#that's a reference to the song So Alive by Love and Rockets

[mikurulucky]

His legs are strong and so so long and he don't come from this town 🎶😎😎🎶

[rascalentertainments]

Is Sabino gonna be alive at the end?

What are the Sakina and Sabino's headcanon voice actors?

Would Magnifico break the fourth wall once he transforms into a monster or during the credits?

Do you have your own set of Villains who are ten times better than Magnifico that you take inspiration for my rewrite from him? like some of them are your most loved and hated villains?

What would be sabor’s defeat?

If Star is a prince, Does Star and and his mother shares a same familial relationship as Ariel and King Triton, Moana and Chief Tui?

Is King Magnifico planning on using WG!Star as bait to trap his mother and drain her magic or drain both of them?

Is Asha and Flazino are like cousin figures?

How did Flazino became apprentice to King Magnifico?

Hello there, @albertthewolfdog! Sorry I'm late to your ask, but here I am!

Yes! And he will perform his deleted song "A Wish Worth Making" at the end of the story to help close it out! Its actually one of the few things I'm glad the movie changed. I really like Sabino and glad they didn't kill him off.

Sabino's is still Victor Garber, I feel that was a great choice, but they didn't give him any good lines to say or have an impact on the viewer. Very underutilized. As for Sakina, I know it sounds strange, but I picked Whoopi Goldberg. WG!Sakina has a bit of sass to her (that's where Asha gets it from) but she can still be motherly and caring. She'll even have some good lines later on and in the bonus stories. I think Whoopi can make all that come through in her voice.

He will do it twice as a monster, actually! He looks at the camera and says "How's that for a climax?" when the time comes for him and Star to fight. And another when Gabo asks Amaya how did she get to the top of tower before Magnifico did. She can't explain, and neither can the King, so its a Emperor's New Groove reference!

OH YEAH!! The inspirations are Team Rocket when they're in front of a crowd, then Hades and Maleficent when they're alone together. LOVE both of those pairings, so they fit in well!

5. I haven't quite decided yet. I've been considering turning him into a regular housecat to reference Yzma's cat form, or getting injured fighting Valentino. He would begrudgingly receive care from Bazeema during his recovery.

6. Actually Star is technically a regular guy. "Wish Granted" Stars ate dubbed "star nomads", where they travel across the galaxy in the Startosphere without a permanent home. There's only one royal star, and that's the legendary wishing star that no one has actually seen in the present. Though, Star feels like a prince when he's with Asha and Asha feels like a princess when she's with Star.

As for the mother relationship question, I would say Moana and Chief Tui. Star's parents don't really understand why he wants to visit Earth so badly when he has all of space to travel in. They still love and care for him, he's just the odd kid in his family.

7. Nope, but you're close! He's using Asha's family and the Hamlet as bait so he gives her an ultimatum. Either she hands over Star and he dies, or her family dies. You are right about both he and Amaya wanting to drain Star's magic. He's going to use the staff to stab him in the chest and drain every drop out of him until he's empty. Then the two will share the celestial magic and will be able to conquer the rest of the world.

8. Yes, good eye! Its not a Disney reference, but they're similar to the Alien Force version of Ben and Gwen Tennyson. They're practically family and get along, no romance in the slightest.

9. Like the deleted scene, Flazino's wish is to study magic. For this story, its so he can help others lives be better, which is what he thought Magnifico wanted as well. He thought the job would be more glamorous or fun as he learned, but it turns out Mags doesn't actually want a successor. He plans on being in power permanently with his wife. He pretends he granted Flazi's wish and instead of studying magic, he's the errand boy, cleans the lab equipment, feeds Sabor, and is in charge of the tour guides for newcomers. Flazino just practices what he can at home and secretly takes ingredients from Amaya's potion cabinet.

He gave his wish at 18, and was surprised to hear it was getting granted so soon. Though Mags doesn't really need an apprentice, he takes Flaz on just in case something happened to him, all of his magic, power and evil will go into the apprentice. Sort of passing on his plans to him to become the next Magnifico and continue his work. That's pretty terrifying.

During the first few months of becoming the apprentice, he learned about the Hamlet through rumors in Rosas. He didn't understand why people would run away until he stumbles on seeing the king and queen crush the wishes of a couple who talked about leaving Rosas and not trusting the royals. He never saw that couple again.

He later took off one night into the forest to finds this supposed Hamlet using a tracking spell. Once he finds it, Sabino and other people tell him why they ran and what a monster the royal could be. Flazino felt so disgusted that he promised to help anyway he could. So he makes an excuse to get specialty mushroom from the Uncharted Forest once a month and brings supplies to the Hamlet ever since. (stuff like seeds to grow food, flour, medicine, toys for the kids)

And there you go! Thanks for submitting! Feel free to ask more questions whenever you like!

I'll tag you guys in case you want some extra info before my next lore drop! @oh-shtars @tumblingdownthefoxden @chillwildwave @annymation

@your-ne1ghbor @thesafireartist @ishadow246 @uva124

[guardian-angel12]

Silver Stars(Fanficlet)

Noises of the calm night carried on the breeze as the Guardians sat outside, finally they'd caught a break and were enjoying just a small moment of peace. 

Phyla and Adam were clicking around on Rocket's Zune as Kraglin watched the stars. So many silver specks glowing from somewhere far off. 

The song that they'd started playing was pretty mellow, a slow tune that he recognized. 

"Hey, hand me that?" He held his hand out and Phyla passed him the device. 

As he listened, a dull throb went through his chest and he smirked a little. "This was one of my sister's favorite songs..." 

Both Phyla and Adam looked at him, questions behind their eyes. "I didn't know you have a sister." Phylla said. "Is she older than you?" 

He took a moment to answer, Rocket shifted in the corner of his eye, suddenly very interested in something at his feet. 

"Had." Kraglin hated the word. "And no, she was my baby sister." He smiled fondly at referring to her that way. 

Adam looked down then back up again, and Phyla frowned. "What was her name?" she asked. 

"Tess. She was the best. Smart and strong and brave... Prettiest girl in the world, with her silver eyes. And when she wanted something," he chuckled softly to himself at the memories. "she could make 'em so big and incessant you just had to do it." 

"She sounds like a wonderful person." Adam said. 

"You don't know the half of it." He paused, looking back up. Rocket still remained quiet, being the only one here that would truly know, truly understand in any way. "Today would mark sixteen years ago, when I met her. Now she's been gone for three." 

Cosmo's ears twitched as she sensed his sadness, and she whined quietly.

"I'm sorry, you just miss her." Adam said softly. 

"More than anything." And that was true. He'd never loved anyone the way he'd loved her, and never found anyone he could confide in like her again. There was a moment he was angry at her for leaving him, but then wondered if she was finally at peace. 

The next song started playing and he nearly choked at the first words. 

And I'd give up forever to touch you, cause I know that you feel me somehow. 

It hit hard, and there were moments when he'd considered just ending it all and being with her again. But she'd made him promise to be there for Peter, Rocket, all of them. And he was trying. 

You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be and I don't want to go home right now. 

And all I can taste is this moment, and all I can breathe is your life, and sooner or later it's over. I just don't wanna miss you tonight. 

He closed his eyes tight, fighting back the fresh wave of emotion as Adam and Phyla watched, silent knowing that it was a tender situation, but Cosmo laid her head in his lap and that offered some comfort. "She would have liked you guys."  he managed to get out. 

Rocket nodded in approval. 

And I don't want the world to see me, cause I don't think that they'd understand when everything's made to be broken I just want you to know who I am. 

Sometimes the memories were too much, thinking back on those days before he'd lost Yondu and lost the person she'd been—the person he'd been—before. And he'd find himself drinking until he couldn't remember clearly. But those days were something he'd never forget, not when they were truly the best. 

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming or the moment of truth in your eyes. When everything feels like the movies yeah you bleed just to know you're alive. 

All he could really hope now, was that she was happy. Finally not fighting and living the half-tortured existence and maybe she'd found a better place. He liked to believe that she was on the other side and Yondu and Gamora were there with her and one day... one day soon enough he'd see her again. 

Sometimes he thought he heard her voice, or even saw her. Felt her hand in the dark when no one was there to see the pain, but he knew she would want him to keep living. Keep doing the good she tried to do. Uphold the legacy they'd started together. 

Rocket's small hand on his wrist holding the Zune startled him a bit, but he just said softly, "She'd be proud of ya." His mahogany eyes were glassy as he nodded in emphasis. "I know she would." 

Kraglin sighed to himself and looked back up, knowing she was ashes amongst those stars. 

I just want you to know who I am. 

"I love you, little pest." he whispered, not able to be heard by the others but he felt like some silver star out in the distance glimmered when he said it. And he could practically see her smiling on the other side. 

I just want you to know who I am.

{for anyone curious to the fanfiction here’s the link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/340959868?utm_source=ios&utm_medium=link&utm_content=story_info&wp_page=story_details&wp_uname=ArchangelOfZion&wp_originator=QiIvzfeQs73AyeCc7bjdBwJItre%2BcMbYXhguypIsim2Ueyj%2FiyRqtBEEYmJZW9hIiHWC8zcoQ%2F2dsEXbnSriwfhzO5c9S8fHvqzxXqoec%2FOQZB47ZIM1la%2F8RlmlI5%2Bp I’ll have it up on AO3 soon}

[nincompoopydoo]

DEBRIS AND MISERY

CURIOUS MINDS THINK ALIKE ; PART 5 / ?

PAIRING: Loki Laufeyson x Female!Reader WORD COUNT: 3.1k SUMMARY: Through guessing games and walking on eggshells, it’s you and Loki that dance the strange choreography of two curious minds trying to figure out the other. A/N: Slow moving chapter! If any of you speak Norwegian and know that sentence is wrong, please tell me! I took a risk, not sure if it's worth it. Anyways, I promise there’s more stuff coming in the next chapters. Tell me anything about this chapter, what you love, what you hate. Enjoy xo gif from this gifset by@marvelheroes WARNINGS: Swearing? More paperwork. support my writing through ko-fi💖 MASTERPOST ; MASTERLIST

The narration of Miss Minutes accompanying the grainy animated graphics of a training video on how, why, and when a branch of a timeline is reset seems to be the source of Loki’s absentmindedness. If he is typically referred to as outrageously and mostly unnecessarily communicative, it is his mind that beats his mouth—the tumult of his thoughts is loud and overwhelming like the people who amass at taverns every evening to drink themselves silly whilst singing jolly drinking songs until the wee hours of the morning. Except, his thoughts are far from jolly. He, mastermind of language and a silver-tongue, has no words of any language to describe the complexity of his mind with accuracy.

Kraftig regn som faller i en fossende elv.

Like heavy rain falling on a cascading river. Water from the sky on water streaming through the ground—thunderous raindrops from above against the river that strikes every rock of every winding turn.

Those were the words of his mother.

Maybe, that’s how his mind should be described.

It’s the mechanical creaks of spinning wheels against the polished floor that pulls him out of his thoughts and finds that he had been staring blankly at a page of men riding jet skis of a magazine he'd nipped from the stack of junk on Mobius’ desk for the last minute or hour. A second or a day? He isn’t sure.

Time works differently at the TVA.

“Hey Casey,” he hears you chime, the cart squeaks as it pulls to a halt. “Do you have a paperweight or something I could use?”

There’s a sound of rummaging as the clerk searches the drawers. Loki restrains the urge to look.

“Uh, yeah...Here.”

“Thanks.”

Probably an infinity stone.

The clerk then wheels by, pushing the evidence cart as he casts a cautious glance his way.

Right. He did threaten to gut him like a fish earlier on although the threat was not as deadly as he intended but proved to be surprisingly effective. Yet, Casey is probably the type to be afraid of his own shadow, he would comply with any sort of threat even if it isn't death.

Pathetic. But amusing.

The training video continues to play in the background, and Miss Minutes’ stupidly charming and cheery voice is starting to sound like gibberish to him. At this rate, it’s white noise to him—attention elsewhere but somewhat listening to a certain extent. He loves multi-tasking and isn’t afraid to admit he’s great at it though it likely plays a huge factor in contributing to the uproar of his brain. It’s why he doesn’t get any sleep for most nights.

There’s just...so much to think about.

And now, it’s filled with the reminder of how you met another version of him. Somewhere. Sometime. An inferior Loki, obviously.

Suddenly, the jet ski magazine becomes less interesting, his mind fleeting.

Discreetly, he spins in his swivel chair and sees you through inked writings and diagrams on the glass partition of your cubicle. Your coat’s discarded, and you have your sleeves rolled up, looking less formal, less tense than before. Yet, still as fierce with that constant scowl of your brows. He watches you bring your fingers to scratch the left side of your cheek and notices a vague resemblance of a fading scar.

He hadn’t seen that before.

The glowing orange hue of the soul stone sits idly on top of a stack of papers beside you.

Loki makes some sort of contemptuous noise in his mind at the sight.

The TVA is a strange place. The thought of a cosmic organization that overlooks all of the time doesn’t make it any less weird and neither do the uniforms—dull color combinations and collars that never seem to end. And the Time-Keepers, well, he isn’t sure what to make of that. Things are a little too straightforward, too simple for handling such a complex matter of the universe—Time. It doesn't make sense.

You spark his curiosity. You had a connection with him. Another Loki trusted you to a certain extent. He wonders what makes you so special, that Mobius was willing to try everything to convince you to help.

He also wonders what your name is.

The clearing of his throat comes off as a sudden and disruptive sound that resonates clearly through the somewhat silent environment of the office floor. A subtle way to gaining your attention although it's proving ineffective. You continue to flip through documents, scribbling notes on a notepad.

He wheels his chair closer to you. For a moment, he catches sight of a white mug amongst the mess. It says, 'Rocket scientist at work.' There’s no way a person as intimidating as you have that kind of mug.

He clears his throat once more.

Still nothing. It’s like he doesn't exist to you.

Then, he notes your vague attempt to fight down a growing smile.

Oh. Oh. You—

Hm.

He scooches closer and taps on the glass partition a little too aggressively.

“I know you can hear me.”

His tone comes out in a sing-song manner. Finally, your eyes turn up to meet his. They are different from when you first saw him emerged into the hallway. Less angry and shocked. Now, you just look unimpressed.

Loki somehow thinks it’s a great idea to charm his way to you.

A grin finds his way to his lips, curving widely with oozing allure.

Or so he thinks.

“Pardon me, but I believe we haven’t properly met and I didn’t catch your name earlier on.”

You don’t say anything, only blink in response.

Tough crowd.

Loki shifts in his seat.

“...What is your name?”

He articulates his words with care, and he doesn’t know why he finds it a need to tread lightly around you. Like with a touch, you will transform into a fiery beast from his childhood nightmares and eat him alive.

You and Mobius are polar opposites—personality-wise. It’s a wonder how the two of you get along.

Do you scare him? No. Definitely not.

Do you intimidate him? Perhaps. But, he will never admit it.

Maybe it’s the way you’re gazing at him with that constant, deafening deadpan look.

Then, you finally give him an answer.

“Agent.”

And with that, you're back to scribbling notes on a notepad.

Agent.

Loki scoffs silently to himself.

Well, that turned out to be completely pointless.

He turns his back to you, returning to scanning through Mobius' jet ski magazine within his grasp.

Loki doesn’t see how you’re now staring at the back of his figure, tapping your pen against the notepad absentmindedly.

Curious minds think alike.

-

You needed a change of scenery.

With all the noise of the muffling narration of the training videos from Mobius’ desk, you began to feel like you forgot how to do your job. The only job you were created for. The disturbance seems to be putting your brain into a frenzy and it’s preventing you from getting your head straight on report protocols. Trying to think of better words to describe the things you’ve seen on Sakaar that weren’t words that meant trash and didn’t end up sounding unintentionally sexual, is where you draw the line.

Times are hard for the variant turned analyst.

The archives are serene amid your solitude. Extensive tables hidden between shelves of identical-looking binders that expanded throughout the hundreds of floors of the building. The spot that overlooks the three looming statues of the Time-Keepers is your favorite. The occasional swish of a passing elevator calms your nerves from all the frustration and pressure ever since you were released from your arrest. You’re just happy to be somewhere familiar although it’s not home.

Although all distractions are gone, you manage to find new ones as you gaze at the glowing ‘357’ signage from across the building as you decide to let your thoughts run for just a little while. You feel like you’re looking through foggy glasses and your brain feels like it’s about to shut down any moment.

Dream away the pain, then.

Then, you hear a voice from afar. Two voices. It’s Mobius; you’ll recognize that quintessential Texan accent anywhere from the times he would rave about a new jet ski magazine he’d found on a mission...something along those lines.

Much to your chagrin, you also hear Loki with that irritatingly posh accent of his.

You should probably move somewhere else. Run and hide before you're being pulled even more into this mess because you know Mobius is trying to get you to spend as much time with the variant turned analyst to gain trust.

You’re still not sure how it’s helping with his case. Loki has better trust in Mobius than you as far as you’re concerned.

Before you could even gather the mess of your files, the two men you’ve been trying to escape are already by the desk you’re sitting at. You suddenly notice the stack of files on the other end of the desk, not remembering seeing the archivist putting that there.

Crap.

“Let me park ya at this desk and don’t be afraid to really lean into this work...”

You look like a deer caught in the headlights, signaling to Mobius that you really don’t want to share a desk with Loki. He continues to speak to him, ignoring your silent plea. Then, he gestures to the seat across from you.

There’s still time to leave.

Mobius addresses you with the stretch of his pointer finger.

“You, keep an eye on him. I’m gonna get a snack.”

Well, too late.

With a turn of a heel, you and Loki watch him walk away and pass neverending shelves of the archives. Once again, the two of you are left alone in the silence and the white noise of the TVA.

You meet each other's eyes at the same time, struck with the thought that you and he will probably be seeing each other a lot until the Loki variant is arrested. Plus, you’re tired of giving him the cold shoulder although you believe he deserves it.

This is a different Loki. The one who’s still power-hungry. The one who still wants to rule.

Time to start fresh.

You notice he now wears a jacket, a color somewhere between green, grey, and brown with a striking image of the TVA’s official badge above his chest. The lapels of his jacket jut out in an attempt to replicate his sense of pride and confidence.

He must have been on a trip with Mobius to the Renaissance Faire in Wisconsin, 1985. Oh, how you would kill to tag along. Everyone who knows you knows about your obsession with Earth’s music pop culture, specifically the 1980s. It explains the cassettes you have lying around. Your apartment has more of it.

Unfortunately, you're grounded. That's reality.

Thus, you decide that Loki deserves a second chance because he’s also somehow looking at you for some kind of approval. You’re starting to wonder if this is the same Loki that was tapping aggressively on your cubicle earlier on.

With an open palm, you gesture to the empty seat surrounded by stacks of binders and folders. It's the first time he has experienced some kind of acknowledgment of his presence that you weren’t ranting or screaming about. Oddly calm. Oddly inviting. Momentarily, he shifts in his stance, eyes darting between a fading figure of Mobius rounding the corner and to the seat, across from you.

The air is tense. However, still breathable.

Loki slides into the seat, legs shifting under the desk as it brushes against your by accident. You shoot him a pointed look, and he responds with a coy expression, blinking at you innocently. It’s mischievous.

Classic Loki.

You turn back to your case file, ignoring the way his gaze seems to burn holes into the side of your face for a fleeting moment before flipping a binder open from the stack to his left.

-

You snore when you sleep.

Loki wouldn’t describe it as a snore; it's more of a wheeze. Soft and subtle but it’s there, cutting through the ambiance of the archives, drifting and resonating in his ears. Through turning pages, uttering words to himself for his amusement, and having an irritating lady shush him for that, he realized how it became a lot quieter. The grazing sound of pen furiously scribbling words onto the yellow notepad has stopped.

Then, he hears it. Your pathetic snores. Your cheek is unceremoniously pressed against the back of your hand while the other holds the orange pen that’s still pinned down on the paper, mid-scrawl. The tip of the ballpoint pen sits idly, halfway through the curved stroke of the last letter of the word, ‘debris.’ He cranes his neck, face tilting in an attempt to read the chicken scratchings of your handwriting.

0132: L1190 hauls me through the time door and I miserably land on Sakaar, the planet of wastelands and debris.

You are quite...miserable. In a comical way. And he knows how much you hated your time on Sakaar—Mobius warned him of your apparent irritation in reminiscent of being stranded and then having to resume paperwork immediately. He wonders if he, too, is the reason for another boiling rage.

Apparently, you were pardoned on behalf of not only Mobius but the Time-Keepers as well.

You, an agent, are recognized by the holy and almighty Time-Keepers.

You, an agent, who sleeps with your mouth agape.

The statues of the TVA’s creators loom over him like they’re watching his every step. Every movement. Every lingering thought. Right now, he has the urge to uncover, perhaps deduce, the holes within this whole mess. In a carefully calculated and discrete movement, he reaches to prod you on the forearm. You don’t move.

He prods you again.

You still don’t move.

Now, Loki is trying to chat up the archivist who watches him through narrowed eyes, glasses framing the austere and rigid structure of her face, in favor of files that turn out to be classified.

Classified, classified, classified. Only able to gain access to his own file.

His journey from the desk proved to be useless and unproductive although the much-needed stretch somehow made it a little worthwhile.

When he returns, you're surprisingly still asleep, brow twitching and lips still parted.

Aren’t you supposed to be keeping an eye on him?

The pen you held has now left your grasp, rolled over to his stack of binders. He notices the words inscribed on it, ‘Mars is there, waiting to be reached.'

Through your fury and chaos, he knows there’s a part of you that feels, a part of you that loves. And you love everything about the Midgardians’ space program. It's shown in the way you cling to collected memorabilia.

There are dark circles that adorn your shut eyes, barely hidden under your lashes. You’re exhausted, fractured.

Loki is having a difficult time trying to suppress how he likes the way the frizz of your hair glows against the glowing table lamps from the desk behind you. You’re raw, flaws presented on a silver platter for everyone to see. Maybe, that’s the reason why you entice him the way you do.

He’s staring. Right. Back to work.

Loki returns to running through neverending case files, engrossed in the pixelated monochrome images that accompany the monospace typeface of endless reports.

Then, he sees it.

‘Destruction of Asgard’ in big, bold, and red letters. It glares at him sharply, images of his once divine home of Asgard, crumbling at the feet of Surtur. Buildings, people, engulfed in the flames of the fire demon. The prophecy of the end, Ragnarok—it was meant to be.

His home, it still was. Although an untrue Asgardian.

He knows how it ends. He knows he dies. He wishes his true self, the one on the Sacred Timeline, could have done more.

He doesn’t realize the forming tears that linger. He doesn’t realize that in the sense of premonition, you’ve awakened. He doesn’t realize that even with sleepy eyes, you notice the grief that glints in his eyes.

“Are you okay?”

With three words, you’ve struck him with those eyes that seemed all-knowing. You see through the facade he has created, sealing the true nature of what is truly a child that is afraid of his destiny and to lose all he had ever known. His mother, father, and brother. His people. You see through it all.

You know that face. You’d seen it on Sakaar when he sat at the doorstep of your makeshift home, watching the splintered moon drift through the star-lit sky. You’d seen it in yourself through the dusty reflection of the screen of the tempad.

He longs for home. He longs for family.

For a moment, Loki sees Frigga in your eyes.

Then, his world shifts, hauling him back to reality. It’s you who’s across his way, not his mother. Loki blinks, partly to get his head straight with the excuse to blink away the sting in his eye. He shifts in his seat, rolling his neck and squares his shoulders.

“Yes. I’m alright. It’s just...”

Trailing off, he clears his throat. You follow his gaze and from your spot, you catch sight of those deafening crimson letters. Maybe, it was the spur of the moment. You blame your drowsy state, but there’s a growing warmth that spreads across your chest from the pit of your stomach. It’s subtle, a spark, but evident. Before you know it, you’re uttering words that leave your lips faster than your brain could perceive.

“I’m sorry.”

You don’t know when was the last time you said those words and meant it. Loki doesn’t know when was the last time he’d ever heard those words addressed to him, spoken from the lips of a stranger. Until now.

You mean it. He sees it in the curve of your brows.

Loki swallows, nodding curtly. For the first time, he has nothing to say. And as quickly as the moment comes, he brushes it off and so do you. Whatever is reminiscent of a residing unknown feeling, bubbling within, has disappeared.

He sees your hand reach for the pen and for a while, he thinks you’re about to reach for his arm.

But no, you’re back to scrawling notes on the paper and he’s back to studying useless documents.

It doesn’t take long for the two of you to fall back into your normal antics as you find yourself chasing after Loki, who abruptly left the desk with wide eyes.

Curious minds think alike. Mostly.

TAGLIST:

@lareinedususpense

@poubxlle

@mystoragehatesme

@the-maroon-panda

[the-friendliest-freak]

Showstopper Album: Love is/Linda Lyrics and Analysis

I (x2)

Let’s live tonight

Like it was the last day

Like it’ll never be the same again 

If you’re crying or if you’re dead

It’s all the same

Two souls alive

Putting one for them both

It’ll never be the same again

If you’re crying or if you’re dead

It’s all the same

Now

Love is something so strong

Now

Dreams(?) goes so wrong

So, Linda, tonight

I’d love to see you dance

And sing

Some bourree

And clean

But it’s not right 

(This repeats 4 times)

Let’s live tonight

Like it was the last day

Like it’ll never be the same again 

If you’re crying or if you’re dead

It’s all the same

Two souls alive

Putting one for them both

It’ll never be the same again

If you’re crying or if you’re dead

It’s all the same

So, Linda, tonight

I’d love to see you dance

And sing

Some bourree

And clean

But it’s not right 

(Repeats twice)

My heart is suffering (x2)

My heart is suffering for you

The rabbit is starving (x2)

The rabbit is starving for you

So, Linda, tonight

I’d love to see you dance

And sing

Some bourree

And clean

But it’s not right 

(Repeats as it fades out)

Analysis Under Cut

For the life of me I cannot tell if the man speaking is Kranken or not. I struggle with recognising these things, someone send help.

Anyway, at the beginning, we get practically proof that these songs are from Felix’s perspective, as there are references to the murder of Ed and Molly. “Two souls alive / Putting one for them both” is confirming that Ed and Molly (“two souls””) are both “alive” so to speak inside the Rocket doll, who is the “one for them both”. 

“My heart is suffering for you” is Felix missing Linda. 

“The rabbit is starving for you” can be taken different ways. It can be taken as just a simple reference to the death of Susan Woodings - “the rabbit is starving, the rabbit is starving, the rabbit is starving” - or judging by the fact it resembles the previous metaphor for Felix’s suffering, it could serve as a hint that Bon and Felix are connected somehow.

“It’ll never be the same again” is probably referencing the aftermath of the car crash, where every character’s life was changed forever.

[kaitosimp]

hello kaito simp does this work lol playlist

teehee

Hi hi!! Yeah it worked!! :D Looking over it I only recognize starlight by muse so I'm excited to listen to the rest! Also it didn't let me listen cause it said I need a spotify acc so I'm gonna youtube them 😂

WARNING: THIS IS SUPER LONG CAUSE I GOT CARRIED AWAY WRITING LIKE ALWAYS LOL

The tiny glowing screens song is so cool! I just sat here vibing to it full on 🤣 The Kaito vibes hit me hard near the end aND DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED WHEN IT WENT ON ABOUT BEING ABLE TO DO ANYTHING AND THE JUPITER/UNIVERSE THINGS, ITS K A I T O

OMFG ELEVATE MADE ME THINK OF KAITO OVERCOMING ANY AND ALL OBSTACLES IN HIS WAY CAUSE HE HAS DREAMS HE WANTS TO FUFILL AND HOW HIS GOALS PUSH HIM FORWARD AND EVEN WHEN HE FEELS LIKE ITS ALL POINTLESS HE KNOWS HE HAS TO FIGHT ON????? GOD I LOVED IT SO MUCH

Supermassive black hole has Kaito written allll over it 👁👄👁 Idk if its just me but it sounds like him being in love in a very funky way!! And also him dying/being in some sort of pain cause of the one bit "dont you know i suffer", ow :,)

I KNEW IT- I FUCKING KNEW BLOOD ON THE GROUND WOULD REMIND ME OF HIS ILLNESS AND I WAS RIGHT 😭😭😭💔 ITS HIM LIKING SOMEONE IN THE KILLING GAME & BEING SICK AND BEING BITTER ABOUT IT STG

Gravity's union is right up my alley, I really liked this one!! I dunno was it is about it but man, its so captivating 👁👁 I don't know how to describe it but I got Kaito vibes (and pairings vibes but thats just me like always 💀🤣) its got this whole feel with gravity and collisions that it just makes sense??

Another one up my alley, greatness or death, I loved it!! RIGHT OFF THE BAT I GOT HIT WITH KAITO FEELS, WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN???? HIM FEELING BEAT DESPITE THE HEROIC OPTIMISTIC PERSONA, HIM BEING SICK, BEING DESTINED TO FUFILL HIS DREAMS OF GOING TO SPACE OR DYING FROM THE ILLNESS, THE LIE HE'S LIVED BEING THAT HE PRETENDED TO BE FINE ALL ALONG, THERES JUST SO MUCH THAT PERFECTLY FITS HIS SITUATION IN GAME!!! NOT TO MENTION WHAT A BANGER IT IS, ASDFGHJKL THIS IS MY FAVE ONE

Rise above it- Kaito oVERCOMING ANYTHING IN HIS WAY AND COMING OUT ON TOP ONCE MORE, I FUCKING LOVE IT

Stellar is literally Kaito's love song omf :,)) ITS LITERALLY ABOUT TAKING THE PERSON HE LIKES OUT TO SPACE, SPACE IN GENERAL, AND BEING IN LOVE????? ITS HIS MF LOVE SONG BYE

Loud like love made is so good it me want to be in love 💀😂 It feels like the backround song to a couple doing fun shit at 3 am, so gUESS WHAT I PICTURED IN MY HEAD- SAIMOTA BEING DORKS IN LOVE 😔✋🏽

J u s t from the title of my hero, i already picture it'll be from Shuichi's/Maki's perspective @ Kaito :,) "there goes my hero, watch him as he goes" aND I WAS RIGHT AND OH MY GOD WHEN IT SAID "dont the best of them bleed out" IT KILLED ME CAUSE OF KAITO'S DEATH 😭😭😭😭😭

Ngl with space lord I giggled every time it said "space lord mf" asdfghkl 😭😭😂 The first thing I thought about was just Kaito being a badass and just crushing his enemies 💀😂 Cause of the bits where it says he left his throne a million miles away (in space) and just from what the song says, its him reigning over and being a badass space king ��🏼

As soon as it said "i want to take you to the planetarium" in the planetarium song i automatically thought it was him asking someone out on a date 🤣 But then the 'faked sick' parts started and once again, I was reminded of his illness :,) It'll never stop hurting

Woahhh, using sounds like him learning how to accept himself and knowing his worth and overcoming his issues tbh!! bUT OFC "guess i missed coughing my lungs up every morning" ASDFGJKL WHY IS THERE A REFERENCE TO HIS ILLNESS IN ALL OF THESE IMA CRY

WHEN HIDEAWAY SAID "take the sky for example, a canvas of a billion suns but our local hero shines them out by day" I ALMOST SCREECHED- THE WHOLE SONG IS KAITO VIBES KAITO VIBES KAITO VIBESSSSSSSS

Lucky stars made me feel so s o f t :,))))) I dunno why but it made me think of a Kaito ship and them being star crossed lovers even tho its ironic cause it literally says thank you lucky stars :,) Its just so nice 😭😭

Man, I wonder what the disease song will remind me of 🥲 yEAH THERE IT IS, HIS ILLNESS OH MY FUCKING GOD I- THIS IS MY 2ND FAVE ONE FOR SURE, ITS LITERALLY HIM STRUGGLING WITH THAT SICKNESS AND ALL THE BAD FEELINGS SURROUNDING IT, IT FITS TOO WELL

Ahhh not the only one feels like Kaito trying to reach out and be there for the people he cares about while struggling with his own issues, or could also be him trying to convince himself that feeling down/sad/etc is normal and that he should accept any help he's offered 👀

Trust fall made me think of him starting to get interested in someone and taking that shit in strideeee, so the trust fall thing makes me think of him taking that leap of faith into love despite being a super new thing yes? 🌚

Mannnn, malboro nights made me want to fall in love like love like loud 😂 Kaito liking someone with a funky vibe for days!!

Taking off literally made me think of Kaito about to walk into that gODDAMN ROCKET IN HIS EXECUTION, DAMN 😭

I ALREADY KNEW STARLIGHT BUT I USE THIS AS AN EXCUSE TO LISTEN TO IT AGAIN, IT GIVES ME SO MANY KAITO FEELS ITS UNREAL 😭😭😭

I'm gonna fully pretend and convince myself the astronaut is about Kaito fufilling his dreams of going to space and becoming an astronaut in a non-despair au aND NOT HIM UP IN THAT ROCKET CONVINCING HIMSELF THAT HE GOT TO BE AN ASTRONAUT AND GOT TO SEE THE THING HE LOVES THE MOST IN HIS LAST MOMENTS-

Omfgggg for miles made me think of post-game Kaito 😭😭😭 BRO "all of our trials will be milestones on the way" "there's no greater love than the one who shed blood for his friends" AND ALL THE STUFF ABOUT LOOKING BACK AND BEING ALIVE ASDFGJKL ITS LITERALLY HIS SACRIFICE AND HIS LOVE FOR HIS FRIENDS AND THE NEED HE HAD TO SAVE THEM- POST GAME KAITO POST GAME POST GAME KAITOOOOO VIBES, THIS IS MY 3RD FAVE ON THIS LIST

Holy fucking shit I'm super sorry this is so long, I got carried away 👁👄👁 BUT IGNORING THAT, THIS HAS BEEN SUPER FUN AND I LOVED ALL OF THESE SO THANK YOU CAUSE SO MANY OF THESE ARE GOING TO MY OWN PLAYLIST YOU HAVE AN AMAZING TASTE IN MUSIC LEMME TELL YA 💜💜💜💜

[andsoshespins]

Monday Musings

Can we just appreciate Jesse McCartney’s “Beautiful Soul” for a moment?  It surfaced in conversation on Friday night, and randomly started playing as I listen to music this evening.

Maybe I have become a better selfie-snapper during this last year, sending GPOYs (Remember those, Tumblr?) to show my loved ones I was alive and well during long stretches of isolation. 

Or maybe I have become ::gasp:: more vain and enjoy the sight of my own face.

Which, for someone who struggled with self-confidence for a long time, might not actually be the worst thing.  Shrug.

I cannot believe it took me so long to appreciate Steve Rogers as a character, especially since his keeping of a notebook on pop culture is quite literally what I have been doing for the last year.

Hearing a Tumblr reference on Modern Family was so hilarious not only for its perfect fossilization in its heyday when that episode aired but also because it most certainly a Phil Dunphy thing. #kindredspirits

It is very difficult for me to enjoy Katy Perry songs.  I can last anywhere between 30 seconds to 1 minute and then MUST change the song. 

Cackling about crow’s feet around the eyes is the best kind of laughter.  

While I did not watch or read any Shakespeare on Friday in honor of the Bard’s birth and/or death day, I did have my students write a journal about what they would write a play about.  They came up with some creative ideas!  I was chuffed.

I created a PowerPoint for a virtual baby shower we held for a co-worker.  Me.  The non-mother and not-planning-on-being-a-mother.  Strange times. 

Related: Making the decision to bear children is such a heavy one.  No. Thanks.

Waiting for My Rocket to Come will always have such calming power over me. 

I have been on this website for a DECADE.  Officially.  Today.

[kasey9395]

BTS ON STAGE: THEN vs NOW

After watching the 2 HYYH concerts last night at BangBangCon D1 (whew, those Floor Seats were tough to get), I realized some interesting things that I probably knew before but didn’t consciously register it into my thinking. I was excited, as I’m sure many newer ARMYs were, because this was the first time we would be seeing some of BTS’ older concerts. Yes, I’ve seen countless clips from them but I’ve never seen one (pre-Wings era) in its entirety, so I was curious to see how the boys performed ‘back in the day’ and compare it to the juggernaut performances we are witness to today. Did they improve? Did they always slay? Did the songs connect more with the fans? I was intrigued.

Just for reference –

HYYH on Stage (SK) : 27th – 29th November, 2015.

                                     SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium (cap. 5000)

HYYH on Stage – Epilogue (SK) : 7th & 8th May, 2016.

                                     Olympic Gymnastics Arena (cap. 15,000)

Yes, these 2 concerts were roughly 5 months apart….Just 5 months.

Here goes:

1.   What they wore: Five months between these 2 concerts. F.I.V.E. And the difference in concert attire quality was staggering and probably indicated just how much of a boost the HYYH era was to BTS and BH in terms of finances. We know they were still struggling well into 2015 but to see it manifest in this manner, I don’t know, did something to me emotionally. For HYY, The boys had just 3 wardrobe changes (+1 with just a jacket added). Yes, their clothes looked cool (I loved their fashion concept for this era) but the quality in what they wore sometimes was blaring. It was so simple. Fast forward those five months to May 2016 and their attire and jewellery was more of the glitz and glamour we know the boys to have.

2.   Jungkook really…I mean REALLLLYY grew into his own in terms of stage presence and performing on stage at their own concerts. The Jungkook I know, absolutely owns the stage when he performs so I was a little taken aback watching HYYH as I felt his timidity and a bit of awkwardness at times on stage. But boy did that fly out the window in HYYH: Epilogue. Here, I saw the JK I know. Confident, cheeky, comfortable. I guess it just made me appreciate him more as I realized this natural charisma on stage we get today wasn’t always that natural to him.

By extension, I could also see a visible improvement in the comfort level of all the boys in being on stage in HYYH: Epilogue vs HYYH. They were all more playfully interactive with each other and their confidence level seemed like it sky-rocketed in those short 5 months.

3.   Jung Hoseok was always…ALWAYS the King of the Stage. I mean, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019…it does not matter. J-Hope’s stage presence has always been top notch, bar none. I felt from him then what I feel from him now. And, after seeing them live, I can say without a doubt, Hobi should be everyone’s ‘concert bias’. That man simply owns a stage.

4.   BTS has always had stellar live vocals in concerts. It’s that simple. No explanation needed.

PS. Geez do I miss Tae’s husky growls in songs.

5.   This is just my personal opinion from what I felt last night, but I could almost tangibly feel a shift in their on-stage aura when they performed their more hip-hop oriented songs. It was almost like they were more comfortable performing that area of their discography. They truly came alive then.

6. Min Yoongi’s passion on stage while performing is always 100% true and ‘felt’. That man bares his soul every single time he raps.

7.   BTS’ aura needs a big stage to unleash its full potential. Yes, it’s true they will always own every stage they step on no matter its size, but seeing them in on that HYYH stage made me feel like they were restricted because I know what they can do when given the physical space to do so.

8.   Their goals for their careers were so ‘within the box’. I can now better understand why they were so emotional in playing at Citifield…a STADIUM…in a country outside of ASIA.

Ultimately, these concerts have shown just how far these boys have come, further than they ever thought possible (and that is no exaggeration), just how hard they have worked for every single ounce of success they have achieved, just how much they have earned that success and last but certainly not least…that when it comes to a stage, there a few in this this world, if any, that can even come close to their dominance.

[karliesbuzzcut]

When art really speaks to you, pt. 2: probably just a coincidence but idk

Disclaimer: all these theories are rabbit holes on their own, so trying to explain them in a couple of paragraphs is, automatically, doing them a disservice. Especially since I’m only going to be primarily addressing the part of the theory that focuses on the artist communicating with their public through their work.

Since I’ve already dedicated paragraphs to the introduction in part 1, let’s just jump into it.

Leonardo Da Vinci’s fuckton of theories.

Let’s start with the daddy of all conspiracies. After all, not many can gloat about their reachings becoming a movie starring Tom Hanks.

The thing with Da Vinci’s conspiracies is that there are so many of them, and they range from “maybe this is also a painting made by Da Vinci but he wasn’t credited because of reasons” to ALIENS. Which, I think, shows how different our interpretations of art can be, and how much it depends on an already established worldview.

But the most interesting part isn’t the conclusions, but how people look for clues. For example, just like people say Taylor Swift is obsessed with numbers or oranges (depending who you ask, I guess), Da Vinci was supposedly a big fan of reflections. So, if you want to decode his paintings you must mirror them... and then move then a little bit... there you go, you’ve just found yourself an alien...! Or a daemon...! Or someone wearing a funny hat! And that’s totally what he wanted us to find, right? Why else would he had shown any sort of interest in reflections if he didn’t want us to reflect everything!!

Shakespeare is an illusion... kinda, but yeah.

Personally, I think Kaylors would love to dig into this one. Sure, it doesn’t have many lesbians playing political spies. But it does involve a lot of literature analysis. Just like Kaylors don’t think a heterosexual woman could’ve written Taylor’s songs; some people (referred as anti-Stratfordians, thank you very much) don’t think someone from a lower class could’ve written Shakespeare’s plays. 

Here’s the tea... the very cold tea: because Shakespeare was the son of a glover, anti-Stratfordians say he couldn’t have had the knowledge to write his plays. They, instead, come up with a list of “more suitable” writers that could’ve worked together. But they decided to keep their identities a secret because being a play writer, at that time, wasn’t respectable. Here, we will start noticing a trend with Conspiracy Theories: society, as a whole, can’t handle the truth, only a selected few. That’s where Francis Bacon comes in.

Francis Bacon was a very smart dude. He, also, worked for the state - giving him the credentials to be worthy of writing Shakespeare calibre plays. And also, also, he developed a method to conceal messages in the presentation of a text. To be able to do this, you would need to use two typefaces. Guess what has more than one typeface? Shakespeare’s plays.

I have to say - while I don’t believe either theory we have seen, they are somewhat understandable. We barely know anything about Shakespeare and Da Vinci beyond their work, so it’s normal that people are trying to figure out who they were; what did they believed in; where did they get all of their knowledge. We like theorising about the answers to these questions, knowing we’ll never get a confirmed truth. Not so the case with our next conspiracy...

Lewis Carroll was Jack the Ripper - someone had to be, right?

Now, allow me to fangirl all over this one. It combines my interests for conspiracy theories, true crime and pop-culture.

I’m assuming everyone here knows about Jack the Ripper: a serial killer who murdered at least 5 people (mainly prostitutes) in London, between the years 1888 and 1891. Well, someone looked at this and thought “you know what this murder-mystery is missing? Famous people”. Well, this theory says that the author of Alice in Wonderland did it He was the only celebrity living nearby at the time of the killings, so... 🤷‍♀️

This becomes a case of “I have already made up my mind about this issue, so I’m going to go ahead and search for proof that confirms it”. Authors and, now, internet sleuths went through his books, selected this random-ass excerpt from the nursery version of Alice and decided it was an anagram. And a crappy one at that. Supposedly, if you arrange the letters you get a detailed and gruesome confession. You, however, have to take away some letter and add others. Listen, I’m not an English major, but I’ve heard that’s cheating.

This theory also has that characteristic we mentioned: the “I don’t want to admit it out loud, so I’m going to come up with convoluted ways for my audience to figure it out” - which almost borders on psychotic behaviour. But at least it, somewhat, works with the serial killer narrative, you know? Not very much with Taylor, a woman who simply wants to chill with her girlfriend.

The moon landing was fake and directed by Stanley Kubrick.

I’m not going to dig into the moon landing conspiracy, this post is going to be long enough already. Just know that, when the USA government was planning to fake the whole thing, they had just watched ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ and they were all like “that’s so cool! That’s how we want our fake moon landing to look!” So they contacted its director, Kubrick.

According to the theory, Kubrick felt really guilty afterwards but he couldn’t say anything about it because he signed an NDA? it would be dangerous, I guess. So he did the same thing Taylor would do decades later: he “spelled it out” for us on his work, under the excuse of “I didn’t explicitly said it, did I? My most intelligent and attractive fans just happened to figure it out for themselves”. 

The movie ‘The Shinning’ has been analysed to shreds. Think ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ music video, but 2 hours and 26 minutes instead. There are many theories about its underlying theme, but we’re only focusing on the moon landing one. The biggest piece of evidence, according to believers, comes from that famous scene in the hallway. Basically, the kid, Danny, is on the floor playing and wearing an Apollo 11 sweater. He stands up = the rocket launches. He walks to Room N.237. Which is almost an anagram for MOON - but actually, a perfect anagram for MORON - I didn’t come up with that joke, I’m just sharing it. Anyway. In the book, the room number is 217 but Kubrick changed it to 237 because there are 237,000 miles between the Earth and the Moon... except that’s not exactly true, but this is their Kissgate, you see? 

“Paul is Dead” aka “the granddaddy of Kaylor is Real”

Now, this is THE conspiracy theory. Kaylors would love to have the amount of evidence this theory has. Give them 50 years, they’ll get there. 

Our story starts in 1966, Paul McCartney dies in a car accident. The British Government panics, “this will drive our teenagers into a massive suicide!” So they cover it up. They find this guy who looks like Paul and hire him to replace the original. 

You might’ve only heard about those stores where pop-stars get their beards. But there’s also a branch that focuses on celebrity look-a-likes.

The rest of The Beatles went along with it (because that’s how these artists seem to operate, they’re always the victims of their circumstances) but they did not like it. So - you guessed it - they used their music, artwork, photo-shoots, etc. to communicate the truth. Faux-Paul might’ve felt a bit awkward about it, but he’s a nice chap and let the other guys work through their grief. 

Kaylors might have agreed on blue being the colour of breaks up and yellow is for Karlie-Sunshine; but the Paul-truthers concluded white is the colour of heaven, jeans are for gravediggers and black for morticians... oh! And not wearing shoes means you’re dead. Taylor being near a door symbolises her leaving the closet; Paul being near an open trunk symbolises him being in a coffin. Is the letter K, for Karlie, surrounding Taylor? Well, there’s a 28IF in the plaques of a car, for Paul being 28 IF he hadn’t died. People hear a phantasmagorical “she” in ‘Call It What You Want’; just like people heard “I buried Paul” in ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’.

If you have never looked up this theory, I seriously recommend it. There are so many parallels with Kaylor. Here’s a 30 minute video, if you’re interested. It summarises the theory neatly while discussing the effects that these, seemingly innocent, conspiracies have on the way we absorb information.

Paul might be dead but 2pac is very much alive.

If I haven’t made it clear by now, I think it’s very deceptive to use a musician’s lyrics to back up your alternate version of events. As confessional as these verses can be, they’re still a form of art. Which, in terms of music lyrics, they need to follow certain parameters, as well as a desired sound. And, as many other forms of art, they might focus a bit more on transmitting a feeling, rather than an accurate portrayal of reality.

Why am I stopping to say all of this now? Well, because this specific theory relies a lot on Tupac’s lyrics.

A bit of context: In 1996, Tupac Shakur was shot 4 times while at a stoplight. He died from his injuries days later. While there are theories, to this day, no one knows who killed him. Unless you believe one of those theories, which claims no one did.

The believers of this theory cite Tupac’s lyrics to argue that he was explicitly telling his fans that he was going to fake his own death. Here are two examples:

I’ve been shot and murdered, can’t tell you how it happened word for word but best believe that n*****’ gonna get what they deserve. - Richie Rich’s N***** Done Change

I heard rumours that I died murdered in cold blood, traumatised pictures of me in my final states — you know mama cried. But that was fiction, some coward got the story twisted - Aint’ Hard 2 Find

Just like anti-Kaylors don’t necessarily oppose the idea of Taylor being gay; I bet the “antis” of this theory aren’t happy Tupac died and weren’t against his existence on the first place. It’s more of an argument about confusing your feelings with facts, just because they can be more comforting or exciting.

“Avril Lavigne is dead”... or “every artist you think is alive is, actually, dead and, the ones you think are dead, aren’t” I guess.

After everything we have seen, this one isn’t that interesting. The real Avril died in 2003, right after her first album. Her record label bought a new one. Proof? She says ‘dead’ in ‘My Happy Ending’, blah, blah. A poor man’s “Paul is Dead”.

I added it, mainly for the lulz, after the last entry, I needed them. But also because it all started with a blog. What’s hilarious is that the guy who created it admitted he only did it to show how gullible people are but, at that point, he had already convinced people about. The conspirators didn’t need him anymore. So they discarded him but not the Theory... which just reminds me a little too much of how TCG, HBH, Jennyboom &co. have been excommunicated from the Church of Kaylor.

Beyonce and Jay Z are members of the sexy sexy Illuminati.

I did not save the best for last. But maybe I’m just biased because the Illuminati theory bores me to death. However, if you allow me a bit of social criticism... remember how the Shakespeare Conspiracy started because a bunch of classicist people didn’t believe a lower class citizen could write such good plays? I think this one has a bit of that. I’d bet my life that this one started when a bunch of white dudes got super uncomfortable by black people being so talented and earning their successful.

What this Conspiracy shows, too, is the amplifying effect the internet has had on the proliferation of such theories. Most of the conspiracies I’ve mentioned were huge... but how were you supposed to communicate your ideas and add to the old ones, before the internet? You could publish a book. Talk about it at parties. And, at some point, there were internet forums but, still, you can’t compare that to how widespread Social Media is nowadays. 

Today, we can watch someone ramble for 2 hours on YouTube about how Beyonce looks like a robot if you watch Single Ladies in reverse; read someone’s dissertation of ‘Apeshit’; or spend all night looking at those pictures where someone has drawn a red circle around anything that resembles a triangle. 

It might look like a lot of evidence but that’s only because there are a lot of people very attached to this theory. Wanting - for whatever reason - for it to be true (perhaps because it would confirm that their fears about the world were well founded). And all those dozens or hundredths of people were working together to form as many patterns as possible.

Unfortunately we are going to keep talking about the Illuminati in Part 3 but also about Taylor, so that should be nice. Because - to the surprise of absolutely no one - there’s a bunch of people who also think they understand Taylor better than the rest. That they have figured out her secret codes and her ultimate message. Only, not all of those theories involve lesbian supermodels, so they aren’t as popular on Tumblr.

[devil-kindred]

death stranding adventures- final

I finished Death Stranding!

A recap on the events through the end of the game + my thoughts as they occurred below the cut! Beware spoilers if you haven’t played the game!

- left port knot with the order for fragile and found myself looking at a sea of the blob BTs- not exactly a joyous moment. I finally figured out why they look familiar though! They resemble the Portuguese man o’war! Which makes sense in keeping with the beached/aquatic creature theme given: the fish that show up after you defeat the catchers, the catchers themselves, THE WHALE, the little floating crabs, etc. The lions don’t fit the theme obviously, but I chalk that up to them being more of a Higgs thing? Since he’s the reason you encounter one in the first place.

- I got Sam through the floating BT minefield without too much trouble by hugging the moutainside and using the rifle to take out the ones that were closest to make a path. After that, there was a brief reprieve and then I had to fight a catcher BT. Did that then the normal BTs appeared once I progressed a little further. Made it past that, then rushed through mule territory and then, more BTs. This time 4-5 lion BTs (i don’t remember which but I know it was more than 3 because I thought I was done and then about got Sam stomped on by the one that I missed). Finally finished that and got a TON of chiral crystals for my trouble which was admittedly kinda nice, though my thoughts were mostly “please just let me finish this delivery T_T” by that point.

- Continued the trek to the Capitol Knot City and noticed the sky had changed from a color I refer to as “tornado green” to this very ominous red shade. Not a good sign, followed by rumbling noises that made a even worse sign. Nearly to the city gate (as in maybe the length of one of the bridges you can build level close) and then. A whale. Falls. Out of the sky. ._. Guessed it was time for round whatever number I was on at this point and once again, Sam with the standard reaction to weird BTs goes “what the fuck”. My thoughts exactly at this point.

- Climbed onto whatever thing that emerged from the tar was closest and then clambered onto a building that appeared. Was helped once again (as I was with the previous fights) by a ghostly Sam that lobbed all sorts of neat useful things my way, most importantly two grenade launchers and a multi rocket launcher. Thank you ghostly Sam! I would’ve been doomed without your help. Defeated the whale, collected more chiral crystals, then FINALLY made it to capitol knot.

- Delivered the items to Fragile who looked... really not well. I was concerned there was going to be another loss, but Sam waved a cryptobiote in front of her face and she woke up. Prior to Sam walking up to he, Mama/Lockne ran over and tried to hug him which Sam was (understandably) having absolutely none of but at least he was kinda gentle when he stopped her.

- They explained the whole thing that happened and how Fragile was essentially bounced back from Amelie’s beach and that she wanted Sam to go to her. So they have a long convo about how Sam needs to go and has to find a way to stop her, but also understand that he might not be able to come back. Pretty sobering, but ok. He and Fragile do the forehead touch (which I know helps but it’s so cute, I can’t) and she tells him to picture Amelie’s beach and feel the connection to her. Fragile does the same “I know you love her” thing as the first time and Sam gets sent over to the beach. Fragile looked very sad, chiral allergy tears aside. Which, given that she probably considered him a friend by this point, fits since there’s no guarantee he’ll come back let alone be able to stop Amelie.

- Elsewhere, on Amelie’s beach things are... not looking good. There’s dead sea creatures everywhere, the water’s red, and the sun thing looks like it’s going to turn everything on the beach into smoldering ashes any second. Sam finally finds Amelie after running around for a while and she reveals she’s an EE, which he already technically knew thanks to Higgs. Amelie explains a bunch of stuff and tells Sam to make a choice: stay with her and watch the world end (no thanks) or stop her. Sam pulls the gun which does no good and upon following her, gets a prompt to hug her. He does and they both get super emotional (which is in turn making ME get emotional) and then Amelie shoves him away.

- Sam plummets into the ocean and somehow gets bounced back to his own beach. Where he’s blue? For some reason. I don’t think it’s a tint because everything else on the beach looked the same colors it always was in prior sequences. He’s the only thing that’s not. Which, there is a reason for I’m sure. Anyways.

- Cue running along the beach for eternity a good while with Sam stopping every so often to sit down and catch his breath as well as reflect on what Amelie told him. Which was a lot. She explained that she and Bridget are one and the same, a separation of Ka and Ha that managed to coexist. She also says she got bored of waiting for the end and decided to bring about the extinction early and, while I can understand that’s her purpose as an EE, way to say fuck humanity I guess.

- In between more running and resting, it’s revealed that Sam is the BB Cliff (aka Mr. Combat Veteran) was looking for. His son. (Which you find out kinda after fighting him for the third? time.) Sam was apparently an experiement and a potential sacrifice (man this game gets dark fast) for something. Die-Hardman- aka John- told Cliff as much in less words and instructed him to take his son and run. Cliff does and bad things ensue when he gets cornered. John/Die-Hardman was given the order to shoot Cliff and when he refused to Bridget/Amelie made him, quite literally, by grabbing his hand and making him pull the trigger. My thought process during these has bacially centered around “wow Bridget is awful” but add the swearing of your choice to that sentence. Basically, I do not feel charitable towards Ms. Extinction Entity.

- Cliff took BB Sam out of the pod at some point and when Bridget shot him via using John/Die-Hardman as a puppet, she also shot BB Sam. Upon realizing this, she freaks out. Which is understandable given that she just killed a man and a baby. But what did she think was going to happen? That Cliff would throw his teeny baby son across the room when she pulled the trigger? What exactly was her expectation here?

- So BB Sam died and went to the beach. Or was it his own beach? They all start to blur together a little after a while. Amelie finds the BB, which is blue because it’s not breathing (ooh hey maybe that’s why adult Sam is blue? ... but my understanding is when Fragile jumped him to Amelie’s beach, all of him went— not just his soul. So maybe not? Is it symbolic? Am I just looking too hard into this?) and does infant cpr (I think?) and lo and behold, BB Sam is brought back to life! She tells him she knows the way home and puts him in the ocean. & in upsetting the balance of life and death, she made him a repatriate

- Once again back on the beach, Sam decides he’s had enough of being stuck there and remembers the gun and Amelie’s words that “a gun won’t help you here but it still has a role to play” and decides to use it as a way to end the beach cycle. There’s a click and then the title “Death Stranding”. I was very confused at first and just kind of stared at the tv like “that’s it? All that for—“ and then a little button prompt showed up on the bottom with the words “reconnect with the living”. Push the button and oh look, Sam’s still alive (Which is very much a joyous moment for me as a concerned player)! He tries again a few times and realizes it doesn’t work, then hears a very familiar song. Following the sound he finds little BB handprints in the sand and following those leads him to some familiar voices.

- Amelie/Bridget shows up again, this time in white as opposed to her signature red (i know there’s symbolism in that change, maybe rebirth? or just signifying that she’s trying to be on humanity’s side of things this time around?) and tells him that he still has ties to the living and then points at the five figures floating in the sky⏤ presumably meant to represent Deadman, Mama, Lockne, Heartman, and Lou. Or is it Deadman, Mama/Lockne, Heartman, Lou, and Die-Hardman? Following that, various voices belonging to those mentioned above remark that they can see him and just need to bring him back. Sam winds up in the ocean again (i’m finishing up this post almost a week after beating the game so my memory is tad iffy on the exact way things happened) and is greeted with the sight of Deadman holding Lou in her little pod while he’s got his hand around Sam’s ankle.

- They manage to bring him back to the land of the living and what follows is a fair amount of cutscenes. In the absence of Bridget/Amelie/Samantha ‘America’ Strand (the woman who never existed), Die-Hardman takes up the mantle of president (good for him!). He reveals his face to the crowd (and presumably everyone watching from... wherever they may be) and starts talking about the unsung hero none of this would’ve been possible without... which is about the time Sam, who’s been hanging out in the very back of the room (mood), decides to bail (also a mood). He slows a little when Die-Hardman says the hero doesn’t need to be named, they all know who it is and they’re all for grateful for their efforts. He keeps walking and exits into the hall and wow, BRIDGES buildings are a lot bigger than you’d think from looking at the outside which is large in general but inside is... a lot.

- Deadman catches up with him and drops some information about Die-Hardman aka John. Which I think Sam already knew due to the sequence while trapped on the beach but oh well. Sam continues down the hall and tries to pass Die-Hardman who appeared from somewhere? I’m going to guess parts of the facility loop or there was a change in scenery and I just wasn’t paying enough attention. He confesses information about his past, including how he got his name, and kinda has an emotional breakdown which made me very sad for him and increased the number of times i cried while playing this game. Sam gives Die-Hardman/John back his gun and repeats Amelie/Bridget’s words and leaves.

- Sam goes to leave the building and runs into Deadman again who hands over Lou’s pod and... Lou’s dead. Which was very depressing and the knowledge of which hurt. A lot. Deadman tells him to take Lou to the incinerator and takes Sam’s cuffs offline while giving some useful information: his location is undetectable by BRIDGES while his cuffs are offline and they will automatically reconnect to the network when he uses the incinerator. Sam nods, gives Deadman a hug and tells him “thanks for everything”. Which is more than a thank you, it’s a good-bye and kojima has now broken my heart into five billion pieces. Sam departs, gets out the big door, and... oh hey, Fragile!

- They chat briefly, during which she reveals that she’s carrying on her father’s legacy and that Fragile Express now has a private contract with BRIDGES and they’re the first independent company to have it. Good for them! She comments on Lou (I think) and remarks that he at least shouldn’t need an umbrella. Then asks him if he’d work for her. Sam says no and explains how he felt when he first began his journey and reveals he still feels that way (and now i’m even more sad! let’s take the five billion pieces that are my heart and just shove them in blender at this point, why not!). Fragile is upset and I think she tried to stop him again but he left anyways. 

- Thus begins the trek to the incinerator with BB’s Theme playing on the way there (it’s a wonder i could even see the tv at this point as the ending just keeps hammering the sad nail home). Finally made it to the incinerator taking the same path I did on the first visit (thanks Igor for the tools!) and Sam enters the building, takes off his cuffs and sets both those and Lou’s pod down on the incinerator before he remembers Deadman’s words. He snatches Lou’s pod back just in time and the slab descends into the floor, the doors seal shut, and turn his cuffs into ashes. It’s revealed that Sam took Lou out of the pod and not much has changed. He tries infant cpr and hearing his words the entire time literally had me sobbing. Sam says “come on baby’ and he’s crying (i’m crying and now the blended pieces of my heart are being run over by a steam-roller) until he finally gives up... and then... Lou lives! There are a bunch of baby BT’s floating nearby in the incinerator which is a little concerning, but hey Lou’s alive! Sam cradles little Lou to his chest and she’s so tiny⏤ her little skull is barely the size of his palm! Anyways, Sam and Lou walk outside and it starts to rain... but the sun is shining, the rain causes no harm to him or Lou (or Sam’s clothing) and a rainbow appears. The first normal rainbow in the entire game. Which is a good sign, I think? The title screen appears once more and woo! I beat the game!

This was a very unique and fun game, and I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of it. Between the music, the environment, the characters, and all the lore you can uncover by reading Sam’s mail... it was an amazing experience. I still have some trophies I’m missing and I think I only need 10 more to platinum the game so I’ll be playing chapter 15 for a little while longer. Plus I want to rebuild all the roads + find all the memory chips. I do want to replay the game in it’s entirety sometime just to see what i pick up on ahead of time the second go-around. And, while I may have beat the game, this is going to be another one of my forever fandoms. I don’t have much contributed right now, but I hope to have more things posted soon now that I know the whole story. if anyone ever wants to chat about the game, fic, or anything, feel free to send me a message!

[the-inept-artist]

The Next Step

It's my first time doing a Destiel oneshot, I hope to make my fellow shippers proud! I'm also considering doing an animatic to be posted to my Tumblr, but I gotta figure out the tech and get the right software first, so that won't be for a LOOOOONG time.

Supernatural doesn't belong to me, nor does "Angel With A Shotgun", or any other song mentioned.

Anyway, as always, please enjoy and review!

~oOo~

It was over. It was finally over.

Castiel nursed his beer from his spot just inside the library as the sound of happy people washed over him. Conversation and laughter floated out of the war room—

No, not war room. Foyer. They had no use for a war room anymore. Cas needed to remember that.

It had seemed like ages since Chuck had surrendered. Somehow, two hunters, an angel and a nephilim had managed to bring down the almighty creator of the universe. And Dean—intelligent, cunning, wonderful Dean—made Chuck swear on his every creation that he would bring back everyone the four had lost to his little game, along with repairing the dimension that Michael had destroyed.

So that was why Cas was watching Mary Winchester chat animatedly with Charlie Bradbury and Jody Mills. Watching John Winchester stand awkwardly in a corner beside Crowley, tipping back his third beer of the night. Watching Sam nearly double over in laughter in response to Gabriel's joke, Balthazar rolling his eyes in mock-annoyance. Watching Kelly Kline grin excitedly after beating Bobby Singer and Rowena MacLeod at cards for the fourth time in a row that night. Watching Jessica Moore try to explain what college was to Amara. And many more revelers, all smiling and happy and alive.

"Hey." Cas nearly jumped from his seat as he noticed Jack standing beside him, looking at him concernedly. "Are you okay? We won, you should be celebrating."

Cas settled back, idly twirling his beer bottle and watching the alcohol swish around inside. "I know, and believe me, I'm ecstatic. It's just…I don't know."

Jack pulled up a chair and sat beside him. "Not sure what to do now?"

"Yes, that's it. Ever since I met Dean and Sam, there's always been an enemy to fight. Lucifer, other angels, the Leviathans…there's never not been a struggle." Cas sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure if that makes sense."

"No, no, I get it." Jack leaned his arm on the table and shifted in his seat. "I am a bit restless as well. But I say we make it through the party tonight, and tomorrow we figure out what to do next."

Cas mulled over the nephilim's words. "That sounds…doable."

"Hey everyone!" Dean's voice echoed over the clang of the metal door. Kevin Tran peered over his shoulder, bucketloads of Chinese food in his hands. "Lookit what the kid and I got!" The two headed down the stairs. Cas got up off his seat and joined the throng of people, Jack not far behind him.

"A karaoke machine?" Mary said, reading the box Dean held. "Where in the world did you find that?"

"We stopped in a tech store on the way back from the Chinese place," Kevin said, moving to the table to unladen his arms. "Dean insisted."

Dean smiled sheepishly. "I thought it'd be fun. Any takers?"

Charlie shrugged, a smile gracing her face. "Why the hell not, I'm in."

Several others followed the redhead's example, nodding and murmuring their agreements. Crowley and John took a pass, but more or less the majority of the party decided to partake in the fun.

Sam came up to Cas as he was watching Dean set up the machine. "You joining in?"

Cas glanced at the younger Winchester before returning his gaze to the elder. "I may. Not sure."

Sam nodded. "Gabe's definitely doing it. I'd bet all my money that he'll do "Sexy Back"."

Cas cracked a small smile. "That's my brother for you. Do you think you'll sing something?"

"Ah, nah." Sam rubbed the back of his neck as Dean hooked up the mic. "I've never really liked singing, and certainly not in front of people. Dean, on the other hand—"

"I call first!" Dean yelled, quickly straightened up from behind the machine. He grabbed the microphone and started scrolling through the songs, ignoring Charlie and Kevin's playful boos.

Cas nodded sagely, fighting a chuckle. "I see."

For a time, Cas enjoyed the many performances put on. Dean gave a rousing rendition of "I'm Too Sexy", to which Crowley immediately groaned and left the room. Cas found his face a bit hotter than normal as he watched Dean move to the music. But as Charlie took the makeshift stage, he attempted to calm himself and focus on the coming acts.

Charlie sang "One Woman Army", and Kevin managed to stumble his way through "Die Young". Jess ended up being the jewel of the party, singing "I Wouldn't Mind" with the most beautiful voice. True to form, Gabriel performed "Sexy Back", complete with some more than inappropriate dance moves. Funnily enough, as Cas looked around a while later, neither Gabe or Sam were to be seen.

The two finally came back just as Amara was wrapping up "Never Enough". They seemed much more giggly and closer than before, Sam having an arm casually slung around the smaller angel. Though, Cas, noted, Gabe was wearing Sam's coat. And Sam's mess of hair certainly was…messier than usual.

Cas smirked to himself, turning his gaze back to the head of the room. About time.

"Oi, Cas!" Cas was startled for the second time as Dean materialized beside him. "You haven't sung yet, c'mon!"

"Oh, um. I don't know," Cas said lamely. Dean chuckled and pulled him up off his seat.

"Please?" The hunter wiggled his eyebrows, which made Cas's stomach explode into fuzzy bumblebees, tickling his sides and making his head feel light. There was something about Dean's ernest and hopeful expression that made his face flush and he couldn't help a small smile escaping.

"O-okay," the angel timidly agreed, letting Dean lead him to the stage. He waited, awkwardly staring out over the idly chatting audience as Dean bent over the machine.

"Alright, you touch here to scroll up, and here to scroll down," Dean explained. "Hit this to confirm your song, and have fun!" He stepped down the stairs and started chatting with Mary, leaving Cas to his own devices.

Cas looked through the music selection with trepidation. Nothing he saw immediately jumped out. Everyone had somehow found a song to describe them, yet he—wait. Cas stopped scrolling and eyed the song title. "Angel With A Shotgun".

Cas remembered this song. It was one of the songs that convenience store he once worked at had on shuffle. The first time he had heard it, his thoughts had instantly jumped to Dean, much to his confusion and mild embarrassment at the time. Though as he listened, waiting for the next time it would play softly over the store speakers, he realized that there was a certain…pull, to the song. To how it somehow took every puzzling feeling he had and explained it clearly and concisely.

The song had helped him admit to himself and accept that he had a—what did humans call it?—a thing for Dean.

Cas's eyes flicked from the karaoke machine to Dean. He had long ago shoved the small piece of hope to a remote corner of his heart, but now that hope was shining through, almost hurting his chest with its strength and brilliance. They were free now, with nothing to hold them back or worry about. Could he…could they have a chance?

"C'mon, Cas, pick a song!" Dean exclaimed. Cas was shaken from his thoughts as they rest of the party realized who was onstage and began to clap and cheer encouragingly. The bumblebees in Cas's stomach were now rocketing around, pinging lightly off their walls.

He took a breath and before he had time to back out, selected "Angel With A Shotgun".

The familiar opening started, and Cas relaxed a bit. It's not like you're doing this blind, he reasoned with himself as the backup singers sang their parts. You know the song, and you have the lyrics. You'll be fine. Glancing out over the audience, he caught Dean's eye, who smiled and gave a thumbs up. Cas's heart skipped a beat as he cleared his throat and hastily looked down at the screen. Probably.

"Get out your guns, battles begun

Are you a saint, or a sinner?

If loves a fight, than I shall die

With my heart on a trigger."

Cas knew his singing voice wasn't the best. He was a bit too low in pitch, and he was probably holding the microphone too close. But as people listened and he warmed up, he felt his nerves settle down. The bumblebees faded away.

"They say before you start a war

You better know what you're fighting for

Well baby, you are all that I adore

If love is what you need, a soldier I will be

I'm an angel with a shotgun

Fighting til' the wars won

I don't care if heaven won't take me back."

Cas couldn't help bouncing on his toes a bit. Jack whooped, and he felt a slight smile break out. Chancing a quick glance at Dean, he saw the hunter nodding his head in time.

“I'll throw away my faith, babe, just to keep you safe

Don't you know you're everything I have?

And I wanna live, not just survive tonight

Sometimes to win, you've got to sin

Don't mean I'm not a believer

And Major Tom, will sing along

Yeah, they still say I'm a dreamer."

Cas never really understood who this "Major Tom" was, but he knew that human music could be vague and have odd references. He didn't think too much of it as he moved into the beginning of the second chorus.

They say before you start a war

You better know what you're fighting for

Well baby, you are all that I adore

If love is what you need, a soldier I will be."

He wasn't thinking anymore. He was openly grinning, moving in time with the music, even jumping about a little bit. He felt as though he were invincible. Is this how all humans feel during karaoke?

"I'm an angel with a shotgun

Fighting til' the wars won

I don't care if heaven won't take me back

I'll throw away my faith, babe, just to keep you safe

Don't you know you're everything I have?

And I wanna live, not just survive tonight."

As the music slowed, so did Cas. He swept his eyes over the audience, landing on Dean. Dean was smiling, the lights reflecting in his eyes like stars over a deep green sea. He's so beautiful.

"Oh, oh whoa whoa oh whoa

Oh, oh whoa whoa oh whoa."

Cas kept his eye contact with Dean. The bumblebees returned tenfold, some appearing in his throat, stinging slightly. Yet he never faltered, never wavered. He wanted Dean to listen and understand what he was saying.

"Oh, oh whoa whoa oh whoa

Oh, oh whoa whoa oh whoa."

Cas stepped down from the makeshift stage, ignoring the amount of eyes that were on him. As the music all but stopped, he set down the mic and strode right up to Dean. The hunter's eyes widened in surprise, and though it may have just been the lighting or alcohol, Cas swore he saw his cheeks flush. He lowered his voice, gazing into Dean's eyes as his lips smiled with the unasked question.

"I'm an angel with a shotgun

Fighting til' the wars won

I don't care if heaven won't take me back."

And Dean—the man who once clung tight to him as they ascended from Hell, the man who always had his back, the man he had fallen in love with—took his hand, smiling as he nodded. Cas's head instantly felt weightless, and he thought his face would split from the size of his grin as launched into the final chorus.

"I'm an angel with a shotgun

Fighting til' the wars won

I don't care if heaven won't take me back

I'll throw away my faith, babe, just to keep you safe

Don't you know you're everything I have?"

Almost laughing, Cas spun Dean around, pulling him closer. He saw in his peripheral vision people smiling joyously. Sam was giving an approving thumbs-up, and Crowley, Gabriel and Balthazar were going around collecting money from others. But his main focus was on the man in front of him, beaming widely, blushing freely.

"And I want to live, not just survive, tonight

And I'm gonna hide, hide, hide my wings tonight."

Dimly, Cas realized he should finish the song back on the steps. But as he went to reluctantly pull away, Dean tightened his grip and pulled him, if possible, even closer. Now it was Cas's turn to be surprised as Dean gently cupped his face and quietly sang the last few lines.

"They say before you start a war

You better know what you're fighting for

Well baby, you are all that I adore

If love is what you need, a soldier I will be…"

Dean trailed off as he pressed his lips to Cas's. Cas's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before he relaxed, nearly melting against Dean. Sure, he had been hoping for a yes, maybe even a hug after the song, but this…this went beyond his wildest dreams. He could even ignore everyone going nuts and yelling in gleeful surprise.

Cas had no more doubts about the future now. No more qualms about the next step, or anxieties over what the rest of his life would be like with no enemies. No, he thought as he and Dean broke apart to grin at each other. I know what I want to do.

I want to be the one to make him smile like that for the rest of his life.

[lovelyirony]

made up fic title- the fuckening and the bees

Gamora wasn’t actually quite sure what was up with the new kid. All she knew was that he came in, music blasting, and sat down next to her as easy as can be. 

No one sits by her. Not even new kids who don’t know how the system works all the way through. 

But here’s this guy in a leather jacket, scuffed shoes, and his hair isn’t brushed, and he’s bopping his head along to music. 

“Like Electric Light Orchestra?” He asks, catching her stare. “That’s what this is. I personally like ‘Evil Woman’ but ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’ is also a bop.” 

“Who are you?” Gamora asks. “Why are you sitting here?” 

“My name’s Peter,” he says, grinning. “Most everyone calls me Star Lord.” 

“Do you call your mother ‘everyone’?” Gamora asks. 

His eyes dim for a moment when people laugh. She feels only a bit bad. 

“Nah,” Peter says. “What’s your name?” 

“Gamora.” 

“For real?” 

“For real.” 

He follows her. Not in a creepy way, really. Sure, it’s annoying as all hell. But he finds out that she’s a guitarist in a band and that they need someone to get them into the venue that they’re trying to go for, and they need to come up with a cool name that doesn’t suck. 

“I like ‘Fuckening and the Bees’,” Nebula says, twirling a drumstick around her hand. 

“We don’t make metal grunge rock,” Gamora says. “Besides. The name sounds stupid.” 

“It’s kinda cool,” Peter says, but moves on quickly after Gamora sends him a glare. “But, as to your venue problem...I think I have it solved.” 

“How.” 

“I know a guy who knows a girl who knows a girl who knows the hostesses. The hostesses know the manager. You’ll be playing there next Friday.” 

And they are. Gamora feels so alive onstage, even if their band doesn’t have a name and Peter’s in the front row dancing wildly. 

They get favorable reviews and an offer to perform at one of the small theaters. 

They still need a name. 

“What about the Ravagers?” Rocket asks. 

“Sounds like a Rambo spin-off,” Nebula snorts. 

“How about the Lone Starshines?” Mantis suggests softly. Nebula kisses her hand, but shakes her head no. 

“Ugh,” Gamora groans. “All we need is a band name. One, stupid band name that won’t make my head want to fly off into the galaxy.” 

“Guardians,” Peter responds. He’s been quiet for a bit, thinking about the poster. “What about...Guardians of the Galaxy?” 

It sounds cool. They could pull out some more of the space references that they’re fond of. It’s a good thing to go. 

Gamora gets to know Peter as the performances roll on. He loves eighties music, hates opera with a burning passion, and one time at an entire jar of pickles when he was sad. 

“That’s...disgusting.” 

“Hey, nobody’s perfect. Except for Pepper Potts. She’s actually pretty perfect.” 

“You’re right about that.” 

Peter films all of their concerts, and even gets them to do some covers of songs for YouTube. 

They get noticed for one of his favorite songs, actually. “Come and Get Your Love.” A record label notices it, wants a couple of demos, and...

They take off. Their videos skyrocket in popularity, interviews are scheduled, and Peter still makes sure that they’re all okay. 

“Nebula, just please wear the purple facepaint,” Peter begs. “It’ll look cool.” 

“Fuck you,” she snorts. 

“Get Mantis,” Gamora mouths at him. 

“You’re a lifesaver,” Peter mutters back.  

When they get on their first tour bus, Gamora finds that she likes having time alone. It’s not easy being surrounded by thousands of people all the time, and she’s not really good at interacting. 

Peter helps a lot. He comes over and takes her hand and makes her listen to his unbearably cheesy music, but he smiles and it’s the best thing in the world. 

(Don’t tell him that she said that. She’ll kill you if you do.) 

[starkercrossedlovers]

Dying, Surviving, Living

{AN:  There are three places within the story that mark songs that should be played. They are marked as follows: *, **, ***.} 

*This is what dying feels like

He realizes it as he breathes, lungs burning with every inhale and exhale, vision blurring at the edges and mind desperately working to stay awake, alive, for one more breath, one more slow blink, just one more…

He’s left a message for Pepper, the last of his energy fading as he watches the slow creep of space, the icy cold of it pressing against the glass.

There’s no way out of this, he knows.

This is what dying feels like.

“Mr. Stark? Hey, Mr. Stark!”

His eyes flutter open with a sigh. He wasn’t really asleep even though he’s exhausted, he’s too worried about going to sleep and never waking up. It’s probably the kindest way to die, but there’s some primal part of him that screams to fight, to keep breathing, even as it burns.

Through hazy half drooping eyes he squints at the figure crouched next to him.

“Hey! You know Mr. Stark, you should really get something to eat, you don’t look so good.”

A tired smile curls his lips and he sighs, nodding. “Probably right about that kid. Nothing left to eat though.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t worry Pete, it’ll be okay.”

Peter smiles at him softly, kindly. “Sure it will Mr. Stark. Especially if you attach that coupler to the filtration unit from your suit and use it to recycle the air in here.”

Eyes widening, Tony stares dumbly at him and then collapses back against the hull of the ship, laughing. It’s tinged with hysteria and feels too loud, but it’s a release valve for the grief and anxiety that’s been welling inside him for days.

“Quit talking to the dead Stark, we’ve got work to do.”

A foot connects with his shin and he looks up, glare sliding away into confusion when he sees Nebula standing over him with a disgusted look.

Peter is gone….which makes sense, as he was never really there to begin with.

It hits him again, that the kid is dead and it’s fault and he wants to vomit and scream and curse, or maybe just die because then he wouldn’t have to feel this agony.

Nodding, he takes the hand Nebula offers him, grimacing as he goes lightheaded and his heart squeezes in his chest painfully.

As they walk away, he feels ghostly fingers on his neck and shudders at the whisper he knows only he can hear.

Don’t give up Mr. Stark, I need you

This is what dying feels like.

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

By some miracle they cobble together the parts from his suit to the air purification system and within a few hours it’s noticeably easier to breathe. There’s still nothing to be done about the lack of food or water, but he’s been studying the life support systems and he thinks he might have a solution soon.

“What if we filter the waste system and purify it into potable water?”

He hums, “Not a bad idea kid,” he agrees, avoiding the look he knows Nebula is shooting him.

So what if he’s seeing and hearing Peter? He’s going to die and if it means he gets to have him around, well, he’ll take it. Even if it does leave him guilt ridden and sobbing when the kid does disappear.

He’s never gone long, maybe a few hours at the longest, and Tony can’t write it off as oxygen deprivation anymore, this is just him, going straight up crazy.

He tried blocking Peter out for all of an hour, chest aching as the kid asked in a soft, wounded voice what he had done wrong. After that he had decided being crazy was better than being alone.

He and Nebula fiddle with the waste filtration system for hours until finally, it’s producing clean, drinkable water. The first glass they share is warm, tastes a little like greenery, but it’s still better than nothing.

Tony tears up when they drain the glass, his thirst raging to life in the back of his throat. It’s like a desert, aching for relief but for now he ignores it. The system needs to cycle a few more times and he’s exhausted, so he heads to the little nest he’s created, draws a blanket around himself and watches the universe slip past.

He wonders if Pepper’s even alive to get his message, if anyone he knew and loved is left.

“You look tired Mr. Stark, why don’t you rest?”

He sighs and rolls his chin to find Peter reclining against the opposite wall, concern on his kind young face. He smiles at the kid, heart aching with how much he misses him and his pop culture references and wide eyed enthusiasm for just about everything Tony says or does.

“Hey kid. Was going to sleep now, that sewage filtration idea of yours was a good one though, thanks.”

“Sure Mr. Stark! Why don’t you close your eyes, I’ll keep watch.”

Tony would protest that it isn’t possible for him to keep watch, that he’s not real, but he’s so tired he can’t even form an argument so he closes his eyes and sinks down.

A moment later he feels fingers running through his hair and he leans into it, tears rolling from behind his closed eyes.

“I miss you Peter.”

“I’m right here Tony.”

No you’re not

He doesn’t say it, but it’s heavy in the air between them.

This is what dying feels like.

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

It’s entirely by luck that they make it back to Earth. They come upon an abandoned ship floating through space and after a quick inspection, Nebula deems it travel worthy. They’re lucky enough that it has a warp drive that they utilize to get back in just a few hours.

They guide the ship to New York, the lightless, lifeless city below sending a shiver over his spine. Steve stares at him in shock, and then they’re lurching towards each other into a rough embrace, tears rolling down both their faces.

They’re a ragtag group, and their newest addition is a woman out of time, convinced that the way to beat Thanos is to go back, change things before they ever happen. He’s too tired to argue the possibility of creating a time anomaly, so he just nods along, eats his food and works on his suit.

He wanders the compound late at night, drinking too much, talking to Peter and wishing it had been him who had died instead. The kid is always close by, murmuring to him ideas for the suit or offering opinions on the fight to come.

If anyone notices the fact that Tony’s drinking too much and talking to a dead kid, they don’t say anything. Steve hesitates the first time he catches it happening and then asks nonchalantly what Peter thinks about trying to make Loki an ally when they go back.

After that there’s no question that despite the oddness of the situation, Peter is there to stay.

This is what surviving feels like; numbness, desolation, grief so deep it’s like a fathomless ocean.

Dying was better.

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

They succeed, miraculously, in going back. It’s startling to see himself looking so young, but soon they’re battling the Chitauri and capturing Loki and removing the mind control Thanos had placed him under, and then it’s on to the next step of the plan.

“Duck Mr. Stark!”

Tony dodges a blow from one of Thanos’s minions, barely missing being decapitated before Steve is lunging in and shattering its skull. They share a brief appreciative grin before they slide into combat once more, soaking to the skin in blood.

It stinks, sticks and dries uncomfortably, and when he’s in the shower, he scrubs his skin until it’s raw and red and still, he doesn’t feel clean. He collapses onto the tiles below him sobbing, gasping for air, arms wrapped around his middle, desperately trying to hold himself together.

Ghostly fingers brush against his forehead, and when he looks up it’s into Peter’s kind eyes, soft with concern and affection. “Just breathe Mr. Stark, just breathe,” he whispers, pulling Tony into his arms and holding onto him as he sobs.

“Shh, it’s ok. I’m here. Just breathe.”

This is what surviving feels like.

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

“You need sleep Mr. Stark.”

He nods. Takes another sip of whiskey.

“Sure kid, once I’m done here,” he agrees tonelessly.

Fingers brush through his hair and he can see him, from the corner of his eye, more real than he has any right to be, watching him with concern.

“Please? Come to bed?”

Tony swallows hard, shivers running over his skin as Peter’s hand covers the back of his neck, slim fingers brushing against his skin softly. Heat builds at the touch and he leans into it unconsciously, sighs when Peter’s thumb rubs soothing circles into his jaw.

“C’mon Tony, lets go to bed.”

So he does.

He follows his ghost to his bedroom and orders FRIDAY not to let anyone in and strips before crawling into bed, headache throbbing away behind his eyes.

He smiles when fingers brush his forehead, soothing and gentle. A kiss to his temple has him curling towards Peter, aching for more of the gentle touches. It’s wrong, he knows, to want Peter like this, even if he was real, it would be wrong—age of consent be damned.

He’d always made sure he brushed off the hero worship and the too long stares the kid sent his way—he’s fucked up, but he’s not that fucked up...right?

Peter’s hand tilts Tony’s chin, warm brown eyes smiling at him before he leans down and presses his lips to Tony’s.

“Go to sleep Mr. Stark, I’ll keep you safe.”

He does, with Peter’s fingers raking through his hair and his quiet voice humming softly a tune that Tony knows, but can’t remember.

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

“I’m just saying! Should we really be relying on a guy who’s talking to a dead kid?”

The room goes silent, tension in every body as they all either studiously look away or glance over at him.

He can’t even blame Rocket, as weird as it is to say, because yea, he’s not the most stable, but he’s holding it together. And that’s all he has to do, keep holding on until they get everyone back.

Once he gets Peter back—and Pepper—he reminds himself forcefully, it’ll all be ok again. He just has to fix what’s broke—himself included.

Steve shakes his head at the raccoon, “Tony knows what he’s doing. I trust him with my life.”

Tony looks at the other man in surprise, but nods his thanks. They’ve come a long way since he returned to Earth, but they have further to go. Eventually he gets up and leaves the conversation behind—he doesn’t actually care if they think he’s sane or not, so long as they fix this, it doesn’t matter.

“It does matter Tony...you have to hold on. Don’t let go of who you are,” Peter pleads softly as he messes with the nanites in his lab, hands shaking at the sound of Peter’s voice. It’s been a few days and he had started to worry Peter was gone.

“I’m never gone Tony. I’ll always be here for you.”

Tears blur his vision and he sobs, curling in on himself as Peter’s arms wind around his shoulders and pull him into his chest.

His lungs feel like they’re shredding, copper heavy on his tongue as he bleeds out inside, heart cracking inside its cage between his ribs. He wishes he could rip it out and leave it on the floor, useless broken thing that it is.

This is what surviving feels like.

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

It takes all of them to fight Thanos, the battle bloody and ruthless, but eventually they kill the mad Titan and take the gauntlet to be destroyed in the same place it was made. The stones are destroyed, despite Strange’s wariness to lose them—convinced they could be used for good—an idea Tony would have agreed with once upon a time.

Before Thanos.

Before Peter dissolved into ashes before his eyes.

Before he had to hear him plead with Tony—please Mr. Stark, I don’t wanna go!

Across the universe order is restored, loved ones lost return. He watches as Steve and Bucky embrace, Quill and Gamora reunite, T’Challa and Okoye...person after person...stomach plummeting when neither Pepper nor Peter appear before them.

He’s failed.

His heart turns to ice in his chest, numbness spreading through him and he leans a little heavier into Nat, her eyes wary on him, too knowing for his liking, but he can’t...he can’t do this anymore.

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

** Steve decides to stay in the 40’s with Peggy—no longer a man out of time. When he offers his shield to Bucky there’s a collective moment of shock before the man nods and takes the iconic piece of vibranium, the mantle of Captain America passed on.

They return to their timeline, broken, battered and bruised and as the team celebrates he slinks away from the rest of the group, everything too loud and bright.

Surviving sucks.

The door to his quarters shuts with a soft metallic sound, the lock engaging a moment later and an order to FRIDAY will ensure his solitude. He plans on getting blindingly drunk and sleeping for a week, celebration be damned.

He chuckles bitterly; what do they have to celebrate?

Steve is gone.

Thor is gone.

Peter is gone.

The strongest, bravest, best members of the Avengers, lost, forever.

A sob hitches in his chest as his eyes burn, tears welling up. Is this surviving? He hates it. Doesn’t want it.

“Mr. Stark?”

Head whipping up, he blinks through his tears and finds the familiar figure of Peter Parker, sitting on the edge of his bed.

Smiles tremulously.

“Hey kid, glad to see you’re still with me.”

Peter’s brow furrows, “I...I mean, yea, of course Mr. Stark, always.”

Tony manages a weak smile and pours himself a drink, sips the burning liquid and shudders as it spreads through him.

“Are you—should you drink like that?”

 Tony snorts and turns back to the kid, “I’d say I earned it, don’t you think? Saving the universe and all?”

 “Yea, but, why are you still not happy?”

Tony half sobs and stares at him incredulously. “Happy? Kid, how could I be happy? You’re gone! Dead! And the only reason I’m seeing you is because I’ve finally gone flat out fuckin shit house crazy!” he shouts, “Do you get it? I’m broken! I-I’ll never be Iron Man again. I’m done!”

Peter stares at him, aghast, confusion and hurt staining his face. “Mr. Stark…”

“No! No...I can’t Peter. I need...fuck, I need you...but if you stay…” Tony shakes his head ruefully and laughs bitterly, wipes at the tears on his face, “I’ll jump out that fuckin window someday. I can’t live not having you. I can’t remember that I failed you every time I look at you.”

He’s pleading now, frozen heart shattering in his chest as he begs his ghost to stop haunting him.

“Please Peter, please go. Please.”

There are tears on Peter’s face now too and Tony sobs, swallows down a gulp of whiskey and curses, fills the glass again with fumbling hands.

“I’m not dead.”

Tony stills for a moment and then shakes his head. “You are. This is just my fucked up mind trying to give me what I want.” He exhales shakily, “But I can’t have you kid. You’re not real.”

“Please Mr. Stark, I promise I’m real!” Peter begs, half sobbing now too.

Tony whirls and glares at him, “Stop! S-Stop torturing me!” he snarls, “I can’t love you and not have you,” he hisses, “Don’t you get it?!”

Peter stares at him wide eyed as Tony breathes unevenly, tears in his eyes once more. The kid shoots to his feet and stalks over, grabs the glass of whiskey and chucks it at the wall, both men startling at the crash.

“I am not dead,” Peter tells him lowly, firmly. Reaches out and grabs Tony’s wrist, holds on as he tries to fight. “Feel that? I’m real dammit!”

Tony shakes his head furiously, yanking on his wrist even as part of him remembers that when Peter touched him it had been like a gentle breeze on his skin—fleeting and barely there.

This is...real.

Alive

Warm

Tony stills as Peter’s hands tighten around his wrists, dark eyes gazing up at him steadily, determined.

“I’m real,” he whispers, “I promise.”

A half choked sob punches out of Tony and he tugs a hand free, shaking as he reaches out to touch Peter’s face. The boy smiles and leans into it, warm and solid and real against his palm.

“Peter?” Tony whispers hoarsely, painful hope burning inside him, and he knows, it’s either real, or he’s so far gone it doesn’t matter anymore. If he’s so crazy that he’s able to touch his hallucinations, he’s going to lock himself away in a remote location and live out his days in pleasant insanity.

“Have you ever been able to touch me before? When I was gone?” Peter reasons, likely seeing the hope and disbelief warring on Tony’s face. Some part of him appreciates the reminder to use that analytical brain of his and he shakes his head slowly, recalling every time Peter had ever touched him.

He can smell Peter now too—cologne musky and warm, the soft scent of honey and lavender from his shampoo, all things he hadn’t been able to sense before.

“I could be having a break from reality,” Tony reasons, voice hoarse and low.

Peter nods and tugs him toward the door. “Let’s see if anyone else can see me,” he suggests, “Rhodey wouldn’t lie.”

Tony nods slowly and lets the kid tow him out of the room and back towards the celebration. The remaining teammates look up, shock silencing the room and hope burns brighter in Tony.

“Can you see me Rhodey?” Peter asks, smiling at Tony’s oldest friend.

The older man nods disjointedly, a smile beginning to creep onto his face. “Y-yeah kid, I see you.”

Tony’s fingers tighten on Peter’s wrist, “Rhodes, you sure?” he demands, voice breaking on the last word. If this is just a delusion...he can’t. He won’t survive it.

Rhodey nods again and reaches out to poke Peter in the chest, bright laughter boiling out a moment later. “Yea Tones, I’m sure.”

The dam inside Tony shatters and he curls inward with a sob, swaying dangerously till Peter grabs onto him, pulls him into his arms and holds him as he weeps.

A storm of grief and euphoria devastates Tony, the reality of the young man holding him up too much for his broken heart and broken mind to handle. Peter carefully guides him back to his rooms, hushing him gently as he applies a little strength and makes Tony sit on his bed.

He strips Tony of his shoes and socks, pulls his jeans off and slides his button down shirt off till he’s in his briefs and a tank, shivering as he sobs. Peter hastily sheds his own clothing and slides into bed beside Tony, murmuring softly for FRIDAY to darken the room.

When Tony panics at the sudden darkness, sobbing and clutching at Peter, he urges FRIDAY to turn on a nightlight, low and golden around the edge of the ceiling. When Tony can see him again he settles some, arms banding tightly around his waist as he buries his face into Peter’s shoulder.

His heart breaks for his friend, mentor, love of his life really. He hadn’t known how deeply his death had affected Tony, and now he wishes he had a way to take it all away—the pain, the grief, the loneliness.

As Tony quiets slowly, he runs his fingers through his hair, murmuring soft words of affection and assurance. When Tony finally falls asleep, Peter watches him, tracing the deep lines in his brow and the dark circles beneath his eyes.

Tony had survived losing him, but at the cost of his sanity and health. He’ll make sure that Tony learns to live again, in time.

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

*** The sun shines down, drying out the red earth below, the scent of rosemary and lemon heavy in the air.

Tony shifts and Peter glances over at him, smiling when the older man sighs softly in his sleep, face relaxed and tanned from weeks in the Tuscan sun. He watches Tony sleep for a few minutes before turning his attention back the screen in his hands.

He’s been reviewing after action reports for the teams since he and Tony left for Italy three months ago. The UN hadn’t been pleased to receive notice of Iron Man’s retirement, nor the notice that Spider-Man would be taking a vacation for an indefinite amount of time unless an imminent global threat arose.

The rest of the team and the Guardians had things well in hand, and he wasn’t about to leave Tony.

Not now.

He and Tony had arrived in Italy just two weeks after the return of the Avengers and the restoration of the universe. Ross had tried to accuse them of being lazy, self indulgent or cowards, that was until every member of the Avengers and Guardians had threatened to refuse the call if Ross and the UN didn’t support Tony and Peter.

Faced with losing earth’s best defenders yet again, the capitulation from those in power had been swift.

A distant rumble of thunder draws Peter’s gaze to the horizon. It’s been weeks without rain, the earth so dry he can hear it cracking under his feet when he walks out into the orchard each morning, the creak of the branches in the wind dry and lifeless.

He hopes the rain lasts like they say it will, a slow steady soaking that will bring life to the earth once more.

He leaves Tony to sleep while he pads barefoot into the kitchen, his hands moving almost mindlessly as soft music plays from the record player in the other room. The house belongs to Tony’s family—the whole town really—and it’s littered with photos of his mother as a teenager, smiling brightly, laughing and dancing, and he knows it makes Tony’s heart ache to see them, but it’s a good ache, he thinks.

The roast chicken recipe is one of Tony’s Nonna’s, the picture of her and her husband watching over the kitchen—her dark eyes and wry smile reminiscent of her grandson. He sees Tony everywhere in this place—in the faces of his family and the updates he’s made to the electrical grid, to the flawless Italian that he speaks when they venture into town.

Thunder rumbles louder and when he glances out the window the clouds are much closer now. He can feel the air pressure changing, the temperature falling and a shiver runs over his skin, senses tingling. There’s anticipation in the air—of the storm to come, of all the things the future holds, and it makes him yearn for something unsaid.

Drying his hands on his shorts, he heads out to rouse Tony, a light hand on his brow and brush of his lips against Tony’s.

“Wake up Tony,” he whispers against his lips, “storm is coming.”

Tony’s beautiful eyes flutter open and a slow smile curls his lips.

“Mio caro,” he whispers, voice husky from sleep, face soft and open.

Peter smiles and kisses him again, “Hey,” he whispers, taking Tony’s hand as he rises from the patio chair and tugs him inside as the first drops of rain start to fall.

When he glances back droplets of water glisten in Tony’s dark hair and there’s a yearning, hungry look to his gaze that has nothing to do with chicken.

Peter shivers.

This is what living feels like.

------------------------- 

Rain patters down on the clay roof, the air chill against the sweat on his skin, lightning flashing to illuminate the dark eyes staring back at him.

Tony breathes deeply beneath him, hands trembling where they rest on his thighs as Peter rides him, slow and steady. This isn’t even about coming, it’s a need for connection, a yearning for that feeling that comes when Tony gasps his name like it’s oxygen for his drowning lungs.

He grabs Tony’s hand and lifts it to press against his sternum, the steady thrum of his heart against Tony’s calloused palm enough to make the other man whisper his name, adoration glowing in his eyes.

He’ll never tire of that—of the way Tony looks at him, of how he holds him, loves him. It’s too hard fought for, this love of theirs, for him to ever let it go.

Fingers curling in thick curls, he leans down and kisses Tony, sharing a gasp as the action has Tony’s cock dragging over his prostate. A choked off wrecked little noise barely makes it past his lips as he kisses Tony again and rolls his hips harder, chases that sensation.

Thunder rumbles loud enough to vibrate through the walls, the tremble of it shuddering over his skin and down his spine as he arches back up, fingers pressing into the scar on Tony’s chest where the arc reactor used to be.

I love you Tony he whispers, love you, love you, love you

Tony’s head falls back as Peter leans in again to press kisses to his throat, raindrops sliding down the window panes and blurring the world outside.

He tastes like sweat and sun and lemon and Peter knows that however many years they have left together, it’ll never be enough.

He’ll always want more.

Tony gasps his name, hands desperate on his skin as Peter rolls his hips, bodies slick and hot against each other, soft cries filling the room alongside the hush of the rain.

Please, Peter, need you, please Tony whispers, voice breaking as tears glisten in his eyes. Peter hushes him gently and leans up for a kiss, soft and gentle, lips parting on moans as they move faster now, that warm familiar ache building where their bodies meet.

Tony cums inside him with a low cry, body arching into Peter’s as he half sobs, clutches at him desperately, face tucked into Peter’s neck so his hot, unsteady breaths wash over his skin.

The sensation of Tony’s release is one Peter will never get used to—it’s like carrying a piece of his lover inside him, warm and comforting and completing. Like he’s whole for the first time in years.

He didn’t know how he could miss something he had never had before he and Tony made love, but it’s that—love—that he’s been yearning for his whole life. It’s different than the love he has for May, it’s deeper, consuming, like a string has been tied under the left side of his ribs, deep inside him, stretching across space and time to where it’s knotted beneath Tony’s, and if they go too far apart, it would snap.

Lightning flashes and Peter holds Tony’s gaze as he cums too, shaking and gasping before he’s capturing those lips in his, desperate and needy as he rides out the last of his release. Thunder pounds against the stucco of the house and inside his chest, heart pounding as it begs to fly free and up into the night.

He collapses against Tony, sighing as he presses his lips to the sweaty crown of his head.

“I love you,” he whispers, barely loud enough to cause a vibration in the air, but he knows Tony hears him because his hands tighten on his skin, possessive and loving.

Il mio amore...mio caro...il mio cuore

Tony whispers it in his ear, voice hoarse, and Peter can smell the salt of his tears, hear the irregular beat of his heart, feel the warmth of his breath...every inch of him trembling with love.

Leaning up slightly he smiles softly at Tony, kisses away his tears and presses his forehead with Tony’s.

My love...my darling...my heart

This is what living feels like.

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

Okay my loves, this is the story I started when I first discovered Starker, and I have to say, it’s my favorite thing I’ve written for this ship. There are three places within the story that mark songs that should be played. They are marked as follows: *, **, ***. I encourage you to listen to the songs--even if you aren’t a classical music nerd like me!! Hopefully you’ll love it, and even if you don’t I hope you gain a little appreciation for my favorite composer! 

I hope you all enjoy the story and the music as much as I do! 

@sluttystarker @starkerchemistryy @pantastic-peach @thebadthingshappen @ciel-mio @hpspazz @starker-4ever @w1nters-stark @foof-a-loof @confused-trash-kitten @panicdotexe @stqrker @honey-honey-darling @mariketa12 @itsmeryshipper @dramione90 @starker-flame @pretzelpoetry @seriouslystarker @starkerthanreality @ikneelbeforemygod @professional-fangirl75 @virgilismypoorshadowling @godlovesstarker @sapphicfreak @veronicashipsit @the-dark-obsidian-princess @ikneelbeforemygod @laughing-oreo @sensei-sans-sugoi @ruelukas22 @tom-starker @yourlittlemelody

[raging-violets]

how was the jackson family created? and what's their backstory? :D

Thanks for the ask! We love talking about our babies. We could go on and on, so this is a decent lengthed post - and we did take a different route with answering your second question. Which is why it’s under a read more.

We’re just sorry we don’t do much with them on here, but are moving into doing more (and re-working our OC page), and answering questions and everything.

Let’s get started!

Tag: @dancerdramatic14, @foxesandmagic

-

So! The Jackson are the first OCs we ever created without really know what OCs were. Because, at the time, fifth grade, we were just writing separate stories for ourselves, very, very loosely based on ourselves, but our characters had our names - because duh. (And it’s fun to write about yourself in different situations.)

Anyway, first it started off as writing fanfics - though we didn’t know what fanfic was at the time and was introduced to it later - like with Pokemon or Digimon but with ourselves added into it, but at the same time we were also just writing original stories. When we talked to each other about the original stories, we came to find we wrote about the same family dynamic - two parents, older daughter and younger son. We both named the younger son, Patrick.

Then we decided to write the characters together. We made the two older daughters twins, kept Patrick and gave him a twin named Noah (because they’re both one of our favorite boys’ names), and then rounded out the family with a baby brother named Sydney - because it’s another of our favorite boys’ names and we really want to go to Australia one day.(As a side note: First it was just those five. Then later on (years later after writing a bunch of fanfics), we added an older brother named Julius. We don’t write him as often, a lot of the time explaining he’s more of a secondary character, but he’s just as important with the family and how we’ve written and changed these characters over the 10+ yeas we’ve had them.)+-+

Once we had these five characters established, and knew what fanfiction was, we decided to start putting them into our favorite fandoms. First it started with 3 Ninjas and branched out from there; putting in fandoms we thought they’d fit in: Mighty Ducks, Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Hananh Montana, iCarly, Johnny Kapahala, Big Time Rush, Just My Luck/Busted/McBusted, and those are the ones I just remember. By doing so, they became our main multifandom OCs.

(Second side note: We’re cringing so hard, but we also have to acknowledge that at the time of creating our OCs, we were really into anime at the time, and would also write for fandoms like Yu-Gi-Oh, InuYasha, and Yu Yu Hakusho. So when we first created our OCs, they went by: Rikku Hiroshima, Rumiku Hiroshima, Patrick “Sparky” Hiroshima, Noah “Physic” Hiroshima, and Sydney Hiroshima. They had red hair (Riley) and blue eyes, Silver hair (Rhuben) and violet eyes, Yellow hair (Patrick) and blue eyes, Silver hair (Noah) and violet eyes, and Blue hair (Sydney) and blue eyes. Depending on the fandom, they also had abilities they could weild, in a series we called “Elementals” - because who doesn’t love canon characters in an AU where they’re the chosen ones and weild powers - Riley’s was fire, Rhuben’s was darkness, Patrick’s was thunder, Noah’s was SilverWind, and Sydney’s was spirits).

-

As for their backstory, it really did start only as angst for angst sake. We needed a reason for them to move from Australia to America and have a reason for them to interact with the main canon characters of whatever fandom we put them in. Parents dying in a fire. Abusive parent. We really piled it on. However:

Around this time, a LOT of people (ourselves included) were doing song-fics or had songs as titles as fics. You know the ones “Welcome to My Life,” “Numb,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” those kinds of things. Listening to songs like that, (we’re big fans of LP and Simple Plan) we decided to give them the background of their parents dying in a house fire, being adopted (this was the original idea, we changed it to being put into foster care) by an abusive man who moved them to America - unsurprisingly, to whatever locale the fandom was set in - under the guise of being in a touring family band.

Plus, we love music and love finding new music and giving any excuse to write about music and bands, and meeting our favorite musicians (and maybe falling in love with our favorite musicians) was fun. With “bandfiction” fandoms like Big Time Rush, and Just My Luck, it was easy to keep that as an important part of the Jacksons as a whole.

Anyway, in our fics, the main canon characters would either be a fan of, or be introduced the to family band, meet them, slowly become friends with them, start to piece together something was wrong leading to a confrontation all the while having Riley and Rhuben fall in love with whichever two guys we liked the most from the show. For a while, this was the formula for whatever new fics we wrote/new fandoms we wrote in. And at the time, the “darkness” and “edgieness” and “badassness” and “I curse and am rude to you all the time” of our OCs was waaaaaay over the top, admittedly.

Our OCs, as mentioned above, were first introduced with their “japanese names” as we always knew thier mother was Japanese-American (and had the name Ruriko, choosing the American name Renee), and their father, was Australian (named Tate, but usually goes by his middle name Reed). We wised up, learned more about the Japanese culture and changed our OCs Japanese names to Seiji Himada/Sydney Jackson, Padi Himada/Patrick Jackson, Noburu Himada/Noah Jackson, Rikku Himada/Rilandon ‘Riley’ Jackson, and Rumiku Himada/Rhubella ‘Rhuben’ Jackson - though we don’t refer to them this way, anymore. Himada was their mother’s surname before marrying Reed. After a bit we just stuck with their English names, focusing more on the fact that they were Australian - because, again, we’ve always wanted to travel to Australia, and so we took the time to research, and watch videos, read blogs, etc etc as much as possible to learn as much as we could.

All in all, we like to say our “weeb-lite” and emo phases never manifested in real life because we put it all into our characters. (Thank god)

Basically, their backstory is this: Rocket Scientist Reed Jackson, and stay-at-home-mom/teacher/Reed’s assistant, Renee Jacksonmet in college at NYU and quickly fell in love with each other. They moved to Australia to start their family and had Julius. They used IVF to have Riley and Rhuben three years later (wanting a girl), Patrick and Noah three years after that (wanting to have another boy), and Sydney came naturally five years after that. Julius is 11/12, Riley and Rhuben are 9, Patrick and Noah are 6, and Sydney is a little over 1 year old when their house suddenly burst into flames one night. Whether it was an electrical fire, a flash over, arson, what have you, isn’t discovered until later. But their parents,  are killed in the fire. Julius was the one to lead his brothers and sisters out of the house, but went back in when he realized he couldn’t find his parents outside - because they were still in the house looking for their kids, not knowing they were safe outside. Julius manages to make it back outside, but in the resulting chaos, is hit by a car and taken to the hospital, separating himself from his brothers and sisters - and resulting in his lasting memory issues as he gets older. After the death of their parents, the Jacksons had the opportunity to go live with their grandparents on their dad’s side, who were older and only had the time/patience/ability to care for one child so they took Julius, or their Uncle on their father’s side, who was too distraught with grief and anger to want to take his nieces and nephews in. Family on Renee’s side couldn’t be reached, so they went into foster care. Robert was the only one who wanted to take all five of them and once he did, he moved them to America - though the stresses of being a single parent was too great for him and he took it out on his children.

-

Over the 10+ years we’ve had these characters, we toned down the more angsty (*Cough* over the top *cough*) things, turned up all of our OCs differing personalities and how they mesh with and pull against each other and canon characters, adding more lasting issues from their abuse such as bipolar disorder, selective mutism, eating disorder, their differing idea of what love is and how they go about getting it, and a whole lot more to make them more realistic characters.

Recently, we’ve also started thinking, “What would they be like if their parents were still alive?” “Would they still be this way?” “Would they still act like this?” and started deciding on which fandoms would still have their parents around (at the moment, it’s only the 3 Ninjas fandom).

But we love these characters to death. Characters who have their faults, but you want to root for, and who truly love their friends and family, and stumble and fall as they move to their goals of having a happy life. And we’re glad others like them and have been a part of thier journey and growth whether readers were there from the beginning or found out about them partway through.

We know they were once more popular characters we’ve had, and we have moved on to writing our more recent OCs, but that’s ok. We still love them. We’re insanely proud of how we’ve had them grow and change over the years. And we’re glad people like or have liked them.

[charaisgay]

Breakdown of the Adventure Time Finale Intro

 Adventure time ending has got me in a bittersweet state and I wanna contribute at least something to the commemoration of it. I’ll probably end up drawing some fan art of Shermy and Beth sooner or later because I love the short amount of stuff we get from them, but speaking of Shermy and Beth: I wanted to make an analysis/theory on everything we see in intro of “come along with me”. 

Most of this is gonna be stuff that a lot of people have already theorized and put together but not all the breakdown videos get every point I wanna make spot on, so I just wanted to get everything I believe together in one neat little post. 

So right off the bat we start in the Ice Kingdom as usual, and in the first second of the into we can see the ball that Patience St. Pim froze herself in during the elements mini series, so we know that she’s still (technically?) alive in this1000 years in the future version of Ooo. If it’s possible, maybe one day she might be unfreezed. I don’t remember if it was stated that that could happen or not. 

And in the very next shot their appears to be pink hands gripping onto the bars of an ice cage. The most obvious answer to who is in the cage is of course Princess Bubblegum. In the episode graybles 1000+, we get a glimpse of the future Ooo and what the new Candy Kingdom looks like. It isn’t much of an kingdom but more like hotel inside of a giant futuristic gumball guardian that roams the land. In this future version of Candy Kingdom Princess Bubblegum is nowhere to be found. I believe that the knew Ice King (Gunther) has took to capturing Princesses again and PB is a reoccurring hostage of his. That’s why she wasn’t seen in the gumball guardian. This future version of the Ice King is a lot more hostile (thus why his ice/snow is more apparent and has expanded a great deal from Simon’s ice kingdom)  and is competent enough to be an actual threat, and is able to keep PB for an extended period of time. So PB is still kicking around in this future version of Ooo, just not where she’s suppose to be and she doesn’t have the happiest of turn outs. 

 PB always being captured by the Ice King leads me to believe that this unknown person riding atop the stone duck with a telescope in the ice kingdom, is in fact Marceline. A lot of people believe that this could be a far descendant of one of the humans from the islands after they came back to Ooo, or Simon because of the shape of the backpack is similar to his: but i’m sticking with this being Marcy. My evidence towards this person being Marcy is the stone duck being present. If you remember, the stone duck’s first (or only, I can’t remember it being in any other episode?) appearance is in he episode where Marcy makes her first appearance, during the house searching song. It just seems like too much of a deliberate choice to be a coincidence. And the reason the gear looks so similar to Simon's is because after Simon died: Marcy started using his gear to travel. Or maybe it’s not his, but his influence in her life is still present so she wanted her gear to look like his. Either way, it’s Marcy. And the reason that Marcy is traveling and why she is in the Ice Kingdom is due to her searching for PB. After the Ice King started capturing PB again, Marcy was the one to start saving her after Finn died. (Kind of like history repeating itself) And it’s just a continuous never ending loop of the Ice King capturing PB, Marcy saving PB, and then the Ice King capturing her again, hiding her in a different spot every time to delay Marcy’s search. And at a certain point Marcy just decided to leave home for good and become a nomad seeing as how busy she is with always looking for PB. The two of them can’t stay in one fixed location thus allowing for Shermy and Beth to move into Marcy’s house. 

This is of course the Gunther version of Ice king who we got a glimpse of in the graybles 1000t episode. In concept art, he was called the ice thing. And he looks noticeably different from what he looked like in the finale, the main difference being that he no longer has a body. My theory is that he just evolved to become like this over time, but I also like to believe that after his wife, Turtle Princess died (because she’s mortal) he went mad and become a much more prominent monster and threat to the land of Ooo, and he ventures across the land and interacts with everything a lot more than the Ice King we knew did. Maybe he was the main reason and the cause of the land of Ooo being in the decrepit state it’s in. 

As the Ice King flies off we get a distant look as what’s believed to be the Pup kingdom. Probably one of the last standing kingdoms. Theirs truck transport road that seems to be taking supplies in, so while the land of Ooo does look pretty barren: their seems to be enough peeps around for jobs like this to still exist.

And as we zoom into the kingdom we get a glance at what Pups look like. Pups are the obvious descendants of Jake and Rainicorn. Jake and Rainicorn did essentially create a new race of beings, and with how fast Rainicorns grow, it would make sense that they would be able to develop into a new civilization and culture in the span of 1000 years.  

And it seems like the Pup race has been doing well for themselves seeing as they have a means of space travel. My theory is that some time while the Pup civilization was being created, some of it’s members split off and decided to venture in space. So half of the Pup Kingdom is on earth while the other half is in space. This rocket ship is just a way for them to communicate and send supplies to each other. 

And again, referring back to graybles 1000t episode: we can see some of these space Pups having a wedding. When I first watched this episode a while back I didn’t even put together that these guys were Pups. But the evidence is obvious. They had the eyes and signature jowls of Jake, and they all speak Korean like Rainicorn. So yeah, the Pups are doing good. 

Going back to the intro, we can even see some of these space Pups floating on a platform in the sky with another Pup trying to attack Ice King. Which is more evidence towards my theory that Ice King is a wanted criminal and a top priority in this state. But wait, that’s not just any Pup firing at Ice King. It’s Gibbon! Charlie’s son.

He’s still alive after all these years. With being so old, his fur turned white and he grew a super long mustache/beard. But you can still tell it’s him. As for how he is still alive after all this time: it’s because he has one of ice crown’s jewels in his eye, thus granting him some kind of immortality. We saw one of the ice crown’s jewels fall out and be used as a wedding ring in the finale, as for how Gibbon got a hold of this jewel: we will never know. But he got it somehow. Either way it’s cool that he’s still around. With being so old, maybe he’s some kind of respected high up authority in the Pup kingdom. 

Now for the part in the intro that everyone has been pointing out the most, the Finn and Jake giant stone statues. It’s obvious that these two stone colossus are suppose to be Finn and Jake. The most apparent theory is that Finn and Jake were regarded as such great heroes that they became historical figures and these statues where built of them as monuments. That or maybe it was their grave stones, such brave heroes do deserve a send off as great as they where.  

And it seems as if the flame guy (who I will be getting to in a second) has decided to take refugee inside of Jake’s statue. Although, some people don’t believe that this monument is actually Jake but instead Jermaine because of this: 

Theirs a slab of stone next to the flame guy that looks like it use to say Finn and Jermaine as opposed to Jake before it got broken. Now theirs two answers I've come up with for this. One: maybe there where three monuments: Finn, Jake, and Jermaine’s, but Jake or Jermaine’s monument got destroyed somehow and only one remains. The one we see could be Jake or Jermaine’s. Or two: later in his life Jermaine become an adventure like Finn, Jake, and their parents, and claimed a great title as a hero reviled only to Finn. And while Jake was still greatly remembered and respected, Jermaine just began to outshine him in the public eye. Jake was kinda lazy and was never really the adventurer type anyways, he just kinda followed behind Finn. Jermaine must’ve created his own identity and did something as great as Finn’s accomplishments. Personally I like to believe a mix between the two options happened. All three of them did have monuments but one got destroyed, and Jermaine did become a great hero thus why he also has a statue in remembrance.

Also, behind the flame guy you can see a shovel and some covered dirt which makes me further believe that those statues where grave stones, and this patch of dirt is one of the brother’s grave. As for the Flame guy, it’s pretty easy to connect that he is a reincarnation of the flame elemental. And the slime guy that he’s firing at is most likely a reincarnation of the slime elemental. Maybe the two elements are at some kind of war. Sadly, this means that FB and less sadly Slime Princess, are not alive anymore like PB, and died some time in the 1000 years after the finale. 

And in this shot you can see what’s most likely a descendant of the two headed duck that use to be outside of Finn and Jake’s tree house, and a space Pup spying on Marceline’s old house that now belongs to Shermy and Beth. Maybe he’s just trying to make sure Beth is safe, it make sense: she is a princess after all, and an important leader figure, they wouldn’t want anything to happen to her. This is their way of giving her freedom to do her own thing while also protecting her. 

 And finally we get to see Shermy and Beth residing in Marceline’s house. It’s interesting that the Pups let their Princess stay away from home, but it’s nice to see them being so non lenient on her. Another interesting bit is that you can see Bubblegum’s greatest uncle cup: which probably means before PB started getting captured again, she lived with or visited Marceline a lot at some point. Maybe it happened after the fall of the old Candy Kingdom.

In the next shot we can see remnants of the old candy kingdom, and what looks like a resident from Lumpy space. So Lumpy Space is still around. But unfortunately, Neddy most likely isn’t, seeing that the giant tree in the candy kingdom has lost it’s foliage and is probably dead, thus not giving Neddy any sustenance to survive off of. Maybe the lack of Neddy’s juice after the tree and himself died is what caused the Candy citizens to relocate, and on they’re search to find a energy to sustain candy life. And PB built the great gumball guardian to protect the Candy people from the threat of the Ice King (or what ever has brought devastation to the land of Ooo) while they travel. On the upside it looks like the Candy Kingdom did survive fairly a long time after the finale, maybe it became abandoned only few hundred years before Shermy and Beth’s time. I say this because of how much the Candy Kingdom has expanded and developed into a more metropolis like city before it’s fall, that would take a lot of time. Maybe the humans from the islands started living in the Candy Kingdom when they came to Ooo and helped the Princess expand.  

Oppose to a traveling Finn sitting on top of a stretched out Jake, we see Shermy and Beth traveling on top of grown Sweet Pea. So he’s still alive and seems to be as friendly as he was as a kid. Or at least friendly enough to give Shermy and Beth a ride. In the finale you can see him walking the land with a giant sword, maybe he’s become the exact opposite of the Lich: an immortal being who will forever protect the citizens of Ooo. He seems like the gentle giant type but won’t hesitate to put a stop to evil doers and exhibit his inner strength.

And with that intro ends with Shermy: a reincarnation of the Hero comet, like Finn and Shoko, and Beth: a far far down the line descendant of Jake, and princess of the Pup civilization, fishing just outside of the cave where their house resides. I would love it if these two had some kind of short ten episode mini spin off series or a comic line, I liked their personalities and it would be great to explore them and the future land of Ooo more.

God I love how this show can cram so much information into just 24 seconds. 

EDIT: Recently Steve Wolfhard updated us with some more information about this 1000t years Ooo and it turns out that I was pretty much right about my theory that PB was the person in the ice cage. He stated the PB is present in the intro, and I sure as heck didn’t see her anywhere else. The theory that Marcy is the one riding the Stone Duck is still up for grabs though, but i’m pretty sure it’s true. He also stated that the fire and slime guy are indeed reincarnations of the flame and slime elementals,he said the crew wanted to put them in as a way to tell the audience that PB is the only elemental we knew that’s still around now (except Patient St Pim but I don’t think she really counts). 

He also gave us some interesting Pup lore on how every Pup is born with a power, but as of late Pups are having their powers taken away at birth. Seemingly the old version of Gibbon is the one taking their powers away. Turns out I was completely off about the Pups giving Beth space to be her own person by letting her stay away from home, in all actuality she’s an exiled Princess who was usurped by Gibbon and that’s why she isn’t at home anymore. She’s basically on the run. So I was right about Gibbon being an high up authority but I didn’t expect him to be evil in a way.  

But it’s interesting and it makes some sense: apparently Gibbons powers we’re stolen and it does seem like the crown’s jewel affectd him in a way similar to how the ice crown makes it’s user go insane. 

My theory is that after his power was stolen he fell into a depressed state and searched for a way to get it back or something that would give him special abilities again until he found the Ice crown’s jewel. The combination of the ice crowns affect it has on people and his depression was enough to drive him over the edge. So he decided that if he couldn’t have his powers no Pup could, and started stealing their powers (presumably he uses the magic staff he has to do it)

Must’ve took him along time to work his way up the ranks since he didn’t actually become the Pup king until Beth’s time. I say this because Beth does know of her heritage and that she’s suppose to be the rightful leader of the Pup kingdom, so her parents must’ve been in power at some point in her life or else how would she know that? My guess is that Gibbon took over around the time Beth was a little kid (i’m just assuming that in the finale Beth is a teenager around the ages of 14-17) but Beth escaped before Gibbon was able to take her power. We see her parents nowhere and it looks like it’s just her and Shermy, so they most likely didn’t make it out. 

Or maybe Gibbon isn’t that vile and he allowed Beth’s parents to continue ruling but appointed himself as their over see-er, he let them stay in charge of the kingdom but they had to have their powers removed. Beth, not wanting to give up her powers: was exiled or ran away. Thus why she still has her powers. It seems as if the Pups do know of her current location (because of the space spy pup) but aren’t really seeking to take her out. Gibbon doesn’t see her as a threat and just lets her do her own thing while keeping tabs on her. 

God it’s all so interesting, I wanna know so much about Beth. She seems like such a cool character. 

[dexi-green]

Avengers:Endgame References/Easter Eggs/Connections SPOILERS!

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

I knew there had to be at least one connection to each MCU film so I decided to write down what I saw. Some might be very vague or be reaching a bit, but there are some solid ones I think. SPOILERS OF COURSE! I’ve included lines, cameos I thought were significant, shot parallels, etc. Plus some extra stuff at the bottom that deal with comic, actor/write cameos, etc. Enjoy! Please let me know if there is anything wrong or missing! It’s a long post. I’ll put it under a cut if someone wants me to. I tagged everything I could think of.

Iron Man 

 “I am Iron Man”

The sound at the end of the credits is of Tony making his first Iron Man Suit.

Morgan wanting Cheeseburgers and Happy’s response references how Tony wanted an “American Cheeseburger” after he was kidnapped and rescued.

Tony walking out of The Benatar is similar to him walking off the plane after he gets rescued.

”Don’t post this on social media”

”I just want peace” Tony does a peace sign like the soldier at the beginning of Iron Man.

Tony leaves a message for Morgan like his father, Howard did for him.

The “Proof That Tony Stark Has A Heart” Arc reactor display that Pepper made for Tony with the first small arc reactor he made to keep shrapnel out of his heart, is sent off on the lake during his funeral

The Incredible Hulk 

 When Steve asks Hulk how he knows he would survive using all the infinity stones he says, “We don’t. But the radiation is mostly Gamma. It’s like I was made for this”.

Iron Man 2 

“It’s always you” was the line Tony said to Pepper when making her CEO of Stark Industries

Thor 

Erik Selvig shows up among the dusted.

New Asgard is in Tønsberg, Norway, which is where Odin led the war against the Frost Giants.

Captain America: The First Avenger 

Steve and Peggy’s dance that they he promised her before going into the ice is finally fulfilled.

The compass with Peggy’s picture Steve has is the same from TFA.

“I can do this all day”

“Don’t do anything stupid?” “How can I? You’re taking all the stupid with you”

”I went in the ice in ‘45 right after I met the love of my life. Woke up 70 years later.”

After their plan to get the tesseract from New York failed, they went to Camp Lehigh which is where Steve trained before having the Super Soldier Serum injection.

In Peggy’s office there is a picture of young, pre-serum, ‘skinny’ Steve from his training at Camp Lehigh before he got the serum injection, on her desk. This is the same picture that was in the records she was reading after he went in the ice at the end of TFA.

New Asgard is actually Tønsberg, Norway, which is where The Red Skull got the Tesseract from in the beginning of TFA

When returning Steve the shield, Tony says, “He made it for you”. Howard made the Shield for Steve after he saved the soldiers in TFA.

The jacket that Steve is wearing when he returns as an old man is the same jacket he wore at before he met Abraham Erskine.

The Avengers 

During the events of this movie is the time they go back to to get the Space, Power, and Time Stone (from the Tesseract, Scepter, and Eye of Agamotto respectfully).

Agent Sitwell appeared briefly in Avengers and Winter Soldier.

“We do our best work after the fact, we’re the Avengers”

Steve’s eye when they first go to fight Thanos at the beginning, seeing outer space for the first time, mirrors when Tony went through the portal during the Battle of New York, and saw outer space for the first time.

”We’re a long way from Budapest”.

When Scott, Natasha, and Steve visit Tony asking for help he says, ”The table’s set for six” which could be a reference to the six original avengers.

”You pulled this off. I remember a time when that seemed pretty impossible too.” Natasha referring to when the Hulk was more out of control.

Steve uses the scepter on Avenger’s Era Cap similar to how Loki used it on Clint and Erik Selvig.

When they go back to right after the Battle of New York, Tony and Thor tell Alexander Pierce they are headed to lunch, referencing the iconic Shawarma post credit scene

Steve tells Tony that he isn’t the, ”guy to make the sacrifice play. Lay down on the wire and let the other guy crawl over you”. Tony ultimately sacrifices himself for everyone.

Iron Man 3  

Harley Keener, the little boy who helps Tony in Iron Man 3, is the teenager standing alone at Tony’s funeral.

Pepper wears the armor Tony made for her which was hinted at in IM3 when she wears pieces of Tony’s armor to save Tony.

Thor: The Dark World 

Thor basically explains the events of the movie when talking about The Reality Stone/Aether.

During the events of this movie is the time they go back to to get the Reality Stone.

Frigga

Thor says “I like this one” to Carol like Loki’s “I like her” to Jane.

Loki uses his magic to make fun of Cap similar to how he does in TDW, and when Avenger’s Era Cap sees Steve he even thinks that it is Loki.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

“On your left”.

Natasha wears the same arrow necklace she did throughout WS.

Steve hosts a support group for survivors of the Snap/Decimation like Sam did for Veterans.

”You here to do your laundry?”

Alexander Pierce

The scene where Steve has to get the scepter is almost shot for shot the same elevator scene from Winter Soldier, he also uses the knowledge from that movie that HYDRA had infiltrated SHIELD to get the scepter.

After their plan to get the Tesseract from New York failed, they went to the same bunker in Camp Lehigh that was a SHIELD base, where Natasha and Steve confront the A.I. Zola.

While at the SHIELD base in Camp Lehigh, when Tony is getting the Tesseract, Howard shows up calling for Arnim, this is Dr. Arnim Zola.

Steve still thinks a hat is a disguise.

Steve tells Avengers Era Cap that Bucky is still alive to break his focus.

The song Steve and Peggy have their dance to at the end is “It’s Been A Long Time” by Harry James, a song that was popular at the end of World War II. This is the same song that Nick Fury is listening to when Steve finds him in his apartment. It could also be a reference to Peggy’s line, “It’s been so long”.

Guardian’s of The Galaxy 

During the events of this movie is the time they go back to to get the Power Stone.

The opening is used when Quill is dancing.

Nebula and Gamora from the time period of GOTG appear.

Nebula and Rocket mourn losses similar to how Rocket and Drax do at the end of GOTG.

Natasha kicks an Orloni (the rat like creature) on Morag like Quill does.

Howard The Duck appears in the final battle with a gun behind Wasp.

Rocket recreates his pose with a gun on Groot’s shoulder, just on War Machine’s shoulder.

Avengers: Age of Ultron 

“That up there...that’s the Endgame”.

“We’ll do that [lose] together too”.

Mention of the original idea behind Ultron.

”I saw this a few years back. I had a vision I didn’t want to believe it...What we needed was a suit of armor around the world.”

When testing the time travel devices Clint goes back to his farm, and starts out the film there with his family.

Clint’s Family (including Nathaniel Pietro Barton).

Tony gets a lake house, out of the city, similar to Clint’s farm.

Steve is able to pick up Mjolnir, and when he does Thor says “I knew it!”. During the party scene in AOU Steve tries to pick up Mjölnir and it budges a little but he ultimately can’t, however Thor’s line hints that Steve realized he could pick it up but decided to pretend like he couldn’t.

In the Final Battle against Thanos, Thanos breaks Steve’s shield and it looks similar to it’s broken appearance in Tony’s Vision.

When Peter uses his web to grab onto Mjölnir, it’s similar to when Pietro grabs onto Mjölnir and is pulled away.

On Natasha’s desk is an old pair of ballet pointe shoes, ballet was the cover for her assassin training as seen in her vision.

In Tony’s vision, he see’s all the other Avenger’s dead, when talking to Fury about it they say the worst part was that Tony was the only one in the vision that didn’t die. At the end of Endgame, Tony and Natasha are the only original avengers who died.

When Bruce asks Thor if he knows who helped him during a tough spot, Thor asks if it was Natasha, referencing their romantic storyline.

Ant-Man 

 In the SHIELD base in Camp Lehigh, Steve is looking for more Pym particles, there is some ants in an ant farm and an older looking Ant Man helmet.

Captain America: Civil War 

Aunt May is at Tony’s funeral.

Tony returns Steve his shield after telling him to leave it in CW.

”This is Scott Lang. We met a few years ago? At the Airport? In Germany? I was the guy who got really big…”

”Whats up regular sized man.”

Nebula comments to Rhodey “I wasn’t always like this” and he replies “Me either” referring to the mechanical crutches on his legs that Tony made to help him walk after his fall in CW.

T’Challa says, “Clint, give it to me” when they are passing around the Gauntlet. In CW when Clint introduces himself, T’Challa says “I don’t care”.

Steve calls Peter ‘Queens’ referring to their small exchange in CW.

When Tony is using his B.A.R.F. technology to play out a memory he says that he wishes he told his dad, “I love you...I know you did the best you could”. When Tony and Steve go back to 1970 to Camp Lehigh he is finally able to tell him.

Doctor Strange   

The Ancient One

The Ancient One uses similar magic on Bruce that she did on Dr. Strange

”Strange is meant to be the best of us”

Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2  

The Benatar ship

“Thanos spent a long time trying to perfect me” Nebula talks about how Thanos replaced parts of her to get her to be stronger.

The jump points they go through to get to ‘The Garden’ at the beginning look exactly like how they look in GOTG (not really a reference, just nice consistency).

Spider-Man: Homecoming 

Ned Leeds

The photo Tony has in his house of him and Peter is them holding a certificate for Peter’s Stark Internship.

Peter gets his real hug from Tony.

”Activate Instant Kill”

Peter grabs onto Mjölnir, In SM:H he did an impression of Thor holding Mjölnir.

Thor: Ragnarok 

 Korg, Miek, and Valkyrie/Brunhilde

At the end of Ragnarok Thor says they will settle the Asgardians on Earth, which they show he does, making New Asgard in Tønsberg, Norway.

Black Panther 

Shuri and T’Challa show up amongst the dusted, and in the final battle.

Queen Ramonda

In the Final Battle, Shuri wears her battle armor and hand cannons from the final battle in BP.

Avengers: Infinity War  

Mention of Vision’s death

“We’re in the Endgame now”

Tony and Pepper’s kid is named Morgan. Tony mentions a dream of having a kid and naming the kid Morgan after Pepper’s eccentric uncle.

Peter talks about the Snap from his point of view,

 “I lost the kid”

 “He wiped my face with a planet while the Bleecker Street magician gave away the stone”

“The Garden” Where Thanos retired to after the Snap

Thanos’ scarred arm and face from using the Infinity Gauntlet and all the stones at once.

Thor chops off Thanos’ head and says, “I went for the head”.

Bruce continues to use the Hulkbuster armor again instead of becoming Hulk in the first part of the film.

When they are talking about where and when to go back to to get the Infinity Stones Bruce is seen eating Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, ‘Hulk-A Hulk-A Burning Fudge’.

San Francisco has erected monuments to all the “Vanished” from the Snap/Decimation.

Bruce is in the same position, laying on his back looking up at the sky, as he was when crashed into the Sanctum Sanctorum. In both cases he was also the first person in that setting to know that Thanos was coming (in Infinity War he was sent down to warn everyone, in Endgame he is looking up at Thanos’ ship).

Wanda crushes Thanos with his own armor, similar to how Thanos crushed Rhodey in his War Machine suit.

Carol held onto The Gauntlet when Thanos was wearing it to stop him, similar to how Cap did in IW, drawing a parallel between the Captain’s and the Final Battles of each film.

When the Asgardian’s are chasing Rocket away they yell “Get that rabbit!” Like how Thor referred to Rocket as a Rabbit

Tony’s final moments with Peter, mirror Peter’s final moments in Infinity War with Tony.

Ant-Man and the Wasp

 Luis’ X-Con Van with the Quantum Tunnel in the back.

Ant-Man has been trapped in the Quantum Realm since the end of AMATW.

The suits they wear to go through the Quantum Realm are Red and White like Hank Pym’s Quantum suit, and have the same helmets the Ant-Man suit does.

Captain Marvel  

Carol lingers on a picture of Nick Fury when he shows up among the dusted hinting at their friendship that was formed in CM

“Where have you been all this time?” ”There are a lot of other planets in the universe..”

Extra 

Cameos

Stan Lee’s cameo is when Tony and Steve go back to Camp Lehigh, he is the man in the car who says, “Make Love Not War” He also has a bumper sticker that says “Nuff’ Said” one of Stan’s catchphrases.

James D’Arcy makes an appearance as Edwin Jarvis who he played in the Agent Carter show.

Ken Jeong and Yvette Nicole Brown cameo. The Russo brothers worked on the show Community and gave some of the cast members cameos in their MCU films.

Jim Starlin, the writer of the Infinity Gauntlet and the man credited for making Thanos, cameos in the support group scene.

Joe Russo, one of the directors of the film and other MCU films, cameos in the support group scene as the man who cried on a date.

Comics

Carol’s haircut after the Five Year jump is like Carol’s iconic short hair in the comics.

Thanos’ armor as a scarecrow the same way it is in the Infinity Gauntlet comics.

When they go back to 1970, Steve’s disguise has the name Roscoe on it. Roscoe Simons replaced Steve as Captain America in the comics at one point.

During the remake of the Elevator Scene from Winter Soldier, Steve uses the knowledge from Winter Solider of HYDRA having infiltrated SHIELD, and whispers “Hail Hydra” to Agent Sitwell. This is a reference to the Secret Empire story where Hydra made a clone of Steve.

In the SHIELD base in Camp Lehigh, Steve is looking for more Pym particles, there is an older looking Ant Man helmet, which looks exactly like the old Ant Man helmet from the comics.

Okoye mentions a seismic incident on the ocean floor, this could be a reference to Namor, The Sub-Mariner, one of the original characters, debuting in Marvel Comics #1 published by Timely Comics (which later became Marvel).

There is a comic series called “Asgardians of The Galaxy”.

Morgan Stark is the name of Tony’s evil cousin in the comics.

Captain America standing alone against Thanos is similar to a scene from the Infinity Gauntlet comic.

The first time ‘Avengers Assemble’ is (finally) spoken in the films. The first time it was spoken was by Thor in Avengers #10.

Ant-Man’s van is in lockup 616, Earth-616 is the main universe for the comics.

Clint calls his daughter by his alias, Hawkeye. The female Hawkeye in the comics is Kate Bishop, not his daughter, but she does train under Clint.

A middle ground Hulk/Bruce is called ‘Professor Hulk’ in the comics.

In The Mighty Thor #390 Captain America picks up Mjolnir and hands it to Thor.

MCU/Marvel Films

During his message to Pepper he says “It’s day 21? No 22”. Endgame is the 22nd film in the MCU.

”The table’s set for six” could be a reference to six original avengers. Or Tony, Pepper, Morgan, Happy, Peter, and Rhodey.

Rhodey suggests killing Thanos when he was a baby. Similar to the baby Hitler scene in Deadpool 2.

Wakandans, Asgardians, Ravagers, and Master of The Mystic Arts’ all show up in the final battle against Thanos, making up the larger groups outside of the individual heroes. Chitauri and Outriders make up the bulk of Thanos’ army.

From this movie it looks like the official deaths from Infinity War and Endgame are; Heimdall, Loki, Vision, Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, and Tony Stark/Iron Man. Gamora was brought from the past to the future by Thanos, and fought in the final battle against him, but seems to be missing by the end of the film.

Within The Film

When Tony and Pepper are discussing whether he should use time travel and help the Avengers she asks,”But would you be able to rest?” When he is dying at the end she says, ”You can rest now”.

Steve tells Natasha “I think we both need to get a life” Natasha says, “You first”. Later Tony tells Steve he needs to get a life. At the end of the film, when Steve comes back older he says he “tried one of those lives Tony was talking about”.

When Tony agrees to help, he says to Steve that he wants to ”Maybe not die trying”.

Before Hulk uses the gauntlet Tony made to Snap everyone back into existence, he says “none of you would survive”. Tony dies after he snaps Thanos and his army away.

One of the last people we (sorta) see get dusted is Clint’s wife Laura, after Hulk snaps everyone back, the first person we get indication of being back is Laura when she calls Clint’s phone.

The newest character/hero we see in the film is Pepper Potts in her Rescue armor.

TV/Books/Media

’Time Heist’ is Scott’s suggested name for their plan. It is also the name of a Doctor Who, a show about time travel, episode from 2014. Karen Gillan who plays Nebula, played Amy Pond in Doctor Who one of the Doctor’s companions.

Several Time Travel films/shows are mentioned by name, “Back to The Future” “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” “Star Trek” “Terminator” “Time After Time” “Time Cop” “Quantum Leap” “A Wrinkle In Time” “Somewhere In Time” “Hot Tub Time Machine”

Sebastian Stan plays an antagonist character, Blaine, in Hot Tub Time Machine which is mentioned by Scott and Rhodey.

Jeff Bridges plays Obadiah Stane in Iron Man and also The Dude in the Big Lebowski. Several characters call Thor ‘The Dude’ or ‘Lebowski’ and he just does actually look like him in Endgame with the robe and sunglasses

Tony calls Rocket “Ratchet” like Ratchet and Clank, where the Ratchet character is feline like, kinda raccoon-ish, who is a mechanic like Rocket.

”This is the part when spikes come out with skeletons on the end of them and everything. When you enter a place called the Temple of the Power stone there’s gonna be a bunch of booby traps”. Rhodey referencing movies like Indiana Jones.

Ken Jeong’s cameo character reads a book called The Terminal Beach by J.G. Ballard which includes a short story called “End-Game”

A-113 shows up behind Bruce when they are testing Tony’s time travel devices. A-113 is a common easter egg, referencing a room number at Cal-Arts, hidden in many Pixar and Disney films.