#a series of unfortunate events aka-

[vfdinthewild]

“They told us the very first day.”

-from Babel by R. F. Kuang, ch. 32.

[midnight-els]

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the West Wing would have been even better if they'd had a White House cat. Some headcanons bc I was thinking about it today:

Jed gave the cat a very grand, biblical name. Everyone else has shortened it to something very stupid.

Obviously all of the press and the public adore the cat. There's a minor upset in a polling themed episode when Joey confirms that once again the cat has higher approval ratings than the president. Josh is cross that they are polling on this at all.

There is one chair in the Oval Office that is The Cat's Chair. The staff know not to sit there as you'll get a. covered in fur and b. screamed at by an irate cat trying to force you off. They never warn any of their least favourite congresspeople about this.

The cat wanders around in the background of episodes, often being chased or petted by the extras.

The cat is not allowed in the situation room. The cat is always in the situation room. They had to come up with a special bug detecting protocol for the cat in case anyone tried to take advantage of this.

Ripped from the headlines plot about a congressional investigation into something related to the cat, based on the incident about Clinton's cat's postage.

The cat LOVES Air Force One. The Secret Service do not love having to get him on board or captured to get back off.

Leo and the cat are best friends. They're basically this meme. Leo's the grandma. Jed is the mom.

Aside from Leo, the cat loves the secretaries best. They always have lots of treats for him in their desks. Debbie is the only one he doesn't get on with; she has resorted to using a plant mister to spray him when he tries to get on her desk.

Josh thinks he and the cat are archenemies. The cat hasn't paid more than 2 seconds notice to Josh in his life.

CJ and the cat are archenemies. CJ was very pro-cat until she caught it fishing in Gail's bowl one day. Now she's at war to keep it out of her office. She's still trying to convince Danny to write a piece exposing the cat's dark side to its adoring public. Carol is very tired.

Sam wants so badly to be best friends with the cat. The cat thinks he's trying too hard. Will ends up exactly the same way.

Toby and the cat have never properly interacted and both are very happy to leave it that way.

The cat is supposed to stay in the residence during big events. Abbey stopped enforcing that after he got out and scratched Lord John Marbury when he picked him up against his will.

The cat has a secret service code name. One time, the code names are changed and an overenthusiatic reporter tries to break a story on the first lady's 'unusual activity' by following what he thinks is her code name. It's the cat's. CJ dines out on this for weeks.

The cat occasionally goes missing. The secretaries and Charlie have a recurring B-plot where they have to go and recover him. Somehow, the cat has always ended up somewhere relevant to the A-plot.

The cat properly goes missing after the incidents with the Thanksgiving turkeys and the goat in CJ's office (aka prime cat territory). Each time she claims she'll be nicer to the cat when it returns. Each time it lasts about two days.

Margaret thinks the cat has psychic powers and frequently provides warnings based on her interpretations of 'the signs'. Usually she's right.

The cat somehow makes off with the final edits for the state of the union one time (of course they were only handwritten on one piece of paper). Chaos ensues.

Jed tries to send the cat to Manchester partway through the series. After large-scale outcry from the staff, press and public he is returned to the White House. Unfortunately, after a couple of months as a barn cat he is even more badly behaved than before.

The cat is in both Jed and Abbey's official portraits.

[rosaemoux]

The Joker, formerly known as Timothy Jackson Drake.

My Reverse Robin au's main antagonist and secondary protagonist, Joker Junior is probably the main driver of the plot, and his design is one of the most fun out of the cast !

Tim was a Robin once, the second one after Damian Wayne left Gotham. Unfortunately for him, a series of chaotic events including prison and Arkham breakouts left the colony of bats spread thin and ocupied enough for him to just disappear one day, sending everyone into a panic to try and save him.

However they were just too late.

His design is very fun to work with, JJ was created in a way for Joker to combine himself and Batman in a way, and as such, the new Joker sticks to black, Batman's main collor, and he consistently uses green, the only color that Robin shares with the Joker.

Green is also the color of evil, poison and envy, all things that JJ has plenty of. The only time he actually stops using green is in the rare moments he has to disguise himself or try to appear as Tim, to which he uses red, the oposite of green, but he still tend to use lilac fabrics or green jelwery.

Most of his clothes were either bought or made by his henchman, considering his sense of fashion when he was Tim was very different , but he apreciates the effort and the glamour of it all.

Ask me about this au please I have so much to talk bout it.

part two:

[yekokataa]

hello what is Polish Boys? is it a book? how is it related to DE?

anon you have no idea how excited i am to randomly talk about this book, this ask is like a christmas present to me. polish boys is a lightly fictionalized history of the za/um cultural collective, aka the group of people who usually get called 'disco elysium's original devs' these days. it was written by an author who goes by mudlum. her real name is made luiga. she's martin luiga's mother and she was also part of the cultural collective. her approach to fictionalizing it was basically to transport everyone to poland, give them fake names, and set it in an ambiguously retro 20th century time period.

if you're looking for DE lore, there really isn't any. the events of the book take place in the years leading up to it, and it's only really mentioned in passing towards the end, fictionalized as sulisław, the character based on kurvitz, working on a cartoon.

the style of the novel is a meandering bildungsroman, beginning with the childhood of adam (martin luiga), his struggles in school, and his friends teofil (argo) and sulisław. other portions are focused on adam's mother, their family history, and a few other characters that i couldn't correlate with their real life inspirations. the group sits around, gets drunk, talks politics, moves into a dilapidated old house, and eventually forms a cultural magazine. then, with the help of a character based on kaur kender, they take over an official cultural magazine, a real life event that caused a bit of a stir in estonia.

unfortunately the book hasn't been published in english, but a translation does exist. the main way to access it is through a series of readings in this playlist on youtube. it's a very poetic, evocative book. i really enjoyed it a lot and i plan on buying it if the english version ever gets published.

[tracksuitponytail]

A huge thank you to all the wonderful writers in this fandom for sharing your stories and providing us with a place to retreat through your words and visions. The fics mentioned in this post represent only a small selection of the amazing works out there.

🍂 hard times in elmsmere by @stylinsoncity [E, 37k, friends to lovers]

in elmsmere, a vampire’s need for blood is only awakened after their first feed. and with their first taste of the vein comes strength, speed and in louis’ case, raging bloodlust for harry, his best mate since the age of three. for louis, being a full-fledged vampire complicates everything, not just his relationship with harry but with harry’s entire coven who took Louis in as an orphan.

he’s struggling enough to adjust to life in the present when an older version of harry magically appears to him and requests his help in the future.

🍂 Oh My, My, My by brightlouis / @sheherlestat [E, 27k, porn star au]

Harry has been working in the adult entertainment industry for years. He’s seen it all— or at least he thinks he has. When he starts working for Sweet Creature, an ethical indie porn studio, he meets Louis. Filming together proves difficult when feelings are involved. Featuring: a little pink bungalow, summertime sunlight, Zayn as the director, Liam as his video-editor boyfriend, and Niall as the aloof roommate.

🍂 Be with me so happily by BriaMaria / @briannamarguerite [E, 42k, enemies to lovers]

The one where Harry Styles has a bad reputation and a heart of gold, and Louis Tomlinson wishes he wasn't so enchanted by boys who looked like Disney characters and wore shirts with bumble bees on them.

[aka Louis is the director of the Styles Elephant Sanctuary and really doesn't want to babysit his funder's spoiled lay-about son for two months]

🍂 Home Remedies by @kingsofeverything [E, 4k, friends to lovers]

Louis’ hiccups just won’t stop. Harry, his roommate and best friend, is willing to do anything to help.

🍂 Battle Cry by Velvetoscar / @mizzwilde [NR, 21k, university AU]

Harry's got a heart, a soul, and a band. And with that, obviously, comes a future paved in great success, right? So all he has to do is win the Battle of the Bands, right? Simple.

What's not so simple is the fact that Louis Tomlinson is his biggest competition. And also happens to be made of everything that Harry's ever wanted.

No... That's not simple at all.

🍂 Coração selvagem by Stria (Asia117) / @nooradeservedbetter [E, 50k, omegaverse]

Louis' life in his newfound Pack gets disrupted by an old flame coming back for him, shifted and feral. 

🍂 Home calls the heart by @itsmotivatingcara [E, 44k, enemies to lovers]

A series of unfortunate events lands Louis Tomlinson in the heart of Texas.

After running from his life in London and a performative marriage, he leaves a scandal in his wake.

Home calls the heart, as his Nana always said. Though her words couldn't be truer when he decides to take up her offer to watch over Hyacinth ranch while she travels abroad.

He figured the worst he'd have to deal with would be the meddlesome goats, some repairs and an errant spirit or two. That is, until the gorgeous Cowboy next door makes his presence known.

🍂 Reduce Me To A Pleading Cry (Break The Skin and Tantalize) by @taggiecb [E, 37k, bdsm]

Harry is a broody submissive boss, Louis is a natural dom who works in the mail room at Styles & Styles, Niall is a matchmaking oracle, and a slender, dark haired man stands mute at the coffee stand encouraging others to spill their secrets.

🍂 Colorful Hearts by @larrysmomfics [M, 20k, crack fic]

In a world where orgasmic emissions change color depending on the person’s mood, Louis Tomlinson’s semen has only ever been blue. At the recommendation of his doctor he attends a support group for people with similar conditions. The leader of Colorful Hearts, a therapist named Harry, is positively swoonworthy and sets Louis at ease right away. Needless to say that Louis isn’t aware yet that so much more than the color of his spunk is about to change.

🍂 Black Leather, Blue Lace by @insightfulinsomniac [E, 8k, soulmates, exhibitionism]

Two weeks ago, Louis met his soulmate on the way to his sister's birthday brunch. Now, it's finally time to introduce his - self proclaimed - "city girl" partner to his best friends and fellow farmhands. What better way to spend a summer evening with the people he loves than by hosting a bonfire, complete with s'mores and hayrides?

It's even better when your soulmate is an exhibitonist who agrees to fuck on the hayride under a blanket in front of all of your oldest friends.

[envy-of-the-apple]

I'm 99% sure it was called "Forever Yours" and it was a yandere oneshot series basically of a ton of popular anime boys from the time. The ones I remember were the Tokyo Ghoul dude, there were some Death Note guy chapters, there was the ML from Kamisama kiss, OH and the white haired guy from Psycho-Pass. There were like 50 chapters. It had probably a million likes or something it was INSANELY popular.

Ryntymy also had some other ongoing fics (and a ryntymny/reader crack fic, god, love them for that), but god it's soooo hard to remember.

i DID find a post about one of the fics i knew of that was actually REALLY GOOD that you would have LOVED (it was very similar to saltburn although it's quotev so this yandere was ofc pretty tame):

https://www.reddit.com/r/Quotev/comments/1b652gu/trying_to_find_old_x_reader_fic/

as for what's still up... hm. i do remember parallel ink, and also psychadelic peanut (they had this really trippy izaya fic):

https://www.quotev.com/story/9754667/Unfortunate-YandereIzaya-Orihara-x-Reader/1

AH parallel ink wrote kingdom of possession, which i DO remember:

https://www.quotev.com/story/6759314/Kingdom-of-Possession-Yandere-King-x-Reader

and there was this one series that was ACTUALLY quizzes, which was neat:

https://www.quotev.com/quiz/8085561/Out-of-Sight-Out-of-Mind

this one was a pretty fun sort of mystery style thing:

https://www.quotev.com/story/11260294/Seesaw/1

and this one was like. formative for my longing for pathetic masochistic men. i wasn't super into it back then but THE SEEDS WERE PLANTED:

https://www.quotev.com/story/8901227/Then-Came-You-Sadistic-Reader-x-Yandere-Character-One-Shots/2

SEESAW????? I lovedddd that fic so so much ahhhh it was amazing!!! the fic put me in so much denial cuz i was like 'its him! wait no its not him? wait it IS him? no wait-' very very entertaining

speaking of murder mystery yandere fics...there was this one where the reader was isekaid onto a train and quickly pieces together that all of the passengers resemble ppl from this book they read years ago...except they cant remember the ending aka they dont know who the murderer is. pretty sure the author deleted it but it was good!

its so funny you mention psychedelic peanut cuz i remember they got canceled???? actually...pretty sure parallel ink did too...as well the rest of their clique....and thats why i zipped outta the quotev yandere community!

actually that one aot isekai i was talking about was hosted on quotev! pretty much the height of literature, there's no competition. if i dont find it im just tempted to just rewrite it.

Curse of a Broken Promise is still up there and i think it still holds up! its a yandere kaneki ken fic and the writing is so....whimsical? idk how to explain it but it whenever i read it i always felt so sad. good read!

Imperishable affection (yandere!mafioso x reader) is ALSO written by the same author. basically yandere mafia boss guy threatens you into loving him or else your family dies yada yada so ofc the mc does. for a quotev yandere fic its pretty dark actually.

You Need Me (Yandere Manipulator x reader) THIS was the fic that brought me into the yandere thing. and the author used to update EVERY day so this whole this was an event. and the TWIST i remember being 14 and gasping like 'omg he did EVERYTHING???' very very good

If you want a izayax reader fic whos author WASNT wierd might i suggest Twisted Obsession. Beautiful writing. Its better than most ao3 writing actually and wayyy above mine. I love the way this author characterizes Izaya in this and the backstory for why hes so strange is pretty believable. like i fully believe it should be canon.

Savior Complex is an aot isekai where the mc gets whisked into a yandere sim where Petra is the love interest and the rest of the aot cast is obsessed with her. but we can all guess what happens. pretty good tho!!!

BUT EVERYONE GO READ PRETTY its a gojo x LATINA READER AHHHHHH YESSSS. i just LOVE LOVE LOVE the way this author writes. its so poetic and there's so much left up for interpretation.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

twst fest stream news

Most of it was the VAs goofing around and talking about themselves, their characters, and/or current content in TWST. However!! We also got some exciting news—

Starting off, a preview of the next birthday series! It’s based on the Disney 100 suit designs. This line of cards is (tentatively) Platinum Jacket/Suit.

You know what that means??? 😭 Maybe we’ll finally know what Disney villains ambiguous characters like Jack are inspired by… (Addendum: the frames behind the characters may not actually show character inspo; it could just show the member of the Great Seven that corresponds to their respective dorm or demonstrate some other pattern entirely.)

Grim’s getting a Disney 100 limited SSR featuring Grim and Mickey :9 This SSR Grim will be coming sometime this October.

The next Halloween event will feature characters based on The Fox (aka Honest John) and Gideon from Pinocchio, so now I’m speculating maybe an Ortho SSR (since he’s the “puppet that became a real boy” in book 6). Oof, no Rollo I guess??

Also, free 10 pull!! You can use it on the limited time event banner (Lilia/Riddle or Floyd/Ace) if you wish~

No anime news unfortunately!! But there is a suspicious giveaway campaign. 300 lucky winners will receive a digital gift card to Disney+…

To participate, follow twst_jp on X Twitter and retweet this post. If you are one of the 300 selected, you’ll receive a DM from twst_jp.

[royalarchivist]

Slimecicle: It think it's over this way! Everyone 5 seconds later: [SCREAMS]

A series of unfortunate events, aka: Charlie Slimecicle's terrible horrible no good very bad Lethal Company run.

(Featuring Jaiden, Baghera, and Ironmouse)

[lu-fic-recommendation-of-the-day]

Just some good modern AUs. I've read the miscellanies modern AU where Warriors, Sky, and Twilight are roommates and I just thought there has to be more modern AUs out there. Thank you!

Ghosts That Linger by @funsizedcrow

Summary:

When Flora suddenly inherits a massive estate, Hyrule Castle, from a great-aunt she never knew, she and Link are excited. No more crappy studio apartments, no more worrying about paying rent. Unfortunately for them, the house comes with a little more baggage than expected.

(AKA ghosts uk but make it linked universe)

What does anyone in this family know about "normal"?! by @skyward-floored

Summary:

A collection of (mostly) unconnected oneshots set in the lu incredibles au :)

(Part of the Linked Universe Incredibles au series)

The Home We Make series by @somer-writes

(No Series Summary but tagged accordingly)

Fierce Hero 9 by @crazylittlejester

Summary:

Mask had been living with his big brother Warriors and their aunt for most of his life since the death of his parents. After graduating high school at 13, he picks up a hobby that his brother thinks is a waste of his talents, until Warriors takes him to his college and Mask realizes he would do ANYTHING to get into Hyrule Institution of Technology.

A tragic event uncovers a mystery, and it’s up to Mask and his brother’s friends to figure out what’s going on.

BASICALLY: The LU Big Hero 6 AU that no one asked for.

Castle Town Coffee Shop series by @autumnarcadia

(No Series Summary)

different era, same spirit by @whyoneartheven and @unclemoriarty

Summary:

A modern AU Linked Universe collab, with art by Imjustherefortheangst (@inumbrapugnabimus-maybe/@whyoneartheven on Tumblr) and fics by uncleskyrule (@uncleskyrule/@unclemoriarty). There's no main storyline as of right now.

Linked Universe in Healthcare by @skyloftian-nutcase

Summary:

A compilation for the Modern AU where the LU Chain works in healthcare that lives rent-free in my brain. Consists of oneshots, snippets, drabbles, etc. Not really a cohesive storyline, just dipping into that world and seeing what the boys (and friends!) are up to.

[shiorimakibawrites]

Matt Murdock / Daredevil Masterlist

Image Credit: kissmegoodbye.net

Welcome to the masterlist for my Matt Murdock aka Daredevil fics. My general masterlist is here.

Posted fics can also be found on A03.

Please let me know if any links are broken or if you wish to be added to the tag lists.

Last Updated: 7/16/2024

Matt Murdock x Fem! Reader Series

Image Credits: kissthemgoodbye.net / Amber Kipp / Nathan Dumlao

Alley Cat {Installment List}

You are a paralegal (and trouble magnet) with an escape artist cat who keeps encountering Daredevil. You start falling in love. Both with the Devil of Hell's Kitchen and the man behind the mask. {18+}

Ongoing Series

Tags: Fluff, Romance, Orange Cat Shenanigans, Legal Drama, Legal Nerd Stuff Warnings: Canon-typical violence, explicit sexual content, police corruption, workplace harassment

Image Credits: kissthemgoodbye.net / Taelynn Christopher (Unsplash) / Anna Kolosyuk (Unsplash)

Happy Little Accident {Installment List}

You are a klutz. You are pretty used to tripping over nothing and embarrassing yourself. But this time has to be the worst. Because this time, this time, you have gotten paint all over Matt Murdock. Your handsome neighbor that you have an enormous crush on. {18+}

Ongoing Series

Tags: Romance, Art, Female Gaze, Fluff Warnings: Canon-typical violence, eventual explicit sexual content, clumsiness

Image Credits: kissthemgoodbye.net / Greta Punch (Unsplash) / Stephanie Harvey (Unsplash)

Cozy Corners {Installment List}

You have a problem. You have feelings for two men. The first man is local defense attorney Matt Murdock. A regular at your cafe Cozy Corners, you've been pining over him since he first walked through your door. The second man is Daredevil. The vigilante who saved your life during a mugging and has appointed himself as your guardian angel.

Meanwhile Matt is wondering how he managed to get into a love triangle with himself. {18+}

Ongoing Series

Tags: Romance, Secret Identity Hijinks, Accidental Love Triangle Warnings: Canon-typical violence, eventual explicit sexual content, anxiety, panic attacks

Image Credits: kissthemgoodbye.net / Zac Ong (Unsplash) / Biswapati Acharya (Unsplash)

The Phantom {UPCOMING}

You are a ghost. Not literally but you might as well be. Your old life is dead. Because of them, you cannot make a new one. Then one day, in search of food and a shower, you enter an apartment and discover a dangerous secret - the identity of Daredevil. {18+}

Part One: Breaking and Entering {coming soon}

Tags: Slow Burn, Allies-to-Friends, Friends-to-Lovers, Hurt/Comfort, Angst Warnings: Canon-typical violence, eventual explicit sexual content, flashbacks to traumatic events (unwilling human experimentation, physical abuse, verbal abuse, medical abuse, threats of sexual violence, murder, threats of death)

Image Credits: kissthemgoodbye.net / Andre Benz (Unsplash) / Nicolas Picard (Unsplash)

Arachne {UPCOMING}

University is hard enough without developing superpowers. Too bad nobody asked you. You were just trying to study when you were bitten by a strange spider. Then things started to get weird. Fortunately, you aren't the only odd freshmen at Columbia University. {18+}

Part One: Metamorphosis {coming soon}

Tags: Slow Burn, Friends-to-Lovers, College Hijinks, Angst, Fluff, Superhero Adventures Warnings: Canon-typical violence, eventual explicit sexual content

Love is Blind {UPCOMING}

You are a blind attorney who has recently moved to New York from California after a very nasty break-up. It's a big change but with your trusty guide dog Luna, you figure that you can handle it. While exploring your new neighborhood, you meet local defense attorney Matt Murdock. And you hit it off right away. Unfortunately your past isn't willing to be left behind. {18+}

Part One: New York, New York {coming soon}

Tags: Romance, Fluff, Secret Identity Hijinks, Dogs, Drama, Disability Issues Warnings: Canon-typical violence, explicit sexual content, ableism, stalking, flashbacks to traumatic events (domestic violence)

The Bonds of Friendship {UPCOMING}

You are a teenager who has recently moved to New York City from Colorado with your family. While shopping for groceries, you meet a local teen - Matt Murdock who is at the store with his adoptive mother Anna Nelson. Becoming friends happens fast but the love that grows in your heart creeps up on you. Before you know it, you are in love with one of your best friends. {18+}

Inspired by the prompt from @importantnightwerewolf

Book I: High School Blues {coming soon}

Book II: University Days

Book III: Law School Confidential

Book IV: Vigilantes

Tags: Slow Burn Romance, Friends-to-Lovers, High School Drama, Teenagers Being Idiots, Families of Choice, College Hijinks, Fluff, Growing Up, Superhero Adventures Warnings: Canon-typical violence, eventual explicit sexual content, bullying, ableism, body image issues, adoption, reference character death, abandonment issues

Full of Surprises {UPCOMING}

You had been dating Matt Murdock, a fellow summer associate at Landman & Zack. But summer has come to an end and it is time for you both to return to your respective law schools. You go back to Massachusetts to start your final year and prepare for the bar exam. Only to discover that you are pregnant. {18+}

Part One: Our Last Night {coming soon}

Tags: Romance, Fluff, Parenthood, Original Child Characters, College Life Warnings: Canon-typical violence, explicit sexual content, unplanned pregnancy, pregnancy symptoms, childbirth, parenthood, law school stress

Sanctuary {UPCOMING}

You are a doctor with a rather unusual patient. John Doe is a badly injured blind man hidden in the basement in a local church. You have many questions but no one seems particularly interested in answering them. Complicating matters is that John Doe is very handsome. And when he wasn’t brooding or being sullen, he is rather sweet . . . {18+}

Part One: John Doe {coming soon}

Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Mystery, Slow Burn Romance Warnings: Canon-typical violence, eventual explicit sexual content, injuries, medical inaccuracies, severe depression, grief, mourning, referenced attempted suicide, reckless behavior, anger, abandonment issues, referenced character deaths, disability struggles, internalized ableism, religious discussions, religious imagery

Keeping Secrets {UPCOMING}

Your new boss Matt Murdock is rather mysterious. He regularly shows up to work with poorly explained injuries. He isn’t speaking to his oldest friend. And a thousand other little things that all say Murdock is keeping secrets. Big secrets. But that’s okay. Because you have some big secrets of your own. Not least of which is your interview wasn’t the first time you had meet each other. Or who the father of your son Jack is . . . {18+}

Part One: Curious and Curiousier {coming soon}

Tags: Slow Burn Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Murder Mystery, Legal Drama, Secrets and Lies, Original Child Character Warnings: Canon-typical violence, explicit sexual content, referenced murder, secret child, religious trauma, flashbacks to traumatic events (domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse)

Cat Man Do {Installment List}

Matt Murdock is having a bad night. He has been turned into a cat with a blizzard is coming in. Lucky for him, you came walking by. And you love cats. {18+}

Completed Series

Tags: Idiots In Love, Female Gaze, Animal Transformation, Cats, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Resolved Sexual Tension, Love Confessions Warnings: Canon-typical violence, swearing, involuntary magical transformation, referenced animal abuse (non-graphic), explicit sexual content

Freaky Friday {UPCOMING}

You are a journalist. One night when you are walking home, you stumble across Daredevil fighting. The criminal shouts something while throwing a beam of light at you. Daredevil shields you but it doesn't appear to do anything to you. Until you wake up the next morning not in your own body but Daredevil's. {18+}

Part One: Random Encounter {coming soon}

Tags: Body Swap, Secret Identity Hijinks, Strangers-to-Lovers, Fluff Warnings: Canon-typical violence, mild body dysmorphia, disability struggles, sensory issues, anxiety, panic attacks, possible explicit sexual content

A Romantic Cliche {UPCOMING}

It's a plot straight out of romance novel. You would know. You write them for a living. Your sister is getting married. Naturally, she wants you to come to New York and be her maid-of-honor. No one warned you that the best man was devastatingly handsome. But nothing could prepare you for the strength of your desire. Thankfully, this intense desire doesn't appear to be one-sided . . . {18+}

Part One: The Meet Cute {coming soon}

Tags: Strangers-to-Lovers, Wedding Hijinks, Fluff, Sexual Tension Warnings: Explicit Sexual Content

The Broken Hearts Club {UPCOMING}

It’s Valentine’s Day and you’ve been depressed all day. Granted, you’ve been feeling awful since That Day. Then your day got worse. You found the ring that your boyfriend had been planning to give you before that terrible day . . . You don’t know how or why your feet led you to Fogwell’s Gym nor why your fellow vigilante Daredevil was there. You just know that you started off sparing with each other and ended up having sex. Not for the last time. Soon the sex became a regular thing. But you weren’t worried about anything else changing between you . . . after all, it’s just sex, right? {18+}

Part One: The Ring {coming soon}

Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Slow-Burn Romance, Superhero Adventures, Reluctant Allies-to-Lovers, Secret Identity Hijinks Warnings: Canon-typical violence, explicit sexual content, temporary character deaths, permanent character deaths, grief, mourning, unhealthy coping mechanisms, alcohol abuse

A Fragile Thing {UPCOMING}

You just discovered that you are pregnant. Before you can share this news with your husband Matt Murdock, he collapses and dissolves into dust. Along with half the world. You do your best to raise your daughter alone and not to give up hope that you might get your husband back . . . but that gets harder as each year passes . . . {18+}

Part One: The Most Happy {coming soon}

Tags: Angst, Eventual Comfort, Motherhood, Original Child Character, Holding Onto Hope, Male-Female Friendship, Female Friendship Warnings: Temporary Character Death, Grief, Mourning, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Symptoms, Single Parent, Parenthood, Nightmares, Explicit Sexual Content

One-Shots and Drabbles

Humor

Dicta (drabble): Matt and Foggy are studying for their law exams when juvenile humor ensues.

The Thing That Speaks For Itself (drabble): Matt names a cat.

Fluff

Will You Be Mine?: You have been nervous since Matt said he had something important to ask you.

Baking with Love: Matt and You make pumpkin bread and cookies. Matt Murdock x Reader. Written for Mandy’s Sweater Weather Challenge.

Stormy Weather: It was a dark and stormy night when Matt returns home with a surprising rescue. Matt Murdock x Reader. Written for Mandy’s Sweater Weather Challenge.

Cozy Sunday: On a quiet morning, you decide to surprise Matt. Written for 300 Follower Celebration.

Cookies: You are baking cookies when Matt comes home. Written for 300 Follower Celebration.

Hurt/Comfort

Flare Up: You wake up with an asthma flare up along with a cold. Matt takes care of you.

Older: Sometimes, it's the little things that hurt the most.

Can't Sleep: Matt can't get his brain to turn off.

Angst

Drown It Out: Matt Murdock tries to cope. {Spoilers for Daredevil Born Again}

Smut

Relax: After a long day, you try to relax in the shower.

Bound: You fulfill a fantasy with your husband. Sequel to Relax

Fan Art

The Duality of Man - Mixed media (alcohol markers, colored pencils), manga style

Reader POV - Mixed media (alcohol markers, colored pencils), manga style

Matt smiling - Pencil drawing, realistic style

Bracelets (And Then I Met You) - Matt and Minnie's friendship bracelets from And Then I Met You. {colored pencils}

Handsome Devil (The Red Thread) - Matt's mug from The Red Thread {colored pencils}

[squarebracket-trickster]

Okay, this started as a rant on another post but then i figured it wasn't fair to inflict that on OP. I don't even know OP. So uhhh...

I am, at this point, completely convinced that the people who advise against headhopping, beige prose, purple prose, and infodumping, and the people who love headhopping, beige prose, purple prose, and infodumping are using two different definitions of the words.

Because do you really enjoy reading published novels where you can't tell whose thoughts belong to whom? Do you really enjoy prose that is choppy, vague, awkward, and lacks enough detail to actually follow the story? Do you really enjoy prose that keeps using big, fancy words but it is clear the author doesn't actually know what they mean, or uses run-on sentences that are dizzying to try and make sense of? Do you really enjoy having your high-paced action scene interrupted by 6 pages straight of technical jargon with absolutely no attempt to incorporate it naturally into the story (and like two paragraph breaks across the whole 6 pages)?

On the other hand...

Do you really hate every single case of Omniscient POV you have ever read - did you hate Narnia, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Pride and Prejudice because of the POV? Do you really find sparse, accessible, "quick and snappy" prose that off-putting? Do you hate poetry - can you seriously not think of any examples of vivid, flowing prose chalk-full of literary devices (metaphor, zeugma etc.) that spoke to you? Have you really never enjoyed a paragraph here and there where a scifi writer explains exactly how their weird alien is biologically possible? Have you? Do you?

(Okay, okay. I know this is Tumblr. If anyone actually bothers to read this rant (hahaha) some little edgy contrarian is going to appear in the notes eventually but IN GENERAL)...

Long story short I think we have two different definitions of all these terms running around.

Headhopping

When the narrator describes the thoughts of more than one character per paragraph (or scene).

When the narrator describes the thoughts of more than one character per paragraph (or scene) in a way that makes it difficult to tell who is thinking and experiences what. It is confusing to the reader.

Beige prose

Simple, sparse, accessible, to the point, only conveying the tip of the iceberg.

Choppy, awkward, vague, missing critical information, sacrificing clarity for the sake of simplicity.

Purple prose

Poetic, flowery and/or vivid language, long complex sentences, a tendency toward the dramatic.

Language that is "too flowery" - fancy, rare words used incorrectly, or which don't make sense given the tone, mood, atmosphere, genre, style etc, or which make it hard to follow what is happening. Run-ons and sentences that are dizzying to make sense of. Melodrama, aka dramatic without adequate build up.

Infodumping

Explaining details that aren't necessary for the story. Taking a few paragraphs, maybe a page or two, at an appropriate moment in the story (even a whole chapter if it is built-up to correctly). This can be in the text itself or it can be in an appendix or prologue (à la Concerning Hobbits)

Explaining details that aren't necessary for the story. Taking a few paragraphs, maybe even several pages, at an inappropriate moment in the story. It interrupts the flow and pacing. There is no effort to weave or incorporate the information into the story. It is just dumped there.

And yeah, I just think we could solve so much discourse if we acknowledged that we aren't all using the same definitions.

[vero1shere]

spring breakers! chapter three

pairing: roman roy x fem!oc

word count: 3.4k

summary: Marla Carranza, despite being a board member, hasn't talked to the Roys in years. This changes the minute a very desperate Kendall Roy calls her.

warnings: more sexual comments, foul language, there's one joke about incest, logan roy!

a/n: i must say this work is mainly self-indulging but i''m also happy some ppl are reading this!!!!! if anyone's read king lear, i just wanted to add i based marla on edmund (aka my fav character) who is basically in this weird love triangle with the two sisters, so that WILL translate into marla's character. maybe not necessarily in a romantic way with kendall (could be, idrk rn) but mainly in how she's literally playing both sides with both brothers.

series masterlist. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁inbox

The boardroom was already tense when Marla arrived, its heavy oak doors swallowing the murmurs of Waystar’s elite like a judge’s gavel calling court to order. The air had that thick, charged quality—anticipation laced with just a touch of dread. It smelled of expensive cologne, stale coffee, and the underlying rot of old money in crisis.

She stepped inside, deliberate and silent, the click of her heels muffled by the plush carpeting. Eyes flicked toward her but didn’t linger. She was not the main event. Not today. That honor belonged to Kendall, except, of course, he wasn’t fucking here.

Marla stood in the hallway outside the boardroom, arms crossed, watching as Gerri pressed her phone tighter against her ear. The older woman’s face was a mask of forced calm, but Marla caught the way her fingers drummed impatiently against the side of her blazer.

“Gerri. Can you hear me?” Kendall’s voice crackled through the speaker, cutting in and out. “Hey, where are you? Listen, I’m... I’m almost there. The traffic stopped. I need you to stall.”

Marla exhaled sharply, shifting her weight onto one foot. Stall? Logan was already in there, and she knew damn well he wasn’t going to wait around for his son to show up and stab him in the throat.

“What? What’s that? Bad connection,” Gerri muttered. She glanced at Marla and Roman, exasperated. “Kendall, I can’t hear you.”

“I’m in a tunnel. OK? Stall.”

And then—silence.

Gerri stared at her phone for half a second before muttering, “Fuck.”

Marla barely had time to process before Roman let out a sharp, amused breath beside her. “Wow. Amazing job, Ken. ‘I’m in a tunnel?’ What, is he driving in from the fucking underworld?”

Marla ignored him, turning to Gerri. “What now?”

Gerri pinched the bridge of her nose. “We go in. And we don’t make it look like we’re scrambling.”

Marla rolled her shoulders back, adjusting her blazer. Kendall needed time, and she wasn’t exactly in the business of defending dumbass rich boys, but she wasn’t about to let Logan steamroll this before it even started.

Roman smirked at her, watching her straighten up. “Aw, look at you. Actually trying to save your little buddy’s coup attempt.”

“Somebody has to,” Marla shot back, already walking toward the boardroom doors.

Behind her, Roman chuckled. “Oh, this is gonna be fun.”

Marla slid into a seat at the far end of the table, a safe distance from Roman, but unfortunately not far enough from Logan’s eyeline. She felt his gaze skim over her, sharp and assessing, but he said nothing, yet.

Stewy sat down beside her, catching Marla’s eye and giving her the faintest nod. At least one person here wasn’t openly hostile.

Frank cleared his throat. ���Uh, I... I just got word. I think Kendall will be a few minutes late.”

Marla stayed still, barely breathing. Logan, seated at the head of the table, didn’t react at first, just stared at Frank like he’d spoken in a foreign language.

Frank hesitated. “Request for a late start?”

“No!” Logan barked.

Frank flinched. “No?”

“He can catch up,” Logan said, waving a hand. “Fuck that! Where is he?”

Frank cleared his throat. “Stuck in traffic. That’s all I know”

“Okay, come on, come on, let’s go. Let’s go.” He clapped his hands together, impatient. 

“It’s twelve noon, and I’d like to call the meeting of Waystar Royco to order.” Frank straightened his papers. “Roll call.”

Roman made a face. “Roll call?”

Logan scoffed. “We’ve never done roll call.”

Frank ignored them. “We’re doing it today.”

“Why?” Logan asked.

“Because that’s how we do it,” Frank muttered.

Marla caught the way Logan tilted his head, he surprisingly still hadn’t caught on to what was about to happen. 

Frank pressed on. “Logan Roy.”

Logan spread his hands. “Yeah.”

Frank continued. “Frank Vernon, present.”

“Kendall Roy. Absent, Roman Roy.”

“Yo,” Roman said, popping the ‘o.’

“Ewan Roy, absent. Marla Carranza”

“Here”

“That’s a fucking surprise.” Logan’s mutters were still loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. 

And so Frank continued on with the roll call, realising that there was not much stalling left that could be done. 

He set the papers down. “Mr. Chairman, we have a quorum. So,” he said lazily, “everybody has a copy of the agenda and the minutes of the last meeting. Is that right?”

A quiet chorus of yeses followed.

“Do any of you have any questions that have come to you immediately after looking at them?” Frank asked, glancing around. “I know that I—I have a few thoughts we might have to take a look at.”

“What thoughts?” Logan asked, raising a brow.

“Just wait a second, and I’ll get to it.”

Marla glanced sideways as Gerri checked her phone again. The same tight, contained expression.

Still no fucking Kendall.

As Frank was about to move forward, the conference room doors swung open with a slow, deliberate creak.

Every head turned.

Ewan Roy stood in the doorway, adjusting his coat like he had all the time in the world. Behind him, a stunned assistant hovered awkwardly, half-gesturing toward the entrance, clearly having failed to stop him from walking in unannounced.

Marla caught the flicker of surprise in Logan’s eyes, very brief, but there.

He was starting to realise something was going on.

Ewan gave the room a disapproving once-over before speaking.

“Well… you just can’t keep away, huh?” Logan finally broke the silence, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

Ewan sniffed. “Thought maybe I’d show up for once. Watch the fun.”

Marla glanced at Roman, who leaned back in his seat, whispering a barely audible “Jesus” under his breath as he stood up to receive a call from whom she could only assume was Kendall.

Marla hadn’t been to board meeting in years but she was still aware that this was a fucking shitshow. 

Frank’s eyes narrowed. “So, let’s move along to item 3.1.”

“Mm-hmm? Uh, what’s ‘Performance issues?’” Logan frowned. “Sounds fucking vague. And why is it so high on the fuckin’ hit parade?”

Logan’s frown deepened. “What is this?”

Marla braced herself.

“What the f**k is this?”

“I think Kendall wants to make a comment.” 

Through the speaker, Kendall’s voice came in, slightly distorted but unmistakably tense.

“Hey, guys. Can you hear me? I apologize. I will be there shortly.”

Logan tapped his fingers against the table again, but this time, it wasn’t amusement. It was irritation.

“Where are we at?” Kendall asked.

Frank hesitated. “We are at your item. Performance issues.”

Silence.

Marla gripped her pen. Come on, Ken. Say it.

A siren wailed faintly in the background.

“You want us to wait?”

Logan tilted his head, eyes sharp. “F**k that. We’re movin’ on.”

Another pause. Then—Kendall’s voice, firm.

“No, no. It’s okay. I can do this.”

Marla exhaled slowly, pulse picking up.

This is happening.

“…every day he refuses to retire, he is one day closer to destroying his own legacy.”

The air in the boardroom felt thick, pressing in like a held breath. Across from her, Ewan scoffed, tearing at his croissant with deliberate disinterest. Marla could hear the flake of pastry crackling between his fingers, a sound almost as loud as the silence in the room.

Logan leaned forward, his voice sharp despite the gravel in it. “Speak up. Can’t hear.”

Kendall’s voice returned, stronger.

“He took on levels of debt that threatened the very existence of our firm. He’s lining up dead-weight acquisitions in a sector he has a historic regard for but which are non-growth areas. If he pursues the full breadth of his megalomaniacal vision, we will end up with years of political conflict with the FCC, executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. He is making decisions for a future that he no longer understands. He’s gambling our last dollars at the track on a horse that’s ready for the glue factory. And I am calling for a vote of no confidence in him as CEO and Chairman.”

Silence.

Frank cleared his throat, shifting in his chair. “Logan, since you’re the subject of the vote, you need to recuse yourself.”

Logan let out a sharp breath through his nose, shaking his head. “Bullshit. No.”

Frank hesitated. “That’s… not how this works.”

“Fuck you. I built this place,” Logan snapped. “If you want to stab me in the back, you’ll do it to my face.”

Ewan whistled lowly, amused.

“You don’t get to vote, and you don’t get to comment,” Frank said, steadier now. “Really, you should leave the room.”

Logan’s gaze cut through him like a blade.

“I’m sick,” he muttered. “Can’t move. Fuck that. Vote.”

Frank exhaled sharply, but he let it go. “Alright. All in favor of the vote of no confidence in Logan Roy?”

Kendall’s voice didn’t waver. “Me. My hand is raised. More in sorrow than in anger.”

Logan scoffed, low and derisive. “No shit, Judas.”

Frank’s hand went up. Then Asha. Then Ilona, her voice cutting through on speakerphone.

Marla felt Logan’s stare before she met it. That gaze piercing, amused, waiting.

She had made her choice long before stepping into this room, but somehow, lifting her hand felt heavier than expected.

Still, she did.

Logan exhaled, the sound almost like a chuckle.

Marla didn’t dare look at Roman, but she noticed the way he tensed through her peripheral vision. It was like he wanted to nudge her, like he was about to say something but thought better of it.

Stewy surprisingly abstained. Marla thought him and Kendall were close, at the very least friends, so she made a mental note to ask Stewy about his vote later. Datu voted for Logan.

Four for. Four against.

Kendall’s voice was tight now. “Lawrence?”

Lawrence didn’t even hesitate. “I abstain.”

Marla felt it before Kendall did. The loss settling in, slow and suffocating.

And then, it was Roman.

Marla turned her head slightly, catching him in the corner of her vision. He was leaning back, trying to look unaffected, but his knee bounced under the table.

“Roman?” Kendall’s voice crackled through the Polycom.

Marla saw the flicker of hesitation in Roman’s hand, the start of a movement.

Logan clocked it too. His eyes locked on his youngest son.

“You better be smelling your fucking armpit, Romulus.”

The moment stretched, thin as a wire.

Roman let out a breath and lowered his hand.

“Against,” he said.

A beat.

Frank’s brow furrowed. “But he started to vote–”

“He can fucking change,” Logan snapped.

Marla didn’t move, didn’t let herself react, but Roman’s gaze had fallen upon her, he seemed embarrassed. 

To be completely fair, Marla didn’t whole-heartedly care about the results of the vote. She was there as an attempt to get back in, become a part of the scene. 

However she did understand what Roman had just done. How he had betrayed his brother. 

“Whatever. Count him out. Deadlock! Continuity prevails. I’m chairman, casting vote, I win, it’s fucking over!”

Kendall stepped into the room too late, the failure settling over him like a second skin.

“My son,” he said, smug and sharp. “You lost.”

Logan leaned back, victorious. “And Kendall, Frank, Asha, Ilona. Off the board. Fired, with immediate effect.”

Frank stiffened. “I’m not sure you can—”

“Fuck you. I can do anything.”

Marla exhaled, barely audible.

The minute Logan started yelling, calling for security, she stopped paying attention. She heard a little bit of Frank trying to convince Logan of this being a stupid idea but he didn’t budge. One by one, they start to leave. Kendall doesn’t look back. Asha glances around, like she still can’t believe what just happened. Frank exhales sharply, but doesn’t argue. 

Marla stands too, slow, measured. She’s almost at the door when—

“Not you.”

The words hit the room like a snap of a whip.

After a while, the rest of the people continued to exit the meeting, Marla stopped. So did Roman, halfway to the door. He looked back, eyebrows raised, but Logan didn’t even glance at him. The others hesitated for half a second before heading out, leaving Marla standing there, arms loosely crossed, amusement flickering behind her eyes.

Roman let out a low chuckle as he pushed the door open. “Well. That’s interesting.”

The door clicked shut behind him.

The silence that followed was thick and expectant. Marla tilted her head slightly, watching Logan as he leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable.

She arched an eyebrow. “Are you mad at me, Mr Roy?”, she said sarcastically.

Logan exhaled sharply through his nose, a laugh, but not quite. He gestured for her to sit.

“Sit down.”

Marla didn’t move at first, just studied him, like she was considering whether this was worth her time. On the inside she was frightened. Had she pushed too far on her luck? Was this the end of the adventure she’d just started? When accepting to help Kendall she thought there would be no actual consequences since she thought she would not care. That was before she realised how much she enjoyed playing the game, the scheming, the expectations. She loved the attention, the thrill. It was at this moment that Marla understood the gambling addicts, it’s hard to walk out when you know that some right moves could guarantee you power. She hoped this was an opportunity for her to make those moves.  

Logan’s eyes didn’t leave her.

She smiled, containing her thoughts. “So. What’s this about?”

Logan didn’t answer right away. He just watched her, the way a hunter might watch a fox that had wandered into his trap. Marla didn’t flinch, though her fingers twitched slightly against the armrest of her chair. She forced herself to stay relaxed, to match his energy.

Finally, Logan let out a small, unimpressed huff. “You don’t give a fuck, huh?”

Marla shrugged. “Not particularly.”

Logan’s lip curled. “You voted for Kendall.”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

She leaned back, stretching her legs out slightly. “He asked nicely.”

Logan laughed, low and incredulous. “He asked nicely.” He shook his head, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Jesus Christ, you’re a piece of work.”

Marla didn’t reply, just met his gaze evenly. 

“You’re a smart girl,” he said, quieter now, almost amused. “Too smart to be backing a loser.”

Marla smirked. “Maybe. Or maybe I just like an underdog.”

“Bullshit.” Logan’s voice was sharp again. “I have known you since you were barely a teenager. You have that drive inside of you. You like to win.”

Marla tilted her head, considering. “Sure. But I like to play more.”

Something flickered in Logan’s eyes, recognition, maybe, or something close to it. He leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the table. “So why bet on Kendall? You know the minute you step outside, he’ll be on the phone, offering you a job. That’s not exactly taking risks.”

Marla didn’t hesitate. “It’s more so a strategy.”

Logan narrowed his eyes.

She gave him a small, knowing smile. “If both sides want you, you’re playing the game right.”

A beat of silence. Then Logan let out a low, dry chuckle.

“You’re a cocky little shit,” he muttered, shaking his head. “You remind me of—” He cut himself off, the thought unfinished.

Marla did not dare to ask him who she reminded him of. 

“You want a real bet?” He leaned back again, like he had all the time in the world. “Stay. Work for me.”

Marla arched an eyebrow. “Doing what? You know I have a steady job at my mum’s law firm.”

“Ha! You can threaten me with Kendall’s offer but not with your mothers. I want you as a financial officer. Numbers, strategy, real decisions. You’d rather play the game than watch from the stands, right?”

Marla kept her expression carefully neutral, but her pulse quickened.

This was it. The right move.

She exhaled through her nose, as if considering it, but the answer had already formed in her mouth.

“Glad to be part of the family again.”

Logan smirked.

────୨ৎ────

Marla stepped out of Logan’s office, the weight of his offer still settling in her chest. She had won something tonight. What exactly, she wasn’t sure yet. But it was something. The tension in her shoulders hadn’t quite left when she heard a slow, deliberate clap from the hallway.

She turned, already knowing who it was.

Roman stood leaned against the wall, hands stuffed in his pockets, watching her with that lazy, knowing smirk.

“Well, well, well. Marla Carranza did show up for little Kenny after all,” he drawled. “Back from the dead and already on her knees for my dad. That’s gotta be a record.”

Marla huffed a laugh, stepping closer. “Bold words, coming from the guy who actually sucked him off at the meeting.”

Roman’s expression didn’t shift, but something flickered in his eyes. His smirk widened, but it didn’t quite reach them.

“Oh, please, if I were blowing my dad, you think I’d still be junior puppet boy with a fake title?” He tsked, tilting his head. “Nice try, though.”

She crossed her arms. “You’re a traitor, Roman.”

His jaw twitched, so quick she almost missed it. “Yeah?”

“Kendall trusted you. The whole vote was on you. You could’ve changed everything.”

Roman scoffed, shifting his weight. “Oh, fuck off. What were we gonna do, huh? Let Ken win and all hold hands? My dad would’ve burned this place down before he let that happen.”

Marla studied him, the amusement in her expression dimming slightly. “You’re so scared of him.”

Roman didn’t flinch. “And you’re not?”

She didn’t answer.

He exhaled through his nose, glancing away for a moment before looking back at her. “So what’s the play, huh? You got voted out, and now you’re just gonna… what? Lurk around Waystar?”

She smiled, slow and sharp. “Not quite.”

Something in her tone made Roman’s eyes narrow.

“What?”

She made a mockingly wounded face. “Oh, Rome. I thought you’d be happy.”

Roman frowned, his mouth parting slightly before he caught himself.

“Wait, what the fuck did my dad tell you?”

Her smile widened.

“See you around, Roman.”

She turned, walking away before he could piece it together. She didn’t have to look back to know he was staring after her.

By the time Marla reached the elevators, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

She pulled it out, glancing at the screen, immediately noticing Kendall’s name at the top.

She’d expected a call.

“Hey Ken.”

“Hey,” Kendall said, his voice lighter than she expected. “So… you coming over?”

Marla frowned slightly, stepping into the elevator and pressing the button for the lobby. “For what?”

Kendall let out a small huff, like the answer should’ve been obvious. “To talk. To figure shit out.”

She didn’t respond immediately.

He took her silence as agreement. “Listen, it’s good, okay? We regroup. You, me, Frank—whoever’s left. It’s not over. My dad just pulled a bullshit move, but it’s fine. I’m not letting him cut me out. We’ll fight back.”

She leaned against the cool metal wall, tilting her head slightly. “Kendall…”

“You’re with me, right?” he pressed. “I mean, he obviously didn’t…” He hesitated for half a second, but Marla caught it. “uh…he didn’t take you back, so…”

So you have nowhere else to go.

It wasn’t cruel. He didn’t mean it that way. It was just a fact, in his mind.

Marla smiled to herself.

“Oh, Ken.”

Something in her tone made him pause. “…What?”

She shifted her weight, watching the numbers above the elevator door tick down. “I actually don’t think I can make it.”

Silence.

Then a quiet, confused laugh. “What? Marla, come on, I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

Another pause. Then, slower now: “Where are you?”

She exhaled, straightening up as the elevator slowed to a stop. “Still at Waystar.”

She let it sink in.

Kendall didn’t speak right away. When he did, his voice was different: lower, tight.

“No, you’re not.”

Marla stepped out into the lobby, heels clicking softly against the marble floor.

“Your dad offered me a job.”

Silence.

“And I took it.”

Then, a sharp breath. “You took the…” Kendall stopped himself. Then, incredulous: “He fucking gave you a job?”

“Sure did.”

A bitter laugh. “No, he…he’s just screwing with you.”

“Maybe,” she said. “Or maybe I just played my cards right.”

“Marla.” His voice dropped, something urgent in it now. “He’s using you.”

She smiled, sharp and knowing.

“So were you.”

That shut him up.

She adjusted the strap of her purse. “I’ll see you around, Ken.”

She hung up before he could say anything else.

Stepping out into the cold night air, she let the satisfaction settle in her chest.

This was going to be fun.

────୨ৎ────

taglist: @televangrl

[stellarcat52]

Okay, so I recently watched something called Tokyo Override Really good, highly suggest it if you like sci-fi/almost mystery stuff. It's an anime, but I watched it dubbed in English and one of the main characters, this golden retriever of a man named Hugo, has a really familiar voice.

His voice actor is Patrick Warburton. AKA:

Lemony Snicket in a Series of Unfortunate Events (TV show),

AKA: Flynn from the Skylanders franchise.

AKA: MOTHER FLUFFING KRONK

I just find the range of characters who have the same voice to be so bizzare.

Anyways, go watch Tokyo Override it's really good. It's got found family that starts off as a kidnapping.

[chirpsythismorning]

Fun fact: the shot of Mike stepping off the cliff in s1 was likely a visual parallel to Sarah jumping off the stairs in this shot from Labyrinth (1986).

For those that haven't read this theory, please do because I didn’t make these observations myself and the original post goes a lot deeper into the details from Labyrinth, which in some ways align a little too conveniently with the narrative we’re seeing unravel on the show with Mike over the seasons.

For some basic context, in s4, we even get a reference to M.C. Escher’s Relativity hanging on the wall in Mike’s room, which is also on the wall of Sarah’s bedroom, along with that work being what inspired the scene in Labyrinth. 

This next part has actually been talked about before quite a bit in the fandom, even outside of tumblr, so it’s not exactly some breakthrough as a concept on its own.

Every season, in the first scene (re)introducing the main characters, Mike is running late in some capacity. In 1x01 it’s around 3 minutes, in 2x01 it’s around 6 minutes, in 3x01 it’s around 8 minutes, and in 4x01 it’s around 13 minutes. 

So technically not the literal season opener, as that’s usually reserved to a flashback at some different location, but obviously still within those first 15 minutes, following directly after the opener…

And since we already have an idea of what the opening of s5 is going to be, what do we think the scene directly after it is going to be? You know, in the scene that Mike has been consistently running late in, for four seasons now?

Speaking of 15 minutes, I think that if they were to keep this trend going for the final season (the full circle-ness of it all is honestly too epic to pass up), it’s likely that this final time it will happen around the 15 minute mark of 5x01, as that would make the build up for it each season pretty consistent.

And not only that, but it would also literally be a callback to what Karen says to Mike that first time he’s late in s1: 

And here’s my other favorite line from one of these scenes, in the context of this theory, because it literally acknowledges this concept directly and with this air of foreshadowing I cannot stress enough:

Interestingly, another detail that ties all these ‘Mike being late’ scenes together, is stairs.

In s1 he’s running up the stairs to convince his mom to let them keep playing.

In s2 he’s rushing down the stairs trying to avoid Nancy’s wrath.

In s3 he’s awkwardly bumping into strangers going down the escalator in Starcourt Mall.

And in s4 he’s hurrying down the stairs on his way to school.

The whole point of Labyrinth is that it’s an allegory for growing up, with Sarah going from dressing up as a princess to reenact one of her favorite fairytales after being chastised by her step-mom for not going on more dates like girls her age, to Sarah rejecting her childhood and it leading to an unfortunate series of events, forcing her to face reality and take responsibility of her own life.

Does this sound like anyone we know?

Mike, who starts the show in s1 playing DND animatedly with his friends before being interrupted by his mom to end the campaign despite protests, to his mom in s2 punishing his bad behavior by having him get rid of some of his favorite toys, to him in s3 insisting that they’re 'not kids anymore' and that it was inevitable for them to stop playing games and grow up and get girlfriends, to him now in s4 reverting back to this earlier version of himself, sporting the Hellfire shirt proudly, to then reverting back to pretending when showing up at the airport with Argyle calling his outfit a shitty knock off (aka calling Mike a shitty knock-off), and without the story ever acknowledging why those shifts happened in the first place, and with one season left?

Hint? Forced conformity. That’s what’s killing the kids. That’s the real monster.

They literally told us already that out of all the monster we've seen in the show, this is what is worse than all of that. Meaning that what is about to go down, most likely topping everything we've seen up to this point, is likely going to involve forced conformity.

I also think it’s interesting that the scene in Labyrinth happened during the climax of the film, because arguably if you were to watch Stranger Things in its entirety, from s1-5, the beginning of s5 is going to feel very much like the climax to the overall story. 

Things are going to be happening fast. The stakes are insane because they need to top everything that they’ve done up to this point. Something’s gotta give. And Mike is just not looking safe out here guys.

I could go on and on about all the hints that Mike is danger, but I’ll just share my favorites. 

How am I gonna survive a whole week without you guys? Mike says, at the tail end of his opening scene in s4, and with s5 set to start at the end of said week.

Mike sitting in front of an antique funeral home fan in the s4 promotional pictures of the party in the Creel attic.

Nancy saying she saw Mike die in the vision Vecna showed her, with the early stages of said vision coming true as season 4 nears its end.

Mike getting hit in the head with an arrow front and center by Suzie’s brother, in a sequence that was loaded with foreshadowing for the end of s4 (and beginning of s5?).

Watch out dominos. Your dominos are gonna fall. Argyle says, with Mike equally in the frame behind him.

Without heart, we’d all fall apart. Will says, after telling Mike he’s the heart.

A Karen lookalike standing in front of the missing person's board at the end of s4.

Mike’s very first line in the show (also the literal first line in the show) being A shadow grows on the wall behind you, swallowing you into the darkness. It is almost here…

So maybe, theoretically speaking, what we could get by that 15 minute mark going into s5, is Mike running late one last time, and it potentially being a callback to that cliff scene ie. Labyrinth.

Another scene that I think might've been foreshadowing what is currently going down, is Max and Mike both getting knocked out by Billy at the end of s3. Max goes down first and Mike follows right after, though Max is the first to come to and help them both up.

We know Max is unlikely to be separated from the rest of the characters the whole season, that’s just not feasible. She'll at least be on-screen despite maybe not being back with the others right away, even if it’s just a cryptic cliffhanger at the end of 5x01, followed by her returning more consistently on screen after that leading up to her rescue. With the way things ended in s4 though, we need to know where she’s at and get to finding her. Which is why I think at most it will be a 1-2 episode arc.

So maybe, this moment from s3 was a hint about Max and Mike’s impending doom at the hands of Vecna, as a result of not only their emotional states, but also their bonds with El, and them then being isolated for a short time (presumed dead), only to find their way back?

It’s also worth noting Mike was the only person to witness any of Max’s symptoms from the curse prior to her finding out about it, with the camera focusing on him beside her and looking at her worriedly as her nose bled. We don’t know who Vecna’s fourth victim was going to be, because Max threw herself in as bait, but could it have originally been Mike?

I know a lot of people don't like the Mike getting Vecna'd theories or Mike is depressed takes and so if you find yourself in that position, feel free to subtweet away or whatever you need to cope with my nonsense.

I'm not a big Mike is suicidal truther or anything even, nor do I think it makes sense for him to get Vecna'd in the traditional sense like how it happened with the others in s4 because the gates are open. But Vecna still hasn’t carried out his entire plan, a plan that includes Mike dying. And the imagery surrounding it all leading up to this is compelling regardless.

If one shot at the end of s3, with Max sitting in Billy's room while Hopper was in the background saying and yeah sometimes it's painful and sometimes it's sad was enough to hint at her whole depression arc in s4, then Mike being focused on for multiple shots while Hopper was in the background saying But, lately, I guess I've been feeling... distant from you. Like you're pulling away from me or something.-- And I guess, if I'm being really honest, that's what scares me. I don't want things to change, with Mike looking longingly at the Byers house, cutting to Will looking out the car window crying, then cutting back to Mike walking into his mom's arms with a dead stare on his face, has gotta be enough to justify dude going through some shit, which coincidentally matches up with everything talked about here.

Turns out getting to Mike, now that was the key…

Maybe the first episode of s5 is about Mike ending up wherever Max is, somewhere caught in between, and them ‘crawling’ back ie. The Crawl.

Definitely might add some context to that funkopop shot-listing video Ross posted, followed by one other photo a few days later with the caption being that they finished shot-listing for 5x01-5x02. Meaning the initial video posted was likely from 5x01...

[s10127470]

An Ultimate Idea

We all know The Maker.

The evil alternate version of Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic from The OG Ultimate Universe.

Once starting off as heroic and bright-eyed, due to a series of traumatic events, in addition to his rough upbringing, he would become a disillusioned and sociopathic madman who wants to remake the world in his vision and will do anything to get what he wants.

One thing that everyone agrees with is that if The Maker and 616 Reed ever meant, it would not pretty.

The Maker would be left absolutely livid by seeing the life 616 Reed has.

-He had an actually loving and supportive family, and more specifically, a father who supported and encouraged his goals.

-His friends didn't leave him and always stood by him, through thick and thin.

And most of all.....

-He got to marry Sue and even stated a family with her.

The Maker's reaction to all this would basically be this:

Upon seeing this, The Maker would feel like he got stiffed when it came to life.

And now, has another major goal: to destroy 616 Reed and/or his life.

So yeah, The Maker is now officially a hater.

Joining the ranks of other villains such as Lex Luthor, The Reverse Flash, Sabretooth, and even Doctor Doom!

But that's not all.

He's got an entire army backing him up!

And not just any army!

This army consists of the heroes and villains of the original Ultimate Universe, brought back to life by The Maker himself.

The Maker showed them what their lives were like in the 616 Universe and just like him, they were left pretty pissed since when compared to the lives they had, they were a hell of a lot better!

And so, with their shared feelings of being stiffed by life (plus some manipulation by The Maker), they joined his cause.

And now, they've become recurring rivals to their 616 counterparts.

I think what makes this idea so compelling is the fact that the Ultimate versions of the 616 characters are regarded as the worst versions of those characters in general!

Plus may of them had what made them so compelling in the first place removed and in a way, reflected the dark paths the 616 heroes could've gone down.

And for this villain group, they would essentially lack the greatest attribute of each of their 616 counterparts.

Let's look at 616 Reed and The Maker.

The Maker lacked 616 Reed’s greatest strength: his perseverance.

While he has definitely gone through his rough patches, Reed never let them consume him and he was able to keep moving forward.

But The Maker wasn’t able to move past his rough patches and he let them consume his entire life, turning him into the monster we know today.

It'll be pretty cool to see The Maker reunited with his Fantastic Four, but to also see them on his side as well.

While I'm still thinking about what they look like, I know what they'll be capable of, what their personalities would be like, and most importantly, their contrast to their 616 counterparts.

Ultimate Sue can become light itself and is capable of making her entire body into constructs.

Ultimate Johnny can go into a blue fiery state, granting him greater speed, strength and firepower.

And Ultimate Ben can enter into a spiky rock form and even manipulate the very Earth beneath his feet.

As for their personalities.

Ultimate Sue is vain and shallow, having little to no care or social awareness.

Ultimate Johnny is opportunistic little weasel.

And Ultimate Ben is a melancholic and cynical.

And finally for their contrast to their 616 counterparts.

For Ultimate Sue, she lacks 616 Sue's compassion.

For Ultimate Johnny, he lacks 616 Johnny's loyalty.

And for Ultimate Ben, he lacks 616 Ben's heart.

But I think the greatest contrast is when you put all of three of them and The Maker together.

Because altogether, they lack the 616 Fantastic Four's greatest strength: their familial bond.

As we all now, The FF have and always will be a family!

And they will always love each other and have each other's backs no what how chaotic things get.

The Ultimate FF unfortunately lacked that, despite how important that is to their identity.

It's a slightly less worse version of how they were in Fant4stic.

But hey, they at least had chemistry with each other!

But back on topic, and this lack of familial bond best shown when the four willingly decided to disband.

Even if the 616 FF went through something as traumatic as Ultimatum, they would've still stuck by each other and help each other through these dark times.

But anyways, that's all for know.

I'm still brainstorming on the other Ultimate characters and how they contrast to their 616 counterparts.

But until then, let me know what you guys think about this idea, how the Ultimate characters should contrast from the 616 counterparts, and even what the relationship between them would even be like

[fanartbyherd]

Gotham Map

whoo! I'm not 100% done but if I don't stop now I will never stop.

over a month of work and I can now say I have completed my own map on Gotham!

as well as Bludhaven and summer set,

Bludhaven famously being the sister city of Gotham and primary haunt of Nightwing.

Summerset is a community between the two cursed cities that is just extrodinairaly normal. (I don't know what comic it is but I got the name from one I was looking at.) but here's the panel.

(No idea what issue this is from, I was browsing quickly through a large collection of older Batman comics and didn’t have time to sit and read it yet.)

So! Some Good Golly Gosh Context for the existence of this map. Before someone comes at me for non cannon accurate information and BS I'm about to pull.

This map was created for my use for a Transformative work I started toying with the idea of, that now has a hundred something chapters drafted (note: Drafted dose not mean written only one of those chapters is written and available to read. Dandelion puffs)

found here:

this map is a combination of the (mostly taken as) Cannon Map and the map that briefly appeared in "the Doom That Came to Gotham" film. the main inspiration for the Fanfic Idea. as well as things scavenged from Fannon and my own head cannon. some parts of it are also cobbled together from other bits of cannon, things such as the long halloween, Batman Year one, the one Nightwing comic I have read all the way through, a Batwoman and Catwoman comic, The Arkham Knight games, Actual maps of New Jersey (I mentioned that in my previous post about this map), The Harley Quinn Show, Joker (that movie) especially the subway map that apparently appeared in that film. Multiple Batman films... I'm not actually sure what batman movies I have watched just that one of them had Ra's Al Ghul and the scarecrow in them and featured the Narrows, and the 2022 batman film, and birds of prey. I really should have been keeping track of all the inspirations I used. I do that for Original works... but not for fan works as I'm not that used to making them or something.

this map operates with the assumption that the year is somewhere around 2020. and that in 1920 the city of Gotham suffered from a destructive fire. (see events of the doom of Gotham)

and in the late 1950s suffered from a catastrophic earthquake. (haven't read it but heard through the grapevine about Batman: no mans land. lots of the online maps reference it)

Also opperates under lovecraftian horror rules, because that's what this elderich horror AU...

the colors are a bit hard to see unfortunately, but they are mostly for my own use.

Gangs of Gotham:

Lime Green-Jokerz: they have close ties to the cult of the clown posse. operate mainly around the Amusement mile.

Scarlet red-Redhood: Headed by the mysterious Warlock Redhood. the gang is relatively young but rose to power quickly in 2005. most of Park Row (aka crime ally) and some of the surrounding areas are under the red hoods control.

they took their name from an earlier gang that was wiped out by the jokerz. The higher members of the gang jokingly refer to themselves as Red hood's merry men.

Red hood has a deep hatred for the Joker and Black mask considers him his primary rival.

Cyan Blue-Siloni: A Gotham grown mob, that consists of many different families that merged to become a singular mob.

Indigo-Moronei: Major rivals to the Falconies, they also got mostly destroyed in the same incident that destroyed their rival gang, but there where people to pick up the pieces

Gold-Cosa Nosta: a collection of families mobs originating from Sicily

Grey-Falconies: in the early 1940s the family was nearly destroyed following a series of incidents.

Dark green-Thorn: American Gangsters.

Colbalt blue-Penguin: Took their name after the moniker used by a professor at Gotham university. Rose to prominence in the 1920s during probation as the main go too if you wanted to set up a speak easy. under the leadership of Ms. Ollie "the penguin" Cobb. the gang was nearly taken over by the falcons in the 30s but after the destruction of the original falcon famaly managed to establish themselves. even operate as a half legitimate business a good portion of the time.

Orange-Lucky hare: collective term for the Irish mobs such as the Rileys, Sullivans, and so on.

Maroon-Black Mask: Run by the ambitious warlock Roman Sions Aka Black Mask. dominating he aria of the Bowery, He and the Red hood have a very violent Rivalry. He covet's Red hood's "red burial shroud." and territory. The black mask gang has ties to both the older sionis mob and the false face society.

yellow-Maxia: the gang Run by Maxie Zeus and the twelve olympians. the gang was founded by Greek immigrant Maxine Seuss. former Archeologist who went a bit mad after the death of her husband and daughter. she immigrated to the United States in 1922, after her American husband's death. her son Maximilian took over after his mother.

pale pink-Yakuza: are what they say on the Tin, operate both in Gotham and in Bludhaven.

purple-Scareface: one of the old Gaurd of street gangs. Is headed by “scareface” and his Vantriliquist. Scareface is a man who was opporating in Gotham back in the 1890s and 1910s but was hung by the place that later became Blackgate Penitentiary. He was also the man who ordered the death of Cyrus Gold and the subsiquent dumping of his body in Slaughter swamp.

brown-whispers: the collective name used for the Russian and Ukrainian mobs in the area. They operate partly out of the old subway tunnels. Mainly consists of the Ibansscas and Odessa gangs but there are others referred to by the collective term.

jade green-Evening Dragons: collective term for a good deal of gangs and organizations that have East Asian origins or influences.

this includes the East side dragons, Ghost Dragons, Golden dragons (might see where the name came from) the Lucky Hand Triad, Hanoi tan.

sky blue-Whites: A merger of the Black gaters gang and the Gangs run by Warren White "the shark".

pink-Other: a bunch of smaller gangs, gangs that are not organized or seen as being one of the largest players. gangs that are less well established or gangs that are extremely local to a certain neighborhood.

Intergang (metropolis baisses), street Demonz (local biker gang), the Mutants, sprang bridge soldiers, Burntly Town Massive, Decons, Escabedo Cartel, The stonewall Drug lords, Pealuan cartel, Skevers, Moon, and para military groups like Bane's and TYGER. and on rare occasions when Two-Face's Gang on the periodical basis that they become an issue.

Cults of Gotham:

I'll probably make some other post on a more in-depth chat about the cults of Gotham, the Occult comunity, and how they interact with the gangs, elite and citizens of Gotham. but that's not this post. here's a quick overview.

-Cult of Ghul: its leaders were destroyed in 1920. prior to this they had a lot of influence in Gotham as the guardians of the Lazarus pits that exist below the city. after the 1920s they lost most of thir influence, they still ave plenty of influence in other parts of the world with the surviving al ghul daughter.

-Court of Owls: been around forever want "what's best for Gotham" at least what they think is best, after the dismantling of the Cult of Ghul took over as the head honchos in the city.

-Baset's cats: Catwoman runs this cult, its a sect that broke off from a cult in New Orleans.

-Court of the yellow sign: They're a problem, and looking to make themselves everyones problem. very popular among the elite as it is a lot about pleasure and indulgence, and theatrics. work often and closely with the cult courts and the wounderlanders.

-She who Breaths: has a few other names, but is primairly a fertility and prosperity cult dedicated to Shub Niggurath and simular entities. they have a close and cordial relationship to the Green lady and is well respected among the Gotham and surrounding areas cults.

-Court of winter: the local fairy court.

-False face society: have a lot of pull and sway in the criminal underworld. also deal with the fay and vampire population of Gotham.

-Rail hoppers: A strange and loosely organized secret society whose worship revolves around the public transit system... people aren't really certain what thier deal is. but they're normally harmless.

-Pain: pain anyone? sort of your typical demon worshipers.

-Dead's Dawn Society: they have some weird beliefs around necromancy. the bats and birds is a decisive topic.

-Clown posse: people who believe that they can somehow appease the Entity known as the Joker. its a bit more complicated than that.

-Green Lady: Worshipers of the green.

-Bat and Bird watchers: one of the most yet least organized cults on the list. they aren't always considered a cult by the other cults in Gotham and has many facets to them. the

-Torch bearers: worshipers of Yeb and Nug. more so Nug than Yeb.

-Mad Society: AKA the brotherhood, a section of Gotham vampires worship here and seek to bring about the end of humanity and have vampires rule the world. or something along those lines.

also might want to create an army of werewolf women. this causes issues with the wounderlanders.

-wonder landers: in reality encompasses a great number of smaller cults who are all associated with the dreamland and dreamland deities in some way or another. but the main part style themselves after the book Alice in wonderland, the Avatar of the Elder God Hypnos. the current Batwoman's sister is a member.

-Triad: worshipers of the Earth Gods Lobon, Zo-Kalar and Tamash.

-Court of Dagon: Mostly dock workers and Deep ones who worship Dagon and Mother hydra.

-Court of truth: primarily worshipers of Aletheia, have some loose connections to the order of Saint Dumas.

-Court of stone: a group who seeks the caves of Solomon. spend a lot of time spelunking in the tunnels and cave systems of Gotham.

Stops on the Railway system.

H. Red Line: Redwall, Avalon hill, bludhaven port, the spine, old station, Melville station, Drawbridge station, Mealtide park, span bridge station, Gotham university, Cemetery hill, city council, Gold Gotham station.

8. Sea Line: Arkham, Arkham bridge park, Eastside, dockside, old city hall, memorial park, old Gotham, city council, Cemetery hill, Southside, span bridge station, lainly point station, Mealtide park, train yard.

0. Silver line: Steel st, Wayne Central, clock tower, city hall, central library, Roman st. Ottisburg, Park row, old Gotham

J. Tree line: Ash st. Oak st. clock tower. chinatown, Alder st. park row, Lemur park, spring st. cherry lane. Robinson park, Ottisburg, Roman st. Old Town

K. Central line: Wane central, clocktower, Penguin station, Millers Harbor, china town, old town.

9. the Loop: Wayne Central, Owl station, Burnley, Penguins station, Elliot Center, Precinct station, justice station,

A. Amusement line:Airport terminal, Kane street, Riverside, stadium, blackgate, Sheldon park, city hall, clock tower, Wayne central.

(some stations are not yet named, especially on the silver line, central line and tree line.)

the city also has an extensive Bus and Tram system, but if I drew that I may actually go crazy and try to bite someone's head off.

(stuffs mislabeled slightly on this map below but its accurate enough)

Parks

Robinson park- a park just outside of park row. its said to be the domain of some strange being known as poison ivy.

Memorial park-houses the 1920s fire memorial.

Wayne park- between North City park and Southside park. its located in the Financial district.

Sheldon park- the park next to the amusement mile. it could use some clean up, but is popular with teens and explores as it allows for an easy access to the cave systems of Gotham.

Southside park- houses the Gotham City zoo. and just outside of the flood area of the Cauldron.

North city Park- near the Gotham central hospital.

Lemmars park- in the cherry hills district. it was converted from the old Lemmars and other farm lands when the city expanded.

Arkham bridge Park- a rather large and wild park that takes up much of the eastern coast of Old Gotham Island.

Anders park- a small park south of Robinson park. its well known for cult activity.

I'll figure out the bridge situation some other time, just know that for this Span Bridge is the one that connects Bludhaven to Gotham.

Districts.

1.Bristol- Island home to Gotham's Elite and Wealthy. the entire island essentially acts like a gated community. there is no metro trains to Bristol but there are a handful of bus stops. home to Gotham Academy a prestigious K-12 private school. Wayne manor and Drake manor are both located in Bristol.

2. Old Gotham- Mostly destroyed in the 1920s fire. the revitalization and rebuilding of the district left it with a very Art deco look.

home to the city council, the old city hall, and the Old Library.

3. Downtown-Built in a gothic revival style as an honor to the cities name and legacy. its history has been shifting with its demographic for years. still a rather populated and well lived in neighborhood, even if some businesses have moved to the financial district.

on the other side of the water to the area known as the Cauldron

4. Arkham City- Relatively unpopulated compared to other other parts of the city. is notable for its unique Victorian Gothic revival architecture. a lot of the structures are original to the area as Arkam Island survived relatively unscaved from the 1920s fire and the earthquake in the 1950s. the more populated parts of the island are heavily crowded and home to the failed "ark project" and the failed "wounder city." the most famous feature of this district is located on a small island just off the coast of the larger Arkham Island, and that is the infamous Arkham Asylum.

north of Arkham island are three islands of Founders, Bleake, Miagani Islands.

5. Docks- the main Port and Docking Area of Gotham. there are a lot of warehouses and industrial buildings in this area. also home to plenty of famous food stands and hole in the wall places like Mama Mathew's shrimp, as well as a good assortment of Bars and Dives, such as Sandyhood, Noonan's and Siren's whale (favorite bar of the Gotham City sirens).

the docks also hosts the Empty water tower that has Become one of Omen's Roosts. (note: Omen is Red Robin)

6. Parkrow- More well known as Crime Ally. once a prosperous neighberhood, it survived both the 20s fire and the 50's earthquake and fallout of both incidents. in the 80s, some of the area was redeveloped into "projects", though crime had already been on an upward spike since the 30s. some classic revival buildings survive from the cities heyday.

the old courthouse that hadn't been in use since 1903 was in this district as well as the famous monarch theater. and Leslie's Clinic.

the district has the cheapest renting all of Gotham but also a huge homeless population.

home to the Oldman building, the abandoned fire station, and is well known to be the haunt of the Red hood and the strange spirit known as the red wraith.

park row has its own community culture. you are likely to get stabbed.

7. Narrows- A narrow strip of land between the South (old Gotham) and North (new Gotham) islands. it is densely packed with buildings that frankly are not up to code. its just as densely packed with people. people make the best of the situation they find themselves in.second cheapest rent in the city, largely lawless.

jacks junkyard is a bit of lifeline in the area.

8. China Town- this districts architecture and open-air markets are what the it is famous for. Alongside its colorful nightlife (and we aren't talking bats!) Traditionaly played host to the cities east Asian immigrant communities. some parts of the districts are known as Korea-town or little Japan, there is also the statue street, that traditionally housed a lot of immigrants from India. the district is well known for having its own spin on the cities beloved gargoyles.

9. Little Italy- little Italy and the surrounding areas play host to many immigrant communities from the 1830s to 1950s. it rebuilt stronger and better both after the 1920s fire and the 1950s earthquake.

home to Maroni's pizzeria, leaty tile bar and the falcon statue.

10. Bay Ridge- another mainland district on the east side of the river.

11. Dimond District- the crystal, and glass facade that covers up much of the corruption of the city.

a popular district with locals and tourists both.

houses the main precinct of the GCPD, the County court house

12. Fashion district- An extension of the Dimond district but houses many more shop and places of entertainment. it's known for its 1950s futuristic appearance as it had to be rebuilt after the 1950s earthquake. has few fewer gargoyles compared to the rest of Gotham. relies on a series of flood dykes to keep from flooding. less prone to flooding compared to the poorer district of Coventry.

part of the area known as the cauldron.

13. Burnly-a large district that is a mix of residential, financial and industrial. it's a safeish neighborhood. though there's plenty of issues, but if you follow common sense rules for Gothem you should be fine... probably. its not as safe as some of the rich neighborhoods, or the mainland neighborhoods.

Gotham cathedral is in burnley, the watchtower is at the edge of the district.

14. Coventry- home to the Central library, the Elliot center, Iceberg lounge and millers harbor.

Millers harbor was created by the use of floodwalls and dykes in order to drain portions of the once marshy land and create a new part of gottam city. as a result most of millers harbor and coventry sits below sea level and is prone to flooding.

part of the area known as the cauldron.

15. City hall district- has a lot of crossover with the financial district and Dimond district. City hall, Gold hotel, National history museum are all located in this district.

16. Financial district- home to office buildings of most of Gothams companies. including the influencial Wayne industry. there are also several upscale apartment buildings in the area. Wayne tower is located here and the cities Subway system has its central station

the historic clock tower is towards the edge of the district.

17. Tricorner- a handful of small neighborhoods but the island is less populated, there is several industrial areas here, such as Kane industry having their plant in the area. Fort Damas is located on this island. its an inactive fort, and is now a historical site.

18. Newtown- a residential neighborhood with classic brick houses, different areas of knew town have different and rather recognizable styles.

19. Cherry hills- once upon the time used to be orchards. though there was space city earlier, the area was built up a lot on the 1970s. it is a pleasant area famous for the flooring trees that are in the area some still around from when the area was farmland. its also a testament to the fact that Gargoyles never go out of style in Gotham, even when the city dose brutalism. its a popular place especially during in spring. Bech tower is located in cherry hills.

20. the Bowery- the third cheapest place to live in in Gotham. the Bowery suffers a lot from the same issues that its neighboring district the Narrows and Park Row. Most buildings in the Bowery are Brick or stone. Gargoyles are quite popular here.

Black mask dominates the streets. Sal's Dinner and Hogan's ally Bar.

21. Upper Gotham-part of West Gotham

22. Lower gotham-part of West Gotham

23. Robbinsville-East side of Gotham river.

24. Lesser Gotham- the largest district on the new Jersey main land. it's practically its own city and was built up during the 1950s. its got its own police precinct (I feel like that's the wrong word) hospital, fire station and schools. probably one of the safer places to live in Gotham, but its still Gotham. people who move into Gotham from outside and can afford it tend to move here. largest issue is that

25. Gotham town- facing The Atlantic Ocean, its a relatively industrial area housing Star labs, Orion chem, Cobolpot steal and one branch of Wayne enterprise.

26. Ottisburg- A quite popular neighborhood, fox tech is located here.

27. Gotham Achors-located on the east bank of the River. A good deal of bridges that go into Gotham proper are here.

28. Midtown- part of West Gotham. location of Gotham general hospital.

29. Gotham village- part of the suburbs of Gotham, located in the west bank of Gotham River (seriously that's what it's called?) the Gotham Aquarium is found here.

30. East side- connected to the down town area, east side is a nebulous region that includes districts like the docks, millers harbor and down town.

31. South side- relatively industrial area. in recent years has seen revitalization in the form of parks and green spaces. relatively considered a tourist attraction as people from bludhaven will actually visit the area. its water front is relatively clean, and its proximity to Gotham university means that entertainment venues get a good deal of traffic.

the ferries to Gold Island and metropolis leave from that area.

gold island hosts the "statue of lady justice" that stands at the entrance to Gotham Bay.

within south side is the rust district. its still largely industrial and

32. Amusment Mile- Createdwith the intention of it being a boardwalk, it has several venues and pairs that fulfill the purpose. it is mostly safe during daylight hours, but should be avoided by anyone who's not looking to risk thier life at dawn or dusk, and especially it is ill advised to go there at night unless accompanied by a member of the clown posse, even then... the chance is high of encountering a certain clown prince of crime and his carnival of fools.

33. Harthrow Docks- part of East Gotham. A private docking area. was rebuilt in the 1920s. unlike millers harbor in coventry its a natural harbor.

((Also I welcome suggestions and idea on the "personality" of the different districts and locations that exist there and what the places look like.))

A huge thank you to @downtherabbittrail and @theredhoodedcryptid.

the red hooded cryptid gave suggestions on maps to use as resources.

I recommend checking out her cryptid batfam fic its quite nice.

meanwhile I stole (got permission from) Downtherabbittrail to use a lot of the street names they invented for one of their fics.

other street names are scavenged from other sources (cannons or cannons) as well as me just making stuff up.

Here are several closeups of the parts of the maps. Still illegible but it is what it is.

Here is a close up of bludhaven. It’s a lot more accurate to the maps I found online. especially compared to the maps I used for Gotham.

Things to know about bludhaven.

It’s the sister city to Gotham and is on the other side of Gotham Bay.

Bludhaven was founded as a port for whalers. It never saw as large success as its sister city. As the city of Gotham is practically a city state in some regards. The city of bludhaven survived in part thanks to its close relation with Gotham and its businesses.

As well as seeing a steady stream of crime in its waters since the very early days of the settlements existence. The Span bridge crossing over into bludhaven ascos the Gotham straight was built in 1878.

the overall architecture of the city is more modern, but a lot of Americana style brick houses and apartments are around.

Bludhaven districts- I can tell you less about these, as I'm having harder time finding info, might have something with bludhaven blowing up in cannon at some point?

Centeral business district- is what it says on the tin. houses both bludhaven's main hospital and the BHPD (bludhaven police department.)

2. Melville-the older parts of Bludhaven and Bailey's church. (had a goat named Bailey once, my uncle named her because she stared at him the same way his at the time GF did.)

Melville is also the place where Nightwing's apartment and Roost is.

3. Caernarvon- a more inland portion and houses a great deal of industrial areas as well as many places of worship.

4. LAnely- the peninsula its mainly a residential area

The Spine: is what Bludhaven has instead of a Main Street. It is the largest street in Bludhaven and Acts much like a Strip. with clubs, restaurants, hotels and other establishments. it has a reputation but most of the businesses are legitimate during daylight hours. some business or another is open on the Spine 24 hours of the day. the spine goes right along an industrial area of the Bludhaven port and officially ends just before Avalon Hill

The largest crime boss In Bludhaven was BlockBuster between the years 1989-2007

the largest cults in Bludhaven

-Blood hounds: a local vampire cult. they actually have quite a bit of bad blood with the Mad Society.

-Cormorants: An odd Cult who are the self-proclaimed guardians of Bludhaven. thier opinion on Nightwings presence is a bit split and has caused a schism in the cult.

-night doctors: bad news.

-bird watchers: made a jump over from Gotham when Nightwing moved cities. they also watch the activity of the cormorants

-Rail hoppers: because the Bludhaven Metro and the Gotham Metro connect to each other the Cult of the Rail Hoppers extended their reach with the reach of the public transit.

(There’s a good bit of lacking information online about Bludhaven when I went digging, which is surprising as the city has been in publication since 19, certainly it’s not Gotham that’s been a thing since 19, but still. )

Final note about this map is that it likely will have updates, especially as I get around to writing and growing more confident in my research on the whole thing.