#finally had the chance to witness the dawn machine in action and i loved it

[gmalaart]

Staining the zee a violant shade to bind the Machine to its reflection

[tchalla-rogers]

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

[jackblankhsh]

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."

[onfyexo]

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

[shadyb00ts]

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.

[fandommarvel]

Prompt: Start with “I was fixing my life”

  I was fixing my life. 

  It started three months ago when my wife died of cancer. Our kids were in tears and stayed with me for a few days before leaving to their college that is in another state; both of them. I, of course, was sad but they both had dreams to achieve and me wanting them to stay behind was selfish. 

  Life was horrible for me but I kept a grin for those who chose to talk with me. However, my mask cracked more when I received a phone call from a hospital saying that both my kids were in the hospital having been hit by a drunk driver.

  They were only a state away. A day ride from my home to the hospital, perhaps more if traffic was being mean (it was). But the trip agonizingly longer than anything else. I also got in a crash myself for ignoring to sleep favoring to continue driving forward. 

  Arriving, I told the receptionist my name who then told me which room my children were in. The doctor was inside when I walked in, a solemn look on his face that had no good comment. He told me that their chances of survival were extremely low, that the drunk driver was driving a truck larger than their car. It tore me up inside that I cried by their bedside until the crack of dawn. 

  For the days that led to my ultimate decision the doctor continuously suggesting to end their misery by pulling the plug. My body shook by his suggestion each time it came up. By weeks end, my decision was made and told to staff. Another week passes my children are back home with me in their rooms hooked up to various machines that placed much debt to me. 

  It started with the five stages of grief up until the last stage: acceptance. Most would accept their fate, pull the plug to allow them to die however I gave acceptance to something else. I gave acceptance to the fact that their lives, my children’s lives, can be saved by my own hands much how my wife’s cold not.  

  For the course of months, I gathered information. My coworkers worried about the lack of presence, their calls ended after two weeks of silence. Although it never affected me because I was trying to fix them, fix my beautiful children so they can continue with their long-sought dream. 

  When a year passes most of my work was almost completed. I found myself getting happier as my research extended the lives of my children to allow for another path that doesn’t lead to death. My wife died but my children will not.

  It happened a year and four months later. The neighborhood experienced robbery. The robbers came into my home robbing everything from me including my children. Those idiots had turned off the power killing my children five minutes afterward. Coming home that day after scrapping for the final parts that will heal their bodies my mask cracked more. Trembling hands and soundless noise came from me as I dropped to my knees before my two dead children. 

  My life of crime continued after finding the robbers robbing them of their lives. It felt... good. The thrill of killing, of knowing that something was done to avenge my fallen children. It came to me then, all my misery was for that moment, for my realization that I am an avenger. 

  In the months that progressed crime dropped significantly. The police were chasing after me but it never bothered me when I knew I was making a difference. Unlike the police, I was doing something to better this heathen of a world that takes and takes and takes from innocent good people. 

  That all changed, though, the day innocent blood was shed. It was by pure accident. During another killing of a man who robbed a family from saving their grandfather’s life. An innocent woman who reminded me so much of my girl walked into the building having witnessed a knife cut clean through the robber’s throat. 

  She screamed backing away as I drew near. I don’t remember what happened but the next thing I remember is the women on the ground with red pooling around her. My eyes blew wide when understanding what had just occurred. I dropped the weapon and saw blood staining my gloves-- the gloves my lovely wife bought for me so long ago. 

  “Oh... Oh dear God...” Why had I never realized the wrong of my actions? Why has no one ever tried stopping me? Why? Why? WHY?

  My breath was quivering as tears wielded in my eyes. The police arrived on the scene coming in to see a grown male on his knees clutching a pair of bloodstained gloves while crying. 

  I was trying to fix my life, I think as my legs and arms are strapped onto the wooden chair. Various things attach to my person and the curtain opens revealing people who will watch. 

  I was trying to fix my life, I think as I feel electricity seep into every part of my bone. My mouth opens to scream but all that comes out is nothing but sobs. 

  I was trying to fix my broken life but it only led to my painful