#arc reactor core

[pricilla-darling-mine]

Preparing and rediscovering: Vibranium. Kevlar: -Yarn properties Kevlar and Kevlar 29 Kevlar 49 Kevlar 68 Kevlar 119 Kevlar149

-Tensile strength gpd 23, 23 23 24 26.5 18

-Initial modulus gpd 550, 950 780 430 750 1100

-Elongation % 3.6, 2.8 3.0 4.4 3.3 1.5

-Density g/cc 1.44, 1.45 1.44 1.44 1.45 1.47  Titanium: High melting point (3000 °C) and its high emissivity (~ 0.9), which allows the efficient absorption of heat from a wide range of the solar spectrum at a high temperature. Graphene: Tough, flexible, light, and with a high resistance. (.1–20 Um).~ emissivity, 4510 K melting point Kevlar + Grapheme+Titanium Kevlar: (Poly-Para-Phenylene-Terephthalamidean), (ultra high modulus yarn.) [-CO-C6H4-CO-NH-C6H4-NH-]149 + C6H6 + Ti2(CO3).   Parts those are required:

Palladium Core Ring Primary heatsink Core Suspensions Dissipation Rings Particle shield Particle Accelerator Modulus (10) Particle Bot FCC ring Reaction chamber Cooling fan Power Converter Control Module Secondary Heat sink Particle Shield

[creative-caramel-coffee]

Guess who’s hooked up to a 24 hour heart monitor!

[eternal-moss]

Sa’riya when her insane gf is insane

[zulfikaryassim787]

[beetletricks]

Two scenes that represent Oscar after the merge

Based on RWBY Beyond, we can see Oscar very similar to Ozpin, I know a lot of reactors who were even tricked into thinking it was Ozpin, which I think was intended.

Except for the scene where Oscar gets nervous referring to himself living through fairytales

Thus

despite Oscar's great changes, the core personality is hardest to change as deep down he does want to be open with others and have meaningful connections connecting back to Volume 8----

Wishing to be part of the team but felt that he couldn't do to Ozpin having more trouble truly trusting others going against the normal flow of the merge)

Despite Oscar and Ozpin dealing with this issue, Ozpin starts unconsciously fighting the merger after the events of the V8 finale, probably blending more of the emotional pain Oscar is feeling when thinking about Ruby and the others.

Which hints at the next step of Oscar's arc

Using the pain and frustrations one feels and channeling it in the right direction

Ozpin would always suppress his emotions, helpful when talking to Jaune as last time Oscar was straghtforward with him he got pushed into a wall

Oscar however is more sincere with his Ruby in Volume 5, and that in turn allowed Ruby to actually sulk, something that she was severely lacking despite other characters being able to to do so while still fufilling their duties.

Oscar can channels these two representations and blend them into one by

channeling his frustration to find a different resolute in finding his own and supporting others right to self-freedom

Allowing the merge to go with little disruption

[cynic-spirit]

Winter

Tony Stark, the genius billionaire with a penchant for snark, stood in the cozy warmth of his lab at the Avengers Tower, effortlessly tinkering with some new gadget. His soulmate, Yn, however, was bundled up as if she were about to trek through the Arctic. She wore a thick, woolen coat, gloves, and a scarf tightly wrapped around her neck, topped with a fuzzy hat that barely allowed her to see.

"You know, Yn," Tony began, his tone dripping with amusement, "for someone so stylish, you sure know how to make a fashion statement. Are you planning to climb Everest after this, or just trying to impersonate a very fashionable snowman?"

Yn shot him a playful glare, her breath puffing out in visible clouds despite the insulated confines of the tower. "Not everyone has a miniature arc reactor keeping them warm, Tony. Some of us have to rely on good old-fashioned layers."

Tony grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he put down the tool he was working with. He sauntered over to her, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "You know, I could always build you a personal heating system. Something sleek, stylish, maybe even a little bit... Stark-branded. That way, you wouldn't have to look like you're preparing for a snowstorm every time the temperature drops a degree or two."

Yn huffed, though the corners of her mouth twitched in a smile. "Or, you could just turn up the thermostat."

Tony pretended to consider it for a moment, then shook his head. "Nah, where's the fun in that? Besides, I think it's cute. All bundled up, you look like a little marshmallow. My little marshmallow."

She rolled her eyes, unable to suppress a grin. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"And yet, you still love me," he quipped, leaning in to press a kiss on her cold cheek. His lips lingered for a second longer, and when he pulled back, his expression softened. "But seriously, if you're cold, just say the word. I'll build something for you, no problem."

Yn smiled warmly, the chill in her bones momentarily forgotten. "Thanks, Tony. But I think I'll stick with my layers for now. It gives you something to tease me about."

"You're right," Tony agreed, his eyes gleaming with affection. "And we both know how much I enjoy that."

He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. Despite his teasing, the warmth of his embrace was all she really needed. In that moment, it didn’t matter how cold it was outside—or inside. As long as Tony was there, Yn knew she’d always feel warm enough.

It was a particularly chilly day in New York, and despite the advanced heating systems in the Avengers Tower, Yn found herself struggling with the cold. She had piled on layers upon layers—starting with a thick thermal shirt, followed by a cashmere sweater, and topped off with a bulky winter coat. But even then, the biting cold seemed to seep through, leaving her feeling frozen to the core. Eventually, Yn resigned herself to the warmth of her favorite plush blanket, wrapping herself up until she resembled a giant furball with only a small part of her face visible.

Tony, as always, was unfazed by the weather. He was in his lab, casually dressed in his usual T-shirt, sleeves rolled up as he worked on his latest project. When he glanced over and saw Yn buried in her blanket cocoon, he couldn’t help but smile—a soft, genuine smile that rarely graced his features. The sight of his soulmate, huddled up and so thoroughly bundled, made something warm and protective stir in his chest.

"Sweetheart," Tony called out, his tone a mixture of amusement and affection, "are you planning on hibernating until spring?"

Yn shifted slightly, just enough to peek out from her blanket fortress. Her eyes were wide with disbelief as she stared at Tony, who looked completely unaffected by the cold. "How are you not freezing?" she asked, her voice muffled slightly by the layers around her. "You’re wearing a T-shirt, Tony! I can barely feel my toes, and I’m practically drowning in clothes and blankets."

Tony chuckled, setting down the tool he had been working with. He sauntered over to her, the sight of her nestled so deeply into the blankets only making his grin widen. "Well, I’ve got this nifty little device in my chest that keeps me nice and toasty," he said, tapping the arc reactor with a smirk. "Perks of being Iron Man."

Yn gave him a mock glare, her expression more pouty than angry. "I could use some of that toasty right now," she muttered, burrowing even deeper into her blankets until only her eyes were visible.

Tony knelt down beside the couch where she was cocooned, his gaze softening as he looked at her. He found it incredibly endearing—his usually composed and strong soulmate now reduced to a big, adorable furball of blankets, trying her best to fend off the cold. He reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of hair away from her face, his fingers grazing her chilled skin.

“You know,” he began, his voice lowering to a tender murmur, “you’re the cutest furball I’ve ever seen. It’s kind of unfair, really. Here I am, trying to work, and all I can think about is how adorable you look all bundled up.”

Yn’s eyes crinkled at the corners, a clear sign she was smiling beneath the layers. “I’m glad one of us is enjoying this,” she replied, her voice still muffled but warm with affection. “I don’t even want to get up, Tony. I’m too cold to move.”

Tony’s heart swelled with a mix of emotions—amusement, adoration, and a protective urge to make sure she was comfortable. He leaned in closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead, letting his lips linger against her cold skin. The contrast between his warmth and her chill sent a shiver through her, and he noticed, pulling back with a concerned look.

“You’re freezing, Yn,” he said, his teasing tone giving way to something more serious. “Let me warm you up.”

Before she could protest, Tony slipped his arms around her, carefully maneuvering his way into the blanket cocoon she had created. He settled in beside her, pulling her close against him, his body heat instantly seeping through the layers.

“Tony,” Yn began, a little surprised by his sudden closeness, “you don’t have to—”

“I know,” Tony interrupted softly, his breath warm against her ear. “But I want to. Besides, it’s not every day I get to cuddle with a human burrito. You’re stuck with me now.”

Yn sighed, the warmth of his body and the comforting weight of his arms around her easing some of the chill that had settled in her bones. She snuggled closer, resting her head against his chest, right where she could hear the faint hum of the arc reactor. It was oddly soothing, a reminder of the man who loved her enough to drop everything just to make sure she wasn’t cold.

“Feeling better?” Tony asked after a few moments, his voice laced with affection.

“A little,” Yn admitted, her voice softer now, more relaxed. “You’re like a personal heater.”

“Just one of the many services I offer,” Tony quipped, his hand gently rubbing circles on her back through the blanket. “But seriously, Yn, if you’re cold, just say the word. I’ll crank up the heat in here, or we can take a trip to somewhere warm. How about Hawaii?”

Yn chuckled, the sound muffled by the layers. “As tempting as that sounds, I think I’m good right here. As long as you’re with me.”

Tony smiled, a genuine, content smile that reached his eyes. “Good answer,” he said, pressing another kiss to her forehead. “Now, why don’t we just stay like this for a while? I’m not going anywhere.”

And for the first time that day, Yn felt completely warm. Not just from Tony’s body heat, but from the love and care he so openly showed her. Wrapped up in her blankets, with Tony by her side, the cold didn’t seem so bad after all.

As Tony held Yn close, he noticed that the usual soft murmurs of their conversation had fallen silent. The only sounds left in the room were the quiet hum of the arc reactor in his chest and the faint rustling of blankets as he adjusted his hold on her. Curiosity piqued, he tilted his head slightly and looked down at her, expecting to see those warm, deep eyes gazing up at him. But instead, what he saw made his heart swell with an emotion so profound it nearly took his breath away.

Yn had fallen asleep in his arms, her face relaxed and peaceful, framed by the layers of blankets she had wrapped herself in. Her breath was soft and even, a gentle rise and fall that spoke of utter comfort and trust. Her lips were slightly parted, and a stray lock of hair had fallen over her forehead. Tony couldn’t help but smile, his heart filling with a tender warmth that he hadn’t felt in what seemed like forever.

For a long moment, Tony just stared at her, memorizing the details of this serene scene. She looked so small, so delicate in his arms, yet there was something immensely powerful about the trust she placed in him. To fall asleep so deeply, so completely without worry—she felt safe with him. That realization filled Tony with a deep sense of contentment, something he hadn’t experienced in years, if ever.

As he held her, Tony’s thoughts began to drift back to the time before Yn had entered his life. He remembered the endless nights spent alone in his penthouse, the hollow feeling that had settled in his chest despite the luxury and success that surrounded him. He had everything a man could want—money, power, fame—but the one thing that had always eluded him was the connection he craved on a deeper, more personal level.

There were days when Tony had wondered if he would ever find his soulmate, the person who was supposed to complete him. The doubts had gnawed at him, especially in the quiet moments when the world around him seemed to stand still, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He had tried to distract himself—throwing himself into his work, creating suits, saving the world—but nothing ever filled the void that lingered in his heart.

But now, all of that seemed like a distant memory. Because here she was, Yn, snuggled up and sleeping in his arms without a care in the world. She had filled that void with her presence, with her warmth and love, in a way Tony hadn’t even realized he needed. And as he gazed down at her, Tony couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer luck—no, the fate—that had brought them together.

Tony’s arms tightened around Yn slightly, as if to ensure that she was real, that she wasn’t just another dream. The weight of her in his embrace, the warmth of her breath against his chest, all confirmed that she was indeed here with him. His heart ached with a fierce protectiveness, an overwhelming desire to keep her safe and happy, to make sure she never felt the loneliness he had once endured.

He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head, his lips lingering there as he closed his eyes. The scent of her hair, a mixture of vanilla and something uniquely Yn, filled his senses, grounding him in this perfect moment. He knew he would do anything to keep her in his life, to make sure she always felt as loved and cherished as she made him feel.

"Thank you," Tony whispered against her hair, his voice barely audible. "Thank you for being here, for finding me."

As Yn slept on, unaware of the depth of his thoughts, Tony continued to hold her, content to simply watch over her as she rested. In that quiet moment, with his soulmate in his arms, Tony Stark realized that he had finally found what he had been searching for all his life. And he knew, without a doubt, that he would never take it for granted.

For the first time in a long while, Tony Stark felt truly at peace. The cold, the loneliness, the doubts—they all seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth of Yn’s presence in his arms and the steady beat of his heart against hers. And as he sat there, watching her sleep, Tony knew that this—right here, right now—was everything he had ever wanted. Everything he would ever need.

Tony carefully shifted his position, mindful not to disturb Yn as she slept peacefully in his arms. He knew he needed to get back to his work—there were always projects demanding his attention—but the thought of waking her up made him pause. She looked so content, so utterly at ease in her blanket cocoon, that Tony found himself hesitating, reluctant to break the spell of this quiet, intimate moment.

With the utmost care, Tony slowly began to ease Yn out of his embrace, sliding his arms out from beneath her while supporting her head and back. She murmured softly in her sleep, her face nuzzling briefly against his chest as if seeking out the warmth she had grown accustomed to. Tony’s heart gave a small, involuntary tug, but he continued, moving with a gentle precision that only years of working with delicate machinery could have trained him for.

Finally, he managed to lay her down on the couch, making sure she was still wrapped snugly in the blankets that had become her makeshift cocoon. He took a moment to adjust the layers, ensuring they were tucked around her just right, leaving no gaps for the cold air to sneak in. He even added an extra throw from the back of the couch, draping it over her for good measure. Satisfied that she was warm and comfortable, Tony stood up slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements that might rouse her.

But before he could step away, he remembered the one variable that could potentially ruin this peaceful scene: JARVIS. Tony’s AI assistant was incredibly efficient, but sometimes efficiency came with the drawback of unintended noise—like a sudden alert, a notification chime, or even just the sound of the AI’s voice responding to a query. The last thing Tony wanted was for Yn to be jolted awake by something as mundane as an update notification.

Leaning in closer to the nearest interface, Tony’s voice dropped to a low, almost conspiratorial whisper. “JARVIS,” he began, his tone firm but quiet, “listen to me very carefully. I don’t want to hear a single sound from you. No alerts, no updates, nothing. If you wake her up, I will dismantle you, piece by piece, and use your parts to build a toaster. Do I make myself clear?”

JARVIS, always attuned to Tony’s moods and whims, responded with a tone that could almost be described as amused, if such a thing were possible for an AI. “Crystal clear, sir. I shall remain silent until further notice.”

“Good,” Tony whispered back, casting one last glance at Yn’s peaceful form before straightening up and heading back to his workbench.

As Tony returned to his workstation, he felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, a smile that refused to leave no matter how hard he tried to focus on the task at hand. He had experienced countless moments of joy and satisfaction in his life—from building the first Iron Man suit in that cave to saving the world time and time again—but this was different. This was something softer, something more intimate, and it filled him with a warmth that had nothing to do with the arc reactor in his chest.

Sitting down at his workbench, Tony picked up the tools he had set aside earlier, his hands moving with practiced ease as he resumed his work. The lab was quiet, save for the occasional soft clink of metal against metal and the faint whirring of machinery in the background. But even in this silence, there was a new energy in the room, a kind of contentment that had settled over Tony like a comforting blanket.

Every so often, Tony would glance over at the couch, his eyes softening as he took in the sight of Yn, still curled up and fast asleep. The sight filled him with a sense of pride—pride that he could make her feel so safe, so loved, that she could fall asleep without a single worry in the world. It was a far cry from the man he had been before her, the man who had hidden his vulnerabilities behind sarcasm and bravado, unsure if he would ever find someone who could love him for who he truly was.

Now, as he worked, that old loneliness seemed like a distant memory. Yn had brought light into his life, a light that had banished the shadows he had once grown so accustomed to. And as he continued to tinker with the machinery in front of him, Tony found that the smile on his face was not just a product of the moment—it was a reflection of the profound happiness she had brought into his life.

Time passed, and Tony became absorbed in his work, but that smile remained, a constant reminder of the sleeping figure just a few feet away. For once, he didn’t feel the usual pressure to hurry, to finish the project as quickly as possible. There was a calmness in him, a patience that came from knowing that, when he was done, Yn would still be there, wrapped up in her blankets, waiting for him.

Tony allowed himself to bask in this quiet joy, to savor the rare sense of contentment that filled his heart. He knew that life would always be chaotic, that the world would continue to throw challenges his way, but he also knew that, with Yn by his side, he could face anything. She was his anchor, his constant, the one who had turned his house into a home.

And as he worked through the night, that smile—born of love, of gratitude, of a deep and abiding connection—never left his face.

Tony Stark had faced countless challenges in his life—building an empire, becoming Iron Man, and shouldering the responsibility of protecting the world. Yet, nothing had quite prepared him for the emotional whirlwind of discovering that his soulmate, Yn, was a beloved children's book author. The contrast between their worlds was so stark that it often left him in a state of disbelief, struggling to reconcile how someone as sweet and gentle as Yn could be fated to be with someone like him.

Yn's world was filled with whimsy and innocence. Her books were cherished by children and parents alike, brimming with stories of talking animals, magical forests, and adventures that always ended with a comforting moral. She had a gift for seeing the world through a lens of kindness and imagination, and it was this very gift that made her so beloved by millions. Her words had the power to soothe, to inspire, and to create a sense of wonder that seemed to touch everyone who read her stories. Yn was, in every sense, a beacon of light in a world that often felt too dark and complicated.

Tony, on the other hand, had spent most of his life immersed in a very different kind of world—one dominated by technology, power, and often, destruction. Stark Industries had been synonymous with cutting-edge weaponry long before he ever donned the Iron Man suit. His legacy was built on machines of war, tools designed to protect but also to destroy when necessary. Even after shifting the company’s focus to clean energy and humanitarian projects, the shadows of his past lingered, casting doubts and insecurities that he rarely allowed anyone to see.

It was these shadows that made it difficult for Tony to fully accept that someone as sweet and pure as Yn could truly be his soulmate. He often found himself questioning the cosmic forces that had brought them together, wondering if there hadn’t been some kind of mistake. How could he, a man who had built his fortune on weapons and whose very identity was tied to the armor he wore, be the other half of a woman who crafted worlds of innocence and wonder for children?

This contrast between them was something that Tony couldn’t ignore. He would often watch Yn at her desk, writing or sketching out ideas for her next book, her brow furrowed in concentration as she lost herself in her work. There was a gentleness to her that seemed almost otherworldly to him—a quality that felt so foreign compared to the harsh realities he was used to. He admired her ability to create beauty in the world, to offer something pure and untainted, even as he grappled with the knowledge of his own darker contributions to society.

There were moments when Tony felt a deep sense of unworthiness, as if he didn’t deserve the love and light that Yn brought into his life. He had seen and done things that he wasn’t proud of, made decisions that had cost lives, and even though he had tried to make amends, the weight of those choices still bore down on him. Yn, with her boundless kindness and her talent for creating joy, seemed too good for him, too pure for the complexities of his world. It was hard for Tony to imagine how someone like her could ever fully understand or accept the darker parts of his life.

Yet, despite these doubts, Tony couldn’t help but be drawn to Yn, as if she were a balm for his wounded soul. She had a way of making him feel lighter, of helping him see the good that still existed within him, even when he struggled to see it himself. Yn never shied away from who Tony was; she accepted him, flaws and all, and somehow managed to find beauty in the contrasts that defined their relationship.

Yn often spoke about how every story needed balance—how even the sweetest tales had moments of conflict or sadness that made the happy endings all the more meaningful. She would tell Tony that their relationship was just like one of her stories: it was the balance between their worlds that made their connection so special. To her, Tony wasn’t just a man of war and armor; he was someone who had fought for change, someone who had turned his life around to make the world a better place. She saw the hero in him, not just the weapons manufacturer or the man in the iron suit.

Tony found himself clinging to these reassurances, even as he continued to struggle with his doubts. He admired Yn’s ability to find light in the darkness, to see the potential for good in even the most flawed of characters. It was this perspective that slowly began to change the way Tony saw himself, helping him to accept that maybe, just maybe, he was worthy of the love she offered.

There were still days when Tony would sit in his workshop, staring at the array of weaponry he had created, and feel a pang of guilt. But now, those moments were tempered by the knowledge that Yn was waiting for him upstairs, ready to share her latest story idea or simply to cuddle up on the couch and watch a movie. Her presence in his life was a reminder that he didn’t have to be defined by his past, that he could be more than just the sum of his mistakes.

Yn’s influence on Tony was profound. She had a way of softening his rough edges, of bringing out the parts of him that he had long buried under layers of cynicism and self-reliance. With her, he could let his guard down, allow himself to be vulnerable in a way that he had never been able to before. She taught him that it was okay to embrace the sweeter, softer aspects of life, that it didn’t make him any less of a man or a hero.

In time, Tony began to see their relationship not as a contradiction, but as a beautiful paradox—a testament to the idea that even in the most unexpected pairings, there could be harmony. Yn’s sweetness wasn’t a contrast to his strength; it was a complement to it. Together, they created a balance that made them both stronger, both more complete.

And so, Tony learned to accept, and even to cherish, the fact that his soulmate was a woman who wrote stories for children, who believed in the power of imagination and kindness. It was this very sweetness, this light that Yn brought into his life, that made Tony believe in the possibility of redemption, of becoming the man she saw when she looked at him with those loving, understanding eyes.

In the end, it wasn’t about whether or not they were an obvious match. It was about the fact that they had found each other, that despite their differences, they had created something beautiful together. Yn’s world of wonder and Tony’s world of technology had merged in a way that neither of them had expected, but both had come to treasure. It was a love story as unique and unexpected as the two of them, and Tony wouldn’t have had it any other way.

[stinklebug]

been wanting to talk about this for a while actually, and finally am because i've been watching some playthroughs i hadn't yet seen of hfr, which reminded me of the subject of this post:

the purpose of chai's core.

there's an extremely common misconception that it functions similar to iron man's arc reactor, in that it's meant to be either his new heart or act as a sort of pacemaker. but the game never makes any claims regarding this, and does, in fact, state it's Actual purpose.

before i get into where the game states this, i wanna quickly say that if you headcanon that chai has heart issues and that his core doubles as a prosthetic heart or similar, i'm not trying to shit on your hc. do whatever you want. i just wanted to clear this up because, as i said earlier, it's a very prevalent thing both in and out of the fandom

alright, with that out of the way, here:

chai himself says what it does. during the cut scene right after the first fight, he states that his player in his core is what is powering his prosthetic.

the life gauge piece description when you pick up a piece. it states that they're power cores.

battery pack production vlog. in this vlog, it explains that the electric reverb cores you collect pieces of throughout the game were made to be battery superchargers for cores like chai's

outside of this, there's also just the fact that the core itself is literally connected to his arm, both by metal and wires.

not to mention that the Actual Purpose of project armstrong itself is to provide limb prosthetics.

plus...the whole pacemaker thing is something people just keep going for when it comes to Any and All characters that have some sort of implant on their chest, but the thing is is that pacemakers are internal. they're under the skin. you can sort of see them, but they're still underneath the skin. not to mention that the placement of these chest implants never corresponds with where a pacemaker would go (on the right side of the chest)

also, i assume someone might bring up how the life gauges have a heart icon in them and also how chai's core is where his heart is, and i won't disagree with the possibility that they could be Connected to peoples hearts, but it is also important to note that these cores are likely being used by everyone (or at least, most of them) that's a project armstrong participant, and it seems strange to assume that All Of Them would have heart issues

again, though, headcanon what you wanna headcanon. at the end of the day it's not That big of a deal. it just bothers me a bit to see this be spread around as a canonical fact when that's...not really the case.

[vexwerewolf]

I saw someone else do this, so I figured I’d ask, too. I’m new to Lancer, my first campaign is starting in <indeterminate time>, and I had a character/mech concept, but I wasn’t sure how to put it together. Ideally, some mix of Vlad (for the big drill) and Manticore, I want to make a mech that *lives* in the danger zone. Any advice?

Okay then. One more before bed.

-- HORUS Manticore @ LL6 -- [ LICENSES ] IPS-N Vlad 3, HORUS Manticore 3 [ CORE BONUSES ] Improved Armament, The Lesson of the Open Door [ TALENTS ] Vanguard 3, Nuclear Cavalier 3, Combined Arms 2, Hacker 1 [ STATS ] HULL:4 AGI:2 SYS:0 ENGI:2 STRUCTURE:4 HP:21 ARMOR:2 STRESS:4 HEATCAP:9 REPAIR:5 TECH ATK:+1 LIMITED:+1 SPD:4 EVA:8 EDEF:10 SENSE:10 SAVE:15 [ WEAPONS ] Integrated: Fuel Rod Gun FLEX MOUNT: Impaler Nailgun FLEX MOUNT: Impaler Nailgun HEAVY MOUNT: Arc Projector [ SYSTEMS ] Personalizations, Smite, Lightning Generator, Beckoner

I call this one YOUR DEATHCRY PAEAN CUT SHORT BY THE THOUSAND SPEARS OF A PITILESS HEAVEN.

This one's actually really simple to explain. We're just doing CQB all day every day. We've got double Nailguns for sick barrage strats, and if any motherfucker even tries to move in your general vicinity they get to eat shit. Your save target is 15 so they're likely not making it out of this battle without holes in their feet, or at all.

You have no melee weapons but Combined Arms 2 ensures you don't need them. Once you hit the Danger Zone, your Nailgun attacks hit harder and force heat on the first enemy you shoot.

You have Hacker 1 for the sheer hilarity of being able to use Smite on someone while you're in the Danger Zone and have them take a potential 8 heat (2 from Invade, 2 from Hacker 1 if they don't choose movement, 2 from Nuclear Cavalier 1 and 2 from failing the save against Smite) in addition to being Stunned. If you instead choose to use Smite's Sear function, this heat can rise as high as 14.

Note that apart from your integrated Fuel Rod Gun, you have no weapons that don't cause self-heat. This is great for your Charged Exoskeleton but potentially not so great for your reactor. Save your Fuel Rods for emergencies, and Stabilize judiciously.

[the-far-bright-center]

On loving Anakin

“....the answer [to Anakin’s appeal] varies greatly depending on any one perceptive outlook, but has a similar core in each case of us wishing we could help change the outcome, even though we know we can’t, and of wanting to understand his actions and his pain, wanting to see his positive choices and his goodness validated, wanting to see him learn healthy strategies, wanting to see his love flourish, wanting to see him freed from the shackles he drags with him, from childhood to Jedi to Vader. The crush of the standards of society and expectation on him may speak to many. He is never liberated (until his final moments of free breath). His choices are either taken or horrifically tainted. His voice is drowned out by those more powerful around him. His talents and intelligence go largely unrecognized. His good, expansive heart is treated like a hindrance. The depth of his empathy and love is underestimated—and that, in the end, is important, because that underestimation, ending with Palpatine, becomes the Dark Side’s ultimate downfall and undoing. Vader may literally pick up an electric Palpatine and throw him down a reactor shaft, but that physical action is the final answer to a much more complete emotional and spiritual journey. He throws him down and the chains go with the slave master, and for the first time, certainly since before he lost Padme, his heart is unfettered, his love is reciprocated, and he is offered a true voice, a moment of his true self, a sliver of forgiveness, before being embraced again by the transcendence of the light. It is his act of rebellion, it is his own personal revolution, his final blow in the war. The entirety of the arc hinges upon him in that moment, Luke has been valorous and immeasurably valuable, but he’s done all he can do—the final choice is Anakin’s (and it’s such an interesting case because where else have we ever been able to fear and appreciate a villain, and then totally transform and re-contextualize him?). He is in that moment, indeed, the Chosen One.

All these facets are fascinating to watch unfold if you’re willing to be open-minded and heartfelt and sympathetic to the journey, if you’re willing to dig into the complex depth of his pathos.

[Anakin's] open emotions are an exquisite part of him, and it’s the Jedi who are wrong for trying to stamp that out, when his emotional abilities are part of what define him in his inherent goodness and his intellect and strength. He has an undying heart. For he and Luke both to stand as male heroes who represent such depth of feeling is really special, and vital to the story. Anakin is the most acutely human character in many respects, in his foibles and his inner strengths, in his losses and his longings and his ultimate return to his true self—that’s why we feel for him, that’s why we ache and fear for him, that’s why we rejoice for him in the end.”

—from @saferincages (you might say we are encouraged to love)

[infiniteeight8]

Ohhh i see my bad! Honestly starving for ironstrange content though why must marvel curse us like this-

Would one where Tony’s sick/feels cold and dr strange helps him feel warmer? (It can be super short if you’d like like he simply gives a hug or wraps his cloak around him+ if there not in a relationship yet that’d be great) completely understand if no though! Last message I promise <33

For context, this is the second prompt, because the first one was too long for a drabble. Thanks for bearing with me and sending another. :)

-

These days the cold makes Tony’s chest ache. His rebuilt sternum and the memory of the arc reactor cored into him both throb in the chill. It hurts, but he’ll take it over the glittering gala he’s escaped from. He’s lost the taste for politics and glad handing, but the Avengers need it from him as much as Stark Industries ever did.

The balcony doors open and Tony glances over his shoulder to see Strange slipping through the curtains that hide them. “Oh,” Strange says, seeing him. “Apologies, I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

Tony waves him over. “Don’t worry about it. This is a good hiding spot.”

Strange closes the door and comes to lean on the railing next to him. “I know I’ll have to go back. I just need a moment.”

Tony nods his understanding. They’re quiet for a moment, looking out into the night. A breeze blows and Tony can’t suppress the shiver. He lifts a hand and rubs at his chest.

Heavy, warm fabric settles over his shoulders, the Cloak wrapping close about him even as Strange smooths it over his shoulders. Tony shoots him a look. “You seemed cold,” Strange says. When he turns back to lean on the railing, his shoulder presses against Tony’s.

Tony hadn’t expected him to notice. He can’t remember the last time someone did. “Thanks.”

Strange smiles, and it’s not just the Cloak that warms Tony, then.

[stupidsexymecha]

Horus Manticore

The Universal Threat Assessment Manual identifies the Manticore pattern group as “an experiment in HORUS’s ‘corebreak’ combat doctrine.” The Manticore PG specializes in using focused, projected electromagnetics to neutralize enemy reactor cores without conventional ammunition, while also fielding a compliment of coherent-beam energy weapons. A fully charged Manticore is an impressive sight, wreathed in brightly glowing nets of plasma that lash out at nearby targets. If anything gives away a Manticore-PG mech, it is the tall spines protruding from the PG’s signature lightning generator. The spines act as heat-dispersal systems for this crude weapon, providing a channel for the incredible amount of heat it generates to bleed from the mech’s body following projection of a close-range arc whip. This system isn’t a perfect heat-dispersal mechanism, and as a result Manticores can often be identified by a chassis covered in cooling, melted metal. The Manticore has only recently appeared on the omninet, and its combat efficacy has prompted other galactic manufacturers to scramble for a response. Analysis of after-action reports from pilots who have engaged this pattern group in the field note a significant uptick in certain omninet noise-to-signal ratios: anoriginary recitations of passages from the Old Humanity Book of the Dead, jigsaw corruptions of ancient works of apocalyptic art, and other eschatological renderings, all of which point toward a nascent psychological warfare tactic.

[valiantphantomangel]

Don't mess with the science bros

"whatta doing" you say in a sing song voice as you peek over Tony's shoulder.

"putting a new energy core in the arc reactor of my suit" Tony says as he glances at you .

"ah" you grin and poke him in the stomach before quickly walking away to the common room.

"i swear to God that kid is a little minx" Tony groaned as he worked on his project, eventually Bruce joined him to check if everything was going well with the arc reactor.

"if there was only a way that would make them think twice before they decided to turn into a trouble maker" he mumbled as he connected some wires.

Tony's eyes widen and a mischief grin forms on his lips "i have a idea".

You were sitting in the living room reading a book with headphones on when a call came in, "hello" you said as you picked up.

"hey Y/N can you come down here for a second, i need some help" Bruce voice filled your headphones.

"yeah sure I'll come over" you put your book down and made your way to the Lab.

"you needed my help"? You call out once you through the doors.

"yes" Tony's voice came from behind you and before you could say 'language' you were pinned to the groun.

"what the hell" you said and look up at Tony "what's this for"?

"well you have been a little minx lately and i wanted to test a theory" he said as he 'accidentally' scribbles down your side.

A soft giggle came over your lips and your eyes widen when you see the mischief grin on Tony's lips.

"Don't you dare"!

"that's a little to late now" he chuckled darkly and tasered your sides.

Immediately you turn into a pool of giggles as you squirm, suddenly you feel someone scribblings their fingers up and down your socked feet and you kick out your legs.

"AHAHAHAHAHA" you scream with laughter

"aww does that tickle"? Tony asks and shoots his hands under your armpits.

Your face heats up by the T word.

He looks at you and grins evilly, turning to Bruce he says "the little Trouble maker can't handle the word TICKLE" with emphasis on the last word.

You giggle madly at only the word but then you feel Tony tracing your hip bone, the giggles turn into full on belly laughter.

"NOHAHHHAHAHAH" the sensation of Bruce tickling your feet and Tony absolutely attacking your ribs, belly and hips was insane.

"Are you sorry for messing with us"? Bruce asked as he scribbles up and down your feet.

"YESHAHAHAH IM SORRYAHHAHAHA"!

They both stop and smile softly at your adorable red face "now that wasn't so hard now was it"? Tony says with a laugh and gets off of you.

You curl up in a ball as soft giggles still come over your lips.

"your adorable" Bruce says softly and helps you up.

"Am not" you pouted but couldn't hide your smile.

He just smiles and walks back to his part of the Lab.

Today your learned a important lesson, NEVER mess with the science Bros.

[superemeralds]

How do you tend to go about writing fanfiction? Like do you have a lot of outline or any other interesting things about your processed you could share?

my process is kinda all over the place, just like my brain haha. what i do to help myself not get lost in all that is having a strict rule where before i start writing teh actual prose, i need to have at least a bulletpoint outline of the major events that need to happen in the story. this helps me know what i'm working towards, instead of being lost and eventually paralyzed when I run out of ideas of how to proceed OR (and that happens way more often than having no ideas) i have TOO MANY ideas and i can't decide where to go.

for my black arms maria fic for example i had a rough outline that looked a little like this: (under cut for spoilers, click here if u want to read it first; warning for body horror and blood and gross things (tho very mild if im honest))

5 chapters, each about a stage of a star CH1: how maria gets to go on the ark, roots of her issues, basically where the seeds are sown for the inevitable explosion in the end, how the aliens come into play CH2: the introduction of shadow and the black arms DNA, maria's loathing, innocent little girl corruption arc, she pushes shadow away VS he is taken away and she wants him back, her mental state starts to crack CH3: how it came to the ark raid: maria hides her mutations, parallels to her relationship with shadow, her mental state corrupting with the mutaions, "bloody nose" by the used, black arms hivemind link: black doom talks to her, superiority inferiority complex: she plans to kill shadow CH4: her alone with her mutations, many years spent plotting, biolizard, how gerald is involved and how it fits into sa2 plot CH5: sa2 rewritten to fit the premise, lots of shadows perspective

(as u see i have mentioned a song; making a playlist also helps me a ton bc i vibe a lot to music and it inspires me a lot! It helps that i naturally always arrange playlists in chronological order of a story...)

after i have somehting like that i can start doing more detailed outlines. i dont have the ones for the early chapters anymore but this is what ch4 looked like (i use colored text to make it stand out next to written paragraphs that i will do right above the notes):

This chapter maria wakes up and realizes shes not dead.  shes in despair, trying to move but she CANT. at least not much. the stress knocking her out for a few months. she can at least crawl closer to the core reactor. spends 7 years just lying there and regenerating > when she finally can get up she frantically looks for info on the ark. and gerald and shadow (After a few months she finally managed to find a rhythm for physical activity in between studying notes and files, and heading to the dark chamber for a new lizard's tail. Her condition improved with more nutrition, but she did feel herself becoming unstable, nose bleeds increased.

[Maria gets visions of black arms as she mutates more and more] she trashes the place Her hivemind link is what makes her grow increasingly craving murder and total destruction. I mean she already does bc of finding out dirty dirty secrets about the ark it just increases to 9000)

(She starts growing a long tail and she despairs when she sees herself in the mirror, looking exactly as she saw in her vision years and years ago, turning into the monster she feared (She plots her ultimate plan. Understanding how the ark works, how chaos energy works. Finishing the eclipse canon. [Thinking about how to get shadow to do what she wants. Knowing he was in cryo shortly after his trauma it would be impossible to reason with him, not immediately at least. Not if it was her. Knowing she herself was deeply fueled by rage, hatred, disappointment and despair…. The same emotions would fuel shadow greatly. She saw what he was capable of, she knew what *she* was capable of. Geralds message would only need slight alterations since her own plans came pretty close (???) Some boffoon that shared their family name was wreaking havok on the planet, trying to turn it into metal. She had to admit it was a more noble plan of destruction than her own. (???) Maybe. Cut? When gerald is interogated by gun on the weapon he made bc they found it, he puts on a show, saying shadow is dangerous and needs to be contained. He is the only one who knows how to, before it is too late. This is how shadow ends up in cryo and why the password is maria. Why would gun use maria as password like cmon. Anyway this is also how he smuggled a small video into shadows pod where when he wakes up he will be introduced to the plan. During his execution he choses his last words carefully, leaving an encoded message for maria when she wakes up. Maria, at first, doesn't get the code. Shes just confused and spends a long while just learning more abt the ark. But ahe watches the video often just to have like. Company? She herself grows more and more angry with everything so when she notices the code and learns abt the plan. Shes on board. Sure. Lets fucking go. ] she studies the ark, she studies geralds notes on shadow, she studies all data on black arms she can get her hands on all while doing that she STILL gets that stupid dream. she still gets visions, especially when reading their language She makes her plans to kill the world. chapter ends with her sending eggman an encoded message that he won’t be able to resist cracking

as u can tell not all of it made it into the chapter but that was just me thinking "aloud" about all the stuff that had to do w the chapters main premise. the original outline was short and vague enough to give me freedom to think but constricted enough to not let me wander off into making up completely random new stuff!

idk if this helps, but this is how i write nowadays and it works well for me :] im finally finishing things instead of abandoning them!

[jinxquickfoot]

I have finished rewatching Civil War.

This isn't exactly a movie I go back and watch for fun, which is why I put it off for so long on my Marvel rewatch, but it was actually so refreshing to be reminded of "Oh yeah, this is the fandom I love." With Phase 4-5 feeling so disjointed I forgot how wonderful it was to see not only so many heroes on screen, but also all of them living distinct lives and having reasons and motives to be there, which is why I love writing in the post-Civil War era so so much.

Anyway, here are some aspects of Civil War I feel like the fandom has forgotten about (myself included):

The big one is that this movie really isn't all just Steve trying to rescue Bucky. I understand why we latched onto that, and that's definitely a huge motive for Steve. BUT - the core plot point of this movie is that Steve thinks Zemo is trying to activate an entire deadly team of Winter Soldiers, he thinks the Accords are going to stop Tony & co from helping, so he assembles every non-Accords Avenger he can find to go stop Zemo and the super-soldiers.

Even the airport fight is mostly about this. The other members of Team Cap give themselves up because they think the world is in danger and they don't trust the Accords to allow the Avengers to help stop it in time. So they put their faith in Steve instead.

Tony and Natasha recruit everyone they can to try and bring Steve in because the alternative Ross proposes to them is a squad that will shoot on sight, and straight out says they will kill Steve if he 'provokes' them (which of course Steve will, he's Steve). T'Challa is there for revenge but the other Team Iron Man members are there, including Tony, to prevent bloodshed.

Natasha and T'Challa have a full-on friendship arc in this movie

Tony's instructions to Peter at the airport were to "keep your distance and web them up", Peter was never actually meant to get involved in any fighting

Tony is fully under the belief at the airport that Bucky committed the UN bombing and murdered people, he hasn't been given any reason to think otherwise (Steve and Sam know it wasn't Bucky at this point so the audience does too, but Tony doesn't).

While Tony doesn't listen to Steve at the airport, he immediately realizes he was wrong when the psychiatrist Zemo killed is found. When FRIDAY tells him Bucky was innocent of the bombing, he admits he was wrong and tries to give that info to Ross, only for Ross to do nothing. Which is when Tony goes to Siberia, as a friend, with the intent to help Steve stop the super-soldiers

For all the reasons Tony proposes for the Accords, he breaks them the second they become inconvenient to him helping a friend/saving the world (when he still thinks the super-soldiers are a real threat)

During that last fight, Bucky is desperately trying to just run and Steve is trying to help him, they only properly start to fight Tony after Tony pretty much destroys Bucky's escape route and locks them in with him. Both Bucky and Steve's objectives are to take out the suit, not kill Tony, and they both target the arc reactor.

The "locks can be replaced, but maybe they shouldn't" line from Steve's voiceover is place right over Ross calling Tony for urgent assistance with Steve breaking into the Raft. This is almost definitely meant to be interpreted as Tony knowing what is happening at the Raft and choosing to let Steve break their friends out

Final thought:

11 Please bring back Marvel properties that feel grounded, don't feel the need to tell a million jokes a minute, and are happy to bring in big characters for just a few scenes to make the world feel real and lived in

[featherlumina]

8, 12 and 17 for the ask game 😁

Thank you so much @duttfisch! Apologies for the Genesis spam below, haha. XD

8. Common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about.

GENESIS BEING INCLUDED IN THE NIBELHEIM INCIDENT. People treat this like some unholy retcon, the greatest narrative sin Square Enix could've committed via the Compilation. And I for one think that's a complete over-reaction.

Seriously. Sure, Sephiroth's definitely not in a good mental headspace by now, but having Genesis water the freshly planted seeds in Seph's mind in the reactor only serves to drive him further down in a really believable way. I always found it a little odd how quickly Seph seemed to spiral in the OG (admittedly Rebirth handled it better), so I think the addition of Genesis makes the scene more fleshed out and raises even more questions for Sephiroth to investigate in the manor.

And a fun one for good measure that's been disproven by Nomura himself - the fact that everyone is like 'hurr durr Genesis can't come back cause Gackt says no / Square won't pay for his likeness'. Admittedly less people are using this as a 'ew no Genesis is icky he can't come back' now, but it was SUPER annoying for like a decade up till this point.

12. The unpopular character that you actually like and why more people should like them.

Feel like I should be putting my clown makeup on at this point because yep, my answer's Genesis! Again! XD Between the rest of the awesome peeps / moots on Tumblr who've argued for why Gen actually is or has the potential to be really interesting, I think it's fairly obvious why, but I'll summarise my view.

Basically, Genesis suffered from poor writing. Between that and the intense LOVELESS quoting making up the majority of his dialogue, I can see why it frustrated people. But if you look beyond that you'll discover some really neat stuff:

Having Genesis (and by extension, Angeal) as prototypes to Sephiroth actually makes boatloads of sense scientifically. You can't expect ShinRa to pop out Sephiroth on the first try, can you?

Genesis can basically go toe-to-toe with Sephiroth for an extended period of time, which is just... insane, when you think about it. Cloud and Zack have both reached similar heights but Sephiroth is just on a whole other level, so the fact there are a select few who can last against him is just really neat.

Bro had his world shattered and understandably lashed out at the company that shaped and controlled his entire existence. We're on Zack's side for Crisis Core, but it's pretty clear the real world-destroyers are ShinRa, and I think Crisis Core could've done a better job at helping us see Gen's perspective a bit more.

His aesthetic is just gorgeous, let's be honest here. That red coat is iconic and I want it. Superb character design (bless you Gackt for choosing red over black or white.)

Canonically he was well-liked and respected by the majority of SOLDIER, given that he convinced so many SOLDIERs to leave with him. People don't just follow you to the ends of the earth willy-nilly. Also, despite being an 'introvert' and averse to large people groups, he displayed kindness and gentleness with his younger comrades. Gillian called him 'such a good boy' for a reason, damn it!

...and I probably have more, but my hands are tired. XD

17. There should be more of this type of fic/art.

Honestly, I'm a sucker for hurt/injured/degrading Genesis and him both going through trauma and then being comforted and cared for by his loved ones. It's a major part of why I started Thing With Feathers after all. XD

I also love seeing how people explore Genesis' relationship with his changing body/his wing. I could read stuff about that for days.

Also would love to see more written redemption arcs for Genesis, whether it's through 'what-if' AUs or post DoC.

Lastly, I'm not hugely into overly sexual stuff, so any of the above fics without anything explicit is just *chef's kiss*. Of course I understand that many folks love the spicy stuff on its own or mixed into a plot, and that's okay! Just not my cup of tea is all.

[laurie-stark]

Chapter III: Mom's Spaghetti

A/N:

hello gang! another two weeks, another chapter! thank you again for all the love on the last two chapters, I cannot believe how successful the launch of this fic went. hope you're all doing well and i'll see you and laurie in two weeks time. xoxo -mimi Word count: 3.2k

Cherry Bomb Masterlist

Wanda shut the door behind her and I gingerly rose to my feet. My hand flew to the side of my ribs that had taken a hit. Wanda took a step towards me, arms folded over her body, and her hands hidden by the sleeves of her zip-up. 

“That hurt?” She nodded her head towards my ribs.

“Nat’s trying to kill me,” I joked. In my peripheral vision, I saw Nat rise to her feet beside me. I ducked my head as she swatted a playful hand that just grazed my hairline. 

“I am not!” Natasha retorted. “You would have been able to predict my attack if you ever trained outside of our sessions.” 

“You try writing a history test on three hours of sleep and then getting your ass kicked,” I said pointedly. “I’m running on empty here!”

“Why are you writing a test on three hours of sleep in the first place?” Nat asked.

“Do they not teach you health at that prestigious school?” Wanda chimed in. “What is your father paying good money for?”

“Honestly, with the amount of complaining I have to hear from Tony about tuition, you’d think the kids would be better kept,” Natasha said to Wanda, as if I had disappeared from the conversation. 

“Tony? Complaining about money?” Wanda raised an eyebrow.

“Okay, alright,” I cut in, waving my hand between the two women. “Enough. I get it, can we get back to work?”

“Oh, now she wants to work,” Natasha rolled her eyes sarcastically. “Good luck with this one.”

Natasha and Wanda switched places on the floor like a dance, seamlessly moving around one another. Nat gave me a small pat on the back as she passed. I smiled, but it came out closer to a grimace. I knew I had let her down today. She, along with almost everyone else in my life, was always expecting more. 

Wanda lowered herself down to the ground and positioned herself criss-cross applesauce on the floor. With a flick of her wrist, she motioned for me to join her on the mat. While training with Nat involved constant movement and sweating, my training with Wanda was often more low-key. Wanda was an incredibly powerful Avenger, but her powers were completely different than my own. They were the product of exposure to the Mind Stone, which was now housed inside Vision. Wanda often described her powers as being internal, something she could do as easily as breathing. 

To me, I felt like my powers were similar to the Arc Reactor embedded in my father’s chest. Something outside of myself that was still buried within. I could always feel the energy before I used it, the way it pooled at my core, in the centre of my chest. Only then would it spread outwards, like streams of water running away from a great lake. That energy would collect again in the centre of my palms and extend right to the tips of my fingers, emanating a gentle purple glow while it did. I never knew why it was purple as opposed to any of the other colours. Not that I was complaining, purple had always been my favourite. 

I chose not to think about the experiments that I had no memory of, through which I was given my abilities. I still didn’t know the full scope of what I was capable of. I just knew that when I got really scared, or really angry, things went flying. We were able to check telekinesis off the list of possibilities in exchange for some sort of gravitational manipulation. I could shift or change an object’s gravitational pull. It was all very scientific. And in addition to that, I had very limited manipulation of the elements. Fire, air, rocks, the works. I had considered shaving my head off and getting a blue arrow tattoo once. 

I was seven when my powers manifested for the first time. It was a few weeks after my father had been kidnapped overseas. In an instant, my entire world had flipped on its axis, and every little thing would set me off. I was hardly eating or sleeping, and I’d have recurring nightmares about what I imagined was happening to Dad. I remember that one night, instead of waking up screaming I woke up to screaming. When I opened my eyes, Pepper was underneath me and I was floating in my bed. I looked around, and everything in my room was floating, hovering like it was all being suspended by invisible strings. And suddenly all I could see was pure, white fear. When I came to again, I had broken my bedroom window and put multiple holes in the walls. I felt like someone had taken over my body. 

So, while Wanda couldn’t really give me guidance on how to use my powers, we instead worked on gaining control over them. As a kid, I was terrified of myself, of what I could do. Wanda and I had been training hard for the last several months on taming that fear so that I could eventually test my limits. The thought of becoming even more powerful than I already am made me want to cut my arms off, but progress was being made nonetheless. 

I sat across from Wanda and she held her hands out expectantly. I placed mine atop hers, palms facing the ceiling. This was our ritual: we always started with feeling. She could read my emotions, read my mind, and she could also level me. The moment my skin made contact with hers, I felt a rush. It felt like a gust of wind blowing past me, but the air in the training room was still. I closed my eyes and breathed in and out, letting Wanda do her thing. Usually, my anxieties would settle down instantaneously. Today, an eerie feeling lingered. 

I cracked one eye open and realized that Natasha was still standing in the doorway. She was leaning against the frame, eyes watching Wanda and me intently. A wave of embarrassment flushed through me, and I knew Wanda felt it because her eyes shot open. 

“Don’t you have important things to do that aren’t watching me make my hands glow?” I asked, letting out a nervous chuckle. Natasha’s stance didn’t falter. 

“I am interested in seeing the progress you’ve made,” Nat said. “From what Wands tells me, you’ve improved a lot.”

I felt my cheeks burn. “Thanks, but seriously you have got to go. I’ll have performance anxiety if you don’t”

“I have seen you strut across a stage in a lion costume, performance anxiety shouldn’t even be in your vocabulary.”

“Oh, right, because once you've roared in front of a thousand people, you're basically immune to nerves,” I chided. “Next time I'll channel my inner Simba. Thanks for the tip."

Natasha held her hands up in defeat and spun on her heel. The door shut quietly behind her and I settled myself back in front of Wanda. I closed my eyes once again and focused on Wanda’s powers flowing through me. The calm that followed still had a residue of an unsettledness. It was almost as if I could feel Wanda wrestling with it, her grip on my hands emanating her grip on the feeling as it wiggled and fought to slip away from her. 

With a sigh, Wanda let my hands drop into my lap. When looked at her, she had her head low. Her fingers were pinched between her eyebrows. I almost didn't recognize her. Wanda, who usually felt so much older than me, looked so small under the pot lights. 

“What’s up?” I asked quietly. I hadn’t meant to startle her, but I saw the way her breath caught at the sound of my voice. 

“I’m sorry, I um,” she stuttered. She took a moment to compose herself before meeting my eye. “Is it alright if we postpone our training today?”

”Of course,” I responded immediately. I gingerly reached out to place a hand on her knee. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Wanda shook her head. “We got back from a mission last night and…it did not end well.”

“Is everyone okay?” I asked. Images of Steve or Sam injured in the medical wing flashed across my mind. 

“Our people are fine. But the others, the civilians…” Wanda trailed off. I could see the heaviness of the burden she was carrying in her eyes. 

“I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.” I knew my words were empty, but the sentiment hung true. 

Wanda shook her head. “You’ll probably see it on the news, but I hurt…people.”

I chewed the inside of my bottom lip. I didn’t have the words to make Wanda feel any less bad. I wished I could take her pain away the way she would take mine. I glanced nervously around the room and my eyes landed on the clock hanging from the wall above the door. 

“Hey, you know what,” I said as I tapped a finger on her leg, “I’ll bet that someone has dinner going right about now. You wanna go see if there’s anything to eat?”

The notion of food got Wanda’s attention, and she raised her head a little higher. She gave me a small nod, so we stood up together. I had never been the best with emotions, if that wasn’t already blatantly obvious with my power outbursts, and talking about them was even harder. I knew that there was little I could do or say to make Wanda feel better, but I did know that I could take her hand and walk her to the kitchens so she would feel less alone. And so I did. 

…

The kitchen was bustling when Wanda and I walked in. I let go of her hand to sit at one of the bar stools by the island, while Wanda opted to play wallflower. Steve was practically doing laps between the counters and the stovetop. The agents who lived in the compound took turns with meals, and Steve always took on Wednesday dinners. He said he liked the routine, and it was the day when most of the Avengers would be likely at home. He enjoyed making a fuss for the people he loved. 

I propped my elbows on the island counter and held my head in my hands. I watched Steve with amusement as he stressed over the salad in the far corner and the pasta that was boiling over on the stove. 

“What’s on the menu tonight, Pops?” I asked. Pops or Grandpa: those were the only two names I had ever called Steve by. He was technically old enough to be my grandfather, and he knew my actual grandfather, so it was only fitting. 

“Mom’s spaghetti and salad.” Steve lifted the boiling pot over to the sink, pouring the contents into an awaiting colander. “When I was a kid we didn’t have a whole lot of money, so my mom made it her life goal to make the best out of what we had. She called this her “everything but the kitchen sink” meal, which really meant we were making due until the month’s end. But it was always my favourite because it was different every time.”

“She didn’t ask for your whole life story, man.” Sam chided from his spot leaning against the fridge. Nat was standing next to him, sharing a beer. 

Steve shook his head and chuckled. “Sorry. Laurie, are you staying for dinner?”

“Only if there’s room,” I replied. 

“There’s always room at my table for you, kid,” Steve said, reaching over the counter to pat my arm. I smiled brightly at him. “Now, go set the table.” 

I rolled my eyes playfully at the order and hopped down from my seat. Scooching around Steve, I pulled the cutlery drawer open and pulled out a copious amount of knives and forks. The dining room was directly connected to the kitchen and I began setting the table. I realized I had no idea how many people were eating. 

“How many places am I setting?” I called back into the kitchen.” 

“Four!”

“Six!”

“Seven!” A bunch of voices responded at once, all with different answers. 

“That’s incredibly unhelpful!” I yelled back. I waited for a moment, listening to them bicker quietly about how many people were eating. I heard Nat and Sam go back and forth about Sam’s (cancelled) date, and Wanda arguing that it didn’t matter whether Vision ate or not, he could still sit at the table with them. “Helllooooo?”

“Set it for seven, птичка,” Nat finally responded. I re-counted how many utensils I had and continued on with my task, making sure the knives were facing blade outwards to make my etiquette teachers proud.

Another fifteen minutes later the lot of us were settled around the dining table. Naturally, Steve took the head of the table and insisted that we say grace before eating. I never took him for being religious, so I chalked it up to him just being old. We obliged his asks and held hands around the table while Steve thanked unforeseen forces for good food and good company. 

“How is school going Laurie?” Steve asked while handing me the salad bowl. I took it graciously and served myself a large helping of leaves. “You had a test coming up right? In history?”

“You remembered?” I cocked my head sideways, partially in disbelief. Steve just gave me a knowing smile that said ‘Of course I did.’ “Yeah, it was today.”

“And?”

“And I will rue the day that history classes cease to exist. I hate history.”

“That is not the right use of the term rue,” Vision said from his seat across from me. I shot him a look. I 

“I’m sure you did just fine, you’re a bright girl,” Steve said. “But if you really need some help, I’ve got a friend who works for the State Department. Freddy’s a huge history buff.”

“Thanks, Grandpa,” I teased. “I’ll let you know if I do.” 

Sam bumped my elbow. “You doing anything fun this week? Throwing any rangers while dear old dad is away?”

“Oh, that’s right. Tony is away.” Nat said, mouth full of pasta. “He’s in Boston, right?”

“Yeah,” I answered as I took a forkful of spaghetti to my mouth. I had to refrain from letting out a sigh of contentment. Steve was a great superhero, but an even better cook. “He’s giving some talk at MIT. He should be home by Monday I think.”

“Well that’s perfect then,” Sam said. “Throw a party while your dad is gone, he’d never know!” Sam winced as someone, likely Nat, kicked him under the table. “Hey! I’m just saying.”

I shrugged half heartedly. “I don’t have enough friends for that.” 

“Don’t need ‘em. All you need is an empty house, some booze, and good music.”

“Sam,” Steve warned. “Enough of that. Tony’s never going to let her come back here.”

“Are you kidding me?” Natasha laughed. “If Tony came back to his house trashed because Laurie threw a party, he’d never be prouder!” 

We all laughed at that one. If there was one thing Tony Stark knew how to do, it was throw a good party. 

“Well if you aren’t doing anything fun, why don’t you stay here for the weekend?” Steve suggested. 

“Sure,” I said nonchalantly. “That’s a great idea.”

The table fell into silence for a beat as we focused on eating. I helped myself to a second serving of spaghetti. As I leaned back in my seat, I noticed how distant the rest of my team felt from one another. I watched as discomfort covered the table like a blanket. 

“So, uh,” I said midway through chewing on a noodle. “How’d your last mission go?” I immediately wanted to bite back my words the moment they came out. Wanda slumped low into her chair and the others looked at each other. No one was meeting anyone else’s eyes.  

“There were some hiccups.” Steve was the one to speak first after a moment’s silence. “We got the job done, but let’s just say there will be a lot of paperwork for the rest of the week.” 

His joke landed flat. I knew that something was eating at the Avengers sitting around me, but they were all trained well enough not to let their tells share anything. I wanted to know more, but I couldn’t handle the awkwardness. I racked my brain for something, anything, to change the subject. 

“What should we do this weekend then?” I asked hastily. “I know for a fact that none of you have tried out the go-kart track Dad installed last month yet.”

The tension in the air didn’t completely dissipate as dinner went on, but I resolved to knowing that it wasn’t my place to poke at. We had cordial conversations about weekend plans and how many laps Sam could outrun Vision. In the back of my mind, I still wondered what happened during their last mission that had everyone shaken up so bad. I hoped with all my heart that it wasn’t bad, but my gut was telling me otherwise.

…

I managed to avoid telling Happy I was going home alone that night. Nat dropped me off at the closest train station soon after dinner. Taking the train from Upsate was always an interesting experience. If I got to the station early enough or if I prepaid for first-class, it would be an easy trip. Since my plans to commute were so last-minute, I had forgotten to buy tickets ahead of time and was stuck sitting in a cramped four-seater across from a mother and her infant baby. 

I’d always had so much respect for mothers who were willing to travel with their children, especially ones as young as this little girl. She was absolutely adorable, but I couldn’t begin to imagine the stress it took to get a small gremlin onto a train. At least the ride back into the city was just under an hour. 

I had my earbuds in the whole time, and I was trying to gaze off out the window to appreciate the views. The sun was just beginning to set, casting a comforting glow over the endless fields of grass we passed by. Usually I’d let myself become entranced with the scenery, but every time I locked in on the horizon, I got the uneasy feeling that someone was watching me. I turned away from the window to find the baby staring into my soul. She smiled when I made eye contact with her and started to babble loudly. 

This carried on for the entire trip, but I wasn’t upset about it. And every time it did, the mother would shush her baby gently with a pat on the back. She had an abundance of toys sprawled across the seat and took turns trying to get one of them to grab her daughter’s attention. I wondered if my own mother ever played with me like that. 

I didn’t know a thing about my mother. Custody was given over to Dad before I was fully cognizant. I didn’t know if she drank coffee or tea in the mornings. I didn’t know her favourite song. I didn’t know if she ever loved me, or if I was only born to be useful. The train rolled into the station and I went home.