#d wayne lukas

[horseracingweekly]

Seize the Grey and Jaime A. Torres seized the day in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby! 🏆

[railraptor]

Can't call D Wayne Lukas a little guy in racing, but damn it's always fun to see him with a nice shot in the big races. Lemon Muffin looked pretty damn good dominating the Honeybee.

[silly-fox-in-sox]

Seize The Grey pulls off a gate-to-wire upset in the Preakness!

Mystik Dan couldn't reel in the big grey front runner, but was able to hold off Catching Freedom to get second.

It was a great moment for jockey Jaime Torres who was making his first ever ride in a Triple Crown race, for D Wayne Lukas who became the oldest trainer to win a Triple Crown race at 88 yrs old, for the My Racehorse group who had 100s of micro share owners celebrating their win, and for his sire – the late, great Arrogate.

Arrogate only sired 3 crops before dying at the young age of 7 due to a neurological illness, but from those 3 groups we got 2022 Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath, 2023 Belmont & Travers winner Arcangelo, and now 2024 Preakness winner Seize The Grey.

I'm sad we wont have a Triple Crown on the line, but this was still a pretty great Preakness.

[superhero-smackdown]

Group Round 1 Masterlist:

Group 1:

Match 1 - The Incredibles vs. Spider-Men and Ghost Spider

Match 2 - Jim Gordon vs. Toshinori Yagi/All Might

Match 3 - Garfield Logan/Beast Boy vs. Stephanie Brown/Spoiler

Match 4 - Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler vs. Kori'ander/Starfire

Match 5 - Jason Todd/Red Hood vs. Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel

Match 6 - Steve Rogers vs. Jessica Jones

Match 7 - Charles Xavier/Professor X vs. Black Noir

Match 8 - Matt Murdock/Daredevil vs. Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier

Group 2:

Match 1 - Kara Zor-El/Supergirl vs. Peter Quill/Starlord

Match 2 - Cassandra Cain/Black Bat vs. Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat

Match 3 - Tony Stark/Iron Man vs. The Green Lantern Corp

Match 4 - Arthur Curry/Aquaman vs. Dick Grayson/Nightwing

Match 5 - T'Challa Udaku/Black Panther vs. Queen Maeve

Match 6 - Minhkhoa Khan/The Ghost-Maker vs. Clark Kent/Superman

Match 7 - Cissie King-Jones/Arrowette vs. Marc Spector, Steven Grant, and Jake Lockely/Moon Knight

Match 8 - Sam Wilson/Falcon/Captain America vs. Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl

Group 3:

Match 1 - Darkwing Duck vs. The Autobots

Match 2 - Midnighter vs. Wade Wilson/Deadpool

Match 3 - Ororo Munroe/Storm vs. Barry Allen/The Flash

Match 4 - Natasha Romanoff, Yelena Belova/Black Widow vs. Diana Prince/Wonder Woman

Match 5 - Shota Aizawa/Eraserhead vs. Roy Harper/Arsenal

Match 6 - Annie January/Starlight vs. Bruce Wayne/Batman

Match 7 - Tim Drake/Red Robin vs. James Howlett/Wolverine

Match 8 - Kon-El Kent/Superboy vs. Kate Kane/Batwoman

Group 4:

Match 1 - The Powerpuff Girls vs. The Power Rangers

Match 2 - Danny Fenton/Phantom vs. Izuku Midoriya/Deku

Match 3 - Kim Possible vs. Goku

Match 4 - The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. Link and Zelda

Match 5 - Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel vs. Billy Batson/Captain Marvel/Shazam

Match 6 - Virgil Hawkins/Static Shock vs. America Chavez/Ms. America

Match 7 - Adrien Agreste/Chat Noir vs. Ben Tennyson/Ben 10

Match 8 - Kate Bishop/Hawkeye vs. Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Ladybug

Group 5:

Match 1 - Gwen Poole/Gwenpool vs. Doreen Green/Squirrel Girl

Match 2 - Jubilation Lee/Jubilee vs. Mia Dearden/Speedy

Match 3 - Nino Lahiffe/Carapace vs. Katsuki Bakugo/Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight

Match 4 - Billy Kaplan and Tommy Shepherd/Wiccan and Speed vs. Kaio Kincaid/K.O.

Match 5 - Damian Wayne/Robin vs. Flash Thompson/Agent Venom

Match 6 - Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher/The Beak vs. Shoto Todoroki/Shoto

Match 7 - Alex, Sam, and Clover vs. Felicia Hardy/Black Cat

Match 8 - Viv Vision vs. Alya Cesaire/Rena Rouge

Group 6:

Match 1 - Gizmoduck vs. Usagiyama Rumi/Mirko

Match 2 - Laura Kinney/X-23 vs. Karen Fields/Voyd

Match 3 - Kagami Tsurugi/Ryuko vs. Dakota Cole/D.C.

Match 4 - Olive Silverlock and Maps Mizoguchi/The Detective Club vs. Nova Artino and Adrien Everhart/Insomnia and Sketch

Match 5 - William Wisp/The Wisperer vs. Neena Thurman/Domino

Match 6 - Elpis vs. Moza/Emara

Match 7 - Luka Couffaine/Viperion vs. Captain Rainbow

Match 8 - Undine Wells and Kokoro Aichi/Alchemical Water and Heartful Punch vs. Vyncent Sol Virion

Group 7:

Match 1 - Kirby vs. Robin Hood

Match 2 - Sonic the Hedgehog vs. Yamada Hizashi/Present Mic

Match 3 - Jimmy Woo vs. Zorro

Match 4 - Saitama/Caped Baldy vs. Monkey D. Luffy

Match 5 - The Doctor vs. The Tick

Match 6 - Megamind vs. He-Man and She-Ra

Match 7 - Mark Grayson/Invincible vs. Klaus Hargreeves/Number 4/The Seance

Match 8 - Donald Duck/The Duck Avenger/Paperinik vs. Phil Coulson

Group 8:

Match 1 - Floyd Belkin/Splitter/Arm-Fall-Off-Boy vs. Wario Man

Match 2 - Fanboy and Chum Chum vs. Hero Cookie

Match 3 - SCP-2800/Cactusman/Daniel MacIntyre vs. Bibleman

Match 4 - Jarro vs. Bob Dobalina/Bob, Agent of Hydra

Match 5 - Mermaid Man and Barnicle Boy vs. Super Grover

Match 6 - Sharkboy and Lavagirl vs. Ace and Gary/The Ambiguously Gay Duo

Match 7 -Morbius vs. Larry-Boy

Match 8 - Jeff the Land Shark vs. Steel Samurai

[letterboard-fantasy]

Essence Project ♡ DECORA AU // Collaboration

"A, B, C, D... I don't know my name! Tell me if I'm dead or if I'm just going insane!"

This is a collaboration essence featuring the following artists! //

@klai-16xoxo / @beth-bethar00 / @chokkito / @fffiii / @pastel-rights / @one0p1nk / @picnicbask3t / @paperbcy

♡ The Decorum Hospital // The Check-In Centre [ Joe and Clown's Section ]

The first area of the hospital, where every wandering soul first manifests into this plane. The ward is full of friendly faces, although the staff here may be... a little odd. Welcome to the Check-In Centre! Here, we screen all new and incoming patients to figure out what's wrong with you and where you need to go... so sit down and hang on tight!

♡ S-Tier Costume - The Department Director // Maako

"Hello dear. Welcome to the Decorum Hospital, I will be your host for today. Are you hurt anywhere, do you have any concerns you'd like to talk about?"

Clown ♡ A-Tier Costume - Check-In Centre Nurses // Sally [ Sally ]

"It's me, Sally~ Hii~ I'm the Strawberry Nurse, I love all things sweet and pink! Like strawberries and pink lollies!"

Joe ♡ A-Tier Costume - Check-In Centre Nurses // Rachie [ Rachie ]

"Hello, cuties! I'm the Bow Nurse. I just transferred here from another department, so... I hope I can do this place proper justice~!"

♡ A-Tier Costume - Check-In Centre Nurses // Halo [ Erie / @ask-the-chief-heads ]

"... Do you need assistance? I am the Blue Ivy... but you can call me Halo. It's nice to meet you."

♡ A-Tier Costume - Zone Monsters // "MADNESS" [ Eternity / secret blog /j ]

"MADNESS AND TORMENT AND AGONY. HELP ME. SAVE ME. CURE ME."

One of the several zone monsters, this one is located in the check-in centre. However, be careful. This monster is violent and dangerous.

♡ A-Tier Costume - Zone Monsters // "LONELINESS" [ Wayne / @manor-tea-time ]

"SOB... SOB... LONELY... SAD... ALONE... HELP ME... SO LONELY... SOB... SOB..."

One of the several zone monsters, this one is located in the check-in centre. However, while this monster isn't violent, it is still dangerous, inflicting feelings of sorrow and despair on anyone who gets too close.

♡ The Decorum Hospital // The Surgery Ward [ Klai and Fifi's Section ]

The second area of the hospital, where broken or injured souls are sent to be fixed up and cared for. This ward is very serious about what it does, and if you don't listen... you might not like where you'll end up. ... Do you have a boo-boo, ouchie or broken bone? Fear not, for our... surgery team is here to save the day! They'll break you down, and patch you right back up! You'll never see it coming.

Klai ♡ S-Tier Costume - The Department Director // Luka [ Kafka // @stellaron-girlies ]

"Hii~ And welcome to the surgery department~ Here, we'll be tending to any underlying issues our check-in squad was unable to attend to. Once we're done, you'll lie down and recover with the Children's department~ Let me introduce you to my team!"

Klai ♡ A-Tier Costume - Head Surgeon // Lace [ Flynn / @idv-ask-the-showman ]

"I'm Lace, the head surgeon, meaning I'll be seeing every one of you. There's a lot of people to see, so be concise and to the point."

Fifi ♡ A-Tier Costume - Surgery Ward Nurses // Manny [ Elaine / @idv-thespians ]

"... I'm Manny, but you can call me the Feather Nurse. Huh? Oh, my mother used to run this place... I think I'm a lot happier with her out of the way."

Fifi ♡ A-Tier Costume - Surgery Ward Nurses // Nebula [ Vanadis / @idv-fifis-toybox ]

"Can't talk, I'm at the final boss of this stage. Name's Nebula though. They call me Robo Nurse though."

Fifi and Klai ♡ A-Tier Costume - Zone Monsters // The Patchwork ( 2 slots ) [ Delilah / @manor-tea-time ] [ one more slot ]

"PATCHWORK... CUT IT UP AND SEW IT TOGETHER... PATCHWORK... I TAKE A PART OF ME AND A PART OF YOU... AND I PUT IT TOGETHER TO MAKE SOMETHING NEW!"

One of the several zone monsters, these two can be found wandering the surgery ward carrying giant scissors and needles. They seem to enjoy the idea of human patchwork.

♡ The Decorum Hospital // The Children's Ward [ Calamity and Pins' Section ]

The third area of the hospital, where childlike spirits are sent to reside. This place has everything a child could wish for, but sometimes... dreams can be deadly. I miss my mama and papa too! But, you have to understand, they left you in our hands, and we take care of our patients till the very end. I have some toys, some ropes, and some building blocks... would you like to play with me?

Cal and Pins ♡ S-Tier Costume - The Department Directors // Sunny and Summer [ Sunny (Pins) and Summer (Cal) ]

"Sunny! You must stand up straight when you greet the new friends! What if they falsely think you're unfriendly!?" "Can you quiet down a little, Summer? I think you're the one scaring them." "Oh- Wait, no I'm not! Sunny, you're telling... falsities!"

These two directors are twins, one of them is a shy boy and the other is an eccentric girl. Together, they lead the Children's Department.

Cal ♡ A-Tier Costume - Children's Dept. Nurses // Alice [ Hana / @gnostica-archives ]

"Oh, those two are quite the handful. Hello, new arrivals. My name is Alice, but you can call me the Dove Playmate. Here in the children's department, your recovery will be much more colorful."

Pins ♡ A-Tier Costume - Children's Dept. Nurses // Susie [ Aaron / @ask-the-chief-heads ]

"Oh? Uhm... hello new playmates! I'm Susie, but everyone calls me Mother Playmate. Did you need my help? Some food or anything to drink?"

Pins ♡ A-Tier Costume - Children's Dept. Nurses // Cat [ Kitty / @gnostica-archives ]

"My name is Cat! Huh? Whattt? I'm not literally a cat! Although... Mister Sour Candy keeps asking me to meow. What a weird guy. Oh, sorry! If you need me, you can ask for Scene Playmate, and I'll be right at your side!"

Pins ♡ A-Tier Costume - Children's Dept. Nurses // Kona [ Contract / @experimental-blueprints ]

"Hello... I-I'm Kona, but you can call me Riding Hood playmate. It's nice to meet you..!"

Cal ♡ A-Tier Costume - Zone Monsters // The Dollmaker [ Dollmaker ]

"Welcome to the family! Now listen very carefully... you are mine forever! No one can ever set you free."

One of the many zone creatures who lurk in the hospital. His domain is that of a dollhouse, located in the dreary abyss of the Children's Department. This man is the original anomaly found in the hospital and the first monster our heroes encounter.

Cal and Pins ♡ A-Tier Costume - Zone Monsters // The Dolls ( 2 slots ) [ Miss Manni / @manor-tea-time ] [ one more slot ]

"Do you want to play with my dollies? They're not good conversationalists, but they'll entertain you for all of eternity."

Two of the several zone monsters, these two are giant doll-like monsters created and controlled by the Dollmaker. They cannot talk, but are eternally loyal to their masters.

♡ The Decorum Hospital // The Morgue [ Beth's Section ]

The final area of the hospital. Sometimes, tragedy will strike within the walls of the hospital, and this is where our morticians come in. Unfortunately, if you're here, that means... you're already dead.

Beth ♡ S-Tier Costume - The Lead Mortician // Fog [ Wisteria / @gnostica-archives ]

"We don't have the time to babysit living corpses. Take care of yourself, lost soul."

Beth ♡ A-Tier Costume - The Assistant Mortician // Oliver [ Oliver ]

"... sorry, the lead mortician isn't very fond of the living. I'm the assistant mortician... and the only other person in this ward. It's dangerous to wander around here alone, so... keep your wits of you. Sorry I can't stay with you..."

Beth ♡ A-Tier Costume - Zone Monsters // "HIMSELF"/"HERSELF" [ Peppermint / no blog ]

"God it's so UNFAIR. God, I hope you suffer."

One of the several zone monsters, this type is found lurking inside empty morgue freezers, pretending to be dead in order to avoid the wrath of the Lead Mortician. While dangerous in its own right, it is weak and frail.

Beth ♡ A-Tier Costume - Zone Monsters // "YOURSELF" [ Aging / no blog ]

"From one faker to another."

One of the several zone monsters, YOURSELF is a tricky creature. It will imitate the faces and bodies of those who see it, and trick them into helping it under the guise of helping a "different you". However, due to the seal created by the assistant mortician, it is unable to leave the morgue.

♡ The Decorum Hospital // The Hospital's Leading Directors [ Calamity and Pins' Section ]

The leading director of the decorum hospital resides here. In the hospital's history, there have been two main leads, however... no one knows where they went to, or where they came from. Where are we walking together? I will take you to places you've never been and bring you back again.

Cal ♡ S-Tier Costume - The Leading Director 001 [ Number 001 ]

"Hello, doll! I am the lead director, I control everything that goes on in these hospital walls. Your safety is of the utmost importance to me, but your comfort is a priority of mine as well. Hmm? Pet my ears…? Well… I don't see why not..? This is a common question I get a lot, is there something desirable about them? I was created to be as appealing as possible, but... I'd like to understand still."

Pins ♡ S-Tier Costume - The Leading Director 672 [ Number 672 ]

"Hello, doll! I am the lead director, I control everything that goes on in these hospital walls. Your safety is of the utmost importance to me, but your comfort is a priority of mine as well. Oh? You've heard this spiel before? That's odd… have you hit your head, or encountered a time bubble? Ah, hold still, let me examine you myself."

♡ The Decorum Hospital // The Lost Souls

The lost souls who were unfortunate enough to stumble across this place with no discernible way out. Only living souls may exit this place, however... it seems these souls don't remember anything. Their names, their family... anything at all. I don't remember my name... I don't remember who I am... w-what's going on!

Klai ♡ A-Tier Costume - Bear // Partnered with Narcissus [ Bear ]

"Oh... oh no! Bear can't remember her name, or where Bear even is! But... Bear isn't scared! With Bear's new friend, Bear will find the way out!"

♡ A-Tier Costume - Narcissus // Partnered with Bear [ Stelle / @/stellaron-girlies ]

"... You're weird. But, you've got a certain spirit, I can't fault you for that... come bear, let's go."

♡ A-Tier Costume - Husk // Partnered with Koi Fish

"... Why is she here...? She's... supposed to be dead. Are you... even my sister? She's been dead for 3 goddamn years, don't fucking play with me!"

Cal ♡ A-Tier Costume - Koi Fish // Partnered with Husk [ Koi Fish ]

"... where am I..? Actually... who am I? I don't remember leaving my house... so... how?? Actually... you look kind of familiar, ginger."

♡ A-Tier Costume - Anzu // Partnered with Rain [ Zoe / @subject-xo4 ]

"Huwah??? Woah! This place is funky as hell! I dig the vibes... but uh... where IS this place?"

Beth ♡ A-Tier Costume - Rain // Partnered with Anzu [ Beth / @ask-idv-baker ]

"It was raining today. I love the rain, but for some reason, it's making me sad! Anzu, why do I feel like I've forgotten something important?"

♡ A-Tier Costume - Sour Candy // ???? [ Stranger / @blackspace-capra ]

"I've been here as long as I can remember, since that day I took matters into my own hands. I'm sorry Bear, I... I can't go with you. There's something wrong outside, something very wrong... I don't trust them, those Lead Directors."

A mysterious young man, who's been mentioned multiple times by the guardians, and can even be found inside the children's department in a small "safe" room. He remembers his true name, yet, still refuses to say what it is.

Essence Project ♡ Rules and Additional Information

This essence will be a little different than my usual ones because... this time, I have multiple artists on this project instead of just myself! But, let me lay down the base rules first and foremost.

Hello everyone and welcome to my first collaboration essence! The theme of this essence is personal decora style! Depending which artist gets what role will depend on how that skin will turn out looking! For this essence, we have 8 total artists!

In order to reserve a spot for this essence, you simply need to pop into my inbox and ask for the respective role and oc or canon muse you'd like to use! However, make sure you read the roles correctly, for some characters will be staring as themselves, meaning their slots are pre-filled! If you see [ a name ] here, that's a pre-filled slot!

These characters are all from my original world, and are all tied into my DECORA AU! I tried to sort these groups as best I could!

As for our collaborators... hello! I've sorted everyone into their groups, which are placed next to the respective wards. Everyone is in groups of two aside from Beth, and it is up to you to decide what skins you will take and what skins your partner will be taking! Make sure to inform me who is taking which skins so I can write it down! As for the lost souls, it is first come first serve! If you want to take a certain soul, make sure to tell me so I can mark it down for you! Yuu is a floater don't worry about them <3

As for posting... you can either post them on your own accord (if you do this, I'd love to see it! Tag me >:3) or you can wait for your partner to be finished or you can even give them to me and I can post it here! (crediting you of course!) the choice is yours <3

And with this... happy designing my friends! If you have any questions about canon appearances/features, characters or anything else, you know where to contact me! Thanks for coming! Slots are open starting now!

[cavenewstimes]

2024 Belmont Stakes horses, entries, odds, date: Expert who nailed 4 of 6 winners shares picks, predictions

Seize the Grey will go for the Double when the 2024 Belmont Stakes gets underway on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. The D. Wayne Lukas-trained colt skipped the Kentucky Derby, but finished first in the Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs the same day. He followed that up with a victory at the Preakness Stakes, besting Derby winner Mystik Dan. Seize the Grey is 8-1 in the 2024 Belmont Stakes odds to…

[catstarrecordings]

CATSTAR RECORDINGS RADIO SHOW 227

DOWNLOAD MP3 | 免費下載  | 無料ダウンロード   | Ücretsiz indirin  Descarga gratis  | 무료 다운로드   | تحميل مجاني   | הורדה חינמית

01.Da Lukas - Satisfy Your Soul [Groove Culture] 02.Love Klubb - Ready For Love (Richard Earnshaw Extended Klubb Mix) [KMG] 03.Kevin McKay, Duwayne Motley - Somebody To Love [Glasgow Underground] 04.Maximilian Heart - Cigarettes [Kaleydo Prestige] 05.Lufthaus, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Robbie Williams - Immortal (David Penn Extended Remix) [Armada] 06.Wayne Soul Avengerz, Odyssey Inc., Joa (UK) - We Got A Love Thang [Trois Garcon] 07.AtLows, Romy Black - Ghetto sound [Souluxe] 08.DJ Kone & Marc Palacios - E Samba (Extended Mix) [Tribal Kitchen] 09.Mirko & Meex - Bring It Back (Original Mix) [Cruise Music] 10.Trace, Liquid Rose - Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe [Nervous Records] 11.Both 91 - Slysoul [Funky Revival] 12.Both 91 - Fall In Love [Boogie Brunch] 13.Pepe Le Punk - Young Forever (Extended Mix) [Zulu Records] 14.Dua Lipa - Houdini feat.Catz N Motion, Vanilla Ace (Murchikk & D!scoman The Boat Club Mix) [CTSTR] 15.Wolfram & Josh Ludlow - YoYo Disco (Purple Disco Machine Extended Remix) [Defected] 16.Sabrina Carpenter - Feather (Murchikk & D!scoman Club Mix) [CTSTR] 17.Dj.A-Bor - Drop It 2024 [CTSTR] 18.Dombresky, Jaded - All For You (Extended) [Higher Ground] 19.Sharam Jey & F.A.R - COME ON! (Dub Mix) [Pimp My Booty] 20.DJ Blackstone - A Walk in the Park (Extended Mix) [Tribal Kitchen] 21.Ghostbusterz - California Gurls (Original Mix) [SUPERCIRCUS] 22.Marco Ferry, Thomas Menegazzi - Escape (Dj.A-Bor Love Parade Rmx) [Casa Rossa]/[CTSTR] 23.Manuel De La Mare & Luigi Rocca - Firestarter (Dj.A-Bor Mix) [Baikonur]/[CTSTR] 24.Martin Solo - Waitin 4 Me [WyldCard] 25.Carly Wilford - The Dance (Ext.) [Toolroom] 26.Low Steppa & Tony Romera - Dance To The Music (Extended Mix) [Toolroom] 27.CASSIMM - Son De Lo - Extended Mix [Adesso Music]

CATSTAR RECORDINGS RADIO SHOW 227 Mixed & Compilation by:Dj A-Bor TELEGRAM CATSTAR REC ЧЕРВОНОГРАД UA https://t.me/catstar

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[wqbytop100]

WQBY

Top 100 for the week ending February 12, 2023

Back To You---Lost Frequencies, Elley Duhe, X Ambassadors -1

10:35---Tiesto, Tate McRae -3

Lovesick---Alan Walker, Sophie Simmons -2

Unholy---Sam Smith, Kim Petras, Disclosure remix* -18

Reborn---Sidepiece, Kyle Walker remix* -4

Dancing's Done---Ava Max -19

Afterparty---Loud Luxury, Hook N Sling -13

Left & Right---Ownboss, FAST BOY -62

****Money On The Dash---Elley Duhe, Wethan -(new)

Red Lights---Lane 8, Emmit Fenn, EMBRZ -14

Out Of My Mind---Little Image -64

Something's Coming---Cheat Codes, Lady A -30

***Just The Kinda Feeling----Yotto, FAST BOY -(new)

***Can I Get It Back----Jordana Bryant, R3HAB -(new)

I'm Not Dead Yet---Mike Posner -12

***Hurt That You Gave Me---Cheat Codes, Brett Young -(new)

Makin Time---Sulton + Shepard, Julia Church -65

Never Gonna Not Dance Again---Pink, Sam Felt remix* -15

Freeze---Kygo -5

Drifting Away---Audien, Joe Jury -6

What's It Gonna Take----Cheat Codes, Michael Tenpenny -61

Koo Koo Fun---Major Lazer, Major League Djz, Tiwa Savage, DJ Maphorisa, Diplo -20

Bloody Mary---Lady Gaga -101

Lay Low---Tiesto -99

When I Talk---deadmau5, Kaskade, (Kx5) w / Elderbrook -8

You Know What I Need---PNAU, Troye Sivan -9

One More Time---Armin Van Buuren, Maia Wright -28

I Can't Wait---Tiesto, Solardo, Poppy Baskcomb -7

***Gimme That Bounce---Mau P -(new)

These Nights---Loud Luxury, KIDDO -102

Shut Up---Alan Walker, UPSAHL -31

Rely On Me---Sigala, Gabry Pointe, Alex Gaudino -17

New Gold---Gorillaz, Tame Impala, Dom Dolla, Bootie Brown -32

Solitude---Snakechips, BIA, Lucky Daye -33

No Love For You---Regard, Drop G -23

I'm Good (Blue)---David Guetta, Bebe Rexha -11

Feel Alive---TELYKAST, Sky Blu -22

What A Life----John Summit, Guz, Stevie Appleton -34

Serotonin Moonbeams---The Blessed Madonna -35

It's Quiet Now---Honey Dijon w/ Dope Earth Alien -37

Good Life---Hayden James, Emie -38

Blood Upon The Snow---Hozier, Bear McCreary -36

Infinity---Dubdogs, Bhaskar -39

Don't Cry---LODATO, Ally Ahern -29

Yeah The Girls---Fisher, Meryll -40

High----Neil Francis, Pawpaw Rod -41

Sparks---MEDUZA, DEL-30, Mali-Koa -10

Tra Tra----Hugel, Blond:ish, Nfasis -43

Creepin---Metro Bloomin, The Weekend, 21 Savage -44

Not Alone---Joe Jonas, Khalid -42

Weekend On A Tuesday---R3HAB, Laidback Luke -27

Heartbeat---James Arthur -45

Wings (I Won't Let You Down)--Armand Van Helden, Karen Harding -46

Gone (Da Da Da)---Imanbek, Jay Sean -48

How Many Tears---Kygo, Sam Felt, Emily Warren -47

Chasing Shadows---Alex Warren -49

Sete---BLOND:ISH, Francis Mercier, Amadou & Mariam -50

Loop---Martin Garrix, Dallas K, Sasha Alex Sloan -25

Secrets---Ross Copperman -51

Anything But Wet---I.O. Lights -52

Don't Make Me Have To Come Down There---Dolly Parton -73

Can't Change For You---Bankrol Hayden, Charlieonnafriday, Arden Jones -76

On My Mind---EDX -63

I'll Be Around---Elderbrook, Amtrac -67

Hooked (Hot Stuff)----RIKA, Galantis -74

All Falls Down---Alonestar, Jethro Sheeran remix*, Ed Sheeran -75

Let Em Go---Matt Hansen -66

Nervous---Joan -78

Make Me Feel---The Chainsmokers, Cheyenne Giles -100

Down With You---Wolter Wythe, D-Lish -68

A Milli----Little Wayne, Sidepiece remix* -69

God On The Weekend---Ian Asher -70

Enough To Drink---Sam Felt, Cate Downey -71

***How To Drive---Alexander 23 -(new)

***Anyway---Cash Cash w/ Ruth Anne -(new)

I Don't Know What You See In Me---Belle & Sebastian -77

Selfish---Nick Jonas, The Jonas Brothers -79

Bel Mercy---Jengi -103

Live A Little Love---ILLENIUM, Nina Nesbitt -82

Lipstick---BLR, Robbie Rise -109

Nothing Left To Lose----Everything But The Girl -81

State Of Mind---Duke & Jones, Marlhy -94

Never Change---Lukas Graham 83

Hard Days Love---Lily Moore -84

The One---INJI

These Tears---Andy Grammer -86

Break Up With That Guy---Virginia To Vegas -60

Me Part 2----Priscilla Block -89

***Miss You---Olive Tree, Robin Schultz -(new)

Days Like This----Martin Jensen, Jay Sean -90

Alone Again---Chico Rose, Afrojack, Mougleta -87

Could You Be The One---Laidback Luke, Katy Alex -92

Good For Now---Chiiild, Lucky Daye -97

I Go Dancing---Frank Walker, Ella Henderson -93

Puppet On A String---Abe Parker -96

Different Kind Of Lonely----Camp Kubrick, Don Diablo -24

Flowers---Miley Cyrus -16

Lennon---ESSEL -21

Satellite---Khalid -26

Need Ya---Bonnie & Clyde, FOMO -53

Body Breathe---LP Giobbi, Monogem -54

Where Do We Go From Here---Garth Emery -55

I'll Wait---Lane 8, Channy Leaneagh, LeYouth remix* -56

Show Me---John Summit, Hannah Boylen -57

Roll The Dice---Armin Van Buuren, Phillip Strand -58

Need Me Right---Anabel Englund -59

Failing Through The Ceiling---El Mundo, Zazou -72

I Just Wanna Dance---Higgo, Mustbejohn -88

Numb---Goodboys, Avaion -91

Sun --- Mita Gami -95

Pouring Rain---Guz, Camden Cox -98

Chemical High----Lost Frequencies -104

Dr. Phil---Seaforth -105

Save Some Room---Shallou -106

What House---Block & Crown -107

Revolution---John Summit -108

[ofrosessusansandcarnations]

He (Lukas) said he was feeling pretty good about his horses until Baffert walked that thing off the van, and then he thought "we are in deep dodo"

Comment of the Day

[smoothtalk2017-blog]

Preakness Stakes Battles & Blowouts 1950 - 2020

[silly-fox-in-sox]

Dang. Hope the coach comes through ok.

[maribat-bpm]

Maribat - BIO DAD! BRUCE WAYNE MONTH 2022 PROMPTS (and info)

Hello everyone and welcome back to this year’s Maribat - Bio Dad! Bruce Wayne Month! I want to thank everyone for following this event and thank those who have patiently waited for the release of the prompts [and info]! Thank you!

And so, without further ado, here they are!

[Click or download the picture for better quality.]

This year, the prompts have been split into two groups: daily prompts and themed weeks! [Thank you to those who filled out the interest form! You’re input helped put this calendar together!]

The first three weeks are daily prompts, each day being a different prompt with no specific theme for the week.

As for weeks 4 and 5, they are themed :D

The prompts are as follows:

Weeks 1-3

Day 1: Last Name - Wayne

Day 2: Of Miraculouses and Magic

Day 3: Meeting the JL

Day 4: Father-Child Bonding

Day 5: Siblings

Day 6: The JL Babysitting

Day 7: Take Your Kid to Work

Day 8: Significant Other

Day 9: Aunts/Uncles from Rouge Gallery

Day 10: First Steps

Day 11: Robin/Vigilantes

Day 12: Time Travel

Day 13: Identities

Day 14: Overprotection

Day 15: Demons

Day 16: Surprise Visitor

Day 17: Holidays

Week 4: Theme - Angst

[Day 18:] Forgotten/Lost

[Day 19:] Unwanted/Wanted

[Day 20:] Secrets

[Day 21:] Running Away

[Day 22:] Kidnapped/Missing

[Day 23:] Weapons

[Day 24:] Apologize

Week 5: Theme - Mari-centric

[Day 25:] Older/Little! Mari

[Day 26:] You’re MDC?!

[Day 27:] Hugs/Cuddles

[Day 28:] Thief!Mari

[Day 29:] Baking

[Day 30:] Family Portrait

Substitutions

-Hogwarts Au

-Twin Au

-Glitter

-Lawsuit

-Meeting for the First Time

-Inside Jokes/Knowledge

The reason behind the split groups is due to the nature of this event. Just like last year, this month isn’t just limited to Marinette, but to other characters of the ML universe! So feel free to let your imagination run wild!

[Absolutely adored the Luka-sentric stories from last year and honestly can’t to see what other ideas I’ll see this year :D ]

INFO and THINGS to keep in mind:

-MBDBWM 2022 will be for the month of September!

-This event is open to all types of works! Drawing, edits, writing, etc! Everything is welcomed!

-Mention/tag the blog so that I can see your work (and reblog so that others can see them as well ^^) !

-This year, just like last year, only one tag will be used, therefore, only this tag will be checked! The tag this year is #mbdbwm2022. Again, only this tag will be checked to make sure I don’’t miss any posts relating to this event!

-This year’s ao3 collection is: Maribat BD!BWM 2022 (MaribatBDBWM2022)

-While this event will occur all the month of September, feel free to continue to write until the end of the year! I will be reblogging until the new year starts :D

-Have fun with it!

Again, thank you for reading and hope to see your works! And as always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask! I’ll be happy to answer them!

[scottbcrowley2]

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas back at Churchill Downs barn after battling COVID-19 - Mon, 31 Aug 2020 PST

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer, is back at his Churchill Downs barn after recovering from COVID-19. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas back at Churchill Downs barn after battling COVID-19 - Mon, 31 Aug 2020 PST

[luminous-carrot]

Bio dad Bruce but he's just a sperm donor to Marinette

I personally like to think that he's also her godfather.

Marinette talks about him a lot to her class.

They think he's just better off.

They also know he's Mari's bio dad

Marinette's family caters every gala.

The batkids only think they're just caterers.

Bruce knows about the situation in Paris

He's helping LB find out who Hawkmoth is.

He is frustrated because apparently somehow these butterflies don't show up on normal cameras. Yay

He still helps though

Summer break rolls in and Bruce suggests to the Dupain-Chengs to come to Gotham for the summer.

Tom and Sabine say they can't because of the bakery but think Mari should get out of Paris because like she's stressed out.

They ask her

Mari says no

They ask her why

Her not knowing how to lie says it's because it's unfair for her to go and for her classmates not to come since they're also stressed

Bruce says to invite them

Mari says their parents might not approve since Gotham is VERY dangerous

He counters that claim by saying the manor is the safest, most secure place in gotham

Mari forfeits

She invites her whole class + Zoe, Kagami and Luka

A lot of them wanted to know who exactly her godfather is so they say yes

Adrien says he has to ask his father

Mari remembers that Adrien will probably stay locked in his house for summer

Calls Bruce

Tells him to persuade Gabriel to let Adrien come

Gabriel lets Adrien come (it's Bruce fucking Wayne you don't just say no to him), of course with a bodyguard he isn't stupid he won't risk his son dying

Some of the class's parents don't allow them to come

Mylene because you can't tell me that her dad would let her go to Gotham,

Nino cause he still has to babysit his brother,

Chloe just doesn't want to go,

Sabrina doesn't come because Chloe doesn't come

Lila doesn't come because her mom knows Gotham is bad

Kagami was originally not going to be allowed to go except Marinette did the same thing she did for Adrien for kagami

And so the rest of the class+Zoe, Kagami and Luka go to the airport and go to Gotham

They were surprised when they saw a butler but that was manageable

They were more surprised when they saw a HUGE ASS MANSION

LIKE MARI WE KNEW THIS GUY WAS RICH BUT NOT THAT RICH

They were even MORE SURPRISED when BRUCE WAYNE was seen in front of mansion waiting for them

Mari hugs Bruce, they exchange pleasantries, Mari turns back to the class and they're all dumbstruck

Mari introduces Bruce to them as her Godfather

Chaos ensues

"BRUCE WAYNE'S YOUR DAD?!!" Alya exclaims.

"Um...I mean he's technically just my Godfather but, Yeah??" Marinette replies not knowing what the big deal is.

"IS THAT WHY YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS OF CHLOE AND ADRIEN?!! YOU HAVE A RICH ASS HIMBO THAT WOULD THINK A BANANA IS WORTH £15.!??"

"OF COURSE NOT, HE ONLY THINKS BANANAS ARE WORTH £10"

"MARI NOT THE POINT!!!"

That's it

I'm done

I had fun making this

:D

[mochegato]

Even the Losers

Chapter 9

Chapter 1     Chapter 8

Marinette stopped a few feet from the corner of the restaurant at which M. Wayne had made their reservation in order to collect herself. She checked her reflection in the restaurant’s darkened windows to make sure nothing had changed in the past few minutes. It wasn’t that she wanted to impress M. Wayne, but she didn’t want to make him think less of her either.  She wanted to be perfect for him and yeah, maybe, she wanted to impress him, make him want to stay… this time.

She brushed her bangs out of her face a little rougher than she intended to, trying to force those thoughts out of her head and punish herself for thinking them in the first place.  This wasn’t about making him like her.  She lived this long without him.  She didn’t need him.  She’d be just fine without him.  She had been so far.  It didn’t matter if he didn’t love her.  It didn’t matter if he didn’t like her.  It didn’t mean she was unloveable.  

She watched as her reflection deflated.  It just meant that one of the two people who were biologically programmed to love her no matter what, didn’t.  That he fought through biology to brush her off. She shook her head and stood straight up again.  But! But, that didn’t make her unloveable.  Jagged did the same to Luka and Juleka and they were two of the most amazing people she knew.  They weren’t unloveable, and neither was she. They repaired their relationship and so could she.

This was about adding to her family, not filling a hole in her life.  There was no Bruce Wayne shaped hole in her life.  His opinion of her didn’t matter.  His opinion of her didn’t change who she was.  She was going to be who she was around him and if he didn’t like it, she lost nothing.  She would still have an amazing family.  She would still have amazing friends.  She would still be loved.

This was about him fitting into her life.  Not the other way around.  This was about her deciding if there was a place for him.  If she wanted him there, to give him a chance or not.  This was about getting answers so she could make those decisions.  She took a breath.  This was about giving him a chance to speak and for her to listen to what he said.

She nodded to her reflection resolutely and pushed through the doors to the restaurant’s waiting area.  Her eyes widened incrementally seeing the lobby. It screamed luxury and exclusivity. Only certain people were allowed here and Marinette was confident if she hadn’t been meeting Bruce Wayne, she wouldn’t be considered one of those people.  The maître d’ eyed her with a sneer that looked so at home on his face it must have been his normal expression.

She gave him a nervous smile.  “I’m here for a reservation under the name Wayne.”  The maître d’ looked her up and down and gave a curt nod.  He walked toward the doors to the dining room without saying anything to her.

Marinette smoothed down her hair one last time as the maître d’ led her through the doors to the dining area.  She clutched her purse so tightly her knuckles were turning white.  She really hoped Tikki had found a different spot to hide in, because otherwise it had to be incredibly uncomfortable for her. Marinette was focusing all of her tension into her hand and forcing the rest of her body to relax so she wouldn’t appear as terrified as she actually was.  Now if she could just get her heart to start beating in a regular rhythm, she’d be all set.

She gave a nervous smile to Bruce as he stood to greet her and struggled to remember any part of the pep talk she had just given herself a few minutes ago. Because as soon as she saw his relieved and excited face, she started forgetting.  It was not about wanting to see that expression on his face and knowing she was the cause.  This was about her.  She should not be filled with anxiety about making him lose that expression and wanting to walk away.  He was proving himself, she wasn’t proving herself.

“Marinette!”  He gave her a warm smile and held his hand out to shake hers while she went in for a cheek kiss greeting at the same time.  He chuckled awkwardly and quickly shifted his hand to her arm as he kissed her cheek as well.  He nodded to the maître d’ and pulled her chair out for her.  As soon as they were alone, he sat down anxiously.  “Thank you again for agreeing to meet me.  You look nice.”

Marinette smiled and nodded to him.  “So do you.  And thank you for agreeing at such short notice.”

He chuckled nervously.  His eyes darted between her, his glass of wine, the menu, really anything as he searched for his next words.  It shouldn’t be this hard.  He spoke to boardrooms of hostile and dangerous businesspeople.  Speaking to his daughter shouldn’t be harder.  She wasn’t going to destroy a city.  She wasn’t going to undermine entire groups of people just so she could make a few more dollars.  She wasn’t dangerous… well, not to anyone but him.  With him, she had the power to destroy his heart with just one word.

“I ordered a merlot if you would like some.  If not, I can call someone in…”

He started to get up to call someone over, but Marinette lunged at him to get him to sit down and not draw attention to them, knocking over his glass of merlot. Marinette’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh no, no, no, no,” she whimpered helplessly.  She grabbed a few napkins to clean it up.  Why?  Why did her clumsiness have to act up now?  In front of M. Wayne.  Why did she have to be such a klutz?  She could feel the tears stinging her eyes as they tried to escape.

“Marinette,” Bruce cooed gently.  He gently gripped her wrists and pulled them away from the table.  “Marinette, it’s okay.  It happens.  You should see a normal dinner at the manor.  If there isn’t at least one spill or something isn’t broken, we start thinking someone is sick.”  She finally looked up at him apprehensively and he could feel the breath leaving his chest. His eyes softened and he tried to give her an encouraging smile.  “It’s fine. We can just move to another table and I’ll leave a big tip.”

Her eyes widened even larger and she looked around.  “We can’t just…”  She stopped when she noticed the empty restaurant.  It was prime dinnertime, or at least it was in France.  Maybe a bit early, but not uncommon.  But this restaurant was completely empty.  Not even families with kids.  And there was no way M. Wayne would choose a restaurant that nobody liked.  “Do Gothamites eat dinner really early?  Or really late?” she whispered, not wanting to break the silence that engulfed them.

“Hmm?” Bruce hummed in confusion.

“There aren’t any… It just isn’t as crowded as I would expect,” she explained. “Not that that doesn’t work in my favor in this case.���

“Oh,” he nodded his head in realization and gave her a soft smile. “No, not as crowded as the place usually is.  I rented it out.”

“You rented out the entire restaurant?” she whispered incredulously. “At the last minute?”

Bruce’s smile widened at the astonished look on her face.  “I didn’t want people gawking at us all night or taking pictures and the manor is rather hectic.”  He grimaced slightly at the thought.  “Not to mention, we’d have just as many gawkers there.  And I wanted this first meeting to be just between us.  So I made sure we had some privacy.”

Marinette shook her head.  “Right. Forgot.  Rich.”

Bruce chuckled too.  “Yeah, I forget sometimes too.”  He sat at a table next to the one they had been sitting at.

Marinette scoffed lightly and joined him at the new table.  “I doubt that.”  She slapped her hand over her mouth, her eyes going wide as she stared at him. “Sorry.  I’m sorry.  That was… so rude,” she stuttered.  She dropped her eyes quickly.  She mentally berated herself for sabotaging this so efficiently.  She doubted she could do it more effectively if she were trying.

Bruce shook his head.  “No, not at all.  You’re not wrong.  And a lot more polite about it than Jason would have been.  Or Stephanie.”

Marinette looked back up at him through her bangs.  “Oh… um… okay.”

Bruce squeezed his eyes shut behind his menu.  He was screwing this up so badly.  Instead of making her feel more comfortable, he was making her increasingly nervous and doubtful.  He pursed his lips as he searched for anything to talk about to lighten the mood. “I hope you like it here.  The food is really good.”  He had to stop himself from physically slapping himself for that terrible non-sequitur.  His entire job was to say things in an engaging, elegant way.  It was a skill he’d started honing decades ago.  Where was that training now?

Marinette opened her menu as well with an anxious smile.  “Great.  I’m starving.”

“Hi Starving, I’m your father.”

Marinette blinked a few times at him, trying to catch his eye but he was staring blankly at his menu.  “Did you just…”

“I admit to nothing,” he answered flatly, still staring at his menu.  

Marinette continued to stare for a few seconds before breaking down into giggles, the tension that had been building since she entered the restaurant breaking with his joke.  “I… I can’t… believe you sai… said that,” she gasped out between laughs.

He watched her with an amused glint in his eyes and a relieved smile.  “Do not tell your siblings.  Dick will pout for a week that he wasn’t here to hear it.”

Marinette let her giggles die down and nodded.  She looked up at him with a much more relaxed smile.  “Not known for your sense of humor?”

“No, definitely not,” Bruce shook his head with a grin.  He set down his menu to focus on Marinette.  “Jason used to tease me mercilessly about it.”

Marinette quirked her head to the side, an amused smile pulling at the corners of her mouth.  “And was Jason a comedian or he just liked to tease you?”

“A little of both.  Dick is more of our comedian.  He’s usually the first to make a joke… to lighten the mood.  Stephanie will make a fool out of herself to get you to smile, or herself.  She likes being over the top.  But Jason, when he was a kid, was excited about everything.  Everything in life was new and exciting.  He was constantly smiling and bouncing from thing to thing. So optimistic.”  Bruce’s eyes unfocused as he remembered the first year after Jason came to the manor.

Marinette furrowed her brow in doubt.  Not a single one of those words were ones she would use to describe Jason from the time she’d spent with him.  Maybe her translation of the words was wrong?  “Jason?  Jason Todd. Your son Jason.”

Bruce chuckled wryly.  “Yes, that Jason. “  A pained expression flashed across his face morphing into a sad frown he didn’t even try to hide.  “A lot changed over the years.  Some… things happened about eight years ago.  It changed all of us.”

Marinette let out a dry laugh as images of Hawaiian shirts and rock giants flashed through her head.  She turned back to her menu to avoid his eyes.  “I can understand that.”

Bruce furrowed his brow, a guilty frown settling on his lips for a few seconds before he plastered on a smile.  “Now he’s more likely to make a sarcastic remark than a joke.  But, he’s fiercely protective of his family, maybe more than any of the rest of us.”

Marinette thought back over their interactions and slowly started nodding. “He seems like it.”  She paused when the waitress came in to take their orders. She smiled politely while the waitress was in the room, acting the part of a dutiful, happy daughter rather than a temperamental stranger who took her frustrations and insecurities out on him without letting him explain.  And that’s what this was about, letting him explain.  But before he could do that, she needed to make sure he knew she wasn’t mad. Well… that she wasn’t going to attack him anyway.

As soon as the waitress left, her shield was gone.  She could no longer hide behind the façade.  Now she had to face him.  She looked down and squeezed her eyes shut.  She took a beat before she looked back up at Bruce.  “I wanted to say sorry for how I behaved when you came to my hotel room.  I wasn’t being fair to you.  I only found out about you a few days ago and then the world found out and then you were at my door.  It was a lot all at once and I did not handle it well, so I’m sorry.”  

Even with half her face hidden from looking down as she spoke, Bruce could see the shame radiating from her expression.  When she finally looked up to make eye contact he had to force himself not to gasp at the guilt and pain in her eyes.  His heart clenched at the sight.  He hated seeing her look like that. He’d do anything to keep that look off her face.  That was his job.  That was the entire point of what he’d done.  But he failed.  He might have failed at it so far, but he was going to make up for it now… if she would let him.

His hand shot out almost too quickly to see and gently squeezed hers, hoping that at least that level of intimacy was allowed.  “No, I invaded your space.  I forced a confrontation before you were ready.  I knew I shouldn’t do that.  Sabine… your mother warned me not to do that and I did it anyway.  I’m sorry for that.  I didn’t… I didn’t want to lose my chance to…”  He looked down at the table and frowned trying to get his words in order.  

“I didn’t want you to leave before I could talk to you, to try to connect and explain.”  He looked at her almost desperately.  “You were here, right here.  So close. I couldn’t let you slip through my fingers again, not when I knew you knew.  Not when I didn’t have to keep it a secret anymore.”  He frowned and looked down at his glass, pulling his hand back into his lap.  He suddenly chuckled wryly.  “If there was ever a good reason to begin with.”

Marinette sucked in a breath not ready for this conversation yet.  She thought they’d ease into it.  Get comfortable, then get into it.  But apparently M. Wayne’s approach was to rip the Band-Aid off. Dealing with uncomfortable situations was definitely not an inherited trait because her method of avoiding any uncomfortable conversations in increasingly unlikely and embarrassing manors until the entire thing festered into a debilitating, unnecessarily explosive fiasco, was not a technique she picked up from her maman either.

Bruce looked back up at her with a determined look.  “Marinette, you had a right to react.  You had… have a right to be upset or hurt or both.  I deserved it.  Believe me, I understand that.  I’ve gotten worse from your siblings for less.  Don’t feel like you have to apologize to me.  However you react, I can take it and I’m not going to walk away again.  But I am hoping that you being here means you want to move forward, you want to try.”  He looked up at her questioningly, an edge of fear in his eyes.  “Do you?”

Marinette let out the breath she’d taken in.  She looked down and pushed a strand of hair that was still in place behind her ear, letting her fingers linger so she had something else to focus on for a moment.  When she looked back up, there was a more determined look in her eyes.  “Yes.  I… I want to listen.  I want to understand.”

Bruce nodded with a grateful smile.  “Thank you.  I know this is a lot and it hasn’t been fair to you and I’m sorry for… everything.”  

Marinette nodded.  “Thank you.” They both sat and looked in the vicinity of each other uneasily, both waiting for the other to say something first. Marinette tapped her fingers together while she waited for him to continue speaking, to give the explanation he’d promised.

Bruce was waiting for… he wasn’t sure.  Inspiration maybe.  He’d thought through what he wanted to say.  He’d gone over it all, but somehow seeing her in front of him, looking in her eyes and seeing her vulnerability laid bare, none of his excuses seemed like enough.  None of them seemed valid, but then again, they never were.

After a few minutes of silence, he finally spoke up.  “When you were born, I was younger than you are now and I didn’t think I’d be able to be a good father.”  He frowned at the table.  “And in my head it was better for you to not be with me at all.  I thought I’d bring you down.  But your mother…” he gave her a wan smile, “she was always strong and good. I knew she would be an amazing mother… without my interference.  I thought you had a better chance away from me and Gotham and in my idiot mind that meant cutting off all contact.”

“But you took in other kids,” she pointed out timidly.

Bruce nodded and flicked his eyes up to hers before looking back down in guilt. “I didn’t intend to.  I came across Dick about awhile after your mother took you to France.  He lost his parents.  They died, were killed in front of his eyes, like mine had been.  He was angry and violent.  He needed someone and I thought I could help.  I might not be a good parent, but I could help him… keep him from becoming… me.”

Marinette’s brow furrowed sympathetically.  “Would that be bad?”

Bruce cringed slightly, remembering how he was at the time.  “Yes, it would have.  Anger and desperation?  They can do bad things to a person.”  He looked at her pointedly.  “Makes you make terrible decisions.”

Marinette nodded in understanding.  She understood how far desperation could drive a person.  She understood how dark some people could go. She understood how bad things could get if they continued unchecked.  She’d fought those people.  She’d helped defeat one of them.  And no matter how bad the battle was, it was always harder handling them after they were defeated, when all they had was their grief.

“Jason… he came a few years later.  He was alone and on the streets.  He was tough and smart and so excited about life, but he was never going to get the opportunity to do anything on the streets.”

“And you wanted to help him too,” Marinette finished his unfinished thought.

“Yeah. He needed someone to let him be a kid, let him be passionate, to love him like a parent should.  And I couldn’t leave him there.  And Tim… he kind of snuck in and declared himself family.  He wasn’t wrong.  He is.  He came along after Jason… was gone.  He filled a void I didn’t even know I had until he stepped in.  And I hope I’ve done the same for him.  He didn’t have the best childhood either.  And now… I can’t imagine the family without him.”

Marinette gave him a small smile.  “Sounds like he adopted you.”

Bruce nodded absently, his eyes taking on a far-off focus as he remembered the past. “Sometimes children are smarter than their parent.  In the case of my kids,” he looked up at her meaningfully, “all of them, it’s true.

“They didn’t have a better choice… you did.  And in my idiotic self-destructive mind, I was helping you.  I was convinced for more than a decade that the best thing I’d done in my life, the most selfless, was walk away from you, not force you to have to suffer with dealing with me.  But I was just afraid and selfish.  I made a stupid choice.  By the time I realized how monumentally I’d screwed up, Jason was gone and by the time I got my head back on right, Damian was here and Damian needed all my attention.”

“You didn’t have Damian since he was a baby?”

Bruce shook his head.  “No.  I didn’t even know about him until he was ten. Then his mother just dropped him off with me.  His childhood…” Bruce let out a long breath.  “His grandfather taught him since birth that he needed to earn love, or as close as he’s capable to love.  Damian’s mother told him he was better than everyone else… so you can imagine the kinds of issues we had for quite a while.”

He gave a proud smile.  “He’s made such a big change since he came.  He’s grown so much.”

“You sound proud,” she observed poignantly.

Bruce’s smile turned bittersweet.  “I’m proud of all of my kids.  You’re all amazing people.  I don’t know how I ended up with so many amazing kids.”

She smiled and hoped it didn’t come off as awkward as it felt.  “So what about Duke?  And I think Jason mentioned sisters.”

Bruce nodded.  “Cass is the only one I adopted.  Stephanie is just around enough that she’s essentially a child.  Same with Barbara.  I ran into Cass while I was travelling.  Her parents were mentally and physically abusive to the point that she didn’t speak until she was a teenager.”  Marinette gasped.  “She’s a lot better.  She communicates with us a lot, mostly through sign language.  And Duke… Joker tortured his parents because they saved me once.”

Marinette gasped and grasped his hand, squeezing it.  When he met her eyes she gave him another encouraging squeeze and a warm smile.  “They’ve all come such a long way.  I’m sure a better parent could have done more but somehow we’ve all become a slightly dysfunctional family.  Watching them… It’s amazing to see how far they’ve all come.  They’ve all had to fight so hard, go against so many obstacles.”

“It sounds like you’ve done a lot of work with all of them.  And they’ve grown amazingly with you watching over them. They were incredibly lucky to have you,” Marinette said quietly a strained smile on her face, no longer making eye contact with Bruce.  She took back her hand to take a drink of her wine.

Those were valid reasons.  She could admit that and she didn’t begrudge them the better life being with M. Wayne afforded them, but still…  She fought frowning at her lap.  It all made sense.  Every step made sense.  They needed someone and he could provide, so he did.  From an objective perspective.  It made sense.  Did it make her a bad person if that didn’t make her feel better?  What did it say about her that she was still hurt?  That she still was angry, felt betrayed?  That it wasn’t enough?

Bruce’s face fell as he watched her change in demeanor.  His chest clenched.  “I never stopped thinking about you and how you were doing.  I never stopped loving you.”  He reached out for her hand but let his hand dropped when she didn’t offer it readily.  “I know you don’t feel that way about me, you just met me, but I’ve loved you from the moment you were born.  And I know it’s hard to see and I don’t show it well… at all… but I’ve always tried to make sure you were taken care of, that you never wanted for anything. I’ve kept up on your life to make sure.

“And I need you to know it was never because I didn’t want you.  It was never that I thought my other kids were better than you in any way.  It was never because I didn’t think you were good enough. I didn’t think I was.  I thought you deserved better than I could ever give you, better than you could get in Gotham.  But running away wasn’t the way to do that, and I realize that.”  He was unsure how to interpret the wide eyed look Marinette was giving him, but he plowed on, needing to say it anyway.

“I really did intend to try to connect.  That’s why I went to your final showing.  I showed pictures of your work to someone on the fabric project and said I happened to see you there.”  He chuckled lightly and shook his head.  “I thought I’d have to do a bunch of conniving behind the scenes to get Lucius to use you.  But as it turns out, he’s just as excited to get you on the project as I was.  He mentioned you to me after you spoke with him.”

Marinette smiled.  It was small and self-conscious, but significantly better for Bruce to see than the strained smile she’d had earlier.  “M. Fox is a very nice man.  I liked speaking with him a lot.”  

“And he is quite fond of you.”  Bruce smiled fondly at her but his smile quickly turned conspiratorial.  “I think he likes you better than he likes me, actually.”

Marinette straightened up in her seat.  “I plan on accepting his offer to consult on the project.”  She looked up to make eye contact with Bruce.  Her body tensed slightly in preparation for her next words.  “If… if that’s okay with you.”

Marinette gave a small, uncertain smile when she saw Bruce’s brilliant smile. “Yes!  That’s great to hear.”  His face turned serious.  “What does that mean for… do you want to…”

“I was hoping to take you up on the apartment offer as well… if that’s still an option.”  Marinette looked down again, her anxiety back.  “It will help Max while he settles in and I thought I could use it while I figure out how the project is going to work and what the requirements on my time will be.”  She tapped her fingers together, unable to control her fidgeting.  She looked up nervously.  “I thought it would also give us a chance to see each other more and your other kids.”

“Absolutely.  It is absolutely still available.  If you want your own apartment, I can get a penthouse for you.  Or you’re welcome to stay at the manor,” he rambled excitedly.

“M. Wayne,” Marinette interrupted.  Bruce immediately sobered at her serious expression.  “I don’t need special treatment.  I don’t need you to buy me things.  And I don’t know how long I’ll be in town.  Adrien and I are trying to figure out where we want to set up and I’ll need to start taking commissions again.”

Bruce nodded.  “I understand.  Sorry. I got excited and got carried away. Rich, you know… it’s how we show love.”

Marinette’s face immediately soured as she thought of Adrien’s and Chloe’s childhoods. “That’s not love you’re showing. I’m staying to get to know you and your family, not get things.”

Bruce blinked at her a few times.  “Right. I know that.  I never thought it was,” he assured her awkwardly.  He took a sip of his wine and glanced around the room. He suddenly perked up.  “Speaking of commissions, I was hoping we could finally commission you… if that’s okay!” he added quickly.  “I don’t want to put pressure on you.  I’ve just been waiting to get something made by you for years.”

Marinette blinked a few times and looked down.  Her brow furrowed.  She fought letting out a sigh.  “No, you’re right.  I should.”

“We’ll pay you, of course,” he insisted.

Marinette rolled her eyes.  “I’m not going to charge you to make something for you.”

Bruce shook his head.  “You run a business.  I’m commissioning the business.  I can cover our commission.”

Marinette huffed and narrowed her eyes at him.  “Compromise.  You pay for materials.  Nothing more.”

Bruce narrowed his eyes back at her.  “Materials and time.”

Marinette huffed out a laugh.  “Okay fine.”

Bruce grinned.  “I’m excited to work with you.  I wasn’t kidding.  I’ve wanted to commission you for years.  I’m a fan of your style and art.”

Marinette opened her mouth but closed it quickly when the waitress came back in with their food.  Bruce leaned back so she could set the plates down.  “Speaking of, how would you feel about going to the art museum tomorrow and then maybe get some lunch after?”

Marinette nodded.  “Oh yeah, there was an exhibit that looked interesting.”  She nodded to the waitress and thanked her.  The waitress lingered for just a moment before leaving the room.

“Would 9 work for you? Oh, no wait.” He scrunched his face in annoyance.  “I have a meeting at 10.  It should be done by noon though.”  He looked up and gave her an earnest look.  “I’ll make sure it is done by noon.  How about lunch then art museum?”

Marinette smiled and nodded.  “That sounds good.”

“Great.  I can bring the keys for the new apartment.  Now, I’ve done all the talking.  Tell me more about you.  Tell me about your friends.”  He took a bite giving Marinette his full attention while Marinette talked about her friends and how they had all met and some stories about their time together.  

She started out slowly, building up more confidence as she spoke.  The more she spoke the more comfortable she was with what she wanted to say.  The quicker she was able to filter out what information she didn’t want to share. She wasn’t ready to give him much yet, not enough to do anything with, not more than he could probably get from searching Instagram or Tik Tok, but it was a start.  A start to what exactly, she wasn’t sure.  But it was a start to something.

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