like cam whoring without the cam

[gabby_silang]

So I came to a cafe so I could concentrate on writing without, you know, distractions, but then the cafe had free wireless. This is a total step backward for technology, but cafes don't seem to realize it at all. So with the document open in the background, and some crap playing over the cafe speakers that I can hear because I stupidly forgot my

Comments

[the_grynne]

So here's this guy who "finally knows what [he's] got to do", but, wow, he really doesn't

The whole question of a benign, humanitarian US imperialism is always at the back of my head when I look at the Iron Man fandom. It's a pity superheroes are so overwhelmingly American. A crossover wherein Tony had to face up to his EU counterparts would be veeery interesting.

[gabby_silang]

Oh, totally. One of the cool things to play with is that Tony's an unabashed, unironic patriot. As much as he had his eyes opened by Yinsen and all that, he's still firmly looking at everything from that most enlightened country in the world point of view, and he'll always have that blind spot. Doesn't help that his two major heroic influences are Rhodey and Captain America. Tony's a guy who'll never understand why someone would NOT want Iron Man to intervene on their behalf.

[mekosuchinae]

I just want to use this icon.

Jesus, I'm wordy today.

BUT AWESOME. I never entirely know what to say to you, on account of how you are ferociously intelligent (and awesome). THUMBS UP TO WORDY POSTS.

[gabby_silang]

AWWW LITTLE BOOSTLE BUTTS!

Oh, dude. For real. I say things like dude and for real all the time and talk in all caps. My intelligence is far more meek and plebeian than ferocious.

[amonitrate]

Tony's a person that you probably actually don't want to be a superhero, for everyone else's sake.

oh, you made me giggle with this one, because especially as of the end of the flick, this is too true. He hasn't really done any sort of real reflection even though he probably knows deep down he should, but he's totally not going to any time soon if he can help it. Hello, avoidance! Avoidance is so much easier when you have a frikking robot suit.

[gabby_silang]

Avoidance is so much easier when you have a frikking robot suit.

YES. He can now avoid with JETBOOTS.

[amonitrate]

also, word about X-Files fandom being the gold standard. That's where I started out, too, though I wasn't very participatory. I had no idea that a fandom where on any given day you had about fifty new excellent fics to read was *unusual*.

[gabby_silang]

I know, right? We were totally spoiled. With quality as well, I still go back and read amazing things from back then, just these epic, twisted, beautiful stories that blow my mind all these years later.

[amonitrate]

I can't believe how long and plotty they all were. I mean, no one writes like that anymore, at least not in my fandoms.

Also, it's where I developed my taste for rampant manpain.

[lastwordslinger]

Can I just say that you insight into Tony rocks my world. Because you're so right! Particularly about him being a guy that really doesn't need to be a superhero, lol! Simply because he is the sort who, even with good intentions, will abuse the privilege. But yes, that whole thing was just made of WIN.

[gabby_silang]

Simply because he is the sort who, even with good intentions, will abuse the privilege.

He will, and he won't even know he's doing it. Which is terrifying, actually, not least of all to the people around him who can see him at least semi-objectively and know that he's actually blundering when it looks on the outside like he's sashaying. He loves being this charming guy, this charmed life guy, and he'll live in that image even as he tries to be a hero, because to Tony, being a superhero may be about trying to do the right thing, but it's also tied up just as much in wanting people to like him. That was the only reason he announced himself as Iron Man, afterall. There's no benefit to him strategically, it won't help his mission, but he wants people to think he's great and super and glamorous, and to like him the way people like superheroes.

[destro]

That was the only reason he announced himself as Iron Man, afterall. There's no benefit to him strategically, it won't help his mission, but he wants people to think he's great and super and glamorous, and to like him the way people like superheroes.As I hop in and go "BUT WAIT

[amonitrate]

Hey, wow, you're brilliant. I hadn't thought of it that way at all. Totally plausible. And it doesn't hurt that he likes the attention, too:)