#my top 5 heimdall features

[jessakozo]

Heimdall

What are your best top 5 Heimdall features (GOW)

Eyes (glowy galaxies)

Voice (Scott Porter did an excellent job it suits him well)

Character (oddly i like this ego self centered confidence he has, not too much on the bully part :'))

Hair (I want to touch)

His loyalty (imagine being loyal to you as he is for Odin >_>)

(Of course the bodyyyyyy SHHHHHHH)

[katkeyboardmastah]

*cracks knuckles

In short, murder... a lot of murder.

I personally recommend watching through the cutscenes of its story over reading any summary. Bcuz I feel like it's a much more focused plot compared to even the X games, with a much better Disney world intergration. The reason why there are no YT summaries is probably bcuz of the rather spliced narrative filled with flashbacks and flashforwards.

Anyway, here's my attempt at a summary:

So basically 50+ years before the current KH timeline we have been dealing with since BBS, we have the story of Xehanort during his days of youth at Scala Ad Caelum (created on top of Daybreak Town post KHUx). The main plot of KHDR focuses on this one particular sequence of events when Xehanort and Eraqus were still students along with their other classmates. During the game we also see plenty of flashforwards of either previously unseen events (Xehanort talking to the Magic Mirror in Dwarf Woodlands), events we had seen but with brand new context (Xehanort bringing Ven into Eraqus' care) or extended scenes (like MoM's meeting with YMX in Re:Mind). All of these are spliced at the start and end of chapters of the main campaign.

Let's focus on the main sequence of events first:

Eraqus & Xehanort are as we see em in KH3's chess matches. They study in Scala Ad Caelum to become Keyblade Masters under Master Odin alongside 5 of their classmates (Vor, Urd, Hermod, Bragi and Baldr). KHDR's main campaign begins with Master Odin tasking all of Xehanort's classmates except Baldr (who is absent) with finding the missing upperclassmen. They went missing after journeying to the Disney Worlds for their Mark of Mastery. Their names are Vidar, Vala, Vali, Heimdall, Helgi, Sigrun and Hoder. The most important 2 you gotta keep in mind are Vidar and Hoder, the latter of which is Baldr's older sister.

First order of bisiness for Xehanort and co. is to journey to the other Disney worlds and to find clues about the missing upperclassmen and then go from there. They split up into 2 teams, Eraqus-Xehanort-and whoever you picked for the third and the remaining 3. At this point the Disney worlds actually exist and are not projections of the future like they were in the X games. Some function as normal but way back into the past (Olympus Colliseum, Dwarf Woodlands etc.) and others are still too young to properly operate (like Agrabah, which is devoid of all people). In the first three chapters, Xehanort and co. discuss the nature of darkness, how it can spurn from negative emotions and hide within people (example being the Queen of Hearts in Wonderland). At the end of chapter 3, we are treated to a flashback featuring Baldr, telling Eraqus 1 week prior to the main events that he is worried about his sister. Eraqus additionally drops hints that Brain from the X games is his grandfather.

Moving on to the end of ch 4, Xehanort, Eraqus and Vor team up and ask the Magic Mirror in Dwarf Woodlands about Vidar's (an upperclassmen's) whereabouts, only to be immediately visited by Vidar himself. Vidar shows no signs of wanting to return as he hints he has his own agenda and asks Vor to join his cause. He attempts persuasion by saying she will not be able to grow and become a Keyblade Master if she stays as she is. She agrees to his offer and leaves with him. Xehanort respects her choice while Eraqus is against it. In chapter 5, Xehanort, Urd and Hermod visit the Beast's Castle to find more clues. By the end of it, Vala and Vali (aldo upperclassmen) appear and try to recruit Urd, but she turns them down. The upperclassmen so far have seemingly been trying to disrupt the balance of the worlds by stealing their light, the reason to that unknown at this point. Ch 6's world is Agrabah once again with the same team as the previous chapter, but during the middle of it they are joined by Eraqus and Bragi, who have trying to find Vor and bring her back. At the end of the chapter Vidar encounters the gang once again, with Vor in tow, revealing that his goal is to summon forth Kingdom Hearts itself in order to rid of the darkness that took his friends.

This alarms the group, so they deduce that some of the upperclassmen are now dead. But they also need to find out what happened to them in order to understand Vidar's motivations. Their next destination is the Underworld, thinking that it is the best chance to seek answers. Baldr also finally shows up, seemingly fine after over a week of absence and asks to join the search for the sake of his sister. We also see a flashback of him watching her die in front of his eyes in Enchanted Dominion.

They reach the Underworld and ask Hades about the ones who died in the next chapter (and against Odin's warnings to stop prodding). This is kinda funny considering that Donald & Goofy are also searching for Hades at the end of KH4's reveal trailer, seemingly to ask about Sora's disappearance. Xehanort and Eraqus come into contact with Heimdall, Sigrun, Helgi and Hoder (Baldr's sister). Heimdall reveals that it was the darkness that killed them after Hoder tried to confront Maleficent by herself in Enchanted Dominion for their exam. They also imply that they were in The Final World before being called here (implying a connection between the 2 worlds). Hoder has been silent throughout and as the other 3 finally pass on she asks Xehanort for a favor (and the scene fades). As Xehanort, Eraqus, Urd and Hermod try to escape the Underworld from Hades and Heartless, they get sucked into a dark corridor much to Hades' shock. There is also no sign of Baldr and Bragi during this sequence. In the dark corridor, sth gets to both Urd and Hermod and kills them. Meanwhile at the last minute, Xehanort and Eraqus are saved by Master Odin from the brink of death. In the scene he was wielding the Master's Defender (Eraqus' Keyblade in the future).

The final chapter of the game takes place back in Scala Ad Caelum, as things are going haywire with Heartless as far as the eye can see. Xehanort and Eraqus deduce that one behind all of this darkness was Baldr himself (and Odin was hiding this truth). They assume the reason is his sister's death beckoned the darkness to possess him. As the Heartless attack, the three remaining upperclassmen, Vidar, Vala and Vali return. Eraqus, who is pretty emotionally charged rn, fights them with Xehanort at his side, bcuz they were aware that Baldr was the cause and Eraqus just wants to save his friend from the darkness. After the fight Baldr shows up, all wrapped up in darkness. The way he talks is very akin to the primordial darknesses as seen in KHUx's story. Vidar talks about that he wanted to save Baldr too through Kingdom Hearts bcuz he is Hoder's brother but has given up on it, since Baldr is too far gone at this point. Additionally he suspects that summoning Kingdom Hearts is what the darkness would want (for the world to reborn in darkness) and they are not going to play its game. Baldr leaves and the gang deduces that he will kill Vor next, who is on her way to report to Master Odin in the tower.

In the tower Vor is fighting Baldr. The upperclassmen save her only to be killed by a powered up form of the darkness possessing Baldr called Hringhorn. Unable to stop him Vor also dies as Eraqus and Xehanort arrive to the scene. His mission is to kill 13 lights to feed 13 darknesses to summon Kingdom Hearts (a more twisted take on the original tale).

The final fight it between Baldr's Hringhorn and Xehanort & Eraqus. Before Xehanort finishes off Baldr, Eraqus tries to stop him cuz he doesn't want to lose more friends. Around this time we find out that Baldr was not possessed by a primordial darkness as seen in KHUx but rather his own. This darknes was spurned by his own negativity towards his sister, who was always his light and delved in absolutes, that all darkness should be purged. The darkness within his heart saw an oppertunity to use Baldr's own anxiety for his sister's safety to pursue her. It is revealed that the one who seems to have killed Hoder and therefore caused the deaths of Heimdall, Helgi and Sigrun was the darkness. This event sent Baldr spiraling in his own grief and trauma for a whole week, after Master Odin isolated... or more accurately, locked him up in the infirmary so he would heal (good job Odin, you made things worse).

During the end, we see Hoder once again, her heart dwelled within Xehanort's upon her request (like how Eraqus did in Terra after BBS) and the siblings have one final talk where they talk about their problems... or so it would seem if Hoder didn't try to eradicate Baldr for his darkness and Baldr trying to eradicate Hoder (what a sweet family am I right?) This went on long enough that Odin would show up and pin Baldr down using the No Name Keyblade so Xehanort finally finish him off and Baldr perishes. It's an empty victory, as Baldr spurred Xehanort to think about the parallel between the siblings and his bond with Eraqus.

The main story ends sometime later as Eraqus and Xehanort visit the graves of their fallen friends, putting down flowers for each of them. As they leave a figure in a black coat appears, and it turns out to be Bragi? But wait didn't Bragi die? Well, Baldr had assumed he died, but what trully happened was this: When he was left alone with Bragi in the Underworld, Baldr revealed his true colors and tried to kill the latter, only to be bested. Bragi reveals that he was actually Luxu all along (*insert As if here) and he proclaims that this life is kind of a bust as he assumes that Xehanort is not the scapegoat that he will need in the future in order for MoM to return (at the time at least, bcuz Xehanort did NOT go on his dark path yet). Thus he decides to leave, so everyone else would persume he died.

Now that was the main story but here are some other scenes that are of great importance that are either flashbacks or flashforwards:

-Xehanort meets MoM for the first time about 1 year after the main story during his Mark of Mastery exam. It seems that MoM had to personally intervene in order for Xehanort to witness the things he needs in to go down the path that was set out to him.

-Xehanort leaves Scala Ad Caelum aproximetely 7 years after the end of the main story to persue his own goals

And most importantly:

-Xehanort has seen the Player's memories of their life in X/Ux primarily. How you ask? Well, the Player raised him, and through empathy, Xehanort managed to reach them (another parallel to Sora in fact). Didn't the Player "die" at the end of Ux? They become the Player of the upcoming Missink Link, it is their second life. So the version of Player that raised Xehanort on Destiny Islands (particularly the island Sora and co. play at) is the one post KHML, in their late years in a blue robe. Xehanort leaves the Islands not long after their caretaker passes, and then he meets Eraqus and everyone else in Scala (as his sudden appearance there is a mystery to many). Bcuz Xehanort could gleam the Player's past, the latter assumes that Xehanort was the child of destiny, bound to save all. This stuck with Xehanort for his entire life, driven by his curiosity for those memories which leads him to finding Ventus. Additionally explains the martyr aspect of his motivations a lot better. And lastly, in the same scene, it is revealed that Xehanort's origins lie in Scala Ad Caelum, as he is Ephemer's descendant.

I skipped over a lot of character stuff and other nuance so once I again I highly recommend watching the cutscenes bcuz this story is really really good!

can someone give me a rundown of what happens in Kingdom Hearts: Dark Road? I can't find a summary of it on YouTube

[imagine-loki]

Triple Threat, Chapter 5

TITLE: Triple Threat CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 5 AUTHOR: fanficshiddles ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki kidnaps Darcy Lewis, in hopes of getting the tesseract in return for her. Imagine his surprise when he grows rather fond of the mortal, finding that she understands him better than anyone else ever has.  RATING: M

After calming the tension down between the two Loki’s, the team abandoned the takeaway food. Apart from Darcy, who grabbed her chow mein tub and took it with her as they all headed up to Fury’s main office.

She sat there at the large table, using chopsticks to eat while everyone conversed. Loki stood right behind her, hands on her shoulders possessively as he glared at the other Loki across the table.

Loki was sitting down, quite comfortable in his surroundings.

‘Start explaining. You have exactly two minutes to tell us why we shouldn’t lock you in a cell and throw away the key.’ Fury said firmly, glaring at him from the top end of the table.

Loki smirked. ‘You need me. That’s the first reason. Secondly, you haven’t locked this one up.’ He motioned across to Loki. ‘Which in my eyes, is a good thing and means you can trust him. Hence, you can trust me. We are one and the same.’

‘We are not the same.’ Loki snarled.

‘You both sure look the same.’ Tony commented, earning a glare from Loki.

‘Nah… I see it now, the hair is slightly different. Intruder Loki is slightly longer and greasier. Plus, the features are ever so slightly off. Not as handsome.’ Darcy said, pointing her chopsticks across the table at Loki.

Loki smirked and gave Darcy’s shoulders a squeeze.

‘You didn’t seem to be thinking that last week at the cinema, when you were kissing me with such enthusiasm.’ Loki grinned wickedly.

Darcy’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open. Loki looked just as shocked and appalled.

‘WHAT?’ Both Darcy and Loki roared at the same time.

‘That was YOU?’ Darcy screeched.

‘How DARE you!’ Loki was about to storm over, but Thor grabbed his shoulder.

‘Calm down, brother. Let’s hear him out first. Then you can sort out other issues afterwards.’ Thor said calmly.

Loki’s nostrils flared as he clenched his jaw and moved back behind Darcy. His grip on her shoulders even tighter than before. Darcy tried to ignore the horrible feeling within her stomach. So she covered it by continuing to eat.

‘But it’s still Loki. Just from another reality. And he still has to tell us what the hell is going on!’ Clint said as he took a seat.

Loki sighed and leaned back in his chair.

‘In the reality where I come from, Thanos got hold of all the infinity stones. He wiped out half the population of every realm, every single race. We managed to defeat him, eventually. With a lot of time hopping to get the stones from the past and a lot of sacrifices.’

‘Who’s we?’ Fury asked.

Loki looked at everyone and motioned his hand to them all. ‘Everyone. I was on a ship with Thor and The Asgardians that remained after Ragnarok, heading here to Midgard when Thanos’

‘Wait, Ragnarok?’ Thor interrupted.

‘Oh, that hasn’t happened?’ Loki looked at Thor.

‘No! And it would NOT happen under my watch.’ Thor growled.

Loki chuckled. ‘Well, that’s a story for another day. Let’s just say, we had some more adventures together, brother. Then working together, we saved the Asgardians from Ragnarok, but not Asgard, unfortunately. Although New Asgard is prospering. Now, as I was saying… Thanos attacked the ship we were on. I managed to get to Midgard with Bruce, and we got help from Doctor Strange and yourself.’ He pointed at Tony.

‘Wait, I was with you on the ship?’ Bruce asked.

‘Are you all going to continuously interrupt me or can I carry on?’ Loki snarled.

‘Keep going.’ Natasha nodded.

‘Long story short, we were able to beat Thanos. Undo everything he did. But on returning the stones, Steve lost one while traveling through time. The reality stone, or maybe better known to you all as the Aether. We have tracked it down to this reality, but it’s whereabouts is unknown… What I do know, is that your girlfriend Jane Foster likely has it in her possession.’

Everyone paused and looked really confused. Thor especially.

‘She is not my girlfriend anymore.’ He said regretfully.

‘She dumped you in this reality too?’ Loki raised an eyebrow with a very slight smirk.

‘No… I was the one who ended it.’ Thor said sheepishly.

‘Ah. So perhaps you are smarter than in my reality.’ He chuckled.

‘Hardly.’ Loki scoffed.

‘Wait, why do you think Jane has it?’ Darcy interrupted.

‘She stumbled across it in my reality, Thor had to get my help to get it out of her. We drew the dark elves to her, to get it out of her. So, I’d say it’s an educated guess that she would stumble across it in this reality, too. And I suspected she would be here, with Thor. Or at least with Darcy. I must say, I am rather surprised to find you dating me. I can’t wait to hear how that happened.’ He grinned.

‘We’re not dating.’ Darcy said flatly.

‘It certainly doesn’t look that way.’ Loki narrowed his eyes at the two.

‘It’s complicated.’ Loki grumbled.

‘Sure it is.’ Loki chuckled. ‘So, do you have any idea where Jane is?’

The team looked at one another, shrugging.

‘She left… I haven’t even heard from her, not a single text.’ Darcy shrugged and finished off her chow mein.

Loki frowned. ‘When did she leave?’

‘Hmm, I dunno. Must be, what, six months ago?’ Darcy glanced at Natasha, who nodded.

‘Yeah, about that.’ She agreed.

Loki stroked his chin in thought. ‘Why did you dump her?’ He asked Thor.

‘She… She was acting, strange. She had become rather…’

‘Stuck up.’ Darcy finished for him. ‘She turned into a horrible bitch, from just before Loki came along, actually.’

‘Mmm, that is true.’ Thor nodded in agreement.

‘So, her behaviour changed?’ Loki asked. ‘How long ago?’

‘That must be well over a year and a half ago now?’ Darcy asked the others. She couldn’t believe it had actually been that long since Loki first kidnapped her… How things had changed since then.

‘That would fit… I was aiming to get back further in time, to roughly a year and a half ago, but Tony and Bruce in my reality didn’t send me far enough back. So I need to make do with you all in the here and now. But I believe she found it back then, which would explain her change in character. It can influence people, for good or bad. It takes the tiniest of feelings and it can manifest those feelings into something much bigger, and sometimes deadlier. I am surprised she’s been able to contain the power within her for this long… You really have no idea where she has gone?’

‘Nope.’ Darcy shook her head.

Loki pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Ok.’ He sighed. ‘I know where I can get a trinket to help locate the aether. But it’s not on Midgard.’

‘Where is it?’ Wanda asked.

‘Knowhere.’

‘It must be somewhere. You just said you know where it is.’ Tony said, confused.

‘No, it’s on Knowhere. It’s a realm.’ Loki growled at Tony, shaking his head.

‘I see you have to deal with idiot Midgardians too.’ Loki smirked.

But Loki ignored him.

‘Wait, are we sure we can even believe this guy? I mean, it IS Loki. No offence, Loki. But we know YOU. But not this guy.’ Steve said as he motioned to the intruder Loki.

‘Steve is right. How do we know you aren’t trying to get the stones for yourself?’ Fury asked.

Loki rolled his eyes. ‘If you want Thanos to wipe half of you all out, then fine. Be my guest to do nothing and lock me away. Or you could send Thor to speak to Heimdall, see if he can locate Jane. Prove me wrong. But I am betting she is either not on Midgard, or is shielded from his view.’

The team looked at one another uncertainly. But they had no other options at this time.

‘Thor, go check with Heimdall.’ Fury said firmly.

Thor nodded and headed out with Mjolnir.

‘WE need to talk.’ Loki leaned down and growled in Darcy’s ear. She gulped and got up, heading out with him. Who had a firm grip of her elbow.

‘And you need to stay here.’ Fury pointed at Loki. ‘It’s bad enough having one trickster here, we don’t need two running around. Vision, Wanda, keep an eye on him until we can make some sense of this mess.’ Fury stormed out of the room.

The rest of the team went off too, leaving Loki under Wanda and Vision’s supervision in the meantime.

-

‘You KISSED him?’ Loki hissed at Darcy when they got back to his room.

‘I thought it was you!’ She screeched up at him.

Loki started pacing back and fore. ‘You just said you can tell the difference. How did you not know it wasn’t me?’ He looked hurt.

‘I’m sorry, Loki. I had no idea there was two of you. He surprised me, why wouldn’t I think it wasn’t you? Please, don’t let this come between us. I didn’t mean it, I really didn’t. But he’s still you, just… a different reality. Slightly older, I assume.’

Loki went to the window and looked out, hands on his hips.

‘Loki, don’t ignore me. Come on, I’m as shocked as you that there’s another you. But I bet you’d do the same if you had to jump to another reality and found you were hooking up with some hot chick. You enjoy mischief just as much as he does and playing tricks.’ Darcy walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him from behind, hugging into his back.

‘I wouldn’t because you know youhave my heart.’ He grumbled.

‘I know. But if I didn’t, if we weren’t… whatever we are. You would’ve done exactly the same. I know you, Loki. And would you know the difference if another Darcy from a different reality suddenly started kissing you?’

‘I… Well, of course.’ Loki stammered out sheepishly.

‘No, you wouldn’t. Not at first anyway. Please, Loki. Give me a break here. I don’t love him, I love YOU. Not him. I promise. And I’m sorry.’

She knew Loki gave in and forgave her as soon as he placed his hands over hers at his stomach. He sighed and turned around, to wrap his arms around her in return and he rested his chin on top of her head.

‘I’m sorry, love. I just… I don’t like the fact there’s another me.’

‘I don’t either, believe me. It’s me that now has to deal with TWO Gods of mischief!’ Darcy groaned.

Loki chuckled and kissed the top of her head. ‘Hopefully he won’t be here for too long, as soon as we find Jane, we can send him on his way back to his own reality with the aether.’

-

The team all gathered again an hour later once Thor returned from Asgard.

‘Well, does Heimdall know where she is?’ Darcy asked.

Thor sighed and looked down. ‘No… He has not seen her since she left here six months ago.’

‘Well, shit.’ Darcy groaned, throwing her head back.

‘In that case, I will need a ship and a team to come with me to Knowhere.’ Loki said as he looked around the team expectantly.

[plush-anon]

"who can create better prompts for their fandoms' fanfic-kers than they can write" Challenge accepted! What's a good MCU prompt?

Oh Anon... Anony-Nonny-Non.

Here, have 19.

1.) Snap!Swap - everyone who died in Infinity War (Snap or otherwise) is alive, while everyone who survived on-screen is now dead. Loki and Heimdall are the survivors while Thor dies; Gamora and the GOTG survive, but Rocket and Nebula are gone; Doctor Strange, Vision, Bucky, Falcon, and Spiderman survive while Tony Stark, Wanda Maximoff, and Steve Rogers perish, etc etc. How do they work together to fix what happens - with Doctor Strange, do they explore alternate dimensions, or do they still stick with time travel? How do they come together to help the world recover in the devastating aftermath of over 4 billion dead?

2.) Dead Loki TDW - Loki died at the end of Thor: The Dark World as initially planned. Now, there is no Loki pretending to be Odin to save Thor from his father’s wrath -  only Odin himself remains. The father who sent soldiers to kill his own son when he committed treason and betrayed Odin’s wishes, and Loki is no longer alive to take the fall. Now Thor is the unfavored son, and Heimdall and the Warriors Three are banished from the realm. Hela is no longer released, but the burden of responsibility is heavy indeed.

3.) Fallen Loki, Collector’s Edition - at the end of Thor 1, when Loki attempts to kill himself, he doesn’t end up in Thanos’ grasp, no no - he ends up in the Collector’s. Reverted to his Jotunn form, suffering from head trauma, and growing horns, he lives out his days in the Collection fearing his brother’s wrath should he be found. After all, his brother only learned that genocide like he wished to enact was wrong - he didn’t learn to love the Jotnar. Surely he still wishes them dead?

Things change, of course, when the Guardians of the Galaxy first arrive with the Power Gem - now freed from his glass case prison, he ends up trapped/stuck with them for the rest of the movie, and becomes a Guardian himself.

4.) Pym!Ultron - Tony Stark isn’t the creator of Ultron in the MCU now, and Scott Lang’s Ant-Man never came to be. Infuriated by Stark’s apparent lackadaisical approach to saving lives, Hank Pym creates Ultron to supersede Tony Stark... but nothing ever turns out the way you plan, does it Hank? 

5.) Hela’s Rise - after Thor is banished in Thor 1, Loki finds his Jotunn origins and Odin falls into the Odinsleep to avoid THAT conversation any further. Unfortunately, instead of being handed the throne while Odin recovers, Hela breaks through Odin’s weakening imprisonment spell and arrives back in Asgard - and as Odin’s firstborn, she takes command of the throne instead. Blocking Thor from ever returning to Asgard, casting Odin in a permanent sleep, banishing Heimdall and the Warriors Three to Midgard with Thor, and imprisoning Loki and Frigga, it doesn’t appear that anyone can stop her - especially when her new suitor is more than willing to kill for her favor. Can she be stopped?

6.) The Tragic Death of Tony Stark - Tony Stark dies before he can cure himself in Iron Man 2 - and hoo boy, does this open a can of worms. Unfortunately for Tony, he gets to watch it all go down as a ghost - because of course his luck’s just like that.

7.) Dead Hawk Do Not Eat - Natasha Romanoff is left to pick up the pieces after Hawkeye sacrifices himself on Vormir. Between her job as the new Director of SHIELD, the painful distance his family has enacted, and an old threat from her past rising to meet her, the world has never seemed so gray.

8.) For Better or For Worse - at the end of Endgame, Steve goes back in time. But despite himself, he can’t help but fight to change the intolerant society he’s returned to... and his changes ripple forward in ways no one could have guessed.

9.) Cracking Open a Cold One with the Boys - Howard Stark unearths and defrosts Steve in the 1980s. Between the Cold War, reuniting with Peggy Carter, and uncovering a HYDRA conspiracy with Hank Pym, Steve’s being kept busy enough without having to deal with a persistent little fan in the form of Howard’s only son.

10.) A Stane on Your Good Name - Obadiah Stane survives the end of Iron Man 1, and lives to endure a public trial, where we learn exactly what led to him betraying the man who was like a son to him.

11.) Pepper Fire - in Iron Man 3, Pepper Potts was cured of her superpowers. But what if they remained even after being cured? Now she must navigate the world as a mutant CEO, and all the bad (and good) that comes with it.

12.) No Longer So Sweet - when Loki was adopted and glamoured as a Prince of Asgard, it was under the assumption that he was a runt. Not so. When he begins to grow bigger than Thor, and horns bud at his temples, Odin and Frigga cast him away and tell the realm he died of sickness.

Years later, Thor is made mortal and banished, only to be knocked out of the Bifrost and onto Sakaar. There he encounters a familiar (if blue) face, looming over him at 8 ft 5 - and both must work together to return to home... whatever that is now. (Technically one of my older prompts, but still one of my faves)

13.) World War Panther - T’Challa remained in his coma for longer than expected; Killmonger declares war on the world, and gets exactly what he wants. But as Wakanda struggles to maintain a 360 degree front battle, Erik finds himself doubting the path he chose, as he witnesses the damage unravel before his eyes.

14.) Blood as Red as Reality - after Jane absorbs the Reality Aether, she isn’t retrieved by Thor - she is retrieved by Ego, who reveals she is his long-lost daughter, and takes her to locate her half-brother Peter Quill. He should be able to help her with her new powers over the Infinity Stone - after all, he looked near identical to her when he wielded the Power Stone. Now Jane must juggle these new and startling revelations between learning how to control the Aether within her and interacting with her new family, all the while pursued by Malekith, Thor, and Thanos, who sees the (relatively) unprotected Infinity Stone with his two errant daughters, and figures he can crush two planets with one missile. At least she’s safe on Ego’s home planet... isn’t she?

15.) A Marvelous Daughter - Thanos captures Captain Marvel shortly after she departs Earth in the 90s, intrigued by the concept of infusing his soldiers with the Infinity Stones without reducing said stones’ power. And the acolyte he carves out of her will make a fine role model for her two new little sisters... one he isn’t so keen on letting escape when she flees with Nebula and Gamora in tow.

16.) According to Plan  - Zemo’s plan for revenge was never so complex as we saw; instead he decides to take three actions to ensure their suffering and demise. 1,heighten the death toll, 2, publish an article, and 3, get Bucky Barnes arrested under his brainwashing trigger commands. Because of this, the Avengers are not warned of their new boundaries until after the UN has passed them, causing internal strife and chafing at the political restraints. With the release of a breaking story on the death of the Starks, combined with Bucky Barnes’ ongoing trial, the Avengers are nearing the end of their patience and goodwill towards each other. What will remain after that?

17.) Never Rub a Ross the Wrong Way - Betty Ross reenters the picture when her father announces the Sokovia Accords, and declares war on him alongside her lawyer and close friend: Jennifer Walters.

18.) Mother’s Intuition - It is not Frigga, but Odin, who dies at Malekeith’s hand in TDW. Now, with one son in pieces, another imprisoned, an estranged daughter returning from beyond the grave, and a terrified mortal overwhelmed with ancient power, she takes the throne and proceeds to do things very differently to protect what family she has left, while making deals with people many would fear crossing. Whether that works out well is another question...

(bonuses for featuring: Frigga being a deeply manipulative ruler, depressed!Thor, Loki freed to teach Jane how to work with the Aether within,  and Hela bound by her mother’s magic - possibly an arranged marriage to Thanos? just go dark with it)

19.) When Loki falls and tries to kill himself in Thor 1, he lands on Earth with extensive memory loss in the year 1991, landing on top of a depressed Tony Stark (literally). His memories will not stay gone forever; but maybe, just maybe, he and Tony can change things for the better - for Midgard, for Asgard, and for Jotunheim.

[yurio-plisetksy]

World of Gods: Loki x Goddess!Reader Part III

Summary: After the Gala of Champions, you and Loki return to his private chambers. Loki is up to something and you want to know what it is. After speaking to Thor, the warrior three and Sif, Loki’s intentions become a bit more clear.

Tags: @sweetacp @buckybarneslemons @chamberof0secrets@loki-odinson-of-jotunheimr @bonightmare

Warnings: None.

World of Gods: Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7

Odin had cancelled the rest of the gala, and no champions were crowned that night. Loki was released but forced to stay in his private quarters until his father had made up his mind about him, which was a very childish act in your opinion. At least you were given permission to stay with him.

A sigh fell from your lips, but the worry was taken as Loki ran his fingers through your hair. Gaining your attention as he pulled you closer against his chest. “I’m sorry about what happened today.” You spoke, but Loki only hummed in response, adjusting the sheets that covered your exposed frame on top of him, and making sure you were nice and warm.

“I believe he never really liked me. That’s why I leaned more towards Frigga.” He spoke, his voice deep from exhaustion, which didn’t surprise you. Humming, you closed your eyes and snuggled up to him even more. You left a gentle peck on his bare chest, before wrapping your hands around his neck and sighing deeply.

“I’m glad Frigga offers her support… things might have escalated if she didn’t.”

“I agree… this should have been our night.” With a groan you sat up, knees placed on either side of his hips and hands running down his torso as you did. Loki grunted at the change in position, but couldn’t complain as he now had a partly nude you sitting on top of him. The smile that tugged at your features was too innocent for Loki to make a dirty comment, and right now he could only appreciate your beauty from beneath you.

“Maybe things didn’t go as planned, but I could care less about Odin… At least I won’t have to hide my love for you anymore.” You exclaimed and Loki chuckled at your words. He stretched his arms before folding them behind his head and offering a half lidded gaze.

“Hiding is the last thing I want you to do.” He said as his eyes trailed from your face down your chest to eventually roam towards the hem of your underwear. There was an obvious lewd comment in his words, and you could only roll your eyes in response.

“You’re a pervert.”

“You’re perfect for me.”

“That is true…” You said, matter of factly, receiving another laugh from the god beneath you.

“You know, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the faces of asgard as you kissed me. They were so shocked… as if their pathetic minds shut down with a snap of my fingers.” As an example, Loki snapped his fingers behind his head, raising his eyebrows in sync with the sound while clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth to emphasize. Leaning down to face him, you smirked at the thought of their reactions. You couldn’t imagine what kind of foul thoughts they must have had at the sight of the two of you.

“I mean we do sound like a very unusual pair… The god of mischief and the goddess of seduction, an unlikely couple.” You announced, voice thick in seduction and eyes narrowing down on Loki with the attention to tease. You used two fingers to walk a trail up his chest, tapping on the base of his throat as you reached it. Loki just eyed the gesture, still thinking about your words.

“But imagine the damage we could do…” He said, humming at his own ideas and removing his hands from behind his head to place them on your hips. There was a look of playfulness in his orbs, and you could tell he was up to trouble again and you hesitated whether you loved it or despised it. You offered him a stern look, and placed a finger against his lips to silence both his vocals and his mind, making him focus on you instead.

“Loki, you promised me no more damage would be done. Odin doesn’t trust us, if we do something now we will only lose more of his faith in us.” There was a warning in your words, one Loki wanted to ignore desperately, but he was aware of his promise to you. No more dangerous acts.  Dangerous acts as in resembling the one back on Midgard, when he used the Chitauri to attack Manhattan.

“But just imagine, ___,” He grabbed your hand from your lips and held it firmly against his chest, ”The two of us could conquer worlds! Our powers combined … I bet you could make even sultur kneel before you!” There was incredibility in his voice, and he seemed to spiral into his bad tendencies once more. There was a shift in his demeanor that you found incredibly arousing, but now was not the time. You scoffed in resentment and pulled your hand back.

“I will not use my powers to conquer. I use my powers to spread peace, Loki. Something I thought we agreed on doing together.”

“Once people submit to someone, they will find peace.”

“You’re spilling lies again.”

Loki sighed at the way you stared down at him with furrowed eyebrows, your arms folded over your chest in disagreement. He knew you had always hated his acts in New York, and while he was indeed controlled by Thanos, there was still a bit of personal enjoyment.

“Loki don’t even go there. Everything that happened the last few years has only caused you trouble.” You sighed, rubbing your eyes with the palms of your hands.

“I met you.” He slips as a contradiction to your words, his eyes searching for yours as you remove your hands. You wanted to smile at the statement, to tell him you loved him too. But if he was not going to keep his promise...

“I made a promise and I plan to keep it.” He finally spoke, and you were able to smile once more, even if it was just a small one.

“Thank you, Loki.”

He nodded slowly, wrapping his arms around your shoulders as you changed your position. Snuggling up to him, you were still quite unsure about his intentions, and while you wished to trust him, his rapid beating heart wasn’t as convincing as well.

“Lady ___, thank you for coming.”

You eyed the man in front of you with a burning gaze, before looking over the dining hall. The huge table placed in the middle took most of the room, and you guessed at least 50 people could be seated. At the other side of the wooden item sat the warrior three and lady Sif, intrigued by your presence, and eagerly nodding towards you as you politely waved at them.

“To what do I owe the invite, Thor?” You asked curiously, blushing slightly as he inspected your appearance with such casualty you almost felt exposed.

A faux fur coat, which Loki had bought you once, hung loosely from your shoulders, a simple black dress worn under the item. Your hand caressed the textured fabric with care, and you cleared your throat.

Your eyes met his once more, and while he grinned at your acknowledgement, there was a  look of seriousness in his eyes. You could see there was something he needed to tell you, but the urgency behind it remained unknown.

“There is something that needs to be discussed, and while I wanted to invite Loki, I feel like you should hear it first.” He motioned towards one of the seat and pulled back for you to sit on. You thanked him with a nod and sat opposite the warrior three.

Lady Sif offered you some wine, and you nodded once more, which was answered by a chalice being filled.

“It seems to be an urgent matter, is it not?” You asked, grabbing your drink and taking a small sip from it. You could tell it was an expensive wine, and it only concerned you even more. On what occasion would you drink a wine that had been aged for at least 250 years?

“There’s been an uproar in the nine realms and we are not sure about what.” Thor started, and motioned towards Sif to continue.

“It started on Jotunheim, then spread through Midgard. We believe Vanaheim is next.” She explained, but you still couldn’t understand what they were getting at.

“So why should this concern me in particular?”

“Because it might be connected to Loki’s disappearance a few weeks back..”

A thud. Your heart pounded against your chest, as if a heavy weight had just been attached to it. A few weeks ago, Loki had disappeared out of nowhere. Not even Heimdal had been able to track him. You were aware of this, but Loki always liked to cause a bit of panic, so you figured he had brought himself to another planet just to entertain himself for a bit. Hearing this from Thor was more than shocking.

Immediately a lump in your throat formed, and you hoped for his words to be wrong.

“What sort of uproar?” You snapped, trying to make it sound like you were on Loki’s side, while in reality you weren’t sure.

“It seems as if they’re planning something.” Fandral starts and blushes as you turn your attention to him. He clears his throat and did a pathetic attempt to deepen his voice as he continued.

“Some kind of revolution for independence. Both Vanaheim and Jotunheim want to distance themselves from Asgard to create their own kingdom and their own rules.”

You nod slowly, twirling the red liquid in the chalice while thinking their theory through.

“What does that have to do with Loki?” You asked a little warily, to which Hogun jumps. He had been awfully nervous already, and you wondered what gotten him so jittery.

“There have been rumors that Loki returned to Niffleheim and faced their new leader Obir, telling him and his people to turn their back to Asgard.”

“Knowing Loki, this could be more likely than we might imagine. He has never been trustworthy.”

You finished your wine, wiped the corners of your mouth with your thumb, before clearing your throat and slamming the chalice back on the table. The golden plates that laid upon the marble surface shook under the strength and a few cups fell to the floor under the impact. Thor, Sif and the warrior three both silenced at your outburst, never having seen your true form. They had heard about the fire in your eyes, and the sharpness of your tongue, but seeing the flames actually lick your eyebrows was something nobody could prepare for. The ones beautiful locks turned to raven flares, and Thor swallowed thickly at the sight.

“Loki has proven to be trustworthy to me. I will not let you convince me against him with your lies.” You hissed, and thrusted your cup towards lady Sif, who filled it up to the brim with no hesitation. Once you drank some more, you calmed down and returned to your previous form. The flames disappeared and you had turned back into yourself once more.

“My fiancé promised he would not act towards such crude ideals anymore. Otherwise he will lose both his own mind and my hand for marriage.” You said, visibly seeing their shoulder relax in relief.

“Right... Fiancé…” Thor mumbled, his stance full of arrogance and envy. Maybe he was a good guy, but at times you could clearly see and feel a certain resentment towards his brother.

“Now, This has been… lovely,” You said, accentuating the last word with matching sarcasm. ”But I wish to return to the person we speak off.” The screech of your chair announced your depart, and the group could only watch as you left the dining room and headed towards the northern wing.

While usually you would give the guards and maids a friendly smile, you were not up for smiles at the moment. So as Loki’s guards eyed you, you scoffed in their direction and shrugged the coat backup your shoulder, before pushing past them and entering Loki’s room.

It was cold inside, and you figured Loki had opened the balcony doors for some fresh air. Maybe it was a good thing, as you were still burning from rage,

His footsteps entered back inside, and he closed the book he was reading from once noticing your arrival. There was a stoic look on his face, but as he noticed your stare he chuckled.

“Please tell me it’s not true.” You said, voice deep in anger and surprising Loki just a tad bit. He offered you his signature smirk while humming, and you tilted your head while motioning him to speak.

“Depends on what subject we are on.”

“You know damn well what I’m talking about, Laufeyson.” Loki’s amused grin fell as you mentioned his last name, and his features curved into an stern look instead. You were not fooling around when you used his name as such.

“Don’t call me that.”

“Tell me the fucking truth for once.” You raised your voice, hands at your hips. With the heels you wore you were still smaller than the god, but your stance offered no sign of insecurity.

“You won’t like it.”

And that was the only thing you needed to hear. Your arms fell to your sides in defeat, and your teeth clenched in disappointment.

“You promised, Loki… ” The tremble in your voice was making Loki’s heart ache, but he knew he had done something terrible. You were already aware of this.

“I thought you finally learned from your actions. I thought we could finally be together without all the resentment from others.” You wanted to yell, to punch his pretty face, but you had spent too much emotions on the god already. He had hurt you before, and you wondered when he would learn that you weren’t staying forever.

“___, I can not even explain how sorry I am-” Loki started, but you shushed him with a cry of amusement. “Don’t even go there Loki. You’re not sorry, you just feel guilty because I found out.’

“What do you want me to say then?!” He exclaimed with anger in his voice, one that only fueled your rage towards him even more.

“I don’t want you to tell me anything! I want you to stop promising me you will change!” You sighed and plopped down onto his bed, placing your face in your hands with a groan of anguish. Loki ran a hand through his locks in frustration. This wasn’t your first fight, but whenever you did fight, things could get ugly. Loki didn’t want that this time. He didn’t want you to slap him away or scream out of sadness. he didn’t want you to see him cry again, or hurt himself in his own rage.

So instead he sat down next to you, grabbed your shoulder and pulled you against him. Without much hesitation you let yourself fall against him, trying to refrain yourself from sobbing once more.

“Loki, I fell in love with you . You don’t have to change if you don’t want to.”

He seemed confused by your statement, and you looked up at him to explain.

“I met you in Manhattan, the day before the chitauri came. I remember sharing the bed with you, eating breakfast in the morning and talking until you told me you needed to leave.” You sniffed, a small smile appearing on your face. “Then I saw you flying past on a chitauri hovercraft, right past my apartment window. A look of utter satisfaction on your face. It made my head feel like it was gonna burst.”

Loki sighed and closed his eyes, imagining the times you spoke of as a distant memory.

“You were defeated, but as I found you before your capture, you smiled so wickedly, so sinister, I fell in love with your craziness. You were completely mental, blind by the chaos you created… but you enjoyed every second of it, and that was what I liked about you. Loki, I don’t need you to turn into a hero for me. I just want you to be you, even if it comes with all the chaos.”

You shifted on the bed, grabbing Loki’s hands and holding them on your lap. He opened his eyes and looked straight into your fiery gaze. The (e/c) shade as beautiful as they could ever be.

“I will love you no matter what… but I won’t stay if you continue these lies.”

Loki stayed silent at your confession. Nobody had ever cared about him like you did. Nobody could ever love him so unconditionally that they would look past his lawless nature. At least that was what he thought. But here you sat, right in front of him, with tears of regret spilling down your cheeks while still looking as beautiful as you always did. Wearing the black dress he loved seeing on you, and wiping your face with the faux fur coat he bought when you were mad at him.

“You want me to be honest?” He asked with a tone you couldn’t decipher. A tremble in his voice that could only mean that he was afraid of your reaction. But nonetheless you nodded, curious to know his plans and intentions.

“I’m not sure what you heard, But I did indeed go to Jotunheim to speak with Obir…” With that statement alone you let out a deep sigh. Of course he did, he could never ignore the land of Frost giants, if it was to wipe out the entire race or use them as allies, he always needed to go back there.

“I know, and I’m sorry, but Odin’s ruling has caused the realms to doubt his way of leadership and they’re desperate for independence. They are ready to fight to divide themselves from Asgard.” Loki explained, and your fingers tugged at your lower lip while trying to comprehend his words.

“And why do they concern you?” You ask with unbelief.

“Because I love a war, especially when I’m the one initiating.”

For some reason you can’t help but chuckle at this. This was Loki you were speaking off, of course he was weak to the idea of war. A god ruling over all mischief was never going to back away from a fight.

“Loki… what now? What do you want me to do?” You asked, with the residue of tears brimming at the corners of your eyes. Loki’s eyes beamed at your words. That’s exactly what he wanted to hear from you. There was a plan he created and he only needed you to finish it. If it wasn’t for your trust in him, he was never going to be able to end Odin’s reign.

“I will tell you at dawn… until then, please entertain me.” He smiled, and began to peel the coat from your shoulders. You let him slip it from your frame, before smirking and pushing him down onto his own bed, the straps if your dress slipping down your arms as you straddle him.

“Behave and I will.”

[weekendwarriorblog]

The Weekend Warrior 8/6/21 - THE SUICIDE SQUAD, FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL, VIVO, ANNETTE, AILEY, NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL, JOHN AND THE HOLE, and More

After a week with three new wide releases and others coming up in August with three and even four (!), it’s kind of nice to get a ���quieter” week with only one wide release, plus it's one that I’ve already reviewed. Yay!

With that in mind, that allows me to start things off with two film festivals that are near and dear to my heart, the first being the 25th annual installment of the Fantasia International Film Festival, which runs from this Thursday, August 5 through August 25. That’s three weeks, which is sort of the norm, although it will be a festival that blends virtual with in-person screenings making it a true hybrid festival. Personally, I would love to be up in Montreal for some of the in-person screenings, as they tend to be quite rousing and rowdy events -- and that will include an early preview of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad this Thursday -- but I will have to settle for the fest’s vast screener library inste ad. Not that I’ve actually had time to watch much as I watched my entire weekend and free time slip away in order to watch and write about other things, but there’s some good stuff.

For instance, they’ll be premiering Donnie Yen’s new movie, Raging Fire, directed by Bennie Chan, next Tuesday, a few days before it gets a theatrical release across North America. (Its International Premiere is actually taking place at the New York Asian Film Festival, which you can read more about below.) Fantasia will also have the World Premiere for Rueben Martell’s Don’t Say Its Name, a horror movie featuring indigenous talent both in front of and behind the camera. Let Me Make You a Martyr filmmaker returns with his new crime-thriller Ida Red, starring Joshua Hartnett, Frank Grillo and Melissa Leo.

This year’s Fantasia is going to close with The Great Yokai War - Guardians, the sequel to Takashi Miike’s The Great Yokai War which opened Fantasia way back in 2006. In fact, Miike has probably been one of Fantasia’s most consistent guests, having many movies playing at the festival that never get released in the United States in any form.

It’s going to be an interesting mix of in-person screenings and on-demand virtual ones, and as in the past, it’s almost impossible to see everything. I think my only issue with Fantasia is that there are so many great genre films played there every year that it’s very hard to figure out which ones to watch when you’re not actually there on the ground.

And then closer to home in New York, another personal favorite, the New York Asian Film Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary in a combination of virtual and in-person screenings running between Friday, August 6 and August 22. Sure, there can be a bit of overlap between the NYAFF and Fantasia, particularly in the Asian content, but there are also a few distinct things, like the festival’s opening night film, Escape from Mogadishu from South Korea’s Ryoo Seung-wan, which covers the same Somali civil war as Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down but from another perspective. It will also be released in theaters this Friday. Chinese actor Chan King Long’s directorial debut, Hand Rolled Cigarette, will also premiere this Friday, as will Aimee Long’s directorial debut, A Shot Through the Wall, both of them debuting at the Walter Reade Theatre (the latter on Sunday).

And there’s just a slew of virtual screenings of some of the latest and most recent Asian films, many of which will never get any sort of release in the United States. That is probably the best aspect of the NYAFF, because while there are many filmmakers like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho, who will eventually break out here, many of the biggest Asian filmmakers first got their start with movies at NYAFF. That’s why those interested in international cinema should definitely be giving the NYAFF some of their time and money every year, since it’s such a terrific discovery festival… plus it’s also a lot of fun. I’m half tempted to go up to see some of the in-person screenings myself, this weekend.

I’ve never attended Geena Davis’ 2021 Bentonville Film Festival, but thanks to it also going semi-virtual or hybrid, I’ll have a chance to see a few movies I might not have otherwise. There are a few great films by women directors that have already played at other festivals and will be released soon, such as Sian Heder’s Sundance award-winning Coda (which opens next week!) and Natalia Morales’ Language Lessons, both excellent films that have played festivals this year. Other films I’ve seen and liked that are playing Bentonville, including the Van Jones doc, The First Step, and the comedy, 7 Days.

I’m also interested in the World Premiere of The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu, directed by Anna Chi; Waikiki, Christopher Kahunakana’s feature debut about a Native Hawaiian hula dancer trying to escape an abusive boyfriend; Edson Jean’s Ludi; and Andrew and Joe Erwin’s doc, The Jesus Music, which looks at Christian Music. Bentonville tends to be another great discovery festival. This is obvious when I look at winners from past festivals like Yellow Rose and The Garden Left Behind.

As mentioned above, there’s only one new wide release, and it’s James Gunn’s THE SUICIDE SQUAD (Warner Bros.), a semi-sequel to the 2016 blockbuster Suicide Squad directed by David Ayer that includes a few of the original actors but a few not of others, although it’s still the same general principle, only done in a far more comedic way. Got it?

In case you missed all that (or the original movie), The Suicide Squad is based on the DC Comics superteam, of sorts, made up of DC villains who are seen as expendable as they’re sent on missions by Amanda Waller (played again by Viola Davis). If they fail or try to escape, their heads get blown up by explosives planted at the base of their skull. Fun, huh?

The original movie opened with an amazing $133 million and grossed $325 million In North America alone and another $422 million overseas, although reviews were less than kind and the fans, maybe a little less kinder. Sure, some people liked parts of it, but there were other parts that were just a disaster, so the movie grossing over $300 million was astounding (similar to the “Transformers” movies, in fact.)

Along comes James Gunn, freshly fired from the third Guardians of the Galaxy, which he will be doing next…. After a Christmas Special next year, and a Peacemaker HBO spin-off from this movie that hasn’t even been released yet. Warners snapped up Mr. Gunn, hoping that he could do for their property what he did for Guardians. While this may not be the most important IP in their drawer but has already proven to make enough money that you couldn’t just leave it in there forever. Fortunately, Gunn convinced Warner Bros. to let him make the R-rated Suicide Squad movie that the first one should have been and without the reins of a PG-13 Disney-released movie, Gunn could go absolutely nuts, and he did.

Some might be worried about WIll Smith not being in the sequel, because let’s face it, Big Willie is indeed an A-list star with a wide variety of fans of different ages, creeds, and colors. The fact that Will Smith could help turn an Aladdin movie directed by Guy Ritchie into a significant hit for Disney, well, that shows his power.

Even without Smith, Margot Robbie returns as Harley Quinn, who was last seen in last year’s Birds of Prey, a movie that was expected to do a lot better than its $33 million opening last February, before it got completely hobbled by the rise of COVID in March. It ended up grossing just $200 million worldwide, less than half of that in North America, and it might have put a damper on DC doing another R-rated superhero movie… except The Suicide Squad was well under way. Also back is Joel Kinnaman as Col. Rick Flag, a regular in the comics, and a decent actor but not someone anyone could seriously consider a box office draw. Other than Suicide Squad, Kinnaman has starred in quite a few bombs including a Robocop remake that tanked with $58.6 million domestic (it did better overseas), and then Run All Night, directed by Jaume Collet-Sera of last week’s Jungle Cruise, which made half that amount.

More importantly, the movie introduces a lot of new characters, including Idris Elba as Bloodsport, replacing Will Smith’s Deadshot, which might seem like a bit of a stepdown considering that Smith may be one of the top A-list stars on the planet, while Elba is popular but nowhere on the same level. Hey, it’s truth. Granted, Elba played Heimdall in Marvel’s Thor and a bunch of his sequels, and he’s provided his voice in quite a few Disney hits, while also appearing in a few odds and ends in terms of genre films like Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim (which hit the $100 million mark) and Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, which did a little better. Still, Elba has created quite a fanbase around him for shows like Luther and The Wire, and his role in The Suicide Squad should help him line up more leading roles in bigger movies. I wouldn’t expect him to play James Bond but he’ll be around a long time.

After that, there’s sometimes-wrestler John Cena as Peacemaker, another less-than-known DC character, but Cena also brings his fanbase (sort of) from wrestling, to which he’s returning for WWW SummerSlam in a few weeks. Cena hasn’t necessarily made huge waves on the big screen, although we can’t forget that he was just in F9: The Fast Saga, the latest in the unstoppable franchise that’s one of the biggest movies of the pandemic year. He also starred in Paramount’s Bumblebee, adding to his franchise cred. As mentioned above, Cena already has warranted his own HBO Max series, so obviously, someone at Warner Media felt he was doing something right.

Other key roles include Sylvester Stallone voicing King Shark, David Dastmalchian from Ant-Man playing “Polka Dot Man” (about as D-list a DC character you can possibly get but used hilariously in the movie), as well as Ratcatcher 2, played by Daniella Melchior, not be confused with her father, Ratcatcher 1. Oh, and of course, Viola Davis, the Oscar-winning goddess who should have won another Oscar for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, but no, I’m not bitter that it screwed up my oscar pool. There’s a lot of other actors, many from Gunn’s other films like Mike Rooker, brother Sean Gunn, and Nathan Fillian, and if they were in the movie for very long, I would consider them something to consider, though their presences does insure that this is indeed a James Gunn movie.

As has been the case quite a bit since I revived this column to discuss box office, we have to take two things into account, one being COVID and the fears surrounding it that have kept many otherwise sane people away from movie theaters. Also, The Suicide Squad will be premiering concurrently on HBO Max, so anyone who has the WM streamer could literally just turn it on Friday and watch the movie for no extra charge beyond whatever they pay per month. Unlike other movies that had this kind of release, Warners is allowing theaters to play the movie for Thursday night previews, so there’s a lot of money that can be made there (and all weekend) from those who choose to see it in theaters. (Honestly, I have no idea why anyone would want to watch this movie, especially it’s absolutely enormous last act, on a computer or television, but welcome to 2021. Whine whine whine.)

I was ready to go north of $60 million on this one because it seems like the kind of movie that could get people back out into theaters, especially when you realize how much the original movie made and how the idea of heroes whose heads can be blown up at any moment (and in that case, the R-rating helps). Then I remembered Birds of Prey and how that came out pre-COVID and couldn’t even open over $40 million, so I had to lower my expectations, although I still think this will fare very well even with HBO Max and COVID in play, so I’m going with somewhere in the mid-$50 million range.

You can read my review of The Suicide Squad over at Below the Line.

This is how I see the Top 10 playing out at the box office:

1. The Suicide Squad (Warner Bros.) - $55 million N/A

2. Jungle Cruise (Walt Disney Pictures) - $17.5 million -50%

3. Black Widow (Marvel/Disney) - $3.6 million -45%

4. Stillwater (Focus) - $3.1 million -40%

5. Old (Universal) - $3 million -56%

6. The Green Knight (A24) - $2.8 million -58%

7. Snake Eyes (Paramount/MGM/Skydance) - $2.1 million -52%

8. Space Jam: A New Legacy (Warner Bros.) - $2 million -53%

9. F9: The Fast Saga (Universal) - $1.5 million -45%

10. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (Sony) - $1.3 million -42%

Hitting Netflix on Friday is the animated musical, VIVO (Netflix), which was produced by Sony Pictures Animation but then sold to Netflix rather than trying to make it work in theaters. Directed by Kirk DeMico (The Croods) and Brandon Jeffords, in features the voice of Lin-Manuel Miranda as the voice of the title character, an organ grinder’s monkey in Havana, Cuba with his organ grinder Andrés, voiced by Juan de Marcos González (Buena Vista Social Club), who desires to be reunited with his long-separated love Marta (voiced by Gloria Estefan), who went off to fame and fortune as a singer because Andrés didn’t want to express his feelings for her in fear of her giving up her singing career. Vivo ends up in Miami and decides to try to find Marta and reconnect the lovebirds.

Just really catchy numbers written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, so if you like his work from In the Heights and Hamilton and Moana, etc. etc, then there are more songs he wrote, which he sings… mostly in the body of an animated monkey. The story itself isn’t particularly great, as the movie takes what would be a unique and novel setting i.e Cuba and introduces a number of animated movie stereotypes, including the weird girl Gabby (Ynairaly Simo), who gets increasingly more annoying as the film goes on.

In general, I loved most of the songs and the musical production (other than Gabby’s theme, which I was not crazy about), more than the story or the actual animation. Because Vivo is a monkey, there’s a weird section of the film that talks about vaccines and quarantines, probably written before the pandemic, which just makes it that much weirder.

Vivo has some decent emotional beats and terrific songs, but otherwise, it seems very cookie-cutter in terms of the storytelling. It’ll be just fine for kids, but adults may have trouble staying very interested.

Speaking of musicals, the rock opera ANNETTE (Amazon), written by, and with music and songs from Russell and Ron Mae AKA Sparks, will hit theaters this Friday in advance of its debut on Amazon Prime Video on August 20. Directed by Leos Carax (Holy Motors), the movie stars Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard as stand-up comic Henry McHenry and opera singer Ann, respectively, who get married and have a baby girl named Annette, who is actually a puppet that sings. (I did warn you that this is from Sparks and Leos Carax, right?)

Annette is exactly what anyone should expect from this collaboration between the quirky L.A. avant-rock duo and the French auteur, even if you believe the FFS song that “Collaborations Don’t Work” -- which you would know not to be true if you went to see Edgar Wright’s documentary, The Sparks Brothers, as I recommended last month! But instead of dubbing this a musical, it’s gotta be called for what it actually is… a ROCK OPERA. Annette reminded me a lot of ‘70s musical movies like Tommy and Godspell, where you knew there must have been some drug use involved (cause it was the ‘70s).

Driver’s stage performances are definitely some of the aspects that will divide audiences, because he veers from being an outrageous shock comic (think a mopeyer Sam Kinnison) to just being an insane and abusive jerk who drives even his devout fans away. The two extended sequences show Driver at his most emotive, but he’s also the kind of character that could push the movie’s audiences away as effectively as he does his fans. On the other hand, Cotillard is absolutely brilliant, even if she isn’t singing her own opera, as is Simon Helberg -- yes, that guy from The Big Bang Theory -- as her piano accompanist who later becomes a conductor, and then more.

The movie’s mood constantly shifts gears and direction, although it never is quite funny enough to be considered “comedy,” and if one really needed to categorize it, it would be placed in the realm of dark thriller… with music.

One thing that Sparks fans should know is that this is not a movie full of new Sparks songs, even if it is full of Sparks music. In other words, other than a couple actual songs -- like the opening overture -- there isn’t much of the music that might work separately or out of content with the movie or the story. Like in opera, almost everything is sung with very little spoken dialogue persé, and this was clearly a decision.

I’m not quite sure Annette will find either Sparks or Carax many new fans -- I definitely liked it more than Holy Motors, that’s for sure -- but for many, it’s going to be a strange experience to get through and maybe one they won’t necessarily need to see in theaters.

I finally got around to watching Jamila Wignot’s documentary, AILEY (NEON), which has been playing in theaters in New York the past few weeks and is expanding to other areas this Friday. Of course, the film is about legendary New York choreographer Alvin Ailey, whose work spanned six decades before his death in 1989 but not before he helped many dancers and other choreographers beak it into the contemporary dance scene.

It’s a little weird writing about this movie now, because just two weeks ago, I was writing about another dance doc called, Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters, about another specific work by a choreographer and the message it was sharing about AIDS. In fact, Jones also appears in this doc talking about the influence and assistance Ailey gave him earlier in his own career.

Ailey is a much more straight-forward portrait doc about Ailey’s life and career, and because of that, I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as Can You Bring It, but the two movies actually end up acting as nice companion pieces to each other despite being made by different filmmakers in different environments.

Lucy Walker’s documentary BRING YOUR OWN BRIGADE (CBSN) will play in theaters starting Friday and then on Paramount Plus and CBSN starting August 20. It looks at the 2017 fires that absolutely destroyed Paradise, California, and unlike Ron Howard’s Rebuilding Paradise, this is as much about the fire and how it affected people as the aftermath and figuring out how to rebuild. I thought it was pretty good, although it’s tough to

Incidentally, I wrote about and reviewed Edson Oda‘s NINE DAYS (Sony Pictures Classics) last week, but it’s going to expand into a few hundred more theaters this weekend, as well.

Legendary character actor Udo Kier stars in Todd Stephens’ SWAN SONG (Magnolia Pictures), which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival back in March, and I quite enjoyed it. It will get a limited theatrical release this weekend and then will be released digitally. In this comedy, Kier plays Pat Pitsenbarger, a flamboyant hairdresser who escapes from his Ohio nursing home in order to grant a former client her dying wish of having him design her hairstyle. Also starring Jennifer Coolidge, it will be in theaters this Friday and On Demand August 13, and hopefully I can write more about it next week, because I did quite like it but didn’t have time for another viewing.

Another movie from Sundance that’s finally hitting theaters (and digital) this Friday is Pascual Sisto’s JOHN AND THE HOLE (IFC Films), written by Nicolás Giacobone, who wrote Alejandro Iñárritu’s Birdman and Biutiful. It stars Charlie Shotwell as the title character, John, who traps his family in a bunker that he finds in the woods behind their home. I wish I could tell you that there’s more to the movie than that or that it offers something riveting or thought-provoking or something unforgettable, but I’d be lying. It’s not good.

It stars Michael C. Hall as John’s father and Jennifer Ehle as his mother, but Shotwell plays such a bland character that I just had a hard time finding anything that could really maintain my interest. The characters were boring, the writing was bland (which says a lot about how great a director Innaritu is), and there was just nothing I could glom onto. In that sense, the movie reminded me a bit of the first time I saw M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable in terms of all the boring conversations that dragged that movie down, and this has a similar issue.

There’s just no way around declaring that there really wasn’t very much that I liked about this movie, and honestly, the fact I tried to watch it a THIRD time after my first two attempts tell me that I’ve done more than my share of trying. It’s just not a good movie.

Unfortunately, my schedule this week got derailed quite tragically, so there were a few other foreign films I hoped to get to but just didn’t have the time…

From Korea (via the New York Asian Festival, as mentioned above) is Ryoo Seung-wan’s Korean war thriller, ESCAPE FROM MOGADISHU (Well GO USA), as the movie is in Korean, but it’s about two Korean war correspondents caught up in the Somali war.

From Uruguay, Maxi Contenti’s THE LAST MATINEE is about an audience attending the last showing of a horror film in a downtown cinema that’s terrorized by a murderer killing them off one by one. (This is actually my kind of jam so I’ll try to watch and write something about it once I do. I just ran out of time this week.)

From Afghanistan comes Mariam Ghani’s doc WHAT WE LEFT UNFINISHED (Dekanalog), which takes a look at the state-funded filmmaking program during the country’s Communist era with a bunch of writers, actors and filmmakers talking about five unfinished and unedited projects made between 1978 and 1991.

The Film Forum in New York City is starting another film series (or rather, continuing it from when it started before COVID in March 2020) called “The Woman Behind Hitchcock,” starting this Friday, which is fairly self-explanatory, but it should be a great series with a lot of rare films being shown.

Also hitting Apple TV+ this Friday are the first few episodes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s MR. CORMAN, in which he stars as the title character, produces, directs and writes a bunch of the episodes. In it, he plays an elementary school teacher in L.A., who is trying to come to terms with a lot of portions of his life. I’ve seen about half the episodes in the first season, and it’s quite a different show than anything else out there. I’ll have an interview with the Cinematographer, Jarod Presant, over at Below the Line later today.

A few movies that I just didn’t get to this week, include: THE MACALUSO SISTERS (Glass Half Full) MATERNA (Utopia) FIREBOYS NIGHTDRIVE (Dark Sky Films)

Next week, it’s August 13, and we have three new wide releases! (See what I mean?) We get Ryan Reynold’s Free Guy, the horror sequel Don’t Breathe 2, and the Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect.

[created2becreative]

Burden To Bear (Loki Fanfiction)

The ship full of the survivors of the fall of Asgard were floating through space. The windows showed the never-ending galaxy and the sway of the ship flying felt the rolling of waves. Loki was reclining against one of the windows, he was not yet asleep but still in a sleepy daze from the battle earlier that day. He heard a small noise causing his relaxed body the tighten and once again be alert. The ship was full of thousands of sleeping Asgardians but this sound was unlike the soft breathing that filled the air, It was quick breathing with undertones of pain.

Loki got up, stretched and started to silently move about. Tiptoeing over the body of the adjusted people. When his keen ears picked up the sound once again. Loki turned a corner and his eyes meet with the sight of a maiden laying on the ground leaning her back against a wall. Her wild red hair dangled in her face. She was a beautiful woman. Then Loki spotted her hand lay upon her obviously pregnant belly and her forehead was shining with beads of sweat. This was hopefully not what it appeared. The woman let out a final breath before her body finally relaxed and her bright green eyes opened to meet with Loki's worried face.

"Your Highness!" She said, her eyes widened and her heart raced, she looked back down to her belly ashamed to have him of all people see her in this state. The Prince knelt down so there were at the same level. "Darling, are you alright? Should I call a healer for you?" Her eyes never left her strutted stomach. "No, Your Highness. Please leave me, I have no right to your graces." She spoke as though she was worthless a feeling the Prince knew all too well. Loki opened his mouth to speak when her back wrenched and her breathing became erratic. He quickly grabbed her, his long fingers intertwined with her delicate hand. "Shhhh.. its ok, breathe. We will get through this one." She kept her gaze on her rapidly shaking chest. "Hey, look at me. Keep your eyes here. Watch... breathe in.... out.." She stared at his thin lips as they opened and closed with her instructions The Prince couched her through the worse contraction thus far. Her body relaxed causing her to lay back on the medal wall behind. Loki let out that last breath he was holding. "Where is your husband?' He said pushing himself to sit beside her. The woman firey hair dangled in her face. Loki pushed away a long curl reviling her tears. "He's gone, he lay down his life for Asgard yesterday." She choked out. He wiped her tears and gave her a reassuring smile, remembering the one man that was brutally murdered by Hella. "Darling, you had a nobleman, and his bravery will be in this small creature. Mark my words." His hand came to rest on her tummy and stayed there for a beat before he quickly pulled away. Loki had felt the baby move, he had never felt something so private and precious. She smiled as his eye widened and a vale of red blush ran over his face. "I beg your forgiveness" he rushed to say as she giggled. It was the first time she had let joy fill her after her love Shier had left this world. Loki sat there with the woman. He counted the minutes between each contraction. They were about 5 minutes apart. "I'm going to get someone to help, they are getting to close. Looks like we are having a baby tonight" he smiled at her. Worry took over her beautiful features. "Hey, it's ok. Your child will be the first born in the new Asgard." Loki soothed her. "What's your name?" He asked realizing he hadn't found out yet. "Yeshlynn" she whispered between a contraction. Her beauty matched her name. Loki left and came back with a nursemaid to help with the labor. Loki started to walk away to give the women privacy, but a hand grabbed the prince before he could leave "please stay, I can't do this alone." Her green eyes pleaded with him. Loki gave a faint smile. He sat behind her, her back leaning agest his chest wild red hair draped over Loki's shoulder as she reclined into him. The labor went well and within hours a stunning baby girl was born. Loki stared at the small Asgardian. "She's beautiful." He whispered. Yeshlynn held her daughter and smiled down at her, the baby's eyes wandered to Loki and stayed on his face. "Would you like to hold her?" She asked. Loki was nervous but he took the newborn in his arms She snuggled into his cradling muscles letting out a small coo before drifting off to sleep. Loki he had never even considered the thought of a family in his future but in an odd way, this felt so natural and right. He held out a finger to lightly caress her small cheek, but her little hand grabbed him and held it tight. Loki felt a smile creep over his face. When all of a sudden screams were heard from the front of the ship. "Rejoice you are about to lay your life down for the good of the universe." Loki knew that voice it was one of Thano's minions. He felt his heart rate race, he knew what was to happen; mass murder of the Asgardian people, along with this beautiful mother and daughter. He was not going to let this be their end. Yeshlynn saw the panic in Loki's eyes. "Your Highness?" Her voice was full of worry. People started to run in every direction only to be chased and caught by the enemy. Thanos. lined them up and counted every other one. Loki looked in horror, putting the baby in her mother's arms he knelt beside her. "Darling I sware to you nothing will happen to either of you. I'm going to find Hemdel and get you two out of here."

Thanos appeared in the distance Loki's blood ran cold. He held his breath as he tried to find Heimdall. One of Thanos minions pushed Heimdall to his knees taunting the man. His amber eyes found Loki sneaking behind the people trying to get his attention. When he was in full view he whispered to make a distraction and the man nodded. Getting back on his feet Heimdall was about to attack when a sword when straight through him. He tried to breathe, gasping he looked at Loki, his raven hair flu and he ran to kill the attacker but when the sound of Yeshlynn screaming he stopped and ran to her. "Loki! Help! Please!" she begged as her newborn was yanked from her arms. She held on to the kidnapper hitting him and begging for her child back. The man through the new mother across the room hitting the wall of the ship. A gash appeared in her forehead blood running down her face as she tried to pull herself up. Loki ran to her he tried to help her up when she fell back to the ground. " Get my baby!" She cried "I can't get her, my leg is broken!" Loki stared into her eyes they were pleading with him. All worry and fear left as he nodded, determined to keep his promise.

He ran behind the kidnapper and stabbed him from behind. The monster started to topple over and Loki took the screaming child in his arms. He turned around to see Thanos standing over Yeshlynn when she looked to see Loki holding her daughter, the fear in her face went away and she stared back at the murdering "Do your worse." She hissed Loki screamed "No! Stop! I know what you want, you can have it." The baby in one arm he lifted his free hand and to Tesistract appeared at the tips of his fingers. The giant strolled over to Loki. "You have grown soft my child." "I don't belong to you." He spat " but this does" he handed over the cube. He took it from him, crushing it and placing a stone in the gauntlet Power surged through the giant's vanes. Loki knelt next to Yeshlynn the baby still in his arm he wiped the blood and tears from her face and out of pure adrenaline, he kissed the top of her fire red hair. She was about to speak when her body stiffened, she breathed in. Looking done a crimson spot growing on the chest of the gown. Panic filled her eyes Loki stopped the blood as he wrapped his arm around her and felt a cold knife plunged into her back. He held her body and she trembled. Loki panicked and cried looking up at Thanos. "Please don't do this! You got what you came for! Leave us." He cried The newborn whined in his one free arm.

Heimdall who lay dying prayed silently to have enough strength to get someone out of here.

Thanos started to pick up the green-eyed man by the neck. Loki held on with all his might to the child. He chocked and struggled to breathe but would not let go of the baby. When a surge of magic flu across the ship landing on Loki. With the last of Heimdall's power, he teleported Loki. He was unsure of what realm. All he knew was that Loki was the only hope they had now.

And with that Thanos brutally murdered every Asgardian.

As the Asgardian came down from the sky he landing on the ground creating a curator in the middle of a Midgardian park. Loki was curled in a ball after the impact. He opened his emerald eyes, he started to sit up but felt something buried in his arms. He gasped as he saw the small babe whimpering against his chest. Loki sat in the deep ditch created by the Bifrost as the reality of all that had just happened hit him. Tears started to build in his eyes. He started to cry, his shoulders shook as his tears streamed down his face. "Heimdall you fool! You should have saved HER! You could have saved HER" He screamed in a raspy voice at the sky scaring the infinite in his arms making the girl start to cry. Loki stopped screaming shifting all his attention to the baby. "Shhhhh please don't cry little one." He soothed her. She became quiet and stared at Loki then cuddling into his armor she sighed in contentment.

Loki felt sick. This was not supposed to happen! He pulled himself out of the creator and stood in the middle of central park. It was night, the wind whipped through the trees the clouds were starting to roll in the light patter of rain started to fall. He started running to find shelter. Finding his way out of the park he went down an ally. He leaned on the brick wall he slowly let himself slide down till he hit the concrete. "Why? Heimdall, if you had enough power to send me here, you had enough to heal Yeshlynn. Or at least send her here to find help." He bowed his head, feeling the hot tears stream down his pale cheeks to his chin. As he wiped them the tips of this fingers touched his caller. Pushing gently The bruise growing on his neck started to throbbed he quickly jerked his hand away. He felt weak and he heard himself wheeze as he tried to take in air. The once sleeping baby awoke and started to cry. "No darling, hush now little one." He whispered. She will starve if I can't find help soon. The thought scared him. No one would take them in. It's not like people did not remember his face, the face that terrorized this city. Flicking his wrist he tried to use magic to change his appearance but he was so weak from escaping death his raven hair and armor remained even after several attempts. The newborn was screaming into his shoulder as he lightly bounced her, Hushing her breathlessly. A light danced across the bricks making Loki look over his shoulder to see where the light was coming from. Stark Tower... well the Avenger Tower now. The thought of going to the people that hated him most made him terrified but as he had no way to care for the little Asgardian they were his only hope.

Loki made his way to the door, knocking frantically on the metal. A voice came over the speaker it was obviously the man of iron. "Unless you have Chinese food, go away" "Tony, I need your help" his voice so raspy it was unrecognizable. Pepper Potts opened the door, covering her mouth at the sight of the god of mischief. she was about to shut the door when he stopped it with his boot. "My lady, please! She needs help." He said. Timidly she questioned him "Who needs help?" Loki moved his cape that covered the newborn. "I beg of you please." Pepper gasped seeing the infant in his arms and opened the door. "She won't stop crying, she needs her mother's milk. I have no way to help her." He said letting his emotions take over again. Potts saw the tears form in Loki's eyes and took pity on him. She took the child from his arms making him feel naked not clutching the only thing he had left. His arms cradled himself as he sat on a chair and wept. Pepper held the baby and hit a bottom on the wall to call Tony. "Tony, could you come down here for a sec." A moment later the elevator dinged. "Mis Potts did I not say tonight was Romantic Asan Food night and ... What is reindeer games doing here?" Pepper put herself in front of Loki. "Tony he's not going to hurt us" she placed her one free hand on Loki's shoulder. Tonys' eyes fell on the newborn in her arms. "Did we have a baby?" Tony asked. "She is an Asgardian, her mother is dead, my people are all dead. Thanos killed everyone." Loki's voice broke as he tried holding back his tears. Tony stared at him "You mean Thor is dead?" Loki nodded The baby in Peppers' arms started crying louder Loki immediately got up and took her from the woman. He held her close to his chest kissing the top of her head lightly. "Hush now princess" he whisperer Pepper smiled "I'm going to run to the store and get some baby stuff. You boys don't kill each other ok?" Loki bounced the little girl humming an Asgardian lullaby. Tony looked puzzled "I need a drink! You want that one I owe you?" He asked Loki. The Prince did not even look at him his eyes were on the little one he cradled. As Tony poured some strong shot of alcohol he asked the question. "Is she yours?" Loki looked up his eyes were red from crying. "No, I could never be a father."

Loki was watching the rise and fall of the infant's chest as she slept in his arms. He had not moved for an hour. Tony did not try to talk to him, he looked worn out and about to fall asleep at any minute. His eyes would close, his head started to lean over then his raven hair would jerk back up. Loki blinked rapidly willing himself to stay awake. Tony saw such a different man in front of him. Unlike the manipulative, charming snake Loki was the last time he saw him, this Loki was scared, broken, holding the only thing he had left in the universe, a baby. "Hey, big fella, why don't you take the guest room and sleep tonight. I can watch the kid." Tonys offer sounded too good to be true, Loki let out a youn and shook his head. "I'm fine, really." He declined Tony was about to speak again when Pepper walked in with a box of diapers, bottles and everything the child would need for the night. "There is a crib in the car I think you boys can handle putting that together." She smiled. "Ill feed this hungry girl while you work" she laughter taking the baby from Loki's arms. Tony drug in the huge box and put it in the guest room. The men sat on the floor and worked for hours trying to get the crib up. For being so smart the two didn't know much about furniture assembling. While they were working Loki spotted Pepper in a chair in the corner feeding the newborn. The Asgardian got up and walked over to her. "Can you teach me?" He asked shyly putting out his arms. Pepper smiled at how gently he took the little one in his arms. Pepper handed him the bottle. The child took it in her mouth and drank. The smile slowly forming on Loki's face was priceless. "You're really good with her." She complimented. His eyes never left the baby. "What's her name?" Miss Potts asked quietly Loki answered, "She doesn't have one." His heart went heavy at the thought. "The woman put her hand on Loki's shoulder. "I'm sure You'll come up to something beautiful." Loki's smile fell and he handed back the newborn "She is not mine, I have no right to bestow a name on her." The baby started crying Loki took the little one back he bounced her and hushed her. She quickly became silent and fell asleep. Pepper walked over to the pile of bags filled with baby things. She pulled out a set of silky green men's pajamas. "Loki this will be more comfortable to sleep in that armor." Loki gave her a kind smile "Will you hold her as I change?" He asked. Pepper took her from him. Loki went to the bathroom. Disrobing he spotted his reflection in the mirror. , his hair was a wreck, neck black and blue and eye had deep circles under them. Who was this broken man in front of him? He had lost his mother, father, brother, his people, and now he was all alone. This was what he deserved for all the wrong he had done. This was a fate worse than death. He left the bathroom to find the baby's bed set up complete with emerald green bedding. His bed has clothes folded on it for the morning. And the baby was asleep in her PJs snuggled into Peppers' neck as she rocked her in the rocker she bought Loki. He smiled and walked over to her "Miss Potts you have been to kind to me." He said. She got up from the chair handing Loki the sleeping infant "I'll show everything a new parent needs to know in the morning. Wake me up at any time tonight, I'm in the room across the hall." She kissed the baby and gave Loki a hug. Loki stiffened at her touch but found himself start to relax into the hug. "Thank you," he said as a tear escaped his eye.

Loki laid the baby in her crib, tacking down the covers of his bed he climbed in. Laying so he was facing her, he watched the infant through the bars. Loki knew what it was like to be in a prison, so he let down the bars on one side. His arm stretched from his bed into the baby's. His long pale fingers lightly caressed the child's face. Soon their breathing became synced and Loki fell into a peaceful sleep.

The newborn woke up crying a few hours later startling Loki, panicking he grabbed the bottle Pepper had left on his nightstand, the baby didn't want it, she screamed harder. Loki stood to his feet and bounced her but to no avail. Worried, he laid her back in the crib and tiptoed to the hall. Gently he knocked on the door across from his. When no one answered his hand went to the doorknob opening the door as quietly as possible. The room was dark except the soft blue glow coming from Tony's chest which illuminated enough that Loki could see Pepper laying next to him. Loki lightly shook the woman. She started to stir but then snuggled back into her comforting sheets. Loki could hear the little one still crying. Worried he shook her harder "Lady Pepper?" He whispered she opened her eyes to see the tall Asgardian kelt next to her bedside. "Loki, what's wrong sweetie?" She spoke to him as if he was her son. Her drowsy voice and kind words reminded him of his mother. "I sorry to wake you, but something the matter with the baby." Pepper sat up quickly grabbing her robe the two ran back to the guest room.

"I don't know why she won't stop crying." Loki acted very worried Pepper smiled and went over to the crib. "I tried milk, she won't eat." He said starting to panic. Pepper lifted the baby up " Could you give the changing pad, a dipper, and some whips. Loki looks at her confused. He grabbed what he recognized as a diaper and hands it to her. She quietly laughed " the little box has the whips in it and the changing pad has the foxes on it." Loki fetched the items. She laid the pad on the bed making a mental note to buy a changing table in the morning. She undressed the little girl and changed her diaper. Loki watched intently hoping he could remember all the steps when he had to do this alone. Pepper looked up to see his green eyes looking over her shoulder. "hand me that teddy bear" she said pointing at a medium size pink teddy. "The bear does something?" Loki questioned. "No, but you can practice diapering and dressing this for a little." She smiled "It will help you gain confidence." He took there bear from her, grabbed another diaper and laid it on the changing pad. Pepper swayed with the little Asgardian trying to put her to sleep as she watched Loki's first attempt. He looked at the diaper confused. "There are no leg holes," he said perplexed "Please, show me again?" She sat the now sleeping baby in her crib, then showed him, slowly talking him through it. After some failed attempts he got it correct. The two smiled at each other. Pepper could see what Thor saw in his brother, He had a kind heart and Pepper was happy he came to them for help.

Loki woke up the next morning, turning over he saw the empty crib. Panic filled him he ran out of the guest room and straight into Tony's. No one was there. The worry that Thanos made it to earth to find him and child made his heart pounded against his chest. Running to the elevator beads of sweat were forming on his brow. The elevator opened and Pepper emerged from behind its sliding doors. Seeing the small baby in her arms he breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't hear her cry." He said worried his keen ears were failing him. "She wasn't, " Pepper smiled "I took her from your room earlier so you could sleep in." The woman put the baby back in Loki's awaiting arms. His shaky breaths slowly went away when the infant was back curled up agents his chest. He pushed the tears away as he rocked the child.

Pepper and Loki got in the elevator and got out on the main floor. Tony was at the bar already pouring his morning concoction, the man eyed the god of mischief. "Morning sleeping beauty " Tony greeted. "Tony, I'm sorry for last night I... We had nowhere to go." Loki said worried the man of Iron would be angry "So, Thanos. Is that who made you go gaga with power the last time we saw you?" Loki bit his lip and nodded. "I should send you to prison," Tony said blankly. Loki eyes grew wide. "But. Due to too one tiny circumstance, " he eyed the baby. "You're on probation. Now don't go getting excited, I'm watching you." Loki bit his tongue, keeping his sassy remark to himself but then got to the heart of the matter. "Thank you. But you have bigger problems than myself, Thanos is coming to earth, he has two of the infinity stones already and is coming for all of them. so he can kill half of the population of the universe." Loki tried to keep calm as he rambled. Tony was about to speak when the child started to cry. Loki bounced her and she cried into his nightshirt. "I don't know what to do. I need the help of the Avengers. "I don't know how fast news flys on Asgard, but the Avengers broke up." Loki looked at him with rage. "You think this is a game? THANOS is coming! I don't care about your little falling out! And neither will he when he snaps his fingers and destroys half of every living thing!" Tony shook his head "I can handle this myself, we don't need Steve and the rest of them." Lokis jaw clinched "You're a child" Loki hissed "You prideful piece of trash! We need all the help we can get! And if you won't get them together I will." Loki stormed off back to the guest room. Setting the baby in her crib he placed his head in his hands.

A knock on the door made him jump. Pepper walked in "I'm sorry Loki, Tony is full of pride, he won't bend and apologize to Steve." Pepper sighed looking at the floor. "Even for this." Loki walked over to her "It's not your job to apologize for him." Pepper gave a faint smile "But I'm going to try to help. These are all the Avengers numbers and there last known locations. Go get them together." She handed him a handwritten list, giving him a hug she kissed his cheek "Save us." She whispered in his ear as a tear escaped her eye. The Asgardian pulled out of the hug "How do you know I can do this." He asked. "Because you have something to live for. She needs you." Pepper paused and put her hand on her stomach "Just like mine will need me." She said quietly. Loki smiled "I'll make sure the sun will shine on you and your child." He kissed her hand then started to walk away " So, I'll see you for a baby play date in seven months?" She asked. Loki turned "Looking forward to it." He laughed, flicking his wrist he disappeared.

*** To Be Continued ***

[tarithenurse]

CWs, WiPs and posting

Latest updates:

I update my D&D campaign each Monday. Other than that it’ll be very sporadic what I post and hugely dependant on feedback.

I see fire # % *

Due to events in her childhood, Zilvra sets off on a journey across the world. She makes friends and gets involved in events much greater than she could have anticipated: the fate of the Material Plane. D&D homebrew campaign.

Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 || Chapter 5 || Chapter 6 || Chapter 7 || Chapter 8 || Chapter 9 || Chapter 10 || Chapter 11 || Chapter 12 || Chapter 13 || Chapter 14 || Chapter 15 || Chapter 16 || Chapter

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OOPS! I did a fanfic too:

Don’t hide it

Loki Odinson x/& fem!reader. Even though you are incredible at sensing people’s emotions there’s one person you haven’t got the read on yet.

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Bound * #

Demon!Suguru Geto x fem!reader. AU. As a demon of the Hells, Geto is used to be summoned and gifted sacrifices in return of whatever humans desire. But this sacrifice is better than the rest. DUBCON/NONCON!

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Just once more

Loid x Yor Forger. A single undercover kiss seems to unravel Loid completely. Fluff, pining, angst if you squint.

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Shots *

Bucky Barnes x fem!reader. AU. Reader is out for a fun night with her friends but has too much to drink.

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Mending %

Benimaru Shinmon &/x fem!reader. So much post-breakup angst that Beni wants to help out with.

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When he left

Suguru Geto x/& GN!reader. So much angst!

Content/warnings

Smut/lemons/nsfw/sexual themes = * Mental health issues = % Violence/gore = #

Always watch out for individual chapter warnings/content. Reader is per default female unless otherwise stated.

MCU Masterlist

Featuring Bucky, Heimdal, Loki, Natasha Romanoff, N’Jadaka, Sam Wilson, Shuri, Steve, T’Challa, Thor, and Tony Stark.

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Anime Masterlist

Currently including the fandoms of: Enn Enn no Shouboutai, Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen, and a single Spy x Family.

Nightingale (featuring Kakashi) is unfortunately on an indefinite hiatus.

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Supernatural Masterlist

A single series and some various one-shots both smutty and platonic and with and without reader insert.

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The Witcher

If I succeed * # Geralt x fem!reader. Reader finds herself in the company of Geralt, Jaskier, and Roach…and a choice that is nigh impossible to turn down despite the risks.

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Crossovers

Space Nurse (MCU/MiB) (Finished (prematurely)) * From prompt: “You’re a nurse who’s just gotten a new job at a local hospital, but due to a clerical error, you’re accidentally sent to a top-secret hospital that treats extraterrestrials visiting Earth”.

Tari’s 1k follower celebration/challenge

The lost converse (by @firefly-in-darkness) Reader x Bucky, featuring Alpine. Last nights party was a bit of a mad one, what do you do when you wake up in someone else’s bed? Based on the prompt: “Shoe lost at a party”.

Into the thick of it * % # (WiP)(by @maladaptive-ninja-returns) Reader x Loki. The work as an agriculturist nearly takes the Readers life if not for a stranger (and his weird looking dog) who later turns out to be the God of Mischief. Thrown into a completely different realm, Reader wants to figure out a way home while trying to stay out of the way of this literal God. But fate has its own plans for them. 2 chapters so far!

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Original fiction

Living at Night * % # (RiP)

Reader finds out in the worst possible way that there’s a whole different side to the town she lives in. Werewolves, vampires, ghouls. And a tentative truce.

Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter

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(dividers by the talented @firefly-graphics​)

[ciathyzareposts]

Game 354: Ragnarok (1992)

            Ragnarok

United States Norsehelm Productions (developer and U.S. distributor); distributed in Europe by Optyk as Valhalla

Released in 1992 for DOS

Date Started: 28 January 2020

       What a treat. I had no expectations of Ragnarok before firing it up, and I was in love with it within an hour. This is exactly the evolution that I’ve always wanted to see from the roguelike subgenre: retain the same complexity of commands, the same variety of objects, the same underlying mechanics, and keep costs down with graphical minimalism but not necessarily graphical famine. Keep things complicated, but give the player a little help. Make it hard but don’t be so insistent on permadeath. The result is brilliant–easily one of the best discoveries I’ve made since starting the blog.             

Exploring a forest in Ragnarok. I’ve just killed two enemies and am fighting a wild dog. Apparently, I took a random potion in the middle of the battle, and it was a Potion of Experience.

            Ragnarok was created by two California-based authors, Thomas F. Boyd and Robert Vawter, both of whom had played and loved Rogue and NetHack. The game’s allegiance to previous roguelikes is obvious in its commands, inventory items, and monsters, and I daresay a veteran NetHack player could dip into it with little problem. The most common commands are the same (e.g., [w]ield, [W]ear, [u]se, [t]hrow, [i]nventory), and objects like Wands of Cancellation, Wands of Wishing, and Scrolls of Extinction (i.e., Genocide) do expected things. But Ragnarok introduces a number of new elements that put the game above NetHack, at least through the versions of NetHack that I’ve played. These innovations include:

A detailed game story and more interesting main quest, rooted in Norse mythology.

A graphical user interface.

More character skills, attributes, and options, which is saying a lot because NetHack was generous in this area.

The best part, at least for someone uninterested in the “hardcore” permadeath of a “true” roguelike, is the saving system. You can quit and save at any point, but the game destroys your save file upon reloading, just like most roguelikes. But you also have the option to create a game-sanctioned “backup” of your game–but only once every 200 turns. (The European version, Valhalla, has an “expert” mode that increases this figure to 4,000 turns!) 200 turns represents about 5-10 minutes of gameplay, a reasonable amount to “lose” to make dying feel like it has real consequences but without making the player start completely over. This is just what I’ve always wanted.                

The game opens in a peaceful village which, oddly enough, is not sacked by raiders.

         The story is drawn from Norse legend and is very similar to Event Horizon’s Dusk of the Gods (1991): It is 999 CE. Ragnarok is approaching, and in their in-fighting and intrigue, the gods have managed to bollox their chance of prevailing against the evil forces. (The evil forces consist of the two universe-devouring wolves, Fenrir and Garm, the chaotic fire demon Surtr, the evil serpent Jormundgand, and the trickster Loki.) Balder has been killed by Loki’s trickery, and Hela won’t let go of his soul unless the giantess Thokk weeps for him. Odin has lost his spear, Gungnir, in battle with frost giants. Freyr has traded his sword (Mimming), and the invulnerability it bestows, for a bride. Fenrir managed to bite off the right arm of Tyr, who can no longer fight. Thor has lost his hammer (Mjollnir) in a cave. And Heimdall has managed to let a trickster steal his horn, so he can’t even warn the Asgardians when Ragnarok begins.

It’s up to a human hero to save the day. He sets out from his village with six quests:

Get Thokk to cry and bring her tears to Hela so she’ll release Balder, or alternately kill Thokk. (Hela required that every living being weep for Balder, and Thokk was the only one who didn’t. Thus, Hela’s demand can be satisfied by making Thokk weep or making her not living.)

Find and return Mjollnir to Thor.

Find and return Gjall (Heimdall’s horn), which has been turned into a snake and trapped in a well.

Find and return Mimming to Freyr.

Find and return Gungnir to Odin.

Figure out how Tyr can fight with only one arm.

There’s a suggestion that you only have to do some of these things–to tip the balance for Ragnarok, not make victory a surety. But I could be misinterpreting.           

Fortunately, you’re not locked into your starting choice.

              Character creation consists of only a name, sex, and choice of a profession under which your young character has apprenticed. Choices are viking, woodsman, sage, alchemist, blacksmith, and conjurer. These classes affect starting hit points and strength, and each one gains certain abilities at higher levels.

Other attributes are constitution, luck, speed, eyes, and fingers–the latter two literally tracking how many of those things you still have, as it affects aspects of gameplay (for instance, the number of rings that you can wear). Besides attributes, the character can earn a variety of skills (e.g., alchemy, ironworking), powers (e.g., spellcasting, mind control), abilities (e.g., sixth sense, telepathy), and resistances (e.g., acid, cold). Some of these are earned by eating corpses as in NetHack, but others come from magic blessings, scrolls, polymorphing, and a variety of other rare means.           

My character sheet at the end of this session.

          Gameplay begins on Midgard and promises to progress eventually to Asgard and Niflheim as well as several “minor planes.” Game maps are 76 x 18, and at this point, and the area around the character’s village (I’m not sure yet if this is all of Midgard) is 3 x 3 maps, unless it later turns out that mountains are crossable, in which case I have no idea how big it is.

The interface is fantastic. A small-scale map occupies the upper half of the screen, showing the overall area map as far as you’ve uncovered it. A large-scale screen is set in the bottom half along with character attributes and buttons for most of the game’s commands. Each command also has a letter or function key. Thus, you could play with a mouse or entirely with the keyboard. I think this comes close to a near-perfect interface for a top-down game, although I concede that a perfect one would let me call and dismiss the command buttons as I needed them

Map content is randomized for each new game, but the opening map always seems to have a player’s house with a few items and a store. The store works like in NetHack: you pick up items you want and then (p)ay when you’re done. From the first item you pick up, the shopkeeper blocks the door until you pay.            

Early-game shopping.

         In this opening session, I concentrated on mapping the starting area and learning as much as I could about the game’s conventions. Enemies in the starting area included bears, goblins, orcs, rats, homunculi, patches of nauseating grass called “retchweed,” and annoying enemies called “slywerts” that were nearly impossible to hit. I chose a viking class, which is one of the stronger physical classes, and I didn’t have much problem with the enemies, particularly after I found a Ring of Regeneration and was thus able to recover my hit points quickly after each fight. I dealt with the slywerts mostly with wands when I had them and running away when I didn’t.

Like any good roguelike, Ragnarok features an enormous selection of equipment, and most of it is unknown when you first pick it up. Scrolls, potions, rings, and other magic items are given descriptors (e.g., a “murky potion” is a Potion of Curing, a “birch wand” is a Wand of Fire) randomized at the beginning of each new game. As you learn them through experience or Scrolls of Identification, the game lists new ones that you find under their proper name. Any of them can be blessed or hexed (cursed), and there are scrolls that add blessings and remove hexes.

If I have one complaint, it’s that the game is a little bit over-generous on providing these items, both as random treasures and enemy loot drops. By the end of the first 9 screens, I had two Rings of Agility, a Ring of Crystal Skin, a Ring of Regeneration, a Ring of Protection, a Ring of Third Sight, and I’d found a bunch of Potions of Strength (which add permanently to strength) and Potions of Experience. But co-creator Robert Vawter says that many players considered it “less forgiving” than NetHack despite the lack of permadeath, so perhaps it gets a lot harder after you leave Midgard.              

My overloaded inventory towards the end of this session.

          Combat has the same tactical considerations as Rogue and NetHack, which means that it’s far more tactical than it first appears. At a basic level, you bash yourself into enemies to fight them, and your melee weapons, shield, and armor either do their jobs or not. But with more experience comes a greater understanding of the system’s depth and breadth, which include a strong consideration of surrounding terrain, the use of throwing items and magic items, and finding ways to trick, delay, or evade some foes.           

Tossing a throwing knife at a “dreg,” which can splash you with acid.

          The only regression I see from NetHack is that the game doesn’t give you an explicit way to interact with NPCs, and there are friendly creatures wandering most of the maps. However, there are ravens who wander up to you and spontaneously give you hints.            

Good to know.

           There were some interesting moments across the first nine screens. One object that I found repeatedly is a Scroll of Wonder. I don’t remember these from NetHack. When you read them, they seem to do random fantastic things. One of them created a river on the map I was standing on, obliterating some enemies as it did so. But another caused my character to hulk out, causing his armor to burst off his body. Unfortunately, his rings were made of stronger stuff, and instead of the metal giving way, the flesh did. I decided to reload rather than continue with no fingers. This was the third death I suffered after a couple of throw-away characters; my first was at the jaws of a bear. The second was when I accidentally took a Potion of Phasing (while testing potions) and rematerialized inside a tree.             

Why do video games always make bears so dangerous?

          I read a random scroll and it turned out to be a Scroll of Elimination. I wasn’t near far enough in the game to have developed a particular hatred for any monster race, but I didn’t want to waste it, so I looked through the monster list to find a worthy candidate. I assumed it wouldn’t work on unique monsters (Fenrir, Loki), so I used it on the first enemy that appeared on the most dangerous but non-unique list: archmages.            

You have no idea how many jokes I wrote and later deleted for this caption.

           Among the nine maps, I found three whirlpools which take you to other realms. I’d barely stepped out of one when I ran across Skinbladnir, the magical ship that folds small enough to fit into your pocket. I also found a stairway down into a dungeon that I explored briefly.            

Sometimes there are brief 3D cut screens between maps.

            As I was near finishing the village area, my character reached Level 10, and I got an option to change to a different character class. I chose a “woodsman,” which changed my icon and gave me some new weapon skills. I achieved the “Weaponmaster” ability upon reaching Level 9 as a viking.            

Reaching apex level as a viking. I hadn’t even pillaged anything.

           There are still a lot of things left to learn about. Each character comes with a Ring of Soul Trapping, which stores the soul of the latest enemy killed, but I don’t know why (except there’s a suggestion that I could use it to bring Tokk’s soul to Hela). There’s an alchemy system that the alchemist character can use and a weapon-forging system that the blacksmith can use. The conjurer gets spells. You can apparently mix potions to create more powerful combinations. There’s a whole polymorphing system to explore, and some entire commands I don’t understand like “Aid Fellow Norseman.”

Late in this session, I came to realize that I might have made a mistake with versioning. In the United States, Norsehelm retained the rights to the game and marketed it themselves, eventually distributing it as freeware. They updated it a few times–the version I found was 2.5–so I figured I was playing the most advanced release. Later, I discovered that the European version distributed by a London publisher (Optyk), is actually more advanced in some ways. First, it offers a choice between “beginner” and “expert” modes. A beginner can back up the game every 200 turns, an expert every 4,000 turns. Either one is better than the typical roguelike, but I have to say I’m happier with the harder “expert” mode and the sense of angst and danger that it brings (but not the utter terror that you get with a pure roguelike).            

Well, that was a hell of a sequence of events.

         Perhaps more important, Valhalla has improved audio. Ragnarok features just a few whiffs and clangs during combat, but Valhalla has more advanced combat effects plus ambient sounds such as birdcalls as you walk through the forest. I don’t know if those sounds are worth four hours of gameplay, but if the saved game ports from one to the other, then the decision will be made.

Time so far: 4 hours

source http://reposts.ciathyza.com/game-354-ragnarok-1992/