#but the thing is most people can't don't go for Thor back since he's Thor and he literally has Mjolnir

[worstloki]

Thor: YOU STABBED ME!! Loki: skill issue Thor: IT'S NOT!! Loki: learn to dodge...?

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Called to Duty 4

Warnings: non/dubcon, pregnancy, abandonment, and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Characters: Captain Syverson

Summary: You struggle to move on from the biggest mistake of your life but find it hard to forget among the whispers of a small town.

Part of the Backwoods AU

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging.

The bank is as ever anxiety inducing. On pay day, you go down to cash your check then give most of it right back, parsing it out for your various expenses. At the end of it, you have even less than the month before. You don't get it. Thing's only seem to get worse; not just money, but your body. Every day you wake up, you feel even more crummy than the last. 

Your hopes of a treat at the cafe are dashed. You give a longing look as you walk by and peer through the window. You can smell cinnamon and coffee. You're strict non-caffeinated, doctor's orders, but a decaf would be amazing with one of those cinnamon buns. Ugh, damn, why are you torturing yourself? 

You turn to continue down the street but barely dodge out of the way of another pedestrian. He makes sure you can't pass as he mirrors you, sidestepping to block your way. You sigh as you step back and look Sy in the face. For a big man, he sure can sneak up on you. 

"Hey," he flips up his dark sunglasses, "how're you feeling?" 

You stare up at him defiantly, not quite bold enough to glare. He hasn't done anything wrong, he's just persistent. It isn't his fault he reminds you of that spoiled deadbeat. Or that your emotions are volatile, one moment teary eyed, the next blazing hot with rage. 

"Fine, thanks for asking," you shrug, "Sy, I gotta--" 

"I owe you a cookie," he points to the cafe window at his shoulder. 

You blink. You remember the cracked shortbread. You forgot about that. The mention of the sugary treat makes your stomach growl and your mouth water. 

"No, you don't--" 

"I do," he insists, "I don't like to carry 'round debts. Let me buy you one." 

"I got it free," you say, "it's not a big deal." 

"It is to me," he counters, "I was heading in anyway." 

You stare at him. You really don't get this man. You're no longer so sure that Thor sent him to check up on you, not since your last interaction. In fact, the wingman seemed more spiteful of him than you. You look across the steeet to the pharmacy then back at him. The aromas wafting out with each swing of the door have you ravenous.  

"I can't stay long, I gotta work," you say. 

His cheeks twitch, as if he tamps back a smile before it can bloom, "after you." 

He gesture behind you to the door. You turn and lead the way. He reaches past you to open the door before you can and you enter ahead of him. The din within is lively and the air is warm from the crowd and the employees steaming out orders behind the counter. 

"Wanna find a seat?" He suggests, "you should rest." 

You open your mouth to argue but think better of it. You'd rather not stand in the clustered line. You nod and head off to claim the table by the window. There isn't much left. 

You pull out the chair and brace your back as you sit with a sigh. You glance over and find Sy watching you as he stands in the queue. His gaze makes you want to wilt, instead you turn your attention out the window. 

Not even Thor looked at you like that. Don't be silly. Sy is just being a dutiful guy, helping out the town slut in her time of need. You won't be duped. Not when you can hear your name being twisted on tongues at that very moment. 

You sit and wait, wring the strap of your small purse. You watch the street. If it wasn't for the people, Hammer Ford would be serene. 

A plate clinks in front of you and a porcelain mug as well. It isn't a cookie and you can smell the herbal tea's rosy flavour. You peer up at Sy as he gives an apologetic look. 

"Cookies are still baking so I got you a cinnamon bun," he says. 

"And tea?" You add. 

"Can't have one without the other," he says, "no coffee for you." 

"Yeah, I... I know." 

You could laugh. He suggested before he's been reading things about pregnancy. You just can't picture him with a copy of What To Expect When You're Expecting.  

"Thank you," you smile as best you can. 

"Gotta get mine, be back," he excuses himself and marches back to the counter. 

You look down at the gooey iced draped spiral. You really shouldn't. Not only accept his misspent generosity but indulge in the excess sugar. Yet your hormones won't let you resist. You can at least wait until he's sitting down. 

He returns with a black coffee and a rather colourful donut. They don't match. Bitter and sweet all at once. He sits and takes off his hat and sunglasses. 

You put your purse to the edge of the table and rest your hand on your stomach, doing your best to resist the animalistic need to tear apart the dessert. His eyes follow the movement and you quickly drop your arm. You don't even think when you do it, it's just a habit. 

"You-" he begins. 

"Wh--" you find your voice at the same time. 

You both stop, hesitant. He nods and gestures to you, lifting his cup as he watches you intently. That's new too. Thor never listened much, only talked a lot. Besides, you weren't exactly together for the conversation. 

"Sy," you clear your throat and sit forward as much as you can, "why are you following me around?" 

His brows form a vee, "I'm... it's not... I'm tryna help." 

"Okay, but why?" 

His eyes flick up to the ceiling and his cheek ticks as he gives the question genuine thought. When he looks at you again, his face is set, "because I want to." 

"You want to?" 

"Yes, I'd like to take care of you. And the little one, if you'll let me." 

You can't help your snort, "we hardly know each other." 

"Isn't for lack of trying," he taps his fingers on his mug. "Aren't ya gonna try the bun?" 

"I will," you assure him. He's trying to distract you and it's close to working. The cinnamon is driving you mad. "A baby is a lot of work and... I'm not your responsibility. I know Thor is your friend." 

"Was," he interjects.  

"Sure," you accept his decisive declaration, "but that doesn't mean you have to worry about his mistakes." 

"Mistakes? I don't think so," he says. 

"Well, it's not exactly planned," you scoff, "Sy, really I don't feel right about you doing so much." 

"Wouldn't feel right not doing it," he shrugs his burly shoulders. 

“But why?” You nearly exclaim. You just want to know why he cares so much, about you? 

He leans forward, elbows on the table, “they talk about me too, ya know? Since I got back from... serving. They say I’m f—crazy, or whatever. It wasn’t easy or nothin’ over there but I’m not nuts. Not like they say. Just like you’re not some slut, forgive me for saying it out loud.” 

You look down at the table and exhale. So he hears as much as anyone else about you. At least he’s honest. At least he isn’t joining them. You purse your lips and reach for the cinnamon bun, unable to restrain yourself any longer. 

“For what it’s worth,” you raise your eyes to meet his, “I never thought you were... unwell, or whatever they say.” 

His cheeks pinch, another suppressed smile, and he tilts his head, “I’m only happy to hear you think of me.” 

[hello-vampire-kitty]

Servamp chapter 139 translation "Daylight"

Read the chapter on Mangadex!

Translation notes

The title of the chapter 真昼の光 can also be interpreted as "Mahiru's light", so it wasn't easy to decide because we can't tell if the title is meant to have Mahiru's name or the translation of the word 真昼 "mahiru". Regarding the 2ndpage, Mahiru used the word もの (mono) and because it wasn't written in kanji, it can be interpreted either as "things" or "people.

Written with the kanji 者 is mainly used to specify someone's role/characteristic rather than just as a generic term for "person."

I personally think it's weird that 人 (hito) "person" wasn't used. Mahiru's first line could be interpreted as "things" he believes in, but the 2nd one can only refer to people belevng in him.

Because of the panels with Kuro and Tooru, I think in both lines もの is reffering to people.

Tooru likes to make puns which in Japanese are called "dajare" ダジャレ. Tooru makes puns using the structure だけに which translates something like "because…you know?"

The first time he makes a joke was in volume 2, so I'm gonna try explain how it works to understand how I adapted Jun's line, so we have to go back to the early chapters of the manga.

In Japanese he says 強盗めどこに隠れた！？　怖じ気づいたか！？ 叔父だけに！！

The first word 怖じ気 (ojike) means "fear" and the second one means "uncle." The first one has consists of the word "oji", like the word "uncle"

怖じ気づいたか can be translates as "Did you get scared?" but it can also be interpreted like "You took notice of (the) fear? And the last sentence would translate like "Because I'm the uncle, you know?" The wordplay is based on the word "oji" and in those sentences, they translate as "uncle" and "fear". Hopefully I made sense ;;

So, I interpret that he's saying something like "Get it? I'm the uncle (the fear).

"Are you scared of me? Because I'm the uncle! (you know)"

I'm praising the localization, which is rare because most of the manga, especially the early volumes were translated badly, however, I checked to see how his joke was handled.

In my opinion, it was a good call to use the expression "cry uncle". So yeah, I tried my best to explain how those kinds of puns work so that you can understand the one that Jun proposed, who apparently knows about Tooru's puns. Jun says 「雷神だけに」 The first two kanji mean "god of lightning" and the furigana reading is Thor which is Jun's codename and previously it was Tooru's. Even his name was based on Thor.

So, my interpretation is that when Jun is asking Tooru "You're not going to make a joke like "Because I'm Thor", will you?" to which Tooru replies that he won't, I think he's saying that although Mahiru borrowed his power (lightning), making a joke about Thor (himself) wouldn't have been appropriate since Mahiru created light. I'm sorry if I didn't explain very well ;;

Regarding Kuro's line in the last panel, instead of translating the word only in furigana, I used both readings because it was less ambiguous in my opinion. The furigana reads "our", so it would have been "It's not our time" and thus, in order to not give the impression that Kuro wasn't referring only to himself and Tsubaki, I used the other reading too.

So, apparently Sakuya can make clones/illusions of himself but I don't understand how they work in regard to the 5 second part. The name of his ability comes from "The Five Minute Hypothesis" but it was changed to "second". The intended reading in furigana sounds weird because it has the word "yesterday" and "to die" is in the future tense. I haven't found a reference for it, like I expected that it could have been from a novel.

Lastly, in the middle panel, the woman says the word 他人 (tanin) which means "other people" or "strangers", however the furigana reads 人 (hito) "people". Could be a typo or maybe there is a meaning behind it... So yeah, I hope these notes were helpful!

[lokisbiiiitch1993]

Loki x fem reader where reader confesses they have a huge crush and Loki likes them back?? 🙏🫣

Hey 👋 thank you for the Ask ❤️ I just got this Idea

I have my Eyes on you - Loki x Reader Fluff

It's been a few months since Loki joined the Avengers, you remember Thor's extensive speech about Loki - he changed, he will cause no harm to People and he will be of great use for the Avengers ...yeah mhm something like that you recall him saying , you rolled your Eyes.

The first time he stepped in the Living Room of the Compound you warned him "I have my Eyes on you" , crossing your Arms - he just smirked at you and whispered something to Thor.

Since then every time you cross paths with him , you both start instantly bickering, you glare at him and he grins at you,Loki enjoys teasing you but most of the times you are not sure if he is insulting or flirting with you.

He also likes to prank you,the latest one was putting your favourite Coffee Mug to the highest possible shelf so you couldn't reach it, you climbed on the counter top annoyed and angry to get it , you slipped and almost fell but Loki catched you .

"Careful, Darling" Loki said softly

Glancing at him your Cheeks reddened but still furious, you freed yourself from him and shoved Loki away.

*sighing* you started the Coffee Maschine

A moment later you walked with your fresh coffee to the dining table and sat down at your usual Place , Loki sat down at the opposite Side , you can't help but stare at him in disbelief for a while

as you looked away he asked "Darling,have I won ?"

"What ?" you replied irritated

"I thought that's a staring Contest " he stated

"Haha very funny"you said sarcastic

You cleaned the empty cup and went to your Room.

The next Day someone put your favorite Chocolate and a "I am sorry" in front of your Room

The Days passed and you couldn't stop thinking about him , every day he consumes more and more of your time , you smile and blush just from the thought of him- that's weird ...hmm...that can only mean one thing you believe - furious you stormed into Loki's Room.

"To what I owe the pleasure?"he asked with a smirk

"Mischief, don't play stupid, you know exactly why I am here "you stated

"I really don't " he looked confused at you, doing his Eyebrow thing ,that makes you weak

"Admit that you enchanted me with your Magic"you crossed your Arms , watching him

"I didn't I swear ,why would you even think that ?" he asked curious

"well .. you always enjoy teasing, annoying and pranking me ,so I thought maybe you ...

used your Magic on me ... because I can't stop thinking about you,my Heart beats soo fast and I can't stop smiling just from the thought of you...I feel like a Foul" you confessed with Tears running down your Face .

Wiping your Tears away he answered with a smile"well.. now you know how I felt since the first time I met you,I never believed in love at first sight but you changed everything ,my Love "

Taking his Hand in yours you whispered "I love you"

"I didn't hear you Darling..what did you say?"Loki teased

"I said I love you ...now say it back or I will go back to my Room " you stated crossing your Arms

"Alright...I love you more "Loki replied grinning

My Masterlist

[lilacsareinbloomagain]

Yandere time and hyrule headcannons

I'm not sure if you've seen the hype around sky being in his undershirt and being ✨pretty✨ in the recent update, but could I please request reader fawning over Yan!sky in his undershirt or some general hc's for him?

Thank you both for requesting!

Notes: I wasn't that online on tumblr around that time, so I only saw it now lmao.

Anyway, I did both headcannons and a oneshot, hope you'll like it!

Also, yes, I merged those two requests since headcannons can be piled into the same post.

I'll probably sound redundant in a lot of these, simply because I didn't write this at one go and when I got to it again I may have forgotten that I wrote it before. My memory is not the best, forgive me.

There are more headcannons for Time because he's my favorite, sorry.

I need a master list, seriously.

Edited before sleeping, I'm sleepy and probably messed up one or two paragraphs of this.

The oneshot in question.

TWs: Yanderism, Mentions of food and bad eating habits and a little of my fairy/fae brain rot.

Don't mind grammatical errors, please!

Headcannons for yandere Sky, Time and Hyrule.

Yandere! Lu! Sky x Reader

For starters, Sky is sweet, but he is very manipulative.

Therefore, don't be surprised if you notice you stopped doing many of the things you used to do when you first got through the portal.

Most of the time it's not even bad things!

He might team up with Hyrule and Wild to take care of your main health, like eating habits. If you're a picky eater then expect Sky to slowly transition you into eating a little bit of everything, in no time you'll be eating like Wild does.

Then again, he'll also make sure to get the ingredients to the foods you do eat without struggling, also getting Wild to make a separate meal for you, should you not eat that one specific recipe Wild made for dinner.

You'll probably be getting help from him when it comes to self-care habits as well, like, the max of skin care and hair care you can get at Hyrule. He will make the effort to talk to people who know more about your skin and hair type, those who have it and take care of it well.

But, we can't ignore the genuinely bad things he will try to influence you into doing...

Privacy? Gone.

Not only will he be around you most if not all of the time, but he will also always be paying close attention to you and what you're doing.

So if you believed keeping a journal in your language would help you keep some things to yourself, then think again. The privacy of using your language instead of hyrulean to write in your jornal will soon turn into a mere illusion. Despite being more quiet and seemingly the less imposing of the Links, Sky has already gone, and will keep going through lengths for you, which includes learning the language you use.

Of course he noticed you kept a private journal, and despite you trying to lie about the contents of it, it's only a matter of time until he is skillfully scanning through the pages with his eyes like he's reading his favorite book. Memorizing any and all information he can find about you.

As manipulative as he is, he is also delusional, he doesn't have any idea of what he is doing, he simply doesn't know that what he is doing is wrong on so many levels.

He's not doing anything on purpose, he's just trying to protect you and get you to like him, like a normal guy!! At least, Zelda liked it when he did this with her back then, just how different are you two?

Genuinely, Sky would have a hard time figuring you and your emotions out. You're a human being after all, and he respects that those things are not supposed to be easy to figure out. In fact, he highly respects and appreciates that you're complex.

Not that he'll respect boundaries, nope, no way.

You're a puzzle he's very much looking forward to figuring out. Honestly, the only puzzle he'd ever want to figure out.

So, I'll probably elaborate this later, but the chain as Gods. Sky would be very much a Thor. That means silly blonde lightening man.

Imagine hylians from Sky's era used matching earrings alike engagement rings, like, Sky just randomly inviting you to an overly nice picnic, just to hand you blue earings just like his.

And if you don't have your ears pierced anywhere it'd be even better in his eyes, since he'd just adjust it to be a "normal" ring.

It was actually an engagement ring, but you didn't know that, or any of the other Links, really, since this tradicional custom got lost in time.

Yandere! Lu! Time x Reader

I think pretty much everyone knows Time is a teasing bastard.

Don't get me wrong, he can be pretty mature, but trust me, it's not really common for him to act like that.

Time is used to pretending, he used many different masks to become different races in his journey, that was needed from him at the time, the same way that being the mature one is being needed from him right now.

Just because he is deeply traumatized emotionally and physically from his job as a hero doesn't mean his personality is lost as well.

It didn't change that much since he was a child, not really.

He is addicted to making you flustered, so if you get flustered easily I'm sorry for you.

If making you blush is a challenge then I'm just as sorry for you, because Time isn't quite known for giving up easily.

And he's good at making people embarrassed, too.

The amount of women who were in love with him is everything I need as proof.

But the worst part? He doesn't have bad pick up lines.

Look, Time is a toucher, so yes, his love language is physical touch, that makes sense to me.

That doesn't mean only cuddling, of course, it can mean cuddling and hugging when you're alone, but do expect a few more things.

I was gonna say hand holding in public, especially in crowded places, but you know what? Guiding you by holding the back of your neck is simply easier to him, and a lot more obvious "back off!" to strangers who look at you for far too long.

Also, randomly leaning against you, the two of you may be just walking and suddenly you feel a large mass lightly leaning against your own body, almost making you stumble. you might just be standing in front of the dinner table, reading a recipe book and once again you just feel that familiar presence right behind you, but instead of hugging you from behind he's just there, like he is reading the book along with you.

Remember how you were reading that one recipe book? Well he might give it a try and help you make something in the kitchen just to spend time with you. Like, you're just pouring ingredients in a bowl and he's there "helping" you by wrapping his arm around your waist to give you "emotional support", as he calls it.

He is, in reality, just standing there watching you cook, trying his best to resist the urge to distract you and simply annoy you, because he is still trying to make it seem like he is a mature, grown man, and definitely not one who is eyeing the flour in his reach and thinking about launching a handful of it at you.

You did see his hand slowly reaching for the flour in the corner of your vision. He only stopped once you threatened to scoop out his remaining eye should even a speck of flour hit your face.

Yet, Time is a creative man, flour was only one of his plans.

He's got wandering hands and wandering lips. And he can and will make use of those just to distract you.

And that's how Time became banned from the kitchen when you were the one cooking, only being able to join you for cleaning later.

So yeah, his love language is physical touch, but it is also disturbance.

In that matter, he's not very different from Wind when you two are alone. If you ignore his flirtatious moves, that is. But he's quite different when you two are with the others, especially if you've done, or is doing something to annoy him, then he has to keep up that mature facade of his.

He believes the others won't take him seriously should he reveal his actual personality, so really, when you're around others you'll only get glimpses of it from time to time.

It is mandatory from the Links to be stubborn, but Time takes the cake.

Maybe it is his age, but he will never change his mind, ever. No point in arguing.

So when he is silly, he is silly, but when he is serious he is terrifying, no exaggeration.

The worst part is that older people have a lot of respect in Hyrule, so no matter what he says, his word is law.

Now, don't get me wrong, by now, pet names are just a thing Time always does with you, in a way you barely hear your own name coming from his lips unless he's being really serious about something.

But actual words of affirmation? Not his thing.

He'd much rather be as clingy as glue to you when you're alone.

But, not like Sky's soft, light cuddles. Time Will basically smother you.

Seriously, it may be his sheer muscle mass, but he'll drap himself over you in a way you'll feel yourself surrounded by him.

In fact, the first time he did it you probably almost suffocated.

You'll get used to it eventually, though. Hopefully.

He's pontual and very strict as well, he and Hyrule are probably gonna be bickering in most matters involving you, like, for example, "five more minutes" naps.

Don't even try to trick him, you'll hear stuff like "I was your age once" and shit, the man will act like he's a hundred years old or something.

Then again, he might be, after all, he is older in mind than he is in body.

He was forced to mature quicker and went through a lot of trauma, that, and he also had to go back in time a lot of times.

Now that I think about it, he probably lived for longer than your grandparents. Just saying.

Yandere! Lu! Hyrule x Reader

Don't get him wrong, Hyrule is very much full of love, really. He cares about everyone equally.

Yet, as corny as that is, your name isn't "everyone", you're not anyone, you're you, how could he even think about possibly treating you the same way as he treats everyone else?

You're put on a pedestal, everyone else is treated equally by him, except you, you are treated like you are divine and not mortal like he is.

So you'll feel like a toddler 24/7 around Hyrule, he is not as stubborn as Time, he's just… Persistent.

The other Links will find themselves teasing him for it a lot, even if deep inside they are just the same.

Play nice, walk on the line and you'll have a Hyrule at your beck and call. If you know how to do it right, you will be able to use his babying to your own benefit, because trust me, his persistence can work on the Links much more than yours, after all, they trust him for being another Link.

I feel like he'd also help you keep pets, it may be his fairy nature, but he is just good with animals, especially with forest animals. Be them small or big.

Although he definitely has a soft spot for smaller pets, even more if you're the one asking him to bring along a pet you found.

Surprisingly or not, Hyrule is probably one of the most protective Links if you happen to lean more towards the naive/vulnerable side of the spectrum.

It's a general fairy headcannon of mine, but since fairies take care of forest and the animals there, specially the smaller or more vulnerable types of animals, then it's not new for them to be also quite protective towards humans close to them.

Bonus points if they have those traits.

But then again, you're Hyrule's darling, you may be as strong and independent as a Link yourself, but he'll still see you as in need of his care and attention at all times.

That also may or may not be another reason why Hyrule treats you like a toddler.

So yeah, coddling. Lots of it.

Hyrule is also a fan of small things, trinkets. Natural or shiny... Precious or useless... In his eyes all are treasures.

Treasures you'll find your bags and pockets full of.

He is absolutely a rock, cristal guy.

Imagine, you're just walking to another village, and suddenly Hyrule stops walking for a few moments, just to speed walk towards you again just a bit later, cleaning something he is holding in his hands with the help of his sleeve.

Then he hands you a small, clear rock, grinning.

Better get used to this, it's probably gonna happen at least once every day.

So yeah, love language is gift giving and acts of service.

I feel like he's very awkward with words of affirmation, he didn't spend a lot of time saying or hearing those, after all. Like most of the Links.

[freckled-words]

Animal Transformation

This took way too long, but that tends to happen when you don't have a really strong idea for the plot. I'm also super rusty, but I think I got my swing back towards the end.

Hope you enjoy the read, and let me know if you spot any spelling mistakes.

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

Turns out even frost giants have allergies, and it has the funniest effects on a certain trickster’s shapeshifting control.

Or

Darcy watches as Loki loses control of his shapeshifting magic, and she just can't resist a furry face.

“Community service” was the polite term used to describe Loki’s return to Earth.

“Doing whatever the Hell we say” is the more accurate description, as coined by Director Fury during the initial meeting.

Thanks to a curse/spell from Odin, Loki’s magic and strength was moderated by whichever task Loki was assigned to at the time.

When he was sent out to clean up trash in Central Park (disguised and under Natasha’s supervision) he was as strong as an average citizen.

If he went out with the Avengers to deal with a threat, he was allowed just enough magic and strength as was needed to defend himself.

In-between his assignments, and back in the Tower, he was set to about mid-level Godly might (just in case a Hulk suddenly appeared or an accidental arrow went flying his way.) 

The combination of ‘cursed weakness’ and menial labor, unsurprisingly, lead to a consistently pissy Loki. The closest thing Darcy had seen to a smile on him was the trademark smirk, right before he said something snarky.

Even though Darcy hated Loki’s guts for all the death and destruction he’d brought to New York, she also couldn’t stop herself from adding him onto her ‘Take Care List.’ Much to most everyone’s surprise (Jane had long since accepted that Darcy couldn’t help herself.)

She didn’t go out of her way to kneel and curtsey around him or anything, but she did make sure he got a mug of tea or coffee when she was doing the rounds in the morning. As well as a decent portion of food like the other bottomless pits that had to be fed (with Thor back on Earth, the grocery bills knocked up another couple hundred.)

Anytime Loki bothered to acknowledge Darcy, it was never in a polite fashion, and Darcy made sure to give just as good as she got.

“I see Midgardian cuisine is just as lacking as the people.”

“I see your manners didn’t make the trip from Asgard.”

“If you’re going to offer me food, at least make certain it's cooked.”

“Gee why didn’t I think of that? Oh right, dumpster fires don’t get a say in what they get.”

It became something of a routine for them to exchange barbs at least once or twice a day, and by Loki’s second month in residence, the other members in the Tower stopped bracing for Loki to lash out at Darcy.

Darcy just came to accept this as part of her new normal, and rolled with whatever weirdness that came along with it.

Right up until the weirdness took a detour into ‘omg wtf’ territory.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**********~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“...Avengers were seen fighting against what was described as a hoard of mutated bi-pedal flowers.”

Anytime the Avengers were called out for a mission Darcy kept the TV on in the background so she could get updates on what kind of mess she might be helping to clean up later. JARVIS was great for giving her updates on everyone’s physical well being, but he couldn’t necessarily predict how the team’s mood was going to be once they got home.(When there was a HYDRA mission, it was home-made pizza night. Apparently slamming around a massive ball of dough was very therapeutic for Bucky.)

The news being a bit slower than actual events, Darcy wasn’t surprised when JARVIS announced the team was returning in the next 10 minutes, along with a cryptic note of, “No major injuries to report, however Dr.Banner does advise no immediate physical contact.”

The last time JARVIS passed on this kind of note, the Avengers had gone up against a T-Rex made of enchanted septic waste (sometimes D&D nerds manage to get their hands on blackmarket magic, and it never ends well for anyone.)

Having (barely) survived Death-By-Foul-Poo-Stank, Darcy figured her nose could handle some overly strong floral perfume coming from the team’s gear. With Jane’s blessing, she was ready and waiting for them in the kitchen 20 minutes later. She’d brought out multiple boxes of kleenex, a handful of neti pots, and every brand of allergy medication in existence.

The first waft of thick flowery perfume drifted in with Steve, and nearly had her choking as her eyes watered, “Cripes Steve, how is this almost worse than the Fecal-Rex?!” Grabbing a handful of kleenex she blew her nose and dabbed at her eyes.

“Just be lucky you’re getting this, and not the full bouquet. There was every kind of flower there, and everyone but me, Bucky, and Bruce nearly dropped from an immediate allergic reaction.” Steve grabbed one of the neti pots and looked over the instruction card that came with it.

Darcy could just imagine Tony having to flip up his face visor to keep from coating it with his sneezes, while Clint cursed trying to zero in on his target with his eyes burning and watering.

“Wait so even Thor -”

What had to be the loudest sneeze in existence went off, followed by the lights flickering erratically throughout the room.

Thor entered a moment later blowing his nose into a wad of paper towels. The skin around his nose and eyes were bright red, evidence that he’d been rubbing at them for a while already.

“I didn’t think anything on Earth would be able to infect your whole Godly-Alien-Race?” She asked while pushing a box of lotioned kleenex towards him. 

Thor accepted the softer tissues and yanked out ten to hold in his hand, ready for the next sneeze, his voice was congested when he answered, “Nor did we. Banner believes their mutated state amplified their pollen’s properties.” He blew his nose again, and Darcy winced at the sound of his tortured sinuses.

“What about Loki? He’s not human or Asgardian, how is he faring?” Thor had explained his brother’s origins to everyone over drinks the night before Loki had been brought to the tower. A couple members of the team concluded that Loki’s destructive behavior must have been a kind of psychotic break, what with his whole life being flipped upside down and dipped in ice water.

Thor and Steve exchanged a look, one that nearly had them both coughing back a round of laughter.

Squinting Darcy pressed, “What happened to Frosty the Snow Giant? It was something good wasn’t it? Give me the deets ~” She crept closer to Thor, wiggling her fingers towards the box of kleenex as though she were going to snatch it back.

Thor grabbed the box and turned away, his smile spreading, “During the fray, Loki was met with the misfortune of having his entire head swallowed by one of the flowers.”

Steve’s smile curled towards ‘I enjoy trouble’ and added on, “Turns out getting a nose of the stuff is worse than just breathing it in.”

“So Loki is…?” She prompted already knowing the answer had to be good.

“Hiding in his room.” Natasha supplied, slipping around Thor to grab a box of lotioned kleenex herself. Unlike Steve and Thor, she’d gone straight to her room to shower and change into clean clothes.

Images of Loki with a purple rash all over his face, or icicle snot hanging out of his nose popped into Darcy’s mind. 

“Well if he’s feeling that rough, then I’m sure he’d appreciate some tissues and allergy meds. I’m just gonna…” Darcy grabbed the extra strength Benadryl, the last box of lotioned Kleenex and one of the Neti pots.

Her arms full she made a beeline for the elevator, and chose to ignore Steve’s question of, “Is she still safe?”

One quick elevator ride, and a hop-skip down the hallway had Darcy standing in front of Loki’s door. 

Since her hands were full, Darcy called out,“Loki, you in and decent? I’ve got a sniffles care package for you.”

“Go away, Serf.” 

Darcy rolled her eyes. ‘Serf’ was Loki’s default nickname when he couldn’t be bothered to think of a better insulting name. 

Even through the door she could hear the rapid fire sneezes that followed, as well as a muffled cough. 

“You can either let me in, and choose what state of dress you’re in, or JARVIS opens the door and I get to see just how much of a rash you have on your ass right now.” It was a shallow bluff at best, but she couldn’t just walk away without trying first.

The annoyed noise that traveled through the door sounded an awful lot like a growl, more so than the usual one she was able to get out of him when she pushed his buttons.

A second later the door opened.

Biting down on her lips to try and not smile too smugly Darcy marched in, “Good choice Frosty. You’ll thank me later when you’re not missing three layers of ski…nnnnyah?” 

With all the apartments in the tower having the same layout Darcy had gone straight for Loki’s small living room to place her bundle on the coffee table. 

She’d glimpsed Loki from the corner of her eye as she’d breezed into the room, and hadn’t spotted any bright red or pink on him. When she straightened and faced him properly, her brain and mouth had a disconnect. 

Loki still stood by the door, which he was still holding open, his battle gear was gone and his hair was damp from his shower. Like Thor the skin around his nose was chaffed from blowing, and his eyes slightly puffy, and for reasons that Darcy’s brain couldn’t fathom there were two black, white tipped fuzzy ears on his head and a twitching, fluffy, black, white tipped fox tail peeking out from his back. 

“Uhhhhhh….” 

“Make your jokes, then leave.” Even congested Loki’s tone was clear in his frustration.

Darcy held her hands up, “Hey there’s no shaming here, just confusion. Last time I checked, allergies didn’t turn people into furries.”

“I am not…” He broke into a fit of sneezes, “Whatever nonsense term that is. I’ve simply…” More sneezing, “Been struggling with my Seidr.”

Darcy hummed and nodded, not really understanding but didn’t think it smart to push him into a more in-depth explanation. His sneezes were so close together and harsh, she was getting worried about the amount of air he was getting into his lungs.

“Regardless, maybe some meds will help. I suggest taking like, 4 of the Benadryl. If it works it’ll knock you on your ass, but it’ll also stop the sneezing and congestion.” She was making her way towards the door as she spoke and stopped just by the opening, “Any chance I can-” She reached towards his twitching tail.

“Leave.”

“I’ll come check on ya in a couple hours!” As badly as Darcy wanted to touch the fluffy tail, she was not ready to die for the attempt.

~~~~ THREE HOURS LATER ~~~~~~~~

Darcy juggled the three tupperware containers of food in one arm while she did her best to knock with the other, “Loki you good? I’ve got food.”

She didn’t hear any approaching footsteps, and was startled when the door was opened.

Darcy barely got clear of the door before Loki shut it. Turning to face him, she just about dropped the food.

“I can’t tell if this means the Benadryl helped or not.” She offered as an opening for him to explain.

Loki still had the ears and tail, but now there was fur around the edges of his face, covering his hands and feet, his nails had blackened into claws, and there were definitely whiskers growing out of his cheeks.

Loki blinked down at her, his nose twitched (was he about to sneeze or was he testing her scent?) and she saw something shift in his mind as his pupils widened then shrank, he blinked and his usual scowl returned to his face, “How did you get in here?”

Darcy cocked her head to the side, “You let me in, just now, and almost hit me with the door. Did fur grow inside your brain too? Do I need to call Bruce?”

Her concern crossed from surface level to genuine as she watched Loki look down at his hands and wiggle his clawed fingers, his expression was hard to read with his eyebrows blending into his new furry hairline but she was certain he was looking confused himself. “Damn.” The word was uttered so quietly Darcy might have missed it if she weren’t standing so close.

“Loki, you’re seriously worrying me dude.” Again his ears twitched in her direction.

“I’m touched.” Darcy took the dry sarcasm as a good sign, “The only thing you should be concerned about is keeping your blithering trap shut. It was bad enough when it was just the ears and tail. If The Oaf hears of this, there will be no end to his ridicule.”

The more Loki said, the more Darcy relaxed. It was a sad reflection on her life when she was happy to have the mass murdering alien give her a hard time.

Opting to ignore his bluff (she’d long since realized that he could bark all he wanted, if he ever hurt her he’d immediately be kicked back to Asgard) Darcy went to his kitchen and put down the tupperware containers, “Don’t worry your fuzzy little head, I won’t tell anyone…” Faster than Loki could anticipate, she whipped up her phone and snapped a picture, “I will show everyone though, unless you let me touch your ears or tail.” She shoved her phone down the front of her shirt and between her boobs, uncaring of the extra cleavage she was flashing him in the process.

Loki’s upper lip drew back revealing some rather pointy canines, “Impudent wench.”

Darcy smirked as she rocked on her heels, “Oh come on Fuzz Butt, you can’t tell me no one’s ever wanted to see what your transformed fur feels like.”

“None have ever been so brazen or foolish to try.” Loki bit back. He was becoming so agitated his tail was swishing, and his ears had flattened on his head.

‘Dammit, now he’s just looking cute.’ 

He was also looking a little unsteady. With each swish of his tail, Loki wobbled the slightest bit, and his eyelids seemed to be struggling to stay open.

“How many of those Benadryl did you end up taking?” She hadn’t heard him sneeze once since she came in, and the skin around his nose and eyes had returned to normal.

“The four you recommended had no effect, so I added another five. The sneezing stopped just before…” Loki caught himself before he could finish outing himself. Shaking his head he staggered off towards the couch, “Leave Serf. I require rest.”

She really, really wanted to push her luck and remind him about the whole Fuzzy Picture threat, but it wasn’t as much fun if the other member of the party was spiraling towards a crash. Cause damn, NINE?! If one Benadryl was enough to turn a regular human into a zombie, then nine must be bordering on a coma.

“Fine, but don’t think this isn’t over. I’ll come back in an hour and make sure you’re still breathing.” 

She saw a feeble, black fuzzy hand lift up to acknowledge he’d heard her.

Darcy left but made sure to leave the door unlocked. Quietly she called out, “JARVIS keep an eye on his vitals and let Bruce or Thor know if his heart stops or something.”

“Of course Ms.Lewis…Shall I let you know when it’s been an hour?” 

Unsurprised that JARVIS had been listening in on the conversation in Loki’s room, Darcy gave a thumbs up to the nearest camera she could see, “That’d be great J.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 45 MINS LATER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Ms.Lewis, I thought I should inform you that there has been a change in Prince Loki’s condition.” Darcy tried not to cringe too much from having JARVIS say this directly into her bluetooth headphones (a welcoming gift from Tony.)

Glancing over to where she could see Bruce working at his station she figured this wasn’t a life threatening change to Loki’s condition. Not many realized just how much intelligence Tony’s AI had, but Darcy was no fool. She grew up worshiping the internet, and treating ‘The Matrix’ and ‘The Terminator’ like prophecies. 

If JARVIS thought this was something only she needed to know about then she’d take it as the gift that it was.

A quick elevator ride later and she was back at his door.

She knocked lightly and let herself in, “Loki? JARVIS says you might need help.”

There came a slight whimper (or was that a whine?) from the living room.

This late in the afternoon the sunlight had moved away from Loki’s windows, and none of the lights had been turned on. Everything was cast in shadows and patches of darkness, making it hard to see anything.

“Loki?” 

Darcy hit the switch for the kitchen light so she didn’t accidentally blind/enrage the half-transformed frost giant.

Able to see Darcy watched as what she had initially thought to be a deep pocket of shadows uncurled from the bottom of the coffee table. 

A black fox the size of a St.Bernard stretched out like a cat as unfocused green eyes blinked in her direction.

“Oh my Gods.” 

She wanted to take all the pictures, but she also wanted to try touching him. When he was still humanoid the fur had looked silky, as a full fox it looked absolutely luxurious and Darcy just had to get her fingers into it.

She had never interacted with foxes before though, and didn’t know how unhinged Loki’s brain was going to be with all that Benadryl in his system.

Finished stretching he ventured a couple steps closer, his nose to the air to scent the new presence in his home. Some of Loki’s consciousness must have been working, cause the fox’ ears went down and it spun around to hop onto the couch.

‘I’ve just been brushed off by a fox.’ Loki could brush her off a million times and she wouldn’t bat an eye, but Fox-Loki showing her such little interest just felt like a bitch slap.

“Rude.” 

Going over to the couch she watched as Loki laid down with his head resting between his two front paws. His eyes closed and a rather un-fox like sigh came out through his nose. 

Darcy crouched down to eye level and told him, “You know you make a very pretty fox.” Other than his ear twitching Loki didn’t acknowledge her.

“May I please pet you, your Foxiness?” Murderous Asshole or not, Darcy wasn’t going to touch without consent. 

His eye cracked open, regarding her for a moment then closed and another long sigh was released. Darcy took it as one of resignation and beamed. Finally she could get this out of her system!

As gently as she could she placed her hand on his head; he didn’t move away or twist around to snap at her, confirming that he had given in. 

She stroked down along his spine, marveling at the feel of his thick, silky fur. Bringing her hand back to his head she lightly scratched around the base of his ears, the fur there was much softer and she had to bite her lip to keep from gushing out more praises to him. 

Her petting was kept strictly to his back and the top of his head, areas that most animals considered to be safe zones. As much as she wanted to touch his tail she didn’t know how sensitive it was and didn’t want to push it. 

Darcy cut herself off after about five minutes, plus her legs were screaming in protest from holding that crouched position so long. 

A woman of her word Darcy dug out her phone and deleted the picture of Loki the Were-Fox. Satisfied she whispered to Loki, “There now no one but me and JARVIS knows what a half fox, half Frost Giant looks like. I also won’t tell anyone that you totally lost control due to overdosing on allergy medicine. You’ll be back to your entitled asshole self by tomorrow morning.”

This got her a small indignant huff. 

Darcy let herself out and made sure the door locked behind her. 

It was only after the door’s lock had clicked that Loki released his animal shape. It took a bit slower than usual, but he wasn’t quite back in focus just yet. 

Back in his usual form he resettled on the couch. With not a single piece of clothing on his body, the material didn’t feel quite as comfortable as it had in his fox shape. 

The Midgardian medicine had thrown his control off balance, just not as much as he’d let Lewis believe. He could have reverted back to his proper state a half hour ago, and gone back to his bed for a proper rest. 

Instead he couldn’t resist seeing what the woman would do when faced with the full transformation. He’d been somewhat hoping she would startle or scream and flee, calling for Thor’s protection. Instead she’d looked at him like he was the most beautiful animal in existence. It was a delicious boost to his ego.

Loki chuckled to himself, picturing her face when she might learn that her ‘petting’ along his fur had translated to the feeling of a lover’s touch on his skin. 

There would be sputtering, possibly some shrieking and all the threats and profanities. 

The image was so entertaining he drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face. 

[homesickn]

Isn't Bite Also Touch?

(Loki X female demon!reader)

Chapter 8! — read it all here.

Summary: You and Loki have the first training practice together with the Avengers.

“Who the Hell is Ediel?” Clint asked. “I swear you are bringing people for free from now on.”

It's the first training practice that you're joining along with the Avengers.

“I agree with Hawkeye.” You say, a hand holding your foot up in your stretching. You're all preparing yourselves before starting the exercises. "The Avengers are just accepting free forms at this point.”

“I never even heard this name Ediel in the Bible,” Clint comments, shrugging his shoulders. “Not that I've really paid attention.”

“Maybe it's a made-up name,” you say as if you don't know the truth.

“I love how you're just gossiping about him as if you don't know his life,” Thor brings up with a smile. You give a smile back, sticking your tongue out. “It's kind of funny.”

“Listen, dude. I'm just saying,” There's a twinkle to your expression as you share. “Maybe…if you search for his pictures you'll see his real name.”

“You're the first person that I've ever seen call Thor a dude,” Nat says and you laugh.

“I literally couldn't care less.” Clint expresses with a tired grunt, referring to all the Ediel talk. He was wrapping some bandage wrap around his fist because it was covered by a large bruise.

Ediel was taking pictures somewhere else, it was understandable to say that the humans loved Ediel, since the party scandal. They adored him, it left you infuriated. 

He wasn't even that special, you could do so many more things than him, you were overly powerful, your powers crossed the limits throughout Hell and Earth. You were a child of Satan.

Yet, he was what they wanted to take pictures of. Bunch of fools. 

They're pathetic.

You cross your arms as you look at the team preparing their places, you angrily mutter out your thoughts of him. “Idiot, he's a fool.”

“Anyone from a thousand miles would be able to hear your angry mumbling.” Loki says, coming to your side, crouching down to where you stood sitting near the wall.

“I'm not mumbling, I don't do that.” You cock your head, barely turning to face him. “You know, you were nicer to me when you didn't know I was a demon,” you muse.

He looks at you, amused by your sudden statement.

“When I first saw you you seemed like the most powerful creature my eyes had ever seen,” you blush at his words, that does leave you a bit baffled and speechless. “I wasn't anticipating any family issues in your life story.” He says, remembering the Angel.

You grunt in annoyance, still with your arms crossed childishly. 

“As I said, you don't know me.”

“That's right,” he looks elsewhere. “I despise you.”

That stings a bit more than you expected. How could he claim not to like you? You've barely ever done anything to him.

“Just now, right?” He looks at you with curiosity, and a frown. “You didn't hate me when we first met. You were kind.”

He looks around the room as you say that, quietly remembering his pleasantry when he thought you were just a very powerful witch. He didn't want to think about being too soft and trusting with a demon, but you've done nothing if not show him loyalty and… friendliness.

And on the contrary to his beliefs, he was feeling yet stronger every day, after spending it with you.

He thought you'd weaken him. He thought he should keep himself away. 

He tried to shake away the small bubbling guilt he started to feel. He could see the little bruise, almost non-perceptible, that he'd left on your lips.

“Honestly,” he clears his throat. “I feel like it makes sense for me to doubt your truth.” He tries to explain, he knew you were lying to him about something you wouldn't tell.

You tilt your head arrogantly.

“Well, then you can despise me very far away from me,” you shoosh him away with your hands, like you're guiding a dog out. “Go, go, leave me alone.” 

He looks incredulous, kind of entertained by your gestures.

“You can't treat me like that, are you serious?” He says, but he's smiling at your funny attempts to stop him from bothering you. “I'm not a dog.”

“One day,” you confidently start. “I'll make you my little pet. My dog, a very misbehaved stray for me to train. Mark my words. You'll kneel at my feet.” He feels the power behind those words reach his groins as he shamelessly gives you an infuriating smile.

“Don't threaten me with a good time.”

“I'm being nice, you literally compared me to a–” you paused dramatically to say the next word. “bug, if you remember, from earlier, a bug.”

“Forgive me,” he said, smiling at you. It didn't feel very sincere.

You were quite shaken from his behavior, as much as you love playfully annoying him, his constant emotional barrier strikes you by surprise at times. 

Surprise only, not sadness. You wouldn't let yourself feel inferior for that, much less his silly offending names during rough sexual acts.

Besides, you like it when he's rough too.

Steve arrives a few minutes after, taking your attention away from the annoying god by your side. 

He brings his hands together and begins to explain the exercises you were about to practice, also, how every single training is depending on your specific powers and strength as an individual.

So you should have a partner that matches your level to fight with, and as there's no other match for magic…

“I guess you could say that's me.” Loki points at himself when you look for a partner.

“Look, I would fight you, of course,” you lift your hands up to him as you explain. “But frankly, I don't want to kill you.”

“Kill me?” He laughs. “You're so funny, little demoness.” He conjures his knives.

“Now be careful you two. We don't want to ruin our training with a real murder, we already have enough trouble at bay.” You quirk your eyebrow to Loki from Steve's words.

“See, you fool?” You make sure to make your hands a bit reddish with your powers now, warm enough to burn as you touch him, but not enough to be perceptible to others that you're using pyrokinesis. “No killing.”

Loki sees your little trick, he can feel your magic as you're close, and purposefully makes his hands colder too, he could only hope they didn't turn blue.

As you go for the first attack he hisses from the burn, he grabs your wrist and you feel the freezing touch on your skin.

“Oww!” You jump from the cold and feel the needle pricking sensation on your flesh. You gasp as you point accusing him. “Cheater! You're using ice powers! I didn't even know you had these.”

“You get caught unaware and assume I'm cheating now?” You take the moment of his distraction, and jump to fight him in another hurried way, like a wild beast.

He catches you by your hips while you keep hitting his head with your fists giving very burning sensations. Nothing truly harmful, so it doesn't step the limits.

He complains and winces from the touch. “We should agree on no pyrokinesis, to keep the battle fair.”

“Am I hurting the little prince?” You manage to ask, smiling devilishly as he still holds you up, attempting to take you off of him. 

“You truly are an annoying little imp, aren't you?” You feel the softness behind those words, your attacks now getting less intense. The others don't stop their training, you keep your focus on Loki's moves.

He manages to push you off of him with a blast of his green seidr, you fall on one of the comfortable mats on the floor, proper for practical fighting. 

You giggle as your body hits the ground, you give a thumbs up to him as you cradle your lower stomach. “Good one, man, you got me.” 

Loki doesn't know why he feels this… guilt as he watches you, the same position, you, on the floor. Quite the same as earlier but now your words rang in his ears.

You don't know why he's standing there like a fish left in thought, but you take the moment to lift yourself with easy flexibility, giving a superhero stance as you run towards him again.

Your powers make him hit the wall, he grunts and gives you a smile.

“Didn't hurt. Is this the best your powers can do?”

“I told you, I could kill you if I use them too much, be careful.” You tease and feel the magic tingling your veins, it excites you whenever you can use it freely like this. You were almost jumping like a kid from excitement.

“As much as magic may be a fascinating sight,” Natasha says, and you turn to face her. “Please, don't break anything in the way.” 

Bruce was sitting on a little chair as he spoke up. “Yeah, preferably everything in place.”

Loki grabs your arm and twists your body with his to the ground, hovering you again, and licking his lips. You feel the shock to your core as you look up his eyes, he gulps as he looks down into yours.

“Don't turn your back to your enemy, you really do need the training lessons.” 

You smile. “Well, I don't have to practice. I don't need to.” You easily turn his body around, pinning him down this time. 

He hungrily gazes your figure up on him, straddling him, then he catches your eyes again.

“See? I can do anything I want, sometimes you tend to forget.” You wink and press yourself closer to his chest, almost reaching his mouth as you speak.

“This doesn't look like the usual training we have around here,” Tony mutters, peeking from the open door. “This is why I don't participate in these things.”

You lick your lips and move to guide Loki's body up with you, he relents and attaches his hand to yours as you two move to stand up.

Once it's done, you stare at the sight of your hands together, you twist it a little, like a creature facing something unusual, analyzing it. It's not something you usually do. 

Nobody really ever held your hand, even in a situation as casual as this was.

He untangles his hands from yours. You feel the wish you could grab it back.

“Let's keep training.”

“Who do you train with?” You ask Thor, taking a breath from your training with Loki.

“With Loki, but you stole him from me,” he says, not very seriously, smiling at you and handing you a bottle of water. “My brother and I fight together all the time, it's almost tradition between us at this point. He's the only match for my Asgardian strength.”

It feels comforting to see the familiarity behind Thor's words, he's really nostalgic as he talks of his experiences of battle and training practices with his brother. 

“But it's great to see an equal match to him, one that shares magical abilities too,” he continues.

“It's rare those moments that you come to compliment me or my skill set,” Loki snickers at his brother. 

“I always speak the world of you,” Thor's words felt too honest, too impactful to a level you felt you were interrupting something personal about him, and his family.

You're in awe, his brother truly loves him.

But who are you to say anything to Loki? You know how he must feel. Left to always be the one in second place, his brother destined to have the throne.

Your eyes glance at the others still in action, your muscles ready to continue the fighting but you take the time to ponder your thoughts.

That's why Loki must be so restricted, so distrusting. He questions your every move, just because of your nature. 

You don't want to take Thor's side and tease Loki's moodiness, besides, it's not really your business, you don't know what they've been through.

“Do you want to train with him a little? We can keep going later,” You offer to Thor, and say the second part to Loki.

“Are you really selling me like that?” Loki asks jokingly with a smile.

“Yes. It's a very easy deal,” You say, the golden brother laughs and pats Loki's back.

“Let's do some battle moves, just like the old times,” Thor moves to grab his weapon, Loki doesn't seem excited, but he definitely seems used to it as he readies himself. “Then you will show the lady your fighting techniques.” 

You smile at the two, glad to be an audience.

“Just know I'll be rooting for you!” You loudly tell Loki, he stops short on his steps, processing your words. Then, he quietly moves to prepare for the training with his brother.

Some hours later, you find yourself walking towards Stark's common lab to pester him.

“There's a lot of new people coming around,” You say, shrugging your shoulders as you share with Tony. “This is ridiculous, why so many? Why do you even need so many people around?”

“This tower doesn't stand by itself.”

“It actually does, that's how buildings are made.”

“No, no, stupid, I meant the work around here. S.H.I.E.L.D and the Stark Industries.” Tony brings up, checking some files. “You're just complaining because your brother is getting pampered by the media, it's a good thing, at least it covers your face from the news.”

“My face in the media should be a delight, humans should be grateful. AND, you should know better than to call me stupid,” you meekly threaten.

“You don't scare us.”

“Because I choose not to,” your voice is cold.

“Right,” he pretends not to care. “But what is the matter with that? Having many people around.”

You sigh loudly as you look out of the lab, unfortunately seeing that there's one of the female agents talking with Loki. A blonde, high-pitched voice woman.

“Like, who the fuck is she?” You point to the woman close to Loki.

“Oh, that's Clair. She's one of the best in the business.”

“I bet she is,” you angrily muster. “Such a pathetic human name.”

“She's also incredibly Christian, maybe that's just your demon side speaking,” you pout from Tony's words. 

“Cheer up, sis, no one's stealing your man from you.” Ediel shows up and you give him an angry stare.

The lab was usually chillier than the common areas of the Tower, you wondered why Tony felt the need to keep everything cold and so robotic-looking, but again, you're not the scientist here. 

“You shouldn't even be here,” you bring up. “All of your species are insufferable, always bringing up their noses where they weren't called.” 

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Tony swears, passing his hand down his face in disbelief, and clear annoyance. “Could you shut the fuck up? Honestly, I'll pay for you to leave the house.”

You smile impishly, tilting your shoulders up and down in joy. Still smiling even as you look over where Loki is.

“Deal.”

“Wait, what?” Tony is confused.

“I want to go out!” You plead like a child. “But I can't go by myself…” 

“Poor Loki,” Ediel looks at the ceiling to avoid your face. “Not only is being held hostage here but has to deal with you and your possessiveness.”

A tilt of your wrist has his voice disappearing, surprising Stark with the sudden use of your magic like that. 

Ediel touches his throat and tries to figure out what's wrong with his vocal cords, because you've removed it with magic.

“Finally, some peace,” you sigh, then smile to leave their presence, moving towards the loud lady bugging Loki with her presence.

“Loki!” You call loudly, interrupting with a shake of your hand eagerly through the air. “Loki! Loki!”

He almost rolls his eyes, but holds back a smile. 

“Pardon,” he whispers to Clair. As you reach over, he puts his hand close to your stomach to stop you in your steps. He says your name. “Don't do–”

“Who are you?” You ask the woman whom you already know the name of, the sparkle in your eyes holding fake politeness. 

“Don't do anything irrational,” Loki's low tone orders, his timbre almost vibrating through your brain like a purr of a kitten, but he seems a bit too serious when he says these words. “Please, I know you.”

You gape at him and put a hand over your chest. Looking at the girl who's sheepishly looking back at you, shy now. 

She introduces herself calmly, you nod to recognize it but still pay more attention to Loki's insinuation.

“I'm not going to do anything, such a lack of trust! You need some therapy, man,” again, he sighs off, from the term, squishing his eyes shut now. “Therapy, some talking would do you good, for sure.” 

He passes his hand over his face in annoyance, you close your arms around him. He just puts his hand on your arm to steady you. 

“I'm a god, I don't need these things, a Midgardian giving me tips on how to live my life,” you're surprised he doesn't push you away, just keeps his hand over your arm, so you can look up from his chest.

He looks down at you to see you talk.

“Do they have therapy in Asgard?” 

“We do, we're just too proud to face it sometimes.”

“So that's just a general experience then. Good to know,” you don't want to waste his good mood too much.

Clair's just shamefully trying to move away to leave you two alone, trying to sneak out. You could only chuckle, the sound muffling against Loki's chest.

“You drove her away,” he states, not sounding harsh or upset. His hand caresses your back now, he also pushes your hair behind your ears. 

“I tend to do it a lot.”

“They're scared of you.”

“I know that too,” you could hear his heartbeat. “Do you know we're allowed out?” He knits his eyebrows, surprised, maybe it's a lie.

“How?”

“I tricked Stark, I think,” he can't hold back his smile from your sentence. 

In Asgard, Thor was the one that was considered the role model, Loki always tried to be like him. 

He recognized from an early age that his methods and thinking were too different from his brother's, it upset him, even his sense of humor contained more wit and tricks, his tricks would always bring the fun to the scenes most of the time.

It was somewhat devilish from the Asgardians perspective, the tricks, Loki wasn't naturally aware of how socially devious his pranks were.

Thor was always the one being praised, the more he tried to copy that, the lonelier he felt when he didn't receive the same treatment. 

The tricks felt like an escape, something that's his, his magic did that too. The mischief suddenly didn't come only for battle tactics or parties, or to call for the attention of his parents.

It became part of him, it grew within him, he couldn't get it away. To a point, he became known to it. Everybody knew of his tricks and lies, they grew popular and infamous. 

There were a lot of problems that came with being popularly known as a trickster, obviously. But altogether, it felt quite lonely. 

Something he thought to be inherently linked with being a trickster, and the God of Lies: you get no one's trust, no one sticks with you, he should grow used to loneliness.

His mother was the only one who's always seen him in a different light, even if it's difficult for Loki to admit— and he isn't going to say this outloud; but he knows she loves him. She loves him, she motivated him to learn more magic, she's one of the only people who could find the fun in some of his harmless tricks. She often says she's proud of his intellect, respecting him for all his individuality. 

She's the only person he resented not seeing from this deal of having to stick to Midgard. She's the only one he truly misses when he thinks of home.

His mind often convinces him most of the time that all she did was out of guilt, for lying to him for his entire life. 

He doesn't know why he feels so sour, that's why he's refusing to think too much about home lately.

But you?

Your bright eyes locking with his, he could only hope you don't hear the quick pounding in his chest. 

You came into his life with all he's been criticized for in his life, sharing it with him and not feeling ashamed of it for even a second. And for the first time, he's found someone who truly seems to admire all the powers he has, who shares the same mischief as him. A demon.

He never knows what to do with this information, he doesn't know what to think, it's like a huge barrier prevents him from trusting you. 

Whenever he thinks too much about your trustworthiness, the reminders of his time under Thanos' grip hit him like the blade of a sharp knife. He could still feel the phantom pains from the bubbling heat burning his skin, from the chains holding him as he tries to remember how it feels like to be safe.

And he'd often try to forget how painful the lies they told hurt him, he tried to think of home, searching for a feeling of safety, but it'd only bring him further down his pain, it would stick inside and mix with something traumatic, and bitter.

It's difficult, he still doesn't feel free. The nightmares make that, you make him doubt your loyalty, what if he wakes up one day and he's still there? 

Out there, dehydrating and begging for peace in his mind, feeling his bones weaken under his usually so tough skin. It still gives him goosebumps, he swallows in anxiety.

His hand is still on your back, you're curiously looking up at him. 

“Too deep into his own thoughts for me to see it,” you think, you're not so sure you, actually, wish to read his mind.

“Earth to Loki?” You ask. He brings his gaze to you again.

“Unfortunately, I'm still on this godforsaken planet,” you laugh.

“I'm going to make sure we can go out.”

“As in, like, from the Tower? Forever?”

“I was thinking just for like, a park or something,” you pretend to think. “But yeah, we can discuss escaping later. I have my ways.”

Taglist: @mischief2sarawr @dangertoozmanykids101 @lokidbadguy

[bigskydreaming]

I’m rewatching X-Men (2000) for the first time in a long time and besides finding it exquisitely nostalgic, I keep finding myself thinking, “Damn, [character] is kind of OP” with literally every. Single. Character. And it’s funny now to think of how crazy powerful all the X-Men are compared to say, the Avengers, where I feel like the only god-tier power the MCU ever delivered was Captain Marvel and maybe Thor in Ragnarok. I guess the first X-Men kind of downplays Jean Gray’s powers, and there are cool take-downs like Magneto’s iconic “That remarkable metal doesn’t run through your entire body, does it?” line and Toad getting fried by Storm, but I feel like it’s so fun that most of the time literally every character is OP. Anyway, I wanted to ask you as an X-Men expert, have they always been so cool and powerful, or do the comics toggle back-and-forth with how powerful they are like the later X-Men movies did? And did comics Avengers and Fantastic Four ever think they had a chance vs. the X-Men?

LOL its ironic, I kinda consider them to be massively UNDERPOWERED in the X-Men films, but also I hate everything about them because Singer, so who's unbiased, not THIS guy!

For the most part it depends on the character. Like, you know Bobby's my Blorbo above all Blorbos there, so the X-films in particular did a shitty job of depicting his actual power levels, but in their 'defense' I guess, so does every other adaptation. Nowhere but the comics has been consistent about him being portrayed as ridiculously OP as he is, which is kinda funny because for all that Iceman doesn't SEEM like he'd be a top tier power level kinda character, he's consistently been that way since the early 90s. Hell, for that matter, he and Jean were the original omega level mutants used to debut the term in its modern interpretation.

(A lot of people point out that omega was first used to describe Rachel Summers, who isn't considered an official omega level mutant these days, but that was by Sentinels describing her as an omega level THREAT, so I don't consider that the same thing as the OL classification mutants use among themselves, but just throwing that out there).

In the comics, there are different classifications, kinda, that mutants use to describe different power levels. Most mutants are gamma or beta mutants. Most combatant mutants like major X-Men and foes, such as Cyclops, Bishop, Psylocke, Emma Frost, etc, are alpha level mutants.

Omega mutants are the rarest of the rare, and are, simply put....god-tier mutants. Their literal definition is mutants whose upper levels of power are beyond any ability to measurably quantify. A lot of people default to calling them infinitely powerful, which isn't quite INaccurate, but also isn't quite accurate....its more like....they're mutants who will never stop finding new ways to grow and advance their abilities, who have no upper ceiling to their powers...though all of them reach different tiers of ACTUALLY utilized power at different times/lengths of time.

A ton of people HATE the omega concept because frankly, it DOES make those with that designation overpowered as fuck but I like to point to DC and the Justice League which has always been full of god-tier characters who are nevertheless possible to write for and give relatable issues and equivalent foes. Personally though, I've always loved it for the narrative possibilities rather than the power levels per se. I like it because omegas are like, ultimate examples of evolution (Marvel style, lol, as in the kind they always have go hand in hand with mutants but uh, isn't always scientifically on point haha). But I mean, they're individual mutants who embody the concept of constant, unending evolution. The view of omega mutants as just the most powerful misses the point, IMO...part of why I hate Bobby's constant cycle of 'untapped potential' storylines (his most often recurring narrative) is because it fails to acknowledge that omegas like him CAN'T ever fully realize their potential, just MORE of it, because like evolution, there is no actual intended ENDPOINT for his or any other omega's powers. There will always be more. Further they can go.

Anyway....I know X-Men '97 emphasized Jean, Storm and Magneto as omegas, but even it didn't actually convey the level their powers are at in the comics, other than Magneto doing the global EMP thing. Omegas can pretty much all affect things on a global scale. A group of twelve of them in the comics recently terraformed Mars, in order to relocate a bunch of mutants called the Arakkii there after they returned from their 4,000 year long war in a demon dimension, protecting Earth from being invaded by it. (Long story).

But yeah, so omegas are a thing in the comics, and no adaptation has quite yet even scratched the surface of what they can do in the comics. There's only 12 acknowledged omegas out of all the Earthborn mutants (though Hickman's list is shit IMO and its ridiculous that there's only one person of color on it, Storm, and there's several other mutants of color I'd happily add to it if given the chance to balance things out), but the Arakkii (who are all black-coded if not actually black, because of where and when Arakko/Okkara originally existed on Earth before Amenth invaded 4K years ago), have a similar number of omegas of their own. But again, we're talking around 12 mutants EACH, among their total respective populations of about a million mutants each.

Anyway, the big four of the omegas, the major names among the X-Men, are Jean, Storm, Bobby and Magneto, with the other Earth omegas being Exodus, Elixir, Hope Summers, Absolon Mercator, Jamie Braddock, Proteus, Gabriel Summers/Vulcan and Quentin Quire (sigh). And then on the Arakkii side there was Isca the Unbeaten and her sister Genesis, Apocalypse's wife, Lactuca, Sobunar, Xilo, Ora Serrata, Lycaon, Tarn, Lodus Logos, Idyll, Kobak Never-Held, and Apocalypse and Genesis' kids, the original four Horsemen. Plus they keep going back and forth on whether or not White Sword is an omega or just a really powerful External, but whatever, I digress. Anyway, that list isn't accurate anymore because as of Genesis War, a few of them are dead, just like on the Earth list Hope is....transcended I guess you could say, lol, and Elixir and Proteus are back in the White Hot Room with her and who knows where the fuck Mercator is these days, but like.

Point is, the omegas are cosmic level. Jean's current solo literally has her being called a cosmic entity, because yeah, she's one with the Phoenix again but since the Phoenix has long been described as a future point of her own evolution and was recently solidified as like, a mass gestalt of mutant life force and psyche that was collected within her and her power like a nexus point, its kinda one and the same. Storm's solo is said to have plans to have her interact with the Abstracts of the Universe (the like, ultimate top-tier beings in it), Eternity and Oblivion.

Bobby's been quite literally unkillable since the early 2000s at least, as in he's been hit with a nuke and atomized, been blown up MULTIPLE times, and he just makes himself new bodies out of the next nearest moisture. He once started a new Ice Age, can create armies of semi-autonomous ice giants, teleport anywhere there's water, etc. Oh yeah, and since he's the walking embodiment of the future heat-death of the universe, he's also frozen reality on a quantum level to quarantine a cosmic tier threat. Oh AND frozen Hell. Jean reignited a sun recently. Storm took out an alien mercenary army in seconds by just hitting them with Jupiter-level atmospheric pressure with a snap of her fingers, and the only thing about that which actually required she exert herself came from holding BACK enough that her allies standing mere feet away weren't affected the same as her targeted enemies. Vulcan talked about obliterating Mars when he got cranky, and everyone took that very seriously because he can absolutely fucking do it. Any of them can.

There's a reason X-fans are sore about how editorially scripted AvX went, and not just because the X-Men were known to be a lesser priority at that time due to the film rights, so they were never going to get to be the 'winners' of that, ideologically, even though the optics for how that fight started were not actually as great for the Avengers as Marvel seems to think they were. But it also has a lot to do with the fact with all credit to the Avengers heavy-hitters, which there are quite a few of, they tend to get their powers/origins from cosmic storylines far away from Earth, hail from other dimensions like Asgard, etc, whereas mutants have been home-growing cosmic tier fighters on Earth for decades now, and that was pretty much treated like a non-factor.

None of the omegas (and Magneto and Storm may not have OFFICIALLY been listed as such yet, but Bobby was, and its not like they actually got any power UPGRADES when they were finally canonized as omegas, it just was a label change acknowledging the power they've always been depicted as having) actually played definitive roles in that, and again, when you've got global threats in one side's ranks that you refuse to acknowledge as such in order to make sense of pitting them against opponents they should be able to handle with a finger snap, it does tend to make stans cranky. Its like yeah, they gave me a panel of Bobby fighting Red Hulk in the background, but that was the extent of his impact on AvX as a whole, even though he'd quite literally taken Thor on, solo, mere months before during the Dark Iceman arc.

But yeah, you say AvX around X-fans, we will hiss at the memory like a snake. Was not fun for us. And again, this isn't to disparage the cosmic tier characters the Avengers have, and of the Fantastic Four, Sue and Johnny are right up there at the top of any power ranking system one might care to devise. But...like....mutants tend to deal with their threats internally in the Marvel universe, so every mutant alive has known for decades that Magneto, Storm, Iceman and Jean should not be locked in a room together and told to fight because without nonomegas who can't actually survive the stuff they can around them to remind them to keep their power levels DOWN, those four could very easily blow up the Earth before they even realize what happened since omegas vs omegas equals unlimited escalation.

Meanwhile, it was literally only during the Krakoan era that anyone OUTSIDE of mutants sat up and took note of the omega classification (which has existed for decades) even being a THING, let alone mutants casually being like 'oh yeah, we have like, twelve of those guys.'

LOL, so anyway. Yeah, it is kinda funny to hear the X-Men in existing adaptations described as OP, because none of them even come close to scratching the surface of how many of the X-Men are portrayed in the comics. I have very little interest in the MCU as a whole, and am not expecting to be a fan of their take on the X-Men but I am very curious to see which X-Men they emphasize as the heavy-hitters and what level of power they depict them as being at. For better or worse, whether fans like it or hate it, there's a good dozen of them who can go toe to toe with literal gods without breaking a sweat.

(Like, literally literally, not how Kalen usually uses literally literally. Bobby single-handedly thwarted a Loki 'take over Asgard' scheme in the EIGHTIES, at a time when only Thor himself was going one on one with his brother and if he wasn't around, Loki was considered a 'bring your whole team' kind of threat. And this was a full decade before the omega term was even a thing. Thor's canonically been wary of Bobby since the latter was SIXTEEN because he considers him to be a baby Ymir, the father of all frost giants. He was literally playing poker with other Avengers when he sensed Bobby go Dark Side during the Dark Iceman arc and his face went 'oh fuck.' You know how powerful you have to be to make Thor's face go 'oh fuck'?)

(Fimbulvetr is the Asgardian term for the Everwinter, the start of Ragnarok. Its a Ymir thing. Incidentally, after AvX when the X-Men and Avengers were making a point to cooperate, Thor and Bobby teamed up against Ymir himself, and THEN Marvel was perfectly happy to allow Bobby to kick his ass solo and be like 'what, was that supposed to be hard' to an incredulous Thor, BUT I DIGRESS).

But anyway, the official omega list is very recent, but everyone on it like Storm, Jean, Bobby and Magneto have all been consistently powerful as fuck since the 80s, MINIMUM. Bobby's 80s solo was used to debut Oblivion, an Abstract of the Universe, Storm was channeling the energy of multiple stars when fighting the Brood in space, and that was all decades ago. They've all had occasions of being nerfed since then, but for the past decade or so, the Big Four have had relatively few occasions of that compared to any point before, and Marvel's been more pointed about keeping their upper ranges of power more normalized for them.

[ninjahiccups]

Hi there! I saw in one of Songbird of Asgard's chapters that you headcanon Heimdall as demi - do you have any other Heimdall headcanons you would like to share with us? Sincerely, a definitely-not-Heimdall-content-starved anon.

I have a few, though I don't want to share some of them just yet since they would give away things that happen in SoA later on.

-Like I said, I hc Heimdall as demi. Gender identity really doesn't matter to him so long as he can tolerate someone and trust them enough to accept them (which is the real hard part lol)

-Heimdall is a little shit, that much we know. I like to think that applies to people he's close to as well, but in a different way. He'll give them sass and do annoying things to them just for the fun of it. Short? He puts things on the top shelf just to watch them go crazy looking for it, then casually reveal that he moved it after they've lost their mind just to watch them blow up. Have a pet peeve? You better believe he's doing the exact thing that pisses them off every chance he gets. Neat freak? He will 100% walk into their space and fuck it up. If they're someone who will push his buttons right back at him for revenge it turns into a never-ending war of pranks and sass and just messing with each other, and he's too prideful not to have the last laugh.

-Speaking of caring, Heimdall is an all or nothing kinda person, so if he cares, he goes all out. He'll be a selfish, snobby prick to everyone else, expecting them to meet his needs and expectations because they aren't worthy of his time and effort. But if someone's earns his trust and becomes important to him, he will do anything for them. There are limits to how far he'll go depending on the circumstances, but he is devoted to the people he values.

-The same can't really be said for animals, unfortunately. Yes, he respects them, but in the end he sees them as tools that can outlive their usefulness, hence his reaction when Gulltoppr dies. T_T Though he could grow to care for an animal as well, but it would take a lot. It boils down to how he perceives external bonds, seeing them as valuable only if they benefit him (we can thank ol' Odin for that) and he has to get very, VERY close to people to let go of that idea be as devoted as I described above.

-I see him as being 6'0, 6'2ish max. I know Kratos is 6'4, and it looks like Heimdall isn't *too* much shorter than him? (This would make Eivor about 5'5 in SoA)

-Based on the God of War: Lore and Legends book, I'm guessing Heimdall is not too much older than Baldur? The book states Odin and Freya were married about 125 years before GoW 2018 and Baldur came along 5 years later. Freya clearly knows Heimdall, and considering she doesn't care for him at all makes me think she never saw him grow up (if she did I honestly think she would cut him some slack since she has a soft spot for children). That would mean Heimdall would have to be an adult by the time Freya came around, making him at least 135ish? BUT he still seems a lot younger than the other gods like Tyr and Thor based on appearance alone, so he can't be too much older. I hc he's 150ish, which is still very young compared to most other gods.

-My mans is touch-starved and you can't convince me otherwise. So force this man into a hug for god's sake, he just can't admit he needs it so someone has to take it into their own hands.

-He appreciates the arts. Literature, architecture, visual art, music, anything like that. He's just very picky about what he likes.

-I subscribe to the idea that his fate would have been different if just one person cared about him. He would have had one reason to trust someone other than Odin, and that could have changed his perspective completely. Odin likely never allowed that to happen specifically to keep Heimdall under his thumb.

-He does drink, but it's more of an Asgardian culture thing than a letting loose thing. He never gets drunk and has no desire to be.

-His favorite color is gold (shocking, I know).

-He had to learn how to control his foresight in his youngest years. It's always warned him about anything that's coming at him, but actually *reacting* to it in an efficient way was something he had to work on. He wouldn't have been able to catch arrows when he was a teenager, just duck out of the way of them. Of course, his mastery over this skill is part of what makes his ego so enormous.

-My dude is an indoors enjoyer. He very much likes neat environments, clean floors, organization. Outdoors is only nice in the short term, but ask this man to go camping? No way, bruh. You'd have to work to get him to sit on the ground, let alone SLEEP on it.

-Between Heimdall's snarkiness and Atreus's smart mouth, I see so much annoying sibling energy between them. If things had been different, Heimdall would have definitely been like a smartass, I'm-better-than-you older brother, and Atrues would have been the flat-out irritating, Nuh-uh-your-face-is-stupid younger brother. I will ride or die with the idea that the god of order and the god of mischief would piss each other off like brothers who beat each other up for fun. I may or may not plan to hint at this is SoA at some point ;)

(Side note, this blog DOES ***NOT*** support Heimtreus shipping. That last headcannon is strictly in a platonic and familial kind of way)

That's all I can think of right now, other than the ones that would give some things away is SoA. I hope you enjoyed that anon!!!

[ltbarnes]

Resurrection Chapter 2

Summary: Bucky Barnes was only nineteen when the lives of his parents and little sister were taken right in front of him by the ruthless members of the Odinson mob. His father’s mistakes have turned Bucky into a vengeful and cold shell of the charming boy he once was, now deeply rooted in the criminal lifestyle of the Stark mafia. Sudden attacks ignite the conflict between the two forces of the city, refueling the rivalry that has been rather tame for years. Nine years since Bucky’s life fell apart, he finds it shattering once more when what was supposed to be long dead returns to the living.

Pairing: brother!mafia!Bucky Barnes x adopted!sister!reader, mafia!Thor Odinson x reader, mafia!Loki Odinson x reader, eventual Steve Rogers x reader

Word count: 3k

Warnings: violence, fire, mentions of trauma, Steve being a supportive and very concerned friend

A/N: things are starting to happen 👀 next chapter is going to be bigger though!!

Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Prologue | Chapter 1

•  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  • 

"Hydra did."

That five-letter-word has been echoing in Bucky's mind for three fucking days. He thought they were gone, pulverized to dust when they rescued him two years ago. Hydra was only a naive group of greedy businessmen looking for a way to make more money—sure, they managed to keep him imprisoned for almost a year, but from what he's heard about them they most likely watched The Godfather a few too many times and got excited.

It bothers him more than he lets on, the loss of memories from that year. Sometimes he has nightmares about it, he thinks. Flashes of needles and the stench of rusty blood, pale lighting and sinister words in Russian, pain so prominent that he nearly shatters his own teeth. Bucky wishes he knew more, if only to gain control back over himself. He feels like he hasn't really been his own person ever since.

For as long as he can remember, the Starks and the Odinsons have battled for the reigns of the city through constant back-and-forth sabotage and fraud. Overpowering one another by being smarter, more heinous and sinister. But there was never much bloodshed involved. It was always about the game for them. Bucky used to believe that Tony and Thor might have been doing this for fun. But there have been some strains over the years and the tension has grown exponentially—a war is brewing and he's not sure anyone can stop it.

But why in the goddamn hell would Hydra order someone to give Stark-intel to the Odinsons and not themselves? It's been bugging everyone in the Stark mob for days now. More people have been killed during these days by them than for the last six months. No matter who they ask they can't get any information on Hydra—it seems like that man who confessed is the only one willing to talk.

"Don't tell me things like that, Buck," Steve says through a gulp, nearly whispering while leaning closer.

Bucky lets a huff escape his lips. Steve has this constant fear that he will be killed by Bucky's superiors if they find out what he knows. While that would never happen, there is always a chance the Odinsons can figure out his importance to Bucky.

"No one is gonna lay a damn finger on you, you know that," Bucky says, leaning back onto his chair. "Hydra is nothing. They're just tryna' appear bigger and badder than they are."

"Well, what if they..." Steve lowers his voice once more while glancing around the café. "They could still be dangerous. Look at what they did to you, Buck."

A short, tense silence is exchanged between them. The kidnapping is a sore subject—Bucky was thought to be dead after all, and that took a goddamn toll on his best friend.

"I'm fine, Steve. Nothing is gonna happen, except maybe roughing them up if we ever can find wherever the fuck they are," he says.

Steve sighs, closing his eyes for a second before shaking his head. "You're gonna get yourself killed someday."

"Well, you better be the one writing my eulogy then."

They don't get times like these much anymore. Steve and Bucky rarely sit down together, talking through what has happened in their lives for more than 10 minutes at a time. But they've been sitting in this goddamn café for two hours now, and neither of them want to leave anytime soon. Things have been a little bit back and forth when it comes to their friendship the last few years—Bucky's lifestyle doesn't exactly mesh well with a righteous firefighter Captain. But today Steve feels like home and those days are usually good ones.

Mostly Bucky is teasing Steve about the group of teenage girls giggling each time the blonde glances over his shoulder. Somehow the punk still hasn't realized how much of a hunk he's become—watching him entirely unknowing of the attention he gains from people is balancing on the border of comical and painful. Then the conversation shifts back to Bucky's well-being and if he ever thinks about leaving the criminal life and Bucky tells him for the hundredth time that leaving is not really something you do and he doesn't really want to. That's his family right there.

He couldn't ever leave them to fend for themselves. Yelena and Nat and T'Challa and Sam and Pietro and Wanda and everyone who have nestled theirselves into his stone cold heart. Wouldn't ever say it out loud, but he loves them. And he loves the pain, the distractions. Everything was taken from him, but he gained some things too. The violence is necessary at this point, to make up for the soft feelings blossoming in his chest when his family laugh together and share inside jokes and do things for each other. Even though they kill and maim and steal, there's still warmth.

Steve doesn't really understand that if they could do anything else, they would. No one wakes up one morning and chooses to involve themselves in a web of crime and sins like this. But everyone is too far gone now. You can't live a normal life when hundreds of people want to kill you. Natasha never wished for her little sister to grow up as an assassin, and Pietro never wanted to see his twin kill somebody without a trace of remorse. Now that Bucky knows them he wishes nobody had to lay a finger on someone else again.

"The day is coming up soon," Steve says, glancing out of the window with a gulp. "Have you thought about what you wanna do this year?"

Bucky is stunned into silence. If he's honest, he has tried to avoid thinking about the anniversary of his family's death as much as possible. With each year it just gets harder. Whoever told him that it gets better with time was lying, because why does his heart clench more painfully with each year you don't get to live?

"I don't know. Maybe...no, it's dumb."

He shakes his head to himself, leaning back against the seat. Last year he and Steve went to Coney Island and bought ice cream, sitting on the same bench overlooking the water for five hours. His ma loved going there during the summer. They talked about old memories, what little he can still remember about the two of you.

"No, tell me," Steve says, leaning forward over the table. "It's not going to be dumb, Buck."

"Maybe we could go to that restaurant, with the 40's clothes and all that," he mumbles, eyes downcast onto the crumbles on his plate. "Y/n always said she wanted to work there when she was grown up. Had to be 19 to work there and...she would be that age now and all that."

Steve gives him a small smile. "That sounds great, Buck."

Driving on the dark roads towards the Stark mansion feels empty. Meaningless. For two hours today he had a sense of normalcy with Steve. As if they were two old buddies catching up after work, reminiscing about their teenage years and planning for the next meet up. While all that is true, the scene is marred by Bucky's past and present, and the future equally grim and bloody.

Bucky is stressed. The resurgence of Hydra has lead to sleepless nights and constant heart palpitations that leave him unreachable for minutes in the middle of conversations. He tells everyone they are harmless but he can't quite convince himself about that.

The entirety of the inner circle is gathered in the old library of Stark's house. Mahogany shelves line the walls of first edition books and hidden weapon cabinets, framing the large desk in front of Tony himself.

"Had this talk with some—what's his name again?" Pietro asks, snapping his fingers in the direction of Yelena who rolls her eyes in irritation.

"Rollins."

"Yes. Rollins. Didn't get shit out of him. Yeah, that didn't go very well."

"But you're sure he works for Hydra?" Tony sighs, pinching his eyebrows together with his fingers.

"Uh-huh. Like 98% sure," Pietro answer. His sister just glares at him. "Had this octopus badge on him. Never seen before."

"It was a skull with tentacles, idiot."

Bucky tenses up, a flash of long forgotten images overtaking his periphery. But he doesn't show in the least—instead a stoic figure with his arms crossed stands in the corner. And Natasha still notices. Goddamn woman.

"What?" she barks out, looking directly at him.

The heads of the room lay their attention on his now wide-eyed face, expecting a large scaled revelation when all there actually is is a blurry memory.

"No, I just—remembered the skull. That's all," Bucky mutters.

"You saw it when they had you captured?" T'Challa asks with a stiff, single nod as an answer. "That's not irrelevant, Barnes. It is important. Anything you can give us is appreciated."

Bucky breathes out a puff of air, shaking his head. T'Challa grew up in an influential Wakandan family, and is yet to have dropped the formal niceties each time he talks. The foul language in this circle has not rubbed off on him. And while it may annoy some, Bucky finds it as a nice change from all the shit he hears.

"Alright. Be on the lookout for it, okay?" Tony says, running the palm of his hand over his face tiredly. The man has been awake for several days in a row looking for information. "At this point anything is good. I'm fucking tired. Don't even know if these guys are the real thing or the Odinsons are messing with us."

A collective sigh followed by a shake of heads spreads through the room of exhausted assassins and henchmen, the collage family of a middle-aged mob heir.

The two of them—Bucky and Tony—have never really gotten along that well, but Stark seemed to feel somewhat guilty of the fate of his family. George was working for his father after all when he died. When Bucky came seeking for a sense of belonging four years ago, Stark took him in despite the reluctance. And now he's one of the best men he's got.

From time to time they clash. Bucky is stubborn and Tony even more so. But there's some form of respect there that makes him stay working for Stark.

"You know what? All of you just focus on this from now on until we find the Goodfellas," Tony says with a wave of his hand. "Hundred bucks on Al Pacino being the boss. Now get."

•  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  • 

It's three in the morning and Bucky is four hours into staring up at his ceiling when he gets the text from Nat.

Northwest warehouse blown up. Bet's on Loki and his phonies. Outside now.

And Bucky is not even mad that he gets ripped from his bed in the middle of the night. He wasn't sleeping to begin with and the glass he usually gulps down at the end of the day stands untouched on his coffee table.

With three guns strapped to him and two knives in his jacket pockets, he runs down the stairs to the sight of Nat leaning against her car.

She's stonefaced as usual, but there is a barely noticeable nervousness in her hold that sends signals of urgency into Bucky. He's not in the mood for a fight this time, but the possibility of an ambush is great with a stunt like this.

Within twenty minutes they stand in front a burning warehouse, half blown to bits and half buried in ashes. He has to fight the urge to cough as soon as he opens the car door, in fear of being made fun of by Nat.

"Goddamnit," he mutters, right hand tangled up into his hair.

A building on fire is not reason enough to keep away though. Not for them. Instead the heat and smoke is merely an inconvenience as they head closer, searching for any sign of the arsonist who put one of their most important warehouses down.

"How the hell did they find this?" he asks.

The sound of footsteps on gravel and structures tumbling down does not drown out the lack of answer from Nat. And maybe it's dumb to expect an answer, because she does not know more than Bucky, but it always feels like she just knows.

It's when he has to cover his mouth with his jacket that he halts his steps. Closer than this is impossible without burning up himself.

"Nat, do you—"

Bucky looks around for his companion without any luck. She's gone from where she was at his side merely ten seconds ago.

"Nat!"

The panic quickly builds inside Bucky's traumatized body. Logic is pushed away and the conclusions are instantly drawn to death, to bleeding out on the pavement with an Odinson bullet in her chest.

Calm breaths quickly turn frantic as he spins around in place, trying to decipher a redhead from the anxious blur. He can't lose her. Another one taken by the Odinson mob is not something he can handle. That would be the end of him.

"Calm down, Barnes. I found something."

Natasha comes back from around the corner of the warehouse with a ring in her hand. A thick ring with a pattern of thunder bolts and storm clouds carved into the worn silver. Bucky gulps, letting out a deep breath while shaking his head to himself.

"This is Thor Odinson's," he says while taking it from her outstretched hand, acting as if he didn't have the start of a panic attack a few seconds ago.

Turning his head over his shoulder, Bucky searches for any sign of company on the grounds. All sound comes from the fire. No sighting of mysterious enemies waiting to ambush.

"Where did you find this?"

"Right around the corner. Must've slipped off his fucking finger while they ran out of here," Nat answers, doing that same sweep with her eyes as him. Empty, for now.

"How did they—tried so fucking hard to hide this location. Tony will kill us."

Nat sighs, shaking her head. "I'll handle it. But I think we got ourselves a mole, Barnes, and it sure as hell isn't a newcomer."

The drive back is filled with speculation that is mostly one-sided. It has started raining and Bucky is driving slower than he normally would during rainstorms. Doesn't want to get into an accident with Nat in the car and all that.

She's already calling in for an emergency meeting less than six hours since the last one. This one will probably be bigger—a stunt like this borders on being a war declaration.

As they pull up outside of the gate, there's already dozens of sleek, black cars standing on Tony's driveway. Bucky has his arm leaning against the window as he waits for the gate to open, biting on the fingernail of his thumb despite telling himself he would stop ages ago.

It's tense as a stretched rubber band as he and Nat enters the room, this time the large dining hall with a ridiculously large table occupying half of the space.

Bucky throws the ring onto the table, letting it glide over until it starts spinning in place right in front of Stark. The goateed man stares at it for as long as it takes for the ring to still before picking it up.

"Odinson," he says, holding it up while inspecting it, letting the entire room packed with associates and members catch sight of the big finding.

"Found right outside the burning warehouse." Natasha sits herself down a few chairs away. Always leave one empty for her, if you don't want to be torn away from your seat.

Tony lets out a grunt of thought, leaning back in his chair at the top of the table. Several seconds of tense silence passes by before he speaks again.

"These damn fuckers," he mutters, throwing it down onto the mahogany. "This is the last fucking drop. I want a team infiltrating an Odinson meeting tomorrow. Just listen in, don't want to hear about any shootings or clashes afterwards," he says while still having his eyes on the ring twirling in between his fingers.

Silence. Some people are still afraid of speaking without being spoken to, even though Tony wouldn't even bat an eye. Launch a snarky remark, maybe, but when you talk as much as him you can't really complain while others do the same.

Tony raises his gaze, pointing it out subtly through the room with a dismissive expression.

"You guys stay. Everyone else can go."

He waves his hand. If you are supposed to stay you know, because it's always the same people. Over 50 people push themselves out of the room while only eight stay.

"T'Challa, Sam, Nat and Barnes. I want you four to go tomorrow. Got sources that tell me they're continuously meeting at this renovated old factory uptown."

They nod, gulping, because going in on each other's territories is never fun. It's stressful and scary to know that if you're caught you will most likely have a bullet lodged into your head.

But Bucky doesn't care. Maybe that's why Stark always sends him to stuff like this. He simply does not care if he gets a bullet shot through his body.

"Stark," Nat says, that usual stoic expression on her face and arms crossed around her.

He nods in answer, rising up from his seat before dismissing everyone else. Bucky knows she's going to discuss a possible leak of location from within the mob. And even though he wants to think that no one in this room would betray them, he knows you could never be too cautious.

•  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  • 

TAG: @kneelforloki

CHAPTER 3

[guardian-rocket]

Few random headcanons I put into my RPs:

Rocket doesn't drink alcohol *that* much, he's actually more of a coffee addict, he prefers it black, and his favorite is Kona.

He drinks very strong drinks due to his small stomach volume, so he seems like a lightweight but if he is drinking beer, he really won't feel much.

He has internet access on Knowhere and he has a cellphone. Right now he just has a basic qwerty 'dumb' phone but may get a smart phone later when he feels so inclined. The internet access he has is integrated into his own computer system and it is set up in computer emulators using an outdated windows OS he jerry-rigged himself. Sometimes certain things don't work quite right due to compatibility, but it gets the general job done.

Rocket hates Earth's 'planned obsolescence' for tech so he realizes older technology on Earth tends to be higher quality despite more limiting functionality which frustrates him to no end. He gets most of his earth tech from Junkers in space, since him having Earth money isn't consistent.

His favorite show on Earth so far is Star Trek: The Next Generation

Rocket's favorite musicians are: Muse, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, David Bowie, Guns and Roses and The Cranberries

Rocket has never had a birthday celebration and doesn't really know how old he is anyway.

Rocket is numb in some areas of his body due to his creation process. He's mostly numb in areas around his scars/implants due to damage to his nerves, so the areas with less alteration have more sensitivity. He can't feel anything but pressure on his upper back and upper chest.

He has very deft hands, they're steady as a surgeon and incredibly dexterous. They're also pretty calloused from all the work he does. (He probably needs a hand cream, ngl)

Rocket does keep records akin to keeping a Journal. He does not share that with anyone, and most people don't even know about it. He usually writes right before going to bed if he feels like he 'has anything to say'.

Rocket's multi-lingual and natively speaks English, Orbose along with a few other Earth and space languages. He can rely on his translator implant for others, but he was created with these languages hard rote into him.

Rocket has no religious affiliation. Even after his afterlife affirming experience and allusion to there being a higher power, he took the meaning to be something more abstract, akin to fate. He knows there are Gods (such as Thor) but he does see them as just ordinary people with unordinary powers. Despite this, he is generally respectful of people's beliefs as he sees it as part of their culture and understand how important that is to people. However this does not apply to cult like religions like the Universal Church of Truth.

Rocket hates bugs, there may be a bit of a squeamish fear within him too. Like he'd scream if a fly buzzed in his ear or if he found a cockroach. He had some issues with bugs getting into his cage when he was little and he just thinks they're gross. He doesn't need to explain it to you. Groot and Scott are the only ones he actually explained this to, but everyone else kinda knows. There's only so many times you can overreact about a bug being on the ship before your friends piece things together.

[wack-ashimself]

Mandela effects 5000%.

So watching inside job, entire episode is going off the mandela effect.

Summary: 'The Mandela Effect refers to a situation in which a large mass of people believes that an event occurred when it did not.'

But a lot of people hint/propose this was people jumping realities/timeline/parallel universes. It DID happen from wherever they came from.

<I mean, if you jumped, accidentally of course, entire universes/time lines/whatever, and the changes were VERY subtle (especially if you did this younger), it would be hard to notice unless it was IN YOUR FACE cuz...you've adapted. You're already adjusted to that reality. It's what the human mind AND body are programmed to do.>

I've heard about it a long long time ago. Heard many examples. The most famous I knew of was Bearstein vs bearstain bears. Fairly, on that, I was a kid and didn't pay attention to spelling too much. I am more storyline/main characters persons. Not to mention that it is easy to dismiss, in a way. Could be a misprint or something.

However, this episode pointed out to another famous one I did NOT know about. Our reality: Kazam with Shaq. Fake: Shazam with Sinbad. Now, again, title wise I do not remember. But I swear, I have vivid details of the sinbad movie. Why? Cuz, I dunno why, but as a kid, I LOVED sinbad, so I saw anything he was in. Yes, even that shitty president kid movie. I REMEMBER the sinbad genie magic movie. And yeah, I do remember the shaq movie too as a FUCKING joke (and I thought a copy OF the sinbad movie. If you wanted to see fan wack, it was me going 'you copied my fav guy's movie' as a kid lol).

So I remember BOTH movies as being real. It's weird. Here's where it gets weirder. I had a PERSONAL one that I forgot entirely till the Kazam/Shazam thing. It brought it back. From a place in my mind that I don't know is there. I PROMISED myself to post about it, but FORGOT it at the time. Instantly. Like amnesia forgot.

Avengers: Endgame (yes, it's been a while. I told you, I experienced it once, then I had NO PROOF at all I didn't imagine it).

I watch cam movies if I can't find a good version. Like any self respecting poor ass mother fucker. So that's another reason this was hard to prove: once I saw this version, it was overwritten (streaming so my ass doesn't end up in jail) by a NEW cam version, then later, the HD.

The FIRST cam version I saw (and it was within...days, max, of the movie coming out) I saw a scene entirely different in a major way than ANY other version I have seen (I checked it many times to see if it was a deleted scene since remembering. Fuck, it may be an alternative scene, but I still can't find proof of its' existence.)

In the scene where they track down Thanos (retired, weakened, etc), and find out he destroyed the stones, the scene EVERYONE saw was Thor killing Thanos.

What I originally saw (and I can not ever fully forget cuz I thought it was WAY WAY better written): Nebula, heart broken over her sister's murder, wraps this....metallic tech super whip around his neck, pulling, her leg on his side, tightening, till (they zoom out so you only see the shadow) his head falls off.

AND THAT SCENE ROCKED! I do NOT do fan fic bs. Not 'I could do it better' Cuz a-I probably could b-I probably couldn't cuz I didn't even come up with the original. This was not a dream. Not my imagination. I saw that scene. Till I saw it in HD, THAT IS THE VERSION I KNEW HAPPENED.

Just...I saw that, still vividly remember it, was planning on posting about it when I saw the OTHER version, but like, INSTANTLY forgot. It is weird...like, seeing the new version overwrote what my brain remembered originally. Like a patch update lol With technology, I sure as shit would not put it past them. Cuz let's be real: the version I saw is far more violent, and people wanted thor's redemption. So...why not test it out, it fails, put in the thor version, and just deny any other version exists? I mean, they have the power to...so it may not be themandela effect. Rather market testing, in extreme expedited ways....

[nerdwhoauthorinserts]

Selfship AU Idea 3/?

Title/Name: Little!AU Genre: Fantasy/Romance?

Selfship(s):  -Bloki (Romantic)

Trigger warnings?: -I don't... think so?

Tropes?: -Secret relationship/Romance -Forbidden relationship/Romance -Little people/Borrowers

Changes: -Blake gets a species change. (Human-ish ---> Little/Little person.) -Blake meets Loki before Thor's banishment to Midgard.

Basic plot:

Loki, after a stressful day at a celebration, goes to sleep in his chambers, only to be awoken in the middle of the night. They find a mirror that was sitting on their desk is now broken on the floor, despite remembering that it was placed far away from the edge. That's when they notice something tied around it: A piece of twine with a large fishing hook on the end.

Loki then finds himself just barely able to see a small boot run under his bed, and finds a rat hole was made in his wall underneath his bed. Left behind, a tanned rat's hide, which was left behind in the creature's scramble to return to the walls. Recalling that things have been going missing around the palace, such as patches of fabric, sewing needles, and even a strawberry from a cake once, things many would write off as misplaced or forgotten, he realizes that this 'creature' must've been the little thief running around.

The next morning, he goes around, now noticing that each room in the palace seems to have a rat hole hidden away somewhere. Little things that would be easily overlooked stand out to him now as evidence of a small creature's existence in the palace. Even going so far as to open the rat holes wider when he notices small trinkets inside. (A thimble for a cup, a nut shell for a bowl, a doll's shirt, etc.)

Loki notices changes in his room when he returns later, and realizes that the little thief is attempting to reclaim the rat hide that it left behind. Thus, Loki attempts to use it for bait to capture the little thief. He's interrupted though, and while distracted by his brother, the hide is taken back from right under his nose.

A playful scene ensues, with the little thief rushing around Loki's room from behind the walls to hidden hiding places, and him using magic to perform little tricks as the god tries to locate him. (Knocking over a chair behind them to make Loki jump, making Loki's dagger fall out of their pocket, etc.) All the while, barely able to contain his laughing. This is the most fun Blake's had in ages and Loki can tell it's light-hearted in nature.

Frigga calls for Loki to meet with her and confronts him about what he's been doing around the palace, though. Assuming they were causing trouble due to the events of the celebration. (Massive unfortunate coincidence that the night a celebration occurred that bothered Loki was right before the day Loki would be sneaking around the palace breaking open rat holes, oops.)

Loki is upset by this, tremendously so, as he's basically been accused of taking out his anger by destroying the palace. Of course, he can't tell her the real reason, though. Who would believe a little creature wearing doll's clothes was living in the palace walls and stealing things? Especially from him, the one everyone was convinced couldn't be trusted?

Seeing Loki upset, the little thief, Blake, feels awful about it, feeling like it was partially his fault. After all, he was the one who was careless, if Loki hadn't known he was there, he wouldn't have been looking around for evidence in the first place. So, Blake tries to apologize as best he can without getting caught: Leaving a gift.

A beautiful gold ring with an emerald on it, some chocolate (Which he knows Loki likes, and isn't too common on Asgard.), and a paper note with the words: 'I'm sorry' written on it. (He can't write very much on it since it's such a small piece of paper.) Loki finds it fairly quickly. Despite being so small, it's clear there was thought put into it, and Loki is... endeared by it.

Blake accidentally makes his presence known, looses his footing, and falls from his hiding spot. Loki notices before he could hit the ground and catches him, not having seen Blake, and Blake is terrified, seeing as 'bad things happen to littles who are caught by giants'. ...Oops.

But it's okay, Loki isn't going to kill him, so it's fine-

Extra info:

Blake is about...maybe nine inches tall? I figure anything the size of an actual borrower would be super awkward to write for.

Little people have minor magic capabilities. (As noted in the above blurb.)

Blake lives in a compartment in the walls. It's pretty close to Loki's chambers, and he's been living in there for a while. It's close enough that he can hear people talk in Loki's room.

There's a reverse type AU as well similar to this. Blake is a giant in that one, but that's a story for a different post-

Frigga knows. She fuckin' knows, dude. She's one of the main reasons more people don't know Blake's there.

I just think this type of thing is cute, I'm sorry-

---------------- Blake: "-That's kind of why I kept that ring, because it reminded me of your eyes." Loki: "...And you kept it ...for me?" Blake: *Nods* "...I was going to leave it somewhere where you'd find it, but seeing you so upset... I... thought I'd just give it to you now, since you already know I exist anyway." ----------------

Mark my words, I'm gonna end up making one of these types of AUs for multiple selfships/F/Os. lol.

[the-real-zhora-salome]

I mean even Jeremy Irons, who likes Tom, said he's had an easy life. - I don't have the quote handy so I may be misremembering it, but Ken said something like "Tom has had difficult things happen, he just doesn't talk about it". And I respect that and am glad Ken said that. Some people don't feel a need to air their dirty laundry to gain other people's respect. Yes, Tom has had it relatively easy. I am not here to deny that. But to anons point-why are other celebs like BC and ER and a whole bunch of others ever held to the same criticism? Maybe it's the whole posh guy the media pushed on him as at the beginning of his career? That is their only image of him?

Seriously, if anyone knows the quote of which I speak, help a gal out. I have seen it pop up multiple times and of course, now I can't find it. Maybe it isn't a real quote (never trust the internet) but the sentiment is what I was going for. People make a personality out of feeling bad for the "terror's" TS has gone through and you can't say she hasn't had an easy life. Why is it so hard for people to see Tom as a person and not a stereotype of things they hate the most that have nothing to do with who he really is?

I don't have the quote handy so I may be misremembering it, but Ken said something like "Tom has had difficult things happen, he just doesn't talk about it". And I respect that and am glad Ken said that.

You most probably mean this quote:

"Branagh is a longtime friend of Hiddleston’s: he hired him on his detective series Wallander, then for the Chekhov play Ivanov staged at Wyndham’s Theatre, London, and ultimately on Thor, directed by Branagh. Along the way, he has witnessed some cracks in the armour. During Thor, Branagh recalls the young actor as “a bit scared and vulnerable, and at times pretty lonely. I think he withstood isolation pangs that might have thrown some people. But what I admire about Tom is he’s not trying to present the idea that a tortured individual lives alongside this gilded youth. He has a lot of the personal challenges that most people have, but he doesn’t look for sympathy by trying to convince people that there’s trouble in the kingdom.”"

It's from this article in Esquire Magazine:

thanks @insanityclause for helping me find it.

I also found another KB interview post-Hamlet where he said that in his class at RADA, Tom was the only student with a "posh" family background.

Tom undoubtedly has had it easier than many early in his career, because he had a family that he could have fallen back on if need be.

We know that he payed the fees for RADA himself with money that he earned from acting jobs while at Cambridge, but frankly we don't know if he received financial help for his costs of living while at RADA. It can be assumed, because he had his own flat (not rented), and since he couldn't take professional acting jobs during this time, we have to assume that he received help for his cost of living.

But that also means that he never had to make use of all the various opportunies for grants and stipends and whatnot that lesser affluent students at RADA have access to.

So yeah, he may not have had to worry so much about how to pay rent, but we still have next to no insight into what his life was like, especially his state of mind, during those years at RADA and afterwards, until his career started to get off the ground. He has talked about how he struggled to book jobs after RADA, how he failed at a lot of auditions. That cannot have been easy, either.

I think people also feel that he has had it "easy" because it feels like he had his break through with Loki immediately after RADA. But that's not true. There were four to five years where he was just a jobbing actor, like most. I imagine that these years were just as fraught with insecurities and worries as they would be for actors with no "posh" background.

[the-firebird69]

Volkswagen Descends Into Irrelevance As Band-Aid Measures Can't Cure Its Severe Illnesses - autoevolution

It is the combination and it's German engineering and people trusted it back then and it's more trusted now and I'm rethinking the Volkswagen bug and we can do it with a Dodge later but this is probably how it should start and the MR2 is a special it's a good idea and the speed package it'll really go fast but this is probably how it should go and people are all saying just saying the bug and then they're saying this and now they're saying the bug again so it worked last time and it was like this code so it's going on now and they're trying to figure out what to do and it is coming out that the bug is supposed to be the one and they're going to work through it yeah that's what they want to do and it will start this process off so his son and daughter Savage opress they have the designs for the bug and they did pull the front up a little and they said it will probably fit on the Dodge subcompacts and really the wheelbase is like 103 it's bigger than 74 and the mr2's small that is a small car it's getting too small it is too small so my her son says there's a Toyota supercar like NAX and you make a smaller one and that's what you do oh he says that's Honda yeah that's the one you make it like that and they've been doing that for years and that particular toy was probably a little bigger and they say yes like 3 in so that's what you do it copy it and it says that's the other side I'm going to get going on this and we have to this is a great idea they're going to go ahead and work it up with the beetle now those are made only up to around 2008 and I made it from 1997 roughly almost the same year as the MR2 and they stopped production and it's coded and stuff but we believe in countering it overcoming it and this is a fact this car with the Volkswagen bug which they have about a hundred and 45 horsepower it would go very fast the stats would be 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds because it's lighter in the chassis is stronger quarter mile and about 7.36 seconds and top speed 280 mph and that's using the stock motor the stock exhaust which we're going to change and it's not changing lunch you'd leave the tires and rims in the interior and he said to come up with that first and I think he's right and he's trying to change it a little but he says that the kit would make it go very fast faster than you want to and it's true that's ridiculous most people will not be able to go that fast or handle it yet the car can and there's no reason to modify anything if you don't have to and the interior looks okay and there's an option to take the rear seat out it is true no you really have to take it out it won't fit I can't believe how cool this is this idea is terrific of bringing it back it's not a huge idea but it's pretty big and Volkswagens are front-wheel drive and you can put a decent tire if someone aggressive and still be able to drive in the snow and some other types of terrain people are going to want to do this and they're going to probably start soon but we'll see how it goes

Thor Freya

I want to get this going and he says to try putting it together and go to some kind of a car show and it's just like a homemade version and they'll get the shape and it's going to be VW and I'm going to do that

And he says it'll be like the John Cena car but it won't be like this high tech thing and I might have some people trying take 3d pictures and they have those and they can translate it so they want it out there

Savage opress

There are a lot of operable beetle cars tons of them and they all have decent rims and tires and we'd have to have a different body if you have different rims and tires you almost want to because you want to make the rear end come out a little and you can do it with a tire a little bit but not much so you have to think about that and he says not too much because you can make the body designed around what the bug is and that's what it looks like you could and we will and we did design it like that so it sticks out even though it doesn't really it's really cool and it's a good idea

Thor Freya

I said the top part but yeah this is right too

Savage oppress

Olympus

I get into this and get it going this is great

Hera

[mlgotg]

Do you think Nebula and Rocket used to fix each other up after fights during the time skip? Since there was only the two of them and both were extremely depressed I imagine they both tended to be pretty reckless.

I've been turning this ask over in my mind the last few days trying to think of some examples of them taking care of each other. Again, I was hoping I'd have some doodles prepared... but idk when that's gonna happennnn sorry friend </3

Their friendship is so special to me. I love that they started out not really liking or caring about each other that much initially and end up becoming besties. One of my favourite parts of playing the game was hearing Rocket call her a psycho because I'm like ohhh buddyyyy… In another life that psycho is in your Top 3 Closest Friends and also you're a bit of a psycho too on occasion so shut up. Anyway,

I tried not to get carried away with this but… ya

After Nebula and Tony are rescued, Rocket takes her to the med bay to get checked out. (He loathes going there usually.) Nebula is surprised that he's bothering and that he isn't mad at her. Rocket is not feeling much of anything Right Now but I think he's just glad that SOMEONE he knows is okay.

After Thor kills Thanos and they take everybody back to Earth, Rocket finally has the meltdown of the century. This is like. Nebula's second time ever attempting to comfort someone so it is VERY awkward and she's also pretty much ready to meltdown herself soooo. Yikes. Divas down!!!

After that, they're pretty much inseparable. When they aren't on Earth doing humanitarian aid they're aiding people elsewhere in the galaxy. When they aren't working, they still spend most of their time together. I think that out of the two of them, Nebula is the closest to the other Avengers. Particularly Nat and Tony. As terrible of a time as she's having emotionally, I think this is also one of the highest points in her life because she has friends for the first time. She has a job and gets to make her own choices, she gets to help people?? Unheard of. She's grateful to get a second chance. BTW Rocket is also "friends" with the Avengers, but I think he's too scared to admit they're more than coworkers to him. You can't lose more friends if you don't have any!! (Goofy floating in pool.gif) On the flip side, Nat and Tony consider him their friend. And Rocket is very popular among the remaining lab interns that work with Tony. His reluctance to make any more friends is soooo one-sided.

I don't want to get too specific abt this one bc I'm still brainstorming it. But at some point, Rocket gets injured in an accident. It's not life-threatening, but he's not allowed to work for a while and that frustrates him deeply. This is the catalyst for a downward spiral that is Not Fun for anybody involved. Nebula has to drag him kicking and screaming back into being a functional person again. 💀

Nebula gets a few upgrades over the years and Rocket does them all for her!! Neither of them are trusting of others, especially not when it comes to medical treatment/procedures. I think they handle 90% of those things by themselves and for each other. Rocket has some strong opinions on the "upgrades" Nebula endured in her childhood, a lot of them turned out to be actively holding her back and causing pain/discomfort. I think she had a lot of sensory issues before they worked on optimizing her settings and cybernetics properly. Not sure if Nebula had many chances to return the favour because I think Rocket is generally against being poked and prodded in any way. (Even if it's just her) And also on account of the kill switch established in V3? Honestly, I don't even know if the kill switch is gonna be a thing at all in my story?? Who knows, not me. These things come to be in dreams and visions.

Honourable mention: They've talked about Gamora a LOT. They both know things about her that the other might not necessarily. I imagine that they shared a lot of stories about her. And the other Guardians, but I think Gamora would come up the most because she's the only one they both had a close relationship with.

Thank you sm for the ask <3 I hope you enjoyed my ramblings. I think about these guys every day of my life….. If there's anything I mentioned that you want me to elaborate on lmk, I'll think about it some more and get back to you!