#rain-on-main

[griseldabanks]

Okay, from Let Me Count the Ways, "Please don't be mad" and "You're not a burden" for Tony and Peter.

Let Me Count the Ways ask game

Um...Mr. Stark? T-Tony? Can you hear me?

They say I should talk to you. Like, maybe it'll help somehow. If I keep talking to you, then maybe you'll wake up soon. Uh, not just me, you know, but like....

I don't know what to say. Thank you, I guess? Yeah, thank you. You saved my life. You saved everybody's lives. Actually, thank you doesn't really cut it, huh?

They told me what happened. Explained it all. I remember when Thanos disappeared and then we realized he must have snapped his fingers after all. And I remember it felt...weird. But then it was like I blinked and Dr. Strange was there, telling me it had been five years and the fight wasn't over yet, and we went through this portal thing, and then...well, yeah, you remember that part too, I guess.

(I hope you do.)

You hugged me. Is it weird that that's what I remember most from the whole battle? That was the first time I really actually realized what it must have been like for you...for everybody. Five years with half the world just gone, and then poof, suddenly back again.

I didn't, um...I didn't realize you cared. I mean, duh, I know you cared, I mean, you made me all those suits and you were always keeping an eye on me even when I didn't think you were, and you always made time for me, but it was like...I mean, you're Tony Stark. You've got so many other things and people and stuff to keep track of, and yeah, you want me to do well, but....

You missed me. You thought I was gone forever, and...you were really torn up about it. That's what Pepper says. That it was realizing you could get me back that convinced you to go through with the whole...what did you call it? The time heist?

Man, I missed out on time travel. That would have been so cool! Ned would have hit the ceiling if he could have—but he got Snapped too, so...yeah.

Sorry, I'm rambling. I can see Pepper talking with the nurses in the hallway, so I should probably go.

Just, uh...get better soon, Mr. Stark. Okay? Okay.

-----

Hey, Mr. Stark. You doing okay? Or...same as ever, I guess?

Still feels really weird, talking to you like this. Especially at the beginning, it was kind of...hard to look at you. Easier to, like...look away and pretend I was talking to you on the phone or something. But even then, you'd probably say something back, right?

It's weird to see you so quiet. Uh, not that you talk too much! But just...you know, you've always got something to say. Or a joke or something. Or you're moving around and tinkering or running some simulation. I've never seen you so still before.

I thought you were dead at first. When you snapped your fingers and Thanos and all his soldiers and everything turned to dust...and then we all looked down and you were on the ground. Your eyes were closed, and...it was like your whole side was melted. The power of the Stones, I guess. That's what Dr. Banner said.

I think Pepper was the only one who was right there who didn't think you were dead right away. She checked your suit, and she found out your heart was still beating and yelled, “He's alive!” And then, like, ten people ran over and rushed you off to Wakanda so the doctors could take care of you.

I didn't get to see you again until they brought you back here to be close to home. You look a lot better now, but...yeah. It was kinda scary at first. All those bandages....

Oh. I spend the night at your house when I come visit. Kind of a long way from Queens, you know. I guess the room I sleep in is supposed to be the guest room, but Morgan made a sign for the door that says “Peter's Room.” Pepper said I should leave some clothes and stuff here, just to have for when I visit. She said you wouldn't mind.

I like Morgan. She's cool. Really smart too, but I guess that's no surprise. She's sort of like...I mean, I don't have siblings, but...it's kind of like having a little sister? And I...I kinda like it. She runs over and gives me a hug to say hi, and we build stuff with LEGOs and we did a puppet show one time. She wants to do the puppet show for you when you wake up.

You gotta wake up soon, okay? Or I'll forget all my lines and then Morgan'll be mad at me.

-----

Hi, Mr. Stark.

...

...

...

Sorry, I'm supposed to be talking to you. Guess I'm just...thinking about a lot.

Man, I really wish I could talk to you. Or you talk to me, I mean, I'm talking to you right now, obviously. Just...I wish I could ask you for advice.

I guess I could ask Pepper. But that would be, like...really embarrassing? Even more embarrassing than asking Aunt May? Somehow?

I don't know why. You'd probably laugh and tease me anyway. Aunt May doesn't do that, and I don't think Pepper would either. But it's like...I'd want you to? Does that make any sense?

No, I guess it doesn't. But it would mean you're here. Listening to me.

I think you'd make jokes and tease me about it first, but then you'd get serious and give me some real good advice. I keep thinking about how it would go if I could ask...Uncle Ben. For him, I think it'd actually be the opposite? He'd talk to me all serious and give me some good advice, and then he'd tease me a bit and mess up my hair.

I miss that too.

...

...

...

Oh, right. Sorry. See, the thing is...there's, um...a girl. At my school. MJ. And I, uh...I like her. I really like her. She's so pretty, she's got all this really curly hair, and her eyes...and she's really smart, too! We were on the Decathlon team together when...well, you know. And she's really funny, and sometimes I think she kind of likes me too, like not just as friends, but I don't know, and she also seems kind of interested in Spider-Man, but I haven't told her yet, but I want to, about Spider-Man, I mean, and-and about...yeah, that I like her too, but then every time I think about telling her, I look at her and everything gets all jumbled up and I feel....

I don't really know how I feel. A lot of things at once. I just wish you could say something. Tell me what to say. Should I tell her the truth about Spider-Man? But what if she's, like...disappointed when she finds out it's just...me?

I don't know. You told everybody about Iron Man in front of a whole bunch of people, so everybody who cared about you found out and you didn't have to keep any secrets anymore. Did that make things easier?

There's a lot of stuff I want to ask you. How'd you ask Pepper out the first time? Were you scared? What'd she say?

But I guess I have to figure it out for myself, huh? I'll tell you all about it when you wake up.

-----

Hey...Tony. Mr. Stark. Hi.

Uhhh...please don't be mad? But I kinda...got hurt. Kind of a lot. If you were awake, you'd see. Got a black eye, got my nose broken...and you can't see it, but I've got lots of bandages on my chest and my leg.

Yeah. I messed up.

Okay, sorry, gotta sit down...ow ow ow. Hooo...that really stings. Don't worry, though, I got all patched up. Gonna be fine. 'Sides...we're in a hospital, right? It's fine. We're fine.

You'd probably yell at me if you could see me now, huh? I probably deserve it.

It's just 'cause I went in without backup. Which, yeah, I know, should've learned my lesson, should've called up the Avengers or something, but I honestly thought I could handle it myself! I thought it was just, like, drug dealers or something, and I could just web them up and then call the cops and they could take care of it. But, well, it was drugs, but the drugs were turning people into, like, crazy monsters, like their teeth would grow really long and they'd get all hairy and their hands would turn into claws. It was like drugs that would turn you into a werewolf.

But don't worry! I don't think it works like actual werewolves, where if you get bitten you turn into one too. I mean...it better not, because I—uh, never mind. Point is, I got it taken care of, they're locked up now, and I'm just fine. I mean, I had to get like twelve stitches, but I'm fine, really!

You know...it's a lot easier now that Aunt May knows who I am. I don't know how I could have explained this as just bullies or whatever.

But...yeah. I know I should've just gotten out of there once I saw what I was up against and gotten some help. And I didn't. I know that was stupid.

It was just...there was this girl. Well, I say girl—she was like fifteen or something. They pulled all these—I don't know, homeless people, I guess—off the streets to experiment on. See what their drugs would do. And there was this girl who looked so scared, and she was crying for her dad.... Maybe it's just me, but she kinda reminded me of Morgan a little. And I couldn't just leave her.

She's home now. The police found her parents. Guess she ran away from home and then got caught by these guys. But she's back with her parents now, and I think she'll be okay.

But I should've been more careful, I know. You'd probably ask me what about Aunt May? What would she do if I don't come home?

I don't think I'd even mind getting a lecture right now. I wouldn't care if you yelled at me for an hour straight. You can call me whatever names you want. Just wake up. Please.

-----

Tony, Tony, Tony, GUESS WHAT?

Oh, sorry. I'm just excited. But guess what?

Yeah, I know you can't read it while you're asleep, so I'll just read it to you. Never mind, I'm too excited. It's my acceptance letter! To MIT! I'm going to MIT and so is MJ and so is Ned, and we're all going together and it's perfect!

Well, perfect would be if you could wake up and congratulate me, I guess. But I did it! I really did it!

It's because of you, you know. The Stark Internship looked really good on my application. But also...you know, things you've taught me. Like being confident in my own abilities. Working hard. Asking for help when I need it—yeah, I'm still working on that one. Too used to having to keep secrets. But it's a bit easier to ask for help with school stuff than Spider-Man stuff.

You know...I bet I'll be the first MIT student with a secret identity. That's pretty cool.

I know, I know, studies come first. The world won't end if Spider-Man has to take a backseat. But you know...it'd be a lot easier to focus on my studies if you were there to....

Tony?

“'M awake for five seconds 'n you're already tryin'a play hooky?”

TONY!

[novelmonger]

Reverse unpopular opinion on Albus Dumbledore.

Albus Dumbledore did nothing wrong- Lol, okay, no XD He is my favorite HP character, though! What a fascinating, funky man.

But yeah, as for unpopular positive opinions about Dumbledore...I actually don't really have much of a problem with how he kind of set Harry up as a lamb to the slaughter, so to speak? ^^' I understand why Harry would have mixed feelings about it - I absolutely would too - but I honestly don't know a whole lot of things Dumbledore could have done differently that would have led to things ending as well as they did. And yes, I think it does matter, it makes a huge difference actually, that some of the things he held back because he loved Harry. Because Harry Potter is a story about how love is more powerful than all the evil in the world. So even in his failings and mistakes, Dumbledore is a man filled with love - that's a huge reason why so many people are loyal to him, including Harry, even after he learns some of his darkest secrets - and that's what wins the day in the end.

(It's not the same sort of story, and it's not Christian per se, but the way things work out remind me in a lot of ways of the talk in LotR of how we're all part of a larger story being told, and even the flaws and failings and treachery of the characters in the story lead to an ultimate Good because there's someone else writing our story.)

[sunflower-chai]

Brandon Sanderson recommendations???

Yes, I have some for you!

The Skyward series, if you want something a little lighter (literally, so many of his books could be used as weapons).

The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England (wonderful stand-alone novel)

The Mistborn trilogy! (Popular for a reason, kicks off a whole universe, but that trilogy is amazing all on its own)

ooh thank you so much! have already added the mistborn trilogy to my tbr but will add the others as well!! <3

[sunflower-chai]

Wait, you're a figure skating fan? 👀👀👀

sort of! i used to only pay attention during the olympics but ilia malinin has bewitched me body and soul so i was very into worlds this year and i’m loving all the stars on ice content. i finally know the difference between all the jumps. anyway other than ilia i love alysa liu, amber glenn, isabeau levito, chock & bates, and literally all of team japan. (also does anyone remember the shib sibs? i miss them fr). i’m a dancer so i’m really into the artistry of figure skating more than the athleticism/competition. my favorite part of the olympics was the gala, ESPECIALLY ilia’s “fear” program, wow that was stunning.

[griseldabanks]

The "Whatcha got there?" "A smoothie" meme

[griseldabanks]

[novelmonger]

Reverse unpopular opinon on oatmeal.

That it's actually really good? XD I have unironically loved oatmeal from the first time I tried it. I bought into the lie you always hear in books and stuff about oatmeal/porridge being bland and boring, and never wanted any when my dad would eat it, until somebody got me to try some when I was...maybe eight? They put brown sugar and raisins in it, and I was like, "Wait, this is what people complain about in my books?! They're crazy!" (Okay, maybe they didn't put brown sugar and raisins in it in those books. But still!) In college, I was always thrilled when they would serve oatmeal for breakfast, because usually their hot options were always eggs and bacon and sausage and potatoes, that sort of thing. But when I could dish myself up a nice big bowl of fresh oatmeal? 🤌And at my last job, instant oatmeal was my go-to breakfast because I could stuff the packets into my bag and then make it with hot water from the coffee machine, and actually get a hot breakfast while easing into work instead of having to scarf something down real quick before dashing out of the house.

In fact, I have been languishing this week because I forgot to pick up oatmeal the last time I went to the store, and I haven't made it back yet oTL

[novelmonger]

Reverse unpopular opinion on John Walker, and Captain America Sam Wilson.

John Walker wants so much to do the right thing. There are several times we can point to where he definitely did not do the right thing, but that desire is still there, and it's ironically, tragically, that very desire that undermines him when he fails. He had a lot of things stacked against him right from the start, a lot of pressures pushing on him from all sides all the way through, and I've always wondered how he would have turned out if the circumstances around him taking up the shield were different. Despite the times he gets it wrong, there's still that core of him that wants to serve his country and his people, who wants to be a hero, who wants to step up and be worthy of the expectations people have of him. And I think that's very important and worthy of praise.

SAM WILSON YEEEEAAAAHHHHH! 😍You know how much I love him! And he makes an excellent Captain America; I'm so proud of him. He's a different Captain America than Steve, but that's okay! He's every bit as worthy of carrying the shield. I love how Sam is always looking to understand the perspective of others, even the people he's opposed to, yet he also knows when to tell them to shut up. Both are very important skills for Captain America to have XD Also, just...that training montage in F&WS? I just about burst with pride every time I see it, and it made me tear up the first time I saw it. Because Sam has no superpowers, no super strength or anything. He has cool tech and a vibranium shield, but everything else is 100% his own hard-earned skill and determination. He is...one of the very few reasons I will be watching Avengers Doomsday ^^'