#classified ads script

[businessadvis321]

Key Revenue Factors for Your Classified Marketplace in 2024

In today's tech-driven era, the classified business has emerged as a super business with the power of technology. Businesses have changed their work algorithm in a convenient, quick, and hassle-free way. 

While the core concept remains the same, the transition to digital platforms has made the experience seamless. Enter into a world of seamless and profitable Classified Software business experiences. In a constantly evolving world, your approach to buying and selling should evolve too.

Adapting to the new change - the classifieds script is the key to unlocking your business success. How did the classified ad script elevate your business success? 

This article explores strategies to maximize the revenue of your classified ads business. 

Let's begin with some enlightening statistics!

What is a Classified Marketplace?

A few years ago, people often confused classified advertising with traditional classified ad script businesses, where goods were listed for resale in newspapers. Interested buyers would contact sellers directly to negotiate prices.

In today's fast-paced world, newspapers have also gone digital, and so has classified advertising. Classified software emerged, enabling users to buy and sell items directly, without intermediaries. This shift has facilitated a transition to a customer-to-customer (C2C) model in classifieds.

C2C online marketplace apps are similar to e-commerce apps. The only difference is, that in classified applications, people can sell their used goods. Letgo and OfferUp are a notable classified marketplace to buy and sell used products.

Growing Demand for Classified Marketplace

The online classified market is dynamic and evolving, facing exciting challenges. Studies indicate a positive outlook among industry leaders about its future. A significant 84% of CEOs and owners in online classified enterprises expressed optimism about the market's prospects in the coming years.

The business model in classifieds is increasingly emphasizing transactional incomes. Currently, revenues from transactional services constitute an average of 15% of companies' total revenues, with expectations to grow up to 50% in the future.

Looking ahead, the online classifieds market is projected to reach $741.47 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.80% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2032.

Industry reports also highlight the future plans among companies, with 57% planning to launch new products and 59% intending to hire new employees in the coming years. 

Furthermore, 39% of surveyed businesses plan to modify their operations within the next 3-5 years to stay competitive and innovative in the dynamic classified industry.

How does a Classified Marketplace Make Money?

Each online platform adopts different monetization strategies. Here are the most commonly used models across the classified marketplace like Letgo:

In-App Advertisement 

Harnessing in-app advertisements effectively boosts individual user product visibility on the platform. Here's how integrating targeted in-app advertising can drive revenue:

Implement Targeted Advertising: Set up a system that lets sellers display their products to a specific audience based on user preferences, location, and search history. This targeted approach improves user engagement and increases the possibility of conversions.

Encourage User Engagement: To maximize earnings, focus on keeping users engaged on your classified software for longer periods. Enable sellers to create special offers, discounts, or bundled deals that attract more buyers. 

This not only promotes individual listings but also encourages multiple purchases, thereby increasing overall sales and revenue.

Membership Fee 

Another effective way to monetize a classifieds script is by implementing membership fees. This can be divided into two categories: special features for a price and subscription plans.

Special Features for a Price 

Offer special features to premium users. For example, users can pay to have their listings appear at the top of search results. This not only generates revenue but also provides added value to users willing to pay for extra visibility.

Subscription Plans 

While not all marketplaces use this feature, subscription plans can be a valuable addition to increase revenue. By offering different plans, users can choose a level of service that suits their needs. 

For instance, a platform like Contentplace might offer three subscription plans, each providing various benefits based on the price. Casual users can opt for a basic plan, while more frequent users might choose a premium plan for additional features. 

This tiered approach caters to different user needs and maximizes the revenue potential of your classified ads marketplace.

Seller Fee

The seller fee is similar to the membership fee. Sellers pay a small amount to list their products on the platform, typically between 1% and 5% of the sale price.

Interestingly, some platforms allow sellers to decide how much they want to charge. For small traders or those selling just a few items, the fee might be minimal. This flexibility makes it easier for sellers to list their products without significant upfront costs.

Charging a listing fee benefits the platform by generating revenue while providing value to sellers. If the platform effectively connects sellers with buyers, most sellers will be willing to pay a small fee for the increased exposure and sales opportunities.

Transaction Fees

Every online buy-sell marketplace uses transaction fees to generate revenue. This approach involves charging a fee from buyers to facilitate smooth exchanges of goods and services on the classified ad script platform. The fee charged is known as the transaction fee.

You can either set a fixed amount as a transaction fee or decide on a specific percentage to keep from every transaction amount.

In-App Purchases

A classified website script can generate income through in-app purchases rather than from app downloads or sales. This allows sellers to draw attention to their listings and sell their products quickly.  

For instance, users can pay to “feature” a listing. This places the listing at the top of the user’s feed and highlights it with a unique “Features” ribbon. Additionally, it adds a button that allows buyers to contact the sellers with a single tap. Sellers can choose to feature their product listing for 24 hours, 3 days, or 7 days. 

While the core functionality of the marketplace - buying and selling is free, users can pay for special features to enhance their experience. 

This revenue model encourages wide app utilization and increases brand awareness, as customers are more likely to try something out when it’s free. 

Wrapping Up

Now that you have understood the key revenue strategies for classified software. By implementing a combination of these revenue factors and continually adapting to user behavior, your classified marketplace can thrive in the competitive classified ads script market and generate substantial revenue. 

All you need to do is reach out to the right development team and pick a robust classified ad script to start your classified business instantly!

[classifiedscripts]

Classified Ads Script: All-Round Solution For A Perfect Venture

Are you in want of a tool that eliminates the hassle of starting an online business? If so, a classified ads script can be your perfect search result.

[marryhain]

The Ultimate Guide to Harnessing the Power of Online Classified Script

In today's fast-paced digital era, online marketplace has become the go-to destination for buying and selling goods and services. If you're looking to maximize your reach and streamline your buying or selling experience, the Online classified script is your ultimate solution.

Why Choose Online Classified Script?

User-Friendly Interface:

The online classified script boasts a user-friendly interface, making it easy for buyers and sellers to navigate the platform. With intuitive features, you can effortlessly list your items or find what you're looking for in just a few clicks.

Powerful Search and Filter Options:

Searching for specific items has always been challenging. The online classified script provides robust search and filter options, allowing users to narrow down their choices and find exactly what they need, saving time and effort.

Secure Transactions:

Security is a top priority, and online classified script ensures that all transactions are conducted in a safe and secure environment. You can buy or sell with confidence, knowing that your information is protected.

Tips for Sellers:

Create Compelling Listings:

Stand out from the crowd by creating detailed and eye-catching listings. Include high-quality images, a clear description, and competitive pricing to attract potential buyers.

Responsive Communication:

Promptly respond to inquiries from potential buyers. Clear and timely communication builds trust and increases the likelihood of a successful transaction.

Utilize Promotional Features:

Take advantage of any promotional features offered by online classified script. Highlight your listing or feature it to increase visibility and attract more potential buyers.

Tips for Buyers:

Set Alerts for Favorites:

Don't miss out on the perfect item. Set up alerts for your favorite searches or items to receive notifications when new listings match your criteria.

Research Sellers:

Before making a purchase, take the time to research the seller. Check their ratings and reviews to ensure a positive buying experience.

Negotiate Responsibly:

While negotiating is common, do so responsibly. Be fair and respectful to the seller to build a positive online trading community.

In conclusion, Online classified script is revolutionizing the online classifieds experience. Whether you're a seasoned seller or a savvy buyer, this platform offers the tools and features you need for a seamless and secure transaction. Join classified ad script today and unlock a world of possibilities in the online marketplace.

[wordsandrobots]

IBO reference notes on . . . queerness

How has it taken me this long to write about this aspect of the show? (He asked rhetorically, staring at the enormous amount of fanfic that basically stands as a thesis statement on how very queer this part of the Gundam franchise is [as opposed to all the other terribly straight parts, he added, sarcastically].)

Anyway, let's do it. Full spoilers up to the end of the show will follow, together with discussion of child abuse and exploitation, since that is what IBO is all about.

Special thanks to @lilenui and @prezaki for their invaluable assistance in locating sources.

Statement of caveats: this work is an amateur analysis of the English-language localisations (subtitled and dubbed) of a piece of Japanese media. I do not speak or read Japanese. I am myself bi, which qualifies me to be attracted to more of the cast than the average viewer, and have a working knowledge of LGBTQ+ history in the UK and USA, which tells me nothing about the cultural and historical context in which this anime was made. As such, I will not be addressing the behind-the-scenes production or the corporate mandates surrounding it but will focus narrowly on what I perceive to be present in the text (hereafter meaning both the script and animation, and any additional fictional details provided elsewhere).

Queerness in Gundam

Some background before we dive in. To my knowledge, the first character in the Gundam franchise to be intentionally depicted as LGBTQ+ is Guin Sard Lineford from Turn A Gundam (1999). An ambitious young aristocrat who spends the series on the line between hero and villain, he is infatuated with protagonist Loran Cehack and the show makes little attempt to play this as anything other than one man falling in love with another.

This is entirely one-sided and not appreciated on Loran's part, although that seems to have less to do with it being homosexual attraction than with Guin's high-handed and entitled attitude to life, filtered through heavily gendered social norms. For plot reasons, Loran spends several episodes cross-dressing as 'Laura Rolla', corsets and all, and Guin continues referring to him as 'Laura' long after the deception is no longer required, saying it 'suits him better'. Guin is eventually called out on this by a third character, who accuses him of forcing an idea of feminity on the other man rather than stoop to place himself in the position of a 'wife'. Objectifying Loran is presented as of a piece with Guin's overall flaws as a person, to whit, putting his own views about how things should be above the material reality and desires of those around him.

Guin is also the only explicitly gay character in the show (I'm honestly not sure how to classify whatever Dianna Soreil and Kihel Heim have going on, but it's certainly not labelled in the text). Therefore no counterpoint is provided to demonstrate healthy queer relationships. I don't state this to dismiss his inclusion: he forms part of a smart, nuanced plot thread, and Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino had to fight to get Guin's homosexuality clearly included. But even so, Guin is a palpable step forward rather than a watershed moment, and the end result veers close to some nasty stereotypes about queer people imposing their desires on others.

There are other examples of characters transgressing gender norms in Turn A, most especially Loran's aforementioned cross-dressing. He is comfortable playing the part of 'Laura', in ways that mitigate viewing this situation as the extended joke it might be in another production. Funny moments do come up – particularly in the lead-in to his 'debut' as he acclimatises to the female attire of the show's pseudo-Edwardian setting and takes posture lesson – but he and the concept of a man in ladies' clothes are never made a subject of mockery. The same cannot be said for the character of Sochie Heim, whose attempts as a young woman to fulfil a gung-ho masculine role often turn comedic. This is part and parcel of her assaying militaristic modes of action, which are soundly mocked across the board. It nevertheless stands out next to Loran/Laura.

Further, Loran's status as a literal moon-child carries implications for his attitudes. His dismissal of existing social standards on Earth is very much presented as correct, and in keeping with what I know of Tomino's other writing and stated beliefs, but it dovetails unfortunately with a treatment of queerness as otherworldly, not something that may be found among an average population. We get another example of cross-dressing in the next-but-one series, Gundam 00 (2007, not a work Tomino helmed), where the usually male-presenting artificial lifeform Tieria Erde switches to a female presentation (in a ball-gown, no less) during a covert mission. This sufficiently parallels Loran's case, I assume it was a deliberate call-back, being as it is a disguise enacted by someone even less typical than a boy from the moon.

What I am driving at is that while Guin, Loran and Tieria may be characters who are queer or perform queerness in some manner, they do not necessarily represent an outright embracing of queerness as a mundane facet of everyday life.

Fast-forward to 2024 and the latest mainline Gundam show is a lesbian romance.

If you have been following my blog for a while, you will know I do not hold The Witch From Mercury in especially high regard. I think it is annoyingly messy, frequently half-baked, and, broadly-speaking, exactly as frustrating as I'd expect from the guy who wrote Code:Geass. It's still an explicit love story that opens with a clangingly blunt statement about the acceptance same-sex relationships and ends with the two female leads happily married to one other. For all its flaws, I genuinely think the central relationship between Suletta Mercury and Miorine Rembran is a nice piece of story-telling, not to mention admirably open about what it is doing. Like it or lump it, Gundam is gay now, properly, with a protagonist and co-protagonist who can be definitively labelled queer and whose romance appears entirely unremarkable for the setting (in terms of being same-sex; clearly there is a lot to remark upon otherwise).

I would be remiss if I did not mention that the conclusion of the series was accompanied by a certain amount of corporate arse-showing, with hollow attempts to walk back the ending seemingly for the sake of appeasing homophobic elements within and without the companies that produce Gundam. The frankly laughable nature of these actions stands testament to how unequivocal G-Witch is. It is flatly impossible in my opinion to interpret as anything other than flagrantly homosexual, and that's great.

Between this interesting but limited start and the full-throated present lies Iron-Blooded Orphans (2015), my absolute favourite and the show that got me writing slash fic after years of… not doing that. So: what is the deal with queerness in IBO?

Natural for a human

By my count, including all present spin-offs, there are three characters stated in-text as being attracted to people of the same gender (Yamagi Gilmerton, Iznario Fareed, Deira Nadira), two who are at the least open to the idea (Norba Shino, Mina Zalmfort), two whose mutual attraction is stated within the context of polyamory with a third person of the opposite gender (Atra Mixta, Kudelia Aina Bernstein), one whose sexuality is briefly hinted at (Chad Chaden), and one male character who is possibly not attracted to women (Orga Itsuka).

Let's get Iznario out of the way first, because the less time we spend on the actual paedophile, the better.

Lord Iznario Fareed is a rich, powerful aristocrat who sexually abuses young blonde boys and inadvertently sets large parts of the plot in motion as part of quasi-villain McGillis' backstory. In a lesser show, Iznario would be the embodiment of the 'predatory queer' stereotype Guin skirts the edge of. Here, however, he is very much not the only 'gay' character present and his proclivities demonstrate one of the many ways the world exploits vulnerable children, a core theme of the series. Early on, we see fleeting glimpses of young girls being pimped out on the streets of Mars. Iznario shows this social failing extends to the much richer Earth and although he is portrayed as the worst among the Gjallarhorn elite, they all abuse their power for personal gain. Thus, as much as the reveal of what he has done carries a certain shock value, it is not present purely for cheap impact. (This isn't the essay to discuss it, but the flashbacks to McGillis being abused as a child are a masterclass in how to frame such things around the victim, clearly communicating what's happening while avoiding gross voyeurism.)

I don't know how deliberate it is the canonical gay character who is shown in an entirely positive light fits the profile of Iznario's victims to a T, but it does underscore we're looking at a case of power allowing people to get away with hideous things, not a stand-in for queerness in general. To an extent I resent having to spell this out, since it seems so obvious Iznario is not fulfilling the role of a homophobic cliché. Sadly, the cliché exists and the point is worth discussion.

Moving swiftly on: Yamagi and Shino.

Yamagi Gilmerton is a small, quiet teenage boy with a somewhat withdrawn and acerbic personality, who spends much of Iron-Blooded Orphans nursing a hopeless crush on mobile suit pilot Norba Shino. Like the majority of the cast, Yamagi is a child soldier, but a mechanic rather than a combatant. Additional backstory commentary reveals that he struggled on joining CGS mercenary group due to his physique. Indeed, while this detail is not directly referenced in the anime itself, he is indeed drawn noticeably thinner than the other boys.

Again, we veer towards stereotypes, where a queer character is portrayed as weaker and more effeminate. Yet in spite of leaning this way in looks, Yamagi is an eminently capable person, never treated as lesser for fulfilling a support role rather than being a fighter. If anything, IBO goes out of its way to highlight how vital good mechanics are to mechanised warfare, and we see multiple examples of Yamagi being both assertive and kind of badass. At one point, he scales, unaided, an 18 metre tall mobile suit that's collapsed to its knees. When he and Shino are revisited in spin-off game Urdr Hunt (soon to be some form of animated production), he pilots a spaceship within an active battle-zone, flying escort for a damaged freighter as it retreats. In Season 2, he's comfortable ordering Tekkadan's new recruits around and is the first person to properly chew Orga out for his failings as a leader. Far from being an outlier among the protagonists, Yamagi is equally brave and dedicated to the cause, irrespective of his sexuality.

To be fair, he does tend to clam up and grow more awkward around the object of his affections. To be equally fair, he has the misfortune of having fallen for the most oblivious himbo on God's red Mars.

Shino is a big, boisterous warrior, the polar opposite of Yamagi in personality and physicality. He embodies Tekkadan's machismo, eagerly anticipating the chance to prove their strength and generally being a standard bearer for becoming the biggest, baddest group around. Things are not as straightforward as they seem on the surface, however. He shows a good awareness of when the group is in over their heads – going so far as to suggest retreat in the face of bad odds several times – and he is not nearly as sure of himself as he might first appear. He displays a wide streak of insecurity about his abilities as a soldier, reacting badly to people questioning his dedication or competency. And he crumbles completely when some of his comrades are killed as the result of a split-second mistake on his part, stating a wish to have died in their place. Thereafter, he acts in ways that read as choosing to take all the risks on himself rather than go through more loss. It makes him an interesting mix, someone who acts as a cheerleader, boosting everyone else's morale, while swallowing his own doubts and personal fatalism.

He is also presented as one of the most sexually active members of Tekkadan, using his wages to visit brothels to sleep with women. Indeed, he is frequently found extolling the virtues of the opposite sex, referencing collections of pornography (at least in the English dub), and generally being a very typical teenage boy about such matters.

Given this, you might assume Yamagi is longing hopelessly for a straight man. That is indeed the idea the show teases us with for much of its run (can something be straight-baiting? I feel if anything ever earned that title, it's this). OK, Shino's fond of Yamagi as a friend and frequently relies on his assistance in improving his fighting ability, and per ancillary material, is the one who got Yamagi transferred to the mechanics corps in the first place, rescuing him from struggling in the infantry. And sure, Shino spends an awful lot of time in very close proximity to Yamagi, including literally pulling him into the cockpit to assist with a mission. And yes, Shino is absolutely a flamboyant creature, sporting gold ear studs and an attraction to the colour pink, ensuring his mobile suits are painted all over magenta in order to stand out on the battlefield. And certainly, Shino is extremely empathetic, adjusting his attitude depending on his impressions of other people, such that he dials his boisterousness down in Yamagi's presence, displaying a far more gentle affection than he does with his other friends.

But clearly he hasn't noticed Yamagi is head over heels for him.

Right?

Well, towards the end of Season 2, during another moment where Yamagi is literally sitting on Shino's knee, Shino proposes the two of them drink together all night long once the fighting is over. Not only is this an unambiguously romantic overture (he's asking while pushing aside the fringe that normally covers half of Yamagi's face, in order to look into his eyes properly), it comes after a joke several episodes earlier in which Shino has to explain to a less worldly comrade that a girl inviting you for a drink is not a request to go out with the whole gang but a far more intimate gesture (I say explain, it's more expressing incredulity Akihiro didn't realise Lafter was asking him on a date). Later, it is revealed Shino did indeed work out that Yamagi 'likes' him (to his friend Eugene's exasperation that it took him so long to notice), and he reacted with amazed delight to discover there was someone in Tekkadan who'd fall in love with 'a guy like me'.

He'd assumed because Tekkadan is a family (a description provided by their ally Naze, which everyone just kind of runs with), romantic love wasn't possible between them. Having worked through this mental block and finally realised the blindingly obvious, he renews his desire to protect Tekkadan as long as he lives, refuting his previous view of himself as an expendable human shield and heading out with every intention of surviving all the way to the end.

And because IBO is an exquisitely-written tragedy, he is promptly killed while attempting a futile one-man attack against their enemies, his advances on Yamagi forming part of a long build-up whereby the boy who loves him provides the tools he needs to charge into a suicide run.

Right then. *drags out the reading comprehension soap-box* I have seen some people refer to this as an example of the 'bury your gays' trope, and there is nothing more likely to get me manifesting behind you in the form of an irate shoebill than to do likewise. 'Bury your gays' refers to a tendency for queer characters in fiction to disproportionately suffer tragic fates. This is a writing choice usually rooted in the idea queer relationships are inherently tragic, either because they are viewed as a perversion of 'correct' forms of love, or because of some misguided idea the prevalence of homophobia means queer joy is impossible. I am going to be charitable and concede this is indeed a case where one half of a budding homosexual relationship dies horribly. But, as always, the context matters.

All but one of the romantic relationships established prior to the epilogue of Iron-Blooded Orphans end in death. Of the two that survive in some capacity, one is a heterosexual background romance between two older characters and the other is a pair of women I shall be covering later. IBO is a story about child soldiers that does not shy away from the fact these are teenagers being fed into a meat-grinder. That the director's original intention of killing every named character was toned down (to the series immeasurable benefit, in my opinion) dos not change a narrative arc towards doom.

Within this, Yamagi and Shino aren't singled out for being queer. The coyness around Shino's eventually-evident bisexuality serves to generate an instant of hope and relief right before the rug is pulled from under everyone's feet. Where Shino's death does differ from those of other characters is in presentation: he dies alone and does not get any form of farewell or the passing-on moment afforded to others. But that is only to be expected, since we're talking about the point where it becomes clear there is no saving the situation. It's a cruel, abrupt moment of bad luck, puncturing the heroic idea of scraping victory at the last second. Shino flew out intending to live and he died anyway. A queer relationship forming part of what he was fighting for is an almost incidental detail.

(As an aside, I am aware of two other examples in Gundam fiction where a pilot and a mechanic have a doomed love affair. One is in Char's Counterattack, where a male engineer's romance with a female pilot ends with them both being abruptly killed, and the other is from Gundam AGE, where a female mechanic sacrifices herself for the greater good, leaving a male pilot to mourn her loss for the rest of the series. Shino and Yamagi reiterate this same concept.)

Stepping back from the tragedy, Yamagi's love for Shino is as delightfully underplayed as the other relationships in the show, with little emotional melodrama being wrung from the romance itself. Yamagi can't bring himself to declare his feelings, frequently turning cold instead and perpetuating Shino's misunderstanding of where they stand. Yet Shino ultimately proves enthusiastic for the idea, rendering moot any concerns Yamagi had over getting turned down (going beyond the text, a Q&A with the series' director confirmed Shino was written as bi). Equally, in the aftermath of Shino's death, Eugene comforts Yamagi by relating the truth of Shino's earlier realisation and even going so far as to rebuff Yamagi for implying there's something wrong with him for grieving. This and other interactions in the same episode imply those nearest to the pair were well aware of Yamagi's desires and had absolutely no problem with them. The prevailing attitude within Tekkadan is one of complete acceptance for its members and this is no different.

Indeed, for me, the most important part of how queerness is represented in IBO is that it is treated as just another aspect of the diversity of the cast. I've seen it stated that viewing homosexuality as a natural part of human existence was Tomino's motivation in making Guin gay. IBO presents us with the same idea, far more seamlessly and far more positively.

Now, let's leave the anime proper and look at the same-sex pairing from spin-off manga Iron-Blooded Orphans: Moon Steel.

Deira Nadira and Mina Zalmfort are part of the Gjallarhorn nobility and their marriage was arranged to strengthen relations between their two families. We see an example of a similar political match in the main show, where the heir to the Fareed family, McGillis, is betrothed to the second child of the Bauduins, the much, much younger Almiria. That this can take place regardless of the gender of the participants has big implications for the functioning of a bloodline-focused aristocracy. Presumably it indicates they are happy to use medical technology to ensure the Nadira family continues into the next generation, and if same-sex marriages are thus permitted, that means fewer factors to worry about when it comes to perpetuation. Whether male-male weddings are allowed too remains an open question; given the existence of real-world double-standards, it is possible Deira and Mina represent the only acceptable form of homosexuality. Nevertheless, that it is accepted speaks volumes. Gjallarhorn is not an especially progressive organisation, built as it is on rigid class structures and notions of human purity. Yet here we are.

Perhaps we should have expected that the norms around gender in this system don't correspond to strictly patriarchal patterns from the real world. Carta Issue, a key player in Season 1 of the anime, is the only child of the Issue Family's current leader and positioned as his sole heir, irrespective of the fact she's a woman. The logical inference is that any children of hers would count as Issues, rather than belonging to a potential husband's family. Deira is similarly the heir to her father's position, although intriguingly, it's not outright confirmed if she is his only child or simply the oldest. The possibility exists that gender is a non-factor in determining inheritance.

With respect to sexuality, Deira seems pretty obviously intended to be a lesbian. Her relationship with Mina is presented as one they are both happy with, despite it being an arranged by their parents, and Deira is depicted in the manual for Gundam Gremory's model kit as favouring the clothes of 'a handsome man'. She doesn't present that way within the manga' story, first showing up wearing the standard unisex Gjallarhorn pilot-suit, then wearing a formal gown for a meeting while in an official capacity. But she is depicted wearing masculine clothes in silhouette when initially mentioned and in a post-story panel at the back of the final volume.

(Another aside: the fan translations I use for this part of the manga refer to Deira using male pronouns when she's introduced. However, that could simply be down to the poor quality of said translation; she's consistently referred to using female pronouns in official materials and the game adaptation of this scene has her named as simply 'Lord Nadira', the standard appellation for Gjallarhorn family heads.)

Whether Deira's code-switching is the result of institutional expectations around her role or personal preference, it adds extra texture to her depiction. While civilian garb was designed for the adult version of Carta and closely matches conservative gender expectations for a woman, she's never shown wearing it, so we don't have a point of comparison to judge what's required of a character in Deira's position.

Regarding Mina, you'll notice I grouped her with Shino rather than the characters whose sexuality I consider to be stated outright. With Shino, the nature of his sexuality is not put absolutely beyond question in the text. This is splitting hairs due to the overt nature of what's on screen but the fact remains, the anime doesn't clarify if his being open to Yamagi's love means he already thinks of himself as bisexual, or if this is something he hadn't considered before. With Mina, it's more a case that I'm unwilling to label her one way or the other based on the available information. Deira carries sufficient signifiers, I find little room for doubt over the intention. We also have an outright statement that she holds great affection for Mina regardless of being obliged to consider her an eventual romantic partner. Indeed, she becomes so upset by believing her fiance dead, she runs off to Antarctica in a Gundam. But the exact depth of Mina's feelings in return is not discussed.

In addition, Mina is considerably younger than Deira. McGillis and Almiria's match takes place when he is (probably) somewhere in his late twenties and she is nine, with plans for the union made four years prior. This is not great, to put it mildly, albeit fairly typical of how such things have historically worked for nobility. Based on appearances and how they are treated by the rest of the cast, I would assume Mina to be in her mid-teens, and Deira to be in her early twenties (annoyingly, exact ages are provided for several characters in Moon Steel, just not these two). A less dramatic gap (and I don't believe Mina is meant to be quite as young as her appearance perhaps suggests), yet still significant when one of the people involved is below what we'd consider adulthood.

There is no indication of anything untoward going on, within the confines of the situation, similar to how we're given no indication McGillis is abusive towards Almiria. Any comparisons with Lord Iznario's activities lie purely along the axis of how children are exploited by adults even without suffering directly. All indications are that Deira and Mina have made the most of something they have little choice in. Regardless, I still feel more comfortable describing Mina as open to being in a relationship with another woman, rather than pinning her to a specific preference.

Continuing the theme of things where doubt or ambiguity exist, let's discuss some characters were there shouldn't be any: Atra and Kudelia.

I don't know about you, but I find it extraordinarily hard to read this as anything other than a three-way love-confession. Still, in the interests of fair play, let's review the wriggle room for declaring this something else.

Kudelia Aina Bernstein and Atra Mixta are love interests of nominal protagonist Mikazuki Augus, in an iteration of another tried-and-true trope, that of a male lead inexplicably being attractive to the female characters in his orbit. Or rather, it would be if the show didn't take such pains to demonstrate why these girls fall for him, setting up a long-established crush on Atra's part (rooted in him being the first person in the world to be nice to her) and a mutual respect on Kudelia's that gets spurred to more when Mikazuki randomly decides to kiss her because she 'looked cute' (Mikazuki has the manners of a feral stray raised on the streets, because that's precisely what he is).

Justification aside, this has the makings of a traditional triangle, that is, one without a connecting base, which we might expect to be resolved by either Kudelia or Atra 'losing out'. For a few episodes, this does indeed seem where we are headed. Then Atra discovers the concept of polyamory via the polygamous Turbines group and all bets are off.

Having realised it is perfectly possible for a family to consist of multiple romantic partners, Atra proceeds to work towards ensuring everyone gets everything they want. Strictly speaking, this doesn't mean she is attracted to Kudelia as well – even if she clearly recognises Kudelia as an attractive person from the start and…

You know what? Acknowledging that the information about their eventual marital status was only stated in interviews at live events with no official record and seems to have been framed around raising the son Atra has with Mika, I'm going to abandon the pretence of both-sided objectivity and go straight for the throat. Turns out my patience for soft-footing this lasts about as long as it takes to say 'bi-erasure'.

Over the course of Season 1, Atra not only decides the end-game is some form of three-person wedding, she also:

Shows no jealousy over Mikazuki and instead chides him for not providing the correct emotional support to the girl he kissed.

Spends a great deal of time with Kudelia and enthusiastically throws herself into furthering Kudelia's goals, without necessarily understanding the technicalities.

Covers for Kudelia by pretending to be her during a confrontation with Gjallarhorn soldiers, getting herself soundly beaten up in order to prevent them from chasing after the real deal.

Drives an armoured car through a battlefield for Kudelia's sake, safely delivering her to a vital rendezvous.

Leaps in front of a massive mobile suit to push Kudelia out of its path, physically shielding the other girl with her body.

As much as it pains me to resort to the 'if this were a man and a woman, would it read as romantic' crudity – yes! Yes it would! Especially since in Season 2, Atra presents Kudelia with a good-luck charm bracelet she has woven, something she previously did for Mikazuki explicitly out of having a crush on him. I'm all for embracing platonic love (which is why Takaki and Aston are not featuring in this rundown) and there's nothing in the above list necessarily entailing attraction beyond deep friendship. But when Atra consciously repeats her actions towards Mikazuki (someone she goes on to definitely have sex with) with Kudelia and it leads to the scene between them where they declare how they feel about each other and Mikauki, looking for non-romantic angles takes more effort.

After all, if we are to read Shino's openness to Yamagi's affection from the things he says and how he looks saying them, we can certainly do the same for Atra and Kudelia's use of the word 'like' in reference to one another and their reactions to hearing it said of them. (Obligatory note that if there is some nuance in the original Japanese the translation doesn't capture, I'd love to hear about it. The English scripts, however, leave little to the imagination.)

It is indisputable that Atra feels a strong affection towards Kudelia and while I have been focusing on her a lot (she is by far the most proactive member of the triad), Kudelia reciprocates at every opportunity she is presented with. Even if there truly wasn't an intention to portray this as exactly equivalent to Atra and Mikazuki, the end result manages to be on par with Yamagi and Shino. Consider Kudelia and Mikazuki, for example. In terms of portrayal and the two-girls-one-guy trope being explored here, they have the same level of chemistry and the same absence of overt consummation as Kudelia and Atra, and it would hardly be a serious position to claim the show does not place the two of them in romantic conjunction, now would it?

You may at this point be wondering why I am getting so defensive of reading Kudelia and Atra as romantic partners. Honestly, I am too. On reflection, I think it's because IBO is playing around with such a worn-out and insipid means of wringing drama from characters who should know better, I keep searching for the catch. And yet there isn't one. This show really did respond to a nascent love chevron by having the mousy, homely girl tell the governor's beautiful daughter to shut up and get in the polycule, and turned it into a true triangle.

That's wonderful. I cannot properly express the wave of joy and relief that came over me when I realised this was the direction they were taking. It ends in tragedy, of course, Mikazuki giving up any chance of a peaceful life to die in battle, far away from the women who love him. But their lives continue because of his sacrifice and by all appearances they remain together. In some ways, for the overarching message of hope persisting on the back of heartbreak, the precise details of that arrangement don't particularly matter. So why not take the gayest reading possible?

What an excellent segue into a blink-and-you'll-miss-it, probably-stretching-too-far, nonetheless-compelling potential bit of queerness: Chad in the series epilogue.

One of the many tertiary characters in Tekkadan, Chad Chaden has minor speaking parts throughout Season 1 and a larger role in Season 2. He initially appears during a particularly dire early moment when it looks like everyone is about to be killed by attacking mobile suits. His obvious resignation to this fate sets the tone for a rather dour personality, at least while on the clock. Chad starts out as human debris, a person enslaved after a space battle and sold to the CGS military group as free labour. This gives him a very matter-of-fact attitude towards fighting and the kill-or-be-killed nature of being forced into it – he voices the sentiment that even when facing other human debris, they can't afford to show mercy.

Off the clock, Chad displays a more sensitive personality. He seems studious, learning about interplanetary communications from Kudelia's maid Fumitan and later being promoted to leader of Tekkadan's Earth branch. He has some difficulty acclimatising to being treated as a free person, proving unsure about the concept of wearing a smart suit instead of his normal fatigues. And he grows anxious when he returns to Mars to discover nobody told him two of the few adults in the group (Yukinojo and Merribit) had started dating, worrying that he's no longer 'one of the guys'.

The most we learn about his relationship preferences prior to the series epilogue comes in a comedic sequence about a third of the way into Season 2, when Shino suggests a trip to a local brothel. Eugene responds by proclaiming that he's realised money will not buy him true love. This prompts Chad to ask Merribit if this is true and, on her saying she supposes so, opts out of the trip as well. Judging by his body-language in the next frame where he appears, this is possibly a decision he regrets – perhaps owing to his anxieties, since he just passed up the chance for some team-bonding.

None of this is directly relevant to the topic of this essay. If anything, the scene I just described suggests that, like Eugene, Chad has previously gone along with Shino in paying for sex with women, only to discover he wanted more than just physical intimacy. But then we get the exchange in Kudelia's office during the last episode, following a time-skip after Tekkadan's defeat and dissolution. Now working for Kudelia as an assistant of some kind, Chad notes that Merribit is shortly to give birth to her and Yukinojo's second child, saying he and Yamagi intend to meet up later to plan a celebration. Eugene reacts with amused disbelief, accusing them of just wanting an excuse to go out drinking, to which Chad retorts, 'what's wrong with that?'

And the thing is he's blushing when he does. Which may simply be because Eugene is accusing him of slacking off – IBO characters blush all the time and their embarrassment is frequently to do with being caught acting immature or otherwise against how they want people to see them. But given the weight that 'drinking the night away' carries in regards to Yamagi following Shino's actions shortly prior to his death, it is easy to speculate this represents something more specific.

As far as I can recall, Chad and Yamagi do not interact at all over the course of the show's two seasons, meaning these lines present a rather unexpected combination of characters. Eugene would have seemed a more likely candidate to associate with Yamagi. He's positioned as Shino's closest friend, he comforts Yamagi over his grief, and they are together for much of the climax to the series' plot. So what has happened in the years since, that Eugene's teasing should elicit a blush from Chad instead?

If we put on our shipping goggles, it's far from a nonsensical pairing. Chad goes through an arc not too dissimilar to Shino's. He is knocked into a coma while protecting an ally from a bomb blast and subsequently the Earth branch gets swept into a war orchestrated by one of the factions within Gjallarhorn. On recovering, he blames himself for the many deaths that result, echoing Shino's line about thinking it better if he'd died in place of his comrades. On returning to Mars, he jumps head-first into mobile suit training, determined to make up for his perceived failure as a leader and cheering himself up through rigorous activity. Different though their personalities appear on the surface, there are clear commonalities here. Further, Chad's responses to his traumatic experiences have a more measured quality to them than Shino's. He is not nearly as reckless and provides clear directions to his comrades even while acting as a decoy against a dangerous enemy, rather than abandon any attempt to be an effective leader. Taken together, and coupled to a more long-term view of romance, these qualities might make him a 'safer' version of things Yamagi loved about Shino, creating space for them to be drawn together.

Or perhaps they're simply the most logical points of contact between the ex-Tekkadan survivors at the Admoss Company and Kassapa Factory and intend to make that an excuse to get companionably plastered for no greater reason than it being a nice time. I am speculating over a couple of lines and an animation choice. Nevertheless, it does not feel like unreasonable speculation. When we already have a veritable gaggle of characters who are queer or may trivially be read as such, it's hardly a stretch to assume one more.

Chad/Yamagi doesn't appear to be a thread the fandom at large has pulled on much, likely because the pairing of Shino and Yamagi is so prominent, it eclipses a mere throwaway possibility. But I'm glad it exists within easy reach. And even if we take off our goggles, these lines demonstrate life for the characters has not stopped. The ex-slave and the gay kid are not stuck, trapped by the tragedies of their past. They have instead grown in both confidence and happiness and now have peaceful, stable lives where they're on going-out-drinking terms. That above all is why I wanted to explore this exchange: it reinforces Iron-Blooded Orphans' rejection of the idea the suffering people like Chad and Yamagi go through is perpetual or inevitable.

OK, one more character to look at. Let's talk about Orga and asexuality.

Orga Itsuka, leader of Tekkadan and instigator of the series' events, is notable for his charisma, his drive to provide a safe home for his comrades, and his complete unsuitability for the grown-up activities he attempts. Trying to party all night leaves him puking up his dinner. He forces himself into a suit and tie to handle the administration of a break-out paramilitary company, despite finding it stultifying and bewildering. His goals spin like a weather-cock, as he's surrounded by older characters possessing strong convictions while unable to stick to his own. And he is ultimately undone by an unwillingness to ask for help, having assumed that, as leader, he must decide everything alone.

I suspect his expressed lack of interest in women is intended to help convey overall immaturity. Orga is a good soldier and tactician, but he plainly isn't prepared for adulthood, lacking the grasp on the complexities of life that implies. Making him uncomfortable about sex serves to heighten the impression of a teenager trying to navigate circumstances for which he's not yet ready.

Relatedly, it should be stressed Orga stating he 'doesn't care' about woman is a response to Eugene asking if he agrees love and kindness are what's important, as opposed to Shino's endorsement of boobs. On hearing this response, Eugene proceeds to mock his commander for inexperience. That he himself has only just had his first sexual experience with another person and previously said much the same about not caring about sex simply proves hypocrisy is a fundamental aspect of Eugene's characterisation. The whole scene is very teenage.

Matters have not improved much when Orga and Eugene's dynamic is revisited in one of the side-stories released via the Iron-Blooded Orphans G mobile game. A year and change later, Eugene continues to act superior about having 'experience' where Orga doesn't.

Orga takes this rather poorly.

(Subtitles by @trafalgarlog)

Eventually Merribit has to shout at them to stop being brats, shaming them for behaving like argumentative children. It's funny – and then you remember they basically still are children and this is headed towards more carnage that will not spare them for being young. Such it is to engage with Iron-Blooded Orphans.

What does any of this tell us about Orga's sexuality? In principle, taking it as a device to convey immaturity, nothing. Orga's persisting virginity could simply mean he's not worked out this aspect of himself yet. He is a busy young man who likely hasn't had the time to try.

Alternatively it could mean he is gay. Mikazuki/Orga is an extremely popular ship in the fandom and we might take Orga's professed lack of interest in women as 'evidence' of him swinging the other way.

Or we could take my view, that Orga is asexual and his embarrassment is rooted in just not getting what the big deal is.

To immediately clarify, I don't think he is ace because he 'hasn't worked out what he wants', I think he's ace because he blushes on admitting he doesn't care about women and does not try to prove otherwise once he's in a position where he could easily do so. In circling back to the same joke for the side-story, the writers portray Orga as continuing to be uninterested in sex and sensitive over being needled about it. Again, a feasible interpretation is that he's into guys. Yet this is an argument with Eugene, whose response to the idea of Yamagi being in love with Shino is basically 'you mean you didn't notice?' Eugene is a dork and jerk; he isn't bigoted. None of the Tekkadan guys are. It's unclear if homophobia is even a factor in the setting. Sexism is, but when someone as superficially macho as Shino is comfortable with male/male attraction, and there are same-sex weddings inside Gjallarhorn, we cannot assume stigma exists around being gay. So why should Orga be worried, unless it goes beyond a question of who you're attracted to and into the answer being 'nobody at all'?

When you're surrounded by people who happily wax lyrical about how the joys of sex make you a real man, the absence of a libido might easily become a sore point.

Again, I'm supposing. Again, there is room to do so. As I touched on with Chad, it is easy to read queerness into the text when the assumption of straightness has been taken away, which is something this show does wholeheartedly and deliberately.

Orga Itsuka is one of the first characters I looked at and realised, not only shouldn't I assume heterosexuality, I shouldn't assume sexual attraction at all. I cannot credit Iron-Blooded Orphans alone with this. I do credit it with being a piece of media that applies itself to inclusiveness in ways quite remarkable for a show about giant robot fights, produced to market toys.

The word we want here is 'normalisation'. IBO has a lot to say about what constitutes 'normal' and a lot of it accords well with my own views, particularly those that have me twitching whenever anybody demands we 'be normal' about something. Normality is horrible. It is cruel and it is callous. 'Normal' is a world run on exploitation, on slave labour and on police savagery. Normal is children forced to risk their lives to earn the money required to feed themselves, because it is normal for their parents be gone, or incapable of supporting them. War is normal. Corruption of political systems is normal. Death coming more rapidly for those deemed expendable by society is very, very normal.

But so is protest. The drive to do something, to change things. The capacity for caring about each other. Love. 'Normal' is just a statement about what surrounds us every day, for worse and for better. In too many pieces of fiction, normality is narrowed, rendered a neater, cleaner picture, often excluding the kinds of people we might run into on the street, or walk past, or see on the news, distant and dehumanised.

Queerness is normal, yet for a long time it has been one of the first things to be cut out of fictional worlds. And when it is present, it's a big deal. An object lesson or a cry of triumph over breaking free of unfair strictures. I love stories about queer joy and victory. Heck, I'm a sucker for a good, soppy gay romance. But these aren't the only kinds of stories we tell. Sometimes we need to reflect the worst aspects of the world and what it does to normal people.

In attempting this, Iron-Blooded Orphans commits to an idea of 'normal people' that includes those who are gay or bisexual, those of colour and those we'd call white, the polyamorous, the illiterate, the desperate, the powerful, those who throw themselves into the fight with everything they have, and those who are simply kind. Those who are accepting, understanding and compassionate. Those who need to be accepted, who struggle to be understood, who suffer for a lack of compassion.

There are all sorts of people in IBO and – as a certain cheery, violent dumbass once said – man do I love it. I don't believe it is reading against the spirit of the thing to imagine more diversity than gets outright stated, to interpret one of the leads as ace or suppose another side character is bi or pansexual. It would seem entirely natural if they were.

Everyone's welcome here, down among the debris and the bloodshed, where hope is precious and fleeting and still somehow endures. So why shouldn't we raise a few extra pride flags?

Queer as in 'fuck you'

This all said, taken as a whole, Iron-Blooded Orphans is not a story about queerness or queer romance. Nowhere is this clearer than in its ending.

I skipped over the framing of the final scenes of the anime when I discussed Kudelia and Atra. They form a striking contrast with the ending of The Witch from Mercury, where the conclusion is directly focused around Suletta and Miorine's love for one another, their bonds of wedlock, and the happiness they have found together. This follows from the show being primarily about their relationship. In Iron-Blooded Orphans, the ending focuses not on Kudelia's feelings toward Atra, but those she has for Akatsuki, Mikazuki's son, with Eugene even saying she's eager to go see 'the man she loves', setting up a brief moment of uncertainty over who the character with Mikazuki's outline actually is.

The nature of Kudelia and Atra's relationship post-time-skip is implied rather than stated: in the English versions of the script, they do not refer to each other using terms suggesting they are married, although Atra has dropped her habitual 'Miss' from the front of Kudelia's name. They do not have wedding rings (redundant as those would be alongside the charm bracelets) and Akatsuki does not call Kudelia 'mom'. That they are raising him together is suggested very strongly, in line with Mikazuki asking Kudelia to be guardian of his child if he died. There are non-romantic ways of taking this idea, though, and none of these are closed off as viable interpretations.

But why should we expect some definite statement about romantic status when the point being conveyed is how Tekkadan's legacy continues to shape the world? This is a story concerned with the exploitation underpinning the world and the effort required to make even the smallest wide-scale change. It is about how people trapped at the bottom of the pecking order are still people, still human, messy and complex. It is about their pointless deaths, they ways they struggle on until those deaths come for them, and why they matter, even if the world forgets them.

Mikazuki, the living weapon, the human sacrifice for Orga Itsuka's reckless ambitions, leaves behind a child who will grow up in a more peaceful time, in a society slightly better off than when he and Orga were starving on Chyrse's streets. He doesn't live to see it; Akatsuki does. For all the failures, the attempt wasn't a waste. Don't you dare disrespect the people who died by saying it was.

This is where the epilogue centres, on Akatsuki and on Kudelia's cherishing of the world Mikazuki and everyone else built. Atra and Kudelia's relationship is there, a part of the gentler life they now have (Atra's desires were always towards the version of her existence where Mikazuki retires to a farm; here she fulfils the dream with Kudelia alone). It just doesn't need to take up space for the ending to land.

Yet, as I pour over how queerness is incorporated into Iron-Blooded Orphans, I find myself considering the struggles queer people face in reality. The victims of the AIDS crisis, dehumanised by indifferent institutions. Section 28 and the attempted destruction of knowledge around non-heterosexual forms of love. Riots and campaigns, voices raised loud and proud. How we are equated with dirt and corruption, reduced down to facts others find disgusting. The name-calling. The petty, pathetic posturing that makes everyday existence pointlessly harder.

So it goes for space-rats and degenerates alike.

I am lucky. My life is about as far from that of a child soldier as it is possible to get. My sexuality has been largely invisible. My gender matches the one most favoured by my society. I still have more common cause with those born in poverty on the other side of the world than I will ever have with the aristocrats and billionaires who shape the direction of my country. Because we hold many causes of misery in common. Because we share the same capacities for joy and suffering. Because our humanity is so easily cast aside by those we will never be able to touch.

There is always a place for stories uncomplicatedly about queer love conquering all. Equally, it is important to recognise the places queerness overlaps with stories about the many other ways the world casts people out. It is vital to be able to explore loss, futility and heartbreak. It is essential to capture why we strive onwards despite how heavily tragedy might weight us down.

We may be doomed. Our lives still matter. To ourselves, to each other and, whether they remember or not, to those who come after us.

So, no: for all the queer characters it contains and the many more we might trivially imagine queerness into, Iron-Blooded Orphans is not gay in the vein of The Witch From Mercury. It is not a happy story.

But it is a tenaciously hopeful one and, from certain angles, that alone looks queer as hell.

---------

Happy UK/US Pride Month – in honour and memory of Marsha P Johnson and everyone else who refused to go quietly.

I shall leave you with one of the least straight things ever to be included in any Gundam show.

[Index for further writing]

[you-were-alone-too]

for any bylers currently panicking over the apparent leak that will is getting a love interest this season, here's a list of reasons why it has to be mike (as someone with common sense and also someone who has witnessed firsthand the filming/writing process of this show since the end of season 2):

for all previous seasons, new characters were announced at the start of each season even before filming began. this has been true even for the most insignificant of new recurring characters added to the show. we also received character descriptions early on for these characters as well. even characters that were eventually scrapped (like a neighborly old lady that was supposed to give advice to the party in s3) had descriptions announced.

again, no confirmed casting call for a boy around will's age has been found, nor has an actor that might fit the role of will's love interest been spotted on set. while the duffers have been one of the primary sources for the set photos we've received, much of them have also been obtained through leaks, so again, even if they were trying to keep this love interest a secret, it would be nearly impossible with the amount of leakers out there.

this leak about will having a confirmed love interest only came out now as they're filming episode 5. notice that the leak did not say "NEW love interest" either. it is extremely unlikely that they suddenly wrote in an entirely new character when we know the duffers have nearly finished all of the scripts. they plan out each season in big detail on storyboards before writing the scripts, so again, it would be extremely unlikely for them to add in a new character to serve as a love interest for even the most minor character, let alone for them to make such a last-minute decision for WILL.

will is the focus of season 5, which has been confirmed multiple times by the duffers, shawn levy, and noah. they said his emotional arc is one that they hope will tie the show together. it's hard to imagine this succeeding if they pair will with some random side character, especially since one of will's main plot lines has been him coming to terms with and accepting his sexuality, along with finding love after claiming that he would never do so.

in conclusion, will's love interest isn't a new character. it is, in fact, the menace we lovingly know as michael wheeler. and considering that we got this leak now as they're filming episode 5, that means that the show will most likely tip its hand toward byler endgame by this point if it's obvious enough to now be classified as a "filming leak"

[xzturtles]

Why calling 2012 RenetAngelo "pedophilia" is problematic

Was I inactive for 2 years here and come back with a rant?

Yes but I NEED to get this off my chest because it really starts to trigger me and I can't stand it anymore.

2012 RenetAngelo is NOT a Pedophilia Relationship and calling it such is an issue.

People call it ""pedophilia"" because on paper Mikey is older than Renet but the reality is far far more complex.

Here's why:

Time Traveling is complex

Like in all media, Time Traveling in TMNT 2012 is insanely complex. While Mikey would be 15 years in his Time Era, if he would travel from his current time to the future…. he's still 15 years. In Season 4 the Turtles travelled 6 months… they're still 15 years even though they hypothetically would be 14,6years.

In Season 4 they're canonically still 15 years. Same for Renet, she's 15-17 years in her Time era but stays 15-17 years even when she's literally billion years in the past.

Even if both are adults...Mikey always would be at least 100 years older.

(Funny how nobody would say anything if Adult Renet would meet Adult Mikey)

(People love adult 1000year old Werewolf dating a 20year old but adult Turtle having an adult future wife would be problematic?)

Other point against the "pedophilia" thing:

2012 Renet is a mess:

Renet in the 2012 version has one of (if not the) least amount of canon information of all TMNT 2012 characters. We've literally nothing about her. No Age, no Living Place, No Backstory…we don't even know why tf she has a Dagger. Only things we know are that she's from the future, an apprentice and probably left-handed (what's really just a detail notice) In previous version it's possible for Time-Lords to be from the past but brought to another dimension or the future…why wouldn't it be possible with 2012 Renet? Example from the Mirage(or IDW?): Lord Gnostis is from 512 BC while Lord Cekini Garvan is from 2113 AD, both living in the 79th Dimension of Null-Time. 2012 Renet could be born in the same Time Era as the Turtles but brought to the future, again, we've no information about this. Speaking of Null-Time. Every previous Renet version, she always was from a different Dimension. And since again, we've no information, 2012 Renet could be similar to Bishop where she can jump between Dimensions where the main Place for the Dimensions Earth (or something) Time-Lords is the Future. The Null-Dimension has no Time. 2012 Renet gives us Freedom to make her however we want her until we get actually information. There is weird sentences of Renet saying she needed 6-months to find the Turtles, what could hint that Renet is not always in the Earth Dimension or on Earth but the 2012 Time-line is so messed up it just could be a script error.

Being from the future doesn't need to mean born in the future.

_________

Why is it problematic to call this ship a "Pedophilia Relationship"

1, Pedophilia Relationship are a form of Abusive Relationship! Calling RenetAngelo Abusive is just downrights terrible.

2. The word "pedophilia" & "pedophile" is misused way way too often nowadays and people don't take it seriously anymore.

I see way to people call a relationship between a 15 year old and a 16-17 year old "pedo", even when these two grew up together and went to the same school and such.

Given not only pedophilia the wrong meaning but also giving minors more insecurity about relationships.

Further more, the word pedophile implies a mental illness (which is one (ICD per WHO)) which NEEDS medical attention since it's an impulsive disorder.

Calling Michelangelo, a minor, a Pedophile let's people think that relationship between minors in the same age group can be considered pedophilia...no.

"But people won't.." Welcome to the Internet, where people call you the people believe anything on it.

3. Regarding the mental disorder stuff:

Like said, Pedophilia is classified as an Disorder falling under ICD-10 which needs medical attention.

As standing in Wikipedia for popular usage however (best source I know):

" In popular usage, the word pedophilia is often applied to any sexual interest in children or the act of child sexual abuse, including any sexual interest in minors below the local age of consent or age of adulthood, regardless of their level of physical or mental development. "

Mikey, when he talks to Renet, is a minor.

Renet is a minor too.

A true Pedophilia relationship includes sexual harassment from an older minor or adult.

There was never any harassment.

And yes, flirting with a minor can count as sexual harassment.

4. Calling the ship pedophilia is downplaying abuse.

Victim of groomer and pedophiles are victims of abuse, of r*pe, of gaslighting, of blackmail and so much more.

Calling a harmless ship, a harmless cartoon-ship between two minors pedophilia, completely downplays the problematic with pedophilia.

It downplays the abuse by calling cartoon two minors cuddling pedophilia.

Why is this so important to me, why am I so triggered by this?

I've been a victim of a groomer.

It was an just a chat/WhatsApp relationship...with a guy who flet from the police and has every recording of us Video chatting.

Who knows where I live.

Who has everything from me.

There is no closer to this case.

This guy is still out there, with any video-chat he recorded of us.

Every picture I gave to him after he blackmailed me.

Having anything that happened, every anxiety attack related to it, every fear of what happens when he finds me and more compared to RenetAngelo feels disheartening.

It's already hard enough to find people where don't downplay this situation.

Each Time I read when somebody calls this ship "Pedophilia" something in me breaks.

Every pain I had, every fear I have compared to something so harmless.

All because people wanna make problems when there are none.

Because they don't like a ship.

The TMNT Fandom needs to stop to make everything a problem.

[the-desolated-quill]

Do you know what the funniest thing about The Story And The Engine is? In the third act, which was already a confused mess in the first place, the Doctor kept talking about Ernest Hemingway and his six word story. Now I was already having a hard time following what the fuck was going on at the end, so the Hemingway references really pissed me off because I had no idea what he was talking about. What six word story? Hemingway never wrote a six word story.

And then it finally clicked. The six word story he’s referring to is this one:

“For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.”

Which is funny because Ernest Hemingway never actually wrote this. The story came out in 1906 as a classified ad, when Hemingway was only 7 years old. It’s one of the most easily debunked urban myths that should have been instantly caught by a script editor or even a competent showrunner with access to Google.

And yeah, historical inaccuracies happen all the time and aren’t necessarily a big deal… except when it’s pivotal to the resolution of the plot. Which is the case here.

The Doctor’s a time traveller! He should know this! Plus, this episode comes after Lucky Day, an episode all about the dangers of spreading misinformation and fake news, which is just the cherry on top of the cake! 🤣

This is what happens when you put all your effort into pretending you’re clever instead of just telling a good story.

[mr-cia-adler]

(Note, I wrote this BEFORE the season 3 outro cinematic came out, so this will solidify my point. I also wrote it in a hurry because I didn't want to lose my chain of thought. I'll add new context in bold)

okay so everyone hear me out ignore the low quality but just hear me out

I now believe that we WILL be getting that (good) adler skin from the cinematic-you know the one.

for season 1 in the intro and outro cinematic (and the multiplayer introduction but that doesn't entirely count) we got new looks at Marshall and Sevati since the Black Ops 6 campaign

note that on the right was the season cinematic (This skin was used for quite a few cinematics), and the left is the sevati skin as an in game operator, a skin you can use and play as.

the same here for Marshall, cinematic on the right, in game on the left. The (main/important) skins we've seen in the season cutscenes have appeared at some point in the game

and this trend follows, because the season 3 intro features a return of Hudson, shown in the tape he had previously recorded for Adler to watch-specifically Adler.

and, his cinematic skin (right) appeared as a operator skin in game (left). Can you see the pattern I'm making?

So now, onto Adler.

There's Adler in the cinematic, and it's possible he'd follow the pattern that we've seen for the past seasons, which each cinematic have brought that operator skin in game. And, considering there's still seasons left...

Since Hudson left that folder for Adler, there is no way we WON'T see more of him, even if it is in the later seasons-Why would they tease a classified folder and NOT show us what was in it? Why would they tease Stitch's return in Verdansk?

Why would they script, animate, voice, design a new location and skin, and plot a whole cutscene basically for Adler if this is the last we'll see of him? If they won't go into what the hell all this is?

It wouldn't make sense to tease Adler's return (In a cinematic perspective for us) for no reason, to not see more about what Hudson was trying to show/tell him, especially considering Stitch could be returning (y'know, who Adler had supposedly shot), it HAS TO BE setting up his future in the later seasons.

----

The season 3 outro has been released and this proves my point:

We now have TWO different cinematics featuring Adler with this skin, and this is now in place to follow a pattern-The skin we see in the cinematic will get added into the game.

Stitch is indeed alive (TBD how) and it's setting up Season 4 which MUST be Adler and Stitch focused, considering they're both enemies. MEANING, we WILL get that Adler skin in the next season or in the late future-and so, this won't be the end we see of Adler.

TL;DR

Theorising about adler and warzone skins, plus confusion about the cinematic. However, now confident that we will see this as a future adler skin.

[starspangledspanks]

In Another Multiverse: Book 1

IN ANOTHER MULTIVERSE

(Hi lovelies! I got this idea from a Tumblr blog and I can’t remember which one. If you know the original asker please feel free to tag them so I can give them credit. The characters

and the script belongs to marvel exclusively, I just put my character in and she's mine.

NO LIKE GUYS LITERALLY NONE OF ITS MINE I JUST ADDED MY OWN CHARACTER INTO THE SCRIPT AND A FEW SCENES AND CHANGED WHAT I NEEDED TO TO MAKE THE STORY WORK.

This is part 1 and takes place during the original Avengers, the love story will progress as the movies do!!!!)

Another day, another job. Being a SHIELD agent wasn’t exactly all it had cracked up to be. The long hours, and brief days off. Unappreciated and overworked. The only thing keeping me going at this point was the way my fathers eyes lit up at me following in his footsteps. His longtime love for superheroes outweighs his need for a break. I was distracted from my soggy cereal when I heard him enter.

“Hi dad,” I said leaning off the barstool in the kitchen to watch him pop through the door.

“Good Morning pumpkin,” he said, coming in to kiss my forehead.

“Long night?”

“You have no idea. Selvig and Barton are completely brainwashed. Loki’s got the Tesseract and Nick is furious.” he said, grabbing his own bowl and pouring some of the bland cereal in.

“What were they even doing with the cube in the first place? I thought it was supposed to be locked away somewhere?”

“That’s classified,” he said, smirking at me before pouring the milk into the bowl.

“I’m offended.” I feigned being hurt, as if I had been stabbed in the chest.

“Don’t be. The chances of you getting called in for this are high. He sent Widow to retrieve Banner.”

“You’re lying,” The Hulk was not someone I was personally looking forward to meeting. Natasha and I both shared a mutual fear of the monster but not the man.

“Rumor has it Captain America is getting called in,” he said with a huge smile blooming on his face. Dad always had a crush on the Captain. The memorabilia lining the walls of his bedroom, the trading cards he always carried around.

“And I’m sure you’re just jumping at the chance to get him to sign your cards,” I laughed.

“Oh absolutely, they’ll be literally priceless.” He smiled, taking a bite of the corn flakes. I smiled at his enthusiasm before gathering my bag and jacket.

“I have to go, duty calls, see you tonight?” I asked before giving him a hug.

“Tonight,” he said, kissing my head before I made my way out the door. The walk was brief before my phone chimed in my bag. Stopping to pull it out, the picture I had snuck of Director Fury that one time lighting up the screen. He had been begging me to delete it for a year., his one good eye bulging in surprise.

“This is Coulson,” I said phone to my ear.

“Coulson, I need you in Brooklyn. You should be getting the address now.” I lifted the phone to see the address, the message flashing on the screen.

“I’ll be there in 30, sir.”

“You have 15.” He said, hanging up the phone. 

“Shi-” I tossed the phone back into my bag before hurriedly turning to the street to hail a cab. Getting to Brooklyn would take at least 20 minutes with morning traffic. But I reminded myself I did tell him 30. He could be upset about it later. I hopped in the cab giving the driver directions and tossing him an extra $5 to step on it. Before long I was outside the address tapping my foot. It was an old gym, and Fury was late. The dark armored Suburban pulled up a moment later and the dark mysterious man step[ping out.

“You’re late,” I chimed.

“Don’t start with me, Coulson.”

“What are we doing here sir?” He shot me a side eye.

“Getting help. And Sarah?” he said, me meeting his eyes. “Don’t tell your dad you were here.” He half smiled before making his way into the gym. The air was hazy and hot, the gym walls decorated with old murals of boxers past. The gym was empty besides one man. His back turned to us, beating the absolute shit of a bag. His large shoulders controlled his punches, harder and harder until the bag literally came off its chain and flew across the room. Evident that was a common occurrence with the amount of bags lined up on the floor ready for their turn to be but open. The man sauntered over to another bag before hanging it and started his punches again.

“Trouble sleeping?” Fury's voice broke me from my thoughts. We approached him slowly, making our presence known.

“ Slept for seventy years, Sir. I think I’ve had my fill.” the man answered. Still punching.

“Then you should be out, celebrating, seeing the world.”

“ When I went under, the world was at war. I wake up- they say we won. They didn’t say what we lost.”

“We’ve made some mistakes along the way, some very recently.”

“You here with a mission, Sir?” He started removing his hand wraps.

“We are.”

“Trying to get me back into the world?” He said starting to remove his other wrap.

“Trying to save it.” I said offering the folder of information to who I had easily deduced was Steve Rogers. My dad would be losing his shit right now.

“Ma’am,” he said, grabbing the folder with a small smile. It quickly faded when he got a load of what was inside.

“HYDRA’s secret weapon.” he deadpanned.

 “Howard Stark fished that out of the ocean when he was looking for you. He thought what we think. The Tesseract could be the key to unlimited sustainable energy. That’s something the world sorely needs.” Fury explained.

 “Who took it from you?”

“He’s called Loki. He’s- not from around here. There’s a lot we’ll have to bring you up to speed on if you’re in.” Fury said. 

“The world has gotten even stranger than you already know.” I said lightly to the Captain.

“At this point I doubt anything would surprise me.” The soldier got up grabbing another punching bag, throwing it over his shoulder, and his duffel.

“Ten bucks says you’re wrong.” I said, shooting him a playful smile which he returned. 

“There’s a debriefing packet waiting for you back at your apartment. Is there anything you can tell us about the Tesseract that we ought to know now?” Fury asked as the man headed towards the door.

“You should’ve left it in the ocean.” and with that he was gone.

“Do you think he’ll help?” I asked Fury.

“He’ll help. He didn’t crash a plane into the ocean for nothing.”

“Touche,” I said, playing with my lip.

“I need you and your father to get Stark, he’s got all the information.”

“You think he’ll say yes?” I asked.

“That's what you’re for.” Fury smiled. Stark and I had a soft spot for each other. Strictly platonic. He was like a brother. After the whole Natasha fiasco I was actually his and Peppers assistant for a summer while I trained at SHIELD, and we had become close. Flash to later that evening Dad and I were outside Stark tower, Jarvis not letting us in.

“I just saw him fly in, he’s here.” My dad quipped.

“Give me your phone,” I said, holding out my hand. I made quick work of the AI getting us into the building and into the elevator. A trick Tony should’ve admittedly not told me about.

“Here,” I said after overriding Jarvis and calling Tony back. “Maybe want to warn him we’re on the way up.” I said putting in the floor.

“Mr. Stark, we need to talk.” Dad said holding the phone like he was borderline elderly.

“You have reached the Life Model Decoy of Tony Stark. Please leave a message.” I held in a laugh at that one.

“This is urgent.” dad said.

“Then leave it urgently.” Tony quipped as the elevator opened and we stepped out.

“Security breach! That ones on you,” Tony pointed to me.

“Phil, Sarah, come in!” Pepper said warmly coming over to meet us. I greeted her with a hug.

“Phil?” Tony asked.

“We can’t stay.” I said hugging Tony as well.

“Uh, his name is Agent.” 

“Come in, we are celebrating.” Pepper said, handing me a glass of champagne.

“Which is why they can’t stay,” Tony said, winking at me. I shot him a knowing smile before placing down the champagne I couldn’t have on work hours.

“We need you to look this over, as soon as possible.” Dad said, trying to hand Tony a laptop but receiving a blank stare instead.

“I don’t like being handed things.”

“That’s fine because I love to be handed things. So, let’s trade.” Pepper said, handing her glass to my dad before switching the laptop into Tony’s hand and stealing his drink.

“Official consulting hours are between eight and five every other Thursday.” Tony quipped.

“This isn’t a consultation.” I answered.

“Is this about the Avengers?” Pepper asked, all three of us snapping our heads to look at her.

“Which I know nothing about.” she answered, throwing up her hands.

“The Avengers Initiative was scrapped, I thought, and I didn’t even qualify.”

 “I didn’t know that either.” Pepper said.

“Yeah, apparently I’m volatile, self-obsessed, don’t play well with others.”

 “That I did know.” She said, shooting me a smile.

“This isn’t about personality profiles anymore.” Dad said.

“Whatever! Ms. Potts, got a sec?” Tony asked Pepper before she excused herself to go over to him.

“What did you do?” I whispered to dad.

“What do you mean?”

“What were you macking on Pepper?” I hissed.

“NO.” he rolled his eyes at me.

We were interrupted by Tony and Pepper kissing. 

“Work hard.” She said before turning back to us. “So, any chance you’re driving by LaGuardia?”

“I can drop you off.” Dad said.

“Sarah, stay.” Tony motioned to me. I shot dad a smile before they turned to leave.

“Ooh, I want to hear about the ah- cellist, is that still a thing?” Pepper pressed as they left.

Tony was grazing over the information on the holograms floating before him.

“Can I help you, sir?” I said hands behind my back. Tony turned to me feigning disgust.

“Sir, is my father. Drop the theatrics Coulson, what has Fury told you?” he asked, tapping a pen against his palm.

“Honestly? Next to nothing, it’s past my security level. I’ve just been told to get the kids together.” I answered.

“Who’s in so far?”

“Well I know Fury sent Natasha after Banner. Rogers didn’t seem thrilled.” I said. Tony gasped at me.

“Did you meet Captain Stars and Stripes before dear old daddy?”

“He doesn’t know, I’d like to keep it that way, Stark.” I said, folding my arms over my chest.

“Oh c’mon.” he said, waving a hand at me before turning back to his screens. “Let’s find out what Fury’s hiding in his easter eggs.”

.

After a long night of deduction with Tony I was absolutely exhausted by the 6am call time. The bags under my eyes are prevalent. Our orders were to take a quinjet to the Helicarrier and escort Captain Rogers. Dad was absolutely losing his shit.

“We’re about forty minutes out from home base, Sir.” The pilot said to dad as Rogers was watching a video of the Hulk.

“So, this Doctor Banner was trying to replicate the serum they used on me?” The captain asked.

 “A lot of people were. You were the world’s first superhero. Banner thought Gamma radiation might hold the key to unlocking Erskine’s original formula.” Dad was fangirling a little too close to the sun.

 “Didn’t really go his way, did it?” Rogers said.

“When he’s not that thing though, guy’s like a Stephen Hawking.” I said from my chair. The poor man looked at me confused.

“He’s like a- smart person.” I said with a sympathetic smile.

“It’s nice to see you again Miss-?”

“Coulson. Sarah Coulson. Yes there’s a relation.” I said, getting up to shake his hand.

“Steve Rogers.”

“Again?” Dad quipped from his spot. I shrugged in his direction as an apology for not telling him.

“I gotta say- it’s an honor to meet you, officially. I sort of met you, I mean, I watched you while you were sleeping. I mean, I was, I was present, while you were unconscious from-the-ice.” Dad said awkwardly. Rogers moved over to the cockpit, my dad following hot on his trail.

“You know it’s really- it’s just a just a huge honor to have you on board- it’s…”

“DAD,” I interrupted him before he could continue his embarrassment.

 “Well, I hope I’m the man for the job,” Rogers answered. 

“Oh you are, absolutely. Ah- we made some modifications to the uniform. I had a little design input.” Dad said.

“Clearly he’s a huge fan,” I teased.

“The uniform? Aren’t the stars and stripes a little...old-fashioned?” Steve said hands on hips. 

“Everything that’s happening, the things that are about to come to light, people might just need a little old-fashioned.” My dad reassured him. And he was, old fashioned that is. He was wearing clothes my grandfather would have surely worn was he still here. It was endearing, in a cute innocent kind of way.

“Excuse me for a moment,” dad said as the pilot waved him over. Steve took his seat back in front of me, I was shuffling through some paperwork. A comfortable silence over us when I looked up at the Captain. He was looking at me, almost studying me it seemed.

“Is there something I can help you with, sir?” I asked.

“Uh, no- Please just Steve. I’m sorry I wasn’t trying to be rude I just, I uh-”

“It’s ok,” I laughed. “Just making sure you didn’t have any questions.” I smiled.

“I guess I have one.” he said, bringing a finger to his lips in query.

“Shoot.”

“Are you advanced? You know you have powers?” he asked.

“No I don’t. Just an agent.” I said.

“Then why bring you along? I’m not trying to be rude, I just wonder why Fury would put you through the trouble.”

“I’m basically his assistant. But I help on missions too. Still training but I can fight with the best of them. Nats been my sparring partner for years.” I answered.

“Good to know,” he said. I shot him a smile before the quinjet was set to land. I packed up all my work and headed out the door with the others. Natasha approached as we stood in the doorway, Steve clearly taking it all in.

“Agent Romanoff - Captain Rogers” I said introducing the two.

“Hi” she smiled.

“Ma’am.” he responded. She looked to me before speaking.

“They need you on the bridge; they’re starting the face trace.”

“Got it, see you there. Captain Rogers,” I nodded and smiled before making my way to the bridge to assist. The bridge was a flurry of activity. Agents all over rushing to prepare to sned us into the sky. Minutes later Nat walked in, Dr. Banner and Steve on her tail. The look of shock plastered on their faces at the complicated ship.

“We’re at level, sir.” I said from my control panel.

 “Good! Let’s vanish.” Fury said.

“Engage retro reflection panels.” Hill chimed from next to me. A rumble shook the large carrier as the reflection panels deployed on the underside of the massive structure.

“Reflection panels are engaged sir,” I said to Fury. He turned to the men with a hello nod.

“Gentleman,” he motioned. Steve approached me, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket before flipping through a stack of cash and handing me a $10. I let out a soft giggle before catching Nat’s eye. She sent me a knowing wink and I rolled my eyes.

“Doctor, thank you for coming.”  Banner shook Fury’s hand. 

“Thanks for asking nicely. So, um, how long am I staying?” the doctor sheepishly asked.

“Once we get our hands on the Tesseract, you’re in the wind.”

 “Well where are you with that?” he asked.

“We’re sweeping every wirelessly accessible camera on the planet. Cell phones, laptops, if it’s connected to a satellite, it’s eyes and ears for us.” I answered. 

“It’s still not gonna find them in time.” Nat chimed from a monitor, Steve looking hopelessly confused in the corner.

“You have to narrow your field. How many Spectrometers do you have access to?” Bruce asked me.

 “How many are there?” I asked.

 “37.” Bruce said. “Call every lab you know. Tell them to put the Spectrometers on the roof and calibrate them for Gamma rays. I’ll rough out a tracking algorithm, basic cluster recognition. At least we could rule out a few places. Do you have somewhere for me to work?”

 “Agent Romanoff, would you show Doctor Banner to his laboratory, please?” Fury asked.

Natasha walks over to Banner and they begin walking out of the bridge area. 

“You’re gonna love it, Doc. We got all the toys.” she smiled.

“Really? Do you have the com-meter sixty-four?” Their voices trailing off as they left. It was my job to keep the bridge going with Hill while we waited for a trace. Steve roamed around the bridge for a while as we did so.

“He’s cute huh?” Hill asked next to me.

“Don’t start with me.” I warned. She laughed at me for the quick tone. Some time passed before I noticed dad standing with Steve. No doubt bugging him about his cards. Jaspers voice suddenly breaks the ebb and flow of the bridge.

“We got a hit. Sixty seven percent match. Wait- cross-match, seventy nine percent.”

 “Location?” I asked, standing at the ready.

 “Stuttgart, Germany. Twenty eight, Königstraße. He’s not exactly hiding.” He said.

“Captain, you’re up.” Fury’s voice barked. Steve nodded and began to walk off, I quickly caught up to him knowing he probably had zero clue where he was even going.

“Need some direction?” I asked.

“Yes actually,” he said. “Thank you.” We bobbed and weaved through the agents busying themselves to get read for the mission that was about to take place. We made our way through the floors silently before I key carded him into the suit bay. The back wall was light from beneath, the uniform for Steve waiting on a mannequin.

“It’s a little brighter than what you’re used to. Dad got creative.” I laughed. His hand reached out to touch the suit, no doubt feeling a lot of feelings.

“You okay?” I asked sympathetically.

“Yeah yeah I’m alright. It’s just the last time I put on the suit-”

“You crashed a plane.” I interrupted. He let out a little laugh.

“Something like that.” he smiled at me.

“You have a whole team backing you on this. We’ve got your back.” I reassured him. He shot me a small smile.

“Good luck Captain.” I said before making my way back to the bridge. It was late by the time they had returned. All looking a bit worse for wear, and apparently with two gods in tow. We all sat at the meeting table in the main bay as we watched Fury interrogate Loki.

“In case it’s unclear, you try to escape- you so much as scratch that glass” Fury pushes a button and the floor beneath the cell drops away to nothing, the wind screams. “Thirty thousand feet straight down in a steel trap. You get how that works?” He pushed the button again and teh floor closed.

He gestured first to Loki. “Ant.” Then back to the panel. “Boot.”

“It’s an impressive cage. Not built, I think, for me.” Loki ekissed.

“Built for something a lot stronger than you.”

“Oh I’ve heard.” Loki looked directly into the camera then. “A mindless beast- makes play he’s still a man. How desperate are you, that you call on such lost creatures to defend you?”

“How desperate am I? You threaten my world with war, you steal a force you can’t hope to control, you talk about peace and you kill ’cause it’s fun. You have made me very desperate. You might not be glad that you did.” Fury explained.

“Ooh. It burns you to have come so close, to have the Tesseract, to have power- unlimited power, and for what? A warm light for all mankind to share? And then to be reminded what real power is.” Loki hissed.

“Well, let me know if ’real power’ wants a magazine or something.” Fury said before leaving the room. We all turned off the stream at that point.

“He really just grows on you doesn’t he?” I snarked. Steve looked at me and let out a scoff before talking.

“Loki’s gonna drag this out. So, Thor, what’s his play?”

“He has an army called the Chitauri. They’re not of Asgard nor any world known. He means to lead the against your people. They will win him the Earth, in return, I suspect, for the Tesseract.” The blonde god answered.

“An army, from outer space?” Steve asked.

“So, he’s building another portal. That’s what he needs Erik Selvig for.” Bruce chimed.

“Selvig?” Thor asked.

“He’s an astrophysicist.” I said.

 “He’s a friend.”

“Loki has them under some kind of spell- along with one of ours.” Natasha looked down and to the side. 

“I wanna know why Loki let us take him. He’s not leading an army from here.” Steve said.

“I don’t think we should be focusing on Loki. That guy’s brain is a bag full of cats, you can smell crazy on him.” Bruce said.

“Have care how you speak. Loki is beyond reason but he is of Asgard, and he is my brother.” Thor said.

“And that’s cause for a break?” I asked. “He killed eighty people in two days.”

“He’s adopted?”

“I think it’s about the mechanics. Iridium, what do they need the Iridium for?” Bruce asked. At that moment Tony and my dad entered.

“It’s a stabilizing agent.” he said before turning back to my dad. “I’m saying, take a weekend; I’ll fly you to Portland. Keep love alive.” He patted my dads shoulder before he peeled off.

“Means the portal won’t collapse on itself like it did at SHIELD. No hard feelings point break, you got a mean swing.” he said, patting Thor's bicep.

“Maybe now isn’t the best time to anger the god Stark?” I chided.

“Also, means the portal can open as wide and stay open as long as Loki wants. Ah, raise the mizzen mast, ship the topsails.” Tony gestured to the crew members who shot back a confused glance.

“That man is playing Galaga! Thought we wouldn’t notice, but we did.” Tony was standing at the main controls now. Covering one eye and spinning around.

“How does Fury even see these?” he asked.

“He turns.” I said in a tone.

“Sounds exhausting!” He quipped, messing with the screens. I didn’t miss him placing something under the screen, the rest of the team not noticing however.

“The rest of the raw materials, Agent Barton can get his hands on pretty easily. Only major component he still needs is a power source of high energy density. Something to- kick start the Cube.” He said, clicking his fingers.

“When did you become an expert in thermonuclear astrophysics?” I asked.

“Last night. The packet, Selvig’s notes, the extraction theory papers- am I the only one who did the reading?” he asked back. I crossed my arms over my chest before sinking a bit.

“I did the reading…”

“Does Loki need any particular kind of power source?” Steve asked. How he even was following on was a mystery to me as I barely was.

“He’d have to heat the Cube to a hundred and twenty million kelvin just to break through the Coulomb barrier.” Bruce said.

“Unless, Selvig has figured out how to stabilize the Quantum Tunneling effect.”

“Well, if he could do that he could achieve heavy-ion fusion at any reactor on the planet.” Bruce answered.

“Finally. Someone who speaks English.” Tony quipped.

“Is that what just happened?” Steve asked to the rest of us.

“Get a room,” I teased the two men.

“It’s good to meet you, Doctor Banner. Your work on anti-electronic collisions is unparalleled. And I’m a huge fan of the way you- lose control and turn into an enormous green rage monster.”

Tony said to Bruce.

“TONY!” I chided.

“Mom,” he smirked at me.

“Thanks.” Bruce said sheepishly.

 “Doctor Banner is only here to track the Cube. I was hoping you might join him.” Fury said entering the room.

“I’d start with that stick of his. It may be magical but it works an awful lot like a HYDRA weapon.” Steve added.

“I don’t know about that, but it is powered by the Cube. And I’d like to know how Loki used it to turn two of the sharpest men I know into his personal flying monkeys.” Fury said.

“Monkeys? I do not understand-”

“I do!” Steve interrupted Thor. The entire room fell into silence. “I...I understood that reference.”

“Shall we play, Doctor?” Tony asked Bruce motioning to the door.

“This way, sir.” Bruce said and the two men walked off. I joined Steve and Nat at the table.

“For what it’s worth I worked under Tony for an entire summer and I have no clue what just happened…” I said putting my feet up on the table.

“Feet off the table,” Dad chirped from the screens. He didn’t even have to look to know what I was up to.

“Tony’s up to something, I just can’t place it.” I said tapping my chin.

“You think he knows something we don’t?” Nat said. I glanced at the small device Tony had placed on the monitor but didn’t mention it. Steve saw me flick my eyes but didn’t register what I was getting at.

“I think he’s going too. Tony may be a pain in the ass but if he’s suspicious it’s for a good reason. I think we need to keep an eye on him.” I said, as I pushed myself out of the chair and away from the table.

“I’ll come with you,” Steve said, doing the same. Nat shot me another quirky look that I quickly dismissed before we headed to the door and towards the lab.

“Is Tony always so hard to deal with?” Steve asked, falling into step next to me.

“He can be immature. We both have this kind of diluted sense of humor. He’s like a brother to me though.”

“So you trust him?” he asked.

“Most of the time…” 

“Most of the time? That’s not very reassuring.” he said as we stopped a few feet away from the lab windows.

“Look I wouldn’t trust him not to eat my sandwich out of the fridge but I’d trust him with my life.” I said turning to face him.

“That’s an interesting opinion,” he said, smiling down at me.

“OW!” We heard Bruce quip from the lab.

“Hey!” Steve said leaving me and stomping into the lab.

“Are you nuts?” He asked Tony. I hadn’t even seen what happened.

“Jury’s out,” Tony said.

“What did you do, Stark?” I said, crossing my arms. He ignored me and turned to Bruce.

“You really have got a lid on it, haven’t you? What’s your secret? Mellow jazz, bongo drums, huge bag of weed?” 

“Is everything a joke to you?” Steve chided.

“Funny things are.” Tony said.

“Threatening the safety of everyone on this ship isn’t funny. No offense, Doc.” Steve sadi turning to Bruce.

“No it’s alright. I wouldn’t have come aboard if I couldn’t handle pointy things.” Bruce said.

“Tony, you can’t be serious. You know how dangerous this is?” I said.

“You sound like Captain popsicle, calm down.” Tony said before turning to Bruce. “You’re tip-toeing, big man. You need to strut.”

“And you need to focus on the problem, Mister Stark.” Steve said hands on his belt.

“You think I’m not? Why did Fury call us in? Why now, why not before? What isn’t he telling us? I can’t do the equation unless I have all the variables.” Tony responded.

“You think Fury’s hiding something?” Steve asked.

“He’s a spy. Captain, he’s the spy. His secrets have secrets. It’s bugging him to, isn’t it?” Tony gestured to Bruce

“Uh, Aah, I just wanna finish my work here and-”

“Doctor?” Steve interrupted.

“A warm light for all mankind," Loki’s jab at Fury about the Cube”

“I heard it.” Steve said.

“Well, I think that was meant for you.” He gestured to Tony. Who in return offered him a blueberry. “Even if Barton didn’t tell Loki about the tower, it was still all over the news.”

“The Stark Tower? That big ugly -” Steve noticed Tony's glare before finishing. “-building in New York?”

“It’s powered by an arc reactor, self-sustaining energy source. That building will run itself for, what, a year?” Bruce asked.

“It’s just the prototype. I’m kind of the only name in clean energy right now, that’s what he’s getting at.” Tony said to us.

“So, why didn’t SHIELD bring him in on the Tesseract project? What are they even doing in the energy business in the first place?” Bruce finished.

“I should probably look into that as soon as my decryption program finishes breaking into all of SHIELD’s secure files.” Tony said.

“I’m sorry did you say-” Steve couldn’t finish.

“JARVIS has been running it since I hit the bridge. In a few hours I’ll know every dirty secret SHIELD has ever tried to hide. Blueberry?” Tony said, offering us the fruit. I declined.

“Yet you’re confused about why they didn’t want you around.” Steve said.

“She knew.” Tony gestured to me next.

“Hey don’t bring me into this.” I said putting my hands up pin defense.

“You knew about this?” Steve asked.

“I mean I saw him place the chip…”

“And you didn’t say anything? God what is with all of you people?” Steve said. I felt like I was getting grounded by my father when I was 15 again.

“An intelligence organization that fears intelligence? Historically, not awesome.” Tony interjected.

“I think Loki’s trying to wind us up. This is a man who means to start a war and if we don’t stay focused he’ll succeed. We have orders, we should follow them.” Steve said, looking at me.

“Following’s not really my style.” Tony said, saving me from Caps intense glare.

“And you’re all about style, aren’t you?” Steve smirked at him.

“Out of the people in this room, which one is "A" wearing a spangly outfit and "B" not of use?” Tony chimed.

“Steve, tell me none of this smells a little funky to you?” I asked. He glanced between all of us.

“Just find the cube.” he said before storming out.

“Gonna follow your boyfriend?” Tony quipped at me. I shot him a glare before leaving to catch up with the captain. He was striding down the hall, I had to jog just to catch up.

“Steve!” I shouted following him. “Wait up-” He turned to me intensely.

“You’re Fury’s closest agent and you’re saying you don’t know what he’s up to? I find that hard to believe.”

“Steve, I'm not cleared for that sort of intel. Fury’s a great director because he can keep a secret. Even from me. You CAN trust me.” I said.

“Fine. Prove it.” He said turning and walking towards the back of the helicarrier.

“And how exactly do I go about doing that?” I asked falling back into step with him.

“Just come with me…” he said as we made our way deep within the large plane before finally coming to the door of the storage area.

“If they're hiding anything I bet it’s in here.” he said looking at the scanner for the door. I approached and swiped my card to enter only to be met with a denied access and a loud beep.

“That’s weird… I should be able to get in here.” I quipped. He placed his arm in front of me, pushing me back and out of the way. He leaned into the door and gave a large shove until the door broke loose before gripping the edge and pushing it the rest of the way open.

“Wow, do you do kids parties?” I teased.

“Not the time,” he said, moving forward silently into the storage facility. He jumped up to the cat walk before reaching down to grab my hand and pull me up after him.

“Through here,” he said, leading me further into the ship and to another room. It was large and cramped. Boxes lined the walls and large crates filled the floor space.

“What is all this?” I asked running a hand over one of the boxes.

“Let’s find out.” he said, grabbing a crowbar and knocking it underneath the lid of one of the crates. He easily made work of the lid before sliding it aside. Much to both our shock and dismay inside the crate was a handful of weapons. Each one a dark reminder of HYDRA. The symbol painted on the side of each one.

“Cap I, I had no idea.”

His jaw clenched before he grabbed one of the guns and turned on his heels.

“What are you doing?” I asked running after him.

“Confronting Fury.” he said. I could barely keep up with him. We quickly arrived at the lab, over hearing Tonys words.

“And you’ll get your cube back, no muss, no fuss. What is Phase Two?” He asked, turning his monitor towards a very shocked looking Fury.

Steve strode into the lab and slammed the gun on the table harshly, me following on his heels. 

“Phase Two is SHIELD used the Cube to make weapons.” he said before turning to Tony. “Sorry, computer was moving a little slow for us.”

“Rogers, we gathered everything related to the Tesseract. This does not mean that we’re-”

Tony turned the screen towards Fury. It showed a plan for some missile.

“What were you lying?” Tony quipped.

“I was wrong, Director. The world hasn’t changed a bit.” Steve said, crossing his arms. 

“You made me a part of this too. You didn’t think I should have a choice in doing your dirty work?” I asked Fury. “And pulled my dad into this? I can’t believe you.”

“Sarah I-” he was interrupted by Nat and Thor walking in.

“Did you know about this?” Bruce asked Natasha.

“You wanna think about removing yourself from this environment, doctor?” Nat asked.

“I was in Calcutta, I was pretty well removed.” he answered.

 “Loki’s manipulating you.”

 “And you’ve been doing what exactly?” he asked.

“You didn’t come here because I bat my eyelashes at you.”

“Yes, and I’m not leaving because suddenly you get a little twitchy. I’d like to know why SHIELD is using the Tesseract to build weapons of mass destruction.” Bruce asked gesturing to the monitor again.

“Because of him.” Fury said pointing to Thor.

“Me?”

“Last year earth had a visitor from another planet who had a grudge match that leveled a small town. We learned that not only are we not alone, but we are hopelessly hilariously, out-gunned.”

“My people want nothing but peace with your planet.” Thor responded.

“But you’re not the only people out there, are you? And, you’re not the only threat. The world’s filling up with people who can’t be matched, they can’t be controlled.” Fury said.

“Like you controlled the cube!” Steve chimed.

“Your work with the Tesseract is what drew Loki to it, and his allies. It is the signal to all the realms that the earth is ready for A HIGHER FORM OF WAR.” the god boomed.

“A higher form?!” Steve asked.

“You forced our hand! We had to come up with some-”

“Nuclear deterrent? ’Cause that always calms everything right down.” Tony interjected.

The room became a hostile environment of arguments. 

“Remind me again how you made your fortune, Stark?” Fury quipped.

“I’m sure if he still made weapons, Stark would be neck deep-”

“Wait-Wait! Hold on! How is this now about me?” Tony interrupted Steve.

“I’m sorry, isn’t everything?” Steve mocked. The room became a flurry of voices and yelling. Steve was at Tony, Bruce at Nat, Thor at seemingly everyone. I became so tuned out that I almost missed the scepter start glowing brighter and brighter.

“Guys-” I said trying to get someone, anyones, attention.

“You speak of control, yet you court chaos!” Thor said.

“It’s his MO, isn’t it? I mean, what are we, a team? No, no, no. We’re a chemical mixture that makes chaos. We’re- we’re a time bomb.” Bruce said.

 “You need to step away.” Fury said to Bruce.

 “Why shouldn’t the guy let off a little steam?” Tony said, placing his hand on Steve's shoulder. 

“You know damn well why! Back off!”

“Guys…”

“Oh, I’m starting to want you to make me.” Tony got up in Steves face.

“Yeah, big man in a suit of armor. Take that off, what are you?” 

“Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist.”

“Guys-”

“I know guys with none of that worth ten of you. I’ve seen the footage. The only thing you really fight for is yourself. You’re not the guy to make the sacrifice play, to lay down on a wire and let the other guy crawl over you.”

“I think I would just cut the wire.” Tony snipped.

“Always a way out. You know, you may not be a threat, but you better stop pretending to be a hero.” Steve said.

“A hero, like you? You’re a laboratory experiment, Rogers. Everything special about you came out of a bottle.”

“Put on the suit, let’s go a few rounds.”

“You people are so petty, and tiny.” Thor chimed in.

“Yeah, this is a team.” Bruce stated.

“GUYS-” I said, gripping Steve's arm. His lock on Tony distracted as I did so.

“Agent Romanoff, would you escort Dr. Banner back to his-”

“WHERE? YOU RENTED MY ROOM!” Bruce raised his voice.

“The cell was just-”

“IN CASE YOU NEEDED TO KILL ME. BUT YOU CAN’T, I KNOW, I TRIED!” Everyone turned to him at that. My heart clenched in sadness. “I got low. I didn’t see an end so I put a bullet in my mouth and the other guy spit it out. So I moved on, I focused on helping other people. I was good until you dragged me back into this freak show and put everyone here at risk. You wanna know my secret, Agent Romanoff? You wanna know how I stay calm?” At this point he had stepped to grab the scepter. All of us instinctively had our hands on our guns at the ready.

“Doctor Banner, put down the scepter.” Steve said stepping in front of me.

Banner looked down, surprised, to see the spear in his hand. The monitor makes a noise, signaling the Tesseract has been located. Bruce puts the scepter back on the table and walks over to the screen on the other side of the room.

“Sorry, kids. You don’t get to see my party trick after all.”

“I can get there faster-” Tony said, turning to leave after the beep of locating the Tesseract.

“You’re not going alone!” Steve said, going back for Tony’s arm. Tony smacked his arm away.

“You gonna stop me?”

“Put on the suit, let’s find out!” Steve said.

“I’m not afraid to hit an old man.”

“Put on the suit.” Steve mocked again.

“Guys enough,” I said, stepping in between the two. Quickly the chaos escalates as Brucde sees something on the monitor.

“Oh my god-” He says before a loud and powerful explosion sends all of us flying. Everyone was thrown in different directions, me, Tony, and Steve tangled together in the entryway of the lab. We scrambled to our feet. Steve looking to Tony.

“Put on the suit.” Steve urged.

“Yep” Tony says running.

“Sarah, you stay with me!” Steve says all of us running down a dark hall. Agents are scurrying everywhere, and there’s panic as we are invaded.

“Find engine three. I’ll meet you there.” Tony said to us. We both agreed and bolted. Holes littered the carrier as we moved. Agents hurt and running around like mad men. We got to the damaged engine. It was a shit show.

“Stark! Stark, we’re here.” I said in the comms.

Tony now in full armor flies out to us. 

“Good. Let’s see what we got.” He said hovering around. He begins to examine the engine, his suit scanning through the different levels of machinery. 

“I gotta get this super conducting cooling system back online before I can access the rotors, work on dislodging the debris. I need you to get to that engine control panel and tell me which relays are in overload position.” Tony instructed us.

Steve jumped from the catwalk we were at over to the control panel.

“What’s it look like in there?

“It seems to run on some form of electricity.” Steve said sarcastically.

“Well, you’re not wrong. Sarah, I need you to get over there.”

“Tony, it's like a 15 foot jump.” I said loudly over all the commotion.

“Jump, I'll catch you!” Steve said across the way.

“Are you fu-”

“You said I could trust you, can you trust me?” He said.

“Son of a…” I said pressing myself up against the back wall preparing myself for the jump. I huffed out a breath before running and jumping off the catwalk. My jump coming up short, I reached out for Steve's hand. Thank god he caught me.

“STEVE!” I yelled, dangling from his hand. 

“I got you!” He said pulling me up, rolling onto the walkway with him on top of me. Both of us heavy breathing after the near death experience.

“If you two are very much done staring longingly at each other..” Tony chimed in the comm. I popped up quickly to fix the relay before pushed the panel back in.

“’Kay, the relays are intact. What’s our next move?” Steve said.

“Even if I clear the rotors, this thing won’t re-engage without a jump....I’m gonna have to get in there and push.”

“Tony, if that thing gets up to speed, you’ll get shredded!” I stated.

“Then stay in the control unit and reverse polarity long enough to disengage maglev and that should-”

“Speak English!” Steve yelled.

“See that red lever? It’ll slow the rotors down long enough for me to get out. Stand by it, wait for my word.”

We both located the lever back across another jump before looking at each other.

“Don’t look at me Rogers, I'm not jumping again.” He makes his way over before two men start engaging us, a grenade thrown in my direction I was thankfully able to deflect. We were battling guys left and right, I was finally able to get my hands on a gun before Steve tossed a man off the carrier. 

“We’re losing altitude!” Fury shouted on the comms. Just then Steve was knocked off balance and sent hurdling over the edge of the walk.

“Steve!” I said gasping as I saw him dangling by a wire. I needed to get back over there. Taking another deep breath I jumped with all my might, thankfully this time making the jump.

“Cap hit the lever!”  Tony rang in our ears.

“I need a minute here!” Steve shouted as I struggled to pull him back to the walk by the wire.

 “Lever! Now!” The second Steve gets a grip on the rail I’m on my feet throwing the lever for Tony.

After a flurry of activity Tony shoots out of the fan before taking out a gunman we hadn’t even seen before crashing. We rushed over to see if he was okay.

“Tony! Are you alright?” I said as he sat up. 

“I’m good. Way to cut it close kid.” He said giving me a thumbs up. We all just kind of giggled and breathed heavily. Taking a moment to compose ourselves before Cap hauled Tony to his feet.

“Agent Coulson is down.” Fury's voice rang through the comms. I felt my breath hitch in my throat. It stopped all together as I waited for a response. My vision tunneling.

“A medical team is on its way to your location.” An unknown agent states. Hot tears welling up in my eyes and I can feel Steve and Tony’s attention on me.

“They’re here…They called it.” Fury said solemnly. Immediately I felt my world crashing down. The hot tears from before spilling over in waves. I needed to see him. I took off in a sprint not even knowing where he was. I could hear someone chasing after me. I rushed to wherever I could see others running hoping he would be there. I was aimlessly running, not being able to find him. I stumbled upon a dead end. Lost. 

“Sarah wait!” It was Steve chasing me. All I could do was turn to face him. He approached me before wrapping his arms around me as I sobbed. I didn’t realize how weak I was until he grabbed me, immediately falling in his arms. And all he did was hold me; there on the floor as sobs racked through my body….

After a while I ended up leaving Steve in that hallway much to his protest. I needed to be alone. I needed to think. My dad had given so much of himself to SHIELD… Did I want to end up the same way? Back in my room I cleaned myself up. The dirt and blood matting my hair needed to go. Putting on my combat suit in preparation for what was to come. We had nothing. No clue where to go from here. But wherever it was I was going to be there. I was going to avenge my fathers death. It wasn’t long until I found myself in the med bay. Natasha and Barton clearly ending a heavy conversation. I silently walked in without saying a word, them both looking at me with pity.

“Oh sweetie I’m so sorry…”Nat trailed off coming to hug me.

“How are you Clint?” I tried to ignore the subject as long as I could. I couldn’t let myself feel the pain.

“I’ll be fine. I’m sorry hun,” he said, also coming to hug me.

“If it’s all the same to you I’d rather not talk about it. If I pretend it didn’t happen long enough we can get through all this mess and I can feel something later..” I trailed off. If anyone was going to understand it was Nat. A knowing hand placed on my shoulder by her in acknowledgment. Clint headed to the bathroom.

“Are you okay? I heard you had a tumble with Bruce.” I asked the red head.

“You know how we always talked about how scary it would be?” I nodded to answer. “It was way scarier than we could ever imagine.”

Cap interrupted us storming into the med bay fully suited up.

“Time to go.” he said.

“Go where?” Nat asked puzzled.

“I’ll tell you on the way. Can you fly one of those jets?” he asked her.

“I can.” I chimed.

“No, you’re not coming.” Steve chided. I was shocked. After everything I wasn’t coming?

Barton entered from the restroom, drying his hands.

“I can.” he says.

 “Got a suit?”

“Yeah.”

“Then suit up.” Cap says before turning on his heels. I shot Nat a look before chasing after the captain.

“Cap?” I asked, trying to keep up. No response.

“Cap?” No response.

“STEVE!” I shouted coming to a halt as he did, before turning to look at me.

“ ‘You’re not coming’ “ I air quoted at him “What the hell?”

“You’re compromised, I can’t have you in the field putting the other members at risk because of your emotions.” he said.

“My emotions are just fine Captain Rogers I assure you.”

“You just lost your da-” I held a hand up to stop him.

“Captain Rogers, whether you like it or not I will find my way to wherever it is that you are going. So you either let me go with you or I crash land your party my way.”

“Sarah…” he trailed.

“So what’s it going to be?” I asked, hands on my hips. He looked me up and down for a moment weighing his options.

“Very well Agent Coulson…” A coldness in his voice I could tell was shock by my defiance.

Before long the four of us are making our way to the quinjet.

“Hey, you guys aren’t authorized to be in here.” The agent said as we entered.

“Son, just don’t!” Steve said. Nat and I rolled our eyes at each other before we were taking off to New York as the captain had explained. When we got there a large blue beam was shining bright off the top of Stark tower into the sky.

“Stark, we’re on a…” Nat began. “...three heading north east.”

“What, did you stop for drive-thru? Swing that park, I’m gonna lay ’em out for you.”

The next few minutes were fast action paced flying through the streets of New York blasting whatever Chitauri that came upon us. Twisting and turning to throw them into buildings. Eventually we were hit, spinning through the air as we crashed. Nat and CLint did their best to pilot as we spun out of control. Cap and I both hanging onto the roof of the quinjet for dear life. Him wrapping an arm around me as we spun out of control before crash landing in the street. The hangar door of the jet swooshing open for all of us to exit. Outside was chaos, explosions abounded and the aliens were flying through the air in every direction.

“We gotta get back up there.” I said as we looked up to Stark tower, running onto the overpass.

Just then an enormous armored Leviathan enters through the space portal, it seems like a warship as more warriors jump out the sides and onto surrounding buildings.

“Stark, are you seeing this?” Steve asks.

Seeing. still working on believing...Where’s Banner? Has he shown up yet?” 

“Banner?” Steve asks.

“Just keep me posted.” 

“I think you owe me another ten bucks Rogers,” I joked as we took in the aliens creeping down the sides of the buildings.

“I owe you a hell of a lot more than that…” he trailed.

“Get a room” Tony, Clint, and Nat all said in unison. Before long we are all fighting with the Chitauri. Barton and Natasha are crouched behind a taxi cab. Cap runs over to them to say something as I’m still firing my guns down the bridge. Steves back next to me in a moment.

“Come on, we have to help the people under the bridge they’re sitting ducks down there,” he says before jumping off the bridge. I grab my wire and hook it to a bus before jumping off the bridge and lowering myself to the ground behind him. Unclipping myself quickly as he doesn’t stop to wait. We guided people to what little safety there was as we ran, not long before coming to a group of cops. Steve jumping up onto one of the cars in front of us.

“You need men in these buildings. There are people inside and they can be running right into the line of fire. You take them to the basement or through the subway, you keep them off the streets. I need a perimeter as far back as 39th-” 

“Why the hell should I take orders from you?” The cop asks before two Chitauri warriors attack Cap, he fights them off easily then turns back to the two men. The two cops stand shock. The sergeant reacts and walks back to his men.

“I need men in those buildings, lead the people down and away from the streets. We gonna set up a perimeter all the way down to 39th street.” The cop recites into his radio. Steve jumps down to meet me again.

“That was poetically good timing,” I said as we ran.

“Come on, we need to get back to Clint and Natasha,” he said, taking off faster. nQuickly we are back on the over pass helping the pair fight off the aliens. Thor finally joins us, killing one of the Chitauri with a bolt of lightning.

“What’s the story upstairs?” Steve asks.

“The power surrounding the cube is impenetrable.” He responds.

“Thor is right, we gotta deal with these guys.” Tony says over the comm.

“How do we do this?” I ask.

“As a team.” Steve says.

“I have unfinished business with Loki.” Thor states.

“Oh yeah! Get in line.” I said re racking my gun.

“Save it. Loki’s gonna keep this fight focused on us and that’s what we need. Without him these things could run wild. We got Stark up top, he’s gonna need us to-” He stops when we all realize Bruce is pulling up on an old motorbike. He stops in front of us, getting off as we approach him.

“So, this all seems horrible.” he says.

“I’ve seen worse.” Nat chimes.

“Sorry.”

 “No, we could- use a little worse.” She smiles at him.

 “Stark, we got him.” Steve says.

“Banner?”

 “Just like you said.” I answered.

“Then tell him to suit up. I’m bringing the party to you.”  Stark says as he flys around the corner. The giant Leviathan following closely behind.

“I don’t see how that’s a party…” I breathed. Tony brings the creature low barely off the ground as Bruce darts to walk away from us.

“Doctor Banner, now might be a really good time for you to get angry.” Steve says.

“That’s my secret, Cap… I’m always angry.” He says before he quickly morphs into the Hulk. One smash to the snout sends the creature to the ground. Fully knocking the life out of it. Everyone protects themselves as Tony shoots a missile at it. Cap covering me and Nat with his shield. The Chitauri are sent reeling, sending out horrible screeches in defiance. Hundreds more Chitauri come flying out of the hole. 

“Guys?” Nat asks.

“Call it, Captain.” Tony chimes as he joins us in a defense circle.

“Alright, listen up. Until we can close that portal up there, we’re gonna use containment. Barton, I want you on that roof, eyes on everything. Call out patterns and strays. Stark, you got the perimeter. Anything gets more than three blocks out, you turn it back or you turn it to ash.” Steve directs.

“Wanna give me a lift?” Clint asks Tony.

“Right. Better clench up, Legolas.” Tony says grabbing CLint and taking off.

“Thor! You gotta try and bottleneck that portal, slow ’em down. You got the lightning, light the bastards up.” Steve instructs. Thor swings Mjolnir, flying off. 

“Nat, Sarah, we stay here on the ground, keep the fighting here. And Hulk!” Steve says turning to the monster.

“Smash.” with that he's off, knocking down whatever gets in his path

The three of us are absolutely going to town on the stray Chitauri that dare to get near us. Natashas widow bites can be heard in the background and I’m on top of one, stabbing it in the neck before flipping it down to the ground. Nats got an alien weapon in her hand that she nearly shoots Steve with until she realizes it’s him.

“Captain, none of this is gonna mean a damn thing if we don’t close that portal.” she states. 

“Our biggest guns couldn’t touch it.” he says.

“Well, maybe it’s not about guns.”

“You wanna get up there, you’re gonna need a ride.” he responds.

Natasha glanced up, seeing the aliens crafts fly past. I could see the wheels turning in her head.

“Nat…” I warned.

“I got a ride. I could use a boost though.” she smiles.

“You sure about this?” I ask. Steves already readying his shield.

“Yeah, it’s gonna be fun!” She says if she runs at Cap before jumping onto his shield and him boosting her up as high as he can. She grasps a flying vehicle and she's off.

“Nat, you are so my favorite Avenger.” I state as I glance to see more Chitauri approaching us.

“You ready for more?” Steve asks.

“Are you kidding? I could do this all day.” I said winking at him, knowing his go to line from my father. He’d be so proud of me right now. But I block that down as much as I can and get my anger out on the stupid aliens. Slashing and shooting as much as I possibly can. Barton calls for Steve to clear a bank after a moment.

“Go! I’ll be fine!” I said taking down another alien. He hesitates for a moment before taking off. Things keep escalating and the fights continue. At one point I’m knocked so hard in the head the ear piece I have is nowhere to be found. There’s too much to do to bother to look. I kust keep fighting. Fighting for what seems like hours before a familiar shield knocks an alien right to the ground in front of me before returning back to its owner.

“Thanks.” I state. Thor coming to land next to us. We continue to battle, becoming almost overwhelmed. Suddenly, Cap is shot in the ribs and drops to the ground, Thor sends a car rolling towards some of them and them throws Mjolnir in the other way before helping Steve to his feet. 

“You ready for another bout?” Thor asks us.

 “What, you gettin’ sleepy?” he responds.

“Yes actually,” I say cutting open another alien. Its blood now covering me. I can see Steve hold his ear at the comm.

“Do it!” he yells. I have no idea what's going on at this point. He waits another second before saying.

“Stark, these things are still coming!” he adds. Another pause.

“You know that’s a one way trip?” I am completely not paying attention to anything when Stark flys by holding what appears to a missile. We are all watching when suddenly I feel a sharp pain at my side. One of those little fuckers stabbed me! I turn around shooting it directly in the heart and it drops before me. I look down and see the blade sticking out of my side. Blood dripping down my hands as I feel the wound. I drop to my knees.

“Sarah!” Steve shouts, both him and Thor running over to me. I keep my hand pressed to the wound to try to slow the bleeding. I know it wont kill me, but boy does it hurt.

“What kind of cosmic coincidence is it to get stabbed like your dad?” I ask Steve putting his shoulder under my arm to keep me upright on my knees. 

“Don’t speak of such things,” Thor chimes. We all look back up to see Tony fly into the portal with the missile. A sigh of relief washing over all of us. Waiting a moment hoping and praying he would come down, but nothing. Tears fill my eyes again, I don’t want to lose another person I’m so dearly close with.

“Close it,” Steve says next to me still holding me up. I have no comms so I cannot protest. The blue ray in the sky slowly closes and the hole vanishes before our eyes.

“No…” I breathe before we all notice a red dot falling out of the sky.

“Son of a gun…” Steve says next to me.

“He’s not slowing down,” Thor says starting to swing his hammer to retrieve him.

Before he can lift off Hulk flies through the sky catching Tony and crash landing near us. He rolls Tony off his side and close by. Thor grabbing his face plate and listening for his heartbeat. Silence falls over us until Hulk lets out an enormous scream, startling Tony and waking him up.

“What the hell? What just happened? Please tell me nobody kissed me. Unless it’s Sarah.” he gasps.

“We won.” Steve breaths from under my arm.

“Alright, Hey. Alright. Good job, guys. Let’s just not come in tomorrow. Let’s just take a day. You ever tried shawarma? There’s a shawarma joint about two blocks from here. I don’t know what it is, but I wanna try it.” Tony says still laying on the ground.

 “We’re not finished yet.” Thor says. 

“And then shawarma after?” Tony asks. I was not present to bring Loki in unfortunately. The bleeding in my side became too much to bare and I was whisked away to be treated. My injuries were not life threatening. I was released to go but stayed in the Helicarrier. I couldn’t bear going home…

A couple days later we all at met at Central Park to say our farewells to Thor and to see off the prisoner. We all say our goodbyes as Thor holds the Tesseract in a tube. 

“Thank you.. For everything.” I say giving Thor a big hug.

“You are most welcome earth princess.” he says.

“A princess? I’ll take it.” I say smiling at him before turning my attention to Loki who was gagged like an animal.

“You took away the most important thing in my life… now you don’t get to live yours.” I sneered at the god. His eyes were cowardice.

Someone grasped my hand behind me and I turned to find Steve. He gave me a small smile and pulled me back toward him as Thor twisted the tube and a beam of light sent them somewhere else. Tony approached us, shaking Steves hand.

“New car?” I asked him, looking at the beautiful vehicle.

“Gift to myself for saving the world, ya know. It’s the little things.” He smiled at me. “What are you gonna do?”

“Well now that my entire family is dead and SHIELD is basically shut down until further notice I genuinely have no clue. I suppose I'll figure out what I’m gonna do with the house…” I trailed off thinking about all the things I needed to do. A funeral, sell the house? Clean out the house? Who knows.

“You’re welcome to stay with us at Stark tower. I mean it’ll be under construction for a while but,” Tony says.

“You know… I may just take you up on that.” I smile at him before he gets into his car with Bruce and they pull off into the sunset. Pretty soon it’s just me and Steve left.

“So…Now what?” he asks beside me as I watch the fountain we’re near.

“You know everyone keeps asking me that.” I shoot him a smile. “I guess maybe I’ll start with the house. I can’t be there. Not without my dad…”

“I know. His death was not in vain…”

“I know I know I just- can’t help but feel like he’d want something else for me. Maybe I need to step back for a while. Disappear…” I answered.

“Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing,” he said. “But if that's the case… before you disappear will you have dinner with me?” he asked. I looked to him, his big blue eyes giving me the puppy dog stare.

“Is Captain America asking me on a date?” I giggled. He nodded.

“My dad is freaking out up there right now.” I said pointing to the sky. Steve laughed and we both made our way to his bike. Hopping on and riding off into the sunset…

[sophieinwonderland]

i found this video on tulpamancy on youtube and im curious as to your thoughts on it? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMhD0kWg1Us&pp=ygUKdHVscGFtYW5jeQ%3D%3D

Ugh...

It immediately starts off calling the Tibetan practice "tulpamancy" which isn't a term associated with any Tibetan practice. Which should be obvious for anyone with a basic understanding of linguistics since the -mancy suffix is derived from Latin.

They describe tulpamancy as being done with physical objects. Something which I know isn't generally true of contemporary tulpamancy, but I've also never heard of for the Tibetan practice.

There is no source for this claim and I want to know where it comes from.

The next 5 minutes or so are discussing a child's stuffed zebra becoming a tulpa which... is actually pretty interesting... it does sound like a form of tulpamancy, creating a headmate that I call an inhabitant. See my Manifestations post.

Talking to a physical object can result in a headmate forming. And what's interesting about this story is that it shows a headmate evolving from just manifesting through Inhabitation (attachment to a physical object) to imposition (attachment to an external imagined form.)

We actually have a headmate we created this way just to see if it would work.

Mentions having a tulpa to bring good luck... I probably wouldn't recommend this because I don't think tulpas can actually have that power, and it would be kind of terrible to think you do, have that as part of your self-image, and then feel guilty when it doesn't work.

Part of the video tells you to make the object you use to create your tulpa with have a human form. Then the speaker presumably realizes they just told you that you can use salt shakers so quickly adds on that this is only for tulpas you make yourself. I'm pretty sure the "human form" thing was an ad lib because they probably didn't have a script. Always have scripts when making what are supposed to be informational videos.

"Have you ever walked by a stranger and made eye contact with that person and you immediately got a chill because you knew that was a bad person, you knew there was something wrong here. That's energy." No? That's just being creeped out by somebody's face... Don't normalize judging people to be bad just on looking at their face.

Claims "miracles" at statues of Mary are because those statues are tulpas. These would probably actually be classified as egregores by occultist beliefs, which I guess could be considered a type of spiritual tulpa brought to life by multiple people feeding energy to that. But again, I don't believe in metaphysical concepts like this.

Claims a certain spring has magical healing properties because of statues there that give off healing energy. I would want to know what rocks these are and if any experimental studies have tested the supposed healing capabilities.

Ends with the claim again that "tulpamancy" is Tibetan. Still have no sources that anything they just said in this video is from a legitimate Tibetan practice.

Aside from this... the actual practices they recommend aren't actually that bad or different from what you would find in a tulpamancy guide.

Biggest takeaway though is to never trust somebody who is trying to tell you the "real" truth about a practice, but provides ZERO sources for anything. Neither on screen nor in their video's description.

[contemplatingoutlander]

Our true feelings about race and identity are revealed in six words

This is a poignant article about a project that Michele Norris started that tapped into people's thoughts about race in a profound way--using only six words. This is a gift🎁link, so anyone can read the full interactive article, even if they don't subscribe to The Washington Post. Below are some excerpts from the article:

I have always cringed when the accusations fly about someone allegedly “playing the race card.” It’s usually a proxy for “You’re making me uncomfortable, so please stop talking.” Or a diversionary tactic used to avoid having to speak about race with any kind of precision or specificity. A shorthand for “Just shut up.” And so, in 2010, I flipped the script, turning that accusatory phrase into a prompt to spark conversation. I printed 200 black postcards at my local FedEx Kinko’s on upper Wisconsin Avenue asking people to condense their thoughts on race or cultural identity into one sentence of six words. The front of the cards simply read:

Race. Your thoughts. 6 words. Please send.

I left the cards everywhere I traveled: in bookstores, in restaurants, at the information kiosks in airports, on the writing desks at all my hotels. Sometimes I snuck them inside airline in-flight magazines or left them at the sugar station at Starbucks. I hoped a few of those postcards would come back, thinking it would be worth the trouble if even a dozen people responded. Much to my surprise, strangers who stumbled on the cards would follow the instructions and use postage stamps to mail their six-word stories back to me in D.C. Since my parents were both postal workers, this gave me an extra thrill. Here I was, doing my part to support the Postal Service. Who says snail mail is dead? Half a dozen cards arrived within a week, then 12, then 20. Over time, that trickle became a tide. I have received more than 500,000 of these stories — and more arrive every day, though the vast majority of submissions now arrive through a website portal online. They have come from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Though limited to six words, the stories are often shocking in their candor and intimacy. They reveal fear, disappointment, regret and resentment. Some are kissed by grace or triumph. A surprising number arrive in the form of a question, which suggests that many people hunger not just for answers but for permission to speak their truths. It was amazing what people could pack into such a small package:

Reason I ended a sweet relationship

Too Black for Black men’s love

Urban living has made me racist

Took 21 years to be Latina

Was considered White until after 9/11

Gay, but at least I’m White

I’m only Asian when it’s convenient

To keep the conversation going, I created a complementary website for the Race Card Project, where people could submit their six-word stories online. Over time we added two words to the submission form: “Anything else?” That changed everything. People sent in poems, essays, memos and historical documents to explain why they chose their six words. The archive came alive. It became an international forum where people could share their own stories but also learn much about life, as if it were lived by someone else.

I highly recommend reading the entire article, using the above gift link. As an olive-skinned Italian American, with curly hair, I have often felt like I am a walking Rorschach test for race. Even though I'm classified as "white" in the U.S., I've had people ask me if I'm a Latina, a Native American, Black, Egyptian, Jewish, and even a South Pacific Islander. Given my history, here are my six words on race.

A book is not it's cover.

I welcome people adding to this post their own 6 words on race.

[theflowergothic]

Apparently this is what happened with the baby clothes photo so Kelly was going to have a big gender reveal party/celebration whatever soon and obviously use it as content on her Instagram and then the ad with the baby shop from Miami was meant to come out after that, but they posted it early and obviously spoiled the gender. Therefore Kelly is refusing to do the ad anymore and is trying to have it removed and that’s what she means by speculation. 

Okay, buckaroo. There are a ~couple~ problems with your theory, many of which I've covered on this blog. But since we're here, let's break it down real quick:

So Kelly was planning a big gender reveal moment, and the store just happened to jump the gun and post a random, unauthorized photo of her shopping for baby clothes? And instead of handling it like an adult behind the scenes, she went full PR damage control mode, DMing fan accounts and scrubbing it off the internet like it was classified government intel? Yeah, totally normal behavior.

2. If this was just about unauthorized photos, why the fuck are the other pictures still up? The only one missing is the one that hinted at the gender. Almost like... that was the real issue all along. 🤔

3. She’s still following the store owner. The store’s still following her. The whole "refusing to do the ad anymore" excuse is weaker than her skincare ad placement strategy.

And lastly, I have to ask… did Kelly send you directly to say this? Because that weird little "OBJ" at the end of your message is giving copy-pasted straight from the source energy.

The random emoji that one of our devices can’t even render properly. You mean to tell me you typed all that out, included a mysterious missing character at the end, and expected me not to notice? Try harder next time.

So do me a favor, go back to licking Kelly’s boots and let her know something for me:

Tell her the whole “privacy invasion” excuse doesn’t hold up when the only deleted post was the one confirming what she obviously didn’t want people to know. Tell her that if she’s gonna run around DMing fan accounts begging them to scrub evidence, she should at least come up with a story that doesn’t immediately fall apart under the weight of her own bullshit. And while you’re at it, tell her that next time she wants to send one of her minions to my askbox, at least have them proofread before they copy-paste the damage control script.

[let-us-cultivate-our-garden]

Could you elaborate on your comment on Discord? I would specifically like to know why The Owl House is bad at consistency:

This is Dana [Terrace]'s first time as a showrunner (granted [Gravity Falls] was also Alex Hirsche's [sic] first show as well). But all of the writing mistakes we have talked about point to a team that struggled with basic world-building, character dynamics, consistency, etc.

So this one's going to be a two-fer since the questions are similar.

First off, writing in film and television is always a team effort; writers plan, storyboard, revise, edit, and bounce ideas off each other when creating the script. Second, any first time show runner will have difficulties helming their show by virtue of being inexperienced. That's not indicative of them being a bad writer but a novice one.

I don't believe it's helpful to classify anyone as a "good" or "bad" writer based on one piece of work because even a world-famous and world-renowned author can produce a dud. That's just the nature of the creative process.

So when you ask what went wrong in the writing process you really have to know what that specific writing process was. For TOH, I don't know what that was; looking at the list of episodes and the staff responsible, it looks like they pretty much had the same roster of people throughout the run of the show. So any inconsistencies in the plot, character development, etc. cannot be blamed on a changing staff.

If I were to hazard a guess as to why the show is so structurally flawed, I would guess it's due to a lack of discipline. TOH likes to speed run through character arcs to get to the big dramatic moments and not really put in the work to get there. Just look at how quickly Luz and Amity went from rivals to OTP in half a season or how quickly Lilith was forgiven despite being a major antagonist for pretty much all of season 1. They wanted to get to Lumity and Cool Aunt Lilith right away without putting in the work to get there.

And yes, the cancellation did play a role in the show speed running through season 3 HOWEVER the writers also added in the Collector as a secondary antagonist without dealing with Belos first. The result was a character that took a lot of time away from established characters and plot lines and his own subplot resulted in his character being stripped of anything interesting or unique and just another Sad Boy for the audience to coddle.

Again, this is due to lack of discipline and wanting to cram characters and concepts into the show without stopping to think if it is beneficial to the overall story or not.

In the end, what separates a "good" writer from a "bad" one is that good writers will acknowledge their mistakes and fix them while poor ones keep repeating the same mistakes or make even bigger ones.

I hope this answers your question because without knowing how the writers chose to approach their story and why they made the decisions they did, I can only point out the flaws and what that means for the show as a whole.

[transparentgames]

Hi! August hasn't ended yet, but we've got another exciting announcement to share!

Thank you for 500+ downloads on itch!

This time we're here to thank you for 500+ downloads on itch.io. We also have 29 ratings and a 4.8 rating on itch. Additionally, the game has been added 400 times to collections. 

We couldn't be more grateful for the support we've received ever since publishing the short demo.

To celebrate this milestone, here's guest artwork of Elijah from Altila:

As a thank you, we'd also like to show you the current progress on the George CG01 which will be added into the September Polished Demo update:

Currently, as you can see the sketch, lineart and flat color stages are done. Vita will next add the shading and atmospheric effects.

Transparent Games August Free Game Release: Frozen Hearts

If you follow Transparent Games on X, you might have noticed that we’ve been promoting the game Frozen Hearts ever since July/early August. This is a game that Anna started developing with her friends a while ago, and it was finally ready to be published for the recent sunofes jam. It's fully voiced, custom-illustrated and completely free. You can check it out here:

Here's the story of Frozen Hearts:

Sophie has been frozen inside a crystal for two centuries. When the ice thaws, she wakes up in an unfamiliar world. Everything is frozen, including the inhabitants of the palace where she finds herself. When she makes her way to a nearby village, people’s shocked reactions surprise her - they call her a Hero. Legend says she sacrificed herself two centuries ago to end a terrible war, freezing the leaders of both factions along with the rest of the world. 

Yet, is that tale all there is to the story?

What roles did Richard the Ice King and Ivon the Rebel Leader really play in Sophie’s life?

What will they do now that they have escaped their icy prison too?

Can Sophie reverse the permanent winter, or will the world be thrown into a final, destructive conflict that freezes the future forever?

Frozen Hearts is an otome isekai game with two love interests and around 3 hours of gameplay.

Download here for free.

Transparent Games July Free Game: Stormbound Secrets

In July, Yui (the Saintess BG Artist), Jenna Rose (the Saintess Script Editor), Anna (the studio lead) and several other amazing teammates participated together in the o2a2 jam, which resulted in completing and releasing a 10-minute visual novel titled Stormbound Secrets. You can check it out here:

Here's the story of the game:

A magical storm rages through the woods. The Great Dryad must be angry, but at whom? Desperate, you seek shelter in a secluded cabin. There you run into a handsome stranger. Who is he and what is he hiding? And are you actually the person you claim to be?

Who has the biggest secret: him or you?

The game is light on romance. It's better classified as josei rather than otome, but feel free to give it a shot anyway. There's a hot guy in it, after all 😀

Download here for free.

Saintess of the Golden Bow on Youtube

If you're still on the fence about playing the Saintess demo, you can check out ReaperBabe playing it on stream - the first part of the stream is now available on youtube:

Anna was present for the stream and answered some of Reaper's questions in the chat. It was a fun experience. We're looking forward to more streamer coverage of the game.

Development Updates

The team has completed two new sprites, two new outfits and one new background since our last update - here are some sneak previews!

Going forward, the team will focus on Kickstarter graphics and rewards as well as putting together the Extended Demo from the assets we have produced.

Thank you for tuning in for this update.

Be sure to check out the next month's development update and the Polished Short Demo as well.

Best,

Transparent Games Team