#verse: Next Generation Detective | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

philtstone · 6 months ago

Note

24. Showing up injured at their friend/mentor’s house: for shawn? :)

[emerges from writing this fic bloody and beaten and on the verge of collapse] ill explore karen vicks character in an overly complicated post-episode missing scene fic or die trying! set immediately post "right turn or left for dead". i genuinely dont know if im happy with this but i also cant figure out how to fix it. actually, it would have probably been easier to write if i was willing to rewatch the episodes its based on. which i am not, because i am a sensitive little soul. so i winged it. i think there are like 10 different ideas that crop up and theyre all equally fascinating as character threads but i have no idea if i tied them together in an even remotely coherent way. also, WOULD she say that??? i had to call my brother twice to ask. this is what yall get for sending me actually interesting prompts, huh

“Oh, it’s no problem,” Henry’s voice said on the phone. “I’ll send Shawn over with them on his way out. He's going in your direction, anyway.”

In her short tenure as the junior detective to Henry Spencer’s lieutenant, Karen Vick observed two things:

First, that he was a far more clever strategist than most people gave him credit for. Despite the ongoing wreckage of his impending divorce and a kid who was slipping through his fingers as everyone looked on, Karen didn’t agree with the other junior detectives’ impression of him as a smash-the-door-down old school hard ass with thinning hair and a worst attitude. The man played four dimensional chess right out of a bonafide Star Trek episode. When he really wanted something done, Henry Spencer could bullshit and bluff and battle plan with the pros, and half the time you’d get too caught up in the blustering misdirect to realize his game was intricately thought out three steps in advance.

It was how they caught the Shorttown Killer, and also how they got that idiot Trembley at the mayor’s office to finally replace their coffee maker. Karen went home to her then-boyfriend, now-husband, and, right before bed, pulled out an old school workbook and took notes.

The second thing was that Henry Spencer loved his son.

Not a lot has changed since then, Karen thinks, staring down the weirdness that she now faces through her open front door.

“… Oh — Mr. Spencer,” Karen says, because it’s rude not to greet your employees when they show up at your home outside of work hours, and are also your old friend-slash-colleague’s kid. “Hello. Thanks for — bringing these over.”

“Dad said it was urgent,” Shawn says.

Urgent isn’t quite how Karen would describe it, but hearing through the grapevine that your department might be facing an audit sometime in the next quarter does light a fire under the proverbial ass. Karen would rather bend a few rules and make sure the last year’s i’s and t’s are dotted and crossed right than leave her detectives vulnerable to the whims of a mayoral stooge.

In general, Karen prides herself on caring about the people under her command just enough that it inspires genuine friendship and loyalty. The just is important. Care needs tempering – it’s important to pull back, press pause, keep certain lines uncrossed. It’s especially important if you want to be successful as a woman in an authority position where lives are often on the line.

What she’s saying is that she tries to make it none of her business what her employees get up to in their spare time. She really genuinely does. She’s shut O’Hara down gently midway through the twelfth sweetly-frazzled attempt to overshare about her dating life (or her efforts to befriend her next-door neighbor, or the endearing personality quirks of her last cat – rest in peace, Triscuit, you will be missed –) enough times to be well-versed in the art of I Won’t Ask, You Won’t Tell, But You’ll Probably Know I Care Anyway.

An invaluable rapport to maintain. In any situation, Karen thinks, but especially when you’re a person who regularly hires and works alongside Shawn Spencer.

She’s not sure whether what she’s looking at right now makes her want to second guess or double down on her usual policy.

“Special delivery,” Shawn adds, like everything is super normal.

Karen narrows her eyes. She glances behind them into the quiet residential street.

“Shawn,” she says.

“Yes, Chief?”

“You didn’t drive here, did you?”

“Ha,” he says, half rolling his eyes to accompany a weird aborted grin. “No. Even I don’t think riding a motorcycle with a concussion is a good idea. What if someone who wasn’t me got hurt? That’s — that would be no good, then you’d have to arrest me. Wouldn’t that be a huge bummer for the whole team, Chief? Gus would cry. And my dad wouldn’t let me take his truck.”

Karen stares at him. Shawn stares at the ground.

“I got a cab,” he says.

“And you are … taking another cab – home?”

Shawn looks quite suddenly like he’s going to be sick.

“Sure,” he says.

Shawn looks terrible. Bruised face, bags under his eyes, and a weird frenetic energy twitching in his limbs that doesn’t pair well with his general air of exhaustion. He’s holding his shoulders stiffly and can barely meet her eye. His t-shirt and sweatpants are rumpled, like he slept in them, even though it’s too early in the evening for Henry to have woken him up to send him here, and when he thrusts the promised files out into the air toward her, abrupt and, admittedly, Shawn-like, he only just hides the awkward wince that immediately overtakes his left side.

The last couple days have been a bit of a whirlwind, so Karen can’t say she necessarily blames herself for not looking more closely.

Even so.

Slowly, Karen reaches forward and divests him of the case files. They slip a little bit, because Karen can’t seem to stop peering shrewdly at Shawn’s face while she does it, and on instinct he reaches forward to stop the stack from toppling.

It does help, but the autopilot he moves on makes it harder to mask what is to Karen’s eyes a very obvious flinch.

“Alright,” is all he says. “Well, good to see you. Time to head back to the old hay stack.”

Like a needle in a haystack and time to hit the hay, Karen supplies needlessly in her own head. Aloud, she says, in many ways against her better judgment,

“Mr. Spencer, are you okay?”

Shawn sways on the spot for a second, one fist clenched, mouth half open. For a strange moment, Karen gets the impression that he’s trying really hard not to say the wrong thing.

“... As rain,” he finally manages, then nods to himself like he achieved some great feat. “Okay. Well –”

“Did something happen to your shoulder?”

“What? No!” Shawn’s eyes flutter closed and he shakes his head, “I’m – fine, Chief. It’s not – I mean, I’m – normal, fine. Fine in a normal way.”

“That’s not something an individual who’s fine in a normal way would say,” Karen says.

“Uh, is it not! It is. I would know, because I am that individual. It’s – I was – there’s just mild – pfft … stab wound – or something, who would even …”

Is Shawn broken? is the unhelpful thought that pops into Karen’s head. She’s never heard an attempt to bullshit collapse so quickly into pathetic nothingness before – certainly not from Shawn.

Perhaps even more than his father, the kid’s a pro.

And then the rest of the sentence catches up with her.

“A mild stab wound?”

Oh boy. She watches Shawn’s eyes widen with the panic that proceeds an unquestionable blunder.

“Chief –”

“In.”

“Chief, I really, really don’t think –”

“Inside my house. Now.”

He’s certainly uncoordinated enough that he doesn’t put up much of a fight. Karen herds him through the door as firmly as possible and leads them in a beeline past Richard’s office toward the bathroom, ignoring the reedy stream of consciousness that spills out of Shawn’s mouth as they go.

“Oh, hey, woah, it’s been like forever since I was in here. Did you redecorate? I swear that lamp wasn’t there the last time we visited. It could be the tacos I had earlier, but I’m sensing a distinct neo-modern Chinese aesthetic going on here, Chief, which calls to mind the merits of cultural appreciation in suburban home decor – hey, is that your husband’s office? Can I meet him? Is he home? That man is a true enigma to us, Chief, and it’s leading me to believe that he must possess all the facial and personality qualities of the pop superstar Mr. Pitbull Worldwide –”

Richard is home, actually, and Karen needs to alert him to the fact that they have an unexpected house guest, so, ignoring Shawn completely, she calls out,

“Honey? Shawn Spencer’s here for a couple minutes about a work thing! I’ll go up to put Iris to bed in a second!” in the finely-honed There Are Many Layers Of Complicated To This secret married tone that Richard should probably be able to catch through the closed office door.

“Alright,” floats out her husband’s pleasant voice. “Tell him hi from me.”

Perfect. There’s about a ninety-three percent chance he understood.

They make it to the bathroom, only stumbling slightly. Shawn says,

“-- or The Rock. Does your husband look like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson? I really think that would make so many things about the Chief Vick family make sense –”

Karen closes the bathroom door with a snap and crosses her arms.

“Sit,” she says, in a voice that even he knows brooks no argument.

Shawn does. He looks – well, beyond uncomfortable, and more than a little bit miserable, and probably closer to completely dissociating than either of them are prepared for. Karen wonders belatedly if he's gotten any sleep at all in the last forty-eight hours.

“I’m assuming you have not been to the hospital.”

He gives her a baleful look, like he really expected better of her. She only just stops herself from rolling her eyes in response. And there’s that huge goose egg on his forehead, too. What, exactly, he got up to in between Carlton’s wedding reception and oh-eight-hundred hours this morning Karen has no idea, but he looks like someone’s run him through the world’s most aggressive industrial tumble dry cycle and spat him mercilessly back out.

Or maybe over with a truck.

Sending a silent prayer to the universe that Iris never hit puberty and remains a sweet-tempered six-year-old forever, Karen gets to business.

“Well, I had to at least ask. Shawn. Does it need stitches?” He mumbles the answer the first time, and then looks beyond startled when she grabs him under the chin so he’ll look her in the eye. “Listen. I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. But you’re going to tell me the truth. Got it?”

Shawn grimaces so hard at her words it’s almost a flinch.

“No,” he says finally, clearly enough that she hears him. Karen raises an eyebrow. “No, I don’t think it needs stitches,” he articulates, but doesn’t meet her eye.

“Hm. Alright. I have gauze and tape in the medicine cabinet. Can I … is it alright if I pull up the sleeve of your t-shirt?”

Released from her hold, he groans and presses his face into one palm. “Chief –”

“I don’t really know what you expected, coming here! It’s not like I’m any less of a hardass than your father.”

“Yeah, but I can bitch back at my dad,” Shawn says, sounding like he’s finally realizing the magnitude of his mistake. Karen smiles grimly.

“Tough. Now pull your shirt up while I get the first aid kit.”

While Shawn proceeds to wrestle awkwardly with his t-shirt in a muted shuffle against the toilet seat, Karen rummages efficiently through the cabinet and eyes him through the bathroom mirror. He seems oddly reluctant to expose himself. In fact, in a stark contrast to his usual insistence on making his presence and contributions as obtrusively obvious as possible, Shawn seems intent on shrinking into the aforementioned Asian-flavored floral wallpaper (which does need an update, unfortunately) with all the equanimity of an anxious chameleon. Karen feels her eyebrows crease. Taking the first aid kit in hand, she brings it over and deposits it into his arms, ignoring his small startle.

“How about you hold that,” Karen says. Shawn does, against his chest, like a pillow. She walks around him and surveys the damage, antiseptic gauze in hand.

He wasn’t lying about the severity, at least. It’s a shallow thing, already mostly congealed, and has only stained his shirt in a small smattering spot of crusty brown blood.

Karen swabs at it with the alcohol using light careful fingers.

“Ow, ow ow ah –”

“Don’t be such a baby. It’s hardly a life-threatening injury.”

“Super insightful, Chief,” Shawn snaps, as genuinely sarcastic as he’s probably ever been with her, “never thought of that myself. Totally the reason why I just had to go to the hospital.”

He doesn’t pull away, but she can feel the tension radiating through his back. She blinks, one eyebrow crawling up her forehead.

Alright then. So that’s how it’s going to be.

“I’m assuming your father doesn’t know about this,” she says.

Shawn grunts, noncommittal. Huh. Maybe he does know, then, and has just been disallowed from doing anything about it right now.

She tosses the first used antiseptic wipe into the trash.

Goddamn four dimensional chess.

She supposes she’s never been bad at the game. She may as well work her way backwards through the moves: Guster, the most obvious node in Shawn’s turn-to-in-a-crisis-system, would never voluntarily abandon his friend in a time of need, so Karen assumes that whatever this is has either already included his support or not been made known to Gus at all yet. Henry’s likely exhausted his own usefulness in the situation, and Detective O’Hara is …

Karen has to work very hard for her hands not to pause in a way that gives away her hard-earned mental sleuthing. A bad feeling wholly unrelated to her ill-advised hangover of the day before begins to bloom at the back of her gut.

“You have really small hands, Chief.”

Shawn’s voice is notably more subdued than before.

“Do I?”

“They’re like … little kangaroo hands. Like the mom kangaroo from Whinnie the Pooh.”

“Didn’t you know?” Karen says, not unkindly. “They’re given out at the hospital when all first-time moms leave with their baby.”

He lets out a tired little laugh, more boyish than he probably means it to be, and in spite of herself Karen feels her heart clench. She isn’t blind. In all her last seven years as the leader of their chaotic little precinct, she has never seen Juliet O’Hara look as ill as she did yesterday morning. The usually sweet-faced young woman had all the pallor of a Victorian ghost, and stood so far away from Shawn in any given room that to an unassuming observer he might have had the plague.

There are only a handful of things, Karen thinks, that could have invited that particular evolution in their dynamic. She rips the surgical tape from its canister a little bit more harshly than is strictly necessary and fights the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose between her fingers.

“So,” she says conversationally, laying the tape down in neat, gentle little strips, trying not to pinch the wound too tightly. “Any fun plans for the evening?”

Shawn sniffs. She can see him gripping his hands together over his knee from where she stands above him.

“Um, yeah, uh –” he clears his throat, “you know me, Chief. We’re working our way through a Robert Guillame marathon, which means some good old fashioned Benson, running commentary on the quality of that child acting, naturally.”

“Naturally.”

“Then Gus and I were gonna hit up the new, the new chili cheese joint up by Hermosa, you know – they’re doing sliders –”

“Chili cheese sliders?” Karen hums, contemplative.

“Buy ‘em by the pound,” Shawn agrees. “Then I was thinking of getting a tattoo, maybe a belly button piercing, I’ve been really – really needing a change – would you let Iris get one, if she asked?”

“A tattoo?” Karen clarifies, cutting off the next piece of tape. The skin around the cut is warm to her touch but Shawn’s arms have goosepimpled. The hair at the back of his head sticks up unstyled, like he slept weirdly and couldn’t be bothered to fix it come morning.

“Of a marmoset. That’s what I’m thinking. With distinctly effeminate vibes.”

“Well, Dick hates marmosets. So I’d probably encourage her toward something else. Perhaps a sea lion.”

“Like Shabby.” The nervous note has bled into his legs again, and his earlier subdued tone has gone back to sounding strained. “Yeah, that’ll – that could be it.”

“All in one night, huh?” Karen says.

“I –” Shawn doesn’t even hiss when she presses down with a cotton gauze to cover the last of the thickened blood. His legs are properly jittering again. “I was – yeah, y-you know me, Chief, total night owl.”

“Shawn?”

“Yeah?”

“What about going home?”

Silence. Shawn doesn’t answer for a moment long and pregnant enough that Karen wonders if her question will be ignored entirely.

Then,

“Chief,” he says finally, in an awful, tiny little voice, “I really, really fucked up.”

Finally, her hands do falter in their ministrations; as emotionally exuberant as Shawn often is, she doesn’t think she’s ever actually heard him close to tears. For a horrible moment she wonders if Shawn Spencer will suddenly start crying atop her toilet seat for reasons neither of them are capable of discussing honestly. Then she wonders if her horror makes her a terrible boss.

Boss – mother – person.

Oh, dear.

She sets down the surgical tape and lays a ginger palm over the newly-bandaged gouge in his shoulder. It’ll probably scar, but not at all badly. She doesn’t like to think about the far more obvious one just below, puckering in a violent yet unassuming divot. Another narrow miss for Henry’s boy.

At this point there are so many of them to count, Karen has to question the statistical likelihood of the whole thing. Becoming a mathematical anomaly is, Karen can attest with confidence, not exactly the future the Lieutenant Spencer she knew dreamed of for his increasingly unmanageable teenager.

Doing what he loved, on the other hand – absolutely. Being with a person he loved, even more so. Karen grits her teeth at the irritating web she’s spent the last six years constructing around herself and wonders if this evening right here is some kind of cosmic karma for leaving Iris in the care of nannies for the first three years of her life.

That sounds like the kind of thing those horrible parenting magazines and Karen’s mother-in-law would claim, anyway.

“Shawn,” she says slowly, because she has to at least knock this possibility off the list before risking her career in an attempt to mediate her detectives’ love lives, “did you … you weren’t – unfaithful, were you?”

“What?!”

Shawn yanks his shoulder away and whirls around to face her with such a look of horrified betrayal on his face that it’s almost comical.

“No!”

Thank fucking God, Karen thinks. Aloud, she says,

“Well, I’m sorry, I had to at least ask!”

“No! No! What the hell, Chief!”

“Oh would you be quiet! I’m gathering my evidence here!”

“How could I – I would never – you’d even think that I could –”

“I know! Shawn, for God’s sake –” He’s scrambled to his feet in the cramped bathroom space, glaring, and has probably messed up all that surgical tape in the process. The half open first aid kit and his crumpled shirt press lopsided against his front and her garbage can is now full of oxidizing bits of cotton. Karen officially gives in to the urge to press her palms against her forehead. “I had to ask!” she repeats finally. “You and I both know you’re not gonna give me much else to work with, and you sounded so – so sad!”

Shawn barks out a hysterical little laugh. Karen almost growls in frustration.

“I am not going to risk all the very hard-earned rules I have in place without knowing for sure that my instincts aren’t wrong. Is that so hard to appreciate?”

Does it count as sound police work when the framework for your investigation is an unacknowledged lie? Karen doesn’t really know. Probably there’s another math metaphor to be made in there (you screwed your proof from the very beginning, maybe, Richard the professor would definitely have thoughts), or just a straight up joke. How to solve a case that’s cold before it ever has the chance to go live; a cover-up if she ever saw one. Unlikely that O’Hara will peep a word, and things will be a true mess for a few weeks, if she can’t make an educated guess about it. And no one will be explaining anything to Carlton, either …

Right before their goddamn audit, Karen thinks, aggrieved. She wonders if Henry considered this in his calculus. Send Shawn over, have her deal with him. Offer a huge unspoken you’re gonna be walking into a shitstorm tomorrow canary for her perennially chaotic mess of a coal mine.

She can’t help but feel begrudgingly grateful, but that doesn’t mean she and he won’t be having words about this later.

“Jesus, Karen,” Shawn mutters, pressing his face back into his free hand. Karen shakes her head and squares her shoulders.

“Well then! Back to the issue. You fucked up.”

“You know what? I can’t talk about this with you.”

“Oh, Mr. Spencer, I assure you I am more than well aware.”

Shawn blinks at her between his fingers, looking genuinely confused for the first time since he showed up at her door.

Karen does not bother to clear up his confusion; it’s better this way, anyhow.

“Will you be sleeping at Gus’s place or your father’s?” she asks, crossing her arms.

“I’m – I don’t –” Shawn doesn’t meet her eye. The earlier thread of anxiety is back. “I wasn’t …”

So, neither.

“Put your shirt back on,” she says. “We’re relocating to the living room.”

“Chief –”

“That was an order, Mr. Spencer.”

The living room is as quiet and mundane as it was an hour ago. It’s past Iris’s bedtime – she’ll have to go up, and soon at that. Karen seats her guest, retrieves a mug and a bag of chamomile from the kitchen, and removes the fluffy throw blanket from the basket behind the couch on her way back in. He’s deflated completely by the time the tea and blanket are set in front of him. Small and exhausted. Caught. It’s a horrible way to think about it. But she can’t avoid the hundred yard stare – Karen has seen it one too many times in people only just realizing they’re about to go away for life.

“Shawn,” she says, firm as she can make it. “Drink the tea. You’re dehydrated.”

“I’m … what?”

“Your lips are dry. You shouldn’t be dehydrated with a concussion.”

He doesn’t say anything for a minute, and Karen suddenly wonders if he’s going to get up and leave. She has experience with these things – she knows a runner when she sees one.

“I might as well have,” Shawn finally whispers.

She doesn’t catch it the first time. “What?”

“I – I might as well ha – Chief, I …” Deep shuddering breaths. He’s finally shutting down, she realizes. She can’t send him back out like this; Henry would give her the stink eye for a month.

Goddamn Spencers and their goddamn irritating overcomplicated lives.

Karen pushes the tea directly into his hands and tilts her chin so she can meet Shawn’s eye. He’s still lucid enough that she doesn’t think he’ll start hyperventilating, but now that the outrage and adrenaline has worn off, the symptoms of shock are pretty hard to miss. “Shawn,” she says again, and wills for him to understand.

“What if she – what if I never –” He can’t get the full sentence out. He looks at her, eyes wide and terrified.

Life sentence, Karen thinks again. The messy stack of files Shawn brought over sits almost unimportantly on the coffee table between them and a memory comes to her, unbidden, of words penned carefully in the corner of a modified police report that she pulled the minute the door closed on the McCallum case seven years ago.

Date: May 4th, 1995. Reporting Officer, Spencer, Lt. H. Perpetrator a caucasian male, brown hair, five foot nine, insists on wearing those stupid earrings just to spite me. What the hell do you want me to write here, Chief? Spent two hours in the fucking principal’s office convincing them not to expel him one month off from graduation. All that effort, and I still booked the kid. It’s gonna follow him for life, and it’s gonna be me that did it to him. For life. You think he’ll ever forgive me? He’s the greatest thing in my pathetic little world and he keeps breaking my heart, and I can’t even properly accept that it’s my fault.

How’s that for a fucking crime.

She needs to go put her daughter to bed. It’s the thought that keeps running through her head, oddly enough, like a strange antidote to the impotent anger and heartbreak and frustration she’s feeling for the people under her care.

With all the notes she took in that little workbook, she still let herself become complicit in the painstaking, convoluted resolution of Henry’s mistakes without accounting for all the variables.

Richard’s footsteps sound muffled in the next room; he’s made his way upstairs in Karen’s absence. She needs to go. She wants to hear the soft and sleepy love you Mama that with her unpredictable hours and regular long nights isn’t nearly routine enough.

“Shawn,” she says evenly. “Do you love her?”

It’s hard to reconcile the smarmy kid who tried to barter with her for twelve hundred a day with the devastated young man sitting on the couch in front of her.

“Chief …” he starts, barely above a whisper.

“Good. Then she’ll see that. Detective O’Hara is a smart and observant woman. What she chooses to do next is her decision, but … you might be – well, comforted by the fact that she’ll know that – truth.”

Shawn stares at her. The tea steams in front of him, cooling in increments. She takes a deep breath and gets to her feet, patting his uninjured shoulder brusquely.

“I have to go check on Iris. When I come back down, I can drive you to the Psych office.”

Iris is fast asleep when she gets there. A library book lays open face down over her stomach, and her soft brown hair fans out against the pillow, silhouetted by the soft glow of the unicorn nightlight in the wall above her. Karen turns off the bedside lamp, tucks her daughter in, and kisses her forehead. Just before she leaves, she hears it: murmured, half-awake.

“Love you, Mama.”

“I love you too, baby.”

Karen goes back to her living room, car keys in hand. She’s planned her next move in the driver’s seat enough times throughout her career that it shouldn’t be too hard.

#my writing #psych #psych usa #psych 2006 #shawn spencer #karen vick #henry spencer #shawn x juliet #shules #situations prompt meme #not sure if i want to put this on ao3 yet we'll see #if it gets zero traction on here ... maybe lol

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beautifulgirl223 · 1 year ago

Text

Intoxicating

Y'all, I'm in love with him. Like there is not enough text out there that will ever cure my depravity when it comes to how much I think about this man. He's out of character here I'm sure but I wish I could care. This is Rayleigh's character to me and honestly I'm the only one I care about.

About 5.5k words

CW: afab reader, use of she/her pronouns, cunnilingus (fem receiving), slight breeding kink, praise kink

Intoxicating.

Everything about him made you desperately want more. He was addicting in his actions, his words, and how he treated you. Sometimes you were scared of how intense your feelings for him were.

But little did you know, he had it much worse when it came to you.

***

She happily waved to the Straw Hats alongside Shakky and Rayleigh as they made their way off of the Archipelago and to the New World.

“I’m excited to hear what they get up to next. They really know how to liven up the place!” Your eyes stayed on the ship until it was no longer in sight. With a slight smile you sighed. “I’m gonna miss them. Hope I can drink with them again sometime in the future.”

Rayleigh snaked his arm around your waist and pulled you closer to him. “I’m sure you’ll get another chance sometime in the future sweetheart. I have a strong feeling that this won’t be the last time you’ll see them,” he chuckled. Placing a kiss atop your head as you cuddled into him.

“I’ll miss them, but I’m happy to have you back,” you said, fully turning into his embrace for a hug.

“What do you mean? After leaving Luffy on Rusukaina I’ve been back here, with you. I would never leave either of you unless I had to sweetheart,” he pulled you away from his chest so he could look down into your eyes, also giving a look over to Shakky.

All she did was shrug. She knew how he was, she didn’t need the reminder. But apparently the new addition to their relationship wasn’t as well-versed on how Rayleigh operated.

“I knowwww,” you said with an embarrassed tone to your voice. “It’s just…”

He looked at her expectantly without saying anything. His expression speaking for him.

He could tell by the way your cheeks were heating up that you were struggling to share how you felt. Even though you tried to hide it from him – which you were quickly learning was impossible due to a little thing called Haki (which you only knew about through him) – he was able to detect how you were feeling based on your body language.

Embarrassed.

“Of course I’m happy you helped the Straw Hats out. You’re amazing and generous as always Silvers…I just…” you averted his eyes, finding your nails much more interesting at the moment.

That was until he gently grabbed your chin with his finger and thumb to look him in his eyes, demanding your full attention.

“I know it’s selfish of me…I just missed your attention is all…”

He didn’t say anything else as his mind recalled the last two years. While it’s true that he didn’t stay with Luffy the full two years during his training, even when he came back home, most of his time was spent covertly watching over their ship and waiting for their inevitable return back to the Archipelago.

His heart hurt at the fact that you were right. He had been neglecting you when he didn’t even mean to. And here you were admitting so sweetly that you missed him.

Oh. He was going to make up for lost time immediately.

The look in his eyes must have given away his intentions as Shakky looked over at the two of them and rolled her eyes lovingly. “I’m going back to the bar to serve the customers because you know, that’s how I get paid around here. Just don’t break the bed this time Rayleigh” she scoffed as she walked away towards the bar, lighting her next cigarette.

Rayleigh chuckled as he heard an embarrassed whine coming from the woman buried in his chest. Picking you up and following Shakky to the bar with the intention of going straight to their shared bedroom. You wrapped your legs around him so that you didn’t fall now that your feet weren’t on the ground. Not that he would ever let you fall from his arms.

“You’ve been so patient with me haven’t you baby? I didn’t mean to neglect you sweetheart. Let me make it up to you, yeah?”

***

So maybe you had an idea of what was going to happen when you admitted to wanting his attention back, but you had no idea it was going to be like this. How did Shakky survive so long?

Rayleigh had to relearn what restraint was the moment he finally had you laid out bare on the bed underneath him. It was hard to think of anything else but you when you were looking at him so desperately… so ready for him to take care of you.

He could tell you were needy from the look in your eyes, and he’d be damned if he didn’t take care of his sweet girl’s needs after he’s neglected them for so long.

“You missed me sweet girl?” he asked, ghosting his lips over yours, kissing everywhere but where you wanted him most. His hands wandered across your body as if he were learning you for the first time. You both had done this many times before, yet he was always amazed at how soft your body was in comparison to his. How your skin felt underneath his hands. Every single inch of your body, your soul…just you, was intoxicating.

You whine and pull his lips onto yours in response to his question. His lands leaving a trail of fire everywhere he touched. It was amazing how was able to melt your brain with only gentle caresses, but he did so without fail each time. Whining as he pulled away from the kiss, immediately missing his lips, and he groaned at the noise you made.

If he looked hard enough, he was sure that deep within your lust filled eyes, he could make out little hearts in them as you stared up at him. Being so patient and waiting once again for him to take care of you. His hand made its way to your neck and squeezed gently. The full power and control you willingly submitted to him made him dizzy. He was going to ruin you.

“I’m sorry I made you wait sweetheart. You’ve been such a good girl being all patient for me haven’t you?” he cooed at you. Quickly nodding your head in agreement. Already drunk off his praise.

“Y-yes, I’ve been good,” you whimpered in response. Waiting on him to continue.

“I know, baby. I’m so sorry I haven’t been giving you the attention you needed. I’m gonna make it up to you okay? My sweet sweet girl deserves a reward for being so good, yeah?” He lightly pinched one of your nipples. Not bothering to hide the shit-eating grin on his face at how your body immediately reacted to his touch. He was addicted to how responsive you were to him. Even if it was involuntary, it let him know that he was doing something right.

He released your neck as he took his own shirt off. Allowing you a moment to rediscover his body. Taking pride in how you shamelessly eye fucked him. He even let you pull him down for another kiss. Sighing at the skin on skin contact. He didn’t even realize how much his own body missed yours until he was finally over you.

He pulled away from your mouth as he smiled sweetly to you. “What’s the safe word sweetheart,” he tapped the side of your face to make sure you were listening, immediately recognizing the spacey look forming on your face. He couldn’t get started just yet until he knew you would be alright.

“Haki,” you said with a smile. Being able to find your voice for the first time in the last few minutes.

“There you go…” he whispered.

You drive him crazy with the innocent look on your face despite knowing exactly how depraved your mind was in that moment. Knowing how he’s the last one who will get to see you like this brings him a high he will never tire of.

He makes his way down your body all while keeping eye contact with you until he reaches the lower half of your body. He grabs a pillow from the top of the headboard and shoves it underneath your hips. He gently rubs your legs in a comforting manner while he slowly forces them apart.

He breaks eye contact and mentally curses himself for not tending to you sooner. He wonders how long you went just thinking of him, how often you missed his touch, how often you craved him.

He groans appreciatively at the sight of you spread out in front of him. Your extreme arousal was evident in the way it flowed from you. Suddenly he was dehydrated and his eyes glossed over as if he found a never ending source of hydration. His hands made their way to the back of your thighs as his patience was starting to thin. He coaxed the back of your thighs before he cupped the back of your knees and pushed them up towards your chest and laid his arm out over your legs to keep you completely open and bent.

You whimpered at his strength and how easily he maneuvered your to his liking. Turned on by the way his strength made you feel small and protected. you didn’t even realize that he had guided your hands to his hair until you felt his fingers run along the slit of your core and teasingly circle your clit. The touch took you by surprise as you gripped at his head between your legs.

“Who got you this excited sweetheart? Surely it couldn’t have been this old man,” he teased as he continued to toy with you. Smiling at the way your breath hitched at his touch.

“You did, only you Silvers,” you whimpered. your hips jolted when he pressed his finger into you. He blew air onto your core, and he felt himself harden even more at the way your body winked at him. your body’s promise to him of how amazing you would feel wrapped around him.

While you laid spread out in front of Rayleigh, all you could think about was how easily he could ruin you. He could ask you to go after the One Piece yourself and you would agree in an instant if it meant that he would never stop touching you. you wanted him to please you until you were brainless. Until the only thing you could think about was him. He could take you right now and all you would be able to do is thank him.

“Please Silvers, I’ve been so good, please just -” he cut you off with a stroke of his tongue from your entrance to your clit. The moan you let out – pornographic and needy.

“Don’t beg,” he states, staring at you. “You never have to beg me for anything sweetheart. Anything you want. It’s yours.”

He pressed his arm harder into your legs to keep you still, and brought his other hand to spread you open for him. Mouth watering at the sight of you and the thought of making you come undone with only his mouth.

Sure, he sailed with the King of the Pirates, but nothing made him feel more powerful than the way your body reacted to just his mouth.

They both moaned at the same time. yours at the slight feeling of relief, and his at the taste of you that he missed so much. He licks and sucks everywhere he can get his mouth to, and groans at the feeling of you tugging at his hair. He has to press his arm down a bit more, because your body immediately tries to up the friction, trying to grind yourself into his mouth as much as you can.

He greedily licked up your arousal as his eyes looked up from between your legs. Smirking at the sight of your already fucked out face. Your eyes blurry from unshed tears as your mouth opened in silence.

“You gotta breathe baby,” he muttered against you.

Releasing the breath you didn’t realize you were holding “Thank you thank you thank you” you chanted as he continued to ruin you with only his mouth. It was quickly becoming too much too fast. As worked up as you were, you knew you weren't going to last long with how well he was working on unraveling you.

Your body tensed as you felt him insert a finger into you. Her body clamped down on the intrusion, happy to no longer be empty.

“Gods you’re so tight sweetheart,” he groaned at the feeling of you around his finger. Knowing that you were going to feel even better around him. “Loosen up for me, yeah?” His mouth closed around your clit and sucked. Her body buzzed beneath him. All he could focus on was you. you overwhelmed his senses in the best way possible.

It only took a few moments before he was inserting another finger into you. you cried out as he began to stretch you out. The tension in your lower body was growing tighter and tighter by the second. Her toes were curling as your breaths became even more labored.

“S-Silvers! S-slow down. I’m-I’m,” you cut yourself off with a scream as he massaged the spot inside of you that you were never able to reach yourself.

Rayleigh paid your words no mind as he continued to push you to your finish. While you may have been saying one thing, your body could never lie, and told him exactly what you needed. He knew you were close. And there was no way he wouldn’t give his baby what he knew she needed.

“You gonna make a mess on my face pretty girl? You gonna cum for me, beautiful?” he said as his pace increased. His fingers relentlessly hitting that spot inside of you as he watched you furiously nod your head. He hummed in approval as he continued to lap at your clit. The way he massaged you inside and out made your hips attempt to buck into his face.

He grows harder at the sound of your voice moments before you came undone. you probably didn’t even realize that your voice started to get high pitched and whiny as you tried to warn him of your inevitable fate. With one last stroke of his tongue, and one last thrust of his fingers you started to scream.

You looked ethereal as you reached your climax. He groans as you tugs at his hair, but he doesn’t let up. He continues to slam his fingers into her as her walls clenched at his fingers.

The tension in your body felt like a rubber band that had been pulled so taut that eventually it snapped. Your orgasm crashed on you so strongly that instinctively you tried to move away from the constant pleasure that Rayleigh gave you. His arm pressed into the back of your things prevented you from doing so. The next best thing was to grip his hair as you rode out your climax. you threw your head back in silence as you took in a deep breath and screamed.

Rayleigh continued to work you through your orgasm while listening to the beautiful sounds that fell from your mouth. He grinded himself into the bed at the sound of your voice. It was a mixture of moans and his name. And he knew right then that his name never sounded better than when it was coming from your mouth.

Without relenting, he continued to caress you with his mouth, only slowing up a little when he felt your body relax a bit after that high. Only giving you a moment of rest, knowing that he wasn’t going to stop there. He wanted to force your mind into a state of overstimulated bliss. And he knew exactly how to do that.

you tried to wiggle out of his grasp and away from his sinful ministrations. you needed a break after having an orgasm that strong, but the pressure on your legs became stronger. you was still rendered immobile and at the mercy of Silvers Rayleigh.

“Silvers, p-please. It’s too much,” you whined. Her mind was fuzzy at best. Still floating somewhere above your body and you couldn’t bring it back down.

“But I thought you wanted my attention?” he teased from between your legs. He pulled his fingers from you and shoved them in your mouth to keep you quiet. “I know when you’ve had too much sweetheart, and right now, your body is telling me you haven’t had enough.”

This time he took his mouth off your clit to let you have a moment before he forced his tongue into you. A completely different feeling than his fingers, as your body tensed in appreciation. Groaning at the taste of your climax, he dug his tongue as deep as it could go into you. His nose bumping against your clit as he did so.

“Oh fuck oh fuck fuck fuck…” you chanted at the feel of his tongue in you. He expertly explored every inch of you that he could reach while building you up again. He bobbed his head between your legs as he drank every ounce your body so generously gave. If he could spend the rest of his life in this moment, he thinks he would never leave. Thankful for the fact that you chose him. That you allowed him to be the one who you allowed to please you. He wanted to spend the rest of his life thanking you for that fact.

He took his fingers from your mouth and brought them back down to your core. Now that they were wet with your own saliva, he brought them to your clit, and rubbed it to the same pace as his tongue. Your body the instrument he knew how to play best.

It didn’t take long at all before another orgasm washed over you. Not as powerful as the first, but just as satisfying. The feeling of being restrained making it that much better.

You felt as if you could breathe again now that he finally decided that you had enough. He pulled his face away from you and gently released your legs. They flopped back down onto the bed as you were unable to control them. You watched as Rayleigh made his way up your body until he eventually made it to your face.

“You doin alright sweetheart?” he asked with a big smile on his face. You said nothing as you pulled him down for a kiss. You moaned at the taste of yourself on his lips and in his mouth. You tried to win the fight to see who would lead the kiss, but you lost immediately. Happily surrendering to the gentle caresses of Rayleigh.

The two of you stayed like that for a moment, enjoying being with each other in a moment of peace. But it was only a matter of time before you became needy again. Your hands drifting down to the waistband of his pants. Clumsily fumbling with the fabric between your fingers.

“Take these off” you mumbled into his mouth as he pulled away to take a breath. He chuckled at your eagerness.

“Should I? Cause I remember distinctly a few moments ago when you said it was ‘too much’ and how you wanted me to stop,” he teased. His smirk growing bigger at the sight of your lips forming into a pout.

Your fingers finally made their way under the waistband as it was your turn to ignore his words. You shimmed them down, until he finally caved and took the rest of them off himself. Your mouth watered at the sight of him.

Silvers Rayleigh was an attractive man in his younger years as he sailed with Roger. But how he looked then has nothing on what he looks like now as an older man. Nothing about him said old unless you account for the gray hair atop his head. Even in his old age, he looked as good as he did when he was younger. Even better now. And that even went for what he held between his legs.

Your mouth watered at the sight of him. Wanting nothing more than to take him into your mouth. It was almost as if he read your mind as he brought your attention back to him.

“Let me just take care of you, okay sweetheart? We’ve the rest of our lives for you to-” you whined in embarrassment.

“Silverssss don’t say it” he laughed at your bashfulness.

“Sweetheart…I just had my head between your legs and you just finished screaming to high heavens, and you're embarrassed about how-” You pulled him down to cut him off. You couldn’t help what you were embarrassed by.

He relented with a smile as he kissed you back.

“You ready sweetheart?” he asked. You could sense a little restraint in his voice as he rubbed himself against you. Sliding himself along your center, letting the wet mess he left between your legs transfer onto him as well.

You eagerly nod, excited to have him properly fuck you.

“I gotta hear you ask for it,” he teased kissing along the expanse of your neck. “Let me hear you ask me, yeah?”

Knowing you weren’t going to get your way unless you did as he asked, you swallowed the last embarrassment you had in your body. There was no way you were going to cheat yourself out of this after so long just because some things made you embarrassed. You already knew he was going to make you feel amazing, so you just had to give in.

“Yes. I’m ready, please fuck me,” you asked quietly as you wrapped your legs around him in an attempt to bring him closer.

Grabbing your hips to pull you closer, he pushed himself into you. Groaning at how you felt. Moving slowly until he completely bottomed out, his hips touching yours. His breathing turned a bit heavy as he waited for you to adjust to him.

It really must have been a while due to how you both reacted. No matter how many times the two of you had slept together, somehow it always felt like the first.

Intoxicating.

You felt full as you grabbed at his back to pull him in. His muscles stiff beneath your fingers as you grasp at his shoulders for purchase.

He slowly pulls all the way out to force himself back in.

“Still so tight for me princess,” he groans as he begins to thrust into you, “gonna be good and let me use you hmm?”

“Yes yes yes please use me,” you don’t care how pathetic you sound. You were finally getting what you craved for so long. You were needy and you knew he was going to take care of you.

He folds her legs once more so that your knees are bent near your chest while your feet dangle by his ear. He uses his body weight to slam into you, driving you up the bed. He ruts desperately into you, addicted to how you feel squeezing around him.

His thrusts are rough and punishing and the tip of him kisses the back of you, kissing your cervix each time he bullied his way into you.

Your eyes quickly glazed over once again and the nonstop pressure of him knocking into your spot. The constant bombardment of him forcing himself into you too much for you to take at once, yet you needed more.

Resting your ankles onto his shoulders, he leaned forward to capture you in another kiss. Trying to hold himself out longer. How you were looking at him combined with the sinful noises falling out of your mouth with how tight, wet, and hot you felt around him, he wasn’t going to last much longer.

“Pleasepleasepleaseplease don’t stop please please,” you breathily chanted in his ear. You were close to your third orgasm of the night and needed him to give you everything.

He brought one hand and grabbed at your neck, while the other slid down your body and began to rub hasty circles onto your clit.

“Gonna be a good girl and cum on me? I wanna see you lose yourself again pretty girl,” he praised as he worked you to your end. His pace never faltered as he leaned over and put more of his weight onto your body.

Intoxicating. That’s all Rayleigh could think of as he fucked you deeply into the mattress. The sound of your skin slapping against him made him groan at the filthy thought. He wanted to make sure you never felt forgotten again, and with the way you were babbling nothing but his name, it was safe to say that he achieved his goal. That and how adorable you looked losing yourself over his dick. Over him. “...only you Silvers…” your previous words coming back to the forefront of his mind. You were going to make him lose his mind.

You let him use your body, scratching at his back as he forcefully brings you closer and closer to a praecipe.

Maybe it was because you were overstimulated. Maybe it was because it had been so long since the two of you slept together. Or maybe it was because of how he played your body perfectly…something about this orgasm felt different. You placed your hands on his hips trying to slow him down. “Ohfuckohfuckohfuckohfuck w-wait s-slow d-down Silvers!” You squeal. The back of your thighs tensing against his chest. You felt as if your body was trying to leave you.

He only held you a little tighter response. He’s got you right where he wanted you.Your body may try and leave you, but he would make sure it stayed exactly where he wanted it to in his hold.

He was going to be the death of you…but you craved him all the same.

You tried to hold out. You were about to make a mess and it didn’t seem like he cared. To be completely honest, it kinda felt like he knew that and continued his brutal pace anyway. His hips move in an almost primal way. It was as if he was digging the orgasm from deep within you.

“Just let go for me sweetheart…I got you, I promise,” he whispered in your ear.

Turns out, that was the final straw as you finally let yourself fall over into bliss. Rayleigh continued to fuck you through it all while praising you. Holding your body to the mattress so you didn’t ruin your own orgasm.

“There she goesssss, come on baby,” he grunted, bullying his way into your contracting walls. He wanted you to milk him dry. The way you were squeezing him made his pace falter. “You’re being so good f ‘me hmm?”

This time you did actually forget how to breathe as your mouth was open in a silent scream. Your nails scratched at his back as your third orgasm washed over you almost painfully. It took you by surprise how strongly it came. It was so earth shattering that you actually started to cry.

“Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou…” he groans at your words. At how you thank him for how he makes you feel, when he should be the one thanking you. He moans when he feels how wet you’ve gotten, realizing that he’s made you squirt. It wasn’t his intention this time, but he’s saved this information for the next time he’s got you trapped underneath him.

“What a messy baby hmm?”

His heart swells as he looks down at you. A heavenly sight that he feels lucky enough to have gotten the chance to see. Let alone be the reason he could even have the view.

“Where do you want me,” he growls into your ear, “tell me where you want me baby?” he asks kissing behind your ear, removing his hands from your neck and clit. Moving them to rest on both sides of your head.

“Want you inside,” she cries, “I wanna be full of you Silvers.”

In that moment Rayleigh would do anything you asked him to. If you wanted him to build you a ship and sail you to the New World, he’d do it without an ounce of shame and with a smile on his face. Anything for his baby girl.

“That’s my girl. Let me take care of you baby…” trapping your legs between the two of you, and used you to chase his own end. With only a couple more thrusts he bottomed out completely and finished deep inside with your name as a whisper on his breath. You feel amazing as you take everything he has to offer as he lightly thrusts into you. Finishing with a deep groan into your ear. He quietly keeps you flushed to him as he rocks into you, his way of silently worshiping you and your body. His way of thanking you for trusting him. The silence not needing to be filled as the unspoken words say enough.

He lowers himself closer to your front, as your legs slowly let go of his abdomen. He places lazy kisses along your neck as the both of you try to catch your breath. You two sit in silence for a moment before he slowly pulls himself from you. He covers himself as he quickly leaves the room to grab you a glass of water.

He comes back with a warm rag along with a glass of water. He sets the water down on the bedside table and gently begins to clean you up. His movements slow and calculated, being careful to not wipe too harshly in fear of overstimulating you anymore. When he cleans you up to his liking, he tosses the rag into the hamper in the corner of the room and guides you to sit up in bed.

“Drink some water for me princess,” he coos. You blush as the older man dotes on you and you do as he says, sitting up and taking small sips of the water. All you wanted to do was lay and cuddle with him, as your preferred method of aftercare, but you knew that he was just doing what he needed to before he indulged.

After you drank what he felt was enough, he took the glass from you, took a large sip himself and set the glass back on the table. He laid back into bed and pulled you onto his front so that you could lay your head on his chest.

“How are you feeling sweetheart? You back with me?” He rubbed your back and brought the blankets up to cover your body as he stroked your hair. He knew that after a passionate session, you typically needed coaxing to come back to reality. It was his favorite way of taking care of you. Having you lay here completely vulnerable while you placed your complete trust in him made his heart soar. He would never dream of taking advantage of what the two of you have built.

You answered him with a hum, snuggling more into his chest, chasing after the warmth his body provided. Your eyes started closing to the feel of his hands rubbing soothing patterns on you.

“I’m…perfect,” you manage to say after finding your voice. Your voice was a bit scratchy, but you laid there wholeheartedly happy and satisfied. Knowing he wouldn’t be happy until he heard your voice.

“You did so well for me princess. Was it okay? Did I go too hard on you?” He asked a bit worriedly. While you never said your safe word, he couldn’t help but be a little worried after each session. Wanting to make sure that he only ever made you feel good.

“You were perfect Silvers. Honestly, I’d like it if you were a little more rough with me. Not that rough everytime, but…ya know,” she said as she traced her finger up and down his abs. Sex with Rayleigh most of the time was soft and slow. And while you didn’t have a problem with it (Rayleigh made sure you were satisfied each time), being manhandled is something that you wish would happen a bit more often. It melts your heart that this strong man treats you with the fragility and tenderness of ceramic, but you like to be broke once in a while.

“Strongly noted,” he chuckled as he placed a kiss on top of your head. “Shakky will be happy I didn’t break the bed this time.”

“Yeah well, with how you had me folded, I’m surprised I didn’t break,” she giggled.

“Well if you want me to break you then you only need to ask,” he teased as one of his hands snaked down to your ass and gave it a slight squeeze.

“Strongly noted.”

***

Literally foaming at the mouth I love him so much we're actually married. Shakky and I tease him all the time

#one piece x reader #one piece #rayleigh x reader #one piece rayleigh #a little shakky x reader but not a lot tbh #rayleigh x shakky #dark king rayleigh

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brucewaynehater101 · 7 months ago

Note

Grandpa Drake would be a himbo except he looks a little too much like a noodle, he looks like milo thatch but with black hair or a black haired pre serum steve rogers, this does not stop him from absolutely getting into drag down knock out fights at bars when he spots some jerk who is harassing a woman or, even worse, has drugged a drink. And while he may be a bit air headed at times, he is a savant when it comes to pharmaceutical science and the general realm of developing medicine.

Grandma Drake looks like a little music box ballerina, she is small and fine boned and as mention previously, is completely capable of breaking a person's femur with a kick. She is fiercely loyal, incredibly intelligent, and likes to be prepared. She is the type of person to have a full first aid kit, a snack, a bottle of water, and a tire repair kit in her bag ready for an emergency. While she can and will knock out anyone who's messing with her friends or family, she'll try verbally eviscerating them first because she doesn't want to be kicked out of the bar or banned. The majority of the time her verbal battles are won and result in her opponent being in tears.

Grandy is something like a piece of the void of space and stardust in a mostly humanoid shape or sometimes an amorphous blob. They enjoy pretty things and are a noted patron of the arts across the galaxy as well as being dedicated to their duty and to their duchy. The way to immediately annoy Grandy is by being rude to service workers. Grandy developed a crush on Grandma Drake when they saw her dancing on stage. They dated for awhile but Grandy had to return to their planet to fulfill their responsibilities and Grandma wasn't ready to leave earth. The break up was amicable and they were still friends. Grandy fell for Grandpa after they saw how they made Grandma laugh and liked how Grandpa inspired such joy and they both looked just so pretty when they were happy that they felt compelled to ask out the Drakes. They courted both of the Drakes and this time when they asked the two to come with them to space the Drakes figured why not? Janet was all grown up and married after all, Mary was also married and living happily with her beloved, and, as far as they knew, David was dead. They figured they could come back to visit sometime. They left an an emergency beacon with Janet and told her to use it if she had important news for them. Jack accidentally broke it at one point and hid the pieces which is why they didn't return to see their grandchild when he was a tiny baby. Janet found out later when she tried to use it to get her parents' attention regarding their coming grandchild. Jack was on very thin ice for a very long time. (Had Grandpa, Grandma, and Grandy known about what David was up to, the Drakes would have done their very best to kick their son/step son's ass into the next year or hired probably lobo or some other intergalactic mercenary to do it for them since they were getting up there in age. They also left behind a sizeable deposit with a detective agency to continue to investigate Jack Drake every year and give Janet the report just in case. The agency wouldn't follow the Drakes outside of the states so this is one of the reasons that Jack pushed for lots of trips abroad.)

Grandpa and Grandma are the most beautiful beings in the galaxy the eyes of Grandy until they see their adorable adopted grandchildren. Then the grandchildren as well as grandma and grandpa are the most perfect examples of beauty, wonder, and joy in the eyes of Grandy.

Grandma, Grandpa, and Grandy all get along very well with Ma and Pa Kent. None of the Drakes are particularly well versed in the kitchen, they can cook in a pinch but it's not their favorite thing to do, so they don't infringe on Martha's kitchen dominance.

Of course Alfred was in a thruple with Martha and Thomas, personally I don't believe there's any reality where he wasn't.

I can't find the OG posts this is referencing. If I do, I'll add the link back in later ^^

The last point I 100% agree with. Alfred/Martha/Thomas all the way. It makes Alfred's angst even heavier (especially if the three were hiding their relationship from Bruce, and thus the kid never knew Alfred to be another parent figure. He was still considered family, but the change in roles was definitely a transition stage for both Alfred and Bruce).

Anyways, thank you for expanding on the AU some more!!! I especially love the way that Grandy is described. Their form seems so beautiful.

Hmm... In this AU, Dick, Cass, and Tim are Grandpa Drake's bio grandkids. Does the grandparent thruple recognize their siblings (Duke, Jason, Damian, maybe Babs and Steph) as their grandkids as well? I'd imagine so.

Also, have the G.T. (grandparent thruple) recognized anyone else as their kids/grandkids through adoption? It'd be hilarious if they considered Starro as their kid and thus Jarro is their grandkid (not sure how to make that work, though).

I would love to see more adventures of G.T. in space, getting to know their grandkids, and hanging out with Ma Kent and Alfred.

#dc au #grandpa drake au #thank you for the ask!!!!

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needcurse · 11 days ago

Text

➥ * 𝙱𝚄𝙵𝙵𝚈 𝚂𝚄𝙼𝙼𝙴𝚁𝚂 , 🧷 . . . this whole thing is all about death. you think you're different 'cause you might be the next slayer ? death is what a slayer breathes, what a slayer dreams about when she sleeps. death is what a slayer lives.

▍ note: my buffy is primarily headcanon-based and i don't mess with the comics. while i take a lot of my characterization from seasons 1-5 i have taken liberties when it comes to the origins of "the slayer" as well as buffy's ascension as an angel post her second death and then her subsequent fall when she is resurrected again. so basically what i'm saying is, don't assume things about my characterization. i'm making this post to get ahead of that since i'm excited to introduce my take on buffy! i also have chosen to make buffy chicana and that will play a large part in my portrayal of her as a girl who is originally from east los angeles.

♡ i write buffy strictly after high school and am only really interested in threads where she is in university already as well as beyond that. she had to deal with enough weirdness while underaged in canon so i won't be doing that here.

➥ DOSSIER.

full name: benicia ana summers ( better known as "buffy" ) aliases / titles: b, nici, nicia, the slayer, the chosen one, she who hangs out a lot in cemeteries, the fallen one, santa muerte, la luz del universo, alma del angél, nuestra señora de entierro, la sibila age: 19-25 depending on the verse birthplace: los angeles, california current residence: sunnydale, california gender: cis female ( she / her ) sexuality: bisexual ethnicity: latina ( first gen from mexico ) species: enhanced human birthday: january 19th occupation: defender against the darkness, savior of humanity even if it doesn't pay well, basically a supernatural detective zodiac: capricorn sun, moon in cancer, gemini rising

➥ APPEARANCE.

hair: honey blonde ( dyed ), dark brown ( natural ) eyes: warm brown, amber in the sunlight. height: 5’4” / 162 cm body type: below average height but strong, she has an acrobat's build and is lean and fit due to the nature of her work, she was once a figure skater and still maintains that same bearing and appearance of an athlete at that caliber. notable features... mainly post second resurrection: the scarred ridges along her shoulder blades where her wings once grew, every now and then she still grows an odd feather, she always faintly smells of rose water and burning myrrh, her skin has a certain effulgent quality to it; even in the dark she may have the faint outline of halo of light around her.

➥ ASSOCIATED MOTIFS.

the sacred heart, fraying angel wings, the crucifix, la catrina, mantillas, the tragic heroine, pyrrhic victory, the broken halo, the cycle of katabasis, the figure of the prophetess

➥ HISTORY.

i am assuming most people know the basics about buffy's character but for the uninitiated ! buffy is the "chosen-one" of prophecy;

♡ ❛ into every generation, there is a chosen one. one girl in all the world. she alone will wield the strength and skill to stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers. ❜

she was called to be the slayer in 1996 at fifteen years old. originally living in east los angeles, her family had to move due to an incident involving a gang of vampires at her high school at the time she relocated to sunnydale with her mother, upon moving they find out that the town itself is a hellmouth. essentially a nexus for supernatural activity. thus buffy's guardianship over sunnydale begins until it's eventually destruction in 2003.

before coming to sunnydale buffy operated independently and alone. initially upon her arrival she wants nothing more than to hang up her mantle as the slayer and return to her normal life. she eventually does embrace her place in the prophecy but this time with the assistance of her mentor/watcher, giles and her friends xander and willow who are referred to unofficially as, "the scooby gang."

➥ DIVERGENCES. ( angelic lineage of the slayers )

first death & slayer lineage: over the course of the series buffy perishes twice in battle. the first time is in season one finale while facing the master. the perishes while preventing him from bringing about what is essentially vampire armageddon. as according to my blog canon buffy's first death does not quite stick. she never makes it to heaven but rather dithers in limbo. still it is enough to begin to enliven the celestial blood within her as slayer's a descendants of fallen angel turned demon. it makes her connection to the line of slayers before her stronger and she does begin hear them in a faint chorus within her mind.

second death & ascension: buffy effectively martyrs herself when she makes the ultimate sacrifice of giving her life in exchange for her sister dawn's. not all slayers necessary become angels upon their death but given the nature of buffy's death and her already awakened bloodline she is granted wings for all that she has endured.

falling & subsequent resurrection: she doesn't fall out of her own fault but it doesn't matter. being called back to life is a sin in itself and willow forcibly taking buffy from heaven is as good as damning her forever. she digs herself out of her grave with her wings in a state of ruin. she sheds feathers for weeks following her revival and even months after the fact they still grow out of her skin bent and ravaged. the pain is immense but she plucks them immediately each time they emerge.

duality explored: while i think buffy post-season 5 is handed absolutely abysmally on the show i do think her draw to act rashly in an effort to "feel something" is actually fairly accurate to how she conducts herself following her stint in heaven. the mortal world does feel every bit like hell when compared to the bliss and relief she felt after finally dying, she has to constantly remind herself that this is now her reality again and the contentment she had for that fleeting time is over. she will never return to any state of salvation ever again no matter how good or justly she conducts herself.

➥ ABILITIES.

enhanced physical capabilities: like all slayers buffy has heightened physical strength and agility. she can perform feats that someone of her size probably shouldn't but she is a very unconventional fighter because of that. in her training she has used various weapons and has a degree of mastery in them all but largely she favors axes, scythes, and the occasional crossbow... she also likes the romantic nature of swordplay but often it doesn't serve the kind of combat she is getting into. she is an incredibly acrobatic fighter and nimble making her defense just as impressive as her offensive maneuvers.

heightened senses: slayers possessed a heightened awareness of their surroundings, allowing them, with experience, to know the position of an attacker and fight them even without sight. however, buffy is slow to develop the slayer power to sense supernatural activity. as the chosen one should be able to sense a vampire or demon even when disguised. later in life, it is a skill she hones in on but she still typically relies on gut feeling over her slayer perception to suss out potential enemies. she also is able to see in the dark as it aids her in the hunt of nocturnal creatures although her sight is obviously nowhere near as good as a vampire's.

prophecy or death-sense: prophecy is something slayers are plagued with in the form of dreams that give glimpses into potential futures. these visions tend to surround death and are used as forewarning before tragedy unfolds. the function of this precognition is to better ensure the slayer's survival and warn against certain doom. still, there are times that these bursts of prophecy have nothing to do with death. they are vastly driven by emotion and buffy has seen her loved ones deceive her before the events itself occur as well as her lover losing his soul. soooo i think it's safe to say that there is a through line between love and death when it comes to this ability.

➥ VERSES.

the vampire diaries: essentially this verse follows canon pretty closely since the lore between the two shows fit fairly neatly together... which is probably because tvd borrows heavily from buffy and is somewhat of its spiritual successor. the key difference is instead of moving to sunnydale after getting kicked out of her last school buffy and her mother move from los angeles to mystic falls, virginia. i don't think it's a stretch to say that mystic falls essentially functions as an east coast hellmouth. between the long history of witch lineages originating there as well as the salvatore legacy it makes sense that a slayer would be drawn to such a supernatural hub. besides that she attends school around the same time the main cast does and eventually goes off to whitmore college too.

pjo / roman mythology: a roman daughter of victoria, buffy was once her mother's greatest champion and then eventually became her greatest shame. prophesied to the save the world and the gods from certain ruin this destiny is quickly cut short when buffy dies at sixteen. when she fights her way out of the underworld back to her mother's side she is spurned and her wings are ripped from her back. it is eros who takes pity on the loveless child, becoming her patron but it comes at the cost of heart ( doomed to only love the dead and never the living ) to this day she is treated as a fugitive of the underworld. she is constantly pursued by lemures attempting to drag her back beneath the earth for judgement.

shadowhunters: a ward of the los angeles institute in the late 90s to early 2000s. often referred to as the most promising shadowhunter of her age. i don't have all the details for this verse nailed down. honestly i did give up on reading the dark artifices after the first book because it was all over the place so my knowledge on the LA shadowhunter scene will be largely vibes and headcanons based. i do think buffy is in higher possession of angel's blood than the average shadowhunter but i'm not trying to have her eclipse clary's storyline in any way. the abilities this heightened concentration of blood has on her gives her the gift of prophecy though. also faith is her parabatai because i say so <3

castlevania: primarily netflix castlevania nocturne-based. in the late 1700s buffy's family is living in what was then known as new spain (mexico). this verse is pretty trigger-heavy given the nature of colonization but that is central to noctune's storyline and i won't be shying away from the violence the spaniards wrought on the indigenous populations. never to glorify but it is a reality that cannot be swept under the rug when talking about this time period. buffy herself is mixed indigenous (aztec) and spanish. during this time period this status, as well as her fairer complexion, would allow her some social mobility. it is something she uses to get in the room with members of high society and track down spanish vampires who are targeting mexican woman as a food source. these crimes go largely unnoticed because these women aren't white and it is solely buffy that seeks justice for them. her hunts have earned her somewhat of a folkhero status but also has put a very large target on her back.

apoc/tlou: TBA

dark academia: TBA

gothic horror: TBA

#* canon: benicia summers

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spectr3inl0ve · 1 year ago

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Sooo I read cradlerobber!bruce Wayne

And what do you think I would happen if reader became a vigilante and hid it from Bruce? 🫣probably leading to an argument abt how he wants her to “be safe” but ending in comfort

(Maybe dick knew but did t tell anyone else lmao)

I mean I don't see this being "canon" in the cradle robber!bruce wayne verse BUT hypothetically...(Idk why I wrote in third person for this sorry 😭)

reader prolly met lucius fox in secret to get a suit made for her, and with a hell of a lot of convincing, he caves and gets a suit designed and made for her. i think that generally bruce would try and get her to learn self defence, the basics at least. she would spar with dick and learn stuff she wouldn't learn from bruce (ig flexibility, yk) and she would learn dicks fighting style, and vice versa.

she would leave around 20mins after bruce leaves for patrol, sneaking out the balcony in the bedroom no less. she would go on foot, using grapplers to her advantage and would stick to dealing with low life thugs in alleys trying to rob and assault other civilians. it goes on for maybe a month or two, because something bound to happen when you're surrounded by some of the world's best detectives.

reader does tail some of the members of the batfam, but for only short periods of time as to not be noticed. and she thinks she's slick, but she's not; the batfam knows when they're being followed, and by this mysterious woman. but who is she? bruce has started discussing this mystery woman at dinner, reader jokingly saying, "well i hope she doesn't interest you too much, bruce." and he waves her off, assuring her, though she knows there's nothing to worry about.

within the next week, reader can't seem to find nightwing, but hes started to follow reader, watching her watch and observe his family her family. he can't help but wonder why she never tries to pounce at them, if she timed it right, she could easily take one down. she's watching red robin intently, her eyes following his movements, always making sure to stay on the rooftops and far away. a loud crash and a singular gunshot comes from the opposite building. "warning shot." she whispers, if dick wasn't almost right behind her, he wouldn't have heard her. she turns her attention from red robin to the building, trying to gauge the situation through the dirty, dusty windows. dick knows what's going on in that building, and it's not anything that this amateur vigilante should be dealing with. "don't go in there." he says lowly, startling her. she turns around, straightening up. "and who are you to tell me that?" she makes her voice more deeper? more depth, maybe. but it does the job in partially concealing her real voice. "I've got more experience, I'm trying to help you." his hands moving with his words as he responds. the woman says nothing glaring slightly. "got a problem? hey, who even are you?" nightwing smiles good-naturedly. "it doesn't matter." reader readies her grapple gun, aiming at the rooftop of the building where the gunshot came from. dick grabs her wrist, "hey- you can't just leave. you've been following my team for the past couple months. why?". she laughs, "what's wrong with watching?" "tell me why you've been following us. before i make you." he threatens, his grip on her wrist tightening. she goes to punch him in the face, but he catches her fist easily, moving to hold both her wrist in one hand. she knees him stomach, struggling to get free while he recovers (quickly ofc). as they continue to fight, nightwings starting to notice some patterns. she always goes for the face first, simultaneously kicking at his shin. sure, it's not that uncommon for someone to do that, but the way she does it...well, there's only one other person who's done it in the amateur, repetitive way she has: [readers name]. I mean, it wouldn't hurt to try, right?

dick calls her name, slowly, trying to gauge her reaction. as much as she tries to hide it, a small look of surprise washes over her face. "don't worry, your secrets safe with me." he chuckles as reader grapples away without another word.

so, for obvious reasons, things have been awkward with dick. to her at least, dicks having the time of his life watching her be constantly on edge around him.

I'm so so sorry but I think I needa do a part 2 to finish your ask cus I don't rlly know what to write for this 💔💔!! again, this is not canon to the cradle robber!bruce wayne verse

#°○☆spectr3inl0ve #cradle robber!bruce wayne #monty loves dc #bruce wayne x reader #bruce wayne headcanon #bruce wayne imagine #batman x reader #bruce wayne x y/n #jason todd x reader #nightwing imagine #dick grayson headcanon #dick grayson imagine #dick grayson x you #dick grayson x reader

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ao3feed-peterstiles · 2 months ago

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Killer Match

Read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/61848349 by Triskuit (TriskHellion) Peter hadn’t experienced anything this thrilling in quite some time. He’d done his share of killing as the pack’s Left Hand — that’s how he ended up as an alpha, after all — but generally the point was to do his hunting without detection. This cat and mouse game where he let himself be seen, but not followed was very entertaining. Secure in the knowledge that his prey must still be a few halls over in the maze-like belly of the old mall, Peter was just thinking of what he’d say when they officially made each other’s acquaintance when he turned the next corner and the blade slid into his gut. That’s one way to make a memorable introduction, he thought with a groan. Peter looked down at knife sticking out of his ruined shirt and sighed, grasping a blood slicked wrist while gazing into wide, dark amber eyes. “Well done.” Words: 2456, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Teen Wolf (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Categories: M/M Characters: Stiles Stilinski, Peter Hale Relationships: Peter Hale/Stiles Stilinski Additional Tags: Omega Verse, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Serial Killer Stiles Stilinski, Left Hand Peter Hale, Getting Together, Explicit Sexual Content, Omegaverse Omega Stiles Stilinski, Omegaverse Alpha Peter Hale, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Mpreg Read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/61848349

#ao3feed #fanfic #teen wolf #steter #peterstiles

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osaumu · 6 months ago

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OSAMU DAZAI \ VERSES + BASIC DESCRIPTIONS.

⁽ ☆ ⁾ DISQUALIFIED AS A HUMAN BEING ⸺ PORT MAFIA.

pretty self-explanatory, follows dazai's time in the port mafia from fourteen to eighteen years old and in some cases beyond. for this verse age will always be dropped in the tags of the first post and discussed beforehand because there's no way i can make six different verse tags for the different ages. key ages of note are fifteen, when dazai meets chuuya. eighteen, the year in which dazai loses odasaku and leaves the port mafia. but like i say, age will always be dropped in the tags so that everyone's aware! these are dazai's formative years and something i'm interested in exploring.

⁽ ☆ ⁾ DEAD TO SHAME‚ A LIVING CORPSE ⸺ ARMED DETECTIVE AGENCY.

exploring the current timeline from age twenty-two and in some cases from twenty, when dazai took his entrance exam and first started working with the agency. for this verse i ignore the canon timescale of the timeline, as it states that everything from chapter one to wherever we're up to has happened within 4 weeks, screw that. in my head i can stretch it out however far i like, and in some cases dazai may be twenty-three/four by the time we reach our current place in the manga. i just don't believe in squeezing it all into four weeks, so there's room in this verse for other things to occur! unless necessary, age won't need to be disclosed for this verse as it begins from age twenty. in some cases this verse might also include ages eighteen and nineteen and explore dazai's time underground, before he joined the armed detective agency.

⁽ ☆ ⁾ I COULD BELIEVE IN HELL‚ IMPOSSIBLE OF HEAVEN ⸺ PRIVATE.

private verses that don't necessarily require an entire tag! some of them may get a personalised verse tag if extended upon and built around, but sometimes these are short threads that are pretty self-contained, so i don't think they need one.

⁽ ☆ ⁾ FORESAW‚ MY LIFE ROTTING AWAY ⸺ BEAST.

this verse follows the timeline of the beast light novel, in which at age eighteen dazai has assumed the parent status over the port mafia, the boss. in this verse dazai holds his memories of his canon timeline, and as such does not take akutagawa under his wing but instead atsushi, akutagawa being picked up by odasaku in his youth and working to retrieve his sister from the port mafia. that's kind of all there is to that, dazai has this entire timeline wrapped around his finger so explaining it would take way too much time, but he dies at the end, after completing his goal of getting atsushi and akutagawa to work together and creating that world's next generation of double black.

⁽ ☆ ⁾ THIS VESSEL OF MY SUFFERING ⸺ JUJUTSU KAISEN.

in this verse dazai's canon ability which is ability nullification, becomes cursed energy nullification and works exactly the same way as his canon ability. he has strong cursed energy recognition and possesses a lot himself, and his technique relies on touching the subject he intends to nullify. this stems from curses, to cursed tools to other sorcerers. dazai possesses domain expansion: no longer human which creates a vast void-like space in which inhabitants trapped inside it will cease to possess their cursed energy without dazai having to touch them. it has a strong outer barrier but a weaker inner barrier, but being that inhabitants have been rid of their techniques and cursed energy, it is hard to break out of in this regard. the technique creates two other mirror images of dazai of his different formative ages, fifteen and eighteen, alongside his basic age in this verse of twenty-two and onward. this is set to confuse inhabitants and keep himself from harm. with the nature of his ability, dazai is considered an unregistered special grade as it is undiscovered if he can permanently rid a person of their cursed energy by touching their soul. in this verse the armed detective agency and the port mafia still exist as they do in canon material. the armed detective agency work on cases for jujutsu society but as a branch off, investigating curses and incidents involving sorcerers. the port mafia exist in tandem with jujutsu society but on the spectrum of illegality. they have both regular humans and sorcerers in their leagues and those with cursed energy are set different tasks than those of the regular humans. dazai's journey in this verse follows much the same as his canon material, he was aligned with the port mafia after being taken in by mori, later he joins leagues with the armed detective agency. there is room in this verse for him to catch the attention of the jujutsu society higher-ups and be taken in to either school to further his cursed technique and/or use it to their advantage. this verse can also extend to the heian period, in which dazai is closely employed as an investigator for the reigning emperor of japan, investigating crimes both of the normal and curse variety.

⁽ ☆ ⁾ THE MIND OUR GREATEST ALLY ⸺ APOTHECARY DIARIES.

set in ming-era china, in which the relation between japan and china relied on diplomatic engagement, trade, cultural exchange and military conflict. dazai, trusted advisor of emperor murakami and a member of a small royal investigative agency headed by fukuzawa yukichi, is on loan to the reigning emperor of china to investigate a series of crimes across the region. he is firstly assigned to the rear palace to give a verdict on a series of deaths and disappearances both within the inner and rear palaces and in the surrounding cities. in this verse, dazai possesses no abilities and is a regular human, though much like maomao he is immune to most poisons and in tandem, medicines, after so many attempts on his own life.

⁽ ☆ ⁾ LIVING ITSELF IS THE SOURCE OF SIN ⸺ KIMETSU NO YAIBA.

finding no happiness and excitement in average, everyday life, dazai became a demon some two hundred years before tanjiro's story takes place. in doing so, dazai thought he would find the meaning of life and find some excitement in exposing himself to the horrors that eternal life can grant, but the adventures he dreamt of were lacklustre in comparison and thus left him with a further depreciation for life, especially the one muzan kibutsuji had granted him. unaffiliating himself later in his years, dazai has a similar relationship with the demon slayer corps that lady tamayo has. as a demon, dazai has joined forces with a league of human detectives, headed by fukuzawa yukichi they investigate strange happenings across the region of both the demon and average variety, calling on the demon slayer corps for further help when necessary. the agency has good relations with the demon slayer corps - though, most upon seeing dazai aligned with a human agency will at first think he is the target of their operations, and it takes some explaining. from his human life, dazai still possesses a great number of scars, and so more than half of his body stays wrapped in bandages, similar to canon. as a demon, dazai possesses great strength and regenerative abilities but no singular abilities - only that no longer human presents itself as an invulnerability to demon slayer breathing styles, and as such he is virtually unkillable, if only by standing in sunlight will he meet his end. this vexes him as it is his intention to die peacefully, and so when he comes into contact with demon slayers he does indeed invite them to try their luck, but to no avail. among the detective agency dazai is a trusted friend and ally despite his status as a demon, and mostly he takes on the nightly investigations and works within the office during the day, interviewing potential case holders and evaluating case importance. it is important to note that dazai has not killed a person in order to feed on them in fifty years, and possesses great restraint in this regard. similar to kamado nezuko, dazai rests for long periods of time in order to regain his strength, but it is also known that coming into contact with water will help restore some of his energy.

⁽ ☆ ⁾ THE WORLD‚ A PLACE OF BOTTOMLESS HORROR ⸺ UNDECIDED.

what is says on the box ... where my undecided verses can go until i find a name for them / flesh them out. at the moment this just remains my kny verse and a blue eye samurai interjection of dazai's character.

#VERSES.#yeah ... haha #i'll update this as necessary but not having these was stressing me out #all titles are from osamu dazai's works :]

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playstationvii · 2 months ago

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#Zendaya #MaryJaneWatsonManga #DisneyManga @Tokyopop

Zendaya’s portrayal of Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson has already paved the way for a more modern, inclusive version of Mary Jane Watson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This rebranding could be taken further in the comics and other media, redefining MJ as a powerful and influential African-American hero with her own storyline, independent of Peter Parker’s legacy.

The Evolution of MJ’s Character

The original Mary Jane Watson, introduced in the 1960s, was created as a glamorous love interest for Peter Parker. Over time, she developed into a more complex character, but her role often revolved around Peter’s story. Zendaya’s MJ, however, stands on her own as a multifaceted character:

Independent and Grounded: Her wit, intellect, and unapologetic personality have set her apart from the traditional damsel-in-distress trope.

Modern Identity: As an African-American young woman, Zendaya’s MJ represents a new generation of diverse, relatable characters in the Marvel Universe.

Expanding on this rebranding offers numerous possibilities for MJ to evolve into a superhero in her own right.

A New Superhero Identity

In this reimagined spectrum, MJ could take on a completely new superhero role or adapt an existing mantle. Here are potential paths for her character:

Spider-Woman or Spider-MJ:

Drawing from the Marvel Mangaverse, MJ could gain spider-like abilities, either through a scientific experiment gone wrong or a mystical event tied to the Spider-Clan.

Her powers could include:

Enhanced agility, strength, and reflexes.

Unique web-based abilities, such as creating energy webs or manipulating vibrations to detect danger.

Vigilante Hero:

Without superpowers, MJ could become a vigilante, relying on her intelligence, martial arts training, and technology. Similar to characters like Black Widow or Echo, she could work alongside other young heroes in the Marvel Universe.

New Cosmic or Multiversal Role:

With the multiverse now central to Marvel’s storytelling, MJ could become a key figure in a cosmic storyline. She might inherit a mantle like Captain Universe or become a protector of the multiverse, similar to America Chavez.

Expanding MJ’s Universe in Comics and Media

Marvel could build on this rebranding by introducing MJ-centered stories across multiple platforms:

In Comics:

A New Solo Series:

A comic series focused on MJ could explore her personal journey as she balances her life as a hero with her relationships, education, and community work.

Themes of racial identity, societal challenges, and self-discovery could resonate with a diverse audience.

Team-Ups and Crossovers:

MJ could team up with heroes like Riri Williams (Ironheart), Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel), or Miles Morales (Spider-Man). This would establish her as part of the next generation of Marvel heroes.

In Animated or Live-Action Media:

Disney+ Series:

A series focusing on MJ’s backstory or her rise as a hero could deepen her character and connect her to the broader Marvel Universe.

Zendaya’s star power would draw in both Marvel fans and general audiences.

Feature Films:

MJ could take a leading role in a Spider-Verse film or even star in her own movie, showcasing her transformation into a hero.

Video Games and Merchandising:

Video games like Marvel’s Spider-Man could include MJ as a playable character with her own missions, abilities, and storylines.

Her rebranding could inspire a new line of merchandise, appealing to fans of Zendaya and Marvel alike.

Themes and Impact

Rebranding MJ as an African-American hero offers opportunities to explore themes such as:

Cultural Identity:

How MJ’s heritage shapes her worldview and her role as a hero.

Empowerment:

Highlighting her journey of self-discovery, confidence, and strength as she steps into the spotlight.

Intersectionality:

Addressing the challenges of being a young Black woman in a world filled with both superheroes and societal issues.

MJ as a Cultural Icon

Zendaya’s MJ has already become a cultural icon, representing a shift in how Marvel approaches classic characters. Rebranding Mary Jane Watson into a full-fledged hero would not only honor her legacy but also push the boundaries of representation in superhero storytelling. By doing so, Marvel would cement her status as a beacon of empowerment for fans worldwide.

This story concept brings a fresh, intense, and deeply personal twist to the Spider-Man universe, framing Mary Jane Watson as a resourceful and determined individual willing to go to extraordinary lengths for justice and her principles, even in the face of superhuman odds. Here's a detailed exploration and development of this plotline:

Setting the Stage: College Life and Hidden Identities

Mary Jane Watson and Felicia Hardy, two dynamic and contrasting personalities, find themselves as roommates in university. MJ, a journalism student with a sharp mind and a passion for uncovering the truth, is unknowingly sharing her dorm with Felicia Hardy, who leads a double life as the infamous Black Cat, a jewel thief created and manipulated by Wilson Fisk (the Kingpin).

The Initial Friendship:

MJ and Felicia form a bond over their shared ambitions and love for independence. MJ admires Felicia's confidence and seemingly carefree attitude, while Felicia finds MJ’s determination and moral compass refreshing.

The Suspicion Builds:

MJ begins to notice oddities in their dorm life: Felicia's frequent late-night absences, scratches on the windowsill, and pieces of black leather and white fur scattered around. As a budding journalist, her curiosity is piqued.

Simultaneously, MJ's journalism leads her to tail Spider-Man, hoping to capture his heroics for an exposé. During one of these stakeouts, she sees Black Cat interacting with Spider-Man in a way that hints at a deeper connection, planting seeds of jealousy.

The Unraveling of Secrets

As MJ digs deeper, she pieces together the truth: Felicia Hardy is the Black Cat. The revelation is earth-shattering, not just because of Felicia’s criminal activities, but also because of the love triangle involving Peter Parker/Spider-Man.

The Confrontation:

MJ confronts Felicia in their dorm room, accusing her of being the Black Cat and manipulating Peter/Spider-Man. Felicia, unmasked and cornered, doesn’t deny it. Instead, she taunts MJ, claiming Peter could never truly love a "normal" person like her.

The argument escalates into a physical altercation, showcasing MJ’s grit and Felicia’s overconfidence. Felicia escapes through the window, leaving MJ vowing to stop her once and for all.

The Catfight of the Century

Mary Jane, using her wits, courage, and resources, devises a plan to capture the Black Cat. With no superpowers of her own, she relies on her knowledge of Felicia's patterns and weaknesses.

The Trap:

MJ lures Felicia into an abandoned warehouse under the pretense of a high-profile jewel heist orchestrated by Wilson Fisk. Unbeknownst to Felicia, the location is rigged with 400,000 pounds of plastic explosives and claymore mines set to incapacitate, not kill.

The confrontation is brutal and raw, with MJ using every trick in her arsenal—homemade gadgets, improvised weapons, and her sheer willpower. Despite Felicia's superhuman reflexes and strength, MJ’s determination levels the playing field.

The Turning Point:

Felicia’s overconfidence becomes her undoing. She underestimates MJ, walking into a carefully laid trap. The explosives detonate, severely injuring Felicia but sparing her life.

The Fallout

The battle leaves both women physically and emotionally scarred, marking the end of their friendship and altering their lives forever.

MJ’s Growth:

Though victorious, MJ is haunted by the cost of her actions. She realizes that the fight wasn’t just about Peter’s love—it was about proving her own strength and value in a world dominated by superhuman figures.

Her experience shapes her into a more hardened, self-reliant individual. She channels her energy into her journalism, becoming a fearless reporter exposing crime and corruption.

Felicia’s Redemption Arc:

Felicia, wounded and betrayed, reflects on her life choices. The near-death experience and loss of MJ’s friendship push her toward reevaluating her relationship with Wilson Fisk and her identity as the Black Cat.

Peter Parker/Spider-Man:

Peter is caught in the middle of this tragic triangle. While he sympathizes with MJ’s actions, he mourns the destruction of her friendship with Felicia and questions his own role in the chaos.

Themes and Impact

This storyline delves into:

Friendship and Betrayal: The emotional toll of discovering a friend’s dark secrets and the irreversible damage it causes.

Human vs. Superhuman: MJ’s journey emphasizes that bravery, intelligence, and determination can rival superhuman abilities.

Love and Jealousy: The complex dynamics of MJ, Felicia, and Peter’s relationships highlight the painful realities of unrequited love and rivalry.

Potential Expansion

This storyline could serve as a foundation for:

A Solo Series for MJ: Chronicling her life as a journalist and her encounters with other Marvel characters.

A Redemption Arc for Felicia: Exploring her struggle to break free from Fisk’s control and rebuild her life.

A Larger Spider-Man Saga: Weaving this personal conflict into a broader narrative involving Fisk, Spider-Man, and New York’s criminal underworld.

This dramatic reimagining positions Mary Jane Watson as a fierce, capable heroine in her own right, transcending her traditional role as Spider-Man’s love interest and carving out a unique place in the Marvel Universe.

Mary Jane Watson’s Disney Vogue Spread: "Denim & Dedication"

A down-to-earth fashion column highlighting Mary Jane Watson’s journalistic charm and relatable, ethically conscious style. In this spread, MJ steps away from glitzy couture to focus on timeless, versatile denim looks and pieces that reflect her grounded personality, independence, and smart fashion choices.

Concept: "Denim & Dedication"

The theme captures MJ’s no-nonsense, hard-working ethos as a journalist and her effortless ability to turn everyday staples into chic, thoughtful outfits. With a nod to her Andy Sachs-like journey in The Devil Wears Prada, this spread blends professional polish with her ethical values.

Fashion Focus: The Everyday Heroine

Core Denim Looks

MJ’s wardrobe staples reflect her dynamic lifestyle, from chasing stories to spending nights editing articles:

Classic Straight-Leg Jeans: Paired with a crisp white button-up and a tailored blazer, this outfit is perfect for interviews or chasing a lead.

Denim Pencil Skirt: Styled with a lightweight turtleneck and ankle boots for a mix of professional and casual.

Wide-Leg Overalls: Worn over a striped tee with chunky sneakers, ideal for weekend photojournalism assignments.

Denim Jacket Layering: A cropped, sustainable denim jacket paired with a flowy dress and leather satchel for a mix of edge and charm.

Ethical and Affordable Accessories

MJ’s accessories reflect her practicality and conscious consumerism:

Tote Bags: Organic cotton totes for carrying her notebooks, laptop, and camera gear.

Simple Jewelry: Minimalist gold or silver hoop earrings and recycled-material necklaces.

Shoes: Sensible yet stylish footwear, like Mary Jane flats, white sneakers, or ankle boots for all-day comfort.

Pops of Personality

A subtle nod to MJ’s love of bold red lipstick, paired with her low-key outfits.

Thrifted scarves or vintage pieces that reflect her artistic side.

Photoshoot Highlights

The Newsroom

MJ sitting at a cluttered desk in a well-worn denim jacket, typing furiously on a laptop. Behind her, stacks of newspapers and coffee cups evoke her dedication.

Street Style

A candid shot of MJ walking through New York City in high-waisted jeans, a trench coat, and a messenger bag slung over her shoulder. A camera peeks out from her bag, ready for the next scoop.

The Café Scene

MJ perched at a small coffee shop table, scribbling in a notebook while wearing a denim midi skirt, a cozy knit sweater, and Mary Jane flats. A cappuccino and a half-eaten croissant sit nearby.

Interview Highlights: "Everyday Heroism"

On Journalism and Style

"Fashion for me has always been about practicality and confidence. As a journalist, I need to move fast, think clearly, and feel comfortable. Denim does it all—it’s reliable, just like a good lead."

On Ethical Fashion

"I’ve learned that every dollar is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in. That’s why I support brands that care about sustainability and workers’ rights. Looking good shouldn’t come at someone else’s expense."

On Her Personal Style

"I like to keep things simple and timeless. A great pair of jeans, a white shirt, and a pop of red lipstick—that’s my go-to. Fashion should make you feel like the best version of yourself, not someone else."

Why This Spread Matters

Relatable Glamour: MJ’s focus on affordable, everyday style makes her a fashion icon for readers who prioritize comfort, versatility, and ethics.

Ethical Inspiration: Highlighting sustainable brands and thrifted finds encourages readers to make conscious choices.

Empowering the Working Woman: MJ’s style reflects her role as a professional balancing ambition, creativity, and individuality.

Mary Jane Watson’s Disney Vogue spread, "Denim & Dedication," is a love letter to the working woman who dares to dream big while staying true to her roots. It’s stylish, ethical, and effortlessly cool—just like MJ herself.

Mary Jane Watson’s career as an actress has long been a key aspect of her character in the Marvel Universe, offering a unique perspective on the world of superheroes. Expanding on this role, we can elevate MJ’s identity as a successful actress while integrating her journey into Marvel's vast universe, making her both a cultural icon and a significant player in the superhero realm.

Mary Jane’s Acting Career in the Marvel Universe

Rising Star in Hollywood

Mary Jane begins her career as a model and aspiring actress, but her big break comes when she lands a major role in a blockbuster superhero film within the Marvel Universe. This could be a fictionalized version of a real hero’s story, akin to how the MCU portrays "meta" storytelling.

Navigating Fame and Heroics

Her rise to stardom places her in the spotlight, which presents both opportunities and challenges:

Opportunities:

MJ uses her platform to advocate for justice and the underprivileged, inspired by her experiences with Peter and Spider-Man.

She collaborates with influential figures in the Marvel Universe, including Tony Stark (for tech endorsements) and Pepper Potts (philanthropy campaigns).

Challenges:

Her fame makes her a target for villains looking to exploit her connection to Spider-Man.

The pressure of balancing her public image with her private life leads to emotional and ethical conflicts.

MJ as a Superheroine On-Screen and Off

MJ could transition from portraying heroines on-screen to embodying a heroic role in real life:

During a film shoot, she witnesses a real-life villain attack and uses her resourcefulness to save lives, earning respect from both fans and superheroes.

Inspired by the experience, she trains in martial arts or self-defense, aligning her on-screen heroism with real-world action.

Potential Storylines for Actress MJ

The Role of a Lifetime

MJ is cast in a film about a fictionalized version of Captain Marvel or Black Cat, requiring her to delve deep into the hero’s psyche.

During the film’s production, she uncovers a conspiracy involving the studio, potentially tied to a villain like Mysterio or even Wilson Fisk.

Her investigations lead her to become an unlikely ally to Spider-Man, blending her acting skills with real espionage techniques.

Lights, Camera, Chaos

While filming on location, MJ inadvertently becomes involved in a superhero conflict (e.g., an Avengers-level battle).

Her resourcefulness, quick thinking, and courage shine as she helps civilians escape danger, proving she’s more than just a “damsel in distress.”

This event leads to a collaboration with a team like the Young Avengers or even S.H.I.E.L.D.

Award-Winning Heroine

MJ wins an award for her performance in a biographical film about a fallen hero, like Gwen Stacy or another lesser-known Marvel character.

During the awards ceremony, a villain crashes the event, targeting high-profile attendees. MJ teams up with a hero like Black Panther or Ironheart to stop the threat.

MJ as a Symbol of Hope

By intertwining her acting career with the Marvel Universe’s larger narrative, MJ could become a symbol of hope and perseverance:

Public Inspiration: Through her films, she inspires people to believe in themselves, mirroring the hope superheroes bring to their cities.

Heroic Legacy: MJ’s advocacy and bravery blur the line between hero and civilian, showing that anyone can make a difference.

Exploring Themes

Mary Jane’s journey as an actress can explore the following themes:

Fame vs. Authenticity: Struggling to remain true to herself while navigating the glitz and glamor of Hollywood.

Strength in Vulnerability: Showing that courage doesn’t require superpowers—it comes from standing up for what’s right, no matter the odds.

Art Imitates Life: Her roles often reflect her personal challenges and triumphs, making her a relatable and multi-dimensional character.

MJ’s Role in the Wider Marvel Universe

Mary Jane’s career can open doors for meaningful interactions with other Marvel characters:

Tony Stark/Iron Man: Collaborates with Stark Industries on a film about Iron Man’s legacy, leading to unexpected danger when the project attracts enemies of Stark.

Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel: MJ’s portrayal of Captain Marvel in a biopic earns the real Carol’s respect, resulting in a team-up when the Kree return.

Doctor Strange: MJ seeks Strange’s help when her fame draws the attention of mystical threats, like Nightmare or Mephisto.

MJ’s Legacy in Marvel

Expanding Mary Jane Watson as an actress offers rich storytelling potential, highlighting her as:

A cultural icon who bridges the gap between civilians and superheroes.

A courageous and resourceful figure who proves that heroism comes in many forms.

A character whose journey inspires audiences to find strength in their passions and convictions.

In this expanded role, MJ transcends her traditional narrative as Spider-Man’s love interest, becoming a star both on-screen and off, shining brightly as an integral part of the Marvel Universe.

Mary Jane Watson’s Tenure at The Daily Bugle: A Journalist’s Journey

Mary Jane Watson’s career at The Daily Bugle showcases her transformation from a spirited actress and model to a determined journalist with a passion for uncovering the truth. While many know her as the love interest of Spider-Man, her time at the Bugle establishes her as a hero in her own right, armed not with powers but with wit, bravery, and a pen that cuts through lies.

Starting Out: The Rookie Reporter

Mary Jane joined The Daily Bugle after her acting career hit a plateau. Seeking stability and purpose, she leveraged her natural charisma, keen observational skills, and connections in the city to land a spot as a journalist under the gruff yet respected editor-in-chief, J. Jonah Jameson.

Challenges

Proving Herself: Initially dismissed as a “pretty face,” MJ worked tirelessly to gain respect from her colleagues, often taking on unglamorous assignments to prove her dedication.

The Spider-Man Conflict: Her personal connection to Spider-Man created friction in the newsroom, as the Bugle frequently vilified him. Balancing her love for Peter Parker and her professional integrity became a constant struggle.

Key Moments in Her Journalism Career

Investigating Wilson Fisk (The Kingpin)

One of MJ’s earliest big breaks came when she uncovered key evidence tying Fisk’s charitable foundation to organized crime. Through a mix of persistence, undercover work, and sharp instincts, MJ exposed the duality of Fisk’s public and private personas.

Risk: MJ faced threats from Fisk’s goons, highlighting her bravery in the face of danger.

Outcome: Her reporting earned her recognition at the Bugle and established her as a journalist unafraid to take on the powerful.

The Oscorp Scandal

Mary Jane uncovered a story about unethical experiments at Oscorp, including their connections to superhuman enhancements.

Connection to Spider-Man: While Peter warned her to stay away, MJ’s determination to expose the truth led her straight into harm’s way. She narrowly escaped an encounter with Oscorp’s enforcers, with Spider-Man saving her at the last minute.

The Black Cat Exclusive

After discovering her roommate Felicia Hardy’s secret identity as the Black Cat, MJ penned a controversial exposé detailing the dual lives of costumed vigilantes and thieves.

Ethical Dilemma: The article raised questions about MJ’s journalistic integrity, as some viewed it as a betrayal of Felicia’s trust.

Impact: The piece sparked a citywide debate about the morality of vigilantes, cementing MJ’s reputation as a fearless journalist.

Highlighting Community Heroes

Not all of MJ’s stories were about superhumans or villains. She frequently wrote about everyday heroes in New York, from firefighters to social workers, showing her deep appreciation for unsung champions.

Her Role in the Bugle’s Transformation

Over time, MJ played a pivotal role in modernizing The Daily Bugle:

Advocating for Balanced Coverage: She challenged Jonah’s anti-Spider-Man bias, pushing for more nuanced reporting on vigilantes.

Digital Expansion: MJ spearheaded efforts to bring the Bugle into the digital age, launching a podcast and video series that brought her stories to a wider audience.

Mentoring Interns: As she gained experience, MJ became a mentor to younger journalists, sharing her wisdom and encouraging them to pursue truth fearlessly.

MJ’s Growth as a Journalist

Skills Developed:

Investigative Tactics: From tailing leads to piecing together evidence, MJ honed her ability to uncover hidden truths.

Writing Style: Her articles combined sharp analysis with an empathetic touch, making even the most complex stories accessible.

Adaptability: Whether chasing stories in the field or navigating newsroom politics, MJ thrived under pressure.

Legacy:

Mary Jane Watson’s tenure at The Daily Bugle solidified her as a role model for young journalists, proving that courage and integrity are just as powerful as superhuman abilities. While her connection to Spider-Man often put her in the spotlight, her career stands as a testament to her own strength and determination.

Notable Quote from MJ’s Career

"Being a journalist isn’t about being liked. It’s about being trusted to tell the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it might be."

Through her time at The Daily Bugle, Mary Jane Watson became more than a love interest or damsel in distress. She emerged as a voice for justice, a seeker of truth, and a hero without a mask.

Mary Jane Watson’s Stint as a Fashion Columnist at Disney Vogue & Runway Magazine

Mary Jane Watson’s ventures into the world of high fashion journalism showcased her versatility and determination to reinvent herself in a competitive industry. Working under two iconic editors—Minnie Mouse at Disney Vogue and Miranda Priestly at Runway—MJ demonstrated her ability to adapt to new challenges, merge her love for style with storytelling, and leave her mark on two of the most prestigious fashion magazines in the world.

Disney Vogue: Style Meets Storytelling

The Role

MJ joined Disney Vogue as a fashion columnist, tasked with capturing the essence of Disney-inspired trends for a modern audience. Minnie Mouse, the editor-in-chief, saw potential in MJ’s relatable charm and fresh perspective, making her a key voice in the magazine’s mission to blend fantasy and everyday fashion.

Contributions

Accessible Glamour: MJ’s columns focused on blending whimsical Disney aesthetics with wearable, affordable looks.

Articles like “Cinderella’s Ball Gown on a Budget” and “Ariel’s Seaside Chic” became fan favorites.

She highlighted sustainable and small-brand options, reflecting her ethical fashion values.

Behind-the-Scenes Insights: MJ brought a journalistic edge to her writing, interviewing designers, cosplayers, and fans who reinterpreted Disney styles for real life.

Collaborations: She worked on exclusive shoots with iconic Disney characters like Daisy Duck, Belle, and Tiana, blending animation-inspired couture with modern design.

Key Challenges

Balancing Fun with Professionalism: Writing for a Disney audience required MJ to maintain a playful tone without sacrificing depth.

Proving Herself: Working under Minnie’s high standards pushed MJ to think outside the box and innovate.

Runway Magazine: The Ultimate Test

The Role

Following her success at Disney Vogue, MJ took a leap into the cutthroat world of Runway, where she worked directly under the legendary Miranda Priestly as a junior columnist. Miranda, impressed by MJ’s ability to bring a relatable voice to high fashion, brought her on board to provide a fresh perspective to the magazine’s editorial lineup.

Contributions

Trend Analysis with Heart: MJ’s columns, such as “Denim’s Quiet Revolution” and “The Power of Ethical Fashion,” stood out for their focus on the stories behind the clothes. She sought to highlight the human aspect of fashion, from the workers crafting garments to the individuals wearing them.

Runway Exclusives: MJ wrote about high-profile fashion events, providing insider commentary on collections by designers like Valentino and Chanel. Her ability to translate high fashion into something relatable made her work stand out.

Covering Up-and-Coming Talent: She championed emerging designers, bringing diversity and innovation to Runway’s otherwise elite and exclusive focus.

Key Challenges

Surviving Miranda’s Expectations: Working under Miranda Priestly was no easy task. MJ’s time at Runway tested her resilience, as she often found herself juggling high-pressure deadlines, unexpected tasks, and Miranda’s legendary perfectionism.

Balancing Integrity and Ambition: The world of Runway often pushed MJ to question her values, forcing her to navigate the fine line between authenticity and ambition.

MJ’s Growth as a Fashion Columnist

Skills Developed

Visual Storytelling: MJ learned to blend her journalism skills with a sharp eye for detail, crafting compelling narratives around fashion.

Networking: Her ability to connect with designers, models, and industry insiders helped her secure exclusive stories and insights.

Adaptability: Transitioning between the whimsical world of Disney Vogue and the high-stakes environment of Runway showcased MJ’s versatility and determination.

Legacy in Fashion Journalism

Bringing Heart to High Fashion: MJ’s work humanized the industry, making fashion more accessible and relatable.

Championing Ethics: Her focus on sustainability and diversity set a new standard for fashion journalism.

Empowering Readers: MJ’s columns encouraged readers to see fashion as a means of self-expression and empowerment.

Key Moments in Her Fashion Career

Minnie Mouse’s Praise

After a particularly successful Disney Vogue spread titled “Belle’s Bookish Chic: From Library to Lounge,” Minnie Mouse remarked, “Mary Jane brings a magic to her work that’s as timeless as Disney itself.”

Miranda Priestly’s Approval

Though Miranda Priestly was notoriously reserved with her praise, she once acknowledged MJ’s talent by saying, “Your column doesn’t insult the intelligence of our readers. That’s rare. Don’t squander it.”

Iconic Crossover Feature

MJ collaborated with both Disney Vogue and Runway to create a unique feature titled “Fantasy Meets Reality,” blending Disney-inspired couture with high fashion in a groundbreaking spread that received industry acclaim.

Notable Quote from MJ

"Fashion, like storytelling, is about connection. It’s not just about what you wear, but how it makes you feel and the story it tells about who you are."

Mary Jane Watson’s stints at Disney Vogue and Runway not only showcased her talent as a writer but also solidified her as a voice for authenticity, creativity, and empowerment in the fashion world. Her work continues to inspire readers to embrace their individuality and find beauty in the everyday.

#MJsnap

MJ: SNAP is an exhilarating, story-driven stealth and espionage video game that centers around Mary Jane Watson’s rise as an investigative journalist. It combines stealth gameplay, high-stakes photography missions, dynamic storytelling, and financial management in a richly interconnected Marvel Universe.

Game Overview

Title: MJ: SNAP Genre: Stealth, Action, Role-Playing, Simulation Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch Developers: A collaboration between Insomniac Games (Marvel’s Spider-Man), Square Enix (Kingdom Hearts), and Disney Interactive

Core Gameplay Features

Stealth-Based Espionage

Navigate locations such as the Daily Bugle, Shield HQ, Emma Frost Academy, and even Wilson Fisk’s penthouse.

Avoid detection using a variety of tools like noise-dampening sneakers, disguises, and camera flash diversions.

Engage in covert eavesdropping, hacking terminals, and sneaking into restricted zones to uncover hidden secrets.

Photography Mechanics

Use MJ’s camera to take high-quality photos during missions, balancing focus, lighting, and framing.

Earn bonuses for capturing pivotal moments: villains unmasking, secret weapon blueprints, or Black Cat’s heists in action.

Compete for the front page at major publications like The Daily Bugle, Runway, and Vogue.

Dynamic Contracts System

Take on freelance journalism contracts from major entities such as Shield, Silver Sable International, or even morally ambiguous employers like Wilson Fisk.

Each contract offers rewards but comes with risks. Aligning with darker organizations could damage MJ’s reputation but provide necessary funds for rent.

Life Simulation Mechanics

Pay rent monthly, with Felicia Hardy initially covering part of the cost before forcing MJ to take full responsibility.

Manage MJ’s finances through successful contracts and side hustles (e.g., fashion spreads or corporate photography gigs).

Build relationships with allies and navigate MJ’s complicated love life involving Peter Parker and Black Cat.

Combat & Training System

While MJ starts as a non-combatant, she gains fighting skills through training from mentors like Stick, Elektra Natchios, and Misty Knight.

Over time, MJ becomes proficient in self-defense and stealth takedowns, allowing her to fend off minor enemies or work alongside superheroes.

Team Missions

Collaborate with Marvel heroes in tag-team missions, including Dani Moonstar, Wolfsbane, Spider-Gwen (Ghost-Spider), Spidersilk, and Minnie Mouse.

Each ally brings unique abilities and gameplay mechanics, such as Wolfsbane’s tracking skills or Minnie Mouse’s gadgetry.

The Heroine’s Arsenal

Develop MJ’s custom arsenal through Snow White, a weaponsmith specializing in covert tools.

Gain unique items like tranquilizer pens, grappling cameras, and sound-dampening boots.

Key Game Objectives

Capture "The Shot": Each mission revolves around MJ securing a pivotal photograph that could make or break her career. These could range from exposing a villain’s plot to documenting a superhero battle.

Unravel Mysteries: The overarching narrative ties MJ into a conspiracy involving Wilson Fisk, Emma Frost’s Academy, and a secret government program.

Balance Work and Life: MJ must juggle her career, relationships, and financial responsibilities. Failing to pay rent results in losing her apartment, and failing to secure major contracts leads to game over.

Key Locations

The Daily Bugle

Start small as a junior journalist under J. Jonah Jameson, climbing the ranks to secure high-profile assignments.

Felicia Hardy’s Apartment

A chic Manhattan loft where MJ begins the game. The dynamic between MJ and Felicia adds tension as their friendship frays.

SHIELD HQ

A high-tech facility where MJ is tasked with documenting covert operations.

Emma Frost Academy

A prestigious institution hiding dark secrets. MJ infiltrates to expose illegal experiments.

Runway Magazine Offices

Glamorous yet cutthroat, MJ takes on contracts to document the fashion world, including secret dealings tied to Miranda Priestly.

Boss Battles & Major Encounters

Black Cat Showdown

A stealth-based mission turns into an explosive “catfight” as MJ confronts Felicia Hardy. MJ’s wit and strategy take center stage as she uses traps and gadgets to outmaneuver Black Cat.

Wilson Fisk’s Penthouse

MJ sneaks into Fisk Tower to uncover incriminating evidence but must escape Fisk’s guards in a high-tension sequence.

Emma Frost’s Psychic Assault

Emma Frost traps MJ in a psychic illusion, forcing her to rely on her cunning and resolve to break free.

Silver Sable’s Elite Forces

A tactical mission where MJ and Misty Knight team up to outmaneuver Sable’s private army.

Unique Game Modes

Freelance Mode

Accept contracts outside the main story to earn extra cash, unlock equipment, or build connections.

Photo Mode Challenge

Compete online with players worldwide to capture the best shots in iconic Marvel locations.

Stealth Expert Mode

For seasoned players, this mode amps up the difficulty with smarter enemies, limited resources, and tighter time constraints.

Why Play MJ: SNAP?

This game offers a unique blend of espionage, photography, and personal drama within the Marvel Universe. As Mary Jane Watson, players experience a grounded yet thrilling narrative that emphasizes intelligence, courage, and creativity over brute strength. Whether capturing the perfect shot or navigating tangled relationships, MJ: SNAP promises an unforgettable journey.

MJ: SNAP - Gameplay Story / Script

Chapter 1: "The Daily Grind"

Prologue Scene: Mary Jane Watson, a driven young journalist, has just landed a position at The Daily Bugle—a bustling newsroom in the heart of New York City. She juggles writing under the critical gaze of J. Jonah Jameson while aiming to land bigger assignments. But she has a secret ambition: she wants to be the photographer who lands The Shot, the perfect photograph that will make her front-page news.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Stealth Mode: MJ sneaks through the newsroom, eavesdropping on conversations and observing important figures like Peter Parker.

Photography Mode: Take pictures of key moments that align with the Bugle’s interests.

Journalistic Choices: Select what to cover—heroic events, scandals, or mysterious incidents. Choose whether to go after the truth or the story.

Scene 1: The First Assignment MJ gets an assignment from Jameson to cover a break-in at a high-end jewelry store. It's an easy gig—until she discovers that Felicia Hardy, her longtime friend and roommate, might be the thief involved. Suspicious, MJ begins trailing Felicia to uncover the truth, all while trying to secure The Shot that could launch her career.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Stealth Tracking: MJ follows Felicia through the city, avoiding detection by Felicia’s stealthy maneuvers.

Journalistic Interrogation: MJ uses her wit to talk to informants or gather clues while being subtle.

Chapter 2: "The Cat's Out of the Bag"

Scene 2: Secrets Unveiled Mary Jane digs deeper into Felicia's mysterious late-night activities. She pieces together evidence that Felicia is living a double life as the notorious Black Cat, a skilled jewel thief with ties to powerful figures like Wilson Fisk and Emma Frost. MJ is faced with a dilemma: expose her friend’s secrets and ruin their friendship or protect her and keep quiet.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Moral Choices: MJ must choose how to handle sensitive situations, impacting future relationships.

Photography Challenge: Capture the heist scene without getting caught by Black Cat or her associates.

Scene 3: The Confrontation MJ finally confronts Felicia in an abandoned warehouse. The tension between them builds as MJ demands answers. Felicia reveals her motives—she needs money to help a loved one and sees crime as the only solution. The confrontation escalates into a brutal fight between the two, as MJ fights not only for her career but for the friendship they once shared.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Combat Mode: MJ learns some basic hand-to-hand combat techniques from Elektra Natchios, a mentor she meets along the way.

Trap Setting: MJ uses her environment and quick thinking to set traps to outmaneuver Black Cat.

Fight Mechanics: The combat system is fast-paced, using stealth attacks, gadgets, and environmental traps.

Chapter 3: "Breaking Point"

Scene 4: The Shattering of Bonds Felicia narrowly escapes from MJ’s carefully set trap, but the damage to their friendship is done. The emotional fallout from their fight is intense, and MJ now faces the real cost of her career—she’s no longer just a journalist; she’s an enemy to Felicia, and perhaps to herself.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Emotional Choices: MJ must decide how to proceed after the fight. Should she take the higher moral ground or dive deeper into the shadowy world she’s uncovered?

Resource Management: MJ begins taking freelance jobs from more dubious employers, like Wilson Fisk and Emma Frost. She needs to keep her finances in check to pay rent.

Chapter 4: "Rent's Due"

Scene 5: Struggling to Stay Afloat As the months go by, MJ struggles with rent and growing tensions in her personal life. Felicia no longer contributes to their shared rent, and MJ faces the pressure of living on a journalist’s salary in a city where expenses pile up quickly. While working a freelance contract for Silver Sable, MJ stumbles upon a larger conspiracy that could affect New York on a global scale.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Financial Management: MJ must make difficult choices between risky assignments that might earn her more money or safer ones that will protect her from danger.

Action Missions: MJ is recruited by Misty Knight for a series of operations to stop a criminal syndicate—missions that require both her wit and newfound combat abilities.

Scene 6: The Heroine’s Path MJ is now fully immersed in the world of espionage, but her path is fraught with danger. She’s caught between doing what’s right and securing her future. Alongside other heroes like Ghost-Spider, Dani Moonstar, and Minnie Mouse, MJ is recruited into Heroes For Hire. She learns to balance her photography work with field operations, becoming a strong force in her own right.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Team Missions: Work alongside other heroes in high-risk missions. MJ must use her photography skills to gather intel for the team while staying hidden.

Hero Collaboration: Each hero has unique abilities, and MJ can pair up with them in combat and missions.

Chapter 5: "The Final Shot"

Scene 7: The Ultimate Heist In the game’s final stretch, MJ discovers that the thefts orchestrated by Black Cat are part of a much larger operation. The mastermind behind it all is none other than Wilson Fisk. MJ must infiltrate Fisk Tower, sneak through its levels, and uncover the real motive behind his criminal empire.

This is where MJ’s talents as a photographer, spy, and combatant come into play as she uses everything she’s learned to outsmart the dangerous criminals. The stakes are higher than ever, and MJ risks losing everything if she gets caught.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Heist Mode: A final heist mission where MJ must navigate the most dangerous parts of Fisk’s empire. It combines stealth, combat, and photography to gather evidence without getting caught.

The Final Showdown: A choice-driven final battle where MJ faces off against Black Cat and Fisk’s elite forces.

Ending: "The Shot that Changed Everything"

Scene 8: The Resolution After taking down Fisk and securing crucial evidence, MJ finally lands the front-page shot she’s been chasing all along. Her story is published in The Daily Bugle, Runway, and Vogue, earning her a reputation as one of the best in the field.

In the closing moments, MJ reflects on everything she’s learned—the sacrifices, the friendships lost, and the battles won. She looks to the future, knowing that her career is just beginning.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Post-Game Free Roaming: Players can revisit unlocked areas, complete additional missions, and explore more about MJ’s evolving career and relationships.

Multiple Endings: The choices made throughout the game affect MJ’s final relationships with Felicia, Peter, and the heroes she worked with.

MJ: SNAP offers a thrilling blend of stealth, photojournalism, and emotional depth, letting players experience Mary Jane Watson's journey as a hero in her own right while managing the complexities of her life as a journalist, lover, and friend.

MJ: SNAP - Volume 2: "Shattered Alliances"

Chapter 1: "New York’s Darkest Hour"

Scene 1: A City on Edge After the explosive confrontation with Black Cat and the disbanding of her friendship with Felicia Hardy, Mary Jane Watson struggles to find peace in the aftermath. With her newfound fame as a rising star in both photography and investigative journalism, MJ begins to feel the weight of her choices. The city is on high alert—criminal syndicates are in motion, and new threats arise. In this volatile climate, MJ faces new challenges, and with each story she pursues, she learns that the line between hero and villain is thinner than ever.

MJ’s personal finances are at an all-time low, and she’s barely scraping by, taking up freelance gigs from powerful but morally dubious figures like Wilson Fisk. Yet, her drive to remain true to her journalistic integrity keeps her focused on the bigger picture: uncovering the underbelly of New York’s criminal network.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Moral Dilemma System: Players choose between taking on ethically questionable jobs for higher pay or sticking to assignments that could expose corruption, potentially earning less.

Urban Exploration: New locations are unlocked, such as the underground criminal markets and the luxurious, dangerous estates of New York’s elites.

Covert Combat: MJ’s fighting style is evolving. Training with Elektra and other members of the Heroes For Hire team, she begins learning advanced martial arts, making her more formidable in close-quarters combat.

Scene 2: A Heart Broken Again Peter Parker, always caught between his duty as Spider-Man and his personal life, is pulled into a whirlwind of mysterious disappearances and strange new tech-related crimes. MJ is torn between helping Peter, trying to salvage their strained relationship, and furthering her career as a journalist. Meanwhile, she starts receiving cryptic messages that suggest someone is watching her every move—someone who wants to leverage her abilities for their own gain.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Investigative Mechanic: MJ must solve complex puzzles and gather pieces of evidence to uncover hidden networks and figure out who is behind the mysterious surveillance.

Dynamic Relationship System: Player decisions can deepen or damage MJ’s relationship with Peter Parker, Felicia Hardy, and other allies. Key events will either drive them closer together or further apart.

Chapter 2: "The Mask of the Black Cat"

Scene 3: Felicia’s Return Felicia Hardy, now more dangerous and determined than ever, resurfaces in New York with a new agenda—she’s working for Wilson Fisk, but this time, the stakes are much higher. Felicia has aligned herself with a shadowy organization bent on destabilizing New York’s social and political structures. MJ is forced to confront her former friend again, but this time, it’s not just about getting the perfect photo—it’s about survival.

As MJ tracks down Felicia, she uncovers that the Black Cat has joined forces with notorious criminals from around the world, including Silver Sable and Emma Frost. These powerful women aim to bring down the established power structures in the city, but their ultimate goal is unclear. MJ becomes entangled in their web of deception, unsure whether Felicia is acting out of loyalty to her own cause or simply because she’s been manipulated by darker forces.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Faction Alignment: MJ must decide which factions to ally with, as different groups offer different benefits and risks. These factions include Wilson Fisk’s Empire, Emma Frost Academy, Silver Sable’s Mercenaries, and Heroes For Hire.

Multiple Stealth Options: New gadgets and skills are unlocked to help MJ stay hidden during espionage missions. Whether it’s hacking into secure systems or using advanced disguise techniques, MJ learns to navigate through enemy territory without being caught.

Combat Duels: MJ faces off against Black Cat in one-on-one combat, where stealth and quick thinking are crucial. Felicia’s unpredictable fighting style forces MJ to adapt quickly, using all her training to outsmart her former friend.

Scene 4: The Betrayal In a shocking twist, MJ learns that her former mentor, Misty Knight, is not entirely trustworthy. Misty is caught in a conflict of interest, and MJ is forced to decide whether to confront her or continue on the path that has already alienated her from her former allies. As MJ becomes more immersed in the dangerous world of underground heroes and mercenaries, the lines blur between right and wrong.

MJ’s role as a journalist comes under fire when Peter Parker confronts her about her recent activities. He is disillusioned by her growing involvement in the criminal underworld, particularly after discovering that she’s working with people like Wilson Fisk. The couple’s tension escalates as their personal and professional lives collide.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Team Dynamics: MJ’s relationship with her teammates, including Dani Moonstar, Wolfsbane, Ghost-Spider, and Sakura Spider, is tested. These characters can either help or hinder her depending on the choices made.

Combat Team Missions: MJ can team up with these heroes in high-stakes operations. Each character has unique powers that MJ can use strategically to take down enemies.

Chapter 3: "The Price of Power"

Scene 5: A Rising Threat Wilson Fisk’s criminal empire grows more powerful, but a mysterious, new player enters the scene—The Hood. This new threat, a masked villain with the ability to manipulate dark magic, begins pulling strings behind the scenes. MJ must investigate the rise of The Hood, all while dealing with her strained relationships, both personal and professional. Her role as a photographer is now intertwined with covert espionage, and it becomes increasingly difficult to discern where the truth lies in the sea of deceit.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Magic vs. Technology: MJ learns that The Hood’s magic-based powers are a challenge for her tech-based gadgets and stealth tactics. Players must find ways to counter his abilities, either by acquiring magical artifacts or using science-based solutions.

Tactical Combat: New combat mechanics focus on teamwork, with MJ directing her allies in battle, using their abilities to complement her skills.

Scene 6: The Turning Point MJ is forced to choose between Peter and her career. A series of criminal heists takes place across the city, and Peter is caught in the crossfire, battling both The Hood’s forces and other mercenaries hired by Fisk. MJ must decide whether to risk her safety by staying with Peter or pursue the story that could propel her career forward, possibly jeopardizing their relationship.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Personal Decisions: MJ’s choices will drastically affect her relationship with Peter and the rest of the team. She must find balance between work, love, and her growing role as a hero.

Final Choice: The game reaches a critical juncture where MJ’s decisions impact the final outcome of the story. Whether she continues as a journalist or embraces her life as a fighter—and the consequences of those actions—are left in the player's hands.

Chapter 4: "Unmasking the Truth"

Scene 7: The Final Confrontation MJ infiltrates Fisk Tower, once again working with her team and using all of her journalistic skills to uncover the truth. But as the story unfolds, MJ learns that the true mastermind behind the chaos is someone much closer to her than she anticipated—a shocking betrayal that will change her life forever.

Gameplay Mechanics Introduced:

Final Battle: MJ, now fully equipped with new fighting skills, gadgets, and knowledge, faces off against The Hood and Wilson Fisk in an all-out battle that pushes her to the limit.

Clever Disguises: As MJ sneaks through Fisk Tower, players will use advanced stealth techniques and a range of disguises to infiltrate highly secure areas.

Ending: "The Snap of Fate" The game ends with a series of critical decisions—whether MJ will embrace the darker side of heroism or stand by her ethical beliefs as a journalist. MJ’s career, relationships, and future will depend on the choices she’s made, with multiple possible endings.

Post-Game Content:

Free Roaming Mode: After the story ends, MJ can continue to explore New York, take on additional freelance assignments, and engage in side missions.

Heroic Missions: Revisit Heroes For Hire missions with new characters and new threats to face.

MJ: SNAP Volume 2 deepens the emotional and physical journey of Mary Jane Watson, blending espionage, action, and heartfelt choices into a story about loyalty, ambition, and the price of power. Players are thrust into a high-stakes world where nothing is as it seems, and the only certainty is that everything, including friendships, will change.

Mary Jane Watson Interviews Luna Snow: A Marvel-Kpop Sensation

Setting: A glitzy rooftop lounge in downtown Seoul. The view of the city’s skyline sparkles as night falls. The air is warm, filled with the hum of excitement. It’s here, amidst the fusion of East and West, that Mary Jane Watson, journalist extraordinaire, sits down with one of the most talked-about figures in both the music and superhero world: Luna Snow, the Marvel K-pop sensation and global icon.

MJ: [Smiling warmly] Luna, thank you so much for taking the time to sit with me today. You’ve been a sensation in both the K-pop world and as a Marvel hero. But before we dive into your superhero endeavors, let’s talk music. How did your journey into K-pop begin?

Luna Snow: [Laughs softly, her eyes glimmering with excitement] It's a long story, but I’ll try to make it short. Growing up, I was always drawn to music, especially pop music and its powerful, emotional storytelling. When I first started training, I wasn’t sure where it would take me, but I knew I wanted to share my music with the world. And then, everything changed after I was exposed to the cosmic forces that gave me my powers… it all happened so quickly. Suddenly, I wasn’t just Luna Snow, the trainee—I was a superhero too.

MJ: [Nods, intrigued] That’s incredible. You’re not just a star on stage, but you’re also an agent of change in the Marvel universe. How do you balance being Luna Snow, the idol, with your role as a hero?

Luna Snow: [Her expression turns more serious, though there’s a hint of warmth in her smile] It’s not easy. The spotlight on me is always intense, and there are so many expectations, both from fans and from the world itself. As Luna Snow, I want to inspire people, to show them that it’s okay to embrace who you are, no matter how different you may feel. But as a hero, I have a responsibility. When I transform into Luna, the hero, I take on the weight of protecting those who can't protect themselves, whether it’s facing off against cosmic threats or dealing with personal struggles. But I’ve learned to merge both sides of myself. Music and heroism aren’t separate for me; they fuel each other.

MJ: [Smiling] You’ve certainly become an inspiration to so many people around the world. Your powers, as far as we know, are tied to the mystical energy of the moon. How did that impact your musical career? Did it change the way you approach your performances or your music?

Luna Snow: [Pauses thoughtfully] My powers definitely changed the way I express myself. When I’m on stage, I can feel the energy coursing through me—like the power of the moon is guiding my voice, my movements. It’s almost like a connection between my music and the cosmic energy I harness. I think my performances are a reflection of that, and the fans can feel it. Sometimes, I get so lost in the music that I almost forget I’m not just performing, but channeling something greater. It’s humbling and empowering all at once.

MJ: [Leaning forward, her curiosity piqued] And how do your fans, particularly your K-pop fans, react to your superhero persona? Do they see a distinction between Luna Snow, the singer, and Luna Snow, the hero?

Luna Snow: [Chuckles softly] At first, there was some confusion. A lot of people thought it was just a marketing gimmick, you know? But over time, they’ve come to realize that this isn’t some stage persona. This is me—Luna Snow, both the K-pop idol and the hero. My fans, my Lunatics, have been so supportive, not only of my music but also of the way I choose to live my life. They know that being a hero isn’t about the glamour; it’s about standing up for what’s right, even when it’s tough. They’ve embraced both sides of me, and that means everything.

MJ: [Nods in admiration] That’s amazing. Now, let's talk about your hero side for a moment. You’ve faced some pretty intense battles alongside other Marvel heroes. What’s it like to be a part of that larger universe? Do you ever feel like you’re the "new kid" in a group of established heroes?

Luna Snow: [Laughs lightly] I’ve definitely had moments where I’ve felt like the "new kid," especially when I first met some of the more seasoned heroes. People like Captain America, Spider-Man, and Black Panther—they’ve been through so much, and it’s hard not to feel like you have big shoes to fill. But I’ve learned that every hero brings something unique to the table. What I do, as Luna Snow, is different from what the others do—but that’s the beauty of being part of the Marvel universe. We each have our own strengths and challenges, and together, we make an unstoppable team.

MJ: [Smiles knowingly] I’ve heard rumors of a collaboration with Spider-Man. Care to share any details about that?

Luna Snow: [Winks playfully] [Chuckles softly] Well, you know how it is with Spider-Man. He’s always lurking in the shadows, doing his thing. But yes, Spider-Man and I have teamed up a few times. We’ve had some exciting adventures together, battling villains, saving New York. It’s always an interesting dynamic, especially because he’s so secretive and I’m—well, I’m more of an open book. But I think our teamwork has its moments. It’s always fun to see how we complement each other, despite our differences.

MJ: [Laughs] I can only imagine the chemistry there. But Luna, what’s next for you? What can your fans expect from you in the coming year? Any new music, any new collaborations?

Luna Snow: [Leans forward, her eyes gleaming with excitement] Yes, absolutely. I’ve been working on some new music, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone. It’s a mix of everything I’ve learned over the years, both as an artist and as a hero. There are some exciting collaborations on the horizon, including a possible track with some fellow heroes. It’s going to be a blend of cosmic and earthly elements, both in sound and in theme. I’m also planning a big performance—something that combines both my musical abilities and my powers. It’s going to be a visual experience like no other.

MJ: [Grins] I’m sure your fans are going to love it. Luna, thank you so much for this conversation. It’s been an absolute pleasure to learn more about your journey, both as a superstar and as a hero.

Luna Snow: [Smiling brightly] Thank you, Mary Jane. It’s been wonderful to talk with you. I hope everyone gets a chance to see both sides of Luna Snow—because I’m just getting started.

As the interview ends, the camera pans out over the Seoul skyline, capturing the image of Luna Snow standing at the edge of the rooftop, her figure glowing under the light of the full moon—both a symbol of her dual life as a K-pop star and a Marvel hero, ready to face whatever comes next.

End of Interview

Mary Jane Watson Interviews Paris Hilton: Marvel Academy’s Glamorous Disc Jockey Alumni

Setting: A lavish penthouse suite in Paris, the city of lights. Soft golden hues from the Eiffel Tower’s illumination bathe the room as an elegant jazz tune plays in the background. Mary Jane Watson, dressed in a chic, understated blouse and jeans, sits across from Paris Hilton, an iconic figure and Marvel Academy alumna, who has become renowned not only for her fashion empire but also for her unique place in the Marvel universe as one of the most famous Disc Jockeys to graduate from the prestigious institution.

MJ: [Smiling warmly] Paris, it’s a true honor to be sitting with you today. You’ve not only become a household name in the world of fashion and entertainment, but you also have a fascinating backstory in the Marvel universe. For our readers who may not know, how did you end up at Marvel Academy, and what was it like to study there?

Paris Hilton: [Flashes a smile] Oh, Mary Jane, it’s such a pleasure to be here with you. [Pauses thoughtfully] You know, I’ve always been someone who craves the best—whether it’s fashion, lifestyle, or experiences. When I found out about Marvel Academy, it felt like a perfect fit. It was more than just a place to hone your skills—it was a community of creative minds pushing the limits. I was there to refine my talents, learn the craft, and—let's be real—enjoy all the perks that came with being a Marvel Academy alum. I got to learn everything, from being a disc jockey to understanding how to leverage my celebrity status to bring influence to various superhero initiatives.

MJ: [Laughs softly, clearly amused] A true multifaceted talent! Speaking of DJing, you’re known for your incredible skills behind the turntables. You actually took a very different route compared to most Marvel Academy alumni. How did you combine your passion for music with your Marvel studies? Did it give you any unique insights into both the entertainment and superhero worlds?

Paris Hilton: [Nods, her expression serious but still lighthearted] Oh, totally. Music has always been an essential part of my life—whether I’m at a party or planning a personal retreat, I love how music brings people together. At Marvel Academy, I saw DJing as not just a performance, but as an art form. It’s about controlling the mood, setting the atmosphere, and channeling energy. And I quickly realized that’s very much like what superheroes do. You have to know when to bring the crowd to life and when to pull back. My skills behind the turntables taught me timing and subtlety, which, when I think about it, are probably just as important as any superpower!

MJ: [Nods, captivated by her perspective] That’s such a fresh take on it! And, of course, you've brought that mindset to the Marvel Disc Jockeys—a super cool part of the Marvel universe. How did your role as a DJ evolve there, and what made you stand out among the other talented DJs in the academy?

Paris Hilton: [Giggles, her eyes twinkling with confidence] Well, the Marvel Disc Jockeys were such a talented group of individuals. They weren’t just DJs, they were forces of nature—some of them could manipulate soundwaves, others could control energy through beats. My thing was always about vibes and bringing the unexpected. I’m not just mixing tracks, I’m creating experiences. One of my key moves was “The Hilton Mix”—a combination of hypnotic beats and spontaneous sound effects that, believe it or not, actually helped amplify the emotional state of heroes in training! It was all about using the power of sound to help channel emotions, calm nerves, or even fuel a team during battle. I was able to merge music with motivation, and that was my secret weapon.

MJ: [Smiles in admiration] You’ve always had this way of blending glamour with substance. Now, let’s talk about how you’ve expanded your influence. Beyond your DJ career, you’ve built a powerful brand that stretches from fashion to tech. How does your experience at Marvel Academy and as a DJ influence your other ventures, like your clothing line or your business initiatives?

Paris Hilton: [Leans back, clearly passionate about the topic] That’s the thing, Mary Jane. At Marvel Academy, we were taught to think bigger than just one thing. Yes, I love DJing and fashion, but the core of it all is connection. Through the music I played, I learned how to connect with people on a deep emotional level. That helped me build a fashion empire—because, at the end of the day, style is about expressing your true self and making others feel good in the process. The same goes for my tech ventures. I’ve always been about empowering people—whether that’s through a killer playlist, a fabulous outfit, or innovative products that elevate everyday life. I use the lessons I learned at Marvel Academy in everything I do.

MJ: [Impressed] You’ve definitely mastered the art of making connections. Now, I can’t let you leave without asking about your current projects. You’re always involved in something exciting. What’s next for Paris Hilton? Any upcoming projects you’re particularly excited about?

Paris Hilton: [Grins widely, her excitement contagious] You know me too well, Mary Jane! Right now, I’m working on a few secret projects that I can’t quite spill the beans on yet, but I’ll say this: it’s going to combine my love for music, fashion, and tech in a way that’s never been done before. It’s all about creating experiences that people can’t forget. And, yes, I’m still DJing at the biggest events, but I’ve also been collaborating with some Marvel heroes on new projects that involve music and tech as tools for good. It’s going to be HUGE. But let’s just say, it’ll be worth the wait!

MJ: [Laughs, clearly intrigued] You’re always full of surprises, Paris. I’m excited to see what you come up with next. Thank you so much for sharing all of this with us today. It’s been such a pleasure hearing about your journey from Marvel Academy to where you are now.

Paris Hilton: [Smiles warmly, raising her glass] It’s been an honor, Mary Jane. Thank you for being such a fabulous interviewer. And to all the readers out there—never forget, always keep it glamorous and always keep it real!

The camera slowly pans out as Paris and Mary Jane chat further, the city of Paris sparkling outside their window. The music fades as the lights in the room brighten, reflecting the energy and endless possibilities ahead for Paris Hilton, a true force of nature in the Marvel universe and beyond.

End of Interview

Mary Jane Watson Interviews Dazzler: The X-Men Superstar

Setting: A sleek, futuristic lounge in the heart of New York City. Soft neon lights reflect off chrome furniture, casting a radiant glow. A DJ booth in the corner hums with an electronic beat, hinting at the dynamic energy of the room. Mary Jane Watson sits across from Alison Blaire, aka Dazzler, the X-Men superstar, dressed in her iconic outfit with a sparkling, sequined top that catches the light every time she moves. Her signature silver hair frames her face perfectly, adding an air of mystery and allure to the conversation.

MJ: [Smiling, adjusting her notebook in front of her] Alison, thank you so much for taking the time to sit down with me today. You’ve truly made a name for yourself both as a member of the X-Men and as a performer. Can you tell me how you first got involved with the team? It’s quite the leap from being a pop star to a superhero!

Dazzler: [Grinning, flashing her signature smile] Mary Jane, it's honestly a pleasure. You know, I’ve always been all about the spotlight. When I first discovered my powers, it was overwhelming, to say the least. I mean, imagine being able to turn sound into light! At first, I didn’t know what to do with it. But then the X-Men came into the picture. They recognized the potential in me, both as a hero and as a symbol. They gave me the space to be myself and helped me channel my powers for good. It wasn’t so much about the leap from pop star to superhero—it was about learning to use my fame for something more meaningful.

MJ: [Nods thoughtfully] That’s an inspiring journey, Alison. You’ve always managed to blend your musical talents with your superhero role. Tell us a bit more about how your music and your powers intertwine. Do you feel like one enhances the other?

Dazzler: [Tilts her head, looking reflective] Oh, absolutely. My powers are basically the embodiment of music itself. Sound is transformed into light, and that’s how I fight, how I defend people, and how I even connect with others. Music is in everything. I’ve always thought of my performances on stage as a kind of celebration of that power—turning the energy in the room into something visually dazzling. It’s about more than just the spectacle; it’s about sharing an experience with the people around you. Whether I’m on stage at Madison Square Garden or on a mission with the X-Men, I’m always using my music to create something people can feel. And my powers? They let me make it real, in a way that no one else can.

MJ: [Impressed] That’s incredible. You’ve also carved out a reputation as someone who can truly rock the stage, creating stunning performances. What’s it like to juggle being an X-Men member and also keeping your music career alive? How do you find balance between the two worlds?

Dazzler: [Laughs softly, twirling a lock of her silver hair] It’s definitely a balancing act, but you know, that’s what I love about it. I think the real challenge is making sure my music speaks to something greater than just being a hit song. With the X-Men, I’ve seen so much pain and injustice, and that’s made me a more introspective artist. I write music now that not only reflects who I am as a person but as a mutant, someone who’s trying to make a difference. As for balancing my life, I take it one step at a time. Some days, I’m out on a mission, saving the world. Other days, I’m in the studio, crafting a new album or preparing for a show. But both of these worlds feed each other. When I’m performing, I’m channeling the energy I get from fighting evil. When I’m out there fighting, I’m remembering the hope I see in my fans when they hear my music. It all connects.

MJ: [Smiles warmly] I love that perspective. You’ve turned your platform into something so much more than just entertainment—it’s empowerment. Now, I have to ask, what’s the most memorable moment you’ve had as a member of the X-Men? I’m sure there’s no shortage of jaw-dropping experiences!

Dazzler: [Chuckling, clearly having some fun with the question] Oh, there have been so many moments, but there’s one that stands out. A few years ago, we were on a mission in the Savage Land—fighting off some pretty serious threats, dinosaurs, and all. Things were getting tense, and just when we thought we were cornered, I blasted a full-on light show—just filled the whole place with energy and light. It was like a disco inferno. The bad guys were so distracted by the dazzling light show, we were able to make a quick escape. It was so over-the-top, but it worked! That was one of those moments where I thought, “Wow, this is why I’m doing this.”

MJ: [Laughs, jotting notes down] That sounds like a moment straight out of a movie! You’ve also made headlines as a trailblazer for women in music and superheroes. You’ve often been regarded as one of the most fashionable heroes in the Marvel universe. Tell us a bit about how you use your sense of style as a way to express your identity, both as Dazzler and as Alison Blaire.

Dazzler: [Smiling slyly] Fashion is an extension of who I am. It’s another form of self-expression, whether I’m in battle or on stage. Being a mutant, especially with the powers I have, can sometimes make you feel like an outsider. So, for me, style is about owning who I am, proudly and unapologetically. When I’m wearing something I love, I’m embracing my uniqueness. It’s not just about looking good—it’s about showing up and being my true self. Whether it’s sequins and glitter or something more casual, I always want to shine in whatever I wear. Plus, I get to show off some of my incredible custom-made superhero outfits—I mean, who doesn’t love a little sparkle?

MJ: [Smiling widely, inspired] That’s such a powerful way to approach fashion—it’s about confidence and embracing what makes you different. Now, I know you’ve been working on new music as well. Can fans expect a new album soon, and how has your time as an X-Men member influenced your new sound?

Dazzler: [Eyes lighting up with excitement] Yes, yes! I’ve been working on something really special. The new album is a fusion of everything I’ve learned over the years—life with the X-Men, my personal growth, and all the experiences I’ve had on stage. I’m blending genres, experimenting with new sounds, and even incorporating elements of sound manipulation that reflect my powers. I’m also teaming up with some amazing artists from the mutant community. It’s going to be a collection that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt like they had to fight for their place in the world. It’s about empowerment, freedom, and shining bright in the face of adversity. Fans can definitely expect to hear a new side of Dazzler—one that’s more real than ever.

MJ: [In awe] I can’t wait to hear it. I’m sure it’s going to be incredible. Alison, thank you so much for sharing your time, insights, and creative journey with us today. You are an inspiration to so many, and I’m so excited to see where your music and superhero career take you next.

Dazzler: [Flashing a bright smile] Thank you, Mary Jane. This was so much fun. I hope everyone can take away from this interview that no matter who you are or where you come from, you have the power to shine. Keep being yourself and keep shining bright!

The camera zooms out, leaving behind a room filled with bright lights and music, the air buzzing with energy as Dazzler and Mary Jane share a final moment of laughter before the interview ends.

End of Interview

Mary Jane Watson Interviews Barbie: The Glamrock Phenomenon and Inventor of "BowMettal"

Setting: A high-energy, neon-lit studio in the heart of Los Angeles, buzzing with creative energy. The atmosphere is charged with the anticipation of an interview with one of the most unexpected yet groundbreaking stars in the music scene: Barbie. With her iconic pink attire swapped for a striking, metal-inspired look, Barbie sits comfortably in front of a colorful backdrop of vibrant, ever-changing neon lights. Her electric guitar rests casually beside her, reflecting the glitz and grit of the BowMettal movement.

MJ: [Smiling, notebook in hand] Barbie, thank you so much for joining me today! It’s incredible to be sitting with a true music innovator, especially when you’ve managed to create an entirely new genre: BowMettal. Can you tell us a little about the origins of BowMettal and what inspired you to fuse such unexpected elements together?

Barbie: [Grins, flipping her platinum blonde hair over her shoulder with a playful wink] Thank you for having me, Mary Jane! BowMettal started as a way for me to bridge the worlds of sweetness and chaos. I’ve always loved the juxtaposition of soft, soothing sounds and hard-hitting, powerful music. It’s kind of like the feeling of a lullaby right before a storm—there’s a certain tension and beauty in that contrast. I’ve always been fascinated by lullabies, especially the xylophone and the soft, whimsical melodies. But then I discovered metal and rock music, and it felt like such a raw and powerful form of expression. So, one day I thought, “Why not combine them?” It was about merging these two worlds—one that's dreamy and sweet with the other that's explosive and rebellious.

MJ: [Curiously intrigued, jotting notes] I have to admit, when I first heard of BowMettal, I was curious to hear how such contrasting styles would mesh. But after hearing your collaborations with artists like Alissa White-Gluz, Poppy, Grimes, WarLockEtteBand, and WorldWidePanic, it’s clear this genre is truly something special. How did these collaborations come about, and what’s it been like working with such diverse artists?

Barbie: [Leans forward, clearly passionate about her work] Oh, the collaborations have been a dream come true! When I first started working on BowMettal, I knew it wouldn’t be something I could do alone. I wanted to bring in artists who could push the boundaries and elevate the genre. Alissa White-Gluz was an obvious choice. She has such power and intensity in her voice, and she brought that metal edge I needed to balance the softer side of the sound. Poppy was another huge inspiration—she’s known for blending pop and metal in the most unexpected ways, and she totally understood where I was coming from. Grimes and I have always been on the same wavelength when it comes to experimenting with sound. Her electronic and experimental approach was just the perfect fit. And then there’s WarLockEtteBand and WorldWidePanic—these underground artists really helped me shape the darker, more intense side of BowMettal. Each collaboration was like a puzzle piece coming together to create something completely new and exciting.

MJ: [Nods in admiration, glancing at her notes] It’s amazing how BowMettal is not only redefining genres but also creating a space for both metal and electronic music to coexist in ways that weren’t thought possible before. Now, with your music taking over the charts and gaining more recognition than ever, how does it feel to be at the forefront of a musical revolution? Did you ever imagine that Barbie, the iconic doll, would be making such waves in the metal scene?

Barbie: [Laughs, a bit of playful modesty in her voice] Honestly, it’s surreal! When I first started, it wasn’t about being at the forefront of anything. It was about having fun with music, experimenting, and breaking free from the norms. But now that people are catching on, it feels incredible. It’s empowering to see how people from all walks of life are connecting with BowMettal. I think a lot of people were surprised at first—Barbie? Metal? But that’s the beauty of it. It’s about challenging perceptions and showing that no matter where you come from, you can make whatever kind of music you want. My career has definitely evolved, and I think that’s a good thing. It’s proof that reinvention and pushing boundaries are powerful tools in the creative world.

MJ: [Smiling thoughtfully, looking up from her notes] It’s clear that reinvention is something you’ve embraced wholeheartedly. Speaking of reinvention, you’ve really stepped into a whole new image with BowMettal. What was it like moving from the pink and pastel world of Barbie to this bold, glam-rock aesthetic? How does this new image represent your personal evolution as an artist?

Barbie: [Chuckles, running a hand through her new edgy hairdo] Oh, it was definitely a big shift! But you know, it’s all part of my journey. Barbie has always been about embracing different sides of myself. I’ve always had the glam, the fashion, and the fun side, but there’s also this other side of me that’s about strength, rebellion, and taking risks. When I started BowMettal, I knew I had to fully embody that transformation. It was about bringing all of those pieces together. The glam aspect of my image still remains—after all, you can’t get rid of glitter and sparkles too easily—but it’s now fused with darker, more intense elements that speak to my more powerful, more rockstar side. The new look is empowering, it’s bold, and it’s unapologetically me.

MJ: [Nods with understanding, clearly impressed] I love that! You’ve mentioned before that you feel a deep connection to the fans who’ve embraced BowMettal, especially the “misfits” and those who don’t always fit in. How important is that connection for you, and how do you see BowMettal evolving in the future?

Barbie: [Her voice softens with sincerity] It means everything to me. Music has always been a way for me to communicate with others, and when I see my fans embracing the music and the message behind it, it’s incredibly rewarding. I know what it’s like to feel like an outsider—to not fit the mold that society tries to put you in. And BowMettal, at its core, is about saying, “Hey, it’s okay to be different. In fact, it’s better to be different.” It’s about celebrating that individuality. As for the future of BowMettal, I see it growing and evolving even further. I want to keep pushing the envelope with new sounds, new collaborations, and new ideas. There’s so much room to experiment, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me. Who knows? Maybe next, we’ll bring in some more unexpected genres or work with even more artists who are out of the box. One thing’s for sure—I’m not stopping anytime soon.

MJ: [Grins widely, clearly excited by the possibilities] I can’t wait to see where BowMettal goes from here. Barbie, thank you so much for taking the time to share your journey with us today. You’ve truly created something that’s changing the musical landscape, and I’m sure your fans are going to keep loving every second of it.

Barbie: [Flashes a bright smile, raising her hand to give a subtle glam-rock salute] Thank you, Mary Jane! And to everyone out there, keep rocking and shining. The future is bright, and we’re just getting started.

The camera pulls back, leaving the studio bathed in neon lights as Barbie picks up her electric guitar, playing a few heavy chords, the sound echoing as Mary Jane smiles in admiration.

End of Interview

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fatescattered · 5 days ago

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random multi-muse pairings | @withguilt | accepting

sophie baek & anton vasilev or george dawson. disclaimer: i watched half a season of bridgerton and didn't read the books BUT sophie seems really interesting from my general knowledge! i could see anton being a bachelor or even a servant (he's a soldier in his canon verse, so i can work something around that), and george is a runaway thief, so i feel like either of those could make for interesting dynamics!

scott mccall & bianca baker. in her modern verse, bianca is a detective always sticking her nose where she's not supposed to, so she could either suspect scott of being a werewolf (or being totally off the mark) OR maybe scott asking for her help investigating something??

frank castle & lucy hayes. i am in the process of watching daredevil and the companion shows (the punisher is next on the list!) so my frank knowledge is only partial. but lucy is a nurse, so maybe she could patch frank up if he shows up at the hospital or if she comes across him and decides to help?

kristi miller & vivian drake. kristi my beloved!!! vivian could end up in fromville since she moves around a lot. she's a thief and would definitely keep that a secret, but she does have a heart of gold, so she would defs try to help kristi in what she can!

anthony bridgerton & anastasia tremaine. in canon, anastasia rises up as queen through lying and scheming, so she could be hiding that she comes from a poor family while trying to marry rich, OR i can keep her poor background and she wouldn't be in the running at all, but they end up meeting by chance?

ekko & caitlyn kiramman. cait is a test muse atm but i had to include her for a chance to write with your arcane muses! honestly these two should've interacted more in the show, so we have to right that wrong. could be something set in canon or an au!

vi & lydia stark. i have an arcane au for lydia where she works under heimerdinger, so we could try to come up with a way for them to meet? either lydia going to the undercity if it's something related to her work orrr them crossing paths when vi's in piltover? (also the generator didn't give us caitvi, but that's on the table too always)

#withguilt #( ooc answered )#hii thanks for sending this in! <3 #this got so long :||#the meme didnt specify to provide plot ideas #but figured that would make it easier #if any of these catch your eye just hmu!

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denimbex1986 · 9 months ago

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'Andrew Scott’s success did not arrive overnight. His has been a slow and steady ascent from supporting player to leading man. But his status is now assured: at 47, the Irishman is among the most talented and prominent actors of his generation, on stage and screen.

Dublin-born and raised, Scott first took drama classes at the suggestion of his mother, an art teacher, to try to overcome a childhood lisp. At 17 he won his first part in a film, Korea (1995), about an Irish boy who finds himself fighting in the Korean War. By 21, he was winning awards for his performance in Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night, for director Karel Reisz, no less, at The Gate. He arrived in London, where he continues to live, at the end of the 1990s, and worked regularly, with smaller parts in bigger TV shows (Band of Brothers, Longitude) and bigger parts in smaller plays (A Girl in a Car With a Man, Dying City). By the mid-2000s he was well established, especially in the theatre. In 2006, on Broadway, he was Julianne Moore’s lover, and Bill Nighy’s son, in David Hare’s Iraq War drama, The Vertical Hour, directed by Sam Mendes. In 2009, he was Ben Whishaw’s betrayed boyfriend in Mike Bartlett’s Cock, at the Royal Court. He won excellent notices for these and other performances, but he was not yet a star. If you knew, you knew. If you didn’t know, you didn’t know. Most of us didn’t know; not yet.

That changed in 2010 when, at the age of 33, he played Jim Moriarty, arch nemesis of Benedict Cumberbatch’s egocentric detective, in the BBC’s smash hit Sherlock. The appearance many remember best is his incendiary debut, in an episode called “The Great Game”. When first we meet him, Moriarty is disguised as a creepy IT geek, a human flinch with an ingratiating smile. It’s an act so convincing that even Sherlock doesn’t catch on. Next time we see him, he’s a dapper psychotic in a Westwood suit, with an uncannily pitched singsong delivery and an air of casual menace that flips, suddenly, into rage so consuming he’s close to tears. Such was the relish with which Scott played the villain — he won a Bafta for it — that he risked the black hat becoming stuck to his head. In Spectre (2015), the fourth of Daniel Craig’s Bond movies, and the second directed by Sam Mendes, Scott played Max Denbigh, or C, a smug Whitehall mandarin who wants to merge MI5 and MI6, sacrilegiously replacing the 00 agents with drones. (If only.)

There were other decent roles in movies and TV series, as well as substantial achievements on stage, and he might have carried on in this way for who knows how long, even for his whole career, as a fêted stage performer who never quite breaks through as a leading man on screen.

But Scott had more to offer than flashy baddies and scene-stealing cameos. His Hamlet, at The Almeida in London, in 2017, was rapturously received. I’ve seen it only on YouTube, but even watching on that degraded format, you can appreciate the fuss. Scott is magnetic: funny, compelling, and so adept with the language that, while you never forget he’s speaking some of the most profound and beautiful verse ever written, it feels as conversational as pub chat.

Another banner year was 2019: a memorable cameo in 1917 (Mendes again) as a laconic English lieutenant; an Emmy nomination for his performance in an episode of Black Mirror; and the matinée idol in Noel Coward’s Present Laughter at London’s Old Vic, for which he won the Olivier for Best Actor, the most prestigious award in British theatre.

The second series of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s phenomenal Fleabag, also in 2019, proved to a wider public what theatregoers already knew: Scott could play the mainstream romantic lead, and then some. His character was unnamed. The credits read, simply, “The Priest”. But social media and the newspapers interpolated an adjective and Scott became The Hot Priest, Fleabag’s unlucky-in-love interest, a heavy-drinking heartbreaker in a winningly spiffy cassock, and an internet sensation.

Fleabag began as a spiky dramedy about a traumatised young woman. Scott’s storyline saw it develop into a bittersweet rom-com, brimming with compassion for its two clever, funny, horny, lonely, awkward, baggage-carrying heroes, lovers who can’t get together because, for all the snogging in the confessional, one of them is already taken, in this case by God.

It was the best and brightest British comedy of the 2010s, and Scott’s fizzing chemistry with Waller-Bridge had much to do with that. The ending, when she confesses her feelings at a bus stop, is already a classic. “I love you,” she tells him. “It’ll pass,” he says.

Over the past 12 months, in particular, Scott has piled triumph on top of victory, and his star has risen still further. At the National, last year, he executed a coup de théâtre in Vanya, for which he was again nominated for an Olivier. (He lost out to an old Sherlock sparring partner, Mark Gatiss, for his superb turn in The Motive and the Cue, about the making of an earlier Hamlet.) For Simon Stephens’s reworking of Chekhov’s play, Scott was the only actor on stage. On a sparsely furnished set, in modern dress — actually his own clothes: a turquoise short sleeve shirt, pleated chinos, Reebok Classics and a thin gold chain — and with only very slight modulations of his voice and movements, he successfully embodied eight separate people including an ageing professor and his glamorous young wife; an alcoholic doctor and the woman who loves him; and Vanya himself, the hangdog estate manager. He argued with himself, flirted with himself and even, in one indelible moment, had it off with himself.

It’s the kind of thing that could have been indulgent showboating, a drama-school exercise taken too far, more fun for the performer than the audience. But Scott carried it off with brio. In the simplest terms, he can play two people wrestling over a bottle of vodka in the middle of the night — and make you forget that there’s only one of him, and he’s an Irish actor, not a provincial Russian(s). An astonishing feat.

For his next trick: All of Us Strangers, among the very best films released in 2023. Writer-director Andrew Haigh’s ghost story is about Adam (Scott), a lonely writer, isolated in a Ballardian west-London high-rise, who returns to his suburban childhood home to find that his parents — killed in a car crash when he was 11 — are still living there, apparently unaltered since 1987. Meanwhile, Adam begins a tentative romance with a neighbour, Henry (Paul Mescal), a younger man, also lonely, also vulnerable, also cut off from family and friends.

Tender, lyrical, sentimental, sad, strange, and ultimately quite devastating, All of Us Strangers was another potential artistic banana skin. At one point, Scott’s character climbs into bed with his parents and lies between them, as a child might, seeking comfort. In less accomplished hands, this sort of thing could have been exasperating and embarrassing. But Scott’s performance grounds the film. He is exceptionally moving in it. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor, losing to his fellow Irishman, Cillian Murphy, for Oppenheimer. Earlier this year, he made history as the first person to receive Critics Circle awards in the same year for Best Actor in a film (All of Us Strangers) and a play (Vanya).

Finally, last month, the title role in Ripley, a new spin on the lurid Patricia Highsmith novels. That show, which unspools over eight episodes on Netflix, was a long time coming. Announced in 2019, it was filmed during the pandemic, at locations across Italy and in New York. Scott is in almost every scene and delivers an immensely subtle and nuanced portrayal of Highsmith’s identity thief, a character previously played by actors including Alain Delon, Dennis Hopper, and Matt Damon in the famous Anthony Minghella film The Talented Mr Ripley, from 1999.

The fragile almost-charm that makes Tom Ripley such an enduring antihero is there in Scott’s portrayal, but so is the creepiness, the isolation, the fear and desperation. His Ripley can turn on a smile, but it quickly curdles. Filmed in high-contrast black and white, Ripley is a sombre, chilly work by design, but doggedly compelling, and not without a mordant wit. Again, critics swooned.

So the actor is on a hot streak. Later this year he’ll appear in Back in Action, a Hollywood spy caper, alongside Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx, above-the-title stars with dazzling, wide-screen smiles. But could they play Chekhov single-handed? They’ll need to be on their toes.

Before our shoot and subsequent interview, in April, I had met Scott briefly on two previous occasions, both times at fancy dinners for fashion brands. Compact, stylish, dynamic, he is impishly witty and charismatic: good in a room. Also, obliging: the second time I met him, he took my phone and spoke into it in his most diabolical Moriarty voice for a wickedly funny voice message to my son, a Sherlock fan.

At the Esquire shoot, on an overcast day in south London, Scott again demonstrated his good sportiness: dancing in the drizzle in a Gucci suit; generously sharing his moment in the spotlight with an unexpected co-star, a local cat who sauntered on to the set and decided to stick around for the close-ups; and entertaining the crew — and hangers-on, including me — with rude jokes. At one point, while for some reason discussing the contents of our respective fridges, I asked him where he kept his tomatoes. “Easy, Tiger,” he said.

At lunch the following day, upstairs at Quo Vadis, the restaurant and members’ club in Soho (my suggestion), the actor arrived promptly, settled himself on a banquette, and we got straight to business. It’s standard practice now for interviews published in the Q&A format to include a disclaimer, in the American style: “This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.” (Well, duh.) In this case, we talked for close to three hours. Inevitably, paper costs being what they are, and Esquire readers having busy lives, some of that verbiage has ended up on the cutting-room floor. But not much! I’ve tried to let it flow as much as possible, and to keep the spirit of the thing, in which we toggled, like all good performances, between light and dark, comedy and tragedy.

In early March, a month before this interview took place, Scott and his family suffered a terrible and unexpected loss: his mother, Nora, suddenly died. He went home to Dublin to be with his dad, Jim, his sisters, Sarah and Hannah, and their family and friends.

As an interviewee and, I suspect, as a person, Scott is thoughtful, convivial and solicitous: he doesn’t just answer questions, he also asks them. He is not above the occasional forearm squeeze when he wants to emphasise a point. He seems to possess a sharp emotional intelligence. Perhaps one should expect empathy in a great actor, but in him it seems particularly marked.

Before we began talking, there was some studying of the menu. Scott wondered, since I eat often at Quo Vadis, if I had any recommendations. I told him I had my eye on the pie: chicken, ham and leek. “Why would you not have the pie?” wondered Scott. A good question.

So, how was your morning? Where have you come from?

This morning I’ve been at the gym, Alex.

Are you working out for a specific reason or are you just a healthy man?

Just trying to keep it going. Exercise is so helpful to me. I don’t know if you know, but my mum died four weeks ago.

I did know, and I’m so sorry.

Thank you. So, yeah. Just trying to keep it going. They say your body feels it as much as your mind.

The grief?

Yeah, the grief. My friend said a brilliant thing last night. She’s been through grief. She said, if you think of it like weights, the weight of it doesn’t decrease, but your ability to lift the weights does. So, if you go to the gym and you’re completely unpractised you won’t be able to lift the weight. But the more you get used to it, the more you can lift. There’s a slight analogy to grief. I’m just learning about it.

Have you been through grief before?

Not really. A little bit, but not to this extent. And it’s a strange thing because, obviously, I’m in the middle of having to talk a lot [promoting Ripley] and making that decision of whether to talk about it or whether not to talk about it. I’m finding myself talking about it, because it’s what’s going on, and without giving away too much of it she was such an important figure. It feels right. It’s such a natural thing.

Is it helpful to talk about it?

I think it has to be. I feel very lucky with my job, in the sense that, all those more complex, difficult feelings, that’s what you have to do in a rehearsal room; you have to explore these things. So strange: a lot of the recent work that I’ve done has been exploring grief. With Vanya, and All of Us Strangers. So it’s odd to be experiencing it this time for real.

I wasn’t planning on making that the focal point of this piece, so it’s up to you how much you feel comfortable talking about it.

I appreciate that.

Was it unexpected? Did it happen out of the blue?

Yes. She was very alive four weeks ago. She just deteriorated very quickly. She got pneumonia and she just… it was all over within 24 hours.

What sort of person was she?

She was the most enormously fun person that you could possibly imagine. Insanely fun and very, very creative. She’s the person who sort of introduced me to acting and art. She taught me to draw and paint when I was really young —that’s another big passion of mine, drawing and painting. She was amazing with all of us. My sister Sarah is very talented in sport, she’s now a sports coach. And my sister Hannah was very artistic and she’s an actor now. So, she was really good at supporting us throughout all our different interests. What I say is that we’ve been left a huge fortune by her. Not financially, but an emotional fortune, if you know what I mean? I feel that really strongly. And once this horrible shock is over, I just have to figure out how I’m going to spend it. Because I think when someone else is alive and they’ve got amazing attributes, they look after those attributes. And then when they die, particularly if they are your parent, you feel like you want to inhabit them, these incredible enthusiasts for life. She just made connections with people very easily. I feel enormously grateful to have had her. Have you had much grief in your life?

My mother died, during Covid. She had been ill for a long time, so it was a very different experience to yours. But I think they are all different experiences, for each of us. I don’t know if that loss would be in any way analogous to yours. But like you, I love art and books and music, and that’s all from her. Last night, I watched a rom-com with my daughter, who is 14. And I don’t know if I would like rom-coms so much, if it wasn’t for my mum.

Love a rom-com! What did you watch?

Annie Hall.

Did she like it, your daughter?

She absolutely loved it. She was properly laughing.

Oh, that’s great!

And she’s a tough one to impress. But she loved it, and my mum loved Woody Allen. My mum can’t recommend Woody Allen to my daughter now, but I can, and that’s come down from her. So it goes on.

That’s what I mean. Your spirit doesn’t die. And I’m sure you went to bed going, “Yes!”

I did! It was a lovely evening, it really was. Tonight we’ll watch something else.

Are you going to watch another Woody Allen? Which one are you going to watch?

I thought maybe we’d watch Manhattan? More Diane Keaton.

Or Hannah and Her Sisters? That’s a good one. Insanely good. Yeah, it’s amazing that legacy, what you’re left with. My mum was so good at connecting with people. She was not very good at small talk. She was quite socially bold. She would say things to people. If she thought you looked well, she’d tell you. She’d always come home with some story about some pot thrower she met at some sort of craft fair. Being socially bold, there’s a sort of kindness in it. When someone says something surprising, it’s completely delightful. My mother sent me something when I was going through a bad time in my twenties. It was just a little card. It said, “The greatest failure is not to delight.” What a beautiful quote. And she was just delighted by so many things, and she was also delightful. And like her, I really love people. I really get a kick out of people.

I can tell.

But there’s a kind of thing, if you become recognisable, people become the enemy? And it’s something I have to try and weigh up a little bit. Because people are my favourite thing about the world. I think it’s part of my nature. My dad is pretty sociable too. And so it’s weighing that up, how you keep that going. Because certain parts of that are out of your control: people treat you slightly differently. But this phase, the past four weeks, it still feels so new. Just thinking about legacy and kindness and love and the finite-ness of life. All that stuff.

Big stuff.

Yeah, it’s big stuff. And it’s very interesting, talking about grief. Because it’s not all just low-energy sadness. There’s something galvanising about it as well. I don’t know if you found that, too?

One of the things about someone else dying is it makes you feel alive.

Yes, exactly. Even though we have no choice, it does that. It’s that amazing thing, the year of magical thinking.

[Waiter approaches. Are we ready to order?]

We are.

I think so. Are we two pie guys?

We’re two pie guys!

We’re pretty fly for pie guys.

Are we salad guys? Tomato, fennel and cucumber salad?

Yeah.

And chips, maybe?

Listen, you only live once.

So, the year of magical thinking…

You know, when you’re walking along, are you allowed to have a surge of joy? Or are you allowed to just stay home and… It’s extraordinary when it gets you.

Like a wave of emotion?

I had one on the rowing machine today. I’m glad of it, though.

That was sadness.

Just loss, yeah. Just loss.

So, there’s two ways to do this. You can choose. We can do the usual interview where we start at the beginning with your childhood and go all the way through to now. That’s totally fine. Or, I can throw more random questions at you, and see where that takes us?

Random!

Shall we random it?

Let’s random it.

OK. That means I might sometimes read questions off this piece of paper.

Reading takes just slightly away from the randomness of it, Alex…

That is a very good point. You are quite right. But I don’t read them out in order! They’re just prompts.

[Sardonically] Oh, I see!

Talk me through what you’re wearing.

Oh, this is so old. What does it say?

[I peer at the label on the inside of his shirt collar. It says Hartford.]

What colour would you call that?

I’d call it a bit of a duck egg, Alex, would you?

I’d go with that. And it’s like a…

Like a Henley?

And these [pointing to trousers]?

Mr P trousers. And a pair of old Nikes.

And sports socks.

When I am off duty, I think I dress slightly like an 11-year-old. You know, when you’re just plodding the streets, I wear, like, a hoodie and trainers.

And you have a chain round your neck.

This is a chain that I bought in New York. No, maybe I bought it in Italy. It was a replacement chain. I’ve worn a chain for years. Sometimes I like to have it as a reminder that I’m not working. When you’re in character, you take it off. Because when you’re in a show or a play, they sort of own you. They own your hair.

They own your hair!

Or sometimes you have to walk around with, like, a stupid moustache. Or, worse, chops. Actors fucking hate that. Like, nobody suits that, I don’t think. Right? I’m trying to think of someone who suits that.

Daniel Day Lewis, maybe? He can carry it off.

He’s got the chops for chops!

What’s something about you that you think is typically Irish?

It goes back to that people thing. When I go home to Ireland, I’m aware that people talk to each other a lot more. And I think there’s a sense of humour that Irish people have that I love. And I suppose a softness, too, that I love. Those are the positive things. And then the guilt and the shame is the negative stuff.

Catholic guilt?

Catholic guilt. I feel very strongly, though, that I’ve worked to emancipate myself from it. There’s a certain unthinking-ness to guilt. Your first thought, always: “What have I done wrong? It’s gotta be me.” That doesn’t benefit anyone. And with shame, I don’t feel shame anymore. I think I probably did before. But in a way, it’s an irrelevant thing for me to talk about now. The thing I prefer to talk about is how great it is not to have that anymore. Rather than how horrible it was. The thing I feel enthusiastic about is how there are so many beautiful and different ways to live a life that aren’t centred on the very strict, Catholic, cultural idea of what a good life might be. Namely, 2.4 children and certain ideas and a very specific life.

Are there positives to be taken away from a Catholic education?

The rituals around grief, I think, are really beautiful, having gone through what I’ve just been going through. And the community that you get in Catholicism. Because that’s what Catholicism is about, in some ways: devotion to your community. The amount of love and support you get is to be admired. It’s the organisation that has been the problem, not the values. Random question number 16!

When’s the last time you were horrifically drunk?

Good question! I was in New York doing press recently for Ripley. And I met Paul Mescal. He had a negroni waiting for me. Love a negroni. And then we went dancing.

Are you a good dancer?

I’m pretty good, freestyle. Slow on choreography but once I get it, I’m OK. I love dancing.

I love dancing.

Do you really? Do you do, like, choreographed dancing as well?

No! But I’m a good dancer.

Do you have moves?

Oh, I have moves.

Ha! I love that!

It’s so freeing, so liberating.

It totally is.

And it’s sexy and fun.

Exactly! It’ll get you a kiss at the end of the night.

It’s sort of showing off, too, isn’t it?

But it’s also completely communal. It connects you with people. Also, you can learn so much about someone by watching how they connect with people on a dance floor. How much of communication do they say is non-verbal? An enormous amount.

If you didn’t live in London, where would you most like to live?

I suppose Dublin. I do live a wee bit in Dublin. But one of the things I feel really grateful for is that I have sort of been able to live all over the place. I lived in Italy for a year, during the pandemic.

You were making Ripley?

Yeah, we were all over. Rome, Venice, Capri, Naples… A bit of New York. I’d love to spend more time in New York. I was very lucky recently to have my picture taken by Annie Leibovitz. We were outside the Chelsea Hotel, and this woman came up. [Thick Noo Yawk accent, shouting]: “Hey, Annie! Why don’t you take a picture of this dumpster? It’s been outside my block for two months! Take a picture of that!” There’s something about that New York-iness that I love. It still has such romance for me.

How old do you feel?

Really young. I don’t have an exact age for you. Thirties?

Some people feel in touch with their childhood selves, or almost unchanged from adolescence. Others seem to have been born an adult.

That’s really true. I think of playgrounds for children: you’re actively encouraged to play, as a kid. “Go out and play!” And I hate that at some point, maybe in your mid-twenties, someone goes, “Now, don’t play! Now, know everything. Now, turn on the television, acquire a mortgage and tell people what you know.” I have to play for a living. It’s so important, not just in your job, but in life. It’s a great pleasure of life, if you can hold on to that. Talking about my mum again, she had an amazing sense of fun.

She was a funny person? She made people laugh?

Absolutely.

That’s important, isn’t it?

It’s really important. I think having a sense of humour is one of the most important things in life. It’s such a tool. And you can develop it. My family were all funny. Laughter was a currency in our family. Humour is a magic weapon. It separates us from the other species. Like, I love my dog. I think dogs are amazing. And he can have fun, but he’s not able to go, “This is fucking ridiculous.” He’s not able to do that! So it’s a real signifier of your humanity, in some ways.

Also, being a funny person, or someone who can connect with people through humour, that’s how we make friends.

I think actors make really good friends. Because you’re in the empathy game. And because you’re making the decision to go into an industry that is really tough, you need to have your priorities straight: “I know this is tough, I know the chances of me succeeding in it are slim, but I’m going to go in anyway.” It shows a sort of self-possession that I think is a wonderful thing to have in a friend. Also, actors are just funny. And a lot of them are sexy!

Funny and sexy: good combination.

I know! Not that you want all your friends to be sexy, that’s not how you should choose your friends.

Oh, I don’t know. It’s not the worst idea.

It’s not. But I think it’s something to do with empathy. And it’s a troupe mentality as well. You’re good in groups.

It’s a gang.

I love a gang. Do you like a gang?

I do. Magazines are like that. A good magazine is a team, a great magazine is a gang. And the thing we produce is only part of it: you put it out there and people make of it what they will. The process of making it is the thing, for me.

Oh, my God. That’s something I feel more and more. Process is as important as product. I really believe that. You can have an extraordinary product, but if it was an absolute nightmare to make then, ultimately, that’s what you’re going to remember about it. You make good things that are successful that everybody loves? That’s lovely. But also, you make stuff that people don’t respond to. So, if you have a good time in the process, and the attempt is a valiant one, and there’s a good atmosphere, if it’s kind and fun, that’s the stuff you hold on to. One of the reasons I love the theatre is you don’t have to see the product. You just do it, and then it’s done. It’s an art form that is ephemeral. There’s a big liberation, too, in discovering you don’t have to watch any of your films if you don’t want to.

Have you watched Ripley?

I watched Ripley once.

And?

It’s a lot of me in it! Jesus!

Is that a problem?

I find it hard to watch myself. I do. There’s something quite stressful about looking at yourself. Have you ever heard yourself on someone’s answering machine? Horrific! You’re like, “Oh, my God, that can’t be me. How do they let me out in the day?” It’s like that, and then it’s your big, stupid face as well. Mostly, I have a feeling of overwhelming embarrassment.

On a cinema screen, I can’t even imagine. Your face the size of a house!

The size of a house, and there’s 400 people watching you.

Nature did not intend humans to ever experience this.

That is so true. It’s not natural.

I mean, even mirrors are to be avoided.

Maybe looking in the sea is the only natural way?

Well, Narcissus!

Yeah, true. That didn’t turn out well. I’d love for that to be a tagline for a movie, though: “Nature did not intend humans to ever experience this…”

But equally, nature didn’t intend the rest of us to gaze upon you in quite that way. We sit in the dark, staring up worshipfully at this giant image of you projected on a screen for hours. Is that healthy?

Without talking about the purity of theatre again, when you’re in the theatre, you, as the audience, see someone walking on the stage, and technically you could go up there, too. There’s not that remove. It’s live. There’s a real intimacy. That’s why I feel it’s the real actor’s medium. Your job is to create an atmosphere. I always find it insanely moving, even still, that adults go into the dark and say, “I know this is fake, but I don’t care: tell me a story.” And they gasp, and they cry, or they’re rolling around the aisles laughing. It’s so extraordinary, so wonderful that it exists. I really do believe in the arts as a human need. I believe in it so deeply. During the pandemic, our first question to each other was, “What are you watching? What book are you reading?” Just to get through it, to survive. It’s not just some sort of frivolous thing. It’s a necessity. As human beings, we tell stories. Expert storytellers are really vital. No, it’s not brain surgery. But, “Hearts starve as well as bodies. Give us bread, but give us roses.” I love that quote.

Tell me about playing Hamlet. Was it what you expected it would be?

It’s extraordinary. Loads of different reasons why. From an acting point of view, there’s no part of you that isn’t being used. So you have to, first of all, have enormous physical stamina, because it’s nearly four hours long. Our version was three hours, 50 minutes. And you have to be a comedian, you have to be a soldier, you have to be a prince, you have to be the romantic hero, you have to be the sorrowful son, you have to understand the rhythm of the language, you have to be able to hit the back of the auditorium — there are just so many things about it that require all those muscles to be exercised. You know, it’s so funny that we’re talking about this today. Because at the beginning of Hamlet, it’s two months since his dad died. His mother has already remarried, to his uncle! What are they doing? I mean the idea that next month my dad might marry someone else is so extraordinary! So, Hamlet’s not mad. Of course he would wear black clothes and be a bit moody. The more interesting question [than whether or not Hamlet is mad] is, who was he before? I think he’s incredibly funny. It’s a really funny play, Hamlet. And it’s a funny play that deals in life and death: the undiscovered country from which no traveller returns. It’s about what it is to be human. And what it’s like to be human is funny, and sad. The language is so incredibly beautiful and it’s also incredibly actable. And it’s also a thriller.

And a ghost story. It’s supernatural.

It’s a supernatural ghost story. And because the character is so well-rounded, I always think of it like a vessel into which you can pour any actor or actress. So, your version, the bits you would respond to if you were playing Hamlet, would be completely different to mine or anyone else’s. It can embrace so many kinds of actors. So Richard Burton can play it or Ben Whishaw can play it or Ruth Negga can play it or I can play it, and it’s going to bring out completely different sides. Did you do much Shakespeare at school?

I did. I studied Hamlet.

I remember Mark Rylance said…

[The waiter arrives with our pies and we both take a moment to admire them before breaking the crusts… The following passages are occasionally hard to make out due to enthusiastic chewing.]

You were about to say something about Mark Rylance. I saw his Hamlet in… must have been 1989, when I was doing my A-levels. He did it in his pyjamas.

I’ve heard. He came to see [my] Hamlet. He said, you feel like you’re on a level with it, and then in week four, you plummet through the layers of the floor and you’re on a deeper level. He was exactly right. Something happens. It’s just got depth.

Does it change you? Do you learn something new about yourself, as an actor?

I think because it’s such a tall order for an actor, it’s sort of like you feel you can do anything after that. Like, at least this is not as hard as Hamlet. You know you have those muscles now. We transferred it from The Almeida on to the West End. So, we did it loads of times. That’s a big achievement.

How many times did you play him?

One hundred and fifty. Twice on a Wednesday, twice on a Saturday. Eight hours [on those days]. Even just for your voice, it’s a lot.

We keep coming back to theatre. Is that because you prefer it?

It goes directly into your veins. It’s pure. You start at the beginning of the story and you go through to the end. When you’re making a movie, it’s a different process. Your imagination is constantly interrupted. You do something for two minutes and then someone comes in and goes, “OK, now we’re going to do Alex’s close-up, so you go back to your trailer and we’re going to set up all the lights and make sure that window across the street is properly lit.” And that’s another 20 minutes, and then you try to get back into the conversation we’ve just been having… And so the impetus is a different one.

The Hot Priest…

What’s that?

Ha! I watched Fleabag again, last week. It’s so good. But The Hot Priest, he’s a coward. He gets a chance at happiness with the love of his life and he doesn’t take it.

Well, not to judge my character, but I suppose there’s an argument that he does choose love. He chooses God. That’s the great love of his life. Whatever his spirituality has given him, he has to choose that. Is there a way that they could have made that [relationship] work? Of course there is. We’re seeing it from Fleabag’s point of view, literally, so of course it feels awful [that Fleabag and the Priest can’t be together]. But I think we understand it, the thing that is not often represented on screen but which an awful lot of people have, which is the experience of having a massive connection with somebody, a real love, that doesn’t last forever. I think somebody watching that can think, “I have my version of that. And I know that I loved that person, but I also know why we couldn’t be together.” And that doesn’t mean those relationships are any less significant. It just means that they are impossible to make work on a practical level. Not all love stories end the same way.

Annie Hall.

There you go! La La Land. Love that movie.

The Hot Priest is damaged. There’s a darkness there. Journalists interviewing actors look at the body of work and try to find through lines that we can use to create a narrative. It’s often a false narrative, I know that. However, that’s what we’re here for! Let’s take Hamlet, and the Priest, and Adam from All of Us Strangers, and, I guess, Vanya himself, even Moriarty. These are not happy-go-lucky guys. Ripley! These men seem lost, lonely, sad. Is it ridiculous to suggest that there’s something in you that draws you to these characters — or is it a coincidence?

That’s a really good question. I think it can’t be a coincidence. Like, even when you said “happy-go-lucky”, right? My immediate instinct is to say, “Show me this happy-go-lucky person.” With a different prism on this person, there would be a part of him that’s not happy-go-lucky, because that’s the way human beings are. If we could think now of a part that’s the opposite of the kind of part [he typically plays], a happy-go-lucky character…

How about the kinds of roles that Hugh Grant plays in those rom-coms? Yeah, the character might be a little bit repressed, a bit awkward at first, but basically everything’s cool, then he meets a beautiful woman, it doesn’t work out for about five minutes, and then it does. The end.

[Chuckles] OK, yeah. I’d love to have a go at that.

Wouldn’t you like to do that?

I would! I really would.

Why haven’t you?

I don’t know! It’s weird. That is something I would really love to do. Because I love those films. There’s a joy to them. It’s something I would love to embrace now. When I was growing up, as a young actor, I did want to play the darkness. With Moriarty, I was like, “I’ve got this in me and I’d like to express it.” And, conversely, now I think the opposite. I know that’s a little bit ironic, given I’ve just played Tom Ripley. Ha! But I have just played it, and I have spent a lot of time in characters that are isolated. And I was in a play [Vanya] that was one person. I don’t feel sad doing those things. It’s cathartic. But I would love the idea of doing something different.

Also, you don’t strike me as a person who is especially morose.

No! No, no, no. I’m not. But again, we all contain multitudes. My mother’s legacy was so joyful. Not that she didn’t have her soulful moments, because of course she did. I mean this as the opposite of morbidity, but it doesn’t end well for any of us, it really doesn’t. So bathing in the murkier waters, it’s wonderful to be able to explore that side of you, but also the opposite is true, the idea of joy and fun and lightness is something I’m definitely interested in. Like a musical! I’d love to be in a musical. I’ve just done a cameo in a comedy that I can’t talk about yet. It was just a day, with someone I really love, and it just lifted me up. But of course, there’s the stuff that people associate you with, and that’s what brings you to the table.

You played a baddie really well, so you get more baddies.

Yeah. You have to be quite ferocious about that. You have to go, “Oh, wow, that really is a great film-maker, that’s a lovely opportunity…” But how much time do you have left and what do you want to put out to the world? I feel like I want to be able to manifest what I have within me now. That’s a wonderful thing to be able to do. It’s such a privilege. And I feel so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given. But why not get out of the hay barn and play in the hay?

Ripley has been well received. Do you read reviews?

I read some of them.

Why?

I’m interested in the audience. You know when people say, “You should never care about what other people think?” Of course I care what people think.

Ripley is excellent, but it’s quite gruelling to watch. Was it gruelling to make?

Yeah.

Because you have to inhabit this deeply unhappy person?

Maybe not unhappy. But very isolated, I think that’s key. It was hard. There was a huge amount of actual acting. Doing 12-hour days for almost a year. I’m not necessarily convinced you should act that much.

Ripley is himself an actor. He puts on other people’s identities because he doesn’t like his own. He doesn’t like himself. Some people think actors are people who don’t like themselves so you pretend to be other people, assume other identities. Or maybe it’s that actors are hollow shells. When you’re not acting, there’s no one there. No you. Sorry to be rude.

No, it’s not rude at all. I totally understand it. But I find it to be completely the opposite of what I’ve learnt. The essence of acting, for me, the great catharsis of it, is that you’re not pretending to be somebody else, you’re exploring different sides of yourself. You’re going, who would I be in these circumstances? Some of the darkest, most unhappy people I know are the people who say, “I don’t have an angry bone in my body.” Then why do I feel so tense around you? People who have no anger… I remember I used to have it with some religious people when I was growing up. People proclaiming that they’re happy or good or kind, that does not necessarily mean that they are happy or good or kind. That’s the brand they’re selling. I’ve always liked that expression: “fame is the mask that eats into the face.” How do you keep a healthy life when you’re pretending to be other people? You do it by going, “I’m going to admit I have a dark side.” It’s much healthier to shout at a fictional character in a swimming pool [as Moriarty does in Sherlock] than it is to be rude to a waiter in a restaurant, in real life.

You find that therapeutic?

Yes, you’re still expressing that anger. I think it is therapeutic.

So playing Tom Ripley every day for a year, were you able to exorcise something, or work through something?

Well, that’s why I found Tom Ripley quite difficult. He’s hard to know, and a harder character to love. If you think of Adam in All of Us Strangers, you go, “OK, I understand what your pain is.” What I understand with Tom, the essence of that character, is that he’s somebody who has a big chasm that is unknowable, perhaps even to himself. We’re all a little bit like that, we’re all sometimes mysterious to ourselves — “I don’t know why I did that…” — but to have empathy for someone like that is difficult. You know the boy in your class who gets bullied, and it’s awful, and you try and understand it but he doesn’t make it easier for himself? That’s the way I feel about Tom Ripley. It’s a thorny relationship. Your first job as an actor is to advocate for the character. That’s why I hate him being described as a psychopath. Everyone else can say what they like about him, but I have to be like, ‘Maybe he’s just… hangry?’ So you have to try and empathise, try and understand. When we call people who do terrible things monsters — “This evil monster!” — I think that’s a way of absenting yourself from that darkness. Because it’s not a monster. It’s a human being that did this. You can’t look away from the fact that human beings, sometimes for completely unknowable reasons, do terrible things. And that’s why it’s interesting when people talk about Tom Ripley. They say, “Have you ever met a Tom Ripley type?” The reason the character is so enduring is because there’s Tom Ripley in all of us. That’s why we kind of want him to get away with it. That’s [Highsmith’s] singular achievement, I think.

I find reading the Ripley books quite unpleasant. It’s a world I really don’t want to spend any time in. I read two of them preparing for this. She’s a great writer, but they’re horrible characters; it’s a depressing world.

I agree. That’s what I found most challenging. Where is the beating heart here? How much time do I want to spend here? And when you do, well, it took its toll. It did make me question how much time I want to spend with that character, absolutely. That’s the truth.

The way you play him, he’s very controlled. You didn’t play him big.

I think it’s important to offer up difference facets of the character to the director and he chooses the ones he feels marry to his vision. And those are the ones [Steven Zaillian] chose. And he executed those expertly.

Are you a member of any clubs?

Yeah, I’m a member of the Mile High Club. No, no…

That’ll do nicely.

OK, that’s my answer.

What’s your earliest memory?

Do they still have, I think it’s called a play pen?

Sort of like tiny little jails for toddlers? What a good idea they were!

I remember being massively happy in it. My mother used to say she just used to fling me in that thing and give me random kitchen utensils. I don’t know, like a spoon. I’ve always been quite good in my own company. I really remember being left to my own imagination and being very happy.

Do you live alone now?

Yeah.

Is that not lonely?

Of course I’ve experienced that but, ultimately, no. I don’t know if that’s the way I’m going to be for the rest of my life. But I certainly don’t feel lonely. I’ve got so much love in my life.

Would it be OK if you lived alone for the rest of your life?

Yeah. It would be OK. One of my great heroes is Esther Perel.

I don’t know who that is.

Esther Perel. She’s a sort of love and relationships expert, a therapist, and she’s a writer. A real hero, I think you’d really dig her. She talks about relationships and the mythology around them. The difference between safety and freedom. She talks with real compassion about both men and women; she talks about this idea of what we think we want, and what we really want. And how there’s only one prototype for a successful life, really, or a successful relationship. Which is: you meet somebody, da-da-da, you fall in love, da-da-da, you have kids, da-da-da. And that prototype just can’t suit every person in the world. There are some people who live in the world who might see their partner every second Tuesday and that suits them. And to be able to understand and communicate your own preference at any given time is really the aim. To be able to say, “At the moment I’m happy in the way I am, but maybe at some point…” I’ve lived with people before, and maybe I will again, but at the moment it feels right to sort of keep it fluid.

The difficulty, of course, with relationships, is there’s another person with their own preferences. Maybe you’re OK with every second Tuesday, but they need Thursdays and Fridays, too…

But isn’t that the beauty of love? That you construct something, like a blanket. You stitch all these things together. One of the things about being gay and having a life that ultimately is slightly different from the majority of people’s, is you learn that you can create your own way of living, that is different and wonderful. A homosexual relationship doesn’t necessarily have to ape what a heterosexual relationship is. That’s a very important thing to acknowledge. I mean, of course, if you want to do that, that’s brilliant. But you don’t have to. To me, the worst thing is to be dishonest or uncommunicative or unhappy or joyless in a relationship. It’s much more important to be able to have a difficult conversation or a brave conversation about how you feel or what you want. So many of my gay friends, I feel very proud of them, really admiring of the fact we have these conversations. It seems very adult and very loving to be able to acknowledge that the difference between safety and freedom can be real torture for some people. How do I love somebody, and still keep my own sense of autonomy and adventure? That’s a real problem. That’s what Esther Perel says. It’s one of the biggest causes of the demise of a relationship. That people coast along, they can’t have that conversation, and then the whole bottom falls out of the boat.

I wasn’t necessarily going to ask you about being gay. One tries to avoid labelling you as “gay actor Andrew Scott” instead of “actor Andrew Scott, who happens to be gay”. But since we’re talking about it already: because you’re famous, you become a de facto spokesperson for gay people. People look to you for the “gay opinion.” Are you OK with that?

I’ll tell you my thoughts on that. If I talk about it in every interview, it sounds like I want to talk about it in every interview. And, of course, I’m asked about it in most interviews, so I’m going to answer it because I’m not ashamed of it. But sometimes I think the more progressive thing to do is what you’re saying: to not talk about it and hopefully for people to realise that if you had to go into work every single day and they said, “Hey, Alex! Still straight? How’s that going?”… I mean, being gay is not even particularly interesting, any more than being straight is. But I understand, and I’m happy to talk about it. I suppose it depends on the scenario. I just don’t want to ever give the impression that it isn’t a source of huge joy in my life. And at this stage in my life, rather than talk about how painful it might have been or the shame, or not getting cast in things [because of it], actually, I’m so proud of the fact that I’m able to play all these different parts and, hopefully, in some ways it demystifies it and makes people — not just gay people, but all people — go, “Oh, yeah, that’s great that it’s represented in the world, but being gay is not your number-one attribute.” The problem is it becomes your schtick. Frankly, I feel like I’ve got just a bit more to offer than that.

Two reasons I think you get asked about being gay. One is just prurience — you’re famous and we want to know who you’re shagging — and the other is that identity politics is such an obsession, and so polarising, and we hope you’ll say something controversial.

I think that’s right, I think that’s what it is. But sometimes people think there’s just one answer, in 15 characters or less. That’s something I resist, slightly.

All of Us Strangers is about loads of things, about grief, love, loneliness, but it’s also very specifically about being gay. To me, anyway.

Yes, it is.

I thought, in particular, that the scene with Claire Foy, where your character comes out to his mother, was incredibly moving.

Isn’t it extraordinary, though, that you, who is not a gay person, could find that so moving? There’s no way you’d find that moving if it was only about being gay. I always say that coming out has nothing to do with sex. When you’re talking to your parent, you’re not thinking, “Oh, this is making me feel a bit frisky.” Anyone can understand that this is about somebody who has something within them — in this case, it’s about sexuality — that he hopes is not going to be the reason that his parents don’t speak to him anymore. And I think we all have that: “I hope you still love me.” And the great pleasure about All of Us Strangers is that it’s reached not just a particular type of audience, but all types of people. And I love they’re able to market it to everyone. Usually they do this weird thing where they pretend the film’s not gay…

Right. There would be a picture of a woman on the poster.

Exactly. Someone who’s playing the neighbour! But now you’re able to market a film with Paul [Mescal] and I, and the fact is that that’s going to sell tickets. I know there’s a long way to go, but that is progression. Before, that wasn’t the case. This time, no one gave a fuck. Nothing bad happened. The world didn’t explode. Family didn’t collapse.

Identity politics question: there’s an opinion now frequently expressed that gay people ought to be played by gay actors, and so on. What are your thoughts on that?

The way I look at it, if somebody was to make a film about my life — it’d be quite a weird film — would I want only gay actors to be auditioned to play me? I would say that I’m more than my sexuality. But there might be another gay person who feels that’s incredibly important to who they are and how they would like to be represented on film. How do we balance that? I don’t know. I don’t have an easy answer on that. I think it’s a case-by-case thing.

You’ve played straight people and gay people. You’re Irish but you’ve played English people and American people. I would hope you would be able to continue doing that.

The question I suppose is opportunity, and who gets it. It was very frustrating to me, when I was growing up, that there were no gay actors.

Well, there were lots of gay actors…

But not “out” gay actors. Now there are more. Representation is so important. So I think it’s complicated, and nuanced. And talking about it in a general way rather than a specific way is not always helpful. It depends which film we are talking about. Which actor.

You were spared the curse of instant mega-fame, aged 22. Would you have handled that well?

No. I think all that scrutiny and opinion, it’s a lot. Now I’m able to look at a bad review or somebody saying something really horrible about the way I look, or even someone saying really nice things about that, and go [shrugs]. Before, when that happened, it was devastating. But I survived and it was fine, and I got another job and I was able to kiss someone at a disco, so… Whereas if you’re 22 and you don’t have that experience behind you, you go, “Oh, my God. This is horrible, what do I do?” And also, there’s much more scrutiny now, so much more. I think that must be really hard. Social media is a crazy thing, isn’t it?

I think it’s a horrible thing, on the whole.

That thing you were saying about cinema, about how it’s not natural to see yourself, or other people like that… The amount of information that we’re supposed to absorb and process? Wow. You wake up in the morning and you’re already looking at it.

They used to say that the fame of TV actors was of a different order because they are in your home. People felt they knew the stars of Coronation Street in a much more intimate way, while movie stars, Cary Grant or whoever, these were much more remote, almost mythical creatures. People who are famous on Instagram or TikTok are in the palm of your hand talking to you all day.

And it’s so interesting what people on social media choose to tell you about their lives, even when nobody’s asking them any questions. Like, is that person insane? It’s a very dangerous thing. I find it troubling.

Do you think things are getting better or are they getting worse?

That’s such a good question. I have to believe they’re getting better. I don’t know what that says about me.

It says you’re an optimist.

I think I am an optimist.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever put in your mouth?

Fucking hell. Do you know what I don’t like? Any food that you don’t have to put any effort into eating.

Give me an example.

Custard.

Yes!

I don’t mind ice cream, because it’s got a bit of texture. But I don’t like mashed potato. I don’t like creamed potatoes, or creamed anything.

Risotto?

Absolutely borderline. So if it’s got a little bite to it, it’s OK. But baby food. Ugh! Makes me feel a bit sick.

What’s your favourite of your own body parts?

Ahahah! What do I like? What have we got? I don’t mind my nose? My eyes are OK. Like, my eyes are definitely expressive, God knows. Fucking hell. I remember I was in rehearsal once, and the director said, “Andrew, I just don’t know what you’re thinking.” And the whole company started to laugh. They were like “You don’t? What the fuck is wrong with you?” Because I think I’ve got quite a readable face.

Which is a tool for an actor, right?

It can be a tool for an actor. But you have to learn what your face does, as an actor. On film, your thoughts really are picked up.

What’s your favourite body part that belongs to someone else?

I like hands. And I like teeth. Someone with a nice smile.

Are you similar to your dad?

Yeah, I am. He’s pretty soft-natured, which I think I am, to a degree. He likes fun, too. And he likes people. He’s good at talking to people. He’s kind of sensitive, emotional. He’s a lovely man, a very dutiful dad to us, very loyal.

Would you miss the attention if your fame disappeared overnight?

I definitely think I would miss an audience, if that’s what you mean. The ability to tell a story in front of an audience, I’d miss that. Not to have that outlet.

Before you got famous, you were having a pretty decent career, working with good people, getting interesting parts. Would it have been OK to just carry on being that guy, under the radar?

Oh, my God, yes. Absolutely.

Would you have preferred that to the fame?

The thing is, what it affords you is the opportunity to be cast in really good stuff. You get better roles, particularly on screen. And I’m quite lucky. I have a manageable amount of fame, for the most part.

Some people are born for fame. They love it. They’re flowers to the sun. Others should never have become famous. They can’t handle it. You’ve found you’re OK with it.

Do you know what I feel? I feel, if I was in something I didn’t like, if I was getting lots of attention for something I didn’t feel was representative of me, I think I’d feel quite differently. I feel very relaxed, doing this interview with you today. I feel like, whatever you’re going to ask me, I would feel self-possessed enough to say, “Alex, do you mind if we don’t talk about that?”

Shall we leave it there, then?

Thank you. That was lovely.'

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