EXCHANGE INTERFACE

I'll admit, I burned out on the 'extended universes' of Star Wars back in the late 90s. Too many book series, some with excellent worldbuilding but a lot of them not about characters that I wanted to read about.

It's also...a lot? A lot of a lot? All from Disney? Bread and circuses? And I wonder how much of this is taking advantage of a sort of a 'relief/rush to normal' after the year of 2020.

I am pretty eager to see the Rogue Squadron movie - mostly because Patty Jenkins of Wonder Woman is directing it. I am hoping we get more non-males, non-whites, and non-human characters than were in the original Rogue Squadron. (But Mirax. Oh, I want a really snarky non-white Mirax Terrik whom Corran still 100% falls for and adores! Actually, I want the movie to be about Mirax. Just call it Rogue Squadron: The Smuggler's Daughter and I'm in!)

That said, really what I want (what I really really want) is a Wraith Squadron series. ( why can't Disney hire me for these ideas? )

Frankly, don't talk to me about the Marvel TV universe. I'm still bitter about a lack of Maria Hill. My salt could supply an entire ranch's worth of cattle licks. We all know this.

Additionally, I have trouble watching TV shows anymore. Doesn't matter how good it is, or how well-recommended it comes, or even who's in it. The only way you're going to get me to watch a TV show these days is by sitting me down with someone else and some snacks and anchoring me to the seat to watch it.

I think my binge-watching days are done; I have not the patience or the time for it no more. I was discussing this with a friend in the car on the drive up to hockey on Thursday night (we didn't make it; there was a truck accident on the freeway and we would have arrived with all of 10 minutes to spare) and she said, "Well, you are doing a lot of things, T."

And I thought about it and...she's kind of right. I have a lot less brainspace given all the things I've been involved in the last dozen years. I think Season 3 of Merlin, and Season 3 of Sanctuary were the last times I watched anything through - no, wait, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D to the Season 2 midpoint, circa 2015. But I joined a writing social group (that turned into more of a social group than a writing one) in 2011, started doing more quilting around 2012, bought a house in 2014, joined a local church, started working on a permaculture garden...

That's a lot of things on the brain. And I've gotten into movies since then, but not TV series.

TITLE: Something Left To Lose
SUMMARY: Five times Rocket tried to steal from Bucky (and the one time it was a promise).
RATING: Pretty Funny
TAGS: Bucky & Rocket, Bucky, Rocket, Developing Friendships, Canon Divergence - Avengers: Infinifty War, Bucky Barnes Survives Infinity war
NOTES: This really works for me in characterisation and tone, plus the way the dynamic moves along

TITLE: Humans Of NY series - Spiderman
SUMMARY: A collection of HONY posts featuring our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
RATING: FREAKING HILAROUS
TAGS: Humans of NY, Mixed Media
NOTES: The

TITLE: Stained With Flesh And Blood
SUMMARY: The story of the twins, told via their hands.
RATING: Intense
TAGS: Wanda Maximoff, Pietro Maximoff, Wanda & Pietro
NOTES: Powerful little piece about the two of them and their relationship.

TITLE: I Can Show You The World
SUMMARY:
Princess Shuri is sitting cross-legged on the floor of Bucky's hut, doing something with a hologram projected from her wrist. “Finally,” she says when his shadow falls across her. “I’ve been waiting here for an hour.”
RATING: Cute-Sweet
TAGS: Bucky/Shuri, Romance
NOTES: This is not as intense as I like my romance, but it's got an awkward sweetness to it, kind of what you'd expect of a relationship between these two.

TITLE: Three Times Lucky
SUMMARY: There is no such thing as luck, no such thing as magic fish, and Jessica wants a refund for this day.
RATING: D'awww….
TAGS: Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Matt Murdock, Danny Rand, team bonding, afterparty, weird shit, hurt/comfort
NOTES: I haven't actually watched any of the Marvel TV collection, so I don't know about characterisation, but I liked this story of friendship and Jessica's reluctant acceptance of it.

And the archive is open!

My assignment was for Persephones_Keeper | crossing_hades

title: Reasons Of Presence
summary: The traditions of Wakanda are heavy, and in these changing times, T’Challa is always and constantly aware that if the armour of the Black Panther weighs down upon his shoulders, it will be that much heavier with the weight of crown and kingdom added to it.
tags: T'Challa and Okoye, T'Challa & Maria Hill
rating: G
notes: This was not strictly the request, but I thought a little delving into T'Challa's history and how Wakanda decided to return to the world as more than merely a shadow power would be an interesting diversion. There was, initially, meant to be more.

--

My gift was by Dazzledfirestar:

title: Comfort
summary: The real fall out would come later. For now, Helen needs a friend and a good meal.
tags: Helen Cho, Maria Hill, friendship, food
rating: G

It's a wonderful little post-Age-of-Ultron glimpse into the professional relationship of the two women and how it verges on the personal.

--

My recommendations so far:

title: On Your Left
author: ladydeathfaerie
summary: Two tours of duty as a pararescue have left their scars on Sam Wilson. In order to live and function with his emotional wounds, Sam's developed a simple coping method. After a particularly bad night, Sam resorts to said method to clear his mind. Imagine his surprise when it results in new friends and, ultimately, a new purpose in life.
tags: Sam Wilson, Riley, Nightmares PTSD
rating: PG-13
why: A little pre-Winter Soldier look into Sam and his coping mechanisms, what happened with Riley, and Sam's internal monologues.

title: A Waltz In The Woods With My Brother
author: kyburg
summary: When you have no loyalty shown you, what makes you wager everything on gaining it from those who would imprison you?
tags: Hogun, Jim Morita, World War II, Taking Liberties With History And Canon
rating: PG-13
why: This is a very unusual story, not two characters that you'd think to put together at all, and I'm not sure if the backstory they've used for Hogun came from the comics, or if they made it up. But I liked the look into Jim's mindset (although, I believe he said he was from California?) as well as Odin's evident trust in Hogun.

title: Play On
author: Dazzledfirestar
summary: Sam has a rough night, but he's got some help on hand.
tags: Sam Wilson, PTSD, Bucky Barnes, Bucky Barnes/Sam Wilon
rating: G
why: Because I like the idea of Bucky making Sam a cup of tea at oh-whatever-hours to settle not only Sam's memories but his own...

There are others I like the look of, but these are the underappreicated ones - more gen than slash/ship and about characters who don't get a lot of love. There's at least one story with Raina, several with T'Challa, quite a few with Sam, and one Sam/Rhodey that I think I do gotta take a closer look at.

Go forth and read!

It's kind of nice to feel like writing again. Although I feel like I should apologise to my MCU Ladies recip; the story is not what I'd like it to have been, but I had zero writing mojo through February.

( Civil War: one almost think it should be called Sharon Carter War )

Anyway, that's my MCU ramble for the morning.

And today's promo is Marvel Is Marvel sign-ups are open: an exchange for any and all Marvel, including comics, X-men movies, and any and all TV shows, not just the current crop.

The movies have set up a very careful yet distinct Maria->Steve dynamic. Logically that should be used in some way or another – good old Chekov's Gun.

( me and the dead horse I'm riding )

Monday morning, down with a cold, up at work, hyped-up on coffee, and exhausted, with a full workload.

fandom: MCU
title: The Odd Couple
summary: He's fast and she's weird.
relationships: Maria Hill/Steve Rogers; lots of friendships.
characters: Maria Hill, Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, Rhodey Rhodes, Wanda Maxmimoff, Vision, Natasha Romanoff
rating: PG-13
notes: And all five chapters are done and dusted. This ending is what happens when Maria Hill refuses to go to dinner, so Steve ends up having The Conversation in the parking lot of work. And they can't kiss, because parking lot and, more importantly, public conversation (albeit held in an otherwise empty space). A.K.A. "When characters change small but crucial plot elements on you." At least one beta has noted it's screaming for a sequel; we'll see how that goes - I'm kinda busy for the next couple of months...