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tchalla-rogers · 5 years ago

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Avengers: Inevitable (Part 6)

Tony Stark x Stark!Reader (and Steve Rogers x Reader)

Part 5 is HERE. Part 7 is HERE. Series Masterlist.

It took absolutely everything in Steve to never say a word about what Strange told him that night. Even when you successfully obtained everything you needed for the time machine, thanks to Scott’s help. You remember how lost and distant everyone was when half of Earth’s population was dusted years ago. That was a time when Pepper finally had your half-sister, Morgan, who you grew to love wholeheartedly once she blessed your family. Tony got everything he wanted, which he feared being ripped away.

Even though you spent a lot of your time with your family, you made sure to always keep Steve in the picture. You assisted him in his sessions where he would help individuals who were suffering after Thanos snapped his fingers. You both equally helped each other when one of you didn’t have the strength to get out of bed in the morning. Seeing Steve being playful with Morgan was something you could never forget.

Eventually, it seemed like nothing that happened with Thanos hindered your family. But, when you stepped into the compound, the gloominess of that day haunted each room you stepped into and each one of your friends who made it through. Wherever Steve went, he held determination for bringing everyone back. He believed that that was his duty and when Scott showed up outside of the compound, it was like he was finally fulfilling what he was hoping to do for those five years. He just didn’t think he would lose Natasha or Tony in the process, or seeing Peggy, which eventually lead to him losing you.

And now here he was knowing what the outcomes would be before you even did and determination was coursing through his blood again. He knew he would undoubtedly stop you from doing something dangerous and that feeling of knowing calmed his nerves.

For you, it was calming to have someone like Scott supporting you along the way after he helped you to obtain everything you needed to enter the Quantum Realm once again. And although Scott’s assistance was appreciated, it took a lot of convincing on your part for Bruce to even accept being apart of this. Virginia didn’t even have time to process anything before you were attempting to hook up everything you needed.

She immediately spoke with Steve about this and she was perplexed to see how much more undisturbed he became. So, now there was Virginia, Bucky, and Sam, wondering what the hell everyone got into. And then there was you, Steve, Scott, and Bruce setting everything up as if hell wasn’t breaking loose in Strange’s apartment a few days ago. When she finally pulled Steve to the side, she noticed his eyes wavering every few seconds, constantly checking on your distracted form.

One of Virginia’s eyebrows raised, studying his face and how his arms were crossed defensively in front of him. “You know something that none of us know,” Virginia stated, staring at him as he finally made eye contact with your friend. “Spit it out.”

Steve shook his head slowly, sighing in frustration. “You know I can’t.”

“Well, that seems to be the only thing I know. I just don’t know why. We already know that in Strange’s one out of 14,000,065 chances of beating Thanos, that timeline involves Tony coming back. Y/N already told all of us.”

A bite of the lip and a clench of the jaw caused Steve’s demeanor to change. “He made her believe that there is that one chance out of that number of chances that coincides with us defeating Thanos and Tony coming back, but that’s not how it works.”

“Sorry, I’m lost and now my brain is hurting. What the hell do you mean?” Virginia asked, pushing for Steve to answer. He almost shakes his head before she stops him. “I will never tell her. If there is something you know that actually keeps her safe in the end, I need to know.”

“He said that there are multiple timelines after Thanos was defeated and there are only two where Tony successfully comes back.”

***

When it was finally time, you made sure to be the only one in the Quantum Realm suit. You were sure most of your friends knew about your plan of action, but that didn’t mean that you wanted any of them to witness it. And it was hard not to notice how Steve so easily accepted what was to come, recently. You believed that it probably happened after the night at Strange’s apartment or after, but that didn’t mean that it wasn’t strange. You couldn’t even comprehend having an actual conversation with him right now. It was difficult to say goodbye to a man you loved and you knew the risk of the entire situation. Yet, it never stopped you.

Now, you were dressed in your suit, anxiousness setting in. Bruce was firing up the system, intently focused on pressing multiple buttons that you didn’t know the meaning of. Everyone stood around the room, besides Steve, and you had no clue of where he was. It was probably better that way, knowing you determination would settle once you saw his blue eyes. You were already tired from the tight hugs and multiple “good luck”s that came your way and the thousands of “thank you’s” that you poured out. That didn’t mean that you didn’t want to seem him for what could possibly be the last time.

You quietly stepped onto the time machine, turning around and observing everyone’s watchful eyes. If this was a moment where Steve came barging in, you would’ve accepted him with open arms. Instead, he was nowhere to be found and your heart was beating rapidly in your chest.

How would you react to seeing Tony again? How would Pepper react? Morgan? You weren’t sure if you would even be alive to witness that and with that thought, you were flying through the Quantum Realm.

2023

You landed with a heavy thud, dust invading your lungs and trying to observe your surroundings. It was foggy at first, before clearing and your eyes settling on a figure sprawled across the ground. After a few seconds, it dawned on you that it most definitely was your 2023 self, right after Thanos blasted the compound. You remembered that you never changed out of the Quantum Realm suit that day and you remembered that Steve would be looking for you soon.

You grasped the sedative vile that was stuffed under your suit. Stumbling upon it in Bruce’s lab, you knew you might need at some point and damn, was this one of them. When you knew you would be knocked out for a couple more hours, you realized that instead of Steve coming to look for you, you decided to look for him. And in a few steps, you began to hear quick footsteps closing in on where you were. You were too focused on the thought of your past self not being out of sight, but eventually, you bumped into something hard.

“Hey, Y/N, you okay?” You knew that voice all too much, looking into Steve’s worrying eyes. A quick nod on your part and Steve pulled you into a tight hug, causing your eyes to widen from shock.

“Steve?” you mumbled, feeling Steve’s arms wrapped tightly around you. When he finally pulled away, you observed his face and in that moment, you took it into your memory. “Where is everyone?”

“Tony and Thor are keeping their eyes on Thanos.” You nodded uneasily, watching Steve’s outstretched his hand that he offered for you to take. It was going to be hard to hide all of the hurt you felt since your father sacrificed his life, but you would try your hardest. “Whatever the outcome, we’re in this together. Whatever it takes.” You slightly grinned, grabbing his hand as you both walked to where Tony and Thor were.

The sight of the two of them had your mind racing, looking at your father who was pissed at Thanos grinning in the distance. He heard footsteps behind him, turning around slightly and peacefully sighed once he saw that you were safe. Your father pulled you into an embrace that made up for everything, a sob slightly shaking your body and you didn’t know it would come so quickly. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” Tony pulled away, seeing fresh tears, yet a smile on your face. “The only time you happy cry is when I bring you home food.”

You chuckled, pulling Tony in for a hug once again. Tony looked over at Thor and Steve, silently asking what was going on, but Steve just shrugged. He knew that he would have his eyes on you during this entire battle against Thanos and that’s a promise he made to himself when he put on that time travel suit.

a/n: y’all this is garbage but i wanted to put this out since parts have been delayed cause i’m so busy with school. i hope y’all enjoy cause the next episode is gonna be a mindfuck hehe.

taglist for those who have asked or who have been keeping up with the series so far: @capsiclesdoll @lilulo-12 @kaetastic @colie87 @lovely-geek

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jackblankhsh · 6 years ago

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A Blood Red Reindeer Knows: Part 5: Snake Eyes/Black Eyes

A half hour later I'm checking into the North Light Inn. It's a crappy room, in a shitty part of town, but it's affordable. Plus, this is the kind of place folks know to mind their own business. Most just want to be left alone anyhow. Whether junkies cooking pixie dust, or doll families hovering over homeless, no one wants a witness to them ever having been here. Maybe that's why, in my room, all the mirrors are broke.

First thing I do is call Cari. The sound of her voice is like warm honey. I can't tell her everything. She might worry, and if she asks me to come home I'll do it -- no second thoughts. But I'm finally feeling a thread in my hand. It'll lead me where, honestly, I'm not sure I want to go. Still, I tell her everything I can.

She's no fool though. Cari can sense what I'm leaving out. There's an outline full of implications in the missing puzzle pieces.

Still she says, "You do what you think is right. I'll be here waiting for you."

"Thanks a chuisle mo chroí."

"Come home safe."

"I will."

It feels like a lie. Still, there are times the truth does no one any good. Hanging up the phone I figure on a shower.

Though there isn't enough hot water to rinse off the feeling of this city, I get clean enough afterward to feel fresh. Stepping out of the steaming bathroom my body is well on the way to shutting down. Next item on the agenda is definitely a bit of sleep. Then I spot a note slipped under the door.

Getting my gun out of my jacket I go to the door. Stepping outside I can't see anyone except for a nodded out rabbit on nearby stairs. Yet, there's a hint of perfume drifting on the air. Something familiar, sweet and spicy -- baked apples and cinnamon.

"Vixen?"

Going back inside I pick up the note. Sure enough it's her handwriting.

The note reads:

"Rudy,

They're watching you. Be careful."

A knock causes me to spin round. I throw open the door hoping it's Vixen. The stupidity of my reckless is made plain when I see Glitterspark.

Before I can react he thumps me over the head with a lead sap. I fall backwards into darkness. All I see is black dotted by twinkling Christmas lights. In the distance I can almost hear Vixen say, "I'm sorry," but I figure it's just part of a pleasant dream in an unpleasant moment.

When I eventually come to my skull feels cracked. The door to my room is shut, and I can't make sense of what happened until it dawns on me my hands are empty. My gun is gone.

However long I've been unconscious is too long. Dressing quick as I can I hurry to the parking lot. Sirens are screaming in the night, and I've got a feeling anyone could be on the way for me. Whatever's going on, Glitterspark is holding a coffin nail sure to seal me in.

Getting on my bike I roar out of the motel parking lot unsure where I should go. The obvious choice is out of town.

Then I hear a jack-in-the-box springing out shouting, "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!"

It doesn't take eagle eyes to spy an old mug shot of mine on the front page. Trouble this deep, there's only one place to go. The problem is I know I'm not welcome there either. Still, it's not like that's ever stopped me before. So I head for Black Jack's Cooler.

At first glance it seems like a glacier. Then the neon adorning the outside comes to life. A tsunami of colors flood forth filling any eye that happens by. There's no way not to look.

What a person learns, though, is that all those lights are distractions. Strobe bursts pull attention away from the sad bastards slumped over slot machines. Poor puppets looking ready to feed the slots blood for one more shot at gold. Over at the blackjack table several glum faces are ignored in favor of TVs flashing sexy plushies foretelling fabulous fortune while they dance on dice. A craps table is ringed by sweaty faces too desperate to dwell on anything but hope. Meanwhile, the neon's a rainbow blindfold hiding the truth.

For every single smiling winner there a thousand losers who risked their last penny betting with galactic odds against them. In fact, the only cheery toys are the ones already rich. It doesn't mean a thing dropping a hundred bucks here and there -- pocket change to them. They can burn dollars for fun. No, the sad truth is Black Jack's Cooler doesn't live off them. It thrives on the desperate hoping to hit 21, roll seven, catch a full house on the river; the people most likely to leave penniless after chancing everything to win... does it really matter what they're after if they've lost? The house knows every sad story, and ignored them all.

Walking into the joint my first thought is how long before they know I'm here. Eyes are watching from a hundred spots, half of which I can't even guess at. Action Figures acting as security patrol the casino floor. However, it's been almost a decade. Perhaps things have changed.

Tossing down a small stack I slip into a poker game, and wait. Things are going well, to the point I actually feel like a winner. Sure enough that's when the hammer comes down.

I feel a heavy hand land on my shoulder.

I say, "Let go you wanna keep the hand."

The grip tightens. I sigh. Today is not the day to test me.

Jerking my head back I ram my antler into the Action Figure's stomach. It jabs him back, and before he can recover I'm turned around cracking his chin with an uppercut. Obviously he's not alone. Folks who brag about fighting jabber on about style this, and all kinds of kung fu bullshit. The guard closest I kick in the balls, while the other, I toss a handful of chips in his face then throat punch; he's on the ground.

It isn't more than a second until a fresh crop of Action Figures are charging my way. However, I've made my point. So I put my hands up.

Surrounded I say, "I told him to get his hand off me."

A slow round of solitary clapping sounds behind a row of burly Action Figures. The column parts revealing the elf himself, Black Jack Frost, in an ice blue suit. Shaking his head he can't seem to help a sardonic grin.

Pointing at me he says, "It's good to know you haven't changed."

"Why's that?" I ask.

"Because I won't feel bad about what happens next."

I see his eyes move, glancing over my shoulder. I turn in time to see Kung Fu Karl coming up from behind. There's no time to dodge. I get a cattle prod in the side, and for the second time in as many hours I'm laid out. Though not unconscious, I'm out of action.

Action Figures scoop me up, and drag me to somewhere in the bowels of the casino. They cuff me to a chair in a room that smells like piss, blood, and shit. I can't help thinking I've made a tremendous error coming here.

Not long after, Black Jack walks in with Kung Fu Karl beside him. Two of the grimmest gangsters in the North Pole, they look oddly pleased to see me.

Black Jack says, "Been a long time."

"Not long enough," I say.

He nods, "Yet, apparently, you missed us. Why else would you be here?"

"Haven't you seen the news?"

Black Jack shrugs, "I've heard what's been said, but that don't make it true. Unless you're here to settle old scores."

"If I was, you think I'd walk in the front door?"

He smirks, "Depends. Maybe you got an attack of conscience, and came here to pay what you owe."

"I don't owe you shit."

Kung Fu Karl growls.

Black Jack says, "Don't owe shit, huh? For what you did to Karl -- he can't do his kung fu chop no more. Think about that."

"Maybe if you weren't running a crooked casino, I wouldn't've had to bust the place up." Snorting I add, "Hell, you could've given me the money back. Save us all the trouble."

Approaching me Black Jack says, "First off." -- he throws a vicious combo battering my face -- "My joint ain't crooked."

Spitting blood I ask, "Second?"

No words this time. He just goes into the beating. There's a heft to his punches almost like waiting ten years made his fists heavier. Maybe it's just a decade of experience. Either way, it isn't pleasant, and the whole while I can half see Karl in the background, itching for his turn.

After a seemingly endless barrage Black Jack steps away. Snapping his fingers commands an Action Figure to bring him a chair. Taking a seat nearby, Black Jack mops his forehead with a handkerchief.

Chuckling he says, "I'm gettin' old."

"I can take over," Kung Fu Karl says.

Black Jack waves him off, "Not yet."

"When?" Karl growls.

"Soon." Eying me Black Jack says, "I gotta know why you came back, Rudy."

Deep breath then I say, "I'm wondering the same thing."

I've made worse decisions in my life. Still, there's no doubt this'll rank in the top ten. Truth is I've never been much of a planner. That requires thinking about tomorrow. I'm more of a doer which is not always a good thing. I react to situations, going with the first thought that pops into my head. If that means ripping an Action Figure's arm out the socket in order to beat my money out of his gangster boss's pockets, I'll flip the goddamn poker table over, and go nuts.

Vixen used to say, "You always do the right thing for the wrong reason."

I'd reply, "Better than the wrong thing for the right reason," thinking I was clever.

She'd just smile in that strained way you see on a person who loves you, but is disappointed. She wanted me to consider what comes next. That would mean thinking tomorrow is worth anything. I could never do that, at least not while living in this city. So I left, and she stayed with her eyes hooked on a brighter future I couldn't see.

Considering the future I tell Black Jack, "You hear how some folks think things are about to change?"

"There are rumors."

"That change is coming, and I don't think it's coming clean."

Getting to his feet Black Jack straightens his suit. Shaking his head he steps towards the door. Passing Karl, a nod is all it takes. Looking like a delighted hyena Kung Fu Karl comes at me.

As he lays into me I hear Black Jack saying, "If change is coming that's tomorrow, and Rudy, you don't need to worry about tomorrow."

#writer #writing #fiction #shortstory #short story #neo-noir #pulp #reindeer #rudolph #rudolph the reindeer #weird #noir #mystery #honestyisnotcontagious

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onfyexo · 7 years ago

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Laundromat - Tom Holland x Reader Series

Warnings: angst (kinda), mentions of substance abuse metaphorically, language

Ohhh shiiett! This may or may not be the last part of this little series! Read this and let me know if I should continue or leave it up to you’re own interpretation :’))

Part 4 - the feeling of withdrawal has such an effect on you and meanwhile, Tom keeps thinking about you after the departure

*Tom is in bold

https://soundcloud.com/ginsengxx/shes-in-my-dreams

On your drive back home, it was hard to focus on the road with the thoughts rushing through your mind. You had already slammed your head against the steering wheel once you saw Tom pull out of the parking lot first. You felt dumb, you felt stupid, yet you felt lucky and honored to have been in his presence; hence why you beat yourself up physically and mentally.

Driving seemed dangerous to you because of you. You definitely didn’t want to be anywhere else but home from then on. The feeling of withdrawal from Tom felt like a drug. You had injected yourself with his charisma and wanted to live off of his high forever; you didn’t care if you overdosed on him.

It took the strength you had to pull all your baskets out and carry them inside the house. And when you realized that Tom had touched the exact handles minutes earlier, you wanted to scream.

How am I supposed to get through the rest of the week after what just happened?

You debated whether or not you should call in “sick” for work tomorrow. You also debated whether or not you should post on social media about your bizarre encounter but you didn’t want others to disturb him if he came back to that same laundromat. Crowds of people could be waiting for him the next time he came and he would immediately feel let down and betrayed.

So many decisions and so many choices were open for you and yet, they all made you seem like a psycho. You could be that person who posted “I JJST FUCKSK MET TOM HOLLAND” on Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr. But in all honesty, you were still trying to catch your breath.

The only action you could do once you stepped foot in your flat was plop on your bed and think about him to no end. You switched between multiple sleeping positions but nothing felt good enough. Sleeping in Tom’s arms felt so much better to you at the moment.

The tears came soon after and they were because of the love you felt. And you wondered if Tom would forget about you after today. Considering how busy he is, you were sure of it.

There’s no way he would even think about me after this?

But you would be surprised at what Tom was actually doing. Him on the other hand, kept replaying your facial expressions in his head while driving.

Damn. He thought.

His knuckled clasped his steering wheel hard; turning pale in the process. He had to tell Harrison about this while they went out to eat. Maybe talking with his best mate would help him decide if he should try and see you again.

They were going to a simple restaurant that was downtown. But first he had to change his clothes.

The same images flashed through him but he didn’t get tired of it. The way you looked at him intrigued him. The way you spoke to him intrigued him. The way you acted intrigued him.

He was actually glad that he had a certain place to remember you by if he was never able to see you again. He felt silly for praising a laundromat in his head but “oh fucking well” he thought.

“Shit dude! I didn’t even get their number or anything!”

Harrison was really surprised Tom was distressed over something like this. He witnessed his best friend stuttering every other word and having trouble picking up his food with a fork which shouldn’t even be that difficult. He could tell Tom was struck over with attachment in the most eccentric way.

“Tom listen to me, that was just today that you met them. And what if they were weirded out by you wanting to exchange numbers anyways!” Harrison exclaimed, trying to calm down his brother but to no avail.

“Ugh, I could tell they knew me. They called me beautiful for fucks sake!”

“Wait! They said that?” Harrison almost choked on his drink while listening intently with caution.

“Yes man! I’ve never seen anything like it. And I want to keep seeing it, I don’t care.” Tom huffed with so much force and let his head fall in shame. His appetite wasn’t as strong as it usually was for today and he wondered if you were the cause. The tone of his voice had changed from excitement to tell a story, to anxiety that made him want to drop everything.

“I don’t know man. I guess you could can try and catch them next week. Maybe they go the same day every week and since today’s Sunday, do it next Sunday.”

Harrison felt sympathy for Tom and hoped his advice was meaningful. But Tom was treading on thin ice, and if he wanted to go farther than friendship with you, he would have to realize his risks. He would only wait until later to warn Tom if you were actually there again next week.

The rest of the brunch was silent except for when the server checked up on the two boys.

You had proceeded through your week semi-normal. You decided not to call in for work and push through everything. Daydreaming became more frequent though, and this damaged your coordination; even your co-workers and classmates could tell.

You would be lying to yourself if you said you hadn’t driven past the laundromat every other morning, hoping to see your russet-eyed boy. His Audi was nowhere to be found each time you checked so you gave up and concluded that his washer machine and dryer were just temporarily broken or not even installed yet.

Tom had continued on with his week in a clumsy fashion. He lost his train of thought more than ever. And practicing his scripts for upcoming films was a challenge. He found himself re-reading the same lines in a row before cursing at himself; causing Tessa to stir and look up at him with confusion.

He was aware that a friendship could blossom if he kept in contact. He knew you would open up to him, he just had to be gentle with you. You were a treasured delicacy to him and he didn’t care if he had to hear yapping from Harrison if he went further with you in the future.

Next Sunday approached fast for you and slow for Tom. The same routine started again with your laundry. You had gathered your color-coordinated clothes and coins for the day.

The feeling of dread was present again, not only because a lot of people could be there, but because Tom might not be there. You would for sure keep going even after today.

I guess I shouldn’t give up.

While putting your baskets inside your car, you realized how beautiful dawn seemed today. With sunrise approaching, the vermillion tones and flushed shades of pink covered the sky above you. It calmly put you at ease while you drove to the same place you met Thomas.

It sucked that you didn’t have anyone to share this dilemma with. If you did tell anyone, you didn’t trust them enough to not spread the word. The last thing you wanted, was for Tom to never come back here again if a mass of people kept showing up just for him.

On the other end, Tom needed Harrison’s assistance for today in order to make this chance work. Since he didn’t actually need any of his clothes washed, he asked Harrison to drop him off anyways and just wait for him in case you weren’t there. Harrison didn’t have a problem with it and met Tom at his place at 6 am.

“Tom are sure you need to be up this early?” Harrison questioned, using one hand to steer and the other to accentuate his concern.

“I'm positive! They got here around 6 the last time and that's what time it opens.”

“Alrighttt. I’ll just wait in the parking lot.” Harrison sighed while turning left to see the laundromat in the distance.

Tom began sitting abnormally in the passenger seat when he saw that your car was nowhere to be seen. His eyes grew wide and the expression of sadness was apparent on his face.

“Fuck dude fuck. I don’t see her car” He stammered with tension as he pointed in the distance where you car could’ve been.

Strings of curse words exited Tom’s mouth the closer he got and Harrison took it all in with worry. Tom kept taking off his baseball cap and putting it back on in the course of a minute to wipe the perspiration forming on his forehead.

“You’re really losing it man.” Harrison exhaled while finally pulling into a parking spot.

“I guess I’ll just wait for a little bit and come back ok?”

“Ok man, don’t stress about it. It won’t be the end of the world.” Harrison reassured with pat on the back and decided to pull his seat back and sleep while he waited since it was so early.

Tom got out of the passenger seat before scanning the area in case he saw you arriving in the distance.

Once he rubbed his sweaty palms on the side of his jeans, he opened the door and took a seat. Luckily, no one was there again and the familiar smell of detergent soothed his senses. No other sound was present except for the manager watching a sitcom yet again in his office.

You felt frustration build up when you saw a car in the parking lot that wasn’t Tom’s. It was a simple sedan that you had never seen before and if it was someone other than him, you would honestly scream.

The windows were too tinted to see anything so you trusted your gut that maybe it was only one person inside. You had gathered all your baskets that were stacked high in front of you.

Using your hand to balance the baskets and the other to open the door, you entered and heard definite silence at first. No machines were running and only the muffled tv in the background could be heard.

“(Y/N)?!”

That same accented voice you were acquainted with, filled your ears faster than you could gather yourself. Goosebumps formed at his vocalization filled with excitement while cold sweat covered your neck and back underneath your clothing.

Instead of simply placing your baskets down to see him, you dropped them with carelessness and saw Tom rising from his seat with the widest smile. His fair-skin met your eyes and his ivory teeth hit you with electricity that made you smile back with just as much intensity. There was more stubble around his mouth and there was discoloration around the bags in his eyes but you never doubted how beautiful he looked to you. Not once.

Rushing at each other in a tight embrace felt like the fantasies you came up with had realism in the deepest parts.

“T-Tom! It feels so good to see you again”

“I can definitely say the same sweetheart. I’ve missed you...” There was relief, passion, and tranquility in the words he spoke and he wanted you to feel his longing.

He missed me? Thomas Stanley Holland missed me.

To think you would be hugging Tom in a laundromat was something you wanted to carry along with you with utmost joy.

Part 1 - https://bangtanscope.tumblr.com/post/172785019225/laundromat-tom-holland-x-reader-series-mini

Part 2 - https://bangtanscope.tumblr.com/post/172810255305/laundromat-tom-holland-x-reader-series-warnings

Part 3 - https://bangtanscope.tumblr.com/post/172837117775/laundromat-tom-holland-x-reader-series-warnings

Tag List

@gryffindorbws // @hollandbaby // @softboyhollands // @f-andomimagines // @wolvesofthewinter // @zophora // @leni-lion-luke-larb-logic // @ashleyhearto // @im-meant-to-be-bi-myself

#tom holland #tom holland imagine #tom holland x reader #marvel #mcu #peter parker #peter parker x reader #peter parker imagine #THANK YOU FOR 400 FOLLOWERS!1!1!

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bushlaboo · 7 years ago

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DotN: Chapter 3

Note: Chapter 7 is nearly complete, just one more section to go there. My traveling around should be done for a while now, so I hope to have some more time to write. In other good news: I also have another version of the lovely banner @alexiablackbriar13 made to share with you guys this chapter.

Deadly Force (AO3)

21 Months Ago

Starling City Police Department Case No: A5-201209

Reporting Officer: Felicity Smoak

Incident: Armed robbery at Starling City Port, Colonel Jeb Star Terminal, Dock Q10 - property owned by RM Shipping, a subsidiary of Merlyn Global.

Detail of Event: Witnesses on hand, Merlyn Global employee, Cisco Ramon, and his driver, Matt Bluestone. Ramon was present to inspect a cargo delivery received and unloaded at approximately 5:25 AM. Witnesses state 2 black SUVs (believed to be Ford Expeditions, plates were blacked out) breached the area within 3-5 minutes of their arrival. Four suspects exited the vehicles – 3 from 1, 1 from the other – a driver remained with each vehicle. Suspects were masked and wore all dark (black) clothing; including masks, shirts, pants, boots, and gloves. Witnesses were unable to determine age, ethnicity or gender of the suspects. Approximate height and weight: two of suspects were between 5′11-6′3, 230-250 lbs; another was 5′7-5′11 195-225 lbs, final suspect was between 5′4-5′6, 110-125 lbs.

Suspects each carried a machine gun. Ramon identified the weapons as UZI SMGs, which Bluestone confirmed. Shots were fired in unison at the witnesses’ feet and into the air to force separation between them and the cargo.

Cargo manifest listed “experiential equipment” from another Merlyn Global subsidiary, Xanatos Enterprises. Ramon described the stolen equipment as particle beam guns with laser sighting. In layman’s terms they are non-projectile weapon prototypes. Ramon reported that there were 300 weapons of various sizes in the 2 crates stolen.

Before waking up in the 21st century the thing that Barry loved most in life, outside of his clan, was food. Since joining the modern world he’d found a close second to food -- movies. More than the weekly airing television shows Diggle got invested in from the comfort of his recliner, Barry adored sneaking into a theater, pilfering popcorn, and experiencing a story unfold surrounded by others. He kept going back, seeing the same movies multiple times. Even after picking up on all the different nuances in a film, the reactions of a new audience changed the viewing experience, which is how he found himself at his eighth screening of Showdown - westerns were by far was Barry’s favorite genre - by himself. His brothers had refused to come with him again after their third time seeing it together.

Pleased as he watched the hero ride off into the sunset as the credits began to roll Barry scratched at his belly. Though he eaten a fair amount of popcorn he was still hungry, then again he could always eat, and he made the quick decision to head to Felicity’s - she had open door and kitchen policy for them - instead of back to the castle because it was closer.

As he expected, the skylight window into Felicity’s apartment was unlocked when he arrived. He called out her name in greeting as he slid open the glass pane. “Hey Barry!” she called out, peeking her head out from the kitchen. He offered her a wave as he leapt into her living room. “I was just about to make some mac n’ cheese, want me to make you a couple boxes?”

“Yes please,” he answered as his eyes swept the living room for Cagney. For as well stocked as Felicity kept her kitchen, granted her cabinets were filled mostly with junk food and prepackaged fair not that Barry minded, her actual cooking abilities were minimal. Something they’d all learned the hard way when she attempted to cook for them a few weeks ago. There had be a minor grease blaze and screaming fire alarms before the clan muscled their way through eating charred meat, hard potatoes, and soggy vegetables. Cooking was pretty much off the table after that though there were two things Barry knew Felicity had mastered: coffee, which Curtis had been barred from ever having again after his hyper reaction to the strong brew, and Kraft Mac & Cheese. Boiling water was still a risk, but as long as Felicity remained in front of the stove she managed to cook the pasta adequately. Even with her limited culinary skills adding butter, milk and the perfectly measured cheese packets was a manageable feat. And tasty one no matter what Oliver thought.

Cagney was just making her presence known when Barry spotted Felicity’s shoulder holster hanging from the coatrack. The gun tucked inside it, a Glock 22, didn't have the rotating cylinder of the Smith and Wesson used in Showdown but the weapon still held a fascination for Barry. Ignoring the arch of Cagney’s form against his leg, Barry shuffled across the room, making a beeline for the rack. The rack was wall-mounted, made from reclaimed oak barn wood that was set with five antique door handles for hooks. There was whimsy in the function, a characteristic that could easily be applied to Felicity herself, not that Barry was thinking about her personal style. He was too caught up in his own head, in the idea of being the cowboy hero from the movie he loved. Without a thought he eased the gun from its resting place and held it awkwardly in his large, taloned hands. He did his best to mimic the stance of the gunfighter as took aim and pretended to fire at different objects around the room.

Barry pounced around Felicity’s home trying to put on the swagger he’d seen so often in the movie. He was so distracted by his play that he’d lost track of Cagney. When he stepped on her tail, she hissed her displeasure and he wobbled and the gun slipped in his grip. His hands spasmed, a low click followed a loud crack. In his surprise, Barry left out a gasp at the recoil he felt shoot up his arms causing him to dropped the gun. The weapon fell onto the purple throw rug with a muted thud.

“Sorry, Felicity! I was playing with the gun. Stupid of me,” he chided himself, his green eyes transfixed on the gun. It took him a few seconds to realize that Felicity remained quiet. He’d expected to be scolded by her Loud Voice for his carelessness or hear her concerned voice asking if he was all right. That the apartment was filled with eerie silence had Barry’s stomach twisting in knots. “Felicity?” he called out tentatively as he crossed over towards the kitchen area.

He froze in the doorway when he caught sight of Felicity on floor, a pool of red growing beneath her. Though Barry knew Felicity was hurt, that he had to do something to help her, he was trapped in shock because HE had been the one to injure her. “Felicity?” he whimpered.

Barry wasn’t sure how long he stood there, staring at his friend, trying to comprehend what had happened, but a hitch in her breathing that finally spurred him into action. He scooped her up gently, not knowing if moving her was the right thing to do or not, but knowing he had to get her help.

The night sky was beginning its journey into morning, fading from darkness into light. It was one of the few truly quiet times Starling City experienced - the night owls having finally turned in and the early morning workers having yet to emerge. As had become his habit Oliver took this moment to look out over the city, his adoptive home, and to enjoy the beauty of its rising towers with the bay off in the distance.

“Oliver,” Roy hailed as he swooped down, Curtis and Diggle on his heels. Concern marred the younger gargoyle's brow and as Longbow ambled up the stairs towards them Oliver noted Barry’s absence. He did not get a chance to ask after their brother, as Roy informed him that Barry had yet to return.

“It’s not a big deal,” Curtis insisted. “Barry probably just found a late night viewing of Showdown and doesn’t have time to make it back.” The declaration caused Oliver to frown. He was not a fan of the others going anywhere by themselves. Barely a month ago, Curtis had allowed himself to be taken in by The Pack. Believing that they were martial arts heroes they portrayed on TV, Curtis had revealed himself to the group and they had used him. And have very nearly exposed the clan to the world. The four members of The Pack - Laurel Lance, Mick Rory, and siblings Leonard and Lisa Snart were in jail now; so that was one possibility Oliver did not have to consider. Still Starling was a dangerous place, especially for a lone gargoyle.

It appeared another conversation was due. “I hope that you’re right,” Oliver said after releasing an irritated sigh, “and that he found a safe place to sleep for the day.” Knowing that his brother needed the comfort, Oliver reached out and cupped Roy’s shoulder. “We’ll search for him first thing, but for now, we need to prepare for our day’s rest.”

“He’s right lad,” Diggle voiced nudging both Roy and Curtis toward the ledge so they could jump down to their perches below. Curtis leapt without further prodding, but Roy gave them both a searching looking before nodding his assent and vaulting over the wall. For Oliver’s ears only, Diggle offered the reassurance, “He’ll be fine.” His old friend then hauled Longbow up into his arms so he could glide them both down below.

He was poised to take his stance for the day when Cisco called out to him. His emergence came as a surprise as Merlyn's man had a policy of not engaging them unless absolutely necessary. It was the first time Oliver remembered seeing the man looking frayed instead of his normal perfectly pressed countenance. “I am afraid,” Cisco said as he approached, “that I have some bad news.”

Fearing for Barry, Oliver barked out, “Dawn is nearly here. Be quick.”

The man’s dark eyes were tired and Oliver could see apprehension in them as he spoke. “Your friend, Detective Smoak, has been shot. They're not sure if she'll live.”

Oliver had time to release a growl of pained horror before the sun broke the horizon, turning him stone.

Hours later his cutoff cry of distress again pierced the air as he broke fear from his daily encasement. His clan immediately flocked to him, but there had been only one thought on Oliver’s mind as he slept: Felicity. He had to know how she and didn’t had the patience or the time to explain to the others. He charged through the castle, headed straight for Cisco’s office, his brothers trailing behind them. He could feel their worry, but until he knew Felicity’s fate Oliver had no idea how to share the news he’d received. “How is she?” he demanded as he burst into Cisco’s office.

“She?” Diggle inquired.

“Detective Smoak is alive.”

“Felicity was injured?” the others gasped. Oliver ignored their question and instead posed another of his own. “What happened?” he ground out in a dark tone.

Cisco clearly understood where the danger in the room laid and answered him without hesitation. “The police aren’t certain yet, but I do know that the Detective was looking into a weapons theft.” There was something in tone, some detail Oliver was certain was being left out, but before he could push for more Diggle strong-armed his way between him and Cisco, demanding, “Where is Felicity now?”

“Starling City General.”

Even though there was more to learn, more to say to his brothers, Oliver turned and exited the office. It wasn’t enough to hear that Felicity was alive; he needed to see her, and assume himself of that fact. “Wait!” Roy called out behind him, but Oliver pressed forward. He reached the courtyard and prepared to climb one of the walls so he could catch a gust of wind when Roy shouted at him again, “What about Barry?”

Nothing else would have given Oliver pause, but duty to his clan always came first. His eyes flash hot as he turned to face his brothers ready to snap at Roy though he didn’t deserve it. It would have been nice to have a release for his anger, Oliver could feel building up under his skin, a living thing wanting to bite and snap at the person who’d caused Felicity harm.

Diggle diffused the situation before any hard words or rash actions could take place. “See to your Felicity,” he instructed knowing that is where Oliver needed to be. “I’ll stay to guard the castle while Roy and Curtis see to finding Barry.”

Oliver nodded his agreement and did not offer another word before he pulled himself up the wall. He climbed just high enough to catch the wind and was on his way. The trip to the hospital seemed to take forever and each second he did not have eyes on Felicity his ire grew. He snarled at the inconvenience of not being able to enter the hospital and ask for her; instead he to circle the building, hoping to spot her through a window. His patience was all but gone when the sight of just the right shade sunny, blonde hair caught his eye.

Oliver swooped in closer and his heart finally began to settle when he saw the familiar profile of Felicity’s face. She looked tiny in the bed, attached to so many machines, but her chest rose and fell, assuring him that she was breathing. That she was alive.

There was barely a ledge for him to rest on, but Oliver didn’t care about his precarious perch. He used the claws on his right hand to dig into the concrete, giving him enough support so he could stand and drink in the sight of Felicity. His frantic emotions steadied as his breathing settled into sync with hers. Oliver was debating forcing the window open so he could enter Felicity’s hospital room when the door opened and three figures trailed in. He recognized two of them from pictures in Felicity’s apartment.

Her mother, Donna, was as blonde and blue-eyed as Felicity; though Felicity dyed her hair, a secret she shared with him, and her mother didn’t. She made a beeline for daughter upon entering the room, griping one of Felicity's hands between her two. “My baby,” she wailed as her head dropped down to the bed.

A comforting hand was placed on her shoulder by a young man. Rory Regan had dark hair and eyes which Felicity attributed to his father who’d married her mother’s sister, and barely looked related by human standards to his aunt and cousin. Oliver remembered how sad Felicity appeared when she shared how Rory had been four when his parents died and how guilty she’d felt afterward because she loved having him live with them. She had always wanted a sibling, and that’s how Felicity referred him, it was never my cousin Rory, but my brother.

“Tell me,” Donna said her voice surprisingly fierce as she raised her head. “Tell me how my baby is Dr. Sato.”

The broad shoulder doctor adjusted his glasses before speaking. Though his voice remained warm there a clinical edge to it. “Felicity's heart, one of her lungs, and her spine were all damaged by the bullet's impact on her back.” Donna shuddered at the news, but she refused to crumble as the doctor continued. "On the positive side, she survived 10 hours of surgery. The next 12 to 24 hours are critical and I'll be more confident in her making a satisfactory recovery once that time has passed."

Donna glanced back down at Felicity, before returning her gaze to the doctor to ask, “Should I call her father?”

“It’s too soon to talk like that,” Rory said before the doctor had a chance to reply. The pair shared a prolonged look, a battle of wills neither seemed willing to lose. The doctor finally broke the stalemate by suggesting, “Why don’t you two take some time with her before you make any decision.”

There was a hushed exchange that Oliver couldn’t overhear before the doctor took his leave, but the pair was not left alone as another man entered the room upon his exit. Donna wiped her eyes and fluffed her hair as Quentin Lance, Felicity’s captain, joined them. The nearly bald headed man’s cheeks flushed, but his demeanor quickly shifted back to one of concern as he studied his injured detective. “Everyone at the 23rd, hell every cop in this city, is thinking about your girl Donna. Whatever she needs -- whatever you need, just let me know.”

“What we need is to know who's responsible for this!”

“Rory,” Donna chided the youth, but Lance was unbothered by the young man’s angry tone.

“It’s all right,” he assured Donna, “I know how the kid feels.” Rory bristled at the term, but said no more as he waited for the captain to fill him in. Oliver knew he was following Felicity into public service, though he’d yet to graduate from the police academy. Rory wasn’t just a victim’s family member searching for answers; he was also a fellow officer struggling with the effects of the violence they all faced. “Felicity was working a weapons theft and had a confrontation with Chen Na Wei about it earlier today. It wasn’t a pleasant exchange,” Lance extrapolated, his face turning sour. Oliver recognized the name; the woman was associated with the Triad, an organization the SCPD and Felicity herself had been trying to reign in for years. “There’s speculation that Chen or one of her men broke into Felicity’s apartment and used her own gun in an attempt to kill her. Unfortunately,” he sighed, “proving who did is gonna be difficult because the fingerprints on her Glock were so badly smudged that they don’t even look human.”

“So Chen is just going to get away with it?” Rory demanded.

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Lance replied without any hesitation.

Oliver understood that dedication, he felt it himself. The police, however, had rules they had to follow. While Oliver respected them Felicity deserved justice. He could see to that much more swiftly than the SCPD could. Though he longed to stay and watch over her, Oliver knew Felicity’s family would keep that vigil for him. Gently he placed his hand on the window; the angle at which he did made it look like his hand was laying over hers. It was as close as he would be able to get to touching her for the time being. “Keep fighting Felicity,” he begged in a low voice to ensure he did not draw attention to himself. He made a silent promise to her and himself to see her avenged, that very night if possible, before he took to the sky again in search of Chen Na Wei.

Felicity’s blood had been on his hands. Even though his day’s rest had removed all traces of it Barry could still see the stain of bright crimson fading into a rusty brown against the teal of skin when he looked at his hands. He couldn’t face his brothers seeing that violence marring his flesh even though he knew they’d be worried about him. He didn’t deserve that consideration -- not after what he’d done. Hurting a friend, potentially killing Felicity – the thought alone had Barry bursting into tears – and the only thing that been able to draw him out of his distraught state was the sound of a scuffle happening in the alley below.

Seeing a mugging taking place and a gun in the hand of the assailant had sent fury coursing through him. In that moment Barry hadn’t care about exposing himself; he had only one driving need, to prevent another innocent from being injured. He took action, rescuing a middle-aged man and discovering the perp was using a new type of gun. His rage spiked, and Barry threw the hoodlum against the wall snarling, “What’s this? A new kind of gun to kill people?” He very nearly snapped the man in half, but reason prevail and he’d crushed the weapon in the palm of his of hand. The show of strength terrified the delinquent enough that when Barry questioned him, he confessed easily as to where he’d purchased the gun.

The nickname of the dealer, Tiger, pounded through his head as he made his way to the warehouse on Canal Street the mugger had given up. He’d find him and stop him from ever selling another weapon. Determination beat through him, a siren’s drum deflecting all of his earlier emotions.

Plunging down to the warehouse roof Barry was caught off guard when he found Oliver there crouched over a skylight surveying the area below. There was a low, feral growl as his brother’s head shot his eyes molten with anger until Oliver recognized him. Ire was replaced by confusion as Oliver asked, “What are you doing here Barry?”

He had no way to explain his presence without confessing his misdeed and Barry had no idea how to admit the horrible truth of what he’d done. “Never mind,” Oliver said apparently impatient with his silence. “It may be best that you’re here. You can help me with the ones responsible for shooting Felicity.”

“What?” Barry gasped, baffled as to how Oliver had come to such an erroneous conclusion.

Oliver’s face crumbled for just a second, before hardened again. “You haven’t heard. Chen Na Wei,” he spit out the name with distaste, “stole some guns and decided to silence Felicity when her investigation got too close.”

Barry heard Oliver’s words, but he couldn’t make sense of them. His mind struggled to put the pieces together … the dealer, Tiger, could work for Chen. The whole clan knew about the SCPD’s repeated attempts to take the Triad down. Tiger was not an alias he ever recalled Felicity mentioning, but it seemed reasonable for the pieces to line up, but that still didn’t explain why Oliver thought Chen was responsible for Felicity’s shooting.

He had to speak up; he had to tell Oliver the truth before his brother sought vengeance against the wrong person, but before Barry could figure how to the truth Oliver was ordering him to, “Come.”

He said his friend’s name, trying to stop him, but Oliver burst down through the window and crashed to the ground with mighty roar. Left with no other recourse Barry followed suit, hitting the ground as Chen shouted, “Shoot them!” He and Oliver ducked and dodged the rapid fire, which pinged off a car parked in the warehouse.

“Fuse box,” Oliver said rushing by him. Understanding his leader’s plan Barry bounded up into the rafters. Gunfire followed him and though some bullets came close, none managed to hit him.

There was loud crack followed by a giant spark before the warehouse was thrown into darkness. Startled shouts rose up from Chen’s men as their firing ceased. Unlike the humans below him, Barry could see perfectly through the inky dark, allowing him to leap down behind the men unnoticed.

Moving with speed belied by his bulk, he quickly tossed one of the men aside with an arm while striking another down with a wing. His attack forced Chen backwards, towards the maze of shipping containers, and causing Barry to pause: Chen or the rest of her men?

The dilemma was solved for him by Oliver, who pursed Chen, leaving him to face the others. It was difficult, trying to keep track of his own battle while watching out for Oliver. Normally they’d have at least two if not more others to watch their backs, but tonight it was him and Oliver alone.

Barry had just brought down the last man when he caught sight of Chen falling from some scaffolding. For a terrifying moment he thought Oliver was going to let plummet to her death, but his arm swung out and he caught Chen by her left leg. He let her dangle as he angrily accused her of shooting Felicity.

Chen cried out a denial, one Barry knew to be true, but words he believed to be false only enraged Oliver more. Barry felt how little time there was a he climbed up the scaffolding, yelling out “You can’t,” to Oliver.

“I can,” Oliver refuted him. “Felicity will have her revenge through me.”

“Chen didn’t shoot Felicity – I did!” The words tore out of his mouth and Barry wasn’t certain who was more shocked by them, himself or Oliver. The look of utter disbelief on his brother’s face had him stumbling over his explanation that, “It was an accident.”

Oliver snarled at him, his eyes white with rage before his gaze went back to Chen who still dangled from his grasp. His jaw was clamped so tight Barry was certain it would snap, but the groan he heard came from metal rail Oliver broke off from the scaffolding. That, along with his one armed lift to bring Chen up to him was a clear display of strength and silent threat as he twisted the metal around her, securing her arms. “It seems,” Oliver ground out, “that we have much to discuss, but first we handle them.”

Barry nodded weakly and followed Oliver back down to the ground. They worked in silence while they bound the rest of Chen’s men. They were readying to leave when the warehouse doors opened behind them. Though there was tension still between them, they moved in unison to meet this new threat.

A droll voice called out, “It appears you’ve saved Mr. Merlyn some money.”

“You’re the buyer?” Oliver hissed as Cisco Ramon appeared in the light provided by the car outside the warehouse.

“How else was I going to get Merlyn Global’s stolen property back?” he asked unapologetically as he stepped up to inspect the crates.

The gargoyles shared an annoyed looked with each other. Barry could read Oliver’s intention when he asked, “Is anything missing?”

“It appears 37 weapons of varying types are missing,” Cisco replied. His voice and tone remained neutral as was the man’s trademark; nothing ever seemed to ruffle him.

Barry released an irritated grunt even though he knew that number to be 36 as Oliver picked up one of the larger gun. Without warning he fired it at the other weapons, melting them into lump of unable metal. Barry couldn’t help the smile that touched his lips as he realized that the guns would never again fall into the wrong hands.

"Mr. Merlyn isn't going to like this," Cisco remarked.

“I’ll be happy to discuss the matter with him after he’s released from prison,” Oliver replied as he broke the remaining gun in half. He placed the pieces near Chen and her men, ensuring that the police would be able to tie them to their theft, before turning to him. “Come,” Oliver said calmly, the worst of his anger eased, “we have a sick friend to visit.”

The quiet between them on their journey to the hospital wasn’t nearly has heavy or tense as it had been before. Barry knew that Oliver and the rest of his brothers would forgive him eventually – it is what family did, no matter the consequences, but he knew he’d never be able to absolve himself. Still he did take solace in witnessing Felicity wake up to the delight of her mother and brother, just before the sun rose.

Tagging: @almondblossomme

#my fanfiction #arrow #olicity #arrow fic #olicity fic #dotn #ofbb2017

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shadyb00ts · 8 years ago

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Horizon: Zero Dawn - A Review

Right, gimme a moment to compose myself after the INCREDIBLE RIDE that was this fucking game.

Okay. So. Picture it: E3 2015. There I was, minding my own business, completely PS4-less and only scoping out upcoming PC titles since at the time I was a proud PC gamer. Deep down I was always bitter that I probably would never get a PS4, though, so I usually knowingly avoided any footage of PS4 games like inFamous: Second Son, Uncharted 4, etc. I’ve always been a naturally jealous person, so seeing footage from those games at the time sorta stirred up some jealousy there.

But regardless of that, I still end up seeing the original gameplay trailer anyways. And holy fuckballs, I was so pissed. There in front of me was footage of a game that was literally MADE for me, I swear to god. It had all the elements that I loved in a game. Let’s list them, shall we?

Lush open world with gorgeous vibrant landscapes and incredible graphics: check and check

Female protagonist that looks badass and is voiced by ASHLY FUCKING BURCH: check, check and check

Bow and arrow combat: check

Stealth: check

RPG elements like side quests, skill trees, dialogue trees, etc: checkcheckcheckcheck

Intriguing and mysterious story: check

Platforming and climbing mechanics a la Tomb Raider & Uncharted: check

Honestly, I could go on and on but you get the idea. I never thought I’d see the day where a game could so perfectly fit the criteria of everything I like. So 2-Years-Ago-Me was completely heartbroken since at the time I was convinced that I’d never own a PS4. It was up there with Kingdom Hearts III as the games I thought I’d never get to experience.

Flash forward to now, having been a PS4 owner for about several months. This game was pretty much top priority on what to get, so as soon as it was available for preorder, I clicked that shit so fast I almost broke my mouse. So naturally, when the game finally became playable, I completely immersed myself in it.

This may be a bold statement, but I think Horizon is going to be one of my favorite games of all time. For real.

So all those elements I listed up there were true, but there were also additional elements I love that I had no clue were even in it, prior to playing. Like for example, I had no idea just how deep into the RPG category it was going to go. This game was so freaking immersive. I was immediately in Aloy’s shoes and experienced the world through her eyes, starting from childhood. And then what a pleasant surprise it was when I discovered that the game presents you with moral choices, too! At that moment I knew that the game was going to exceed my already extremely high expectations.

There are also dialogue trees in which you can exhaust a lot of dialogue from, and I of course took every chance I got to choose all the options. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about this intricate world Guerrilla Games has built and encountering its inhabitants. I loved finding out more about all the different tribes and their own unique traditions and religious beliefs, as well as their relationships with each other. It also helps that their outfits are all so fucking rad. In addition to all that, there are collectibles called “datapoints” where you could find various text, audio and holographic documents from the world of the “ancient ones”, and there’s so many interesting tidbits you can discover from these files. Guerrilla really has fleshed out this world as fully as they could. And let’s quickly touch on the diversity this game has. Man oh man, there were so many people of all different races throughout this game. Lots of strong female characters who weren’t one-dimensional, and I even stumbled upon a gay character during one of the side quests. The diversity showcased doesn’t feel contrived or there to appease the masses, it feels natural and well represented.

I was a bit worried about the story at first, since Guerrilla were definitely shrouding it in mystery and being extra vague every chance they got, which I guess a part of me did like, since it made me not know what to expect and heightened my sense of discovery while playing. But these devs have crafted a really amazing story with a likable cast of characters, including the star of the show Aloy herself. I’m a little biased about her though, since she’s voiced by Ashly Burch who I adore to pieces, but even regardless of that she was simply a wonderfully written character. I just loved watching the story unfold, finding out more and more about what happened to the world and witnessing Aloy finding out the truth about who she really is. The lowest expectation I had initially about this game was probably the story, but it didn’t disappoint at all. I was thoroughly hooked and craved to know more. I won’t spoil anything, since I want those of you who are going to play the game to be more engrossed by it as you have your own experience through it.

Those of you who have seen screenshots and/or gameplay know that this game is a visual masterpiece. The environments are lush and full of life despite the post-apocalyptic nature of it. Originally I had thought the Last of Us had the most gorgeous post-apoc landscapes of all time, but Horizon definitely takes the cake for this one, no question about it. There’s a photo mode available, and because the game itself is so beautiful, it’s probably impossible to take a bad shot. Even without using the filters provided, the graphics have that gorgeous pinkish glow that I always love in games, very reminiscent of Dragon Age: Inquisition I think. The screenshots in this review were some snaps I took using the photo mode feature, and it’s really fun to play around with. You could probably spend hours with it taking scenic shots and action shots to your heart’s content.

Now let’s talk combat. A game automatically has me sold when it has archery. My love of this developed through the 2013 Tomb Raider remake, which I’m sure I reviewed on here a long while back. It grew when I played the sequel to that remake, Rise of the Tomb Raider. This game takes that style of combat and amps it up to a hundred, adding a bunch of various unique and craftable arrow types, as well as multitudes of elemental traps and explosives. Most unique out of these is probably the Ropecaster, which allows you to tie down enemies to leave them immobilized. These are extremely useful for the flying machines that you’ll encounter later on in the game, since they can be pretty tricky. The combat relies heavily on weakpoint takedowns, so you’ve definitely gotta have real good aim in order to slay them robots, especially the bigger ones. Unlike most action games, you can’t just go in guns blazing and continuously shoot arrows at random spots on the machines’ bodies. Focusing on their weakpoints is key, as that’s where all the real damage lies. Most of the robots are also weak to specific element types, so exposing those weaknesses gives you an even bigger advantage. Some enemies you could even strip off their ranged weapons and use it against them, which I thought was fucking radical. I did it more than a few times and it was a hell of a lot of fun.

There’s also melee combat in this game, although I rarely ever used it to be quite honest. The only use I found for melee are the silent takedowns during stealth, but in battle I would say ranged is the way to go. Battles with the machines are very exhilarating and intense, since they are clearly much more stronger than you, even the weaker ones. There are also human enemies like bandits and cultists, but they’re pretty easy to pick off since all it takes are headshots, basically. The machines are the real challenge. I played on Easy since I’m a scrub, and have always had no shame in playing games on easy difficulties anyways since, unlike most gamers, I’m not much of a fan of challenge. Basically for me, Easy is my Normal. That’s just how I roll. But even easy mode was a bit of a challenge at times, at least for me. I had some trouble with the huge, stronger machines. Then again, I pretty much spent the entirety of the game doing nothing but side stuff and power-leveling, so by the last few main quests I was already at max level. But even at max level and wearing arguably the best outfit in the game, the final boss was a lot to handle.

I’ve spent the majority of this review gushing about this game, but was there anything I disliked? In all honesty, not really all that much. Most of my negatives are pretty much small nitpicks. I thought the climbing mechanics could’ve been a little bit better, since unlike Tomb Raider or Uncharted, most of the platforming can be done just by pushing the left stick and only pressing the jump button once in a while. I would’ve liked it better if the jump button was more frequently used during platforming, basically. You also can’t filter between icons on the map, and the map interface can get pretty hectic as a result since there’s so much stuff cluttered in it. Not sure why they didn’t add the option to filter between machine sites, collectibles, etc. Would’ve made for an easier time navigating.

Another negative is probably how I wish the outfits were more customizable. As it stands, each outfit is already one full set, and the only modifications you can make are by using two or three slots where you can insert mods to increase certain effects like elemental resistances, stealth, etc. I wish it was a little more in-depth in that you could get different pieces for each body part, like most RPGs, and maybe be able to insert modifications to each individual armor piece. Actually, the modification system in general, for both outfits and weapons, is a bit too simplified for my taste. You can’t really upgrade them, it’s as simple as just inserting a mod or two and you’re done. This may be ideal for more action-oriented players, but since I’m an RPG enthusiast, I find it to leave much to be desired. There are some other small nitpicks I have with the game that hold it back from being absolute perfection, but honestly they’re all pretty much easy to ignore. The positives crush the negatives.

So yeah, overall I’m extremely overjoyed with how this game turned out. It’s everything I had been hoping for and then some. It literally just came out a few days ago and already I’m aching for a story DLC or, hell, even a sequel. This game better branch out into a franchise; there’s so much Guerrilla can explore with this world that they’ve created.

I give Horizon a 9.75/10. 9.5 seemed a little too low and 10 seemed a little bit too high, so I thought fuck it, 9.75 it is. This game is near perfection, and if you have a PS4 or are going to own a PS4 in the future, then I swear to you that you won’t regret having Horizon in your game library. It’s a mishmash of various elements in open world, action-RPG gaming all rolled into an impeccable, beautiful package. And for all you trophy hunters out there, it’s pretty easy to platinum too.

Man, do I love this game. Jesus. Looks like I’ve found something new to unhealthily obsess over.

#horizon zero dawn #hzd #ps4 #ps4 games #game reviews #aloy

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