy. She could feel herself drowning in Erwin’s blue eyes again.

“You’re bright and brave. Entirely something else,” Erwin breathed, as he looked intently into the ginger girl’s hazel eyes. Trying to understand just what exactly was making him lean into her.

He was so, so close. She could feel herself getting surrounded by him…

By Erwin.

If she could just…

Stand on her tiptoes.

Marie felt her soft plump lips touch Erwin’s thin ones, and was thrilled to find him avidly returning the kiss. His strong hands immediately went to her waist, as he pulled her even closer. Her own slender hands wrapped themselves around Erwin’s thick neck. Her fingers brushing along the bristles of his undercut.

Marie felt heat pool in her belly, as the large man prodded a wet tongue against her lips. With a soft moan, the woman parted her lips without hesitation and found that Erwin Smith tasted like strawberries and cigarettes.

So Erwin Smith smokes.

She reveled in the fact that she’s just found out that the man smokes from kissing him. But then Marie felt Erwin’s calloused hands gently but firmly push her away.

When Marie opened her heavy-lidded eyes, she was met with cool and unfathomable blue eyes. The memory of Erwin pressing Elena up against a wall at the bar came rushing back to her. How he was so clearly delighted from taking her pleasure.

Her hands suddenly felt cold as she quickly stepped back as if she’d been burned. Marie stuttered out an apology, already hating herself for acting like a desperate girl. She’s really done it this time.

She squeezed her eyes shut, and clenched her fists. Panic bubbled up her throat.

What was she thinking? Erwin’s only ever liked brunettes. What makes her think he’ll want her over Elena?

“What? No, Marie it’s not that.” The reply of Erwin’s smooth baritone made Marie realize that she’s said her thoughts out loud. Erwin nudges her chin to look up at him.

When Marie opened her glassy hazel eyes again, as if a switch flipped in Erwin, she saw a rather amused look on his face, a small dimple showing on his cheek. “You see, I wouldn’t be a very good wingman if I start kissing you now.”

Marie blinked. “What?”

Erwin stopped the urge to kiss her adorable freckled face again.

“My best friend wants to court you, Marie.”

“Oh.”

Along with that realization, Marie recognized Erwin’s efforts to try and diffuse the situation. Marie started shaking her head in laughter, the awkwardness and embarrassment of the moment finally melting away.

“And you’re going to help him with that?” Marie raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms as she leant back. Erwin gave her a dimpled, boyish grin. “ Can you blame me? The guy promised me a bottle of Ragako Brandy for it. So you better say yes to him!”

“W o w”

Erwin and Marie laughed together. The morning light that bounced brightly against Marie’s ginger curls made the laughing, freckled girl look absolutely radiant.

‘Sweet Sina, now I really want to kiss her again,’ Erwin thought as he added,

“So get ready to see more of our faces at the Territory.”

Marie mockingly rolled her eyes in response.

“Oh Goddess.”

It was then that Marie decided that she quite liked Erwin like this— carefree and playful.

——————————

When Erwin left her little floral apartment, Marie immediately sat down and wrote a letter to Agatha about the charming young soldier who just helped her carry the box the old lady sent. Marie couldn’t help the way the butterflies in her belly fluttered about at the thought. Nor did she notice it.

Two days later, when Marie stepped out of her apartment to finally send her reply to Agatha, she was surprised to find a small white envelope fluttering down from her door jamb.

She picked it up and found her name written on it with an elegant flourish. She excitedly opened the envelope in curiosity and read the elegantly written letter.

Marie smiled.

A/N: Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement.

*winkwink* to those who have figured *it* out by now hihihi

I’ll see you lovelies again soon, and as always, stay safe, healthy, AND WASH YOUR HANDS!

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i-heart-danchou · 5 years

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SNK positivity week, character appreciation post: Erwin Smith

So I dunno if you guys know this, but I heart danchou. I’ve only been an active participant in this fandom for a short while, but I’ve been obsessed with Erwin Smith for the better part of four years. I’ve never had a lot of confidence with my writing and so I’ve been reluctant to share things, but Erwin’s inspired me more than I can describe. I wrote a book because of him. I shared my works because of him.

He embodies so many of the things that I value: intelligence, a sense of duty, bravery, loyalty, charisma, confidence, while still maintaining humility, doubt, and vulnerability. I have a little bracelet with the letter E on it, I got it for him so I could wear it and remember to be strong and brave. I try to be more like him in certain situations and it genuinely helps me stand and fight. I struggle a lot with depression. A lot. It matters to me to have someone (not just someone, an adult like me, a person with a career like me, not a teenager, not a child) who is otherwise successful and seems to have it all together who is struggling so much with their internal demons. It’s a beautiful illustration of mental illness-- how easy it is for a certain type of person to hide how much they struggle to the point where no one but their closest friends know there’s even a problem. Erwin is strong, and brave, and smart, and gorgeous, and he’s depressed and vulnerable and doesn’t think he deserves anything good. He carries a lot of guilt and self hatred and... I dunno. I’ve always found that really inspirational. How he can just put away the bullshit and be incredible. He’s helped me so much and I miss him every day. I doubt a fictional character will resonate this much with me ever again. It’s a privilege to be able to share in his story, to write about him, to be inspired by him. I just hope I do him justice.

#snkpositivityweek 2019 #erwin smith #i heart depression #i heart danchou

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wickedzeevyln · 6 months

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Picture Perfect on LinkedIn

Unlike TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, or Instagram, hardly anyone uses other platforms for professional networking or job hunting. On LinkedIn, folks chat about career goals and connect with coworkers. LinkedIn is a must because recruiters rely on it big time for finding talent. It’s a super useful tool for both job seekers and those wanting to keep their ear to the ground about opportunities. It’s…

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gusgrissom · 6 years

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NASA’s Day of Remembrance

In loving memory of the remarkable men and women who gave their lives advancing the frontiers of exploration.

Theodore Cordy “Ted” Freeman (February 18, 1930 – October 31, 1964) - Ted was a quiet, dedicated guy with a wry sense of humor and an unbridled passion for flying. In high school he was student body president and had a reputation for standing up to bullies. He rode his bike to work every morning and around the neighborhood with his wife and daughter every evening. Ted loved Danny Kaye and bird-watching and his work in the space program, and dreamed of flying to the moon. He saved countless lives at the cost of his own on the day he died.

Elliot McKay See, Jr. (July 23, 1927 – February 28, 1966) - Elliot, previously a naval aviator and General Electric test pilot, was wholly dedicated to being an astronaut. He was close friends with Neil Armstrong and was instrumental in developing plans for lunar missions, such as electrical systems and lighting conditions. El was also kind and humble, with smiling eyes, a deep faith in God, a love for the show Bonanza, and a desire to make a contribution to mankind. The best comedy sketch writer in the astronaut corps.

Charles Arthur “Charlie” Bassett II (December 30, 1931 – February 28, 1966) - The first thing you’d notice about Charlie was his grin, the brightest smile and the warmest eyes. In addition to being an astronaut, he was a jack of all trades—an amateur chef, a skillful MC, and an avid reader, who loved old cars and watching ballet. He was a strong advocate for education, in both the arts and sciences. He dressed up in a suit and tie for every school visit because kids were the most important in his book. Above all else, Charlie loved flying and dreamed of the moon.

Virgil Ivan “Gus” Grissom (April 3, 1926 – January 27, 1967) - One of the original astronauts, the second American in space, the first human to fly in space twice, likely scheduled to be the first man to walk on the moon. Gus earned a reputation as a serious, dedicated astronaut who didn’t say a word unless it was worth saying. He was also a masterful goof—practical jokes, driving too fast, playing Napoleon in the jungle, evading the press by wearing disguises, falling asleep while flying supersonic jets at 35,000 feet... From the start, his fellow astronauts “thought the world of him.” He loved flying more than anything and was beyond proud to serve his country in a way that would allow him to achieve his dreams. To me, he’s more than just a hero. I owe more to Gus than I can put into words, and more as the years go by. Thank you, bubba.

Edward Higgins “Ed” White II (November 14, 1930 – January 27, 1967) - Ed, our Dwarde, was an All-American boy in the truest sense. With his red hair and huge grin, his near-Olympian superhuman strength, his deep laugh and poetic soul, it was impossible not to love him. He performed the first American spacewalk and was a natural born leader. In the words of a fellow astronaut, people “instinctively felt better” just being around Ed. A beautiful man with a beautiful heart. A runner, a loving husband and father, a true friend to anyone who needed one.

Roger Bruce Chaffee (February 15, 1935 – January 27, 1967) - One of the sweetest, brightest men to ever join the space program. Roger was intelligent but modest, practical but a dreamer and an optimist, an incredible engineer. Responsible and kind and fun and devoted to his family and his career. He had bright eyes and a playful smirk and boundless excitement towards his first spaceflight and the program as a whole. Roger was a pioneer in every sense of the word. He already had his eyes and his big, passionate heart set on Mars.

Edward Galen “Ed” Givens, Jr. (January 5, 1930 – June 6, 1967) - Ed, known as Galen to his family and Give to friends from the Naval Academy, was everything you could want in an astronaut. Flight was his first and utmost passion. He helped develop the AMU (later used by astronauts during spacewalks) and served on the support crews for Apollo 1 and 7. He was incredibly close to his parents and devoted to his wife, their four children, and his “girlfriend,” a Dalmatian named Cleo. He was a talented pilot, a generous, motivated man, and an astronaut.

Clifton Curtis “C.C.” Williams, Jr. (September 26, 1932 – October 5, 1967) - C.C. was a tall, funny, gregarious Marine from Alabama, with a puppy named Lord Percy Plushbottom and “an unbelievable amount of faith” in God. For a time he was the first and only bachelor in the astronaut corps, until he met his wife Beth and they started a family. Though he only had a short time with them, he passed his philosophy for life down to his daughters—“work hard, be dedicated to your goals, and have a sense of humor.”

Michael James “Mike” Adams (May 5, 1930 – November 15, 1967) - Mike was an Air Force pilot who flew combat missions in Korea and served as an aerospace research pilot before joining the MOL program and qualifying for astronaut status on his final flight. He was quiet and serious, but had a sharp, deadpan sense of humor. He was a theater star in high school and dabbled in music throughout his life, including taking up accordion. Most of all he loved old cars, hunting, and flying his planes.

Robert Henry “Bob” Lawrence, Jr. (October 2, 1935 – December 8, 1967) - Bob was a remarkable and incredibly talented young pilot who joined the MOL program after serving as an Air Force flight instructor and test pilot. He was also a brilliant mind with an early interest in science, graduating from high school at 16 and later earning a PhD in Physical Chemistry. His test pilot work later contributed to development of the space shuttle. He had a soft spot for animals, was a talented piano player, and loved fast cars and fast planes. Bob was the first African American astronaut, and humble yet proud of his accomplishments and his position as a role model for young black kids across the country.

Francis Richard “Dick” Scobee (May 19, 1939 – January 28, 1986) - Dick, or Scob, was the definition of the word ‘perseverance.’ Hard work and dedication throughout school, his military service in Vietnam, and test pilot career led to his selection as an astronaut and shuttle commander. He was an extremely down-to-earth, kind, and genuine man. Flying was his passion and he was a remarkable leader and inspiration for his crew and everyone who knew him. “We have new worlds to build.”

Michael John “Mike” Smith (April 30, 1945 – January 28, 1986) - Mike was curious about everything—he was handy, could build anything, taught himself to sew, loved flying and dreamed of becoming either a Blue Angel or an astronaut. He drove fast and loved Carly Simon and ran along the river in Southern Maryland and was beyond excited for his first space flight. Mike kept an H.G. Wells quote on his dresser: “For man, there is no rest and no ending. He must go on--conquest beyond conquest... And when he has conquered all the depths of space and all the mysteries of time, still he will be but beginning.”

Ellison Shoji “El” Onizuka (June 24, 1946 – January 28, 1986) - Born in Hawaii, El was the first Asian American astronaut to fly in space and was always proud of his roots. He was fascinated by aerospace from a young age, and when El set his mind to something, he got it done. He was committed to sharing his experiences with students in Hawaii and encouraging kids to follow their dreams as he did.

Judith Arlene “Judy” Resnik (April 5, 1949 – January 28, 1986) - Judy was one of the first women in space and the first Jewish American to fly in space. She was gifted in school, a classical pianist, a perfectionist but fun and headstrong. She had a crush on Tom Selleck. Her friends called her a live-wire and an astronaut’s astronaut. Her legacy lives on through her passion for education and science and the lives she touched.

Ronald Erwin “Ron” McNair (October 21, 1950 – January 28, 1986) - Ron had a brilliant mind and an equally beautiful soul. Before becoming an astronaut, he was an MIT graduate and nationally-renowned physicist. While studying for his PhD, Ron was mugged and lost two years worth of data. He immediately went to work and recollected all of it in less than a year. His drive was incredible. He was the second African-American to fly in space, a black belt in taekwondo, and loved jazz and playing saxophone.

Gregory Bruce “Greg” Jarvis (August 24, 1944 – January 28, 1986) - Greg’s passion and excitement in the space program was palpable. His enthusiasm for everything else in life was just as evident—backpacking, rafting, skiing, surfing, marathons, and especially cycling. He was quiet but friendly, a dedicated engineer with an untiring work ethic powered by endless energy. Greg’s big smile and genuine thoughtfulness impacted hundreds of lives throughout his own.

Sharon Christa McAuliffe (September 2, 1948 – January 28, 1986) - Christa's excitement towards her first space flight was infectious. Chosen to fly on the shuttle as part of the Teacher in Space program, Christa exemplified all the best things about education and learning. She was an inspiration not just for children, but fellow teachers and adults across the country. She loved teaching and her students and her family. She became close with Greg Jarvis, the other civilian on the flight crew. Christa was fun and magnetic, and left a lasting legacy on spaceflight and education.

Manley Lanier “Sonny” Carter, Jr. (August 15, 1947 – April 5, 1991) - Before joining the astronaut corps, Sonny (also known to friends as Billy Bob) played professional soccer while attending medical school. He was a Boy Scout, a wrestling champion, and loved the L.A. Dodgers. He helped develop space-walking techniques during his six years at NASA and was well-loved within the Astronaut Office.

Richard Douglas “Rick” Husband (July 12, 1957 – February 1, 2003) - Rick, above all else, was devoted to his God, his family, and his crew. His faith informed every aspect of his life and he was beyond honored to lead such an incredible group of people. He went out of his way to make sure everyone he met walked away with a smile on their face. Rick’s kindness, generosity, and faith cannot be overstated. His favorite Bible verse was Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Jesus was real to him.

William Cameron “Willie” McCool (September 23, 1961 – February 1, 2003) - Willie was one of the most energetic and upbeat astronauts in a crew of enthusiastic people. He changed his name from Willy to Willie because of how much he loved Willie Mays. He was an incredible athlete who loved competition. He was equally dedicated to his job, getting things done and helping others in any way he could. Willie loved his wife and their three sons, he wrote poetry, he ran on air. He touched an incredible number of lives with his selflessness and drive throughout his life. His life wasn’t easy, but it was good, and he made it good for those around him.

David McDowell “Dave” Brown (April 16, 1956 – February 1, 2003) - Dave was a genuine Renaissance Man, a “humble overachiever.” A doctor, a gymnast, a pilot, a filmmaker, a cyclist, a former circus performer, an astronaut. He was extremely close to his parents and Duggins, his Labrador Retriever and best friend. His enthusiasm for spaceflight was contagious and inspired not only the rest of the crew but everyone he met. He filmed everything the STS-107 crew did together and planned on making a video of their time together.

Kalpana “K.C.” Chawla (March 17, 1962 – February 1, 2003) - Growing up in India, K.C. was inspired by her older brother and was set on becoming a pilot. She was quiet but brilliant and unwaveringly optimistic. Her smile lit up the room and she had a brain “the size of a planet.” K.C. was funny and loving and appreciated every moment she had with her family, with her crew, and in space. One night before the flight, she and her husband hosted the crew and their families for dinner and had a fashion show with all the crew children dressed up in her Indian clothes and jewelry.

Michael Phillip “Mike” Anderson (December 25, 1959 – February 1, 2003) - Mike was soft-spoken, sweet guy with a bright smile and an even brighter mind. He had an insatiable curiosity in science, in chemistry and computers and spaceflight. He always dreamed of becoming an astronaut. As a kid, he wore goggles while mowing lawns to protect his eyes because an eye injury could prevent him from flying someday. Mike started a bible study along with Rick and had an abiding faith in God. He loved his wife and two daughters more than anything.

Laurel Blair Salton Clark (March 10, 1961 – February 1, 2003) - Laurel was a natural-born explorer—hiking, diving, submarines, helicopters, and then the space shuttle. One of eight siblings, she was also a medical doctor, a wife, and a mother. Her optimism and excitement about spaceflight carried over into her enthusiasm for children and education. She buoyed the spirit of the crew throughout their many delays and setbacks, always uplifting and ready to share her passion. In her last letter home to family, she wrote, “Thanks to many of you who have supported me and my adventures throughout the years... I hope you could feel the positive energy that beamed to the whole planet as we glided over our shared planet.”

Ilan Ramon (June 20, 1954 – February 1, 2003) - Ilan was the first Israeli astronaut. The son and grandson of Holocaust survivors, he was extremely proud and humble to represent Israelis and Jews across the world. He ate kosher food during his shuttle flight, carried a Torah scroll from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and prayed the Shema when they flew over Jerusalem. Ilan was warm, always smiling, “a twinkle was always in [his] eye,” and had an incredibly loving family. He didn’t eat breakfast, just coffee.

“If we die, we want people to accept it. We are in a risky business, and we hope that if anything happens to us it will not delay the program. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life.” -Gus Grissom

Ad astra per aspera.

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valisi-clark · 6 years

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@kittyboo8015 Commissioned me for Erwin and Levi having a blind date. I had so much fun writing this. I laughed a lot, and that’s always a good sign (to me).

Read it here or on AO3.

The Good Emergency

Erwin was confident in many areas of his life. But he struggled with creating romantic relationships. In the past, he had several relationships. He felt as if they were serious, but he wasn't sure how his former partners felt. Because he never asked. Which made it even more surprising when they left. Part of his problem was lack of effort. When he was in school, he focused on his studies. When he graduated with his degree, he threw himself into networking and job searching. And finally, when he was employed, he focused on work. Every ended relationship causes his career oriented tunnel-vision to become more severe.

After Mike and Nanaba's wedding, Erwin turned to online dating. At first, he was surprised by how many people made contact with him. Erwin enjoyed first dates, and the websites he used gave him a lot of opportunities for those initial encounters. But he realized quickly that second dates were going to be unusual. Third dates were rare. And even though he was making an effort to find someone, he was still going home to an empty house.

In Erwin's long list of bad dates, there were two that stuck out the most.

Lily, a beautiful and charming 30 year old woman, stunned Erwin during their first date. They discussed work first. Her perspective as a female firefighter intrigued Erwin so much that they didn't notice when their dinner was served, and it was cold by the time they began eating. Erwin tried not to bore her by talking about analyzing budgets for General Motors, but it couldn't compare to her stories. She leaned in closer and asked questions anyway.

After they finished their cold dinners, Erwin asked if she wanted to get ice cream at a local creamery. The expression of her face fell into devastation, and Erwin wondered what he had said wrong. But then she said:

“I'm sorry. I went there with my ex all of the time.”

“Oh,” Erwin said. “Do you want to talk about him?”

He expected her to say no. But she didn't. Erwin learned everything about Tommy, including the color of Tommy's pubic hair. The way Tommy laughed. How he proposed marriage. And the way Lily told her stories about Tommy intrigued him just as much as her stories of fighting fires. They sat in the restaurant so long that the waiter asked them to leave, and they went to McDonald's to get McFlurries and talk more about Tommy. By the end of the date, Lily was leaving Tommy a voicemail, and she kissed Erwin's cheeks before they went to their separate cars. Erwin didn't realize what had happened until he was at home. He swore to himself he would never tell anyone.

He broke down and told Nile the next day. Nile told everyone. Marie sent Erwin a fruit basket to his workplace because she felt so badly for him.

The other date, with Raymond, was worse. They went to dinner, and Raymond seemed to be enjoying himself. He worked for Google, and Erwin was really interested in what it meant to be the Program Manager for Logistics in Data Center Operations because it was such a long job title. Most of what Raymond said was confusing, and Erwin thought that he wasn't intelligent enough to understand what Raymond did exactly.

They went to a movie after dinner, and Erwin left the movie for ten minutes to use the restroom. When he came back, Raymond was gone. Erwin decided that Raymond had to pee too, so he took his seat and anxiously waited for Raymond to come back. Raymond didn't come back for thirty minutes. Erwin was too worried to wait, so he checked all of the men's restrooms. Raymond wasn't in any of them. He walked outside, and Raymond's car was gone. Erwin called Moblit for a ride. He told Moblit he didn't want to talk about it once he was in the car. Moblit was too embarrassed to press for information. Hange pulled the entire story out of Erwin the next time she saw him. She suggested that Raymond was in the witness protection program, and the wrong person saw him. Erwin told her that was ridiculous. He researched the practices of the witness protection program for a week.

That's how Erwin became a 35 year old bachelor with very little to lose in the area of romance.

And it's why he agreed to let Nanaba set him up with someone that she met through her cousin's best friend's fiancé's personal trainer.

The personal trainer part interested Erwin, but he knew enough about blind dates to know not to expect much. Blind dates weren't known for their success. But Nanaba claimed that Levi Ackerman's crossfit class almost broke her in half. And Levi felt so bad for her by the time they were done, he hosted a yoga class for her, her cousin, her cousin's best friend, and the best friend's fiancé. That type of kindness gave Erwin some hope that Levi wouldn't be another Raymond or Lily.

The Uber driver, Darren, parked the car.

“You look good.”

“Thank you, Darren,” Erwin said. Erwin had blurted out all of the details about his blind date to Darren about half a mile from his home.

“Enjoy your date, Erwin,” Darren said. Erwin leaned over in the back seat and checked his hair in the rearview mirror once before he exited the vehicle.

Nanaba had chosen the place. A nice, reasonably priced Italian restaurant. She told both Erwin and Levi that they would pay for their own meals, their own drinks. It wasn't negotiable. She made the reservation under her name. Both of them were supposed to use Uber.

Nanaba asserting so much control made Erwin nervous. It seemed like she expected things to go badly.

Erwin entered the restaurant, removed his coat in the lobby, nervously smoothed his hair back before stepping into the restaurant. A young woman with platinum blond hair greeted him, and he told her the name of the reservation.

“This way,” she said, grabbing two menus. She led Erwin to a small, round table in the corner of the building that was separated from the main dining area, and Erwin sat with his back against the wall. He picked up the menu, smiled at the hostess when she said the server would be by soon for his drink order.

Erwin pushed his hair down again and checked his phone for the time.

Levi wasn't late. Erwin was ten minutes early.

He couldn't help it.

Erwin wondered if he would look sloppy if he ordered some straight whiskey, and he decided to wait. Maybe start with some water. Drink some wine with his meal. Work his way up to the whiskey when he decided whether he liked his date or not.

“Right here, sir.”

Erwin looked up from his menu. The hostess was showing another guest to the table where Erwin was sitting, and Erwin stood.

Levi was short. So short that he had to tilt his head up when he looked Erwin in the eye. And he had lovely, dark hair. He was also wearing jeans and a hoodie, which made Erwin question whether he was overdressed in his slacks and button down or if Levi was under-dressed.

“Are you Levi Ackerman?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

Erwin offered his hand, and Levi took it.

“I'm Erwin Smith,” Erwin smiled at him. “It's nice to meet you.” Levi looked at Erwin's hand, shook it, and returned his hand to his hoodie pocket when they were finished.

“You too,” Levi said. Erwin sat back down, and he was staring. He knew he was staring, but Levi wasn't looking directly at him at the moment.

Levi was short, yes. And Erwin liked that. He had light blue eyes. His hair was short with an undercut. He looked tired.

Levi sat down, unzipped his hoodie, pulled it off and let it drape against the back of the chair. Erwin's eyes traced Levi's forearms. His t-shirt had the letters MMA across his chest in gold.

“What do you like to eat here?” Levi asked. Erwin looked at Levi's eyes.

“I've never been here before,” Erwin said, sitting up farther in his chair and picking up his menu again, pretending to read it. He wanted this date to go well. But neither of them said a word while they looked at the menu. And Erwin wondered if that was a good sign. Thankfully, the server didn't make them wait too long.

“Hello, gentlemen. My name is Natalie, and I'll be your server. What can I get you to drink?”

“Water,” Erwin said.

“Water with lemon.”

“Any appetizers for you tonight?” Natalie asked.

“The bruschetta please,” Erwin said.

“Absolutely,” she said.

“I'm ready to order the entree,” Levi said, putting down his menu. “Are you?” Erwin glanced at the menu again.

“Yes. Um,” Erwin said. He wasn't prepared at all. But he took a chance. “I'll have the grilled chicken Cesar salad please.” That seemed like a safe choice. Pretty healthy.

“And for you, sir?” she asked Levi.

“Alright,” Levi said, sitting up farther in his chair and looking at Natalie. “Are you ready?” Erwin looked up from the menu at Levi, then to Natalie, who lifted her eyebrows.

“Yes, sir.”

“I want two whole flank steaks with mozzarella between Italian bread with grilled onions and peppers.” Levi closed his menu and held it out for Natalie to take. Erwin closed his menu a bit hard, and held his out as well. As soon as Natalie had finished writing on her ticket, she took the menus.

“That's not on the menu, sir, but I'll ask if the manager how much it will cost if you like,” she said. Levi shook his head.

“I've had it here before,” he said.

“I'll be right back with your bruschetta,” Natalie said with a smile. Erwin watched her walk away.

Levi, the personal trainer, ordered some sort of meat monstrosity, and Erwin had only ordered a salad. When he looked back at Levi, he expected some kind of prodding about it. So he had to say something first.

“You've eaten here before?” Erwin asked. Levi nodded.

“Yeah,” Levi said. “I told Nanaba that I would go on this date if we could eat here.” Erwin raised his eyebrows.

“You must have gotten to her first,” Erwin said. “I tried to get her to set us up at McGuire's.” Levi nodded.

“That's a nice place,” he said. “Too expensive though.” Erwin wondered if Levi didn't make as much money as he had guessed. He had never thought about a personal trainer's salary. “I'm so fucking hungry,” Levi said. He relaxed in his chair. Erwin felt the corners of his mouth tilt up. “I've been eating almonds all day to try and stay full.” Erwin smiled, smiled so wide that he lifted his hand to cover it. “What?” Levi asked, sounding a bit annoyed.

“I just,” Erwin shook his head. “You starved all day so you could eat the sandwich you ordered?”

“Yeah,” Levi said. “I have one trash meal every other Saturday.” Erwin chuckled, and dropped his hand to brush at the table cloth. When he looked at Levi, he saw that Levi was inspecting the table cloth too, brushing at it.

Natalie came back with their waters and a bowl of sliced lemons. Erwin drank some of his water and avoided eye contact with Levi for a reason he didn't understand. Levi squeezed some of the lemon into his water, and then slid the bowl of lemons to Erwin.

“I don't like lemon very much,” Erwin said.

“It helps you hydrate,” Levi said. Erwin looked at the sliced lemons and considered trying it.

“Do you enjoy being a personal trainer?” Erwin asked. Levi nodded.

“It's alright,” he said. “This gym I'm working with now pays better than the ones that I've been in before. But I'm planning on going independent in a few years.” Erwin raised his eyebrows. That was his cue.

“Why?”

“Personal trainers don't get paid as much in a corporate gym,” Levi said. “If you go independent and set your own prices, you can get paid what your training is worth.” Erwin nodded.

“Why would you work for a gym first then?”

“To build clientele,” Levi said. “Get a reputation.” Erwin tilted his head, thinking about what Levi said. And Levi didn't offer to lead the conversation. But silence fell over the table. He had prepared for this. He had some topics chosen to make sure that conversation kept moving, hopefully naturally. “Nanaba said you handle someone else's money for a living.” Erwin realized that he had zoned out for a moment.

“I do,” he said. “I'm a budget analyst for GM.”

“General Motors?” Levi asked. Erwin nodded. “Can you afford to live alone?” Erwin's eyebrows pulled together. He hadn't thought of that. Levi couldn't afford to live alone.

“Yes.”

“Lucky,” Levi said, drinking some of his water. “I have four roommates.” Erwin cringed. “Yeah. It took me two weeks to teach them how to clean.”

“Were they very messy before?”

“Not really, but they used the dishwasher for pots and pans. I don't think they ever washed an oven mitt before I moved in.” Erwin felt his hairline itch. He never washed his oven mitts.

Natalie brought the bruschetta, and Erwin immediately began eating while Levi watched.

“Please have some,” Erwin said, pushing the plate towards Levi. “I won't tell Nanaba that I didn't let you pay for it, if you don't tell her.” Levi smirked at him, and Erwin felt warmth on the back of his neck. Then, Levi ate one piece of bruschetta. “What did Nanaba tell you about me?” Levi shrugged.

“Your her husband's best friend,” Levi said, drinking some more of his water. Erwin watched Levi's throat move when he drank. And when Levi licked his lips, Erwin felt drool collect in his mouth.

To distract himself, Erwin reached over to the bowl of lemons and dropped one into his water.

“You need to squeeze it.” Erwin looked at Levi. He stared for so long that he realized Levi's eyes were gray, not blue. Levi adjusted in his seat, reached in his pocket and pulled out a bottle of hand sanitizer. Erwin watched while Levi sanitized his hands. Then, Levi reached over to the bowl of lemons, picked one up, wrapped his other hand around it so the juice wouldn't squirt everywhere, and he squeeze lemon juice into Erwin's water before dropping it in the cup. “Like that.” Erwin watched Levi's hands. And when Levi dried his hands off with his napkin, Erwin pushed the lemon down a bit with his straw He drank some of his water and nodded. “Not bad, right?” Erwin shook his head.

He liked watching Levi move. He liked hearing Levi speak.

“What did Nanaba tell you about me?” Levi asked. Erwin looked at him again, feeling blush threatening to rise into his cheeks. Because he could only think of what Nanaba hadn't told him. She didn't mention that Levi's voice was so sexy. Or that he had beautiful eyes.

“You're a personal trainer who almost ruined her in a crossfit class,” Erwin said. Levi laughed, and Erwin felt his face turn hot. Levi had a gorgeous smile. And then, Levi ran his hand through his hair, which almost knocked Erwin out of his chair.

“Well,” Levi said, shrugging. “She got free yoga out of it. So she can't complain.”

“I thought that was very kind of you,” Erwin blurted. Levi looked at him, and Erwin couldn't think of anything to smooth out the compliment. And Levi crossed his arms, sinking into his chair a bit further. Erwin couldn't imagine what that meant, other than Levi was shutting him out somehow. “What are you roommates like? What are their names?” Erwin liked Levi, but Levi's body language was confusing.

“Petra's a nurse,” Levi said. “Her husband Oluo is a used car salesman. Gunter works at Publix. And Eld works at a pool supply store.”

“Which one?” Erwin asked.

“Leslie's.”

“Oh,” Erwin said. “I buy my chlorine from there.”

“You have a pool?” Levi asked. Erwin nodded.

“A hot tub too,” he said. The image of Levi in the hot tub intruded Erwin's thoughts.

“Which Leslie's? The one on Grady Street?”

“Oh, no,” Erwin said, shaking his head, trying to clear the image. “I buy from the one on the Parkway. It's closer to my house.” Levi nodded. “They're always very helpful.”

Natalie brought their food then, and they both sat up to eat. Erwin watched while Natalie set Levi's plate down. The sandwich was so big that the chef had put the flank steaks on half of a loaf of Italian bread that was sliced down the middle rather than two bread slices. There were also fries on the plate. It looked delicious. Then, Erwin looked at his salad, which looked appetizing, but not as much.

A idea came to Erwin.

“Levi?” he asked. Levi looked at him. “May I use some of your hand sanitizer?” Levi reached into his pocket and held out the bottle. When Erwin reached out to grab it, he touched one of Levi's fingers and hoped that Levi didn't mind. Erwin sanitized his hands and gave the bottle back to Levi. Levi brushed his thumb over Erwin's forefinger that time. Erwin had to drink some water before he could eat. His throat felt tight. Levi began cutting his sandwich.

Erwin munched on his salad a bit while he watched Levi cut the sandwich into smaller portions so they would be easier to hold. It was so much food.

“Can you really eat all of that?” Erwin asked with a smile before he ate another bite. Levi gave him a look, which was almost a glare.

“I eat 3000 calories a day,” Levi said. “Yes. I'm going to eat all of it, salad man.” Erwin had to cover his mouth while he almost laughed with his mouth full. Levi took a bite of his sandwich and looked at Erwin, grinning.

“Salad man?” Erwin asked, after he swallowed.

“You weren't ready to order when I asked,” Levi said. “We could have waited.”

“I didn't want to slow you down,” Erwin said. Levi stopped chewing and looked away. “If I had known you had eaten here before, I would have asked for a recommendation.” Levi's gray eyes went back to Erwin.

“Is your salad good?” Levi asked.

“Yes,” Erwin said. “Would you like a bite?” Levi hesitated before he nodded, and Erwin slid the bowl closer. Levi picked up one part of his sandwich and put it on the side of Erwin's bowl before he took a bite of Erwin's salad.

Erwin tried the sandwich and verbally responded with a satisfied sigh.

“Levi,” Erwin said, shaking his head, looking at the bread, cheese and meat, the perfectly cooked onions and peppers. When he looked to Levi to say how good the food was, he noticed that Levi was blushing. That's when he realized how he had sighed, almost moaned. He felt like the back of his neck was sweating. Erwin scanned Levi's face, savoring the sight. He liked the way Levi looked when he was red. Erwin swallowed. “Umm..”

“Do you want to get out of here?” Levi asked.

“I'll get the Uber,” Erwin said, pulling out his phone, working fast. “We can go to my place-”

“Let's pack up the food and eat after we-”

“Natalie!” Erwin stood from his chair. He pulled his wallet out of his pocket and counted out five twenties. Natalie walked into the room where they were dining. Levi was pulling his hoodie back on.

“Is something wrong?”

“Not at all,” Erwin said. “We have an emergency.” He took Natalie's hand and shoved the money into her palm. “Keep the change, but please bring us some to-go boxes quickly.”

Natalie ran out of the room, came back with to go boxes, a plastic bag, and to-go cups of water with lemon which were in a cardboard drink carrier.

“Thank you so much,” she said. “I hope everything is okay.”

“Everything is fine,” Levi said, dumping his plate into the to-go box.

“It's a good emergency,” Erwin said, flipping the bowl of salad over into his styrofoam box and throwing the bruschetta on top of it, scattering the tomatoes. Levi put the boxes in a bag. Erwin practically chased Levi out of the restaurant. Darren was waiting for them in the parking lot.

#eruri #kittyboo8015 #commission #i giggled a lot #this was such a pleasure to write

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politicoscope · 4 years

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Qasem Soleimani Biography and Profile

New Post has been published on https://www.politicoscope.com/qasem-soleimani-biography-and-profile/

Qasem Soleimani Biography and Profile

Qasem Soleimani, born 11 March 1957. Physically, he is unprepossessing. His face gently frosted with a close-cropped white beard, his dreamy eyes seeming to shine with the recollection of a fond memory, he bears more than a passing resemblance to mid-career Sean Connery, circa Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. He is short in stature—a fact he has been known to highlight, dubbing himself “the smallest soldier.”

For Iranians whose icons since the Islamic Revolution have been stern-faced clergy, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani widely represented a figure of national resilience in the face of four decades of U.S. pressure. For the U.S. and Israel, he was a shadowy figure in command of Iran’s proxy forces, responsible for fighters in Syria backing President Bashar Assad and for the deaths of American troops in Iraq. Solemani survived the horror of Iran’s long war in the 1980s with Iraq to take control of the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force, responsible for the Islamic Republic’s foreign campaigns.

In secret U.S. diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks, U.S. officials openly discussed Iraqi efforts to reach out to Soleimani to stop rocket attacks on the highly secured Green Zone in Baghdad in 2009. Another cable in 2007 outlines then-Iraqi President Jalal Talabani offering a U.S. official a message from Soleimani acknowledging having “hundreds” of agents in the country while pledging, “I swear on the grave of (the late Ayatollah Ruhollah) Khomeini I haven’t authorized a bullet against the U.S.”

U.S. officials at the time dismissed Soleimani’s claim as they saw Iran as both an arsonist and a fireman in Iraq, controlling some Shiite militias while simultaneously stirring dissent and launching attacks. U.S. forces would blame the Quds Force for an attack in Karbala that killed five American troops, as well as for training and supplying the bomb makers whose improvised explosive devices made IED — improvised explosive device — a dreaded acronym among soldiers. In a 2010 speech, U.S. Gen. David Petreaus recounted a message from Soleimani he said explained the scope of Iranian’s powers.

“He said, ‘Gen. Petreaus, you should know that I, Qassem Soleimani, control the policy for Iran with respect to Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza and Afghanistan,’” Petraeus said.

The U.S. and the United Nations put Soleimani on sanctions lists in 2007, though his travels continued. In 2011, U.S. officials also named him as a defendant in an outlandish Quds Force plot to allegedly hire a purported Mexican drug cartel assassin to kill a Saudi diplomat. But his greatest notoriety would arise from the Syrian civil war and the rapid expansion of the Islamic State group. Iran, a major backer of Assad, sent Soleimani into Syria several times to lead attacks against IS and others opposing Assad’s rule. While a U.S.-led coalition focused on airstrikes, several ground victories for Iraqi forces came with photographs emerging of Soleimani leading, never wearing a flak jacket.

“Soleimani has taught us that death is the beginning of life, not the end of life,” one Iraqi militia commander said.

Who is Major General Qassem Soleimani?

Qasem Soleimani, born 11 March 1957, was an Iranian Major General in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and since 1998 commander of its Quds Force, a division primarily responsible for extraterritorial military and clandestine operations. Soleimani was said in his homeland to have grown up near the mountainous and the historic Iranian town of Rabor, famous for its forests, its apricot, walnut and peach harvests and its brave soldiers. The U.S. State Department has said he was born in the Iranian religious capital of Qom.

By the time he was 13, Soleimani began working in construction, later as an employee of the Kerman Water Organization. Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution swept the shah from power and Soleimani joined the Revolutionary Guard in its wake. He deployed to Iran’s northwest with forces that put down Kurdish unrest following the revolution.

Relatively unknown in Iran until the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, Soleimani’s popularity and mystique grew out American officials calling for his killing. Soon after, Iraq invaded Iran and began the two countries long, bloody eight-year war. The fighting killed more than 1 million people and saw Iran send waves of lightly armed troops into minefields and the fire of Iraqi forces, including teenage soldiers. Solemani’s unit and others came under attack by Iraqi chemical weapons as well. After the Iraq-Iran war, Soleimani largely disappeared from public view for several years, something analysts attribute to his wartime disagreements with Hashemi Rafsanjani, who would serve as Iran’s president from 1989 to 1997. But after Rafsanjani, Soleimani became head of the Quds force. He also grew so close to Khamenei that the Supreme Leader officiated the wedding of the general’s daughter.

As chief of the Quds — or Jerusalem — Force, Solemani oversaw the Guard’s foreign operations and soon would come to the attention of Americans following the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

By the time it came a decade and a half later, Soleimani had become Iran’s most recognizable battlefield commander, ignoring calls to enter politics but becoming as powerful, if not more, than its civilian leadership.

“The warfront is mankind’s lost paradise,” Soleimani recounted in a 2009 interview. “One type of paradise that is portrayed for mankind is streams, beautiful nymphs and greeneries. But there is another kind of paradise. The warfront was the lost paradise of the human beings, indeed.”

Despite its ongoing economic woes, today’s Iran has fashioned itself into one of the premier military and diplomatic powers in the Middle East—and Saudi Arabia’s principal rival for hegemony over the entire region. It has achieved this with a mix of policies—among them, deft diplomatic maneuvering; a tactical alliance with Vladimir Putin’s Russia; and the provision of arms, advice, and cash to Shi`a militias across a variety of countries. In the latter case, Iran has pioneered a seemingly unique strategy that combines insurgent and state power in a potent admixture—a strategy that is evident today in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.

One man is recognized as the principal architect of each of these policies: Major General Qassem Soleimani. He was considered one of the most infamous military operators in the Middle East by the United States and its allies. As leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force, he bore responsibility for Iran’s clandestine operations abroad, quietly extending the military reach of Iran deep into foreign conflicts such as those in Syria and Iraq. Although revered in his home country and feared on battlefields across the Middle East, Soleimani remains virtually unknown in the West.

Yet to say that today’s Iran cannot be fully understood without first understanding Qassem Soleimani would be a considerable understatement. More than anyone else, Soleimani has been responsible for the creation of an arc of influence—which Iran terms its “Axis of Resistance”—extending from the Gulf of Oman through Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon to the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Today, with Assad’s impending victory in his country’s calamitous civil war, this Iranian alliance has become stable enough that Qassem Soleimani, should he be so minded, could drive his car from Tehran to Lebanon’s border with Israel without being stopped. And, as the Mossad chief Yossi Cohen has pointed out, the same route would be open to truckloads of rockets bound for Iran’s main regional proxy, Hezbollah.

To Middle Eastern Shi’ites, he is James Bond, Erwin Rommel and Lady Gaga rolled into one. To the West, he is the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards—responsible for exporting Iran’s Islamic revolution, supporting terrorists, subverting pro-Western governments and waging Iran’s foreign wars. A veteran of the Iran-Iraq war, Hajj Qasem, as he is known, took command of the Quds Force in the late 1990s. The Force is paymaster of Hizballah, Hamas and other terrorists plaguing Israel.

Soleimani’s Quds unit, tasked with conducting operations outside Iran’s borders, provided strong support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad when it appeared to be close to defeat in the 2011 civil war. They also helped armed groups defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group. Soleimani became head of the IRGC in 1998 and for years did not draw attention to himself as he strengthened Iran’s ties with Hezbollah in Lebanon, with Assad in Syria and with Shiite militant groups in Iraq.

In recent years, he has come under the spotlight when appearing alongside Iran’s top Ayatollah leader Ali Khamenei and other Shiite leaders. Under Soleimani’s leadership, the IRGC expanded its capabilities significantly, making a significant impact in the intelligence, financial and political spheres beyond Iran’s borders. Soleimani is of humble origin and was born into a poor family in the southeast of Kerman province in Iran. He began working as a 13-year-old to help his family, and spent his free time practicing weights and attending sermons held by Khamenei.

As a young man during the 1979 Iran Revolution, Soleimani began his ascension in the Iranian Army, and reportedly had only six weeks of tactical training before participating in his first fight in the Iranian province of West Azerbaijan, according to Foreign Policy magazine. Soleimani emerged from the Iran-Iraq War as a hero because of the missions he led across the Iraqi border.

Following the reestablishment of the government in Iraq in 2005, Soleimani’s influence expanded into Iraqi politics under the leadership of former prime ministers Ibrahim al-Jaafari and Nouri al-Maliki.

During this time, the Badr Organization, a Shiite political party and paramilitary forces considered to be “Iran’s oldest mediator in Iraq”, became a state branch after the interior and transport ministries came under the control of the armed group’s political wing. Following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Soleimani ordered that some of his Iraqi militias move to Syria to defend the Assad government.

During Iraq’s fight against ISIL, Hashd al-Shaabi (People’s Mobilization Unit), a Shiite paramilitary unit backed by Iran, some of which fell under Soleimani’s control, fought alongside the Iraqi army to defeat the armed group.

Mohammad Marandi, head of American Studies at the University of Tehran, said Soleimani’s role in the effort to defeat ISIL has made him a “national hero” and a “martyr” among the Iranian people and other Middle Eastern countries.

“If it weren’t for people like him, this region would have seen black flags flutter across the region.”

Rumors have been circulated that Soleimani was killed several times, including the crash of a 2006 plane that killed other military officials in northeastern Iran and after the 2012 bombing in Damascus that killed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s aides. In November 2015, rumors circulated that Soleimani had been killed or seriously injured while translating troops loyal to Assad during the fighting over Syrian Halep.

Multiple air strikes were carried out on Syria’s IRGC bases and in August Israel accused those units of planning “deadly drone attacks” and added that the air strikes of the country showed Tehran that its units were vulnerable anywhere. Israeli Foreign Minister Katz then said that Israel was working to “destroy” Soleimani, Israeli media reported. In October, Tehran announced that it had stopped a plot by Israeli and Arab agencies to kill Soleimani.

Major General Qassem Soleimani Death

3 January 2020, the Pentagon confirmed Thursday night that the United States killed powerful Iranian military leader, Major General Qasem Soleimani, at Baghdad’s international airport in an airstrike. Soleimani’s luck ran out after being rumored dead several times in his life. Those incidents included a 2006 airplane crash that killed other military officials in northwestern Iran and a 2012 bombing in Damascus that killed top aides of Assad. More recently, rumors circulated in November 2015 that Soleimani was killed or seriously wounded leading forces loyal to Assad as they fought around Syria’s Aleppo.

Iranian officials quickly vowed to take revenge amid months of tensions between Iran and the U.S. following Trump pulling out of Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers. While Soleimani was the Guard’s most prominent general, many others in its ranks have experience in waging the asymmetrical, proxy attacks for which Iran has become known.

“Trump through his gamble has dragged the U.S. into the most dangerous situation in the region,” Hessameddin Ashena, an adviser to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, wrote on the social media app Telegram. “Whoever put his foot beyond the red line should be ready to face its consequences.”

The US Defense Department said it conducted the attack at President Donald Trump’s direction as a “defensive action” against Soleimani, who it said was planning further attacks on American diplomats and service members.

The strike came just a few days after supporters of the Iran-backed Iraqi militia, Kataib Hezbollah, mobbed the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

The U.S. military said the strikes were in retaliation for last week’s killing of an American contractor in a Dec. 27th rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that the U.S. blamed on the militia.

The Defense Department said Thursday that Soleimani had “orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the last several months – including the attack on December 27th – culminating in the death and wounding of additional American and Iraqi personnel.” The Iranian general also approved the attacks on the U.S. Embassy, the Pentagon said.

U.S. officials say the Guard under Soleimani taught Iraqi militants how to manufacture and use especially deadly roadside bombs against U.S. troops after the invasion of Iraq. Iran has denied that. Soleimani himself remains popular among many Iranians, who see him as a selfless hero fighting Iran’s enemies abroad.

Trump’s first tweet following the attack was a picture of the American flag. He pinned the tweet to the top of his profile. The White House soon after shared the statement by the Department of Defense. Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham retweeted both tweets by Trump and the White House’s twitter.

“He’s been in combat his entire life. His soldiers love him. He’s a quiet, charismatic guy, a strategic genius and a tactical operator. These are all the kind of things, looking at him from the enemy’s perspective, (that) is going to create a great deal of angst in this part of the world,” US Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, a national security, intelligence and terrorism analyst, told CNN.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, once called him a “living martyr of the revolution.”

Major General Qassem Soleimani

Awards

Order of Zolfaghar

Order of Fath

Major General Qasem Soleimani Biography and Profile

#Esmail Ghaani #Esmail Ghaani Biography and Profile #Haj Qasem #Iranian General #Iranian Major General #Iranian Major General in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps #Iranian Military #Islamic Republic #Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani #Mideast #Qasem Soleimani Biography and Profile #Qassem Soleimani #Quds Force #Sardar Soleimani #Tehran

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thephotograph-kiaraknight · 6 years

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Comparing Two Photographers

In my comparison I am going to compare two photographers and give my opinion on who I like better and what photographer’s work and style I prefer. One photographer is a modern photographer and the other photographer is an historical photographer who doesn't use digital camera's but uses film. I will be showing their work in this comparison essay and will give my views on them.

The first photographer is Irving Penn, Penn was an American photographer known for his fashion photography, portraits and still life's. His career included work at vogue magazine and independent advertising work for clients including Issey Miyake and Clinique. Penn was among the first photographers to pose subjects against a simple grey or white backdrop and he effectively used this simplicity. Expanding his austere studio surroundings, Penn constructed a set of upright angled backdrops, to form a stark, acute corner. Subjects photographed with this technique included Martha Graham, Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso, Georgia O,Keeffe, W.H.Auden and Igor Stravinsky. Penn's first photographic cover for Vogue magazine appeared in October 1943. Penn continued to work at the magazine throughout his career, photographing covers, portraits, still lifes, fashion and photographic essays. In the 1950's, Penn founded his own studio in New York and began making advertising photographs. Best known for his fashion photography, Penn's repertoire also includes portraits of creative photographs from around the world, modernist still lifes of food, bones, bottles, metal and found objects and photographic travel essays. Penn’s still life compositions are sparse and highly organized assemblages of food or objects that articulate the abstract interplay of line and volume. Penn's photographs are composed with a great attention to detail, which continues into his craft of developing and making prints of his photographs. Penn experimented with many printing techniques, including prints made on aluminium sheets coated with a platinum emulsion rendering the image with a warmth that under toned silver prints lacked. His black and white prints are notable for their deep contrast, giving them a clean, crisp look. Penn was one of the twentieth century's great photographers, known for his arresting images and masterful printmaking. Although he was celebrated as one of Vogue magazines top photographers for more than sixty years, Penn was an intensely private man who avoided the limelight and pursued his work with quiet and relentless dedication. At a time when photography was primarily understood as a means of communication, he approached with an artist's eye and expanded the creative potential of the medium, both in his professional and personal work.

This photograph is an example of the type of work he did. This also shows his studio set up when he constructed a set of upright angled backdrops in an acute corner. This photograph I like because the model is weirdly positioned on a chair and I have not seen this type of position before. I also like how the photo is not positioned correctly so that the edges of the studio are in the photograph. Most photographers do not like to show behind the studio or have the edges in the photograph because it will make the photograph look unprofessional and untidy but Penn has his own way to photograph and this is clearly his style of photographing in his own studio. Irving could also be giving his viewers a message by photographing this or he just prefered the look of this photo to have the edges of the studio in the photograph.

The second photographer I will be comparing with, will be a photographer called Rankin. He is a more modern photographer and has photographed many celebrities including David Bowie and Rita Ora. Rankins lense captures, creates and unveils icons. Rankin made his name in publishing, founding the seminal monthly magazine Dazed and Confused with Jefferson Hack in 1992. It provided a platform for innovation for emerging stylists, designers, photographers and writers. The magazine went on to forge a distinctive mark in the arts and publishing spheres, and developing a cult status forming and moulding trends, and bringing lights in fashion to the foreground. Rankin has created landmark editorial and advertising campaigns. His body of work features some of the most celebrated publications, biggest brands and pioneering charities, including Nike, Swatch, Dove, Pantene, Diageo, Womans Aid, and Breakthrough Breast Cancer. He has shot covers for Elle, German Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Esquire, GQ, Rolling Stone and Wonderland. His work has always endeavoured to question social norms and ideas of beauty and in late 2000, Rankin published the heteroclite quarterly Rank, an experimental anti-fashion magazine celebrating the unconventional. In 2001, Jefferson and Rankin launched AnOther Magazine. With a focus on fashion, originality and distinction. In response to the expanding menswear market, in 2005 AnOther Man was introduced, combining intelligent editotrial with groundbreaking design and style. More recently, the Dazed and Confused 20th anniversary, shooting 20 front covers of Dazed favourites and in 20 inside covers of the next generation of talent, for the December 2011 issue.

Tapping into the consciousness of the 90’s and 00’s with his intimate approach and playful sense of humour, rankin became known for his portraiture of bands, artists, supermodels and politicians. Having photographed everyone from the Queen of England to the Queen of Pop, Rankin is often seen as a celebrity photographer. However, his plethora of campaigns and projects featuring ‘real woman’ marked him out as a genuinely passionate portrait photographer, no matter who the subject. Always pursuing personal projects which push his limits, high impact charity projects and groundbreaking commercial campaigns, Rankin has stood out for his creative fearlessness. His first major worldwide and award-winning campaign- Doves‘real woman’- epitomised his approach: to reveal the honesty of the connection and collabrorative process between photographer and subject. Personal or commercial, Rankins images have become part of contemporary iconography, evidence of his frankness and passion for all aspects of modern culture, and its representation in the photographed image. Rankin published over 30 books, and it is regularly exhibited in galleries aound the world as well as his own London gallery. His measuem scale exhibition “show off” opened at NRW Dusseldorf in September 2012, pulling in over 30, 000 visitors in 3 months.

In this photograph you can see that Rankin has been creative with this portrait. He has been creative by what Miley Cyrus is wearing but instead of using actual clothes he has used body glitter, this has brought attention to Miley because of the lighting reflecting on the glitter. This portrait would be nice in a magazine or on one of Miley Cyrus’s album covers as it would bring people’s attention to it. This photo looks as though Rankin has used a ring flash because of how the lighting is on and around Miley. Ring flash usually brings out peoples eyes too and Mileys eyes have been brought out and are very noticeable.

The cameras Rankin uses are Phase One PDF with Phase One Backs, Mamiya Rz, Canon 1DS mark 3, canon 5 and 7D’s. Phase One PDF is a digital camera. Mamiya is anther digital camera but has quite an old look to it and it can be used for film. Rankin uses a mixture of film and digital in his photoshoots. When he recreated some photographs from past photographers, he used film and digital to give it his own look and to try and recreate it exactly the same by using film, depending on if the photographer he recreated used film or not which could be likely due to Rankin recreating old styled photographers such as Erwin Blumenfeld.

After looking into both of the photographers and looking at both of their work produced, I have found that these two photographers are quite the same. They both do portraits and fashion photography and they have been noticed mainly for those type of photographs. I have found that with Irving being an older photographer than Rankin, Irving has done some amazing photographs with using film due to not having digital. Irving died in October 2009 so he could have possibly used a bit of digital but after looking at his work it seems to me that most of his work has been taken using film. With Rankin, I love how he has been able to use film and a digital camera. I have enjoyed looking at his recreations the most because of him using film to create an almost identical portrait of what the photographer he has chosen to photograph. I have also enjoyed seeing his own version where he has used a digital camera, it has been nice to see the difference between the two types of cameras, film and digital. I would have to say that Rankin has been the most interesting photographer because he is quite modern and I have liked seeing the photographs and the different styles of the photographs of celebrities and The Royal Family. I have enjoyed looking at Irving’s work because of the time he was based around and that was the time before digital cameras were properly around so it was nice to see the film work produced. You can also tell the difference in the two photographers of the cameras and how they have their own style to make the photographs they want to create.

Rankin and Irving are both amazing photographers and I love both of their work. However, if I was to pick one I would choose Rankin due to him using digital cameras. I love using digital cameras myself and I love the outcome of the photographs after using a digital camera. Rankins photographs are well taken and I love that he doesn’t just use a digital camera and that he has used film in some of his portraits. I also love the fact that he used a ring light in Mileys portrait because it has brought the glitter and her eyes out really well and it has made everything stand out. Irving would have been a first choice but because of his style I wasn’t too keen on picking him. I love that he is different to other photographers with his studio set up and how he left the side of the studio set up and the background of the studio set up in the photographs, like the photo above. I like the look of film photographs but, personally, I prefer the look of digital camera photographs. I liked Irvings photograph above because of the natural lighting, also I liked the fact that it is black and white due to it being in an old time during the film cameras being used. This gives his photograph a sort of cold effect to veiwers and the photograph makes you wonder what is happening in the photograph or what Irving was trying to create.

Biblography Website-The Irving Penn Foundation Wkikpedia (for finding out his birthday only) Website-RANKIN.co.uk Youtube

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scienceblogtumbler · 4 years

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Our itch to share helps spread Covid-19 misinformation

To stay current about the Covid-19 pandemic, people need to process health information when they read the news. Inevitably, that means people will be exposed to health misinformation, too, in the form of false content, often found online, about the illness.

Now a study co-authored by MIT scholars contains bad news and good news about Covid-19 misinformation — and a new insight that may help reduce the problem.

The bad news is that when people are consuming news on social media, their inclination to share that news with others interferes with their ability to assess its accuracy. The study presented the same false news headlines about Covid-19 to two groups of people: One group was asked if they would share those stories on social media, and the other evaluated their accuracy. The participants were 32.4 percent more likely to say they would share the headlines than they were to say those headlines were accurate.

“There does appear to be a disconnect between accuracy judgments and sharing intentions,” says MIT professor David Rand, co-author of a new paper detailing the findings. “People are much more discerning when you ask them to judge the accuracy, compared to when you ask them whether they would share something or not.”

The good news: A little bit of reflection can go a long way. Participants who were more likely to think critically, or who had more scientific knowledge, were less likely to share misinformation. And when asked directly about accuracy, most participants did reasonably well at telling true news headlines from false ones.

Moreover, the study offers a solution for over-sharing: When participants were asked to rate the accuracy of a single non-Covid-19 story at the start of their news-viewing sessions, the quality of the Covid-19 news they shared increased significantly.

“The idea is, if you nudge them about accuracy at the outset, people are more likely to be thinking about the concept of accuracy when they later choose what to share. So then they take accuracy into account more when they make their sharing decisions,” explains Rand, who is the Erwin H. Schell Associate Professor with joint appointments at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences.

The paper, “Fighting COVID-19 misinformation on social media: Experimental evidence for a scalable accuracy nudge intervention,” appears in Psychological Science. Besides Rand, the authors are Gordon Pennycook, an assistant professor of behavioral science at the University of Regina; Jonathan McPhetres, a postdoc at MIT and the University of Regina who is starting a position in August as an assistant professor of psychology at Durham University; Yunhao Zhang, a PhD student at MIT Sloan; and Jackson G. Lu, the Mitsui Career Development Assistant Professor at MIT Sloan.

Thinking, fast and slow

To conduct the study, the researchers conducted two online experiments in March, with a total of roughly 1,700 U.S. participants between them, using the survey platform Lucid. Participants matched the nation’s distribution of age, gender, ethnicity, and geographic region.

The first experiment had 853 participants, and used 15 true and 15 false news headlines about Covid-19, in the style of Facebook posts, with a headline, photo, and initial sentence from a story. The participants were split into two groups. One group was asked if the headlines were accurate; the second group was asked if they would consider sharing the posts on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

The first group correctly judged the stories’ accuracy about two-thirds of the time. The second group might therefore be expected to share the stories at a similar rate. However, the participants in the second group shared about half of the true stories, and just under half of the false stories — meaning their judgment about which stories to share was almost random in regard to accuracy.

The second study, with 856 participants, used the same group of headlines and again split the participants into two groups. The first group simply looked at the headlines and decided whether or not they would share them on social media.

But the second group of participants were asked to evaluate a non-Covid-19 headline before they made decisions about sharing the larger group of Covid-19 headlines. (Both studies were focused on headlines and the single sentence of text, since most people only read headlines on social media.) That extra step, of evaluating one non-Covid-19 headline, made a substantial difference. The “discernment” score of the second group — the gap between the number of accurate and inaccurate stories they shared — was almost three times larger than that of the first group.

The researchers evaluated additional factors that might explain tendencies in the responses of the participants. They gave all participants a six-item Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT), to evaluate their propensity to analyze information, rather than relying on gut instincts; evaluated how much scientific knowledge participants had; and looked at whether respondents were located close to Covid-19 outbreaks, among other things. They found that participants who scored higher on the CRT, and knew more about science, rated headlines more accurately and shared fewer false headlines.

Those findings suggest that the way people assess news stories has less to do with, say, preset partisan views about the news, and a bit more to do with their broader cognitive habits.

“A lot of people have a very cynical take on social media and our moment in history, that we’re post-truth and no one cares about the truth any more,” Pennycook says. “Our evidence suggests it’s not that people don’t care; it’s more that they’re distracted.”

Something systemic about social media

The study follows others Rand and Pennycook have conducted about explicitly political news, which similarly suggest that cognitive habits, more so than partisan views, influence the way people judge the accuracy of news stories and lead to the sharing of misinformation. In this study, the scholars wanted to see if readers analyzed Covid-19 stories, and health information, differently than political information. But the results were generally similar to the political-news experiments the researchers have conducted.

“Our results suggest that the life-and-death stakes of Covid-19 do not make people suddenly take accuracy into [greater] account when they’re deciding what to share,” Lu says.

Indeed, Rand suggests, the very importance of Covid-19 as a subject may interfere with readers’ ability to analyze it.

“Part of the issue with health and this pandemic is that it’s very anxiety-inducing,” Rand says. “Being emotionally aroused is another thing that makes you less likely to stop and think carefully.”

Still, the central explanation, the scholars think, is simply the structure of social media, which encourages rapid browsing of news headlines, elevates splashy news items, and rewards users who post eye-catching news, by tending to give them more followers and retweets, even if those stories happen to be untrue.

“There is just something more systemic and fundamental about the social media context that distracts people from accuracy,” Rand says. “I think part of it is that you’re getting this instantaneous social feedback all the time. Every time you post something, you immediately get to see how many people liked it. And that really focuses your attention on: How many people are going to like this? Which is different from: How true is this?”

The research was supported by the Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Initiative of the Miami Foundation; the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; the Omidyar Network; the John Templeton Foundation; the Canadian Institute of Health Research; and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Peter Dizikes | MIT News Office

Press Contact

Abby Abazorius Email: [email protected] Phone: 617-253-2709 MIT News Office

source https://scienceblog.com/517304/our-itch-to-share-helps-spread-covid-19-misinformation/

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