#Their director is the god of Orgies

[bugwolfsstuff]

The seven are a polycule

No the (Main Olympian) head counsellors* are a polycule. Have you considered that?

*For cabins like 1, 9 and 10 i'm referring to pre-lost trio, so Drew, Nyssa, Jake and Thalia if you pretend she's not a hunter anymore

[tylercircuit]

The Curtain Call: performance and ‘reality’ on the Renaissance English stage and in the cinematic works of David Lynch

Attached is a link to my most recent blog post on the works of David Lynch, including Twin Peaks.

The Curtain Call: performance and ‘reality’ on the Renaissance English stage and in the cinematic works of David Lynch

The News Circuit

The Elizabethan (1558-1603) English theatre had a tradition called a 'jig' or an 'aftergame' in which, after the performance of a full-length play of any genre (but especially tragedy), a clown would perform. It's not considered an epilogue in that these plays usually don't contain any of the characters from the play spectators came to see, it's its own comic drama, like a palate cleanser. Some playwrights like Ben Jonson referenced these comic dramas in a metanarrative way.

Jonson's Volpone features a performing group of 'freaks' including a dwarf named Nano, who is asked (not seriously) to perform a jig for the protagonist. This reminds me of the Arm's jig in the Black Lodge and the metanarrative nature of the setting, the fact he's surrounded by red curtains and observed by a spectator (Coop).

This article is about stage performance and its parallels with reality, about Bakhtin and the carnivalesque, and the relationship between those concepts and the works of David Lynch.

Here's an excerpt:

Like Shakespeare’s Tempest, the works of David Lynch seem, whether through the actions or dialogue or the setting in which they take place or both, to be conscious of their performative nature. As a writer-director he appears interested in the concept of performance-within-performance, a metanarrative indication that the film is aware of its own performance, its fiction. Performance and spectatorship are principal to Lynch. In Twin Peaks, the Black Lodge is shrouded by tall red drapes identical to stage curtains. The only respite for Eraserhead’s protagonist is observing or being on stage with the Lady in the Radiator. Frank Booth’s victim in Blue Velvet is a professional singer at a nightclub; it’s her fame and stage presence which leads to her trouble with Frank in the first place. Mulholland Drive and Inland Empire, to different ends, are commentaries on the Hollywood filmmaking industry, and heavily feature scenes of sets and performance. Laura Palmer’s perfect schoolgirl life is performative. She performs to convince her family and friends she does not take drugs; she does not lead a second life in which she has fetishistic orgies with grown adults and know of a ring of groomed and trafficked teenage girls in and around Eastern Washington.

[...]

The world of Twin Peaks is upside-down, a mirror world. In it, Lynch and Frost have created an inverse world typical of the early modern era of English theatre. Shakespeare and his contemporaries created satirical worlds in their comedies in which their contemporary Elizabethan/Jacobean value system is reversed or altered. Social order is deconstructed by the early modern satirist and reorganised, offering spectators a mirror reality. In a Mark Fisher-esque, capitalist realist way, this type of spectatorship is purgative. It gives spectators a chance to revel in activities considered immoral and live vicariously through characters who might, for example, fool other characters that they are the opposite sex by dressing as such, or flirt with characters of the same sex, or decry God and Christianity, or party too hard and sin too much. It’s a Bacchanalian tradition, evocative of the Roman festival Saturnalia in which, for a single day, slaves pretended to be masters and masters slaves. It’s a catharsis and, almost paradoxically, reinforces ‘the rules’. In abandoning the rules on stage or in carnival, revellers can return to the real world cleansed of their antisocial desires, like Fisher suggests returning to the real world after observing a performance of revolution satisfies the urge to revolt. Bakhtin calls the literary equivalent of this, your Shakespeares and your Lynches, the carnival mode.

[...]

Bakhtin’s carnival symbolises the dismantling of structure and control. Normative order is replaced by strange and arguably immoral phenomena, contrary to the moral foundations of real contemporary society. Performance in Lynch’s work is symbolic of the abandonment of social order. Laura Palmer’s homecoming queen performance is offset by her other performance, the drug-abusing femme fatale type – in reality, she is neither.

Laura rejects order. She rejects the moral value system imposed on her. For Laura, so long as she is in control, even (or especially) if the act she is in control of is self-destructive, she is comfortable. Performance is her strength. Manipulation of both sides is her strength. She can manipulate her mother and her teachers and the pretty boys at school, and she can manipulate Jacques and Leo and the statutory rapists and child sex traffickers and paedophile truck drivers, and she can exercise some form of control over Bob.

Performance in the Black Lodge is the visual representation that this spiritual world exists outside of the rules of reality, it is through the looking glass, forget what you thought you knew.

[...]

For Lynch, all realities are performative, all performance is reality. What is real and what is performed roll into one. Social order is rejected and no one thing is truth: there are multiple truths, multiple realities, multiple potential reorganisations of the dismantled concept of contemporary social order.

[justforbooks]

In 1962, Federico Fellini placed advertisements in Italian newspapers seeking a woman to play the lead character’s mistress in his next film, which would eventually be titled 8½ and released the following year. The successful candidate, he wrote, should be “somewhat old-fashioned … with a pink-and-white complexion and a small pea-hen’s head on a Rubens body, very soft, flowery, maternal and opulent”.

The director auditioned as many as 5,000 applicants. “An interminable procession of ladies who had deserted their worried husbands and children came forward,” reported the writer Angelo Solmi in 1967. It was rumoured that the whole endeavour was merely a publicity stunt and that all along the role had been earmarked for Sandra Milo.

Milo, who has died aged 90, was a vivacious presence marketed as “the Italian Judy Holliday”. She and Fellini had met on a summer evening in the coastal town of Fregene; she happened to be passing a cafe where he was seated with his screenwriter, Ennio Flaiano, who knew Milo and called her over to introduce them.

Fellini was determined to coax Milo out of her unofficial retirement for the role in 8½ of Carla, mistress of the film-maker Guido (Marcello Mastroianni), who installs her in a nearby hotel while he is preparing his science-fiction epic.

When Fellini offered her the part, she reminded him she had quit the business, following savage reviews for her performance as an aristocrat’s daughter in Vanina Vanini (1961).

However the next morning, she was woken at home by the arrival of the director, his cinematographer and assorted technicians and make-up assistants, who had come to shoot a screen test. “They took me and put that famous little hat on my head,” she said, alluding to Carla’s fluffy white ushanka.

She was dressed in a black redingote festooned with violets; all at once, the lights were on her. “My God, what a thrill,” she recalled. “I felt like that was my world, and those were my people. I felt like I was flying.”

She signed the contract, agreeing to gain weight for the role. Shortly afterwards, she fell pregnant, though Fellini kept her chained to the trough all the same. “Every time Federico sees me off the set he tells me to go eat something,” she complained at the time. “I feel like a Strasbourg goose.”

When she finally emerged on set in costume at Cinecittà, Fellini and Mastroianni told her: “Welcome back. You’re home.”

To the ravishing dreamscape of 8½, which won two Oscars and is widely considered Fellini’s masterpiece, she brought an earthy vitality and rambunctiousness, as well as her unassailable beauty.

Fellini cast her again in his first colour film, Juliet of the Spirits (1965), this time in a tripartite role opposite his wife, Giulietta Masina, as the dissatisfied title character. Milo played Suzy, a hedonistic neighbour who hosts orgies, wears feather boas and plunging necklines, and cavorts in a treetop house where a slide connects her bed directly to a swimming pool. Milo is also seen as Iris, a spirit, and Fanny, a circus ingenue.

He sought to cast her a third time in the autobiographical Amarcord (1973), and even shot a screen test with her. But her husband, increasingly jealous of Fellini, forbade her from accepting. Milo’s declinature, the director said, left him with “an air of melancholy”. He told her: “I have something of a feeling we won’t see each other any more.”

In 1982, she published Caro Federico, a thinly veiled account of her time as the director’s lover. Fellini’s biographer John Baxter described it as “largely imagined”, and even Milo admitted eventually that it had been mostly a work of fiction. Fellini claimed never to have read the book. “I don’t even want to smell it,” he said.

Milo was born in Tunis, and moved with her family to Tuscany during her early childhood. At the age of 15, she wed Cesare Rodighiero, but the marriage was annulled after 21 days. She found early work as a model in Milan and began acting after moving to Rome, making her film debut in the comedy The Bachelor (1955).

Roberto Rossellini helped launch her career with General della Rovere (1959), which starred Vittorio de Sica as a Genoese con-man recruited by the Nazis, but Vanina Vanini was a notorious flop.

Fellini films apart, she gave her finest performance in Claude Sautet’s Classes Tous Risques (1960), in which she played an actor who becomes caught up with a gangster on the run. The film got lost in the shuffle at the time of its release, its elegant classicism upstaged by the more radical and irreverent Breathless, which had opened shortly before, though Sautet’s picture is recognised now as an exemplary policier.

Milo gave up acting for a second time in the early 1970s. Despite returning to the screen at the end of that decade, she was known latterly more for her appearances in gossip columns and on television as a presenter, talkshow guest or reality-show participant.

Reflecting on her time as Fellini’s muse, she confessed it had not always been easy. “Sometimes he’d make me feel indispensable, marvellous, as if I were the only woman he’d ever loved. And then he’d treat me like a nothing, a nobody.” She maintained that she loved him “truly, madly, deeply, stupidly”.

She is survived by three children: Debora, from her relationship with Moris Ergas, who produced films of hers including Generale della Rovere and La Visita (1963); Ciro and Azzurra, from her marriage to Ottavio De Lollis; and by a grandson. She was also briefly married to Jorge Ordoñez in 1990. All her marriages ended in divorce.

🔔 Sandra Milo (Salvatrice Elena Greco), actor, born 11 March 1933; died 29 January 2024

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[anhed-nia]

BLOGTOBER 10/27/2024: SCARAB

I always say that an interestingly bad movie is far better than a conventionally good movie, and SCARAB is here to prove that I'm right! I'm sure there's a major backstory on this vision of total insanity, and if you know what it is, please tell me. The producer of such films as GHOST, STRANGE DAYS, NEAR DARK, and MOTEL HELL directed what imdb describes as a movie in which "A former Nazi seeking to gain new power attempts to resurrect an ancient Egyptian god." This description could not possibly prepare you for what it is actually like to watch SCARAB.

The best way for me to review this movie would actually be to just describe every single thing that happens in it, in order. I genuinely wish I had time to do that. But basically, Rip Torn is a mad scientist who gets possessed by the scarab god Khepera, and goes about the business of assassinating world leaders in order to thrust the Earth into a new Dark Age to avoid nuclear war. I think. Robert Ginty plays Murphy, a journalist who is so horny that the next big journalism summit features a whole speech about how journalists shouldn't create public sex scandals. Murphy becomes aware of Khepera's evil plan, and stalks the living shit out of Elena (Cristina Pascual) who is a powerful psychic nurse who turns out to be Khepera's daughter. She basically handles the whole situation without any really necessary contributions from Murphy.

I had such a negative reaction reaction to Robert Ginty that I felt sort of bad about it. I love when he gets chased around by the laughing assassin who causes things to explode by pointing at them, but the movie's attempt to make him like a super sexual Indiana Jones is very offensive. Putting him on a motorcycle, putting him in bed with a sexy lingerie lady, putting cool-guy headphones on him, all this stuff only underlines how deeply and fundamentally uncool he is. I was so repulsed by him that I started to feel guilty, like maybe I'm just being terribly shallow; I mean some of it is definitely physical, the man is waspy and bland and has the bone structure of a Punch & Judy puppet. But here are some excerpts from his imdb page that made me feel a little better about my response to him.

Born in New York, rugged, virile, hard-looking action star Robert Ginty initially sought a career in music, becoming involved in several rock bands from age 16 on. [Long list of rock stars he hung out with that one time] He directed a rap/hip-hop musical version of Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange" to fine reviews. Once flew as passenger on a "VIP Flight" in F/A-18 Hornet with the Blue Angels.

OK you corny motherfucker, give it a rest already. In any case the real point of this movie is Rip Torn overseeing crazed black magic orgies and doing some of the strangest dance moves you have ever seen in your whole life. SCARAB is the kind of movie that you watch all of with your jaw in your lap, just passively letting it wash over you, because you really never know what you're going to see next. This is a major virtue in my book. There's also an odd competence to it, which I guess is accounted for by director Steven-Charles Jaffe's producorial chops; it's nicely shot, and the variety of interesting Spanish locations means that there is always something to look at, even when the fire-breathing cultists aren't writhing around on screen...but that very competence throws the extreme zaniness of the movie into even starker relief. SCARAB is an extraordinarily confusing movie, and in the era of used up, wrung out IPs and assembly line slop from streaming services, it's just the kind of movie we need.

[thislovintime]

Peter Tork and James Lee Stanley performing “MGB-GT” in 1997.

Song spotlight: “MGB-GT”

“Did I tell you, while I was in London I bought a red MGB-GT sports car, with a black interior. I had no real intention of buying one. I was actually looking at them because Marilyn Schlossberg — our publicity director — wanted to buy one, and I thought they looked so groovy I just had to buy one myself. We (the other three guys and myself) then presented Marilyn with her MGB-GT as a birthday gift. I am not really much of a car nut, but this car is a real groove, and man, it really travels!” - Peter Tork, Fabulous 208, 1967

“I went dead broke for a while. I still have my guitar. I sold my car, a 1967 MG, a couple of years ago. It was starting to rot away in storage.” - Peter Tork, When The Music Mattered (1984)

“[‘MGB-GT’ is] my Homage to my old car, one of the great loves of my life. It used to stop running within coasting distance of service stations and like that. Mike joins me on the back-ups.” - Peter Tork, Stranger Things Have Happened 1994 liner notes

“Peter was a really bad driver. He was reckless, he took a lot of chances. I clearly remember this car [the red MGB-GT) and following [him] over Mulholland Drive in my [Volvo] P1800. I was trying to keep up with him but I was scared, I thought this is reckless teenage James Dean stuff. He always drove fast. He drove like he was immortal.” - James Lee Stanley, Stranger Things Have Happened vinyl sleeve notes

“God knows, I went through a lot of scenes and found out what I needed to find out, which is, for instance, that orgies are nice, but they're only temporary and they're not fulfilling. [...] If you're fixed on the notion that an orgy is going to fulfill you, and one doesn't do it, you're going to try a hundred. If orgies don't do it, maybe drugs will. Like the fixated person I was then [in the ‘60s], I went from one thing to another. I had to try everything: flower power, dope, orgies, fast cars.” - Peter Tork, When The Music Mattered (1984)

Listen to the Stranger Things Have Happened version of the song here. Here are Peter and James Lee Stanley performing the song; the live Monkees version; and Peter performing the song in 2012.

[greensparty]

Stuff I'm Looking Forward To in May

How is it already May? In addition to being Asian Pacific American Heritage Month as well as Orthodox Easter (5/5), Cinco de Mayo (5/5), Mother's Day (5/12) and Memorial Day (5/27) here is what's on my radar this month:

Movies:

The Idea of You

A Michael Showalter movie is always a highly anticipated for me. I was a huge fan of his comedy group The State and I named his film The Big Sick my #1 Movie of 2017. Since then his films have been mixed (including The Eyes of Tammy Faye) but they are always unique in their own way. His new one is a romantic drama with Anne Hathaway premiering on Amazon Prime Video on 5/2.

Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace

When the first Star Wars prequel was released in May 1999, there was no way any movie could live up to the expectation. While it's not perfect by any means, it is better than people initially thought. I saw it a few times in the theater in 1999 (including opening day) and in 2012, I saw the 3-D re-release. Without the hype and fanfare it wasn't bad. There's been quite a few revisionist appraisals of Ep 1 in recent years. In addition to select theaters doing a Star Wars Eps 1-9 marathon, Ep 1 is getting a 25th anniversary re-release on 5/3.

Unfrosted

Jerry Seinfeld is a comic genius! Now he's making his directorial feature film debut with a comedy biopic about the creation of the Pop Tart in 1963. With Jerry directing, co-writing, producing and starring I'm on board! Premieres 5/3 on Netflix.

Let It Be

The 1970 documentary about The Beatles recording their final album has been out of print for years and now it has been remastered by Peter Jackson for a Disney+ streaming premiere on 5/8. Fingers crossed a blu-ray follows!

Back to Black 

Amy Winehouse had such a short musical career, but her legacy lives on. After the excellent documentary Amy in 2015, she is now getting the music biopic treatment directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, the director of the criminally underrated Nowhere Boy about the early days of John Lennon. Opens 5/17.

IF

John Krasinski proved himself as a director with A Quiet Place. Now he is back with a fantasy about imaginary friends and it's one of those "everyone is in it" casts! Opens 5/17.

Hit Man

A Richard Linklater film is always a high film priority for me! His new action-comedy has been creating quite a buzz since its festival premiere last year. It's adapted from an article by Skip Hollandsworth and the last adaptation of his from Linklater was Bernie! Star and co-writer Glen Powell has worked with Linklater on Everybody Wants Some!! and Apollo 10 1/2. I could not be more psyched! Limited theatrical release on 5/24 and Netflix premiere on 6/7.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

2015's Mad Max: Fury Road, the 4th Mad Max movie, set the bar pretty high for high octane action. Now George Miller is back with a prequel about Furiosa. Opens 5/24.

Music:

Aerosmith Get Your Wings 50th Anniversary Limited Edition

In March, Aerosmith's second album turned 50! To celebrate the anniversary they are releasing a special edition vinyl on 5/17!

Slash Orgy of the Damned

GN'R guitarist Slash is back with his sixth solo album featuring tons of guest stars including Brian Johnson and Steven Tyler doing blues covers. Album drops 5/17!

Ringo Starr Crooked Boy

Sir Ringo Starr has been on a roll knocking out tons of EPs including EP3 and Rewind Forward. Now he has his 5th EP since 2021 (my God - put all of these EPs together and it'd be a killer album!). This one was written and produced by Linda Perry. After an RSD and digital release last month, a physical release will be on 5/31 (review to come)!

Film Festivals:

Independent Film Festival Boston

My favorite film festival in Boston (and possibly the world) takes place at the best indie cinemas in Boston from May 1-8 (see my preview here).

In a category all its own:

My birthday is on 5/20! 

[spnj2fanlw]

Wondering about other people opinions on something. What are your favourite times our main characters were played by other actors, your favourite times our main actors played their character as someone else, like possessed or whatnot, favourite times they were in an altered state and what were your least fav instances of any of these.

Mine are:

Other actors:

1. Colin Ford as young Jared. He just nailed it so well when I read young Sam fics I picture CF.

2. The actor who played young Dean at the boys home and when Dean is de-aged must have studied Jensen because he also was just so Dean to me. Also shout out to the actor who played him in after school special he was also great.

3. Young John and Mary. I just loved them. This shows casting department was just so phenomenal on all levels.

HM to the woman Crowley possessed and had the orgy. She was awesome, lol.

Now for the good stuff...

Other versions:

1. While I think Jared was outstanding every single time he was someone else MY fav was Gadreel. The way Jared changed his body language and speech pattern to match that of TP was brilliant. Even without the blue eye flash I knew which character was on the screen. even when he faked Dean out at the end there were differences.

2. Dean/Jen as Michael. Omg he made that character awesome. I also liked Jake and Matt in the role but Jensen just killed it. Au Michael wasn't bad either just not as good and gets blown out of my head after Jen.

3. Misha/Cas as Lucifer. I really like how Misha channelled MP in his Lucifer. I mean I absolutely love jareds Lucifer too but I'm going to give it to Misha here.

Adding a 4th here which is John as Azazel. JDM was so good I got chills the first time I watched it.

HM to Jared/Sam playing Gary, the kid in the body swap. God Jared made me laugh in an EP I don't even care for other than that performance.

Fav other version.

1 and 2 tie. Soulless Sam and Demon Dean. First the hotness of both like, wow. Also both actors just nail these versions of their characters. The acting in both cases was phenomenal IMO and both characters crack me up.

3. Crazy Sam. season seven broken Sam was spectacular to me. The journey he goes through in his mind and finally as his body deteriorates from the no sleep and mental damage "Lucifer" is inflicting were played so well. The writers kind of dropped the ball a bit in the middle of the season but Jared was always spot on. Born again identity is on my (too large) favourites list because I can feel Sam's exhaustion and what he's going through. Love it.

HM to Misha with Crazy Cas. Another thing I loved in season seven and still wish I could have had more of. Oh man Cas and the Bees and just all of it, wonderful.

HM to purgatory Dean. While not altered like being a demon I think they wrote Dean in such a great way showing the impact a year in nothing but survival mode did to Dean. I like how Jensen plays him as almost having PTSD, jumpy and just always on and taking everything in like he can't quite relax. Another one that should have lasted longer and got looked at deeper.

Ok least fav.

1. This isn't just a least fav but an I hate... I hated AU Cas. The Nazi or German or whatever accent is nails on a chalkboard to me. I just can't. Was Jimmy Novak not American in the AU, lol.

2. I was also not real fond of The Empty Cas. Liked meg as the empty but not Misha's take.

3. Ok nothing else is jumping to mind so I'm not going to sit and think and look for a third which is probably out there and not popping in my head , lol. I feel bad that the two I immediately thought of were both Misha but I can't help it I really really did not like those acting choices, whether they were his or the directors or writers it just didn't work for me.

Hm. Oh I just thought I could say Jared possessed by meg. Not that I didn't like it at all but just that it wasn't as good as other possessions.

So what do you all think? Would love to read some of your favs or the ones you didn't like.

@jinkieswouldyoulookatthis @fallenfar @brookesallow @supernaturalkickparty @fandom-hoarder @ani-coolgirl only if you feel like it though.

[valkyrieandstrangeridingaragorn]

The few fans on ao3 that somehow are managing to write love and thunder fix its are the strongest soldiers. I have brain death every time I try to think abt it

Yeah must be tough to navigate with how angry some people get when you don't like the same movies they do.

I do believe there are certain ideas in L&T that weren't that bad, they just were executed very poorly. They had all this thing about Thor trying to figure out who he is but towards the end he still hasn't, he's at the same point 2 hours later but with the added responsibility of raising a kid that's not his + he still hasn't acknowledged his trauma, his upbringing and his grief.

So figuring out who he is turned out to be no more than... turning into his dad? Taking in a kid that's not his while he's in no shape to raise anybody, with a ton of mental and emotional issues that are going unaddressed and will definitely affect the kid in the long run and with no real connections to anybody: Val seems to be a colleague more than a friend, Sif apparently means very little to him now, he has no family and no real friendships... that's one hell of a way to destroy yourself. I'm still baffled at how Taika managed to sell this as something positive 🤷‍♀️

Introducing the goats could have been done respectfully and meaningfully but nah, they're in it for the jokes. Jane's story could have been nuanced and deep but nah, she was there with no arc just to cause man pain to the main character and die in his arms (because Thor hasn't lost enough already...). The gods should have been shown in a different light and not in an insulting "oh they don't give a fuck, they just like orgies!", Gorr's character was completely forgettable and I'm still surprised they so openly wasted Christian Bale's talent, etc.

A good writer and director could do something great with this but I guess we needed less of Thor and his story and more of Korg, right? 🙄

[tilbageidanmark]

Movies I watched this Week #138 (Year 3/Week 34):

Past Lives, another brilliant debut feature from a young female director, Celine Song. Exquisite, mature filmmaking, in full control of all aspects of the craft, juxtaposition, edit, use of music, layering, balance, staging. F. Ex. , at 55:00 min, the exact midpoint of the movie, when they finally meet for the first time, Song lets the camera lingers on train crossing the bridge... Tremendous, devastating accomplishment. Greta Lee is my new crush. 10/10.

🍿

“I met a lot of hard-boiled eggs in my life. But you, you’re 20 minutes…”

Before 'Sweet smell of success' and ‘Network’ and ‘Nightcrawler’ exposed the corrupt cynicism of mass media, Billy Wilder's Ace in the hole told the story of one newspaperman sensationally manipulating a story for his own sleazy benefit. Viciously unscrupulous, savagely frank, a sunlit, bright Noir.

🍿

2 films about pianists who pretend to be blind:

🍿 Andhadhun, a Hindi crime thriller about a musician who pretends to be blind, who witness a murder happening in front of him, because the killers assume he can't see them. A mishmash of tropes. 3/10.

🍿 Supposedly, Andhadhun was inspired by a 2010 French short film L'Accordeur (The Piano Tuner).

🍿

First watch: John Huston's classic adventure-romance The African Queen, "Shot in Africa", as the titles state. Humphrey Bogart, Gruff, scrappy, in dirty clothes (!) is talking and gesturing exactly like Noah Cross. Excellent!

🍿

2 more by François Ozon:

🍿 Sitcom, a surrealist satire of a proper, uptight, upper middle class family, with a house in the country, a maid, etc. whose whole life turns degenerate, when the father brings home a pet, white rat. The rat acts like a 'Magical visitor', f. ex, in Pasolini's 'Teorema', and soon all the males start acting gay, and everybody's starts sleeping with everybody else, conducts orgies, and attempts suicide. Buñuel-lite: 4/10

🍿 By the Grace of God, a sober documentary-like true-story from Lyon (which is nice). A respected banker and a practicing Catholic with a family of 5 children, remembers how he was abused by the local priest, and starts a process to sue the church. Very much like Tom MaCarthy's 'Spotlight', it's measured, empathetic and un-sensationalist.

🍿

Tokyo Decadence ("Topâzu"), my second by writer/director Ryū Murakami [He wrote, but didn't direct ‘Audition’]. A depraved, convoluted "Pink" film about a young submissive and delicate prostitute, who works at a high-end call girl service, specializing in SM and Bondage. Erotic art, slightly different from 'real' Japanese fetish porn. Disturbing. (Found here)

🍿

2 more by Damien Chazelle:

🍿 Whiplash (2014). I'm not so crazy about stories of emotional abuse and humiliations between mentors and disciples, especially when one is an absolute asshole, and the other an obsessive over-achiever, and both are male "Perfectionists" who’ll stop at "Nothing" to become "Great Artists". But the use of music, especially jazz was so lovely, and innovative.

🍿 The English-speaking Spanish Grand Piano was written by Chazelle just before 'Whiplash'. It's a high-concept musical thriller, about a pianist attempting a comeback performance and an assassin who threatens to kill him on stage. But for that you have to suspends all belief and accept Elijah "Frodo" Wood as a ridiculously classic musician, and a preposterous "Play a wrong note and you die" plot. 2/10.

🍿

Where the Crawdads Sing, another woman-directed Southern Gothic drama, a story of abuse, pain and neglect. Flat 'Swamp Girl' full of clichés. The only, mild surprise was the final disclosure, of who was the real killer. 2/10.

🍿

Before directing his two masterpieces, ‘Columbus’ and ‘After Yang’, Korean-American filmmaker Kogonada was known for his sublime video essays, sometimes commissioned by Criterion, or ‘Sight & Sound’. 16 of his short-form video poems are posted on his old Vimeo account, including ‘Hands of Bresson’, ‘Way of Ozu’, ‘Auteur in space’ (Tarkovsky), ‘Tarantino, from below’, Sounds of Aronofsky, ‘Wes Anderson from above’, ‘Breaking Bad / POV’, Kubrick / One-point perspective, and 8 more.

🍿

And one I couldn't finish: The new German Seneca – On the Creation of Earthquakes. A philosophy-themed metaphor for today's Authoritarianism with over-indulgent John Malkovich grotesquely hamming it out, and just never stop talking, talking talking. And a 12-year-old Nero without any charisma.

🍿

Still life, a short Greek film by Dimitrios Karas (2017). A man wakes up on a dirt road in the middle of a desert.

🍿

Asking for Love was a 1973 Icelandic music video made by Egill Eðvarðsson. It showed Jóhann G. Jóhannsson walking backwards around downtown Reykjavík, and then reversed to make it seem everyone else’s walking backwards. Now, fifty years later, Guðmundur Kristinn Jónsson and Ívar Kristján Ívarsson have recreated the video with singer-songwriter Árný Margrét, walking the same route backwards, for her song Waiting. (Via).

🍿  

(My complete movie list is here)

[420hamlet]

Nine - Raúl Victoria III (#9)

Flowers giggled as they undressed themselves for the taking, the sun smiled. It’s golden teeth casted a spotlight onto the dancing flowers, naked and glorious dancing on the hills. Yellow bathed green hills hiding the gorgeous private colors of flora. An eternal sensual ballet of transforming light into life. The rays touched the leaves, raising the heat to the blushing multicolored petals of the floral ballerinas that seduced the birds flying by, bringing the orchestral tune to the show of shows. The arthropod buzzing, the leaves rustling, the birds whistling, the hills echoing and nature’s rhythm harmonizing. Ancient living artists tirelessly filling this earth with purpose and beauty.

Commanded by an invisible omnipotent director, clouds swirled bringing in a cold which demanded clothing. Flowers folded themselves fully keeping light and warmth close to their yellow hearts. The orgy of life rested momentarily in reverence, allowing the nectar of life to seep into every corner of existence. Far from there, far from the hills, you stood silent and the rain tried to imitate my hands by running down your body. I felt like ripping the sky apart for allowing it. Reaching into the ether and graving God close to my face, screaming into their mouth, into their ears, into every pore of their magnificence and yelling out my jealousy. Demanding from their greatness, no one or thing to touch you if I shall still be prohibited. They reflect back in me and show me a beautiful truth. I notice everything I do not have and decide it is beautiful. I decide you are beautiful, far away from me, as I know nature’s song is beautiful even though I miss it most of the time. I decide you are beautiful, being touched by the rain, and not by me. I decide you are beautiful no matter how lonely I am, or how lonely you are. I know now that the irony of loneliness is we all feel it at the same time. I love you in your loneliness as I love me in mine.

All you own is yourself. That’s what they last whisper into my ears. They leave me with this thought, this ever necessary knowledge for my whole existence. I’m thrown back down to earth. Rain has calmed down and I breathe the fresh wet air in. I let the dance of nature in, my heart plays its waltz and I dance Waltzing with the air, as it guides me through the silent whistling piece of melodic genius it creates.

(420 words)

Instagram: @thevictoryville

[beheworthy]

Thor: Love, Thunder, and Character Regression

[Disclaimer: This essay talks negatively about Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and its director. Please do not read if you like them.

Major SPOILERS for Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Word count - 4.5k words

I suppose I should give a Table of Contents, given that word count:

1. Introduction 2. Credit where it’s due 3. Things sneakily changed from Thor3 4. Thor’s character regression 5. The issue with the end of his arc 6. History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce 7. Thor & Jane 8. So where do we go from here?

Shout out to my partner in crime Rachel @notallthosewho-wanderarelost​ for providing information about everything Marvel as I personally don’t follow anything outside the hammer guy.

Without further ado, let’s go.] 

- - - - 

It’s something to see that Thor: Love and Thunder (Thor4) is getting praise for Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Dr. Jane Foster, Christian Bale’s turn as the villain Gorr The God Butcher, and Chris Hemsworth and Natalie’s chemistry. Because it’s getting criticism for director Waititi’s relentless comedy, tone, writing, direction, and writing of Thor as dumb and funny.

Which is interesting because Thor: Ragnarok (Thor3) had the exact same problem with even less of a plot as 80% of it was improv. Thor4 at least attempts to have a story and arc for Thor with themes and stuff, whereas Thor3 was just an orgy of anus jokes. But suddenly the comedy is a problem and the characters feel like caricatures to people. Now everyone wants serious Thor.

I, for one, am glad the world has finally caught on.

Keep reading

[justreadingfics]

It’s a Deal- “What If…” edition.

Summary: Time. Space. Reality. It’s more than a linear path…I am The Writer… Follow me and ponder the question: What if Bucky was the inexperienced/innocent one when Nat introduced him to you?  

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Words: 5.6K

Warnings: one-shot from a complete series, alternate version, smut, 18+, male masturbation, oral sex (male receiving), edging, touch starved Bucky, carefree reader.

A/N: Just having a little fun here!! You can read it as a stand-alone story, but this is a part of the universe from a series of mine (It’s a Deal), an alternate version of the first couple of chapters. If you haven’t, you are welcome to check out the original version, link below. Thank you for reading and editing, @gogolucky13, you rock! You know I’m your Bernie Sanders.

It’s a Deal- Masterlist

When Natasha bursts into your apartment holding up a big cup of coffee - like she’s done many many times before- the first thing that hits her is the smell lingering in the air. It makes her whole face scrunch up. The whole apartment stinks of orgy. Of course. It’s like that with you. A new night a new guy. Or a girl… she realizes when she spots the couple of bras over your couch as she makes her way to your bedroom… Or, of course, both… She shoots an eyebrow high at the sight of the Star Wars boxers hanging around the doorknob.

She would die before touching the damn thing and, because she’s also always up for a little show, she decides to use one of her signature moves to open the door and make herself known in your bedroom. A powerful kick to the wood is enough to have the effect she wanted. Two different tones of screams echo around the room, the high pitched one coming from the dude she notices with amusement.

“Oh, God… sorry, guys,” you mumble with a groggy voice, barely raising your head from the pillow to peek at them through your stretched arm and squinted eyes.

The pair of naked bodies move in a hurry, picking up pieces of clothes from the floor while Natasha stands by the door waiting in her passive yet very menacing demeanor.

“Thanks for last night, though, it was amazing.” You raise your thumb up but remain lying on your stomach, your very naked behind exposed, completely unphased by Natasha’s presence.

Natasha raises a brow and the couple move faster. The guy rushes to put on the Star Wars boxers, his pale skin turning as red as a lobster in front of the Avenger. It’s almost adorable and Natasha almost doesn’t catch the shameless once over and the lustful wink the half-naked girl shoots her while passing towards the way out of your apartment.  

“Good morning, sunshine.” Your voice catches her attention again and she spots you smirking at her from your bed, lifting your head to have a better view of her. 

“Crowded around here, huh?” Walking over to you with a teasing brow raised, she hands you the coffee, which you promptly accept. “Do you even know their names?”

“Of course, I do,” you answer, offended, before taking a sip from the coffee.  “The cute nerdy one is Harry, he has two adorable kids, you’d love them… oh calm your titties, he’s divorced,” you protest when Natasha shoots you a judging glare, “And the sexy one is Amanda, she’s trouble, but I think you’d like her. They both seem to like you quite a bit, as well.” You smirk, raising a feigned innocent gaze from your cup of coffee. “I can hook you up, Widow, just say the word.”

Natasha chooses to ignore the suggestion in favor of letting a huff out, “We - and by we I mean Fury – need you at the debrief room now, there’s some tech we need your take on.” She glances around, trying to find a place she could sit without accidently making contact with any kind of… fluids. Spotting the armchair nearby, she aims a questioning look at you.

You press your lips in a guilty fine line and shrug, “You know what? Sitting down is the new smoking. I think you’re safer standing up.”

“You may be the director of the greatest tech department in the world but you’re gross, you know that right?” Natasha grimaces, crossing her arms in front of her.

“Would you be saying that if I were a guy?” You squint at her.

“Definitely.” Natasha answers with a straight face and you chuckle and nod, showing you know she means it.

“Ugh,” You roll your eyes after putting the coffee on your nightstand and checking the time, “I still have two hours before it’s work time.”

“Oh, yeah… of course. I’m so sorry. Do want me to go and remind Fury of that? I can go, no problem-”

“Alright, just give me a minute,” you cut her off, conceding in a groan, before getting out of your bed, ignoring the teasing smirk on Nat’s face in favor of getting into the bathroom for a quick shower.

“How long will you keep this up, huh?” Natasha asks, bringing her voice up so you can hear her through the loud stream of water.  

 “What?” You shout from inside the bathroom.

“This lifestyle of yours…” Natasha waves a hand around the room, “Don’t you ever want to… I don’t know… settle down for one woman or guy… or something like that?”

The confused expression that shifts your face while you get out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel is almost comical. “Why in the world would I do that?” You head towards your wardrobe, “This is so much fun, no strings attached… just good old exchange of fluids, enjoying one another’s bodies… and the next morning we’re off with our lives.” Ignoring the disapproval look on Natasha, you grin down at her, before pulling your suit off of the hanger.

“I know this might be a good deal for you, but what about the people you bring down here, is this fair with them?” Natasha insists.

“Ok, now listen,” you say in a more serious note while starting to get dressed, “Everyone I hook up with wants the exact same thing I want. They’re here just for the sex just as much as I am…Not once have I taken advantage of anyone, I guarantee you that. I´m not fooling them, they’re not fooling me. It’s a fair deal. Perfect to be honest, pleasant, I mean very pleasant to both sides…” You smirk raising your gaze filled with mischief to her, “If you weren’t like a sister to me we could make a deal and I could show you just how much of a good time I’m providing this people with, it’s almost a public service.”

“Alright, gross, a thousand times gross,” Natasha scrunches her face.

“I know, I regretted it as soon as I heard it coming out of my mouth,” you laugh, now fully clothed and putting on an earring in front of the mirror.  “But seriously, people usually make a big deal about it, but that’s it. Sex is just sex.” You turn towards your high heels, slipping your feet inside them, “It’s fun and a fucking amazing experience to share with someone. And that’s it. Me and the people I spend time with are very sure about that. Don’t worry your pretty little head.” 

“All right, enough... I love you, but philosophy has never been one of your fortes,” Natasha says after glancing at her watch, “Hurry up. I’ve just got here from the mission and still need a shower and at least a nap before going to Bucky’s for breakfast. Let’s go see Fury now.” She commands, waving you over as she walks towards the door.

“Oh, Bucky Barnes?” The peak of interest in your voice behind her doesn’t go unnoticed by Natasha as you rush after her, your heels clicking against the floor, “It’s been a while since I last saw him, how’s he? Still tall, dark and sexy as hell? Single? In an open relationship perhaps?”

“Don’t even think about it,” Natasha warns, already sensing the smirk on your lips without even looking back at you. “He doesn’t work like that… he would never take one of your deals.”

~~~

Natasha says nothing, slowly chewing her bagel while staring at the brooding man before her, who’s cursing at the temperature of his coffee for the third time that morning. A glimpse of the Bucky from before - the one who came here to be a part of the team after his stay in Wakanda - flashes into her mind. The trigging words weren’t there anymore but he was still angry, insecure, quiet, sad… He’s not like that anymore. After some good therapy work and a little help from his new friends, it’s visible that Bucky got to find some peace with his past and his present.

But now… seeing him silent and cranky before her, on the weekly breakfasts they always make sure to find some time for, makes her wonder what the hell is biting on his ass.

“What the hell is biting on your ass? Drink that damn coffee already.” Nat shoots, never one to let what she notices go.

Bucky raises his eyes at her from across the table. “This fucking coffee…” He spits. “Stark may be the genius of everything but he sucks at building coffee machines, I’ll tell you that,  I’m gonna throw it out the window one of these days.”

“Huh…” Nat raises a brow. “Starting the day on the right foot, I see?”

A guttural and frustrated groan slips out of him as he shoves a spoonful of scrambled eggs into his mouth, “I’m just… ugh, everything sucks these days.”

“Is this about Anna?”

Bucky sighs at the name. “No… sort of. I don’t know.” He mumbles, playing with the bacon on his plate as his jaw tightens.

Nat hums. Anna is the woman Bucky has been harboring a huge crush on for a long time now. She’s part of the psychiatrists’ team at SHIELD’s and they met at one of Stark’s parties. Anna is nice, Nat likes her, everyone likes her… the thing is… She doesn’t feel the same about Bucky. She likes him, of course, how could she not. But she’s not romantically interested in him, at least that’s what she’s told him when he became brave enough to ask her out. They’ve remained friends though and Nat’s not sure if that’s a good thing when Bucky clearly still has feelings for her. So yeah… that’s why she guessed his brooding state might have had something to do with her.

“Talk…” Natasha orders, putting down her bagel and brushing away the crumbs from her hands. “It’s been a while since I last saw her in the Tower.”

“We had dinner the other night-“

“Bucky…” Nat rolls her eyes. She really doesn’t think it’s a good idea that they spend time together when he’s attached to her in a way she isn’t to him.

“I know what you think, but that’s not it. I’m ok with being friends with her, if that’s what she’s willing to give me, I’m taking it… but…”

“But?”

He just stares at her for a second, but she can almost see his mind running a thousand miles per hour, as if he’s deciding what he should tell her. She raises her brow higher.

“Goddammit, might as well talk to you, definitely better than Steve or Sam,” he huffs to himself. “I fucking need to get laid,” he spits out in what seems like one single word together, “there it is, you wanted to know what’s up, that’s what’s up, I’m horny as fuck.”

“Huh…” Nat’s eyes widen for a second. Of all the things she thought she would hear, that was definitely not one of them. Out of respect for his clear desperation, she sinks deep down the will to let out a laugh, “And what the hell is holding you back? I bet there’s a line of people who would be willing to help you out. I mean… look at you.”

As Nat knew it would, the compliment in her words brings a red tint to his cheeks. “Oh, ahm, you know…” he trips on his words, brushing a hand behind his neck, “It’s complicated… I… well, you know how I feel about Anna, I’m not ready or even want to get involved with someone else.”

Oh…Suddenly, the conversation she had earlier that very same morning creeps up her mind.  Huh…

“And you know… these things require some sort of dance and a warmup to it. And… if I’m being honest with you.” He clears his throat, “I haven’t danced since 1943,” he admits, his lips tightening.

“What?” Nat chokes on nothing when she catches the meaning behind what’s he’s saying, “Are you fucking serious?”

“Well, sort of… there was this neighbor in Bucharest… it was really sweet, actually, but that was it.” He then stands up a bit taller on his seat and his tone gets a bit defensive, “There wasn’t much time for that while I was trying to get rid of 70 years of an evil brainwashing program and then…” His shoulders and tone drop, “When it was over, I met Anna,” he shrugs.

“Dear God…Oh, man, it’s worse than I thought,” Nat gapes.

“Don’t you think I know that?” Bucky exasperates, “At first I was so focused on getting better and then what I was feeling for Anna, but now I’m fucking climbing up the walls here, Nat. That’s basically all I think about these last few days and where the hell will I find anyone willing to have some sort of agreement like that, just sex, nothing else…” He grinds his teeth, “Just some primitive and raw sex, goddammit”.

Nat’s mind runs a thousand miles per minute. The universe might be onto something here, she thinks.

“I mean…” Bucky continues and then he lowers his voice like kids do when they’re saying something naughty, “I know we can always pay, but-”

“Are you serious about all of that? You really would be up to hooking up with someone just for the sex and nothing else?” Natasha checks, cutting him off and staring deeply into his eyes to ponder his answer.  

“Dead serious.” Is his straight up answer.  

“Ok,” Nat decides, seeing the desperate honesty in his eyes and voice, “I think I have someone perfect for you.” 

“Seriously?” His face brightens, but there’s a skeptical look on it.

“Yeah, but she’s nothing what you would expect from a lady in the 40’s. I’m not sure you’re ready for that.” Nat warns.

“Oh, come on,” he protests, “I’m not that old fashioned… I’ve seen stuff.”

“Oh, really? Where?” Nat raises a challenging chin.

He shrugs, before almost whispering, “The internet.”

“Oh God, I’ll regret this sooner than I think… I can tell.”

~~~

When Natasha asked him where he wanted to first meet with you, he mentioned a restaurant. As straight forward as his intentions were, the 40’s in him didn’t feel good about the idea of taking a lady to bed without at least paying for her dinner first.

And now, having you there in front of him across the table, your attention apparently focused on the menu hiding your face, a public place is the last place he wanted to be. And that’s because ever since you laid eyes on each other you seem like you’ve been reading his mind and haven’t stopped teasing him ever since. In the most delicious way, he might say. That or he’s more desperate than he thought he was, because the tone of your voice and every move of you, of your hands, and lips, and eyes and fucking legs seem to be programmed to make him lose control and jump you right there over the table.

He takes in a deep breath. Calm down, Barnes. As much as Nat guaranteed you would be there with the same intentions as his, you are still a lady and he doesn’t want to come out as some sort of perv who can’t wait until at least after dinner before getting you naked. Damn, his ma would whoop his ass so hard if she got a glimpse of his mind right now.

You’ve been a delight so far. Making conversation – with the sexiest voice he’s ever heard- in such a natural and spontaneous way. He’s not sure what Natasha had told you beforehand exactly, but not for a second you’ve made him feel embarrassed by any means and the itch inside him only grows…    

“Hmmm,” The sound coming out of your lips purrs into his ears and it hits straight to his buddy down there as he keeps his eyes on the menu, “So many delicious treats…Can’t figure out what I want…” You slowly lift your gaze to meet his and he doesn’t know if it’s his horniness speaking but all he sees there is a mischievous dark shade, “Too bad there isn’t some Super Soldier juice on the menu. Guess I’ll have to wait a bit to get what I really want.” Smirking at your own pun, you dart your tongue out to wet your lips and that’s it.

“Let’s get the hell out of here.” It comes out of him without giving him the chance to think twice.

“Your place or mine?” You shut the menu immediately.

~~~

“Huh, I don’t know what Nat told you, I-“

“She told me enough.” Your voice is low and sultry as you slowly step towards him in his living room. A small smirk curls your lips.

“Ahm.. I…” The words slip out of his brain as you come closer, your warmth drifting to him.

“Don’t worry…” You smile, face inches from his, and you would look like an innocent angel, if only your hand wasn’t wandering his chest and reaching dangerously lower.

Bucky sucks in a harsh breath when your adventurous hand cups his covered cock unannounced.

“Hmmm, so hard already… you’re turning me on so much…” You whisper against the skin of his neck.

Bucky’s eyes shut… He is speechless. Utterly and completely taken aback by your boldness. And he’s also so goddamn aroused. He’s hard alright. Painfully. Harder than he’s ever been, he dares to say. He doesn’t know if it’s how deprived he was from the touch of a woman, or just how much you’re clearly into this and how you take the lead so easily, but having you there, doing nothing but boldly palming his cock, has turned him into a hard panting mess.

“Here’s what we’re going to do.” Your lips brush his jaw as you speak, “I’m gonna make you come now.  Shake the edge off and then we can take our sweet time together. Is that alright with you?” You take your hand from his aching cock to play with his belt.

As you do so, Bucky’s hips automatically thrust against nothing, seeking your touch again. A strange and pretty embarrassing whine slips out of his lips.

Apparently, that is the exact answer you’re looking for, because you chuckle and hurry to unfasten his belt.

Bucky simply can’t help himself and, as you work on his pants, he seeks out your lips. You respond immediately by licking him and twirling your tongue against his in a luscious way. Fuck… he’s not used to women kissing like that or talking like that, or grabbing his cock like that. This is definitely not the 40’s anymore…  but he lets you lead him on because he’s fucking hard, and you’re making him harder by the second. Your touch on him is overwhelming  and, at the same time, he finds himself wanting more and more.

You break the kiss and, pulling down his pants and underwear just enough, you finally hold his cock without any barriers with your other hand. Bucky takes in a deep breath. He knows if he doesn’t try to establish some sort of self-control, he’s gonna come right there and then.

“Holy shitballs,” the strange and impressed curse slips out in a whisper from you as you look down at his cock. Your eyes snap up to his and there’s something devilish in them, “Oh, this is gonna be fun.” You smirk, eyes widening for a second.

Breathless, Bucky smiles down at you. Pride filling up his chest at your reaction to his girth, making him twitch in your hand, “Oooh, praise kink, huh?” You wink.

Bucky gives you a shy smile, but has no time to respond because you bring the palm of your hand to his mouth and, acting with an instinct he didn’t remember that lived in him, he sticks out his tongue and licks your hand, coating it with his saliva.

You bring your hand back to his cock and your lips meet his neck while you give it a lengthy pump. The saliva provides the necessary lubrication to make it almost unbearable for Bucky to hold back a long moan.

And that’s what he does. He moans, and cries, and grunts and breathes. He lets out sounds he has never heard from him before as you fist his cock, squeezing just the perfect amount between pumps, rolling your thumb over the sensitive tip.

His flesh hand finds one of your breasts through your dress and he loves the appreciative humming sound that comes out of your lips before you drag them to his mouth.

You kiss him hungrily while your hand speeds up around his cock. He grunts around your tongue. As he knew it would, it doesn’t take long for him to feel his climax coming. It all turns into a big cloud of pleasure all over his body: the sweet taste of your lips, the feel of your breast in his hand and the fact that you jerk him off better than he ever could.

He parts from your lips and, with his eyes shut tight, he lets out a shaky moan, struggling to keep himself standing while he comes all over your hand, pulling you tight to his chest as he does so.

After some sense comes back to him, finally getting a release to the need that had been driving him insane, he peeks down between the two of you, spotting the incredible mess he’s made on your hands and also your dress. He doesn’t remember ever spilling so much...

When he sheepishly looks back to your face he has all the intention to apologize, but the look in your eyes has nothing of anger or annoyance. Your pupils are dark with bewilderment and lust, and fuck if he doesn’t feel himself getting hard again already. 

He catches you with ease when you jump on him and, next thing he knows, you two are completely naked and you’re on top of him on his bed.

Straddling his hips, you straighten your back and Bucky takes a moment to regard your naked body. Goddamn…

“You’re so beautiful,” he breathes, mesmerized by the fact of having such a gorgeous woman on top of him after so long.  

You smile down, “Thank you, you’re not so bad yourself.” Your hands explore his chest, gliding against the muscles there and traveling up his arms, “Not bad at all, huh huh…” You bite your lip.

Bucky shuts his eyes, relishing at the light feel of your fingers against his skin. It’s light but sets a raging fire into him. You roll your hips against his cock and he grunts at the brief feel of your heat and wetness against him.

“This cock…” you say before humming your appreciation. “I can’t fucking wait to taste that super soldier juice…”

Bucky’s eyes open and widen at your smirking face.

“Is that ok with you, Bucky?” You lean down, peppering kisses down his chest to his stomach, your eyes meeting his from beneath your lashes, “Can I please suck your cock?”  

Can she please… Bucky’s mind races in the same rhythm of his heart as he stares down at you, sporting that same innocent and angelic look from before while doing not so innocent things with your mouth against his abs. No woman had ever asked him that. Some have performed that on him, of course, but they never seemed to be so keen about doing it like you do. Damn…

“Are you sure? You don’t have-“ he starts but lets out a loud and incomprehensible sound when you don’t wait for his answer and wrap your mouth around his cock, holding its base with your hand. “Fuck… whatever you want…”

He sounds pathetic, he knows, but he couldn’t care less when the little chuckle of yours vibrates against his cock which is engulfed by your hot, soft mouth.  You hollow your cheeks and suck him harder before releasing his dick with a pop. Bucky is in a complete daze as you pepper sloppy kisses all over his length, brushing your lips on his tip to smear them with the pre-cum gathering there. Fuck… his hips thrust up and you’re quick to wrap your mouth around his cock again.

It’s hard to breathe or to think as you work your lips and tongue on him in such a delicious way, the naughty slurping sounds filling the room. Bucky brings a hand to his forehead, not caring about suppressing the strangled noises coming out of him. Shit, you know exactly what you’re doing and you’ll drive him nuts, he’s getting closer and closer to his finish again and all there’s on his mind is how much he wants to come all over your sweet and soft mouth.

He gasps and his head snaps to look down so he can see you, “Fuck… fuck…” he can’t help but whisper, breathlessly, fisting the sheets with incredible force. He won’t last, he knows that.

Not willing to give him the tiniest break, you wrap your mouth around his cock with fervor and if he thought you were holding back on him, now you manage to blank his mind with the way you quickly suck and jerk him, like you’re sharing the same utter desire as him.

Completely taken by the pleasure he’s feeling, Bucky brings a hand to your head, his hips moving in sync with your mouth, thrusting fast and deep, almost losing it at the muffled but sweet sounds you make along with him. He goes deep, fast, and so do you.

 “Fuck, I’m gonna -,” he warns with a voice strange to his ears and - to his absolute despair -  you pull your mouth away from him. “Huh?” He looks down at you and, by the amused look on your face, he knows he looks as ravished as he feels.

You wrap your hand around his pulsing cock again, giving it leisured pumps, which is too much and too little at the same time, making Bucky choke on his breath.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get there,” you say, as if trying to reassure him, but the little smile on your lips is what gets him and he knows he’s in for a ride with you.

Without further warnings your lips are on him again. He moans at the wet warmth that engulfs his cock and, not wanting to miss the view, he leans on his forearms to watch you. You have your naked ass perked up in the air and your head between his bent legs, and, fuck… enjoying yourself while doing incredible and unbelievable things with your mouth.

“Hummm,” the vibrations coming from your throat makes his whole body tremble and you pepper some sweet kisses on his angry tip before diving in again with renewed hunger.

Bucky is a mess. You suck and lick and properly fuck your own mouth with his cock. His whole body reacts to the sensations, and Bucky is louder than he’s ever been, moaning shamelessly at the insane pleasure you’re giving him.  

You swirl your tongue around his tip and he’s there. He’s almost there… his head falls back and he twists the sheets with his fingers, his hips moving fast while unashamedly thrusting his cock in your mouth and he’s there, almost-

“What the-?” he groans, his head snapping to you to see your malicious smirk, depriving him from your contact just when he was almost reaching his climax once again.  

He’s about to protest about the lack of action but his mouth shuts when you hold the base of his cock and your face disappears further down between his legs. The sudden but soft lick on his balls blanks his mind and his eyes shut, his lips parting in a silent oh. 

“Oh, shit,” he curses between harsh breaths when you replace your tongue with your mouth, sucking his balls with the same hungry desire you’ve been sucking his cock. That he’s definitely sure that no one has ever done to him and goddamn, he’s in heaven.  

You keep fisting him and his eyes shut when it’s there again, that tight knot twisting his insides, the desperate need of release, to soak your mouth, face and hand with his pleasure.

“Oh, shit, I’m gonna cum- oh fuck!” he shouts when you pull back. He shoots a look that he’s sure is nothing but pitiful at you, but you don’t deprive him for long as your lips are on his cock again, humming at his taste once more.

Your skilled lips go back on doing wonders, coaxing shocks of pleasure in his core, your head bobbing fast and sloppy, up and down, up and down. Slurping sounds mixing with his desperate moans.  He can’t take his eyes off of you, he just can’t… and he wants to come so badly.

But you’re in the mood to torture him. A sweet and maddening torment as you bring him to the edge and stop, alternating to use your hand and to suck his cock, his balls, his inner thighs…

At some point, when Bucky’s already surrendered to your power, to your sweet and tormenting tongue, he spots you bringing your hand to between your own legs.  He watches, completely speechless, as your mouth doesn’t stop the work on his cock and you start touching yourself.  

His skin burns and all the air isn’t enough to fill up his lungs at the vision of you moving your hand and pleasuring yourself while sucking his cock. You’re getting yourself off and he’s sure he’s never seen or felt anything so hot in his whole life. He just wishes he could be the one touching you, feeling how wet and hot you are for him but, fuck, he can’t, he’s in too deep in his own little paradise and he’s body is not his anymore. Right now it belongs to you, and your mouth, and the little humming sounds of pleasure you make against him.

With everything you’re doing to him and the fact he’s been on the edge for a while, it’s more than he can handle and this time it comes unannounced. As he moves to pull you away, you sink his cock further in your mouth, pushing him back by the stomach and that’s how Bucky reaches the second orgasm of the night. Intense, mind-blowing and fucking perfect orgasm. He moans, deeply and repeatedly, spilling strong spurs of climax deep down your mouth and throat.

Incoherent sounds he never knew he was able to produce slip out of him as strong spirals of pleasure burst from his cock, rushing up his spine and down his legs, turning him into a trembling loud mess, completely at the mercy of the buzzing ecstasy invading all of his senses.  

He remains under the effect of the powerful and insanely pleasurable sensation, the aftershocks jerking his body and turning his mind into a total blankness as you slowly and gently suck and lick him clean, making little humming sounds that only add to his utter state of bliss.

From his blurry vision, he spots your arm jerking even faster and you rest your head on his thigh. With eyes closed and biting your sinful and swollen lips, you grunt your own release, your back moving in waves with your orgasm.

You both stay like that for a while. He sprawled on his bed relishing in the paradise creeping up all of his body, while you rest against his thigh. Bucky’s trying to calm down his breathing and, to his own bafflement, he’s completely and thoroughly spent. He knows his stamina is better than that and on any other night maybe he would be jumping on you right now. But he just can’t move, relishing in the wonderful state of bliss you just gave him…  the pent up energy completely drained by the two outstanding orgasms you have given him that night.

He feels his eyes fluttering, fighting against sleep, and in a blur, he spots you getting up and moving around, not fully registering what you’re doing.

“Did you have fun?” You get closer to him, bending over the side of his bed and he sees that, somehow, you’re fully dressed again.

A lazy but fulfilled smile spreads on his face “Oh, yeah…I’m fabulous.” His heavy eyes drop. He realizes he’s incredibly satisfied and didn’t even get to the fucking part per se, “Hey, are you-”

“Shhh, don’t worry...I had an amazing time, tonight,” Your voice is gentle and soft, grinning back at him almost like an angel. 

Bucky’s not sure what to think, his mind is telling him to fuck every little hole of you right now, but he’s not sure he would have the energy to do anything else, no matter how enticing the thought sounds. 

“I’m gonna go now. You rest now and whenever you need me, will you call me?” You ask, a suggestive look on your face.

“Fuck yeah.” He breathes out, trying to keep his eyes open. “You’re…amazing…” he adds, not being able to find much in his brain to express how good you made him feel and how stunned he is.

You chuckle at his answer, “Deal?” You lean over his earlobe and bite softly on it, making him sigh deeply.

“Oh, yeah, it’s a deal alright,” he murmurs back, nodding slowly before dozing off with the lazy smile still splattered on his face.

~~~

The End.

[aburningpotathoe]

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER SPOILERS

tldr: pros and cons list

PROS:

-cinematography and creative decisions. the movie is visually stunning

-good-ish plot. Janes introduction doesnt feel forced

-good villain

-both posrt credit scenes are reallt good

-really good queer rep

-expands the MCU without feeling like an exposition movie

CONS:

- too. many. jokes. and theyre so cringe too

-the children scene????

- the whole jealous!stormbreaker plot point

-the movie feels like a kids movie which i would respect if it didnt have sexual innuendos, orgy jokes and thor's naked butt

ONTO THE MAIN DISH

Ok im gonna do a quick (lies) review/rant about the movie

Im gonna say its one of the worst phase 4 movies (coming from someone whos really liking phase 4). Id give it a 6/10. BUT one the things i love about it is that it has its own identity and they really let the director expand his vision and make the film his rather than be a generic cbm like the first thors.

But thats also my main issue with it.. i just cant get into taikas vision for this one. I loved ragnarok but here the jokes are cringier and more present, to the point where the first 30ish minutes really feel like a succession of gags.

Also the dialogues are badly written (on that note, i wanted to ask if the english version is better at it, i watched it in italian and im wondering if my issue with the dialogues and the cringeiness is just a dubbing issue).

Onto the spoilers

-Plot

The plot in itself is good, with some minor exceptions and so is the pacing.

The only problems are that Jane becoming mighty thor might feel rushed (i didnt personally mind it tho)

and that Gorr kindapping children felt so RANDOM?? like obviously it was to draw thor out but maybe if they insited more on why heimdall's son is important for Asgard due to his sight, their capture would have made more sense and feel less like a mcguffin needed to further the plot. also Gorr's cage thingy felt like something out of a fairytale and idk how to feel about it

oh and the childern scene but more on that later

Other than that the plot is good, i liked the romcom aspect EXCEPT THE STORMBREAKER BEING JEALOUS OF MJOLNIR PART?????? (then again maybe its less cringe in english idk)

-Characters

Gorr works super well as a villain, christian bale gives it his all and the dubbing was actually astounding for this particular character

Jane is the highlight of the movie, Natalie works really well as a superhero and her chemistry with Chris H. is waaaay better than in the other movies, her arc is really good and almost identical to the comics

Loved the Darcy cameo

Sif was??? there??? she did stuff??? for 2 seconds???

Valkyrie was also really cool, we finally got the confirmation that shes a lesbian and her scenes with gorr are amongst the highlights. And marvel will pay for my therapy after almost killing the only character i care about from the thor franchise.

The guardians are barely there (Crisp ratt looks like someone botched his plastic surgery) and i guess they just are a way to introduce the gorr issue and many many gags (like the temple destruction.. the parts with Kraglins wife... thor doing the splits.... etc...)

Korg is ok.... i wish they had the balls to kill him bevause his "death" scene was actually really cool and surprising. Even tho him with his husband/boyfriend at the end was SO CUTE

The other gods are... cool? the dumpling god was more cringe than cute and i think the scissor god pun was lost to the dubbing. Also we were robbed of like a Khonshu/Taweret cameo, maybe them being on thor side or smt idk

Zeus was really cool and the whole gods are useless and their hybris thing was really cool to see. Ive seen people call zeus cringe but for me it was one of the best parts of the movie. THOR KILLING ZEUS WAS EVERYTHING??? I WISH THEY HAD MORE MOMENTS WHERE THE CHARACTERS EMPTIONS FELT SO STRONG LIKE I FELT THORS RAGE AS HE KILLED HIM (even tho hes alive in the post credit scene)

the inclusion of eternity was wild but honestly was executed well

-direction

A major pro is the cinematography, some shots are outright stunning, some creative decisions are amazing and the cgi works reallt well

ive seen people criticize the costumes for being cosplay-y but it honestly didnt bother me

-cringe

I guess the only problem i had was that there were to many jokes and it reallt felt like a contuous jump from one comedic situation to another woth some hiys of fights, romance and stuff

OH AND THE SCENE WITH THE CHILDREN WAS SO BAD, LIKE I WAS STARTING TO ENJOY THE MOVIE AND THINKING IT WOULD GROW AND ME AND BAM! ITS JUST SO CRINGE AND THEY COULDVE MADE IT WORK SO MUCH BETTER SO EASILY. IT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT THE CHILDREN WOULD DEFEND THEMSELVES BUT THEY SHOULD'VE STARTED FIGHTING/HELP ON THEIR OWN (ya know so they dont die) AND THEN GET THE POWERS OF THOR BECAUSE THEY ARE WORTHY RATHER THAN THAT CRINGE ASS SCENE. ALSO THE TEDDY BEAR SHOOTING LIGHTING OUT OF ITS EYES???? THE GIRL CUTTING WONSTERS UP WITH A WAND?? (it sounds good on paper but after 1.30 hrs of gags and nonsense it just felt like too much)

The ending was meh... i dont mind thor being a father to gorrs daughter but her having powers out of the blue,??? do they come from eternity????

it was weird to introduce a cosmic entity in the last 20 mins of the movie but it worked pretty well.

ONTO THE POST CREDITS:

I completey guessed that they would introduce Hercules and a thor vs Hercules movie seems right up taikas alley so i look forward to that. Not a fan of zeus not dying tho

The scene in valhalla was sooo cute. Heimdalls cameo was sweet and felt like a good conclusion tho the first thor run (like the thor and tdw worldbuilding)

overall a fun unhinged ride that is downplayed by excessive comedy, which is a shame bc the character journeys are spot on (kudos to taika for putting that much character development in 2hrs of movie). FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHATCH IT IN ENGLISH WITH DUBS bc the main problem is that the jokes dont wok and the dubbing might be a major reason as to why

[philhoffman]

actually,,,, what are your least favourite PSH movies? be negative, sis

Ohhh I love being a hater 😌 These are my least faves in no particular order:

The Getaway: I lied, this one is definitely first for a reason. The worst. I don’t like the plot or the genre, I don’t like how it looks, I strongly dislike pretty much the entire case except for Phil

The Invention of Lying: This starts out promising but ends up overplaying every joke and reaching in every wrong direction. So many of the jokes aged poorly, and it’s uncomfortable even watching Louis CK. Phil’s appearance is a genuine cameo, so brief it doesn’t make the rest of the film worth it.

Strangers With Candy: Again a cameo role in a comedy that just… is not my kind of humor. Without a doubt one of his performances that makes me laugh the most, but I’m not familiar with the original show and I don’t connect with it that much

Triple Bogey: I want to like this pretentious indie art house film so much but I can’t force myself to 😔 Still not really sure what’s going on. I respect the style and the director deeply but you may be better off watching Phil’s one-minute scene on youtube than buying the DVD like I did

God’s Pocket: This list can’t be all cameos and early movies, so God’s Pocket is probably my least favorite of his more substantial films. I actually like it (mostly bc of his performance, which moves me greatly) but it’s not at the top of my favorites list. Slattery’s directorial debut, you can tell. Either Jenkins and Hendricks were miscast or poorly written (or both), but nothing about their characters/storyline was… good. I’ve reluctantly watched so many semi-mob/blue-collar crime films in the last year my brain might melt. It’s not my type of movie. However, in fairness I can’t complain about the first scene after the opening funeral shot 👀 If a movie gives me that, I can’t stay too mad at it. And seriously Mickey is a sweetheart, Phil plays him with such care and nuance and exhaustion that makes me emotional if I think about it too much

In general I feel very fortunate that the vast majority of Phil’s film and theater projects are of genuine interest to me. I think we have a similar artistic taste and maybe that’s why I connect with him so much, rather than just happening to connect to his work because of him? Like, there are many other actors who I really love but so much of their filmography is not my style at all. With Phil, I really enjoy most of his films and the plays he did as a whole, even outside of his particular role in each

And lately, working through his early films, I’ve tried to see the best in all of them… however, if pressed I could probably be a hater for any movie. Szuler? Weird Polish orgy movie. Joey Breaker? Dumb. Flawless? Absolutely stupid unnecessary crime subplot. Mary and Max? Claymation scares me. Jack Goes Boating? Wash your hair buddy.

[nethandrake]

Blood In The Water

stevethortony. mcu. rated t. 1.8k words.

based on this fanart i commissioned from​ @justlous-art

also on ao3.

*****

Press conferences, in Clint’s opinion, are one of the worst things he has to experience.

Every time the Avengers has to host one (which is usually almost every fucking week), it’s always the same old reporters throwing accusations, the same old debates being tosses around, the same old headaches and boredom creeping into his mind. They always end with everyone in a shitty mood.

The only upside Clint could see is that he only needs to speak up if a question’s directed his way. Otherwise, it’d be their co-leaders’ job to fend the wolves off.

Their co-leaders who are currently and unfortunately answering another stupid question from the press.

“Yes, Stark Industries will be footing the bill,” Steve says tiredly.

“We always do,” Tony chimes in. “Now, you with the green-striped tie. You’re up.”

The journalist in question straightens, fixing his tie. Clint doesn’t remember seeing him at any of the conferences but he looks awfully familiar.

“He’s from Fox News,” Natasha supplies next to Clint.

It takes everything in Clint to not bash his smash his face against the conference table. “Shit.”

“Shit indeed.”

“It is no secret that Mr Stark is, to put it lightly,” Fox Man begins, his reedy voice making Clint’s skin crawl, “promiscuous—”

“What does this have to do with the giant squid we took down?” Steve interrupts.

“—and have been known to get into relationships with men, women—”

“What is the point of this?” Thor cuts in, his cool demeanor now turned irritated. “We are deviating from the—”

“My question to you, Captain,” Fox Man continues, unperturbed, “is, what are your thoughts regarding Mr Stark and Mr Odinson’s…relationship?”

Tony stills as murmurs begin to fill the room. Pepper immediately whips her tablet out.

It’s not the first time Clint’s heard of rumors of the Avengers dating amongst themselves but it’s never been brought up during their press conferences.

First time for everything, he supposes.

Thor jumps to his feet, slamming his hands on the table. Outside, thunder crackles.

“You dare—”

Steve isn’t doing much better to rein his temper in, leaning forward with a dangerous glint behind his eyes. “I’d be careful with what you say next. Rumors of the Avengers fraternizing isn’t new so—”

“Oh, this isn’t just a rumor,” Fox Man says coolly. He jumps to his feet, holding out his phone. “I happen to have…proof.”

In a flash, Happy strides over, most likely to block the man’s path like the good Head of Security he is. Steve waves him off, beckoning for the device to be handed over to Clint.

On the phone is a picture of Thor and Tony kissing in a dimly lit alleyway. Or at least, men who are supposedly Thor and Tony. It’s hard to tell since the quality’s crap.

Then again, they’re both bathed in a soft blue glow. A soft blue glow that Clint’s come to associate with the arc reactor.

“That isn’t photoshopped,” Fox Man claims. “If you swipe left, you’ll find a video.”

True enough, there is one of Thor pushing Tony against the wall and god, that’s so gross. Who knows what’s on that wall—

Natasha snatches the phone out of Clint’s grasp, giving it a long once-over.

“Thoughts?” Clint murmurs.

“It looks authentic,” she admits.

Well, then. Fuck.

When the phone ends up in Steve’s grasp, Clint swears cracks form on the screen.

“I would like to know if there have been…issues between you and Mr Stark,” Fox Man continues like the oblivious idiot he is. Clint’s ready to reach pluck an arrow from his quiver and pin the asshole to a wall. “You come from a different time, a time where traditional and wholesome American values are valued. Mr Stark isn’t known for possessing such values. And it is widely known that you and Mr Stark did not get along. And with this…alien—”

“I get it,” Steve growls. It’s been a while since Clint’s seen in this furious. He looks ready to pounce, if Tony hasn’t stilled him in place.

Steve’s features meld into something soft, a look that Clint’s privately coined as the ‘Tony Look’. Oddly, it’s the same look he flashes Thor. The three of them trade glances, glances that only a super soldier, a god, and a genius would know. Tony’s lips curl into a reassured smirk. The other follow suit.

Clint wonders if that’s how Natasha and him are like. Because damn, he gets why people think it’s eerie.

“First of all, let me be clear about this,” Steve begins, “I will not let you or anyone disrespect my friends like that ever again. This is a warning to the rest of you all as well. You, however, I’ll make sure you’ll be banned from the next conference. And don’t think I won’t remember your face. Because I will. I have a good memory. As for your question, I don’t have anything to say about that. But I do have something to show you.”

Without hesitation, Steve leans over to capture Tony’s lips in his.

Clint would’ve toppled over if Natasha hadn’t steadied his chair.

“That’s…”

“Bold?”

“I was gonna say unexpected,” Clint says. “But yeah, sure. Let’s go with that.”

It’s an open secret among the Avengers that Steve and Thor have been hopelessly pining for Tony for months, even going so far as trying to outdo each other with their efforts of wooing Tony.

Judging by the way Tony’s cupping Steve’s face as they make out and the shit-eating grin Thor has plastered on as he saunters over to the two, it seems like they’ve come to a mutual agreement. A silent mutual agreement.

How the fuck did this escape the rest of their notice? Of Clint’s notice? Steve and Thor are two of the least subtle people around. The fact that they and Tony could keep their relationship on the downlow is blowing Clint’s mind.

Steve and Tony part with a quiet smack. Tony turns in his seat to fist Thor’s shirt to give his own kiss.

“I think my brain’s short-circuiting.”

Natasha scoffs. “You’re acting as if you’ve never seen two men kiss in your life.”

“Well, I’ve never seen my friends kiss each other,” Clint hisses. “You gotta cut me some slack here. I mean, look at Bruce.”

“Bruce looks fine.”

“His eyebrows look like they’re gonna climb off his forehead.”

Steve’s cheeks are flaming red when he shyly turns back to the stunned crowd in front of him. His expression quickly turns icy when he meets Fox Man’s eyes, who looks torn between hiding in a hole or lighting the rest of them on fire.

“Does that answer your question?” he challenges. “Or do you need me to give you another demonstration?”

Thor doesn’t let Fox Man reply, smirking as he inches over to Steve. “I dare say we have not finished his question, my love.”

And with that, he seals Steve’s lips with his.

Clint almost passes out.

“Okay,” Natasha says. “Now, that? That I didn’t see coming.”

Tony’s all smiles as he watches his boyfriends (boyfriends!!!!!) make out in front of everyone. It’s the smuggest and proudest he’s ever seen him.

“Suck it,” he says into the microphone, casually flipping off Fox Man, who looks like he’s ready to explode.

For some unexplainable reason, the rest of the journalists zero in on Clint after that.

“Don’t look at me,” he says, hands held high. “I ain’t kissing them.”

Natasha smirks. Bruce covers his grin behind his sleeve.

Out of the corner of Clint’s eyes, Pepper rubs her temples and pops a pill.

*****

The next day, Clint and the rest of the Avengers pile into one of the stuffy conference rooms on the helicarrier because according to Tony, ‘Eye Patch is in the mood to ream their asses’. Which is so, so unfair since Clint wasn’t the one who made out with his boyfriends in front of the press. Why the hell did he need to face Fury’s wrath when he wasn’t the one to out himself to the press?

Much to no one’s surprise, said boyfriends don’t show up.

Fury’s scowl is much more steely than usual when he storms in, slamming a newspaper onto the table.

Emblazoned on the front page is a picture of Tony flipping the camera as Steve and Thor make out in the background. Avengers: Gay Orgy?!, its heading screams.

“Is there something you people wanna tell me?” Fury begins icily.

“There is no orgy going on between the six of us,” Natasha immediately answers.

“Or five,” Bruce adds.

Clint nods his head, gesturing towards the newspaper. “Yup, yup. The only Avengers having an orgy are them.”

Fury raises an eyebrow. “And what the hell do you call this, then?”

“A threesome,” Natasha replies.

Clint frowns at her. “But that’s not even a threesome. They weren’t even having sex.”

“Threesome could mean three people as a group,” Bruce offers.

“Ah.”

“Speaking of threesomes, where the hell are Stark and—”

A resounding crash cuts Fury off, jolting everyone in their seats.

Everyone hustles out and makes a beeline for the conference room next door. Clint gets into position, readying himself to let his arrow fly.

He expects AIM beekeepers, HYDRA goons, or even Doombots. Instead, they’re greeted by the sight of the conference table cracked, the room in disarray, and the other half of the Avengers in a tangle of limbs.

Tony has sandwiched himself between his boyfriends as he sucks the soul out of Steve. Next to them, Thor glances up at Clint and the rest, beaming and flashing them a thumbs-up before Tony drags him into a kiss.

Clint’s going to need bleach for his eyes when he gets home.

“Are you sure the squid didn’t spray them with sex pollen or something?” he begins tentatively.

“Nope,” Bruce replies. “We got checked over, remember?”

“Twice,” Natasha adds.

Steve has the decency to look ashamed when he catches sight of them. He pries his boyfriends apart before jumping to his feet in haste. “Director! I– We were just—”

“Late,” Tony continues for him. “Sorry about that but—”

“We were distracted,” Thor declares.

“I’ll pay for everything,” Tony adds.

Fury looks absolutely murderous.

Clint clasps his hands. “Well! I think it’s safe to say that we all need a break. Or bleach. How about we adjourn this meeting for a while and—”

“Three of you are dismissed. But you three,” Fury jabs his fingers at Steve, Thor, and Tony in turn, “stay. We need to talk.”

Steve’s cheeks darken. Thor puffs his chest. Tony grins lazily. Their hair is disarray, their clothes wrinkled, their lips red and puffy and— Clint is not going to think about that. Nope. Not at all. Not if he wants to sleep at night.

Natasha immediately makes a beeline for the door. Bruce wipes his glasses with his shirt, following after her.

Out of the corner of Clint’s eyes, Fury rubs his temples and pops a pill.

*****

True to his word, Tony ends up paying for all the damages incurred on the helicarrier. All twenty thousand dollars’ worth of damages.

Clint couldn’t look at Conference Room Three the same way ever again.

*****

also on ao3.

[vickykun]

You know what, I started thinking these days... I believe most queer loki or lokius fans who were mad over the series or the sylki thing, wouldn't be so mad if the series actually added visible representation of Loki flirting with men. He is canonically flirty both in the comics and the movies, so it would be just canon and better.

Definiely better than going for the safe heteronormative mode. Loki is a fictional character and exists in a vacuum created and written mostly by cishet white men, (excluding Taika), so really, representation needs to be SEEN.

Loki is flirty and have always been flirty with female characters on the Thor movies, so why not put men there too? A character known for being a flirty, genderfluid and bi demi god, should flirt with more than just ladies.

That's canon and now we know that he definitely had sex with Sif and the Grandmaster even. This is part of who the character is, so what is your problem especifically, with people asking the series to stay true to the source material?

I said before, the fandom projects too much in the character and like to pretend their headcanons of Loki being aromantic / ace is actually true, but that couldn't be further from the truth, so you either admit you don't want to see Loki flirting or loving male characters or stop pretending you cared too when Loki flirted with almost all the ladies on screen during the previous Thor movies.

Bi people will remain bi, it doesn't matter who they are dating, but we are not talking about real life, we are talking about entertainement created in a vacuum and talking about a character who aside from being canonically flirty, has been written by cishet white men from the start (Kate was the director of the show, but not the writer, the writers are two cishet men and one of them even wanted to write Loki having a 'bisexual sex and an orgy', as if there's anything like bisexual sex. Sex is sex, periodt. The fetishization of bi characters is awful)

If you dig some numbers, the american TV has around 99 canonically bi characters and every single one of then were represented inside a M/F relationship, never MLM or WLM. When something is a pattern in a fictional space that exists in a vacuum, you start to notice the problem itself, which is tv series and movies always going for the safest choice.