#marvel comics has really gone to shit

[thankssteveditko]

Sony's PlayStation 5 Presents Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (the third game in the series)

I beat the main story and have enjoyed my time with the game overall! I want to talk about spoilers and things that I liked and disliked in the story, so here's a post with some scattered thoughts.

(Hello! I haven't forgotten that this blog exists! Like I said, no update schedule, I will read more of the Lee/Ditko comics whenever I make time for it. I've actually been sitting on a mostly-complete version of this post since I beat the game in October, thinking that I'd finish the rest of the side quests so I could throw in thoughts on those. But... eh, I'll do that whenever the inevitable DLC rolls around. I just wanna get these thoughts posted.)

Spider-Cop No More

First off: they downplayed the cop shit!!! This was the first thing that really struck me about the game, and I'm stunned that they actually listened to criticism on this. I thought we'd just be stuck with it forever.

It'll never be completely gone, of course. Spider-Man is always going to leave criminals webbed up for the police to take to prison, hoping that they'll do their time and come out the other side as Productive Members of Society. That's just a thing I begrudgingly accept as part of the genre that will probably never go away. But Spider-Man is no longer repairing police surveillance networks. You're no longer beating the shit out of random drug dealers. Gangs of escaped convicts still wearing their orange jumpsuits are no longer terrorizing the streets of New York.

Instead, Peter and Miles are played more as firefighters. Sometimes very literally! They work with firefighters, they rescue people from collapsing buildings, they rush injured people to the hospital. In general there's a huge increase in the number of random onlookers present during the big action setpieces, and the Spider-Men frequently have to save them from harm. One of the major side quest lines is even literally about a cult of arsonists, and you'll routinely find burning fuel tanker trucks you have to extinguish with your webs. It's great! Love this for them.

I also generally liked the side missions in this. There's a lot of good stuff with the Spider-Men being neighborhood heroes willing to help out anyone in need, no matter the problem. Some of them can get corny, sure, but that street level stuff has always been the real heart of Spider-Man to me.

Gameplay

The gameplay's as fun as ever. That probably goes without saying. I will not be spending a thousand words explaining that swinging is fun.

In particular, I really liked the changes to the Focus mechanic. I never loved the way Miles' game made you choose between healing and doing your special attacks, but here your four specials have their own cooldowns, and the Focus meter is spent on either healing or finishers. It still offers that risk/reward element, but those vicious cycles where you can't do any real damage because you keep needing to heal aren't nearly as bad as they were before.

Personally I didn't turn off the swing assist or turn on fall damage, because the streamlined swinging never bothered me in these games, but I'm glad the options are there for people who want them.

Kraven

I liked Kraven in this! I liked the way they leaned into his Hunters being this weird death cult, and him wanting to go down in a blaze of glory against a worthy foe, to the point that he's actually disappointed anytime a foe can't kill him. It riffs on things people liked in Kraven's Last Hunt without being the exact same story. I like that Kraven's gang is renting out this manor or whatever and just being a complete terror to the wait staff. I liked the way Kraven hunting Peter's rogues' gallery clashed with Peter's belief in giving his villains second chances. I liked that they were willing to have Kraven kill off a couple of the minor villains from the first game to sell how dangerous he is. (I know some people hated this, but like, come on. We already fought the Sinister Six. They don't need to do that again.) I like the way Kraven pushed Peter to the absolute brink, turning him more and more aggressive with the Black Suit. Good stuff all around, even if the Hunter enemy types did wear out their welcome a little bit by the end.

The Black Suit arc

I think I liked the way Insomniac handled Peter's Black Suit arc overall, but there's a tradeoff here.

They REALLY lean into the body horror tentacle stuff, with Black Suit Peter basically just being a skinny Venom by the end. The sequence where you play as Mary Jane while the symbiote puppets an unconscious Peter's body around and goes on a rampage against the Hunters was REALLY great at selling how scary Peter is becoming, and it made me completely change my tune on the inclusion of the MJ stealth missions in the sequel. Having to beat an out-of-control Peter as Miles immediately after Peter beats Kraven was also really good. This is all cool!

BUT, the thing is... with the symbiote powers being so freaky from the start, it really pushes my suspension of disbelief when Peter and co. take so long to become wary of it. I guess when you've been bitten by a radioactive spider and given superpowers, and when you live in the same universe as the Avengers and the X-Men, your perception of what's "normal" is going to be pretty warped. But they buy the whole "organic exosuit created to treat Harry's illness" story WAY too easily lmao. How do the self-aware slime tentacles help with his illness, exactly?

And I'm not sure how I feel about giving Peter Anti-Venom powers in the last act. It feels like it's primarily a concession so that they can give players that branch of their skill tree back, but honestly, the designer in me thinks it would be really cool (if risky) to just permanently lock players out of Peter's most powerful skills past a certain point. Yeah, it'd definitely piss people off, but it drives home the idea that Peter's given up greater power because it's the right thing to do. It'd put you in his shoes! Instead he just gets the symbiote powers back, but it's fine because the Venom voice in his head is gone and also the slime tendrils that explode out of his body are white now, which means they're good.

I have to say it. I'm sorry. The glistening white goo... they turned Peter into the Amazing Cum-Man. I changed back to the Classic Suit after rolling the credits and forgot I still had the Anti-Venom skills equipped, so I just saw regular old Spider-Man exploding his white goo everywhere. Terrible.

Assuming Peter is just stepping into more of a supporting role to Miles and not fully retiring after the events of this game, I really hope the Anti-Venom stuff is gone. I get that he needed it to counter Venom, but that's not what I want for Peter Parker.

Miles

Miles is good in this, and I really like his arc where he struggles with whether or not he should avenge his dad by killing Martin Li. I like how all that plays out. Unfortunately, they don't quite stick the landing when it comes to making him and Peter feel like equals in terms of narrative focus. His arc is definitely the B-plot to Peter's for the middle chunk of the story, which I guess was kind of inevitable since they decided to do the Black Suit arc. But Miles does at least get a lot of moments to shine, and by the end he's very much taking the lead as the main Spider-Man.

Becoming the main Spider-Man also gets Miles a new, wholly original suit that ended up being super controversial, and honestly... I kinda like it? Or at least I like what it's going for, even if the actual design could still use some work. It's something totally unique for Miles, and I like spandex/streetwear combo suits like what the Spider-Verse movies have popularized. But showing his hair is really pushing the limits of his secret identity. He hangs around Brooklyn Visions WAY too much for his classmates to not recognize his voice and haircut. And I understand why people would be wary about it becoming his "canon" look moving forward. But I think it's got potential.

On the subject of Miles, though, I will say that while I liked Miles' side missions, it feels like he's often saddled with the game's broad, kinda touristy, kinda token attempts at Showcasing The Diversity Of New York, in a way that Peter isn't.

I like that Miles has a deaf graffiti artist girlfriend that he and Ganke sign with, and I like that there's a series of side missions that explore some local jazz history, and I like that there's a mission where Miles helps a gay classmate ask his crush to prom. I like all these things! I like Spider-Man being involved with his community, and that said community includes such a wide variety of people! I like that this game slows down to savor these types of moments instead of just being all action all the time! But when I step back, I notice some patterns.

Hailey doesn't have a big role in the main plot, especially when compared to MJ, but Miles gets a side mission where you briefly play as her with muffled audio to teach you what being deaf is like. There are no major queer characters in the story - unless you count Felicia showing up for exactly one mission to mention she has an unseen, unnamed girlfriend in Paris now - but you get a side mission where Miles helps out a gay couple at his school, who then never come up again. To put it very uncharitably, they can feel like Very Special Episode missions. It's like the devs going: we're going to give Miles a Gay Mission, and an Impaired Hearing Mission, and a Cultural History Mission, so that we can say we touched on these things, but we're gonna make them all optional and keep them far away from the full-blown Superhero Stuff like fighting costumed villains. Those flavors cannot mix. Meanwhile, Peter gets to have a whole elaborate subplot about teaming up with Wraith to track down fucking Cletus Kasady. There's an imbalance here, and I think it's part of the reason why Peter still feels like the "main" Spider-Man for so much of the story.

I think this was all written with admirable intentions, but as others have pointed out, you can kinda tell that this game was mainly written by some white guys based in California. These attempts at depicting various marginalized groups can feel kind of detached in the same way that Insomniac's map of New York doesn't quite line up with the real thing. But I dunno. I'm not really the one to dig deep into some of this stuff as a white woman from Florida. I would be curious to read others' takes on this.

Maybe I'm just being overly cynical about the writers' well-meaning but corny and kinda out of touch liberal politics because of the podcasts.

The podcasters

I wish Jameson was in this more! They psyched us out by giving him a full character model for, like, two scenes. I like him being MJ's boss, but I wish we saw inside the Daily Bugle offices to get more Jameson.

At least his podcasts are better than the ones in the Miles game, though. Him completely trusting in Roxxon was just too much for me. Here he condemns Oscorp for the symbiote shit, and he also gets some moments where he takes the ongoing crises seriously and isn't just ranting about the Spider-Men. He isn't just a conspiracy theorist crackpot here. Shit like his "fuck Spider-Man, we have a justice system for a reason" speech makes him feel more like a human being with a point of view, rather than just a caricature. Definitely an improvement.

Unfortunately, I still find The Danikast grating. I'm sorry, Ashly Burch. It's not your fault. The quirky heckin' wholesome millennial podcaster lady who catches you up on current events and then reminds you to drink 64 ounces of water a day in the same breath is just too much for me. At least she doesn't have any lines as bad as her throwing in a "damn" and then going (direct quote here) "That's right - no censoring! That's how REAL I'm being right now!" like in Miles' game. Instead they give her this, like, almost psychic insight into the main plot to try and make her the angel on Peter's shoulder. The second Peter gets the symbiote she's like "Wow, y'all. Have you seen Spider-Man's new black suit? Something's different about him. He's been giving me such bad vibes lately. #NotMySpiderMan" Also she's supposed to be this, like, underdog independent podcaster who started her show on a whim and has become the voice of the people... but she's got billboards plastered all over the fucking city. Which makes her feel like an industry plant lmao

Again, there's a detachment with the writing. This is, like, some middle aged white liberal game dev guys' idea of what a modern leftist teenager would think is a Cool Activism Podcast. Unfortunately, because Insomniac thinks Danika's a hero, Mary Jane's triumphant ending is that she quits her job at the Bugle to become a podcaster, too, delivering a thinly veiled monologue about the pandemic to kick off her new podcast literally titled "The New Normal." She's going to save the world with podcasting, because that's the highest form of activism, I guess.

Venom

So! Venom! Venom was... okay.

Surprising no one, Harry Osborn is Venom. Harry's okay both as himself and as Venom, but I'm not sure his arc is a smooth one. He starts out as Peter's comically perfect best friend who returns to reminisce about the good ol' days and hand him his dream job on a silver platter, and then later he becomes a little ball of rage over the fact that Peter gets his symbiote and can't/won't give it back. I'm not sure that pivot is handled the most convincingly. You kind of have to write it off as the symbiote messing with their heads, I guess.

When he actually becomes Venom, I'm... mixed on the execution. On the one hand, the cool factor is absolutely there. He's a very cool big monster, and Tony Todd is great in the role. But he also wants to take over the world and make everyone a symbiote, and aside from any lingering resentment towards Peter, that's really all there is to him. It makes for a good video game to have a bunch of symbiote enemies and creepy symbiote nests and symbiote tentacles climbing up the sides of buildings in the last act... but is that really what I want out of Venom? Probably not. But he sure does look cool as a big monster guy to fight, and I was happy he was briefly playable.

Suits

Part of me feels like there's something lacking about the suit selection here, but almost every suit I liked in the previous games is back, and also I'm the type of person to give Peter the Classic Suit the second I unlock it and use that for most of the game. So does it really matter for me?

Peter's selection feels dominated by the various live action movie suits, but I get that those are going to be some of the suits people want to wear the most. I wish he had the Peter B. Parker skin to go with Miles' Spider-Verse alts, though. No idea why it's missing. Really I think I mainly just want more of the Spider-Verse designs.

Also I've complained about how most of the original suits designed for these games make Peter and Miles look like they were bitten by radioactive Alienware products, but I can just, you know. Wear other suits.

Misc thoughts

Everyone's already made this joke, but it's extremely funny that the Avengers didn't help with the symbiote invasion. Took one look at that and decided it wasn't their problem

On the subject of other superheroes, I do wish these games would acknowledge the Fantastic Four more. Peter's close relationship with that team feels woefully underutilized in his various adaptations

I like the trope of a boss fight that's a heightened version of a personal conflict between two people who are close, where throughout the fight the boss is airing out their grievances while the hero tries to get through to them emotionally. That especially works for Spider-Man! But WOW has Insomniac played that card a lot of times by the end of Spider-Man 2 lol

They're teasing the addition of Silk, I guess? I'm gonna be honest, I don't know shit about Silk, but I guess it was inevitable that they'd give us some form of Spider-Woman at some point. Gotta work all those costumes in somehow, and they're not brave enough to let one of the boys cosplay as Spider-Gwen.

They WERE, however, brave enough to let Harry say he loves Peter. I liked that little moment. They presumably meant it platonically, but clearly ol' Yaoi Lowenthal knows what's up

Post-leak addendum

So, obviously, by the time I got around to finishing this post the big Insomniac leak happened. I wish the game industry wasn't so secretive that it took a massive, dangerous data breach just to get our hands on some very basic info that would be public knowledge if Insomniac was a film studio, but here we are.

We now know that Insomniac spent somewhere around $315 million making Spider-Man 2 - triple what the first Spider-Man game cost to make. A quote about this from a leaked presentation has been stuck in my head ever since I first saw it on Twitter. “Is 3x the investment in [Spider-Man 2] evident to anyone who plays the game?”

To be honest, I'm not sure it is.

I liked Spider-Man 2, but I'd probably say that overall I liked it about as much as the first game. It's certainly a somewhat bigger game, with marginally more realistic looking graphics thanks to the power of the PS5. But I think I could do without ray tracing and more realistic hair rendering and whatnot if it meant that these games didn't take like five years and hundreds of millions of dollars to make. I could not give less of a shit if the swinging animations were recycled between games. I'd be fine with them being shorter, too.

I like these games, but as we look at that leaked project lineup and realize that Insomniac is turning into The Marvel Game Studio, I think about how many smaller, more original games that those resources could go towards if they scaled back the Marvel stuff just a bit. How many Ape Escapes or Patapons or Gravity Rushes could get made for the budget of just one of these massive AAA tentpole games of Sony's, which are apparently barely even breaking even? How many could be made for the budget of the "smaller, cheaper" Miles Morales game, which somehow cost $156 million to make despite using an updated version of the same Manhattan map from the first game? Hell, how many smaller games could have been made with the $39 million that went into remastering the first Spider-Man game for PS5 a mere two years after launch? How many people will lose their jobs if any one of Insomniac's upcoming Marvel games underperforms - which, in this case, could mean selling "only" 5 million copies? And would hardcore PlayStation fans even accept those smaller games at this point, now that they've been trained to only appreciate mega-budget Prestige Games with cutting edge graphics and treat everything else with disdain? How much worse will this get as the graphical arms race continues?

I think I just miss Japan Studio. Fuck Sony. Uhh but anyway the Spider-Man game this post was supposed to be about was good, some writing complaints aside. 8/10

#tsd post #other media

[catholic-character-tournament]

Round 1 - Side B

Propaganda below ⬇️

Matt

Matt's faith in the show is really important and well explored; one of the first scenes of the show is Matt going to confession (or, well, talking to his priest since he's not really confessing at that point). Matt struggles a lot with what he's supposed to do; everyone's telling him to kill the villain and he kinda wants to, but he literally says: "I know my soul is damned if I take his life". He struggles with his faith and goes with his doubts to his priest, and it's beautiful—also when he finally gets a costume for his vigilanteing he chooses to dress as the devil, lol. (His priest tells him that nothing makes people run to Church faster than the feeling of having the devil on their heels.)

a lot of the show is about how he justifies his vigilante actions with his faith, and whether he's doing the right thing in trying to help people or just using it as an outlet for his anger. the literal first scene of the show has him in a confession booth talking to his priest (who is a really interesting character too). this is not the scene I was talking about but it's such an excellent scene with matt talking to his priest: https://youtu.be/XHZ3NbEIDdw

canonically catholic but dresses like a demon to be quirky

honestly i dont wanna type too much but i feel that matt is a great example of someone who battles with his faith because he rarely loses his faith but rather fights with why he was made the way he was and put through what he was. He believes himself to have the devil inside him but believes that God put him there

ok in the comics barring the most current run matt has Mostly been a non-practicing Catholic that very rarely actually does any catholic Activities but ends up falling back into the Mindset and very occasionally dramatically taking confession (ex. in that one issue where he takes confession, basically tells the father that he is uniquely terrible and is thinking about violently murdering someone and when the father says "you can be forgiven" hes like "AUGFH-- NO!!!!!!!!!!" and runs out) when he's gone through some shit. and i love that its so relatable

hello its me cct organizer. i have to come clean, i made this tournament because i need matt to win something. i dont think hell win the sadboy and he lost the ginger tournament and >:( hes my favoritest guy ever. Also @ who said he has religious trauma is wrong and i will fight u about it (nicely) on my main @usaigi

This guy so catholic he spends an ungodly amount of time just chilling in the church. And goes there whenever there is a moral conundrum about killing people being Bad even though it would solve a lot of problems and stop said people from killing other people. This happens every other episode. Matt is the Catholic Guilt Guy. There's actually a lot of catholic stuff in the show as a whole. Just a compilation would be like three whole episodes long.

Hes great hes catholic enough to not outrught murder people but not catholic enough to not fuck before marriage hes a bisexual disaster at all times hes besties with a priest might i add hes great hes my special little guy

his catholicism is a huge piece of his characterisation he was raised by nuns in a catholic orphanage, the first scene we ever see him (as an adult and not a flashback) is him going to confession, he is good friend with his priest and has regular debates with him, etc also in s3 he has a huge crisis of faith after he lost A Lot where he stops believing for a while and it's linked to his identity crisis where he actually wants to kill another person (a hard line he previously chose never to cross) and wants to be only daredevil and not matt murdock, when he is both and needs both to exist also when he was a kid his grandmother used to say "watch out for the murdock boys, they've got the devil in them" and it created a surprising lot of his issues

So he's both catholic in the comics and the show but he's More Catholic in the show. Like, raised in a catholic orphanage by nuns (ONE OF WHICH IS HIS *MOTHER*), second scene in the show has him in a confession box kind. Matt Murdock goes out and gets the shit beaten out of him nightly and also beats the shit out of other people and purposefully leaned into devil iconography as his theme. When his nurse friend says, he takes a lot of punishment without one complaint he says "That part's the Catholicism." It is a Core Aspect of his character (at least in the show). He makes me insane. Also the same chemicals that blinded him created the teenage mutant ninja turtles and everyone should know that.

They went to confession to a priest who they had saved as their costumed counterpart and the guy recognized them by the voice, proving that it's possible and everyone else is just dumb

he takes "i wanna fight god" to new and incredibly violent levels, while also being a sweetheart and a goofball

Actually strictly WILL NOT kill criminals. Goes wayyy out of his way to avoid it. Fights with the Punisher about it. Goes to confession booth after nightly vigilante excursions. Feels so much guilt. "How have you been holding up?" "Like a good Caltholic boy" "that bad huh" - actual conversation with his priest

So Daredevil struggles with his mission as a crime fighter because killing criminals goes against his faith. He makes it a point to not kill criminals, believing that even bad people deserve a second chance. This philosophy puts him at odds against The Punisher, who is a relentless killer. As a Catholic myself, while I love the concept of a morally conflicted superhero, I think the worldbuilding around Daredevil is lacking. If he struggles with violence and killing, why doesn't he pray to warrior saints like Saint Michael, Saint Ignatius of Loyola (a former knight), or Saint Joan of Arc? Why isn't there a community of other Catholics he can turn to for guidance, considering New York City has a sizeable population of Catholics? And why are the churches he goes to always empty? Doesn't he know that the Catholic Church supports the just war theory? I think that would have made his burden more bearable.

He goes to church and confesses to punching people and says "imma do it again can i apologize in advance" and the father dude says "no you're meant to stop now" and Matt says "no" and they do this everyday. I'm not remembering it properly but this is a canon interaction i swear

HELLO HI YES I LOVE HIM AND WILL INFOR DUMP ok so. he is a vigalantty and he got named daredevil and he is an orphan and after the age of 12 was raised in an orphanage at a Catholic church and his therapist is his priest via confession abd. also his mother is a nun he has a whole mental breakdown over god and called Job a pussy because he liked god until he got better and liked god again he said "I'm dearedrvil and not even god can stop that now" and he's so cool

matt is a freakish little babygirl who was raised by nuns and definitely has religious trauma. i hate him so much (affectionately)

he’s literally fucking insane about it i don’t know what to say here. he thinks he’s chosen by god to go on some sort of holy quest to save hell’s kitchen. joan of arc ass.

i already know hes in by default j just wanted to give him a personal shout out i love this angsty catholic dweeb

how practicing he is depends on the run, but in my favorite he is quite literally confessing to a member of the last extant order millitant who happens to be a priest at a church in hells kitchen.

i love him for having the funniest version of a trope i usually hate (person gets into confession booth and asks forgiveness not for what they've done, but for what they're about to do). usually this trope just looks silly to me bc like. the priest would just say "i can't do that" and you would have to either awkwardly explain yourself or just Leave. it's funny when matt does it because fr. lantom is probably like "what are you gonna do???" and matt's like "lol. lmao. 😊 hehehe." anyway we love this angry catholic man who dresses up like the devil to beat people up in hell's kitchen

Harrowhark

I'm pretty sure you've already got plenty of submissions for her so I'll just say she was raised in what is basically a cult (technically a nunnery but let's be real) dedicated to keeping the body of the thing that will kill God behind the rock. One of their prayers is actually "I pray the rock is never rolled away". Harrow is extremely devout as penance for her earlier heretical actions in the tomb as a child (spoiler!) so the Catholic guilt really comes through

imagine being a catholic nun and you meet god, but it turns out he’s a twitch streamer from new zealand who became god because everything got a little bit out of hand. and just before you met him you gave yourself a diy grief-fuelled lobotomy with the help of your best frenemy. imagine how insane you’d be. now multiply that insanity by nine. that’s the fictional love of my life right there.

she meets god. she’s not inspired

she’s number one practitioner of space Catholicism. The locked tomb is chock full of Christian (catholic) imagery themes metaphors etc. just look at her she’s got a bone rosary

They're Catholicism with extra bones. Everyone is a nun. They have what is basically a rosary made from knuckle bones. They technically worship the same God as everyone else, but they're waaaay more focused on The Body in the Tomb (Mary) and we get a moment where we find out that while everyone else prays the equivilent of The Lords Prayer, they're doing the equivilent of Hail Mary. And they paint their faces with skulls.

She thinks leaving dry bread in a drawer is taking care of someone. She's in love with a 10,000 year old corpse (the same one they worship). She spent ALL NIGHT digging with her bare hands to make sure a field had bones every 5 feet so she could fight her girlfriend - I mean, greatest enemy. Spoiler territory: She's been puppeting her parents corpses since she was 8 years old. Instead of grieving her dead girlfriend, she gives herself a lobotomy. She makes soup with bone in it so she can use the bone IN THEIR STOMACH to try and kill them.

The author is/was Catholic and the entire series had heavy Catholic overtones. https://www.tor.com/2020/08/19/gideon-the-ninth-young-pope-and-the-new-pope-are-building-a-queer-catholic-speculative-fiction-canon/ A good breakdown of how it's Catholic

#matt murdock #daredevil #marvel #Harrowhark Nonagesimus #The Locked Tomb #cct polls #tumblr tournament #tumblr bracket #tumblr polls

[atopfourthwall]

I wanna clarify up front that I both understand and agree with the "don't send death threats to creators" and the whole fan entitlement thing... but listening to Zeb Wells gleefully, smugly talk about how funny it is that people care about Ms Marvel and dismissing the criticism of his fridging her is absolutely fucking maddening, and kind of disgusting. Kamala Khan is a character who was massively meaningful to me, and has been massively meaningful to a LOT of brown girls who read comics. The whole treatment of her has been really, really gross - and tinged with more than a little bit of racism, not least of all the whole "Let's bring in the teenage muslim girl for one issue so she can die to save a white lady." Yes, she's going to come back soon, this whole thing is a marketing stunt to make her a mutant and MCU-ify her... which is gross in and of itself, but at least means she's not gone forever... but that's part of the problem. From start to finish the creative choices made for Kamala Khan during this arc feel incredibly exploitative, particularly because she is a woman of color - none of them are ABOUT HER. The creative team have made that abundantly clear, multiple times. Again - I am not gonna send anyone death threats, and no one should do that. But what do you do when creators seem to be actively trying to provoke that response? How are fans who are upset by this supposed to respond to this kind of overtly provocative dismissal of why this is significant to us, particularly those of us who AREN'T really represented particularly heavily in comics to begin with? How are we supposed to get Editorial to understand this is simply not okay when they seem to WANT backlash, and will treat ALL backlash as something positive or otherwise funny? I'm not buying any of the comics about "The Death of Ms Marvel", but I know other people will - and I'm worried that message could easily be interpreted as "People don't care about Kamala Khan anymore", which could lead to MORE mistreatment of her character. As someone who is very familiar with the industry and fan culture surrounding comics - what would your advice be in terms of expressing how shitty this decision was and how specifically terrible Zeb Wells and Nick Lowe's attitude have been to this whole situation?

There really are only two things you can do: -Talk about it - give the reasons why and discourage other people from buying it or anything else related to this debacle. Contact Marvel and say "As a fan and customer, I am upset and you are damaging future sales by doing this." Will people listen? Eh, maybe not, but you can't control what other people do or believe. -Now this is the really hard one, but it's the same one that I've stuck to: actually don't buy it. In fact, don't buy anything with Zeb Wells' name on it. Tell people "Do not buy anything with his name on it and this is why." And you have to stick to your guns on this. "Ms. Marvel is coming back already? No. Fuck you; you have made it clear you do not want me as a customer and my opinion does not matter. So I am washing my hands of this. Unless I can see that you recognize what a mistake this was, I will no longer be a customer. And I will tell others to not be customers." And I know that can be hard because you WANT to support the character, you WANT to read more stories with them, you feel you need to... but you have to let it go. Because otherwise they'll pull this shit again in 5 years because they think they can get away with it. And if they don't hear the message... well, that's their problem. This is their mess - they can revel in it and you're free of it. After all, if they're still producing the bullshit that you hated to begin with, why are you STILL giving them money? And this is why I still haven't bought a Peter Parker Spider-Man comic since One More Day - especially when, like Lucy and Charlie Brown, they keep yanking the football away at the last second for fixing it. They don't want my money? Fine. They won't get it.

[amethystwrytes]

-If I Had Asked-

Pairing: Jungkook x genderless reader

Genre: Romantic. Hurt. Comfort. Fluff. Exes to lovers. Oneshot.

Summary: Jungkook wants to catch up at a mutual friends birthday party.

Warnings: Language. Alcohol consumption and marijuana use.

Inspired by this prompt.

WC: 1.5K

Jungkook weaves in and out of the throng of people in the small apartment. Seokjin had insisted on a small party, but as usual he’d gotten carried away and vastly overestimated the capacity of his flat.

Jungkook can pretend to be outgoing, a crowd lover, if the occasion calls for it, but in truth he feels like his skin is crawling every time he brushes up against a stranger. Normally he would’ve left after wishing his elder a happy birthday and leaving his present, a compilation book of Marvels 100 best comics, on the counter.

However, he has it on good authority that Seokjin invited you here tonight, and that you’d said yes.

Jungkook hasn’t seen you since you packed your shit and left his apartment over a year ago. You hadn’t been the least bit unserious when you told him you were done, you really had been. It took Jungkook a long time to realize that he probably should’ve gone after you. Too long. By the time it had occurred to him, six months had passed, you were seeing someone else, and his window had closed.

He was immature with you, and maybe a year doesn’t make anyone wiser, but he’s learned a lot since then. Like how prioritizing everything over you because he just assumed you’d always be around was his biggest mistake.

His third circle of Jins apartment has him wondering if Namjoon had been wrong - you actually had no plans to come. Then he hears it. He would know your laugh in any universe. If he were in a coma he’d still hear it. It makes his heart ache.

You’re out on the terrace. A vodka cranberry, that’s probably more cranberry than anything, in one hand, a joint in the other. You’re chatting with Jimin, probably catching up, but like an invisible string is tethered, you turn your head and make eye contact with Jungkook through the glass. He see's you tense up for just a second, then you turn back to Jimin, looking like you're about to make a quick exit.

He can't have that.

Jungkook shimmies through the crowd and slides through the door. Jimin notices the change in the very air out on the terrace.

"Jungkook, long time no see," he says, trying to keep it light and charming, but the thick cloud of awkward is expanding by the second.

You look over the terrace out into the darkness, taking a long drag off the joint and blowing it into the air.

"Yeah," Jungkook shrugs, "I've been working a lot, not really had the energy for hanging out."

"For sure," Jimin nods. Then silence ensues. The noise from the party, lulled by the closed terrace door buzzes and beckons. "I'm going to go find Seokjin, see how drunk he is," Jimin jokes and the two of you offer up some forced laughter.

"Here," you say, handing him the joint, "I think I'm good."

Jimin takes it, offers it briefly to Jungkook who shakes his head no, then places it between his lips before retreating indoors like the terrace is on fire.

"Hi," Jungkook finally says.

"Hey there," you reply.

"Why is this so uncomfortable?" he laughs, taking the spot beside you to look out into the night. City lights dot the horizon like blinking stars and he focuses on one that seems to flash on and off every couple of seconds.

"I don't know," you finally answer, "I think these things are always awkward."

"What things?"

"Seeing your ex at a party for the first time since splitting," you clarify. "Though you'd think a years time would've papered over some of those cracks."

"I'm sorry," Jungkook offers, the list of things he owes you an apology for is too long though, "Sorry for letting a year go by without speaking."

"It's fine," you say flatly. "How have you been? Seeing anyone?" you mentally slap yourself for adding that last bit. That opens up a whole conversation that you'd rather not have.

"I've been fine, I guess. Kind of just going through the motions of life, really. Neutral I suppose is the best way to describe it," he says, "and no. I was seeing someone for a bit, but...I don't know. It just fizzled out as quick as it started."

"That's too bad," you say, though you don't sound the least bit interested. You take another sip of your drink and you wish you'd asked Jin for an extra shot of vodka now.

"How's Taehyung? I didn't see him tonight," Jungkook wonders, waits for your answer with bated breath.

"He uh..." you chuckle dryly looking into your cup, "He's in Japan. Took a promotion in the company but had to relocate. He asked me to go...but..."

"You didn't?" Jungkook finishes. "Why not?"

"You know how ill my grandma is," you smile sadly, "I didn't think it was a good idea to leave."

"Are they not taking good care of her at the assisted living place?"

"They are," you nod, "but still."

"So, did you guys like, break up? Or are you doing the long distance thing?" he presses.

"Is this why you came out here? To ask me if I'm still seeing Taehyung?" you wonder, not bothering to hide the confusion or irritation.

Jungkook shakes his head, "I came out here to just talk, ___. That's what I'm doing."

You sigh. "No. We're not doing the long distance thing. We decided it would be better if we ended it, well, he decided," you laugh bitterly. "Though to be fair I think it was less of a 'hard versus easy’ issue, and more of a 'he wanted to be able to fuck whomever he wanted without having to feel guilty for it' issue."

"I'm sorry," Jungkook offers genuinely.

"Why?" you snap your head over to him, "I figured you'd be pleased with that outcome. After all I basically did the same thing to you."

"You didn't dump me so you could fuck other people without feeling guilty," he reminds you, then after a long pause adds, "Right?"

You laugh. "No, that's not why I broke up with you."

"You weren't happy," he says.

"I felt like I was your parent, you treated me like someone who was supposed to cater to your every need and like my job, my dreams were second to yours. That made me unhappy. That wasn't very fair."

"No, it wasn't. I acted like that because that's what I thought a grown up relationship was, that's what I wanted it to be."

"That's unhealthy," you tell him.

"I know," he nods, "and you told me that then as well."

"You never seemed to hear me," you recall. "That's why I left."

"I know," he nods, "You weren't the villain, but I made you into one for a long time. I've always been taken care of, with my family, with my friends - I'm always the one taken care of, and it took me a long time to grow out of that. To realize that a relationship is partnership, you hear people say it all the time but it's easy to gloss over what that really means. I should've realized then, I should've heard you, but instead I just acted stupid, clueless."

"Thank you. That means a lot," you say, trying to fend off the tears.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"If I had asked, would you have stayed?" he looks at you, faces his whole body toward you so you do the same.

You think about it for a moment then shrug, "You didn't ask Jungkook. So I guess we'll never know."

You finish off your drink and turn the empty plastic cup over in your hand. "I need to go throw this away. I should really get going anyway."

He stands there defeated and nods.

"It was good seeing you Jungkook," you lay your hand on his shoulder, "Take care of yourself."

He stands there, listens as you slide the glass door, the dulled party buzzes to life, then lulls back out again, signaling you've made it inside and left him out on the terrace alone.

"Wait!" he yells, turning on his heels and pulling the heavy door. "___! Wait!"

You stop and turn towards his voice, along with the entire room. Everyone goes silent as they all look between the two of you.

"I'm asking now," he says, disregarding the audience.

You stare at him, skin hot from the gazes around the room. You rake your hand through your hair, letting it fall like a curtain around your face.

Jungkook crosses the room, eliminating the open stage that your interaction has turned into. He walks you back into a hallway that leads to Jins bedroom and bath. He backs you all the way up to the wall, his tattooed arms caging you in, shielding you from the onlookers who slowly, but surely, turn back into their own conversations.

"Are you drunk?" you ask.

"What?"

"Are you drunk?" you repeat, breathlessly.

"No," he shakes his head, "I had a coke, I have to be at work in the morning."

You nod. Your hands find purchase on his forearms and you uncage yourself, your fingertips sliding down his arm, tracing over your favorite, familiar ink, then intertwine with his.

You look up into his dark brown eyes, and smile, "Then drive me home."

#bts fanfiction #jeon jungkook #jungkook fanfic #romance #Jungkook x reader #writing #BTS fanfic #ignoring my current projects #trying to write through the block of cement my brain has turned into #exes to lovers #ex boyfriend Jungkook #these tags are wild af

[fryingpan1234567]

malconnor...hcs... for the soul... pls...

oh ANON, I would LOVE to

SO

(AAAAAAA I GOTTA FREAK OUT FIRST MY BOYS)

k anyways

I think at some point Travis comes back to camp to visit, and while he was gone Malcolm and Connor had gotten together

so over the course of the first few days he was like huh that’s funny my little brother made a new friend

huh that’s funny they’re really good friends

huh that’s funny they are making out against a wall “hEY C O N N O R !”

the shovel talk help😭🫠

anyways Travis gets used to it eventually it’s fineeee

I was actually about to write a Home Alone AU for the two of them in which they’re the only two at camp because Malcolm’s dad is on a cruise with his new gf, Connor’s mom is on a mission too dangerous to have company, Travis is at Katie’s family’s for break, Dionysus is back on Olympus, AND Chiron goes off to visit some of his relatives. Bad time for an invasion but yk they handled themselves fine

Malcolm is a California boy FIGHT ME

beach drives with all the windows down help

the parallels… between Percabeth and Malconnor… “I’m so sick of your shit (affectionate)” blond Athena kid… “too bad you get to deal with more of it” dark haired little shit who is taller and loves bugging blondie while they’re trying to do homework… hhrngh the PARALLELS

Malcolm of course finds it attractive when Connor actually uses the brain cells he has… but a part of him will always find it so fucking adorable when Con turns to him with the most bewildered face and say “Mal… my math homework has letters in it”

(bonus: “it’s algebra, babe”

”I dropped out of algebra”

”…algebra is the grade standard tho”

”oh fuck me I have a hard enough time with letters in English”

”let’s…….. put the homework away for now. Mario Kart?”

”OHOHO YOU ARE GOING THE FUCK DOWN PRETTY BOY”

”I THINK NOT, HE WHO ALWAYS PICKS TOAD AND THE STUPID TOY CAR”

”DON’T TALK TO ME DEFAULT SETTINGS LOSER” I’m getting off track I had a very similar conversation with my brothers the other day but it’s fine)

hmm something about Connor being obsessed with the Heartstopper comics and Malcolm loving the Solitaire novel series

they are firm believers they’d win the Hunger Games together too

NOT MAL RECHARGING BY SITTING AND READING AND CON RECHARGING BY WRAPPING AROUND HIM LIKE A SLOTH AND PASSING THE FUCK OUT

symbiotic relationship, Malcolm would say

(another bonus: “shut the fuck up you’re making us sound like Venom”

”we could be as good as Venom if u really wanted”

“we’re better than Venom, baby”)

Malcolm loving the Marvel Comics is just something so important to me

Hermes gripping Malcolm by the shoulders and going “listen. that’s my boy. he pulled a Tartarus napkin out of a fireplace. do not hurt him” and Mal’s just like yeah man I was there

also Athena eyeing Connor and whispering to Malcolm, “is he smart?” and Mal kinda gives a half-nod-half-shrug, Con grins at her like an idiot (it’s giving golden retriever), and just like that she loves him

anyways my boys💖💖💖

#Malconnor #oh it has BEEN A MINUTE #riordanverse #malcolm pace #connor stoll #percabeth

[shipposttt]

Ship of the Day: Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr

Character Names: Charles Xavier x Erik Lehnsherr 

Ship name: Cherik 

Original Content: X-Men (also present in the comics but for the purpose of this post, focused on the movies)

Ship Info:

Before getting too far into it, what you must know is that Cherik is not mainly shipped as a fully happy together ship, these two have gone through a divorce and are only just coming back together after a whole bunch of stuff. Either that or fans are being delusional and  ignoring the canon “Beach Divorce” (will be explained later, don’t worry).

The X-Men franchise is an institution in the comics world, a product of some of the best minds at Marvel in the 60s. Homo Sapien Superior are the next stage of human development, dubbed mutants, these people are born with superhuman powers, from telekinesis to intangibility, super speed to power absorption. Standing as metaphors and representations for oppression, the othering of the non-majority, racism, genocide, government control and the fight for equality, the X-Men have stood the test of time and come out of it as a present-forward moving media.

And at the centre of this media is two figures, Charles Xavier, powerful telepath and creator and head of the X-Men and Erik Lensherr, metallokinetic and leader of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (if going by comics). Two leaders on what would traditionally be thought of as opposing sides, but in the case of the X-Men sphere, they instead play as two sides of the same coin against the true enemy.

The Government.

(Yeah, the writers weren’t playing about with subtlety, were they?)

(And people complain that modern comics are too liberal. This shit has always been here, complainers have just been blind to it. Somehow. I really don’t know how. It is a very much integral part of understanding the world the X-Men live in.)

Charles and Erik meet when they are both in their 20s, Charles recently graduated from Oxford with his doctorate in Genetics and Erik continuing his path of Nazi hunting while searching for the man that killed his mother when they were taken to Auschwitz when Erik was a child. They meet, stuff happens and almost the entirety of X-Men: First Class is just a getting to know you, whirlwind romance summer with a couple of breaks between the flirting and longing stares to further the plot which includes working with the CIA, building a team and, at the culmination of the film, being at the centre of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Ah yes, because we needed more of a reminder that we’re in the mid 60s, it’s not like the USSR being a big deal, or the middle-aged Nazi officers or the young looking Holocaust survivors didn’t do a good job of illustrating this point. 

Thus we reach the height of the movie, the missiles are on their way to Cuba and are currently being held in the air by Erik. Erik views the shooting of these missiles as a betrayal as they have been working with those who just sent the missiles for the duration of the movie and wants retaliation so spins the rockets around and sends them back in the direction of the US and Soviet fleets. Charles is also feeling pretty betrayed but does not believe that the men on the ships should die for it. And in a moment of what is probably one of the stupidest moments of Charles Francis Xavier’s life, he tells a child survivor of the Holocaust that the soldiers who have just fired upon them with the intention to kill them are “simply following orders”.

Yikes, Charles.

They have a grapple across the floor, Erik loses concentration, he wins the fight, regains control of the missiles, continues them on their course for the ships before getting interrupted by one of the X-Men team shooting his metal helmet to break his concentration. He deflects the bullets, cause, ya know, metallokinetic. It just so happens that he deflects one of these bullets into Charles’ back. More specifically his spine. Instantly paralysing him. 

There’s a whole moment of Erik cradling Charles' body and apologising. A bunch of other things happen that ends with Erik leaving Charles on that beach with no way to go home and only a couple allies. 

Thus, the beach divorce. 

It is here that Charles and Erik’s stories can go two ways, because the X-Men movies have fully canon time travel that they used to end the old early 2000’s timeline and restart, allowing them to make more money. In both of these, Erik is arrested for the murder of JFK, in the original timeline he stays there until the mid-2000s and is often visited by Charles. On these visits they play chess and have civil conversations. As elder men, they greatly respect one another and in fact, Erik even comes to Charles’ defence against one of his own brotherhood members when they disparage Charles. Both see that the other is working towards the same goal, they simply have differing opinions on how mutants should get to the equality they are fighting for. Charles believes it can be fostered through education, defanging misinformation and working alongside the human governments. Erik believes that it is too systemic and instead mutants must take their place in the world and not fear or be afraid of humans. By the end of their timeline, they are back to being by each other's sides, any differences are put to the side due to the nature of their existence dwindling. Instead they work together and stay by each other, giving each other comfort in the others continued existence. 

In the alternate timeline, Erik is broken out of prison in the mid 70s by the combined effort of a time travelling Wolverine, Charles, Charles and Erik’s past teammate and Charles’ caretaker Hank and a very young Quicksilver, who is not yet aware that Erik is his father. Though to be fair, no one on that mission knows that. In these films, Erik attempts to build a life, getting a quickly fridge-ed wife and daughter and goes on to build the mutant nation safe haven island Genosha. Charles goes on to found his school for mutants, as he did in the original timeline. This timeline ends with Erik and Charles meeting at a cafe in Paris (romantic, huh) and sitting down to play some chess (yes, chess is almost definitely a flirting metaphor, the amount they do it).  

Type of ship: Queer Read

Despite the fact that all 4 actors who have portrayed Erik and Charles in these movies have shipped them, at the end of the day there was never an intentional move done by any of the creatives to intentionally mislead fans to the idea that a romantic relationship may develop between the two. 

Both characters have had female partners throughout the duration of the movies and yet, neither of them last. Erik’s wife dies simply to further the plot within 10 minutes of introducing her on screen and Charles has a kind of girlfriend who he ends up wiping the memory of and leaving alone. By the end of the timeline, they don’t have any partners and are instead with each other. 

Erik and Charles are so compelling as characters, both separately and in combination and one of the reasons for that is how they act as foils for one another. Differing values, same mission, the utmost respect for each other. They are lovers ripped from each other by tragedy, both in terms of the divorce and in terms of being on opposite sides. But they are not just on opposite sides, instead they lead them and that is one of the most tragic parts of their existence. They love each other, but not more than the fight they lead, the ideas they believe. 

At the end, in 1983, when they both finish their missions, passing them on to the next generation, they come together in the romance capital of the world and play chess together. They come back together after so long apart and simply begin to exist in each other's presence in a way they haven’t done since the 60s.

Admin🦉

#fandom #gay ships #lgbtq community #ships #shipping #cherik #charles xavier #erik lehnsherr #x men #xmen first class #beach divorce

[lpsgirl109]

The Future Avengers Harry Osborn Post

for you @probablynotkat because you requested it

I will preface this by saying that this is my Personal Opinion of what I'd wanna see from an actual FA Harry Osborn arc. I'm not trying to go for comic accuracy here, this probably isn't super comic accurate at all, but I am someone who likes seeing marvel media do new things with its characters.

My vision of FA Harry is that instead of avenging Norman, his arc revolves around his belief that the Avengers are shit heroes that need to be done away with, but unlike Norman, who wanted to outlaw them just cause chaos, Harry genuinely believes all they do is cause problems. And from his perspective, he has valid reason to believe this. There is a literal worldwide broadcast in which a guy from the moon says he's gonna destroy Earth and its all the Avengers' fault, I sincerely doubt Harry has any of the context for that. I also do this because we Sort Of already got evil guy trying to avenge his evil father in this show. It lasted one episode, but even so, I feel like Harry’s arc being about avenging Norman would feel like a repeat of that.

I think Harry is also being fueled by a lot of anger towards his life here. I've always imagined him being like barely 18 when Norman got arrested, forced to drop out of school to take over Oscorp, and is now just really unhappy. He hates Norman not only for who he was and how awful of a parent he was, but for the fact that Norman leaving his life made things worse. It pisses him off. He hates knowing Norman was right that he'd always need him.

I mentioned this in the tags of another post, but Bruno is the main guy who would be trying to help him alongside Peter here. The Avengers aren't Awful in this show don't get me wrong but there's many things they don't handle well. ie. Pulling up on a 13 year old boy fully armed and ready to go just cause they Think he was behind all the kaiju attacks, without even letting Makoto talk to him. ie. Tony genuinely seriously considering letting the government imprison the inhumansjusy to avoid trouble. ie. Tony genuinely seriously considering letting the government ARREST KAMALA to 'make a statement.' Tony kind of sucks in this show. Anyway. I could see him and some of the other Avengers being like well this is just like the other kid who was trying to avenge his dad whose name I cannot remember. He's probably just like Norman. Just, not really putting much thought into yknow. And then you have Bruno who is more just confused. Him not being present for the green goblin bullshit really helps here because he doesn't see a guy being as bad a his father, he sees a guy who is genuinely hurting after his life has gone to shit. He gets it because he knows what it's like to be in pain like that and have no one to turn to about it. I think once Harry is revealed to be [insert villain name here because he is Not calling himself any sort of goblin], Bruno and Peter are the main driving forces to help Harry towards a redemption arc. This would also help the Avengers realize that yeah, they do kinda need to do better. Harry may not know everything about what the Avengers have had to go through throughout the show but he has some good points nonetheless.

Another thing I've thought about is Harry getting on Tony's case for letting the Future Avengers exist at all. Considering they are. Children. In his eyes, someone younger than him should Not be fighting literal wars for Earth. And it's a complicated topic because 1. The kids had Literally nowhere else to go 2. They are the ones who chose this life. Tony was actively against the idea of letting them join the team. It could lead to a brief arc of the kids wondering if they chose to keep fighting because it was right, or if it's just what they were used to, because they were raised as child soldiers. I think at the end of things, though, Harry would come to realize that regardless of what he feels is right, this was their choice, no one else's, and he needs to respect it

Overall Harry is just trying to do what he feels is right, but he's also very troubled and sort of just needs help. Do I see this being something that would actually happen in a hypothetical future season? It depends, MFA can be very hit or miss with its storylines, and as likely as it is for Harry to be larger villain, it's just as likely for him to be a one off character that either never shows up again, or gets brief cameos like Peter or Kei. Really just depends on how the writers decide to approach and how he'd fit into the season as a whole. Anyway, thank you for coming to my rant

#peg speaks #harry osborn #marvel future avengers

[arceespinkgun]

It's rant time! I'm now halfway through rereading Lost Light, wow the pacing is super fast. While I like a lot of the cast of MTMTE/LL on paper, I feel like these series overall are uh, actually really bad and basically have no plot at all. Plot = the meaning that links events in a story. When it's sitcom-like stuff happening it can actually be really fun and not as big of an issue, but every edgy moment feels like it's mainly for shock value and none of the implications of anything are adequately explored. And these implications are usually really negative.

I could basically point to any of the many grimdark moments as examples but I think Skids and his death and what happens afterward are some of the worst. He was the most consistent proponent of typical Autobot values, and he has amnesia for most of the series because he's so guilty and traumatized by feeling like a monster for having been sadistically tortured in a prison camp and feeling culpable for other prisoners' horrible deaths, an experience that was in no way his fault. He eventually becomes suicidal, and the moment there's an opportunity to sacrifice himself to help save others, he takes it and his spark fades and he dies, thinking he's scum.

What happens because of this? Well, we don't even get to see much of his sacrifice empowering anyone. No, Megatron—the guy the prison camp was killing prisoners in the name of—has to save the day. And he doesn't seem to give a shit about Skids, either—Megatron only fights after Ravage gets hurt.

Skids's corpse becomes a prop for Nautica and Rung to cry over, but despite them all being Amica Endura, they never discuss their grief together, and no reason is given for why they don't. Nautica loses her grief trying to bring Skids back, so she never has to work through it naturally. Oh, and if you thought Nautica had to make a hard choice about moving on, deciding whether her feelings for the departed Skids and the still-living Velocity were both worth trading to bring Skids back... nope, her choice means nothing, because by the time she chooses Velocity, the feelings for Skids were already gone. Rung commits suicide at the end of Lost Light, with Skids as the last thing on his mind before he sacrifices himself and crumbles to dust.

When it comes to other characters who were friends with Skids, like Swerve and Nightbeat, JRo just chose to have them take "grief shots" so he didn't have to write them any differently by depicting their grieving process.

No one ever discusses the fact that Skids died thinking he was a monster, blaming himself for the horrific death of Brainstorm's crush, Quark, either. Brainstorm almost certainly knows what happened and doesn't blame Skids at all—they were Amica Endura by proxy!—but nobody ever talks about it. It's also criminal that Nautica and Brainstorm never talk about anything that happened, when her losing her emotions is very similar to something Brainstorm witnessed Chromedome go through, and Nautica almost certainly tried to sacrifice her emotions because the self-sacrificial natures of her friends like Brainstorm and Skids influenced her.

None of this is ever explored because there really is no meaning. It's just meant to be "whump." But because it's never explored, I end up extrapolating meanings like, "So... since no one ever acknowledges any of this shit... is it implying that if you have survivor's guilt it is your fault and you should kill yourself? Is it implying that it's not possible to work through grief in a healthy way and live on?" I know these are presumably NOT the intended readings, but still! I mean, I talked about "The Magnificent Six!" story from the Marvel UK comics continuity a while back—imagine if all the Autobots who had been traumatized from how they were tortured and what they'd went through had never worked through any of their feelings and had just killed themselves... and their experiences or what they'd meant had never been acknowledged again. That would be a really unsatisfying story (and I say this knowing that in at least one timeline, one of the team members—Inferno—did sacrifice his life)!

Oh yeah, and this is all especially garbage given that I just finished LL #15, where Tarn—who was the commander of that prison camp!!!—gets one last posthumous win as Nickel uses a recording of him to escape from Scorponok?! What was JRo thinking?!

#Also JRo really read the UK G1 comics and was like #No Skids leaving his true love and being stuck in a nightmare realm for 100 issues and becoming suicidal wasn't grim enough huh #negative #rant #transformers idw #transformers Skids #my analysis

[that-one-weeb-buts-its-the-main]

Being Franks Daughter in Hawkins pt 8

Gif caption: Top Gif: Frank Castle from Marvel's Punisher Bottom Gif: Joyce Byers from Netflix's Stranger Things

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Reader: 17-18 range | female reader

Characters Mentioned: Frank Castle (MCU), Matt Murdock (MCU), Curt Hoyle (MCU), Karen Page (MCU), Peter Parker (MCU), Dinah Madani (MCU), Steve Harrington (ST), Billy Hargrove (ST), Max Mayfeild (ST), Will Byers (ST), Jonathan Byers (ST), Joyce Byers (ST), Nacny Wheeler (ST), Mike Wheeler (ST), Lucas Sinclair (ST), Dustin Henderson (ST)

A/n: Guys. Halloween Happened this part you know what that means? Demo dogs most likely next chap

Warnings: underage drinking mentioned, also fuck nancy we donf like nancy this chapter

✧▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬✧

The next day, your up, but Frank has work

So your alone at the house

Props to him for leaving a bowl of oatmeal and fruit for you

God you wish you knew how to cook like Frank does

Maybe you could try.

No you'd probably burn the house down.

A phone call causes you to carry over your breakfast

"Always while Im eatin' come on." Y/n playful protest

"Y/n?"

"Oh. Nancy Hey. Whats up-" Y/n asked.

"Here take the phone-"

"Hello?" It was Mike now.

"Oh. Hey Mikey what can I help you with?"

"Will...uh. Told me about you wanna Try D&D."

Y/n smiled, "I wouldn't mind watching over a game. I've never played it before. Oh. But I was gonna ask if Steve if he wanted to go see that horror movie. And was gonna see if Will wanted to work on our costumes."

"Steve?" Mike asked, "You're dating Steve!? Harrington?!"

"Well. Anything can change within a day Mike- but why is that so-"

There was a click.

"Hello? Mike? Nancy?" Y/n asked into the phone.

Okay. Odd?

Guess that means no D&D for you. Sadly

So you dialed Billy, maybe you could see him today.

"What?" He asked crankily

"Oh well hello to you too Hargrove."

"City bird." He realized, "hey."

Y/n smiled, "I was wondering. Could I come over?"

"Yeah..." he answered.

"Really?" Y/n asked, "And. I dont have to sneak in. Or out?"

"Can we talk about this in person?"

"Yeah. I'm on my way." Y/n spoke.

You got dressed and put on your boots to make the trek to Billy's house

Luckily, you still got your leg strength from running and jumping and all that good shit in New York

You ring the door bell and Max answers it.

"Oh. Hey." Max smiled.

"Hey Max." Y/n smied

"Billy's in his room."

Y/n nodded unzipping her jacket, "did you like those comics?"

"Yeah! They were pretty cool. Know where I can get more?"

Y/n nodded, "I have more dont worry."

You walked through the house, following Billy's loud speakers.

Metal as usual, and even though you knocked he didnt hear you, so you walked in.

"Yo Hargrove!"

The music cut as he turned to her a smile stupidly happy.

"Glowing much pretty boy?" Y/n teased.

"Close the door."

Y/n did as asked as Billy came to her, engulfing her in a stupidly tight bear hug. What?

"Good news?"

"He's gone! He's really fuckin gone!" Billy spoke happily.

"Who?" Y/n asked with a laugh.

"Oh come on! I know you did this!" Billy cheered, "Two weeks! Of fuckin breathin' room! Thank fuckin you!"

"What?" She asked in disbelief.

"What?" He asked, her sudden sour mood dampining his, "What! This is great!"

"He's supposed to be in Jail!" Y/n argued.

"He is!"

What? No thats. Thats not possible.

"I. Two weeks?! Two fuckin weeks?! Thats it!?" Y/n argued.

"Its two weeks! He's done breathing down my neck!"

"No Billy! He's suppose to get. Months! Years maybe! Not two weeks! Thats a slap on the hand!" Y/n argued.

Oh it was so hard to argue with Billy, especially when she seen him so happy for the first time

But he was just. OH so happy, that she eventually dropped it

And he tries to remind you its two weeks free of his dad but it just makes you more mad

He doesnt understand this was what you were suppose to do.

"City bird! Hey! Im talking to you!" Billy argued walking through the house as he followed her, "Where are you going!?"

"You don't understand!"

"Understand what?! You did it!"

"Did it!? Did it!? This is a joke Billy! 2 weeks?! My dad went after the people who killed his family! They killed them! Gunned them all down. He got not one! Not two three or four! 5 life sentences! The laws a joke! The System is A joke! You deserve better!"

You go to leave but he slams the door closed before you can open it all the way

Just for him to hug you

Maybe you should just relish in this small Victory after all Billy was Free from Neil for atleast two weeks.

"Im glad you got some freedom." Y/n spoke, "did he look like a truck hit him atleast?"

"More of less around four trucks."

Y/n laughed, "you want icecream? I want icecream."

So there you are both having on the hood of his Chevy Camaro

Thats when you bring up the family dinner

He only laughs

"Never again" oh he's coming, you'll drag him like he dragged you to the store

Also talk about Halloween

He gives you a 'really' look as you say your going trick or treating

"Free candy."

"Free Booze."

Fair enough, it is Billy

But you tell him maybe something childish will help him feel his true potential and he laughs at you

You both just BS and catch up

Yeah you told him your sucking faces with Harrington and he fake throws up in his mouth

"City bird city bird!" He called out face in hands as he leans on the hood "what am I gonna fuckin do with you?"

"What?" Y/n laughed, "I really do like him."

He looks up at her, "He's...I don't know...just seems...like a great match."

Billy gave her a 'really' look.

"What?! Oh come on. Mr. Jackrabbit."

"I own it." He argued, "Harrington doesn't."

"What?" Y/n asked, "Please. I don't think he's a sex addict like you-"

"That's not it." He defended, "jackrabbits hop around."

"What...no." y/n spoke, "Pietro didnt hop around."

"Okay. Okay." He spoke standing straight up, standing infront of her, "If he hurts you-"

"I'll call you. I promise."

He nodded, "promise?"

He held his pinky out for her as she linked pinkies with him, "Promise."

Seems just been away from each other for a day or two you both had alot to talk about.

Then you both driving for a bit and end up at your house

You work on your costume as he sits by the window smoking.

"What the hell is that?"

"My ant man helmet."

"Can't you just borrow his costume?"

That was a good question

Scott was the type of guy to let you borrow his costume for something like Halloween

"Yeah lets call him."

So you called Scott up

"Hey! Y/n! Y/n!" Scott spoke happily, "The one who too easily kicked my ass."

"Haha. Look I have a favor to ask."

"Let me guess, Im the coolest superhero and you need my help defeating someone."

"Well. You are cool. But I need to borrow the outfit. You know. That one."

"Why?"

"Halloween."

"Yeah fair enough I'll have Strange portal it to you." He told, "But hey! You better send some of those snacks you send Peter."

"Did everyone eat the snacks I sent Peter before Peter ate them?"

"Pfft....yeah. yeah we did." He answered, "They were good!"

So you got an orginal ant man suit even if it was a little snug

"Now thats fuckin badass." Billy cheered watching Y/n turn around who laughed.

"You think the kids will like it?"

"Kids?" Billy spoke, "Dont tell me you actually slept with Harrington-"

Y/n shook her head rolling her eyes as she took looked down at the outfit, "no. But my dads with a chick now and I told him i got trick or treating with him. Same with Nancy's brother who asked me."

"So you rather go trick or treating with some loser kids. Than hang out with me."

"Yes. I would very much." Y/n teased causing him to laugh and roll his eyes playfully, "Don't worry Hargrove you be jealous after the fact I get free candy."

You end up taking the suit off for now, and hanging it up.

Just for Peter to come through your window unannounced and over excited.

"Y/n! There's a Radioshack here! And Man you should web sling through the trees with me! Hence the outfit of you know Spiderman but Oh! My God! It's amazing-"

There Peter stands, spiderman mask gone and suit on as he looks at the two of you in the toom.

"And...you have a friend over- Im Peter! Well Spider Man!- Hi?"

So there goes Billy knowing another superhero identity

Also great for two of your best friends to meet finally

Peters surpised there's no line of questioning just to figure out Billy's already asked you all the usual questions when he found out about you

So you all end up hanging out at your house and basically you both get to tell stories about badass fights and aliens and what not

Yet the day runs out, and Frank ends up coming home meaning the others are probably gonna come over soon

Joyce and Will come over with the gang,

Everyone comes just to hang out, talking bullshit catching up so more

You show Will your room while Matt talks with Billy

"Pretty sick right-"

"Is that your coustume!?" He cheered.

"Yeah it is." Y/n smiled,

"can I put the helmet on?!"

"Hah. Yeah come on I'll help you."

You help Will put the helemt on, its too big for him so he has to hold the sides to see out the eye holes but he's amazed by it

"You look Avenger ready." Y/n smiled.

"You think?" He asked as Y/n pressed the side opening the mask up as he held a smile. "It opens too!"

You had no idea how happy Joyce actually was with Will being so vocal towards you

You dont remember yourself as a kid much but you wonder if you were anything like Will

Quiet but when excited when talking about something of intrest

And he told you all about his costumes

Then proceeded to go into the full entire lore of Ghost Busters

Which you didnt even know exist

You didnt even realize you fell asleep until you woke up early the next day

They put Will on a cot besides your bed, so that must've ment Joyce stayed over, and Peter was on the floor besides Will's cot.

You got out of bed and went into the living room just to see that supposedly everyone had past out in the living room and that included Billy.

You almost laughed actually

Matt was leaning against Frank who was leaning against him

So you went searching for the Polaroid camera

Founding it and full of film you went to take a picture

And Matt must've been so knocked out that he didnt even React.

But Billy did as he flinched awake

"Morin'"

"Mhm...yeah..." he groaned standing up stretching himself out as his bones cracked.

"You hungry?"

"Gimmie five mintues to wake up first damn."

"I'll take it as a yes."

So you started making everyone breakfast

Billy ended up helping you because he litterally watched you almost knock down a pan of hot bacon greese twice and you've barely even started.

And a soft knock causes you to get the door.

Its Steve. With flowers.

"Happy Halloween." He speaks with a smile, "For you."

"Thanks., Happy Halloween to you too," Y/n smiled looking at the orange and yellow sunflowers, "they're pretty."

"Just like you."

That made you giggle, Ew giggle?

Billy swears he'll puke in he hears you giggle again and you'd be right beside him puking your brains out

Steve's pretty pissed when he walks in and sees Billy cooking breakfast as you quickly put your flowers in a vase

"Last time I seen both of you together it was-"

"At the dinner." They both answered.

Y/n smiled, it was nice to have them around together

Though they really hated each other.

They enjoyed you attempt at breakfast

It wasnt a crazy breakfast just simple bacon, eggs and toast.

"Not bad." Billy complimented.

"Thanks." Y/n spoke, "Thought I would of burnt it."

"Just the toast." Steve teased causing Y/n to chuckle, "Burnt toast ends are good."

Y/n smiled poking at her eggs, "I'll have to remember that."

Steve smiled at her, as she held her smile back. The two catching eyes, locking and holding one anothers gaze.

Billy only rolls his eyes at the both of you

He just has a bad vibe off Steve

And that goes both ways

Soon everyone starts waking up and you get them coffee and breakfast

You get the Polaroid camera and take pictures of everyone

Madnai and Billy sitting next to each other of course show the bird

"My brother likes cameras." Will spoke sitting besides Y/n with his breakfast, they sitting on the porch together on the stairs.

Y/n smiled drinking some of the coffee, "Yeah? If he's anything like you, we could be good friends."

Will nodded looking down at his plate, the cold stealing heat from the food.

"You...lived in New York."

"Yes I did." Y/n spoke, "All my life almost."

"You've seen. Werid stuff?" Will asked, "Like. Stuff that's...scary?"

Y/n looked down at her mug, "...Yeah...I do."

"Do you dream about it?"

"All the time." Y/n answered, "what about you? Have any bad dreams?"

"Not last night." He answered.

"But before?"

Will nodded, "I get worried Im gonna hurt someone."

"Thats the good thing about nightmares." Y/n spoke, "they cant hurt anyone. Not anyone out here."

He nods as Y/n smiled, "So. What houses are we going after first? I know in New York the rich families always give out full bars."

"Here too. Same houses every year."

You both go inside, Will wanting some more eggs.

Joyce is glad to hear Will has no nightmares, its not often and she even jokes that she'd have to start having him have sleep over with you more

Its just a good time all around.

Billy's given up on convicing you to go to a party instead of trick or treating but did tell you where the party would be just in case

He leaves after a time, saying he had to check on his "shit head sister" you two quickly linking Pinkies before he leaving

"What was that?" Steve asked as they walked into her room.

"Handshake in a way." Y/n spoke.

"Bye Y/n!"

"Bye Will! Bye Joyce! I'll pick up Will in a few!" She called.

Y/n pulled the hanger down with the costume on it

"We don't have a handshake." Steve commented.

Y/n chuckled, "did you want to make one?"

"I wouldn't mind-" Steve started, as he turned around she getting undressed to put the suit on.

"I just thought it'd be cool. You know. With dating an all...plus. dont think any other girl would want to have a secret handshake."

A zipper was heard before Y/n's footsteps and he turned around: seeing her in full deep red leather with an accent of black.

"You look. Wow." Steve started looking at her in awe, "wow...is that-"

"Leather?" Y/n asked, "sure we can call it leather."

"You look."

Y/n raised a brow.

"Wow."

Okay is he gonna stop saying Wow now?

You can only laugh and walk out the room with the helmet in hand.

Apparently Peter's coming too because he's now in a toned down spiderman suit like the classic instead of the superfancy shiney one

"Whattya think? Think I could tag along?"

"I think your tags showing."

"What!? Really!? Aw man!"

Steve almost feels left out, but he said he was going to a party so not to really feel bad about it

You leave with Parker and Steve at your side bur before you do.

"Matt you're coming."

"Yeah alright."

Just drag Matt Murdock along on all your silly adventures

No you really just need him to flirt with Mrs.Wheeler so you can sneak Mike out the back door

Saying bye to Steve you kiss him quickly and then your on your way

"No daredevil outfit?" Y/n questioned Matt clearing his throat, "its on under your suit isn't it."

"Just in case."

"In case what? A tree attacks us?" Peter asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Just incase Y/n goes insane."

You only laugh at that and park infront of the Wheelers, getting out as Matt gets out with ease

"Act like your not blind. Just keep the glasses on and flirt with her. I'll go around back and Peter will keep the car going."

"Yeah yeah. Go go."

Operation break the kid out of his basement a go.

You quickly ran around back while Matt went to sweet talk Mrs.Wheeler

"Well...Hello." Mrs.Wheeler spoke with a smile, Matt smiling back.

"Hello. Ms?"

"Mrs. Wheeler. Karen Wheeler." She spoke, yeah sounds like she wouldnt be Mrs. For much longer talking like that.

You knock on Mikes basement door that leads to the back as he opens it seeing Three boys there.

"YOU'RE-"

"Shh!" Y/n shushed opening the helmet, "Sinclair, Wheeler- hi new kid."

"You're from the supermarket! Remember me? Dustin Dustin Henderson."

"Oh. Yeah. Hi. Now hurry up Mrs.Wheeler dosen't exactly like me."

They rushed to follow you and while Matt quickly said his goodbyes after painfully flirting with Mrs.Wheeler they all quickly got to the truck

"Come on we gotta go get Max!" Y/n spoke, taking the helmet off, "hold this would you Henderson?"

They all wanna wear it. They know your not all the really heros but damn. You do look it

You guys go pick up max, then Will

Thats where you "offically meet Johnathan"

"Hey. I'm-"

"Y/n....Y/n Castiglione..."

She smiled, "Thats me. Hehe...Jonathan I remember you from the lunch tables. Not very...social at school."

"No! No! I. I understand ya." He spoke as they shook hands, "nice to finally meet you."

"Right back at you."

"So uh. If you dont mind. Taking photos while there out."

"No not at all yeah. I'd love too."

Group of kids ready to rumble now

You take them to the "rich neighborhood" because thats where all the good candy is

They're all rushing to get out the car because they have to home by a certain time so they want all the candy they can get

Peter and Matt keep up with most of them

But Will's kinda lagging, so you stick with him. Gives for nice photos of the kids in the distance

You also snap a few pictures of Will trick or treating too

As well as denying people for pictures

But as you're standing there changing the film and waiting for Will to come back down you look up and he's gone

"Huh. Will! Will!" Y/n called just to hear him shivering from far away.

You managed to find him.

"Hey! Hey! Buddy. What's wrong?"

"Im sorry im sorry!" He cried.

"Come on lets take a breathe. Theres nothing to be sorry for." She tells him.

"Will?!"

"We're down here mike."

Mike rushed down to both of you and ask what happened

But Will says he just wants to go back and hang out with Mike at his place.

"Okay. Thats fine. Call your mom while your there? So she knows. And take this," Y/n spoke handing him the camera," Good memories right?"

He looks down at the camera and full roll and nods.

"Come on I'll take you both back."

So you do just that, drive them back to Mikes house.

"And please! Call your mother!"

"I will."

Y/n smiles, "Hey and Will."

He looks back at her, "If you ever need someone to back you up. I've got you."

"Thanks."

You hope he'd be okay, and that a friend could help him, but you have to go pick up the other kids too because its getting towards that time

So you take them home waving to them then driving off.

But one of the kids forgot something to there costume so you'll just give it back Monday.

So when you drop off Lucas and wave to Mr. And mrs.Sinclair goodbye you realize its not even that late.

"What are your thinking?" Matt questioned.

"Its only 10:30." Y/n spoke.

"And?" Matt spoke Peter handing him a tootsie roll, "thank you"

"I...could go to a party."

"We're going to a party?" Peter asked.

"No. I'm going to a party."

"You take peter i dont tell. You dont take Peter I tell." Matt spoke.

"What?! Why?" Y/n argued.

"Always need someone watching you back." Matt defended, "is this Bananana flavored what the hell!"

"What!? No way?! Thats a thing!?" Peter asked handing Matt another one.

"Steve will be there." Y/n defended.

"Oh." Matt spoke.

"What do you mean oh?"

"Oh. Like. Drinking, drugs, boys, bathrooms-"

"EW!" Peter and Y/n complained.

"Im telling the truth!" Matt defended opening the packet of candy and eating it, "who the hell gives out fruity tootise rolls!"

"So. I take Peter. We chill for a few hours we come back."

"Wait so I can go?"

"Yeah."

"Alright!"

Matts gonna murder you with the fruity tootsie rolls if you keep giving them to him.

You drop him off at his motel and then your off

Que you and peter almost getting lost for 25 mintues, real smooth

But you guys eventually make it

Just to find a guy hurling outside

"Wow. Hawkins Parties. Great." Peter joked.

You could only roll your eyes at him as you both went inside.

You could Find Steve but you found Billy

Being Billy

People hyping him up as he chugged what you assumed was the whole Keg he feeling like a king

Then spotted you

"Look who decided to show up!" He laughed, shouting over the music,"Put your kids too bed!?"

"Infact I did!" She laughed.

"Come on! Lets get you a drink!" He shouted

"No! No! Im not into the whole drinking think!"

"I know! But you be surpised that water and soda still exist here!"

So he takes you to go get a water and then runs off, you following just to loose him in the crowded house.

Thats when you spot Nancy, and go to say Hi but Steve's over there.

You much rather not intrude on there friendship, after all. You're always hanging around boys so you dont see a problem with Nancy hanging around or anyone else

Except Carol

We dont like Carol, or Heather aka the Bully

Peter finally finds you

"Already partying?" Y/n laughed.

"This kinda sucks." He answered grabbing a water.

"Yeah," y/n spoke, "Not everything they make it out to be."

"Wanna just go back to yours and build that lego set?" Peter asked then took a chug of water, but got no answer, "Y/n?"

What was Steve Harrington doing walking Nancy Wheeler to the bathroom just in sight And going in with her

"One sec."

You left Peter there as you went to the bathroom, in full honesty you expect to hear soothing words and puking

Not. Well.

"Its all Bullshit!" Nancy complained.

"Nanc, come on you're drunk, just puke your brains out and-"

"You're bullshit!" She argued.

"Nancy I don't-"

"Bullshit. Its all bullshit Steve. I love you!"

Y/n stayed still, "Nanc, I. Look I really like Y/n."

"But you don't love her. Its why its Bullshit! Who do you love?! Its me or her!"

"Nanc, you know you can't make me do that-"

"Its me. Or its her!"

You interveinded by knocking on the door.

"Nanc? I seen you come in here? Are you okay? You didnt look so good!"

The door opened to see Nanc still hunched over the sink, and Steve standing on the other side of her.

"Too much to drink?" Y/n asked him.

"No kidding." Steve told.

"Nancy? You okay?" Y/n asked going to stand her up straight.

"No-" her protest didnt last long as she fell over Y/n catching her.

"Alright lets get you some water-"

Nancy just pushed off her, and went off by herself

"Rude drunk much?" Y/n asked.

"I thought you weren't coming." Steve spoke up

"Kids went home." Y/n told, "Thinkin about goin there myself. Home. This aint my style."

"I could go with you." Steve mentioned.

"I've gotta drop Peter off." Y/n answered, "Maybe. Come over we go threw the candy stash?"

"At my house?" Steve asked.

"Your house? Steve your parents-"

"Aren't home." Steve finished for her, "I like Tootsie rolls. See you there."

He kissed your cheek and then left

You and Peter end up leaving and you telling him you were going to Steves

He starts teasing you

"Yeah? What about you and MJ?"

"Thats a different story!"

"Sure. Parker Sure."

You pulled up to the motel just for Karen to run up.

"Hey Karen-"

"Matt's gone."

"What?" Y/n asked.

"He's gone!" Karen complained.

"Come on he's blind but very much capable-"

"Y/n!"

"Okay! Okay! Let me park and we'll help look!"

It doesn't take long for you with a trusty flashlight to reach the nearby farms to see Matt out there

"Damn it Murdock! What in gods name are you-"

You had stepped into a pumpkin rather than tripping over one just to see your ankle high in rotten pumpkin guts.

You kick them off and walk over to Matt

"Dude everyones-"

"Shh-"

"Hey-"

"Shut up."

Well if Matt's telling you to shut up its usually important

"Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

He was silent for a moment, "look at the pumpkins below you. There. Rotted."

"Okay some bad crop maybe?"

"Pumpkins? Rotting on Halloween Night?" Matt asked grabbing a piece just for it to almost melt in his hand like ice cream on a hot day, "Crops this rotted would take days, weeks even. Why would it be so vast?"

"Matt. Its Hawkins. Its probably some old farmer that just cant get around fast enough." Y/n explained, "lets go now?"

He sighed, getting up and picking up his white cane and unfolding it, walking over to her, "somethings not right here, you need to tell me if you see anything."

"Matt. Its Hawkins!" Y/n protested.

"Y/n. Im blind!" Matt argued, "look what I do."

Matt did have a fair point, but you rather just. Stay away from that stuff

You were trying to ya know. Lay Low

Plus you had a boyfriend, and then there were the kids

And you just dont wanna rope them in to anything Superhero level dangerous

Certainly didnt want anything avenger level threat

You took Matt back and used the motel phone to call Frank

"No."

"What!? Why not!?" Y/n complained.

"Who's house are you staying at?" Frank asked.

"I dont know. Who's house is Joyce staying at?" Y/n protested.

"So this is how your gonna convince me?" Frank asked.

"Yes?"

He sighed, "I need the truck back for tommrow- If I see ONE mark on you-"

"Yeah yeah, you'll pow pow pow. I got it." Y/n spoke, "Try and not break the bed frame?"

"Y/n! I swear to-"

But you had already hung up and was calling Steve's house

"Hello?"

"Harrington. Pick me up by the street near my house 15 mintues."

With that you said goodbye to everyone, told Matt to stop freaking out and drove off to your house

You parked the truck and hurried in through your window to change and throw the stuff one of the kids left in your room.

You'd ask Strange to portal back the suit later.

So with your bag of candy and small bag of chlothes you went to the road.

"What...the hell is that..." Y/n asked squiting at the hunched over animal in the distance, just before it darted off.

But Steve's lights come into view and he's stopping for you to get in.

You tossed your bag in the back and sit in the passenger seat

"Big Haul." Y/n smiled holding up the candy bag.

Steve smiled, "any spare tootsie rolls in there?"

"Saved one just for you."

The drive back to his house was filled with Music and laughing

You two eating candy before you could even go through it.

When you got to the house, some bad memories came over you, but you pushed forward.

He took you upstairs. You hadn't been to his room before.

His room was...plain compared to yours, but bigger.

"I can go make us something warm. Coffee? Tea?" He asked, he looked nervous having Y/n in his room sitting on the edge of his bed.

"Um...yeah whatever you make I'll have one." Y/n told with a smile.

"Right...you'll be fine up here?"

"Yeah."

So he left you up there, and you decided to pick out all the wrappers from your candy adventure in Steve's car and toss them in his little trash

Just to catch a peak out his window

Wow. Steve's family had a lot more money than you realized

It was sooner rather than later that he came up with tea for the both of you

"Sorry. If you don't uh."

"Like it?"

"Yeah..."

"I'll drink it anyhow. Thanks."

They sat on his bed side by side, drinking tea.

"You're not very picky."

Y/n chuckled, "how could I be?"

Steve cocked an eyebrow up as Y/n sighed, "Sorry-"

"No. No." Steve told, "harder than I imagined in New York."

Y/n smiled, "Superhero's are people too."

"You really do have relationships with them. Don't you?" Steve questioned, "Genuine realtionships."

"I understand them. In a way...I see them as people..rather than superheros. Not all are good though, some rest in the gray and such." Y/n informed with a soft smile towards him, "Its tough out there."

"Im no superhero, but I get it." Steve answered, "I shouldn't even be saying that..."

"Hey. Everyone has there hardest hour." Y/n told setting her mug besides her feet on the floor, "its diffrent from someone elses. Ya know?"

"I think thats what makes you...unique." he started, "You...see everyone in different parts. Heh I'd be dumb to say its not one of the reasons I love you-"

It went silent between the two, Steve clearing his throat as he set his mug on his nightstand, "I. Sorry."

"For what?" Y/n spoke, "You say sorry when you dont mean things. Did you not-"

"Mean it?" Steve asked, "Well No I didnt."

"You didn't?"

"No! I mean yes no I didn't- The sorry. But I did- I- fuck."

Y/n smiled small at him as he jumbled his words: "I get it."

"Oh thank god."

He couldnt help but feel stupid when you were around, like you were some kindergarten crush

When both of you are already dating

You lay back on his bed, and he lays besides you.

Thats when you realize he has a glow in the dark star sticker on his ceiling still, most likely from when he was like 8

"Does it still glow?" Y/n asked.

"What?" Steve asked looking at the ceiling as she points it out, "lets find out."

He turns off his lamp leaving the two in the semi dark light from the pool outside polluting the room.

"Yeah kinda." Y/n smiled as Steve finds himself next to Y/n again.

"Huh. Would you look at that." Steve chuckled watching Y/n reach a hand out to the star.

"Stars aren't far out of reach then." Y/n told him.

Steve's hand came up to catch Y/n's, "Two hands are better than one."

She turns her head to look at him he doing the same as they make eye contact and hold it, "You're not wrong."

Steve gives her a soft smile, he getting up to lean on his side and look down at her, "what?" She asked.

"Just wondering if you have more intrest in the star than me." Steve told her, causing her to laugh, "Could...I steal your attention for just a moment for a kiss?"

"And ruin my view of the star? No way!"

"Ouch!"

Y/n laughed as he joined her, feeling her hands grip onto his collar and pull him down into a soft kiss. It pulling Steve in deeper in love than he already was.

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Tags: @raelwrites @miiikkeey @beebslebobs @ah-witch @supernaturallover2002 @pearlstiare @simonsbluee @stilllivindue2spite @lvbred @dancingqueen21 @writerdream22 @i-reblog-fics-i-like @knivqs @xxlaynaxx @eliskakratochvilova @sunshinepower17 @marssssaturn @3-spurr

#x reader #marvel x reader #x female reader #frank castle x reader #female reader #frank castle #frank castle x female reader #frank castle x daughter! reader #frank being a good dad #dad! frank castle #marvel headcanons #marvel x reader headcanon #marvel #stranger things x y/n #stranger things x you #stranger things x reader #stranger things headcanons #billy hargrove headcanon #billy hargrove x reader #steve harrington headcanon #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington #marvel x stranger things #marvel x stranger things headcanons

[rpedia]

Hello, I have a question about combat roleplaying. Is there anyway to counter someone trying to wipe your character from existence? I have a character whos high 1-A, just wondering.

I cannot tell you how wild of an ask this is because of how much of it must be entirely contextual to your current situation. A-1 means nothing to me, this isn't a universal term in RP, but after some looking around it seems to be a categorization used in the vsBattle fandom to allow people to rank character power stats against each other like classes of heavyweight versus lightweight. And it seems to have been very thought out by a bunch of people who are very very serious about it, so it's a well-thought out thing. So, I'm assuming if this is the right power ranking to go off, your character is an "High Outerverse level" character similar to God/Death in some series.

Whew, back in my day we just had Marvel Mutants being Omega class, or Naruto Ninjas being S-Rank... Looks like you're in somewhere with a lot more math and intensity than I'm used to considering I just had to read "structures with a number of dimensions equal to the cardinal aleph-2" with my own two delicate innocent baby boy eyes. This means whatever advice I am about to give you is unlikely to be useful, but fuck it, I'm game.

So, you're getting wiped out of existence...

Your character is, as far as I can tell, able to manipulate all of existence, including every multiverse, hyperverse, and whatever-the-fuck-have-you because they can fuck with but infinity times infinity, except they're a step below the ultimate Boundless, and one step above the guy who can mess with infinity times three. Really getting back to the playground "infinity plus one" argument. You must be going up against someone who is going a little faster than you or doing better than you to have them cockblock your entire existence. I think I have the scenario broken down for more feeble minds like me can figure out what the hell this means.

Logically, the answer is you can't do shit. Guy is faster/better/more tactically sound, so he wins. He's managed to outdo you on every level, and made your existence just stop, you can no longer be who you are, you're a never-was similar to Cul from the Thor comics. Absolutely buckshit wild stuff here. This suggests to survive, someone has to remember you, which may be a way through if there's space where you still exist while you don't exist. How does time work in your universe? What's the standards here for how to change existence? Is there a ripple effect, or is it impossible to change the timeline? Are you forced into an alternate universe where you DID exist, and how is the other guy handling the obvious issue that if you never existed, he would never have gone back to erase you, and shit— we've got either a figure eight loop forcing us to repeat these two states of 0 and 1 endlessly, or a paradox.

So go for the throat, make them explain the paradox. Make them fix the paradox, which can paradoxically never be fixed because that's what them boyes do. You might have to live one step ahead of them in only alternating universes for the rest of existence and be satisfied with that. Or, I suppose, find someone bigger and stronger than old Jokey-poo here who is putting you in the un-birth grave, and have them de-powered or something to end the rigamarole. Maybe you have a good trap for them set-up where the state of your birth is a fixed point, and them entering it makes time stop entirely so they can never reach the point at which they actually delete you.

But this is all just Watsonian fuckery, stuff from within the perspective of the story. If you go Doyalist, we can ask the question "What kills a vampire?" and come up with the answer "Whatever satisfies the narrative." because those blood thirsty bitches be fictional. This is all fictional. You are imagining a story. The only truth of a story is the satisfaction of those who write/read it.

Therefore, if you are happy with the end of your character, and you feel like it's been given weight and meaning, and you like the outcome. You win, you finished the story, they are gone.

If you are unhappy, you can make up whatever bullshit you want because it's all in your head anyways, and suddenly your character survived going over the falls due to some vague handwaved plot point far in the misty difference that is really an in-universe cover to 'they made me write Sherlock after the Reichenbach Falls was supposed to be the end of the damn serial'. It all comes down to what you're happy with as a player and a writer.

You think any Shonen writer had the good sense to end their series after the bad guy seemed all-powerful? Absolutely not, these other guys had trickery and even more power beyond the power that is infinite power to call on, and they sure did win because they said so. Same thing here. As long as no one is upset, you can do whatever you want. "Blue fairy said I could come back." "Some Boundless Character found me beyond the universes and pulled me back into this world." Seriously, make shit up, it's all you've been doing anyways.

I recognize at this point it's more of a thought experiment, kind of a highbrow push against the mundane realities of our existence. It's where philosophy meets story. Making something that really sticks to the bones of your story, and gives you something to work off can be a huge ask when it gets to these extremes. You're working with a framework outside our actual existence, a thing we can comprehend only because we've pushed so hard against the limitations of this world we've given concepts like infinity not only a limit, but a word for when that limit is breached and repeated.

Being able to truly understand what you're asking, and whether there's any rules to it is more than a simple roleplay help blog can give you. You're bending rules that aren't even confirmed to exist, that have been developed to create a framework by which people can enjoy fighting tiers to simplify things that are wildly imaginative and unusual. Certainly you are at the moment asking me if I can conceive of a situation in which literally Death themself, if they were a character, could be erased from existence by something just as powerful or even more powerful than themselves, and then get around that somehow. It's mythical. It's entirely a toy that you, yourself, are defining the rules for play with. I can simply say "this Roleplaying Blog is actually a Boundless level character and has rebuffed that attack" and it would be equally true because the canon of this blog now says so.

So you can do whatever works for you.

Just make sure it's satisfying, so you can do it again next week and relish it all over. The point of RP is to be fun. Keep having fun. You do you, in whatever style makes you happy. Even if it's a lot of math and now I know there's a term for approaching the infinity after Real numbers run out of integers because someone made their character so powerful they ran out of numbers for them and somehow this is the same power level as Those Who Sit Above In Shadow, which means Loki's punked their ass plenty of times in-comics by saying he's the Storyteller who tells them into existence anyways. God damn Beyonder ass...

But you're the Storyteller now, so write something true to your heart, and see how far you can take it. See if your character can manage to break reality one more time, and level up to becoming Boundless themselves. You have the power, because that power is imagination. The true Boundless power.

#rpedia #ask rpedia #roleplaying #rph #fight rp #vsbattle power levels #seriously just have fun #but also this is wild #my man I have trouble deciding if my lil guy should win against a big dog #because I want the narrative to have weight #and be fun #and I don't wanna be overpowered #fighting a dog #that wants to eat me #this stuff is beyond my pay grade #and I play Loki #the fuck #exactlypleasantsuit

[sookayheresthething]

a comprehensive list of what numbers are good, from 1 to 100

good; it's One.

good; it's Two.

good; it's Three. heads up, basically all the single-digit numbers are valid, for similar obvious reasons

good

very good

good

good

good

good

fantastic. exceptional, even

not ideal. should be either 12 or 10. smacks of indecision. also prime, which is bad

almost as good as 10

hmm. I'm not superstitious but a lot of people don't like this one. avoid it so you don't make people uncomfortable

it's okay but it's overshadowed by 15. also has bad connotations

fantastic. almost as good as 12

A+. no notes

bad

meh?

bad. be 20

very good

not a fan of this one but I accept criticism

positives: multiple of 11. nice symmetry. negatives: overall mediocre in tone. too close to 23, which is bad. final score: ehh

bad

all the coolness of being double 12 is far outweighed by being overshadowed by 25. I guess it's hours in a day, which is alright

sexiest number on this list by far

not good. number of letters? try again loser

it's 3 cubed which is cool I guess? meh. skip it

bad, unless you're doing months

bad

good! very good. not as good as 20 but better than 40

meh

32 my beloved. how do I count the ways. me and 32 frolic in the meadows with flowers in our hair and the shimmer of laughter in our breath

much better than 22 but idk if I'd call it "good"

the first real pervert number. shame

pretty good

damn, that's a lot of nines! 36 keeps showing up where I least expect it. pretty cool I guess

bad but a little hot. naughty even

bad

bad

not as good as 30 but it's okay. try for 50 if you can

bad

the answer to life, the universe, and everything. overplayed. gauche

really really bad. really bad. bad. really really bad

about the same as 33 tbh

good! great, even. very kind number

meh

boldly going where no man has gone before. kiss me, 47

it's the same as 45 but a little sexier and no I won't explain. iykyk

honestly not sure I've ever seen this one before. when did we get this one? have we always had this one? huh.

fantastic. great. marvellous. solid number. you could moor your goddamn ship to this number. wise and strong. so good that it completely overshadows everything in its decade (see the following)

shit

what?

bad

bad

pretty good

bad

bad

bad

really bad

not great but alright. maybe a little better than 40

meh?

this one strikes me as pretty cool for some reason. I don't vibe with it but I'm happy to sit back and watch it do whatever it does

oh. huh. hmm. I'm not sure about this one. it's a little scary

dude, FUCK yeah. after me and 32 frolic in the meadows we sit down for tea with 64 and comb each other's hair in the shade of a great oak tree

less than ideal but it's doing its best. honestly rating 65 immediately after 64 feels unfair.

slap another 6 on this bad boy and you get an S-tier number. as it is, feels a little rushed and incomplete

everyone's favourite two-thirds approximation! functional if clunky

bad

nice. second real pervert number. shame

COMICALLY overshadowed by 69

no thanks <3

pretty good

bad

I feel an odd dark kinship with this number..... it worries me

good number. fantastic. not as sexy as 25 and not as sturdy as 50 but is still wise, strong, and kind. I'd trust an impressionable child to be raised by this number

it's okay but it's no 75

wow! 77!

honestly undecided about this one

bad

good! I like 80. has a nice shape to it. it's round in both texture and personality

bad

baaad? kinda??

very very bad

dude, stop trying to be 64

it's pretty good if you can't get 80

isn't this a food service number? I don't like that

hmmm. this one raises some good questions

this is the nazi number. FUCK this number.

reminds me of 88. fuck it

pretty solid number! about the same as 80 but might be a little better or worse depending on context

bad

bad

bad

meh

this one's kinda sexy ngl 👀 95 got me acting unwise

I'd rather not thanks

ooooOOOooh I like this one

dude this one is GREAT

99 is a beautiful number and I love it, it's musical and enchanting and a little sensual

I have extremely complicated feelings about 100, but overall, I'm leaning towards "very good, but lacks variety"

[potteryheadd]

No Time To Die Ch.1

Pairing: (Eventually) Bucky Barnes x enhanced!reader

Summary: Endowed with the Infinity Stones, Reader is racing against time to save the universe with the help of MCU hero’s they meet along the way. 

Chapter Summary: Reader makes a tough decision that changes not only their life, but the universe. 

Warnings: angst, Suicidal Ideation (and plans), mild(?) Torture, kidnapping, medical equipment use (tube inserted in body), 

Word Count: 2.6k

a/n - Ahhhhh this has been a long time coming for me. I started this story a year and a half ago when I was in a very dark place. Thankfully with much deserved self reflection and support I am ready to come back to this story. Now, with the help of some of the BEST beta readers I’ve had the pleasure to meet, the first chapter of this series is ready for your enjoyment. ^.^

 p.s I envisioned the reader as plus size and black (cause that’s meee) but it can be read regardless.

Big thanks and love to my beta readers: @srhwho​ @beating-a-dead-plot​ @the-singular-peep​ @who-you-gonna-message​

It’s all gone. 

I’ve finally finished selling all my things, and an empty apartment lies before me. A ghost of what it used to be, really. From furniture, appliances, wall art and throw blankets, down to the Marvel comics and movies I never finished. Given away. I had thought to keep everything the way it was when I left but I know the money I’ve saved can go to a good cause.

The tub is warm and soothing, water nearly spilling out but stays bubbled around the edge as I slip deeper into it. The smell of my last Christmas candle lingers in the air and, if it weren’t for the bottle of pills on the toilet seat cover next to me, I might’ve said this was a pleasant experience. As I stare at them, I can’t help but think how long it would take, would it hurt, should I have picked another way?  

It’s okay, this is what I want. Right? I promised myself if I did everything I could and nothing worked, this could be it. 

A glimmer catches my eye and I turn to see the last thing I own, a photo. A photo of the only thing I wanted to see before I go, my friends. The ones that really made me believe things could change. We met by chance but were held together by our love of nerdy things. What would they say about me now?

Tears stream down my face as I grab the photo, wishing it could save me from this. From what I’m feeling, what I’ve been through, what I’m about to do. I see my smiling face and wonder what I could’ve done to get that back. To feel hope again. I turn the photo over and find my list of reasons to stay alive. 

10.I deserve good things 9.I want to make a difference 8.Heavy rain and hot chocolate 7.What if they invent space travel after I’m gone? 6.Eating cheesecake at 3am  5. Sunny days 4. Looking for shooting stars 3. The neighborhood cats 2. Spite 1.Love

I remember all the jokes my friends made when I wrote down the first two. It’s true though, spite has gotten me so far in life but love feels like healing. It made me appreciate the small, beautiful wonders of the world all of which I’m leaving behind. Can I really leave all of this behind? I close my eyes and list my reasons like a prayer till my voice goes hoarse. 

Maybe waiting one day won’t hurt

The door to the bathroom slams shut. 

Whispers begin to fill the room, creating a cacophony of almost unbearable sound. Dropping the photo to cover my ears does nothing to drown out the voices, all of which are too quiet to hear more than a word or two.

“...protect…” 

“...chosen…”

“...chosen…”

“...chosen…”

“...find them...” 

The bathroom light blows out and I jump splashing water everywhere as a giant reflection appears in front of me. It looks like moving water. I think for a second then go to touch it, my hand completely passing through. 

Holy shit

Yanking my hand back I see my fingers tangled in a necklace with 6 gems, each radiating a different color. Why the hell is this so familiar? Before I can inspect anymore, the room begins to shake and the jewelry falls out of my hand into the tub. I grip the edge of the tub and sweep my legs inwards to catch the necklace and quickly put it on. 

The room goes still. 

What the hell just happened. I touch the center of my chest, smoothing my fingers over the chain. Rising from the tub, prior motives long forgotten, I towel off and find myself lying in my empty bedroom with my phone plugged into the wall.  

Search: Real Infinity Stones MCU

As I scroll through the results, mostly containing plastic versions of the stones for sale and Marvel movie ads, nothing resembles any sort of answer. 

I mean sure I’m off my rocker a little bit right now, but I know I didn’t just imagine that. Infinity Stones!? I’d heard rumors about Hydra being real, maybe even multiple realities – but this? How am I even holding it!?

BANG BANG BANG

The front door startles me and, as I get up to answer, my stomach tightens. Something doesn’t feel right.  As I tiptoe towards the door, the banging becomes louder and louder, until I’m in front of the peephole. No one. Suddenly glass shatters from my bedroom window and footsteps bound towards me. I rush to the kitchen, hoping to find something, but feel a slight pinch on my neck and darkness takes over.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The room I wake to is nothing like my apartment. Cement walls covered in cracks and dirt and grime, the strong smell of bleach and mold hangs in the air.  Head pounding, I can feel soreness in my arms and legs. My heavy eyes open to see that I’m strapped down to a chair, incapacitated. My shirt has been ripped open and a small tube has been hooked up to my chest, connecting to 3 giant machines placed around me that are filled with a blue liquid. 

“Finally, you’re awake.” 

Behind me, in the far right corner, sat a man in a long tattered white coat with a clipboard in his hands. He watches me through his broken glasses as I struggle against the restraints, careful to not move the tubes. 

“What are you doing to me?” I ask weakly.

“Only saving our asses, now please sit still. I can't get a proper reading on the stones when you move like that,” he replies, crossing the room and opening the door for another man. This one had on all black tactical gear, a gun fastened to his hip, and a black arm patch with a bright red skull and six tentacles. He stays close to the door and crosses his arms. 

“Who the hell are you? You’re not doing shit except keeping me hostage with the Hydra reject over there!”

“Actually, he was a top asset to Hydra in the days before Thanos.” White coat chuckles, “And think of our relationship more as that of Frankenstein and Monster.” 

My eyes go wide with fear. “What the hell are you doing to me!?” 

White Coat stands between two machines and flips a switch, sending me doubling over in pain. Blue liquid from the machines starts seeping through my tube. After a minute, he flips the switch again and begins asking questions,

“How’s the clarity of your mind right now?”

“Could you feel anything happening with the stones?”

“Are you noticing any hardening in your muscles?” 

This guy is insane

I huff leaning up, “Just please tell me what you’re doing to me, I don’t know why I have the stones or how to use them. If you want them so bad why haven’t you taken them?” 

“Trust me darling, we tried,” White Coat says, pointing to my chest. I look down in horror noticing a faint, oval shaped scar around the necklace. “Those stones don’t want to be taken.” 

Did they fucking cut me open? I’ll kill him I swear…wait-

“Why is it healed so much, I just got here?” 

“The stones healed you, of course. Can’t have their protector getting hurt, now can they?” He sounded bitter.

I raise an eyebrow and he steps around the machines with a small metal chair and clipboard and sits in front of me.

“This last test really messed with your memory, huh? The stones chose you as their protector.” 

It hit me like a train. The voices. Most were too quiet to even hear but I know they said this. They must have been trying to tell me, or warn me. But what does “find them” mean? Find who? There’s no way it’s these guys.  

“Chose me? Why would they have chosen me?”

Tactical Gear turns to me. “Trust me, sweetheart, we’ve been trying to figure that out too.”

“Oh and…you’ve been here a while my dear, about 6 months now?”

“6 months tomorrow, Doc.” Tactical Gear sports a grin as he speaks.

“W-why can’t I remember? Have I been asleep?”

Tactical Gear snickers, “You wish, sweetheart, we’ve spent a lot of quality time together. And your memory? That’s all Doc.”

“It’s truly the kindest thing we could do for you, this work doesn’t happen without some… side effects” 

Side effects!? “What kind of side effect warrants memory loss? What’s going on here!?” 

“Jesus Christ, Doc just tell them, it’s no fun fucking with them when they’re like this.” 

“I wanted to give them time, but … alright,” White Coat lets out a breath. “I assume you aren’t aware of the multiverse, yes?” 

“Like in Marvel movies?” 

He sighs, “This is much more complicated than that but yes, and similar to the movies, Thanos is also very real and very much on his way for those stones. He destroyed Hydra looking for them many years ago, and I have no doubt he senses their presence now.”

“My theory is that, combined with my version of the super soldier serum, the stones will react to your new strength and be our ticket out of here. You’ve been quite stubborn these past few months and have refused to willingly participate in my work so this,” he gestures to the restraints, “is our last resort.”

"You're seriously making me...what, like a super soldier? Like Captain America? I could literally die!" 

“ Do not worry my dear, you will be my greatest creation! You are going to lead Hydra into a new age across the timelines.”

“The only thing I’m going to lead is my foot up your ass, now let me go!”

White Coat only shakes his head before getting up and walking back around the machines. He looks as if he is going to mess with the machines again but decides against it, instead walking towards the door. 

“Take them back to their room, we’ll pick up tomorrow.” 

Tactical Gear pushes off the wall and unties my arm restraints. “Now don’t get feisty, wouldn’t wanna have to hurt you.” 

He smiles. 

Dick.

Feeling comes back to my legs as he takes the straps off and lifts me up bridal style out of the room. He walks down a long blue lit hallway, avoiding the stripped wires hanging from the ceiling. If I had the strength in my legs I’d run, but… where would I even go? I don’t know where I am or how far I am from civilization. The room I’m taken to is bland to say the least. Four more cracked cement walls, a chair, and a bed that Tactical Gear throws me unceremoniously on. He turns and walks out, locking the door behind him.

A sob escapes my mouth as I turn over and clutch my legs to my chest. None of this should have happened. I know what I should’ve done, and now I'm here. I pay no attention to the necklace as I run my fingers over the scar – it’s healed but will most likely never go away. A familiar feeling begins to rise. 

After everything I’ve been through, THIS is where I end up? These stones saved my life and now I’m stuck with fucking Dr. Jekyll and Hyde? No.Fucking.Way. I’m getting out of here even if it’s the last thing I do. 

This is how most nights go now. Wake up, a breakfast of toast and expired fruit, and then continuous torture. Like cattle being raised for slaughter, only I’d be the one doing the slaughtering eventually. I can feel what the serum is doing to me, I’ve bulked up to the point Tactical Gear has a hand on his gun whenever I’m in the room. It would be an ego boost if it wasn’t so damn terrifying, especially since the man looks like he’s itching to pull the trigger!

 It’s been 3 weeks and I haven’t even thought of using the stones. My captors are less than thrilled, but I know Marvel like the back of my hand and, if they think super soldier serum will trigger these stones, yeah right. I just need to buy enough time to figure out where I am and how to leave. They haven’t said anything about it, but I know that’s what comes next. Brainwashing. It’s the only way they’ll ever get me to use the stones for them. 

I can hear footsteps through the thick concrete as Tactical Gear approaches, a new perk of the serum. He opens the door and gestures to walk out, hand readily on his gun. I slip past him and make my way to the room — there aren’t any exit doors in the hallway so he lets me by. I learned that my first week. I take a seat and allow him to strap my arms and legs to the chair. He begins inserting the tube and I reflexively wince as he purposefully pushes it too hard. 

“I’m hoping this test will be our final and all 3 of us can continue my work somewhere else,” White Coat says, not looking up from his clipboard. 

“Wait- you mean this is it? What if it doesn’t work.” My heart races as I think of the consequences of not using these stones.

“ Well, you’ll finally be done with the serum today, so training should be next.”

Sure. “Training”. I knew it. 

Looking down again, I feel a wave of nausea come over me. I had to get out of here and fast. Should I use the stones? Are they even in my control? I close my eyes and begin pleading with them.

Please, please, take away my tube and get me out of here! 

I wait a moment before opening my eyes and seeing everything still as it was.

“Get ready, dear, try to concentrate on a portal out of here!” 

And away from you

As he begins flipping switches again, the blue liquid crawls back towards me, and I can’t help but continue to plead with the stones as pain shoots through me. 

Please get me out of here

Please get me out of here

Please get me out of here

Swoosh

A bright light blinds me as the left wall collapses in on itself and is replaced by a smokey blue portal. White coat cheers and begins fiddling with the machines again while Tactical Gear steps over to me and starts untying me from the chair. After unraveling all the restraints, he roughly yanks me up from my chair and pulls the tube from my side. I cringe, expecting pain but as I look where the tube is I already see a scar forming on my side. Another new perk of the serum I’m sure. 

 He turns back around to grab a duffle bag hidden from behind a machine and I know this is the only chance I’ll get to escape. I leap over two giant bundles of wires to get out of his reach and dive towards the portal. 

“Stop them!”

I can’t tell who’s yelling but it’s the least of my worries as I pass through the portal and crash onto cement. Scrambling up I turn to see White Coat and Tactical Gear bounding towards me. Running through what I now see is an alley, I turn the corner onto the sidewalk and immediately crash into someone.

“Oh my god, please you have to help! These guys are cha-”

My eyes look up to meet large white lenses with black rims sewn into a red and blue suit, an all too familiar sight. 

“Woah woah it’s okay! I’m Spider-man, I can help!”

#Bucky Barnes x reader #Bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes headcanon #Bucky Barnes fluff #Bucky barnes angst #Bucky x reader #enhanced!reader #plussize!reader #Black!reader

[positivelybeastly]

Any concern that evil beast is still technically alive trapped within a pocket dimension or whatever the fuck his plan for arakko was?

"I hope not."

"Not because I wish death upon him. I never wished that. If nothing else, his actions at the end prove that there was still something - enough, of me, in him, that . . . I don't know. I wish it could have gone differently."

"No, I hope he isn't alive because I don't want to think about what that would be like. Trapped, in a pocket of reality all of your own. Just you. Floating, endlessly, in the void. No light, no passage of time. Just you, and the steady, inexorable drum of your heartbeat. Just you, and time to think. About your failures. About the world you can't be a part of anymore. About the people you left behind.

Norman Cousins once said, 'The eternal quest of the individual human being is to shatter his loneliness.' What would such an existence be, but purely lonely?

I hope he's dead because he doesn't deserve that. No-one does."

I mean, I guess it's technically still on the table since we didn't see a body, but I don't think there's anyone really interested in picking up that plot thread. Jed MacKay, the next confirmed writer for Hank, has expressed his love for 80s Beast on many an occasion, and even said he couldn't get Hank for his Avengers team because of X-Force.

Even if one assumes he isn't salty about that, then I certainly can't see him looking upon this era and this version of Beast with any real affection. Honestly, the people who express that they'll miss evil Beast just confuse me.

What is there to miss? His characterisation, as put to page, is dogwater. It's a load of soundbites with no substance. He doesn't contribute anything that Dark Beast doesn't, and Dark Beast is funnier, more entertaining, and more sympathetic than he is!

If they want to pull a Crossing, say that evil Beast got shunted into a pocket dimension, and they yank him out to merge the two, then I'd be down, but if it's not that exact storyline, I'm not interested. I'm just so very . . . sick, and tired of evil Beast. I can't even go on Twitter and enjoy X-Men '97 discourse without people harping on about it.

Like, look, I get it, gatekeeping is bad, but sometimes I think it's necessary. Sometimes I do just want to pull out a card that says, 'You aren't qualified to talk about Hank McCoy's characterisation unless you've read the following comic series and understand these basic tenets of his character.'

This is why I hate comic book fandom. Media literacy is startlingly low. Maybe it's all the pictures. People don't actually read the goddamn words.

Makes me just want to

But anyway, to your point. I guess the potential is there, and in, like, seven years, someone might pull out another Beast out of a fucking portal and I'll just groan because really, we're doing this again, but I doubt it just because there hasn't been a single writer all across Marvel who's been like, yeah, evil Beast, love that shit, gimme that guy!

Everyone from Kieron Gillen to Rainbow Rowell to Tom Brevoort is just like, "can we knock that shit off?" "I'm pretending it doesn't exist." "Can S.W.O.R.D come back?"

Jed MacKay, open your adjectiveless X-Men run with Hank and Simon cuddling and kissing on the sofa. It's what I, personally, deserve after five years of Ben Percy.

#Anonymous #verse: I wait to wake #outofmuffins #blood tw

[look-how-they-massacred-them]

Preliminary Poll

Matthew Leibowicz/Two-Gun Kid

Submission reason:

"Matt Hawk (real name Leibowitz), when introduced, was a jewish defense lawyer from 1873 who firmly believed in the right of EVERYONE, even a guilty man, to a trial. While he also moonlights as the cowboy masked adventurer Two-Gun Kid to protect the town of Tombstone, he takes on defense cases even for criminals he knows are guilty because they still have that right to a defense, guilty or not. This is a foundational trait of his character seen over and over again in multiple stories (and he predates Daredevil by a year and a half) But ever since Steve Englehart got ahold of him, people have been sanding that aspect of him away. Even the Very Gay scenes with Hawkeye don't make up for the fact that he's been reduced to ""teehee cowboy man stuck in the future!"" removing all of the strong moral compass that made him stand out from the other Kids (I've already submitted my essay on Colt but Matt is a close second) Dan Slott completely wiping away his ability to practice law and reducing him to a ""Man of Action"" when his action has ALWAYS Been fuelled by his moral compass while also trapping Matt in the future in such a way that he could NEVER GO HOME AND SEE HIS LOVED ONES AGAIN was bad enough ESPECIALLY when he proceeded to treat TG as a joke for most of the run when there was actually a lot of REALLY INTERESTING legal shit going on that Matt SHOULD HAVE HAD OPINIONS ON.... then Ed Brubaker decided to add insult to injury by saying ""OH tee hee no Two-Gun can go back to the past actually! But only when ALL HIS LOVED ONES ARE DEAD and he's not allowed to stay in the future where he built a life! No! All he can do is waste away in a nursing home as an old man with no one he loves left alive BUT IT IS OK BC HE GETS TO SEE THE AGE OF HEROES BEGIN!!!"" BULLSHIT BULLSHIT BULLSHIT HE IS STILL ALIVE IN 616 HE IS LEADING THE DESERT STARS EXCEPT NO ONE CARES ABOUT HIM MARVEL FIX THIS HE DESERVES A BETTER ENDING!!!!"

Matt, for the vast majority of his appearances, is a principled defense lawyer because he is a firm believer that everyone is entitled to legal representation in court, guilty or not. He takes on guilty clients, he takes on clients for FREE. He has a second identity as the masked vigilante the Two-Gun Kid, but as the Two-Gun Kid, he does not kill- though he specifically keeps the two identities seperate to protect himself and his loved ones. There's a lot of time travel bullshit that happens with Matt, wherein he goes to the future, gets to be cowboys with Hawkeye for a while, then goes back to the past before being permanently trapped in the present time as a sentence for illegal time travel. (this is relevant later) He's not allowed to practice law anymore, and with it all of Matt's eloquence and thoughtfulness is stripped away. He's just a cowboy, and the part of Matt that made him so principled and so concerned about justice is gone- he's a comic relief character that gets shoved into a love triangle and never seems to miss the people back in his own time (Because he has AT LEAST FIVE BEST FRIENDS) or he's used as background cameos when Marvel needs superheros to get trapped in earthquake rubble. To add insult to injury, ED BRUBAKER decided to write a book about the Golden Age heroes, realized he needed someone to die of old age to inspire the new Golden Age. He decides that, instead of letting Matt settle peacefully into a life in the future with new friends and new family (and Hawkeye, probably) he's going to amend Matt's sentence so that when he's old and all of his friends are dead- and that is explicitly stated in the text- he HAS to go to the past and die alone and among strangers. But it's OK! Matt gets to see the Golden Age of Heroes!!!!! Anyway Marvel also can't decide if he's alive or dead in present 616 canon even tho tha'ts his canonical end, can someone PLEASE Get the Cowboy Lore Straight And Put His Characterization Back Where It Came From Or So Help Me-

#look how they massacred them poll #look how they massacred my boy #marvel comics #matthew leibowicz #matt leibowicz #two gun kid

[krisseratops]

Hi! How about A9, B9 and C6? Oh, and D10!

Hiiii hon! Alright lets see...

A9. Who was your first ship?

The earliest ship I remember that I got actually invested in is Reaper76 from Overwatch. I mean, traumatized old gay men who like to shoot at each other and have a HistoryTM? It covers all the basics for me. Also this ship is what made me find AO3, so it kinda introduced me to fandom as a whole and is therefore technically responsible for all the madness that came after it.

B9. Who is your OTP?

You know, I was going to say this is a hard question because I have so many pairings I like in several fandoms and I dont really pick favorites because I like different aspects about them and also Im indecisive. And then I remembered Symbrock. And nothing really comes near the level of absolutely messy devotion of (comics!)Symbrock. So yeah.

C6. Is there anything in canon that made you want to quit the show? What was it? Why do you hate it?

Oh boy, here we go... So not a show, but allllll the shit Cates did with absolute garbage & co and what came after essentially made me quit venom comics and comics in general. Do I even need to explain myself? Like I was keeping up with Venom and also Spider-man and some others because it was fun and enjoyable. And then came the egregious retconning, inconsistencies, character butchering (both how they were written but also literally), characters dying and coming back and dying again and coming back again and fucking gods apparently and how every single issue was The Most Shocking And Dramatic Things The Characters Have Ever Been Through and everything is just edgy and grimdark and angsty and so fucking STUPID and it was just. It wasnt fun or enjoyable anymore, only exhausting and frustrating and sad. And not sad like a sad story makes you feel, but sad like watching something you care about irreparably crash and burn in real time without being able to do anything about it and knowing you can never have it back the way it was (which there is enough of IRL). So I powered through until king in black where I just said "reading this bullshit is draining and depressing and doesnt bring me anything, its not worth it anymore so fuck it" and just stopped. And with my main reason for reading comics gone I ditched marvel comics altogether because lets be honest keeping up with all the different stories and timelines and crossovers and whatnot is exhausting cuz theres just so damn much going on all the time. And why torment yourself with shitty canon when you can have wonderful fanfics tailored to your specific tastes all for free? So I quit comics, read fics instead, got into some new fandoms, indulged my hc and have ever since been living blissfully unaware of the burning dumpster fire (derogatory) that is canon. I only see glimpses of it when it crosses my dash, which I use for cherrypicking for my hc and aggressively ignore the rest.

D10. What is one story idea you really want to read but no one has written yet?

I have a whole lot of story ideas I really want to read (my hcs) that no one has written yet (that would be cuz of me not writing them). But for real, I would love more stories with symbiote & spider-people shenanigans. Like there was this one comic of Peter, Miles and Gwen meeting Venom and fighting Doc Ock toghether and they were kinda buddies? More stuff like that, that has spider/symbiote interaction besides them just trying to kill each other. Maybe it exists and I just havent found it. But like, Venom in spiderverse, they have to team up with the spider gang and they kinda get along because he doesnt have any personal beef with them. He will absolutely recite and discuss Shakespear with that medieval spiderman, be enamored with little Mayday, and be nothing but gentlemanly toward spider ma'am. The other spiders find that "yeah he is freaky and has some dubious morals but isnt actually just an evil monster, he just doesnt like you Peter". The Peter in question does not like it one bit. Him and Venom (barely) tolerate each other, as they always do when they team up, but are constantly petty and passive aggressive towards each other in a funny way, bickering like an old married couple. Because of the nature of their history they also know stuff about each other and will casually drop highly personal details about the other that makes the other spiders go "👀 you sure he's your enemy and not just your ex?". Which Peter likes even less. Other story ideas i desperately need is ANYTHING WITH ANTI-VENOM HOLY SHIT WHERE IS MY BABY!?!?!?! I need stories that let him be a silly dumbass and a pathetic wet beast and occasionally getting railed that dont just exist in my head. But the amount of content on him is just dismal. I often feel like the sole inhabitant of the ghost town that is the Anti-Venom fandom. I've come across one (1) quality fic that portrays him properly (thank you @kitausuret for your invaluable service) and good art is hard to come by compared to other characters. And I realize that if I want more art of him and an Anti-Venom x Agent Venom arch-enemies-to-reluctant-allies-to-even-more-reluctant-friends-to-how-the-hell-did-this-happen excruciating slow burn, I will probably have to do it myself, which hghgnghgnhhh will take forever, but oh well.

Well, this sorta turned into an essay that turned into an impromptu vent post. Hope thats okay and you got your answers!

#Ask #Rant #Headcanons

[keepsmagnetoaway]

Amazing Spider-Man 92 (January 1971)

Stan Lee/Gil Kane & John Romita

We're continuing our swing (that's a Spider-Man joke) through the guest appearances of the cancelled-but-not-gone X-Men in the early 70s with this stunner of an issue. Its excellence has almost nothing to do with the fact that it somewhat incidentally features Iceman, but hey, it also does.

Incidentally, this issue (and Marvel in general) calls Spider-Man "Spider-Man", with the hyphen and capitalisation, but calls Iceman "Iceman", one word. This kind of thing annoys me. But anyway, Iceman here is intruding on the golden age of Spider-Man comics, with Stan Lee still writing the series and legendary artists Gil Kane and John Romita drawing it. This issue, 92, comes just after the storyling in which Gwen Stacy's dad dies, a foundational part of the series' mythology (recently re-examined in Across the Spiderverse), and just a few issues before a then-pioneering storyline about Harry Osborn and drug use. The art is jazzy and bright but also dynamic, and the writing is - as always with Lee - wordy but snappy.

There's also, as you can see, a political angle. In the wake of Captain Stacy's death, Peter is trying to throw Stacy off the scent after she starts to suspect that Peter is Spider-Man, so he decides to kidnap her and be really mean to her, since she "knows" Peter would never do such a thing. This is an absurd plan but whatever: Bobby Drake happens to be passing by and, believing Spider-Man to be behaving villainously (which, to be fair, he is), interrupts.

This is basically all prelude for the real, and really interesting, plot, wherein sleazy politician Sam Bullitt is trying to get elected as District Attorney, using Spider-Man to create a law-and-order panic. Of course, nobody does law-and-order panic about Spider-Man like J Jonah Jameson, who had been suporting Bullitt..until Bullitt's thugs tried to threaten Peter Parker for information about Spider-Man, whereupeon Jameson got angry about an attempt to intimidate one of his journalists and the Bugle abandoned Bullitt. I'm explaining this at greath length but that's because I really like this plot and it goes to a really, really interesting place when Jameson and his long-suffering deputy Robbie Robertson get a visit from Bullitt.

Holy shit! Actual politics! Robbie Robertson is, as you may know, one of the longest-established Black characters in Marvel comics, having been introduced in 1967, when he instantly became one of very, very few comics characters of colour to be depicted as anything other than a stereotype: instead he is and has always been a good guy journalist and ally of Peter's. And here we are with a villain throwing outright racial slurs and using hate groups and fascist tactics to get elected.

It's extremely ironic that this happens to be an issue with an X-Men character in it since these are the exact kind of issues X-Men is meant to be about - fear, prejudice, minorities, politics - and almost never has been so far: but here's a Spider-Man story doing it, and doing it well.

Eventually, of course, Peter and Bobby both realise what's up, and that they shouldn't have been fighting each other, and they team up, rescue Robbie, and expose Bullitt in the middle of a fancy fund-raising dinner.

And that's that. There's almost no reason for Iceman to be in this issue, and it's sort of frustrating, again, that he never says "as an X-Man, this kind of hateful rhetoric against other minorities is particularly disturbing to me" because, again, that's sort of meant to be the whole point of the X-Men, but X-Men stuff aside this is a banger of an issue. Shame I won't be reading more of these, I guess.

#x men comics #an xmen a day #xmen #spiderman #spider-man #the amazing spider man #robbie robertson