jojosquires

[jojosquires]

thinking about the swathe of Tim & Dick disagreements that can be broadly patterned, "Dick is more openly distraught and ends up chewing out Tim before stalking off, while Tim's left standing there like 🧍‍♂️"

New Titans #61 (A Lonely Place of Dying, Part 4) Gotham Knights #26 (Bruce Wayne: Murderer? Part 10) Nightwing (1996) #110

and the sort of opposite, where Tim is more openly distraught and they end up physically fighting each other

Nightwing (1996) #139 (The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul, Part 6) Red Robin (2009) #4

anyway no deep thoughts, I just love them and I'm rotating their arguments in my brain at all times, lol

(bonus: the direct reverse of the first category, with Tim more openly distraught with and chewing out Dick before stalking off, leaving Dick standing there like 🧍‍♂️)

Red Robin (2009) #1

[jojosquires]

Something we all need to hear

(me included, probably)

Writing back to back to back to BaCk to BACK cliffhangers doesn't actually make you a good storyteller. As a matter of fact, it just conditions me (and I imagine others) to skip to the end of an issue/episode/chapter to determine if anything (other than location) has changed. Then, when realizing nothing *has*, to not actually consume that piece of media.

It's why I read One Piece instead of watch the anime. It's why I still prefer books/collected editions to staggered release schedules. It's why I still respect episodic "monster/problem of the week" television (the story is wrapped up and any long-term story stuff is mixed in instead of the focus).

Each entry should stand alone as *part* of the story with it's own mini-narrative that's resolved. A cliffhanger is fine once or twice (but never back to back).

It's something I'm working on improving in my writing, I'm not immune. I'm not calling out anyone in particular. But please, don't purposely waste the time of your readers/viewers. You already have them invested. You did a good job crafting a narrative they care about. Don't feel like you have to draw things out for no reason. Constantly evading emotional catharsis isn't the power move people think it is. It just makes me not care and move on to something else.

[jojosquires]

In response to your tags I just wanted to say that I absolutely adore Dizzy Edges, the whole time fuckery, generally hilariousness, well written OCs, and incredible grasp on canon relations while still being a Fix-it fic of sorts makes it one of my favorite fics and I’m not even done reading yet- I’m flattered that you even found my post!

You're much too kind, but I'm very glad you're enjoying the story. It was one of those "you gotta write what you wanna read" situations. I got lucky that other people were also interested in the story I wanted to read!

I came across your post by complete accident and felt so flattered and flustered. It was cool to be referenced in the wild.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the story and I hope you and the friend you mentioned have wonderful lives!

[jojosquires]

Tada! Sorry it's late...like date-wise and time-wise.

I'm tired.

This week: Dick and Tim have separate existential crises and no Dick doesn't spill the beans. There's actually kinda no time for that.

Enjoy your holidays if you celebrate and I'll see you in the New Year sometime.

Also, GUYS the Superman trailer. Like all they needed was that one shot of him saving the little girl, but... Yeah, I enjoyed it.

[jojosquires]

Tada! Sorry it's late...like date-wise and time-wise.

I'm tired.

This week: Dick and Tim have separate existential crises and no Dick doesn't spill the beans. There's actually kinda no time for that.

Enjoy your holidays if you celebrate and I'll see you in the New Year sometime.

Also, GUYS the Superman trailer. Like all they needed was that one shot of him saving the little girl, but... Yeah, I enjoyed it.

[jojosquires]

WIP Game

thanks, @umbrellajam

Rules: make a new post with the names of all the files in your wip folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have wips.

Let's see....

-Ch. 45 (I don't name my chapters until I'm done and I keep them separate for easier loading)

-Scene development: Dick & Tim

-Scene development: Bruce & Tim (this is pretty much done... Just not the next chapter)

All of them are from Dizzy Edges so...

Since I don't feel comfortable tagging anyone yet, feel free to play if you'd like.

[jojosquires]

*sigh*

Another day, another fundamental misunderstanding of Tim and Damian on Reddit.

As if Tim would choose Bruce over his big brother. As if Damian's loyalty to Bruce isn't a thing DC has been building up for years... I'm not saying it's an easy choice for either of them, but when lines are drawn in the sand... Both pick their #1.

Sorry if y'all disagree, but the way fanon has over-emphasized the Dick&Damian dynamic (to the detriment of the canon relationship Damian has built with his father) and completely forgotten the Tim&Dick dynamic (ewwwwww to all Jason&Tim stuff and any whumpy, uwu "Tim has nobody" stuff (and before you argue... Tim has friends in my fic... Stuff just keeps happening when they're not around!)) is very exhausting.

Play in this sandbox however you want. I reserve the right to politely disagree (and then complain about it elsewhere without revealing names).

[jojosquires]

Original tags

My best friend has elected to be the funniest fucking person because she just stated, out of no where, that as a result of the fact that I often stop talking right before I get to my point, or just end sentences while sounding like I’ve stopped in the middle, that she has a little voice of me in her brain that finishes my sentences and that even when I do end up completing my point she just goes with whatever my voice in her head said instead because the speech patterns of me in her head fit me better then whatever I’ve actually said, and the funniest part is that she’s right

I have actively avoid knowing anything about myself and she has quite literally known me since I was born, and at least 50% of the time the thing she has filled in the blank for is what I wanted to say in words that make my point come across clearer

For those of you who follow me because of Batfam stuff- this is the most Tim (my friend) to Dick (me) core thing ever

[jojosquires]

I CANNOT BELIEVE DIZZY EDGES IS YOUR FIRST FIC BTW ITS LIKE SO AMAZING 😫😫😫🫶🫶🫶🫶 I know it’s very slow burn but I just love love love the interactions they all have with each other!! I love your small buildup of plot!!

My personal favorite is when you wrote than that destiny is the people around you, and that being subtly insinuated when you see more and more of what happened in the past and dick going all “what if I can’t find Tim in another life?”

Destiny is the people around you!!! They found Tim and Tim found them and destiny sparks once more!!!! UGH so good I love u author 🥺❤️

You are way too kind! My inability to ever get to the point is evidence of my novice status. Given the ending I have in mind, I knew it wouldn't be a quick thing. I just wish I'd given out some catharsis before I hit 190k words.

I have never really been a believer in fate and destiny, but I do believe the people you surround yourself with have a profound effect on who you are. Dick and Tim in the comics are who they are largely because of what they learned from each other. Dick recognizes that in a way Tim might never... Dick is Tim's big brother, of course Tim is impacted by him. But Dick... He knows how much Tim grew and he knows how far both of them have come since they met (again). Of course he doesn't like to think where they'd be without Tim (and, to be fair, they're not doing terrible here). Tim, by contrast, remembers (accurately) that Tim as Robin was a necessity due to a tragedy. No tragedy, no need for Tim. And "Before! Tim" probably guessed he'd be fine regardless.

But Tim and Dick still found each other! And they kept running into each other! And they stuck close because they're both such "helpers". And they learn more about *how* to do that from each other.

Destiny may not exist, but love sure does. And love can stand up against much worse than what timelines and time travel can throw at it. Even when memories fail, imprints of feelings remain.

Thanks so much for your kind words, Anon! I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!

[jojosquires]

dick and tim in tec #874

[jojosquires]

In which something actually happens...and memories are had (sorta). I don't know guys... I knew where this was going and I have a lot of plans for what's next. This chapter was a bit of a bear though soooooooooooo....

In this week's episode: Tim's saving people even though he doesn't want to and the Waynes are NOT remembering what happened, but y'know, backstory.

Read or don't. Enjoy Thanksgiving this week if you celebrate (this particular iteration, that is).

I need to take out the trash, literally.

See ya!

[jojosquires]

mkay guess I'm just going to be frozen in fear until we get more details about this rumored Knightfall animated trilogy haha

[jojosquires]

A Preview as Thanks for Patience

So, no new chapter last week because... Well, general future-oriented dread. BUT I *did* get some work done, so here's the first scene of chapter 44. Enjoy or don't. I'm not in charge of your happiness.

Tim Drake dove into traffic. Intentionally. Semi-strategically. And, despite his predicament, ill-advisedly.

Though, as brakes squealed and headlights redirected, Tim knew he made the right decision. Even amidst new bruises and bumps, he couldn't help but appreciate how quickly the drivers reacted, swerving to avoid him.

He was less enthused about the requisite honking that accompanied their decisive action. Granted, Tim understood, intellectually, their knee-jerk reactions. It just wasn't really appreciated given he was clearly abducted and just doing what it took to survive.

“Ow,��� Tim grumbled as he pushed off the asphalt, attempting to sit up. A good tuck and roll wouldn't save anyone from cuts and scrapes. Even an expert could expect a few injuries. With two incidents in the past week, Tim was still just a novice at the whole “car-adjacent physical trauma” thing.

“Ow,” he repeated as everything came back into focus, arms barely holding him up.

HONK!!!

Even still, it took a few seconds for the severity, the REALITY, of the situation to catch up with everyone involved. The motorists recognizing an abduction. The kidnapper recognizing a momentarily successful un-abduction. Tim recognizing that he had to move. Not for his safety (Gotham might be, well, Gotham, but not a single good citizen would just allow the red taillights screeching to a halt ahead to reverse and reclaim their quarry), but because he was the only one who had all the pieces to the bad guy's game…or, well *most* of them.

Drivers began climbing out of their cars. The road wasn’t too busy. The snow had chased most civilians home to hunker down for the impending holiday and potential storm, but there were still stragglers out and about. Ones whose traffic-infused anger had waned quickly, replaced with curiosity and, probably, horror.

Tim staggered feebly to his feet before the first concerned motorist approached, resolute and intent on providing aid. Conversely, the kidnapper seemed…conflicted. Tim couldn't know for sure. They'd stopped a half a block ahead, but remained in their vehicle. Microseconds ticked by.

“Hey, kid, are you alright?”

“You in the yellow jacket, call 911!”

Tim stumbled towards the sidewalk. All he had to do was get to the subway station. He'd chosen this street (thank goodness for phantom maps in the recesses of one's mind) on purpose. Slower speed limit, only four lanes, three blocks between traffic lights, and access to Tomasi Station.

He just had to get there.

No phone, no allies. Just the barest bones of a plan and a metrocard (well, and a nearly-filled punch ticket for a free soup or sandwich at Gio’s, but that was hardly relevant).

Tim stepped off the road. Voices called, feet rushed to catch up, the kidnapper's car door finally opened.

Alas, all their plans were for naught. Tim was tripping down the stairs before his captor even climbed out of the driver's seat. Protocol demanded confirmation in the form of a visual, but identification didn't matter much right then. Distance did. Continued survival did. If it came to it, Tim would be able to pick the man's voice from a recorded lineup.

Tomasi Station was only half full. Good for Tim's anonymity. Reduced risk of collateral damage if his captor managed to pursue.

Swipe!

BZZT!

-DENIED-

Swipe.

BZZT!

-DENIED-

Time was running out. Shouting filtered in from the streets above.

Again.

Swipe!

BZZT!

-DENIED-

Footsteps. Hurried. Horrified gasps.

Come on, come on, come on!

Swipe!

BZZT!

-DENIED-

The familiar scrape of hurried boots against aged concrete. A train car just emptied of its passengers.

Time was up. One more shot or *get* shot...

Swipe!!!!

Ding-a-ling…

-Transaction Approved-

Tim surged through the barrier and lunged sideways into the train just as the doors snapped shut. Legs gave out as the entire structure lurched forward. No matter, he was alone and he deserved a lie down.

You realize you could've just jumped the turnstile, right?

“Please shut up,” the teen replied in an exhausted grumble.

Tim Drake slipped into unconsciousness. Accidentally. Improvisationally. And, given all he'd been through, sensibly.

[jojosquires]

Based on my comments section... Umm, I might've drawn this story out way too long. And it's still not over. Sorry... I wish I could've gotten this over with faster too. For your sake and mine.

[jojosquires]

In this week's episode...Dick visits a carousel.

That's all you get. I'm too tired for pithy comments.

[jojosquires]

In this week's episode...Dick visits a carousel.

That's all you get. I'm too tired for pithy comments.

[jojosquires]

So...It's been a bit and this isn't a very good chapter as an apology...sorry?

Or, in other words, "Started making it, had a breakdown (meaning I had a month of back-to-back-to-back-to-back busy weekends...I'm happy to report that I have had limited breakdowns in my life), bon appetit".

In this...week's(?) episode: Robin comes to terms with what (almost) everyone else has been saying for weeks. Also, he harrassed some teens. Don't take other people's phones people!

Read it, don't... It's not my business. Enjoy Halloween this week! To be clear, I had to push back my "Over the Garden Wall" and "Werewolf by Night" rewatches to work on this... And again, it's just...not very good so... Yeah, y'know what, I'm sorry again.

You're all great, see ya in the next one!