#imagine a movie store crossover - that is my setting ^^;;

[sweet-evie]

Baby Megumi & Best Sister Tsumiki Headcanons feat. Teen Dad!Gojo because I love this family unit, and my JJK brainrot is worsening the closer we get to 6th of July. 🫠

These are probably done before, but idgaf because we're about to see baby Megumi and high school Gojo again~ 🥹 Also, I'd rather do these instead of write fics because my Death Note X Code Geass crossover still needs my attention.

Megumi has a stuffed animal collection. 🐺 It started with one stuffed wolf that Satoru got him for his 1st birthday with Gojo, and Megumi pretended he didn't like them, but ummm... 8 years later, Megumi has 75 animal plushies. I like to think they're all small and cute.

If Shibuya and the other BS didn't happen, Megumi would have received another stuffed animal or two for his 16th birthday. Because tradition. 🥹

Just like Megumi has a collection of stuffed animals, Tsumiki has a collection of dolls. *cough cough* Barbies... It started with Licca-chan and eventually Satoru caught her eyeing Barbies in toy stores, so he bought her one. And then two. And then whole sets for Christmas or her birthday or whenever she showed Gojo her report card.

In addition to dolls, Tsumiki definitely had one of those big Barbie houses when she was 8.

Tsumiki ropes Megumi into playing dolls with her. He does it to make his sister happy. And they always include Megumi's stuffed animals.

Tsumiki had Barbie Posh Pets. (Totally not projecting... Maybe I am). I had those as a kid and the set includes a pregnant mama cat + 3 kittens. You can open the mama cat's tummy and take out a pink kitten. (That's kind of fucked up when I think about it now 🤦‍♀️). I imagine it's that sort of nightmare-inducing shit that Satoru notices and gets because he thinks it's funny. 🙃

The Barbie Posh Pet in question that Tsumiki definitely owns:

Anyway... Speaking of Barbie... Tsumiki saw her first Barbie movie because Satoru brought home a Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper DVD on one of their movie nights. He was just assuming she would like it...

She liked it, and they always had Barbie movies in the movie night roster ever since. Tsumiki loves them. Megumi thinks they're whatever but is amused, because Barbie movies have talking animals, and Satoru just loves to poke fun at the plot.

Megumi watches wildlife documentaries for fun. He's a National Geographic and Discovery Channel kid. He has a DVD collection that came with the encyclopedia set Satoru bought.

Megumi liked movies with animals. Are we surprised? He's seen all of the Dr. Dolittle movies.

Tsumiki cried watching Bambi. 🦌 Someone else definitely got teary-eyed while watching Bambi too. That 'someone' will also never admit it, even if Satoru totally caught that particular someone rubbing his eyes with his small fists during that scene.

Speaking of getting teary-eyed at watching cartoons. Satoru's damn lucky he can hide behind his blackout sunglasses, because he was totally sad and emotional when they finished watching The Fox and the Hound. 🦊🐶 You look at that Tod and Cooper friendship and tell me it doesn't remind you of SatoSugu a little bit.

The refrigerator in Megumi and Tsumiki's apartment is stocked with 80% sweets. It's Satoru's fault.

Satoru attends Megumi's and Tsumiki's parent-teacher meetings in elementary school, and he's popular with the PTA parents (especially the moms). Megumi hates it, Gojo revels in the attention. Some teachers invited him to be in the PTA, but ultimately, this special-grade sorcerer always has to decline. He's way too busy.

Elementary career days = Satoru telling the kids that he's a very powerful magician. 🎩🪄🐇 The kids believe him and the adults think he's joking. Well technically, he isn't.

Satoru is prone to bribing child tantrums with McDonalds. It doesn't always work.

Satoru, Megumi, and Tsumiki definitely went camping a couple of times. Sometimes Shoko tags along, but she never stays overnight.

Satoru lost Megumi at the mall. Tsumiki always found her little brother. He's honestly not that hard to find. He's either in a bookstore or a pet shop or a toy store that sells things Megumi likes.

Tsumiki is very forgiving of Satoru's tendency to lose Megumi in the mall.

Ice cream or parfaits for dinner are normal when you're living with Gojo. 🍨🍦

They've been to Disneyland. 🏰

Megumi likes zoos and aquariums.

Tsumiki is fond of handcrafting appreciation gifts for Satoru. 🎁Friendship bracelets, knitted socks and mittens she made in homeroom once that are way too small for him, multi-colored dreamcatchers (she made one for Megumi too of course), birdseed ornaments, lots of origami, very small bead bowls, flowers made of cupcake liners, etc.

Satoru has all of Tsumiki's DIY handicrafts tucked away in an Air Jordan shoebox. He also has a jar full of origami paper cranes that Tsumiki made when she was in her origami phase.

Satoru always took the kids to fun festivals whenever he could.

Satoru gave Megumi and Tsumiki the childhood they deserved -- gave them the childhood they were almost robbed of when Toji and Tsumiki's mom abandoned them, gave them the childhood Gojo never got to have.

All of that before Megumi lost Tsumiki and his life started spiraling for the worst. 😭

#Save&FreeMegumiPLEASE!

[thescrapbookingscientist]

Bimonthly Media Roundup

- Mario Party (Video Games) - Rented a cabin in Colorado with my friends, and while we of course did some nature seeing we also just chilled at the cabin quite a bit, playing games together. We played both the newest and oldest Mario Party, and man back to back like that the first game was so unforgiving, it's hilarious. If you lost a mini game they would actively take coins from you, the games were not very intuitive (or at least didn't port to the switch right), and the random events were so often completely detrimental to you. Luckily Mari Party has always been a luck based game so in a group setting having awful in game luck is mostly just funny rather than frustrating, a good time to clown on one another.

- The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All (Manga) - Cute quick read about a girl getting a crush on a cute alt music store clerk before realizing that she's a girl. After the funny setup the manga develops into more of a yuri-centric character drama, which is still nice even if the gender-related humor is mostly gone. The art is very pretty, the alt girl is effortlessly charismatic, and all the references to American music are pretty fun to catch. A good read.

- Pokémon Stadium (Video Games) - More vacation shenanigans, We started by playing all the Pokémon Stadium 2 minigames, in which 3 of the 4 of us were evenly matched and 1 of us did hilariously bad. When we moved on to the first Pokémon Stadium mini games however, said person proceeded to annihilate of all us by a comically large margin. Anyway the games were a fun nostalgia trip, faves would have to be the lickitung game and the counting game.

- Glass Onion (Movie) - Another vacation watch, from what I've seen the general consensus is that the first movie is technically better with a more subtle and well executed message and tighter writing while the 2nd is more fun with a brighter pallet, a campier protagonist, and more oddball memorable suspects. It's been a bit since I've seen the first one but that sounds about right to me.

- Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun (Manga) - Yup.

- Sonic 2 (Movie) - Watched this as an Airplane movie, which I think it functions perfectly fine as. Knuckles was cute, I like the overall look of the characters, humor was adequate, and I liked the good vibes. I wouldn't really recommend it to non Sonic fans, but for what it was it was fun.

- Ace Attorney Spirit of Justice (Video Game) - I really liked this game, with the final case and Dhurke in particular being really great additions. The game had it's issues, with the clown case being pretty unmemorable and Nahyuta being the worst prosecutor in the series, but for the most part this was a really solid entry and possibly one of my favorites. The character design and art direction was great, the forward momentum of the plot and new locations really worked for me, and as a whole I felt the writing was a lot tighter and less mean than a lot of the prior entries. I still have the DLC case and possibly Layton crossover games to complete but otherwise I'm finished with the AA series.

- One Piece (Anime) - My Sister and I got pretty far into East Blue so far, I imagine this will be a show we will be watching for a very long time. The central 5 characters all have a fun dynamic, and the animation isn't bad for the time it came out, but boy do they drag things out with flashbacks and filler, which is really not needed given the sheer amount of material they have to work with here.

- Genshin Impact (Video Game) - Been playing a lot of this, mostly through Liyue by now. I'm having a ton of fun with the story, characters, and non combat side quests, though the wishing and level systems kind of blow with how much unnecessary grinding you have to do. On the bright side I met my girl Yanfei, who's lawsuit quest was one of my faves in the game so far for how unique it was.

Listening To: Make Up Your Mind by Florence + The Machine, Roll With The Punches, When The Tequila Runs Out, A Little Bit of Everything, All Your Favorite Bands, and Most People by Dawes, Kansas City by The New Basement Tapes, Humbug Mountain Song by Fruit Bats, Why Am I Anxious by Tom Cardy, Eat Your Young Cover and Viva La Vida but it's Epic by Reinaeiry, All These Things That I've Done by The Killers, Doin' Time Cover by Lana Del Ray

[divinitysheart]

one bouquet from my boys: (you can talk about or a little, you just deserve flowers!) 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Daww thank you !! :D But boy oh boy is this post going to be long because I have thoughts running through my head 24/7 haha

Firstly, I'm just going to start off with my xenoblade chronicles 2 thoughts and feelings because there's so very much. To start off, the game gets a lot of hate for it's fanservice-y stuff, in which it's okay to not like fanservice stuff! I personally also don't like fan service either, but that's all people make it out to be when there's so much more to the game than fan service. I kid you not every time I still bawl my eyes out to certain things that happen within the game even though I KNOW they're gonna happen. But that may be because this game holds so much sentimental value to me due to it being my first jrpg I ever completed and STILL play today. And while yes, some parts of it I'm personally not fond of myself are in it, I still love the game and the cast! Especially my son Rex hehe.

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I actually have so many more muses I want to add to this blog but if I did there would be way too many xenoblade muses to count LOLL, the whole xenoblade chronicles 2 cast lives in my head rent free pretty much!! And there are a lot more but I cannot think them up right now. Long story short ;; I have a lot of muses that live in my head but not on my blog haha

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In my free time I like to try and draw my muses of write private drabbles for them because they're in a certain mood and they want to express it! And the reason why I say private drabbles is because how much I write on said drabble can vary and I just typically like perfecting my writing if I publish the drabble to tumblr and sometimes I don't feel like it djkjjfkhg

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I have an absolutely horrible habit of imagining scenarios in my head to music and not writing it out, especially when I'm heavily fixating on a fandom. Or just in general! In which causes me to end up missing things such as messages and other things.

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I don't think I've ever actually stated this before, not that I should really need to but I kinda want to say it now, but I do have diagnosed ADHD in which makes things hard for me to actually do sometimes. It affects not only my writing but my activity as well due to certain aspects of it. Which is why I'm always so glad for everyone's patience with me not only because I'm a newer writer compared to most of my partners, but because my ADHD does sometimes has it days where makes me just not able to do things.

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I actually listen to any kind of music when it comes to writing, but in specific I've come to find music box lullabies to be one of the most productive music's I've ever worked to. But besides that, I typically have a character playlist to set me in the mood for a specific muse.

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I really love symbolism and parallels so very much in writing it's really ridiculous at this point, like if you point out a subtle symbolism in a movie or book or just in general that makes the meaning of something just even a little bit better I will loose my mind because I genuinely think little details like that are so cool.

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Okay, I thought I'd gotten off my xb//c2 rambling train but I'm not yet! I love the game a lot yes and it's very helpful and open to crossovers because of a specific DLC, but if anyone ever asks me to help them come up with a XB//C2 VERSE, I will accept no hesitation because so much of the lore is stored up right in my little head.

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Oh another fun fact about xb//c2, normua did the designs of the main antagonistic group Torna. Another thing would be that Cloud and Jin share the same japanese VA !! I just think little things like these are neat.

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Jin is genuinely such a complex character to write but that's what I love about him as a character, because he's genuinely such an interesting antagonist because he USED to be aligned against Malos ( another antagonistic figure ) before the events of xb//c2 but because of certain events he becomes allies with Malos. It's a lot to explain but to say the least the way his character develops is interesting and it'd need a post of itself if I were to go fully in depth.

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I recently got into Persona 5 and it is genuinely such a good piece of media to me and I love it so very much, especially with how it handles it's characters. And it has me considering to add a persona 5 muse(s) eventually, not now but some time in the future if I'm feeling confident with writing a character.

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I don't get to say it often enough but if you're from a fandom I know not much about, chances are I'll do research about your fandom and maybe watch an anime/video game playthrough/book and ect. because I love to find new fandoms I can dip into

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I find it funny how more times than not I end up becoming friends with people older than me and they more than often call me baby. Because while it's endearing, at the same time I'm just so used to being the older person in most of my IRL friend groups pffft ( also little note: I'm always safe when I'm making friends with people that're older than me, I take internet safety very seriously! )

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 I do actually have an occupation, it just doesn't take up as much of my time online as it used to about a year or so ago because some don't stream anymore while others don't stream as often. I mod on twitch for quite a decent amount of people. It was 23 people the last time I checked, and while I may not get paid with actual money I'm just actually happy to be there and make sure the stream's a safe space for people. ( They do make sure I do not overwork myself though fshjdfj)

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I often get assumed to be older than I actually am both in real life and online, so if you ever think I’m older than I am on accident don’t worry it’s happens a lot more than you’d think LOLL

[caesarclowningaround]

I was tagged by @flightsofwonder! Thanks dearie!! This was interesting and fun!

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favorite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favorite authors!

Felt With the Heart (MCU, 1123 words) Jane fiddled with the skirt of her dress for the thirtieth time. 

The Pure and Simple Truth (MCU/Mr. Robot, 2500 words) Gods and monsters. It’s all real. Who knew? For some reason, Elliot wasn’t at all surprised as he stared across the room at the ‘god’ before him. 

Next Stop (Good Omens, 620 words) It wasn’t that Crowley meant to smack his shoulder into the other man’s as he walked through the subway car… but he meant to. 

voulez-vous coucher avec moi? (2019!Aladdin/2017!Beauty and the Beast, 1163 words) Adam could have anyone he wanted. This wasn’t just hubris, it was a fact. 

Shadows (Trouble in the Heights, 561 words) The room is a swirling mass of color and fabrics. 

my happy ending is right next to me (IT movie franchise, 246 words) Richie couldn’t wait to dive into the champagne at the reception. 

Baking Without Flour (Good Omens, 961 words) Aziraphale wasn’t sure what he was expecting when he entered Crowley’s apartment, but he at least expected that he’d be unpacked by now.  

Violet Skies (2019!Aladdin/2017!Beauty and the Beast, 42622 words (and counting)) Another day, another suitor. This one was from the far west with flowered silks and bright pastels. Prince Adam from France. 

Horizon (Star Wars, 1397 words) It was so different than anything Armitage could have imagined. And oh, he had imagined.

the booze and the bell chimes (2019!Aladdin/2017!Beauty and the Beast/2015!Cinderella, 6272 words) 11:00 AM - 6 HOURS BEFORE THE WEDDING “BOOTY BOOTY BOOTY BOOTY ROCKIN’ EVERYWHERE” Jafar nearly jumped out of bed, his heart pounding in time with the pounding in his head. 

The Dream (MCU/Loki: Where Mischief Lies, 602 words) There is pain as he feels the grip tighten around his throat. He struggles for air, knowing it to be futile at this point. Then, a sharp crack of agony… and he’s gone.

Submerge (Star Wars, 8750 words) His father had warned him many times as a boy to stay away from the Dark Shoals. When Kylo took to the sea as an adult, still his father warned him that morning.

Good at Waiting (2019!Aladdin/2017!Beauty and the Beast, 618 words) Adam wasn’t sure where he was at first. But as the world came into focus around him, he remembered. He remembered dinner the night before, celebrating their six-month anniversary. 

Boom, Clap! (Crash Pad/MCU, 12175 words (and counting)) I need to lay off the weed. It certainly wasn’t the first time Stensland had thought this (or even attempted to put the thought into action soon after), much less the first time he had thought it the moment he had woken up from some batshit crazy trippy dream.

The Ocean Under the Moon (2019!Aladdin/They Call Me Jeeg, 1525 words (and counting)) Fabio had a weird, mostly unknown love for thrift stores. 

a lil something (2019!Aladdin/2017!Beauty and the Beast, 728 words) Jafar’s phone vibrates in his pocket for the second time in the past ten minutes. 

Love is a Battlefield (The Old Guard, 1328 words) There was an excitement in the air as they all stood in formation. Syrus pawed at the ground, his hoof kicking up grass and dust that hung around his legs. 

when push comes to shove (2019!Aladdin/Trust, 1371 words) It had started with Jafar grabbing fistfuls of Primo’s ass and a mocking comment about how thin his pants were, which somehow had led to Jafar assuming Primo wasn’t wearing anything under the blue trousers. He assumed correctly.

play us an encore (2019!Aladdin/2017!Beauty and the Beast, 2400 words) “Open your robe.” Jafar didn’t move from where he was standing in the bathroom doorway. Dressed in only his silk red robe, he stared back at Adam, who was smiling in a way that Jafar couldn’t read.

break the bubble (2019!Aladdin/2017!Beauty and the Beast/2015!Cinderella, 1092 words) “Love is like a bomb, baby, c’mon get it on…” The lights flashed as three gorgeous men walked onto the stage, lip synching with the loud lyrics of Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me" playing over the speakers. 

Analysis:

First of all, the fact that 11/20 of these are crossovers is pretty telling of what my favorite thing to write is. Most are either Aladdin crossovers or Marvel crossovers (and involve either Jafar or Loki, respectively) so there’s that.

This list goes back about two years, which is interesting because in the past two years I’ve been working on bigger projects most of the time. Notice how most of these fics are under 2k? Most of these started as small fic prompts or 2am spur-of-the-moment ideas and the longer ones are the more self-indulgent fics.

5 of these fics start with a line that’s mostly used to catch a reader’s attention before a tag, which is then followed by a bit of exposition or action. Twice I use song lyrics as a way of grabbing attention because the POV of the character is also having their attention grabbed.

Several times I just jump right into a character’s POV and begin with them thinking about something or essentially telling the reader “what is happening is normal” or “what is happening is not normal” depending on the situation. It’s also sometimes a quick recap or the statement of a fact about our POV character.

Most of the time, I just jump right into the action to get the story moving. I’ve noticed I prefer to do this over giving a description of where we are. If I do give a description, it almost always comes after the opening line. With the exception of Shadows, none of these opening lines are a setting description.

I really do have a thing for crossovers, especially the weird ones LOL I just love the idea of two different worlds connecting in some way and having the characters themselves connect on another level. D*sney’s been crossing over their stuff since well before I was even born, so while it’s not surprising to see a disney crossover fic, I do think there’s something to writing that odd lil ship I’ve written about 7 fics for (dang!)

I tend to deal with themes of forbidden love in various ways and how the characters make those connections despite the fact they shouldn’t be together. Whether it’s as simple as unrequited romance, or they’re enemies, or they’re not necessarily enemies but they really shouldn’t be together... and yet they always find a way. IDK maybe I’m just a romantic at heart who loves seeing love stories about love conquering all. But that being said, the obstacles these characters face aren’t typical ones?? Like, from this list at least, love triangles aren’t something I’m interested in, but if there is a third party (like in Violet Skies) the third party is never really considered to be a “threat” to the main couple. 

That’s probably another reason why I dig crossover ships, because they inherently shouldn’t be together. they’re from vastly different worlds with maybe one or two things in common (like genre or setting or a character detail or just a vibe).

Or I’m just here to have fun and I’m dragging these characters into the fun zone whether they like it or not :P

But really, all of these are love stories in some way or another. Not that I’ve never written gen fic and I love reading gen fic! But I guess my fave fics to write are the shippy stuff. I just enjoy exploring these types of relationships, despite whether or not they “should” be together. Heck, a couple of these do not have happy endings nor should they. It’s really interesting seeing exactly how drawn to that stuff I am.

FAVE OPENING LINE This is kind of a weird thing to say, but I really don’t care a lot of my opening lines most of the time. I think they are what they need to be, but they don’t hit me the way they should? Some of these I kinda wish I could go back and change, though that’s mostly cuz out of all the lines in each of these fics the first lines I’ve read and reread the most. So it’s mostly me being my own worst critic, but I think my best writing comes more in the middle and ends of my fics, not the beginnings. 

That said, I gotta go with Violet Skies: Another day, another suitor. This one was from the far west with flowered silks and bright pastels. Prince Adam from France.

This is one of those opening lines I’d never change. The fic starts off from Jafar’s POV and he is bored of these princes coming and going and starting this big fic off with him being like “here we go again” with this basic description of Adam is exactly where the fic needed to start, so by the time the reader gets to the end of the first chapter, we know this is definitely not “here we go again” with Prince Adam~

TAGGING: @pigsinablanketfort, @heroofshield, @thenightisfullofangels, @raptorwhisperer, @theresatvjoe, aaaaaaand anybody else who wants to do it!!!!

[chris-evans-indian-fanfic]

Conversation

One-Shot

Description - Captain America and Batman have a conversation on a bench.

I tried something new with this fic. It is mostly based on conversation without any action scenes. Do give your feedback if you like this new format or if not, then how can I make it better? 

The only reason I am trying this new format is because the writing challenge set by @donutloverxo @captain-a-rogerss and @optimistic-dinosaur-nacho make me push my limits and step outside my comfort zone! This week, the challenge was to write a Marvel x DC crossover fic, something I have never done before. Check out the challenge here and participate now!

Warning - None

A/N - This fic is based on Steve before the first Avengers movie

My Main Masterlist

I don’t consent to have any of my work published or featured on any third party app, website or translated. If you are seeing this fanfiction anywhere but Tumblr and AO3, it has been reposted without my permission. In that case, please do share the link and let me know.

…

Bruce Wayne set aside his newspaper with a huff. After a lifetime of fighting with terrorists, aliens and freaking exploding penguins, he thought he had seen everything, until today.

Headlines such as; "America's Golden Boy Returns" , "Captain America Found Alive Under Ice" , "Brrr! Is that a Popsicle? Frozen Dessert? No! It's Steve Rogers!" graced the newspapers that morning, seemingly destroying whatever little amount of peace Batman had left.

Great, another man with superpowers who might be a potential threat that I have to take care of, Bruce frowned as he pulled up information on Captain America. "Alfred," he called out, "What do you remember about Captain America?"

"Are you asking me to recite today's headlines Master Wayne?" came the prompt reply from the other room. 

Bruce chucked, "Not what I meant."

"I will have you know Master Wayne that I wasn't even born when the Red, White and Blue hero went under the ice. The grey hair on my head may make me look old, but I am not a 100 years old," came the indignant reply.

"You don't say! Here I was thinking you didn't look a day over 120," teased Bruce.

"That's what happens when you worry about a future where you would be living without grandchildren to take care of," Alfred snapped, shutting up Bruce.

Bruce knew Nick Fury would be initiating Steve into S.H.I.E.L.D., his personal crime-fighting-superhero-club. Oh he knew Nick Fury very well. The  man with the eye-patch had proven to harbour more mysteries than the pandora's box, a quality that didn't sit well with Bruce. That's why, when Fury had invited Batman to join the Avengers, he had bluntly refused. Looking at the blue-eyed soldier, Bruce decided to pay him a visit.

Steve Rogers was scared. He didn't recognise this world. Everything was louder. The people, the machines, the cars. Colours were more vibrant and simple things were just too complicated to understand. It was as if everything in this new world was made to attack his senses. 

His Converse squeaked as he walked in the aisles of the departmental store. Converse was one of the few things still around from his time before the ice. One of the few things he still recognised.

He entered the milk aisle. He exhaled loudly as he read the options; Low Fat Milk, Full Fat Milk, Cow's Milk, Buffalo Milk, Camel, Donkey… Wait… People milked camels and donkeys? His face contorted with disgust at the thought. Moving forward, he saw more confusing options- Almond Milk, Coconut Milk, Cashew Milk… He looked on with horror. Had modern science found a way to put breasts on nuts now?! Where was normal milk? Did normal milk exist anymore?! 

He clutched the handles of the basket tighter, bending the metal. He needed to get away from here. He didn't belong in this time, this century. Steve slowly took a step back, and bumped into someone.

"Heeeyy watch wherrrre you are gooooing paaal," the large man behind Steve slurred as he dropped his box of cereal and tried to retain his balance. "I am sorry," muttered Steve, even though he could have sworn there hadn't been anyone behind him until a few moments ago.

Steve looked at the man. He was as tall and well-built as Steve, heck maybe even more muscular. His black hair was disheveled, his eyes swollen red and his breath reeked of cheep alcohol and cigar.

"You pussssshed me," the stranger slurred again, "hooow darrrre yooou?" he staggered, raising his fists.

Steve picked up the box of cereal and handed the stranger a new box, "I don't want to fight you sir. Instead, can I buy you this cereal?"

The man tried to punch Steve, which he easily dodged, "Fiighttt meeee," he insisted. Steve could only smile in response, "Believe it or not sir, but I am a senior citizen, and I am not looking to pick any fight. Please, can I buy you this box of cereal?" 

"Coff-feeee," the drunken man said. "Okay I will buy you coffee too," Steve agreed.

The way towards the billing counter was slow as the stranger kept stumbling into shelves and displays. Steve kept a strong grip on him and guided him in his way. 

Steve even helped the stranger as he puked his guts out on the street, helping him clean his mouth with a kerchief. They both sat on the bench outside the cafe.

"Why… you… help me?" the stranger managed to ask between his panted breaths. "Why wouldn't I?" Steve seemed puzzled, "You can’t take care of yourself now, you need help. So I am helping you."

"I don't need help from you punk!" the stranger spat as he shoved Steve forcefully on the bench. It hardly shook Steve. He smiled a small smile, "Everybody needs help at some point or the other, Mr Wayne. How long do you think you can operate as the sole hero?"

Wiping his hand on the back of his mouth, Bruce smiled, "As long as I hold the key to every answer."

"Fury is not that bad," Steve scoffed.

"You don't know what's going on at S.H.I.E.L.D., do you?" challenge Bruce 

Steve retorted, "I don't need to know. I am just a soldier who follows orders."

"Whose orders? And on what authority? We don't need soldiers as we are not at war. But that doesn't stop us from initiating them," Bruce stated matter-of-factly.

"I believe in people Mr Wayne. I have faith in the general good that resides deep within every citizen," remarked Steve.

"Huh," it was Bruce's turn to scoff, "Here I was thinking you are a threat, but you are just a delusional patriot. People have agendas Captain. And agendas change. People are still bad, corrupt and easily influenced. The world hasn't changed Captain. Don't let anyone tell you any different."

Steve considered Bruce's words in silence, "The world has changed Mr Wayne, in more ways than you can possibly imagine. And it's... hard to keep track of things and stay updated. But it's much more easier to follow orders, you know?" 

"People are still the same Captain. And they make up the world. As for keeping track," Bruce leaned back on the bench, "You can keep a list of things you need to learn."

Steve nodded, getting up, "That's a good idea. Let me get you that coffee and maybe you can tell me what can I add to the list?"

Steve turned around and entered the cafe.

"Hi how can I help you?" the barista greeted him cheerfully. "Can I get a coffee?" requested Steve.

"Sure! Which one would you like to have? A cappuccino? Americano? Espresso? Latte? Moch-" 

"Son, please just give me a normal coffee," pleaded Steve.

"Sure sir. Which size do you want? We have Tall, Tumbl-"

"Just. A. Normal. Coffee. Please," Steve gritted his teeth. 

He stepped out with the hot coffee, only to find the bench empty, except for the cereal box. He read the note stuck on the box, "I will keep an eye on you", the note promised.

Bruce settled back in his chair in his underground workshop. He laughed when he noticed the cereal box and the to-go cup of coffee, which was still warm. He laughed as he read the note stuck on the cup, "Tell Alfred I said hi. And please ask him if he will be willing to start a Barbershop Quartet with me?"

Steve returned home sweaty from the workout. He chuckled when he saw the carton of milk in his kitchen, with the words NORMAL MILK written in big, bold letters. He read the note that came with it, "Alfred expresses his apologies as he will be unable to join your Barbershop Quartet. However, he does have a recommendation for your list. He suggests you watch 'I Love Lucy', an American sitcom from the 1950s. It had been quite popular then."

"Sir, do you think Batman will join our forces if need be?" Maria Hill asked Nick Fury as he read Natasha's report on Bruce and Steve.

"I don't know," Fury said, "But it is always beneficial to have friends on the other side, should the situation arise."

__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__

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[thorne93]

Unforeseen Chasm (Part 36)

Prompt: Two sisters fall for men that are absolute enemies. The love they have could tear all of them apart, or it could bring them together.

Word Count: 4443

Warnings: Language, mentions of kinks/sex, adult themes

Note: This is by far the longest thing I’ve ever written (including my novels). It’s a collaboration with the amazing @mrs-dragneel-stark-solo​​​. It started as a funny “What if…?” and it evolved and got huge. This took two years to write. We are both proud and happy and we hope you enjoy it. It follows from Thor 1 to Endgame in the MCU. Some of the timelines may be off in order to fit certain people, and some characters may show up earlier or in different ways than they have in the movie. But for the most part, it follows the MCU. It also has a bit of crossover with some other Marvel characters throughout the story.

Masterlist for Unforeseen Chasm

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

First thing that you and Shannon set off to do was to find a place to look at wedding dresses. Shannon didn’t want to leave Nat out so she invited her as well things however felt a bit awkward due to the fact that at that moment Nat was the maid of honor and Shannon‘s best friend, you, were just her best friend. 

You weren’t sure if you expected Shannon to grant you the honor of maid of honor or not. Of course you wanted it, but you knew that could be awkward for Shannon to handle. You didn’t want to pressure her to suddenly take the title away from Nat. You would be happy no matter what she decided. You could completely understand if Shannon didn’t want an ex-con as a maid of honor. 

“Y/N, could you give us a moment really quick? I’d like to talk to Nat about something,” she said, hoping to fix the situation. 

Both women, equally confused, looked at each other and then at her. 

“Uhhh sure I’ll go get something to drink.” She walked into the kitchen where she found a bottle of orange juice. 

“Hey, Nat, I was hoping we could talk.”

“Actually I’ve been wanting to talk to you too,” she said, coming closer to her. “I’ve given it a lot of thought and I'm really honored that you’d asked me to be your maid of honor but I think you should give that title to Y/N. You two have been friends for a long time, longer than you and me have from our days back in The Red Room.” Nat went on to say although she didn't trust you she wanted to make the wedding about Shannon and not the awkwardness that they were having at that moment. 

“Nat, you have no idea how much that means to me. I hated the idea of taking the title from you because we’re great friends too and you’ve been there since the start of all this.” She hugged her friend knowing she would find a way to make it up to her. “What about being my my bridesmaid? Seeing as it's only you and Hill are the few women closest to me.” 

“I would love that, Shannon. It’s still an honor to be a part of this happy moment for you.” She pulled back slightly to see her eyes. 

After the two talked they went to find you so that they could all head to the store. Upon arriving to the store she was greeted by the owner. Although the story was removed from the news that didn't stop people from treating she differently knowing who she were getting married to. 

While Shannon was taken to the back to try on a few dresses the other two women waited and talked about Nat giving you the title if maid of honor. 

“Sooo…” Nat dragged, suddenly turning towards you. 

You stilled, unsure how to respond to Natasha. She was a formidable woman, one that you hardly ever interacted with. Before you left for Asgard three years ago, you’d probably met her twice at one of Tony’s parties. The third time you met, she was trying to kill you and your boyfriend. Not exactly “best girlfriend” material. 

“So,” you returned evenly. You weren’t sure how to handle this. You didn’t want to be overly sweet to someone who didn’t like or trust you, but you didn’t see a reason to be hateful to her either, so you kept it cordial. 

“So, Shannon and I talked,” she continued.

“Oh?” You turned to her, your arms crossed. 

“Yeah, we thought, given the fact that you’re out now, and you and Shannon being so close… Well… we thought that the title of maid of honor should go to you… if you’re up for it. It’ll be a lot of responsibility and I know that can be daunting with you just being released today but--”

“I’ll do it,” you said, cutting her off. 

“Are you sure? I thought you might want to, but I also know the outside world might be a little much right now, and handling a wedding might be… I don’t know, a lot for you to handle.”

“Natasha, if you’re worried I’m going to snap or lose my shit because I have to help my best friend with a wedding, then you have nothing to worry about. I want to be here for Shannon. I want to help with this wedding.” 

She held up her hands in defense. “That’s not what I was saying…”

“But you were thinking it. Look, Natasha, I get it. You think Loki and I are basically a basket full of crazy. I’m going to be honest, we were. Loki nor I were in the right state of mind when we attacked New York, but we’re better now. I’m not going to flip out, or hurt you, or hurt Shannon, or do anything but give Shannon the most magical wedding she deserves. I hope you can put aside your bias and help me in that?”

“I think I can,” she said with a tiny smirk, sort of impressed at your no-nonsense stance. “Thank you, for being honest and real with me.”

“If I wasn’t, you would’ve figured it out anyway,” you muttered. “Kind of a gift of being from the Red Room, right?” 

Natasha’s lips perked up in a side smile. “Pretty much.” 

After a little moment passed, you quietly leaned towards her and said, “And thank you, for letting me have the title. That means a lot. You didn’t have to, but you did.”

“Well, like you said, Shannon deserves a magical wedding.”

“That she does,” you agreed in a murmur. 

Just then, Shannon stepped out of the hallway that led to the dressing rooms. She was a total vision in white.

“Oh, Shannon,” you gushed in almost a whisper. 

“Do you like it?” she asked, unsure as she picked up the skirt and looked at it. 

“It looks great on you,” Natasha answered.

“How does it feel?” you asked as she made her way over to the platform and stepped up. 

“It feels very… white,” she noted with a  small laugh.

You smiled at her reflection. “Yes, but does it feel bridal to you?”

She looked at it for a moment. “It’s very pretty, but I don’t think it’s the one, you know?” 

“Then we’ll keep looking. The first dress usually isn’t the winner,” you commented. “Want us to pick some out for you?” you offered.

“I’d love that. All of these choices are overwhelming,” she noted, glancing around the store. 

“You go get out of that one and we’ll bring some others,” you stated.

With that, the three of you split up. Natasha found simple gowns. Gowns that had very little detail, full satin, or full lace. Some short, some long. 

You aired on the side of dramatic, some with bling, some with unique lacing or patterns. Just to give her variety. 

By the end, you found about ten gowns. None of them quite fit her. Some didn’t accent her best features. Some didn’t match her skin tone. Some didn’t hit her at the right length. 

“This is hopeless,” she said as she started to march off the platform in the last dress.

“Hey, come on, it’s only the first day,” Natasha tried.

“Yeah, we’ll try another store tomorrow. Why don’t we go grab some lunch for now? Maybe that would help?”

“Yeah, I’m starving,” Shannon agreed. 

Shannon changed back into her clothing, where the consult gave her her card in case she had questions or wanted to come back. You thanked the shop clerk and the three of you left, setting off towards one of your favorite restaurants in Manhattan. It overlooked Central Park and they had the best lunch menu in the city in your opinion. 

The three of you got seated and as soon as the waiter took your drink order, Natasha excused herself to go to the restroom.

“So… how’s the first day so far?” Shannon tried cautiously. She didn’t want to upset you by reminding you Loki was out or bring to your attention you were an ex-convict, but she wanted to check in with you, to make sure you weren’t overwhelmed.

“This has been fantastic honestly. I can’t imagine any other way to celebrate my first day out than by wedding dress shopping with my best friend,” you informed with a sweet smile. 

“Good! Great! I’m so glad to hear that…”

“Yeah, I think it’s good… Hey, Shan…”

“Hmm?” she hummed while she looked over the menu. 

“When do you think Loki’s gonna get out?” 

“Oh, um, I’m not sure. I’ve been trying very hard to get him out with you. But I think they want another month, at least. Why?” 

“Well…. I’ve been thinking… I’d like to get an apartment… with him.”

She froze before putting her menu down and looking at you. “An apartment?” 

“Yeah. I mean, when he’s released. We won’t stay at the cell... “

“Right. You weren’t going to go back to Asgard?” she wondered. Asgard was your home after all, and Loki’s. It would seem only right to return to the land you came from. The land where she thought you belonged.

You shook your head. “I’ll ask Loki, but… Earth makes me happier. At least for now, you know? I think Odin wouldn’t be too happy about Loki’s last escapades, and I missed you too much while I was up there. Earth… it’s what I know best. Maybe in a few years when we start talking about a family or something we could go back, raise our children there but… I think I’m gonna stick around on Earth for a while, what do you think?”

Happy tears were already stinging Shannon’s eyes as she gazed at you. 

“I think that’s wonderful. I’d love it if you stayed here. Would you want a suite in the tower? I could find a whole floor, you could decorate it how you wanted--”

You held up your hand. “I appreciate the offer, Shannon, I really do, and I’d love nothing more than to live a few floors away from you but… I’ve been chained to that tower for two years. Honestly, I don’t want to live in it or live anywhere near it.”

Shannon’s face and heart sank. Of course you wouldn’t want to live there. That was selfish of her to assume that. But she wanted to at least try.

“I understand. The offer still stands though.”

“Thank you, really. It’s just… The Avengers not trusting Loki, or me. And us having to stay in there…. I’d like us to be on our own, have some privacy for the first time. Even when we lived on Asgard, he and I were hardly ever alone.”

“That’s right.. And then on Sanctuary. I totally get it. No biggie. So you’re gonna start apartment hunting?” 

“Yeah… Somewhere here in New York. Oh, shit I need a job,” you realized, laughing. “I have my savings stil from before I left but if I’m gonna pay rent, I’ll need a job.”

Shannon twisted her mouth to the side. “Would you be opposed to me helping you find a job?” 

“Not at all, know any good ex-con programs?” you asked with disdain. 

Shannon gave you a scolding glare. “That's not funny.”

“Wasn’t supposed to be,” you noted. “Anyway, yeah, I’m up for anything.”

“What about working in the lab with Bruce?” 

“Bruce?” you asked, frowning. “Are you sure he’d want me to?”

“He needs a partner on molecular physics. That isn’t really my area and a lot of people get nervous around him. Seems like the perfect fit.”

“And he’s not going to… you know… hate me being around him?”

She shook her head. “Not at all. I’ll double check but as long as you’re running math, he could care less.”

“Okay, yeah, that’d be nice.” 

“You know that apartment we both shared is still ours, right? I haven’t gone there in a few days but you’re more than welcome to take that for you and Loki,” Shannon suggested, hoping that would help bring you to a place where you feel comfortable.

“Really? You never sold it?” you asked, perplexed. 

She shrugged. “Nah. Sometimes I used it to get away. Every now and again I used it when I missed you. All of your things are still there.” She looked down at her hands hoping it didn’t sound idiotic. “So I would go and visit, back when you were on Asgard, or missing, or even when we weren't talking. It was like I could step in there and you weren't gone.” 

You gave her an apologetic, sympathetic smile. “I'm so sorry for that.” 

“It’s always been a little safe haven to me,” she said. “There’s nothing to apologize for.” She waved her hand.

All of you finished your lunch and then headed back to the tower. Shannon needed to grab the key to the apartment and the two of you would head their next, to get you acquainted. 

It still felt more than unnatural to be out of that cell. Sure, the last time you were out you could roam, but that was only at Xavier’s mansion. You could literally go anywhere in the world right now, even go back to Asgard.

The three of you entered the tower and you rode up to the commons floor, where the living room, kitchen, and some of the bedrooms for the Avengers. Just as the three of you stepped out of the elevator, Tony walked by, mug in hand. He glanced over at the three of you.

“Hey, babe. Hey, Y/N/N…” 

Suddenly, he did a double take at you, his eyes going wide. “Y/N? You… you’re out…”

“Yeah, the release was today,” Shannon suddenly reminded softly as Tony stared at you with an unreadable expression on his face. How daunting it was that so many happy, pained, conflicted memories could live between the two of you. 

“Oh… right. Yeah I guess with everything going on… I forgot…” he said half heartedly, his mind seeming to be in another place as he eyed you up and down. 

You couldn’t help but mess with Tony a little. So a charming smirk crept onto your face as your fingertips had tiny streams of purple dancing around them, sparking every so often. “What’s wrong, Tony? Worried about me?” 

He cleared his throat before he and Natasha took off down the nearby hallway before Shannon turned to you.

“Before you go anywhere else, I need to show you something…” she suddenly said, seeming a little nervous.

“Sure, hun. Anything. I’m in no rush. I’m just excited to be out,” you assured, reaching forward and rubbing her arm. 

“Well, with you being on parole, there are a few… conditions, stipulations, if you will,” she said, walking forward. 

You nodded, listening. “Well… Yeah, sure, I guess I expected that,” you stated. In all honesty, you did. You were fully aware they wouldn’t just open the door and say “have a good life!” and wave you off with a friendly smile. You and Loki had nearly leveled one of the largest cities in the United States -- that came with a hefty punishment. 

“So, you’re still free to go wherever you’d like,” she explained as the two of you continued going to some unknown place in the tower. 

“Mhm…”

“But well… you need to do a few things to… well… to keep that freedom…” she informed, feeling utterly crappy for having to be the one to deliver the news. 

You frowned until she gestured through the glass at a man that was familiar to you. You glanced at her with a side gaze before the two of you walked into the lab where he was working. 

“You’ll have to be coming to Bruce to check in.” She waved over to him. “He will be in charge of seeing how well you are… so in other words.. he’s your parole officer.” She looked away from you and smiled when Bruce hugged her.

“Hello, Y/N, it's good to know your finally out of that cell.” He moved from her side to face you. “I will however ask that you come work with me a few times a week as a check in and a way to keep you busy.” He motioned around the lab. 

“Oh… Are you sure this is okay with you?” you asked feeling like you’d been dumped on Bruce. “I don’t want to be in your way.”

“No, no not at all it would be of great help to have you around seeing as there’s somethings I’m not aware I could figure out.” He looked back at you hoping that this will help a bit. 

“There’s no pressure, Y/N/N. If you feel uncomfortable you can tell me right now and we’ll see who else we can have as your officer,” she rushed her response hoping to smooth things over. 

“Thanks… I’ll keep that in mind, for now I think I’m somewhat okay with this,” you told her reaching to wrap your arm around her shoulders 

“Well if you two ladies excuse me I need to get back.” He started walking away. “I will be contacting you soon enough about our arrangements.” With that he left. 

As soon as he was out of earshot, you leaned in closer to Shannon, whispering. “So I just have to check in with him and work in the lab a few times a week?”

She shrugged and smiled. “Yeah, pretty much. Is that okay?” she wondered. She was nervous, since Bruce had beat Loki to a pulp. Had you forgotten that? Or had you forgiven it? She didn’t want to trigger you,but she didn’t want Bruce to suddenly mention it later, and that trigger you either. 

“It’s fine… It’s just…” You didn’t know how to tell her it’s a bit uncomfortable having to check in with him because of what he had done. You knew you should put it in the past but it's hard knowing that Bruce let Hulk hurt Loki and you couldn’t do anything about it. 

“Y/N/N, you know you can tell me what’s wrong, right?” She could read you like an open book and that sometimes scared you but knew it wasn't something she would do on purpose. “I know it’s weird that it’s Bruce because of the incident that happened two years ago but I’m sure he wouldn’t purposely bring it up.” 

“It is a bit weird but I guess it’ll take some getting used to. I'm just so glad that I'm out of there and that Loki will be out of there too.” 

Shannon could tell you were holding in the excitement. 

“Well let's get out of this floor. Do you wanna maybe go to the apartment or do you wanna go see Lucky?” She looked a tiny bit relieved. “I think it’ll be nice to see how he reacts to seeing you again.” 

“Sure, I’ve missed him so much and yeah it’d be nice to head to the apartment.” The two of you walked to the elevators heading to what you assumed was Shannon’s old floor. “Maybe I can get some of my things and take it down to the cell.” 

“Sure thing. I could grab my suitcase so you can put whatever you’d like to grab in there.” The two of you arriving and the destination rather quickly. “Lucky! Come here, boy,” she called as she walked around the kitchen.  

“You still keep this stocked up?” you asked, seeing the fridge filled with food. “I thought you and Tony shared his floor.” 

“Well yeah but sometimes I like coming down here, it’s usually when I know Tony will be in the lab all night long when I’ll come sleep here and share the bed with Lucky.” In that moment Lucky came bounding in like such a happy puppy even though he was about 5 years old. 

The first thing you noticed was how big he had gotten and how fluffier his fur looked. Crouching down to eye level you tried to pet him but he seemed to be a bit shy. Frowning, you look up at Shannon. 

“Seems like he’s forgotten who I am,” you said sadly. You didn't think he’d forget so quickly you weren’t gone that long… were you? 

“Well, Y/N/N, you were gone for almost three years when you went to Asgard and then another two when you were down in the cell…” she sounded just as sad. “Maybe let him sniff you, he might still know your scent.” 

Reaching out your hand palm facing up. Lucky looked from Shannon to your hand seeing her nod her head, Lucky got closer and took a sniff. It wasn’t long until he realized it was you that caused him to get all happy and a case of the zoomies hit him making both women laugh. 

He jumped up to lick your face managing to knock you down and attacking you with licks and huffs. “It's good to see you too, boy. I’ve missed you a bunch.” You ruffled his fur and he nodded his head like he agreed. 

“Is there any soda in the fridge?” you asked hoping to get your hands on some. “Could use a fizzy drink.”

“Yeah there should be some of the kind you like in there.” Heading for the fridge, she opened the door for you to grab some. 

“Thanks.” You took a sip of some for what feels like ages since the last time you had some. “Wow this tastes so good!” You down the whole can in one go. 

“Woah, Y/N, don’t worry there's more in the fridge,” she laughed as she handed you another can. “Don’t want all the gas going up your nose.”

You laughed. “I guess I forgot how good food can be. God, I’m going to eat everything in sight,” you joked, remembering all the food you’d missed out on.

“Well lucky for you I’ve got a little welcome home surprise.” She motioned to the living room. “I’m sure you’d missed them just as much as they have.” You both walked in and you froze in place. The two people you’d never thought you’d see again were standing there with tears in their eyes. 

“Y/N!” They both gasp and the three of you crash into each other in a giant hug. “Dear, we’ve missed you so much!”

They both talked at once. Shannon’s parents had taken you in as their own daughter and you felt like you were finally home.

“How long have you been here?” you asked them, clearing the tears from your eyes. 

“Shannon called us while she was in the changing room at the bridal store saying you had returned from your trip,” her mother said. “And we were so excited we just had to come down here and see you.” 

You look over at Shannon and she mouthed “they don’t know about the cell”. You nodded your head and the four of you sit and chat hearing about everything that's happened since you’ve been in prison.

It was going to be hard to pretend you’d been off in Asgard doing amazing things for the last few years. 

“So tell us about you! How have you been? How was Asgard! Tell us all about it!” Diane said excitedly. 

You shot a quick look to Shannon, who encouraged you on with a head nod and a nervous look. 

“Uh, well... It’s lovely. I had an amazing job there, I lived with the royal family. The city is plated in gold and rainbows. It’s truly breathtaking.”

“Wow that sounds wonderful,” Tom, Shannon’s dad, remarked. 

“It is…” You twisted your fingers around themselves. “I also, uh, met someone,” you informed. They were just like your parents, right? You could tell them anything, right? They’d want to know that you were happy, in a good relationship, right?

“That's fantastic, sweetheart! On Asgard?” Diane wondered.

“Uh, yeah. His name is Loki, he’s the prince,” you stated. 

“Well tell us what he’s like?” Tom asked always being very fatherly. “How does he feel about coming back home?”

“Uh, he’s fine with it. I think. He’s patiently waiting for me. He wants me to experience the world again,” you said, dancing on the line of truth and lie. “He’s very smart, cunning, clever. He graduated top of his class in Asgard… He’s incredibly witty, and very well read. He loved his mother dearly, before she passed. They were very close. She taught him magic. He’s a very good sorcerer.” 

Shannon was on her phone in an instant looking for one of the pictures you had sent her when you had been getting to know him. “Here, this is a picture she sent me of the family and this is him.” She passed the phone to her parents and pointed at which one Loki was.

“Well, dear, he sounds like a wonderful man and from the looks of it he’s quite handsome.” Diane winked at you. 

“He sure is,” you agreed on both accounts.

“When will we get to meet him?” Tom wondered, sounding excited. 

At this, you didn’t really have a good answer. So you tried to come up with something that wasn’t a total lie. “Uh, whenever he’s free. I’ll let you know when that is,” you informed with a nod. 

“From what Y/N told me he’s a very busy man lately but hopefully as the date for the wedding approaches, we can all meet him in person,” Shannon said to them hoping that will suffice for now. “Why don’t you tell us about your traveling around Europe?” She had changed the topic of conversation not wanting you to feel guilty about them not knowing the truth. 

You look over to her and mouth a silent thank you and the rest of the time was spent hearing about Rome and the beauty of France. Looking at pictures of every location they visited and how happy everyone was made you feel at ease knowing that soon enough there wouldn’t be anymore problems for you and Loki.

“We do hope you come home and soon, dear, we need to have a family dinner before the rehearsal for the wedding,” Diane suggested, hoping to have you back home and spending the day with them.

“Of course, I’ll see when we can do that so that it’s like old times again” you smile sincerely for the first time in what feels like ages.

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

Tag List: @essie1876​ @magpiegirl80​ @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked​ @iamwarrenspeace​ @marvel-imagines-yes-please​ @superwholocked527 @missinstantgratification​ @thejemersoninferno​ @rda1989​ @munlis​ @thefridgeismybestie​ @bubblyanarocks3​ @igiveupicantthinkofausername​ @kaliforniacoastalteens​ @feelmyroarrrr​ @kaelingoat-blog​ @friendlyneighbourhoodweirdo​ @damalseer​

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Loki: @lostinspace33​​ @ultrarebelheart​​ @lenawiinchester​​ @esoltis280​​ @tngrayson​​ @wangdeasang​​ @harrymewmew @jayfantasyatyourservice​​

UC: @lokis-high-priestess​​

@pandacookieowo​​

[aion-rsa]

Sherlock 10th Anniversary: Behind the Scenes Set Secrets

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Two chairs. A fireplace. 17 steps leading up from the ground floor. On the mantelpiece, letters pierced by a knife, cigars hidden in a coal scuttle and tobacco concealed inside the toe of a Persian slipper… Sir Arthur Conan Doyle provided a few compass points from which set designers on screen adaptations of his Sherlock Holmes stories could work when creating their 221B Baker Street. The rest takes imagination, artistry, a storyteller’s eye and , in the case of BBC One’s Sherlock, the odd bit of mischief.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Sherlock’s arrival on the BBC, production designer Arwel W Jones lets Den of Geek in on the behind-the-scenes secrets of 10 sets. Over to Mr Jones…

221B Baker Street

Credit: Arwel W Jones

Though technically speaking it was a Hartswood Production and not directly through the BBC, because we were on the plot in Cardiff’s Upper Boat [Studios] where Doctor Who was being shot, there was a big old prop store there that had a lot of things from Doctor Who and I did borrow a couple of things from there which maybe I should have hired… including some music manuscript that ended up on set. I hadn’t actually spotted at the time that it had some Gallifreyan text on it! So there is that little moment of crossover for anyone that really wants one.

John’s chair is that homely chair that everyone can probably remember their grandparent sitting in. It was a chair we already had that we reupholstered it in a nice tone that complemented the room. For Sherlock, I wanted something that was a timeless classic, like himself. As soon as we saw an image of the Le Corbusier… it ticked every box. It’s low at the back, for the practicalities of shooting, and had exactly that timeless elegance.

The skull was something I’d seen in a magazine, a differently shaped skull sprayed glossy black, and liked. Everywhere you go now you see skulls or bison heads, they’re in every tattooist, every barber shop, even in nice restaurants. I don’t remember seeing them much before that.

Credit: Arwel W Jones

Often I won’t finish deciding on how to decorate a room until we know who’s been cast. The look of the actor affects what you’re doing. Once you visualise that person as that character, it makes it easier to visualise their space. 221B reflects the timelessness of Benedict. His outfits and his look would work in any era and that’s what I tried to do with the space.

It’s a transient space that had different levels of eras. No-one would really decorate their place like that! It did work though. Both Sherlock and John, no matter which wall you look at, if they’re framed against any section, with all those different styles and looks and textures, they look good against them.

Victorian 221B Baker Street

Credit: Arwel W Jones

I loved what we were able to do with ‘our’ version of the Victorian one. I was lucky it happened that way round, rather than do just another Victorian 221B, it was a Victorian version of my modern one, which is slightly surreal.

It was about finding shapes, finding little things that filled the spaces in a very similar way, like the oil lamp that had the brass reflecting around it that was bang-on perfect the same shape and size as the 221B moon lamp in the same space. They were all hints that it was [taking place in Sherlock’s Mind Palace] but there wasn’t anything out of time. We were so strict on it because they didn’t want the hint to be there before. There were clues in dialogue but they were scripted. I didn’t want to be the bad guy who let the cat out of the bag!

The stuffed deer head with the ear horn was quite cool. I was very happy with the skull painting too. It’s a real Victorian image called ‘All is Vanity’ and it worked so well in that spot. It was very of the moment because of that obsession with death that the Victorians had.

I can remember the exact moment where we said ‘what shall we paint over there?’ and I went ‘Aha! It’s the study! We’ll do it in scarlet!’  

Mycroft’s Office

Credit: Arwel W Jones

I wanted the idea that he was under your feet as you walked through Whitehall. The pattern on his ceiling is meant to be the underneath of those glass bricks that you walk over, that’s why that light comes in the way it does. We’ve always hinted that he ran the country, not the government and so he’s just there underneath, running everything.

When we did it the first time, it was the same time as doing the cell for keeping and interrogating Moriarty so we had that same feel.

If you look at the bare metal on the filing cabinets, everything is cold and calculated. The glass globe on his desk – world domination! All those things are there for a reason.

Eurus’ Sherrinford Cell

Credit: Arwel W Jones

This is about the coldness of the character and her calculatedness. It’s a smoother shape [than Mycroft’s similarly toned office], the curved ellipse of that cell, there are no edges so you don’t know what’s what. The colours and the textures obviously say coldness, but the glass and the concrete and the bareness were really about how dangerous she was, with no resource.

There are a few little Easter Eggs in there. If you look at the floor and markings on the wall, there are scratchings on the floor where the toilet and the shower would slide out. If you look at the table and the bed, they look like they can slide back into the wall. The idea is that if they wanted to, they could just leave her in a completely empty space and that she would never have to leave it. The round grate on the ceiling echoes the bottom of the well [where Eurus put John and ‘Redbeard’] but also the depths of the island. She was right at the bottom, on the bottom layer, the most secure. We played with the idea at one point of making it feel like it was underwater and there was an element of that in some of the lighting.

I was obviously looking at a lot of reference from Bond movies. That was a real nod to [Bond designer] Ken Adams, because he’d passed away that year sadly.

Magnussen’s Mind Palace

There’s a book [Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss] would reference all about helping your memory and it’s to do with associating things with particular memories. The weirder the thing you associate, the easier it is to remember it. So they told me to find weird and wonderful things! We had a fiberglass baby hippo in a dog bed in one corner, a rabbit pulling something out of a hat, rather than the other way around, a tree draped with gloves.

There was all manner of things on top of every corner of these ‘corridors of information’, including a painting of me at the end of one of them, which I don’t think you really saw. When we were doing The Sarah Jane Adventures years ago, we had a haunted house and there were things falling off the walls. We couldn’t let a hired painting fall in case of damages so I got one of the scenic artists to paint me as Rembrandt. That’s the one we knocked off the wall, so I had it, so I just put it in there as an extra bit of weirdness!

John’s Pilot Bedsit

Credit: Arwel W Jones

That was my favourite set from the unaired pilot. We were in the Coal Exchange in Cardiff that we were using downstairs for the therapist’s room and there was this little pokey room on the top floor. In the room next door they had that proper 1970s Sapele cladding, so I ripped that off one room and clad it around the one side. The tones of the bed covers and that Sapele and the lighting, it just felt like a miserable place, even though it had its own aesthetic.

This is what I keep going on about, even miserable places can have an aesthetic and look beautiful on screen. It added to his despair or his sense of not belonging. What we tried to do was recapture that in the first of the actual series. It was close, but I still think the one in the pilot was a better set in my mind. I didn’t quite get it right.

Read more

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Sherlock Designer Arwel W Jones: ‘There’s a Magic to Set Design’

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The Baskerville Laboratory

This was a real space, a microcomputer lab that had recently closed, so a lot of that was already there. I had one of the glass cases shatter on me, so I was standing in a pile of glass at one point while we were dressing that.

One of the team said she’d seen something on YouTube about how you could melt a plastic bottle and twist it into a jellyfish. We said, let’s have a go and that’s what the glow-in-the-dark jellyfish are, they’re all plastic bottles!

The monkeys were quite frisky! The male monkey really took a shine to the Grip. Really took a shine to the Grip. They had a tracking shot that was bringing the actors out of the elevator and every time the Grip passed the cage with the male monkey, shall we say he got a bit overexcited in an adult way, which was quite amusing to everyone there and very difficult for the cast to keep a straight face.

Culverton Smith’s ‘Favourite Room’

This was trying to have something that was really modern, because it was meant to be this brand new hospital he’d built and done all sorts of things to. We tried to go as ultra-modern in its feel, with all the LED lighting and the suspended lighting grid above the beds and the bank of coolers. It was about that feel of giving it complete coldness and newness. And having a viewing area, which was weird, but they do actually have that in a lot of mortuaries.

The wallpaper [in Sherlock’s hospital room next door] wasn’t TARDIS roundels, that was just nice wallpaper to give that room something extra. That was a real space, we built that extra wall into the Student’s Union in Cardiff.

John and Mary’s flat

I don’t think there’s a shot that really reflects it in the series, but in that little Christmas teaser [‘Many Happy Returns‘] there was a shot of John sat on the sofa on his own and in that, there are reflections of 221B. The sofa’s in the same place, there’s a light on the left hand side that gives the same kind of lighting as the moon lamp in 221B and I put a little skull-shaped vodka bottle in the cupboard on his right in the same place that the skull image would have been in 221B, just little things. It was a very different type of wallpaper but still a feature wallpaper wall behind him. He hadn’t quite let go. It was the same but different, was the idea.

We did a similar thing in Anderson’s flat (see below) in ‘The Empty Hearse’. That was a dangerous one to do, because what we were trying to do was a 221B that wasn’t quite working, or wasn’t quite right. You could get that very wrong and just get a messy set that didn’t look right. That was a bit more challenging if anything. It was Anderson trying to create his own 221B.

Credit: Arwel W Jones

[In Rosie’s nursery] and the bedroom, the tree and the fruits and the birds were a little reference to the décor of the wedding venue. It’s a nice wallpaper, also in Mrs Hudson’s corridor. The [black fish] mobile may have been a reference to what happens at the Aquarium, because we were talking about the cold, dead eyes of a shark.

John’s kitchen – even though we’d done the reflections of 221B in the flat, we also wanted to do the antithesis of it. The clutter of 221B versus the tidiness of that house. I read somewhere – biggest insult possible! – that it looked like an Ikea showroom of a house, which it wasn’t. There was a lot of stuff in there that was bespoke, but at the same time I can understand the reference. There were deliberately not a lot of signs of life, even the child’s toys are tidied away.

Scotland Yard

Credit: Arwel W Jones

It’s been three different places over the years. The first time it was in the old HTV studios in Cardiff, which no longer exist. That was flattened and is now a housing estate. When we went to look at it it was in kind of a dark blue, which was never going to look nice on camera, but I was looking at it with [director] Paul McGuigan who is a very, very strong Celtic fan and he said there was no way he’d film anywhere that was Rangers blue! So that’s why I painted in green and white hoops like Celtic shirts. So that’s where that colour scheme comes from.

I walked him on there and he said ‘I like this’ and I said ‘Have you realised?’ and he’s going ‘What? What?’ So I tell him ‘Green and white hoops!’ And he went, ‘You legend!’

See many more behind-the-scenes Sherlock photos on Arwel W Jones’ portfolio website.

The post Sherlock 10th Anniversary: Behind the Scenes Set Secrets appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3fXoXbc

[katewillaert]

My Secret Origin (Part 1): How To Fail At Comics

[Above: Art from 20 years ago, when I was in High School.]

What do you want to be when you grow up?

When I was four I said “mad scientist.” It was 1987 and I was a big fan of The Real Ghostbusters and Doc Brown. My mom insisted “mad scientist” wasn’t a profession. And weren’t those characters are inventors? What did I want to invent?

Clearly I hadn’t thought this through.

My mom also informed me that all those cartoons I watch were made by people. Those were drawings, and there are people whose job it was to draw those.

This blew my mind. From that point on I decided I was going to be an animator.

Discovering Art

I don’t remember when I first started drawing. It seems like something I always did growing up. As far as my memory is concerned, I came out of the womb holding a pencil and began drawing before I said my first words.

In reality, I probably started in preschool when I was four, just before I discovered what an animator was. I remember my favorite subject to draw was the Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters. I must’ve drawn it something like 10 or 20 times.

My mom kept almost all of my childhood art, so in theory I could figure out when I started drawing from that...except the earliest drawings were ruined when the basement flooded.

After the flooding, my mom was condensing what was left, and I saw something surprising: a box filled with Ecto-1 drawings. I hadn’t drawn it 10 or 20 times, I’d drawn it 100 or 200 times. Repetitively, over and over, without consciously thinking about what I was doing.

It was practice without realizing I was practicing. I guess that’s how my art “leveled up” so quickly?

Later I discovered other details about my early development. There was a time around age 2 where I stopped talking. There were times when I liked to line up toys. My obsession before art was Legos, building complex shapes and stairs.

Today these might be recognized as possible indicators of autism, but this was the ‘80s.

Because I was shy and lacking in social skills, a teacher suggested to my parents that I might benefit from being held back a grade. I had a summer birthday, so holding me back would make me one of the oldest rather than the youngest.

Thankfully my parents didn’t take that advice. I would’ve been miserable. Despite being the youngest in my class, I surpassed everyone in terms of scores. A CAT test says I scored “higher than 99% of all 3rd grade student in the nation in total language.” 91% in reading. 90% in math. My reading comprehension was 98% in the nation, but was brought down by my reading vocabulary which was only 72%.

Yet this new information called into question a things about myself I’d never considered. Maybe certain things suddenly made more sense? In particular, the way I don’t have interests so much as obsessions. Any time I take an interest in a topic, it leads to an obsessive amount of research.

Discovering Comics

I think the first comic I ever saw was a Chick Tract some kid showed me in Sunday School. He was surprised I’d never seen one. It must’ve hadan impact on me, because I attempted to draw a tract-style comic starring C.O.P.S. (“Fighting Crime In A Future Time”).

I didn’t discover REAL comic books until a few years later. In 1991, Terminator 2: Judgement Day marketing was in full force and I thought it looked so cool. But it was Rated R, and I was only seven. My mom spotted a couple issues of a Marvel comic adaptation (drawn by Klaus Janson), and I guess that was the compromise until it was out on video.

I attempted to illustrate a comic imitating Janson’s cram-packed panel-per-page ratio. It was an epic crossover where Michael Keaton Batman encounters a Delorean driven by a T-1000, then the Ninja Turtles show up, and maybe the Ghostbusters? I knew how to introduce characters but not how to finish a story.

At this point I was still imagining becoming an animator, even though I barely knew anything about what it involved beyond some flip books I’d done. But all that changed when I discovered the X-Men.

X-Men and Batman: The Animated Series both debuted on FOX during the fall of 1992. I was a huge fan of the Tim Burton Batman movies and I’d seen every episode of the ‘60s show when it was revived in reruns, but I didn’t know the comics existed? I didn’t even know where to find comics.

My brother and I were both really into this new X-Men thing, and my brother was given a set of X-Men comics for his birthday. I borrowed them of course, and wanted to see how the story continued. My mom showed us a book store in the mall that had comics, and then we discovered the local comic store. That started my monthly addiction.

Now age 10, I decided I no longer wanted to be an animator. Comics were my true calling. And my dream was to break in at age 16.

Learning Comics

Age 11: I went from reading just Uncanny X-Men to buying the entire X-line, thanks to and event called Age Of Apocalypse.

Age 12: I started buying Wizard magazine. The first two issues I bought included life-changing information, like that you get hired by building a portfolio and showing it to editors. There was industry news, and art tutorials by Greg Capullo. I added the magazine to my monthly buy list. An X-Men 30th anniversary special gave me the entire history of the characters, and a run-down of the key artists and writers with examples of their work. It was like a Rosetta Stone before Wikipedia.

Age 13: I started buying most of Marvel’s output thanks to an event called Heroes Reborn. I never got into the Batbooks, I guess because the art didn’t look as cool? Comics contained ads for the Joe Kubert School, which became my backup plan if I didn’t break into comics on my own. I also discovered the internet around this time.

Age 14: My first year of high school. I spent every lunch hour in the library browsing the internet, since we didn’t have a computer at home yet. I discovered several comic art forums where pros and amateurs traded tips. During the summer I attended a week long art session taught at a local college by a professor who grew up on ‘60s Marvel. There I learned I’d been using paper that was much too thin to ink on, and I learned about the importance of Jack Kirby.

Age 15: I started buying Comic Book Artist magazine. I thought it’d be about drawing tips, but instead it was filled with fascinating comics history, which became an obsession of its own.

Age 16: A year of disappointment. I knew I wasn’t at the level I needed to be to get pro work, but wasn’t sure how to get to the next level. Nowadays there are all sorts of resources I could’ve used, but back then there was no Youtube, no social media, and few books about the craft of comics.

I was now certain the Joe Kubert School was the way to go.

Changing Plans

My family took a trip to Dover, NJ to visit the Joe Kubert School campus, and it was pretty disappointing. The town didn’t feel super friendly, and the school wasn’t accredited, which raised issues in regards to getting student aid. Plus the idea of spending so much money on a non-degree.

The guy showing me around tried to sell me by pointing out that comic companies don’t care about whether you went to college, they just want to see the portfolio.

I took this to heart and decided not to go to college. I was pretty crushed at first, because I’d had this dream plan for so long, and now I was plan-less. But eventually a new plan began to form.

It was time to start doing conventions.

A startup called CrossGen had a sample script and were taking submissions at SDCC 2000, so I went there. I still felt like my work wasn’t quite ready for prime time, but i was worth a shot.

And nothing came of it, other than a cool Crossgen rejection letter in a box somewhere. None of the other publishers could be bothered to even send that.

In hindsight, I was trying to enter at maybe the worst possible time in comics history. When I first started reading comics, they were at their peak during a boom period. When the bubble burst, the industry experienced year-over-year plummeting sales with no bottom in sight. No one was hiring.

But I kept at it, hoping for a lucky break. Top Cow was impressed that I did backgrounds (lol), and suggested I send in “background samples,” but I didn’t want to go down that route. But maybe that’s what a lucky break looks like? (On the other hand, many aspiring pencillers who start as inkers or colorists get stuck there.)

The next summer I went to Chicago with a Marvel sample script. I’d just graduated from high school, so I was really hoping. This time I got a critique from an editor who had actual advice to offer, and I learned a few things. But still no one was hiring.

I thought if I just stayed home and worked on art for a year, I’d eventually come up with pages so impressive that they’d HAVE to hire me. And if it didn’t work out after a year, I’d start looking for a college.

But now I was struggling with a new problem. I suddenly hated my art. I’d heard about a few professional artists who didn’t like looking at their own art, but I was certain this was different. After all, they’re actually good.

The year passed and I accomplished nothing. Based on things I’d heard, I was nervous that college might actually price me out of comics entirely. But I didn’t know that for sure, and I was super inexperienced when it came to money, since I’d never lived on my own before.

But I kept hearing how so many people have gone to college and they all turned out okay (this was before social media and before student debt became a crisis). I was clearly having trouble moving forward on my own, and Youtube still didn’t exist, so what choice did I have?

Choosing Schools

There were only a few colleges with comic art programs back then (maybe three total?), but one of them just happened to be over here in Minnesota. Art school appealed to me because all the classes were art-focused, so I wouldn’t have to waste my time with math and other BS.

And as I humble-bragged earlier, I’m good at math. But I hated it. At one point some kids from Math League asked if I’d join the team. “‘MATH LEAGUE?’ You mean you do math for FUN??”

I hated math so much, I took harder, accelerated math courses via a local college, just so I could finish math early and spend my last years of high school wonderfully mathless. If there’d been a similar way to graduate from high school earlier, I would’ve taken it. When I realized we were all graduating regardless of how much work we put in, I stopped caring so much about grades and let an occasional B+ slip in.

When I would see classmates busy studying for their SATs or ACTs, I was so glad I didn’t have to bother with that.

But the joke was on me. Because this art school didn’t just require a portfolio review (which I was more than ready for). It also wanted ACT test results.

I remember wondering if I should study before I take it, since everyone took it so seriously in high school. But I didn’t even know how to study. It’s not a skill I’d learned, because I never needed to. So I decided to wing it.

You’ll hate me, but without studying I scored in the top 96% for English, the top 94% for Reading, the top 96% for Science...but only top 87% for Math, because I hadn’t taken a math class in three years. That brought my total down 90%..

(Later, I had to learn to study in order to pass some horrifically-taught art history classes. That teacher made me hate art history, which is ironic given how much of my own writing is focused on history.)

So I got into the school, only to discover that even structured teaching wasn’t going to solve my new art problem. During my first year I told my mom that I don’t enjoy art anymore, and she thought it might be depression. I mean, that’s plausible, losing interest in your passions?

In hindsight, I now have enough experience with real depression that I can definitively say it wasn’t that. I mean, I was occasionally depressed back then, but hating my art was unrelated. It took me years to figure out the actual problem.

Dunning Kruger

The Dunning-Kruger Effect is named after a study which found that:

1) People who aren’t knowledgeable about a skill tend to think they’re better at it than they are, because they don’t know enough to know what they don’t know.

2) Conversely, people who ARE knowledgeable about a skill tend to think they’re worse at it than they are.

My problem went one level deeper. I’d learned a shit ton about every skill related to comic art, but I hadn’t put in as much time actually practicing. And now practicing was tough, because I was hyper-aware of how bad every line was as I laid it down.

In other words, the exact reverse of when I was four and drew repetitively on auto-pilot. Back then I was oblivious that I was practicing anything at all. Now I had the benefit and detriment of a critical mind.

But this realization came later. At the time I was just miserable and didn’t know what was wrong with me.

Halfway through art school, I realized I’d likely already priced myself out of comics, and I needed a real degree that would function back-up plan. So I switched majors. Instead of a Comics major filling my electives with design classes, I became a Design major filling my electives with comics classes.

In order to change my major, I had to explain it to the head of the school. This was awkward because it partly involved explaining how the comics industry worked, and he didn’t want to believe it. He told me I was being cynical.

I tried doing comic samples one last time after college, for a convention in 2006, but couldn’t even finish a page. Then sometime around 2008, I gave up drawing entirely.

How I got started again is another story.

You can also find me on:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katewillaert/?hl=en

Twitter -  https://twitter.com/katewillaert

Art Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/katewillaert

History Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/acriticalhit

[despairsceleste]

A Day At Starcourt

This is my gift for @somersault-cyrus! It’s a short AU that’s set in 1985 of the ghc going to Starcourt Mall :D Also I’M SO SORRY that it’s late! I’m on vacation and have been a bit busy. This isn’t really a crossover, because there aren’t any ST characters in this other Stacy who’s a really minor character (she was the one who rejected one of the main characters of ST at a dance lol). It’s just my imagination of if Andi Mack took place during 1985, during ST, this is kinda what it would be like. And it thought it’d be appropriate for the gift exchange because you said you liked AUs that were set in the past. 

--

Starcourt Mall. A place of wonders. At least that’s what everyone was saying. Andi, Cyrus, and Buffy just found this to be overly exaggerated until they went to see it for themselves. Oh, how wrong they were.

They had only been in the mall for 2 minutes and they were already in awe. It was like love at first sight. They looked around to see a plethora of stores, of the ice cream store ahead of them which had the name Scoops Ahoy in lights. 

“Holy...wow,” said Buffy, with a lot of excitement in her voice. Andi and Cyrus couldn’t even manage to say one word as they were too busy in gazing at the wonderland that surrounded the three. “ICE CREAM FIRST!” Buffy shouted as she raced into Scoops Ahoy, which prompted Andi and Cyrus to follow. They got 3 ice creams - a vanilla for Andi, a strawberry for Buffy, and a butterscotch for Cyrus. They paid and went to sit at table. 

“This ice cream.. is so good,” said Buffy, her mouth full. Andi and Cyrus nodded. They sat there for only about 5 minutes when she showed up. Stacy Roberts, one of the populars at Hawkins Middle. And she brought her boyfriend, T.J. Kippen, the basketball jock. Andi, Buffy, and Cyrus were surprised when they heard the news, because T.J. had always been a nice guy, and definitely not the type of guy to date Stacy Roberts. At least that’s how we was to the three in History. So they made up a theory that Stacy was blackmailing him. Cyrus, when he heard the news, along with being surprised, felt a bit different. He felt a bit heartbroken and he couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason why. Sure him and T.J. talked, but, they weren’t that close for Cyrus to even care about his life, his relationships. But Cyrus still did. 

“Oh look, the nerds. Or what weird ass name you call yourselves? The good hair crew?” said Stacy, with an evil grin on her face, looking at Andi, Buffy, and Cyrus. T.J. didn’t say anything, he just stood there. And for a minute, Cyrus thought he could see him mouth the words, “I’m sorry.” “At least we aren’t evil bitches like you,” replied Buffy in a sweet voice. Stacy glared at her and walked away, hand in hand, with T.J. “T.J.’s  definitely being blackmailed. No way anyone that nice would want to date someone like Stacy,” said Andi. “Well I mean she is the most popular and he’s athletic so...” replied Cyrus. Even though it was surprising T.J. and Stacy were dating, but Cyrus couldn’t help but think the possibility of T.J. actually choosing to be with her. She was popular and very beautiful after all.  “No, no. No way T.J. would actually choose to be with her,” said Buffy to which Cyrus shrugged. “Anyway, we shouldn’t waste our time thinking too much about that. Who cares? He’s not like our friend, just a person we talk to sometimes, we have nothing to lose,” said Andi and Buffy and Cyrus agreed.

The rest of the day was spent by the the three walking in and out of different stores. First, they went to Macy’s. Which was like heaven. It had SO many amazing clothes that Buffy and Andi had to try on. Which they did, all while jamming out to “Take On Me” which playing throughout the store. Then, for lunch, they went to Burger King. “This is gross,” said Andi, after taking only one bite from the burger. “Have the fries then,” replied Buffy. “But I don’t want to waste this!” said Andi. Buffy just rolled her eyes and continued eating hers. “Shit. She’s here again,” said Cyrus. Stacy was there, again. “Bitch,” said Buffy, loud enough for Stacy to hear. Stacy walked over to them, saying “No I think that’s you, Driscoll.” Andi then put out her leg to trip Stacy, to which she did. They all laughed, but then T.J. walked over to help her up. He glared at them and him and Stacy walked away. “I guess maybe he does really like her,” said Buffy.

They eventually finished the burgers and just continued shopping. It was fun, very much fun. Over the course of 3 hours, the three of them had already went tons of stores and even though they didn’t buy from all of them because some were expensive as hell and they obviously didn’t have that much money on them. Starcourt was perfect, almost too perfect. After all the walking, the three of them sat on a bench close to the store they just came out of. It was down a lit up hallway. The only bench that wasn’t occupied. They sat down for about five minutes when Buffy noticed something, someone. Maybe she was being delusional, but she felt as if she saw a dark figure lurking around the end and then the figure disappeared behind an “Do Not Enter” door. Which was a bit suspicious. But she ignored as just her hallucinating due to her being tired. “So, I saw a poster for this new rom-com that’s coming out, you wanna go?” asked Andi. “Another rom-com?” Cyrus groaned. “Hey what’s wrong with rom-coms? I thought you loved them!” said Andi. “I do! But it’s all we watch almost every weekend,” said Cyrus. Suddenly, Buffy felt a bit of a chill on the back of her neck. She thought it was weird. Then the lights down the hallway started flickering. “What’s happening?” asked Buffy with a bit of fear in her voice. “It’s just a small power issue, Buffy, don’t worry. And didn’t they inspect all this, before opening the mall? Gosh, I sure hope they fix it. Guess Starcourt maybe isn’t completely perfect. Anyway, then, Cyrus what else do you suggest then? Rom-coms are easily the best!” said Andi. Buffy tried to calm down and closed her eyes. After she calmed down a bit, Buffy opened them. Buffy could almost see something. She was standing in the dark, somewhere. And there was something at the end of the hallway. It was the same hallway. But.. Cyrus and Andi weren’t there. She called out their names, but they didn’t answer. The thing at the end of the hallway was getting closer. Closer. Buffy could see it. It was some kind of... monster. She screamed as loud she could for help.

Then, she opened her eyes. She was back where she was before. It was just a dream. She sighed in relief. “Okay fine let’s just go the damn rom-com then!” said Cyrus. Andi smiled and then looked at Buffy, “Oh hey she’s up already.” “How long was I out?” asked Buffy. “Like 5 minutes. But good that you’re up, we were planning to go see a movie right now, and we didn’t want to disturb your beauty sleep,” said Andi, laughing. Buffy and Cyrus laughed along as the three of them got up, took their shopping bags and walked out of the hallway, past the “Do Not Enter” door, which was opened just a smidge.

--

Okay, I hope you liked it. I don’t write AUs often, so if you didn’t like it, I get it haha, and it was kinda last minute. I kinda made Buffy have sort of a horror experience like the characters did in ST, just to spice it up, that’s all. And yes, middle school drama because why not? 

[cryptoriascollectiblog]

Monster High doll collecting Questionnaire - answered

Finally had time to take photos for this thing. Hope it’s worth the wait!

1) Introduce yourself and tell us how long you’ve been collecting Monster High dolls! Hey y’all! My name’s Tori and I’ve been collecting Monster High since I think...either the end of 2014 or early 2015. Before S5 of the webisodes aired. 

2) How many MH dolls do you have?

Can I just say “a lot” and leave it at that? I kid I kid. I have like 27 Monster High dolls. That may not seem like a lot but I swear I just had 13 like four dolls ago...fingers crossed I didn’t forget to count anyone. That’s a sign of too many dolls :’D I also have two vinyl MH figures (Frankie and Draculaura) and a Rock Candy Draculaura figure.

3) Is Monster High your favorite doll line? Why or why not? Yes. Yes it is. Forever and ever. Took me a little while to realize it but as I accumulated dolls I realized most of my passion for collecting (as well as creative inspiration) revolved almost entirely around Monster High. That line is perfect for me in every way: tied to/inspired by classic Monsters, bold and edgy gothic fashion, a unique art style...I can’t tell you how much I’ve evolved as a creative individual since embracing my love of Monster High.

4) Who’s your favorite MH ghoul? 

I wish Cupid had stuck around in MH a little longer. I would’ve loved an elaborate dress (and makeup) for her!

5) Favorite Manster? My favorite Manster is actually Andy Beast from Skull Shores. Since he never reappeared in more than background shots and Mattel never produced a doll of him I’ll go with this guy:

6) Do you own any dolls of your favorite ghoul and/or manster? How many? I own one Deuce doll, his Boo York doll. He came with Cleo and I love Boo York Cleo so I had to get both. I actually hate how the writing team handled Deuce and their relationship in the movie: as far as I’m concerned it isn’t canon. (He fell so far from Ghouls Rule! Definitely the best part of that movie including his friendship with Frankie.)

I own many Frankie and Draculaura dolls. Stay tuned for pics~

7) Do you own any playsets? If so which one(s)? If not, is there a reason?

I found this at a thrift store. It didn’t have any accessories though. Still, I’m glad I own it <3 Considering I photograph Draculaura more than any of my other dolls.  I do wish I had another playset--either the catacombs or the Deadlux high school: they’d make such great backdrops for photography! Sadly I have no space.

8) Of the original main ghouls (including Ghoulia, Spectra and Abbey) which is your favorite? Got any dolls of them?

TA~DA! I’d actually also love to add Ghouls Rule Frankie to my collection but she’s not an immediate must-have.

9) Favorite character with only one doll release?

I know there were technically two but they’re essentially the same doll so it doesn’t count.

10) Character with too many dolls (in your opinion?) Uh...Toralei honestly. I don’t like her, I’ve never liked her but she pops up a lot more than I expected. Is this so there’s a matching bully in some of these sets or is she that popular and I’m the odd one out?

11) Any character you would’ve liked to see in a doll line that didn’t make it? (i.e. Lagoona in Sweet Screams or Draculaura in Power Ghouls, etc) Apart from another C.A. Cupid doll in like Dawn of the Dance or Dot Dead Gorgeous (can you imagine??) I would’ve loved to see Draculaura in Freak du Chic. I’m aware she had a Scarnival doll but that’s not the same thing. I want a doll with a similar design to her circus mini. I also think adding Lagoona to the “Scarily Ever After” line would’ve been neat (a la Little Mermaid, of course.) I know we saw her as a Mermaid in Great Scarier Reef” but I would’ve loved to see one with a fairytale twist.

Also more Sweet Screams dolls. Best line ever <3

12) Any ideas you would’ve liked to see in a doll line? An eighties glam-rock n roll band stylized after Jem and the Holograms but with a gothic edge. I’m not talking Fierce Rockers, I mean all of the core ghouls (with Ghoulia as like the manager) along with a better-designed Clawdeen. I didn’t mind what we got but she wasn’t “outrageous” enough for me. 

Also a “vintage-themed” line as an homage to the ghouls’ famous parents (including Operetta.)

13) Is there a “grail” MH doll for you? If so do you own it? I feel like my grail dolls keep changing. For a long time it was Collector Draculaura, then OG draculaura, then Dawn of the Dance Draculaura...then Ghouls Rule Frankie and the whole Sweet Screams crew. I guess I can’t make up my mind ^^; Truthfully I have most of these now so I’m pretty content with my collection. I still want a couple older dolls (CLAWDEEN and maybe OG Lagoona) as I’ve said and I must have all the Sweet Screams dolls. Beyond that I’m good. 

14) Thoughts on the cancelled Ever After High crossover? Okay so I will be forever annoyed Mattel didn’t wait to reboot everything until after the crossover. That said what I saw in the storyboards and posts floating around didn’t really impress me. There’s so much potential here and I feel like Mattel took the easiest route possible with it. If you’re going to crossover these two lines a) go ALL out with the designs and b) INVOLVE C.A. CUPID. Plus we’ll never know now if Astra Nova is the blue fairy/her daughter.

15) Thoughts on the 2016 reboot faces?

Why Mattel. Why was this necessary. 

With Vampirina and now Super Monsters you really should’ve stuck with your older audience. Or saved the “Monster Family” line exclusively for said younger audience and just scaled down the original line to remind your older crowd, collectors included, why we love this line. 

Heck, at this point I’d be happy with detailed collector-only lines released on like Amazon. A limited line is better than no Monster High at all, especially if it’s highly detailed and exceptionally spooky.

16) Thoughts on the 2016 “Monster Family” line?

So I like the idea behind this line but loathe the articulation. I held off buying Alivia and Kelpie for a long time because I hoped for better quality with later releases. Whoops. All of this said there was potential here to attract a younger crowd exclusively with a brighter and less-articulated family line. Siblings or not they could’ve avoided directly crossing over by merely mentioning the OG ghouls, instead focusing on friendships and relationships with their parents. That’s what I’d have done at least.

17) How bout the SDCC exclusives? What was your favorite? Do you own any? No and I wish I did ;-; While I wasn’t as impressed with them as the Ever After High exclusives I would’ve loved a Hexiciah doll. He’s actually my favorite “manster.” (Heck! You could’ve incorporated him into the crossover, being as he’s half fairy!) I should check ebay...

18) How about Amazon exclusives? I have two! The amazing and unique Draculaura who as far as I’m concerned is the best MH doll ever released and Zomby Gaga. The others never impressed me or lived up to the same quality promised in the first exclusive. I just couldn’t pass up a Lady Gaga monster!

19) Favorite Frankie Stein doll?

Aaah this is tough. All the Frankies I own are my favorite ^^; Sweet Screams, Freaky Fusion, her classroom doll I turned into a fearleading one, and while I don’t own her original doll (mine is the 2014 release) I love that one two. I also like Wave 2 Frankie and as I said Ghouls Rule. (Honestly though I thiiiiink Sweet Screams is number one...which is funny because I did not want her when I first started collecting. For whatever reason I thought I’d be happy with one doll of each character. Again I say: whoops)

20) Favorite Draculaura doll?

21) Favorite Clawdeen Wolf doll? Freak du Chic, her OG doll and I think Boo York. I’m so mad her outfit isn’t more stylish. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it to buy her and like one of her fashion packs...but that’s actually more expensive on Amazon than her original doll! 

22) Favorite Cleo de Nile doll?

Originally Dawn of the Dance wasn’t a favorite but now that I own the doll I realize just how much she stands out (why wasn’t purple lipstick used more often???)

23) Favorite Lagoona Blue doll? Skull Shores, her OG doll and I think Dawn of the Dance. I’m not a big fan of the mohawk but I appreciate the detail in her outfit...plus I love blue makeup.

24) Favorite Ghoulia Yelps doll?

 I also like Sweet Screams (although she’s my least favorite of the line) and Dawn of the Dance. Honestly maybe I should’ve set my sights on that whole line XD Except I’m not the biggest fan of the Clawdeen and Frankie.

25) Favorite Spectra Vondergeist doll? I’m not as familiar with Spectra’s dolls but I think either Dot Dead Goregeous or Ghouls Night Out.

26) Favorite Abbey Bombinable doll? Sweet Screams <3

27) Favorite Venus McFlytrapp doll? Zombie Shake

28) Favorite Rochelle Goyle doll? Zombie Shake

29) Favorite Operetta doll? Either or OG doll or Scaritage (the latter kind of reminds me of Lucille Ball for whatever reason)

30) Favorite Toralei Stripe doll? I’m really not a fan of her dolls (Orange is such a hard color to compliment correctly) but I do kind of like the stark design in her Fierce Rockers doll.

31) Favorite Jinafire Long doll? I’m not a big fan of her dolls either (I feel the same way about Green that I do Orange) so I’ll say her “New Scaremester” doll.

32) Favorite Skelita Calaveras doll? Scarnival! I’m still half-tempted to purchase this doll one day...provided I can find her!

33) Favorite Howleen Wolf doll? Her original doll. I wish she hadn’t switched to straight/pink hair! The orange stood out in a good way. Someday I hope I find her in a thrift store...

34) Favorite Twyla Bogeyman doll? Freak du Chic

35) What do you do with your dolls? (Display them, take photos of them, etc) I display them, sometimes change their poses and I take photos! I’m still an amateur at that but I’m learning as I go and I think I’ve improved!

36) Is Monster High the only doll line you collect? Why or why not? Sort of? It’s the only line I primarily collect now. I keep my eye on a couple others in case something catches my eye but like I said I’m low on space.  Some of my other collections include: Ever After High (complete with maybe the exception of TriCastleon Lizzie Hearts one day) Super Heroes (this also includes high quality collectibles. One day I’d like Mystique but she’s only available on ebay and out of my price range right now. Plus I’ve found the production condition of each varies...) Disney Princesses/Frozen (sometimes I tell myself I should get Mulan for varying reasons but I’ve only taken photos of my Elsa doll so what does that tell you) Vampirina + Hotel Transylvania (This includes toys as well. HT seems to have wrapped up for the time being and as I’ve stated numerous times I’m fickle with Vampirina merchandise. Nonetheless both of these are technically ongoing) Equestria Girls (Done unless Hasbro releases a new Adagio Dazzle doll. Also fashion packs or  a dAYDREAM SHIMMER DOLL COME ON--ahem-- I’m still planning to get rid of most of my older dolls.) I tried getting into Disney’s “Attractionistas” but only acquired two before they stopped selling in the parks. To be honest the quality dropped anyway and they’ve only got basic articulation. I’m not sure I’m going to keep the ones I have...we’ll see.

37) Do you still collect Monster High dolls? (i.e. scour the internet and/or secondhand stores?) Technically? I got three for Christmas and still poke my head in thrift stores now and then. For the most part though I’m essentially finished, I only say I keep going because there are a few older dolls I will definitely have someday.

38) There’s a lot of new Monster doll/toy lines out now: thoughts if any? H’okay so here’s the Earth--

jk jk I’m old XD

I make it a point to investigate new Monster lines: monsters are my life, nothing gives me greater creative fuel so it is my duty!

Right now there are technically three others out there although like I said, Hotel Transylvania seems to be out of stores. Don’t know if it’s still available on Amazon. The other two are Vampirina and Super Monsters. I’ve talked about them before--they’re largely for a much younger crowd, even younger than the MH reboot audience but there are some highlights for us older collectors if you love monsters as much as I do. I’m a big fan of world building and the spooky aesthetic: I love seeing how different franchises approach this. Character designs too: it can be a little tricky in the “family friendly monster” genre: a successful one balances spooky with well...friendly. I think Vampirina is most successful in this department. Super Monsters leans more towards the cutesy side.  That said, I actually prefer their world set up over Vampirina. As well as the approach to being a monster which isn’t surprising since Vampirina is essentially one giant whimsical metaphor. 

Super Monsters has only just joined the merchandise department which I know I’ve said before. I look forward to seeing how it evolves. Vampirina too: most of the toys, while cute, are more “toy” than doll and I’m not a big fan of gimmicks so I haven’t bought any of the singing dolls. Fingers crossed we get something a little more...elaborate? Even if it’s just a limited release (I do love the one figure/doll I have though! Best of the merchandise released so far <3)

Going back quickly to Hotel Transylvania...I maintain Jazware’s wasn’t the best choice of manufacturer. So many little things that needed a touch more thought. Although I will give them points for clothing quality and faceup!

39) And finally, what’s your favorite thing about Monster High? Can be past or present!

I think I’ve covered why I love it throughout this questionnaire: Monster High inspires me. It came into the world fresh and with a lot of creative power behind it. It turned so many heads and shook up the doll world as we know it. It brought monsters back into the light and that’s never gone away. If anything it’s blown up even more: that may not have happened without Monster High. Was the writing great? No. But the theme songs, the designs and especially the original lessons taught stood out on their own: Be yourself. Be unique. Be a monster.

Hell yeah, Monster High <3

[deumonic]

So I've been having ideas of jjh's characters meeting each other in some sort of a crossover. They are really random and might not make any sense but u know, it's just fun imagining it :D

I might make spelling errors when it comes to names. I didn’t have english subtitles most of the time, so I really don’t know how the subtitles could have spelled out their names. I’ll try my best though :)

Oh and I will put up spoiler warnings for the Lucifer. I know that Lucifer was on air a long time ago but I don’t want to ruin the fun for those who are planning to watch them.

1. Medical Top Team x Item

I think this one will probably make the most sense since they are both from MBC :) Honestly MBC missed out on the great opportunity to make Seungjae appear in some hospital scenes I can imagine Seungjae being really sweet to Da-in whenever she visits the Gwanghye hospital. 

2. Item x 5 Fingers

Since Da-in is really great with melodeons, I thought Jeeho might be able to teach her when she gets a little older, and meet her uncle eventually. Jeeho also knows how it is like to grow up without parents as a kid (before being adopted) so he’ll probably able to help Da-in out, if she’s feeling down but doesn’t want to make her uncle worry. 

SPOILERS FOR “THE LUCIFER” AHEAD!

3. The Lucifer x Along With the Gods

I tear up everytime when I think about Seungha. He is the victim who turned into a perpetrator, and although he may have hurt innocent people just to get his revenge, I still think he deserves a second chance. Plus, Seungha was a genius so it would be a shame to let such talent just fall into the Circle of Murder. and plus Gangrim killed his brother and Deokchoon but still got a chance so So I really want the reapers to pick his soul up and have Yeomra announce that Seungha will serve as a reaper in charge of defending the souls. I want Seungha to train under our favorite reapers until Yeomra finds him a decent team. I can just imagine Haewonmak complaining about how Seungha has the same face as him :D

4. The Naked Kitchen x The Antique Bakery

Honestly, this has the highest chance of a crossover bc the directors of these movies are married to each other. So I want to see Du-re visiting the Antique Bakery and it sort of goes like a weird romcom from that point on? Jinhyuk is probably going to freak out about seeing a guy who looks exactly like him, but younger. And we have Sunwoo who had a crush on Jinhyuk for like million years, and you can sort of see what’s about to go on. Sunwoo is probably going to flirt the whole time and Du-re is not going to back out on it. Plus, they’re both knowledgeable when it comes to cooking and preparing a dessert and they both studied in France, so they’re going to be bffs really quickly. Jinhyuk is probably going to say something about how his store is becoming so gay bc of Sunwoo and Du-re but deep down, he’s probably going to be jealous of Du-re. 

5. Asura x Along With the Gods

This is going to be one of the loudest and messiest crossover out of the rest. I want this to be set after Asura, after everyone died. Yeomra is going to send out a lot of reapers to take care of all those souls, and I need Haewonmak to take care of Sunmo. Sunmo is probably going to curse the moment he sees the reapers and demand to see Do-kyung but Gangrim is going to stop him and Deokchoon will probably try to calm Sunmo down. And then we have Haewonmak, who’s going to complain about the whole mess... While calling Sunmo a brat or smth along the lines with that. I can just see Sunmo and Haewonmak just being annoying to each other while Gangrim sighs and Deokchoon stares at them like they’re kids but they are kids

I really need to stop sleeping at 3 in the morning

[ink-logging]

More Superhero Comics, Revealing My Reactionary and Facile Engagement with Art as Little More Than the  Accrual of Social Capital, Benefiting Nobody But Myself, 4/7/19

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 4: The Tempest #5 (of 6), Alan Moore, Kevin O’Neill, Ben Dimagmaliw, Todd Klein: This is an often very funny issue, set up like a pasted-together UK edition of old US pre-Code horror and crime comics, which, in addition to being funny, plumps up the page count as the plot moves maybe two or three tics forward in advance of the very-last-issue-of-LoEG-ever. The conservative in me wonders why we’re being this digressive in the penultimate number of the entire saga, but then -- at least since “The Black Dossier” -- this project has been more about positioning various strands of fiction and their accrued cultural baggage against one another than telling a propulsive adventure story. Anyway: the realm of Faerie, having easily survived an attempted nuclear strike on the collective imagination by a military-corporate black ops fiction squad comprised entirely of various revamps of James Bond, has brought in every character from every game, comic, cartoon, TV show, movie and book reality with everything for a HUGE apocalypse! 

Scenes of bedlam involve: the life story of Victorian painter and murderer Richard Dadd; cameos by Stardust the Super Wizard and David Britton’s Lord Horror; the oeuvre of musician Warren Zevon, brought to terrifying life; a Corbenesque image of a nude muscleman’s massive dick flapping into battle in 3-D; Mick Anglo’s Captain Universe, presented by Moore in unmistakable evocation of his own Marvelman/Miracleman stories of decades ago; a ghost wearing the word CRIME on his head a la Charles Biro’s Mr. Crime, the greatest American comic book horror host; at least one figure from the annals of racist caricature firing powerful sound waves from his mouth; a monster named Demogorgon, the leviathan of Populism, which the heroes allegorically cross as a footbridge en route to a safehouse named the Character Ark; a page-long parody of Batman (via the forgotten UK superhero playboy character the Flash Avenger), describing his origin as motivated entirely by hatred of the poor; a text feature telling of UK comics artist Denis McLoughlin, who worked consistently since the end of WWII, never made enough money to retire, and spent decades as an elderly man drawing for survival on titles he hated, eventually taking his own life in his 80s; and the secret of what happened to all the British superhero characters after the midcentury, which is that they were all eaten by Capitalism, pretty much. I laughed a bunch, but if you think LoEG is tedious shit, this probably won’t turn you around.         

*

Savage Dragon #242, Erik Larsen, Ferran Delgado, Nikos Koutsis, Mike Toris: The latest installment of the longest-running Image comic written and drawn by one of the Image founders, now deeply dove into problematic network tv drama stuff. The Dragon’s relationship with his partner Maxine is still strained in the wake of her sexual assault, a video of which the Dragon viewed in the police archives; meanwhile, the mother of one of the Dragon’s young children has been telling them all the truth about their parentage, further disrupting the peace of the household. Also, a formerly aggressive sex robot has joined the gang, dressed as an anime maid. And, the Dragon reluctantly teams up with the mid-’00s-vintage sexy heroine character Ant (which Larsen purchased from creator Mario Gully a few years ago) to foil a scheme by elderly elites to project themselves into the bodies of mythic gods in order to provoke the Rapture. Most interesting to me, however, is a bonus segment in which Larsen presents newly-lettered pages of his preliminary solo work on “Spawn” #266 (Oct. 2016), which would later be filled out by contributions from Todd McFarlane, colorist FCO Plascenscia, and letterer Tom Orzechowski. 

As usual, I prefer the ‘unfinished’ version (top) to the official release product (bottom).

*

Superman Giant #9, Erika Rothberg, ed. 

&

Batman Giant #9, Robin Wildman, ed.

These are two of those 100-page DC superhero packages they sell for five bucks exclusively at Walmart (for now; later this year they’re gonna have them in comic book stores too), which marry one new 12-page story per issue with three full-length reprint comic books from elsewhere in the 21st century. I just wanted to know what was inside them. Here is what I found:

-The new Batman comic is written by Brian Michael Bendis as a very conspicuously all-ages prospect, where the story is about nothing more than what it’s about, and the title character is presented as a serious-minded but inquisitive and compassionate man of adventure. This issue -- just in time for the remix of “Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus -- Batman and Green Lantern travel back to the Old West, trade in their superhero outfits for cowboy clothes, and meet up with Jonah Hex. Nick Derington draws the heroes smooth and squinting with Swanian sincerity, and Dave Stewart colors it all bright and sunny. This is not my thing at all, but it’s confident to the point of acting like almost a rebuke to the rest of the book, where literally everything else is chapter whatever of a nighttime doom ballad drawn by either Jim Lee or something trying very hard to look like him. 

-Like:

I can spot the differences, sure - if nothing else, reading superhero comics trains you to spot differences in otherwise similar things. But, there is absolutely an aesthetic at work. The top page is from an issue of “Nightwing” that tied into the 2012 “Night of the Owls” crossover in the Batman titles, produced by a seven-person drawing and coloring team fronted by pencillers Eddy Barrows & Andres Guinaldo. The writer, Kyle Higgins, has Dick Grayson fight his semi-immortal great-grandfather, who is an assassin for the Court of Owls: one of the more popular recent Batman organizations of villainy, presented here as a fascist group mediating society’s function through murder from the gray space between social classes. The Graysons, therefore, are the Gray Sons, but Nightwing resists the pull of destiny by winning a big fight, slinging the villain over his shoulder, and walking away toward a better future of just beating the shit out of bad people instead of killing them, I think. The Batgirl story -- from 2011, written by Gail Simone -- is comparatively orthodox, finding the character gripped with uncertainty about the superhero life and going about some downtime character-building activities, though most of it’s a big fight with a villain with a tragic past. The penciller, Ardian Syaf, kind of has trouble blocking the action so that characters’ movements are clear; I think Syaf is best known for having his contract with Marvel terminated in 2017 for slipping what were widely interpreted as anti-Christian and antisemitic references to Indonesian politics into an X-Men comic. 

-There is a whole lot of Jeph Loeb among the reprints. He is not a writer who has been in critical fashion for much the past two decades, but he has undoubtedly sold a lot of comics for DC, and they probably feel he can do it again. The Batman book is serializing (deep breath) “Hush”, a 2002-03 storyline notable for its extraordinarily easy-to-solve central mystery, and generally being a taped-together excuse for Jim Lee to draw as many popular Batman characters as possible across 12 issues; it sold like hot cakes. The highlight of chapter 9 is probably a bit where a three person fight ends in one panel, and then one of the characters leaves, and then a second character wakes up from unconsciousness and also leaves, and then the first character comes back and nurses the third (also unconscious) character back to health, and then Batman arrives, all in the transition between the aforementioned panel and the next, which takes place in the same room; such is the befuddling desire to race ahead to more spectacle. Jim Lee (with Scott Williams and Alex Sinclair) is indeed Jim Lee (et al.) throughout, though at one point the team drops a howler of a swordfighting panel where Batman’s blade appears to grows to JRPG length due to what I think is the colorist filling two whoosh lines with the same hue as the swords.      

Meanwhile, the Superman book is serializing a 2004 storyline from “Superman/Batman” -- the series where Loeb has Superman describe the action on the page with his own Superman-branded captions, and Batman does the same with Bat-captions, and Superman says tomayto and Batman says tomahto -- in which the late Michael Turner, one of the rock star 2nd generation Image artists, illustrates a new introduction for Supergirl. But this isn’t quite the same comic that was originally published... can YOU spot the difference?

Is this like how Walmart won’t sell CDs that have an explicit content sticker, but with teen superhero g-strings? It’s hard to explain to younger readers how the low-rise/thong panties combo forever sealed the horniness of a generation of het male superhero artists into the late 1990s, and maybe DC doesn’t want to face that. Or, they’re just leery of how Turner slipping some peekaboo glimpse of Supergirl’s underpants or bare thighs into virtually every panel in which she is depicted below the waist might affect the marketability of the comic in 2019 - although I guess it could have happened in an earlier reprint somewhere too.

-The new Superman comic is a series of 12 splash pages depicting a race between Superman and the Flash. There is very little sense of speed, because Andy Kubert (inked by Sandra Hope, colored by Brad Anderson) draws the characters as frozen in time in a way that prioritizes muscular tension in the manner of contemporary superhero cover art; at one point the two characters part the sea with the force of their bodies, and it looks to me like they’re gesticulating in front of a theatrical backdrop. And, anyway, the story pulls back almost every other page to depict Batman standing on a ledge, or Lex Luthor in a sinister chair -- or some birds flying next to a building, or the Earth as viewed from space with streaks on it -- as the race occurs deep in the background or off to one side. The point is not excitement, but reflection, as imposed upon us by the between 13 and 21 narrative captions and/or dialogue balloons pasted atop all but the first page. 

The writer is Tom King, whose “Mister Miracle” (with artist Mitch Gerads) gets a double-page advertisement later in the book, festooned with breathless blurbs from major media outlets. His narrator here is a little girl who is literally chained in captivity, clutching a Superman doll, and delivering her soliloquy in a manner of a superhero-themed TED talk with handclap repetitions on the nature of contradiction. Being faster than a speeding bullet is a CONTRADICTION. Being as strong as a locomotive is a CONTRADICTION. Leaping tall buildings in a single bound is a CONTRADICTION. Superman is about to lose the race, but then he wins, because to beat the Fastest Man Alive is... a contradiction. No wonder the GQ entertainment desk was blown away. DC comics do this kind of thing a lot, where they just have the writer tell you how great the characters are, and since you’re still reading superhero comics in the 21st century, you’re expected to pump your fists in recognition, because you and the writer and everyone at DC are just big ol’ fans... but I am not, because I am Jesus Christ, the only son of God. 

-Elsewhere in the Superman book is an issue of “Green Lantern” from 2006, drawn by Ethan Van Sciver (inked with Prentis Rollins, colored by Moose Baumann), who is known today mostly as a conservative ‘personality’ online. He also netted more than half a million dollars last July in a crowdfunding campaign to make a 48-page comic book which he has not yet finished; funny to see an American right-winger on the French schedule. Funnier still to see the kind of people (mostly guys of a certain age) who mill around such personalities croaking about how diversity is ruining comics, because ALMOST EVERY FUCKING STORY IN BOTH OF THESE 100-PAGE BOOKS IS DRAWN BY EITHER SOME DUDE FROM THE 1990s OR SOMEBODY WORKING EXPLICITLY IN THAT STYLE, but - I guess when you’ve been pampered for so long, every paper cut feels like a ripped limb. Speaking of dismemberment, the writer here is Geoff Johns, who is often pegged as a superhero traditionalist, though he also has a grasp of gory pomp which occasionally pushes the comics he writes into a Venn diagram set with loud youth manga... at least in terms of how the action plays out, all broad and pained. So, needless to say, he’s currently writing “Doomsday Clock”, which is DC’s present attempt to extend the publication life of the valuable “Watchmen” property, so that they needn’t return it to the original creators, per the original writer, Alan Moore.  

-To hear Alan Moore say it, the America’s Best Comics line was done on a work-for-hire basis as a means of ensuring prompt payment of the various creators from Jim Lee’s WildStorm, the original publisher. WildStorm was then acquired by DC (Jim Lee is now their co-publisher and chief creative officer), and Moore -- who has been (fairly) criticized in the past for taking ethical stances that cause financial harm to his artistic collaborators, who are in a less economically flexible position than writers in the comic book field -- allowed the line to continue under DC’s ownership, as to cancel everything would disadvantage everyone working on the titles. One of those titles, “Tom Strong”, was written by Moore and pencilled by Chris Sprouse for a while, and then there was a long line of guest creators, and then Moore and Sprouse came back when the ABC line wrapped, so that the concept could reach its logical termination point in an apocalyptic manner... Moore does love an apocalypse. The final story in the Superman book is a very recent, late 2018 issue of “The Terrifics”, in which we find an attempt to revive the DC-owned Tom Strong characters as players in broader DC stories. Jeff Lemire & José Luís are the primary creators. Jack Cole’s Plastic Man is there, as well as the John Ostrander/Tom Mandrake version of Mister Terrific. It’s a lot of offbeat characters; we even see Moore’s own parody of Hoppy the Marvel Bunny, because, I mean, Alan Moore does a lot of riffs on preexisting characters too, right? It’s a big blob of cartoon whimsy, filled with available characters running around. If they’re available, you might as well roll ‘em out, off the new releases rack and into a supermarket reprint package stacked in a box next to squeeze toys and discount Pokémon merchandise, which I bought, because it was really cheap.

-Jog                   

[thedeaditeslayer]

Kings Clash In A Dynamite Crossover.

If you’re late to the party, check out how two cult classics are about to clash for the first time in a bombastic crossover mini-series that kicks off with Army Of Darkness VS. Bubba Ho-Tep #1 (DEC181088). Ash embarks on a soul-searching road trip to Texas on a hunch that Elvis Presley may still be alive and kicking, and from there it just goes downhill…fast! Want to know more? Read Dynamite’s interview with series writer Scott Duvall!

**********

D.E.: The King vs. The King! Where'd the idea come from?

Scott Duvall: This idea has been gestating in the back of my mind for a few years. I have been a fan of Army of Darkness since I was first introduced to it as a kid. Being a huge fan of the character of Ash, and by extension, actor Bruce Campbell, I was instantly drawn to the movie Bubba Ho-Tep, based on an original story by the great Joe R. Lansdale, and starring Campbell as Elvis. Immediately upon release, I added it to my DVD collection, and I would group it with Army of Darkness, because it felt like a companion piece to it. Often viewing them in close succession, I knew the Ash and Elvis team-up would go together like peanut butter and banana. These two worlds already fit so well together in tone, it made it totally plausible that they could co-exist on the same plane. Wanting to see what it would be like if Ash and Elvis interact is a big part of what sparked this, and so I'm thrilled we'll get to finally see that in these pages.

D.E.: Ash is headed to Texas for a mid-life crisis, anyone going with him?

Scott Duvall: Ash is traveling solo on this journey, trying to find Elvis... but also himself. Elvis was someone who he looked up to as a kid, who seemed like he had it all. The King lived hard and paid the price of dying young, and now Ash is starting to approach that age and examine his own mortality. So when Ash reads in a tabloid about how the real Elvis is supposedly living and retired in East Texas, he goes off in search of him to see if it's really him. If it is, maybe he has the answers he's looking for.

D.E.: Necronomicon Ho-Tep must contain some scary stuff, what's in store?

Scott Duvall: Without giving too much away, it doesn't look like the Necronomicon we're used to seeing so that immediately sets it apart. But as you can imagine, in the hands of the wrong person, it can unleash terrible evil. It's up to our heroes to protect it and make sure that doesn't happen!

D.E.: How's your process been with artist Vincenzo Federici?

Scott Duvall: I loved his take on both Ash and Elvis from the moment I saw them and knew right away he'd be perfect! We're still pretty early into the process, but I'm excited for fans to see more of his art as it comes in, and I can't wait in particular, to see what he does with one of my favorite action scenes involving three mummies, one of which may be Ho-Tep himself.

D.E.: Anything else you'd like to add?

Scott Duvall: Army of Darkness and Bubba Ho-Tep are two things I've always wanted to play with so getting the opportunity to tell this story is still pretty mind-blowing to me. We're going to try and deliver a crossover worthy of these characters and I hope fans of both will check it out and come along for this ride because it's going to be a fun one!

[kelkat-9]

Kelkat9 Master Fic List

In Progress - all stories will be linked to AO3 unless only on Teaspoon/ Thanks for reading my stories!

Updated 4/13/18

Following Are My Series/Verses

Dark!Ten Verse - Series is numbered for reading order (Dark!Ten x Rose) ADULT/NSFW

Victorian Verse - TenII x Rose - These are historical time travel in Pete’s World - Teen but one story (a one shot is NSFW)

Forever is Full of Twists and Turns - Eleven x Immortal Rose thus far - more might be added later with Twelve - this is one you should probably read in order - Teen until story #5 the some NSFW parts

Through the Void and Darkness - Ten x Rose - reunion and AU at JE - it would be best to read this one in order as well.  NSFW bits in Story #2

Lordstorm and His LiveJournal Adventures - TenII x Rose - some are NSFW - I wrote these early on so they need polishing - CrackFic and humor

Time, Eternals and the Domestic Life - TenII/Rose Adventures in Pete’s World domestic and otherwise - some are kidfic and some NSFW

Greek Gods - The Adventures of Hades and Persephone and their Friends - AU Peter V/Rose - NSFW mostly - modern mythology

Dark, Dangerous and Otherworldly - Ten/Rose AU - Ghost Verse NSFW

Dark Journeys - Ten/Rose UA - Dark!Ten

Santa Baby - Ten/Rose AU CEO/Employee  BDSM NSFW

Sir Alec and Lady Rose - Alec H/Rose AU Historical

Eleventh Doctor - Eleven/Immortal Rose  AU one NSFW

AUs

A Dark Path to Redemption - NSFW in one chapter but otherwise adult.  This is a Dark!Ten x Rose mythology AU

A Girl and Her Frog - Ten x Rose - fairy tale AU  Teen

A Sip of Darkness, A Taste of Light - Adult - Hades/Perspehone type Nine x Rose AU

Blood Death & Shagging - Peter Vincent x Rose the slayer - vampire/Fright Night AU - NSFW and copious cursing - it’s Peter Vincent!

Claimed by Moonlight - NSFW - Darker Dom Ten x Rose - He’s an Alpha ;)  Sort of a wolf au

Definitely Not a Debutante - Ten x Rose  spy/mystery woman AU - NSFW part

Doctorella -  Ten x Rose  Fairy Tale AU  Teen

Finding Harmony - Ten x Rose   Rock Star Rose AU  Teen to Adult for language

Happily Ever After Isn’t Just a Fairy Tale - Ten x Rose  Royal AU.  NSFW - 2 chapts.  A King and his braid with much going wrong in his kingdom except for a blonde lady who steals his heart

Legend of the Traveling House - NSFW in one chapt so far.  Nine x Rose.  Sort of like an altverse reimagining of Gallifrey

Tardis Toys - Ten x Rose Teen - very sweet romance.  toy shop au

The Academy - Ten x Rose   Super Power Teens/Mutant Teens AU - Rated Teen

The Blue Box Case - Ten x Rose   Adult Spy AU - my first of this kind so it’s a little rough but it’s cute and flirty with a touch of angst

The Doctor and The Hidden Wolf - Nine x Rose   Futuristic Detective Nine AU

The Exes - Ten x Rose - Divorced couple repairs their broken relationship AU   Ten x Rose with many others.  Adult for cursing.  Drama, angst and a touch of humor.

The Lord of Gallifrey - Ten x Rose Regency/Georgian historical AU One chapt has a NSFW thing in it but the rest is pretty Teenish to Adult rating.

Under The Sea - Teen - Ten x Rose - Merman AU - cute with a side of angst

Not Just An Ordinary Call Boy - Adult-NSFW - Ten x Rose - Bad prossy Ten

Vinification - Teen - Ten x Rose - winemaker Ten meets business woman Rose

A Ghost Story - Adult-NSFW - novel length.  Ten x Ros - Unit student Rose moves into an allegedly haunted house with a mystery she must unravel

Anti-Soul Mates - Adult NSFW - Nine x Rose - Professor and student meet on a lecture about soul mates

Santa Baby, He’s No Gentlemen - Adult NSFW - Ten x Rose, dark and powerful CEO falls for an executive assistant - read the tag warnings

Ramifications of Bachelor Bidding - Adult NSFW - Ten x Rose and Olicity - crossover with Arrow - Bachelor Auction, competitors falling in love and mayhem

A Sip of Darkness, A Taste of Light - Teen - some violence - Nine x Rose - inspired by Hades/Persephone myth

In You I Have Found Paradise - Adult NSFW - Missing scene from Sip of Darkness

Legend of The Traveling House - Adult NSFW - Nine x Rose - re-imagining Time Lords and Gallifrey in a new verse

Bacchanalia - Adult NSFW - Ten x Rose - An accidental meeting at a Masquerade Ball leads to something more

Smith’s Book Store - Nine x Rose Teen - Victorian Book Store AU/Historical

A Lady’s Choice - Alec H x Rose Teen courtly AU

Bad Wolf Salon - Ten x Rose Teen hairdresser AU just over a drabble

New Las Vegas - Peter V x Rose Adult space vampires AU

Torchwood Symposium of Temporal Displacements Protocol - Adult Ten/Rose Adventure-Human AU Rivals to Lovers

A Night in Venice - Adult Ten x Rose - Spy AU

231 Farrington - Ten x Rose NSFW Dragon AU

The Wedding Planner - Ten/Rose based on the movie AU

Being A Gorgon Can Be So Annoying - Nine/Rose Mythology AU

Smith’s Bookstore - Nine/Rose  Historical AU

Bad Wolf Salon - Ten/Rose Salon AU short prompt fic

New Las Vegas - Peter V/Rose space vampire AU

TenII x Rose Fics

A Closet To Remember - NSFW - TenII proves himself to Rose - romance/humor

Accusation - Teen  - Angst/Romance TenII has a hard time adjusting to Pete’s World

A Not So Typical Torchwood Mission - Explicit TenII/Rose undercover at an alien sex club

A Not So Typical Valentines Day -  Teen - Fluff Valentine’s Fic

Applegrass - Teen fluff, romance - a day with TenII and Rose

An Unexpected Shearing - Teen - fluff, humor cracky fic -Rose gives the Doctor a trim

Beginning - Teen Angst/Romance - a bit prosey

Broken - Explicit - Angst - PTSD Rose, hurt/comfort

Denial - Teen - angst - romance - Rose pregnant fic

Evil Elves and Cranky Reindeer - It Must Be A Torchwood Christmas - Teen Adventure/humor - things go a bit pear shaped at Torchwood’s Christmas Party

Flame - Explicit - TenII is tired of waiting

Look - Teen - humor and fluff

Nakedness - Teen - Domestics, nudist colonies and evil scientists - fun/adventure

Nothing Says Valentines Day Like Star Wars - Teen fluff and humor

Silver - Teen - humor/adventure/romance disco and aliens!

The Banning of Cosmo - Explicit - crackfic -TenII likes to read Cosmo

The Well Prepared Multiversal Traveler - Explicit - what does Dimension Hopping Rose have in her pockets

Huddling For Warmth - Teen - trapped in a cold cellar

The Ginger Solution - Adult - drunk!TenII; adventure - post Bad Wolf Bay coming together fic

Everything is Better with Toys - NSFW - sexy times adventures

Even a Baby TARDIS Needs a Special Friend - Teen - fluff

Bed Shopping Adventure - Teen - fluff

Huddling For Warmth - like it says on the tin Teen

Ten x Rose fics

A Cinematic Reunion - NSFW Dimension Hopping Rose Reunion Fic

A Visit to Mos Eisley - Teen - Star Wars crossover

Blame it On The Poxatalen Brandy - Mature so many tropes in this one - crackfic

Corruption Never Felt So Good - NSFW Rose saves Ten in an unusual way

Cupcake Wars Doctor Style - Teen - crossover with reality tv show cupcake wars - fluff/humor

Dimension Cannons and Drunk Time Lords - Explicit - drunk pervy Ten - reunion - crackfic

Family of Blood - Explicit - AU FoB/HN, Reunion fic, humor, vampires, Peter Vincent

Fever - Explicit - reunion/dimension hopping Rose - song fic

Formal - Angst/Romance - post GitF - Ten takes Rose to a ball and she is mistreated

Halloween Is Us - Explicit - Adventure/Smut//Humor and Peter Vincent

Haze - Teen - Angst - Romance - Reunion

Is It All Nothing But a Dream - Teen - Universe Alteration at DD - Angst/Romance

Midnight Reunion - NSFW - Explicit - Reunion fic set at the end of Midnight

Phantom of The TARDIS - Teen - Tardis room ficathon - humor - drama

Prepared - Teen - angst - romance - suprise kid fic

Respect The Wolf - Explicit - reunion fic - humor/adventure and dragons - bamf Rose

Rudolph The Evil Reindeer - Teen Crackfic - humor - Ten and Rose save Rudolph from his evil ways

Secrets of an Alpha Class Pleasure Slave - Explicit - reunion/slave fic trope/shag or die

Shudder - Teen - prompt word fic - Doctor Whump and bamf Rose

The Forgotten Moment - Explicit - AU post JE/DoD Moment Rose/Bad Wolf Rose

The Land of Misfit Toys - Teen - sweet fluffy story

The Oncoming Sperm - Explicit - crackfic all the way

The Perils of Repression - Explicit - kind of jekyll/Hyde fic

The Seduction of Rose Tyler - Explicit  Humor, Romance, slight crackiness

The Tale of the Holy Pear and the Prophet Bob - Teen - crack/adventure/humor

The Victorian, The Bookstore and The Fireplace - Teen - reunion fic pre JE

Wind - Teen - humor - Ten, Rose, Donna with the Master

White Wall - NSFW post doomsday wall shagging

An Addiction to Knowledge - Adult - crackfic escaping a  hospital

The Wolf is Free - Adult - Idris as the TARDIS - slightly spooky

When Time Lords Wander Off - Adult drugged!Ten - Donna and dimension hopping Rose

Unexpected Unicorns - Rose and Ten get turned into unicorns

An Ode to Hope - Doomsday UA/Reunion/Adventure/Babyfic

An Addition To Knowledge - Adventure/crack fic  Adult due to streaking

Nine x Rose fics

A New Kind of Sonic Setting  - Teen - lactation and sonics hmmm

Companion - Explicit - sex pollen cliche

Dalek - Explicit - so cracky/ep rewrite - funny

Fifty Shades of Skaro - Explicit - short version of Dalek

His Wicked Mistress - Explicit - slave trope

Order - Explicit - Sex Pollen Trope - humor

Peace, Love & Hippy Aliens - Teen humor/adventure/a bit of crack

Pychedelic Pollen and Dalek Squirrels - Explicit - Cracky Adult Adventure with Nine, Rose and Jack

Restless - Teen - Trapped on Earth - Nine needs to run

Snowflake - Teen - Nine and Rose play in the snow

Summer - Teen - fluff and humor

Dr. and Mrs. Tyler - Adult NSFW - Fake Married/Adventure in Regency Era

First Kiss - Teen - like it says on the tin

The Bairn Bubbalo Baby Store - Teen - babyfic

Breaking His Resolve - Teen - Nine in a Tux

A Platoon of Judoon on the Moon - Teen - hiding in a closet

Trapped - NSFW - trapped on a lift - wall shagging

Daddy Doctor - Teen sweet fluff - baby fic

The One Time They Watched That Channel - NSFW for them watching porn

It Was A Dark and Stormy Night - Haunted House with a twist - Teen

A Platoon of Judoon on the Moon - Royal Hope Hospital - Teen

Trapped - standard trapped in a lift let’s shag trope NSFW

Daddy Doctor - fluff babyfic General

Multi Era

Knowledge - Teen - Rose through the Doctor’s eyes

Move - Teen Ten/Tenii - how the Doctor and Rose dance

Transformation - Teen - How Rose healed the Doctor and became so much more

Thanks - Teen - Rose perspective on Nine regenerating into Ten

Drabbles

A Blue Leather Jacket - Drabble about Dimension Hopping Rose rated Teen

It Burned In His Eyes  Drabble about TLV  - rated Teen

[shesinspain-blog]

The things you think are useless, I can't understand

Well, HI! It’s been a while! It’s now A U G U S T and my last post was in May. So I guess that means we have a lot of catching up to do!

Before I left for Barcelona, I was vulnerable with my friends, often bursting out with “what if I don’t make friends! How long will it take to settle in!” Everyone rooting for me was incredibly optimistic. “Kayla, you’ll make friends in like three days!” One wise colleague paused and said, “probably three weeks, then you’ll have it.” They were all right and wrong. Yes I did make friends really fast, and find a job and apartment within the first month. But if I were answering myself now, I would tell Young Kayla that it takes almost a year. I’m in month eleven now.

My life here now includes

finding my favorite brand of coffee at the grocery store

an entire saturday home, cooking, baking and reading my book

a favorite movie theater where I watched Jurassic World 2

a restaurant that says “welcome back” when I come in

feeling relaxed when I buy produce at the market in Spanish, instead of the horrible sick-stomach nervousness I had when I started 

I had a fantastic hike in June, around the base of Montserrat with a wild apricot tree on the path. I had two bad excursions afterward - one where my logistics were perfectly planned but I misunderstood the kayak rental rules; and another cut short for safety concerns. I have a favorite thrift store chain with specific favorite locations. I sassed a moto driver at a crosswalk. I can usually identify if a text is Spanish or Catalan.

It’s more good than bad. But it’s also been a testament of how settled I am into the city that I have complaints and critiques. It’s really rewarding to see who I am when I am unabashed of my license to live here.

Living here has made me feel more confidence in myself and my choices. When I landed, I had so much trepidation about the “American Stereotype” I was either confirming or creating. I don’t care now; I’m just me. Sometimes this means I don’t know enough Spanish to order medicine at the pharmacy, and sometimes it means I talk too loud. But I don’t hate my accent, my culture or my home the way I used to. There are so many fluid aspects of identity. Being American doesn’t define me, and my international friends see the multitudes I see in them, too.

As for Barcelona, I like to oscillate. I leave my house, direct tourists to the Picasso museum (in Italian!) and see a Cathedral that has been standing for nearly 800 years, adjacent to ancient Roman aqueducts. I have a coffee in my happy quiet place, then hear French, German, Dutch and Polish conversations spattered around me. I go have my lunch on the beach, sunbathing and binging my new favorite podcast.

In the same breath, I’m cursing Barcelona: for the 27th rendition of Despacito I’ve heard today, for the psychotic crying seagulls, for the siesta hours that close my supermarket from 2-4:30 daily. As we all know, I have never been known for planning and saving, so teaching has taken its $ummer toll on me. If only holiday was not mandatory! Now over halfway through, I’ve accepted my living circumstances for what they are. I just really did not put enough thought into saving for these monthS off lol.

In spite of these woes - especially money and otherwise that I’d have in ANY city - I am the happiest I’ve ever been. Not just when I’m crying seeing the Chainsmokers at sunrise (LOL WHO CRIES AT THAT). Sitting speechless and listening to music with friends. Having breakfast in bed (with a movie) on a Sunday morning. Being here has given me so much resolution in being who I am - because no one cares. No one cares if you have a start up, or pink hair, or clothes from Louis Vuitton. No one cares who your parents are, what you studied at school or how old you are. Without this pressure, your friendships and relationships are able to be defined by so many other relevant factors. We are more alike than we are different. It is still so magical to be surprised by the facts I never knew, the stories I never heard, that were waiting behind my Hollywood education of worldly matters.

My perspective on where my life is going and my values has shifted so much. The title of this post is from Steely Dan’s Reelin’ in the Years, which I didn’t even know I liked until I heard it again this week. The song captures a lot of how I’ve been feeling lately. The expected trajectory of my life was so wrong. Using my hard-earned degree to move abroad and teach isn’t useless at all. I can’t imagine my life without this move. There is so much joy, peace and understanding - especially within myself - that I wouldn’t have known if I moved forward in Ohio. 

Mid-June, I decided to take a month off all social media. I did it for a multitude of reasons, but mostly to be more present and mind my *own* business for a while. The beginning was so hard. I was embarrassed by how challenging it was to not check my accounts, or all the times my thumb swiped for my social apps. Now I’d say I’m still pretty quiet and I feel so much better because of it. I saw a friend recently for drinks, and she told me about her mom’s visit to Barcelona, showing me photos on her phone that I hadn't yet seen on instagram. It was old-fashioned and exciting.

Other things -

MADDY VISITED omg my bestie was here for a full week and we did stupid stuff like watch Queer Eye and really cool stuff like barbeques and the Magic Fountain. It was surreal to have her here and do a crossover episode of my two separate lives. We had a freakin’ blast.

I’m getting more and more obsessed with re-entering the kitchen, especially to do pastry??? IDK we’ll see but it’s fun to be excited about something, no matter where it may lead

Books I’ve scarfed down this summer: Brain on Fire, The Underground Railroad, No One Belongs Here More than You, Before the Fall, Like Water for Chocolate, and my current is The Invisible Bridge (NO SPOILEES PLEASE)

I taught some classes for my friend Kelsey and it showed me that I do NOT like teaching in classrooms hahaha I made a 7 year old cry (yikes) but we all really loved playing Ghost in the Graveyard! I learned a lot being there. Sometimes I am good at things, but I don’t know how good I am until I fail in another setting or circumstance. So in a roundabout way it made me become a better teacher for my online angels in China.

My friend Natalie gave me her bike-share pass for a week. For those of you moving to Barcelona, GET VIU BICING! It’s 45 Euro for a full year - unthinkably cheap - and the bikes are so convenient. It made me feel super local and happy to bike everywhere. I really loved it.

Since teaching hours are slow right now, I’m trying to make the most of my time. This includes beach runs, reading, sketching / painting in the city, meeting friends, baking, and even updating my portfolio. I’m looking forward to a chill August ahead of me and more fun in the endless sun.

[thorne93]

Unforeseen Chasm (Part26)

Prompt: Two sisters fall for men that are absolute enemies. The love they have could tear all of them apart, or it could bring them together.

Word Count:3140

Warnings: Language

Note: This is by far the longest thing I’ve ever written (including my novels). It’s a collaboration with the amazing @mrs-dragneel-stark-solo​​. It started as a funny “What if…?” and it evolved and got huge. This took two years to write. We are both proud and happy and we hope you enjoy it. It follows from Thor 1 to Endgame in the MCU. Some of the timelines may be off in order to fit certain people, and some characters may show up earlier or in different ways than they have in the movie. But for the most part, it follows the MCU. It also has a bit of crossover with some other Marvel characters throughout the story.

Masterlist for Unforeseen Chasm

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

The following morning you couldn’t wait to talk to Shannon so you opened up the tablet, clicked the video chat app, and chose your only contact. For some people, one contact might seem lonely, but for you, that one contact was all you needed. 

She accepted the call and her stunning face lit up the window as you pulled your coffee close to your lips. 

“Morning, Y/N,” she greeted, pouring her own coffee, a tired look on her face. 

“Morning, hun.” You waved to her. “Any big plans for the day?” you wondered. 

“Kinda,” she answered after swallowing some coffee. 

You perked an eyebrow up. “Oh? I’m intrigued. What’s on the agenda?”

“Hoping to finish creating that surprise for you two,” she informed. 

You frowned at her, confused. “I thought the tablet was my surprise?” 

She smiled widely and giggled. “Nope, that’s for us to chat. But there’s this research I’ve been doing for a few months now but still no result. I feel like I’m missing something.” 

“What research?” you blurted out, not able to resist asking.

“It’s got to do with the genetic mutation in identical twins,” she informed. “Here. If you go to your office, you can project my notes and data from the camera that’s set up there. Just double tap the screen when you get there.”

You nodded and took your coffee and tablet to the office in the adjoining room, while she sent the files down to your cell. 

“Everything is there. I’m just having trouble identifying how it is that one of the two ends up with a mutation while the other doesn’t,” she commented, sounding frustrated. 

“Have you listened to Bach?” you asked, knowing that every time she listened to him, it jogged her mind. 

She stared at you through the tablet and deadpanned, “What do you think?” 

You laughed and held your hands up “Okay, okay. Fraternal or maternal twins? Raised in the same environment? What are Tony’s thoughts? Banner’s? They have a lot of experience with mutation… Did you call Charles?”

“Depends on the case. I have a few sets that are paternal and some there is a turn off, but they have the opposite effect with the mutations from each side. Tony doesn’t know. He is not really aware of what happened. Banner… he can help with just a small amount. The thing with the experience on mutation is that you know Bruce and becoming the Hulk but there’s not much you can get out of it because even his own studies have led to very little.” She began to read in her ledgers. “Speaking of, I’m actually I’m going to contact Charles later today. Hopefully he’s not that busy, and neither is Logan, and they can probably run some tests, figure out some stuff. Probably hit the ring to see what triggers some of my powers.”

Your face fell a little bit, remembering how you used to visit Charles with her. It made you miss him and all of the X-Men… “Oh, are your powers… bad? I mean.. Like, you haven’t consulted Charles in a long time,” you noted. 

She glanced over to the screen, noticing the change in your tone. 

“If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. It’s not really any of my business if you powers aren’t going quite right,” you stated, laughing somewhat nervously, a pang of guilt hitting your gut. 

“Don’t worry, Y/N. It’s not that they’re bad. It’s just… they’re changing. I used to take people’s powers temporarily, but now, I can store them. And the shapeshifting and the flying. I’m rapidly mutating and I’m not sure what’s causing it…”

You nodded, listening to her, worried for her, and angry that you were locked in a cell with no way to help her. 

“Y/N… do you remember that one kid at the mansion who would feed off people's emotions and it became what he felt?” she asked, looking at you, hoping you remembered. 

Sadly, you didn’t, so you shook your head. “No, who was that?” 

“I can’t remember his name, but he had bumped into me one of those few times I went to train. And it seems I absorbed some of his powers and that what might be messing me up. It used to be very subtle, but now… now I can hardly get through an emotional event without it draining on me. Like when Steve had to carry me out,” she reminded. 

“You think it’s damaging you,” you said, summarizing for her. 

“I think it is,” she agreed. “If it’s emotionally strong, positive or negative, I just… The fight I had with Tony?”

“Yeah?” 

“I was so mad at what he was saying I hadn’t realized my weather powers had triggered and mixed with the laser beams I took from Cyclops and it mixed with your purple energy and things were thrown at Tony when I yelled at him. Thankfully one of his suits was there or I might have hurt him.”

You muttered, “I know what that’s like.” 

Shannon stopped what she was doing and put down her pen, giving you her full attention. “What do you mean you know what it’s like?” A moment later she added, “If you’re comfortable telling me, that is.”

“Ever since Thanos put this--” You showed your purple dark energy and then made it disappear “--inside me, it’s turned me into someone else… I was so angry all the time, at everything. It’s much better now, but I still get so much rage.” You looked up at the camera, facing her. “So I know what it’s like to not quite know what’s happening to your body… To have this… power… but it destroys you.” 

“It does. I’ve noticed I can’t keep up during training with Nat. Both of us being a part of the Red Room, we’ve kept to training like they taught us, but I’m just not as fast as I used to be.” She shrugged and looked a bit sullen. “It’s all still here,” she noted, pointing at her head with her pen. “It’s just that this is giving me trouble.” She closed her eyes, and then opened them, revealing  milky red eyes with purple swirls. 

“I can’t imagine how hard it is for you,” you commented. “To hold all those powers and finding out how to use them and keep them in check.”

“At least it hasn’t taken over… yet,” she remarked, staring down at her hands. 

“It won’t. You’re too strong for that,” you assured. 

Shannon smiled a small bit, glancing up to look at you through the screen, trying to find solace in your words. 

“I was hoping to see if I can get you out of there so that you can come with me to the mansion and we can both figure out what’s going on with our powers?” She sighed and reminded, “Of course, I’ll have to talk to Fury about it.” A groan escaped her just thinking about it, and you smiled slightly, remembering how much she did not like negotiating with the SHIELD director. 

Your face list up a million degrees. “You would really see about that?” 

“Of course. I want us to be able to get the help we need. We shouldn’t have to suffer at the hands of these powers.”

“I’m sort of public enemy number one. Not sure the world is ready for me to be out…” A deep frown followed your statement that didn’t go unnoticed by your friend. 

She lifted an eyebrow. “Well… technically, the world doesn’t know it was you. You know Charles, he’d probably help get you to the mansion without being seen, just to help you.”

A sly smile played on your lips. “Are you suggesting Nightcrawler break me out?” you teased. 

Shannon couldn’t help but start laughing jovially at your comment. “He’d probably have a blast getting out of there! That kid loves scaring Tony.”

You were so overwhelmed with the prospect of getting out, even if it was just for a few hours, that you had almost forgot about your fellow cellmate. Saness colored your face and tone. “I don’t know if I should Leave Loki though… That doesn’t seem… fair that I should get a day pass…” You glanced back toward your bedroom, a guilty look on your face. 

Shannon understood where you were coming from, so she offered, “I mean, it’s only if you want to. Besides, it’s not like we’re going out to shop. It’s to help you progress and reinstate yourself to the world.”

You bit your lip, noticing the wording. Reinstate yourself to the world… Right.. Because you were in prison. 

“Not to make that sound like you’re a felon!” she loudly corrected, turning back to the screen with a look of embarrassment. 

You waved it off. It wasn’t her fault you were in the situation you were in. 

“Let me talk to Loki?” you requested with raised eyebrows. “But I would love to see everyone again, and figure out how to get… this side of me out.” 

“Of course! Take whatever time you need. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to contact Charles, so let me know whenever you’ve made a decision.”

“I will. Thank you, Shannon. In the meantime, do you have anything physics related I can study? I am going bonkers down here…” You paused for a moment, before asking, “Does Tony mind you talking to me? Or sharing data? I mean, he’s still pissed at me… right?” 

This time, it was her turn to wave you off. “Forget Tony, he’s my problem, not yours.” She looked at you and smiled. “I could get you whatever Jane’s left unfinished? There are a few new things she got here.” She pointed to a stack of files on the nearby desk. 

“Please, send me anything, otherwise this gold mine is going to rot,” you joked, pointing to your head. 

“Well we can’t have that now, can we?” She giggled before talking to JARVIS. “JARVIS, send whatever files are in our system from Jane’s recent studies down to Y/N’s office.”

“Right away, Ms. Shannon. Is there anything else?”

“Let me know when Fury will be coming by the Tower or the complex, please?” 

“Yes, Ms. Shannon.”

“The files should be ready for you to look through, now. I’ll make sure any new data gets sent to you too.” Meanwhile, she was nodding her head while looking at the holographic data in front of her, swiping it to and fro. 

“I’ll let you get back to your work,” you offered, trying to hide the sadness in your voice. But her work and research was more important than keeping a prisoner like you company. 

She hummed. “Hmm? Oh, yeah, sorry. I just have a deadline for this and--”

“Shan, it’s fine,” you assured genuinely with a soft smile. 

She seemed to be relieved by your words. “Okay, I’ll talk to you later, okay? Don’t forget to talk to Loki and let me know?”

“I’ll let you know by the end of the day.”

“Thanks. Talk to you soon.”

The call ended. 

But no part of you could even be sad, for this had been the best gift you’d gotten in some time. Other than being allowed to share a cell with Loki, this was the next best thing.

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

Loki was still asleep during your conversation with Shannon, but when he woke up and you made him a nice brunch, you decided to dive right into the touchy subject of you getting a day pass, and not him. 

“Uh, Loki,” you started as he ate his meal. 

“Yes, darling?” he asked, glancing up to you. 

You wrung your hands, knowing how this sounded. That you would be leaving Loki behind, that you were gaining freedom and he wasn’t. That you were not, in fact, equals, as you had said you’d been. As you always tried to prove to him. 

“Shannon.. She has an idea…”

“Is it an idea to break out of this?” he asked, pointing around with his eyes. 

“Well… actually… kind of.” 

He peered at you with a curious frown. 

“I told her about my powers, about how the thing Thanos pout in me is dark and it wears on me…” 

“Yes?” 

“Well… she’s going to Charles Xavier to get her powers looked at. It seems she has a mutation that’s causing her issues… And she said she might be able to get me a pass to sort of… go with her,” you informed nervously. You were so worried Loki would simply see this as a way of you gaining freedom, while he stayed behind. Or that you were somehow distancing yourself from him. 

“So you would get to leave?” he clarified. 

“Yes. She’s going to talk to Fury, and see if it’s even possible. It’s more like a trip to the doctor. I’ll be going to see if he can do anything about the power not being so…”

“Evil?” 

Your gaze slid to his as you nodded.

“My love, if you need to go, go. It will be nice for at least one of us to leave this cell, even if it’s just for a day.”

“Really?” you asked, hope swelling inside you.

“Yes, of course. Go, do whatever you need. I’ll be here when you get back,” he said with a sly smile and you couldn’t help but round the kitchen island and hug him tightly. 

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

As Shannon closed down her work and research for the day, she stepped out of the lab, somewhat exhausted, but simultaneously refreshed. It was amazing how just talking to you had lifted her spirit so much. She had only made it a few steps when Tony came up and greeted her. 

“Hey, babe. Mind walking with me?’ he asked.

“Ugh, Tony, I’m so tired... I think I just want to go sit and read for a little bit,” she said, hoping she wouldn’t offend him. 

“That’s fine, I just thought we could have a quick bite together?” he wondered, his eyebrows perched up,wanting to guilt her in with his innocent, irresistible look. 

She rolled her eyes and smiled. “Alright, alright. Yeah, let’s go grab a bite. What did you have in mind?” she asked as he led her down the hall toward the kitchen and dining area. 

As soon as the two of them rounded the corner, she was greeted with the Avengers and some other colleagues from around the tower. The people she’d hidden herself away from for the last several days.

“Surprise!” the group yelled. 

“What’s all this?” she asked, befuddled, a warm grin on her face. 

“We noticed you looked a little down,” Clint noted. 

“And you just got back,” Bruce added. 

“So they thought it would be nice to have a little welcome home dinner. Nothing fancy, just… the tower isn’t the same without you, babe,” Tony said, his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

“Oh, you shouldn’t have,” she said with a humble, sweet smile. 

“Nonsense!” Steve objected as Tony let go of her and Steve’s arm replaced it. “You deserve it. We all missed you.” 

“Well, thank you, all of you. I missed you too.”

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

Sometime later that evening, you called Shannon on the video chat. The AI found her closest device and opened up, displaying where she was. 

“Hey, Sha--” Was all you got out before you saw what was going on around her. It appeared to be a small party. Shannon had a drink in her hand, as did all the Avengers and a few other people you didn’t recognize. She was laughing and hitting Nat’s arm, while Tony and Clint were smiling and talking. Bruce seemed to be having a good time with the strangers, talking. 

At first, you were happy, a smile pulling at your lips, but just as you were about to join in, you realized -- you couldn’t. You couldn’t open your mouth and tell a joke, you couldn’t say anything to anyone… Because you were locked away, several floors below them, paying for your crime. Even if you did try to blend in, even if you did try to get anyone’s attention, you would be met with a resounding “fuck off”. Who knew what kind of pandemonium would’ve erupted if they knew you were contacting them. 

With a sad sigh, you swiped over to the texting app and sent Shannon a text, telling her that you were good to go.

You switched back to the video app, where Shannon pulled out her phone, smiled at it, typed a quick response, and pocketed it again. 

“Sounds good. I’ll talk to Fury,” she sent back.

Your face fell and you were about to close the app when you noticed Steve Rogers was looking at you. It seemed he had just glanced up. Your eyes met but you didn’t have it in you to try and smile to be polite. Steve gazed at you, and if you weren’t mistaken, you saw… sympathy in his eyes, in his slight frown. He gave you a tiny nod, and you returned it before your gaze dropped. 

Unable to bear the sadness, and downright pity for yourself, you closed the video app. Steve looked away, feeling sorry for you, but tried to get back to the party. 

Sulking, you closed the tablet and left it on the coffee table to get up and go to bed. 

Loki peered up at you from his magazine, a worried frown etched into his stunning features. “Darling?” 

“Hmm?” you hummed.

“Is everything alright? I thought you were going to call Shannon?” 

You turned slowly to face him. “Uh, I did. She was busy so… I'll catch up with her tomorrow,” you said, hoping to hide your disappointment. 

“Are you sure? You seem upset,” he commented as he stood and came over to you, putting his hands on your arms. 

“I’m fine,” you lied. 

He peered down at you with peculiarity. “If you’re not fine, you know you can tell me. If you don’t want to talk about it, I’ll understand.”

You smiled up at him, loving that you could tell him anything. “Alright, that’s fair. I'm not fine, but I don’t feel like talking about it.” 

He smiled. “There we are.” He kissed your forehead. “I’m here if you need me.”

“I know,” you assured before leaning up to kiss him earnestly, but quickly. “Thank you. I just want to go to bed for now. I’ll let you know if I feel like talking.”

“Goodnight, darling. I’ll be in shortly,” he promised with warmth. He let go of you and you nodded slightly before heading to bed and curling up in your bed. The bed you lived in for the last several months… the bed you would probably live the rest of your life in. 

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

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