#I might continue this later

[tiagems]

Love the idea of Hobie finding out that there's a "forbidden" dimension once he joins Spider Society. For Hobie, "forbidden" is code for "secrets inside" and he makes it a point to go there. No one tells Hobie Brown where he can and can't go, not even other spidermen.

He finds 1610 to be pretty unassuming. It's bright and colorful and everything New London isn't. It's snowing but Hobie doesn't get cold easily.

It's easy to find the Spiderman of this dimension. Hobie's spider sense alerts him to something big, and he's almost crushed by a monsterous Green Goblin being thrown into a wall. He jumps away just in time to avoid the rubble.

"C'mon, Norman, ain't you tired of this dance?"

A Spiderman decked out in black and red leaps through the air and aims to kick Green Goblin in the face. A huge clawed hand catches him by the ankle, but Spiderman twists and lands a kick square in Goblin's jaw with his free foot.

Oh, he's good. And fast.

Hobie watches as Spiderman lands on a nearby rooftop and they make eye contact. His spider sense tenses in a familiar way. You're like me, it whispers.

[arecaceae175]

"Help" + Warriors and Four (I just want a continuation of the dizzy prompt)

(Continuation of Dizzy. Warnings: concussion, almost passing out, nausea, blood mention)

“Wait, wait,” Four said. He staggered to a stop, almost losing his balance under Warriors’ weight. He managed to keep them both standing, but only barely. Warriors head was hanging low against his chest.

“It’s getting dark,” Four said. The sun had dipped below the treeline and they were rapidly losing the last of the light.

Warriors didn’t respond. Four felt his labored breathing.

Four bit his lip as he surveyed the forest. They were still on the trail, but there was no telling how much longer it would be before they found the others. Warriors was barely on his feet, and Four was losing stamina. He wouldn’t be able to fight off another horde like the first.

“We should make camp,” Four decided.

“The others,” Warriors whispered.

“I know,” Four muttered, though he was reasonably certain Warriors wouldn’t hear. “We’ll have to hope they find us.”

[qourmet]

in my head, the jiang territory is the second-to-last of the 5 major sects that cssr visits post the lan-hunt-gone-wrong. she befriends the nies beforehand much to the chagrin of the nie elders (cos whoops there's an eccentric who can match the energy of their young master & combined, their energy is as close to chaos-in-a-bottle as you can get) & once she has a fully established relationship with the jiangs & co & all who encompass that association, the nies host a nighthunt & cssr is Loathe to go back because she was there Within the year but the boys convince her to go anyways.

while the jiang boys arent inherently close to the nie heir, they're aware of the politics, of how he took a concubine before he took a wife, of how he & his wife were hitched last year, etc etc etc. Point is they don't interact with the nies all too much because jfm & wcz have an age difference with the nie-heir of like, 4+ years so at least As Teens he was Just Out of the cusp of their Age Range of Socializing.

Anyways they convince her to go with them as a guest disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang & the Minute they get there, xiao laopo is running crying into cssr's waiting embrace. Nie-gongzi & his wife have been away for politics since last week & she's been lonely, & despite the safety of residing in Qinghe Nie, she's still a scaredy cat who thinks she hears ghosts & such during the wee hours of the night (it doesn't help that Nie disciples have been gathering gui & such for the night hunt). wcz is shellshocked at how intimately two people of two totally different social standings meanwhile jfm is absolutely delighted at her easygoing personality & socializing. wcz discounts her relation to jfm cos jfm has been Actively trying to court cssr & considers her casual nature as a good sign that she's going to take a place next to him as his furen. Both girls are referring to each other very intimately & cssr even had a snack suited to xlp's tastes & xlp cries more about how relieved she is now that cssr is back while cssr tells her meimei to go clean her face & that they'll catch up later after nie-gongzi returns tonight. xlp agrees & leaves before someone can scold her for shameful displays & wcz freezes when he realizes that a lipstick stain has been imprinted on the collars of her robes.

She catches him staring & figures out why, smirks & strides over & teases him in a low voice so as not to be overheard by others about how he might want this kind of visual claim. she'd press, by the cute xlp? or by me? & skip away laughing when he turns visibly distressed.

[op-sys-chaos]

“Damian?” Bruce asks as he walks into the art studio. “Care to explain why there is a complete stranger in the batcave?”

“Ah, you’ve met our newest employee, I see.” Damian doesn’t even look up from his painting.

“Employee?” Bruce asks, trying to keep his composure and not shout at his son about the obvious security risk.

“Yes. You see, he is a homeless boy who is quite good with animals. I have interacted with him on more than one occasion. I offered him food and shelter on the condition that he care for the animals here. I’ve already discussed it with Alfred, and a room has been prepared for him in the servants’ quarters,” Damian explains.

“Damian. This is a MASSIVE security risk. You let a stranger who none of us have vetted into the cave and jeopardized our identities. You do see how this is a problem, right?”

Damian scoffs. “Of course I see the apparent issue, Father. But he found out my identity - quite by accident - and kept it a secret for weeks with no incentive to do so. I believe he will not share our identities with anyone. Especially not since he now relies on us for food and shelter.”

Bruce sighs, and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Damian. Even if that is the case, you still need to run it by the rest of us in the future, okay?”

Damian finally looks up, a small bit of regret on his face. “My apologies, Father. I shall endeavor to communicate more thoroughly in the future.”

“Thank you,” Bruce replies. “So. What do you know about him?”

“His name is Danny, and animals like him to the degree that I might guess that he’s a meta, except all of our interactions have been within the bounds of human limitations.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Bruce asks.

Damian outlines the incidents where he came into contact with Danny, from the raccoons Danny defended to the bird who stole Damian’s wallet. By the end of it, Bruce is inclined to agree with his son; while strange, the incidents aren’t behind human capabilities, especially since Danny didn’t seem to be actually ordering the animals around in any capacity. Damian had said that Danny had seem surprised to find Robin each time the animals brought them together. But Bruce suspected that something was up nonetheless, and vowed to investigate.

~~

“So,” Duke says the moment they’re alone. “What’s with the green glow around you?”

Danny blinks. “What?”

“I can see weird light stuff,” Duke explains, trying to tell the truth without giving a complete stranger the full details of his meta power. “But most people don’t have lots of neon green light surrounding them. I figured it’s the kind of thing you’d know about since it’s very, very strong.”

Danny gives a small smile to Duke. “I assume it’s from the ecto exposure,” he says. “My parents were scientists who studied ectoplasm, which is a neon green substance. They weren’t exactly big on lab safety, though, so I got exposed to it a lot.

Duke is fairly certain that that’s not the full story, but he lets Danny get away without further prying. “So how’d you end up as a… bat caretaker?” he settles for asking.

Danny laughs. “Animals like me, and apparently, they like Robin too. So they teamed up to get their favorite animal lovers to meet.”

Duke chuckles. “How so?”

Danny recounts the tales of how he and Robin met, much to Duke’s amusement. By the time he’s done, Duke has a better idea of who the teenager is. He’s smart and funny, and very caring about others, human or not. If Bruce had met him first and was in need of a Robin, he very well might have asked Danny. He’d fit in well here, and he even had the Robin looks as a bonus. (Not that the looks were a requirement per se, just look at Steph. But he still fit the pattern of the majority of the Robins.) As it is, Duke is confident that Danny will do well in Wayne Manor if he gets to stay.

“So. Damian told me about the animals, but he didn’t tell me much about their personalities. Are any of them mean to strangers?” Danny asks after a moment of silence.

“Nah,” Duke replies. “If anything, they’re indifferent to new people - that is, unless the new people try to harm others. Then you’re looking at a squad of badass animals who will kick you into next week.”

“Got it,” Danny says with a grin. “We should be fine then. Animals like me.”

“Oh? Why’s that?” Duke asks.

“They like dead things,” Danny replies with a shrug.

Duke’s brain short circuits. “What?”

“I told you that my parents studied ectoplasm, right?” he asks with a frown.

“Yeah?”

“Ectoplasm is essentially concentrated death energy,” Danny explains, like this is something obvious.

“Oh,” Duke says, starting to get it. “So with how much of a death aura you have, from all that exposure-“

“Yeah. The animals flock to me like I’m Cinderella.”

Duke nods. “Okay, that makes a lot more sense.”

Bruce comes down the stairs a moment later. “Danny, you may stay. I assume Damian already briefed you on the care and keeping of the animals, since you came prepared. You may begin your tasks.”

Danny nods. “Cool, thanks!” He begins his chores without a further word, and Duke turns to Bruce to share his findings.

Disney princess Danny

It’s known that animals can sense death. Instances where pets gravitate to someone on their death bed and dogs barking at ghosts. Danny already knew this from before he half died, so he was expecting animals to rat him out with their sixth sense or become aggressive or cower from him. Instead, they all behaved the complete opposite than he anticipated.

Stray cats come running to rub against his legs, dogs nearly pull arms out of their owners sockets to get close to him, birds bring him trinkets, raccoons lead him to trash cans full of food, and even squirrels and rats get close to just sit on his shoulders. It’s… weird, but not unwelcome. He always loved animals.

Danny had come to semi-trust the animals that come to him. They know where the good food is and drinking water, they know when to steer away from a certain area right before something happens, and they always know when a person is bad or okay. So when an animal leads him somewhere, he follows. Sometimes they need help and he’s the one they go to. He’s helped plenty of raccoons out of garbage bins and cats out of gutters to have a good relationship with the animals of the streets.

What he isn’t expecting is to be led to Robin again and again.

The first time it was a cat. A mangy old Tom cat that rubbed against his torn up jeans and looked back with - Danny swears- a raised eyebrow. Danny follows and soon enough he finds himself standing a few paces away from Robin who is kneeling down to give clean water to the momma cat and her three kittens.

Robin freezes and so does Danny. They stare at each other.

“Um, hi?”

Robin straightens immediately, leaving the water on the ground where the cats can drink. Tom cat swaggers over to guard them.

“Civilian. Is there something I can assist you with?”

The dude is probably a year or two younger than Danny himself and he has to suppress a smile at the formal tone.

“Oh, uh, no? The cat just led me here.”

He can see Robin glance at the Tom cat who was now licking himself.

“Is that so?”

“Yea. Sorry to interrupt. Animals just like me for some reason.”

The three kittens one by one all totter over to him on unsteady legs after they had their fill. The orange one starts trying to climb his pant leg with its short and sharp claws digging into the jean material.

“They really like me.”

He carefully sits down crossed legged so the others could also climb all over him. Robin watches for a moment silently and when he sees Danny react well to the little pricks from tiny claws, he seems it safe enough to return to patrol.

The second time it’s a couple of rats that lure him away to find Robin fighting off more thugs than he probably should by himself. So taking the rats’ movements as encouragement, he takes the closest thing, a piece of plywood, and hit the nearest guy over the head with it. The guy crumbles like a wet sock and Danny is moving on to the next thug.

They sweep the floor with these guys with only a few splinters and a twisted ankle.

“It was dangerous to intervene,” Robin tells him. “I had it handled.”

“Yea, I know.”

The vigilante didn’t seem to be expecting that response from his stunned silence. He straightens as much as he can with bruised ribs.

“Well, I’m glad you know your mistake. Don’t let it happen again.”

Danny neither agrees nor disagrees, just shrugs and allow the rats to climb up his leg to his shoulder. Robin looks at them curiously. Danny gives a salute before leaving. Robin gives him a nod.

The third time it happened the roles are reversed.

Some people from the local gang are bullying the lonely, homeless teen to run drugs for them. They don’t seem to understand the word ‘no’. It gets to the point where Danny finds himself with his back against the wall and all his exits blocked with a guy shoving him again and again.

“Stop it!”

“I’ll stop if you agree.”

“I’m not doing it!”

Frank the raccoon and his buddy Bobby launch themselves at the guy’s ankles. The guy shrieks and pulls a gun.

“No!”

Before Danny can dive for it, a projectile comes out of nowhere to knock it out of his hands. He can’t even process what happened before the three are running away, two raccoons chattering at their heels before coming back to crowd him in worry.

Danny looks up to see Robin with a sword out threateningly, staring at where the three fled. He sheaths the sword after a few seconds.

“Are you okay?”

Danny realizes he’s breathing a little heavy and slows down a bit as he leans over to pet the top of the two heads.

“I’m- yea, I’m okay. Thanks for the save. Those guys were jerks.”

“I’m inclined to agree.”

Robin is staring at the raccoons and it takes Danny a long moment to piece things together.

“Did- did they lead you to me?”

Robin doesn’t answer right away.

“You have loyal friends.”

Danny smiles at the weird compliment. Looking down at the two heroes of the evening Danny is also inclined to agree.

The fourth time is funny in a way Danny doesn’t know how to describe.

It was the pigeons. They were at fault of course for how Robin’s secret identity was outed. By pigeons.

The grey birds swarmed Danny and settled in a cloud of feathers. One holding something in its beak before plopping it down in his lap like a golden retriever. It flaps off as Danny picks up the obvious wallet clip holding quite a bit of cash and a student ID. The card says Damian Wayne from Gotham Academy. Just then Robin comes skidding around the corner, clearly out of breath and freezes.

Danny looks down at the clip in his hand and back up at the vigilante. He looks at the crazy amount of birds around him and again at the vigilante.

Said vigilante straightens and approaches like he called Danny there.

“If I could have that so I could return it to its proper owner.”

He holds out a hand with false arrogance, but Danny can see the nervousness in his stance. Danny looks down one last time before putting the clip in the outstretched hand without a word.

Robin nods once, pockets the ID and money, and immediately leaves.

The fifth time just cements what Danny had already figured out.

He was at the park. Not Ivy’s park of course, the one where people actually like to go. He was helping the squirrels find and hide acorns when he’s nearly knocked over by a massive black dog.

“Titus!”

The end of the Great Dane’s leash is a familiar face. Damian Wayne’s eyes widen in recognition as he finally sees who Titus was so excited to get to.

“Uh-“

Danny has to close his mouth quickly or else the massive tongue on his face would have turned into a French kiss.

“Titus! Heel!”

Danny laughs at the embarrassed blush on the other’s face, obviously not used to his companion going off the rails like this.

“It’s alright. We both know how animals like me.”

Damian narrows his eyes to analyze the teen. Danny wasn’t about to pretend and Damian looked like he was debating whether to follow his lead or not. There was literally no one within hearing distance.

“Have you told anyone?”

Danny thought about redirecting, but thought better of it. He actually liked Robin and what he did.

“Nope. I haven’t and I won’t. I swear.”

Damian tilts his head and then looks down at Titus. He seems to come to a decision before looking back at Danny.

“You’re homeless, are you not?”

Didn’t think they were being that direct but sure.

“Yea?”

“I will pay you in food and shelter to take care of my animals.”

Danny blinks. Then actually considers the offer.

“What kind of animals? How many we talking?”

Damian grins.

The family finds out pretty quickly when a teen they’ve never seen before walks into the Batcave with two pails of food for the bats, Titus at his heels and Alfred the cat perched contently on his shoulders.

Duke stares and Bruce short circuits.

“Um, who are you?”

“Hi! I’m Danny. Damian employed me to take care of the animals.”

“O…kay?”

“And where is Damian?” Bruce sounds like it physically hurts to ask and Danny does not envy Damian’s position right now.

“Upstairs. I think he said he was going to his art studio.”

Bruce marches past the boy to the stairs before stopping abruptly and turning to Danny and Duke.

“Don’t touch anything. Watch him.”

Duke and Danny blink at each other for a moment as Bruce disappears up the stairs.

“I’m Duke by the way.”

Danny grins.

[writingwordsgayly]

I stumble into the empty and dark apartment, silently thankful for his stubbornness about that damn spare key, I make it to his bathroom, and get to work finding his first-aid kit, once I finally find it I get to work patching myself up. I'm normally more careful but I was distracted tonight, I was sloppy,and I'm lucky the only price ill be paying is the price of the cleaner I'll be using to clean this mess up. and I'm even luckier he is out of town untill next week with his family, because he haven't talked in over a year. and he probably still thinks I get winded walking up a flight of stairs.

once I bandage what I can. I begin the slow process of cleaning my stab wound, after the first pass I hear the front door open, I curse myself silently for forgetting to lock it and for being reckless about being followed. I turn the bathroom light off and try to catch a glance of who had followed me, but I see him. as beautiful as he always has been, his skin tanned with luggage in his hand. though his face is pale and his expression horrified. I attempt to take a step back but my foot slips on the blood I have decorated this poor mans floor with. I try to avoid making any noise but I'm sure I fail. I think of pretending to be lost and confused, maybe a little crazy, but the look on his face as he's standing over me tells me even before he says my name that that wont work.

"I thought the vacation ended next week" I say because I'm so smooth all the time, I clutch my side and try to sit up. he drops whatever he was holding and he moves towards me, I go to move away but my hand slips on the blood once again, he grabs my shoulder so I don't fall again

"I came back a week earlier for a meeting, what happened, what are you doing here, do I need to defend us?" I almost laugh at the last question, always my protector even when my own stubbornness is what ended our friendship. I allow him to help me lean against the cabinet behind me.

"I lost a fight because I'm stupid, I thought you were out of town and I was way closer to your apartment than mine, we should be good" I say trying to keep the pain from my voice, I lift my shirt to try and get an angle on the wound but I can't see it, the sharp breath in from Graham tells me everything I need to know though

"we need to get you to a hospital, that looks nasty" if the cops saw me get stabbed, they shot at me as I ran, if anyone wouldn't understand it would be go by the book Graham. i shake my head as quickly as I can, before I can get the words out

"I can't Graham, I-" I pause trying to figure out how to explain that I'll end up in cuffs if I set foot into the hospital with a stab wound matching their last serial killer who they saw stab a wanted vigilante.

"if it's about the money I can pay! I don't mind! just *please* that looks bad, you know I flunked out of medical school!"

"it's not about the money! I *can't* " I say again trying to stand up, Graham looks conflicted but helps me stand once I find my footing, I lift my shirt and begin to stitch myself up in the mirror but he grabs my hand

"why can't you? are you in danger? Is it that guy you were dating? what was it, Tom? you should have never dated a guy who's favourite movie i-" I put my finger over his mouth as he rambles, taking a deep breath

"it's not Tom, he wasn't violent he was just a cheater, I, I got stabbed stopping a mugging" I start small, trying to pull my hand out of his to continue, but he just pulls my hand towards him, weird choice when I have a needle in my hand, but he always did trust me too much

"wait you got mugged?!" I guess i should have seen that coming

"no not me getting mugged, Graham please let me finish this, I feel like I've lost a lot of blood" that does not comfort him.

"you're doing it wrong though! come on, please can I take you to the hospital, this is important!" I sigh and try to pull my hand away again, always the second most stubborn man in the room, second only to me

"I've done this plenty of times thank you very much" he does let my hand go at that

"how many times?! and how did you get stabbed if someone else is getting mu- wait! let me please I know you can't see it right!" I look at his face and see concern, as his eyes stay focused on my hands

"I thought you said you dropped out of medical school?" I quirk an eye brow and he laughs, in that moment I know I missed the sound

" I did, but I am a paramedic now, I just want to make sure you get the proper treatment, but if you won't go to the hospital I'm the best we got!"

I try to avoid looking at him as gentle hands do their practiced work, I see the difference in the stitches, his even and symmetrical, mine are haphazard and rushed, his gaze steady mine Flit around the apartment nervously, once she does the final stitch I can no longer hold the words on my mouth

"I'm sorry grey" he laughs and pats my arm,

"I'm glad you came here instead of trying to do it in an alley somewhere, the blood will come out, and now you get to make me dinner as payment!" I laugh along even though that's not what I'm apologizing for.

[queewp]

bill wanted to see Ford fly, not fly with him, smh

bill MIGHT have a fear of heights

[haveihitanerve]

Gotham Protects Her Own

“Gotham protects her own.” Bruce had whispered to him once, in a, at the time, not so rare moment of affection, cradling dick to his chest as they looked over his city. Their city. Batman and Robin. Dick had believed him, of course, but he hadn’t really felt it. Not until he had stood at the bats side for the second year in a row, and his cape had fluttered. Dicks cape had never fluttered while he was standing. Running across the rooftops? Sure. Jumping over a chimney? Most definitely. But just standing still, no movement? It had never happened. Bruce’s did, from the very beginning Bruce’s cape had flown behind him, flapping with grace in the wind that was not there. But dicks hadn’t. But now… Bruce smiled down at him, pride lining every line in his face, before he took off across the roof, a challenge and a test at the same time. Dick chased after him, and for the first time since he had become Robin, he flew. His feet barely touched down, cushioned by the roofs, by shadows, and he laughed, wild and bright and free, and Bruce joined him, laugh deep and rich and full. Dick belonged to Gotham now, the city had laid her claim on him, and as Batman and Robin flew across the city, Dick could hear a new laugh join them, light and happy and feminine, delighted by their delight, their acceptance. Gotham protects her own, and Dick Grayson-Wayne, the first Robin, had earned that right, that protection, with his leaps and jokes and belief in Batman, in a belief in the city, in the belief that it could be better. 

Gotham protects her own. Catherine Todd had murmured to him once, late one night, a bruise blossoming on her cheek, eyes heavy from drugs. She was close to death, Jason could feel it practically wafting off her, and he didn't think much of her last words, a hazy drugged hallucination, slurred speech. But then she had passed and Jason had left, choosing the street over his father and then he had understood. People came looking for him, naturally, even his father ventured out, but shadows seemed to envelop him, the streets opened to his footfalls, and he always found a safe place to sleep, never waking with his things stolen or suddenly kidnapped. Jason could feel the city, his very lifeblood, could hear her music in her traffic, felt her song in the earthquakes. Gotham cradled him, sheltered him, and when the time came, pushed him to a left unattended Batmobile, tempting him to steal the tires. For the first time, Jason doubted his city, hated her for sending him into a trap. But then he became Robin, and Gotham squealed in delight, and Jason watched in awe as Bruce flew, as Gotham made his cloak billow, as she nurtured her prodigal son. Batman had gotten injured, once, badly enough that he had struggled with his grapple line, and it had snapped. Jason had screamed, lunging for him, but it was too late. Before he could cry over the dead body of his mentor, he found Bruce at the bottom of the building, not much worse for wear at all. Gotham had cradled him, shadows leaping to cushion his fall. Jason had laughed with glee, rushing Bruce home as quickly as possible, and something had brushed his cheek, a faint kiss against his forehead. Gotham protects her own and Jason Todd-Wayne, the second Robin, had been born into that right, that protection, and felt her city pound through his body like blood, feeding his soul. 

Gotham protects her own. Tim had seen the slogan on a Wayne Enterprise billboard once, when he had been seven, an ad campaign promoting insurance and helpful housing. It had become a sort of mantra for him, something he whispered under his breath every time his father made a snide comment about Tim lacking proper talent or social skills, after every call his parents declined, after every fight that had him biting his lip to stop the tears and debate running away. Gotham protects her own. Became his lifeline, his mantra, a promise of a better life. It wasn't anything he ever believed, until he finally worked up the courage to approach Bruce Wayne about the secret. Tim slipped on the Robin uniform for the first time… And something inside him settled. A woman's voice in the back of Tim’s head squealed. But as he raced over the rooftops, finally at Batman's side as he always dreamed to be instead of a few feet behind, snapping pictures, his cape dancing with the wind, his feet hardly touching down, that mantra, that false belief of hope, of a better life, became truth. Gotham protects her own, and Tim Drake-Wayne, the third Robin, had believed in that truth his whole life, wishing with every fiber of his being that she would protect him, and she finally had. 

Gotham protects her own. David Cain had warned her once, telling her great stories of the city with air of midnight black, of water a putrid green, and of a people a hardy and tough. It hadn't been a compliment, just another obstacle she would need to overcome to fulfill her future missions. She had believed him, of course, but… she had never truly known what it meant. Not until she had stumbled into the city, hurt, bleeding, afraid, and she had felt that… otherworldly power. Reaching for her. Its tendrils soft and kind, like a mother, shadows stretching across her, shielding her, as the League prowled the streets. It wasn't until she saw him. The Bat. And his little Bird, brutal efficiency and yet mercy in every action, wasn't until she saw how Gotham cradled them, lifted them, helped them to fly. Gotham had been more accepting to her than she had thought. Maybe because she hadn't hurt her children. Maybe because she knew her pain. Maybe because Cass had been so afraid. But whatever the reason, when Cassandra Cain-Wayne took to the streets, a proud, blazing Bat on her chest, her cape billowing behind her, Gotham sang. 

“Gotham protects her own!” Arthur Brown had screamed once. It had been in a fit of rage, followed by the sounds of windows crashing and tables smashing against the wall. He had been angry, livid even, the sound of his footsteps heavy and hard on the floor as he stormed around, pissed that Batman was unreachable for him, untouchable, protected by the city he claimed to do the same to. Steph knew the truth in the words, had been protected by them her whole life, finding a window open right when her father got home, the closet door unlocked miraculously after her father had locked her up, alleyways opening for her to escape through when bigger kids picked on her, or the cops chased her. And it happened now, as Arthur Brown came storming for her, rage and malice and every evil intention written across his features. Steph could feel that tug, that indescribable feeling of home, and she took a step back, melting into the shadows as she fled, fled her home, fled her father, fled his wrath and everything wrong with the world. She settled on the roof, the way she always did when he got like this, and waited, as she always did. For it to end. For him to stop. It was that night that she saw him for the first time. Steph had heard of him, of course, the Batman was infamous throughout Gotham by now, but she had never seen him in person. Never watched his work. It was at Bethany’s house. Bethany’s father, Vincent, was screaming again. The way Arthur was. But Gotham, Gotham didn't protect Bethany the way she did Steph. Or maybe Bethany just didn't listen. But Batman.. Batman listened. Batman protected. Steph watched, wide eyed, as he jumped through the window, as he grabbed Vincent by the throat and slammed him against the wall, snarling in his face. Steph watched, hands clutching her teddy, wondering whether she would rather risk her father than this demon. But he stopped. Paused. Threw Vincent to the ground in disgust, unconscious, and turned to Bethany. Beth had stopped moving, the way she always did when Vincent got the way he did, dissociating so she wouldn't feel his hands on her. Steph didn't think it worked, but it was something. Batman bent down, gentle, slowly, a few feet away, extending a hand to Beth. Steph couldn't hear what he said, couldn't see his face, but Beth blinked at him. She blinked, and she walked closer, slowly. And Batman… Batman held her, held her until she was crying, held her through her tears and wiped her eyes and rubbed her back, held her until she was asleep without nightmares, and carried her to bed, tucking her in gently. Steph didn't know how long she sat there, watching as he cared for this little girl, forgoing the Bat Symbol in the sky, and his anger, for her. Gotham protects her own, Steph swore as she watched him drop from the window the same night, flitting away on shadows only she could see. Gotham protects her own, and she would protect Gotham. She would mold herself after the Bat, and help. 

[corkinavoid]

DPxDC Afterlife, But It's A Bar

[discontinued, feel free to add on]

It was weird. Not wrong, alarming or dangerous type of weird. Not good or comforting either.

Just plain weird.

It all started a few days ago, on Wednesday, to be exact. On a rare occasion, Jason was patrolling outside of his territory ("cover for me, I have a date" my ass, Replacement), and he spotted something out of place. A neon green, almost toxic colored sign that read "Afterlife".

Honestly, who names a place like that? But judging by the placement and design, it was a bar, and Jason could almost appreciate the irony. Maybe it had a slogan along the lines of "our drinks will send you beyond the lines of life and death" or something. But at the same time, it could be interpreted as "alcohol can and will be the death of you," which, technically, is not the best PR campaign for a bar.

Jason decided to visit the place anyway. He was curious about the implied death joke, sue him.

Of course, he didn't visit immediately. He was still on patrol, and he just heard the sound of gunshots to the west. Not to say that the place was quiet.

(Oddly quiet for a bar in Gotham, now that he thinks about it)

Anyway, the next day, he went there not as Red Hood but as Jason Todd, an ordinary civilian who decided to grab a beer in the evening. Only to not find the place.

He couldn't have just miss it - he remembered the street, he knew the building, he was absolutely fucking sure where the "Afterlife" should have been. He searched the whole block nonetheless, and then proceeded to check the whole area, but to no avail.

Damn, it seems like he can't get to the afterlife both literally and- the other literally. Yeah, he might be having too much fun with the oddly chosen name for the nonexistent bar.

It didn't exist on the maps and internet either. At this point, Jason was contemplating the idea of it being a hallucination or a dream. He even checked the recording on his helmet from Wednesday night, but the whole time he was in the area, the video was filled with interference and static.

Weird. Slightly suspicious, but Red Robin, who's been patrolling the same area for weeks before him, never reported any interferences, so it probably had something to do with his helmet and not the area in general.

On Thursday night, he purposefully went there right after patrol. And the nonexistent bar suddenly existed again! The same neon green sign, the same quiet street around it.

Seriously, what is this mysterious fuckery?

Now, if he was a Bat, he would have reported this to others and investigated, lurked around in shadows, and approached with caution. If he was a Robin, he would have still reported and then straight up marched in there and saw how it goes.

Alas, he was Red Hood, so he decided to watch for the bar guests and see just who the hell goes in and out of the place.

And there was the next weird thing.

No one was going in or out. Jason sat there for a whole hour, and not even one person entered or left the building. Despite the muffled sounds of music, voices and laughter coming from the place.

The final kicker was the fact that after some careful questioning and dropping hints, Jason found out that no one except him ever saw the "Afterlife"'s sign. No one's even heard of it, both the Batclan and the Gothamites.

The fuck?

So he did the next logical thing. He brought the smartest member of the Bats with him. Tim owed him anyway. Might as well use it now instead of later.

Friday night proved two things: one, Tim was still his favorite to work with out of all the bats and birds, not questioning anything as to why Jason is asking him to check out a bar, and two, Jason just might be going insane.

Tim couldn't see the "Afterlife" even when Jason pointed at the sign from not further than ten feet. The irony of the stipid name was not even amusing anymore.

Tim didn't ask any questions after this experiment, and Jason didn't want to admit that he is losing the grip of reality, so they ended up simply parting their ways after. Can the Pits cause brain damage? More damage than there was in the first place, that is.

Now that he thinks about it, the color of the sign is really similar to the Lazarus waters. He should have noticed it sooner, but in his defense, who would look at the bubbling pool of toxic waters and think, "Oh, that would make a dope neon sign"? Apparently, the owner of the "Afterlife".

The color might be just a coincidence.

...no, in the world he lives in, coincidences like this just don't happen. Besides, Jason doesn't believe in shit like fate or destiny.

So, here he is, on Saturday night, standing in front of the door to the Afterlife. It would have been funny if it wasn't so weird. What's even more weird is that the closer he gets to the door, the less nervous he feels, like the place is radiating some calming aura. Wait, no, scratch that, Jason is so not calling it a calming aura for God's sake. That sounds just like those homemade witches with their crystals, tarot readings, and whatnot.

He's going to call it... tranquilizer vibes. Yeah, that's better.

He takes a deep breath, getting ready to see whatever it is on the other side, pushes the door open, and walks into the bar.

...

Whatever he's been expecting to see, it's not this.

[tearystarz]

Drew lil scene from @missylink 's dbh fanfic she's currently writing >:3 will link when published!!🫶

[quaintcy]

daud wip i might never finish

[starflungwaddledee]

i wanted to do a piece to commemorate all the amazing waddle dees who entered the @kirbyoctournament this year! as starstruck is the last dee standing in the mainline tourney, that's a big legacy to carry, but she's doing her best...!

if you want to help her keep fighting the fight for the Humble Waddle Dee against all these super cool knights, dark matters, gods, and ancients, you can vote for starstruck here!

additionally with the first round of second chance voting now open, all these dee's are back for more, and you can give them your vote in the second chance bracket!! sadly a few of them are up against each other, but from top to bottom, here are links to vote for your favourites!

galaxia // ideena // pip // fondue // starry // mimi // daisy // rainbow // wadhat // wridee // stellar // rope mf // keyper // seam // lemon // flower // and of course starstruck being squished to within an inch of her life there 😂

character credits, from top to bottom!

galaxia @centellazul // ideena @tazmilygray // pip @emmyp0ps // fondue @moonmacabre01 // starry @staring-at-a-blank-pagee // mimi @clownie-rainbow // daisy @starrygoober // rainbow @cali-kabi // wadhat @iwontusethis255 // wridee @mxmanynames // stellar @drawscutestuff // rope mf @mint-termsandconditions // keyper @bloodiegawz // seam @cloud-the-forgotten // lemon @snazzyladreal // flower @eliastheownerof0axolotls

i hope you all enjoy it!! best of luck to everyone and their wanyas in the tourney and second chance!! 💖🙏

[confusedshades]

So I'm imagining that Jason didn't give up his phone throughout his stay with the League. I'm guessing he cited sentimental reasons and at first Talia didn't see the sense in it but let him do it while monitoring any outgoing messages and calls which is how she missed the incoming voicemails. Jason had a fair few to go through from the pre Pit dip time what with Tim calling every week minimum - sometimes more even.

It's those voicemails that allow Jason to first start seeing Talia's manipulations. He goes through with all the training he is offered and shows up in Gotham guns blazing.

Before his explosive public debute however he sets up surveillance on Tim and his house first. Sees the lack of parents and the only occasional visit of the housekeeper. Scowls and goes to set up a separate safehouse using the drugs and crime money he's started getting from his movements in Crime Alley. (Using league money would mean having them be aware of his fondness for Tim. That's a big No in his book)

He's also been making it clear to all the criminals in Gotham that Robin is off limits - something Tim has noticed but not brought up too much because the last time he did Bruce just grunted and Dick said that he's probably imagining it.

Only once he's got the off grid safe house set up, but before he can figure out how to approach Robin!Tim directly he decides to go with the heads in the duffle bag situation. (His impulse control gets a bit harder to manage post Pit in my opinion. It's not a case of pure rage per say but rather cold calculation and logic meets slight impulse issues which are supported and refined by his superior skills and ease in adapting to situations making him a difficult opponent.)

That brings in attention from the Bats and the big players (some rogues and a couple of the mob families too) he'd been avoiding but Jason decides to roll with it and after a couple of brutal weeks Crime Alley actually settles a bit. It'd been a bit more quiet once Jason had started setting up, and the sudden explosive fights had felt like a kicked over anthill, but after everything is over? It's not as bad as it used to be. Definitely better than it was but not the best place so to speak.

Batman and Nightwing both separately tried going to investigate but were immediately found out and driven out. These would be the first of the face to face fights Jason's had with either of them. Unbeknownst to all three Robin had decided to try and sneak in to figure out what he could while this is happening despite being told to stay out of the area by Batman. His discovery was in essence; people see Robin and tell him to go away, criminals see Robin they just flee. Or surrender. None of them engage him, none of them respond to anything he asks.

When he reports his findings he gets benched and for the first time it's Bruce and Dick agreeing with each other and giving no explanation. Usually he's able to get an explanation or figure out what but this time? Blank wall. Even Alfred's unwilling to say more than "It would be best to listen to them in this case Master Timothy."

So Tim, fuming and upset and frustrated goes home to get some space. That night he gets a tap on his bedroom window and sees a note on the fire escape and Red Hood on the roof of the building opposite.

Tim goes onto the fire escape and sees that the note says "I only want to talk about the voicemails." Tim, who hasn't slept enough, is frustrated and upset, can't for the life of him figure out what voicemails.

But he climbs the fire escape to the roof like a civilian would because he's not going to jeopardize Robin and all the associated IDs. Jason talks to Tim, doesn't tell him his identity but does tell him that "Jason is alive and has heard all the voicemails" That has Tim shocked beyond belief and wide awake.

He leaves with the statement "If you want to know more, call that number tomorrow. Jason will answer."

Tim being suspicious but curious does call and attempts to trace the call. The call convinces Tim that this is either actually Jason or a very clever/dangerous impersonator so he decides to try and find out what's the truth. The call traces back to Wayne Manor which leads nowhere new except convincing him that something is up.

A couple of more weeks and Tim wheedles information about one of the earliest training sessions that Jason had had with Nightwing (train surfing) which Dick had once mentioned to Tim in passing but never again. That is what convinces Tim that the person is in fact Jason. He's still benched but with his parents in town for once isn't quite left alone at night. Even if they're usually at Drake Industries or some gala or some other event. The day Tim is convinced is the day Jack and Janet leave last minute with no warning as such.

The next night Red Hood shows up again, grabs Tim and takes him to the off grid safe house.

The afternoon after, Dick goes to collect Tim (I'm using hand wavey logic of Dick tracking/realising Jack and Janet accidentally and realising that Tim's on his own) only to discover that Tim isn't there. He checks the school and figures out that Tim had in fact attended that day.

Cue warpath.

Prompt

Tim is a genius, so it’s really no surprise that he’s got the number of each batfamily member saved in his phone long before he becomes Robin.

But then Jason dies (and comes back to life) and Tim is struggling to keep Bruce alive and Dick from spiraling.

To cope with the stress of having the lives of Gotham’s two most important vigilantes depend on him he starts leaving Jason voicemails and text messages on his old number detailing progress and setbacks, fears and hopes, and the dream of finally finding somewhere he belongs. Along with the crushing realization that Tim’s own hero — Jason— is long dead.

Unbeknownst to Tim, Jason listens to and reads every single one of the messages.

[blenselche]

you can only take so many hours of ancient aliens before u snap tbf

[rxg1nald]

[usagifuyusummer]

More silly and fun practice sketches on the Victorian Era FOP AU lol. Just gonna post them here first while we're still developing this and busy with our real-life duties as students.

There's actually a ton of my thoughts in the alt text of these images lol. I hope it's still there. I will also include the links of the existing posts relating to this AU to keep track of what has been created.

Origin Discussion Posts

Updated Character Designs 1

Updated Character Designs and Concepts 2

Concept Art 1: Boy with a Parasol

Tumblr Asks 1

Credit: @keyintheeye-blog original creator and the default character designer of this Victorian Era FOP AU.

I will post my other thoughts (something like a what's happening update) on the repost of this later. Gotta get back to my unavoidable university duties... Have a nice day tho 💐

[copia]

endless ghifs 7/? ⛧ source — "— to the ground!"