#Bernard Prior

[runbookzombie]

Zombies Run S3M50 Listen All You People

I ran the C&O Canal while listening to this mission. Big mistake though being at the C&O as the gravel path had lots of puddles due to the rain from the previous night.

In other news, my teeth are in disarray. I’ve been going to the dentist almost every other week to fix some of the ones that have cracked due to old fillings. I have a huge bruise on my jaw now from all the numbing injections and people are asking me whether I was punched in the face. No… it’s nothing like that.

Spoilers after the image below:

This is an AI-generated image of a sewer/dungeon.

Every time I am tasked to help out New Canton, some horrible thing is bound to happen. Now everyone at NC is under Moonchild’s control.

So glad Moonchild can’t control me anymore. Don’t want weird hallucinations and I definitely don’t want to kill innocent people for her crazy ideas.

How far is the tree top base from NC?

I still don’t understand how some people are not affected by Moonchild’s dosed water supply.

[kelzebub]

Chapters: 4/4 Fandom: Zombies Run! Rating: Not Rated Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Runner Five/Sam Yao Characters: Runner Five, Sam Yao, Maxine Myers, Janine deLuca, OC - Character Additional Tags: Hypothermia, Natural Disasters, Frostbite Summary:

When a massive blizzard incapacitates Abel and surrounding townships, it's up to Five to brave the elements and reach New Canton. Christmas will just have to wait.

Complete! The fluffy, cozy final chapter is up. Very, very late. Merry late Christmas.

[mewkwota]

With the rest of this evening, here are the rest of the boys. Because most of them weren't too complicated, I drew them just once.

[korrolrezni]

As much as I appreciate the fangirl moment, we have a situation at hand, Eileen!

[riotshipping]

about to talk about my s/i for aries inthe tags because i feel insane thinking about them

[soleminisanction]

I think my least favorite internet criticism of Meghan Fitzmartin is the idea that she "just wanted to push her ship," meaning Tim/Bernard. Because honestly? I think that's straight-up bullshit.

Having read the Urban Legends stories, the Pride Special reprint, Tim Drake: Robin and Young Justice Dark Crisis, plus what interviews and social media she's been doing as these comics came out, there is zero evidence to me to back that statement up. If that were true, the Urban Legends stories probably would've been more about bringing Bernard back and re-establishing him as a character. Y'know, building up their relationship.

But it wasn't about their relationship. It was about Tim and his feelings, his internal conflict, what he needed. That's what Fitzmartin even said in the interviews after, that she, "felt like this was something Tim needed." And that's true going into TD:R too -- yeah, Bernard is there and their relationship is a prominent subplot, but he gets about as much page time as Darcy and Detective Williams, and the focus is always on Tim's ongoing story and his developing relationships with all the people around him.

That's why I like that they went with Bernard as his "closet key." Not because I'm super devoted to the pairing or anything -- I truly could take or leave the arrangement -- but because they're tolerably cute together and, more importantly, dating a civilian supporting character comes with far less baggage than establishing a relationship with a fellow hero. By their very nature, superhero stories are more heavily weighted towards the hero characters than their civilian support, that's just a fact, and, with rare exception, civilian love interests tend to act more as sounding boards to develop and reflect the leads. Making Tim's first boyfriend an old civilian friend means the story could be about Tim's personal character growth, internal conflict, and explorations of his sexuality.

I genuinely think that's the only reason Fitzmartin went with Bernard. She only had around 30 pages to tell that Urban Legends story (and I guarantee you, she was assigned that page count before writing), so bringing back a previous civilian friend meant she didn't have to try to establish a whole new relationship on top of introducing a villain faction and telling a superhero-based investigation story. And for whatever reason, Bernard was the most popular of Tim's civilian buddies to rare-pair him with before this all happened. (Just check AO3: Prior to the release of the Urban Legends stories, Tim/Bernard had ~42 fics, Sebastian Ives got 4, and Danny Temple had 1.)

When Meghan Fitzmartin says that she went back, read Tim's old stories, and felt he needed to come out of the closet, I believe her. And I'm happy she felt that way and was allowed to act on those feelings because it's something I felt too, reading those stories. Those feelings that had nothing to do with "ships" or even with characters like Kon or Dick and everything to do with Tim and who he is as a person.

To sweep all that away as "she just wants to push her preferred ship" just feels so... dismissive and rude.

[bump1nthen1ght]

A Very Monstrous Kinktober (2024) Day 26 - Gangbang

Kink: GangBang

Pairing: F!Reader x M!Werebears

Other Kinks: Breeding, Mating Rituals

Warnings: Non-Con

Word Count: 1976 words

Kinktober Masterlist

They’d been following you for days.

Not that you would’ve noticed, too lost in the beauty of your backpacking trail. If you weren’t hyper focusing on the beautiful flowers that decorated the sides, you were looking through your binoculars at far away flocks of birds, comparing them to your nature guide and trying to identify off the vague details you could see. 

No, you were oblivious to the three bears trailing you, assuming the cracks of snapped tree branches and rustling leaves were the normal sounds of the forests. This backpacking trail was rather remote, part of its appeal, and most wildlife was avoidant of humans.

Keyword on most.

“I get her pussy next.”

The voice is muffled in the cacophony of noises; covered by the slapping of skin, the grunting of feral men, and the slobbering of your mouth

“I heard you the first five times, Bernard.” The bear behind you, Theo, grunts out each word. His general attitude seems to be ‘agitated’, with a permanent furrow in his brow. Given his angry expression you’d never guess he was even interested in you as a mate, seeming more annoyed by his whole affair than anything else. But the fervent desperation of his hips, the deep marks he no doubts leaves in your hips from gripping them so hard, betray a deep-seated desire that his demeanor otherwise conceals. He fucks you like an animal in heat, just as focused on breeding you as he is on claiming your insides as his own. You guess it's not an incorrect comparison to make.

“Don’t want you to forget.” Bernard curses, rolling hips so his cockhead juts against the back of your throat. His scent feels stuffed up your nose, your face buried so deep in his furry crotch that the lingering fear of asphyxiation passes across your bewildered mind. It's quickly overshadowed by the salty taste of cum on your tongue and the burning in your neck. His paws are gentler, not yanking in your hair and one even caressing the side of your face. But he still fucks your face like its a toy, no thought in how much more fragile human women are. “You look like you’re losing your mind back there.”

“Fuck off.” Theo holds his hips inside you, rubbing his head against your cervix. A full body shiver rolls down him, vibrating against your ass cheeks. It's only a temporary reprieve, Theo quick to resume his desperate humping, sweaty balls slapping against your clit.

“And t-then me?”

My god, you forgot there was a third one.

“Yes, Orson. You’ll get your turn.”

“Maybe.” Theo grunts under his breath.

The third bear may be less in stature, but is still intimidatingly large. Pushing 7 feet, its only his shaky voice that betrays his youth. That and his compliance to the other two. He had gotten a couple minutes of pawing at your breasts when they first took you, quick to rip off your clothes and ogle your naked form, but that was the extent of his involvement so far. For now he waits in the corner, jerking off his monster of a cock, eyes roving over your jiggling ass cheeks and bulging cheeks,

“Not a maybe, a yes. Don’t you remember being a young cub, Theo?”

“Not right now I don’t, fuck.”

His balls feel taut this time, pressed up snug against your throbbing clit. You’re surprised you even have the awareness to notice that, maybe some unconscious part of your brain remembering prior trysts, or an instinctual one, knowing you're about to get bred.

“Gonna fill you up, little bear.” Theo curses again, hips punishing in their pace even as he reaches orgasm. “Gonna fill you with my cubs.”

You can just make out Bernard rolling his eyes in your blurred vision, tears still clogging up the sides, running rivers down your cheeks. They’re not even from fear anymore, the constant bullying to your gag reflex forcing them out of you.

“Ungh.” Grunts Bernard, your throat contracting with the whines and winces from Theo’s intense pace. His hips snap like an ax against a tree trunk, though your pelvis is far less sturdy. 

“Oh-fuck!” Your toes curl as Theo finally, blissfully, explodes inside of you. His cum shots are violent like the rest of him, gushes of it violating your poor womb. You can feel his cock pulsing from within your walls, shooting rope after rope of his seed.

A warm paw caresses the side of your face, though it’s not Bernard. Your delirious gaze sweeps to the side, where a bold Orson, taking advantage of the surly Theo’s disheveled state, has sidled up next to you. Those cute, teddy-bear ears have perked up, his jaw glistening with drool.

Theo lays heaving behind you, trying to get his bearings as his cock softens inside your pussy. Bernard clicks his teeth.

“You had your turn, move.”

“Fuck you.” Theo grunts, but pulls out obediently.

You had thought Theo was the top dog (top bear?) in this group, what with his general aggro aura. But from the little quips that go ignored, the orders that get followed, you have a feeling Bernard is more dominant than you thought.

Your tongue lies flat and out as Bernard retreats from your mouth, cock still hot and throbbing. Orson’s softer paw caresses your sore jaw muscles, too exhausted to even try and keep your mouth closed. It wouldn’t do you any good anyway, Orson’s bright pink head already dappling the flat of your tongue with salty precum.

The weight of Theo’s body is replaced by Bernard; His fur a little fluffier, his musculature a little leaner. But his dick is just as thick, just as uncouth as he pushes it inside, little care for how sore you might be. He speaks softer, but this bear is just as brutal as the rest of them.

“Holy shit, you’re tight.” Bernard hisses, sliding easily with the mix of your slick and Theo’s cum. “Human pussy’s incredible.”

“Told ya.” Theo huffs. He sits back on his haunches, content and smug after claiming you. His eyes are gluttonous, burning into your skin. While Orson had been demure and hidden, Theo was loud and proud.

“Oh my gods.” Said Baby Bear is lost in his own world as he slides into your mouth, slower and obviously nervous. His cock jumps with every bump on your tongue, every undulation of your cheeks. More salty pre dribbles across your pallet. “Soo-o good.”

“Don’t get too cozy, Orson.” Bernard chuckles, rolling his hips in a half-thrust, just enough to send a shock up your spine. “Wouldn’t want to waste it all, would ya?”

Orson furiously shakes his head, though his eyes stay on your tear stained face, your bulging cheeks and bruised lips. His cock jumps again.

Bernard slowly pulls out to the tip, sliding in with a bit more force this time. You yelp and so does Orson, your mouth vibrating his sensitive cock. 

Bernard is much more controlled in his thrusts; While Theo had fucked you like a bear, Bernard’s more precise hits belayed the man hidden underneath his thick coat of fur. He focus his tip on your spongy walls, watches them grip and wrap around them with every slow pull out of you. You can hear his chuckles when he forces himself back in, watching you squeak and tremble from the hit. You can’t decide what's worse, because while Theo had been rough, Bernard has the shameful effect of actually turning you on. A familiar heat has started to brew in your belly, your pussy fluttering with the methodical hits against your g-spot.

Orson, on the other hand, is in every way an amateur. His hips move sloppily, his cock slipping out and cramming against your lips from time to time. If you weren’t relying on your splayed hands to keep you upright, you might have just grabbed him by the base and forced him to stay inside just to get it over with quicker. From the way his cock throbs and twitches form just a couple licks, you think a proper deep throat would have him cumming in no time.

“Look at those tits.” Theo growls from the side, big paw now moving back down to his half-soft cock, stroking it awake. “Fucking bouncing like that. Looks too fucking good.”

“Get her on top next time.” Bernard whistles, big paw slapping your jiggling ass cheeks. “Can watch her bounce on this cock too.”

“Not a bad idea.”

Orson’s contribution is a breathy moan, just the idea having his heart thumping.

“Think her milk will taste good?”

“I bet so.” Bernard leans forward to paw at your tits, pinching at your nipple with expertise. You hate the way it makes you clench, has your walls getting slick. Your mind is getting away from you. Bernard winces. “They’ll be nice and fat, ready for the cubs.”

“Hell yeah.” The distinct sound of jerking off comes from the side, Theo now sitting up to watch you take it from both ends. 

“I’m getting close, baby.” Bernard whispers, licking his chops. “You want that, wanna make me a Daddy?” His hips have picked up in speed, no more teasing and only focusing on the deepest part inside of you, of lining his shot up with your womb. “Gonna looks so pretty, all pregnant and cute. Our little human mate.”

Your toes begin to curl, the constant barrage against your most sensitive area becoming too much. Real tears have come back, overwhelming shame from the thought of cumming. 

“Uh-uh! Gonna looks so good!” Orson says, his sweaty fur clogging up your nose as he burrows deep in the back of your throat. He’s somehow worse than Bernard was, no thought to how his head bruises your poor mouth. “So fucking good!”

“You got him all worked up.” Theo laughs, big sharp teeth all on display. “First mating season and he’s ready to settle down.”

“If you felt her mouth you’d be t-too.” Bernard huffs, his chets beginning to heave with each flex of his legs.

You urge your mind to disappear, to project itself somewhere else, where you aren’t about to reach the peak in the embrace of three bear-men. But the feeling of rough finger pads on your clit forces you back down, forces you to face the earthquake that's about to rock you.

“Hmmph!” You scream around Orson’s cock, your body overcome with trembles as a delirious orgasm hits you. With everything contracting, it’s no wonder Bernard is sent over the edge.

“Unngh!”

And so is Orson.

“O-oh shit!”

Hot streams of cum fill you from both sides, both your womb and belly plugged up by the viscous fluid. You struggle to breath, eyes rolling back from the cock pressed right against your cervix and your poor face stuffed in fur.

Orson is the first to collapse, literally falling out of your mouth and onto his back. His cock spurts a couple last times, his eyes glazed over and catching his breath. Theo erupts into laughter.

“That's not where you're supposed to cum, idiot!”

Bernard just chuckles, patting your side. He stays sheathed inside you, occasionally swiveling his hips, smearing the last remnants of his cum inside you. Making sure his claim is staked.

“Guess your throat was too much for him, sweet thing.” 

You’re not in a better position, your arms finally given out and your face collapsed in the dirt. Never did you think the bare ground would feel so nice, cool and clean compared to the musty fur of the bears.

You think you fall asleep like that, Bernard is still inside you. You don’t remember, the next couple days being a blur of exactly the same. The one constant is the body heat, their cocks, and their voices.

“Our perfect mate.”

[audliminal]

It's Just a Game, Right? Pt 9

Masterpost

"Well, it certainly looks like your suspicions were correct." Tim says, staring at the decoded response, as Bernard posts the plain text.

"Yeah, it definitely looks like it, huh? This is practically an entire clue drop in and of itself."

"I mean, it kind of is. If they wanted to encourage us, al they really would've needed is to parrot themselves with the 'dig deeper' thing you said you kept finding."

"Ha, yeah that would've been a little more succinct." Bernard laughs, and turns back towards Tim as he finishes typing. "So what else is it meant to do, then?"

"Well, on one level it shows us how the clues are supposed to be solved." Tim says, pointing to the steps they'd gone through. "In the future, we should be looking for the keys to each step in the solution of the prior step."

"They can't just do that every time, though. It'd get too predictable.

"Maybe not every time, but it definitely gives us a better idea of where to start."

"Yeah, I guess it can't hurt to look. Anything else, Mr. Genius?"

"I'm not a genius."

"You totally are, but whatever. Tell me more of your mad science thinking."

"Not a mad scientist either. I think we need to start looking at whether individual details are intended to be taken literally or metaphorically."

"Oh." Bernard blinks, then glances over at his computer.

"Did you think of something?" Tim asks. The implications of the response are sprawling by itself, but if the contents are referencing something Bernard's already seen...

"Well, it's just. The first video was pictures, right? And people take photos of stuff they wanna remember so, like. To be seen is to be remembered?"

"That... Makes sense." Tim murmurs.

"Yeah, but it doesn't explain what the rest is about."

"One step at a time. If the people in the first video are our messengers, and they're concerned with being remembered, then I think we should be looking for more information on who they are."

"Right. So I should pull out the clues that reference them, and we can go over those next?

"Sounds like a plan."

[methylphenidatedreams]

Dreamt about timber’s baby hold on.

Okay so. I pretty sure the kid is only biologically related to Bernard because the main plot was Tim trying to convince the court that he would be a great co-parent despite being a teenager with a history of depression living on a boat.

I’m not sure the story of how Bernard acquired the baby — whether he had the kid in high school and was a single dad prior to getting with Tim, or if the other parent had other broken up with Bernard shortly before he reconnected with Tim so timber had already been dating when they got the news that Bernard was gonna be a dad, or if Bernard was trans and got pregnant, which would have made the pain cult thing. Interesting. — but he was a cutie and looked very similar to his dad (light blond hair, tan skin)

In my head, if timber ever had a child they would’ve named her after Darla (Darla Drake-Dowd? Like c’mon that’s perfect), but my subconscious apparently disagreed with me and named the kid Alex. Alexander Dowd. Why do u have a baby called Lex there Bern?

At one point Bernard was stuck on the roof of a gothic cathedral with bad guys gunning for him because he’s, y’know, Bernard. And Alex got dropped down a clock tower but Tim swung in at the last moment to catch the baby in midair and return him safely to his dad’s arms with a wink and a smile before rush into to defeat the bad guys and save the day because he’s, y’know, Tim.

Oh also Bernard just kept showing up with the baby whenever Tim was working on his laptop. Sometimes just holding him on his hip while listening to him rant with a smile on his face, other times just plopping him down in Tim’s arms because how ya gonna work now? You gonna ignore Alex’s cute little face to stress over your spreadsheets? Didn’t think so.

Just. Timber with a baby. Thank you my subconscious.

[crow-aeris]

Hubris was the downfall of many men.

He remembers indulging in one of Jason’s many long-winded rants about literature, hearing his brother ramble on and on about how pride was the thing that killed John Proctor. Sure, Abigail made have been the leading cause of all those deaths, but John could have lived- could have seen his sons grow up- had he went through with the plan and lied… and yet, it was only because of a man’s pride did he leave behind his wife and sons.

And now as he lays alone and dying far, far away from family and friends… Tim couldn’t help but think hubris was what led him to… this.

His independence, once a blessing- now a curse, had him set out by himself with no foreword or warning to any hero or civilian whatsoever.

He feels… cold? Empty… Irritated. Oh what a time to be irritated, though Tim wasn’t all too sure who exactly his irritation was directed towards…

Bruce? Sure, he hadn’t been the best of fathers, but… he was all time had. Bruce hadn’t known Tim was going on this stupid trip, so he couldn’t be blamed.

Dick? Tim’s own personal hero? No, never. Dick might’ve hurt him before, but Tim couldn’t force himself to hold that grief even if he tried. Dick was spending the weekend with his friends, so Tim doubts he’ll find out about this until much later.

Jason? Despite being a grade a asshole, Jason cared. He had vehemently opposed Tim’s trip, and now he could see how it came back to bite him in the ass.

He laughs shrilly, tone nearing hysterical as Tim feels himself stop shivering… That wasn’t good, right? He read somewhere before that the moment you stop shivering, is the most dangerous.

Tim forces himself tighter into a ball, fighting to stay awake as he clung desperately onto his fleeing thoughts.

What about Stephanie? She got on his nerves occasionally, but those moments were few and far between.

Damian? Well, despite… everything, Tim has been trying to repair their relationship with what little scraps existed prior.

Cass? God, no. Tim could never be angry at her. She does her best, and honestly? Tim commends her for it.

Duke was a sweetheart. Kind, determined, and optimistic even after everything he’s gone through. he was the embodiment of sunshine through and through.

…

……

………

…………What was he thinking about?

He was… sleepy. Tired….

…Where was Bernard? Where was Kon? He was… numb. Was he supposed to feel this numb?

Taking a little nap wouldn’t hurt, right? It wouldn’t hurt at all….

“Oh, Detective, look what mess have you gotten yourself into? This is why you never should have left my side”

[gothamnewsnetwork-official]

Bernard Dowd cheating on Timothy Drake-Wayne and Astra Jordan-Queen with Red Robin?

https://www.tumblr.com/actuallyredrobin/759452099200303104/hi-im-just-here-to-say-im-a-big-fan-of-yours-and?source=share

Just look at the tags, this has happened more than once. and the reblogs..

Trouble in Paradise; Wayne’s finally in their breakup era?

Tonight we bring you not, but two stories of failed romances in the Wayne Family. Our first story up being the potential cheating occurring in the relationships of Wayne Enterprises (see related articles) newest (and youngest) CEO.

Earlier yesterday evening we were made aware of yet another potential scandal in the Wayne family’s love lives; the third Wayne son and current CEO of Wayne Enterprises, Timothy Drake-Wayne ( @timblrdrake ) (see related articles), may be getting cheated on.

The alleged cheater, Bernard Down ( @officialbernarddowd ) (see related articles), has been accused of two-timing both Mr. Drake-Wayne and their partner, Astra Hal-El ( @totally-not-soupernova ) (see related articles), with none other than one of our beloved city’s very own vigilantes.

Who is this masked home wrecker? None other than Red Robin ( @actuallyredrobin ) (see related articles), himself.

The alleged affair between Mr. Dowd and Red Robin has been going on for several weeks now, the earliest mention of it that we were able to find dating back to July this year.

This, however, is not unexpected given Mr. Dowd’s penchant for saying one thing yet doing another. The most recent example of this being his dramatic turn from priesthood in the Children of Dionysus (see related articles) to moonlighting as a Talon (see related articles) for the Court of Owls ( @court--of--owls ) (see related articles), seemingly without either parties prior knowledge.

Though Red Robin is adamantly denying this connection, Mr. Dowd has been unable to comment, neither have either of his partners, Mr. Drake-Wayne and Ms. Hal-El. We only hope that the young throuple are able to resolve this as soon as possible.

Our second story tonight comes from Mr. Bruce Thomas Wayne ( @officialbruciewayne ) (see related articles) himself, and his alleged split with this on-again off-again partner; Selina Kyle ( @selinakyl-ee ) (see related articles).

Their relationship has been known for many years, though when asked neither Mr. Wayne or Ms. Kyle could pinpoint an exact date, not even remembering at what time they met.

This however, is not the focus of our story. As of only a few days ago, the two have been rumoured to have called it quits. The split is, to the public, relatively sudden given their amicability whenever seen in public or asked of one another (see related articles). We sent an intern to interview Mr. Wayne on the matter, his response was greatly illuminating.

When asked on the nature of the split, Mr. Wayne stressed the fact that the breakup was mutual and that the two are still close. That being said he also found it prudent to mention that it was no fault of Ms. Kyle’s, stating directly -

“ It ended because she deserved more than I had to offer. ”

This comes after many a rumour that Mr. Wayne may be on the aromantic (see related articles) and/or asexual spectrum (see related articles). When asked, he responded that these were untrue, citing is many public relationships with both men and women (see related posts) as a counter.

Unfortunately, this rabbit hole of attempting to figure out the meaning of Mr. Wayne’s words has gotten us nothing but speculation, theories ranging from the tame to the ludicrous and bizarre (see related articles).

As all eyes are on the Wayne’s, we urge all readers to consider tuning in to the live broadcast of the Charity Gala being hosted by the family at the end of this month and consider donating to one of the many causes that will be presented, such as the Thomas and Martha Wayne Foundation where you can donate via website or at their email (donations@thomasmarthawaynefoundation.com).

Let us know your thoughts on the topic (here)

Gotham Reports is certified in unbiased, reliable, and fair journalism.

[runbookzombie]

Zombies Run S3M49 Sowing Season

I did this run on Oct 12th after a very hectic three days at work. I didn't get my three-day weekend. Hope I can replace it with another day this year.

Spoilers after the image below:

This is an AI-generated image of a tequila distillery with some nettles in front of the door. Why nettles? I guess because they are rough around the edges.

Six vats are missing from the distillery and I don't know what that signifies. In the meantime, Veronica is going back to the treetop base to learn about something relating to the Natural History Museum. I hope it can help us stop Moonchild. I'm getting so sick of her yellow aura, why hasn't she choked on it already.

Wow, I just realized that it's been a while since I've heard Nadia's voice. I kinda missed her.

[bobbinalong]

concerning fitzmartin's line of tim saying bernard showed him there is more to him than he was settling for and brings out the real me, is that an attack on his past romance and saying he was settling for them or more talking about being queer and discovering that

I mean, I certainly read it as a sort of attack (though I think "attack" might be a bit too strong a word) because Fitzmartin hasn't shown respect for the, out-of-universe, near 30 year long relationship Tim had with a woman or, in fact, the woman in question. Tim breaks up with Stephanie off-panel, we never get her feelings on the matter anywhere and when Fitzmartin does write her, it's as a prop for Timber. I mean just look at this:

Tim Drake Pride Special

and tell me the author cares for or respects Stephanie Brown as a character.

I also resent the implication that Tim couldn't have been his best queer self with Steph because she'd absolutely fully accept him. And he's not gay, he's bisexual, he's still attracted to women.

So why is being with a woman "settling" when he was previously talking about her like this:

Young Justice (2019) #5

Young Justice (2019) #8

Detective Comics (2016) #940

Detective Comics (2016) #963

Tim loved Stephanie. He was in love with Stephanie. She was his last thought before dying and he was committed to a future with her. There wasn't even a hint of a crack in their relationship prior to Urban Legends, in fact, I'd argue they were at the happiest and healthiest they'd maybe ever been.

So yeah, to me, Tim talking about "settling" and not being able to be himself before Bernard is 1) bullshit and 2) an attempt by the author to downplay his previous relationship. I don't really care to give her the benefit of the doubt.

[suzukiblu]

For the WIP guessing game: alien

"Hey, would it be okay if I asked Tim to have sex with me sometime?" Kon asks, and Tim blinks and looks up from his seat on the couch and the case files cleverly disguised as Wayne Enterprise files he's currently reviewing on his laptop, because it sounds like Kon just said–

"Um, what?" Bernard says, staring blankly at Kon from the opposite side of the kitchen island, where he's doing college homework while Kon is elbow-deep in the dishes. Staring blankly at Conner, technically. Seeing as Bernard does not know Kon's actual name, or that he's Superboy, or that Tim is Robin, or–"Why?"

"I dunno," Kon replies with a careless shrug, turning over the empty glass in his hands. A minute ago there was orange juice in it, because it's ten AM and they just ate Bernard's very nicely-made brunch. "I just wanna try it, I guess."

"What, having sex with a guy?" Bernard assumes, looking mildly puzzled but at least not offended, which is good because Tim does not want to have to defuse this situation and doesn't even know how he would without being able to say "technically Conner is a superhero with unfathomably complicated alien DNA who was made in a cloning tube by an evil billionaire and an ethically dubious lab full of crazy people and he has some very, very weird understandings of conventional social norms like not just randomly asking your best friend's boyfriend for permission to fuck him". It just does not seem like it would go well. At all.

"Uh," Kon says. "Just . . . sex, actually."

Tim . . . blinks.

"You've had sex before," he says reflexively.

"No," Kon says, not looking at him or Bernard or anything but the empty glass he's washing. Tim frowns in confusion.

"You've told me you've had sex before," he half-protests in bemusement. Not that Kon doesn't frequently talk a big game, but he doesn't usually outright lie like that. Like, not unless it's to supervillains. Or Superman. Or–

He doesn't usually lie to him, is what Tim means.

. . . does he?

"I was lying," Kon says, putting the rinsed glass in the drying rack; picking up the next one. Tim has to reorient his whole entire view of the whole entire multiverse over their brunch dishes and Bernard's homework and his own disguised case files. "I mean–kinda."

"How do you 'kinda' lie about having sex?" Bernard asks skeptically. "That seems very black or white, as a thing."

"I don't know if getting raped counts," Kon says, just barely frowning. "Does it?"

Tim drops his laptop. It cracks against the coffee table and hits the floor. He doesn't even try to catch it.

"Oh," Bernard says.

"Sorry," Kon says, just looking fixedly at the glass he's very, very carefully scrubbing clean. "This is–weird and very fucked up, actually, I–"

"Who?" Tim cuts in, reflexive and useless and the least helpful thing to say or do, probably, but–

"Uh," Kon says to the dishes. "Well. Kay. And some . . . other people, I guess. But mostly her."

"'Mostly,'" Tim echoes numbly. Kon rinses the glass. Puts it in the drying rack. Picks up a plate.

Tim wants to throw up. Or break something. Like Knockout's face.

"Uh," Kon says, still talking to the dishes. "When I was–when I lived in–there were just some parties, sometimes, that my, uh, guardian back before I really knew you would have us go to, and once or twice . . . uh, just, I was kinda a lightweight at that age, so . . ."

"That age" being only a year old at best, Tim is very, very aware. And prior to the Kryptonian physiology coming in, while only physically in his mid-teens. Which means Kon could've gotten drunk or drugged very easily and lost the defense of his TTK, and . . .

Tim has no idea where Rex Leech is or what he's doing, but he's going to find out and make him regret his entire life.

[transmutationisms]

do you have any reading recs (books, ~scholarly articles, whatever) in the same vein as this post? (doesn't need to be a super long list, i'm content to branch off with the works cited of whatever you come up with...) as always, love your blog!! :-)

yes :3 split roughly by subtopic, bolded some favs

Evolution in England prior to (Charles) Darwin

Cooter, Roger. The Cultural Meaning of Popular Science: Phrenology and the Organisation of Consent in Nineteenth Century Britain. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (1985).

Desmond, Adrian. The Politics of Evolution: Morphology, Medicine, and Reform in Radical London. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1989).

Elliott, Paul. “Erasmus Darwin, Herbert Spencer, and the Origin of the Evolutionary Worldview in British Provincial Scientific Culture, 1770–1850.” Isis 94 (1): 1–29 (2003).

Finchman, Martin. “Biology and Politics: Defining the Boundaries.” In: Lightman, Bernard (Ed.). Victorian Science in Context. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1997), 94–118.

Fyfe, Aileen. Steam-Powered Knowledge: William Chambers and the Business of Publishing, 1820–1860. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (2012).

Harrison, James. “Erasmus Darwin’s View of Evolution.” Journal of the History of Ideas 32 (2): 247–64 (1971).

McNeil, Maureen. Under the Banner of Science: Erasmus Darwin and his Age. Manchester: Manchester University Press (1987).

Ospovat, Dov. “The Influence of Karl Ernst von Baer’s Embryology 1828–1859: A Reappraisal in Light of Richard Owen’s and William Benjamin Carpenter’s ‘Palaeontological Application of Von Baer’s Law.’” Journal of the History of Biology 9 (1): 1–28 (1976).

Rehbock, Philip F. The Philosophical Naturalists: Themes in Early Nineteenth-Century British Biology. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press (1983).

Richards, Robert J. Darwin and the Emergence of Evolutionary Theories of Mind and Behaviour. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1987).

Rupke, Nicolaas. Richard Owen: Biology without Darwin. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (2009 [ 1994]).

Secord, James. Victorian Sensation: The Extraordinary Publication, Reception, and Secret Authorship of Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (2001).

van Wyhe, John. Phrenology and the Origins of Victorian Scientific Naturalism. London: Ashgate (2004).

Winter, Alison. “The Construction of Orthodoxies and Heterodoxies in the Early Life Sciences.” In: Lightman, Bernard (Ed.). Victorian Science in Context. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1997), 24–50.

Yeo, Richard. “Science and Intellectual Authority in Mid-Nineteenth Century Britain: Robert Chambers and Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation.” Victorian Studies 28 (1): 5–31 (1984).

Edinburgh Lamarckians and Scottish transmutationism

Desmond, Adrian. “Robert E. Grant: The Social Predicament of a Pre-Darwinian Transmutationist.” Journal of the History of Biology 17 (2): 189–223 (1984).

Jenkins, Bill. Evolution Before Darwin. Theories of the Transmutation of Species in Edinburgh, 1804–1834. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press (2019).

Secord, James. “The Edinburgh Lamarckians: Robert Jameson and Robert E. Grant.” Journal of the History of Biology 24 (1): 1–18 (1991).

Corsi, Pietro. ‘Edinburgh Lamarckians? The Authorship of Three Anonymous Papers (1826–1829)’, Journal of the History of Biology 54 (2021), pp. 345–374.

Darwin and Darwinism

Desmond, Adrian and James Moore. Darwin: The Life of a Tormented Evolutionist. New York: W. W. Norton & Company (1994).

van Wyhe, John. “Mind the Gap. Did Darwin Avoid Publishing his Theory for many years?” Notes & Records of the Royal Society 61 (2007), 177–205.

Sloan, Philip R. “Darwin, Vital Matter, and the Transformation of Species.” Journal of the History of Biology 19 (3): 369–445 (1986).

Phillip R. Sloan, “The Making of a Philosophical Naturalist.” In: Hodge, Jonathan and Gregory Radick (Eds.), The Cambridge Companion to Darwin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (2009), 17–39.

Sponsel, Alistair. Darwin’s Evolving Identity: Adventure, Ambition, and the Sin of Speculation. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (2018).

Young, Robert M. “Malthus and the Evolutionists: The Common Context of Biological and Social Theory.” Past & Present 43 (1969): 109–45.

Young, Robert M. “Darwin’s Metaphor: Does Nature Select?” The Monist 55 (3): 442–503 (1971).

Bowler, Peter J. The Non-Darwinian Revolution: Reinterpreting a Historical Myth. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press (1988).

Bowler, Peter J. The Eclipse of Darwinism: Anti-Darwinian Evolution Theories in the Decades Around 1900. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press (1983).

Hale, Piers J. “Rejecting the Myth of the Non-Darwinian Revolution.” Victorian Review 41 (2): 13–18 (Fall 2015).

Lightman, Bernard. “Darwin and the popularisation of evolution.” Notes and Records of the Royal Society 64: 5–24 (2010).

Richards, Robert J. The Meaning of Evolution: The Morphological Construction and Ideological Reconstruction of Darwin’s Theory. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1992).

Ruse, Michael. The Darwinian Revolution: Science Red in Tooth and Claw. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1979).

Lamarck and Lamarckism

Barthélemy-Madaule, Madeleine. 1982. Lamarck, the Mythical Precursor: A Study of the Relations between Science and Ideology. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Burkhardt, Richard. 1970. Lamarck, Evolution, and the Politics of Science. Journal of the History of Biology 3 (2): 275–298.

Burkhardt, Richard. 1977. The Spirit of System: Lamarck and Evolutionary Biology. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Corsi, Pietro. 1988. The Age of Lamarck: Evolutionary Theories in France, 1790–1830. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Corsi, Pietro. 2005. Before Darwin: Transformist Concepts in European Natural History. Journal of the History of Biology 38 (1): 67-83.

Corsi, Pietro. 2011. The Revolutions of Evolution: Geoffroy and Lamarck, 1825–1840. Bulletin du Musée D’Anthropologie Préhistorique de Monaco 51: 113–134.

Jordanova, Ludmilla. 1984. Lamarck. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Spary, Emma C. 2000. Utopia’s Garden: French Natural History from Old Regime to Revolution. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

[your-local-grubdog]

Wait actually can we talk about Leaflings real fast. Because. What the actual fuck.

Also sorry if I curse a lot more here than usual but like 90% of my genuine reactions to this topic is "what the FUCK" so uhh get used to it I guess.

Huge thanks to @saihahas for helping me with some image transcripts as well.

Major story spoilers below you have been warned. Ok let's go.

So you're able to just rise from the dead in pikmin 4. No, seriously. You can do that.

At the end of Olimar's side story we get this scene and associated line:

[Image transcript: White text on a black screen that says "But at that very moment, my life support system failed" END TRANSCRIPT]

Like. He died. His life support system failed. He DIED. And moments later, he was revived as a leafling. He died and came back from the dead. Like, what the fuck????

It even fixed up his injuries he got prior to becoming a leafling. Just a full on revival.

Image transcript (one leads into the other naturally)

Collin: By the by, Olimar, is there anything you remember from right before or after you became a leafling? Any additional details?

Olimar: Not particularly. It didn't feel bad or anything like that. In fact, it was quite revitalizing.

Olimar: My chronically stiff shoulders and all the injuries I'd sustained during my explorations healed immediately.

Yonny: Hmm... Perhaps leafification has highly restorative effects...

Yonny: This is definitely something worth looking into, eheheh. END OF TRANSCRIPT.

Now we don't know if everyone who was a leafling had to die before hand, though there is a common thread that they were at least unconscious... And had just escaped deadly situations... I think Olimar found them moments before they died and, not knowing any other way to save them, leafed them as well. Something they bear no ill will towards him for - in fact, they're thankful for him.

Image transcript:

Jin: When I was leafified, I could not stop thinking about the art of Dandori. It was like an endless meditation.

Jin: A leafling appeared in front of me after the ship crashed and I had used up all of my flagging energy.

Jin: My intuition told me they were not a bad person. I also felt as though they were determined to achieve something

Jin: I am afraid I do not recall much of what happened after that, as I lost consciousness. END TRANSCRIPT.

Image transcript:

Corgwin: I was attacked by a creature, and right before I lost consciousness, I saw something overhead. It was a leafling

Corgwin: They had such sad eyes, but there was more going on in there. Their eyes were full of determination.

Corgwin: I have to believe there is a reason why they do what they do. Turning castaways into leaflings, I mean.

Corgwin: Your time is limited, so think it through! END TRANSCRIPT.

Image transcript:

Bernard: You need anything else?

Bernard: Even when Olimar was leafed out, he was still trying to RESCUE folks!

Bernard: And there I was with my head focused on nothing but Dandori stuff. HOO, he's one tough cookie!

Bernard: You need anything else? END TRANSCRIPT.

Ok Bernard's conversation doesn't add to the "he found them in deadly situations" point but it DOES show that all of his "victims" think highly of him for the fact that he had saved them and others. (Also, side note, Olimar had sad eyes... Poor bastard thought he was never going home to his wife and kids, was visibly depressed over this, and STILL was trying to save people. Olimar is like, genuinely such a good fucking person God damn.)

Now being a leafling is undead and comes with its own slew of problems. Namely, the fact Dandori takes over your brain (probably the pikmin survival instinct) and the fact you can no longer leave PNF-404. It's not even an air thing, it's not being on the planet that causes sickness, so not even spacesuits can fix it.

But then you're able to cure yourself of being a leafling. And just. Go back? To your normal life?????? Like nothing ever happened. You died and came back. What the fuck.

And to make that point worse. One of the key ingredients is Glow Sap. Which is produced by the Luminknolls. The only other thing the Luminknolls make is uh. Glow pikmin. Which.

“Although they've been named Glow Pikmin, it's not entirely clear whether or not this species is actually a type of Pikmin. These creatures possess the same fundamental behaviors of Pikmin, like carrying things, propagating, and fighting. They also share special characteristics, such as the leaf atop their head. Yet they do not spawn from an Onion but a Lumiknoll, and they are only active at night or underground. During the day, they revert into seeds and enter a resting state. What's even more surprising is that they exhibit no signs of life. When a Glow Pikmin "dies," if that word can even be used, it does not expire in the typical sense. Instead, it just becomes a form of light-or perhaps a photon-and returns to the Lumiknoll. Putting aside my "scientist" hat for a moment...it seems to me that this creature or entity may not be a living organism at all but some manner of spiritual substance.”

[Image Transcript: a screenshot of the Piklopedia showing the very end of the above quote. END TRANSCRIPT]

And just as some icing on the cake:

[Image transcript: Louie's piklopedia notes on the glow pikmin. All it says is "Doesn't smell alive." END TRANSCRIPT]

Cool they're fucking ghosts. Sorry I can't be convinced otherwise, they're clearly some sort of supernatural entity at MINIMUM. I just think spirit is most likely. They don't have to be the spirits of dead pikmin... Although... You can convert a Glow Pikmin into normal pikmin via a candy pop bud. I've done it before, I have no video of it but you can go and try it yourself if you'd like. And if they are spirits of pikmin then that means that we can also bring pikmin back from the dead. What the FUCK.

Anyways. I got side tracked sorry. My point was the Luminkolls make two things: Glow Sap and Glow Pikmin, which have similar names and similar appearances and. Are we using ghost juice to cure leaflings???? Which is used to reverse all negatives of being leafed. Which can be used to bring the dead back to life.

I don't know how to end this. I really really don't know how to end this. I just need someone else to scream about this with because it's so. It's so fucking WEIRD like what the hell. It's not enough that they may be humans, noooo, there's also undead creatures (excluding the mushroom guys those freaks have an explanation at the very least). This game is weird as hell but tbh I love it.