#Still gonna miss the old cast like crazy

[musicals-and-mushrooms]

fun fact: theyre doing the auditions for sixtralia 2024 over the next few days!!

[gio-cosmo]

Guys I am so excited for LIS Double Exposure but I am also so so nervous

[brattyfics]

Swampbound VI

For hours, Adla and Terry scoured every inch of the old house—digging through dusty boxes and creaky drawers, searching for the elusive book Terry insisted was there. Each uncovered item, every drawer opened, peeled back layers of a life she thought she understood. She couldn’t grasp why this book was so important, or what secrets it held, but Terry wasn’t giving much away.

"I'll know it when I see it," he kept muttering, his voice low and distant, like he was chasing ghosts only he could see.

“This don’t make a lick of sense,” she complained, surveying the chaos they’d created, the neat house now littered with overturned furniture and scattered papers. “My daddy was always a straight-laced man. Didn’t have time for no magic, no amulets, none of that mess. It’s not the man I knew.” She spoke with conviction, but the doubt was creeping in.

Terry, hunched over an old trunk, slammed its lid shut with a sigh. “Sayin’ that every five minutes ain’t gonna make it show up any quicker,” he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice but trying to keep it in check.

“No one's makin' you stay, Terry. You can go if you need to,” Adla said, her tone firm but not harsh, hands resting on her hips as her frustration simmered beneath the surface.

Terry paused, the heat in his voice fading. “I’m just worried about my cousin, alright? You gotta understand—I’m on edge.”

Adla could see it—just how much his cousin meant to him. Blood wasn’t the only thing that bound them; there was something deeper, a connection that, once lost, left scars that never truly healed.

“I get it,” she admitted softly, her anger dissipating.

She’d spent a year trying to bury her grief—moonshine, Jesse, keeping herself too busy to feel. But now, everything felt raw again. She missed her daddy fiercely, and the mess they were digging into only made that ache worse.

“I thought I knew him. Now... I’m not sure of anything anymore.”

Terry glanced up, his eyes carrying an edge of understanding. “Sometimes, we don’t know the people we love as well as we think.” Terry cast a sharp glance at the spot where he’d dropped an unconscious Jesse earlier, tension lingering in the thick, sticky air. Adla’s brow furrowed, suspicion flickering. “Are we still talkin’ about my daddy?”

Terry lifted his hands in mock surrender, but his eyes remained steady, almost too knowing. “Take it how you want.” There was something in the way he looked at her, as if he could see the secrets she hadn’t even admitted to herself.

She didn’t like it, that feeling of being exposed. Wanting to shift the focus, she asked, “Tell me more about Mike.”

Terry hesitated, like he was weighing whether to open that door. Then, finally, he spoke. “What do you wanna know?”

Adla’s fingers grazed the edges of an old photo she’d been staring at. “I know what he looks like. Burne showed me a sketch earlier. There was one of you, too.”

She traced the familiar lines of a picture of herself as a little girl, grinning ear to ear while struggling to hold up a fish too big for her tiny hands. Her daddy’s scrawled handwriting on the back read, Addy’s first fish.

“What was he like when he was little?”

Terry didn’t miss a beat. “Annoyin’,” he said with a deep chuckle. “That boy followed me everywhere. Always on my heels, tryin’ to do whatever I was doin’. Drove me crazy.” His laughter faded, turning softer. “Eventually, I figured out he was my best friend, whether I liked it or not—so I stopped fightin’ it.”

His smile reached his eyes, sincere in a way she hadn’t gotten to see yet. It was beautiful. “Yeah? What kinda trouble did y’all get into together?” she teased, her teeth flashing in a playful grin.

Terry was one of the finest men she’d ever laid eyes on, and from what she remembered, Mike wasn’t far behind. There had to have been plenty of girls flockin’ to them. But Terry’s answer carried a weight she hadn’t expected.

“Most of the trouble came from what we are,” he said, his tone shifting to something more serious. “Our daddies and uncles kept us close, didn’t want us gettin’ caught up with the wrong folks.”

It clicked for Adla then—the reason Terry and Mike were here. Burne wasn’t just some passing trouble.

“What you mean, ‘people like Burne’? You talkin' about white folks? The police?”

Terry’s expression hardened. “Police, hunters—ain't much different. Our ancestors shifted to survive; theirs survived retribution by huntin’ us. That hate runs deep, passed down just like everything else."

Adla could feel the tension rising and she wasn’t about to dig any deeper into that wound. Not yet. “So, you gonna tell me ‘bout this family heirloom now? Or maybe this book we’re never gonna find?” she pressed, trying to steer the conversation back to the present.

"You don’t give up easily, do you?"

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Terry’s grin was grim. “That necklace. It’s a lunar chain—a leash, for lack of a better word. Keeps us wolves in check. Wild wolves? That’s a disaster waitin’ to happen, even I can admit that.”

Adla raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “You don’t say.”

Terry laughed, a rich, genuine sound. “Yeah, I reckon I deserve that.”

She smirked. “You deserve more than that, I reckon.” She began ticking off his offenses on her fingers. “Property damage, breakin’ and enterin’, that little hostage stunt earlier… And now here I am, diggin’ through these dusty closets and messin’ with my allergies. All on account of you."

Terry smiled, knowing she was just messin’ with him. Still, he felt a twinge of guilt for turnin’ her world upside down. “What’s it gonna take to make it right?”

“You could do somethin' for me…” Terry set aside what he was doing and focused his attention on her. “…I need you to tell me the truth about Jesse.”

"It's best you hear it from him."

"I'm asking you, though," She pressed, but Terry shook his head. "I know you know what he is. It's written all over your face. I saw what he did earlier. Just tell me the truth."

“Ain't my place to talk about another man's business.”

Terry might not want to say anything, but she couldn’t just sit on the sidelines.

She thought about Jesse, his easy charm, his dimples, and the way he always seemed to know how to talk his way out of anything. But he was still Jesse—her best friend, the closest thing she had to family now. She owed it to herself—and to Jesse—to have a conversation, at the very least.

"Fine," she muttered, bending to rummage through another bag. "I’ll talk to him."

He watched her movements, noting how she tossed the bag aside with a bit more force than necessary and huffed under her breath. He stepped up behind her, resting his hands on her hips.

“Tell me what you remember about that necklace.”

She remembered the luster of the chain, a strange shimmer that must’ve been the magic woven into it. “It’s silver, always catching the light just right,” she mused, straightening up a little, hyper-aware of how warm he felt, standing so close behind her. “There’s symbols etched on the pendant.”

She turned her head slightly, glancing over her shoulder to meet his gaze. Her fingers instinctively traced the crescent moon and star tattooed on his arm, a gesture that lingered longer than she intended. “Your family’s crest, I reckon.”

Terry watched her, absorbing every word as if they were a balm for some deep-seated ache within him.

"I ain't never seen it myself. My daddy, and his daddy before him, they hadn't either. I always wondered what it looked like in person. Hoped I'd get to hold it in my own hands one day."

“You will,” she said, a surprising certainty in her voice. She caught glimpses of it—glinting in the soft light of a cramped room with concrete walls. Terry was there, Jesse too, but then it all faded to nothing. She was too scared to speak about it—the images swirling in her mind. Instead, she reached for Terry’s hand and held it in her own. “Having it—or even just seeing it—must feel like holding a piece of your history right in your hands.”

“Ain’t nothin’ more important than knowin’ where you come from,” he said, locking eyes with her, a strange intensity anchoring them both in the moment.

The weight of two restless nights hung over her; a yawn slipped from her lips, exhaustion pulling at her like a heavy quilt. If she wasn’t careful, she might entertain the ridiculous notion of curling up next to Terry Richmond. They were both aching for connection, and she could feel that energy stirring between them.

As the first rays of sunlight peaked over the horizon, her eyes burned with fatigue. “I’m 'bout brew some coffee. You want a cup?” she asked, her voice a soft murmur against the stillness.

“Nah,” he said, though he looked just as worn as she felt. Restlessness clung to him like a second skin, determination driving him on. “I’ll just keep lookin’ if that’s alright with you.”

“Go ahead,” she said, understanding his urgency. If she could’ve saved her father, there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t have done.

Adla paused to collect her thoughts as the coffee brewed. Even with Terry in the next room, his presence seemed to fill the whole house. She couldn’t shake the feeling of what it’d be like when she was alone again.

Pushing away from the counter after a few sips, she decided to check the loft. It was a cramped space she hadn’t touched in years, but with everything else in the house turned upside down and nothing to show for it, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look.

“I’m heading up there,” she called to Terry, nodding toward the ceiling as she passed the bedroom. Climbing the creaky ladder, she braced herself for whatever might be hidden in the dusty corners of the old house.

The summer heat clung to her skin, thick and suffocating, as she pushed aside boxes. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she felt an inner urge driving her forward, like a faint whisper nudging her to keep searching.

As she lifted the lid of another box, the familiar scent of aged paper and old wood enveloped her. Beneath yellowed newspaper clippings and faded family photos lay a worn, leather-bound book, its cracked cover and frayed edges revealing the touch of countless hands. She brushed the dust away with the back of her hand. It was heavier than it appeared, as if it contained more than just paper.

Hesitating for a moment, she slowly opened the book, feeling an invisible thread weave her past and present together. A page slipped loose from the worn book and fell into her lap. It was written in her father’s familiar hand, the strokes bold and deliberate.

To protect what’s left of our family, I had no choice. It’s a betrayal to the shifters, but I have to protect you from Burne. It may be selfish, but it’s necessary. You are supposed to be here, baby girl. When you’re ready, you can change things. I know you can.

Adla’s body trembled as she read on, skimming the words that would change everything.

She glanced back at the book, her sweaty palms barely managing to hold on. Symbols were inked into the margins of the book, odd drawings that seemed to pulse with a life of their own. Protection spells, moon phase rituals, and herbal remedies littered the pages. She continued flipping through the pages, her heart racing in her chest with each turn.

Pictures began swirling in her mind like leaves caught in a restless wind—she saw her father, warning her to be careful. Telling her that they’d see each other again one day—but he prayed it wouldn’t be soon. Jesse’s grandmother, with her hushed tones, whispering about the old ways and the forgotten magic that coursed through their town like a river, powerful and unforgiving.

It all felt too surreal, like trying to grasp something just beyond her reach, but what she was witnessing was beyond anything she could have ever imagined.

And then, there she was—her mother. Not the hazy, distant figure she’d clung to for comfort, but vibrant and alive in her memory, a beautiful vision that made Adla’s heart ache. Warm and inviting, like the embrace she’d yearned for all her life.

“Trust yourself, Adla,” she seemed to whisper. “Trust your instincts.”

Others came before her, people Adla had never known but whose voices echoed softly in her heart, offering wisdom in hushed tones. One woman, strikingly similar in looks, leaned in close, sharing a secret—something Adla desperately needed to hear. It was a truth she couldn’t reveal to Terry just yet—not with the stakes so high and their path forward clouded in uncertainty. Not when her own mind was still tangled up in it.

The truth hit her like a tidal wave: her family wasn’t just ordinary folk. Her father—he wasn’t the simple, practical man he pretended to be. Tears welled in her eyes as her vision blurred; he had known all along, carrying that heavy burden in silence.

A low creak pulled her from her reverie. Terry stood at the top of the loft stairs, his expression taut with tension. “You found it.” His voice was quiet, eyes drawn to the book cradled in her hands.

“My daddy gave the Chief the lunar chain to keep me safe. He threatened my daddy, sayin’ he knew he had it and better hand it over, or I’d be the one payin’ the price. We’ve got until the full moon to save Mike, or he won’t make it.”

Chapter 7.

@nayaesworld

@nahimjustfeelingit-writes

@sageispunk

@megamindsecretlair

@blowmymbackout

@kindofaintrovert

@avoidthings

@zillasvilla

@insidefeelingofanadult

@theereina

@slutsareteacherstoo

@babybratzmaraj

@senajaiaspeak

@princessmakipala

@writingsbytee

@planetblaque

@liquorlaughslove

@judymfmoody

@playgurlxoxo

@theescorpiolovechile

@keyaho

@gg-trini

@vivaalenaa

@li-da-savage

@ash-ketchumzzz

[matcha-milkies]

WELL, YOU DID ASK

Summary: Aboard the Stan-O’-War II, Stan finds out and confronts Ford about his past relationship with Bill.

Alternatively: “Ford, why did Bill call you babygirl?”

Relationships: Sea Grunkles, Bill Cipher/Ford Pines (Mentioned)

Content Warnings: Implied/Referenced Sex

Tags: Humor, Light Angst, Banter

Inspired By: This Meme and This Comic

Word Count: 2,489

Link to AO3: Here

A/N: Yeah it’s been a HOT MINUTE five years since I watched Gravity Falls, and I’m still waiting on my copy of Book of Bill, so I’m sorry if there are any inconsistencies with canon in this. I was riffing hard off of secondhand material lol

Stan stares up at the top bunk as the room gently sways from side to side, a cabin cradled in the bosom of the ocean. He’s lying face up on his cot, hands on his abdomen, and he’s contemplating something very deeply. It’s unnerving, this thing. He almost wishes he could forget all about it. Almost.

He bites his bottom lip and deliberates over what to do about this. He could just leave it alone. Things have been good lately. Why rock the boat, so to speak? They could go about their day, have their coffee, cast their lines into the sea, fry that leftover kraken meat for dinner. Blegh, he’s so sick of kraken meat. He’s going to have to find a way to season that thing to spice it up a bit or else he’s gonna go crazy. Why do krakens have to be so enormous anyway?

Yeah, he could do that. He could be normal.

After all, if the answer is no, then there’s nothing to worry about in the first place. And if the answer is yes… does he really want to know about it? What is he going to do, where is he going to go from there? Ask for details? He’s racked by a fullbody shudder. As if.

But deep down, he knows he’s kidding himself. If he doesn’t confront his brother, then this is going to linger in the back of Stan’s mind for all of eternity. He won’t be able to look at his twin without pondering all the ‘why’s. Why him? Why didn’t you tell me?

Stan hauls himself to a sitting position and swings his legs over the side of his bunk. He stares at the wall for a little bit, mouth quirked to the side. The Stan-O’-War II creaks, as if it’s also pondering to itself. He can hear his brother rustling papers a ways away in the other room. It’s a small boat. Of course it is. There’s only two of them to man it.

Stan starts to walk into the other room, then turns around and changes course at the last second, heading above deck instead. Hopefully his twin was too preoccupied with his work to notice. Stan walks over to the port side and leans his arms against the railing with a sigh. It’s a nice day out, at least. The sun is shining high in the sky with only a few clouds drifting overhead. They’re somewhere off the coast of Canada.

Somewhere further south but still along the same coast are his great niece and nephew, going to school again. He wonders how they’re doing. He wishes he could call them. He misses them, but he also wants to take his mind off of this. He hears footsteps pacing below deck, probably to grab a book off a shelf or something, because they soon pace right back to where the desk would be. 

Stan lowers his head until his forehead is against the railing and sighs. He’s probably going to have to ask. The thing he’s dreading is knowing that it’s not gonna go over well. He gives it maybe another ten minutes to psyche himself up, then turns and tramps back down the stairs.

Ford is situated at his desk (it’s not anyone’s desk but really it’s Ford’s desk), sifting through some old creased pages that look like they’re about to disintegrate at the slightest breeze. On his right-hand side is a cold, half-finished cup of joe. Occasionally, he mutters something to himself and pens something in his new journal. He’s entirely absorbed. He doesn’t even seem to notice when Stan appears in the doorway and leans his elbow against it.

“Uh, hey, Sixer, how’s it goin’ in here?”

Ford starts. The pen drops from his hand and rolls around on the swaying floor. “Stanley, how many times do I have to tell you not to sneak up like that?”

“I didn’t sneak up on you. I’m notoriously loud. You’re the one with your nose glued to that journal.”

“I–” Ford’s breath catches in his throat before he lets it out in a sigh. “I suppose you have a point. I’m sorry, Stanley. I’m just frustrated at how little progress I’ve made with this. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

“You know you say that, like, every time we find some weird thing, right?”

“I didn’t think we would encounter this many paranormal phenomena outside of Gravity Falls.”

“Maybe you’re the weirdness magnet.”

“Perhaps both of us are. After all, you were the one living in my shack for all those years pretending to be me.”

“Ha, yeah…” Stan musses his own hair. “Must run in the family.”

“Anyway–” after stooping to pick up the pen, Ford seats himself at the desk again– “you know I always appreciate your company, Stan, but I’d like to make some real headway before dinner if at all possible.”

“Uh, well, actually,” Stan says, and Ford glances up with a raised brow.

“What is it? Don’t tell me you accidentally dropped something overboard,” replies Ford, testing the temperature of his coffee. He looks displeased at the result but nevertheless continues to sip it anyway.

“Relax, relax, it’s nothing like that. Sheesh, are you ever gonna let me live that down?”

“It happened yesterday.”

“Ancient history!” Eh, might as well spit it out, right? “Hey, speaking of ancient history, what was going on with you and Bill?”

Ford makes some sort of choking sound and dribbles coffee back into his cup. He casts about for a napkin or a towel. “What do you mean by that?”

“Were you like, just a fling, boyfriend-boyfriend, married? What was going on there?”

Ford sputters, gives up and rolls up his sleeve to wipe his mouth on his bare arm. His voice cracks a little as he speaks. “What- What do you- What do- Why would you–”

“Look, don’t play dumb with me, IQ. When he was in my head, he said some things. And I didn’t think much of it at the time, but see, now I got nothing but time out here on this tin can, and I…”

His twin finally manages to school himself back into neutrality, although they’re both well aware it’s too late. He’s already shown his hand. All he can do is pretend, deny, for whatever that gets him. He spares Stan a glance over his spectacles, and it seems to last an eternity, before the man finally returns his gaze to his notes. “Now is not the time to talk about this.” Oh. Okay. So not even a denial then.

“Uh, right. Sure. And when exactly is the right time gonna be?”

Ford pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs with a kind of bone-deep exhaustion. “I don’t know, Stanley, any time I’m not trying to decipher the code that we found etched onto the side of that washed up precolonial artifact last week?”

“Well, I don’t know why it needs to be a whole song and dance, Einstein, it’s a simple question.”

“Yes, we were… romantically involved. Obviously. Now please leave me in peace.” Not that he had expected that answer to buy him anything, but he still finds himself chagrined when Stan stubbornly continues his line of questioning.

“Why didn’t you tell me about that?”

“I didn’t think it pertinent.” Ford closes the book on his left-hand side, resigning himself to the unfortunate reality that this conversation is happening, and there is no walking away from it. Where would he even escape to? They’re stuck on a boat together until they land at the next port.

“You didn’t think I’d wanna know you were getting… close with the literal demon that tried to kill us?”

“He wasn’t trying to kill us when I was getting to know him. Again, this should be obvious, Stanley. I don’t know why you’re making me spell it all out for you.” He strangles the air, vibrating with more frustration than he can dissipate. “Unless it’s just to torture me, which I wouldn’t put past you.”

“What is that supposed to mean? After all the things I’ve done for you, all I’m asking for here is a little honesty.”

Ford very graciously decides not to dwell on the “all the things I’ve done for you” bit and reopen that particular wound. Instead, he doffs his glasses, the better to massage his forehead.

“Oh, for the love of… We’re in our 60s, Stan.” He unfurls his arms on the table, palms upward. “What did you want me to do, honestly? You wanted me to sit you down and tell you about my crush like we’re still in high school?”

There’s something in the sincerity of his tone that throws Stan off kilter, disarms him.

“I’m not sayin’ that! I just— You’re makin’ it sound more unreasonable than it is! I’m still your twin and I thought you trusted me with this kinda thing.”

Ford pushes his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. He stares at a point just past Stan’s shoulder, mouth flattened into a line. “Oh, god,” he laments, as it dawns on him that the emotionally mature thing to do is to be vulnerable. He sighs, busying his hands by straightening all the papers on his desk. “It’s embarrassing. It was already embarrassing, don’t you see? And this just makes it so much worse.”

“What?” Stan pulls up a chair and sits across from his twin. “Sixer, come on. You think I came in here and brought this up just to laugh at you? I mean, don’t get me wrong, it is objectively very funny, hilarious even—” he grins in the face of Ford’s glare— “but the last thing I’m gonna do is judge you. Between you and me, I think your relationship with that freaky triangle was more stable than anything I’ve ever had with any human.”

“Stable is not the word I would use to describe anything that went on in that shack in the 1980s.”

“Yeah, that just goes to show how low the bar is. Anyway, my point is, while I’m not gonna laugh at you, I definitely will still laugh.”

The scientist raises an unamused brow. “With me, you mean?”

“No, I’m just gonna laugh. Ha! Ha-ha!” Stan reaches across the desk to nudge Ford with his elbow. “Come on, it’s funny! You had a relationship with a triangle! Oh, the kids are gonna be so traumatized!”

“Wh- D- Stan, don’t tell them!”

“Why not? Dipper worships the ground you walk on. This won’t change anything for him. And Mabel… well, Mabel will laugh too actually. Very hard.” He brings a hand to his chin and narrows his eyes. “Or worse, she’ll start shipping you.”

“What does that even mean? She’s going to ship me? Where? How?”

“Uh, not important, and for all intents and purposes, I do not know what that word means either. Look, I’m just pulling your leg, Poindexter. I won’t tell them if you don’t want me to. It’s your business.”

“You honestly mean that?”

Stan sweeps an arm through the air with finality. “It’s your own business and nobody else’s. Look, I’m—” He finds himself rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m sorry for pushing you about this. It’s not something you’d wanna look back on, I get it.”

“Oh.” Ford doesn’t really know what to do with that so he resumes straightening papers even though they’ve been straight for the past three minutes. “I’m not used to fights ending like this.”

“Yeah, me neither. It’s weird. It’s like we emotionally matured or something.”

“Something like that,” Ford agrees.

They lapse into awkward silence. That should've been the end of it, and yet.

“I guess I just don’t get it,” Stan admits.

“What don’t you understand, Stanley?”

“He’s a— Well, he’s a little two-dimensional, don’t you think?”

“It was an extremely intellectual affair, Stan. Physicality had very little to do with it.” Well, that isn’t entirely true but his brother doesn’t need to know about any of that.

“You know what, I’d believe that. I’m just having trouble envisioning what it… what it was like.”

“Why are you trying to envision that?”

“Because it’s weird, Ford! It’s weird and morbidly fascinating. It’s like a train wreck, I can’t look away.”

“Do you have any more questions? So that I can answer them and we can be done talking about this forever?”

“So you… you never… y'know…”

“No,” Ford says about five seconds too late. There’s heat rising to his cheeks and he smothers his face with his hands as Stan sits slack-jawed in abject horror.

“What? Wait, seriously? How did that even work?”

“Ask me something else.”

“Okay. For scientific purposes, hypothetically, in a hypothetical situation, how would a human with glasses and a triangular demon go about—”

“Oh, for God’s sake, Stan!”

“God had nothin’ to do with it, I know that much.” Stan leans back in his chair, then eyes Ford suspiciously. “Wait. He didn’t possess someone else, did he?”

“No!” Ford sounds genuinely horrified. “How depraved do you think I am? That would be tantamount to— I wouldn’t do that. Do you really think so lowly of me?”

“I mean, they could’ve consented beforehand anyway, right? That’s all I’m saying. Although, Sixer, I cannot stress this enough: You locked yourself in a cabin in the middle of Nowhere, Oregon and started drawing freaky symbols on the floor and communing with a literal demon. I think I’m allowed to be a little concerned.”

“Well– Sure, when you put it like that, it sounds more occult than scientific, but I can assure you my methodology was very sound.”

“Oh, okay, good. I’m glad your methodology was sound. That was the main thing I was worried about.”

“May I return to my cipher now?”

“Your Cipher, huh?”

Ford stares pointedly at his twin, trying to telepathically communicate how exhausting this conversation is.

“I just need to know how you did it. It’s gonna keep me up at night.”

“I fail to see how that’s my issue.”

“And then I’ll keep you up at night.”

“And then I’ll throw you overboard so that you can find that notebook you lost!”

“And then I’ll haunt you from the watery grave, you know I will. Besides, it’s laughable you think you could throw me overboard, Poindexter.”

“You really want to know?”

“For my own peace of mind, please.”

Ford sighs deeply, eyes shifting from wall to wall, as though afraid someone’s eavesdropping. Maybe he’s paranoid that a mermaid is listening in from outside. He gestures for Stan to lean in closer, cups his hands to his ear and whispers for a few seconds. Stan’s expression becomes unreadable.

“Oh. Wow. Creative. Okay. Welp. That answers that.” He claps his hands together as if to dispel dirt. “Say, you wouldn’t happen to have another one of those memory-wiping guns?”

[tobifuyu]

I just want a baby with the right one

RAN HAITANI x f!reader

cw: domestic and tooth-rotting fluff, ran being a sappy dad, talks of pregnancy and marriage.

wc: 1,5k

a/n: this is the first part of a longer oneshot with more angst and (ofc) smut that I’m gonna post soon enough. enjoy the short fluff for the time being. I –technically– don’t like kids but I get such baby fever when I see happy families so this is me wishing I could have a partner as perfect as ran!

Stepping foot into a silent home usually meant Ran was asleep somewhere.

After removing your shoes and dropping your bag on the kitchen island, your hunch was confirmed to be right when you found his big body sprawled on your shared bed.

The image is nothing out of the ordinary for you, your sleepy husband can’t go much without his needed rest, especially without you around to keep him company.

Whether now, or five years prior, everything would still look the same: messy purple hair sparse against the white bedding, rosy lips parted as he takes deep breaths, and tattooed chest going up and down as he does.

There is only one stark difference, something that makes your lips curl in a soft smile as you take in the scene.

His arms are bent, creating a makeshift safety harness for the little body that is resting in the middle of his naked chest.

As you carefully and silently approach the bed, you start glimpsing the little face of the angel that your husband is embracing.

Her rosy cheeks resemble that of her father, and you fight the urge to grace them with a kiss in fear of waking her up.

For a moment, you think back to the phone in your purse and curse yourself for not taking it out sooner, wanting to take a picture of the sweet moment, but in the end deciding against going all the way to the kitchen just to come back to either of them having moved.

Ran blinks at you as the mattress dips under your weight. You gather he was just resting his eyes, clever and responsible enough not to fall asleep while holding his newborn daughter.

He raises one finger to his lips to gesture at you to remain silent, but you can’t contain your giggle as you’re filled with a bubbling sense of joy. Part of it is to be blamed on the few drinks you had catching up with your friends, but mostly it has grown inside of you while watching Ran gently rub your daughter’s back.

He rolls his eyes but can’t hide a grin at your behavior, and you bend down to kiss it away with a quick but sweet peck, “Thank you for looking after her.”

“You don’t have to thank me for being with my daughter. I’m her dad y’know?”

“‘course I know, baby. I was there when we made her,” another giggle, Ran has to fight the urge to shut you up with loads of kisses, but you both know he can’t move too much in this position.

So you lay by his side, head resting on his shoulder as you cast your glance towards the sleeping baby.

You can feel your heart clenching, every moment you’re not by her side is like torture. You enjoyed going out alone for once, but you missed the two of them like crazy and spent the whole night pestering your friends about it.

“Can’t believe she’s turning one month old tomorrow,” you whisper, hand raised to gently stroke at her scrunched-up forehead.

“Time goes by so fast,” the breath Ran takes fills his lungs so much you see your little one raising up and down.

“It’s okay, baby, one month is not the end of the world.” You’re trying to rationalize it for the sake of both of you, but you know how emotional your husband gets with these types of things.

The passing of time has never been something he particularly enjoys, not only dreading his getting older but also his brother’s. You recall watching him mop around the day before every single one of Rindou’s birthdays (he raised the boy, after all). So you already knew things would only get worse when it came to his own kid.

“Next thing you know she’s gonna turn twenty and walk out of the house with a partner who probably has one of those dumb jobs like influencers.”

“Hate the game, not the player. You’re a club owner, you literally make money off of ‘em.” You bop his nose with the tip of your finger and his neck muscles strain as he raises his head from the pillow while trying to bite at it.

“That’s why I’m saying it’s stupid,” he pouts. You swear, he’s become such a dad.

But you remember how scared he was when you first found out you were pregnant. You both were.

You didn’t plan for kids. Yeah, Ran had always dreamed of building a family of his own, but he had agreed with you that if you never felt ready, it would be okay.

The two of you were a family already, with Rindou popping by from time to time, and plans of getting a dog if you ever felt like shaking things up.

You were doing okay. Then it happened.

Both of you had always been so careful, so you reasoned that it was just meant to be.

Ran was scared of becoming a dad. He spent his early life taking care of Rindou, and he was fulfilled enough to just enjoy his adult years being with his wife. Traveling, clubbing, lazing in bed. The two of you only cared for one another and it was more than he thought he would ever get in life.

Ran’s pure excitement took over his fear pretty quickly, but he held it in for some time because he could tell how much more shaken up you were by the news.

You were not ready to become a mother, you didn’t think you had it in you. You could barely take care of yourself, how would you help in raising a baby? And it’s not like you could leave the job to Ran, he already had to deal with it alone once, you wouldn’t do such a thing to him again.

It took you some days to make your decision and come to peace with it, days where you closed up to Ran and laid alone in bed, thinking about how your body would change, how much pain you would have to endure, all the sacrifices and scary aspects of pregnancy and ultimately raising a human life.

Ran had come back from work one day and found you in the kitchen baking a cake, or rather trying to. Your cheeks were dusted with flour, and you were dipping a finger in the bowl filled with custard.

“Taste test?” He had asked with a raised brow while removing his coat and shoes at the door.

“Mh, I think our baby likes this one.”

“Do they now? Are you already blaming them for your cravings?” With lips curved in a smile, he had approached you slowly, holding out his arms as you sank into them, head resting on his jacket-covered shoulder.

“I was trying to bake a cake to celebrate our pregnancy. ‘m sorry it took me so long, Ran. I want this baby with you.”

Ran had held you a little tighter at that, softly stroking down the length of your hair while whispering reassuring promises in your ears, tears now wetting both of your faces.

“It’s gonna be okay, my love. As long as we’re together, everything is gonna be alright.”

“As long as we’re with her, everything is gonna be alright.” You repeat his words from then, staring up at his lilac eyes from under your lashes.

He’s already gazing down at you with a look that you know well by now, one that is filled with love and longing. No matter how close you are, Ran always seems to want you even closer.

“I love you, my sweet girl. I love both of you so much. I’m never leaving you, I promise.” He slithers one of his hands under your body, holding the back of your shoulder to keep you pressed against his side, all while softly caressing the skin, copying the movement he was drawing on the smaller back of your sleepy daughter, “Swear on my life.”

A short kiss is left on his collarbone by your lips before you bend down to sweetly press them on top of your daughter’s small head of light hair.

“Now tell me you love us too!” Ran whines and presses the side of his face against yours, squishing your cheeks together as little giggles shake both of your bodies. All the attempts at silencing him are worthless, and you’re forced to give in to his pleading as he starts tickling your side.

“Ran, I love you, baby! And I love our babygirl. I promise, you guys are my whole life.”

All that commotion must’ve finally woken up the tiny girl because the silent room is now filled with laughter and the cries of a baby that would’ve once annoyed you, but now sound like music to your ears.

In that moment you realize that your words aren’t just mindless and sweet-coated, a life without either one of them truly wouldn’t be worth living. And you decide to not give up your family for anything in the world.

[rxmqnova]

Surprise!

Y/N: 28 years old Scar: 35 years old Rose: 5 years old Story: The Marvel cast decides to surprise Scarlett with a birthday party… ——————————————————

Y/N'S POV My girlfriend and I had been trying for a baby for months. We had many fertility appointments and attempts and it finally happened! I'm pregnant! I found out a week after Scarlett left to film a movie which was 3 months ago. It sucks, cause I want to tell her personally, so she still has no idea. However, she's coming back today and it's also her birthday, so it's a perfect gift. I can't wait to see her reaction! Right now I'm watching a movie in our bed, wearing my favorite Scarlett's hoodie and her sweatpants. I miss her so much, so I tend to steal her clothes when she's away. To be honest I steal her clothes even when she's home…

Rose's spending some time with her grandmother this week, so I'm home all alone, but Lizzie offered to pick her up today, so we'll be together soon. It's nice to have some time for myself, but I miss that little demon so much. She's not biologically mine, but we have such a great relationship. She even calls me 'mama' which melts my heart every time I hear it.

My sister Lizzie spent here the entire week. She's so excited to be an auntie to another little human. I'm surprised she hasn't told Scarlett yet, the two of them are best friends.

I stop my movie as I ran out of chips, ready to go and grab a new bag from the kitchen when I hear some noise from downstairs. It can't be Scarlett, cause she's on the plane right now. She called me a few hours ago from the AirPort… Who in the world would rob a house at 2 in the afternoon?! I quickly open my closet, taking out a bat that I'd hidden here when Scarlett left. I quietly and slowly walk downstairs, ready to punch anyone who's here right now.

My heart is about to skip a beat with every step I make and my hands are shaking like crazy. I step off the last step, putting the bat on my shoulder properly and walking to the kitchen where the noise is coming from.

I see a man standing with his back facing me. I tighten my grip over the bat, ready to hit him in the head.

"What the hell are you doing here?" A man's voice says behind me, making me jump.

I slowly turn around to be met with Robert Downey Junior. The man I was about to hit turns around, looking at me. It's Chris Evans.

Seconds later there is literally the entire Marvel cast, except my sister as she's the one picking Scarlett up from the AirPort. Great…

"What are you doing here?" Chris Evans asks me. "And why the hell are you holding that bat?"

"I-I-" I sutter, getting cut off by Robert.

"She wanted to hit you with it" Robert says. The truth is that even though Scar and I are together for a few years, she hasn't come out yet. Her friends have no idea about me, so that's why they're reacting like this. My sister knows of course, she's the only one from Scarlett's friends.

"I-I'm sorry. I… I-I thought you wanted to rob the house" I finally let out some words. I've never been more scared in my life.

"Us? Who even are you? Oh my god, is that Scarlett's hoodie?" Jeremy looks at me with wide eyes. What the hell am I supposed to do now?

"Y-Yeah. I-I'm Y/N" I say.

"Well, Y/N… What are you doing in Scarlett's house?" Robert asks. "I-I'm living here" I answer. Where's my sister when I need her…

"Yeah, there's no way Scarlett wouldn't tell us if someone was living in her house" Evans says. "Call the police" He orders, looking at Robert. "What? No. That's not necessary. I'm living here" I repeat, I really don't want to get into trouble. I haven't even done anything.

"Yeah. I'm calling" Robert says, already putting his phone to his ear. I sigh, pressing a palm to my forehead. Scarlett's gonna be so mad. I bet the last thing she wants is to deal with her girlfriend being taken to the police station…

"Please don't call the police. Lizzie is my sister" I sigh, looking at Robert with hope, but he only rolls his eyes.

It doesn't take long until the police arrives. I show them my documents like they asked me to and they lead me out of the house. They're really gonna lock me up for getting into my own house?? Great, really great, Y/N…

Just before I can get into the car, a little body crashes into my legs. I smile when I see my daughter looking up at me, her arms wrapped around my thighs.

"Hi" I give her a smile which she returns, mumbling a 'hi, mama' back to me.

"Rose, what are you doing? Come here" Evans says, practically peeling Rosie off of me. The little girl starts crying, immediately calling me to help her, but my hands are in handcuffs and I can talk what I want, but nobody listens to me.

I sigh in relief when I see Lizzie walking out of her car, Scarlett following her.

"Mama!" Rosie cries out, reaching her hands for me. Tears from in my eyes when I see my little one crying and I can't hold her.

"Don't you see she's crying for me?! She's my daughter for god's sake! Take off that stupid handcuffs! I didn't do anything!" I raise my voice, tears running down my cheeks. I'm so tired of this bullshit. I just want my Scarly and Rosie to cuddle and my bag of chips.

"What's going on here? Why are you in handcuffs? Where are you taking her?" Scarlett is finally here, my sister right behind her.

"I'm sorry" I say before breaking into tears. I just can't hold it anymore. Stupid pregnancy mood swings… Scarlett comes to me, telling off the police when they tell her to stay back.

"About what, honey?" She asks, cupping my cheeks with her hands and wiping my tears out with her thumbs.

"You must be so tired and you come home to see this" I cry out. "Hey, it's okay, Y/N/N" She smiles. "Tell me what happened"

"Your friends thought I was a theif and a stalker and god knows what and they called the police on me" I explain, tears still running down my cheeks even though Scarlett's wiping them out.

"Y/N/N, I'm so sorry" She sighs. "She's not a theif or a stalker. Y/N is my girlfriend, she lives here" Scar says to the police. They finally take off the painful handcuffs and I wrap my arms around Scarlett's neck.

"Mama" Rosie cries out again. I smile, taking her from Evan's arms.

"It's okay now, baby. I'm not going anywhere" I kiss her cheek a few times, walking back to Scarlett who wraps her arms both of us.

"I missed you" Scar says into my ear while we're hugging.

"I missed you too, so much" I tell her back honestly before we pull away and in a second I get pulled into another hug by my sister. "Are you okay?" She asks with a smile.

"Yeah. All good now" I smile and hug her again.

"Can someone explain to us what's happening?" Downey asks confused.

"You called the police on my little sister, that's happening" Lizzie says annoyed. She's very overprotective over me. I usually hate it, but today it feels nice.

"That's your sister?" Evans asks surprised, pointing at me.

"Don't be so surprised, I told you I was Lizzie's sister when you were calling the police" I give him a glare. I won't forget this that quickly.

"I literally told you about her last week" Lizzie sighs.

"Why is she living in Scarlett's house though?" Jeremy asks.

"Because Y/N is my girlfriend. You could have just called me and I'd tell you it's fine" Scar sighs. "Let's just go inside"

We all move inside, everybody apologizing to me and Downey immediately handing us a glass of champagne since it's Scar's birthday.

"I won't, thanks" I tell him on which my girlfriend furrows her brows, wrapping her arms around me from behind and resting her head on my shoulder.

"You're not my Y/N. My Y/N never says no to alcohol" Scar jokes, making me chuckle.

"Well… I wouldn't say no if I didn't have to but… I can't drink for a while" I smile, turning around in her arms and getting met with a confused look from my girlfriend. I take her hand, putting it on my stomach on which she seems to realize.

"No… You're… you're pregnant?" She asks, her eyes filling with tears. I smile, nodding my head.

"I found out a week after you left. We're having a baby" I almost whisper as tears are in my eyes too by now. "Happy birthday, my love" I smile and she pulls me into a kiss.

Scarlett drags me on the couch, pushing me gently to sit down. She kneels in front of me, pulling my (her) hoodie up. I laugh when she starts spreading kisses all over my stomach.

"Hey there, little one. It's your mommy. I love you so much" She mumbles between kisses. "So we're 3 months far?" She asks, smiling at me.

"3 months" I smile back, twirling my finger around Scar's hair. She rolls my hoodie back down, sitting next to me and wrapping her arm around me on which I cuddle up to her and she rubs my stomach with her free hand. "I love you so much"

"I love you too" She smiles, pressing a kiss to my forehead. --------------------

Scarlett Johansson masterlist

Masterlist

[little-pocket-medic]

i’ve been sorta avoiding medic all week out of nerves, but i really need some healing.

i’m in the medbay, trying to explain myself to him. he looks exasperated… and kind of distressed? like seeing me hurt is upsetting him more than usual.

see, doc, i was climbin’ a tree, trying to get a picture of this really cool bird i thought you would like, and i kinda sorta may have fell out of it.

twenty feet out of it.

so uh… i hold up my left arm. it’s pointing in a direction that i’m fairly certain arms are not supposed to point.

listen, i know you’re kinda too small to really use the medigun right now, but maybe you could talk me through it? i can’t find engie anywhere and who knows how long he’ll be gone, and my arm really, really hurts.

he cautiously agrees. i know he hates it when other people touch his stuff, but i do my best to reassure him that i’ll be good and do exactly what he says.

i bend down so he can hitch a ride on my unharmed shoulder. he instructs me on how to use the ceiling-mounted medigun- press this button, turn this knob, set these numbers on its control panel. seems like this model packs more of a punch than his portable battlefield one.

i push the power lever forward and shudder with relief as the red energy flows into my arm, setting the bones into place and knitting them back together. when it’s done, i wiggle my fingers. it’s like nothing ever happened.

damn, doc, this is pretty satisfying. i can see why you like doing it… why you miss doing it. hey, don’t look so sad, doc, i’m sure you and engie can fix this crazy size thing soon. it’s not like you’re gonna be tiny forever…. right?

he’s leaning against my neck now, so i can’t really see him, but his breath sounds a little shaky. is he scared of heights?

i carefully pick him up off my shoulder and cradle him in my hands to get a better look at him. he’s hiding his face. why?

i hear a tiny sniffle.

oh.

doc, hey, are you okay? listen, don’t cry- i’m really sorry if i made ya sad. doc, i promise you won’t stay this size forever. and even if you did, i’d still lo-

shit. i didn’t mean to say that. well, i’ve gone this far.

i’d.. still love ya, doc.

and- and i mean that! yes, i’m serious. listen, i’m really sorry to have told ya when you’re havin’ a breakdown and all that but i’ve been overthinkin’ that note like “what if he takes it the wrong way and hates me” or “what if he thinks i’m just makin’ fun of him” and i been sick with worry all week and i couldn’t frickin’ take it anymore!

what?

no, of course it’s not just sexual, doc, i don’t see you as- as some sort of object. i like you. as a person. for reals.

🫀 anon

TW: Angst, mentions of arm injury/sex. Nothing graphic.

Medic let out a tired sigh. Writing in his journal wasnt the same as it used to be- therapeutic. Calming. But now, he's just struggling to hold a pencil.

A pencil. He could barely hold a pencil.

The team had been struggling without him recently. Tales of their losses always found their way back to him- tales of his failure.

Sure, being small was fun for a bit. But it long outlasted it's welcome. He just wanted to be back to his old routine. His old small talk with Engineer after battles. His chess games with Heavy.

....his bickerings with Scout.

As Scout came into the medbay, Medic pulled his notebook shut. He turned to him, frowning at the state of his arm and the likely false story.

He couldn't do much with it right now. He could have Scout try and cast it, but it was very likely he'd mess it up and cause more issues. Well, Medic could talk him through the Medi-gun. Worth a shot.

The Doctor explained how to use the ceiling mounted healing device in a low, monotone voice. He didn't do it on purpose- the lack of sleep and the abundance of stress simply took a toll.

He climbs onto his shoulder, getting a better view and allowing the other to hear easier.

Scout seemed to get most of what he said, as the runners arm went back into place. He rambles as he usually does, trying to reassure the Doctor that it wouldn't last forever.

Would it last forever?

Medic grabbed his sleeve and leaned against Scouts neck. It very well could- Engineer normally fixed problems very quickly; This was taking weeks.

Scout seems to take note, picking the little German up and holding him in his wrapped hands.

Now in view, Medic has a harder time concealing his sorrows. Normally he's rather good at it- but with everything piling on...

In an effort to retract his previous statement, The runner let's something slip.

'I love you, doc.'

No, you don't. Medic says, almost angry, in a stern tone. 'You don't even know me...' He wanted to add, but didn't. He already said too much.

He listened to Scouts talk about how he didn't just see him sexually, but he might as well of been on mute. Medic wasn't listening anymore.

Unless you vish to torment me furzher, you may leave. He says, taking off his glasses and wiping his eyes. Talk to Engineer about zhis. I'm not paid to be your zherapist...

Cold. Even for Medic. His emotions were getting the better of him.

While never conventionally kind, Medic always had his ways of showing he loved his fellow mercenaries. This was out of character.

[skylarmoon71]

Castiel (Supernatural/Grimm) - Short Story - Chapter 2

“So you’re saying she’s from another universe and over there these ‘Wesen’ are like the monsters we hunt here but they’re inside of people.” 

You nod at Dean's analysis. 

“I know it sounds crazy but everything Castiel told you is true. I can’t believe she actually blasted us into another universe. When I get a hold of Diana I’m gonna kill her.” 

Dean grins. “It’s still sort of crazy the way you stood against Crowley.” 

“It’s like he couldn’t touch you.” Sam adds.

“It’s probably because my mom is a witch.” 

“Seriously!” You nod at Dean. 

“Wait, I thought Grimms hunted these Wesen. If your dad is a Grimm then how did he end up shagging a witch?” 

“Hexenbiest, by the way, thank you for that mental image. That’s exactly what I want in my head.” 

“Sorry.” Dean just shrugs.

You just let out another exasperated sigh. 

“My parents were in a complicated situation, but they love each other and that’s all that matters. Right now my family tree isn’t the biggest issue. My sister is missing. She should have ended up here with me but she’s not. If we’re in some different universe then I need to start looking for her. Even Diana is going to have some difficulty navigating through here. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.” 

Sam nods. 

“Alright, maybe if you tell us exactly what spell she casted we can figure out what it did or where she is. What were you trying to do?” 

It’s a logical question, but going back over the entire conversation with your sister earlier that day, you feel a bit embarrassed. 

“Diana, I’m exhausted, what are you doing?” 

You’re laying on the couch in the trailer. The training had gone on a lot longer than you anticipated. You were still wearing some of your gear. Diana was hunched over a book missing something. 

“I told you I’m tired of you fighting me on this. You won’t listen to logic so I’ll just have to show you.” 

You groan. 

“Are you really going on about this whole love thing again? I told you I’m fine. Stop messing around. Dad told you to stop playing with those spells. Mom too. I’m not getting in trouble again. I’m too old to be getting scolded by my parents. I’ve got to be at the precinct bright and early tomorrow anyway so I don’t have time to run through some cleanse at Rosalee’s like the last time.” 

Diana laughs awkwardly. 

“That was a minor miscalculation, but this time I’ve perfected it.”

“Perfected what?” 

You finally lift your head just in time to see her drop something into the bowl. A fire sparks up and you gasp, but she just smiles. 

“D-Diana stop!!” 

“Too late, hold on!!”

Her excited yell was the last thing you remember before the room went white.

Lifting your gaze, you chance a look over at Castiel who already seems to be staring in your direction. He’s all the way across the room, standing awkwardly at attention. You shouldn’t feel a thing, but whenever you look at him it just..

“Hey, earth to Supergirl.” 

Dean’s snarky remark pulls your attention back. 

“The spell doesn’t matter, we just need to find her. We should start with any reports of weird occurrences in the area. If I landed here she can’t be far behind. I’m gonna grab something to eat.” You stand before they can speak, grabbing the change on the dresser. 

“Hey, that’s mine!!” Dean calls.

The door slams shut and Sam holds back a smile. 

“She’s like a version of you Dean. Even the machete.” 

“Shut up Sammy!” 

Castiel’s eyes are trained on the door. 

“She’s hiding something.” 

“Yeah, no shit Sherlock. What I want to know is how did her dad bang a witch.” 

“Really Dean, that’s your big question?” 

“It’s a pretty big one.” 

At this point they shouldn’t expect any different. 

Castiel is still standing a bit protectively at the door. 

“We shouldn’t let her wander off on her own.” 

“Relax, demons can’t touch her, honestly I’d feel sorry for any sad sap that tried anything.” Dean assures. 

“Still, she should not be alone.” 

Castiel’s words had Dean squinting. 

“What’s with you, you're acting like a guard dog.” 

Castiel shifted in place avoiding eye contact and slowly a smile began to form on Dean’s face. 

“No way, you like her don’t you Cas.” 

He didn’t respond, but they both saw the way his cheeks flushed at the insinuation. 

“If you want I can give you some tips lover boy.” Dean wiggled his eyebrows and Castiel disappeared. 

“Stop messing with him.” Sam scolds. 

“Come on, it’s cute, he’s got a crush.” 

Sam had a feeling Dean was only getting started. 

[dontremembermejust]

Wynonna Earp Vengeance. Spoilers ahead.

Oh man. Firstly, I wanna applaud to the writers, cast, and crew for making this film for the fans. This is a special fandom that works hard for their fans and sees their fans. I appreciate Emily Andras and everyone’s efforts in Wynonna Earp overall.

Things I loved:

- the amount of Nedley. I love Nedley.

- the first scene with Doc and Wynonna fighting criminals and doing it

- Wayhaught love!

- Nedley and Mercedes’ friendship

And for the negatives.

I don’t know what it is, but this did not feel like a movie. It’s more of an extended episode. But something feels off.

- Firstly, I hated that they killed Mercedes off as a plot device.

- Secondly, I felt that Doc’s death was more for the drama and that it wasn’t earned. Yes, they’ve mentioned that he’s old a bunch of times but he deserved to live a boring stable domestic family life. He deserved to have a little home with Wynonna and Alice.

- There is a lack of Jeremy! (Also I think that Black Badge dude whatever his name was, was unnecessary. Like his purpose narratively was to kill Doc Holiday??)

- what happened to Rachel???

- they bring up Wayhaught thinking about kids then it’s not brought up again?

- the device that entraps Mina felt convenient and predictable that it was gonna be used . They’ve had it all the time. It would be cool if part of the plot was trying to find the device to trap Mina.

- I think the story could be more focused and condensed. I think there’s a lot of going back to things that Wynonna and the others has already healed and moved on from. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with expanding backstory, but the villain wasn’t as strong as previous ones that we had before. I think it could’ve been executed better if it held on to its theme - which was unclear to me.

These are just some thoughts. Dont fight me on it. I appreciate everything the Wynonna Earp writers, Cast, and Crew put into this. This film is what it’s meant to be. And it’s rare to have something as special as this to be shared to the world.

But in my mind, Mercedes is alive and thriving while Wynonna and Doc are happily raising their daughter.

Ya know what would be a cool alternate epilogue? Wynonna and Doc meeting their daughter for the first time.

Or an alternate story:

Wynonna and Doc who have been raising their kid for about a year, they’re struggling as parents - somewhere outside of Purgatory. Then meanwhile Waverly is working with Jermey and the new BBD when they discover a supernatural force reawakening in Purgatory. Cut to: Rachel and Nicole and Nedley and Mercedes discovering that supernatural force - which will somehow connect to threatening Wynnona’s domestic life (tho she misses the craziness).

Subplots would include Nicole and Waverly working on their long distance marriage, Nedley trying to enjoy retirement, Jeremy being a boss, maybe a little honourable mention of Dolls, and Wynonna coming to terms of this new domestic life while missing the craziness.

What if that supernatural force leaves Purgatory?

It’s clear that Wynonna wants to protect her daughter by ending that cycle of Earp Heirs. So she brings out old Peacemaker one last time for good and she destroys the supernatural pull in Purgatory. To which it ends with Doc and Wynonna bringing their daughter to the Homestead for the first time because it’s finally safe.

While Wynonna will always have that crazy chick with a gun side of her, she learns to love having this peace without the gun. Without the demons. Just her and her family.

It would still have the craziness, the comedy, the supernatural thrills, and most importantly, the heart in this story.

I mean - can you imagine Wynonna Earp with a 5 year old?

(From a production standpoint, I do understand the lack of Alice - it’s takes longer to complete filming with kids because they can only work for a few hours a day, can be in front of the camera for 30 minutes with a 45 minute break. also there’s a lot of stunt work - there’s generally a lot to work around for safety and production reasons but it’s possible with their production value)

… ya know I might make a fanfiction or a fan script.

[valkyrieandstrangeridingaragorn]

This got longer than I expected I'm so sorry

The reason why mcu is not the same as comics is not usually because they are trying to be creative

One of the reasons is money (shocking I know) for example civil war In movies was just a fight between 12 people while in the comics there were more characters involved which made the fights much more crazy. In movies they took both hulk and thor out of the way. They didn't even wanted to cast rdj because he was an "expensive actor"

marvel comics were a thing since 40s Mcu has only been around since 2008. I'm gonna go with civil war as example again. The surprising part of that story in comics involved Peter. He always been so careful with his secret identity but when he takes Tony's side he reveals it in front of cameras and the consequences was that aunt may almost dies. In mcu civil war we've JUST met Peter so instead they held that storyline and used it when it was more convenient for them (in nwh). another example is Tony's origin story changing from Vietnam war

Third one is the lack of some characters in mcu. wandavision for example was based of house of M comics But the mutants are a big part of that story so they had to change a lot of things in that show to make it work in mcu

Another thing is that mcu doesn't have or had the right to some of the characters so like when they couldn't make a planet hulk movie they took that storyline and put it in thor ragnorak. two birds one stone

I'm gonna give mcu some credits tho because some of these changes were so smart and some times made the movie much more better than it comics version like what they did with thanos motives in infinity war

but still anthony mackie is really not wrong. In fact when he says "marvel is such a space of controlled entertainment" he is so fucking correct

The first ever mcu movie didn't had a full script but in no universe I can imagine marvel doing that ever again

They don't give actors and directors that much freedom. they seem to just make this movie for this next big movie.

Marvel being all connected was one of the reasons I liked it so much but know it seems to become a problem

I feel ya. It's only normal that they need to alter certain stories and characters, but this insane scrutiny is so over the top. Hell, I still remember The Marvels' director saying her movie turned out to be more Feige's than hers.

I'd argue in the past, that "connected universe" only enriched the stories. But that's because they left that "connection" to the post-credits or maybe a scene or two, it was never part of the story. They don't do that anymore. Now that connection IS the movie and they want us to get attached to characters we don't know just because we are told (not shown) that they're better than the old ones (why does it have to be a competition?).

I miss stories like when Stephen defeats Dormammu by losing and losing and losing until he annoys the hell out of him. I miss scenes like the ones we have in TDW (the Asgard ones) that are so heavy on the characterization that they give up on shiny battles, choosing to have characters just talk to each other instead. I miss honest talks like Steve's or Clint's to Wanda in AoU or the vulnerability of Quill...

They can't translate comic books to the screen, I get that. It's like movies based on regular books, you know you're not gonna get a page-by-page recreation, but it doesn't matter as long as the story is interesting, as long as it says something. Mackie says it pretty well, they're overly controlled by the execs and those are mostly business men who only see numbers and money but have no clue about art.

[chaifootsteps]

It'll eventually come to that. Someone will ask why the new cast sounds like the old one.

Then either Viv or her stans will be like "UH welL AcTuaLlY it's HER characters and those are OBVIOUSLY the Canon voices duhhhh she knows her own characters better than anyone else 😒😒"

Okay, then why does Husk sound completely different? You can't sit there and tell me that's not just not Keith David's voice (I love Keith don't get me wrong) but OG Husk has a VERY gruff and grumpy voice.

And even the other actors only sound like they're soullessley imitating the OG cast. I'm a voice actor. Alastor does NOT sound threatening. His voice is too light and young sounding. I can immediately tell that they're either trying their best or phoning it in. But it doesn't work either way. The only person I'm fine with is Stephanie because fuck Monica.

Also, why did Viv keep most of her OG cast for HB? Hmmm. Maybe it's because it's indie.... and not.... studio....

(Also as a VA I can tell you those VAs definitely got paid more than Viv is saying, just saying--)

I'm very curious as to what Sir Pen will sound like with Alex Brightman. Also, Luci's voice still sucks. 💀

And when when you point out the Husk contradiction, they'll immediately block you. It's a given, like the sun rising in the east.

I'm curious/dreading Alex as Sir Pen too. Stamper might be the only member of the cast Viv was completely justified in not bringing back, but I'm still gonna miss him like crazy.

[fivenightsatfreddysfanfiction]

Random Snippets

Just lil things that popped up in my head that don't go anywhere or are connected to anything, so just have them.

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

“If you finish that sentence,” Gregory said aloud in the flattest tone Oswald had ever heard, “I’m going to beat you so bad, they’re gonna name a bill after you, and anyone who reads why it was made will say you had it coming and vote against it.”

Dylan closed his mouth. Oswald felt his face burn. Cassie just grinned at him and nudged him with her elbow, waggling her eyebrows. Sometimes he wondered about his choice of friends.

.

===

.

When Gregory missed a day of school, there was some concern shared between Cassie and Oswald over what might have happened. When one day became two, became three, the concern became full blown worry. Text messages went unanswered, his mom didn’t show up in person with any explanation, just phoning in and their home room teacher passed on the message of simply ‘Gregory isn’t feeling well’ and then everyone moved on.

Some kids had concerns for him, but Cassie wondered if they cared for Gregory as himself or because of his last name of Afton. She didn’t see anyone else check on him when he was having his headache bouts or bring him medicine or comfort.

On the fourth day, Gregory finally returned to school, a quiet shadow of his usual self, a cast on his right arm and note explaining he’d fallen out of a tree in his backyard. Cassie didn’t buy it for one second, glancing towards Oswald who only pressed a hand to his own left arm, right where the scars of an animatronic bite still lingered.

Something bad had happened, that’s for sure.

.

===

.

“What the heck, Gregory? I thought you were good with arcade games!” Cassie remarked in surprise, her hands on her hips as she watched the boy sit on top of an arcade cabinet, his legs dangling over the side of the machine.

“Yeah, good at playing them and hackin’ ‘em, not the actual guts of the thing!” Gregory protested, kicking his feet idly, “Vanessa bought these cuz they were on discount in those catalogs she borrowed from Miss Corbett, but they’re old and when they break down we’re stuck without a game until we can get a repair guy out to fix it.”

Oswald popped out from behind the machine, his usual jacket tied around his waist and a circuit board in one hand. Cassie blinked at him, finally realizing the sounds of tinkering coming from the arcade cabinet was from the boy working on it himself. “Is that why you got excited when I said I learned how to fix stuff from watching my dad do general maintenance for side cash?” he demanded with a winded huff. He shook the board up at Gregory as Gregory just looked down at him with a raised eyebrow and crooked grin.

“You’re getting paid, ain’t ya?” he countered. Oswald squinted at him, then sighed and rolled his eyes, setting the board on the arcade machine’s console..

“It got burnt out from a dust build up. I replaced it with a spare I pulled from a machine at that old Freddy’s but you really gotta work on cleaning these more often,” he told the other boy and went back to tinkering inside the cabinet. “You’re lucky I like you enough to do this!” Oswald added as an afterthought, oblivious to Gregory smiling gleefully at his words.

“You’re crazy if you even think about asking me for help there,” Cassie declared when she spotted him turning towards her with a hopeful look. “My dad was a Fazbear technician, not a janitor. Cleaning is your duty.”

.

===

.

Oswald paused in sipping his soda, mouth still on the straw as he narrowed his gaze at Gregory in disbelief. Beside him, Cassie was doing the same, her head tilted as she looked at the scene before them in Radical Eats, incredulous expression on her face. Gregory just dipped his fries in ketchup and ate them without a care in the world.

“You’re gonna have to explain all this one more time, ‘cause I don’t think I heard you right the first time,” Cassie finally said, gesturing at the mostly empty dining area that was Radical Eats before the lunchtime opening.

“It’s just my family, what’s the big deal?” Gregory replied with a pout, but pointed again anyway, “That’s Vanessa, she’s kind of my mom but we don’t really know for sure cuz we both have amnesia and the records that say she’s my mom were written up by a crazy old lady in a rabbit suit.”

“Rrrrright,” Oswald muttered in that tone that sounded like he was still sure he was being pranked somehow.

“That’s Sydney Herrera, Vanessa’s Not-Boyfriend. She’ll tell you they’re just best friends but she keeps asking him to marry her so she can get bonus financial aid and loans and he keeps saying no,” Gregory went on, pointing to the tall quiet guy dressed as a security guard leaning against a column, “But then he’ll go and do mercenary jobs for a few days to get a bunch of money for her. Last time he did one, he brought me back this chunk of green rock from Guatemala.”

“The one you wanted to bring to show and tell day and he told you if you did that, he’d be arrested for illegal smuggling of gemstones?” Cassie asked him and Gregory sighed in exasperation.

“It’s just a rock, he’s being too paranoid,” he complained, “I put it in my desk drawer anyway.” He pointed to the other guy on his laptop at a dining table. “That’s Sydney’s little brother, Alex. He works as the dayshift guard at Circus Baby’s Pizza and Parties and teaches me stuff about hacking and how to defend against attacks online.” He grinned gleefully, “He’s also a virtual streamer who livestreams games but if I tell you his identity he’ll probably murder me in my sleep. He says the streams help him not be annoyed he’s not a hacker mercenary anymore but he still gets pissed off when Sydney runs away to do jobs.”

“I didn’t think he’d be a virtual streamer type, but I guess it makes sense with how much he likes technology,” Cassie mused aloud. Gregory nodded and then pointed at the kitchen window, where the figure within waved at him with perked up ears.

“And that’s Glamrock Freddy Fazbear,” he said happily, “I stole him from the Pizzaplex and now he’s my sort-of dad figure. He makes most of the pizza for Radical Eats and sometimes he performs but he can be too loud which is why his backup job is being a cook with Sydney and Vanessa.”

“Your family is very.. not conventional,” Oswald said carefully, looking between Freddy and his own plate of pizza. “I’m eating food made by your animatronic dad,” he muttered with a blush, “I feel like that should freak me out more.”

“I feel like we should go back to the Pizzaplex and get Roxy for me,” Cassie said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully, “Can we borrow a truck and a couple of crowbars?”

“Oh I see! She can say ‘let’s borrow stuff’ and nobody says anything!” Oswald exclaimed, throwing up his hands in mock outrage as Gregory laughed, “But me? It’s all ‘nooo, Oz, you can’t borrow something you can only use once!’ Totally unfair.”

[kazumahashimoto]

okay first i need to start by saying x has EASILY showcased that beyblade is not contingent on a large reoccuring cast. they just need to be interesting characters. i'm already and Have Been so insanely invested in all three of the main characters since day ONE and that has only increased with time. i won't dog on the later seasons of burst Too hard here since they didn't get as many episodes to flesh out the characters but my GOD what a difference getting to have filler episodes makes. s5 is my favorite season of burst post s2 and i literally could not tell you hikaru and hyuga's three friends' names. but x having a smaller cast has only helped them because they've actually chosen to give them all personalities and goals!!!!!!!!! i absolutely absolutely adore the emphasis this series has put on. NOT BEING THE BEST 😭😭 it is SUCH a fun take. i'm just incoherently babbling i can't find anything deeper to say about that rn. i just love it.

and god they never miss on the filler episodes i tell you what. episode is titled "memories of sushi" and i see the thumbnail of multi and robin fighting for their lives and i'm like ahhhh a jaxon episode he's gonna make sushi ^_^ AND BOY HE SURE DOES! and sidenote the comedy here is so fucking good. like i can't fucking stand them. but then all of a sudden as jaxon is want to do it gets momentarily very serious. jesus christ i was NOT expecting jaxon gay arc when this started but then they hit us with the jaxon giving khrome his dragon hair piece and the

AND THE "maybe it only tastes so good because i'm with you" LIKE HHYUYGGHG?!?! I'M SORRY!??!?!?!? jaxon's shit with food is seriously going to fucking kill me man holy shit when jaxon comes back from his flashback (after looking at the sushi robin made For Him) and he eats it and we don't get to see his eyes. GAY LOVE TRIANGLE?!?!?! IN MY BEYBLADE!??!?!?!?!? i'm losing my mind. it's so crazy. khrome is like "man you sure do love blading and sushi it's all you ever talk about" and jaxon is like "yup it's all i need 👍" and khrome is like "it's all you need huh o_e 💔....." not seeing jaxon's gestures of literally Feeding Him His Sushi and giving him the HAIR PIECE HE STILL WEARS TO THIS DAY LIKE DAMN!!!!!!!!!!! AND JAXON FED ROBIN SUSHI FROM HIS FUCKING HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS NOT!!!!! EXPECTING IT TO BE SO BOLD LIKE THAT!!!!!!!!!!! i'm just so hapoy. characters so good. CHARACTERS SO INTERESTING....... CHARACTERS WITH DEPTH!!!!!!!! AND BACKSTORIES!!!!!!!! CHARACTERS THAT HAVE LIVES!!!!!!!!!!! it feels good. AND THEN THEY DROP THE BOMB THAT JAXON'S OLD TEAMMATE NOT KHROME KNOWS HE'S BLADER X!??!?!? I WAS JUST THINKING "THIS DUDE IS NOT THAT HARD TO CLOCK" AND BOOM!!!!!!! THEY GOT HIM!!!!!!!!!!! i'm so obsessed. thank you beyblade. thank you beyblade i owe you everything oTL

[seasurfacefullofclouds1]

(apologies in advance for how long this is!!!)

https://x.com/bonyamericangrl/status/1869330788858364399?s=46&t=3v6fUO8HxEhcPbcR8Jxopg

https://x.com/icarusinsilk/status/1868764833031852387?s=46&t=3v6fUO8HxEhcPbcR8Jxopg

i thought the mainstream Harry slander would mostly dissipate with his absence from the public eye (not a total disappearance like Taylor Swift around 2016 - but still a move seemingly in response to over exposure & back to back negative reception from the gp like ongoing discussions about queerbaiting, the criticism in regards to his acting, and the increasing occurrence of his tone-deaf/ignorant comments like the grammys speech etc.), but i am not so secretly pleased to have been wrong. lmao.

i think everyone is beginning to more closely examine the people that celebrities choose to surround themselves with - post diddy, weinstein, r kelly etc. i’ve seen a few instances of people saying “show me who your friends are and i will tell you who you are” in regard to H’s friendships (or business partnerships - either way) with people like Corden or Lou Taylor or the Kardashians or the Azoffs… but i’m glad that there has been some criticism (not scathing by any means and as careful as any criticism leveled at Taylor Swift out of fear of fan backlash) reserved solely for the man himself.

it’s hard to not see him as a puppet most of the time, but at the end of the day i think it’s reductive to blanket any and all criticism of his behavior/actions/character with excuses that he’s somehow not in control of his image/life/career. the instances i linked are both fairly lighthearted and as innocuous as any other knock on his acting skills - but for no one other than his fans to miss his absence, for someone like Katya to publicly shit on his style choices (that are upheld by his fans as these infallible, gender bending, crazy radical choices) etc… all of this is still happening even without the over exposure!

like.. it is just crazy to me that his “break” has not made people miss him. even if it was just out of nostalgia for the music he’s put out or his image. i think it’s truly indicative of exactly how flimsy/transparent the public persona of Harry Styles™️ is. if you fail to maintain any modicum of authenticity and rely entirely on manufactured, artificial success and your team of rich old white men to funnel millions into putting you at the very top and ruthlessly eliminating your competition - what is there for people to miss? what kind of artistic legacy will you leave behind if you cannot rely on your own choices or originality? not even a little??

i have no idea what the Azoffs being in the middle of this DOJ lawsuit (from my understanding - federal prosecution like this cannot be pursued without concrete evidence of the charges stated. by law, of course, the defendant has the legal right to dispute the charges or try and lessen their sentencing… but i believe for a government agency to initiate a lawsuit against a company or conglomerate - it has to have substance.) means for their ability to continue funding Harry’s career, but i can only hope it means that i will be spared from constantly seeing him against my will for a little while longer. :)

Oh my god I remember both these events so well, and it’s shocking really how Harry has fallen in the acting world. ⬇️

-

I bet the studios releasing Little Mermaid and Nosferatu and Wicked are patting themselves on the back for a close call. When a relatively new actor pulls shit like Harry did for “Don’t Worry Darling,” drags the A list cast to the ground, shows the world that he’s unprofessional and Harry Styles comes before anyone else (Flo Pugh! Chris Pine!) even before he has established box office viability — it’s not gonna make him friends in Hollywood, no matter how many kisses he throws Stan Tucci or cases of Casamigo he sells. His fans blaming Olivia Wilde can’t gaslight movie producers, who have a long list of better actors in their 20’s and 30’s to cast. Harry got a gold ticket and he fucked it up.

My gut says that the DOJ case against Live Nation/ Ticketmaster will be dropped by the new administration. Trump is vindictive and has used the government to carry out his personal vendettas before, and the DOJ will be too busy to pursue an antitrust case. The DOJ will go after Trump’s personal enemies first. He’ll find a way to target Taylor Swift lol. The Azoffs, Ticketmaster etc., better pony up the donations.

Interesting tweets though! Thanks for the links.

[waitingandwishing]

Chapter 8: Burning Pile 🩸

Prev - Next Chapter

Steve brought the Quinjet to land beside a caterpillar truck (Probably Zemo's. How did he get it up to here?) on the remote icy mountaintop. The jet's wings fold up beside the fuselage.

On board, Bucky pulled out a rack of guns labeled 'Romanoff'. He took a light machine gun and handed Roan an AR-15-style rifle.

They stood together, waiting for the exit ramp to descend. "You remember that time we had to ride back from Rockaway Beach in the back of that freezer truck?" Steve asks both of them with a slight smile.

"Was that the time you guys used our train money to buy hot dogs?" Roan asked, recalling the fuzzy memory.

"You blew three bucks trying to win that stuffed bear for a redhead," Steve tells Bucky.

"What was her name again?"

"Dolores. You called her Doll. After that, Roan didn't talk to you for a week." Steve grinned at Roan, who rolled her eyes affectionately,

"She's gotta be a hundred years old right now."

"So are we." Roan pointed out as Steve clamped his hand on Bucky's shoulder.

Now wearing his helmet, Steve walks with Bucky up to the entrance set in rock. The door is still open. "He can't have been here more than a few hours." Roan analyzed.

"Long enough to wake them up," Bucky said.

Steve led them into the cast bunker. They traveled down into the depths inside a caged elevator. It stopped in the bowels of the bunker, and the doors slid open.

Steve nodded to Bucky and heaved up the cage door. Bucky readied his heavy-duty machine gun, Roan raised her gun slightly, and walked along a corridor, keeping close to a wall.

Bucky looked into an alcove full of junk then he and Steve moved on up some stairs. At the sound of a loud thud they spun around, aiming down the corridor. "You ready?"

"Yeah." Bucky nods.

"Born ready," Roan smirked.

Double doors part, forced open by Iron Man. Steve stares in surprise. Tony walks towards Steve and Bucky and retracts the suit's helmet. "You seem a little defensive."

They kept their guns up while Steve walked to meet Tony with his shield covering his body. "It's been a long day."

"At ease, Soldier. I'm not currently after you."

"Then why are you here?" Steve said, ignoring my question.

"Are you after us?" Roan asked.

"Could be your story's not so crazy. Maybe. Ross has no idea I'm here. I'd like to keep it that way. Otherwise, I gotta arrest myself." Stark said. Roan scrutinized the man in suspicion.

"Well, that sounds like a lot of paperwork," He lowers his shield, "It's good to see you, Tony."

"You too, Cap," He said and looked up to Roan and Bucky, "Hey, Manchurian Candidate, Miss Super Soldier. You're killing me. There's a truce here. You can drop…"

Steve signed Bucky to lower his weapon and he did. Roan kept hers up until Bucky flicked the gun. She grumbled something along the lines of ‘He’s gonna try to kill us’ before strapping the gun around herself.

They cautiously walked along a corridor. With his helmet and face plate reengaged Stark led them towards the enormous chamber with the capsules standing in it. "I got heat signatures." He told the three.

"How many?" Roan asked.

"Uh, one."

As they entered the vast chamber, the lights came on. A hazy, yellow mist descends within the capsules. Each one contains an enhanced soldier from the 1991 experiment. Steve and the others look around, bewildered, while Roan’s eyes search for one person in particular.

"If it's any comfort, they died in their sleep," All of the enhanced soldiers have been shot in the head. Bucky stares at Josef's corpse, "Did you really think I wanted more of you?"

"What the hell?" Roan muttered.

"I'm grateful to them, though. They brought you here," Zemo appeared in a control room. Steve hurled his shield but it flew back, "Please, Captain. The Soviets built this chamber to withstand the launch blast of UR-100 rockets."

"I'm betting I could beat that," Stark said cockily.

"Oh, I'm sure you could, Mr. Stark. Given time. But then you'd never know why you came."

"You killed innocent people in Vienna just to bring us here?" Steve looks at Zemo through a window.

"I thought about nothing else for over a year. I studied you. I followed you. But now that you're standing here, I just realized… There's a bit of green in the blue of your eyes. How nice to find a flaw."

"You're Sokovian. Is that what this is about?"

"Sokovia was a failed state long before you blew it to hell. No. I'm here because I made a promise."

"You lost someone?" Steve asks as he studies Zemo.

He looks grave and clicks his tongue. "I lost everyone. And so will you," He said and played surveillance footage from December 16th, 1991. Steve stepped over to the screen, "An empire toppled by its enemies can rise again. But one which crumples from within? That's dead… Forever."

Stark looked at the freeze frame of a secluded road and the date, December 16, 1991. His eyes rove, anxiously. "I know that road. What is this?" He asks.

The video played. That car that the Winter Soldier forced off the road crashes into a tree. Tony watched intently as the Winter Soldier rode up and got off his motorbike. 

Steve watched Tony's increasing unease. The driver lay on the ground beside the car. It's Tony's father, Howard. "Help my wife. Please. Help." Howard pleaded.

The Winter Soldier walked over and hoisted him up by his hair. He stared at Howard's bloody face. Howard stared back. "Sergeant Barnes?"

"Howard!" Maria yelled.

Tony glared at Bucky. In the video, the Winter Soldier pounded Howard hard in the face with his metal fist. "Howard!"

In grief, Roan watched as Tony closed his eyes for a moment. On-screen, his father slumped dead. The Winter Soldier put him in the driver's seat with his face against the steering wheel.

Tony stared in horror. Maria's in the passenger seat with blood streaked down her face. The Winter Soldier walked around and gripped her throat. Expressionless, he strangled the woman.

Tony watched the screen, stunned. The Winter Soldier walked up and aimed a gun at the surveillance camera. Tony lunged towards Bucky but Roan stopped and shoved him off.

"Tony. Tony." Steve said.

"Don't you fucking dare." Roan gritted her teeth.

Consumed with grief and tears glistening in his eyes, Tony turned and looked at Steve. "Did you know?"

"I didn't know it was him."

"Don't bullshit me, Rogers! Did you know?"

"Yes."

Tony stepped back, his chin jutting upwards twitchy. Tony reengaged the Iron Man helmet. He punched Steve to the floor and deflected gunfire from Bucky, disarming him.

He grabbed Bucky and flew across the chamber. He slammed him onto the floor, then jumped on his arms. Steve's shield hits Iron Man, distracting him.

Roan barged him backward, Iron Man shoulders her to the floor and shackles her ankles. Bucky punched Iron Man, who just lifted him and slammed him against a machine.

Iron Man raises a fist but Bucky twists it. A rocket shoots out of Iron Man's arm, and a fireball explodes. Steve sliced Roan’s shackles as a towering structure of pipework collapsed.

Tony and Bucky are thrown down a level as twisted metal falls around them, showering sparks. "Get out of here!" Steve yells at Roan and Bucky.

As they bolted, Iron Man fired but missed. Steve landed in front of him. Bucky hit a control panel and the silo-styled door overhead started to open.

"It wasn't him, Tony. Hydra had control of his mind!"

"Move!"

"It wasn't him!"

Roan spotted Zemo leave and quickly went after him, gun in hand as she gripped it tightly.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Zemo is outside, listening to a phone message. Roan slowed her pace after him and hid against the snow. "You should've seen his little face. Just try, okay? I'm going to bed. I love you."

"I almost killed the wrong man." T'Challa walked out of nowhere.

"Hardly an innocent one."

"This is all you wanted? To see them rip each other apart."

"My father lived outside the city. I thought we would be safe there. My son was excited. He could see Iron Man from the car window. I told my wife, "Don't worry. They are fighting in the city. We're miles from harm." When the dust cleared… And the screaming stopped. It took me two days until I found their bodies. My father… Still holding my wife and son in his arms."

'Pain and suffering has gotten us nowhere. The fighting, the pain, the...the sadness. What was it all for?' Roan thought, her grip loosening on the gun in her arms.

"And the Avengers? They went home. I knew I couldn't kill them. More powerful men than me have tried. But, if I could get them to kill each other… I'm sorry about your father. He seemed like a good man. With a dutiful son." He apologized.

"Vengeance has consumed you. It's consuming them." He blinks ruefully and retracts the claws in his gloves, "I am done letting it consume me. Justice will come soon enough."

Zemo smiled thinly. "Tell that to the dead." He tries to shoot himself but T'Challa grabs him just as he fires.

"The living is not done with you yet." He says as his claws sink deep into him, he lays him down in the snow. There's silence before T'Challa speaks again. "I know you are there." He says. 

Roan let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and stood beside him. "I'm sorry for your loss, you haven't deserved such a horrible thing to have happened to you. You're a very honorable prince.” She said quietly.

"I am now an honorable king," He smiles sadly, "You are an honorable person as well. You protected your friend and decided to save the world when it went against you, something that isn't easily done."

"Yes. What will happen to him is what I think. After the chaos, after the fighting, what will happen to Earth's Mightiest Heroes?" Roan asked herself quietly.

"Justice will come and… What is the word again? Oh yes. Karma is a dish best served cold." He smiles.

"Pain and mistakes are what got us to this moment. I think the one thing everyone can agree on is that we don't want that to happen anymore." Roan whispered.

[artekai]

10 Fandoms, 10 Characters, 10 Tags

Hi hi, I was tagged for this tag game by @robo-dino-puppy ages ago!! Like... literal months ago now. I'm so sorry, I didn't realize how long it had been, I hope you don't mind me getting to it now if it's not too awkward! I really do appreciate the tag a lot, thank you!!! :D I still wanted to do this for fun even if I'm terribly late 💔

(I'm not gonna try to make this a list of my favorite characters because I'm so bad at making decisions lol but instead here's some characters I wanna give some much needed appreciation to!)

1) Kuon Ichinose (Persona 5 Strikers)

Of course there's another P5 character deserving of this spot, but I chose Ichinose because she's been on my mind again and she's so underappreciated! She's perfect and I won't hear any criticism towards her ❤️ I played P5S for her. Don't get me wrong, I was very happy to see the PTs again and it was fun to meet the Monarchs. But mostly. I knew I was gonna like her. All my friends knew I was gonna like her. No one was surprised. I'm getting dragged off stage before I can keep rambling on-

2) Sylens (Horizon Zero Dawn/Forbidden West)

My favorite old man... He is just so funny. And interesting! I want to know his backstory, where he came from, why he is the way he is. He did all of that, but did you not have fun? Did you not learn about the power of friendship? Exactly, relax. He's good at comments and quips. Ladies love comments and quips, and they go nuts for asides. And since I made a CXGF reference, on that note-

3) Valencia Pérez (Crazy Ex Girlfriend)

One of my favorite characters even in a cast full of amazing, memorable characters that rarely misses! I'm obsessed with her homoerotic rivals-to-friends arc with Rebecca btw. I still think they should have kissed. Uhhh I mean, they did kiss, that was a significant thing that happened, I just think they should've kissed again in a different context. I have opinions on that and on Valencia's (and pretty much everyone else's) season 4 arc but I'll spare you for now ❤️

4) Amity Blight (The Owl House)

I know, I know, not to say what everyone else and their mothers have already said about it but this is the kinda show that makes me wish I had had it while I was growing up. I like basically the entire main cast, but I chose Amity because I really can't tell you how much of an emotional rollercoaster her arc was for me. But I love her and of course her relationship with Luz absolutely killed me.

5) Toph Beifong (Avatar the Last Airbender)

When I came on here and said I had finally watched ATLA I was waitinggggg for someone to ask me who my favorite character was. But you know what they say, when you're an adult you don't stop having a favorite character but people do stop asking 😔💔 Not really that much to say, though! I just enjoy it when she's onscreen ^^

6) Lake (Infinity Train)

It's so hard to choose just one favorite from this show. I didn't even realize I had forgotten how much I loved everyone until I started rewatching it with Sol (especially Atticus, Amelia, Grace, and Lake though 💞). Anyways here's Lake "I am a person I'm not Tulip I'm not foil I'm not reflection I'm not a sliver I'm not a null I'm not any of the hundreds of names everyone wants to give me" they/them nonbinary icon

7) Miles Morales (Into and Across the Spiderverse)

What can I say that hasn't already been said before? ❤️ ITSV is one of my favorite movies (long overdue for a rewatch tbh) and Miles is just such an amazing character all around. I've said it before, but, even with all of the spider people in ATSV, he was still the highlight to me! He deserves the world, I'll kick Miguel's ass if necessary, idc.

8) Fabiola Torres (Never Have I Ever)

My daughter... I'm so sad that she suffers from the protagonist's best friend syndrome :( She's even wearing star pajamas in the gif, she's just like me fr! Except she's a genius! Her best friend is a robot! She's so cute and earnest ;-; I would watch a show all about her ❤️ Even if her arcs don't get as explored as I would like, I love her interactions with the other characters and I especially connected to her arc about feeling alienated from the queer community.

9) Constance Blackwood (Ride the Cyclone)

Also my daughter ❤️ The highlight of RTC to me, without a doubt!! Her monologue really hit me right in the heart... She's just like me fr fr! She deserves so much better. She's everything. And her toxic homoerotic friendship with Ocean is very real, it's happening right now somewhere near you.

10) Shahara Hasan (Bodies)

It's been a while since I watched this show so I'm not as desperate to talk about it anymore, but it really did make me so incredibly insane while I was watching it, trust me. Anyways, never have I been more sure that a character suffered more than Jesus and I don't say that lightly. Her trying her best to sympathize with Elias and nearly getting through to him broke my heart... Tragedy enjoyers when some horrible fucked up guy absolutely shatters the one person who reached out to save him, ig.

Tagging: I'm not gonna make it to ten tags lol. I'm tagging @meep-m33p, @soliscital, @woolmasterleel, and @inkpens-coffee, but absolutely no pressure to do it of course!! Also, to anyone else who wants to do this, feel free to tag me as your tagger!!