#cadet kane

[reanimatedgh0ul]

if i had a nickel for everytime i watched an action cartoon where a character had a personal vendetta against the mc that made them align w the main antagonist of the series who is an evil ponytailed billionaire who also has a personal connection to the mc and eventually got a upgraded suit i'd have two nickels

[rroketa]

okay i realised that making a chart would actually be too complicated so i'll just write list styleee

NO BURNERS AU RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS !

(aka ramblings of very vague ideas of how i think everyone relates in this au)

Mike and Julie – Julie's identity as Kane's daughter is still unknown to anyone in KaneCo. Mike knows her as a co-worker and positive acquaintance. Kane subtly pushes Mike and Julie to interact sometimes though. Have lunch and such.

Mike and 'Red' – At the moment, the biggest nuisance to KaneCo's operations and Mike's biggest rival. Red seemingly has insider intel of KaneCo's operation which makes them a large threat.

Dutch and Chuck – As the cabler's settlement is both the historically rich and most vulnerable part of motorcity, the cablers have set a deal with the Duke. The cabler's settlement and the Duke have a deal pertaining to material trade and mutual technical assistance.

Chuck basically only talks to the Duke in the mansion, so he often hangs out in the cabler's settlement to hang outwith Dutch and Tennie, using 'installation' as an excuse. Due to Chuck's alliance to the Duke (and his overall clingy behavior), Dutch can't see Chuck's presence more than an annoyance.

Mike and Chuck – Formerly friends at Deluxe, Mike and Chuck find themselves on opposite ends of Detroit. Their interactions are brief and somewhat awkward during negotiations between Kane and the Duke, but both question what guided the other to their current position.

'Red' and Texas – Red and Texas team up at times when their goals align. But having different approaches in most things they always end up butting heads.

At other times Red and Texas can be against each other. While Red protects motorcity, they seem to be defensive when it comes to Kane. While Texas is categorically for taking down Abraham.

Dutch and Texas – Texas is a delivery boy that at times reaches the cabler's settlement. Often rambling about his ideas on how to take down Kane, Dutch can often lend a sarcastic piece of advice that is actually helpful. In a way, Dutch is the brain of Texas' operations and is responsible for the fact that Texas hasn't been caught so easily.

Chuck and Texas – Chuck is the number one customer of Jacob's restaurant. Big fan of the muffins. Other than delivering to the mansion, Texas bullies Chuck for his 'dorky look'. The fact that Texas isn't a fan of the Duke doesn't help that too much.

Mike and Texas – Less of a threat, but more of an annoyance, Texas always finds himself tangled up with Deluxe's law enforcement. So much that Mike already easily recognises the troublemaker.

Mike dismisses Texas as not much of a threat, often, seemingly on purpose letting him go. Even Texas can notice that doesn't seem too right..! On one hand he feels underestimated, on another, he feels like a certain cadet might not be as ruthless as other Deluxe cadets..

[punkeropercyjackson]

Hi! I have been reading your post for a while now and I really think you would like the Disney 2012 show motorcity.

It takes place in a future where Abraham Kane CEO of Kane co builds over the city of Detroit to create Detroit deluxe and his attempts on gentrification on motor-city by taking away homes and cars.The main characters are a rebel group called the burners the leader Mike Chilton was originally a cadet in Kane’s military and then defected and now fights for what’s right.

HOLY SHIT,I GREW UP ON THIS SHOW😭😭😭 /very pos Thank you so much for this ask,this was such a good blast from the past.I had a huge ass crush on Mike omg......Now i know why.Also i'm gonna go rewatch a bunch of clips,again tysm!If you want to talk Motorcity please do,now i want to!!

[rat-shark]

CHILTON SIBLINGS HEADCANONS

part 1?

they're very similar in character, but because Capri is mostly used to solitude, she doesn't have the best social skills, which makes her come off as rude

she's also more reckless and likely to take risks

they used to play cowboys as children :]

Capri is taller and stronger but less agile than Mike

they were besties as children but when Capri became a teen she started changing a lot which Mike didn't understand (tied to my other Deluxe headcanons)

Capri left when Mike was around 12/13 and she was 15/16 (so a 3yr age gap) (this also ties to my other Deluxe headcanons maybe I'll write about them someday lol)

Capri blames herself for what happened to Mike and not saving him from Kane's brainwashing sooner. Mike feels guilty over not waking up earlier and allowing Capri to leave all alone when she was just a teen

before leaving Deluxe, Capri used to be a cadet herself but she was way less enthusiastic than Mike. She also didn't buy KaneCo propaganda

Capri called Mike a mutt instead of "bitch" because they weren't allowed to swear

they'd play fight a lot as kids, horrifying their mom

Capri was a lot more of a troublemaker than Mike. They both were, and still are, adrenaline junkies seeking excitement though

Capri was the one who introduced Mike to punk, rock and country music :>

[ultrameganicolaokay]

Outsiders #2 by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly and Robert Carey. Variant covers by David Marquez and Serg Acuña. Out in December.

"'Monsters of the Unknown.' What hidden tragedies lie inside the Forever Storm of the Enlil Triangle? On January 1, 2000, a storm kicked up near the Enlil island chain in the mid-Atlantic. And it never stopped. As a West Point cadet, Kate Kane encountered something monstrous in those turbulent waves…and now, she is returning to face it alongside the Outsiders! But can she control her desire for revenge in the service of Luke Fox’s mission of understanding? What secrets will they discover deep beneath the monster-filled waves of the Enlil Triangle? And how will the Outsiders survive their encounter with the monster-hunting specialists of the DC Universe: the New Challengers of the Unknown? This new, boundary-breaking dive into the secret history of the DC Universe is just beginning!"

[pleasereadmeok]

The main cast of 'Department Q'

📷 (L-R) Alexej Manvelov, Chloe Pirrie, Matthew Goode, Kelly Macdonald & Leah Byrne

Courtesy/Josh Shinner/Getty/FX/Leigh Lothian via Deadline.com

Information from 'Deadline' -

Department Q has staffed up. Cameras are rolling in Scotland on the upcoming series adaptation of Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen’s hugely popular crime novels. Matthew Goode, Chloe Pirrie, Alexej Manvelov, Leah Byrne and Kelly Macdonald are all on board Netflix‘s English-language series Deadline can reveal. The project comes from showrunner Scott Frank (The Queen’s Gambit). It has been written by Frank, Chandni Lakhani, Stephen Greenhorn and Colette Kane. Frank directs the first two of the eight instalments. Filming is taking place in Edinburgh, where the series will be set. Goode will play DCI Carl Morck. After a violent incident turns Morck’s life upside down, the emotionally scarred detective is charged with setting up cold case unit, Department Q, upon his return to work. At first, the disillusioned cop is happy to waste his days away, but his detective instincts are ultimately reawakened and his new department becomes a magnet for a crew of misfits and mavericks. The project sees Goode working with Left Bank Pictures and Netflix once more. He played Antony Armstrong Jones in season two of Left Bank’s regal drama The Crown. Pirrie, whose credits include The Queen’s Gambit, plays ruthless and ambitious prosecutor Merrit Lingard. Fellow Scottish actor Macdonald takes the role of Dr. Rachel Irving, a therapist tasked with getting officers back on the front line. Manvelov (Jack Ryan) is Syrian cop Akram Salim, who was forced to flee to Europe and ultimately becomes part of the new department. Byrne takes the role of Rose, a star police cadet left shaken by a breakdown and looking for a chance to prove herself in DCI Morck’s team. The cast also includes Mark Bonnar (Guilt), Shirley Henderson (Bridget Jones), Jamie Sives (Crime) and Kate Dickie (Inside Man). Adler-Olsen’s books have spawned a very successful film franchise. The fourth film based on the novels, The Purity Of Vengeance, became the highest-grossing Danish film at the local box office. New movies are in the works.

[purefandomonium]

Welcome to my thesis about how Kane sees Red as more than just a convenient anti-Mike attack dog.

Warning: this is suuuuper long, will have many spoilers, and is really just me rambling about my thoughts and opinions more than anything "factual." I've been rewatching a few episodes of Motorcity and this has been eating at me.

So. To start this off, I wanna talk about Kane and Mike. We all know how Mike viewed Kane as a father-figure, how he trusted him with every fiber of his being, and how he really thought Deluxe was for the greater good. We know how Mike feels about it now that he's left Kane Co and started fighting for Motorcity. But what about Kane?

"You were like a son to me!" carries so much more weight than Mike's musings about believing in Kane. In the very first episode, Kane immediately jumps to how betrayed he was by Mike defecting. He makes it very clear that there's some personal vendetta behind his goal to crush Motorcity. I suspect if Mike hadn't created the Burners, regardless of whether or not he left Deluxe, Kane wouldn't be so diabolical in his efforts to gain control of the city. It seemed like up until that point, he was fine with having bots act as security and sending demolition crews to make way for his empire. None of the other gangs seem interested in stopping this.

Kane's the kind of guy that likes to personally dish out death. He'll only sit back and let his underlings and bots handle it until he feels certain he'll get what he wants. He shows up to the fight in the first episode when the others are out of commission and Mike's vulnerable. He wants to be there to watch the stolen cars burn in Like Father, Like Daughter. He stands at the top of his tower, unguarded, as Mike's about to be delivered to him in Off the Rack. And in A Better Tomorrow, he is both the one pretending to be Vega and the one to spearhead the destruction of Motorcity in his latest death-machine. Heck, Red even states to a captured Mike that Kane wanted to do Mike's execution himself. This is someone who wants to revel in victory, that's for sure. Moving on.

Then Mike Chilton left and became a threat. Not only did his best soldier betray him, but he outright turned against him. The kid he personally brought up to be the best, the one he put so much faith into, the son he never had, spat in his face and continues to do so.

Kane has a nasty temper. It's shown from the very first episode. When things don't go his way, he doesn't so much throw a tantrum, but he does have violent outbursts of rage. He may sick Tooley on the staff that angers him, but when it comes to Mike Chilton and the Burners, he's all too willing to go down there and dirty his hands if he's able.

While there's no official answer to how exactly Mike ended up in the whole cadet situation, my belief is this: He was born in Deluxe--or at least lived there as long as he could remember, depending on if I bring Capri into his backstory--and is an orphan. I like to think he got into Kane Co due to being childhood friends with Chuck, who was a gifted kid in some kind of intern program there, and he had an affinity for the military aspect. So he enlisted when he was old enough and blew everyone's socks off with his ability. This got the attention of Kane, who saw something in Mike the more he watched his skills grow. It lead to Kane personally raising him in a way, training him, seeing him as a potential successor of sorts. He'd never have made him head of Kane Co, that was always gonna be reserved for Julie, but I do think he'd have allowed Mike to be her second-in-command. The leader of the army and essentially her own version of Tooley, only with a brain.

It doesn't outwardly appear like much, and Kane certainly isn't one to let others see weakness, but it wasn't just about the loss of such a promising elite. It was about losing the kid he felt like he raised, the closest thing to a son he'd ever have. It's how Mike uses some of Kane's skills against him, like his combat skills, strategy, and even his charisma.

But enough about that. Let's talk about Red.

Red is, for all intents and purposes, a replacement for Mike. A better one, if Kane has anything to say about it. Red has the benefit of only being outwardly like Mike; he doesn't think like Mike. Red's ingenious and cunning, sure. He's got skills beyond even Mike's, as the latter has never been able to fairly defeat him in one-on-one combat. He's a competent driver to boot.

He's also blinded by anger, easily manipulated, and clearly not that bright, as anyone with common sense would see Kane as the enemy in his situation. All this is beneficial to the man in question. Kane sees that same ferocious determination that Mike has, only Red's not hindered by morals or justice. He's got a goal and he will see to it he succeeds, regardless of who he has to hurt or what lines he has to cross. Red clearly doesn't care that he's working with the enemy, his enemy, and Kane uses that to his advantage.

This is more my headcanon than anything, but I 100% believe that Kane's got some kind of failsafe inside Red's suit. I mean, come on. He's already proven he has no issue getting into Kane Co tower, and while one could argue that perhaps Kane knew Red would arrive and lowered security on purpose, I just don't see that as a risk he'd be willing to take. At the time, Kane only knew of Red's hatred for Mike. He didn't know why he hated him so much (and likely still doesn't know/doesn't care), and there's no way he knew Red didn't also have a grudge against him.

Red's powerful, skilled, and an excellent weapon against Mike, but Kane isn't one to trust people blindly. Not after the last time. He's not gonna make the same mistake twice. There's no telling when or if Red will snap and turn on him, or if he'll be convinced by Mike himself that's he's going after the wrong person. Heck, Red's basically feral and is just as likely to go after them both for any reason at all. He's... not entirely okay up there. So why wouldn't Kane have a way to stop him if he ever got out of control? If Red ever turned on Deluxe, Kane wouldn't hesitate to put him down like the rabid dog he sees him as. That fancy suit of his probably has a remote kill switch that will turn all that energy on himself, frying him like bacon.

As much as Kane tries to justify his use of Red, I do think it leaves him bitter. Not only is he risking his empire by letting the guy work for him (although that's pretty much bottom of the list because of the whole murder failsafe), but Red just isn't Mike. He has the traits Kane convinced himself were all that mattered to him, but he can't deny that having a violent, angsty Tooley that shoots lightning isn't really what he wanted. Red's only loyal to Deluxe because it gives him a means to get back at Mike. He's not there because he wants to be. He doesn't view Kane as anything other than the guy giving him missions and upgrades.

Red doesn't look up to him at all, and that leaves Kane with nothing more than a reminder of what he lost.

[zahri-melitor]

Actually after writing all that out:

Philip potentially COULD be Bette’s dad, but the thing is I don’t think DC has ever bothered to decide either way.

So Martha Wayne had at minimum two, probably at least three brothers.

It’s HILARIOUS that for mythological reasons Bruce must be raised in Wayne Manor by Alfred or Leslie, but Martha quite probably had three brothers who presumably in normal circumstances would have been the people approached to take guardianship of Bruce.

But they didn’t. Because STORIES.

Also now I’m trying to line up Jacob Kane’s backstory with Bruce’s and work out when Kate and Beth were born compared to when the Waynes died.

Because Kate’s approximately, hmmm, 27? or so as of her first appearances in the post-Crisis timeline, if we use the ‘senior year cadet (so 22)’ when Kate was expelled under DADT, then her history after that has approximately 5 years of stuffing around in it training prior to Elegy (I think it’s 5 years because in n52 timelines everything is 5 years, but it’s not like we have better history available).

Which if we line up with post-Crisis Wayne kid ages… Dick is approximately 24-25 at that point.

So Kate’s approximately 2 years older than Dick, so in the current time line she’s 31ish, using Damian’s age as a marker?

But more importantly, the car crash that killed Gabi Kane and where Beth was kidnapped happened when the twins were 12.

Ten year old Dick Grayson is my preferred age for the circus.

The car crash probably happened at almost the same time the Graysons fell.

Which given the traditional time lines for how old Bruce was when he became Batman, means the twins were definitely born several years after Thomas and Martha died (so Jacob was probably deployed overseas somewhere).

Tragic. I was having fun imagining Bruce taken in by Jacob and Gabi RIGHT as they have twin baby girls…

[motorcity-thoughts]

jenzen & mike headcanons??

guys i changed my mind ive been thinking a lot more abt jenzen & mike now and i sorta have hcs for them now LMFAO

-he’s a serious guy. he rlly cares abt doing his job as a cadet and also mike. (the way jenzen softly said mikes name when he turns to tell kane abt the residents?//1/ he genuinely sounded worried for him ahbwhgjb)

-jenzen always tries to stay on track, but mike likes to joke around with him a lot. jen thought it was annoying at first, however he grew used to it after a few chuckles.

-mike loves nicknames for his friends, so ofc he’s called him “jen” or “jenny”. jenzen always stuck with calling him mike because its much more necessary.

-mike loves to make friends whenever he gets the chance, & jenzen was sort of different this time. he wouldnt budge unlike the rest of the cadets, but he just needed more time to see that mike wasnt just gonna be his coworker. he could trust him as a friend too. (or idk maybe mike is just a friendly guy lmfao)

[cryptidwlw69]

DELUXIAN TRANS MILITARY HEADCANONS

Trans cadets get free gender reassignment surgery but they have to abandon friends and family for Kane Co's services. It's kind of like a rank system for which surgery and therapy you qualify for, new cadets get voice therapy, commanders can get hormones, the specialist can get top surgery and lastly, sergeants can get bottom surgery. Mike was the first cadet to get top surgery. 

Deluxian Mike was able to pass unlike Chuck (it's one of the reasons Chuck hides his eyes, the other is autism). Chuck wanted to be apart of the cadets but due to him only having one arm he was denied and settled to R&D. Hoping that his R&D paychecks would pay off hospital bills

Top surgery doesn't have any scars due to Kane seeing them as unsightly and disgusting

Going into OC territory but Kane has the trans surgery contract named after Mason called the Natalie to Mason Act. This is unknown to Mason

Due to the majority of soldiers being afraid of shots hormone gel is given

[100yearslatetomotorcity]

Motorcity Headcanons: Edge of the Dome/outskirts

- People who live near the edge of the dome or on the outskirts aren't to be messed with and the gangs have a silent agreement to leave them alone.

- Even an experienced KaneCo cadet won't go on the outskirts if they don't have to

- People on the outskirts have a reputation for being crack shots and having old fashioned guns (which can take out most tech, even KaneCo tech).

- The outskirts is made up of several small settlements. Each settlement has a leader and they answer to one elected official.

- They have couriers for delivering messages, as comms aren't always reliable and do short out due to signal issues.

- Robin Cairn runs a courier service and his group is the closest thing to an actual gang the outskirts has. Mike somehow befriended him shortly after arriving in Motorcity and worked for him a few times.

- outskirters love The Burners and Rayon's group. However, they do not love the Duke and he gets shot at a lot.

- They have their own dialect that they speak in addition to English. They don't have a name for it but Kaia calls it Click due to the use of clicking noises to communicate displeasure and the fact they click at the Terrans a lot.

- Outskirters deal with extreme conditions due to being far away from weather generators. Usually there are dust storms summer-fall and intense cold in the winter. Rain is made by homemade weather generators and they don't have a big range, clouds dissipate quickly.

- Kane tends to dehumanize them a lot but doesn't see them as a real threat either, seeing as they largely stay out of conflicts and only shoot at cadets who get too close.

[batwomanandmotherpanic]

OUTSIDERS #2

Written by JACKSON LANZING and COLLIN KELLY

Art by ROBERT CAREY

Cover by ROGER CRUZ

Variant cover by DAVID MARQUEZ

1:25 variant cover by SERG ACUÑA

$4.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)

ON SALE 12/12/23

“Monsters of the Unknown.”

What hidden tragedies lie inside the Forever Storm of the Enlil Triangle?

On January 1, 2000, a storm kicked up near the Enlil island chain in the mid-Atlantic. And it never stopped. As a West Point cadet, Kate Kane encountered something monstrous in those turbulent waves…and now, she is returning to face it alongside the Outsiders! But can she control her desire for revenge in the service of Luke Fox’s mission of understanding? What secrets will they discover deep beneath the monster-filled waves of the Enlil Triangle? And how will the Outsiders survive their encounter with the monster-hunting specialists of the DC Universe: the New Challengers of the Unknown?

This new, boundary-breaking dive into the secret history of the DC Universe is just beginning!

[rroketa]

arranged relationship between Julie and Mike by Kane is funny to think about like Kane going "Julie my lovely daughter please date my favorite cadet"

Kane shipping moment

[rainbows-fanfics]

All'inzio (Chapter 22)

Summary: A  soldier-in-training, Valerie hopes to join the Valencian Army to avenge  her father’s death under the wing of General Rooke. But when she happens  to catch the attention of Commander Kane, her plans take a different  turn.

Human AU of the Armada from Pirate101, where Kane meets his Queen.

Pairing: Kane/Queen

–

Note: The title translates to “at the beginning”.

–

The sound of swords clanging together and shuffling of feet came from outside. Two figures were fencing within the early hours of the day, in a secluded yard outside of the castle. They were joined by the Armada's spymaster and tinkerer. Deacon and Bishop sat at the only table out there, watching the two perform from afar. There was virtually no speaking while they resumed their practice. 

“En-Garde!”

Kane’s eyes locked on ‘Queen’s body intently, examining her stance and positioning. She had a good habit of keeping excellent form while she moved. That was a comment he received from Deacon and Rooke - he even saw it back on those training grounds in her cadet days. She showed no struggle now, and even excelled with the strikes of her weapon. He stopped to remove his mask and offer a proud smile. 

“Nicely done.” 

She removed her own and grinned. She’d been ecstatic when he told her he wanted to ‘reward’ her for performing so well lately. The two of them practiced fencing all morning - the first few hours teaching her the basics, then executing it for several more. They received visitors when Deacon and Bishop arrived to speak with the Supreme Commander. He adamantly told them to wait until they were finished - which explained why they lingered for most of the session. 

Noticing they stopped, the two masked figures stood from their seats and rushed over to Kane. The plague doctor glanced around before rubbing his hands together. He clearly had something important on his mind and wanted to take Kane's attention to his advantage. 

“It is getting hot. Perhaps we should move indoors?” 

‘Queen’ noticed the time. The hours passed by, as it was nearly afternoon now. She reluctantly began packing up her things. Neither Bishop or Deacon were addressed as Kane passed by them to offer something to his girlfriend. She was surprised to see an envelope held in his gloved hand. She took it from his grasp without a word. Her eyes went wide at the name she read. 

“A letter from my mother..?” 

“It was delivered the other night. I held onto it so we could get your practice done today.” 

He dipped his head before returning to the other men, who began frantically whispering to him. She paid no mind as she turned the envelope around in her hands. She carefully opened it and pulled the piece of paper out from inside. She recognized her mother’s handwriting and read her message intently: 

“Mia figlia,

It has been so long since you returned home. I have all of your things ready to pick up. Your friends have been asking about you. Please, return when you can. I look forward to meeting the man you are dating. 

-Emilia” 

She held a hand to her lips. She last wrote to Emilia about her relationship, but had been too afraid to name Kane. She tucked the letter away and grabbed her things. She waited for the other men to finish their conversation, then followed after in the castle’s doors. The look she gave told him she wanted to be somewhere private as soon as possible. 

He departed from his sons and brought ‘Queen’ to the women’s powder room. She changed her clothes and ensured they were alone. Once she was in her dress, she grabbed the letter and presented it to him. 

“Emilia wants me to return home! She has all of my things ready, so I can grab them and properly move in with you.” 

“You’re going to Tuscany?” He asked. 

“I should see my mother and tell her everything that’s happened. She doesn’t even know I moved...she should also meet you again. As my beloved, now.” 

His look turned troubled. He placed a hand to his chin and looked away, contemplating something deeply. Her smile fell seeing his indifference to the idea. She leaned forward desperately. 

“You are going to come, aren’t you?” 

“I shouldn’t.” He replied. “I still have plenty to do here - I can’t afford anymore time away.” 

“But this is important!” She implored. 

His eyes had a hard time tearing away from her face. The news Deacon and Bishop delivered wasn’t exactly good - it meant he’d have to pour his time into his army more than usual. He would also be receiving a lot of worry from the royalty. What she was asking was insignificant at a time like this. But the pleading look in her eyes… he couldn’t stand it. He despised how his heart ached. He pressed his mask against his forehead in a stressed motion. 

“...I can bring you a ship and a couple of my men to assist you. They should be able to-” 

“It’s not just about getting my things. It's having my mother knowing you, as my lover.” Her arms drooped. “You can see my hometown, the way I used to live...even the paintings I kept in my room! I would love to know what you think of them.” 

Kane wondered if he was getting soft. It was strange to feel his muscles weakening and his heart sinking. He couldn't remember the last time he felt like this. He wanted to punch something just to feel strong again. He shut his eyes and sighed in defeat. He should get this out of the way. It was one trip that will last only for a day - he can return by tomorrow. But that was all the time he could spare. 

“Alright.” He crossed his arms in defeat. “I will join you.” 

Her face lit up at his acceptance. The sight made it all worth it. 

-----

The Supreme Commander got his most crucial work done before heading out of Cadiz. ‘Queen’ agreed to leave in the morning and return before nightfall. He put Deacon in charge in his absence. He was met with judgemental tsks when he told him the reason. He was getting tired of such disapprobation and promised this would be the last leave.

They set sail at a decent time. They spent a couple hours on the water before reaching ‘Queen’s homeland. She was in awe - the beautiful landscape taking her breath away, and the familiar sight of fields and grass touching her heart deeply. She practically pulled him off the ship when they arrived, excitedly leading him to where her home was. 

. . .

He paid careful attention along their way. She lived in a rural area, the main town being several miles away. The building was situated on a hill surrounded by well-tended land. There was a garden overgrowing the path they walked on. He admired the rustic design of the house they approached. It was simple - nowhere near the size of his mansion or the extravagant detail of the houses in Cadiz. It almost reminded him of his first home.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” She asked, looking at the sight nostalgically.

He had little to say as they knocked on the front door. They waited before it opened. The figure was shorter than them both and beamed in excitement when she recognized their faces. They had no time to react before the woman lunged herself onto her daughter’s shoulders. Without warning, she began crying in delight. 

“Valerie..! ” 

‘Queen’ held her back, the tears almost escaping her own eyes. It felt like ages since she last saw her mother. The actual time mattered little. She was here now. She wanted to enjoy this embrace as long as she could. 

“Mamma.. ” 

It took a minute until they pulled away from each other. Emilia’s brown eyes came to the man standing there. Her eyes widened in shock. It was even longer since she last saw Kane. It felt like she was dreaming and she had to pinch herself just to believe it. 

“Supreme Commander..! On the doorstep of my home..?” 

He tipped his hat and offered his hand, as he did the last time they met. “Emilia - a pleasure to see you.” 

She barely comprehended the gesture. She took his hand and shook it feverishly in delight. As she had done the last time. “It’s an honor..! I know you’ve been helping Valerie, but you didn’t need to come.” 

“-Of course he did.” She stepped forward. “You said you wanted to meet my boyfriend, didn’t you?” 

This news brought more surprise as she gaped at him. She suddenly withdrew her hand, holding it to her chest and attempting to handle this announcement. The grin stretched to the sides of her face, clasping her hands together proudly. Her daughter and the Supreme Commander...

“Oh, please, come in!”

They were motioned inside. The house was smaller than what he was used to - a quaint living room with an assortment of collectibles and antiques scattered around. He noticed the art settled on the walls and couches situated comfortably around a small table and fireplace. The door closed behind them and she eagerly scuffled around. She was staring at his figure, trying to come to terms with this situation. She's never had such an important guest like him in her home before!

“You must be worn down from the trip! Can I offer you some food or drink? Is there anything you’d like at all?” 

“We’re fine.” ‘Queen’ answered as she sat down. Kane joined her side, keeping his posture upright. Her mother sat in the chair across from them and eyed the two curiously. 

“So, the two of you are dating? I hoped it would happen…I knew it would; I just did!” 

The other woman avoided their gazes. “You were right about a few... things… ” 

“You should’ve read what she wrote to me.” She turned to Kane. “That opera you took her to sounded delightful! She was so happy you brought her...she just couldn’t stop gushing about you.”

“Why are you embarrassing me this soon!?” 

He chuckled. He remembered why he liked her. “Is that right?”

“She adores you. I can’t blame her. You’re the most admired man in Valencia. I am so happy you saw good things in my daughter.” She folded her hands in her lap and glanced knowingly at her. “And what taste ..! The strongest and most powerful man around--”

She stood from her seat, cutting her off mid-sentence. “I think I'll look around. It’s been so long since I've been here…” 

Emilia followed suit. “But of course, honey. Take all the time you need. Your belongings are in your room - I promise I haven’t moved them.” 

‘Queen’ motioned for Kane to join her. He followed without hesitation. Her features lit up as she explored her old home, eyes filled with reminiscence over paintings and old family photographs. She showed him one of her father - a man in classic seaman uniform, posing proudly for a picture. Her eyes were moist as she held the frame. A tear fell down her cheek as she returned it to the table. She moved on, admiring the other pictures collected over the years. 

They approached a closed door at the end of a small hallway. She sighed. “My room... it's been so long…” 

She started to head inside. He would’ve followed after, had he not been suddenly yanked aside. A small pair of hands pulled him through the hallway, out of earshot from ‘Queen’s room. His form stiffened at the gesture and he whipped around - only to be met with the apprehensive eyes of Emilia. She had her hands on her hips and leaned closely to him, her kind look now replaced with an interrogative one.

“What are your intentions?” She asked harshly. 

He leaned forward. “Excuse me?” 

Her gaze returned to the opened door. She rubbed her arm thoughtfully. “She seems so different, now...the way she’s talking and acting - I haven’t seen her wear a dress like this in years ! Her manners have come back and that beautiful mask...It’s hard to recognize her, like this.” 

“I may be responsible. She told me she felt judged from the people around her, so I taught her how to blend in. We were in a prosperous area at the time, so I bought her the right clothes and taught her how to speak around there.” 

Her face softened. “I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time…” She cleared her throat and faced him seriously. “I will repeat myself - what are your intentions with my daughter? Do you plan on marrying her?” 

This question made him hold his breath. It wasn’t a new thought to him - he considered it awhile ago, though he can’t remember when . But he already knew the answer. She was nearly ready...so close to how he envisioned - his Queen, to aid his side in command. She grew beautifully in this time...it wouldn’t be long before she was perfect. The answer left his lips easily. 

“Of course. I intend on asking for your blessing.” 

This surprised her. She thought some more and asked, “Do you... love Valerie?” 

This one was harder to answer. His chest tightened and he found he couldn’t breathe. This was a matter that hadn’t been on his mind - but it should’ve been. Why else would he be here right now? Instead of preparing for a war, he was off in the countryside visiting his girlfriend's house. It wasn’t even hard to convince him to come here - she’d been weakening him over time, to the point where he would do anything for her at the bat of an eye. 

That was the thing he despised about this feeling. It made him weak - vulnerable when he shouldn’t be. He was praised in his field for being heartless, but it was far from that. The pain and heartbreak he experienced...His care for his sons, all in the beginning...it was genuine. He had always been capable of feeling, despite trying so hard not to. And even now, after he grew alone and envisioned his future in solitude...he still felt attached. More so to her than his own work. 

His eyes thoughtfully went to the opened door. His throat felt dry. The answer was obvious, now.

“..I do.” He confessed under his breath. 

Emilia caught it. Before either of them could say anything, ‘Queen’s voice interrupted. 

“Kane! Come and look at this!” 

He dismissed himself politely. Emilia allowed him to go and left the vicinity, wanting to give them some privacy. Kane found himself in a small room. The walls were crowded with collections of paintings and photographs - a small desk and bed sat around, as well as some exercise equipment. He was distracted by the petite figure currently pointing to one of the paintings, situated just at her height on the wall. 

He joined her side. “What is it?” 

“My favorite painting.” She answered proudly. “I bought it years ago from a local shop in town. The family that sold it said it was painted by an anonymous visitor who brought many colorful things here. I’ve always wanted to know what that meant.” 

Kane was quiet - and for a good reason. The creation sitting before him was something he recognized. A sight he’d seen so long ago...it was a landscape painting of the lake and trees from this area. He had a flashback to when he last saw this, with a paintbrush in his hand, his old, worn-down clothes situated on his frame...sitting on an uncomfortable stool as he painted, while his father watched from behind. The strokes were long and painful. It felt like eternity before he ever finished it. 

She noted his silence. “Is something wrong?” 

A few moments passed. “I painted this.” 

“What?”

“If memory serves right...” He grabbed the painting from the wall, noting his small signature written in the corner. “..I always painted my initials in the bottom left.” 

‘Queen’ was in disbelief. She grabbed it from him and searched for herself. Her jaw fell open. There were his initials, bright as day - K.V. ! She’d seen them back on his handkerchief, that fateful time after she was injured...she wondered why it was so familiar. All of those nights wondering who could have painted her favorite creation, dreaming night and day of what hand made those strokes...it had been him all along. 

“But, how ..?” Is all she managed. 

“My father was a famous toymaker back in the day. He visited the countryside hoping rich families would want to buy his toys. I was brought along - he would have me paint the scenery and people on the streets, in order to sell them for gold. We visited Tuscany a long time ago - this painting was made that same day.” 

She stared at him. She wasn’t sure what to say. The words left her lips without any thought. “So I have known your art this entire time..” 

"It appears so.” 

“I can’t believe it...how old were you when you made this..!? All of the professionals, the masters...they never met the quality as this ..” 

“I was quite young, in my teenage years I believe. I should show you my recent works - they’re better than my old commissions.” 

Her eyes watered. He hadn’t lied to her at all. Not only was he an artist, but..her favorite as well! She fell in love with her idol...after insisting the Supreme Commander was only a celebrity. She held the artwork close before setting it down on her bed. She gathered the things around her room wordlessly. 

“I should get my things together…” She mumbled. “We can load them on the ship and not have to worry about it later.”

“Please, allow me.” He insisted, taking the material from her hands. “It's a far walk. I’ll take care of everything.” 

She watched with impressed eyes as he easily lifted everything into his arms. He moved it all to their front patio to prepare to load on the ship. She thanked him for the help and gave him a kiss before he left. She gazed in his direction as he walked off. Once she was alone, the footsteps of her mother joined her side. 

“Valerie.” She placed a hand on her arm. “We should catch up.” 

---

“So, how are you doing?” 

‘Queen’ set down her cup of tea as she watched Emilia sit down beside her. They were situated in the dining room. It was bigger than the others, fitting a table that used to sit her family back in the day. There were a couple of candles for the centerpiece as well as a fresh vase of flowers. She tapped her cup a couple of times before smiling and lowering her head. 

“I'm doing well. Better than I've ever been. I’ve met so many people and seen so many things...none of this would’ve been possible if I hadn’t left home.” 

“I am so proud!” She leaned forward and pinched her cheek teasingly. “My soldier is becoming a woman all over again...I have not seen you this way for a long time, topolina.” 

“I feel like myself again. I wish I never changed. But then I wouldn’t have met Kane...you can say things just worked out.” 

She heard her chair move and picked up her head. Emilia looked at her sternly. “You know it is my duty to ask; I would for any man that would’ve taken you. Are you positive you want to be with the Supreme Commander?” 

She didn’t even hesitate. “Of course I do.” 

“That is all I need to know, then.” She sat back with a pleased smile. “You seem so different...but it is a good change. I am confident he will keep taking good care of you.”

“You always look out for me, mamma...I promise I will visit again. This will not be the last time you see me.”

“It better not..! I may as well march up to your new home if that were the case.” She giggled. “You’re living with Kane now, aren’t you? I bet his house is beautiful.” 

“Yes, it's lovely. I was in Florenza before I moved to Cadiz. That's where the castle is - did I tell you I met the King and Queen?” 

“Non mi dire!” Her mother slammed her hands on the table. “How did you manage that?”

“Kane is close with them and his Majesty wanted to meet me. The castle is so big and breathtaking; I hope I can take you there someday. You'd love to meet Casimir. He is kind - and her majesty is just as beautiful.” 

“Oddio Mio …it would be a dream. I hope you do not forget about me, with all the luxury you’re in...” 

She laughed. “Of course not.” 

They exchanged a few more words. ‘Queen’ asked how her mother had been faring and wanted to know what her friends were up to. The rest of the conversation was pleasant and killed time. When their drinks were finished, Kane returned. He informed her all her things were now on the ship. He offered her a hand and helped her out of the seat. Emilia sprang to the floor and hugged the Supreme Commander. She nearly knocked him off his feet.

“Thank you for taking care of my Valerie.” She told him. Kane looked completely taken aback at the gesture. 

“...All my pleasure,” He patted her back uncertainly. She moved to hug her daughter. 

“You're going to leave soon, aren’t you?” ‘Queen’ nodded sadly. "Make sure you return...it gets a little lonely out here, at times.” 

“I will. Take care of yourself…” 

They took one last stroll around her old house, admiring the gardens and beautiful ponds. They soon bid goodbye to its resident, and finally headed on the path back to shore. She held tightly onto his gloved hand. Their walk was quiet, beyond the sounds of the ocean from afar. ‘Queen’ was satisfied with their trip. It was nice speaking with her mother again...her hand went to her pearl necklace out of habit. Seeing that picture of her father made her sentimental… 

“It may be late when we get back. We still had good timing today.” His deep voice interrupted her thoughts. She nodded along to his words. 

“Thank you for coming. I know you didn’t really want to, but it meant a lot that you did.” She kissed him on the unmasked part of his cheek.

“This is the last time I can do something like this.” He informed her seriously. “You’ll start getting me in trouble otherwise.” 

“More than I already have?” She replied flirtatiously. His look confirmed her words.

They boarded their ship after entering the docks. The men aboard tended to her things and hastily set sail. The wind was harsh on their way back - she and Kane retreated to the cabin to escape the cold. They sat together at a table and ate a small dinner, as they would not return in time to have it at their home. She momentarily set down her fork as her thoughts wandered.

She couldn’t get it out of her mind that he made her favorite painting. And his story about it...he seldom talked about his father or revealed much about his past. She wanted to hear about it - to get to know his father like he knew her mother...to learn more past Gazpaccio’s name and occupation - the missing part of his family she had yet to meet. 

“Kane?” She asked quietly. He looked up and gave her his full attention.

“Yes?"

“What was your father like?” 

He went quiet. He took a couple of bites in the silence. She understood he wasn’t going to answer. She decided to change the question. 

“Were you two close? You said he taught you about clockwork, if he was a toymaker, then--” 

“---I don’t want to talk about it.” He interrupted. 

She went to inquire further until she heard his fork roughly scratch at the plate. He was usually mindful when he ate. She hushed down and sat back in her seat. Perhaps it was too sensitive of a topic at the wrong time. She noticed his look became troubled and his smile fell. As if something was on his mind. He moved slower through dinner, avoiding her eye contact and saying little. Guilt settled in the pit of her stomach and she bit her lip, turning her head away from him painfully.

...Why didn’t he want to talk about this?

[newgenog]

REVENGE

Notes: This is part four of chapter one. Much more than halfway through, and the parts will be super snack-sized until we get to the end. 😎 If you haven't already done so, please stop and read parts one , two, and three.

This fic is an AU based on the ABC tv series #Revenge. I felt like there were a lot of really cool parallels between the characters, and thought it would be fun to reimagine #Batwoman so that Ryan Wilder had a more deliberate pursuit for vengeance. 

CHAPTER ONE - DECEPTION (Part Four)

Summary: Robyn Wilde, formerly Ryan Wilder, continues to make connections that set the stage for her revenge. Wildmoore Week Prompt: Night Club

1 DAY BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY: SUNDAY, 10:00 AM

Kate Kane walks into The Hold Up before it’s opened. 

Jordan: “Your girlfriend’s here.”

Sophie: “I don’t have a…oh.” 

Kate approaches the bar, where Sophie is looking through a binder.

Kate: “Don’t look so happy to see me.” 

Sophie: “Just surprised. It’s usually Luke.” 

Kate: “He’s off today.” 

Sophie: “Good to know you give him days off.” 

Kate: “I’m not a villain, Sophie.” 

Sophie finally peels her eyes away from her binder, exasperated, and gives Kate the attention she came for.

Sophie: “What’s up?”

Kate: “You didn’t RSVP.” 

Sophie: “Huh?”

Kate: “The invitation? That Luke left…”

Sophie had forgotten she tucked the envelope in the back of her binder. She quickly flips to the back cover, and pulls it out of the sleeve. It hadn’t even been opened.

Sophie: “I’m sorry. It’s been so crazy around here…” 

Kate: “It’s a ticket to my parents’ Memorial Day Soiree on Monday.”

Sophie: “Oh, yeah… Mary actually begged me to keep her company at it, yesterday. So, I guess I’ll be there.”

She slides the unopened letter back over to Kate, indicating that she already has her ticket. It's possible that the envelope contains more than a ticket, but Sophie is okay with never knowing the answer to that. Kate seems to take the hint, at least for now.

Kate: “One more thing… You know I never charge your mom late fees, but she’s technically behind two months on the rent. I’m not sure how much longer my parents are going to let me keep this building if they feel like it’s losing money.” 

Sophie: “Aren’t losses a good thing when you run businesses?”

Kate: “We have enough of those for taxes. We got out of the real estate business a while ago, and this is the only one we keep, in part because I know what it means for your family. So, if there’s anything you can do to help me out…” 

Sophie: “That’s why I’m here, Kate. I’m trying to figure it out.”

Kate: “I know, and I’m sorry. I’ll let you get back to it. See you tomorrow.”

Sophie returns to her binder, appearing even more distant than before, and Kate about faces, making her way towards the exit, with the invitation in-hand.

7 YEARS AGO: POINT ROCK Kate was straddling her motor cycle with her helmet in her lap, and her bag wrapped up behind her when Sophie arrived. She’d texted Sophie to meet her out front. A few hours prior, she’d overheard some other cadets joking about how they thought Kate wanted to be one of the guys, and how they could show her how to be a woman. One said all he needed was one drink with her at a night club to turn her back right. She’d defended herself, and started an argument with them. Of course, she was reprimanded for instigating the situation. She felt the guys also should have been held accountable for harassment, but that would have required the Sergeant to acknowledge what was being said about Kate was unacceptable.  Kate: “I’ve got to get out of here.” Sophie: “What? We’re so close to graduation. Why do you even let the things those guys say get to you? They don’t matter!” 

Kate: “Sophie, I have never been closeted in my entire life. I want to be with you, but not like this. If you want to be with me too, I think you should come with me.”  Per usual, Sophie and Kate had lived completely opposite lives, and this was just another example of that. In the beginning, it was fun to sneak around. She’d noticed Kate noticing her, and she’d never had the chance to just let go and explore those feelings. When Kate finally approached her one day, she just went with it, and let herself feel what she was feeling.  But they were so different. Being gay in an organization that preferred not to recognize the existence of queer people was easier to get through if you weren’t doing it alone. But that was really the extent to which they had anything in common. And beyond having someone to take comfort in, and know your secret, they spent so much time disagreeing on things, it wasn’t actually that hard to convince people they didn’t get along.  Sophie: “That doesn’t make any sense, Kate. Why would you stay this long just to leave before you make it to the end?” Kate: “Everyone has their limit. I’m tired of hiding parts of myself, and feeling unwelcome here.” Sophie: “You’re at the top of the class, and everyone loves you. What are you even saying?”

Kate: “They love the version of me they’ve convinced themselves I am. They don’t even know me. Only you do.” Sophie: “No, you know what? That you can even ask me to walk away from this after I’ve invested so much, and you know what I have to go back to - you talk about them not knowing you, but do you even know me?”  Kate: “I know you’re better than these people. They don’t deserve you.”  Sophie: “I’m not doing this for them. I’m doing it for me, and my future. And if you don’t get the difference - that you have the privilege of walking away from something that you chose to do out of convenience and just happen to be great at, because you can be anything you want when you get home…and that I’ve had to give my all to even be seen standing next to you…Maybe it is best if you do go.”  Kate: “Are you serious right now? You want me to leave?” Sophie: “I don’t want you to do anything. What you decide to do is none of my business.” Kate: “Don’t be that way.”  Kate tried to reach out for Sophie’s hand, but Sophie wouldn’t take it. She realized that she’d been holding onto this relationship as some sort of safety net that she didn’t need. Kate wasn’t going to be who caught her if she fell. If Sophie fell, she’d pick herself up, just like she always did. 

~~~~~

To be continued...

Usual Reminders: I'm sharing these parts of chapter one of Revenge on Tumblr for @wildmooreweek. 2-ish more parts to go after this, and then the whole thing gets added to Ao3, so you can re-read it congruently, in one place (and comment, and such). And, I'll probably continue in this fashion for the length of the story (accept not updating daily; probably more like weekly).

All #Batwoman things I do are also in the name of #SaveBatwoman. Go follow all the social handles and support the cause, please.

[mip-map-mop]

Batfamily as JROTC Cadets

I’ve never mentioned this, but I’m part of a high school program called JROTC, which is basically just high school military stuff. And to celebrate my newfound Batman obsession, this is the Batfamily as JROTC Cadets. If this blows up, perhaps I’ll talk about their behaviors, not just their ranks.

Bruce Wayne: Captain, the Company Commander

Alfred Pennyworth: The XO (executive officer), First Lieutenant

Kate Kane: First Sergeant, Lieutenant Colonel

First Platoon:

Stephanie Brown: Platoon Leader, Second Lieutenant

Tim Drake: Platoon Sergeant, Sergeant First-Class

Luke Fox: Squad leader, Staff Sergeant

Cassandra Cain: Co-Squad leader, Sergeant

Harper Row: Corporal

Second Platoon:

Dick Grayson: Platoon Leader, Second Lieutenant

Barbara Gordon: Platoon Sergeant, Sergeant First-Class

Jason Todd: Squad leader, Staff Sergeant

Damian Wayne: Co-Squad leader, Sergeant (like me)

Duke Thomas: Private First Class