#not yet worthy of mjolnir

[vertigoartgore]

2012's Thor: God of Thunder variant cover by Daniel Acuña.

[lucianalight]

Uhh...well this post turned out really weird. I don't even know what this is lol. First part is more meta, and second part is more headcanon. I just really needed to get these thoughts out of my head :D

I still couldn't get over the fact that Odin had planned and gifted both Hela and Thor with a powerful artifact(Hela's helmet and Mjolnir) and decided to later gave them one more(Gungnir) for ruling, and yet he gave Loki nothing. It really showed how Odin viewed Loki among all his three children and preferred to ignor him. He seriously went from telling the brothers that both of them were born to be kings but only (heavily implied the worthy) one could ascend to the throne(which basically made sure that these brothers are going to compete for it), to giving Thor Mjolnir, then the throne and Gungir would have come with it, making Thor the most powerful he could be and in the brothers' eye the worthier and the winner("This was to be my day of triumph"), and yet he expected Loki to be ok with it? To not try desperately to figure out why Thor was favored while it was Loki who was the more thoughtful one, who understood ruling better? And then people wonder why Loki was jealous of Thor. And you know what? He had every right to be envious of Thor because how Odin treated Loki was so damn unfair.

Then I realized actually this is not completely true. Odin did in fact plan to give Loki a powerful artifact.

The day he showed the Casket of Ancient Winters to the boys, just as he had showed Hela the helmet when she was a kid. The time he talked about "evil Frost Giants", never bothered to correct Thor that they weren't monsters, scared Loki of his own race and people to the point that he asked whether the Frost Giants still live. And then told them that they were both born to be kings, but only one can ascend to the throne of Asgard. The other gets the throne of "monsters" he was meant to as a puppet king under Asgard's control, bringing their treasure back and remake what Odin had destroyed years ago.

We never found out when these plans didn't matter anymore. Was it before or after Jotunheim? Or did Odin have another reason? Could it be that he was so afraid of Loki's power he preferred not to encourage him for his magic, or give him anything that could make him stronger? After all "a king must tame his threats to ensure they fight for him".

This line of thought made me question sth else. What Odin was talking about when he mentioned "threat" to Hela and showing her the helmet? We know he was talking about Fenrir and implying it about Hela too. But why did he mention taming a threat and showing her a helmet that clearly made her upset and uncomfortable?

Now we get into the more headcanon-y part.

Let's go back in time a little and observe some Asgradian choices in fashion, weapons and politics during centuries.

This is Bor, father of Odin with horns on his helmet and Gungnir in his hands, killing the dark elves. Bor later was considered a hero for basically genocide.

Odin Borson. His helmet has some considerable changes from Bor. It has horns and wings and Hela's helmet. He is standing alone with Gungnir.

Later Odin has given Hela the helmet and conquers the realms with her help, following his father's steps to more extremes.

I assume during their conquests Odin made the Dwarfs build Mjolnir and gave it to Hela.

Then he stops at the nine realms, banishes Hela and keeps Mjolnir with all other stolen relics in Asgards' vault.

He later gives Mjolnir to Thor. But that's not the only thing Thor inherits from him.

Thor's helmet carries the wings of Odin's, and Loki's helmet bears the horns.

(Which is a nice symbolism for the roles of golden child and scapegoat Thor and Loki have in their family dynamic but I digress). He has basically divided all he had between his three children. The helmets of his three kids together make his original helmet in the mural.

What I was trying to get at with this, is that since Odin didn't wear the helmet after Hela and was keeping it in the vault, and referring to it as sth related to a threat, I headcanon that the helmet originally didn't belong to him and he got it from the someone else during a battle as he tends to steal powerful objects from people he defeats. Considering Hela's reaction she probably knew the story behind it. We've seen Odin likes to tell the stories of his wars to his children while showing them the trophies.

So who was the original owner of Hela's helmet? And why Odin had decided to give it to Hela? This implies he was sure Hela could use the Helmet's power, but why? Well, I have another headcanon :D What if the original owner of the Helmet was Hela's mother? Hela never mentions her mother, and she knew the helmet was going to be hers and wasn't happy about it. Odin could have taken it from his first girlfriend and killed her or imprisoned her, telling Hela that her mother was an enemy, to make sure she never talks about her or questions Odin. This also fits well with my other headcanon that Hela's Loki mother :D Because a child who had inherited her mother's magic and Jotun's powers could be exceptionally powerful and Odin had to tame that threat.

Congrats! You've reached the end of this incredibly messy post. Here's a realistic rendering of me while I was writing it :D

[jessiarts]

So I made another design in my series of Pride Norse designs, aka my "Fuck-off nazis, these symbols aren't for you!" designs, aka my "I hope we can make designs of them that are so blatantly gay they won't want to touch them anymore" designs. (Previous designs: Pride Loki Runes | Be Gay, Do Pride | Pride Yggdrasil with Runes | Pride Valknuts)

This time I drew Mjolnir and colored many versions with different Pride flags. I also made two versions of each design, one saying "You are Worthy" and another saying "I am Worthy," with the exception of a progress flag version that says "We are Worthy"

Here are some I've done so far:

(All designs are transparent. Images with colored backgrounds are for visibility purposes)

I do have plans to do more with other flags, but if you see I maybe haven't done yours yet, feel free to send me an ask.

Like the previous sets, I've got the full-res designs hosted on my Ko-fi as free downloads for anyone who wishes to use them. Print them on a shirt, make yourself stickers, use on gifts for others- whatever.

I also have them available on Threadless for those who can't print them on stuff themselves (or just don't feel like it) but still want something with the design on it. Each sale will also make an automatic donation to various LGBT+ charities like The Trevor Project and the It Gets Better Project.

(Note: I am completely aware that in the original Norse Mythology the "must be worthy" charm doesn't exist with Mjolnir. However, stories change and adapt over time, and people can find meaning in all interpretations of a story, including this popularized adaptation. I felt the message was just more important than being accurate to the original mythology, just in case anyone wanted to come through with a stick up their ass because "uM acTUaLLY, ThE WorthY pARt AcTuaLLy COMeS fRoM maRVeL...")

[picturesofspideyman]

DOOM FLOW

I’m movin’ different. This shit ain’t nothin’ to me man, I’m a god. I’m attaining absolute power, we smokin’ Beyonders. Smokin’ that Panther God, Heart-Shaped Herb, Vibranium kush. We smokin’ Infinity Stones. I’m on the Power Cosmic, smokin’ on the Silver Surfer’s board. We smokin’ Blackbeard’s treasure. We snortin’ that good Rabum Alal, Library of Worlds, Incursion pack, I see Eternity. They use all caps when they spell my name. Opps tried to step to me, I hit em with the Foot Dive. I don’t need to use my Assists, I’m already top tier. They call me Leto II the way I’m the God-Emperor of Doom. Mjolnir isn’t worthy of me. Even my robot duplicates are built different. Celestial thought he could start something, nobody judges me but me. Hollywood can’t even handle me, I’m too real. I’m like Adam Warlock, I was Him from the start. This shit ain’t nothin’ to me, man. The Illuminati got conspiracies about me. I already rule the world, the opps just don’t know it yet. Top shelf zaza retconned my origin story. I’m movin’ multiversal. Take me to Earth-1610, I am Ultimate. I’m spittin’ more fire than Johnny Storm. I’m movin’ like Omar Little, you come at the king, you best not miss. Silenced the opps from the shadows, call that Secret Wars. Went back in time to the crucifixion, let him get a good look at his replacement. Even Mephisto doesn’t want to deal with me. Call me Kurt Russell the way I got The Thing cooked. I remade all existence before Nathaniel Essex even achieved Dominion. Called my kingdom Battleworld, cause my whole life is a struggle. Richards had to scar me, otherwise I’d be getting too much pussy. Fuck it, I switched bodies with the opp. I am a Canon Event. Doom’s word is law, you stupid piece of shit. This shit ain’t nothin’ to me, man.

[phaticserpent]

You Call This ‘Fate’?

You’re friends with Helen Cho and she promises you the ‘best night of your life’ at Tony’s party. You didn’t really expect to get caught in the conflict between Ultron and the Avengers

Warning: Mention of character death, angst, slight fluff

NOTE: this was honestly the 1k fic i was planning to do....but I didn’t like it and the pacing, so this is just a drabble. So, THIS IS NOT THE 1K FIC (enjoy this while I try to rewrite something else)

Word count: 2,716

It had been some time since you and Ultron met; it was unfortunately, through Tony's luxurious party. 

You were invited to the grand party on the Avengers Tower, though you were a little skeptical. Your friend, Dr. Helen Cho insisted on your company. You constantly reassured that she would do fine on her own and how she wouldn't even have to worry, but she managed to convince you. So here you were, standing awkwardly with people that have higher class than you. Feeling overwhelmed, you slipped away to a more less crowded area, which was the bar. 

"Hey (Y/N)," Natasha greeted and you awkwardly smiled. "Want a refresher?" 

"Yes please, just water." You smiled. She nodded in understanding and you waited patiently for your drink. Soon enough, Natasha pushed over a tall drink of cold water. "Thanks so much." 

"Not a problem." She winked. "So how are you liking the party?" 

"Oh, it's a little too class for me." 

"Ah, I get it." She nodded. "Well, you're always free to rest up here, I can personally ask for a private room for you." 

"Oh, no need." You smiled. Before you could thank Natasha, your friend walked up to you. 

"(Y/N), come, come join us!" Helen laughed. You shot Natasha a grateful look before being pulled away by Helen. "Are you enjoying the party?" 

"I should ask you that." You laughed. "How are you enjoying it? Is Thor the man of your dreams?" You and Helen burst out laughing as she tried to hide her flushed face. 

"Oh, I don't know." She finally said. "He has a girlfriend, I don't want to come between them." 

"Ah," you silently panicked. "I'm sure you'll find someone better! Hey, who needs Avengers as a partner? They'll be awful boyfriends anyways." You did your best to reassure her and she was grateful. She insisted that you could leave as the party died down, but you insisted upon staying. 

You were just exiting the bathroom when the Avengers were settled in a certain area, including Helen. You silently made your way over as they were in the midst of debating whether or not they were worthy. Worthy of what? You watched as each member took turns in trying to lift Mjolnir. 

"Widow?" They all glanced at Natasha, who seemed shocked at their suggestion. 

"Oh no, that's not a question I need answering." She declined. There was slight laughter as they continued to debate about it. The atmosphere was interrupted with a piercing ring, and everyone immediately doubled down or covered their ears. 

"No…." A metallic voice rang out and everyone turned to the source. "How could you be worthy? You're all killers." 

"Stark?….." 

"Jarvis….." Tony started, clicking at the buttons impatiently. 

"I'm sorry, I was asleep." The robot answered. "Or I was a-dream." 

"Reboot Legionnaire OS….we got a buggy suit." Tony instructed, but nothing happened. 

"There was a terrible noise……And I was tangled in….in strings." The robot looked down to emphasize their claim. "I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy." 

"You killed someone?" 

"Wouldn't have been my first call," it replied. "But, down in the real world we're faced with ugly choices." 

"Who sent you?" Thor interjected. In which the robot played back a recording. 

"I see a suit of armor around the world." 

"Ultron!" Bruce realized, turning to Tony. You couldn't see their expressions, but you knew they were shocked. 

"In the flesh." It exclaimed. "Or, no, not yet…..not this chrysalis." You eyed Agent Hills and how she had her gun cocked. 

"(Y/N)–" Helen grabbed your arm. 

"I'm on mission." 

"What mission?" 

It turned to look directly at Natasha, "peace in our time." Just then, there was glass shattering everywhere. You and Helen immediately ducked down from the commotion as you heard gunshots being fired. Helen quickly dragged you away from the chaos, hiding behind a piano. You and Helen watched as the Avengers battled against Tony's Iron Legion; you had been a little distracted when Helen tugged on your sleeve, she was backing away from an approaching suit. You tried to intervene and stick yourself in between, but she held firmly. Steve immediately rushed to your aid, tossing the suit to Thor, who crushed it with his hammer. "That was dramatic." 

"Are you two okay?" Agent Hills asked you both; the two of you nodded. The chaos ceased and everyone stared warily at Ultron. 

"I'm sorry, I know you mean well. You just didn't think it through…..you want to protect the world but you don't want it to change." Ultron sighed. "How is humanity saved if it's not allowed to…..evolve? With these?" He picked up a fallen Iron Legionnaire before tossing it away. 

"These puppets. There's only one path to peace. The Avengers' extinction." He claimed, but Thor quickly threw his hammer as the suit crumpled to the ground. That night ended on a dim notice, you quickly dismissed yourself back to the hotel you and Helen were staying at.

"Get back safe." She gave you a tired smile. 

"You're not coming?" 

"Tony insists on me staying for a while, but I'll get back later." You nodded in understanding as you bid farewell to the other Avengers. You couldn't help but feel a little uneasy as you went outside to walk through the city streets, and that dread never wavered even after you entered your hotel room. 

Ever since then, you had one run-in with Ultron. You were on your way to visit Helen, when you stood in the hallway between the exit and Ultron. There was no way you could hold him down while the Avengers were on their way; the only reasonable outcome to your survival was to point out a mistake of his. 

"Are you seriously going to escape in a truck from our lab?" You questioned. To which he just stared at you quizzically, before recollecting his error. "For an artificial intelligence, I thought you would be smarter than that." Now you were just testing your luck. 

"And what would you have me do?" 

You were hoping you wouldn't be blasted on the spot; your plan consisted of two Ultron, which meant that he would have to bring his backup. The backup would oversee the Vision, while the current one would get away, in case anything happened. So the other Avengers wouldn't be suspicious. You then added, "that's just my thoughts…..you could do it your way." You just hoped that Helen was okay. 

"Let's say I go with your plan, where do you recommend me to hide? A hotel?" Ultron snorted sarcastically. 

"You can't just fly back to your hideout?" 

"Chances are, they'll fly here with a quinjet, which could pick up my signal before I could leave the premises." 

"Oh." You sighed. "Well….I do have a place in mind." 

You didn't know why you were letting an 8ft tall A.I into your home. You stood awkwardly as he stood a couple of meters from you. 

"You're really something." Ultron let out a throaty chuckle. "Letting me into your home, just…like…that." 

"I will throw you out the window." You snorted. Ultron opened his mouth but you interrupted him, "if I hear one more snarky thing out of your mouth, I will alert the Avengers." 

"That's funny," Ultron started. "You're acting as if I haven't cut communications here." Your smile dropped as you reached for your phone. Ultron stood smugly as you noticed the lack of signal. 

"You lil shit." You breathed. 

"Well, you better let me leave in one piece if you want your signal back." Ultron bargained. You sighed in defeat and nodded. As it grew closer to midnight, you were fighting every urge to fall asleep. You haven't even showered, in which you could feel Ultron silently judging you. "Aren't you going to–"

"Shower? Sleep? Hardly, with you near me." You scoffed. Ultron just rolled his eyes. "How can I trust that you won't leave?" 

"You're just going to have to trust me." Ultron sighed. ".....I really don't have anywhere to go." You turned to face him, a little startled by his tone. Deciding to trust him, you slipped into the bathroom to finally take a shower. Though you were still paranoid, you finished quickly before nearly running out of the bathroom once you were clothed, to see Ultron sitting on the couch. He seemed rather bored. Well, if I were an intelligent being, I would be bored too. 

As you walked down the stairs, Ultron turned to look at you. "Told you I wouldn't leave." 

"Uh-huh." You scoffed. "What next? You're gonna tell me to sleep?" 

"Yes." He said nonchalantly. You rolled your eyes as you sat down on the couch. He then stood up and began walking to your bedroom. He seemed to wait for you, turning a bit to make eye contact. You let out a huff before following. Ultron stood by the doorway, his arms crossed as he stared at the bed. "Huh, that's going to be a problem." 

"What, is my bed too small for you?" 

"I can sleep on the couch." Ultron insisted. 

"You sleep?" 

He sighed, "I have a power down mode." Before he turned around to leave, you instinctively grabbed his arm. Which he quickly yanked away from your touch. "Don't." 

"Don't….leave." You pleaded. His eyes scanned your eyes before tilting his head up in defeat. "Besides, how am I supposed to know you won't sneak off in the middle of the night? You could kill me in my sleep for all I know." 

"I would never." He growled. Though you held your ground, he could see the slight fear in your eyes at his tone. Ultron inched away from you as you cleared your throat. 

"W-well if you wouldn't, then get in the bed." You responded. Without a single protest, he gently put his weight on the bed, pausing when it creaked dangerously. He gave you a look that you ignored. "Move." You scoffed, pushing him to the edge as you settled on the other half of the bed. 

The two of you remained awake. "My systems deem you as a threat….I won't be able to power down if you're near." 

"Sucks for your system, I'm not going to sleep until you power down." You declared. Ultron let out a huff and you smiled to yourself. Soon enough, you could hear a faint sound of him shutting down. It was….strangely human; though the sound was very machine-like, you could feel that he was sleeping. Like how you could tell when people were drifting to sleep. Dismissing your thoughts, you eventually drifted off to sleep a couple minutes after. 

You felt warm, a little too warm. Without opening your eyes, you could see that it was morning and your room was illuminated by the sun. You cracked your eyes open but you were confused by what you saw. Instead of seeing your bedroom floor, you saw shiny metal. Slowly, you pulled away and your arms felt numb. As your eyesight became clearer, everything else was suddenly transparent. Ultron had his arms around you and you had clung onto him during the night. You tried to pry yourself away, but his grip was unbearably strong for someone being in power-down mode. You dreaded his reaction when he woke up. As if on cue, you could hear his systems whir back to life and your face paled as he blinked. 

Ultron froze as your wide eyed expression came into view. "Morning." You awkwardly greeted. Quickly, he pulled his arms away, allowing you to distance yourself. 

"Uh, morning." He replied. "I'm sorry about…the night." 

"N-no no, don't be. It happens." You stammered. Though, you were curious about one thing. Ultron had his back to you, and you took advantage of that by gently placing your hand on him. "Although….you are strangely warm." 

Ultron tensed from your touch, but he didn't pull or push you away. "I designed myself that way….to reflect basic human bodily functions; I can warm myself and cool myself." 

"That's really cool….you really put a lot of thought and research into it." 

"....thank you." Ultron sighed. You could feel the shift in his gears as his body loosened. Awkwardly, you retracted your hand from him. "Aw, I was just getting used to your touch." He drawled. 

"Pity." You pouted before getting out of bed. "I take it, you don't eat." 

"Ha ha," He laughed sarcastically. "Of course I don't eat. Haven't really gotten to that part yet." 

"You're seriously missing out." You sung out. Ultron just rolled his eyes as he quietly yearned for your touch. 

"Tell me about it." He chuckled. Soon enough, Ultron followed after you, into the kitchen where he peered down. 

"I'm sure the Avengers are no longer near, so you're free to leave." You felt his looming presence behind and over you. You turned to face him, "thanks for not killing me." 

"Pft, you sure are charming." Ultron laughed. 

"I try to be." You grinned. He shook his head in astonishment before he settled down. "Wait…..do you…..?" You searched his optics and Ultron silently panicked that you had figured him out. 

".....you laughed! You find me funny!" You beamed. He thanked that you were a little slow. 

"Of course, I have a sense of humor." He said it like he was offended by your observation. "To be honest, I'd rather stay…..just for a few minutes." 

"Oh, uh….yeah, sure! It's your decision, not mine. You're welcome to leave anytime." You turned away to continue prepping breakfast. Ultron didn't know what this new emotion was, he was feeling something but he couldn't explain it. It took everything in him to hold himself back from hugging you. Though, he promptly stopped himself by focusing on your breakfast. 

"Is that it?" 

"What?" You asked. "I don't have time to cook a full meal." 

"Take that out of your mouth." Ultron sighed. "I'll prep you something." You hesitantly pulled the bread out of your mouth as he started filing through your refrigerator. 

"...seriously, I can't eat that much for breakfast." 

"Cause you keep eating small." Ultron dismissed. You huffed and set the bread aside, slowly moving to the couch to wait. You slumped on the couch, trying to ignore the gnawing hunger. "Don't slouch." He barely gave you a glance. 

"Jesus…." You breathed out, fixing your posture before flipping through your phone. The signal was back on. You didn't dare to call for help, as Ultron was comfortably making breakfast but you were curious from the endless onslaught of messages. Your eyes widened and your heart ached at the news; Helen Cho was attacked and harmed. She didn't make it and the person who harmed her……..

Was in the same room as you. You set your phone down just as Ultron proudly announced that breakfast was ready. You had no explanation how, but the spark and light in his eyes disappeared when he saw your expression. 

"What?" He asked. "....what's wrong?" 

"Ultron, did you….you…..what did you do to my friend?" You breathed, trying to suppress yourself. "Helen…." There was a long pause. He was as still as a statue and you were convinced you were talking to one. 

Ultron slowly placed the pan on the counter before speaking,  "(Y/N), I….." The pause was unbearable, and it didn't matter how carefully he would word it, your best friend's murderer was standing in front of you.  

"Ultron…..I'm going to ask one more time, what did you do to my friend?" You felt the tears rise in your eyes. Your rage only grew when he couldn't meet your eyes, but that action alone told you everything you needed to know. "Get out." 

"(Y/N) please–"

"Get. Out." He quickly left without another word. Once you knew he was gone, you fell to the floor and quietly sobbed. In truth, he was on the opposite side of the door. His fists clenched in regret and hatred as he heard you cry. He left momentarily, unable to handle anymore of your sobs. You were overwhelmed with all the emotions; grief, anger, hatred, sadness, shock, perhaps even relief that he hadn't killed you, or disappointment that he hadn't killed you. At least you would’ve been reunited with your friend then. 

[xalygatorx]

Worthy (2015) | Chapter 9, "Better"

Disappearing sporadically in public spaces quickly becomes Cora Dempsey's least concerning problem when suddenly she captures the attention of the forming Avengers Initiative, the World Security Council, and Asgard's fallen prince all in one week. And the universe is only just getting started with her.

Worthy is a slow-burn SFW Marvelverse (films) romance between Loki and a female OC. For additional details on what canon is used, see the Prologue post.

Summary: Loki and Cora arrive back at the warehouse from California. Coulson arrives to detain Cora. Loki chooses a side. Cora is faced with a potentially fatal ultimatum back at SHIELD headquarters.

Pairing: Loki x Fem!OC

Warnings: None.

Word Count: 3.4k

"Where's the hammer?"

"Where do you think?"

"Um, not here?"

"Well, you are not wrong…," Loki admitted a little exasperatedly, glancing toward the dusty warehouse ceiling with little interest as he felt Cora step away from his side, which caused her to become entirely visible once more. He'd used his seithr to get them back undetected and still wore it until a moment later when he allowed the magic to drop from his form.

Cora frowned up at him with a bit of an apprehensive expression. "Did it get called back up?" she asked.

Loki flashed back to the hammer blasting through the wall and glanced at the hole he'd been dragged through, which Cora had yet to turn around and notice. "Quite."

She followed his gaze and her eyes widened. "Holy sh—"

"Indeed," he murmured indifferently.

Cora frowned as she pondered the development, remembering the fact that she could wield Mjolnir was the only reason he'd taken her with him in the first place, and was also the only reason he had kept her from SHIELD's grasp. She hesitantly worked up the nerve to ask, "So, now what?"

Loki blinked down at her, as if it hadn't already occurred to him that her usefulness had waned. He was about to say something when his attention was redirected toward the garage door down the aisle, his eyes narrowing at it.

He raised his hand to silently shush Cora—who was on the verge of asking what was wrong—as he walked slowly toward the end of the room, murmuring for her to stay put while he investigated. She stayed where she was, not knowing what had spurred on his little prowl in the first place. It was only when a shadow appeared through the hole in the wall that she realized what might've caught his interest.

"Hello again." Cora jolted in surprise and looked over, seeing the thin-haired, smiling man from weeks prior, Phil Coulson, stepping through the gap with his hands in the pockets of his steel-colored dress pants.

She instinctively started to bolt, but two of the armored agents accompanying him raised their assault rifles, aiming them at her. The lasers flickered red at certain angles from the scopes, their disjointed beams dancing over her heart and head.

She froze and looked to Phil, who appeared apologetic. "We've been put in a tough spot, Cora. If you don't come with us this time, things might turn ugly."

"I guessed that from the guns," she quipped softly, pursing her lips. She felt dazed from the shock of the ambush, not snapping out of it until she was being grabbed by two more agents in black armored SWAT suits, one on each side. Her visibility became a bit unstable for a few seconds and it was only then that she glanced toward Loki, who she saw standing precisely where he'd been moments ago, unmoving.

She would never admit it, but she was hoping beyond hope that he'd help her. For the first time in the longest time and without her permission, she felt vulnerable and hated how her expression crumpled when he remained where he was, his features as indifferent as ever as he watched them drag her off and then disappeared beneath his magic's shield.

The plainest form of what Cora felt was betrayal. It made little sense for her to feel that way, but she'd let herself get in too deep with this would-be king. Her jaw clenched a bit as the agents hauled her out, past Coulson and the archer-agent she'd seen days ago. She hid the weird myriad of things she was feeling rather well as someone tucked her head under the doorframe of a Humvee outside, the blistering heat managing to make its way inside the military vehicle despite the blasts of air conditioning from the front.

Cora watched reservedly as the agents filed into the back with her, the bowman finally introducing himself. "Agent Clint Barton," he said brusquely without much explanation except a look of approval from Phil. When she arched a brow at them, Clint elaborated, "Agent Coulson thought it was rude that I didn't introduce myself last time."

"I said it wasn't exactly helpful," Phil corrected kindly. "Familiarization and all that—"

"What do you want from me?" Cora gritted, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

Phil sighed, his smile faltering a little. "To help. That's what we've been trying to explain to you all along. It's just become more…crucial that we talk things out now."

"Why?" she asked warily. "What's going on?"

"I'll explain everything when we get to headquarters."

"No way, you can't pull that kind of ambiguity on me and then say we'll talk about it later," she snapped before frowning and backing down a little. "At least a hint?"

"It's a matter of life and death," Clint said bluntly.

Cora's brow furrowed. "Mine?"

"Yes," Phil relinquished with an apologetic frown.

"Well… Fuck," Cora muttered.

The Humvee rolled to a stop several hours later, cuing Phil and Clint to get up from their seats. Phil got out first, followed by Cora, and then Clint, then the other two agents who had been riding along in the back with them. She glanced around the underground garage briefly as she followed the SHIELD agents, the lot of them making a bit of a ring around her. Did they really think she intended to strike up a fight? She wouldn't stand a chance. The only true defense she might've had to her name had already bailed on her in seconds flat.

Logically, she shouldn't have been surprised. He was from another world, endeavoring to gain a throne on said world, was openly intending to use her for her talents from the get-go, and had not once referred to her by name. All signs pointed to extreme ostracism of her while the rest simply didn't make sense now, apart from perhaps it all being a ploy to earn her favor and trust. That was what the emotional side of her was holding onto. She'd honestly thought they were getting somewhere; as allies at the very least.

Wrong, she thought simply with a frown. It bothered her more than she would've liked, but he wasn't her concern anymore. She was the one who was in danger. A lab rat at last.

The pair led her into what looked to be a conference room made mostly of glass and black leather, giving it a very modern look. She noticed that the backup agents had left their company, narrowing it down to just the three of them apart from the man already in the room, looking out the enormous glass windows.

Before he even turned around, she knew who he was, recognized him from a few news stories and public announcements she'd seen around the time of the New Mexico incident. Tall, sturdily built, wearing a long black trench coat, with an eyepatch over his left eye: Director of SHIELD, Nick Fury.

He nodded to her, glancing toward the window panes warily before walking toward the long conference table and pressing a button before he sat down, which caused shaded panels to slowly descend over the window. "Too sunny for you, sir?" Coulson smiled, seeming to take a jab at Fury's dark demeanor as he pulled Cora's chair out for her and then sat down, himself, Clint doing the same.

"I'm not so much worried about the view as I am about being viewed," he replied informatively, his voice deep and matter-of-fact.

Phil and Clint seemed to understand, but Cora was left as the odd one out, which she didn't take well to under normal circumstances. "Viewed by who? No one could possibly—"

"These windows double as communication screens, Miss Dempsey," he explained and while he did give her an answer, she didn't appreciate the interruption. "It wouldn't be the first time the system was overrode and we were put on surveillance."

"Then again, Stark did that as a power play to get up our asses," Clint admitted with a very subtle smirk on his usually stoic features. "Not sure even the higher-ups know how to do that."

Fury's attention was still on Cora. "You know why you're here by now, I assume?" he asked directly.

"Because I'm a freak," Cora murmured with a biting tone. Phil frowned at her words, but she didn't divert her dark gaze from Fury.

"Because our superiors see you as a threat, actually," Fury corrected her calmly, leaning forward a little in his chair. "Before it was because we wanted you in our ranks, but that ship has sailed."

"I'm so torn up about it," she retorted bravely and there was a heavy pause before Fury actually cracked a smile, Phil and Clint soon to follow.

"I can tell," Fury volleyed back before saying with his businesslike tone restored, "First thing's first, your grandmother is just fine. Still at your uncle—"

"What?" Cora blurted out, her eyes wide with shock. "What do you mean, he told me she—"

"That was an effort to bring you out of hiding. It was easy to hack his phone and send you a message about a funeral that was happening that day. We would've intervened immediately had you gone in and discovered the truth, but you didn't, which gave us more time to ease into this."

"Well, glad I could be a fucking help," she muttered very fast and very sarcastically before demanding, "Do you realize what you put me through? Are you all even human?!"

"We did," Phil sighed, looking over at her. "It was a last resort and we were getting desperate."

"Why were you getting desperate, it's not like I was doing anything horrible or even illegal!"

"Because there is a death warrant on your head," Fury said pointedly, which caused her to stop and listen. "I'm supposed to have eliminated you already, but we're instead trying to come up with a compromise that won't bring the World Security Council down on all our heads."

"World Sec—why are they involved? I flashed out of sight at a park and a subway station, there are people in those parts who flash in other much more traumatizing manners, shouldn't that be more of a concern?"

"It wasn't the disappearing act you pulled, it was the thing with the hammer. It scared them and now they don't want to deal with someone apart from the Asgardian god we already have as our ally being able to use an invincible weapon. Who was the man you were seen with at the church?"

"Old friend from the area who stopped by to comfort me about a lie you used just to put me in a position that would get me killed," she lied reflexively, doing so seamlessly.

"If we hadn't resorted to that, you'd already be dead," Clint said firmly, bringing an end to the debate. It did the job because Cora backed down, raking a hand through her hair and consequentially pulling out her hair tie, just putting it on her wrist instead as she shook her head slowly. "What?"

"This is just…insane," she said and her voice sounded tired now, sapped of her usual ferocity.

"It is," Phil agreed thoughtfully. "But we're working to fix it. Just, please, cooperate. For all our sakes."

Cora glanced at him and smirked though the expression was weak. "Me being here is me cooperating. Where else would I go?"

"Good," Director Fury declared with finality as he stood up, Phil and Clint following suit. "Agent Barton, would you escort Miss Dempsey to where she will be staying until we reach a final plan of action? Agent Coulson, I'd like to speak to you privately."

"Yes, sir," both agents said at once. Cora stood up and walked out of the conference room with Clint, glancing briefly over her shoulder just before the door shut behind her.

Phil turned to Fury questioningly as the director stared down at the call box on the table. "Sir?"

Fury frowned a little as he turned to look at Phil. "You've done some extensive research on the crash of the Valkyrie. Correct?" he asked slowly, knowing he was going out on a limb with this backup plan if the World Security Council didn't sway the way he wanted them to on Cora's "sentence."

"Silly question," Phil noted, considering the ties the superbomber had to his childhood idol, Captain America. "Yes, I have, mostly on whim. The field agents and biochemists on Level 5 mostly dealt with all that after it was discovered in the Arctic. But… Why do you ask?"

"Because our options are few and far between," Fury admitted, looking weary. She wasn't the only "issue" he was dealing with at present; the world had been turning gradually more volatile as of late, with news of extraterrestrials and the like spreading through the proverbial grapevines.

"I don't understand."

Fury was prepared to elaborate when the communication pad began to beep in low tones, the windows glassing over with loading icons. Taking a deep breath and glancing toward Phil, Fury raised the shades and answered the call.

Cora stood under the hot cascade of the shower, fiercely scrubbing product into her hair with reckless abandon. As soon as Clint had pointed out the adjoining bathroom to her small living quarters, her mood had been lifted, if only a smidgen. Her only regret was not finger-combing through her locks before rubbing in the shampoo; it was a disastrous mess of tangles now, but she still couldn't care less. She was clean, dammit.

She smirked a little at the joy she found in the simple indulgence, the expression fading slowly when she raised her hand to run through her hair as she rinsed out the suds, and the bold tattoo on her wrist caught her eye. An unanswered question; inked into her skin and embedded into her mind. It was her name, Loki had said, but how had she known how to write it? None of it made sense. Another thing that didn't make much sense was why she'd protected Loki when he'd not lifted a single finger to aid her.

Cora soon shut off the water and pulled the dark blue towel she'd been supplied with from over the chrome doorframe. Wrapping it around herself, she pressed against the door until it popped open and stepped out, shutting the steamy glass panel behind her. It was amazing how much of a difference a shower could make in her attitude.

On the edge of the simple full-sized bed near the center of the opposite wall was a folded set of clothes, given that hers had been on her back for a few days now. Cora picked them up curiously, finding that it was a femininely tailored SHIELD uniform. With a small huff at the irony, she dropped her towel and put it all on, boots included. She stole a glance at herself in the reflection off the window as she dried her hair off. Phil would be proud; she wore it well.

That was confirmed when Agent Barton came back to get her to escort her to the conference room, seeing as Fury had gotten an answer apparently much faster than anyone had expected. She'd opened the door after Clint had knocked and the sniper-archer had greeted her with a brow-raise of approval. "Suits you."

"Thanks," she murmured as they began their trek down the hallway, soon arriving outside the door.

They walked in and Phil smiled at her, commenting, "It's really too bad we couldn't figure something out sooner. You look kickass in uniform."

The man actually caused her to genuinely smile, which dimmed a bit when she saw Fury's look of forced composure. "Well, go on," she murmured reluctantly, the suspense putting her more on edge than knowing the actual outcome would. Or so she thought.

Fury cleared his throat and murmured, "They're not letting up on the warrant. They still believe you are too dangerous to be 'running loose.' To be kept alive."

"So, are you going to do it or is Robin Hood over here going to do the honors?" Cora snapped quietly before frowning and murmuring an apology to Clint for her undeserved slam, who just shook his head and clapped a sympathetic hand against her shoulder. When she turned her gaze back to Fury, he looked conflicted. "There's more, right?"

"There's another option. The one we're going to engage if you’re willing."

"Which would be…?" Cora encouraged, starting to hope a little.

Fury clenched his jaw a little before asking, "Do you know much about Steve Rogers? About Captain America?"

"I mean… I met him outside Clarkdale a few days ago… Apart from that and the bits of World War II propaganda I've seen him on, not really."

"Well, most of it has been kept fairly confidential since Red Skull made an attempt at terrorism and succeeded in taking the lives of so many beforehand, using the Tesseract…"

"What's that?"

"It's basically a cube of raw energy," Phil supplied calmly, though for the first time she noticed that the worry lines on his face were more prominent than usual.

Fury placed his hands behind his back and paced toward the head of the table, continuing, "To stop Red Skull's superbomber craft—the Valkyrie—from carrying out its purpose, Steve crashed it into the Arctic. He and the ship were entirely encapsulated in ice. He was only rediscovered seventy years when we went to recover the ship, the Tesseract, thanks to Stark, and, by total surprise, Steve Rogers, as well. Alive."

"And what you're saying is…what, exactly?" she asked with a bit of an impatient gesture, though she already had a feeling where this was going, angry little butterfly-like sensations teeming in her stomach.

"The World Security Council won't tolerate your freedom. They've found something they can control in this new era of non-control and they seem desperate for some power. They want you dead. However, we ended up coming to a compromise: we're going to put you in a deep freeze until this misunderstanding is cleared up."

"I'd rather you blow my head off right here," Cora noted, her stomach turning over at the thought of being slowly frozen solid with just a sliver of hope that she might walk free again, fully aware of what was happening but unable to do a thing about it.

"These are our only options, they wouldn't allow for anything else," Fury argued defensively.

"They're never going to allow for anything else. Like you said, they're desperate and power-mongering. They see this as a guiltless end to their problem and maybe you do, too."

"Cora, please," Phil frowned at her with faint disapproval, looking a little older with the smile gone from his face. "We just want to help. We're trying to help."

"I know, but…," she struggled, running a shaking hand through her hair. "Could… Is there any way to, um… Put me under before…?"

Fury shook his head. "Any kind of sedative will lower your heart rate and will make it more difficult for you to stay alive in there. The temperature would make it very hard for it to come back up."

Cora's throat tightened and it felt like she was having an episode of claustrophobia, not remembering having such an anxiety-fueled reaction since the car crash that killed her parents. "How do you know I'll survive it? Steve, he's… He's different right? Better."

"He's a super-soldier. His body was genetically engineered to be superior in strength, agility, endurance, and stamina," Fury explained with a nod. "But from what we've seen, you're 'better,' too."

Cora's eyes widened and she asked, "Do… Do you know what's wrong with me?"

"There's nothing wrong with you as far as I can tell. You're just different. Special."

She wasn't sure she believed that, but she let it slide. "So… When is this thing happening?"

"They gave us a deadline of tomorrow, ten-hundred hours." The SHIELD director paused heavily and, when no one could find anything else to say, he advised, "Go get some rest. Dinner can be sent to your room and if you need anything else, just say the word. And Cora?" She looked over her shoulder at him. "It's going to be fine."

Whether or not he was just saying that to make her feel better, she gave a slightly forced smile of thanks and headed out into the hall, the conference room door sliding shut in her wake.

Next chapter: Chapter 10, "Your Own Hero"

[tobiasdrake]

Villain Breakdown: Hela, Goddess of Death Colonialism

Earlier, I said there are two main types of Marvel villains with a third recently introduced. The villain who embodies the subject matter of the film, the excuse villain who exists to be fought while the subject matter happens apart from them, and the newly arrived progressive villain. Hela's in an interesting spot, acting as #1 and #2 together.

Much of this movie is about change. The death of the old, the birth of the new. All the familiar tropes that make up the Thor franchise die here. Wise old Odin both literally and figuratively, Mjolnir and the Worthiness rules, the comical antics of the Warriors Three, Loki's duplicitous relationship with Thor, the very setting of Asgard itself. It all gets washed away in an ocean of change.

You might expect, as the Goddess of Death, that Hela would embody that change. But. No. Actually. The ironic thing is, Hela is the antithesis of change. She's a staunch regressive clinging to past glory, unable to evolve, incapable of ever being more than what she is now. She is a killer, but she does not embody death. In fact, she could use a dose or two of it.

So she's the excuse villain, right?

Well. No. Because there is something Hela embodies. In addition to a story about change and renewal, Thor: Ragnarok serves as a condemnation of colonialist powers. It re-examines the wealth and authority of Asgard through a new lens, and it's this lens that Hela represents.

Hela is the spirit of Asgard's past crimes coming back to haunt it. Not a vengeful spirit seeking justice for its past wrongs, but a malicious spirit seeking to do more wrongs. She's the ugly truth buried beneath the floorboards. The purposeful omission from the history books so that children can grow up with pride in their bloodstained country.

Hela is colonialism. She is what built Asgard from brick and mortar, and she's what Asgard can never truly be rid of so long as they continue to sit on the plundered spoils of murder and conquest. Locked away where no one can see, but always there, waiting for a chance to emerge in a fit of nationalist furor and Make Asgard Great Again.

This is why her power is directly tied to the existence of Asgard the Place. The movie doesn't even try to justify it; It just is, because it's necessary to the metaphor.

This puts Hela in an interesting position. She's a one-note villain who serves mostly as a punchable bad guy to drive the plot, and yet this punchability enhances the messages being conveyed here. She's a performance piece, and she gives it her all in that, while still being married to one of the movie's essential themes. Just not the one she claims to be.

And in the end, I think it works. The movie has just the right amount of Hela, in just the right ways.

[samasmith23]

I've always loved the big plot twist at the end of Unworthy Thor #5 where we finally learn the answer to the long-running mystery of what exactly Nick Fury whispered into Thor Odinson's ear during the Original Sin crossover which made him unworthy to lift Mjolnir.

It was only three simple words: “Gorr was right.”

It’s so simple yet so effective, and perfectly makes sense from a thematic and character standpoint. I've seen a lot of fans argue that this twist is either underwhelming or comes out of nowhere, but if you’ve read Jason Aaron's Thor run in its entirety up to this point, it is clear that Odinson was experiencing a downward spiral & questioning his own worthiness as a god ever since his initial encounter with Gorr the Godbutcher at the very beginning of Aaron's tale. Nick Fury’s whisper was simply the final nail in that coffin for the doubt Odinson was already experiencing.

From Unworthy Thor #5 by Jason Aaron & Oliver Coipel.

[avengersacademyarchive]

Mission: Prove Worthy 1, part 1

Thor: I want you to tell me why there are two Mjolnirs, and why you chose me to wield one. It's only fair that I and your sons should know. Odin: I told you why when I gave you the hammer. You're capable. You're worthy. Thor: But how did you know? I wasn't even healthy at the time... Odin: Mortal health has nothing to do with it. The Realms needed a Thor. My wife told me that you were the best person to wield Mjolnir in Thor's absence. She was right, as usual. Thor: You never answered the question about there being two Mjolnirs... Odin: I didn't. Not yet...

[mischief-lies-and-stories]

To Change the Telling

Spoilers for The Immortal Thor issue 6.

To Change the Telling

I am no longer this.

Not this.

He declares as he raises an ax

Over his blond head.

Did you swear this when you cast me aside,

Dear brother?

Did you hear me say the same,

As you threw me from my apartment window?

All this behind us, before us, around us

In a cloud of hazy memory.

If I say I believe you, believe in you, now

Will you say the same of me?

Can we lay down our regrets

And leave them in the wake of my last death?

For as this twice-told thread unravels again,

Brother mine,

I still feel the lick of the flame

At both our fate-marked heels.

You may not die in this retelling,

But our story spins even as we recollect.

No, Thor, you are no longer this:

No longer prideful and brash,

Ego fragile and violent and impulsive.

If your being can turn with the seasons,

Can twist and wind as your story unfolds,

Cannot my own? Am I not entitled to my own becoming?

You still scarcely trust me, yet my palms

Still tingle with the memory of Mjolnir in their grasp,

My ears still ring with the echo of your words

Compassion. Restraint. Nobility. Wisdom.

If I am worthy enough of your power,

Perhaps I'm worthy also

Of turning back the tides of myth and memory

Of reminding you how it was then

While also weaving a new strand in the telling.

I have changed, and changed again

I change like the phases of the moon, and so

I can tell this tale in a way that will

Be worthy of mighty Mjolnir's strength,

The strength to change that which wants to be static.

There is capacity for change in you still,

I believe this, Brother, I do,

It's why I agreed to tell you this tale

This memory, this myth that could bring

Both of us so much pain, that could even

Take your life with this new telling.

I only hope that the change you welcome

Will be enough to save you in the end.

I do not dare impose upon the fates to allow

Our change to save me, too.

[couldtheywieldmjolnir]

WHOSOEVER HOLDS THIS HAMMER,

IF THEY BE WORTHY,

SHALL POSSESS THE POWER OF THOR

Thus goes the inscription upon the head of the mighty Mjolnir, weapon of Thor, the god of Thunder. And yet, Thor has been incapacitated by a recent battle, leaving him unable to defend Asgard. In his stead, he has chosen myself and you all to seek out warriors from across the bounds of the cosmos, yes, even the multiverse itself, in the hopes of finding one worthy of wielding Mjolnir, and capable of protecting us all!

A Lofty Task

Of course, there is the ambiguity in the wording of the binding. What does it mean to be worthy? Some have suggested that mere moral fortitude is enough, while others argue that a true warrior's heart is required. Thus, your vote shall speak for itself on those whom you consider worthy!

To Every Rule, an Exception

Of course, some who are unworthy have wielded Mjolnir in the past, such as Hela, the murderous daughter of Odin in a far away universe. Do you argue that your own candidate may have some sort of ability that circumvents the binding? Vote for yourself on that, as well!

Know Thine Weapon

Keep in mind, as well, that we are speaking specifically of the Mjolnir found in most marvel properties. The ones of myth, alternate continuities, and other universes are not bound by the same declaration, and thus can (presumably) be wielded by those of sufficient strength. We, however, seek to find those who are worthy, not simply strong!

All Are Welcome! (With a few exceptions)

Submit any whom you'd like! The only ones I shall turn away are those exist outside of a fictional world. This includes your fellow tumblr-mates as well, unless you are bold enough to submit yourself!

Additionally, do recall that Mjolnir is but one weapon, so I would advise against submitting groups of people. If you have a valid reason for doing so, let me know in your ask, and I shall take that into consideration!

[marvelnewssource]

What If... Loki Was Worthy? (A Loki and Valkyrie Story) by Madeleine Roux | March 12, 2024

Loki and Valkyrie seek redemption in the first adventure of an epic new multiversal series that reimagines the origins of iconic Marvel heroes.

Full synopsis ⬇️

So many worlds, so little time. Infinite possibilities, creating infinite realities. Long have I watched the trickster god sow chaos. But . . . what if Loki saved Asgard from Tony Stark’s revenge?

Thor—Son of Odin, God of Thunder, wielder of the hammer Mjolnir—is dead. And Loki is responsible.

It was only meant to be a joke—tampering with the Destroyer, changing Thor’s course to Midgard—a bit of mischief with a chance of maiming. But Loki's harmless prank spiraled out of control, unleashing death and destruction on New York City and the heroes sworn to protect it. The city was saved, but at the cost of Thor’s life.

Furious and heartbroken, the All-Father banishes Loki to Earth for his crime. Loki finds himself in a realm of boxed wine, instant noodles, and some sort of regional performance troupe known as the “Buffalo Bills.” It’s a meager existence, far from Asgard’s grand courts, but he finds his new friend, Brian the Gecko, a much more engaging companion than the sycophants back home. A true meeting of the minds. Loki is the God of Mischief—but he knows, deep down, that he never truly deserved to stand next to their father’s golden child Thor, as two true sons of Odin.

Yet, he cannot even endure his exile in peaceful isolation. A Valkyrie—Hel-bent on carrying out her oath to Thor—barges into his trailer-home with his brother’s final words from the beyond: a plea to find a certain Dr. Jane Foster and pass on Mjolnir to its rightful heir.

While Loki struggles to fulfil his brother’s last request, the far-reaching consequences of his fatal prank return to haunt him. Blinded by grief from those he lost in the chaos wrought by Asgard, Iron Man vows revenge on those who consider themselves gods. Determined to protect the Earth from the might of this unpredictable alien power, he forges Asgard’s own weaponry into a lethal suit of armor, set on eradicating any tether between their worlds. Consequences be damned. When Asgard looks to Loki for salvation, he must answer the question: Am I truly worthy?

[394bugle]

Front page news:

The wedding reception of Asgardian Prince Thor Odinson and Dr. Jane Foster didn't go as planned last Saturday, as Avengers Tower where the party was located, fell under attack by Hydra insurgents. Sources say that Hydra agents weakened defenses a few days before in what is now being called a 'practice run,' and took advantage of the crowded guest list to sneak in and strike from the inside. Civilians and heroes alike were wounded, several seriously. Asgardian Prince and fellow heir to the throne, Loki Odinson, took a particularly nasty blow and remains in serious condition. Prior to his injury, some witnesses claim they saw the younger god lift the hammer Mjolnir -- a mysterious Asgardian artifact. (See page 3 for a more in-depth article.) Clean up efforts have already commenced at Avengers Tower, and while the mood is tense, for now the danger has passed. Still, this reporter has to wonder how long it will be until the next major attack -- and how something like this can happen in the first place. If heroes can't keep their own houses safe, what hope do the rest of us have? Tell us your thoughts at letterstotheeditor@bugle.com

Page 3:

Mjolnir, mysterious weapon of Thor, was rumored to have been destroyed in Canada earlier this year. Yet eye witnesses from the Reception Attack claim to have seen the hammer reform before their very eyes. This reporter delves deep into the history and myths surrounding this strange hammer, asking what exactly it means to be 'worthy.' Find out more inside.

Page 6:

The wedding might have been all about Asgardian royalty, but Captain Peggy Carter and Captain Steve Rogers showed us all what old-school romantic couple goals should be. Looking classy arm in arm at the ceremony, and leading efforts to keep civilians safe when the attack broke out.

ft: @asgcrdianprince @drfcstrs @strongestavengerthor @cptcvrter @cptamerica

if you want your characters mentioned in the next bugle post, shoot us a message here. but double check out submission guidelines!

[the-henry-cavillian]

Unleashing Cavill's Marvel Might: 5 Epic Roles Awaiting Henry In The MCU!

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has a penchant for casting exceptional talent and Henry Cavill, best known for his portrayal of Superman in the DC Extended Universe, could be an intriguing addition. Known for his strong performances and physical prowess, Cavill would be a perfect fit for many characters yet to make their debut in the MCU. Let's explore five potential roles that could suit him.

 Hyperion

Hyperion is essentially Marvel's answer to Superman. A member of the Squadron Supreme, he's an extraterrestrial possessing superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and flight capabilities. Cavill, with his already established superhero persona and physical stature, would be an ideal choice for this character. Given his experience playing a similar role, Cavill could bring depth and nuance to the character of Hyperion.

 Nova (Richard Rider)

Nova, specifically Richard Rider's version, is a powerful character yet to debut in the MCU. As the human chosen by Rhomann Dey, the last surviving Nova Corps Centurion, Richard Rider gains superhuman abilities and becomes a member of the intergalactic police force, Nova Corps. Henry Cavill, with his experience as a galactic protector, could portray this character with the necessary gravitas and commitment.

Beta Ray Bill

Beta Ray Bill, an alien worthy of wielding Thor's hammer Mjolnir, is a beloved character by many Marvel fans. With his unique alien appearance and heroic qualities, Beta Ray Bill's character could be a challenge to bring to life. However, Cavill's established superhero credentials and his ability to embody complex characters could make him a fitting choice.

Blue Marvel

Adam Bernard Brashear, also known as Blue Marvel, is one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe. As a former U.S. Marine and a veteran of the Korean War, he gained his powers through exposure to anti-matter radiation. Known for his strength, flight, and energy manipulation abilities, Blue Marvel is a compelling character that has yet to appear in the MCU. Cavill, with his proven track record of portraying strong, complex characters, could bring depth and intrigue to this role.

 The Sentry

The Sentry (Robert Reynolds) is a character with immense power and a complex, troubled psyche. He possesses the 'power of a million exploding suns', granting him abilities such as super strength, speed, invulnerability, and flight. Cavill's acting range and his experience with characters struggling with their powers (like Superman) could make him an excellent choice for this role.

[xalygatorx]

Worthy (2015) | Chapter 26, "Reunion"

Disappearing sporadically in public spaces quickly becomes Cora Dempsey's least concerning problem when suddenly she captures the attention of the forming Avengers Initiative, the World Security Council, and Asgard's fallen prince all in one week. And the universe is only just getting started with her.

Worthy is a slow-burn SFW Marvelverse (films) romance between Loki and a female OC. For additional details on what canon is used, see the Prologue post.

Summary: Thor ponders killing Loki himself at discovering his brother is alive again. Cora and Loki fill in Thor, Jane, and their companions and leave them to inform the Avengers. Cora and Loki then travel to Jotunheim to retrieve the Cask of Ancient Winters.

Pairing: Loki x Fem!OC

Warnings: None

Word Count: 3k

It was only twenty minutes later that the pair had run two blocks and edged along multiple expanses of sidewalks—a couple more than once—to find Jane's flat. Loki and Cora had run up a flight of stairs after that and Cora was muttering the number for the door under her breath on repeat until she came upon the door, her fist raised to knock just as the door opened and her hand smacked into Thor's chest plate instead. "Ow, holy—," she started to say, only to be silenced by the look on Thor's face.

His eyes were directed above her head, the hard glaze of concentration over his crystal blue eyes. His brow was creased by equal parts focus and what appeared to be pain, his jaw set harshly. For the first time since she'd met him, Thor seriously looked like the vengeful Norse god of legends and she was pretty sure that wasn't good at all.

Cora had just locked eyes with Jane, who was standing a few steps behind Thor, barely seen behind his large frame taking up the doorway, when the great golden-haired Avenger spoke. "What is the meaning of this," he demanded tightly, a tempest under his tone. Cora waited for Loki to explain, but he didn't, and when she looked back at him, his features were as stoic as Thor's. "Was it all naught but façade?"

"None of it was façade, do you—"

Thor surged forward and Cora shouted as she ended up pinned between them, Loki's back hitting the wall behind her as Thor bore down on both of them. "Do not lie to me, brother! I have fallen a fool for your tricks before, was this another?!"

Cora felt sheer adrenaline pumping through her veins at the intensity of the situation and she heard Jane nearby telling Thor to calm down, all while feeling Loki try to push her out from between them, actually rearing up a bit, himself. She held her ground though, more or less out of the knowledge that she might be the only thing keeping Thor from pummeling Loki at present. Loki snarled slightly, giving up on edging her away. "You've not given me more than a few seconds' chance to lie, you oaf, and yet you throw me under the ax so soon!"

"I mourned you again, I thought you dead!" Thor roared.

"I thought myself dead!" Loki yelled back and the both of them stood there afterward, breathing heavily and staring the other down like beasts.

"Not that I'm not having the time of my life down here," Cora commented with slightly breathless sarcasm, causing both hulking gods to glance down for the first time since their arrival. "But we have more serious issues to attend to right now."

Thor glanced from her to Loki before sighing wearily and taking a step back, letting Jane take him back into the flat. She looked back at Loki and Cora, nodding for them to follow. They walked in and closed the door behind them before walking down the hall. Cora noticed with a faint smirk that Mjolnir was hanging neatly with the coats before she went to sit at the small dining table, finding three other people already there instead. "Oh… Hi," she said with some surprise as Jane returned to the room.

"Hm, right," Jane said with a nod. "Cora, this is my research partner and friend, Dr. Erik Selv—really, no pants? Again?"

"Interesting name," Cora smirked, causing the only other girl present to laugh quietly.

"Dr. Erik Selvig," Jane corrected as Cora stuck out her hand to shake his. "My intern, Darcy Lewis, and my intern's intern, Ian." They all jumped when Erik suddenly leapt from his seat, tighty-whiteys in full view. "What's wrong?"

"You…" He squinted past Cora and muttered, "You all see him, too, right?"

Cora and Jane turned around to find Loki standing at Cora's right shoulder. "Hm, bad spaceman," Darcy commented offhand, earning a withering look from Loki. "Yeah, we see him, Erik. Thought you were dead."

Loki shook his head in negation to that and walked with Cora and Jane to the couch, two armchairs flanking either side; Jane took one and Cora plopped down on the couch, Loki sitting in the other couch space. Thor soon joined them rather begrudgingly, easing his huge body into the other armchair, which Cora was sure would break with his weight. "So, first thing's first," Jane said, all business. "What's wrong now?"

Cora glanced to Loki, who drew a slow breath before beginning to explain, "Thanos has catalyzed the Ragnarök."

"The end of realms?" Dr. Selvig asked from the table, standing up, much to everyone's regret. "That old myth is true as well?"

"Indeed," Loki murmured, glancing at Thor, who now wore a grave expression on his chiseled features.

"Thanos?" Thor repeated at last and when Loki nodded once, he sighed heavily. "What has been done?"

"Lady Sif and Volstagg have returned to the Collector's keep to reclaim the Aether," Loki said slowly, "and Fandral has gone to find the Orb. Thanos has taken the Tesseract from the vaults, so he will be moving forward to collect the others. We came to warn you and…the others."

Cora gave a halfhearted smirk. He meant the Avengers and those at SHIELD and, despite her situation of being put on ice by orders of the Council, she was somewhat looking forward to seeing them again.

Thor gave a firm nod. "And then what?"

"I will be taking Cora with me to Jotunheim to collect the Cask of Ancient Winters." Cora noticed Thor's features tighten a little at that, but didn't know why.

"And the Ka Stone?"

"Sif and Volstagg's destination after their attempt on the Aether."

Thor pursed his lips before nodding slightly. "And what am I to tell the Midgardian protectors?" he wondered quietly to himself. "I will accompany you to Jotunheim."

Cora was listening when she was startled by Jane touching her shoulder. "Jotunheim's the ice realm, right? The one you told me about?" she murmured and when Cora nodded, Jane motioned for her to stand. "Then you'll need some warmer clothes. Darcy's left a lot of stuff here over the years, her stuff will probably fit you. That okay, Darce?"

"Sure thing, Jan," Darcy said with a smile and a thumbs-up, causing Jane to grimace a little. "What, you're the only one that can do the cute name-shorteningy-thing?"

"Apparently," Jane quipped as she pulled Cora away from the brothers, who were now arguing over where Thor would be going; Thor declared that it would be best for him to join Loki and Cora for backup protection, but Loki was arguing the opposite. "So, what happened? How did he just show up again after being declared dead?" she asked once they were in her bedroom.

"He was disguised as Odin," Cora explained as Jane dug through her closet, throwing some garments out on the bed as she listened. "He called me down and then told me the truth. Then Thanos showed up and staying disguised became less of a priority…"

"He was just going to take Odin's place?" she asked, poking her head out for a moment to look at Cora. "But then what happened to—"

"I'm not sure where Odin is, I just know he's alive."

Her eyes narrowed slightly with suspicion. "You saw him alive or Loki told you he was alive?"

Cora sighed. "I didn't see him, but Loki wouldn't kill him. Not now."

"And you know that, how?"

"Because Thor would be devastated and would never trust him again," Cora said quietly.

Jane thought about that, remembering how Loki had made such strides to protect both of them in Svartalfheim. She slowly nodded and it was clear to Cora that she was choosing to believe in him now, even if it felt chancy. "Okay," she said at last. "Here, try this." She gestured to an outfit she'd laid out on the bed and Cora nudged the door closed before disrobing from her Asgardian gown and putting on some more familiar clothes.

"Thanks," Cora said as she slid on the winter jacket, which felt doubly lined inside. It was a stuffy outfit to wear in the current temperature, but she knew once she revisited the frosty Jotun realm, she'd be thankful for it. It was incredibly likely that the only reason she'd not broken down in shivers on her first trip into Jotunheim was because she'd already been frozen over in the capsule. This wasn't something she was looking forward to, but she didn't want to stay behind in Midgard either.

"Pretty darn close," she commented once Cora had the extra clothes on. She'd put on the SHIELD uniform she'd had on when she was placed in the capsule for insulation, figuring it would keep her warmer than the jeans and T-shirt she'd had on when she'd gotten to the agency base in the first place. "You're a bit taller than her, so good thing you had some stuff of your own."

"The jacket's great though. And so are the boots… I think I left mine in Asgard," Cora said thoughtfully.

"Cora?" Jane said quietly.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think they can stop him?" Cora looked at the other woman and frowned faintly, seeing the distress on her face. "The Ragnarök is the end of everything. It's a rebooting of the universe. If it follows the mythology, the realms will fall to ruin. Odin will die, Loki will die, and Thor…" Her voice caught.

"Jane," Cora sighed, tugging the smaller woman into a hug. "I don't know what's going to happen. But I don't believe in absolute anything when it comes to the future. It's changeable. Prophecies are written in one era and the entire world could be changed by the time it's supposed to happen. Whatever was supposed to cause them in the first place may not even exist anymore." She looked down at Jane. "But the biggest point is that freaking out about something won't change the outcome. It'll just make you lose focus on what you can do to help. And I bet SHIELD could use brains like yours and Selvig's right about now."

"I just got him back," she said quietly after a moment. "I don't want to freak out, it's just happening… But you're right. We'll head back to the States as soon as possible. Maybe Thor can work something out with them."

"Exactly," Cora encouraged just before hearing Loki from the living room call for her. She and Jane left the bedroom and found the brothers standing, both wearing grim, tired expressions. "What's up?"

"We should go," Loki told her. "Thanos will not stop moving and neither can we."

"I know," she murmured with a nod, slinging her bag back over her shoulder and tugging on some gloves she'd found in the jacket pockets.

Loki watched her for a moment before nodding as well, walking past Thor to go to the door. Thor watched him go, only looking down when Cora paused in front of him. "He's trying," she said so softly only Thor could hear her and he sighed, nodding. "I'm just not sure he knows quite what to do."

"I am afraid I am just as uncertain, little sister," he admitted quietly. "But with your aid, perhaps we will both understand in time."

She smiled, glancing over when she heard Loki call her again. "Good luck," Cora told him before hurrying out to the door, rolling her eyes at Loki's bored, impatient expression. "Oh, come off it, let's get out of here."

Loki smirked a little before following her back outside. They walked down a back alley to an abandoned parking lot before stopping for Heimdall to send them to Jotunheim, Cora muttering, "Beam me up, Scotty," just before the golden pillar of light hit them and they were once again pulled into the tunnel of the BiFrost's energy.

Seconds later, they landed in feet of snow crusted over by ice, which made a loud cracking sound when they sunk into it. "The gatekeeper is Heimdall, not 'Scotty'," Loki grumbled with an arched brow.

He earned a disapproving look from Cora for that one. "Remind me to show you Star Trek at some point." Before he could ask what it was, she waved her hand a bit, "Nevermind, we'll get to it eventually. Where are we going?"

"A hidden chamber nearby. Heimdall was kind enough to place us very near the Cask's resting place," Loki told her, glancing around the area before starting to move forward. Cora ambled awkwardly behind, wishing her legs were as long as Loki's in that moment. After a few moments, he noticed that she was having trouble—or his amusement at her uncoordinated movements wore thin—and he stopped, kneeling down and muttering, "Come on."

Cora's brow rose, but she made one last hop in the snow and looped her arms around his neck from behind. He braced his hands under her thighs and scooped her up piggyback-style before continuing through the snow. "Why did Fandral say you were probably the best one to get this Infinity Stone?" she asked.

Loki took a moment's hesitation before replying over the slight whoosh of the wintry breeze, "Because I was born here."

Cora's brow rose. "This is where you're from?" she wondered thoughtfully, looking around. "Then, your birthparents?"

"I know naught of my mother, though I now suspect she may have been Asgardian," he said calmly. "I killed my father before I met you."

"Why?"

"To prove my worth, I suppose. And save Odin in the process," Loki said honestly.

Cora rested her chin against his shoulder, squinting faintly against the blowing snow and wincing whenever his hair blew into her face. He walked a while longer before his foot caught on something beneath the snow, causing him to jolt a little. "There you are," he murmured, wedging his boot in the groove and turning, triggering a mechanism underground to come to life and lower the stone plank beneath the frost into a ramp.

Cora's eyes widened and she watched curiously as Loki moved toward the edge. She expected him to walk down, but instead he turned his heel and slid down the icy surface, causing Cora to instinctively clutch onto him. He skidded to an easy stop at the bottom and laughed at her panic, a mischievous smirk decorating his face. "Not funny," she protested with a grumble as she scrambled to get down.

"I beg to differ." He let her go, but kept her close as he glanced over the cavern, his hand on her shoulder as he pondered the possibility of traps or extra paths meant to cause intruders to lose their way. Loki ventured forward into the tunnels with care, his vibrant green eyes always scanning the corridors as he led the way.

"Any idea where we're heading?" Cora asked hopefully after a few turns and Loki could feel her shaking next to him from the stark cold of the chamber.

"Vaguely," he murmured back, steering them left.

"Comforting as always," she murmured sarcastically.

When a blue glow began to highlight the frosty stones of the underground labyrinth, Loki walked forward with more confidence and they eventually arrived at one last stretch of pathway. At its end rested the Cask upon a pedestal of ice.

"Stay here," he told her softly, knowing the cold would be the worst down this passage. Cora stayed behind as Loki ventured forward, grimacing at the Cask of Ancient Winters and the memories it brought forward. When he reached it, deja vu set in and he remembered the last time he'd plucked it up. The moment his life had changed forever.

Loki glared down at the Cask, but gripped the handles anyway. He felt the chill of raw power seep through his palms and into his body, and he watched his skin gradually turn to a vivid cerulean, the pallor spreading throughout his body. He knew the markings of a darker hue that would be etched upon his face and the bloody red his eyes would become and he was loath to turn around and let her see him like this. However, he did so anyway.

Cora watched him go down the passage and pick up the Cask, just thinking she was glad they were in possession of at least one of the Infinity Stones when Loki turned around. Her eyes widened at the sight of him, entirely enveloped in blue and red-eyed, looking the part of an alien for once. At first, she was a little afraid, wondering if something had gone wrong and he'd been taken over by the Cask or something else. However, she saw the apprehension in the crease between his brows and knew this was just his true form.

She offered him a slight smile and nodded her head to the side. "Time to go," she said easily and watched the surprise form in his eyes. Composure quickly wiped away the traces of relief as he neared her again and they walked out of the cavern with surprising ease. Cora put the Cask in her bag so he could help her over the snow again and she held close, watching as his skin started to pale to fleshy tones again.

"It didn't bother you… Did it," Loki murmured pensively and Cora almost wondered if it had been directed at her at all.

"What? Your face?" she asked, giving a slight shrug. "No more than usual." For that, he dropped her back into the snow and she shrieked, nearly submerged in the stuff on impact. "Loki, get your blue ass back here right now!"

He laughed mirthfully at the look on her face and the fire in her fury, stepping forward and plucking the poor snow-dusted girl out of the snow and cradling her in his arms as they walked back to where they'd started. When they reached that point, Loki murmured a simple, "To Midgard," and the pillar of light plunged down again, taking the pair into the vortex once more.

Next chapter: Chapter 27, "The Welcome Wagon"

Main story posts will resume 12/26/23. Time for some xmas fluff.

[courtneysmovieblog]

I posted 2,650 times in 2022

455 posts created (17%)

2,195 posts reblogged (83%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@magiclovingdragon

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I tagged 2,645 of my posts in 2022

#chucky - 268 posts

#thor love and thunder - 233 posts

#obi wan kenobi - 187 posts

#sharon carter - 150 posts

#godammit mcu - 130 posts

#stranger things - 108 posts

#multiverse of madness - 104 posts

#rip - 80 posts

#seriously - 72 posts

#encanto - 72 posts

Longest Tag: 44 characters

#reblogging because i want this bitch to lose

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

I have no problem with Lightyear and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command co-existing in the same universe because it wouldn’t be the first time a movie was kid-ified into a cartoon that had little to do with the original story. Case in point: Beetlejuice.

142 notes - Posted June 18, 2022

#4

Post on a message board: “I wonder how Jane will become worthy of Mjolnir. They made such a big deal about Steve being able to hold it in Endgame, and Jane wasn’t even interesting or special in the last two Thor movies.”

*left eye twitches*

“Worthy” Endgame Steve proceeded to abandon Bucky and Wanda, screw over Sharon, and rearrange history just so that he can hijack Peggy’s life, and people are questioning that Jane isn’t good enough for the hammer?!

254 notes - Posted April 20, 2022

#3

Thor and Jane had a way better love story than Steve and Peggy, but nobody is ready to admit it yet.

838 notes - Posted July 9, 2022

#2

Top 10 favorite moments in “Hocus Pocus 2″

1. The Sandersons getting a way bigger entrance than they did in the first movie, complete with a musical number. “Who are they performing for?” All of us.

2. The Walgreens scene. Laughed my butt off that even though they didn’t know what a photo was, they were quick to pose.

3. Young Winnie, who was absolutely perfect casting. Also, Hannah Waddingham as Mother Witch, which was perfect casting.

4. Winifred and Mary’s horrified reaction to Siri, aka the “woman trapped in a box.”

5. The costume contest. The Sandersons might be evil, but even they don’t seem to have a problem with drag queens.

6. “One Way or Another.” Not the same as “I Put A Spell On You” but having the Thriller-like dance made up for it.

7. Sarah briefly standing up for herself. 

8. All the callbacks to the original movie, including “Amok, amok, amok...”

9. Gilbert’s subplot of thinking the sisters were “misunderstood,” which actually it’s a pretty clever way of throwing shade at Disney’s villain apologia trend.

10. Tony Hale as the mayor. All the poor guy wanted was a candy apple...

856 notes - Posted October 1, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Jane and Valkyrie just chilling and enjoying naked Thor like

2,122 notes - Posted May 23, 2022

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