#(( I'll hop on the Bruno Express why not- ))

[smiledotdeer]

“Why are we obsessing over the rat man? Is it because of his rats? They are quite adorable!”

[detectivemarvelingcomics]

Alrightyyyyyy Post-Episode Ms. Marvel Thoughts!

Spoilers under the cut! I wanna do these again, I did them a lot for TFATWS haha

I love this show. I'll be honest the power change is kinda a big thing for me, but its a different universe and me shouting into the void about it isn't going to change anything, but so far I like what they're doing with it! They found a way to connect her culture with her powers and it's really fascinating to see it!

I wasn't joking when I said that Marvel should've put a TW for immigrant parenting though, a lot of that hit hard. I remember having to set up my case before asking my parents to even stay after school for a bit and even twisting some truths to make it favorable to them. There was one time me and my friends wanted to go get slushies and I basically had to tell my parents a week ahead of time and tell them it was a study session. And, good gosh, I absolutely felt it when Kamala failed her driver's test and her mom just rambled off on things in that tone of voice it literally set off a response in me because like "damn I know I did bad but you don't need to rub it in like that."

But the line that really got me?

"We trust you. We don't trust anyone else."

Now that triggered me, because that is the exact sentence that my parents always told me when I asked them to go places. I kid you not, I literally had to go with my dad to Anime Expo, of all the cons, because they didn't trust me to go with my friends and I was literally a junior in high school when that happened too! Genuinely, I relate to Kamala so much. And I mad respect her because she's got guts to pull that off, I immediately fold when my parents say 'no.'

That's another thing, so many people are villanizing Kamala's mom, and while I understand why, I don't agree with it. I'll never understand why people will always search for a villain (key cases being Encanto and Turning Red) in characters that are too complex and rounded to just be one? Obviously I don't mean this in a way to defend her because I also don't agree with how she speaks to Kamala, but at the same time my mom is the exact same way. The actions come out of love, could they be expressed better? Yeah, of course. But at the same time seeing people flat out villanize her gives me the ick, you know? There is a balance that is not agreeing with your parents but also loving them so much that it overcomes that, and that's how I see Kamala's relationship with her mom, and that's proven in the scene with Bruno where she expresses how hurt she felt when she realized she really hurt her parents'. It's nuanced, guys, like I said earlier, the girls who get it get it and the girls who don't don't.

Now aside from the heavy parts, god I loved the fun parts. Scott has a podcast? Not the thing we wanted, but the thing we needed. The animation? Top notch! It makes the show so vibrant and it's such a change from Moon Knight that to me its refreshing! What I'm really enjoying is the fact that these high school kids are going through high school problems. College apps, socializing, going to cons, ugh, it's so nice to see.

Oh gosh, Avengerscon, oh gosh. It's weird to think about it with the context we know of the Avengers also considering some of them are still probably deemed war criminals and here they are at a convention and if that isn't the most fan convention shit idk what is AHAHAHA but gosh it looked so fun to be a part of, I hope for D23 Marvel hops on that concept and has an Avengerscon section cuz that would be super popular!

Also I'd die for Bruno.

Overall, I'm liking the pacing so far!! It was a great first episode and I can't wait for the next one!

[sorbet-and-gelato]

Mista walked in the front door, waving to his friends. "Hey guys, what's up? I got the job done nice and fast, so I can spend the rest of the day kicking back and relaxing!"

Everyone in the room froze like deer in headlights, asides from Abbacchio, who just eyed him with an expression caught somewhere between surprise and resign. "Mista," Bruno said, hastily attempting to hide whatever was in his hands. "You're back early... I thought that mission was gonna take you a lot longer."

"Give it up, Bucciarati," Abbacchio sighed. "We were caught."

"MISTA'S BACK!?" Narancia shouted. He teetered dangerously on the stool he was standing on. He regained his balance just in time, staring at Mista with wide eyes. The red and blue streamers fell from his hands, and despite his best efforts to catch them, they hit the ground and came tumbling to a stop at Mista's feet.

Mista looked around the room, speechless. There was bunting and streamers hung across the walls and ceiling. Presents that were in the process of being wrapped were strewn across the floor and table. Bruno's grip on the box he was holding loosened, and he simply shook his head and smiled

"Is this... All for me?" Mista asked.

"Yeah, we were gonna throw you a surprise party!" Narancia said, hopping down from the stool. "'Cept it's not a surprise anymore. Everyone's been helping out! That's why the others aren't here, they're busy!"

"Really? That's so cool!" Mista beamed. "Thanks so much!" He pulled Narancia into a hug, and the two of them happily embraced. The two of them grinned at each other, and turned to Bruno.

"Hey, Bucciarati! This is my party, right? Let me help! I'll make sure it's just right!" Mista said excitedly.

"Well, if you're that eager... You can finish the bunting Trish was making before she left to finish other preparations. She made sure there were five flags on each section." As soon as the words left Bruno's mouth, Mista was by his side and inspecting the decorations.

Bruno looked over at Abbacchio, and they exchanged a glance. The slightest of smiles tugged at Abbacchio's lips.

"Happy birthday, Mista!" Narancia exclaimed. "This'll be the best part not-so-surprise party ever!"

[awakendreamersworld]

Here's chapter 8! Revealed

Once Giulia and Maria were finished with deliveries, they started riding back down the hill back to their home just as the boys were coming back from fishing. "Whoa, that's a lot more fish than before!" Giulia said, "That's because a lot of fish start migrating." Luca said. Maria stared at the pile of fish, hungrily. "Uhh, you ok, Maria?" Alberto asked but she didn't respond and walked away into the house. Everyone joined inside taking the pile of fish so Massimo can cut them and Giulia can deliver. At night, Maria was up in the treehouse eating some raw fish she snuck out of the kitchen as Alberto was approaching from behind whispering "Silencio Bruno, Silencio Bruno!" and he took a deep breathe and tapped Maria's shoulder and she turned around.

"Uhh... Hey!" Alberto said nervously. "So... About earlier today... just wanted to point out that that was an accident...." "We don't experience your culture of 'love,' could you perhaps teach me?" Maria asked "Oh! Uhh... Sure?" Alberto said nervously "You did say you were an expert on humans." Maria said "I am! And I'm an expert on love! So I'll teach you." Said Alberto sitting next to Maria. "Giulia said that kissing meant you 'like' someone." Maria said facing towards Alberto "Yes, but there's a bit more to it than that." He said, "Like what?" Said Maria "Uhh, well, like, getting to know someone, someone that's like you! What you like, what your into, understands what you need." Alberto said "Like you?" Maria said, "What?" Said Alberto confused, "Yes, when we rode your Vespa up the hill and I spoke about my troubles, you understood what I needed, to be free, to live like you. And you and I both like flowers and we're both into exploring." Maria said.

"Yeah, I guess so!" Alberto said giggling out of excitement then he turned and saw Luca coming out of the window with a book, "Hey, Alberto! Wanna read this pirate book with us? It's amazing!" He said excitedly, Alberto sighed, "No thanks, Luca. You two have all the fun you want, I'm fine." He said turning away in a annoyed tone. "Ok!" Luca shrugged and went back inside to Giulia to continue with their fun. Maria noticed Alberto's facial expression changed, "Why are you mad?" She asked, "You know how you felt when you saw your friends' corpse? Yeah, that's how I feel sometimes, like, they just forgot about me..." Alberto said sadly, "I would never forget you, Alberto." Maria said putting her hand on his shoulder, Alberto smiled, "Thanks, Maria." He said putting his hand on top of hers.

Maria leaned closer and kissed Alberto on the lips like before and closed her eyes, Alberto deepened the kiss and closed his eyes too then pulled away when Massimo called him down to hunt for some more fish. "I'll be right back." Alberto said and jumped down from the tree exiting through the gate with Massimo waving goodbye to Maria who was waving back from the tree.

The next day, Maria was hovering over Alberto who was still sleeping. Then Giulia opened her window and played her trumpet noise again waking up Alberto who accidentally bonked his head against Maria's. "Ow, sorry Maria." Alberto said rubbing his from the pain, "Are you ok?" Maria asked, "Yeah, how hard is your head?" He asked "We are trained to be strong in every step. Muscles, instincts, knowledge-" She started "Yeah yeah, I get it." You won't really need to use those techniques now that your here." Alberto said standing up.

"Hey, c'mon! We have to get to work!" Giulia shouted, "Alright already, we're coming!" Alberto said and jumped down from the tree along with Maria as they both headed towards Massimo to the boat. While heading towards the boat, Alberto turned to see Luca get on a bike and ride with Giulia through the town to deliver some fish from yesterday, he turned back around and looked down angrily but sighed and hopped on the boat.

While out at sea, Maria jumped out of the boat into the water. "Where is she going?" Massimo asked, "Probably to catch some fish for us." Alberto said as they pulled the net into the water. Maria was swimming fast, going far away from the boat and searching around for anything to give to Alberto when she saw a big wrecked ship. Maria swam over to the giant wreckage and took a look inside to find some more fish inside and some skeletons from when the ship sank. She also found a chest with chains, she swam over to it and broke the chains with her bear claws and opened it to reveal jewelry and treasure, she took some of the jewelry breaking them and mitch matching them into necklaces for her and Alberto to wear.

Some fish got caught into the net as Massimo and Alberto started pulling the net up, "Thanks, Maria!" Alberto said shouting into the water, but there was no response, "Maria?" He said and then sighed "She must be at my island again, I'll go get her." Alberto said and dove into the water to find Maria swimming back to the boat, "Hey, where were you?" Alberto said swimming up to her, "Gathering the fish." Maria said hiding the gifts behind her back then grabbing her floating shorts and hopped onto the boat turning back into a human and putting her jean shorts back on and placing the necklaces in her pockets.

Once back on the boat, they started heading back to shore. Luca and Giulia were heading down the hill while Giulia was timing Luca's speed, "Woohoo! New record, Luca!" Giulia cheered, Luca giggled and hopped off the bike and placing it next to the door. Then they both started walking towards the dock where Alberto, Massimo and Maria were getting off the boat with another load of fish.

Massimo took the net full of fish and brought it inside to prepare for tomorrow, Alberto and Luca started heading back to the water. "Where are you going?" Maria asked, "Oh, I have lifeguarding, and Luca is helping." Alberto said "What is 'lifeguarding?'" Maria asked. "It's when you have to be on lookout to see if anyone's drowning to go save them or if there are sharks in the water. And its quite fun." Alberto said "Can I join you?" Maria asked, "You can, just don't get wet." Alberto said as they headed into the water and turned into their Sea Monster forms.

Maria sat on the edge watching them have fun and standing lookout for any sharks. After a few hours of everyone playing and enjoying the water, Maria took the time to continue with the necklaces, carving Alberto's name into one that had a small, thin gold chain with blue sapphires attached to it and some small seashells that spell out Alberto's name. "Hey, Maria." Alberto said swimming up to her, "What's that?" He asked "For you." Maria said holding out the gold and blue necklace to Alberto with his name carved into the seashells. "It's like a promise, as long as we wear these, we'll never forget each other." She said giving Alberto his and putting hers around her neck.

"Wow, thanks!" Alberto said putting on the necklace. Maria smiled, but then Ercole came up to ruin the fun. "Aww, how cute. Number one has a fidanzata!" He said laughing, Alberto groaned in annoyance "Ignore him, Maria." He said getting out of the water, "Oh, my apologies. I guess you two just need to cool off a bit." Ercole said pushing both of them into the water as they turned back into their original forms. Maria tried to swim back up to face Ercole but Alberto stopped her "Maria, swim away! Before he sees you!" "Sirens don't run away from a fight." Maria argued, "Maria, if he sees you your dead! Remember what he said earlier!? He sees you like this he's gonna try to hunt you down and hurt you, or worse!" Alberto said putting his hands on Maria's arms trying to get her away from Ercole.

"Alberto, stop! I'm stronger than him! I'll manage what he throws at me!" Maria said breaking free and getting into Alberto's face, "That didn't seem to work with your friend back there, did it?" Alberto snapped getting into Maria's face back "If he sees you your gonna end up like her!" Maria gasped and back away, "Who are you?" She said tearing up, "M-Maria, I didn't mean-" Alberto said swimming closer to her before she ripped her necklace off and started swimming away at a speed too fast for Alberto to catch up, "MARIA WAIT!" He said before stopping and seeing her fade away into the ocean.

Alberto jumped back up to the surface, "Eh? What was that!?" Ercole said seeing Maria swimming away and that she wasn't human either, nor a Sea Monster. Alberto went up to Ercole and punched him causing him to lose some teeth and a bloody nose. "Alberto!" Luca yelled and started getting out of the water, "What's going on?" Giulia said coming out to see what Alberto did. "Ercole, what did you do now?" Giulia sighed "YOU STAY AWAY FROM US AND LEAVE US ALONE!" Alberto yelled as Luca tried to hold him back, "Oho! We're ready for round two!" Ercole said putting his fists up. "Ok, that's enough. C'mon guys, let's go home." Giulia said as she and Luca drag Alberto back to home. "Yes, go on and run away!" Ercole said while turning away to face the direction Maria went and whispered to himself "I have a Siren to capture and a prize to win!" He whispered evilly.

"Alberto, what happened?" Luca asked, Alberto sighed "Nothing I just... I just want to be alone for a while." He said climbing the stairs and heading back to the tree sitting down while looking out the ocean thinking about Maria. Alberto sighed and realized how much he messed up, pulling out Maria's necklace and sighed again. Alberto layed down and whispered "I'm sorry, Maria." Then dozed off into sleep.