staying elive

You know, the MCU had so many great opportunities to really highlight Sam's pararescue background and flesh out his origin story on-screen.

I'll forever be sad we haven't gotten any flashbacks to him rescueing people in his EXO 7 wings.

Was he still serving when Tony was captured by the Ten Rings people? Could he have been frustrated at potentially getting pulled from his unit so that he and Riley could try to extract some billionaire weapons manufacturer.

Could've shown the times he butted up against authority, where he felt that following the orders given were the wrong move and wasn't right. (Something that tied into "Well, the number of people around here giving orders is down to zero, so yeah.")

Also, if Sam's EXO program was around before Iron Man 1, then the air force already possessed that kind of flight technology. Was the EXO 7 also Stark tech back then? Or was it developed by the Air Force itself? Did Rhodey know about it? Was he involved in its development as head of the weapons R&D sector? (I headcanon yes, cos I'd like history between Sam and Rhodey.)

Were the wings developed as a weapon/offensive measure first before they were then used for rescue purposes? (the military cynic in me says yes) Could this have been another interesting ethical dilemma Sam thought about.

Or maybe it could've been revealed that after field testing the EXOs in rescue ops, the air force was getting reckless with them and started sending Sam and Riley out on more dangerous offensive missions, and that's when Riley was killed (routine op was just the cover story).

Could've really hammered home the theme of Sam distrusting the government and that they will always end up using any weapon (or symbol) that's given to them. And he didn't want to be used again.

Anyway, this post got really away from me! This started as me thinking 'Gee I wish Marvel showed more of his backstory...the emblem of the 58th rescue squadron is LITERALLY an angel with its arms holding the weight of the world and shielding it with its wings. And if that ain't our angel Sam then...'

Additional thought

Maybe just because I did a giant MCU rewatch and watched Avengers for the first time in years, but the US military really fired a nuclear warhead on New York City. America's most populated city? Wow

Now, it's unlikely Sam was still in the air force in 2012 given that in 2014 he's a VA counsellor and seemingly well adjusted. Seemingly.

But imagine if he was still serving, in Afghanistan, at that time. Maybe he's just lost Riley, he's already grieving and suddenly he sees on the news at his base that his own government has fired on their own people. Probably surrounded by fellow soldiers who are from NYC and have family living there. I think that would really mess with your head. Y'now? 'What are we even doing here?' 'Protecting our country?' 'Defending freedom?' 'Peace?' All bullshit. I think it would make a lot of people question their service. Especially if it was a running theme like my other ideas above.

No wonder Sam refused to sign the Accords!

I love the thought of Bucky being the most attentive and sappy boyfriend ever and Sam not really sure how to handle it. Like he's so used to Bucky's grumpy ass that he's low key suspicious when Bucky is all sweetheart and touchy feely and always making sure Sam's satisfied first in the bedroom.

They have to get him a new phone now

I think Bucky's "say what you need to say" is really important because he's giving space to Sam to express himself honestly and openly. He's telling Sam he's a safe space. How many times has Sam (and others) done that for him? I just think it's nice to see him return it when it was Sam who needed the support.

See the thing though is that even before the movie and the show Bucky has always been trying to reassure Sam when he’s feeling unsure or not so great about something. We see this in endgame—and it’s written in the ACTUAL script so it’s always been meant to be canon—so this isn’t just a result post-tv show.

Not only was he trying to reassure Sam about talking to old!Steve with the shield, moments earlier, Sam and Bruce are freaking out about Steve not coming back from the time travel. I’ve written meta about this before with screencaps, but Sam had FEAR and worry in his eyes (they were wide and teary) and he’s yelling at Bruce to do something. This moment too is in the official script and RIGHT just Sam is about to potentially do something reckless in his moment of panic, Bucky tells him with a soft, reassuring tone his name to grab his attention and Sam quiets and his body loosens the tension a bit coz Bucky points to him that Steve is there. These moments are seconds long in the movie but speak SO much and are part of the foundation of Bucky trying to reassure Sam and assuage his fears and other negative emotions and the seedlings for the audience to clue in that Bucky may become part of Sam’s support system in the future.

But seeing that scene in the movie and thinking about the therapy scene in the tv show, like yes 1) in canon, three years has gone by so people can grow and change but 2) Sam at the time didn’t feel safe enough to say all his feelings and when he did he was reacting to a very mean thing Bucky said (which later he admits “hurt Sam” and he regrets inflicting that hurt). But after working to make things better between them (slowly) via the show and then these three years off screen it’s clear now Bucky is being the support he’s always tried to be for Sam but now he knows HOW to do that effectively. And how he is very openly clear about making sure he says “say what you need to say” coz that didn’t happen 3 years ago and he hated that! It’s clear he wants to be someone Sam can rely on, someone who supports him, who tries to comfort him (via hugs and words), tries to reassure him and assuage fears and hell to punctuate the point, he makes sure Sam knows he’s loved. Even if we just take that at platonic face value the facts are Bucky has always tried to be that person for Sam and for awhile he faltered and failed BADLY at it but he was like “never again” and ‘did the work’ like Sam advised. And he’s succeeding this time coz Sam actually trusts him this time to tell him everything he’s feeling! He takes comfort in the hug Bucky gives him without holding back! And what Bucky says to him does make him feel better coz he has a soft smile even after Bucky leaves. He even helped lighten the mood for Sam because Sam is so so worried about Joaquin making it like…it’s a lot.

me when i cant comprehend that different continents have different animals

the rest of the paragraph that was cut out in that screenshot literally explains the reasons behind the easter bilby and bluntly theyre minimising the impact that wild rabbits have had as an introduced species in our ecosystem.

the easter bibly was an ingenious campaign that builds in social awareness and change to an ongoing annual tradition without detracting from what that tradition represents. the choice behind it was intentional

It also puts the bibly at the front and center, which is important, because bilby were once widespread in Australia, but due to the threat of habitat loss, disease, and predation by invasive species in Australia, like foxes, these little guys have dwindled in numbers.

You can learn more about bilby conservation here, as well as get links to other resources, and, if you're a bilby fan, some access to bilby merch. I think I see some chocolate Easter bilby in there, too!

sam wilson deserves better

I don’t think I’ll ever be over the fact that Bucky was watching Sam on the news. Seeing him surf a missile, do all this crazy shit and didn’t move an inch because he knew sam could handle it.

But he dropped everything (RISKED MISSING HIS FLIGHT) and moved as quick as possible when Joaquin got hit because he knows what that’ll do to Sam.

He knows Sam can hold his own during the world saving shit, but it’s during the quiet moments that Bucky knows he’ll always be needed by Sam. And he’ll oblige everytime without even thinking about it.

If you don’t ship Sambucky that’s fine you don’t have to, but no one can deny that they are made for each other in some way, shape, or form. I could go into grave detail about this, but I think this sums it up quite nicely.

If you go onto the marvel section of Disney Plus, they have these Character Collections. There’s only two collections that are shared between two characters, everyone else has their own collection, except Sambucky and WandaVision.

They aren’t even trying to hide it at this point. Even if you don’t see them as romantic, it has to mean something that the only other two characters that share a collection is a well developed couple. It’s not even Steve and Bucky or like a Captain America collection, no it’s specifically Sam and Bucky. You can’t deny that their characters have a deep relationship and are meant for each other, whether you see it as platonic or not.

I noticed this the other day too. 😆 And if you click into it on your TV, the background is just a big image of Sam and Bucky staring intensely at each other.

Like sirs, I know someone likely said 'get a room' but this is my lounge room and I feel like I'm intruding.

When you admire your bestie so much, you copy one of his iconic battle costumes.

I don't know, maybe it's me, but I feel like you can't straight up admit that you and your fandom cohorts use one half of your ship(s) as merely a "means to an end" for your real fave, while also feigning confusion at any anger and frustration that behavior creates in folks who actually like those other characters.

Anyone watching episode 3 of The Studio tonight? Anthony is in it, apparently playing himself. 🤣😂

The character who waxes poetic about Anthony when she meets him. Me. That'd be me. 😅

Also, he looks like he gives the best hugs.

by @geti_09

Third Ko-Fi sketch commission! Bucky and Sam were requested, so have some post spar/workout, tired, happy, makeout session~ Cause sometimes when ur high on endorphins YOU GOTTA. KISS. DAT. BOYFRIEND!!

Some soft Sam/Bucky fluff :3

v quick lil sambucky doodle bc i love them 💕💕💕💕