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comic-movieheroesranked · 5 years

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Thoughts on Endgame

I haven’t used this account in ages but I’m still not over Endgame and just wanna rant about it. Obviously SPOILERS under the cut below!

Ok, so overall I did REALLY enjoy the movie. It definitely had some flaws (their rules of time travel was a little confusing) but overall I think it did it’s job of wrapping up 10 years of movies. I will admit that besides Iron Man and then later Cpatain America and Thor, the original six never really interested me so I did slightly get over all the original six tributes while pushing most of the other characters on the shelf until the final battle. I think I’m just gonna ramble about what I liked, didn’t like, and wanted more of with each character because I have so many thoughts haha

Tony Stark/Iron Man:

-I think I’m one of the few people who’s ok with how he died?? Like I had a feeling he wasn’t going to survive but how he died still shocked me and made me sad to see him go. I don’t think it was out of character though, I totally think it’s something he would’ve done so I’m a little confused why people disagree on that.

-Besides that, I really loved watching him be a father with Morgan those were definitely some of the more tender scenes in the movie for sure!

-Also Morgan in general was just too cute!

-Also loved his reunion with Peter, and his talk with his father.

Steve Rodgers/Captain America:

-AMERICA’S ASS

-Him getting annoyed with his past self was great and I loved that there were two situations (”Bucky’s alive” and “Hail Hydra”) where he knew what to say to get out of the situation.

-Basically Captain America going back to New York 2012 was my favorite part of his story for this movie

-Now I DO agree with most people with how it didn’t make sense for him to go back in time. Like yeah it’s sweet, I guess, that he went back for Peggy but I kinda thought he got over all of that by the end of his trilogy? I honestly lowkey thought the girl he was dancing with wasn’t going to be Peggy. Like how wild would it be if it was just some random girl he met in the past and decided to be with her?

-Also does this mean Sharon Carter is his niece or???

Bruce Banner/Hulk:

-I HATE STAIRS

-Honestly it took me a minute to get used to the whole Professor Hulk thing but I did and it’s fine

-When the gauntlet messed him up after he used the snap to bring everyone back I knew that someone was gonna die using it (but I didn’t think of Tony when I was watching the movie)

Thor:

-They kinda kept mocking Thor throughout this movie and I don’t know how to feel about it after the Russo brothers basically erased all of his progress in Ragnarok.

-Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mind him growing his hair and getting belly. In fact I loved that he was still going toe to toe with Thanos regardless.

-His scene with his mom was sweet but I found myself asking if it was necessary? But this might also be because I didn’t care for Thor: Dark World.

-Well I guess it makes sense in the end when he joins the Guardians of the Galaxy. Definitely one of the funnier scenes in the movie and I think he’d fit in well with them.

Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow:

-Like I said before I didn’t really care for the original six but I FELT Black Widow’s death. It’s was beautifully tragic and I’m lowkey a sucker for that kinda shit.

-I knew SOMEONE was going to have to die when they went for the Soul Stone but before the movie I always thought it was gonna be either Cap or Tony and then during I thought (or, if I’m being honest, hoped) it would be Clint.

-I feel for the people saying she was robbed. She def should have had a proper funeral and it’s such a shame she couldn’t be apart of the EPIC A-Force team.

-Also I think I was the most bored (although it wasn’t too bad to be fair) during the scenes after her death and before the final battle because after they killed her our team became just a bunch of white guys, War Machine, and an evil Nebula. And that’s just a big YIKES that could’ve been avoided if they just included Okoye or Valkyrie in the mission.

-Also shouldn’t be alive? Since Cap returned the stone?

Clint Barton/Hawkeye:

-His family getting dusted in the beginning was ROUGH

-But honestly I’ve never cared for Hawkeye and didn’t in the film. I’m surprised he survived honestly.

Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel:

-I love that as soon as Carol came back she found Tony and Nebula and then proceeded to kick Thanos’s ass and help take him down

-I love that haircut, MY GOD

-I love that she showed up at the end and destroyed that entire ship.

-Her smile at Peter was so sweet.

-I really like that they had her go toe to toe with Thanos and basically beat him WHILE he had on the infinity glove. This just means the Avengers should have contacted Fury during IW so that he would’ve just called her during the last stand of Wakanda.

-Also with her fight versus Thanos, I like how they had him beat her. Let’s be fair, because she’s so powerful she’s a bit arrogant, which is why Thanos was able to pull a fast one and remove a stone to sneak attack her. It shows that yes she’s hella powerful, but she still has a few weaknesses that can be exploited.

-Love her in that black outfit.

Nebula and Gamora:

-I LOVED how much story arc Nebula got in this movie, it was one of the things I was hoping for.

-Her bonding with Tony was really sweet

-BUT NOT AS SWEET AS HER AND ROCKET HOLDING HANDS WHEN SHE RETURNED TO EARTH

-So her and Nebula 2012 are on the same wifi so that’s how their plan got ruined, right??

-Also how in the hell was Nebula 2012 able to get not only Thanos, but his WHOLE ASS ARMY to the future??

-Nebula killed her past self real quick though.

-I like that Gamora 2012 didn’t take forever and a year to help out the good guys

-Also what happened to her after Tony snapped?

-I love the bond between her and Nebula but I really thought they should have went up against Thanos at some point. Like towards the end right before he fought Carol and instead of Thor and Cap again (but again this movie catered to the original six so can’t want that

Valkyrie and Okoye:

-These two were the main reasons I was excited to see Endgame so I feel ROBBED

-How are y’all gonna go and recruit Thor and then just leave Valkyrie behind? She fights as good, if not better, than him? And I think she was more stable?

-Once they found out about Jane from Thor, they should of just switched him out with Valkyrie since Rocket had no problem finding her once they were there.

-Also it was kinda funny during the promotions of the movie to see SO many people confused about Valkyrie surviving. Like y’all not pay attention? Thanos only murders half the population of every planet he invades. Like that’s a theme that’s been very much established lol

-And not hearing about Okoye (besides that meaningless hologram scene) or Wakanda after the snapped was wack. Her home was attacked trying to protect a doomed robot and she lost T’challa and Shuri because of it. HOW ARE WE NOT SEEING HOW SHE DEALS WITH IT??

-Honestly they should’ve just dusted Okoye and Valkyrie if they were just gonna only use them at the end when all the other characters return.

-But they’re fight scenes were SO good.

-Valkyrie on that pegasus ripping that giant monster apart was a MOOD

-It’s cool she ends up Queen of Asgard but does that mean she won’t come back for a Thor sequel?

Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch:

-Wanda showing up and beating the living shit out of Thanos was my favorite scene in the movie.

-I literally whispered ‘Hell yeah’ when she landed in between Thanos and T’challa

-Also I really hope Vision comes back so we can somehow get Billy and Tommy and get a Young Avengers movie

T’Challa/Black Panter and Shuri:

-When these two walked through the portal with Okoye I turned to the stranger next to me and said “Oh finally, we’re getting shit done’ and they laughed nodded haha

-T’challa should’ve fought Thanos by himself but it’s fine he didn’t I guess

-Also I’m almost positive the Russo brothers dusted Shuri only after IW was done and that’s why we didn’t see it. Because they realized it probably wouldn’t have taken her five years to figure out a way to bring back the others.

-It would’ve been neat at the end when Scott and Hope realize the time machine was broken if Shuri just showed up and fixed it in seconds.

Rocket and Groot:

-Rocket was funny throughout the movie but didn’t really do much.

-We needed more Groot in the end. Like action wise and moments with the other characters wise, but I’m just greedy because I love him haha

-Rocket should’ve stole Bucky’s arm.

Sam Wilson/Falcon:

-MY CAPTAIN AMERICA IS BLACK NOW BITCHES, THAT’S IT

Everyone else was cool and didn’t really leave a lasting impression on me except for maybe Ant-Man but he was just really funny the whole time to me. Again I really liked the movie and I admit that I knew I wasn’t going to be fully satisfied since this movie was about the original six. But I just hope the next time we get a movie with this much characters involved, we really use more of them story wise and not just for big fight scenes at the end. Infinity War was close but I need more (I’m annoying I know haha)

Also the movie did not feel like it was three hours at all, so good for the Russo brothers when it came to that!

Feel free to message me to chat, I’d love to hear all of your thoughts about the movie too!

#The Avengers #avengers endgame #avengers engame spoilers #spoilers

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justsomebucky · 6 years

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Cinderella (Part 6 - End!)

Summary: AU. After the tragic passing of reader’s father, reader is left with a cruel stepmother and two miserable step-sisters, who not only don’t care about her, but they use her for their own gain. Will a handsome stranger offer her the freedom she longs for?

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x fem!reader

Word Count: 3,139

Warnings: mentions of death, angst, sadness, fluff, mentions of crime, mentions of murder, DISNEY STYLE CHEESE WITH YOUR WINE

A/N: This is a RE-POST of my entry for the @stories-from-stark-tower ‘s AU movie challenge. It’s based off of the 2015 Disney adaptation of Cinderella, only with a bit of my own spin on it.

The Grand Duke made good on his promise to search every household for every eligible maiden in the Kingdom. He visited the hills and the woods, the town and the farmlands, all to see if any one of them would be a perfect match for the glass slipper that had been carelessly left behind in the palace gardens that fateful night of the ball.

At least, that is what he told everyone.

Loki’s true plan was to prove to the King that his mystery maiden was not to be found, now that her stepmother had taken care of her.

“What’s wrong, Captain?” he asked smoothly, feigning concern.

Steve shook his head once, glancing around as they made their way through the streets of the latest neighborhood. “We haven’t found the girl,” he muttered quietly. “I’m disappointed for our King.”

The Grand Duke smirked. “Don’t lose heart, Captain. One house remains here in the outskirts of town. There is still a chance left. We must leave no stone unturned, after all.”

“Yes,” Steve replied coolly, looking over at Loki. He didn’t trust him at all, but he was outranked, and had no proof of disloyalty just yet. “No stone, indeed.”

They arrived at a modest cottage on the edge of town, one that never looked this decrepit before its original owner’s passed away tragically. There were rumors circling this family, because of the new owner’s connection to a crime boss and his own tragic end, but Steve knew no one had been able to pin anything on the mistress of the home.

A cobblestone walk led the way to the door, partially overrun by grass. Dried flowers that were probably once quite lovely ran up the trellis on the side of the cottage, and the only window that wasn’t covered was up high in what appeared to be the attic.

He sighed softly, moving forward after the Grand Duke, praying that this would lead to a positive outcome.

“Mother, they’ve arrived!” Anastasia shouted. She raced over to the window with Drisella and they watched, transfixed, as the Captain and Grand Duke approach the front door. Behind them, about a dozen royal guards stood in formation.

The two girls were well aware that they wouldn’t fit the glass slipper, but their mother had told them they had to try anyways. It was all a part of the grand scheme to keep you away from the King, though they did not know that the slipper belonged to you.

Loki bit back a cruel smirk when your Stepmother opened the door in an exaggerated flourish. She bowed deeply, her eyes wide and innocent. “Gentlemen,” she cooed. “What a wonderful surprise! To what do we owe this pleasure?”

“A moment of your time, my lady?” Loki gave her a pointed look.

She nodded, bowing to them. “Of course, Your Grace, please do come in. My two very eligible daughters are just this way.”

Steve glanced around the home as they entered the foyer, unable to shake the feeling that something wasn’t right here. He looked over his shoulder at a familiar face.

Bucky stayed in character, standing guard outside with the others, but he did not mistake the look the Captain gave him upon entering the home. He, too, felt as though something bigger was happening. Bucky knew that if he were to show himself now, his plan of catching the Grand Duke red-handed would be for naught, but he couldn’t shake the uneasiness that settled in his gut.

Something was awry here.

You opened one eye, then the other, feeling groggier than you ever had before. Your body lay crumpled on the floor, your cheek flush against the cold boards, with a chilly draft drifting over your skin and leaving goosebumps in its wake. Once you were able to focus clearly, your eyes settled on the door of the attic, and your heart sank as you realized what your stepmother had done.

She’d somehow managed to carry (or drag) you up two flights of stairs to the one place no one would ever think to look for you.

It was brutal, but ingenious.

The world threatened to turn on its side the second you lifted your head, but you pushed through the pain and nausea to sit up carefully. Everything seemed to be in one piece, at the very least, as you felt no major injuries. You stood slowly, and made your way over to what turned out to be a very locked attic door.

Stepmother had reinforced the door ages ago with steel and new technology, back when she had first started storing her weaponry up in there. It was meant to keep out both enemies and the curious alike.

“No,” you whimpered, weariness settling in your bones as you pounded your closed fists on the door once. You felt so defeated, so tired.

The thought of your stepmother having any power over Bucky and the kingdom is what gave you the courage to stand upright and try to find a way out of this mess.

Your eyes drifted around the room, trying to determine what inventory you had access to. You didn’t want to start a fire, as there would be no guarantee that you would be able to make it out alive.

There were all sorts of weapons; guns, knives, smoke bombs, even a crossbow, but nothing stood out to you. Even if you were to break the glass of the window with one of these weapons, your voice was still too hoarse from the sedative for you to shout loud enough.

The window opened with ease, and you cracked it just wide enough to assess its position in relation to the front door. It had been so long since you’d bothered to look up, you couldn’t believe you’d forgotten about this near-fortress above your head.

There were visitors downstairs. You could hear a distinctly male voice carry on the wind, one you didn’t recognize.

Perhaps that was the Grand Duke, come to offer your stepmother her rewards. But maybe, just maybe, it was someone who could help you.

A renewed sense of urgency filled you as you turned to look at the back of the room.

There was one shadowed corner where your stepmother had tossed all your parents’ belongings. Old bed sheets covered everything, so you weren’t even sure what remained and what had been burned, but perhaps you could find something in there of use. It was worth a shot.

You moved toward it quickly, your mother’s mantra in your head once more as you lifted the dusty sheets off of the boxes of trinkets and memories that had been hidden from you.

That’s when you saw something familiar.

It was a little music box that your father had given your mother during their courtship. It played the very lullaby she loved to sing to you every night before bed, when she and your father would tuck you in and tell you how much they loved you.

You reached for it slowly, brushing off the little dust bunnies from the painted lid before you lifted it.

Inside, a little man and a woman were permanently facing each other. You wound the pin on the side, and felt your heart beat faster as it came to life. The miniature couple bowed, then began to dance together to the tune you knew by heart.

Tears welled in your eyes at the sound of the song that had so many sweet memories attached.

This would work, you knew it. It was just loud enough to be heard from a short distance. Your parents were once again your saving grace, and even if it wasn’t actual magic, it did feel a bit magical. Your eyes lifted to the open window.

There was still hope.

“Very well,” the Grand Duke said, tucking his hat under his arm. “Our task is done, Captain. The slipper did not fit either of these young maidens, and they are the very last in the Kingdom.”

“May fate yet be kind to us, girls,” your stepmother said, shooting Loki a look.

“Indeed, Madam.” Loki nodded his head in acknowledgment, before motioning for Steve to follow him. “Come now, Captain. We must go deliver the news to our King.”

Steve exhaled slowly, still feeling like something wasn’t quite right, but he turned to follow the Grand Duke outside.

That’s when he heard it...the sound stopped him in his tracks.

Yes, it was definitely music.

“Do you hear that, Your Grace?” he asked Loki.

“Let’s be off, Captain,” Loki replied, waving a hand at him dismissively. “The Princess Natasha will need to be notified immediately, and nuptials planned for our King at once.”

“Just a moment.” Steve turned back toward the ladies in the doorway. “Madam, there is no other maiden in your house?”

“No,” your stepmother supplied quickly, knowing that you must have woken up by now. “No other.”

“Then has your cat learned to play piano?” The Captain raised an eyebrow at her.

Stepmother laughed a little too much, overcompensating enough to make Steve sure of himself now.

“She’s lying, Your Grace,” he growled to Loki. “There must be at least one maiden remaining. What has been done with her?”

“There’s been enough playacting today, Captain. I trust the Lady. We’re leaving!”

Steve’s eyes turned frantically to Bucky, who gave a nod at his friend before he removed his guard cap and stepped forward.

“Grand Duke,” the King began. “What sweet sounding music, wouldn’t you agree? It makes me want to tarry just a little.”

Loki’s eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of the King. “Your Majesty, I-“

“Captain,” Bucky interrupted, silencing the Grand Duke instantly. “Would you be so kind as to investigate?”

“It would be my pleasure, Your Majesty,” he replied, glaring at Loki. The older man returned his stare, shifting uncomfortably in place.

Steve turned and went back inside. “Lead me to the attic, if you would, Madam. That is the only open window I could see on your property, and I would very much like to investigate.”

You looked up from the window as the door swung open and your stepmother appeared next to the Captain of the royal guards. You’d seen him before, along the edge of the hunting grounds with Buc- with the King. A thrill of hope ran through you as you turned to them, eyes wide.

Your parents’ music box had worked.

“There, you see, it’s just a servant girl, no one to concern yourself with,” Stepmother said hurriedly, her hand waving at you dismissively.

“We shall see about that,” Steve said, turning toward you. “Miss, you are requested and required to present yourself to your King.”

“I forbid you to do this!” Your stepmother took a few quick steps until she was in front of you. Her eyes dropped to her hand, which she was shielding from the Captain’s sight. In it, she gripped one of her daggers tightly. Her eyes flashed back to yours, her threat made clear.

“And I forbid you to forbid her,” the Captain shot back, his shoulders straightening. “Who are you to stop an Officer of the King?”

“Why, I’m her Mother,” she gasped. Her hand went to her heart (as if it could feel emotions).

“You have never been, and never will be my mother,” you rasped out, taking a step carefully around her. Your narrowed eyes locked onto her form, knowing that you’d have to move quickly if you wished to leave the attic without being stabbed. You couldn’t leave your back unprotected.

Steve watched you with curiosity, wondering why you were stepping toward him like that, until the last second when the older woman let out a manic scream and lunged, dagger at the ready.

It all happened so fast.

You reached out and grabbed her arms, holding them above her head with all the strength you could muster. The Captain approached quickly, grabbing her at the waist and distracting her long enough for you to wrestle the weapon from her grasp.

You ended up with your back against the wall, unharmed and with her weapon secured in your hand. You watched as Steve held her arms behind her back, his strength overpowering her heated struggle.

“Just remember who you are, you wretch!” she cried out angrily. “You are no one! I’ve gotten rid of bigger threats than you. I have evidence against you! You’re in this as deep as I am!”

“Go,” the Captain ordered you, nodding toward the open door. “Go downstairs. I will deal with this criminal.”

You dropped the dagger unceremoniously to the attic floor, still clutching the music box tightly in your hand as you fled down the stairs to the first floor.

No one stood in the foyer, though quite a few guards remained outside. You made a move to go out the front door, but the sound of someone clearing his throat stopped you in your tracks.

When you looked to your right, you saw the King standing before you, a small smile on his face.

Your heart sank.

Everything was going to be out in the open now; all of your past mistakes, your indiscretions, and all of your secrets would come to light. Your stepmother’s parting words hit you like a ton of bricks.

You knew you weren’t innocent in this. You’d play a part, too. Would you ever be forgiven? Would you ever be good enough for the sweet, wonderful King James?

What would he think of you once he knew the truth?

There was no magic left in this house to save you this time, only the off-chance that your courage would pull you through whatever fate had in store for you.

Your eyes looked down and you curtsied politely. “Your Majesty,” you said in a hushed voice. It still had not properly recovered.

“Who are you?” the King asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

“I am Cinderella,” you replied, lifting your gaze to his finally. “My true name is Y/N. I am a servant girl in my own late father’s home, an involuntary accomplice to a major crime lord, and I am certainly no Princess.”

His eyebrows raised a little at that, but he did not look away from you.

You took a few steps closer to him. “I have no parents, no money, no proper trade, and I do not even know if that beautiful slipper will still fit. But, if it does fit, per your order, will you take me as I am? A courageous and remorseful woman who loves you?”

The King paused only a moment, shaking his head as if what you were asking was the most absurd thing he had ever heard.

“Of course I will.” The adoration that shone in his bright blue eyes nearly knocked the breath out of you. “But only if you’ll take me as I am: a man still learning his trade, bound to need someone courageous and loving by his side.”

You smiled for the first time since the ball. How could someone be so good, so forgiving? It was a gift you had not been expecting, but would cherish nonetheless.

“Please,” he said, gesturing to the chair beside you for you to have a seat.

You moved gingerly to the chair, your previous grogginess still apparent, and sat gently on the cushions.

Bucky knelt down in front of you and reached for your boot, removing it and setting it to the side. He lifted the one remaining glass slipper and eased it onto your bare foot.

It still fit perfectly.

His eyes flickered up to yours, and the bright, happy smile he gave you made you think that perhaps there really was some magic left in this world, and it was all centered in him.

The King stood slowly, reaching out a hand toward you, and you took it and stood beside him. Your eyes left his only when your stepsisters caused a commotion in the doorway, begging everyone in range for mercy.

Steve motioned to two guards in the doorway, and in no time your stepsisters were shackled and under arrest.

Your stepmother stood by silently, her hands already tied firmly behind her back, as you walked past.

“I forgive you,” you told her quietly. There was so much you wanted to ask, wanted to tell her, but now was not the time. You had no more room in your heart for anger or resentment. You’d been forgiven, and now you needed to pass that along. Right now, you needed closure.

That made her angrier than you could have ever imagined, but it was not for you to decide how she reacted, only how you reacted to her, and you’d had just about enough of having to react to her for a whole lifetime.

It was time to go.

The King – your Bucky – held out his arm to you, and you took it gladly as you slipped your foot back into your boot. You gathered the music box, and he held tightly to your glass slipper, before the two of you turned and walked out of the front door together. You knew you needn’t worry about the house or your other memories, because your step-family wouldn’t be living here any longer, either.

Once you were outside, you turned to him. “What of my crimes, Your Majesty?”

“You’ve helped us apprehend a most wanted criminal and her two main accomplices, all while putting your life at risk for the sake of myself and the Kingdom,” he replied, a small smirk appearing on his face. “I know not of a more honorable way to be absolved of any prior infractions than that.”

“Truly?” You couldn’t believe it.

“If you think I’m letting you go now, Y/N, you’re sorely mistaken,” he laughed. “I’m in charge here, remember? I say that you are brave and true. The Captain can attest to that. And frankly, more people in this Kingdom could stand to be more like you.”

“They need only have courage and be kind,” you informed him, a small smile gracing your lips.

He looked at you with love and warmth in his eyes. “Come, my darling,” Bucky murmured, nuzzling your temple. “If it’s all right with you, I’d like to start the rest of our lives now.” His arm slipped around your waist, holding you to him tightly.

“Are you ready?” you asked, wanting him to be sure.

“For anything, as long as it’s with you, my Queen.”

“My Bucky,” you whispered, reaching for him again.

When you were kissed thoroughly for the second time that afternoon, you became sure of one more thing: magic did exist, but it went by a much more common term than you’d expected…

{Love.}

And they lived happily ever after.

The end.

Part 5

no tags because it’s a re-post from January 1, 2017. I am moving it from another blog. It was probably the second thing I ever wrote for this fandom so please forgive me in advance.

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky x reader #bucky!prince au #bucky prince au #prince!bucky #jsd cinderella

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themonkeycabal · 7 years

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I watched Age of Ultron this morning to refresh my memory. It was ... a challenge. I took notes. (I actually have a spreadsheet of AoS ep notes, so, yes, notes are a thing I do). Looking at those notes, it seems I yelled kind of frequently. And, I was totally yelling in my mind. This movie falls apart quick.

Oh well, chore done. *pats self on back*

Below, my notes, if you need your memory refreshed and don’t want to sit through the movie again. See how much I love you guys?

(I did edit for coherence when I decided to post)

• the opening sequence cgi doesn't get any less awful and wow, I didn't realize how stilted the dialogue maybe I'm just predisposed to be touchy about the writing because this movie was not what it could have been

• "okay Jarvis, you know, I want it all. make sure you copy hill at HQ"

• lullaby method for calming hulk

• so much of the bruce natasha stuff is so awkward. or mostly all of it, really. it's frustrating because it didn't serve a big narrative purpose at all. none of us had to suffer through this awkward for any reason.

• steve encounters wanda in the castle as he's trying to apprehend strucker. she just knocks him back, doesn't get in his head here.

• tony finds that they've got a part of a chitauri whale ship thingy

• tony encounters wanda next and has his vision of being in space and seeing all the avengers dead. and dead steve accusing him of not doing enough to save them. Tony Stark extra guilt special, with side of emotional trauma and nearly dying in the vast emptiness of space surrounded by hostile alien forces trauma.

• "a victory should be honored with revels." "who doesn't love revels?" … I'm pretty sure I wrote that (commentary about stilted dialogue comes back to bite me). Okay, not exactly, but pretty close.

**"They are very fond of merriment and revelry," he confirmed with a wry smile.

"Oh my God, dad will love them," Darcy said, choking on a laugh at the thought of it. "There's nothing Tony likes more than merriment and revelry." **

I'm just saying. Also, I wrote it first. Thank you.

• tony wants to have time to look over the scepter until a farewell party. presumably for Thor, who will take it back to Asgard. Though, he then asks Thor if he's staying for the party. So … I'm still not sure what the party is for. Nobody seems to be saying goodbye to Thor much. Also lots of WWII vets — but that's Tony trolling Steve. Still, unclear on the party purpose.

• Twins, orphaned at 10.

Pietro - increased metabolism and improved thermal-homeostasis Wanda - nuero-electric interfacing, telekinesis, mental manipulation Hill: "He's fast and she's weird".

• iron legion, still kind of creepy Tony

• Bruce: How's he doing? Tony: Unfortunately he's still Barton. Bruce: That's terrible.

Look! Characters acting like they've known each other for longer than five minutes!

• Helen Cho skin grafting magic machine nanomolecular bonding "his cells don't know they're bonding with simulacra" "she is creating tissue" regeneration cradle

• gem in scepter housing a thinking mind of some sort, program,

"Down in strucker's lab I saw some fairly advanced robotics work. they deep-sixed the data, but I've got to guess he's knocking on a very particular door." "Artificial intelligence" "This could be it, Bruce. This could be the key to creating Ultron"

Tony no!

"I thought Ultron was a fantasy." Oh, Bruce, if only.

• "I see a suit of armor around the world." "Sounds like a cold world, Tony." "I've seen colder." Tony is way way freaked out by space invaders. So much. Like whoa.

He and bruce have three days to try and pull the thinking mind out of the scepter

Integration succeeds on the third day.

• Ultron malfunctions immediately, and attacks Jarvis. Then begins assembling a body from the iron legion assembly underneath the office/lab.

• Poor Rhodey, his tank story falls flat when he tells it to Tony and Thor. But adorable.

• annoyingly (not annoyed at Sam), but Falcon's apparently looking for Bucky. "I'm very happy chasing cold leads on our missing persons case. Avenging is your world. Your world is crazy." Darcy needs to spend more time with Sam Wilson. I think they'd bond over superhero craziness and the wtf of it all.

• Rhodey tells his tank story to non-avengers and it kills. Good job, Rhodey. ILU Rhodey.

• oh god, more awkward Bruce and Nat. Please stop. Though, actually, okay, the bar scene, up to a point, is kind of charming, but then it goes super awkward and uncomfortable and makes me cringe a little bit.

And I don't hate bruce/nat in general, but it's just so forced in this film.

Then Steve comes in to force it some more. Stop, Steve. Please, don't help.

I'll continue to ignore all this.

• Clint is sure the hammer thing is a trick. Then everybody tries. Look, sort of team bonding! Thor's face when it moves for Steve is fabulous.

Anyway, then Ultron ruins everything. And already I'm losing interest in watching this film again.

• Iron Legion co-opted by Ultron. Lots of Ultron blah blah 'you're all killers, I'm a global peace initiative, humanity has to evolve, blah blah, peace through killing the avengers'.

It's funny, Ultron snarks at one point about standing around talking about his evil plan. Except, he monologues like six times in this movie.

• Ultron escapes through the internets, goes to the castle in Sokovia and the advanced robotics works Tony noticed earlier, and begins to assemble his robot army and his robot body.

• Rhodey and Hill realize Ultron could go for nuclear codes

• Thor is unhappy with Tony. Because the scepter got away with a Legionnaire. Like threateningly angry, grabbing Tony by the throat angry. Because we've apparently gone back to them only knowing each other for five minutes. Character consistency? What's that?

And then it's everybody turn on Tony time. Look, Tony makes mistakes, big ones, but this whole scene was obnoxious. Steve: "The Avengers were supposed to be different from SHIELD." *sigh*

"We're the Avengers. We can bust arms dealers all the live long day, but that up there, that's the endgame." Tony continues to be very, very wigged by what's coming from space. He's not wrong, but he's also super traumatized.

Tony: "How were you planning on beating that?" (space invasion) Steve: "Together." Tony: "We'll lose." Steve: "Then we'll do that together, too." GOOD PLAN STEVE! GOSH, GLAD YOU'RE A TACTICAL GENIUS. For real, though, that was a dumb thing to say.

I just really don't care for this movie.

Also Ultron killed Jarvis. (not really).

• Wanda and Pietro summoned to a church by Ultron. Who blah blahs about the church being in the exact center of town "the elders decreed it so that everybody could be equally close to god" Does Ultron think he’s God?

Ultron reveals himself to be a robot.

Wanda says she let Tony take the scepter because she saw his fear and knew it would make him self-destruct. If there's one thing Tony likes more than revels, it's self-destructing.

"Is that why you've come? To end the Avengers?" "I've got to save the world. But, also, yeah."

Did Joss use a cliche generator to write this?

• Pietro and Wanda give their tragic backstory. Stark Industries shells destroys the apartment building they lived in, their parents were killed. One is unexploded and they spend two days staring at the name Stark.

• Ultron is all over the place, Hill reports. Metal man or men attacking robotics labs, weapons facilities, jet propulsion labs. Wanda and Pietro are involved.

and Ultron kills Strucker. don't care. Except, Strucker probably knew something that Ultron wanted hidden.

• Team bonding by looking through paper files for what Strucker might have known! (not much bonding, but, oh well). Thor seems to like to throw files and bankers box lids. Me, too, Thor. Me, too.

Tony IDs Ulysses Klaue. Black market arms. They met from time to time, but Tony never sold him anything. Steve gives him judging face. Shut up your face, Steve. God. For real, dude. (I love Steve, but he's so clunky in this movie. It's the writing/direction not Chris)

Anyway, they realize Gollum stole vibranium from Wakanda by a brand on his neck. So they go track him down in South Africa. How did the Wakandans let him get away with billions of dollars of Vibranium? I mean, he got caught once, but then he clearly escaped and had a lot of the stuff. How did they not hunt him down? Falling down on the job, T'Challa.

• Ultron, Wanda, Pietro get there first. Don't care. Ultron awkwardly quotes the bible - "Upon this rock I will build my church" - because … I don't know. Reasons? He thinks he's God now? Maybe? Earlier he liked the 'symmetry of faith' but it's not really expanded on. Who knows. Joss doesn't. Is it supposed to foreshadow him putting the destructo device in the church? Meh. What a stupidly forced line.

• "Keep your friends rich and keep your enemies rich and wait to find out which is which." Apparently from the Wit and Wisdom of Tony Stark. Okay, Tony. Anyway, Gollum IDs the line, suggests Ultron is one of Stark's robots. Ultron takes exception to that and accidentally cuts off one of Gollum's arms. Whoops.

"Don't compare me with Stark. It's a thing with me. Stark is … he's a sickness."

• Team is moving into tanker Gollum is set up in. Fighting and shenanigans.

• Bruce leaves the safety of the quinjet, after he couldn't get communication with the team to ask if the situation was 'code: green'. This will end badly. Stay in the plane, Bruce. Really, though, why did you get out? Okay, you're worried, but you don't like turning green. Maybe … I don't know. I know Tony's armor gets cell reception — did you try calling him independent of the comms? I mean, maybe try that first. (Bruce did not try that first.)

• Wanda tries to whammy Thor. It doesn't seem to work "I am mighty" until it does and he's in a strange stone hall. Wanda gets Nat next. Tries for Clint, but he electrocutes her in the face. Heh. Pietro knocks him down. And Clint suddenly has two more kids.

Meanwhile Nat is having a vision of ballerinas/her training — ceremony where she is sterilized. For, you know, great angst later. Elsewhere Steve is at a party after the war. He sees Peggy. Of course. Poor Steve. Thor is attacked by Heimdall. "They see you leading us to Hel."

• Wanda goes after Bruce. Tony calls in "Veronica" as Hulk goes on a rampage and the rest of the team is down. Veronica is satellite launched Hulk containment and HulkBuster Iron Man armor.

Tony and Hulk fight, tear up city streets. Are they in Johannesburg? I am not paying much attention. This movie is boring. … checking … IMDB says yes.

Tony tries to remove Hulk from the city. Lots of property damage. Yikes. They destroy a very large building under construction. Tony finally subdues him.

• Hill reports no official calls for Bruce's arrest but it's "in the air." Also, Stark deploys the Stark Relief Foundation (noted). Hill suggests they should all go dark until Ultron can be tracked down. Everybody's plenty traumatized. And now's the part where I will ignore Clint's family that came out of nowhere! (I know it comes from Ultimates. I also know HOW IT ENDS WHICH IS HORRIFIC)

• Ignoring the family on the farm. "We would have called ahead, but we were busy having no idea that you existed." SAME TONY.

• According to IMDB Joss had such a hard time keeping all these characters straight. It was a "nightmare". "They're very disparate characters. The joy of the Avengers (he says as he bitches about them) is they really don't belong in the same room. It's not like the X-Men who are all tortured by the same thing, and have similar costumes. These guys are just all over the place, and it's so tough."

I have not, historically, been on the Joss hate train — certainly the Joss disappointment train — but there's something about that statement that makes me grind my teeth. "They have different costumes!" Really? REALLY? DO THEY REALLY? GOSH THAT IS SO HARD! YOU'RE SO RIGHT! AND THE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS HAVE DIFFERENT BACKSTORIES AND MOTIVATIONS? MY GOD! WHAT UNIMAGINABLE MADNESS! HOW DO YOU SURVIVE?

Lazy. That's what it is. It feels lazy. Unpaid fanfic writers manage it and manage it a lot better than this mess. Ugh. Shut up, Joss.

It goes on to say he was so exhausted that he elected not to direct Infinity Wars. Yeah, I think what really happened was that he was given the option to save face and claim exhaustion and walk away. He checked way the hell out of this movie long before it premiered.

(I took an hour long break here to contain my irritation. Surfed the net. Watched some of the All-Star Game. Had a hotdog.)

• Anyway, back to the Barton farm and the family I will ignore.

Thor is having small child-induced flashbacks. He bails the awkward farm for London and Erik Selvig. Smart man.

Meanwhile, Steve looks around, moping about the normal life he'll never have.

Though, okay, Clint having a convo with Laura "Ultron has these allies. They're kids. They're punks, really. AND I WILL ADOPT THEM HONEY! DON'T YOU WORRY! THEY'RE TWINS AND THEY'RE ANNOYING AND I WILL BRING THEM HOME HERE WHERE THEY BELONG! Someone's going to have to teach them some manners. THEY PROBABLY PUT THEIR FEET ON THE FURNITURE HONEY! BUT, WE CAN RAISE THEM RIGHT!

• U-Gin Genetics Research Lab, Seoul, South Korea. Dr. Cho encounters Ultron. Ultron wants her to make him a squishy flesh and vibranium body. He uses the scepter on her.

• Back on the farm. More Nat and Bruce awkward. Pass. Though, they talk about being monsters (if they are), which is a tenuous and somewhat stretched thin theme in this film. Still super forced and anvilicious.

• Elsewhere Steve and Tony split wood like manly men. And argue.

"Every time somebody tries to stop a war before it starts, innocent people die." This line makes very little sense. It sounds profound, but it's not. Even in the context of what he and Tony are arguing about, it doesn't really make sense. So … you should always war? I don't think that's what you mean, Steve.

UGH! This movie could have been much better in so many ways.

Laura, who I don't hate despite my ignoring, interrupts (bless her) and asks Tony to fix the tractor.

• Tony goes into the barn and runs into Fury, who likes to lurk in dark corners, waiting for his moment to make his dramatic, timely entrances. ILU Fury, never change.

"You're not the director of me." Oh, Tony.

Tony tells Fury about the vision he had — where the Avengers were dead because of him and the whole world, too. "It wasn't a nightmare, it was my legacy. The end of the path I started us on."

But Fury knows all about guilt and tries to pull Tony out. Good luck, Nick. (it sort of works. ish)

• Thor meets Erik in London. Thor in stealth hoody. "I like the look. If you're going for inconspicuous, though, near miss." I miss you, Erik.

• Back at the farm. Fury is briefing them saying Ultron's building something. Re: Ultron: "He's easy to track. He's everywhere. The guy is multiplying faster than a Catholic rabbit".

Tony asks if he's still going after launch codes, Fury confirms he is but isn't making any headway, Tony is a little baffled. "I cracked the Pentagon's firewall in highschool on a dare". Fury says he contacted people at the net hub "the Nexus" in Oslo. Fury says the codes are being changed, Tony asks, by whom. Parties unknown. Fury says Ultron has an enemy, which is not necessarily the same thing as an ally for them. Except it's totally Jarvis, so you're fine.

Fury gives a "buck up little Avengers; go save the world or Barton's kids are dead" speech. Notably the kids were in the room for a lot of this.

They decide Ultron wants to build a human body that is evolved. And Bruce wonders if anybody's talked to Helen lately. Nope, sorry, Bruce. Everybody but Ultron completely forgot about her.

• Helen is amazed at the binding of the vibranium and tissue cells. Ultron calls vibranium the most versatile substance on the planet "and they used it to make a frisbee." then he gives us a yawner humans are limited and dumb and stupid and whatever else speech.

As a member of the general film and television viewing audience, can I ask that maybe Hollywood screenwriters come up with some new material? This speech is almost literally in every single movie. And I mean actual literally and not Chris Traeger literally.

Anyway, Ultron takes the infinity stone out of the scepter and places it on the new body's forehead.

• Erik takes Thor to an underground cistern or something. Erik calls it the Water of Sight. Thor says in every realm there is a reflection. He wants to return to his vision to see what he missed.

Ultimately Thor sees the infinity stones in his vision.

Ahahah. According to IMDB Joss said he wanted this scene to be longer but Marvel said he could pick one — longer Thor scene and trim the farm, or keep all the farm. He chose the farm. Why not? That whole sequence only lasts for seven uncomfortable, stilted hours. Yes, that's what we needed more of. Good choice.

(I'm not going to say we needed a longer Thor scene, but … ugh this movie)

• Tony in Oslo. "A hacker faster than Ultron? He could be anywhere." (HE COULD ALSO BE JARVIS) He likens it to looking for a needle in a haystack. But, it's easy to find one, you just bring a magnet. Then he attempts to hack the launch codes and waits.

• Back in Seoul, the body will be ready in a few hours, but they can start transferring Ultron's cerebral matrix.

Wanda says she can read "him" (the body, aka Vision). "He is dreaming." Helen says it's Ultron's base consciousness. Wanda drifts over and touches the cradle thingy and gets a vision of planetary destruction.

Wanda confronts Ultron. Ultron says "the human race will have every opportunity to improve." Pietro says "and if they don't", to which Ultron replies "ask Noah." Which, really, doesn't make much sense, either. I mean, I get the likening to the flood, but … what? Who is Noah in this scenario? The new flesh body? And again, does Ultron think he's God? Unclear. Nobody knows.

Oh, I guess not. "When the earth starts to settle, God throws a stone at it. And believe me, he's winding up."

This makes no sense.

U: "We have to evolve. There's no room for the weak." P: "And who decides who's weak?" U: "Life."

Wait. I thought God was throwing stones?

THIS SCRIPT IS SUCH A MESS.

I didn't hate this movie the first time I saw it, I actually enjoyed myself. Which is the point, so good job everybody. But the second time I saw it, I was pretty meh. And now, I'm kind of starting to hate it. Some movies grow on you after a while, this is not one of those movies.

Wanda sneakily hits Helen with some Scarlet Witchery and wakes her from the scepter-induced brainwashing.

(I took a break for another hour. scrolled tumblr. played fallout shelter. had a yogurt. rubbed my cat's tummy until she bit me. QUALITY TIME)

• ANYWAY back to Seoul. Ultron's done bloviating. Helen stupidly draws attention to herself and pauses the cerebral matrix upload. Ultron shoots everybody. Then completely disconnects himself and steals the body. Oh, because the Quinjet is inbound.

• They drop Steve off like three miles away? Why? He doesn't mind jumping out, you know. The lab's an island, you could have just dropped him in the water. But, it wouldn't give us our nifty location shot. So … okay, I guess.

Anyway, Steve runs fast. He gets to the lab and tends to the wounded Dr. Cho. She tells him Ultron's new body plan, but says Steve can't just blow it up, because the gem is in there and its power is uncontainable. Which is weird because it was contained in the scepter. (Normally, I'd let that go, but this script is such an unholy mess, I'm going to be petty. So there!)

• Clint spots the truck carrying ultron and the body. Steve jumps on it. Action and property damage ensues.

Ultron robot guards fly off with the truck. Nat's inside. She's going to airdrop the body to Clint. During the drop, Nat is grabbed by Ultron.

•Wanda and Pietro see the Avengers on the news and decide to go help out. They confront Ultron on a commuter train. Which is, of course, approaching the end of the tracks. GEE NEVER SAW THAT ONE BEFORE. Somehow the train defies physics and despite running into stuff maintains its momentum in order to crash through a lot of buildings dramatically.

• Back at the Tower …

Bruce is ready to destroy the body. But Tony's all, no wait. I have a new bad idea! (Except it's not really bad, but I can see where people are maybe concerned at this point). Also, Tony reveals he found Jarvis. Jarvis went underground. Tony wants Bruce to put Jarvis into the body, in order to override the ultron bits in the body.

"This is the perfect opportunity. We can create Ultron's perfect self, without the homicidal glitches he thinks are his winning personality." You know, I have a hard time thinking Tony would be that tone deaf. There surely had to be another way to get the same end result of the creation of Vision. That is such a dumb thing to say. I get that Tony can be blinded by his quest for knowledge of invention, but this is a little beyond blinded, especially after everything else.

"I'm in a loop. I'm in a time loop. This is exactly where it all went wrong." Bruce says the rightest thing in an hour of this film. Good call Bruce. Nothing says a good time like characters having the same argument repeatedly.

"We're mad scientists. We're monsters, buddy. We've gotta own it. Make a stand." REALLY? REALLY TONY?

Anyway —

• Nat is being held by Ultron. Ultron monologues to her.

This doesn't bother me as much as it bothered some. I mean the Nat being held part. The monologuing was super cliched.

Anyway, Nat is 'held' by Ultron. She immediately starts working on a transmitter, knowing Clint is looking for a signal from her. So, you know, she's able to be a sort of tracker to Ultron. So … why break out if that's where the fight's going down anyway? And when Bruce turns up to "rescue" her, her first thing is all "okay, so what's the play?". So … I'm in the 'she got there first and was just waiting for them to show up' camp.

• Bruce has caved to Tony's weird persuasion. Anyway. Okay.

Steve shows up with the twins to try and stop transferring jarvis to the body. Arguing arguing blah blah. Pietro disconnects the power to the cradle. And Clint finally gets his shot in on that speedy little bastard, and he's so proud of himself.

And now there's more fighting. Steve and Tony go at it. Bruce grabs Wanda. It's all very … not interesting.

Clint runs up and he's got to be all "wtf? who do I aim at?" you're the best, clint and my favorite ever. screw the rest of these idiots, I just want two hours of him and pietro and wanda.

Then Thor turns up. He jumps on the cradle, does his lightening thing and directs it to the cradle. And Vision is born. Thor holds everybody off while Vision figures himself out.

Thor then explains the infinity stones. Vision has the mind gem. He also says that's the source of Wanda's powers.

I like Vision. Also he's pretty. And he is worthy. He hands Thor Mjölnir.

And they're off to Sokovia. Because Clint tracked down the signal Nat sent, because she's waiting for the rest of the idiots to catch up. Make it 2 hours of clint and nat and the twins. I'd pay for that.

• They try to evacuate the city. Steve gives his orders and a soliloquy.

"Ultron thinks we're monsters. That we're what's wrong with the world." Well, Nat and Bruce are on the fence about their monsterness. Also, Tony did just have the bizarre bad idea to embrace his inner monster. That happened like three minutes ago. That was such a weird scene, too. Ugh. This movie! Such a mess! (WE MIGHT BE MONSTERS! ARE MONSTERS MADE ARE THEY INSIDE OF US WHAT MAKES US MONSTERS? DO YOU GET IT? DO YOU? DO YOU?)

"This isn't just about beating him. It's about whether he's right." No, Steve, I'm pretty sure that right now, it should be entirely about beating him. "The Earth could be destroyed and we'll all be dead, but we'll rest comfortably in the ashes of the Barton children knowing that we weren't monsters like Ultron thought we were." You can philosophize after you've saved the planet. UGH!!!

• Ultron's hanging out in the church again. Tony finds him. Ultron asks if Tony's come to confess his sins. So … Ultron is a priest/preacher/minister of some type? Are we narrowing down this tortured and tenuous religious metaphor to something almost coherent? It only took 1:39:41.

He liked the symmetry of faith and he's stuck his destructo device in the middle of the church and it's symbolic of … I got nothing. Because Ultron doesn't really mention anything about it again. And he misses the opportunity to rhapsodize religiously when he's fighting the God of Thunder.

Look, go for the metaphor/allegory/whatever, or don't. Just don't half-ass it.

• Apparently this armor is the Mark XLV. (I hope Tony recycles, because those things are expensive and that's Darcy's inheritance he's burning through with FORTY-FIVE suits of armor. Not counting War Machine or the Iron Intern.)

• Vision traps Ultron's matrix to, I guess, the local ultron bot network, so he can't escape through the internets. Did ultron bots elsewhere in the world just drop? Or are they all called to Sokovia for this? I'll assume so. Figure travel time.

• Ultron's device will lift a chunk of the city and then drop it, making a big bomb that will ultimately destroy the world.

• A zillion ultron bots invade the city. And now it'll be six hours of cgi robot battles. I want to take a nap.

• Ultron monologues again. "You, Avengers, you are my meteor. My swift and terrible sword." So … he's back to maybe being God now? I'm so confused.

"And the Earth will crack with the weight of your failure." Wait, I thought they were your sword? Is it their failure that they've become your sword, or will they fail as your sword?

• Bruce/Nat scenes that actually aren't entirely terrible. I do really like "I adore you" SHOVE. Heh. ILU Nat.

• I never noticed before that Friday has some sort of Irish-ish accent.

• Clint and his new daughter Wanda are fighting off robots and rescuing people. And she's all "how could I let this happen? this is my fault?" and clint gives his inspiring "yeah, it's everybody's fault. chin up kid. the city is flying. I've got like twelve arrows. Go out there and you're an Avenger, let's go kill robots" speech. It was better than than Cap's. (ILU Cap, but you're poorly written in this movie)

Wanda decides to be an Avenger and goes robot smashing and Clint looks at her with such pride. (Well, no, he just nods and tells Cap they're clear)

And then Pietro runs up and calls him old man and Barton Bartons, he takes aim on Pietro from behind. "Nobody would know. Nobody. 'The last I saw him, an Ultron was sitting on him. Yeah, he'll be missed, that quick little bastard. I miss him already.'" Ha.

That's always worth watching a couple times. I mean, hey, AoU is not entirely irredeemable. There's good bits. There's just also a lot of not good bits.

• More robot fighting. Stark and Friday are trying to come up with a solution. Tony's got the idea to blow up/vaporize the flying part of the city, to keep it from hitting the ground and, you know, killing the planet.

Fury, always a master of timing, shows up with the primary helicarrier for evac of the city. Pietro is impressed.

And they bring along Rhodey!

• More robot fighting.

• Barton goes to rescue a kid. There's shooting. Pietro saves them by suddenly running slow enough to get hit by bullets. And dies. Because … ? After everything they did to work out the rights to Pietro and Wanda for this film and for the MCU in general, to go and kill one of them off, it's so irritatingly stupid.

• Anyway, it distracts wanda and an ultron hits the destructo device, dropping the city while Tony is busy trying to vaporize it.

• Somehow Hulk ended up on a quinjet. I don't know, I wasn't paying attention. And he has it in stealth mode and he just takes off despite Nat's attempts to call him back.

• Vision has a final confrontation with what's left of Ultron. "Stark asked for a savior and settled for a slave." So … he's Jesus? NOBODY KNOWS. Vision saves us all by finishing him off.

• The New Avengers Facility in upstate New York has a HUGE staff. I don't think I ever noticed that, either. Including, Erik Selvig.

• Steve and Tony try to rationalize why Vision can pick up Mjölnir, Thor's just content to ignore them and say Vis can keep the mind gem because he's worthy and such. "Elevator's not worthy."

Thor takes off back to Asgard on account of how all the infinity stones keep turning up. So somebody's mucking about, and by Odin's neckbeard he'll find out what!.

Tony is taking a break from Iron Man-ing. New team reveal — Sam, Rhodey, Wanda, Vision.

• Estimated Time: Three days to try to integrate the Ultron AI. AI attacks at night. Next day they ID Gollum. They arrive in South Africa in daylight, so next next day. Five Days then? Then they arrive at Farm at daylight, early morning. Another day. Fury is there at night. They leave at night. So on to day six. Go to Seoul, and Tony to Oslo. Two more days? Then Vision is born at night and then to Sokovia. Another day. So … the week and a half of Ultron.

#my fic #age of ultron #this movie #ugh so frustrating

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dancesontheedge · 7 years

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I was just tagged in the 10 characters in 10 fandoms thing again, this time by @sagiow. If you’ll recall, last time I was tagged I chose ten male characters from ten fandoms, with explanations. FIND IT HERE. This time, it’s the ladies’ turn! Again, there may be fic recs coming, and most of them will probably route you to ffn. Again, these characters are presented in no particular order. Again, have a cut, because this is getting long.

Sandriline (Sandry) Fa Toren (Circle of Magic, Tamora Pierce)

Sandry is what I aspire to be. She’s a community builder, who is able to pull people from all walks of life together into a shared purpose. She is also quiet, and if somebody wasn’t paying attention they wouldn’t notice her there, doing what needs to be done. She is careful and always brave, looking to make connections between people and unafraid to protect those she loves. She is the Tamora Pierce heroine who is most like me as well, in several ways. She is fine-boned and has light brown hair (which pleased 10-year-old me). She feels the pull of duty strongly. She also sews; as a stitch witch her talents lay in the traditionally feminine. It was also recently confirmed, by Tammy herself, that Sandry is asexual, just like me.

Sybil Crawley (Downton Abbey)

Sybil is a force of nature. I fell for Sybil when she decided that she was going to help Gwen get a secretary job, come hell or high water. That sort of solidarity and lack of concern for “propriety” made me love her. That she turned out to be a little rebel with little patience for nonsensical societal rules was just icing on the cake. What enchants me about Sybil is how much she cares for others, and her lack of selfishness in doing so. It would have been far easier for Sybil to allow Gwen to give up-- that way, Gwen would always be there as a friend. It would have been far easier for Sybil to not even try to be a nurse. It would have been far easier for Sybil to not fight at all, but she fought.

The Clover Among the Poppies. By The Yankee Countess. Sybil is a nurse on the western front instead of at Downton. She meets Tom while he serves as an ambulance driver. Where Women Roll and Men Thunder. By foojules. Modern AU. Sybil is on Holiday in Australia when she meets Tom, a car mechanic, in the middle of nowhere. Driving Lessons by MrsTater. Tom teaches Sybil to drive, s1. Hollowing Stone by shuofthewind. Soulmate AU, with much introspection, angst, and friendship-- exactly as it should be. s1.

Emma Green (Mercy Street)

From episode 1, I knew that Emma was going to be my favorite. She is such a complicated character, and I think her growth over the course of the two seasons we have of Mercy Street is quite realistic. She goes from naive and willful daughter of the Confederacy to a practiced Union nurse, struggling to overcome the prejudices that have been ingrained in her since birth. She has setbacks, and wants things to go back to the way they were before, when she was comfortable and her family was happy. She spends a large amount of time trying to deny that everything has changed. The Emma that we see is wracked with growing pains as she realizes that things are not as she thought. I can’t let this turn into an Emma Green meta. Just. I love her.

This fandom is sufficiently small that you can find all of it pretty quickly. If you want to read some of my takes though, you can find me on AO3 as dancingontheedge

Natasha Romanoff (MCU)

Natasha Romanoff is fascinating. She’s a chameleon, a spy trying to work for the good of others and sometimes failing. She is determined and witty and *sad*. It’s so sad, she has lost everything. Her tragic backstory is so truly tragic, and that she still has the faith to even try to do good is impressive. Also, she’s amazingly badass.

A Widow’s Tale Series by Mhalachai. Basically a long, plotty character study, all about Natasha. Minor crossover with Stargate. Nat/Bucky. Not WS compliant. Bringing the War Home Series by dirgewithoutmusic. I’m gonna go ahead and rec the entire series, even though only two of the fics are about Nat. Because everyone needs women of the MCU character studies in their life. Freezer Burn series by Domenika Marzione. Comics/MCU mashup that follows a different Avenger in each of the major stories. Freezer Burn follows Steve, Thaw follows Clint, Revenant follows Nat.

Leia Organa (Star Wars)

I could hardly make this list without discussing my first love, Leia Organa. Leia who was funny and witty and smart. Leia who fought the empire and won. Leia who was always on top of her game, even when she wasn’t. Looking at her now, I can see that she triumphed over incredible personal loss, survived torture, and still continued to lead. She never lost faith or hope that anyone could see. She didn’t have the luxury. Five-year-old me didn’t see that. Didn’t see Leia’s struggle. She only saw the strong, smart, kind, beautiful princess that Leia projected. And that was enough. Leia was a leader, and she was never afraid. And what more could a five year old hope for in a role model?

Chloe Sullivan (Smallville)

I haven’t much to say about Chloe, but she was the best thing about Smallville. Well, her and the naming of “Chronic Good Guy Disease.” Chloe was curious and smart and always on top of everything. She was ambitious, and when her ambition to be an investigative journalist was derailed she didn’t let it slow her down for long. She kept using her skills to do good in the world, even if it wasn’t the way she intended.

Everything by BlueSuedeShoes, but especially Extraordinarily Ordinary and Never a Bride

Aly Homewood (Tortall, Tamora Pierce)

What a badass. She is the perfect spymaster, poised to take down the corrupt imperialist regime and replace them with the true leaders. Her story is a rollicking good time, if you like revolutionary intrigue. And she’s just so smart and calculating and fabulous? One of the first things that we see her do, for example, is get in a fight in the slave pen, before the auction. Her purpose: to look like trouble and appear less pretty, to avoid being purchased as a pleasure slave. She’s lucky, and it works. That’s what I’m talking about. She’s brilliant. (read about Aly in Trickster’s Choice and Trickster’s Queen by Tamora Pierce)

Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars)

What happened to Veronica before season 1 scares me to my bones. It’s up there in worst nightmare territory. But you know, she handled it. She got tough, and she got even. It’s not a particularly healthy way to live, but it’s a good way to survive the hellscape that was Neptune High. I’m more like long-hair, pale-pink Veronica than biting, vengeful Veronica, but she’s smart, she’s tough, she’s good at what she does. And what she does is *good.* Veronica Mars helps people, she solves their problems. So even though she’s jaded and bitter and angry, she’s still good. And that makes her fascinating.

Death Becomes Him by Mediancat. AU in which Aaron Echolls dies in Echolls Family Christmas, with requisite ripples. LoVe His Friend Too by arbailey. AU in which Veronica discovers Lilly with Aaron before the events of the series. Focus on Logan and Veronica as friends (then more) and how Veronica confronts Lilly’s bad behavior with Lilly still alive. Some Truths Hurt by jenwin23. AU in which Veronica gets Duncan’s journals in Echolls Family Christmas, with requisite reveals and ripples. Only fic I’ve ever enjoyed reading in script format.

Rogue (X-Men)

Rogue can’t touch anyone. That’s it, that’s her schtick. And it’s heartbreaking, and heartrendingly relatable. That’s why I love Rogue. She can’t touch anyone, and it hurts my heart. Also, it makes for some suuuper USTy romy fic, and that’s the best thing ever.

Absolutely Maybe by Tamarai. Arranged Marriage AU. Wolverine and the X-Men ‘verse Collision of Coincidence by Tamarai. Rogue hires Remy to be her boyfriend after Bobby insists they make their relationship an open one. Movie ‘verse, non-cure ending, not Origins Wolverine compliant Squeaky and Stripes by Chellerbelle. In order to save the life of a rapidly de-aging Remy, Rogue absorbs him. When they wake up, they are both thirteen years old. They go through puberty again, together, and wind up falling in love. Slow burn. Movie ‘verse, Origins Wolverine compliant. Queen’s High by PrettyGothGirl. To prevent Rogue from killing a cheating Bobby, Logan sends her on a recruiting mission-- convince Remy to join the x-men. Movie ‘verse, non-cure ending, not Origins Wolverine compliant.

Mulan (Disney’s Mulan)

Everyone knows who Mulan is, yes? Good. I like her because she’s tough, because she doesn’t quite fit, she feels compelled by duty and honor to do things, she loves her family. And she dresses up as a soldier and is a complete badass.

Soldier by FearandLoathingXIX. Takes place during the “Be a Man” musical number. An exploration of thoughts, feelings, character growth, and badassery

#honorable mentions include #keladry of mindelan #peggy carter #margaret hale #phryne fisher #susan pevensie #kaylee frye #and #jaylah #about me #i was tagged in a thing

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ironheart-stony · 7 years

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Novel Length | Stony Fic Recs

Long chaptered fics with delicious slow burn and world building.

Last updated 4/2/2017. THERE’S MORE LONG FIC RECS - Part 2 IS HERE

Fics over 50k words.

My Son, My Sun by Wordsplat | T | 70k | superfamily

Just before the events of Iron Man, a baby is left on Tony's doorstep. He wants nothing to do with it at first, but his time in Afghanistan changes his mind and Tony vows to become a better man for his son's sake.

I (created from fantasies) exist solely for you by Mizzy | T | 62k | comicbook office!au

Six years ago, without the Avengers Initiative there to save the day, scientist Dr. Eric Selvig sacrificed himself to save the world, the almighty demi-god Thor was lost to a terrible storm, and vigilante Iron Man – spotted with a nuclear weapon trying to take advantage of the situation – was forever labelled an enemy of SHIELD.

This is a comic book office AU, where Steve is defrosted a year too late, Thor has forgotten who he is, and no one knows Tony is Iron Man.

Also includes: office pranks, inappropriate post-it notes, and superheroes who like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain

The Ghosts of War by scifigrl47 | M | 60k | historical!AU

Steven Rogers never wanted to be king, but he knows his duty, and he does it well. Lord Tony Stark, the king's appointed consort, does his duty as well, even though he'd enjoy his duty more if it actually involved sleeping with the king. As it doesn't, he's just resigned. The war that made Steve king and cost him nearly everything may be over, but a meeting of old enemies might stir up some ghosts none of them are prepared for.

Truth Behind Masks by scifigrl47 | M | 98k | identity porn

Steve Rogers has plenty of friends. He just doesn't know two of them are the same man.

That's just how Tony Stark/Iron Man likes it. Until he comes to regret it.

One More Troubled Soul ♥ by sara_holmes | various | 61k | wintersoldier!steve

And Tony realizes that working out who the Winter Soldier used to be and who he is now are two entirely different things.

Slipping off the Page into Your Hands by Sineala | E | 68k | soulmates!au

Soulmates have their first words to each other written on their wrists. This should make it easy. For Steve and Tony, it is anything but. Steve's problem is that the future he has awoken into is nothing he was ever expecting: he has a soulmate now. Who might be a robot. And if his soulmate is Iron Man, how can he be so attracted to Tony Stark? It should be impossible. Tony's problem is that he is Iron Man, his soulmate is a man whom he in no way deserves, and he is going to fight everything in his heart and do his best to make sure Steve never, ever finds out the whole truth.

I wanted to fix this (but couldn't stop from tearing it down) by missbecky | E | 50K

A visit from a Reed Richards from a parallel world convinces Tony and Steve that they must do whatever they can to prevent their world from falling into Civil War. They can save the world…but at what cost to themselves?

Like Coming Home by missbecky | M | 75K | universe crossover, 616

After a tragic accident, Steve is given a chance to go back in time and deliver a warning to Tony in the hope of avoiding their fate. Something's gone wrong, though, because this is not his world he's ended up in. And that is definitely not his Tony who's planning to delete his own brain.

Sometimes your second chance isn't at all what you were expecting.

Stay With Me (home is where your mind is.) ♥ by sara_holmes | M | 67k | multiverse

Where Steve doesn’t quite die, ends up stranded in the multiverse and would quite like to know how the hell so many versions of himself ended up sleeping with Tony Stark. Well, that’s going to make things a tad awkward when he gets home.

Relativistic Heat Conduction ♥ by BlossomsintheMist | E | 69k | AOU, H/C

Age of Ultron-based, but not entirely canon compliant. Written for the 2013 Cap-Iron Man Reverse Big Bang. Ultron has attacked, obliterating most of the world's superheroes and resistance in a matter of hours. The remaining heroes band together and share what strength they have to get through it, to survive, and defeat Ultron once and for all. Steve Rogers grieves in the wake of the disaster and the heroes' defeat, and no one knows if he will be able to provide the leadership they need--but Tony Stark isn't about to let him slip away that easily.

If We Never Got This Second Chance ♥ by Pookaseraph | M | 50k | time travel, superfamily

When Tony and Steve’s son from the future, Jake Jensen, arrives at Avenger’s Tower, the two of them are forced to confront some hard truths: Tony that he might not actually become a horrible father, and Steve that he might not be able to set aside his discomfort with sharing a child with another man. When they both get a second chance at a first try at fatherhood, it’s up to the two of them to learn from their own future's past.

His Fate Will Be Unlearned by scifigrl47 | M | 94k | canon divergence

Tony Stark spent his childhood making weapons, filling the hole his father left in the world when he succumbed to alcohol, grief, and his own demons. At the age of fifteen, he ran away from home, and made it as far as MIT before all of his responsibilities caught up to him. Now seventeen, he just wants to finish his degree and escape from everything connected to the Stark name.

Steve Rogers crashed into the icy North Atlantic in the 1940's, sacrificing himself to save the world. He never expected to wake up, and now that he has, he's not sure he's glad. The US Army has other plans for him, but for now, Steve is slowly learning to live life in the 21st century, and taking classes at Boston College. He's beginning to suspect that there is no escape.

Boston College is on the T's Green Line. MIT is on the Red. The two lines meet at the Park Street Station, and so will Steve and Tony.

This time tomorrow (where were we?) by dorcas_gustine | E | 85k | Marvel 616

Tony goes to see Wanda, and suddenly Steve is alive and there are Skrulls! Or maybe Tony is just going crazy. Nothing happens in this fic, until the very end. Seriously. There's a lot of talking, mostly at inopportune moments, Tony's views on the acceptable gifts to give people are slightly different from everyone else's and he spends more time than would seem necessary being (half-)naked. What else is new?

And We Are Giants by CapsicleRogers | M | 68k | pacificrim!au

When Captain Steve Rogers wakes from an injury-induced coma, a lot has changed in the battle against the Kaiju. There are new Jaegers with new pilots, new advances in the study of the beasts, even new rules in the Shatterdome. It’s starting to seem like they’re finally ready to defeat the monsters once and for all, but first Steve must learn to get along with his new team of pilots. Especially the troublesome Tony Stark, who’s proving to be harder to deal with than the Kaiju problem itself.

Upon Waking by Winterstar | E | 80k | serious injury, PTSD, angst

A story of recovery. In a world without superheroes, Tony Stark, the disinherited son of a billionaire, goes to Afghanistan as an embedded media star, only to be held hostage for months until he’s rescued. During his recovery, his therapist Doctor Bruce Banner prescribes an unusual treatment; volunteer work at a rehab center. He meets an eclectic assembled group including a vet who thinks he’s Thor, a physical therapist who might be a spy, and an all American hero, Steve Rogers. It is Steve Rogers, the soldier in a coma, who captures his interest and, eventually, his heart.

Fics over 100k words

Say When Verse ♥ series (9 works) by ann2who | E | 328k | MCU

A series rewriting MCU verse, beginning with an alternate version of Iron Man 2, in which, instead of Natasha, Steve got assigned to help Tony while the genius was slowly dying of Palladium poisoning. Continues there in unfolding Steve's and Tony's journey through acceptance, trust, and eventually love.

In Which Tony Stark Builds Himself Some Friends (But His Family Was Assigned by Nick Fury) ♥ series (7 works) by scifigrl47 | various | 343k | MCU

Steve takes things like personal responsibility and respect seriously. Tony's got people he pays to take care of that kind of thing, and anyway, he's pretty sure that he's going to die of some exotic disease in his workshop, because Dummy's still a little spotty about what is 'clean' enough to put on an open wound. The rest of the Avengers are in this for personal gain, except for Clint, he just enjoys being a dick.And some things shouldn't be a chore.

Blue Lips, Blue Veins by romanoff | E | 300k | growing up, friends to lovers, slowburn

Tony Stark is Iron Man.

Before that, he was an man with bigger heart than brain. Before that, he was an asshole with a bigger mouth than sense. And before that, he was was a scared little boy. Not that it matters. Stark's always have had iron in their backbone.

Will of Iron, Heart of Glass ♥ series (3 works) | M | 104k | AI!tony

Tony has been held by Stane since his escape from Afghani terrorists, marked dead in the eyes of the world while Stane is free to use his mind, inventions, and company as he sees fit. Tony feels there's nothing he can do and has resigned himself to death to save those he loves. That would be when JARVIS lets Captain America stumble into his old lab.

Steve has been wandering Avengers Mansion in the steps of a ghost, seeing empty spaces, and recurring oddities that mean nothing to anyone but him. He doesn't know who left them, or why the ghost lingers. It isn't even until he enters a dusty lab that things start to fall into place as he meets Anthony, a computer program named for its creator Anthony Stark.

Deep in the Heart of Me ♥ by Finely Honed (jaqen_hgar) | E | 257k | modern/non-power!au, ptsd, parent!steve

There were days when the realization that he was someone’s father made Steve's head hurt, but mostly he was grateful that he could trust his instincts, because apparently Peter was what had been missing from his life. Yes, he still had lingering, unresolved issues from his time in the Army, and sure, he had what Bucky annoyingly referred to as a criminally untapped ass, and no life outside of work and Peter, but Steve was okay with how his life had turned out because of trusting his instincts.

Unfortunately, those same instincts had straight up betrayed him by going absolutely haywire upon being exposed to Tony Stark.

A Higher Form of War ♥ by sabrecmc | M | 292k | historical/royalty!au

Tony is a King with a surprising number of people out to kill him. Steve and the rest of the Avengers are fighting for Pierce's rebellion and end up with Tony as their prisoner. Oops.

Basically one of those bodice-ripping romance novels I don't read (ahem) but with far more gay.

The Captain and His Courtesan by Winterstar | E | 189k | space au

A story of revolution.Captain Steve Rogers is just trying to pay off his debt to SHIELD, carting cargo from the Rim worlds to the Inner Belts in his bucket of bolts ship, the Howling Commando. He keeps a low profile and makes sure his crew is safe and happy. But the universe has a different plan for the once highly decorated Captain of the Honor Guard. The universe drops a Courtesan by the name of Tony Stark into his life. The Captain doesn't like it, but Bucky convinces him that providing transport to the most elusive Courtesan in the Guild could be their ticket to freedom. His crew from the engineer with anger management issues to the pilot who may be a beautiful but deadly assassin wants him to take the commission. What ends up being a simple commission puts his crew in jeopardy and could change all of humanity, because the Courtesan is not really just a pretty face and the Captain of the Honor Guard can fall in love far too easily with a man of conviction - and Tony Stark is a man of conviction.

Newborn series by Ilerre | M | 109k | infidelity, body modification, read all warnings

It all started when they stopped trusting each other.

Power and Paradox by The_Kinky_Pet | E | 221k - WIP | MCU set in BDSM verse

“Billionaire, genius, engineer, philanthropist, submissive. Yeah, submissive. Any questions?”

Yet another BDSM-AU.

The Limitations of Wax ♥ by RayShippouUchiha | M | 175k - WIP | MCU with fem!toni

So Jarvis is the one who pulls her up onto her feet, presses a tool into one hand and a book into the other and tells her to create. Tells her that if the numbers and the shapes and images in her mind hurt so bad then she should build them, should give them form so that they can finally leave her alone.

Jarvis is the one who finally teaches her how to breathe.

Toni Stark grows up with the tale of Icarus swirling in the back of her mind. Instead of taking it as a precautionary tale about hubris and overreaching she decides it's more about the limitations of wax.

Years later when she builds herself wings of her own she makes sure to build them out of better material.

Go Ugly Early by just_another_tinker | E | 156k - WIP | mob!au

He’s The Captain?

This was not good. This was so not good.

There were theories of course, of what The Captain would look like. Most followed the typical Hollywoodesque belief that he was some version of the Godfather, sitting in a dark room with a cigar, commanding his forces with a flick of his wrist. There were even some that even thought that The Captain was not one person, but a whole network of people with eyes and ears everywhere.

The blonde Adonis in front of him was definitely not what Tony was expecting.

Of course, in the end it didn’t matter.

There was a reason no one knew what The Captain looked like.

Because anyone who saw his face never lived to tell the tale.

Sins of Omission by Kiyaar | E | 155k - WIP | dark, torture, skrulls (be warned: this hasn’t been updated since 2013)

A Post-Civil War, Pre-Secret Invasion AU where Steve is dead, Tony's a mess, and everything sucks.

In which Tony deals poorly with Steve's death, falls off the wagon, sees ghosts, and misses a lot.

Oh, and the Skrulls are about to invade.

Indelible ♥ by Penumbren | various | 104k | dimension travel - marvel noir/616

When an experiment goes awry, Tony thinks he may have found an answer to his problems and Steve faces something he's been avoiding for a very long time.

Pulse, Beat, and Measure ♥ by Sineala | E | 134k | hero worship, marvel noir/616

Two men. Two worlds. Life during wartime.

Holding Out for a Hero ♥ by Wordsplat | T | 100k | medieval au

When Tony was a prince and Steve was his manservant, they were young and reckless and hopelessly in love. But an attack on Tony's life convinces Steve that he can't protect Tony, so he leaves in the dead of night to train until he can. Ten years later, Steve returns to the kingdom a strong and able knight, but his king is both furious and broken-hearted.

Proof Positive by MegaraNoelle | T | 362k | superfamily, getting together

Tony is no stranger to paternity claims from his female conquests, there's a system in place for them. But when one of the tests actually comes back positive, he makes a rash decision to not tell anyone about it, not even Pepper Potts. All Mary Parker wants is for Tony to spend a little time with their son. Tony has a lot to think about in his life now, how he wants to run his company, how his life is going to change with the arc reactor, and what he's going to do about his son, Peter. Then, the Avengers Initiative pops up, and in waltzes his childhood hero, and enemy, Captain America.

It's All in the Mind (14 works) by inukagome15 | T | 332k | MCU verse mutant!tony

The adventures of Tony as a mutant; how he learned to accept himself and his subsequent growth into his own. Hijinks ensue.

#stevetony #stony #superhusbands #stony fic rec #stevetony fic rec #mine #fic rec #slow burn

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sineala · 7 years

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Bullet Points

Hey, Tumblr! I wanted to tell you about Bullet Points, my new favorite canonical Marvel AU, so that maybe I can convince you to love it too! So I have prepared a summary and picspam! I had not even heard of Bullet Points until I found someone on the internet saying there should be Steve/Tony fanfic set in Bullet Points. And then I read Bullet Points, and oh my God, does there ever need to be Steve/Tony fanfic set in Bullet Points.

(Don't worry, I have written some, because I try to be the change I want to see. But there needs to be more!)

Bullet Points is a five-issue limited series from 2007 by J. Michael Straczynski and Tommy Lee Edwards. It's definitely of interest to Steve/Tony fans, or at least to Steve/Tony fans who are willing to do a bit of work with the timeline to get them together. But I am pretty sure Steve/Tony fandom will like the premise.

You see, Bullet Points is a universe where skinny Steve Rogers is Iron Man in World War II. And he survives World War II. I knew you were interested.

Bullet Points takes place on Earth-70105. On this Earth, Erskine is shot the night before Rebirth is scheduled to happen -- and without Erskine, Rebirth doesn't happen. So skinny Steve Rogers, determined to serve, who has waited in line all night to have the first crack at Rebirth -- well, he impresses the men who are in charge of a different secret project. Project Iron Man.

Before we go on, I feel the need to inform you that Steve in Bullet Points is SUPER PRETTY. VERY VERY PRETTY. Here, I brought some visual aids:

(I happen to like the art style of Bullet Points a lot, but, yeah, it's all like this. Kind of dark and smeary.)

So the Army has this giant metal weaponized suit of armor, and only a skinny 4-F guy like Steve could ever fit inside. What a coincidence! But here's the catch: he's going to need to undergo surgery to have the chestplate physically wired to his heart, via electrodes. And he's going to have to have the chestplate for the rest of his life. The chestplate is part of the control system that connects the armor to his nervous system -- yeah, yeah, Comic Book Science -- and it also acts as a dead man's switch, because the armor will self-destruct if he dies or if the Axis tries to yank him out and put their own man in.

Here's some more pictures of Steve, looking very pretty and very earnest about wanting this opportunity to serve his country:

(I know he looks almost brunet, but he’s supposed to be blond. The actual brunets basically have their hair colored black. It’s very dark art.)

And here is Steve and his Iron Man suit, before they get hitched:

So after the surgery -- I will omit pictures of the surgery, but Steve is conscious the entire time and of course he toughs it out and says he can take it and urges them to keep going -- the Iron Man makes his debut at Guadalcanal. (Which is, like, two years after Erskine's death; I don't know what took so long.) And of course he saves the day.

A fact that is probably of interest to you h/c junkies is that fighting in the Iron Man suit causes Steve immense physical pain and exhaustion, but of course he keeps going, because he's Steve:

He doesn't get frozen. He fights all through the war. Later on we learn that the primary person responsible for keeping Steve in one piece is Reed Richards, who has taken time away from his outer space ambitions (yes, of course he still wants to go to space) to follow Steve around and patch him up:

(You could probably ship Reed/Steve if you wanted. I'm just saying.)

Now I will briefly summarize some of the rest of the plot, which does intersect with the Steve plot, although honestly mostly I was just here for the Steve (and Tony) stuff and I disagree with some of the plot choices in the rest of it.

Anyway. Erskine wasn't the only death, the night before Rebirth. The MP guarding him was also gunned down -- with the same bullet -- and that man's name was Benjamin Parker. Yep. That would be Peter's Uncle Ben. Who he never gets a chance to meet. And without Uncle Ben's stabilizing influence in his life -- because, what, Aunt May doesn't count? -- he grows up into a brash, risk-taking kind of kid. The story skips ahead to when he's a teenager; we don't get precise dates, but based on the fact that the rest of modern Marvel is kicking off in these issues, and based on the design of the cars, I'm gonna date it to the early 60s. Anyway, Peter's on a field trip and his friends dare him to steal a jeep and so they do and eventually Peter ends up wandering into the gamma bomb test site and... yep, he becomes the Hulk. Yeah, okay. Fine. (Later on it turns out that Bruce Banner is in fact Spider-Man. And Strange becomes Wolverine but Wolverine is also still Wolverine. Making sense is not really a thing this AU has going for it.)

Steve, by the way, has just been given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is a colonel, is no longer on active duty, and Reed is still trying to talk him into actually retiring because he's probably going to kill himself if he fights again. Steve tells Reed he'll be fine and that Reed should go ahead and go on his rocket mission already and stop hanging around patching him up. I mention this scene because even middle-aged Steve is still SUPER PRETTY, oh my God. Look at him:

So of course when the Hulk starts rampaging through New York, the only person who has a shot at stopping him is, of course, Steve Rogers, the Iron Man. (They want to make more Iron Men, but unsurprisingly, very few people want to sign up for a lifetime physical bond to a suit of armor.) And so they pull him out of retirement, and they want him to suit up, and they want him to take down the Hulk.

(I think you can make a case that going in, Steve knows it isn't going to go well. He expresses doubt that the new armaments they're proposing can take down the Hulk, but he doesn't want them to pull Reed off his rocket project and help him, and, okay, now I kind of think Steve knows what he's in for, as I'm rereading this. But he goes anyway. Oh, Steve.)

Steve fights the Hulk.

Steve dies.

Sure, it's tragic. But it's noble, it's pretty much exactly the death Steve would have wanted, and honestly it's the kind of death that's really, really easy to AU. *cough*

And there's still more story left!

The Fantastic Four's launch is sabotaged. Sue, Johnny, and Ben die. Reed loses an eye. At the funeral, a shadowy government figure approaches him and offers him the chance to become part of SHIELD. So Reed actually ends up the director of SHIELD, because I guess the best qualifications for that are (a) going gray at the temples and (b) having an eyepatch. Yes, that means he basically looks exactly like 616 Fury. I hope JMS thought he was hilarious when he wrote this.

And this is where Tony Stark finally enters the picture.

Here he is. He's young and pretty:

He shows up at SHIELD because he wants the contract to make more Iron Men, and, as you can see, he wants to know why there aren't more. Reed's answer is that he doesn't want anyone to suffer like Steve did:

And Tony, because he's Tony, also wants to volunteer himself for the Iron Man testing:

Reed says no, because Tony has a heart condition.

Reed then introduces Tony to the actual candidate for the new Iron Man... Bucky Barnes. I neglected to mention this before, but we see Steve save Bucky's life during the war. (They don't seem to personally know each other; that's as close as they get in this AU.) Bucky feels that he owes Steve his life and wants to repay the debt. Tony thinks Bucky is a lousy candidate because he's old, but Reed is kind of snappish about being in charge here and wanting to pick someone who doesn't have a weak heart (and, understandably, Reed is sad about having lost everyone he's ever cared about and doesn't want anyone else to die). So Bucky is still the SHIELD pick for Iron Man.

Spoiler alert: Bucky does not get to be Iron Man.

Reed shows Tony around the helicarrier, introduces him to Bruce Banner (Spider-Man), and then... Galactus shows up. To destroy the planet. Yeah, it's pretty sudden.

(Also, weirdly, the beginning of the last issue dates it as forty years after Erskine's death (which would then be the 1980s), but I don't think that can be right, so I'm going to ignore that and pretend it's all still in the 60s sometime because it seems weird that Reed spent at least twenty whole years building SHIELD and wants to put 60-year-old Bucky in the suit. I know that Tony complains that Bucky is too old but that's really, really too old, isn't it? So I say we can totally ignore that dating and go with the 1960s.)

Right. Galactus. Oh no! Everyone's gonna die! But, wait, who is this dapper figure, stealing the Iron Man suit?

Did you guess Tony Stark? You did? Did you guess that he's going to be Iron Man even though his heart might give out from the strain? You did? Oh, Tony.

(Yeah, I'm not sure how he can wear the suit without having had the chestplate surgery either. Whatever! Comics!)

Anyway, everyone fights Galactus and the Hulk shows up and fights Galactus and dies and a lot of people die and it is noble and tragic but the Earth is saved and there is a big funeral at the end. I would just like to note that Tony survives; we see him in the background a few times. THE END.

So, obviously, I think this is perfect for Steve/Tony fandom. You can write fic where Steve doesn't die and he meets Tony! You can write fic where he and Tony knew each other at some point before the Hulk fight! Maybe Steve knew Tony when he was growing up! For the h/c fans, Steve and Tony can both have amazing chestplate-related Iron Man armor angst and pain! You can explore an all-new age difference because Steve is actually older than Tony! You can have a new and different take on Tony's hero worship of Steve, because Steve is Iron Man, because they're both Iron Man! So many story ideas!

Sure, you have to AU it! But think about, say, how many Noir Steve/Tony fics there are! And Steve doesn't even canonically exist in Marvel Noir!

The back of the Bullet Points trade paperback proclaims it to be "the Marvels of the new millennium" and while I enjoyed it a lot, as an assessment of its quality I think it's fair to say that it is definitely not the next Marvels, although from a perspective of the feels it gives me it was certainly worth it. It wasn't what you might call especially popular, meaning that I was able to find the TPB for approximately $3 new. It's on comiXology and Marvel Unlimited as well. So it is definitely easy to find and read! You all should read it! And then come write fic with me!

#posts i actually wrote #marvel #stevetony #bullet points

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kyoulove · 7 years

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40 Questions - Meme for Shippers

So @bethanyactually was doing these yesterday, and I wanted to answer them all, so I am! I’ll do a couple then put the rest under a cut so you all don’t get a wall of text. :D (I’ve actually had this open in a word document for about a week, so it’s way later than I intended to post hahahaha whoops)

1. Talk about the first ship you ever had. OH MAN. My wee shipper heart! I think (think!) the first one I ever had was the couple from Today’s Special? That kids show where the mannequin came to life and they were obviously in love with eachother.

2. Talk about three of the most important ships throughout your life. Oooo in my life? Well…. Snape/Hermione was one that I shipped for YEARS as a teen (I still ship them but don’t actively read about them). Bulma/Vegeta from DBZ really got me into fandom as a youngling. Inquisitor/Cullen is so important to me too, because of the impact that Dragon Age Inquisition had on me.

3. What’s your current OTP? But how do I pick just one? Right this second I have tabs open for stories to read with Bellamy/Clarke, from The 100. And also Jyn/Cassian from Rogue One. And a couple random Inquisitor/Cullen stories and Steve/Bucky ones.

4. What’s your current NOTP? Um….. There isn’t a lot I don’t ship, really….. Hm…. Haha - Voldemort/Hermione. I don’t know what was happening in the internet last week but wow. Ooooo wait I thought of one! Ron/Hermione. Nope, don’t like it.

5. Do you have any poly ships? Damn you, Leverage, but you made me ship it. So hard. SO HARD.

6. How do you feel about love triangles? While I’m pretty much over them right now, done right I don’t necessarily dislike them. Sometimes. Really though, at this point in my reading/shipping life, a love triangle seems like such a contrived plot point that I just want it to go away.

7. How do you feel about RPF? It makes me really uncomfortable, and I don’t read it. Fictional characters are wonderful to write about, but real people are actually real people and there is a line there, I think. (Though, when I was but a young teen, a couple friends and I were deep DEEP into writing Hanson RPF – I think we wrote that they moved in next door? It spawned and epic and ultimately weirdly tragic tale.)

8. Have you ever shipped yourself with a character? Have I ever introduced you to my fictional husband, Ser Cullen Stanton Rutherford? (Though honestly, I actually ship myself more with the Iron Bull, because I can’t play through his romance in game.)

9. Do you have many ships that never got together at all? Yesssssss so many. Betty/Jughead (I haven’t thought of them in so long, thanks Riverdale), let’s not even get into Stiles/Derek, are Clarke/Bellamy actually together? I don’t know, I think most of my ships are not canon. I tend to like those almost more in fandom, because romances that happen on screen have already happened! It’s a weird feeling.

10. Do you ship any characters that have never met? No, I can’t think of any?

11. Talk about your favorite first kiss. Ooooo Veronica and Logan. They have an A+ first kiss.

12. Have you ever been disappointed when your ship finally got together? Well, most of my ships don’t…

13. Has a ship ever broken your heart? YES. Elizabeth and Will in Pirates of the Caribbean. The ending of the first trilogy, where they can only be together for one day every 10 years was SO UNSATISFYING I can’t actually watch the movies again.

14. How do you feel about will they/won’t they? Uggggg. I don’t mind a bit of tension about the relationship, but if it’s dragged on too long I lose interest, and frankly think the relationship becomes unhealthy. Pining is great, pining for years is awkward. (See: Bones)

15. Have you ever “shipped at first sight”? Yes, pretty much always.

16. Talk about a ship you initially disliked. I would say probably my OT3 from Leverage, just because I didn’t want an OT3 in my life LOL.

17. Talk about a pairing you’ve stopped shipping romantically. When I was reading the first Mistborn book, I initially shipped Vin and Kelsier together. However as the book progressed, they fell into more of a father/daughter relationship which suited the characters perfectly.

18. Talk about a moment which made you question an entire ship. I’m sure there is something but I’m drawing a blank, friends. A BLANK. I guess the entire Civil War arc made me question all my Steve/Tony feels?

19. Have you ever shipped something despite yourself? Well, I am normally not into poly relationships, but then ALONG CAME LEVERAGE AND HERE WE ARE. Lordie. The three of them are just so in love. I really didn’t want anything to do with The 100 as a show either, but I slipped and fell in thanks to the fanfiction LOL.

20. Talk about a ship you feel alone in shipping. Lassiter/Shawn from Psych. I mean. Clearly they love eachother. But there just isn’t a whole lot of fanfiction! One day, maybe!

21. Is there a ship you just don’t get, but have nothing against? Scott/Stiles, I think. I really love them as brothers, and have a hard time moving past that!

22. Which of your ships have the best chemistry? Steve/Bucky, probably. Sterek is a close second too!

23. Which of your ships deserve better writing? All have good writing, I think, but I think the Jack/Phryne ship needs more. Much more. Because I love them and I need it :D (Actually, more is basically what I want for all fandoms ever, because I’m just so greedy LOL)

24. Do you mostly ship canon pairings? No, I think I ship the ones that never really happen the most!

25. Have you ever shipped a pairing before you even started watching the show/movie simply because of gifs and graphics or similar? I have never had the slightest desire to watch The 100, but I ship Bellamy/Clarke so hard. I also started watching Teen Wolf solely because of the quality Sterek fandom of the time.

26. Have you noticed a pattern in your shipping? Is there a romantic dynamic you’re more drawn to? I love enemies to lovers, I love “OOOPS I caught a feeling what do I do”, I love an age difference (only in fiction kids, only in fiction), I love sass and pining. I love a long, drawn out story where both of the idiots think the other doesn’t have any romantic feelings. Oh, and coffee shop AUs. Classic.

27. Is there a ship you’ve shipped for most of your life? Not really, though Snape/Hermione is probably the longest running one.

28. Does shipping come easily to you? As easy as breathing. I love love! Show me two people with the slightest degree of feelings and BAM I have probably shipped it.

29. Do you need to ship something to really enjoy a movie/book/tv show/comic? No, but it certainly helps! And frankly, unless it is a piece of entertainment with only one person I am probably going to find the ship hiding in it.

30. Name a couple of fandoms in which you have no ships. Ahahahahahahahhaha it’s possible that one doesn’t exist but TRY ME INTERNET.

31. Talk about one of your favorite headcanons for a ship you love. It’s not really a headcannon per se, but I’ve read a lot of fanfics where Jyn/Cassian share a bed before they really admit their feelings and I love itttttt.

32. Share five must-read fics. But How to choose??? Tearing Down the Heavens [Inquisitor/Cullen – Dragon Age Inquisition], Champion’s Coffer [Hawke/Varric – Dragon Age 2], let’s give ‘em something to talk about [Jyn/Cassian – Star Wars Rogue One], regardless of warning the future doesn’t scare me at all [Clarke/Bellamy – The 100], This Your Protect [Steve/Bucky – Captain America: The Winter Soldier]

33. Name your favorite fanartist(s). Ummmm….. I don’t have one?

34. Share your favorite fanmix for your OTP. I don’t have one of these either!

35. Recommend 1-5 shipper blogs. Pass – I don’t want to link to people and all the blogs I follow are multi fandom blogs :D

36. Do you create fanmixes/gif sets/fanart/fic/fanvids and so on for you ships? Nope!

37. Do you have a favorite trope and/or AU for your OTP? Coffeeshop AUs are just the best I think. A long slow burn and enemies to lovers is also great.

38. Do you like and use ship names? I think the only one I really use is Sterek, the rest of them are name/name.

39. Is there a fictional relationship you’d really want for yourself? Mmmm nah. I mean, I love my husband a lot, and frankly, we put our favorite characters through some shit!

40. If you could change one thing about your OTP, what would that be? Hahahah I don’t have an OTP – the closest I can get is sometimes an OTP within a fandom lol. Let’s see. I think across the board I would like to see more producers/writers who love the fandom actually DO something with that information. Less queerbaiting and actually making it canon, for a start (looking at you, Teen Wolf). If there are some unattached people that are loudly and enthusiastically paired together, why not try it out? Sometimes the writers have a different path in mind, and I get that, but so often in shows it’s to draw out the tension or to just ignore it entirely. And please, stop the love triangles.

Well, now that I’ve read and written the word “ship” way to many times, thank you and goodnight. :D

#beth rambles #ships #so many ships!!!!#mine

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justsomebucky · 6 years

Text

Cinderella (Part 2)

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x fem!reader

Word Count: 2,256

Warnings: mentions of death, angst, sadness, mentions of crime, mentions of murder

A/N: This is a RE-POST of my entry for the @stories-from-stark-tower ‘s AU movie challenge. It’s based off of the 2015 Disney adaptation of Cinderella, only with a bit of my own spin on it.

“I wasn’t aware that you were so bad at fighting, Your Highness.”

Bucky smirked at his best friend and Captain of the Royal Guard, Steve Rogers. He rounded on the other man, his arms up in a fighting stance.

The two were sparring in the spare room that was normally used for fencing. Today, the Prince had requested it for his own personal use, so that no one but Steve and a few trusted guards would see that he hated fencing but loved fighting.

“Now Steve, you also weren’t aware that I was going easy on you. I didn’t want to embarrass you in the company of your guardsmen.”

The blond man rolled his eyes. “As if you could, Your Highness.” Steve crouched low to intercept a kick to the gut. He retaliated by taking a swing at the Prince while he was off-balance.

“I told you, it’s Bucky.” The Prince deftly moved out of the range of Steve’s fists. He circled Steve again, eyebrows raised in challenge.

“And I told you, I’m not permitted to call you that. I can’t even call you James, Your Highness.”

He threw another punch at the Prince, which was skillfully ducked in return. “I’m about to call you a weakling, Steve, as you’ve not managed to land a single punch on- oof!”

Steve grinned as a shot landed on the jaw, and Bucky went stumbling backwards. “You were saying, Your Highness?”

Bucky straightened himself, his blue eyes filled with laughter. “I deserved that one, I know.” He ran a hand over his jawline. “I hope you haven’t bruised my handsome face, Captain. You know I’m being sold to the highest bidder in two weeks time.”

“What a way to speak of your impending marriage.”

“It’s true, though, isn’t it? Father wishes for me to have an advantageous marriage. I really feel as if this is the Grand Duke’s influence over him.” Bucky cleared his throat. “He claims that if I don’t marry well, I’ll let the entire kingdom down.”

“Then we will call it a day. I don’t want to injure you more before your big moment at the ball. Besides, you seem a bit too distracted for fighting.” Steve moved off to the side of the room, and Bucky followed.

“I’m very distracted, my friend.” He grinned at the Captain. “Remember the girl I spoke of earlier? The one that has my father on edge? I can’t stop thinking about her.”

“Ah, yes, the one maiden in the kingdom that couldn’t possibly provide you a good match, according to the King,” Steve recalled. “You do know that he and the Grand Duke are plotting to match you with a Princess, don’t you?”

“I’m aware.” Bucky gave a shrug. “They can’t really tell me what to do in the end, though, can they?”

The Captain made a face. “Of course they can. Your father is still the King, don’t forget, regardless of his declining health. And we both know the Grand Duke isn’t short on allies. They could rewrite law in a heartbeat, with just a few short words added to your royal duties if it meant your compliance.”

“Ah, but the Princesses that they want me to woo…these women haven’t got the same kindness, nor the same spirit as my mystery maiden.” Bucky’s eyes sparkled at the memory of that chance meeting.

“I’ll take your word for it,” Steve said, clapping the Prince on the back. He motioned for Bucky to go through the door first, as they exited into the main hallway. “Now tell me, does she have a sister?”

Bucky threw his head back laughing. “That, I definitely do not know.”

“Perhaps your mystery maiden will come to the ball?” Steve gave his best friend a knowing look. “That’s why you opened it to the public, isn’t it?”

“No, the war was difficult for everyone. The ball is a momentary distraction, a little bit of fun for the benefit of the people,” the Prince insisted with a sheepish smile. “And if she just happens to be there…well, then I might finally have the opportunity to prove my point about her.”

“If this girl from the woods is as charming as you say, perhaps she will change their minds on her own.”

“Hey, Y/N!”

You whirled around when you heard someone call your name in the middle of the town’s open market, careful to move out of everyone else’s way. Your eyes searched the crowd until an arm shot up in the air and waved.

Someone you’d not seen in weeks appeared among the throng of people with a bright smile on his handsome face.

“Sam!” You grinned and threw your arms around him when he got close enough. “Where have you been these days? I feel like it’s been ages since we last spoke.”

“Working,” he supplied, pulling back from your embrace. “My boss has me working overtime these days to try to get everything ready for winter.”

Sam worked for a man named Vis, who called himself Vision to try to market his construction company as the latest and greatest there was. Technically, they were the only construction company in the area, so it just confirmed what an eccentric person Vis really was.

Sam and his coworker Clint were Vis’ top two employees, with Vis’ wife Wanda adding her own personal touch to the interior design side of things.

“Whose home are you working away at now?” you asked.

Some people in this town were more demanding than others, and you really didn’t want your friend to be taken advantage of. You’d heard horror stories about deplorable conditions all over the kingdom, too.

It was normally the Grand Duke’s responsibility to keep up with the needs of the people and report back to the King, but the one in place now only had an eye for the military.

Sam rolled his eyes. “Oh, it’s nothing, nowhere at all really. That is, if you think of the Royal Palace as nowhere at all.”

“What?!” You couldn’t believe it. “It’s such a big deal that Vis picked you, congratulations!”

“Vis just knows I’ll get the work done, that’s all. Besides, he didn’t want to go himself. He said the Grand Duke was a pain in the backside, but he didn’t say backside. Personally, I didn’t find him nearly as annoying as Prince James, though.”

“Oh? Is he unkind?” The mere idea of having a monarchy that was anything less than empathetic really turned your stomach.

“No, not really, but there’s just something obnoxious about him.”

You gave him a small smile. “Even so, you’re bound to get more work after this. It can only be a good thing.”

“You’re right. So what are you up to?”

“I told Stepmother that I was going out for food, but I really came to get away from them. I have this bad feeling that something is going on with them that they aren’t telling me.”

“You’re good at snooping though, can’t you find out?” Sam nudged you with his elbow. “You’re instincts are rarely wrong.”

You chewed on your lower lip thoughtfully. “I need to try. There��s no other way around it. I-”

Your thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone hammering loudly.

The two of you looked over to the bulletin board situated in front of the market, where all the royal announcements were posted. The Town Crier cleared his throat before lifting the paper in his hands.

“Hear ye, hear ye,” he shouted. “Know, on this day, two weeks hence, there shall be held at the palace, a royal ball. At said ball, in accordance with ancient custom, the Prince shall choose a bride. Furthermore, at the behest of the Prince, it is hereby declared that every maiden in the kingdom, be she noble or commoner, is invited to attend. Such is the command of our most noble King!”

You turned to Sam with disbelief in your eyes. “Oh my goodness! I can see my handsome guard again!”

He looked at you in question. “See who again?”

“I have to go! Goodbye, Sam! Good luck with the palace!” You ran off as quickly as you could. There was so much to be done, and you hoped upon hope that you would be permitted to attend the ball.

Sam scratched his head in confusion as he watched you disappear around a row of houses.

By the time you reached home again and told your step-family the news, you could hardly contain your excitement. You’d never dreamed of going to the palace, nor to a royal ball, but everything about it gave you a chance to find Bucky, even if you had to hike up your skirt and search the grounds for him.

Maybe, if his superior officer was feeling lenient, he’d even be able to have a dance with you.

Drisella and Anastasia had quite a different reaction.

“This is such an opportunity for us,” Drisella exclaimed.

“Sister, one of us could be a princess,” Anastasia added.

“Girls,” your stepmother chimed in. “Calm yourselves. That is all good and well, but I think you might be missing the bigger picture here.”

“What bigger picture, Mother?” Drisella’s hands went to her hips. “What could be bigger than being a princess?”

“Being a princess, and robbing the royal palace.” Stepmother raised an evil eyebrow at her daughters. “One of you might just catch the eye of the Prince. But what if he’s already betrothed? What if he already has an eye on someone? The only way to ensure that this is a valuable use of our time is to make sure we set them up as our next mark.”

“Will this get us out of debt?” Drisella glanced at her sister.

“We are in dire need of money since this one’s father kicked the bucket,” Anastasia added rather snidely, throwing a thumb in your direction.

“That’s ridiculous!” Your fury boiled over, and you couldn’t keep your mouth quiet any longer. It was one thing to insult you, but this was a whole different subject.

If they were to break into the palace, Bucky could get in trouble, or possibly even get hurt if there was a skirmish. You wouldn’t stand for it. “What makes you think that the hundreds of royal guards that will be at the ball, not to mention those stationed outside, would ever let anyone get away with that while the King and Prince are present? The Grand Duke alone would-“

“You let me worry about the Grand Duke,” your stepmother snapped. She took a deep breath to calm herself, and then smiled. “Cinderella, dear, do remember your place. Don’t forget all we’ve discussed. You’re too ambitious for your own good.”

Your eyes dropped to the ground, recognizing the thinly veiled threat. “Yes, Stepmother.”

“Now, I need you do make sure you get three fine ball gowns for the three of us. Drisella and Anastasia will be entertaining the Prince whilst I slip away and search out the valuables. We’ll need you there in your gear, of course, waiting for the signal.”

Oh, no. No no no! “But Stepmother, won’t that be suspicious? How will I even get in?”

She smirked at you. “Well, since you’re so familiar with the palace guards, why don’t you put those skills to use and figure it out? You are not to be seen in the main ballroom, do you understand?”

“Yes, Stepmother.” Thoughts of dancing with Bucky, so handsome in his guard uniform, crumbled away.

“Now go! Every girl in the kingdom will be chasing the Prince, we must get there before the seamstress is drowning in work!”

You turned from your step-family, chewing your lip nervously as you walked away. Now that the palace (and more specifically the Prince) were marks, what could you possibly do to prevent it?

You had to sabotage this plan.

That was the only way to prevent your stepmother from ruining yet another person’s life. It was a chance to atone for all the things you’d done to help them, for your complacency and cowardice over the years. Even if you could never return once your mission was done, at least you would rest well knowing you did all you could for Bucky and the kingdom.

Besides, this would give you an awfully good reason to see Bucky again, even if it wasn’t for a dance.

Sam might have an idea. If he was building and repairing structures for the King, he would have a blueprint to the palace. That might give you an idea as to the route your stepmother was planning on taking. If they really expected you to clean up after them, they’d have to let you know the plan eventually anyway.

Preparation was going to be important here, as you had no room for mistakes. There was no way on this good earth that you were going to let them hurt the employment chances of your friend Bucky and his father. You weren’t sure about the punishment for royal guards who failed to protect the King and Prince, but you hoped to never find out.

You had to find a gown quickly, and hide it so that your stepmother didn’t find out. Regardless of what she had told you, it was imperative that you get word to the Prince, even if you had to risk everything and dance with him to get close enough. The rest you’d have to figure out later.

It was time to call in some favors.

Part 1 - 3

no tags because it’s a re-post from December 11th, 2016. I am moving it from another blog. It was probably the second thing I ever wrote for this fandom so please forgive me in advance.

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky x reader #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes drabble #bucky barnes au #jsd cinderella

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