#and that he needs time alone (most likely inventing) to get back his unwind and get back his energy

[huntingrays]

i have a personal hc that leo is actually an introvert but everyone thinks he’s an extrovert due to how he tends to act. i like to think he tends to just act that way either due to reflex when he put on an act around others or when he’s comfortable around people and can act as loud and crazy as he likes. however, he prefers spending time either alone inventing or with his closest friends, piper and jason.

[pascaloverx]

Moonlight

Summary: You and Edward Cullen used to have a romantic relationship. But fate seemed not to believe in the possibility of a vampire and a potential she-wolf being together. Years after your separation, you return to Forks. Edward is committed to Bella Swan, and Jacob Black has his own pack. What happens when, upon your return, you begin to transform into a she-wolf and both Edward and Jacob seem eager to revisit the past with you?

Author's Note: The characters in this fanfic do not belong to me but to Stephenie Meyer and the Twilight universe. The story blends events that happened in the Twilight saga movies with invented ones. If you're enjoying the fanfic, please interact. This story will contain inappropriate language, a possible love triangle, scenes of violence, and romance. I would appreciate it if those who enjoy the fanfic could leave a comment and like (kudos). Engagement helps me know that there are still people reading. I hope you enjoy this chapter ❤

EIGHT

NINE

It’s been almost a month since you ended your relationship with Edward. It hasn’t been easy to avoid him as if it doesn’t hurt you. But of course, being surrounded by wolves, especially by your pack, helped a lot. Jacob became extremely overprotective after what happened to you. He even made a deal with the Cullens to see if, by teaming up with the pack, they could find Victoria. So, every time you go out, there’s always a wolf and a vampire on alert for each of your steps. Jacob and Emmett are the ones who spend the most time watching over you. The Cullens feel very guilty about your accident, so they’re always taking care of your safety. You feel like a baby being supervised with every step you take. It’s distressing. And the vampire seems to have vanished off the map.

"Jacob, I appreciate your alpha protective instinct wanting to keep an eye on me all the time, but I’m as much a wolf as you are. I’m alert now, and I don’t think Victoria will come after me, at least not while everyone is watching over me. Go unwind, see Bella, take care of your pack without just focusing on me; a good leader knows when it’s time to concentrate your mind elsewhere." You grumble as you walk alongside Jacob through the forest. You’re feeling suffocated by so much attention.

"I don't want to risk your life. If you want to be alone so badly, you can pretend I'm not here," Jacob says as he gathers some firewood. The wolves, both from Uley's pack and Black's pack, are going to gather to roast marshmallows. Apparently, your accident has brought out a friendlier side of Sam, who, upon learning about the end of your relationship with Edward and that you could have died, decided to be less of a jerk.

"I love you for protecting me. But I need a moment alone; it's been a month since all that mess happened. Every time I move, it feels like someone is behind me, watching. Your father doesn't even go fishing anymore because he doesn't want to leave me alone at your house. You guys go out as a pack and leave me behind. I just want to be able to exist without constant surveillance." You take a good look at Jacob's sulky face, a smile forming on your lips as you see him getting conflicted.

"You're on your own now, then," Jacob says after much reluctance. You quickly walk towards him and wrap your arms around him tightly, feeling the pieces of wood he was holding press against your back.

"I promise I'll survive without your supervision. Not that I don't appreciate you trying to keep me safe," you say, still holding Jacob close. He drops the firewood on the ground and wraps you tightly in his arms. It’s comforting to be so close to him, but your mind is filled with guilt—guilt for being a hypocrite. You ended things with Edward because you felt insecure about his closeness with Bella, yet here you are, wrapped in Jacob’s embrace. When you pull back slightly, your face is close to Jacob's, and as you look into each other's eyes, you can feel that he's thinking the same thing as you… that if you got just a little closer, you'd be kissing.

"We can't do this again. You need to sort things out with Cullen before we mess up our friendship with romantic feelings," Jacob whispers near your face. You nod in agreement, understanding that you need to figure out how you feel before doing anything else.

"I don't know if there is anything to be resolved. Edward loves Bella, that is the only certainty I have." You say, feeling a tightness in your chest as you admit this. The snow begins to fall gently between the trees. Jacob looks at you softly, as if he's carefully considering the best way to respond.

"And you love me. Is it fair to demand that he stop loving her while you continue to love me?" Jacob sounds so rational that it scares him. He has never said anything so frankly before. It makes you think, think about what you want with Edward, with Jacob and especially with yourself. Then you sigh feeling the cold air surround the two of you.

"Since when did you become so wise? The man I love could barely decide whether he wanted to be a leader or not. Jacob Black, congratulations on becoming so intelligent but I am not prepared to face certain truths." You say, picking on Jacob. He smiles and then walks away from you, picking up the pieces of firewood from the ground and walking beside you, down the path to his house.

The rest of the day seems to go by so quickly, you and Jacob avoid bringing up the subject of Edward and Bella. Lea and Seth arrive to make the bonfire with you and Jacob when it is already getting dark. They bring you marshmallows to toast over the fire. Your mind however is on Edward, wondering what he is doing; whether he has gotten back together with Bella, whether he thinks you are a hypocrite or whether he has already given up on you.

"When are you going to give your vampire a chance? He seems almost as desperate to see you as you are to see him," Leah says, approaching you. At this moment, it's just you and her near the fire, waiting for Seth and Jacob to return. You find yourself at a loss for words.

"I don't have a vampire, and I'm not desperate to see him. I also doubt he's desperate to see me; he hasn't approached me once since our argument. But I hardly see how that's any of your business," you say, being rude, perhaps defensive. Leah smiles awkwardly but stays close to you.

"Jacob warned me that if I brought this up, you'd react like this. But I trust you understand that since we're part of the same pack, it's like we're family. So I allow myself to meddle in your life as if you were Seth," Leah says, and you realize that even though the two of you aren't very close, she is part of the same pack as you.

"Sorry for the harsh way I responded. I've been pretending for so long that nothing is happening, and facing someone telling me what I need to hear rather than what I want to hear is tough. Thank you for your honesty. I'll work on resolving this situation," you say, trying to be more friendly, while watching Leah make an expression that seems to say, "It's good that you're listening."

"Don't interpret what I said as me rooting for you to end up with Cullen. Personally, I like how Jacob acts when he's all lovesick over you. But it's better if you sort things out with the cold one before anything else. I know how complicated romantic matters can be," Leah says, and you understand that she knows very well what it's like to have a broken heart.

"When Jacob gets back, tell him I'll be back soon," you whisper as you move towards your car. Leah gives a slight smile, seeming to understand what you're about to do. As you get into the car, you try to gather your thoughts, wondering if you're really ready for what you're about to do. You're going after Edward more confused than ever, without knowing exactly why you're going. Is it stupid? Probably. But your heart tells you that you need to try one more time, that it's worth it.

You arrive at the Cullen's house in a hurry. In your head, the sooner you talk to Edward, the sooner your reconciliation will be. However, before you can go to Edward, you manage to spot Bella and Edward inside the Cullen house. They are talking to each other, their faces extremely close to each other. Edward looks happy, you can see that the two of them are moving towards reconciliation. You take a few steps back towards your car. It's obvious that you should let Edward be with the woman he loves.

"Are you leaving without saying goodbye?" You hear Edward's voice behind you. You're unsure whether to turn to look at him or not.

"It was a mistake to come here, nothing more appropriate than for me to leave without being noticed." You say without turning around, still heading towards your car. Edward then uses his vampire speed and stops you from getting into the car, standing in front of the car door.

"It's been thirty days, twelve hours, and twenty-five minutes since you and I were together. The only mistake here is that you took so long." Edward says as he walks towards her, slowly as if he was afraid. Maybe he's like this because he's afraid you'll do what you always do, leave.

"It seems I took the right amount of time, at least it gave you time to get back together with Bella. Imagine if I had arrived a little earlier, what a mess it would have been." You say sarcastically, looking at looking with some anger at his ex. Edward gives a forced smile before looking at you in disbelief.

"Your temper is our problem. Always jumping to hasty and erroneous conclusions. You know me so little..." He drawls, moving closer. You step back from his approach, replaying the vision of him with Bella in your mind.

"I'm the problem, Bella is the solution. Do the right thing and keep her by your side." You speak insultingly, while looking firmly at Edward.

"I have always preferred problems to solutions. Bella and I are trying to be friends, she was just having dinner with us before going to see her mom. As for the two of us..." Edward smiles mischievously, coming closer, you tremble a little. A feeling of insecurity takes over your body.

"We should try to be just friends. Don't you think?" Your fear of failing in yet another attempt at a relationship with Edward, makes you prefer to simplify your relationship.

"I already have enough friends..." Edward whispers as he looks at you with a gaze that exudes sensuality. And in that moment, even though you knew that his heart hadn't been beating for a long time, that his skin was as cold as a blizzard, you felt a warmth. It's like something burns inside you, every moment the distance between you and Edward decreases. It's like your body is in withdrawal from his icy touch, like your soul needs to belong to him at least one more time.

"This game you're playing is extremely dangerous. Are you sure you can handle the consequences?" You say, looking at him, but focusing mainly on his parted lips. Lips you miss feeling pressed against yours. Edward must have read your mind because he smirks for an instant.

"This is more about you accepting the consequences. Once you stop pretending you don't want to be with me, will you be able to not screw this up?" Edward says as he gently runs his hand through your face. His fingers stop beneath your lips, lightly groping them. You stare at him waiting for the next step, the next move that will be made by him. But he seems to be static. As if he was expecting something too.

"Am I going to ruin this? You're on a date with your ex right now. I don't think you have any right to criticize me," you say with a small laugh, stepping back a little from Edward. "It's a shame I can't kiss you right now," you add, still smiling slightly. And then, before you know it, he's moving towards you, swiftly closing the distance, kissing you abruptly. His lips are slightly dry, and for a moment, the kiss feels rigid, like you're both relearning how to kiss each other. But as soon as you wrap your arms around Edward's neck, pulling him as close as you can, the two of you find your rhythm again.

[writinandcrying]

Hello, are you still accept a matchup? If so, I prefer for male character please. I'm a girl, my pronouns is she/her and I'm straight.

My height is 5'5", i have a short purple hair (dyed), and I wear glasses too (my sight is really bad) 

My hobbies currently is editing video or photo, i like taking picture of nature or just random building, 'cause I wanna be a photographer. I don't like people who always interrupt (well, who doesn't? I'm a listener btw) and I really hate those who bother the people I care about *protectiveness intensifies*

I'm actually a calm person, but not in front of my best friend. Only they know how crazy I am. I'm also the type who always hug my friends when I meet them (I'm taller than them, so it's easy for me to hug and put my chin on their head). If I see my friends or family sitting on the sofa, I jumped straight at them and put my head on their laps, then hugging their waist (again.. Hug.. I also snuggle to their stomach), please play with my hair or at least tracing some random pattern on my back. Am I sound like a clingy person? 😅😅 I may sound like a character in fanfiction or something, but really I've always been like that. And of course, I would do all of that if they were comfortable with my treatment. Obviously, my love language is physical affection.

But if someone do that to me, I'll freeze right away because people rarely do that to me and I don't know what to do. But I'll be calm in a minute and play with their hair or just rub it (it become my habit).

I feel pretty confident. I like who I am, but there are times when I'm insecure about the pimples that always appear on my forehead. Sometimes i also think, am I enough for them? For my family, my friends. But overall, I'm grateful that I'm surrounded by good people.

Aand that's it. I hope you don't get confused, because English is not my first language. Thank you in advanced, have i nice day and take care of your health (ɔˆз(ˆ⌣ˆc)

hi there! since you didn't specify im assuming this is about the tmnt / rottmnt boys! and bro are you kidding me your english is amazing

i really wanna ship you with Casey jones specially over the rottmnt movie, but unfortunately i still havent watched the movie, (im trying to dodge every spoiler? yes, am i succeeding? wonderful question i shall not reply lmao) idk why but i just got the vibes, so lets just put a pin on it, yeah?

eitherway- i ship you with...

Raphael

the last 3? matchups this guy was the main choice as well....... in my defense- he is just too shippable

Ok so, first of all, you have some similarities with Don and Leo, Don being not used to receiving affection, i heacanon he also enjoys photography in his spare time when he needs to unwind and have some alone time, and Leo being self conscious of their own value, i think you can be great buddies with both, finding comfort into talking about common problems or shared hobbies, plus you being so affectionate (at least in a giving scenario) is extremely welcomed by 3/4 of the brothers (donnie still need times with getting used to hugs and all, but he sometimes enjoys tolerates when you place your head on top of his to check his new inventions - a secret he shall never tell)

i think the turning moment to Raph start having a crush on you was during a movie night, you just lay down on his legs, unapologetic used his tights as a pillow as all of you gathered watched the movie, they are all used to humans not being fond of them and their image, but Raph usually got the most bitter encounters of them all due to his size and spikes, he quietly noticed how affectioned you could be with the others, but him receiving it was another story, that alone made some butterflies spread their wings in his tummy

he found it really cute, extremely cute, he wants to be the one to make you blush kinda cute whenever you malfunctioned after getting a hug or kiss, you searched for comfort, but whenever someone initiated, you would get shy: that for him is extremely adorable!

he enjoys how calm you can be, he reallyyy loved when you showed your true colors, loves the exciting new you as much as he adores the calm, quiet one. oh! Raph really likes your confidence, and shall shoosh any insecurities away you might have. On the days you are feeling a bit down or doubting yourself, he wont hesitate to shower you with compliments and affection

if someone ever interrupts him (or any of their brothers / friends really) and you get over-protective, you will have his heart fr. Raph is used to being the big brother, the protector, he knows his family has his back, but seeing his crush getting over protective over them? over him?? heart snatched, 100/10 experience, please do it again

he might try to persuade you into trying red hair dye, just to test the waters (the purple and glasses remind him of young donnie and its confusing sometimes, he adores purple on you but hm. please try red lol)

eitherway, to sum it up, he adores your calm / affectionate personality, at first- he wants to give back as much as you do, he knows you can react a bit like his younger brother, so he goes slow, gives you time until you are more comfortable with receiving it. he has so much patience with you <3 oh! he has learned from your interactions that he is indeed a cuddler, and he cannot get enough of you.

hope you liked it! match ups are open!

[lady-elora]

"It was love", or five reasons and five refutations of hatred for sylki

So, folks, I did it. I finally translated from Russian an amazing article about the romantic line in “Loki”. I agree with every word in it. Hope it’ll help all the sylki shipers to fend off the attacks of antis with a reasoned arguments.

Would you like to talk about our god Odin the most controversial Marvel franchise pairing which caused a storm of indignation and negative emotions on the part of fans?

 We're talking about Loki/Sylvie from "Loki" (2021) mini-series, or sylki (lovie) as they were called by fans. Apparently a simple get-pairing consisting of a man and a woman (or bisexual gender fluids, if you prefer), but some people were shocked by such a relationship on the screen. Why? What for? How? That may be your questions. So we’ll discuss their claims and groundlessness of them in this article.

But before we start talking about it, I want to clarify what actually the concept of the "selfcest" is.

Usually we marked as a "selfcest" those works that describe the relationship of a character with himself. Most often, this warning implies a "doubling" of the character; alternatively – the same character is taken at different ages or falls for his/her absolutely identical copies.

Agreed?

Let's go then.

< < < 1 > > >

 The first and main thing which follows from the definition above is: "Showing the selfcest on the screen is disgusting and immoral!"

 It also follows from the definition above that the selfcest is the relationship of the same character with himself in the form of identical copies both in character and appearance. The highest form of narcissism, according to Mobius (which, in fact, is to some extent true). Horrors from a snuffbox, according to some impressionable audience. It hardly makes sense to rant about the fact that masturbation is also a form of selfcest (although the fact is rather amusing).

 The bottom line is that if Loki once again created a copy of himself to deceive someone and fell in love with it, it would be a selfcest. Splitting himself into two people and building a relationship between them is a selfcest as well. Turning into a hermaphrodite and ... no, this is something completely perverted.

 The basis of the selfcest is absolute identity. If we take a character who is so in love with him/herself that he/she sees relationships only with him/herself, then in such a case he/she can only build them with a perfect scanned copy of him/herself. It will be very easy for the person who knows him/herself inside and out to notice some inconsistencies in a partner, and then it makes no sense to build a relationship if he/she is not as perfect (as the "original" is), isn’t it? That’s how this logic works.

 And now attention, please!

 Is the romance of two Elvis Presley understudies a selfcest?

They look almost the same, both like Elvis... But no, right? These two people are different people, with different tempers and lives, who are similar only in appearance and pseudonyms. So this is a very ordinary relationship.

Now let's get back to our sheep. So we have two people from different worlds, with different stories, different tempers, different powers and different external signs who were born under the same name and later lived their lives with different ones. The only thing that is identical in them is the essence of the God of Mischief. So where is the ground for an egoistic selfcest? Nowhere.

Don't forget about identity. We can say that they are very similar, since initially they are both Lokis. But do you wanna say it's so hard to meet similar people in real life? No. Do you wanna say it's hard to meet similar people in two similar universes? No. I'll tell you a secret: writers often like to use the trope of intertwining almost identical tempers between characters to show their mental connection. And it's not a crime, but a common technique. And, again, a "similarity" doesn't fall under the criteria of selfcest.

 And finally, if Sylvie were an exact copy of Loki, would there be people who love one but can't stand the other? It's the same character after all, so what's the problem? But the point is that Loki is Loki. And Sylvie is Sylvie. They exist separately from each other and are not the same due to the presence of distinctive features.

 If you want to use Kang's words, remember that he admired these two.

 < < < 2 > > >

 The second and no less amusing is "Loki doesn't need a love interest at all!"

 I'm sorry, but which Loki?

 The one who appeared in all the films of the series "Thor" and "The Avengers"?

 He's dead, guys.

 And Loki from the series is a character torn out from the finale of the first "Avengers" and revamped by TVA with the help of an impromptu session of psychologist Mobius and viewing on-screen all of his promising deeds. This Loki was told head-on that he was created as a minor character in order to plot his machinations for the development of the protagonists and he was unnecessary to the whole world. This Loki has an advantage over the previously known version of himself just in knowing this fact. This Loki has recognized for everyone and for himself that he didn't want to harm the others. And this Loki, by definition, is already a different character, but for some reason people tailor him to a long-familiar one, ignoring the obvious things point-blank.

 He is no stranger to simple human feelings, because every version of the God of Mischief is initially an offended and despised child grown up in the shadow of his own brother, a child who just wanted to be loved too and in the same way. Only the paths to this under-goal were different for all Lokis. One killed Thor in order to remain the only ruler (people always adore kings), another invented unthinkable feats (people love heroes), the third built a perfect world out of promises for everyone, the fourth tried to become a hero himself, but was too crushed to find mistakes in his plan, the fifth excluded himself from the equation so that everyone understood he didn't want to harm the others and to cause the pain.

Loki from the series is a version that knows everything about himself, but at the same time is not bound by the framework of the other variants' plot. He doesn't need to win back Asgard, to fight with Thanos, with the Avengers, with contempt and so on. He is free from borders. He is from the world where Frigga never died. He is the only Loki without the "glorious purpose". He is different.

So his attitude to other people is now different as well. It's stupid to perceive this version exactly as a long-known character.

After all he had seen, this Loki would hardly be able to live alone like any other. He is extremely naked and needs love (in any form), as the most reliable and not bringing destruction and suffering point of support.

 < < < 3 > > >

 The third and my favorite thing is: "Love in five minutes! Why did it come out at all?"

Why did Loki fall for Sylvie, and even in a couple of days?

OK, you can quite easily explain Sylvie's motivation: she found a person who had interest for her, who suddenly cared about her, protected her... Could he be an unworthy party in such a case? Moreover, before that, Sylvie, in principle, had no close people and she internally really lacked such an attitude to herself, banal love (parents, people, friends, romantic), which she hadn’t due to the lack of normal childhood and a stable life.

But Loki?..

But Loki is not a vain killing machine from The Avengers anymore, not a person for whom the self-affirmation is the only goal in life. Let's rewind a little, and remember that he was brainwashed in TVA and lowered from heaven to earth. Loki was always reasonable. Loki could always be courteous and friendly. Loki was always a gentleman. And finally he realized that there's no sense in all this aggression and hyperbolized narcissism, and he pushed his one-actor theater aside in order to at least normally rethink the concept of time and reality.

 And here comes Sylvie.

Unpredictable, dangerous, painfully similar to him, but at the same time completely different. Loki never had good intentions in his conquests; only the ways were sometimes good. Sylvie went to the good liberation of people and the return of their right to choose their lives, but through blood. In fact, she is his mirror image.

She intrigued. A wild person who swung at the destruction of the time control organization alone and coped well with it.

However, the countdown started from the moment when they both got on the train. The moment when Loki began to understand what the real essence of Sylvie was. Grown up in fear, distrustful, broken Sylvie, who was desperately trying to make TVA pay for everything. For everyone. And it was amazing for him.

Here, as for me, the Moffat's quote about his BBC Sherlock fits very well: ..when he saw her, he thought: "Maybe there can be someone like me?" – but with a slight nuance that Loki himself would like to be someone like that. Like a fighter in spite of and for the good, causing admiration. With some corrections in the form of the absence of a painful childhood, despair and anger.

Then the spring of "Loki's MeUs" begins to unwind, and the essence of it is that he understands her and her feelings, because, although they are different people, they are internally similar. Loki looks at her as if she is a person he has known for a very long time, but not completely. It's like if you met an old childhood friend seven years later: it seems to be the same, but also it seems to be different. It seems that everything is elementary, but there's not enough of a certain number of details.

(He'll realize later that he was missing much more).

So we take the initial interest, add the conditional knowledge of a person, and we get a very specific variation of the trope "from friends to lovers".

This may seem far-fetched, but we have two factors on our hands that are fundamental for this trope. Keep them in your head, but for now, let's applaud the fact that Marvel for the first time figured out how to derive formulas for the logical development of relationships in the shortest possible time. In what way? In the most elementary way: through psychology.

There's such a thing as the stages of the formation of relationships, which includes:

- Falling in love (interest, flirting, rethinking)

- Trust (challenge, joint activity, mutual assistance)

- A sense of kinship (empathy, responsibility, confidence)

- A sense of unity

- Love

In our case, only the first three points are considered, but the third one is with a chip in the form of a final. I should also focus attention on the fact we are not considering love. We are considering a serious crush, which can develop into love, since the latter one is a slightly longer process that still has to go through to the end. And we consider them in extreme (+accelerated by our two fundamental factors) conditions, where our heroes are forced to work together and trust each other in order to survive.

After reviewing the aspects of the three points we have chosen, we can easily draw analogies with the events that happened with Loki and Sylvie.

They are interested in each other, they think that they know each other, they develop in relationships with each other in a completely healthy way. A little faster than in the series for a hundred episodes maybe, but it is conditioned.

Needless to say, this is impossible and illogical: we have the clearest example of love from nowhere in the form of a couple of Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne, who had absolutely no prerequisites to it, but at the same time kissed at the end of the first film. Nothing personal, it's just a fact.

The relations of our "defendants" aren't based on carnal attraction, they didn't immediately break out ready-made due to a rush of adrenaline, they are not one-sided and not abusive. Loki and Sylvie carry about each other, support each other (if it doesn't seem so, then we'll also talk about Sylvie a little later, everything in its own time), plus sympathy and love based on the fact that a person is ready to fight with you and trust you, sounds very appropriate, doesn't it?

And yes, there are similar examples of "love in five minutes" in life, which I've also seen. This is real.

 < < < 4 > > >

 The fourth thing which also makes me roll my eyes is "Sylvie didn't need relationships at all and she didn't care about Loki."

So let's make a small lyrical digression and think about who Sylvie is.

The Goddess of Mischief? Yep, but far from Loki, which means there's no sense to adjust her to the same classic image. As a child, Sylvie was dragged out of her own world. As a child, Sylvie fled across the time with fear and horror from TVA. Sylvie hid all her conscious life and saw people dying around her over and over again. Sylvie knew that outside of the apocalypses millions are simply dying from the hands of TVA too. She was alone all the time, during all her life she developed anger and hatred for this organization, until revenge for herself and for others became the only meaning of her life.

And here comes Loki.

Another version of the God of Mischief, which forces her to rebuild the plan on the go, in order to still bring it to the end. Frivolous, broken, stucked up Loki. He lazily, automatically puts sticks in her wheels. And then, on Lamentis, he suddenly decides to fight with her and help. After that, he completely trusts her with his life and cares about her own. And it seems to her like some kind of nonsense, like another trick, an invention for personal gain. Sylvie understands the essence of Loki, but she can't perceive him the way he perceives her. She sees in him what she could have become without the intervention of TVA.

But after that rush through the city, after realizing the hopelessness of the situation, when he says he is sorry and he thinks she is amazing, something clicks in her head. No one has ever cared about her (in this regard, she is not like Loki, who had at least Frigga), and now Loki, who knows her only from the archives and her meager life-story, who dragged her into the apocalypse, but also tried his best to help her to get out, just says that he is fascinated.

Sylvie grew up with her own concept of truth and lies: for her, there's only her truth and the eternal deception from the others. And then she thinks: may it be that..?

The thoughts that no one on the entire Timeline needs her, and that she should have recognized the lie, are marinating in her head to the end. Loki is not like the people she has spent her whole life with (he looks more like her, understands more or tries to understand at least; he believes), Loki behaves strangely and worries about her. Sylvie can't believe it (her past affects her completely), but subconsciously she wants someone to really care about her.

And she starts taking care of Loki in return. She comes closer and closer, but at the same time she is ready to turn around and rush back at any moment. Because she's scared. Sophia Di Martino says that for Sylvie, feelings are something new, unknown, and such things always cause fear in people. She tries to deny it, to be ironic, she's waiting for a trick, but doesn't move away.

She's just thinking: "Come on. Betray me. Betray me so that I'll be right again and trust no one anymore."

But Loki doesn't betray her. On the contrary: he recognizes that he cares of her, he tries to protect her with all his might. And that's the moment when Sylvie finally falls in love. That's why she pushes him through the portal to TVA which – the Multiverse is being formed, yay – is the safest place at the time.

Why didn't she give up on killing Kang? Because that was her glorious purpose. Sylvie lived with the revenge and the dream of saving everyone from the dictator and she just couldn't give up all this after the horrors that she experienced in her life. Blood, death and fear – that's what she saw during all these years. But Loki didn't see that so he couldn't understand. That's why Sylvie didn't listen to him.

And if she didn't care about Loki, if she didn't feel anything at all, Sylvie would have killed him the moment her sword was at his neck. She'd killed before – it wouldn't be a problem. But she does care of Loki.

 < < < 5 > > >

 The fifth and final thing is "These relationships hinder the development of both characters!"

And that's the funniest claim from those who watched the series with their eyes closed.

During the series, Sylvie and Loki are revealed from new sides thanks to their feelings. Caring for others, compassion, responsibility, the very fact of showing love for another person – all this develops them both. The friendship was shown through Mobius. The family has always been represented by Thor, Odin and Frigga. But showrunners wanted to reveal Loki from all sides, decompose him into components and show what he is from the inside in all aspects. And they did it.

Loki, who doesn't care about the fate of the Universe, and who only wants to regain world domination again, turns into a hero who wants to save the whole world. And one more person.

With Sylvie, it's a little more difficult, due to the fact that her life was also more difficult. Her case is more lost. However, in the end we see that such a long-awaited retribution doesn't bring her satisfaction. Because she understands the wrongness of this act, she regrets it and realizes that everything was wrong. But she realizes it too late.

If we had cut Loki out of her life, Sylvie would have killed the Keeper without any guilt, without feeling remorse, because she wouldn't have known that everything could be different, that she might choose another way.

This is what is called character development.

Sophia says both Loki and Sylvie feel the same, they grow together, but at different rates. And by the end of the series, Sylvie is approximately where Loki was after a psychotherapy session with Mobius. But not at the very beginning – that's what's important.

I hope this article has at least a little explained the whole essence of sylki pairing, because surely I'm not Tom and Sophia, who know their characters best. However, trying is something, isn't it?

Thanks for attention ;)

Source:  «Это была любовь», или пять причин и пять опровержений ненависти к Sylki

[kalinara]

Dream Show 2.0

It’s time for the second annual “Dream Show Challenge”!

The rules are a little different this year: we were given someone else’s dreamshow cast from last year and asked to make a new show.

Since it’s very possible to end up with a cast list full of names we don’t recognize, we were allowed one trade.

This is my cast:

Jeff Goldblum, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Tudyk, Mandip Gil, Lee Pace, Elliot Page, and Matt Berry.

Since at the time I started this, I had no idea who Matt Berry was, I decided to trade him out for a different white British comedian: Jack Whitehall.

So now I present to you:

The Gates of Kallipolis

Synopsis:  When Lydia Nowlan receives an invitation from her estranged uncle, she has no idea what to expect.  She had no idea that she had an uncle.  And she certainly had no idea that he had invented a working time machine.  

But Dr. Nowlan called her for a reason.  Time is behaving strangely, and there are people scattered through time who need their help to get home.

Characters:

Lydia Nowlan - Jennifer Connelly (2021 CE): For as long as she remembers, Lydia Nowlan never had much in the way of a life.  She worked, she slept, and she worked again  She had no time for things like friends or family, even pets.  But now her work is completed and she has no idea what to do next.  Fortunately, a mysterious letter from a long lost uncle comes at just the right time.

Dr. Mark Nowlan - Jeff Goldblum (2021 CE):  Lydia’s estranged uncle.  An experienced time traveler with a temperament that makes Lydia look like a people person, Dr. Nowlan is in over his head.  But fortunately, he’s not in this alone anymore.

Bibi Khunza - Mandip Gil (c. 1550 CE):  Widow of a king, mother to another, Bibi Khunza knows how to fight and how to rule.  But as to how this sixteenth century Indian warrior princess ended up at the center of a witchhunt in seventeenth century rural England is a really interesting question.  Especially since she’s not the only one lost.

Augustus Cole - Elliot Page (1875 CE):  The life of a chimney sweep in Victorian London is a hard one, but Augustus Cole knows exactly how to translate those skills to something a bit more lucrative: cat burglary.  And never let it be said that the man will miss an opportunity: a futuristic sailing ship is the perfect place for a bit of breaking and entering.  But what’s that about an iceberg?

Xavion Knox - Lee Pace (2320 CE):  Grown in a lab, built for war, Xavion Knox has known very little except violence.  He hasn’t cared much about anything since the death of his partner, but perhaps that will change now that the man’s stuck in the distant past, reliant on a couple of barely competent time travelers to get home.  Wherever that is.

Zeta-5 - Jack Whitehall (2440 CE): An Alien.  Zeta knows his science.  He knows his technology.  He knows the intellectual capability of humanity, and he damn well knows that time travel is impossible.  But try telling that to Mark and Lydia Nowlan.  (He has.  Many times.)

Grok - Alan Tudyk (c. 190,000 BCE):  The manservant of Dr. Nowlan, and human being who predates any recognizable culture or society.  He may even predate the development of spoken language, or at least any language that the translator can recognize.  Because of his communication difficulties, he has yet to provide Dr. Nowlan with sufficient information to get him home.  He seems happy enough where he is, and well, good help is hard to find.

--

Important Concepts for the Show:

The Reese-Hartnell Effect:  It is impossible for a living being to be in two places at once.  Because of this, it is very important that a time traveler never “cross their time stream”, meaning they should never visit a time when they themselves are alive.  If at any point, a time traveler ends up in the same time period as their past or future self, they will merge together.  

In the best case scenario, the knowledge and memories of the future self will remain with the past self, allowing the time traveler to make any desired changes to his own future.

In the worst case scenario, the time traveler’s mind is completely obliterated.

The Ultimate Translator: Lydia Nowlan’s life work.  The great translator is somehow able to take spoken language from any point in time and enable it to be understood by any time traveler in the vicinity.  Because of his origins, Grok is unable to use the translator.  Instead, he communicates through gestures, pictures, expressions, and occasional broken English.

Origin Time: In order to return a lost time traveler, the machine must be calibrated with the exact time and place that the traveler disappeared from, down to the nanosecond.  Too soon, and the time traveler risks the Reese-Hartnell effect destroying their mind.  Too late, and the resulting gap of “non-existence” could create catastrophic effects down the timestream.  

The Time Machine: Dr. Nowlan’s invention.  The Time Machine is not a ship, but rather a stationary set of silver gates that open into a pre-set location.  The gates can be concealed but not closed while the machine is in use.

--

Episodes:

Episode 1 -  Witchhunt (1645 CE)

Lydia Nowlan, linguist and engineer, has just finished her life’s work.  She unwinds by answering an invitation from her estranged uncle.  When she arrives, she finds a surprisingly high tech laboratory, a strange device and her uncle nowhere to be found.  She is startled by the sudden appearance of Grok, her uncle’s assistant, and accidently activates the device, which turns out to be a time machine.

Lydia finds herself in medieval England, where her strange appearance and even stranger knowledge quickly makes her the target of a witchhunt.  But she isn’t the only time traveler at risk.  She meets fellow prisoner, Bibi Khunza, and the unlikely allies work together to escape.  Lydia’s uncle, Dr. Nowlan, comes to find her, bringing with him a time-lost space marine and a lot of questions.

The foursome, assisted by Lydia’s invention, agree to work together and find out what’s causing all these time disturbances and try to find a way to return everyone home.

Episode 2 - the Titanic (1911 CE)

Lydia’s invention continues to facilitate communication between our heroes, with the exception of the caveman, Grok.  They investigate another anomaly, this time aboard the HMS Titanic, where they meet the Victorian, Augustus Cole.  Khunza encounters some racism, which does not end well for the racists, while Lydia repeatedly attempts to warn about impending doom, and learns the regrettable lesson that some things can’t be changed.  She is introduced to the concept of the “Reese-Hartnell Effect” which prevents any time traveler from being able to make multiple attempts to influence the timestream.

As the now fivesome return back to Dr. Nowlan’s lab, they meet Zeta-5, an alien from the far future, who is very armed, and very insistent that he be returned home.

Episode 3 - Ancient Greece (399 BCE)

A comedy of errors involving Zeta-5’s weapon (actually a zoological inseminator) and the time machine sends most of the crew to ancient Greece.  Dr. Nowlan has an interesting conversation with Socrates, while Xavion gets to punch Plato in the face.  Khunza and Augustus find unlikely common ground as they solve a Philosophical Conspiracy.

Meanwhile, back home, Lydia, Zeta-5 and Grok have to find a way to repair the time machine and get the others back.

Episode 4 - Utopian Dreams (3505 CE)

The concept of utopia comes up again, when Dr. Nowlan takes the crew to the futuristic city of Kallipolis.  The peaceful surroundings inspire introspection: Khunza revealing her desperation to reunite with her young child, while Augustus and Xavion admit that they don’t have much of a home to return to.  Lydia has a cryptic encounter.

Nowlan’s plans to access the Kallipolitan Hall of Records is thwarted when a sudden insurrection scatters the crew to the four winds.

Episode 5 - Dystopian Nightmares (3505 CE)

Loyalist factions capture Lydia and Xavion.  Augustus gets to plan the heist of any number of centuries to get them out, while Zeta-5 discovers his inner revolutionary.

Lydia’s interrogation has some particular after effects that lead to some shocking revelations: namely, both she and her “uncle” were members of the Kallipolitan Time Agency, but her mind had been destroyed by the Reese-Hartnell Effect.  Dr. Nowlan had set everything up in an attempt to restore her to herself.

Episode 6 - Finale (???)

Dr. Nowlan has fled into the timestream having accomplished his goal but at the cost of his career and reputation, and possibly his life, should the Time Agents track him down.  Lydia and the others race to find him first, engaging in a merry game of chase and sabotage against their rival pursuers.

Dr. Nowlan does ultimately surrender himself into Lydia’s custody, but reveals that his notes have been destroyed in the chaos, meaning that now he genuinely can’t return anyone home.  Lydia must reconstruct his work, which she does, with some unexpected assistance: the caveman Grok.  He had observed most of Dr. Nowlan’s work and actually comprehends a lot more than anyone realizes.  The crew are finally sent home...for the most part.

Bibi Khunza returns to her kingdom and her son, and is able to resume her Regency without much incident.

Augustus Cole does not return home to Victorian England.  Instead, seeking a new challenge, he appears in Khunza’s court and is welcomed as a new “foreign advisor.”

There was a “miscalculation” and Xavion Knox is not returned to his own time, but rather six months earlier, to the incident of his partner’s death.  Due to the Reese-Hartnell Effect, Xavion has an opportunity to save the man that he loves and he doesn’t intend to waste it.  And this time, he won’t be alone.

Zeta-5, citing his race’s long lifespan, decides to go to Xavion’s time instead of his own.  He realizes that there is a very good chance that the Reese-Hartnell Effect will come into effect in about fifty years, but it might be interesting to live his life again from infancy onward.

Dr. Nowlan is serving out his sentence at the Kallipolitan Time Agency.  He’s treated well and receives many visitors.  He is, by all accounts, quite content.

Lydia Nowlan has received tacit approval to continue her linguistic studies across the timestream.  She is accompanied in this effort by her new partner, Grok.

--

Bonus:

As this is a Rip Chat challenge, of course I have slipped Arthur Darvill in here somewhere.  He has been cast as Dr. Pierce Draxton, head of the Kallipolitan Time Agency.  Because the man’s played a rebel.  Now I’d like to see him actually in charge.

[sparkkeyper]

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Word Count: 3,797

Warnings: None    

Summary: Old habits die hard. Crowley and Aziraphale’s habits are very, very old. Building their own side is difficult when 6000 years of instincts won’t shut up. 

(Originally very loosely-based on the song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" but then it kind of did its own thing, haha. I was originally going to post this for Advent  Omens but uhhh you can see that didn’t quite happen. Written as ace but you can read it however you want, really. Guess what fools, it’s Soft Boi hours again!)

(Now on AO3!)

-----------

The snow had started early in the day. When Aziraphale arrived at the Mayfair flat it was just a dusting. But the flurry had become a proper snowfall, and then quickly decided 'go big or go home' and transitioned into a flat-out storm.

This didn't phase the two immortals in the slightest, of course. If anything, the swirling flakes outside made it feel even cozier inside. Crowley's sleek, minimalist flat had grown a fireplace for the occasion, and a very surprised new chimney on the roof of the building found itself venting smoke that somehow managed to bypass three floors.

They sat together on the plush sofa (obtained at Aziraphale's insistence several months prior, on the grounds that he wasn't going to continue coming over if there was nowhere comfortable to sit, and Crowley couldn't have that) and drank wine and talked and laughed and reveled in the feeling of being cozy and warm on a cold, blustery day.

Time had traveled on in the usual manner since Armageddon failed to happen. The two of them were unwinding slowly. Thousands of years of looking over shoulders did not evaporate in an evening, benevolent Antichrist or no, and 'our side' was a concept they were still carefully exploring. But what a glorious exploration it was.

There was no limit to the amount of time they could spend together. It was a dizzying concept that they were both adjusting to, but one that carried a thrill through it all the same. Crowley had been sorely tempted to buy tickets to every concert, play, and musical revue London had to offer and do nothing but attend shows for the foreseeable future, the two of them together. In public. He very well might have done too, if Aziraphale hadn't talked him down amid giddy chuckles. "We have time," Aziraphale had reminded him, and Crowley was ecstatic to realize that it was true.

He had relented to two a week.

It was elating. They stood closer together, they sat beside each other on public transportation rather than one behind the other, they gave each other teasing nudges with elbows.

And sometimes - when they were both at least a bottle in - one of them might even bump their hand against the other's, and fingers might intertwine, and an electric tingle would flood Crowley like a live thing, and most importantly neither would pull away for at least two solid minutes and oh wasn't that alone worth saving the world for?

Crowley spent a previously-unheard-of amount of time at the bookshop and Aziraphale's face always lit up like the sun whenever he walked in. He arrived early, stayed late, sometimes didn't bother going home at all, often showed up with wine or snacks, and they were together and it was wonderful. He had fallen asleep on the bookshop couch in the past, but these months he got the impression that Aziraphale had zoned the piece of furniture as specifically his. There was a permanent place set aside for him in Aziraphale's home, in Aziraphale's life. It made a warmth pool in his stomach to think about it despite the creeping winter chill.

Aziraphale had begun to visit Crowley's flat in return. The angel had never once set foot in the place until the night after the airfield - Crowley had never given him the address, to be fair - but now that permission had been granted Aziraphale was here increasingly often. It was so like the easy evenings at the bookshop, just with more austere surroundings. Music, alcohol, debates and memories and slightly drunken speculation. The occasional temporary twining of fingers. It was good.

It was overwhelming sometimes, this new 'good'.

Aziraphale always left the flat at the end of the evening, usually around ten. He had no reservations whatsoever about chatting until dawn in the bookshop but the flat was a new environment, Crowley supposed. Possibly something to do with propriety.

Possibly something to do with thousands of years of distance that they were both still figuring out how to cross.

But that was Aziraphale, all right: as slow and steady as a glacier when it came to his set, comfortable ways. So much had changed in the past few months and the angel had had to adapt quickly. Crowley didn't begrudge him taking a few things slow. Old habits were hard to break and their habits were very, very old.

Crowley understood well how shadows could linger even in the bright daylight. It was all well and good to say he was off Hell's payroll. It was another thing entirely when instinct crept up on him screaming that he needed to watch his back, to sit a row behind Aziraphale on the bus, to have forty excuses ready for when Dagon came auditing. It took considerable effort to override those instincts and remind himself that 'together' was okay. It was allowed. And still he'd so far only managed to turn the volume down on them, not silence them completely. He didn't know if he ever would. Crowley didn't doubt Aziraphale had similar instincts of his own. If the angel felt better setting himself a curfew, Crowley certainly wasn't going to judge.

But tonight they were here, and warm, and sheltered from the blizzard. As 'retro' had begun to slide back into style, Crowley had picked up a sleek addition to his stereo system that was at once a record turntable, radio, tape deck, and CD player, with added Bluetooth capability for good measure. Strains of Vivaldi swam through the room from a vinyl, mingling with the crackling of the fire and the clinking of wine glasses. Aziraphale was settled deeply into the sofa, his posture several steps short of perfect which was how Crowley knew he was truly relaxed. Crowley, as per usual, was draped over the couch like he'd never seen one before in his life, as though he had too many limbs and didn't know what to do with them all. It was good.

Life was good.

It was a little after ten when Aziraphale spoke up. "It's getting late." His voice was a bit distant as he looked out the window, snow glinting in the reflected light as it fell. "I suppose I ought to be going."

There was a note of regret to his voice, a lack of conviction in his eyes, that Crowley had learned to read over the long years of the Arrangement. A smile pulled at the corner of the demon's mouth, covered up easily by another sip of wine. It was a very old game they played, treading carefully along the outside edges of things that could not or should not be said aloud. Expectations, angelic ones in particular, built a lot of barriers. Aziraphale wanted something that wasn't allowed him - or wasn't supposed to be allowed him - and couldn't bring himself to reach out and grasp it. It was Crowley's job to find ways for him to justify the forbidden something to himself.

In the subtle language they shared, the angel was asking Crowley to tempt him, and how could Crowley pass up a request like that?

"Awfully cold out there," the demon drawled, gesturing languidly toward the window with his wine glass. "Snowing like nobody's business. Wind and ice and subzero chill. Terrible night to be out in."

"I'm sure it's not so bad."

"Not so bad? It's been raging for hours! Look at it! It's knee-high! You expect me to try and drive my poor car out in that mess?"

Aziraphale raised an eyebrow at the demon. "Ah yes. Imagine if humans invented other forms of transportation aside from your horrid car."

The demon's argument was all bluff and they both knew it. The Bentley could slice through the snowdrifts like a hot knife through butter if Crowley wanted it to. It wasn't the strength of the argument that mattered - it was whether or not Aziraphale could twist it to bypass the metaphorical roadblocks. Crowley rose to the challenge by sprawling back on the sofa with a smirk. "Other forms of transportation? You mean a bus, in weather like that? And good luck finding a cab out there, angel. City's practically shut down."

Aziraphale stood, giving his back a tentative stretch. "I could walk, of course. I've done it loads of times. It doesn't take much more than twenty minutes, not counting the care that has to be taken for ice."

"Walk, he says!" Crowley tossed back the remainder of his wine like a shot glass. "Think of it - the first angel in history to catch pneumonia! Bad job I'm not working for Hell anymore; they'd give me an award!"

"If doing those temptations in Qashliq for you didn't give me pneumonia, I'm quite sure nothing will."

"Are you ever going to let that go? It was over four hundred years ago!"

"It was February in Siberia, no I will not."

"Suppose you did stay a bit longer," Crowley ventured, changing tactics. It was a risk, coming at the problem from such a direct angle when they were both so used to ghosting along edges. "Bookshop wouldn't go anywhere, would it?"

Aziraphale blinked at the abrupt transition. "Well no, I shouldn't think so. It's just...I mean if I don't return home someone might notice of course and well...people will talk."

Crowley leaned forward over his knees, seriously. "Angel. When, in two hundred years in that bookshop, have you ever given a single fuck what your human neighbours think?"

Aziraphale drew himself up with a huff, and Crowley was delighted to see familiar indignation winning out over nerves. "I am an upstanding member of the community, I'll have you know. And it's not just my neighbours, of course - it's yours as well. That little old lady who lives on the floor below, for example. She always gives me that look when I pass her in the lift."

"What look?"

"You know! That look! Like she thinks she knows what's going on between the two of us."

The demon grinned like a Cheshire cat and gave a suggestive wiggle of his shoulders just for the expression it painted across the angel's face. "You're worried that my neighbours are going to think you and I took a tumble in the sheets?"

"They already suspect! Or at least she suspects." Aziraphale was trying so hard to keep a straight face, but mirth glinted behind his eyes. "Do you know what she said to me as she was getting out of the lift the other day? 'Don't forget to use protection; you don't know where he's been!'"

Crowley howled, leaning so far back in his laughter that he fell off the couch.

"I don't know what's more outlandish, the idea that we're in here having a lurid physical affair or the idea that I don't know exactly where you've been."

Crowley wiped his eyes dry and held out a hand so the angel could help pull him up from the floor. "Remind me to miracle her fridge so that all her milk keeps past its date. 'Don't know where he's been' indeed."

Aziraphale fought to get his own smile under control, for the sake of his argument if nothing else. "Yes, but it just goes to show, Crowley, people do notice. And they will talk, I'm sure of it."

"Let them," he waved it off. "I've seen tissue paper with more durability than human gossip. It'll all get forgotten in a day or two." Crowley leaned over and refilled both glasses.

"Right. I suppose it will." The angel took a tentative sip and sat back into the sofa again. "Silly thing to get worked up about, really."

On a regular night that might have been the end of it. They'd had their verbal tennis, they'd had a laugh, and Aziraphale had accepted another drink. But try as he might, the angel couldn't seem to settle. There was a stiffness, a tension to his spine that would not unwind. He fidgeted with the stemware, shooting furtive glances at the window, the fireplace, the clock. 

The ceiling.

The final notes of Vivaldi faded out, leaving the room in silence, and Crowley rose to swap the record. The discomfort radiating off the angel was almost palpable and it made his own spine crawl. "Aziraphale--"

"Only, the wind really looks dreadful," Aziraphale blurted out, jolting to his feet and crossing to the window. "I really ought to go before it gets worse."

"Can't get much worse than it is, I think," Crowley countered carefully. "Best stay where it's warm."

"I don't..." Aziraphale stared out at the London skyline, nearly invisible in the storm. Pale fingers worried absently at the hem of his waistcoat. His mouth was down to a thin line and there was quite a lot behind his eyes. He looked pained. "I shouldn't impose."

"You're not imposing if I'm offering."

"It isn't...it isn't right for me to stay!"

The demon set down the vinyl he was holding, something dangerous layering his words. "Says who?"

"I've been ignoring protocol too much as it is--"

Crowley gritted his teeth, a growl rising in his throat. "There is no protocol on our side!"

"I know!" Aziraphale snapped. There was a beat of silence and the anger in the angel's face melted as suddenly as it had come, leaving his expression frustrated and upset. He scrubbed a hand across his eyes, almost apologetically. "I...I really can't...surely you understand why I can't just..." He ran a hand through his hair helplessly, eyes darting to the ceiling.

The demon set his glass down and moved over to the window.

It was a very old game they played. Crowley was good at his job and Aziraphale was good at the mental gymnastics required to fit through some of the more dubious loopholes. But every now and then they still lost.

He positioned himself in front of the principality, forcing Aziraphale to look at him.

"Angel," he said quietly, as though someone might overhear. "If you want to head home, I'll take you. You know I will. I'd just rather it be because you want to rather than because they would want you to."

Aziraphale looked truly miserable. "Crowley, you've been a marvelous host, you really have, but...I'm so sorry, I..."

Crowley stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. For just a moment the demon's face was soft, genuine. A bit sad but still impossibly fond. "Don't be." He gave the shoulder a gentle squeeze. "It's late. Get your coat, angel, it's cold out there." He doused the fireplace with a wave and stretched his back out. "Give me a moment to sober up and I'll start the car."

Aziraphale sighed, clearly frustrated at a great many things, but headed for the coat rack while the demon forced the alcohol from his system. "It ought to be fine," he muttered as the wine bottles in the corner finished refilling. "It ought to be fine. I can't explain it, I..."

"It's like someone's standing too close inside your personal space," Crowley finished for him quietly, pulling a coat of his own from the ether. "Like you're driving on the motorway and you end up in the blind spot of a lorry. There's no great outward change but all of a sudden the hairs are up on the back of your neck and your skin is crawling. And you just have this overwhelming sense of this is not a good place to be, get out."

"Yes," Aziraphale murmured unsteadily. "Yes, that's it exactly." His eyes found Crowley's, apologetic, searching.

"It is what it is, angel," he assured him softly. "We have time."

A weight seemed to lift from Aziraphale's shoulders. "I...thank you. Truly." There were things unspoken that Crowley could hear beneath that simple phrase. Thank you for understanding. Thank you for being patient with me.

Don't say that, hesitated on the tip of Crowley's tongue. Instinct was, of course, very old and very strong. He swallowed down the words and searched for new ones to replace them.

"You're welcome," he said quietly. The syllables tasted foreign in his mouth.

There was silence in the flat as he buttoned up his coat. Despite the passing months they truly had only moved the barest steps away from where they had been.

They had so very far to go yet.

But it was true. They had time.

"Right." He tried to break the mood as casually as he could, slipping dark glasses on and turning his voice into something light and easy. "Shall we be off then? After you, angel."

The lift ride down was silent, subdued. Something complicated was warring behind the blue eyes and Crowley wasn't going to even begin to touch on it until they were in the car. Aziraphale's steps faltered as he reached the glass doors of the lobby, and Crowley was halfway down the outside stairs before he realized he wasn't following.

"Oi, you coming?"

Aziraphale stared down at the space beyond the door with a peculiar expression: uncertainty and determination and anger and hurt. "I - I don't..." There was a moment of indecision, of frantic debate on his face, then he backed quickly over to the lobby bench and sat down hard.

Crowley pulled his coat tighter about himself as the wind bit through his clothes and ducked back into the building.

Aziraphale held very still, eyes closed and fingers gripping the edge of the bench.

"Angel?"

"Give me a moment. Please."

Crowley paced a cautious half-circle around him, instinctively scanning the principality for damage and the storm beyond the glass wall for threats. Another old habit - nearly useless now but one he wasn't going to be able to drop any time soon. He sat down beside the angel and the lobby was quiet for a very, very long time.

"I think," murmured Aziraphale at last, "if it's all right with you, I'd like to stay."

Crowley studied him closely. "Are you sure?"

"No." Aziraphale met his gaze. "I haven't been sure of much of anything, recently. Not since Tadfield. But I do not want to be forced back to the bookshop tonight."

"Shouldn't force yourself to stay if you're only going to be miserable."

"It's not so bad down here, that's the silly thing. But for some reason the idea of going back upstairs is just..." He laughed wryly. "What a mess I've made of the evening."

"It was a fine evening," Crowley told him earnestly.

"I thought so too, at least until the end there." He straightened, and looked a bit more like himself to Crowley's eyes. "And it's my most sincere hope that, with some more wine and another record, it might be again. Give me a few minutes. I think I can work up to it."

The demon took his glasses off and studied him closely. The determination in those eyes, the set of that jaw, were so familiar they hurt. There was a nervousness there, but there was a stubbornness as well. Like the glacier: slow, steady, but deep down so, so strong.

Crowley reached behind himself and retrieved a pair of full wine glasses that suddenly and thoughtfully decided to exist. "You know, I reckon..." he said quietly, handing one to Aziraphale, "that these will taste just as good right here as they would upstairs."

Aziraphale blinked. Glanced from his glass to the demon to the lift and back again. And his expression softened considerably.

"And if music and wine is what it takes to hang onto your company for a little longer, I s'pose that's the sacrifice I'll have to make, won't I?" He sat his phone down beside him and with a few taps Mozart began to play from its speakers.

Aziraphale stared deep into his wine glass, a smile spreading across his face that he didn't seem quite ready to share with the world yet. "A little unorthodox, isn't it?"

"And?" Crowley shrugged. "Last I checked, there's no protocol on our side."

"So there isn't. Do you know, I think I like that about it."

The demon lowered his voice. "Say the word any time, you know. We'll go, no questions asked."

"I know." Aziraphale let out a long breath and settled back onto cushions that were suddenly far more plush than anything the lobby bench had seen before. "But at the moment I'd rather be here."

The storm howled beyond the glass wall but the central heating vent behind them kept any stray chills at bay. They sat in gentle silence for a long time.

Piano Sonata No. 14 wound through the room, mingling with the warmth and the wine to kindle a sense of calm: a concoction of human magic that miracles, for all their power, could never replicate. Clever things, those humans.

Crowley traced a finger around the rim of his glass. "Can I ask what changed your mind?" he asked softly.

Aziraphale gazed off into the distance for a moment before looking back to his companion. "It was the 'you're welcome', funnily enough. You've always objected so vehemently to being thanked before."

"Yeah, well..." Crowley took another sip of his drink so as not to meet Aziraphale's eyes. "Like being in the blind spot of a lorry."

Aziraphale nodded. "It's..." He trailed off. Took a swig of wine and swallowed it down hard, as though for courage. "It's a comfort," he admitted so quietly that Crowley had to strain to hear him. "To know that it's not just me."

Crowley pursed his lips. "Not by a long shot, no" he confessed, equally quiet.

"I know accepting gratitude doesn't come easy to you. But you managed, tonight."

"It isn't a footrace, angel. I'm not asking you to keep pace with me."

"I know that. And I'm grateful. It's just... seeing you be brave makes me feel like...like I can be as well."

That smile was tugging at the edge of Crowley's mouth again. He reached out and clinked the edge of his glass with Aziraphale's. "Course you can be. Always have been."

The angel smiled back at him, warm and glowing and grateful, just the faintest hint of pink darkening his cheeks. With a daring Crowley had only seen behind the safety of closed doors and wine bottles, he placed a hand on the bench between them, palm up. 

Crowley took it.

Meeting him in the middle, as always.

"Careful, angel," the demon murmured in his ear. "Remember, you don't know where I've been."

Aziraphale gave an undignified snort into his wine glass and their laughter echoed throughout the lobby.

The storm raged cold outside, but here, in their own little in-between place, they were warm.

[discoclubofvenus]

The moon’s routine

✧ Nightly routines w/Hinawa, Vulcan, & Obi

Type: request, headcanons, fluff

Reader: gender neutral

Warnings: None

A/N: This was a nice little switch up! I apologize that these are shorter than what I would normally put out, I haven’t been feeling the best these past few ^^

This man has a strict skincare regime that he doesn’t skip out on, okay well, he does whenever there was a particularly rough fight with a flame

He usually does his skincare silently so he can gather all of his thoughts together and run through how his day went

This usually ends up making him reminisce the past and I encourage that you give him silent support without much physical contact (touching him while he’s so out of space might trigger his fight or flight)

Once he’s calmed down from his memories, a nice long hug will do him some good

If this man is tired, expect a kiss and a small ‘I appreciate you so much (f/n), you have no idea how much my love runs deep for you’ then he’ll clock out lol

If he isn’t all that tired expect him to be cuddling up to you (whether it be as a big spoon or little spoon) more often than not he finds himself being the big spoon

He doesn’t snore loudly, but he tries to go to sleep with his mouth closed but as he falls into the embrace of your warmth and the calmness of sleep his breath gradually gets heavier

With this, his arms would tighten around you ever so slightly and he would nuzzle closer to you

If he’s the little spoon, he’ll unconsciously adjust himself as to where his ear is on your chest, just so he can listen to your heartbeat, anytime you’ve asked him about the habit he always stares blankly before answering with an “I don’t know what you’re talking about”

After a long day with Hinawa entails a lot of pampering on both sides

If you massage his back or arms while in the shower, he will melt and turn around to give you the same treatment

A long session of just embracing each other, no music or anything in the background, just the comfort of being in each other’s arms

He would help you fix your hair up, while you brush your teeth/do facial treatments

He’d insist that you guys eat before retreating to your bedroom so there won’t be any need for a midnight snack (translation: once you get into bed he’s not letting you go)

If you insisted he would keep a hidden spot full of snacks for you (the man is weak for your puppy-dog eyes)

Once in bed there would be quiet conversations and bouts of silence that would fill the atmosphere but most importantly, alone time together

You guys would talk about the future of your relationship, hobbies, his weird fashion sense, and anything else that wouldn’t have to do with the company (it’s a nice refresher)

During these conversations he would hold you close and hum in acknowledgement, he wouldn’t care much for talking unless you specifically asked for his opinion (he finds listening to your voice soothing)

He likes to get a full night’s rest so he can start his next day nice and early but this usually doesn’t happen due to needing to wrap up unfinished paperwork

“There are mountains of paperwork left to do that the other’s hadn’t finished that need tending to (f/n), I’ll be upstairs shortly” DON'T FALL FOR IT!

On nights like those, you usually drag him away from the paperwork and help him finish it the next day (not without cussing out the rest of the team for not completing their paperwork)

The type to have blues or smooth jazz in the background as you two commence your nightly routines

If you asked he would back hug you and sway to the music while his eyes are closed 

If he could, he would spend his entire 24 hours tinkering with inventions and blueprints to reach his goal but luckily he has you to drag him away from his inventions

His sleep schedule is literal ass, so you took it upon yourself to help him improve it

This includes helping him wrap up his latest blueprints, dragging him into the shower, massaging his neck and upper back (his posture is AWFUL from looming over the table all the time), dragging his sleepy ass to bed at 2am

However, he would get restless and not be able to properly clock out (not until 3-4am but thankfully this isn’t every night)

When you two are just laying down and facing each other, this is the time that he would be at his most vulnerable

He would complain about his day (even if you were there for most of it),he would reminisce about days spent with his dad, how Lisa’s betrayal had hurt him, literally anything that was on his mind

This is the time to reassure him and just hug him as he pours his heart out

“Do you think I’ll actually be able to bring all the animals back (s/o)?”

“I believe in you so yes I do think you’ll be able to bring them back. Maybe not now, and maybe not all, but the first couple is what matters most”

After each heartfelt conversation it would always end up in giggles and shared kisses 

You always make it a point to comment on all of your favorite features of his, which turns the man into a literal tomato 

He wouldn’t verbally express his gratitude but the way he would pull you in closer and stare lovingly into your eyes would tell you more words than he could say 

When he has a nightmare he would just snuggle into you more while keeping quiet

He doesn’t want to burden you with his own demons but he soon learns (from you lightly scolding him) that he can just wake you up 

“Nightmare?” “yeah…” and that would be all you needed to just hold him for the entire night

There isn’t a specific routine he follows other than brushing his teeth for the night and randomly writing down new ways to improve his inventions

However, he would definitely help you with your nightly hair care routine (he’s come up with a few things to help detangle your hair!)

He would have some soft rock in the background and if he knew the lyrics he would mouth them with the hairbrush

He has built a mini fridge in his room so whenever you guys want some midnight snacks “They’re right there! No need to sneak out and possibly piss off the lieutenant”

He has had to kick Shinra and Arthur out of his room because they tried stealing his mini fridge 

On particularly restless nights, the two of you would set up a speaker and act like you were performing at a concert (with the music at a low volume ofc)

These nights he finds himself falling in deeper in love with you

The next morning you guys are literal sloths from how late you stayed up

When you guys finally get into bed you’ll start off cuddling (with him as the big spoon) but in the morning you’ll notice that he has tangled all of your limbs together and he ended up being the little spoon 

It takes a lot to untangle yourself and by the time you finish, he’s already awake

Nights with him are all about unwinding from the day’s events, no matter how mundane the day was 

There’s a lot of reminiscing memories every night especially about how you guys met, how you’ve managed to adopt all of the younger company 8 recruits

He has cried before when he walked into the house and found you cooking dinner for him

Extra tears were spilled when you gave him a greeting kiss

There’s an unspoken rule that if the other has had a rough day that they would be pampered

And if you both had a rough day? Looks like you’re both getting pampered by each other

Nights sheds a layer of Obi’s walls and more often than not he finds himself feeling particularly vulnerable (especially around you) you will find him in his thoughts more than usual 

In bed there would be soft conversations about how much he loves you, the dreams you guys share together, the direction where company 8 is going

“Do you think we’re doing the right thing? It feels like more problems arise with each new thing we find..”

“I think that if it’s in your heart to genuinely help others then you’re doing the right thing”

Obi would have you laying on his chest, while one hand is behind his head and his other one is rubbing circles on your lower back  

It gives you the chance to hear his heartbeat and it gives him extra reassurance that you’re there to protect his heart

His nightly routine includes: Stretching out any tense muscles, face masks (courtesy of his sweet s/o who laughs at the faces he tries making in the mask), his hair, moisturize,  and anything that you need help with

If there is music playing then expect him to start slow dancing with you and randomly dipping you 

He doesn’t hold his balance too well so expect a few falls every now and then 

You guys usually bathe together, so he usually sneaks in a few kisses while you wash his hair

If you guys end up showering that night, he’ll give you massages and whisper about how much he appreciates your presence in his life

He would be extra gentle when helping you take care of your hair and wrapping it up for the night

If your scarf/bonnet slips off in the middle of the night he would fix it and then kiss your forehead

Another one who would start off cuddling but find yourself in a whole ‘nother position

Exhibit A: Tangled limbs and a loving (?) headlock

Exhibit B: He’s upside down on the bed, your foot is on his chest and your head is on his leg (?)

Exhibit C: He ends up being the little spoon and you ended up clinging onto his back like you’re a backpack

It’s always a good laugh whenever you mention it in the morning

He is the one that would risk running into Hinawa to get some midnight snacks

If he doesn’t come back in 10 minutes, you know the lieutenant has him or he didn’t know which snack to choose

Before going to sleep he would share a slow and passionate kiss with you 

[seventhfracture]

Q. 3, 5, 8-11, 20, 34, 37, 40, 42, 43, 60, 65, 70, 81, 82 & 87 for the OTP (lawlight?) questions please? <3

1. Who kissed who first?

Light kissed L first, as part of a scheme. And Light’s a good actor, sure, but he was a little more into it than he would like to admit. Meanwhile L was the first one to kiss Light with genuine feeling. That too was a calculated powerplay, but the feeling was still sincere.

2. What do they like the most about each other?

They’re big fucking sapiosexuals. Light writes real Byronic romanticism into all of L’s awkward features because his intelligence and ruthlessness make Light wet. L meanwhile wouldn’t care if Light was a bridge troll with twice the stank so long as he still had his voice. L loves his wit, his smarts, but he also loves the wicked fakeness in Light he can see straight through. It makes Light his own little secret because no one else notices.

3. Who tends to worry the most?

Light has back up plans A through Z-23. He’s always got a second strategy up his sleeve. He likes watching all his perfectly laid dominoes fall into place. L meanwhile has enough confidence in his intelligence that he assumes he will succeed first time and, if he doesn’t, that’s exciting and he thrills in the chance to wing it with real stakes.

4. Who is more inclined to be jealous or possessive?

Light is used to being the centre of attention. He likes having people fawn over him. L knows these people don’t interest Light at all, not really, but it still irritates him when they get too forward and Light smiles all cute. L likes to shut that down very quickly and Light sulks for a second before he revels in L being possessive.

Light, meanwhile, isn’t used to people expressing an attraction to L and it makes him seethe. “No, my L.” He grumbles plotting their demise. L often doubts the sincerity of people who show attraction to him. He’s not trying to be attractive after all. And, even if they are genuine, they’re dull so….

5. How do they resolve their arguments?

They don’t often sincerely disagree but if they do there are stages to an L/Light argument. First there’s the bitching and insulting, then there’s the elaborate backstabbing, then there’s the furious angry sex, then they actually sit down and talk like adults for 5 minutes. Once the issue is resolved they rinse, lather and repeat with something new.

6. Who is the most physically affectionate?

L doesn’t seem like a physical person but he likes to touch. He likes to feel close. He’ll stroke Light like a cat and Light will melt. Light sometimes hesitates to get physical.

7. Do they give each other nicknames?

They have a few epitaphs that are filled with admiration but nicknames? They usually only break them out when they’re having a covert fight in public or if they’re trying to have degrading sex.

8. What do they do when the other is stressed?

L rarely gets work stress. His stress is often more personally based. Light isn’t always quite sure how to reach him when he clams up but Light is nothing is not patient/stubborn. He’s always there when L is ready.

L likes to be proactive with Light stress. If he can solve Light’s problem by throwing money at it he won’t hesitate. Money is replaceable, Light is not. He’s also keen to strategize but sometimes Light is worked up over problems he’s inventing and L needs to call him on his bullshit. Which gets him the cold shoulder for a day before any thanks.

9. Thoughts on PDA(Public Displays of Affection)?

L would fuck Light in front of an audience if he got the all clear. Light meanwhile doesn’t enjoy PDA. He has too many considerations about how others are perceiving him and what it impacts to really relax. Exhibitionism though? Weeeeell that’s a little different. Sneaky fucking in public can be fun.

10. Thoughts on kids?

Light is not keen to have children. They don’t suit him. L has the Wammy’s extended family so he rarely sees the need for more family.

11. Thoughts on each other’s family?

Light loves Wammy’s and he gets very involved as Watari gets older. Light is the one who remembers to send gifts and congratulations for ever life event for the other orphans. L finds Light’s family a little pedantic but they’re harmless and playing nice with them keeps Light happy.

12. Favorite family member of their lover? (Example: Lover 1 enjoys Lover 2’s mother the most)

L will say Soichiro is his favourite because Light adores his father but secretly L likes Ryuk the most. He feels the most authentically connected to Light, knows the real him, and is the kind of creature L would choose to spend recreational time with.

Light will say Mello is his favourite and they’ll gossip like high school girls, send each other stupid presents, laugh like cats. But deep down Light thinks the most of Near. Near is harder to control or manipulate but Light sees more in Near he values and respects.

13. Who will punch someone out if they are rude to their partner?

Light doesn’t punch. If Light doesn’t like you it would be best to take out a life insurance policy. L meanwhile is petty as fuck. If someone insults Light, in a genuinely cruel way, L’s not above trashing their career and their credit score systematically.

14. Who loves kids more?

L is more at ease with random children. Light makes a good show of it but he’s internally quite uncomfortable. Light needs to bond with a specific child before he can really unwind. L is just used to an unending stream of orphans so he’s got chill big brother energy.

15. Who is the hopeless romantic?

They both love a romantic gesture. They’re both real drama queens. Light will go medieval about it “here are the hearts of your enemies” whereas L is more 1950s black and white movies about it “I bought us both plane tickets to Monaco, don’t pack a bag, you won’t need it”

16. Who is the one that sees the big picture, while the other focus’s on the small details?

They’re both very detailed focused. But L is more relaxed about what long term looks like. Light meanwhile will plan the next forty years if you leave him alone for 2hrs.

17. What is an inside joke they have?

Ryuk is one huge inside joke. They both communicate with Ryuk while other people are around in really sneaky ways and they’ll make comments about him to each other in front of people. |

“Go ask your other boyfriend, maybe he’ll say yes?” L will joke

“I’m so glad you’re home. The ghost and I used all the wifi while you were gone.” Light will say.

18. Do one of them sleep talk? If so, what do they say?

Light talks pure nonsense in his sleep. Including arguing that he’s awake when he’s sleep talking.

[bella-spil]

Bucky Barnes Fluff Alphabet

Here goes nothing!

Taglist: @wednesday-add-em​ @kmuir1​ @sea040561​ @angrythingstarlight​

Attractive:(What do they find attractive about you?)

He loves your eyes.  And your lips.  He loves how your eyes brighten up his day and how they can tell a whole story without saying a word.  He thinks they are the most beautiful things on Earth.  But he also loves your lips.  Especially when you bit your bottom lip.  It makes him want to kiss you so much.

Baby:(do they want to have kids?)

Before the war, he wanted to have kids.  One boy and one girl.  But he wouldn’t name his son after one of the lamest presidents.  But now, after everything that has happened to him, he doesn’t know if he would be the best role model.  Or even a good dad.  He doesn’t want his kids to know that he murdered hundreds of people and that he was a criminal for 70 years.  But you convince him over and over again that he would be the best dad in the world.  Maybe, in the future he will see he will be the best father on Earth, regardless of his past.

Cuddle:(how do they cuddle?)

He will be the big spoon a lot of the time.  You like being snuggled up in his arms like a teddy bear.  He also likes having someone there, in his arms when he is going through one of his episodes.  You are like a comfort object to him, something he can hold on to when he needs it.

Dates:(What are dates like with them?)

Entertaining.  He will take you to the most extravagant places.  He also likes to take you places that are from his past.  Like his old home in Brooklyn, the Cyclone on Coney Island.  He also likes to take you to the movies, where he complains that they don’t show any cartoons, only movie trailers.  And amusement parks.  He likes all of the new roller coasters that were invented and always want to try the biggest and scariest ones.

Everything:(you are my ____ ex: my world, my life)

You are his sunshine.  Call it cliche, but whenever he is in a dark place, you are always there to guide him out of it.  You are a beacon to him, and he will always follow you, no matter how hard.

Feelings:(when did they know they were in love?)

From the very first moment he saw you.  Your attitude, your laugh, your smile, your everything.  Once he saw you, he knew he couldn’t live without you.

Gentle:(Are they gentle and how so?)

Bucky will be a teddy bear to you.  He will just randomly plant kisses to your head or when your back is faced to him, he will give you a bear hug from behind.  He just does random acts of kindness.  Sometimes he will leave you love notes while he’s gone on missions, or get you a bouquet of flowers just because.

Hands:(do they like to hold hands?)

Yes, he craves your touch.  He loves when you hold his hand because it brings a sense of comfort that he missed when he was brainwashed by H.Y.D.R.A.  He only flinches when you grab his left arm because of the trauma that comes along with it.  But as you keep doing it more often, he eases a little bit more each time.  It will just take him some time to get used to it.

Impression:(what did they first think of you?)

He thought you were so confident.  So comfortable in your own shoes and you walked with a purpose.  He knows it’s hard to find a girl like that, so when he saw you, ooo he had to have you.

Jealousy:(do they get jealous easily?)

Yes.  100% yes.  Whenever you playfully flirt with Sam and Steve, he will just leave the room, to embarrassed to say anything.  He doesn’t like seeing you flirt with other men, including his friends.  He likes to know that you are his, and when you flirt with others, he feels like he lost you.

Kiss:(how do they kiss?  Who initiated the first kiss?)

Bucky will always try to get a makeout session with you, whether its when you and him are alone or when you are with the whole team.  He just loves the feeling of your lips against his and will do anything to get it.

And he of course made the first move.  He couldn’t resist your lips and just had to have a taste or else he knew he would go mad.

Love:(who said ‘I love you’ first?)

You did.  Bucky wanted to tell you sooner, but he was too nervous.  He didn’t know if it was too soon or when to tell you because he never felt this way about anyone before.  It was like he was in middle school all over again.  

But when you said it, it was music to his ears.  He felt his heart explode and carry him to the stars.  He was too stunned when you said it that he froze, and it took you a few minutes to snap him out of it.  Then once he regained control of himself, he kissed you.  For a long, long time.

And now, he says it all the time.  Just not in front of the team.  The only times he will do it in front of them is when he is drunk from Thor’s Asgardian Ale or he whispers it in your ear.  But when you two are alone, he says it on repeat, he sounds like a broken record sometimes.

Memory:(what’s their favorite memory with you?)

His all time favorite is when you first kissed him.  It felt like he finally had you in his arms and he would never, ever let you go.  He knew he had won the lottery with you.  And the night also led into something else, if ya know what I mean...hehe.

Nickel:(do they spoil you?)

If Bucky was as rich as Tony, he would buy an entire island for you.  Even though he could just ask Tony to do that, he knows his manners.  

But he grew up in the forties, when 3 bucks was a ton of money.  Even when you go out grocery shopping with him, he will complain about how expensive the milk is.  Spoiling for him is getting you an expensive necklace for your birthday or anniversary.  But otherwise he doesn’t spoil you too much.

Orange:(what color reminds them of you?)

Pink.  Pink reminds him of you.  Pink is such a light color, but it can also be vibrant, bright and beautiful, just like you.  Also he likes PINK, the store, and that's another reason.

Pet Names:(what pet names do they call you?)

Oh, he has quite a few.  Mostly ones from the 40′s.  ‘Doll’ and ‘toots’ most of the times, but he will also call you ‘baby’ and ‘sugar’.

Quaint:(what’s their favorite non-modern thing?)

He likes listening to music that he grew up with.  And he likes dancing to it with you.  You guys always have a ball when Bucky is teaching you dances from his generation.  He taught you the Charleston, and you mastered it, and you guys have dance battles, judged by Steve.

Rainy Day:(What do they like to do on rainy days?)

Cuddle and watch movies with you.  Over the course of dating Bucky, you caught him up on Disney and Pixar movies, and whenever there is a rainy day, those are the only things he will watch with you since he enjoys them so much.

Sad:(how do they cheer themselves up?)

Mostly, he works out whenever he is feeling sour.  Lifting weights and punching as hard as he can into the punching bag takes his mind off of whatever was upsetting him.  But he gets even more happy when you join him.  He loves teaching you new moves and when you spar against each other.

Talking:(what do they like to talk about?)

He likes telling you about his past.  What he did in the forties with Steve.  He loves telling you weird and crazy things he did as a kid and how many times he had to fight someone for his friend.  Bucky also loves it when you laugh along with his stories.  He likes telling you about his past since he thinks he can connect with you better and that you get to know him a lot more.

Unwind:(what helps them relax?)

Cuddling helps him to destress the most.  That and working out.  And listening to music as well.  But cuddles help him the most because you are basically his personal teddy bear, something that he can grab and lay with till he feels better.

Vaunt:(What do they like to show off/brag about?)

He likes to show you off.  Everything about you.  He brags about how well you do on missions and how many criminals you took out.  Pretty much if anything comes up in a conversation, Bucky will somehow make sure your name ends up in it, one way or another.

Wedding:(how, where and when do they propose?)

Bucky does like to show you off.  And you always knew him as a private person, so to your surprise, he proposed somewhere very public.  On a date, on Christmas Eve, he took you on a tour of NYC.  He took you through Times Square, Central Park, Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

And that's where he proposed.  On the Brooklyn Bridge.  Late at night with the skyline, bright lights and honking cars.  And it was quite the scene.  

You and him were looking at the skyline and then he got on one knee while you weren’t looking.  He called out your name one time, and you went to look at him, but your found yourself looking down instead.  Bucky got the attention of others walking by, who had their phones out the record the special moment.

You were tearing up, and put your hands over your mouth.  You nodded frantically, and scooped you up in his arms for a bear hug and kiss.  People in the background were applauding and cheering for you, and you found yourself blushing immensely.  And when he slipped the ring on your finger, your eyes were shining as much as the rock on your hand.  

Xylophone:(what's their favorite song?)

Put your head on my shoulder- Paul Anka.

Saturday Nights(Alright for Fighting)- Elton John.

Yes:(Have they ever thought about proposing to you?)

Of course!!  For the longest time.  

Zebra:(of they wanted a pet, what would they get?)

He isn’t a huge fan of pets, but if he had to get one, it would be a husky.  You asked him why and his answer was, “I have two reasons, doll.  One: they are like a nicer version of a wolf.  Two: husky rhymes with Bucky.”  

[firebrands]

the enormity of my desire | stevetony

2.8k, M, angst & sexual tension | stony bingo prompt fill “games ” | on ao3

Something has always simmered between us. It’s felt like we’ve just been pushing, inch by inch, to see how tenuous the wall in between us really is. At least, it’s been that way with me—constantly testing, trying to figure out his limit. Of course we were friends first, until one day something shifted between us. In the years that have passed I can’t say when it was, or how. It’s not like I kept us under surveillance. Well. I think I’m above using what surveillance I have for that, at least.

This is despite the fear that I was making it all up in my head, inventing intention where there was none. After all the romantic failures in my life, it seemed safer to accept that I couldn’t read Steve, even if it was Steve. But there were times, too, when it felt too blatant that it had to have meant it. He’s not an idiot, after all. At least, not all the time.

Not that anyone’s asked, but I do have a supercut of moments that play in my head. Scene one: seated beside each other, our knees touching, then our thighs pressing against each other all throughout trips to wherever we need to jet off to to save the world. Scene two: hugs of relief that lasted a fraction of a second too long, punctuated by a squeeze, or the one time Steve had been bold and cupped the back of my head and held me even closer. Scene three: Steve inviting me to his apartment, the one safe space in his world, and with a gesture so simple showed me that his trust was complete.

Scene four, five, six: the sureness of his arm around my waist as I picked him up off the ground in the suit, a mutual understanding that neither of us acknowledged out loud.

That night seemed like it’d be another image added to the montage.

So, scene seven: standing on Steve’s balcony, standing closer than we need to, like always. After our debrief Steve had seen me slumped over my desk, exhausted, aching for a drink. He touched the back of my wrist.

“We can watch a movie, or something,” he said.

“Unwinding with Captain America?” I’d teased, with the last of my energy.

He smiled. “How about relaxing with Steve?”

Who was I to say no? Kindness was always few and far between. Then again, I knew I was fooling myself; I wanted to be alone with him. It thrilled me that he’d wanted the same.

We’d ordered Chinese and watched a rerun of Golden Girls, and now they were just passing time. (As always been a waiting game.)

I took a deep breath and dug my hands into my pockets. They’re safer there, less likely to do something rash like reach out and touch Steve, which I knew I could do, anyway, I’d done it before without any repercussion but—something felt different that night. Maybe it was my own exhaustion, the fact of my base humanity making me feel weak. Maybe I was finally at my breaking point, after months of this dance.

Maybe it was because Steve was the one who reached out first—wrapped an arm around my shoulders and held me against him.

I followed without comment, encircling Steve’s waist with my arm and resting my hand just shy of Steve’s stomach. We’d stood like this before, triumphant and rejoicing over a battle well-fought and won. Or other times, in private, too, fulfilling some base desire for human contact and trusting the other to provide it. But that was simplifying the issue; I wanted to be close to him. I wanted to get closer, always, and I’d take any chance I could get.

So like always, I silently savored how nice it felt, the solid warmth of Steve lined up against my side. I could smell his cologne, and I knew that if I looked up I’d see the faint shadow of stubble on his jaw.

But I didn’t do that; I never could. It would bring our faces too close, and I didn’t trust myself with that proximity.

Truth be told, I didn’t know why I held back, either; it’s not as if Steve hasn’t already telegraphed his desire. But there was never anything overt, just the lingering look Steve would give me when our eyes met across a table, across a battlefield, across worlds, coupled with everything else.

I let out a shaky breath. Steve seemed to feel it, and tightened his embrace around me.

A beat passed, then Steve pulled me into a full hug, fast enough to make me gasp. We were silent, and Steve pressed his face on the crook of my shoulder, so close that I could feel Steve’s eyelashes against my neck.

At that moment, I thought about how easy it would be to spoil it all, to kiss him and ruin the years of friendship between us. I didn’t know what I wanted. What I did know is that it felt good, and that was enough.

I breathed in through my nose, my own eyes shut against Steve’s chest. We’re so close that I can feel the heat of his breath against the collar of my shirt.

I turned my head, just a little, just enough so there was only an inch between us. Then I felt Steve’s breath stutter to a stop.

The air felt thick. I didn’t move, and Steve didn’t either. For a few moments, all we did was breathe, knowing full well how close we were, close enough for one of us to finally make a move. Could this be it? My ears felt warm and I took a deep breath.

I leaned forward just as Steve pulled away, then he pressed a quick kiss on my forehead.

“Do you want a cup of coffee?”

I took a second to fully come back to myself; I’d almost kissed him. I’d moved to kiss him and he’d moved away.

We were so close, and then Steve was walking back inside.

“No, thanks,” I said. “I’ll go ahead.”

Steve turned back to me sharply. There was a look in his eyes that I couldn’t decipher. But above it all I still couldn’t believe I’d almost kissed him, out here, the only witness to what had happened being the bright lights from the condominiums in the building across us.

“Stay for a while?”

Shame was burning in my belly, but the question lifted my spirits somewhat. Still, I knew I couldn’t stay; inexplicably, I felt like getting back at him for walking away. I felt like I needed to keep some of my dignity despite the fact that I’d almost kissed him, just then.

“Maybe next time,” I said, giving Steve a small smile and a wave before I turned away and walked to the door.

Once I was in the safety of the elevator, I formed my hand into a fist, bit into it, and screamed.

***

Looking back at it now, I was a fool to consider Steve’s apartment a haven. But it was learned behavior, pavlovian—every time I’d go there, he would touch me, and I would touch him, simple and chaste, except in the four corners of that space I didn’t have to think of what it would look like to anyone else.

Nothing about that night was different. Another battle, another debrief, another blasé invitation to unwind. Always, against my better judgment, I’d agreed: what about tonight could be different? Nothing, nothing at all.

They call me a genius. Me. Clearly, I’m a simpleton, easily wiled. But then again, it’s not as if Steve meant for this, I cannot imagine him to be the type to have designs—no. He was considerate, and kind, as he has always been.

Perhaps, then, this was inevitable.

I don’t know how it happened, I mean, I do—we were on his couch watching a stand up comedian or something then we just sat closer together until I was leaning against his chest.

Then, somehow, we lay down that way. We didn’t say anything to make it happen, simply followed and predicted each others’ movements as well as we did in the midst of the battle.

Then he asked me if I wanted to move to the bed, and of course I said yes. After all, I’m only human aren’t I?

We didn’t say anything, once we were lying down. First both facing up, then he touched my arm and I curled against him because I know that’s what he wanted. He slid his arm under my neck, closed his eyes and wrapped his other arm around my waist and pulled me closer.

I’d been this close to him before, hip to chest flush against each other, but never lying down. It felt like we were both just pretending to be asleep; I couldn’t look up at him because my head was tucked under his chin. All I could do was watch his chest rise and dip.

I felt very brave, moving my hand from his waist to rest against his chest. I could feel his heart beating under my palm.

I’m not exaggerating when I say this was the most intimate I’d been with someone, despite us being fully clothed.

I wondered if this would just be another moment to add to the list of things we’d done, things that weren’t strictly platonic anymore, but not overt enough to mean anything. We’d gotten so good at pretending none of this mattered.

I remember breathing out very slowly, shifting my hips to get a bit more comfortable.

The next thing I know he’d flipped me onto my back. My hands flew up to his shoulders, but I didn’t know if I was going to push him away or pull him closer.

We stared at each other in the darkness, only punctuated by the hum of the air conditioning unit.

Then, he closed his eyes and kissed the inside of my wrist. It punched the air out of me.

I said, “What the fuck is going on,” because it was too much, he could have fucked me raw and I wouldn’t have said a word about it, but this—who had taught Steve Rogers about these signs of affection? It made my heart ache.

He took my hands and pressed them against the bed, pinned my hips down with his. I would’ve been embarrassed by how hard I was, except he was, too, and I didn’t know what to do, but I knew, too, that I didn’t want it to stop. I didn’t want us to pretend, like all the other times, that this didn’t happen. It was happening. Something was happening and one of us was going to break.

“I don’t know,” he whispered, leaning over me and adding more pressure against my wrists.

I didn’t want to fight back.

“Is there a line we can’t cross?”

I swallowed down a hysterical laugh and flexed my hands in his grip. “Well, Steve,” I said, smiling a little and trying to sound more confident than I felt, “I think we’ve already crossed it.”

I remember thinking, we can’t be friends after this. He must have been thinking the same, because he looked at me, really looked at me, and asked if I wanted to stop.

“No.”

His lips curled into a small smile. “Good.”

He moved forward just as I was leaning up, and we stopped midway.

For a few moments, we did nothing else but breathe. I wanted him so badly it felt like an ache inside me, but what I wanted more was the victory that he’d break first.

He let go of my wrist and held my chin in his fingers.

“Tony,” he said, calling my attention as if it was on anything other than him.

“Yes,” I breathed out.

He pulled me closer then finally, he kissed me.

Everything is fuzzy after that; I can’t recount in time what happened next. Kissing Steve was a revelation, and it made me think that this like it’s what kissing should feel like, made me hot all over and desperate to press his skin against mine. I was moaning throughout, unable to stop myself and not even wanting to—I moaned as he tugged on my hair to expose my neck, I moaned when I finally got my hands under his shirt, digging my nails into his skin, I moaned when he lifted my arms up above my head and held my wrists down with one hand.

“Yes?” he asked.

“Yes, yes,” I said, scrambling to kick my pants off.

“Stop,” he said, so I did, my breath coming in short bursts as he undressed me.

“Steve.”

“I got you,” he murmured, finally undoing the last button of my shirt and unzipping my pants. I watched as he touched me, his hand moving from my shoulder, to my chest, pausing to tweak my nipple before continuing down my stomach and stopping at the band of my briefs.

“Steve,” I whispered, struggling slightly against his hold. I wanted to touch him the way he was touching me.

“Tell me what you want,” he said.

I wasn’t trying to be dramatic, but looking at it now it certainly sounded that way. “You,” I said, breathless and half-crazed with desire. “You.”

“Good.” He moved back on top of me, pinning me down with his hips and letting my wrists go.

We kissed again, messy and desperate, almost knocking into each other in our haste to get undressed properly. In the back of my mind, hysteria was simmering—I kept thinking, this is happening, he’s kissing me, his tongue is in my mouth—

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Steve said, his breath hot against my stomach.

“Please don’t tell me you want to stop.”

“I don’t.” He looked up at me and smiled, simple and easy, as if we weren’t naked and he wasn’t about to blow me. “I’ve just wanted to for so long,” he said, kissing the inside of my thigh. “I can’t believe this is real. Can you?”

I laughed. “No, I can’t either.”

***

 It’s been two days since I’d snuck out of Steve’s apartment, gathering my clothes and getting dressed in the living room before tiptoeing out. We didn’t speak, after, didn’t text or anything.

I didn’t want to break first, except over the past 48 hours I felt like a dog trying to catch its tail: what did it mean? What happens next? Are we still friends? Are we going to pretend that didn’t happen? On the ride home, I could still taste him on my tongue. As I stepped into the shower, I could smell his cologne on my skin.

I didn’t want to break first, except we’d still catch each other at odd hours in the mansion, but neither of us would stay, already deviating from our standard patterns and signaling that something had changed.

I didn’t want to break first, but how could I not?

“We should talk,” I said, on a cool Tuesday morning. I hadn’t slept, and he looked ready for a jog.

He assessed me, for a moment. “Sure,” he said blandly, as if he hadn’t held me down and fucked me ‘til I screamed his name.

I didn’t have to think hard of where to go; there were only so many places in the mansion that afforded privacy.

“The roof?” Steve asked, but followed me up anyway.

From up there, you could see the sunrise peeking through the buildings. We stood beside each other, almost a foot apart. I hated that I wanted to get closer, despite it all.

Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t bring myself to speak first.

I can’t say how long we were there. Then, Steve sighed, heavy and deep.

“Well,” he said.

“Yeah.”

I looked at him, then looked away. I couldn’t stomach it. With one look at him my fears were confirmed. Something was wrong, and I was on the losing end.

“I’m sorry.”

I nodded. “Me too.”

“We shouldn’t have let it go that far.”

“No, we shouldn’t have.”

We were silent. A plane flew overhead, and I wished I was on it, wished I was anywhere but here, like a coward.

“Do you think we could…?” Steve trails off, as if he knew how stupid his question would be.

“Maybe,” I said, because I’m a weak man that’s grown attached. “But not for a while.”

“That’s fair.”

None of it is fair. It was never fair. I should have seen from the start that I was always going to be on the losing team—but then again, I did know. I always knew, but I thought that I was strong enough not to care.

The conversation ended too quickly, didn’t last long enough, and everything was tangled inside me like wires that needed managing. I left without saying anything else.

He didn’t follow after me.

I hate that I wanted him to.

[barkadasesh]

"RIGHT DESTINATION"

“Breaking news: Deadly viruses that can be a cause of death of a single person for over a week

are spreading within the not known city here in our country. It is the cause of apprehension

around the said city especially in Cupang that set as the nearest place to it”.

Three months earlier…

JOSH: “Hi guys! I miss you all so much! I’m taking my leave as my past operation has

succeeded. Christmas holidays was coming. I’m here in my hometown. What’s our plan?

I clicked the send button. And after a minute my phone rings, at first I wonder who it is, so I

quickly answered it and found out that Vanessa is on the phone. Another five faces pop up in

the screen, my heart was very overwhelmed as this conversation is a treasure and memorable

because these people are not only my friends, yet a family. They speak one by one, gave their

schedules and free time for us to plan our next travel, hang out and for the celebration of

Christmas Eve.

MARVIN: “Bye guys! Hope to see all of you soon. I am just busy these past months because

bunch of patients arrived and I know you all understand me since it is our duty. Love you all!”

Minutes after Marvin said those words, we ended the call. So me after I realized that sun is

about to set, I prepare my meal. I cooked my favorite adobo dish, but since I’m alone because

my parents passed away when I’m in college and my siblings have their own families. It will be

my meal for two days. I used to go here in the place where I grew up for the memories that I

want to remember. I can say that those experiences here are unforgettable, since it was the

reason why I continue life and still reaching my dreams, especially to serve my fellow

countrymen. It is the reason why I’m a professional doctor and has a mission to cure and protect

people around me with my full capacity and ability.

Around four in the morning I woke up, I packed my things and ready myself for a long ride travel

because this day we will be going to the place where many people dreamt of. We will go to

Palawan as we decided to have a vacation there. At 6am we arrived at the airport, we also have

our tickets and waited for our flight. Jewel volunteers herself as our tour guide since it’s her third

time going to Palawan.

JEWEL: “So guys! Don’t worry about this vacation. I assure you that this will be going to be our

best vacation ever. I’m handling the hotel and all of our destination in Palawan, but for now just

relax and wait for our flight.”

As the excitement sparks on what Jewel said, the only reaction we gave to her was laugh, smile

and a sign of approval.

VANESSA: “Noted sis, we know that you will take care of us and what else that we became

doctors, if we weren’t aware in the word care.”

JOSH: “Yeah, I agree. That’s true.”

After those discussions and conversations, the time has passed and our flight is about to begin.

We picked the long abreast chairs in order to support each other and share our snacks. I offer

the sweets and chocolates I have to regain some energy along the whole travel time. I always

have candies and mints when I have a long ride because it makes me feel alive and energetic,

especially when I feel dizzy and sleepy. I also offered my extra jacket with them.

JOSH: “Hey everyone? I have here an extra jacket, just tell me when you need it.”

CAMILLE: “Bro, can I barrow? This jacket of mine was slightly thin and I’m freezing right now.”

JOSH: “Yeah sure! Don’t worry about it. You’re all free to use my stuffs here.”

MARCO: “Thanks bro! You’re truly a reliable and one of a kind person I have ever met.”

CAMILLE: “Yes, I agree with you bro Marco.”

Due to a cold temperature brought by the air condition, almost all of us fell asleep. We woke up

before the airplane landed on our destination. After a few hours, we arrived at the hotel where

we will be staying to have some rest before we start the true resting point and relaxation. We

also took our lunch so we can arranged our things and clear up all we need in the remaining

time. We will stay here for almost 2 weeks and the only thing in my mind was to enjoy every

moment and unwind myself from the challenges of life. Time was ticking so fast, every single

day was the most special day of my life. The waves are so relaxing, the sunrise and sunset was

incredible, the places and the foods are so good and most especially the people are nice.

We really enjoyed staying at Palawan, 2 weeks is worth relaxing for us. Me and my friends has

each own memorable experience, for sure we will go back to this place. On the last day of

staying at Palawan, we had a sharing of our different experiences in life. We had a sharing for

us to connect to one another and hugged each other before we leave this place. As we are in

the plane, we are watching television and breaking news flashed about virus spreading in the

city of Alabang.

“Breaking news: Deadly viruses that can be a cause of death of a single person for over a week

are spreading within the city of Alabang. It is the cause of apprehension around the said city,

especially in Cupang that sets as the nearest place to it”.

“Reporter: According to the experts, the virus is an airborne that can give severe rashes to the

skin if not prevented or given first aid kit”.

CAMILLE: “We need to hurry! I think a lot of work and patients are waiting.”

VANESSA: “For sure we had a lot of work to do.”

Our plane landed in the airport and waved goodbyes to each other. Before I go home, I went to

the convenience store to buy some food stocks and necessities. As I came home, I had a

headache probably because of the jetlag. I went to sleep to rest because I don’t feel well. The

next day, I woke up with a heavy feeling and feel cold, that is why I decided to go to the hospital.

I message my friends to inform them that I am in the hospital, I am not feeling well. The doctor

took some test on me and they found out that I am one of the carriers of the deadly virus. I was

isolated, given first aid kit and told me that no one can visit me unless cured.

“Breaking news: Asian Hospital has one new confirmed case of the new deadly virus. According

to the doctor, the patient went to Palawan and the last place he went is a convenience store

near his house. They say that he got infected in the convenience store”.

MARCO: “Hey guys! Did you hear the latest news? It’s him.”

CAMILLE: “OMG! I knew it! Based on the descriptions of the reporter I know it’s him.”

VANESSA: “I also had goose bumps when I heard it’s in Alabang, he is the one near on that

place.”

On the next day, my friends planned to meet to talk about helping a friend. But the others didn’t

agree and back out because they know that they could risk lives if they help a friend.

CAMILLE: “I agree to help, his our friend so it is just the right thing to do.”

MARCO: “I’m sorry guys but I couldn’t risk my life just to help a friend.”

VANESSA: “I would like to help but it may risk my life. I had a lot of things to do.”

JEWEL: “It is our job to assist patients caused by virus. So why can’t we help our friend?”

“Breaking news: Increase of confirmed cases and death amidst the virus spreading in the City.”

Jewel and Marco assists the patients. Vanessa contacted his connection and other friends in

helping the invention of vaccine. Camille is talking with the government regarding their needs in

fighting the virus and looking for a cure. Marvin assists his friend in the hospital. After all the

arguments and realizations, they decided to help their friend and their community in order to

prevent the spreading of the virus. After a month of struggles and challenges, with the help of

people’s kindness, they invented a cure. A day after, they started to vaccinate the people to

their community, however, a bad news came to them and startled them because their friend

died.

Month has passed and things get back to normal, this is the only chance they had to visit the

grave of their friend.

MARVIN: “Hey Josh! Long time no see. What happened was terrible.”

JOSH: “Yes, it’s true, especially for what happened to our friend. Yet, it is a pleasure to tell the

story of his life. ”

MARVIN: “Yes his life is worth living. But I can’t accept that Vince will leave us too soon.”

JOSH: “Vince’s life story was unforgettable, memorable, and inspiring because he is one of the

best persons and family that we ever had.”

VANESSA: “Let’s just pray for the soul of our friend. We did everything that we can to save his

life and the others.”

CAMILLE: “His inspiring story will be remembered.”

JOSH: “The most important thing right now is that we achieved the right decision and

destination of our lives, I know that Vince is happy and proud at this moment on what we did.”

For the last time, all of them wished that his soul will be at peace and bid goodbye to their

friend.

-END-

(Short Story by Joseph Osal)

[scintillating-galaxias]

all the time in the world

(read it here on ao3! sorry for the double post of this, i’ll delete the other one now that this one is properly up :,)

-

Perceptor suppresses a yawn as he watches Brainstorm's servos fly over the keyboard to their command console. Perceptor had finished his own tasks long ago, and although he's spent many nights alone in berth while Brainstorm continued to work, he refuses to let him stay here again. So he quietly waits from the doorway, watching his partner's as he hunches over the console. He can tell his partner is tired because instead of being a fluttering blur, Perceptor can actually make out the individual digits of Brainstorm's hand with shocking clarity. Other than the rapid-fire tak-tak-tak of the keys, their lab is almost entirely silent.

It's unnatural for quiet and Brainstorm to exist in the same instance of space. Where one exists, the other does not. But his usual muttering and noisy methods of working had ceased long ago, snuffed out by frustration. Now his work is punctuated only by sharper sounding stabs at the keys or huffs of dissatisfaction. Usually, there's something to be said for when Brainstorm's so focused on his work he forgoes his usual ruckus. It's like his intensity is so compelling, it demands every drop of attention from absolutely everything in the room. Perceptor himself is no less affected by this phenomenon, willingly drawn in by the enigma that is Brainstorm. But knowing it's only happening now purely because he's so exhausted somewhat dampens that fierce swell of adoration.

For the fifth time that night, Perceptor calls, "Brainstorm, please come to berth."

"I've almost got it," comes the predicted response. "Jus' one more test. Last one, I swear."

"You said that seven trials ago."

"Funny how that works out," mutters Brainstorm. But he still doesn't move. After a moment, Perceptor sighs and crosses the room to slot himself right beside Brainstorm. One arm loosely wraps itself around Brainstorm's, and the other loops around his middle. Brainstorm stiffens for a moment, then with one long, hissing exvent, sinks against Perceptor.

"I hate being smart," he moans.

"That's a first for you."

"I can't get my stupid processor to shut up about this thing. I need it to work so I can fraggin' recharge, but I keep messing up 'cause I'm tired." He huffs and throws up throws up the arm not being held by Perceptor exasperatedly. "I just don't get it. I was doing great a few hours ago, and then I just—fizzled out. Blanked. Totally blanked. I don't 'fizzle out,' Percy! I don't 'blank!'"

"You do when you overwork your systems for cycles on end," Perceptor chides gently.

"Eh, I've done worse for longer. You shoulda seen me P.T.S."

"P.T.S.?"

"Pre-timecase success. It's a working title. You would've had a conniption."

"That's not better. You understand that's not any better, right?"

Brainstorm shrugs and resumes typing. Perceptor idly examines the complicated equations and diagrams on the screen. Brainstorm's latest project involved a new form of teleportation technology that, hypothetically, would completely rework the field of space-time travel. Only, right now, it's only capable of spitting out distorted and completely unusable drinking cubes in different places in their lab. Hundreds of them fill the disposal bin in the back. A few more spill onto the floor. Perceptor has one on his desk that vaguely resembles a bit of waste left by alloygator labeled "NW-BS-TST238." It holds approximately a single mouthful of energon and is simultaneously one of Perceptor's most useless and most dear possessions.

"You're working yourself beyond efficiency," Perceptor hums, bumping his helm against Brainstorm's. "You can only go for so long before your efforts begin to go against themselves. You need to recharge."

Brainstorm's arms strain slightly towards the console. Perceptor squeezes him a little bit tighter in response. "I can't stop now," he says reluctantly. "I really have something going here and if I—"

"And you'll think of something even better tomorrow," Perceptor says, unwinding his arm from Brainstorm's to instead thread his digits in between his to hold his servo in the same loose grip. "You always try to make things better. You don't settle for enough. That is only a small fraction of what makes you extraordinary." He presses a soft kiss to the side of Brainstorm's helm. "But that doesn't mean you can completely omit recharging as a necessity for your function. Come."

"Maybe that's what I should work on next," Brainstorm says half-jokingly. Perceptor shoots him a flat glare. "Kidding. I couldn't give up coming online beside you anymore."

Perceptor's monocle fogs up a bit with how quickly his faceplates heat. "Well," he says as diligently as he can, "we wouldn't want that, would we?"

"Pit, no." Brainstorm finally lifts his servos away from the keyboard. "You're right, though. I'm probably gonna end up deleting everything here tomorrow anyway."

He hits "save" and steps away from the console. Or, he at least tries to. Perceptor suspects Brainstorm somehow forgot someone was holding on to him because he stumbles right over Perceptor's pede and only stays upright because of Perceptor's hand on his waist. "Huh," he mumbles.

"Tired, are we?"

"You can't prove anything."

Perceptor chuckles as he gently begins to lead Brainstorm out of the lab and guides them down the darkened hallway to their shared suite. Now that he's out of the lab, Brainstorm seems completely unable to halt the exhaustion washing over him. He falls silent once again, concentrating on placing one pede in front of the other. Perceptor is still practically carrying him by the time they reach the door to their hab suite.

As he enters the code to their suite, Perceptor asks, "I wasn't aware of any upcoming expos."

"Nah, 's a personal project." Brainstorm furrows his browridge slightly. "I think I kinda hate not having a deadline. Back in our original universe, there was always something that necessess—nessess—" He yawns. "Ugh. Required a schedule. Something to work for. A mission, or some weird new way someone got hurt, or, hell, Whirl getting bored. And now... Yeah. There isn't one now, and that's weird, so I gave myself one. Don't get me wrong," he adds hastily. "I love being here, being with you. Infinite universes? Frag yeah! I just haven't... adjusted." "I think I understand."

The door opens. Perceptor steps into the room and carefully maneuvers Brainstorm into the berth first. Everything about him screams fatigue. His biolights are practically pink with how weak they are; Perceptor is the one to move his drooping wings out of the way when Brainstorm can't even summon the energy to do it himself; his field is feeble and fluttery. Perceptor tsks and moves to plug Brainstorm in, only to frown when he sees the dismaying low numbers on the readout attached to their berth. System failure surely would have been imminent if Brainstorm had spent even one more cycle without recharge.

"Sorry."

"For what?"

"Worrying you. I don't mean to."

Perceptor smiles as he sits down on the edge of the berth. "I know you don't," he says quietly, stroking Brainstorm's wing with a light touch.

"Good."

Perceptor plugs himself in, then goes to lay down right up against Brainstorm, who sleepily shifts his arm enough to allow Perceptor to nestle in close to his chest. Like most fliers, Brainstorm runs warm, and Perceptor can't resist nudging around their limbs a bit to maximize their contact. Judging by Brainstorm's happy sigh, he doesn't mind the arrangement either.

They share a few long, slow vent cycles together.

"It's incredible, really," Perceptor says.

"What is?" "That we're... free. From our planet. Our old lives. The war. Everything." Brainstorm doesn't answer right away. Perceptor wonders if he's finally fallen into recharge. His field is still enough to make him think so. But after a moment, Brainstorm says with a voice fuzzy with sleep, "Never really thought about it." "We can finally create without fear driving us, or anger, or revenge. We can invent not because of mortal peril, but for our own satisfaction. Your very existence was created for the name of the war. Mine, perhaps less literally so, but most of my function was still spent with the Wreckers or inventing the next biggest weapon, our newest shield, the best way to mobilize ourselves to fight or to run." "But that was then." "That was then," Perceptor agrees softly. "This is now. There's no need to run. There's no need to fight. There's a new purpose for us in this universe." He kisses Brainstorm's chest plate, right over his spark, and smiles when he feels Brainstorm's frame rumble happily beneath his lips. "And we have all the time in the world to find it."

[spacehologramcollection]

Request; The Kombat Krew and Pop Culture.

This is the fluff post for tonight. I am so tired, but I want to upload! This week has been really hard on me. But here we are. Some trash. A little NSFW in places, so to be sure. I’ve added a cut! 18+ under the cut.  GIFS do not belong to me. 

Kabal;

·         Vape nation represent. Kaballin. Got the spins? Ninja Mime 4 was bullshit!

·         Pop Culture is something he’s well versed in. He’s a fucking meme spouting shit lord. To be fair.

·         He’s seen Johnny’s movies. He invented the fucking drinking game for it. He’s fucking down to rip the shit out of them. Unless Tremor is about. Then he keeps his mouth shut.

·         If you like them, he will tease you about them. But not too much.

·         He doesn’t let on how much he’s into geek culture. Not to you straight away anyway. You kind of guess when you finally end up back at his apartment.

·         First time you go there, everything’s getting hot and heated, he’s got you up against the hallway wall. Before you stumble into the living room and see everything.

·         Neatest part of his apartment is his games and comic shelves.

·         He goes fucking red. Pretends its not his. He certainly doesn’t play WoW and troll people till 2 in the morning, in nothing but his underwear eating pizza. Those glasses aren’t his either.

·         He loves his geeky stuff. And hopes you’ll accept it.

·         When you start smiling and rifling through his collection, noting how its impressive, most impressive. He’ll start to smile and relax.

·         He explains his love for pop culture came from a need. He always wanted some of it growing up, but his family was poor. So, when he started earning money, he just bought everything his heart ever yearned for.

·         He’ll live for movie nights in as well. Like, bad movie night just consists of all of Johnny’s films. You both made a drinking game out of them, take a shot for every explosion that wasn’t needed, when there’s overacting, underacting, just some bullshittery. You both end up on your arse. Fucking slaughtered.

·         He loves music too. Like he loves indie music, but not the Smiths. He fucking cannot stand the smiths.

·         Oh yeah two words. Trashy Emo music. He knows the lyrics to ‘Check Yes Juliet’ and you cannot tell me otherwise.

·         Blurting out ‘Allstar’ whilst on a late-night drive. You trying not to laugh and also grabbing the wheel, as he does all the actions. You love it.

·         Reading comics in your pjs/underwear, laid out on his bed, at 2 Am in the morning. Discussing the latest theories, directions for the movies and debating who’s the best hero/ villain.

·         Is the type of dick to choose Rainbow Road on Mario Kart all the time.

·         Is actually good at the course.

·         Is loves vines as well. Whenever its time for him to tell a story, he will always start with some shit like, “There I was, BBQ Sauce on my tiddies”

·         Walking meme lord.

Sub Zero (Kuai Liang);

·         I’ve touched on this in his full smut fic but here we go.

·         He doesn’t have time to himself, and the rare time he gets, he does not wish to devote it to Popular Culture.

·         Kuai hasn’t had much exposure to popular culture, as he calls it. He will not refer to it as pop culture. I mean he calls movies, motion pictures in game. So yeah, the man is deprived.

·         The brief exposure has had, mainly stems from Johnny and Cassie. Cassie with her memes, snark and references. And the fact Johnny made him watch a few of his films.

·         That put him off pop culture for life… well sort of.

·         He does love reading fiction, so he has read Game of Thrones, The Witcher and Lord of The Rings. He loves fantasy. It allows him to be transported somewhere other than the temple.

·         Fiction was a crutch he used, though he won’t admit it’s a weakness. When he felt alone, isolated and just generally out of synch. He would read.

·         He claims its for relaxation purposes, because a good warrior is well rested and in the right mindset.

·         When he gets with you though, you’ll have to introduce him to stuff slowly. You don’t want to over-ride his system.

·         He ends up watching Lord of the Rings and he does enjoy it. Does not enjoy the Hobbit films though. He does love it.

·         He more loves watching a film, because you’ll always end up falling asleep on his chest. Your limbs tangled with his. And you looking so content.

·         He doesn’t get a lot of time to himself. But he does love to spend it with you. If you’re really into pop culture, then he will try and devote some time to it. He wants to share your interests after all.

·         Is an amazing Dungeon Master when it comes to sticking to the rules. He has a pretty decent campaign, but it takes him ages to craft it. His imagination has its limitations, because he’s trained it that way.

·         Comics and Games do not interest him overly. He’s not into them.

·         But he loves watching your eyes light up when you play/ talk about them. He loves the passion you have for them. It’s cute.

Scorpion (Hanzo Hasashi);

·         Like Kuai, the only exposure he’s ever had to pop culture is from Johnny, Cassie and Takeda. Takeda comes out with some absurd nonsense. Which leaves him staring at him. Shocked, confused and a little grumpy.

·         Johnny has made him watch some of his films, read screenplays and storyboards, in an attempt to turn the Shira Ryu into a fucking franchise.

·         All starring Grandmaster Grumpy face himself. But there’s a lot more nudity, can you fucking believe it, and there’s a mystical opossum that spreads wisdom.

·         Him and Kuai are very similar, in the fact they’ve both been put off it, but are willing to indulge in it. Because of you.

·         He’s more into movies. He actually would love some Inception, Shutter Island type bullshit. Complex plots that thrill. He wants to be kept occupied or he’ll get bored.

·         He’ll actually enjoy discussions at the end. What he liked, what he didn’t. What he thought he was stupid and if he’d watch it again or something similar.

·         Exploration into pop culture.

·         If you mention that a particular movies is your favourite, he cannot bring himself to say a bad word about it. So, he ends up growing to love it as much as you do.

·         He’ll love to joint read a book together. Then spend hours talking about it. Sleep often eludes him, so its nice that you’re awake with him.

·         Music is something he does enjoy, whilst he can see it as distracting, he also views it as a tool for relaxation. Just nothing too trashy. Do not expect him to serenade you with a rendition of ‘Tik Tok’ it’s not happening.

·         He prefers slower music, more chilled out, things to relax and unwind to.

·         He’ll on occasion, wrap his arms around your waist, holding you from behind. Before swaying gently to the music with you. Whispering sweet nothings in your ear. He loves it.

·         He’s not overly into Comics or videogames. BUT, he does have a soft spot for Star Wars. He doesn’t know why he likes it. But he loves him some Space-Bullshit. Happy the family drama isn’t about him. Loves it. Just don’t tell anyone yeah?

Raiden;

·         He’s very curious and willing to indulge in it. He knows of Popular Culture, he has seen many a Mortal enjoying it, using it as an escape mechanism. This is totally a dig at myself.

·         He’s never understood nor experienced it. But he is very curious, and his eyes are filled with wonder.

·         He’s read comics, played some games, watched some movies and read some fiction. He attributes all this exposure to you. You’ve really helped him explore it.

·         He loves to read comics however. He enjoys the art style, the worlds created and how much artistry goes into them.

·         He won’t admit the plots sometimes get him.

·         He loves to explore anything to do with Mortals and their customs. He thinks of it as educating himself.

·         He has seen some of Jonny’s movies, reluctantly. Once Johnny found out that you were introducing him to Pop Culture; he insisted on having some of his stuff in there.

·         Raiden is not impressed at all. He’s confused by Johnny’s films, he’ll sigh, and comment on how it explains a lot. It explains how one man can be such an idiot.

·         Imagine introducing Raiden to Mario Kart. He is so confused. You say its like driving a car, and he’s just like, what?

·         Once he gets the hang of it, he really gets into it. He’s fascinated and amazed at technology. He picks it up really quickly.

·         As far as music goes, he’s really open to listening to anything and everything. He would prefer more classical music. Anything that can help him relax.

Erron Black;

·         Before he went to Outworld, there wasn’t a lot in terms of Popular Culture. It was like 150 years ago.

·         So, when he finds out how much the world has changed, he has to admit he is very curious and is willing to explore it with you.

·         He would love to binge watch movies with you. Watching Westerns with him is always interesting. With him scoffing and pointing out inaccuracies or stating how fake their accents sound… even though they sound the exact same as his.

·         If you make a comment on Harrison Ford as Han, whilst watching Star Wars, he’ll raise an eyebrow and be smug. Because he knows damn well he has a resemblance to him. You cannot deny it. Do not @ me for this trash opinion.

·         ‘I wouldn’t be caught dead in that outift’ Of course you wouldn’t Erron, of course you fucking wouldn’t.

·         Tremor loves Johnny’s movies, and when its his turn for movie night, he always puts one on. Nobody is going to argue with him. So yeah, he’s seen a fuck ton of his movies. Kabal is always bored on his phone. Tremor is really excited and pointing out his favirote bits. Kira is not present, she’s got a date, and the sausage fest that is the Black Dragon rec room, is not on her list of things to do. Kano is probably passed out in a puddle of his own Piss I don’t know.

·         So, when you suggest watching Ninja Mime, he shudders and shakes his head. He’d do anything for you, but not that. Until you reveal that there’s a drinking game for it. Then he’s down.

·         He would love playing Red Dead Redemption. He fucking loves it. Brings back some memories. He’s impressed by it so much he can overlook some of the inaccuracies.

·         Looks after his Horse in RDR. Because he actually misses having a horse.

[jinmukangwrites]

End of the Day

ENDGAME SPOILERS, READ AT OWN RISK

A fix-it-fic because as good as Endgame was, there are still things I think could have ended differently. You know what I mean. We're all still crying.

-o-o-o-o-

The first thing he thinks when his eyes slowly creak open is that he shouldn't be alive. He doesn't know why he thinks that, only that it's at the forefront of his mind, that it's the only thing that's clear to him when the white ceiling above him slowly comes into focus. He shouldn't be alive, and there is a reason for that. A good reason. Something… something final and horrible happened. He remembers… pain shooting up his arm and an explosion, a flash of light. He remembers seeing the kid's face, tears and snot running down their cheeks and chin, he remembers wanting to say something, something important, but then Pepper came into his view, shining as beautiful as the sun, and Morgan, sweet Morgan, he can see her in her mother's eyes.

"You can rest now," she says, and he isn't inclined to argue. He's so tired, in pain, and-

He should be dead. He used the infinity stones… all of them. And he's just a human.

He should be dead.

He blinks and glances around the room, his short-lived theory of this being heaven is torn up like a scrap piece of paper when he sees the monitors and the wires piling around the room and connecting to his body. He can feel the pinch on an IV in his arm… his left arm. He can't feel the right. In fact, he can't feel a whole lot of the right side of his body.

He looks down and the heart monitor gives away his jumping heart when he sees nothing where his arm should be, his hospital gown falls off his shoulder strangely and he's hit with a strange sense of nausea. His arm is gone. It looks so unnatural and he can't stop looking at it.

His… arm is gone?

How could his entire arm be gone?

What happened?

Why is he alive?

There's a clicking noise as the white door across his room suddenly opens, he can only lay there in his mess of wires and blankets as a woman dressed in white medical clothes steps into the room. Dr Helen Cho stops in her tracks with wide eyes when her gaze falls on him. He's almost tempted to lift his arm to wave, but as consciousness continues to return to him, so does the pain. He settles for smiling slightly, the right corner of his mouth feels stiff.

"Tony," she breathes. She lifts her hand up to her ear and presses against a comm, Tony wonders where she got that, it looks advanced and he doesn't remember inventing it. "He's awake, send in the team."

He doesn't have time to question who the team is before she's quickly walking over to his bedside, nimble fingers checking over the monitors and machines before she's suddenly flashing a light in his eyes.

He hisses at the assault to his pupils and she makes a clicking noise with her tongue before she presses a button by the side of his bed. He finds himself being raised into a sitting position. "I'm going to check your stump, how are you feeling?"

"Oh, I'm al-left," he says, or he tries to say. His mouth doesn't seem to want to work with him and it comes out a bit lazily and slurred. However, she does smile slightly; he's happy that even though he doesn't seem to be able to speak the best at the moment the joke still was able to be understood.

He lets out a small chuckle and hisses when the action puts fire in his lungs. He coughs and goes to lift his arm to cover his mouth, but the one he tries to move is the one currently missing and probably stuffed in a dumpster somewhere and that both horrifies and fascinates him at the same time.

Cho gently undoes the tie around his shoulder and pulls the gown down to reveal a mess of bandages. "On a scale from one to ten, how much pain are you in?"

"Ahh, six…"

His voice is scratchy, his throat aches. With each passing second he notices something that's in pain, but none of it is… agonizing. Just sore, stiff, numb, and bruised. Nothing too bad, but still enough to make him wince at every move.

Cho hums in content as her fingers go over his bandages... over his… stump. He watches in interest as she undoes the cloth and begins to unwind.

"What… happened?" Tony asks and Cho stops her work long enough to glance at him.

"What do you remember?"

He sighs and closes his eyes for a second. "Everything. I should be dead."

"You were with every single hero in the universe, Tony," Cho says as she returns to unwinding his wound. He catches a flash of scarred flesh colored an odd purple color. "Do you really think they were going to let you die?"

-o-o-o-o-

Turns out, Doctor Strange straight up teleported Tony to Wakanda as he was teetering on the thread between life and death. There, Shuri, Cho, himself, and other brilliant doctors worked for four days straight to save his life. They had to amputate the arm, which stung. His hands are important to him, and if he were awake he probably would have told them to let him go or find another way, but he wasn't awake. Pepper was. Morgan was. Peter was. May was. Happy was. They made the decision. His family made the decision so he won't complain.

They wanted him alive, he was ready to die but they wanted him alive, so he will continue to live for them.

He isn't allowed visitors for a few hours as Cho checks him over and makes sure everything is okay. His injuries are healing but they are extensive and numbered. His arm, or lack thereof, is the worst of them, but he has scars running up his neck and around his face, more trail down along his shoulder and side, going down towards his knee. He will need therapy along each of those areas, will need a constant supply of pain meds and scar lotion, but he will live.

The first person he sees is little Morgan, who he loves more than anything in the entire world. Loves her more than three thousand. He tells her that as Pepper walks in with tear stained cheeks.

"I love you five thousand."

"No! I love you six thousand!"

"I see your six thousand, and raise you one hundred thousand!"

"I love you one million kajillion thousand!!!"

He doesn't know how to best that number.

The next day is just the three of them with the occasional doctor or nurse coming into talk with him and check him over. It feels surreal, like it is all a dream and soon he'll wake up and Pepper won't be cuddled into his side—his left side of course, even with the absurd amount of pain meds he's on it still aches horribly—and Morgan won't be across the hospital room trying to figure out how to turn on the TV. Every time he blinks he almost expects to open his eyes to darkness, to nothing, or never open them again.

Yet his eyes still open and Pep's shampoo still fills his nose as he breathes her in, rubs her shoulder with his one hand, that alone must let her know that she is the most important thing to him right now. She hums in content and presses herself against him further, though she's gentle not to touch his scars and bruises.

The girl named Shuri came in once or twice to ask how he is doing and to show him her plans for a new prosthetic arm. He turns her down though, saying that he thinks he's done now and he doesn't need it. Pepper gives him a disbelieving look, probably already knowing that he's planning out his own design for an arm and he doesn't trust anyone else's work. Shuri doesn't look offended, she just smiles like she understands. Tony instantly likes her.

-o-o-o-o-

A week passes before anything fun happens. Pepper and Morgan returned back to their home so Pep could get back to running a company and Tony could finish recovering. They began to put him through physical therapy, specialist in Wakanda and Doctor Strange himself have fun putting Tong through the wringer as he almost has to learn how to move his body again. It's all different, he's off balance, his leg is stiff and thanks to a mostly scarred ear his equilibrium is thrown off, but he gets the hang of it. Eventually he's able to walk around fairly decently with a cane in his one hand and a rather annoying limp that he can live with.

And then he's clear two weeks later.

He remembers looking in the mirror before Doctor Strange came to work his wizard magic to teleport Tony back to his home. He thinks he looks like a very rich and more handsome version of Two-Face. Thanks to Wakandan tech and Stephen Strange's help, most of the scarring has been smoothed down to look mostly normal but he can tell, his skin isn't as smooth, it's rough and leathery to the touch. He doesn't think any amount of plastic surgery will ever be able to make his skin… human again. Iron Man has new scars now, though none of them look as aesthetically pleasing as the arc reactor had.

He supposes he will have to live with it. He's lucky to be alive after all.

-o-o-o-o-

There's a small homecoming party when he returns, just with his closest friends and family. It's strange to see Cap, an old man, hobbling around with his own cane, but Tony is happy for him. He finally went off to live his life how he wanted to. How he deserves to.

To say he's shocked to see one Natasha Romanoff there, happily making lame jokes with Clint would be an understatement. Turns out, when the soul stone was returned she was brought back, a soul for a soul. Equivalent exchange and all that. He's just happy she's alive, she plans to live with the Barton's until she figures out what she wants to do with her life.

"The old man told me we both need to get a life," she says, sipping at a a fruit flavored drink, "I told him you first. I suppose it's my turn now."

Thor is there too, thick as ever but he promises he's going to turn his life back around and when he returns from his trip with the Guardians he will be the strongest, most handsome Avenger there is once again. He says this while drinking a huge mug of beer, so Tony doesn't hold his breath.

Bruce… Hulk… Bulk? Whatever, that guy is there as well, his presence is instantly a comfort. His arm is in a sling and Tony can't help but feel a bit of jealousy towards it, but then Morgan runs up to him and grabs at his knees while Happy runs after her looking exasperated and he reminds himself that he could be gone right now. There could be a funeral in place of the party. His daughter could be doomed to grow up without a father, his wife without a husband. His arm is a tiny sacrifice when put into perspective.

He eats a whole lot of hamburgers that night.

-o-o-o-o-

A month after the universe is made whole again, Tony is finally able to reunite with Peter. He's been looking forward to it, he knows Peter has been too. The reason it took so long is because the world was way too excited to get it's children back, so excited, in fact, that they decided "let's throw them all back into school immediately!" Peter has been busy with school and reconnecting with friends and getting used to the fact that some of them are now older than him. Tony hears he's taking it like a champ with only a few bumps and bruises along the way. Thankfully his best friend Ned and his crush MJ are still his same age. The lucky kid.

The moment Tony sees Peter, it's like the world has slowed down. He is out weeding, testing out his new arm that he caved in and made himself, when May's car pulls in. Peter practically jumps out the window and sprints over to Tony with the widest grins and the definition of puppy eyes. Tony barely has time to stand up before he's locked in a crushing hug from the kid probably more powerful that Steve Rogers. Actually… now that Steve is a million years old, Peter may be the strongest person in the world excluding Thor and Hulk. Those guys are outliers. They are so freakishly strong they are just not included in the data. Carol is on that list too, now that he thinks about it.

Anyway, the hug is bone crushing and gross because the kid is crying, Tony isn't. One hundred percent, he's definitely not crying. It's just sweat, he's been outside all day.

They have a simple dinner and Peter instantly hits off with Morgan which Tony couldn't be more happy for. Morgan has grown up her whole life hearing stories about big brother Peter, her hero is Spider-Man in fact. Sure, Iron Man is great, but Iron Man is dad and that instantly lowers his cool points or something ridiculous like that.

He looks across the table as Peter is having a very avid conversation with Morgan about something or other. He can see black bags under the kids eyes, he can see how his hands tremble just a bit. Tony isn't stupid, Peter has definitely developed some anxiety, PTSD even, from the recent events. He hasn't touched the suit since returning back to Queens, not that Tony can blame him. May tells him that he's being provided a therapist, Sam Wilson himself, but the recovery is going slower than what it should. It seems that with all of Peters abilities, a broken heart and a tortured mind still takes a stubborn amount of time to heal.

Whatever the case, Tony will be there for him. He's considered Pete his son for the longest time. He's never said it out loud though because May is the main parent, but Tony can't change what he feels for the kid. He's never really had the chance to tell him though, how much Tony cares for him. So much was going on even before the Snap that Tony didn't even realize it himself how important Peter was to him, and then Peter dusted away and it was five years before Tony ever saw him again.

He decides he's waited long enough to make it clear to Peter, especially since he could be buried in a grave right now. He tells Morgan every night how much he loves her, but Peter has hardly gotten more than a hug or two.

Before Peter and May leave, Tony puts his real arm on Peters shoulder and pulls him in for a hug. It's amazing how quickly Peter responds, without hesitation, with a hug of his own.

"I'm proud of you kid," Tony says, "I'm so fucking proud of you."

He feels Peters shoulders jolt as sobs instantly break out. Tony holds him closer and puts his jaw over Peter's head and let's Peter get it out.

"Love you too…" Peter whispers through the tears.

-o-o-o-o-

Years pass, and Iron Man is no more. Just Tony Stark, Iron Man is a retired hero that will just be remembered and celebrated and nothing more. However, Tony still builds suits, just not for himself. The first one was for Peter, a strong spider themed metal suit made of the same technology Tony's last one was made of. It's smaller though, fits easily in a watch on Peter's wrist instead of the whole arc reactor thing Tony had going on.

The next suit was for Sam, who came to Tony panicking because he couldn't figure out how he was going to fly around with a giant vibranium shield. Tony had fun making that one, it was a challenge to find a way to make a place for the shield and still keep the wings aerodynamic. A fun challenge really, Morgan helped him out with it.

He's made many other things, but even that he stops doing eventually, Morgan is doing it all on her own. Just reaching Junior High and she's the smartest little person he knows besides her mom.

He's happy, he realizes as the years pass. Peter owns Stark Tech, Steve Rogers died a tearful and happy death, Pepper is retired, Natasha is happily married with her own rascals running around, she says they're adopted but Tony thinks they all look as mean and beautiful as she does. Clint is finally living his dream as a cowboy and nothing else. Bucky and Sam are the ring leaders of the Avengers, Wanda has found a love again, Happy and May for some reason fell in love and got married to the horror of Peter, Bulk Bruce Hulk whatever is leading the scientific world, Thor is chiseled once again and enjoying the on the go life in space, and Tony is so incredibly happy.

At the end of the day, when he takes off his prosthetic arm, painted a simple gray instead of the red and gold it used to be, he thinks about how lucky he is. He thinks about the family he's gained over the years, how many people have touched his life and how many say he's touched theirs. He used to be a drunk, used to be alone, used to be hated by everyone and seen as just an aloof rich playboy. Tony's surprised Rhody dealt with all his shit for as long as he had. It was Happy's job to, but Rhody could have left whenever he wanted, and he didn't.

At the end of the day, he thinks about the smiling faces of his loved ones. There could have been a funeral, they could have seen that crappy apology hologram he made before the time traveling thing, they could have been facing a world with no Tony Stark.

Tony is glad he's alive, because, once again, at the end of the day, he's so thankful for his family, the phantom pains in his arm don't even hurt anymore. He's glad he took the chance to bring back what they lost, and to keep what he's found. And have not lost his life in the process.

[echohuxley]

task 009: character questionnaire

What are your character’s nicknames, if any?: Echo’s name is so short already it’s not conducive to nicknames.

Do they have any bad habits?: She gets very lost in her own world and completely tunes out her surroundings.  She could be having a conversation with you one minute and then not hearing anything you’re saying the next.

Do they have any tattoos? If not, would they want one?: Yes.  Currently Echo has two tattoos.  The first one is located on her inner left forearm and is a geometric pattern with black and blue accents.  Her second tattoo is located on the back of her neck with an explosion of blue and black swirls at the base of her skull and the sensors extending down her neck along her spine.

Do they have any scars? How did they get them?: Echo has a few small scars from shrapnel from the bomb she used to end her Games.  They’re on her back and look like little raised bumps.

How do they dress most of the time?: Echo has a very funky and unique style.  She wears a lot of bright colors, baggy jackets, crop tops, converse, jeans, graphic tees.  Echo’s style is hers and hers alone.  She’s willing to wear just about anything that’s comfortable and fits her vibe.

What words or phrases do they use frequently?:  Honestly, often accompanied by an exasperated sigh.

If anyone, who do they trust to protect them?: Wiress, Dorian, and Fell.  They’re really the only people in her life she truly trusts, though she still is wary of Fell at times.

Are they argumentative or do they avoid conflict?: Generally Echo prefers to avoid conflict.  She has a rather chill and laid back personality that doesn’t suit confrontation.

Did they have any role models growing up other than their parents?: Echo really idealized some of the female engineers that worked with her parents.  She thought they were the coolest and wanted to be just like them when she grew up.

When was the time when they were the most frightened?:  When she realized exactly what she might have done by refusing to do what the President wanted.  The moment that realization sank in was the most terrifying moment of Echo’s life because she knew there was nothing she could do to change it and that cost her everything.

When was the time when they were the happiest?: The day she helped her father with one of his inventions and he realized that she was just as capable as her brothers.

What is their most embarrassing moment?: With one of her first versions of her hair extensions, Echo miscalculated and caused the fibers to ignite.  She ended up burning part of her own hair.

Are they optimistic or pessimistic?: Echo tries to be optimistic, but pessimism does sneak in now and then.

What is their most treasured possession?: Her mother’s wedding ring.  Her whole family died in a house fire that claimed all of Echo’s possessions, but her mother’s ring was salvaged, the fire not having burned hot enough to melt it.

How do they spend a typical Saturday night?: Echo would probably spend her Saturday night working on some sort of project, only stopping when she got hungry.  She’d then probably dance around her living room listening to loud music.

What song would you use to describe them?: Survivor - Destiny’s Child

Are they introverted or extroverted?: Introverted

Are they organized or messy?: Messy, but Echo would tell you it’s an organized mess.

What do they like about themselves?: Echo loves her intelligence.  That’s the biggest thing for her, but she also likes her sense of style and uniqueness.

How do they relax?: Echo reads when she feels like she needs to unwind.  If that fails, she listens to some music and tunes out the world.

What is their ideal date?: Honestly Echo hasn’t been on a date since before she became a victor.  She’s not really sure what would be a good date.  Something that gives her a chance to get to know the person she’s out with.

Do they want children? Why or why not?:  Currently, no, Echo doesn’t want kids.  She’s too young to think about children and she’s too afraid of the Capitol hurting more people she cares about.  They would be pawns in the Capitol’s game and Echo can’t let that happen.

Where do they see themselves in five years?: Honestly?  Echo sees herself more matured, maybe with more education, and still working on inventing things.  Hopefully she won’t be working with the Gamemakers.  Maybe she’ll have a boyfriend or a girlfriend, but she wouldn’t be too upset if she didn’t.

What would be their three wishes if they found a genie’s lamp?: First things first Echo would wish her family was alive again.  After that, she’d really be stumped.  She’d probably wish Snow was dead and the Games were a thing of the past.

Describe your character sitting in their favourite spot.: Echo’s favorite spot is her workshop in her house back in District Three.  It’s a mess with wires, circuit boards, papers, books, pens, and everything else she could possibly need all over the desk and the floor.  Echo knows where everything is though and it’s very easy for her to curl up in her favorite chair and sketch out her newest ideas until late in the night.

[foodwhere]

Computer games and ASMR: The study of popular culture shivers

'Fortnite' cosplay can really enable individuals to quiet down.

he talks in a low, persistent whisper punctuated by a wide grin, her face inches from the camera. Her voice is relieving and her eyes are warm.

"Give me a chance to give you this shield elixir," she says, connecting of casing. "I just have one of them, OK, so you can have it."

She hauls out a squat artisan jolt loaded up with child blue fluid, a blue strip tied around the best. She taps the sides of the glass with her fingernails and keeps whispering, discussing every one of the things she found in the wake of skimming onto the combat zone a couple of minutes back. She doesn't have any firearms, yet she got a great deal of recuperating things. She hands the artisan container to the watcher behind the camera and the scene changes - she looks energized, eyes wide, however she's as yet whispering.

"What? I didn't see it is possible that, it was perfect here. Look at it." She comes to underneath the focal point again and pulls up a purple-and-blue llama piñata. "This doesn't resemble a typical llama. It resembles a child." She holds up the piñata, delicately crunching its paper sides and theorizing about the treats it may have inside.

Bluewhisper is an ASMR content maker (or ASMRtist in case you're feeling adorable), which means her YouTube transfers are stuffed with quit for the day of her face and hands, delicately contacting things and talking in a raspy, quiet rhythm. ASMR remains for independent tangible meridian reaction, and individuals who encounter it depict feeling "shivers" or "cerebrum climaxes" - a charming impression that movements from the crown of the head down the spine. Bluewhisper films a great deal of pretending situations, where she's a specialist, cosmetics craftsman, hairdresser and even a frontier time stylist, cap what not.

In a bunch of her recordings, Bluewhisper takes on the appearance of characters from prevalent computer games, including Overwatch and Fortnite, and carries on circumstances that fans can identify with. A year ago, she transferred an ASMR-themed Let's Play video, where she unobtrusively conversed with a concealed gathering of people while playing the 1999 city-building sim Pharaoh.

"Computer games are different, so there's a great deal of material to work with," Bluewhisper, who's in her twenties, told Engadget. "I figured mending and restoring would be the ideal topic for a Fortnite video. My gathering of people cherishes medical caretaker and specialist pretends, so it fit well."

Bluewhisper got her begin doing computer game themed ASMR recordings; her first channel was altogether Let's Plays of great PC diversions. Today, Bluewhisper has 178,000 endorsers and in excess of 33 million perspectives on her channel.

She's not the only one. ASMR has detonated in notoriety in the course of recent years, and there are a great many recordings with a great many perspectives on YouTube including calm discussion, fingernail tapping, moderate unboxings, delicate brushing and alleviating crease sounds. Episodically, the recordings enable individuals to nod off and for the most part quiet down.

"It's not simply individuals revealing to us that ASMR influences them to feel loose; their physiology is disclosing to us a similar thing."

– Dr. Giulia Poerio

Science is making up for lost time to these stories. In June, Dr. Giulia Poerio of the University of Sheffield led the principal investigation of its kind, investigating the physiological impacts of viewing ASMR recordings. The examination found that the individuals who reacted to ASMR experienced extraordinarily lessened heart rates (down a normal of 3.14 thumps for every moment) and announced inclination more casual and socially associated than the individuals who didn't feel any cerebrum shivers. The outcomes reflected discoveries in other, set up pressure diminishment strategies, including music and care.

"Our exploration considers reliably demonstrate that ASMR is an unwinding, quieting vibe that expands sentiments of social connectedness," Dr. Poerio told Engadget. "Critically, we found that ASMR recordings deliver huge diminishments in heart rate in individuals who encounter ASMR - so we currently have more target confirmation of the possibility that ASMR is unwinding. It's not simply individuals revealing to us that ASMR influences them to feel loose; their physiology is disclosing to us a similar thing."

In spite of the fact that ASMR is certainly not another marvel, it's solitary as of late been given a name and entered across the board cognizance, thanks in huge part to YouTube and Reddit people group. Just a few people are influenced by these delicate, dull commotions - indicate anybody an ASMR video and, inside seconds, they'll either pull back in inconvenience or be completely immersed. It's hazy why a few people encounter ASMR shivers and others don't, however Dr. Poerio has thoughts regarding how to all the more likely comprehend this divergence.

"Drawing on music-instigated chills research would be one approach to reveal insight into this," she said. "For instance, there has been research to propose that individuals who encounter music-incited chills have more prominent white issue network amongst sound-related and enthusiastic mind districts. This could likewise be the situation in the individuals who encounter ASMR, however we would require mind imaging concentrates to test this thought."

ASMR recordings arrive in an extensive variety of styles and topics, from sleep party pretends to two long periods of tapping - no talking - on an assortment of tingly questions. Nonetheless, look through a rundown of ASMR recordings on YouTube and an inquisitive pattern rises: There are countless amusement themed ASMR recordings, including ASMRtists spruced up as characters, claiming to work in a diversion store, or basically tapping on controllers and boxes of their most loved recreations.

Catplant is a 26-year-old ASMR maker who centers around computer game substance. She has 130,000 endorsers and frequently pretends, taking on the appearance of characters from BioShock, Fortnite, Overwatch, Silent Hill, Final Fantasy and even religion most loved amusements like Doki Literature Club. She didn't begin doing ASMR, however after she transferred a bunch of recordings to YouTube, analysts proposed she give it a shot, since she had an "ASMR voice." from the get go she didn't get it.

"At long last, a web companion of mine kept in touch with me and shared his most loved ASMR trigger recordings," Catplant told Engadget. "When I watched them, I in a flash felt shivers and unwinding, and realized that I needed to attempt to make these recordings since they were so unwinding for me. What's more, I needed individuals to rest easy, as well."

Computer games were a characteristic topic for Catplant to plunge into.

"I genuinely didn't think excessively before making my gaming-related recordings," Catplant said. "I went to the store, purchased a Yeti mic and utilized my webcam, got a bundle of recreations that I claimed, and recorded. I felt most happy with examining computer games, since I went through the greater part of my time on earth playing amusements and didn't recognize what else to discuss for a video."

"I felt most open to examining computer games since I consumed a large portion of my time on earth playing diversions."

– Catplant

Catplant and Bluewhisper have both seen a computer game pattern inside ASMR, particularly with regards to Fortnite, the blockbuster online title from Epic Games. There's more ASMR content than any time in recent memory on YouTube, and there are many specific subjects, including motion pictures and other popular culture references, however video amusements are especially inescapable. It's not astonishing, considering the upward direction of the computer game industry in general - as indicated by Statista, it's developed from $54 billion out of 2011 to a normal $82 billion of every 2018, without any indications of backing off.

Fortnite is ostensibly the most prominent computer game in presence today, with in excess of 125 million players and an expanding esports scene worth $100 million of every 2018 alone. Fortnite is on track to acquire $2 billion in income this year - an assume that is especially striking considering the amusement itself is free. Epic profits by offering in-amusement things, and this procedure has supported the studio's total assets to $8 billion.

As anyone might expect, Fortnite is likewise apparently the most prominent computer game in the realm of ASMR. The appearance of live-spilling, esports and YouTube Let's Plays has impelled the computer game industry into the standard; playing diversions is never again a periphery movement, holding as much social weight as watching films or perusing hits.

ASMRtists are influencing video-to diversion themed recordings since they officially relate computer games with unwinding or "personal time." In the present popular culture atmosphere, computer games are a characteristic fit for ASMR.

"There is unquestionably a pattern with computer games and ASMR," Catplant said. "I completed an ASMR Outlast gameplay video and, in spite of the fact that the illustrations were very terrifying, the ASMR component gave a level of solace to the watcher watching it, taking into account shivers to mitigate whoever from being genuinely unnerved. It took into consideration the amusement to be found in an unexpected way, and to be utilized for new purposes, taking into consideration inventiveness and advancing another type of unwinding."

Computer games aren't really more qualified to ASMR than different types of excitement, however they're assorted and imbued with sentimentality, offering a characteristic quieting impact for some individuals who grew up playing them.

"Anything that makes the experience of ASMR more practical is probably going to escalate the experience," Dr. Poerio said.

More reasonable - or more fantastical, contingent upon the diversion.