Mithborien

VID: Sweet Dreams | Yennefer of Vengerberg

2021-12-16T15:12:05Z

Title: Sweet Dreams
Vidder: mithborien
Fandom(s): The Witcher
Music: "Sweet Dreams + Seven Nation Army Mashup" by Pomplamoose ft. Sarah Dugass
Made for: streussal for Fandom 4 Oz
Share: Youtube | DW | AO3 | Tumblr
Download: 60mb (right click, save as)

"My world is cruel. Unpredictable. You enter, you survive, you die." A Yennefer of Vengerberg fanvid.

Notes

The second of the many charity auction vids that I owe. Thank you to streussal for the prompt and the patience.

Recent Vids

When We're High | Marvel (Steve/Thor)
Baby Outlaw | Multifandom (Charlize Theron movies)
Big God | Annihilation
Bones | Crimson Peak
Seven Nation Army | Agent Carter (Peggy Carter) This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/149890.html. Please comment at either location.

Holly Poly Letter

2021-10-30T13:01:49Z

Hello Creator!

Apologies this letter is late but let's begin with saying thank you for making something for me :)

Below are some general notes about stuff I like, followed by some notes about why I like each relationship and maybe a prompt or two if you are looking for inspiration.

General Likes & Dislikes

I never quite know what to say for these things in terms of general likes and dislikes, as I don't have any triggers and will read just about anything as you make it convincing within the world of the source material.

But I think a good rule of thumb is that you can assume I am okay within anything all ready in the source in terms of themes, violence, sex, etc, plus anything additional that I mention below.

I'm good with any rating, whether it be G rated piece of fluff or a full-on explicit PWP.

I'm fine with AUs whether it be a minor canon divergence or a completely different universe. (And granted, for some sources I prefer if we ignore parts of canon.)

I prefer third person POV. 1st and 2nd POV just doesn't quite work for me when it comes to fanfic.

I'm good with dark stories and I don't need a happy ending per se but I do need a hopeful one.

In regards to sexual tropes and themes there are also a couple of things I can think of that I like:

I like intimacy both sexually, emotionally and domestically (if that makes sense, I haven't quite figured out how to explain exactly what I mean yet)

I like awkward sex

I like D/s dynamics but not "official" BDSM with "official" dom/sub roles. I also only like this dynamic for sex fun times, I don't like this dynamic extending to roles outside the bedroom

I like Non-Traditional ABO Dynamics

I also like it when the women are in more dominant roles and the men in more submissive roles

But as mentioned, I am completely fine with a G rated fic so don't feel like you need to include a sex scene.

In regards to vids, I like all sorts whether they be ensemble or character driven vids, vids with dialogue audio, vids with heavy effects, vids that are serious, vids that a funny, etc. I also like all genres of music so feel free to choose any song but I do appreciate unlikely song choices for vids. And to be honest, a not so insignificant number of my favourite songs are songs that I love because they were used in vids that I love. So I am very easily won over in terms of music.

Community

→ Troy Barnes/Annie Edison/Abed Nadir

One of my favourite things about Community was that everyone was one thin line away from going balls to the wall and I especially enjoyed how Annie (supposedly the responsible one) always stepped up to commit to whatever the latest shenanigans were. So I really liked her relationship with Troy and Abed and how she moved in with them, leading to one of my favourite lines when Troy exclaimed: "You were supposed to tone us down!"

So I would enjoy seeing something about them being together while they were at college but since the series did end with them physically separated, I thought it would be nice to see a story about them reconnecting in the future. You know, maybe they weren't together when they were younger, maybe they were just friends, but after being apart for many years, seeing them come back together and see how they have changed but still fit together. Or even something looking at how they kept in touch while they were separated.

Leverage

→ Alec Hardison/Parker/Eliot Spencer

Confession: I haven't actually watched Leverage Redemption yet. Not for a lack of want though. It's just, Leverage is one of my favourite shows of all time and I was so excited to hear it was coming back but it's not a show I can just watch casually. I need to be in the right headspace to full appreciate and savor it.

That said I will 100% make sure to finish it before the posting deadline so feel free to include any spoilers from it, I just can't give you any prompts specific to it.

But I just really liked these three as individual characters with their own quirks and competencies. I liked the different relationships they had with each other and how they grew over time. And I liked them as a trio working together.

Their relationship was also so understated in the show but still depicted in a really emotionally rich way. You would get little crumbs here and there about how things were developing but the crumbs were also so filling!

Ted Lasso

→ Keeley Jones/Roy Kent/Jamie Tartt

I didn't start out liking Jamie but I think they developed his character and his relationship with Roy in such a great way. And while I really enjoy Roy and Keeley's relationship in the show and I hope they don't break up, I can't help but think how the inclusion of Jamie would make for an extremely entertaining but still heartfelt story.

Gunpowder Milkshake

→ Anna May/Florence/Madeleine/Scarlet
→ Anna May/Florence/Madeleine

I really enjoyed this movie. The visuals were gorgeous, the fight scenes were fun and I think the overall premise was good but I think they kind of wasted the great cast they had.

Which is why I would like to find out more about these fine ladies backstories. Whether you want to include Scarlet or not is up to you and I am also all for pretending Madeleine isn't dead.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

As you can probably tell from the pairings I am a "Team Cap" and "Team Thor" fan and Steve is my favourite character out of everyone. But I also thought Endgame was a terrible movie and was pretty unhappy with how everyone's arcs went. So for any post-Endgame stories I would prefer it if Steve never went into the past and Natasha is still alive. Over time I have also grown less and less fond of Tony Stark so while he can be alive as well, I don't really want to hear much about him.

I should also admit that I do tend to have a preference for Steve being on the receiving end of things and being awkward in sexual situations. Not necessarily in an "innocent" or "prudish" sense, but he always came across to me as awkward in social situations and I figure that carries across to sexual situations.

→ James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers/Thor

I just think these three big beefy guys would be fun together, you know?

→ James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers/Sam Wilson

I really enjoy these three together and was kinda devastated when Steve went back to the past with barely a goodbye so again, let's just pretend that didn't happen.

I think they make a great team and would be happy to see something set during Winter Solider/Civil War, something in the future or something during The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

I also don't want to see Steve get too involved with the events of TFATWS. I think it was great those two got a show of their own so we could see them shine, and Sam as Captain America was absolutely amazing but I think they also dropped enough mentions of Steve to make for some interesting possibilities. Moon stuff!

→ Natasha Romanov/Steve Rogers/Thor

While I know I just said I didn't like Endgame, I do like stories about the 5 year time skip and how everyone dealt with things. So while I don't really like the fact that everyone seemed to leave Thor alone in New Asgard and I don't really like the fact that Steve apparently left Natasha to run the Avengers compound alone while he started a support group he didn't believe in, I would like a fic that maybe tweaks canon a little and shows these three leaning on each other a little more.

I also think these three have many similarities and would make for an interesting relationship.

→ Yelena Belova/Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov

I think it would be really fun to see Yelena and Steve interact. How the three of them get together I have no idea but I am really interested to see how such a relationship would work. This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/149180.html. Please comment at either location.

Dear Festividder (2021)

2021-10-21T09:15:05Z

Dear Festividder,

As always, thank you for making a vid for me!

General Vidding Likes
I like all sorts of vids whether they be ensemble or character driven vids, vids with dialogue audio, vids with heavy effects, vids that are serious, vids that a funny, etc. So really, go with whatever angle or direction you want. However, if you are looking for inspiration, I do have a couple of prompts below.

Music
I also like all genres of music so feel free to choose any song but I do appreciate unlikely song choices for vids. And to be honest, a not so insignificant number of my favourite songs are songs that I love because they were used in vids that I love. So I am very easily won over in terms of music.

Lady Gaga (Music Videos)
I really like Lady Gaga's music videos and would love a vid exploring the visuals of them.

You don't have to include every music video but my favourites are Bad Romance, Telephone, Judas, You and I, Perfect Illusion and 911 to give you an idea of the aesthetics I like.

Also, I don't mind if you don't use a Lady Gaga song for the vid.

Ted Lasso (TV)
While I enjoy all the characters in Ted Lasso, I would love to see a vid about the Richmond team, our favourite emotional support himbos. I've really enjoyed seeing their little interactions with each other and how their relationships grow (especially Jamie and Roy). I still laugh whenever I think of the scene in the S2 finale where Roy headbutts Jamie before hugging him, only to jump around with a huge smile on his face but Jamie looks hilariously terrified.

I also love this shot below.

The Fall (2006)
I really enjoy this movie. The visuals are absolutely gorgeous.

I'm not sure if this would work, but it would be interesting to see a vid using Lady Gaga's 911 song. I had the thought on a whim for the lulz because Tarsem Singh, the director of The Fall, also directed the 911 music video. But then I looked at 911's lyrics again, and you know, they kind of work. And as mentioned above, I am all for interesting song choices.

Florence + the Machine (Music Videos)
Florence + the Machine is probably my favourite artist of all time and like Lady Gaga, I would also like to see a vid exploring the visuals of her music videos. I can't really single out any favourites because I pretty much love every song but Big God is definitely a favourite.

I also don't mind if you don't use a Florence song for the vid either.

The Fountain (2006)
I also really like The Fountain, helped in no small part by the fact that I also like Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. You may have guessed that I like films with that fantastical element to them, so I would love a vid that leans into that aspect.

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)
I really enjoyed this movie although I do think they kind of wasted the great cast they had. But I think it would make an excellent source for a vid. It had fantastic visuals and the fight in the hospital was very, very funny. So I would love to see a vid about all the women just kicking ass.

Also, lets just pretend that Madeleine is still alive. I feel like she only died because they felt like they had to kill someone. But after fighting with a car mounted machine gun and a tomahawk, it was a little bit of a let down to have her die to a single bullet.

Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008)
I also think this is a fun movie with great visuals that would make for an excellent vid. Feel free to make an ensemble vid or focus on a character, and lean into the horror aspects as much as you want. This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/148913.html. Please comment at either location.

Festivids!

2021-02-03T14:57:55Z

Festivids are live, and while I am late to the party, I received three (!!!) vids.

Sacred Geometry - A Monument Valley vid, which if you don't know, Monument Valley is a mobile game that is played exclusively in portrait. I kept requesting it for Festivids but I never thought it would actually get made. But now it has! And it's a lovely vid!

Valhalla - An Old Guard vid set to a cover of Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song. Fantastic song choice and I really love the editing here.

Homegrown Tomatoes - A 李子柒 Liziqi vid about "Homegrown Tomatoes" which just makes me want to grow my own food.

Thank you to all my vidders! It was especially exciting to watch the number of Gifts on my AO3 profile go up and up and up. This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/148551.html. Please comment at either location.

So who wants to join a new Vidding community?

2021-01-21T15:27:01Z

Hello fellow vid makers and watchers,

I've been thinking about creating a new vidding community and I am trying to gauge interest.

The previous Equinox Exchange format got me thinking about a Vidding Prompt Meme, like the various Kink Memes you see about, and as far as I am aware none really exist.

The plan would be to use AO3's Prompt Meme function to allow people to leave prompts but it would be super casual, no official claims, no deadlines, and it would also last for like a year. There would also be no minimum length requirement so you could totally just make a vidlet to motivate yourself.

You would need an AO3 account to leave prompts but anyone could come, make a vid, and post to whatever platform they choose.

I may have also start registering the community... viddingprompts

But to gauge interest, I have created a Google Form. So if you like the idea, please fill out the form to let me know! This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/148464.html. Please comment at either location.

Yuletide 2020 Recs

2021-01-03T10:50:18Z

I also spent the New Year reading through a bunch of Yuletide fics, below are my favourites!

As always, check the tags and warnings on individual posts. Read at your own risk, etc. Although I have my favourites, I do read all sorts of pairings, kinks, ratings, tropes, etc, so sometimes it may be a bit of a lucky dip.

Cordelia (Movie Poster)

FIC: Night-Time Symmetry by Elfgrandfather (Cordelia (Movie Poster) | Cordelia/OMC)
When Frank is snowed in with a relative's pugnacious new wife over the last days of December, he confronts things about himself he's long tried to suppress.

FIC: Our nervous silences they bruise by Carmilla (Cordelia (Movie Poster) | Cordelia/OMC)
The house never felt too empty. It never felt empty at all.

FIC: The First & Best Cordelia by bleustocking (Cordelia (Movie Poster) | Cordelia/OMC)
“You don’t age,” Johnny muttered. “You don’t go out in the daytime. You’re a vampire —”“Only emotionally,” she replied.

Jennifer's Body

FIC: in red, underlined by ysse_writes (Jennifer's Body | Jennifer/Needy)
Post-movie reunion.

FIC: a walking study in demonology by littledust (Jennifer's Body | Jennifer/Needy)
The murders start up in Devil's Kettle again, just in time for Anita's ten year high school reunion. Not that she's been invited. Escaped inmates with demonic powers aren't people who get invited to their high school reunions.

Knives Out

FIC: No Bad Dogs by k8andrewz (Knives Out | Marta/Ransom)
Ransom has needs.

Ocean's 8

FIC: riches & wonders by cortue (Ocean's 8 | Debbie/Lou)
“Everyone assumed about Lou and Debbie being together. They always had; it seemed too obvious.” // Twenty years of Lou and Debbie’s partnership, from first meeting to after the movie.

FIC: Singing When We're Winning by meretricula (Ocean's 8 | Debbie/Lou)
Four times Lou bought Debbie a drink, and one time Debbie stole one for Lou.

Ready or Not

FIC: Smashed Creatures by avocadomoon (Ready or Not | Grace/Daniel)
"That's the most terrifying thing about you, you know," Daniel says. "That you don't scare easily."

The Mummy

FIC: Different Than Expected by Jenett (The Mummy | Rick/Evy)
When Rick and Evy return to London in 1927, Rick is not entirely sure what to expect.

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/147993.html. Please comment at either location.

Happy New Year!

2021-01-01T14:06:54Z

I celebrated in style... by sleeping through it. Well, I wasn't actually asleep because who has good sleeping patterns these days, but I was all ready in bed and as far as I was concerned that meant the day was over.

End of the year

I'm not going to do any end of year round-ups or talk about any resolutions, mainly because I didn't really do a whole lot this year (one could blame it on the pandemic but to be honest, I've just been really tired for other reasons) and I don't think I have ever kept any of the resolutions that I have made.

In terms of fandoms I am still (reluctantly) into Marvel, specifically the Captain America side of things. Endgame still hurts my soul but it is what it is. I also very much enjoyed The Old Guard and The Witcher, at least in terms of fic reading.

I only made three vids this year: Big God (Annihilation), Baby Outlaw (Charlize Theron movies) and When We're High (Steve/Thor).

I think Baby Outlaw is my favourite but the other two are still a close second.

Actually, I do one resolution this year, which is not to sign up for any more Charity Auctions until I finish what I currently owe. Don't worry, winners, your unfinished vids haunt me every day.

New Comms

The snowflake_challenge will be starting again soon. I don't think I have participated before but I am going to try this year. The comm was originally created by akamine_chan as a way to remind herself “why I loved fandom so much”. And you know, fandom has always been fun but I am trying to lurk a bit less these days.

There is also starterpack, whose goal is to: The goal of this place is to guide new Dreamwidth users, or people new to journaling in general, so the process of trying a new platform doesn't become too overwhelming. And sure, I may have created this journal in 2009, but I figure it would be cool to follow along and clean things up a bit around here.

Random Rec

Also, shout out to suzukiblu, who was recently offering commissions and I was able to get them to write a second chapter to their fic:

you were a friend of mine (12340 words) by suzukiblu
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov, James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov, James "Bucky" Barnes/Natasha Romanov
Additional Tags: Alternate Timeline, Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Post-Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Not Captain America: Civil War (Movie) Compliant, Trans Character, Asexual Character, Gender Dysphoria, Past Brainwashing, Dubious Consent, Dubious Consent Due To Identity Issues, Non-Consensual Sexual Contact, Fuck Or Suffer Unspecified Health Consequences, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Steve Rogers as the Winter Soldier, Omega Steve Rogers, Alpha Natasha Romanov, ???? Bucky Barnes, Fuck Yeah Female Alphas, Polyamory, Everyone Is Poly Because Avengers, sex-favorable asexual character, Sex-Repulsed Asexual Character
Summary:
Steve is convinced they’re his handlers.
This does not mean Steve trusts or listens to them.

Obviously, note all the tags but if Non-Traditional ABO is your thing then I highly recommend them.

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/147886.html. Please comment at either location.

Fandom Recs | November 2020

2020-12-28T15:16:38Z

One of these days I will make these posts at the beginning of the month when they should be, but today is not that day.

Also, with every Supernatural vid I watch, I get closer and closer to wanting to do a rewatch of the entire series...

Fanworks that I have enjoyed recently:

1 x Captain America fic
8 x Supernatural vids
2 x The Old Guard fic & vid

Captain America

FIC: I Wanna Be Alone (Alone With You) by Call_Me_Kayyyyy & Ginny_Potter (Captain America, Steve/Bucky)
“Let me get this straight.”Steve’s lips quiver in mirth and Bucky kicks him.“You want to work on your control-freak thing and my fear-of-being-controlled trauma through sex?”

Supernatural

VID: Anchor by Angeldove (Supernatural, Gen)

VID: Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Angeldove (Supernatural, Gen)

VID: Carry You by Angeldove (Supernatural, Gen)

VID: Echoes by secretlytodream (Supernatural, Gen)
All that matters now, all that's ever mattered, is that we're together.

VID: Forever by secretlytodream (Supernatural, Gen)
When forever ends, we will not end, time won't change a thing.

VID: Rainspell by LizaBarker (Supernatural, Gen)

VID: Salvation by LizaBarker (Supernatural, Gen)

VID: What I Wouldn't Give by Angeldove (Supernatural, Gen)

The Old Guard

VID: Redemption by secretlytodream (The Old Guard, Gen)
IT’S LIKE DESTINY

FIC: taking instruction by Sixthlight (The Old Guard, Joe/Nicky)
“Joe,” Nicky said, with a touch of reproach, using his weight to keep him still. “It’s a yes or no question. Or I can go to bed early. By myself.”

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/147710.html. Please comment at either location.

VID: When We're High | Steve/Thor

2020-12-16T14:26:49Z

Title: When We're High
Vidder: mithborien
Fandom(s): Marvel (Steve/Thor)
Music: "When We're High" by LP
Made for: talitha78 for Marvel Trumps Hate 2019
Available: Youtube | DW | AO3 | Tumblr
Download: 89mb (right click, save as)

"New haircut?"
"Noticed you've copied my beard."

Notes

The first of many charity auction vids that I owe. Thank you to talitha78 for the song and prompt. I really like Steve/Thor as a pairing so it was great to finally vid them.

Recent Vids

Baby Outlaw | Multifandom (Charlize Theron movies)
Big God | Annihilation
Bones | Crimson Peak
Seven Nation Army | Agent Carter (Peggy Carter)
Come With Me Now | Thor (Thor/Heimdall) This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/147450.html. Please comment at either location.

VID: Baby Outlaw | Multi-Fandom | Charlize Theron movies

2020-11-29T12:07:22Z

Title: Baby Outlaw
Vidder: mithborien
Fandom(s): Charlize Theron movies (The Old Guard, Mad Mad: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, Snow White and the Huntsman, Prometheus and The Fate of the Furious)
Music: "Baby Outlaw" by Elle King
Made for: Fall Equinox 2020 at the equinox_exchange for trelkez
Available: Youtube | DW | AO3 | Tumblr
Download: 75mb (right click, save as)

"90% middle aged women doing hand to hand combat and 10% queer romance." An exploration of Charlize Theron's recent acting choices.

Notes

Sources used are The Old Guard, Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, Snow White and the Huntsman with a smidgeon from Prometheus and The Fate of the Furious.

Thank you to Trelkez for the fantastic prompt. Despite personally loving Charlize Theron's choice of action movie roles in the past couple of years I probably wouldn't have thought to make a vid out of them (which in hindsight, obviously would have been a terrible mistake). However, I had an absolutely delightful time making this vid so I am very glad you prompted this. I wasn't able to include all her action movies, and ended up refining the list down to the ones that a) I personally love, and b) exemplifies the feel of this Tumblr post by knitmeapony:

Recent Vids

So it turns out the last time I made a vid post on Dreamwidth was back in February of 2016 and since then I have made... uh, 24 vids! So I am definitely not going to go and make vid posts for all of them, but here's a list if you missed any.

* Denotes my favourites.

Big God | Annihilation *
Bones | Crimson Peak
Seven Nation Army | Agent Carter (Peggy Carter)
Come With Me Now | Thor (Thor/Heimdall) *
Come As You Are | The Craft
Melodrama | Guardians of the Galaxy (Gamora & Nebula) *
I Know What I Am | Ocean's 8
Heavy In Your Arms | Mirrormask
Just Dance | Captain America (Steve/Peggy)
Gods & Monsters | Thor (Valkyrie) *
Bela Lugosi's Dead | INSIDE
Bird Song | Practical Magic
Shots | Robin Hood: Men in Tights *
Call Me Maybe | Agent Carter (Peggy/Angie) *
Ain't No Mountain High Enough | Captain America (Steve/Sam) *
Handclap | Fifth Element *
Take Me To Church | Mother, May I Sleep With Danger
Grand Theft Hydra | Captain America (Steve Rogers)
Bad Romance | Agent Carter (Peggy/Dottie) *
Everybody Wants To Rule The World | Guardians of the Galaxy (Gamora & Nebula)
I Bet My Life | Teen Wolf
When I Get My Hands On You | Captain America (Steve/Peggy)
Ghost | Teen Wolf (Allison/Lydia) *
The Pit | Guardians of the Galaxy (Peter Quill)

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/147179.html. Please comment at either location.

Fandom Recs | October 2020

2020-11-28T16:12:57Z

So one "resolution" that I always make every year is to make more fandom recs...

It's not that I don't want to, I just never save the links in an easily accessible format. I have fics saved in Pocket, an export of thousands of links from the now defunct Delicious, terribly organised bookmark folders in Chrome because they were supposed to be "temporary" and many vids saved to my computer with no record of the links they came from.

But a couple of years ago I found a tool called Calibre, an eBook manager that saves everything locally and has a useful plugin called FanFicFare that (after a bit of wrangling) call import fics from AO3 along with all the tag information. So now I have a handy dandy directory of fic and vid links to pull from.

Do I still have thousands and thousands of links to add? Perhaps, but I at least now have things setup that will (theoretically) easily facilitate monthly rec posts and themed rec lists. Will I actually do this on a semi-regular basis? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But I must also give a shoutout to the recthething comm, created by the lovely snickfic, which gave me to nudge to finally get things going.

Also please don't ask about your auction vid. I'm working on it, I swear!

So I intend for these monthly rec posts to be for things that I have enjoyed that have been ~recently posted and under the cut are recs for:

1 x Captain America fics
10 x The Old Guard fics
2 x Vids

Marvel

Rhapsody in Pink by the1918 (Captain America, Steve/Bucky)
After being chemically castrated for the entirety of his time as Hydra’s Winter Soldier, Bucky is attempting to recover his life—with the help of his oldest and best friend—when seventy years of a denied libido suddenly comes raging back in a series of graphic hallucinations. Steve is there to help.(Or: Bucky Barnes’s dick wakes up after a seven-decade nap. It is very interested in Steve Rogers.)* * *Post-CA:TWS / AOU canon divergence, set at the Avengers up-state facility.

The Old Guard

The Nightmare Club by redjacket (The Old Guard, Gen)
“Do you play cards?” Nicky asked. "Yes?” “Good. There is a deck inside.”“You want to play cards,” Nile said, in the toneless, disbelieving way that her mother had always hated. Nicky smiled: “Booker called it the Nightmare Club."

The Other Matter by Survivah (The Old Guard, Joe/Nicky)
He wants Yusuf to hold his hand again. Grab his ankle. Flick his ear. Thrust his sword into his chest and breath into his mouth.Yet, they have the long ocean of eternity ahead of them. These whims are nothing but a swell under their ship: gone as soon as they come. Nicolo knows better than to jump overboard and drown alone trying to chase them.-----Alternate title: "You'd Feel Pretty Weird If You Developed a Crush on the Only Other Immortal You Know, Right?"

the profession of my fingers by mellyflori (The Old Guard, Joe/Nicky)
It feels as if his heart is thrown open like the shuttered window of their room, laid bare to Yusuf's gaze. As if the answer to every mystery is in the heat where their hips meet, the low rumble of pleasure in Yusuf’s voice, and the damp silk of Yusuf’s hair clutched in Nicolò’s hands. Five times Nicky loved Joe's curls, and one time they meant nothing at all.

The Sunny Side of the Street by superblackmarket (The Old Guard, Gen)
For one wild, vertiginous second, Nile thought they were about to proposition her for a threesome. But then Nicky said, “Back at Merrick’s lab…” and she realized she was in for something else entirely. OR, Nile gets to know Nicky and Joe a little better.

The ties that bind (can be found in chapter two) by BakedAppleSauce (The Old Guard, Joe/Nicky)
“Right,” Nicky’d said about half an hour ago and sat up on his haunches in bed, where they were currently lazing about. “May I try something?” “Right now…?” Joe had said, a bit torn, because… well. They’d just announced the first recap and it wasn’t like Joe didn’t want to be helpful, but he also wanted to watch this. Nicky had rolled his eyes, looking amused. “I don’t actually need your attention for this,” he said, “Just your cooperation.”In which some people enjoy a nice and relaxing afternoon. Also, bondage.

A Learning Experience by Sixthlight (The Old Guard, Joe/Nicky)
Nicolò was close to his own age, which meant he was well past his thirtieth year, and very handsome, anyone reasonable would have to admit that, and clean enough in his habits – well, these days, anyway – and pleasant in his manner, when he was not trying to kill anybody. Actually, Yusuf had noted that he could be quite polite even in battle. The point was, there was absolutely no reason he should be a virgin.

Deep calls unto deep (if the reception is good enough) and it's sequel Bury your feelings, they're buried alive by BakedAppleSauce (The Old Guard, Joe/Nicky)
“Nicolo?” Joe says, clearly trying very hard not to sound too terrified. Nicky still sags against the boards underneath his back like all the tension has gone out of him for a long moment. “Hello,” he says. His voice is hoarse, which makes sense. Hasn’t had any water in… who even knows. More than 24 hours, probably. Feels weirdly guilty about that, because Joe is upset already, he doesn’t need the added detail of Nicky sounding horrible. “This was stupid of me. I’m sorry, I should have been more careful.”In which there's a predicament, but everyone is trying to hold it together.

Hora somni by BakedAppleSauce (The Old Guard, Joe/Nicky)
Joe tiptoes into their bedroom way too late. Nicky’s book has been placed on the nightstand, Nicky himself is curled up under the covers, fast asleep. Joe sheds his clothes as quietly as possible, but it's no use – once he carefully sits down on the edge of the mattress, Nicky stirs with a questioning noise.In which some people have some... interesting dreams.

more admirable than was dream'd by quimtessence (The Old Guard, Joe/Nicky)
Lately, they've been doing this every single night, Nicky's tired brain apparently needing to conjure up devils to fuck the exhaustion out of him, or merely letting in already-existing ones to consume his soul one sip at a time, thrust after thrust. But, afterwards, he wakes from only three or four hours of sleep refreshed in his mind, though sore in his body, his days spent barely acknowledging what his nights are made out of.

The Last Man on Earth by Survivah (The Old Guard, Nile/Booker)
It’s not lost on her that technically, her dating pool is now exactly one person, if she wants to be with somebody who won’t die on her. Still, “you’re my only option” is miles away from being a good enough reason to give it a shot.- - -5 Times Nile & Booker Ended Up in a Romance Novel Scenario + 1 Time They Didn’t

Vids

Pynk by Tafadhali (Multi-Fandom)
Pink is the truth you can't hide, maybe A celebration of girlhood, girl friends, and girlfriends.

The Sound of Silence by ohvienna (Star Trek: Picard)
"And the vision that was planted in my brain still remains..."

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/146833.html. Please comment at either location.

Driver picks the music, Shotgun shuts his cakehole

2020-11-20T16:41:00Z

So... Supernatural has finally ended.

I haven't watched the finale and I probably don't intend to. I've read spoilers and I'm... sad and disappointed, despite the fact I stopped watching the show around Season 8 or 9 as I gradually lost interest. Which always made me sad, because those first few seasons (with all their faults) really hit me right in the feels.

But then the seasons started to blur together, the rock songs faded, the visuals lightened and the show didn't seem to care about Sam and Dean as much as I did. I never minded Castiel but I also didn't really care about all the angel related storylines.

I also never got in to Destiel (which I don't know is a good or bad thing in light of recent episodes).

But Supernatural will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the show that got me back in to vidding. I had made a few vids a couple of years before but never shared them. Then I started watching Supernatural and was like, yep, this is a show that I definitely need to make fanvids for.

I've made more Supernatural vids than any other show or movie and I had like 30 additional vid ideas swirling around in my head that I never got around to making. I was also strangely proud of the fact that I was able to recall the first 4 seasons episode by episode in my head because I was scrubbing through them so often for vids.

And you know, I still have this one song that I want to make one final epic SPN vid to. I don't know if it will ever happen since I'll need to watch 15 seasons worth of episodes, and I'll probably end up cutting out all the storylines I don't like so the vid will be completely AU by the time I'm done. But every time I hear the song... I think about what a great vid it would make.

But enough rambling! I may have lost interest in the show but I still love watching fanvids from the early seasons of Supernatural. I remember those years being a delightful time for vidding, so thank you to all the vidders who not only made the vids I enjoyed watching but also who inspired me to keep vidding myself.

So may I present to you, my Supernatural vid recs of Nostalgia!

(Also, feel free to add your own nostalgic recs in the comments!)

All the vids should still be live or accessible but if some don't work, well, I'm sorry but some of the links are over a decade old. They're the best I have. If they don't work, uh... ask the vidders.

General Vids

5th Circle by luminosity

Above and Below by counteragent
"Cause living makes me feel ashamed." (or, Sam and Dean's amazingly similar S4 storylines).

Believe by giandujakiss
The abyss gazes into you.

Dead by danegen
Free associating on captivity and destiny. Or codeword: funkytown.

Growing Up by sweetestdrain
"You're not a murderer, Sam.""No? Last time I checked, I kill all kinds of things.""Well, those things are asking for it. There's a difference."

Protege Moi by charmax
What's black and white and red all over?

Sam Vids

Broken by luminosity
Make sure to watch the companion Dean vid.

Haust by SecretlyToDream
"Come on, Sam. Don't you know what's real?"

Low Red Moon by thuviaptarth
And the moon became as blood.

Windowsill by sweetestdrain
There is no escaping this house.

Dean Vids

Broken by luminosity
Make sure to watch the companion Sam vid.

For the Wicked by danegen
Hell is waiting.

Sea Lion by halcyon_shift
Ma, Ma - look what I did, Ma. Look what I did to my hands, I broke 'em.

You Know Your Right by lierdumoa
An analysis of Dean Winchester's motivations for selling his soul at the end of the second season.

Castiel Vids

A Charming Man by giandujakiss
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Fall of Man by obsessive24
What you don't know won't kill you.

John & Mary Vids

Deus Ibi Est by charmax
John Winchester single minded soldier.

I aint scared of lightning by halcyon_shift

Lagrimas by sweetestdrain
Let me underneath your halo. Mary Winchester character study, seasons one and two.

Wincest Vids

Little Lion Man by killabeez
Password: voicemail

Birhouse in your soul by deirdre-c
Dean doesn't just want to save Sam... he wants him all to himself.

Falling for the first time by sisabet
Anything loved can be lost

Your Biggest Fan by wistful-fever
"The heart can think of no devotion, Greater than being shore to ocean - Holding the curve of one position, Counting an endless repetition."

Also, shoutout to Your Own Personal Co-Dependent Wet Dream by wistful-fever. The vid isn't online anymore but I always thought it was an amazing vids.

Crack Vids

9 to 5 by ash48
It's just another day at the office.

Like a Boss by winterevanesce
A day in the life of Dean Smith Samberg, the boss. A dean!crack vid.

The New Prophet by lsketch42

Things that make you go... Hmm by deirdre-c
There's something going on between these two brothers... I just can't seem to put my finger on it.

Who Are You by ash48
A catalogue of aliases, pseudonyms, costumes etc.

Meta Vids

Coin Operated Boy by counteragent
I* want a coin operated boy***Part 1: Dean. Part 2: Dean & Fandom. Part 3: Dean & OFC**ensouled Sam

Glittering Clouds by halcyon_shift
I kept waiting, praying. I was trapped in there, screaming at you, "Just help me, please."

Women's Work by luminosity & sisabet
"Our bodies, ourselves."

Still Alive by counteragent
"This was a triumph."

And finally...

If you don't want to watch any of the above vids, at least watch this one. I promise, it won't let you down. This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/146562.html. Please comment at either location.

Festivids 2020 Letter

2020-10-24T12:27:41Z

Dear Festividder,

As always, thank you for making a vid for me. I don't really have any specific prompts for you, just me rambling on about why I like the thing.

Music
I like all genres of music so feel free to choose any song you like but I do appreciate unlikely song choices for vids. And to be honest, a not so insignificant number of my favourite songs are songs that I love because they were used in vids that I love. So I am very easily won over in terms of music.

General Vidding Likes
I also like all sorts of vids whether they be ensemble or character driven vids, vids with dialogue audio, vids with heavy effects, vids that are serious, vids that a funny, etc. So really, go with whatever angle or direction you want.

Requests

Oglaf (Webcomic)
I have been reading this comic for a couple of years now and find it very entertaining. The combination of smut and comedy is fantastic. Feel free to vid a general overview or focus on a specific storyline, it's all good.

Monument Valley (Video Game)
I think I have requested this nearly every Festivids and look... I know there are significant hurdles in terms of vidding a mobile game that is played in portrait. But the game is just so pretty! And the puzzles are so cool! So I'll probably continue to request this every Festivids just in case someone wants to take this prompt on. And if you do, you will have my utmost respect.

Florence + the Machine (Music Videos)
I am a huge Florence + the Machine fan. She is probably my favourite singer and I have certainly made a lot of vids to her songs. But I also really like her music videos. So I would love a vid that brought all her music videos together, whether its with an overarching narrative or simply just a visual exploration. I also don't mind if its to a song that is not by Florence either.

The Mummy (1999) and Sequels
I really like the Mummy movies and really enjoy Rick & Evy's relationship so a vid about them, or just a fun vid about the movies as a whole would be great.

The Old Guard (Movie 2020) [SAFETY]
Hello to my new hyper-fixation! I watched this movie a month or so ago and fell in love. It hits a lot of the tropes I like and am desperately hoping for a sequel. I love all the characters, even Booker, though he 100% deserves his punishment. The people/ships that interest me the most are Andy, Andy & Nile, Andy/Nile, Andy/Quynh, Andy & Booker, and Joe/Nicky. And of course, I am super into the found family aspect so feel free to focus on the group rather than a specific person or ship. But really, any vid about The Old Guard would be great.

李子柒 | LiZiqi (YouTube Channel)
I really love this YouTube channel. I think there is something very calming about her videos that make them lovely to watch. So I would love a video that shows all the lovely the things that she makes and the lovely way that it is filmed. This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/145728.html. Please comment at either location.

Spring Equinox 2020 Letter

2020-02-26T15:00:33Z

I'm sorry for the late letter, vidder but I am afraid I don't have many additional notes to give.

Music

I like all genres of music so feel free to choose any song you like but I do appreciate unlikely song choices for vids. And to be honest, a not so insignificant number of songs are songs that I love because they were used in vids that I love. So I am very easily won over in terms of music.

General Vidding Likes

I also like all sorts of vids whether they be ensemble or character driven vids, vids with dialogue audio, vids with heavy effects, vids that are serious, vids that a funny, etc. So really, go with whatever angle or direction you want. But the thing I really love in vids is "flow", where the movement and shapes in one clip flow in to the next. It's my jam.

Requests

Resident Evil (Movieverse)

I have to admit I have never played the games and while I have watched a couple of Let's Plays on YouTube for the game remakes, I don't really have any strong ties to the canon game characters.

I just think the movies are super cool and I like Milla Jovovich's character and all the cool fight scenes she gets.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (Movies 2001 2003)

Again, I haven't played the original Tombraider games but I did play and enjoy the rebooted games. But my first introduction to Lara Croft was these movies and I did really enjoy Angelina Jolie in the role.

Community (TV)

I love Community. It was a show that I would genuinely laugh out loud at. So really, any kind of vid would be cool, whether it be a general vid or something more to do with the exchange theme.

I also pretty much like all the characters (except maybe Pierce).

Doom (2005)

So this is a game where I did play the original game (but haven't played the later games). And I also enjoyed the movie even though it didn't get great reviews. I just thought it was fun! So again, any kind of vid would be great.

The Witcher (TV)

And finally, yet another game that I haven't played but I totally got sucked in by the TV show. I love Geralt. I love Jaskier. I love Yennefer. I pretty much love every character and I am also a multi-shipper so again, any kind of vid would be great! This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/145364.html. Please comment at either location.

Bidding is now open for fandomforoz!

2020-02-24T15:43:06Z

Bidding is now open for fandomforoz and you can find my auction page here.

I am offering two vids, one for certain Marvel properties and one for The Witcher. So check it out if you are interested in getting me to make a vid for you!

Bidding closes at 23:59:59 GMT on 29 FEB.

Click here for more info.

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/144973.html. Please comment at either location.

Fandom for Australia

2020-02-07T09:26:50Z

So I told myself I wasn't going to sign up for any other charity auctions, since I all ready offered three vids for Marvel Trumps Hate (which I have totally 100% started ~~don't ask for proof~~) but then I heard about [Unknown LJ tag]. Now, if you didn't know, I am Australian and while I am on the other side of the country from the bushfires, this charity auction still feels a little close to home.

So I signed up.

But this time, I restrained myself and am only offering two vids so I don't, you know, stretch myself too far.

One vid offering is for assorted Marvel properties because as much as I hated Endgame, it still hasn't quite extinguished my love for those characters, and you know, with vidding you can just leave out the parts you don't like.

And the other vid offering is for The Witcher. I have never played the games or read the books and I didn't think I would fall quite so hard for the show but I did and now I love it.

Creator sign-ups close on the 8th February and bidding will start on the 23rd February.

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/144875.html. Please comment at either location.

Vidding | Decade in Review

2020-01-01T12:20:19Z

I haven't done a end of year vid review since 2015, mostly because I felt I hadn't made enough vids during the year to warrant one. And I was tossing up whether to do one this year as well, but then I realised I could do an end of the decade vid review instead and then I wouldn't have to do another one until 2030!

And you know, I do generally hope I still making vids in another 10 years.

(I also had a brief moment of worry that maybe I should be waiting until the end of 2020 to do a decade in review but I googled it (like a nerd) and the general consensus is the new decade starts now.)

51 Vids in 10 Years

It's actually pretty awesome to look back 10 years and see all the vids I have made. I technically started vidding in 2004, then I took a break for a couple of years and then started up consistently again in 2007.

All the links go to AO3 but in case the streaming video doesn't work, they should all be up on my YouTube.

2019

Bones - Crimson Peak [Gen ]
Seven Nation Army - Agent Carter [Peggy Carter ]
Come With Me Now - Thor [Heimdall/Thor ]
Come As You Are - The Craft [Gen ]
Melodrama - Guardians of the Galaxy [Gamora & Nebula ]
I Know What I Am - Ocean's Eight [Gen ]

2018

Heavy In Your Arms - Mirrormask [Anti-Helena ]
Just Dance - Captain America [Steve/Peggy ]
Gods & Monsters - Thor [Valkyrie ]
Bela Lugosi's Dead - INSIDE [Gen ]

2017

Bird Song - Practical Magic [Gen ]
Shots - Robin Hood: Men in Tights [Gen ]
Call Me Maybe - Agent Carter [Peggy/Angie ]
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Captain America [Sam/Steve ]
Handclap - The Fifth Element [Gen ]
Take Me to Church - Mother May I Sleep With Danger [Pearl/Leah ]

2016

Grand Theft Hydra - Captain America [Steve Rogers ]
Bad Romance - Agent Carter [Peggy/Dottie ]
I Of The Storm - Push [Gen ]

2015

Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Guardians of the Galaxy [Gamora & Nebula ]
I Bet My Life - Teen Wolf [Gen ]
When I Get My Hands On You - Captain America [Steve/Peggy ]
Ghost - Teen Wolf [Allison/Lydia ]
The Pit - Guardians of the Galaxy [Peter Quill ]
The Draw - Teen Wolf [Scott/Derek ]
Tuning Out - Van Helsing [Dracula/Van Helsing, Aleera/Anna ]
Yellow Flicker Beat - Transistor [Gen ]

2014

From Here On Out - Teen Wolf [Scott/Stiles ]
Hungry Like The Wolf - Teen Wolf [Gen ]
Wanderluster - Thor [Thor/Jane ]
Psalm 40:2 - Constantine [Gen ]
Feeling Good - Agents of SHIELD [Melinda May ]
Fireproof - Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters [Gen ]

2013

21 Guns - Teen Wolf [Derek Hale ]
Homewrecker - Teen Wolf [Erica Reyes ]
Together Like The Devil and Sin - Supernatural RPF [Gen ]
Hells Bells - Supernatural [Gen ]
Neckz 'n Throats Photoshoot - Teen Wolf [Gen ]
The Good Book - Black Books [Gen ]

2012

Lonely Souls - Merlin BBC [Gen ]
A Prince From Another World - Merlin BBC [Merlin/Arthur ]
Give Me Rock and Roll - Supernatural [Gen ]
We're Getting a Divorce, You Keep the Diner - Supernatural [Gen ]
Bruises - Supernatural [Sam Winchester ]
Me & Lazarus - Daybreakers [Gen ]
Dear Prudence - Misfits [Alisha Bailey ]
The Devil Takes Care of his Own - From Dusk Till Dawn [Gen ]

2011

Hey Jude - Supernatural [John/Mary ]
Awake My Soul - Supernatural [Gen ]
Dance in the Dark - Lady Gaga [Gen ]
Fingers - Ever After [Danielle de Barbarac ]

2010

No vids made :(

Trends... with GRAPHS!

This is mostly for my own curiousity but I think it is still cool to see.

I don't know what happened in 2010 but we can ignore that. But generally I have made a couple of vids a year.

"Other" is for fandoms where I have only made one vid, otherwise it's pretty clear which fandoms I have been passionate about over the last decade.

And likewise, if we break down just the Marvel vids, it's easy to see which Marvel fandoms I am most passionate about.

Again, "Other" is for music where I have only made one vid for. I actually thought Florence + the Machine would count for a lot more because she is probably my favourite singer/band but I guess that all the vids I have planned to her songs are still stuck in the ideas phase.

And just out of curiousity. "Gen" here is for ensemble or single character or general overview type vids. The others are for vids that explicitly focus on a pairing. I'm actually surprised that F/F is just as high as M/M since I tend to read/ship more slash than femslash but I suppose that is just because more is available. Whereas what I vid is up to me.

Questions

I always struggled to answer these when I only had like 6 vids to choose from, but it's a bit easier when I have 50 odd vids to consider.

My favorite video this ~~year~~ decade (of my own):
Okay, this one is a bit harder when I have to choose from 50 vids. I have two criteria when it comes to favourite vids: a) I have to like the vid itself in terms of subject matter, song, concept, etc and b) I have to like the technical execution.

I have plenty of vids that I still really like but there's always a couple of editing choices or mistakes that make me cringe when re-watching.

But out of all my vids of the last decade, these are the ones I really love and are really proud of.

Melodrama - Guardians of the Galaxy [Gamora & Nebula ] - This is actually part of a series of Gamora & Nebula vids (with hopefully more vids to come) but I really like how Melodrama turned out. I really like Gamora & Nebula's characters and relationship and I really like vids where I can mirror clips and themes and I think it worked really well for this vid.

Just Dance - Captain America [Steve/Peggy ] - It kinda pains me to include this because Endgame soured me so goddamn much on this pairing but I really love how this vid turned out. I think the editing is really concise on this vid and fun to watch. Some vids I get stuck or run out of time and I just end up shoving in random clips to fill out the timeline but if I did it with this vid I can't tell.

From Here On Out - Teen Wolf [Scott/Stiles ] - I was never a huge Scott/Stiles fan (and I stopped watching Teen Wolf after a couple of seasons so who knows what happened with them) but I did really enjoy their relationship and I had a lot of fun making this vid.

Ghost - Teen Wolf [Allison/Lydia ] - I really enjoyed how this vid turned out because not only did I have to construct an AU narrative (where Lydia brings Allison back to life) but I used a number of special FX as well. Nothing real fancy but enough that I was super pleased with what I made.

Shots - Robin Hood: Men in Tights [Gen ] - I actually hate this song so goddamn much but the beat is really fun (as long as I stop listening to the lyrics on occasion) and I think it works so well with the movie. I think this was the most fun I had making a vid and it's always so fun to rewatch it as well.

Handclap - The Fifth Element [Gen ]- I wasn't sure this vid worked when I first made it but after rewatching it a couple of years later I am actually really please with out it turned out. My aim was to vid the movie but to arrange the clips in a colour spectrum through the rainbow, so red to purple than back to red again. I'm really happy with how it turned out and somewhat impressed at how coherent it turned out to be.

Then I do have ~~some~~ a lot of honourable mentions. These are vids that I really do love but like I said above, there are just some technical choices that I dislike upon rewatching: Come With Me Now - Thor [Heimdall/Thor ], Gods & Monsters - Thor [Valkyrie ], Call Me Maybe - Agent Carter [Peggy/Angie ], Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Captain America [Sam/Steve ], Grand Theft Hydra - Captain America [Steve Rogers ], Bad Romance - Agent Carter [Peggy/Dottie ], I Of The Storm - Push [Gen ], Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Guardians of the Galaxy [Gamora & Nebula ], I Bet My Life - Teen Wolf [Gen ], The Draw - Teen Wolf [Scott/Derek ], The Good Book - Black Books [Gen ], Psalm 40:2 - Constantine [Gen ] & Fingers - Ever After [Danielle de Barbarac ]

My least favorite video this ~~year~~ decade:
I don't know if I have a vid I actually dislike. I know there are plenty that have editing choices I don't like or the overall vid didn't turn out how I wanted it to in my head but that is generally because I was vidding on a deadline and simply ran out of time.

And I always make sure with exchanges and challenges to carefully curate my list of offered fandoms so I am always vidding with a source I am excited to vid with.

But if I had to choose:

Lonely Souls - Merlin BBC [Gen ] - I don't hate this vid but it doesn't quite convey what I want it to. I mean it does, it's not an especially deep vid but I got stuck with some sections, which didn't turn out the way I wanted them to. Also there are a lot more gorgeous scenes from Merlin that I wanted to use but didn't quite manage to fit them it. I do still kinda want to redo this video, especially with higher quality source but I doubt that is going to happen

Most successful video:
I think this has a lot of variables, especially because I know I didn't promote some vids as much as others.

On YouTube my most popular vid is Bad Romance - Agent Carter [Peggy/Dottie ], which has 186,424 views (!!!) which blows my mind but the second most popular vid has only 31K views, and some vids have under 100 views. So really, Bad Romance is only popular because it pleased YouTube's algorithms somehow.

On AO3, Neckz 'n Throats Photoshoot - Teen Wolf [Gen ] wins for hits and kudos.

And on Tumblr, where I haven't even posted all my vids, The Draw - Teen Wolf [Scott/Derek ] wins with 505 likes/reblogs. But that was also made for an exchange and was originally posted on their tumblr which I am assuming had a lot more followers. Of the vids that I posted directly to my tumblr, Gods & Monsters - Thor [Valkyrie ] wins with 214 likes/reblogs.

Video most under-appreciated by the universe, in my opinion:
I mean, this also has a lot of variables, especially since, as I mentioned, some vids I didn't even post to Tumblr for exposure.

However, I do have to say, I am a little disappointed that Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Captain America [Sam/Steve ] didn't get more traction. I thought that was a very cute vid that Sam and Steve were very cute in.

Most fun video:
Definitely Shots - Robin Hood: Men in Tights [Gen ]. Like I said, I hate the song but damn if the vid ain't fun.

Video with single sexiest moment:
Hmm, I think Bad Romance - Agent Carter [Peggy/Dottie ] has some sexy moments between Peggy and Dottie, and I think Come With Me Now - Thor [Heimdall/Thor ] also has some sexy moments between Heimdall and Thor.

Biggest vid fail:
I don't think I really had any vid fails, aside from technical issues every now and then.

My vid fails are all the vids I have started or thought about starting but never finished...

Hardest video to make:
Every vid? I mean aside from all the vids for exchanges and challenges that I (unintentionally) leave until the last minute and then struggle to rush through them...

Handclap - The Fifth Element [Gen ] was a bit of a struggle because I first had to clip every scene in the movie and organise them by colour and then somehow place them on to the timeline in a way that made sense.

Most unintentionally telling video:
I don't know if I have any "telling" videos. I mean, generally if I vid something, you can assume I like it.

Things I learned this year:
Vids get made faster when you actually sit down at the computer and work on them. I know, astounding!

Things to work on:

Actually sitting down at the computer and working on a vid? There are so many vid ideas that I have and I think I actually make vids pretty fast but my problem is that I will re-watch my current vid-in-progress a couple of times, place a couple of clips on the timeline and then not touch it for a month, which for some strange reason, is not conducive for producing vids on a timely basis.

For 2020 (and beyond):

Keep vidding. Ideally on a regular basis. Like maybe making a vid once per month? But I do genuinely hope that I am still vidding in another 10 years.

Try vidding using the sounds from the source as well. Like this amazing vid: Glitter & Gold. I have a great idea for a vid where this would work but a slight hurdle is the fact that I have most of my source saved without audio to save on hard drive space. So I would have to reacquire that.

Maybe also try updating viddingnews on a more regular basis. But in my defence, there isn't always a lot of vidding news to post.

Watch more and rec more vids. I have like a whole folder of bookmarks of vids that I want to watch, or rec, or download forever. I actually started this process and have been bookmarking them on Pinboard if anyone is interested. This is primarily for my own use in case my computer dies and I need to download all the vids again (because this did happen to me once and yes, I did spend a lot of time finding my favourite vids again) but I figure other people may be interested.

Other Thoughts

Despite the sheer disappointment that Endgame was (pretty much for single character), I still like and want to vid Marvel. Possibly out of spite and possibly the fact that with vidding I can just cut out the bad part of the movies.

Rewatching my vids also made me super nostalgic for Supernatural. I stopped watching around season 8 but I kinda want to re-watch everything once the final season is over and then make one final vid (I even have a song picked out) but the thought of going through ~250 hours of footage is so very, very daunting.

Something else I noticed as I was going through my vids, which I found interesting, was the fact that I often get matched with the same people in exchanges like Festivids. I mean, saying "often" is probably an exaggeration but definitely more than once I have either made a vid for someone one year, and they've been assigned to make a vid for me another year. Or I have been assigned the same person as a recipient for multiple years. And this is for multi-fandom exchanges across a wide variety of different sources. But it's interesting to think about how our taste in movie and tv are similar.

I'm also still a little astounded that after 15 years I do still really enjoy vidding. I love vids as an artform so much and I still find that watching the perfect vid gives me such a rush of inspiration or motivation or whatever you want to call it. It fantastic! And even though I generally don't reply (because I am terrrrible) I still really treasure every comment or kudos or reblog that I get. Every time I get one it's just a little moment of brightness in my day, to know that I have created something that someone else liked. ~~Which is why I really need to make an effort to comment on other people's stuff.~~

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/144193.html. Please comment at either location.

Festivids 2019 Letter

2019-10-27T14:54:43Z

Dear Festividder,

As always, thank you for making a vid for me. I don't really have any specific prompts for you, just me rambling on about why I like the thing. Which often just turns in to me saying I like the thing so I don't know how helpful my letter is going to be for you so... Have fun!

Music

I like all genres of music so feel free to choose any song you like but I do appreciate unlikely song choices for vids. And to be honest, a not so insignificant number of songs are songs that I love because they were used in vids that I love. So I am very easily won over in terms of music.

General Vidding Likes

I also like all sorts of vids whether they be ensemble or character driven vids, vids with dialogue audio, vids with heavy effects, vids that are serious, vids that a funny, etc. So really, go with whatever angle or direction you want. But the thing I really love in vids is "flow", where the movement and shapes in one clip flow in to the next. It's my jam.

Planet Hulk (2015)

I'm not a huge comics reader. I'm kinda a little scared to get in to them but I know I would get too in to them and end up buying them all. Planet Hulk was really just a series I read because of Steve & Bucky (sorry Hulk) and the setting sounded really cool. Gladiator style AU, cool costumes, dinosaurs and of course Steve's unending love for Bucky.

So I would love a vid about Steve and Bucky. I know vidding 2D stuff isn't the easiest so however you want to do it, kudos to you.

Monument Valley (Video Game)

I think I have requested this nearly every Festivids and look... I know there are significant hurdles in terms of vidding a mobile game that is played in portrait. But the game is just so pretty! And the puzzles are so cool! So I'll probably continue to request this every Festivids just in case someone wants to take this prompt on. And if you do, you will have my utmost respect.

Florence + the Machine (Music Videos)

I am a huge Florence + the Machine fan. She is probably my favourite singer and I have certainly made a lot of vids to her songs. But I also really like her music videos.

So I would love a vid that brought all her music videos together, whether its with an overarching narrative or simply just a visual exploration. I also don't mind if its to a song that is not by Florence either.

Jenna Marbles (YouTube Videos)

I don't really watch a lot of "YouTube" YouTubers and I know I don't know a lot of the big names. Jenna Marbles was a name I had heard before but I assumed I wouldn't be interested and that is certainly the case for her earlier content. But it turns out that her videos in recent years such as A Full Face of Rhinestones, Giving My Boyfriend Acryclic Nails, I Made A Train For My Dogs and My Dogs Try On Halloween are actually right up my alley. And I'm not saying I am the same age as her but her adventures as a (now) "33 year old lady!" really speak to me, you know.

So I would love a video about all the random stuff she has done in her videos in the last couple of years.

Mortal Engines (2018) [SAFETY]

I haven't read the books so I know don't know how accurate the movie is but I enjoyed this movie a lot. I love the steampunk vibes and it reminded me a lot of the Bioshock games (which I also love).

An ensemble vid or a character focus vid on Hester Shaw or Anna Fang would be great.

李子柒 Liziqi (Web Series)

This is also a YouTube channel I only started watching recently but it is absolutely gorgeous. I think there is something very calming about her videos that make them lovely to watch.

So I would love a video that shows all the lovely the things that she makes and the lovely way that it is filmed.

Midsommar (2019) [SAFETY]

Another movie that I watched recently that I like. I'm not a huge fan of horror but I like films like this instead of your typical slasher horror. I also like the visuals in this with the brightness and the colours.

So a general overview type vid or a vid that just focusing on Dani would be cool.

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/143724.html. Please comment at either location.

Would anyone like to volunteer their services as a vid beta?

2019-08-17T15:12:10Z

It's for a Captain America vid, specifically Steve/Bucky (yeah, I know, I'm five years too late. I'm also just flat out ignoring Endgame).

There's one specific section I need help with in regards to clip choices although general critique will also be appreciated.

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/143542.html. Please comment at either location.

Fall Equinox 2019: Costume Party Letter

2019-07-28T10:41:42Z

Hello vidder,

Apologies for not having this letter live when assignments were sent out but if you were waiting for some helpful extra information on my part then I am afraid I don't have much for you.

I like all kinds of music so feel free to choose any song you like but I do appreciate unlikely song choices for vids.

I also don't really have any likes or dislikes in general in regards to vids either.

I have a couple of specific notes below in regards to my prompts but really, I like all the sources below and will be happy to receive a vid for any of them. Make a vid that you like as I am sure I will love it.

Merlin (TV)
I really like this show even though I do think the storylines got repetitive towards the end and they did some characters dirty. But I think it has some really beautiful visuals that work well for vids. I also like all the main characters and pretty much all possible ship permutations so feel free to focus on a character or ship or go for an ensemble vid. Or if you want to stick closely to the theme, you could totally make a vid about all the pretty pretty dresses that the ladies got to wear.

Pirates of the Caribbean (Movies)
I would love a vid about Elizabeth Swann and her journey to become the Pirate King. When the movies first came out I really enjoyed Johnny Depp in these but I think, like a lot of other people, my enjoyment of him has decreased quite suddenly. So if you prefer, feel free to keep him out of the vid as much as possible.

Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena is also a favourite show of mine and I would love any vid about Xena or Gabrielle or both. I love them and their relationship so much. Also the various costumes they wore were pretty cool.

The Mummy (1999)
I would love a Mummy vid about Rick & Evie. I really enjoyed their relationship and I'm also 100% okay if you want to use footage from sequel as well.

Moulin Rouge! (2001)
I just really like this movie. It's pretty.

Good luck with making the vid, vidder. I can see my prompt notes got steadily less and less but I hope they helped somewhat :)

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/143188.html. Please comment at either location.

Endgame Prompts & Recs

2019-05-15T12:37:51Z

This originally started as a list of things I wanted see after watching Endgame but then I never posted it. And then I kept reading fics that fit the themes so I started to collate everything in to a big rec list.

These are fics that are specifically curated for my own personal preferences but if you love Team Cap, Team Thor and Team Gamora & Nebula, and maybe weren't entirely too happy with how Endgame turned out then you will probably enjoy these fics as well.

They are roughly ordered by character and ship but they contain all manner of relationship permutations both platonic and romantic and there is some overlap so check the tags. There are also a couple of WIPs that I forgot to mark so read at your own risk.

This will also hopefully be updated in time as I find more fics for the missing gaps.

Everybody Lives

Beyond the Burn (7681 words) by eyres - Steve saves the universe - but it takes him awhile to be okay again. (written before Endgame)
Just This Once (The Everybody Lives Remix) (6808 words) by Dira Sudis - A way it could have happened.

Natasha

Gets a funeral
- Twenty Minutes (1872 words) by kuiske - Steve wanted to glare at her and remind her that the last five years sure hadn’t been full of stoic acceptance on her part either, so she could damn well stop judging and let them do this for her. Yeah, she’d just have to roll her eyes and power through.
- Nothing Lasts Forever; Or, an Endgame Fix to Give Natasha the Respect She Deserves (5661 words) by edith - writing the endgame scenes the writers should have written. aka, natasha romanoff gets her funeral. steve & bucky actually get time together. (what? crazy!) & maybe, just maybe, her family gets to properly mourn her sacrifice. oh, and buckynat gets a slight callback.
Meets Gamora in the Soul Stone
- Two (broken) Souls (4220 words) by arimabat - Strange, really. She had never believed in souls.
Rescues herself from the Soul Stone
- Fair Trade (785 words) by Amy - The rules are clear. Soul for a soul.
- born in fire (again and again) (4131 words) by defcontwo - Natasha lands, in dust and sand and light, in the middle of a great landscape of nothingness. She sits up, and touches one hand to the back of her head, and it comes away wet and sticky with blood. There’s copper in the back of her mouth, and she spits it out into the sand, watching with satisfaction as the blood splatters into the otherwise pristine surface. “Huh,” Natasha says. “So this is death.”
- when i die i’ll sacrifice (more than enough for the afterlife) (41443 words) by notcaycepollard - The fall is longer than Natasha expects. It’s tears cold on her face, teeth bitten all the way through her lip and the taste of copper in her mouth; she’s falling and falling and then, bracing for impact—she wakes up.
Rescues herself and Gamora from the Soul Stone (or vice versa)

Natasha & Steve

Steve & Natasha during those 5 years
- lights will guide you home (12047 words) by crinklefries - “Seems fucked up,” Natasha snorts. He hears her rustling on the other end and he knows that she, too, is struggling with her guilt. “To be left behind and feel guilty about it.” Steve laughs lowly, but it’s a sad, desperate, wrinkled thing. He passes a hand over his face. “What do we do, Nat?” he asks. “Where do we go from here?” There’s a silence so long he thinks Natasha’s finally fallen asleep. Then, the sound of rustling, again. “Forward, Steve,” she says, quietly. “We go forward.”
Steve resurrects Natasha when he returns the Soul Stone
- Set in Stone (1236 words) by romanticalgirl - A soul for a soul
- dancing with your ghost (in the winter snow) (1226 words) by quiet_lights - And so, he walked onwards, even more into the unforgiving cold, towards the mountains that never neared.
- the long way down (4588 words) by actonbell - "Nat. If you were in heaven, or having some kind of after-life experience, would we both be dripping wet and would I still be a giant pain in your ass?"
Steve resurrects Natasha and Gamora when returns the Soul Stone
Steve resurrects Natasha when he returns the Soul Stone and they both stay in the 1940s
- life, the one you get (2672 words) by toujours_nigel - "I was speaking to some of Maria's friends," Nat said while those friends--some women in bridesmaids dresses at any rate--got lushly drunk and weepy over Maria resplendent in her white gown. "They speak very highly of the collegiate experience."

Steve & Peggy

Steve goes back to the 1940s, stays there and:
- Has a beautiful life with Peggy
  - some other day (1632 words) by flowermasters - Steve shows up like something out of a dream.
  - Start of Time (1295 words) by SelenaKent - “I love you, my darling,” she says, always, whenever she has the chance because she doesn’t want him to ever forget it. Because she spent over half a decade unable to tell him just how much.
  - things left behind and the things that are ahead (3578 words) by fluffernutter8 - Steve goes back. Some things are the same. Some are different.
  - Be Still My Foolish Heart (2207 words) by roboticonography - The things Steve lost, and the things he gained.
  - Until Some Other Day (2875 words) by sheafrotherdon - London, 1945. FOUND ROGERS STOP COMING HOME STOP H STARK STOP
- But things aren't entirely smooth sailing for anyone
  - I Drew a Line for You (4102 words) by Brokenpitchpipe - "What are you doing here, Steve?" Peggy asks. "I'm," Steve says. "Living." Peggy smiles. But it's a smile he recognizes, a smile that means she's guessed at the truth and she's guessed right. "No," she says, "you're not."
Steve goes back to the 1940s to see Peggy but doesn't stay there
- Running From Grenades (3004 words) by just_another_classic - Steve and Peggy reunite in the past. He wants to stay. She can't let him.
Steve & Peggy in 1970
- 1970 (933 words) by rachlovesligers - What if Peggy had seen Steve watching her from her office?
- In This Life (885 words) by marvelistakingovermylife - Steve gets more than one surprise when he finds himself in Peggy Carter's office by mistake, and learns something about himself.
Steve brings Peggy to the future because who cares about the rules of time travel

Steve & Peggy & Bucky

Steve goes back to the 1940s and both him and Peggy rescue Bucky
- raw sugar (1940 words) by ElisAttack - Sometimes he thinks about the Steve Rogers of this timeline. Slumbering, encased in ice at the bottom of the ocean with no end in sight, and he thinks; good. At least that poor bastard has finally caught a break. Or the one where Steve has loved two people his entire life, and both of them have no idea who, or what, he is.

Peggy

How does Peggy deal with the fact that Steve is different (no one is the same person they were 10 years ago)
- some far off star (2794 words) by Contra - Steve comes back to Peggy, but it doesn't take her long to notice - he came back different.
How does Peggy deal with the fact that "her" Steve is alive and buried under the ice
How does Peggy deal with the fact that since Steve created a branched timeline, she and the world she is currently in kinda didn't exist up until now

Steve

Steve during the 5 years
Goes back to the 1940s and:
- Messes around with history
- Doesn't mess around with history
Why does he look so old when I think everyone assumed the serum would age slow. Just how long was he in the past?
Steve's journey to return the stones
- let's hear it for captain america (6671 words) by sidnihoudini - He’s lost and found Bucky so many times that watching him plunge into the blue-icy Danube River almost feels like a prologue.
- like heaven stood up in you (9833 words) by napricot - “You said you were gonna miss him,” says Bruce slowly. “He was supposed to be back in five seconds, but you hugged him and said ‘I’m gonna miss you.’” Bucky’s face is serene again now, and gives nothing away. “I know Steve,” he repeats. “You think you can hand him a time machine and some rocks of unspeakable power and he’s just gonna go put ‘em right back where they belong?” Steve does put the Infinity Stones right back where they belong. He just does a couple other things too. Or: three timelines and a Reverse Time Heist.
The Adventures of 2012!Steve
- When People See Us (5435 words) by Brokenpitchpipe - Rumlow knocks his shoulder good-naturedly. “Hail HYDRA.” “Thanks,” Steve says automatically, “you too."
- Searching Every Lonely Place (4251 words) by dragongirlG - The impersonator hisses, "Bucky's still alive" – and that's all it takes for Steve to loosen his grip and get a hard knock to the head.

Steve & Bucky

Have a post-battle reunion
- Taking the Time (2729 words) by newsbypostcard - Bucky shrugs Sam off, half livid. "You think Steve's not sending a message, but I'm getting one loud and clear. I'm leaving him the fuck alone until he's ready to say his piece." But Bucky doesn't. He finds a half-dozen people in need of his help and then, against his own volition, raises his head to find Steve in the crowd. He's still a battlefield away, one hand bunched at his hip, leaning on the hammer where it's resting on a rock. Steve Rogers, god of thunder. Bucky should've predicted this ninety years back.
- In Sight (1282 words) by Palebluedot - “What the hell was that? You went at him by yourself? With a hammer?”
Steve and Bucky have a conversation about Steve staying in 1940 (in a way that doesn't make me super fucking sad)
- the good fight (2908 words) by Destina - An early morning conversation between Steve and Bucky, before Steve completes his mission.
- Travelers (1148 words) by aeli_kindara - In which Steve and Bucky discuss what Steve plans to do.
- Selah (3129 words) by Avaaricious - Between a funeral and a mission, Steve takes Bucky for a walk.
Steve stays in the future with Bucky
- when we came home (10338 words) by augustbird - Fighting is hard. Rebuilding is harder. Post-Endgame AU.
- Lichtenberg Figures (4798 words) by rustywrites - The scars take some getting used to.
Steve goes back to the 1940s to rescue Bucky
Steve takes Bucky with him to return the stones
Old!Steve and Bucky's relationship
- guard them from my grave (2811 words) by girlbookwrm - Bucky clears his throat. “So.” He sits, before his knees can decide to give out. “Do you ever get tired of being right?”
- Full Circle (1128 words) by PR Zed - The two of them sit on the bench for the longest time, staring out at the shimmering surface of the lake in front of them, a pregnant silence building between them. Steve is the one who speaks first. “I saved him,” he says. “I couldn’t save you, but I saved him.”
- Another Life (939 words) by Palebluedot - "Hey, you," he says as he sits. Or, it's been a long, long time, indeed.
Steve uses the de-aging machine
- Kiss Me Once Again (1171 words) by ShowMeAHero - Steve’s quiet for a moment, then says, “I’m sorry, Buck.” “Why?” Bucky says. “It’s been half a minute for me.”
- Branching (742 words) by Tyger_Tyger - “Hey Buck.” “Hey Steve.”

Steve & Sam

Have a post-battle reunion
Have a conversation about how Steve is going to stay in the past
Steve takes Sam with him to return the stones
Steve doesn't stay in the past but still hands over the shield
Old!Steve and Sam's relationship
Where exactly did Steve get that shield from?

Sam

Sam as Captain America, baby!

Sam & Bucky

In the Soul Stone
- not an end, but (the start of all things) (11267 words) by notcaycepollard - They keep driving, for lack of anything better to do. A mission, Sam had said, and maybe that's true; maybe wherever they're headed is the way out, the way up.
Post-Endgame
- keep a close watch (3217 words) by flowermasters - “Don’t go getting maudlin on me,” Sam says, “just because I got my shit rocked.”

Steve & Sam & Bucky

All three have a post-battle reunion
Steve takes Sam & Bucky with him to return the stones. Galactic road-trip!

Thor

A nuanced exploration of Thor's mental health where he doesn't become the comic relief
- to be home is to be with the people who love you (10159 words) by tvheit - They save the universe again, and Thor starts a long road to recovery that is about five years overdue.
- at the end of the long way (3513 words) by Silvereye - Sometime after the events of the Endgame, Steve Rogers finds wounded Thor on his doorstep.
- A Game No One Wins (2590 words) by triedunture - A fill-in for the five year jump in Endgame. Steve visits New Asgard to see Thor.
Thor keeps those kick-ass braids and hairstyle
Thor bumps in to 2012!Loki while travelling with the Guardians
Thor abdicates in favour of Valkyrie but stays in New Asgard

Valkyrie

Valkyrie as a competent King
Valkyrie as a trashfire King because she still hasn't quite recovered from the trauma of losing her sisters and hiding away for centuries if not millennia on Sakaar
Valkyrie kicks Thor's ass because it shouldn't be her problem and she's had enough of the Odinson family and their drama but she's been down that road of drinking to forget your problems before and since Thor didn't let her continue to wallow on Sakaar she's going to return the favour

Nebula & Gamora

Nebula during the 5 years
Nebula & Rocket during the 5 years
Nebula rescues Gamora (and maybe Natasha) from the Soul Stone
Nebula & Gamora are the ones to kill Thanos
Nebula & 2014!Gamora's relationship

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/142882.html. Please comment at either location.

More Endgame rambling

2019-04-27T09:03:29Z

Don't come here if you want squee :(

So I've been reading a bunch of reviews and people seemed to really like the movie a lot, so it kinda sucks to be on the other side of it.

I'll probably see it again next week so I can enjoy all the cool moments fully without the weigt or dread of expectations. And kudos to the movie itself because I don't think I was ever bored during it, and it really didn't feel like 3 hours long.

But I think I will continue to be disappointed by it because a) the bad stuff outweighs the good stuff and b) this is supposed to be the movie that's the end of era, right? The end of the OG Avengers phase and it just doesn't live up to that.

Like we have had 10 years of pretty much solidly awesome movies, movies that made us love these characters but the majority of the OG Avengers got shitty endings. And it's unlikely we're going to get any more movies about them to fix it.

Steve - As much as I love Steggy and I always wanted them to be together, him going back in time (aside from potentially screwing up the timeline, no mention of whether he tries to save Bucky, tries to stop the Hydra infesting SHIELD, etc) just goes against his character arc in The Winter Solider. Like Peggy specifically said:

"The world has changed, and none of us can go back. All we can do is our best, and sometimes, the best that we can do, is to start over."

But nah, who cares, let's just have him go back and ignore all the plot holes that creates.

Natasha - Sure, we're getting a solo movie (after a decade when she was pretty much there from the beginning) but I am assuming its a prequel. And that won't change the fact that she didn't get a funeral or even any further acknowledgement that she died. And it doesn't change the fact that in both cases where someone was sacrificed for the Soul Stone, it was the only woman in the "team".

Thor - Maybe we are getting a Thor 4? In which case it would be great if his mental health doesn't get treated as constant punchline. He can stay fat, I don't care.

Hulk!Bruce - I'll be honest, I forgot how his story ended? Did he even really get an ending? I don't remember him playing a big part in the final battle?

Clint - I suppose yay he got to go back to his family but let's be real, Hawkeye never had much of a storyline to begin with and now he probably never will.

Tony - I feel like Ironman is the only one who got a good story and send-off, which would be lovely if the past couple of movies hadn't made me dislike the character more and more. And again, focusing on him to what feels like the detriment of the other characters doesn't help.

Like his funeral was really nice, but my mind was just going constantly: What about Nat? What about Nat? What about Nat?

So, like, yeah.

And I still don't understand how this is the same writer and director team behind The Winter Soldier. Like was that just a fluke? That was the movie that really made me care about Steve and Bucky and Sam and Nat and the relationships between them. But then every movie since as just been a let down.

This article popped up on my phone and it kinda really sums up my feelings: Avengers Endgame: Captain America's Ending Ruins The Movie

I feel betrayed. The reason I love these characters so much are because of the movies that came before (I never read the comics), and the stories and character choices made within them but it feels like there is no follow-through. The things I loved about the previous movies just seem to get ignored or take a sharp turn away. And like I said, this is it, this is the end for the OG Avengers and I just feel sad. And disappointed.

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/142532.html. Please comment at either location.

Endgame Review - looooots of spoilers

2019-04-25T07:54:01Z

So I have seen Endgame! If anyone wants any spoilers, feel free to message me.

So I am less sad than I thought I would be, less angry than I thought I would be, but still generally unsatisfied.

Like it wasn't a bad movie, but it wasn't a great movie either. It was... a movie. That had a bunch of cool moments, less cool moments than Infinity War though.

I think the problem with this movie and Infinity War to a certain extant is that because there are so many characters, they obviously want every character to have their moment but all those moments don't add up together in to one cohesive thing.

So, Natasha died. Which I am sad about but also slightly apathetic about, I guess. She was always a favourite, not my top favourite but certainly up there. But like, she's the only woman in the original team, and she's the one who dies. Which means she doesn't get to be in half the movie, or the final epic battle. And she didn't even get a funeral :( I liked her last moments with Clint (like I said, there were cool moments) but then, that's it. So I guess I am more sad about the way she died, rather than her actual death. But I suspect I am going to get angrier about this once I have more time to process.

I liked that we got more of Nebula and Gamora. (Yay, because now I definitely have footage to make the next vid in my Gamora & Nebula series.) But I am sad that they didn't get to be the ones to kill Thanos, and that they kinda just disappeared from the fight towards the end. And Gamora disappeared even further, like did she get dusted at the end?

The epic fight at the end was kinda cool, but also kinda cheesy. Like yay, everyone's together and fighting side by side but because there is so much going on and so many people, it's just like, whatever. The fight scenes in Winter Soldier still remain my favourite because they were a) really cool and you had time to watch and absorb the fight and appreciate how cool they were, and b) they were personal to the characters, they were emotional, they made you feel. Which you don't (at least I don't) get that same level of investment when it's a huge-ass fight.

And sure, it was kinda cool to see all the women team up in the scene but also a little cheesy because then they don't really do much together. And it kinda feels patronising like see, hey look at all these women, but they aren't going to part of the main fight so just enjoy the glimpses you get! And sure, it was cool to see Captain Marvel and Wanda go head to head with Thanos but they still aren't going to be the ones allowed to finish it.

(Steve picking up the hammer was cool but like, that's all it was. See, lot's of cool moments.)

(And Thor's lightning was cool and his little beard braid (except of course they didn't keep it), but it sure as hell wasn't as cool as his lightning scene in Ragnarok.)

I'm sure I would have liked this movie a lot more if I liked Tony but I still don't. I hated when he was rescued and then started yelling at Steve. I rewatched Infinity War last night and I forgot about the scene in the beginning where Tony has to call Steve and he's like, I can't, we're not on speaking terms when Steve specifically made sure they were on speaking terms in case of a situation exactly like this. But sure it's Steve who abandoned everyone and broke up the team. And then Tony's going on about Ultron and how if he had just been allowed to do it, then the world would have been safe, and like Ultron wouldn't have prevented people being dusted and I highly doubt it's tech would have been enough to save Earth if Thanos rolled up in his ship. And like, he attempted Ultron once, failed and then never even tried anything else again. And Tony still hasn't even apologised for trying to murder Bucky, and yet he screams and calls Steve a liar like that is the worst thing in the whole world, conveniently ignoring all the shit he has done. And then of course, he gets to go and have a family and then refuses to try and help later on because fuck everyone else I guess.

So like, whatever. It's just sad because Ironman was the reason I got into Marvel. I really liked the first Ironman movie and I really liked Tony Stark but it's like every movie since has just made gradually dislike him more and more. But because he gets featured so heavily in the movies, it cuts down the amount of story and screentime everyone else gets. So I don't want to be glad that he's dead but like I am, I really am :/

And then there's Steve.

(Well, there's other stuff but I think I need to see the movie again before I talk about it.)

So Steve didn't die! Yay!

But I don't know what to feel about him going back in time to be with Peggy, getting old and then coming back.

Like that was one of the potential options I really didn't like, and I say this as a die-hard Steggy shipper. I loved their relationship and it was so sad to think about how they didn't get a life together but this just feels like a reset that wipes out and ignores everything else. Ignores what Steve has gone through since, ignores his character arcs, ignores the relationships he has built with other people.

First Avenger made me a Steggy shipper, but Winter Soldier made me a Stucky shipper. And this isn't even really about Stucky in a romantic sense, but the movies built up the Steve and Bucky relationship being something so important to both of them, more important than Peggy because they never really got to start a relationship, but Steve's friendship with Bucky started in childhood and then for them to get reunited after decades so much sorrow was really nice, but then that all got shafted to side like it doesn't even matter. And Bucky didn't even get a final scene with Steve after old!Steve came back. Sam did, which he should have and the handover of the shield was lovely but Bucky gets nothing?

Which is part of why I didn't like Steve going back and having a life with Peggy, and then coming back old because it feels like his life is over now, and it feels like its an end to his relationships with Bucky and Sam (which I know, it doesn't mean that because he's old it doesn't mean they can't be friends), but it feels like an end. Like how in Winter Soldier, when Steve went to visit old!Peggy and it was so sad because yeah, they're still friends but they're not going to have a life together. It feels like that.

Which fuck you, Marvel, for making me care about Steve & Sam and Steve & Bucky and then not following through.

And like, what about Peggy's life? How does that change now. What about the guy she was married to before, the kids she had. Does she still found SHIELD? Does the Agent Carter TV show still happen?

And what about Steve, like he still has his memories, right? Does he what, just stand by and let the shitty parts of history stay the same? Does he let Hydra infilitrate SHIELD? Does he let Bucky stay kidnapped and just has a nice life with Peggy while he's getting tortured and brainwashed and mindwiped? Are we supposed to believe that Steve just stood back and let all that happen? That like goes against everything we've been told about his character!

So even though I love Steggy, I can't even enjoy that nice little moment of them dancing and kissing. Although I will use it for vidding.

But I still have my motivation to vid though which is great! It's a slightly more spiteful motivation but what the fuck ever.

I think that is my attitude towards this movie. What the fuck ever.

Bring on the fix-it fic.

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/142190.html. Please comment at either location.

Endgame & Marvel Ramblings; No Spoilers

2019-04-24T09:04:39Z

So I will be seeing Avengers: Endgame in less than 24 hours and I AM VERY AFRAID!

I think this is the first time I have felt like this about a film or TV show. I've been invested in Marvel for a while but none of the other movies have constituted a finale like what I am assuming this will be.

And other media sources I have been super invested in either were abruptly canceled (Farscape) or my interest gradually fizzled out before I had to contend with a finale (Supernatural) or I only started watching when the show had all ready ended so I knew what I was getting in to.

But really, when I say I am still invested in Marvel, it's really more I am very much invested in Steve Rogers.

And I am very afraid he is going die.

And I am very afraid he is going to die in a way that is very unsatisfying. And that is what I am going to be sad (and angry) about rather than his actual death.

And I swear I am going to flip my shit if his last dying scene is with Tony Stark and he never sees Bucky or Sam ever again (you know, the guys he loves and actually built a relationship with and who the last he saw of wasn't trying to murder his best friend as revenge despite the fact that shit wasn't his fault on account of the decades of torture and brainwashing and mindwiping).

If the Marvel wanted me to care about Steve's relationship with Tony Stark then they need to actually put the effort in to make me care instead having them be antagonistic towards each other in every movie they are in together.

Can you tell I am still bitter?

I didn't use to be because there was always the prospect of another movie and more content to make up for it but now that prospect is gone. And when I think back to how little of Steve we got in Civil War and yeah, it was focused on him but Steve didn't even get the most dialogue, he got half the screentime compared to the first two Cap movies, he didn't get a flashback of his parents (which I sincerely doubt we ever will now), and he didn't even get the opening and closing emotional moments. All that went to Tony. And then I think back to how Steve got like 6 minutes of Infinity War. And then I am assuming Endgame is also going to Tony's final film so I assume they'll be featuring him heavily as well. And then I get even more bitter and sad.

I am guessing Endgame is going to focus on Steve and Tony's relationship because it's the last chance they have and Steve and Tony are the two "big" characters but like, I just don't care about that relationship! The movies never put any effort into making me care! And yes, I realise all this is subjective and opinion based but I think objectively you can say that the movies showed that Steve cares more about Bucky & Sam than he ever has about Tony.

And you know, maybe I am wrong, maybe Steve doesn't die, but I am putting my thoughts down just so they aren't simmering around in my head. And like, if characters have to die (which they don't have to, Marvel! You can remove characters from a franchise without killing them), I just want them to have good scenes with the people that they love. And for Steve, that is 100% Bucky and Sam but with them stuck in the Soul Stone I have little hope. (I include Natasha in that list but I'm less worried about them not getting scenes together.

But hey, the movie is like 3 hours long. A lot can happen.

I think my main hope for Endgame is that it doesn't kill my motivation to make Marvel vids. I've never even made a Steve vid because I like him so much it was too overwhelming to make vid that just focuses on him. I do have one Steve vid that's been in progress for years and like, the vid itself is sad enough as is, if I have to include Steve's death in it, its going to be heartbreaking.

(Now it's time to turn off the internet and rewatch Infinity War in preparation.)

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/141933.html. Please comment at either location.

SSR Confidential 2019

2019-03-21T09:16:51Z

Dear SSR Agent,

Firstly, apologies for not unlocking my letter in time. I have a couple of notes under the cut about why I like each prompt but really, I don't have anything specific in mind. Make something that you like as well and I am sure I will love it.

I have no restrictions with ratings or triggers aside from requesting nothing that is super dark. But whether you want to keep it family friendly or go super explicit, it is fine with me.

The only thing I really don't want is that despite it being years, I still really dislike the Daniel/Peggy relationship because of how both characters & plot were written in order to get them together. So while I don't want any character bashing, I also don't want him included as anything more than a side character, either as a friend/colleague or with the Daniel/Peggy relationship gracefully written out.

But that is really the only DNW I have.

Peggy Carter / Steve Rogers
I still love this relationship and will adore anything about them, whether its canon or completely AU. I don't really see either of them settling down in to a "typical" relationship ie. get married, kids, white picket fence, etc. So it would be interesting to see how they navigate their relationship among their unique jobs. Nor would I expect their relationship to be completely smooth sailing either. I think both of them are far too stubborn for that.

Peggy Carter / Steve Rogers / Angie Martinelli
There aren't many stories with this pairing but I would love to read another. Angie and Steve are both clearly important to Peggy so it would be interesting to see how a relationship works out. And I think it would be interesting to see how Steve and Angie would interact. They could bond over the theatre and performing! Also, I think it would be funny because Steve doesn't really know how to interact with one woman, let alone two.

Peggy Carter & Lynda Carter
This prompt exists because I randomly had the thought one day of hey, they have the same name, what if they're related?!?! And then I felt sad because there doesn't seem to be any fic about it and I know I certainly wasn't going to write my own. But having Peggy Carter related to Wonder Woman seemed an amusing little idea and I would love to see it explored further.

Caveat: I never actually watched the Wonder Woman TV show, nor do I really know anything about Lynda Carter the person. I really did just think of the prompt because they had the same name.

Peggy Carter / Gabe Jones
I know Peggy married Gabe in the comics but I haven't actually read them and don't know much more than that. But I really liked Peggy's relationship with the Howling Commandos in episode 1x05 and it speaks of a much stronger relationship then what we saw in the First Avenger. So I would love to see a story about Peggy building a relationship with Gabe but also seeing her with the rest of the Howlies.

Peggy Carter / Jason Wilkes
I really loved Jason's character and if Peggy had to be in a romantic relationship I was totally rooting for him. So any story with them working together or getting together romantically, or both, would be great. I loved how every time they saw each other they just seemed to smile so widely at each other. Like I said above I don't want any character bashing, so while I do want Daniel out of the picture I would prefer he wasn't vilified in order to get Peggy and Jason together.

Peggy Carter & Violet
I hated what happened with Violet in how she just disappeared after her relationship with Daniel ended but also how she seemed to exist only to give Daniel angst. So I would love a story that sees Peggy and Violet becoming friends and exploring who Violet as a person is further. After all, having a nurse as a friend probably has some perks considering Peggy's line of work. But as I mentioned about in my DNW, this would have to happen after both their relationships with Daniel ended.

This entry was originally posted at https://mithborien.dreamwidth.org/141180.html. Please comment at either location.