anonthenullifier:

I can’t stop thinking about how good Markus and McFeely are at writing dialogue that builds background, particularly about Wanda and Vision.

*****Infinity War spoilers below*****

Let’s look at the scene on the streets of Edinburgh.

“You gave Stark your word.” “There are people who are expecting me too, you know. We’ve both made promises.” This exchange, to me, is not just about the fact they chose sides in Civil War and have a responsibility to that. This, coupled with Tony telling Bruce that Steve can find Vision, and Nat asking Wanda what happened to checking in, makes it clear that everyone knows their relationship is happening. Maybe not from the start, but these two probably aren’t the most sly. I imagine Nat confronting Wanda early on and Vision, when he goes to leave one time for his “extended mission to track down the rogue Avengers” Tony smiles and says, “Say hi to Wanda for me!” So, given everyone knows, Wanda and Vision had to promise their respective people that this relationship wouldn’t compromise their duty, that they would always put being Avengers (or rogue Avengers) first, because otherwise it could end up hurting more than just the two of them. I’m certain Wanda and Vision have talked wistfully about shirking their responsibilities, likely while curled together in bed or watching a particularly beautiful sunset, yet it always ends with their promises to their teams. Hence, “I’d rather give it [Vision’s word] to you” “We’ve both made promises.” “But not to each other.” They both know they want this, but they’ve been holding back (not completely, clearly) because of other responsibilities and it’s about time they decide, mutually, what they want.

 “Two years, we’ve stolen these moments.” Two years! Two years! This is not a new relationship, this has been happening for a long time, hell, this started soon after the Raft break out. Maybe even during the Raft breakout, if Vision helped (no one can take that headcanon from me). 

Vision’s flummoxed talking.  One, they establish Vision’s insecurity and nerves in both himself and his relationship, despite its lengthy duration and clear mutual affection. But then he says “You know what, I’m just gonna speak for myself.” This line has so much weight to it. It tells us that Vision is prone to do things for others above himself, so much so he may rarely share his own opinions on things. Not only that but clearly he and Wanda have discussed this (her tiny smirk at this comment is both because he’s adorable but also because she’s proud of him taking initiative), I imagine that Wanda has had to inform him that he can have wants too, that it is not just what she wants, or what Tony wants, or what Steve, or Nat, or Ross, or what anyone else wants that always matters. Vision is a person, an individual, and he is allowed to be a bit selfish sometimes. Perhaps these conversations were part of the beginning of their relationship while stealing moments with each other. I imagine Vision was torn about breaking the Accords to meet with her and Wanda, after listening to him fret about the dissonance from his conflicting actions, grabbed his hand, stared him in the eye and said, “What do you want? Don’t think about it, just say it.” And Vision, while feeling her rings against his hand and seeing the sincerity in her eyes, cupped her face and for the first time since the kitchen, prior to Leipzig, felt completely sure in his words as he stared in her eyes, “You.”

“I…I…I think it works.” “It works.” “It works.” Hell yes it works, you crazy kids. We all can see that now, which is also why Tony, Steve, et al. allow this to continue. 

“Stay. Stay wth me…or not, if I’m overstepping.” Now we come full circle from Vision speaking for himself to also showing you how intensely focused he is on respecting the wants of others. He’s spoken his mind, stuttering the whole way, but he also acknowledges and accepts that Wanda might not feel the same. That is true respect, and relationships built on this respect have a firm foundation.

Then they see what’s on the screen and almost instantly Vision says ”I have to go.” and I imagine in that moment, staring at the harm that occurred in his absence, Vision feels immense guilt and responsibility, both things that propel him later on to instantly suggest sacrificing his life for the well being of others. This is in line with what was established only a minute or so earlier. But it’s here that their views swap, because Wanda is now encouraging him to stay. “Then maybe going isn’t the best idea.”. Now that it’s not just this amorphous duty and responsibility, now that it is Vision’s actual well-being, Wanda is okay dropping all else to protect what she loves. At least long enough to formulate a plan instead of Vision’s response of needing to immediately go to the action to help.

It’s amazing that so much was conveyed in so little time, and the character beats in this scene continue through the rest of the movie. Both Wanda and Vision’s actions and motivations later on parallel and emphasize what was said in this conversation.