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pluckyredhead · 6 months

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The Lost Titans in Canon: Jason and Rose

I already talked about Jason and Eddie's canon friendship, so next up, I want to talk about Jason and Rose. They're an interesting duo, actually, because even though they have appeared in far more comics together than Jason and Eddie, a lot of them take place in Elseworlds, or timelines that are in questionable continuity these days. It's only in the past couple of years that this relationship has really picked up the pace - and to a certain extent, only in the past couple of days.

Jason and Rose first interacted in Red Hood and the Outlaws, the New 52 volume. Rose turns up hunting the Outlaws, and it's revealed that she and Jason have a sexual past. Because it's RHATO, she's of course written appallingly out of character:

Awful.

The very next issue, the book is canceled. Jason and Rose walk off together, but when we next see Jason in Red Hood/Arsenal like four seconds later, Rose is nowhere in sight.

Anyway, this history and interaction are...let's say in dubious continuity. Rose's appearance here barely jives with anything else she did in the DCU (most of which was also written incoherently by Lobdell), and everything about New 52 Rose was instantly retconned out of existence by Rebirth. Then again, you could say the same thing about Jason and Roy.

Ever since, DC has treated Jason and Rose like they have romantic history of some kind, or at least there are references to sexual tension between them, but no one is ever specific about exactly what their history is.

Next up is DCeased: The Unkillables, a miniseries set in the DCeased universe. Jason and Rose actually wind up getting married in this universe, but obviously it's not actually in continuity because it's an AU. Still, they're pretty cute:

(This ends tragically, of course, because DCeased.)

Speaking of AUs, we also saw these two together in Future State, a possible dystopian future. They are definitely sleeping together, but while Rose spends most of her time making double entendres, Jason is distant and brooding, until she gets pissed off:

Still, she shows up later to rescue him, and they actually manage to end that AU together and alive (for now):

Okay, so much for AUs and potentially retconned-away interactions. What about the in continuity stuff?

Well, this single panel happened during Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Last Stories of the DC Universe, which was sort of the transitional event between the end of Rebirth and completely rolling back the remnants of the New 52:

Is it still in continuity? Do any of the characters remember it? I HAVE NO IDEA.

Next is Robin, when Rose tells Jason that Damian has entered the assassin tournament on Lazarus Island, and the former Robins show up to try to stop him. Rose and Jason don't interact directly, but we do get this:

Great question, Damian! NO ONE KNOWS.

Rose and Jason FINALLY interact ONE HUNDRED PERCENT IN CURRENT CONTINUITY FOR SURE in The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing, when she rescues him from a police van and they both look ridiculously hot about it:

I'm assuming she's calling him "lover boy" because they've hooked up, but if you've read any of my work you know I'm a Jason Todd Secret Virgin truther, so I'm choosing to read it ambiguously. I'm also choosing to read her last line as her having the hots for Steph. (Rose, like me, prefers Naughty Robins only.) Anyway, she's been roped into the plot of this book, but it's still ongoing so who knows how it'll resolve. (Spoiler: not with Jason successfully killing the Joker!)

That was going to be my whole list when I started this post, but then Batman/Catwoman: Gotham War: Red Hood #2 came out, and who should show up but Rose!

We've seen this dynamic from them before: Rose cracks sex jokes, Jason is stoic and terse and Focused On The Mission. I'm of two minds about this - it's fun to read, and Rose does tend to make bawdy jokes (she did grow up in a brothel, after all), whereas Jason ranges from stoic to equally sassy depending on who's writing him, so I wouldn't necessarily say it's out of character for either of them. It's more that Rose is always depicted as the one pursuing Jason, whereas he has Important Manly Things to think about instead. (See also: Bruce and Selina, Bruce and Talia, Bruce and any woman, any man in comics and any woman.) Just because it's not technically OOC doesn't mean it doesn't overlap into a sexist trope.

(I kind of love the idea that she is literally only doing it because she knows it embarrasses him and he is Focusing On The Mission to hide his blush and they both know they aren't going to fuck, but that's a personal headcanon and not really the Occam's Razor interpretation of these scenes, which are definitely meant to imply that they are banging.)

What I did find interesting about this issue is that it's the first one in continuity to show genuine concern and affection between the characters:

Do I think Rose would ever stand with her toes together like that past the age of 12? No. But this is still very touching.

Anyway, JayRose is one of those pairings that I don't ship but am perfectly fine seeing unfold in canon. I totally get why DC would pair them, I totally get what they would see in each other, I think it will all end in disaster but that can be fun to watch. It'll be interesting to see if DC commits to actually telling an in-continuity story with these two, or if they will forever be restricted to her showing up and making a dick joke that Jason will ignore because of how he's sad inside. Time will tell!

#jason todd #red hood #rose wilson #ravager #the lost titans

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zahri-melitor · 4 days

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Newish Comics:

The Flash #7: The Linear Men? The Linear Men??? Si Spurrier, what is cooking in your brain and can you keep giving me a direct line to it? (I mean bringing the Linear Men in a series that also gave us Gold Beetle makes perfect sense because Rip would be so into her but wow. It looks like they've barely been used since Flashpoint too). Also it's fascinating watching the re-establishment of Max and Bart's relationship.

Barry seems to finally have risen out of his ennui a bit, only to notice Something Is Wrong With Linda and then immediately suspect (wrongly) it's Hartley. Still pretty sure Linda's main issue is PPD but it being imposed by an external source is certainly something.

Green Arrow #10: this is another issue that mostly exists for people to hug each other, while Williamson goes 'remember that these people had relationships?' Sean Izaakse's art is just so good in terms of drawing the memory backgrounds so well I can pick out the specific issues and storylines he used as references (Batman + Arsenal shoutout!)

Also, remember when Amanda Waller didn't put bombs in people's heads, she just very occasionally put explosive collars or wristbands on the most dangerous and/or irritating Suicide Squad members? (Like Captain Boomerang?) Because I do. I remember Suicide Squad 1987.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold #11: part of this is me just being contrary, I know, but I am extremely not convinced we are going to see Maps as an active Robin in a main title, given Kerschl is a Gotham Academy creator anyway, and she's currently getting appearances as Meridian over in Birds of Prey. Gotham Academy continuity is only about 1/4 linked to main book continuity. (Someone is going to try and point out 'they appeared in Robin War' or something but it was an active and new title then, and honestly, nobody writing most Bat titles cares about them. It's its own sub universe. Also this story has Bruce dating Isla MacPherson, something I guarantee will not be followed up anywhere else)

Also imagine being called Karl Kerschl and coming to DC to write? How much time does this poor man spend saying "no, not Kesel".

The Artemis story remains amazing and I am fully supportive of it retconning whatever character crimes it is currently trying to excuse as weird.

Also how did we get so unlucky as to have both a Bat Lash AND a Sgt Rock story in this issue?

Amazons Attack #6: and this tied things off nicely! Honestly for an event that didn't need to happen, Josie Campbell did well with it, featured a whole host of Wonder Woman characters that Tom King's barely interacting with, and added to some relationships between characters that needed additional work.

Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #5: I am sure this is a far more meaningful issue if you care deeply about Green Lantern lore. Also DELIGHTED that the JSA team up in this series actually happens on page rather than in the final splash like in Wesley Dodds: The Sandman. (Wesley Dodds is still the best of the three minis to me, but I'm happy here that we're going to get JSA backup).

The Warlord #45: Previously on Lost World of the Warlord (I said I would) Travis set out to find out what had happened to his daughter Jennifer. He goes back to the village of dwarfs and gets his old sword back (since he chucked Hellfire into a lake), and ends up fighting some Cyclops' that took several of the dwarves to eat. Tragically nothing particularly fun happens here (though a skeleton IS tied to a cross, the bondage isn't involving any characters I care about AND it's just a warning threat)

Also something weird went on with the lettering this issue where what I think were script directions ended up as text boxes for all the scene transitions. If it was a stylistic choice on Grell's part it's a particularly odd one.

#z canon read throughs #newish comics

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raineydays411 · 3 years

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My fathers daughter

prologue

Tony Stark x daughter! reader

Summary: By all definitions you were a daddy’s girl. It’s been you and him since your mom left you both. But what happens when your both forced to face your past?

a/n: y’all know i can’t resist a good crossover

If there had to be a face for daddys girl, you’d be the poster child.

Ever since you came into Tony’s life, you and him have been attached by the hip.

You were with him through everything.

When he became Iron Man, when he joined the avengers, and even during civil war. Even though it hurt you to see your family be torn apart, you could never betray your father. Then again, you have to admit that you were happy that the avengers compromised and were able to get back together. Earning you a new family member in Bucky. You were happy. Happy with the life you have with your dad and avengers.

Which is why your mother suddenly reappearing and demanding to be in your life kinda of peeved you off.

Let’s start from the beginning.

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

It started off with a gala.

Some bougie charity event that rich assholes attend to donate large sums of money, not out of kindness, but only to show just how rich they are. You hated these types of events. You hated the fake smiles and false interest in your life. All they wanted was to get close to your dad. They even try to set you up with their snobby stuck up kids. You hated it.

And here you were, trying to find a way to get out of this boring conversation with some snob from Beverly hills. You can see your dad laughing at you from across the room.

“You know, you look a lot like Mrs. Wayne.” He suddenly says, looking at you.

“Who?” You ask, suddenly paying attention.

“Mrs. Wayne, you know, Bruce Wayne's wife.”

You know who Bruce Wayne was. Your dad absolutely detestes the man. He never really told you why. He just said to never trust a Wayne. You also know that he’s Batman and his army of children are/were Robin. It was pretty obvious and rather easy to figure out. Then again, you were able to hack into the Bat computers main systems. They really need to update their firewalls.

“Um no I didn’t know that he had a wife to be honest.” You reply, not really interested.

“You can pass as her daughter you know? She is very beautiful. As are you.” He says in a flirty tone.

You roll your eyes, seeing your father finishing up a conversation and make your move, but then you hear

“Oh look, there's the Wayne family right there.”

Causing the attention to turn to the main entrance. There you saw Bruce Wayne. Tall, handsome, and charismatic. He was smiling, waving at the host. Next to him, his oldest son Dick. Another very handsome man, Tall with blue eyes and raven hair. Sending charming smiles to the crowds of women. Then Tim Drake, too focused on his phone to pay attention to the crowds, and finally Damian Wayne. A small boy with a sharp scowl. To his left, you can barely make out the form of his wife and his daughter, Cassandra Cain. You can also see Stephanie Brown chatting excitedly to Mrs. Wayne, who you still couldn’t see.

“Jeez, they brought the whole cavalry.” You mutter, looking at the star struck boy you were talking to.

You roll your eyes. The way people worship this family is strange. They act as if they are royalty or gods. You look at your father, expecting him to be making a sarcastic face or something. But that’s not what you saw. No, you saw a look on his face that you haven’t seen on his face ever. That’s when you walked up to him.

“Daddy...are you okay?” You asked cautiously. He turned to you, shocked.

“Y/n!” He practically shouts, “ I’m okay, are you okay? We can leave right now if you’re not okay?”

You frown in confusion, “ Umm yeah, I’m fine...”

“Good, Good. We’re going to leave now, this gala kinda blows. DOn’t you think?”

You can see his eyes dart to the Waynes to you. He looks...panicked. It was weird to you. Usually he keeps his cool during events like these.

“Um sure..I just need to go to the restroom first” You say, seeing him nod. You walk off, shaking off the concern you have for your father. As you push through the crowds, you can hear them whisper as you passed. Something about Mrs. Wayne.

You shake your head, “Can’t they talk about anything else??”

Then you finally find the bathroom. You walk in, expecting it to be empty, only to be faced with Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown. They were chatting near the sinks as you walking into the stall. After doing your business, you walked out to the sink, going to wash your hands, but you saw Stephanie freeze, then nudge Cassandra. They both stared at you as you washed your hands and went to dry them. You give them a side eye, wondering why they were staring at you so hard.

“Um hi?” You say carefully, the jump not expecting you to speak.

“Oh! Hello Im Stephanie and this is Cass” Stephanie says with a smile. “ You’re Y/n Stark right?”

“Uh yeah...Its nice to meet you dudes” You say quickly, already ready to walk out the restroom.

“I’m sorry for staring, it’s just that...you look a lot like her mother” She says gesturing to Cassandra.

You chuckle, “ Uh yeah so I’ve heard...hey I gotta go...”

“Oh right! Sorry heh” Stephanie laughs nervously, “It was great to meet you”

“Yeah” You agree half heartedly, “ You too”

And with that you go to find your father. You pass by the Wayne sons, only to see them take a double take when you pass them.

“God that family is weird.” You mumble seeing your father talking to Bruce and his wife. He looked distressed and angry. You speed up, wanting to make sure your father doesn’t punch Bruce Wayne the way he looks like he's going to.

“Hey dad...um I’m ready to go.” You says with your back turned on the Waynes.

“Y/n..” Your dad says panic exploding on his face, “ Y/n sweetheart um...”

“Yn?” You hear a woman whisper. You turn to see Bruce Wayne and...your mother.

You remember the day she left. It was a sunny day. The kind of days that usually are in good memories and have happy endings. She was supposed to take you to the park so you can meet your dad there. You hardly saw her over the years, just every three months when she would come to the then Stark Tower to visit. But that say...that day was different. She had gotten a call, from who you don’t know, nut it seemed important. Because she left at that very moment and never came back. She never reached out, never called, texted or anything. Just radio silence. Your dad was heart broken. He had hoped that one day she would move in with you and him, and you could be a family. He loved her with his whole heart, but she just didn’t love you both enough to stay. He was a mess after she left, and you picked up the pieces.

You were nine.

If it wasn’t for Pepper stepping in after witnessing one of his breakdowns, you don’t know what would’ve happened.

You stare at the woman who left you, who broke your fathers heart. Who broke your heart.

“Ms. Wayne.” you say curtly, taking pleasure in the way her face fell, “ Mr. Wayne, it’s lovely to see you again. If you’ll excuse me and my father, it seems like he’s not feeling too well.”

You weren’t lying, Tony looked like he was about to puke. His face was pale and he was kinda sweaty. So you wrapped your arm around him and lead him to the entrance, starting to pull out your phone to call Happy.

“Y/n wait!” Your mother cried out, pulling her arm away from Bruce and placing a hand in your shoulder. You jerked your shoulder out of her grasp.

“ Y/n, I know you’re mad at me” she starts, cringing when she hears you scoff, “ But wait a second. Let me look at you...my petal you’re so big.”

You turn and glare at her, “ Don’t call me that.”

“Oh Y/n, please—“You cut her off again.

“Hey i’m just going along with what you want. This is what you wanted right? No contact with us?”

You can see a crowd start to form around you, and you see the scattered Wayne’s push through it. They look at each other in confusion trying to understand how you seem to know their mother.

“ Of course that’s not what I wanted, oh petal I meant to call I just...” She trailed off

“Couldn’t be bothered?” you say harshly, “ I couldn’t care less. Just leave us alone. That should be easy for you.”

You feel your dad tug on your hand, and you turn to him. Eyes softening when you see the expression on his face.

“ Happys here kiddo.” He says softly. You nod and start to walk away. And you hear your mother protest, but you cut her off with a venomous,

“It was nice seeing you again Mom.”

and then you were gone. This time, leaving your mother behind and her confused husband and children.

#tony stark x daughter!reader #tony stark x teen!reader #tony stark x reader #tony stark imagine #dc comics x reader #marvel x reader #batfam x batsis #batfam x reader #tony is a good dad #poc reader #reader insert #avengers x reader #crossover

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stxleslyds · 3 years

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EVENT LEVIATHAN issues 2 and 3

EVENT LEVIATHAN BUT IT’S ONLY JASON TODD.

Oh, Anon, I am sorry it took me so long to answer your ask, to be honest with you, I had completely forgotten this book ever happened and when I went looking for it, I saw who was the writer for it and my brain disconnected completely.

Michael Brian Bendis, what a polarizing writer. I had forgotten why I didn’t like his work much but this book made me remember that his writing gives me headaches. I swear, every time I read his work I am left wondering if I missed an issue or a page, it’s like I always lack information even though he makes sure to write a lot in those “monologue boxes”.

But I am not here to complain about Bendis, let’s talk about why Jason appears in this book and how is he characterized in it.

If you don’t know what Event Leviathan was about, in the first issue we are told that a terrorist has been attacking places simultaneously. This person, known as Leviathan collected some of the people that survived the attacks (like Batgirl), and others he let escape (like Green Arrow). All of the attacks were on organizations (A.R.G.U.S, Spyral, D.O) that were the pillars of the world intelligence community.

Because the case is big and operating on a big scale, several detectives and heroes (Batman, Robin, The Question, Lois Lane, Plastic Man, and Manhunter) have come together to figure out who is behind Leviathan’s mask.

In the second issue, their main suspect is Jason Todd after Damian suggests that Jason’s “special war on crime” can be related to this worldwide level of terrorist activity.

Well, If you couldn’t tell by the way that I phrased that, I really believe that DC and Bendis had to do some weird changes to the narratives because Jason hadn’t been really at “war with crime” for a very long time, or at the very least, not on that level (against organizations selling/controlling intelligence). So, right of the bat, I am confused as all hell.

Jason at this point in time was working as the Ice Lunge’s owner, so this was after the events of RHatO (2016) #25 and after Roy Harper’s death. But before I get to explaining why Damian and the others thought that Jason was behind Leviathan’s terrorist attacks, let's talk about Jason’s characterization.

How to write about a character based only on “tropes” that the publisher of the book told you. A Guide by Michael Brian Bendis.

We find Red Hood in Seattle, already investigating Leviathan. So, yeah, to me it was kind of obvious that Bendis put Jason there to build up the reason as to why Jason was the main suspect of being Leviathan or working with them.

We are offered some very casual banter with Batman as well as the ever-present subplot of Jason caring for Barbara Gordon. I am not a fan of whatever DC was and is trying to do when it comes to Jason and his crush on a person that he barely knew and has rejected him before. Bendis was probably told to put that there, I really don’t see Jason going out of his way to ask if Barbara is final but oh well.

In that panel we also see Jason say this to Batman, “can we put away the stuff between us so we can work on the case?” to which Batman answers, “of course”.

What the hell was that? First Batman beats the living shit out of Jason (Jason even says that he never saw Bruce hit the Joker as hard as he was hitting him) and rips the bat-symbol of his suit saying that they no longer work together or whatever, then we have Bruce going to Jason to tell him that Roy is dead, he gives him a hug but then proceeds to tell Jason that he is still banned from Gotham.

DC really reduced all that to “stuff between us”, alright, all I am getting from that is that I was right when I said that DC lets Batman get away with his horrible treatment of his kids as if it just were a subplot. Lovely, I hate being right.

But that’s not really what I want to discuss, I want to discuss the level of detective/investigation skills that Jason has got going on for him in this issue. Suddenly Jason has information about what happens with organizations like Spyral, ARGUS, and DEO? And then Bruce asks Jason if he has been in contact with Talia recently?

I am not mad about those last things, don’t get me wrong, Jason being good at investigating and him being (possibly) in contact with Talia are great things BUT they don’t fit in his story anymore.

Where is this Jason coming from, it must not be from the narrative that Lobdell had going on, Jason never showed much interest in keeping up with that side of the world or in doing detective work. And his relationship with Talia was downgraded a lot, basically, all Talia had done was keep an eye on Jason since she first met him before he was robin (yeah, that was a thing that happened as told in RHatO (2011) #25) and that how she found out that he died, after he came back from the dead, she put him in a Lazarus Pit and then sent him to the All-Castle so he could become Ducra’s apprentice. That’s literally it.

Or are we working with a Jason that maintains his Lost Days origins? There isn’t time on the timeline for that to have happened so his involvement in this book and the way that they are writing him is very confusing to me.

Jason doesn’t say anything about Talia except that he pulls an Uno reverse card on Bruce and asks him if he has been in contact with Talia. But just like many things with Bendis as a writer we never really hear any of them say anything about Talia and they continue talking about something else.

Alright, back to sharing what they found it is! Jason has apparently investigated this very closely because he cannot stop bringing up the fact that the attacks leave no bodies behind. Either people escape or vanish from the attack site.

But here is where the so-awaited “Batfamily” mention comes in. After Bruce tells Jason that he is putting a team of Detectives together Jason asks this, “we can’t keep this in the Batfamily?” Gods, was DC on crack when they wrote this? The Batfamily? Honestly? Two of your best detectives are not around to help you and your so-called family left Dick Grayson all alone in Bludhaven!

What Batfamily are you talking about Jason? You, Bruce, and Damian? I can’t with DC pushing and pushing the wildest concept in their universe.

After all that Batman spends a lot of time explaining what has happened or what was supposed to happen, he talks to Jason about how the other detectives were getting closer to retrieve a body that they needed to study. In between what Batman is explaining the scene of Plastic Man talking with Leviathan happens and there Leviathan says that they know each other. So, that’s a clue, whoever is behind the mask is someone that Plastic Man has met before.

We find out that Batman was retelling that story to Jason, so Jason starts putting the pieces together. Batman already has a team, they know that Leviathan has been spearing some heroes’ lives, there is a cause for all the attacks (“a new world order”), and that the attacks leave no bodies. Jason even begins to put together the list of suspects but then Jason asks Batman if they have their number one suspect and Batman says, “Yes”, and it’s Jason!

This is so funny to me, like what? How did they come to that conclusion? Luckily Bendis “explains” the Detectives’ team’s reasoning, I guess? They take turns to ask Jason basic questions that Jason deflects from some reason? It is so dumb.

From this page the most important thing that I gathered is that Damian (the one who initially accused Jason of being Leviathan) says that he doesn’t “think that you (Jason) know you are doing any of this. I think it manifested itself out of grief”.

What? A terrorist that has some sort of technology that makes explosions that leaves no bodies and spares some people’s lives, is being manifested by Jason because Roy Harper died. Did I understand that correctly? That’s their big idea as to why Jason is their number one suspect?

Team of detectives, yeah, I don’t see it.

It makes zero sense! First of all, what “war with crime” was Jason having at the time, and they also say that that war was “a point of controversy for years”. Excuse me? Are they really calling Jason using guns (with rubber bullets) a SPECIAL war with crime? What are they referring to? Are they talking about the events of Under the Red Hood? Because Jason hasn’t been that version of himself in years! We don’t even know if those exact events happened in this continuity!

I am so lost; I actually don’t know why they are relating a terrorist attack to Jason. I don’t know, to me, Jason’s appearance here is unjustified and lacks logic.

Now, we find ourselves in the third issue, where an unnecessary amount of time jumping is done. First, we are in the present after both Batman and Robin let Jason run away. Listen, I know that they tried to paint it as Jason kicking both their asses but I saw those pages, they threw three punches and one of them connect with Jason’s jaw. Batman and Robin just stopped fighting Jason.

I don’t know, why they had to make Damian say that Batman let Jason get away when he was there too and did nothing.

And then they had Damian say this about Jason, “I have never been a member of his fan club but Jason Todd is one of the great master fighters of all time”. Okay, sure, Jason has had a lot of training and he has been immeasurably overpowered over the years but I still find Damian saying this a bit weird, like why would he say that? The fight that is shown after this look into the present is just like any other fight that any Bat-related hero has had. Dick has had more impressive fights than that one after the New 52 and he was immeasurably nerfed.

I love Jason getting recognition for the things that he does right and that he is good at but I need you to represent those moments better. The fight isn’t that grand and they clearly let him run away!

In the fight there all jumped off of a building, (Jason, Batman, Robin, Manhunter, Arrow, and Plastic Man) Jason shoots at everyone and they have a “fight” midair. Then Batman, Robin, and Jason fall through a glass roof and they continue fighting in a pool, this is where I say that they let Jason ran away, they showed us Damian kicking Jason in the face and Bruce punching Jason in the face. But then Jason electrifies both of them while they are in the pool? Listen, this is very nitpicky but Batman and Robin are wearing proper suits for vigilantism, if their suits aren’t prepared to receive some electric shots then wow, but also, the electricity does nothing to Jason even though he is also in the water? Jason’s Red Hood suit at the time was a pair of pants, a shirt, a vest with a hood, and some bandages on his arms… You are telling me that Jason was wearing a suit that protected him from that? Alright, I will believe it, after all, I am very dumb.

Then Jason fights Manhunter, a simple fight apparently, he doesn’t show much fighting skill because she looked like an easy target and then Jason stops fighting and decides to have a nice chat with Lois Lane.

“Why did you run?” I think he ran because a bunch of people accused him of being a terrorist and threw themselves at him at the edge of a building, what kind of question is that?

This page is just, I cannot describe how confusing it is. Lois finally asks that if it isn’t the Red Hood, then why would Leviathan try to set him up? To that Jason answers this, “I was thinking about that on the way down here. Because I am perfect. All this should be me” then he explains “I lose sleep running the numbers in my head, on how measured response to the criminals of the world brings nothing but more chaos. Batman knows this. If this Leviathan is making a big play to change the world, maybe it is the move the “crime-fighters” just don’t, will never have the guts to take. Maybe.”

What. Is. Going. On? Where did this version of Jason come from, this isn’t really in tune with UtRH Jason, RHatO Jason, or RHO Jason. This take on Jason is completely different, Jason doesn’t involve himself with threats on a worldwide scale, he doesn’t care how all heroes around the world operate, and he is not the only one that does things differently from Batman and other heroes that have similar morals.

What is this Jason saying really, is he suggesting that a global terrorist attack can lead to the reconstruction of how heroes work?

Why does Jason think that what Leviathan has going on is similar to things that Jason has done? What did Bendis read that I didn’t? How did Bendis come up with this characterization of Jason?

Because even though RHatO and RHO Jason went beyond Gotham he still fought for things that were directly aligned with his story, Ra’s al Ghul, the Untitled, Essence, all of that wasn’t on a global scale, why is he so suddenly aware of more than that, I just don’t think that his participation in this book is justified.

In these other panels he also comes off as way too aware of what is going on, and I understand that to a certain level all heroes might keep up with what going on a global scale but it seems like Jason knows way too much for someone that hasn’t been connected to those organizations and or people before.

Jason appears a little more after that but nothing of true importance is said anymore in this issue. After, Lois finishes her talk with Jason she reunites with the rest of the team and is like “It wasn’t Red Hood, let’s move on” and that’s that.

That was all Jason did in those two issues. A mix between nothing, knowing too much and him speculating about what a terrorist would want to do next.

Before I give my last thoughts about Jason and these issues, I want to share with you these panels from issue 5 of Event Leviathan.

There, Zatanna and the others confirmed it. Even though Lois listed the Red Hood as a suspect the other detectives told her that not only none of their suspects were Leviathan but that none of them were Leviathan adjacent.

OF COURSE, JASON HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH LEVIATHAN!

Here is what I think, Jason shouldn’t have been in this book, it makes less than zero sense for him to be there. Jason being set up by Leviathan had no logic whatsoever. Jason and Leviathan’s levels of “disruption” are on completely different levels.

I just don’t know why he was there.

Anon, once again I am sorry for taking so long to do this review, I hope you had fun reading this, and I hope that you have an awesome day!

#jason todd #red hood #robin #batman #event leviathan #dc comics #asksss #lois lane

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cienie-isengardu · 3 years

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The Development of Law and Zoro relationship: Wano, Luffy & Zoro Means Troubles…

<Part I: Before Meeting>> <<Part II: Sabaody Archipelago, The First Meeting>> <<Part III: Punk Hazard: The Alliance (A)__(B)>> <<Part IV: Dressrosa, The Breaking Point (The Plan Failed)__ (Saving Law)__(Protecting Law)__ (Birdcage, Pica and Doflamingo)__ (Aftermath)>> <<Part V: Zou, The Kindred Spirits (Traveling Together)__(Searching for Nakama)__ (Reunion)__ (Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance)__(The Last Moments before War)>> Part VI: Wano, Against Emperors (The Untold Journey)__(Luffy & Zoro Means Troubles…)__(...and Law Is Not Happy About That)

Somehow the alliance got into Wano without enemy notice. There, Kinemon separated his allies into smaller teams, all with their own task at hand. Surprising, during the little flashback of that moment (chapter 909), Law was not seen when the samurai explained situation to Straw Hats:

Kinemon warned Straw Hats they “must pass yourselves off as locals and quietly, quietly go about your duties”. He gave pirates an individual roles:

➣ Zoro, as ronin, Usopp as street salesman and Robin, as geisha, were supposed to infiltrate capital and gather either informations or allies there

➣ Franky, as an apprentice, worked under carpenter who built Kaido’s mansion, in hopes to gain plans of enemy fortress, so the alliance could learn its arrangement before the raid.

➣ Law and Heart Pirates (as far as we were shown at that moment) stayed with samurais in the ruins of the Oden Castle in Kuri region and were stealing food and water from the enemy.

Chapter 918 notes Law was aware about Zoro’s role, however when and how he was informed is not clear. The lack of one of alliance leaders during the meeting between Kinemon and Straw Hats raises questions such as why Trafalgar wasn’t present and did samurai decide to keep knowledge about Zoro, Robin, Franky and Usopp and their tasks to themselves? On one hand, it makes sense. Secrecy was important to secure their plan as best as possible - a matter that will play a bigger role in the upcoming chapters; the less people knew what Straw Hats would be doing, the better chance to avoid information leak. But at the same time, if Law was informed about at least Zoro’s job, why not let him take part in the meeting? Unless he did learn about Zoro’s task after Pirate Hunter became an infamous wanted man, but about that more in a moment.

We may only wonder why Kinemon decided to keep Heart Pirates with himself, instead of sending them straight away undercover like Straw Hats. There are few reasons that could have influenced his decision:

➣ Law’s powers were useful for stealth and stealing.

➣ The two Supernovas serving Kaido - Hawkins Basil and X-Drake - actually came from North Blue, the same as Trafalgar. How well they knew each other is up to debate, but since all three went to the Grand Line at the same time, it makes sense they at least had some basic knowledge about each other. Which may be a reason why Law stayed with Kinemon instead of playing a similar role to Zoro.

➣ Another possibility is that Straw Hats could be simply better at pretending to be locals and/or had needed skills. In case of Zoro, the little details presented in manga and SBS suggest he grew up influenced by samurai culture due to his (still not explored) connection to the Shimetsuki clan.

Unfortunately, Zoro - working under the name of Zorojuurou - couldn’t continue his mission, because he killed a corrupt magistrate and most likely other samurais present at that time, thus became an outlaw. Since the knowledge about “murderous ronin” was spread in the whole country, it may explain why (how) Law learned about Zoro’s secret mission.

Wandering through the wasteland, Zoro met Luffy who finally arrived in Wano.

Luffy barely got to Kaido’s country and he already befriended a local little girl, Tama, who due to poisoned water, fell ill. Straw Hat decided to take her to the nearest village, to seek help. On his way, he met Zoro who at the same time just saved Tsuru (another native person) from bad guys. Soon after that both got into a fight with Basil Hawkins and the Beast Pirates.

Once they managed to run away from pursuit and got into the relatively safe Okobore Town, Straw Hats were noticed by Bepo, Sachi and Penguin, who observed the area from a nearby mountain on which Oden Castle was built.The mentioned Heart Pirates were worried that Straw Hats could start some troubles (chapter 913).

In the end, Heart Pirates decided to not interfere… at least until they saw that Zoro and Luffy were heading into Bakura Town controlled by Kaido’s men and immediately notified Law (chapter 914).

↪ Law was chilling out lying on the ground. It seems he likes resting (or maybe napping?) in his free time, what was already seen before time-skip, when Trafalgar lied on Polar Tang’s deck, using Bepo as a pillow. Maybe Law has problems with irregular sleep (or lack therefore) and/or using Ope Ope no Mi exhausted him so much that, like Zoro, he needs to regenerate his energy by napping/lying down?

↪ The same as Zoro, Law was surprised by Luffy’s presence in Wano but the similarity ends there. Zoro was delighted when he met Luffy and although he passed on the Kinemon’s warning, he wasn’t much bothered by how they together caused new trouble for the alliance. In contrast, Law wasn’t happy at all. He literally switched from chilling out into full stress/angry mode in less than a few seconds.

↪ Law immediately and correctly assumed Luffy was going to wreck the havoc. It seems the previous experiences gained in Dressrosa have already borne fruit: Luffy and Zoro together, in enemy land, were bad news.

↪ The most surprising thing about Law’s reaction is how he called both Luffy and Zoro as “those idiots”. Mainly because at first he was solely angry at Luffy and the prospect of him ruining the plan and then included Zoro as the potential danger. Which in perspective wasn't an irrational reaction and again, Dressrosa proved these two can’t be trusted with following any plan or common sense. Yet at the same time this sharp reaction gives the vibe that Law was for some reason angry at Roronoa (about that more soon). What contrasts with the good relationship they had during the previous arc.

Law wanted to minimize potential damage done by Luffy and Zoro but was delayed by Bepo, who suddenly felt sick due to eating fish from a poisoned river (chapter 916).

↪ Law here was fully aware of poisoned food and water, he even warned his crew about it. Surprising, Zoro didn’t have any idea about the ecological situation of Wano and both men spent the same amount of time in this country. Either Zoro did not listen to the warning of others OR that matter comes after he left Kinemon’s hideout. In case of latter, it may suggest there was little to no contact between Zoro and other members of the alliance once he became a wanted man. To be fair, Kinemon himself got sick after eating poisoned food, so the revelation about poison could not be known before Straw Hats went undercover.

↪ Another little detail, Bepo felt sick after eating poisoned fish. Zoro, who ate poisoned meat most likely for days, got only some stomach ache, but nothing to stop him from fighting. Law’s tolerance for such poison is unknown, mainly because Ope Ope no Mi would help him remove the toxin from body and, in contrast to Zoro and Bepo, he has knowledge and common sense to not eat poisoned things.

↪ Also, apparently Law has a soft spot for Bepo, the only animal crewmember - another trait he shares with Zoro who himself has a soft spot for Chopper. Trafalgar let Bepo’s sickness delay him when the situation was dire, knowing full well leaving Luffy and Zoro unsupervised for too long was asking for big trouble.

Once his crew member noted that Basil Hawkins was heading to Bakura Town and there already was a fire, Law was pretty shocked by the disturbing change of events.

Despite the pledging of Bepo(?) to not leave him behind, Law finally rushed into town. He didn’t have a clue what was really happening there but attacked the just arrived Hawkins in order to eliminate the threat. As in, eliminate anyone who could recognize him or Straw Hats (chapter 917).

➽ Law actually tried to be sneaky and covered his head with special headgear/straw hat to hide his identity. What suggests he was aware that Basil may recognize him and Straw Hat Supernovas. At the same time, Law is, well, really bad at playing undercover. On Dressrosa he wore jacked with CORAZON on his back alluding to late Donquixote Rosinante but that fight was personal matter and most likely wanted Doffy to know what the fight was all about. In Wano, he didn’t have that excuse; the fight with Kaido wasn’t his personal quest for vendetta. And yet Law’s idea of hiding his own identity was wearing a kimono with his Jolly Roger on it. Very smart. What may support the theory why Kinemon kept him with himself rather than sending undercover. Law is just bad at this gig and thinking more about it, I don’t remember any time when Trafalgar even bothered to try speak like people of Wano - something that Zoro and Luffy actually have adopted to some extent.

To take down another Supernova, Law needed using Ope Ope no Mi. The characteristic power and tattoos very soon betrayed his true identity. Law planned to take down Basil, so the man couldn’t report to Kaido about the Heart-Straw Hat pirate alliance. At the same time, Law put faith in Roronoa who knew the plan that he “wouldn’t be stupid enough to let Holdem get crushed” (chapter 918). What implies that despite referring to Zoro as the “idiot” and general pessimistic attitude, Law still assumed Zoro’s presence would be enough to stop Luffy before the worst could happen.

➽ Once again, Law was addressing Zoro as “Roronoa”,instead by his name. Which departs from information published in SBS vol. 72 explaining what Law calls the various members of Straw Hat crew. Back then, Zoro and Nami were the only two allies he called by first name instead of surname or nickname:

In the case of Nami (whose surname was never revealed), it makes sense to use her given name yet Zoro was the only one male ally Law addressed in such a way. Even Luffy, who from a narrative standpoint is the closest person to Trafalgar, is constantly called Straw Hat-ya. Why the special approach to Zoro and why change it right now? The most likely reason for the switch of speaking pattern was Law’s anger (but about that more in next chapter). Anyway, an interesting detail, how Law’s way to call Zoro is related to his mood and/or stress level.

➽ Law proved to be good tactician, but at the same it seems he always assume the worst scenario to happen. Which I guess is one of the main reasons Trafalgar is always so stressed? In contrast, Zoro usually takes bad news calmly - he doesn’t like them, but he has a habit of leaving things to luck/fate instead of overthinking all possible solutions and outcomes. The difference in planning (or lack therefore) could make Zoro and Law clash with each other albeit so far, we saw little to nothing in that regard.

Sadly for Law, Zoro did not stop Luffy from beating Holdem. He wasn’t happy that Luffy did it, but didn’t regret it either. Law, on other hand, was angry and/or stressed by the situation, especially when Basil admitted he already met Straw Hats.

➽ Again, Law thought about Luffy and Zoro as “those idiots”. To be fair, he had a good reason to be angry because of course, Straw Hats wrecked havoc that was reported to Jack - the Beast Pirate responsible for poisoning Mink on Zou - and in result, exposed alliance presence in Wano.

The fight between Law and Basil was then unexpectedly stopped by a speeding cart of stolen food. Stolen by no one other than Zoro and befriended samurai Kiku. Roronoa was nice enough to call the fighting men to get out of their way… once again, Law was shocked by the turn of events.

The fight between Law and Hawkins was stopped; Law didn’t manage to eliminate the enemy nor prevent information leakage about alliance presence in Wano. He almost was run over by a speeding cart with stolen food (another “crime” against Orochi & Kaido, which Straw Hats committed in his absence). No wonder why Law was so pissed of at Zoro.

About that more in next chapter: ...and Law Is Not Happy About That

#one piece #roronoa zoro #trafalgar law #monkey d. luffy #strawhats #The development of Law’s relationship with Zoro #zoro & law #law & zoro #wano arc #i was sad that zoro and law were (again) separated #but it is nice to see law thinking about zoro #even if just to call him and luffy an idiots XD #i hate tumblr limit that doesn't allow me to write a proper long chapter #oh well somehow i will manage... maybe #zoro and luffy can't be trusted with following plan #law seems to be better than them but alas he is bad at hiding his true self as well #i mean the jolly roger on kimono? really?

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remnantoforario · 4 years

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Unmerry Men AKA The Problem With Robyn Hill

I’ve been sitting on this rant for a while. I’m sure there are people who have talked this topic to death since Volume 7 ended, and did a much better job than I am about to, but I still feel the need to throw my hat in the ring (or shoot my arrow at the target given the subject matter) and say definitively and without question: that Robyn Hill is a terrible character.

Get some snacks. This is going to be a long one.

Let me preface this rant by saying I don’t hate Robyn HIll...in CONCEPT. That last word is very important.

The idea behind her character is a sound one: Atlas is characterized as a country with a VERY clear disparity between the rich (Atlas)

and the poor (Mantle)

So it makes perfect sense that there would be a Robin Hood (see what I did there) type character that would bridge this gap between the two and seek to make things equal, or at least a little less lopsided. As an idea this is great, but the problem (as with most everything in RWBY) is in the execution.

Outside of Forrest extolling her praises in the back of a cop car in Chapter 2, the first time we see Robyn is when she stops Clover, Ruby, Qrow, and Penny from reaching the Amity tower site.

During this introduction, she tries to coerce Clover into disclosing classified government information via her Semblance, and Penny has to expose her ambush tactics. Not the best first impression.

Now in a vacuum, this scene isn’t really that bad. Thanks to (clunky) exposition, we are already aware that there is friction between the military and the Happy Huntresses. As such it makes sense that we the audience first meet Robyn as an antagonistic force against RWBY and their allies.

The thing with this though is that all four of the writers of this volume forgot to lift the perception of Robyn being an antagonist until around the final third of the volume. Objectively, there is no reason anyone outside of her own group to want to trust or follow her.

The M,K,K, & E are trying to position Ironwood and Robyn in the roles of the Sherriff of Nottingham and Robin Hood respectively. The main problem with this is that they fail to establish Ironwood as a tyrannical threat on par with the Sherriff.

Does he make questionable decisions? Certainly. Are his choices morally wrong? In some cases, yes. But they are more often than not written in a way where the choices he makes are OBJECTIVELY best for everyone (even if they try to frame it otherwise).

Closing the borders, hiding the Amity plan, diverting resources to FINISH said plan, and his other tactics (while at times misguided) were done in order to protect as many people as he could from Salem and her forces. They were all calculated risks that clearly took a mental and emotional toll on him. He’s a severely broken man trying to keep whatever he has left from falling apart, but everyone is working against him (including his own allies but that’s another story).

This brings me back to Robyn. She is hailed as the “Hometown Hero of Mantle”, but all we ever do is see her take shots at Ironwood and Jacques and talk about how much the former ISN’T helping Mantle. My question to her, her hardcore cans, and CRWBY is “What has Robyn done to help Mantle?”. RWBYJNR and various talking heads mention how Robyn is helping the people of Mantle, but because the volume (seemed) so rushed to get to Salem’s arrival, we never see her doing anything that’s not directly tied to the plot.

She’s not working on Mantle’s wall, she’s not in the streets talking to people, handing out medical supplies, giving away food, or anything that actively helps Mantle. We don’t even see her fight Grimm in the streets until the FINAL episodes of the volume. All she and her group do is actively antagonize the military and steal (which we never see them give to the poor). For someone hailed as the town’s hero, she doesn’t seem to really be doing anything to earn that title.

After the election night massacre, she openly declares war on Ironwood essentially and begins stealing resources needed for the Amity project, until she is ultimately stopped by Blake and Yang.

Now in theory I have no problem with Yang and Blake telling her about the Amity plan; my main hang up about it is that Robyn has done nothing to earn this trust.

Until this point Robyn has been getting in their way as they try to reestablish global communications, but now they suddenly feel comfortable telling this sensitive information to a complete stranger and risking a leak even when they KNOW Tyrian is in the city? Instead of telling her that, why not tell her about Tyrian instead? I’m sure she would want justice for the people he killed.

Then she is later invited to the Council meeting (despite not being a member) and made aware of classified information that she shouldn’t know of, as well as make a complete ass of herself and show why she probably shouldn’t have won in the first place.

This leads to her finally believing Ironwood, but eventually that gets tossed out the window at the end of the volume where her actions almost directly lead to Clover’s death.

As she, Qrow, and Clover are transporting Tyrian back to Atlas, Ironwood’s order to arrest RWBYJNRQO is issued. Now there are three things that are very important to keep in mind here after this order is issued:

1. Clover is clearly conflicted about following this order.

2. Qrow is calmly trying to talk things out.

3. Robyn is NOT under arrest.

Let me repeat that. ROBYN IS NOT UNDER ARREST.

So as Qrow is level headedly suggesting they all talk it out, Robyn (who again is NOT under arrest) starts a fight that results in Tyrian escaping his restraints, the plane going down (after Tyrian kills the pilot and co-pilot), Robyn herself being unconscious, and Clover being ultimately being murdered.

Now tell me after all the information is presented, why we are supposed to care for this character? What have the writers done to position her as someone we should invest in?

A lot of her accomplishments are told to us rather than shown, and whenever we do see her onscreen she’s mostly a nuisance that makes pretty much any situation she’s in worse. Yes, I know this is just one volume and she will obviously be a central character in V8 and possibly 9, but the damage has been done. Any attempt to salvage her will just be cleaning up the fall out from V7.

Now since I’m not one of those people that likes to complain for the sake of it, I’ll voice my opinion on how Robyn could have been written better.

The first thing we do is distance her from the Happy Huntresses. She will still be the leader, but that information won’t be revealed until AFTER the election. It’s not really a good look for a vigilante to try and run for a public office if they are still breaking the law. That’s like Bruce Wayne running for mayor of Gotham AS Batman (though the people would likely still vote for him).

So as far as the public (including Ironwood and RWBYJNRQO) are concerned, Robyn is a normal Mantle city official and Joanna Greenleaf is the leader of the Huntresses. For those of you who don’t remember who she is (and I don’t blame you), this is Joanna Greenleaf:

The second thing I’m going to do is give her a more established connection to Ironwood. My idea? Former military. Robyn was once a part of the Atlas military’s intelligence and recon division because of her lie detecting semblance. When she discovers corruption within the system (lets say something having to do with Faunus, the mines, Mantle, or the SDC) she exposes it but quickly becomes disillusioned with military life and is discharged. She then begins living in Mantle and becomes their representative. We can say this happened maybe five to ten years before the series itself starts.

She served under Ironwood and has a deep respect for him, but does not agree with his decisions as defacto head of the Council. This is what leads to the friction between them.

Next, we change up how she and the Huntresses are introduced in V7. When RWBYJNRQO arrive in Mantle the election race has only barely begun (we’re pushing it back). We see posters for Robyn and maybe hear snippets of an interview she is giving to a news station on one of the TVs.

When the Grimm attack, instead of RWBYJNRQO running out to help immediately, they are cut off by the Happy Huntresses who quickly get rid of the monsters. Ruby and the others wonder who they are before the Huntresses scatter when Penny and the Ace-Ops arrive. The heroes are still arrested for stealing an airship and violating Atlas airspace (as they should have), but now there is some intrigue about who that group of women were.

Forrest still gives his exposition, but leaves out Robyn because no one knows she’s their leader.

When the gang arrive at the school they meet with Ironwood and Winter, but hear Ironwood complaining about “that woman” after having just finished a call on his scroll.

Fast forward to the mine mission. Instead of Jacques showing up, this is where we gets their first full appearance from Robyn. She is brought via airship to the mine (along with an exasperated Winter and Penny) and begins to badger Ironwood about ducking their meeting, stating that Mantle still hasn’t received the supplies he promised days ago. You could also have her briefly greet the kids and Qrow before going back to argue with Ironwood.

Things proceed as normal, but inbetween some of the bigger story events we see news reports of Robyn helping people around Mantle. Feeding the poor, cheering up the miners, handing out supplies, giving speeches, and other things to show that she really is the hero of the people. Not everything has to be directly tied to the plot, you can use extra devices like tv news and the like to expand on characters. They tried this in V7 but they didn’t go far enough with in my opinion. This would inform us more on Robyn’s character without her being the direct focus as well as give the audience an actual reason to get behind the things she says.

The main aspect of Robyn’s character that I would focus on would be her relationship with Ironwood. Nothing romantic, just how their ideologies align (or don’t) and how they view each other. They respect one another. Robyn knows Ironwood is a good man, but she doesn’t fully understand why he’s doing the things that he is doing. She doesn’t know why he’s being so secretive. She wants to give him a chance, but he keeps denying her.

On Ironwood’s part he knows that morally Robyn is in the right and genuinely wants to help everyone in both cities, but his paranoia will not allow him to simply tell her what is really going on. Salem’s reach is far and if she was able to turn Lionheart (one of Ozpin’s closest confidants) then she can get to anyone and that is frightening.

This is why Robyn utilizes the Happy Huntresses. They are able to move outside the law and do the things she can’t (similar to Jim Gordon and Batman). She doesn’t want to condemn Ironwood because of all the good he’s done, but people are suffering and something needs to change.

Neither are wrong, but they can’t find common ground.

I’d position Robyn more as a fringe type of character. She doesn’t directly intervene in the plot, but you know she’s always there bidding her time until she can be more prominent.

I have more ideas for her, but this post is long enough as it is so let’s just end it here.

TLDR; Robyn Hill is a good character concept with horrible execution. Hopefully she will be somewhat better utilized in future volumes, or kill her off at the start of V8. At this point I’m good with either.

#RWBY #Robyn Hill #Happy Huntresses #Long Post #Tyrian Callows #Jacques Schnee #James Ironwood #Joanna Greenleaf #may marigold #fiona thyme #writing critique #Qrow Branwen #Clover Ebi #this is probably one of the longest posts I've ever made #RWDE

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shireness-says · 4 years

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Another Page

Summary: Belle doesn’t go looking for love, but that doesn’t stop love from finding her. A 5B Divergence ‘verse snippet. Rated G. ~3.7K. Also on AO3.

~~~~~

A/N: I’m back! Remember when I threatened to pair Belle up with someone plucked from literature? This is that fic. I just really want her to get a happy ending, okay?

Super thanks to @snidgetsafan for helping me come up with this and plot it, and then beta-ing last minute. Seriously, she’s the best.

Tagging the interested parties/those I’ve been whining to: @thejollyroger-writer, @spartanguard, @phiralovesloki, @profdanglaisstuff, @optomisticgirl, @ohmightydevviepuu, @thisonesatellite, @let-it-raines, @scientificapricot, @aerica13, @welllpthisishappening, @kmomof4, @snowbellewells, @searchingwardrobes, @teamhook, @winterbaby89, @katie-dub. I’ve probably missed folks, but I don’t even remember my own tag list anymore.

Enjoy - and let me know what you think!

~~~~~

The unfortunate truth is that it was probably always going to come to this - Rumple waging war on Storybrooke. Today, Belle and her unborn son are just an excuse.

That doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel guilty that other people have been dragged into it.

She barely even knows the man who has been asked to guard her inside the library as David and Robin hold down the proverbial fort outside and Killian, Emma, and Regina face Rumple elsewhere. Well, at least she barely knows him personally; his literary reputation, small as it is, has preceded him.

Colonel James Fitzwilliam, commonly called Fitz. Young, courteous, and handsome (or so she’d say if she were looking, and didn’t have a million other concerns on her mind). She knows he arrived with the rest of the inhabitants of the Land of Untold Stories almost 2 months ago now, doing his best to keep all his compatriots organized and calm amongst the chaos of their arrival (Rumple’s doing, of course, and Belle should have seen it earlier as the distraction tactic it had been). All he’d offered as his reason for stranding himself in the Land of Untold Stories was a desire to escape all the expectations his family had placed upon him; Belle supposes she can understand that. Whatever the case, he seems… honorable. Level-headed. Capable of endearing himself even to Emma and David, enough for them to recruit him into their fledgling sheriff’s department and assign him to watch over Belle as her ex-husband does his best to tear the world apart outside to try and seize her back into his grasp and control.

“I really am sorry,” Belle says softly, and not for the first time.

“I can’t imagine why,” Fitz says mildly as he peers out the front windows. Things are blessedly quiet here for now, but that will undoubtedly change at any moment.

“This is all my fault.”

Fitz turns back to face Belle. “Perhaps I’m mistaken - I was under the impression that the Dark One was responsible for this current… tension, shall we say.” It’s kind of him not to say attack, even if that’s a more accurate word; she could do without that particular reminder. “Are you actually the rampaging maniac I’ve been warned about? Because if so - I must say, madam, that your rampaging needs work.”

He says it lightly, as a joke, but Belle has trouble finding the humor in it. “The maniac wouldn’t be, as you say, rampaging if it weren’t for me. He’s doing this because he thinks he can steal me back.”

“That may be so,” Fitz shrugs, “but from everything I’ve heard, he would have found another reason to strike. The only difference would have been your compromised safety, and I can’t believe that you believe you deserve that. Let alone your child.”

“But maybe if I hadn’t been so willfully blind - if I hadn’t been so quick to trust that he’d changed — ”

“There’s no use fixating on such things,” he tells her firmly. “Maybe things would have been different; maybe they wouldn’t have. But you wouldn’t have your child if things didn’t happen the way they did, and I have to believe that your son or daughter will be a bright spot to come from all of this.”

“Son.” Fitz’s brow wrinkles in confusion at Belle’s declaration, and she abruptly remembers that he’s still so new to the Land Without Magic that he doesn’t know yet of all its new technological capabilities. “There are machines now that can tell before the baby is even born. It’s a boy.”

“That’s wonderful,” he smiles. “This realm will never cease to amaze me, I’m sure of it.”

“It is wonderful.” Inside her belly, the baby moves and kicks, as if he knows they’re discussing him.

Fitz gentles his tone for a moment. “You deserve that, Ms. French. Every bit of happiness that little boy will bring to your life. I know this is all a mess, but he came from it too, and no one blames you for a moment. You shouldn’t blame yourself either.”

Belle blinks back tears at his kindness, choosing to focus on the easiest bit of it. “You know, after all this, I think you should call me Belle.”

“Belle, then,” he smiles. “Well, Belle, I think this will all be over soon, and you’ll have so many good things ahead of you.”

“I hope you’re right.”

———

All things considered, it’s a very good day.

Sure, bits of her body she didn’t know were capable of pain are sore, and no one has ever claimed that hospital beds are comfortable, but Belle has a son now. And he’s perfect.

Her greatest fear in all of this has been the prospect of having to do it all alone, but if the last hours are any indication, that’s not something she has to worry about. The people of Storybrooke had seemed determined to collect her and her son into the fold, starting with Emma and Ruby holding her hands throughout and a parade of friends (who just might be family now) coming to check on Belle and meet little Gideon.

(It’s a little fanciful, she knows, to name the baby after one of her favorite books, but Belle has room for a little fanciful in her life. Besides, she’s determined that her son be all the “handsome hero” that she needs.)

Of all the people she expected to drop by, however, James Fitzwilliam isn’t one of them. He looks very out of place in the hospital - this tall, solid man, who shuffles his feet as if he’s not sure how to act in this setting.

“I’m sorry to intrude,” he hazards, but Belle waves him off with a cautious smile.

“You’re not intruding at all,” she assures him. “There’s been several visitors today. It’s rather nice, actually.”

“I’m glad you think so,” he smiles back, before thrusting a bouquet towards her. “These are for you.”

Belle thumbs at the soft yellow petals, delicately. “Daisies,” she murmurs.

“Sheriff Swan’s son seemed determined that roses would be a bad idea. These looked… cheerful.”

“They are, thank you.” Bless Henry for his advice; roses are still tainted for her, at least for the moment.

“I take it this is the little one?” Fitz asks, nodding towards the cradle at the side of her bed. Her son lies inside, happily asleep, lips making little sucking motions in slumber.

“Yeah, that’s him. Gideon.” Belle can hear the soft awe in her own voice, but finds no reason to temper it.

Fitz bends over the cradle for a closer look. “He’s a handsome lad,” he decrees with a wide smile. “I see a lot of you in his features. You must be very proud.”

“I am. Thank you.” Truthfully, she sees a lot more of Rumple in her son, but they’re comforting words to hear all the same. Gideon will grow to look like his own person in time, anyways.

“I know you must be tired,” Fitz says, “but I wanted to drop by, just for a brief moment, to congratulate you. Especially after our little adventure holed up in the library,” he winks. “You’ll let me know if you need anything?”

Belle nods, and Fitz nods back, almost like a nervous tic.

“Good. Well then, I’ll be…” he jerks his head towards the door.

“Thank you for stopping by,” Belle offers. This has been a bit of an odd visit, but cheering, somehow.

“Of course.” Fitz is nearly out the door before he turns back around to say one last thing. “I’m happy for you, Belle. No one deserves this more than you do.”

And then he’s gone.

(The flowers don’t last forever, of course, but Belle takes care to press one between the pages of a book to preserve it just a little bit longer.)

———

Belle has never been much for "going out", whether by circumstance, inclination, or lack of invitation. It seems like she's been rushing, rushing, rushing, ever since she first stepped out of the asylum beneath Storybrooke Hospital and into the town proper. There's been monsters and demons and death and criss-crossing the realms and a baby, of all things, but little to no going out. Belle could probably count the instances on one hand.

But there's high reason to celebrate this time. Emma is finally getting married, after all, and Ruby has arranged a bachelorette party. Belle is a little wary about any Ruby-planned event, but at the same time, she's excited. It'll be nice to have a little break, to experience the concept of a "girl's night" for herself.

It's less clear how she ends up asking Fitz to babysit. Truthfully, it would have made more sense to leave Gideon with Killian and Charlie, or David and the rest of the Charming brood, or even with Granny. Gideon is so very fond of the colonel-turned-deputy sheriff, however, which is probably why Belle finds herself asking the favor without any prior thought.

(She's rather fond of him herself, she must admit. In the past few years, their acquaintance has strengthened into a strong friendship, built upon morning breakfasts at Granny's and his easy willingness to assist at the library whenever she needs and quiet movie nights in her apartment below the clock tower when she just needs some low-key adult company. Fitz is always there, with his easy going smile and his gentle sense of humor, happy to help and never asking more of her than she can give.)

(More and more lately, she's found a new kind of excitement and nerves brewing whenever Fitz is around, but Belle is doing her best to ignore those feelings.)

"I'm sure you must be busy on a Saturday night, and I know it's a lot to ask - it's perfectly fine if you say no -" she'd rambled, but Fitz had cut her off with a gentle hand on her arm and a warm smile.

"It's really not a problem," he'd assured her. "I'd be happy to watch the boy."

Sure enough, Gideon had squealed with glee and rushed across the room with all the boundless energy a boy just shy of two years old can possess as Fitz had appeared in the doorway. His giggles had filled the room and warmed Belle's heart as Fitz had swept her son up into the air and upside down.

"Go have fun," he'd said. "We'll be fine here."

And she does have fun. There's dancing, and drinking - so much drinking - and plenty of laughter. Belle just might like this going out business; she's certainly not opposed to a repeat sometime, if they can arrange it with all of their wild schedules. There'd been passing concerns throughout the night about how Gideon is doing, but she trusts Fitz with her son. She's sure they're having a lovely time, and Gideon is long since sound asleep.

She expects a quiet home after climbing the stairs to the little flat above the library - which is more treacherous than usual with her balance compromised by the combination of a variety of brightly colored drinks with ridiculous names and high heels - and she's not surprised to find it. What's more surprising is to see both Fitz and Gideon curled up on the couch with the tv playing softly in the background, her son plastered to the older man's side.

It's such a simple, domestic little thing, to see how comfortable Gideon is with Fitz; it shouldn't affect her the way it does. Gideon is a trusting child, anyways, by some miracle of fate, immediately everyone's best friend. What really melts her heart is to see the protective arm Fitz has slung around his waist and the soft smile he wears, even in sleep. He's happy to be here, just existing with her son in the heart of their domain. It's jarring in the best way, near revolutionary.

She loves him, she realizes in that moment - loves the way he's always there in his unobtrusive matter, that he fits into the little family unit that she and Gideon comprise. The problem is that a friend can do those things too, and even if Belle knows her own feelings, she can't speak for his, and her heart is still too fragile to try.

She tries to pry Gideon out of Fitz's arms as gently as she can to properly put him to bed, but Fitz wakes up anyways as his arm falls away.

"Sorry, darling, we got a little caught up in a movie," he whispers with a sheepish smile. Belle tries to ignore the way her pulse picks up at the little endearment, though she can’t help but sway - a combination of her drunkenness and a sudden surge of emotion. Fitz’s hand quickly flies out to brace and steady her, pulling himself to a sitting position as he does so. "Do you need any help?"

"That's alright, I've got him." By some miracle, her whisper doesn't shake as it trickles out. "Thanks for doing this."

"It was my pleasure, truly," he assures her, prying himself off the couch.

They stand for a quiet moment, just staring at each other. Can he feel this same tension, these same feelings? She's not nearly bold enough to ask; maybe he can just see it in her eyes.

But no such luck. "I'll let you get to bed then," he says to break the silence. "I'll see you tomorrow? A late breakfast, perhaps?"

"Tomorrow," she agrees. "Goodnight, Fitz."

"Goodnight, Belle."

Even if he doesn't live here, the apartment feels emptier without him in it.

———

Fitz comes by every morning to help Belle with the outdoor book drop, rain or shine, 8:30 AM, unless he’s ill or caught up with some kind of inescapable deputy business. He’d started after Gideon was born, when it seemed like half the town had taken a turn helping her out at the library when she was exhausted with her newborn and still couldn’t lift any weight. Nearly four years later now, it’s their routine, and if pressed, Belle will admit that she treasures these minutes they share each morning, retrieving books, checking them back in, and sorting them back out at the circulation desk. If he has time, Fitz often even stays to help shelve them.

(There’s something especially touching about the way he so carefully handles each volume every step of the way, especially knowing that he’s not much of a reader.)

Belle needs his help more when the weather is accommodating, but she loves watching him on sunny days like this, where the early sun shines in his hair like burnished gold. He’d cut his hair a couple of years back, and as fitting as the short ponytail at the nape of his neck had seemed, he’s impossibly handsome with his hair cropped short at the sides and just long enough to bounce and swoop at the top.

(She’s got it bad, truly, and none of the bravery required to act on it.)

Maybe the sun on his hair hypnotized her. Or she finally just burst with feelings in a display of foolishness. Whatever the case, even as Belle feels like she’s watching a car crash in slow motion, she can’t stop her mouth from blurting out words like some terrible word vomit.

“Ruby thinks I should start dating,” she declares suddenly. Like that was even remotely a thing she planned on saying.

(It is the truth, at least; Ruby does think she should start dating. The fact that Ruby thinks she should start dating Fitz is the real crux of the issue at hand.)

Maybe anyone else would miss the way that Fitz stutters for a moment, his entire body freezing up before he continues unloading books. Then again, Belle isn’t most people, and she’s almost painfully aware of his every breath and movement after nearly five years spent dancing around one another. It gives her a bit of hope, that maybe she isn’t quite so alone in this pining. “And what do you want, Belle?”

She shrugs casually before reaching in beside him, their arms brushing along the way. “I’m not really sure, truthfully. Gideon and I have always been fine by ourselves.”

“But?”

“It would be nice, wouldn’t it? To have someone to care for me like that,” she replies wistfully. “It’s easy to feel a little lonely, when everyone else around here seems to have found their true love, their person.” Are you my person? Would you ever want to be?

“You’re not alone, you know.” Fitz’s voice is almost too casual, like he’s trying to conceal something else.

“I know.” She lines the books up neatly on the cart as an excuse not to meet Fitz’s eyes, spines facing upwards. “I’ve never really done it before, though. Dating. Or even really proper courting like we might have done in the other realms. There was nothing really ordinary about what happened between Rumplestiltskin and I. There was a little in between when Rumple was banished beyond the borders, and I tried to move on, but… Will was never properly much for dating. A quick drink and kissing behind the bar? Yes. Courtship? No. Maybe it’s foolish, but I’d like to at least try. Be taken to dinner and pampered a little. I think I deserve that.”

“You do,” Fitz tells her gently, prying her hands away from where they’ve been nervously alphabetizing. “And it’s not foolish.”

“I don’t know that anything will come of it,” she says, blushing in the face of his compliments. “I’m a bookish single mother with enough baggage for a world tour. That may be too much for many men.”

“But you do want this? Dating? That’s a step you’re ready to take?”

Belle inhales, gathering her courage in a great breath before nodding. “I do.”

Fitz visibly swallows, as if he’s got his own nerves. Still, he squeezes her hands where they’re still clasped in his. “Then I’d like to be the first to take you to dinner. If you like.”

Belle can feel a smile start to spread across her face, her eyes crinkling as her mouth catches up. “You’d want that? Truly? Not just to be kind?”

“Truly,” he nods. “And very much. I’ve been terribly smitten with you for a long time, Belle, but I never wanted to overstep my bounds. I didn’t want to be some pushy bastard so soon after everything he did.”

He doesn’t need speaking. It’s terribly considerate of Fitz, and maybe even necessary. After all, it brought them here.

“Would it be horribly forward of me to kiss you?” Belle murmurs, stepping further into his space as happy, anticipatory butterflies take flight in her stomach.

“Maybe,” he smiles back. “But I say we make our own rules.”

“Then I’d very much like to kiss you.”

(And reader - she does.)

———

“Darling, could you spare a minute?” Fitz calls from the bedroom. “This tie is giving me trouble.”

It’s such a simple domestic request, but it still sends little flutters of happiness through Belle’s veins. Even after three years together, and four years before that as friends, Fitz is still ever inch the gentleman in every way. Loving him is warm, and gentle, and comforting. Loving him is home, in a way she hadn’t realized was possible.

Home these days, at least in the physical sense, is no longer the little apartment above the library, but a cheery yellow bungalow on a quiet street lined with lush trees. It’s a good place for Gideon to grow up, with a peaceful backyard and kids just next door right around his age, but it’s a perfect space for the three of them to grow, too - her, Gideon and Fitz. There’s space for a small study lined with bookshelves, and a spacious bedroom for a young boy to make his own, and a bright kitchen for family meals - not to mention, a master bedroom far enough removed from young ears at the top of the house in a converted attic space.

Climbing those stairs now, she finds Fitz fiddling with his necktie in the full length mirror they keep along one wall. It doesn’t look like he’s struggling that much with the garment, but it is lovely to see the way he practically lights up when she walks to him.

“Now I know you’ve had to deal with much more complicated neckties than this,” she scolds lightly, reaching for the silk ends. “You just wanted to see me.”

“Guilty as charged,” he admits with a smile. “But can you blame a man for wanting to see his wife, especially when she looks so beautiful?”

(That’s a welcome change, too - a ring and a white dress and so many other promises that she’s confident, finally, will be honored as a personal gospel.)

“Kiss-up.” Still, she blushes.

“Just honest.” He leans in to softly kiss her forehead, perfectly in reach with Belle lifted up on high heels.

“Nervous?” she asks, pulling the last loop of fabric through and down.

Fitz shrugs. “Not particularly. It’s just a formality, really. Why, do you think I should be?”

“Not at all,” she smiles back, tweaking his lapels for good measure.

And he shouldn’t be. Because this really is a formality; just a piece of paper. Fitz has been Gideon’s dad for years, happily, and both her boys had been ecstatic when she suggested they make it official. Today is just the day that a judge makes it official, with a small party with their friends to follow.

“I love you,” Belle murmurs. It’s still wonderful even to say the words - a warmth and a peace that suffuses her entire soul.

“And I love you,” Fitz echoes back, leaning down for a brief kiss. It’s not anything particularly involved, but that’s nice in it’s own way - comforting, a promise that there will always be time for more and later and anything they want.

It has to be short, too, because Belle can already hear feet pounding up the stairs. “Are you ready yet?” Gideon demands. His soft brown hair has somehow been tamed into submission, and she’d wrestled him into a nice shirt just before Fitz had called her upstairs.

“We’ll be down in just a moment, bud,” Fitz tells their son. “Go ahead and wait by the door, we’re right behind you.”

As the footsteps rush back down the stairs, he offers her a chivalrous arm. “Shall we, darling?”

“We shall.”

The rest of their life is waiting, after all.

#ouat ff #belle french #anti-rumbelle #Belle/OC #Belle/Colonel Fitzwilliam #Belle/Literally Anyone Else 2k20 #Friends to Lovers #Slow Burn #5B divergence verse #If I Could See Your Face Once More #Another Page #my writing #look I just want her to be happy #and that means really weird shipping sometimes

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daringyounggrayson · 4 years

Text

they took me where you couldn’t follow (but you still found me)

Whumptober Prompt 4: Human Shield

(AO3)

A toddler—the toddler, the one that’s being used as a pawn in some gang war—is kneeling next to Dick’s head, crying hysterically and slapping his cheek. He feels like he can barely breathe, and the room is filled with smoke so dark and thick he can barely see the wall across from him. His head feels heavy and fuzzy, but through the haze it shouts run.

He coughs and sits up. “Shh, it’s okay,” he tells the girl. “We’re gonna get out of here.” He stumbles to his feet with watery eyes and unclips his cape, wrapping it around her.

“Out now!” she orders, fighting the cape a little. “Out!”

Dick scoops her up without another word, pulling the cape over her head completely before pulling her against his chest. There are no windows in the room they’re in, but there is a door. It’s locked, but it’s old and easy to break open. He steps out into a hallway where the fire is eating the walls and just starts running. The floor creaks, or maybe it’s the ceiling. Either way, something’s about to give. He tries not to think about it as he runs through the building, hunting for a door or a window—anything that’s out.

Something comes crashing down from above and he does his best to dodge and use himself as a human shield to protect the kid. Flames lick at his back, but not at the kid. He’ll take it.

He stumbles through the house like that—responses all instinct and eyes set on nothing except getting outside. It’s hard to breathe and it’s hard to stay upright, but the toddler is coughing and crying so he keeps going. He sees a door up ahead, and Dick dances around flames and a fallen bookshelf to get to it. It's not until he hears the loud voices that he freezes—another instinctive response. There's even more shouting just before the door breaks open, and Dick has a moment of panic before he recognizes them as firefighters and relaxes.

He goes for the doorway and hands the toddler over, cape and all. He opens his mouth to speak, but all he tastes is smoke and all he says are coughs. The other firefighter lifts him up and carries him out of the house, faster than Dick thinks all of that gear should allow.

“Is there anyone else inside?” He asks.

“Dunno,” Dick says. He reaches for his emergency beacon and presses it. Twice. (Should’ve done that first. Stupid.)

The firefighter sets him down on a gurney and then he’s running off again, back towards the burning building. An EMT looks down his throat, and after he determines that it’s not going to swell shut, he pushes an oxygen mask into Dick’s face. Dick takes it, pressing it closer with his hands as he nods and gulps and coughs.

“You inhaled a lot of smoke,” the EMT tells him, like Dick hadn’t noticed.

He doesn’t respond, though; he can’t focus on anything and he can already feel himself slipping back into unconsciousness now that the fight or flight response is easing down. But he needs to look for Batman, needs to get to him before anything else.

“Robin.” And just like that, Batman’s there.

Dick shoves at the EMT to let him slide off the gurney and pass.

“He’s hurt, Batman. Just let us check him out.” The EMT sounds desperate, reminding Dick why he doesn’t like dealing with them. Dealing with the way they sound and plead and honest to god think Robin will drop dead if Batman takes him home.

Dick leans into Bruce and his knees give out. Bruce picks him up and takes him away from the screeching sirens and flashing lights. All Dick can think is that he can’t breathe and he doesn’t feel right.

“Drugged,” Dick finally pieces together.

There’s a pause. “With what?”

“Kid,” Dick starts, realization and panic forcing him above the exhaustion again. “There was a kid—I had her, she—”

“Easy. She’s safe. You did good work tonight, Robin.”

Dick has a lot of questions about what tonight entailed, but all he can do is choke and gasp and fight against passing out. He just wants it to stop.

“Shh,” Bruce tells him gently. “I’ve got you.”

Dick passes out before they even get to the car.

oOo

Dick wakes to the feeling of something uncomfortably warm and sour crawling up his throat. His mouth opens on reflex before he’s even fully awake, and then he’s gagging and drowning in vomit and someone is shouting.

Something is ripped from his face and there’s a sickening splat against the ground as Dick can finally breathe again. He gasps before his stomach convulses again and Bruce pulls him upright, shoving something into his hands, which he gags into again and again and again. When there’s nothing left and his stomach is done forcing him to dry heave, he’s panting and shaking and covered in a cold sweat.

Bruce presses a kiss into his hair, rubs his arm and says, “You’re alright, chum. You’re alright.”

“What was that?” Dick says between breaths. Alfred offers him a washcloth for his face and a cup of water, both of which he accepts eagerly.

“A street drug with sedative properties. I hadn’t seen it before tonight,” Bruce tells him. Dick swishes the water around in his mouth and then spits it into the basin, which Alfred takes from him before Dick’s shaking hands can spill it.

“Is it supposed to do this?” Dick asks, lying back down and clutching his chest and stomach.

“I don’t have enough information yet.”

Dick groans and Bruce rests his hand on his head. “Kid okay?” he asks before Alfred slips a clean oxygen mask over his face.

“Yes. She’s being kept overnight, but there are no burns and her airways are looking as good as can be expected.” Bruce rubs his thumb into Dick’s temple. “You’re suit prevented any serious burns, but there are some minor burns along the back of your neck and part of your hair was singed.”

“Guessing my airways are alright, though?” Dick asks. His chest hurts, sure, and he’s on oxygen, but it can’t be that bad; it’s not like he’s intubated.

“We’ll keep monitoring.”

“Are you in any pain, Master Dick?” Alfred asks.

“It’s fine.” It’s not. “How long were we in there?”

“We don’t know. At least ten minutes.”

“Did they do it on purpose, or were they just stupid?” And who were they? Dick knows there was a “they”—there’s always a “they”—but then again, he doesn’t even remember being grabbed. His head is still fuzzy; he can see the information, but he can’t grab it and translate it into sense.

Bruce shakes his head. “The kidnappers are claiming that they were hired for the job but the gang leaders double-crossed them, tied them up, and lit the place on fire. The kidnappers escaped and fled the scene, but I found them before they could get far. They’re currently in custody.”

“Did they know that we were in the building too? The gang leaders, I mean.”

“Yes,” Bruce says, and then stops like that’s all he’s going to say. Dick looks at him eagerly, and Bruce releases a long breath before he gives in. “From what I’ve gathered, the leaders were likely planning on killing the girl the whole time; it was never a hostage situation like the hired kidnappers are claiming. You also weren’t part of the plan, and maybe taking you is what made the gang leaders angry. But it’s also possible that the gang leaders were planning on killing the kidnappers the whole time to prevent any loose ends and they saw taking you down as a bonus. It’s still unclear how the drugs fit in, however, but I’ll know more after I read the report in the morning.”

Bruce not knowing so many things is one thing, but not actively seeking answers the first chance he gets is another. It’s weird. Wrong.

“What’s wrong? Did something else happen tonight?” Dick asks, sitting up a little as panic grips him. “Is Babs okay? Where is she?”

“She’s fine. Home,” Bruce assures, easing Dick back down and looking at him like he’s a teetering antique vase.

“Then what?” Dick demands.

Bruce sets his jaw, and Alfred rests his hand on Dick’s shoulder. “I think we are all a little on edge due to this evening’s events. You were missing for over two hours, and we were unable to track you.”

Dick’s eyebrows furrow. He saw the building; it wouldn’t have blocked the signal to the tracker in his suit. “But—”

“They took it out,” Bruce explains. Not broken, not blocked, but intentionally removed and deactivated. “Somehow they knew where we kept it. They also deactivated your emergency beacon, though they left that on your belt for some reason.”

Oh.

Dick pales and he feels sick again. “How?” And who else knows?

“We’ll change them, perhaps add more in multiple locations,” Bruce says, always with the plan.

For the first time that night, Dick realizes just how badly things could have gone. There’s a new drug out on the street, one that Dick might have been the guinea pig for. Bruce couldn’t find him, and worse yet, he probably only ended up at that abandoned building by scanning police radios. If that toddler hadn’t been there to wake Dick up, or if she’d passed out from smoke exposure a minute earlier, they’d both be dead. All because someone knew about the trackers. Knows.

Dick nods, clenches his jaw. No one says anything after that. Alfred takes a seat and watches the monitors and Bruce rests his hand back in Dick’s hair, rubbing his temple back and forth in a rhythmic motion. No one talks and Dick wracks his brain for any detail from his abduction that could be useful. But there’s nothing, and no matter what plans Bruce puts in place, everyone is all too aware that this could happen again, and the next time, he might not make it out.

#dick grayson #bruce wayne #batman #nightwing #batfamily #elizabeth writes

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isfjmel-phleg · 4 years

Note

it's "the secret garden" anon! eek! the main trailer for the new adaptation came out! i'd love to hear your thoughts about it!

Hi, Secret Garden anon! Nice to see you! I do have lots of thoughts! And just watched the trailer for like the fourth time, really slowly and taking notes, so brace yourself.

Here’s the trailer, for anyone who hasn’t seen it.

The establishing shots of the moor and Misselthwaite Manor are appropriately spooky and vaguely gothic. It sets a suitable tone.

I know the setting’s been moved forward a few decades, but it’s a little jarring seeing Medlock and Mary in a car!

Introducing the robin early is lovely foreshadowing.

The interior of Misselthwaite is appropriately vast and foreboding but the barest interpretation I’ve ever seen. Have many of the manor’s furnishings been sold or destroyed? Something’s a little off, and I’m curious.

Mary’s room is also very bare but with beautiful murals of lemon trees and birds. A bit evocative, perhaps, of the tapestry in her room in the book.

What happened to the ruined-looking grounds Mary is wandering through? Did the war somehow take a toll on Misselthwaite? Did this extend to the gardens? Does this have something to do with the state of the house?

Chasing a dog in the garden is a departure—and it might be an understandable change, but we already have the robin, so why do we need the dog? Why complicate the role with two characters?

Mary gets into the garden by climbing/falling over the wall? I rather miss the iconic image of her unlocking the door for the first time.

This garden seems to be more jungle-like and vast than I imagined. A valid interpretation though.

Wow, they are not keeping Colin a surprise at all, are they?

His room is in better condition than what we’ve seen of Misselthwaite so far. More gorgeous floral motifs on the walls. Large wardrobe that looks like it ought to lead to Narnia. And his books piled by the bed!

We get a glimpse of Mr. Craven’s study, which prominently features animal motifs. There seem to be some stuffed? ones behind him, and animal-shaped décor on the desk. This could say multiple things about the direction they’re taking with his character. Hinting a love of nature but out of touch with it since he keeps it preserved in dead form?

He’s also introduced with a kindly expression on his face, so hopefully that’s a hint that they’re not going to make him the complete Villain?

Why does Colin not seem to be in proper pajamas? Also, the pattern on Mary’s robe is lovely.

Now we’re in some exotically furnished part of the house, there’s a tapestry and a secret door? Leading to a room full of what appears to be Lilias’s old dresses which are GORGEOUS and some photos (including one that might be of her and Mrs. Lennox, judging from what’s said later)?

From the door of Mary’s room, a couple of young women run by. Lilias and Mary’s mother? Is this a vision/imaginary sequence? A flashback?

Our first view of Martha!

So Martha says, “Once this house was filled with happiness.” And it’s immediately followed by Colin saying, “Now my father wants me locked in this room. It’s unforgivable.” I HAVE QUESTIONS. Normally I would assume that Lilias’s death from childbirth was the event that threw off everything, but the placement of Colin’s line suggests that whatever happened was something recent enough for him to remember, and now he has some kind of grudge against his father. What? Why? He wasn’t locked in his room, and he wasn’t being kept there against his will. This version, like others before it, doesn’t seem to grasp that a lot of this is Colin’s own doing, and the conflict is more within himself than with some external force. But I would need to hear these lines in their full context before reaching a definite conclusion about what this film is doing with the character. Trailers do lie, of course.

He’s got a pajama jacket now! Progress! …and the infamous back brace. Which was a detail from his past in the book, removed at the insistence of the London doctor. This is the first adaptation I’ve seen that uses it (the 1949 version changed it to leg braces, probably to draw a parallel to the then-familiar imagery of polio victims).

The birds and trees on Mary’s walls move? I’m assuming this is imaginary?

This part of the garden with the overgrown flowers and columns and statuary is closer to my mental image—not to mention beautiful. And the ruins of some abandoned part of the house as part of the garden? Perfect. It reminds me of the gardens at Sudeley Castle, which do much the same thing. Visually I’m really liking what this film is doing.

More of Colin’s room: he appears to have a globe, toy soldiers or some other tiny figures, a model castle or fort or some other building, and a telescope. I like that they’re hinting at his more cerebral interests in the set dressing.

Mary’s sitting in his wheelchair, presumably for the heck of it. Sure, why not.

They’re doing a great job of making Colin look ill and exhausted. Just look at those eyes.

Mary finds the key inside a tree? Is it in the robin’s nest or something? When is this, chronologically? Why the dog?

Mary’s coat, purse, yellow sweater, etc.—I’m loving her costumes!

Having Dickon first appear in a mist gives his presence an appropriately mysterious quality. Dressing him in fur(?) with a touch of feathers emphasizes his connection to the animal world. Look at the creature peeping out of his pocket! And his curly hair! And that smile! They seem to be nailing the character’s good-natured friendliness.

More murals in the house! A garden and two ladies (obviously significant). And is Mary sneaking Dickon into the house?

“You know what you risk?” So Martha gets to be in on the secret this time.

The trailer seems to imply that the central conflict is getting Colin outside. Not so much persuading him to do it, but getting past whoever is keeping him from doing so. They seem to be sneaking him out—no grand briefing of the head gardener and big production that his Going Outside was in the book.

He’s also going out in pajamas, a dressing gown, and what appears to be Mary’s hat. Surely the child has nonsleepwear clothing? There’s got to be something of the sort in that wardrobe. Let the poor kid get properly dressed before taking him out!

This might be the first time I’ve seen Mary depicted as pushing the chair.

The dramatic entrance into the garden and that look of joy on Colin’s face strike the right note. Good sense of wonder.

Is that huge tree the one Lilias fell out of? I think we see her on a swing attached to it later.

That bush with the deep red flowers is exactly the right aesthetic! This garden is starting to grow on me (forgive the pun).

“There are even more secrets to this garden!” LIKE WHAT???

“Our mothers made this place magical”—what? Why is Mrs. Lennox suddenly involved? Are they doing the making her Lilias’s sister thing again? Why do they keep doing that? I’d love to see a version someday that did something with Lilias’s being Mary’s father’s sister, as they are in the book.

It looks like they’re having Medlock take Ben Weatherstaff’s role of discovering the kids in the garden. Is Ben even in this version? I haven’t seen him and don’t recall the role being on the current cast list.

Now Colin’s in a sweater vest over pajamas. Who is dressing this child. Also Mary really seems to like appropriating his chair, ha!

“If you cause me trouble…I’m obliged by law to have you sent to school.” “Then we’ll need to break the law, won’t we?” Mary doesn’t seem too afraid of her uncle despite the threat. I have no idea of the context here and am utterly confused.

Mary having some kind of vision or something of Lilias (I think?) was in the last trailer. Is this a reinterpretation of the “In the garden” dream?

This Mr. Craven seem much more actively involved in what’s going on in the house. Is he there more often? Dragging Mary down a corridor and ordering her to stay away from his son? …I don’t even know. I’ve lost track.

Mary and Colin’s handshake is very sweet. I like that they seem to be emphasizing the friendship here. Although will they be downplaying the brattiness? There haven’t really been any hints of his behavior issues as a factor.

“I was trying to make things better.” So I’m guessing something will go wrong, presumably involving Colin, everyone will be mad at Mary, and she’ll have to get out of that somehow. These conflicts are puzzling.

Mr. Craven looks rather disheveled by the time he gets to the garden (with Medlock close behind him?). Did he take the fall-over-the-wall route?

“This garden…it’s capable of extraordinary things.” Very vague. I’m continuing to hope that the apparently magical sequences are actually imaginary, highlighting the children’s view of what they consider a magical place. It really is an aesthetically gorgeous garden.

They are obviously making a lot of changes, and I can’t say I love all of the implied choices, but I am still looking forward to this move and keeping an open mind. At this point, what I’d like most is for them to capture the spirit, if not the letter, of the book and characters. There’s plenty of potential. And I love the sets and costumes!

What did you think?

#asks #Secret Garden anon #The Secret Garden 2020 #The Secret Garden #no weird formatting nonsense this time thank goodness

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believingispowerfulmagic · 4 years

Text

“Reunited at Last” Chapter 8: Halloween

The sun had long set by the time Rob headed home, turning on his brights as he drove down the dirt country road that led to his house. Darkness and silence surrounded him as he lived outside the main part of town, so there were no streetlamps to light his way. His only neighbors were the trees and animals of the forest but he didn’t mind. Rob loved the peace and solace nature provided him.

His headlights illuminated a special patch of trees and Rob smiled. Those were the trees he specifically cared for, nurturing them until the holidays rolled around. In a couple weeks, he would open his Christmas tree lot and the people of Storybrooke would rush to his little oasis to find the perfect evergreen to celebrate the holiday. He loved his little side business perhaps even more than his main one. Seeing the joy and wonder on everyone’s faces--especially the children’s--always made him feel warm and happy. Because though his choice of residence suggested otherwise, he liked people--being around them and most importantly, helping them. It gave him purpose and invigorated him.

Robin parked his car in his dirt driveway and turned it off. He grabbed his toolbox and his mail before climbing out of the car. After locking it, he hurried toward his door and let himself into his house, quickly getting out of the late October chill. Winter was already making itself known even though it wasn’t due for two months.

He set his mail down on the small table he kept in the foyer. Rob’s cottage was too far from the main part of town for Storybrooke’s one mail carrier to deliver to, so he had a mailbox in the post office that he checked every day before the office closed. It was usually bills though he got a couple magazines and catalogues. Occasionally he got packages but those were few and far between.

After taking off his shoes, he went through the mail and tossed out the junk. He set his bills aside for when he worked on his checkbook during the weekend and headed into the kitchen to make himself some dinner. With how cold it was starting to get, Rob decided on the classic combination of grilled cheese and tomato soup. He paired them with a beer and headed into his living room, settling into his armchair to watch the replay of a football game. It had been years since he had lived in England, but his heart still belonged to his football association.

But not even his team held his attention that night. His mind kept wandering back to the cannery parking lot and Regina Mills. There was just something about her, like they had met before even though he was certain they hadn’t. He didn’t even think he had seen her in town which struck him as odd. Storybrooke was a rather small town where everyone knew everybody else. It felt stranger that there would be one person he hadn’t seen before but it was obviously possible. Maybe he had and he just couldn’t place her, though some part of his mind remembered her.

He also hoped he saw her again. Even without the feeling of déjà vu he felt around her, her soulful brown eyes and beautiful smile had made his heart skip a beat in a way it hadn’t in a long time. Rob hadn’t experienced much romance since coming to Storybrooke though he had been something of a heartbreaker back in England, one of his many sins in his home country. He had come to America for a fresh start and he decided to first focus on settling into a legitimate career. Once that was done, he had then started dating again--but this time, he focused on finding someone to spend the rest of his life with. While he had gone on a few dates in Storybrooke, he hadn’t found the right person yet.

It didn’t mean that he thought Regina Mills was going to be the right person. For all he knew, she had a handsome and intelligent husband as well as a beautiful family. He just knew he hadn’t felt like this toward anyone in a long time. Rob hoped he would see her again soon and would find a way to get to know her better. And if all they ended up being was friends, that would be fine.

Until then, he could always dream…

*****

The carriage jostled violently, causing Regina to throw up her hands to brace herself against its wall and grip the back of the seat. She gritted her teeth as she fought to keep from being tossed to the floor. “These roads are atrocious. Why doesn’t King George do anything about them?”

“How do you know where are already in King George’s kingdom?” her father asked, holding as well.

She shot him a look. “Because I know our roads in Mist Haven aren’t so poorly maintained.”

“That is true,” her father replied. “Our infrastructure is strong thanks to you.”

Pride filled Regina. She hadn’t wanted to become queen but now that she had the power, she was doing everything she could to strengthen her country and make her people’s lives better. Regina negotiated better trade deals between Mist Haven and the surrounding kingdoms and took steps to ensure they were not pulled into the never-ending Ogre Wars. Her mother’s words about getting the people to love her played over and over in her mind. She knew if she won them over, they would stop protecting Snow White and she would finally avenge Daniel’s death.

Most of all, she just wanted to be loved.

The road eventually smoothed over and not long after, her carriage came to a halt. She took a deep breath, checking that her hair was still pinned up into the elaborate hairdo her maid had done for her. “Here we go,” she muttered.

“You look beautiful,” her father assured her. “I daresay you will turn many heads tonight. Perhaps you will find someone who catches your eye as well.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I am not here to find romance, Daddy. I am here as a diplomat eager to work out an agreement with King George.”

“You can do both,” he suggested. He sighed. “I just want to see you happy, Regina.”

“I told you after Daniel died that I would never be happy again. That still holds,” she told him, looking away from him. She still felt his eyes on her though.

The door opened and a servant held out his hand to help her down from the carriage. Daddy followed her and he held out his arm to her. “May I escort you in?”

“I need to make certain King George understands that he is to deal with me and only me,” she said. “So no escort. You follow behind.”

He nodded. “As you wish.”

Regina walked through the large double doors, entering King George’s palace. Servants directed everyone to the Great Hall and she paused at the entrance to it. Daddy rushed forward to inform the herald who she was so she could get probably announced as she entered the ball. It was important to make an entrance, to make certain everyone was watching. She had chosen her rich red satin gown, one that was more form-fitting than some of her other gowns. Black lace covered her arms and her neck, though there was a gap between the lace and the neckline of her gown. It gave everyone a tantalizing glimpse of her cleavage, especially as she had swept her dark hair into an elaborate updo that left her neck bare. While she had sworn off love and romance, she still understood the power the allure of sex with her held over men (and women).

She paused at the top of a grand staircase, looking down at the finely dressed men and women in the Great Hall. Many were already dancing but there were a few milling around the food and spirits King George was serving. He was clearly sparing no expense, she realized. She wondered if he could even afford to throw such a grand ball.

“Announcing Her Majesty, Regina, Queen of Mist Haven,” the herald declared.

Everyone stopped and looked up as she descended. She held her skirts just enough to ensure she didn’t trip over them and wondered if her mother would’ve been proud to see how grace she was. Regina then banished her from her mind. She needed to be focused on the task at hand--a new trade agreement with King George that would get her country needed medicines.

King George stepped forward and took her hand, pressing a kiss she didn’t feel through her gloves to the back of it. “Queen Regina, it is an honor.”

“Thank you for inviting me,” she replied, curtsying to him. “You have a lovely kingdom.”

His chest puffed out with pride. “You had a good journey, then?”

“I did,” she lied, seeing her father start behind her. She hoped he stayed quiet--the last thing they needed was to insult King George with the truth that his kingdom was poorly maintained.

Daddy stayed quiet and King George held out his arm to Regina. “Are you thirsty? Why don’t we get you a drink?”

“That sounds wonderful,” she said, taking his arm and letting him led her to the table where several goblets were lined up. He handed one to her and took one for himself.

He raised his goblet toward her. “To you, Queen Regina.”

“To a prosperous alliance between our countries,” she said, clinking her goblet against his with a sweet smile. She took a sip, never taking her eyes off King George. He looked intrigued and she could see the hunger for riches in his eyes.

Good. That would make it easier to get what she wanted from him.

“I look forward to discussing that alliance with you.” He set his empty goblet down on the tray held by a passing servant. “I know we can greatly improve Mist Haven’s prosperity and bring goods that will amaze your people to your markets.”

“You certainly can help us,” Regina replied. It was the truth, though King George wouldn’t be helping Mist Haven the way he thought he would. Of course he would think his country had the best goods and that he was doing her a favor rather than recognizing it was the other way around. But she would let him have his arrogance. It would make it easier to get him on her side.

She mingled with the others attending the ball, politely refusing all requests to dance. It was one of her favorite games to play at these events. The coyer she acted, the more men fell over themselves to try to win her favor. She was able to keep them at arm’s length and avoid revealing how poor a dancer she truly was, yet still get what she wanted.

It was win-win.

After about an hour of inane conversations, King George approached her. She had watched him consume another goblet of wine and believed he was in a relaxed but not inebriated state. It was time to strike.

“King George, might I have a word with you?” she asked. She then dropped her voice and fluttered her lashes as she added: “In private?”

His eyes lit up and he held out his arm. “You may.”

Continue reading on FFN, AO3 or Wattpad

#once upon a time #outlaw queen #oq au #oq ff #reunited at last

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writtingfiction · 5 years

Note

*trips into submissions* Uh hi again a mere mortal has arrived to present another idea for your brilliant writing. I was thinking: Robin dreams of chrom bc of the alternate timeline split and yadda yadda fea stuff. But what if this split had happened so many times but in each one chrom and robin end up together? What if the same pairing had been repeated so much that robin AND chrom feel familiar to one another? Maybe write about how they come together in a new timelime if they both remember?

Why, hello fellow mortal, I must apologize. I would have written this sooner but I took a hit to the head and received a concussion. :( I had fun writing this though, I hope it cheers you up. (oﾟ▽ﾟ)o

pairing: Chrom x Robin

words: 3k

The first time he saw her, there was such a sense of familiarity he was surprised that he did not recognize her. Her body movements all seemed familiar, her voice for some reason made his heart ache. His heart pounded in his chest, he was so confused, why was she so familiar when neither of them had any recollection of each other?

Despite Frederick trying to warn him, nothing could dissuade him. This familiarity seemed too strong to ignore, so keeping her by his side was something he could trust, body and soul. It felt like déjà vu, being by her side as time had passed. There was a connection between the two of them, that he knew, but it seemed deeper.

“Chrom, stare at me any longer and I’m going to think that I’m truly a Plegian.” Robin’s laughter filled the room. Chrom blinked once, twice before realizing his mistake. He let out a nervous laugh, hand scratching the back of his neck, face lighting up a light shade of pink.

“My apologies, Robin. I did not mean to stare.” Chrom said, eyes trained on the wall of the war tent. He could hear the tiny giggles escape her lips.

“You do no harm. What’s on your mind?” Robin said, her gaze softening as they land on the prince who shifts in his spot. There’s a moment of silence before Chrom opens his mouth to say how familiar she is, but a far-off shout interrupts them. A battle is about to begin. She gives Chrom a quick smile, hands grabbing her coat. “Another time, then?” Chrom can only nod as the two of them walk out, strategies falling from her lips as he listens to every word.

He doesn’t get the chance to speak about it again till much later. Chrom has his eyes trained on the stars above him, twinkling brightly as his feet stay firmly planted on the courtyard soil. He wondered if his father was watching him from the stars, along with his mother. What would they think of their children now?

“Stargazing?” A familiar voice pulls him away from the stars and towards the woman whom he has come to trust whole heartedly. It’s Robin, the white-haired tactical genius that his body aches for in a familiar way. Chrom could only chuckle, giving a shy smile.

“It would seem so, what brings you here, Robin?” He asks, what has her up this late walking around the castle?

“I was on my way to the library…” Robin says trailing off, hand pointing in the rough direction of the library. “however, you seemed a bit lost. Thought I would keep you company.”

“That’s very kind of you, Robin.” Chrom smiles, their gazes lingering before she speaks up.

“Although, is everything ok? You seemed a bit distance after our last encounter with Gangrel.” Robin said worried, brows furrowing. Chrom could feel the tension rise in his body at the mere mention of the Mad King’s name. His fists clench tightly at his side but breathed in sharply, trying to relax.

“Yes, after all, everything is alright, for the moment.” Chrom said, glaring at the ground. “A war is upon us, again.” Robin frowned, hand coming up and placing it against Chrom’s shoulder.

“Everything will work out, Chrom. You have your family, the Shepherds and me. We will be by your side till the end. You can count on us; I promise you that.” Robin said, lips pulling into a smile.

“Thank you, Robin.” He looks at her, eyes locking with hers. He couldn’t stop his own heart from swooning. Her white-hair shimmered in the moonlight, her eyes lighting up with the stars reflecting in her eyes. She is the epitome of beauty under the moonlight, although he was sure she would deny it. “You look—”

“Marth?” Confusion filled the beauty woman in front of him. He turned on his spot, spotting the other young man. He echoed Robin, feeling slightly cheated on the night but those feelings were quickly turned to ash when he found out about the night’s events. He felt his stomach drop when the familiar feeling had settled into his bones as he cut down plegian soldiers that dared to try an assassination on the Exalt.

Days had passed since that night. The attempted assassination on his older sister’s life, her kidnapping, the attempted rescue but, the results were in vain. Chrom sat at the edge of his chair, soaked to the bone with a towel draped over his head as he stared blankly at the floor. His chest ached in pain, his throat dry and eyes red. His arms resting on his knees, as his mind drew a blank. It was a void, he had cried, sobbed when he was alone. Now, here he was, a shell of a man not being able to feel a thing as he replayed the death of his sister, nevertheless, what made it all worse was that it was all a familiar pain.

He heard footsteps come towards his room, stop by the door and then he heard nothing. With how long the pause was, he thought they had left but instead there was a soft knock. He didn’t respond, he didn’t want too. To be left alone is what he wanted, alone with his painful thoughts.

“Chrom…?” Her voice was so quiet, so hesitant. He didn’t hear the door open. She came forward, boots just stepping into his view. She called out to him again, voice filling the room. “Chrom, are you alright?” He felt anger boil inside him, of course not, how could he?His hands bawled into fists.

“How couldI be alright?” Chrom seethed. “She’s gone. I’ll never get to see her again, she– she made the choice for me, Robin. I was too powerless to stop him…!” He could see Robin kneel down in front of him, gently grasping at his hands, unfurling them from his tight hold.

“Chrom, I was powerless too…” Her voice was shaky at best, hiding emotions best she could but failing. Hands gripping tighter, as she tried to reassure the both of them. “My plan didn’t save your sister, and I–“

“You had done your best,” Chrom interrupted her, lowering his head even more. “you didyour best. I only have my failures now left to haunt me, along with this-this-pain.” He hissed. Voice lowering down to barely a whisper. “It feels I’ve gone through this before, like an old festering wound.” A pained expression appears on Robin’s face. Every breath she took started to hurt, heart hammering against her ribs. An odd familiar pain had entered her heart as she heard the prince’s words. She had been getting pieces of the past, or what she would like think is the past but it’s always Chrom by her side. She’s sure she hasn’t seen him before but, why the sense of familiarity? The moment she awoke, his name came to her lips naturally, but her own did not.

There were multiple times when that sense of familiarity had appeared. It was exceptionally strong when she was with Chrom. Battling in the arena in Regna Ferox, meeting Gangrel by the border when he took Maribelle; seeing Marth’s face for the first time when she appeared to warn them about the assassination; even the embarrassing moments they shared together at camp. They all felt familiar, like a sense of déjà vu. But there was also a downside, she had wondered why the pain in her chest was familiar when Emmeryn made the choice to sacrifice herself. She felt worse, just by having that feeling of familiarity, and now to hear Chrom say he had felt that familiarity as well; what does she say now. She took a deep breath and called out to him again, but he refused to look at her.

“Look at me, Chrom.” His head barely rose, lifting just enough to see her face be lit up by the corridor light. Her own eyes were red and puffy, cheeks stained with tears. He couldn’t have looked any better. “You’re not alone in this war. I know you’re scared; everyone is. However, you can’t give up. You may not be like your sister, Gods, I don’t think anyone of us is as half as good as your sister. But, if we try, together, we can make a stand for your sister. If you fall, I’ll be right there to pick you back up. Remember, as the future comes approaching us, you don’t have to be like your sister, you can still stay true to yourself.”

“And if I can’t? What if I’m not worthy of her ideals? What if I can’t do anything to save Ylisse, Robin?” Chrom asked, painfully so. He could feel his eyes burn once again, just when he thought he had cried for long enough. Robin gave him a soft look.

“If you’re not worthy, then you shall keep going until you are. You love your home too much to let nothing be done. I’ll be right by your side, Chrom. I’ll pick you back up every time you fall, without fail.” Robin said determined. Chrom took a sharp inhale, exhaling slowly as he digested her words. His hand squeezed her own in reassurance. Eyes looking down at their hands, tears daring to escape once again.

“Thank you, Robin.” Chrom whispered, tears escaping him quickly. Robin quickly enveloped him in a hug, holding him close. They held onto each other, tightly, fearing for moments if they were to let go of one another. Hours passed them by, crying in her arms as he dropped his worries, his concerns of the future. He was a broken glass, shattered pieces on the ground, seemingly no hope in recovery. However, here she came along, delicate hands picking up those broken shards and carefully putting him back together. Like she had done it a hundred times before, this time was no different.

The next nauseating feeling of familiarity was the few moments before the final battle started, the march on Gangrel’s end which he was going to personally see to. Robin was by his side as they overlooked the area, mindless chatter as they waited for the troops to get into position.

“Do you have any plans when this is over?” Chrom asked quietly, eyes scanning the field. His hand fidgeting with a small pouch he had in his pocket. He heard her giggle. He looked at her confused. “What?”

“Haha, hmm? Oh, nothing.” Robin said, turning her gaze away from the confused look of the prince. “I just thought you would be more focused on Gangrel, is all.”

“That’s true, but I know we will win. We’re not running anymore. The Mad King may have started this war, but we’re finishing it today.” His eyes caught hers. A serious expression on his face as his gut twisted in familiarity and nerves. “Together.” Robin gave a wide smile.

“Of course, now, let’s finish this.”

The fight was exhausting, it took every last bit of strength to make it through the battlefield victorious. The cheers were almost deafening, chorus’ of cheers and song had burst out when they had won. However, the only thing on his mind after he slew Gangrel was his tactician, his best friend. He never had to look far and especially not today. He had turned to her the second there were cheers. He was able to see Robin drop her tome and run into his arms. Her arms had quickly wrapped out the prince crying out in relief that everything was finally was over. There was a relieved chuckle that left his lips as he left Falchion to stand on its own in the dirt as his own tired arms wrapped around her.

“We did it!!” Chrom cried out, pulling away to see her face light up. Large, but tired smile on her lips. “You were amazing, we made this far because of you.”

“Thank you, but we have also made it this far because of your charisma.” Her eyes sparkled in that moment; they were free.

“So, the campaign is now over, war has ended. Do you have thoughts of what you now plan to do?” Chrom asked. Robin’s smile only growing brighter. She pulled away, out and away from his arms. Taking a step back, humming as she thought about it.

“Hmm, who knows. Maybe I’ll travel, visit other countries. Maybe get hired as their tactician and then verse Ylisse as the enemy.” Robin said, watching the prince’s reaction. His eyes went wide, shock filling him.

“What!? You can’t be serious, Robin!” The clear distress in his voice had only made her laugh.

“Don’t worry, Chrom. I wouldn’t do such a thing. However, traveling does sound nice…” Robin said, her smile fading.

“You don’t have to leave. I’m sure as things calm down and Ylisse gets back on its feet, I could use an advisor.” Chrom explained, grabbing Falchion and sheathing the legendary weapon. “Among other things…” Confusion took hold of Robin.

“I’m grateful for the offer and I graciously accept but, what are you talking about?” Chrom could now feel his nerves on edge. He was nervous. His eyes locked his Robin’s, he could do this.

“Robin, there’s something I haven’t told you… something I need to tell you. So please, just listen.” Chrom paused, as the two stared heavily at each other. One in confusion and the other a bundle of nerves, but the awkward silence had gotten to them. Chrom’s face started to flush red. Hand rubbing his neck. “This is more awkward than it was supposed to be… um, so, Robin, I like spending time with you. Y’know, as you do tactics and things. I like having you by my side in battles as we slay our enemies, not that I like killing people… or at all. But like, when you do tactics and you plan– that doesn’t sound right… I mean, having your presence on the battle field as we kill the enemy. Oh Gods, I’m just making this worse.” Robin’s face flushed red as Chrom stumbled over his words. Hand covering her face as she continued to listen to him ramble. “What I mean to say, is that I hope we can keep battling– no, that’s– how about I start over? Wait, why are you laughing?”

“I don’t think, I’ve ever been confessed to in such a silly way. Pfft.” Robin giggled slightly; eyes trained on ground.

“What? Gods, maybe I was wrong to pursue in end.” Chrom covered his face with his hand, embarrassment making his cheeks flush a darker red. “Please, just forget everything I’ve said. I don’t want to make things weird for either of us. It’s probably— “

“Chrom.” Robin’s voice cuts in. Approaching him in three steps, hands cupping his face. Their eyes locking with one another. “Forgetting this moment with you would be a mistake, and I think I’ve forgotten enough things in my life.” There was a shy smile on her lips, nonetheless, Chrom was still a mess. His words slowly processing in his brain, but the conclusion of her words not coming fast enough for the tactician.

Robin leaned forward. Their lips pressing against each other, a kiss conveying the emotions they couldn’t convey into words. The poor prince went stiff, at first but soon melted in the kiss. But it wasn’t quick enough. Robin had pulled away, slowly, their lips only inches apart before she pulled back.

“R-Robin?!” Chrom cried, shock, glee, and everything in between coursing through his body. Robin’s face matched Chrom’s in colour. The red painting their faces as they spilled their hearts for each other.

“I may have been to, reserved with my feelings. But, I guess with this, I love yo-“ Robin let out a grunt as Chrom gave her a bone crushing hug. His laughter filling her ears.

“Ahaha! Robin, you’ve made me the happiest man alive! I love you so much!!” Chrom gleefully cheered. Robin smiled brightly, giggles bubbling in her throat. “It’s great having you in my arms again.” He had said so confidently that she had almost missed the word.

“Wait, again?” Robin questioned; their gleeful moment put on pause. The two untangled from each other, confusion and nervous energy surrounding them.

“Again?” Chrom echoed, realizing his choice of words was, strange.

“Why would you say again…? Unless, you’ve been hiding that we do actually know each other this entire time!” Robin said, mind a haze. Chrom immediately dissuaded her.

“No, no! I would never do that, especially to you. To be honest, a slip of the tongue. It felt natural to say it. Familiar, even.” Chrom mumbled. Hand rubbing at his neck, a habit of nerves. That’s when it seemed to have clicked for her. Familiar. She wanted to laugh, perhaps its fate, or even destiny that they were pulled together again. She doesn’t know, but she’s grateful for it. To have Chrom, as a partner and friend, there’s nothing else she could ask for.

“Hmm, I see. Well, it has done no harm.” She smiled widely as her gaze looked upon Chrom lovingly. Chrom chuckled.

“If you say so, but tonight, we celebrate for Emm.” Chrom spoke his gloved hand finding her own, as he guided the two of them back towards their troops. The largest of smiles on their faces as they continued on their ways, forging on a peaceful path.

However, for Chrom and the Shepherds, they would be fighting for this peace once again. The Marth that had gladly helped them from before now joins them once again, but not as Marth, but as Lucina. That was when it had clicked for Chrom himself, the aching familiarity that had been put to rest when he wed his wife, Robin. His daughter from another future had watched over them, but not saying a word. He knows the ache of familiarity and knowing he shouldn’t act upon it; he knew it very well. He was grateful though, the familiar feeling hasn’t led him astray just yet.

#chrom #chrom fire emblem #chrom x robin #robin #chrobin #robin fire emblem #fluff #fire emblem #fire emblem awakening #robin x chrom

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sara-scribbles · 5 years

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To Love a King (Part 1)

Hríd/F!Summoner Warnings: NSFW content Note: I just wanted to write something for the ice prince. I love him and his pastel hair.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 --------- The first time Kiran laid eyes on him was in enemy territory. Despite the bruises and grime, she could tell he was a handsome man. Though Kiran wasn’t all too surprised that he was so good looking when his sisters were beauties as well. Even though he had managed to barely escape with his life from Surtr after his failed assassination, he held himself with poise. Even when given the news of Gunnthrá’s sacrifice, he was resolute in ending the war.

After all was said and done Kiran received another glimpse into the icy prince’s emotions. The pain in his cerulean eyes as he spoke of taking the throne was evident. He would return home to one less family member. Two if one were to count Fjorm staying with the Order of Heroes. At least with Fjorm, he would have the opportunity to visit her.

Throughout her whole time with Hríd, she could not deny her physical attraction to him. Often times she found herself lost for words when talking to him outside of strategy. Even in her sleep, he plagued her dreams. She would wonder how his lips would feel. Were his hands rough from wielding a sword? Did he have any scars under his armor? However Kiran kept this all to herself as she knew he would have no interest in her. She kept her conversations brief and professional with him.

Still it was a surprise, or perhaps not so much, to receive an invitation to his coronation. Sharena was thrilled to be going as it was a break for the montinany of everyday life at the castle. The princess tried to convince Kiran that she needed to dress up for the event. After much fussing, she relented in letting the tactical wear her usual clothes with a “for special occasions” robe. Really it was the same as her usual white and gold trim robe with just some extra gold embellishment.

Anna was content staying behind to make sure the Order of Heroes didn’t fall apart while they were gone. Kiran appointed both Robins as co-tactician while she was away. After all they both knew more about strategy than she did. Heading back to Niflheim under less dire situations made the trip rather pleasant. Plus Kiran was curious about what the people Niflheim were like, and their culture.

“The coronation will be three days long. The first two days are dedicated to celebrating with the people. The actual coronation will happen on the third day,” Fjorm explained as they traversed through the snow.

“What kind of celebration?” Kiran asked.

“The first day is a lavish banquet. Every delectable dish you can think of is made by our professional cooks. There’s also some dancing and games for the children. The second day is when the king-to-be visits the people, and spends the day with them.” A fond smile formed on her face as she spoke.

Sharena was nodding enthusiastically. “I can’t remember the last time we went to such an event. I can’t wait!”

“We still have to go back to the Order of Heroes after,” Alfonse reminded her.

Always the pragmatic one Kiran thought. She was looking forward to the event as she had never been to a coronation. This was her chance to try something she would definitely not have a chance to go to back in her world. She might as well try everything here while she could. It was also nice to see Fjorm with a pep in her step.

Arriving at the castle, which was not made of ice as Kiran thought, they were led inside without fuss. The first thing Kiran saw when they stepped into the entrance was a blur of white and blond.

“Sister!” Ylgr exclaimed as she latched onto Fjorm.

The elder princess laughed as she wrapped her arms around the young girl. “Hello, Ylgr. I missed you as well!”

“They’re so cute,” Sharena whispered to Kiran. She nodded in agreement at the affection between the two.

“I’m so glad you came! The coronation isn’t for a few days, but we get to spend time together before then.” She turned to the others. “I wanna show everyone around the castle too!”

“Before that, why don’t we let Kiran and the others rest a bit. It was a long trek here, and I’m sure they’re tired,” Fjorm suggested.

Without much protest they were shown to their guest rooms. The room was sparse except for the large four-poster bed, a dresser and a large chair near the window with a table. She placed her travel bag on the table. Kiran tossed her cloak on the chair and got comfortable.

“This is so soft,” she mumbled aloud. Her eyes felt heavy as she let out a yawn before drifting off to sleep.

Kiran woke a few hours later to a dark room. The afternoon sun had vanished leaving the room shrouded in shadows. Wiping away drool from the corner of her mouth, she sat up and padded over to her bag. She pulled her extra clothes out of her travel bag and stuffed them in the dresser. The cold from the floor was seeping into her socks, and she put her boots back on.

Her stomach grumbled loudly. Deciding to find some food, Kiran opened the door and peeked out in the hallway. It was empty but candles lit the way giving off a soft glow. Not seeing anyone to ask for directions, Kiran went down the hall. Everything was so grand and majestic, which reminded her of the Order of Heroes castle. Yet, she knew her way around there like the back of her hand. This place was new and uncharted territory, which left her feeling like a mouse in a maze.

After wandering down different hallways and down some stairs, Kiran let out a weary sigh. Tapping her foot, she was debating whether to just retrace her steps back to her room when a light cough interrupted her musings.

Looking up at Hríd, who was dressed informally, she had almost forgotten how he seemed to take her breath away. “H-hello!” She smiled widely.

“Summoner, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” he greeted.

“You as well….your highness.” She found herself lost in his intense blue eyes. Realizing she was staring, Kiran looked down at her feet as her cheeks suddenly felt too warm.

“Were you looking for something?” he asked finally.

She shook her head. “Nothing in particular…” That was when her stomach growled loudly as if announcing its presence. Glancing up she saw a ghost of a smile form on his face as her cheeks burned in embarrassment this time.

“I’ll show you to the kitchen.” He gestured for her to follow. Kiran trailed behind the prince as they walked in silence.

Kiran stared at his back. He had broad shoulders, and carried himself upright. His hair brushed the nape of his neck. Kiran wondered if his hair was as soft as it looked. She could just imagine running her fingers through it. Her face warmed again as she realized where her thoughts were going. Even after a few months she still felt herself drawn to him. In these instances, she would consider getting him out of her system. However that would not be possible as he didn’t seem interested in her. Better that way considering he was going to be king soon.

Entering the kitchen, she noted that there wasn’t a single person in there. “Is there anything in particular you would like?” he asked.

“No, I’m fine. I don’t want to disturb anyone from their sleep.” She glanced around and spotted some rolls of bread. “I’ll just have some bread and jam.”

“Are you sure? I could make something for you if you would like,” he offered. The surprise must have shown on her face because he let out a chuckle. “I do know how to cook. It might not be as good as the chefs, but it is edible.”

“I just thought with being royalty and all….” she trailed off wondering if she was offending him by assuming.

“That I wouldn't know how to do simple things like cooking?” There wasn’t a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Kiran sat herself down on a stool. “I guess? I just thought you’d be too busy. Ruling the country and all.”

Moving around the kitchen, he seemed rather comfortable. “I wanted to learn in case the cooks are not available.” He paused before adding, “That and I can make my own sweets.”

A sweet tooth? What a surprise Kiran thought. “I love anything chocolate. It’s better than sex.” There was a long silence as Kiran realized what she had just said. She just wanted to shove her foot in her mouth now.

Hríd let out a low chuckle. “Well I can’t say I completely agree with you on that. Chocolate is good, but maybe not that good.”

He set a bowl of steaming soup in front of her. Kiran kept her eyes trained on the table, though she could feel him staring at her. “L-looks good,” she mumbled. He sat across from her at the table.

Kiran ate in silence, keenly aware that Hríd was watching her. She tried her hardest not to slurp, feeling self-conscious. She just happened to look up and was met with his intense blue eyes. The spoon she had been moving to her mouth missed, and her chin was bathed in the warm broth. She sputtered and set the spoon down while trying to wipe her mouth with a spare cloth.

“You missed some,” he said, gesturing to his face. Kiran wiped at her cheek but the prince only shook his head.

Reaching forward, he brushed the corner of her lip with his thumb. Kiran’s heart jumped and hammered loudly in her chest. His thumb did not move away from her face. Instead it trailed over her lower lip causing her to gasp. His eyes darkened as he stared intently at her. He pulled his hand away, and stood from the table.

“If you are done, I can show you back to your room.” His face was set in a neutral expression. Kiran’s mouth hung open but she closed with a click.

She followed him down the winding halls lost in thought. Did I just hallucinate that, she wondered. She could have sworn that the tension between them in the kitchen was so thick. Yet, he pulled away without doing anything.

So lost in thought Kiran collided into Hríd’s back. She let out an ‘oomf’ before stepping back. He was looking at her with a mixture of emotions she couldn’t read. Her traitorous eyes wandered down his face and stopped on his lips. She licked her own unconsciously.

Those bright blues once again darkened. It happened all so fast for Kiran that she only had a few seconds to comprehend everything. His arm shot out and wrapped around her waist; he pulled her close to him so that there was no space between them. His other hand came to tilt her chin up a bit; his thumb running over her lower lip again.

“You may not realize this, Summoner, but I find you very tempting. I want to ravish you on every piece of furniture…” He trailed off as his eyes took her facial expression in.

Kiran’s eyes were blown wide with surprise and need. Her face felt warm, and her heart was beating rapidly. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “Why don’t you?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Emotions flickered across his face before he leaned down and kissed her. He kissed her with a passion she didn’t know existed. Nipping her lower lip, his tongue slipped into her mouth. Kiran groaned and threw her arms around his neck. It wasn’t the soft and gentle kisses from her fantasies; it was a kiss filled with desire. A kiss that made her entire body burn.

He turned them around so her back was pressed against the door. Pulling away from her mouth, he trailed kisses down her neck and to her collar bone. Kiran could only close her eyes and lean her head back. Her hands found their way through his hair; it was as soft as she thought. His hands slipped under her tunic and wandered up her sides until they brushed the underside of her breast. A thumb brushed against a nipple causing her to moan. His hands were ice cold and caused goosebumps.

“H-Hríd…!” she whined. He pulled his hands away and moved back to her face. His lips trailed her jaw.

He whispered in her ear, “These halls echo rather loudly, Kiran. I suggest you try to keep quiet unless you want the whole castle to hear us.” She shivered as he again kissed his way down her neck. He gently nipped her collar bone before soothing the sting with his tongue.

His hands had made quick work on the ties of her pants. He pushed them down along with her underwear. Kiran had no time to protest to this or the sudden cold air as he knelt down between her legs. He kissed his way along her inner thigh leaving a trail of bite marks.

A single finger dragged along her slit, collecting the moisture that had gathered there. The coldness of his finger and the warmth of her body sent her mind spinning. The digit entered her with a deliberate slowness. She covered her mouth her arm, the sleeve of her robe muffling her moan. She peeked through her lashes down at him; he was staring up at her intently. His eyes were filled with hunger. Kiran gasped when a second digit entered her. The feeling of being stretched made her legs shake.

He slowly pumped his digits in and out of her. At times she felt him crook his fingers, which would rip a muffled groan from her. The coil in her stomach tightened as he continued his ministrations. Suddenly his fingers were gone, leaving her empty and wanting.

“What?….n-no-wait!” she protested weakly. A dark chuckle came from the man kneeling in front of her.

She threw her head back when she felt his tongue flick her clit. The noise seemed too loud in the quiet halls, but she could care less. Hríd delved his tongue as deep as he could inside her. He ate her out with such vigor. The coil in her stomach twisted tightly and Kiran felt her whole body tighten. Another flick of the bundle of nerves sent Kiran over the edge. She bit into the sleeve of her rob as she felt herself shatter.

All the while he continued to lick her folds, sending small aftershocks as she came down from her high. He held her up as she lost support in her legs. After a bit of breathing, Kiran tried to gather her wits. Pulling away from her legs, Hríd stood up. Kiran shakily pulled her pants back up, her body felt like jelly. Her juices glinted in her chin as he licked his lips.

Kiran tried to find her voice. “I….I-did we just….” She blinked owlishly.

Hríd only smiled before bowing at the waist. “Goodnight, Summoner.” He left without another word. Kiran could only watch him round the corner.

#feh imagines #fe imagines #feh #fire emblem heroes #feh hrid #fe hrid #fe heroes #fire emblem #fire emblem imagines #lemon #scenario

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fulokis · 5 years

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“Go on this mission, it’ll be easy he said. My ass there’s nothing easy about going to Syberia in the middle of god damn winter.” Morgan mumbled as she adjusted her position to circle around the abandoned hydra base.

“Would you like me to turn up the heat?”

“No FRIDAY I’m fine just remember to remind me to tell Peter next time I’m going somewhere warmer.”

“I can do that.” FRIDAY was silent for a second “Compleeted scan, there is only one life form in the base.”

“Well here goes nothing, I just hope this Skrull is a friendly.” Morgan said as she landed inside the base.

Walking through the halls she had to resist the urge to ask FRIDAY about specific details of what had happened here 20 years ago. As much as Morgan would have liked another warmer mission she was glad Peter had picked this one for her. Peter knew more than she wanted to admit to herself how much she missed her father. So much so that she ended up biulding her first suit at 11 to look just like his first suit. That was 5 years ago, she ended up biulding a couple more replicas before she biult her own suit. Her own suit looked a lot like the mark 42, but Morgan had added some weapons, more accurate scanners, and of course used nano technology to make suit removal quick and painless. Morgan had also found a way to make the arc into nano technology so that the suit could fit inside the simple ‘smart watch’ she always wore.

Walking further down the halls she came upon a lab with cryo tubes in it.

“FRIDAY is this where Uncle Bucky was held captive?”

“Uncle Bucky?” A voice behind Morgan said “Woah what the hell?”

Morgan froze for a second the sight of who was in front of her made her think twice about having the repulsars at the ready. How cruel of course the first skrull I run into looks like my father.

“Hands up greenie.” She said as calmly as she could.

The being opposite of her opened his eyes wide “What do you want kid?” The Skrull had gotten the details amazingly correct suprusingly it looked like it had aged the way a human would.

“I said hands up greenie.”

“Oh I heard what you said. I see you’re a big fan, kinda jealous you made a suit almost as well as I did...”

Starting the firing sequence of the repulsers Morgan interupted “Hands up or I will shoot.”

“I’d rather not have to drop my freeze dried blueberries thank you very much.” The man tilted his head “Blueberry?”

“Is this some sort of game?”

“I don’t know is it? If you’re trying to get me to come back it’s not going to work.”

“Come back? Only if you’re with Talos, if not your pathetic green ass dies here.”

“Are you color blind? Or have you failed to notice that I am not wearing green.” Morgan sighedfrustratedly “Aw does the little kid need a juice box?”

“What I need to know is which side of the Skrull war you’re on.”

“Are you sure I can’t interest you in some water? I could even squeeze some of the dead bugs in it to make it look like juice.”

“Who the fuck are you?”

“You of all people should know who I am considering I designed that suit, you got some things wrong, like that bump along your right wrist. Also the blue on the left side is stupid. The blue the red just pick a color.”

“Who are you?” Morgan asked again fearing the answer, knowing she was shaking slightly.

“Tony Stark Playboy, Genius, billionaire....” Tony looked at Morgan as she seemingly froze. He walked up to her and waved his hand in front of the mask, “Hey kid you alright?” He pressed the button on the side of the mask to reveal Morgan’s face. “You...”

“FRIDAY call Mom.” She said as she turned down a hallway to avoid the man standing in the large open room. She started to run as FRIDAY tried to reach her mother.

“The signal is too weak would you like to try and reach Peter Parker?”

“Yes FRIDAY.”

“I cannot reach him either it is possible that the signal is too weak to reach anybody.” Morgan didn’t respond, How could she? She had no idea what was happening.

She remembered Carol telling her that the Skrulls could be tricky and would mess with her. But this seemed on another level too elaborate in a way, how could the Skrull predicted her arrival to get to her on a personal level. She had to consider that the man somewhere else in the base was indeed the real Tony Stark.

Breaking down she pressed a button on her wrist and sank to the ground. She could feel the panic seeping in. Just like the last solo mission she thought. Tears fell down her face as she shook, she started to take some deep breaths noticing each point where her back touched the frozen wall and where she could feel the frosty breeze from cracks in the foundation of the old building.

Tony found her on the floor eyes closed, walking over he sat down and joined her. “You alright kid?”

“I dunno.” Morgan replied trying to keep her mind open to the conversation.

“I’m sorry I took your mask off, I know how safe the suit can feel. By the way where is the suit?”

“Sometimes it makes me feel like I’m gonna run out of breath.”

“Heh all that responsibility really does weigh on your shoulders, you’re so young too. What made you take up the mantle?”

“Things here and there, in some ways to honor my fathers memory.”

“Your father.” Tony smilied “I had my own complicated relationship with my father.”

“It wasn’t complicated he died when I was 4 almost 5. And I thought I knew him but sometimes I wonder if I really ever did.”

“Was I his favorite superhero?”

“Uh he uh he was a lot like you, loved to build stuff.”

“Oh you he teach you anything?”

“Yeah some stuff.”

“You want to help me on a project I’ve been working on?”

“Sure.” Morgan shrugged as she got up to follow Tony. He lead her into a large room with tools and bits of scrap metal lying on the floor. She gasped with delight at the misshapen thing in front of her. Circling the contraption she noted each and every nut and bolt. “What is it?”

“It’s an apocalyptic event stopping machine, hopefully it’ll work to stop what I saw in a vision last year.”

“Thanos.” Morgan said absentmindedly.

“Yeah how’d you know?”

Morgan looked at her father his face was hopeful for something and she couldn’t tell what that might be, “I meant to say Thanatos Greek god bringer of death. But it is interesting that Thanos would be the guys name.”

“Makes sense, I’m essentially trying to build a container for all 6 of the...”

“Infinity stones.” Morgan cringed as something slipped out again.

“Yeah.” Tony said suspiciously “I am having a lot of problems actually getting the frequencies right without my suit and the help of FRIDAY I’ve managed to get rough calculations out but that was only for the one infinity stone I’ve come in contact with.”

“And you assume they each run on their own frequency and couldn’t be contained by one single entity.”

“Hit it right on the head kid.”

“Why is it so big?”

“One infinity stone has a lot of power to contain it I calculated it still needs some space to atract to or repel other stones otherwise...”

“Something worse than this guy Thanos could happen.”

“Bingo.” Tony smiled “FRIDAY scan for weak points in the equation. You should be able to find them in the data banks for the base.”

“Already finished boss.” FRIDAY’s voice came out of Morgan’s watch.

“What made you think to put FRIDAY’s software in a watch?”

“Easier to transport, I can have her right next to me when I need her.” Morgan wanted to say FRIDAY was left for her but saying it was just as hard as the reality she was facing right now.

“Makes sense.” Tony said “Let’s get to work.”

Morgan set to work glad to be doing something with her hands. As much as she wanted to tell him that Thanos had happened years ago before she was even born. She wanted to tell him that she was his kid and that she had a little sister. Her little sister Edna Antonia Stark named after him.

“Red Robin Yum!” Tony hummed “Man can’t wait to get Red Robin. My favorite is...”

“...A cheeseburger with onion rings and a chocolate milkshake.” Morgan joined in.

“That your fathers favorite too?”

“No mine I haven’t had that in a long time.”

“Why do you sound mournful? Tell ya what I’ll take you to Red Robin after we get out of here.”

“You can’t.”

“Sure I can.”

“No you can’t they shut down when I was 8.”

“That makes no sense... unless. Your from the future?” Morgan shook her head lump forming in her throat. “What.... What year is it?” Tony asked trying to process what was happening.

“2036” FRIDAY replied leaving the room in silence.

Morgan looked at Tony and it was like a mirror, sadness guilt and confusion all mixed into one. Their eyes met and for a brief moment it was like they knew each other and could read the others mind.

“Hey Morgan what’s up?” A voice came out of the watch.

“...Pe-pe-pe...”

“Take your time kid. Breath.”

“Peter uh where are you?” Morgan asked feeling it hard to speak.

“Just landed in Moscow to help Shuri with the tech summit. You back in New York?”

“No, I’m still here at the hydra base, I know Shuri needs your help but is there any way you could come and see this?”

“Yeah I think I have time, it’ll take me a couple hours to get there. Are you having trouble with the Skrull?”

“Not exactly.”

“What is it then kid?”

“Look I just need you to come here and not not to freak out when you see what I’m talking about okay?”

“Yeah sure.”

“Promise me.”

“Yeah I promise you I won’t freak out. See you in a bit.”

“Yeah.” Morgan sighed pressing a button on her watch.

“You’re my kid???” Tony asked out of the blue.

“Yeah... or at least someone who looked and acted like you.” Morgan shrugged “Was it that obvious?”

“No, not at all. You just look so much like your mother.” Tony chuckled “And you sound just like me. Should we start on a new project? I was thinking a suit.”

“Yeah I would like that .” Morgan said barely trying to hold the grin on her face back.

Two hours later and the suit was finished, not with nanotechnology but it would work until they could get back to the house in the woods.

Morgan whipped around at a sound behind her firing up the nanotech watch to cover her right hand with a glove. “Woah, might work better if you had one on the other side too.”

“My suit my rules, be quiet.” Morgan hissed. A spider web flew through the air and attached itself to Tony’s shirt. A second later Peter came flying in, kicked Tony and activated the fake spider legs to pin Tony down.

“It’s over greenie!”

“Peter! Remember what I said about freaking out?”

Peter looked over the man he had pinned on frozen concrete. After a second he retracted his legs and extended his hand down to Tony who took it, “Sorry Mr. Stark.” He said timidly still unsure if this was a trick.

“Pete...” Tony smiled and pulled Peter in a hug “ You don’t have to call me Mr. Stark.”

Morgan walked out of the room to awnser the text on her watch Morgan are you okay? Yeah Peter came. You want to talk about it? Yes when we get home Isn’t Peter staying there? Yeah he is Friendly? Something like that yeah Be careful. You know me Mom always careful. I know but I worry. Love you 3000. Love you 3000 too.

The flight back to the small cabin by the lake was ruff to say the least. The suit was clucks and would malfunction every fifteen minutes. Not to mention Tony was malnourished and by the end of the flight he almost crashed into a pine tree trying to land.

“Why aren’t we going right up to the house?” Tony asked.

“Edna can’t see me in the suit, and would you really want to have ended up in the lake?”

“Edna who’s Edna?”

“My sister.” Tony’s heart skipped a beat, he wondered how long it had taken her to move on.

“Does your mother know about you doing this?”

“Yeah I wouldn’t if she didn’t know.” Morgan turned her attention to her watch leaving Tony sitting on the rock in the clearing struggling to get his armor off.

Hey can you tell mom to get the med supplies Why? You get shot with another arrow? That was one time Edna mode. Then what the hell did you do mourge. Mourge what the fuck is that supposed mean. It means you’re gonna send mom to one one of these days. Just get the fucking supplies. I’m gonna tell mom you were swearing at me. Fine can you please ask her to get the supplies and meet me outside the house? Yeah what’d ya do? It’s not for me it’s for someone else. Are you cheating on Kate? And on Christmas no less. No I’m not cheating on Kate do as I say and next time I’m out of the country at a tech thing or some other shit I’ll get you some chocolate from there. Deal but it can’t be from Canada. I know. How long? 20 I think, not sure he’s really beat up. Uncle Pete? No you’ll see who when we get there. Fine

Morgan sighed as she took the watch she wore off. Walking to the clearing and finding her father she put the watch around his wrist pressing a button to activate a coat that had a built in heater.

“You built this? It’s so warm.”

“Yeah also less of a hassle to put on”

“Who were you texting?”

“Edna”

“She give you sass?”

“Yeah she’s probably worrying and thinking I got shot with an arrow again.”

“Why would you do that?”

“She thinks that me and my girlfriend hunt out here rather than train.”

The pair walked in scilence Morgan supporting Tony and focusing on leading him through the woods. When they came up on the cabin Edna was sitting on the steps watching the flock of chickens peck at the scratch she had thrown down. Seeing her sister she stood up opened the door and called into the house staring at the man who was with her sister.

Pepper walked out of the door took a look at the pair and dropped the medical kit. She walked through the snow slowly cautious of who he was. Stopping right before her daughter she asked “Is he...”

“No he’s him.” Morgan could feel the tears in her eyes.

“Hey Pep.” Tony tried to reach for a hug but almost fell over, Pepper saving him from falling in the snow. “Saved me once again.”

“Come on we can talk inside.”

Hours later everyone sat inside the living room in front of the fire and tree. Morgan was focused on her phone texting Kate about what exactly was happening. Edna was listening to some sort of music leaving Pepper and Tony to talk.

“Why didn’t you tell any of us?”

“I had hit rock bottom, I thought about telling them but things sorta fell apart. You were gone focusing on the company I didn’t want to get in your way, there was nothing to go back to so I stayed.”

“Do you remember the Skrull?”

“No I remember blacking out and waking up with my armor gone.” Tony sat and thought “Did he uh...”

“Tony hun he became you.”

“So like a clone?”

“Yeah pretty much.”

“Who’s Edna’s father.”

“You really don’t see it?” Pepper asked, and then Tony realized, she looked just like him except for the hair which was the same color as Peppers.

“Now I do.”

“Good.” Pepper smiled “Girls.” She said getting the attention of them “Come here.” Pepper pulled them as well as Tony “I love you all 3000.”

#endgame spoilers #Morgan Stark #i love you three thousand

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britesparc · 5 years

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Weekend Top Ten #383

Top Ten Non-MCU Marvel Adaptations

The Marvel Cinematic Universe bestrides the filmic world like a colossus. Which is ironic, because until very recently Colossus was one of the few characters who could never appear in their films. but regardless, the modern comic-book movie landscape has justifiably been dominated by the MCU, to the point where potentially epic movies like Justice League or X-Men: Apocalypse feel like relatively minor events and do comparatively meagre box office.

By the turn of the millennium, we’d enjoyed – first immensely, and then less-so – franchises based on Superman and Batman, but due largely to some pretty rubbish fourth outings for the characters, they were placed in movie jail (movie Phantom Zone?). Marvel movies had almost entirely missed the 90s due to the company’s past financial difficulties, the rights to the characters split across multiple film studios. But in those days, notwithstanding the success of Blade and X-Men, and before the triumphant return of Batman to the big screen, it was Spider-Man who ruled the cinematic roost, with two utterly phenomenal films from the incredible Sam Raimi. These were, for many years, superhero high-water marks, especially where Marvel adaptations were concerned. They were bright where the Batman films were dark, and featured revolutionary special effects that allowed the audience to swing through New York alongside Spidey. They were unafraid to put the comics’ wilder and goofier elements on display, pitched in a tone somewhere between the black leather of X-Men and the Day-Glo camp of Batman and Robin. They were funny and full of heart, rooted in character-driven soap opera pulled straight from the comics. In short, they were almost a prototype for the style of movie Marvel would later refine in Iron Man.

And now, one aborted reboot trilogy later, Spider-Man is where he inarguably belongs, appearing in films alongside other Marvel heroes. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is arguably the greatest portrayal of the character, and if he hasn’t had a solo film that’s had quite the impact of Raimi’s first two Spideys, he is a bright and ebullient presence on screen, especially when contrasted with older, gruffer characters (Stark, Strange, Fury, etc). This week saw the release of Spider-Man: Far From Home, which finally brings Mysterio to the screen, goofy fishbowl helmet and all. Mysterio was the villain in the first ever piece of Spider-Man media I consumed: a VHS compilation tape of episodes of the 60s series. As such, I’ve always had a soft spot for the guy. At the time of writing I’ve not seen Far From Home, but I’m very much looking forward to it.

Anyway, now that Spider-Man is in the MCU, and all the previous Fox-owned characters such as the X-Men, Deadpool, and the Fantastic Four are also under the Disney umbrella, the era of “big non-MCU Marvel movies” may be at an end. As such, and to celebrate Far From Home’s release, here is a list of ten films based on Marvel comics but not part of the MCU. Will there be surprises? Who knows?! That’s a surprise in and of itself!

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018): a masterpiece of animation, stupendous characterisation, and a phenomenal distillation of comic-book logic in film form. One of the greatest superhero films ever.

Logan (2017): an epic swansong only possible due to the weight of work that preceded it, this is a small-scale masterpiece that gives Hugh Jackman a profound, bloody goodbye the character he defined and the franchise he helped popularise.

Spider-Man 2 (2004): as perfect as it was possible to be in 2004, this gave us a fully-realised Peter Parker as he battled the rent, his flaky love-life, and – marvellously – Doctor Octopus. Stupendous, vertiginous action scenes, epic battles, and a whole lot of heart.

X-Men 2 (2003): like Spider-Man 2, X2 benefits from the heavy lifting done by its previous origin movie. We now know these characters, and the film dissects them brilliantly, finding the shades of grey in hero and villain alike, and also offering some decent allegorical social commentary. At the time, this really felt like The Empire Strikes back to the first film’s Star Wars.

Spider-Man (2002): still one of the best origin stories, this stands as such a fantastic primer in superhero lore. It grounds the characters in a realistic and recognisable 21st century, sweeping through the first year or so of Spidey’s life, and offering angst and action in equal measure.

Deadpool (2016): a cavalcade of gaggery, this is a triumph for Ryan Reynolds, who fully embodies the character, both straight hero and vengeful psycho. Delightfully meta, its self-referential nature proof of the maturation of superhero films just as much as its effin’ and jeffin’.

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014): probably the closest the X-films ever got to an Avengers-scale event, and not just because it united multiple characters from across the franchise. A solid, driving narrative provides scale and tension, but we care because we’ve already followed these characters for over a decade.

Blade (1998): a bloody adult-skewed comic adaptation nearly twenty years before Deadpool! Blade doesn’t feel like a superhero film, instead mining pre-millennial fashions for vampires, cataclysm, and long leather trenchcoats. An urban gothic horror meets kung-fu action movie, this was proof that even C-list Marvel characters could succeed on the big screen.

Deadpool 2 (2018): functionally very similar to its predecessor, it suffers a little from a slight loss of focus and having too much of the first film’s misplaced sincerity (sitting oddly as it does alongside the dark nihilism and meta-humour). New characters shine, however, and the expectation-subverting X-Force sequence is arguably a franchise highlight.

Hulk (2003): a very weird and stylised adaptation that in its own weird way pre-empts the comic-book aesthetic of Spider-Verse. A long, slow meditation on the psychology of Bruce Banner, going deep into “Hulk as a manifestation of Banner’s damaged psyche”. Exuberant scenes of Hulk batting planes out of the sky, and a truly bonkers, barely comprehensible finale. Doubt we’ll ever see its like again. Way, way better than the MCU’s sole Hulk movie.

So there we are. Went a bit long on some of the “short” descriptions. Also, I’ve just realised that I honestly can’t remember if I’ve seen Blade II. I thought I had, but I don’t really remember the film, not the way I do Blade 1. So let’s let the first film speak for the franchise, I think.

#top ten #marvel #movies #mcu #non-mcu marvel movies #spider-man #far from home

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