#this one is for the banner of the stand in the comic con

[hackedmotionsensors]

Thank you to the people who stopped by my booth this weekend at LACC!! I know I was a little down yesterday but I think I was just tired lol as you are when you've been subjected to light torture that is the LA Convention center LED overhead lights lol me the whole weekend "There are FOUR lights"

Anyway everyone who stopped by was absolutely lovely. Every now and then at cons you'll get someone really nasty or rude or a weird table neighbor but everyone was super chill and it was great.

however lmao

The con ITSELF what a NIGHTMARE lol I mean I've been to worse TBF. And they did provide us with table cloth, trashcans, a helper badge and an extra chair (a minimal request but some cons don't provide that).

But they also didn't have any designated exhibitor parking (not that unusual) but at LACC its 30$ a DAY. Then when we go to set up....the tables were not set up like a normal con. Normally cons put tables right next to each other in one long row and then you have a long open isle behind the tables OR the tables will be fairly close to each other but with a walkway behind and space to slide through on the sides of the table.

lol.....they put a bar with a curtain about two feet high in between EACH table. These are normally at the end to keep random people from going down the isles behind the tables. We were basically caged in at each table. There was no space for even a regular sized person but yknow I gots a lot of stuff in my wagon yknow? lmao But also to set up I have two big suitcases and a photo stand. Luckily the guys who were behind me were comic guys so they just had their big banners and didn't show up until like an hour before the con. But it was SO INCONVENIENT. But also...if I had some physical disability I wouldn't have been able to get behind the table! Even if it was just....being very plus sized or a broken ankle. Let alone if you had a wheel chair or crutches yknow? Plus having a METAL BAR with a curtain on it in between EACH table is a MASSIVE FIRE HAZARD. And by fire hazard I mean if there was ANY sort of emergency. A gun attack (bc security was...a mess lol), an earthquake (ITS FUCKING LA!!!???? HELLO!?!?), ANYTHING that would cause people to need to flee in a fast and orderly fashion we wouldn't be able to fucking GET OUT!

And then randomly on the last day the bars behind a few of the tables in my area were just...gone lol And I definitely tweeted about it being a fire hazard but I have no idea if they saw.

ANYWAY. The security thing was ALSO a joke. Bc on Friday set up started at 8 and I got there maybe around 830? 9? and I'd been there the whole day. I ran downstairs some time in the afternoon before the show started and suddenly there's a guy at the bottom of the stairs saying I have to go through the metal detectors.

I was ALREADY in the building......what??? So then I go through the metal detectors. Bc of course but also??? if I had anything I would have already done it??? And .....I VISIBLY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING!?!?!? I was only carrying my keys. I don't have a glock strapped to my back lmao hello??? And then on Saturday I get there around the same time before opening but just barely bc again I'm trying to park in south parking which is just underneath where my table is and they made me go outside through security again. I was like....fine I guess but I'm already annoyed. Bc I tried to just bypass it lol Bc its fucking stupid like I'm an exhibitor. But they were so poorly managed they had EVERYONE walking out the same door so the regular visitors had to go THROUGH the industry and exhibitor security check. And then I had to go back all the way around to the front main steps (if you've been to AX its the dealers hall steps where everyone is cosplaying) and back around down to H hall where artist alley was. And I had a bag with me. So instead of me giving my bag to the bag check guy or having a separate one for people without exhibitor stuff they just had me walk through the metal detector anyway like dude I have a fucking ita bag on me~!!!!!!!!! Half of this stuff is METAL!!! And the same thing happened on Sunday except THAT check was moved to the front doors and EVERYONE had to go there. LIKE!?!??!? WHATS GOING ON LMAO. SO I tried to hand my bag to the bag check guy. I'm like its got metal in it? They're like no no just walk through. AND OF COURSE IT GOES OFF BC I TOLD THEM!!!!!! IT WAS METAL!!!!

And also during set up....they put artist alley near the back near the backdoors where there was a "beer garden" and food trucks and honestly the over priced quesadilla I had was really good but still....my poor wallet... But during set up as it got later in the day THE WIND started pouring in and knocked over a ton of set ups INCLUDING MY OWN. All my charms went flying bc my POS photo stand (I'm throwing it in the TRASH) fell over and all my prints were sliding around on the slide rails so I basically had to re-set up my entire display. So...thanks for that LACC as well.

AND THEN. On the last day LACC decided to not provide access to a freight elevator for artist alley. I'm not sure if the other end of the exhibit hall had to deal with this but since artist alley was down in the H Hall side of it there was ONE regular sized people elevator. And EVERYONE was trying to use it. We had to PAY to use the freight elevator. And the escalators which would have solved a lot of peoples problems who used suitcases like me....they were turned off the ENTIRE WEEKEND. They weren't even broken. They were just OFF. I guess they didn't want to pay for normal ass access to the floor. So the line to use the elevator was stretched from near the main entrance of dealers hall all the way down and back into H hall. And a bunch of us were like fuck it lets take the stairs but these are HEAVY cases of merchandise, prints, suitcases, photostands. ANOTHER massive ADA violation bc if someone has to wait that long just to use the elevator or try using the fucking stairs? Or if someone fell and hurt themselves taking their merch down??? The second suitcase when we got towards the bottom my leg almost gave out. I'm not like......super fit or in shape but I'm pretty sturdy but after a LONG THREE days of doing a convention I'm tired and hungry and frankly weak. Absolutely fuckin ridiculous.

This con was so fucking disorganized and a mess to attend. Like also I admittedly paid late but they still didn't tell me my table number until a few days before the con and they didn't TELL ME. They made me download THE FUCKING APP to get the information. Because they didn't put any of it on their website. None of the maps or artists lists were online unless you were like Scottie Young or one of the Hobbits lol

Will I do it again??? MMMMaybe????? Its a local con so its not like its hard to DO but its such a mess in terms of organization and the sales just aren't super hot bc yknow...lol its a local con??? and to be fair I had mostly vtuber stuff and not like....comic con stuff. But I'm getting better at my table display. I still need to make changes to get it perfect and I have to turn around and make merch for AI:LA as soon as possible TTnTT

I'm so tired OTL

[markabnett]

PREPARING FOR YOUR BEST CON

Okay this is a big post but I need to do it.

Just back home in Scotland from Dublin ComicCon.

One thing this weekend left me with is to remember to get fit for your convention!

My body is like a slab of carbonite at the moment. Quite drained and very heavy footed.

So why is that?

I am unfit.

I mucked up and didn’t prepare my body for the con.

Leading up to the con at least 2 weeks before walk everyday each day increasing the time of your walk by 10 minutes minimum.

This will help you get your body ready for being on your feet for extended period of time.

Wait?

Don’t the cons provide chairs?

Yes most do.

But have you ever been to a con and noticed what artists and writers are doing when they are on their butts?

They are not focused on YOU a potential customer who wants to give them money so they can make more comics!

Well rule number one if you actually want to SELL your books.

Never, NEVER sit down!

Get a yoga mat. Roll that bad boy out and stand behind your table.

Rule number 2

Stay off your phone!

Take photos of your table and surrounding area before the con and set up social posts on schedules through out the day. This keeps you focused on your customers and not missing opportunities for sales.

This gives you a huge advantage and you can look people in the eye and make a connection. Mimic body language. Adjust your tone and pitch to the individual . Be positive and remember your book may not be for them but if you are polite with both your time and theirs they may come back with a friend later on or follow your future endeavours.

Ask them Open ended questions and funnel their answers till you have an answer you may have a solution to with a book on your table.

Have 3 different elevator pitches prepared to adjust to their needs in a book but NEVER lie to them about your book. That will come back and bite you in the arse.

Let them know why your book is worth their hard earned money. Compare it to other similar pop culture properties “ If you like this movie then you will like this book”

Other tips

At 2 day cons compliment cosplayers.

Day one they go large on their looks. Day 2 they usually try something else or come back shopping. They can be a pain and block isles on single day cons but manners and compliments go a long way.

Let them know who you are!

Don’t hand out business cards, hand out free prints with your social details / website on the bottom. People throw cards out. People also post prints up on walls. If you have a memorable print and your social details are there that will give the customer an instant connection between and art piece/ project/story and your name.

I have a sign on my table that says “Say Hi and get a FREE print!” This helps even those who are a wee bit socially awkward muster up the courage and engage in conversation.

Now this print is only 120gsm on gloss paper and coloured on one side. But it’s cheap as chips and I have thousands of them. They result in more social followers (which the value of is still extremely debatable) and importantly post con web-store sales!

WATER WATER WATER!

Ditch the coffee, red bull and sugary drinks.

Water and electrolytes are the way to go.

Treat your body like a finely tuned machine and do not get drunk the night before!

You are there to put your best foot forward and get your books into peoples hands.

Odour check.

A can of lynx/axe body spray (or alternative ) on hand is a must. Add mouth wash / mints and hand sanitiser to that list . Keep your self clean and healthy. Heck in a hit event centre a spare shirt does not go amiss either.

FUEL

Pre-packed lunch and snacks. Trail mix, sandwiches, Bananas and other fruit are massively important. Maybe a bit of chocolate to reward yourself should you feel low but not too much.

TABLE PRESENTATION.

You pull up banner should be broken down into thirds.

Top third- your name- your socials- then your titles.

Middle third. Amazing Splash page art or collage of action from your books that best represent you and your “brand”

Bottom third- a continuation of this or nothing at all. It’s behind a table no one should see it!!

On the table.

-Books open on the best pages of art/ splash pages or double page spreads are a bonus . This will invite people to pick them up and flick through more.

-Books at attention. Small collapsible cardboard standees to have your books upright.

Have them closest to you at the back and in front stack those books high and watch them fly.

More books stacked actually helps sales.

You mean business . You are professional . You’ve come prepared.

Don’t have an empty table.

Use a tablet to have a slide show of art from your books. Add animation elements if you can grab that passer-by’s eye.

Battery pack for devices and back up cables.

Already got a battery pack? Great! Now buy another for backup.

Pens/ sharpies. Make sure they work in your book for signatures and other notes. Seriously test them out first . You would be surprised what pens work and what don’t.

Price LIST!

Using the same branding as your banner header.

Type out your items you have for sale and either leave the price bit blank and use a whiteboard marker if you want to be flexible or make them fixed.

Laminate that bad boy. Helps to keep it firm on the cardboard stand.

Small price tags.

Again use your branding and have multiple price point ready that are the length of a A5 sheet but only 1-2 inches across. Laminate them then tuck them into the books you have in front of the table. These are reusable and with the laminate make them firm enough to hold attention.

Lozenges.

You will get a sore throat from talking too much if you follow the above!

I think that’s all at the moment.

But this stuff is some basic key principle stuff for Indy sellers.

Sure some cons you are there to hang with mates but if you are not

Presenting yourself well and giving yourself the opportunity to earn money to make more books then you are wasting that moment, your own time and your own money.

#comiccon #nz comics #comics #independentcomics #indycomics

[lizalfosrise]

MCM Comic-Con London October 2022 pt9

Alright got distracted a bit (wonder what happened hahaha) but finally the merch I did get other than the teeny gengar.

Just a mystery bag and an art print but great finds imo. The mystery bags have random-ish selections of smaller merch inside related to the shows on the bag. There was a choice of Naruto, Black Butler, Jujutsu Kaisen, Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun and No Game No Life here. Of those I’ve only watched NGNL and Black Butler so I went for the one looking like it’s the rarer merch: last NGNL bag in the batch for sale at the time I found the stall. A good collection of tit-n-tat: mousepad; stacks of posters/cards/bookmarks; cleaning cloth; badge; cushion cover; character stand and keyring; movie tie-in id badge holder, lanyard.

And ahhh this delightful print! Sadly the frame is due later this week but it still looks great. It stood out as being completely different in style and topic amongst the other selection of art available and of course it’s the type of piece that catches my attention. The colours, details, that classic 80s-90s style! It just pulls up the rest of the fight into your mind right? It doesn’t matter if the viewer is the target or just another mook - she’s won this long night of blood and death. An utterly radical piece! According to the stall banner and name it is by Sonia Leong at Sweatdrop Studios’ stall, her character Rua!

#cameralizard #mcm expo #no game no life #I wanted to ask more about the print but I got too awkward to focus on that #rescue rabbit headband kept falling off while I got anxious over ordering rip #but goddamn a3 art prints are teensy bit bigger than a3 frames wth #I looked up the website and oh she has two LNs with Rua that’s cool that’s what I wanted to know #will get them eventually!!

[andhrawatch]

What does K in Prabhas' upcoming film Project 'K' ( working title) stand for? This has been a trending topic among moviegoers now. It won't be an exaggeration to say that this is as widely popular as the famous cinematic mystery - 'Why Kattappa Killed Baahubali ? which created a lot of curiosity across the globe after the release of Baahubali 1. Ever since the makers started the promotions of 'Project K' a few days ago, there have been wild speculations on what K in the title really means. Before the suspense ends on July 20th as the makers are going to unveil the first glimpse during the Comic-Con event in San Diego, there have numerous rumours that are circulating in industry circles and social media. Reportedly, titles like Kaala Chakra, Kalki and Kurukshetra are the potential ones that are being considered by the team as per the reports in the media. These titles have a close inkling with Indian mythology. As Project K is touted to be a blend of mythology and science fiction, there are good chances that one of these titles will be finalized by the makers. It may be noted that long back the makers gave a sneak peek into the world of Project K with a video that showcased the making of a giant wheel. So, there is a strong possibility that Kaala Chakra might be the forerunner as the title. Also, Kalki and Kurukshetra are also in consideration. We have to wait for a few days more to know what is in store from Prabhas and his team. Directed by Nag Ashwin, Project K boasts an ensemble cast in the form of Deepika Padukone Amitabh Bachchan Kamal Haasan Disha Patani, and others in significant roles. Vyjayanthi Movies banner is bankrolling the film on a grand scale.

[nerdwolfnest]

TO DO LIST/RECAPPONE di alcune delle cose da fare (e da non perdere!) al LUCCA COMICS 2022!! 😁 ONE PIECE - Caccia al tesoro di One Piece: ogni giorno si ottiene una mappa di Lucca brandizzata, su cui compaiono gli stand partecipanti segnati come membri della ciurma. Bisogna recarsi in questi specifici stand e collezionare, un timbro ciascuno, quanti più timbri possibile per poi postare su Instagram una foto del poster del film (a lato dello stand One Piece Red). Fatto ciò si riscatta un premio, che varia a seconda del numero di timbri ottenuti! - Uta, Shanks e Luffy sono nascosti all'interno delle mura! Bisogna trovarli tutti e 3 e poi postare la foto su instagram come storia taggando One Piece per ricevere una ricompensa speciale! - Viene distribuita un'altra mappa con la posizione di 38 banner dei personaggi. Bisogna fotografarli e segnarli sulla mappa tutti e 38 per ricevere un premio allo stand One Piece! - 29/10 ore 14:30 premiere italiana del film One Piece: Red presso il Cinema Astra in Piazza del Giglio - 30/10 ore 10:00 firma di autografi di Gorō Taniguchi e Masayuki Sato su skikishi della Toei allo stand One Piece: Red. - A seguire, ore 13:30 mega raduno cosplay + karaoke di One Piece guidato da Emanuela Pacotto, presso il Baluardo Santa Maria EVENTI - 30/10 ore 18:00 concerto Giorgio Vanni sul palco della Music & Comics Arena - 31/10 ore 12:00 proiezione Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of the Deep Night presso Cinema Centrale - 31/10 ore 20:00 proiezione primo episodio Mercoledì presso Cinema Moderno, introdotto da Tim Burton - 31/10 ore 22:30 concerto Cristina D'Avena feat. Gem Boy sul palco della Music & Comics Arena PANINI COMICS - 28-29-30/10 presso Panini ogni 13 euro di volumi di Fire Force, e/o Soul Eater Ultimate Deluxe Edition 1, viene consegnato fino alle 13:30 un ticket (su richiesta) per partecipare all'estrazione di 80 biglietti fortunati che danno diritto a uno shikishi con dedica del maestro Atsushi Ohkubo. Alle 14:00 i numeri estratti vengono esposti all'esterno dello spazio dell' Ex Cavallerizza (lato piazzale) CONTINUA NEI COMMENTI! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 https://www.instagram.com/p/CkP4bjZsjJ3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[keruworld]

Im happy how this Black Canary came out! OvO

#this one is for the banner of the stand in the comic con #comic con sv #artist alley #dc justice league #black canary #dc heroine #keru's life

[marvelstarker-mha98]

Starker request: Tony says on a press conference that Spiderman is his favourite superhero and doesn't know that Peter hears him

                                           Being a favorite Hero

“I’m so hyped that the tony stark is doing an hour live press conference on T.V!” Peter said on the phone before picking up a piece of pizza and Cheese sticks from the table that aunt may ordered before she left to work while sitting on the couch in front of the T.V

“I know what you mean dude, watching the ironman is going to answer lots of Q&A’s from reporters and fans are going to intense, interesting, and juicy,” Ned said, looking for the channel that he was looking for in his own living room.

“I am pretty psyched that he’s announcing new members for the avengers” Peter added as he was awestruck that new members are joining the avengers. As for spiderman, he doesn’t want to join since 1. He’s young and only Ned knows about it 2. People that he loves and cares for will be targeted and killed.

“I know what you’re excited about?” Ned said with a grin. Peter looked at the phone, lifting his eyebrows in confusion while chewing on his pizza.

“I know that you're excited about watching tony stark, the smartest and heroic man on the planet making an awesome entrance and saying something on T.V. After all he’s your man-crush” He teased, seeing peter widened his eyes.

Peter swallowed his food before he spoke.“Tony stark is not my man-crush ” Peter said, childishly pouted. ���I am just a fan of his work and heroic deeds, that’s all” He added.

Ned chuckled. “I’m just kidding with you, Pete,” He said, wrapping his arm around his shoulder as Peter was looking at the channel.

The channel shows the Host was on stage at the podium, informing the audience of journalists and avengers supporters in front of him while a huge Ironman logo banner is in the background.

“Oh man, I can’t wait for the avengers to show up!” Ned excitedly to peter on the phone. “Me too, need me too,” Peter said with a smile, turning up the volume.

“....So Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce to you IRONMAN!” When the host loudly said, as there audience standing up to scream and whistle at them in excitement and admiration. Even Peter and ned were fangirling as well.

However Tony stark did not show up which the host noticed. He looked at Rhody and pepper on the right-wing of the stage. Rhody and pepper sigh as they gave themselves a facepalm, knowing what’s going to happen.

The host looked back at the audience with a nervous smile. “Um well everyone it looks like that…” As The host was to tell him the bad news, there was the music (Never Too Much by Luther Vandross) started to play and the supporters screamed for joy when the tony stark/ironman is making a grand entrance.

====Brought to you by Tony dancing like RDJ in comic con====

After the music was turned down, Tony stopped dancing on stage before bowing to the loud audience as they were clapping for him. He waved at them giving them his signature stark smile as pepper and Rhodes rolled their eyes him at his habit but they are getting used to it.

“Oh my Gawd, that was the coolest grand entrance that tony stark gave!” Ned said, amazed before sitting down whipping his sweat from dancing a bit. Peter chuckled at ned on the phone, agreeably nodded at him. “Yeah awesome” He muttered, blushing at tony stark smiling on T.V. Thank God that ned didn’t see it blushing.

To be honest from what ned said earlier about peter having a man-crush on tony was true. he really has a crush on tony stark. Not man celebrity crush or fake crush for his money, wealth, being incredibly intelligent and etc. But falling in love sort of a crush.

He’s always had a crush on him since he saved him from the hammer drones attacking during the expo when he was a kid. They met a few times, saving new york city and Peter was shy to talk to ironman.

But he couldn’t fall in love with the older man since one, tony stark is older than him. Two, he’s an on and off relationship with pepper potts. three, The media will give a negative response for tony stark if he dates someone younger than him.

Peter sighs softly before swaying his head from his thoughts before continuing to watching avengers’ press conference. Fifty-five minutes later through the Q&A’s, introduction to the new members and some new tech announcement in the press conference

“Since the press conference is nearly getting to a close, we need one last question for the avengers from the audience,” The host said as everyone in the audience raised their hand for the last question.

“You, the gentleman wearing a blue cap in front right side” The host said, pointing at the guy in the right. The guy stood up as someone handed the mic.

“My name is Joe Miller, I am a reporter for the Daily Bugle and I have a question for Tony stark about the avengers” The man introduced himself with a grin as everyone around him groan or booing that he shouldn’t be here.

“Oh man, who invited this dude from the daily bugle!” Ned groans facepalming his forehead softly, watching the Joe Miller on T.V.

“Your right it may be fake news about the avengers or me,” Peter said with shrugging his shoulder, knowing that the daily bugle is sometimes showing fake negative news about superheroes. Mostly the daily bugle news is all about spiderman actually.

“Hey guys, settle down!” Tony calmly said as he stood up from his chair as the audience became silent and looked at the billionaire.

“I know everyone here dislikes the daily bugle sometimes since they gave off bad reviews about the avengers still let’s give this guy a chance to speak!” Tony gave them his signature smile. Joe huffs arrogantly at them before looking at Joe. “Take it away Mr. Miller,” Tony said with a smile but in that smile was also a pissed smile.

“Thank you, Mr. stark for making them quiet,” He said as he was slightly appreciative as he was looking at tony on stage. “So I have one question for you, since your the founding member of the Avengers, are you going to capture the New york menace’s spiderman and send him to the raft,” Joe asked with an evil grin as the audience were silently angry at him saying that spiderman being a menace to the society and wanting ironman to take to the raft.

“Yikes peter, he really hates you!” Ned said on the phone as peter shrugged his shoulder. “I know, its not like I am asking everyone in the whole world to like me” Peter replied as he was still watching

Tony frowned at him before lifting up his mic. “No, I will not do that spiderman!” He said loudly and confidently as he stood up from his chair again.

“Firstly, spiderman is not a menace to society! I mean come on, he swings his webs every day to save and help people in new york city from a car crash, criminals, and getting cats or dogs from top of a tree while we, avengers have our own lives at the same time go around the world to save unworldly threats. Secondly, if you, James Jameson, or other guys from daily bungle think that spiderman deserves to be in the raft, he’s not. Sure he may shy, chatty and strange vigilante but Spiderman is my favorite superhero!” Everyone in the audience stood up and clapped for tony for defending Spiderman as the joe stood up in anger and embarrassment before leaving the room.

“Did you hear what tony stark just said, you're his favorite superhero!” Ned said in shock and enthusiastically on the phone.

“Y-yeah i did,” Peter said as he was blushing hard by what he heard from tony stark, the CEO of stark industry, a founding member of avengers as ironman, and his crush said that spiderman is his favorite hero.

“Oh God, I’m tony stark’s favorite hero! I’m tony’s stark…” Peter fainted on the couch from thinking about how spiderman’s is tony’s stark favorite hero. Not hearing ned’s voice calling out to him.

#starker #pepperony #tony stark #ironman #peter parker #spiderman #ned leeds #Mentioning of may parker #pepper potts #james rhodes #war machine #mcu #mcuship #marvel #avengers #mcuships

[starkerforlife6969]

The Big 2-0

essentially some protectiveTony starker fluff and an everyonelovesPeter classic about friendship. It’s been a long time, beautiful people, I’m trying to get back in the swing ;) 

“He came.” Harry gapes, unable to pull his eyes away from the door. “He actually came.”

“Typical,” Norman sneers from above him, “Low brows like that can never tell when an invite is genuine.”

“He came.” Harry repeats, a little awed. Never in a million years had he thought… “After everything…”

“Don’t go soft.” His dad snaps, voice edging towards cruel, “he stole your idea, Harold.”

“Yeah…”

But Pete’s here. He’s come to Harry’s birthday party. 

And he hasn’t come alone. 

There’s a tall figure beside him, with dark hair and dark eyes and a dark leather jacket. Harry doesn’t recognise him from MIT, and yet…and yet there’s something strangely familiar about him. 

He wants to go over but he can feel his dad’s gaze burning into the back of his neck, so instead, he heads towards the buffet. 

People are chatting, music’s playing, the live band are crooning away and everyone’s in black tie. It’s just like every birthday party Harry’s ever had. Except now there are banners everywhere that read 2-0. 

Other than that though, it’s all the same. Especially since-

“Hey, Harry,” comes a gentle voice, and Harry can’t stop his smile.

When he turns, it’s Peter, holding a little box. 

Peter, and his ridiculous curly hair and enormous earnest eyes, beams at him like like a little bit of bottled sunshine. 

“Pete.”

“Harry.” Peter sighs, flinging his arms around him.

Harry doesn’t give a damn about his dad in that second. His best friend is here, and he hugs him tight. 

“I’m so glad you invited me, I didn’t know-“

“My dad did it. Invites are social threats, you know that, but you’re here, I’m so glad you’re here-“

“I’ve missed you!”

They pull apart and Harry shakes his head fondly, his cheeks ache from smiling. “What’d you bring me?”

Peter giggles, handing over the neatly wrapped gift. “It’s not the only thing I brought.”

Harry laughs, “I did notice your shadow. Who is he?”

“Tony Stark,” Peter sighs happily.

Tony Stark.

Harry almost jerks back. That’s why he recognises him. Holy shit, holy shit-

“How could you do that?” He hisses, fury and humiliation coursing through his veins. 

Peter blinks up at him in surprise. “Do what?”

“Bring him here. After you sold his dad my idea-“

“What?” 

“My dad was right.” Harry scoffs, hurt bleeding through his chest. The box in his hand is too heavy. “Not only did you steal my formula for genetic manipulation-“

Peter’s jaw drops, cheeks rosy with injustice. “That was our formula! And you said you didn’t want to be a part of the project anymore-“

“That didn’t mean you were allowed to go and develop it with Oscorp’s biggest competitor-“

“My MIT scholarship is from SI, Harry! They have a legal right to my work, I didn’t-“

“And you just happen to be dating the son of the CEO? Bullshit, Pete. You used me. Like every one else in my life.”

It should make him feel victorious, to see Peter flinch like that. Like he’s been struck. But it doesn’t. Harry feels hollowed out. A little empty. 

A tall, dark shadow appears then.

The voice is quiet and cold with fury. 

“How dare you talk to him like that.”

“Tony-“

“How fuckin’ dare you? He comes all this way-“

Harry grits his teeth and looks up. Tony Stark is tall and broad, leather jacket snug on the muscles of his arms. His eyes are a dark, dark brown and he looks ready for a fight. But what Harry lacks in musculature- “Tony Stark, can’t say it’s a pleasure.”

“You ingrate. Do you have any idea what you’ve been doing to Peter? Cutting him out like that. You’re his best friend-“

“You don’t get to lecture me about loyalty!” Harry warns, his voice a little too loud. The pleasant chatter all around them stills for a moment, before warily picking up. He continues in a hiss: “Who the fuck do you think you are, Stark? You think because you’re wearing a leather jacket and you ride a motorbike we don’t know who you are? That you’re as spoilt and loaded as me. You’re not better. You have no moral high ground. Your dad is-“

“Apologise to Peter.” Tony murmurs. “Right now.”

Harry smiles bitterly, gesturing to the room. “Or what?”

“Tony,” Peter pleads, tugging at Tony’s arm. “I wanna go. Let’s go, please.” 

“We’re not going anywhere, baby, not until this piece of shit-“

“Tony.” 

Harry can’t bear to look. The little hitch in Peter’s voice tells him everything. Evidently, Tony knows it too. Because he suddenly backs away, intimidating to gentle in the blink of an eye. He slings his arm over Peter’s shoulder, noses at his temple in a soft caress. “Pete?”

“I wanna go home, please,” Peter pleads with a quiet breath. 

“Home it is.” Tony vows. 

As soon as they’re gone, Harry’s feet jerk him towards the door after them.

By the time he gets out into the cold, dark night, he can only hear the revving of a motorbike in the distance.

He stands there for a second before remembering the gift in his hands. With trembling fingers, he tears open the slightly crumpled box. The wrapping falls away into the darkness. 

In it, is a framed photo of him and Peter- toothy grins and Star Wars outfits, 7 years old. 

Tucked into the corner are two tickets to this year’s Comic Con.

“Harold!” Norman calls from the door, light spilling out around him. “Come back inside. You have to thank everyone.”

Harry wipes tears off his cheeks and heads for his car.

“Harry!” Norman snaps, stepping out a little way. “What are you doing?”

With wet lashes, he starts the engine. 

Norman is a yelling spot in the rearview as Harry speeds down the highway.

He doesn’t have to drive very far at all- because just around the bend is a parked motorbike and a very smug, leather-wearing Tony Stark, arms crossed: expectant.

“I told ya he’d come,” he drawls. 

Peter peaks out from under Tony’s arm as Harry stumbles out of the car.

They crush each other in a hug. 

“How’d you know?” Harry asks over Peter’s head, voice raw and grateful as he holds his brother. 

Tony shrugs and half-smiles. “It’s Peter Parker. Impossible not to love him.”

Harry Osborne doesn’t know a thing about Tony Stark.

But he really wants to. 

The idea of Stark as a sort of brother in law? Oscorp and SI united through Peter Parker?

Harry loves that idea almost as much as he loves his best friend: snuggled into his embrace on his twentieth birthday. 

#starker #harry peter friendship #protective tony #adorable peter #precious peter parker #everyone loves peter parker #college au

[chingonaclaws]

     *  Note: Since LOGAN takes place in a dystopian world set in  the 20th Century Fox world of their ‘XMEN’ in 2029 -- I’ve had to tweak Laura’s canon timeline to fit in with the MCU. These are my compiled ideas/notes for where Laura would/might fit in, according to the MCU timeline. This can also be amended/altered depending upon who I am writing with & whatever stories we come up with on the sides. I will update/list those verses within this list as well. XO. - Betty. 

2012.  AVENGERS.   ✗ verse: ( mcu 001. avengers. )  i am not my enemy.  

     2002, Alkali-Transigen  aka ‘Essex Corp’ ) conducts it’s second round of the Weapon-X program utilizing children ‘perfected’ in a lab/facility. Laura Howlett ( known as X23 amid the program ) was ‘born’ into the program, the daughter of an unknown Latina woman ( who is more than likely murdered by the company shortly after Laura’s birth ) & James Howlett aka The Wolverine.       2012, a 7 year-old ‘killing dream’ begins her hardcore training under the Transigen umbrella, having grown up within their cage and knowing nothing but life within ‘The Facility’. During the events of ‘The Avengers’, Transigen ( more than likely a subsidiary or sister-company to HYDRA ) attempts to gather knowledge/the power of the alien forces that attack Earth. It is quite possible during this attack, the Xmen join the Avengers. - Transigen utilizes newer technology to harness a killing serum that triggers and strengthens the children’s mutant abilities. Through the years they continue to medicate and test the formula out on the children, including Laura;  to which they discover if they choose a specific target, she will stop at nothing until said target is vanquished. 

2015.  AGE OF ULTRON.  ✗ verse: ( mcu 002. ultron. )  i can do anything.  

     2013,  8-year-old Laura, along with her ‘brothers and sisters’ attempt to escape from the underground jail in Mexico ( where she was ‘born’ ) when given word/hope of a safe haven full of mutant-kind. The children are provided stories with the help of comic books smuggled into the facility. Some of which include stories of The Avengers, while others house a storyline shadowing the truth about the XMEN. Upon their first attempt of escape, the children are unsuccessful, and Essex Corp demands that they relocate to a ‘more secure’ unit in New York City. In 2015, the attack of ULTRON commences, more or less rocking the hard walls of the New York facility to rubble.        For the most part, with the help of HYDRA, Transigen is able to gather up their little ‘test subjects’, some having successfully gotten away, sadly Laura not being among them.      2016, an 11-year-old Laura with the help of the nurses, including Gabby, leads the pack to escape once more. It’s here Laura encounters her father ( Wolverine/James LOGAN Howlett ), Xavier & Caliban by psionic-ally following Charles’ guidance. During this timeline she goes on the wild chase, running from Transigen and relying on what remains of Logan’s strength. The climax ends with Xavier’s passing and Logan’s sacrifice, and the children successfully fleeing for the Canadian border to ‘Eden’ aka the safe haven which turns out to be a new school for the gifted, headlined by a group of vigilante mutants ( aka, the plotline of Mangold’s LOGAN. )      It should also be noted that during this time period, the X-men are dwindling/dying out, and going into hiding due to many people either wanting to lock them up out of fear or provide them ID badges and what not ( similar to the plot of the ‘Civil War’ in the comics. ) 

2017.  CIVIL WAR.   ✗ verse: ( mcu 003. civil war. )  my choice mine.   

     At 12, Laura quietly slips from the safe haven ( headmistress at this time being Emma Frost ) , feeling as though she’s really more of a danger than anything else, specifically due to the ‘death’ serum. Laura cannot control herself when injected with it, especially if she’s provided a ‘target’. To think she could end up killing one of her own terrifies her, not to mention the more she keeps running the less likely Transigen is to discover her.       During the time of the Avengers’ ‘Civil War’  ( between Tony & Steve ), Laura is only a child but spotted through the streets of New York. A time or two, Tony witnesses the feral child having pick-pocketing or slyly stealing a thing or two of necessity. Unable to confine the child or discover her whereabouts, he becomes aware of the ‘mutant strain’ in DNA, now knowing there is far more to this life than other worlds, planets, Norse gods and experimental projects gone wrong like Banner -- Hydra’s been hiding the secret unit to which not only have they began to suppress the X-gene that creates the ‘mutants’ but that they’ve been testing the effects of their serums and juices and what have you on children more-or-less created in a lab with the specific function of utilizing them as some ultimate mutant army. It is a terrible and harsh reality and one he does not take to lightly.      Contrary to the comics’ canon ( & the Xmen’s Civil War ) when Tony discovers she is a mutant child born and raised the way she was, he almost feels an obligation to protect her from others who felt mutants ought to be branded or ID’d and what not. ( A bit contradictory to the Xmen comics, I know, but it makes sense when you think of Steve/Capt America in the comics and how against Laura he was in the beginning, I feel he’d be a little apprehensive in the MCU as well. This could change depending upon whom I’m writing with. )       On the search for a place to help her ‘lay low’, Tony keeps her at the compound, until Pepper insists she just come on home with her. ( Again, this can be adapted depending upon the individual story. ) 

2018.  HOMECOMING.   ✗ verse: ( mcu 004. homecoming. )  are you sure i deserve salvation?  

     At age 13, since Pepper thinks it best that the pre-teenage girl get used to a ‘normal’ life, Laura begins attending public school, where she continues to attempt to ‘lay low’. Of course she does her very best to fit in, though there are many ‘human’ things she’s unaware of such as personal space and certain topics of speech. She basically follows the lead of people she feels she can trust like Peter Parker. Technically since Laura also ages much slower than most everyone, she will be a teenager for a longer period in her life. It is within these confines that she learns more about humanity, her compassion for the human race quite evident and her curiosity ever the more present. She spends a lot of time making up for lost time in her childhood, things she’s never discovered, places she’s never been -- a life she never knew she could have.  2019/2023.  ENDGAME.   ✗ verse: ( mcu 005. endgame. )  i’m f*cking wolverine. 

     During INFINITY WAR ( obviously just prior to this timeline ) Laura of course fights along side the team sustaining little to no injury even though she could’ve severed a limb or two, due to her mutation, she recovers rather quickly. Upon the realization that she could lose her family of mutants with Thanos’ plan, she scurries to get back to the school, begging many of the others to fight along side the Avengers. She succeeds in convincing several of the XMEN, including but not limited to Emma Frost,  to take part in the battle... but it is only to their demise as her healing is too rapid for his ‘curse’ and rather than fluttering into ash, she witnesses all those she holds dear dissipate having to see, once again, the utter destruction of those she holds dear. It tears her apart from the inside.       In 2023, Laura is just about to turn 17. -- Upon Tony’s return from space (2019), and the realization that Pepper hadn’t been taken away, Laura barricades herself within the hope she can have a somewhat normal family. She stays with Pepper and Tony, far away from the compound. She takes up her roll as a sister-figure to Morgan, something she absolutely takes seriously. She’d give it all up for this little girl -- hell, for this family. Tony stands in as an unlikely father-figure, but even moreso, Pepper as her mother. ( Again, these choices can be adapted/tweaked depending upon the storyline/plot we have -- maybe Laura grew up at the compound, or with someone else or with Aunt May... the possibilities/ what-ifs are endless... She could’ve also gone off on her feral way, etc etc. ) 

     When the final battle hits, and those who were taken away appear within the portals, a sudden relief washes over her. She has much more to fight for, and she gives it her all. But it is at the loss of Tony where she feels her world crumble once more, wondering if she should go off on her own and call it good, because it seems no matter where she attempts to land, there is far more loss to be had. She contemplates whether or not Logan had it correct when he was always insistent they stay far away from people, isolate and keep to themselves. Of course that was a much different time in the world and Transigen/Hydra has/have more things to worry about than hunting her down lately -- still, it’s a threat.        With Peter Parker’s ( and possibly others ) insistence, she remains close by. 2023/24.  FAR FROM HOME.  ✗ verse: ( mcu 006. far from home. )  el que con lobos anda a aullar se enseña. 

     Basically, Laura ( now, tech, post-snap almost 18 ) is hanging out with SHIELD, there to aid Peter where needed, more or less helping to keep an eye on him, along with Happy doing her best to stay out of trouble.   

#ooc. #✗ soy yo. ╱ lil messican girl is ooooouuuttt. #( mcu timeline. ) #✗ verse: ( mcu ) como se cura una herida. #✗ verse: ( mcu 001. avengers. ) i am not my enemy. #✗ verse: ( mcu 002. ultron. ) i can do anything. #✗ verse: ( mcu 003. civil war. ) my choice mine. #✗ verse: ( mcu 004. homecoming. ) are you sure i deserve salvation? #✗ verse: ( mcu 005. endgame. ) i’m f*cking wolverine. #✗ verse: ( mcu 006. far from home. ) el que con lobos anda a aullar se enseña. #long post #long post for ts #* i cannot express enough how laura is a MINOR in most if not ALL of these verses !!!!! k thank bye. xx #✗ ¿merezco la salvación? ╱ headcanon.

[rocknrollsalad-moved]

💜🌈💚 get-to-know-your-mutuals tag 💜🌈💚

Rules: When you get this, it means someone wants to know more about you, so list 5 things about yourself you want your followers to know! They can be as simple as your age or as complex as your deepest fear, as long as it’s something you’re comfortable with sharing. When you’re done and if you want to, send this to 10 people you want to get to know better!

Tagged by: @twentyghosts

Thing 1: Not really a surprise but I’m utterly obsessed with Bruce Banner. I have a tattoo of Bruce and the hulk on my leg that was supposed to be part of a much larger piece but every time i looked my artist was booked so it might be a stand alone thing now??? I have a comic autographed by Greg Pak hanging on my wall that so desperately wants one signed by Al Ewing to go next to it. And I was so close to meeting Mark Ruffalo at a con. Like, so close I could taste it. Me and the neighbor kid were going to go on a road trip, pay way too much money, and meet “Bruce” (he’s eight so he thinks it’s really Bruce) and it would have been the greatest day of my life. But rather than being a rad friday the 13th it was the start of the worst year in existence so....cooooooooooool. Anyways bonus fact, I guess. For all the things I had planned and could have done, that’s the one that still hurts. It took away my chance to take that kid to meet Bruce while he still thinks he’s Bruce. 

Thing 2: rocknrollsalad, my name here and on ao3 is actually a decades old in-joke between my brother and I. Which I like??? because it means no one is ever trying to steal the name. There used to be a venue in Portland called Rock and Roll Pizza and it’s a long and only funny to us story but one of the bands we seen there was not having it that the venue served salads. 

Thing 3: Thanks to not being able to get my hair cut, it’s grown out longer than it’s ever been and I’ve been learning the importance of good shampoos and taking care of it. If I keep on this path, I’ll have a whole head of gorgeous ringlets that cost little more than “sacrificing” a t-shirt i don’t really wear anymore. Which, this is....news because I’ve always, always, always hated my hair and actively tried to work against these curls. 

Thing 4: Without an ounce of shame, I am a basic pumpkin spice bitch.  

Thing 5: Mikey Politano: uh, construction worker, Mets fan...bad at lists. No, for real. I don’t just write fanfic? I’ve been trying my hand at original fiction. It’s equally a mess. I don’t really know what I’m doing and telling long stories is kind of scary but writing (and publishing....unlike the gdoc full of fics that I gave up on) It’s Time to Bring This Ship Into Shore has actually been a lot of help. Showing me I’m capable of more than 5k drabble things and telling a whole, long ass story. It’s very, very scary but I can only really get better from here. 

Tagging: I....don’t actually know people here???? certainly not well enough to just tag them in things like this. But if you see this and want to do it, please say I tagged you and tag me so I can read it! <3

#that was hard #talking about myself is hard

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day One | Shining Armor ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū ] [ Verse: Best Years of Your Life ]

[ Previous || Next ]

It all comes down to this.

Checking and double checking his gear, Obito can’t help a worried sigh. For weeks he’s been considering giving a new hobby a try, and even before then he’d started saving for something to do. He stumbled across a possible activity completely by accident when making a detour home one day from work. In a park he’d never visited was a group of twenty or so people - adults, mind you - doing what looked to be some kind of...really involved make-believe.

A little research revealed it to be called LARPing. Live-action roleplaying. Like taking one of his favorite fantasy videogames or a tabletop campaign, and making it as close to real as one can really get: literally acting it out, in real time, with real people. Dressed up as their characters and everything!

He was hooked.

Hours of research later, he’d gotten started: crafting his outfit, weapons, supplies, and a character to play. A barbarian warrior...something he thought suited his build, and his appearance.

No real need to explain his scars, that way.

It took a while to build up the nerve, but he finally approached one day and asked about how to join. Most events were just day-long ones as opposed to full weekends, he’d learned. And an entry fee helped cover a few costs like extra props, costumes, and even food for the players over the course of the day. Fifty bucks and he could hop in.

He hadn’t done so right away, still fiddling with all the details of his character. He wanted it to be perfect…! But eventually there was nothing left to procrastinate, so...he packed up his gear and headed out.

And now here he is, standing with a few other newcomers. Thankfully his underclothes were normal enough to walk here in, and he starts strapping on armor he’d made. It’s nothing too fancy, but he managed to get some metallic paint to make it look like real steel. Overall, for his first go of it? He’d say he’s done well. There will always be time to improve as he goes, right?

It’s a high fantasy setting, as he’s learned. Elves, magic, that sort of stuff. Pretty typical, as far as he’s read. And while he’s set to be a moldable, playable character, so too are there those who play more static roles for the players to interact with...as well as those helping to craft the stories. Each only takes six to eight hours, as not to drag on past each day gathering. But some end up interconnected. Today, it seems, given all the new faces, they’re starting a new event.

The main coordinator and storyteller gathers the characters together to give a brief overview, as well as introduce the NPCs before they start. But once it begins, there’s no breaking character. Hours of being someone else for a day - no longer is he Obito, but Garver the Crushing, complete with a mace and shield he found tutorials for online.

With the plot set, everyone disperses, taking their places and readying for the game to begin. Obito, along with a few others, start by browsing the “town” to gather supplies for an upcoming battle set to take place. His character doesn’t know any magic...but he can certainly use things like throwable weapons, and potions to ensure he doesn’t get taken down too easily.

But the NPC selling potions is swarmed first, so he idles around for a bit, browsing a selection of weapons available for gold...or in this case, real-world quarters used in place of anything too fancy. In the end he picks up a dagger, not wanting to eat into his character’s savings too much.

He then finds the potion “shop” empty of other patrons, and shyly makes his way forward.

Right away he can tell, this one’s a pro. Not only does she have a good array of props, but her outfit looks entirely legit. Within an actual period-appropriate tent are few shelves, complete with a banner: White Dragon Remedies, it proclaims. Bottles filled with shimmering liquid are made of a squishy, clear material to prevent any breaks. She also has some “enchanted” clothing: more glittering fabric to indicate their magical properties.

Turning to face him, she reveals more of her outfit. While her actual dress is a rather plain dark grey, it’s her cloak that makes his jaw drop comically. White with silver embroidery work, it’s a piece of art in and of itself. It sweeps the grass, a wide hood draped over her head, still revealing her fake (but very convincing) elven ears.

Her eyes are a light grey, almost white to match her colorless locks. Even her brows and lashes are white! He wonders if it’s makeup and a wig, or if this is how she actually looks.

“Greetings, traveler,” she offers with a smile that makes his chest clench. “Are you in need of my brews…? Or perhaps something laced with magic to protect you?”

Still a bit shell shocked, Obito flounders for a moment like a fish out of water. Clearly she’s a long-standing player to be this prepared and decked out. “Uh, I...y-yeah. Um…”

As he stutters, she can’t help a glint of amusement in her eyes he’s pretty sure isn’t in-character - she’s actually having to hold back a laugh, he can tell. “I have a wide variety of wares,” she offers, clearly trying to help him regain his head. “Potions of healing, articles of protection, and even scrolls of contained spells for those unable to cast enchantments themselves. All highly valuable on the battlefield for a warrior such as yourself. Is there anything specific you’re looking for…?”

Trying to delve back into his character, Obito looks around. What would Garver like to take with him…? “I’ll take healing potions, at any rate. What do they cost?”

“I’ve one that can heal a minor wound, and one for a more...serious injury. The former is ten gold, and the latter twenty.”

Ooh, he...won’t be able to get too many. His ears turn red in embarrassment at his both in- and out-of-character poverty. Weighing his coin pouch, teeth nibble the scar along his lip in thought.

“I also have garments that help reduce damage taken. More costly, but also more effective over time. You’ll need fewer potions for as long as you have it, my lord.”

“Oh, I’m no lord,” Obito quickly refutes. Garver is a simple mercenary, after all.

“Any patron of mine receives my respect,” is her polite rebuke. Reaching for a verdant scarf, she holds it aloft for him to look at. “This will halve any damage you take. A robust enchantment indeed.”

Something about it catches his eye. “...and the cost?”

“Fifty gold is all. And, since you’re a new face in town, I’ll throw in a lesser potion of health for good measure, no extra charge.”

“But -?”

“Dark times lie ahead, traveler. We must all be cautious. And you’ll need to survive them to visit me again when you’ve more coin to spend, hm?” She winks an eye, and his chest flutters again. “Consider it an investment in your well-being. And perhaps mine, if you ever return.”

Blinking at her, Obito then looks down at the scarf. It does sound like a pretty good deal… “...I’ll take it.”

“Excellent!” Folding the scarf as he counts out his quarters, she fetches one of the blue sparkling potions. “I wish you luck, traveler. May fortunate winds blow at your back.”

“A-and you,” he stutters in reply. “...thank you.”

“Save your thanks for when that scarf saves your life, stranger.”

“...Garver.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I - my name, it...it’s Garver.”

Her expression brightens. “Ah! A pleasure, lord Garver. I am Wyria of the White Dragon. I hope our paths will cross again sometime.”

Not sure how to reply, Obito just gives a sheepish nod before retreating. Nearby, another male player seems to evaluate his gear.

“Well met,” he offers, nodding to Obito in greeting.

“Hello.”

“Been to stock up on potions, have you?”

“Er...yeah. Yes. I...can’t afford much.”

“A mercenary’s life is spent in constant search of coin, eh? You must spend it to make it.”

The corner of Obito’s mouth twitches. This interaction seems a lot...easier. “True enough. Though just once I’d like to get ahead.”

“All it takes is one lucky break! And just one unlucky one to have it all come to a screeching halt. We walk a blade’s edge, my friend.” Holding out a hand, he offers, “Irkvar.”

“Garver,” Obito replies, shaking it.

“So...what think you of the potion seller?”

“What do I...think?”

The other man grins. “A beauty, isn’t she? Not often you see elves this far north. They seem to prefer the warmer climates. But she keeps us all stocked and alive.”

Before he can stop it, Obito’s brow furrows. “...seems we’re lucky to have her, then.”

“Indeed.” Glancing around, the man then leans in and whispers, breaking character for a moment. “She’s a professional cosplayer. Goes to cons and makes big bucks with photos and shit. She’s huge on Instagram, too. All-natural hottie - no wig or anything, that’s just how she looks. Makes her super popular if the cosplay fits well. Wouldn’t mind getting to know her better but she tends to ghost once the events are done.”

At the rather...objectifying language, Obito scowls. “Can’t imagine why,” he mutters sarcastically.

But his tone seems lost on his companion, who then slides back into character. Yet even as the idle speech drags on, Obito can’t help but remain annoyed with the guy.

What an ass.

Once the prologue is completed and the characters found to be ready for the next phase, Obito manages to evade his new “friend” and immerse himself more into the story. The city has received word of an impending attack...and he has a choice to make. Stay and fight for the city, and receive less gold...or betray them and join the attacking force, which has more gold to spare.

Thinking of the goods he could acquire with some extra spending money, Obito nonetheless finds himself tugged toward the moral high ground. So after some debate, he decides to remain in the city. A few more darker-aligned characters actually swap, and he finds himself preparing to face them.

It’s them, or him.

Hours pass as skirmishes start and stop. Strategies are laid out, twists in the story guided by the NPCs. Obito, scarf around his neck, manages to keep his character alive, relying on his single potion as the battle seems to wane.

But then the boss appears...and he realizes he’s made a grave mistake. There’s no way he’s going to make it with no more potions! He could do the cowardly thing and run, but -?

“I cast Wall of Spectral Light!”

Jolting, he turns to see the potion seller. A hard glint is in her eyes, staring at the boss with a snarl.

Seems she’s decided to work to protect her home.

The narrator calls out the spell’s effects, proclaiming that her actions help protect a section of the defending army...including Obito. No damage is taken, but the barrier can only repel so much damage. From a belt at her waist, she begins tossing extra potions to the players.

“I’ve no gold,” Obito replies.

“We’ll settle any debts later, should we live through this,” she replies, looking to him gravely.

For a moment, Obito forgets this is all a game. He meets her desperate gaze with one of his own, and there’s a sort of...spark.

But they don’t have much time to chat.

The battle rages on, player characters calling out spells as Wyria and other NPCs lend scripted hands. And just as the sun starts setting, someone lands the final blow...and the boss collapses, dead.

A chorus of triumphant cries echo out over the park, and characters celebrate, embracing and beating chests. Obito sags in relief. In truth...he’s exhausted. More so than a day at work!

And as the cheering goes on, it’s joined by children who had stopped to watch, Obito sheepishly waving to them and earning more excitement. Seems they’re convinced this is all real: the joys of childish imagination.

Looking just as tired as the rest of them, the NPCs offer their congratulations to their heroes. And Wyria greets Obito, much to his surprise.

“So, seems that scarf served you well, Garver,” she offers with a wry grin. “I think you can properly thank me, now.”

“It did...as did your potions. I owe you more than just gold - I owe you my life.”

“You and a few others,” she replies cheekily. “But all debts will be settled in time. I’m sure  I have a job or two you can do for me sometime.”

Grinning tiredly, Obito watches her for a moment before everyone is gathered for a final celebration in the town. As it begins to wind down, the storyteller declares the event over, and everyone is allowed to break character at last.

Sighing in relief - yet wholly satisfied with his Saturday - Obito glances around. It’s then he realizes he didn’t see Wyria in the party, and indeed she’s instead been packing up.

Seems the man from before is right - she doesn’t waste any time. It wilts his expression, as he’s pretty sure he understands why. Keeping his helmet tucked under his arm, he sheepishly approaches. “...need any help?”

At his voice, she spins around, eyes wide, still dressed in her attire. But she softens as she recognizes him. “Ah, sorry...I thought you were, uh...nevermind.”

“I think I know who you mean,” Obito assures her. “So I thought I’d lend a hand, if...you want it.”

“That would be wonderful, thank you.”

They finish dismantling her setup, which Obito compliments. “This must’ve taken a lot of time.”

“And money,” she assures him dryly. “But...I love it. It’s been worth every dollar and hour. I love acting and dressing up, so...it only makes sense. I was one of the people who helped set up the LARP group here.”

“Really?”

“Mhm! Right out of high school. It was really small and...cheap at first. But we’ve grown a lot over the years. We even put on shows for schools sometimes. Which helps earn more money to keep the group going.”

“That’s awesome!”

“Maybe you’ll join us for one?”

“Eh…” At that, he hesitates. “...maybe. I’m still, uh...new. And…” He gestures to his face, wilting. “...not sure I’d be good around kids.”

“They seemed to love it before. And they’ll just believe it’s part of your character. Are…?” It’s her turn to pause. “So...those are real?”

“Yeah.”

“Me too. The hair and stuff, I mean.” Her eyes roll. “Used to get me bullied, but I do pretty well thanks to it now.”

“Someone mentioned you cosplay professionally…?”

“Mhm. It’s not a full gig, I still work. But it helps. And it’s a lot of fun, when...people aren’t being jerks.”

Obito sours. “Yeah...I caught a whiff of that earlier. I’m sorry.”

“It comes with the territory. Just...wish that it didn’t.” After a pause, a box of stuff in her arms, she offers, “I...just realized I never introduced myself! My...real self, that is. I’m Ryū.”

“Obito.”

“Nice to meet you. And thanks for the help.”

Helping her load the last boxes into her car, Obito can’t help but ask, “So...do you always play an NPC?”

“I do. As much as a character is fun, I enjoy being part of the structure. And since I’m one of the founders, I feel more...set in stone that way. I play Wyria every time. So I’m almost like a playable character, just...set to a script. I’m the same person for every story, but I enjoy it a lot. I feel like a piece of the foundation that way.”

“I think I understand.”

Closing the car door, she gives him another look. “Thanks for helping me pack up. And…” She glances past him for a moment, and his head tilts. “...for helping ward anyone else off.”

Obito nearly turns to look, but brightens in understanding. “...oh! Yeah, sure. Any time.”

“So, will you be back next weekend?”

“Er...maybe.” He itches his neck guiltily. “The, uh...ticket price is a little steep for me.”

“Yeah, it can be. Very few people come every week. Mostly it’s every other, or once a month. It keeps the group fluid, though. A different pool every time.” Ryū gives a smile. “But it’ll be cool to see you again. You did really well for a first timer!”

Obito feels himself get warm at the compliment. “Y-yeah?”

She nods. “Did you do any theater in high school?”

“A little, yeah.”

“That helps. And it only gets easier the more you do it. I’m sure Garver will be a staple pretty soon. And Wyria will always be happy to sell him some potions...for the right price.”

Smiling bashfully, Obito then stiffens. “Oh -!” He reaches up and takes off the scarf. “Here, I -”

“No, that’s yours.”

“...but -?”

“You bought it in-game, so it belongs to Garver.” She waves a hand. “I get material and stuff pretty cheap, don’t worry about it. And players trade things back in for upgraded stuff, so it usually cycles back. Just don’t lose it, okay?”

“Oh...well, thanks.”

She just smiles in reply. “Well, I guess I’ll see you whenever you can make it back in! Take care, Obito.”

“Yeah, you too.” He steps aside, letting her pull away from the park’s lot in the dusk of evening.

He needs to get home, too...it’ll be dark by the time he gets back. Stripping off his gear and putting it back into his duffle bag, Obito smiles to himself. It was a really good day…! Better than he’d feared. And maybe he’s even making a new friend, both in and out of character. Sadly his low wages mean it might be a while before he can come back, but...well, it’ll be worth the wait.

Replaying it all in his mind, he starts back toward home, unable to help but linger on the scenes with Garver and Wyria. Partly he feels bad - he doesn’t want to be like Irkvar. But, well...her character is interesting! And Garver just...enjoyed her. That’s all.

...that’s all.

     Aw yisss, we’re back with another ObiRyū October, y’all! And the first piece is set in a modern verse with some LARPing, cuz...Obito is a canon professional LARPer, after all xD And the prompt just fit too well, I couldn’t not do it lol      I have a few buffer days built up JUST in case I fall behind (as I...always do), but I’ll still be writing to try and keep up. Otherwise, as per usual, I’ll be doing my best to post once a day through the whole month in celebration of my OTP!       So on that note...I better start working on more xD Thanks for reading!

#obiryū october #abyssaldespair #uchiha obito #suigin ryū #best years of your life [ au ]

[viltrumitesuperboy]

Trains Part 2 (Peter Parker x Male Reader)

I feel like I was originally taking this a different direction but somehow I come up with this garbage. Got a few ideas and a few requests, so prepare yourself for some fics.

Part 1 here

Word count: 2128

At some point, you were talking to Peter almost every day, and the same day you had to go into the city for an internship was the same day he had to go. He usually helped with losing track of time, and it got you off your phone for a portion of the day. You learned a lot about each other: he went to Midtown Tech, you went to Stuyvesant. (He'd always ask you about the escalators and you told him about how people get hurt on them. Yikes.) He worked with Tony Stark (who he would call "Mr. Stark"), you worked... not with Tony Stark.

You'd always ask him about Stark Industries, and he would tell you only a little bit every time. He said he only met a few of the Avengers, but he had more stories about Spider-Man. He said that he wanted to bring you to the Avengers Tower someday, and you freaked out to no end.

And he did. You were both on your way to the city, and you were nerding out the whole way there.

"Am I gonna get to meet Mr. Stark?"

"I think so."

"Do you know if I can visit the labs?"

"Maybe."

"What do you do as an intern?"

"Mostly paperwork. I check the levels I have access to for progress in the fields sometimes. And then I work on my own stuff."

As soon as the train doors opened, you and Peter rushed out with a crowd into the busy subway station, and you grabbed his hand to not get lost as you both began to make your way to an exit. You honestly wouldn't mind holding his hand more. You both got out and were walking to the famous tower that you would be entering for the first time.

"Oh my god. This is it. I get to go inside with Peter Parker himself, Tony Stark's intern. If I get to meet Dr. Bruce Banner, that's it. I'm gonna jump out the window," you said.

"No! No jumping out any windows. Come on, you should be in the clear if you stick with me."

Peter pulled you into a lobby you could only ever see from the outside when you passed by the windows. The fact that you were in one of the most famous buildings in the STEM field and in the world left you in awe. Peter tugged at your hand when you slowed down your pace.

"(Y/N), if you cooperate, I'll try to get you a souvenir or something to bring back."

You snapped back into reality and bounded forward to match Peter's quickening strides. As he walked with you past the lobby, he flashed an ID card to the security at the front. His hand squeezed yours when he turned quickly to reach an elevator.

"We're going up to see some of the labs first," he informed you.

"Oh my god, yes!" you whispered. "Can I see your ID card?"

"No."

You took in the entire elevator, looking at every detail of the tiles until the doors opened. Peter's hand awkwardly left yours as he put his ID away in his pocket and pulled out his phone to send a text.

"Dude, I don't think I thanked you enough for doing this. This is by far the coolest thing to ever happen to me. And I've met Spider-Man once!"

Peter laughed at your excitement. The elevator stopped, and he motioned for you to follow as he opened two doors next to each other to show you two of the labs.

"I probably shouldn't show you anything too serious because some of this stuff is really secret. These are just a few things that people are working on," he explained.

You both got closer to the blueprint hologram in the first room, and you stated in awe at the detail and the object in front of you. It was a prototype of a very small display screen that was essentially a computer, and it seemed to be fitted into a pair of glasses.

"I bet Mr. Stark is updating his own so he's testing out something new. Next room!"

After viewing both labs, he brought you to a few more where people were actually working. You got to meet a few scientists who were excited to explain to you what was happening. Peter scanned his card to one with no distinguishing characteristics, not even a plaque. He looked at you and turned the handle.

"This is probably the most important room I have access to, and this is the only one where you can actually touch anything. Don't break anything," Peter said to you with a hint of a smile on his face.

"I swear on my life," you promised.

"Okay, maybe not that severe."

He pushed the door open and gestured you in, closing the door once you were both inside. He scanned his card once more on the empty table, and suddenly hologram screens showed up all over and a door in the wall opened to reveal the one and only Spider-Man suit.

"No. Fucking. Way," you blurted out. "I literally met him on the train and now I'm in the lab for his suit?! This is awesome!"

You stared at the holograms, reading all the information you could about it.

"'Baby Monitor Protocol'? What's that?" you asked, turning to face Peter.

"It's a program to control Spider-Man's full use of the suit's powers. Then he managed to hack it and get it deactivated. Mr. Stark isn't bothering to reactivate it but he reminds Spider-Man to be responsible," he explained.

"Oh my god, are those his web shooters?!"

You walked over to the objects perched on a pedestal next to the suit. You carefully picked them up and gaped at them. You snapped your head up to him, catching a hint of a smile on his face before it was gone.

"Peter. Can I use this?" you asked, begging him with your eyes.

"I'll show you how, but don't tell anyone."

He picked it up and placed it on his wrist, aiming at a wall and pressing the button like Spider-Man would, hitting the wall in a web. He took it off and placed it on yours, standing right next to you as he lifted your wrist to aim at the wall.

"Your middle and index finger press that," he instructed, taking a step back.

You pressed the button and the shooter released a web on the wall right on top of Peter's shot. You spun to face Peter with an excited expression, to which he laughed then took it off your wrist.

"This is pretty much all I can show you for the labs. I'll see if we can talk to Mr. Stark."

You both left Spider-Man's lab and went back to the elevator. He pressed a button for a higher floor.

"That was so cool. Oh my god. How do you guys make the webs?"

"Spider-Man makes the web fluid himself. He keeps it to himself but I think he has his own notes for that."

The elevator was fast, and the doors were open as soon as Peter finished speaking. He motioned you to follow him, which you did with wandering eyes. Then Tony Stark himself walked out of a hallway, and your jaw dropped as Peter waved to him.

"Mr. Stark! This is my friend, (Y/N). He's the one I met on the train a while ago," said Peter excitedly. "I took him to see some of the labs. (Y/N), this is Mr. Stark."

You had no time to become starstruck because Tony Stark himself started to bombard you with questions.

"You go to Stuyvesant?"

"Uh, yeah."

"I have a friend there. You know the AP physics teacher on the 4th floor?"

"I don't have him but I think I know who you're talking about."

"Great. I'm busy, so I want you to take this to him. He's a little crazy. It's just a few problems in some things we're doing in the labs and I wanted him to take a look."

He handed you a folder held with a binder clip and gave you the firmest handshake you ever received in your life. He pat Peter on the shoulder as he left. You turned to Peter with eyes comically wide and your jaw dropped.

"Peter. What the fuck. Tony Stark just gave me something to deliver," you gasped. "This is the best day of my life!"

"I thought that was when you got to talk to Spider-Man," he chuckled. "And trust me, I still freak out a bit when I see Mr. Stark.

"Well, sorry, dude. If I got to meet Dr. Bruce Banner today, that's it. I'm jumping out that window."

Peter laughed and let you put the folder in your bag. You headed back towards the elevators and you clutched the straps of your bag like it was your life.

That Friday afternoon, you ended up helping that "crazy teacher" with the science stuff, and a few pictures sent to Peter got half of them done in an hour. He was definitely an interesting teacher but, as smart as he was, you couldn't understand a lot of his mumbling. You told him you'd come back tomorrow because you had to meet a friend today. He agreed and let you keep the folders with him.

You reached Peter's apartment to hang out with him before dinner at his place, and he opened the door for you with a smile.

"I have to show you something," he said excitedly.

He let you in and you shut the door, barely having time to take your shoes off before he pulled you towards his room.

"Okay, look at my computer."

You looked at him, confused, and slowly walked over to his computer.

"Why are you showing me Club Penguin?" you laughed. "I mean we play together anyway. Is that Ned?"

He quickly switched to an opened email, moving to show you the screen with a blush on his face. You leaned in to see tickets for Comic-Con later in the year, courtesy of Tony Stark. Happy emailed him, explaining that he told Tony everything that Peter texted him about. Tony said that he wanted to buy tickets for Peter and his friends because of Peter's claimed money issues. You let out a laugh in disbelief and turned to hug Peter tightly.

"This is amazing, Peter!" you exclaimed. "I've wanted to go for so long. Can we dress up or something?"

"Actually, I've been planning to do Star War Characters? I've been saving up," Peter suggested.

"Or... we can be Star Wars characters and you can be Spider-Man," you smirked.

"I- uh- what?" Peter stuttered. "I don't even have-"

"You know, I wasn't too sure if you were Spider-Man or not. I mean, Spider-Man talking to me and then a teenager who suddenly talks to me on the train? But the internship, having access to Spider-Man's lab, and the ID card that clearly showed you were Spider-Man... I think Tony Stark should fix that."

"I'm not Spider-Man!" Peter exclaimed.

"I'm sure you have a lot of good proof and your alibis are great, but your closet is wide open."

You both turned to look at his Spider-Man suit hanging on top of the rod in his closet.

"It would make the people there happy," you said. "And the kids would love it."

"I just wanted to spend time with you there. I kind of really like you and I wanted us to have a first date there," he sheepishly mumbled.

"What, we didn't already have a first date at the Avengers Tower?" you joked.

He smiled and pulled his ID out of his bag, turning it over a few times.

"I should get this changed with Mr. Stark. I guess putting 'Spider-Man' right on an ID card isn't the best idea," he chuckled.

A few months later, he went to Comic-Con as Spider-Man. His Luke Skywalker outfit was in your bag when he was done parading around as the friendly neighbourhood hero. The kids definitely loved it. Comic-Con was probably the coolest second date you've ever been on. You and Peter ended up sharing a first kiss with him hanging upside down from the ceiling and hidden from the public eye.

And he ended up showing you his new ID card: the same photo with his name and not the superhero one, his title (intern) and mini googly eyes attached to the front, courtesy of Mr. Stark as punishment for "lack of appreciation."

#x male reader #male reader #peter parker x male reader #peter parker x male!reader #peter parker imagine #peter parker x reader

[andhrawatch]

What does K in Prabhas' upcoming film Project 'K' ( working title) stand for? This has been a trending topic among moviegoers now. It won't be an exaggeration to say that this is as widely popular as the famous cinematic mystery - 'Why Kattappa Killed Baahubali ? which created a lot of curiosity across the globe after the release of Baahubali 1. Ever since the makers started the promotions of 'Project K' a few days ago, there have been wild speculations on what K in the title really means. Before the suspense ends on July 20th as the makers are going to unveil the first glimpse during the Comic-Con event in San Diego, there have numerous rumours that are circulating in industry circles and social media. Reportedly, titles like Kaala Chakra, Kalki and Kurukshetra are the potential ones that are being considered by the team as per the reports in the media. These titles have a close inkling with Indian mythology. As Project K is touted to be a blend of mythology and science fiction, there are good chances that one of these titles will be finalized by the makers. It may be noted that long back the makers gave a sneak peek into the world of Project K with a video that showcased the making of a giant wheel. So, there is a strong possibility that Kaala Chakra might be the forerunner as the title. Also, Kalki and Kurukshetra are also in consideration. We have to wait for a few days more to know what is in store from Prabhas and his team. Directed by Nag Ashwin, Project K boasts an ensemble cast in the form of Deepika Padukone Amitabh Bachchan Kamal Haasan Disha Patani, and others in significant roles. Vyjayanthi Movies banner is bankrolling the film on a grand scale. #AmithabBachchan #DeepikaPadukone #DishaPatani #KaalChakra #KaalaChakra #Kalki #KamalHaasan #Kurukshetra #Prabhas #ProjectK

[lol-jackles]

Hey there. I’ve seen some of your other posts touch up on this, but I was hoping you could write a full post combining everything you’ve mentioned and hypothesized for jibcon17. Do you think Jensen was drunk? Why’d he get emotional? What happened between him and Jared? How did this fit on the YANA timeline?

Eh, IDK.  Maybe one day *shrug*.  I don’t think he was drunk-drunk.  He wasn’t emotional he was manipulative.  Friendship reboot involves growing pains, personally I thought their friendship wouldn’t last past 10 years but they seem to have muscled through the reboot and level up.  

How did this fit on the YANA timeline?  You want the short version?  Sometimes before or during season 9, Jensen and WB finally worked out a deal between them and on 11-05-2014, Jensen registered the Family Business Beer Company, LLC.  Few CW actors participated in charity fundraising through Represent and on 02-13-2015, Jensen’s tee shirt Represent campaign is #SPNFamily.  “Family” = foreshadow, geddit?  On 03-03-2015 it was Jared’s turn and he launched his AKF campaign.  It wraps up on 03-18-2015 breaking records, that same day the Dean/Cole episode “The Things They Carried” delivered the season’s first rating bomb and ratings decline will continue to the finale, making season 10 the lowest rated season in the series.

Me: somebody is gonna get hurt.  *Two months later*  JFC I wasn’t talking about you Jared!  

In June, Jared returns to the the public for the Gilmore Girl panel.  Two days later he is nominated for a TCA in the acting category.

Me: This is, like, your 7th nomination.  Maybe you’ll win this time.  *Jensen and Misha are nominated in the chemistry category*  Eh? Until now Misha had zero TCA nomination and Jensen had 3, so why is WB going to buy the chemistry award for Jensen and Misha???  

Creation Entertainment’s Gary and Adam registered the Creation Stands LLC on 06-29-2015.  Two weeks after the amazing Comic Con tea light tribute to Jared, he launched his third AKF campaign on 7-19-2015.  At the time I thought it was excessive but in hindsight I think Jensen told Jared back in June that YANA was in the works by CW/WB.  Jensen may had two reasons to agreeing to work in the YANA campaign; first reason is to solidify WB committment to his brewery (the Ackles were professionaly photographed for the marketing).  Two weeks later on 08-05-2015  Jensen debuts his Instagram with a picture of himself and his daughter.

Me: Cute picture.  *see the instant 2 million followers *  I knew it, WB is one of the FBBC’s investors/owners.

A week later the TCA win for Jared (acting), and Jensen & Misha (chemistry) came and went and forgottened until 10-16-2015 when Creation Entertainment advertised it’s upcoming Chicago con using a Jensen/Misha banner with a AKF tagline on it.  Fandom is “Aw Hell No!” and the picture was removed and replaced with Jensen/Jared.  Two weeks later on 11-01-15 Creation Entertainment announced the establishment of Creation Stands to sell official SPN merchandise, though it noticably skewed Cas theme products because ….

Me: *reads Misha’s friend is in charge of Creation Stands*   Holy shit, Misha is the owner of Stands???  Are you trying to win a Darwin Award?  Waitaminute..the chemistry award, that boat picture, the Chicago faux pas….*Jared launched his 4th AFK campaign on 11-04-2015*  Yeah I take back everything I said about your 3rd campaign because Jensen’s second reason for telling Jared (probably) back in June may be to be seen as his rescuer so Jared would fall back into his status quo arms.  Instead Jared probably called up his publicist and strategized.  Boundaries suck for the one being boundaried at but it was necessary. 

On 01-06-2016, Jensen wins PCA for acting and filmed a thank you video with Misha who was coincidentally on set during his 2 days out of the 8 day episode shoot.  Once month later, YANA is launched on 02-11-2016.  That same day Jared announced he is returning to Gilmore Girls.

Me: Well played, Jared.  Yup, pretty sure Jensen told him about YANA six to eight months ago.  Skip Forward to Jibcon16.  Oh boy….But on the other hand, and call me crazy but if Jared hadn’t ditched Jensen by now those crazy kids might make it.  Aaaand I think it did.

#yana

[natalia-alianovna-bw]

Full offence but Natasha should not have died

So I went into endgame thinking natasha was THE SAFEST character

And until the end credits came up i was 100% certain she would reappear

So given she didn’t

Here’s an angry list of reasons natasha should NOT HAVE DIED and she should have been the safest character:

So let’s start with her entrance to the MCU - Iron Man 2. Here she is clearly given a sexist role of being the ‘sexy secretary’, and is the epitome of stereotypes. She is portrayed as simply hot - Tony ogles her and she returns comments such as a martini being ‘dirty enough’ for him, her costumes are low cut and tight, and whilst she does fight and appear at first glance to be a powerful woman, she is simply a pawn. Anything she did have here Johansson had to make for herself, she was given a script which I give her respect for sticking around after that. God knows how hard it must have been - Natalie Portman didn’t stay for long did she?

Then we move to Avengers Assemble. This can be explained in three words - ‘The Smurfette Principle’, for which this film is now quite simply the go to example. It means when there is one woman in a group of men leading a film, or show, or book etc, and is quite clearly there to tick a box. Normally sexy too, because we couldn’t handle a woman being taken seriously, could we? Again she is written here as rather 1 dimensional, and although analysis suggests she may have been one of the more popular Avengers in this film for fans, I don’t believe this. There was (and still is) an appalling lack of merch (as Ruffalo pointed out on Twitter around AOU time, and at the cinema I went to there were cups for all the Avengers accept Natasha) and in all Avengers films the focus is on the ‘power trio’ of Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor.

Now would also be a good time to point out she has been characterised differently in every single film - I feel utterly sorry for Johansson. Yes, this happened to a lot of the characters as different directors came and went (thank the LORD some of them went), but I feel Natasha has suffered an injustice here. She has gone from being haunted and controlled by her past (AOU) to being able to brush it off and move on as an independent woman. Her character changes as the times do - her first introduction would not have been accepted nowadays.

From the way she was introduced, it was always going to a long, hard, and grueling job to dig her out of that pit, and some will always view her as that character she was in Iron Man 2 - and you cannot blame them, you can only blame the sexism and a certain director.

In Age of Ultron, again, ANOTHER director comes and gives Natasha an idiotic roll and script. The Banner thing? Don’t get me started on that. Her main ‘character arc’ (if I can even call it that) was the fact she could not have children, and she felt like a monster due to that. Imagine a male superhero saying those lines and going through that - laughable, quite frankly. Never would have been a plausible main plot for one of them. In my opinion, Banner and Natasha were simply the only male and female who it would make logical sense to have together, but really it was awkward and made no sense. Watching it was cringeworthy and I honestly pretend it never happened. Some of the biggest ships are Clintasha and Buckynat, not Brucenat even though it was almost canon. That says enough in itself.

Next - the comic version of Natasha. First of all she is called Natalia Romanova (Natasha Romanoff in the films is like an alias, although Romanoff is wrong in Russian as is the male version, anyway,) and comes in around 1964 as a Soviet-Era spy. She is portrayed as the female superhero that we needed - in charge of her own destiny. To have given her a stand alone film (as all the males got at least one) with this backdrop would have been an amazing film, with many different issues that could have been explored.

Moving forwards, in CA:CW she was given a proper role (finally), and in fact was the only level headed, sensible character in the film.

She has not been a useless role before this - no, she has been instrumental in all the films. I have seen people list the ways she has saved the world and say ‘you can’t say this is sexist’, but you can, because before, even though she did these things, the way she was portrayed and therefore did them was not on par with the males.

A characters death SHOULD NOT be for shock factor, especially in a franchise such as this. On the contrary, building up a predictable death would still be more emotional.

Throughout the trailers Natasha was featured more than she ever had been before, for example being the screenshot cover on Youtube for some official trailers, whereas she was not even on the front of the Age of Ultron DVD sleeve. I thought to this - thank god, she is finally getting the respect she deserves. She is being taken seriously, maybe even there is some positive discrimination to her here as a female (let’s remember we went from a diverse Infinity War back to a group of predominantly powerful white males - shots of them all together I sometimes found painful to watch). In the first half of the film, she was featured a lot, and I still had a hopeful feeling. This was her TRUE beginning, her remaking as a serious superhero. She was the same as the males - simply a hero in pain five years after losing half the world, trying her hardest to do her bit. Then however, I realised I had been conned. Her emotional scenes and emphasis in trailers were simply to remind the audience she existed, and try and build an emotional bond before she was suddenly killed.

And when she did die? The cinema was silent (except for me and my friend), the sound of munching popcorn filled our ears as the shot of her body panned out. The scene was emotional, yes, but clearly meant for the shock factor as opposed to the emotional, end-of-an-era, symbolic death of Iron Man (who also got a funeral). Was this because really, the Black Widow was always a secondary character, so had no era to end? (Yes.)

I think Natasha never got any true respect (and when she did it was too late), and anything she did have Johansson had to build up herself, with whatever demeaning script she was given that day.

To kill her off is just adding insult to the many injuries the Black Widow has suffered (remember when she got stabbed and her only comment was about not being able to wear a bikini?). I respect Johansson for what she managed to make out of Natasha, and will miss her as we move forward once again.

She was and always will be my favourite character, but one I feel could have been so much more if only she was given the chance.

Thank you for your sacrifice Natasha, and for your hard work, Scarlett.

#avengers #natasha romanov #black widow #natasha romanoff #avengers endgame #tony stark #mcu #marvel #sexism #feminist #scarlett #scarlett johansson #a4 spoilers #endgame

[lixxiecorn]

Totally Normal - Tony

So I just started a series called More Than Survive, which includes my Peter Parker Field Trip fic, Living With Superheroes? Not Cool, and the newest addition to the series is called Totally Normal. Totally Normal is basically Peter realizing that the Avengers seem to think they always have to be super so he makes it his goal to make them super normal for a change. Each chapter works on its own as a oneshot so I’m gonna post them on here as well as on ao3.

I will say that I’ve never been to a comic-con so bear with me...

Read the entire thing on ao3

…

“Please dad?” Peter pleaded, quickly moving out of the way of a table as he followed Tony around the lab.

While it wasn’t unusual for Peter to be following Tony around, this time he had a mission. This weekend was the New York Comic-Con and Peter, being the gigantic nerd he was, was determined to go. Nothing was going to stop him. Well, other than the fact that anyone under the age of 18 must have an adult accompanying them and Peter wasn’t 18. Which led to their currently predicament.

“I don’t have time to go to a- a- whatever it is.” Tony trailed off, looking intently some data on a Starkpad.

“Comic-Con.” Peter supplied.

“Yeah, a Comic-Con. Tons of deadlines coming up and stuff.” Tony said, dismissively.

“And when have deadlines ever stopped you before?” Peter asked, crossing his arms indignantly.

Tony paused and looked back at the teenager, obviously realizing he had a point. He shrugged and looked back at the data, changing some variables.

Peter walked around Tony to stand in front of him. “Please dad, there’s going to be a giant Star Wars exhibit and it’s only going to be here once. Like, I’ll never have the change to see it again and you know how much I love Star Wars and- “

Tony put a hand up to stop his rambling. “Peter, no.” Tony said firmly.

Peter pouted for a second. He had one card left, and he didn’t really want to use it, but he really wanted to go to Comic-Con.

“Aunt May said she’d take me one year.” Peter mumbled quietly, putting an exaggerated amount of sadness into the sentence.

Tony stopped what he was doing and looked up at Peter who was giving him puppy dog eyes. He seemed torn, then sighed exasperatedly and rubbed his hand over his face.

“Fine.” Tony agreed finally. Peter whooped and jumped, pumping his fist into the air. He engulfed his dad in a hug then ran off.

“But I’m not dressing up!” Tony called after the retreating teenager. Peter sent him a thumbs up then disappeared out the door.

“God, this kid is going to be the death of me.” Tony sighed, going back to his work.

…

“Boss would like me to inform you that he is leaving in 5 minutes, with or without you, Peter.” FRIDAY announced.

Peter looked up from putting on his costume grinning. “I thought he didn’t want to go?” He asked sarcastically.

FRIDAY responded after a moment. “Boss says very funny, now get your spider ass down here before I regret agreeing to this.”

Peter laughed as he finished putting on his boots. He had really wanted to go as Han Solo, but Ned had said that he looked like Luke Skywalker. So, Peter had managed to put together a pretty realistic Luke Skywalker outfit with one of Bucky’s white Wakandan shirts from his time in Wakanda rehabilitating, a pair of tan kakis that he’d already owned, and a pair of tan boots he’d gotten from a thrift store. On a belt he borrowed from Clint was a small water bottle and a real working lightsaber that Peter had made himself.

In retrospect, Peter was glad of Ned’s input because if he had dressed up as Han, he wouldn’t have gotten the best part of his costume. Behind him, following him wherever he went, was a real, working, R2D2. He had been building it with Ned, along with help from Tony, and it was finally finished, just in time to take it to Comic-Con.

Checking his outfit to make sure he didn’t forget anything; Peter ran out the door, hopping in the elevator to grab the rest of his things.

…

Peter got out of the elevator and ran into the common room, going straight to the couch where Tony was sitting.

Tony had been telling the truth when he said he wasn’t dressing up. He was dressed in quintessential Tony Stark style, tinted sunglasses and a suit.

Peter stopped in front of his father, R2 following behind at a slightly slower pace. Tony’s eyes widened as he looked up from his phone, taking in Peter’s outfit.

“Are you Luke Skywalker?” Tony asked, then noticed the robot. “And is that an R2D2?”

“Yes, and yes.” Peter said, grinning.

Tony looked confused. “I thought you were just going to be Spiderman?”

“Why would I be Spiderman? I’m Spiderman every day!” Peter exclaimed, incredulous.

Tony rubbed his hand over his face and sighed. He got up and walked carefully around Peter and R2D2. “Come on, lets get this over with.”

Peter grinned and ran off after him, R2D2 following behind.

…

“What have I gotten myself into?” Tony asked to no one in particular.

They were standing inside the main atrium of Javits Center. All around them people in cosplay chatted and conversed. Banners and advertisements were everywhere, colorfully announcing different events and activities that were to take place throughout the day. It was a place where even Tony Stark didn’t stand out, because in the short amount of time they had been standing there Peter had counted 10 other people dressed exactly like the billionaire.

“Look dad, there’s a Tony Stark costume contest at 3! You should enter!” Peter exclaimed, pointing at a sign nearby.

Tony looked at him incredulously. “Me, enter a lookalike contest, of myself?”

R2D2 gave a confirming whirr as Peter nodded excitedly. Tony looked torn, then nodded. “Sure, why not. Might as well do something entertaining.”

Peter grinned then saw a sign for the Star Wars exhibit. He grabbed Tony’s arm and pulled him through the crowd, R2D2 following helpfully behind.

…

Peter decided that even though the Star Wars exhibit had been amazing, nothing could be better than the scene playing out in front of him.

After getting pulled though a replica of the Millennian Falcon and past a 3D diagram of the Death Star, Tony had signed up for the Tony Stark costume contest, to Peter’s delight. Which is how Peter found himself in the audience as Tony and 19 other Tony’s stood on stage getting judged. Each Tony had a number, his dad being number 7.

“Alright, we have decided the winners.” The judge announced. The audience quieted down as all the contestants looked to the judge.

“In third place we have number 16.” The judge said. The audience clapped as a man, younger looking than Tony and without his trademark tinted glasses, stepped forward and received his trophy.

“Then in second place we have number 7, and in first number 12.” The judge finished.

“Wait what? But I’m actually Tony Stark!” Tony exclaimed as contestant 12 stepped forward to receive first place.

“Of course you are sir.” The judge said dismissively as he handed Tony the second-place trophy. Tony stood stunned, holding the trophy and Peter died laughing in the audience. He snapped a picture of the momentous occasion.

As the contest disbanded Tony, still holding the trophy, caught up with Peter who was still giggling.

“I guess you just don’t look enough like Tony Stark.” Peter teased, trying and failing to catch his breath before laughing more.

Tony rolled his eyes but grinned slightly. “Come on, let’s go before I’ve had enough of this place.”

…

After they left, Peter was sure to tell everyone about the contest to Tony’s dismay. But Peter doesn’t fail to notice the trophy proudly displayed on a shelf in the lab next to a picture of the two of them in front of the death star model.

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