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buckets-and-trees · 9 months

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Late Night Quickie

Fandom: MCU Collection: SHIELD Gaming AU Title: Late Night Quickie Characters/Pairings: Joaquin Torres x Natasha Romanoff Word Count: 1.2k

Summary: It's still all hands on deck around the clock as time is running our for SHIELD to finish implementing an industry-changing element into the version of The Avengers they're about to send in for game approval before the beta test can be launched soon at PAX East. But Bucky and his game tester aren't the only ones at SHIELD entangled in a very satisfying side quest...

Content Warnings: smut, oral (male receiving), dirty talk, praise, dacryphilia, age gap (Nat is 10 years Joaquin's senior)

Logistical Notes: Third tick for my Bingo Card in @the-slumberparty's August/September Challenge with B2: "Clothes on Sex." Same universe as Perfectionists and Test Play but can be read as a standalone - all you need to know is Steve, Bucky, Sam, Natasha, and Joaquin are the five-person team of game engineers for the SHIELD Gaming company.

Additional Notes: Thank you @vonalyn for reading this for coherency. Gamer graphic by @sgt-seabass. Dedicated to my co-conspirator for "A Very Horny Monday to You All..." @biteofcherry for our first week of mischief - she chose the theme 'oral quickies.' We can all lovingly blame her for this!

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2am.

Two fucking a-m.

Joaquin just grinned.

This was not the week any of them wanted or expected, and he certainly didn't want this to ever be the norm. But running off adrenaline, catching only a few hours of sleep (if he was lucky), lots of Red Bull, and late-night food orders to make up for what the typical in-house kitchen wasn't covering was something he couldn't deny was an experience.

Teams all across SHIELD Gaming had been and still were working around the clock to get the shelved-for-later Deep Shadow Conditions mode back into the release SHIELD was going to submit to the first party platforms for approval in just a few days. Marketing, story, game engineering, testers… everyone. It was a rush, pushing the limits for this short period of time, but they were close to pulling off a triumph with embedding Deep Shadow. Joaquin had loved the pitch for that aspect when it was originally floated, they had initiated the development, but then a couple of the execs had said to push it back to the next release. Fury had called the audible and said they needed to put it back in to top what HYDRA was developing with Project Insight. But Joaquin had always known Deep Shadow would really push them miles past everything else coming out right now.

That’s why he didn’t mind pulling these insane hours to get the work done with the rest of the engineers.

And he certainly didn’t mind this.

He had no problem leaning back against the wall of the women’s restroom, jeans unzipped, Natasha poised between his legs, and her pretty lips around his cock, deep throating him.

Fuck she looked so good like that. They hadn’t had enough time together since the Deep Shadow blitz, and he was so glad she’d pulled him into the bathroom right now. Her left hand was anchored on his hip, and the other was reaching up his shirt, roving over his abs and chest as his threaded into her hair, holding her head at the base of her skull. He was letting her control the pace and how much of his length she took in for now, just holding her, feeling that connection.

Joaquin had been under no illusion in the beginning that this absolute goddess who was ten years his senior had only been flirting with him because it was fun and had no intentions beyond more than maybe a night or two tumbling in bed together. But he’d had a hunch they could have more, that he wanted more, and categorically convinced her they were worth a shot.

He worshipped her but challenged her in a way no one else did. He knew that’s why she’d even started flirting with him, appreciating that he could go round for round with her sass, her sarcasm, and her saucy comments without getting flustered or cocky and the rest of their conversation – work and casual – had rolled along so easily like they’d been working together for years after only a few weeks.

Now they were eight months into an officially-disclosed-to-HR relationship – but not to their team because they did not need Cap, Sam, or Bucky in their business. Work was work, and until tonight, the physical had stayed outside of HQ.

It spoke to how little time they’d had together that they were here right now.

And he was just as hungry for her as she was for him.

Joaquin took over and pulled her head down slowly on him, drawing Nat down to take all of him, the tip of his cock hitting the back of her throat, then gently nudging further down her esophagus. She moaned around him, her hands flexing against him. “You always take me so well, Romanov.”

He knew she loved this. She was a cocky little minx and so loved the praise. In response she sunk the rest of the way down his cock. He groaned in ecstasy. Love this.

“Fuck, I could stay here with you on my dick until your legs give out.”

She tightened her grip on his hip.

“But I wanna fuck this pretty throat of yours, babe.”

A small noise from her as she stayed just as she was, their eyes locked on each other.

“That’s what you really wanted, isn’t it?”

Those lust-blown green eyes told him everything, and he grinned wickedly down at her. Abruptly twisting them around to place her on her knees with her back against the wall, he made sure she was secure before asking, "Ready for me?"

She hummed again.

He smirked. “Desperate for me?”

A growl this time.

He laughed. “Me, too, babe.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek, one more tender moment, then he slowly pulled out until only the head of the cock was the only thing she had her lips around. She sucked hard, hollowing her cheeks, and swirled her tongue over the leaking tip of him. “Oh, you’re so fucking good. Love that talented tongue. But now you’re really gonna take me.”

She nodded, eyes blazing with heat. He moved his right hand to cradle her cheek and jawline as he leaned his left forearm against the wall to brace himself, and then he thrust back into her wet mouth. He continued, pistoning his hips in and out, brutally but not recklessly. She clung to his shirt, his hips, anything from moment to moment. Her eyes watered, then the tears started to spill, and he groaned. “So pretty for me like this. Those gorgeous tears falling for me, just like you fall apart for me.”

And then he just focused on the feel of her around his cock, the heat, the sounds of him sliding in and out, her whimpers and moans. The frenzy built and then he spilled into her mouth and down her throat, hips stuttering to a stop, and she held him there in place, swallowing every bit of him until he was done. She pulled her mouth off him with a deliberately audible pop, smug, beautiful goddess that she was.

She slid up between his heaving chest and the wall, brushing her lips against his jaw with soft, playful kisses. “Like that?”

“Love that,” he corrected. “Bet your cunt’s a hot, drippy mess for me, isn’t she?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she teased before claiming his lips in a kiss, tangling their tongue so he could taste the evidence of his spend, and pushing her pelvis up against him.

“Meet back here in an hour?”

“Fuck, I’m hoping we can convince them there’s nothing more to do tonight and get out of here in the next hour. Then you’re taking me home to fuck me in your bed properly.”

He laughed, “Anything for my Natalia.”

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#natasha romanoff #joaquin torres smut #joaquin torres #natasha romanoff smut #natasha romanoff x joaquin torres #joaquin torres x natasha romanoff #aspen wrote something #shield gaming au #navy and roo sleepover #navy and roo's sleepover

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battletrio · 9 months

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I think one of the key moments that speaks to John’s character in canon that is often missed by fandom is in his response to the interviewer during that GMA interview when she asked the question: “so you’ve always wanted to be a hero?”

And instead of answering yes or no, John’s response is instead to say “I liked that what I was doing would make people feel safe. Steve Rogers was the kind of guy who could do that, he gave me hope, so even though I never met him, feels like a brother.”

This highlights two important details that I think can be easily ignored:

1) John isn’t looking for heroism, he wants people to feel safe, in fact, a lot of his actions are taken in response to trying to ensure safety and security (whether for himself or for others), and he consistently is the person who brings up either how Sam shouldn’t risk his life with Karli or that innocent people died because of what Karli and the Flag Smashers did — and I think this stems from what is likely instability and insecurity in John’s own childhood and even in his adulthood as well since he is working in an incredibly dangerous and unstable environment in war where people can die and be taken away at any time, undoubtedly giving him a lot of trauma that would lead him to want to hold everyone close and make sure he has the power to defend and keep people safe and secure — there is this assumption that John has always had power and everything always went his way (that whole Erskine quote about a strong man who’s known power all his life) so when it finally didn’t go his way, he couldn’t handle it, and I think that’s a misunderstanding, because something like a Medal of Honor level scenario only happens when everything goes wrong, when nothing goes your way and you have to just try to survive the hellstorm, and the desire to not wanting to repeat something like that can easily drive a person to extremes when the old triggering trauma is extreme (think about Lemar’s last words: “think of all the lives we could have saved that day if we had that serum”)

2) John states that Steve makes him feel safe, gives him hope, and feels like a brother. Now I know that “feels like a brother” line is often touchy with fandom because John doesn’t know Steve and Steve is Bucky’s brother. However, if we take the comics backstory into account and consider that the MCU might use that same backstory, then John’s feelings regarding Steve actually makes perfect sense — John’s older brother Mike saved him during a house fire when John was little, his older brother made him feel safe, Steve made him feel safe, so Steve feels like his older brother, and what feels like an insult is actually a compliment that connects Steve to the older brother that John loves and still worships

#important discussions (john meta)#off duty (ooc)

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angelique-of-the-volturi-guard · 2 years

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I just need somebody to tell me that things are okay.

My kiddo (28F) is autistic and doesn’t have empathy. She can’t really identify the feelings of others. She has many hyperfixations. The worst of them being Tony Stark from the Avengers.

I never liked him but my dislike has grown to straight vitriol. For the past two years all I’ve heard is, “I wish he was my dad” and “I wish he would come take me away” when I’ve been doing everything alone for the past few years. Every day, endlessly, all I hear is about him. She can’t process that someone doesn’t worship the ground he walks on.

The MCU is ruined for me now. I can’t see his face without flinching away. I don’t feel as though I’m mentally well enough to watch the movies. I just don’t think I’m ready. I feel suffocated by his presence that seems to never leave me alone. I just want some peace from it.

I redirect, I tolerate, I try and hold a scrap of patience, but I just want somebody to tell me that it’s fine to hate him. Because when everyone tells me that they love him it just makes me feel guilty that I can’t feel the same. And as much as I talk about it in therapy, and as much as I try and be a safe place for her to go to, I just want one day where Tony Stark doesn’t infect my life.

I just want to know that my feelings are valid. I just don’t want to be alone with this anymore.

#tony stark #MCU #autism #mun post #i just needed to get it out of my head #i just needed to vent this #pls be respectful

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seyaryminamoto · 2 years

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Putting aside the issues with Thor; what else about the MCU turns you off?

Ugh, right now? Almost everything xD I admit I've been pleasantly surprised by WandaVision and Hawkeye, recently watched the latter and I'd heard suuuuch awful things about it from people who generally love MCU content, only to find myself mystified by how they could hate it if it's really not that distant from other MCU content they did enjoy in the past...

But anyway, Thor definitely was what caused my initial debacle and part of the issue is that Thor, Loki and their particular cast were what I loved most about the MCU altogether, a concept that isn't all that rare but that, nowadays, might come off really strange to a lot of people. Still, it's the truth. My detachment from the MCU isn't all that different from my gradual detachment from ATLA's comics, to the point where I only read one issue of North & South and haven't even touched anything Faith Erin Hicks has done. It's not even that I've decided she must have done a TERRIBLE job without reading her comics, but the truth is that things have been deteriorating so badly on a narrative level in the franchise in general that most canon content these days appears fated to let me down :'D so I avoid being let down by just... ignoring XD

In the case of the MCU, I really was never a huge fan of a lot of the characters people adored. I never fawned over Steve Rogers all that much, I actually used to dislike Tony Stark a lot but ironically Civil War changed my take on the man and I grew to enjoy him a lot better xD Black Widow was cool but heh, now she's dead and while her sister is a surprisingly good addition to the MCU, the knowledge that there's just no chance she's coming back isn't exactly encouraging, since it would have been very interesting to see her interacting some more with other people.

Now, then... people may call me a purist or so xD but Phase One, with whatever weirdness it committed to, is ultimately the best one for me. Marvel perfected origin stories for superheroes where others (like DC) haven't really cracked the formula properly (I watched three of the DC TV shows and... no. They had potential, but they just went down the absolute worst paths they could have and were miswritten like heck, even without factoring in the disrespect to the original content it's based on). So Marvel did a pretty solid job at establishing the first Avengers line-up, and the occasional expansion on that content wasn't really unpleasant...

But then Phase Two started to get wobbly when stuff like Ultron happened and things just started to feel soooo repetitive. "Oh, no! Ultron is trying to take us out from within! Wanda is manipulating us so we fight each other, just...! J-just like... like Loki did in Avengers...?" I've also written a few posts explaining why I just... despise Thanos as a character in the MCU. It's just beyond me how a character could be done so dirty to a point where he's a goddamn joke and then THAT is what our final boss is? Remember how many people poked fun at Voldemort for feeling really pathetic as a villain in the end, as opposed to villains like Sauron or so? Well, that's really how I ended up feeling about Thanos even if he was a little more interesting in Endgame. But his story just doesn't make sense, and that all we had watched was supposed to lead up to this massive confrontation with this guy is very anticlimactic when the guy just isn't a character you want to see defeated because you have all these strong, adverse emotions against him inside you, but that you want to see defeated because you're just flat-out tired of him (literally how I felt in Endgame).

Lastly, I'm particularly irked by the ridiculous "Well this new character is just SUPER EPIC but they weren't around when the whole world was burning down because, um, well, they were given orders NOT to interfere! Or, you know, they were dealing with very bad things ELSEWHERE!" (despite, you know, we've had movies set elsewhere, not on Earth, and there wasn't even the slightest suggestion that said character (as in, Cap. Marvel) was busy saving the universe from threats other than Ronan in GOTG, or anything of the sort). I haven't even watched Loki and I don't even want to, but the concept that this TVA organization could NOT interfere at any point in time until Loki steals a Tesseract he "wasn't supposed to", and they ONLY do something at that point? It's so convenient and so farfetched that I just can't buy it. It's 100% fine to feature new characters with growing powers the same way they were brought into the fold in the past. You didn't need Ironman to explain to us why he wasn't saving the world before he developed his suit. You didn't need Captain America telling us he couldn't save the world as a scrawny guy and that he could only truly make a difference on a battlefield after the super soldier serum changed him. Hell, even Antman features a completely ordinary guy who ends up in one hell of a crazy situation when he's sought out by someone with a certain tech who requires his help for a very delicate mission... and there's no "WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE CHITAURI ATTACKED, HANK PYM?!?!?" situation, because it's just not needed! Because you DON'T have to constantly explain this unless you want to say that EVERYTHING you're bringing up was already established forever ago and that you just forgot to bring it up before.

Honestly, say the TVA came into place BECAUSE the Avengers fucked up the timelines as they did in Endgame and they're trying to prevent that from ever happening again, and it WORKS. Have the Eternals and Captain Marvel mentioned occasionally in previous films and, if they're not, bring them in as NEW elements that just got here, don't just say "oh yeah they were always here but they couldn't help save the world ever because they were busy/weren't allowed to!", because that just feels... so lazy. So dumb. So lazy. Really, though, think about the kind of shit Nick Fury was willing to let slide and to accept in the world (as in, the events of both the first Avengers films, at the very least, and Winter Soldier too, probably, with SHIELD falling to shit), and that he wasn't ready to call Cap. Marvel for: there was a NUKE heading to New York that he wanted to see stopped and we don't even see him fuddling with the pager just before Ironman swings in and saves the day. There was a WHOLE CITY about to collapse violently with a massive death count... and the guy didn't even seem to think to call her to help. It's plain absurd in retrospect, and it can't be explained away with "she was just too busy because there's more things going on out there". Like I said above, we saw TWO GOTG movies where Captain Marvel, savior of the universe, doesn't even get name-dropped as an entity of righteousness and justice fixing all that's wrong everywhere. Thus... it's an excuse. And a particularly stupid one, at that. Make her a modern-era character and this nonsense wouldn't be an issue in the slightest. Make her someone who was "always there", and it just feels lazy and wrong.

*SIIIIIGH* I just am jaded with the MCU all around. It feels increasingly lazy, increasingly aimless, and the writing quality is in constant decay for the sake of easy, quick and cheap laughs from an audience that will assign value and depth to so many things that just DON'T have them, while pretending that the original movies lacked that depth and complexity when the whole reason why they were successful is because they didn't. The new ones constantly disregard whatever previous lore was established, cause retcons and then "solve them" by making them worse, they weaponize representation in order to gain viewers by pretending they care about certain social issues but the representation they usually provide is just so shallow and weak that it's hard to believe so many people buy it... all in all, it feels like people are happy to watch and consume everything the MCU makes because that's the norm.

Fortunately, there's been more criticism to it recently (such as criticism of their narrative formulas being so trite and repetitive, criticism of their cinematography always looking more or less the same, criticism even of their color palette x'D) that I feel a little less lonesome in my "I am done with the MCU" corner than I used to. But, all in all, I don't think the MCU can recover or do better without pulling what the comics often do, as in, restarting from scratch and trying to tell the same story all over again while attempting to remediate their misfires... but I doubt they'll do that, and I doubt they'll get better as they are right now. Thus... I'm basically resigned to not enjoy the MCU the way I did in the past, because I absolutely did... but it has become something I just can barely enjoy at this point. Like I said, Hawkeye and WandaVision were surprisingly better than I expected (especially the latter), because they really didn't feel like a spit in the face of everything that came before them... but the more characters the MCU brings in, the more their scripts are all over the place as far as narrative coherence is concerned, the more they disregard what came before and pretend that excuses can justify a plethora of new characters taking roles in the later content, the less I want anything to do with the MCU.

#anon #me vs. the MCU #a tale as old as time (?)#okay it's not really that old #but it's old as fuck already for me #I really can't fathom how people used to criticize so much of the MCU back in the day #but now it feels like everyone just worships everything MCU #probably because the people who got sick of it ages ago just stopped watching x'D #admittedly I am trying to do that too but people are hellbent on making me watch more things #if someone eventually succeeds at making me watch Loki I am something of a 10000% sure I will lose whatever sanity #I still thought I had left #and just turn into some sort of Meramon out of sheer outrage #shoot for the sun #and live there in isolation and flames as fierce as my wrath for as long as I may be able to exist in its massive radiation and heat :>

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thetimelordbatgirl · 2 years

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It’s very telling where the MCU is in terms of quality when MoM is literally months away from coming out and yet people care more about the cameos rather than the actual plot (not to mention completely ignoring the light-washing/de-aging of America Chavez, an Afro-Latina lesbian woman and the whitewashing of Wanda’s Romani/Jewish heritage that has been going on since AoU)

Not to mention how everything that fans have praised about NWH is things from the old Spider-Man films. Hell, even with Thor 4, there’s more talk about Valkyrie’s sexuality and her “finding her queen” rather than anything about the main antagonist or plot.

And don’t even get me started on the disaster that was the Loki series and how supposed loyal fans can watch Loki be tortured and humiliated and call it “therapy” while they go and worship a female variant of him that’s about as interesting as watching paint dry.

The MCU only cares about putting out as much content as possible just to make a fast buck. It’s honestly sad considering how in Phases 1 and 2 they seemed to care about the characters and making each movie have a unique feel to it. Now everything feels the same, everyone acts the same and there’s no sense of individuality or creativity anymore.

I fully believe that Age of Ultron was the beginning of the end for the MCU, cause that’s honestly where things started to go really wrong in my eyes.

People focus more on Wanda in MoM then they do Strange.....and its his film. Like, I still ain't a huge fan of Doctor Strange's first film, cause whitewashing seems to LOVE this particular set of stand alone MCU films, but like.....no discussion of Strange or Wong or ANY Doctor Strange characters and elements, just Wanda and the cameos and its just....dam, kinda feel bad for Strange Stans right now. MCU be like with ANY character of color at this rate.....mainly oddly the woman of color from comics: "Can we get a whiter version please?" Like, shout out still to the Funko of Miss America for....actually making it worser. Dunno how, BUT THEY DID. And we all know why they suddenly mixing up the Young Avengers ages....given Young Avengers had members who are gay and in Loki's case, genderfluid, but well, MCU won't allow rep to full be seen so already betting we won't even see lesbian Miss America....

And with Wanda, its like......thanks, you failed in casting 101 as she is white as fuck in MCU, has the power to lose her accent and isn't Jewish cause no Magneto means no Jewish twins I guess.....no wonder she's appearing in MoM, she fits right in with whitewashed Ancient One and lightwashed!Miss America. No Way Home's entire hype was literally the old villains coming back. Like, people screamed more at the pumpkin bomb being thrown in trailer followed by Doctor Octopus' appearing with, "Hello, Peter", then the rest of the trailer, and if that ain't obvious that No Way Home was hyped soley on the cameos, then the aftermath of people soley focusing on Andrew's Peter and Tobey's Peter is obvious enough. Given MCU cut Valkyrie's Bi scene....I am VERRY skeptical off chances we'll see Valkyrie romance Jane, but....I'll wait until trailer I guess, but yeah....looking at any hype on Love And Thunder, its just kinda Jane's return and Valkyrie finding a queen....but in all honestly, given the Guardians are also taking over a plot in this film, I dunno what I'd prefer to be hyped at this point.

I hate Loki Show....so much. Like, keep in mind, up until that point, I'd been hopeful for it and TFATWS, cause even from trailer I knew I wouldn't like W/V, and first trailer for Loki? Yes, but watching the actual show? It was suffering. It wasn't about Loki like promised to fans, it was about him being basically secondary to Sylvie's journey and suddenly he's in love with her and while she can just, do whatever she wants without much happening, Loki get's literally tortured as a form of therapy.....and people ship Loki with the guy who did it.....thanks, I hate it. And don't get me started on Sylvie. She's literally an OC, a mashup of the two Enchantresses and....Lady Loki, cause genderfluid Loki was toooooo hard I guess, and she's just impossible to watch cause MCU makes her into a girlboss.....while also sprinkling in some incest/selfcest, but better not go too far....or stans will call me biphobic again for hating their ship.

Yeah, nowadays mcu is kinda just interested in cramming whatever movie or show they can really. Phase One-Two at least seemed to think over the films and such, but nowadays its like, "WANT A HAWKEYE SHOW?! WANT A SHE HULK SHOW?! WANT A CHRISTMAS AND HALLOWEEN SPECIAL?!" like.....its just there until MCU is basically beyond dead....well, more beyond dead then it is already.

#anti mcu #nwh was also just #a bootleg spiderverse film #but disney wont ever admit that one

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vidavalor · 3 years

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SamBucky opinions & things...

I’m not going to say who people should ship as it’s everyone’s own opinions and it’s a tv show/film series so it’s not like this is the most important thing on the planet... That said, I’ve seen a few posts from Stucky people who say they actively want to understand what SamBucky shippers see in the pairing and since I’m gone on these two, here are some thoughts...

If you take a long view-- which the MCU is having you do now because these characters are outlasting Steve Rogers in its canon-- Steve & Bucky, while fun to play with and full of a lot of really great yearning/angsty possibilities back in the day, are really just the formative chapters of Sam & Bucky’s romance. If we got more Sam flashbacks in the story-- and I really hope we do in his canon in the wake of the end of TFATWS (S1?)/CA4-- a Sam & Riley story would be the equivalent to The First Avenger, in terms of it sets up some backstory that leads to where the story is going, as opposed to is the entire story itself.

A main factor for me in liking Sam & Bucky over Bucky & Steve is that Sam is a healthy, mature choice for Bucky-- a guy who has gone through a hell of a lot here and deserves all the good things-- whereas Steve, while not a bad man, is a regressive choice. It stems from the fact that Steve was never really comfortable with Bucky’s sexuality-- at least not when it mattered-- and that’s because Steve was not comfortable with his own... or much of anything about himself. This still wouldn’t matter so much in terms of who to ship Bucky with if it weren’t also for the fact that Bucky is perfect *for Sam*, who should get all the good things, and we’ll get into that a bit more below. Have to do Steve & Bucky first because chronology and also because that’s the other ship in question here, really. (Sorry, SteveSam people like if you are asking for stuff too and anyone cares, I don’t think I have enough for a whole meta post on why it’s kinda blah, if full of cute friendship moments, but I touch on it a bit further below.)

The entire plot of The First Avenger is about how Steve is obsessed with being Mr. America 1940-- and how he gets to that point is understandable. He was born with a ton of heart, a truly good man, but he’s small and sickly and he doesn’t love himself. He lacks confidence in himself because he holds himself up to a standard of masculinity put forth by a country on the brink of war-- and then, at war-- as physically strong and very, very straight.

While Steve is desperate to change how he looks, Bucky hides behind how he looks. Steve might look at Bucky and see a lot of what he wishes he was-- the good-looking soldier with a dame on each arm-- but at some point, he becomes aware of how Bucky is playacting. He’s not as he appears to be. He’s a man trying to survive a world that does not accept him and working to pass in that society, all the while with an eye to the World of Tomorrow. Not just the technology that grips his imagination but the idea that things could improve, things could change and he’ll fight for America because he, like Steve and later, Sam, believes in it but while Steve worships it, Bucky can love it while looking at it critically. It’s not built for men like him.

Steve never fully understands this because while Bucky is trying to show him some of the World of Tomorrow, he’s off making plans to get injected with super serum to fill in the gaps of what he feels he needs to become the man he is supposed to be.

The key difference between them is that Steve will do anything to be that man-- and that includes shoving any potential feelings he has for Bucky so deep that he won’t even acknowledge them (if he has them at all). Bucky, on the other hand, even in 1940, had more strength. He wasn’t as tormented by who he was. I’m sure he had some of it at some point but by the time we meet him in the movies, he’s fine with who he is, even if the country he serves and the society in which he lives is not. He could basically give af. He doesn’t think in the ‘40s that he’s going to live to see an America that will ever really accept him and he fights for it anyway because Mr. America is really, fundamentally, more Captain America than The OG Captain America.

Steve is not a bad man by any stretch of the imagination but it’s clear that, at some point, he began to understand that Bucky liked men and while he didn’t do anything horrible about it-- like have Bucky arrested or told anyone else, both of which could have destroyed Bucky’s life at that time-- he never completely approved of it, either. Guaranteed he told Bucky more than once that if he just stopped, if he just found the right woman, etc-- he didn’t mean any harm with it but he was happy to think the way of his era, whereas Bucky was born ahead of his time. Still, Steve is probably the only person that Bucky knew then who knew his secret and that he protected it earned even more of Bucky’s loyalty and devotion.

Now, consider what happened when Steve Rogers was pulled out of the ice and found himself living in the literal World of Tomorrow. It’s imperfect, for sure. It’s overwhelming for him, especially at first, but it’s a world that he has to feel the wrong guy from the ‘40s has lived to see. How many times did Steve wish Bucky could see this world? How much was he thinking of Bucky when he met the literal son of the creator of the World of Tomorrow in Tony Stark-- a man who would challenge everything Steve thought was true about what it was to be a man? How guilty did Steve feel when he would sometimes get a little closer to being more open about himself in this world of Tony’s, when he’d think of how there had been a man who loved him in their own time, who was his best friend and gave him an unconditional love, even when Steve didn’t love himself, and how Steve just couldn’t love him like that in return?

Then, Steve’s journey results in him meeting Sam Wilson. They have some things in common-- they both know war and what it’s like to feel like like they might sink to the floor through a mattress. They both know the solitude of the floor and have not seem to have figured out a way beyond that. They both are runners-- literally and figuratively-- as they try to outrun the men from their pasts that they left behind... the fellow soldiers that didn’t make it home and died before their eyes. Sam is a good listener and Steve is Captain America-- they are able to help one another. Steve needs some counseling and Sam needs to feel a connection to the country he’s feeling has left him behind but that he loves. So, naturally, this is of course when Bucky resurfaces in the story.

The Winter Soldier’s existence breaks Steve in half because, for the first time, Bucky isn’t the strong one of the two of them. Bucky is in trouble and Steve never saved him. Have you all considered that The Howlies should have known Bucky was missing because back then, you left no man behind and they should have hiked down the hill for his body? If it wasn’t there, they should have realized he was *missing* and not *dead*? But they never did. Because, as crushed as he was by the loss of his closest friend, some dark part of Steve let Bucky be dead from that fall and couldn’t face seeing it for real because he couldn’t look at the unseeing, dead eyes of the man who loved him and accepted him, even when Steve was unable to give Bucky the latter in return. It was guilt and then that guilt pops up right as Steve is in conflict with Tony and has just met Sam not that long before-- these relationships with men in the modern era that challenge Steve to be a better version of who he was and who pops up but Steve’s living, breathing, prowling, raging guilt in human form.

And, man, is it ever causing some serious havoc...

So, why is Sam ultimately better? The guy who advised Steve that sometimes you couldn’t save them all and Bucky might be gone now and just needed to be stopped?

Steve couldn’t give up on Bucky because he felt he owed him. He had been on his own journey and realized a lot about how he used to think and act and here was Bucky again and a chance to make it up to him in some way. What’s of note, though? Steve does not act like someone who got a long-lost love back. He’s still running for Peggy the moment he has a chance. He’s still not capable of looking at Bucky as anything beyond his oldest, closest friend. What he wants for Bucky, though, is the World of Tomorrow.

Suddenly, there’s a chance to give to Bucky the thing he’s been thinking all the time since he woke up-- that this is a world for Bucky Barnes. Steve, out of his sense of loyalty and his decades-long guilt, moves heaven and earth to give Bucky that chance and is grateful when T’Challa will help to bring Bucky back. The irony of all of this is that Bucky Barnes, the man who used to hide his true self beneath an exterior identity, is now a man completely trapped beneath The Winter Soldier and when Steve sees a glimmer of that, he *has* to save Bucky.

What Sam learns along the way is that he and Steve have some things in common, sure, but he has more in common with Bucky Barnes. Sam is a man who understands what it is to have PTSD and the struggle to overcome it. He used to think he was the Steve of this story-- the one who watched his old soldier friend fall to his death-- but he has quickly realized he’s actually the Bucky... the guy who loved a man who couldn’t love him back and who was lost to him, leaving him spinning. Sam knows what it is to have to act in a different way to try to be accepted by a society that doesn’t have your back, even if you love the country with your whole heart anyway. He knows what it’s like to be a veteran who was left behind and forgotten about, discounted and forced to find his own way. For sure, Bucky has enjoyed more privileges in his day (pre-Winter Soldier) by virtue of being white than Sam has but neither of them are ever going to be what Steve Rogers wanted to be. Neither of them are that outdated ideal of 1940s blue eyed blond Star-Spangled Man with a Plan kind of masculinity.

Sam is also something Steve still really isn’t, even in the modern era, which is a man who is comfortable with the fact that he is attracted to men. In this World of Steve and Bucky’s Tomorrow that is the present, that is something that is no longer needed to be kept as hidden as it once was. It is not an era of complete change, especially in places like the military and when it comes to celebrity-- the nexus of Captain America’s world, really-- but it is an absolutely revolutionary transformation from when Bucky was last in control of his mind in the 1940s.

Sam is a quieter guy, even if he’s cheerful and amiable on the surface. He keeps a lot to himself. He’s clearly not gotten seriously involved with anybody in awhile when we met him and hadn’t between then and TFATWS, either, despite being a smart, gorgeous, kind and empathetic Avenger. The one who has caught his eye is the once-brainwashed assassin who keeps showing up to save his life (often from an annoying teenager with webbed fingers, much to their chagrin). It’s Bucky that he’s stuck with and that’s not just because he feels like Steve would want him to. Both he and Bucky think that the other might just be caring because of Steve but they prove to one another that this isn’t the case-- that their instincts that they have something that might be independent of Steve is true. They’re both afraid. They’ve both been through a lot and do not trust easily so it’s a thrill when they realize they really can trust one another-- and that they actually do *see* one another there. They don’t just see Steve’s shadow. They understand what the other needs and get better at it the longer they are together because they are fundamentally more alike and better suited than either of them are with Steve.

TFATWS has Bucky telling Sam that he and Steve talked about giving Sam the shield and since Steve’s shield in the present was broken in the battle with Thanos in Endgame, it means that Bucky knew the plan in its entirety (which goes along with how he doesn’t seem surprised by it in Endgame as well.) It means Bucky knew that Steve was going to go back to the time they were from and find Peggy after he put the stones back and have that dance. It means that Bucky standing there while Sam spoke with Steve knew he would see Old Steve that day, knew the whole thing. Steve, being the fundamentally decent man he is, had to have offered for Bucky to come with him. He probably really wished he would because he would love to have his friend back then with him for the rest of their lives. It would be a way to do it all over-- to go back to where they began and this time, Steve would try to be more supportive. You know he would have tried to be different, even if he couldn’t feel any thing different than what he did. But Bucky...?

Bucky had to see a life of more hell in that. What was the plan there for him? He goes back with Steve, they put the stones away, they find Peggy and then what? The rest of Bucky’s life is him married to some friend of Peggy’s they set him up with? Stolen moments with some man, if he was lucky enough to meet one? A family made not from love-- not the kind of love, anyway, that Bucky would like to have? What was waiting for him back then? Nothing.

Because he’s been through sheer hell but, somehow, he’s been given something he never thought was possible then: the chance to not only see what the future might be like but to live in it, as a part of it.

For sure, Endgame!Bucky, who had just gotten his mind back not that long before The Snap and just came back from dust to fight a battle and go to a funeral and that’s about it, hasn’t the first clue what the first step he should take to sort himself out enough to figure out how to live again is... but even then, even in that place of nothing but vulnerability and pain, he’s hopeful. He’s strong enough to say that’s what he wants. He wants what Steve wants, in a way-- to live in the time he belongs in and be able to find a life for himself. He wants the love and the family he never got to experience and wouldn’t in the same way in the era he was born in. Staying in the present to work though his pain and figure it out-- to have that choice-- means more to Bucky than following Steve because while Bucky believes in Steve’s goodness and would follow that to the moon and back, Steve cannot give him what he once might have wanted, which is to look at him the way that Steve looks at Peggy. Bucky wants that. Steve might not understand not wanting to live in the 1940s entirely but he wants Bucky to have whatever he wants. He feels uncomfortable not being there to see it through-- hence, that kind of awkward hug before he travels back in time. There are things that Bucky wants and needs that Steve doesn’t fully appreciate but he can appreciate him needing to make the choice to live the way he wants to live and deserving the freedom to do just that.

Consider the rush for Bucky when he realizes that Steve’s snarky friend might have just looked at him when he thought he wasn’t looking, that maybe that heat between them isn’t one-sided. That they live *now* and while it’s not free of challenges, it’s paradise compared to the 1940s. That maybe, just maybe, he lived through all this hell because he’s supposed to be here now and maybe that also means he’s supposed to be with this man who not only understands him but who is everything that Bucky couldn’t have been in his day-- openly attracted to men? If you were Bucky, there’s no way you couldn’t be entertaining fantasies about being able to take Sam for a romantic walk by the water somewhere and no one calling the police if you were to kiss him at sunset...

Not to mention that if you’re Sam? Who is going to get your PTSD and understand when you get a little quiet more than the guy you met while he fell out of the sky and tried to murder you while brainwashed? Who is so annoying because he’s dryly funny and annoyingly hot and more good than anyone who has been through that amount of hell should have a right to be? Who is enough like you to be made for you but different enough that you’ll never be bored? Who makes you feel safer than you’ve ever felt-- safe enough to give over a lot of the trust you are hesitant to give much of anyone because you know he won’t abuse it? You have to be entertaining thoughts about spending a lifetime making him feel as safe and finding new ways to make him laugh...

Sam and Bucky are the ones that will protect one another’s hearts. Steve is a great guy whose arc with Bucky is about making up for hurting him and growing as a person as a result, not about Steve’s undying romantic and/or sexual love, IMO. Among other things, Sam is the first man Bucky has been able to consider building a life with and I’d wager it actually works in reverse for Sam, despite him being born much later than Bucky-- Riley could have been Sam’s lover but there is enough pining regret there that I think he saw Sam in the way that Steve saw Bucky. There’s enough there to suggest that Sam had not met someone he saw a future with until Bucky, which would also account for the occasional nervousness. They seem like opposites but, in many ways, they’re exactly alike and in the ways that they are not, they compliment one another. Sam and Bucky are each other’s chances at happiness and peace so if you’re still saying Bucky should be sobbing in Steve’s notebook waiting for him to come back from the woman he left him for... why are you wishing such hell on this poor guy? Bucky deserves the smiles and the lightness in his step and the sister and the nephews and the community cookouts and, most of all, *Sam*...

...and Sam deserves the sun, the moon and the stars and seems content having found his way to the shield and to Bucky so let them be happy for the hot minute they will be until their movie conflict. ;) Steve’s getting his dance-- Bucky and Sam deserve theirs, too.

#sambucky #stucky #captain america #bucky barnes #sam wilson #steve rogers #the falcon #tfatws #thewintersoldier #thewhitewolf #marvel #mcu

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angstysebfan · 3 years

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PR Stunt Gone Wrong - Chapter 28

Pairing: Sebastian Stan x Reader

Summary: You are a fellow actress in the MCU, Bucky’s love interest. You met Seb during the CA: WS and you guys hit it off. Chemistry on and off the set, but never dated until after Infinity War. During filming of FATWS, the pandemic caused everything to shut down. Seb offered you to spend quarantine with him, but somewhere along the lines, things go wrong and Seb makes a PR decision.

A/N: I was going to to this in a Bucky story, but then I decided to keep it Seb. With everything going on with Seb over the last several months, I came up with this story in my head. Obviously a lot of this is made up, but it is using what we know Seb has been doing over the last several months.

After Sebastian left, you spent a great deal of your time back on the beach, thinking. You were thankful that the area was quiet and empty and you could have time with your thoughts as you walked up and down the long beachfront with Tucker. You started thinking about everything, and got very overwhelmed. You decided to break everything down.

You started with Chase, since you both had a newer relationship, so not as much to think about. Chase was the one that was there for you when you fell apart. He came to your rescue like a knight in shining white armor. He held you when you cried, he told you all your feelings were valid, and he made you pick yourself up when you were down. He respected your ongoing feelings for Seb and never pressured you to move on.

When you both kissed the first time, you didn’t know what to think. Of course you liked it, but you immediately stopped it. You assumed it was because you weren’t over Seb. You convinced yourself that you didn’t have feelings for Chase. You tried to shut down anything that would have made you feel more for Chase, because he had become your best friend. You, eventually, let your walls down and allowed yourself to give in to temptation.

At first you didn’t regret it, because nothing changed between you. As time went on, however, you started to have some feelings, and knew he did also. When he left you to film, you missed him, a lot. But now that you think about it, you did pretty well on your own. You were calling him every day, only when you needed advice. Most of the time you were too busy with work, or talking about the trial to talk to him.

Going out to LA was amazing, and you are honestly happy you did it. Seeing him again, being with him, letting him in more, was perfect. You thought you were going to be out there for awhile, but you chose to leave. You wanted time to think. You were confused by your feelings for him, and for Sebastian.

Now Sebastian was a whole other matter. You have known him for so long, and have had so many ups and downs with him, you don’t know where to start. I guess the clue was when he didn’t choose you at first to be with. You were his fuck buddy, and nothing more. It took awhile for you both to get on the same page, and you decided to give him another chance. It was still rocky, but for the most part, you were happy.

You feel in love with him, hard. You started picturing a long life with him. Marriage, kids, growing old together, the works. You were too scared to tell him how you felt, thinking he would run away. Another clue, I guess. It took awhile, but he said it first. As mad as you were at him, your heart lit up like Christmas when you heard those words. When you finally said them back, you felt like the Earth shifted and everything was finally in their right place.

The pandemic brought a lot of struggle for you both, but you kept going, together. It wasn’t until he was given the ultimatum of doing this PR relationship, or your career was going to be ruined. You still wish that he would have spoken to you. That he would have told you what was going on, so you could fight it together. But, “to protect you” he left you. Leaving you broke you, and then find out that he was with another woman, who was younger, and thinner, prettier (in your head), broke you more.

Why would you believe that it wasn’t real? He didn’t answer your calls, texts, or any other communication. He only reached out after he saw you and Chase together, because he was jealous. Seeing him again for the first time, and seeing his sad eyes, all you wanted to do was run into his arms. You always wanted to protect him, just like he always wants to protect you. You can’t fault him for that, though you wish you could.

But he fucking slept with the bitch! That is something you are not sure you can forgive. You swore you would never sleep with him again, but obviously that didn’t work out. You want to know why! Why did he have to sleep with her? He even admitted that he liked it. That is a smack in the face like no other.

You will never forget that day in your trailer, when he told you what was going on. You finally told him how you felt. That you hated him, which a part of you really does. You hate that he took it upon himself to do this without talking to you. You hate that he broke your heart and acted like it wasn’t a big deal. You hated that he slept with her who knows how many times. Your emotions got the better of you and slept with him. You made sure that there was no emotions except anger in that moment.

Since then, he has been patient, and understanding, and kind. Almost like the old Seb that you fell in love with. He has let you be a part of everything with the case, and has been behind you with all decisions you have made. Even telling you if you chose Chase, he would support it. You feel tears in your eyes thinking about that.

Chase gave you up. Didn’t let you figure out your feelings. What if you want to be with him? Will be reject you? Is he with someone else now? Did he end it because he was jealous of the pictures with you and Sebastian? You’re glad you have this place to run away to, and still Sebastian found you. He came for you. To make sure you were ok, and safe, and that you knew you were not alone.

Today when you slept with Sebastian, you knew it wasn’t just sex for him. He was making love to you. He took his time and worshipped you; just like he used to. He made you feel loved and cherished, and you would lie if you said you didn’t enjoy every second of it. You know Seb loves you, even though he was shit at showing you before, he has shown it recently. But is it enough? Can you trust that he will continue down this path of being open, honest, and truthful with you?

When you called Chase, you thought you just needed closure, but after the conversation, you feel like you still need to consider your feelings for him. You have 2 men who you care for greatly. You have a broken heart that was caused by both of them, you need to protect. What is the right way?

You start heading off the beach toward the house. The sun has practically set and it was getting cold. You feel like you have made your decision, but you want to sleep on it and see if you still feel the same way in the morning. Then you need to get the courage to tell everyone involved.

No matter the outcome, you are doing this for you. You are making your own decisions now. You control your own destiny.

Chapter 27 / Chapter 29

What do you think her decision is? Oh and don’t worry, we will find out what happened to Ale. 2 more chapters and this one is in the books! Feedback is appreciated.

Permanent Taglist: @hailmary-yramliah @tuiccim @comedictragedy @cap-n-stuff @thefridgeismybestie @swiftmind @aleaisntcreative @lookiamtrying @pinknerdpanda @morganclaire4 @iamvalentinaconstanza @verygraphicink @im-squished @joannie95 @peace-love-hobbitness @connie326 @arundhati1609 @amandamdiehl @harrysthiccthighss @its-izzys @roserose26 @elegantobservationstudentsblog

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#Sebastian Stan #sebastian stan x reader #sebastian stan x y/n #seb

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annes-andromeda · 4 years

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Fanon Marvel cause they got I S S U E S

This isn’t really a fanfic thing, more or less what I envision the MCU would be in MY head. Granted not everyone’s gonna agree with these points, but that’s fine. Well all got our own opinions☺️

Q: Who survives the Snap in Fanon?

A: Steve, Thor, Bruce, Natasha, Clint, Nebula, Gamora, Rhodey, Rocket, Scott, Okoye, Shuri, Pepper, Wong, Valkyrie, Loki, and Tony

Q: Will anyone be recast?

A: Yes. Monica Rambeau is Captain Marvel instead of Carol Danvers. Make of that as you will.

Q: Are there gonna be any major changes?

A: Not for the most part, as I haven’t watched all the Marvel movies. However, these would be the most prominent ones:

* T*ny Stark is an anti-villain. His story has been changed to mostly fit the Superior Iron Man storyline. The IM trilogy would stay the same since I haven’t seen them, as well as the first two Avengers movies. However, he gets his immediate change in Civil War, where we find out that he worked for HYDRA the whole time, and wanted the Avengers to sign the Accords so the organization didn’t get found out. I feel it would’ve been interesting if we had seen Tony turn from a man who pretended to help others survive, into a man who only ever did things to help himself survive. If you don’t like this change: well then suck it cause it’s my fanon🙃

* Steve and Thor are in a relationship. This is mostly a personal preference, but I genuinely think they’d be a good couple. Their feelings would begin to come out in AOU, after the party scene. The two have a drink, slow dance, and confess there feelings. Simple, but cute (I think). Steve would think of Thor in Civil War, while Thor would have a scene in Ragnarok, in which he calls Steve and gets his opinion on everything that has happened to him (Odins death, Hela, losing Mjolnir etc). In Infinity War, they reunite and share a big kiss Pirates of the Caribbean style. As for Endgame: Steve doesn’t go to the past (I.e fucking up the timeline and Peggy’s happy life) and Thor stays on New Asgard to rule as King, with his consort by his side.

* CA:CW- People like Rhodey and Natasha don’t just immediately agree to the Accords. Instead, they go undercover and try to find out what the government is actually doing; Peter is on Team Iron Man until he finds out that Tony is HYDRA. It sucks that M*rvel really out here just making Peter iron boy instead of... ya know... Spider-Man; Civil War has a scene where Steve reminisces on his mother (his real moral compass fight me) and we focus more on him and less on Tinkie’s man pain; Instead of Tony being upset that Bucky killed both of his parents, he’d only get upset about his mother, as he actually wanted his father dead. Got this idea from a post where basically a bunch of people were talking about how Tony was probably HYDRA the whole time, which is where I got the idea. Feel free to add anything else.

* IW: Loki and Gamora don’t die. I feel like they killed off Loki a little too early since he was just getting the arc he so desperately needed. While I don’t really know what to do with him yet, I do know that he’ll be in a relationship with Valkyrie. I mean, did you see their fight scene? The sexual tension. As for Gamora, well we all practically hated it when she died and hated it even more when they brought her 2014 counterpart back from the past. Someone on Quora said that an alternative for Thanos to sacrifice on Vormir could be Ebony Maw, as out of all of Thanos’s children, he worshipped him the most. Maybe Thanos would hesitate as this was his most loyal child, but he does it cause gotta wipe out half the universe or whatever. It wouldn’t be as tragic tho, but (1) that’s the price we gotta pay for Gamora to stay alive, and (2) are we reeeaaally supposed to pity Thanos? Thanos? The guy who only ever fell in love with Death???. Anyways back to Gamora: I actually wanna do something for her. If you’ve ever seen RWBY, one of the main characters essentially loses her arm when she tried to save her friend. I know it sounds cruel for Gamora to loose a limb, but hey, sometimes you just like seeing your fav characters suffer🤷‍♀️. I was thinking it could go two ways:

- (1): Gamora loses her arm like the character in RWBY i.e, saving one of her friends like Mantis, Quill, or Nebula.

- Or (2): Thanos uses the Reality Stone to make the Guardians + Peter and Strange think that they have the upper hand. Strange uses his magic to hold Thanos down while the others try taking off the Infinity gauntlet. Once the gauntlet is nearly loose, Quill would try to strike him, as Nebula realizes that the whole thing is an illusion. But before she could warn the others it’s too late, and Gamora looses an arm to her boyfriend, leaving him and everyone in complete shock. I like this option more, as it would show not only just how cruel Thanos is, but that he never really loved Gamora. He just favored her above all his other kids. And hey, I’m a sap for angst.

* Feel free to add anything else.

* EG: So in the first bullet, I already said which characters survive the snap and that Captain Marvel isn’t Carol, but Monica. Aside from that, I haven’t really thought much of what to do with Endgame. Surprisingly, it’s difficult to write a better story for this one. What I would most like to happen, however, is more character moments. Thor’s PTSD and traumas being taken more seriously, and instead of him gaining weight he loses it (cause according to Tinkie’s dumb rant that’s what gets an audience to take your turmoil seriously. Pls don’t hate me for this decision). Bruce doesn’t turn into Professor Hulk, and his traumas are actually talked about. Also he gets closure on his relationship with Natasha (I know it’s not that great but I personally like it). Clint dies instead of Nat and we remember that Nat was the leader of the Avengers for like five years. Steve properly mourns his friends and actually acts like Steve Rogers and not a fucking imposter. We actually see what happened in Wakanda after the Snap, with Okoye and Shuri at the head of it all. Also Pepper would be stand in for Tony, cause ya know, she has a life outside of him and is actually smart. And her and Scott help with the Time machine or what other plan I or anyone can come up with. Again, feel free to add anything else.

Q: Will there be any new characters added?

A: For now just one: A robot named Iris (aka Iron Blade), created by Tony for HYDRA. I’ve made a summary of her here:

* Iris is an android created by the billionaire Tony Stark, who possesses a synthetic body made of Tungsten Carbide which is powered by the arc reactor in her chest. For years Stark worked into making Iris highly advanced, while also keeping her secret from the rest of the world until she was ready to be used by the organization HYDRA. She was trained by HYDRA in combat and artificial intelligence, transforming Iris into a dangerous, ruthless killing machine. However, she still managed to keep some essence of personality thanks to Tony, who refused to have her be simply mindless. This resulted in Iris inheriting some of Tony’s more negative traits, while even accepting his lavish lifestyle. Although she may act like him, Iris has her own traits which vary from being charismatic, eloquent, and sophisticated to privileged, arrogant and cruel. Due to HYDRA’s influence, Iris is mostly misguided and blindly follows orders.

* Iris was eventually revealed when Tony tried forcing the Avengers to sign the Sokovia Accords as a means to keep HYDRA underground. She was introduced as a new recruit of the US government, in which she had a hand in writing the Accords. When the Avengers found that Iris was created by not just HYDRA but by Tony, this caused a huge riff in the team. The people on Team Iron Man immediately turn on him once finding out that he created Iris, which in turn resulted in them finding out that not only had he been providing the organization with weapons, but was a member himself. Out of all the team members, Iris has the largest fallout with Bucky Barnes (the former Winter Soldier) and Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), as she mostly worked as their antithesis, showing what probably would’ve occurred had they never recovered from their manipulation at the hands of corrupt organizations.

* After the fight between Iron Man and Captain America, Iris went into hiding alongside Tony, who was no longer a member of the Avengers. For the next two years, Iris stayed by her creators side as he intended to carry out his boss’s plan. The titan Thanos had ordered Stark to help him eradicate half the universe. Tony agreed to the plan, as he believed that Earth had been ungrateful for his attempts at ‘saving’ the world. He would help Thanos, so long as he ensured his safety and payed him. Iris, programmed to follow orders, agreed to the plan without question.

* Once Thanos arrived on Earth, Iris would go to Wakanda to stop the Avengers from destroying the Mind Stone, all the while Stark attempted to kill the Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, and Spiderman (also the only one who knew of Tony’s true alignments). Iris, failing to retrieve the Stone, joins Tony on Titan while Thanos fights the Avengers. Despite the Avengers attempts, Thanos gets the stones and does the Snap, in which Tony and Iris survive and go into hiding once more.

That’s pretty much it. I made this cause I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I wanted to share my opinions. Feel free to add anything or give constructive criticism.

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moontours · 3 years

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it's a shame. with the witcher, vikings, lord of the rings how they toned down thor / asgard (not even gaea as his mom! not even his other siblings and all the other asgardians!) and now they decided "fuck it! people want quips and quirkiness in mcu movies? everyone, but wendy, you're all comendians now" like... they really disneyfied everything and want it to reach the widest audience (kids) yet they include adult/offensive jokes (adults) and wanted to cancel (?) the antman franchise bc it's

most popular among kids. like, how much more purely commercial/disneyfied/kidified you can get with ant-man. and they wanted to cancel it? why bc there aren't enough awful people in the cast to be worshipped by twitter mcu stans?

YEAHHH THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABT IT like the quippiness and quirkiness and comedy just makes it all feel like the same stories and the same characters over and over again like i WANT the drama for thor i want him to feel distinct from other characters i really dont care for how funny a mcu movie is bc like. NOT ALL OF THEM SHOULD BE FUNNY like there should be comedic scenes sure BUT NOT THE WHOLE MOVIE

#the disneyification of these characters needs to stop #pleek i cant go on like this. nat. thor. loki. pLEASE #anon #m.inbox

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elcorhamletlive · 4 years

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fandom: MCU (Post-Avengers) relationships: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Bruce Banner & Clint Barton & Steve Rogers & Natasha Romanov & Tony Stark & Thor, Nick Fury & Avengers Team, Maria Hill & Avengers Team, Nick Fury & Tony Stark tags: POV Outsider, Fluff and Humor, Team Feels, Truth Serum My fic for the Holiday Exchange, for talesofsuspense! Summary: “Look, I’m not thrilled by the prospect of spending my day here either," Nick said, "but there’s no postponing this. We can’t give them a chance to combine stories.”

“Right,” Hill said. “And I’m sure they’ll all be very…cooperative.”

“Hope you didn’t have any dinner plans."

Hill’s sigh mirrored his own so much it was unnerving. “Okay.” She leaned forward and pressed a button on his desk. “Send in the first one.”

Hill flipped through the pages, making the already thin folder appear even smaller. “Not much of a starting point,” she said.

Nick leaned back in his chair. “No,” he agreed. The report from Stark’s A.I. was very brief, and the rest was just what the scavenging team managed to comb through from the quinjet debris. “The press will not be satisfied with that. And there is a key part missing. We deliver this to the Council, they laugh in our faces.”

Hill raised an eyebrow at him. “So our job is to make the folder thicker?”

“Our job is to understand what happened,” he replied. “So we can deliver them something slightly more coherent, and they can feed the reporters whatever they want.”

“And you think this will work?” Hill gestured to the room around them. Across the desk where she was sitting, on a perfect diagonal view from Nick’s eye, there was a single, empty chair. “Seems like a criminal interrogation.”

“Maybe it is,” Nick said. He wasn’t sure if the superficial report was an intentional cover up or just plain sloppiness – both were equally likely when you had people like Romanoff or Stark in the middle of an OP – but at the end of the day, it didn’t matter. There was a hole in the story, and the World Security Council didn’t deal with holes. “Look, I’m not thrilled by the prospect of spending my day here either, but there’s no postponing this. We can’t give them a chance to combine stories.”

“Right,” Hill said. “And I’m sure they’ll all be very… cooperative.”

“Hope you didn’t have any dinner plans,” Nick quipped.

Hill’s sigh mirrored his own so much it was unnerving. “Okay.” She leaned forward and pressed a button on his desk. “Send in the first one.”

“There isn’t much to tell,” Romanoff said, and, if Nick wasn’t sure there was something being hidden before, now he did. “I believe JARVIS sent you a detailed account, didn’t he?”

“Depending on what you consider ‘detailed,’” Nick replied. The report had extensively covered the material damage to the quinjet, as well as the information pertaining to AIM’s plan and how it related to it. It was just lacking in the “explanations” department, and it seemed to jump in key time periods between events very hurriedly. Either Stark’s robot was a shit storyteller, or the human factor (specifically the “what the fuck were your team of freaks thinking to let something like this happen, director?” factor) had been strategically avoided.

And there was the matter of the tapes. The security footage recovered from AIM’s quinjet seemed to cover just about every angle of the battle - that is, up until a point right where everything just faded to static before it returned just in time to record the crash.

“This is standard procedure,” he continued as Romanoff’s eyes studied him attentively. “Which, I’d like to stress, is actually a kind way to go about it.” Romanoff quirked an eyebrow at him. “The Avengers initiative isn’t the most popular plan SHIELD has ever come up with, agent. To the world, you might be celebrities, but a lot of people on the inside see you as - how did Banner put it? Oh, yeah - a time-bomb.”

Romanoff smiled. “We’ve made it work so far.”

“Only barely,” Nick said. Romanoff didn’t deny it, nor could she - ever since they had all decided to stay at Stark’s tower, after the battle of New York, Nick had kept his eye close on their performances, be it on the field or with the press, and though the initial animosity seemed to have lessened, they were still a far cry from a synchronized, united team.

The Council had been against them moving in together - there was just too much potential for the proximity to make things go south again - but Nick had argued in favor, and they ultimately decided to allow it. Nick himself knew he was making a risky bet, but at the end of the day, he figured a bunch of anti social people on the edge of normal society had a better chance of making it as a team if they could at least learn how to deal with each other on a friendly basis. And Stark putting the damn A on the tower was as close as he’d ever get to admitting he wanted the company, so Nick didn’t want to deny him it. Hill had a laugh at his expense, then, saying he was getting old and soft.

None of them knew about any of this, of course, and they would never find out. But if Nick Fury made a bet, he wanted to ensure it’d pay off, and crashing a quinjet belonging to one the world’s largest weapons manufacturers in the middle of rural property of the some of the richest people in America was far from a reward, especially while keeping potentially vital bits of information in the dark. That wouldn’t do, and he was determined to get the full picture of what had gone down, whether they liked or not.

“Why don’t you start at the beginning, agent?” Hill suggested.

Romanoff’s eyes blinked astutely before she smiled. “Of course,” she said, much more kindly than Nick would have anticipated. “It started at the fair.”

“I wouldn’t normally have come,” Dr. Banner said, straightening his glasses. “The events we get invited to, they're… not my usual scene.”

“Too many reporters?” Nick asked. He knew Banner wasn’t the press’ favorite target - Stark and Rogers, both recipients of huge celebrity fame way before anyone added superhero worship into the mix, were tied up for that position - but he also knew the Avengers in general were the go-to topic for any gossip show running out of material. The fascination with them pendulumed from healthy curiosity to obsessive speculation way too often for Nick’s liking.

“Too many people,” Banner said, with a nervous smile. “The other guy doesn’t like crowds. But AIM said they were interested in having me and Tony speak. ‘The science bros.’” He made air quotes. “Or something. And, well, it was a nice idea to hang on a science exposition. I looked through the flier, and there were some interesting exhibits.”

“The whole thing was just a blatant rip off of the Stark Expo. But you know how it goes – imitation, flattery, yadda yadda.” Stark leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on the desk as if it was his office. “So, we get the invite, and, not going to lie, I was a little curious. Pep said we should make an appearance, smile a little, make niceties – but, well, you know me.”

Nick raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the display. “We do?”

Stark smiled. “I don’t like to do things halfway. I’m just not built for it.” He shrugged. “So I decided to come, and I thought it would be good if everyone else came too, and that we should try out some of the exhibits together – team bonding, you know? Sometimes it’s nice.”

“Stark wanted to show off,” Barton said, taking a sip of his water. “He thought there was no way Hammer’s people could organize something on that scale, and he wanted to drag us all there to see it because he was sure it would end up being a huge mess.” He sighed. “I guess at the end of the day, he wasn’t wrong.”

Rogers’ jaw clenched so hard Nick thought he’d pull a muscle. “Everything went normally. We got there, took some pictures, got inside… Nothing out of the ordinary.” He looked at Hill. “But, like I said, this is all in JARVIS’ report.”

“Right,” Nick replied. He tilted his head to get a better look. Rogers was as tense as a wood board, and his effort to not let it show made things a lot worse. “I have to say, Cap, I was a little surprised to not get the usual report coming from you.”

Rogers shifted on the chair. “Tony—” He cleared his throat. “We, uh, we thought JARVIS would make one more quickly.” His eyes turned towards Fury, defiant. “From what I understand, every piece of information the Council needs should be in that file.”

“Need and want are two very different things,” Nick said. Rogers took a deep breath, and Nick couldn’t help but frown. “So, you guys started to mingle, right?” he asked, wanting things to get back on track. “That was when you decided to go to Hammer’s stand?”

“Yes. He… invited us.” He paused. “Well, Tony, at least.”

“Right,” Nick said. “But you also ended up going, right?” Rogers gave a reluctant nod. “Why?”

There was a moment of silence, and Rogers said, “It seemed like it could be an interesting experience.”

“Stark dared him to do it,” Thor stated bluntly. “Said Steven was probably too scared to lose to him.” He smiled, amused. Nick was fighting against the urge to underestimate him, but boy, was it hard. “It reminded me of some of my disputes with my brother, when we were both younglings and daring ourselves to attempt to steal Heimdall’s helmet.”

“Well, that’s a nice thing to hear about two adults who are constantly in charge of saving the world,” Nick deadpanned.

Thor looked at him disapprovingly. “They are worthy warriors,” he said. “They just… get a little wrapped up in their blind spots, sometimes.” Nick and Hill stared at him questioningly, and Thor looked away, coughing on his hand. “Uh, well, where was I? Right – the stand.”

“It was a silly concept – melt stuff with our new laser project, whoever melts the most wins, woohoo! - but I’ll admit it seemed like it could be fun. It took place in a separate room, though, and they were only letting two people in at once.” Stark straightened his tie, looking away from Nick for the first time since he walked inside the office. “So me and Cap decided to try it out.”

“Why just the two of you?” Hill asked, precise as a whip.

Stark stayed focused on his tie. “Well, I wanted to check out what was so great that Hammer was showing off in public. As for Cap, who knows? You should probably ask him.”

“So it was a spontaneous thing?” Nick pushed. “You didn’t ask him to come along?”

Finally, Stark looked at him. For a second, his expression was downright defiant. Then it all melted away in a shrug. “I might’ve. I wasn’t driving back home, you know? So I had a few drinks, and I was saying a lot of things, and maybe I asked if he wanted to try it out.”

“We heard you dared him,” Nick countered. Normally he wouldn’t put the cards on the table like that, but something in Stark seemed to favor a more direct approach.

Stark’s expression didn’t change. “Again, I might’ve. What’s life without a little challenge, right? But, still, if you want to know why he came in the stand, you should probably ask him.” His eyes darted towards the window, avoiding Nick and Hill. “Maybe he just… needed a distraction. He hates those things.” Nick tilted his head, noticing the strange thoughtfulness in his voice, but as soon as it came it was gone, and Stark was rambling at rapid fire speed again. “Anyway, I suppose this is where I get to the gas, right?”

Hill turned a page of the folder. “This is where the truth serum got them, right?”

Barton gave them a lopsided smile. “Stark would blow a fuse if he heard you calling it that,” he said. “But, yeah. Exactly.”

read the rest on ao3!

#capimexchange #stony #stevetony #superhusbands #stony fic #my fics #reblogs are highly appreciated #im very excited to finally post this #probably one of the strangest things i've ever written #but i'm happy i actually managed to finish it

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venomsbabe · 5 years

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Regardless of how people feel about the whole spiderman thing.

You knew it was gonna happen.

Also monopolies like disney and corporations like sony dont care bout fans.

They care bout money.

You should know this by now.

You fell for the trap. I have been saying this shit for years. Years!

Its cool if you like something. Even if i personally may not like the same thing or someone else doesn't like what you like.

But dont blindly worship shit. And people have given valid criticism on both sony and Disneys crap.

Marvel's soul lays in its comics and they haven't been good since the 90s. Cuz nobody is reading. Period. They are all on their phones with memes n other shit.

I love memes but i also love to read and immerse myself in a rich story.

And the art of storytelling is lost. Especially in comics.

My point is. Don't shit on others who point out vaild reasons why sony and disney is stupid. And the way they handled spiderman over the years was bad on both ends.

Bottom line is Disney is greedy and sony is stupid and reckless. (Because disney wanted almost all the profits and money sony made from spiderman over the years. Even before their joint share contract with the mcu. Sony wasnt having it. Which id be pissed too)

But if it means spiderman being on his own and in his own damn story and getting his origins told like it supposed to be. And maybe even miles taking the reigns. Its fine by me.

But sony gets no love from me for fucking up venom twice.

Into the spiderverse was the only good thing sony made in a long time. And that was animated.

And peter parker/spiderman wasn't even truly the main star. Miles was.

Again this is my two cents.

Im tired of people coming at me or others for this vaild criticism in the comicbook nerds/spiderman fans circle.

Im also tired of seeing and hearing people whine n bitch.

Crazy mcu fans and stans. These people swear that the only thing valid is the mcu movies. Nothing else exists to them and they dont even read the comics,watch the cartoons,or any other things outside starkverse(because lets face it thats what it was)

I didnt care for sonys spiderman movies either. They were either rushed or had terrible writing. The mcu had both. And made the character have to rely on others instead of standing on their own two feet. They can't write solo stories. And everyone is like its a disney musical,happy get along pals. Thats not how it works. Thats not how they are. Most heroes and even villains were nasty af to each other in the comics. If y'all was comicbook fans you would know this.

This is just my two cents.

My personal opinions and thoughts.

Again i wont ever care for nor give a damn bout either company. Spiderman movies are dead to me cept for into the spiderverse.

Into the spiderverse is literally the only thing i enjoy and am like forward to.

Other than that. Nope.

Gonna stick with my og comics. And the amazing spiderman with the venom archs up till the end of lethal protector series. Because after the lethal protector series i completely cut off venoms comics and stuff.

Minus the chocolate eating thing. That was silly and innocent enough to keep. But everything else can die in a garbage fire.

Spiderman however. Sadly. Will never be done right. And same goes for venom.

Other characters maybe. But those two babe. Never will be done justice.

#vent #admin talks #admin #admin vent #Mrs.Brock #eatzdabrainz #spiderman #spiderman vent #both sony and Disney are trash and can burn in hell for all i care

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stevie-steven-stevington · 5 years

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Febuwhump Day 2: Peer Pressure

Fandom: MCU Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark Category: Gen Relationships: Peter Parker/Ned Leeds (mentioned) Rating: T Warnings: discussions of sex Words 2k

read on ao3

first | previous | next (febuwhump series)

first | previous | next (ace!peter series)

this is a direct sequel to this fic

this is really loosely interpreted lmAO but also loosely based off my own struggles with my sexuality so. take it i guess

“What was your first time like?”

Tony looks over at the kid, hands stilling and eyebrows automatically creeping up his forehead. This is…not what he expected, to say the least. Peter’s been quiet all evening, disconcertingly so - it was clear from the moment he stepped into the building that something was off, but Tony couldn’t quite figure out what is was.

He still has no idea where the hell this is going.

Eh. One way to find out.

“My...first time,” Tony repeats, slowly. Just to be sure he heard it right.

Peter won’t look at him, eyes trained on the table in front of him. His voice is small when he says, “Yeah. Like - like the first time you -”

“No, I know, kid.” Tony squints at him, as if that will make this any clearer. He wants to ask - why on Earth do you want to know? - but he gets the feeling that the question wouldn’t be appreciated right now. “I, uh - my first time was…short. Awkward. It kind of sucked, to be honest.”

The kid nods slightly, absently chewing on the fingernail of his left thumb. There’s something...sad, in his demeanor, in his posture, in the way he holds himself, and Tony wants nothing more than to put an end to whatever or whoever put it there.

It’s quiet for a moment. Tony can practically feel Peter thinking, and he turns back to his work, giving Peter space to work out whatever it is he needs to work out.

Eventually, gaze still downcast, muffled around the finger in his mouth, Peter says, “So did it…it got better, right? After the - the first time, I mean, it got better?” Something is so wrong here.

This is such a loaded question, it’s clear in Peter’s tone. Though loaded with what, he doesn’t know. There’s layers to this whole conversation, really, like there’s something he’s supposed to say but no one bothered to tell him what it is. This wasn’t exactly in the Mentoring a Teenage Spiderling handbook.

(He wonders if this was in the Parenting a Teenage Spiderling handbook, and then he reminds himself that neither of those actually exist.)

This feels like a test of some sorts. Like this, rather than anything Spider-Man related, is the big test of whether or not he’s actually good at this whole mentor thing.

Okay.

Alright, Tones, you can do this. It’s just a kid. It’s just Peter.

Except there is no “just Peter”. Don’t fuck this kid up, Tony.

Is it really going to fuck up the kid if I mess up this one conversation? Seems like it might.

…Shit. It kind of does.

“Yeah,” Tony replies, jaw tight with something like nerves. Peter stiffens, almost imperceptibly, and Tony feels like his words are already wrong. Turns out, his words are wrong a lot of the time, so he’s not surprised. But now he’s stuck in his answer. “Yeah, I mean, it - yes, it took a while to figure things out. To figure out what worked and what didn’t and all that.” It’s the truth. What else is he supposed to say?

Peter doesn’t say anything, one foot kicking back and forth against the floor. He looks so small, so young, sitting at his work station (the one Tony set up specifically for him, because he’s like that, he’s always been like that).

Tony forgets, sometimes, that Peter’s just a kid. That the actual superhero sitting in his lab is just sixteen years old. A high school junior. A child.

An impressionable kid who’s currently asking him, Tony fucking Stark, playboy extraordinaire, about sex.

Well, it’s not like he has many other people to go to, Tony supposes. The list of trusted adults in Peter’s life is a rousing two, and maybe he just thought it’d be less awkward with him than with his aunt. Or maybe he just knows that Tony has more...experience in this department. The kid is still silent. Which is not only concerning, but also sort of disturbing.

Peter doesn’t do quiet. Peter always talks, always has something or other to say, always aims to fill the silence even when he seems like he hates the sheer act of taking up space.

The roles are reversed now, it seems. Tony doesn’t like it.

“Pete -” Hearing his name jolts Peter out of whatever stupor he’s in and he interrupts, finger dropping from his mouth, as if Tony hadn’t even spoken. “So you made it better. You - you found the things that f-felt good and you worked with those, yeah?” “I...I guess,” Tony says, and his voice sounds strange even to his own ears. Peter hasn’t stuttered around him in ages. The hero worship hasn’t quite worn off, exactly, but the stuttering hasn’t been an issue in forever. “But listen, kid -” “So you didn’t just...automatically like it. It wasn’t s-something that just - just clicked?” Peter barrels on, head finally jerking up to look at Tony. There’s desperation in his eyes. A sharp, hysterical type of desperation that Tony hates, hates more than anything else he’s ever seen on Peter’s face. He’s seen fear, he’s seen pain, and he’s seen anger in Peter, more times than he’d like to say, but none of that compares to the distress he sees now. “Everyone always says that it just clicks, that - that - that you’re just supposed to know what to do and how to do it and what feels good and what you want and -”

“Peter.”

“What?” The kid is practically panting, what with all his words coming out in one breath. And it’s hard to tell from across the lab, but he thinks Peter is shaking.

“Look, Underoos, if you - if you have questions, I’m more than willing to give you the answers. If you want to know what’s what, I’m here for you, okay? But Pete, you came out to me like two months ago.” Tony scrubs a hand across his face, left wrist twinging in that way that it does, every so often. “I mean, if you’re telling me now that you’re actually not asexual, if you’re not sex...averse, was it? Then okay. That’s okay, Pete, if your label has changed, that’s fine, buddy. But if that’s it, then you have to tell me, because right now, you’re kind of scaring me.”

For a second, Peter just stares at him. Then he shakes his head, slowly, like he wishes he didn’t have to. “It’s - it’s not. I’m…still asexual.” “Okay. Okay.” Tony stands and walks over to Peter, kneeling next to the stool he’s sat on. Because he was right. Something is so wrong. “Then why are you asking about sex as if you’re thinking about having it, Pete?”

Peter looks down again, staring at his hands. Tony has to lean down and tilt his head a little to see Peter’s face, and he watches in vague horror as the kid’s eyes fill with tears. “I just…if everyone else has to work at it for them to like sex, why - why can’t I?” Shit. Shit.

That’s what this is.

He’d thought, when Peter came out to him two months ago, that he was comfortable in it. Relatively so, at least. That he done all the soul-searching, that he had accepted himself, that he didn’t need any help with all of it. And he was wrong, clearly.

Fuck.

He’s been trying so damn hard not to be like his father. And yet, here he is, with no idea what the hell his kid needs.

His kid.

Peter’s not his kid. Not biologically, at least.

But who is he kidding? In some way, somehow, whatever that way may be, Peter’s his kid. And his kid needs him to say the right thing here.

“Peter…Peter, look at me.” When he doesn’t, Tony lifts his head up with two gentle fingers. Peter’s eyes dart around for a moment before settling on Tony’s nose. Not quite what he was going for, but he’ll take it. “Peter, the reason my first time sucked was because I was fifteen, stupid, and immature. I didn’t know what I was doing and neither did the girl I was with. God, we were in a car, Peter. I had sex for the first time in the back of a car, at fifteen years old, and it sucked. “But it still felt good, Peter. Emotionally, at least. Because I wanted it. Because my partner wanted it. Even if it was reckless and dumb and I wish, in retrospect, that I’d waited, we still both wanted it. Sex is never going to feel good if you don’t want it to begin with.”

“But - but -” Tony pushes a few wayward strands of hair off of Peter’s forehead. “Peter, what’s going on?” Tears run down Peter’s cheeks, and he makes no move to wipe them away. He just sits there, hands trembling on the table in front of him, and cries.

And then he’s sobbing, full-on sobbing, and saying, “T-there’s just so much pressure, Mr. Stark. I - everyone is h-having sex and then everyone is talking about it. Everything’s about sex and I - I know that sex isn’t everything, but god, it’s hard to believe that when virgin is the latest insult that p-people toss around at school. I - I just, I feel like I’m m-missing something, like I’m - I’m -”

“Like you’re what, Peter?”

“Like I’m broken,” Peter chokes out, and Tony actually feels his heart break.

Fuck, he doesn’t know how to deal with this. The first time he’d even heard the word asexual outside of high school biology class was from Peter. He’s never had to deal with peer pressure, or general societal pressure, when it comes to sex, because he’s never not wanted to have sex.

What do you say to a kid who doesn’t want the one thing everyone else seems to be obsessed with?

Tony rests a hand on Peter’s knee, takes a breath, and gives it his best damn shot. “Kid, you - you’re not broken, okay? Not wanting sex doesn’t make you broken. Does it make you different? Sure, in a way. But so does being Spider-Man. So does being a sixteen-year-old who can lift a car. Is that a bad thing?”

Peter sniffles. “No.” “And neither is being asexual. Just because something makes you different does not mean it makes you broken. Not everyone wants sex. Not every couple has sex. I - I know it feels like the whole damn world revolves around sex, but that doesn’t mean your world has to. That doesn’t mean that you’re wrong for not wanting it.” “But - but what if...someone I’m dating wants -” “Ned’s not pressuring you, is he?”

Peter blinks in surprise at him. “What? No. Jesus, no, of course not. He - he’d never. Just - I mean, we’re sixteen, I know there’s - there’s no guarantee that I’ll be with Ned forever. What if someone else, somewhere down the line, wants...something that I can’t give them?”

Tony sighs. “I don’t - Pete, look, I don’t have all the answers. I can’t tell you what will happen somewhere down the line or - or how to handle some hypothetical future relationship. But what I will say is just…don’t hurt yourself to help someone else. Don’t - don’t force yourself to do something you don’t want to do to please another person, whether they’re your boyfriend or girlfriend or husband or wife or whatever. You take care of yourself first, alright?”

A pause, then Peter nods. “I - okay. I will.”

“Good. And kid, I know I can’t just fix all of this with one little pep talk. I know that…accepting yourself, your sexuality, it takes a lot more than someone telling you that it’s okay. But it is. It is okay - it’s more than okay, it’s perfect. Because it’s you. And you are perfect just the way you are, Peter.”

Finally, finally, a smile. A watery, shaky smile, but a smile nonetheless. Take that, Howard.

“It might -” Peter swipes a hand across his cheeks, sniffs, starts again. “It might take a while for me to…to believe that. To really, actually believe it. But it’s really nice to hear, Mr. Stark.”

“I’ll say it as many times as you need me to, kiddo.”

“I know. Thank you...Tony,” Peter says, and the smile widens.

And it’s not okay. Not now, not yet.

But it’s better.

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wonderfulworldofmichaelford · 5 years

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Michael in the Mainstream: Shazam!

The DCEU is really the embodiment of the spirit of the origins of the modern superhero movie craze. Much like the man who helped kick it off in 2008 – one Robert Downey Jr. - The DCEU had a dark, checkered past, with a lot of horrible issues that made audiences balk at their films. Man of Steel was just another so-so Superman film, Batman v Superman was a bloated, bizarre crossover film made before anything about the world was really established, and Suicide Squad was just a complete and utter hot mess. Then came Wonder Woman, a breath of fresh air in the current superhero landscape and the DCEU at large… and then came Justice League, a tonally confused mess that managed to be entertaining in spite of itself. After that was the infinitely entertaining cheesy fantasy action of Aquaman, putting the franchise back in everyone’s good graces just in time for a silly little movie about a little boy who transforms into a grown man to come on the scene… Shazam!

Shazam! is, without a doubt in my mind, the Iron Man to the RDJ of the DCEU. While there were great ones before, with Wonder Woman and Aquaman being absolutely fantastic and enjoyable, this was the first film to pull of what those two movies did without the big problems that bogged down those two movies. There’s no inane plot twist villain followed by a goofy fight, and quite mercifully there is no acting as atrocious as Amber Heard’s performance. The movie has problems, yes, but it does almost everything solidly enough that I can overlook the issues.

I think what really makes the film special is just how earnest and unashamed of itself that it is. It’s goofy, it’s bright, it doesn’t sugarcoat what a teenage boy granted the power to turn into a grown man would do… it’s just so playful, silly, and charming. And if there’s one thing I never imagined I’d say, it’s that a teenager turning into Zachary Levi to sneak into a strip club would be “charming.” This movie really loves throwing curveballs.

And nowhere is that more apparent than in the concept itself. Shazam, or Captain Marvel, or perhaps even Captain Sparklefingers is not the first hero you’d expect DC to make a movie out of, especially since on paper he seems pretty similar to Superman, power-wise at least. They’ve already established Superman as a big force in this world, so why would they go with the weird concept of a kid getting powers from an old wizard to turn into a knockoff Superman? But if there’s anything comic book movies have proven lately, it’s that weird, off-the-wall concepts like this can work, and they just dive into all this whole hog. There’s no sugarcoating things or explaining the magic away as alien tech like early MCU movies did; no, this is magic, there’s a wizard, there are demons, this is all happening. Magical elements have obviously been in the DCEU before – Enchantress, the Greek Gods, and to some extent Atlantis have all been shown – but this is our first time seeing a wizard who wouldn’t look out of place in an 80s fantasy film and actual, evil demons that personify the Seven Deadly Sins. It’s just so great that we’ve come so far with superhero movies where we can have a magically-empowered child punch demons in the face.

And speaking of the child, Billy Batson is such a wonderful character. He starts the movie as a bitter loner with abandonment issues and a dislike of authority due to his mother going missing for much of his life, with a good heart underneath it all; as the movie goes on, of course he learns his lesson and comes to accept his new family as his real one and all that delightfully feel-good mushy stuff. And much like fellow superpowered youngster Miles Morales from last year’s biggest non-MCU superhero film, Billy feels real, his struggles feel real, and his growth as a character feels real. He honestly feels like a more accurate take on Superman than any previous Superman movie (except Hercules and The Iron Giant, anyway). Obviously credit must be given to Zachary Levi as Shazam, who does a really good job of being both badass and extremely childish when the scene calls for it, but I think props must be given to Asher Angel as well, not only because he is just as capable of carrying the movie as Levi is due to his fantastic dramatic moments and solid humor, but because he has an absolutely fantastic name.

Of course, a superhero movie is usually only as good as its villain, and thankfully this film has an extremely solid villain in the form of Dr. Sivana, a classic villain of Shazam who has been given quite a makeover for this film. Played by the inimitable Mark Strong of modern classics such as Kingsman, Sivana is an utter bastard as well as a tragic figure; we open the movie seeing him abused by his family, only to be called by Shazam the wizard and then cruelly rejected because his heart just wasn’t pure enough for the wizard’s high standards. What follows is a terrible accident that surely opened up the door for decades of belittlement and abuse at the hands of his father and brother, to the point where you honestly understand where he’s coming from to a certain degree… though probably not to the degree where you find it okay he wants to murder a child.

The Sins on the other hand… well, let me put it this way: they gave me flashbacks of the elemental demons that worked for Blackheart in Ghost Rider, and if that doesn’t make sense to you, I cannot stress enough you do not ever want to be compared to those guys. The Sins lack personality, character, and even creative designs; I could hardly tell which Sin was supposed to be which in quite a few cases. It’s honestly kind of sad they had more personality as statues then they did after hitching a ride in Sivana’s body, but to their credit they at least function more like a plot device and minions than as actual characters, serving as essentially either boss battles for Shazam to knock around or as a power boost for Sivana himself. It is a shame they aren’t more interesting, but it’s also not a big loss, as the movie focuses far more on the comedy and drama around Billy than the actual superheroics, which is weirdly a good thing.

Billy’s extended foster family are all great in their own right, though I will say that at the moment they do seem a bit one-note, aside from Freddy anyway. Mary, Eugene, and Pedro are all interesting and enjoyable in their own right, but the movie kind of shunts them and their characters aside to focus more on Billy, Freddy, and to a lesser extent Darla. To the movie’s eternal credit though, it puts a lot of focus on them in the third act, and they get to do something pretty surprising and awesome in the climax that I won’t spoil.

However, I must spoil the mid-credits scene, because that is the moment when I knew that this movie is not just the Iron Man of the DCEU, but the Guardians of the Galaxy as well. You see, a character who those steeped in the lore of Captain Marvel/Shazam will easily recognize appears, one Mr. Mind. Now, with a name like that, if you are unaware of the character as I was when I first had his existence spoiled, you might think this might just be some mad scientist, or some evil doctor, or something akin to Mr. Sinister where it’s a superpowered evil man… but Mr. Mind is something far better.

He is a caterpillar. An evil alien caterpillar from Venus. And he talks with a little voice box in a creepy radio voice.

Mr. Mind’s appearance is a sign to me that the DCEU is going down the right path. This is the sort of ballsy move sticking Howard the Duck at the end of Guardians was, in a franchise that has a lot more to lose considering its checkered track record. The fact that they are willing to, this early into their run, give us an evil universe-conquering worm shows me that now the DCEU is fully willing to embrace the inherent silliness and fun of the comics they are adapting. I’m fully expecting Tawky Tawny to show up in the next film at this rate (and with all the tiger symbolism in this one, he just might).

Fun, charming, funny, emotional, and dramatic… I figured it would be good, but the fact that this film is this good is just a shock. I’m so happy that DCEU isn’t backtracking on its desire to truly embrace what fans love about comics and take risks with what they show us, and the fact it’s doing it a lot quicker than Marvel did gives me a lot of hope we’ll be seeing even weirder stuff in the future (fingers crossed for Mr. Mxyzptlk!). I think DCEU fans and Marvel fans alike can come together and appreciate this one, because it’s just an absolute joy to watch regardless of which comic book company you slavishly worship over the other. More than anything else, though, it must be said:

This is DEFINITELY the best Captain Marvel movie of 2019.

#Michael in the Mainstream #Review #Movie review #DCEU #Shazam #Shazam!#Zachary Levi #Captain Marvel #before anyone says anything I think the MCU Captain Marvel is alright #but how could I not love this more?#It's Big starring Tom Hanks... BUT WITH SUPERHEROES!#And also Mr. Mind #Fuck Darkseid #Mr. Mind for life baby!

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thehollowprince · 5 years

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Endgame - Tony Stark

WARNING: MAJOR ENDGAME SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!!!

I figured I’d start with Tony, because as anyone who follows me, or has seen my blog knows, I do not like this character. This movie is no exception to that, in that I wasn’t a big fan of what they did with his character in here, but there were moments I actually did like. So I’m going to make a list of what I liked and what I didn’t about his character and then some thoughts on his overall arc throughout this movie and the MCU in general.

I will try to keep the dislike section away from being blatantly “Anti Tony” but I make no promises.

Also, these lists will have bits from other characters that were a part of the main six’s journeys, so just keep that in mind.

Fair warning, the likes section is probably going to be a lot shorter than the dislike list, which won’t be too long either. The Russos kept their word in that the Avengers from Infinity War that took a back seat were given more in this film, but Tony was still in it a bit too much for my liking, especially with how everything played out.

With that out of the way, let’s do this.

LIKES

Morgan Stark

Pepper’s Iron Woman suit

Tony and Howard

“I am Iron Man”

Rhodey and Pepper being by his side

Proof that Tony Stark has a heart

Let’s start with what I liked about his story arc in Endgame. I loved Morgan. His daughter was adorable and he had a great little relationship with her, from what little we saw of it, away from everyone (left) and living in a cabin in the woods. The whole scene where he says “Shit!” not knowing his daughter is sitting right there was hilarious and precious all at the same time. Add to that the fact that she blackmailed him into getting her a treat for her silence and my heart was won.

How he acted with Morgan was a great shift in his character from all of the previous movies and I’m assuming it had something to do with having a biological child, as opposed to this whole concept a good percentage of the fandom likes to pretend is a thing (”Irondad”), but more on that later.

Pepper’s suit that she wore at the end was amazing. I loved it so much better than any of the other IM suits used throughout any of the movies, and I loved during the epic battle at the end how well the two fought together. Plus Pepper being included in the big Girl Power team-up at the end of the fight is the stuff of legends.

As anyone who followed me over this last year knows, I’m not a fan of Tony’s (and his fandom’s) constant need to blame everything wrong he ever does on a combination of things, one of which is his relationship with his father. This is probably the most screen time Howard got in any of the movies and I did love that Tony used it to connect with his father over something they now have in common - having kids. It was nice to finally see Tony put aside all his issues and recognize that his father was a human being. Also, Jarvis being there was amazing!

More on this in the Dislikes section, but Tony’s response to Thanos’ “I am inevitable!” line being “I am… Iron Man.” It was a nice callback to the first movie and the comics and I’m glad they ended his character on that note.

As he lay dying, which I didn’t take nearly as much pleasure in as I thought I would, I did like Rhodey and Pepper being there by his side, and Pepper’s little speech to him, telling him he could rest now, which was a nice callback to earlier in the film where she asked him if he could rest if he didn’t help. As much as I don’t like them together, it was a touching moment to see him die with his wife and partner at his side.

The wreath with the original arc reactor put on the lake was just a nice touch, in my opinion.

DISLIKES

Nebula

His return to Earth

The Five Years Later

Still building suits

His superiority complex and attitude in general

His treatment of Scott Lang

“Do you trust me”

The constant quips and sarcasm

Peter Parker

One

His funeral

Okay, this one might upset people, but I did warn you.

For starters, I did not at all like the way they (The Russos) had Nebula act around Tony while they were on the Guardians’ ship. Granted, they did a lot of character assassinations in this movie, but this was one of the ones that stood out the most to me, especially given how she treated everyone else throughout the rest of the movie, with her usual disdain except for her sister and Rocket. Having her be so kind and nurturing to him just felt like something out of a fanfiction by someone who worships Tony but never saw any of the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Though, I will admit, having him in his dying moments open his eyes to see Carol blazing in to save him and then her setting the ship down like it was nothing was pretty spectacular.

The moment he’s back on Earth, he just starts in with his bullshit again. I’m sorry, but blaming Steve for the epic loss that they all faced was such a childish move, but that’s become something of a staple for him. Blaming all of his problems and failures on someone else, even when they’re not just his failures. It’s always someone else’s fault, because self-reflection isn’t a strong suit of his character, nor is his capacity to let it go. Him standing there and yelling at Steve, as if everything was entirely his fault because Ultron blew up in his face and his “suit of armor around the world” didn’t pan out the way he wanted was such a dick move. We’ve seen how Thanos and his forces dealt with Wakandan technology, which we all know is better than Stark Tech. So for him to think that the Ultron Project would have even been able to stop Thanos, especially once he was armed with the Infinity Stones is pure hubris and I’m sick and tired of it.

The five years later scene, particularly when Steve, Scott and Natasha come to him for help after they thought up a way to fix it all, just made my blood boil. I know no one wants to admit this, but Tony didn’t lose anyone in the snap. And no, I’m not counting Peter as someone close to him, because up until the scene where Peter went poof, he’d been nothing but disdainful or outright neglectful of him. The three that showed up to ask for his help lost everything, and while it is understandable that he didn’t want to lose what he now had, his outright dismissal of them was infuriating. Especially when you factor in that he had to have his ass handed to him, and watch everyone else lose their loved ones before he finally put aside his ego and settled down with Pepper.

Even with the world decimated, he still can’t stop with the suit building? Seriously? Sure, it came in handy later when Pepper donned it for the big fight, but he was working on that before Steve and Nat even showed up. He wasn’t preparing for the fight, he was just doing what he always does and feeding his addiction to those suits.

Another thing that bugged me about them coming to him for help was his whole attitude about it. Not only how dismissive he was to Scott, but since when is Tony an expert on quantum physics? There was no build up to that, no mention of it before, and it just smacked of something they threw in there to try and find a reason for Tony to rejoin the Avengers for this final film. Between Scott and Bruce, and with Rocket’s brilliance and Thor’s knowledge of Asguardian science, they should have figured it out. But no! We had to have the Tony be the one to save the day.

You’ll get a theme here about my dislikes all being related to the blatant fan service of those who worship Tony Stark.

In regards to the way he talked to Scott throughout the entire film - I didn’t like it. I didn’t like his dismissive attitude or his constant barrage of insults. Scott Lang is probably one of, if not the, nicest character in the MCU and he doesn’t deserve to be treated like that by some bored billionaire with a grudge.

The “Do you trust me?” line was aggravating as hell. Anyone who watched these movies knows that Tony doesn’t trust his teammates, or even treat them with basic respect half the time, and given how he acted to Steve upon his return to Earth, and how they left things at the end of Civil War, I think the addition of that line was a slap in the face to any of the people who loved Steve’s character over the years.

The constant sarcasm got old about seven or eight movies ago. At some point these writers and producers have to realize that being a sarcastic asshole isn’t really a personality, despite how much they try and pretend it is. It’s 2023 in this movie, which puts Tony over fifty. It’s way passed time to just let it go. He doesn’t always have to get the last word in.

I am not a fan of all of this whole "Irondad" farse that so many people have fallen for. The few times they've interacted at all, Tony has been either outright dismissive, if he even pays attention to him at all, so for Peter to come back and that hug to take place, not to mention Peter crying while Tony was dying bugged me. We've seen absolutely nothing in the MCU that would support this behavior aside from blatant fan service.

Tony looking over and seeing Strange holding up his finger (not the finger I would have chosen) to indicate this is the one time in 14 million that they stopped Thanos annoyed me. Not the fact that Tony got the stones for that final snap, but the fact Tony was even able to touch them. Before anyone comes for me, I’d feel the same way if it had been Steve or Clint or T’Challa or Sam or Bucky or whoever. One of the things we’ve been shown throughout the MCU was how damn powerful those stones were. Hell, the Power Stone killed almost everyone that ever touched it, with my understanding being that humans would have been disintegrated on contact. But someone, Tony Stark, the middle-aged man was able to hold all six Infinity Stones and perform a snap? I mean, sure, he died in the end, but he shouldn’t have been able to do it at all, especially when we saw how using the Stones nearly killed Thanos, who has been proven to be vastly stronger than so many of them, Tony included.

I also really didn’t like the funeral. Yes, it was nice to see his friends and family there, but the further back they went, the more I kept questioning “Why?” Why were all those people there? The Bartons and the rest of Team Cap and that random kid behind them? Carol? Some of those people barely had any interaction with Tony, if at all, and suddenly they’re all there to mourn him? I don’t know if the whole thing was supposed to be an homage to the fact that an era has ended in the MCU, but the whole scene left something of a sour taste in my mouth.

FINAL OPINION

Anyone who has followed me over the years knows that I don’t really like this character. It started out with mild dislike, but then just snowballed into outright hatred, so this film, which managed to pull him back even if only a little, helped me remember some of what I originally liked (read: didn’t hate) about the character.

The whole Tony exiting the MCU thing by having him sacrifice his life just reeked of fanservice and RDJ’s heavy-handed negotiation skills. It’s been a constant in every movie he’s been in, except Homecoming, that he has to have the big emotional climax. This film marks the fourth time that Tony has decided to leave superheroing behind, and at this point, it’s just become a gimmick. Even though this time he is confirmed as dead, I don’t really feel all that bad for the character because of MARVEL’s insistence in putting him in movies where he wasn’t needed and I’m sure they’ll find a way to bring him back somehow for future installments.

This character could have been so great over the course of the MCU, but the writers just stuck with the same tired old tropes and put them on repeat, even up to the big heroic sacrifice in the end, which fell flat to me because he already had more than one of those. Those being his flying of the nuke into the wormhole back in The Avengers, and then his destruction of all his suits in Iron Man 3.

They tried this so many times already that it lost it’s uniqueness for any of those who are invested in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

#just my thoughts #tony stark #avengers: endgame #endgame spoilers

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witchcraftforabuck · 5 years

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Needed Interactions

People I want to see Wanda interact with more than her battery operated boyfriend:

The Avenger she was obsessed with and joined Hydra to kill, the guy whose hero backstory is specifically what happened to families such as hers?

In “Civil War” their main beef with each other was over him “locking her in her room.” All the serious shit, they somehow buried the hatched about between movies... and we never saw it.

Did she ever feel bad about triggering his PTSD to cause all that destruction, and try using her powers to help fix his mental problems after switching sides? (And maybe make another boo-boo, this time by accident?) Did Tony ever use his money and influence to help her, to try and make up for the mis-sold weapons? Do they ever relate their guilt complexes to each other or talk about PTSD? Is Tony pissed for what she did to Bruce? Did Tony give her the money to buy that new red Goth outfit? Did they two of them ever get mistaken for a sugar daddy and his young Russian mail-bride and be comically grossed out? These are things I need to know!

The Avengers’ first former villainess who was brainwashed from childhood to work for an evil organization and is from a former Soviet country

There’s a fan theory that Nat helped Wanda gradually erase her accent over the course of the movies. Did Nat also help Wanda with the guilt and all that? Or teach Wanda how to live/blend in normal society? Is the fact that they were both “saved” so to speak by Hawkeye anything worth bringing up, MCU? Like, are they both super protective of Hawkeye, or is Wanda semi-jealous of Nat due to teen/unsocialized-young-adult hormones?

Basically, Nat should be Wanda’s big sister in the whole redemption arc thing. And everything else.

The other Hydra lab-rat who committed atrocities for them... but didn’t volunteer.... and was specifically a victim of mind control... and whose main condition that needs (needed) fixing was mind-related?

Look, I worship Shuri, but having her fix Buck’s brain and provide the new arm was such a cop-out. Tony should’ve made the new arm, for obvious reasons, and Wanda should’ve cured Bucky’s Hydra programing, or at least helped with it. (Maybe a combination of her mind-powers and Tony’s BARF tech) That is of course, after having to earn his trust. Bucky, if/when he learned her history, would likely despise her for a while, since she “volunteered” for the Hydra labs, and specialized in mind-control. In fact, did Bucky and Wanda perhaps already meet, back at Hydra? Was Wanda, or previous agents given similar powers, used in Bucky’s Winer Soldier programing?

Speaking of mind-control victims who might despise Wanda...

The other guy whose severe mental problems she deliberately triggered, with the intention of harming civilian life

Damn this would be heated. (Not in that way. Ewe. Age diff, yuck. I’m talking platonic relationships here.) Bruce should hate her trillions of times worse than Tony or Bucky would combined... but Bruce is such a cinnamon roll, you can bet he’d be one of the first to forgive her--or at least pretend to, even if he was still feeling daily rage and struggling to keep the Other Guy quiet whenever she’s in the room.

Frankly, Bruce should have the role that Hawkeye does in Wanda’s life. He shouldv’e been the one to give her that pep talk, make her switch sides, and become her big brother. Even if he still privately--or openly--hated her while doing so.

The other traumatized orphan girl who saw her parents die in an explosion, and joined “Shield” but (probably) really Hydra, killed for them, and seek “revenge” on a snarky scientist for a flimsy connection to her situation?

As Nat should be Wanda’s big sister in this area, Wanda should be Ava’s. The fact that both are perfect matches for Bucky just adds fuel to the fire.

The toned-down, more innocent version of Wanda

The one who was born with her mental powers, who was a timid pawn to the villain she served rather than an eager volunteer, and who hasn’t a negative bone in her body. If Mantis and Wanda were to “read” each other, what would that do to each of them?

Would Wanda’s self esteem go to the gutter, at seeing someone with such a similar background who turned out so much more pure? Would she be scared for how naiive Mantis is? Would Mantis then stun her by having some wisdom Wanda never expected her to, and then remind Wanda she’s actually centuries older than her? (I have no idea how old Mantis is, but given how old Ego was, it’s possible.) Could Mantis help Wanda control her powers?

Two more! Wow.

Let’s just start a club for ladies who were indoctrinated to work for villains growing up and are now pissed about it.

“I’ve never read the mind of a tree before. Or an opossum.”

Every single Avenger plus Dr. Strange has to meet these two, if only for one brief exchange. You can’t toss a talking raccoon and tree into the MCU and not show us what everyone’s reactions to them would be.

Could Wanda’s magic dig up Groot’s memories of his past life, from the first movie? Can her energy-balls make Groot grow or sprout leaves or whatnot? Rocket obviously would hate her, because he hates anyone who probes under his angry “armor” so to speak. And she’d certainly make some remark about how she and Pietro used to eat trash-pandas like him for dinner when times were slightly tougher than usual in Sokovia, with all the starvation and whatnot.

Also, didn’t Wanda’s brother have a problem with impulsive stealing, much like Rocket?

Another sorcerer villain-turned-good(?), who originally went bad because he was an orphan with a sob story, and whose magic specifically specializes in manipulation

“The universe wronged us! The Avengers wronged us. And each of us alone is more powerful than most of them combined. Together, our magic would be unstoppable. Rule by my side, as my queen. Just Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave!”

Duh.

So, you’re on the run from most every world government, because your magic was out of control, and maybe you’re sick of the Avengers defining your life in some way or another. If only there was some secret getaway that would teach you how to control your magic and more, with a guy who disdained the Avengers and wouldn’t mind at all stealing one of their young upstarts?

When Wanda learns magic from Dr. Strange, she has glowing discs like he does, but hers are red.

Loki may also be learning alongside her (possibly against his will, as a rehabilitation order by King Thor). Wanda would obviously be the star student and Loki would be the little bitch.

The Mind Stone

If you’re gonna make this her main relationship, at least give us some more about what it’s like for a telepath to be in love with the Mind Stone... and the fact that the guy she loves only exists because of her crimes. Frell, this could actually be an interesting ship. Why isn’t it?

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twobitmulder · 5 years

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On Spider-Man, Reboots, and the Future of the X-Men

A while ago I made a post called “Thoughts on MCU Peter Parker and Reboots” which ended up being mostly an examination (or rant) on why MCU Peter doesn’t work for me and was kind of soft on the analysis of reboots. Now, with the announcement that Sony and Marvel’s Spidey deal has fallen through, I thought I’d take another crack as examining why reboots lead to less than stellar versions of characters, and why it’s got me scarred for the X-Men to join the MCU.

Now, right off the bat I feel I should say that I’m not against reboots and re-imaginings. I think The Incredible Hulk is broadly better than the Ang Lee Hulk. I think the 1999 Mummy is better than the 1932 classic. Reboots can be a radical re-imagining, a second draft, or even an examination of different facets of the character (like how Lettier’s Hulk focused more on the lonely wanderer in search of a cure, while Lee’s focused on the father issues). This works especially for long running characters who have a lot of material to work with.

I think my problem with MCU Spidey starts with the way that Sony and Marvel approached the idea of the reboot. The Amazing Spider-Man with Andrew Garfield felt the need to be radically different from the Rami films. The Rami films played all the silver age comic book tropes gleefully straight. An old fashioned news room, his start in wrestling, and the campy villains. It exists in a sort of anachronism stew to borrow the TVTropes term, much like Burton’s Batman.

Webb’s films tried to find their own voice by pushing Peter back into high school and making them a little more deliberately modern. They used a more modern incarnation of Peter as opposed to the good natured Silver Age doofus that Tobey Maguire played. Garfield’s Peter is probably my favorite, and the one who feels closest to my ideal comics Peter, but that’s not really the point here. The point is, he HAD to be different otherwise people would accuse it of being the same thing over again.

So there we were with (in my opinion) someone who acted a little more like the Peter I knew growing up, who occupied a more familiar world, but we also had to gloss over his rivalry with Osborne because it had already been done. This was a criminal waste of Chris Cooper and Dane Dehaan, who were fantastic choices for those characters, but more to the point, it shows how this could not just be a second draft. It had to be different, which meant that even if it fixed some things that Raimi might not have hit the mark on, it also got rid of things that he had done right. The Osborne’s, the Bugle, and Mary Jane (well, he didn’t quite to MJ right, but the fact that she had already been used probably spurred the switch to Gwen).

Then when those flopped Peter joined the MCU. I remember reading that in my dorm room my first year of undergrad and whooping with joy. I thought about his relationship with Daredevil, who we knew was coming, and Captain America. Having Osborne be an Avengers level threat who battles Peter on the lawn of the White House while the Sinister SIx hold the Avengers at bay (Bendis’ Ultimate Spider-Man was the saving grace of the Ultimate Universe). Feige promised Peter would have a “non-stop wit.” It was all coming together.

Civil War came out and he seemed a little tacked on but it didn’t matter because he was there. Sure Stark gave him his suit, but he had designed the prototype and there was no way they’d make Peter the science genius dependent on Tony Stark.

“Weary sigh.”

I want to like the MCU Spider-Man so bad, Everyone else likes him. I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. I already went over why I don’t care for him, so I’ll skip that*. Once again, the point is, this one HAD to be different. Because he was back with Marvel we had been given the implicit promise of a fully realized comic accurate Spider-Man, fixing everything Webb and Raimi (read Sony) had gotten wrong.

The problem was that Webb and Raimi had gotten a lot right. So MCU Spidey glossed over Uncle Ben “because it had been done before.” He never clashed with Oscorpe or the Goblins “because it had already been done before.” There was no selling pictures to the Bugle “because it had already been done before”*.

He didn’t make quips because everyone else was funny and he had to be the wide eyed kid, played younger and less mature than Garfield or Maguire. And (okay a little bit of whining from me) he had to rely on Tony Stark because we had to be reminded that now he was part of the MCU.

The MCU Spidey got a lot right and some of their updates worked for the better. I love that Peter and May live in a small apartment instead of a house because they’re poor and New York is expensive. I like that his school feels like a real high school, with kids who basically act like kids. I like that he has a confidant (Ned Leeds was a weird choice, I’d have gone with Hobie Brown, Deb Whitman, or Kenny Kong, but I like the character anyway). I love love love their takes on Vulture and my favorite Spidey Rogue Mysterio. But, in their drive to be different from the past iterations they changed the character a little too drastically. It wasn’t a third draft to get Spider-Man right, it was a bottom up reimagining that (my opinion only) jettisoned a lot of what makes the character compelling.

Now he’s apparently gone from the future of the MCU and honestly, personally, I’m kind of relieved. I’m glad he’s indelibly a full fledged part of the MCU narrative, and he got to see the Infinity Saga through to the end, but I don’t think I could have taken another movie of Peter becoming Stark’s Robin just to be different from what came before.

This all brings us to the X-Men. I love the X-Men. I love Gambit, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Kitty Pryde, Iceman, Cyclops and all the rest (but them first and foremost). I love the place Mutants have in the Marvel Universe and the potential for clashes with other heroes and compelling stories to be told about the nature of marginalization and identity. The problem is, the previous X-Men movies covered those bases from a lot of different angles and my fear is that when they join the MCU they’ll be so concerned with being different that they’ll forget what makes them the X-Men*.

In the end, we still have years of comics and alternate universes, cartoons and canon that we can pick and choose from. It’s just so frustrating because we were so close to a perfect unified cinematic universe like we’d only ever dreamed of. We all have different bits of it that we wish had been done better, but I suppose the mere fact that it exists in any form is pretty damn cool.

*Except to say that, as Gail Simone so eloquently put it in an otherwise positive review of Far From Home, Holland’s Spider-Man isn’t the everyman who mocks the rich and powerful, he worships them and wants to be their friend.

*While I was happy to see the Jameson, Simmons, and the Daily Bugle return, and while I can’t deny that turning him into a lunatic pundit makes sense for the character as he’s portrayed in Spider-Man, I think that modern superhero stories have a problem with the old school journalist characters. Yes in real life print journalism isn’t what it used to be, but if we can accept superpowers, alien warlords, and good hearted billionaires surely we can accept the fantasy of a newspaper that still functions like they used to.

*I don’t have this worry for Fantastic Four (my first favorite superheroes) because while the Tim Story movies were close (and Trank’s reboot is emblematic of this whole issue on a massive scale) they haven’t been in the public consciousness and had a continued presence like Spidey and the X-Men so there’s less need to “be different” and more opportunity to actually get to the core of the FF the way they did with Captain America and Thor.

#spider-man #mcu #reboots #x-men #peter parker #marvel studios #sony #this ended up really long but given that im used to writing academic papers i think i showed restraint

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