#Promo: The trouble trio

[poisonous-seas-and-knives]

PROMO: The Trouble Trio

(This takes place when the Nijiue siblings are in their teens aka before the killing game Iroha enters. This means you can have your characters from the future or them in their teens/youth as well, or anything you can think of. Have fun!)

Warning: Also mentions of Pedophilia. It won't be long don't worry.

-----

You were minding your own business when someone was thrown to the wall hard right in front of you. Someone yelling-

"I SAID FUCK OFF PEDO!"

-was heard right before the man was thrown. It sound like a teenage girl, a pissed one as well. When you look to see who threw him, you saw a teenage girl alone.

She was fair skinned, muted teal eyes, and slightly muscular figure. She had wild long brown hair that fades to a slight bright red color. She had four strains of blonde hair. Two on the front and two in the back. She had her hair pulled into a ponytail. It was tied back with a red scarf.

She was wearing a cropped tank top that had spaghetti straps and was low cut, allowing people to see at most, ⅕ of her red bra. She had a black plated short skirt with a white trim and band. She also had white thigh high socks and black school girl shoes. She had black holster that was attached to a black choker and stopped right under her breast as well to black holsters on her thighs and attached to her socks. She had fingerless red gloves, dark red lipstick, eye shadow, and nail polish on too. She was also wearing a black jacket.

It was mostly definitely against any school dress code. In fact, school should still be open right now, why isn't she at school? The girl then looked at you and then at the grown man she threw. The man might be dead or alive, It's hard to tell honestly. She then looked back at you, not saying a thing as she dropped a sweat.

Tags: @mikado-sannoji @chaoticblogofmuses @the-sxrens-sxng @the-real-kokichi-ouma @human-monokuma @unknown-ultimates @ult-aikido-princess @ultimate-rider @ask-emma-magorobi @ask-the-journalist @ask-the-otonokoji-twins @scarred-smiles @anyone else

[deus-ex-mona]

2017 was a different time…

[alexguard]

Chapter 4!! The chapter I have been waiting to write and show off! This promo art gave me some trouble, the file refusing to save for a bit. But here it is!! Hope you enjoy my favorite chapter :]

Summary:

Finally at the doorway to freedom, the trio has done it. They're almost free, and with seemingly no interruptions! Everything is surely looking up for them.

[altocat]

https://x.com/FFVII_EC_EN/status/1755426224707633321?s=20

Alto the Shinra techs being there is a bad sign lololol

If something goes wrong then the big dogs will have to show up. Maybe you are right!

We're okay. For NOW. I don't think a certain someone will show up (If he IS going to show up that is) until the final few chapters. I mentioned earlier that now would be the time to introduce some sort of conflict within the story.

My theory is that Rosen will be in trouble somehow and the trio defects in order to go save him. Assuming he really doesn't go with them, Sephiroth will catch up to Rosen's island later. And possibly(?) do something he shouldn't, even though there was no indication of that from the cutscene promo from months back.

As for a certain someone showing up, I could see him doing it 1.) If Sephiroth is extremely successful in his mission or 2.) If he hears Sephiroth is FUCKING UP his mission. Either of those.

But again, I'm not saying it's set in stone he's actually gonna show. He might not. But wouldn't it be interesting if he did?

[stolen-pen-name23]

Hey can you please recommend some Anakin whump stories? I found there ain’t so many this content🥹🥹🥹🥹but I read one from you and it’s rly GOOOD🥹

Ahhhh Anon!! You are so sweet! Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed my fic!! In no particular order, here are some Anakin whump recs!

The Madness and the Apathy by @strugglingbutstillfighting - After accidentally injuring himself, Anakin isn't impressed about having to do this 'rest.' Katie's Note: This author has A TON of great Anakin whump stories, you should check out all their stuff!

Spiked by @ahsokryze - During a Senatorial Gala, Anakin causes quite the scene when he collapses after drinking something that wasn’t intended for him. Katie's Note: I adore this fic. It's one of my favs. This author also has a ton of amazing disaster trio whump and goodness in her repertoire, so please go check her out!

Outside Comfort by @delless03 - After the battle on Maridun, Anakin's injuries finally catch up with him. Katie's Note: Yet another author with a bunch of great stuff, but this recent fic has made me very very happy.

Shine by sideral - A nightmare left Anakin feeling panicked and sick. Fortunately, he is not alone when he wakes up. Katie's Note: I don't know if this person has a tumblr, but this is one of my fav fics. I adore little sickfics.

Welcome Home by @sonderwalker - A misunderstanding between Obi-Wan and Anakin boils over into a fight where feelings are left unsaid... for a little while that is. Katie's Note: AKA one of my favorite fics of all time. It's a comfort fic for me.

sun child by @rose-blooms-red - sometimes being so tied to the Force causes problems, Obi-Wan helps his Padawan as best he can. Katie's Note: Another one of my favs. I am absolutely fascinated by fics that explore the bounds of Anakin's Force powers and the Force in general. This one's super cool.

A Magnet for Trouble by @hellowkatey - Anakin gets too close to a Sith artifact, and Obi-Wan must figure out how to get his padawan back. Katie's Note: The Halloween vibes in this are amazing. It's such a unique little fic and I love it.

Four Walls and Two Jedi by hellowkatey again - Obi-Wan and Anakin get exposed to a deadly virus and must spend two weeks in quarantine battling sickness, ghosts from the past, and worries for the future. Katie's Note: This one has both Obi-Wan and Anakin whump so honestly, I am the target audience for this fic

Why Do You Feel So Down by Your_Old_Shipmate - The early days of Obi-Wan and Anakin, featuring a sick Anakin! Katie's Note: once again, I don't know their tumblr, but this is one of my favs.

Behind the Clouds, the Sun is Shining by Your_Old_Shipmate again - Obi-Wan is confronted by Anakin's traumatic past after an accident happens in their apartment. Katie's Note: This one hurts so good.

Because I'm running out of time here, some other amazing author's to go check out for Anakin (and general disaster trio) whump, hurt/comfort, angst and all that good stuff are:

@giggles-and-freckles

@alright-anakin

@adaliak

@katierosefun

@kckenobi

@ilonga

@pandora15

@indigostars

They have a ton of great stuff!

Ahem, I uh... I'm going to throw some absolutely shameless self-promo in here as well because I have a few Anakin whump fics I've written too!

A Necessary Favor - When Anakin’s small cold turns into something much worse, a simple mission to Alderaan becomes anything but. Obi-Wan just hopes he can rely on the newly inaugurated Senator of Alderaan for help.

Breaking Point - Anakin tries to prove himself. It ends in Force exhaustion and a worried Obi-Wan.

Under My Skin - Obi-Wan and Anakin crash land on a planet strong with the Force. It doesn’t agree with Anakin.

Below The Surface - Anakin gets swept out by the tide and Obi-Wan panics.

There are SO MANY amazing Anakin whump fics and writers out there that I am certainly missing, but this is a start! Thank you so much for asking, it's been a long while since I've done a rec list! This was fun :))

[gemwing2010]

🧜🏻‍♀️🌊 The Misty Mermaid Review 💧🫧

The Misty Mermaid is one of my favourite episodes way back in Pokémon Indigo League, the very first series in the Pokémon anime series that started it all for my life of devotion to the franchise. And it is also one of my favourite episodes to centre around Misty where she has a moment to shine. And it also serves a bit of potential foreshadowing of her own evolution into the mature, competent and responsible Cerulean Gym Leader than all three of her older sisters combined.

What started out as a quick stop at Misty’s home at the Cerulean to give her Horsea a bigger place to swim around in than a small fountain, her older sisters, Daisy, Violet and Lily, had opened a new underwater ballet titled “The Magical Mermaid”, revealing Misty to be in the starring role as the titular mermaid… without her consent.

After some persuasion from Daisy, Misty reluctantly accepts the role and immediately has to get up to speed with the script and what she needed to do.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket are up to no good as usual, planning to steal some valuable Pokémon. Upon spotting the promo poster of the Cerulean Sisters’ show, the Terrible Trio decided to make a tidal wave of trouble to make the show a total washout (pun not intended) and rob them blind of all of the Water Pokémon.

The following night of the performance, the first act of The Magical Mermaid went without a hitch as Misty performed so well as she swam and danced with all of the Pokémon performing, most especially some of her own Pokémon as well as her sisters’ Seel.

However, just as the first act was drawing the close, Violet and Lily, who were taking the role of a pair a of wicked pirates who take the Mermaid hostage, demanding her to reveal to them the location of hidden treasure, Team Rocket barged in to ruin everything.

In Act 2 of the play, Team Rocket literally stole the show as Jessie and James wore outfits that didn’t fit the theme of the performance (but it comes off hilariously silly to see James dressed in a pink tutu while he comments about “stealing men’s clothes next time).

As Misty struggles to protect the Pokémon Team Rocket attempted to steal, Ash Brock and Pikachu literally dived in to lend their friend a hand, filling in for Daisy’s place as the hero of the story. It was originally intended for Daisy, playing as a handsome prince who would rescue the Mermaid from the pirates, but she had to tend to her younger sisters, who had been bound, gagged and stuffed in one of the lockers by Team Rocket’s meddling.

This episode also shows that Jessie’s Arbok puts up a better fight than usual and came almost close to overpowering the heroes’ Pokémon given the close all with its fight with Horsea. And it also reveals that Misty’s Psyduck, ironically, can’t swim despite being a Water-Type when her sisters thought it was a good idea to have him join in the fray.

When Jessie grows sick of the battle, she calls in the big guns and orders Arbok to use Poison Sting to finish the good guys off. I think that must have been a dub error since Arbok just bared its fangs and tried to take a bite out of the heroes’ Pokémon. Just as Arbok had them cornered, Seel steps in and reveals it’s a very strong fighter as Misty takes command of the attacks.

After landing a few strong hits, Seel suddenly evolves into a Dewgong and easily curb-stomped Arbok and Ice Beamed Team Rocket. After pulling all of the Water Pokémon safely out of the water, Ash has Pikachu use an epic Thundershock on the water, shocking the still frozen Jessie, James and Arbok, shattering the ice and they explode out the water. After a powerful tail slap from Dewgong, they were literally thrown back into Meowth and their hot air balloon, blasting off once again.

Despite Team Rocket’s interference, The Magical Mermaid was a huge hit. However since Misty still has to leave home and continue travelling with her friends, her sisters decided to each take turns as the main character. They also requested her to leave some of her Pokémon to stay with them at the Gym for a while, partly to help out with their show. So, we sadly have to say goodbye to Misty’s Horsea and Starmie.

After an interesting experience in a ballet they would never forget, our heroes departed Cerulean City and continue on their journey to Viridian City in the quest for Ash to win his 8th and final Gym Badge so he can finally compete in the Pokémon League.

While there might be some flaws and errors here and there, I personally enjoyed this episode since I have a soft spot for mermaids since years of watching Disney’s The Little Mermaid. And Misty looked so pretty with longer hair and her mermaid costume was so cute.

Happy MerMay everyone and may your dreams shine. ✨

[thatrickmcginnis]

LAUGHING HYENAS, DIE KREUZEN, KILLDOZER - Touch & Go Records Roadshow, Toronto, Jan. 1988

By the time Grunge broke I felt like I was being aged out of the music scene since so much of it sounded like things I'd been listening to a few years earlier, when it didn't have a name except for maybe "indie" or "the music no major label will release." The bands who came to Toronto in January of 1988 as part of the Touch & Go Records Roadshow are a perfect example, and for some reason I was moved to try to get portraits of all three of them that night, despite my increasing wariness of photographing bands. (Long story short: like herding cats. Cats with shitty attitudes.)

Killdozer might have been the most popular band on the bill that night. The Wisconsin trio comprised of bassist/vocalist Michael Gerald and brothers Bill and Dan Hobson on guitar and drums sang sarcastic lyrics from debased or demented first-person characters over a pummeling grind. They were also the most eager subjects of the night, goofing for my camera and giving me my most successful shots for the spreads that would run in Nerve magazine.

I knew the least about the Laughing Hyenas when they showed up on the bill for the Touch & Go Records Roadshow in 1988, which might explain why I (shamefully) don't have any live shots of the band. They grew out of Detroit-based groups like Negative Approach and L-Seven, and I photographed their classic lineup before the show, with John Brannon, Larissa Stolarchuk, Kevin Monroe and Jim Kimball. The band had a troubled existence, with drug problems and lineup changes, but they produced some incredible records, and of the three groups I photographed that night, they're probably my favorite today. Sadly, Larissa Stolarchuk died in 2006 at just 46. John Brannon still tours with a revived version of Negative Approach.

Die Kreuzen were the band I was most excited to see on the Touch & Go Records Roadshow bill that played Toronto in early 1988. The Illinois band (whose name is pronounced either "Die Crusin'" or "Dee Kroy-tzen" depending on how metal you feel, I guess) had just put out October File, one of my favorite records of the '80s, which still had some traces of hardcore amidst all the prog, metal and post-punk influences on the record. Like all the other bands on the bill, the group was produced by Butch Vig, and Kurt Cobain's love of Touch & Go acts inevitably led to Vig producing Nirvana's breakthrough record for Geffen, breaking Grunge big but making me feel like this was where I came in.

I shot all three bands around soundcheck at what was probably the Apocalypse Club on College Street, with my most ambitious setup at the time - a white painter's tarp I carried around in a gym bag, gaffer-taped to the wall and a single flash bounced into an umbrella. The only real yardstick I had for band photos at the time were the promo glossies that record companies sent out in press packages, so it's not surprising that mimicking press handouts was the height of my ambition. I've re-scanned and worked on these shots pretty heavily; some of them are still just weaksauce attempts at band promos, but a couple are a bit more successful.

[raayllum]

So I wanna talk about the promo thumbnail art because I have Thoughts and think it’ll be Neat. First off Aaravos in the centre, there are nine shards, obvious broken mirror symbolism, and I think it’s interesting that it kind of looks like a flower as a result. Pleased to see both Janai and Amaya on there, with Rayla absent but that’s no surprise as they want to keep her whereabouts and design a total mystery. Grown up Zym looking towards Ezran is sweet, although the young king seems troubled. But the characters I find most interesting are Terry, Claudia, Viren, and Callum. 

I think it’s really interesting that Callum and Claudia are opposite each other, especially considering their similarities going into S4 - concerning two characters who were/are “already dead” - and their differences. Callum seems to be wearing his scarf again in the promo which makes me think he will be for the majority of the season (aka donning scarf maybe by the end of 4x03 if not sooner). Callum is also one of the few characters with a different expression than just sad or serious, looking almost dubiously curious. Meanwhile, Claudia’s shard is split three ways, highlighting how the fragmentation in her character arc is only going to grow with her being pulled between loyalties in S4 between Terry, Viren, and Aaravos, most likely, especially if her father begins to doubt her cause, which I think is likely given his closed eyes. 

Then you have Terry, who’s quite far from Claudia, and in between Callum and Ezran, and given the traits he seems to share with each boy, could be very telling. I’ve expressed hope that Terry may purposefully or accidentally befriend one of the main trio, either knowing who they are or only discovering later. 

[phoenix-is-the-hottest-thing]

hello! forgive me if this is an annoying and/or too complex question, but i heard youre good with meta, and ive been having a bit of trouble figuring out who to pull for next TvT

so basically, i'm very torn between saving for HoS as i still don't have her, getting HoO gear, saving for HoTr to complete the herrscher trio team, or getting susannah next patch (though thats least likely since i have fully geared palatinus equinox). do you have any advice?

of course its ok if you cant/dont want to answer! if you need some more context as to my gear, teams etc i can also tell u more. thanks in advance :)

Susannah definitely lowest priority. She’s farmable and A rank DPS usually dont last that long anyway.

As for the rest it kinda depends on the state of your teams and whether you buy BP?

While Senti is a high priority valk, I believe she is going to be in the BP so if you do routinely buy it you can get her for free. If you DONT though… tough luck. There is also that she’s a couple years old now so it’s not impossible that she’ll get competition or show up for free :V So while normally I’d recommend you pick her over anything else…

Hotru is an excellent fire/lightning support who’s definitely going to have a high longevity. She also doubles as an ice dps in a pinch so she’s really a valk that can go on ALL your elemental teams if you need her to.

If you’re struggling with elemental or want HoFi to function properly, ESPECIALLY if you’ve been managing on your phys team with Carole and Griseo, I think HoTru might be a better investment, at this stage.

If you’ve been really struggling with physical though, you can try and save for Senti. Can’t go wrong with yatta. She’s amazing and a must have. Only maybe here is in case you can get her for free/cheap, or if you have managed to work without her.

Basically, compensate your weaknesses!

Regarding HoO gear…

HoO is honestly not gonna be THAT useful, but she does have the advantage of having a very good promo on her banner if you want to grab stuff from the spending event, and if you have the crystals to spare you can get a full geared valk for peanuts. Still, I’d say that’s your second lowest priority here, considering what that’s up against.

THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS. Ultimately, you decide, but I think “what do I struggle most right now?” is a decent angle for you to use… anyone else wants to chime in?

[debbiechanclub]

why do i sense the feeling like tony would take punk’s side instead of the bucks, kenny, and hangman. i feel like he’d do whatever it takes to keep him happy but i may be wrong who knows. and how the hell do you have beef with hangman? he’s like the human version of a golden retriever 😭 the man just minds his business and tweets funny stuff on twitter

i wonder what’s going to happen if tony suspends punk and the elite and what would happen to the trios titles and the world title. more interim champions? or the champions just don’t show up on tv for a few weeks 🤔

something tells me this wouldn’t all be happening if moxley would’ve retained but at the same time i’m living for this drama!!! i will definitely be tuning in on dynamite to see if anything happens

-💌

Tony needs to take his fan panties off and put his business owner panties on and make the right decision. But idk if he will.

As for Punk having heat with Page, it apparently stems back to a promo that Page cut on Punk on the May 25 episode of Dynamite leading up to their match at Double or Nothing. At the time, Bryan Alvarez (I know, but he's the only original source) said that it might have been a bit of a shoot, because it seemed like Page implied that Punk acted like a changed man in front of the cameras but was a total asshole backstage. And I guess Punk took issue with it, because damn if it ain't true.

But my analysis of the situation is basically Punk thinks he's owed respect from Page just because he's a veteran, and Page is basically like, respect is earned and you're an asshole, so no. And I'm in that camp, too.

And oh my God, I didn't even think about what might happen with the trios titles 👀 But that's because I'm completely biased and think the only person who should get in trouble here is Punk 😂 And you're right, this probably wouldn't be happening if Moxley had retained, because Punk probably would have taken his ball and gone home (again) instead of being given a platform to air out his pettiness.

[revengeisalwaysanoption]

-     Unless Isobel also unlocked some feelings from the past, I can’t see how we are supposed to believe she bonded with Tezca so quickly and so deeply

-      Great job there, Rosa!!

-        WHERE IS ALEX?? COULDN’T MAX JUST HEAL HIM? THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!

-        I love Maria and I love Dallas but I’m not loving how they are trying to shove Maria/Dallas down my throat?

-        “You went through a lot of trouble to find me” = ????? she decided to go looking for you five minutes ago and all she had to do was ask DS’s help

-        You better share this memory with Michael too one day, he should get to see his mom as well!!

-        Start with taking those IVs out maybe, Rosa???

-        I just love how Kyle has been learning about alien science all on his own!! And I’m really loving this trio!!

-        You tell her, Clyde!! That’s exactly what I thought from the moment I heard that line in the promo…

-        And we’re done with this stupid plot that has driven all season and most of the series half way through the episode, thank God…

-        WHO DOESN’T WANT TO GO TO A WEDDING!!

-        Such a sweet moment but this is making me bitter about having no redemption for Flint and come on, Tanner could have found a moment to come back just for a quick wedding shot

-        When she said “Don’t hate me” I thought that she maybe reached out to his mom… I’m a bit disappointed

-        MICHAEL BEING SO NERVOUS IS ADORABLE <3 <3 !!

-        “It’s got tequila in it” … and it’s Sanders, ILY Iz!

-        Sanders in a tux <3 <3 !!

-        If I were Nora and thought there might be a chance I could never see my son again I would have wrote down a diary or something, but that’s just me…

-        That was a sweet pod squad moment <3 <3 !!

-        MY HUSBAND!!!!! I’m never getting over that, thought I’m bitter we didn’t get to see the actual wedding with sappy vows and all!

-        We get a song but not the vows??? Such lazy writers.

-        Ok, spoke too soon we get to see (at least in shots) the wedding!!

-        THAT IS BONNIE??? TALK ABOUT A MAKE OVER!!

-        Who baked that cake, a five-year-old kid?? I see “malex forever” again, so maybe Bonnie?

-       @softie-city was really onto something with her post about being no longer a Manes man!

-        Michael and Alex aren’t even dancing, Maria, they are just swaying and kinda groping each other?

-        Ouch, I felt bad for Echo for a moment there but I’m so glad they got their happy ending!

[ghostchasersmagazine]

Speed Buggy series description from a series promo card.

Typed-out version of the description under the cut:

"The roaring adventures of drag racing and car rallies inspires "SPEED BUGGY", a fast-paced, half-hour animated series featuring the travels of three imaginative teenagers who build a remote-controlled car, Speed Buggy, and form a car club, The Speed Buggs. The program plays against the background of automobile racing and rallies. The trio travel from rally to rally, from race to race around the globe. These trips involve them with intrigue, mystery, and, of course, plenty of fun. Club members are Mark, leader; Debbie, who has an eye for trouble; Tinker, club's comedy foil and mechanic; and Speed Buggy, a small car with the appearance of a dune buggy. The car is controlled by remote; but when switched on, it displays a mind of its own and act independently of the control system. Speed Buggy contains an unusual collection of unique devices."

[bylillian]

The cast and crew of The Marvels had an unofficial motto on set: If you don't know, ask Iman Vellani.

"I've just learned to trust Iman because she really has her timelines in order," says Brie Larson, a.k.a. Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, shaking her head. "She's the one that's always schooling us. I wouldn't know how old Carol is without her. She really does the math."

Like Kamala Khan, the fresh-faced hero she plays on Ms. Marvel, Vellani is the kind of comic book aficionado who doodles pictures of Galactus on her sneakers or nitpicks about the differences between Earth-616 and Earth-199999. That knowledge served the 20-year-old well when she teamed up with Larson and WandaVision star Teyonah Parris on the set of their upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe entry The Marvels. Vellani had no problems correcting franchise veterans about obscure comic lore — that is after getting over the fact she was working with franchise veterans. The young actress was so starstruck on her first day with costar Samuel L. Jackson that she literally hid behind director Nia DaCosta before emerging to pepper him with questions. (Did the Nick Fury actor answer all of her inquiries? "Of course I did," Jackson, 74, says with a laugh.)

Even now, as the three lead actresses join EW for a Zoom conversation in June, Larson and Parris turn to Vellani for answers whenever they're stumped. At one point, the three disagree on the first time they actually met. Was it over Zoom? Was it filming a Disney promo video? No, Vellani corrects them: It was when they met up in 2021 to see Black Widow together. Yes, the other two decide. Iman was right. Iman is usually right.

“I just say things with enough conviction," Vellani deadpans, "and they believe me."

Zooming with the three Marvels is a bit like Zooming with three sisters who are reuniting for a long-overdue brunch. The conversation is a mix of gushing praise for one another's talents and the occasional playful insult. (At one point, Vellani pokes fun at her elder costars, causing an indignant Larson, 33, and Parris, 35, to retort: "We're like 30!") Together, the trio have an easy chemistry that reflects on screen, even when they're whooshing across the cosmos or blasting energy beams from their fists. "It was a very sisterly bond on set," DaCosta, 33, says of her leads. "It was really fun to see how their relationship mirrors their relationship in the movie."

And when The Marvels finally hits theaters on Nov. 10, the three actresses hope audiences will connect with them the same way they connected with each other. "I'm excited that the MCU has three lead women, all from very diverse backgrounds, and they're all baddies in their own way," explains Parris. "It's going to be really exciting just to see these smart, fun, intelligent, and troubled women find their way."

When Captain Marvel hit theaters in 2019, female-led superhero movies weren't a total anomaly — but they were far from frequent. Carol Danvers became the first solo female lead in the MCU, and the movie later made history as the first female superhero flick to earn $1 billion at the global box office. But even before Carol's debut, Larson says Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige was already looking to the future, brainstorming how to bring other beloved heroines from page to screen. At the top of that list were Monica Rambeau (the original female Captain Marvel in the comics) and Kamala Khan (a Jersey City teenager who modeled her career after Carol). Instead of a traditional Captain Marvel sequel, the goal was to bring in even more heroes.

"This was something Kevin and I had talked about from the beginning, that this was the way this story made sense to go," Larson explains of Kamala debuting with last summer's Ms. Marvel and Monica popping up as a child in the '90s-set Captain Marvel before making her present-day debut in 2020's WandaVision.

The new film — a sequel to those three projects, as well as Avengers: Endgame and Disney+'s new drama Secret Invasion — finds Carol, Monica, and Kamala uniting for the first time under unusual circumstances. Somehow, the three women have become linked, causing them to physically swap places every time they use their powers. It's a classic comic book quandary, forcing the three lone wolves to form a reluctant pack. (Well, Carol and Monica are reluctant. Kamala is downright psyched to be hanging with her super-powered idols.)

“I understand that feeling of being afraid to let go of control, of being afraid of passing on responsibility to others," says Larson, who won the Best Actress Oscar in 2016 for Room. "You almost want to take on all of the burden yourself. So, I think this is an incredible metaphor for learning how to be in a team. It's a very clear example that no one person can do it all. You need all kinds of skill sets, all kinds of people with different viewpoints and different backgrounds in order to save the world."

Since helping to knock out Thanos in 2019's Endgame, Carol has largely left Earth behind, choosing instead to hunt down villains on the far edges of the galaxy. "The way I was able to tap into it and understand it is the concept that Carol kind of became a workaholic, and she lost touch with her heart and with family and friends," Larson says of her character's absence from recent MCU adventures. "That's certainly something I can relate to."

Those family and friends include Jackson's Nick Fury, who forged a close friendship with Carol in Captain Marvel. But that was decades ago, and Fury has lost touch with his original Avenger — until all that interstellar body swapping starts interfering with his spy work. "He's been calling her, and she's off in galaxies far, far away," Jackson explains. "She's like, 'Fury, why are you calling me? I told you not to use this [number].' He's like, 'You gave it to me, so I'm gonna use it. And I'm calling you because I need your help!'"

One of the other people left behind is Monica, the daughter of Carol's old Air Force buddy Maria Rambeau (played in Captain Marvel by Lashana Lynch). Monica first met "Aunt Carol" as a young child, but she's since grown into a hero in her own right, complete with her own powers. "Carol is such a huge part of Monica's life in Captain Marvel," Parris explains. "When we see her in WandaVision, you get a sense that she has not talked to Carol in a very long time. So, we have to address the elephant in the room."

Executive producer Mary Livanos says Marvel was already thinking about the future payoff when including Monica as a smaller child in Captain Marvel. "Always in the back of my head was a story based on family reconnection, and how hard that can be to navigate," she says.

Livanos notes that the idea of location swapping harkens back to early Captain Marvel comics from the 1960s, where Mar-Vell (the first Captain Marvel) and human Rick Jones would swap places using magical Kree bracelets called Nega-Bands. Livanos remains tight-lipped about exactly how Carol, Monica, and Kamala's powers get tangled together, but she notes that all three have light-based abilities: Carol can absorb energy and shoot powerful photon blasts; Monica can manipulate all wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum; and Kamala can harden light, which she uses to make giant fists or stepping stones in mid-air.

It all makes for a trippy interstellar odyssey that DaCosta couldn't wait to direct. The filmmaker broke out with the acclaimed 2018 indie Little Woods and helmed the 2021 horror reboot Candyman — and, like Vellani, she has an impressively nerdy pedigree. As a kid, she would obsessively pore over her uncle's old Marvel issues. Later, as a college student, she stumbled upon the original Ms. Marvel comics, which first introduced teenager Kamala Khan.

"I'm a big nerd from New York City, and here was this hero who was a big nerd from Jersey City, writing fan fiction the way I used to when I was that age," explains DaCosta, who is also the first Black woman to direct a Marvel Studios film. "It was really fun to feel close to that character in that really specific way, in a way you don't often feel when it's Iron Man or Thor. That was so exciting to me, knowing that I could be a part of bringing this character who I've loved for a decade to the big screen."

Parris previously starred in DaCosta's Candyman, and she raves about her director's distinct voice and ability to find a new perspective on an existing franchise. "Even if you work with her once, you do feel like, 'Oh, we're the best of buds,'" Parris says. "I love how smart she is. I love how strong her point of view is. And I love that she has a very fresh take on material."

"She has a really calm vibe, too," Vellani adds. "These movies are not easy to make at all. There's like a million, bajillion little moving pieces. She and Mary [Livanos] did such a great job to keep morale high. Even if there were days where they wanted to rip people's heads off, they would never show it and never put their stress on anyone else."

Still, helming a massive sci-fi blockbuster has its hurdles — especially when you want to do right by your geeky inner child. "The biggest challenge was finding the balance between my point of view as a director and as a comic book nerd," DaCosta admits. "Obviously, there are changes between the comics and the movies, and sometimes I'm like, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa!' Sometimes Kevin [Feige] would be like, 'You're being too much of a nerd. Please stop.'"

The Marvels also introduces a few new faces, with Parasite star Park Seo-joon, 34, joining the MCU in a role that's being kept secret for now (though Livanos reveals he plays an "ally to Carol"). Meanwhile, Zawe Ashton suits up as the villainous Kree revolutionary Dar-Benn, who's fighting to restore her homeland after a long civil war.

Known for films including Velvet Buzzsaw and Mr. Malcolm's List, Ashton, 38, had auditioned for other Marvel projects in the past, but The Marvels wasn't even on her radar. The British actress tells EW that she's long been a fan of DaCosta's work, and in the early days of the pandemic, she met with the director via Zoom, hoping to collaborate on a future indie film. Almost a year later, Ashton received an unexpected phone call from a U.S. number. It was her agents, ringing to say DaCosta was offering her a role. "I was like, 'Oh, the tiny movie we talked about in the pandemic, brilliant,'" Ashton recalls. "They were like, 'No, it's actually to join the cast of Captain Marvel 2.'"

Ashton was stunned. She quickly threw herself into stunt training and comic research, but she also turned to another iconic Marvel villain for advice: her fiancé Tom Hiddleston, who's played trickster god Loki since 2011.

"It led to some incredible conversations about his experience being part of this franchise for over a decade," Ashton says, noting that it went beyond the "very good" practical advice to make sure there were "enough zippers to go to the bathroom" in her costume. "One of the main takeaways from our conversations was 'What you put into Marvel, you get back.' He said, 'If you go into this with an open heart and a great work ethic and just want to provide an amazing experience for the fans, you'll have an amazing experience on those sets.' He really empowered me in that way."

Rounding out the cast is one more key player — one with whiskers and a long fluffy tail. In Captain Marvel, Carol adopted a small orange cat named Goose, who turned out to be a Lovecraftian alien called a flerken. (Despite their cuddly appearance, flerkens are known for their deadly, man-eating tentacles and their seemingly bottomless stomachs.) In The Marvels, Goose is primarily played by two feline actors named Nemo and Tango, who quickly became crew favorites. But Goose wasn't the only four-legged star on set: The film's trailer teases a whole cascade of kittens — or are they flerkens? "The crew was delighted whenever the kittens were around," Livanos says. "It was like Christmas when we had our bigger kitten scenes. Everyone had their own favorite."

But not everyone bonded with the feline talent. As with the first movie, Larson's allergies meant that she had to keep her distance from the cats on set. She jokes that even with all the wild stunts and wire work she does in The Marvels, the only stunt she couldn't perform was being in the same room as a cat.

"I'm still allergic," Larson says, sadly. "I hope that changes. But until it does, a lot of the CGI budget goes towards me and the cat."

"And your runny nose," Parris jokes.

Each Marvels character has a unique combat style, which meant that while Parris spent months practicing boxing, Vellani was perfecting Kamala's parkour-inspired moves. One of DaCosta's early priorities was making sure her cast didn't look (or fight) the same, and Ashton remembers an early conversation with the director where DaCosta encouraged her to prioritize agility and strength over physical appearance.

"I was saying how much I was loving working out and getting physically strong, and she was like, 'Whatever you do, please do not turn up here on day one looking like a pencil!'" Ashton remembers. "That was the most freeing thing as a performer who thought the only way to be on camera in movies like this is to present aesthetically in a certain way. Having Nia's empowerment — and the empowerment of the stunt team — to know that it's about your mental attitude, your agility, and your strength was life-changing."

As the cast would come to learn, training on land is one thing. Taking to the sky is much more difficult. "Baby was hanging on by a wire a lot of the time — literally," Parris jokes of herself. "It was a lot of wire work for Monica." At one point, remembering long days dangling above the ground, Parris, Larson, and Vellani dissolve into laughter, wiping tears from their eyes. Once they compose themselves, they explain: There was one scene where Parris had to take off, leaping and zooming high into the air on a wire. Instead of a graceful ascension, she flailed, legs askew as the wire jerked her high into the air.

"I fell onto the ground," Larson recalls, giggling. "I fell over. I couldn't believe it. It was one of the most incredible things I've ever seen in my life."

"I thought I held it together!" Parris adds, shaking her head. "So, I'm up at the top, swinging in the sky, like, 'Damn, that wasn't a good one, but no one noticed.' But I looked down, and Brie is on the floor in tears, and Iman is holding her face. I was like, 'Oh, I guess everybody did see that."

The cast hopes that silliness shines through when The Marvels flies into theaters this fall. "It doesn't have to be intense and heavy," Larson says. "There's a lot of humor. I think this movie's very funny, and we laughed a lot while making it." In between takes, Larson, Parris, and Vellani would bond over card games like Uno, and at one point, Larson began making pizzas in her trailer, wandering around the set each day to make deliveries to crew members.

After Captain Marvel and the pressure of being the MCU's first female-led superhero movie, there's something nice about no longer being an outlier. After all, it's much easier to handle the spotlight when you're sharing it. ​​"It's this all-female sci-fi extravaganza, with a woman on the other side of the camera," Ashton explains. "I felt very moved, actually, being involved in it. It's not an environment you're often in — a huge-budget movie with all these badass women and Samuel L. Jackson. That just doesn't happen."

We're really lucky because we have such a plethora of female characters with real flaws and real arcs," Vellani says of the evolving MCU, which has flanked its Marvels with the female-led Black Widow, She-Hulk, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and more. "Time and time again, it's proven that not only do these stories have such a robust fan base, but they sell."

She continues: "Marvel has always championed that idea of finding this idealized version of yourself through their characters — a version of yourself that can fly in space or stop a train with one hand. I think that aspiration to be greater than who you are is such a universal feeling, regardless of gender identity. I hope people recognize that and find ways to identify with all of our characters."

Larson and Parris nod, beaming at their teammate. "See?" Larson says with a smile. "We should just let Iman answer all these questions."

Additional reporting by Sydney Bucksbaum.

These interviews were conducted prior to the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

[fxllen-rxse]

Tags

ooc || Zorra Lynn speaks

Prepare for trouble || In character

Make it double || Kojiro speaks 

Fall into the sky || Aesthetics 

Surrender now or prepare to fight || Meme

Fading like a rose || Kojiro/James

Virgin state of mind || NSFW

To extend our reach to the stars above || Musings

I want a donut! || Food

Now now…. Happy place! || Suggestive

From beyond the stars a nasty surprise! || Dash games

I was prepared for trouble but not for this || Dash commentary 

Noble answers are what we're all about! || Answered ask

Meowth! That's right! || Meowth

Tying the noose || Jessiebelle

A white tomorrow awaits us! || The trio

To denounce the evils of truth and love || Jessie

The Team Rocket duo dashes across the galaxy! || Jessie and James

Team Rocket’s Rockin’ || Music

We have a proud tradition of failure to uphold! || Starter call

I am the flame that burns brightest! || Headcanon

To unite all peoples within our nation || Promo

I am a Flaming Moltres! || Self promo

[bloodraven55]

Okay so Luz is going to be in a very dark place at the start of next episode. She’s lost Eda on top of almost dying, and she’s almost certainly going to blame herself for it. So buckle in for a bunch of my wishful thinking/predicting.

First, look at the promo image for next episode. She looks angry and determined, but also like she’s barely holding herself together. And who could possibly blame her after everything which just happened.

We saw how eager Willow and Gus were to help this episode, which was so sweet and I love them as a trio, but I think Luz might try and put on a brave face for them next episode as she tries to figure out how to rescue Eda.

Like, Luz is the type of person to always blame herself when things go wrong around her due to how her life was in the human world. So I think she’ll start off next episode trying to keep her friends out of trouble by pretending she’s fine and wanting to do things alone.

Which is where my next point comes in. We also saw last episode that Amity is more than capable of putting aside her crush in order to give Luz the emotional support she needs, like how she came to comfort her after Luz pushed Willow and Gus too hard.

I want another scene like this but on a much larger scale. The last thing Luz or Amity to be honest, given how much she’s gonna have to deal with when she finds out what happened need right now is romance, but a moment of serious emotional bonding between them would fit excellently.

Imagine Luz forcing herself to be strong because she thinks she needs to be for the sake of Eda, King, Willow, and Gus. But Amity notices that it’s a façade and takes Luz aside to talk to her privately, because she knows all too well how damaging it is to shove down your feelings. She tells Luz that she used to think that being afraid and showing your emotions was a sign of weakness, but then Luz helped to make her realise that it’s a strength. And Luz just breaks and lets out everything she’s feeling while Amity listens quietly and reassuringly. And Luz admits that she feels so much better having let it all out, and thanks Amity for being there for her. And then they go find the others and start planning how to save Eda as a group this time, with Luz finally opening up a little to Willow, Gus, and King too.

Anyway that’s basically what I’d like to see next episode in terms of character stuff for Luz. All of the cute, fluffy Lumity has been great but now is really not the time for more of it, and it’d be great to see Amity being there for Luz as a friend above all else.

[adorethedistance]

Emergency Meeting - Artist!Reader x Sunset Curve

JATP masterlist

Requested: “I saw that you are doing requests and if you want to do another artist reader I was thinking maybe the boys are upset because they don’t show up in pictures so the reader paints them a portrait and they are so happy and grateful . I love your writing btw u r so freaking talented !!”

Warnings: overwhelming situation (minor sensory overload)

Words: 1214

Summary: When Flynn calls an emergency meeting to discuss promotional graphic malfunctions, your painting skills come in clutch for the three camera shy ghosts.

I flip my phone, screen-up, for the time in a while to see how long I’ve been studying. Eight minutes? Are you kidding me?! I swear it’s been at least an hour of defining these terms in bold. I love learning but this is not it, chief. Whatever, I can take a break now, I deserve it.

Then, as if cued, I see a text from Flynn illuminate my screen. In our trio chat with Julie, she’s calling an ‘🚨🚨🚨Emergency meeting🚨🚨🚨’. Although, you never know how much of an emergency her ‘emergency meeting’ will be. Flynn will call an emergency if she doesn’t know what to wear, or if her car broke down on the side of the interstate, so there’s really no telling how dire this meeting will be.

“Hey Siri, text ‘double trouble and chopped liver’,” Every time I say the chat name out loud I can’t help but laugh. The memory of the name’s origin story will stay with me as long as I live. “Be there 10 minutes.”

__________________________

“This guitar silhouette is getting tired, and you want to blow up after playing Staples Center, your band is gonna need new promo visuals,” Flynn announces to the Molina house’s garage, and all the band members in it. That’s pretty dire, I think to myself. I mean, Staples freaking Center is even bigger than the Orpheum.

“Your show is next weekend, which means we have roughly 12 days til performance day, and 5 days to have a marketing image for the venue.”

“Yes, Flynn, we know we’re short on time,” Julie nods in exasperated confirmation, but I can tell she’s just as nervous as Flynn.

The venue’s marketing team asked for official graphics to use for their social media accounts. The only issue is, we’re stuck with the flyer Flynn made for the Loz Feliz school dance.

“The guys don’t exactly show up on camera--you saw the pictures my dad took,” Julie continues, “And I feel weird being the only face in our band picture,” She lays back into ‘Luke’s’ couch rubbing a tired hand over her eyes. On the other hand, Reggie’s optimism never disappoints,

“Maybe we can use our orb appearances somehow?” His question is enough to get the brainstorming started, and the overlap of statements and questions blurs into one big mesh of voice, growing in volume.

“How would we do that?”

“That blows that we don’t show up on camera.”

“Why not just use our instruments?”

“You really want to take a picture of just our instruments?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“We’re helping them market our band, not the brand of our instruments!”

The back and forth between the five of them is so overwhelming that I have to shut down for a second. I’m safe inside my own mind despite the bickering background noise.

Okay, think Y/n, there’s gotta be a way for them to get new promo. We can’t blow their cover by using 90’s photos, and Julie doesn’t want to be the sole image. I don’t have photoshop so we couldn’t use the orb idea. Instruments were a good idea until Alex pointed out they need to be of the band.

“I can do it,” my voice pipes up over the commotion. Everyone is surprised by my volume, myself included. The studio falls silent to my voice, which is infinitely softer than their shouting ones.

“I can make a promo visual for you guys... I just need a few days.”

“Well, we have 5 of them, so- ow!” Luke’s quip is cut off by Alex flicking the back of his head. He winces before sticking his tongue out at Alex, who rolls his eyes at the childlike gesture. Then Reggie jumps into the conversation,

“Would you really do that for us?”

“Yeah…” I glance down to the tips of my shoes. My face is glowing red as the attention from the entire band centers on my emotionally smaller frame. I’m not easily nervous or embarrassed, it’s just hard not to be shy when the five prettiest people on the planet are staring at you in anticipation. “I’d need your help though.”

“Anything,” Julie smiles as she walks over to where I’m standing by the studio’s entryway.

“I’ll need you all to sit for me. Just for a few hours- and I’ll work as fast as I can.”

__________________________

Julie being alive and all makes my job a lot easier. All I needed was a picture of her as a reference, and I could paint her on my own time. That was never an issue. The issue is getting three teenage boys to sit still for as long as it takes to draw them.

I decided to put them out of their misery last session, and use my quick sketch as an outline for the actual painting. Now, my problem is coloring the finished sketch on my canvas, and I need their pigmentation for reference.

At first I had them sit one by one for color reference, but as long as the other two were ‘jamming’ I couldn’t entirely focus. That’s how we ended here: Reggie picking some bass line with his instrument unplugged, Luke bouncing from wall to wall to exert his pent up energy, and Alex on his drum stool. He’s wistfully glancing at the kit since he can’t play while I’m working.

Luke’s inattentive bobbing around the space causes him to trip on an extension cord, again. That’s the third time he’s done that.

“I don’t get paid enough for this,” I whisper to myself between glancing at my canvas and at Alex’s hair in natural light.

“Paid enough for what?” Luke’s eyes snap up as he hears voices for the first time in half an hour.

“Babysitting,” I say, dabbing the point of my brush into the honey colored paint, adding shadows to the drummer’s hair. Luke then pouts an angry frown and resumes dancing around the studio like a Peanuts character.

Leaning back to observe my painting as a whole, I smile and sarcastically say, “I guess I can check ‘painting three dead boys’ off of my bucket list.”

The musician spirits all perk up at my statement. They share a glance of excitement before closing in on the wet canvas.

“Be careful while it dries.” And with my final warning, I move out from behind my easel to let the boys see. Reggie’s shock, Alex’s surprise, Luke’s bafflement, and my anticipation release tension into the atmosphere.

“Y/n-”

“Are you serious?”

“WE LOOK SO REAL!” I laugh at the buzz of enthusiasm from the band.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“We love it, this is phenomenal.”

“You know, once I’m famous, you’ll have to commission me.”

“We don’t have any ghost money,” Reggie panics.

“I guess you’ll have to start turning tricks then, huh?”

My playful comment prompts Luke to teasingly pull me into a suffocating hug, and I squeal in response. Alex joins in, his larger figure crushing me and Luke together; then, excitement gets the better of Reggie and he runs to join the hug. The added momentum sends all four of us crashing to the floor. We remain on the floor in a heap of laughter and joy.

Where there is friendship, there is bliss.

***

A/n: if you’re new: hi welcome. if you’re not: you know I’m back on my artist reader bullshit 🤪. This is such a fun n precious piece and I hope y’all enjoyed.

Taglist: @caitsymichelle13​ @kaitlyn2907​ @itz-jas​ @crybabyddl​