#but that's not all there is to the superhero genre ffs

[corrodedbisexual]

I know most people are currently preoccupied with the Bucktommy breakup but I, as a more casual viewer who watches several episodes in batches, am still reeling from the whole plane arc.

Writers, I know you're trying to make cool storylines that are exciting to watch. But maybe, given your genre, keep it to what's at least believable?

Honestly, the whole landing a plane in critical condition, without an autopilot, by a completely untrained person and a child who's only (unsuccessfully) done simulators? Feels like a giant spit in the face of all actual professional pilots that have ever either successfully landed commercial planes in similarly difficult conditions and saved lives, or died trying, not for lack of competence or training but simply because the situation was impossible to turn around.

It was unrealistic as fuck. It was way over the top. It was complete bullshit. It felt like watching some Marvel superhero movie. It would never, ever happen in real life, there is absolutely zero precedent. I've looked it up, while there have been cases of talk-down aircraft landings of small, lightweight, private planes, there is no record of a talk-down landing of a large commercial aircraft, especially in an emergency state and with broken electronics. For good fucking reason. It's too complicated. You gotta be extremely skilled to even have a chance to do that.

Just... ffs, it's completely possible to write interesting, engaging, realistic people-rescue scenarios without laughably making your character into some sort of fucking Wonder Woman.

[a-roguish-gambit]

Hey roughish!

I'm sure you've probably seen this glorious panel around lately.

And upon seeing this, it reminded me of how much I like seeing superheroes interacting and even being friendly with animals.

I don't know, seeing a superhero being a friend to animals is just a cherry on top.

And it reminded me of a project I'm currently working on.

It's called "Tales of the Fantastic Four", a fanfic series based around, well, The Fantastic Four.

The series will essentially focus on the globe-trotting (and sometimes planet/dimension-hopping) adventures of Marvel's First Family.

There's two things to note about the series.

It'll essentially be like Marvel's version of Batman: The Brave and the Bold, as just about every episode would see the family teaming up with another notable hero.

It's a massive love letter/homage to the pulp adventure genre, with many of the heroes the FF team-up representing different sub-genres of the genre and being inspired by different famous pulp heroes.

As for The X-Men, they'll be among the FF's most recurring allies.

Another thing to note about the series is that the Marvel characters will actually be based in different parts of the world.

Not only allowing for the globe-trotting adventures, but also just helping make the world feel much bigger.

Like, people have heavily criticized Marvel for keeping most their heroes in the same city.

Largely because it kinda makes the world feel somewhat smaller.

Plus, whenever one of those large-scale events come along, it usually focuses on just one or a few characters.

When it would make sense to bring in everyone else.

But here, there would actually be a good reason for that!

As for The X-Men in this regard, they've decided to split the Xavier Institute into two halves and relocated to different parts of the world.

The first half relocated to Australia.

And the second half relocated to Madripoor.

The reason why: they just wanted to continue their work in a more…..peaceful place.

The Australian school would be located in The Outback, not too far from both a local town and an Aboriginal village.

And the Madripoor school would be located in the jungle.

The Australian school would look like the traditional X-Mansion (except located in The Outback).

And the Madripoor school would closely resemble The Treehouse they had during the Krakoa Era.

I wanted the X-Men's new homes to showcase a respect for the natural world.

As in, they didn't have to clear any land to built said homes.

Speaking of which, The X-Men are back to The Blue Team and The Gold Team dynamic.

The Blue Team are the ones who run the Australian school, while The Gold Team runs the Madripoor school.

In terms of who makes up each team….

Blue Team:

-Cyclops (leader) -Wolverine -Rogue -Gambit -Psylocke -Beast -Jubilee -Morph -Xavier

Gold Team:

-Storm (leader) -Jean Grey -Nightcrawler -Colossus -Iceman -Angel (who's a female in this universe) -Bishop -Shadowcat (with Lockheed) -Emma Frost

The Blue Team would serve as a homage to the Australian adventures of the pulp genre, while The Gold Team would serve as a homage to the pirate genre.

Yeah, the Gold Team would essentially be The Marauders.

But the coolest thing about this series is that all of the heroes will have animal companions.

Because I said so!

In terms of the X-Men…..

The Blue Team have two in the form of a kangaroo named Jack and a crocodile named Dundee.

The same applies for The Gold Team as well, who have an orangutan named Eastwood and a female rhinoceros hornbill named Rampy.

I wanted to know out of the two teams, who do you think would be the best with animals in general?

I don't think either in particular as a team would be great with animals but I think Nightcrawler and Gambit specifically would be good with them. Personally I do not trust Emma Frost to take care of an animal. She just doesn't seem capable of it except for maybe a purse dog. She might care for a purse dog. Colossus, Wolverine, beast, Shadow cat, and Rogue I think also can do fairly good job with animals too but I think Gambit and Nightcrawler are the best. Cyclops is good with dogs but he doesn't understand wild animals well I don't think.

[but-a-humble-goon]

I think the Fantastic Four need a break from Dr Doom. And I get how that sounds but rest assured, I love me some Doom. He is in my humble opinion the greatest comic book villain of all time. The thing is though the Fantastic Four at their best are not really superheroes. They share the genre trappings of them, they have powers, wear costumes, battle supervillains etc but they're more akin to your Dr Who or your Star Trek. They should be journeying through time and space on mindbending high concept sci-fi adventures that push the limits of the imagination. Writers are always in such a hurry to shove Dr Doom in because of his popularity and the result is the FF are wasted foiling this one guy's schemes of the week instead of doing the main thing that sets them apart from every other marvel superteam. You need to pace out your Doom. It's not like he won't find plenty of other impudent do-gooders to shake his fist at anyway.

[racefortheironthrone]

I think by default it might be Betty and Veronica (which I'm not knocking), but was having a debate about iconic long running love triangles in comic books and it's hard to come up with examples?

So they’re the most prominent love triangle in comics, in large part because Archie and its spin-offs are arguably the longest running romance comics in the medium.

If we confine ourselves to superhero comics - I know that there are other love triangles in indie comics like Love & Rockets or Scott Pilgrim, but I’m going with the genre I know the most examples from - there are a plethora of love triangles, because they’re a reliable engine for drama and nicely balance romance with the required amount of action due to all the fights they start.

So let’s start with Marvel. Fantastic Four was absolutely chocka with love triangles despite having only one woman on the team. As the team’s professional teen heartthrob, Johnny was the frequent instigator of these, due to his unerring talent for falling into love and bed with the most drama-loving women imaginable. He brought Crystal into the FF’s orbit, and since she basically cannot live without drama, she got into love triangles with Johnny and Quicksilver, Quicksilver and their realtor, and even made a move on Mr. Fantastic (a man I would argue with negative sexual chemistry) right after Sue gave birth! For her own part, Sue has gotten into quite a few love triangles of her own - both with Romance Novel Bad Boy Namor and T’challa and even sometimes with Doctor Doom, because she’s apparently catnip to Marvel royalty.

Over in X-Men, there are three main canon love triangles that were particularly prominent and long-running: the Scott/Jean/Logan mess that eventually culminated in a throuple because everyone got tired of the ship wars, the Jean/Scott/Emma triangle that provided much of the driving force behind Grant Morrison’s New X-Men and eventually spun off to the Scott/Namor/Emma love triangle, because Imperius Rex has a type and it’s attached blondes with mental powers), and the Rogue/Gambit/Magneto dilemma (itself growing out of the Gambit/Rogue/Belladonna love triangle) that was the major romantic plot of the 90s and early 2000s. Secondary or shorter love triangles included Scott/Alex/Maddie during the Claremont run, Polaris/Alex/Nurse Annie in the Chuck Austen run, Polaris/Alex/Bobby back in the Silver Age before Bobby came out of the closet, Kurt/Meggan/Brian from Excalibur, etc. Somewhat subtextual trios that became popular among queer fans include Pyro/Bobby/Northstar, Storm/Yukio/Callisto (because Ororo has a type and that type is knives), and Rachel/Ilyana/Kitty (which intersected with the Dani/Xi’an/Rahne triangle, because Kate Pryde is a menace to sapphics, although the former did resolve when Rachel started a serious relationship with Betsy).

I’m not as much a DC guy, but even I know that Dick Grayson has nothing but love triangles.

[kolbisneat]

MONTHLY MEDIA: March 2023

It’s getting nicer out but I’m still spending plenty of time indoors watching and reading things, don’t you worry.

……….FILM……….

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) It’s been years since I’ve gone back to this and it really is one of the best superhero movies ever made, right? I hope the next one succeeds and it leads to more animated features. It just...you can do so much more. Sure the live-action superhero movies have a lot of animation but they’re bound by our physics and the uncanny valley and it’s just not the same.

……….TELEVISION……….

Ted Lasso (Episode 3.01 to 3.03) Glad to be back. It’s been interesting seeing the online rise, then fall, then rise again of support for this show but honestly, who cares? Do you like watching it? Great. Do I like watching it? Absolutely. It’s a project that was planned from season 1 and it shows and I wish more media was approached in this way.

Spy x Family (Episode 1.08 to 1.25) Okay needed to shift my expectations with this one. I really thought we’d get more of Yor and her assassin life. She’s kinda just a background character to Loid and Anya and that feels like a missed opportunity.

The Great (Episode 2.09 to 2.10) Great cap to the season. Full arcs for characters, a satisfying resolution and yet still enough of a hook to get me excited for the third season. Just some gorgeous, funny, dramatic television. Big fan.

……….YOUTUBE……….

Why everything you buy is worse now and How America’s richest donate their money by Vox Okay the first one really helped explain why stuff seems to be lower quality and it’s not just “better back in my day” sorta stuff. It’s just chasing that elusive profit, you know? And seeing the stats on how the wealthy donate was eye-opening. Taxes seem good. VIDEO (Worse Now) VIDEO (Richest Donations)

AI and Image Generation (Everything is a Remix Part 4) by Kirby Ferguson I’ve always appreciated the Everything is a Remix series and this only reinforces that. A measured response to AI image generation and what that means, why it’s flawed, and what happens next. VIDEO THE FULL PROJECT

What Does Glass Onion Have to Do with US? by Vivian Strange Okay a lengthy one but worth it. A new perspective on Glass Onion, a refresher on why I really liked US, and a really great connection between the two. Also a really great breakdown of the murder mystery as a genre as well and why it’s having a resurgence. All around great stuff. VIDEO

……….READING……….

Arabian Nights (Companion Library Edition) (Page 124 of 244) Thrifted this and for some reason never knew it was a collection of short stories? Which seems obvious now. Anyway I’m sooooo slow at really short story collections but they’ve been interesting to read. Something about the translation feels like a slog to actually read but the stories included are a lot of fun. 

Wonderland Revisited and the Games Alice Played There by Keith Sheppard (Complete) I’m super picky when it comes to adaptations of Carroll’s works. Many take Wonderland and make it dark, twisted, and mature (meh) but I find the more interesting take is one that continues with the same momentum. This one doesn’t quite work in capturing the spirit of the original books for me but there’s a lot of really great ideas in here.

Superman for all Seasons by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale (Complete) Having loved their Batman books I picked this up and, being younger and dumber, didn’t like it at the time. Where was the action? Where were the villains? I was naive. Going back to this I really appreciate the study of Superman, the narrative through the supporting cast, and the struggles that can’t be resolved through punching. Man Loeb & Sale were a team.

Fantastic Four: Full Circle by Alex Ross (Complete) As an one-off story, this delivers everything I’d want out of an FF adventure: group banter, weird worlds, and lots of mumbo jumbo science. Plus I mean the artwork is truly humbling. I had to read it twice and I still only 80% understand it all but that’s not a complaint. Totally worth picking up if you have even a passing interest in the Fantastic Four.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 5 & 6 by by Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley, and more  (Complete) Decided to pick up with my reread of the Ultimate Spider-Man series again and woof I forgot how much I didn’t like volume 5. The first half is an Ultimates story that I STILL find too wordy, and the movie tie-in of the second half never quite clicked. I dunno maybe there are too many losses and not enough wins for Parker in this one? Volume 6, however, is great. It has one of the most frustrating deaths in the series but it really explores the aftermath and impact. And introducing Johnny Storm and using him as the reason Spider-Man gets back into the hero stuff is really great. Spider-Man doesn’t need to solve all problems with punches and this book gets that.

……….AUDIO……….

Wild Planet by The B-52s (1980) After listening to a greatest hits album on repeat as a kid, I’m going back to the early stuff. Can’t get Private Idaho out of my head.

FREE I.H.: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For by Illuminati Hotties (2020) They always pop up in lists when I search for “more stuff like Sleigh Bells” but it finally clicked for me after listening to content//bedtime. Love this album.

……….GAMING……….

Neverland: A Fantasy Role-Playing Setting (Andrews McMeel Publishing) Whoa okay so my weekly group just fled the land of the Fairies after some drama with the Queen of the realm (you can read about it here) and then my Mof1 game ALSO had some Fairy drama involving the Queen. Apparently she’s a dramatic lady.

And that’s it. See you in April!

[stackthedeck]

could i get your like top 10 marvel comic must reads? I'm dyslexic and have a huge issue reading comics so i cant read a ton of them and i want to know which ones are worth the struggles to read.

oooh okay so here's the thing, most of my favorite comics are considered bad by the comic community at large and I mostly read spider-man and also I have no idea what genre you prefer to read in so take these with a grain of salt and judge for yourself if it'd be something you'd be interested in

I really like the spectacular spider-man run that began in 1988 which actually continues the spectacular spider-man series that began in 76. I wouldn't say this is beginner friendly but there are some really excellent moments and I'm a Harry Osborn stan and this run gives him a lot of attention

Jonathan Hickman's run of the fantastic four is considered to be one of the best and yeah it absolutely is! (the numbering for it is a little weird because there's a title change so it's Fantastic Four #570–588, FF #1-23, Fantastic Four #600–611) I love this run because it's a huge scifi adventure but always at the core is how important the fantastic family is (also Spider-Man is there) no spoilers if you do read it, but I ugly cried the first time I read it

I adore the Spider-Gwen story, it's a self-contained story with a gripping universe. Because it's its own thing, it's easy to get into but also if you have the context of 616 Gwen Stacy, it's made all the better. I wouldn't call this a must read because it doesn't affect the main universe but I adore it and the art is gorgeous. It feels like a fun YA novel in the best way

In that same vein, I adore the Spider-Man Noir comics. Again not like a must read, but if you want something darker and gritty but not hopelessly grimdark this is the best marvel has to offer. If you like mysteries it's definitely a go-to and I adore the aesthetic, it's really a creative spin on the characters. Like they could have just told a simple noir detective story and they told a great one and so much more

This definitely isn't a must read but I need more people interested in Gwenpool so read Unbelievable Gwenpool! It's fun, it's bubbly, it oozes joy and a genuine love for the comic medium, the art is adorable. Gwen is a wonderful character to get invested in because she really feels so fragile and human in this world of super humans

While we're talking about relatable deeply human stories, G. Willow Wilson's Ms. Marvel series is so excellent. I actually really like Wilson's novels, she excels at magical realism and it shows in the way she writes superhero stories. Her writing of Kamala comes from a place of love for the character and it's so clear that she's embedded so much of herself into the character and it's beautiful. It's such and fun and touching coming of age story, like it really deserves the hype

And while your there you've gotta check out the Champions, there's the full team that started in 2016 but then there's also the outlaws in 2020 that are a smaller team. I really like the direction outlaws goes but you gotta read the 2016 run because it's also fantastic. I don't love team stories but I adore the champions!! It's all my favorite heroes and they've got such a passion and they usually tackle heavy social issues and generally it's pretty well done. But the friendships really shine in this, this is a found family kind of team

Oh if you're going to read Daredevil, the Waid run is my favorite! It's still emotionally heavy like all Daredevil comics, but Matt is trying to make himself better and he fights his depression with a joy for life, reminiscent of the camp of older comics. Even though it has a more whimsical approach, the darker moments still feel real and heavy. It's a very well balanced story with Matt's friendship with Foggy highlighted as well as a lot of new wonderful character

Okay back to Spider-Man, I feel like Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2019) is a really beginner friendly story that is easy to read. I adore it because the story highlights Peter working with individual people, showcasing him as street-level hero. He's so kind to normal people and it really shows that being a hero is about more than punching problems away. There are also a lot of familiar faces helping him out and I just love to see Peter accepting help

okay that's 9 so far and there are a lot of Spider-Man comics I could recommend, but they're not beginner or dyslexia friendly (I'm also dyslexic btw, and you'd think comics would be easier to read but sometimes the layout of text is physically painful so I feel you) so I guess I'll just give you some fun short team-ups. Spider-Man and the Human Torch, Spider-Man and Deadpool, IronCat, Mary Jane and Black Cat, and oh you should definitely check out Black Cat's solo series, they're absolutely excellent

[amagicdoctor]

I understand most X-Men fans complaints even if I didn't follow half of their stuff as a F4 fan. Can sympathize a lot with it. Must be tough

Tho there's one thing that hit me about this "fall of krakoa" story when I first heard the title while browsing: I'm pretty sure this is the third time marvel marketed something like that since the mutant island plot started. AXE was like big and recent with everyone coming out of nowhere but there was also something else before that going by the slogan "end/fall of krakoa" as well... don't know the name of the run but I'm sure of it being a thing because we (F4 fans) thought there was finally gonna be some closure on the Franklin retcon with it all being a trick by fake X-Men in their cringe island 2 years ago (?) when it came out.

Anyway, if it's really the third time Krakoa "falls" that's way too many fakeoffs for anyone to enjoy

As a Marvel comics fan (idk if DC is running into the same problem) it's getting really old doing the apocalypse/end of the world/end of the universe event and I don't just mean the yearly events that tie ALL the Marvel characters together. I know the X-Men do it, and I'm sure maybe one or two other series are getting into it to (I just can't write about it bc the only other solo series I read rn is FF and Dr. Strange and they currently aren't in that area rn). It's so funny Marvel thinks the destruction of everything is the go-to move. I know this is the superhero genre so we have to have action and high stakes and thousands in peril because of it, and that's chill, I get it. But dam, we could probably mix it up once a year or so 🥴

[lulupen2023]

Muse/Thor/The Avengers Crossover Belldom&Thoki

yep, I'm that crazy this is something I started YEARS ago... maybe I'll find the mad inspiration to go on and conclude it Let's start with sharing the prologue: Summary: What happens when the ' Knights of Cydonia ' meet the gods of Asgard? Let the delirium begin! Setting : During the making of T2L, tentatively late spring/early summer 2012, which should coincide with the ending of 'The Avengers' I do not have the mathematical certainty, but it is a FF, let's pretend that it is so… Rating: pg13, then…who knows?

Feedback: yes, please, make a tiny effort, this time I really need to know if this is worthy to go on or no one knows/care about those two fandoms put together :/

Genre: CrossOver (Muse + Thor / The Avengers Universe), Comedy, Romance, Fantasy, Humor, Parody… crazyness ;P

Disclaimer: I do not own for sure Matt, Dom, Muse in general, the same goes for Thor, Loki &Co (they belong to Marvel), I just own the absurd idea that was born from my sick mind And the title is taken from the lyrics of ' Crying Shame ' by Muse (very fitting)

Pairing: BellDom (of course!), Thoki ( Thor + Loki ) and... whatever happens XD

Notice: - I do not like Kate Hudson ( even before Matt met her), it’s not a mystery, but more than real bashing let’s call it a situation in which Matthew and especially Dominic scoff at her whenever they have the opportunity… which is what I love thinking that actually happens in real life, too!

To fully understand this story ( no matter how crazy and degenerate it is) you should know both fandoms, if you don’t, you can still read this first part after ' **** in the meantime 'as a simple one shot, since it is not yet bound to the other events :) The real fun will start with chapter 1!

Loki, Thor and all Asgard is based only on Marvel Movies, okay? I don’t know very much about Northern Mitology :/ Prologue: Requests and Memories

Asgard, End of May 2012

The more he kept repeating to himself that he had done the right thing, the less Thor was convinced that it was so.

He had brought Loki back home, it’s true, with the help of his mortal superhero friends, and had managed to stop him before the situation degenerated even further. Loki would have a hard price to pay for what he had already done.

The point was that having brought him back to Asgard, Thor had precluded to Loki any possibility of escape. By now it was all in Odin’s hands and in his law and the blond warrior could only hope that his decision would be lenient.

The trial has just begun; Loki had been led by Thor towards the throne room, suitably gagged, under the stern and blaming gaze of the whole people of Asgard.

Placed between the front rows, there were Fandral, Sif, Volstagg and Hogun, i.e. Thor’s best friends. They could only glare scornfully at the brunet god, which once -briefly- had been their king. All the way, Thor had looked for an alternative form of dialogue with his adopted brother. He tried seeking eye contact, but those big green eyes made of emerald did not seem to convey any emotion. After all, it was typical of the god of Mischief to conceal any trace of vulnerability.

Frigga hadn’t even been allowed to get close to that beloved son she believed lost, because it was an order of Odin’s. As a matter of fact, two royal guards had immediately moved her away, not without some efforts, fighting every Frigga’s attempt to break free. At the end, the queen was forced to surrender, being a powerless spectator of a show of which perhaps she preferred to never know the final result.

Odin knew that he would have to come to terms with his wife, but he had found it necessary to avoid her overly emotional involvements. He was aware that, when it came to Loki, Frigga used to forget rationality, acting more as a mother than a queen.

Suddenly Loki became more restless, starting to point repeatedly at his magic gag that kept him from enjoying the most congenial arts to him: the oratorical arts. Not understanding the behavior from whom he still considered to all intents and purposes his son, Odin gave orders to his guards to take away the gag, getting ready to put it back on him, if the situation would require it.

Free at last, Loki proceeded to talk.

"I require as my right to speak in private with the father...”

Odin jolted, not because of that request, but for the use of that unexpected name.

"Of all the gods!” the god of Lies added, pausing on purpose and finding a thin, evil, devious pleasure in deluding the king of Asgard so badly.

If there was one thing that Odin had never feared, it was direct confrontation, so he accepted the request, without hesitation, giving orders to everyone to leave.

"What's Loki up to?”  Frigga asked Thor, rather restless.

" I have no idea, mother, he didn’t tell me he wanted to talk in private with father. Well, because of the damn gag he didn’t tell me anything at all, since I’ve brought him here.”  the blond warrior muttered, upset.  His sapphire eyes narrowed, trying in vain to focus on the blurred image of his respected father and his beloved brother as he left the royal palace, with Frigga following him.

"Tell me, Loki.”  Odin urged him, once they were alone.

"I do not regret even a single one of the actions that I have committed!”  the proud failed king of Midgard stated.

"I thought so!”  the disconsolate All Father sighed.

"I know that I have to go through the punishment that you’ll decide that it’ the most appropriate and I’m not asking for a discount, it wouldn’t be correct.” the God of Lies went on.  “But I ask you a revocation."

"A revocation?”  Odin frowned.

"You heard me. It’s not for long. I ask you to wait for a week, then you can act as you think, and make me do whatever you prefer.”  Loki clarified.

"Why only a week?”  the king asked him doubtfully.

"In exactly seven days it will be Thor’s birthday and I want to arrange a memorable party. It will be my way to say farewell. I would like to arrange something special in the name of the brothers who we were.”  Loki revealed, without mincing words.

"You are still brothers! This has changed nothing, Loki, we think that you're still...”

"Save your breath, All Father! I'm not looking for nice words, but only for permission!” the god of Mischief cut him off, dryly.

Odin sighed heavily, stroking his shaggy white beard.

It was a typical sign that he was seriously considering the decision to be taken.

And Loki knew it; willy-nilly he knew all Odin’s typical signs.

"Supposed I agree. What do you plan to do this week?”  the king questioned him.

Loki cleared his throat, as if looking for the best way to give that answer.

"Let's say that my request could incorporate others, related and fundamental: I need to temporarily leave Asgard, I need to keep my powers, at least until then, but mostly I need you to trust me.”  the younger god sentenced.

"Why should I consider you worthy of such a trust?”  Odin muttered, astonished by the boldness with which his interlocutor dared to require such things.

Loki knew well that too, but did not flinch at all.

"Because Midgard is guarded by the Avengers, whom have vowed to protect their precious Realm from any threat. They already know my moves, my tactics, my fighting techniques. And if they were able to defeat me when I was the leader of a whole army, you can only imagine without difficulty how easy would be for them to defeat me now that I act completely alone.”  Loki  reasoned.” However, the basic reason is that this time I have no plan of conquest or domination of any kingdom, I won’t damage any mortal, even those with whom I would have a score to settle.”  the God of Chaos added.

"I'm glad to hear you say that.”  Odin muttered, stroking his own chin.

"Are you glad enough to give me what I asked you?”  the brunet wondered.

"Loki, you ask me a lot and your situation is already aggravated...”  the old king stumbled on his words.

Loki looked at him deeply, defiantly.

"I know and I do not mean to aggravate it any further. So, oh wise and powerful Odin, will you still consider worthy of a glimpse of your trust this lost sheep?”

***************************** (In the meantime )

Midgard (Earth), London, End of May 2012

Muse were really pleased by the intense work that day. Tom, the media manager, had taken lots of pictures, while the three worked on the new songs, assisted by a large group of sound engineers and musicians.

No need to wonder, Tom’s ‘evil’ plan was to publish the new photos on twitter as soon as possible, thus teasing the band’s devoted fans a little more. This was what trolls did!

When they came out from the recording studio, it was already past eleven o'clock at night. Outside there was left not even a fan waiting for them, as they believed that the band had already found an alternative way to leave.

Muse loved their fans, they were grateful for what those worshippers had brought them. But it was also true that they didn’t despise having a bit of peace and privacy.

Their operating team had already moved away a few hours before, they were perfectionists; every one of them. Matt, Dom, and Chris had chosen to remain in order to refine some of the details, while Tom stayed to muck around with them a little longer (well, he had also given them some valuable help, too, it must be said).

Chris was the first of the four guys to leave, eager to return to his large family. The bassist had never been so happy as that year. The fact that they stay fixed in London allowed him to spend more time with his beloved wife and adorable children, something that was not very feasible during the tour.

Tom followed his example shortly after and so only Matthew and Dominic were left. The two of them, however, hadn’t any intention to leave, and why should have they? By then the place was sufficiently isolated, outside there was a starry sky that did not ask for more than to be contemplated and the air, though still quite fresh, began to smell of summer.

Dominic ran into the studio to retrieve two blankets, which he then took outside. "Matthew, come here!" he urged his best friend, going around the back.

With the assistance from the singer, the drummer positioned the blankets down on the soft grass, and then they laid down on them.

"Wait, something is still missing.”  Matt said, getting up and going back into the studio, from which he emerged a little later, with a pack of beer cans, kept cool by their mini-bar.

"Now we are talking!”  the brunet smiled, handing to the blond a can, and they sit down again. The pianist placed the remaining cans on the ground before sitting back down.

"This is the perfect crime!”  Dom chuckled, opening his can.

"I would propose a little music as background, too but... I guess that today we have had enough, do you think so?”  Matt said, taking a few sips from his.

"Even too much!” laughed Dom, exhausted.”  But it has to be done, Matt, we are working just fine.”

"I know, Dom, this album will be epic. We will do great things, I can feel it.”  Matt smiled, letting the breeze of the night lash his hair.

"I love this. I mean, the moment of realization of an album, when it's just you and me and the music. Well, it’s obvious, I include even Chris, Tom, Morgan and the technicians as well, but... you understand what I mean!”  Dom shrugged.

"Of course I understand.”  Matthew lay down on his side, turning to him.

"And then, when we're on tour, there will be no more of any of this stuff. Nothing is as it used to be before and you know it.”  Dom pouted, before feeling a hand placed on his shoulder.

"I know, it's true, but that does not mean that we cannot make it equally beautiful.”  Matt muttered.  “And whatever happens, there will always be a ' you and I ', always.”  he assured him. In those eyes that were bluer than the sky and the sea Dominic could only read a devout sincerity. The drummer just nodded his head and showed his best friend a convinced smile.

Matthew knew he had to do something to lighten the atmosphere, which now had become heavier thanks to the shadow of the difficulties that arose in the two lovers’ path.

He changed topic, recalling all their memories related to the preparation of that last album, the ideas that they had discarded, laughing because they saw it as terrible stuff, the jokes that they had made to each other, all the carefree moments mixed with the most serious ones.

It turned out to be a brilliant gimmick.

Matthew was a composer, but he was convinced that there was no more beautiful music than Dominic’s laughter and see him so happy, while he laughed and brought out anecdote after anecdote with the enthusiasm of a child, was the best reward ever.

"Matt, do you remember when we got to decide what song you would choose to dedicate to Kate?”  the blond resumed his speech, giggling, and as he pronounced that woman’s name Matthew realized that he was no longer in a state of tension.

"Sure, how could I forget it? You were so stubborn and kept saying I should have chosen 'Animals'!” he replied, without suppressing a giggle.

“Well, yes, because it reflects her temperament. In short, I'm giving her a great compliment for her strong and determined character!”  Dom justified himself, perhaps already a little tipsier because of the beer, as well as Matt was.

"'Kill yourself, c'mon and do us all a favor '?” Matt sang accusingly, but his expression was clearly amused.

"Uh, is there that verse, too? Really? I did not remember!”  Dom shrugged with feigned innocence.

They both laughed, and from there to the first kiss of the night the step was ridiculously short.

"Oh, bugger it! I mean, yep, I can give her ‘Madness', she can delude herself that you wrote that song for her. There are other important songs, the ones that if you had only dared to dedicate them to her...I do not know what I would have done to you or if you would be still alive to tell the world about it!”  Dom asserted, parting from his partner, trying to figure out if it was the brunet who had invaded his space or  if he invaded the pianist’s one, but without giving too much importance to that thing.

He was fine where he was, which meant sitting on Matt’s lap.

"I know. Like 'Explorers', right? Do you remember the first time I played it to you?” Matthew whispered in his ear, blowing into it, lightly.

"You bet. As soon as you finished playing the last note, I did not say a word. I just walked towards you, I wrapped my arms around your neck, I kissed you...and we ended up making love under your piano, all night long,” the drummer recalled, while he played with the fingers of the other musician’s hand. "One of the best nights I can remember,” the brunet revealed, sighing contently.

“And 'Big Freeze' belongs to the untouchable songs as well!” the blond claimed, resolutely.

"I know, but that one I do not have a good memory of. As soon as I finished singing it to you, you broke down and cried, and then I burst into tears as well and we spent the whole night talking and comforting each other, reassuring each other about our future together,” the pianist grieved a little bit.

"Believe me or not, but even that one is among the most beautiful nights I can remember.”  Dominic smiled.  “The fact is that that song is special.”

"Yes, so special that I'm not going to share it with the crowd. One day, perhaps,” the guitarist stated.

"Well, Matt-eh, look, you still have time to change the song to pick up for Kate. We might consider 'Unsustainable’.”  The percussionist returned to his attack.

Matthew pushed him away and laughed heartily. "Are you nuts? Imagine the scene: the audience is cheering me, I approach the microphone and say, 'And now a new song, I wrote it for my girlfriend, because my ability to stand her sometimes is unsustainable!', and then the song starts!” The pianist prospected the hypothetical possibility, amongst the laughter.

"I would pay for this scenario!”  Dom said, sitting down again.

“Sorry, but I’m already sodding rich, I'm not interested in your money!”  the other scoffed, pretending to be indifferent.

Dom crawled sensually over the brunet. "So, what about a payment in kind? Would you mind?” he meowed, ruffling his hair. “I think...I think that we can find an agreement…” the singer stammered, in obvious difficulty, getting lost in those beautiful big eyes, made of an indefinite color where gray, green, hazel, and sometimes even the blue battled out to try to prevail, reaching some stunning compromises.

"Mm, yes, I think so.”  Dom smiled against Matt’s lips, kissing him deeply.

“On second thought, nope, I would take advantage of you, but without giving you what you want in return!” the frontman corrected himself, recovering and parting from him.

"You’re so infamous!” the percussionist chuckled, returning on his blanket.  “But, I repeat, it would be fun. Well, you could use. 'Isolated System', then. It’s a ballad, there’s a piano, it seems very romantic to me, so why not?” he suggested casually.

"I do not know, maybe because that song is about the destruction of the world, without even a single chance of escape or a single hope of salvation?”  Matthew rolled his eyes.

"Exactly. It seems so appropriate to me!”  Dom grinned cheekily.

"Dominic...”  Matt used his warning tone.

"But mostly, Matt, if you locked her up inside an isolated system she wouldn’t be bloody stuck to you anymore at every single concert!”

Matthew could not help it and burst into laughter. "Dom, you're impossible!”

"And you love me the way I am.” The drummer gave checkmate to the singer.

This time it was Matt who got closer, crawling over him, locking his ice-blue eyes in those eyes made of storm.

"I do love you. With every fiber of my body. With every note of my piano. With each of my guitar riffs. With every octave of my voice,” he murmured languidly, placing small, delicate kisses on the percussionist’s lips for every way that he listed.

"Wow…" was all Dom could say, grabbing him by his neck and pulling him in for a breathtaking kiss before resuming his personal battle. "Kate can only dream about these sentences from you!” he chanted, sounding victorious. That was all it took for him to earn yet another push from Matthew, though the brunet was amused.

“Taking for granted that my favorite blond is you, and it'll always be you, Dommeh, c’mon! It’s not so horrible to have Kate around! And don’t you dare try to deny it; you’re already crazy for Bing as much as I am!” he pointed out.

“You rescued yourself at the very last minute mentioning that adorable baby!” the blond punched his lover’s shoulder lightly, before they both went back lying down and watching the stars.

"Matthew, do you think there’s really a place where we can be free, such the one you're talking about in that particular song?” Dom asked him.

Matthew looked for his hand, squeezing it.

"There must be. And we'll find it.”

TBC

[fictionalpeter]

I feels weird having two superhero movies in theatres that I haven't seen, and have no intention of doing so.

I mean, I skipped on Ant-Man too, but that was due to anger at the treatment of Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne by the MCU.

This is more indifference. I've never liked the idea of movies about villains, especially ones that have no connection to their hero(Venom, Morbius, Joker, etc...). The fact that Dwayne Johnson is overhyping the interoduction so much, yet seems to have absolutely no interest in having his character face Captain Marvel--yeah, no interest. The fact that they wasted major DC characters like Fate and Hawkman in this, rather than giving them their own solo movies, is just making me feel worse about it. Because I would definitely see either of those films, rather than seeing them job to a character who isn't even their arch-enemy.

Then we've got the Black Panther sequel without the main character in it, and--once again--the MCU decides to hype it up by using another of the Fantastic Four's character library. This is something that irks me even more, because I was a huge fan of the first Black Panther film, which I felt gave the Marvel films some of their depth back after GotG and the Thor sequels made them parodies. If they really felt it was too soon to recast the role of T'Challa, they they should have waited a little before making the film until they felt enough time had past. And, of course, since the idea of having a movie just about a supporting cast isn't enough of a draw, they essentially make it a Sub-Mariner movie in all but name instead. While I understand Namor has been a villain as often as a hero(big FF fan here, remember), this is yet another character who could have carried his own solo film that is instead used to prop up one who's lost its lead.

Meanwhile you have stuff like Batgirl that's inexplicably cancelled. Not to mention the New Gods film that was axed before it even went into production. Or, on the Marvel side, Moon Knight and Werewolf by Night, who both have movie-quality stories but are stuck on streaming for some reason. Those were films I would have been excited to see, but then we get stuff like this instead, and I start to think some people are right about them needing to dial back the superhero genre a bit.

[volperion-moved]

hawkmoths not a gd terrorist this is a gd superhero show that really really shouldn't be held to real world standards... blaming lila & chloe for willingly working w/ him and calling them terrorists too also completely misses the way his whole thing is to take advantage of people when they're feeling down to make them weapons and how he specifically orchestrates situations so he can use chloe & lila, he's grooming them into being villains basically

terrorism doesnt get undone by the end of the day w/ miraculous ladybug ffs to say what chloe & lila are doing is on that level is such a bad take stop

[angel-anoetic]

this isnt a request but now im just thinking of a reader dying in c! jack's arms and they will literally take nothing serious about it and he loves them and knows they're trying but at the same time hes pissed because its literally just "man. this is an L. i did not get a victory royale nor did i fortnite get down" and jack is just in tears like "you are dying y/n ffs" - 🍋

'ThIs IsN't a ReQuEsT' NOW IT IS!! I'm just gonna spitball this, and maybe i'll write a fuller story with this later <3 thank you 🍋 anon, i was beginning to worry about you!

Don't forget to like to save, and reblog to share!

c!JackManifold x gn!Reader - Can You Not?

genre: cracked i'd say, /rom, humor

warnings: reader death, vague mentions of injury

masterlist <3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So you and Jack had been together since he first joined the server.

He knew that humor was your way of showing you cared. He loved to hear you tell them to him, and he always gave you genuine reactions

So he's not sure what he expected when you are literally dying in his arms.

He's trying to put pressure on your wound to get it to stop bleeding and you start fucking laughing??

"What the hell's got you all chuffed?"

"You should've seen your face! You looked so surprised." You let out one larger laugh, but its cut short by your wincing in pain.

"Crap, it won't stop." His eyes are spilling tears out

"Hey, hey..." You start to wipe his tears away as he pulls you as close as he possibly can.

"God, why'd you have to do that shit?"

"Because I thought it would be cool, like, a superhero move you know?"

"God I hate this."

"I will literally just be like, four hundred blocks away."

"And one less canon life dammit."

"True! I guess this was not too pog huh?"

"Y/N please-"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ew, i hate this, but I needed something fun to write. thank you, 🍋beloved.

[ddalgirecs]

ʚ list of tags ɞ

t͏h͏i͏s͏ i͏s͏ a͏ l͏i͏s͏t͏ o͏f͏ t͏a͏g͏s͏ i͏ m͏a͏d͏e͏ s͏o͏ t͏h͏a͏t͏ t͏h͏e͏ f͏i͏c͏s͏ i͏ r͏e͏b͏l͏o͏g͏ a͏r͏e͏ e͏a͏s͏i͏e͏r͏ t͏o͏ n͏a͏v͏i͏g͏a͏t͏e͏. e͏n͏j͏o͏y͏ r͏e͏a͏d͏i͏n͏g͏!🌷

💌 note: posts that are tagged with [ #pts ] helps me organize posts that haven’t been tagged yet and will be tagged soon. you can still browse through this tag; it’s just that not much stories will be in it! there are times when i am not able to update my recent reads so this tag takes its place for the time being~

✨ tip: if you want to read a specific kind of ff and it falls under multiple tags, you can search using this format. [ ex: m: taehyung, g: angst, g: slow burn ] using the tags shown below and commas; it will separate each tag and all posts with those tags will be shown. 

❥ 𝑫𝒂𝒍'𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 

❥ 𝑫𝒂𝒍'𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔

𝗺.𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 | 𝗺.𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 | 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 

THEMED

𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 | 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 | 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 | 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 | 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 | 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻

MEMBERS / PAIRINGS

✧ 𝒌𝒊𝒎 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒋𝒐𝒐𝒏  — #m: namjoon

✧ 𝒌𝒊𝒎 𝒔𝒆𝒐𝒌𝒋𝒊𝒏  — #m: seokjin

✧ 𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒊   — #m: yoongi

✧ 𝒋𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒐𝒌  — #m: hoseok

✧ 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒋𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏  — #m: jimin

✧ 𝒌𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒂𝒆𝒉𝒚𝒖𝒏𝒈   — #m: taehyung

✧ 𝒋𝒆𝒐𝒏 𝒋𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒐𝒐𝒌  — #m: jungkook

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

✧ 𝒐𝒕7 / 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒚   — #au: poly | 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆   — #c: threesome

GENRE / AU

✧ 𝒔𝒎𝒖𝒕  — #g: smut | 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒎𝒖𝒕 — g: implied smut | 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒉  — #filth

↳  𝔢𝔵𝔱𝔯𝔞 𝔫𝔰𝔣𝔴 𝔱𝔞𝔤𝔰: pwp, sexual tension, dom, sub, bdsm, kink, size, breed, mate, netflix n chill, overstimulation, bj, virgin, first time, public, casual, jealousy, forbidden, porn, infidelity

✧ 𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒇𝒇  — #g: fluff | 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒇𝒇 | 𝒔𝒐𝒇𝒕  — #soft

✧ 𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒔𝒕  — #g: angst | 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒔𝒕 —  #g: heavy angst 

✧ 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒂  — #g: drama | 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏 — #g: slow burn

✧ 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆  — #c: romance | 𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 — #c: pining

✧ 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 — #c: lovers | 𝒔2𝒍 — #c: s2l | 𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 — #c: idiots to lovers | 𝒇2𝒍 — #c: f2l | 𝒃𝒇𝒇2𝒍 — #c: bff2l | 𝒆2𝒍 — #c: e2l 

✧ 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 — #au: brothers best friend | 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 — #c: childhood friends |  𝒇𝒘𝒃 — #c: fwb

✧ 𝒖𝒏𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 — #au: unrequited love

✧ 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 — #c: star crossed lovers 

✧ 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 — #c: dating | 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 — #c: relationship | 𝒃𝒐𝒚𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 — #c: boyfriend 

✧ 𝒇𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 — #c: fake dating

✧ 𝒆𝒙 — #c: ex | #au: ex boyfriend | #au: ex husband | #c: ex best friends 

✧ 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒚 — #g: comedy | 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒐𝒓 — #g: humor | 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒌  — #g: crack

✧ 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 — #g: thriller | 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 — #g: horror

✧ 𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒚 — #au: fantasy | #g: fantasy | #au: fairytale 

✧ 𝒓𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 — #au: reincarnation 

✧ 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 — #au: soulmates 

✧ 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝒈𝒐𝒅  — #au: greek god | 𝒎𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚 — #au: mythology

✧ 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍  — #au: supernatural 

✧ 𝒗𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆 — #au: vampire

✧ 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒐𝒍𝒇 —  #au: werewolf |  𝒂𝒃𝒐 — #au: abo

✧ 𝒉𝒚𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒅  — #au: hybrid | 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓  — #au: shifter

✧ 𝒅𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄  — #g: domestic | 𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆  —  #g: slice of life

✧ 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 — #c: family | #au: parent | #au: parents | #c: single parent | #c: parent

✧ 𝒅𝒊𝒍𝒇 — #au: dilf 

✧ 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅  — #au: married | #au: arranged marriage | #c: arranged marriage | #au: husband 

✧ 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕 — #au: college | #au: high school

✧ 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 — #au: roommates |  𝒏𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒓 — #au: neighbor

✧ 𝒎𝒂𝒇𝒊𝒂 — #au: mafia

✧ 𝒄𝒆𝒐 — #au: ceo | 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒓  — #au: workers | #au: co workers

✧ 𝒊𝒅𝒐𝒍 — #au: idol | 𝒏𝒐𝒏-𝒊𝒅𝒐𝒍 — #au: non idol 

✧ 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒍 — #au: marvel | 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒐 — #au: superhero | 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔 — #au: superpowers

✧ 𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆-𝒆𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒆 — #au: vintage | 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 — #au: historical | 𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏 — #au: victorian 

✧ 𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒚 — #au: royalty | #c: king | #c: prince | #c: princess | #au: knight

✧ 𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒅 — #au: band 

✧ 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈  — #au: camping

✧ 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒓 —  #au: gamer

✧ 𝒃𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒓 — #au: biker | 𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒓 — #au: racer

✧ 𝒃𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒚 — #au: bad boy  | 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒃𝒐𝒚 — #au: fuck boy

✧ 𝒛𝒐𝒎𝒃𝒊𝒆 — #au: zombie 

✧ 𝒉𝒐𝒈𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔  — #au: hogwarts

✧ 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒐 𝒈𝒉𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒊  — #au: studio ghibli 

✧ 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍 — #au: time travel

✧ 𝒅𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒂 — #au: dystopia

LENGTH 

𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗳 ( +10K WC ) 

<15K | >15K | <20K | >20K | <30K | >30K | <40K  | >40K | <50K | >50K | >90K

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

𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗳 ( 100 - 10K WC ) 

<1K | >1K | <5K | >5K | <10K 

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

𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁

𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁

𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀

[emgene]

about making ffs by people sending u a made up name and an enhypen member...

screaming your name through the radio - jungwon

Title: Screaming Your Name Through the Radio

Member: Jungwon

Genre: Angst (fluff at the end kinda?)

Song: Narrow by Mayday Parade (you can see the inspo so i figured i'd add it)

Unedited and a little dumb and messy- im sorry but thank you for requesting

When you were little, you and Jungwon used to play pretend. He loved it, pretending to be a doctor, chef, teacher, superhero, whatever, he didn't care what it was because it was with you. You'd grown up together and he loved being around you. Of course, he was young then and just wanted to play. Doctor was for when you got hurt, chef was for making mac and cheese at 3 am, teacher was for when you needed to study, and superhero was for that time you climbed a tree and couldn't get down. When he got older, he played idol and you played the fan. He, again, loved it. Loved the feeling of performing in front of an audience, even though it was only you for the time being. Then he became a trainee to fulfill that dream.

"Don't forget me when you're famous," you joked, and he laughed and rolled his eyes because how could he ever forget you? He smiled and assured you he wouldn't. After all, how could he forget the one he cared for most in this world? He didn't say that part. He wanted to, but the words got caught in his throat, and before he knew it, it was time to go. His debut rolled around faster than any of you thought it would. I-Land was over and his first instinct was to call you. You didn't pick up and he chalked it up to you always leaving your phone on mute. That's okay, you'll call when you can, right? You never did, so he played a game. A game of pretend, like he did when he was younger, only he didn't like it this time because it wasn't with you. He'd pretend you were still there, supporting him. He was the idol, you were the fan, just like when you were younger. He hadn't accounted for the fact that fans rarely interact with their idols, but he realized that now that he was one. Yet, he was determined to get you to hear him. For you, it was just a warm summer day. You were out on a car ride with friends, windows down in that classic "coming-of-age teen movie style", as you called it. Your friend had turned on a podcast she liked, only to elbow you after a few minutes.

"Isn't that him?" she questioned, glancing at you for a few seconds before returning back to the road.

"Who?"

"That boy," she hummed. "The one you used to have a crush on? Isn't that him?" You listened to the podcast she put on and it didn't take you long to recognize his voice.

"-and I called her when I got to the dorm, but she didn't pick up. It's been a few months and I still haven't heard from her," was he talking about you? "I'm not sure how to get her attention."

"Yell for her. Maybe she'll hear you," there's a laugh in the interviewer's voice and you're sure they meant it as a joke, but Jungwon was never one to listen without consideration. You heard him laugh for a moment, god you missed that laugh, then you froze. He was screaming your name through the radio.

"Text him," your friend urged, handing you your phone. Your own name rang through your ears as you found his contact.

[4:48 PM] hey [4:48 PM] i heard you screaming my name through the radio

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: Avengers #243: Chain of Command!

May, 1984

In this issue! The Vision takes command! Scarlet Witch fights a fire! Starfox battles bandits! And Earth’s Mightiest Heroes return from the Secret Wars!

Its one of my favorite sub-genres of comic covers! ‘Here’s a bunch of stuff going on in this issue’

Vision and his new hat make a good central element for the various other happenings to happen around. It doesn’t work quite as well as the Wizard’s control panel but its still good.

Last times on Avengers: Vision walked into an invisible wall and was stuck in a healing tube for a while. His recovery was hastened by Starfox connecting him to the Titan supercomputer ISAAC. While tube-bound, Vision detected several anomalous energy surges. Leaving his tube, Vision led the Avengers to Central Park to investigate where a large structure appeared and whisked away Hawkeye, Wasp, Thor, Captain Marvel, Captain America, and She-Hulk!

Bring them back, anomalous energy surge!

This time: Vision faces the press.

Not only have many Avengers vanished, so have the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and others. But its too early for Heroes Reborn!

Vision: “Certain irresponsible people have gone so far as to suggest a conspiracy to rob our world of its greatest heroes, to soften us up for some imagined invasion. Those are just rumors!”

Well, I didn’t think that before but I certainly am now!

Who let Vision be the person speaking to the press?

Apparently Vision did as he’s named himself the chairman in absence of Wasp.

What, Scarlet Witch doesn’t get the nod? She’s been with the team longer.

One reporter, not at all soothed by Vision’s insistence that there’s definitely no conspiracy going on, asks Vision to comment on reports of an alien invasion out of West Virginia.

Since Vision hasn’t received confirmation about the alien wraith menace, he basically tells the press ‘yeah i’ve heard of that but can’t really comment. BUT I can confirm that the Avengers are going to meet with a bunch of people from the National Security Council which I assume is going to be about the alien wraiths but who can really say!’

Watching this press conference on Air Force One, Henry Peter Gyrich says a swear.

Henry Peter Gyrich: “@#$%$ android!! Why doesn’t he give them our location and air speed while he’s at it?!”

Mr. Sikorsky points out that the meeting isn’t exactly classified and that the Washington Post reporter would have mentioned it if Vision hadn’t.

But Gyrich is still peeved because he thinks Vision should have consulted the NSA before giving a press conference.

This makes me feel gross but Gyrich actually agrees with me that Vision isn’t doing a great job of allaying people’s fears with this press conference.

Reporter: “If worse comes to worse, how do you plan to deal with the potential for civil unrest?”

Vision: “In the same way the Avengers have always dealt with it. We have always been strongly supportive of civil authority at all levels -- and we’re not about to change our position now! The public should not feel that they are unusually threatened in the current situation!”

Ironically, this press conference is being played on a tv at a bank that is currently being robbed. And there’s a bunch of hostages who probably feel unusually threatened in the current situation.

But the irony giveth and takeith away.

When TV Vision says “Never let it be said that the Avengers abandoned their responsibilities to --” Starfox shows up to punch some bank robbers.

Probably thinking ‘oh thank god, some dumb adventure finally.’ He just wants to punch people and have adventures.

And punch some bank robbers he does do, until one of them takes a woman hostage and says he’ll shoot her if Starfox doesn’t let him walk out the door.

Annnnnnnd.

Yeah. Uh.

Starfox does a thing?

His head glows pink and the bank robber’s head glows pink and he suddenly can’t stop laughing and now he’s Starfox’s best friend.

My god, he can make people drunk with his mind?? So this is his secret power!

Truly, he is the mightiest Avenger...

Anyway, Starfox turns his new best friend over to the cops, showing he’s no friend at all, and then flies off.

The giggly bank robber staying giggly as he obligingly walks into the police van, weirding out the cops.

Meanwhile, the Avengers press conference at the Avengers Mansion ends.

A reporter: “Psstt! Do you believe any of that”

Another reporter: “Suurre, just like I believed that Nixon wasn’t a crook!”

Wow, sweet politics dunk.

Geez, Vision, you got politics dunked on. You did not convince people in that press conference at all...

Vision: “It did not go as I’d hoped! It is the duty of these people to probe and question, but by the manner of their questioning, I could tell they didn’t accept my reassurances. If their reaction is a common one, my speech may have done more harm than good.

He floats up through the ceiling, giving Mockingbird a startle.

They have a talk to establish that Sue, Franklin, and Alicia from the FF books are staying with the Avengers due to the rest of the FF catching a bad case of disappearing.

Vision has invited Mockingbird to stay with the Avengers until they find out what happened to Hawkeye.

Mockingbird: “Look, Vision, don’t give me false hope just because I’m a newlywed. Level with me... Is there any chance that Hawk’s still alive?”

Vision: “This is not the first time Avengers have disappeared. There is always hope.”

He’s got a point. The Collector for one is constantly collecting the Avengers. Sure, he’s dead now but this is a superhero universe.

Vision then floats up through another ceiling, giving Mockingbird another startle.

Mockingbird: I will never... never get used to that!

Vision floats up into the communications center where Scarlet the Wanda Witch is monitoring the monitors. She tells him that there’s been no more news on the disappearances.

Vision: “Then we must draw encouragement from the fact no bad news has been received.”

Scarlet Witch: “I didn’t say no bad news had come in! Agents Gyrich and Sikorski radioed that they’ll be arriving on schedule and they want to see you right away! Gyrich didn’t sound happy.”

Hahahahahahahahah. I love that Gyrich arriving on schedule is bad news. Because he’s the worst.

Wanda also updates Vision on her progress in contacting reserve and inactive Avengers to help cover the sudden personnel shortage.

She’s contacted Black Panther, Wonder Man, the Falcon, and Black Knight who are standing by for an emergency alert. She hasn’t been able to contact Hercules or Black Widow.

Huh. Wonder what they’re up to. I was sure that the Champions book was dead by this point.

She offers to contact Quicksilver but Vision tells her to hold off.

He asks her where Starfox is and she tells Vision that he went out to handle that bank robbery thing we saw him handle.

Vision: “That’s excellent! Now more than ever, the Avengers must maintain a high level of visibility! And responding to day-to-day emergencies is an ideal way to do it! Stopping a bank robbery accomplishes more than a dozen news conferences!”

Especially one of your conferences, zing!

Sorry, Vizh! It was just really bad!

A fire alarm comes in over the monitors and Scarlet Witch runs off to handle it. Because she was handling it on the cover. It wouldn’t do to create a time paradox.

As soon as Wanda leaves, Vision slouches down into a chair in his Visiony way and consults the giant holographic head of ISAAC, the great and powerful.

There’s so many giant heads in this book lately.

ISAAC has apparently kept the link to Vision going since Starfox hooked the two of them up. Vision seems okay with the fact that a supercomputer is linked to his brain.

Vision: “That explains the greater memory capacity I’ve felt lately!”

And with the fact that its a two-way street, with Vision having access to ISAAC’s data... and vice versa.

Vision is smiling and everything seems to be looking up but this still bodes.

Anyway, the synthezoid bemoans that the disappearance of half of the Avengers has allowed him to rise to a position of authority but that it doesn’t seem to matter.

Vision: “I must lead a team of respected Avengers, if I am to meet my goals. But our most revered members are missing. A new team could be assembled -- but without Thor or Captain America behind me, the public will never accept what I have in mind.”

ISAAC: “You reason people will not fully trust an artificial man, a synthezoid such as yourself. But you need not convince all of them... only a few select individuals!”

Vision: “Of course! And in my expanded capacity, I have the means to do just that!”

Um.

Umm.

Seems shady.

Seems shadier that the ‘means to do just that’ involves intangibling to the electronics laboratory.

MEANWHILE ON THE MOON

Love saying that. Thank you, comics.

Meanwhile on the moon, Quicksilver and Crystal have a household discussion.

They decided not to expose Perfectly Human Baby Luna to the terrigen mist in The Thing #3 but none of the Inhumans have experience with human babies. And Crystal has decided that what she really needs is a “good down-to-earth nanny!”

Literally, a nanny from Earth. But one that can deal with Inhuman society.

Quicksilver muses that he may know just such a person.

It’s Bova, isn’t it? It better be Bova.

But are Inhumans really so incapable when it comes to human babies? There’s a lot of Inhumans that aren’t externally mutated at all. Wouldn’t a human baby just be easier to care for?

And do the Inhumans really expose their babies to the mists? Based on Inhumanity event, it doesn’t matter when a latent Inhuman is exposed, they’ll develop powers anyway. So why not wait until they can walk and talk?

Your society is silly, Inhumans!

Meanwhile, over at the fire, there is a fire. Right in the heart of midtown Manhattan, a place you wouldn’t generally want to be on fire.

Scarlet Witch offers to help but the fire chief on site is skeptical about what she could do to help.

She quickly confirms that there are no civilians in the building and that the firefighters caught inside are wearing oxygen masks and tells the firefighters to keep hosing down the buildings.

Then she gets to her witchy work.

Using the awesome and OP power of probability manipulation, she manipulates the probability that all the oxygen in the area will just decide to not go near the fire.

OP AF.

But its a big thing to do so she can’t do it indefinitely. So she tells the firefighters to hose the buildings to drop the temperature so it doesn’t reignite when the oxygen rushes back in.

I do love how OP probability manipulation is. Without even needing to be straight up reality alteration!

People complaining that Wanda is too powerful to write around, she can sit comfortably in the ‘can move all the gas around but it takes effort’ level!

Do Anything powers makes her a good wild card for whatever nonsense you need to happen and one of the more powerful Avengers without being so powerful that she’s difficult to write around in a team context.

Anyway, as foreshadowed, Gyrich and Sikorski arrive and Gyrich immediately gets to Gyriching, complaining that it was too easy for him to access the mansion with but a simple card swipe.

Henry Peter Gyrich: “See here, Jarvis, it’s not that I don’t appreciate courtesy, but no one should be granted entrance without a security check!”

Jarvis: “Indeed, sir! Anyone might steal your card! That is why the two of you were scanned by a dozen or more devices by the time you passed our gates. You’ll be happy to know that your identities were verified. Otherwise our defensive systems would have dropped you where you stood!”

Sikorski: “D-dropped?”

Haha, eat shit, Gyrich.

Jarvis leads the two to meet Vision in the electronics laboratory.

Vision has. Made an interesting fashion choice.

You’ve seen it on the cover and boy does it also happen in the book.

Vision explains that the hat is some testing equipment he made to check the hardware after his recent time stuck in a tube. But its all good. He’s operating in peak condition and feeling amazing.

Gyrich isn’t impressed or assuaged and asks Vision if he was trying to start a panic with his press conference.

Vision: “Admittedly, I may not be the Avengers’ best spokesman, but, given the circumstances, I was all we had! I do appreciate and understand your concern, though, and I’m glad you’re both here. As you said, we’ve got a lost to discuss!

Vizh, you’re going to get the Avengers operating out of city buses again.

Meanwhile back over at the fire, while the fire chief is thanking Wanda for her help, a big flash lights up the sky, just like when the Avengers were spirited away last issue.

Wanda commandeers a police car to drive her to Central Park. You can do that when you’re an Avenger and have A1 (steak sauce?) priority.

Starfox also spots the flash while flying around the city and Mockingbird spots it from the Mansion.

In Central Park, on the exact spot where the six Avengers vanished, five of them plus Iron Man return. Also that large structure from before reappears too.

Only one issue and several days in-universe and the Avengers are already back! Minus She-Hulk. Where the hell is She-Hulk.

Iron Man (I’m assuming Rhodey) immediately takes off to go do Iron Man stuff. I think his armor has changed but I haven't been following the Iron Man book close enough to know for sure. I just don’t think the armor usually has little shoulder antenna.

The Avengers that were headed towards the giant flash start arriving for the happy reunion. Since Mockingbird was right across the road, she arrives first and throws herself into Hawkeye’s arms.

Awww.

Scarlet Witch asks the heroes returned where the hell they were and Cap says

Captain America: “You can find out all about it in the Secret Wars limited series, on sale soon!”

Naw, just kidding.

He says he’ll Explain It All when they get back to the Mansion. Because for reasons, he’s decided its best that the public not know about the Secret War.

Probably so the event’s title makes sense? Yeah, probably.

The cops that brought Wanda to the park go uhhhh but we need to take statements about where you’ve been so Cap(tain America) flashes his Avengers card which means he can do what he wants.

Captain America: “I’m afraid that any statements we make must be submitted at the federal level first. You understand.”

And the cops go yeah that sounds legit.

BUT WHAT ABOUT SHE-HULK?

Well, she joined the Fantastic Four, of course.

Wanna know why?

Captain America: “You can find out all about it in the Secret Wars limited series, on sale soon!” 

Yeah, we don’t get any more information except that she’s taking the Thing’s place on the foursome.

What happened to Ben Grimm?

Captain America: “You can find out all about it in the Secret Wars limited series, on sale soon!” 

It be like that.

So this isn’t the narrative reason but here’s the doylist reason. When Stern and Byrne were collaborating on that Annihilus story, Byrne decided he liked writing She-Hulk and that he wanted her. Stern apparently was cool with this and the character was shifted from one team to the other.

A couple years later, Byrne is going to write the Sensational She-Hulk series which sets the tone for the character. But based on an FF liveblog a friend is doing, Byrne does not hit the stride with She-Hulk while she’s in that book.

I’m a bit annoyed because I was really enjoying her in Avengers.

In a bit of a sad comedic beat, cabs still don’t want to stop for the seven foot green woman, even now that she’s wearing an FF uniform.

She-Hulk returns to Avengers Mansion for the post-event debriefing meeting where she runs into Captain Marvel looking melancholic.

Monica has come to a decision after being whisked away to an event for several days.

Captain Marvel: “I called my parents to let them know I was okay... In case they wondered where i was lately... and there was no answer!”

She-Hulk: “I take it they don’t know about your life as Captain Marvel yet?”

Captain Marvel: “Not yet. And after all we went through -- in that insane Secret War, I definitely want them to know, but -- !”

She-Hulk: “You’re not sure how to tell them?”

Captain Marvel: “Yeah.”

Yeesh, I wonder how Spider-Man dealt with disappearing for several days. He’s always on the knifes edge of his life just falling apart completely.

Captain Marvel and She-Hulk join the rest in the main assembly hall. Wasp and Vision are off in a private meeting. He was handling chairmen duties and making decisions and such while she was gone so she probably needs to debrief him personally.

As Hawkeye points out, the Avengers have two chairmen now and nine members.

Minutes later, Wasp and Vision emerge from the... I dunno, sub-assembly hall? Secondary assembly broom closet? Wherever they went to have a just them talk.

Wasp calls the meeting to order.

... And then immediately steps down as chairwoman??

;___;

RIP Wasp’s Totally Sweet Time Leading the Avengers, issue #217 - #243.

T-twenty-six issues isn’t a bad run...

I guess someone else should get the chance.

Like Vision. Who Wasp nominates.

Cap’s Biggest Fan Hawkeye nominates Captain America instead but Cap defers. His civilian career (cartoonist, I think?) has been pretty hectic.

So how about second her nomination of Vision then hmmmmmm Wasp suggests.

And that’s how Big Plans Vision gets voted the new chairman.

And he’s got big plans!

First! Since Thor and She-Hulk are going to be too busy doing Thor and Fantastic Four stuff to be active Avengers but are too cool to just completely cut from the roster just because Byrne decided he gets She-Hulk now, Vision creates a new type of Avengers status.

Vision: “I propose the establishment of a special ‘detached membership’ status. You would function as active members when you were available, and reservists when you were not.”

She-Hulk: “Hey, that sounds ideal.”

Thor: “Indeed!”

Everybody’s happy! Except Hawkeye because he can count and he’s still counting to seven when the max roster is supposed to be six. And he’s got a bad feeling that he’s unlucky number seven!

But Vision’s big plans don’t stop at saying that She-Hulk and Thor can pitch in whenever they’re around.

He’s also proposing the creation of a second team on the west coast. Some kind of............. West Coast Avengers, perhaps.

Between Gyrich and Sikorski arriving for the meeting with Vision and now, Gyrich has managed to get reassigned to new duties. Somehow.

Anyway, that means his understudy Mr. “I hate the superhero genre” Sikorski is their new NSA liason.

Mr. Sikorski: “I have spoken at length this afternoon with both the Wasp and the Vision, and I am prepared to offer full governmental backing for the establishment of a West Coast branch of the Avengers. I’ve been convinced that it’s a... logical solution. Perfectly logical!”

Weird to have an ellipses but okay.

And the person Vision has chosen to lead this new team?

None other than Hawkeye!

Oh, Clint, your dream is coming true and all you had to do was be vaguely antagonistic and obnoxious in the vicinity of the Avengers off and on for years to establish yourself!

Vision: “You’ve had years of experience as an Avenger, and you’ve worked with nearly everyone who’s ever been a member. You and Mockingbird can relocate quickly...”

In fact, its imperative that he do! He do relocate and get the West Coast team up and running ASAP!

Vision: “Mr. Sikorski has shown me frightening evidence of a new threat to freedom worldwide! Unless we prepare ourselves, this planet could be overrun by an alien race known as -- THE DIRE WRAITHS!!”

Huh. I guess that journalist was onto something.

And I guess its ROM time?

No. We had a Secret Wars, remember? And while that was doled out over a year, I’m going to go a little faster.

So next time, some Secret Wars.

Although, it was just the one war actually.

Follow @essential-avengers​ because you think I’m a cool person. Like and reblog because you have your reasons.

[deaddovecoterie]

butterflies

marinette dupain cheng x adrien agreste || ladybug x chat noir

fandom: miraculous ladybug

rating: T (maybe R to be safe for next chp? ahaha jk jk,,, unless?,,,) 

word count: 1.8k

genre: angst. just pure angst. maybe fluff if you squint real hard

warning(s): swearing, vaguely unedited, blood mention

a/n: heyyyy :DD im back on my writing bullshit with my favourite personnnn (guess who) @whoseblogsthis cause me and this talented mf co-wrote this :’) ky i just wanna know what it feels like to carry every ff we write together on your back because of my linguistic incompetence. anyway this is my first mlb fic so i hope yall like it i guess !!

——————————————————————————

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“...Bystanders have not been hurt, although Paris’ superheroes have not made an appearance yet…”

There was unrest among the students of Francoise Dupont High School as Adrien listened to his friends talk quietly amongst one another. Thunder rumbled in the distance as heavy, chilling rain poured down from the skies. There was a gloomy eeriness that clung to the air, a quiet that made the high schoolers feel like they were just waiting for something to shatter the silence. Grey clouds were collecting, casting the city in shadow-like darkness. 

Another Akuma attack had been reported yet again. The Parisian superheroes were more than glad to help out, but it was obvious they were tiring: their moves became sloppier, their conversations shorter, and their patience thinner. 

Adrien listened to the chatter exchanged between Alya and Nino, while Marinette remained quiet. She looked tired, which really wasn’t that uncommon, but her fatigue seemed to spill into all of her activities. She had less “pep in her step,” as Alya had said, and her eyes weren’t nearly as bright as they used to be. Not that he meant to pay attention to such things, of course, but it was hard to not notice. Even Chloe, who couldn’t give a rat’s ass about anyone but herself, had laid off on the harassment. Adrien chalked up his attentiveness to Marinette as nothing more than being a good, concerned friend, but as of late that excuse was becoming harder to sell, even to himself.

It started about four months ago when they came back from summer break. Everyone had gone back to school and while Adrien was physically there, he was mentally absent. Kagami had just gone abroad for school again after they’d broken things off. He would have liked to say it was a mutual breakup, but she was the one who brought it up. Kagami was wise beyond her years so when she told him that his heart wasn’t in the relationship, he knew she was right. He expected his first heartbreak to be gut-wrenching, but it wasn’t. He felt sad, sure, but not in the way that leaves you paralyzed in bed for weeks on end. At the time, he wondered why that was, but the answer was obvious: Marinette. 

When he got to school, it was almost as if she could see the gloomy cloud over his head. She was there for him when no one else seemed to notice, her stuttering and fumbling hardly present in their conversation. In the beginning, he felt almost guilty for confiding in her. It would’ve been ignorant of him to believe she didn’t have problems of her own (who didn’t?), but it was a fact known by many that Marinette Dupain-Chang was one to do whatever she could to help the people she cared for. 

It was then that he noticed it: the butterflies. It was like a tsunami of anxiety, excitement, and shyness all rolled into one whenever she did anything: the way her hair moved in the breeze, her clear laugh that dared him to smile, but most of all, her kindness. Marinette was one of those people that you couldn’t hate. She was that person who helped others even when no one was looking. He didn’t want to, but he couldn’t help himself when he started falling for her every move. 

She didn’t know, probably never would, but she had him whipped. 

The blonde was snapped back into reality when his best friend nudged him: “You coming?” Nino’s brow arched in question.

He looked across the street, where his bodyguard was waiting for him, standing by the driver’s side door of the sleek black Audi. Though it’s been the same car since Adrien was like thirteen, it still looked brand new. 

“I forgot my homework,” he said to Nino, calling out to his bodyguard to repeat the same thing. With a barely discernible nod of approval from the bodyguard, Adrien turned back toward the school doors.

Adrien grumbled as he jogged away from his friend group: “Well, Nadia, Paris’ superheroes happen to have vaguely normal lives too if you weren’t aware.”

Plagg floated up from Adrien’s pant pocket and did circles around his owner’s head. “You put too much faith in humans, they don’t think about that kinda stuff. To them, you and Ladybug are untouchable.”

“Yeah, well we’re not,” he mumbled frustratedly. He pressed his palms into his eyes tiredly and took a deep breath before dropping his arms back down to his sides. 

“Plagg claws out,” he muttered. 

Plagg liked to think he knew his miraculous holder quite well. Despite the kwami’s demeanour and seeming distaste toward anything non-cheese related, he did have feelings. Yes, he loved cheese, but he also loved Adrien. He had spent the last two years with Adrien, and he knew something was terribly wrong with his owner. 

He’d ask later. The cat-like kwami entered the ring miraculous, and with that, Adrien Agreste was gone, replaced by Chat Noir. 

The leather-clad hero headed toward the disaster zone, the rain not doing anything to help his vision. He landed on a rooftop near the Akuma attack and swiftly surveyed the scene. Upon not seeing Ladybug anywhere, Chat Noir sent a quick message to Ladybug, highlighting the damage, before swooping in to hold off the Akuma.

xXx

To put it simply, Marinette was struggling. It had been the fifth Akuma attack that week and after two years of being Ladybug, her excuses were becoming weaker and weaker as time went on. Adrien’s abrupt exit was odd, but she didn’t have time to think about it as she felt the ground shake slightly. It didn’t matter how exhausted she was, she couldn’t put off her duties any longer. 

“I uhm, I forgot I had a question for Miss Bustier. I’m going to go see if she’s still around and I’ll uh just stay here until Ladybug and Chat Noir get everything taken care of!” she flashed her friends a thumbs up and with that, she ran back inside the school, toward the locker room. She opened her tiny purse in order for Tikki to emerge. “This is bullshit,” she muttered to herself. 

Tikki gasped in shock. “Marinette!”

“Sorry,” she mumbled half-heartedly, “You wouldn’t happen to care if I maybe just happened to not show up and let Chat handle it?” 

The glare that the small kwami sent her way told her otherwise. “Something about this one tells me that you’ll need all the help you can get,” she told her owner. 

Her stomach twisted with anxiety, both confusion and shock washing over her face. Tikki had never talked about the dangers of an Akuma before, which alarmed Marinette. Shit.

“Tikki, spots on.” 

Ladybug swung with all her might as her trusty yoyo grabbed onto buildings and chimneys, the sounds of destruction nearing. A black blur, undoubtedly Chat, streaked the cloudy, grey sky as an akumatized villain screeched out. Her eyes skimmed over the cobblestone streets in front of her, but nothing could prepare her for the screams of terror and bloodied civilians that scattered the scene below. 

Her feet had only touched down on the ground for a second when she heard him. 

“Nice of you to drop in,” Chat purred, startling her. “You’re late,” he added, his voice icier than expected. 

“Cry about it,” Ladybug responded coldly. 

“Meowch m’lady,” he said in mock hurt. 

“Sorry,” she muttered to her partner as she took him in. His blonde silky hair was plastered to his head from the pouring rain, the droplets permeating the black leather. If the suit wasn’t skin-tight before, it certainly was now. She had to tear her eyes away from the sight of him, her sensibility screaming at her to focus while her eyes wanted nothing more than to drink in every inch of him.

Literally what the fuck, she said to herself. Now was no time to pine for her partner. 

The Akuma that stood before her was physically underwhelming in stature, but her clothing made up for it. The girl in front of them held herself at around 5’3 and couldn’t be more than 18, but her wicked smirk sent a chill through her spine. The girl was clad in an array of green from forest, sage, to mossy shades, the dress that adorned her body looking like that straight from greek mythology. It was made up of grand silks, almost entrancing Ladybug and Chat with the way that the fabric moved like rippling water. It was ethereal, really, but the closer she looked at it the deadlier it became. 

From around the waist and shoulders, long strips of silk floated behind her like the snakes on the head of Medusa. They almost seemed to bend to her will, the fabric defying gravity. Not only were pieces of the dress floating, but so was her long dark hair. In her hand was a staff made from tree trunk like material. Resting atop her head was an obsidian black crown with spikes the length of Ladybug’s hand. 

After looking around at the already distraught state of the street, their evaluation was over: she was not going to be another walk in the park.

“Shit,” Chat breathed out. It was at that moment that the villain opened her mouth to address both the heroes and bystanders. 

“Citizens of Paris, I am Gi Mágissa. I am not here to compromise with your heroes. Others in the past have failed to retrieve what Hawk Moth desires, but I will not: today will be the day that you remember as the fall of Ladybug and Chat Noir.” Her voice resonated as if it was echoing off the walls. She shifted her gaze to the left, her eyes locking with the two of them. 

“Give me your miraculous and I may decide to spare you and your city,” she said in a dangerously low voice. Her voice was smooth, yet it cut right through the two partners like a freezing wind in the dead of winter. Under any other circumstances, her words would be humorous, cheesy even, but this was not like anything else they faced.

Chat laughed as his trademarked smirk appeared. “Funny, because I don’t remember agreeing to that,” he said in mock thoughtfulness, almost like he was trying to recall a memory.

“Chat,” Ladybug hissed, “I’m starting to get the feeling that you won’t be able to joke your way out of this one,”

“C’mon m’lady, live a little.” 

“Yeah, well I might not be alive to do so if you keep being an idiot.” Ladybug could feel the frustration rising in her as Chat continued to appear so casual and relaxed. How could he not sense that this was so much worse than before?

Chat turned to her and she could finally see his eyes. Despite his outward appearance, she saw the nervousness in his gaze. There was almost a buzz in the air, a metallic smell that made them wrinkle their noses: blood, iron maybe. 

“Fine. Let’s get this over with.” 

[davidmann95]

So... Crossover #1: any thoughts?

Anonymous said: You seemed not to think much of Crossover #1 on Twitter. Your full thoughts?

wcwit said: So Cates' Crossover #1, best bad comic of the year or just regular pretentious trash?

An incidental note upfront: What you’re seeing there is the apparently SUPER-RARE SECRET VARIANT COVER I unwittingly picked up at the store - at first glance indistinguishable from the standard cover, the kid getting four-color-fucked by mysterious comic book rays is in fact themselves reading a variant cover of the book, rather than the main cover again in an infinite painting-within-a-painting sort of deal that’s the standard.

So I wasn’t gonna get this: my initial post on the comic and what an obviously awful idea it was back when we only knew half the premise and it was known as Pray The Capes Away actually got some out-of-nowhere traction recently, and I’ve grown rapidly tired of Cates’ Marvel work. Even learning that it was going to be Image’s biggest debut in decades - Jesus fuck, how and why - mostly just made me wish it was Commanders in Crisis getting those kinds of numbers. But Sean Dillon/@deathchrist2000 and Ritesh Babu both got early looks at it and assured me that I, specifically, needed to see the last page, so in I dove. I’ll be posting my reaction to the last page below because I recorded it for their amusement, and below that I’ll talk about said last page. It may surprise you, however, that that wasn’t my main takeaway from the issue.

Let’s accentuate the positive first! This book is gorgeous. Geoff Shaw was terrific back with Thanos Wins, but this is an incredible stylistic level-up aided and abetted by Dee Cunniffe’s colors: it’s rote as hell to say “They mix the elevated and the mundane so well!”, but even beyond the obvious ben-day dots stuff there’s such a tangible sense that the comic book beings don’t belong here, that they’re of higher, misty, platonic stuff and we squishy non-paper-people inevitably crumble and break and bleed in their wake, communicating that big idea so much more powerfully than the actual loads of text on the subject. And if we’re talking good things, I’ll concede it’s possible that there could be subtleties that play out in more interesting ways as it goes on, and that not everything is meant to be taken at face value: a smart friend who actually did like it mentioned being interested in it as clumsy but potentially effective exploration of ‘what if the fun hobby you had inadvertently became contaminated and stigmatized by forces beyond your control?’ In a post-Comicsgate world where we recently ended up inches away from the Superman logo almost certainly becoming a fascist propaganda symbol ala the Punisher skull for at least a generation, that’s a defensible lens to view this book through.

For all Donny Cates’ legitimate talents however, I don’t think an expectation of subtlety is gonna work out with this one.

Okay first off getting into the rest of it the main characters’ name is Ellipsis because “Those three little dots...they can become anything”, so there’s that. More importantly, in the world of this story where comic fans face social oppression after superpeople materialize and fuck up Colorado, they face EVERY KIND OF OPPRESSION: there are clear parallels drawn in here to the violence and harassment faced by people persecuted for their religion, people seeking abortions, queer people, and people of color; this motherfucker even drops a “hates and fears” to let us know comic collecting basically makes you one of the goddamn X-Men. Which in theory could be a purely misjudged allegory rather than stemming from actual, obscenely inflated to the point of disgusting fears of ‘nerd oppression’, except that the book literally opens with a quote from Wertham. If Cates didn’t want to make the message “Hating comics? That’s bad. Like, racism bad”, he utterly, grotesquely failed by inextricably intermingling imagery of real-world bigotry with systemic, deluded fanboy paranoia, at least as of this first issue that’s supposed to meaningfully convey the premise. As a queer dude I think I’m somewhat in my lane to say it’s too blunt and broad and dopey to be particularly offensive, but the co-opting of oppression is what this is rooted in.

The idea of ‘comics good no matter what people think, ain’t it?’ extends to the last traditional local comic store standing in this world: much as superheroes are the primary cause of suffering in this world but the point of the story is still supposed to reveal the beauty in them, part of this is that the comics community isn’t perfect but it sure is great. Which is expressed here via Ellie’s boss Otto, a loveable asshole who yells at people coming in trying to sell the wrong kind of comics to fuck off, but at heart is we’re supposed to understand a good enough dude that the shop he runs is “the only home a lot of (the benighted nerds) have left” (because I guess in this alternate universe the physical stores are still the main hub through which comics fans talk with one another?).

So here’s a story of my very own! That’s me in 2013, it must’ve been some kind of special day because I’m wearing a shirt with a button. I’d at that point only frequented one of what would be my thus far four regular comic shops. The first was a great place, and while to say I had a sense of community there would be overstating it a bit, I was on really good terms with the owner and we regularly chatted when we had the time. When I left for college my store there wasn’t as well-stocked, and for some damn reason all variant covers were double-price, but I got along really well with the owner there too. The third I wasn’t so lucky; the guy regularly behind the desk was never overtly hostile, but clearly wanted to wring my neck every time I asked when a missing comic might get in or if I could update my pull list, and given I’m in the ‘ideal’ demographic for being a comic book store regular and was dropping a solid lump of money there every week, I wonder how others were treated there (the store nearly went under, was saved on the last day of operation by another store that wanted to incorporate it as part of its franchise, then shortly afterwards DID go under and is now I believe a beef jerky place). My current store is fine, I didn’t chat much with the folks behind the counter even before we all had medical incentive to get in and out of places fairly quickly but it almost always has what I’m looking for.

Just because those were my regular stores of course doesn’t mean those are the only ones I’ve ever gone to. About a year before that picture was taken - it’s the closest I could find - when I was 17 my store didn’t have something or another I was looking for, so I head across town to see if another place I had looked up had it. This other place didn’t have what I was looking for either, though I distinctly remember picking up a few issues of Hickman’s FF while I was there since I had foolishly fallen off, hence my remembering the year. I bought a couple issues, but hung around for a bit looking to see if I might grab something else out of a dollar box, setting my comics down. Without realizing it, I’d set my books down on top of another issue, and when I decided I wasn’t getting anything else, I just picked that up along with the rest of the pile and was about to walk out before the owner stopped me. He explained what I had done though assumed it had been deliberate, and because I was a good-hearted little geek I even recall thinking “Well, he’s gonna chew me out, but I guess I deserve it. I’ll try and take this to heart as a learning experience.”

Then he pulled up his shirt a little to show me the gun on his belt. He pointed at the security camera monitors at his desk, and explained to me that if I ever did something like that again, he would have it on tape, and he would pull that gun on me and hold me there while he called the cops.

As it turned out, the comic was free.

The whole thing was so sudden and bizarre and unexpected I didn’t actually freak out until the drive home. It wasn’t until weeks or maybe months later that I managed to tell my dad about the experience, because I *had* nearly stolen a (free) comic and my guilt was mixed in with my nerves and I guess I was somehow too close to register just how disproportionate his response was. It wasn’t until now, nearly a decade later and thinking about it for the first time in a long time as I write this, that I wondered if that might have gone differently - especially living in the midwest - if I hadn’t been a white, squeaky-voiced 17-year-old.

So, minor spoiler, when our cantankerous but well-meaning LCS owner yells to call the cops and grabs and yells at a small kid for pocketing a comic (and later displays fantasy racism towards said kid), I am not filled with nostalgic love for the brotherly safe space that is comic book stores, where this guy while not meant to be seen as perfect is still framed in part as a charming, witty representation of Why We Love These Places, And This Community, And This Genre, And This Medium. Cates is clearly drawing on real time at his local stores, but he equally clearly has a very different takeaway from those experiences than me. And I am, again, in a demographic - white, cis-male, abled, bi but more interested in women, disposable income, a lifelong collector - that the industry and a lot of the guys who sell it to us contort themselves around catering to, even if I had a single very negative experience and later an ongoing low-key uncomfortable one to help disabuse me of any notions of the purity of the dork community. In the world of Crossover as of #1, toxicity is intertwined, deliberately or not on the part of the creators, with what we love on the cosmic and small business scales alike, but at least in the latter case it’s the whole picture that’s beautiful, not any single kernel that needs to be worked on to be dug up.

So underneath is my video reaction to the last page of Crossover #1. Very minor spoilers because I mutter the last two words of the comic to myself, but under the video I discuss said final page and some other scattered thoughts. Whether you read that or not, my takeaway is this: I’m fascinated with wherever the hell this thing is going, I’m glad my dad liked it well enough to want to keep getting it because now I’ll get to see where it heads, but my first impression is that this is at heart meant as cheapass Oscar-bait for people who only read Batman. It’s big and high-concept but also small and intimate! It’s meta and about how great you, the reader are for your consumption, especially the consumption of this! It’s going to be in large part about a forbidden love between a couple divided across impermeable social lines (a couple where they’re a seemingly straight white man and woman, but one likes comics)! Maybe it’ll become Not That, and I’m sure it’ll do at least something interesting along the way because Cates has done good stuff before and there are some inherently interesting big ideas for him to play with here, but for the love of god if you’re thinking about getting this buy Commanders in Crisis too or instead, it’s another new book out of Image about superheroes dealing with the collapse of the multiverse but that one is really fucking good.

So the final page splash reveal is that when the comic book child discovered in here got out of Colorado, which has had an impenetrable energy shield erected around it by one of the heroes for years, she and others were ferried out of there...by Superman, as the narration declares that “This is a story...about hope.” They don’t say the word, but she sketches her savior, Ellie and Otto freak out and go “Is that---” when they see it, and on that last page we see that while a crude drawing it isn’t a rough analogue character, it’s a guy with a cape and trunks with an S on his chest. Surprisingly, I don’t have much to say: it’s just another blunt signifier that superheroes rule and are the best, paired with the most utterly devalued notion as of late of what makes Superman special in ‘hope’. I mean, I’m perversely excited to see whether this is building the entire series on a hook it can never deliver on, or if Cates actually has talked DC into an intercompany crossover; believable given they’ve done a bunch of those over the last several years, and why else would Mark Waid be supervising as ‘story editor’ on this? I guess it’ll shake out one way or another with #6 given Cates has said it “has one of the more epic and — I would argue historic — sequences in comic book history in it.” But I’m far less convinced this is gonna truly go into the meaty question of “What does Superman mean and what makes him unique in this world where superheroes in general are indisputably either failures or monstrous bastards given the scale of destruction their presence has brought about, and he himself failed to stop that?” than as some kind of holy grail of how great superheroes are despite how dang violent they’ve gotten these days for the crew to chase after, whatever additional twist will surely be placed upon it. At least he’s kinda helping an immigrant kid get over a wall, if that’s deliberate?

Random final thoughts:

* If I wrote the opening essay and turned it in in a college course, I would be expelled for plagiarizing Grant Morrison. This is not a joke.

* If mainstream American superhero comics ended January 2017 in this universe, its own last ‘crossover’ was Civil War II, which is hilarious.

* God, please tell me if it takes the dive after all that this isn’t somehow tied into whatever Waid’s Superman project is.

* I wouldn’t normally crap on issues with the finer details of worldbuilding, but A. This is rooted in a nominally ‘real’ world playing by recognizable rules, B. I’m ragging on this anyway so what’s the harm, and C. It’s really obvious. So: Why is one of the racists against the superheroes the guy who loves superheroes so much he’s the last holdout in the entire world still selling comic books about them? How does this modestly-sized shop exist long-term with apparently a significant regular customer base if there are no new comics or even reprints to restock with, ever? Who’s buying the serialized cop/cowboy comics that the U.S. government apparently created pretty much overnight (nobody, it’s just another Wertham dig)?

* The solicit for issue #3 proclaims “Don't miss this one, folks. If you do, it just might drive you...mad.”, so now I fear some kind of Ultra Comics riff.

* “Kids love chains” is the most metal-ass quote of all time and I hate that it’s being wasted as an arc title on this book.