#after ca:cw

[vee-nyx]

to celebrate 8 years since civil war release, let’s review all the ways tony stark was an absolute loser and actually the reason thanos won in infinity war:

created an omnicidal A.I. that the rest of the team warned him against creating

decided that the entire team needed to become government puppets because he felt guilty for creating said A.I. that, once again, NO ONE SUPPORTED HIM IN MAKING

(also the reason bucky was forced back into the fight bc tony caused sokovia and thus caused zemo’s need for revenge but i digress on that pt)

when members of the team who can’t disconnect from their abilities raised concerns about how the accords dehumanized them, he had them arrested or locked them in his tower

bribed (yes, bribed) a child into fighting on his side because he knew he was outmatched

instructed vision to shoot sam out of the sky and then shot sam point-blank when he avoided the blast that would��ve left him severely injured AND LANDED TO HELP THE PERSON IT HIT

wanda on the raft. this is its own point. he let her be restrained and collared like a fucking DOG as if he hadn’t already done enough damage in her life (killing her parents & brother)

proceeded to break the accords THAT HE HELPED WRITE to chase cap across the globe because he felt left out of the action

blamed a brainwashed pow for BEING FORCED to kill the starks AGAINST HIS WILL and proceeded to BLOW HIS ARM OFF and ATTEMPT TO KILL HIM DESPITE KNOWING THAT NONE OF IT WAS HIS CHOICE

mocked natasha’s trauma because she dared to disagree with his methods (he is, in fact, incapable of letting go of his ego for one goddamn second)

even after receiving an apology, refused to contact cap for three years despite KNOWING about the threat of thanos

in conclusion,

[legalandnotease]

it is concerning how much faith Tony fans have in the government and the political establishment: especially the ones who call themselves "liberal".

Like, its a consistent theme throughout the MCU that establishment figures and politicians cannot be trusted. They're almost always the villians or aligned witht the villians.

They never pass up an oppurtunity to screw over the little people. Which is arguably one of the most realistic aspects of the MCU.

Take how they say Steve "should have gone throught the right legal channels" to help Bucky in Civil War.

The movie takes great pains to show us that Steve *tried to do that*. Like Bucky let himself be arrested as soon as he got away from Ross kill squad.

And what happened? He's handed over to the CIA and denied a trial or legal representation (E. Ross laughing at the idea of him having a lawyer which is a human right enshrined in International law)

Its clearly shown that those in power were *not interested* in who really bombed the UN. They just got hold of the nearest convenient scapegoat and wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible to look good. To look as though they were doing something.

No due process, no investigation. Zip. They didn't even bother with proper security at the detention facility considering Zemo was just able to walk in armed only with a fake ID card.

Steve was basically *forced* to clear Bucky's name himself, because the establishment were not interested in real justice. It wasn't even some "arrogant American" version of justice either.

Like... finding the *right* person who bombed the UN and killed King T'Chaka should have been a priority for anybody.

Convicting the wrong person for a crime is contrary to most people's interpetation of justice, because it means that the person who actually did it goes unpunished.

[legalandnotease]

Tony Stans have a severe logical deficit.

Steve forced Clint to do nothing. All of the members of Team Cap aided him voluntarily, despite knowing what they were getting into.

There's absolutely zero evidence Clint had any opinion either way on the Accords- because he wasn't asked. He wasn't invited to Tony's little discussion: more like blackmaiing session.

Neither was Hank Pym- who was directly impacted by them. Neither was Strange, neither was Spidey. Or any other enhanced person.

Tony arbitrarily made the desision to hand over power of all enhanced people to Ross- ROSS of all people- without asking any of them. (And don't get me started how Tony fans pretend Ross is suddenly the good guy in CW after his whole history in the MCU being that of an antagonist at best...)

And those who said no? Well.. he was happy to let Ross lock them in Gauntanamo Bay for their trouble.

Further, and her's the real crux: Steve had already made up his mind to not sign before everything with Bucky. He was *already* prepared to retire before that point.

He was effectively acting as a private citizen after that point and picked other private citiizens who had not signed the Accords on his team specifically so they would not fall afoul of them.

He was never using public money or resources to help Bucky- but Tony was doing that to try and murder an American Citizen on foreign soil without any semblance of a trial or due process.

Look at the makeup of his Team: T'Challa. Literally a living breathng Accords breaker. Using his catsuit and enhanced powers to break stuff and try and kill a guy.

Spidey- a kid Tony blackmailed and manipuated into helping him

Vision: A synth created without any kind of official permission to stop Tony's genocidal murderbot.

Natasha: A former Red Room assassin (what was that you were complaining about assassins???) whose record SHIELD hid for years.

And two of them switch sides before the end of the movie.

Even Tony ignores the Accords as soon as they become inconvenient. When Ross is yelling at him be decides to go after Zemo himself without any offiical permission because he thinks if he gives Zemo to Ross he might get off his back.

Tony's actions and stance are selfish from start to finish. He's guilt-tripped into supporting them by the mom of the singular American legal adult who his murderbot killed.

He never even thinks about or mentioned the thousands of innocent Sokovians who died. Who he was happy to allow to die- he was the guy who immediately proposed blowing up Novi Grad as a solution. It was the others who had to evacuate as many civilians as they could.

And it was precisely because Tony didn't give a fuck that Zemo did what he did. His whole speech in Siberia is very much "remember thier names". Had Tony given a fuck about dead Sokovians Zemo's family would have been well-known (he was aristocracy there for goodness sake..) and something would have been done. Some aid or relief or something.

Tony then straight out admits he's only getting on board so Pepper will come back, and then as mentioned he ignores them as soon as humanly possible because he wants to be the one to get the sole credit of saving the day but apprehending the real villian (the one Steve had been telling him was the real villian for days...)

He even admits that he should be arresting himself over going to Siberia. Where is was neither wanted, invited, nor welcome.

Steve's stance is based on real principles: you cannot allow governments who have a history of weaponizing enhanced people to have control of enhanced people because they *will* do it again. Its not a matter of if but when. ...and when they do, inncents will die because they will use enhanced people as their private army. Just like Ross always wanted to do.

Bucky is just one example of what governments will do when they get hold of an enhanced person. Natasha is another. Hulk is another (he would have been Team Cap because of his history with Ross).

Tony fans were just too dense and too much in love with him to understand what the movie as telling them.

Tony Stark in CA:CW + the values of Captain America

[eunuchorn]

People who think that Steve's motivation in Captain America: Civil War was about Bucky so fundamentally misunderstand Steve Rogers as a character that I have to wonder if we actually watched the same movie.

Steve's opposition to the Accords had nothing to do with Bucky. Full stop. Even if Bucky didn't exist, CA:CW would still have played out the exact same way (except the fight with Tony at the end, obviously). Sooner or later, Steve would have run into a situation where he felt compelled to act, but doing so would go against the Accords. In CA:CW, that situation happened to be the kill order on Bucky, but it could have been a totally different situation and the result would still have been the same. Steve would have chosen to act, knowing it went against the Accords, and he would have found himself on the opposite side of the law. Even the ones who actually signed the Accords, i.e team Iron Man, found themselves in that situation eventually:

Natasha chose to go against orders and let Steve and Bucky get away after the airport fight so they could stop the other winter soldiers.

Tony chose to go against Ross's direct orders and went to help Steve in Siberia.

Vision went on the run with Wanda and helped her avoid arrest.

Rhodey went against Ross's direct orders and chose to help Cap and the rest in Infinity War instead of arresting them.

All of them found themselves in situations where they chose to act in violation of the Accords, because to not do so would be morally wrong. Which was Steve's entire point. Legality isn't the same as morality and putting their powers in the hands of political agendas would inevitably cause the Avengers to either have to fight someone who didn't deserve to be fought, or to be kept from fighting someone who should have been stopped. As shown in the examples above.

So Bucky was totally irrelevant to Steve's decision regarding the Accords. Bucky or no Bucky, Steve would have refused to sign, found himself in a situation where he felt morally compelled to act, and ended up with an arrest warrant on his ass. Which, presumably, Tony would have tried to carry out. And boom, the general plot of the movie happens anyway. That's what the civil war was about, not Steve's relationship with Bucky. The fact that it was Bucky's situation that was the catalyst, instead of some other thing, was coincidental (or, rather, it was because it's a Cap movie and personal stakes as a secondary/parallel plot is more narratively compelling).

[wingheadshellhead]

i'm back on my "mcu steve was in the darkest timeline because he never experienced the canon event of tony stark giving him a home and a family" bullshit. post-ice steve was isolated, grieving, lonely, going through ptsd and survivor's guilt and he was constantly fixated on how he had no home or family or identity beyond cap. post-ice in the mcu, SHIELD stuck him in the costume and sent him back into the field, reinforcing the idea that he was nothing more than the empty shell of captain america.

"All my life I've tried to find a place for Steve Rogers—but still he lives under the more colorful shadow of Captain America… Perhaps it's Steve Rogers who's the legend—and Captain America who is the reality! Perhaps I was born to be a red-white-and-blue Avenger—and nothing more! But there must be more to life than endless combat! Others have found a home—a family—why can't I? Or, is Steve Rogers destined to walk alone forever—until the final battle—until he walks no more?"

— Tales of Suspense Vol. 1 #75 (1959)

"[...] But, even in the center of a crowd, I'm an outsider—a misfit! Only when I'm costumed as Captain America do I seem to come alive—to have a mission—a purpose! But, as Steve Rogers, I'm merely a name—a hollow shell—with no roots—no real life to call my own! Other men have friends—wives—loved ones!"

— Tales of Suspense Vol. 1 #92 (1959)

in the comics, the canon event of tony stark, the first person steve meets in the 21st century, giving him all of those things — a purpose, a home, somewhere to belong as himself and not just cap — changed his entire life.

"The first week after I came out of the ice… It was a dark time. I'd lost everything. My best friend. All my friends. All I had. I didn't know what I could hang on to. And then Tony Stark came in with this little… handheld cinema. Future technology. He showed me a newsreel. Right there, I saw a man walk on the moon. For all mankind. And in that moment, I felt hope again."

— S.W.O.R.D. Vol. 2 #6 (2021)

"Mr. Stark, when I woke up in this era, I had no one. Nothing. You gave me a purpose. Somewhere to belong… You gave me a home."

— Iron Man/Captain America: Casualties of War (2006) 

meeting tony and the avengers, creating those friendships and connections, living at the avengers mansion with them, gives steve hope that he can still find happiness and belonging in the present day.

i always found it ironic that in the mcu steve projects this ideal of happiness and domestic life onto tony. this scene in ca:cw is a perfect example of that disconnect between the reality and what steve assumed on the surface was tony achieving what he never could — having a partner, his own family and kids. (the fact that cacw tony is 4 seconds away from a heart attack at all times and too busy running around firefighting PR crises just further drives home the irony.)

and then in a cruel twist of fate, mcu actually gives tony all of these things: home, family, wife and kid. we see steve witnessing tony having these things and knowing it's all possible, but just not for him and not in this era. (and ultimately, tony only gets to have these things for a brief period of time before having to give it all up.)

mcu steve never got to have the experiences that have shaped every other universe's steve rogers. the presence of tony stark, his friendship, his home, his love (whether platonic or romatnic), that formed the foundation of steve's purpose within the avengers, is intrinsic to steve finding hope and happiness in the modern day. the mcu changing such a crucial canon event rewrote not only the core of mcu steve's story but the trajectory of the cinematic universe. and in the end, the writers sent steve back to the past because they believed after 6 movies and 7 years, he had nothing left to live for in the present and i honestly can't think of anything more tragic.

[http-shield]

daisies, i think- bucky barnes

~ bucky barnes x fem!reader ~tags/cw: angst, budding friendship and romance, set in CA:CW timeline where Bucky is in Romania trying to piece back together his life, mixed POV ~ wc: 1.2k ~ not proofread

premise: ex-avengers employee, you have moved to Europe in order to get away from all things Shield. It is in Romania that you bump into a familiar man, a face you have only seen in the secret files you managed to get a glance at. You befriend the ghost of a man, determined to help him undo all the bad the world has done to him.

"You like Jasmine, right?" Bucky asks from across the small coffee table. 

"Uh, yeah. How did you-?" You grin at him, eyes squinting in apprehension at the sudden declaration. 

"I can remember some things," he answers and returns to the bowl of steaming noodles. "Not everything, but some things." the clarification comes a moment later. 

It's been two months since you moved into the small apartment on the outskirts of Bucharest. Two months of living in close quarters with Bucky, two months of getting to know him on a level you never thought you would. Two months. 

You clear your throat and ask. "What kind do you like?"

"Daisies. I think." He doesn't look up from his bowl, but you can see a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "I saw them a lot while…"

Still unsure of how to refer to the period when he wasn't himself. "They grow everywhere, so I can always find them, and they're nice to look at." 

The noodles sit abandoned in front of you now. Your attention has shifted wholly onto James, who continues to eat despite disclosing something that shattered your heart. He never stopped being that young boy who was lost, never stopped looking for life in the depths of hell, never stopped being Bucky. 

"You gonna write that in your book?" 

The question catches you off guard. 

"You have that little book you write in. I thought it was a diary but you only write in after I tell you something. Plus I saw my name a bunch’a times”

Your cheeks flush. 

"Is it bad stuff?" Bucky looks up now, blue eyes broken and defeated. 

"No! Nothing bad!" You rush to answer, scrambling for the book you tucked under the table and flip it open to your latest entry. "It's all good things, actually. Stuff that you like or remember or stories you tell me." 

Bucky's posture relaxes, shoulders sagging a little at the assurance you weren't keeping tabs on his slip-ups. 

You continue, opening to a page filled with drawings of stars and planets.  "This is when you told me that you went to the Stark expo before you shipped off and how you wished you could see space one day." you point to the stars that adorn the margin. "That's why there are little stars. I've been writing it all down so that if one day you need to remember something and we aren't together, I can give you the book, and you'll have all your memories." 

The heat in your cheeks deepens as you confess your reasoning behind the notetaking. 

"Steve, your umm…"

"I know Steve," Bucky confirms with a slight smile. 

"Steve has a book just like this with all the things he missed or wants to remember, so I copied him." it feels infantile using the word copied, but you can't think of anything better. "You can have it now if you want?'

"You leavin' me?" The sadness returns for a split second.

"No." your answer is firm. 

Light floods his blue eyes, shimmering like the sun on the ocean. "Then keep it. I'll take it when you finish it."

There's hope in his words. Determination that he will remember who he was and who he hopes to be. You find yourself smiling at that, admiring how much he is trying and how you can see yourself finishing this book and starting another.

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

"Do you think we should get some curtains?" your proposal has Bucky pausing in the kitchen, boiling water sloshing in the small pot he had just pulled from the stove.

He looks to the windows, plastered with newspapers to keep out prying eyes, and while he never thought about customising his apartment, your suggestion stirs something within him.

"If you want." the answer feels so domestic and ordinary that he forgets who and where he is. For a moment, he is no longer in a dingy apartment on the run and unstable in his own identity, but he is at home with you. He is in an apartment in Brooklyn, not far from where he grew up, in a small and cozy one-bedroom flat that he shares with you and your cat. You aren't the kind and strange girl who picked him up off the street like a stray, but you're so much more, someone he wishes he met in another life. He watches you frame the window with your fingers, face crinkled as you close one eye and determine the best shape and style of drapery for the space. His heart squeezes, a feeling wholly unfamiliar in his aching body.

"I can get some tomorrow after work?" another offer of complete and utter everyday ease. "Yellow? With daisies?"

Bucky grins at that.

"Or pink with jasmine?"

A small laugh escapes you, and you drop your hands. "One pink and one yellow?"

Bucky nods and returns to emptying that water from the pot, watching as the potatoes drop into the colander in the skin. He had offered to cook tonight, an easy recipe he had overheard while out today from two older ladies sitting in the square, their voices loud and bousitruous despite the sensitive nature of their conversation. The recipe was easy enough. Boil potatoes until soft, season them and cook them in the oven. Simple, easy. Perfect for his muddled mind to follow.

"Want help?" Your voice is closer, and Bucky jumps slightly. You reach out and grab his arm, hoping not to scare him further, but Bucky's heart starts in a race for an entirely different reason.

He gulps. "No need. thank you, ma'am." the words fall from his lips before his brain can form them.

"Ma'am?" you furrow your brows at him. "Where did that come from?"

Bucky turns to you, his face crinkled in confusion as he shakes his head. "I have no idea."

There is a beat of silence as you reach into your back pocket for the small book you had stuffed in there after your walk home. You open it to a blank page and date it to the top before writing your entry.

Calls people ma'am.

"Not people, women. " Bucky sighs as he reads over the edge of the paper. "Ladies, dames, girls."

"Dames?" laughter is building within you as he cites different words for women, most of which you hadn't heard outside of a movie from the forties.

You can't stop the laugh that spills from you, and soon, Bucky follows suit, enjoying how his stomach and shoulders feel as he laughs. It feels good, beyond good; its amazing, divine, marvelous, s'wonderful.

"You are a funny man, Bucky Barnes." You sigh as the laughter subsides, a hand sweeping over his shoulders. He notices how your fingers linger on the joint of his prosthetic arm, and for some reason, he doesn't feel as much guilt filling his stomach like lead. When they brush down his arms to entwine with his fingers, another sensation takes over his gut entirely. It's tingly and hot, twisting and sitting low in his body. He worries it's a bad feeling, familiar in a way that has his mind screaming, but there is no fear, no guilt, nothing but warmth like the sun on a winter's day, so he sits with it and lets you hold his hand until the timer on dinner dings.

a/n: apart of a bigger fic but this is sort of the first taste of it to see how I feel about writing/posting it.

[neilperrydeservedbetter1959]

have you guys ever thought about how steve and bucky likely only spent like a few weeks together max ever since they saw each other again in CA:TWS? (1 day in CA:TWS, a few days in CA:CW, excluding any possible visiting time in Wakanda, and maybe a few days after bucky came back from being blipped?) like after endgame bucky was probably looking forward to actually spending time with steve without a life threatening situation ruining it and steve just leaves him for peggy? like he went to all that trouble and made bucky feel at least a little wanted and then left right when he could have him back permanently? idk just thought about that.

[gremlin-girly]

Flufftober Day 4

From: @flufftober

Prompt: Market Day

Title: The Love of Plums

Pairing: Bucky x gn!Reader

Warnings/tags: FLUFF, CW!Bucky but mostly tooth rotting fluff (with a hint of sad! This is CW Bucky after all), no beta

Summary: You go shopping at the market for plums for a baked treat and share a cute moment with a stranger over plums.

Word count: 1.2k

A/N: This is more of a wholesome moment between Bucky and reader, rather than a big ol' romantic one. The man just wanted his plums in CA:CW and I couldn't resist with this prompt😌 Although if anyone noticed that Bucky holds the plum with his left hand... I'm sorry- Love, Grem x

I hope you enjoy! Likes, comments and reblogs are always appreciated 💜 Dividers by: @/saradika-graphics

Prev | Next | Masterlist

Spiced plum jam. Apple and plum loaf. Caramelised plum tart.

You stood before the box of plums in awe, ideas swirling in your head as you stared at the big, purple orbs in front of you.

Poached plums and figs with brie, spread on crunchy, toasted bread....

Your mouth started to water. You couldn’t come to the market and not get some plums. Especially when they looked this delicious and ripe. They were just the right amount of squidge which meant they were juicy too.

“I’ll take ten.” You tell the shopkeep, who smiles down at you as he fixes a brown paper bag with ten huge plums, uttering the price.

“Don’t eat them all at once,” He chuckles, handing the bag  to you and taking the money from your outstretched palm. The exchange is swift, friendly, and a mutual understanding of pride and admiration between farmer and cook.

You flash a grin to the shopkeep as you head back through to the main thrum of the market.

“I’ll try my best!”

You’re clutching your brown paper bag tightly to your chest like your life depends on it. The market was busier than usual today and you’d be dammed if you wasted another moment not eating a juicy plum.

The crowd parts briefly and you spot a bench just off the path beneath some trees. You make a bee-line for it, weaving quickly and smoothly through the throng of people. The trees rustle above you, cascading leaves in hues of bronze, gold and yellow onto the path. It was a crisp autumn day. There was a breeze but it wasn't too cold, not yet anyway, but a clear signal of the change in season.

You dig a hand into your plum bag, pulling out one of your many treasures, looking out over the market. Your bag remains perched on your lap as you watch buyers yell out deals, prepare food or bags of goods and haggle with customers. All sorts of different smells mingled together; from newly fried donuts and coffees and fresh vegetables and fruits all the way to savoury pastries and the fish stall. It was a myriad for the senses and always the highlight of your week when you could come.

You go to take a bite out of your plum when something shifts in your right peripheral. Your eyes flicker beside you and you're startled to find a man next to you. He's sat on the other side of the bench with a backpack strapped to him and there's a baseball cap casting a shadow over his handsome features. He's not looking at you but over at the market, wearing a forlorn expression that makes your chest ache gently.

You don't know him. You don't know what his story is. But from that expression alone, you know he needs something good to happen today.

You glance down at the plum in your hand thoughtfully and then back to him. You shuffle a little closer, awkwardly steadying the paper bag on your lap, when he looks over to you wide eyed and nervous.

You hold out the plum in your hand to him with a soft, friendly smile.

“Plum?”

He looks over at you like the human equivalent of a question mark.

“You... want one? Sorry, maybe I should have clarified instead of announcing it’s a plum.”

He still looks at you strangely, as if he's surprised by the friendly gesture, but there's a ghost of a smile as he looks between you and the purple sphere in your hand. He tentatively holds out a gloved palm and you place the plum into his hand. He squishes it gently, glancing at it with concentration like he’s trying to feel for something.

“They’re perfect aren’t they?” You say watching him, trying to hype up the plum to him. "They're ripe so they'll be extra sweet."

The stranger says nothing but still looks appreciatively at the plum in his hand, rolling it between his thumb and palm.

You point to the direction of the stall, babbling a little to try to fight the awkwardness of the one-sided conversation you were having. “The stall is just over there. I’d go before they sell out.”

He follows your finger, gaze cautious and alert, but he nods.

"Thanks," he mumbles in a gruff voice, which makes you stifle a sigh of relief. You offer him another smile as you retrieve a new plum for yourself, toasting it to him before taking a large, long-awaited bite. Plum juice trickles down your chin and your free hand rushes to cup it before it stains your clothes. You mutter a curse around the plum flesh, blushing a little when you hear a quiet chuckle from the man beside you.

"What did I say?" You try for a charming smile but your mouth is still covered with plum juice and flesh. "Ripe."

The stranger's smile widens and he shakes his head quietly. You can't help the warmth that spreads in your chest at the sight. He looks even more handsome when he smiles; the furrowed brows of anxiety replaced with crinkles around his eyes. You give him a delicate nudge with your elbow.

"Your turn."

He considers it a moment, regarding the plum, before taking a shy bite of his own. Plum juice still manages to dribble down his chin, causing you to stifle a giggle. The stranger's eyes widen with delight, wiping his face with a free gloved hand and he's still smiling.

"They are ripe," he chuckles and takes another bite.

"I did warn you." You mimick his action and take another bite, smaller than your last thankfully. A comfortable silence settles between you as you eat the plums, a soft breeze blowing leaves gently over both of your feet.

"Thank you." The stranger says quietly, after he's finished eating. "That was...nice of you."

You flash another smile. "No problem."

He smiles back and silently rises to his feet, towering above you. Your gaze travels up his form, lingering a little too long when you realise your still mid-way through a bite of plum.

"I... Hope you have a good day." You say gently.

He nods again, cheeks dusting pink. "You too. I... think I might take a look at those plums actually."

"Tell the shop keep the weirdo that bought ten plums sent you. He might give you a discount." You chuckle, earning you another soft, eye-crinkling smile.

"I will. Thanks."

"Stop thanking me. You've said it three times." You huff, mock-annoyed, and then grin. "See ya 'round."

"See you." He nods again and you watch him melt away into the crowd in the direction of the fruit stall with the delicious plums.

You sigh softly into the air, enjoying the final moments of peace with your plum. You wonder if you helped to make the stranger's day better, and if you'll bump into him at the market again. As you leave the market with your (now eight) plums in tow, you think about the stranger and wonder if he will remember you but you shake your head of the thought. It was a fleeting moment of kindness between strangers. You'd probably never see him again. You'd probably not remember him, let alone him remember you.

However, you would be wrong. James Buchanan Barnes always remembered one of the first acts of kindness he experienced after escaping HYDRA. One of the first times he smiled in a very long time.

He never forgot the stranger and their plums.

[gunsandspaceships]

Recruiting Peter in Civil War: a War Crime?

Today we are going to review this statement:

Tony “blackmailed a teenager to help fight his battles for him (Civil War) (which for the record, constitutes as a fucking war crime)”.

Part 1. Not a war crime: check my post about war crimes here. War crime is a crime committed during a war, by a party of the conflict.

MCU's “Civil War” was not a war. It was a conflict between a few people, that included one fight and a chase. The fight at the end of the movie between Tony and Steve with Bucky was not a part of this particular conflict, but a conflict on its own. From the government’s side, this situation was a law enforcement operation to capture a group of fugitives, where Tony’s side represented the law enforcement group under U.N. authority, not a nation’s armed forces.

The definition of Armed Forces: “the combined military, naval, and air forces of a nation”.

Source

In comics (Earth 616) it was indeed a war, but not in the MCU. That’s first.

Second, “Under the Statute of the International Criminal Court, conscripting or enlisting children into armed forces or groups constitutes a war crime in both international and non-international armed conflicts (ICC Statute, Article 8(2)(b)(xxvi) and (e)(vii)).”

Tony did not enlist Peter in the armed forces or the Avengers.

And third, “The bans on recruitment of children below the age of 15 enshrined in Article 77 of  Additional Protocol I, and in Article 4 of Additional Protocol II are also considered to prohibit accepting voluntary enlistment (P I, Art. 77 (2); P II, Art. 4(3)(c)).”

“2. The Parties to the conflict shall take all feasible measures in order that children who have not attained the age of fifteen years do not take a direct part in hostilities and, in particular, they shall refrain from recruiting them into their armed forces. In recruiting among those persons who have attained the age of fifteen years but who have not attained the age of eighteen years, the Parties to the conflict shall endeavour to give priority to those who are oldest.” (Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, Art. 77 (2)).

Here we got to an actual error from the SMFFH filmmakers’ side. Before SMFFH Peter’s age at the time of Civil War was planned to be 15 (see directors’ and screenwriters’ commentaries). In SMFFH Peter’s birthday was set to Aug 10, 2001, making him 14 years old at the time of Civil War. We cannot use random date placements made by SMFFH creators to define serious stuff, and also use another movie’s filmmakers’ decisions that were made after Civil War. So we must go with the fact that at the time of Civil War Peter was 15 years old, as was stated by the creators of CA:CW.

Conclusion: Peter was 15 years old, and if he were recruited to participate in a war, it would not be a war crime. But, he also was not enlisted in the armed forces. And Civil War was not an actual war, but a law enforcement operation under UN jurisdiction. So, yes, Tony is not a war criminal. Again. Very disappointing.

If you guys have any other ideas of how to accuse him of war crimes – go ahead. I’ll check them all.

[whatonearthisgoingon]

Okay, so someone has probably already made this point, but I want to take a look at the two teams in CA:CW.

First we have Team Cap, the group against the Accords. According to the Accords, those deemed too powerful can be arrested without a trial. Steve (+1), Bucky (+1), and Wanda (+1) are three people who can not change what they are. Their abilities are apart of them. Two of them are super soldiers, and Wanda's powers are due to experiments done on her. They can't just turn off or take off their powers. Ontop of this, the government is actively against Bucky, with a shoot to kill order for him. Without the Accords going on, there would still be issues between Steve, Bucky, and the government; the Accords were just the push over the edge. Going back to being dangerous under the Accords' standards, the government could even push Clint (+0.5) into this superhuman category due to his numerous skills, such as his enhanced eyesight, and incredible skills with archery. It would be really difficult to prove, but the government could do it, especially if they just need to say: "Hey, you're too strong: no trial, in jail." That leaves Sam (+0) and Scott (+0), who can both take off their powers simply by removing the suit, becoming essentially normal dudes. Scott is familiar with what it's like to be a criminal, leading him to side with Steve. Sam is one of Steve's best friends at this point, so he would clearly pick his side no matter what. Group danger from the Accords total: 3.5 points.

Now I want to look at Team Ironman.

T'challa (+0), Tony (+0), and Rhodey (+0) can all get rid of their "powers" by taking off the suit and calling it a day. On top of that, T'challa is a king of a nation. I'm not even sure if he can be affected by the Accords, due to some international/royal immunity or whatever; he's essentially just here to get revenge on Bucky. Peter (+1), is a child, doing what his role model told him to do. I dont think he even has full knowledge of the details of the Accords. He's actually one of the only people on this team that can be seriously hurt by the Accords, further proving his ignorance. "'Look kid. There's a lot going on here that you don't understand.' 'Mr. Stark said you'd say that.' 'Stark tell you anything else?' 'That you're wrong. You think you're right. That makes you dangerous.'" (Convo between Peter and Steve). His information is coming from Stark and Stark alone. Stark wants the Accords, because he thinks the Avengers need to be in check. He has issues with anxiety and depression, plus has a different mentality than Steve. Tony, after a battle, first looks and sees all the people the Avengers didn't save, or accidently hurt, in the fight. Meanwhile Steve first sees all the people they did save by fighting. Tony wants the team to be put in check, because of his mentality. Steve is worried that with the Accords, he will be sent to fight battles that don't need to be fought, instigating and creating chaos rather eliminating it (with the Accords, the government controls where the team goes and where the team doesn't go). However, Tony is one of the ones, who just takes off the suit, and he's safe from the Accords. This makes the accords even more appealing to him, "We can be in check like we need to be!" He's not paying attention to the in jail with no trial part because he can't be arrested for being "too dangerous" by simply existing. Even if he was in danger of the Accords for being "too powerful," the government is greedy. There is a chance that Stark could buy himself out of jail from the Accords. Do I think he would? No. Do I think he can? Yes. That leaves Natasha (+0.5) and Vision (+0.5). Natasha is all fighting skill, not superhuman abilities, a similar scenario to Clint. She's safe if the government doesn't push too hard on her, which, due to the side she took, most likely wouldn't happen. Vision is complicated; he's not human, he's a robot with feelings due to the Stone. Would the government arrest him, I don't know, but I think Vision would respect he is dangerous and simply sit in a cell and deal with it. If he was bored or didn't agree with the sentencing, I think he'd simply phase through the wall like he did at the beginning of CW and simply leave and fly away. Group danger from the Accords total: 2

In the end, Team Cap (3.5 danger points) is much more effected by the Accords than Team Ironman (2 danger points) is. While the Accords effect everyone in terms of where they can and can not fight, at least Team Ironman is in much less danger of being arrested for existing. I think that these things should all be looked at when we do the whole, Team Cap vs. Team Ironman, who is right.

[lightsonparkave]

For change to occur, sometimes it isn't so much a new start that you need but a shift in perspective.

The theme for Lights on Park Ave Round 57 is perspective.

Here are the prompts:

“The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate” by Ted Chiang, a short story about a merchant from medieval Baghdad who recounts tales about gates that allow travel to the past and future

Reghabi asks Mark to consider what life must be like for his innie, the part of his consciousness cleaved off as a separate self to exist solely at work who has no knowledge of their true identity and the outside world in Severance

616 Steve and Tony argue about the Superhero Registration Act at Ororo and T'Challa's wedding

An excerpt from The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin about needing time and distance to appreciate life and the world

A remastered Earthrise 1 by Bill Anders and an explanation of the overview effect

A quote by James Baldwin about how the role of the lover is the same as the role of an artist

A quote about how the past is always changing as you grow as a person from The House by the Sea by May Sarton

A photoset of The Sisters, a stretch of the I-80 highway in Wyoming

Louis and Lestat's conflicting accounts of each other's involvement in turning Claudia into a vampire in AMC's Interview With the Vampire

Darcy and Elizabeth's unfavorable opinion of each other in BBC's Pride and Prejudice

The interrogation scene from My Cousin Vinny, where Billy thinks he's been arrested for shoplifting while the sheriff thinks Billy murdered a clerk, and the court scene where the sheriff recounts Billy's "confession"

Marianne, Héloïse, and Sophie debate the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in Céline Sciamma's Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Harry and Sally hating each other and then becoming friends before falling in love over the years in Rob Reiner's When Harry Met Sally

An excerpt from "Lucifer, Full of Light" by Cecilia Woloch about seeing the good in the wreckage of someone and being unable to doom them

616 Steve and Tony mutually admiring each other

Trailer for Hirokazu Koreeda's Monster, a movie about a mother confronting a teacher after her son starts to behave strangely, but nothing is as it seems as different perspectives are shown

"First Memory" - Louise Glück

Buttercup slowly realizes what Westley means when he says "As you wish" as she falls in love in Rob Reiner's The Princess Bride

Elisa explains that the Amphibian Man sees her for who she is in Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water

A quote from Reply 1997 about how serious your feelings are at the age of 18 even if they're dismissed as silly

The scene where Steve and Tony yell at each other about Wanda's treatment in CA:CW and meta about Tony's situation, which Steve doesn't know about

Round 57 will end on February 28, 11:59 PM ET (what time is that for me?).

As always, you’re free to jump in whenever you’d like during the round, a wide variety of work types is accepted, and there are no minimum work requirements. Unfinished works and works for other fandom events are allowed. You can find more information about Lights on Park Ave and the participation guidelines here.

[reginaphalangelobster125]

Every Answer

Just a little Bucky drabble, hope it's not bad.

Bucky Barnes x GN!Reader

Set sometime between CA:TWS and CA:CW

Summary: You get Bucky to open up in an unconventional way.

Warnings: fluff, PTSD, I think that's all

'Bucky you need to open up to someone it doesn't have to be just someone.'

'I can't you know that.'

You took a moment, looking away from your friend and contemplating your next move.

'What's something you want from me?'

Bucky thought for a moment not entirely knowing what to say.

'A kiss'

A kiss? You thought again for a second pondering if this was the right thing to do. You decided it may be the only way to get him to talk.

'Alright, how about for every truthful answer I get to my questions I give you a kiss?'

'Deal'

With that Bucky pulled you down gently but with strength so you were stradling his lap.

'Ok I'll start off easy, what's your favourite food?'

'Plums'

You pressed a soft kiss to his lips, brief but sweet.

'Favourite song?'

'Cheek to Cheek'

'Fred Astaire, nice'

'You know Fred Astaire?'

'Sure do, old timer'

'Ha ha'

Another kiss

'Favourite colour?'

'Black'

'You know technically that's not a colour?'

'Well it's my favourite anyways'

You smirked and gave him another slightly longer kiss.

'Ok tough stuff now'

'Can't wait' Bucky said with unparalleled sarcasm.

'What's your first memory?'

'Steve was barely a year old and must have been 4 or 5. We were sitting on the floor and he stood up and waddled over to me, made little grabby hands and said his first word 'Bucky'.'

'That's beautiful Bucky, have you told Steve that story?'

'No you're the only person'

'Thank you, it means a lot'

His lips curled up into a small smirk

'So where's that kiss, doll?'

You smiled before giving him a much firmer, longer kiss than before.

'What do you remember about HYDRA?'

Bucky sighed and drew in a breath.

'Not much, I remember being in the chair, pain shooting through my body then I sort of blacked out for a while. I remember be trapped in my own body, the feeling of doing terrible things but not be able to stop myself. Then it was cold, I didn't know why it was just cold.'

You were both silent for a moment, Bucky's words hanging heavy in the air. You were soft and gentle in your tone, not wanting to scare him off.

'Bucky....' You uttered just above a whisper.

You moved your hands up from his shoulders to cup his face in your palms. You tilted his head up to look at you and when you stared into his glassy ice blue eyes you heart melted to see him looking back at you with such vulnerability and sadness.

You carefully rested you forehead against his and closed your eyes.

'You're here now, Bucky. You are safe and you are loved.'

The minute your words left your mouth you froze, you didn't mean to tell Bucky how you felt, it just came out. Maybe he wouldn't notice. He did.

He captured your lips in a strong passionate kiss, like he was trying to hold onto you for as long as he could.

You were the one to break the kiss gasping for air. After your breathing slowed Bucky look into your eyes, his right hand was wrapped around the back of your head and his thumb was caressing your cheek.

'I love you too, doll.'

The End

[totwototwo]

I know this has been said many, many times over the last few years, but I just rewatched ca:tws and it's on my mind. The way Steve's story ended in Endgame was just so out of character and completely erased both Steve's and Peggy's story.

Captain America (movie version) was one of my first real interests as a child and was what ultimately got me involved in the MCU. I loved his story and his character and, as ca:tws and ca:cw were releasing, I was so excited to see how his story progressed. It was so disappointing to see how Steve just threw everything he had and had worked so hard to get at the end of Endgame. I am not sure if there could be a worse ending to his story.

Starting with Peggy, it is so messed up that she was reduced to Steve's love interest in the end. Her story, her life, and her family were completely erased and disregarded at the end of Endgame in a way that is frankly disgusting. Peggy had a life, and she had a family (which Steve knows about because he sees the picture in ca:tws when talking to her when she was old). Yes, she was Steve's love interest in ca:tfa and a memory he held onto dearly (which also haunted him (see The Avengers: Age of Ultron)), but she was so much more than that. She was her own woman and while Steve did have a big impact on her life, he was gone, and she moved on. I don't care about different timelines or whatever, the fact that Steve went back in time and erased Peggy's story was messed up and absolutely diminishes her character.

As for Steve, his character was also completely ruined by doing this. As I said before, yes, he loved Peggy, and this was shown a number of times throughout some of the MCU movies. He loved her, he longed to have their dance together, and he wished he had more time with her. That is all true. However, it is also true that, just as Peggy was more than Steve's love interest, Steve was more than his love for Peggy. The love her had for her was a big part of his character and his story, but there was so much more to him/his story that Endgame completely disregarded. Perhaps the most common example (and the one that's on my mind as I just watched ca:tws) is his story with Bucky. There were two entire movies made on Steve's devotion to Bucky and Endgame just throws that all away by having Steve leave his friend (who he went on the run for and fought an entire battle with Iron Man for) just after they were reunited. They had him do that for a woman who he definitely loved, but also barely knew compared to Bucky. Not to mention the fact that she had already died, and Bucky was still there, miraculously alive (even if by terrible means) and able to understand the situation that Steve was in. Steve threw away his relationship with the one person in the entire world who understood what it was like to be alive in the wrong time and thrust into a completely unknown world because of the serum. He found that person with "shared life experience" and then he threw it out.

As I said this reduces Steve to his old love interest and completely destroys the entire part of his character that was set up by ca:tws and ca:cw with his devotion to Bucky. I can't even bring myself to talk about the whole "I'm with you to the end of the line" thing because it makes me so mad that this is how Steve's story ended. Endgame ending how it did in regard to Steve's story was an insult to Steve himself, Peggy, and Bucky.

I want to add a little disclaimer that I am not against Sam becoming the new Captain America. I have no negativity towards that story, and I am excited for Captain America: Brave New World to be released in a few days. If that was the direction the story was supposed to take, I think it could've easily done so without Steve doing what he did. Maybe Steve giving up his shield and title without any direct cause (like suddenly being an old man) wouldn't really fit his character either, but it would make more sense than what did happen in my opinion. Almost six years post-Endgame release and this is still something that bothers me to this day. I was so excited for the movie but left the theater more disappointed than I ever had before. There were a few things that I didn't love about it, but out of all the major deaths that happened in the movie, the death of Steve (in a metaphorical sense) had no meaning. It simply ruined his development as a character.

[captainsteelandsunshine]

I am super emotional about Steve Rogers, the Barber Shop Quartet from CA:tWS, Stucky, Team Cap and how it seems that so many of us have gone a little underground in recent years.

I am a huge MCU fan, it was one of my identifiers in college, and post Endgame, it really feels like something special was lost.

A lot of the happy MCU headcanons that we all had after the first Avengers started falling apart after CA:CW but post Endgame really has been something else.

Maybe I’m just being nostalgic and my own lack of involvement in fandom is making me feel like things have run dry, so if it’s not so, I’m very happy to be proven wrong.

Thinking about the amazing time I was having in fandom post 2014, and so grateful to all the creators who made that possible. If you’re all still around and still shipping Stucky, posting about the team that Steve created, especially with Nat and Sam, thank you for that as well.

[one-loud-mind]

Stucky Deserved Better

Stucky truly is the biggest missed opportunity in the MCU and I will take no criticisms on this.

Steve's motivations in every Captain America movie always revolve around Bucky one way or another. CA:TFA? Steve goes against his commander's orders and risks his spot in the military to save Bucky. When Bucky "dies", Steve becomes even more determined to avenge his death by defeating the bad guys. CA:TWS? Steve sees Bucky and is determined to get him back. Once it becomes clear this Bucky might not entirely be the one he knows, he still chooses to risk death by Bucky's own hand before actually fighting against him. CA:CW? My man goes against his found family and causes a seemingly irreparable rift between the team because Bucky is in danger. Steve goes into hiding and becomes a fugitive

Now Steve is not the only goner here. CA:TFA? Bucky literally falls off the train because he was protecting Steve's 6. CA:TWS? My boy broke over half a century of brainwashing because he knew the man on the bridge. Not only that, but he literally left HYDRA soon after because this man who he just had a feeling he knew was willing to die before actually fighting him. CA:CW? We get to see how Bucky recovered his memories and how even after everything, he was still going to protect and fight alongside his best friend, even if that means losing his arm all over again.

They do all of this because they're there for each other... 'til the end of the line. Stucky has all the elements of a love story, Marvel was just too safe to actually let it play out (and Seb's contract was longer than Chris's but that's besides the point).

(this is from the pov of someone who stopped keeping up with the MCU after the Infinity Saga was over btw)

[kandisheek]

FIC REC WEEK 47 – CANON DIVERGENCE

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: RiotFalling

What RiotFalling excels at, in my opinion, is Bucky and Tony's intricate inner monologue. Their descriptions of what each character is going through at any given moment really get under my skin. And on top of that, RiotFalling's voices for them are hilarious – their banter makes my entire day every time I read one of their fics.

Here's some of their work that I think you should check out:

A Work in Progress: You and I

Pairing: Bucky/Tony Rating: M Words: 33,937 Tags: BDSM AU, Banter, Cuddling

Summary: It’s not just the cabin that’s under construction, it’s Tony and Bucky and this thing between them that was supposed to be temporary and is seeming less and less so as time goes on.

Reasons why I love it: This fic cleansed my pores, watered my crops, paid my taxes. It gave me everything I love – hilarious banter, Dom/Sub goodness, shmoopy smut, it's all so incredibly satisfying to read. I love it more than I can say, and I really hope you give it a shot if you haven't already.

I had no choice (but baby to get it right)

Pairing: Bucky/Tony Rating: T Words: 2,576 Tags: Soulmates, BAMF Tony, CA:CW

Summary: After all those years of furtively dreaming about it, reading everything from scientific papers to romance novels, after all the times he told himself not to but still hoped, Tony thought he knew what to expect if this day ever came. Finally, after all this time, all the worrying and wondering and telling himself to just give up already, he finally meets his soulmate and finds out what all the hype is about, and it has to be like this. It just has to be Barnes.

Reasons why I love it: Aaaah, this fic is everything! The inner monologue is perfection, both Tony's and Bucky's feelings and thoughts feel so real, I'm in awe. And the ending puts the biggest smile on my face. Also, there's fantastic art by Sagana_Rojana_Olt in here, which you definitely don't want to miss out on!

Show Tunes and Extra Sauce

Pairing: Bucky/Tony Rating: T Words: 4,499 Tags: Bodyguard Bucky, Valentine's Day, Mutual Pining

Summary: So maybe three years in Bucky is completely in love, and this might be his first bodyguard gig but he's pretty sure that's breaking Rule One. It's definitely one of the top five rules, at the very least. He can't even be surprised with himself either, not when it's Tony. Bucky’s job is basically to hang out with his crush all the time, and sure sometimes he gets shot or stabbed or has to physically drag Tony out of his lab when he starts sleep-deprived-rambling about building some piece of tech from a scifi movie, but most days Bucky doesn't have a single thing to complain about. And then there's Valentine's Day.

Reasons why I love it: This is the cutest fucking thing, oh my god, I love it. All of Tony's friends obviously being in on his plan just makes it even better. If you need some good vibes today, definitely check this one out, it's amazing!

I call out to you

Pairing: Bucky/Tony Rating: M Words: 18,528 Tags: BDSM AU, Therapy, Light Angst

Summary: Making friends is not something Bucky thought he’d be doing after all these years, but here he is, taking a risk. On himself, on Tony, on everything, it seems. Tony is... unused to being happy. That’s not to say he IS happy, but the feeling residing in his chest these days feels a lot more like happiness than anxiety. It’s fine. Everything is fine. Right?

Reasons why I love it: RiotFalling and WhiteIronWolf do a fantastic job with the two perspectives in this fic. I love the therapy session in the beginning, it really suits Bucky's character, and it's amazing to see how well he's doing for himself. And of course, Sam is the best bro, I love him. This fic is wonderful, and you should definitely read it!

Those Three Words (Let Me Help)

Pairing: Bucky/Tony Rating: M Words: 21,267 Tags: Flashbacks, Bucky Needs a Hug, Angst

Summary: Something is wrong. It’s all wrong and Bucky just wants— He hurts and he can’t— it wasn’t supposed to be like this. This isn’t how Tony thought his Friday would be going, but he’s going to do whatever he can to help. Even when things go further off plan than he ever expected.

Reasons why I love it: The way this fic is written really got under my skin, especially the beginning. It's visceral and raw and left me with a lingering sense of dread, it's amazing. RiotFalling and WhiteIronWolf really outdid themselves here! I hope you give this one a shot, because it's amazing.