#“Jean is the Phoenix and the Phoenix is Jean- now and forever. But they are like planets orbiting—

[seaweedstarshine]

—on the topic of psychotic Summers brothers, I only just caught up with six months of X-Men after stopping for six months the topic of Gabriel referring to the tags of my last X-Men post a month ago — but I was happy to see Scott's torture-induced psychosis didn't (definitively) turn out just to be that he'd calculated what others hadn't. Yes, the woman he'd accurately calculated would save him was Dr. Gregor, not Jean, but that doesn't change that he remained unsure if Jean was real (and thought she was alive) while the all-seeing Enigma knew on the contrary that Scott was delusional because Phoenix thus equally (an equivocation which casts further doubt of Scott's fiery visions ever being genuine, as Jean's dying mind had departed Scott well before Mother Righteous sacrificed Jean's dead fragmented self for Dominion, before Scott was tortured) Jean — were so utterly dead that Rachel and Hope had to cancel out death to reverse it. Yet Scott, hyper-vigilant traumatized autistic brain-damaged neurodivergent soldier that he is, seemingly accomplished all these strategic calculations while having a psychotic “break,” which is extremely in character for him—

[galaxaey]

❛ there's something wrong . . . i feel . . . there's something . . . i can't - ❜

open . mutuals only .

[farsight-the-char]

A Woman of Red Hair and Green Outfit.

A Woman used and marginalized for the circumstances of her birth and powers, with many seeking to exploit this.

A Woman who found love with an Autistic Nerd, A Friend Leader.

A Woman who Died, and Rose Again, (and Again and Again). And Again.

A Woman touched by Cosmic Power, Divine Creation, Incarnate.

A Hero, Now and Forever.

[farsight-the-char]

"Now and Forever"

youve died a thousand times before who caaares just climb out of this grave again & again &agaian & agaian & again & again & aga

[rei-ismyname]

Scott and Ilyana

Do you ever think about what it would be like if Scott (and Jean) just ... kept and raised Ilyana? Obviously you can't just keep people's kids if you like them, but Cyclops and Magik have ended up so close with a very interesting dynamic that I can't help but ponder. Better Scott than Belasco.

Two future War Captains of Krakoa, future Phoenix Five. All three are future Phoenix people, now and forever.

[velvet4510]

The implications of Charles and Erik seeking out Logan in The Wolverine post-credits scene together are so huge that they really should be talked about more.

This is clearly a few months to a few years after The Last Stand, and it’s the very first time Logan is learning Charles is alive, and yet Erik is already well aware of it and they are approaching him as a team just as they did 50 years earlier at the bar. Erik even gives Logan the most certain and assuring head-nod when Logan looks at him for silent confirmation that Charles is really there.

So … how long has Erik known Charles is alive? Could he have been the first person besides Moira to find out? Is Logan now the first of the X-Men to find out? You’d think Hank or Ororo would’ve called him as soon as they heard. What have Charles and Erik been doing up till now?

It really touches the Cherik shipper in me - it’s not at all outside the realm of possibility that once they reunited after Erik had temporarily lost his powers, they just completely went off the grid for a while to steal some time together and help each other before the Sentinel thing became impossible to ignore.

If you think about it, at that point in time between The Last Stand and The Wolverine - however long it was - they both were at their absolute lowest, physically and mentally/emotionally. Charles was adjusting to an entirely new body as a result of getting almost killed by his surrogate daughter who he failed to save, and it’s quite possible that his powers may have needed an adjustment period as well; he also likely heard about Jean’s death in the news and thus had to deal with the losses of two of his most beloved students who were like family to him and were probably his vision of the future of the X-Men for a long time. Erik was adjusting to suddenly living without the powers that were so essential to his identity, as well as dealing with the guilt of unintentionally unleashing the Phoenix more than once, and once again accidentally causing Charles to get badly hurt. They both were facing massive loss and massive identity crises and massive PTSD - and seeing Charles alive again would not automatically erase Erik’s memory of watching him get blown to smithereens in front of him and thinking he’d lost him forever. And while Erik’s process of regaining his powers is obvious, it’s likely that Charles too needed some time to get his bearings in terms of his own mutation, as well as everything else he was going through.

So this was really a time where they needed each other, more than ever. They both were so deeply broken and lost that they were on the same page and in the same place for the first time, honestly ever. As someone who’d experienced permanent loss after permanent loss after permanent loss over the course of his life, there’s no doubt that Erik vowed not to let his unexpected second chance with Charles go to waste. It probably didn’t take long for them to rekindle what they - in that timeline - hadn’t truly shared since 1962. I imagine it was not dissimilar to Wanda and Vision’s first scene together in Avengers: Infinity War - hiding away in an isolated place, stealing some peace and quiet, and just letting themselves spend precious time together. And there may have been even more “rage and serenity” moments as they helped each other nurse their powers back to life.

Since it was offscreen, we can only imagine how many tears of grief, joy, relief, frustration, and love were shed during that period, before they found Logan.

[kathlare]

everything as it should be

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: Amelie's tour comes to a triumphant end in Los Angeles, a night filled with celebration, nostalgia, and personal reflection.

Wordcount: 2.5 k

Warnings: fluff, smau

request over here!

November 18th, 2024 - Los Angeles, CA

The night was a whirlwind of lights, music, and flashing cameras as the final notes of Amelie’s set reverberated through the KIA Forum. The North American leg of her Short n' Sweet tour had come to an end. She stood on stage, the cheers of thousands of fans still ringing in her ears as she waved to the crowd. Her heart pounded, a mixture of excitement, exhaustion, and a sense of bittersweet finality settling in. The tour was over for now, but the memories, the highs and lows, the connections she'd made with her crew, fans, and family, would stay with her forever.

Lando stood in the back, watching her with a proud smile. He’d been by her side for the last few shows, from Phoenix to Los Angeles, a welcome presence as her tour came to a close. For the past few days, they had fallen into a rhythm, a mix of flirty banter, quiet moments, and the unspoken understanding that their relationship was something more than just two people casually dating. They had history, a friendship that turned into something more after a rocky past. And now, here they were, together again, this time for real.

As the crowd began to disperse, Amelie made her way offstage, her hair damp with sweat, her eyes sparkling with the afterglow of a successful show. She caught sight of Lando leaning against a pillar, a jean jacket draped casually over his shoulders. He held a bouquet of yellow tulips in one hand, a cheeky grin spreading across his face when he saw her approach.

—Aww, are those for me?— Amelie teased, her eyes lighting up as she looked at the flowers.

—Of course,— Lando replied with a wink, offering the bouquet to her. —Wouldn’t be a proper night without them, would it?—

Amelie accepted the flowers, inhaling their sweet fragrance as she leaned in to kiss his cheek. —You’re the best,— she murmured, her voice soft.

—You’re the best,— he countered, placing a kiss on the top of her head as he pulled her into a hug. —Did I make you proud out there?—

She pulled back slightly, eyes sparkling. —Always. You were amazing.—

He smiled, but there was a hint of playfulness in his gaze. —You were the one who got the crowd screaming, Ames. I just showed up and stood there.—

Amelie laughed, rolling her eyes. —You and your modesty.— She wrapped an arm around his waist, leaning into him as they walked toward the exit. —What do you say we go to that after-party? I’m in the mood to get a little tipsy and celebrate.—

Lando’s eyes lit up. —You know I’m always down for that.—

The after-party was at a cozy bar in downtown Los Angeles, filled with the buzz of the tour crew, her family, and a few close friends. Music thumped in the background, and the energy was electric. Lando and Amelie were already a little tipsy, their laughter and teasing creating a bubble around them as they made their way through the crowd.

Amelie found herself standing close to Lando, their hands occasionally brushing against each other, a touch here, a lingering glance there. There was something intoxicating about the way they were together—so comfortable, so in sync. She could feel the tension in the air, the silent acknowledgment of the chemistry between them that had only grown since they’d reunited.

—Remember when we used to sneak around?— Amelie asked, leaning in slightly, her voice low and teasing.

Lando’s lips curved into a mischievous smile. —How could I forget? The whole ‘nobody knows we’re dating’ thing was a lot of fun.—

Amelie chuckled. —Yeah, until we were both miserable and avoided talking to each other for a year.—

—That wasn’t fun,— he agreed, his expression softening. —But I’m glad we fixed things, Ames. This— he gestured between them —this is worth the wait.—

—Mm,— she agreed, her eyes locking onto his. —I’m glad too. But…— She hesitated for a moment, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. —Are you sure about this? About us?—

Lando raised an eyebrow, his expression serious for a moment. —You know I am, Ames. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.— He took a step closer, his hand brushing the side of her arm. —Are you sure?—

She smiled, leaning up to kiss him lightly on the lips. —Yeah. I’m sure.— Her eyes softened, and she let out a quiet laugh. —Just making sure we’re on the same page.—

—You and me, always on the same page,— Lando murmured, kissing her forehead as they moved to the bar to grab a drink.

As the night wore on, the crowd at the bar grew rowdier, and Amelie found herself a little tipsier than she had anticipated. She leaned into Lando, her hand resting on his chest as she glanced at him mischievously.

—Let’s leave this place,— she said, her voice playful. —I don’t want to stay here any longer.—

Lando raised an eyebrow, intrigued. —Where do you want to go, then?—

—Somewhere quiet,— she said, tugging at his arm. —Let’s go to the Hollywood sign. There’s a viewpoint where you can see all of LA. I want to talk. Just you and me.—

Lando looked at her, his expression softening. —Alright. Let’s go.—

They slipped out of the bar, quietly making their way to the car. The drive to the Hollywood sign viewpoint was filled with easy conversation and laughter, but as they reached the spot, the world around them quieted. The city lights of Los Angeles twinkled beneath them, the vast expanse of the city stretching out into the horizon.

Amelie leaned against the railing, her hands gripping it tightly as she gazed out at the city. —It’s beautiful,— she murmured, her voice soft.

Lando stood beside her, his hand brushing against hers. —Yeah, it is,— he agreed, his tone serious. —It’s nice to get away from the chaos every now and then.—

Amelie looked at him, her eyes searching his face. —How are you feeling, Lan? With the championship and everything. You’ve got the Las Vegas race coming up, and Max is ahead again. That’s gotta be eating you alive.—

Lando exhaled slowly, his gaze distant as he looked out over the city. —Yeah, it’s tough. I’m giving it everything I’ve got, but sometimes I wonder if it’s enough. I’m fighting for something that feels just out of reach, and it’s hard not to think about what happens if I don’t win.—

Amelie reached over, gently placing her hand on his arm. —You’re doing everything you can, Lan. You’ve already come so far. You’ve made it this far for a reason. And even if it doesn’t happen this year, you’re still incredible. You know that, right?—

Lando looked down at her hand on his arm, then met her gaze. There was an almost imperceptible vulnerability in his eyes. He gave a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. —I know you think that, but it doesn’t stop the pressure. It doesn’t stop the feeling that I’m not enough, no matter how hard I try. Max is just... untouchable this season. It’s frustrating. You fight, you race, you put everything into it, but it still doesn’t feel like it’s ever quite enough, you know?—

Amelie nodded, her heart aching for him. She had seen him so focused, so determined, but she knew that self-doubt crept in, especially when things didn’t go as planned. She had her own battles, her own insecurities, but Lando was always so strong, so confident in everything he did. Seeing him like this made her want to shield him from the weight he carried.

—You don’t have to do it all alone, Lan,— she said softly, her fingers brushing gently against his arm. —You’ve got your team, your fans, and me. We all believe in you, and honestly? We all know how damn good you are. Whether you win this championship or not, you’ve already proven more than anyone ever expected. You’re not just a good driver; you’re one of the best. That’s what matters. You’re enough just as you are.—

Lando turned to face her fully now, his gaze intense. —I wish I could believe that, Ames. I really do. But with every race, I just feel like I’m not there yet. And then there’s all the noise, people doubting, the haters online. It gets under your skin, no matter how much you try to block it out. Every little mistake is magnified, every slip-up a potential disaster. And all I can think about is the feeling of losing again. I don’t know if I can handle that. Not after everything I’ve put into this season.—

Amelie reached up and cupped his face gently, forcing him to look her in the eye. —Listen to me, Lando. You’re not defined by the things you can’t control. You’re defined by how hard you fight. You’ve been through so much already. That drive, that passion, that’s what makes you incredible. The championship? It’s a result, not your worth. And as for the haters? Fuck them. You’ve got people who love you for who you are, for the person you’ve always been. No one else matters.—

Lando exhaled sharply, closing his eyes for a moment as he leaned into her touch. When he opened his eyes again, they were softer, more at ease. —You really are amazing, you know that? You always know exactly what to say to make me feel better.—

Amelie chuckled, lowering her hand. —It’s because I know you, Lan. I’ve always known you. And it’s not just me. You’ve got this. I’ve seen the way you race, the way you never give up. You’re going to be okay, no matter what happens. And hey, you’re still young. The championship will come for you. I’m sure of it.—

Lando smiled, a genuine, warm smile that reached his eyes this time. He reached out to take her hand in his, lacing their fingers together. —You always know how to pull me out of my own head. It’s like your superpower or something.—

Amelie laughed, the sound light and musical against the quiet backdrop of the night. —Well, someone has to keep you grounded, Mr. Formula 1 Superstar.— She nudged him playfully, her grin infectious.

—Oh, don’t start with that,— he groaned, his accent softening the words. —I get enough of that from everyone else.—

They both fell into a comfortable silence, staring out at the city. The lights of Los Angeles twinkled below, a sea of gold and silver that seemed endless. The moment felt intimate, the kind of quiet that didn’t demand words but carried a weight of understanding between them.

After a few minutes, Amelie spoke again, her voice quieter this time. —Can I tell you something?—

Lando glanced at her, his expression attentive. —Of course.—

She hesitated, chewing her bottom lip before continuing. —Sometimes, I feel like I’m not enough either. With my music, with the expectations people have of me... even with us. Like, I’m always trying to prove something, and no matter how much I do, it never feels like it’s enough.—

Lando’s grip on her hand tightened slightly, a comforting gesture. —Ames, you’re one of the most talented people I’ve ever met. Your music means so much to so many people. You’ve built something incredible, something real. And with us...— He paused, searching for the right words. —You don’t have to prove anything. You’re more than enough. You always have been.—

She looked at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. —Sometimes I worry that I’m too much for you. That my life, my schedule, my everything... that it’s too much for us to handle. And I know we’ve been through so much already, but it still scares me.—

Lando stepped closer, his free hand coming up to brush a strand of hair from her face. —Hey, listen to me. You’re not too much. If anything, you’re everything I want. Yeah, your life is crazy, and so is mine. But we’ve figured it out before, and we’ll keep figuring it out. I’m not going anywhere, Ames. I’m in this. With you. For you.—

Her breath hitched, and she let out a small, watery laugh. —You always know exactly what to say.—

—It’s because I mean it,— he said softly, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest as she took a deep breath. —I love you, you know that?—

Lando froze for a moment before his arms tightened around her. —I love you too, Ames. Always have.—

She pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a teasing smile. —Even when I was ignoring you and being a pain in the ass?—

He laughed, the sound echoing through the quiet night. —Especially then. You’re my pain in the ass, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.—

Amelie rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her grin. —You’re impossible.—

—And you’re stuck with me,— he shot back, his smile playful.

They stood there for a while longer, the city below them and the stars above, wrapped in their own little world. They shared stories, laughed at old memories, and teased each other relentlessly. It felt easy, natural, like they were just two people who had found their way back to each other after everything.

When the chill of the night began to settle in, Lando draped his jacket over her shoulders, pulling her close as they made their way back to the car.

—So, the Hollywood sign, huh?— Lando said, glancing at her with a smirk as they climbed in.

—It’s romantic, isn’t it?— Amelie shot back, her tone mock-defensive.

—It’s definitely something,— he teased, starting the car.

She stuck her middle finger out at him, her laughter filling the car as they drove back toward the city.

And as they made their way through the quiet streets of Los Angeles, hands intertwined, hearts full, Amelie couldn’t help but feel that, for the first time in a long time, everything was exactly as it should be.

--------------

liked by stelladayman, arianagrande, and others

ameliedayman: That’s a wrap on the North American leg of the Short n’ Sweet tour!!!!! I have always dreamt of bringing this tour to life but it was even better than i could have imagined because of every crowd that showed up and gave 100% of their energy and time. best dressed crowds on the market. funniest signs l’ve ever seen. every lyric and background vocal sung to perfection. i could not ask for better fans💞i love you so so dearly

thank you to my hard working cast and crew that makes this show what it is. the attention to detail, the professionalism, and each and every personality on and off stage is what makes the SNS show so special.

cry because it’s over for now... but we can’t wait to see you in the new year Europe 💋💋💋

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landonorris: Can confirm: best dressed crowd because the star of the show is the best dressed. Also, you’re hot. → ameliedayman: @landonorris Someone’s trying to distract me. Save it for later, Lan. 😏 → georgerussell63: @landonorris Bro, we’re all blushing. Chill. → alex_albon: @georgerussell63 Speak for yourself. I’m inspired.

claudiasulewski: I see why everyone’s obsessed. You’re magic, Amelie 🌟 → ameliedayman: @claudiasulewski Claudia! Your kind words = my entire week made 🫶

f1stanpage: OKAY BUT THE WAY SHE'S TAKING OVER THE WORLD RN 🫶

amelieupdates: ICONIC doesn’t even cover it. North America was blessed 🫶 → ameliefanpage: @amelieuodates Europe’s turn. Y’all better scream loud for our girl 💋

hayesgrier: Crying bc I didn’t get to see a show, but living through these pics 😭 → ameliedayman: @hayesgrier There’s always Europe… front row? 👀 → landonorris: @ameliedayman Save the front row for me, baby. Hayes can watch from the back. 😏

minniemills: YOU WERE EVERYTHING. The vocals, the fits, the VIBES. Obsessed, truly. 🫶 → ameliedayman: @minniemills Minnie, I love you more than life. Let me know when we’re brunching again.

emiliamernes: Esto fue arte puro, Amelie. Europa no sabe lo que le espera 😍💃🏼 → ameliedayman: @emiliamernes ¡Gracias, bella! Nos vemos pronto, espero 💋

[wellnoe]

What’s ur stance on Jean and the Phoenix being one in the same or not?

i really take a both are true approach to this question. jean and phoenix are the same, because jean embraces phoenix as a part of and as a version of herself and the 'now and forever' part of jean as phoenix means that we see jean being phoenix (without really being phoenix) as a child in some comics. some stories present the idea that phoenix first became aware of jean not in the shuttle crash but when annie died, when jean tried to save her, which alongside other stories which portray a young jean as phoenix makes it read as if jean is given the opportunity to become phoenix because jean is phoenix.

at the same time i think it is really important to how i see them and their relationship to think of this as a choice that they each make, to be each other and to be the same. jean chooses to become phoenix, to take on her actions as her own, and phoenix chooses to become jean, taking on her image and her actions so fully that she is indistinguishable from her. the level of identification we see between jean and phoenix is not something we see with other phoenix hosts, where phoenix is either completely subsumed or a completely separate entity being used. jean and phoenix, meanwhile, are one only through constant negotiation with each other, and they are not always on the same page in these negotiations! i think this is a way of reading them that allows for a lot of variety in their relationship across different comics and also acknowledges the ways in which jean's relationship with phoenix is different from other hosts' relationships with phoenix.

so my answer is that they are the same and they aren't all at the same time.

[jaidens]

pumpkin spice latte w/ extra whip and carmel w/ my baby rooster 😋😋 also completly disregard this plot if you want but seeing rooster after he’s been away yk at top gun for a while so r surprises him >:)))

And want you now, wanna need you forever In the heat of your electric touch, mm-mm

pairing [s] : bradley bradshaw x reader

warning [s] : mentions of : crying, making out, sex |

a/n [s] : my baby doll dal 🫶 requests are open!

It had been six continuous months without seeing your Bradley in real life. The scent of his cologne and musk had disappeared from your bed and his pillow, causing you to go after anything that has reminded you of him. Whenever you were invited to visit him in Top Gun after they were given a three-week break after a joyous win, you decided to immediately take it.

Deciding to not tell Bradley had killed you, as you watched him through the FaceTime call as he slept in a lonely house by himself. You told him your phone was getting repairs to cover up your five hour flight to where he was drafted, it worked surprisingly well. The flight was long, but your discount with it has given you First-Class seats with many helps from flight attendants to try and help your experiences.

When you landed in hot and humid, San Diego you were almost immediately dehydrated. You had called Penny and Maverick to pick you up from the airport, begging to keep everything a secret. Surprisingly, they kept it quiet and Pete told you he had told them he was taking Penny on a date tonight. The nerves were messing with your head as you mess with the hem of your (Bradley’s) Hawaiian shirt. It was a light and soft pink color, and you swore it looked better on him than it did you. Bradley would disagree, saying it was his favorite shirt you had worn.

“Hot as hell here, jeez.” You joke flapping a piece of paper against your face to try and cool yourself down. Even with the extreme cold air blasting on your face, sweat had still dripped from you. You couldn't tell if it was the nerves in your head about seeing Bradley, or the heat. If you had to assume it had probably been both electives. “I know. Bradley pretty much is shirtless half of the time. I’m tired of it.” Amy says next to you, tapping on her phone.

You laugh as you think of Bradley, who is extremely typical to get naked when it's over 95 degrees outside. You decided to call Jessica, Hangman's long-term girlfriend who had also decided to surprise her big hunk of man on the same day as you. She told you how the pilots were meeting at The Hard Deck and how most of the Navy wives were doing the same. You agreed with her and told Penny and Maverick to take you there for him.

Suddenly it all started to hit you: You would see Bradley in under three minutes after months of missing, crying, and taking screenshots of him on the phone. Maverick pulls into the sandy deck of the bar and parks the car. He looks in the mirror and looks at you. “You ready, kid?” He asks and you nod, opening the door and following after the older woman who had already been walking in. The bar wasn't that crowded, only having pilots and other people that had gotten off of work earlier. It was five o'clock when you landed, so now it was six.

The bar is playing some eighties hits loudly, some rowdy people dancing around with drinks in their hands. You touch yourself up in your phone camera, take a big breath in, and start walking into the back corner of the bar where the pilots stayed. That's whenever you saw Bradley, whooping and hollering about winning the 8-ball game with Phoenix and Bob. Jake and Jessica are rubbing up against each other, kissing and hugging on every second, looking like high school couples in the hallways.

You walk up behind Bradley and when he bends over to hit a ball, you slam up behind and put your hands in the front pockets of his 1980s Levi's jeans. “Wanna teach me how to play?” You tease and Bradley jumps up and wraps you in his arms. His hand goes to the back of your neck and he practically jumps while practically screaming your name in pure and utter excitement at your presence.

“You didn't tell me you were coming!” He pulls away for a second to look at your face, before pulling you back in and wrapping harder around your body. The feeling envelopes you tightly and you feel the need to melt in his arms. “It's a surprise, dummy. Are you surprised?” You ask and now he's nodding quickly before he drops you down and kisses you harshly. His lips are running across you as he pulls you into a bench in the other corner.

“Am I surprised? Of course!” He says sassily at you and brings you back into a deep kiss, his hand messing with the hem of your Hawaiian shirt and the other against your neck as he holds you up in the kiss with him. He's warm and touchy throughout the sweet moment and he takes like a Cranberry Vodka. “Love you, so much.”

“Awh, I love you too honey.” Your hand runs through his fluffy hair that's been lightened from hours of sun, and you stare at this tan skin with freckles littering against his cheeks and nose. His fingers mess with the rips on your shorts and he kisses against your cheek. “God, I missed you so much.” Jessica waves at you and giggles as Jake kisses her away from attention. You laugh at his antics before Bradley pulls your chin and kisses you once more, and you stare into his deep green eyes.

“Thank you for visiting, so much.” Bradley speaks softly in your ear. “Always, and forever when I can.”

[garagepaperback]

trash tuesdays:

thanks to the widely-coveted @yiiiiiiiikes25 for newly minting this approach to the day. i'm happy to have re-discovered this scrap from two months ago, which didn't go anywhere because i was like 'this is just about the nervous game', but now it can be that and also be here.

-

The night's half-past past sloppy, careening towards shit-show.

Everyone's focused, so intense that it’s kind of dumb, an over-acted show of dedication, but Harry keeps catching Dean’s eye, and Blaise’s—even Malfoy’s once. Soon, without really ever actually committing, he's entirely in.

“How fast are you supposed to move?” Ginny asks.

“Whatever pace you like, I think," Blaise smiles, a very public, somehow private way, turning it toward Malfoy this time. Malfoy’s cheek tugs up like Blaise caught it on a hook. 

Harry’s palm skims up Blaise’s trousers, black denim so sleek it seems insulting to think of the fabric as the same genus as jeans, like a phoenix and a pigeon both being associated with a feather, while Malfoy slides his hand, smirk blooming, to the inside of Ron’s thigh, flexing two fingers out long, then curling back, like pressing a slow-rolling quotation mark into the leg.

Ron yelps, jumping up, and almost taking Dean out of the game as well with the force of it.

“Well,” Malfoy announces, shifting with a little shake of his head, already smug.

“You only win if you don’t say you're nervous," Harry reminds him.

Malfoy sniffs, “Fine.”

Across the thin plane of Malfoy's thigh, Blaise's fingers press a tight circle, striking it through with a line and just before Harry realizes he's likely writing a word there, letter by letter, Dean's hand scales Harry's leg with a heavy sort of heat. Harry slides him a ratifying glance. And still, Harry stays half-stuck in the fence of Blaise’s gaze.

Harry hasn't noticed before, maybe, or not this close, or not also while he's got a hand on Blaise's leg—which is so warm, summer trapped in the lean length. And he's got these steady brown eyes, half-lidded, fixed and laden on Harry even as Malfoy slinks his legs open a little wider so that Blaise can stride his fingers teasingly up along the inseam. The bored look on Malfoy's face does nothing to stop the blatant flush sullying his throat, mottling his stern jaw.

Even sloshed, Dean moves cordially. He makes it to just about the bottom hem on one of Harry’s pant legs, rucked just slightly under his jeans, and Blaise tilts his head just as Harry surpasses probably that exact threshold. Though, he doesn’t really seem like the sort to wear pants. 

“All right,” Blaise sighs thickly, and Harry pulls away. They smile at each other as Harry’s spine sinks back slowly into the stingy padding of the booth for only a moment.

Malfoy's hands stays unsettled and slack against his seat, looking off to the side pointedly bored, even though he hasn't really been able to keep himself from looking down that end of the table. He doesn't even glance up as Blaise presses against him, settling back in to drag more letters on Malfoy's trouser leg. A t, Harry catches, then maybe a cursive ch.

It’s an odd combination, all of it. Buzzed and comfortable in the uncomfortable booth, heat licking all along Harry’s chest and shoulders, a swamp of it in the belly. This is the molten middle of the otherwise pretty forgettable evening; nothing, and sensation stacked, Blaise’s gaze and Dean’s hand, wank-fodder for a few solid months, even if Harry has to surgically remove Ginny, Ron, and probably Pansy from the situation. And Malfoy.

Harry's scalp feels tight, a prickling up the neck that’s way-back and familiar, just the same.

“They're going to go on forever,” Ginny declares, leaning her cheek onto the probably un-plush pillow of Pansy’s skull. “Can’t we call it a draw?”

“Kind of cheating to play with someone you’re shagging,” Harry says, rushing the words out to soften the way he adjusts in his seat. It spreads Blaise’s grin. 

“You and Thomas are shagging?” Blaise tilts his head mock-wondering, and Harry snorts. His hand drapes elegantly against Malfoy’s pleated trousers, an easy centerpiece to twill table. Or, if Malfoy’s button fly is the center, an uninteresting epergne, Blaise’s grasp is placed neatly, a well-stacked plate. 

“Not yet,” Dean replies cheerfully, and squeezes Harry’s bicep with his other arm.

If he were smart, he would call it. If this were just about a game, or salvaging the Friday for parts, trying to make something out of the last few hours, he would. He’d laugh and hold Dean’s hand when Dean reclaimed it from Harry's jeans, squeeze the soft of his palm, wait for a lull in everyone’s fractured goodbyes later and maybe grab it up again, quickly, to ask if he wanted to come back to his. But Malfoy’s staring at him now, the practiced way he's never managed to get good at that’s so fake and full of himself and perfectly, awfully Malfoy. And when Malfoy doesn't look over determinedly at Pansy, or reproachfully at Harry, or a little ransacked with Blaise, his gaze skitters back over to the floating bounty, the collected hoard of pocket gold hovering at the far end of the booth. Hungry. The way Blaise is looking at Harry, the way Dean’s hand feels.

-

tagging anyone who sees this! lemme see your scraps/darlings/deleted things!

[dailyjeangrey]

“I am fire and life incarnate! Now and forever — I am Phoenix” — Uncanny X-Men #101

Jean Grey/Phoenix + Aesthetic

[anxiousnerdwritings]

Mixing a few things together for this idea but what about Yanmom!Jean Grey, Yandad!Scott Summers, Yanfamily!X-Men, Yan!Emma Frost and Yan!Phoenix Force with Jean and Scott’s child!Reader??

Like it takes up with Jean being the host of the Phoenix Force and it’s ever so slowly corrupting her but then she ends up pregnant before it can completely corrupt her and instead of sticking with Jean, the Phoenix Force attaches itself to the child growing within her. Therefore the child is born with the Phoenix Force already deep imbedded within them.

Jean, Professor Xavier and Emma all pick up on the fact that the Phoenix Force has made the Reader it’s new forever home basically, at least that’s what it wants to do. And there’s massive worry and anxiety over how the Reader will turn out later in life if the Phoenix Force stays with them. Everyone worries how it will influence the child and what will become of them.

Meanwhile, the Phoenix Force is having it’s own conflict. Having attached itself to the child it grows intensely fond of them. It feels as though it may as well be their parent. The Phoenix Force would nurture and love it’s new darling (in its own way) as they grow together and the longer it stays with them the more protective and possessive it gets. It wants nothing more than to keep the darling safe and protected from any and all threats, unfortunately it sees Jean, Scott and the rest of the X-Men as any other kind of threat to its darling and itself. The Phoenix Force doesn’t believe that any of the X-Men, let alone Jean and Scott, deserve their darling in any aspect and will eventually take the darling away from them and everyone alike.

Now, Emma and Jean’s rivalry will certainly come into play in this situation. When it’s found out that Jean’s child is playing host for the Phoenix Force, Emma’s interest is immediately peaked. She tries to insert herself in the development of the child, not agreeing with how Jean and Scott go about their parenting and thinking she could do much better for the child in the long run. Jean does not take well to this at all. That is her child after all and Emma has the audacity to try and take her place as mother?! She’d be damned to ever let that happen! And thus begins the even more intense and deep seeded rivalry between the two.

[afro-hispwriter]

Maximoff?(2)

Peter Maximoff x reader(main)

Wanda Maximoff x reader(past)

Warnings- y/n has dark humor, the Avengers, Thanos and the blip, Phoenix Force!reader but she doesn't know that yet;), Vision slander, semi-slow burn

Italics- past

Bold- telepathy 

Part 2 of “Maximoff?” 

a/n-the part 2 nobody asked for

-

"Hi, I'm Y/n L/n, your favorite telepathic superhero or not. I mean, I should be because I am helping clean up the mess Thanos made while the Avengers go in their depressive little hole and think about their failure." You press your lips together and shake your head. "We should really start hating them more, they really don't fix the cities they destroy. And guess who has to clean it up? Me, people from Stark Industries, and volunteers." You point behind you.

"Haha, aren't you an avenger?" The interviewer asks awkwardly.

"No I'm not an avenger, they just want me as a weapon. To do what they can't." You crossed your arms and shrugged. "You know I offered to destroy the soul stone but my ex-girlfriend decided that her red airhead boyfriend that came out of a refrigerator was more important." 

"You sound a little hurt at talking about Wanda and Vision, did it hurt when she left you and does it hurt that she's probably gone forever?" You cocked your head to the side.

"Not anymore, it's been 2 years since the whole Sokovia accords thing, and I am definitely over her. And she always talked about her dead family, guess now she gets to see them. As does everyone who disappeared." You laughed awkwardly before face-palming. "Sorry, Sorry."

Swoosh

The chatter behind you became distorted before slowing down to a complete stop. You looked around confused and everyone was moving very slowly. You looked back at the interviewer and the cameraman and their eyelids were still in the process of a blink. 

"I didn't do this." You say and press your lips together. But out of the corner of your eye, you saw someone walking around normally. He had silver hair, wore a Nirvana t-shirt, jean jacket, and some tight jeans(that made his ass look great). He turned around and you locked eyes making him stop, suddenly a goofy smile appeared on him before his eyes widened in shock at the realization that you were looking at him.

Who are you? You ask him through your mind and he looks at you confused, still trying to grasp whatever was happening. Before he could open his mouth you sent him flying back, stopping whatever he was doing. Everyone started moving again and you made your way to the man. 

"Everyone take a break." You say and the people around you stopped moving completely. I stopped in front of him and placed my hands on my hips. "Who are you?" 

"You're a mutant?" He asks you to curve an eyebrow. People have called you a monster, criminal, a weirdo. But never a mutant. You rolled your eyes. 

"Excuse me?" You passed and searched his head. "Peter Maximoff wait- Peter Maximoff? Maximoff!?"

“Maxi- I never told you my name." He says and he sits up. You didn't answer at first, but your heart started racing. 

"Wanda all those people dying wasn't your fault."  You tell her as you passed your fingers through her hair.

"They certainly think so." She says as she watched the news. You shook your head and grabbed the remote and shut it off. 

"You were protecting cap, that's all that matters." She just shrugged and started to bite her nails. Suddenly Vison fazed through the wall and you and Wanda untangled from each other.

"Vis we talked about this," Wanda says with a sympathetic look on her face. Your eyes widen and you scoff. 

"Talked about this, so he's done it before. Creep." You sneered and Vison stammered. "Get out." You had said through your teeth, Vison winced and pressed his thumb and index finger into his head. The stone in his forehead felt like it was throbbing. 

"Just came to say Mr. Stark is here with a guest." He says and instantly walks out, out the door this time. 

"Why do you hate him so much?" Wanda asked you.

"He's bad news Wanda, that stone in his head is bad news. I can feel something bad will happen." 

"Doesn't mean you get to control him. You promised you wouldn't control or get in the heads of us or me." She grabbed your hand and entwined your fingers. You sighed and nodded.

"I know I just, I feel like whatever is inside of me is starting to break free, and I can't control it." 

"I know the feeling." She says and kissed your cheek.

A small smile came to your face at the memory. 

"Have you seriously not caught on that I can read your mind and control others?" You answer him and gestured to the people around. He opened his mouth to say something but just fumbled with the words and just shrugged. "Who do you work for? Thanos?" He looks at you in confusion.

"T-Thanos who is that? I mean I've heard the name because my friend Wade calls this other dude, Cable, Thanos but no I don't know who Thanos is. Sorry, I'm rambling." He says and stands up. You nodded and turned away from him. He was telling the truth, but you needed to know more. So you flicked your hand everyone started moving again and started walking away.

"Follow me Maximoff, you have some explaining to do." You say and Peter doesn't hesitate to follow. 

- 

"You have a Lamborgini?" He questions as you walk up to the black shiny car. 

"I have a rich friend. Get in." You say and unlock it. Peter pops the door open and the door lifts up. The face he gave was as if the most amazing thing just happened. Once you both were sitting in the car and the doors closed and you started driving you started asking Peter more questions. 

"So you're from another Earth?" 

"I guess, but I didn't know there were other earths."

"Felt that, but I've learned were not alone." You say with a slight gloom in your voice. 

"You sound like you've seen it first hand?"

"I have, and part of that is the reason why everything looks destroyed." 

"By Thanos?"

"Yeah, with a snap of his fingers, half the population disappeared and you can guess how that went. People disappearing while driving, flying planes." 

"Where were you while Thanos was doing all this." You let out a chuckle

"On vacation. It wasn't until everyone around me was disappearing that I knew something was wrong. Now I'm out here going around and helping rebuild, because I know damn well the Avengers won't do it themselves, they're too busy dwelling on their loss to help the ones still here."

"I'm sorry the Avengers?" Peter asks in pure confusion.

"Earth's mightiest heroes?" 

"Oh, so like the X-men. At least that's what we are called where I am from."

"Nice." You say and you fall into an awkward silence. Peter's eyes ran around the entire car. It was so nice and clean. 

"So where are we going?" 

"Headquarters."

-

The way Peters's eyes lit up and his jaw slacked at seeing the building was adorable. He looked like a kid on Christmas. 

“Here we are.” You say and park the car in your designated spot that had your last name. The doors opened and you stepped out. Peter again looked in awe and she stumbled out of the car. You were walking pretty fast and were almost at the building before Peter noticed. He zipped to you and almost knocked you over. 

“Sorry babe, almost knocked you over there.” He says and patted your shoulder lightly. You whipped your head around and glared at him.

“Babe? I'm not you babe.” You say and Peter frowns.

“Sorry, I say that a lot.” You let out a hmph and opened the door. He followed you to the elevator and stepped inside. “How rich is your friend?”

“Pretty rich.” You smile at him and his nose twitches. The elevator dinged on your floor and you stepped out. “Hungry? Thirsty?” 

“I can always eat.” 

“What do you want?” You ask and you turn the corner into a kitchen. 

“Got any Twinkies?” You didn’t respond just opened the pantry and looked around. Frowning at the sight of no Twinkies but settled on a box of brownies. “No Twinkies but I have brownies.” 

“Oh, those are cool too.” He says but you can tell he was a little sad and probably needed something that made him happy after everything he has gone through. 

“Okay.” You closed your eyes and smiled, then opened the box. In your hand was a wrapped-up brownie. Peter reached out for it but before his eyes, it started to change. It was so familiar to him, as he watched the brownie distort and then become a Twinkie. It suddenly clicked.

“My friend Jean used to be able to do that.” He says and he frowns. You knew when to respect people’s privacy, so you wouldn’t pry on your own. Peter noticed your silence and cleared his throat. “Is it safe to eat?”

“Yeah.” You say and hand it to him. He opened the plastic wrapping and grabbed it. “I guess we should find out how to get you back, your people are probably worried.” 

“Yeah probably. But I'm not rushing.” He says and smiles up at you, a slight twinkle in his chocolate eyes. You looked down away from his gaze and felt yourself warm up. 

“My friend, Bruce-.” You were cut off by Natasha walking in the kitchen. She stopped at seeing you weren’t alone but chose to ignore it and ask you about it later since her news was urgent. “Nat? Everything okay?” 

“We got a hit on Thanos.” 

-

[farsight-the-char]

Amy Reeder's cover for Jean Grey #2

Fire and Life Incarnate

Now and Forever.

...

"The Dark Phoenix has haunted Jean Grey since it emerged from Jamaica Bay. But what if the Phoenix had chosen…someone else?" it reads. "The love story of Cyclops and Jean Grey is one of the most beloved in Marvel Comics' history. Now witness a legendary creator break their hearts – and their minds. But this is no 'what if.' Jean Grey is not where she is meant to be…and neither is the rest of mutantkind. Stunning secrets will be revealed as Jean Grey lays the groundwork for her next shocking appearance in 'Fall of X'!"

[sixgears]

❪　🐹　❫　...　𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗫'𝗦　𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪,　𝗧𝗛𝗘　𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥'𝗦　𝗖𝗨𝗧.

when   did   your   first   realize   you   had   a   passion   for   cars   /   racing?

“ all my life, i guess? i mean, my dad's a mechanic. back when we lived in the philippines, he owned an auto shop — some days i would just sit there and watch him work. ” phoenix treasures those memories fondly, a childhood spent snacking on cheap candy from the store next door while sat on the hood of a car, their little legs swinging, as their father explained what he was doing so that phoenix would better understand.

have   you   found   a   ‘family'   within   your   crew?   (if   not,   would   you   ever   consider   swapping?)

eyes flit to the ground, teeth gnaw at their bottom lip, unsure of what to say now that the question of swapping crews has been implied. “ i do consider the rodani prowlers my family, ” they say, tone clipped. it isn't a lie, they are family to her, it's why she feels so guilty of the thoughts and decisions plaguing her mind. you're better off with the nariza bois, you'd thrive there. “ i belong with them. i don't see myself anywhere else. ” now that — that is a bold faced lie.

tell   the   story   behind   your   alias.

“   oh,   it's   a   bit   dumb.   ”    phoenix   giggles,   fidgeting   with   the   keychains   on   the   carabiner   clipped   to   their   belt   loop, one of them a lego minifigure of jean grey.   “   marvel,   like   the   comics,   because   i   told   someone   i   call   myself   phoenix   like   the   x-men   character.   it   just   stuck,   ”   they   shrug.   “   i   like   it,   though.   sounds   totally   badass. makes me feel like a superhero.   ”

what   does   losing   a   race   feel   like   to   you?

“   suuuucks,   ”   she   groans, head craning back in dramatic fashion that they almost fall of their chair. one thing about phoenix is that they can be quite a sore loser, and it isn't something they're afraid to admit. but who likes losing, anyway?   “   i   get   so   bummed   out,   totally   ruins   my   vibe   for   the   rest   of   the   week.   especially   if   i,   like,   worked   on   the   car   and   stuff!   i   put   in   the   effort   and   it   goes   to   shit?   dawg,   that's   awful!   ”

is   street   racing   a   long   term   plan   or   a   short   lived   hobby   for   you?

“ huh. i guess i never thought about it. ” phoenix can't imagine doing this forever, and yet the idea of life without street racing feels difficult to bear. there wasn't anything else for her outside of racing, no career or goals to work towards. “ i don't know, really. i'm just going with the flow right now, see where life takes me. i don't really think about the future too much. ”

how   do   you   feel   about   the   establishment   of   the   nariza   bois,   particularly   in   relation   to   their   split   from   the   rodani   prowlers?

in all honestly, phoenix doesn't really care as much. she came onto the scene shortly after the split — a mere replacement for all the more valuable people who left. she shrugs. “ i dunno, it's not really any of my business. i'm just here to work on our cars and kick the nariza bois' asses with 'em. ”

you're   often   seen   around   turf's   skate   park–   what   does   a   typical   visit   look   like   for   you?

phoenix   laughs,   full-bellied   and   genuine.   the   park   is   her   favorite   place   in   the   world   —   she's   been   going   there   since   she   first   discovered   the   place   at   fourteen.  “   oh,   i   go   fuckin'   crazy.   i'm   in   there   for   hours,   ”   they   answer.     “   it's  where  i  learned  all  the  cool  tricks  i  know  now.   ”

do   you   ever   have   the   urge   to   swap   positions?

“   not   really, ” phoenix shakes her head. “  i'm not really   like, big on driving or anything. i prefer working under the hood, makes me feel more in control of what i'm doing,   but   it'd  be   cool   to   be   in   the   car   for   a   day.   see   what   the   drivers   mean   when   they   tell   me   i   fucked   something   up   and   ruined   their   drive,   ”   phoenix   remarks   with   a   hint   of   snark.

[rei-ismyname]

The Phoenix/Phoenix Force sucks

If you're not familiar with Marvel/X-Men's The Phoenix catching you up on the full context is not really possible. I'll summarise the salient bits, but I definitely recommend checking out The Phoenix and Dark Phoenix sagas in Chris Claremont's Uncanny X-Men. The big dumb Firebird has appeared earlier in the timeline for better or worse, but that's the definitive phoenix story (and very entertaining.)

An abridged Publication History of the Phoenix

- The Phoenix is introduced as a cosmic abstraction, a vital entity that is part of the universe. Jean Grey is sacrificing herself to save the rest of the X-Men and this happens.

And this.

It's wild shit, totally iconic and mostly internally coherent, though it doesn't end well. Jean as the Phoenix eats a star and destroys a planet of broccoli people. A very effective use of girl power. A lot happens and she ends up sacrificing herself again. It was established that Jean is The Phoenix, now and forever.

- Rachel Grey, Jean and Scott's daughter from an alternate timeline shows up and is a phoenix host for years without any genocides or whatnot. There's angst, but it's just a part of her. Rachel was a bit of a Jean expy at times but it still made sense and was exciting. She's Jean's daughter so it doesn't take too much handwaving to accept her as a 'host.' (She still is btw, no idea how this works but I like her.)

- Over the next few decades the Phoenix showed up an awful lot. Avengers Vs X-Men is probably the most well known instance. The bird is a lot less picky about hosts now. Hope Summers is the intended host (another Jean expy at times,) but due to Tony Stark's arrogance the phoenix ends up in five other people - Namor, Emma Frost, Scott Summers, Magik and Colossus. It makes very little sense tbh, but after much needless conflict it ends up in Hope and she uses it for some cosmic magnificence.

- Over the next few decades it's all over the place. The Stepford Cuckoos, Quentin Quire, tean Jean, this Shi'Ar dude with a big sword, a prehistoric woman called Firehair, this utter dipshit called Faithful John, and others. It's become a problem of the week, deus ex machina, and worst of all - the stories are not very good. The lore of the phoenix is nonsensical at this point but Marvel was not showing any restraint. Personally, I'd groan whenever it appeared because it meant repetitive plot points and further muddying of how the thing works.

- The Avengers got hold of it and the less said about it the better. It's the mid 2010s and this supposedly unknowable universal abstraction, a god of sorts, has become frankly silly (derogatory.) The wonder has been strangled through overuse and conflicting lore. I'm actually understating it a bit - if you don't believe me check out the wiki for The Phoenix. This cosmic abstraction, one of the most iconic X-Men concepts/moments/arcs had become cringe and boring through overuse and lack of imagination.

- In 2019 Jonathan Hickman's House of X dropped and it was a great time to be an X-Men fan - the Krakoan age. A decade plus of deeply average stories and nostalgia bait were in the past and the status quo had changed in wonderful ways. The Phoenix received a mention on a data page, but it was in a list of powerful entities to give context to a new and interesting concept. At the time it wasn't necessarily foreshadowing.

- In 2023 Marvel was (unwisely IMO) speed running an end to Krakoa and the aforementioned concept emerged as the endgame threat. The Phoenix found its way into the story in an organic fashion and the X-Men put all their hopes in The Phoenix to defeat the threat. Kieron Gillen, under difficult circumstances and with less time than promised, actually did it! He used the Phoenix in a quality story with appropriate gravitas and wonder - and he cleaned up the lore so it made sense again. That run (and era) ended in a better place than most of us imagined it could. It didn't surprise me because Gillen is the best writer in comics today IMO, but we got lucky. He left it on a high note but Kieron Gillen is not at Marvel anymore and Tom Brevoort is in charge of X Books. I'll come back to this polycule erasing bozo.

Phoenix (2024) picks up where he left Jean and The Phoenix (and some infinity comics but let's ignore those for now) - both lore and characterisation-wise. It's explicitly solicited as a cosmic run and the first issue has delivered on that. It's not hard to imagine an ending with The Phoenix seeing itself out of the story in an entertaining way with clean lore and sense of wonder intact. Hopefully without killing Jean again 😅.

Ideally, Marvel will have the good sense to leave it alone for a few years at least. The books are already milking nostalgia and historically X-Men keep returning to the Phoenix, Apocalypse, and some new hate group/the US government deciding genocide is on the menu again. Apocalypse has had character growth (and if they ever undo that I'm doing violence) and moved on & we've just had an attempted genocide plus past victims resurrected - so I'll be generous and say they're off the table. The X line has all new writers and seems to be looking to synergise with '97 and the MCU while claiming they're going for fresh and exciting.

We might get lucky again. X-Men 97 is way past the OG Phoenix stuff and so far has avoided using bottom of the barrel storylines from that time. The 2000s contains danger, but most instances don't fit the 'greatest hits' style they've used so far. An exception to that could be Avengers vs X-Men, but I think they'd save that for a summer blockbuster if anything. I suspect a lot of people would get hype about a movie called AVX, especially if they never read the comic. The MCU hasn't been shy about reconceptualizing events for movies, like Civil War, for instance. The essence of the premise was there but the film made a lot more sense. There's plenty of other reasons (better ones even, ones that don't feel OOC and forced) for the X-Men and avengers to fight, and they'd have to set it up with Disassembled (kinda already happened, not Wanda's fault,) House of M (please no) and then all the Hope Summers/Messiah events. The Fox Movies already did the Phoenix, too, bad as it was. I don't think they'll go that way.

Secret Wars has a phoenix egg in the comics, but it's not important and it's barely an X-Men story. I don't see The Phoenix menacing our screens anytime soon, thankfully. What I fear most is editorial playing it safe and/or nostalgic (which is why Tom Brevoort concerns me - check out his Spider-Man manifesto and you'll see what I mean) and a writer returning to the well when pitching story ideas. Everyone is confident at the start of a new era bc it takes a while to internalise that Marvel repackages and reskins the same 25 tropes while deliberately presenting the 'Illusion of change.' Once the initial ideas dry up and it's crunch time it's natural to look to the past for ideas and characters to reuse. Maybe sales dip a little, or the comics are in a holding pattern waiting for the MCU to do something. Whatever the cause, it will get pitched again and Brevoort will likely say yes. I don't want to be unfair to the guy, but he's been failing upwards for years.

After all, it's happened so many times already. Metatextually, The Phoenix is a symbol of rebirth. That would be a good thing. It can be easy to mistake repetition for rebirth, but it's the avatar of life and creativity. In universe one of its roles is to destroy stagnant ideas or species. Anything that's static and has stopped evolving. Ironically it's been used in some of the worst instances of creative stagnation in Marvel comics. The Phoenix, recent goodness aside, sucks.

I genuinely hope I'm an old 'man' shaking my fist at a cloud while telling Tom Brevoort to get off my lawn. I love being wrong. Nothing would make me happier than Spider-Man or Magneto hosting the Phoenix being an Impossibility. I know I'm not the target demographic but I don't just hope these things for myself. We all deserve good stories, new ideas, the joy of being vulnerable enough to get invested in escapist media. The Mouse, like all capitalists, does not give a fuck about those things though unfortunately. They care about profit. Eh, there's always Fan Fiction. If it does happen I'll commit to a million words. 💜

Don't even think about it.