Very random question, who gets power of attorney over Nat? Step Dad made some executive decisions that I question. “Except now the world is in shambles. Worse than it was before! We don’t even know why he did it like this,” Steve sits down at the table, rubbing his face, “No one would have known except us. It was our burden to carry, not to share with the world.” (Chapter 13) - YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSS someone needed to say it because it’s fucking true “With my toes, I pull the plug on the drain, watching as water swirls down, the tub now empty. I grab a towel and wrap myself in it, climbing out of the tub.” (Wanda, Chapter 13) - I would do another round in the tub or at least a shower to make sure everything’s clean, but you do you Wanda “Her eyes are red from crying, her face is blotchy” (Yelena Chapter13) - I don’t think I’ve ever seen Yelena cry or any evidence of her crying “She cleans my wounds wordlessly, and not nearly as gentle as Natasha would be, but she is efficient.” (Chapter 13) - This tells me that Yelena has not been free of the Red Room for nearly as long as Nat. The motions are caring, but she’s not as gentle because in the Red Room she couldn’t afford to be. Effiency was prioritized because they wouldn’t want to be caught. Yelena has not lost those instincts because she has 10—I’m sorry—15 YEARS OF HER LIFE THANKS TO A CERTAIN SOMEONE WHO HAS ALL THE DECISION MAKING POWER AND DECIDES ANGST ABOVE ALL ELSE “When I do wake, the vintage analog clock reads nine o’clock.” (Chapter 13) - Shots fired. Analog clocks are in every classroom and at least once a month I have someone ask me what time it is because they can’t read the clock. ‘vintage’ is the thing that got me fired up ““After breakfast, we are going to the apartment.” Yelena informs me.” (Chapter 13) - Yelena chooses to butcher English because it gets a rise out of the stupid Americans and her sister “I take a sip and it is almost as good as when she makes it. Made it.” (Chapter13) - These mental corrections are so real and so painful “The streets of New York City are noisy with cheering and parades. It seems as though there is a band on every street corner.” (Chapter 13) - -cough- not for long “Mind yell or something if you need me.” (Yelena, Chapter 13) - This is what we are calling it now. Maybe ‘mind speak’ because yelling might make people panic “I’d like to go to her grave, to see where she’s buried.” (Wanda Chapter 13) - It hurts that Wanda thinks Nat wouldn’t think of her if she died. Nat being considerate of Wanda and making sure to be buried next to Pietro so that Wanda wouldn’t have to make trips to different locations. But also, she just wants to be near Wanda forever, and in death, the nearest she could get would be Pietro. ““She couldn’t kill herself. We know that. The Red Room wouldn’t let her. She couldn’t kill herself.” My breathing becomes heavy as my anger grows. “Which means you killed her.”” (Wanda, Chapter 13) - She’s not wrong. She’s clouded by grief and anger but given the information presented, her conclusion is not horribly far-fetched. Given Nat’s history, nothing indicated that she would be able to make the ultimate sacrifice, and given what Clint just said about abandoning Nat because of his family… - Also, say what you will about Clint, and there’s a shit ton to criticize. But I will give him a sliver a credit for telling Wanda himself that he abandoned Nat. He doesn’t hide anything (that I know of). His excuse is flimsy and he knows it. He takes her anger. And he also listens her demand to get out. Had Steve not told him to come to Nantucket, he would have stayed away. Not what’s best for Nat, but Nat isn’t the only one he has to consider anymore (thanks to Nat herself). - Yes, I am still bitter about the lemon merengue tartlets but I always will be. “She loved you, she trusted you! You saved her just to bring her to slaughter.” (Wanda Chapter 13) - Not at all the same, but this does remind me of Snape telling Dumbledore that he raised Harry like a lamb for slaughter “We never have choice in the matter. But I promise you are not alone. I want to run away, at first. Go back to Europe and go back into the shadows. But what I want is wrong. What I am doing is good, is what she would want. It is the hard, which is how I know it’s right. You don’t get to go away, da?” “I,” “You stay here, stay with us. You talk to Sam, me.” She hands me the mug, and I see blood on her knuckles. “I punched Clint.” “He deserved it.” I look down at the fragrant drink. “I’m scared what will happen if I lose my mind again. She isn’t here to walk me back from the edge. What if it gets to be too much? What if I can’t,” “You have whole team, whole family. You are not alone.” (Chapter 13) - Yelena is showing her age right now and something else… maybe her wisdom from the Red Room…? - Also, what a contrast compared to Nat who just had Steve, really ““You don’t have to say anything,” Steve offers softly. I nod, biting my lip. I don’t even know why I am crying.” (Chapter 13) - I call him Step Dad because he didn’t step up with Nat from the very beginning and mistakes were made in the first three entries to the series. But I will say, Wanda and Steve’s familial relationship development is something I am very invested in. There is a gentleness that Wanda brings out in Steve that I don’t think comes out very often. Even with Nat, the gentleness might be there but Nat doesn’t indulge it very often. “I wake in the morning to find Yelena on the floor with a pillow and blanket, having given me the whole bed. The chair by the window is flipped over, and some pictures have come off the wall.” (Chapter 13) - Part of me wants to say that Yelena is just not used to sleeping in comfortable beds. Another part of me wants to say that Wanda is a kicker in her sleep (I should know, I literally kicked my older sister off the bed when I was asleep and didn’t realize it until she told me the next morning) “My powers flicker involuntarily, and I feel something on the edge of my consciousness. It is familiar and warm. It feels safe. It feels like home.” (Chapter 13) - Her powers recognized Nat and they might have recognized that she was alive “We arrive at the remains of the compound, and I am grateful that the medical wing remained mostly undamaged.” (Chapter 14) - I love when the one thing the character needs is right there because plot reasons. Very, ‘hand wave to do the thing because this author needs the thing to be done and we don’t want to overcomplicate things’ ““You didn’t tell me?” The betrayal stabs into my gut. “Didn’t want to get hopes up.”” (Chapter 14) - Kind of cruel to say, but I agree with the adults on this decision. It would have devasted Wanda had the rescue not worked. ““She saw me,” I look down at my hands. If anything, she will get to know that her sacrifice worked. One I never wanted her to make. One that always terrified me.” (Chapter 14) - The thought of Nat dying for her is giving Wanda PTSD ““Go ‘head, Wanda. Go see your mom,” Steve nods.” (Chapter 14) - I imagine Steve delivering this line very gently and tenderly. Almost like he’s trying to convince her. Also, he’s wanted to say these words for five years. Fight me Dr. Fine probably went grey early because of Nat and her stubbornness. “ “She isn’t acting like herself,” I confide in Yelena as we freshen up at the Stark house. I had finally been convinced to leave Nat’s side. “You aren’t either.” Yelena shrugs, pulling on a jacket to go over her New York City t-shirt. “What does that mean?” I cross my arms. “You don’t talk to her. Just sit, staring.” “What am I supposed to say?” “I don’t know. Tasha says you are her little chatterbox. I see, sometimes.” “She, it’s just, she isn’t acting like her. Do you see when Dr. Fine and Cho are treating her? She doesn’t argue with them. She isn’t being difficult.” “I know.” “What is wrong? Did we play God? Was she trapped in some Hell dimension on another planet?” “Talk to her. Get her out of own head. She would listen to you.” Yelena insists. “What is wrong? Why is this time different?” “She died.”’ (Chapter 14) - It has been mentioned several times that Yelena helped Nat get out of her own head when her brains were scrambled in the Red Room. She would chat about absolutely anything to keep Nat as present as possible. You’ve also mentioned that it got harder and harder the more they messed with her. Here, Yelena is utilizing the same techniques but Steve and Wanda aren’t picking up on what’s she doing (maybe Steve is but I can’t tell) for various reasons. Yelena is right that Wanda’s silence is not helping Nat. At this point, Nat might not quite believe that this is real. Add to that, she might think that everyone is ashamed of her and disgusted by her because her soul was ‘rejected’ so Clint had to sacrifice himself. - Contrast Wanda here with Wanda when Nat got barbecued in Kindred. Wanda kept up conversation with Nat even though Nat was catatonic, and it helped. Nat’s inner monologue basked in Wanda’s ramblings. Yes, she was self-deprecating because they were one-sided conversations, but they did help Nat stay in the present. - However, I can’t blame Wanda for being quiet because she’s terrified right now. She’s lost 5 years of her life and for at least five days, her favorite person was dead. Add to that, she’s convinced that she is the reason Nat died in the first place.
Not random at all; I actually thought about this! Clint used to have it, but Nat revoked it after the whole incident where Clint had Wanda go into Nat's head after she drowned in her own blood. Currently, it is Steve. But I could see her switching to Maria or Laura. -100% true. Sometimes Steve tells it like it is -The shower isn't handicap accessible at Tony's and they didn't have a chair they could put in, so a bath was the only option. Though I agree she should have taken a second one. -Outside of when her blocks her down, I don't think we have seen her cry -Yelena has never been as gentle as Nat, it doesn't mean she doesn't care, it just isn't who she is. She is doing first aid in the same way it was taught in the Red Room. She has only been out of the Red Room maybe 2 years in her head -To be fair I can read an analog clock! And watches as very fashionable, I said vintage because I was imagining one of those 1950s bedside clocks -She does purposely choose to butcher English, Nat called her out back at the end of Kindred :) -Wanda is trying so hard to keep it together, and having to accept that her mom is gone is destroying her -Things are going to fall apart very quickly once reality sets in. -It was originally something just Nat and Wanda did, and now others are too, I agree mind speak is less aggressive -It is surprising that Wanda wouldn't know that is where Nat would be buried. Maybe she thinks Nat could be by the compound per Avenger's directives -Wanda has every reason to believe Nat was killed. She couldn't die by her own hand, as far as she knew. The only reason Nat was able to kill herself was that it was to save Wanda. And Clint has shown where his loyalties lie, and it was not with Nat -Clint was completely honest and accepts that he was in the wrong. He does always admit when he is wrong, it is one of Clint's better qualities. I agree that if Clint hadn't been invited, we wouldn't see him again until Nat turned up at the farm to offer condolences and apologies to Laura and the kids. -I know, the tartlets were petty and I hope Steve eventually redeems himself in your eyes -It is reminiscent -Yelena is mature and wise; she just hides it under the fun-loving exterior. Because even though she is young and often leans into it, she has gone through a lot in her life. Besides her mom, she is the only widow to have been born in the Red Room. -Such a huge contrast. Wanda has an entire extended family and support system -I thought you called him stepdad because he is Wanda's stepfather lol, but he did fail to step up at first. The relationship between Wanda and Steve is slow growing, but it is tender and sweet. We don't see gentle Steve very often, sometimes with Nat, as you said, but with Wanda, he is always extra kind. Usually when he tries it too much with Nat, he'll hear something about a wounded baby animal -I will confirm it for you, Wanda was having a restless night and thrashing in her sleep. Kicking, rolling around, and her powers were a little active. -Her powers recognized Nat's consciousness immediately as the portal powered up -Calling me out lol, needed the medical wing to be there. To be fair, the medical wing is facing towards the road on the compound while the residential wing faced the lake where the battle was, the residential wing was completely destroyed -They were right, giving Wanda false hope would have been worse. -Nat dying for or because of Wanda is Wanda's greatest fear, and it had come to fruition -That is exactly how I imagined him saying it as well -Don't worry, Nat pays for his hair dye ;) -Yelena knows how to get Nat back to herself, and right now she is also in an immense amount of pain. Talking to Nat would help, but only Yelena is doing it. Nat isn't sure if this is real, you're right. She questions at one point if she is in some dreamland Wanda cooked up. She is also so disgusted with herself, no one is talking to her. It is just a mess in Nat's head. The fact that her daughter, who usually never stops talking to her, is barely saying a word, is feeding into her worst fears. -It is a great point that Wanda's chatter helped Nat before, but Wanda has been scared into silence. Her mom was dead, but she is suddenly back. Wanda had to grieve her for a few days, to come to terms with it. -Yes, exactly. She lost five years of her life, killed her boyfriend, went through that awful battle, and lost her mom. Wanda is dealing with a lot very very quickly. Thank you for your always lovely comments :) -
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wawona221 on Chapter 20 Fri 16 Sep 2022 03:23AM UTC
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CarlyWrites on Chapter 20 Sun 18 Sep 2022 01:56AM UTC
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