The trailer is intriguing. I'm not letting myself freak out too much. One of the things I'm wondering is *when* exactly this happens. How much after Avengers? And where is everyone else (aka Steve, Thor, Bruce, Clint and Nat), and if they're explaining that and how.

I think I can get the where to my satisfaction - after Avengers, I saw them all dispersing for a few months rather than huddling together (Clint to heal and Natasha with him; Steve finding himself; Bruce going off somewhere as he has a habit of doing now; Thor on Asgard). Admittedly, I don't see them being family for a looong while and when they get to use the Tower as a base, it's a base, not a home (and Tony himself has Malibu as his home), so that works for me personally.

Depending how long IM3 goes for, Natasha could be undercover somewhere, Clint and Steve on a training thing somewhere in, say, Alaska (Steve has to get up-to-date and skills polished, and soldier-y types like Clint are always training), Thor still on Asgard, and Bruce somewhere without a lot of media coverage. But, yeah, otherwise, I'm not sure why they wouldn't go and help.

But, yes! I'm with you - more intrigued than freaking out, and I'm a little wary at the darkness in the trailer, too.

All very plausible possibilities, methinks. very realistic. (I would love to see those bits about Clint and Tash, and how Clint, or both of them later reconnect with Steve who has to train and get his skills and knowledge polished and updated. More fic ideas, when I don't need 'em).

I think I can see it work both ways - the way you described, and the way some fics have them living in the Tower, getting used at each other. There are interesting and enjoyable things about both scenarios.

I'm intrigued by the darkness as well. Bit worried too, but mostly intrigued.

(Ahahhaa, me, toooo - Clint and Natasha huddled together healing, in all of its messiness, tends to be the backdrop to my direct-aftermath fics, which admittedly are about...two ficlets so far, both with arguments. Oops. But I really want all of the Steve-Clint fics, because they could have a fun and interesting dynamic, methinks.)

And yep, exactly - I favour the dispersal theory, for a number of reasons, but yes, the other way can be very fun.

I think I'll have to see another trailer to work out my thoughts re: darkness. So far, I'm mostly going "it's Marvel, it won't be that dark as an overall movie" with a side-helping of "please don't go all Nolan!Batverse, pleeeease"

Pepper is my favourite so I spent half this trailer going 'Nooo...leave her alone...but yessssss...plot with Pepper!!! But NOOOO, don't hurt her!'.

I thought the red head pushing Tony into a wall was Natasha at first, but then I watched it again and was disappointed.

But I'm really excited for this! The only movie I want more than 'Black Widow and Hawkeye are BAMFs and Save the World Without Superpower Help Because They are Just That Good' is 'Tony and Pepper Affectionately Snark at Each Other Without Any Interruptions from World Ending Disaster...But With a Slight Interruption By Bruce Because There is Bromancy Science to be Done and That's Okay Because Pepper Has a Company to Run so Have Fun Boys and Don't Destroy the House Whilst I'm Gone.'

I probably won't get the second, so Iron Man 3 will have to make do!

I am so torn with Pepper! Because yay, plot-related, but then I'm going nooo, don't damsel her :(

I would happily watch that movie :D

I am going to cautiously hope they won't damsel Pepper, but do something cool with her storyline instead. Very cautiously.

*CROSSES FINGERS* I just, so far she hasn't really been damselled - she's been in danger due to things she's doing, but that's more 'she's doing things' and less 'BECAUSE IT WOULD CAUSE MANPAIN', and I'm...worried.

So, the being blown up concerns me less than the 'locked into cage and crying' shot.

...although that does remind me, I want to know what's the story behind the giant rabbit in the shot where her and Tony get blown up.

I want to know what's the story behind the giant rabbit in the shot where her and Tony get blown up.

I was wondering myself! Is babyfic coming true? (I know, ridiculous question - but seriously giant rabbit??!)

There is a list of theories here, for the record *giggling*

Yeah, the whole 'damsel' thing is kind of ridiculous. I remember someone scornfully talking about Pepper after IM2, referring to the scene at the racetrack where 'all she does is scream to be rescued.'
I was promptly, 'dude, WTF? she's on the track to give tony the IM suit! she's screaming because there's a psychotic russian who looks like a hollywood serial killer with six foot long plasma whips and is using them to cut the car she is sitting in to pieces and he wants to do the same to her boss/beloved/personal hero. That's not damseling. I think under the circumstances, screaming is not only perfectly fair but something to which she is fucking entitled!!'

But I'm not too worried about Pepper in IM3. I mean, in IM1 she's a key part of gathering evidence against Obadiah, and she's the one who's savvy enough to enlist Coulson's help. In IM2, she's running Stark International, one of the biggest companies in the whole damn world (and she's good enough at it that she's continuing to do so in Avengers) AND she's the one who puts the pieces together enough to get that slimy little git Hammer arrested.

I can't see Pepper being much less awesome in IM3. Granted, being held hostage/kidnapped is probably a karmic hazing ritual for a superhero's girlfriend, but I have confidence in Pepper getting loose, sending a message to Jarvis that she's fine, tell Tony to kick the Mandarin's ass and pick up some takeout for dinner, and stopping on the way out of the Lair of Evil only to get the computers to send everything incriminating to SHIELD. Perhaps also raiding the swiss bank accounts and donating all the money to greenpeace or the New York Restoration Fund.

But yeah. I SO want both those movies you describe.