#little do they know it is them who did not pass the bruce fan vibe check

[brucespringsteen]

happened more than once when rando dudes compliment a bruce shirt im wearing but then are like well idk if youre a fan or just wearing a shirt. they have no idea they are speaking to a lore master 🚬😐 anyway yea man thanks i like springsteens records a lot.

[lacrimosathedark]

I'm responding to this again because I realized I was so tired I kinda skimmed over things so now that I'm not dead here's the brain vomit about this.

So, yeah, Dark Crisis on the whole was shitty. I hated it. I mostly focused on Young Justice, and...god...but that little scene with Jason and Roy set me off for so many reasons.

First of all, them being so casual? Bullshit.

This boy pretended he hated that nickname. When Roy first said it on-page, his response was "Choose Jaybird or your trachea. You can't have both."

So when Bruce Motherfucking Wayne (who was written horribly both here and in his last Red Hood appearance where Roy literally had to save Jason from being nearly beat to death because holy shit does Lobdel suck) comes to tell him that Roy Harper, his best friend who he literally just saw, is dead, and died in rehab/therapy, where he was supposed to be safe, get better, and meet up with Jason again, he's not gonna be okay! Like...that fucking sucks. And part of it is, yknow, bad writing.

But in the spirit of working with what we're given, Jason was clearly effected by this. Enough to call Roy's voicemail and leave a message with his "dumb" nickname he always threatened Roy against using.

So you'd think he's have a bigger reaction to, y'know, seeing him alive again.

Also that Jason might be a bit hurt. Because when Roy came back, yeah he was a mess, tried to call Ollie and when that didn't work, contemplated calling Jason or Dick, and decided to do neither and tossed his phone and went AWOL for some freaking multiverse shit where he was a Black Lantern during which he learned Lian was alive. But once he's chilled, what does he do?

He goes to Titan's Academy and does...nothing.

Like, it does make sense for him to go to the Titans, Dick especially, for help finding Lian. Dick and Jason are both brilliant, and Dick has the whole team of Titans and their resources behind him. If they really focused, no doubt they could find Lian. And they say they will.

And then Roy just kinda...vibes. Acts as a teacher (and a shitty one at that because apparently people can't write him well anymore either). Doesn't freak over his missing daughter. Because Titans Academy SUCKED.

And not once during ANY of this is it mentioned even in passing that he and Jason have spoken.

So like, Jason mourned Roy, and when he came back, Roy said nothing to him and seemingly chose his brother over him like most people do. That would fucking hurt. I would think seeing Roy again, he'd get one of three things:

The cold shoulder

A punch in the face, or

A bone-crushing hug

Like, the casual "sup bro" vibe is just so wrong.

Moreso with Jason seeming familiar with Lian because he??? Never actually met her????

Like, he was the first person to know about her besides Roy, he was right there when Jade told him they had a child. But Jade never said Lian's name or I don't think even gender, Jason died shortly after, and to my knowledge worked with Roy once post-ressurection and that one time he is nowhere near Lian. So him "remembering" doesn't make a lot of sense. And it's so aggravating.

I don't think it's suspicious, though. I think it's just shitty writing. Because few people seem to get Roy right and much fewer get Jason right. No one but the fans pay attention to them. My expectations are low.

As for the rift between Roy and the Titans...idk, Lian's seen Roy fighting with almost everyone, Dick especially, all the time, enough that grown-Lian and Mar'i Grayson found it funny and nostalgic.

Roy also has a consistent history of coming and going from the team, so it's not real surprising he's not with them all the time. And there was at least Kori in the beginning even if that was very much not her characterization because Lobdel sucks.

And he did kind of go back and forth between Jay and the Titans for a bit before the disaster that was Heores in Crisis, so I think she'd see it as pretty normal. Like, how many teams has Roy been on? He gets around. The usual little rifts building up, or just having wanderlust, so he moves around and changes who he's working with. Not super weird to me tbh.

And maybe the trash Lobdel wrote also rotted my brain, but I love the concept of JayRoy. Jason being the first person aside from Roy to know about Lian's existence is something I wish had been touched on in a series about Jason stealing half of Dick's redheads before getting one of his own. All of Jason, Roy, and Kori have complicated relationships with Dick Grayson; they all love him deeply in different ways but sometimes for good reason just can't stand him. And they coulda done something with that besides erasing it entirely.

But that's what N52 on the whole did and part of why it sucked. It fucked over like the entire Batfam (and everyone else, but Batfam is My Area). Girl Robin? Ridiculous! Non-Babs Batgirl? Silly concept! Parapalegic Oracle? Lame! Red Hood being a complex character? Lol. Tim Drake being uber traumatized and dealing with suicidal ideation? Booooooring! Azrael? Who's that?

N52 is the Bad Place.

So, there's this one image in the most recent Green Arrow series that I just can't stop thinking about.

This is the full page:

And while the whole thing is a big, somewhat confusing, incredibly frustrating lore dump on how and why Lian is like 15 instead of like 9 (she died when she was 4 and I presume it's been a few years but not THAT long) and why she didn't look for her parents sooner, I want to focus, very specifically, on this:

That is Arsenal and RED HOOD in that window. Lian was watching her dad run around with Red Hood. She saw them running around when they were in Gotham together.

Which makes me think that maybe she actively avoided Jason.

From what I can surmise from what I've read, a lot about Red Hood is common knowledge but also in like a cryptid sort of way. A lot is "known" about him, because Jason is loud and, while very smart, sometimes reckless, but a lot of it is sort of contradictory and messy.

It wouldn't surprise me if among common knowledge or popular belief that Red Hood specifically protects kids (who aren't dressed like traffic lights), especially given his one big rule when he stepped on the scene was don't sell drugs to kids. It would be a not too hard theory that he may have once been one of those kids, especially considering he might use his upbringing for clout to gain respect, show he knows how shit works.

And now remember that since her "death" and Cheshire dumping her on a doorstep, she's become basically a Gotham street urchin just like Jason was. She and her friends were thieves in order to get by. She, like anyone else, could have gone to a Red Hood for help and protection. Heck, if she were to go to any Bat, Jason would be her best bet because I believe (and I could be wrong) he is the only one who never met Lian. And he only worked with Roy once after Roy found out about her.

She sure as shit wouldn't be afraid of him. She's still very kind at heart, but she's steeled herself enough to be able to do this:

Because before this, as angry and hurt as she was about Jade's life choices, the worst she had ever done was throw her photo of her across the room and cry "Bad Mommy!" at it. Now, while she's still too attached to Jade for my liking/sanity, she is able and willing to tell Jade to her face when she thinks she's done wrong.

So it comes down to, Jason has attached himself to Roy, and Lian can't risk everything just for food and protection. Not forherself, or her friends.

Selina Kyle was truly a blessing for this child, training her and caring for her.

I know a lot of people don't like Shoes, but Gotham Street Kid Lian just has so much to work with. And it's not like Roy hasn't lived in Gotham before, even pre-Flashpoint.

This is honestly a long-winded way of me saying I want to see Lian interact with Jason.

[thimbil]

Having some thoughts about the references and inspirations used for the Bad Batch’s designs.

So Boba Fett is my absolute favorite character and Temeura Morrison was perfect casting. I went to see the 2008 TCW movie in theaters because I was so excited to see him again, even if he was animated. You can imagine my disappointment. Whoever was on screen was not Temeura Morrison. You could sort of see a resemblance if you squinted and didn’t think too hard about it. They replaced Temeura with Racially Ambiguous G.I. Joe. If I didn’t know better and someone told me the animated clones are space Italians from the moon of New Jersey I would buy it. One Million Brothers Pizzeria and Italian Bistro. Not that there’s something wrong with being space Italian, I just don’t think it’s the right choice for the Fetts. The design got slightly improved by season 7 but it still bugs the hell out of me.

I did eventually get into the show later and (of course) got invested in the clones. Unfortunately, they were largely sidelined by the Jedi storylines. Out of the two new main characters created for TCW, Ahsoka definitely got more development and focus than Rex. When they announced The Bad Batch, I was excited to see a show specifically devoted to the clones… at least that’s what it said on the tin. We have all seen what lurks beneath those stylish helmets.

Jango Fett, you are NOT the father.

So who is?

Based on interviews with Filoni, it sounds like the Bad Batch was a George Lucas idea. And like all his ideas, it’s super derivative. The original trilogy directly lifted elements from sci fi serials, westerns, and samurai movies, more specifically Kurosawa films like The Hidden Fortress. For The Bad Batch character designs, the influence is obviously American action and adventure movies.

Now let’s get specific. Bad Batch, who’s your daddy?

Hunter

Sylvester Stallone as Rambo in First Blood 1982. That bandana has become an integral part of the iconic action hero look. You see a character wearing one and it’s a visual shorthand for either “this character is a tough guy” like Billy played by Sonny Landham in Predator 1987, or “this character thinks he is/wants to be a tough guy” like Brand played by Josh Brolin in The Goonies 1985 or Edward Frog played by Corey Feldman in The Lost Boys 1987.

Hunter’s model is closest to the original clone base. If you look closely you will see the eyebrows are straighter with a much lower angle to the arch. His nose is also not the same shape as a standard clone like Rex, including a narrower bridge. It’s certainly not Temeura Morrison’s nose. Remember what I said about space Italians? It didn’t take much to push the existing clone design to resemble an specific Italian man instead of a specific Māori man. The 23&Me came back, and Hunter inherited more than the bandana from Sylvester.

Crosshair

The long narrow nose, the sharp cheekbones, the scowl. That’s no clone, that’s just animated Clint Eastwood. Not even Young and Hot Clint Eastwood from Rawhide 1959-1965. With that hair, I’m talking Gran Torino 2008. The man of few words schtick and family friendly toothpick in lieu of cigar are pure Eastwood as The Man With No Name from Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns A Fist Full of Dollars 1964, For a Few Dollars More 1965, and The Good the Bad and the Ugly 1966.

In a way, this is full circle because the actor Jeremy Bulloch took inspiration from Clint Eastwood for his performance as Boba Fett in ESB.

Wrecker

In an interview Filoni lists the Hulk as an (obvious) inspiration for Wrecker. Ever seen the old Hulk tv show from 1978? Well take a look at the actor who played him, Lou Ferrigno. Would you look at that. Even has his papa’s nose.

You could make the argument that Wrecker was influenced by The Rock, an appropriately buff ‘n bald Polynesian (Samoan, not Maori) man. But look at him next his Fast and Furious costar Vin Diesel and tell me which one resembles Wrecker’s character model more.

Tech

Tech is a little trickier for me to place. If he has a more direct inspiration it must be something I haven’t seen. That said, his hairline is very Bruce Willis as John McClane in Die Hard 1988. His quippiness and large glasses remind me of Shane Black as Hawkins from Predator 1987. In terms of his face, he looks a but like the result of McClane and Hawkins deciding to settle down and start a family. Although, Tech’s biggest contributors are probably just everyone on TV Trope’s list for Smart People Wear Glasses.

And finally,

Echo

Oh Echo. Considering he wasn’t created for the Bad Batch, he probably wasn’t based on a particular character or movie. But if I had to guess, his situation and appearance remind me a lot of Alex Murphy played by Peter Weller in Robocop 1987. However, Robocop explored the Man or Machine Identity Crisis with more nuance, depth, and dignity. Yikes.

The exact tropes and references used in The Bad Batch have been done successfully with characters who aren’t even human. Gizmo from Gremlins 2: The New Batch 1990 had a brief stint with the Rambo bandana. I could have picked any number of characters for Defining Feature Is Glasses but here is the most cursed version of Simon of Alvin and the Chipmunks. Suffer as I have. Marc Antony with his beloved Pussyfoot from Looney Tunes has the same tough guy with a soft center vibe as Wrecker and his Lula (also a kind of cat). Hell, in the same show we have Cad Bane sharing Cowboy Clint Eastwood with Crosshair. I actually think Bane makes a better Eastwood which is wild considering Crosshair has Eastwood’s entire face and Bane is blue.

So we’ve established you don’t need your characters to look exactly like their inspirations to match their vibe. So why go through the trouble and cost of creating completely new character designs instead of recycling and altering assets they already had on hand? Just slap on a bandana, toothpick, goggles, and make Wrecker bigger than the others while he does a Hulk pose and you’re done. Based on the general reaction to Howzer it would have been a low effort slam dunk crowd pleaser.

But they didn’t do that.

So here’s the thing. I like the tropes used in The Bad Batch. I am a fan of action adventure movies from the 80s-90s, the sillier the better. I am part of the Bad Batch’s target audience. Considering what I know about Disney and Lucasfilm, I went in with low expectations. I genuinely don’t hate the idea of seeing references to these actors and media in The Bad Batch. I don’t think basing these characters on tropes was a bad idea. If anything it’s a solid starting point for building the characters.

The trouble is nothing got built on the foundation. The plot is directionless, the pacing is wacky, and the characters have nearly no emotional depth or defining character arcs. They just sort of exist without reacting much while the story happens around them. But I can excuse all of that. You don’t stay a fan of Star Wars as long as I have not being able to cherrypick and fill in the gaps. This show has a deeper issue that shouldn’t be ignored.

Why do the animated clones bear at best only a passing resemblance to their live action actor? In interviews, Filoni wouldn’t shut up but the technological advancements in the animation for season 7. So if they are updating things, why not try to make the clones a closer match to their source material? Why did they have to look like completely different people in The Bad Batch to be “unique”? Looking like Temeura Morrison would have no bearing on their special abilities and TCW proved you can have identical looking characters and still have them be distinct. In fact, that’s a powerful theme and the source of tragedy for the clones’ narrative overall.

Here’s Filoni’s early concept art of Crosshair, Wrecker, Tech, and Hunter. (Interesting but irrelevant: Wrecker seems to have a cog tattoo similar to Jesse’s instead of a scar. Wouldn’t it have been funny if they kept that so when they met in season 7 one if them could say something like “Hey we’re twins!” That’s a little clone humor. Just for you guys 😘)

None of these drawings look like the clones in TCW, much less Temeura Morrison. Let’s be generous. Maybe Filoni struggles with drawing a real person’s likeness, as many people do. But he had to hand this off to other artists down the line whose job specifically involves making a stylized character resemble their actor. Yet the final designs missed the mark almost as much as this initial concept. Starting to seem as if the clones looking more like Temeura Morrison was never even on the table. It wasn’t a lack of creativity, skill or technical limitations on the part of the creative team. I don’t think there is an innocent explanation. They went out of their way to make the final product exactly how we got it.

This goes beyond homage. They could have made the same pop culture references and character tropes without completely stripping Temeura Morrison from the role he originated. It was a very purposeful choice to replace him with more immediately familiar actors from established franchises and films. It wouldn’t shock me if Filoni, Lucas, and anyone else calling the shots didn’t even think hard or care enough about the decision to immediately recognize a problem. And I don’t think they believed anyone else would either. At least no one whose opinion they cared about. Those faces are comfortingly familiar and proven bankable. They are what we’re all used to seeing after all. They’re white.

Lack of imagination, bad intentions, or simple ignorance doesn’t really matter in the end. The result is the same. Call it what it is. They replaced a man of color with a bunch of white guys. That’s by the book garden variety run of the mill whitewashing. There’s no debate worth having about it. For a fanbase that loves to nitpick things like whether or not it’s in character for Han to shoot first or Jeans Guy in the Mandalorian, we sure are quick to find excuses for clones who look nothing like their template. Why is that? If you don’t see the problem, congratulations. Your ass is showing. Pull your jeans up.

[inactivefandomblog]

Things I noticed when I re watched Birds of prey last night

Hi all, I watched BOP for the second time last night and I wanted to write down some of the things I noticed as I had seen @wordsoflittlewisdom​ , Idea credit goes to them on this one. I’m aware that some of these things are not exactly new discoveries and were blatantly obvious to others, but I have ADHD and a processing delay meaning that I don't always take in all the information the first time I watch a film. For example, I had no idea Renee was gay for ages, even though they tell us she had an ex girlfriend (I think I was too busy fan Girling that Ali Wong was in the film then though to hear that bit). I have to focus more on the overall plot when I watch things the first time, but the second time I was able to scan for little details and take in more things. Without further ado, here’s what I noticed.

“Do you know what a harlequin is? A harlequin's role is to serve. It's nothing without a master. No one gives two shits who we are, beyond that.”

-When Harley is talking about Harlequinns serving  their master, she is not just talking about her relationship with the Joker, but about Canary letting Roman be her master. She is saying that she felt like she was nothing without the Joker. She is also implying that Dinah feels the same about Roman, and that she shouldn't because he doesn’t actually care about her like the Joker didn’t care about her.

-THATS WHY SHE ONLY HAS ONE SHOE IN THE CHASE SCENE!!!!!  SHE USED IT TO PIN DOWN THE ACCELERATOR IN THE TRUCKKKKKK!!! MYSETERY SOLVED!! ...  though.. she didn’t change her shoes to a full set between then and the police chase the next day/ later on the same day. Meaning she didn't go home after that...so did she just like wander around Gotham after committing a huge crime obviously tide to her XD of course she did, she’s Harley Fucking Quinn! Either that or she passed out somewhere from being very very drunk, hopefully her apartment and not just a street or something.

-BONUS:  fanfic idea: DRUNK HARLEY HAS A FUNERAL FOR HER SHOE THAT GOT BLOWN UP IN THE ACE CHEMICALS EXPLSION, WITH BRUCE AND THE BEAVER. after she leaves the crime scene. That just seems like a thing drunk Harley would do, as I imagine she loved those shoes as they were awesome..so were her sequin socks.

-The first time I watched it I didn't realise that the fireworks weren’t actually there - because that was all in Harley's head and the film is from her pov - even though we are showed that when the police arrive there are none and it's just a regular explosion. Not until I was told this was the case and realised we were literally shown this later on.

-She goes from being a Harlequinn to Harley Quinn as she becomes emancipated.

-Roman just lets Zsas grab his arms and restrain him when he’s mad, switch energy much.....also they are defo gay for each other. Zsas was acting like a jealous boyfriend when he gave Dinah even an ounce of attention. He legit told her to come back later when he just started massaging Roman’s shoulders. Roman let's Zsas rub his shoulders and comfort him, Zsas wants to protect Roman...need I go on.

- Cass’ parents are yelling about how they don't want her if you listen to what they are saying, so they’re not just fighting, they’re fighting because they wish they never adopted her. She can hear them saying all this too. This made me feel even more sad for Cass than when I thought her parents were toxic to each other in my first watch through.

- (Trigger warning: mention of domestic abuse and child abuse)

.

.

Cass’ parents didn't want her and seemed to be very hostile, its not mentioned how Cass got her cast...but I realised that it could suggest that her parents broke her arm. Which would go on to suggest that they were abusing her physically as well as emotionally. Hence why she didn’t trust people, and was so hurt when Harley betrayed her. Because when she says that she though Harley was different, she meant that she thought she could trust Harley and that Harley wouldn’t hurt her.

-Margot’s real accent comes through when she tells Canary ‘I haven't told that to anyone’ when telling her she Broke up with Joker, as well as a few other times throughout the film.

-Cassandra is quiet and not talkative in her first scene because her throat was hurting because of the diamond. That's why she coughed to try and clear it . At that point in the film we hadn’t been shown that  part but it was set after it happened so it makes sense when you re watch it.

-Cassandra’s jacket has a little middle finger logo on it, which I thought really suited her character.

- Cass has ‘asshole’ written on her cast, a drawing of a gun the word ‘fuck’, the word ‘magic’  - which is probably a reference at how she does some stuff that is similar to closeup magic and uses the same magicians technique of the art of misdirection - she also has what appears to be two playing cards, one with hearts  and one with diamonds. Which is most probably a reference to Harley Quinn’s whole  hearts and diamonds thing she has going. Didn’t comic book Harley also have a link to those specific playing cards too? or something like that?

EDIT: THEY ARE PLAYING CARDS!! I GOT A BETTER LOOK AT THE CAST IN THE COSTUMES VIDEO.

- TW: mentions of abuse and child abuse and trauma

The whole diamonds are a girls best friend is Harley going somewhere else mentally to cope with the trauma of being abused  - we see her being spanked by a nun when was younger suggesting she was abused then too, and I think it is a part of her comic book story  that she was but I don't know for sure - when it flashes and Guns appear that's reality trying to seep in. She's trying to focus on the diamond and block everything else out

-I spotted what looks like a mini mallet on the wall in her kitchen that could potentially be a meat tenderiser, and if that is the case then that is  a fantabulous little Easter egg type thingy. The handle looks too long to be a pot, it has a diamond pattern on it and it is next to another tool for preparing meat...so now I'm just waiting on Margot Robbie,Cathy Yan or Ella Jay Basco to Reply to my tweet and confirm it.

-Helena speaking Chinese makes me laugh for some reason, I think its her facial expression. 

- Kid  Helena’s crayons when she's drawing the revenge pic are all perfectly spaced and placed like her stuff in her bathroom scene. Further evidence of her perfectionism/ her liking things a specific way.

- The towel in Helena’s hotel room  on the bed (seen in mirror reflection) is in the shape of a little person.

- Canary sheds a tear when Roman harasses the lady on the table, I didn't notice that before because I looked away as the scene made me really uneasy.

- Harley screws the cap on the nail polish before putting it down even though there's someone at the door after them. This made me laugh because she thinks the police is after her but still takes time to do this, which is such a Harley thing. Like when she bent down to pick up the penny when that guy was gonna kill her.

- Roman has a shirt with his face printed on it.They did a good job of using the costumes and sets to show his egomaniacal trait.

- The look of acceptance of Harley's face when she realises that no one cares about, after the last person she thought cared about her (Doc) betrayed her, is heart-breaking. 

-How was Renee not injured from getting launched out the window? Even if she didn't fall all the way to the ground and landed on the top of the entrance bit, she’d still be injured.

-WHERE DOES HUNTRESSS STORE ALLL THOSE ARROWWWSSSSS????? SHE FIRED SO MMAANNNNYYY! I DIDN’T SEE A QUIIIIVVVER OR ANYTHING. I guess she just stores them in sub space along with her hammer¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

-Also I think I figured out what the chain is  for, at first I thought it was for the crossbow to attach to. Then I though not as she leaves the crossbow on the floor by itself in the funhouse fight scene, but then I think I saw it attached to it..so I think she can just disconnect it when need be. Plus it just looks cool.

-Alllssoo, she toooottallly checked out Dinah! HELENA IS DEFO GAYYYY! she has big useless lesbian vibes. They really knew who their target audience was when they made Helena look so stunning and badass. The producers really said ‘hello LGBTQ+ community’ (hopefully y’all know that tiktok audio or that wont make much sense) Also, if you don't believe me, I have a gif of her doing it on my blog. So there’s no denying it.

-Why were the lights on in the funhouse if it was  abandoned?? Maybe its just more Harley vision? but the carousel was rotating too...

Anyway that's everything I noticed, thanks for reading if you made it this far, and even if you didn’t...you wont see this then but still. Thank y’all .

[dans-den]

Hello Everyone!

This is Dan here and I'm giving you my review on The Batman (2022) movie!

Now this review does seem a bit late in the game almost two weeks after the movies theatrical release, but I figured I'd give my thoughts on the movie now that everyone has had a chance to see it (hopefully). For those who still have not seen it, spoilers ahead.

I love the setting, Gotham City has bee portrayed as this dumpster fire, this hopeless eyesore of a city in all Batman media but I feel that this movie legit brought that despair and doom and gloom gothic atmosphere to the City and this is the best portrayal of Gotham I've seen done this well in live action.

The cast did a phenomenal job in their respective roles in this film. Robert Patterson did a great job as the Dark Knight himself, however I felt his portrayal as Bruce Wayne could have been a little better. Now typically Batman and Bruce Wayne are two different people in Batman media, Batman is this hardcore instrument of justice and vengeance while Bruce Wayne is the charismatic Billionaire playboy. Here there is no difference between Batman and Bruce Wayne, they're both gloomy and gothic like those goth kids from south park minus the smoking. Now granted, this is in the early years of Batman so Bruce Wayne hasn't quite figured out what he needs to be for the City quite yet so I'll give this portrayal of Bruce Wayne a pass.

Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle (obviously catwoman but like Anne Hathaway in the Dark Knight Rises (2012) they never call her that) did a great job in her role. Now i've seen some discourse all over the place about how Kyle and James Gordon is portrayed as African-American, to be honest I have no issue with that. Both actors brought these characters to life in the film and if they can do that, then that's all I need, they can be any race or ethnicity they want. Now if you're a Batman fan such as myself, you'll know Catwoman/Selina Kyle has been portrayed as African-American many times in the past, The Harley Quinn series, Batman Year one (2011), Catwoman (2004), and the live action portrayal in the 60's batman series has actress Eartha Kitt portraying Catwoman in the last couple seasons. Again, as long as they bring the character to life, I don't care about their race or ethnicity.

Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon was awesome, I thought he portrayed the character well. Made him like a real rugged cop on a hardcore case and the way him and Patterson portrayed their characters in the scenes felt like how Batman and Gordon actually interacts with each other with some little sprinkles of comedy here and there to add on their dynamic. Like the scene at the police station where it looks like Gordan is interrogating Batman but is aiding his escape but using head movement to look like he's interrogating him, its funny.

Andy Serkis as Alfred was alright, not really the best Alfred I've seen but not the worst either you know. He wasn't in the movie too much and he did okay though he didn't quite have the wit and charm Alfred is best known for, it was more cynical and depressing to be honest.

Paul Dano as Riddler now that....was Amazing! they loosely based him off the Zodiac Killer which I think works for the Riddler since he loves puzzles and games so this Dark iteration of the Villain was actually refreshing to see instead of the normally quirky and wacky Riddler were use to. I was on the edge of my seat invested into these riddles because they were clever and had some dark humor behind them and his endgame was god damn crazy, it's like he rallied 4Chan and Reddit users to his aid like he has livestreams to his followers which I knew was for like a devious plot but I couldn't help but give a chuckle because it looked like a literal twitch stream it was a bit funny but that's my love for dark humor. And I got real Dark Knight (2008) vibes from the interrogation scene between him and Batman, he figured out Batman's identity and let him in on his endgame plan which Batman still thwarted but the way he made Batman go nuts and banging the window was actually nerve wrecking.

The action in the movie was nuts, well choreographed, each scene was action packed, and I loved every fight scene in this film. This Batman was more hand to hand combat than gadgets like Ben Affleck's portrayal. Even the scenes where the Riddler would murder someone or beat the shit out of them to use them for his cryptic Riddles were brutal and savage.

My criticisms for the movie are minor but still hold it back a bit from being as great as it could be. For example, there is a chase scene between the Penguin and Batman and Batman has his road rage moments where he almost disregards the safety of everyone around him. He may not have killed them like the Penguin did, but he still put them in danger and that seems a bit reckless even for Batman. Then literally the next scene Batman and Gordon catches Penguin and try and solve one of the harder riddles and it feels rushed, like its funny but it still feels rushed and Penguin literally tells them how wrong they are. Like they couldn't let that simmer a bit more? then lastly, the relationship between Batman and Selina Kyle, they started off good as partners trying to help each other out, sure they were real shaky here and there but still came together in the end and solved who the bigger fish to fry was, though them being intimate felt a bit rushed towards the end. It didn't ruin the scenes or the movie, but that's a nitpick there.

the ending was done well, Batman and Selina parted ways, the City was rebuilding itself and Riddler had a little scene with a certain.....funny guy. Overall, I loved the movie, better Batman live action movie I've seen in a while, better than the Affleck movies. I'd definitely recommend watching it and I'd watch it again if I could. I honestly hope we get more Robert Patterson Batman movies in the future but we'll see. I hope that if they do go forward with that, they expand on Bruce Wayne's character and develop him as the charming playboy we all know and love.

I'd give The Batman a score of:

8/10

If you haven't already, go watch the film, you'll have a great time,

Catch y'all next time!

[skunts-own-truth]

I’m sure a lot of us sat down to watch the ol’ Snyder cut last night. Never saw the first rollout of the Justice League film, just clips, and “limp dick” is kinda the best way I can describe the scenes I saw. This new long bitch of a movie Mr. Snyder put together, well heck, I can’t lie: I sorta loved it.

I’ve been over super heroes for a bit. Wandavision, to me, was a soulless, directionless, themeless mess of a show. Marvel and its films are generally sterile action flics, with no sense of Rule of Cool or sexy to them in the slightest. They’re boring, and have been boring for a good long time. The last one I really enjoyed was Infinity War, but in the end I was just horny for Thanos and didn’t actually care for the movie itself, and that was after years of being tired of Marvel already. Overall, super heroes in film have become a bit of a wet blanket, with a few shining gems sticking out to say “hey, look, I’m actually trying to be art and not just the next billion dollar black hole on popular culture!”

The Snyder cut was one of those films I’d call art, like Iron Man 3, and Birds of Prey. It’s stylish, it looks good, the characters are at least workable characters, there’s a touch of sex appeal with some hot dudes who are actually allowed to be hot, and it seems to legitimately like it’s own source material- which leads me to say, usually in a super hero-type picture, I always get this feeling they’re trying to... market dumb, nerd bullshit to everyone. Well, they are, yeah? But, it feels like they find the source material icky, and they gotta “elevate” it somehow, to make it less nerdy and more watchable by Steve Rickson at the local sports bar. Mr. Snyder’s Snyder Cut the Movie does not do that. It’s wacky, it’s nerdy as fuck, and it slaps you in the face with the whole Gods & Monsters aesthetic. It’s fun!

Of course, there are some things I didn’t like. I actually didn’t mind the four hour run time. I didn’t feel it. I usually feel time passing in movies real bad. Ask me wife, my usual review of any film is “coulda been an hour shorter,” or “man I wish they cut a third of this movie out.” I like short flicks. Never been a fan of the three hour blockbuster. Snyder’s cut? I did not mind four hours at all. HOWEVER, the epilogue is kinda bullshit, and the final fight with Doctor T. Steppenwolf was pretty anticlimactic since it just had Supeloops come in and punch him a few times.

There’s also some inexplicable lines in the film. Like, some weird ass quotes in there that feel... like they’re trying to be cool, but the characters just didn’t know what to say? It’s not played for laughs, it’s just weird. Mr. Batman is told “I didn’t think you were real.” And B-boy replies “I’m real when it’s convenient.” Right, good one Bruce.

Oh, there’s this weird scene with the Flash, where he like, slowly caresses a girl’s face while he’s running-good. The wife tells me it was sweet, but it made me feel a little icky. Luckily, Big Quick never does it again in the film. I also think the Flash’s first few lines are dog-shit, but after a while the fast feller really grew on me. I like Snyder’s take on the Flasher’s power. It’s cool, man.

When all is said and done, this felt like a comic book movie that was actually trying to be one. I liked it, though it had a few stinky parts in there. It still was way more fun than Endgame ever had a chance to be, and darn, this movie actually knew how to do an action sequence unlike that last Wonder Woman picture what-with the kitty lady. Between this, Birds of Prey, and Aquaman, I’ll say I’m really liking a lot of the ol’ DC films coming out. Not all of them are sluggers, impressing me with their style and vibe, but the Snyder cut, Fishboy, and Funnygirls were all breaths of fresh air in a long decaying style of flick.

No part of me believes this is the film that woulda came out in theaters if Mr. Snyder got to release his first cut of the movie, but I like this. I’m curious to watch the ol’ flaccid feller’s version of the movie now, and probably will this weekend. I hear it’s a bit of a house fire, so I’m looking forward to it.

Side note; I watched the Sonic movie, desperately, desperately hoping it was a crock of horse-shit... sadly, the worst happened: I thought it was fun and cute, and liked it. And YOU VIDEO GAME PEOPLE, who complained, and got Sonic’s body changed... we could have had it all, you bastards. We could have seen that terrible creature FLOSSING in the Fortnite sense, and it would have been awful. But instead, we got what we got. You fuckers, you absolute basement hogs... suck on a carrot, you pricks, ruining the joy I could have had at seeing that Nightmare. It’s your fault I was forced to like the Sonic movie, you Amy Rose body-pillow having rodents.

[steves-on-a-plane]

Two Roads Diverged

Title: Two Roads Diverged SONG FIC: The Day I Died - Five For Fighting Words: 2343 (2090 without lyrics) Pairing: Steve Rogers x Peggy Carter Author’s Note: This song came up under my suggested songs on Apple Music and as I listened to it, it just really gave me Steve and Peggy vibes. I wasn’t a huge fan of how Endgame tied up Steve’s story but as I wrote this, I took a linear look at his relationship with Peggy and it helped me understand that version of Steve a little bit better.

“Give me your coordinates. I’ll find a you a safe landing site.” The voice of Agent Margaret Carter ordered. The sounds came out muffled and crackling through the speaker on the plane’s console. That was 1940’s technology for you.

“There’s not gonna be a safe landing.” Captain Steve Rogers relayed regrettably from his seat in the cockpit. He fiddled with the plane’s controls. Steve was already strapped into the pilot’s chair and physically preparing for impact. “But I can try and voice it down.��

“I-I’ll get Howard on the line. He’ll know what to do.” Agent Carter insisted. Steve could hear the desperation in her voice, even through the cracking of the speaker.

“There’s not enough time.” Her told her, his voice never wavering. He told himself at the time that the level tone was for her sake, but the truth was it was just as much for his own. “This thing’s going down and it’s headed for New York.” There was dead air between them for several seconds before Steve laid out the only option. “I gotta put her in the water.”

“Please, don’t do this.” Agent Carter argued, sounding more desperate than Steve ever thought he’d live to hear. “We-we have time. We can work it out.”

“Right now, I’m in the middle of nowhere. If I wait any longer a lot of people are gonna die.” Steve disagreed. He needed to make her understand that the didn’t have any time at all. “Peggy, this is my choice.” Silence managed to push its way into the conversation again as Steve tugged at the yolk of the plane. The aircraft dipped down into a full-on nosedive, its trajectory headed straight for the icy water below. Neither one of them could bare disconnect communication with the other. There was still so much left unsaid between them. Some many things they’d never share.

“Peggy?” The Captain’s voice finally cracked slightly as the yolk shook in his hands. Though he hoped she’d never be able to tell through the speaker on her end.

“I’m here.” She responded, already sounding very far off.

“I’m gonna need a raincheck on that dance.” He said as his plane broke through the clouds. He was coming in fast. It wouldn’t be much longer now.

“Alright.” Peggy obliged, holding back tears. “A week next Saturday at the Stork Club. Eight o’clock on the dot. Don’t you dare be late. Understood?”

“You know, I still don’t know how to dance.” He admitted. Trying to keep the conversation going. Again he convinced himself this was for her sake.

“I’ll show you how.” She promised. “Just be there.”

“We’ll have the band play something slow.” Steve agreed, the water felt only inches away now. “I’d hate to step on your…”

I woke up, you next to me. You said, “Good morning, are you free?” The sun crept in for one last time. I was alive the day I died. The clock struck noon but did not care.

No matter how much time passed, Steve couldn’t seem to shake the memories of that day. When he woke up thawed and miraculously alive sixty-six years later, he knew it couldn’t have been anything but divine intervention. It truly was a miracle to be alive, but Steve wasn’t so sure it was a good thing. Whether you called it fate, destiny, whatever, the same force that had brought Steve Rogers back to life was the same force that had forced him go in the first place.

It was just easier for Steve, who liked to think of himself as a simple man from a simpler time, to think of this force as God. And to Steve it seemed just so unfair that the same God who could curse him with so many childhood ailments could bless him with whatever it was that Dr. Erskine liked so much. The same God who brought the force of nature that was Peggy Carter into his life, could let the two of them be separated so absolutely. To the rest of America, the return of Captain America was a sign of good things to come, but to Steve it was a painful reminder of the man he’d never gotten to be.

Bzzzz. Bzzzzz. Steve looked at the mobile phone that vibrated across the desk in his room. The phone had been given to him by SHIELD Director Fury who had explained that landlines were as extinct in this time as he felt. He didn’t recognize the number, but he answered the phone anyway. It wasn’t like anyone he knew would be calling.

“Hello?” A female voice called cautiously into his ear.

“Hello?” He questions back. “This is Steve Rogers. Who is this?”

“Captain, my name is Sharon. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to call, but your condition was need to know and I wasn’t high enough on the chain of command. Anyway, I’m calling because I think my aunt would like to see you and I suspect you’d also like to see her again. You knew her as Peggy.” The woman on the phone explained.

I saw a child in my old chair. A shadow fell across your face, but all the years could not erase. I was alive. I was alive. You pulled me close. I held you tight. Though my smiles told a few lies, I was alive, the day I died.

Again, Steve found himself wondering how a God could bring him Peggy back, but not quite. Was this the curse he was destined to bare forever then? To always have what he wanted just out of reach? The love of his life was there with him but while Steve still looked the same Peggy had aged. She’d gone on and gotten married. She had a family, a life. For her it had been sixty-six years. It wasn’t her fault that to Steve it had felt like six minutes.

“You should be proud of yourself.” He told Peggy as he said by her bedside. He studied the photographs by her bedside at the nursing home. The Captain couldn’t help but think how lucky the man who’d been married to her must have been.

“Mmm.” Peggy hummed in agreement. “I have lived a life. My only regret is that you didn’t get to live yours. What is it?” She added, taking in his downcast expression.

“For as long as I can remember, I just wanted to do what was right.” He sighed, looking away from the photographs. “I guess, I’m just not quite sure what that is anymore.” Peggy laughed at him and Steve’s heart skipped a beat. He’d missed her laugh.

“You’re always so dramatic!” She commented between chuckles. “You saved the world. We rather mucked it up. The world has changed and none of us can go back. All we can do is our best. And sometimes the best that we can do, is to start over.”

I was the first to see a star. It seemed so close, it was so far. Wind started to roar. Screamed time to go. You know all you need. You know all you know. I was alive. I was alive. You pulled me close. I held you tight. And though our smiles told a few lies, I was alive the day I died.

She’s gone. In her sleep.

That’s what Sharon’s text had said. That was the message that Steve received to let him know that the love of his life had died. A simple five-word text. Steve looked around the room, the timing couldn’t have been worse. The Avengers were literally falling apart before his eyes. They were all there. Sam, Tony, Nat, everyone. Arguing over some bullshit restrictions that had no place even being considered in the first place. It was too much. But that was the future, or in this case the present. Everything was always too much too fast these days.

“I have to go.” Steve mumbled, getting up from his seat in the living room. He walked off without giving the others a chance to ask why. He was packed an on a plane to London within hours.

The service was everything one would expect from an international hero like Margaret Carter. Even down to the perfectly pitched choir of angelic singers. The family asked Steve to be a pallbearer and he was honored, even if they were just indulging an old man’s sentimentality. Sharon gave a moving eulogy and then it was over.

He was expected to just go on home. To pretend like the only person, he’d ever really loved wasn’t buried six feet under. He was expected to go back to New York and sign a bunch of documents saying that the government had the right to tell him and the others like him if, when and how they were allowed to save people. The entire thing didn’t sit right with Steve. He couldn’t stomach it, the entire idea of someone else being in control of his future.

Steve Rogers had let people tell him who he was his entire life. That ended today.

“Sometimes, the best we can do is to start over.” He whispered to himself. Steve Rogers had let people tell him who he was his entire life. That ended today. He was done being the monkey in the suit who danced when they called. Steve slipped out of the church and disappeared from the public eye for three years.

Oh, Sweet Angel you call. Oh, Sweet Angel you call. Oh, Sweet Angel. White went black. Black went white. Universe cracked. I saw the light. You called my name. I did not respond. But I heard you well, carried you on.

“You have to return the stones to the exact moment we got ‘em or you’re gonna open up a bunch of nasty alternative realities.” Dr. Banner explained to Steve. He flicked open the briefcase where all six infinity stones were housed.

“Don’t worry Bruce,” Steve closed the briefcase solemnly. “Clip all the branches.”

“You know if you want, I could come with you.” Sam offered.

“You’re a good man Sam, but this one’s on me though.” Steve nodded and took in one last look at his friend before turning to Bucky.

Buck had been Steve’s friend forever. They’d survived almost a century together. The world had changed around them and dragged the pair kicking and screaming along with it. There were no secrets between them and Buck knew, even if Rogers didn’t, this was the last time they’d be seeing each other. At least as they both were then.

“Don’t do anything stupid till I get back.” Steve echoed the last worlds Bucky had said to him before shipping out back during WWII.

“How can I.” Bucky shook his head, recounting Steve’s response from ‘The good ‘ol days.’ Back when the worst-case scenario didn’t involve time traveling aliens who could wipe out half the population with a single snap. “You’re taking all the stupid with you.” They shared a hug that expressed more than either had ever said allowed to the other. “I’m gonna miss you buddy.” Buck whispered as they separated.

“It’s gonna be okay, buddy.” Steve promised. With a final reassuring pat on the shoulder he walked away and stepped on to the time machine.

Midnight came and I was gone. The planet shrugged and moved along. A few people noticed and sang my songs. I was alive the day I died. I was alive the day I died.

Returning the Infinity Stones hadn’t exactly been easy. Even with the ability to travel forward or backwards with time as needed Steve found that getting the timing just right, took a little bit of practice. He didn’t have a way of recording how long the job had taken him, but he knew he was done when he opened the briefcase to find no more Infinity Stones and one final Pym Particle, his ticket home.

Home. He chuckled to himself. He’d never really felt at home anywhere or anytime. Growing up he’d been a scrawny kid from Brooklyn who never quite knew when enough was enough. During the war he was a puppet. Back when his uniform was still a costume and the closest he got to being a hero was punching a fake Hitler in the jaw three times a night. After the ice He was an eighty-eight year old man trapped in a twenty-something’s body. There was no stopping things after that. The music was too loud, and cars moved too fast.

He’d missed so many things he’d never be able to catch up on. America in the twenty first century had never really been his home. He looked down at the Pym Particle in his hand wondering if he dared. There’d be no going forward or back. That was the last one. He’d have to get the timing just right, because he was going to be stuck whenever time he landed.

Despite his best efforts to live in the present, he’d spent most of his life looking back with regret. Regret that he hadn’t been able to tell her back them when the timing was right. Regret that he hadn’t listen that day. That he hadn’t let her get Howard on the line to work things out. Regret that he’d never gotten that dance with his best girl.

Hardening his resolve, Steve set the date on his time travel watch. It had been seventy-two years for him, but for her it would be less than seventy-two hours. He’d show up with a bouquet of flowers even though flowers weren’t quite her thing. This was a special occasion and she’d understand that. He’d apologize profusely for missing their date and then before she had a change to say another word, he’d get down on one knew and ask her to be his gal forever.

I woke up, you next to me. You said “Good Morning, are you free?” The sun crept in for one last time. I was alive the day I died.

Disclaimers: All the bold text are song lyrics, and there is quite a bit of dialog pulled from MCU movies so if you reconize it, chances are its probably from The First Avenger, Winter Soldier, Civil War or End Game.  

[itzagothamcitysiren]

Welcome to the Family

I somehow managed to wake up early and have time to post before work! This is very rare, seeing as I usually sleep until the last second lol. But I guess quick warning for the next chapter for some gore and mess up stuff? It’s not super crazy but people usually give a warning stuff like this (insert shrugging emoji, lol) 

There’s a Web That You Have Wove pt. 6

           Jason was pissed; he didn’t like playing the messenger boy and he most defiantly didn’t like playing phone tag. He was about to head down to get ready for patrol after locking himself in his room from the moment he got home from school, when he decided to knock on Halley’s door. He wouldn’t admit it but he’d been a real dick to her all week. It wasn’t that he was mad at her, it was more that he was mad at himself for letting what happened at the party get to him that much.

           It wasn’t like anything even happened at the party, he just didn’t know what came over him. He was normally hot-headed but his fuse had been particularly short that night apparently. He didn’t know why he got so uptight when Halley’s friend joined them or why he just left to go off on his own, only to be annoyed when she invited him out with them. He could’ve just gone instead of wallowing in anger at the party still. He was going to apologize in his own Jason way later, with a bag of Caroline’s but when he saw her sitting with him at lunch, he just couldn’t stop himself was throwing the bag of food in the trash.

           He was being stupid. He had no reason to be acting this why. Halley could hang out with whoever she wanted, it shouldn’t matter to him; it shouldn’t bug him but it did and he had no idea why. He didn’t even know why he knocked on her door, it wasn’t like he’d have anything to tell her. What was he going to say? I don’t like you like that but hey sorry I got jealous that you’ve been talking to another guy? No, that would sound pathetic, but here he was growing more irritated as he knocked again when he was met with silence.

           Was she the one ignoring him now? That made him knock even harder for a third time only to be met with more silence. Without a second thought he pushed the door open, eyes darting around the room in annoyance, looking as if he was ready to start a fight. His features softened when he saw that the room was empty. At least he wasn’t being ignored, he huffed closing the door and making his way down the hallway. She was probably already downstairs getting ready for patrol, he figured.

           When he did reach the Batcave he grew agitated again when he saw that she was nowhere in sight. He walked up to Bruce, who was already suited up and appeared to look miffed, as if that was anything new.

           “Where’s Halley?” Jason questioned, looking around again to see if he missed her, the cave was pretty large after all.

           “Out,” Bruce said sharply throwing Jason off. Bruce sounded like how he sounded when he was mad at Jason for doing something wrong.

           “Oh, Master Jason, have you heard anything from her?” Alfred appeared, looking worried. “She went out with some friends and was supposed to be back for patrol by now. I’ve tried calling but it’s only gone to voice mail.”

           Jason narrowed his eyes. Friends? As in plural, friends? Since when did she have friends? He knew about Dylan and Alfred wouldn’t look this worried if he was talking about the Titans. So Jason now seethed as he was forced to sit back on a rooftop as Bruce handled some low-class street muggers so he could call Halley back. Bruce had him text her before they left for the night and grunted when Jason hadn’t gotten a reply. Jason sneered at his reaction. If Jason had pulled this stunt he’d be tracked down instantly and benched but here Halley was a couple of ignored calls from Alfred and five unread texts from Jason later and Bruce was taking it easy on her.

           Jason cried out in frustration when he was sent to her voicemail, after returning the call she just gave him. Why would she call him back but now not answer? He thought about chucking his phone across the skyline but instead he gripped onto it tighter, remembering where Alfred said she was supposed to be. Looking down at Batman as he finished off the muggers, he jumped up and started heading towards the direction of the bowling alley Halley was supposed to be at.

            The closer and closer he got, there was just something in the pit of his stomach telling him something was wrong. He was afraid of what he’d fine. Who were the friends she was supposed to be with? His last text to her made the pit in his stomach grow. Why did he send her that? He wasn’t thinking as he typed the message and hit send. It made him question why he was acting the way he was. He kept telling himself he didn’t like her like that, but the thought of walking in on her and Dylan made him want to punch a wall.

           He landed on the adjacent building of the bowling alley and his eyes narrowed at the sight of a pair of cop cars parked outside, their lights flashing. Robin jumped down, sticking the landing and walking towards the scene. The patrol men gave him a slight glare, the GCPD weren’t a huge fan of the new Robin and the new Robin wasn’t a huge fan of the GCPD. Robin looked away from them a noticed a woman sitting in the back seat, looking quit frazzled and crying. He tried to hide his concern, not liking the vibe he was getting, especially when he saw Dylan standing next to the other cop car talking to another officer.

           Robin walked over to them, determined to figure out what happened. He could hear Batman and Alfred calling him through his coms, most likely wanting to know what he was doing, but ignored them. Batman would already be tracking his location by now, he’d be on his way.  Robin looked at Dylan, noting how he stopped talking when he noticed the vigilante approach. Robin took the time to look over his face. The boy looked upset, distress written all over his face. Now the pit had completely consumed Robin’s stomach, but he still held his composer.

           “What happened here?” He asked, looking at the cop.

           The cop looked down at Robin, before rolling his eyes and answering, “Woman got assaulted, said some kid saw it and tried to help, but her attacker stabbed her with something and took her.” The police officer said, as if it was just another regular night. He motioned to Dylan now, “When we got here and started asking around to see if anyone saw this, this kid said his friend went missing a little time before the attack. The descriptions, even a bit hazy from the woman, seem to match up,”

           “Your friends name?” Jason asked, hiding his worry. He knew who it was, he didn’t really need a name, but he still wanted confirmation.

           “Halley,” Dylan stammered, clearly upset. “Halley Wayne. She just moved her a few months ago, she-,”            

           “Yeah, I’ve heard of her,” Robin held a hand up silencing him He looked back at the cop, “And the guy?” he jerked his head towards the car the woman sat in, “does she have any idea who it was that attacked them?”

           “Nah,” the cop shrugged casually, “Said she couldn’t get a good look, said the guy drugged her so she doesn’t remember a lot. She only remembers seeing a lot of tally marks all over his forearms.”

           “Zsasz,” Jason swore.

           “Yeah, probably, he did just escape from Arkham.”

           “Well thanks for your information and enthusiasm, keep up the good work,” Jason spat sarcastically, sick of hearing how relaxed the cop was with this information. He turned to walk away, clicking his com link to call Bruce and Alfred. Once he grappled up to the roof of a building he spoke, he brought a shaky hand to the earpiece, “We need to track Halley’s phone.”

           The said girl had just been coming too, feeling lightheaded as she took in her surroundings. Her head spun as she realized she was upside down. Her feet tied tightly together by rope attached to beams in the ceiling. Her arms tangled below her, tied together by her wrists with duct tape. Raising her arms to her mouth, she started to chew at the tape, trying to free herself and not waste any time. As she took in her surroundings and escape route options she felt a chill and wasn’t surprised to find her clothes had been discarded, leaving her in just her bra and underwear. This had been how they found Zsasz’s previous victims before they sent him to Arkham.

           She spit out a chunk of tape, going back to work at the thick tape stuck to her skin. This was taking too long, she thought as she felt the goosebumps forming on her skin. Her eyes traveled around the room, biting her nerves as she saw other bodies hanging around the large, dimly lit room. They were woman, all like her, tied up and dangling, except these woman were already dead. The stench from the bloody pools underneath where they hung made her stomach wrench. She tried to focus on her wrists, blinking away the images that already burnt into her mind. Zsasz liked to murder his victims by carving them up and making them practically unrecognizable. Halley would be next if she didn’t move faster.

           The tape was thin enough where she could rip herself free and she did just that, making her swing from the motion. Her head felt dizzy, unsure how long she’d been tied up like this and felt like she might pass out again from the blood rushing to her head. At least the drugs are wearing off, she grunted before starting to swing herself forward to gain momentum.  Heaving herself up, she tried reaching up to her ankles, anything to see if she’d be able untie herself. As she repeated the movement again she knew she was no longer alone from the sound of footsteps approaching.

           Cursing, she stopped, trying to stop herself from rocking back and forth in order to play dead but her free hands would give her away regardless. Taking a deep breath, she just needed Zsasz to get close enough for her to attack. His footsteps got closer and she prepared herself to launch herself at him; even restrained like this she’d be able to at least knock him out. But he never came to her, walking right past him and towards another hanging body.

           Halley watched with eyes wide as she realized one of them was still alive, the girl quivering as Zsasz grabbed her by the arm and bringing her face to his. They were inches apart as the girl’s eyes opened and began to cry. Halley tried pulling her legs apart to loosen the rope but knew it was pointless; she needed a knife. Zsasz had one, revealing it and raising it to the girl’s neck. He rested the blade towards the underside of her chin, pressing down and began slicing skin-,

           “No!” Halley screamed, as the man began to peel the woman’s face off.

           Zsasz stopped, the girl in absolute agony as the air met the fresh cut, blood pouring down the sides of her face.  “Don’t worry darling, your turns coming up,” he said cheekily to her before turning back to his work, the girl’s screams echoing off the walls.

           “Please don’t! Just stop,” Halley shouted again but was ignored this time.

           She watched mortified and felt the tears already leaking out her eyes as the psycho skinned the girl’s face off. She closed her eyes after a minute, feeling bile forming in her throat at the bloody mess in front of her. The girl’s pained cries faded, telling Halley that Zsasz’s work was finished. She kept her eyes closed, not sure she could stomach seeing the scene in front of her. She’d seen and done many things with her father, but this, they were above doing stuff like this. She heard Victor groan, making her sure Zsasz was adding another tally to his body.

           She didn’t reopen them until she was pulled forward and hands rubbing against her chest, sliding up to her thighs as she was sized up by the man. She glowered at the man as he planned out where he was going to cut her up first. Wasting no more time, wanting the man’s hands off of her, she slammed her head forward, hitting his with a smack. He grunted, holding his head as he stepped back. She reached out for him, landing a punch against his cheek, causing him to stumble back some more.

           He held his jaw with a laugh, “I see you’ve gotten out of your restraints, no matter, I have more.” He walked over to his little supply area and grabbed another roll of duct tape. As he got closer to her again, she swung again and he was forced to back up. “I thought you were just being stupid back in that alley, but you really like to fight now don’t you?”

           Victor Zsasz moved back to his supplies, taking the syringe he used on her earlier. The drug he used to knock her out the first time should’ve lasted longer but it was no matter, he’d give her more. She’d put up a fight in the alley but once she was stabbed with this stuff she was out like a light in a matter of seconds.

           He approached her again knife in one hand and syringe in the other. She flared about trying to knock them out of his hands. She succeeded in grabbing the knife, slashing at him, but also left herself open. As she stabbed him in the shoulder he also stabbed her in her own. She cursed, trying to fight off the drug but between that and her already shaky head, she couldn’t help but let her eyes close.

[spidergwenstefani]

Finals Week

This is a really self-indulgent semi sequel to this ficlet I wrote a little while ago about theatre major Bucky and frat bro Clint. Apparently this is gonna be the AU i use for pointless fluffy comfort now bc I’m stressed with finals essays and these boys are helping.

I definitely shifted some background characters around since the last fic sorry steve but i don’t super care so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Bucky spins his desk chair around in a lazy circle, watching the moon shining through his apartment window blur into a bright stripe with the rest of his surroundings. Someone on the floor above him has tuned their Spotify to some kind of low-fi study playlist, and Bucky feels genuinely relaxed for the first time in… months, actually.

This last week has been rough. Nearly all of his finals ended up scheduled on the same Friday and Natasha had to actually hold him back from leaping out the library window on Thursday night. It worked out alright. The Lighting Design 201 presentation had gone off shockingly well, the History of Stage Design final was way easier than expected, and his group project for Gender in Shakespeare really pulled through in the end. He half-assed the conclusion for his Dramaturgy essay, but there was only so much he could say about August Wilson without the professor realizing he was just spitting his class notes back at him. So now he’s done. A whole five days before the semester ends, too. It feels like a thousand-pound weight has been lifted off Bucky’s shoulders. He hums along to the slow jam echoing down from his upstairs neighbor, scooping up his phone to check his messages.

Nat (3 hours ago) Congrats on being done with finals

Nat (3 hours ago) If you didn’t turn that gd Fences essay in on time I will climb in through your window and strangle you in your sleep

Steve (2 hours ago) Hey! Me and some buddies were planning on going out for pizza around 7 tomorrow. Do you wanna come with? You can bring Clint so you don’t have to listen to grad students all night.

Steve (2 hours ago) Please say yes. I don’t want to listen to grad students all night.

Nat (42 minutes ago) Have you heard from Clint? He hasn’t answered my texts in hours. Not sure if I should be concerned

Nat (40 minutes ago) Send him a dick pic and see if that gets a response

Clint (3 minutes ago) im fckin dropping uot

Bucky ignores Steve and Natasha for now, typing out a quick response to Clint.

Bucky Well I’m done with finals

Bucky Can I convince you to stay in college with some fantastic Fuck Dramaturgy victory sex?

Clint i dont kno what htat is

Bucky I’ve explained Dramaturgy to you like five times

Clint i cant remembr

Clint what day is it

Clint bucky im dyin :’(

Bucky rolls his eyes, grabbing the keys off his desk and pulling on his sneakers. He would have preferred to avoid the Greek side of campus today if at all possible, but he has an idiot boyfriend to console.

Bucky omw

>>==========>

Beta Theta Pi is, as far as frat houses go, not the absolute worst. It had still been kind of a shock when Bucky realized Clint actually lives up to his frat bro vibes. Not only lives up to them but embraces them with the same enthusiasm Clint has for any other thing he cares about. Bucky could probably do PR for the Beta charity drives by now after how much Clint has gushed about them. Lord knows he’d do a better job than fucking Pietro.

Bruce answers the door on Bucky’s third knock, looking surprised to see him and vaguely stoned.

“Bucky?” he says after he gets a few blinks out of his system. Bucky wonders if it’s such a good idea to be smoking in his letterman jacket. Coach Fury’s been known to have a nose like a bloodhound. “Clint didn’t say you were coming over.”

“Has he said anything at all in the last twelve hours?” Bucky asks, shouldering past Bruce because he knows he won’t move on his own. Bruce is actually his favorite of Clint’s brothers. He’s chiller than any offensive lineman has a right to be. He does yoga, for fuck's sake. It’s probably the copious amounts of weed that mellow him out in the end, though.

“I dunno,” Bruce says, still blinking his way back to the present. He gives Bucky a slow smile as he shuts the door behind them. “Do you want tea? I made tea.”

“Maybe later,” Bucky says, because he’s just spotted Rumlow studying at the dining table and that’s the one Beta guy he genuinely doesn’t want to see today. He heads for the stairs.

“Wanna play Smash Bros?” Bruce asks as Bucky bolts for the second floor.

“Maybe later,” he shouts over his shoulder.

Clint’s room is at the far end of the hallway, and Bucky frowns at the closed door. Clint’s the kind of endearingly codependent guy that keeps his door open unless absolutely necessary, never wanting to miss out on anything that might be blocked by a thin layer of wood.

He knocks more as a warning than anything, letting himself in and shutting the door softly behind him. All the lights are off and nothing but moonlight illuminates Clint spread dramatically across the floor, staring up at his ceiling fan like he’s hoping it’ll fall on him.

“Fucking Christ,” Bucky mutters, mostly because he’s not sure Clint even heard him come in.

“I’m gonna die,” Clint answers from the floor. “Statistics is actually gonna kill me.”

“You can’t die,” Bucky says, leaning back against the door. “My mom will be crushed if I don’t bring you home for spring break.” The moonlight is making the angles of Clint’s face look especially soft, and Bucky takes a moment to watch him pout before sinking down onto the floor.

“No, it’s too late. I’m dying,” Clint says, shifting to make room on the rug as Bucky crawls over to him. He wraps his arm around Bucky’s shoulders and plants a quick kiss on his forehead before turning his glazed look back up at the ceiling fan. “You’ll come to my funeral, right?”

“Obviously,” Bucky snorts, sliding his hands under Clint’s t-shirt. He knows his fingers are ice cold, but Clint doesn’t even flinch.

“Wear black, okay? Something sexy, so my enemies get jealous of the hot piece of ass I bagged before kicking the bucket.”

“Should I cry?” Clint hasn’t seen Bucky act yet, but he’s totally going to audition for The Laramie Project next semester and blow his fucking mind.

“As much as possible. Maybe mention how much you’ll miss my massive dick.”

“I will,” Bucky says emphatically. He looks up at the ceiling fan and takes a deep breath, doing his best to bring tears to his eyes. “I’ll never love another dick as much as I loved his.” Bucky’s voice comes out impressively choked up. “I’m cursed to a life of longing. The only man who can satisfy me is lost forever.” Bucky blinks a single tear down his cheek, and Clint’s staring at him when he finally turns back.

“Holy shit,” Clint says, moving to wipe at Bucky’s cheeks like he’s actually worried about him. “Do exactly that, please. When did you learn how to cry on command?”

“When my third sister was born,” Bucky answers smugly. “I didn’t appreciate how much more attention tutus and pigtails got, so I had to find my own edge.”

“Becca’s sent me a few pictures that say you still cashed in on tutus and pigtails.” Clint rolls onto his side so he can face Bucky better, pulling him closer with a hand around his waist.

“I rocked those butterfly clips better than she could ever dream,” Bucky says, and Clint buries his laugh in Bucky’s shoulder. Bucky runs a hand up and down Clint’s back. “What day is your Stats final?” That earns him a despondent groan.

“Monday. I’m so gonna fail.” Clint’s voice is muffled by Bucky’s sweatshirt. “Why the fuck did I decide on a Business major?”

“Because you’re smart,” Bucky insists. Clint shakes his head weakly against his shoulder and Bucky smacks him lightly on the arm. “You are. You’re smart and practical, and once you have your diploma you and Nat can move to New York and open your gym.”

Clint mumbles something into his sweatshirt that Bucky doesn’t quite catch.

“What?” he asks, and he tugs the back of Clint’s shirt just enough to get him to scoot backward and speak clearly.

“I said you’ll be there too,” Clint repeats, rubbing his thumb back and forth across Bucky’s side and making an effort to keep his eyes anywhere but on Bucky’s. “Designing costumes on Broadway. Having a meltdown every other day.”

“Exactly,” Bucky says, and Clint looks up long enough to give him a hesitant smile. “And on tech week I’ll gripe to you all night long and make you rub my feet.”

“Sounds like a dream,” Clint says, and his voice is too soft to be joking. Bucky leans forward to kiss him. Clint brings his hand up to Bucky’s face, brushing his thumb over his cheek while they lose themselves for a moment or two.

“It’ll be awesome,” Bucky says once he’s pulled away. “And all you have to do is pass one dumb Stats final. It’s all easy street after that.”

“No it’s not,” Clint says, but his face doesn’t seem quite as pinched with worry. Bucky shrugs one shoulder.

“Maybe not, but this is all you have to think about right now. And even if you don’t pass, which you will, Momma Barnes will be waiting at the train station, ready to fill that void of disappointment with cookies and brisket. They offer Stats over the summer. You can even get Bruce to help you study.”

Clint smiles a little easier and presses a kiss to Bucky’s cheek.

“Bruce offered to help me study earlier this week, actually.” Bucky raises his eyebrows at him.

“And you’re not taking him up on it? Bruce is pretty much Einstein. You know that, right? What are you doing in here when you could be getting schooled on Stats in the library?”

“Well, you’re here,” Clint says and Bucky just knows his smile goes all dopey at that. “And I think even Einstein would struggle with Stats after smoking that much weed.”

“You’ll study with him tomorrow though, right?” Bucky’s not going to let Clint throw him off that easy. Clint rolls his eyes, but he nods. “Steve invited us to get pizza tomorrow. I’ll pay, as a reward for studying.”

“Steve invited us, or Steve invited you?” Clint asks, scrunching up his nose. Bucky snorts, shoving at Clint half-heartedly.

“Steve invited us. To go out with him and his friends. I dunno why you hate him so much. He thinks you’re pretty cool.”

“I don’t hate him,” Clint says defensively, but he still shifts forward to wrap his arms possessively around Bucky. “I just want to make sure he knows that the position of Bucky’s Buff Blond Boyfriend is already happily filled. Also, fuck him. I’m really cool.”

“You’re ridiculous,” Bucky says. He’s kind of stuck in Clint’s steel trap of a hug. “It’s not like that. First of all, I don’t date grad students, and second of all we totally have more of a big brother-little brother sort of thing going on. I think he’s more into Tony, anyway.”

“Aw, gross,” Clint laughs, letting Bucky out of his death grip. “They deserve each other.”

“People probably say the same thing about us,” Bucky says. Clint grins at him, opening his mouth to share some kind of smart-ass response. A knock on the door cuts him off and makes them both jump.

“Do you guys have pants on?” Bruce’s voice comes through the door way louder than necessary. “If you don’t, sorry. Keep doing your thing or whatever. We’re starting a new Smash tournament, though, if you wanna join.”

“No, Bruce. C’mon man,” Bucky hears Sam say, and there’s the sound of scuffling feet like Sam’s trying to yank Bruce back from the door. “They’re probably having their own Smash tournament in there.”

“Bucky would have invited me,” Bruce insists, and Clint sits up with a laugh.

“We have pants on, Bruce,” he calls, and the door opens a moment later.

“Are you guys just sitting in the dark?” Bruce frowns down at Bucky, who’s still sprawled across the rug.

“Yeah,” Clint says, and then because he catches Bucky’s meaningful look, “Are you busy tomorrow? Think you could help me with Stats?”

“Yeah,” Bruce says, smiling easily. Bucky thinks Clint looks relieved, like he actually thought Bruce might say no. “We can go to the library.”

“Alright, Bruce.” Bucky stands up, offering a hand and hauling Clint to his feet too. “Let’s smash. I call the pink controller.”

[theonewiththefanfics]

Magnets And Mistletoes (one-shot)

Synopsys: Bucky is hopelessly in love with the Reader, but can never gather enough courage to do something about it. But maybe a little help from a mistletoe is all he needs.

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Genre: floof

Warnings: I literally cannot remember, but apart from cuteness overload, nothing

Word count: 2613

   It was an early morning in the Avenger’s Tower. Soft winter light filtered through the giant glass panes and cast everything in a beautiful yellow glow. Mindless chatter surrounded the people in the room as they tried to wake up by drinking pots upon pots of coffee and stuffing their faces with food. Bucky Barnes in the meantime was lost in his own little world, tuning out his surroundings and just enjoying how it felt to wake up in a place where he felt safe. That was until a clink echoed around him. Metal against metal.    Two blue eyes looked down and what he saw made his brows furrow. There on his new vibranium arm was a magnet. Bucky looked around the room, but no one acted differently. He turned to look at Sam sitting on the other side of the couch, who was the embodiment of the living dead, brown glazed over eyes hungrily looking down his cup of caffeine, but other than the Falcon, no one was around him.    Until he heard a snicker. Whipping around, he glanced at the gathered group by the kitchen island and there, her shoulders tense and head down sat Y/N. Her Y/H/C hair was a wild mess and she was clad in only a deep burgundy hoodie, beige sleeping shorts and knee-high fuzzy socks.    “Anything funny you wanna share, doll?”    Slowly she turned to look at the ex-Winter Soldier and his breath hitched in his throat at the joy shining in those Y/E/C eyes.    “Nope. Anything you wanna tell me, Jamesy?”    He loved that nickname. Obviously, only Y/N was allowed to call him that. The last time Thor tried to do the same he almost went on a rampage.    A smirk tugged up his lips. “Oh, I think there is something you’d like to say.” Bucky stood up and sauntered over to the girl. She spun around on the barstool, now fully facing him, knees crossed and body leaning on her elbows. If they weren’t surrounded by their friends, he’d take her then and there, ravish her until she’s dizzy and slurring her speech. And also, if he wasn’t so deathly afraid of rejection.

   Towering over her, he caged the woman in his presence.    “So, you’re telling me you have nothing to do with this little thing?” he said, eyes pointing at the snowflake magnet.    “Now, honey, why would I do that?”    “I don’t know. You tell me.”    The stare off didn’t last long as Y/N burst out laughing and Bucky followed suit. Her eyes crinkled in the corners and her smile was so wide the man’s heart started beating out of his chest.    “Fine,” she said taking her cup of coffee and sipping on it. “Just wanted you to look a bit more festive. After all, you are the Winter Soldier.”    “I’m the Winter Soldier, not the Snowflake Soldier.”    “Well,” Y/N leaned in so close her breath fanned over Bucky’s neck and he shivered. “Now I declare you the Christmas Soldier.”    He had to gather every ounce of self-control not to lean in and kiss her breathless.    “And if I say no?”    Y/N jutted out her bottom lip as if mocking Bucky and his feelings, because holy shit, did he want to bite on it. “Then you’ll make this girl really, really sad and she’ll be unhappy because of you.”    “Hmm,” Bucky mussed, looking into her Y/E/C eyes and he could have sworn they dropped down to look at his mouth. “We can’t have that now, can we.”    He almost missed the quiet ‘no’ that escaped her lips if it hadn’t been for how close they had moved together.    A loud ‘FUCK IT’ roared through Bucky’s mind and he was just about to lean in to close the gap when Tony entered the room, Peter Parker following the billionaire.    “This is a child-friendly zone, so back off Elsa.”    Bucky instantly sprung back, and his heart dropped while at the same time it started beating as fast as a running horse, at the look on Y/N’s face because she looked almost disappointed.    “We’re having a Christmas ball, everyone. And we all will be there,” Tony gave the team a pointed look, not taking all the groans of protest into account. “This isn’t going to be a big thing, but still, the required dress code is- fancy.”    “Tony, your small gatherings are usually at least five hundred people,” Y/N pointed out, finishing her drink and placing the empty mug in the sink.    “Well, this time really it’ll be a small gathering. Just us, some SHIELD agents and our families, so Clint, you can bring the whole gang around.”    The archer’s face lit up like a Christmas tree at the mention of his wife and kids. Y/N’s own face split up in a smile. “What’s with the change?” she asked, looking over at Tony.    And everyone was surprised by the sincerity and seriousness of his words. “Because we just need to be around the people we love. After… everything… And I don’t want anyone but the people I care about.”    Even Nat was stunned by Tony’s honesty. Seeing the expressions on everyone’s faces he cleared his throat and returned to the aloof businessman. “Right. Bruce, I actually wanted to talk to you.”    The two scientists exited the room talking about improving something with the nano-tech and Y/N’s gaze followed them as they disappeared.    “Doll?” Bucky’s voice pulled her out of the daze. “You okay?”    She looked at him all confused until his calloused thumb wiped away a trail of tears.    “Yeah, just… Hate remembering about what that grape took from all of us.”    His heart hurt knowing how much pain Thanos had caused all of them.    Y/N had joined the Avengers in Wakanda for the fight against the mad titan. Bucky was sceptical at first. They’d met as she landed her jet next to Steve’s and approached the gathered people.    “T’Challa. Good to see you again.”    The king quirked a brow and went in on for a hug. “I’m sorry to call you in on such short notice. And for such an occasion, but we’ll need all of the help we can get.”    “A psychopath is trying to destroy the universe. Of course, I want in on the fun.”    Steve and Sam approached next introducing themselves and last but not least Bucky. He gave her a small nod and she replied with a wink.    “Not to sound insensitive, but what can you do?” he’d finally asked after they’d led Vision inside the castle for Shuri to try and remove the stone.    “A little bit of this, a little bit of that, a little bit of everything.”    “Might give us a demonstration?”    She gave him a mischievous grin right as Sam announced there was incoming from up above and spaceships exploded over the Wakandan barrier.    “God, I love this place,” he muttered.    “Don’t start celebrating yet,” Y/N said, smile still evident on her face. “Shuri how are we looking?”    “I need more time,” came the teenager’s voice through the comms.    “Then time you shall have.”    Bucky gave her a confused look as she crouched down and pressed her palm against the ground. A soft rumble ebbed up his feet and legs and for a second, he thought it was the alien army advancing when he saw trees, actual trees rip out their roots from the ground and strike the branches through the spacecrafts, destroying as much as they could, implead six-legged bodies dropping to the ground.    “Don’t use up all your energy,” the king appeared by their sides, the Black Panther suit adorning his body.    “I was asked for a demonstration, that's all.”    Y/N threw Bucky a smile and he swore that was the moment she stole his heart.    Now, the pair was sitting on a love seat and chatting away, looking at a snowed over New York.    “You know, after Thanos, I never thought we’d get to see this,” Y/N said and glanced over at Bucky. “Snow. Earth itself. I never thought I’d be able to look at this and feel anything but despair and loss.”        Bucky’s voice was a low murmur. “Guess in the end things have a way of figuring themselves out.”    “Guess so,” the girl replied with a smile. “As long as we’re not afraid to fight for what we love.”    With that Y/N stood up and as she passed Bucky by, a soft metal clink could be heard. Looking down at his arm, there was another magnet on his arm. This time it was a little snowman

***

   Those words that Y/N had said to him before going to her room and getting ready for the ball resonated with Bucky. Not afraid to fight for what he loved. After everything that happened, not including a homicidal maniac dusting half the universe, he never believed he deserved love. Even in Wakanda accepting the fact he could have redemption was though enough, but now, the way Y/N had looked at him made the ex-Winter Soldier make up his mind. Finally.    He stood in front of the mirror, nervously fixing the bowtie circling his neck. He’d make his move. Tonight. And if all else failed he’d dig a hole to the centre of the earth just so Bucky didn’t have to deal with the aftermath.    The party was in full swing when he arrived at the deck, but the one person he wished to see was nowhere around.    “She’s running a bit late,” Nat’s voice pulled him back to reality. The redhead stood by his side, a deep jade gown trailing right to the floor as the halter neckline and backless cut gave off an elegant yet a femme fatale vibe.    “What makes you think I was looking for Y/N?”    Natasha’s smirk widened into a smile. “I never said you were waiting for Y/N, though, did I?”    Bucky was just about to rebuff what his fellow assassin implied, but there was no point in arguing. She was right. Bucky was ready to run after her when all heads turned to the side.    Bucky’s jaw hung open as Y/N entered the room. Her body was covered by a midnight blue cocktail dress and it hugged her body in every right place. The thin straps were two strings of the tiniest diamonds and sparkled almost as much as her eyes.    “If you don’t make a move, Buck then someone else most definitely will,” Steve muttered in his ear, snapping him out from the dreamy vision that was Y/N.    The dazzling beauty made her way towards the two super soldiers and hugged each of time, lingering a bit longer on Bucky.    “You look absolutely dashing,” she said, looking the pair over.    “Given how Tony threatened there will be a group photo, we had to pull out all the stops.”    Y/N smiled and chuckled at Steve’s response before he excused himself and went to make a few drinks at the bar.    “You’re breathtaking,” the words escaped Bucky’s mouth before his brain could process what they meant. Instead of a weirded out look, the girl threw him the most brilliant smile ever.    “Thank you, Jamesy.”    There was a slight pause and once again, the undeniable urge to kiss Y/N clouded his mind but she interrupted his train of thought. “Now let’s go get us drinks. Cause I don’t think I’ll be able to stand Tony’s and Pepper’s cuteness without some alcohol.”    Bucky snorted but lead the way as Y/N looped her arm through his. “And why is that?”    “Because those two are so sickeningly adorable, I think I might vomit rainbows. Also, forever alone and jealous.”    That Bucky could understand, for he desperately wished to have the same. With Y/N, if luck was on his side. Together they got their drinks and together they sat down on a little sofa a bit further away from the crowd and the band, easily slipping into a conversation about everything and anything.    They spent what felt like eternity like that, but it was mere two hours when Y/N excused herself to go to the lady’s room. Steve took her spot immediately.    “Did you tell her?”    “What?”    “Did you finally tell her how you feel?”    “Wh- no… not yet.”    The blonde’s eyebrows furrowed. “You two were awfully smiley for what it’s worth then.”    “Can’t we smile when we’re together?”    “Listen,” it was a deep and almost exhausted sight, “everyone is tired of you giving her lovesick puppy dog eyes and doing nothing about it, so if you don’t make a move, Sam’s about to set her up with some agent sitting by the bar.”    Bucky’s eyes widened with fear when they flitted to look at the unnamed SHIELD agent. He was average looking, definitely had nothing on Bucky, but then again he had nothing to lose either if Y/N didn’t reciprocate.    “Why would Sam do that? He knows how I feel.”    Steve had a blank look on his face. “We all do. So, you can either do something about it or mope for the rest of your life.”    In that exact moment, Y/N exited the bathroom and made her way towards Bucky again, only to be intercepted by that same dude. The ex-soldier usually prided himself for never panicking, no matter the situation he always remained calm and collected, but not this time. Just as the guy was starting to chat Y/N up, Bucky made a b-line towards her and intercepted their conversation.    “Anyway, I was just thinking, maybe the two of u-“    Bucky grabbed her wrist right in the last second and quickly pulled Y/N to stand by an empty doorway.    “What the hell was that James?”    His real name. Bucky was definitely in trouble.    “I- I just… umm… I just couldn’t let him ask you what he was about to ask.”    Her eyebrows shot to her forehead. “And that would be?”    “He-“ Bucky was at a loss for words and looked up as if there would be the answer, only to see a little green thing with a red bow keeping it in place.”    Mistletoe.    Her eyes followed his gaze and he heard her breath hitch.    “We don’t have to,” Bucky’s voice was husky as he looked down at the girl and her parted lips, sudden anxiety freezing his veins.    “Who says I don’t want to?”    It took him a second to process her words before his whole face was lit up by a grin and instantly, he leaned in and kissed her, one arm settling on the small of her back, pulling her body close to his and the other softly cradling her cheek.    It was everything he’d ever wanted and more for she was kissing him back with just as much vigour. Y/N’s palm settled on his unshaven cheek, slowly caressing his jaw as the other one wove into the slicked-back hair and completely messed it up. But he couldn’t care less.    Her need for air made them pull back, but he pressed their foreheads together, as if afraid she’d disappear like snow melting under the sun.    “Why did it take you so long?”    “Honestly, I don’t know.” Bucky’s head felt light and dizzy, a gentle feeling encasing his whole body until he realized it was Y/N’s hands moving up and down his arms. “But umm, if you’ll allow me… I’d like to do it more.”    “On one condition.”    “Anything.”    “You don’t wait until next Christmas to do so.”    A laugh of pure happiness surrounded the pair. “That I most certainly can promise.” And right there, where Y/N gripped his metal bicep in a vice-like grip, underneath her palm clinging onto the arm through his suit was a tiny mistletoe magnet.

Tags (crossed out wouldn't take): @nerissa98 @happyseagrill @asguardiansoftheavengers @crazybutconfidentaf @wishingforahome@lumelgy @palaiasaurus64 @supernaturalbaesduh @breezy1415 @pizzarollpatrol @crazy--me @thatawkwardlittlefangirl @sea040561 @staryeyedgirl @deathbyarabbit @s-c-a-r-e-d-po-t-t-e-r @reblogger-not-a-blogger @m-a-t-91 @dalilx @i-need-a-hero-i-need-a-loki @maladaptive-ninja-returns @averyrogers83 @in-the-end-im-still-trash @gallifreyansass @dewy-biitch @avxgers @unlikelygalaxygiver @thunderous-flower @who-cares-rn @projectxhappiness @callmebucky-doll @coal000 @killuaenthusiast @courtneychicken @sophiealiice @raquelbc2003 @watch-out-for-thorns @potentially-kinetic @thatonegirljessy99 @proxinge @bbkenna @buckysclub @ulired @fangirlofeverythingbasically @mrsalh32611 @horrorx570ximagines @the-nargles-made-me-do-it @pooslie @itsisabelanotisabella @httpmcrvel @purplebananatragedy @pxrrishly @parker-barnes-af @skulliebythesea @california-grown

A/N: Listen y’all, I just wanted some cute snowy Bucky and now ya getting cute adorbs snowy Bucky 

P.S. what did ya think?

P.S.S. if you wanna be tagged in future fics, drop a message :)

P.S.S.S. please, don’t repost without credit :)

[dexi-green]

Avengers:Endgame Thoughts !!SPOILERS!!

Just some random thoughts and questions and such about the movie. There are spoilers so…don’t read if you haven’t seen it and care about spoilers. I tried to organize it a bit but we all know that’s impossible.

Okay so..I’m not the biggest fan of the Russo Brothers and what they have done with their Marvel films. There have been some improvements, and some things that just can’t be helped and I just want to make that known first. I don’t really hate any of the films they made, they are definitely enjoyable, and fun, have great moments.

I’ve been a bit critical about how they used some of the big storylines from the comics in the films, because they never felt the same (they never can honestly, comic books and films are different formats, different ways of storytelling) but this honestly is the closest to the annuals. This is the closest to waiting an entire year after reading comics each month, to the big huge event. It feels as big as those. Civil War didn’t to me, Age of Ultron didn’t, Infinity War kinda, but this. This felt huge. Especially when actually watching it.

This is a huge fanservice film. You could probably enjoy it without any prior knowledge, or without seeing all the other films, but god, it’s better if you do. Soooo many little throwbacks and easter eggs and payoffs from the earliest films and the comics. So I highly suggest the other films, I think every single one film has some sort of tribute in this one. (I’m making a list of references and such so I’ll see)

So one of my biggest gripes out of the way…the Joe Russo cameo. It completely pulled me out of the film. The scene itself could’ve been a nice little thing to see what Steve has been up to during those five years but…just watching and listening to what was mostly Joe Russo talking and inserting himself into the universe…eh :/ It’s not like a Stan Lee cameo, he didn’t have a hand in creating these characters and we don’t owe the Russo Brothers as much as we owe Lee and Kirby and Simon and Ditko and Bendis, etc. I think his cameo in Civil War and Winter Soldier was better, he barely talked in WS and not at all in CW, was barely on screen, it was fine. I just felt it was a little too much… His cameo was longer than Stan’s.

Also that was their way of making the “first openly gay character in a Marvel movie.” they even said that, “We felt it was important that one of us play him, to ensure the integrity and show it is so important to the filmmakers that one of us is representing that.” which...is really a cop out I feel. That LGBTQ representation, the smallest line of being on a date, could’ve easily gone to Valkyrie/Brunnhilde’s character, seeing as Tessa Thompson says her character is queer and played her that way (take one look at Tessa’s or Brie Larson’s twitter or some interviews, it isn’t hard to see they support it), and Tessa is actually Bisexual in real life. But whatever I guess...

Though it was definitely funnier than the other movies the Russo’s have done, and DEFINITELY prettier. I’ve had a big issue with the color grading and scene composition in the Russo’s movies. Say what you will, Joss Whedon knew how to make a comic splash page translate to screen, but the Russo’s did...the airport fight scene. The scene’s in their films that did have great composition were pulled straight from the comics (like Steve Vs. Tony, Shield vs. Repulsors) Okay. But, in Endgame it definitely looks better. There are memorable scenes. There are shots that I thought...okay thats art. The end battle had some shots, like Thanos in the foreground pointing his sword, and his army behind him. When Tony was looking out of the Benatar and saw the glowing light that is Captain Marvel. When Okoye, T’Challa, and Shuri walk out of the portal to the final battle, it’s a bit hazy, almost dream like, gives the feeling of Steve seeing them and not knowing whether this was real or not. The colors still look a bit dull in some scenes, but at this point it seems like the Russo’s are resigned to gray and mud and mess to get that gritty “realistic” vibe that for some reason is what people want and not the escapism, fantasy, cosmic stories that comics can be.

I did really like the small nods towards how relationships formed or degraded throughout time, or how people changed, especially during the five years we didn’t see. We got a little nod towards Carol and Rhodey’s relationship from the comics with…a nod and a good luck and a lingering look. Natasha calls Rocket fluffball, I think it was, and says she gets e-mails from him. Bruce and Natasha are on some sort of not dating but close friends terms after hardly interacting in Infinity War. Definitely acknowledging Age of Ultron and not just making it a joke and trying to push it aside. Nebula and Rocket seem to have gotten closer, probably due to all of their friends dusting. Rocket and Bruce seem to be on some level of friendship, or at least acknowledge each others connection to Thor. Okoye calling Natasha, Nat. Carol has been coming to earth somewhat regularly. Tony and Nebula playing the paper football game, her giving him the food even when he offered it to her, (It reminded me of the blueberry bit in the first Avengers) working together to try and get somewhere. TONY AND MORGAN!! He raised a whole five year old kid. He definitely seems like a stay at home dad, especially since Pep is the CEO of Stark Industries.

It’s really nice (and sad) to see how some people’s lives moved forward. How people tried to move on, how all these different personalities coped with the loss. Seeing Cassie has aged was definitely a favorite. Cassie has thought her dad was dead for five years, and for Scott he was only gone for five hours, but he comes back to his little girl as a teenager. At the end, when we see them together with Hope, we know that Scott now has to go forward knowing he missed five years of his daughter’s life, and is probably going to try and make the most of it. Maybe that means giving up Ant-Man, or having her join in (we need Stature, I mean come on, we need another young avenger). But it was nice to see that time didn’t just stand still until the Avengers found a fix. It kept moving forward.

I wish we would’ve gotten a bit more of Wakanda/Wakandans. Okoye was still alive, and I think M’Baku survived the Snap as well, but I don’t think we saw him until the final battle. We only got a couple glimpses of Wakanda. Which I guess makes sense because with both T’Challa and Shuri gone, Wakanda needed leadership (though I’m unsure as to whether Ramonda dusted as well), but it would’ve been nice for Okoye to maybe be a little involved in the efforts to get the stone, especially considering Wakanda is so advanced. Even without Shuri there could’ve been something they could contribute. T’Challa really had like one or two lines basically but okay.

I sorta didn’t like Thanos dusting away. I was a bit off put at the beginning when Thor cut of his head because to me, that was Nebula or Gamora’s kill (though seeing as both Gamora and Nebula seemed somewhat sad after seeing him die (Gamora after she seemed to kill him in IW and Nebula after Thor went for the head) MCU Gamora and Nebula might not want to do that). I understand it though, Thor was angry. At the end I was hoping that Thanos wouldn’t dust so we could get that kill, and sort of mirror Tony’s fear of being the only survivor, but… I guess it’s the writer’s poetic justice. It’s not bad, but I just kinda hoped they would go a different way with it.

I love when the music cuts out and Quill is just dancing and singing to himself. “So he’s an idiot”.

“I bet the raccoon didn’t have to climb a mountain.” “Technically he’s not a raccoon you know?” “oh whatever he eats garbage.” Are they talking about Rocket...or...Thor?

That girl power scene? We love it. “Don’t worry” “She’s got help.”

I love how they pass around Tony’s Gauntlet like a football, trying to get it to the van. But when Peter had it and was thrown to the ground and was curled up clutching it, I was so prepared to cry.

Same with Rocket trying to protect Groot.

No vision. I didn’t really find myself even thinking of him all that much during the film. We got a line or two but that’s about it. It makes me wonder about the ‘WandaVision’ show and whether that title was just to throw people off, or if he is going to be in it.

I’d be really interested in seeing more of what happened during those 5 years. Maybe I just want to see more of Tony as a dad? Maybe… But to see how everyone tries to move forward. Like what does Cassie do? Did her mom and step-dad dust to? Was she alone? Did the Avengers check on her? I think Bruce mentions he spent 18 months in a Gamma Lab. I would love to see how he came to terms with Hulk. I would love to see how the Asgardian’s settled. Etc. I think there are some interesting stories there, maybe for future shows or comics or stories.

CAROL DANVERS / CAPTAIN MARVEL

I love that Carol Danvers had a small moment/lingering shot when they were looking at everyone who dusted and she saw Nick Fury. Another little nod towards a relationship without being overt and having her mention to characters how Nick Fury was a close friend. I mean that was the reason why they came out with the Captain Marvel movie before this. So the audience members who saw both would understand Carol’s role, powers, motives, and relationships before so they wouldn’t have to squeeze it all into this movie.

I also forgot that Captain Marvel was even in this movie after the last time they showed her in the beginning because I was so wrapped up in everything else, so when she showed up at the end I was genuinely surprised and excited! They really hyped her up to be the most powerful hero, but didn’t overuse her or make her OP at all. They gave everyone else their time knowing that she has the future MCU ahead of her. I think they spent a good amount of time on the original avengers as this really was their send off, knowing the rest of the characters have future films/shows to shine in. (Which kind of makes me forgive the lack of Wakanda..but still…)

The look on Thanos’ face when Carol showed up, amazing. Her exchange with Peter? Pure and beautiful. And that little *dink* when he tries to headbutt her? Pure comedy.

Thanos pulling the power stone out of the gauntlet to use against Carol was...forgive me...a power move.

THOR ODINSON & LOKI LAUFEYSON

I know a lot of people think Thor’s mental health/PTSD was just played as a joke, but I don’t think it was. I mean there have been times they tried to sweep Tony’s mental health under the rug and times where (maybe just the fandom) treated Tony as a villain for how it showed itself.

Thor didn’t want to think about it. Thor was done. He wanted to drink and forget. He didn’t want people to talk about Thanos, or Loki, or anything that happened. He made a new home for all the Asgardians and then retreated into himself. When we first see him, Bruce stops and asks Thor if he’s okay and tells him that he was in a similar dark spot as well and that Thor was the one who helped him out. It’s a sweet moment, yeah it’s sandwiched by some jokes, but it's there. As is the moment when Thor talks to his mother for the last time. Frigga gives him piece of mind. Let’s him know that she knows what her fate is, that it isn’t his fault, which is one weight off his shoulder. She lets him know that he doesn’t need to be whatever he thinks he needs to be, just to be who he is. He doesn’t need to be an Asgardian King, or whatever else his father wanted, if that's not what Thor wants. Being himself is enough to be worthy. So he fights that final fight (completely okay in the fact that Steve is worthy as well, even saying he knew it! So he must’ve knew Steve was pretending not to be able to pick it up all the way in AOU), he makes Valkyrie/Brunnhilde King/Queen of Asgard, and he goes with the Guardians, because that's where he wants to be.  He’s not being who he is supposed to be, but who he is. Which seems to be someone who wants to have fun and save people who need saving. Which I think is a nice mirror to Chris Hemsworth’s relationship to playing the character. He said that he prefers the fun, comedic Thor that Taika made with Ragnarok, and doesn’t as much like playing the uber serious Thor from previous films. He even said he’d be open to more Thor movies if Taika Waititi was directing.

While I hope we see Thor in Guardians Vol.3, and his story didn’t feel as final as Steve and Tony’s did, he did come full circle. From fighting tooth and nail to be a worthy king, to finally accepting who he truly is and being comfortable with accepting that. Sort of mirroring Loki.

Speaking of Loki...His scenes in this movie were definitely more humorous than anything. I know people wanted a better end for him. I’ll be honest, I liked his end in Infinity War (though I did believe he might still be alive because he didn’t revert back to his Jotun form when he died in IW). But for all the same reasons as Thor. He started feeling tremendous envy and hate for his brother and father, felt the need to prove himself, though he took a very different route than Thor, he got to a point where he accepted who he truly was. A Jotun, and an Odinson, Thor’s brother, Prince of Asgard. So to me, yeah it would be nice to see a different ending for Loki, (if they do bring him back I feel they either can’t kill him or have to kill him for real), I’m content with his entire arc.

BRUCE BANNER / HULK

Bruce has finally come full circle as well. He started off wanting to actually kill himself because of the Hulk, but now he has found the ‘Professor Hulk’ middle ground. He even says he sees it as an ‘evolution’ (X-Men reference/hint maybe??). After Ragnarok and Infinity War, something during those five years lead both Hulk and Bruce to accept each other. Just imagine how happy Hulk was when those kids came up asking for a photo. It’s no longer “Earth hates Hulk”. Hulk is a hero, he has fans! Young kids who aren’t scared. Bruce doesn’t have to be scared of running rampant and out of control and hurting innocent people. He doesn’t need to be locked in a cage. He can be completely who he is without holding back.

Bruce admitting that he tried to bring back Natasha with his Snap…oof.

NATASHA ROMANOFF / NATALIE RUSHMAN/ BLACK WIDOW & CLINT BARTON / HAWKEYE / RONIN

I actually really liked the beginning and how they handled Hawkeye’s story. Him helping Lila with her Archery and her walking out of frame, then when it cuts back to where she should’ve been only some dust particles in the air? Amazing, show not tell. We didn’t need to actively see Clint’s family dust away (honestly it makes it sadder that he didn’t see it either, didn’t know what happened, they were just gone). And we didn’t need a scene of him talking about it. We just got into it. The Ronin story isn’t my favorite but I’m glad too much time wasn’t spent on it and only the parts that mattered were addressed. That his family is gone and he’s angry. Natasha still cares about him deeply and has been looking for him.

Also..who puts mayo on a hot dog?

Natasha and Clint’s relationship is one that I really like. It’s this pure friendship and salvation from the beginning. Clint was the one who made the call to not kill her, but rather show her a different path. In Endgame, Natasha does the exact same for Clint. She takes him from being a ruthless assassin, angry at the world, to fighting for the good guys again. They are family. She is Aunt Nat to his kids, friends with his wife. She knows about his family and ‘secret’ life when no other Avengers did. It’s because of him (and Nick Fury) that she has a family not only in them, but the rest of the Avengers. But it just makes stories like Infinity War/Endgame and Civil War sadder for her because, almost all the other Avengers have a life outside of the team, and have families to go to, but not her. So when they break up, and aren’t talking, she is left alone. No wonder she stays at the compound. When Rhodey is telling her about Clint and she starts crying, it’s so sad, because he was her family and he just left.

Natasha and Clint literally fighting over who gets to sacrifice themself? Big oof. Natasha really makes me like Clint’s character in the films. And as much as I love the “refund theory” of Steve returning the soul stone to Vormir and getting Natasha back, and I would love a better send off (like with Thor) I think her story has really come full circle.

One of the biggest themes I noticed in her arc throughout the films is choice. When she was in the Red Room, she had no choice but to do what she was told, because of what happened there she doesn’t get the choice of having children or not. In Winter Soldier she felt like she felt like the choice of fighting for the ‘good’ guys was an illusion. Etc. But here is the biggest choice she can make, and she decided that she’d rather die so everyone else, everyone she cares about, can have a chance. She wasn’t going to let someone else make that choice for her. She did it despite Clint’s protest. She finally found something, someone she chose to die for. And the imagery of her on the ground not only mirrors her position in Tony’s vision from AOU, but the pool of blood draining from her is almost literally her getting the red out of her ledger like she mentions she wants to do in Avengers. “I’ve got red on my ledger. Now I need to wipe it out.” She has finally atoned for all the bad she has done.

I know she didn’t get a funeral scene or a big send off, but I think that was as to not overshadow or take away from Tony’s. Which is sad. Maybe we will get a better send off in a different film or show. We did get those lines from Clint and Wanda about hoping she knew that they did it, that her sacrifice wasn’t for nothing. Which is small, but it is the person who cared about her the most.

Also...did no one tell Clint and Natasha that they would need to sacrifice someone to get the stone? Surely Nebula knew...

STEVEN ROGERS / CAPTAIN AMERICA

“I can do this all day.” “Yeah, I know.” Even Steve is tired of himself.

Scott: “That’s America’s Ass.”

Steve, later, looking at his own ass on a past version of himself: “That is America’s Ass.”

My mind immediately when we heard Sam’s voice over Steve’s comm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB1D9wWxd2w

Also on that note... I absolutely love that Sam was the one that Steve choose to carry on Captain America’s legacy. In the comics both Sam and Bucky take up the mantle and I was sincerely hoping Bucky wouldn’t in the films. At least not at first. Bucky has so much interesting story to explore from when he was the Winter Soldier and still has so much healing to do from not only that time, but everything he was thrust back into when he was still settling in Wakanda..and being dusted. In the films, Sam is perfect to be the Captain America of modern times. He knows how the modern world works, he’s been in the military, dealt with war (both earthly threats and extra terrestrial), and I feel he’s emotionally/mentally stable enough for it. Hell he ran a veteran support group which inspired Steve to run a support group for survivors during the five years after the snap. Also, I don’t think I need to get into why having a Black/African-American Captain America in these times is amazing. I would love to see him in a movie, but if we get a live action show on the Disney+ streaming service, I think that would be great.

When they showed someone sitting on the bench, I was like okay that’s Steve. But how skinny and small he looked I thought it was going to be Pre-Serum Steve...but no, we got old man Steve. Which surprised me, it shouldn’t have but it did, because when he left and they couldn’t bring him back I leaned over to my sister and said “he stayed in the ‘40s”. But I had like 1000 thoughts running through my head every second of this movie. (except when the theater fell silent when Tony...ya know) It sorta reminded me of Logan for a hot second...

I’ve seen some people say, "It's not in character for Steve to live a life and not fight".

Every single movie has been building to Steve getting more and more tired of fighting. First he sacrifices himself for everyone else. Then he is woken up to fight in a war, and a world, he barely knows anything about, and starts seeing that privacy and freedom might not mean the same things they use to. That the governments meant to protect the people have even more secrets and lies, and are becoming more violent and ruthless. His whole vision sequence (and basically entire arc) in AOU was about how he needs war and to fight but how he doesn’t want that to be the case. He wants to go home. He wants the 40s. He wants Peggy. He wanted Bucky. He wants a family and a life. It hints that sometimes he may feel he doesn’t deserve it, or that the time for that has passed.

He didn't leave Bucky behind, Bucky knew full well what was happening and didn't seem too bothered. He knew and was happy that Steve had this chance. He loves him and wouldn't keep him from that. More than likely Bucky sees a future for himself as well, just not in the 40s. Bucky could have went back with him if he wanted to. But he didn't. Sam even offers to go back with Steve, Bucky standing right there and Steve says it's okay. Bucky doesn't protest. Bucky is smiling. Plus we don't know exactly what happened. Maybe Steve would have still fought here and there, maybe he did help that timeline/universe Bucky. He did still have the shield with him. Or maybe he was a house husband/dad while Peggy worked. Whatever he did he was clearly happy and content with all his choices and no one protested.

I actually really love this ending for Steve. He finally gets to rest. He finally gets the woman he loves. He can be content knowing the world is safe and that there are others willing to protect it. From the skinny, sick, kid who was always searching for a fight and felt he was (or had to be) alone in the world. He found a family, his love, a life.

TONY STARK / IRON MAN

I really love that for the scene in the 70s they used James D’Arcy to play Edwin Jarvis. He played Jarvis in the Agent Carter show, and I think most people who watch any of the shows know that the shows are payed dirt in the MCU movies. So as someone who loved that show, loved the characters and actors, seeing that was great! It intertwines the show more closely to the films, and it was nice for Tony to see the other man who raised him even for a second. Yeah it would’ve been nice to see Paul Bettany, but I feel he is more connected to J.A.R.V.I.S Tony’s A.I rather than the actual person of Jarvis.

I love that Tony gets a reunion/closure with his father (similar to Thor’s with his mother). Before his own untimely death, he gets to talk with his father and really see things through his eyes and learn what his mind set truly was. Now that he’s a father himself he understands a bit more the struggles Howard had, he knows Howards own self doubts. That despite everything Howard cared, and that Howard’s own father was cruel to him. And they get to share that last hug and is able to thank him! Just like he wanted to in Civil War. He gets to say I love you, and thank you for everything.

Peter says he “got all dusty. Then [he] must’ve passed out”. So like...no time passed for those who got dusted in the snap...

I was sorta hoping Tony would wield Mjolnir as well, but he didn’t :/ but it’s fine. He doesn’t need it. He wields the Gauntlet/Infinity Stones.

Something Kevin Smith brought up that I hadn’t really thought of was that Tony was completely set. While he definitely had regrets and felt guilty, he had a good life in front of him. He 100% could have just lived the rest of his natural born days out with his family and been as happy as he could have been. But seeing that picture of Peter, and knowing all that was lost, feeling guilty, and just being the self-sacrificial man he is, risked it all for everyone else. Knowing it could go wrong, he still did it.

Tony’s scene towards the beginning was the first time I almost cried. After he gets rescued, and they are talking in the compound. He is so skinny and in a wheelchair and hooked up to the IV. Cap starts talking, like he always does, and Tony just is not here for it. This is exactly what he said was going to happen, this was the culmination of all the PTSD and anxiety he has had for 8 years. It happened, he was right. No one wanted to listen to him. People gave him so much shit for Ultron and the Accords and literally everything that he has ever done, and this happens and he (pardon my language) snapped on Steve. It was heartbreaking. Because he tried so hard to prevent it. Steve told him they would lose together but he was alone. He watched the kid he cared about disappear in his arms, had no idea who else he cared about who could’ve done the same, and he was alone in space (well Nebula was there, but..he didn’t know her really, they were forced to get to know each other. Remember she showed up when they were already battling Thanos). He was suffering, believing he was going to die. No oxygen, no food, no water…and when he gets back Steve just wants to jump back in, and get information out of him? No. He has had enough. Steve lied. Sure maybe he didn’t mean to, but he said they would work together and then Civil War happened. He made a decision in that movie to be on the opposite side of Tony. I’m not saying that Steve wasn’t justified in his actions in Age of Ultron, or Civil War or anything after, but just that from Tony’s perspective, Steve was continuously putting other people and things in front of him. He probably thought that Steve would make an effort if they were truly friends, and if he truly cared Steve would’ve done more to salvage their friendship but didn’t. I have a whole thing with Steve and how he acted but I just know Tony was hurt, and one person he thought he could turn to, wasn’t there. And the line he closes out his rant with? “No trust, liar.” That hit like a ton of bricks.

When Tony asks Dr.Strange if this was the one they won, Strange says he can’t tell him or it won’t happen. But later Tony looks at him and holds up one finger, telling him this is the one. He told him because he knows that Tony already knows and has come to terms with what has to happen. Tony knows he has to get the stones and Snap Thanos away, knowing that it could kill him. So Dr.Strange just affirmed it for him. If he would’ve told him earlier, than Tony might’ve thought of a different plan, or thought he could make it out, maybe he would’ve gotten excited and cocky. That also means that from the moment Strange looked into the future in IW he knew Tony was going to die. Yeah he knew Thanos needed the time stone because the Snap needed to happen in the first place for them to reverse it, but he also knew Tony was going to make this sacrifice, and couldn’t die just yet. I always thought that Tony was the key after Infinity War, but now it explains why Dr. Strange’s demeanor changes after that.

I almost cried a lot during this film but I actually cried during Tony’s death and funeral scene. Bookending the entire saga with “I am Iron Man”. How Rhodey goes up to him, then Peter (Tom Holland never fails to make me cry when he’s playing Peter), mirroring the last moments in Infinity War, “We won. We did it Mr.Stark”. Then Pepper goes up to him, and has to look at him and he seems almost...catatonic. He isn’t responding, just staring at each of them. Pepper has to watch her love, her husband, the father of her child, die. But she still reassures and comforts him, telling him he can rest now… and i’m about to cry just writing this omg… Then the light of the arc reactor blinks out and you know for real that he’s gone. Tony leaves a message for them knowing his fate, book ending the film from the message he was leaving at the beginning of the movie, to the message he’s leaving for them now. He loves Morgan 3000. Just knowing over the years, Morgan and Pepper will go back and watch this message. Morgan will grow up knowing her father saved the universe with his own hands. They will probably have suits and old tech around that she will be able to look at and play with and tinker with (because you cannot convince me Tony Stark’s daughter won’t be as much of a tinkerer as him). The “Proof Tony Stark Has A Heart” display is sent adrift in the lake outside their home, Little Morgan sitting with her mom. And every person who Tony has come to know and love is watching. Millions more probably mourning all over the world (and in our universe as well). Tony started as an arrogant, genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, rich kid with more brains then he could handle, and become the self sacrificial saviour of the universe. He’s been through the worst things, kidnapped, tortured, betrayed, watched people die in front of his eyes, get hurt because of him, etc. But always was looking for a way to make things better for everyone else. He is 100% the heart of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Robert Downey Jr. is the heart of the MCU. Him and Jon Favreau and Kevin Feige took a chance on a movie that was guaranteed to do the best in 2008, improvised through a film with little to no script and built an empire. Robert is Tony Stark in sooo many ways other than both having rich and famous dads. Tortured, and regretful pasts that they rose above. I cannot sing the praises of this character or this man more. So I will end it here. It will sad to go forward without the character, but we really won’t be. Tony and Robert are cemented in every Marvel film and every film to come.

Thank you to all the creators, crew, directors, writers and actors. Robert Downey Jr., Kevin Feige, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, Joe Simon, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, etc. <3 Thank you!

[whetstonefires]

how do you think the batfam mightve progressed if jason never died?

Whaa, 4 asks at once? I’m sorry I still haven’t gotten back on the last one, I thought I was unstuck but guess what, I wrote myself into a pretty little corner by being all ‘I don’t care about what’s canon! i’m just gonna have fun!’ which is the correct approach except then you find out the thing you made up is incorrect and idk how to deal with that. being wrong. it’s a life skill i’m still working on.

So like, if the vote had gone the other way...it depends so much on the writing and editing teams, and so little on real causality, it’s hard to frame a picture?

Jason was created as an alternative to aging Dick down and taking him out of the Titans; his new character origin after the Crisis on Infinite Earths barely got out of its shakedown tour before they killed him off. We know who he was enough to spot the major character derailments, but who he might have been? It’s hard to say.

If he’d made it through the vote, the noisy fans would still have hated him, and so would the man writing his comics. I doubt Starlin would ever have convinced DC to do the HIV plotline with Robin like he reportedly tried, but I feel like Something Bad remained likely.

The 90s are known for their grimdarkness for a reason, and Jason just missed living through them. I feel like his odds of going villain were pretty high anyway, not because of him but because of the constant need for drama fuel. I mean, Alfred had a villain phase, in the 60s.

Babs became Oracle almost simultaneous with the Robin trade-off, debuted the same month Jason died (January ‘89), so that still would have happened. Tim’s influence on her was very slight.

Without Tim, there would have been no need for Steph, since she was created partly as a love interest but more importantly as a foil, and a way of getting more of that high-energy feeling traditionally associated with Robin back into the story even though so many of the fans loathed it and refused to have it in their lead.

(Not that Tim didn’t have a lot of it anyway, but it wasn’t his core feel the way it had been for Dick and Jason. Possibly of note, the ‘87 Killing Joke and ‘89 Batman movie also marked a rise in the use of Joker as Batman’s main dramatic foil rather than Robin, which coupled with the Bronze Age in general really shaped Tim’s character direction. It’s hard to say what caused what, with these trends.)

They might have introduced a girl anyway, to replace Babs. Maybe even a version of Cass. Shiva stated under interrogation during ADitF that she had no child, but in comics terms that half-guaranteed she’d get one eventually, because the concept was now out there.

I doubt Jason would have gotten his own series in the 90s, considering his screaming hatedom and the fact that it took three extremely successful mini-series to get Tim a regular title, but if DC had managed to repackage his character into something that the 90s liked and he had made a go of it, he’d probably have acquired a completely different supporting cast. He might well have continued his pattern of acquiring moms. Maybe even Talia. The whole Sheila thing would have been a half-forgotten backstory subplot by like ‘94 probably.

It occurs to me after typing all of this that you might want to hear my ideas about what in-universe causality might logically have led to, lmao. Let’s see.

Jason’s adolescence was hitting a rocky stage that I doubt this betrayal and near-death experience and technical bereavement would have ended, though it would probably have hit harder than his last few near-death experiences even assuming another improbable complete recovery.

If we up the realism dial a little, he might be forced into retirement by the severity of his wounds. He’d still have to hash out his trust issues with Bruce, probably more than ever. Being a shit communicator was not yet a key part of Bruce’s personality; they might have sorted things out.

Jason would not have dropped out of college. If he’s retired, he goes into a prestigious but helping-centered field with an understanding that he is now the son Bruce trusts to step up to keep WE on the straight and narrow after he dies; inheritance of voting shares may be structured around this expectation.

(Dick experiences that really complicated hypocritical jealousy where you specifically rejected a thing, but it spent so long being marked yours that you feel robbed anyway when someone else gets it. Not a lot of it in the disability scenario, because there’s a distinct vibe of consolation prize there, but otherwise.)

Babs would still have been Oracle. It would have been a less fraught launch, though.

Dick might not have heard about the Ethiopia thing at all, if Jason made a full recovery, considering how little communication was passing between him and Bruce at that point. Dick’s level of Batcomputer access only stated Jason as ‘location unknown’ when he was dead, so.

He and Jason got along fine, regardless of retcons since then, but he was under a lot of stress from a lot of sources, and the feeling that he couldn’t go home even when he really needed to, because he’d been replaced, was very present. That might well have blown up at some point.

I tend to think of Bruce as having changed pretty dramatically as a result of Jason’s death, disregarding a lot of retcons, but I mean, 1987 Bruce already failed to notice Dick having a mental breakdown right in front of him and put him off in favor of hero work with Jason on Dick’s birthday, he just did it cheerfully and with fairly courteous wording. There was a trend in the faildad direction starting already.

There was a lot of relationship stuff in need of fixing and in some ways Jason’s presence made that as hard for Dick with Bruce as Damian’s later did for Tim, even though there was a lot less drama and intentional emotional violence and attempted murder involved. So. That could have gone a lot of ways. Realistically, even without Tim trying to play peacemaker, Dick always gets dragged back into Bruce’s orbit, though. That’s narrative causality at work, but also psychology.

In-universe, Tim can be assumed to have already existed before Wolfman invented him. He’s mostly away at boarding school, but he’s nosy and well-intentioned and he Knows. If Jason ran away more comprehensively than the Great Mom Tour, he might approach him with an argument for why Batman needed Robin and he should go home. Or there would eventually have been a case where he knew something they didn’t and attempted to subtly pass information and got noticed.

Or Oracle’s expanding field of awareness would have eventually noticed him and his zoom-lens one summer evening while his parents were in Haiti getting dead. Idk.

He’d probably have gotten mixed up in Bat-things eventually, and if it wasn’t before the Haiti thing there’s no way Batman would have been invested enough in this random disappearance to be there in time to help, so he’d have been completely orphaned at 13. Bruce taking him in is reasonably likely, since he wasn’t exactly in a position to create himself a fake uncle at the time. On the other hand, he might have gone into foster care. His parent’s company still would have crashed without them, so he wouldn’t have inherited much, but he’d have been better off than most kids in the system because he’d have some assets.

Steph is even more guaranteed to hit the vigilante scene. Bruce would be a lot friendlier to her without Jason death issues for her to trigger, though that doesn’t mean he’d actually be friendly, and Jason would like her, and possibly communicate more effectively than Tim did about how she could not die, or possibly they’d have egged each other on into steadily more unwise behavior.

On the other hand, depending on where Jason’s character development went after surviving Ethiopia, he might at 17 find 15-year-old Steph indescribably annoying precisely because they have so much in common, and lash out at her as a proxy for his younger self, and be kind of awful.

Cataclysm breaks causality to even acknowledge anymore because they rushed on from it like massive chumps, but Jason would have been a good Robin to have for it. He’d have been pretty tall by then, and he’s got the mental tools for surviving in an unfriendly urban environment where money is useless. I think he and Cass would have gotten on well, they have compatible personalities. The only major issue I can see is if Bruce or Babs got really positive about her and triggered some kind of jealousy or possessiveness issue.

We don’t really have any specific data at all from before Jason died about how he would cope with a rival for something he felt entitled to but insecure about--he deferred very nicely to Dick as his elder, but Dick wasn’t actually a threat to anything Jason valued. Assuming later canon is applicable, jealousy would be a definite issue with any additional family members, though I assume without the risk of homicide.

Okay here is an after-midnight hour of my half-baked opinions. You asked for it! ;DDD

[anti-mistajules]

For the aromantic asks, would you pick which ones you want, or if you could do all of them? I’ve never heard about it before but I’m really curious and would like to know more from your point of view

Well bc you’ve never heard of it before here’s a little definition I got from here (if u wanna read more about it):

An aromantic is a person who experiences little or no romantic attraction to others. Where romantic people have an emotional need to be with another person in a romantic relationship, aromantics are often satisfied with friendships and other non-romantic relationships.

What arospec label(s) do you identify with?

I’m just plain ol Aromantic

Sexual orientation?

Bisexual

Are you romance-repulsed?

To a degree? I don’t usually mind seeing romance in media, I just get a little uncomfortable with seeing PDA and when people view me in a romantic way I feel like physically sick.

Do you relate to voidpunk?

Do I relate to what now?

What kinds of attraction (romantic, sexual, aesthetic, sensual, platonic, etc) do you experience?

Sexual, aesthetic, and platonic definitely! Im not too big on sensual attraction and I don’t feel romantic attraction at all.

How do you like to show people you (platonically) love them?

I’m a huge ‘acts of service’ and ‘gift’ person! I do whatever I can to make things easier for my friends and try to give them gifts they love and deserve! I also like to spend time with them when I can and talk about whatever! Basically if I can talk to you on the phone or in person past 12am, I love you friend!!

Do you want to remain single all your life or do you want to have some sort of life partner?

I wanna remain single, I really need my alone time I couldn’t imagine living with someone for an extended period of time.

If you want one, what is your dream partner?

no! 

Which is your favorite of the 3 aromantic flags?

Uhhh fuck im not too flag savvy??? I like this one:

Your opinion on soulmates?

allonormative as fuck and perpetuates the idea that you need another person in your life to ‘complete’ you which is complete garbage!

Your opinion on shipping?

Shipping is fun but I don’t get too into it.

Do you ship characters in romantic/sexual relationships, or do you only ship characters in familial and platonic relationships?

Honestly all of the above but mostly platonic and sexual.

Are you out to anyone in real life?

My close friends and my immediate family. Or at least I tried to come out to them but they were just like “you won’t get married?? Ya right lol ur stupid” and I didn’t use the word ‘aromantic’ so I guess technically im not out to them?? Its not something I hide, but when explaining it to others I don’t use the word bc I don’t wanna explain or want people to think im one of those “tumblrinas’ who ‘make up orientations’ bc there’s a lot of negativity to unpack there so I just don’t bother

How did you come out?

Once I found out what aromanticism was I immediately related to it so I told my best friend first and we had a conversation about it and then Id just be like “hey I don’t get why people date people…I don’t wanna do that” to everyone else.

Do you know any aromantic people in real life?

Nope! I would love to meet some!!

How do you feel about your aromanticism?

Honestly its so freeing…I feel very validated knowing there’s a whole community of people who feel the same way I do about romance. Im pretty proud to be aro with my friends and online but irl to my family and acquaintances Im not as open with it.

What is the worst part of being aromantic?

The lack of representation and the constant erasure. I highkey hate being grouped with asexuals so much bc not every person who is aro is ace and vice versa! They’re separate orientations but they are NEVER treated like it and its so annoying. (THIS IS NOT ACE HATE!! I SUPPORT ACES WITH ALL MY ARO HEART!!! LOVE YALL!!)

Also the constant fear that you cant be friends with the opposite sex bc they’ll always want to be romantically involved and that your allo friends will leave you for their S/O lol

ALSO WHEN UR PHONE CHANGES AROMANTIC TO AROMATIC >:///

What is the best part of being aromantic?

Not being in a relationship lol people complain so much about their relationship troubles and im like ‘damn COULDN’T be me’

How did you find out about aromanticism?

I found out through either Tumblr or google I cant remember which??? Or maybe I saw it on Tumblr and googled it? Either way Tumblr was a factor

When did you know you were aromantic?

I tried dating my best friend and ended it in like 3 days bc I felt so fucking weird about the whole thing like very uncomfortable??? Like I felt like I couldn’t talk to him about certain stuff anymore and just being called someone’s “girlfriend” makes my skin crawl. I always had some weirdness around romance but I thought it was just bc I haven’t “found the right person yet” but if anyone was the “right person” it was my best friend and I couldn’t do it. So I did some research and found out about aromanticism, related so hard, and have been very happy with the label ever since.

Do you have any aromantic headcanons?

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG AND BRUCE BATMAN WAYNE ARE AROMANTIC AND YOU WILL PRY THOSE HEADCANONS OUT OF MY COLD, DEAD HANDS YOU COWARDS

What would be your dream representation of an aromantic/aro-spec character?

An aromantic character who is allosexual (preferably bi) who loves their friends and family and would do anything for them! Doesn’t go “EW!!! GROSS!!” At romance but is just like “nah ill pass, loving my friends is all I need!” and isn’t super oblivious to romantic gestures or infantilized/made into a joke for not being interested in romance. Also if they call out allonomativity that’d be tight

Who is your aromantic icon/idol?

NOBODY BC THERE ARE NO AROMANTICS IN MEDIA

What is your favorite song that relates to aromanticism, or is simply not about romantic love?

Analysis Paralysis by Awake at Last (At least I don’t get a romance vibe off of it??) and Sonic Youth by Crush 40 for all you Sonic fans out there. (And honestly most sonic songs are aromantic BANGERS)

What is your favorite movie that is not focused on romance?

BATMAN V SUPERMAN !!!

What is your favorite tv show that is not focused on romance?

POKEMON !! Im gonna be honest with y’all I think the reason Im aro is bc I watched nothing but Pokemon until I was like 10 (I didn’t stop I just also watched other things) and it is the least romance oriented show ever like….while y’all where out watching Disney princesses ‘fall in love’ or whatever I was crying over Pikachu’s Goodbye so don’t talk to me about heartbreak. Also Ash and Pikachu’s friendship (and of course his friendship with all his traveling partners) really fucking resonated with me and I think thats why I hold my friends above all else.

What popular romantic pairing do you see as only platonic?

SONAMY

Do you experience squishes?

I think I’ve had maybe one or two but they went away quick once I realized that I just like this person bc I think we’d be good friends and I get excited at the thought of making longterm friends.

Do you own any aromantic pride merch or outfits? What are they? If not, what would you like to own?

I do not but id love to own a flag or two

Do you have any advice for anyone who may be questioning if they are aromantic or on the aromantic spectrum?

Just own it. I’m actually actively trying to take my own advice bc like I said I don’t use the word irl but like,,,if you think you’re aro or somewhere on the spectrum, find a label that speaks to you and just own it. Being Aromantic isn’t cringey, its a valid orientation just like any other and I will fight anyone who says otherwise. Ive spent too much time pretending to be alloromantic just to fit in, I’ve embarrassed myself too many times by pretending to be allo, Ive gone too far into my life pretending to be something im not just because its easier for others to understand. Ive gone through too much to discover my orientation to have some fucking losers on the internet tell me that its ‘not a real orientation’. Im aromantic. I feel comfortable in that label and no one can take that away from me.

[aion-rsa]

How Dark Nights: Death Metal Reboots the DC Universe

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

The end of Dark Nights: Death Metal #7 is the last stop of more than a decade of Scott Snyder driving the DC metaverse’s bus. The conclusion to the Dark Nights saga, which started in 2017 with Dark Nights: Metal and ran through an entire Justice League series before concluding here, closes off storylines Snyder and his creative partner Greg Capullo seeded as far back as their first issue of Batman when the New 52 launched.

And with Infinite Frontier and Future State, DC’s next publishing initiatives, on deck, it’s worth taking a look at what Death Metal did so we can try and understand how the pieces fit together. Because if there’s one thing to take away from Death Metal, it’s that everything fits together. Even if you really gotta stomp on the pieces to get them to stick. 

THE ANTI-CRISIS IS HERE!

The final couple of issues of Death Metal throw a little bit of a curveball at readers. The entire series has felt like it was heading for a confrontation between Wonder Woman and The Batman Who Laughs, the Jokerized Bruce from the Dark Multiverse who (everybody take a DEEEP breath now) led an army of dark Batmen on behalf of Barbatos, the evil Bat god, in Metal; escaped captivity with Lex Luthor’s help in Justice League; betrayed Lex and usurped his role as evil overgoddess Perpetua’s right hand in Hell Arisen; and had his brain dropped in the body of a Bruce Wayne who had been turned into Dr. Manhattan after being killed by Diana earlier in Death Metal (with a chainsaw made from her invisible jet…just roll with it), giving him the nearly limitless power he needed to betray Perpetua earlier in this series. And from this point forward, we’re referring to him exclusively as BWL. Now let’s all go get a glass of water.

Ok, back? Cool.

So the rematch in the last couple of issues of Death Metal is what the rest of the series has felt like it was building towards. And we definitely get a BRAWL: Diana, charged up with Anti-Crisis energy (we’ll get there), is a giant embodiment of her golden lasso, and several times in the issue, she punches BWL so hard he traverses the history of the DC Universe. 

But it turns out BWL isn’t just fighting to dominate the entire multiverse. The Hands are returning. 

The Hands and the Green Lantern Connection

You know how DC time travelers can’t go back and watch the beginning of creation? Whenever they try, they just see a giant hand. This is pretty well established, going back to John Broome and Gil Kane’s old Green Lantern story about Krona, the Guardian scientist who first attempted to see the dawn of time. 

Turns out, the giant hand is part of a race of them: enormously powerful cosmic entities that bear a passing thematic resemblance to Marvel’s Beyonders, only sized up in power a few times. That hand we see when Krona tries to violate the laws of the multiverse, it belongs to Perpetua, and she’s one of them. Now they are coming to judge this local multiverse, and Perpetua and BWL both think it’s going to go poorly. So poorly, in fact, that BWL is asking Diana to join her Anti-crisis energy with his, as it’s their only hope of preventing The Hands from sweeping everything away and starting over.

Crisis Energy and Anti-Crisis Energy

Oh that. 

Perpetua and BWL power themselves up first (in Justice League and Hell Arisen) by harnessing the unseen dark forces of the multiverse – the invisible spectrum that manifests as John Stewart’s Ultraviolet Lantern powers, or the Speed Force’s opposite number, the Still Force, for example. They eventually graduate to eating universes to expand their power. These are examples of what Death Metal categorizes as Crisis Energy. 

Diana is charged with its opposite: Anti-Crisis Energy. This energy is produced by the connective tissue of the history of the DCU, by the totality of the DC Universe’s history. That’s why “everything counts” in Death Metal #6 was a big deal: it was a massive power up for Diana. It’s also an interesting meta critique of DC’s history of reboots.

Crisis Energy is described *by Diana* as being selfish and short sighted, focused on short term gain at the expense of respecting the sweep of history. Anti-Crisis energy is constructive, drawing strength from the depth and breadth of 80 years of DC continuity. 

We have to be careful assigning authorial intent where none may exist. But it is certainly a valid read of Death Metal to see criticism of DC’s accelerating continuity reboot cycle built in. It doesn’t take an enormous leap of logic to transpose Crisis Energy and all of Diana’s critiques over to Crisis Events and some of the fan criticism – short term sales boosts at the expense of the richness of an 80 year publishing history. 

Who Was Right? Wonder Woman or the Batman Who Laughs?

Diana, of course. She refuses to give into BWL’s cajoling, punches him through continuity a few times, and eventually meets The Hands, who come to her wearing the form of…her.

More specifically, they show up as Golden Age Wonder Woman. 

The Hand she speaks with explains to her that they were going to sweep away Diana’s multiverse because of its propensity for gross selfishness, but Diana’s personal heart and generosity touched them, so they’re giving the DCU another shot. Only this time, they’re putting everything back in place: the full history of the DCU, along with a blossoming multiverse. And it’s heavily implied that the barriers between worlds in this multiverse are going to be…less walls, and more suggestions. The price the Hand extracts for this boon is Diana’s existence: she ascends, no longer living as a physical being on Earth Prime. Instead, she joins the Hands protecting the new multiverse from a hinted at but as yet unstated threat.

It’s worth noting here that this evolution of the DC multiverse somewhat mirrors Snyder’s evolution as a writer at DC. His early Batman work, on the “Black Mirror” arc of Detective Comics, and early in his New 52 Batman run is very carefully plotted and paced. They’re written more like traditional detective/horror stories. Similarly, the DC multiverse has been slowly returning to continuity since Infinite Crisis and 52, only very slowly, with rigid rules and boundaries about what constitutes the new multiverse. Remember the Orrery of Worlds? 

The difference, in both Snyder’s style and the cosmogony of DC’s multiverse, are the rules don’t matter anymore. Death Metal, both in how the story is told and where it leaves the DC multiverse, has a certain “FUCK IT, EVERYBODY HAVE FUN AND WE’LL CLEAN UP LATER” vibe to it and if we’re being entirely honest, that’s kind of exciting. 

What Does this Mean for the Future of the DC Universe?

I’ll admit, it hits a little different landing after a year of wild rumors about the future of DC’s publishing line. The journey of Death Metal saw a bunch of new bosses coming in and rumors and threats that they were going to rip the DC Universe down to the studs, and whatever came next wasn’t anyone’s business. 

The end of Death Metal is a jubilant explosion of everything bright and beautiful about the DC Universe – our heroes have made it, and not only did they survive, but they did so specifically because everything in their publishing history saved them. Everything counts now, everything happened, everything mattered, and it’s that counting/happening/mattering that saved the day. And then Black Canary, Superman, Wally West, and Batman play a big metal concert for all the celebrating heroes. With Jarro on cowbell. 

Future State is the next step, in-universe and out of it. Death Metal closes with a group of heroes and villains – Martian Manhunter, Mr. Terrific, Hawkgirl, Lex, Talia, Vandal Savage, and maybe Wally West (it’s not explicitly clear that he’s part of the group and not just visiting) – gathering together to talk about the cosmogony of the new omniverse. Hypertime is healing, the multiverse is growing so infinite that it’s now the omniverse, pasts and futures are opening into what Wally calls an Infinite Frontier (NEXT PUBLISHING PHASE MIC CHECK!). But Earth Prime is no longer the center of the multiverse the way it once was, as you can see from your handy dandy Multiversity map. It’s replacement is actually two worlds: one yet unstated, and one the group of DCU bigwigs is calling…the Elseworld. 

After reading the first batch of Future State books, one could be forgiven for assuming many of those stories take place there. Each book has a blurb about the saved multiverse, and the wealth of new possibilities growing out of the ashes of Death Metal. These books are dripping with multiversal references. But I think that’s beside the point – some of the Future State stories will end up being Elseworlds tales; some, possible futures; and some will slowly integrate to regular continuity. I think the variety is the actual point here; variety of settings, variety of stakes, and a variety of stories and storytellers. 

One would think that emphasizing variety might also lead to variances in quality, but the hit rate for the Future State books is remarkably high. These books are genuinely exciting to read. Several of them look nothing like what DC has been doing before, almost to the point where we can hold a funeral for DC House Art Style. 

The characters are certainly vastly different from what came before, and a couple of them are going to be absolutely huge – watch Yara Flor, the new Wonder Woman. If Joelle Jones’ first issue of Future State: Wonder Woman is any indicator, she’s going to be extremely popular. 

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It has been a long, and sometimes very odd journey to get here, but between the power chords of hope from the end of Death Metal and the completely new jams being played in Future State, it’s hard not to be cautiously optimistic about the future of the DC Universe.

The post How Dark Nights: Death Metal Reboots the DC Universe appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/38iD7SX

[ramajmedia]

10 Characters We Hope Appear In She-Hulk | ScreenRant

With all of the announcements from Disney’s D23 came the news of a few new Marvel series coming to Disney+. Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the next few years.

She-Hulk isn’t simply a female version of the Hulk. A lawyer by day, Jennifer Walters also participated in heroics with superhero teams like the Avengers and A-Force. For a time in the comics, she specialized in superhero law, defending many of her heroic friends in court. Jennifer Walters also worked as a bounty hunter for a short time. With her involvement in so many comic book stories, there are plenty of Marvel characters who could join her in her new series.

RELATED: Disney+: 10 Things You Should Know About She-Hulk Before The Premiere

10 Titania

Titania, real name Mary MacPherran, grew up idolizing superheroes. Bullied for her small stature and lack of strength, she jumped at the chance to gain superhuman abilities when Doctor Doom offered them to her.

She-Hulk doesn’t have a large rogues gallery, but Titania is at the top of her list of enemies. She’s one of the few villains who has returned to challenge She-Hulk on the page and in animation again and again. It’s hard to imagine She-Hulk in live action without Titania’s human alter ego appearing at the very least.

9 Angie Huang

The most well known of Jennifer Walters’ stories involve her She-Hulk persona practicing law. Angie Huang’s time in Marvel Comics began just a few years ago in 2014 as a paralegal working with Jennifer.

Angie and Jennifer were friends, but more than that, Angie added a bit of magic to Jennifer’s storylines. While the idea of She-Hulk is rooted in science fiction, Angie had a lot of mystical leanings. Not only could she detect when magic influenced those around her, but she could also plant suggestions into people’s minds and see into the past. Angie also had a capuchin monkey that went everywhere with her, so she would certainly add an interesting vibe to the series.

8 Jessica Jones

Over the years, Jennifer Walters has made a lot of heroic friends. She even ran with the all female team of heroes known as A-Force for a while. Jessica Jones wasn’t a member of A-Force, but she and Jen did maintain a friendship. Jennifer even babysat Jessica and Luke Cage’s daughter every so often.

Complicating the possibility of this appearance, of course, is that Jessica Jones is one of the characters who had her own Marvel series on Netflix already. It’s unclear if or when the characters from the Netflix arm of the MCU will be able to appear in more properties. Fans can still wish to see this friendship come to life on Disney+.

7 Foggy Nelson

If fans are going to wish for Netflix characters to pop up on the show, why not one who could actually appear in a courtroom? Jennifer Walters is known for taking on the cases of powered people in the comics. It’s a little more likely to think we could see Foggy battle her in court rather than the other half of Nelson and Murdock.

Daredevil didn’t focus on the workings of the courtrooms much for a series about a pair of lawyers. Instead, the focus was on the vigilante aspect of the title character. Bringing Foggy into She-Hulk for an episode or two would give him the chance to show off his legal skills - especially since he’s already crossed into other series on Netflix.

RELATED: 5 Reasons Bruce Banner Should Appear In Disney+’s She-Hulk Series (&5 Why He Shouldn’t)

6 Bruce Banner

While the audience hasn’t learned much about Bruce Banner’s family in the MCU, in the comics, readers know that Bruce and Jen are cousins. It’s Bruce giving Jen a blood transfusion when she needs emergency surgery that gives her the ability to Hulk out.

Depending on just when the Disney+ series is set in the MCU, the writers could provide a twist on her comic book origin story with the help of Dr. Banner. The audience doesn’t need his constant presence, but a cameo or a passing of the torch to She-Hulk would be a nice touch.

5 Nick Trask

If She-Hulk plays close to the character’s comic book origins, Nick Trask, or someone like him, is a must. Trask was a shady businessman in the 80s comics, and an enemy of Jen’s father.

In addition to trying to steal from Roxxon, Trask had an affinity for snakes, and liked to invent his own machinery to battle superheroes. He was the man responsible for the death of Jen’s mother, and his men were the ones who put a bullet in Jennifer - making the blood transfusion from her cousin necessary.

4 Colleen Wing

If there’s one complaint from long time fans of the Netflix shows, it’s that Iron Fist didn’t live up to its potential. Colleen Wing was a bright spot in the show, and by the end of the series, she held the power of the Iron Fist in her glowing katana.

If only one character from the Netflix series can be used, let it be Colleen. Fans never got to see her as a proper superhero, and a team up between two women who just want to do some good in the world is something everyone would enjoy.

RELATED: 10 Storylines Disney+’s She-Hulk Could Use

3 Donnie Gill

Since there aren’t a lot of members of She-Hulk’s rogues gallery, the choices are pretty slim for her own villains for the series. Titania is her biggest recurring villain. Otherwise, Jen typically gets stuck facing off against leftover Avengers villains. One of those is the Blizzard.

Donnie Gill isn’t always a villain in the comics, and in fact, teamed up with the hero once or twice. He also happens to already exist in the MCU. A former S.H.I.E.L.D. cadet, he was left frozen over at the bottom of the ocean during Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season two. Fans would love to see him in action again, and with his (small) comic book history with Jen, this might just be where they can.

2 Jazinda

Introduced to Marvel comics in the mid 2000s, Jazinda doesn’t have decades of comic book history to pull from. She did, however, spend quite a bit of time working with Jen. A Skrull exiled from her own planet, Jazinda became a bounty hunter with Jen for a short while.

The two enjoyed antagonizing one another, and one of Jazinda’s favorite shapes to shift was Jen herself. Jazinda had feelings for Jen, but they were never addressed in the comics. The series could remedy that, especially since Captain Marvel made Skrulls on Earth a part of the MCU.

1 Alicia Masters

The recent Fantastic Four Wedding Special revealed that Alicia and Jen happened to be close enough for the latter to be invited to a bachelorette party. A friendship with Alicia Masters might be a good way to slowly introduce some of those FOX properties acquired by Disney.

The show doesn’t need to address the Fantastic Four, of whom She-Hulk was a temporary member, subbing in for Ben Grimm. If it introduced Alicia first, the series could begin laying the groundwork for Ben and Alicia’s relationship, and the Fantastic Four, somewhere down the line.

NEXT: Disney+: 10 Things You Should Know About Ms. Marvel

source https://screenrant.com/10-characters-hope-appear-hulk/

[theteller-marvelandtarot]

Deceiving is Believing (Avengers x O.C.):  Part Two

Story Plot:  Marissa Dove Yeo is a psychic who has just moved to New York. The Avengers knew about her before she moved to New York, since Natasha and Thor were big fans of her YouTube videos. Whenever she moved to New York, the team went to get their cards read for fun. After Tony and Clint attempt to debunk Marissa’s readings, Marissa proves to the team just how strong she really is.

Part Plot:  Part Two of Deceiving is Believing includes Marissa figuring out just how far her powers can go, figuring out her restrictions, going on her first mission, and being the life of her first Avengers party.

Warnings:  Language, violence, ghosts

Word Count:  4932

(Gif credits to owners)

-Marissa’s P.O.V-

The Avengers and I get to their Headquarters. Thor and Natasha insist on giving me a tour. I follow them around, in awe of the building and equipment. I chuckle to myself, wondering how I even got here.

Moving to New York was only supposed to be temporary. A change of pace from the small Canadian town I grew up in, and spent my whole life in, until now. Somehow I went from working at a gas station to becoming an Avenger. This is just fucked. A really fucked dream.

“Well, that’s it. What do you think?” Natasha asks with a smile on her face.

“I think this place is the shit,” I smile, looking around the lounge.

I notice one of my videos on the TV. I chuckle and smile at them.

“You guys really are fans of mine…” I smile.

“We are. Absolutely,” Thor smiles widely.

“Well, the feelings are mutual,” I reply.

They both smile wider. Tony rushes into the room.

“Suit up. We’re heading out to another HYDRA base,” he tells us.

I smile at them as they run in the direction of the weapons vault.

“Coming?” Tony asks me.

I smile and nod.

“Sure,” I smile.

“Are you wearing that?” Tony asks me with a raised eyebrow.

I look down at my outfit - black jeggings, a burgundy sweater, and black flat ankle boots.

“Yes,” I answer.

“Alright, Steve will take you to the jet,” he tells me.

Steve walks over and raises his eyebrow at me.

“You’re wearing that?” he asks.

I give him a look.

“Yes. Yes I am. What is the issue?” I ask.

“Nothing, just making sure you can fight in that,” he chuckles.

“I won’t be doing much of the fighting,” I answer as we walk to the jet.

We all sit on the jet and go over the mission. It’s a HYDRA base in Sokovia where they believe is where Loki’s sceptre is. We’re raiding the place to defeat HYDRA and get back the sceptre. They give me an earpiece and a gun. I’ve never used a gun before so this should be interesting.

It’s silent as we all sit. I realize they’re all strategizing in their heads.

“Is there any way we could listen to music or anything?” I ask.

“Good thinking. Any preference?” Tony asks me.

“I’m feeling an 80s buddy-cop chase scene style music,” I answer.

“I know just the song,” he answers with a smile.

He plays the song I Ran by A Flock of Seagulls. I smile and start to think of ways to use my powers to fight. I also feel everyone’s determination rise significantly from the music. I smile at them.

I gotta say, I am feeling nervous. I have no clue what to expect from this fight. I have no idea what I’m doing. But, I remain calm, cool, and collected on the outside.

We land the jet a fair distance away from the base. We take motorcycles and jeeps into the area. Some of us even run. Tony flies in. I got a ride in the jeep with Clint and Natasha. I get strong vibes from the area. It’s very spiritual. I shut my eyes and zone into the vibes of the spirits.

I get flashbacks of victims who were murdered here because of HYDRA. A lot of them. And a lot of them want revenge but are still afraid to fight back. I assure them that The Avengers and I can help them to fight back, and that we could use their help as well. I open my eyes and see about a quarter of the agents freeze for a moment, then start fighting against themselves. I smile. The vengeful spirits have possessed some of the agents. But the trick is that the possessed agents on our side are stronger, since the have inhuman strength and agility. The spirits feel no pain so the can withstand anything.

“Did you make them do that?” Natasha asks me.

“I sure did,” I smile.

She smiles.

“Good work,” Clint says.

I smile in surprise.

“Thank you,” I reply.

We start to drive near a bunker. I watch The Hulk throw another jeep, I see Iron Man shoot beams at agents, I see Cap throw his shield, I see Thor swinging his hammer about. I’m just shocked right now.

“Ready to jump?” Clint asks as we get closer to the edge of the bunker.

“Uh… okay?” I answer, unsurely.

The three of us jump out of the jeep, and the whole team jumps over the bunker. This is where the shooting gets extra serious. The agents are shooting specifically at me.

“Shit!” I hear Tony yell over the earpieces.

“Language!” I hear Steve respond immediately, “JARVIS, what’s the view from upstairs?”

“The central building is protected by some kind of energy shield. Strucker’s technology is well beyond any kind of HYDRA base we’ve taken,” JARVIS answers.

“Energy shield, huh? Marissa, think you could try to do something about that?” Steve asks me.

“Uh, yeah, just one second and I’m on it…” I reply, fumbling with my gun.

The safety has got to be on this gun or something. So, I give up and throw it at the agent who keeps shooting at me. The hit distracts him enough for me to conjure up some spirits to take down agents as they try to shoot at me. The spirits act like my own personal energy shield.

“Loki’s sceptre must be here. Strucker couldn’t mount this defense without it,” Thor says.

They keep on talking but I am focused on that damn energy shield. I get close enough to it to detect what’s going on. I mess around with it for a bit to figure out if I can manipulate it. I can. I smirk and take it down.

“Wait a second. No one else is gonna deal with the fact that Cap just said ‘Language’?” Tony asks.

“I know. Just slipped out,” Steve sighs.

“Tony, I got the shield down. I think. Want to give er another go?” I ask.

“Thanks, Marissa,” he says.

“No problem,” I reply.

I look around at the guards and see that they all look like they’re fighting nothing. I chuckle and make the spirits give all the agents one final blow. I watch all the agents rise up from the ground quickly, then fall down just as quick.

“You didn’t see that coming?” I hear a Russian male ask.

I furrow my eyebrows. Then something zooms past me. I jump in surprise. It’s circling me, but the spirit shield is still up. It’s a man about my age.  He’s the one who I heard over the earpiece.

He tries to run into me. I stand there with my arms folded, watching with amusement. The spirits all push him away at once. He lands into a tree. I detect that he’s fine, but he won’t attempt to go after me again.

“You didn’t see that coming?” I ask him, imitating his accent.

He smirks before zooming off again.

“Alright, so there’s a really fast guy running around. He tried to come after me but he couldn’t. Be careful,” I warn the others.

I hear Clint groan.

“Clint!” I hear Natasha yell, “Clint’s hit!”

I run to find them, but little do I know that the spirit shield fell when I moved. Then I got hit, pretty badly, in the thigh. I groan but I keep running. I try to heal the wound, but I can’t. I furrow my eyebrows. I keep on running until I get to Clint. I make the spirit shield reappear again over Clint, Natasha, and myself.

I see the gash in Clint’s side. I place my hand over it as gently as I can. He groans again. I shut my eyes and concentrate on healing his wound. I open my eyes and see that it’s healed fine.

“See? All fixed. And your wife won’t even know the difference,” I tell him telepathically.

He raises his eyebrows.

“Told you I know everything about you guys,” I add.

He chuckles and gets up. He looks at my leg.

“Marissa, your leg,” Clint reminds me.

I sit down and spread my leg out. I try to heal myself, but I can’t. I furrow my eyebrows.

“I can’t heal myself for something this big. Other people, yes, but I can’t heal myself,” I sigh.

“Marissa’s hurt really bad, guys!” Natasha tells them over the earpiece, “We’re gonna need to evac.”

“I will take Marissa to the jet,” Thor tells us.

Thor comes over to me and helps me back to the jet. I wrap my leg with cloth.

“I thought you had healing powers,” Thor says as he sits next to me.

“Not on myself,” I sigh, resting my head against the wall.

I hide how much pain I’m in by mentally ignoring the pain and symptoms. Clint comes onto the jet and sits across from me.

“Thanks for helping me back there,” Clint says.

I smile at him a little.

“No problem,” I reply.

Once Tony gets on the jet I notice something… off about him. I raise my eyebrow.

“What happened back there?” I ask him telepathically.

I notice him jump. I chuckle.

“You have got to stop doing that,” he replies.

“Tony. You are really shaken about something. What happened? You can either tell me, or I can creep into your mind and figure it out for myself,” I tell him.

“I had this vision when I was getting the sceptre, alright? I had this vision that all of you were killed and it was my fault. I could have done more and I didn’t. But it was just a vision, alright? Not real,” he explains.

I furrow my eyebrows.

“You still seem shaken… Do you want me to try to heal you from being worried about it or anything?” I ask him.

“No, I’ve got it under control,” he says.

I nod and escape his thoughts. I zone back into reality and notice that I’m on a gurney-like thing, hooked up to an IV. I look around at it all.

“Is this really necessary?” I ask them.

“Marissa, you look like you’re about to pass out,” Steve says.

I make myself neutral again so I’m aware of the pain. I groan at the throbbing, intense pain I’m feeling in my leg.

“Fuck… Yep, this is probably necessary then. Thanks,” I tell them.

Natasha goes over to Bruce, who I am honestly the most concerned about. He doesn't want to feel angry anymore and I want to help him with that.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Steve says, sitting next to the gurney.

I look over at him.

“Just thinking about whatever the hell just happened back there,” I chuckle.

He smiles a little.

“You did great back there,” he says to me sincerely.

I smile back.

“Ditto,” I reply.

“Thor, report on the Hulk,” Natasha says after mumbling with Bruce for a bit.

I look over, knowing that this is going to be good.

“The gates of Hell are filled with the screams of his victims,” Thor says proudly.

I try not to chuckle at him. Bruce groans a little, looking disappointed in himself. Natasha gives Thor a look.

“But not the screams of the dead, of course. No, no, wounded screams. Mainly whimpering, a great deal of complaining, and tales of sprained deltoids and gout,” Thor adds, quickly trying to fix what he had just said.

I hold back laughter. So does Steve.

“Hey, Banner, Dr. Cho is on her way from Seoul. Is it okay if she sets up in your lab?” Tony asks.

“Uh, yeah, she knows her way around,” Bruce answers.

I end up falling asleep and, when I wake up, we’re in New York again. We land and the take me off first, rushing me to the lab. They put this weird thing over my leg. Clint, and Natasha chill out with me while I get healed.

Tony comes in a while later with a healthy looking smoothie.

“Oh, she’s flat-lining. Call it. Time?” Tony asks.

I chuckle and roll my eyes at him as he hands me the smoothie.

“If I die, I think I might just haunt this place forever. Do you know how many sick ghost pranks I could play? I mean, I still could. Just conjure up some boogeymen…” I start to explain.

“Please don’t,” Tony replies.

I chuckle and drink the smoothie. It tastes healthy and gross and I really don’t want to be drinking it. But I continue to drink it anyway because I don’t want to be rude.

“Helen, I expect to see you at the party on Saturday,” Tony says.

“Unlike you, I don’t have a lot of time for parties,” she replies, “...Will Thor be there?”

I chuckle and smile at her.

Later on that evening, I’m all done. I look at my leg and see it looks normal again. I thank Helen and get up. I groan as I stretch.

“Damn, it feels good to not be laying down right now,” I smile.

She chuckles at me and lets me go.

***

On Saturday night, I’m the last one to go to the lounge for the party. But I’m fashionably late. I’m wearing a burgundy romper with short sleeves, a plain black choker, and t-strapped heels. The outfit shows off my curves, and my rose tattoo sleeve. My long dark brown hair is in loose, bouncy curls and some of it is loosely pinned back. I have winged eyeliner and matte red lipstick. I must admit, I’m looking fucking good right now. I spray on some perfume before I go downstairs.

-Steve’s P.O.V-

I’m walking around with Sam, telling him about the mission.

“We had this new girl with us, too. Have you ever heard me talk about Marissa Yeo before?” I ask him curiously.

“The creepy YouTube chick?” he asks.

“Yes. She did really well. I was surprised. She had ghosts possessing people, she had ghosts fighting with us, she healed Clint, she broke down an energy shield. She was really helpful,” I tell him.

He chuckles.

“How in the hell did you get a Canadian psychic who has like 200 views on YouTube to be an Avenger?” Sam asks me.

“She moved to New York and we went to one of her readings. She can probably help us on our mission, too, once we find Bucky. She can heal people’s minds,” I tell him.

He smiles in surprise.

“You seem really interested in this girl,” he tells me.

“She’s just an interesting person. Do you want to meet her?” I ask him.

“Sure,” he shrugs.

“She should be around here somewhere,” I say.

We walk around until I spot her. She’s walking down the stairs and she looks beautiful. Sam notices her, too.

“Who is that?” he asks with a smile.

“That’s Marissa,” I answer.

His eyes widen in surprise.

“Get out of here! That’s the creepy chick!?” he asks.

“Yeah…” I smile.

She smiles at us as she comes downstairs. She walks over to us and shakes Sam’s hand. She smiles at him.

“Hey, I’m Marissa,” she smiles.

Sam smiles wider and shakes her hand back.

“I’m Sam,” he replies.

“Nice to meet you, Sam. I like your vibes. Very positive, very loyal. You seem like a really good friend for Steve,” she smiles.

Sam smiles more. Marissa smiles up at me.

“I’ll see you in a bit. I’m going to go get a drink and tell Tony to put on some real music,” she says.

I chuckle and smile at her.

“Sure. We’ll be here,” I reply.

“Sounds good. Do either of you want anything?” she asks us.

“You know what, Steve knows what I like. He’ll just go with you, I’ll wait down there by the pool table,” Sam says.

“Alright,” she smiles before leading the way.

Sam winks at me. I give him a look.

I catch up with Marissa and see her talking to Tony. Tony chuckles at her before putting on different music. She smiles and goes over to the bar with me. She mixes herself a drink.

“What would you like?” she asks.

I smile and lean against the bar.

“Surprise me,” I reply.

She smiles and makes the same thing for me. I try it and smile at the taste of apple and whiskey together.

“This is really good,” I compliment.

“Thank you,” she smiles, “What would Sam like to drink?”

I try to remember what Sam likes to drink.

“Just a beer. He likes to keep it simple… I think,” I answer.

She chuckles and gets him a beer. She leads me back over to Sam. The three of us talk for a bit before walking around again. We see Thor talking to some older gentlemen about alcohol.

“This was aged for 1000 years,” Thor says.

Marissa’s eyes widen in surprise. Thor hands me a drink, knowing I can’t get drunk.

“It is not made for mortal men,” Thor says.

“Well I am a woman so…” Marissa says.

Thor takes her drink and puts a little bit in it. He hands it back to her. She takes a drink of it.

“It’s not the worst thing I’ve tasted,” she shrugs.

She chugs back the rest of her drink. Thor watches wide eyed.

“I don’t feel a thing,” she slurs.

I chuckle and smile at her.

“Try standing up,” Thor dares.

She stands up and she sways. She holds her head, wide eyed.

“Oh fuck,” she says, staring at the ground.

Thor rests his hand on her back gently.

-Tony’s P.O.V-

I go over to Steve, Sam, Thor, and Marissa when I notice Marissa looking shitfaced.

“Everything alright?” I ask.

“I feel fucking fantastic to be honest with you, Tony,” Marissa says with a big smile on her face.

I laugh and smile at her.

“I got something that Natasha says will make you feel even better,” I tell her.

“Oh god, what is it?” she asks.

I press play on my phone. The opening keys to Bring Me to Life play. Her eyes widen.

“How can you see into my eyes like open doors…” she sings.

We all watch her as she surprises us with her… performance. She’s actually not a terrible singer and she is wandering around the lounge as she sings with so much passion. Thor, Natasha, Clint, Sam, and myself sing along with the male vocals. I get Maria to record Marissa.

“Wake me up!”

“Wake me up inside!”

“Can’t wake up!”

“Wake me up inside!”

“Save me!”

“Call my name and save me from the dark.”

“Wake me up!”

“Bid my blood to run!”

“Can’t wake up!”

“Before I come undone!”

“Save me!”

“Save me from the nothing I become.”

She goes all out with stair climbing, hair flips, tears. Drunk Marissa is quite the performer. Soon the whole party is singing along with the rest of us doing the male vocals, and it’s actually incredible. She hits that final note flawlessly. Not long after that, the guests that aren’t Avengers start to head out. We all hang out awhile longer before going to bed, though. Marissa is sitting with Thor and Steve on the couch. Her legs are on Steve’s lap. She has her head in her hand, looking like she’s about to pass out any minute. Natasha and Bruce are sharing the loveseat while Maria and Clint sit on the floor by the coffee table, Helen sits on one of the chairs,  and Rhodes and I sit on another couch as we all talk about Thor’s hammer.

“But it’s a trick,” Clint says.

“No, no, it’s much more than that,” Thor replies.

“Ah, whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power! Whatever man, it’s a trick,” Clint whines.

“Please, be my guest,” Thor says as he gestures to the hammer.

“Oh, this is gonna be beautiful,” Rhodey chuckles.

“Clint, you’ve had a tough week. We won’t hold it against you if you can’t get it up,” I reply.

Everyone laughs.

“You know I’ve seen this before, right?” Clint asks Thor.

Clint tries his best to lift it and he can’t.

“I still don’t know how you do it,” Thor laughs.

“Smell the silent judgement?” I ask.

“Please, Stark, by all means,” Clint says to me.

I get up and clear my throat.

“Never one to shrink from an honest challenge,” I say.

“It’s physics. So, if I lift it, I then rule Asgard?” I ask Thor.

“Yes, of course,” Thor replies.

“I will be reinstituting prima nocta,” I say as I get ready to lift the hammer.

I try to lift it, but I can’t. So I decide that I need a hand.

“I’ll be right back,” I say.

-Steve’s P.O.V-

I chuckle as I watch Tony attempt to lift the hammer. He puts on the arm of his suit. Still no luck. Then he gets Rhodey to help him with the arm of the War Machine suit. No luck again.

“Are you even pulling?” Rhodes asks him.

“Are you on my team?” Tony asks back.

“Just represent. Pull,” Rhodey replies.

“Alright, let’s go,” Tony says as they try harder.

They give up and then Bruce tries his luck. He gets up on the table and tries to pull it. He grunts and groans and yells but, still, no luck. We all hold back laughter at him. Then I get up to try.

“Go, ahead, Steve, no pressure,” Tony says to me.

I roll up my sleeves to before I put my hands around it. I pull and, whenever I feel it start to move, I stop. Being worthy, it means a lot to Thor. He’s proud that he’s the only one who can. And I don’t want to take that from him. Marissa gives me a look. Thor just looks relieved.

“I wanna try,” Marissa slurs before stumbling up.

“Careful, there, Rissa, don’t want anyone passing out on us tonight,” Tony says to her.

“Pfft, I’m fine,” she shrugs.

She places her hands around the hammer, and she effortlessly lifts it up. Her eyes widen in surprise at herself. She immediately puts the hammer back down.

“Welp, that’s enough of that,” she says before plopping next to me on the couch again.

We all stare at her, unsure of how to react. Thor just awkwardly chuckles. There’s more tension in the room than I expected.

“Uh, Nat, how about you, um, give it a shot?” Marissa asks.

“Oh, no, no. That’s not a question I need answered,” she replies.

“Wait, hold on, how did you lift it? Witchcraft?” Tony asks Marissa.

“Nah, I literally just lifted it. It really is just about worth. I’m just not sure how I’m that damn worthy…” she chuckles.

“Steve, she said a bad language word,” Maria replies.

“Did you tell everyone about that?” I ask Tony.

Marissa laughs, burying her face in my shoulder.

“Anyway, worthy or not, I’m going the fuck to sleep. Goodnight,” she says as she stands up.

“Goodnight,” we all reply.

She walks out into the hall. We hear a scream before she runs back into the room.

“What’s wrong?” I ask her as she stares into the hallway.

Then we hear a high pitched ringing noise.

“Worthy…” a robotic voice says as a beaten down robot stumbles into the room.

“How could you be worthy? You’re all killers,” the robot says.

We all stand up.

“Stark,” I say.

“JARVIS,” Tony says.

“I’m sorry, I was asleep. Or I was a-dream,” the robot says.

“Reboot legionnaire OS. We got a buggy suit,” Tony says quietly.

“There was this terrible noise. And I was tangled in… In… Strings. I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy,” the robot explains.

“You killed someone?” I ask it.

“Wouldn’t have been my first call. But, down in the real world, we’re faced with ugly choices,” he explains.

“Who sent you?” Thor asks it.

“I see a suit of armour around the world,” we hear Tony’s voice over a recording.

“Ultron,” Bruce responds.

“In the flesh. Or, no, not yet. Not this chrysalis. But I’m ready. I’m on a mission,” it tells us.

“What mission?” Natasha asks.

“Peace in our time,” Ultron answers just before three other robots crash through the walls.

-Marissa’s P.O.V-

I’m staying close to Steve as these robots attack. Steve kicks over a table to protect us as the robots fly into us. I land right next to him on the ground. I groan.

“You okay?” I ask him.

“Yeah. You?” he asks.

I nod.

“Yeah,” I reply.

The two of us get up together. We go in different directions. He goes after the robots, but I go to find his shield. I run to it and use it to protect me until I get close enough to Steve.

“Steve!” I yell to get his attention.

He looks. I throw him the shield. He catches it and uses it to split a robot in two. It’s just the beaten down robot that’s left.

“That was dramatic,” he says.

“I’m sorry, I know you mean well. You just didn’t think it through. You want to protect the world but you don’t want it to change. How is humanity saved if it’s not allowed to evolve? With these? These puppets?” he asks as he crushes the head of one of the already destroyed robots, “There’s only one path to peace. The Avengers’ extinction.”

Thor then swings his hammer to crush the robot. We all go down to the lab together.

“All our work is gone. Ultron cleared out. He used the internet as an escape hatch,” Bruce says.

“Ultron,” Steve says.

“He’s been in everything. Files, surveillance. Probably knows more about us than we know about each other,” Natasha says.

“He’s in your files, he’s in the internet. What if he decides to access something a little more exciting?” Rhodey asks.

“Nuclear codes,” Maria replies.

“Nuclear codes,” Rhodey agrees, “Look, we need to make some calls. Assuming we still can.”

“Nukes? He said he wanted us dead,” Natasha replies.

“He didn’t say ‘dead’, he said ‘extinct’,” Steve corrects.

“He also said he killed somebody,” Clint says.

“There wasn’t anyone else in the building,” Maria replies.

“JARVIS. He probably took over JARVIS or something,” I sigh.

Tony nods in agreement before showing a visual of JARVIS.

“This is insane,” Bruce sighs.

“JARVIS was the first line of defense. He would have shut Ultron down. It makes sense,” Steve replies.

“No. Ultron could have assimilated JARVIS. This isn’t strategy this is… rage,” Bruce responds.

Thor marches in and takes Tony by the neck. My eyes widen. I take the physical strength away from Thor and make him put Tony down.

“Thor, violence against each other and turning our backs on each other isn’t helping anybody, alright?” I say.

“Now tell us about the legionnaire,” I tell him.

“Trail went cold about a hundred miles out, but it’s headed North. And it has the sceptre,” Thor says, “Now we have to retrieve it, again.”

“Genie’s out of that bottle. Clear and present is Ultron,” Natasha says.

“I don’t understand. You built this program. Why is it trying to kill us?’ Helen asks Tony.

Tony chuckles.

“You think this is funny?” Thor asks.

“No. It’s probably not, right? This is very terrible,” Tony chuckles.

“This all could have been avoided if you hadn’t played with something you don’t understand,” Thor replies.

“I’m sorry. It is funny. It’s a hoot that you don’t get why we need this,” Tony replies.

“Tony, maybe this might not be the time,” Bruce warns.

“Really? That’s it? You just roll over, show your belly, every time somebody snarls?” Tony asks him.

“Tony. Stop, alright? Just calmly explain why need this so badly. Or does it have something to do with that vision?” I ask him, folding my arms over my chest.

“Someone sobered up quick,” Tony replies.

“Stop doing that,” I reply.

“Doing what?” he asks.

“Changing the subject when the subject doesn't suit your fancy. Now, I know why you think we need this. To prevent aliens from even being able to enter earth so that the only thing we have to deal with is what’s already down here on earth. It’d be a lot more convenient and peaceful if things would work out well but, c’mon, Tony. This is life. Things just don’t go conveniently and smoothly for something as big as this,” I explain for him.

“As big as what?” Tony asks.

“Artificial intelligence. It was bound to go wrong. Now, I know you meant well but, Tony, that’s just how your head works. You see the pros and cons to each situation but you just go about avoiding the cons until you can’t anymore. And someday that’s gonna come and bite you in the ass. And I think that day might be coming sooner than you think,” I tell him.

Everyone is shut up, for now.

“Now, are we all just going to stand here arguing like fucking children, or are we actually gonna go do something about this?” I ask everyone.

They all sigh.

“Let’s come up with a plan. Find out what we know,” Steve says.

We stay up until dawn trying to figure out my next move. But, during all of this, I don’t know if I’m ready for a life of avenging and being heroic.