midnightmissiles
Princess of Memes, Shitposts, and Puns
I wish I had a creepy friend...
Bronze Mettle (MCU/DC SI)
- Thread starter Xavier Bronze
- Start date
Earth's Mightiest Heroes
Xavier Bronze
The Avatar
- Location
- Metropolis
Jessica and Trish come back in. Good. I was starting to worry that they'd just left.
Jessica comes up to me, "I think, I'm not ready for this. Can you get me my job back?"
"Sure. I'm sorry for… Well."
"Maybe after I've had some time to think. I'll keep the card. Thanks."
She and Trish make their way back out.
Constantine joins me and Superman queries, "Down one already?"
I shake my head, "No. I think she'll come around. I still count this as a win."
I notice Superman's distasteful expression at Constantine's cigarette and smile to myself, amused at his discomfort.
Constantine asks, "What is it?"
I shake my head with a chuckle, "Nothing."
I go over to where Bruce is talking to Rhodes, "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?"
He looks at Rhodes and gets a nod of release, "I've got the time. What's going on?"
I look him right in the eyes, "I want you to see if you can let the other guy out. Right here. Right now."
He shakes his head with a smile, "I don't think that's a good idea."
I shrug, "Maybe not. But the only way he's ever going to trust you, is if you start trusting him. That means taking risks. Nothing here is going to antagonize him. We're planning to let him out later anyway, even work with him. Why not start now?"
His smile fades into a grimace, "Have you seen what he can do?"
"Yes. More than you. I've seen what he can be. I've been where he is now. I know what it's like to be treated like a monster. Sometimes you feel like playing the role. But that's not who he is. That's what's been done to him. He's never been trusted, never been shown kindness. Even from you. That fucking sucks. We need to change that."
His resolve is breaking, keep pushing.
I say, "It's step one." He's thinking, "Peaceful coexistence."
A tint of green swells above his eyebrow, and I squash the instinctual reaction of terror. His whole body suddenly grows, until his clothes are tight and I have to look up to maintain eye contact.
And then the eyes change. And suddenly I see someone else. Someone sad. Someone in pain. And then fear.
And then Bruce is back, and he shrinks back down, his skin reverting to exclusively human shades. The Hulk is gone.
He shakes his head, "No. It's too dangerous."
I make it very clear on my face how sad and disappointed I am, "You saying that is the only thing that makes it true."
He's not making eye contact anymore.
"I want to meet him. Whatever precautions it takes to get you to agree. I want to talk to the other guy."
Everyone's staring at us. I guess they noticed Banner suddenly growing four inches.
I smile over my shoulder, "Sorry folks. Hulk isn't making an appearance after all. We'll have to reschedule that meeting for another time."
Constantine points at Bruce with his cigarette, "That's quite a condition you've got there, mate. One thing to see on the news. Another thing entirely in person."
Bruce gets back his characteristic half-smile, "Maybe you'll actually get to see it some day."
There he is using 'it' again. I have a lot of work to do.
Constantine summons me over and after a quick check on Bruce I follow.
He near-whispers, "Are you sure it isn't a demon in there?"
Normally I'd consider that offensive. But his past experiences make that a pretty reasonable line of inquiry, "Pretty sure. If he is, he's a redeemable one. If it would make you feel better, you could covertly test it."
"That I might, love."
I see something out of the corner of my eye. What's Phill doing?
Oh, that's interesting. He's holding one hand over Mjolnir and appears to be using the summoning mechanism to levitate it. I approach to watch and ask, "How are you doing that?"
He's concentrating, and so takes a second to answer, "I noticed that the speed of the hammer when I pull it is determined by my emotional state. More urgency means it comes faster, and with more force. Right now I'm controlling my emotions to equalize the pull against gravity."
Most of everyone is watching now, but I'm not going to point that out and throw him off, "That's really cool. Do you wanna know something that makes it even cooler?"
Suddenly Mjolnir propels itself away from him with enough force to skip across the hardwood and make several dents and gashes. He looks at me, "What's that?"
I grin, "As far as I know, Thor never figured that out."
He smiles back, "Well it's not exactly combat applicable."
Rhodes supports me, "Not yet. But with practice... It definitely has potential."
I call out to the crowd, "Our most powerful member may have just gotten an upgrade!" I give Superman an aside, "Sorry, but the weather control kind of tips him over in raw output. You're still the best at flying and punching really hard. And one of our most experienced members." His amused face tells me there was no need for the lousy attempt at validation.
I guess I might be up there in raw power once I get gud. Especially if I can go into the Avatar State and summon on all of the other Avatars. Am I potentially more powerful than Superman? The very fact that I have to ask is enough to almost make me giddy. I love my life sometimes.
Bruce asks, "I thought punching really hard was why you invited me? Or, the other guy."
I sigh, "You're here so that someday soon, both of you might be in the position to do whatever you want. Maybe the day will come when you discover that neither of you really enjoy punching. Or maybe, you'll discover that both of you do. I brought you here to help you figure that out."
Clint and Natasha are isolating themselves again. But it looks like a private conversation and I don't particularly want to interrupt.
We all stop when we hear something banging in the other room.
Phil summons his hammer and starts quietly making his way down the hall, followed immediately by Superman floating just above the carpet. Then Rhodes with a drawn sidearm, and then myself. I hear Constantine muttering some kind of spell behind me.
We file silently into the kitchen. I finally enter the room and can't keep myself from bursting into laughter almost immediately.
The intruder who was shoulder-deep in the fridge turns around, still holding a stack of tupperware with the extra food we didn't need. I double over. Oh god, that's too funny. That fucking idiot.
I hear a pistol cock and look back up. I stop laughing.
And then I start again. Because he's not pointing it at me. He's pointing it at Superman.
The burglar drops their gun with a swear when it starts to glow red hot. Thank you, Constantine.
He's backing away slowly, still holding the stolen food. This is not helping my efforts to stop laughing.
And then I hear Superman and Coulson joining me. And then we're all three rendered useless. This is amazing. Of all the places he could have robbed!
Rhodes calmly walks over and takes the containers of food away, setting them down on the counter. And then he starts naming off the Miranda Rights.
I point at this stupid, stupid guy, "Hey! You! Congratulations! … This makes you the first official Avengers villain!" Aaand, back to laughing uncontrollably.
Several minutes later we file back into the front room. Rhodes is holding our first villain by the upper arm.
Clint asks, "What happened in there?"
And I'm laughing again. Not too hard to answer though, "We got robbed."
Clint looks at me, and then at the newcomer. And now he's laughing too. Nat doesn't take long to join in.
Rhodes walks his captive over to the food table, "Might as well help yourself. The police won't be here for a few minutes." He turns to the rest of us, "Did someone call them?"
I shake my head and rub the tears out of my eyes, "No, I don't think so."
Constantine corrects me, "I did."
Rhodes nods in gratitude, "Thank you."
Jessica comes up to me, "I think, I'm not ready for this. Can you get me my job back?"
"Sure. I'm sorry for… Well."
"Maybe after I've had some time to think. I'll keep the card. Thanks."
She and Trish make their way back out.
Constantine joins me and Superman queries, "Down one already?"
I shake my head, "No. I think she'll come around. I still count this as a win."
I notice Superman's distasteful expression at Constantine's cigarette and smile to myself, amused at his discomfort.
Constantine asks, "What is it?"
I shake my head with a chuckle, "Nothing."
I go over to where Bruce is talking to Rhodes, "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?"
He looks at Rhodes and gets a nod of release, "I've got the time. What's going on?"
I look him right in the eyes, "I want you to see if you can let the other guy out. Right here. Right now."
He shakes his head with a smile, "I don't think that's a good idea."
I shrug, "Maybe not. But the only way he's ever going to trust you, is if you start trusting him. That means taking risks. Nothing here is going to antagonize him. We're planning to let him out later anyway, even work with him. Why not start now?"
His smile fades into a grimace, "Have you seen what he can do?"
"Yes. More than you. I've seen what he can be. I've been where he is now. I know what it's like to be treated like a monster. Sometimes you feel like playing the role. But that's not who he is. That's what's been done to him. He's never been trusted, never been shown kindness. Even from you. That fucking sucks. We need to change that."
His resolve is breaking, keep pushing.
I say, "It's step one." He's thinking, "Peaceful coexistence."
A tint of green swells above his eyebrow, and I squash the instinctual reaction of terror. His whole body suddenly grows, until his clothes are tight and I have to look up to maintain eye contact.
And then the eyes change. And suddenly I see someone else. Someone sad. Someone in pain. And then fear.
And then Bruce is back, and he shrinks back down, his skin reverting to exclusively human shades. The Hulk is gone.
He shakes his head, "No. It's too dangerous."
I make it very clear on my face how sad and disappointed I am, "You saying that is the only thing that makes it true."
He's not making eye contact anymore.
"I want to meet him. Whatever precautions it takes to get you to agree. I want to talk to the other guy."
Everyone's staring at us. I guess they noticed Banner suddenly growing four inches.
I smile over my shoulder, "Sorry folks. Hulk isn't making an appearance after all. We'll have to reschedule that meeting for another time."
Constantine points at Bruce with his cigarette, "That's quite a condition you've got there, mate. One thing to see on the news. Another thing entirely in person."
Bruce gets back his characteristic half-smile, "Maybe you'll actually get to see it some day."
There he is using 'it' again. I have a lot of work to do.
Constantine summons me over and after a quick check on Bruce I follow.
He near-whispers, "Are you sure it isn't a demon in there?"
Normally I'd consider that offensive. But his past experiences make that a pretty reasonable line of inquiry, "Pretty sure. If he is, he's a redeemable one. If it would make you feel better, you could covertly test it."
"That I might, love."
I see something out of the corner of my eye. What's Phill doing?
Oh, that's interesting. He's holding one hand over Mjolnir and appears to be using the summoning mechanism to levitate it. I approach to watch and ask, "How are you doing that?"
He's concentrating, and so takes a second to answer, "I noticed that the speed of the hammer when I pull it is determined by my emotional state. More urgency means it comes faster, and with more force. Right now I'm controlling my emotions to equalize the pull against gravity."
Most of everyone is watching now, but I'm not going to point that out and throw him off, "That's really cool. Do you wanna know something that makes it even cooler?"
Suddenly Mjolnir propels itself away from him with enough force to skip across the hardwood and make several dents and gashes. He looks at me, "What's that?"
I grin, "As far as I know, Thor never figured that out."
He smiles back, "Well it's not exactly combat applicable."
Rhodes supports me, "Not yet. But with practice... It definitely has potential."
I call out to the crowd, "Our most powerful member may have just gotten an upgrade!" I give Superman an aside, "Sorry, but the weather control kind of tips him over in raw output. You're still the best at flying and punching really hard. And one of our most experienced members." His amused face tells me there was no need for the lousy attempt at validation.
I guess I might be up there in raw power once I get gud. Especially if I can go into the Avatar State and summon on all of the other Avatars. Am I potentially more powerful than Superman? The very fact that I have to ask is enough to almost make me giddy. I love my life sometimes.
Bruce asks, "I thought punching really hard was why you invited me? Or, the other guy."
I sigh, "You're here so that someday soon, both of you might be in the position to do whatever you want. Maybe the day will come when you discover that neither of you really enjoy punching. Or maybe, you'll discover that both of you do. I brought you here to help you figure that out."
Clint and Natasha are isolating themselves again. But it looks like a private conversation and I don't particularly want to interrupt.
We all stop when we hear something banging in the other room.
Phil summons his hammer and starts quietly making his way down the hall, followed immediately by Superman floating just above the carpet. Then Rhodes with a drawn sidearm, and then myself. I hear Constantine muttering some kind of spell behind me.
We file silently into the kitchen. I finally enter the room and can't keep myself from bursting into laughter almost immediately.
The intruder who was shoulder-deep in the fridge turns around, still holding a stack of tupperware with the extra food we didn't need. I double over. Oh god, that's too funny. That fucking idiot.
I hear a pistol cock and look back up. I stop laughing.
And then I start again. Because he's not pointing it at me. He's pointing it at Superman.
The burglar drops their gun with a swear when it starts to glow red hot. Thank you, Constantine.
He's backing away slowly, still holding the stolen food. This is not helping my efforts to stop laughing.
And then I hear Superman and Coulson joining me. And then we're all three rendered useless. This is amazing. Of all the places he could have robbed!
Rhodes calmly walks over and takes the containers of food away, setting them down on the counter. And then he starts naming off the Miranda Rights.
I point at this stupid, stupid guy, "Hey! You! Congratulations! … This makes you the first official Avengers villain!" Aaand, back to laughing uncontrollably.
Several minutes later we file back into the front room. Rhodes is holding our first villain by the upper arm.
Clint asks, "What happened in there?"
And I'm laughing again. Not too hard to answer though, "We got robbed."
Clint looks at me, and then at the newcomer. And now he's laughing too. Nat doesn't take long to join in.
Rhodes walks his captive over to the food table, "Might as well help yourself. The police won't be here for a few minutes." He turns to the rest of us, "Did someone call them?"
I shake my head and rub the tears out of my eyes, "No, I don't think so."
Constantine corrects me, "I did."
Rhodes nods in gratitude, "Thank you."
- Location
- Netherlands
That poor robber.
- Location
- Russia
That definetly was that reincarnating robber who trying to robb every version of Skitter in his every incarnation!
Krazyfan1
Worrying for the future.
- Location
- Australia
...that food better have been worth it.
...although i can see him showing up again...using more and more complex methods to steal from the fridge...
plus, he can save on travel expenses with those jumps...
...wonder if he can do the whole "kick the air so hard you get launched" method of flight if he tries hard enough?
...although i can see him showing up again...using more and more complex methods to steal from the fridge...
super strength, durability, and regeneration are all useful for science.
plus, he can save on travel expenses with those jumps...
...wonder if he can do the whole "kick the air so hard you get launched" method of flight if he tries hard enough?
- Location
- Russia
Definetly, if i right in my theory, then this guy reincarnated hundreds of times, he has some kniwledge.
Totally.
Xavier Bronze
The Avatar
- Location
- Metropolis
Skitter is from Worm, right? Or is that something else... I think she's Worm. Pretty sure. Unless she's not...
The only way anything related to Worm ends up in this multiverse is if someone I trust writes an Elseworlds or Alternate Take I like. Even then, that makes that Earth the first and most likely target for the Anti-Mobius, or Black Lantern plague.
Yep — Skitter is from worm. There's a sort of memetic omake of a guy hopping across the multiverse to try and take Skitter out in every possible incarnation, and failing pathetically, usually unnoticed. It's a bit tiresome, honestly, but the level of fail is about right for attempting a hot burglary of an apartment occupied by the entirety of the Avengers.
- Location
- Russia
Yep, that guy.
- Location
- Laniakea
That sounds a lot like Agrajag from Hitchhiker's Guide. You know, the "Oh no, not again" guy.
Xavier Bronze
The Avatar
- Location
- Metropolis
Wasn't there a story once about a droid who somehow was present for and survived through pretty much every major event of the Star Wars saga? Or if we're generalizing it to people who suffer a lot, there's Miles
"The DS9 writing staff had a running joke with a semi-annual "O'Brien Must Suffer" episode. Among these were "Whispers", "Tribunal", "Visionary", "Hard Time", "Honor Among Thieves" and "Prodigal Daughter". (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion) According to Ira Behr, "Every year in one or two shows we try to make his life miserable, because you empathize with him." Robert Hewitt Wolfe further explains, "If O'Brien went through something torturous and horrible, the audience was going to feel that, in a way they wouldn't feel it with any of the other characters."
- Location
- Laniakea
It's definitely a well-enjoyed trope.
- Location
- Tarn-Vedra
Well, Jessica Jones is out of the count (for the moment). I hope SHIELD finds Captain America ASAP; I'm also hoping that your SI is there to personally ensure that they (or more preferably you) break the news to Rogers gently rather than what really happened in OTL. Also, I think SHIELD could still grab the Falcon (who's either still in the US Airforce or has been honorably discharged). If it's the former Director Fury could have the Falcon join the Avengers Initiative on loan from the US Airforce much like Col. Rhodes aka War Machine is (who's also US Airforce). It's a simpler matter of acquiring the EXO-7 Falcon (via Director Fury) in any case. Also, will we see a cameo (or several cameos) of a certain Stan Lee - that only your SI notices and that no one else in your team does? Cameos like these, or this, or this, or even this? Lastly, will a similar Avengers Circle scene (like this and/or this)? I personally think it won't be the Avengers without a similar iconic scene as those I've mentioned.
Cameos like these, or this, or this, or even this? Lastly, will a similar Avengers Circle scene (like this and/or this)? I personally think it won't be the Avengers without a similar iconic scene as those I've mentioned.
Krazyfan1
Worrying for the future.
- Location
- Australia
not wrong in the slightest.
they can bond over stupid things that the people controlling the body have done...
Xavier Bronze
The Avatar
- Location
- Metropolis
I wrote that chapter immediately after seeing this comment. It's not especially soon, but it is coming.
They still don't know he's still alive. It's one of the few secrets SI maintains from everyone. As the months stretch into 2012 and the summer of the Chitauri invasion comes closer, she might start to reconsider.
Wilson's currently at the height of the darkest time in his life. He's unlikely to be fighting for a year or two.
There's a reason the Falcon suits were discontinued. They're very versatile and incredibly mobile, and relatively inexpensive. And also damn near impossible to use. It's also difficult to learn without hurting yourself. Mister Wilson is practically a prodigy.
Short answer? Yes.
All the Avengers won't be required in one place until May. The first-person perspective also makes moments like that slightly more difficult to convey. I'll see what I can do, but for sure I can't say.
Bitter Work
Xavier Bronze
The Avatar
- Location
- Metropolis
Mike helped me identify the martial arts that the four Bending forms are based on. Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Tiger and Mantis style Hung Gar, and Ba Gua. Turns out he's got belts in all of them already. My new workout routine is completely exhausting. But it's paying off. I can run from here to Metropolis in an hour flat. Three if I try and come back without taking a break. Ike can't keep up anymore if I go all out.
I'm in the shooting range. I've been practicing Earthbending. It comes to me a little more naturally than water, although not as easily as fire for now. The basic principle is to just be more insistent that the rock move than the universe is that it stay put. There's a little more to it than that, but that's the core mindset.
Unfortunately the universe is a lot more stubborn than I remember it being in the show. So far I can only move igneous rocks with low metal content that are already out of the ground and weigh two kilos or less.
I place one of the stones they've helpfully provided me onto a stand, and then push the button that summons a target to shoot at. Let's distance it at five meters for now.
Once the target is in place, I take my stance, and punch through where the rock is. Before I make contact, it moves as if it's fleeing my blow and flies down the range. It misses the target completely.
I ready the next rock.
I have an audience, "Hey Phil."
"Is it strange that this is a lot more amazing to me than when you throw fire?"
I take stance and send the next one out. It misses again, "It's called Bending, and it would be a lot more impressive if I could actually hit anything."
Phil steps up to the lane next to me and orders a target at the same distance. He holds his hand out to the side and several seconds later Mjolnir turns the corner into our room and flies into his hand. Then he tries to throw it like a spear. It lands at the target's feet.
I ignore his failure and focus on his success, "I didn't know you could make it turn like that. When did you figure that out?"
He looks at the door, "A few days ago, when I tried to summon it from under a table. It tries not to hit anything that I personally value. It took me an hour of pondering on the usefulness of walls before it started doing that, though. It's not the kind of thing you think about taking for granted, but they really are essential to so much of modern life."
I shake my head with a smile, "You're hacking an ancient alien artifact of divine power using only your mind. That's so awesome. Phil, you rock."
He looks at me, "When did you start calling me Phil?"
I think about it, "I guess I've been thinking about you as Phil for a while, but until we became teammates it seemed inappropriate to say out loud. Do you mind?"
"No. You're right. We're teammates now. Just make sure that in the field you call me Thunderer."
Questioning eyebrow, "You're really going with that, huh?"
"It wouldn't seem right to call myself Thor, since that's someone's name, and it might be offensive to his people. Mjolnir is impossible to spell and pronounce. Anything with 'god' in it just feels pretentious."
I shrug and setup another rock to throw, "Okay. It's your choice."
He summons his hammer back, "What about you? Is Avatar really so much better than Clairvoyant?"
Another miss, but I'm getting closer, "It's more accurate, seeing as how I don't actually see the future. I just don't like the connotations Clairvoyant comes with." Or that it was used by Garrett in the original timeline, "Is the paperwork through on that yet?"
He throws his hammer again, this time underhanded like a bowling ball, "Fury doesn't like people changing their codenames without a good reason for it. You're on all the Avengers paperwork as Avatar now. I'm afraid that's the best I can do. As a SHIELD consultant you're still technically the Clairvoyant."
I sigh, "Maybe that's enough." Next rock, "How are things with Audrey?"
"She doesn't like me bringing the hammer on dates. But she's a fan of the Asgardian plate mail."
I give a wry grin, "What about the indestructibility? She's gotta have noticed that by now."
He smiles at his feet and says nothing. I'll take that as an oh god yes.
I see him readying to throw Mjolnir yet another way, and stop him by pointing, "Try twirling it." I pantomime, "By the strap."
He looks at his grip and moves it down until the hammer hangs freely, "This feels dangerous."
"That's the idea. As long as you practice enough to aim that danger at the enemy. Twirling is how Thor did it, and he got distance."
Back to Earthbending, let's try something different. I try looking at a specific part of the target. I put the rock completely out of my mind, and punch at the target.
I punch the rock, and hear my knuckles crack. Well, that's another hour in the medbay while they make sure all the bones are in the right places before I heal it. I guess I do have to be thinking about the thing I'm moving, at least a little.
I'm in the shooting range. I've been practicing Earthbending. It comes to me a little more naturally than water, although not as easily as fire for now. The basic principle is to just be more insistent that the rock move than the universe is that it stay put. There's a little more to it than that, but that's the core mindset.
Unfortunately the universe is a lot more stubborn than I remember it being in the show. So far I can only move igneous rocks with low metal content that are already out of the ground and weigh two kilos or less.
I place one of the stones they've helpfully provided me onto a stand, and then push the button that summons a target to shoot at. Let's distance it at five meters for now.
Once the target is in place, I take my stance, and punch through where the rock is. Before I make contact, it moves as if it's fleeing my blow and flies down the range. It misses the target completely.
I ready the next rock.
I have an audience, "Hey Phil."
"Is it strange that this is a lot more amazing to me than when you throw fire?"
I take stance and send the next one out. It misses again, "It's called Bending, and it would be a lot more impressive if I could actually hit anything."
Phil steps up to the lane next to me and orders a target at the same distance. He holds his hand out to the side and several seconds later Mjolnir turns the corner into our room and flies into his hand. Then he tries to throw it like a spear. It lands at the target's feet.
I ignore his failure and focus on his success, "I didn't know you could make it turn like that. When did you figure that out?"
He looks at the door, "A few days ago, when I tried to summon it from under a table. It tries not to hit anything that I personally value. It took me an hour of pondering on the usefulness of walls before it started doing that, though. It's not the kind of thing you think about taking for granted, but they really are essential to so much of modern life."
I shake my head with a smile, "You're hacking an ancient alien artifact of divine power using only your mind. That's so awesome. Phil, you rock."
He looks at me, "When did you start calling me Phil?"
I think about it, "I guess I've been thinking about you as Phil for a while, but until we became teammates it seemed inappropriate to say out loud. Do you mind?"
"No. You're right. We're teammates now. Just make sure that in the field you call me Thunderer."
Questioning eyebrow, "You're really going with that, huh?"
"It wouldn't seem right to call myself Thor, since that's someone's name, and it might be offensive to his people. Mjolnir is impossible to spell and pronounce. Anything with 'god' in it just feels pretentious."
I shrug and setup another rock to throw, "Okay. It's your choice."
He summons his hammer back, "What about you? Is Avatar really so much better than Clairvoyant?"
Another miss, but I'm getting closer, "It's more accurate, seeing as how I don't actually see the future. I just don't like the connotations Clairvoyant comes with." Or that it was used by Garrett in the original timeline, "Is the paperwork through on that yet?"
He throws his hammer again, this time underhanded like a bowling ball, "Fury doesn't like people changing their codenames without a good reason for it. You're on all the Avengers paperwork as Avatar now. I'm afraid that's the best I can do. As a SHIELD consultant you're still technically the Clairvoyant."
I sigh, "Maybe that's enough." Next rock, "How are things with Audrey?"
"She doesn't like me bringing the hammer on dates. But she's a fan of the Asgardian plate mail."
I give a wry grin, "What about the indestructibility? She's gotta have noticed that by now."
He smiles at his feet and says nothing. I'll take that as an oh god yes.
I see him readying to throw Mjolnir yet another way, and stop him by pointing, "Try twirling it." I pantomime, "By the strap."
He looks at his grip and moves it down until the hammer hangs freely, "This feels dangerous."
"That's the idea. As long as you practice enough to aim that danger at the enemy. Twirling is how Thor did it, and he got distance."
Back to Earthbending, let's try something different. I try looking at a specific part of the target. I put the rock completely out of my mind, and punch at the target.
I punch the rock, and hear my knuckles crack. Well, that's another hour in the medbay while they make sure all the bones are in the right places before I heal it. I guess I do have to be thinking about the thing I'm moving, at least a little.
- Location
- Russia
I think what Phil accidentally don`t release the hammer... and send himself through target AND the wall beyond target.Hmmmmmmmmmmm... There a cutoff there, just before Xavier cries out in pain, causing Phil to accidentally release the hammer?
Seylerius
Verified Sionnach Tobar
- Location
- Washington
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Throw the hammer generally behind a target, then explicitly consider how the target is what you value least on the entire field. If you successfully value the enemy less than the air, it may divert to guarantee hitting them. Then you get two shots at every enemy: out and back.
...Ouch.
Looks like it's a long way to proficiency in any of the bending disciplines. Will she ever crack the really advanced stuff (Lightning/Blood/Metal/whatever-the-hell counts for Air)?
Now You're Thinking With
Xavier Bronze
The Avatar
- Location
- Metropolis
"Portals?"
Jane nods, "Once this device is finished, we'll be able to detect everywhere that the Bifrost has connected on earth, and open our own breaches between those sites. Last time, when I tried to rescue you, I only had half the equation. I wasn't able to control the other end. But now, we know of two places that it's opened. The place you came through, and the place the other four did."
I look at the repurposed phone booth in the middle of the room, "So we put something in there, it comes out at the other site a few miles away."
"And then we can watch the electromagnetic dispersal pattern and locate all the other potential sites in North America."
I shake my head, "Jane, you rock. This could change everything for SHIELD."
She grins, "And thanks to the deal I cut when I signed on, in ten years, it will change everything for everyone else too. Within our lifetimes, we could have planet-wide teleportation as public transit!"
One of the other scientists puts an apple in the booth and closes the door.
"Why is it a phone booth?"
She explains, "It had to have a contained atmosphere of standardized size to prevent pressure differential problems. And the glass serves a double purpose, insulating the chamber while also letting us see inside. It's also the perfect size for eventual human trials, once we get there. Also, I kind of grew up watching Doctor Who reruns."
I laugh, "That's what I thought."
I see the lights flicker and the node at the top of the booth where all the wires connect starts to glow.
And then the inside floods with light. Not just any light. I recognize that as the rainbow light from the Bifrost. The colors of creation. The truth and totality of existence.
The lightbulbs around us explode, and I see showers of sparks fly out of two of the large machines that are plugged into the device. The booth empties, and a rotted apple sits inside.
Jane frowns, and then squeals in glee, "That was incredible! How on earth did that happen! Johnson! Tell me we got a reading on that!"
"Yes ma'am. There are more breaches than expected, so we're only getting the ones in and around New Mexico. Twenty-one. No. Twenty-three."
She looks at me, wide-eyed, "Assuming even distribution, that's almost ten million worldwide."
I laugh, "That was some fast-ass math skills!"
She does that fidgety thing that's as good as a blush, "I already had the ratio in my head from when I modeled it this morning."
I realize how flirty I'm being, and how I promised to give her time. And that makes me sag a little. How long is she going to leave me in limbo?
I shake off the question, "Why is it rotten now?"
She kneels and picks up the apple, which disintegrates into goo in her grip, "I have no idea! That's the amazing thing about science, Xavier. For every mystery you encounter, there's the promise of answers."
That seems applicable. Right now, Jane is a mystery. She's the scientist. So I just need to wait for her to find the answers.
I know that doesn't make sense. But it'll help me not get frustrated for a while longer.
She drips the apple goo off her hand into a bag, "Speaking of answers, you never gave me the details on this alternate universe you're from. How different is it?"
I clench my teeth, "What's your clearance level?"
"One? I think. I might have gotten promoted to a selective two,"
I hesitate only slightly longer, "Oh, what the hell. It's my information anyway. The reason SHIELD cares about me at all is because of information that I have from my old universe. I've already told you, a lot of the people here, especially superheroes, are characters in movies and tv shows."
Jane briefly looks disturbed, "Yeah, you did say that. Does that mean all of this is fictional?"
"No, don't be crazy. It just means the filmmakers got their information from somewhere. The point is, I know the basic details of a lot of important events for the next five years."
She realizes something, "Natalie Portman. You said I looked just like her. She's the actress who played me in your universe."
I nod, "You got it."
She's wrapping her head around it, "So you know a lot. At least about superheroes. Like, if I asked you who Superman is-"
"I could tell you. I wouldn't, because I don't want to piss him off. But I could. Although the weird part is that he's not from the same movies."
"What do you mean?"
It feels good to go over all this again. Set the record straight, "All the movies and tv shows were based on comicbooks by one of two publishers. Marvel, and DC. You, SHIELD, Iron Man, are all Marvel. Superman is DC."
"So everything in these comicbooks either happened or is going to happen here?"
"Of course not. Look, it's pretty simple. The Marvel comicbooks were very loosely adapted into a series of movies and tv shows called the MCU. The DC comicbooks were even more loosely adapted into a series of tv shows on the CW, starting with one called Arrow. As far as I can tell, everything shown in any of those movies and tv shows would have happened, if I hadn't come here. Now I'm here, changing things. Who the fuck knows."
"But the comicbooks-"
I roll my eyes, "Shut up about the damn comicbooks. They're not important. I shouldn't have even mentioned them. The movies and tv shows are the only thing that really matters. A few things from the comicbooks have turned out to be true, just like Superman looks kindof like an actor who played him in an older tv show completely unrelated to the ones that are real here..." I'm getting sidetracked, "But there's so much that's different I can't make assumptions based on them."
She pushes, "For example?"
I sigh, "For example, in the old tv show, the one where Superman looked like the real one, there was an alien creature called Doomsday that rampaged through Metropolis and killed Jimmy Olsen. Obviously, that didn't happen here. So nothing else in that show is safe to assume is true, even if a few things might be. In the comicbooks, Tony Stark had a genetically engineered sentient tumor with the personality of his dead infant brother. Now, unless he's done a really good job of hiding it, that doesn't exist here. Which means everything from the comicbooks is suspect at best."
Maybe 'simple' was a poor choice of words. But I can't just say 'MCU and Arrowverse = True' because she doesn't know what any of that means. I expect it would be a lot easier to explain to someone back on Earth Prime.
She nods, "That makes sense, I guess. But, the movies aren't suspect?"
I shake my head, "No, because the only things that have been different from them so far are the things I've changed. Without me here doing shit, it's possible things would have happened exactly how I saw them on the screen on Earth Prime."
She ponders on that for a few seconds.
She looks me in the eye, "That must be weird, isn't it? Seeing the same things happen again, except being a part of it this time?"
I nod, "I guess, yeah. It is. I'm usually too focused on the matter at hand to think about it too much though."
A silence falls between us. It is a little disturbing. I watched Pietro Maximoff die. And now he's still alive. The Vision might never even exist. Moira Queen is still alive. The Reverse Flash is still posing as a wheelchair-bound scientist. I've gone back in time, in addition to everything else that's weird about this.
I guess I should really do something about Reverse Flash at some point. He's just kind of too terrifying to confront. I doubt anything SHIELD has could take him down. But he's a murderer. I can't just let him go on. That's a thought for another time, though. Jane looks like she's gearing up to say something.
Jane asks, looking at her feet, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "Do you have any plans for the holidays?"
I nod, "Yeah. I'm going out to dinner with Clint for Halloween, and H.O.M.E. is having a Christmas party for the agents who don't have families elsewhere."
She sounds hopeful, "Nothing on Thanksgiving?"
I look at her, and she looks up at me expectantly for the answer, "...No. What did you have in mind?"
She offers, "You could come spend it with us. Me and Erik, I mean. We invited a few other people, but Darcy thinks we've been brainwashed by Nazis and all Erik's friends are either busy or have other plans. So it's looking like it might be just the two of us. If you don't come."
I stop her with a smile, "I'd love to. Thanks, Jane."
Jane nods, "Once this device is finished, we'll be able to detect everywhere that the Bifrost has connected on earth, and open our own breaches between those sites. Last time, when I tried to rescue you, I only had half the equation. I wasn't able to control the other end. But now, we know of two places that it's opened. The place you came through, and the place the other four did."
I look at the repurposed phone booth in the middle of the room, "So we put something in there, it comes out at the other site a few miles away."
"And then we can watch the electromagnetic dispersal pattern and locate all the other potential sites in North America."
I shake my head, "Jane, you rock. This could change everything for SHIELD."
She grins, "And thanks to the deal I cut when I signed on, in ten years, it will change everything for everyone else too. Within our lifetimes, we could have planet-wide teleportation as public transit!"
One of the other scientists puts an apple in the booth and closes the door.
"Why is it a phone booth?"
She explains, "It had to have a contained atmosphere of standardized size to prevent pressure differential problems. And the glass serves a double purpose, insulating the chamber while also letting us see inside. It's also the perfect size for eventual human trials, once we get there. Also, I kind of grew up watching Doctor Who reruns."
I laugh, "That's what I thought."
I see the lights flicker and the node at the top of the booth where all the wires connect starts to glow.
And then the inside floods with light. Not just any light. I recognize that as the rainbow light from the Bifrost. The colors of creation. The truth and totality of existence.
The lightbulbs around us explode, and I see showers of sparks fly out of two of the large machines that are plugged into the device. The booth empties, and a rotted apple sits inside.
Jane frowns, and then squeals in glee, "That was incredible! How on earth did that happen! Johnson! Tell me we got a reading on that!"
"Yes ma'am. There are more breaches than expected, so we're only getting the ones in and around New Mexico. Twenty-one. No. Twenty-three."
She looks at me, wide-eyed, "Assuming even distribution, that's almost ten million worldwide."
I laugh, "That was some fast-ass math skills!"
She does that fidgety thing that's as good as a blush, "I already had the ratio in my head from when I modeled it this morning."
I realize how flirty I'm being, and how I promised to give her time. And that makes me sag a little. How long is she going to leave me in limbo?
I shake off the question, "Why is it rotten now?"
She kneels and picks up the apple, which disintegrates into goo in her grip, "I have no idea! That's the amazing thing about science, Xavier. For every mystery you encounter, there's the promise of answers."
That seems applicable. Right now, Jane is a mystery. She's the scientist. So I just need to wait for her to find the answers.
I know that doesn't make sense. But it'll help me not get frustrated for a while longer.
She drips the apple goo off her hand into a bag, "Speaking of answers, you never gave me the details on this alternate universe you're from. How different is it?"
I clench my teeth, "What's your clearance level?"
"One? I think. I might have gotten promoted to a selective two,"
I hesitate only slightly longer, "Oh, what the hell. It's my information anyway. The reason SHIELD cares about me at all is because of information that I have from my old universe. I've already told you, a lot of the people here, especially superheroes, are characters in movies and tv shows."
Jane briefly looks disturbed, "Yeah, you did say that. Does that mean all of this is fictional?"
"No, don't be crazy. It just means the filmmakers got their information from somewhere. The point is, I know the basic details of a lot of important events for the next five years."
She realizes something, "Natalie Portman. You said I looked just like her. She's the actress who played me in your universe."
I nod, "You got it."
She's wrapping her head around it, "So you know a lot. At least about superheroes. Like, if I asked you who Superman is-"
"I could tell you. I wouldn't, because I don't want to piss him off. But I could. Although the weird part is that he's not from the same movies."
"What do you mean?"
It feels good to go over all this again. Set the record straight, "All the movies and tv shows were based on comicbooks by one of two publishers. Marvel, and DC. You, SHIELD, Iron Man, are all Marvel. Superman is DC."
"So everything in these comicbooks either happened or is going to happen here?"
"Of course not. Look, it's pretty simple. The Marvel comicbooks were very loosely adapted into a series of movies and tv shows called the MCU. The DC comicbooks were even more loosely adapted into a series of tv shows on the CW, starting with one called Arrow. As far as I can tell, everything shown in any of those movies and tv shows would have happened, if I hadn't come here. Now I'm here, changing things. Who the fuck knows."
"But the comicbooks-"
I roll my eyes, "Shut up about the damn comicbooks. They're not important. I shouldn't have even mentioned them. The movies and tv shows are the only thing that really matters. A few things from the comicbooks have turned out to be true, just like Superman looks kindof like an actor who played him in an older tv show completely unrelated to the ones that are real here..." I'm getting sidetracked, "But there's so much that's different I can't make assumptions based on them."
She pushes, "For example?"
I sigh, "For example, in the old tv show, the one where Superman looked like the real one, there was an alien creature called Doomsday that rampaged through Metropolis and killed Jimmy Olsen. Obviously, that didn't happen here. So nothing else in that show is safe to assume is true, even if a few things might be. In the comicbooks, Tony Stark had a genetically engineered sentient tumor with the personality of his dead infant brother. Now, unless he's done a really good job of hiding it, that doesn't exist here. Which means everything from the comicbooks is suspect at best."
Maybe 'simple' was a poor choice of words. But I can't just say 'MCU and Arrowverse = True' because she doesn't know what any of that means. I expect it would be a lot easier to explain to someone back on Earth Prime.
She nods, "That makes sense, I guess. But, the movies aren't suspect?"
I shake my head, "No, because the only things that have been different from them so far are the things I've changed. Without me here doing shit, it's possible things would have happened exactly how I saw them on the screen on Earth Prime."
She ponders on that for a few seconds.
She looks me in the eye, "That must be weird, isn't it? Seeing the same things happen again, except being a part of it this time?"
I nod, "I guess, yeah. It is. I'm usually too focused on the matter at hand to think about it too much though."
A silence falls between us. It is a little disturbing. I watched Pietro Maximoff die. And now he's still alive. The Vision might never even exist. Moira Queen is still alive. The Reverse Flash is still posing as a wheelchair-bound scientist. I've gone back in time, in addition to everything else that's weird about this.
I guess I should really do something about Reverse Flash at some point. He's just kind of too terrifying to confront. I doubt anything SHIELD has could take him down. But he's a murderer. I can't just let him go on. That's a thought for another time, though. Jane looks like she's gearing up to say something.
Jane asks, looking at her feet, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "Do you have any plans for the holidays?"
I nod, "Yeah. I'm going out to dinner with Clint for Halloween, and H.O.M.E. is having a Christmas party for the agents who don't have families elsewhere."
She sounds hopeful, "Nothing on Thanksgiving?"
I look at her, and she looks up at me expectantly for the answer, "...No. What did you have in mind?"
She offers, "You could come spend it with us. Me and Erik, I mean. We invited a few other people, but Darcy thinks we've been brainwashed by Nazis and all Erik's friends are either busy or have other plans. So it's looking like it might be just the two of us. If you don't come."
I stop her with a smile, "I'd love to. Thanks, Jane."