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#thor the dark world icon

oswildin · 3 months

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MY LOKI SPOTIFY PLAYLISTS

(and marvel related playlists)

POV PLAYLISTS (YOU X LOKI)

pov: enemies to lovers with loki laufeyson (it’s complicated) // “would you bleed for me?” - halsey // features artists like: florence + the machine, billie eilish, maneskin, rihanna, arctic monkeys (indie rock/dark pop)

pov: best friends to lovers with loki laufeyson // “pauses then says ‘you’re my bestfriend’, you knew what it was, he is in love.” - taylor swift // features artists like: mitski, lorde, the 1975, lana del rey, taylor swift (indie pop/ballads/soft pop)

pov: you’re in love with loki laufeyson despite everything (angst) // “but you love me wrong.” - allie x // features artists like: marina, melanie martinez, aurora, olivia rodrigo, miley cyrus, allie x (indie pop/soft pop/power ballads)

pov: loki wants to do “terrible, awful things… to you” // “think I need someone older.” - isabel larosa // features artists like: she wants revenge, beyonce, the neighbourhood, the weeknd, k.flay, isabel larosa (electronic pop/dark pop)

pov: relaxing with loki laufeyson // “calm again, i feel warm again.” - aurora // features artists like: mitski, the 1975, taylor swift, billie eilish, bleachers, aurora (soft pop/acoustic pop/indie)

pov: you domesticated loki laufeyson and now you’re dancing in the kitchen // “if you dance, I’ll dance.” - lana del rey // features artists like: abba, børns, adele, the goo goo dolls, harry styles, lana del rey (mixed genres/feel good/ballads)

pov: you give loki an ipod with songs you think he’d like // “one day I’ll watch as you’re leaving cause you got tired of my scheming.” - taylor swift // features artists like: rina sawayama, twenty one pilots, marina, billie eilish, lady gaga, taylor swift (mixed genres/pop/soft pop)

LOKI CHARACTER PLAYLISTS

songs that are loki coded // “the truth is you have to be soft to be strong.” - marina // features artists like: panic at the disco, melanie martinez, linkin park, idkhbtfm, aurora, marina (mixed genres/pop/rock/electronica)

songs that are thor!loki coded (don’t ask me why) // “tired of being what you want me to be.” - linkin park // features artists like: twenty one pilots, royal & the serpent, willow, yungblud, aurora, linkin park (indie rock/indie pop)

songs that are avengers!loki coded (don’t ask me why) // “live a villain, die an icon.” - ashnikko // features artists like: halsey, poppy, demi lovato, rina sawayama, maneskin, ashnikko (rock/dark pop)

songs that are dark world!loki coded (don’t ask me why) // “you set my soul alight.” - muse // features artists like: depeche mode, nine inch nails, mother mother, my chemical romance, muse (rock/dark pop/indie)

songs that are ragnarok!loki coded (don’t ask me why) // “I know I created myself.” - aurora // features artists like: idkhbtfm, imagine dragons, maneskin, marina, gerard way, aurora (indie rock/indie pop)

songs that make me think of s1 of loki // “I don’t wanna be a monster anymore.” - rina sawayama // features artists like: gorillaz, grimes, twenty one pilots, blondie, lorde, rina sawayama (indie pop/dark pop/rock)

songs that make me think of s2 of loki // “all of this is temporary.” - halsey // features artists like: aurora, paramore, poppy, taylor swift, coldplay, halsey (indie pop/rock/ballads)

MARVEL POV PLAYLISTS (YOU X MARVEL)

pov: you’re the villain in the mcu

pov: you’re in the spider-verse

pov: you travel the galaxy

pov: dancing in a bar on contraxia

pov: you’re the new avenger

OTHER PLAYLISTS

songs that sylvie listens to in her 1982 pickup truck

songs that are sylvie laufeydottir coded (don’t ask me why)

songs that remind me of sylki

songs that remind me of lokius

pov: loki is drunk at a sakaarian party & the grandmaster is the dj (💅🏻🏳️‍🌈🍸)

loki laufeyson (guardians of the galaxy version)

#loki #loki playlist #marvel playlist #loki x y/n #loki x reader #loki x you #loki pov #marvel pov #mcu pov #mcu playlist #spotify playlist #character playlist #marvel x you #loki laufeyson #loki marvel

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katieskrsgard · 6 months

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🎃 TJ MIKELOGAN'S HALLOWEEN 2023 EVENT 🎃

DAY 26: Witches

ICONIC WITCHES, MAGIC USERS & GODS

Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson in Hocus Pocus (1993) dir. Kenny Ortega

Robin Tunney as Sarah Bailey in The Craft (1996) dir. Andrew Fleming

Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase in the Buffy-verse (1997-2004) creator Joss Whedon

Holly Marie Combs as Piper Halliwell in Charmed (1998-2006) creator Constance M. Burge

Tom Hiddleston as Loki Laufeyson in Loki (2021-) creator Michael Waldron

Fairuza Balk as Nancy Downs in The Craft (1996) dir. Andrew Fleming

Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/The Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) dir. Sam Raimi

Amber Benson as Tara Maclay in the Buffy-verse (1997-2004) creator Joss Whedon

Anya Taylor Joy as Thomasina in The Witch (2015) dir. Robert Eggers

Neve Campbell as Bonnie Harper in The Craft (1996) dir. Andrew Fleming

Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter (2001-2011)

Sandra Bullock as Sally Owens in Practical Magic (1998) dir. Griffin Dunne

Cher as Alexandra Medford in The Witches of Eastwick (1987) dir. George Miller

Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in Hocus Pocus (1993) dir. Kenny Ortega

Miranda Richardson as Lady Van Tassel in Sleepy Hollow (1999) dir. Tim Burton

Rachel True as Rochelle Zimmerman in The Craft (1996) dir. Andrew Fleming

Rene Russo as Frigga in Thor: The Dark World (2013) dir. Alan Taylor

Shannen Doherty as Prue Halliwell in Charmed (1998-2006) creator Constance M. Burge

Alyssa Milano as Phoebe Halliwell in Charmed (1998-2006) creator Constance M. Burge

Sophia Di Martino as Sylvie Laufeydottir in Loki (2021-) creator Michael Waldron

Michelle Pfeiffer as Sukie Ridgemont in The Witches of Eastwick (1987) dir. George Miller

Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg in the Buffy-verse (1997-2004) creator Joss Whedon

Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson in Hocus Pocus (1993) dir. Kenny Ortega

Christina Ricci as Katrina Van Tassel in Sleepy Hollow (1999) dir. Tim Burton

Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness in WandaVision (2021) creator Jac Schaeffer

Rose McGowan as Paige Matthews in Charmed (1998-2006) creator Constance M. Burge

Cate Blanchett as Hela Odinsdottir in Thor: Ragnarok (2017) dir. Taika Waititi

Susan Sarandon as Jane Spofford in The Witches of Eastwick (1987) dir. George Miller

Eva Green as Angelique Bouchard in Dark Shadows (2012) dir. Tim Burton

Nicole Kidman as Gillian Owens in Practical Magic (1998) dir. Griffin Dunne

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lokittystuckinatree · 5 months

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Now that we seem to be at a stopping place for MCU! Loki’s character, time for a no context personal ranking of Tom Hiddleston Lokis

1. Thor 2011 (The Loki I base my Loki standards on)

2. Loki Season 2 (specifically episode 5 and 6)

3. Thor: the Dark World (you just decapitated your grandfather)

4. Loki Season 1 (peak mischief, angsty identity crisis, punk Jotun girlfriend. Rest sucked.)

5. Avengers (solid iconic Loki era just not my taste)

6. Thor: Ragnarok (Loki wrote a play. Loki being predictable chaos and afraid of change. Rest sucked.)

7. What If (for Jotun Loki’s eyeliner and shenanigans alone)

8. Endgame, etc. Loki was not in Infinity War ✌️

#loki #just my personal opinion #everyone else likely has a different ranking of Lokis #MCU Loki #tom hiddleston #this is just for the characterization of MCU Loki btw

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srkshaju · 4 months

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Discover the Top 10 Movie Villains of All Time, Ranked!

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of cinema as we unveil the top 10 movie villains who have left an indelible mark on storytelling.

Heroes shine brightest when faced with formidable adversaries, and here's our countdown of the most iconic villains of the century.

10. Michael Myers (Halloween series)

Watch on: Apple TV, Amazon Prime

Known for his immovable and demonic presence, Michael Myers, the Halloween series antagonist, has been a longstanding icon. Wielding a knife and driven by a tragic past, Myers embarks on an annual killing spree, making him a memorable anti-hero.

9. Amy Dunne (Gone Girl)

Watch on: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV

Amy Dunne, a mastermind of manipulation, takes center stage. In 'Gone Girl,' her intelligent and cunning nature leads to a meticulously orchestrated disappearance and murder. Rosamund Pike's portrayal brings to life the vengeful side of a scorned woman.

8. Damien (Omen series)

Watch on: Apple TV, Amazon Prime

Damien Thorn, the antichrist in The Omen series, orchestrates chaos with a desire to conquer the world. His journey involves murder, infanticide, familial betrayal, and abuse of power, making him a compelling and dark figure.

7. Emperor Palpatine

Watch on: Disney+ Hotstar

Emperor Palpatine, the Dark Lord of the Sith, conceals his malevolent ambitions behind political cunning. With an appetite for galactic domination and the destruction of the Jedi Order, Palpatine stands as an intelligent and manipulative force.

6. Gollum (The Lord of the Rings)

Watch on: Netflix

Gollum's tragic tale unfolds as he succumbs to the power of the One Ring. Split into two personas, Sméagol and Gollum, his obsession contributes to the downfall of the entire 'Lord of the Rings' universe.

5. Norman Bates (Psycho series)

Watch on: Apple TV

Norman Bates, owner of the Bates Motel, navigates a split personality, creating a chilling narrative. A psychopathic serial killer, Bates leaves an unforgettable mark on the horror genre.

4. Voldemort (Harry Potter)

Watch on: Amazon Prime, Apple TV

Lord Voldemort, an icon of evil in J.K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' series, pursues immortality and leads the Death Eaters. A dark wizard of unparalleled magnitude, Voldemort is a central figure in the magical world.

3. Loki (MCU)

Watch on: Disney+ Hotstar

Loki, the adoptive brother of Thor, introduces deception and cunning to the mix. With a penchant for mischief, Loki becomes a favorite among anti-hero enthusiasts.

2. The Joker (DC)

Watch on: Disney+ Hotstar

Chaos lover and humorously sadistic, The Joker is an iconic psychopath. His presence brings joy to what's wrong, making him a beloved yet disturbing figure in Gotham and beyond.

1. Darth Vader (Star Wars)

Watch on: Disney+ Hotstar

Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader is a cinematic masterpiece. Seduced by the dark side, Vader stands as one of the greatest villains in film history.

Share with us your favorite anti-hero from the list!

#top ten movies #hollywood movie #dc universe #mcu #darth vader #the joker #loki series #voldemort #norman bates #the lord of the rings #star wars #michael myers #srkshaju #srkshazu #mylove💕

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mylifeiscomics · 4 months

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Hi! I just found your page but I really enjoy your art. I'm getting back into DW and have gotten really attached to Nine lately. Which means im trying to find anything to watch Chris in xD . If you wouldn't mind, could you recommend some things or tell your favorites? I'm just really glad to see him get the love he deserves.

Thank you!

I can definitely tell you what to pass on, lol! Don't watch Thor: Dark World. It was a terrible use of our man. Didn't use his iconic voice OR face. Boo.

These ones are good: "Jude" - a must. "Our Friends in the North" "Shallow Grave" "Elizabeth" - just because he looks so hot in this lol

That'll get you started anyway. Cheers! Have fun!

#Christopher Eccleston #Ninth Doctor

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olet-lucernam · 13 days

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A Hollow Promise [26] chapter vi, part iii

{_[on AO3]_}

main tags : loki x original character, post-avengers 2012, canon divergence - post-thor: the dark world, canon-typical violence, mentions of torture

summary: In the aftermath of the Battle of New York, the Avengers need a few days to build a transport device for the Tesseract. With the Helicarrier damaged and surveillance offline, SHIELD sends an asset to guard Loki in the interim: a young woman who sees the truth in all things, and cannot lie.

Even long presumed dead, her memories lost to her, Loki would know her anywhere.

And this changes things.

Some things last beyond infinity. And the universe is in love with chaos.

(Loki was never looking for redemption. It came as an unexpected side-effect.)

chapter summary : astrid gathers her allies, and draws the attention of her enemies. loki pays a heavy price for a victory.

recommended listening : let's get it started, måneskin

tag list: @femmealec, @mischief2sarawr

special thanks to the lovely @mischief2sarawr: when i had to rewrite pretty much all of this, their encouragement helped me get it done within a matter of days, instead of weeks. (thanks for the virtual tea, sarah <3)

[PREVIOUS] | [MASTERLIST] | [NEXT]

Actually- Ophelia wasn’t even her second appointment.

During daylight hours and early evening, the tight-woven alleys of Shinjuku’s Golden Gai were almost serene, lined with potted plants, faced in pale stone. By nightfall, however, the countless micro-bars that hemmed the narrow passageways threw open their doors and exploded into neon light and colour and conversation, entrances plastered with stickers, interiors crammed with patrons, walls pasted with advertisements and unique theming, spilling with the smell of beer and charcoal smoke, electric signs and sandwich boards and utility boxes jutting out like soliciting hands over the stone stoops.

Each establishment only had a tiny footprint- two storeys high and barely large enough to host more than a dozen patrons at a time- and therefore tended to be selective, some only catering to regulars and refusing tourists.

Fortunately, Astrid had been introduced at a few of the bars before- and she was due to meet someone there.

She had been waiting outside, carefully tucked out of the way of passing foot traffic- the same wool coat from Cornwall now arranged as a cape over her shoulders, draped over a black cocktail dress with one sleeve artistically falling off her shoulder, polished up with her favourite pair of blush-pink heels, filigree golden hardware glinting- when she felt a familiar presence storming up from behind, Manolo Blahniks snapping on the pavement.

A hand seized her elbow, dragging her into the bar with a hiss.

“You suck, ‘Strid.”

Astrid heard the annoyance, and general insincerity beneath it, and grinned.

“Hisashiburi, Miko-chan,” Astrid said in sugar-coated, casual Japanese. “Genki desu ka?”

“I hate you,” the voice groused.

Laughing quietly, Astrid allowed herself to be shoved into the tiny space, and towards a perilously narrow staircase, climbing to the second floor to seek out one of the small booths.

She had barely lowered herself into her seat, shrugging the coat from her shoulders, when the other person dropped heavily into the chair opposite her, unceremonious and pointed.

Socialite heiress, fashion icon, and sole grandchild of the chairman of Fujikawa Industries, Rumiko was confident, intimidating, and the consummate, catty epitome of the rich bitch archetype; she was Regina George’s grasp on social capital, thrown into a blender with Heather Duke’s utter ruthlessness, topped up with Cher Horowitz’s fashion sense. Overdressed in a silk Givenchy slip dress, complete with Cartier earrings and a matching watch, her satin-gloss hair tumbled to her waist and wisped above her downturn eyebrows, jaw locked in a scathing disapproval that would make a lesser being curdle into themselves.

“What are you even wearing? You could have at least worn that Dior piece I got you.”

Astrid smirked at the familiar barb, electing not to point out that her dress was Valentino, and the shoes were Ralph and Russo.

“Good to see you too. Am I buying the cocktails?”

“Fuzakenna yo, kora! You disappeared for two years, yes, you’re buying the cocktails-”

“It was eighteen months, I gave you the heads up, and in my defence, I was abducted for fourteen of them,” Astrid rattled off, already slipping out of her seat and pulling out her wallet, stuffed with freshly obtained yen. “I’ll be back.”

Rumiko jolted. “What?! You were abdu-”

“Later. Long story. Drinks first.”

“You’re a dead woman, North, I swear-”

Astrid hid her grin.

Predictably, Rumiko had loosened up enough to listen to her by the time she reached the bottom of her first drink. If they had talked over coffee, or brunch, Astrid wouldn’t have been able to get a word in edgeways. Rumiko was incorrigible when her temper was piqued, and Astrid had expected her disappearance to be an issue.

The two of them had met by chance, years ago. Rumiko’s paternal grandfather was Kenjiro Fujikawa, the CEO of Fujikawa Industries, a tech company with a niche in sophisticated surgical robotics. While she was merely expected to marry whichever worthy successor Kenjiro selected for her, Rumiko was still regularly pulled to attend medical conferences, and various industry-based galas and dinner.

It was at one such event that Astrid- as Astrid North, not as Alethia- had met her.

The two had become friends, in the kind of half-accidental way that might have happened if they had attended the same school. But they had become close enough that Astrid had expected Rumiko to be a little sour, when she returned, even with the warning that she would be disappearing for a while. Rumiko hated being left in the dark, and Astrid had told her nothing.

She hadn’t expected the sourness to be masking masses of pure, trembling relief.

So as Rumiko guzzled down her second sidecar, Astrid gave her the truth.

It was far from everything, but it was enough- and more than Astrid volunteered to most- either those who knew Astrid, or those who knew Alethia.

When she was finished, Rumiko set her half-empty coupé glass on the table, not quite slamming it down, faintly disconcerted.

“Okay. If it wasn’t for New York, I’d be getting out the straitjacket.”

“If it wasn’t for New York, I wouldn’t be telling you this,” Astrid rejoined, swallowing a mouthful of her espresso martini. She felt oddly drained, brimming with endorphins, like the aftermath of a workout.

“That’s fair,” Rumiko said dryly. “You sound insane. It’s literally like the plot of Men In Black- wait. ‘Strid. Could you be an alien?”

“Maybe.” Astrid admitted blandly, shrugging one shoulder. “I haven’t eliminated the possibility.”

Rumiko blew out a breath, head dropping forwards briefly. “Okay. We need beer. And fried chicken.”

“Mm, good call.”

Once their table was packed with piping-hot plates of fried izakaya dishes, their glasses refilled- Rumiko switching over to a frothing plastic pitcher of beer and Astrid taking up sake- Rumiko was significantly calmer, hardening over with the kind of ruthlessly practical, efficient composure that would have made her an excellent successor to FI, if her grandfather had been an ounce or so less of a misogynist.

“Okay, so- let’s figure out where you stand.” Rumiko said efficiently, picked up a piece of karaage with her chopsticks, grease and sesame seeds glistening on the batter. “I mean, it all depends on what you want, but either way-” she pointed her loaded chopsticks at Astrid, before popping the fried chicken into her mouth, “this agency.”

“This agency,” Astrid agreed with a dip of her head, sipping on her sake.

“You’re off their radar right now, but it sounds like they have the sheer resources and numbers to just keep looking, so, that’s likely temporary.” Rumiko tapped her nails against her glass, leaning forwards against her elbows. “Okay. Do you have any backchannels you can use? Anyone who seemed sympathetic, or might hear you out if you got in contact? You might be able to cut a deal, if you can figure out some leverage. It’s either that, or you’ll need a deterrent. Some way to make the cost too high, or the gains too low, to keep coming after you. Again, you’ll need leverage for that. Where are you staying right now? And how long can you lay low? If we can buy you some time-”

Astrid’s expression had cleared, focused as a lens, and Rumiko paused.

“What?” She prompted.

One shoulder lifting, Astrid bought her cup to her mouth.

“You really need to start that PR crisis firm, Ru.”

Startled, Rumiko reared upright from her casual slouch. “The fuck, ‘Strid?”

“Well, I have just told you that I am wanted by a secretive multinational agency,” she pointed out, dropping her voice low enough to blend within the camouflaging ambient chatter of the tiny bar, “who abducted me and has been covering up the existence of magic and monsters since the forties- and you acclimated within fifteen minutes, then launched straight into working out how to handle it. Remind me again why you’re not making bank from this? Aside from your grandfather being a jackass, I mean.”

“Oh my god, we’re so not doing this right now,” Rumiko muttered into her glass, followed by an unladylike gulp of beer.

One corner of Astrid’s mouth curled.

There was a subtle, telling flatness in Rumiko’s scowl, as the words and their sentiments sank in- like water soaking into soft earth, swiftly and undramatically, absorbed and drawing itself down.

Setting her cup aside, Astrid let Rumiko ignore it, for now. “Are those my only options? Bargain, deter, appease?”

“What, you have another plan?”

The question wasn’t quite rhetorical, but it was tinted with a rational scepticism.

If Astrid had been anyone else- anything other than truth incarnate, or someone who had gone up against SHIELD for years with nothing but her wits and her ability to arm her, fallen in love with a demigod, and promised him everything- she might have agreed.

“If the world doesn’t work for you,” she said, taking up her chopsticks and plucking a cube of fried tofu from one of the plates, swiping in through the dipping sauce, “then change the world. Right?”

Rumiko froze, looking from under her fringe to glare at her incredulously.

“You’re not fucking serious.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because that’s insane.”

“Is it? The world already broke in New York. I would just be rearranging the pieces.”

“I take it back,” Rumiko said bluntly, dropping her chopsticks and topping off her beer glass. “I’m getting the damn straitjacket.”

“Good luck with that,” Astrid answered breezily. “I’ll give you a clean number, later, so don’t worry about me disappearing again. Not completely, anyway.”

“You’re insane,” Rumiko reiterated.

“But you think I can do it,” she stated neutrally, meeting Rumiko’s eyes, the words tasting golden and hot in her chest, metal and bright.

Rumiko stared back at her for a long, fierce moment.

“You’re serious.”

Astrid picked up and popped one of the mayo prawns into her mouth. “Yes.”

Rumiko hissed out an exasperated breath, worry creeping into the crimp of her perfect eyebrows.

“’Strid.” She said grimly. “Seriously. Going up against a multinational spy agency. Is this really worth it?”

“Yes.”

The heat in the word burned like a brand.

Rumiko looked back at her, despairing and incredulous and impressed.

“You’re insane,” she said resignedly.

Astrid laughed. “If you set up the scaffolding for that PR firm within two years, I’ll give you a gift.”

“I am not starting a-”

Rumiko paused.

“A gift?” She echoed, intrigued and sceptical. “What kind of gift?”

“That would be for you to find out. You know I give the best gifts, Ru,” Astrid pointed out. “Remember when I gave you the wing mirror from your ex’s car?”

Rumiko’s mouth tilted into a nostalgic smile.

“That was a really nice present,” she conceded fondly, before grimacing, reaching for the pitcher to top up her beer glass. “But tonight, all I want is alcohol.”

Astrid laughed, and leaned in to clunk her cup again Rumiko’s glass.

“Ah, fine. I suppose I owe you that much,” she agreed easily. “But in that case- shots?”

Rumiko’s eyes glinted.

“Karaoke?”

An hour later, as they stumbled out of the bar, arms linked and heading out to get into trouble somewhere in Kabukicho, Astrid dropped her notebook into her pocket with its second entry.

Ink pens.

Ophelia would be deeply insulted if she ever found out that she wasn’t even Astrid’s third port of call.

Astrid was tempted to tell her. It would be good to regulate her ego.

The taste of alcohol was still sour in her mouth, swilled with water, the tang masked by the fresh espresso and gelato that was gently melting in a glass bowl in front of her.

The afternoon air in Rome was cool, despite clear sun-soaked skies and the heat of the crowded streets. Clouds of chatter and the clink of plates and glasses reflected against the warm, pale-yellow brick, the buildings carved with classical ornamentation, spilling with artfully cultivated vines, stained with graffiti. The sett-block pavement was hemmed with café boards, parked motorcycles, and folding wooden-slat bistro tables; cream parasols and restaurant awnings created pockets of deeper shade, between arched shopfronts.

Astrid spooned up the last of her affogato with a swirl of silverware, lips sealing over the spoon.

Seated at the café bar, she was twisted side-on against the counter, watching the passing foot traffic and outside tables through the windows. A cross-breeze drifted over her every so often, cutting in through the entryway and seeping through her clothes, refreshing her overheated skin.

“Propiro l’affogato, sì?” The ageing server behind the counter prompted, briskly pleasant as he calculated her bill. “The, ah- qual è il nom inglese-”

Astrid swallowed a melted mouthful of vanilla, cream, and espresso.

“It’s affogato in English as well,” she told him, startling the waiter. “Il mio Italiano è pessimo?”

“No, no, per niente! Il tuo accento è- your accent, it’s very good! Molto bene. Ma- in Rome,” the server bought a wrinkled hand to cup his ear indicatively, “you hear it, sì? I can tell you’re English, a little.”

Astrid nodded, setting her spoon down and gently pushing the empty glass bowl away from her.

“Ah, vedo- è il tuo orecchio, non la mia bocca, sì?”

“Sì, esattamente! Ho sentito che- I can hear, that you learn it when you are grown,” he said with a grin, “not when little.”

“Ah, vedo- ciò ha senso. I did a summer at Sapenzia,” she explained gamely. “I had a friend who used to say the same thing. That my cadence gave me away.”

“Aha, bene, bene! You’re here to visit your friend?”

“Sì, ma- as a surprise,” Astrid admitted, unsnapping her wallet from where it rested at her elbow, before glancing towards the windows, and the bistro tables arranged within their sight. “Ah- do you see the two women seated under the vines?”

The waiter paused, looking up and leaning to see. “Sì- la bruna e la rossa?”

“Sì. La bruna? Quello è il mio amico.”

His dark eyes widened demonstrably. “Veramente?”

Astrid grinned at him, resting her chin on the hell of her palm. “She doesn’t know that I’m here.” Slipping a credit card loose from her purse with her free hand, she rapped it against the bar top. “Do you think I could pay their cheque, signore? Come una sorpresa?”

His mouth formed a silent exhale of understanding, tapping the side of his aquiline nose before returning to the register. “Naturalmente, signorina- ah, you want me to tell her it was you? Or will you tell her later?”

“Mm.” Astrid watched the server pull up the order details of the table. “Do you have a serviette, signore?”

Less than five minutes later, Astrid left the café, stepping out into the sunlight just in time to see the same server pausing at one of the al fresco tables.

As Astrid had observed on her way into the bistro, two women were seated underneath the arch of a vine clinging to the outer wall, with several half-finished plates on the table between them.

The first- a redhead, the coppery tresses cropped into a flattering pixie-cut, broad-shouldered in an olive jacket and white capris jeans- had her back to Astrid, the slight curve of her face in profile just barely visible. The second woman was facing towards her, torso leaned askew and head tipped up, mildly annoyed askance painted across her face like a fresco as she spoke to the server.

Arms folded forward onto the table, the fall of her black hair almost bleeding into her tank top, Vittoria Montesi hadn’t changed much from when Astrid had last seen her. She was still model-lean, as though she subsisted solely on coffee and cigarettes- which was probably accurate, if her on-call diet hadn’t changed since residency- with a full, sceptical mouth, poised to argue and drive and diagnose.

Astrid waited just long enough to see the server hand her the napkin, before melting into the crowd with a grin and a lilt in her weaving steps, escaping towards the tourist trap of the Fontana di Trevi.

A new addition was jotted into her notebook with a borrowed pen.

Coffee grounds.

Several hours later, Astrid departed from the Gallery.

Arriving back at the Madripoor penthouse, she stripped out of her clothes, changing into a comfortable camisole, jersey shorts, and thigh-high socks, and retrieved her notebook from the breakfast bar.

New shoes, Astrid wrote onto her list- before flipping the cover shut, tossing the pen down, and collapsing into the sofa with a soft groan.

Four.

It was a start.

Lying in the demi-dark, cheek pressed into the arm of the couch, impatience hummed under her skin like an electric current, settling in the roots of her teeth. Her heart drummed hard and impatient against the adipose-softened wall of her breastbone, eyes open.

The silver light of the city rinsed through the windows, across the apartment, pooling across the floor like the shallow waterline of the incoming tide. Her synapses were slowing, sloping into a long-overdue caffeine crash- but four felt like not enough, not enough, not enough.

She had done more on less sleep.

Four would need to be hundreds. Thousands. Tens, hundreds of thousands.

Four was not enough.

It had only been twenty-four hours, but it had been almost natural, for her to slip into the mindset that she had lived in for years: keep moving, keep working, don’t stop, don’t hesitate, be smart, be quick, be relentless, use your greed, use your selfishness, next step, next step, next step-

Everything else became easy to ignore. The storm within her, whatever doubt and anger and loneliness and turmoil broiled inside, pressing behind her eyes like to urge to sob, became simple fuel, like glucose, until she was done.

None of it would matter, once she got what she wanted- and if it did matter, she would deal with it then, when it was safe.

It was easy, because Astrid was her father’s daughter. He had taught her how to use her worst traits as a whetstone, to make herself scalpel-sharp.

Her flesh was cooling, the cushions were warm, and her limbs grew heavy and slack with every passing moment.

And she suddenly remembered Loki’s parting words to her, as she had finished the dregs of their rose tea at the Cornish tea parlour.

I should get up, darling, he murmured reluctantly. I must get to work. But make sure you take your rest- I want to see you later.

Astrid sighed into a smile, defeated.

Sly bastard, she thought fondly.

She shouldn’t keep him waiting.

Lifting her head just long enough to set an alarm on her phone, Astrid dropped the device on the coffee table and sank back into the sofa, limbs sliding across the upholstery in a drag of wool and cotton and bare skin, as she let sleep claim her- just for a little while.

54 weeks and 6 days out

“I’ve walked the deserts for miles Swam the waters for a tide Searching places to find A piece of something to call, mine A piece of something to call, mine- Coming closer to you-”

You will be careful, won’t you, Astra?

“Hm?” Astrid paused her singing, fingers still strumming at her keyboard, the click of the keys weaving her response into the comment box like a shuttle in a loom. “With what?”

She clicked post, watching the response box disappear.

The text popped up within the thread, slotting into place in the conversation, sealed into format. Astrid clicked away, skimming the rest of the forum.

This, Loki replied, with the mental equivalent of an expansive gesture. Whipping up a group over which you do not have full control.

“Mm, you’re one to talk, alderliefest,” Astrid commented, eyes unmoving from the screen of her laptop, reaching for the plate at her side, “with what you’ve been doing through- Brunn, was it?”

Brunnhilde, Loki confirmed- but immediately becoming distracted by what Astrid had bitten into.

Cut thick, the slab of pain pavé was spread with unsalted butter and honeycomb- treacly and faintly earthy with clouds of unprocessed pollen

It tasted of late summer and wildflower meadows, and dirt on her skin, a shock of calories into her system.

Over the weeks, Astrid had been narrowing down Loki’s preferences. Within his sweet tooth, it seemed that he had a particular weakness for anything that featured honey, or chocolate; honey reminded him of Asgard, of better memories and better days, of the royal city at golden hour and light-hearted laughter, of his brother’s broad grin and of a flash of pale-bright hair that always sent Astrid’s stomach swooping with something unidentifiable whenever it flickered into her mind, through his.

Chocolate seemed to provoke thoughts of Midgard. It made him think of city cafés, of her bed in the penthouse, of cold mornings as she went through her morning routine, of the warmth of the crook of her neck and the view of snow-capped mountains through broad windows.

Astrid had gained a new appreciation of chocolate.

And touché, Loki conceded, his thoughts still humming with pleasure at the taste of the honeycomb.

She tongued the soft film of beeswax from her teeth, quietly content for a precious, ephemeral moment.

It felt better, at least. The ache of their separation- and the omnipresent lack and malcontent that she could live with, but never quite ignore- was less when he was there, and she was reminded that she was doing something, moving closer.

Coming closer to you, Astrid hummed the sweetly-lilting bar.

A warm breeze swept over her, as she glanced up over the top of her screen.

They were in Chile today- on a rooftop amongst the soaring metropolitan clutter of Santiago. Astrid had positioned herself to gaze out at the distant summer-red of the Andes, looming above the basin of the city, hazy through the sun-bright smog; the building she was perched atop was within view of one of the city’s many green spaces, the lush foliage a shock of emerald against the concrete, a faint rush of traffic carried up on the thermal lift.

She changed where she worked every day, cycling through a roulette wheel of hemispheres, climates, continents, countries, the only prerequisites being a stable internet connection and a good view. But she had noticed that Loki liked mountains, and cool open air, and she had begun peppering them in as often as possible.

I, however, am far more removed from my work, Loki pressed, edged with caution. And circumstances leave me beneath suspicion. You are far closer to the fire, songbird.

“Mm.” Astrid traced her collarbone absently. “True.”

Her gaze dropped to the screen, sucking a smear of honey from her opposite thumb.

“But these ones are less the fire, more the firestarters.” She added lightly.

The forum was thick with activity.

The hacktivist group known as the Rising Tide was a hornet’s nest- a collective that had sprung up in the wake of Culver, devoted to dragging SHIELD from the shadows into the cold light of day- and one that Astrid had repeatedly agitated, pointed in the right direction, and watched swarm SHIELD’s most recent project.

With New York, they had been galvanised, by a publicly validated raison d’être.

The corner of her mouth folded up ruefully.

Their organisation was an ad hoc nightmare, and they were incapable of communicating with the general public without coming off as uncredible, melodramatic, conspiracy theory whackjobs - but the Rising Tide were her first true allies, arguably, and incredibly skilled at what they did.

They had given her the lead in New Mexico. Astrid would always owe them a debt, for that.

“Anyway,” Astrid said, straightening, arms extending above her head, feeling her shoulders and spine click and realign, “arguably- if anything is the fire, it’s me. It’s only a matter of time before they try to extinguish me. Before the inevitable, I should burn as bright and hot as I can- don’t you think?”

She felt Loki sigh, fondly exasperated.

As long as you don’t burn out completely.

“Completely?” She noted the specificity.

He smirked, and nipped at her shoulder. A little destruction is good for the soul. Cathartic. You deserve a little of that.

Astrid laughed softly, and imagined her own fingers running through his hair.

From his shiver, it seemed that practice was slowly beginning to pay off.

“Well, I have heard that volcanic soil is amongst the richest and most fertile in the world.”

Ah. You do have a rather volcanic temper, beloved.

“You think so? Interesting. I would call yours glacial, prince.”

She felt his eyebrows steeple in askance, faintly sardonic.

Passive and slow to act?

“Quiet. Patient. Underestimated,” she listed, leaning back slightly, feeling the illusion of him catch her weight. “Ruthless, and relentless. And with the power to reshape the world while no one is paying attention.”

Loki breathed out a laugh, and planted the sensation of a kiss behind her ear, eliciting a pleasantly startled noise from her.

Such shameless flattery, he murmured against her nape, mood warmed beneath the teasing. What am I to do, in the face of such an assault?

Astrid sighed, sinking into him- and willed herself not to think.

“Surrender,” she suggested breathily. “And believe me.”

The phantom of his arm curled around her waist, mouth nestling at the shell of her ear, folding himself around her.

His mood was tepid, opaque.

The anxiety she felt was a pit, somewhere behind the wall of her abdomen.

She refused to dwell on it, and risk drawing the keen edge of Loki’s attention onto it.

Her laptop gave a chirp of distress, and she looked up. The internet connection had dropped again.

Grateful for the distraction, Astrid sang the signal back into strength.

“I’m moving, I’m coming Can you hear what I hear? It’s calling you, my dear Out of reach-”

The bars rocketed up back up, Wi-Fi boosted from a café several dozen feet below.

Astrid exhaled a smile, propping her chin on her palm. “Take me to my bea-each…”

Old songs- ones that she had listened to and re-loved thousands of times over- were best for weaving magic as she multitasked.

Combing her hair back behind her ear, Astrid flipped through her tabs, refreshing each one, keeping up the melody under breath.

“I can hear it, calling you I’m coming, not drowning Swimming closer to you-”

One of her dummy social media accounts reloaded.

Astrid scrolled through her feed at a reflexive skim, idly liking a few posts to keep up her account activity. She was keeping track, but not sincerely expecting to see a moving of the needle, just yet.

It was something that the Rising Tide, for all their skill and drive and passion, hadn’t quite recognised yet: they could afford to lay out the trail, prompt the question, and wait.

Slow is fast, Astrid reminded herself.

Ah. Stark is trending, Loki observed idly.

“Hm?”

Astrid paused, glancing at the trending topics sidebar.

“Ah. Hardly surprising, beloved.” She lifted her shoulder. “Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. And the world’s first modern superhero.”

Loki rearranged himself nonchalantly, like draping satin.

Is your heart still set on him, as an ally?

Astrid hummed through a sigh, leaning back slightly more, lounging against him and tipping her head to the skies, propped on the strong ledge his shoulder.

“I think,” she said slowly, “that not even trying to work with him would be like shooting ourselves in the foot, with our last bullet, while in the middle of a firefight, and then amputating the limb with an unsterilised knife and no anaesthesia.”

Graphic, Loki remarked dryly. But I take your point, my heart.

“Can I take that your approval?”

Why should I withhold it? Stark appears to be a wise choice. And the best option, amongst the Avengers.

“Damningly faint praise, prinsinn minn. We’re not exactly spoilt for choice.”

He snickered. Astrid couldn’t ignore how it sublimated at the edges into wistfulness, and a resignation that had fermented from frustration and outrage and hurt, like wine in a cask.

They both knew who Loki was thinking of- the one who should have been the better option.

It was a wound and a rift that Astrid hesitated to touch, for now.

“Still,” Astrid redirected, straightening on the palm of her hands, “I value your opinion. I want you to tell me if you think it’s a bad idea.”

I don’t, truly. An arm slipped around her waist, its weight comfortable and comforting. Astrid had to bat away the reflexive desire to feel the lean muscles flex against her abdomen, as Loki dragged her flush back against him, pinning her to the length of him. Stark listened to you, is aware of the threat, and offered me a drink, he teased. You can keep him if you wish, songbird.

“I have to obtain him, first,” Astrid riposted. “Or have him decide to obtain me.”

Just talk to him, sweet thing. How could he possibly resist?

She grinned broadly, shaking her head, the sickness in her abating. “Now who’s flattering?”

Refocusing on the trending bar, her head cocked as she caught up, wondering whether it was a personal scandal, a Stark Industries development, or a cheap editorial that had put the name in people’s mouths today.

Trending Topics #christmaseveeve #tonystark #mandarinbombings #happyfestivus

Mandarin, Loki noted, reading through her eyes. As in standard Chinese, the fruit, or the bureaucrat?

“None of the above- I think.” Astrid said distractedly, the pixels beginning to split in her vision. “It’s the supposed head of a terrorist organisation. They’ve claimed responsibility for a series of bombings, over the past few months.”

Supposed head? Loki echoed shrewdly.

She twitched her shoulder upwards wearily. “Someone is appropriating a name that doesn’t belong to them. I saw one of the videos, after the most recent incident. I know enough about the Ten Rings to know that this is someone dressing up in their colours. Especially with that moniker they-”

She halted.

Loki went still with concern.

Astra?

Gaze blank, her tongue was numb as she answered.

“The Ten Rings.”

What about it?

“Three years ago. Afghanistan. Do you remember what I told you? The incident created Iron Man.”

Loki froze.

And what better way to bait Stark, he said, quiet and sharp, than to use the name of an organisation that almost killed him?

Astrid’s hand darted out, clicking on the tag, hoping that it was just a coincidence of the algorithm-

BREAKING: Tony Stark’s mansion bombed in suspected terror attack – Iron Man missing

“Fuck!”

[PREVIOUS] | [MASTERLIST] | [NEXT]

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stleoshi · 1 year

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Top 4 Fic Recs

If I could only read four fics per fandom for the rest of my life, I would choose these.

Under the cut are recs for Danny Phantom, Daredevil, House M.D. Rurouni Kenshin, Sherlock Holmes, Supernatural, and Thor, though I may add more later.

Danny Phantom

The Disparaged Series by imekitty (gen, rated T) Long

Maddie Fenton’s obsessive quest to capture Danny Phantom brings disastrous consequences.

A recent take on the classic “dissection fic”, with Danny/Maddie’s relationship at the center of it. The first two fics in the series are complete, and the third is currently being updated monthly. The author skirts the limits of the readers comfort in an absolutely fascinating way which would not work in a lesser authors hands. I’ve been loyally following it for a couple years now and I find that I’ve never had to reread a previous chapter in order to remember whats going on. It’s very memorable.

Masks by Cordria (Gen, rated K+) Mid-Length

Sometimes, people hide who they truly are behind masks. This is a short story about the day that Lancer decides enough is enough when it comes to Daniel Fenton. Sequel is 'Plunge'.

It feels a little blasphemous to pick this Cordria fic when they have many, far more iconic fics to choose from (*cough* PITS) but this one just holds a special place in my heart.

Phantom of Truth by HaiJu (gen, rated T) Long

Locked away in a secret government lab with Phantom as her subject, nothing stands between Maddie and the truth... except, perhaps, herself.

Everyone and their mother recommends this fic, and that’s because it fucks severely. There’s a complete sequel now, but I find that I prefer this fic over it. The progression of Danny and Maddie’s relationship is titilating, you’re constantly on your toes wondering how he’ll make it out of this situation half-alive.

What A Nice Surprise by DarkNymfa (gen, rated T) Long

A ghost and two ghost hunters, sitting around. Like a family. Which they were, but, well. The other two didn’t know that. --- AKA the story of how the Fentons accidentally adopt their own son.

In a fandom full of fucked up and sad fic, it’s nice to have this cute, fluffy series to come back to at the end of the day.

Daredevil

Lucky Devil by ChuckleVoodoos (Matt/Foggy, rated T) Mid-Length

Matt gets caught, Foggy gets a clue, and cases get won.

Emotionally intimate, loving and believable. I’ve read this fic a thousand times and can never look away once I’ve started it.

Of Monstrous Shape by RosaLui (Gen, rated M) Short

“Put me in the ring,” Matt said. His glasses were cracked like a spider’s web, and in the shifting shadows it looked as if he was raising hackles in disgust.

“The House doesn’t profit from quick deaths,” said the jailor.

This fic is dark, violent, dramatic, and insanely engrossing. The author deftly paints the world of Daredevil and I am always in particular gripped by the climax.

Trial and Error by shyday (Gen, rated T) Mid-Length

'You're a lot of scary adverbs right now, my friend. Trust me when I say that "fine" is not one of them.'

This author loves to get into Matt Murdock’s head and imagine the world the way he perceives it, and they do it very well. Each fic of theirs is a sensory trip, but this one is my favorite. Very strong dialogue between Matt and Foggy as well.

Trust: Handle With Care by ceterisparibus (Matt/Karen, rated M) Long

Matt and Foggy's new client is a mother whose son was sexually abused by a priest.

This is a fic that deals with the heavy topic of abuse in the Catholic Church, but if you are able to stomach that it is an expertly executed fic. Not many authors would be able to craft a fic like this, but you can tell that every aspect of it comes from a place of deep personal knowledge and care. Also, the author is a lawyer, which is a rare treat in that the legal case is legit.

House M.D.

Codependency by debbiel (Hilson-ish, rated PG) Short

It was the sort of diagnosis that wouldn't rate a sad-face on his whiteboard. And yet it could change everything.

I’m a huge sucker for the premise of this fic, but none that I’ve found have hit quite like this one. Like a soulmate au, but more poignant ;)

Down to the Water by Blackmare (Gen, rated PG-13) Short

After Amber’s death, House and Wilson try to figure out their place in eachother’s lives.

So many little moments of this fic have stuck with me over the last decade, it’s quiet and beautifully melancholy. There’s a sequel as well which you can find on blackmare’s profile.

The Open Road by Pun (Hilson, rated M) Mid-Length

Wilson goes along for the ride.

Another road trip fic! This one is how I used to imagine the show would end, and somehow in the end it.. kind of was. This is still better.

Two Solitudes by mer_duff (Gen, rated PG) Short

"You were protecting me," House snapped. "What would you have done if he'd had a gun? Stood there and taken the bullet?" Wilson shrugged. "Better me than you."

A short exploration of Wilson’s tendency towards self-sacrificial protectiveness for House. I come back to this fic constantly.

Rurouni Kenshin

An Unexpected Lesson by Conspirator (Gen, rated PG-13) Long

Three years after the end of the Bakumatsu, a chance encounter with a kabuki troupe teaches Kenshin an unexpected lesson in survival.

A wandering era fic that gives us a window into what might have aided Kenshin in developing his “bumbling rurouni” act. I’ve read it a hundred times over the years, it is a great story with believable OCs and balance of humor and drama.

Out of Time by Siriusfan13 (Gen, rated PG-13) Long

During a trip to Kyoto with his friends, Himura Kenshin winds up in deep water... thirteen years in the past. How will Kenshin deal with the Revolution again? And how will his friends deal with Battousai, who has traded places with him?

This is such an earnest and loving study of Kenshin, who is my all time favorite character. This is certainly in my top fics of all time, and shares a similar premise to my other favorite fanfiction Bargaining, which just goes to show I have consistent taste lol.

Recovery by hakubaikou (Gen, rated T) Long

As Kenshin recovers from his wounds after his duel with Shishio, his friends sense a threat and take precautions for his safety. Complete.

Kenshins characterization rings absolutely dead on and the tone in general is like canon . This fic always feels like a warm hug to me, and I come back to it often. Hakubaikou was an amazing writer and she is missed every day, I’m so happy she shared her work with us.

Twelfth Knight by an_earl (Gen, rated T) Long

A bloody street-side massacre has been identified by Saito as the product of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. There are two suspects: Himura Kenshin and his master Hiko Seijuro the Thirteenth. Unbeknownst to them, a third user of their exalted style has time travelled to the future: Hiko Seijuro the Twelfth.

A fic about mistaken identity inspired by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

An ongoing fic that reads like a fandom classic (and I mean that very, very affectionately). The author’s Saito/Kenshin interactions absolutely crackle.

Sherlock Holmes

Bel Canto by bendingsignpost (Johnlock, rated T) Long

After years of waiting for wealthy patrons to faint, Dr John Watson discovers a far more interesting patient in the opera house basement. (AU through a Phantom of the Opera lens.)

The Phantom of the Opera AU I hold all others to as a standard. So delightful and entertaining.

How Sherlock Holmes Was Compelled to Remember One Festive Occasion Per Year: A Reminiscence by John H. Watson, MD by MirithGriffin (Johnlock, rated M) Short

Known to the SH fandom as The Turkish Bathhouse Fic. Charming as hell with ACD canon flavor, reading this fic has become a Christmas tradition for me.

Particular Peculiarity by saavik13 (Johnlock, rated M) Long

“How high is your regard for me, Watson?” He asked abruptly, his eyes still trained on the fire. “If I were to confess my darkest secret would you leave? Would you abandon me here to my melancholy?”

A case forces Holmes to reveal the truth to Watson and risks both their reputations and their liberty. Just how understanding is John Watson?

An obviously well researched and beautifully characterized fic. It feels very Granada in Holmes’ mannerisms, though it can be read as ACD or Granada. This fic is like a warm cup of tea on a cold day to me.

The Quiet Man by ivyblossom (Johnlock, rated E) Long

"Do you just carry on talking when I'm away?"

This is a BBC fic, as opposed to the rest on my list. It’s well worth the read though, ivy’s prose is so organic. It was a fandom classic for good reason.

Supernatural

a turn of the earth by microcomets (Destiel, rated M) Long

Dean’s your typical half-orphaned, monster-killing 22-year-old until a trenchcoated stranger crashes into his back windshield one September night, claiming he’s an angel that knows him from the future and that he’s on the run. Frigging fantastic.

(Or, in which Castiel gets stuck in Dean’s timeline preseries and Dean kind of hates it—until he doesn’t.)

This fic is overflowing with love, desire, longing and loneliness . It’s a time-traveling Cas fic which is something of a trope in this fandom these days, but the premise of Cas being dead by the time he meets a young Dean just lends something special to it.

I CARRY YOUR HEART (I CARRY IT IN MY HEART) by unicornpoe (Destiel, rated E)

“Take me,” Dean says. He doesn’t have to think about it. “Take me as your vessel, Cas.”

or: Cas is cursed into an endless sleep. Dean offers himself up as his vessel while they try to break it.

Compassionate, tender, and full of evocative imagery. It’s about being taken care of, and the act of caring for another.

Phantom Load by lovesrain44 (Gen, rated M) Long

Dean and Sam return to Boulder, CO, where they investigate a haunted school. The job seems simple enough to Sam, who has good, although vague, memories of living in Boulder back in 1992. Dean, however, has altogether different memories, far less pleasant and far more damaging.

Quiet, moving, and melancholy. The past-present scenes are woven together very well. Subtle where it needed to be. Just an amazing fanfic, though it deals with some possibly upsetting subject matter which is presented up front in the warning section.

So Says The Sword by komodobits (Destiel, rated E) Long

Castiel doesn’t mind working security duty; he was briefed shortly after the initial salvation of the Sword from the pit, and again before taking up his position. He knows what to do. However, it’s easy to forget that the green room isn’t real. Time moves differently there, the space ever-changing to make a prison of mountains, cathedrals, salt flats, orchards, and whatever Castiel was led to believe about Heaven’s greatest weapon—Dean Winchester is something entirely unexpected.

Original, dazzling and creative, komodobits was an absolute force in this fandom. They took it upon themself to recreate the entire Destiel relationship timeline, and did so beautifully.

Thor

Bargaining by Proantagonist (Gen, rated T) Long

Faced with an eternity without his brother, Loki strikes a bargain to change the past. Post TDW.

This is a near-perfect fanfic, and one of the most emotionally satisfying stories I’ve ever read. Cannot stress enough how much this fic means to me, it’s possibly my favorite fanfic of all time.

Mirror, Mirror by Lise (Gen, rated T) Mid-Length

While poking around in corners of the palace, Loki finds a peculiar mirror that doesn't show his reflection.

It’s clear that I love Loki’s various issues, and this fic puts an industrial spotlight on them.

Slow Poison by Mikkeneko (Gen, rated T) Mid-Length

Years before the events of Thor and Avengers, Loki is working as a spymaster for his father the King. Or at least... that's what he thinks he's doing.

I love miscommunication and fucked up family dynamics. This fic is like a friend to me.

#fic recs #loki #danny phantom #thor #supernatural #sherlock holmes #rurouni kenshin #house md #daredevil #hurt/comfort #whump #mostly lol

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eirikrjs · 1 year

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You know what? I thought about it, and it doesn't upset me that they're using Kamen Rider iconography in demon designs. It's a cultural symbol with a lot of associations by now. What really gets my goat is that it's never demons that make any SENSE.

There was a cartoon project a while ago that had the artist imagine his childhood stories of Hindu icons as superheroes as a way of relating to it as a modern kid from America.

Although I agree that superheroes aren't necessarily new mythology, they ARE new symbolism, and you could pinpoint mythological figures who filled a lot of the same roles culturally as superheroes do today, especially in the Genma line of demons.

But that never seems to be what they do. Odin was never a heroic idol. Thor, maybe, but Odin was always more of idk a Gandalf or Wizard of Oz type character.

Cu Chulainn? That you could argue for. Nezha kind of got something in that vein going for him with the Astro Boy imagery. Kresnik, Maui, Diarmuid, even Lugh if you wanna go godly could be justified in this "warrior savior from the dark forces" kind of way.

But no. It's never in a way that makes sense. The closest we've come is Frost Ace and it drives me NUTS that they choose to do this but not in any way that might have a shred of sense about it.

There is a design that incorporates Kamen Rider seamlessly:

The belt:

Judging from Kaneko's understanding of Vishnu from the Persona comments, he would probably see him and his avatars as representing a modern transforming hero; thus, he wears Kamen Rider's belt. But the entire design isn't Kamen Rider, it's also a Madonna backup dancer because Rama is not literally just a tokusatsu hero, he's also a lithe warrior. Following this kind of formula could have improved Ultra Odin or Zeus!

A common and fatal misinterpretation of the modern elements of Kaneko's demons is ignoring that they were overwhelmingly and deliberately designed for Devil Summoner/Soul Hackers with their modern context in mind. Compared to SMT where the world is blown back to the Bronze Age, Devil Summoner's setting allows heroes and pop culture to remain relevant to the people within it. Not understanding this is how we get Saint Seiya Artemis and Devilman Amon arms in designs for mainline SMT games.

Not like there isn't still some weirdness, though.

Morax and Orias were designed for mainline SMT but wear decidedly not Bronze Age garb that's definitely inspired by the 1990s-to-21st century. Not only is that just how Kaneko's sensibilities as an artist evolved, these clothes are still accessories to both demons. Morax is not defined by his powder blue yoga pants, the scepter and bison head do that. Meanwhile, Ultra Odin is almost entirely defined by Ultraman; the Odin parts like the raven and spear are the accessories to the Ultraman.

So adding Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Devilman, etc. to a demon can be done successfully, the setting and context just need to be considered, the references need to be relevant to the identity of the subject, and you don't want the references to entirely suffocate the subject and their identity.

#smt #kazuma kaneko #rama #kamen rider #devil summoner #soul hackers #morax #orias

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ethanreedbooks · 3 months

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Unveiling Marvel's Blood Hunt: A Thrilling Vampire Crossover Event!

Hey there, comic book fans! Marvel Comics is back at it again, and this time they're unleashing something truly epic: the Javier Fernandez Blood Hunt variant cover! With this stunning cover art, Marvel is gearing up for an exciting event written by Jed MacKay and illustrated by Pepe Larraz, set to kick off on May 1st. Get ready for multiple variant covers and even a rated R polybagged version, because this event is pulling out all the stops!

"I think vampires are a very fun part of the Marvel Universe," says MacKay. "BLOOD HUNT is just the latest chapter in the long-running vampire mythos of Marvel vampires—and they’re stepping out of the darkness in a big way."

So, what's the deal with Blood Hunt?

Picture this: the skies have gone dark, the sun is nowhere to be found, and the vampires have risen from their hidden lairs to wreak havoc on the Marvel Universe. It's Earth's final night, and even our mightiest heroes may not be enough to stop the tide of blood that's about to wash over the world. Join the Avengers, Blade, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and more as they face off against an army of bloodsuckers in a battle for survival like never before.

But that's not all! Blood Hunt isn't just confined to one series—it's a full-blown crossover event that will unfold across multiple limited series, one-shots, and tie-in issues. And if you've been following MacKay's stellar runs on titles like Moon Knight, Avengers, and Doctor Strange, you know that the stakes are higher than ever as the vampire legions of Earth unite for the first time in millennia.

To make things even more exciting, Blood Hunt #1 is hitting comic stands with a special FOIL VARIANT COVER by the talented Javier Fernandez. Featuring iconic heroes like Thor, Scarlet Witch, Vision, and Spidey surrounded by an army of bloodthirsty vampires, this cover is sure to catch your eye and leave you hungry for more!

"I think vampires are a very fun part of the Marvel Universe," MacKay reiterates. "BLOOD HUNT is just the latest chapter in the long-running vampire mythos of Marvel vampires—and they’re stepping out of the darkness in a big way."

So, mark your calendars and get ready for a blood-soaked adventure unlike anything you've ever seen before. With Blood Hunt, Marvel Comics is raising the stakes and delivering an event that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

Check out Fernandez's cover now and stay tuned for more blood-curdling announcements as we get closer to the release date. For all the latest updates, head over to Marvel.com and prepare yourself for the ultimate vampire showdown!

Written by JED MACKAY

Art and Cover by PEPE LARRAZ

Colors by MARTE GRACIA

On Sale 5/1

#blood hunt #marvel #spider man #moon knight #avengers #doctor strange #marvel universe #blade marvel

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lokisgoodgirl · 2 years

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Hello you beautiful mind💚

If you get this message, it means you’re one of my favorite writers and mutuals🤭 Please feel so very appreciated and loved!! Your works are fantastic and always brighten my days🫶🏻💛

Inspired by the amazing @mochie85 I wanted to pass on some random questions to cure boredom or just for fun :)

1. Which 'Loki era' is your favorite regarding his personality?

2. Which 'Loki era' is your favourite regarding his look?

3. Which genre do you enjoy writing the most? (fluff,smut, humor,angst)

4. Do you sometimes notice parallels between characters in your stories and people you know irl?

5. What do you do to cure a writer’s block?

6. Which Loki outfit is your personal favorite and why?

7. If our beloved god would have to life a Midgardian life, what do you think would be his job?

8. drop your all time fav Loki gif!!!🫶🏻

I hope I managed to lighten up your mood🥰 Much love and hugs!!!

Ahhhh this is so cute!!! Thank you for thinking of me :D

1. Fave Loki era.

Ohhhhh that's tough. I love them all for different reasons.

Pure Dom! Loki energy, Avengers 1/ end of Thor 1. Sassy. hot dirty Loki, Thor TDW Cheeky Avenger! Loki inspo is heavily inspired by Ragnarok

2. Favourite Loki look.

Avengers 1/Thor TDW

give me that sinful messy hair, armour/leather/tunic/boots get up and throw some dirt on there for good measure.

3. Favourite genre to write.

Smut, naturally. I find it very relaxing. My brain is very vivid so it's nice to put into words. But I do enjoy writing the humour too I make myself laugh quite a bit at my own jokes #sadlol

4. Parallels between real life and people in my stories?

Not particularly, apart from Y/N. She's me, as she is all of us. Some situations I write about are heavily influenced by real life experiences though, minus Loki. Sadly.

5. How to cure writer's block...

I go for a driiiive with my doggo.

6. Favourite Loki outfit.

Probably the ICONIC Avengers/Dark World tunic, overcoat combo which is referenced in like 75% of my fics.

Sir, please. Just take me.🍆

I do also have a soft spot for his Ragnaork 'fit aka the dildo suit @lokischambermaid 😂

7. Loki's job in 'real life'

You mean apart from my full-time lover?

I can imagine him being a media mogul, influencing TV/newspapers/politics etc as head of a huge newsbrand. I think he'd enjoy that (and PS Loki if you're listening, I can help! I have contacts!)

8. A favourite Loki gif???? Good grief. There's too many. You cannot make me choose because...

❤️Thanks so much for the Qs!!! love this stuff.

LGG x

#loki fanfiction #loki fanfic #loki fandom #loki #lokis army

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lemonhemlock · 7 months

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"like S07E06 Beyond the Wall with teleportation tomfoolery" and the good news is that the director of this episode is coming back for s2 of HOTD lmao. Jokes aside, I quite like Alan Taylor, he directed some of the best episodes of early GOT and his Thor movie is underrated, idc. The script for Beyond the wall was just terrible, I guess there is not much he could do. I hope his HOTD episodes will be good, he is filming the Rooks rest episode and I'm crazy excited about this one, but also scared they'll fuck it up and some leaks are not good like Aemond and Cole executing their soldiers who ran away from Meleys wtf

oh absolutely the script for Beyond The Wall was absurd, no director could have salvaged that. but even so it did have some dope imagery, like look me in the eye and tell me that the night king pulling viserion out of the water didn't look cool af??

as for alan taylor, i really do like thor the dark world actually, it may just be my favourite thor movie lmao. and he did direct some iconic GoT episodes - Baelor, for example - flawless. S01E10 Fire and Blood with dany's funeral pyre scene? iconic & literal game-changing television. The Night Lands has some extraordinary cinematography too, like dany's khalasar making their way through the red waste, her braid coming apart, the scream irri lets out when they find rakharo's severed head............lives rent-free in my head

#ask #anon #alan taylor

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exerzist · 1 year

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Can i just say how iconic thor and Loki's acting skills are, like the scene in dark world where they destroy the aether, and it rlly makes u beleive loki betrayed thor like *chefs kiss*

Oh also get help

Get help is absolutely iconic

#thor #loki #laufeyson #odin #thor the dark world #marvel #i bet loki was a drama kid #thou shall haveth the tesseract

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sideburndanny · 1 year

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Top Ten Best Superhero movies? Top Ten Least Favorite Superhero movies? Why?

I’m gonna enjoy answering this one.

Sorry to disappoint, but I didn’t think ten movies would suffice for my best list, so here’s a top 15.

15 Favorite:

15: Batman Returns: Creepy and gothic, but darkly funny with a surprising amount of pathos and THREE great villains played by amazing actors.

14: X-Men: First Class: A showcase of the X-Men film series’ strengths while also shaking up the usual portrayals of its universe, as a fun and exciting origin story for Xavier and Magneto as they’re tasked with taking down the most depraved villain in the franchise

13: Spider-Man: No Way Home: The culmination of ALL of Spider-Man’s previous cinematic appearances, bringing everything great about each incarnation all together in one place

12: Deadpool: A hilarious and meta tribute to the superhero genre with the best portrayal of Deadpool in anything ever

11: Batman Begins: A unique reinvention of Batman’s mythos, infusing a grim-and-gritty tone typical of the 2000s with classic action and noir aesthetics

10: Thor: Ragnarok: A fun and zany 80s-style adventure that shows off Thor’s best strengths as a character in ways previous films couldn’t; beautiful visuals, great music, cool villains… what’s not to love?

09: SHAZAM: A quirky, funny flick with a relatable hero, a lot of heart, strong familial themes, and fun action scenes with an awesome villain

08: Iron Man: The movie that put Marvel on the map by reinventing a controversial hero and redefining what superhero movies could do, proving they could be taken seriously and STILL be fun and colorful

07: Wonder Woman: A deeply touching and emotional film with a sympathetic hero and a strong message about the nature of war and peace.

06: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Many didn’t expect this film to be a success due to the tough act its predecessor’s deceased star set to follow, it proved to be an endearing, gripping, heartwarming flick with both a hero and villain who are both very sympathetic

05: Zack Snyder’s Justice League: The long-awaited realization of one man’s artistic vision: full to the brim with strong pathos, but not afraid to be lighthearted at times

04: The Suicide Squad: has all the heart, fun action, great music, and likable characters of a modern superhero movie with all the gore, vulgarity, and dark humor of a classic B-movie

03: Guardians of the Galaxy: A quirky, off-beat flick with a killer soundtrack and a surprisingly heartwarming family dynamic; is not afraid to be silly or weird, which only makes it stronger

02: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: a charming, fun movie that deeply examines the mythos of a beloved character while shining a spotlight on his many variants and successors

01: Avengers: Infinity War/Avengers Endgame: The culmination of ten years of buildup throughout the cinematic universe, this movie brings iconic heroes together and shows off the best in all of them with a gripping story packed with heartrending pathos

(Honorable Mentions: Spider-Man 2, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Aquaman, Blade, Hellboy, Darkman, Captain America: Civil War, Birds of Prey, The Batman 2022)

Also, I honestly couldn’t think of ten superhero movies bad enough to be considered “the worst”, so I’ll give you five.

05: Iron Man 2: Tonally confused with nonsensical character motivations and conspicuous studio interference changing things at the last minute

04: Thor: The Dark World: So fucking boring I forgot everything about it the second I left the theatre.

03: Man of Steel: An overly grim, depressing slog of a film with murky visuals, pointless changes to Superman’s mythos, and almost every character is a horrible asshole. In short, the worst way to start a cinematic universe

02: Fantastic Four 2015: Bad special effects, ugly visuals, bland and stupid characters, cheesy writing, and a weirdly dark tone that completely misses the point of what the Fantastic Four are supposed to be.

01: Wonder Woman 1984: A saccharine, sappy, schmaltzy mess of a film that’s far longer than it needs to be thanks to pointless filler, with a childishly simplistic plot, dodgy special effects, a horrifically racist depiction of Middle Easterners, and the hero literally becomes a rapist

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gottagobackintime · 2 years

Text

Thor: Love and Thunder spoilers.

This is in no particular order, it’s just me rambling as per usual.

Korg is going to be a dad 😭 I need a series with him and Dwayne (omg… did he call him Dwayne because he’s made of rocks… I just got that… I’m so stupid!) raising their child. Also Taika was right, he really is a gay icon now! (And I thought that we’d never get to see Korg find someone because Taika did an interview around Ragnarok where he said something about his Korg being gay but that they weren’t going to really explore that. I love that we got this, even if it was just a brief scene.)

Love that Thor’s roommate was in the film even if it was brief.

Our Last Summer by Abba playing in the Thor/Jane montage was *chef’s kiss*. Also loved that we got to see glimpses of their love story, since the only thing we’ve gotten up until this point is them kind of getting together in Thor and then they’ve broken up by the time The Dark World takes place. Which was... you know, kind of weird. But the montage was great and it filled in the gaps nicely. Also Thor looking at the child in the store they were passing made me tear up. And Korg saying Thor would be a great dad 😭

Korg mentioning Val’s girlfriend that died! I love how insightful Korg is, but he’s also very stupid sometimes, love it.

Korg telling Thor that he should call Axl the name he wanted to be called, amazing. Also I liked that while Thor insisted that Axl should go by the name Heimdall gave him it didn’t feel malicious, more misguided, and I’m not saying that that wouldn’t hurt too. But I feel like it was a good way to introduce that topic and deal with it. Because he felt it honoured his dead friend by his son still going by the name he gave him, but then he accepted it and he used the name Axl choose.

I’m really curious now how Korg’s species family dynamics are like. Because in Ragnarok he mentions his mum and his stepdad. But in this one he says that he had two dads who were the ones who “created” him.

I loved Jane’s storyline, I was sad that she died but I feel like they opened up a possibility of having her and Heimdall back in some way. They should make a series with them and their afterlife in Valhalla.

Jane agreeing to stay behind when Thor asked her so that they could figure out how to save her and then her breaking that promise to save Thor was great, heart-breaking, but great. Thor being visibly upset about it, knowing she’s going to die because of her decision but also respecting it was amazing to see. She wasn’t a superhero for very long but she made sure that the limited time and power she had counted for something. And they honoured her with a statue and she was welcomed into Valhalla. I think it was great, I really enjoyed her character in this movie and I had to hold back tears several times.

I’m so happy that Taika “got rid of” the Guardians so fast, which is what I wanted. Don’t get me wrong, I like the Guardians, but I wanted Thor to be the focus in his own movie.

People clapped when Heimdall appeared.

I also want a series that just follows that theatre company! Them asking if they should make a play out of the disaster that was still happening was so funny.

I loved that we got a scene in black and white with just splashes of colour, especially since some people hated that Ragnarok was so colourful. It was really cool.

Taika really is a master of making you laugh out loud and in the next scene he rips your heart out. And it doesn’t feel cheap in any way, if you know what I mean. It feels kind of natural.

Thor being a dad! Cooking for her, making her put on her proper shoes. I love that she drew on Mjölnir. I would love to see more of her, she was so cute.

When they introduced Hercules in the end credit scene I was like “!! That’s fucking Roy Kent!” I look forward to seeing more of him.

So those are the things I can remember at the top of my head. Overall I loved the movie. I could have watched it again straight after. And I know it said that Thor will be back but if he’s coming back in a solo movie no one else should be allowed to do it except Taika. Thor belongs to him now! Hell, even if it’s a team up movie, Taika should do it.

#thor love and thunder spoilers #nicole watches stuff

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