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captain-kelli · 4 years

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‘Tis the Season to Be Married

Title: ‘Tis the Season to be Married Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader Type: Challenge // One-Shot Word Count: 1,457 Summary: As a New Yorker, it was always your dream to get married in the city at Christmas. You just didn’t think the actual day would be better than your imagination. Warnings: Fluff in the highest degree A/N: Getting into the holiday spirit with a challenge by @capcountdownchristmas using the prompt “Let’s make a toast.”

Note: This is a world where no one died in Endgame. Enjoy - it’s my holiday happy place!

There is a line inspired from Sherlock in this post. It is not my own.

If you happen to reblog, thank you for helping me spread my work! You can find more just like it over on my master list.

Looking out of the window, you watch the snow spread a white blanket over New York City for your wedding day. Natasha fusses with your dress of similar color, fluffing out the tulle of the train for the hundredth time. Once she’s satisfied with the skirt, she makes her way up the back to fasten the buttons of the lace bodice, taking great care in each one. She spins you around, clearly pleased with her work and you smile, ignoring her worry.

After everything that happened in the last year, you weren’t sure you’d ever see this day, certainly not with all of your friends alive and intact. So, when Steve proposed shortly after returning the stones and bringing back Natasha, you knew you wanted something small and intimate at Christmastime. It was, after all, a season of peace.

Morgan scampers into the room and you gush over her dress. “You are the prettiest flower girl I have ever seen!” The red skirt matches Natasha’s scarlet gown and the lace top mimics yours, but the eucalyptus crown was especially for her.

“Aunt Y/N, you look like a princess!” You grasp her hand and twirl her around, delighting in the happiness she pours into the room. Bending down, you ask her, “Do you remember what your job is today?”

Running to a nearby chair, she grabs a basket filled to the brim with deep red rose petals. “I walk to Daddy and throw these on the floor.”

When you and Steve met Tony in the hospital to share the news of your engagement, he threw a fit over your understated plans. After arguing for nearly an hour, you conceded to fifty guests and letting him officiate the ceremony, but only because he laid on a guilt trip about the injuries he sustained using the infinity stones.

Natasha nods to Morgan and takes her hand, the two of them walking together towards the chapel. She looks over her shoulder to you and a smirk creeps onto her face as she nods to the door. “Let’s go.”

It’s the first time you’ve been alone today and all you feel is calm. The battle against Thanos threatened everything and defeating him was a second chance at life. You weren’t sure how long the rest of yours would be, but you knew you wanted it to be with Steve.

On the other side of the giant oak doors, you hear the Christmas Waltz fill the room and that’s your cue. Taking a deep breath, you brace yourself before they open.

If you hadn’t seen the room earlier, you wouldn’t have known that lanterns lined the aisle and Christmas trees sat at the altar. You don’t notice your friends smiling at you from their seats or even Bucky and Natasha waiting expectantly for you.

All you see is Steve.

He is an absolute vision in his classic black tux, a boutonniere with evergreens and holly pinned to his lapel. His blonde hair and beard have grown out a bit since the summer, just the way you like it. When your eyes land on his face, you find him beaming up at you and time stands still.

Arriving in front of him, you’re at ease under his gaze. Giving him a quick grin and a wink, you pass your bouquet to Natasha before Steve takes your hands in his. When Tony clears his throat, the room stills and you both turn your attention to him.

“Dearly beloved, we finally made it.” The crowd lets out a small laugh and Tony continues. “Everything tried to keep these two apart - aliens, HYDRA, even me a few times - but they survived it all. So, I don’t really think I need to stand up here and wax poetic about love. Not for them. They already know what that is.”

Neither you nor Steve enjoy being the center of attention, so the ceremony is relatively quick. After saying “I do” and exchanging rings, it was time for Tony to pronounce you man and wife.

“G’head, Cap. Kiss your bride.”

Steve draws you in close, pausing over your lips to feel the smile there. His fingers cup your cheek and then he pulls you in. Somewhere in the rush of emotions, you swear you can hear Clint whistling.

Thanks to Wanda, the reception hall had been transformed into a winter wonderland. A long wooden table is lined with candles and cream-colored plates, evergreen garland crawling across the length of it. The Christmas lights wrapped around the rafters add a soft glow to the room while the band quietly plays Christmas carols from the stage. The hot chocolate stand in the back, however, was all Bucky’s idea. God knows he hates winter, so he found a way to keep everyone warm.

After a moment alone, it is time for the two of you to join the party. Sam and Bucky play tug-of-war with one of the band’s microphones before Sam finally wins out. “Now, for the first time ever, please let me introduce Mr. and Mrs. Steve Rogers!”

Your friends and loved ones clap as you enter the hall and head straight for the dance floor. Wrapping one arm around your waist and taking your hand, Steve slowly spins you around the room to the tune of “Fairytale of New York.”

I've got a feeling This year's for me and you So happy Christmas I love you baby I can see a better time When all our dreams come true

Resting your head on his shoulder, you soak it all in. Right here, in the middle of Brooklyn, you married the borough’s hometown hero after the two of you helped save the world. What a fairytale it was.

“What do you think about me turning in the shield so we can just do this for the rest of our lives?” The whisper is low in your ear and you laugh.

“What’s the matter, love? Did that last fight wear you out or are you just getting too old?”

It’s his turn to laugh. “I wouldn’t say that. I just think you and I have earned some time to ourselves.”

The idea of retirement and a normal life, whatever that meant, sounds appealing after all of these years of fighting, but that decision could be made another day. Right now, all you wanted to do was enjoy the moment you were in.

When the song comes to an end, the sound of clinking draws your attention to Bucky who asks everyone to raise their glasses. “Let’s make a toast!”

Natasha scurries across the floor with two flutes of champagne for you and Steve. Looping your free arm in his, you and your new husband await Bucky’s words.

“Most of you here know Steve as Captain America, but to me he will always be that little guy from Brooklyn who was too dumb not to run away from a fight.”

You turn your head to look up at Steve who is giving a smug grin to his best friend.

“Steve and I have been through a lot. Then, the world as we knew it changed forever. Not the battles or the spy games, not even the blip. When Y/N walked into your life, pal, I knew you’d never be the same. She makes you better and we’re all thankful for that.”

Steve peeks down at you and catches the glimmer in your eyes. He knows what a soft spot you have for Bucky and this is why. He has always treated you like you were his friend, too.

“You never gave up on me, Steve. Because of that, I get to be here on your wedding day during a season of hope and joy. I might’ve made a few jokes about it, but there really is no better time.”

After a short pause, Bucky wraps up his best man speech. “You stand between the woman you have made your wife and the man you have saved time and time again. I love ya, buddy. I love ya both. To the newlyweds!”

Bucky lifts his glass and everyone else follows suit.

Looking out over the room, it all becomes too much. Tony and Pepper are squatting next to Morgan who is toasting with her apple juice box. Clint has his arm draped over Laura, Natasha and Sam standing on his other side. Thor and Valkyrie are downing their champagne, racing to the finish while Bruce shakes his head at them. In the crowd, you count them all and the tears finally fall, but at least they were happy ones.

With Steve as your husband and all of your friends at your side, there is really nothing else you could ask for this Christmas.

#captain america countdown to christmas #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x y/n #steve rogers x you #steve rogers/reader #Steve Rogers #steve rogers fanfic #steve rogers fanfiction #captain america fanfiction #captain america fanfic #steve rogers imagine

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atsixesandcevans · 4 years

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my only wish (this year)

Summary: The world is different after the events of the snap, and that causes both you and Steve to make major changes in your respective lives, unknowingly pushing yourselves towards each other.

Both unlucky in love, and both longing for something fundamentally missing in your lives, what happens when you – quite literally – crash land into each others’ lives?

Pairing: Steve Rogers/Reader

Word Count: 2.1k

Warnings: none

A/N: this was written for @capcountdownchristmas‘s challenge with the prompt of the song My Only Wish (This Year) by Britney Spears, though it ended up being only loosely based on that hahaha!

set post-endgame, except everyone’s alive and nobody’s sad :)

this will be a small series, I’m not sure how many parts there’ll be or when they’ll be posted but they are in the works, so please feel free to send me an ask if you’d like to be tagged in this or any other of my works :)

Read on AO3 || Masterlist

November 2023

The disappearances – people had started calling it the snap, though you weren’t entirely sure why – had changed you. Changed everyone, really, in one way or the other. Every single person in the world either lost someone to the whims of the mad titan, or had been lost themselves.

You had been walking through Central Park when the screaming started. Panicked shouts of names, people disintegrating before your eyes. Your confusion morphed into dizziness, stumbling on your feet a little as you slowed to a stop. A gasp was caught in your throat as you looked down at your body that was half-gone already, fear swelling in your chest before everything went black.

When you woke up what felt like five minutes later, you were still in the park, but it felt… different, somehow. The sky seemed darker, the trees less vibrant. All around you, people were on the ground, matching confused expressions as they sat up, passers by rushing to help people up. Someone came and held your hand, pulling you to your feet, and you stuttered out a strained “what happened?”

The stranger’s confused but hopeful eyes scanned you for injuries, while they replied, “you’re not gonna believe me.”

Five years. They told you it had been five years since Thanos – whatever the hell that was – wiped out half the planet. You found it near impossible to fathom that half a decade had passed without you – without 50 percent of the world’s population.

Just like the rest of the world, you went on with your life as usual. At least, you tried to. You really did try, but each time you got up and went to the boring office job you hated, making the same small talk with co-workers you didn’t care to be friends with, every time you came home to your drab, empty apartment, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something was fundamentally missing.

It seemed that the snap had put things in perspective for a lot of people; walking home at the end of the day, surrounded by couples holding hands, going on dates. Even your friends were in love; two of them had had a romantic epiphany in the midst of the grief surrounding the snap, and had been in a happy relationship ever since. You were happy for them, of course, but you couldn’t help the surge of jealousy that you felt whenever you saw them kiss or be romantic around you. You longed for what they had; someone for you to love, who loved you in return. Another person to share your little corner of the world with, someone to celebrate the highs and commiserate the lows of life with. You yearned for it, and held out hope that you’d have that someday, and yet every year that went by, every birthday, every Christmas spent alone made that hope dwindle further and further.

You were stood in front of the coffee machine in the break room at work a month or so after the snap was fixed when you had what you could only describe as a moment of clarity. It dawned on you that the only way your life was going to change was if you changed it yourself. It was then that you decided that you would live your life the way you wanted to, no exceptions.

So, the next morning, you handed your two-weeks’ notice to your boss, and started looking for a house in Brooklyn, where you grew up.

Luck was on your side, it seemed, because you quickly found a small, reasonably priced (for Brooklyn) brownstone house in the Clinton Hill neighbourhood. After a viewing, you used your savings to buy the place, and within a month you were all moved in, with a part-time job lined up at a nearby art gallery to keep on top of your finances while you pursue your passion for art.

You still felt the absence of deep human connection, but you could only hope that the changes you had made would only bring more good things your way.

Steve had been staying upstate in Tony’s house since the defeat of Thanos and he had returned the stones to their rightful places in their respective timelines. Upon his return, Steve passed his shield on to Sam, who he knew would do a great job in the role of Captain America, officially hanging up his suit and finally allowing himself to just exist, without the responsibility that being in the Avengers had brought.

For two months, Steve had been helping Tony with the rebuild of the compound, as well as figuring out what role everyone would play in the new Avengers. It was quickly decided that Tony, like Steve, would be retiring, to spend time with his family and watch Morgan grow up. Bucky and Sam would lead the team, with Wanda and Peter working alongside them to tackle the evils of the world. Natasha decided to finally put aside the Black Widow title, though she would remain at the compound as an agent, leading the training of the new recruits for both S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers, as well as acting as a kind of logistics support for missions. And Bruce would continue as he always did; conducting experiments and continuing to use science and technology to make the world a better place.

With everyone settling into their roles, Steve found himself feeling almost restless. He had agreed to remain a semi-active member of the team, offering advice and support to the active members, but ultimately decided that he would move back into his house in Brooklyn and rediscover who Steve Rogers was outside of the Captain America image.

And so, he made the move back to Brooklyn, with the minimal belongings he had with him upstate stashed in a duffel bag, and the motorcycle that was almost an exact replica of his old one that Tony somehow had hidden away at the back of his garage. He had handed him the keys with a shrug and a non-committal “let’s just call it a little retirement present, from me to you.” Steve still often found himself baffled by his friend, but he couldn’t deny the genuine affection that had developed between them over the years.

As Steve re-entered the city, he was reminded of just how much he loved living here; sure, it could be loud and dirty and crowded at times, and there were definitely too many hipster coffee shops around… but it was home. Despite the changes that had inevitably happened in the 80 years or so since he grew up there, there was still the same feel to the place, the old brownstone buildings lining the streets reminding him of the apartment where he lived with his mother, the kids that often played in the streets reminding him of all the times he was ill and wishing that he could be out there with them. His memories of this place were good and bad, sure, but for the first time in a while he found himself thankful for the body given to him by the serum; he finally had the physical wellness and the free time to able to go out and enjoy his city in a way he never had been before.

Steve walked with his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he made the walk from where he parked his bike to his front door. There were more cars about now than there were last time he was here, so he ended up having to park almost half a block away. As he passed the house next to his, he noticed that the small garden that was overgrown and messy was now neat and tidy, and there were potted plants on the stoop, as well as heavy curtains that replaced the tattered blinds that once covered the windows.

He was so preoccupied looking at the clearly now inhabited house and wondering who it was who had finally bought the place, that he didn’t notice you coming from the other direction, eyes glued to your phone screen as you read through an email from your boss.

The two of you collided, and Steve tripped on uneven ground, sending him falling backwards, landing on his back. In your attempt to remain on your feet, you ended up tripping over the same bit of ground, and landed on what you could feel was an incredibly defined chest, both of you releasing a soft grunt at the impact. Glancing up towards his face, ready to apologise, you were taken aback and your words caught in your throat at the sight of easily the most beautiful man you had ever seen; strong features, soft beard spread across what you could tell was an angular jaw, and long lashes framing eyes the prettiest shade of periwinkle blue.

You suddenly became very aware of how close your face was to his, and immediately felt a blush creep onto your face as you hastily moved to push yourself up and off him, rattling off a litany of oh god I’m so sorry and I wasn’t looking where I was going. The stranger smiled almost shyly at you, cheeks tinted pink, probably from the cold evening air, as he shook his head and got back on his feet, insisting “please, it’s my fault entirely, I should have been paying more attention. Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”

You couldn’t help the way your heart swelled at his thoughtfulness; he was the one who had landed flat on his back with a whole other person on top of him, and he was asking you if you were okay?

Realising that he was still waiting for an answer, you cleared your throat before replying with a chuckle, “apart from a couple bruises to my dignity, I think I’m okay.”

His laugh shook his whole body, his face scrunching up in the most adorable way, and an inexplicable warmth spread through your chest at the sound, finding yourself desperate to hear it again.

You bit your lip to suppress a grin as he held out his hand in greeting. “I’m Steve, by the way.”

Taking hold of his hand, you noticed just how warm it was, despite being bare in the cold winter air, and introduced yourself, adding “I promise I don’t make a habit out of literally running into strangers outside my house.”

Steve cocked his head to one side, confusion across his face. “Your house?”

“Yeah, I live just there,” you said, pointing to the house he had just passed – the one that he was busy thinking about when he bumped into you.

A wave of understanding crossed his face before he let out a surprised laugh, nodding to the house next door, the one you had been passing not five minutes earlier. “I live next door.”

It was your turn to be confused. “You do? I’ve never seen anyone go in or out of that house in the two weeks I’ve been living here.”

Steve chuckled wryly. “Yeah, I’ve had some… business to deal with upstate, so I was gone for a few months.” He wasn’t sure why he wasn’t completely open about being an Avenger – or, ex-Avenger, now – but subconsciously, a part of him wanted to live as Steve Rogers from Brooklyn, instead of the persona he had been presented as for many years… and that same part of him wanted you to know him only as that version of him.

You nodded, though the expression on your face told him you were unconvinced by his bending of the truth. The two of you stood in silence for several moments, looking at each other with soft smiles on your faces, until you finally broke the silence. “Well, I um… I should probably head inside, it’s getting late.”

Steve nodded, though he couldn’t help the inkling of disappointment he felt. You both shared a soft goodnight with a smile before you moved past him and through the wrought-iron gate leading up to your door. It was as you were unlocking the door that you heard him call your name and you turned towards where he stood at the bottom of his own stoop steps. “Yeah, Steve?”

He looked oddly nervous, a shy smile on his lips as he fiddled with his keys, an almost imperceptible pink tinge to his cheeks. “I don’t suppose you’d want to grab a coffee with me sometime, would you? I’d love to make it up to you for knocking you over, and it’d be nice to get to know my new neighbour a little.”

His voice was hopeful, and you couldn’t help the smile that spread across your face. “Sure, I’d love to. But there’s really nothing to make up for, I was the one who knocked into you.”

Steve smiled wide, though he shook his head a little, getting the feeling that he wouldn’t win the fight with you about who bumped into who. “How does 11 o’clock Friday sound?”

You mentally checked your availability before grinning brightly at him. “Sounds perfect.”

#captain America countdown to christmas #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers/reader #steve rogers fanfic #steve rogers fanfiction #marvel cinematic universe #marvel fanfic #marvel fanfiction #captain america #captain america fanfic #captain america fanfiction #steve rogers/you #christmas #fluff #beth writes

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twittytelly · 4 years

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What Christmas is About

Bucky Barnes x Reader

Masterlist

A\N: This is my submission to @capcountdownchristmas Christmas Challenge/Celebration. My prompt is “Christmas is for Children”.This is my first time writing for Bucky and this is also Endgame compliant - but I have ignored everything the Russos, Markus and McFeely have ever said and gone with my head canon. Hope you all have a lovely Christmas or whatever you celebrate, and to those that find this time of year hard – I feel ya!

Summary: Bucky is looking forward to celebrating Christmas for the first time in nearly eighty years, but you have some reservations. Fluff

Warnings: Swearing, grief, Endgame compliant.

“So what are your usual plans for Christmas?” Bucky asked with excited trepidation.

“Nothing,” You huffed. “Christmas is for children.”

Bucky nearly dropped his phone into his pumpkin-spiced latte. Granted you and Bucky hadn't known each other for very long, but he hadn't put you down as a Scrooge. It was barely October and you already had your couple's costume locked down (you were going to rock The Stark's Halloween Bash as Gomez and Morticia Addams thank you very much).

“Bu-”

“I just find it anti-climatic.” You noted, giving Bucky a stern look indicating that the conversation was over. You picked up your phone and started browsing, ignoring the slight awkwardness that had fallen over your table.

Watching the crisp auburn leaves as they danced in the breeze, Bucky did his best to hide his disappointment. Truth be told he was really looking forward to spending the most wonderful time of the year with you.

Bucky had always loved Christmas. While they were never lavish affairs back at the Barnes' household in Brooklyn, Bucky loved spending time with his family as they all enjoyed their family festive traditions and when Steve lost his mother, the Barnes' had opened up their arms and hearts and incorporated some of the Rogers' traditions with their own. That had all changed when the war dragged Steve and Bucky to Europe. But even then they had come up with their own traditions with the rest of the Howling Commandos. Hydra were capable of many monstrosities, but they could not stop Bucky celebrating Christmas.

But then they did.

If Bucky was ever asked what was the strangest thing he ever saw as the Winter Solider it would probably be a small Christmas tree on a desk in a Hydra base. Creating a new world order didn't seem to go hand in hand with Christmas, but Bucky knew many men who would commit atrocities as their 9-5, then go home to play the role of the loving husband and father. Home life must've sometimes bled into work life.

Freedom didn't grant Bucky with another opportunity to enjoy Christmas as he was either under the ice in Wakanda or 'blipped', whatever that meant. When Bucky had first met you back under the springtime blossom, everything Steve had ever said about the right partner had made sense and Bucky couldn't help but look forward to creating new traditions with you.

Bucky knew you were holding back and desperately wanted to know more. But Bucky knew how hard it was to talk about the past and one of the things he loved about you was how patient you were with him, how you allowed him to open up to you on his own terms. Giving you a reassuring smile, Bucky knew that he had to extend the same courtesy to you.

Halloween had come and gone, where you had tried to distract Bucky from loosing the costume contest to Morgan and Happy by making preparations for a large Thanksgiving Dinner. You had invited everyone who would be staying behind in the recently reinstated Avengers Tower and you were planning to host an event that would make Monica Geller jealous. Although deep down you had an ulterior motive. By going all-out for Thanksgiving, you were hoping that no one would bother you about Christmas.

On the day itself, when Pepper helped you prepare the not-so-modest feast you learned that Steve would be spending Christmas with the Starks, (well, Morgan had become Steve's surrogate granddaughter), you hoped that the invitation would be extended to Bucky. Neither of you had broached the subject of Christmas since that afternoon in the coffee shop some weeks ago, and you were hoping that it would stay that way. For years you had managed to get away with avoiding Christmas without getting noticed; though you had conceded that you would now have to buy a few presents. Thankfully, thanks to the internet, you could do that from the comfort of your own bed out of earshot from Michael Bublé and his dulcet tones.

Well, your wish came true. As you loaded up the dishwasher for the thousandth time, you overheard Steve bring up Christmas with Bucky. But to your disappointment, Bucky did not jump at the chance to spend Christmas with his childhood friend.

“I need to see what Y/N is doing first.”

A lump formed in your throat as you knew that the conversation you were dreading was coming.

Funnily enough the subject was brought up at the same coffee house at the exact same table. Only now the trees outside were bare and the syrup had been changed to gingerbread. Nervously Bucky reached across the table and took your hands in his.

“Sweetheart, I know you don't want to talk about it. But Pepper's invited us over to hers for Christmas and it's gonna be rude if I don't give her an answer soon.”

“You're right, I don't want to talk about it. Go spend it with Pepper, Steve and the others.”

“But what about-”

“I'll be fine Bucky” you snapped, hoping that he would drop it like he did last time, but you weren't expecting him to look at you like a kicked puppy.

“But I want to spend it with you.”

“Not unless you want to have a miserable time you don't.”

“Y/N, I want to know why you feel this way” Bucky practically begged, tears forming in his perfect grey-blue eyes. Guilt washed over you, but it was too late, the wall had been fully erected.

“Bucky I said that I didn't want to talk about it.” Before you could give him a chance to react, you yanked your hands from his, grabbed your bag and stormed out of the coffee shop; leaving Bucky stunned and alone at the table.

Bucky paid as much attention to the darkness blanketing his apartment as the TV show he was watching, his mind racing. He wanted to understand why you felt the way you did, but he didn't want to risk pushing you further away from him; you were the best thing to happen to him in decades.

A sharp knock at the door pulled Bucky from his thoughts, a knock only he would recognise. Jumping from his seat on the sofa, he practically sprinted to the door and almost wrenched it off it's hinges praying that his mind wasn't playing tricks again. His insides somersaulted as his eyes were met by yours and his heart broke as he registered how red and puffy they were.

“I'm an idiot..” you both said to each other in unison, before you both burst into laughter. Any lingering tension was now well and truly shattered. Bucky motioned for you to come in as he headed towards the kettle, knowing that you would need a strong cup of tea to help you get through the impending discussion.

Bucky took his place next to you on the sofa, handing you your warm steaming mug of liquid courage.

“Look sweetheart, the last thing I want to do is to pressure you into something you don't want to do,” Bucky started as his flesh hand reached for your leg. “If you don't want to do Christmas, we can ignore it together or if you'd prefer to be alone I'll go with Steve's to Pepper's. I just ask that one day you'll tell me why you feel the way you do.”

Taking a sip from your tea, you temporarily broke your eye contact with Bucky as you watched his hand trace shapes on your thigh. Taking a deep breath your eye's reconnecting with Bucky's. The time for stalling was over.

“You remember when I told you what happened to my mum?” Bucky nodded, not wanting to interrupt your flow. “Well she first got sick around Christmas time, and by the time the next Christmas came around she was gone. It has always felt weird celebrating Christmas and marking our old traditions without her. And everyone always seem so happy and I feel like I'm doing something wrong for being a bit sad.” You paused as you tried to fight back the tears that were beginning to form. Bucky, pulled you into his arms, silently comforting you by rubbing your back. You leaned into him and found the strength to continue.

“When I fist moved to New York I decided that it wouldn't be worth celebrating Christmas without everyone back home and I was able to slip under the radar. And when the blip happened, everyone was too dazed and traumatised to even think about Christmas. I was dreading this year as everyone was celebrating getting their loved ones back reminded me of what I've lost. But after I stormed off earlier, I thought about what you've been through and what everyone in that tower lost bringing everyone back and I feel so stupid and sel-”

“Hey, hey, hey!” Bucky interrupted. “Everyone is dealing with their own shit and while some people go through more shit than others, it doesn't diminish what you went through and how you feel.” Bucky took your now empty mug from your hands and hugged you.

“I know, but I was so wrapped up in my own isolation, I forgot.” Breaking off the hug, you started fiddling with Bucky's shoulder length locks. “I'm sorry I was a bitch earlier. I would honestly love to spend Christmas with you and the others. But I can't guarantee that I'll be merry all day.”

“That's fine Doll, I don't think any of us can. But I promise that if it gets too much for you we can leave.” For the first time since the coffee shop a smile stretched across your face as thought how lucky you were to have someone so understanding in your life. Crossing the space between you, you showed Bucky how grateful you were by pressing your lips against his.

The weather grew colder and New York became coated in a layer of white and before you knew it it was Christmas Day. You decided that rather than to force yourself to enjoy the day, it would be better to just allow yourself to feel what you needed to feel and it felt like a weight had been lifted off you.

After a quiet morning of opening presents in bed with Bucky, the pair of you made it to Pepper's lakeside home and you volunteered to help Pepper prepare dinner. As the pair of you chopped vegetables the pair of you talked about how hard you both found the holidays. However, just as you were about to start serving up you were stopped by Pepper, who asked everyone to join her outside.

After everyone bundled themselves in their coats and scarves, Pepper led everyone to the lake, where at the end of the jetty were a number of wreaths.

“I thought we would remember those who can't be with us today by casting these afloat-”

“Like we did at Daddy's funeral Mummy?” Morgan asked.

Pepper bent down to meet her daughter's eye level. “Just like that Morgoona,” Pepper placed a delicate kiss on the young Stark's forehead before straightening up and starting handing out wreaths. You were so enraptured by watching Bucky help Steve with his wreath for Peggy, that you almost dropped the wreath that was placed into your hands. Looking down you felt your eyes well up, as you read your mother's name on the card. You looked up to see Pepper giving you a reassuring smile.

“Thank you” you whispered making your way to the end of the jetty, where Bucky and Steve were making their way back inside. Bucky put his metal hand on your shoulder

“Are you gonna be okay Darlin'?” You gave him a small smile and nodded.

The rest of the day seemed to go by in a blur. After everyone ate more food than was believed to be humanly possible, you joined everyone in the living room. Chatting with Pepper while nursing a glass of wine, you watched the scene unfold before you. Morgan had roped Happy into playing Frozen with him for the hundredth time that day; on the sofa on the other side of the room Steve and Bucky were reminiscing about their life in Brooklyn; while in the middle of the room sat Sam, arguing with an instruction manual as he had somehow been given the task of assembling Morgan's doll house.

“That's who you thought worthy of entrusting the shield to?!” Bucky loudly exclaimed to the room. As everyone else erupted into laughter, you saw Sam give Bucky the coldest of death-stares. When the laughter died down, you noticed that your smile was staying on your face. Despite everything, you were enjoying yourself. This is what Christmas is all about.

#captain america countdown to christmas #TwittyTelly writes #Bucky Barnes #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky barnes x you #Sebastian Stan #sebastian stan fanfiction #captain america #captain america fanfiction

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stolethekey · 4 years

Text

if we make it past december (everything’s gonna be all right)

for @capcountdownchristmas!

read on ao3

December has rapidly become Steve’s least favorite month.

December is the start of winter. It means wind, snow that somehow finds a way to soak even the most bundled-up person’s socks, and a bone-chilling cold that bites at the very foundation of humanity’s collective soul.

At least, that’s what Steve’s Californian first-grade teacher used to say.

He didn’t mind it so much as a kid, back when he could bundle up with his mom in front of the fireplace and they could bask in its warmth, finding comfort in blankets and hot chocolate and each other. It was fine, back then – but then Sarah Rogers died right before Thanksgiving, which meant Steve’s first Christmas as a legal adult was spent alone, staring incessantly into the flames while he stubbornly refused to admit that he maybe should’ve taken Bucky up on his offer to spend the night at his house.

It was, somewhat literally, all downhill from there.

Bucky fell off a train in the Alps, surrounded by snow so bright it hurt to look at. Steve watched him fall, then promptly nose-dived a plane into the ocean and spent the better part of a century frozen in a block of ice.

Suffice it to say: he’s had enough cold for a lifetime. And December brings nothing but cold and people celebrating a holiday he hasn’t found joy in in seventy years.

So it’s only natural, really, that his first December out of the ice is spent in relative restlessness. It’s natural that, when Fury sends out a volunteer request for a stakeout that starts December 10th that features an “indefinite length of time – could go into Christmas”, Steve jumps off of his couch and heads directly to Stark Tower.

He fully expects to be the only one there, but as he turns the corner and steps through the door he sees a certain redhead perched on Fury’s desk, leafing through a stack of papers.

It’s hard to say who looks more surprised as they take in each other’s presence.

“I – um, hi,” he stutters, trying not to appear intimidated by his two companions. “I just – I’m here for that stakeout assignment?”

“Oh,” Natasha says, her eyebrows raised slightly. “Wow. Really? You know it’s probably going into Christmas, right?”

“Yeah,” he says, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I mean, I knew that was a possibility. That actually – um, that actually kind of makes it more appealing to me.”

She tilts her head slightly, a curious, searching look in her eyes. Steve shifts uncomfortably, well aware of her uncanny ability to read people.

“There’s always an assignment near Christmas,” Fury says from behind the desk, and Steve looks at him, grateful for the excuse to look somewhere else. “But Agent Romanoff is the only one who ever takes it on. The volunteer request is simply a formality – most people know they aren’t expected to take it.”

“Well, I guess I never got the memo.”

Natasha studies him. “Most people have Christmas plans.”

“I don’t,” he says shortly. Then, in an attempt to appear more amicable, he follows it up quickly with, “But now that I’m here, you can take this year off. Spend some time doing your own Christmas thing.”

She shrugs. “I don’t have a Christmas thing.”

“Great,” says Fury, with an air of general impatience. “Then you can do it together.”

The assignment is fairly simple – a routine stakeout at a surprisingly nice campsite. Their target is a Ukrainian mobster whose drop-house is apparently a cabin at the edge of the campsite, and as the two of them trudge into a neighboring cabin and drop their bags on the floor, Steve casts a cursory glance out the window.

“That cabin looks completely empty,” he mutters.

“I know,” Natasha says, carrying a few grocery bags into the kitchen. “It is. If it wasn’t, we wouldn’t have to be here for as long as we probably will be.”

“So we just – what, we just wait until someone shows up?”

She glances at him. “Never been on a stakeout before, huh?”

“Well, not like this,” he says, almost defensively. “Not that I’m complaining, but you’d think they’d have a more precise time period for the drop.”

“I thought you wanted it to go long.”

“I do, I’m just making a general comment on the inefficiency of it all.”

Natasha rolls her eyes, and Steve feels inexplicably as if he has disappointed her.

“Why do you always do these assignments, anyway? Wouldn’t it make more sense for people to rotate by year, or something?”

She shrugs. “Like I said, everyone else makes plans for the holidays. They have people to reunite with, friends to spend time with, family to see. I don’t.”

“You have friends. Clint’s your friend.”

She gives a short laugh. “Clint always has plans.”

“With whom?”

Her eyes narrow slightly as she looks up at him, a familiar guarded expression on her face. “People who aren’t me.”

“Right,” Steve says uncomfortably. “Sorry.”

Natasha sighs as she places the last loaf of bread on the counter and shoves the empty grocery bags into a cabinet. “It’s okay. He invites me every year, but it’s not – I don’t want to intrude on his time with them. We spend most of the year together, anyway. Plus, American Christmas really doesn’t mean that much to me. So I don’t mind taking on a little extra work while everyone else is celebrating.”

“Right,” Steve says again. “That makes sense.”

“What about you? Why did the great Captain America decide to spend his December holed away in a cabin, waiting for a mobster to stop by?”

He hesitates, but as he meets her eyes he can tell that she’s already figured him out. She knows why he’s here – she’s simply giving him a chance to tell her himself, to set the parameters for the rest of their conversations here.

He doesn’t know her, not really, but for some reason he knows that she’ll respect his boundaries. That if he decides to bluff and make up some excuse about spending his holidays doing good for the world, she’ll shrug, say “fair enough,” and won’t bring it up again.

She knows exactly why he wanted to work– he sees that. He also sees that she’s perfectly okay with however he wants to play it. It’s a strangely comforting realization, if a little unexpected, and maybe that’s why he makes the choice that he does.

“I don’t like Decembers,” he says, toying with the hem of his jacket. “My mom died in the fall, and that winter had some of the hardest months of my life. Plus, Bucky died in the snow, I was in a block of ice for a couple decades – ”

“And Christmas isn’t exactly joyful when you’re alone,” she supplies softly.

Maybe she’s guessed even more than he thought.

“I wanted a distraction.”

“A distraction,” Natasha repeats, a small smile toying at her lips. “I think we can handle that.”

They do their job, of course – the drop-house is always being watched. But their cabin’s location makes it fairly easy to ensure that their target is under constant surveillance, and there is plenty of free time to be had, given that their mobster friend chooses to never show his face.

The days are filled with board games and gentle music, thanks largely to Natasha. Steve notices fairly quickly that she has a striking intuition for his emotions – when he wants to be left alone, she’s nowhere to be seen, but when he starts to get restless, Settlers of Catan appears under his nose before his thoughts even have a chance to start spiraling.

She’s good at small talk, he learns. Good at filling the silence with words that would be trivial were it not for their ability to keep an ever-approaching despair at bay.

He hasn’t had this type of companionship in…well, decades, and he’s surprised that it doesn’t make him more uncomfortable. They barely know each other, after all, and it should be unsettling that she can read him as easily as she does.

For some odd reason, it’s not.

She accommodates him as easily as anyone ever has, providing him with companionship when he needs it and leaving him alone when he doesn’t, and the next few weeks pass in surprising comfort.

The days aren’t happy, exactly, but they’re not entirely full of pain, either. And that’s an improvement.

“Hey,” Natasha says one evening, sprawled across the floor in front of the fireplace. “Guess what?”

“What?”

“It’s Christmas Eve.”

Steve pauses, looking up from his copy of Crime and Punishment. “Huh.”

She hesitates, then flips over onto her back to look at him. “Can I ask you something?”

“Shoot.”

“Do you really believe in God?”

His brow furrows slightly in confusion. “What?”

“It’s just – Christmas is a religious holiday, you know, so I just got to thinking about it, and back when we first met, on that jet, you said that there was ‘only one god.”

He chews his lip slowly, letting the book drop into his lap. “I don’t know,” he says thoughtfully. “I guess I was always taught to as a kid, and I’ve never really thought about it. But I’d like to believe that there’s something or someone out there that’s watching over us, at least.”

She hums.

“Do you?”

She gives a hollow laugh. “I don’t know that it matters. The gods have never cared for people like me.”

He looks at her, staring up at him from her spot on the carpet next to a bowl of popcorn and a glass of mulled wine, and something clicks.

“Maybe not,” he says softly. “But there are people who do.”

Something changes in her expression at his words, and as she holds his gaze a strange feeling starts to form at the bottom of his stomach.

He coughs. “That reminds me – I got you something.”

Her brow furrows as he slips a bookmark into his book and disappears into his bedroom. When he emerges, a wrapped box in his hand, she shakes her head.

“I – um, I didn’t – ”

“I know,” he says, smiling slightly. “You don’t need to.”

“I can’t accept that,” she protests. “Not if I didn’t get you anything.”

He rolls his eyes and tosses the box in her direction. “Open it.” Then, more gently, “Friendship is not transactional.”

A curious expression flits across her face at the word friendship, but she takes the gift without further complaint and slips a finger underneath the wrapping paper.

“Oh,” she breathes as the wrapping paper falls away to reveal a small, black pouch. “Steve – ”

“It’s flameproof, bulletproof, the whole nine yards,” he explains as she flips it over to reveal an hourglass, emblazoned in fiery red. “I have one, too. I keep – I keep the things that mean the most to me in it.

He hesitates. “I just figured – we all have something we really treasure, and nothing in our lives is safe. You can tie that to your belt, stick it in a pocket, it’s a way to keep something with you, you know?”

“Yeah,” she murmurs, tracing the hourglass with a finger. “So, if I put something inside, the only way it gets destroyed is if I die, basically. And maybe not even then.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to be that morbid about it, but yes.”

She studies him for a moment, then grins and sits up. “Thank you. Really.”

“Of course.”

Her grin fades into a softer smile as she reaches for her wine, beckoning at him to do the same.

“Look at us. Two loners, doing okay on Christmas Eve.”

“Doing more than okay on Christmas Eve.”

“To us,” she declares, raising her glass. “For making it through December.”

They clink glasses, and as the blend of wine and holiday spices hits his tongue, Steve feels a sense of warmth start to spread over his shoulders.

The stakeout ends almost as quickly as it starts. The mobster shows up on the day after Christmas, they take him down before he even has a chance to draw his gun, and by 4pm on the 27th, the two of them are back at SHIELD headquarters, debriefing complete.

Steve is on his way to the elevator, actually looking forward to returning to his apartment, when he hears someone call his name.

He turns to see Natasha jogging down the hallway toward him, a slip of paper in her hand.

“I have something for you,” she announces, coming to a stop in front of him. “Consider it a late Christmas gift.”

“I told you, you don’t have to – ”

“But I did.”

“Natasha, really – what you did for me this December is more than anyone could ask for.”

The words fall out of his mouth before he really has a chance to think about them, and a blush creeps steadily up the sides of his face as he waits for her to ask what he means.

Instead, her expression softens. “You did it for me, too. Whether you knew it or not.”

He barely has time to process her words before she shoves the folded slip of paper into his hands. “Just take it.”

Steve unfolds the paper to reveal a sequence of numbers, written in black ink. “What’s this?”

“My phone number.”

“I have your phone number.”

Natasha rolls her eyes. “You have my work phone number. Which I sometimes do not use, depending on my mood, the time of day, and the general urgency of the incoming message. That’s my personal phone number.”

“I didn’t know you had a personal phone number.”

She winks. “I don’t.”

“Right. Okay.”

The corner of her mouth quirks up. “If you ever need anything – food, a bowling partner, someone to beat you at Catan – just let me know. Seriously. I know what it’s like to be new here – in this world, I mean – and feel like you’re completely alone. So use that.”

“Yeah,” Steve says faintly. “Okay.”

“Also, you should ask out your neighbor.”

Steve blinks. “What?”

Natasha pats his arm, as if to say, don’t worry, you’ll get it someday, and gives him one last smile before turning and jogging back down the hallway.

Steve turns back toward the elevator, a smile making its way onto his face. He looks down at the slip of paper again, and notices a few words scrawled hastily underneath the phone number.

Congrats on making it through the worst month! It only gets better from here :)

Steve steps into the elevator. As the doors start to close, he slips the paper into the small pouch tucked away in his jacket pocket, wondering if she might be right.

#my mcu fics #my fics #steve rogers x natasha romanoff #captain america countdown to christmas #romanogers #capwidow #stevenat

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xfcklprtehkrx · 4 years

Link

This is my submission for the Captain America Countdown to Christmas.

My prompt is: Two people pining for one another agree to spend Christmas together just the two of them as friends

So as to be expected with this pairing, they are life-long friends here as well.

#captain america countdown to christmas #stucky #steve + bucky #bucky + steve #steve & bucky #bucky & steve #steve/bucky #bucky/steve #StevexBucky #buckyxsteve #my vids

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me-and-your-husband · 3 years

Text

Christmas Countdown Day 3: Tree Decorating w/ Steve

Word Count: 800

Steve Rogers was frozen in ice for 70 years. Prior to that, he lived in the forties, a time where only the privileged could decorate Christmas trees. Steve Rogers may harbor a good heart, but he was not privileged.

Sarah Rogers worked a 24 hour shift in the tuberculosis ward on half of the Christmases that Steve could remember. Steve never understood all of the festivity and holiday cheer that everyone else had, but he got a taste of it when he met Bucky.

Bucky’s family was more than eager to welcome Steve into their home during the Christmas season. He spent more time with Bucky than he did alone; they considered him family.

This being said, Steve would help Bucky decorate the Barnes’ Christmas tree each year since Steve was twelve and Bucky was thirteen. It became somewhat of a tradition; they never missed a year. Until Bucky went off to the war.

In present day, I’m standing with my hands on my hips beside my boyfriend Steve, glaring at the Christmas tree that he just carried in the house like it was as light as a feather. Nothing out of the ordinary for Steve.

But of course I had to pick one taller than Steve himself, but he didn’t complain. He knows how much I love Christmas and go all out for it. He thinks it’s because of the way I was raised, but really it’s because I want him to feel the same holiday joy that I do when Christmas nears.

By my feet sat a battered box of ornaments, garland and even some of that tacky popcorn on a string that people use in the movies but would never even dream of in a real setting. The rest of our small yet cozy New York apartment was already decorated; soft twinkling lights wrapped around every piece of furniture, gold and red embroidery on blankets slung over the back of the couch, random Christmas displays on every surface, the Christmas calendar, our stockings, garland lining the edges of the walls, and Christmas balls hanging from the ceiling. Courtesy of me.

I had decorated one random weekday closer to the end of November. It took me a total of seven hours and multiple papercuts littering my hands, but it was all worth it when I got to see the awe in Steve’s face when he came home to a fully transformed apartment after a tedious day at the Tower with the other Avengers.

Steve and I scanned the situation. He’d obviously have to decorate the top half, since I was considerably shorter than him. I turned my head to look at him. His arms were crossed, though one was rubbing his beard in thought.

“What are you thinking about, Stevie?” I asked gently, not wanting to pull him from his thoughts so selfishly.

He let out a thoughtful t hum. “Thinkin’ about if we’ll have enough ornaments to decorate this monster of a tree.”

“Oh, we’ll have enough,” I said with a smirk, picking up a long silver garland from the box. “You get the top, I’ll get the bottom?” I said, referring completely to the garland.

“Of course, that’s always how we do it,” Steve said, barely giving me time to react.

After the garland was on the tree, we gently placed ornaments spread out around the tree. And to Steve’s surprise, we did have enough.

“And...we’re finished!” Steve beamed.

“Not so fast, Captain,” I said as I reached into the box and pulled out a shiny star for the top of the tree. I caught the twinkle in his eye when he spotted it.

“Do you want to do the honors?” I said, turning the star around and holding it out to him with a smile.

“Why don’t we do it together?” He suggested, eyes on mine.

“Stevie, you’re barely tall enough to reach the top, I-”

Before I could finish my sentence, Steve swept me up into his arms bridal style.

“That’s not what I meant, dear,” He laughed before pressing a kiss to my forehead. He slowly and carefully moved me so that I was sitting on his shoulders, him holding my legs as my hands pressed down on his broad shoulders.

“Woah there, Rogers, don’t drop me,” I said anxiously.

He let out a low chuckle. “Don’t worry baby. You won’t be falling any time soon.”

He took slow steps towards the tree, and when I got close enough, I popped the star on top. Steve, being the adorable asshole that he is, threw me up in the air, not high but enough to scare me, and caught me back in his arms.

“Motherfucker!” I shouted, slapping him playfully on the arm. He just laughed and peppered my face with kisses.

“Merry Christmas, Y/N.”

TAGLIST:

@sunflowercaptian @zaddychris @ilovemarvel-andcats

CEVANS/CHARACTERS TAGLIST:

@patzammit

#steve rogers fluff #steve rogers x reader #marvel #captain america #steve rogers x reader fluff #bucky barnes #steve rogers x reader christmas #christmas countdown #chris evans #chris evans christmas

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grandmascottlang · 6 years

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Under the Mistletoe (Captain America X Enhanced!Reader)

Hey guys! This is the first day of Countdown to Christmas! This is a songfic based off of Mistletoe by Justin Bieber (I don’t like him as a person, but I love his Christmas album). I hope that you’re looking forward to any of these stories! (If you want to be tagged, comment, reblog, or send me an ask!)

MASTERLIST

Prompt: Day 1- Mistletoe kiss

Summary: [Name] makes it snow outside because she needs Steve to stay inside. She tries to get him to walk underneath mistletoe so that she can give him a kiss.

Warnings: Extreme fluffiness (and probably Steve is OOC)

Words: 850+

[Name] was so excited, it was the Christmas season. The Tower was decorated from the basement all the way to Tony’s penthouse suite with lights, trees, and many other decorations.

She loved seeing all of the decorations and the idea of gift giving, but [Name]’s favorite about the holiday season is snow. [Name] had been born out of the snow as well as growing up in it. The fact that [Name] can produce snow, ice, sleet, and pretty much any other form of frozen water definitely made her a bit more biased than the average person.

Besides snow, [Name] also loved the concept and idea of mistletoe (and secretly, she put mistletoe all over the Tower), being a hopeless romantic, her head always thinking about cute date ideas, wedding attire, engagement rings…

It’s the most beautiful time of the year Lights fill the streets, spreadin’ so much cheer I should be playin’ in the winter snow, but I'ma be under the mistletoe I don’t wanna miss out on the holiday, but I can’t stop starin’ at your face I should be playin’ in the winter snow, but I'ma be under the mistletoe

[Name] recently joined the Avengers and grew close to all of them, specifically the one and only star-spangled man. Steve caught her attention, caused her breath to hitch, and kept her frozen in place.

[Name] was just lounging on one of the many couches in the living room on the Avengers’ shared floor. She was just watching Christmas movies to pass the time on one of her few and scarce day off. As she flipped through the channels, Steve walked into the room.

“Hey, [Name].” Steve waved at her with a smile etched on his face. Immediately, [Name]’s face lit up and she smiled back at the blonde.

“Hey, Steve! What are you doing today?” she asked him, mischief glinting in her eyes. [Name] had a devious idea to keep Steve in the Tower in case he was leaving.

“I just wanted to go pick up a few things from the store, I won’t be gone long.”

“Oh, but I heard that it’s supposed to snow,” [Name] feigned sadness in her voice, using her powers to create a snowstorm around the Tower, making it impossible to leave.

Before Steve could say anything, snow started sticking to the floor to ceiling length mirrors. His jaw dropped. “Well, I guess I’m not leaving today.”

“What a shame… Do you want to come with me to get some blankets before everyone starts complaining about the cold?” [Name] asked him, her plan was working so far.

“Sure.”

Steve and [Name] were walking around the Tower to get to the room with all the extra blankets. Their small talk filled an awkward silence, but neither of them looked at the other.

[Name] looked over at Steve (who also was looking at her and smiling) and they both turned their heads away from each other, heat rising to their cheeks. After getting to the closet, Steve opened the door and immediately saw what was hanging in the middle of the closet.

The green plant easy to identify, the red berries littering the plant and gave the room a warm aura.

Steve’s cheek turned bright red as he realized that this was a “[Name] Plan.” It wasn’t uncommon for [Name] to make plans to get what she wanted, but never did he think that one day, he would be something she wanted.

[Name] ran into the closet, a bright smile on her face. Even though her cheeks were almost burning at how nervous she was, she knew she needed to do this.

“Captain, I think that this leaves little to the imagination,” she said as her voice waved from nervousness. “It was all a ruse from the beginning.”

Steve chuckled at her goofiness. “If you just wanted me to kiss you, you could’ve asked, doll.”

He had never called her that before, but man, the pet name rang in her ears, loving the sound of four simple letters roll off of his tongue.

He walked up to her as he snaked his arms around her waist. She wrapped her arms around Steve’s neck.

Aye love, the Wisemen follow the star, the way I follow my heart And it lead me to a miracle, hey love Don’t ya buy me nothin’, ‘cause I am feelin’ one thing Your lips on my lips, that’s a merry merry Christmas

Neither of them were sure who lent in first, but their first kiss was magical. Their lips fit together perfectly, the other matching the other’s movements. The kiss started out chaste and small and grew to be the only thing the two cared about. It had sparks, and neither of them wanted to separate. They separated for a few seconds before starting a new kiss, with even more intensity than before.

Kiss me underneath the mistletoe, show me baby that you love me so oh oh Oh oh oh yeah yeah yeah Kiss me underneath the mistletoe, show me baby that you love me so oh oh Oh oh oh

DAY 2

#christmas #fanfic #writing #captain america #captain america x reader #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers #marvel #Christmas writing #countdown to Christmas #fanfication #day 1

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daleisgreat · 3 years

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Inglourious Basterds

youtube

I am jumping out of order with the third Quentin Tarantino film I am covering here is not QT’s third film, Jackie Brown, but instead for his 2009 alternate take on World War II, Inglourious Basterds (trailer). Click or press here for my article on Reservoir Dogs, and click or press here for my entry on Pulp Fiction. I have owned the BluRay since it first released well over a decade ago, and it is a shame yet another QT gem has sat in my backlog for so long. This takes place in occupied France with a riveting opening scene where German Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) conducts an interview with a local dairy farmer which eventually leads to questioning about missing Jews. This being a QT film, the dialog is intentionally drawn out, with Hans pausing the interview for a refreshing glass of milk, and digressing on other tangents before eventually getting to the burning question. Once again, QT absolutely nails the art of conversation like very few of his peers can. Every subtle body language flinch and pivot throughout their verbal exchange is not wasted, and it ultimately pays off with a unforgettable impact to close the scene. If it was almost any other filmmaker, my tolerance would have surely been tested, but there is something to QT’s scripts that without fail have me 100% invested in their surplus of verbiage as much as a climactic action scene in the latest summer blockbuster.

Be prepared for some vintage-QT dialog-heavy scenes...I wouldn't want it any other way from him! This being a WWII film, one would think it would be safe to presume there is a fair amount of military combat scenes. While there is a significant body count by the end of the film, the firefights are not of the typical Hollywood WWII fare, so do not expect any all-out tanks, war planes, and massive artillery skirmishes. Most of the action that transpires here involves a team of Jewish American soldiers headed up by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt). After the absurd fallout from their latest mission in a basement tavern, they receive intel from undercover operative Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) that Nazi leadership including Hitler (Martin Wuttke) himself will be at the grand opening of the latest military propaganda film, Nation’s Pride.

The theater owner where Nation’s Pride will be premiering, Shosanna (Mélanie Laurent), has an intriguing arc on how she is roped into debuting the film at her cinema which is caused by the relentless intimate pursuit of German soldier, Frederick Zoller (Daniel Brühl). Without giving too much away, Shosanna has her own agenda too, and everything builds up splendidly to the big premiere night of Nation’s Pride. I vividly remember going into the theater not clued into the ending which I will not spoil here, and I was instantly stunned at the direction QT went for the final act. There is nearly an hour and a half of bonus material on the BluRay. The standout bonus is a half hour interview with Brad Pitt and QT, conducted by Elvis Mitchell with some highlights of their conversation being how energetic the overall shoot was, and what it was like premiering the film in Germany. Other extra features worth checking out is the full six minute cut of Nation’s Pride, a quick look back with interviews of the cast and crew from the original 1978 Inglorious Bastards, and a pair of interviews with Rod Taylor who has some fun behind-the-scenes stories with QT on how the two have the utmost respect for each other.

Inglourious Basterds did not disappoint with a highly entertaining second viewing where nearly the entire ensemble cast excelled in their performances! For a film that is two and a half hours long, it proved to be a swift viewing after being so engrossed with all the aforementioned dialog-dense scenes. I cannot fairly rank this among QT’s movies as I nearly love them all equally, but it goes without saying if you have made it this far then you know I am giving this the highest of recommendations! Other Random Backlog Movie Blogs 3 12 Angry Men (1957) 12 Rounds 3: Lockdown 21 Jump Street The Accountant Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie Atari: Game Over The Avengers: Age of Ultron The Avengers: Endgame The Avengers: Infinity War Batman: The Dark Knight Rises Batman: The Killing Joke Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Bounty Hunters Cabin in the Woods Captain America: Civil War Captain America: The First Avenger Captain America: The Winter Soldier Christmas Eve The Clapper Clash of the Titans (1981) Clint Eastwood 11-pack Special The Condemned 2 Countdown Creed I & II Deck the Halls Detroit Rock City Die Hard Dredd The Eliminators The Equalizer Dirty Work Faster Fast and Furious I-VIII Field of Dreams Fight Club The Fighter For Love of the Game Good Will Hunting Gravity Grunt: The Wrestling Movie Guardians of the Galaxy Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 Hell Comes to Frogtown Hercules: Reborn Hitman I Like to Hurt People Indiana Jones 1-4 Ink The Interrogation Interstellar Jay and Silent Bob Reboot Jobs Joy Ride 1-3 Justice League (2017 Whedon Cut) Last Action Hero Major League Man of Steel Man on the Moon Man vs Snake Marine 3-6 Merry Friggin Christmas Metallica: Some Kind of Monster Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpions Revenge National Treasure National Treasure: Book of Secrets Nintendo Quest Not for Resale Payback (Director’s Cut) Pulp Fiction The Punisher (1989) The Ref The Replacements Reservoir Dogs Rocky I-VIII Running Films Part 1 Running Films Part 2 San Andreas ScoobyDoo Wrestlemania Mystery Scott Pilgrim vs the World The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Shoot em Up Slacker Skyscraper Small Town Santa Steve Jobs Source Code Star Trek I-XIII Sully Take Me Home Tonight TMNT Trauma Center The Tooth Fairy 1 & 2 UHF Veronica Mars Vision Quest The War Wild The Wizard Wonder Woman The Wrestler (2008) X-Men: Apocalypse X-Men: Days of Future Past

#random movie #brad pitt #Diane Kruger #Quentin Tarantino #inglourious basterds #christoph waltz #daniel brühl #mélanie laurent #rod taylor

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oswincoleman · 4 years

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Jenna Coleman in the 2010s

Here I will summarize Jenna’s various roles within her last 10 years, in chronological order:

Princess Melia Antiqua (Xenoblade Chronicles)

Xenoblade Chronicles was released in 2010, and Jenna must have recorded her part in either 2009 or 2010. Melia is the daughter of the High Emperor of the Entia, is a mage, and one of 7 playable characters in the game. The Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition will be released later this year, and it remains unknown whether any new recordings were done, and if Jenna will reprise her role.

Connie (Captain America: The First Avenger)

In 2010, after finishing her work on Emmerdale, and then Waterloo Road, Jenna auditioned for lots of roles in the USA. She however only managed to get a tiny role in Captain America: The First Avenger, and a part in the short film Corporate Monster (2019, originally filmed as Imaginary Forces). With at least one bad experience, of being asked to attend an audition in a bikini, she has since stayed away from American acting entirely.

Captain America: The First Avenger released in 2011, and Jenna filmed her brief role in 2010. She plays Connie, Bucky’s date at the World Expo.

Annie Desmond (Titanic)

From May 2011 onwards, filming of the miniseries Titanic took place in Budapest. Jenna played the stewardess Annie Desmond, who falls in love with chef Paolo Sandrini. When disaster strikes, she does whatever she can to help others, and survives after Paolo finds her a place on a lifeboat.

The miniseries was released on the centenary of the tragedy, on the 15th of April 2012, in 86 countries around the world.

Maria (Maria’s Story)

Jenna filmed a short video for NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) / Childline, portraying a teenager who was sexually abused as a child, and later reached out, and was helped by Childline, and telling their story. She probably filmed it in early 2012. The YouTube video of Jenna’s performance was uploaded on February 7th, 2012.

Oswin Oswald (Doctor Who, series 7 episode 1: Asylum of the Daleks)

Yes, I will keep Clara’s echoes separate, because they are different characters.

Jenna had her first surprise appearance on Doctor Who in Asylum of the Daleks, which aired on 1st September 2012. Jenna was first announced as the new companion on the 21st of March 2012, and presumably she started filming Asylum of the Daleks at about the same time.

Oswin Oswald is the junior entertainment manager on the starship Alaska, which crashed into the planet housing the Dalek Asylum of all insane Daleks. In a surprising twist it is revealed that unlike the rest of the crew, who were merely turned into puppets, keeping their former appearances, Oswin received the full conversion into a Dalek, because she is a genius. Oswin dreamt up a reality, of Carmen, and soufflés, to hide the truth of who she was. She managed to hack into the Dalek path web, disabled all Daleks on the planet, and deleted all references to the Doctor in the Daleks’ entire database. In the end, she sacrificed herself to save the Doctor, Amy and Rory.

Susan Brown (Room at the Top)

This miniseries was originally planned to premiere in April 2011, but due to several delays was only aired on the 26th and 27th of September 2012. I have unfortunately not managed to find out when it was filmed, but it was probably filmed in early 2011, before Jenna filmed Titanic.

Susan Brown falls in love with Joe Lampton, who maintains an affair with both her and Alice Aisgill. Joe loves Alice, but wants to marry Susan, as she is the daughter of a very successful businessman. When Susan gets pregnant, her father insists that they marry, and Joe leave Alice for good.

Clara Oswin Oswald (Doctor Who 2012 Christmas Special)

The next Clara echo we encountered in Doctor Who is Clara Oswin Oswald in Victorian London. She works both as a barmaid in the Rose and Crown, and as a governess for the Latimer family. She encounters the Doctor, and encounters the carnivorous Snowmen. She convinces the Doctor to fight off the threat, and together they foil the plans of the Great Intelligence. The Doctor abandons his time of living in the TARDIS in the clouds, and gives Clara a key to the TARDIS. But when it seemed as though everything was solved, the ice governess drags Clara off of the cloud, to both of their demise.

All of this takes place in the Doctor Who Christmas Special, “The Snowmen”, for which filming started on the 6th of August 2012.

Clara Oswald (Doctor Who series 7B-9, the 50th anniversary special, and the 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2017 Christmas specials)

In the very same episode we see Clara Oswald for the first time. She starts off as a nanny in modern day London, but has great dreams and ambitions. After having met two of her echoes, the Doctor was inspired by their mystery, and searched for yet another Clara. He did meet her once when she was a child, but did not realize it. Only when Missy gave Clara the Doctor’s phone number did they finally properly meet. Clara was swept along to numerous adventures over many years of here life. She encountered many foes, and stood up to them with nothing but her words. She always wanted to learn more, and hone her skills. In her long time on the show she managed to convince the Doctor to save Gallifrey rather than burn it, she persuaded the Time Lords to give the Doctor new regenerations without which his 11th incarnation would have been his last, she outwits many enemies, such as the half-faced man, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Bonnie, and Odin (to name a few). She jumped into the Doctor’s timestream to prevent its corruption through the Great Intelligence. In doing so, she generated all the echoes we saw previously, alongside many other ones strewn throughout all of time and space. Clara faces her fears one by one, learning not to be defeated by them, and becoming increasingly brave.

She quit her job as a nanny, and got a job as an English teacher at Coal Hill school. There she met Danny Pink, who she got into a relationship with. She was torn between Danny and the Doctor, and the two incompatible lives she was leading. She couldn’t decide, and tried to maintain both. But she couldn’t keep that up for long, and when Danny died in a car crash, she was willing to risk her life with the Doctor as well, for the off chance that his death could be rewritten by time travel. She had however underestimated how important she had become to the Doctor by this point. Danny does return as a Cybermen, as part of Missy’s plan for the Doctor to be more like her. Clara, the Doctor, and Danny however foil Missy’s plans, and Danny sacrifices himself to rid the world of all Cybermen.

Traumatized by these events, Clara increasingly distances herself from her normal life, to which she was only anchored by Danny. She devotes herself more and more to the life of the Doctor. As ambitious, intelligent, and skilled as she is, merely following him around is not what she has in mind. She learns all she can from him, first imitates him, and finally develops her own style. Clara was never someone who blindly relied on others to help her out if she got into trouble. She learns to fly the TARDIS, seeks out adventures, and does whatever she can to help others, using her innate empathy and skill. Together, the Doctor and Clara form an unbeatable team. Well, almost. Clara sacrifices herself to save Rigsy, her “companion” of two adventures. There is nothing that can be done to stop the chronolock which was intended for Rigsy, and Clara ends up standing her ground while facing the raven.

The Doctor however cannot live with her death at all, and endures billions of years of torture before returning to Gallifrey, where he leads a coup against the autocratic Rassilon. And all of this, to be able to extract Clara from the end of her time stream, and resume their travels together. Except it of course does not work out as planned, and Clara’s death remains a fixed point. She has to die at the exact time and place when and where the Chronolock countdown ended. In his effort to save Clara, the Doctor himself became a monster. Clara tried her best to get him to return to being the Doctor, but the only thing that works, is erasing all his memories of her. When they both finally feel too guilty because of the damage they have caused each other, they depart ways. Clara has become a second Doctor in this process, with her own TARDIS, and companion. And this is how her arc comes to a close, and her story finishes. She does however return as a hallucination of the 12th Doctor when his memories of Clara are restored just before his own regeneration.

Jenna Coleman filmed her total of 37 episodes featuring Clara Oswald in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Her final appearance in Twice Upon a Time (2017 Christmas special) was the final scene shot for the episode, so presumably at the end of July, or even later.

Jenna also portrayed Clara Oswald in the Doctor Who: Lego Dimensions game in 2015.

Rosie Williams (Dancing on the Edge)

Jenna Coleman plays Rosie Williams, Stanley’s assistant at the Music Express magazine. But their relationship is a bit more than just that. The series takes place in London in the 1930s, following a jazz band and their rise to fame and subsequent difficulties.

The four-part series aired between 4th February, and 12th March 2013. Once again I am not exactly sure when Jenna filmed her part, but I guess it must have been in early or mid 2012.

Interestingly, Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes both starred in this series, though they never really had a scene together (they do appear in one shot together, but aren’t talking to each other).

Other Clara echoes (Doctor Who, series 7 episode 13: The Name of the Doctor)

When Clara Oswald jumped into the Doctor’s timestream, millions of copies of her were created, and spread out through all of time and space. Each of them a different person, yet all sharing many similarities with the “original” Clara Oswald. All these echoes work together to nullify the effects of the Great Intelligence on the Doctor’s timeline. Some of them interact with the Doctor at various stages of their lives, but most work in the background, keeping the Great Intelligence at bay, far away from the Doctor. Through these echoes, Clara meets all the incarnations of the Doctor, even one that the Doctor wanted to leave out; the War Doctor.

All Characters in The Secret Garden

In 2013, Jenna also recorded the audiobook “The Secret Garden”, voicing all the characters in the story (and as always delivering a fantastic vocal performance).

The story follows the 10 year old Mary Lennox, who after the death of her parents, is sent to her uncle’s residence in Yorkshire. There she discovers the titular secret garden that had been locked up for 12 years, as well as her sickly nephew, Colin, who had been kept a secret from her. Mary also meets Dickon, and together, they bring life back to the secret garden, and revitalize Colin’s health.

All Characters in Destiny of the Doctor: The Time Machine

In her only appearance in Doctor Who’s Big Finish audio collection so far, Jenna voiced all the characters of this audio book.

In the story, Alice Watson helps Professor Chivers to assemble a time machine. The alien Creevix, and the Doctor however start to intervene before everything is complete. Together, they defeat the Creevix, and Alice goes on adventures with Guy Taylor in the end.

Jenna Coleman (The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot)

Jenna Coleman appeared as herself in the comedy spoof for the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. It was released at the same time as the actual Doctor Who 50th special, The Day of the Doctor, on the 23rd of November 2013.

Lydia Wickham (Death Comes to Pemberley)

This four-part mini series first aired on the 26th of December 2013, just one day after the 2013 Doctor Who Christmas special, “The Day of the Doctor”. In Death comes to Pemberley, which was filmed earlier in 2013, Jenna plays the hysterical, theatrical, and self-centered Lydia, and how she reacts to the other events of the story, most notably the accusation that George Wickham murdered his friend Denny.

Let’s take a moment to consider that the last 12 entries on this list all occurred within 2012 or 2013. What incredible years those must have been for Jenna Coleman fans!

Marble Statue, Monologue by Jacqueline Wilson (2014)

In August 2014, Jenna Coleman lent her voice to a marble statue in the Manchester Central Library, for an exhibition aiming to bring statues to life, by associating them with text that was read out by actors. Scanning a barcode at each statue started playing the recording.

Bonnie (Doctor Who, series 9 episodes 7 and 8: The Zygon Invasion/The Zygon Inversion)

As another character Jenna portrayed in Doctor Who, Bonnie was the leader of a faction of Zygons living on Earth. She copied Clara Oswald’s appearance to infiltrate UNIT, and there managed to annihilate UNIT from within. Could this be the reason why UNIT no longer exists in series 11 and 12? (UNIT does exist in series 10, but that could have been set earlier than The Zygon Invasion/The Zygon Inversion). Anyway, in the end Bonnie is defeated by a combined effort of the Doctor and Clara, learns to see the error in her ways, and actually helps to maintain the peace from then on. She changes her appearance to that of Petronella Osgood, to ensure that there are once again 2 Osgoods.

This two-parter was filmed in early 2015, and aired on the 31st October, and 7th November 2015.

Katrina Clark (Me Before You)

In a break during the filming of Doctor Who series 9, Jenna filmed her part for Me Before You, at some point between May and June 2015. She plays Louisa Clark’s younger sister, who is also a single mother. She only plays a small role overall, but helps her sister through several tough moments, providing advice and emotional support. The film was released in the UK on June 3rd, 2016.

Queen Victoria (Victoria series 1-3, 2017 Christmas Special)

After her time on Doctor Who came to an end, Jenna landed her first lead role, as Queen Victoria in the ITV and PBS series Victoria, chronicling the life and times of Queen Victoria. So far, series 1-3 have covered the period from 1837 to 1851, depicting Victoria from age 18 to 32.

The series starts off with Victoria learning of her accession to the throne, following the death of William IV. We see her very strict upbringing, and how she gained independence by being the Queen. At first we see her making many clumsy mistakes, and the scheming of others to control her in one way or another. But she stubbornly gets her way through, and certainly doesn’t lose any confidence along the way.

We follow along on the journey of how Victoria and Albert grow closer, and fall in love with each other, how their relationship develops, and they marry. Victoria gets pregnant shortly thereafter. Despite loathing pregnancy, and losing the ability to be herself and rule the country, another pregnancy follows the first one in quick succession. And then another. And another, and another ....

Victoria gradually becomes more acquainted with being the Queen. But alongside that she also plays the role of a wife to Albert, and a mother to her many children. We later see the struggle of being all those roles at once. The series also explores the combination of Victoria’s postnatal depression, her dislike of pregnancy, but also her love for Albert, and her relationship with her children.

Of course this period in history is also quite interesting in and of itself, and we see Victoria engaging with many events of the time. She manages to make a real positive impact on some problems (like the difficulties involved with the Great Exhibition), but fails to resolve other ones (the Irish Potato Famine).

Jenna Coleman filmed the three series from late 2015 to early 2016, early to mid 2017, and mid to late 2018, respectively. The three series aired in the UK in August to October 2016, August to October 2017, the 25th of December 2017, and March to May 2019.

Victoria is on hiatus at the moment, and it is unknown when, and if it will return. Jenna’s work for The Serpent might already be completed, and if not, it probably won’t take much longer. There is nothing publicly known yet of her commitments after that, so as far as she is concerned, Victoria series 4 could be filmed rather soon. But that is still merely speculation at the moment.

Belle (A Christmas Carol Audio Book)

In late 2016, Jenna Coleman played the role of Belle, Scrooge’s past love, in the audio book of “A Christmas Carol”, which released on the 9th December 2016.

Baines (Thunderbirds are Go, season 2 episode 1: Earthbreaker)

This episode first aired in April 2017, so Jenna presumably recorded her part for it in late 2016.

She voiced her character, Baines, with an American accent (she also used American accents in All My Sons and Corporate Monster, but those are all different accents).

In the episode, Baines is the head of a research and mining operation who located Scandium ore, but were then attacked by The Earthbreaker machine. It quite literally breaks up the ground, creating a crevasse that Baines and her team fall into. Baines manages to call the Thunderbirds, who in the end manage to save them, and defeat the Earthbreaker.

Joanna Lindsay (The Cry)

In January to May 2018, Jenna filmed her next leading role in the four-part miniseries The Cry, which was filmed in both Australia and Scotland. It is based on the novel of the same name by Helen Fitzgerald, but it does diverge from it in several key points, particularly at the end.

Joanna suffes postnatal depression after giving birth to baby Noah, and her partner Alistair doesn’t support her at all. He primarily focuses on his personal ambition of gaining custody of his daughter Chloe, from his ex-wife Alexandra, who currently lives in Australia, whereas Joanna and Alistair live in Glasgow, Scotland. The flight to Australia goes terribly when Noah cries the entire time.

Major spoilers from this point on. You have been warned.

Noah dies shortly after landing, when Alistair accidentally gave him the wrong medication. Alistair decides that the best course of action is to invent a story that Noah was kidnapped, rather than tell the world the truth. Joanna is too weak to argue, and plays along. Joanna’s despair grows over time, and she loses herself in the media attention, and the constant lies. She gets increasingly doubtful as time goes on, and starts to see through the lies Alistair has even told her throughout.

When she finally learns the truth that Alistair gave Noah the fateful dose, despite his repeated insistance that she had been to blame, Joanna has had enough, and drives their car off a cliff. Alistair dies, but Joanna lives to the tell the tale. But by now she has become too intertwined with Alistair’s storyline of lies, that she sticks to the story, and wins her case in court. Finally, she returns to Australia, and is reunited with Noah, who was buried beneath a newly constructed house.

Ann Deever (All My Sons)

Jenna played the role of Ann Deever in All My Sons at the Old Vic theatre in London, from the 13th of April to the 8th of June 2019. This was her first theatre production in 10 years, and her first really professional one. As Jenna has said in several interviews, she had been interested in performing on stage for several years now, but had been looking for the ideal role and play to appear in.

Ann Deever returns to the Keller household in the late 1940s, having grown up in the house next to it. She intends to marry Chris Keller. But Chris’ mother Kate opposes the marriage, as to her, Ann will forever be “Larry’s Girl”. Larry is Chris’ brother, who went missing in WW2. Throughout the play, we learn more and more secrets that one or more of the main characters had hidden away. Chris’ father Joe turns out to have been responsible for shipping out cracked cylinder heads to the army, resulting in 21 pilot deaths. Ann’s father had been blamed for the deaths, and was incarcerated, while Joe wriggled his way out of being found guilty. But Ann wants to go ahead with the marriage nonetheless. When Kate still opposes it, Ann shows her a letter she got from Larry, in which he talks about his planned suicide following the news of the 21 pilot deaths Joe had been accused of. The play concludes with Joe killing himself as well.

Ellen (Corporate Monster)

Back in 2010, when Jenna was auditioning for various roles in the USA, she filmed a role in the short film “Corporate Monster” (originally called Imaginary Forces). The initial planned release date passed without any news. But after many years of waiting, it was released on September 16th, 2019.

Ellen’s boyfriend Robert Turner takes untested drugs aimed at combating his stress after he lost his job. But as a result of the drugs, he starts seeing aliens pretending to be humans everywhere he goes. He becomes increasingly paranoid, and starts fighting the aliens. He tries to force Ellen to take the drugs as well, so that he can prove that the aliens are real. Ellen refuses, and avoids him. After fighting several aliens, Robert shows up at Ellen’s office, kills several more aliens. Ellen takes the drugs in order to stop the massacre. Robert escapes, but gets cornered, and is killed. The film ends with Ellen seeing the aliens instead of humans as well.

Beattie (Inside No. 9 series 5, episode 2)

Jenna filmed this part in February-March 2019. But we don’t know anything yet about her role, or the episode she will appear in. It will hopefully be released soon.

Marie-Andrée Leclerc (The Serpent)

From September to December 2019, Jenna filmed her role as the female lead in the upcoming BBC One and Netflix series The Serpent, in Thailand. The series is based on the real life story from the 1970s, of serial killers Leclerc and Sobhraj, and how they were eventually caught.

Jenna really has done a lot in the last decade! She has portrayed a huge variety of different roles, of so many different personalities. And she has done so brilliantly! In the last decade Jenna Coleman has really made a name for herself, and done incredible work in TV series, films, audiobooks, a play, and some video games. Now on to the next decade! I look forward to seeing all that Jenna will accomplish in the next ten years!

And as a final remark, sorry for the long post!

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weasley-gal · 4 years

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Cindy’s Top Ten Movies of 2019!

Ahhh...2019. In the interest of building suspense, I could be all cagey about this countdown, but let's face it: For me, 2019 was the Year of Rocketman. As lousy as the real-world year was, it was salvaged by Rocketman. Someone suggested in jest (maybe?) that Rocketman should be numbers one through ten on my year-end list, and that would be fair enough; HOWEVER...I did like some other movies this year, so I'm gonna give you--yes YOU, dear reader(s)--ten of my favorites. Just know in your hearts that the other nine fall way behind number one. Way, WAY behind.

The usual disclaimers:

A movie's position on my year-end list does not necessarily reflect its original Weasley score. Some films age well, bear up, and even improve under repeat viewings. Some...well...some do not. Also, I live in a rinky-dink town, so great movies like JoJo Rabbit and 1917--pictures that almost certainly would have found spots here or gotten very close--have not made themselves available to me yet. This is disappointing, but unsurprising. I'd hung my entire holiday break on the prospect of seeing 1917, only to discover on Christmas Day that its Christmas opening was limited release, and I have to wait until January 10th. Humbug. Finally, I think three or four of these movies already made Variety's "worst of" list for 2019, so kindly do not be too shocked when I diverge from The Serious Critics (TM).

Without further ado, presenting my top ten films of 2019:

TEN

"The most important qualification for any leader is not wanting to be leader."

THE TWO POPES

2019 threw me a nice surprise on its way out the celestial door, with the Netflix original The Two Popes. It's a deliberate, thoughtful, and timely film carried by a pair of the year's most exquisite performances: Jonathan Pryce as Pope Francis and Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict XVI. While the subject matter is weighty, this movie is an absolute delight.

NINE

"I'm glad I'm a revelation and not a disappointment."

DOWNTON ABBEY

This big-screen adaptation of the popular television series Downton Abbey, is, in fact, something of a revelation. A totally new story in the familiar and much-loved setting, with just the right amount of fan service, it is a joyful exercise that hits nearly every note perfectly. Making its case for the big screen are breathtaking costumes and production design...and Mr. Barrow finally seeing a bit of happiness doesn't hurt, either.

EIGHT

"We're gonna bury Ferrari at Le Mans."

FORD V FERRARI

At a glance, Ford v Ferrari might seem like a film appealing exclusively to car enthusiasts; however, that assumption does a great disservice to both the film and the viewer. Ford v Ferrari is an inspiring story about people. It's a nail-biter from start to finish, it has heart to spare, and it's fronted by great turns from Matt Damon and Christian Bale. Beautifully filmed race action makes this one to see on the biggest screen you can find.

SEVEN

"It always fits...eventually."

SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

Technically, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a last-year movie, but for me it's a this-year movie, and--despite its being the very first film I saw way back in January, 2019--it's far too great to leave off my best-of list. A Marvel property in the hands of Sony, Spider-Verse is smart, funny, touching, and better than the entire Avengers catalog combined.

SIX

"This is a twisted web, and we are not finished untangling it, not yet."

KNIVES OUT

Knives Out is a great piece of original cinema crafted from artful twists, clever humor, and terrific performances, layered with a gorgeous Gothic setting and an ominous score. Written and directed by Rian Johnson, this perfect murder mystery is a huge creative and financial win for the cinema, and I recommend it without hesitation or qualification.

FIVE

"This is the worst...and best...and most terrible...excellent thing that's ever happened to me!"

THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING

Hands up if you missed the Kid Who Would Be King at your local cinema? Yeah, I see you, ALL of you. The good news is that one of the year's most wonderful pictures is now available for streaming and download, and you shouldn't make the same mistake twice. The Kid Who Would Be King is a charming movie, great fun for people of all ages. Truly one of the year's best.

FOUR

"Si vis pacem, para bellum."

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 — PARABELLUM

The John Wick franchise has become quite the phenomenon, and deservedly so. Continually upping the action ante in Fast-and-Furious-like fashion, these movies are so much more than just your garden-variety shoot 'em ups and beat 'em ups. John Wick is the role Keanu Reeves was born to play, and Parabellum raises the stakes for Wick while doubling down on masterful fight choreography and stunning cinematography. Here's to many more adventures for John Wick!

THREE

"Bruce is the direct line to all that's true in this world!"

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

Blinded by the Light is another terrific picture that didn't exactly set the box office on fire. Inspired by the true story of one Springsteen superfan, and built on the Boss's epic catalog, it's a hopeful tale about overcoming prejudice and the limitations set for us by ourselves and by others, one of the year's most inspiring movies.

TWO

"Tell the truth to everyone, whenever you can."

YESTERDAY

Yesterday is yet another of 2019's under-appreciated gems, a beautiful, unique movie fashioned around the timeless music of the Beatles. Himesh Patel is a delight in the lead, and--while the premise requires suspension of disbelief--Yesterday is a charming picture that captivates with its "what ifs?" as well as its iconic soundtrack and enchanting cast.

ONE

"You were never ordinary."

ROCKETMAN

My number one movie of the year, and of the decade, was set on May 31st, when I saw Rocketman for the first time. I saw the movie at least twice a week as long as it was at my local cinema. I've watched at least part of it every day since it became available for home viewing. Outside of a week or so around each of the wonderful concerts I saw this summer, I've listened to nothing but the Rocketman soundtrack since the end of May. My phone and all my desktops have Rocketman wallpapers. I've joked (hmm?) that I only speak Rocketman now. The truth is, I'm not interested in speaking anything else. Pre-Rocketman, it had been a decade since a new movie made its way into my all-time top ten. Then there was Rocketman. Pre-Rocketman, my favorite acting performance hadn't changed since 1993. Then there was Taron Egerton's astonishing turn as Elton John. Pre-Rocketman, I was finding reasons to stay away from the movies. Then there was Dexter Fletcher showing us the beauty of real imagination. Rocketman is more than just a well-crafted film that reflects on an iconic artist's inspiring life. It is a film that uses Elton John's art to tell his story in fantastic, creative fashion. It is a film that uses exquisite detail in its styling and costumes to further its vision. It is a film that draws something sparkling and new out of a classic discography. It is a film that is not bound by dull, linear timelines or small minds. It is a film that surrounds a performance for the ages with others that bear it up. It is a film that shows, however dark the times, you will find the light. In doing all these things, it is a film that is saving lives. Rocketman is a film that is, in every way, magnificent. Thank you, Dexter Fletcher and company, for giving us this beautiful movie. Whatever the critics say and whoever wins the prizes as Awards Season bears down upon us, nobody has done anything more valuable this cinema year.

A few Honorable (and Dis-Honorable) Mentions:

While Taron Egerton deserves all the awards, all the time, for his work in Rocketman, there were some other performances this year that also gave me life:

Jamie Bell (Rocketman): Without Bell's Bernie Taupin as his stalwart cornerstone, Egerton's Elton could not have flown. It's a lovely, understated performance that has been grossly underappreciated.

Tom Holland (Marvel Cinematic Universe): Holland is a real gem, a standout who consistently steals the show from bigger names who get weightier work in the MCU. No matter how good, bad, or painfully bloated the movie, Holland is an absolute delight.

Renee Zellweger (Judy): Who knew it was even possible for me to stop hating Renee Zellweger? Well played, 2019.

Rebecca Ferguson (The Kid Who Would Be King/Doctor Sleep): There was little I enjoyed more this year than watching Ferguson chew her way through this pair of pictures. Oh, and if I start walking around wearing a hat, don't ask, m-kay?

Chris Evans (Knives Out): God, I love seeing Chris Evans do *anything* besides Captain America. Bonus points if he gets to be funny. He's really funny, despite his obscenely gorgeous mug.

John Boyega/Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker): These two, individually and together, draw joy out of what's otherwise a fairly mundane exercise. If Finn and Poe somehow jumped to another saga in the Star Wars universe, I wouldn't complain.

The Cast of Jumanji: The Next Level: Top to bottom, a perfectly cast film, and a lesson in how the right actors can elevate any property.

As a matter of interest, if you watch the Irishman and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood back to back, you can effectively calculate how many hours you'll wish you had back when you're on your deathbed.

I would like a word with Gary Oldman's and Sebastian Stan's agents, please.

Cats: Make. It. Stop. Please, just...make it stop.

As this most challenging year winds to a close, I wanted to offer a sincere thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my reviews, and especially those who engage on any of our various platforms. Special thanks to Daniel for allowing me to be a part of his great page, and for tolerating my unceasing randomness. (Hotel Transylvania 4 in 2021, my friend!) I take no one's support for granted, and I’m ever grateful for you all. I wish our readers many blessings as this festive season comes to a close and we roll into 2020. See you at the movies!

#movies #top ten #rocketman #yesterday #blinded by the light #john wick #the kid who would be king #knives out #spider-man #into the spider-verse #ford v ferrari #downton abbey #the two popes

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detourwrites · 4 years

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Desperate Measures

Desperate Measures by detour

Written for @capcountdownchristmas

Desperate to get home for the holidays, Bucky takes pilot Steve Rogers up on his offer of a ride. But that's only the start. Life keeps finding ways to throw them back together.

Part of the Captain America Countdown to Christmas 2019.

#steve rogers/bucky barnes #stucky #captain america fandom #writing #fan fiction #detour on ao3 #captain

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avengerofyourheart · 5 years

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NYE Retro Bash with Chris Evans

YOU GUYYYSSSSS.

I still feel like last night was just a dream but then I see all the amazing videos I took and it all comes back. This is without a doubt the most memorable New Year’s Eve of my life and I’ll look back on it for years to come.

SO. Here’s how it all happened. I saw a post on tumblr about this New Year’s Bash and GASP. It was taking place only 40 minutes from me! Double checked the tweet Chris had retweet and....ITS REALLY HAPPENING WHAT. Texted a friend to see if she wanted to come, she doubted the reality of it because HOW, WHY, WHAT. But yes. It was happening. We had to go. So I bought 2 tickets.

Apparently, other people had trouble buying tickets but I guess I was super lucky. I heard that tickets were limited but I didn't realize HOW limited until I checked the venue and saw that the capacity was only 125 people. AHH. IT’S GONNA BE SMALL AND INTIMATE AND I’M NERVOUS AND EXCITED I CAN’T WAIT. That was my thought process.

There was some drama regarding transportation and the friend I was going with I hadn’t actually met IRL yet (not from tumblr, more like snapchat and Instagram. It’s an interesting way to meet people.) But in the end I drove 45 minutes south to meet her and then we headed up the canyon in her friends car to Park City! :D

For those who have never been, Park City is a small-ish skiing town in the mountains were Sundance Film Festival also happens every year. (Which was founded by Robert Redford, who played Alexander Pierce in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, in case you weren't aware.) Anyway, we park in a parking garage and walk through the lobby of a hotel and once we reach the street, the venue is RIGHT THERE. AHH. There was a bit of a line and it was SOOOO COLD. Like, single digits. Fahrenheit. We only had to wait about 10 minutes before they started checking ID’s and letting people in.

High West Distillery is basically a ski-in/ski-out bar. It was even smaller than I envisioned so people got cozy really quickly and there was a velvet rope sectioning off part of the dance floor with some stools and couches there. The second friend, Natalie, went in search of the bathroom so it was just Vanessa the Instagram Friend and I.

She leaned toward me. “Read my eyes.” Um...what? It took me wayyyyyy too long to figure out that she was hinting that Chris was standing RIGHT OVER THERE BEHIND THE ROPE 15 FEET FROM ME. WHAT. I spotted his friend first, the one who posted the photo on the plane. Adam LaVorgna, another actor who I recognized from the Jonathan Taylor Thomas movie “Home for Christmas” haha! But then I saw who he was standing next to and...I whipped my head back around toward Vanessa, eyes wide.

“See?? That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!” she yelled over the music.

Holy. Crap. I tried to get another covert sneak peek but it was almost like looking directly at the sun, I had to avert my gaze. Wow. I just saw Chris Evans with my very own eyes. Dressed in a pair of jeans, dark blue sweater, bit of scruff on the chin, and a blue Boston Red Sox baseball hat, he looked gooooood. *swoon*

We still had no idea what the “plan” was for the night, since he was supposedly the host, but we mostly just danced to the music, chatted with friends and tried not to panic at his close proximity. The room continued to fill and some people were let past the velvet rope and he greeted them. Such a sweetheart. I know they were calling it a “Retro Bash” but I guess I didn’t realize it was so literal??? People were arriving in full-on 80s regalia and a few guys wore mullet wigs and sunglasses (one of which turned out to be Miles Teller, but I didn’t find out til later. oops.)

Anyway, a DJ played for the first hour or so until The Midnight came on stage. I knew some of their music before finding out about this, but the past few days I put their albums on shuffle to familiarize myself. They’re more techno than I’m used to but I really liked it and in the party scene, their vibe was perfect! Chris got so excited and sang along, dancing or air drumming to the beat. ha! So cute. He kept saying “This is my favorite song” but he said that about 4 songs. :D Bless him.

There was a guy in the VIP section who looked familiar and I finally figured it out. He’s also a friend of Sebastian’s, Charles Chu (Choodius_maximus on instagram) he was wearing a huuuuuge black afro wig. We bumped elbows a few times while dancing so that was cool. One degree from Sebastian Stan!! I’m getting there! ha! :D

Ironically, The Midnight did NOT play until midnight. Their set ended around 11:15pm so the DJ returned and he was great. Interesting song transitions and a good variety, too. Dancing continued and I got a few more videos of Chris, covertly. I didn’t want to seem creepy so I kinda panned the camera around and caught him a few times. Seeing Chris Evans dance and sing to “Living on a Prayer” is official a highlight in my life. I have evidence of it, too. :D He seemed to be living his best life, having a few drinks and dancing with friends. I loved seeing him this way, personally, rather than situations that might make him anxious or uncomfortable. He is a gem and we don’t deserve him.

Midnight crept closer and the DJ started the countdown. Happy New Year!!! I caught the moment on video and finally showed my face. :) I was there, too!! Couples kissed and hugs were shared. From what we could tell, no smooches for Mr. Evans but plenty of hugs. I don’t like to speculate about his personal life, I just want him to be happy. :)

I really wasn’t sure what to expect initially and I did wonder if he might interact or step up to the mic at some point as the “host” but as a whole, I had an amazing time! People asked if I met him, talked to him, got a pic with him. No, I didn’t, but that’s perfectly okay with me. Proximity while in his element is good enough for me. Maybe I’ll meet him at a con some day and mention last night. Maybe. As for now, I have photos and videos and memories that will last a lifetime.

Thank you all for following my Instagram story. It’s now in my highlights there on my page and I will continue to share videos here. I’m infinitely glad that I jumped at the chance of seeing him and it was more than worth the money, 3 hours of driving, lost sleep, temporary hearing loss, and sore legs from dancing. :)

Happy New Year to you all!!

#nye 19 #chris evans #high west distillery #nye retro bash with chris evans #fan encounter #sorta #new years eve #happy new year #yes this really happened #ahhhhh

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