#like i get what they wanted this movie to be.........just then the title *multiverse of madness* doesn't make much sense

[thatsthat24]

Sanderstober 2023

Upon request, I’ve provided new art prompts for this year’s month of October!! As always, feel free to do all or some of these, pick and choose whichever stands out to you! If you missed a day’s prompt but still wanted to do art for it, absolutely do that and post it whenever you want, no worries whatsoever. It’s all completely laid back and just for fun! I’ve added to this list without consulting old ones, so if I used a repeat idea, it’s possible that I just was interested in seeing more of it again this year!! Hope you all enjoy! If you’re wanting me to check them out at all, you can use the tag, #Sanderstober2023 🎃

Oct. 1st: Give me a spooky or Halloween-y figure and how he looks on Sep. 30th (their off-time, go as comical as you’d like) and then how they look Oct. 1st (traditionally how they are known to look!).

Oct. 2nd: Give me a flower design inspired by a type of candy of your choice!

Oct. 3rd: In celebration of the awesomeness that is Fionna and Cake, I’d love to see you take a character, or characters from your fave series, and give them a multiverse makeover (what they’d look like in a different universe, under different circumstances)

Oct. 4th: Take any historic landmark, and give it an autumn or Halloween-y makeover

Oct. 5th: Since I’ve been on my D&D kick with Roleslaying with Roman, what would any Halloween- or spooky-themed character be in a D&D world? What would be their race? Their class? Their backstory??

Oct. 6th: Google a Random Color Generator and use it to give you three colors. Then use those three colors to create a new Halloween creature or character.

Oct. 7th: Along the lines of Spiderman Noir, take any character you want from some sort of fiction, and depict how they might look like in any other time period!

Oct. 8th: In the spirit of having fun with both Halloween AND Christmas, take a Halloween story/character and draw what they might appear as if they were actually a character talked or sung about in a Christmas story.

Oct. 9th: Take a group of characters from one of your favorite pieces of content and create tarot cards featuring them. Google tarot cards to get inspiration if you need!

Oct. 10th: Take a musical (one that I would suppose wouldn’t already be scary) and create a poster for it as if it were the title of a scary movie

Oct. 11th: Google a Disney character generator, pick out two characters, and create what a mash-up of those two characters would look like!

Oct.12th: Pumpkin spice latte obviously has its spotlight during the fall, but could you come up with another special coffee concoction for another season/holiday of the year?

Oct. 13th: Take a Fall/Halloween concept or character and use it as inspiration for a fashionable outfit

Oct. 14th: As a tribute to Barbenheimer this year, take any character from Barbie or Oppenheimer and depict how they’d appear in the other movie

Oct. 15th: Take the last text you received. Use all or part of it to base a whole movie off of it of any genre, and create a poster for it

Oct. 16th: Take one of the names of your current pet, old pet, or friend’s pet, and use that name as the inspiration for a superhero. What would that superhero look like?

Oct. 17th: Is there a phrase that one of your parents or friend says all the time? Take it and imagine it’s the name of a children’s book. What would that children’s book cover look like?

Oct. 18th: Take a Disney villain, and depict them as a Disney princess

Oct. 19th: Take a Disney Princess and depict them as a Disney villain!

Oct. 20th: Take any Greek god and imagine what their preferred activity might be on an average Fall day.

Oct. 21st: Take a board game (one that I would suppose wouldn’t be scary) and create a poster for it as if it were the title of a scary movie

Oct. 22nd: This is an annual favorite of mine - take take any character(s) from a piece of content of your choice and depict them like a Tim Burton character

Oct. 23rd: Take a famous brand logo (Toyota, Playstation, Campbell’s Soup, Facebook, literally any logo from anything) and design a Pokemon inspired by the logo and color palette! Bonus for naming it and giving it stats!

Oct. 24th: In the spirit AGAIN of having fun with both Halloween AND Christmas, now take a Christmas story/character and draw what they might appear as if they were actually a character talked or sung about in a Halloween story.

Oct. 25th: Another favorite of mine: take any character(s) from a piece of animated content you enjoy, and draw them in the style of another piece of animated content!

Oct. 26th: Go to the latest playlist you were listening to, put it on shuffle, and see what song it plays. Take the title of that song and use it as inspiration for a Halloween/Autumn themed drawing of your choice.

Oct. 27th: Take a favorite pair of characters from a piece of content you enjoy and depict what their matching Halloween costumes would be!

Oct. 28th: [Random event from this past year] … and Zombies!!

Oct. 29th: Every town’s got some local businesses with interesting names (Jerry’s Tire Barn Emporium, stuff like that). If you know of one in your local town, take that name, and imagine it to be the name of a Haunted House. Depict what that location may look like. I wanna learn about some funny local business names.

Oct. 30th: Take one item from your desk/workspace, anything you want. This item is now the inpiration of a brand NEW cryptid (like Sasquatch, Loch Ness, El Chupacabra, just some legendary creature we have yet to find hard evidence of). Depict what this cryptid would be!

Oct. 31st: And, of course, in typical fashion for the big day, give me any character(s) of your choice, from any piece of content, enjoying Halloween in whatever way seems appropriate to them!!

Hope you all have a WONDERFUL October! And hope you enjoy these different art ideas! Looking forward to anything it may bring about!

#Sanderstober2023 Prompts #Sanderstober2023

[urtheloml]

my love (boundless, cosmic, never-ending)

pairing: bakugou katsuki x reader w/c: 2.1k synopsis: watching Everything Everywhere All At Once makes you think of the theory of a multiverse. your boyfriend isn't too pleased. a/n: idk i just thought bakugou would immediately tell you stfu if you told him to imagine an alternate universe that didn't have you in it hwhwhwhe <3 also: happy new year! i posted four times,,?? in 2022,, that's soo wild 4 me teehee :p anyway thanks for the support ily happy 2023

A crescendo rings, it echoes throughout the room and the sound bounces off the walls in your living room. The credits of the movie roll, the title 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' a stark white against the black background and if you squint, you can just barely catch your wide-eyed expression on the TV screen. Bakugou lifts his head off the couch arm, his face indented with lines from pressing into the leather. The room is filled with total silence, because holy shit.

"Babe, that was the greatest movie I've ever seen in my life. Like, ever." 

Bakugou snorts, but he doesn't disagree, and he probably refrains from answering verbally because he doesn't want you to hear how scratchy his voice sounds. Even though you definitely saw him get teary-eyed, he refuses to acknowledge that he cried during the film.

It would be stupid to poke fun at your boyfriend though because if his eyes are just barely red, yours are practically bloodshot and swollen. How could you, or him, not cry? The film was centred around immigrant parents learning how to grow, how to accept their children and apologising in their own ways. It was bound to happen.

Bakugou gets up and you let your legs stretch out, laying down fully on the couch. He shuffles around the room, picking up stray pieces of popcorn that you both threw at each other during the movie. He switches the TV off, puts the bowls and cups in the sink and washes them for you too. All the while, your mind thinks about the theory of a multiverse, thinks about Katsuki and how different things could've been.

When he returns, he rolls his eyes at the sight of your wet cheeks. A hand, big enough to capture both your ankles, lifts your feet up and Bakugou sets them back down in his lap. Absent-mindedly, he starts stroking your legs, calming you down, like you were a cat and not a human. 

"Why are you still crying? The movie's been over for ten minutes, you loser."

You can't really be bothered to call him something mean, not when your mind is working faster than your mouth and wide-eyed, you blurt out, "Kats, if the multiverse theory does exist, you realise that there's a universe where you and I never met? Or one where you and I hate each other and will never have what we have now- ow!"

The soft ministrations on your leg turn into a pinch, the skin stinging between his two fingers. Bakugou cuts off your rambling by doing so, and he eases the pain over with a kiss, like it never happened at all. He clicks his tongue, "Stop it, you know I fuckin' hate it when you start saying shit like that."

But you can't stop, your mind is whirring at speeds impossible thinking about every single life that he's not in with you. It makes you ache, makes you start saying stupid things like, "No, listen, Katsuki like it's an infinite multiverse, babe. I'm sorry if you don't wanna hear it but it's true so I think it's justifying me crying a bit 'cause in some life, you and I- hmprh!"

And suddenly, you're being pulled upright and Bakugou's covering your mouth with his hand, something that always takes you by surprise because it's so calloused but still so warm and it's such a contrast to his exterior, and he looks at you dead in the eyes and says quietly (steadily), "It's not true. It doesn't exist and it won't fuckin' ever."

Unbeknownst to you, in the midst of your rant that couldn't have lasted more than five seconds, Bakugou's traitorous mind assaults him with snapshots of what his life could've been without you in it. The moment you mentioned it, he saw it. He saw a life where there wasn't you by his side. 

A meaningless existence where someone didn't drool on his shoulder on the couch, where someone didn't insist on holding hands even when it was hot out, where someone didn't take the time to pry him open and let him be loved as much as he loved them.

He saw it— living with your absence. How dull and colourless it would've been without you there for him to hold or to kiss in the mornings and afternoons and at nighttime. He let the foolish image of a life devoid of your traces play out in his mind, and it lasted no longer than a millisecond but he hated it. Living with no one to cook eggs for in the morning, waking up in a bed that wasn't warmed by you and going to sleep without letting you sink into him. It was moronic, incredulous, and it baffled him to even think about it.

He thinks of the time you forced him to look away from what he was cooking, just to dance in your small kitchenette to whatever song was playing in the background. There was no room to really sway you and his elbows kept knocking into the cupboards and he couldn't stop the grin from taking over his face. 

You had laughed and it sounded like everything he ever wanted.

He burnt the food, you ate it anyway. He thinks of a life where the food had been cooked perfectly, and he would've had to eat it alone and it would've tasted bland and flavourless anyway. Nothing would've mattered, not one achievement or goal he reached, none of it would ever matter in any lifetime across any universe if you weren't right there beside him.

Bakugou releases you, letting you fall back onto the couch with a huff. He pokes and squeezes your legs, biting the inside of his cheek to try to cleanse his mind of the foul images he was forced to think of. Your eyes track every movement he makes, softening at the sight of him being so genuinely upset about this. He wears his heart on his sleeve, he plasters it to his big forehead and when you're around, he forces it into your hands and you're not about to break it now. 

A breathless giggle slips from your mouth, and you manoeuvre your body so your head lays atop his lap now. He's pouting, and he doesn't hesitate before running his fingers through your hair, combing through any tangles. It's his love language, you know that.

You try to say something, anything to salve over the sour expression on his face. But he must have had the wrong idea because before you start to run your mouth, Bakugou covers your mouth again, against your muffled protestations. He glares at you from above and leans down to talk.

"I'm serious, shut the fuck up, because it's not fuckin’ true. I don't give a fuck if the multiverse is infinite, there'll never be a universe that exists in which I wouldn't fuckin’ love you. Because if every choice I make leads to another verse then there's nothing I wouldn't fuckin’ do to make sure that in every single life I have, I'd end up with you."

Oh.

You feel silly now that he said that. The fact that you even considered such an outrageous idea was stupid. You forget who you're dealing with. You forget that there are two of you, and the universe is no match against the force that is Bakugou Katsuki. What he wants, he gets. And it's no secret that he really only ever wanted you.

"You said it yourself, it's infinite. So it's not implausible that there'd be multiple versions of myself tracking down every life where there wasn't an us. I'd still love you, always, even if I didn't know you yet, so I'll just have to get myself to find you in every single life. Everywhere, anywhere— I'll find you, I promise."

Oh. 

"So, if God forbid, there was such a cruel universe that you and I never met, then I'd jump verses for us and make us meet. Simple as that. You need me to use bigger words to get it through your thick skull, huh? Me and you, we're- we're boundless, cosmic, never-ending. It was always meant to be, the two of us. So stop fuckin' crying already, the only thing that's actually infinite here, is you and I, alright?"

Your eyes glass over, and then it shatters but you're tearing up for completely different reasons now. Not unexpectedly, Bakugou's right. He always is, and that's not unusual. Not when he says things like that, not when he shuts down every doubt you ever had in your head with a few simple words.

Reaching up to slip a hand behind his hair, you cradle his head in your palm. Bakugou relaxes, lets his cheek press into your palm and watches the affection dance in the colour of your eyes. You press a kiss into his palm, the one covering your mouth still, and watch the tip of his ears blush. He removes his hand then, letting it rest on your stomach.

He's right, of course he is. You let the worthless thoughts of the possibility of him and you ever ceasing to exist pour out of your mind. The ever-consuming fondness, the warmth associated with Katsuki and the love you have for him— it all takes up more than enough space in your head and in your heart. It leaves no room for any uncertainty.

But you're just as hot-headed and stubborn as he is, and you refuse to let him have the last word. And so you let your teeth sink into your lip, biting back a wild grin, you pull him down quickly by his hair. Kissing Katsuki never gets old, you think. It's always the same warm pair of lips against yours; a familiar dance.

So you lose yourself in the moment— you let Katsuki kiss you all soft and slow and lasting. He licks into your mouth and it shouldn't be as sweet as it is but it feels like it anyway. Laughter bubbles out of you, unbidden but not unwanted, and he grins against your mouth. 

The whole situation was ridiculous, how a simple question had spiralled into Bakugou confessing his quite literal undying love for you. It was both so in and out of character of him that you had to giggle. He wasn't fazed by your interruption, he smiled all the same against your mouth, kissing you despite your open mouth and laughter. 

And later, when the sun recedes and the moonlight pours into your window, it'll be quiet in the room Bakugou sleeps in with you. The only noise coming from the creaky ceiling fan. His arm finds its place, as always, around your middle— holding you like a heartbeat (constant, everpresent).

In the solitude under your covers, you find yourself admiring a privilege you never really realised you had. Bakugou's fast asleep next to you, his blonde unruly hair fans out against his pillow not like a halo. He's not that graceful, but his usually scrunched-up face was now relaxed. His expression is void of anything tense, practically defenceless laying next to you.

You weren't lying when you said he wore his heart on his sleeve. He's harsh and intimidating to the public eye, but when it comes to you, all his walls go down. It's unnecessary to be so guarded with you, not when he trusts you with his life, though he won't say it (he doesn't need to).

It's inexplicable, the way you feel your chest clench looking at him. It's a privilege; to get to be loved by him and to love him in return. It's something you take for granted, and you won't say it out loud lest you upset him again, but you think of a different life in which you're not allowed to do this. A life where Katsuki wouldn't tenderly kiss you on a beaten-up couch, where he wouldn't tangle his legs in between yours and fall asleep next to you. It's pointless to think about. He said it himself, it'll never happen anyway.

Propping yourself up on your elbows, you lean over him and press a soft, lingering kiss to his hair. Bakugou smiles, and you lean in closer to whisper very softly, so you won't wake him, "I promise, I'll find you as well. Anywhere, everywhere, in all my lives, okay?"

Katsuki has a sixth sense, a you-sense, and he's sound asleep but somehow he understood what you've just said. He tightens his arm around your waist unconsciously, and you feel relentlessly and irrevocably in love with him, even though it's been so long, the feeling never wavers or wanes. It stays buzzing in your veins, a constant ebbing flow.

You fall asleep quietly.

#bakugou katsuki #katsuki bakugou #bakugo katsuki #katsuki bakugo #bakugou katsuki x reader #bakugou x reader #katsuki bakugo x reader #bakugo katsuki x reader #katsuki bakugou x reader #bakugou x you #boku no hero academia reader insert #boku no hero academia #bnha x reader #boku no hero academia x reader #my hero academia x reader #bnha #mha #my hero academia #bnha drabble #bnha headcanons #my hero academia x you #bnha fluff #bnha angst #fluff #hurt/comfort #cursing

[irisintheafterglow]

Izuko x reader?

Mine (pro!Midoriya Izuku x You)

summary: during a coordinated attack on hero agencies, the number one hero tells you to jump.

word count: 1.6k

cw: descriptions of injuries, canon-typical violence, explosions, swearing, brief mention of the marvel cinematic universe and the multiverse

tags: strangers to lovers, meet ugly, he falls first but you fall (literally), i want to marry prohero deku

note: hi, thank you for your request! i hope you like it! title is based on the taylor swift song, same as most of my other works lol.

likes/reblogs/feedback are always appreciated :))

“Do you think you’d still find me if we were living in another universe?” Toned arms wrapped around your body as you laid your head on his chest, tracing the scars on his forearms with your fingers. He mutters the question into the top of your head, resting his head on top of yours. 

“Of course, I would, babe.” One of your favorite things about dating Izuku is how unapologetically imaginative he was, and how comfortable he felt sharing the random ideas that popped into his brain with you. “Why? What’s on your mind?”

He shrugs, releasing you temporarily as you adjust your position with him on the couch and snag the remote to put on a movie. “Nothing, just thinking about alternate realities and stuff.” 

You can’t help but laugh a little bit at the poorly-masked earnestness in his voice. “You’re taking the new MCU arc too seriously, Zuku.” Opening the first streaming service you see, you scroll through the options and land on a nature documentary about monkeys in Southeast Asia. 

“But if the multiverse is real–” 

You cut him off with a quick peck on the corner of his pretty mouth. “Then we’d make our way to each other, somehow.” 

“You really think so?”

“I know so, Zu.” He hums in contentment and pulls you closer to him, shutting his eyes in pure happiness. “Promise that if we ever get thrown into a different universe you’ll find me?”

“I promise. You’re the best thing that’s ever been mine.”

You’d fallen for him a year ago, quite literally. 

After studying patrol patterns for months, a villain organization had planted explosives on the structural supports of top hero agencies in a coordinated attack to confuse pros on what to prioritize first, their own agencies or the agency that just happened to be closer to them. You were a support tech for the Dynamight agency, responsible for repairing his gauntlets and subtly changing the design plan to make them more efficient despite his adamant protests that they didn’t need upgrades. 

When the first blast went off, it felt like the building had turned into a ship in the middle of a raging ocean, tilting the floor to a sharp angle as equipment and tools fell from shattered windows. Agency workers screamed as they slid to the opposite side of the room, desperately trying to make it to the only staircase that remained intact. Struggling to regain your footing, you stumbled toward the solid ground as the second explosive detonated, throwing you forward to the other side of the workshop. Scrapes and scratches covered your exposed forearms, and a deep gash throbbed on your upper thigh from a worktable you’d barely managed to avoid. 

Your hand found the handle of a locked supply closet door, and your arms shook with effort as you pulled other employees in the direction of the staircase, throat sore from yelling to get away from the gaping windows. When the last of the other techs were safely hurrying down the stairs, you planted your legs and tried to climb to the stairwell despite the increasingly steep angle of the floor as the building continued to slump sideways. But, sooner than you could reach the exit, the lock on the door broke, swinging the door open as miscellaneous power tools showered you and threatened to knock off your grip on the handle. You hung there, completely defenseless and alone, poised to fall straight through an open window once your hand strength failed. A flash of dark green caught your eye from the corner of your vision, and you saw a figure standing against a neighboring building. A tendril of flowing black energy reached out to you and you strained to grab it, but it pulled back quickly as a chunk of concrete narrowly missed your hanging body. 

“Oi, Deku! Is everybody out?!” The familiar sound of Bakugo’s gauntlets you had recently upgraded cut through the sound of falling debris, and you felt oddly comforted knowing that he was there. Your ears strained to hear the shouted conversation between Bakugo and the unknown voice. 

“Kacchan! What are you doing here?” 

“This is my agency, dumbass! Did everyone get out?”

“No, there’s one more person inside, but the debris is making it hard for me to get through.” 

“Shit, that’s the extra who fixes my stuff.”

“Is now really the best time to be referring to civilians as extras, Kacchan?” 

There’s a pause in their conversation, and for a second you worry thinking that they’d abandoned you. You were gonna die and the last thing you hear is two men bickering. Go figure. 

Bakugo’s rough voice sounded through the noises of crumbling concrete and bending metal. “Fucking hell, they hit Todoroki’s agency.”

“Go, Kacchan. I’ll get this last person and then meet you there.”

“If they die on your watch, dumbass–”

“You’ll kill me and everyone that I love! I know I know, I know! Just get the hell out of here, Kacchan!” The sound of gauntlet blasts receded into the distance.

“Hey!” Suddenly, the figure was talking to you, waving its arms to get your attention. “You need to jump! I’m gonna catch you!”

You managed to get your other hand on the door handle but were still just as in precarious of a position as you were before. “You’re out of your mind!” You screamed back, and the figure looked around anxiously, clenching and unclenching their fists worriedly. 

“This building is gonna come down at any minute with you inside! Please, just trust me!” A glance back at the stairwell revealed a gaping hole and the horrifying realization that you had to let go of the door sent panic through your entire body. The figure must have sensed your panic, too. “Hey! You’re gonna be okay, I promise! Just push off that wall and jump toward me, okay? I’m gonna catch you!” Eyes wide, you looked at the figure and they nodded, holding out a gloved hand presumably for you to grab onto. 

After a deep breath, you readied your feet against the wall the door was creaking dangerously on and launched yourself out of the nearest open window. The figure vanished in a blink as you fell through open air and squeezed your eyes shut in anticipation of hitting the ground. No death came, however, as you collided with a firm body and buried your head in its shoulder. The cold air stung the numerous scratches on your arms, and the wound on your thigh had gone so numb that you couldn’t feel the entire leg. Setting you on the ground, steady hands came up to support you when your legs gave out beneath you from exhaustion. 

“Hey, hey, hey. Stay with me. It’s gonna be really hard to ask you out if you go unconscious,” the same voice that told you to jump rang through your ears and you were sure you hallucinated the last part of that string of sentences. Your legs were swept from under you as a hand came to cradle your back and your head lulled against the chest of the person carrying you to a med tent. “Take care of them, please.”

“We will. Thank you, Deku.” 

Deku? 

When you finally came to, you carefully sat up, groaning at the blinding pain in your forehead and soreness in your legs. Eyes squinting against the harsh light inside the tent, your hands felt the sturdy canvas cot beneath you, and the memory of what happened returned to you in flashes. 

The plastic privacy curtain slid to the side, and you heard a relieved sigh as you struggled to keep your eyes open from the bright light. “You’re okay. Holy shit, I’m so glad you’re okay.” The figure moved to sit on a stool near your cot, and you finally had a clear picture of your rescuer’s freckled face and mop of green hair. You couldn’t do anything but sit there in shock that the person who’d saved you was the number one hero, and he’d actually returned to visit you instead of checking on his own agency. “It’s okay if you can’t talk right now; the dust might have irritated your vocal cords.”

Your voice comes out hoarse in ugly, but Deku still smiles at you warmly. “You…saved me?” 

“I kinda had to; I saw you doing my job before I had the chance to swing in.” Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “The others in the building, in the workshop with you? You were helping them to the stairway, right?” You nodded weakly, and his eyes shined in awe. “That was really brave of you to do. I just wanted to tell you since Kacchan’s probably gonna yell at you for prioritizing others instead of yourself.” 

“Oh, goodie. I can hear him now,” you sarcastically deadpan. Deku’s laugh is bright and friendly, and you can’t help but smile a little bit too. “Thank you, Deku, for saving me.” His mouth gapes and you swear his face turns slightly redder. “I’m really grateful that you came for me.” You shakily reach for his hand, giving it a little squeeze and feeling your heart stop when he squeezes back. “I know it’s not typical protocol for being saved by a pro hero, but could I maybe buy you dinner sometime? As payback for not letting me fall to my death?”

He stutters, combing a calloused hand through his messy hair. “Yeah, I’d love that.”

“Alright, Deku, uh–”

“Izuku.”

“Hmm?”

“Call me Izuku. Please.” 

“Alright, then, Izuku, do you have a favorite spot to eat?” 

And somewhere between then and now, going out became staying in, coffee dates became cooking together, an empty bed became a room for two, and Izuku became yours in a way that no one else could claim.

#ask iris! #mha x reader #bnha x reader #mha x y/n #bnha x you #deku x you #deku x reader #deku x y/n #midoriya izuku x reader #midoriya izuku x you #izuku x reader #izuku x y/n #izuku x you

[busyxfangirling]

The second season is honestly becoming increasingly harder to watch because what are they trying to do?

The show is titled Loki but he feels like a side character is his own show, I know many MANY things are happening but literally Loki is not the central figure driving the story.

My expectations were low but I did not know Disney could do this much worse!!!!

What the FUCK was episode 3 with the Miss Minutes thing and weird little Ravonna/Victor attempt???

Marvel is just getting worse and worse with what they're putting out, I want the character or even narrative driven stories back where people were well fleshed out, had consistency and their actions made sense to who there were!!! This feels like just trying to sell shock value because you know you have a base of consumers who will stay to see what happens to their favourite character.

They are absolutely ignoring all the material they have available to them to work with! This Loki has only experienced things till the Avengers movie, there is so much character deep dive they could do! What is the point of giving them their own show and then not talking about them at all??

I'll come to the queer things later cause boy do I have a list for that, but first of all, Loki is not a new character in any capacity??? He has been loved and is arguably the biggest fan favourite since his introduction, the amount of theories about him and what people would like to see is very well known!! Right in front of them is his still unclear feelings in his adoption, about being a Jotun, loosing his family and the complicated relationships with them. I can see they are acknowledging his God of Mischief status a little bit but!! Trickster!! Let us see him be a wild card properly!! Not in the sense of betraying his new TVA family - that's what it is and you can fight me on that- but being chaotic!! Yes, using his magic like with Brad!! SHOW ME HE IS A GOD!!!

The worst thing is how lost everyone feels, like I'm not talking about the whole free will conundrum everyone is going through, that is spectacular! Unfortunately it is not coming across, we literally don't get to hear any of the characters talk about what they think of it. There was the key lime pie moment but no follow up to what that is for Loki? It's just one crisis after another, maybe rehash some of what has already happened, bring back the seriousness of this!! The entire multiverse is at stake but we'll make it look like whimsical wishy-washy stuff??!??!!!

Don't get me wrong, I am LOVING the time travel aspect of it, where it looks like Loki/Mobius are on cute dates. But then make it real, the fucking queerbaiting is ridiculous. The throw-away comment in season one about looking being bi was just that and nothing else. And I'm not saying this cause aww they look cute together! But also cause the development of their relationship has been as such!! They have been very dependent on each other and that's not being addressed at all.

I know there are multiple posts about a possible betrayal and my fear is that they're going to try to use that to basically change everything about the characters again, a lot of OOC based on the fact that oh yeah they're going through an existential crises so it makes sense.

Sylkie made barely any sense to me even apart from the whole selfcest issue- they just imposed a the structure of what a straight relationship should be where there was barely any chemistry. S1 E3 had them as really good chaotic siblings/twins and then adding the romantic tones to that really ruined it. Trying to bring it back, possibly, is just weird cause so far they want very different things. These people just don't align together, stop forcing them to? The fact that they refuse to even talk about that kiss shows that they are keeping it open and not just acknowledging that "hey, we don't want the same things in life and I'm happy for you, you matter a lot to me but a romantic relationship is not happening. Also cause you know, we're the same person, lol."

Sylvie as a character is also very confusing rn, there is honestly no need for her to keep coming back in this way??? I'm going to reserve further opinions because half the season is left but I dont expect anything to really get better.

#loki #marvel #lokius #loki season 2 #loki spoilers #mobius #kang #loki tv series #sylvie #rant

[bloodpen-to-paper]

Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse Trailer Thoughts

Can I just start this post off by saying that I am totally normal? Over this movie? Perfectly reasonable in my level of hype and mentally well in every way? Mhm, trust me. Anyway, onto the blurbs!

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

-Seems Miles is at his teenage rebellion stage

-Miles' teacher telling him he's not doing too well in Spanish in front of his Puerto Rican mother is an ouch (in that it's hilarious, but not for him. Sorry Miles)

-Seems there's gonna be a rift between Miles and his parents now that he's Spider-Man full time and very much keeping it secret from them; maybe this movie is where they find out?

-Across the Spider Verse seems to also have a core theme of Miles going against the grain and doing things his way, forging his own individual path for how he wants to do Spider-Man. Looking forward to seeing a more grown up Miles that is able to go further into his self-exploration now that he's reaching older teen/young adulthood.

-I think Gwen and Miles might get together this movie which... eh. Alright. No hate to the ship, but the first movie felt very platonic save for Miles liking her cause she's a pretty girl, and rip to cishet society but that ain't enough to sell me on a relationship. Maybe they'll get some development in this movie? Until possibly that I'm just gonna enjoy them as friends personally

-Apparently Oscar Isaac voices Miguel... Doctor Strange was not kidding when he said the multiverse got screwed in NWH

-Here we have Jessica Drew, Marvel's first (continuous) Spider-Woman! She looks awesome, and based on how often she appeared in the trailer, I'm assuming she will play a key role.

-I also suspect she will help push the narrative around ATSV's theme of parenthood, with Miles having issues with his own, and Peter becoming a father.

-Regarding the race change for Jessica, I earlier referred to her as the first "continuous" Spider-Woman, because she was the first woman to notably don the spidey title. However, the first official Spider-Woman was actually a one-off character named Valerie the Librarian. Originally, Valerie had no powers; she instead went around as a non-super helping Peter Parker's Spidey in any way she could. Spider Verse has always been by black people for black people, so it doesn't surprise me that they (allegedly) are honing back to Valerie, a black woman and the first official Spider-Woman, to base Jessica's appearance on. Goes to show the creators did their homework, which I'm pleased to see.

She is so beautiful ma'am please take my hand in marriage; also, she's pregnant! She is literally hero-ing while pregnant, which I've realized is not something we really see like... ever. Granted, because its dangerous, but Spider Verse has always made strides to give more diverse female representation, and a pregnant spidey mirroring pregnant working women seems to be next on their list. Happy to see it!

-We got Miguel O'Hara! Admittedly I'm not the most familiar with him, but one doesn't traverse Marvel comic fandom without having heard of this guy. Based on what I'm seeing in the trailer, he looks like a very fun character and I'm excited to know more

-"Don't even get me started on Doctor Strange and the little nerd back on Earth-199999." I am... so normal about the acknowledgment of the MCU in Spiderverse. The multiverse really is converging, which on a meta sense is something I absolutely love so I am very excited to see where the Marvel universe heads.

-Also people have been saying Feige stated the MCU was Earth-616 and Spider Verse went against that, which they're happy about, so if someone could fill me in on what happens in Earth-616 I'd appreciate it!

Peter's back! And he has a spider baby! From what I've seen this is Mayday Parker, daughter of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson, and she does indeed get her father's spider abilities in the comics. Perhaps we'll see more of her in the future?...👀

Stab me, it would hurt less.

(Looks like Gwen's backstory is being explored more, which is a hooray moment, but its exploring her trauma, which is less hooray.)

And of course... the meme, made multiversal. (Is that fucking PS5 Spiderman)

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

That's about it, very excited for this movie, also afraid, but mostly excited! See y'all when it drops!

#reaction blurbs #marvel #marvel studios #spider-man: across the spider-verse #across the spiderverse #atsv #into the spider verse #miles morales #gwen stacey #peter parker #may parker #miguel o'hara #jessica drew #valerie the librarian

[zahri-melitor]

What are your hopes and fears about the upcoming DCU?

Hmmmm. This is one of those things where I'm still waiting to get a bit more direction about the next upcoming universe-wide event.

My hopes?

Well, I'd like to see DC find space in the roster for at least one (1) Aqua character to be appearing regularly in a continuing title, even if they don't spin up a new Aquaman title. It's frankly embarrassing that the only things the characters have been seen in is limited run team books, B-stories in anthologies, crossovers, and movie tie-in singles for almost two years, particularly when they just had a movie.

I want a continuation for Hawkgirl, thank you.

I want to see a main-universe Justice League book back (I don't count vs Godzilla vs Kong). It doesn't HAVE to be a JLA; it could be a JLD or a JLI (or even a JLQ though JLQ is mostly a stupid joke they haul out for Pride), I just think the current Titans run is underwhelming as the premier team book.

I want to see a teen or young-adult roster team book, to use literally any of the dozens of underused characters right now in the 14-21 bracket. I would also prefer it not to be a Lost Children book (though the likelihood of that seems to be going down, given apparently Johns is going exclusive elsewhere once the current JSA run finishes up). I also would like for the team leader on the book NOT to be a Robin.

I would really like to see Action Comics return to an A,B,C story layout that's focused on Superfam broadly, and I would like to see Detective Comics join it once Ram V's run is finished for the Batfam, if Brave and the Bold is going to continue avoiding actually using BatFAM characters. Both families support multiple titles but also at least a dozen prominent characters readers want to see each. Use that space to tell stories with them.

Blue Beetle brings Dani Garrett back and has her meet Victoria Kord and they hate each other.

Someone spins up a team that consists of Renee Montoya returning as the Question, Kate Spencer, Cameron Chase and Sasha Bordeaux. After creating the perfect Rucka-bait he comes back and writes me a maxi-series of all of these characters having adventures together, with Director Bones growling at them as Waller is currently too evil and them all largely ignoring him to thump heads together. If they really can't tempt Rucka, give it to Marc Andreyko. (I am aware this is a pipedream, but join me!)

My fears?

Harley Quinn stays on Birds of Prey

This upcoming Waller event is even more character-destroying nonsense that fails to recognise her complexity (oh I know, I'm already braced)

Tim continues to not be anchored onto at least one of the Bat books as a supporting character

Tom King stays on Wonder Woman for an extended run

Someone decides we need another Joker event

Anyone tries to push the reset button too hard in the upcoming event. Currently they've got most characters pretty stable and a lot of pre-boot revival characterisation happening. I really don't want extra multiversal shenanigans right now.

[orange-peony]

An ask game for writers to procrastinate working on your WIP(s)

Thanks for tagging me @wellbelesbian!

1. 🦈Tell us the name of your/ one of your WIP(s):

I'm actively working on "Home sweet home" and "Thorns", but I also have a few stories at planning stage with various titles.

2. 🍄Describe your WIP/one of your WIP(s) in the format of “___ + ___ =___”

Hallmark movie + snowbaz = a lovely mess

3. 🌍What tags or warnings will one of your WIP(s) need if you intend to share it?

The drarry one has PTSD as a warning, the snowbaz one has Fiona's mad chihuahua and a very thirsty Simon + Baz. And Dev deserves a tag for himself, as per usual.

4. 🧭An alternative title to one of your WIP(s)?

I've got one with an interesting temporary title, but I don't know if I'm going to post it for an anon fest, so I can't share it.

Let's go for the snowbaz one "The veil opens again" (the title will most likely change - it's set 20 years in the future when the veil opens and married snowbaz with their kids visit Watford, so that Baz can see Natasha again, and then Lucy also appears).

5. ⚠️Which WIP your most likely to finish or update next?

I'm trying to work on alternate weeks on my drarry and snowbaz BB, also because one is kind of angsty and the other one pretty light, so it's easier for my mood. The snowbaz will post first because it's due sooner.

6. 💾What is your document of your WIP/ a WIP called? (not the stories actual title but what you’ve saved it as)

They're organised by fandom, and the folders usually have the title of the fic, unless I haven't decided on a title yet. I have a "multiverse" one and a "soulmates" folder.

7. 🖍Post Any sentence(s) from your WIP.

Drarry - “I forgot to mention that I’m an Unspeakable,” Draco says.

Snowbaz - “Well, I would kiss you.” I don’t know why I said that. Fuck.

8. ♻️A scrapped idea for your current WIP.

Some super angsty subplot that I decided to ditch because it made me want to cry. 😭

9. 🤔What’s a story you’d love to write but haven’t even started yet?

I'd love to write a drarry multiverse, but I also have a couple of drarry fics that I've planned but haven't got the chance to start writing yet (one is a soulmate fic and the other one features professional scapegoat Draco). As for snowbaz, I'd love to write another AU.

10. 🤡How many WIPS are you actively working on?

I'm actively working on 2 - my drarry and snowbaz BB fics.

11. 🛠Is there a scene or anything in the WIP you are struggling with right now?

Draco is being a lot softer than he was meant to be, and Harry was supposed to be angrier, so I'm struggling a bit with a scene, but I'm getting there (I hope).

12. ❤️Not a question, just a second Kudos to send.

A shower of kudos to you all! 💙

Tagging (no pressure): @bubble-gumhead, @artsyunderstudy, @hushed-chorus, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @peachpety, @lumosatnight, @facewithoutheart, @martsonmars, @cutestkilla, @thewholelemon, @larkral, @fatalfangirl, @cassiaratheslytherpuff and anyone who wants to do it (just say that I've tagged you!)

#ask #writing #my writing

[differentsublimephantom]

ok, I’m making this post because I may never have the courage to post it again. Explaining my Universal Monster movies AU! Here we go!

If it wasn’t explained well in the title, “Universal Monsters” refers to universal studios old black and white monster movies! So here’s the background info: when I was a little kid, me and a bestie of mine LOVED to roleplay, and I still do! Over the years, we ended up making our own MULTIVERSE of all the fandoms we loved, including ourselves in their universes like dumb, nerdy, child, GODS. We could snap our fingers and “spawn” anyone or anything we wanted from our favourite fandoms! As a result of this (somehow) we decided that I’d be easier to have some people just grouped together in big households, as roommates! Examples of this would be: any and all Tim Burton movie characters are roommates, any horror movie characters are roommates, any The Twilight Zone characters are roommates, any Disney villains are roommates, (just to be clear, they are in separate houses from other fandoms, ie Disney villains would have their own house)! This is the same for the Universal Monsters! (In this AU multiverse, we also decided at around the age of 8 that my friend was siblings with both Harry Potter AND Draco Malfoy, and I am siblings with Cartoon/musical Beetlejuice. We know that’s cringe, we just never wanted to change it for… continuity’s sake I guess?? I just think that’s funny)

You get the gist, and for any of my moots or people who follow me, or even just see my posts, if I ever talk about some kind of AU of mine, and don’t list it as something like: “future!AU” or “past!AU” then you can assume it’s this “roomate/multiverse AU” that started out as a real life rolepay from me and my 2nd grade best friend! Please feel free to ask me questions either about the Universal Monsters thing, or the Multiverse thing, I’d love to answer! Also, I made this post SPECIFICALLY because I wanted to share headcannons about this AU but I thought no one would know what I’m taking about, so I’ll share and post those in a bit!! Thank you for listening to my rambling! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

#universal monsters #ramble #AU #moots #aaaaaaahhhhhh

[zylice]

‘Loki’ is supposed to albeit rumoured to turn up in Deadpool 3, Doctor Strange 3, Thor 5, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty & Avengers: Secret Wars.

Once upon a time, every little snippet we got of the ‘real’ Loki was a treat no matter how brief. Now that there is more of this ‘Husk-Loki’ it just leaves me feel empty on the inside. While I like that ‘he’s more powerful than ever and has more fans than ever,’ It’s NOT ‘Loki!’ It’s literally just Tom doing whatever Disney wants him to do (No offence Tom but it’s true. Deep down you know this too.)

I would rather have ‘no “Loki”’ than any more ‘Husk-Loki.’ As a die-hard fan I can say that. Just let him rest in peace if you can’t bring him back properly. Now I fully blame Disney for this. Any of you that thinks that Tom likes the direction the show went in just because he’s ‘Executive producer,’ Why would he want his own character to be sidelined for Sylvie, Kang, the multiverse and the TVA let alone them utterly RUINING him in the process?! The show treated the character like absolute SHIT in more ways than one and stripped him of everything that made him HIM! There is hardly ANYTHING ‘Loki’ about this show except for the fact that Tom is IN it!

No offence to you at all Tom, I’m a HUGE fan and admirer of you and the REAL version of the character that you loved playing so much but I (and many other fans alike) would rather have ‘no Loki’ than THAT ‘Loki.’ He became a messenger boy in order to set up the ‘next Avengers movie’ and ‘Kang’s puppet.’ It makes me SICK! 🤢🤮

I feel bad for NOT wanting him to get an Emmy for ‘THAT’ version of ‘Loki’ that wasn’t true to him or us REAL fans! He said in the latest ‘Assembled: Making of Loki Season 2’ while crying mind you, that he ‘Didn’t want to break him (Loki) and that he wanted to play him truthfully.’ It’s not you who ‘broke him’ Tom, it was Disney. 😓😪💔❤️‍🩹 I want him to get an award for playing the REAL LOKI!! Not for that ‘shell!’ 😤 Just like I’m genuinely happy for him that the series is ‘so popular’ and highly rated and praised even though it ISN’T good but he DESERVES the praise!

Just like I’m happy that he’s had so much screen time now. Most of that ISN’T the REAL LOKI! What made him extra special was that he had SO much impact in the LITTLE (2 hours) screen time that he DID have!! 😤 At least he may FINALLY get his rightful and PERMANENT place in the opening title sequence though. 🤷‍♀️💚

#loki #loki meta #Tom Hiddleston #tom hiddleston loki #in defense of loki #in defense of tom hiddleston #loki deserves better #Tom Hiddleston deserves better #Loki show rant #Loki show critical #loki show negativity #anti michael waldron #anti mike waldron #anti eric martin #justice for Loki #justice for tom hiddleston #What this show could have been #I watched S1 & S2 for you and the character but I HATED seeing what they did to you and your character you looked utterly miserable #and it was painful to see you struggle in a show that you should have enjoyed so much so on behalf of the fandom sorry for the show became #sorry for how they (Disney and Marvel) used and exploited you 😢💚❤️‍🩹 #what makes Loki a Loki? Tom Hiddleston #You’re the ‘superior Loki’ #YOU should have been more important in YOUR show than Kang and Sylvie! #YOU will always be the TRUE REAL LOKI! Always have been. Always WILL be! 💚💚💚💚💚👏👏👍🙌🙌🙌 #Loki rant #anti loki tv series #Loki tv series rant #loki negativity #Loki show #anti loki show

[late-to-the-magnus-archives]

Corrupted, Chapter Four: Watched - a Malevolent x TMA fic

Tim's been treading, head above water, for a while now. He had hoped to find help.

That’s not really what the Magnus Institute does.

AO3

——-

Tim leaves early.

Navigating empty streets at night is one thing. This is heading into west London right at the beginning of the work day, and he will take no chances. Beyond all the ones he can’t avoid, anyway.

John’s navigation, however, is flawless. Slow down a little. Good. The step is higher than that—good.

On the bus without incident. Amazing.

And then it’s very weird, because Tim is used to scrolling his phone on public transit, and he obviously can’t do that now—but it gives him an idea. He rummages in his backpack.

What are you doing? John sounds curious.

Tim finds what he’s searching for by feel. “Ah, ha!” he says, and uncoils a white cord with earbuds. “There,” he says, plugging into his phone. “Thank you, Past Tim, Pack-Rat Extraordinaire. Now I can talk without looking crazy. Just on the phone, ma’am, nothing to see here.”

Very smart, John says. I’m impressed.

“Modern technology, eh?” says Tim. “Modernish, anyway. Speaking of which, you don’t seem to be struggling very hard with things like cell phones and rideshares. You’d been here before. Recently.”

Have I? Tim, there are so many worlds, so many timelines, so many dimensions. I’ve seen technology you would never believe—and magic that made it all irrelevant.

What an answer. “And you’re humble about it, too,” Tim says. “Also, you’re deflecting. You know movie titles. Not that Tim Curry doesn’t deserve multiverse fame, but you knew who that was.”

Such a clever man, John purrs, and Tim shifts in his seat, unwillingly affected. I see I will have to watch what I say around you.

“Deflecting. Again. Anyway, I’ve been thinking,” he murmurs, facing the window. “You must be kind of rare, whatever you are. If the world were full of things like you, I’m pretty sure I’d know.”

Really. 

Amused. That’s that tone. “Sure. Why wouldn’t I? Why wouldn’t everybody?”

Because for most of us, it’s far more entertaining and useful when humans don’t know what’s watching them from the shadows.

“Okay, so that’s really ominous,” says Tim. “Worse than ‘a being.’ Positively malevolent. Still not gonna tell me what you are?”

No.

Tim sighs. “So. Anything interesting out the window?”

Quite a lot, actually. And John proceeds to describe what he sees.

Tim would absolutely have bought the audio with this guy narrating London for tourists.

John manages to make ordinary shops and red mailboxes interesting. He describes people Tim knows he would never have even noticed on his own. He manages to make London feel like a thriving, vividly energetic throng, a place of potential, not just a crowded, expensive place to work.

It almost feels like part of a life worth living. Maybe it’s time to face the fact that he has no plans. The house selling is great, but he is going to need another job—and yeah, Nigel is probably not going to give him a recommendation.

Tim should care about that more than he does.

You’re drifting, says John.

“Sorry. Just… trying to think about things. Future. Employment. All those boring human details.”

I see. What are you thinking?

“You actually want to know?”

I do, Tim.

Tim slouches comfortably, sliding low in his seat. “Sure. Well, I worked in publishing. I’m a really good editor. But… I don’t know anymore.”

Looking for a change?

“Needing one, honestly.” He swallows around the tightness in his throat. “I was thinking about when I quit, and nobody… nobody really cared. I haven’t been happy for a while, you know? And they say you’re not supposed to make any major changes like quitting your job or selling your house or getting married for a year after bereavement, but, uh. I’m two for three, and it hasn’t even been a month.”

I see. You feel the need to keep moving, John observes, low. The type of creature which, if it ceases swimming, will drown.

Tim shivers. “Wow. Never been called whatever that is before.”

A shark. This is our stop.

Tim laughs. “Shark? I am so not a shark.” Somehow, he manages to exit the bus without running into anyone or banging his head, and exhales in relief. “Right. Which way?”

I’m not sure. There are a lot of old buildings here, but not much signage. Walk forward. More to your left.

It’s like a trust game, Tim thinks. Like something to do with your brother one boring summer afternoon, one of you blindfolded and the other giving directions and accidentally-on-purpose steering you into things.

Sure. That makes it less scary. Right.

Ha! There we go. I see a small, brass sign that says, MAGNUS INSTITUTE 1818. Perfect. And—oh, Tim.

“What?”

This is a place of power. The way John says that… deeper, richer, absolutely eager.

Tim shivers. “Power? What kind of power? Is that good?”

Perhaps. I’ve never had trouble with this particular Power. I believe I am safe.

“You sure you’re as anonymous as you think?”

The moment you made that phone call, Tim, you bet both our lives. If I thought this were truly a danger, I would have said so.

“Sure, put it on me,” he mutters. “How far?”

Stairs starting… now.

There are more stairs than Tim expected. They’re wide and shallow, just a little awkward to climb. “Does it look spooky?”

It’s a temple, John breathes. Oh… I knew it was old, but I didn’t expect this. The one worshiped here has been worshiped here for a long time. Door.

Tim feels for the handle, tugs. Of course, it’s still locked. “Guess we’ll just have to loiter for a bit. You know, in front of the scary pagan temple in the middle of London. What time does my phone say?”

Seven. We’re an hour early. Heh. And pagan doesn’t cover it.

“Sure. Well, better early than—”

“Excuse me, can I help you?” comes a posh baritone.

Tim, there’s a… oh. 

Tim wonders what that oh was for. “Hi. I, uh. I need to see someone inside. Kind of an emergency.”

The posh man huffs, like an irritated cat. “Well, we don’t… this is a place of research, so I’m not sure what you expect in an emergency.”

He’s a slight person, shorter than you, much narrower. Brown skin; I’d think mixed South Asian ancestry. He’s slightly overdressed for the weather; shirt, vest, sweater over that. He’s managing to look down his nose at you in spite of his height. But Tim… he’s been claimed, branded by the thing that calls this its base of power, in a messy, undisciplined way. I don’t understand what I’m seeing. It’s like he’s accidentally a priest.

So that’s the oh. Tim wonders how the hell one can accidentally be a priest. “Well, I need to, uh. What was it the website said? Give my statement?”

There is an irritated sigh. “Well, you might as well come in. I can at least give you a place to wait until Gertrude arrives—ah, Ms. Robinson, the head Archivist.” The voice is moving away, accompanied by the sound of keys. “I’m Jonathan Sims. In research.”

“Tim Stoker. In trouble.” 

He hunched when you said that. I believe he feels more for our emergency than he wants to let on. 

“Sorry to hear that,” researcher-Jon mutters. “But as I said, I’m not sure what we can do. Police?”

“Not for this, mate. But thanks, anyway.”

Correct to the left a bit. He’s holding the door for you. Ahead of us is an enormous, open lobby with old marble and dark wood. It’s beautiful, elegant. I see no furniture or anything else to trip you. To the left and right are the stacks going out of sight in the gloom. Clearly, at least part of this building is a library.

Their footsteps echo. It smells like books.

“What’s your statement regarding?” drawls researcher-Jon, audibly trying to be polite.

“A horrible book that ruined my life,” says Tim.

He’s stopped walking and is staring at you, abruptly pale, the arrogance dropped away like a mask. Oh, you’ve got his attention now. 

“What?” says researcher-Jon. “What did you say? A book?”

“Yeah.”

“Did it have… a bookplate in front?” says researcher-Jon.

Tim can feel himself going pale, too. “Yeah. It said, ‘The Library of Jurgen Leitner.’”

“Oh, gods,” says researcher-Jon. “You… you’ve…”

He looks afraid, Tim, and—oh!

Those oh exclamations were, Tim was beginning to realize, far more important than any casual fuck or damn.

“Jon?” comes another voice, posh, somehow managerial. “Well, I’m used to you being here early, but who’s your…” The voice stops.

Oh!

Tim is about ready to strangle something over those oh’s.

“Elias, he’s touched a Leitner,” says researcher-Jon.

“I understand. I’ll handle this one,” says the man.

“I was going to make sure Gertrude—”

“Jon,” says the man, in a quiet, uncompromising tone. “I will handle this. Go on, now.”

“All right, all right. Good luck, Tim.” Researcher-Jon sounds like he means it, and he leaves, Oxfords clacking away.

“Thanks,” Tim calls after him.

Tim, this has to be the high priest of this place. Its power, its marking, is all over him.

“Elias Bouchard.” There’s a pause. 

He’s holding out his hand. He’s a couple decades older than you. Expensive suit. Handsome in a boring sort of way. And he’s powerful. Oh, Tim, he’s powerful. 

“The head honcho, eh?” says Tim, and reaches.

The handshake is firm and not spooky, so that much is good.

“Can you navigate?” says Bouchard.

“What?” says Tim.

And Bouchard’s voice is low. “I can clearly see that whatever… that is inside you has done something to your eyes—which is to say, you are blind. Do you wish for guidance to my office? I completely understand if you’re more comfortable making your own way.”

He… can see me? John sounds stunned.

“You see him?” says Tim in a small voice.

“I do. He’s… my, my, my.”

He’s not supposed to be able to see me, John says with a slight tremor.

Tim’s not feeling fear. Relief and shock and desperation rise up his throat like vomit, and he has to swallow emotions down before he can talk. He is not insane. External validation. His eyes leak, and he wipes them. “Can you help? This happened last night. You can see him. What’s—”

“Good morning, Mister Bouchard!” comes a cheerful tenor. 

A tall, overweight man, surprisingly light on his toes, with bright red hair and a charming smile.

“Martin, good morning,” says Bouchard. “Mister Stoker, was it? Please come with me. We’d best deal with this in my office.”

Tim, you didn’t tell him your name.

True. And unnerving. “Okay,” Tim says, wary. “How’d you know my name?”

“Your passenger is not all I can see. Come along, please.”

Well. John had said they’d read his mind here.

I’m familiar with avatars of this particular Power, but this is an unusual level of skill. Be cautious.

Great! “Well, that simplifies things, right? At least I’ll be believed,” says Tim with cheer he does not feel.

“Refreshingly pragmatic,” says Bouchard. 

Yeah, this was lovely.

Follow the sound of his shoes. We’re passing a secretary’s desk. His office is straight ahead. Tim, this man’s body isn’t as old as he is. He’s confusing to look at.

“What’s that mean?”

Bouchard ignores Tim’s mutters. “Here we are.”

The sound of a door closing behind Tim feels… weird. Very weird. He feels stared at. Ganged up on? Prickly, like he has to defend himself, or—

“Please, Mister Stoker, have a seat.”

Tim feels for the chair. “Do you think you can help us?”

There is a pause. 

He’s seated at the desk. His hands are folded, and his gaze is… intense. 

“Well, can you blame me?” says Bouchard. “You are truly magnificent.”

Tim is confused for the moment it takes him to realize who was just addressed.

John gasps. You can hear me?

“Yes. I simply had to… adjust a few details. Tilt the radar dish, play with the bunny-ears—ah, but you’re too young for those references, aren’t you, Mister Stoker?”

And Tim can feel two very distinct things.

One: John is afraid. Being seen and heard has shaken him; finding out why is definitely going to come up after this.

Two: Tim knows he’s being subtly mocked. The weird, watched sensation has grown, making him feel judged, and he really, really wants to make it stop. “I’m not a kid, for crying out loud. I know what a television antenna is.”

If you can hear me, then I highly suggest you stop siphoning him, John growls.

“What?” Tim blurts.

“My apologies,” Bouchard sounds positively silky. “My patron craves your fear. Can I get you some tea?”

Tim is frozen. “My fear?”

John growls. Full-on growls, and it is not remotely a human sound, and it is huge, and absolutely frightening. Back. Off.

“I’m afraid I have no such control over it,” says Bouchard, standing. “The Eye doesn’t have much in the way of personality—only hunger. However, if Mister Stoker does manage to calm down, the Eye will have no use for him. He’ll practically be invisible to it.”

“The Eye? What? Like a giant eyeball?” Tim stammers.

“Quite. I’ll be back with that tea. Take a moment, will you? Breathe deeply. You’ll be just fine.”

Bouchard leaves, and Tim resists the urge to wipe himself down as if the man’s words had been coated in oil. “It’s a big eyeball god?” he says.

Something like that. What we are dealing with is a Power—an Entity that lives on fear.

“What the fucking hell?” 

You need to calm the fuck down.

“Oh, sure, I’ll just hit the calm the fuck down button,” says Tim. “Maybe I should’ve asked for something stronger than tea.”

John sighs. Then he flips that smooth, warm, absolutely devastating voice into action.You’re going to be all right. He told you what to do to avoid his Power’s hunger. Just take a minute, and breathe with me, all right? In. Out. Slower.

Fucking dom, Tim thinks, but does it. “This place is actually trying to making me feel watched, isn’t it?”

I believe so. But you’re handling it like a champ. In. Out. There, you see? That wasn’t so hard.

It does feel better. “No, I guess not.”

I told you—you can trust me, Tim.

Tim snorts. “Opportunist.”

Bouchard returns. “Hold out your hand.” 

Tim finds himself with a cup of tea. He closes his eyes, sipping. “Thanks. That makes me feel human again.”

“Of course. Now. Why don’t you tell me what happened last night?”

His fingers are steepled. He’s watching us without blinking. 

“Spooky,” says Tim before he can help himself.

Bouchard laughs lightly. “I serve a patron that feeds on fear. I’m afraid that whatever else I offer, comfort will not be on the menu.”

Tim’s heart sinks. “But… can you help?”

“Let’s find out. What happened?”

Tim takes out the book.

Careful,  John warns. Open that, and it will again send out a— oh. He’s leaning away from it. Tim, he looks terrified.

“Well,” says Bouchard. “That is… ah..”

Tim already hates touching this thing. It may be psychosomatic, but now it feels terrible, greasy, like living skin. “What? What do you see?”

“I am going to make a guess,” says Bouchard slowly. “The passenger in your head was in this book first. Yes?”

“Yes,” says Tim.

“There is something else in that book. I would heavily advise you not to open it again.”

What? What? There is no other being in this book.

“I assure you, there is,” says Bouchard.

Impossible, John says as if offended.

“I assure you, it is not,” says Bouchard.

“So what do I do?” says Tim. “There’s got to be something I can do.”

And though he cannot see Bouchard looking at him, Tim suddenly feels pinned. Feels very distinctly like this man just reached into his brain and peeled it open, revealing everything he is.

John growls again.

“I will be frank,” says Bouchard. “I do not yet have an answer, but I believe I can find one. I have at my disposal quite a lot of knowledge, as well as some truly interesting contacts. I am willing to leverage all of that to help you in exchange for the freedom to watch how it all pans out.“

Tim’s not sure what that means. “What do you mean, watch how it all pans out?”

His eyes lidded just at the thought.

“I will give you much more than aid. I will give you answer. Any I find.”

Tempting. “You must really like to watch, eh?” Tim says, trying not to make it sound sexual.

“You have no idea,” Bouchard says, not trying to avoid that at all. “I’ve never seen the like. A new thing, to my patron, is the highest form of offering, and I am quite eager to help you. You rather have me over the proverbial barrel, Mister Stoker.”

He’s leaning back again, considering us. His fingers are still steepled. It’s a thoughtful look, pensive, as if he’s weighing something.

“You are in need of a job,” he says.

Spooky mind-reading confirmed! Tim thinks, slightly panicked. “I... will in time, sure.”

“I could employ you.”

Tim snorts. “No offense, but this place feels really weird.”

“It does, yes—but it’s also very safe.”

“Not according to every nerve in my body,” says Tim.

“The paranoia and fear are side effects of proximity to the Ceaseless Watcher. They are not representative of actual danger,” says Bouchard. “Working here would grant you some… protections, as well.”

“I don’t know quite how we got to offering my CV to a fear-god, but no thanks?” says Tim. “Got at least a few months before I’m that desperate, I think.”

“And do you plan to remain occupied that long?” says Bouchard.

Tim goes silent.

Can you help or not? I want something definitive. Your god is impressive, but this man is mine, and if you think I’m going to share—

“Hold the fuck on!” says Tim. “What?” 

Bouchard laughs. “It’s all right. Mister Stoker. I’m fairly sure he’s just responding to the invasiveness of my patron—for which I do apologize. Do you have a safe place to stay?”

“Sure?” says Tim, still fighting against the absolute certainty of being watched, against the weirdness of his desire to rage in response.

“Would you be willing to leave that book with me?”

Absolutely not.

“But what if he can see inside it without opening it, or something?” says Tim.

No .

That growl is really something. 

Tim takes a deep breath. “Hey. What does John look like?”

John has no body of his own to stiffen, but Tim feels him do it, anyway.

“Well,” says Bouchard, eyes lidding. “I see him in two ways. First is an impression—I suspect his own of himself. Whispers of the form he once had; catastrophically beautiful, like a terrible storm. Darker than mere absence of light, as if he might absorb it. There is gold throughout—I can’t quite make out the shape, but it is a very specific and almost harsh yellow. He seems to have… how shall I put this… the essence of a body that simply is not human. Multiple limbs, perhaps tentacles. Enormous horns or antlers, casting spined shadows. And I think he was quite large. All of that, however, is echo. What do I see when I look at him? The reverse of a flame. Dark, and hungry; fluttering and flickering like conflagration dancing in the wind, and significantly more dangerous than he seems. Given the right fuel, I daresay he could burn the world.”

Tim is silent.

John is silent.

“Wow,” says Tim.

There is a fabric rustle, and Tim suspects Bouchard has shrugged as if to say, Well, there it is.

“You really see all that?” said Tim.

“I do.”

“What the hell is he?”

“I have absolutely no idea. You’re very lucky. Whatever you're experiencing may have no precedent in this world.”

John is still silent.

Tim sighs. “So… what now?”

“Well, I suggest food that is not peanut butter? And keeping your head down. If you truly wish to keep the book, I think there may be a target on you. I can’t offer you protection outside my place of power.”

Tim snorts. “Well, unless you’ve secretly got an apartment complex in here, it wouldn’t do me much good, anyway.”

“Actually, we do, in a way.”

“What?”

“My employees are… hard-working. Part of the archive below has been converted. There is a small sleeping area, a washroom, a very minimal kitchenette. Should things grow desperate, you have my permission to kip there, as it were.”

“You really want to watch all this, don’t you?” says Tim.

“Indeed I do. And while I readily confess I will be watching anyway, doing so with your permission and awareness makes it all so much more delicious. Is there anything else?”

At least he’s honest about being creepy, Tim thinks, because that’s all he can think. “Not until you have a solution.”

“Not yet.”

“And my offer?”

This has to be a them, not a him. “John?”

I need to think.

“Fair enough.” There’s the sound of a chair rolling back.

He’s standing. 

Tim stands, too. He doesn’t know what to do. This hadn’t gone at all how he’d hoped.

“I’m sure it’ll all work out,” says Bouchard with a sort of dark glee.

“Right,” says Tim. “Thanks, I… guess.”

“Here. I do hope you change your minds.”

He’s holding out a business card.

Tim takes it on automatic. 

It sounds like Bouchard opens the door.

Tim walks out.

#

With every step, his heart feels heavier.

He’d been so sure solutions would be here. Immediate ones. Telling himself that had kept him going all morning. But now…

There wasn’t help. There was the possibility of help, with the cost of loss of privacy—which he might have lost anyway, just by coming here.

None of this feels good. Tim sighs, fishing for his earbuds.

Someone gasps.

Tim, there’s an old woman looking at us. She… something about her is very dangerous. Something about her… Tim, I think she can see me. Fuck this place.

“Good for her,” mutters Tim, who has decided merely seeing John does not qualify one for anything. “Am I still going right?”

Yes. The door is three steps ahead.

“Leave it,” says Bouchard behind them.

Tim doesn’t think that was for him, and he feels for the door handle.

“Elias, you can’t be serious,” says the old woman’s voice—old but strong, frustrated.

What, had she been about to do something to them? 

Tim is sure of it. Sure of it, and doesn’t know why.

Hurry. Apparently, John is sure of it, too.

Tim hurries.

#

Stairs just ahead. Take your time.

Tim does, one step at a time, using the excuse of concentration to be silent. He wipes his leaky eyes.

Are you all right?

“No. Gonna have to be, though, apparently, because I don’t want to take his deal.”

I promise you, Bouchard will be watching us regardless of what we do; it’s the nature of the Power he serves. It only makes sense to benefit from it, given that we will pay either way.

“Well, fuck that guy, then,” says Tim. “I guess consent isn’t on some fear god’s radar.”

I don’t know why you ever thought it would be. You’ve reached the last step. Where now?

“I don’t know. I’m trying to think. Can I just walk somewhere? Get away from this place?”

Walk to your right. There isn’t much traffic. I may have an idea, but I need to… weigh the pros and cons.

“Right.” So Tim walks, and doesn’t speak again until he’s found a comfortable pace and position that seems to keep him from smashing into anyone.

It works better than Tim would have thought. John directs, corrects, and says nothing of substance.

Tim is deep in thought. A lot happened here.

He’s always thought of himself as deeply pragmatic. That means tackling this with an open mind, and organizing it in lists as quickly as possible, ready to absorb new rules. “So,” he says. “A few things.”

Hm? says John, sounding distracted.

“First, you were scared in there.”

Yes. At least John can admit that honestly. I know you’re new to this, so it may seem like nothing to you—but neither of those people should have been able to see me, much less hear me. I am deeply startled.

“Right,” said Tim. “And by saying that, you’re revealing you’ve done this so often that you have a ‘normal’ in your head, so that’s a whole thing.”

Not as often as you think. I’ve spent most of my time in this world in that book.

Tim’s not sure he believes that. “They didn’t recognize you, though.”

No. They did not, or I would have urged you to run like a cat on fire.

Tim smiles weakly. “Hell of an image. Look, what did you do that you have to hide from everyone? You said you’d tell me after.”

It isn’t so much what I’ve done, John says slowly. It is what I am. You were correct in that earlier assumption: I am… rare. Endangered, in fact.

Tim has a feeling John isn’t using that word casually. “So what are you?”

A being. Rare. Powerful, in my own right, though as you can tell by our current situation, I’ve been robbed of my body.

“Where is your body?”

In another plane of existence, friend. Quite out of reach, I’m afraid.

“Are you dead?” He has to ask.

No.

“Are you… what, a prisoner?”

Tim… I really don’t feel like answering these right now.

“Promise broken. I‘m keeping track,” says Tim, but only half means it. “So there’s you, antlered-tentacled-whatever-the-fuck. There’s fear-gods.There’s accidental priests. So… are there good fairies, or something? Wishing wells? Forest spirits of mercy, or kindness, or whatever?”

No. The lack of hesitation is upsetting. There are no beneficent fairies. No good and kind spirits waiting to freely give of themselves to mortals in need. Everything that exists only does so because it has not been eaten or used by something else, including yourself—from your immune system to your choices, you also fight to survive. 

This is different from John’s usual calming tone. It’s not crazy-smooth; it’s just quiet, and Tim suddenly feels like this is the first time John has been genuinely gentle with him.

Tim’s throat feels tight. “Bit of a downer, there,” he manages after a minute. “So what do we do?”

You truly don’t feel what he offered was worth what he asked?

“Just being in that building made me feel like hitting something, and that isn’t like me. I started to get angry, over, just… nothing. No. Whatever price I have to pay to get out of this, I’m not losing myself for it. That guy didn’t even have a solution, anyway. Just a what-if. Not worth it.”

Yes… yes. John sounds thoughtful . That’s a good way of looking at it. The cost cannot be one’s self. 

Tim isn’t done. “And just so you know, John? Maybe I am surviving , like everybody else here, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make choices and be a good person and help other mortals in need.”

Seeing yourself as the hero, are you?

Tim snorts. ”No. I’d be a cheerfully bisexual bard, at best. I just mean… I don’t know. You make every living thing sound like an asshole, and I don’t think all of us are.”

John chuckles. A slutty bard? Really?

“It’s a DND ref- wait. You understood that?”

Yes. I’m familiar with the trope. I’m merely amused you used it.

“That has some implications, holy shit. How the hell are you familiar with an internet meme? How much time have you spent here?”

Not everyone who kept this book was only a cultist. Some of them were nerds.

Tim is flabbergasted. “What, did they just keep you on the table while scrolling through The Adventure Zone?”

Sometimes.

This doesn’t feel like the full truth. There’s something else John is not saying here, but Tim doesn’t know how to get at it. “I can talk to you in memes,” he says instead. “I’m going to be insufferable.”

John chuckles. Ah… I do like you, Tim.

That sounded regretful? Odd. Why would he… 

Or maybe Tim just feels paranoid thanks to whatever the hell that place was. “How does anyone even manage to work there without all becoming axe murderers?” he mutters.

I believe if you are inclined toward the type of fear and information-gathering that god prefers, it grants some sanity so you can keep feeding it. I’ve seen the like.

“A whole fear-god economy. Fuck me, that’s wild.”

Indeed.

“And by the way—what was all that ‘mine’ stuff about?”

John sighs. I apologize. I could feel the Power feeding on you, and I thought perhaps it would respect some kind of… prior claim. Obviously, that didn’t work.

“So you’re not a lot familiar with that thing.”

No. Enough to know that one isn’t much of a danger to me—but others like it must be avoided.

“Did one of those fear-gods send the monsters to my parents’ house?”

Yes.

Tim laughs weakly. “Wow. So they’re actively after you. Fuck. John, you’ve got to have a better idea what to do.”

I have an idea, if you’re willing to try it—but first, you need to eat. Your physical form has needs; Bouchard was right about that. Man shall not live by peanut butter alone.

It is deeply unnerving to hear all these deeply human references used with such familiarity. “I don’t want to try dealing with a restaurant. Find me a take-out place.”

Keep going. I’ll get you there.

He couldn’t believe himself anymore. A tiny part of him is beginning to wonder if, somehow, his family might be cursed.

It’s going to be okay, Tim tells himself on repeat. It’s going to be okay. 

———-

NOTES:

Do I hear that description of the King in Ben Meredith’s voice? Yes. Yes, I do.

#tma #malevolent #tma fic #malevolent fic #tim stoker #kiy malevolent #Jonathan sims #elias bouchard #corrupted fic

[litcityblues]

I Finally Watched This Movie

I am way overdue for this movie, I realize this and for that, if anyone out there is judging me for it, I apologize. I don't know if modern life requires a lot of content consumption, but I try and manage my fire hose of content so I don't drown, so it took me a while to get here.

So, Everything, Everywhere, All At Once:

The story of Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) who runs a laundromat with her husband Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), they immigrated to the United States two decades earlier- eloped as well, and had a daughter Joy (Stephanie Hsu.) As the movie opens, the laundromat is being audited by the IRS, Evelyn is stressing out over the visit of her demanding father Gong Gong (James Hong), Joy's relationship with her mother is strained because of many things, but Evelyn's reluctance to accept her non-Chinese girlfriend Becky is at the top of the list. Oh and Waymond, her husband? He's trying to serve her with divorce papers.

At the meeting with the IRS Inspector, Deirdre (Jamie Lee Curtis), Waymond's body is suddenly taken over by Alpha-Waymond, a version of Waymond from the Alphaverse. He explains to Evelyn that many parallel universes exist because every life choice creates a new alternative universe. Her version from the Alphaverse developed 'verse-jumping' technology that enabled people to access the skills, memories, and bodies of their parallel selves by bizarre actions. The multiverse is under threat from Jobu Tupaki (Alpha-Joy) whose mind was splintered after too much verse jumping. She experiences all universes at once and can verse-jump and manipulate matter at will. She has created a black hole in the shape of an 'everything bagel' topped with literally everything that could destroy the multiverse.

Evelyn, understandably, doesn't believe Alpha-Waymond at first, but soon finds herself caught up in the action, jumping from multiverse to multiverse where she's a stone in one, a movie star in another and everyone has hot dogs for digits in a third. She keeps jumping and jumping until finally, her mind splinters and she collapses. Like Jobu, she uncontrollably jumps across all the universes at once and Jobu almost convinces her that nothing matters, she has been looking for an Evelyn who agrees with her so they can both enter the bagel and finally die, but just before Evelyn does, she listens to one last plea from Waymond who begs her to stop fighting and be kind, even when life does not make sense. She decides to take his advice and experiences an existential epiphany and takes his advice, using her multiversal powers to fight with empathy.

This repairs the damage and neutralizes Jobu and her forces and brings her back to her home universe. She reconciles with Waymong, tells Gong Gong about Joy's girlfriend and Deidre even agrees to redo their taxes. One final task remains as Jobu enters the bagel alone and in the home Universe, Joy begs Evelyn to let her go- but instead, she tells her that even when nothing makes sense and they don't get along and she could be anywhere else in any universe, she will always want to be with Joy. This saves Jobu from the Bagel and Evelyn and Joy embrace.

This movie is a lot, I'm not going to lie. The title is perfect because there are times when you really feel like you're getting everywhere, everything all at once and it's almost overwhelming, but it's also an absolutely stunning visual spectacle. The visuals of this movie are beautiful and it deserves all the flowers and hype that it got on that basis alone.

I wanted to say that I had issues with the story, but having written out this review, I really don't. I think it's a perfect example of what science fiction at its best is like: it transports you to other worlds and other places and other universes oftentimes to tell the simplest of stories- in this case, how a broken family fixed itself and how a mother finds a way to tell her daughter that she loves her. Given the massive amount of disrespect the Academy shows to 'genre' films, it is so awesome to see a movie that demonstrates the power of genre in such a visually stunning way that underpins what's really a pretty simple and timeless story.

I can see why people might not like this movie. If multiverses aren't your thing, this might be a hard sell but at the same time, if you haven't gone near science fiction ever before and are looking for an entry point this could be a good one for you.

I, however, loved this movie. i loved the story. I loved the acting-- I have yet to see Michelle Yeoh in anything that I have actively disliked, and you would have to be the Grinch not to be absolutely thrilled for Ke Huy Quan who is awesome in this movie. James Hong has been around for what seems like forever and even though the dude is 95 years old, he proves that he still has it. Stephanie Hsu is absolutely incredible and goes toe to toe with Michelle Yeoh in this film.

Overall: It deserves all the flowers, hype, and awards that it got. It's visually stunning. A beautiful film to look at. A simple, beautiful story about the power of empathy and kindness. A stunningly good cast and a GENRE FILM that gets SOME RESPECT. FINALLY. My Grade: **** out of ****

(Okay, I went and looked at this list and went all the way back to 1930. Birdman did win Best Picture, but you can make the argument that it was less a genre film and more about an actor playing a genre character. And yes, Lord of the Rings did win. In 2003. Other than that, I can find nothing that comes close to a genre film even getting a sniff at serious critical recognition. 2001: A Space Odyssey came out in 1968 and was not even nominated. So nitpick me if you will, but I am right. Some respect for genre films was long overdue.)

(Damn it. The Shape of Water won in 2017 as well. Okay, so maybe genre films are slowly gaining a little more respect. But there have been 96 Years of the Oscars and I can find three (maybe four) movies that fit the bill of genre films that have ever won Best Picture. That's still less than one percent however you cut it.)

#everything everywhere all at once #movie review

[loveroflokiforpoeticjustice]

My Loki Series Review

I have finally watched the Loki Series...and I regret it tremendously. And since I am in pain I thought it would only be fair for me to subject those who also share my opinion to the pain I am feeling as well! 😁

SO👏

Here...We...Go!

(The Green is dialogue)

(For this to make more sense, it would probably be best to watch the show along side reading this post.)

Loki Series Episode 1 "Glorious Purpose"

I already hate the title.

So I saw someone make a post about how Loki did what he did in order to immediately establish dominance since he was no longer in Thor's shadow. I completely disagree. As Loki said in the first Thor movie, (a line everyone forgets for whatever reason) Loki never wanted the throne. I also think that in a situation like this Loki would lay there and assess the situation before immediately getting up to "Establish dominance". I find it interesting how everyone thinks Loki is opposed to help. He might be skeptical at first, but I'm sure that after a while, once he realizes it's genuine, he'd calm down and except it. Now, lets talk about this, "I am Loki, and I am burdened with a glorious purpose" line. Let's take a look at the origin of this line.

Later followed by...

Loki is ill and hurt in the clips above. He's not saying this because he wants to. He doesn't have a choice. So...not a catchphrase.

After that...everything Loki says and does is just completely OOC and makes no sense. But can we talk about the TVA summary scene? If the TVA is as fragile as they claim then I really hope they have good excuse for Avengers: Endgame, Spiderman: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness because...most of us know what went down during those movies.😳

The trial scene IMO was the most in character. Loki made a valid point. The Avengers did a lot of damage in Endgame and Loki being punished for escaping seems unfair to me. Also I'm going to need a lot more than, "What they did was suppose to happen. You escaping was not." for me to automatically believe that Loki should be arrested just like that. (Side note: Can we also talk about how this scene clearly highlights how detailed and perceptive Loki is as a character? He knew that the Avengers from Endgame had traveled back in time and were messing with the time-line not because he saw it, or someone told him but because, while being serious injured, he took in his surroundings and was able to identify Tony's cologne in two different places and make the connection! That's insane!)

Sighs deeply The elevator scene...You have no idea how many times I have skipped this scene when it popped up as an ad.🙄

Both Loki and Mobius are wrong in this scene. No. No Loki does not like to talk. This is not the face of a person who never shuts up.

The amount that Loki talks in this scene also does not make any sense either. His behavior is completely OOC.

The following scene literally almost killed me.

M:"Well let's start with a little cooperation...Really? Even when you're wooing someone you intend to betray?" The only people Loki has betrayed are Laufey, Malekith, and Thanos. With both Laufey and Malekith, I wouldn't exactly call it cooperation. They went along with Loki's terms and conditions. Not the other way around. And with Thanos...extreme torture and death were on the line. And is it really cooperation when the person you're supposed to be "cooperating with" you beat for year and not only that, but you're mind controlling the person so they do what you want? Don't think so.

These Black Order lines are killing me! I honestly can't tell if Loki is trying to save face or if the directors just felt like this is something that Loki would say because they watched the Avengers movie, and these lines sound similar to the ones in that movie where Loki was the villain, while simultaneously throwing the fact that Loki was being mind controlled in that movie completely out the window.

M:"Why does someone with so much range just want to rule?" Can we all just take a second to process how dumb this line sounds?! Honestly, this is stupid. This is something that a parent would say to their child who has the potential to go to Harvard but is instead choosing to be a busboy. Can you imagine someone saying, "You have so much potential I don't see why you would want to be the CEO of a massive company". Do you hear how that sounds?!! Not only that, but Loki has already proven the fact (while having a mental breakdown might I add) that he could absolutely do it. The very beginning of Thor: Ragnarok proves that. Also, it's what he was taught to do his whole life? I know he still has almost 4000 years of his life left, but he spent 1000+ years just prepping to be in a position of authority so... it's not like it's going to be easy for him to just throw all that away.

M:"Big metaphor guy! Makes you sound super smart!" L: "I am smart." M:"Okay." Completely Unnecessary dialog. I honestly feel like Loki from 2011 wouldn't have even said anything. He just would have given Mobius the sassiest look. 🤣

So, now we're at the part where Mobius shows Loki footage of his life, and it goes on for a while too, but allow me to just say...this guilt tripping/gaslighting/"Do you enjoy hurting people?" scene literally blows my mind! The directors have just totally forgotten Thanos' existence at this point. I just don't see how there would be any other explanation. Why and how would showing Loki the moments where he lost, which took place not even an hour ago, literally do anything, like at all?! I mean, this guy spent Three Hundred and Sixty Five Days with these people...

Loki at this point has seen the darkest side of the universe! What are a couple of tapes honestly supposed to do?! (If this doesn't explain Loki's behavior in Thor: Dark World IDK what does)

M:"It's funny, for someone born to rule, you sure do lose a lot. You might even say it's in your nature." Allow me to explain why this is inaccurate. A list of Loki's goals and accomplishments.

Loki wanted to delay Thor's coronation. This was successfully executed.

Loki wanted to stop the war Thor started between the Frost Giants and Asgard. This was successfully executed. Not only that, but he had literally ZERO HELP FROM ANYONE, people were also CONSPIRING AGAINST HIM, and he was having a MENTAL BREAKDOWN/IDENTITY CRISIS!

Loki wanted to get away from Thanos alive and hurt as few people as possible. This was successfully executed. You cannot argue with me on this. If Loki REALLY wanted to win like he's claiming in the show, he won't have designed, nor given Selvig the knowledge that the scepter could penetrate the portal and shut it down! Loki's too smart for that even if it's not displayed in the series.

Stopping Malekith and Kurse from plunging the Nine Realms into darkness. Successfully executed. I do not care what anyone says. It is not possible to negate the fact that without Loki, Thor would have died. Same thing goes for Ragnarok.

So...what were you talking about Mobius?

M:"Of eyeballs maybe. Look at that smile. You are enjoying that." If you go back to this scene, it's clear that the person it unharmed because the eye is still moving when it is being projected as a hologram. If the eye had been damaged it obviously would not have worked. Loki is causing a scene, and he's doing it for two reasons. The first and main one being so that he can get the Avengers attention in order to distract and ambush them later. The second reason is that Loki does crave attention. But can you blame him? I just listed all of his accomplishments above and he didn't get recognition for a single one of them! We don't even know what else he did in his previous 1000+ years! Just going off the franchise, I'm sure things probably looked similar to what we've seen so far though. People on Asgard are always so ready to lift Thor up and shove Loki as deep as possible into any dirty gutter they find and are more than happy to leave him there until he claws his way out so that he can yet again try to prove his worth. They don't help him out of the gutter even when they need him, and you can completely forget saying thank you! As a matter of fact, they manage to find excuse to blame him instead! They do it here in this scene in Thor 1!

M:"You're really good at doing awful things, and then just getting away." Um...didn't...didn't you just show him getting caught by the Avengers? And he gets caught in Thor 1...and at the beginning of Thor: Dark World...and at the beginning of Ragnarok, and he didn't even do anything bad! These people put no thought into this script.🤦‍♀️

I have nothing to say about the "lost bet to Thor" scene other than it being the dumbest thing Marvel has ever wasted their money on. It's almost worse than the Ragnarok snake story and that made even less sense. Loki from 2011 does not look like a person who would be stupid enough to make a bet with Thor. It's more likely that he was forced into it if anything.

L:"I was just standing up to make a point." M:"I'm sorry, go ahead." L:"It won't be as meaningful now!" More unnecessary dialog, and Loki's literally whining in this scene. 🙄

M:"All I seek is a deeper understanding of the fearsome God of Mischief." We'll...we'll come back to this later.

L:"How, you all parade about as if you're the divine arbiters of power in the universe." M:"We are." I'll get to what's wrong with this line later.

Why is he being so cartoonishly expressive? Put your arms down!

L:"I'll kill you!" M:"What like you did your mother?" LOKI 👏DID 👏NOT 👏KILL 👏HIS 👏MOTHER! WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP SAYING HE DID?! All he did was show Kurse how to get out of the cells! Frigga was miles away in the castle you can watch the scene! Kurse only killed her because Malekith knew that she knew where Jane/the Aether was and Frigga didn't give it too him or tell him! Stop blaming Loki for things he was miles away from and had literally NOTHING to do with!!

M:"You weren't born to be king, Loki. You were born to cause pain, and suffering, and death. That's how it is, that's how it was, that's how it will be." This sounds VERY familiar! I already talked about this scene here. But to give you a short summary, Odin basically said the literal exact same thing to Loki at the beginning of Thor: Dark World when Loki was being sentenced. All the fans wanna slam Odin but make fan art of Mobius even if they equally toxic to Loki.🙄

I really do not understand how Loki could take his hand after he just spit all of that in his face. I really don't.

Okay...let's talk about this Infinity Stones joke/situation. This is not funny. At all. Everyone here is a fan of at least one Avenger or Guardian of the Galaxy or someone in the MCU including/beside Loki. Every single person in the MCU fought tooth and nail for those Infinity Stones. EVEN THANOS! We had to sit and watch every single hero we love either die or have them be emotionally destroyed for 5 years because they lost a loved one. There are characters that we'll NEVER see again because of the fight for these 6 stones! I have ZERO idea what the directors were thinking when they put that scene in the show but it was NOT funny in the slightest. It honestly really hurt my feelings. The thought of them going through all of that for almost nothing! Even Loki looks heart broken to discover this information. And what made it worse was the fact that in the last episode (which we'll get to later) and the MoM they basically make it clear that they put that scene in for literally no reason. It was only to cast a temporary illusion in order to get both Loki and the viewers to believe that there were some beings and some place that were more powerful than the Infinity Stones. Even though if you go back and watch the scene in Infinity War where Wong explains the Stones, it completely negates that being possible since the Stones existed before the TVA! ("At the dawn of the Universe, there was nothing. Then, boom. Big Bang sent six elemental crystals hurtling across the virgin Universe. These infinity Stones each controlled and essential aspect of existence...") In famous the words of Tony Stark, "I'm sorry, what were you lying?"

OG Loki would have never given up that easily after getting out. Loki is someone who does not let his emotions drive him. He let's them guide him and be the spearhead of his plans not cause him to quit and give up! If that was the case, Asgard would have fallen back in Thor 1!

Loki watching these scenes...*Sighs deeply* Just...just refer to what I said above. Not only that but I stated my biggest problem with this scene here already. In short, this is not the full picture. You could almost argue that these clips were hand picked so that Loki looked bad to the audience, and Loki would feel bad.

What I am also trying to figure out is why Loki seems surprised that Thanos lied. My headcanon is that in Avengers 1 Loki honestly lost on purpose. He had every chance to kill the Avengers and just never took it. Also, why are they trying so hard to make it look like Loki joined Thanos' side willingly? In the gifs above and throughout the whole movie (and the Thor 1 end credit scene) Loki looks like he is in severe pain. At the start of the movie he's clearly hanging by a thread. So like I said, not sure why they're pushing this whole "alliance with Thanos" thing.

Again with this "Glorious Purpose" line! Please stop!🤦‍♀️

L:"I can't go back, can I? Back to my timeline." This is something I have questions about that they just totally fail at clearing up. What exactly does "resetting the timeline" consist of? They tell you what happens if they don't do it but they never entirely explain what happens when they do. Clearly Loki does not get replaced since at the beginning of the episode we hear Thor calling for Loki. Which means that everyone notices that Loki is gone. So...if Loki, who is vital for that timeline's survival based on other movies, is gone wouldn't that mean the timeline totally just falls apart? Asgard doesn't even survive the next movie without Loki. They can call Loki a mistake all they want but that means Thor dies in The Dark World and the Nine Realms are plunged into darkness. Asgard in the very first Thor movie wouldn't have even made it! Thor would've become king without someone to postpone the coronation, and we all know that the Thor in that movie would have made a terrible king! This is what I call "Marvel having hours to include important details but choosing not too". And in this case thy chose to fill it with completely unnecessary dialogue. 🙄

My assumption is that they mean erasing the memory of anyone who saw them I guess? I don't know. Leave a comment if you understand. 🤷‍♀️

"L: I don't enjoy hurting people...I do it because I have to, because I've had to." "M: Okay, explain that to me." "L: Because it's part of the illusion. It's the cruel, elaborate trick conjured by the weak to inspire fear." " M: A desperate play for control." Let me start by saying, I know OG Loki would have dropped dead before admitting this to a stranger he's barely know for a few hours. Most importantly though Marvel almost had it! They messed up at the illusion part. It's not an illusion. Loki does it in order to survive. He's spent 1000+ years in a world of kill or be killed. If Loki didn't hurt/kill Laufey or Malekith Asgard wouldn't exist. If he didn't hurt the Avengers that axe place over his head by The Other would have come down in the most antagonizing slow and painful way possible. Loki doesn't have a choice. It's not control he's after, its freedom.

M:"You do know yourself." Y'all I think I found Frigga's brother.🤣🙄

L:"A villain." M:" That's not how I see it." Okay, sure Mobius. Watch this change in like 2 minutes.

"Even and Infinity Stine is useless here." Refer to above please.

M:"Listen, I can't offer you salvation, but maybe I can offer you something better." Yeah, because why would anyone want to be freed from all their sins (That can easily be argued against and are too questionable to even be label as "sins" IMO) when they can be put in an ugly uniform and work for a group of people who give less of a crap about you than your family, and literally just kidnapped, gaslit, and abused you because they are too dumb to catch another version you. Sounds like a dream. 🙃

Loki Series Episode 2 "The Variant"

When I first saw this episode I thought they had gotten the date wrong!🤣

In the first episode the music was okay. But after this episode...it makes me want to tear out my eardrums.🤦‍♀️🤮

I hate Miss Minutes voice with a burning passion. Just though you should know.

B-15, honey... DO NOT CALL MY BABY A COSMIC MISTAKE!!😡😡

Loki explaining his powers is the best part of this episode. The only problem is how it's presented. They make him look like a know-it-all. Everyone in the scene looks annoyed and like they want him to shut up. And so if that's how everyone in the scene looks and feels guess who also is going to feel that way. The Audience.

L:"Well, I'll have my magic back. Is no one concerned about that?" B-15: "Of what?" L:"Me betraying you?" *Sighs deeply* Yes, this line is absolutely in character because Loki would of course let them know his plans to ditch them before even getting out of the TVA. 🙄🙃

L:"Reset charges prune the affected radius of a branched timeline, allowing time to heal all its wounds. Which by the way sounds like a nice way of saying disintegrate everything in its vicinity." This AGAIN does not explain what happens after you take a person from a timeline! Or even what happens to the people in the timeline!

Loki getting cut off for the 95246783th time.

Loki's explanation as to what the "Variant" is planning could have worked if he for starters didn't insult them, and second DIDN'T TELL THEM BEFORE HE GOT THERE THAT HE WAS PLANNING ON RUNNING WAY!!

R:"This Variant is...Insubordinate, stubborn, unpredictable." Let me start by saying that none of these traits are being shown at all in the series. People also only use these words when they don't know Loki as a character/person, so none of this is surprising. Also IMO these words more so describe Thor if you ask me. I personally would not call someone who stops a war for the better sake of their continent, insubordinate. I would not call someone who is willing to follow a literal idiot into war, stubborn. And I would not call someone who has literally just told you their plan two times now, unpredictable. But...okay.

R:"But Loki is an evil, lying scourge." Ravonna, I let you slide during the "trial"...BUT I WILL SMACK THAT SORRY EXCUSE OF A PONYTAIL OUT OF YOUR HEAD IF YOU CALL MY BABY THAT AGAIN!

M:"Is that possible? He can change?" Mobius, you don't even believe that line, and I'm going to prove it in the next few minutes.

M:"Luckily, he believes in himself enough for the both of us. And, hey, if it doesn't work, I'll delete him myself. He's really arrogant." Just...why? Literally all of this is wrong. They clearly don't know that the guy they're talking about has such low self-esteem that he literally tried to kill himself a YEAR AGO!

*sighs deeply* Why is he moving so much? WHY!

M:"What happened to the guy I met on the elevator? Who didn't like to talk. Remember him? Now I'm stuck with this guy who won't stop yacking away about what makes a Loki tick!" L:"What? Isn't that precisely why I'm here?" M:"No. I don't care what makes you tick. You're here to help me catch the superior version of yourself. That's it!" I am literally so mad right now. I told you I would prove the fact that Mobius doesn't think Loki can change. He doesn't even care! Someone tell me this is not the guy who in the last episode said these words, "All I seek is a deeper understanding of the fearsome God of Mischief." AND THEN HE GOES AND SPITS WHAT'S ABOVE IN HIS FACE! ARE YOU KIDDING!? It gets worse though. This line "You're here to help me catch the superior version of yourself. That's it!" let's you know that they didn't even have a REAL REASON to even bring Loki to the TVA! They're just as bad as the Asgardians, if not worse! Loki is only there for them to use and abuse that's it! They can't do THEIR jobs properly so of course they have to go and get Loki because he, while not knowing the TVA even exist, is the only person who can help them. Classic! This is literally just a repeat of Thor: Dark World. Gaslight Loki while he's at his worse so that, even though he AGAIN has nothing to do with the situation WHAT SO EVER, he can help us. I AM SO DONE! WHY CAN'T THEY JUST LEAVE MY BABY ALONE!

M:"I believed, stupidly, that insecure need for validation would motivate you to find the killer. Not 'cause you care about the TVA mission or bein' a hero, but because you know this Variant is better than you and can't take it." I am beyond ready to burn the TVA to the ground myself at this point. I don't see how Loki's insecure need for validation would be fulfilled by and occupation that you just told him he basically has nothing to do with what so ever. The only thing that can fill it is Odin, we know along with Loki at this point that that's not happening. Also Loki as already proven to be the hero multiple times. Finally, given the fact that we all already know who the Variant is, she is NO WHERE close to Loki's level of superiority! At all!

L:"I mean it is adorable that you think you could possibly manipulate me." Unbeknownst me, somehow he already has. 🤦‍♀️

L:"I'm ten steps ahead of you. I've been playing a game of my own all along." M:"What, charm your way in front of the Time-Keepers, hustle them, and seize control of the TVA? Am I getting warm? A double cross by history's most reliable liar." I am face palming so hard it's not even funny. The start of the line is the worst part. If we look back at how Loki has always handled his enemy, nothing even remotely close to this comes out of his mouth, ever. Ever! And how his face drops, OMG help me please. OG Loki could be in excruciating pain, and you wouldn't even know it!

M:"A, because I see a scared little boy, shivering in the cold. And you kinda feel bad for that ice runt. Or B, I just wanna catch this guy, and I'll tell you whatever I need to tell you." L: "I don't need your sympathy." "Good, 'cause I'm running out of it." This line causes me to be confused as to why people think Mobius is a "good friend to Loki". Really why they think Mobius is good just in general. If the people who say that have friends I truly feel sorry for them. Everything I just quoted let's you know that Mobius does not care about Loki AT ALL. And Mobius never had any sympathy. It was all a lie.

The amount of expression is killing me...I'm dying.

Here's a few things. First, if Loki starts crying over this nightmare continent of people who never cared about him, abused him, AND tried to kill him, I'm gonna lose it. Second, the file says, "Total planetary destruction". Why is this a problem? You can go back and look at every Thor movie in the MCU and Asgard is clearly not a planet. I just said above that it's a continent. They got this wrong in Thor: Ragnarok too. And lastly...Asgard's population is only 9,719 people? That's it? Japan's population in 2012 was 127.6 million people and its not even a continent! Human beings don't live nearly as long as gods. You would think that this would be a main point towards why Asgard should be more populated. Maybe there are laws in place to prevent baby booms? Although given how much they go to war a baby boom might honestly be helpful. 🤷‍♀️

I don't...why is he moving his hands so much. Loki is not a hand talker. I have really nothing to say about the "Salad scene" other than I hated it of course. And that there is a mistake in the script. Loki says, "I could, let's say, push the Hulk off of the Rainbow Bridge." If you go back and watch the scene (don't worry, I completed the painful duty of doing it for you, you're welcome) where Loki looks at his future, we never actually see Hulk in the shot where he, Thor, and Valkyrie are preparing to fight Hela on the Rainbow Bridge. So...how exactly does Loki know that the Hulk was even there? 😳

L:"I'd never stab anyone in the back. That's such a boring form of betrayal." M: "Loki, I've studied almost every moment of your entire life. You've literally stabbed people in the back, like, 50 times." L: "Well, I'd never do it again, because it got old." M:"Okay." I have already gone over this. Check out these links (How Loki Was Poorly Parented {@nikkoliferousand and @youlackconviction did and excellent job with this post} No Loki Has Not Stabbed People in the Back Like 50 Times) because I'm too lazy to retype it, lol. But basically none of this is true and all of this is wrong. Also, if Mobius really studied Loki's life like he claims, he just made himself look like and terrible person for multiple reasons listed in the links above.😁 But just to list a few, I guess Mobius must of missed the fact that everyone around Loki treats him like garbage for literally no reason, and that he attempted suicide, and that he was tortured by Thanos. He really does mean "almost" huh?

L:"Okay, look, you don't trust me, you can trust one thing. I love to be right." Oh boy. Please refer to the image of 2011 Loki above. Loki is not the kind of person who pride themself on being right. Or really on anything for that matter. In conclusion, the directors don't know Loki's character. But we already knew that!

I really don't understand why Loki is getting so excited by this. Especially given the fact that Loki doesn't seen to enjoy violence that much if at all. I also don't understand why he is being so loud. This is suppose to be the guy who would appear from behind a pilar and then as silent as possible, walk into a room.

I hate this Pompeii scene so much.

I wish someone could convince me of the fact that Loki, who has had to be on guard his whole life because he never knew when he would be attacked or by who, even his so called "friends", would fall asleep in a foreign territory and in front of someone who just verbally abused him. I really wish someone could. 🙃

OMG it's the scene that gave birth to countless fanart...MOBIUS AND HIS JET SKI!!🥰🥰😍😍

🤮🤮🤮😒😒😒

"Odin, God of the Heavens." They👏 keep👏 getting👏 this 👏wrong👏. Asgard👏 is👏 not👏 heaven👏. Valhalla👏 is👏. They literally say it in the first movie! I have to say, I love how they just completely throw both evolution and religion out the window. 🙃🙄 (No offence to anyone who doesn't believe in either. I'm just making a point.) Them and this "glorious purpose" line! 😡😡

M:"Why is it that the people you can't trust are always saying, 'Trust me'?" You know, Loki's lines in this shot were actually good...and then Mobius ruined it.

L:"Me, I presume." S:"Please. If anyone's anyone, you're me." Their smiles in this scene are almost cringer than the dialogue . 🙄

L:"Enchantment is a clever trick. Cowardly, a bit amateur-ish, but clever." Spoilers: If you've already seen the show you know what's wrong with this. Later it's mentioned that Loki doesn't know how to enchant people but if that's true then how does he know what Sylvie is doing? If he's never done it before how does he know what it looks like? Proof that Loki didn't even need the scepter to mind control people in Avengers! As much as this show tries to prove other wise Loki is in fact very powerful and skilled.

L:"God. Now I understand why Thor found this so annoying." Two thing wrong with this scene. First, Loki's lack of patience. The second thing is the scene I believe they are refencing.

This is again, another memory that was not shown when Loki was looking at the future events of his life. We the audience know that this happened, but Loki does not. Unless they are trying to say that Loki has done this before to Thor. But IMO, please refer to the two pictures of Loki from 2011 above and tell me that that is someone who would choose to annoy Thor. Knowing how short his temper is.

How Tom says "schedule" in this scene! I'm dying! 🤣

S:"You really do love to hear yourself talk." L:"You're the first person to tell me that." No, no she's not. Is the air in the TVA giving Loki brain damage or did Waldron forget this whole scene, M:"I'm taking you somewhere to talk...Because we both know you love to talk. Talkie-talkie." do I need to say anything else.

I...am having a very hard time believing how easily Loki is being manhandled in this scene. I really am. For one, Loki is 525 pounds. He's HEAVY! And for two...

(I did not make this so all credit goes to the author...who ever they are)

So, how the creators of this show expect me to believe that Loki is able to be tossed around like a ragdoll by someone who looks like they eat McDonalds everyday and has never been to a gym in their life, I have no idea. AND we're talking about an average human (Some might even say below average😒). Not a super soldier. Logically, this shouldn't even be possible.

L:"I would never treat me like this." Honey, not even a year ago you tried to kill yourself, let's not go there.

Back to the manhandling Loki paragraph above...it guess worse. Can we talk about Loki wrestling with this basically below average human. Apparently the directors didn't know that this, "Superhuman Strength: Loki, without the aid of anything, through his own biology, possesses superhuman strength that is substantially superior to that of an average Asgardian female or male. He possesses sufficient physical strength to lift up to 50 tons." (Fandom is my source) HE CAN LIFT 100,000 POUNDS! WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS SCENE??!!!

Now the argument could be made that the enchantment that Sylvie placed on them could enhance their strength. My only problem with that would be that there is zero indication of that happening. And enhanced strength is not an added effect of mind control. Clearly, the directors just wanted to make Loki look bad. Jokes on them since all of Loki's background information is all over the internet.

His hair is killing me in this scene.

S:"This isn't about you." First, EW IT'S SYLVIE! Second, um the title of the show is literally called "Loki" so...it kind of is.

Loki Series Episode 3 "Lamentis"

Right off the bat, of course Sylvie's fighting skills look amazing compared to Loki's! What a shocker! 🙃🙄

S:"Have you really got nothing else better to do?" This is some of the dumbest dialogue I have ever heard in my life. NO SYLVIE HE DOESN'T! HE WAS JUST KIDDNAPPED AND FORCE TO WORK FOR A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE ANYTHING ABOUT HIM WITH NO WAY TO GET BACK TO HIS TIMELINE! WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THIS?! A dumb one clearly. Is this chic that self-involved?!

S:"You're in my way." L:"You are my way." *Aggressively Sighs deeply* Please refer to what was just stated above. 🤦‍♀️

Two things, I wish he would stop with this hair flip thing. It's not sexy and at this point it's honestly super annoying. Again, refer to what was stated above in episode 2 regarding Loki's fighting skills in this show.

L:"By the way, I thought you wanted me dead." S:"I don't know where you hid that TemPad, but if you blow up, it blows up, and then I end up blown up." ??? Did he seriously just ask that?! Obliviously! What? Did he just suddenly think that because they were in danger she cared. She literally was just trying to kill him!

L:"So we're a team now?" S:"Oh, God, no!" Two things wrong with this. Why is Loki so insistent on teaming up with her? Loki doesn't form "teams" with people. Especially not ones he's just met! He keeps to himself because he knows that the only person he can truly rely on is himself. (If someone tries to logic me that Sylvie is himself in the comments I will block them.) And what part of what she said sounded like she wanted to team up with him?! Also, the literally are gods so where is this "Oh, God, no!" line coming from? I've read fanfics with better and more well thought out dialogue! 🤦‍♀️

S:"Didn't need your help!" L:"You're so weird!" Please refer to the paragraph above. Also, no dialogue is needed here. They should be focused on running not filling every scene with commentary. It's not even necessary in this scene!

They had to have a scene in this show where Loki is completely naked so we know how in shape he is. I also put in how physically advanced Loki is in the previous paragraphs so...why are they, or more specifically he, breathing so hard? We don't even see this in other movies where he fights for who knows how long. He's severely hurt in Avengers, and we don't even see him this out of breath!!

Sylvie's attempt at enchanting Loki looks so awkward. Like, why do some many people view this as romantic? Honestly, this scene is weird.

L:"Listen, neither of us is getting off this rock if we can't get that TemPad on." S:"Where do you have it hidden?" L:"In my heart." S:"Well, then, I'll cut it out." In my heart...is he...being serious right now? This dialogue is going to be the death of me.

S:"You're full of it because you need me to get that recharged. That's the only reason you saved me out there." L:"Mabye. Yeah. I mean, sure. That too." Either Sylvie is not paying attention or she thinks he's been lying about teaming up and forming a truce for the last 10 minutes now. This line is so OOC for Loki's character it honestly hurts so much.

L:"So, what's the plan?" S:"There's a town near here. And can you shut up? Just because I have to work with you doesn't mean I wanna hear your voice." First of all, that was actually a good question if you disregard the fact that Loki asking it was completely OOC given the fact that his quick planning abilities is one of the main skills that define Loki as a character. And compared to every other scene so far in this show, he's really not talking that much in this scene. IDK why the writers and directors are trying to make it look like Loki is a character who never shuts up. You can look at every other movie he's been in and determine that isn't true.

L:"All right, well...Slow down, Variant." Please reference Loki's physical capabilities, capacities and traits above and allow me to add the fact that Loki is supposedly 6 foot 4 so...keeping up with her shouldn't be this hard.

S:"Yeah? What exactly makes a Loki a Loki?" L:"Independance, authority, style." Oh yeah, well as much as this may apply to OG Loki, you and your potato sack of an outfit are not representing any of those things right now, so you might wanna rethink your answer Larry!

S: "So, naturally you went to work for the boring, oppressive time police." L:"I don't work for them. I'm a consultant." Loki never joined the TVA willingly that's worth pointing out. But yes, for the first couple of episodes, mostly episode 2, he was working for them. And, how is he supposed to be a consultant when no one is even interested in hearing anything he has to say? How many times has this guy been told to shut up in the past 2 going on 3 episodes? I've honestly lost count.

L:"It's looks like everyone already fled." No! Really? How did you figure that out? Maybe it has something to do with the abandon looking buildings you're literally surrounded by and the fact that there's no one in sight. What is this now, Dora the Explorer?🙄

L:"How long do we have?" S:"Twelve hours or so. Things down here are only going to get worse." I love how Sylvie just knows this off the top of her head. And no duh hun! You literally said that a moon was about to crash into the planet and that every location on the TemPad is an apocalypse! Did they expect for thing to just randomly get better for literally no reason?!

Did he just point to a neon sign and ask if it was a potential power source? I'm so done.

Loki's first line when they come to the house, if you'll so call it, in the middle of nowhere was actually in character. But it was ruined when he decided to pose as the husband of the owner of the house. This was dumb for two reasons. The first being that if you look at the photo, they don't look highly affectionate towards each other. Heck, they don't even look happy, affectionate is a real step. The second reason, is that Loki doesn't know this man so behaving like him is not an option. This isn't like that Thor: Dark World scene where Loki changes his appearance repeatedly. Note that he knows the behaviors and personalities of all of those people so posing as them would be easy. This is not the case in this scene.

The thing I find most interesting about this Lamentis place is how everyone here is human even though this clearly is not Earth. I guess they were too lazy to consider the fact that not every planet has humans on it, and they only went as far as to change the fashion slightly.

Why are all of Loki's plans so bad. He disguises himself as a guard while having no idea how the process works, and, for whatever reason, he's changed is voice to sound robotic even if the other guards are clearly talking normal and it's completely unnecessary.

I hate this supposed-to-be heart-to-heart scene. They just go though such in depth and emotionally deep topics like it's surface level stuff and it really bothers me. They're talking about stuff that was the literal main plot of two movies and what pretty much shaped phase 2 of the MCU like it's nothing! They also look so constipated it's not even funny.

L:"She was the kind of person you'd want to believe in you." S:"Sounds like she does." Actually, I'm pretty sure Frigga gave up on Loki when he found out he was adopted. @nikkoliferous and @youlackconviction do a great job of explaining why here.

L:"So, where'd you learn to do the...You know, the...Whatever this is?" S:"I taught myself." L: "You taught yourself that magic?" S:"Yeah, I did." Enchantment. He's talking about enchanting people. How did he forget what it's called? He literally called her out on it when she was trying to do it to him earlier in the episode. I also find it hard to believe that Loki just had everything taught to him. OG Loki is a huge book worm and has an insatiable lust for knowledge. His magical talents are also no secret. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to find out that the majority of he can do came from self-teaching.

Not a soul on this planet can convince me that Loki would become intoxicated in a life or death situation. (Also, how did Loki even become intoxicated? They're drinking champagne, and he's a god. It should have almost no effect on his system.) And again with this place being so similar to Earth, it's weird. Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor: Ragnarok proves that every planet has its differences. What's going on with this place?

Maybe love is hate? It's like Waldron was trying to be poetic and failed miserably. The definition of love is an intense feeling of deep affection. The definition of hate is intense or passionate dislike. The two are antonyms of each other so this makes absolutely no sense.

S:"Must of been would-be-princesses or perhaps, another prince." L:"A bit of both." I've already addressed my opinion regarding Loki's sexuality on my blog here (and other places if you look). In short, I don't think Loki is bisexual for a multitude of reasons, the main one being the fact that Asgard is basically stuck in Medieval times. And I know someone is going to make the argument that Valkyrie is gay, but I refuse to except any Thor related Marvel content after Thor: Dark World as canon. And if they really wanted Valkyrie to be and LGBTQ+ character, they would have scripted her better like they did with Phastos in Eternals.

How hard Loki is struggling to come up with his personal meaning of is baffling to me. He's known for his sharp tongue and quick wit this shouldn't be taking so long!

I have a relatively similar opinion about seeing Loki naked as I do him singing on the train. It's something I want to see and hear, really I do. They just didn't go about it the right way at all. He shouldn't have his close force off of him, and he shouldn't be singing in a situation where letting his guard down could possibly get him killed. Tom is an amazing singer but...wrong place, wrong time.

Sylvie's face! 🤣

The Loki version of the "Another!" scene from Thor 1 I don't think needs to be discussed. It's OOC. That's it.

The "Love is Like A Dagger" metaphor actually makes sense to me given the understanding I have of his character. Love is something that in Loki's life has been used against him and nearly gotten him killed multiple now. I lost track of how much he's done for his abusers and gotten nothing but pain and scorn in return. No matter how much Loki wants to believe that his family loves him, after everything they've done to him, it's no surprise that he can't even try to except the words that are being spoken to him as genuine. (Example)

And because the objective of the show is to make Loki look stupid, of course to Sylvie this makes no sense, and she completely ruins it. Also the amount of metaphors Loki uses in this show is truly hysterical. You can not expect me to believe that anyone on Asgard, with their minuscule brains, would have the patience to listen to Loki drag on and on with countless metaphors. They lose their patience with him the second he steps into a room! Don't get me started on how they react when he talks! They're beyond done with him at that point!

You know...this train fight scene would have not been that bad if A. I wasn't expected to believe that Loki could throw a dagger that badly and B. I wasn't expected to believe that a couple of ordinary humans could pick up someone who was a quarter of a ton and let themselves be thrown out of a train.

I'm struggling to understand where Sylvie shippers stand because the only thing Sylvie cares about is herself, and her end goal. Loki just got chucked out of a train and the only reason she goes after him is for the TemPad. How romantic.🙄

Again with the hair flip!😡

I struggle to believe that Loki would be as careless as to destroy their only chance of surviving an apocalypse. Really, I do, and by this point in this post you should already know why.

Yes, sit directly next to someone who now has absolutely no reason to keep you alive. This is also the part of the show where Loki's presences serves no purpose what so ever and if Sylvie killed him it wouldn't matter at all.

L:"You know, I don't think I've ever walked this much in my life." Given how many adventures he's gone on with Thor, how much fighting Loki has done over the course of a millennium, and how large Asgard's palace is alone this statement I find incredibly hard to believe.

I'm so done this character, because he's not my Loki, it's not even funny. Am I really expected to believe that Loki doesn't know how enchantment works? He has the ability to preform astral projection and telepathy. HOW WOULD HE NOT KNOW HOW ENCHANTMENT WORKS IT'S BASICALLY JUST A COMBINATION OF THE TWO?!

S:"Do we trust each other?" L:"We do and you can." Another deep and genuinely emotional conversation summed up in a couple of lines. *Sighs deeply* As a bookworm this is literal torture.

I love how they know they only have 5 minutes yet proceed to stand there. 🙃🙄🤦‍♀️

Two things, the music that plays after the arc is blown up is so out-of-context it's dumb and how Sylvie just walks away and leave Loki there is just selfish. They ran through all of that and she's not even fazed by the fact that he could still be attacked or hit by something. Nope, she just walks away.

Loki Series Episode 4 "The Nexus Event"

My biggest problem with this show, and many other people who share my opinion think this as well, is how much it focuses on Sylvie and not Loki. This show is poorly written in general as you all have already seen above. But just go back and look at any Marvel movies from phase 1 or Spiderman: Homecoming. Any OG character movie really (except Thor 1 we all know that movie was really about Loki) and see if there are any side characters that have a full back story scene. I'll save you the trouble. THEY DON'T! THERE ARE NO SCENES! Why? BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT THE SIDE CHARACTER! The show is literally called Loki, and we take up the first few minutes of the episode with a back story about Sylvie and her childhood when it should be Loki's childhood we're seeing! And yes, I am focusing on the fact that the writing is poor given that it is not about the title character vs the TVA kidnapping Sylvie as a poor innocent child, sue me.🙄

Yay! Another scene of pure emotional constipation!

S:"...the TVA showed up, erased my reality, and took me prisoner." What I think is dumb is how we are on episode 4 out 6 and NOW we learn what happens when the TVA show up and "resets" a timeline. "Rest" isn't even the right word, they completely erase the timeline from all existence. So if the person even wanted to go back to their timeline they couldn't. I really don't understand why it took them so long to explain that. 🙄 What I also have an issue with is how in this scene, again, we waste time learning about Sylvie's backstory, even though she's a side character, instead of Loki and the show is supposed to be about him not her.

B-15: "Leaping across time, planning their next massacre." I love how B-15 says this line like it's just a hobby that everyone named Loki enjoys participating in. Not because it's necessary to protect the people they care about but because it's fun. That's the only reason.

S:"Do you think that what makes a Loki a Loki is the fact that we're destined to lose?" I've already talked about how when Loki plans literally anything in the MCU he's always executed it successfully. Even if from a different perspective he looks like he's lost but in all actuality he's won.

L:"You were just a child when the TVA took you, but you nearly took down the organization that claims to govern the order of time. You did it on your own. You had rings around them. You're amazing!" Interesting how we're suppose to praise Sylvie after this line. but my biggest problem is how he says "nearly" which means she didn't do it, and her 1000+ years of effort put towards trying to do it has ultimately amounted to nothing. Compared to Loki on the other hand who, by this point, successfully stopped war and prevented the king of Asgard from being murdered while defenseless, and while having everyone conspire against him, and be going through a mental breakdown/identity crisis and outsmarted the most power crazy being in the galaxy, while giving the people who are going to fight said power crazy being, a 101 course on the power of the Infinity Stones and their existence. This is not including the fact that in the future Loki saves Asgard not once, but two more times! I frankly am not impressed with Sylvie in the slightest.

I don't know why they're holding hands. I don't care that its the end of the world it's still weird. They barely even know each other.

@youlackconviction did a comparison post regarding Loki being taken prisoner in this scene vs other ones and it never occurred to me that him struggling is OOC until she pointed it out so here's this. The difference is painful.

Hate this dialogue soooooooooo much.

L:"By the way, I should have an equal amount of security. This is insulting!" Interesting how that is his biggest concern in this scene, but he does have a point. If you clicked on the link where Loki is shown being taken captive in both Avengers and Thor: Dark World, the amount of security he has is impressive. But it's necessary. Loki is dangerous and no one is skipping over that fact. In Thor: Dark World, he's being escorted by Asgardian guards and he's in chains. The fact that the guards are escorting is already enough since they are closer in matching in him strength. But they have him in chains, on basically every part of his body, as well. Loki is not someone to be messed with. I'm only gonna say this one more time I promise, but they cannot convince me that Loki could be dragged literally anywhere but a couple of humans. That's it. I'm done. Last time.

Now, if someone would have said what Mobius had just said to Loki, my morals and values would have flown out the window. I would have just let his butt choke and die on the lies he's being feed. End of story. I have and issue when people don't show any appreciation towards me and the things I do for them, let alone spit garbage like that in my face! No thank you!🤣

All I have to say about Loki being thrown in a time loop is that...I've hated Sif since the first movie. This only makes my hate for her character increase in ten fold.

I'm done with the hair flipping. This is my last comment about it.

L:"I remember exactly what I did after that. I went and had a nice, hot bath and a glass of wine, and I never thought about it again, because it was just a bit of fun." I would like to join Loki in that bath, just saying. Loki not Larry to be clear. First of all, getting kneed in the groin hurts severely if you are a man. It can hurt too as a female in the right spot but as a guy...I'm impressed with how quickly he got up. Second, I've read fanfics about Loki being a trickster and enjoying playing pranks on people but Thor 1, Thor: Dark World, and this scene just prove how little patience anyone (royal staff included) had on Asgard when it came to Loki. It was basically none. They have zero tolerance when it comes to him so I'm sure pranks were completely off the table. OG Loki also kept more to himself and I highly doubt that he would even be interested in playing pranks on people anyway. Lastly, my headcanon is that it was actually Thor and the Warriors 3 who played the prank on Sif and just blamed it on Loki. I'm not saying this because I don't like Thor, I'm saying it because the past movies can support my theory. Thor screws up, and Loki takes the fall for it. We've seen it multiple times now.

It's killing me how he's not even attempting to fight back, and he's just letting it happen. Also, given the amount of times Sif keeps kneeing him, I hope he wasn't planning on having kids because that's not going to be an option by the time she's done. 😬

Here's a little treat regarding this scene...

I'm not even going to go into detail about this conversation between Ravonna and Mobius. All I have to say is that they need to stop belittling Loki and acting like he's nothing but a pushover. Countless movies have already proved that he's not, so this needs to stop.

B-15:"Aren't you suppose to be interrogating your Variant pet?" DO NOT CALL MY BEAUTIFUL BABY A PET YOU GULLIBLE PIECE OF TRASH!!

L:" I'm a horrible person. I get it. I really am. I cut off your hair because I thought it'd be funny. And it's not. I crave attention...because I'm...I'm a narcissist. And I suppose it's...It's because I'm scared of being alone." Sif:" You are alone and you always will be." *Sighs deeply* I don't...I don't understand what exactly these directors are trying to do. My theory is that, besides this being poorly written, they're trying to play mind games with the audience. They know that there are enough viewers who are not like the people I follow, or the ones taking out the time to read this ridiculously long post. This show isn't for the people who are willing to spend years breaking apart every single detail of Loki's character. It's not for the people who are doing what the TVA claim to be doing. Analyzing and reanalyzing and re-reanalyzing every piece of dialoged, every facial expression, every action, every decision Loki makes. Tirelessly. Enjoyably. This show is for the people who know Loki is a fictional character in the MCU and he's Thor's brother, and he's the bad guy/anti-hero. That's it. That's as far as it goes. Nothing more nothing less. What they do in this scene is they give you both negative and positive pieces. The negative pieces, "I'm a horrible person." "I cut off your hair because I thought it'd be funny." "I'm a narcissist." They know that it is these pieces of dialogue that "fans" are going to focus on. As humans when we don't think things through, and even if we do sometimes, we still focus on the bad. It's just human nature. And they're counting on it in this clip! But, if you're like me (and if you're reading this post you probably are), if you're like the people I follow, you focus on the "positive" ("positive" being the details that actually make sense and fit Loki's character based on previous evidence), "I crave attention." "It's because I'm scared of being alone." These lines are the unspoken thoughts, feelings, and emotions of OG Loki. As a real fan, everything besides these lines is hogwash. It's complete nonsense. That, and the fact that he's confiding in Sif, a woman who couldn't care less if he was alive or dead. What makes this scene worse is that we're seeing this happen to TVA Loki (Larry), and for whatever reason, Tom just looks ridiculously old in this series, and for literally no reason too, but originally this scene happened to 2011 Loki. This Loki...

I had a problem with this scene already but when it's put into context that this (gif above) is who she was originally talking to...it just...it just hits different. 😭

I love how Loki just walks out and doesn't immediately try to choke the life out of Mobius because I would. He is beyond deserving of it at this point. You could argue that Loki probably didn't do it so he would be put back in the time loop, but if he killed Mobius fast enough he wouldn't have time to put him back I don't care he still deserves it.

M:" Or is that just a cockroach's survival mechanism kicking in?" L:" Let me out of this place, stop beating me up, and I'll tell you." M:"Cockraoch. Got it." First of all, don't call him a cockroach. Second of all, I love how Loki makes a valid request/argument and Mobius is just like, no. Nope because that would be the right thing to do but that's not what the TVA stands for or does so...no.

L:" She's difficult and irritating, and she tries to hit me all the time. No. Not partners, no." M:" Yeah, I guess you don't do partners. Unless, of course, it benefits you, and you intend to betray them at some point." I am mind blown right now. Loki is making VALID arguments against Sylvie! He is calling out her abuse raw with no sugar coding and Mobius is just...totally not listening. AT ALL! I am so confused as to what people see in both Lokius and Syliki because...you CANNOT tell me this is love. If this is your definition of love I beg you on behalf of the people you have either already messed up, and the people who you might mess up in the future to please seek help. Everything that Loki is describing is abuse in ever sense of the word, and no one can tell me otherwise. I'm also trying to figure out Mobius and this whole "You betray everyone" thing. What exactly does he expect to come from a person who he just insulted the heck out of over the course of 2 or 3 episodes? Really?

L:" It was a means to an end, Mobius. Welcome to the real world. Down there, we're awful to one another to get what we want." M:" Now I gotta have a prince tell me how the real world works? Why don't you just tell me what caused the nexus event on Lamentis?" L:" Let me say this again. I'm not going to tell you just so you can turn around immediately afterwards and prune me." This is the most OG Loki scene in this entire show. That's my baby! He knows how to fight back, you go honey! Side note, I don't know why they're trying to make Loki look like a spoiled prince. Every Thor movie proves how hard living on Asgard was for Loki even in Ragnarok. He had to disguise himself as Odin, and the second the glamor was taken down instantly everyone turned against him. He's a prince and never once could he let is guard falter. It was too much of a risk. Weakness on Asgard means death. No exceptions. Especially if you're Loki.

I love how this show only gives you scraps of OG Loki before it goes straight back to Larry. I know the time loop was bad I'm not belittling men's pain, honestly, but...he spent a year with Thanos, that's all I have to say.

How Loki's face changes is totally OOC he's being way too emotional. If you look at the scene in Thor: Dark World where the guard tells Loki Frigga is dead we don't even see Loki's face visibly change. The only indication that he's even sad is his eyes.

Mobius' rant about Loki "being in love" with Sylvie is so childish it hurts. I will never understand why in society we must always pair a man and a woman together even if they have no chemistry what so ever.🤦‍♀️

This is my last comment about Loki being easily broken into persuasion and he is a much better person than me for telling Mobius this.

M:"Unbelievable. Wherever you go, it's just death, destruction, the literal ends of worlds." This is wrong in this context. But in the context of it being a necessary evil in order to, IDK, save Asgard, this is true. What's unfortunate is the fact that whenever Loki does it though it's always met with harsh consequences or judgement. EVEN IF IT BENEFITS THE PEOPLE BEING SAVED!

I'm skipping Sylvie and B-15 + Mobius and Ravonna scene because I've concluded that the plot for this show is terrible and pointless, so I don't care.

L:"How about the word of a friend?" I am so over Larry, and his desperate need for people to befriend him. OG Loki would have been like, "screw all of you cause I'm done" just like in TDW! I think Sif is causing him to have brain damage because did he just forget that this is the same guy who locked him in a time loop where he gets kicked in the groin repeatedly.

M:"You were right, about the TVA. You were right from the beginning. And if you want to save her, you need to trust me." When people don't put faith in Loki, I immediately think they're stupid. The Warriors 3 and Lady Sif are idiots but even they subconsciously put faith in Loki to stop two wars! Also, no Mobius I don't trust you after you put me in a time loop so that I could repeatedly get kicked in the balls. This dialogue is so poor I can't.

M:"You can be whoever, whatever you wanna be, even someone good. I mean, just in case anyone ever told you different." Is this...is this suppose to be encouragement? In case you forgot hon, you were one of the main people who told him that he was useless, and annoying, and a cockroach, and to shut up, and a universal mistake, and a narcissist, etc. so if anyone doesn't have the right to say this to him it you Mobius!!!

I'm so done with how much Loki is crying in this show. Not because it hurts me (because him crying in this show does not compare to this is the slightest...👇)

but because it's honestly super annoying.

As if this chic cares whether or not he's okay. 🙄

More time being wasted on Sylvie's backstory...

L:"I've lost track of the number of times I've been killed, so go ahead." From a this show is garbage stand point, what does that even mean? From a analyst of Loki's character stand point, are they referring to all of Loki's emotional abuse? His time with Thanos? All the times in his life where people have walked all over him? How he's constantly in pain? His suicide attempt? His time in the void?

L:"A little help here?" You cannot convince me that OG Loki need help in a fight. It's not possible. I also hate how he starts out with his arms in front of him. What happened to this guy god?

Y'all notice how the cameras focuses on Sylvie fighting more than Loki right? It's not just me?

You cannot convince me that there is a moment in time where Loki doesn't know what to say. Seriously. you can't. And him trying to confess his love for Sylvie honestly makes me want to throw up.

How emotionless Sylvie's face is in this scene kills me. If she really cared about him her reaction would have been totally different and help much much more emotion. Her face is like, oh well.

Loki Series Episode 5 "Journey Into Mystery"

I would have to say that this beginning scenes is one of the better parts of the show but only because it gives us a glimpse of what would of happened in 2012 if Tony hadn't of caught the missile.

Sylvie reminds me so much of Thor in this scene it is honestly painful.

S:"And how will saving him get us closer to who's really behind the TVA?" I love how she says this line immediately after asking how Loki is still alive. Shows you where her priorities are and how much she cares about Loki. She doesn't. Sylvie is completely self absorbed, and her face doesn't even change when Loki is mentioned. I really do not understand where this Syliki ship is coming from.

OG Loki would never lose his temper this quickly, just saying.

I'm going to just skip around with this...multiple variants of Loki nonsense going on in this episode because...there is just so much wrong with it I can't even put it all in this post. It too long as it is but in summary, none of this makes sense.🤦‍♀️

Also, with the kid Loki variant, I would have thought they would have cast someone who looked more like the child version of Loki from Thor 1. You know this one 👇

I know they're different ages but still. I personally think that Timothee Chalamet would have been great for this role, and he's a great actor so he probably would have done a bit better. IDK why but Timothee and Tom look slightly similar to me. Feel free to disagree but...

Yeah...because...of course Kid Loki killed Thor. That's 100% believable. 🙄

I don't know how this "Thanos" helicopter would have gotten there. Like seriously, why is it there? That thing is totally random even for the end of the world.

A space craft designed to get through the void at the end of time. That makes total sense. How did Sylvie fall for that even if it is only for a split second? Ravonna said it was impossible for one, and for two, if everyone thought the Time Keepers were real and every "cosmic mistake" was there why would anyone be concerned about what was at the end of time? Wouldn't they just assume it was ultimately nothing?

S: "Just one, really." I love how so many fake Loki fans think she's talking about Loki in this scene. I question if we watched the same series because they literally have zero good memories together. The one time they even got somewhat emotional was when they thought they were going to die on Lamentis.

I honestly have to say, out of every Loki variant presented in this show I like Classic Loki the most. He's the only one out of all of them who's story lines up with Loki's character. And if Classic Loki endured what OG Loki had at the hands of Thanos, I cannot blame him for running. It worked out in the end anyway. It's implied that the Avengers won without him so good for him. Hey, at least he was happy for a while. That's a lot more than what we can say for OG Loki. Maybe instead of trying to find Sylvie in season 2 they can have Loki take a page out of Classic Loki's book. As unlikely as that is, the thought still makes me happy.

L:"And she needs me." Honey, she's been trying to get rid of you since the second episode, what are you talking about? You're the one that's codependent, not her. Also she basically hates you so...where is this coming from? And she's doing fine without you as well.

This whole...Loki variants thing is honestly the worst thing about the show. Not the costumes, the poor dialogue, not even the plot and that's saying something. Nope, it's this scene right here. And out of all of the Loki variants there are I hate President Loki the most. He doesn't even serve a purpose to the plot other than to make Loki look bad as a character. He's not funny, I don't know what Tom is doing to his voice in this scene, he's overly dramatic, and the screaming, just...just...why? HE'S NOT EVEN IN THE REST OF THE SCENE!!

Again with the "Glorious Purpose". 🙄

CL:"We lie and we cheat, we cut the throat of every person who trusts us, and for what? Power. Glorious power. Glorious purpose! We cannot change." The only thing I agree with is how Classic Loki makes this statement in pain and irritation. Given the fact that I'm on episode 5 now, I think it's safe to say that the reasons as to why I disagree with the overall statement have already been conveyed.

L:"She's the only one I do trust." WHY?!! She doesn't even care about him! My gosh this guy is such a simp for this abusive, lousy, sorry excuse for a woman, and I am so over it!

S:"When I pruned myself, I though I might be able to find Loki. That storm, that thing, it's likely already got him." M:"You really believe that?" S:"It doesn't matter." I will never ever ever ever ever understand Syliki shippers. EVER! This dialogue literally proves what I was saying above! She doesn't even look or sound sad at the thought of him being gone! Mobius asking if she even believe it almost makes it worse. She says "It doesn't matter." This woman is worse than Thor. Loki didn't even do anything, and she's already giving up. Unbelievable.

S:"We thought you could do with some backup." What?! Tell me this is not the same woman who two seconds ago had come to accept that he was dead!

M:"She's pretty confident." I think arrogant is a better word but okay Mobius.

*Skips the conversation that's about Sylvie even though the show is titled Loki*

I have no comment about Mobius trying to figure out if Alligator Loki is a Loki. I get that it's a joke, but it's not funny, just like the rest of the show.

S:"Mobius isn't so bad." L:"Or so good. I think that's why we get along." S:"He cares about you." What?! I don't understand these people, and I've given up on trying. Everything in this post negates that statement.

L:"It's cold." S:"Mmm-hmm." Someone please explain to me the logic behind how two JOTUNS are cold?! Please. I'm begging you. This is like a polar bear saying it's cold! That makes zero sense! Evolution has designed them to with stand below freezing temperatures! This show as literally evaded all logic! This is the dumbest excuse for a poor attempt at a romantic scene I have ever witness in my life.🤦‍♀️

S:"You could conjure me a new outfit. You have no idea how uncomfortable something like this is." …You see, if they had of left Loki's OG armor on in the show for more than 2 seconds this line probably wouldn't have made it into the script. It still shouldn't of if you ask me because yes he does. He wears Asgardian leather, same as her, in every...single...movie. Every single one. I don't....

Ah, more emotional constipation. *Gags* Yay.

S:"I don't know how to do this." L:"I don't even know what we're doing." First of all, Sylvie, we as the audience by this point have already figured that out. Second, I bet you my life savings this is the only line out of the whole show that Tom actually enjoyed saying. Because I'm pretty sure that he doesn't know what he's doing either. And as the audience, we also don't know what you're doing. 😁

S:"Is it a tablecloth?" More poor jokes woohoo. It honestly looks like one, but I don't understand why it would be a table cloth.

S:"How do I know that, in the final moments, you won't betray me?" Nope. No. I'm done. It's the fifth episode, and she's still asking this? I'm still struggling to remember the first time. It drives me insane when people ask this. He's nearly died how many time for people who couldn't care less about him or his well being. The people who should spend the rest of their live worshiping him instead spend it spitting on him, and I can't take it anymore.

L:"I betrayed everyone who ever loved me." Please reference this post as to why this line makes no sense and is not even true. We're going to ignore the fact that he keeps going because I...I can't do it with this show.

L:"And that's not who I am anymore." You've made it clear that there is a HUGE difference between you, Larry, and OG Loki, believe me. It 99% of the reason why this show is so bad.

S:"...there might be a timeline for you to rule." L:"Ah. And then I'd finally be happy." Yeah, that's my response because...how many times do we have to go over this? Tom looks like he's ready to throw up, and he's really holding it in here. 🤣This scene makes his acting look bad, and he's a professional! If you don't believe me by all means, please, go watch The Night Manager (This is one of my favorites). You really could watch any movie that he's in before 2020 and understand why, as a fan, I am genuinely embarrassed for him. He looks terrible, there I said it.

I love how Sylvie's face just says "no" in the most blunt way possible.

S:"We don't know who created it or where they are, but that thing out there does. When it hit me earlier, I linked to it. It was brief, but I caught a glimpse of something, and I think if I can get close enough to it, I can enchant it and it's gonna take me to whoever's behind all of this." I'm sorry but the lack of sureness in this statement is disturbing. You can look at any other marvel movie and the main characters always have a full proof plan. Even if it is dangerous. There is no "might", "something", "I don't know". The main character in Marvel movies knows what they're doing. OG Loki wouldn't execute a plan based on a seeing a glimpse of something. He can come up with full proof plans while being mentally unstable. This chic is at full mental capacity and this is the best she can do?! That's embarrassing.

Currently trying to figure out why handing Loki the tempad is such a milestone.

S:"Loki, I don't know if this is gonna work." Yeah...you made that pretty clear.

L:"You go, I go." *Violently rolls eyes*🙄

I don't understand why they are trying so hard for this scene to be emotional. Let's go already!

M:"Looks like you got away in the end." L:"I always do." *Reminisces about the time Loki's "escape" resulted in him being imprisoned by Thanos, then Odin, and then killed by Thanos* The heck are they talking about.

*Vomits in mouth watching Loki and Mobius hug* 🤮

L:"What if we don't have time to wait for a branch?" He's asks this question now?!

I have no idea what this head nodding is supposed to mean. My interpretation is that Sylvie is thinking why the heck are you touching me, and Larry's just like just roll with it like a total pervert. 🤣

S:"How is he doing that?" L:"I think we're stronger than we realize." First of all, we all know Loki can cast illusions. We've seen him do it in literally every Thor movie. Sylvie not knowing how to do it just further proves why OG Loki is better than her. I really do not understand why they are trying do hard to dull down Loki's powers especially since he's already proved how powerful , intelligent, sexy, and skilled he really is.

L:"What are you doing?" S:"We're gonna enchant it." L:"I don't know how." First of all, SYLVIE IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR DISCUSTING, SELFISH, APATHETIC HANDS OFF MY MAN You would have to pay me some serious money to get me to believe that Loki, a master of magic, doesn't know how to enchant people. Please refer to above.

S:"You do. Because we're the same." I wish this was the last episode because I am too through with this dialogue.

RIP Classic Loki. To bad, out of all of the Loki's he was my favorite.

Loki Series Episode 6 "For All Time. Always."

Small disclaimer: If you made it all the way down here may you be blessed by Loki's beauty because you are wonderful! 🥰🥰🥰

IT'S TIME FOR THE FINAL EPISODE!!

S:"Well, if you think it's a bad idea, I prefer you to speak your mind." Oh, NOW she cares about his opinion. I see. 🙄

L:"No. Nothing to say." S:"That'll be a first." I cannot express how happy I am that Tom actually sounds like Loki in this scene. Also, it's the last episode, so I'm not going to go on a rant about how Sylvie is wrong here.

I love how Loki's whole demeanor in this scene is exactly what the audience is thinking which is, IF YOU DON'T HURRY UP SO WE CAN GET THIS OVER WITH!

Hate Sylvie for telling him to shut up, and I hate the directors for making the final episode about her when the show is called Loki. That is the last time I'm saying this.

MM:"You know how you got into this mess." L:"What?" The Battle of New York, silly. You versus those self-righteous Avengers. How would you like to win? But not just there. You can kill Thanos. You want the Infinity Gauntlet? Yours. Throne of Asgard? No problem." Why is Miss Minutes purring after saying Avengers. Horny Clock?😳 I love how the only thing that even sounds remotely satisfying would be killing Thanos. But now I have a billion more questions regarding Loki's poor treatment because now we know for sure that the TVA is aware he was tortured. Yet they still treated him like dirt. Some heroes.

One thing I learned from this series is that Miss Minutes is a horrible liar.

I'm just going say it now because we know it only goes down hill from here. Kang is the most boring MCU villain in existence.

Look at that, B-15 is alive.

K:"You're a flea on the back of a dragon. In for one hell of a ride. But you did manage to hang on. I guess that counts for something." I'm not even going to go there because if you've made it this far you already know what I'm going to say.

Mobius has what I like to call NCD. Non-existent Character Development or Thor Character Development. Where the main character leaves their home but instead of going on a journey to write their wrongs or learn something, they go on vacation and come back but ultimately didn't learn anything. Mobius is a hypocrite because now since what the TVA does doesn't suit his needs he wants to bring it down.

S:"Or you're a liar." Sylvie being the dumbest version of Loki. He just explained, with details that actually make sense, why it's important he stays alive and this is the best response she can come up with. Okay, we're doomed.

L:"Why would you give up being in control?" I think this is the most OOC line out of the entire show. This has gone on for so long I don't even want to explain why. All I have to say is *cough* Thor 1 *cough*.

I would die before I would live under the rule of Larry and Sylvie. Loki on the other hand has proven he could do so by all means. But Larry and Sylvie, absolutely not.

K:"Murderer! Hypocrite!" Finally somebody says it! Thank you!

Skipping to Loki and Sylvie's conversation...Sylvie is selfish as all get out. So blinded by her pain that she can't even see the bigger picture. 🤦‍♀️

S:"You want the throne." Sometimes I genuinely wonder what people hear when Loki talks. I'm so glad this is the last episode because I cannot take anymore of this stupidity.

Part... I don't even know... of Loki providing valid reasoning and introducing smart decisions to dumb people who don't care and aren't listening.

I'm done with Loki crying. Seriously.

S:"Why aren't we seeing this the same way?" Because Loki is a super genius with ruling experience, and you, Sylvie, are stupid, foolish, tactless, and selfish. This is the most In character Loki had been. Also you've never seen anything the same way this whole show so...why start now during the last episode. I also love how this destroys all and any meaning behind their poorly scripted, severely constipated heart to heart earlier.

L:"I've been where you are. I've felt what you feel." Not really but sure hun. Honestly though I have no idea what they're talking about in this scene. All of Loki's pain comes from his self-loathing caused by his abusive family and so-called friends. Sylvie is mad because her life was ultimately taken from her, and she had to live on the run, that's totally different.

This whole post explains everything wrong with the kiss, besides her pushing Loki into a portal literally 5 seconds later. Scratch that, go back 3 minutes that explains it too.

OH MY GOODNESS IT'S OVER!!! FINALLY!

If you made it to the end of this post thank you so much, I really appreciate it! 🥰🥰🥰

If you're wondering if I am going to be reviewing season 2...don't bother asking because this was pain enough.

#loki series negativity #loki season one #into the larryverse #the larry show #in defense of loki

[practically-an-x-man]

1, 4, 6, 10 for Heart in Your Hands and/or Catch and Release?

Ooh thank you!!!

Answers under the cut for space :D

1: What inspired you to write the fic this way?

HIYH: We're really just getting started so that's hard to answer at the moment... I guess I wanted to play with perspectives a little more, contrasting Lars' modern and scientific worldview with Jimmy's more historic but curious perspective. And I wanted to take a few tropes, like the "true love's kiss" trope, and revamp them in a way that I found more appealing.

C&R: Hm... I think my main goal in this one was themes of grief and family, which I think I accomplished, but I also wanted to play around with this grief-stricken, somewhat guarded antihero character since that was a perspective I hadn't touched quite as much with my other characters. And I had just seen No Way Home three times in theaters and I wanted desperately to try and fit my own character into that world to the point that people would start to forget she wasn't really there in the movie.

4: What’s your favorite line of dialogue?

HIYH: Again, not much of a pool to pick from yet, but... this interaction was one of the first that popped into my head, and I just think it's so funny:

“You’re… shockingly normal.” Lars blurted, unable to help himself.  “You’re shockingly British.” the spirit responded, baring him another of those little half-smiles, “Where’ve you taken me, stranger?”

C&R: Oooh, there are a lot of lines to pick from here, I really love Olly's sharp wit. I could write a whole essay on her entrance into the battle with Charybdis, but instead I'm gonna go with this line from the fight on Lady Liberty:

“You like hip-hop? Or is jazz more your style?” Max taunted, lifting his hands. Argonaut kept her eyes on his palms, waiting for a spark. Even as she did, her mouth was running. “I prefer tango.” she said calmly, the only warning before her actuators came flying out at him. One claw slammed him mercilessly into the scaffolding, the resulting screech of metal on metal almost enough to make her wince. With two claws still anchoring her, the fourth and final spiraled outwards, reaching for the reactor glued to his chest. Argonaut grinned. “You had it coming.”

It's the combination of her mouth running on its own, automatically firing off these sharp quips about fighting-as-dancing and all that, while inwardly she's distracted by Peter's good-luck kiss and promise to take her to a Broadway show when everything's over (the "you had it coming" is a reference to the Cell Block Tango from Chicago)

6: What makes this fic special or different from all your other fics?

HIYH: It's got a lighter overall tone than my other fics, and it's going to stay there. The darkest this one will get is the canon events in Frozen Empire, and even that's brief. Currently Heartstrings is a little fluffier than this one overall, but Heartstrings is gonna have some killer angst once we get to it.

C&R: It's the closest I get to a crossover fic. Usually I stick to one canon or universe, and I am still sticking to the general world of Spider-Man in this one, but we get surprise appearances from Hobie, references to Spiderverse's LYLA, and of course all the multiverse-jumping in No Way Home itself. I have to say, it's a BEAST to keep track of, but I think it's paid off.

10: Why did you choose this pairing for this particular story?

HIYH: I knew I wanted to write for Lars since he seemed like a really neat character (and he's kinda cute ngl), and while his sexuality isn't ever stated or even hinted at in the movie as far as I could tell, I think his character works well as a gay man and I really wanted to explore the dynamic between his modern view on queerness compared to Jimmy's hidden-in-life/brave-in-death approach.

C&R: I've been a longtime fan of Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker, and I wanted to look at this, like... "two ships passing in the night" sort of romance as brought on by the multiverse. And he's super super bi, so I wanted to give him a partner who is equally bi and have them both be open about those past relationships.

In general, I tend to build my OCs to complement the canon characters, so I can explore some really neat character dynamics and relationships. That's also why I like writing OC x Canon rather than fully canon-character or fully OC ships most of the time, it allows me to build one character as a tool to explore whatever dynamic I want to capture with the other, like an extended character study. It's the challenge of keeping the canon character(s) reasonably accurate to their source material, while putting them into situations where they're interacting with someone completely new.

#my friends!!! #answered asks #my writing #heart in your hands fic #catch and release fic #ask game

[wickedlyqueer]

5, 14, 15, 18 for fanfic ask?

Aw thanks Carson! :D This got ramble-y, and I won't apologize.

5. What’s a fic idea you’ve had that you will never write?

Hm, there's the Holy Poly fic, but other than that...? Oh, okay I guess this is familiar to you and the people on discord, but recently I had this 1 am brainrot idea where Elphaba is dead, and Glinda is so distraught over it that she crafts an entire D&D map and embues it with magic, so they can both live there. Basically, Elphie doesn't realize they're in a simulation and that they might not even exist since they already died???

And while everybody in the discord was like "THAT'S FUCKED UP! WE'LL SUFFER! WRITE IT!" I had to explain... that I can't.

There's one (1) rule I follow and that's that a fic needs to have a cathartic ending. It can be sad or bittersweet, but I physically and emotionally cannot deal with an Elphaba who find outs that the person they love and care for the most is actively lying to them and has created a universe that isn't even real (!!!). Elphaba, fundamentally, would never ever trust Glinda after learning that. It would go beyond betrayal. It very much gave Glinda all the power and agency over Elphaba and it felt so nefarious and so wrong, that despite the chat hyping me up, I had to stick to my principles and refuse to ever touch the idea.

BUT. As you also know Carson, I did like certain aspects of that idea, so I let the idea sit in my brain for a bit and now that has turned into the multiverse fic, which I am excited about, has a far more expansive world than the other idea ever had, and does not consist that fucked up power balance.

TL;DR If I don't like a fic I let it marinate in my brain until the elements I like & do work find a place in a story I want to write and can envision.

14. If you could see one of your fics adapted into a visual medium, such as comic or film, which fan fic would you pick?

I find adaptations fascinating and I love visual mediums, so for most of my fics I can think of something. But for now let's say Smoke Covers Your Radiating Heart.

It's an 80s AU so I can easily see it be turned into a cheesy & messy & iconic 80s movie, bops and all!

15. How do you come up with titles for your fics/chapters?

Fuck if I know, honestly. I do like my titles to reflect the fic, so I always try to get the main "theme" of the fic somewhere in there. Like Smoke Covers Your Radiating Heart; in itself the title reflects how Glinda and Elphaba have quite some trouble showing how they feel about each other. They're hiding (even though a bit of smoke is never going to hide goddamn radiation (!!!).

But simultaneously there's some silly word association going on. The smoke refers to the amount of smoking that is happening in the fic (and generally in that time period). Radiating was a reference to the Dutch history that I've interwoven in the fic and the anti nuclear weaponry protest that Elphaba organizes. The heart obviously reflects gelphie's love and the "covering" I already explained. Just shake the words in your hand for a lil bit and voila; Smoke Covers Your Radiating Heart.

18. What’s one of your favorite lines you’ve written in a fic?

Oh gosh, this is tough, because I don't really write memorable lines imo? I'm more focused on the scene and dialogue and if it blends together. Not whether I have the perfect sentence that's very quotable. But again, if I have to force myself and choose an answer, I really love this exchange from the Victorian one-shot:

“I don’t care,” Glinda breathed out shakingly. “I want to have and hold you, Elphie.” “Then have me in your dreams, your thoughts, your fantasies. The only place our love is allowed. That’s where you’ll find me.”

Ask me a fanfic question

#sam's asks #ask game #gelphie #wicked fanfic

[aelaer]

Multiverse of Madness: Spoilerific Review Ahoy!

It's all going under the cut! Everything! All the thoughts about everything in this film! It's very long.

So I'm going to likely see it again on Saturday so my thoughts may change between now and then. I'll just reblog and add more thoughts if they do, as part of my brain throughout the first thirty minutes was just processing the fact that OMG I'm watching a Doctor Strange film again after so many years!

A video on YouTube that someone on Discord posted, by ComicBookCast2, said it perfectly: this movie is a stepping stone, an Iron Man 2, an Age of Ultron, a movie that has to exist in order to expand the greater universe. Those two movies are usually panned as not being some of the greatest, but I'd say of the three there, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is definitely the strongest stepping stone movie we have. And I understand why Feige would want to use Doctor Strange as a character to open up this immense concept. Considering the importance of Iron Man and the Avengers in the overall MCU, that speaks to good things regarding Doctor Strange's future (especially as Benedict seems to continue to want to play him).

I'll start with all the side characters first:

America: I really liked America's arc in this film, how she basically started as not knowing how to control her powers to being forced to take control to save herself, and then getting a pep talk from the Best Strange to show Wanda what she was actually doing. That was a powerful climax, and a hugely emotional climax for the character. And in Kamar-Taj in the MCU, I think she has the capability to grow into the powerful comic book character that she is, and gain all the skills that she has as a young adult when we first meet her in the comics.

Christine: One of the first rumors I read about this film that completely bummed the hell out of me was that Christine was going to die on her wedding day, presumably from the creature that the toy companies call "Gargantos" but that really looks like a "Shuma-Gorath" but dies as easily as your Monster of the Week. As this didn't happen, I was bloody thrilled. I have no idea if that scene was actually filmed or not. I wasn't expecting to like her multiversal version as much as I did, though that she was also betrayed by her Stephen was definitely something else. It put Stephen in the same position as he was with his Christine, in a way. It made their last scene together all the more precious, I think.

Wong (and Kamar-Taj): I loved seeing Sorcerer Supreme Wong really lead the defense of the entire society, and I couldn't blame him breaking under pressure by seeing people he knew and cared for being tortured like that. In terms of who was Sorcerer Supreme, I think Wong really worked having the title here, because it let Stephen's job open to protect America (and explore the multiverse) as opposed to needing to stay with the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj to regroup once it fell.

It was also very enjoyable to see Wong's own badass moments, though I don't blame him at all for falling to Darkhold!Wanda. We got a good look at just how OP the Darkhold made someone who already had huge amounts of power. RIP Sara though, existing for just a couple lines only to burn to a crisp. Just like the London Master, Sol Rama, in the first DS film xD

I enjoyed the cameos by Hamir and Rintrah and I hope they survived the attack. It was also great to see the London and Hong Kong Sanctum masters. The little bowing joke was fun, as was that little payoff at the end!

Mordo: One of the earlier spoilers I read from this film was that Wanda killed our Mordo, and I was really happy to see that if it was filmed, it didn't make the cut, because our Mordo has the history with Strange that's important. I was totally tricked with Mordo. Like, I knew that he looked like the one that was sword-fighting him in the trailer, but then he was so nice and all and I figured "oh, this must be a different universe", and I honestly thought that the Illuminati universe was going to be another one.

Then nope! Here's Mordo and the Illuminati. His hand-to-hand fight with Stephen was just *amazing*. I didn't get Stephen's comments to him though, about him always hating him. That was part of the comic lore, but I definitely didn't get that feeling in the first DS film. It feels like something that happened behind the scenes between DS1 and IW, maybe things Mordo said to Wong, or if Mordo left behind writings--or something. Definitely seems like it's something untold that someone should write a fanfic for. Was very happy overall with his character though, even if I didn't get our Stephen's comments in the context of the MCU.

Loved Stephen's reaction to his first name lmao. Also found it very interesting that he called himself Baron here! I wonder if that will be the same case for our Mordo?

The Rest of the Illuminati: I'm glad they were just cameos and that they were the only cameos serving basically as obstacles for Wanda. I'm really glad. The only other cameo I'd have been fine with is Deadpool, and that's just because Deadpool's super amazing. I don't think it'd fit with the tone of the rest of the film though, so it makes sense he wasn't in it, despite rumors. Illuminati!Strange definitely fit with this gang, being about "end justifies the means", and them making the "hard decisions" that don't necessarily mean good ones. Illuminati!Strange in the comics, too, destroyed an entire Earth, though that was a "kill or be killed" type of situation the Illuminati dealt with in the comics. I like that this variant of superheroes exist, all with people who've made insane decisions somewhere in the comics or the MCU as part of it.

Black Bolt's death is one of the most gnarly deaths on screen ever, and you won't change my mind. That was insane.

Wanda: I don't remember where I said it--probably in a Discord chat--but I basically said that if the trailer of her attacking Kamar-Taj killed innocent people, that they really could not redeem this version of her as a hero in the MCU. And because she was so brutal and corrupted, because she hurt so many people, her destroying the Darkhold and (potentially?) dying was probably the best end that they could have given her.

I think I would have preferred a plot where she fought against the Darkhold's power earlier on, that someone had caught up with her earlier and that this movie was a path of redemption for her. But since they didn't go that route, I think the original MCU!Wanda staying supposedly dead is probably the cleanest exit they can give her because she at least realized the monster she had turned into and kept it so that others would not fall to the same fate ever again across the Multiverse. It gives her tragic fall a noble ending.

I do find it interesting that the Scarlet Witch is singular in the Multiverse (IIRC), but that Wanda Maximoff is not (as we saw). I'm not sure if they'll have people travelling across universes into the MCU to take the place of the dead characters we have if the actors still want to portray them, but that may be what we see with Wanda, especially since White Vision still exists out there.

I was very happy to see an non-corrupted Wanda too. I think it showed a great contrast of who Wanda was before the Darkhold (combined with her grief) corrupted her. My brother, who apparently really liked WandaVision (and went to see the film with me), said he really didn't like corrupted Wanda himself, and I wonder how many people were looking for redemption arcs in this film after that show, or how many were looking for Wanda to embrace the evil of the Darkhold.

Stephen: The one and only--only, not the one and only. I could see one of the re-shot parts immediately within the first few minutes with Defender!Stephen repeating nearly word-for-word what Stephen told Peter in NWH. And, honestly? Fucking brilliant. I was shocked he would be like that, but at the same time, he's had to make the hard calls before--especially in the name of keeping control. So seeing Defender!Strange look at America as, ultimately, a threat? Yeah, I see it.

But in having all other three Stranges--Defender, Sinister, and Illuminati Stephen--make the decision to sacrifice others for their own need for control was a great way to juxtapose how different our Stephen is. There was some loss of control with using the Time Stone, out of necessity as he saw no other way. But he continues to learn that he cannot control everything in NWH and even moreso in MoM, until we get to the finale where he goes against Wong's order and uses what he's observed, his cleverness, to tell America what no one else has told her. And his wisdom leads to the end of the conflict.

It wasn't an ending I was expecting, to say the least--but damn, it's satisfying that both the ending of DS1 and DS2 were not Stephen beating an enemy by hitting magic at it, but by using his head. Magic was still used (the Time Stone and the Darkhold, respectively), but the solution would not have come if Stephen wasn't clever about his creative thinking. And that's one reason he's so unique as a superhero--and more unique than his counterparts, who simply go for control and power.

So many other Stephen details and plot points I liked:

I'm glad we got clarification of Stephen's status amongst the normal people now. I feel like this happened after Infinity War in particular, when the Avengers had to tell people what happened and he started getting known. Then after Endgame it got really known.

The film seemed to clarify that Stephen was never Sorcerer Supreme because he never learned about the Book of Vishanti being real. That was a very, very appeasing fact to me. Yes, I love being right.

I loved that dreams were glimpses of alternate realities, because I have written this concept in fanfic (the Sherlock/Strange crossover). IMO it's not all dreams though, and I think some people are more likely to have these types of dreams than others.

I love that incursions (convergences in the comics) are a thing. I also love this because I have an unpublished fanfic that is leading up to this, so now I gotta really get working on that so I can publish it already.

I adored what little we got of Sinister Strange and could easily have an entire film about our Stephen and Sinister Stephen just outwitting each other in this epic adventure. Like, replace Wanda with Sinister Strange and there's a new favorite film xD But I get why they didn't do that lol. Still, it was great to get a glimpse of this unhinged, corrupted character. He's not the tragic, fallen hero of What If?; he's simply unhinged.

I'm still torn on the musical fight scene. My logic brain that has written thousands upon thousands of words of meta on magic and its inner workings went "this make no sense" but my visual brain went "omg look that's so cool and pretty!" So what I'll likely end up doing is writing that scene in fanfic with so much technical magic explanation that people won't know what to do with it. But that's not happening until the film's out on streaming so I can watch it over and over and over again. (And I get other pieces done first).

All the shots we have now of Stephen in everyday wear and formal wear makes me so so so happy. So happy.

So the film wasn't about Stephen- it was definitely more a film about watching things unravel from Stephen's POV. But I'm glad we got to know more of his character (DONNA FINALLY GOT A MENTION), and that he had a solid character arc and definitely an impact on the climax and ending. And that it wasn't a cameo-stuffed CGI monster battle. I'm happy it wasn't- I was worrying about that.

I don't know about how I feel with Stephen getting a literal third eye. I always saw it as something a lot more metaphorical, personally. But hey, it led to a verrryyy interesting ending hinting at a lot more Doctor Strange and, of course, a quick cameo by Clea! I am very glad Clea is not being played by Rachel McAdams. I would have liked an Asian actress but I figured that'd be a long shot.

Things I would have liked to see:

I think I would have still enjoyed Superior Iron Man. So long as he wasn't played by Tom Cruise. And knowing that he would die in the end lmao. But I get why they went with Reed Richards instead, new era of Marvel and all.

There was a rumor that one of the credit scenes was going to be RDJ coming back as a cameo as Iron Man and apologizing for having him die, and that Stephen would have been able to make a similar apology. A pipe dream, alas; I don't think RDJ's coming back for any cameos.

WHY THE FUCK WASN'T THE EYE OF AGAMOTTO EXPLAINED? WHAT THE HELL MARVEL? WHY DOES IT SUDDENLY WORK AS IT DOES AND DID YOU FORGET THAT THANOS CRUSHED IT IN INFINITY WAR?

Seriously, I'm still annoyed by this. I have to fix everything myself, I swear.

I think it could have been 15-20 minutes longer with some more downtime between the action, with more scenes between Stephen/Wong and Stephen/America, or Stephen/Stephen. The talk between the two Stephens was freaking amazing.

Uh yeah, actually, not a lot of complaints. I think the biggest one would have been a preference with Wanda not as the villain, but that would be an entire rewrite of the story and it's not that much of a deal-breaker to me since she got her alternate version as well as something of a way to make herself not terrible at the end.

When it comes to a rating, I think I'll need to sit on it a bit more. I think NWH still packed more of an emotional punch for me, but I still definitely enjoyed MoM. Maybe an 8? 8.5? I'll see it again on Saturday, I think, so we'll see how I feel then.

#multiverse of madness #doctor strange #review #stephen strange #mcu #spoilers #ds mom #wanda maximoff #wong #benedict cumberbatch #benedict wong #america chavez #karl mordo

[taizi]

coming right on back for you

part 2 of ?

rise of the tmnt x tmnt 2k12 pairing: leo & mikey, leo & everyone word count: 2731 title borrowed from hurricane by lord huron post-movie

(previous) (next)

read on ao3

x

The look on Donnie’s face says it all: the situation is pretty bleak. Their guest likely wouldn’t have survived the trip home if not for Leo’s healing hands.

During those tense minutes he spent pouring energy into the striped turtle like water into an empty well, Leo fixed what he could, but apparently the stranger’s chi was dangerously low—so much so that it was practically non-existent. Leo was afraid to lend him any more than absolutely necessary, for fear of his body rejecting the entire foreign presence out of hand.

His healing removed the kid from death’s door, which was just enough of a miracle that their other resident miracle-worker would be able to save him the rest of the way.

Still, Leo’s expression is deeply concerned even after he lifts his hands away.

“I don’t know how he was still moving,” he says frankly. “His body was mangled, like he’d just crawled out of a ten-car pile-up. Broken ribs, a punctured lung, and his shell was practically in pieces.”

He isn’t a medic, and it doesn’t come as naturally to him as it does to Donnie, but he’s learned a lot over the past few years. He’s had to, in order for this technique of his to be of any use to them on a day-to-day basis.

And it brought him and Donnie closer than they were when they were kids. Donnie would never admit it under pain of death—especially back when he was seventeen and spiteful and had everything to prove—but he loved the extra hours they spent pouring over his prized medical textbooks together.

They all loved having Leo’s attention. It used to be a rare and precious commodity, especially right after sensei died.

“I would bet everything in my lab that he’s still got one nasty concussion,” Donnie says, lips pressed into a severe line as he feels along the back of the kid’s head and neck with the tips of his fingers. “I won’t feel better until I’ve had a chance to scan him. Even with the ribs and lung healed, there’s a wealth of dangerous complications that might still come up.” He touches the striped turtle’s arm, where his light green skin is smudged with some dark and tacky residue. “Infection is a big one.”

“But he’ll be okay?” Mikey can’t help but press anxiously.

Under Leo’s careful ministration, the bruises and discoloration on the kid’s body bloomed like grotesque flowers, bigger and more vivid than before. Mikey knows from experience that Leo’s technique has just nudged the natural process along, making them look days old instead of brand-new, but it’s still an unpleasant sight.

Raph’s hand moves from Mikey’s left shoulder to his right, his arm draped over the top of Mikey’s carapace as he draws him into a sidelong hug.

“Look who it is you’re talkin’ about,” he says gruffly, nodding toward the bloodied blue mask on the turtle’s face. None of them have said it out loud yet, but they all know who this little stranger must be. “The most stubborn guy in the multiverse. He’ll be just fine, Mike.”

“He should be, but I want him back in the infirmary ASAP,” Donnie says. “Raph, would you carry him?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

So Mikey helps Raph get the kid on his back, the two of them moving carefully at Leo and Donnie’s direction. It’s a little cute, the way the striped turtle immediately presses his cheek to Raph’s scuffed carapace—obviously recognizing a turtle-back-ride when he sees one, even when he’s completely out of it.

Like recognizes like. In one of those flash-bang moments of insane intuition that Mikey has never once in his life thought to question, he realizes, This is somebody’s little brother.

The almost-certain knowledge sits right under his plastron like a bruise, tender and tangible. He’s not sure what to do with it.

Leo takes point on the way back to the lair, his eyes hooded white as the sky begins to turn gray with dawn. They duck into the nearest storm drain and make most of the way home underground, forced to move slowly so that Raph doesn’t jostle the kid more than absolutely necessary.

It’s the most tense journey they’ve taken in a long time. Mikey feels prickly and anxious the entire way. Their echoing footsteps in the tunnels and pipes, the steady drip of water, the scurrying sounds of the rodents and dark-dwelling creatures that make up their neighbors—it should be a familiar ambiance, but instead it’s all grinding on Mikey’s fraying nerves.

He keeps glancing sidelong at their little guest. He almost trips off the slick tunnel ledge and into the run-off more than once. After the second time, Leo falls back to walk beside him, a solid buffer.

“So clearly this is another version of you, Fearless,” Raphael says when they’re more than halfway home. “But definitely not one we’ve met before, right?”

“Right,” Donnie says absently, keeping pace with Raph so he can keep a hand wrapped around their little guest’s wrist; presumably to make sure his pulse doesn’t do something crazy between here and home, like stop. “He seems different. Younger.”

“Yeah,” Leo agrees. There’s something odd in the inflection. It’s odd because Mikey doesn’t recognize it right away, and he should recognize everything about his brothers. “And…brighter. Than me.”

Bright is a good word for the kid. He was only awake for a few seconds, but it made an impact. He smiled up at them like he wasn’t just a shattered shell full of broken bones and bleeding lungs. Like he wasn’t a whole universe away from home, holding a stranger’s hand.

“Don’t be scared, Michael.”

“I mean, he’s also, like, twelve,” Raph adds quickly. He must have heard that odd tone in Leo’s voice, too. “That might have something to do with it.”

It works in easing a smile out of their too-often-burdened leader. Mikey only second-guesses it for a moment before he loops his arm through one of Leo’s. Leo glances at him sidelong, eyes dark and unreadable in the unlit tunnel.

“All of us are so boring in our old age,” Mikey says sunnily. He doesn’t feel particularly sunny right now, but he’s good at sounding like it. “Can you believe we got to bed at noon? We used to stay up until three PM, easy.”

“Easy for you, maybe,” Donnie replies. He doesn’t look up, but he’s smiling. Mikey can hear it, the way it warms and softens his usually curt, short manner of speech. “You’ve always had enough energy to power all of Manhattan all on your own.”

He says it fondly. Like it’s one of those things about Mikey that he’d never change.

It soothes something in Mikey that will always be a tiny bit broken—some part of him that will always be twelve-years-old, and lonely, and confused about why everyone is constantly annoyed at him.

April was the one who put her foot down one day. Mikey was doing cartwheels in the living room because if he had to sit still for one more second he’d crawl straight out of his shell, and Raph said something mean about big personalities with tiny brains, and April didn’t like it.

She planted herself in front of Mikey, folded her arms, and snapped, “If you want to treat his blatantly undiagnosed ADHD like a character flaw, then you don’t deserve him. He can move in with me and dad. He loves East Village.”

It took a few seconds for that to sink in, and then the lair got very quiet.

Mikey didn’t have a clue what she was talking about in the first half, but he did love East Village. Visiting April’s neighborhood was always fun. There was a pizza place a few blocks from her apartment called Rupert’s, and one time, Mikey had bundled himself up in hoodie and jacket and hat and multiple scarves to follow April inside. There had been a boy sitting at the counter, barely old enough to be an employee, who grinned at Mikey and held out one of the mittens that had fallen out of Mikey’s pocket. He’d forgotten to put them on. The boy wasn’t put off in the slightest by Mikey’s green, three-fingered hands, and only waved a cheerful goodbye when Mikey and April left with their food. Mikey had big plans for making that boy his new best friend. He just needed to figure out how to bring his brothers on board. He didn’t want to tell them about the mitten thing, because then they’d never let him go to human places anymore. But his brothers loved pizza as much as he did, so it shouldn’t be entirely impossible to get them into Rupert’s. It was easily the best pizza in the city, even better than that place in the Lower East Side that Casey swore by, and Mikey wasn’t just saying that because of the cute boy that worked there! Ugh, just thinking about it was making him hungry. If they hadn’t had it for dinner a few days ago, Mikey would be making a strong case for pizza that night. Maybe Italian was still on the table, though—he did have double zero flour leftover from the last time he made noodles from scratch. Or he could do potstickers!

Mikey looked around to rope his brothers into his dinner plans, only to find them staring at him already. And not in the way that Mikey hated, like he was some strange, alien creature speaking a language they didn’t know, but more like they were seeing him clearly for the first time. Donnie, in particular, looked absolutely crushed. Mikey tried to backtrack through the conversation to figure out what could have put an expression like that on his clever brother’s face, but he must have missed something. East Village, pizza, and potstickers were all good things.

“Ah,” Splinter had said, drawing the attention of the whole room as he crossed it. He smiled, and put his hand on Mikey’s head, and said warmly, “My Michelangelo. Thank you, April. That helps me understand.”

A few days later, sensei and Donnie sat Mikey down for an appointment over the phone with a child psychologist that Mr O’Neil used to work with. Mikey had to answer lots of questions and take some tests. It should have been very boring, but the lady on the phone was really friendly, and the stuff she asked him to do was interesting, and he came out of the whole thing with a formal diagnosis, a prescription, and three brothers who were a lot more patient with him than they used to be.

They were all still just kids, so sometimes they’d slip up and make Mikey feel small, but sensei was quick to check them. And when sensei wasn’t there, April was.

It’s been a long time since then. Mikey hasn’t forgotten what it felt like to be the odd one out, but it doesn’t sting the way it used to. It barely hurts at all anymore. Especially when his brothers sound like they like those annoying things about him they used to hate so much.

Leo’s arm, still looped through Mikey’s, squeezes a bit. Mikey glances at him, and Leo says, “There you are. Thought we lost you. We’re home.”

“Oh!”

Mikey scrambles ahead to help Raph through the turnstiles. Normally they hop over, but this time it’s more of a slow, awkward climb. Mikey mostly just tries to keep the kid’s head from flopping around and his broken leg from banging against the gate.

Donnie leads the way to the lab at a brisk pace, not quite a run. The lair is dimly lit but they don’t bother with any lights until they make it to the infirmary half of the cavernous hall that is Donnie’s domain, and then all the harsh fluorescents snap on with a noisy buzz.

Raph doesn’t need to be told to lay the striped turtle out on the cot stationed by all of the medical hardware. Leo gently eases a pillow beneath the kid’s head. Donnie slides his X-ray specs on, and says, in an even, clinical tone, “I want to get him started on painkillers and antibiotics. The absolute last thing we want is an infection setting in. Leo, do you remember how to insert an IV?”

“I remember,” Leo says at length, already washing his hands in the sink.

Mikey watches from well out of the way as Leo makes quick, efficient work of collecting everything he needs from various cabinets and stacking it all into a neat little pile on the side of the cot. Raph sets up the drip chamber on the IV pole and Leo disinfects the striped turtle’s arm.

A hand touches Mikey’s shoulder, making him jump. Donnie doesn’t comment on that, only says, “Can you get the fiberglass ready for me? We’ll cast his leg and his arm as soon as we set the bone. Grab the epoxy for his shell, too.”

“You got it, Dee!” Mikey tells him, eager to make himself useful.

While he fills a basin in the sink and gathers the stockinette, undercast padding, and a pack of soft pink fiberglass tape, he hears Raph say grimly, “Glad little blue is out for this part. I can literally feel his bones crunching while you move them.”

“Me, too,” Donnie replies quietly. “Poor thing.”

As always, the four of them work together as a cohesive unit. In under twenty minutes, the kid’s arm and leg are both dressed in short casts, his shell is patched, there’s an IV line feeding him a cocktail of drugs, and Mikey is covering him with his favorite infirmary blanket.

He’s still asleep, which is clearly making Donnie uneasy, but his vitals are strong. It’s a waiting game now. Mostly, it’s just a relief to have him tucked safely away in the lair, where he’ll have plenty of time and space to heal.

He deserves that much.

“Don’t be scared, Michael.”

“Can I stay and sit with him?” Mikey blurts before he can think better of it. “I don’t want him to wake up alone.”

His older brothers trade glances. Leo is the first to nod.

“It might be a good idea. He did recognize you earlier. Having something familiar nearby will probably be a comfort.” His lips twitch, the beginning of a reluctant smile. “I can’t imagine there’s anyone he’d rather have by his side.”

“Let me know the second he’s awake,” Donnie says, still in doctor mode. “I’ve scanned him, and Leo used his healing hands, but there’s always the possibility that we missed something, so I need to talk to him as soon as he’s aware enough to answer questions. And if he turns out to be a—a Kraang spy, or an alien or something, do not engage. Just pull the fire alarm and seal the lab.”

“It says a lot that these are the contingencies we prepare for,” Raphael interjects dryly.

“I mean it, Mike,” Donnie goes on sternly, ignoring Raph. “We did the right thing by helping him, and I don’t think he’s going to be a danger to us, but there’s no telling how he might react when he wakes up. Your safety is the most important thing. Got it?”

“Got it,” Mikey says, holding a hand over his heart and widening his eyes earnestly. “Come and get you when he wakes up. Or the fire alarm thing. I promise. Scout’s honor.”

It makes his brothers sigh, exasperated and amused despite themselves. It’s a sound Mikey knows very well. Raph scoffs, but he taps Mikey’s shoulder with a closed fist in a playful way.

“As if we’d ever inflict you on the Scouts.”

“They don’t deserve you anyway,” Leo adds, so seriously that Mikey thinks he’s teasing.

“I’ll be in the garage,” says Donnie. “If I come back to find any structural damage to this lab, or a single scratch on you, I will eat your share of the lemon meringue pie Woody brought us yesterday and I genuinely won’t feel bad about it.”

“You don’t have to threaten me!” Mikey whines. “And leave my pie out of this!”

Their voices fill the room as they take their relief and good humor out on one another the way they used to vent their bitterness and frustrations. It’s like an echo chamber of sibling mockery and sarcasm and obvious, if unspoken, love.

None of them notice the flicker of mystic energy that darts through the markings on their guest’s broken body. Even if they did, they probably would have just called it a trick of the light.

#rottmnt #rise of the tmnt #rottmnt movie #tmnt 2k12 #hamato michelangelo #hamato leonardo #hamato donatello #hamato raphael #my writing #tmnt fic #coming right on back for you