#wandavision season one

[lanfear-is-my-darkmistress]

It's ashamed what the MCU did to Wanda because why introduce her being the Scarlet Witch and build up something important about witches and how Wanda is basically their High Priestess then end up killing her off. Because I look at people like Agatha, Loki, and Sylvie and just think it's terrible that Wanda never got to connect with her inner witch and be around other witches who could understand her instead of the Avengers. I know Sylvie doesn't know as much as Loki does but still. It's make me think could Wanda possibly do what Sylvie does with the whole possessing people, because what Wanda does is mind control and Sylvie possesses people with her magic.

[villainboygirl]

A summary of MCU's fandom in 2021:

[the-eclectic-wonderer]

I got tagged by my sweet friend @valentinaonthemoon, and I've already added several of her choices to my (ever growing...) watchlist!

rules: without naming them, post 10 gifs of your favorite TV shows, then tag 10 people

In no particular order:

This looks like something @hecatesbroom, @eeblouissant, and @this-geek might enjoy -- no pressure, though, of course! And since I haven't tagged 10 people, if you find this and want to do it, consider this your official invite! :)

Thank you so much for the tag!! <3

[bylerserotonin]

For everyone who complains about Phase 4, remember that this is the first phase that Kang didn’t write and direct

[saintlopezlov3r]

Wanda Maximoff🥀

Marvel Studios

[cozykali]

MCU Multiverse Explained

I have seen some confusion in the MCU fandom regarding the multiverse, specifically the difference between an ‘alternate universe’ and a ‘timeline’. I wanted to create a crash course for you. I plan on updating this as we get more content in the Multiverse Saga.

In Avengers Endgame, the Avengers figure out time travel thanks to Tony Stark’s ‘Mobius Strip’ and Hank Pym’s quantum tunnel when Scott Lang returns from the Quantum Realm. Although it had been 5 years for those on earth, Scott had only been in the Quantum Realm for 5 hours as time moves differently in that demotion. The Avengers decide to go back in time to retrieve the infinity stones from the past to undo Thano’s snap.

When Bruce Banner goes back in time to retrieve the time stone from the Ancient One, we learn that altering the past does not change the future, but instead, it creates another timeline. She says, “If I give up the time stone to help your reality, I'm dooming my own.” We understand now (thanks to the Loki series) that this is likely because the TVA (Time Variance Authority) will show up and eradicate the branched timeline.

At almost the same time, Steve Rodgers attempts to retrieve the Tesseract, which contains the space stone, from the Battle of New York. However, Loki escapes with it then he is captured by the TVA soon after.

In Loki season 1, we learn the TVA is a bureaucratic society that controls the flow of time. If there is a branch in the timeline, they have a window of opportunity to capture whoever caused it (AKA a variant) and reset the timeline before it reaches a certain threshold. If left unchecked, it will branch off and cause a Nexus Event. A Nexus Event is the birth of another universe or reality.

In the final episode of Loki, we learn that the TVA is run by ‘He Who Remains’. He has isolated the current MCU timeline (AKA the sacred timeline) to prevent a multiverse war. He explains that he is from earth, born in the 30th century, and he discovered the multiverse. At the same time, other versions of him were doing the same but some had ill intentions. He is killed by a Loki variant named Sylvie. In doing this, she unlocked the multiverse.

Now the sacred timeline no longer exists without He Who Remains. All the work the TVA has done has been undone. It didn’t just change future events, but past events as well. Every timeline that branched off can now become a Nexus Event, creating another universe.

In the show, What if…? We learn there is a being that observes the entire multiverse called The Watcher. He can view all of time and space but is unable to interfere until the existence of the multiverse is threatened by Ultron.

In Spider-Man: No Way Home, we get introduced to the multiverse again. Different versions of Peter Parker (and his villains) are transported to the current MCU timeline due to a spell that Dr. Strange performs that does not go according to plan.  These are not alternate timelines of Peter. Instead, they are Peter’s from totally separate universes that the current one would not have had access to when He Who Remains was alive.

 At the end of WandaVision we see Wanda, now the Scarlet Witch, reading a book called the Darkhold. Then, in Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, we learn that she has been using the Darkhold to study the multiverse to find her children that she lost using a method called ‘Dreamwalking’.

We are introduced to a Character named America Chavez, who has the power to travel through the multiverse. Wanda wants to harness America’s power. In this story, we get to see brief images of what some of those universes look like. Some are very similar to the main timeline (referred to now as 616) and others are incredibly different, like a world where everything is made out of paint.

Also, in Multiverse of Madness, we learn about a phenomenon called an ‘Incursion’. This happens when two or more universes collide, resulting in the annihilation of one or all of them.  In the post-credit scene, we are briefly introduced to a sorceress, named Clea, when she approaches Stephen Strange. She explains that his actions have created an incursion and needs his help to stop it. They enter the ‘Dark Dimension’ which we saw in the first Dr. Strange film when Stephen entered it to face Dormammu.

We have seen an incursion once before in What if…? when Dr. Strange becomes Strange Supreme. In this universe, Stephen loses his love interest, Christine Palmer, in an accident and tries to undo it using the time stone. We learn from the Ancient One that her death is considered a ‘Universal Point in Time’ and cannot be undone. His attempt to do so results in the destruction of that entire universe.

Let’s circle back to He Who Remains for a moment. In Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania Scott, Cassie, Hope, Hank, and Janet are trapped in the Quantum Realm which is a subatomic dimension that was explored briefly in the previous Ant-Man films. Here we meet a variant of He Who Remains who goes by the name Kang the Conqueror.

Kang has a ship that allows him to travel the multiverse, but the engine (AKA power core) of his ship is not functioning. We learn that this variant of Kang was banished here by the ‘Counsel of Kangs’ and he is trying to escape. Ant-Man enters the power core to repair it for Kang to save Cassie. Here he is trapped in a paradox where every probability becomes a reality creating countless versions of himself. He eventually fixes it with the help of Hope. They defeat Kang as he is seeming sucked into the power core himself.

The credit scenes show the Counsel of Kangs (including Rama-Tut and Immortus) announcing that the Kang they had banished to the Quantum Realm is dead. Then we see Loki and Mobius, in the early 20th century, find another Kang called Victor Timely, setting us up for Loki season 2.

So, that’s the facts and basically everything we know so far in the MCU about the multiverse. I do briefly want to get into my opinions and interpretations.

When He Who Remains was killed, it altered the reality of the current timeline in other ways as well. Not every branch in the timeline can cause a Nexus Event or a new universe. Some branches may end naturally on their own, or eventually re-join the timeline they started from.

We know that the events of Endgame and the time heist they performed were part of the sacred timeline and were supposed to happen.  I have seen some people asking what [insert character that was introduced in Phase 4] doing during the events of Infinity War and Endgame. My theory is, they did not exist then.

Let’s take America Chavez, for example. She has the ability to travel across universes. However, there is no way she would have been able to reach 616 as the timeline was completely isolated from the multiverse thanks to He Who Remains. Plus, if she did somehow reach it, she would have been swiftly pruned by the TVA.  

I have another example, in the sacred timeline, a meteor containing vibranium crashed into earth, eventually creating the Kingdom of Wakanda. However, it is possible that a branch in the timeline means that two (or more) vibranium meteors crashed into earth allowing Talokan to emerge. When the sacred timeline existed the branch involving the second meteor could have been reset. Instead, the timeline branched out and re-joined the current timeline instead of creating another universe. This could be why Namor was not around during Thanos’ attack.

There are, of course, other possibilities as well (Namor might have been among the snapped, or did not want to reveal himself to the surface world) but there is a possibility Talokan only exists due to the death of He Who Remains. The same could be theorized about other characters like Shang Chi, the Eternals, and Moon Knight.

Anyways, I’m excited to see where the Multiverse Saga takes us next! Let me know your thoughts.

[littler3d]

Oh MCU you never run out of ways to disappoint me

SPOILERS UNDER JSYN

So first of all, Steroids Peggy can survive holding all the Infinity Stones and yet Peter Quill, Half-Celestial can’t? Now I am a movie watcher only so idk if that tracks in the comics but COME ON!! If that’s true why didn’t Captain America do the snap in End Game??? Every single episode of What If has been amazing up until the finale and it’s just left me disappointed 😔

[wongyuseok]

tagged by @jaebeomtual (hello, miha, beloved 🥰) to post 9 of my favorite shows. I'm actually horrible about watching a show in its entirety unless its a kdrama. And apparently when asked, I forget every show I've ever seen 😅 Honorable mentions: the 9-1-1 shows, A Million Little Things, Sailor Moon, Psych, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and If You Wish Upon Me.

tagging: @cheolmatez @lee-minhoe @donghyuckkies @seungkwan-s @sunminshine @amaranth @stickyyong (if you want to ofc 🫶🏻)

[that-sokovian-bastard]

My very quick she hulk review:

I did in fact stay up until 2:40 am watching all of she hulk. I enjoyed it! Definitely a little different. I understand the cgi complaints but it wasn’t bad enough for me to bitch. I also 110% understand why the incels hate it, but I think that’s kinda the point.

totally on board with matt and jen. I hope she’ll get a lil cameo in the daredevil show :D also I LOVE Renee Elise Goldsberry and I am so happy with how much she was in this. Her hair and outfits were killer.

my favorite line was “we’re hulks, we smash things. Bruce smashes buildings, I smash fourth walls and bad endings. And sometimes Matt Murdock 🤙🏻”

[wtylas]

im going through a very heartbreaking thing rn and theres no way to explain it without seeming deranged.

[sheerioswifties]

Finally got to watch Loki and ffs Marvel really does love to f*ck with us don't they

[erosia-rhodes]

Speculation on Mizu’s heritage

Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix is one of the best things I’ve seen all year. As I’ve been rewatching it, I couldn’t help but speculate on Mizu’s heritage, and I wanted to share my theory so we can all laugh at how wrong I was in a few years. (I am notoriously bad at guessing plot twists. I was totally wrong about how Wandavision and Loki season 1 would end.)

Spoilers and speculation behind the jump.

Short version: Mizu’s mother was a white woman and her father was the Shogun. The Shogun’s wife, Lady Itoh, put the bounty on Mizu’s life because she was proof that the Shogun broke his own laws.

Who Would Want to Kill a Baby?

We know that there has been a bounty on Mizu’s head since she was a baby. There are only three reasons I can think of for putting a hit out on a child who’s just been born and couldn’t have personally wronged anyone yet:

1) To deny them an inheritance.

2) To eliminate proof of an affair.

3) To eliminate proof of a crime.

The woman that claims to be Mizu’s mother is Japanese, so Mizu assumes her father must be white. But once Fowler reveals that Mizu’s “mother” was actually her maid, it opens up the possibility that Mizu’s mother was white and her father was Japanese.

We know that someone is willing to a pay a lot of money to kill Mizu, but the maid also ran off with enough money to take care of Mizu for several years, so at least one person in this mess is wealthy. We also know that someone still wants Mizu dead when she's an adult because men come to kill her when her husband rats her out, so she’s still a threat to someone else’s interests at that time.

If the Shogun slept with a white woman and fathered a mix-raced child as a result, that would fulfill all three reasons to put a bounty on a baby. Killing her would remove any chance that a bastard might try to blackmail her way into an inheritance, it would remove proof that the Shogun had an affair, and most importantly, it would destroy evidence that he violated his own laws against Western influence by sleeping with a white woman.

But the True Culprit is…

But I don’t think the Shogun put the bounty on Mizu’s life. I think it was the Shogun’s wife, Lady Itoh, for several reasons:

1) Lady Itoh is willing to kill people who learn that her husband broke his own laws.

When the nobles are trying to escape the fire in the finale, Lady Itoh makes her sons lock the door behind them and sentence the other Lords to death because they witnessed the Shogun’s shame, the revelation that he broke his own laws by dealing with Fowler, a white man. She’s demonstrated that she’s willing to kill people to destroy proof of her husband’s violations, so she’d do the same to a mixed-race baby he fathered. It would also explain why Mizu’s maid never claimed the bounty herself; she would have been targeted for death too because she knew about the Shogun’s crime. She probably took whatever money was in the house when the killers came for Mizu, and went on the run as much to save her own life as Mizu's.

2) The woman’s a sadist.

Lady Itoh does everything she can to make Akemi’s life hell once she marries into the family. She saddles her with bitchy attendants and serves her disgusting food at the banquet, and finishes it off with the cooked remains of the bird Akemi tried to free. Then she sends her two more birds the next day, claiming they’re breakfast and lunch. I have no trouble believing this woman would put a hit on a baby!

3) She’s a hardliner against Western influence

After the fire, Lady Itoh orders her sons to destroy 2000 guns which they could have used in the future against their enemies because she’d so fiercely against Western influence. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the one who came up with the law banning white people and talked her husband into enacting it. That would explain why the Shogun was willing to violate the law, because he didn’t completely believe in it and only enacted it to get his wife off his back.

It Fits a Common Theme of Revenge Stories

Another reason I think Lady Itoh is the ultimate villain is because it fits the common theme that revenge is futile. Revenge usually destroys the person seeking it just as much as anyone they go after. There is a famous quote from Confucius that says, "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves." The implication is that the second one is for yourself.

If it turns out that Mizu has been going after the only four men in the country who couldn’t be her father, it would demonstrate how misguided revenge quests are. She’s spent her whole life pouring hatred into the wrong mission.

It would also be a painful twist to know that Mizu was in the same room with Lady Itoh in the finale, but she was focused on killing Fowler instead of realizing that her true enemy was fleeing out the back door with everyone else.

How It Will All Sort Out

I predict that Mizu will eventually learn the truth about her parentage and ultimately target Lady Itoh for death, not just for revenge, but so she can permanently remove the bounty on her head and live her life freely as a woman.

Akemi might end up assisting Mizu since Lady Itoh is also her enemy. Akemi will probably spend season two battling Lady Itoh for control of the household, and thus the country. If Akemi can put her husband in place as the Shogun, she could remove the bounty on Mizu's head.

If Taigan ends up working as a castle guard, this might put him in conflict with Mizu and Akemi if they target Lady Itoh since he would be honor bound to protect her.

It will be interesting to see how it all sorts out!

ETA: I misspelled Lady Itoh's name, sorry! (According to the subtitles it's Itoh, not Ito) I think I fixed every instance.

[writing-house-of-m]

Cold hands, Warm hearts

Natasha Romanoff x GN!Reader

Summary: Natasha warms you up on a cold day with an impromptu date

A/N: This is for @esouliie ! You can all thank her for this because I don't know when I would have gotten something new finished. This was also the result of there being way too many 'missing Natasha hours' recently (I've also been having a lot of 'missing Wanda hours' too and have re-watched WandaVision because of it). But, everyone... this fic... is so freaking cute and I hope you all think so too. Happy reading and let me know who you think!

"Hey," you hear a familiar rasp from over your shoulder. 

You didn't think you would hear from her so soon. She told you she was going to be busy, which is code for ‘away on a mission’, so have kept yourself occupied for the last few weeks trying not to think of the red head. Which is easier said than done. 

Every morning when you wake up disappointment fills you not seeing her there. Your intertwined lives are now routine. 

It is hard to adjust when she is away, especially when it is for weeks and what feels like no end in sight. On top of that, with missions like these, there is no communication between you to fill the Natasha shaped hole in your life. 

Sometimes you wonder if it would be easier to be involved with someone else, anyone else for that matter, but the thought is gone as quick as it comes because no one could ever replace the way she makes you feel. 

The first week of her absence you filled your free time as much as you could by catching up with friends and family. You constantly found yourself avoiding the question about why you have been so distant recently. It was the one thing Natasha requested from you - not telling anyone about your relationship with her - to, in her words ‘keep you safe'. 

You still remember the way she looked at you. It was the first time you could see past the facade she held, seeing the worry linger in her eyes for a split second. The intensity of her gaze and her hesitance was a strange thing to witness. When you nodded your head in agreement her smile was soft, almost relieved. In that moment you realized you would agree to anything she asked just to see that vulnerable side again. You felt privileged. 

This second and third week have been much slower, a lot of your time has been spent in the four walls of your apartment because of last minute canceled plans and much needed maintenance needed around your home. 

So you decide today, cold be damned, you will be taking a walk through your local park. You shared this little wonder of a place with Natasha in your fourth month of being together, happy to be able to reveal a bit more of you and your life. 

It is a public place, more people pass by here than in the street where you live. But you got to show Natasha all the overlooked secrets; little winding paths that lead to flower gardens, a pond hidden behind some bushes and the gargoyles you can see from one spot when standing in a specific angle by a monument in the center. You even pointed out some regulars you see because of all your time here. From the confined elderly wanting a bit of liberation from their mundane lives to daring children trying to climb the tallest tree they can find. 

A breeze rushes past, the cold chilling you to your bones and you inwardly curse at yourself. Trust you to have picked the coldest day for some freedom. Initially, the brisk air was making you regret your decision, that was until the sun came out. It didn't do a whole lot against the freezing temperature, but it did look pretty against the frost and ice distracting you from the chilly weather. 

The way the sun's rays shine between the branches that stretched out over your head reminded you of spring time and how much you couldn’t wait for the season to change. 

Just as you were about to get out from the clearing for some much needed sunlight and heat on your face, that’s when you heard Natasha. 

It has been so long you think you are hearing things, that is until you turn your head and see her. The long army green coat she is wearing almost makes her look taller. 

Almost. 

Strands of red hair peek out from the beanie Natasha is wearing, a braid is tucked into her pulled up collar and she has a soft smile on her face. One you have noticed she reserves for you. 

It takes everything in you to not run over and jump into her arms, to press your nose into her neck to get a smell of the home you have been craving. 

Big scenes are not her thing, you’ve learnt. 

Instead your eyes drop to her gloved hands holding two hot drinks which takes you out of your stupor and smiling brighter in return. You almost want to ask how she knew where you were but then remember her profession. 

"You look cold," there is a playfulness to Natasha’s voice matching her smirk. 

Regardless of how wrapped up you are, you know your scarf hasn't done much to stop your face from getting cold, it must be covered in a light blush. 

"I could say the same about you," you raise an eyebrow with your own smirk. A noticeable pink tint is adorning her cheeks and nose from the cold bite of the air. You wonder how long she has been trailing you. 

Natasha's smile widens as closes in and hands you one of the cups. You take off your gloves, shoving them into your pocket to allow the heat to bring back the feeling in your frozen hands as you bring it to your nose to take a whiff. Your favorite, of course it is. 

She leans in and pecks you on the lips, her still warm palm from the drink sinks into your cheek making you forget about the kiss of the sun you were walking towards. Natasha disappoints you with how short her lips are on yours, you were hoping for something that was more than just a split second considering how long it has been. 

Although Natasha pulls back it is only by an inch as she remains close to ask, "Where are you going?" 

Her voice is low and her warm breath is a nice contrast to the icy wind. 

Your eyes flutter close as you revel in her presence and soak up the warmth she brings. Brushing your nose against hers you reply, "Wherever my feet take me," you smile and open your eyes to the green ones you selfishly wish to keep to yourself. "I'm glad I have some company now," you whisper. 

"I hope you weren't expecting anyone else," Natasha says with a twitch of an eyebrow. 

You shake your head. "Definitely not," you say, pressing a small kiss to her lips, one that lasts longer than the mediocre one she gave you. "I missed you." 

You like seeing her like this. Carefree. Soft. Unguarded. 

Well as unguarded as can be, it was something you picked up in your first few months of spending time together - Natasha is always alert. The way her eyes flint around every so often, looking around to quickly survey her surroundings, always cautious of any lingering threats. To the untrained eye it looks like she is taking in the scenery, but you know after knowing her for as long as you have. 

Over time it is a habit you have even picked up from her, making you wonder if there are things she has picked up from you. 

Natasha stands by your side allowing you to loop an arm around her waist while you take a sip of your beverage. It leaves a warm trail as it makes its way down your throat. It still isn't as warm as the way Natasha makes you feel though as cheesy as that may sound. 

"Thank you for this, I didn't realize how much I needed it," you say, signaling the paper cup. 

She smiles at you to acknowledge your gratitude. "You're never one to think ahead, plus I saw you shiver," Natasha remarks. 

You scoff, shaking your head, "I did not shiver." 

Some children are laughing not too far in front of you which distracts both of your attentions away from your conversation. A large puddle of water has frozen over and seems to be the main source of entertainment for the little gang. 

The two of you stop to watch their innocence, a pang of jealousy hits you because of how carefree and innocent they are. Not a single worry showing on their faces in this cruel world. 

You have been fortunate to only hear about the atrocities always going on. More so since you started to date Natasha. She doesn't go into detail about her line of work but the faraway look she has on her face sometimes after certain assignments tells you all you need to know. It fills you with pride knowing you are Natasha’s source of domestic normalcy. 

One of the snuggly wrapped up boys slips and tries to regain his footing before he falls to the ground making you let out a breath of laughter. The scene is something straight from a cartoon as the boy tries to find balance when trying to stand again while the rest laugh at him. A boy in a puffy gray coat, who is howling with laughter, loses his feet from under him sending him straight to the ground landing on his butt making the rest of them exclaim even louder. 

The smile you see in your peripheral vision tells you Natasha is enjoying this too. 

"How long had you been watching me before you decided to come over, stalker?" You ask, curiosity getting the better of you. 

"Long enough to see you shiver," Natasha accuses in her husky voice. 

You bark out a laugh, "I do not shiver!" 

"Yeah, yeah, you keep lying to yourself," Natasha smirks. 

You spend long minutes, people watching while sipping on your drinks and basking in this precious stolen time you get to spend with each other. 

The children are fewer now, some of them have left with their parents while the rest stay. They have started a game to see who can stay on their feet the longest as they try to knock each other down. 

Sometimes you forget Natasha’s past, what little you know of it, and almost ask about her childhood. You bite your tongue to stop yourself from asking 'What did you get up to as a kid?’ 

Instead, you face Natasha as she continues to stare on at the scene; her side profile is enough to show her fatigue. You place your empty cup on the wall beside you so you can take her face in your hands. 

Natasha takes your lead to turn in your direction allowing you to take in all of her features. 

"You look tired," you whisper in concern as your thumb rubs along her cheekbone. 

"Gee, thanks(!)" Natasha chuckles at her own sarcasm. 

"Nat," you start, ready to reprimand her for not being serious. 

"We’ve had some long days. But don’t worry, I'll be off for the holidays,” Natasha replies. “You'll have me for two weeks. That’s enough time for you to get sick of having me around. By the end of it you’re going to want to be rid of me." 

"Impossible," you say without thinking then lean in to press a kiss to the corner of her lips. 

Natasha turns her head slightly to meet your lips, sighing when she allows herself a moment of being wrapped up in you. 

A buzzing sound makes you stop before you can deepen the kiss any further. You let out a breath of disdain from Natasha’s phone ruining your moment. Natasha smiles at you apologetically, taking the device from her pocket. 

While Natasha checks the notification you give her some privacy, picking up both empty cups to discard them. 

When you return and meet Natasha's eyes, the sparkle that was there just moments ago has faded as regret takes over. She is being called back. 

"Three more days, then you're all mine, Romanoff,” you smile. “And for a whole two weeks!" you exaggerate in hopes to lessen the blow of her having to leave. "How did I get so lucky? I guess I'm being spoiled this season." 

You know you succeed when you see the corners of Natasha's lips raise slightly before she holds onto your coat and pulls you in kissing you again. 

Her phone buzzes impatiently, interrupting you again . 

"I have to go," Natasha says, her warm breath fanning over your face as she rests her forehead against yours. ”But just know, I’m the lucky one here.” 

You smile at her confession and revel once more in the warmth she provides before you have to face the harsh cold that comes with the Winter months alone. 

Kissing Natasha’s forehead you meet her loving green gaze once more. "Come back to me," you breathe out as light as the breeze chilling you. 

"Always," Natasha says, sweetly and just as quiet. Her voice carries the weight of more than the one worded sentence she has spoken. 

Taking a breath, Natasha gives you a final peck before she drags herself away from you. 

Your arm stretches out as Natasha walks away, your hand lingering in hers for those extra few seconds of comfort. But mostly because you don't want to let her go. 

Saying goodbye is always difficult no matter how short the visit. 

As you watch her walk away you think about the first time you met the assassin. 

Out of all the windows in the city Natasha crashed through yours. Your shock had you frozen in place until she tried to stumble out of your apartment but collapsed from fatigue because of the fight she had just endured. 

After getting over the fact an Avenger covered in dirt and blood had ruined your new rug, you used your limited first aid knowledge to nurse her back to health. When she awoke a few hours later, she told you just how crappy of a job you had done. 

What got Natasha’s attention was when you quipped back saying you should have let her bleed out to make a quick buck off of all of her equipment to pay for the damages she caused. 

When she left a short while later you didn’t think you would ever see her in person again. You were looking forward to being able to tell all the people in your life about the encounter with an actual superhero. 

Reality hit you in the gut with the name of ‘Non Disclosure Agreement’ and a clean up crew which you couldn’t be mad about. 

Unbeknownst to you, after your first meeting Natasha couldn't stop herself from wanting to see you again. Her mind drifted to the ‘kind’ (your words not hers) stranger who applied sloppy bandages to her arm and stomach. The messy job would have gotten infected if she hadn’t woken up. Natasha caught herself smiling at the memory too often and had to force herself to be present for work. 

Life went on and your encounter felt less and less real as each day passed. Until one evening, while in your office building working late, you received a call telling you you were needed on the roof. Skeptical as you were, you obeyed thinking of the promotion you had been working so hard toward. 

What you hadn’t expected was a fully healed Black Widow to emerge from the shadows, playfully schooling you to not comply with shady orders received late at night. Then insulting you with how boring your life was and how you should learn to cook for yourself instead of wasting all your money on take-out. 

Surprise was an understatement and instead of letting that show, like your mouth wasn’t already slightly hanging open from the shock while she spoke, you decided to play Natasha’s game and call her out for the stalker that she was. 

Since then your meetings have been sporadic but it didn’t stop you both from falling for each other. Who knew a year and a half on you would be in a relationship with each other, life would have made more sense if you had stopped talking. But you have defied the odds and are still going strong. 

When you make it back to your apartment you find flowers waiting for you on the kitchen counter making you smile. A card attached to them with a message in Natasha’s handwriting that reads ‘3 more days ♡’ makes you feel like your heart is going to burst from emotion. 

Needless to say that smile never left your face throughout you making dinner all the way up until the moment you go to bed that night. Natasha somehow always has a habit of making you feel like a giddy teenager. 

You couldn’t wait to see her again. The gift you have been wanting to give to her for a few weeks has been hidden under your towels in the kitchen cabinet. You can only hope she doesn't already know about it. 

The next time you are together you are going to give her a key to your apartment so that she knows she will always have a place to come back to. 

A place she can call home. 

[jinxquickfoot]

So I've finally finished Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and not only did I enjoy the last three seasons way more than I thought I would, but I was not prepared for how delightfully unhinged the show became. Some of my favourite plot points included:

The female protagonist has a long-lost sister with superpowers who becomes the key to the entire crew returning to their original timeline through the Quantum Realm. Said long-lost sister is not introduced or even hinted at until the last five episodes of the entire show.

Half of one season takes place in a dystopian 2091 where the young twenty-something scientist couple not only meet their grandson who is the same age as them but said grandson returns to the present, becomes a series regular, and calls them "Nana" and "Bobo" in some Once Upon A Time worthy family tree shenanigans. Oh he also gets stuck in the 80s and claims he wrote Don't You (Forget About Me)

Phil Coulson dies in Season 5 because in order to stop an evil AI -turned-human-turned evil because she got dumped by a small Scottish man he has to become Ghostrider. The entire season builds up to this in a way that makes it feel very much like the actor is stepping away from the show and retiring the character, only for them to cast Clarke Gregg as an evil deity from another dimension in Season 6 and as a Life Model Decoy that may as well just be Phil Coulson in Season 7

Patton Oswalt plays multiple identical characters who all work for SHIELD. This is never fully explained.

“Mata Hari Calamari”

The final season is a decade-hopping gimmick with matching genre episodes that beat WandaVision to the punch

One character is a robot anthropologist who just wants to be best friends with the same small Scottish man. He has canonically been trained to perform in alien brothels and eventually becomes a bartender in the Crazy Canoe in 1955. He is one of the absolute best parts of the show.

One plot line follows said same Scottish Man and robot anthropologist as they get stranded in outer space with their only way home being to gamble in an alien casino while their friends attempt to rescue them but accidentally take LSD instead

"I found that bluffing was much easier if you kill someone and take their skin."

Area 51 is canonically a SHIELD base

[lands-of-fantasy]

Titular Women in Live-action Superhero Media

Cathy Lee Crosby as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman in Wonder Woman (1975)

Lynda Carter as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman in Wonder Woman (1975-79)

Helen Slater as Kara Zor-El / Linda Lee / Supergirl in Supergirl (1984)

Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-97)

Ashley Scott as Helena Kyle / Huntress, Dina Meyer as Barbara Gordon / Oracle, Rachel Skarsten as Dinah Redmond in Birds of Prey (2002-03)

Halle Berry as Patience Phillips / Catwoman in Catwoman (2004)

Jennifer Garner as Elektra Natchios in Elektra (2005)

Melissa Benoist as Kara Zor-El / Kara Danvers / Supergirl in Supergirl (2015-21)

Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter in Agent Carter (2015-16)

Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones in Jessica Jones (2015-19)

Gal Gadot as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman in Wonder Woman (2017) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Olivia Holt as Tandy Bowen in Cloak & Dagger (2018-19)*

Evangeline Lily as Hope van Dyne / The Wasp in Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018) and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Brie Larson as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel in Captain Marvel (2019)

Sophie Turner as Jean Grey / Phoenix in X-Men: Dark Phoenix

Ruby Rose as Kate Kane / Batwoman in Batwoman Season 1 (2019-20)

Margot Robbie as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Helena Bertinelli / The Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Dinah Lance / Black Canary, Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya, Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)

Margot Robbie as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)

Brec Bassinger as Courtney Whitmore / Stargirl in Stargirl (2020-22)

Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch in WandaVision

Javicia Leslie as Ryan Wilder / Batwoman in Batwoman Season 2–3 (2021-22)

Elizabeth Tulloch as Lois Lane in Superman & Lois (2021-)

Scarlett Johansson Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow in Black Widow (2021)

Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop in Hawkeye (2021-?)**

Kaci Walfall as Naomi McDuffie in Naomi (2022)

Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel in Ms. Marvel (2022-?)

Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters / She-Hulk in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022-?)

Letitia Wright as Shuri /Black Panther in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Brie Larson as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel in The Marvels (2023)

Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Echo (2024-?)*

________________

*While not directly reffered as such in their shows, "Dagger" and "Echo" are, respectively, Tandy's and Maya's codenames in the comics.

**This also goes for Kate and the "Hawkeye" codename, but in her case the show implies she will use it in the near future with the blessing of Clint Barton (the original Hawkeye, who also stars in the show).

[sycamorelibrary754]

The Afterglow

Summary: You finally visit Natasha’s grave a year after she passed away. You don’t know what you expected to find or feel when you get there, but you want to feel something. Maybe Yelena does too.

Pairings: Natasha x reader, Yelena x reader (Platonic)

Genre: Angst, Comfort

Word Count: 918 words

Warnings: Grief, mentions of death.

A/N: I can't believe today is finally here. I wasn't planning on writing anything today, but I was listening to Afterglow by Ed Sheeran, and this came out. Lyrics from Afterglow are italicized. Credit to the writers of WandaVision for the final line. I miss Natasha Romanoff.

October used to be your favorite month—a million colors of hazel, golden, and red. Natasha would do anything to make the fall season memorable for you. Lighting your favorite apple cinnamon-scented candle, attempting homemade hot chocolate for you, even indulging you in wearing matching fall sweaters when she was not a fluffy sweater person. You were both love drunk.

It had been a year since Natasha’s death—three hundred and sixty-five days without her strength, her protection, her vulnerability, her love. The inability to visit her grave made it all feel even more symbolic. Her physical form was lost to the dark depths of Vormir; it was an incapacitating fact you couldn't bring yourself to dwell on. I knew the remaining team had made the journey to Ohio, and it was no secret that Yelena had quietly bought a small house there just to be close to her sister again.

You decided to go, unsure what to expect or how you would feel when you arrived. At that moment, you just craved some emotion. You set off without informing anyone of your plans, not wanting to be swayed by others' opinions. She was your love, and you were hers.

The flight was mercifully short, but it seemed to stretch on endlessly. Lost in thought, memories surfaced with a bittersweet ache. Absentmindedly, you found yourself on an isolated dirt road, the car coming to a stop. The crisp sound of fallen leaves underfoot accompanied your stroll along the road, embraced by the gentle trees. Admitting to yourself, it was a picturesque setting - unassuming yet undeniably beautiful. It was undoubtedly the kind of place Natasha would have cherished.

As I made my way up the path, a small collection of headstones appeared, each adorned with the warm rays of sunlight. It didn't take long to spot her headstone, positioned right in the center of the area, just like she always was. The sight was quite moving - her headstone was the only one lovingly blanketed in a colorful array of flowers, cuddly teddy bears, and handwritten notes. Etched on the headstone were the words "Natasha Romanoff. Daughter. Sister. Avenger."

As you kneel in front of her headstone, the rough texture of the cold stone sends shivers through your fingertips. The only sounds that reach your ears are the distant chirping of the birds and the gentle fluttering of the wind through the trees. In this moment, it feels like the world has vanished, leaving you alone in your love. Your world has disappeared, and the painful truth is that it will never return. You were lost in a moment of solitary grief; a sudden whistle slices through the heavy silence. You close your eyes and draw a deep breath, refusing to move from your spot on the ground.

"I gave up hoping that she would whistle back a few months back," a Russian voice announced, catching your attention.

You rise to your feet, not bothering to turn around. You already knew who it was. Keeping your gaze fixed ahead, Yelena walks up and stands beside you in front of the headstone. "More people visit this place than you'd expect, considering how isolated it is," Yelena murmurs. "I try to come here a few times a week to tidy up, be close to her, and feel her presence wherever she is now."

You remain silent, simply nodding in response. 

I was hoping you would show up today," Yelena confessed. "I considered calling you, but I didn't want to feel like I was imposing.

"Honestly, I was worried that you might be mad at me for taking so long to get here," you confessed. 

"I could never do that. Who am I to dictate how you should deal with losing the love of your life?" she said as you gazed up at the swaying treetops.

"It's strange. Natasha and I used to live life in vibrant color, but now it feels like I'm just existing in black and white," your voice trailing off.

"In our childhood, we would spend evenings chasing after fireflies in the backyard. I remember Melina explained that their glow was created through the fascinating chemical process of bioluminescence," reminisced Yelena.

"Always the inquisitive scientist," you sighed.

"After a lifetime of searching, I finally realized the glow I've been pursuing was always hers," the young widow confessed.

As you gaze at Yelena, you notice the subtle shimmer in her eyes, reflecting the unshed tears. Reaching out for her hand, you feel the delicate coolness of her rings as your fingers gently intertwine with hers.

I would give anything to have had more time with her," she whispered, her voice filled with longing and sorrow. "I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make her proud.

"Yelena, Nat was always so proud of you. And she always will be," you said, your voice trembling with emotion.

Now Yelena is the one who nods silently.

Y/n, she loved you," Yelena finally says after silent reflection. "You broke down the walls that she had built around her heart. Her entire life, she believed that love was only for children. It wasn't until you came into her life that she started to believe that maybe, just maybe, love was meant for her too. You showed her that love knows no boundaries and that it's possible for her to be loved in a way she never thought was possible.

"I loved her too... I always will," tears began to trickle down your cheeks, silently expressing your grief.

Yelena's grip on your hand tightens. "She burned so brightly. We have to hold on to the afterglow. Forever."

The weight of it all became too much. You both leaned into each other, wrapping your arms around one another as tears fell. No words were needed; the embrace conveyed a multitude of emotions – sorrow and affection. It was as if all the pent-up sentiments from the past year were finally released, allowing you to feel something once again truly.

What is grief, if not love persevering?