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geometrymatters · 5 months ago

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Sir Roger Penrose

To me, the world of perfect forms is primary (as was Plato’s own belief) — its existence being almost a logical necessity — and both the other two worlds are its shadows.

Sir Roger Penrose, born on August 8, 1931, in Colchester, Essex, England, is a luminary in the realm of mathematical physics. His journey began with a Ph.D. in algebraic geometry from the University of Cambridge in 1957, and his career has spanned numerous prestigious posts at universities in both England and the United States. His work in the 1960s on the fundamental features of black holes, celestial bodies of such immense gravity that nothing, not even light, can escape, earned him the 2020 Nobel Prize for Physics.

Penrose’s work on black holes, in collaboration with Stephen Hawking, led to the ground-breaking discovery that all matter within a black hole collapses to a singularity, a point in space where mass is compressed to infinite density and zero volume. This revelation illuminated our understanding of these enigmatic cosmic entities.

His work did not stop at the theoretical; he also developed a method of mapping the regions of space-time surrounding a black hole, known as a Penrose diagram. This tool allows us to visualize the effects of gravitation upon an entity approaching a black hole, providing a window into the heart of these celestial mysteries.

Within Penrose’s chapter, “The Godelian Case” (from “The Road to Reality”) the profound implications of Kurt Gödel’s incompleteness theorems are examined in relation to the connection between mathematics and geometry. Specifically, Penrose’s attention centers on the model depicted in Figure 2.1, which portrays a cubic array of spheres. Through this visual representation, Penrose explores the intricate relationship between geometry and mathematical understanding.

By introducing the model of a cubic array of spheres, Penrose highlights the fundamental role of spatial arrangements in mathematical cognition. This geometrical structure serves as a metaphorical embodiment of mathematical concepts, illustrating how spatial configurations can stimulate cognitive processes and facilitate intuitive comprehension of mathematical truths. The intricate interplay between the arrangement of spheres within the model and the underlying principles of mathematics encourages contemplation on the deep-rooted connections between geometry, spatial reasoning, and abstract mathematical thought.

Penrose’s utilization of the cubic array of spheres underscores his broader philosophical framework, which challenges reductionist accounts of human cognition that rely solely on formal systems or computational models. Through this geometrical representation, he advocates for a more holistic understanding of mathematical insight, one that recognizes the essential role of geometric intuition in shaping human understanding.

By looking at the intricate connection between mathematics and geometry, Penrose prompts a re-evaluation of the mechanistic view of cognition, emphasizing the need to incorporate spatial reasoning and intuitive geometrical understanding into comprehensive models of human thought.

(E) Find a sum of successive hexagonal numbers, starting from 1 , that is not a cube. I am going to try to convince you that this computation will indeed continue for ever without stopping. First of all, a cube is called a cube because it is a number that can be represented as a cubic array of points as depicted in Fig. 2. 1 . I want you to try to think of such an array as built up successively, starting at one corner and then adding a succession of three-faced arrangements each consisting of a back wall, side wall, and ceiling, as depicted in Fig. 2.2. Now view this three-faced arrangement from a long way out, along the direction of the corner common to all three faces. What do we see? A hexagon as in Fig. 2.3. The marks that constitute these hexagons, successively increasing in size, when taken together, correspond to the marks that constitute the entire cube. This, then, establishes the fact that adding together successive hexagonal numbers, starting with 1 , will always give a cube. Accordingly, we have indeed ascertained that (E) will never stop.

Penrose’s work is characterized by a profound appreciation for geometry. His father, a biologist with a passion for mathematics, introduced him to the beauty of geometric shapes and patterns at a young age. This early exposure to geometry shaped Penrose’s unique approach to scientific problems, leading him to develop new mathematical notations and diagrams that have become indispensable tools in the field. His creation of the Penrose tiling, a method of covering a plane with a set of shapes without using a repeating pattern, is a testament to his innovative thinking and his deep understanding of geometric principles.

His fascination with geometry extended beyond the realm of mathematics and into the world of art. He was deeply influenced by the work of Dutch artist M.C. Escher, whose intricate drawings of impossible structures and infinite patterns captivated Penrose’s imagination. This encounter with Escher’s art led Penrose to explore the interplay between geometry and art, culminating in his own contributions to the field of mathematical art. His work in this area, like his scientific research, is characterized by a deep appreciation for the beauty and complexity of geometric forms.

In geometric cognition, Penrose’s work has the potential to make significant contributions. His unique perspective on the role of geometry in understanding the physical world, the mind, and even art, offers a fresh approach to this emerging field. His belief in the power of geometric thinking, as evidenced by his own ground-breaking work, suggests that a geometric approach to cognition could yield valuable insights into the nature of thought and consciousness.

Objective mathematical notions must be thought of as timeless entities and are not to be regarded as being conjured into existence at the moment that they are first humanly perceived.

I argue that the phenomenon of consciousness cannot be accommodated within the framework of present-day physical theory.

His Orch OR theory posits that consciousness arises from quantum computations within the brain’s neurons. This bold hypothesis, bridging the gap between the physical and the mental, has sparked intense debate and research in the scientific community.

Penrose’s work on twistor theory, a geometric framework that seeks to unify quantum mechanics and general relativity, is a testament to his belief in the primacy of geometric structures. This theory, which represents particles and fields in a way that emphasizes their geometric and topological properties, can be seen as a metaphor for his views on cognition. Just as twistor theory seeks to represent complex physical phenomena in terms of simpler geometric structures, Penrose suggests that human cognition may also be understood in terms of fundamental geometric and topological structures.

This perspective has significant implications for the field of cognitive geometry, which studies how humans and other animals understand and navigate the geometric properties of their environment. If Penrose’s ideas are correct, our ability to understand and manipulate geometric structures may be a fundamental aspect of consciousness, rooted in the quantum geometry of the brain itself.

The final conclusion of all this is rather alarming. For it suggests that we must seek a non-computable physical theory that reaches beyond every computable level of oracle machines (and perhaps beyond). — Roger Penrose, Shadows of the Mind: A Search for the Missing Science of Consciousness

#geometrymatters #roger penrose #geometric cognition #cognitive geometry #consciousness #science #research #math #geometry

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yall-batman-fanfic · 26 days ago

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Angels and Demons (Halloween Special) Part 1/3: Justice League Dark x Magician!Reader

Synopsis: The Demon that's been preying on Vivian's body has finally found a vessel to use to set his plans in motion. But he's not alone, aiding him is a being that will stop at nothing to kill the threat Vivian poses, and to do that they will need help from a few people who have scores to settle with her.

Note: This story follows Justice League Dark (2017) but with a few twists.

Warning: Please be advised that there are mentions of self-harm in this chapter.

~ Many Years Ago ~

Nineteen-year-old Vivian Pryor has seen Hell, has walked its grounds, but as she looked at the scene before her she doubted that it was Hell at all. Because this was far scarier than any plains of the damned she's seen.

They were called by a local priest in the small town in Essex. The priest was pudgy and old, probably had a head full of hair when he was young, and despite his marriage to God, he keeps a flask of scotch in his coat's pocket at all times. He says it was to help him sleep because he was just like them. Someone who can see beyond the living world and was given more gifts, one that he cannot cope with prayers alone.

The priest told them that the town started to act weirdly. Weirder than the Sleepy Sickness that’s taken everyone up until a couple of years ago when suddenly, those who have been asleep, having trouble getting to sleep, and sleepwalking just went back to normal after nearly a century.

“Everyone’s been rampaging, John,” said the Priest who seems to know John personally. Vivian decided to ask him about it when they were alone, but as always John didn’t say much about it. “Everyone – people killing in the streets, their neighbors and their families! All of them claim that they saw demons chasing them. I tried, John, you know I did, but I couldn’t – something’s wrong with the exorcism, John.”

“You smell it in the air. Sulfur,” said John. “Someone has been playing cards with the devil and brought them in. Now, dark magic has plagued this town. Making them see demons. What’d you reckon, Vee?”

Vivian tore her gaze away from the sight of a child’s bloody shoe on the road and said, “I can feel it all the way from the town we were at. Where is she? The girl whose…”

“How did you know that it was…” The priest trailed off.

“Vee has a good gut feeling. So, where is she?”

It was a girl named Isabel, who has been in a psych ward since she was a girl after claiming she’s been seeing things that others can’t. Ghosts and monsters. The things that would have any parents drive their kids to the closest horror institution just to “get them help”. But then Isabel died not long into the possession, she jumped off a building and landed into the pool.

Then the demon decided to take her sister instead. Another powerful psychic, at that time they didn’t know she was the target, and John has been dragging them along trying to figure out what the demon wanted until it was too late. The demon has taken the sister’s body, Angela, and was trying to claw its way out of her in the most horrific way possible.

She told him that they should call someone who knows better. She told him that they were not up for this, but hubris was John’s flaw and at that time he felt like he was the king of the world with all the power he had. With all the knowledge in the Dark Arts he possessed. Hell, he just tricked an angel to fall off from God’s good graces by having Vivian sleep with the archangel and then hacked off his wings!

John was on the contact list of every priest and practitioner of the dark arts – either as a friend or an enemy. Mostly an enemy.

“Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus. omnis satanic potestas, omnis infernalis adversarii in nomine et virtute Domini!” John chanted the prayer as he held out his palm at Angela’s direction. Joining him was Chas and Ritchie in the chant. And Vivian… she was trying so hard to keep the binding and say the prayer but she could feel it – the demon – whispering in her ears. It’s breath –

Vee! A woman’s laughter echoed in the room. Vivian, open your eyes, darling! Come on, I got a surprise for you!

“Mom?” Vivian opened her eyes –

It wasn’t her mother.

The face was not human. It was indescribable but for the word sinister. The demon looked at her with its yellow eyes and bloody-beastly face, it grinned at her and –

Vivian was thrown across the room.

“Vee!” John called out to her.

“John!” Ritchie called for him to focus.

But John left his post, leaving the two to continue the ritual. Holding down Angela as she thrashed around and the demon’s claws scratching from the inside of her stomach, trying to get out.

John came to Vivian and helped her up. Holding her by her cheeks he tried to get her to focus on him and not the exorcism in front of them. “Not now, not now,” he muttered as he saw her eyes turn gold. “Vee, love, listen to me, I need you to fire all that you got at that thing. Do you understand?”

“John, I’ll burn her!” Vivian argued.

“She’s gone, Vivian!”

“We can still save her!”

“Look at her!” John pointed at Angela’s body twisting and turning. Any more and her neck would snap. “Her body is deteriorating – it’s been days, Vee. She won’t make it. Death is mercy. And only your fire can cleanse her and get rid of that demon inside her.”

“No!”

“Then I’m sorry, love,” he whispered. He placed a kiss on her forehead and stepped back.

“John?” Vivian tried to follow but found herself bound in a circle. She was now part of a spell and it was connected to Angela’s body. “JOHN! DON’T DO THIS, JOHN! PLEASE! DON’T!”

Chas and Ritchie tried to stop him, but John snapped at them and trapped the two against the wall and he continued the ritual. A binding ritual that would have the demon be trapped in her body and with the Spear of Destiny he’ll kill it and her.

“I’m sorry, Vee. But it’s the only way. It’s you or the entire world, love,” he said through gritted teeth.

“JOHN, NO! PLEASE, NO! JOHN! JOHN!”

Bright light emitted from the circle and the last Vivian saw was everything burning around her.

~ Now ~

Vivian wasn’t sure if it was thunder or the dream that woke her from the restless sleep. Opening her eyes, the first she saw was the rain pattering on the glass of the window with the flashes of lightning. It wasn’t a storm, just one of those days where Gotham’s under a heavy rain cloud. The sudden arm wrapping around her had Vivian turn to her husband who slept peacefully. One of the rare nights that Bruce gets to do so and she tries so hard not to disturb him when he was like this. But like the very detective-superhero he was, he felt her awake and pulled her deep to his chest.

“What’s wrong?” He murmured.

“Nothing,” Vivian answered, her gaze on their clasped hands.

“It’s not always nothing, isn’t it?”

She hummed in answer and thought if she should answer him. “Just a dream.”

“What is it about?”

“Nothing important, go back to sleep.”

“I want to know,” Bruce snuggled closer, if it were even possible.

Lighting struck again and in five seconds thunder followed. It rumbled on the ground as the loud sound almost made her jump. Lightning has struck not far, hopefully just one of the lightning rods around to keep it from striking the ground and cause fire. The Wayne Estate was large, and most of it was just trees and fields.

“I’m not going to sleep unless you tell me,” Bruce attempted to tease but yawned.

Vivian laughed lightly and played with his wedding band, turning it around his finger. “I was a child in my dream, and it’s one of those days when Mom would bring me to church,” she began, Bruce humming for her to continue. “She’s always been a practicing Catholic and tried to get me to do the same… but even I was stubborn when I was little.”

Bruce chuckled.

She continued. “I was in the church and…” her hand reached to her side, under her shirt, where the tattoo was. “I think it was the time when I got this.”

She could feel his brows furrow. “The tattoo? How old are you in the dream exactly?” It was a protection spell, Vivian told him the truth about it after he revealed his identity to her. Rather, she revealed that she knew he was Batman all along.

“I don’t know, but I must be young since I had to look up to see my mother’s face and the priest to — not a priest…” she focused her eyes at the sky where lightning flashed, trying to remember the dream or was it a memory. “I don’t think it was a priest… a shaman maybe? What matters was they made me lie down and they were doing some sort of prayer, and I could hear voices. There were so many, and the next thing I knew was on top of a building holding a baby and I woke up.”

Bruce’s eyes were now open. Though he’s married to a witch, magic is still something that he considers as the very last cause for reasons. Science and logic comes first, Vivian agrees and doesn’t consider magic until nothing adds up in the leads or the clues left behind. But sometimes there are times when he should consider it first, such as now.

Especially when it involves dreaming about her mother. Madeline Pryor was a secretive woman, even her widowed husband agrees. Adam, despite his love for Madeline, admits that there are things that he still does not know about his late wife. And one of those was her death.

Sitting up in bed, Bruce looks at Vivian and asks, “Is there anything you need?”

“No,” Vivian got up. “I think I’ll just get something from the kitchen.”

“I’ll come with.”

“No, stay here and rest. You were sleeping like a baby earlier and I feel guilty waking you up.”

“Viv.”

“I’ll be back,” she kissed him on the cheek. “Anything you want?”

“You here, beside me,” Bruce answered without hesitation.

“After I get my snack.”

Smiling, Bruce said, “Fine, but make it quick.”

“I will, don’t worry!”

Coming down the kitchen, Vivian went to find Alfred’s biscuit jar, he tends to hide it in places so the children won’t sneak for one in the middle of the night. While doing so, she had the kettle on for the tea. She decided to have tea instead.

“Alfred, I love you, but seriously, where did you?” Vivian muttered as she got on her toes to look for the jar. “AHA!”

It was at the top shelf behind the soy sauce and vinegar. The boys won’t even think it was there or would try to check that place since they had no idea how to use those for cooking anyway.

Mission accomplished! She got the biscuit jar –

Vivian…

Vivian froze at the whispering voice, she looked around the empty kitchen. No one was there and the only sound heard was the kettle still heating up.

Must be the a dream –

VIVIAN!

Vivian yelped in shock and almost dropped the jar. There was a face – she was sure she saw a face of something at the corner of her eye, but when she turned there was nothing there. Shaken, Vivian went to the kettle to turn it off but –

“AH!”

The kettle was hot – even the handle was burning hot. Vivian looked down at her hand and saw it red and raw.

What’s happening? She wondered.

“Mom?” The sound of Damian’s voice made Vivian jump. He looked like he just woke up. “Is everything alright?”

“Hi, sweetheart, yes, just burned myself,” she opened the tap to cool her hand. Damian immediately ran to her side to check. “Damian, honey, I’m fine.”

“You’re not,” he jumped off the stool and went to the fridge to get a bag of frozen peas. His gaze turned to the biscuit jar and then the kettle that was open with steam coming out of the nozzle. “Stay here, I’ll make your tea.”

“Sweetheart, there’s no need,” Vivian tried to stop him but with one look from him, Vivian settled on the seat and waited for Damian to finish making her tea.

“A splash of milk and a cube of sugar,” Damian said as he made her usual mix. “How does it feel?”

“Feels a lot better now,” Vivian said. “Thank you. What brings you here?”

“I think we had the same idea. The lightning woke me and I thought of getting a midnight snack… is everything alright, Mom?”

Vivian smiled. They’ve come a long way from how they first met, from the tension and how he only calls her ‘Professor Pryor’, then he calls her ‘Vivian’. Until one day, after spending time with the Kents in Smallville, he suddenly asked her if he could call her ‘Mom’. His reasoning: “Todd never really had a mother growing up and he chose you to be his. While Drake and Grayson do the same they opted to call you by your name… but after a while, I’ve come to reflect that Talia Al Ghul may be my mother but I was forged by her to be a weapon, but with you I get to be Damian. Not an Al Ghul or a Wayne. Just Damian. If Todd gets to choose his mother, then maybe I can also choose who I can call ‘Mom’ as well.”

It wasn’t a direct question but Vivian could read through it and hugged him so tight that the boy almost turned blue. That was enough for him to know that he can call her ‘Mom’ just as Jason does.

But Tim and Dick claim that Damian only does so because he wanted to spite Jason, knowing how close Jason was with her.

Taking his hand, Vivian said, “Everything’s fine, Damian. I just had a bad dream, that’s all.”

“Do you want to talk about it? Or maybe you’d prefer Father’s company, I can call him down.”

“It’s fine. I’m heading up there anyway,” Vivian waved her hand and had the tea cup and the plate of biscuits floating. “What about you?”

“I was just going for this,” Damian took the jar with a smirk. “I’ll walk you back to your room.”

The memory of the image at her peripheral vision had Vivian insist she walk him to his room before she goes to bed. As they walked through the halls of Wayne Manor, taking the flight of stairs and passing the many doors, Vivian bid goodnight to Damian and went back to her room where Bruce was half-asleep. But as soon as she closed the door, he sat up.

“Go to bed, Bruce,” she told him.

“I will when you’re here,” Bruce patted on the space beside him.

Vivian sighed and went to his side, the plate and teacup floating beside her. Reaching for the remote, Vivian opened the television in the room and turned to a documentary channel but when she saw her face on the television in one of the documentaries she did, she quickly changed it.

“No, we’re watching that!” Bruce took the remote from her.

“No, we’re not! Bruce!” Vivian laughed.

Bruce changed the channel back and hid the remote under the bed.

“No, please, spare me!” Vivian covered her face to not see herself on television.

“I don’t understand why you’re so embarrassed, you look beautiful here, and you’re doing what you love.”

“I don’t recall talking to a camera, that's one of the things I wanted to do. All I wanted was to read and teach symbols and icons, and history and art!”

“You’re moving up in the world, Viv, can’t be helped,” Bruce teased as he took a biscuit from her plate. “Whenever that would air on the televisions in Wayne Tower breakrooms, I can’t help but feel the luckiest man alive to be married to that woman whose… is that awooden cock you’re holding there?”

Vivian peaked through the gaps of her fingers. “Yes. It’s Pan’s cock… and they would fashion it to lamps for brothels in Ancient Rome. Also, in ancient Rome, there’s this religion and magic where a fascinum was the embodiment of the divine phallus.”

“That’s a lot of cocks, Viv. And some have wings.”

“It’s part of the job.”

“Well, I feel betrayed.”

Vivian laughed which made Bruce laugh as well and bring her to a kiss. Their night went on with sharing her cup of tea and finishing the biscuits until they fell asleep in each other’s arms with the television turning off on its own, and Vivian free from worry or fear like the one she felt earlier.

Because with Bruce she felt safe.

~*~

“Oh my god! Look!”

Coming out of the campus with the rest of the staff and students, Vivian looked up and saw a woman standing atop of Gotham University’s Learning Hospital, and was holding something. Taking out her phone, Vivian called for 9-1-1 and told them what was happening at Gotham University.

“There’s a woman at GU Hospital roof, and I think she’s about to jump,” Vivian told the operator as she started running towards the building hoping to save the woman, no longer worried if they saw her use magic. “And I-I hear that she’s holding a baby –”

“Batman’s here!” Someone in the crowd called out.

Vivian stopped in her tracks at the mention of the vigilante. She didn’t see him swing to the roof but she did see his cape. When the operator asked what was happening, Vivian told them about the appearance of the vigilante. That would get them there quickly before this escalates.

The woman looked like she was talking to Batman but still kept her place on the edge. Batman had to stand back, fearing she would jump. They talked for a while until –

She dropped the baby!

Vivian ran and held out her hand to the spot where the baby could be saved but Batman beat her to it, he came and swooped in to save the infant and returned to the roof just as the woman jumped.

“NO!” Vivian ran towards her, “tlah–” Vivian gasped as her voice disappeared, no it wasn’t her voice. She couldn’t breathe! Something was choking her! There was no air coming in, it’s as if something was stopping her to breathe or made her forget how it –

Screams came from the crowd. Looking ahead, Vivian let out a gasp of horror at the sight of the woman. She was too late. She wasn’t able to save her. And the woman was just a few feet ahead, so she could see the body so close.

“Vivian!” Justin Kirk ran to her side. “Come on, you don’t need to see this,” he was about to hide her from the sight of the corpse but Vivian pushed him away to see.

“I couldn’t… I wasn’t able to…” Vivian muttered.

“Via, what could you have done? Even Batman wasn’t able to save her,” Kirk said.

Then it hit her. “I can speak again – I can breathe…” she muttered to herself.

“What?” Kirk asked, confused. “Come on, Via, the cops are coming any minute now – VIA!”

She ignored his calls and ran up to the building of the hospital where staff gathered at the doors, looking in horror at the sight of the corpse. She ran past them, bolting up the stairs until she came face to face with Batman who was coming down from the roof, holding the baby.

“Batman,” she said.

Batman frowned. “I couldn’t save her,” though his voice was his usual stoic tone, Vivian could feel the pain he felt of failing that woman.

“No, I failed… I didn’t save her… I choked on a spell and –”

The baby started to cry again and Vivian reached out for the child, hoping to calm their cries. “I’m so sorry, I’m sorry about your mother…” Vivian told the baby.

“It wasn’t your fault,” said Batman. “It was mine. I wasn’t able to get there sooner.”

“Bruce,” Vivian whispered as she touched his cheek, hoping to take some of the pain away, but she couldn't. “You can’t save everyone.”

“Neither can you.”

Vivian looked away and turned her attention to the baby.

As he watched Vivian try to ease the baby’s cries, Batman thought back to what the woman said while on the roof. The reason why she was there in the first place: “I’ve given birth to the devil.” She kept saying it over and over, and when the baby started to cry, that’s when she snapped and dropped the child from that roof.

Leading her down to the reception, Batman left Vivian and the baby in the care of the hospital staff as he went to look for the medical records of the woman who jumped. Something wasn’t adding up.

~*~

It wasn’t just in Gotham that it happened. There were cases in Washington D.C. where a woman – a law abiding citizen – ran over people in the streets claiming to see monsters. Then in Metropolis where Superman encountered a father holding his family at gunpoint claiming that they were demons who ate his family, then he later showed that the neighbors were the same and have butchered them in his garage. All law abiding citizens and the phenomenon was happening around the world.

As Superman and Wonder Woman were stating their hypothesis, Batman couldn't help but speak up, “Are you talking about magic?”

“We have come up against magic before, Batman. Circe, Trigon, Felix Faust,” said Wonder Woman.

“Even Shazam's power is based on magic,” said Superman.

“And not to mention Mrs. Bats?” Hal pointed to his own ring finger to make a point. “For someone married to a witch, this really shouldn't be like a shock to you, you know. Can you really rule it out?”

Batman stood up, glaring at Hal and said to everyone, “Despite my relations with a magic-user, we don’t jump to the conclusion that it is magic that's causing the crimes in the streets. The criminally insane don't need magic as an excuse. I recommend spending more time in the streets instead of flying over them.”

He was firm in his statement as he left the Hall of Justice, but as he came home to Wayne Manor, to Vivian, he was starting to doubt what he said. He found her in their bedroom, staring out the window and drawing on the mist. When he called her the first time she didn't answer, so he came to tap her on the shoulder, this time she jumped and was shocked to see him there.

“Viv, is everything alright?” He asked her.

“I… not really,” she muttered. “I still can't sleep without seeing that woman's body.”

“What are you writing there?”

Vivian turned to the window, confused, “I don't know…” Coming near it she blew hot air on the window to see what she's written. They were in runes, ones that he wasn't familiar with.

“What does that mean?”

“I don't…” Vivian broke down on the ground. “I don't know what is happening.”

“Vivian,” Bruce knelt before her in worry. “Tell me…”

“I feel more sensitive with them – maybe it's because Hallow's Eve is coming, I don't know. It just feels too much – and that woman,” Vivian rubbed her arms to keep away those who kept asking for her attention. The ones he couldn't see. Bruce wrapped her in his arms and held her tight. This wasn't the first time she felt sensitive during Halloween. But this time was different. This was worse than the last time.

“Why did I choke at that time?” Vivian whispered. “Why didn't I…”

“It wasn't your fault, my love,” Bruce kissed her head.

He held her tight that night and didn't let her go until she had calmed and reassured him that she was feeling a lot better. Taking the opportunity, Bruce changed out of the Batman uniform and he called Tim and Damian, who were on patrol that night. They asked about the meeting in the Hall of Justice, which he didn't say much or at all, but when they asked about Vivian he told them the truth. He reassured them that there was nothing to worry about as she was asleep now. Ending the call with the order to get back home, Bruce was about to finish his routine when one moment he was holding the razor, the next he found his wife's lipstick in his hand, all blunt, and on the mirror had the name Constantine written across.

He wrote that, but that wasn't his handwriting.

“Bruce!” Vivian called from the room.

Running to her side, Bruce stopped as they came to the sight of the large name Constantine written on the wall.

“He got away before I could trap him,” Vivian told Bruce as he joined him in wonder. “Do you want me to come with you on this one?”

It would be helpful but with how she was now it was best if she stayed home with the boys and Alfred. “No need. I’ll head to see Zatanna and see how we can find Constantine. Unless you have his number.”

“He doesn't have a phone,” Vivian shrugged. “Never needed it. And last I remember he's now living in the House of Mysteries, and that's one tricky bugger to find. But,” she placed her thumb on his forehead and her palm on his chest. She whispered an incantation and for a moment Bruce saw a sigil appear on his chest and it disappeared. “A protection spell from bad spirits.”

“Thank you, Viv,” Bruce held her hands and kissed them.

“Just be safe… things aren't well right now outside. I can feel it.”

~*~

“Where’s Father?” Damian asked as he and Tim peeked in the master bedroom, both still in their Robin and Red Robin uniform. Vivian was sitting in bed grading some papers she thought of ticking out of her to do list.

“League business,” Vivian answered and beckoned them to enter the room. Damian wasted no time and ran to her side while Tim settled on the seat near the bed. “How was the patrol?”

“Captured some Nazi-shitheads,” Tim shrugged. “I made sure the cops and all of Gotham know about it too.”

Vivian laughed and bumped fists with him. “Good one. And you?”

“Nothing too major, some muggers attacking an elderly couple,” Damian answered. “We also ran into Batwoman.”

“How’s Kate?”

“Same old, I guess,” said Tim. “How are you, Viv?”

“Father said you’ve been feeling more sensitive than usual,” Damian added.

Vivian sighed and shrugged. “Halloween’s coming, that’s why. The times where ghosts make it more annoying for people like me because they want to bugger anyone who can listen.” Not exactly a lie but she decided not to mention about the choking incident that day. It’s been bothering her but whenever she tried to tell Bruce about it, she would choke too. It’s as if someone wants to isolate what’s happening to her.

It was why she placed a protection spell on Bruce. If she can’t protect him with simple spells, then let her protect him with a shield. One that would keep the unwanted from him, she can’t promise the criminally insane or the living mages but he’s protected from those that lurk in the darkness.

“Did you two finish your homework before heading out?” Vivian asked them. Damian and Tim avoided her gaze. “Hmm. Alright, get your work and we can have a study session here.”

“I don’t need a study session,” Damian muttered.

“Fine, then Tim and I can have a study session. I’ll get us some snacks too.”

Damian turned to Tim and saw the amused look on his face. “Fine, I’ll join your study session,” he said and went to his room to change and get his school work.

Tim laughed as Damian marched away. “We’ll be back,” he told Vivian and gave her hand a squeeze. “Hey, Viv, I know we’re not Bruce but we won’t let anything happen to you.”

Vivian smiled. “My little detective, all grown up. But no matter how much you grow up it’s still my job to protect you. Besides, I doubt Red Robin has something that can defeat the dead.”

“You’d be surprised.”

Alone in the room again, Vivian felt the suffocating presence of the unknown. It seems to feed off whenever she was alone, preferring it as it kept her paranoid. Fine, they want to play these games, she’ll play. And she’ll figure out who was doing this.

~*~

Batman didn’t know how he was going to explain to Lucius Fox, Alfred, and Vivian about the Batmobile. His concern was mostly his wife, especially when he tells her that a magical tornado attacked them in the middle of the road and it got the car. Either she will discuss the costs of a new Batmobile (which wouldn't be a problem really) or the fact he should have brought her with him that night. Zatanna and Constantine joked about Vivian telling him off about the car when they entered the House of Mysteries, but that laughter ended when Bruce told Constantine all that's been happening around the world.

“And what does the Missus say about this?” Constantine asked Batman.

“Vivian hasn't been feeling so well for the past few days. Her magic is everywhere,” said Batman.

“Figures, she's had the same problem before. Halloween's coming after all,” John shrugged. “It's the time when witches like her are more sensitive. Ghosts are coming to bug anyone they know can listen. It's like being a shrink for the dead.”

“She was also there when the woman jumped,” Batman added. “She feels like it's her fault for not saving her – she said she choked on a spell.”

“Choked?”

“Poor, Viv,” Zatanna whispered. “Is she alright alone?”

“She's a big girl now, Zee. Nothing for you to worry about. I'm sure she can cope, she always does,” John shrugged. But choking on a spell? That was something that felt odd. He's seen Vivian freeze in fear but choking on a spell? That woman would cast spells all willy-nilly and worry about the consequences after. That was before she sealed her magic. Her real magic. And there were numerous times he had to deal with the times she let that consume her. “Now, about that case…”

With magic, John was able to see the incidents as they played out through the eyes of each member of the Justice League that witnessed them. There was dark magic in play here, that he knew, but he needed a closer look, not in the eyes of those who saw the incidents but through the eyes of someone who lived it.

To do that he needed a tool. And he needed to visit someone who he’s had a falling out with since that night. Someone who was there to witness the true terrors of hell and paid the consequences of their actions.

“We'll need the Keshanti Key.”

“And where do we get that?” Batman asked

John sighed dramatically. “I could really use Vee on this one. She'd make things easier,” Constantine sighed. “She and Ritchie share the same resentment.”

“Ritchie?” Zatanna said. “Have you spoken to him since?”

Ritchie Simpon, Batman guessed. He's heard that name from one of Vivian's stories of her past when she dabbled with dark magic. He was there that night when Constantine was about to have the demon possess Vivian and kill it in her body. He still doesn't trust Constantine fully to leave Vivian with him. The man was the type of person who would do whatever means necessary to do the job and save himself. He would say he and John had similarities, but John had no morals to keep him from going down the road he's in now.

Reckless was one word Batman would use to describe him.

Survivor was what Vivian said then. And to survive their world means doing things that are even too dark for Batman to ever consider. It was one of the reasons why Vivian left that life and made sure to lock it behind closed doors. She literally bound it with chains just so she can start again.

“I tried,” he turned away to avoid having to explain. “I'm actually surprised he's survived this long.”

“John!”

“Vivian is out of the question on this one,” Batman said. “She's not –”

“I know, the big fire bird isn't feeling so hot right now.”

Fire bird? Batman thought. That was new.

~*~

“You're working overtime today, everything alright?” Vivian asked as she watched the road through the window as Alfred drove them to work and school that day. Bruce has asked the man to do so after Vivian's breakdown before he left, and Alfred willingly handled any sort of insistence that she could drive on her own calmly.

Now, she was in the front passenger seat, with Damian and Tim at the back, both wearing the Gotham Academy uniforms, listening in to her call with Bruce.

Waynes. A bunch of nosy people.

“Everything's fine. We're currently tracking down Gabriel.”

“You gotta be specific with Gabriel, Bruce. Not really a unique name.”

“The one you were well acquainted with.”

Oh. That Gabriel.

“Former Archangel Gabriel.”

That had the two boys and Alfred look at her with an intrigued look.

“When were you going to tell me that you slept with him so you and John could have his divinity taken?” Bruce huffed.

Vivian looked at the rear view mirror and she was sure the boys heard. Their faces said it all.

“Never…”

“Vivian.”

“Alright, I'm sorry. Like I said, I was a really different person then. And Gabriel is kind of an asshold – no, he is an asshole. And John and I needed him for something, so we did that plan to get him off of God's good graces, and so John can…”

“Hack off his wings?”

“Yes… I am not sorry for putting that asshole in his place but I can see the line that I crossed then. But all in the past.”

“How many exes do I have to look out for, exactly?” Bruce sighed. “And focus on the non-human list, please.”

“A couple that shouldn’t be too concerning. Gabriel is probably the only concerning one but I hear he's running a club now… just like Papa Midnite.”

Batman sighed.

To ease the coming headache, Vivian told him, “Hey, it wasn't that good, if that's what you're worried about. The angel was a virgin.”

“VIVIAN!” Tim and Damian exclaimed.

“Not really my concern but glad to hear. Is everything alright in Gotham?”

“Aside from people preparing for Halloween… not much crime, which is surprising.”

“I've asked one of the Leaguers to patrol Gotham tonight in case I don't get back early. Halloween's one of those nights when they tend to go wild.”

“Well, this is Gotham, love. It won't be Gotham unless the criminally insane throws a party on Halloween. It's like they thrive in it. Hey, be careful with Gabriel. He might not have his divine powers now but he's still immortal and has magic.”

“I will. Constantine told me as much. What are you doing heading to Gabriel's club anyway?”

“He attacked Ritchie Simpson in his home.”

“Ritchie? He's still… how is he?” She was surprised when she heard Ritchie's name. She's never reached out to him nor to anyone in their little group before since that incident. With his demon-induced cancer, she thought he was gone a long time ago but here she was, hearing he's alive.

“He's stable now. John left him in the House of Mysteries to rest. We're almost to Gabriel's club. I love you, Viv.”

Vivian smiled. “Love you, Bruce.”

She hung up the call and hid her phone. She glanced at Alfred's way and said, “We'll talk about it later with a pint.”

“I suppose we will. You seem to have more and more interesting stories, Mrs. Pryor.”

Vivian laughed and turned to the two boys in the back who were looking at her with gaping mouths.”Any questions about the…”

“NO!” Damian said.

Tim raised his hand. “Just out of curiosity. How did you — why did you do it though?”

“He was a complete asshole, but other than that we needed his access to some dimension. He won't give in, so we thought of tricking him to lose his divinity which was by unlocking god's chastity belt on him, and John hacking off his wings to use to control the bastard,” Vivian explained.

“What kind of cases did you take back then anyway?”

“The kind that would have Batman thrown me to Arkham. Good thing I'm married to him though.”

~*~

Battling Gabriel in his dimension took a lot longer than they hoped. After coming out of the dimension pocket that the former archangel created by literally punching out its walls and Batman punching the man's teeth out of his mouth, they were free and were in the shrouds of the night.

“That punch felt a little personal,” John teased Batman.

“A little bit,” he admitted.

“Don’t blame you. She made it really convincing, the hacking of wings was a little personal for me too. Now,” John picked up Gabriel with his bloodied shirt. “Why come back, Gabriel?”

Gabriel smirked and spat out the blood from his mouth. “I thought," Why not? I did say I was going to settle a score without a lot one day.”

“Really? After almost thirty years? Why wait this long?” When Gabriel said nothing, he raised his hand and prepared a spell. “Hard way it is.”

Gabriel laughed. He laughed like a madman, it brought chills down Bruce's spine. “Doesn't matter now, Johnny. I'm just a distraction.”

“What?” John gasped as the angel was suddenly transforming to something different. Slowly morphing to another being. “Fuck!”

But before Gabriel’s face could disappear he said to Batman, “You're a long way from home.”

“Constantine, what's happening?!” Batman bellowed.

“We were played like fools, Bats. They got us running around their little game. They wanted us away from Gotham. You left Vivian alone. On Hallow's Eve.”

No!

“But why – what do they want?” Zatanna asked.

“To finish what they started years ago,” said John. “They want to bring Hell on Earth. And they found a way to get to their portal. I should have finished it when I had the chance –”

Batman grabbed Constantine by the collar of his shirt and pushed him against the pillar with a fist ready to punch. “I dare you to say it, Constantine.”

“Batman!” Zatanna tried to stop him but even Boston Brand couldn't get the Batman off the occultist.

“You think I wanted to do it?! You think she was just someone I could throw away that time? Believe it or not but I did care for her. But it was necessary, Bats,” Constantine sneered.

“Necessary?! Her death was necessary!?” Batman roared.

“YES! Vivian isn't normal in our standards. The moment she came back from that trip to hell, I knew there was something wrong. Haven't you wondered why only a portion of her magic is gone and all of it? It's because she sealed the very thing that's giving her power.”

“What are you talking about John?” Zatanna asked.

“Vivian's power surpasses all of us or any demon or angel or god – it's the very thing that created all of this. She has the power to create and destroy universes. And I couldn't let that walk around in the body of an uneducated witch.”

“So you planned to kill her…” Batman sneered. “And what? Take the magic for yourself?”

“Me? No, I'm not mad enough to have that in me. The Firebird will be born into a new vessel – into a powerful psychic witch. That is the reason why they will never stop trying to get her. Because she can destroy and build her body over and over until hell has their army on this plain. She will give birth to thousands of demons.”

“But that doesn't give you the right to just kill her, John!” Zatanna exclaimed.

“I know that now! Listen, we can argue about it now or we head back to Gotham and get Vee to the House where she can be safe – ”

“The House which you ordered to follow your friend's every demand?” Batman released him. “And the very friend who sent us in this goose chase.”

As realization struck the two magicians and the ghost, Batman reached for his comms and started to call for anyone online. There must be someone now who can pick up.

“Robin, come in!” Batman spoke through their comms. “Robin! I need a status report – where is Vivian?”

No answer.

“Batman!” It was Tim who answered.

“Red Robin, what's happening in Gotham?”

“It's all chaos, Batman. People are going a rampage, it's like they're seeing monsters,” Red Robin reported.

“It's begun,” said Constantine, having overheard the call. “It's just like back then – it starts with Dark Magic controlling the minds of those around the ritual.”

“Yeah, but how come it's not affecting us?” Tim asked, as he heard John's comment.

“Take a big guess, does your mommy kiss you on the forehead goodnight? Or maybe sing you a song?”

Vivian. She would always come to the boys’ rooms to say goodnight, and when Dick and Jason moved out she would call them just to do the same. Then there was that song she and Alfred would always humm when in the kitchen.

“A protection spell,” Tim summed up. “Of course.”

“Aye, Vivian has a talent for that. Where is she?”

“That's the problem…” Tim sounded defeated. “Batman, I'm so sorry…”

“Tim, what is it?” Batman spoke.

“We weren't able to… Vivian locked us in the church and we couldn't get out. Someone took her! Some man who's like a Two-Face knockoff and an old guy with a cane. We're so sorry, Bruce. We weren't able to protect her.”

No!

“Balthazar,” John sneered.

“And Ritchie,” Zatanna identified the other one.

“Call everyone to Gotham, and try to get as many people as you can from the city. Do you understand?”

“We're kind of outnumbered here, Batman!” Kate spoke through the comms. “Even some of the Leaguers are having trouble –”

“GET THEM OUT OF THERE! I'll try to get there as quickly as I can,” he dropped from that channel and tried another. “Superman, do not let any of the Justice League enter Gotham! I repeat, no one in the Justice League should enter Gotham even by airspace! Do you understand? Superman!” No one was responding.

“This is bad,” John said. “By any chance you got your plane with you?”

“It'll take too long to have the Batplane over, it'll be too late by then.”

“I'll do it!” Zatanna said and got out her wand.

“Zee, don't!” John tried to stop her, but Zatanna had already cast the spell and teleported them from Los Angeles to the chaotic streets of Gotham. In the air, mixed with the smoke from the fires, there was a prominent smell of sulfur.

#batman #batman x reader #bruce wayne #dc fanfic #dc comics #dc universe #fanfic #dc batman #batman fanfiction #john constantine #justice league dark

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