At some point in your life you're given a choice. It's a pivotal choice. You can change the entire course of your life with it. Life or death, glory or ruin, good or evil. Which will you choose? Hopefully it's the right decision.
This meme is for the concept of choice and your characters making decisions. Say there's a point in canon where they're given a choice and they take one. What would happen if they took the other? What would change? Would things go better or worse? Explore at your leisure. Alternatively, come up with a new choice to make. Which is more likely? Which is more exciting? Explore both in different threads if you want! No one can tell which is the right decision but you.
I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
• Top level your character. Include any details you might think are relevant. Or don't. As always, we're not the cops. • Reply to other people's top levels! • Have fun!
[ there are SO MANY THINGS Tony could've done differently. Shut down weapons manufacturing early, insist Rhodey take a look at the armor and step up to pilot it, keep Iron Man a secret identity, tell people he was dying, try to reconcile with Vanko, set the avengers up in the tower post film like all the fandom wrote about in 2012, gotten therapy, *not* insisted on making ultron happen, doublecheck the accords and ask for more time for the team to discuss it, maybe talk to wanda about the house arrest thing so it's less 'house arrest' and more 'hey maybe it'd be safer for you to keep a low profile, some idiots out there might want to start shit and it's stress you don't need', talk to Steve about things before it becomes a brawl-
[HMMMM. It looks like you're looking a bit towards fixing some stuff in canon, so maybe a little of column a, a little of columb b? I'd be happy with the two of them not creating Ultron and Bryce not running off. Maybe then a different version of the Civil War not kicked off by Sokovia? There's plenty of reasons for government bodies to want control over an independent, heavily-powered super team, plus I want to know what would happen if Bryce is there to put her several cents in]
"I am surprised you would look for me out here, Hela" came his voice amicably as he stepped out from behind one of the larger boulders in the forest glade. "I made it a habit not to be caught after the Allfather charged me with negligence."
"But you? I admit your arrival made me curious. Why Hela? Why did you come back?"
[ Picture if you will, a Sandman who turned his back on crime immediately after gaining his powers- not a Sinister Sandman, but a Spectacular Sandman! An ex-crook trying to make up for his crimes and avoid the cops at the same time, loved and feared in qual measure, there's a 60's Marvel concept for you.
Alternatively, a much darker timeline- in their first altercation, Flint murdered Spider-Man and soon picked up a reputation as hero killer. You need a hero killed and you have the cash, you call the Slaughtering Sandman.
Or perhaps what if he never became a criminal in the first place? Instead a football star millionaire and artist? Plain ol' William Baker.
And there's been so many times when a hero has tried to convince him to be good- what if he said yes, instead of no that time? I'd love writing him as someone's sidekick to be honest. ]
[Three potential scenarios come to mind for this guy:
1) What if he had gone with Noctis and his crew on their road trip from the very beginning? As Square had first planned when they first came up with the current game universe?
2) What if he disobeyed orders and gone back towards the Citadel to try and save King Regis and/or said King's Shield? Would any of them survive?
3) What if he simply went to Altissia with Noctis and the others? How would that impact the events that played out there and then?]
[No Titan AU! Rico gradually realized that his corrupt lifestyle was unsustainable, and pulled back from the edge just in time to passably clean up his act. Still bitter, still angry about the lunacy of the Justice System, but keeping his nose clean. Now he has his sights on the Chief Judge’s seat so he can implement his own changes from the inside, playing the political game that his clone refused to. By hook or by crook, this city will not kill him.]
[Alternatively, he dies but his ass comes back as a spooky vengeful ghost. Cue angry shit-stirring shenanigans.]
[A man rife with What If. What if he'd stayed in Tevinter, or if he'd come along far earlier that In Hushed Whispers? What if he rejected Bull, or the Inquisitor? Or took either along to Tevinter with him after Tresspaser, consequence be damned? Honestly whatever scenario you can present, I can likely roll with easy. Shippy or not, I want to see where it goes.]
[I like the idea of what if he'd stayed in Tevinter! Maybe Cole can come across him in his travels and convince him to leave; just much later than he would have. Let those daddy issues drain him some more?
[So many possibilities here... Vax never had to trade himself for his sister so he never became the Raven Queen's Champion? Didn't make a deal with RQ to come back as a revenant? Scanlan managed to save his Wish and was successful in using it to bring him back? Or more mundane... staying with Shaun over Kiki, or staying with them both... Getting with some other member of VM.... Up for anything, really!]
[ Apologies for the length. :x Let me know if you'd like anything changed! ]
So much change in so little time.
Kylo scarcely had time to comprehend Rey accepting her offer before the Raddus suicide-jumped through the Supremacy, tearing through the massive ship with incredible force. When she came to, the impact so swift that she didn't remember being thrown to the floor, she was surprised to see Rey standing nearby -- protectively close, one might say -- holding General Hux at saber-point. The General hadn't seen the scavenger when he came to investigate the chaos, he only saw the Force user he so loathed unconscious and a chance for him to eliminate the only person who could stand in his way. Though Hux tried to insist he was merely moving to check on Kylo to see if she was alive, and he certainly hadn't been drawing his blaster, trying to lie to two Force users was a fool's errand.
Her first order as Supreme Leader was to have Hux stripped of command and sent to the brig. Her second was to call off the pursuit of the remaining Resistance ships to Crait, although it was a somewhat reluctant command. It was at Rey's insistence, not that anyone but her needed to know that, and Kylo framed it as needing to take stock of the condition of the fleet before rushing into battle.
Only a few weeks had passed since then and things were... interesting.
With Snoke and Phasma dead, and Hux imprisoned and soon to join them, it wasn't terribly difficult to trade the old guard for the new. Before a full day had passed Kylo gathered what generals remained for a meeting, as much to distribute new orders as to sort out loyalties and who was best suited to replace Hux. As much as she strived for power, she wasn't a fool; someone like Hux was necessary. It was important to get new leadership set as soon as possible to keep the fleet running smoothly and also keep everyone in line. Particularly since they weren't going to be doggedly chasing the Resistance anymore. While Kylo was wholly keen on literally making sure the past died in order to move on from it, she knew without asking that such a thing would likely cause Rey to abandon her. At least at this stage. And that would be unacceptable.
So for the time being she focused on "killing" the First Order as it had been under Snoke. Kylo still had her eyes on the prize -- on bringing the galaxy under one banner that just so happened to be the one she led. But her idea of how to achieve that had never been the same as Snoke's. Her role model for leadership had always been her grandfather, not the foul creature that tormented her for years. Would her ideas change now that Rey was at her side? It was too early to say.
As it was, she was yet trying to adjust to both no longer having Snoke's presence hanging over her head and to having someone near who was interested in her, not her power. The dark lord may have manipulated the girls' bond to some extent but Kylo felt it now stronger than ever. Admittedly, she yet felt her own turmoil between the light and the dark, however she was beginning to view it as something she could never truly escape. The Force had been fighting over her since before she was even born; why should she believe it would ever stop, no matter the decisions she made?
"You really do need to build your own lightsaber." Kylo remarked out of the blue, breaking from the relative silence of the meditation session. Her eyes slowly opened as the tangible world around her returned to focus, calmly looking across at Rey. "It's practically a rite of passage. Seeking out the crystal that speaks to you and will naturally enhance your abilities."
The lightsaber remained a tiny point of contention, but for her part Kylo had been exercising restraint on the topic. Rey did need a saber to use and practice with and the family lightsaber was the only one available other than Kylo's own. Did she still desire it? Of course. It remained hers by blood and no one could tell her different. However, she could yet wait. The alternative of letting Rey use her saber, assuming the young woman would even be willing, was unacceptable by virtue of how unstable the cracked kyber crystal was. So Kylo did her best to be patient, and to hide any jealousy or covetous feelings when they arose. There was a part of her that feared Rey might change her mind at any time, and Kylo didn't want to give her any reason to do so.
[1. Actually trying to save his life at the end of Cap 1? Naturally lives into the future and helps create the Avengers. Also no HYDRA since he'd shut that down so fast.
2. Killing Zola on the train in Cap 1 like he probably wanted to.
3. Avengers: what if he actually went inside Stark Tower that day before all the shenanigans happened?
4. Post-Avengers: What if he decided not to join SHIELD?
5. What if Steve let the other Avengers in on his hunt for Bucky and shared his suspicions with him about what he did to the Starks?
6. Civil War: what if he actually got the chance to talk to people for five minutes about what was going on? Going anywhere from Peggy's death, extension on the Accords, the smart play for the Avengers, etc.
7. The same could go for Age of Ultron. What if he shared his vision with the others???
[What if instead of going after all the Avengers, she and Pietro went after Stark directly? or What if Wanda rejected the Avengers at the end of Age of Ultron and stayed an antagonist?]
[ She slips into Romania from Bulgaria, originating from Turkey. She carries little and doesn't bother to dye her hair. Not blowing the operation is the watch-word, but there are some people who still understand the name Black Widow, and with who she's trying to find, it carries.
The apartment looks abandoned. There's barely any traces of life, despite the fact that the rent and utilities has been paid for. There's a calendar that needs to be flipped over from two months ago and almost nothing in the cupboards. The floorboards are wooden, and Natasha steps carefully, gun drawn, paranoia flickering along her synapses. Times like this, it's almost a comfort.
Natasha followed a lead to get here. An old one, from years and years ago, when she was still a little girl. Steve, given enough time, probably isn't far behind — two, maybe three days. It would have been kinder to wait for him.
Instead, she's here. A shithole in Bucharest. It's not much to look at, Natasha thinks, but there's evidence of food, and water, and a recent shower. Those are things people do when they want to live. However barely, however worn thin. So she exits slowly, carefully, letting the door to the apartment latch softly closed. She inhales and wonders what to do next. She stares down at her gun.
Later, Natasha's waiting for him in the stairwell, seated just a few steps below the front door to the Winter Soldier's apartment. She's been sitting there for close to two hours. ]
You saw me, [ she says, in lieu of hello. ] I didn't think you'd come up.
( what if he gave up and went home when the Ancient One kicked him out the first time? what if he said “fuck ya time stone” and went back into surgery after alla those shenanigans, slightly less obnoxious but definitely not around to help with any of the things he would otherwise go on to help with? what if he demanded they go back to earth post-squidward IW fight? or hit me up with one of your character’s what ifs, or a different one for him if youve got it! anything works for me 👌)
[What if he never turned to the Sark Side? What if he left with Rey? What if he didn't kill Snoke? What if he went back with Han? What if he knew Leia survived the bridge getting blown up? Or any number of other what-ifs...]
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bakerstreet2018-06-04 02:16 pm
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