#(pomposity ahoy)

[k-she-rambles]

Was talking about this to a friend today, SO! Here's how I would have written WW84:

Plot follows most of the same lines, I believe in canon welding. We meet Barbara, and we actually spend a little more time with her: Diana is less immediately dismissive, they have shared interests and a shared irritation with workplace assholery.

• It's Barbara who sticks up for Diana first. Even though Barbara is often ignored, and Diana is capable of chilling people with a glare/her dignity shuts down jerks quickly, FEMALE SOLIDARITY IS AWESOME, and we need a smidge more to establish Barbara's true nature before she jumps off the slippery slope.

• We get the establishing character moments and shots. Barbara is generous and kind, and notices things and people others ignore. Diana is lonely and has outlived her old friends. Having a Barbara who SEES her is very good for her. Max is Diet Trump who has finally been caught out, and is desperate to do something for his son to be proud of, and has landed on Use Magic Rock in order to turn all his lies and cons and shortcuts into something that works.

• Things proceed. Our mains make and get their wishes

• We omit Steve inhabiting some rando's life and body. "All I see is you" is cute and all, but no. I'm ashamed to say I had to have this pointed out to me, but like...THAT'S A REAL PERSON YOU'RE DRIVING. If it had been a lady we'd definitely be talking about this. "No one would object to sex with Wonder Woman" is a loser argument full of toxic masculinity, misogyny, and general ew. Enthusiastic informed consent??? Ring a bell??? < /rant>

• We also change up the fashion show. I get that it's a callback, but it needs more "Steve being excited and sometimes weirded out by modern textile technology and Diana just laughing SO much" kind of humor, and less Diana being a difficult to please mcjudgyface. The scene as it was didn't quite get their characters. Diana being delighted by Steve's delight (and slightly harried trying to keep him out of trouble) would have been better.

• BRUNCH. You know, Steve's list of things Normal People do when there is no war???

• As we go on, we lean more into the idea that Barbara has lost her kindness to her wish: she's dismissive of people she would have noticed before, and brushes off Diana (now that we've better established that she's a Really Good Friend). Her killing that creep is still her big turning point.

• As far as Diana's loss goes, we notice she has lost some of her super strength, but we don't make her weak --she's given up her POWERS, not her Amazonian nature. So she slowly loses her super healing, her ability to track bullets with her eyes, her super speed. But that still leaves her pretty badass, and an EVEN, not inferior, match to the newly Amazonian Barbara.

• Air and Space, the INVISIBLE JET, Cairo

• the movie makes it very clear that the lasso's power is inherent to the lasso, not to Diana. It's the power of Truth itself, and her integrity (learned as a child after Antiope reads her the riot act) is what allows her to wield it better than anyone else.

• But as we learn more about the dreamstone, and the goddess who created it, Diana stops using it of her own volition.

• because she can't face the truth that she will have to renounce her wish.

• so when the White House rolls around, Diana and Barbara are fairly evenly matched. Diana is still wounded from Cairo, but she has the advantage of training. Barbara is unskilled, but fresh and motivated. It's going to be a miserable draw, until they get broken up, and Barbara and Max escape.

• Steve uses the Lasso of Truth on them both, tying himself and Diana together, and, in a callback to Antiope's speech, reminds Diana that she went to fight Ares because of her integrity, because she couldn't let the world suffer when she had responsibility to do something, (and she freed Veld because she was there: the ability to do so gave her the responsibility to do so ((as a nice contrast to Superman, whose parents maintain that it's Not His Job, but if he takes it he'd better do it well))). He's...tbh, he's pretty upset about it. His life, bought with the suffering of the whole world? All the futures he died to save? He doesn't want any part of that, he believes Diana is better than that, he can't believe that Diana has been pulling an Achilles In Her Tent for however many decades. "Just this one thing I ask??" When there's a whole world out there of people and babies, and breakfast and future? She could have anything, anything but this that was his choice to give up.

• he is so glad to have had this time. But he's already dead, and Diana needs to let him go.

• Diana renounces her wish, and the rest proceeds like normal, strengthened by using the lasso on Max being the first time she's used it since making her wish.

• We still get the street festival, with the rando (who is, this time, just a rando), and with Diana genuinely mingling, just a bit.

[your-worst-knightmare]

Hoist the Colours: Pt. 4

Part Three

Now some are dead and some are alive And others sail at sea. With the keys to the cage And the devil to pay We lay to Fiddler’s Green.

Drifting. Between the realms of both light and darkness, the Prince drifted. He drifted from silence to a sort of drone of a myriad of sounds blending together and back again. It felt like being pulled along by the tide, sometimes waves pushing him farther to the coast of consciousness before the riptide brought him back again. 

He was almost happy there in the darkness. It was thick and heavy, enveloping, blanketing, comforting. Safe. The darkness brought no pain. It brought no malice. It was only as it had presented itself. Deep, black nothingness. He was almost content there. Almost. 

Something was tugging at him, something telling him he had to wake. He didn’t want to. He wanted to retreat to the familiar darkness rather than face consciousness. Consciousness only brought agony and the metallic taste of blood. He wanted to run from it– as far as he could into the depths of his own mind. But it was insistent. Wake. Wake. 

With an astronomical amount of effort, he hauled himself onto the brink of alertness. He began to take in the things around him. The bed he was lying on was comfortable, more so than he was used to. Golden daylight filtered into the room through the circular windows. The room was adorned in rich colours– reds, oranges, purples even. Gold and brass lanterns hung from the ceiling, ready to be lit once the light faded. A room fit for royalty. The Amazon’s quarters, he realized. 

She was there too. Sitting on a stool, cleaning her weapons. She hummed as she worked, a song that Jason couldn’t identify. Her fiery hair was pulled back for practicality’s sake. The Amazon’s humming eventually morphed into a quiet tune, the words too ancient of a language to be remembered. The Prince simply listened, too fatigued to get up. He didn’t dare interrupt her with his raspy voice. It was bewitching, lilting. Enticing, alluring, and dare he think it– beautiful. Not that he’d ever say it aloud. 

It didn't feel right. How was he able to rest at a time like this? The Black Mask was still out there. Still able to find both him and the bow. And Artemis. Jason’s breath quickened at the mere thought. No, no, no. Jason hadn’t said anything. But the Black Mask was still looking for the bow. And if he found it… 

“Red?” he rasped. “Where ‘re we?”

Artemis looked up, surprised to see him awake so soon. “We left Port Rionn yesterday. Go back ‘ta sleep, Prince.” 

“No, no, no, no, no. . . We need ‘ta go back, miss. We need ‘ta–” The Prince cut himself off with a bout of coughing. He held his side, wincing. 

“‘Y want ‘ta go back for what, hm? To get skewered again, maybe? ‘Y would’ve been dead if I hadn’t found ‘ye. So no, Prince, ‘m not goin’ back.” 

Jason looked up at Artemis weakly, still clutching his side. Her eyes glittered with something– not anger, that was for sure, but something just as fierce. “I found out who has ‘th map.” The map that they had originally gone to the isle for. Some said that it was enchanted– that it would show the location of whatever the user wished to find. “Black Mask. ‘Th pressgang was spewin’ ‘bout it.”

“Fine. We go back. But you’re stayin’ onboard.”

“This isn’t my first time wi’ healing serums, Miss. ‘M fine. Everythin’ jus’ hurts, is all. 

Artemis sighed. “Jus’... be careful. I don't want ‘y gettin’ hurt again… I was worried, Jay….” She trailed off, fingering the hem of her sleeve absentmindedly. 

Jason gave her hand a small squeeze. “‘S alright, Red. It’ll take more than Black Mask ‘ta keep me down.”

“That’s an assurance, then,” the Amazon huffed. “Come smartly, then. We don’t ‘ave all day.” 

Never was it said that a place adapted to its people. However, that certainly applied to Port Rionn. The travellers it hosted were largely smugglers and pirates, and due to this, the place adapted to serve such people. A blacksmiths would sell horseshoes, shovels, and pitchforks to the common folk, and weapons to anyone who had the money. No questions were to be asked. That was the only law in the lawless isle of Port Rionne. 

The Prince observed the streets he walked through in a sort of awe. Despite having travelled frequently, he still wasn’t accustomed to such a place. He sipped on a draught he had bought from an apothecary to numb the ache that still lingered in his body. He noted the sweet aftertaste of licorice root, which seemed to be the silver lining on the drink. 

A small shop caught Jason's attention. He excused himself and went inside. He remembered passing it on his first visit to the isle and had made an acquaintance with the shopkeeper. It sold all sorts of valuables and Jason hoped to repay his debt to the Amazon. In some sort of way, at least. 

“Ahoy, is that th’ Damned Prince in my shop?” 

“Aye!” Jason grinned and greeted the woman with a small bow. “ How have ‘ye been, Miss Griffiths?”

“I’ve been better, but that’s jus’ old age catchin’ up wi’ me,” she laughed. “Now what can I do fer ye, lad?” 

“‘M in need of a gift, Miss.” He rubbed the back of his neck, a bit embarrassed. “For a lady…”

Miss Griffiths whistled loudly. “Runnin’ after some poor lass, are ye? I’ll see what I have.” The woman went into the back of her shop, rummaging around while Jason waited. He hadn’t the faintest idea what to give Lady Artemis, but hopefully Miss Griffiths would help. 

The woman came back with a simple wooden box. Jason immediately was fixated on one thing– a ring. It was ironic, it was his that had brought them together and now he would be getting her one as a thank you. It was gold and inlaid with a small black stone. “How much for th’ ring?”

“Four crowns. It came from the Barbary Coast. Some say it belonged to th’ pirate queen, Lady Hurra. Thought ye’ might appreciate th’ history.” 

Jason dumped five crowns onto the table and slipped the ring into a cloth bag before depositing it into his pocket. “Thank ye Miss. ‘M sorry I can’t stay longer. God be wi’ ye!” 

He left the shop and joined the Red Amazon on the street several minutes later. She strode several paces behind Jason, far enough to not be associated with him but close enough to communicate.  The shops grew more and more sparse as they approached the outskirts of the Black Mask’s estate. They stopped out of sight of the guards at the gate.“Are ‘y sure about this, Jay?”

He nodded solemnly. “Give no quarter, Red.” 

The plan was simple. In theory. Jason would demand to see the Black Mask and Artemis would follow discreetly. She would find the map while Jason kept the Black Mask busy and then come help him get out of the port. 

Artemis disappeared into the shadows while Jason got the attention of the guard at the gate. The guard looked young and most likely inexperienced, which worked in Jason’s favour. He insisted he had business with the Black Mask and told the guard to let him in. 

It was well-known amongst smugglers that the Black Mask’s estate was where most of his trade took place. One could find a job there if one was desperate enough. It paid well, at least. The estate was a regal-looking thing, lavish enough to house a king. Jason wrinkled his nose at the pomposity of it all. 

His escort strode behind him, reinforcing the feeling of being a prisoner. Back to the Black Mask, who still very much had the power to imprison him again. Jason’s only assurance was the silent yet ever-comforting presence of Artemis somewhere on the grounds. At least if things went south, he would have backup. 

“Please,” the escort spoke suddenly, startling Jason. “Have a seat in the dining room. The Black Mask will be with you shortly.” 

Jason nodded silently and warily took a seat. The room could barely be called a room– it was more of a hall, really. He didn’t trust such opulence. He didn’t trust the Black Mask much either. Which was why he gripped his concealed knife apprehensively. And in that grey silence, he waited. Waiting was torture. It left too much time to think. His thoughts swirled off onto troubling tangents that only worsened his anxiety. 

What if Lady Artemis was not able to find the map? What if she were caught? What if he was not able to escape from the Black Mask’s clutches again? What if–

The grand doors of the dining room swung open, thankfully putting an end to Jason’s fears. The Black Mask strode in, an entourage of guards behind him. 

“I didn’t expect ‘ta see ‘ya so soon, Prince. The effort ‘y must ‘ave taken ‘ta see me in my own home...” The Black mask chuckled. It was a chilling sound, one that reverberated off the lavishly-furnished walls of the room. Jason grimaced as he neared. “Really, I ‘ave to know. Why’d ‘ya come back, boy?”

The Prince shrugged, as nonchalantly as possible. “Payback, maybe?” 

The Black Mask let loose another laugh, taking a seat at the other end of the table. He laced his fingers together, staring Jason down intently. If it was possible for a gaze to burn holes through someone even with a mask on, the man managed to accomplish it. “ I believe we went over the consequences of lying, Prince.” 

“Down ‘ta business, then,” Jason said, forward in his seat. “I need another job. Do y’ have any tasks fer me?” 

Jason could practically feel the Black Mask’s grin. “ Ah, that’s entertaining… The Damned Prince as my errand boy… “ His demeanor changed almost instantly. “ But ‘y don’t want a job. Not ‘ere. Y’ want ‘ta distract me from the Amazon rummaging through my storehouses.”

A weight dropped in the pit of Jason’s stomach. The Black Mask knew– he knew! Jason gripped the hilt of his hidden knife once more. “Where is she?”

The man waved a gloved hand around in the air indifferently. “ Alive. I ‘ave my uses for her.  Would you like ‘ta see her?” 

“Show me.”

The Black Mask’s entourage of guards followed them as he led Jason through the estate. He stopped at what the Black Mask called the “guest chambers”. Jason was almost surprised to see a normal-looking room, albeit barred windows and several other measures taken to make sure that the “guest” did not escape. 

True to Black Mask’s word, Artemis was there. She lay unconscious, in an awkward heap on the bed. Was it just Jason’s imagination, or were her breaths unnaturally shallow? He approached her cautiously, as if she might shatter any second. He reached the side of the bed and hesitated. She was too still. Jason’s fingers brushed her wrist tentatively. She was alive. Thank God. But something was wrong. 

 “What did you do?” He snarled, a sharp edge lacing his voice. He still gripped the Amazon's calloused hand, discreetly tapping out the same message over and over. Wake up. Please. 

The Black Mask seemed vaguely amused by the whole scene, which only fueled Jason’s anger further. “She’s alive, Prince, She is still useful, after all.” 

Jason scowled at the statement. The Black Mask had no right– no right whatsoever to say anything like that. Artemis was not a tool to be used and discarded. She was not a toy for the Black mask to play with and grow tired of. She was an Amazon. The Red Amazon, at that. She was a requiem to all the damned souls that dared cross her. She was graceful, ruthless and beautiful. She was all of that and then some. 

FInally, Artemis tapped out a message back. Jay. Get down. 

Before Jason even had time to react, Mistress materialized beside Artemis and she lept off of the bed. The guards went down easily– so much so that it was pathetic. The prince shook himself out of his stupor and went to help her. 

In the commotion, the Black Mask had all but vanished, most likely to alert the rest of his guard. The Amazon motioned towards the window. “Are ‘y willin’ ‘ta jump, Prince?” Jason's eyes widened as she flung open the window and warped the bars as if they were paper. 

“”Ye better not let me die, Red,” he finally said, taking her hand. Artemis laughed at the statement and leaped out the window. 

The estate was easy enough to escape from, especially with the help of Artemis. The Black Mask hadn’t counted on her immense strength. Soon enough, they were back aboard Nephthys’ Daughter, with the map in Artemis’ possession. She had been smart enough to store it away in a magical storage area that Artemis had called the Duat. Jason didn’t quite understand it, but he was glad that it had worked nevertheless. 

“What happened at th’ estate?” 

Artemis shrugged, her eyes still watching the form of Port Rionne grow smaller and smaller. “ I assume th’ black Mask caught wind of our plan. It went south. He had a sedative, I think. Wore off quite quickly though.” 

“Look, I…” Jason looked down at the floorboards, his heart racing. The patterns in them now seemed very interesting and much preferable to the conversation he was about to instigate. 

The Amazon crossed her arms over her chest, smirking. “You what, Jay?”

“I ne’r got ‘ta thank ye for helpin’ me after… y’ know….” It was too late to turn back now. He dug his hand into his pocket, pulling out the cloth bag. He placed it into the Amazon’s waiting hands sheepishly. “It’s not much but… I wanted ‘ta thank you.” 

Artemis, now curious, opened the bag wordlessly. Jason felt like his consciousness was elsewhere as he watched the ring fall into her hand. She stifled a gasp with her free hand. She stared at it for a moment, dumbfounded before sliding it onto her finger. When she looked up, Jason was surprised to see her eyes glimmering with tears. 

“What ‘d y’ think,?” 

She grinned– a beautiful thing through her tears and pressed her forehead against his. “Thank you, Jay. It’s beautiful.” She closed her eyes, sighing happily. She couldn’t deny the fluttering in her chest. She wondered if this was what the lovesick poets of time immemorial had tried to describe century after century. She wanted to stay this way forever. 

Jason heaved out a sigh of relief at her remark “I take it you like it then, Miss?” He chuckled lightly. “Thank God,” he muttered under his breath. 

Artemis placed a silver of her happiness on his cheek. “Yes, Prince,” she smiled. “And you may call me Artemis.” 

Jason was beaming like an idiot. “Well, then, Artemis? Consider me eternally at your service.” 

The Amazon raised an eyebrow trying her best to hide the grin tugging at her mouth. “And I, you, Jay.”

The ring Jason finds previously belonged to Lady Hurra or Sayyida al-Hurra, a real Pirate queen. She has quite the story– I encourage you to go look her up!