#deeper story

[that-one-gothic-murder-of-crows]

Late night thoughts 😴.

((EXTREMELY Long character analysis ahead. Vary Possible tw)) [I'm sorry in advance] {approximated timestamps imcluded}

OK the title is a lie. I actually think about this once every 2 weeks. [If that]

It's about in time. Specifically Raymond Leon. He's the main antagonist of the movie But no one focuses on how tragic he really is.

Let me explain

1. Timekeeper Raymond Leon. Like everyone he stops aging at 25, And his clock starts leaving him a year to live. Cannon to the film he mentions that hes been doing his job for 50 years. He's pushing 80 years old if we track it properly. 80 years!! Of age... (01:27:15)

2. Most if not every time we see Leon, He's always chewing on a piece of gum. And it said that gum is a way to pass time.

3. During an exchange with Mr. Weis Towards the end of the movie. The man worth eons, sitting behind a desk in front of Leon, asks how many years he wants wants for his services. And ray, with a dead straight face, looks at the man and says.

"there aren't enough years, not even in your lifetime. Mr. Weis." (01:09:10)

4a. And that brings me to Layla. His little Dayton Mistress If you will.

All that Being said... Putting the pieces of his deeper puzzle together, Raymond Leon is much more tragic than he seems on the surface. Because from the outside the viewer is made to detest him as an antagonist of the film. And they follow.

But Leon as a deeper character. if you dig into what he says, and his actions, his little ticks and motions. you can see how done he is with his own existence. But he can't time himself out, That's just asinine for a man of his standing.

4b. She offers him 10 minutes for an hour of his time, The time that he has left and let's dwindle to the last second, habitually. He advises her to

"get out of the game" (00:22:26)

Because she's

"pushing 60."

Ray comes from Dayton, He managed to cross time zones and escape the habits of the lower class. That's how he knows all of wills tricks.

Meaning she's wasting her years on a job that will get her nowhere.

"He's conscious of the security he doesn't have a body guard and he runs" (00:29:18)

Leon has been there and done that. He escaped for a better life. But only ended up in a job that gets him nowhere. Working it for 50 years and finding no fulfillment.

He doesn't concern himself with the Justice that his role demands. He only concerns himself with the time that he usually measures.

"Seconds minutes hours." (00:41:35)

He has lost confidence in what he does because of what hes been through and what he's had to do and sacrifice.

In pursuit of what he does for a living, He will let his time dwindle to the last Seconds if it means getting the job completed, keeping up that front and not letting any one see what he actually thinks.

Chewing gum to pass the time, Remarking that a man worth eons (!) doesn't have the years that Leon would need for his services. Draining his clock to his last hours just to see how far he can push it.

The lowest in the movie we see his clock get is 2 hours. And even with the other time keepers concerns, His only remark is-

"I'm still walking around." (00:50:47)

Dismissing that he's putting himself in danger.

And his dismissal of his needs is what brings him to his ultimate demise. 5 seconds left on his clock he watches it fade, Standing in front of the 2 people he had his heart set on stopping, Confessing that he can't turn back the clock, And to a certain point he wishes that he could. And he keeps the time because that's what he knows, He knows his job, he knows the rules. But it's not what he wants, It was never what he wanted.

"I keep time" (1:37:53)

he says.

Time keepers are only given A day. Every day as a top up of their time. Imagine taking A day every day for 50 years in a job that gets you nowhere and gives you nothing. (00:50:47)

He is practically invisible, A man in a coat. Defined by what he works for and not seen for who he is. Not seen for the story that he could tell. The lives he could save and the lives he could change.

Leon is a story in and of himself, He is a story of an old soul in a young body, he is a story of the day to day monotney, And he's a story of what people would do to stay alive in this world.

Being a timekeeper is the equivalent of being a cop, The Dayton people don't respect him, And No one in new Greenwich seems to acknowledge his existence.

Because of who he is and what he "stands for" no one would give him a chance. 50 years of only being seen as a one sided story. He's grown tired of it all. Stuck in a dead and job with no way to pass his own time. Except simple pleasures, intense euphoria, and a soul breaking livelihood.

He doesn't want to stand for what that coat stands for anymore. He wants his own life but he can't have it, It is stuck in the confines unable to reach higher.

He left the low and climbed the ladder. But got stuck in the pursuit of his own future, Tying himself up in a spot that he thought would make him happy.

He lived by-

"Follow the time" (0:22:26)

But he followed the time so far the bread crumbs turned to pebbles, and he lost his way.

Time is money, Time is life, But time can also be the enemy.

[elexuscal]

Danny Phantom, The Show:

geeky kid gets super powers from his parents' weird inventions! now he has to fight a rogue gallery of ghosts... but uh-oh! he still has to keep his grades up, deal with his embarrassing parents, and navigate girl troubles! rap theme song!

Danny Phantom, the Fandom, After 19 Years of Fermentation:

a child dies. but not quite. the inherent tension between life and death. the obsession of the dead for faded remnants of the living. warped green shadows on the walls of a dark laboratory. having to hide your true nature from those who should be your greatest allies. the fear of the monster you could become if you let yourself. being a ghost as a metaphor for the trans experience. a cold breath on the back of your neck in the dead of the night. rap theme song!

[srapsodia]

some margin doodles! I've been watching a playthrough of KH1 while i work 🗝️

[grimreapersamael]

Review of “Skinamarink”

+ + + Warning: “Skinamarink” includes themes such as child abuse, family problems and self-harm, that I will talk about in the review. There are spoilers contained in 'my reflections' part, where I'll briefly talk about my view on the second meaning of this film. You can skip this part for a neutral conclusion. + + + “I can do anything. Kaylee didn't do as she was told. She said she wanted her mom and dad, so I took her mouth away.” ~The Entity to Kevin + + +

Introduction

The most cursed film. A nightmare fuel. Disgusted people exiting the cinemas in the middle of production. At the same time, praises over the form. One experimental horror that moved the Internet, because of subtle hints at a deeper meaning. Let's talk about the unnerving story, that took its name from an innocent, children song – “Skinamarink”. “Skinamarink” is a Canadian experimental horror film, that was directed by Edward Kyle Ball. This production, released in few cinemas around the globe at the beginning of 2022, got a lot of mixed reactions. A fair amount of people criticized the action for being slow-paced. Others couldn't watch the horrific fate of young protagonists. At the same time, some enjoyed the story, liking it for its distinctive style, as well as trying to find a metaphoric meaning for the cruelty. “Skinamarink” is about two children – 4 years old Kevin and 6 years old Kaylee – who are trapped inside their own house. As doors, windows, and their parents disappear, the siblings are left on their own against something. Personally, I liked this film, however I completely understand negative reactions.

The story and the presentation

Bringing up feelings familiar to everyone, in a way that only a portion of people will find enjoyable to watch. That's how I'd put “Skinamarink” into a one sentence. The main scare, that doesn't require any deeper delve into the story, is a constant atmosphere of the film. The action is slow-paced, because of almost static frames and overall silence. What's more, characters are often whispering, or their words are hardly understandable (To the point that you have to read subtitles). Frames are primarily constructed around the viewpoint of a child. Thereby, they're enhancing the appearance of a house by presenting either an unending darkness, or conversely, displaying only a limited portion of a room, making us unable to see what is happening. The darkness itself is an important part of presentation, as it triggers a natural fear of the unknown. There, we have our main basis for visuals of “Skinamarink” which is c h i l d h o o d f e a r. The reason for sleeping with a little light on. Hugging into your teddy bear tightly, as a way to feel more safe. The crying caused by a feeling of loneliness, once we don't see our parents nearby. This is what film visually represents. Something that all of us experienced at one point of their life, which is now brought up once we're older, almost forgetting this basic fear. What's more, the quality of whole production isn't a one expected in 2022. It was based on the popular genre of analogue horror. The choice is another way to enhance the unnerving feeling of “Skinamarink”, with a taste of nostalgia. This matches our memories much more, as production isn't as clear, as it could be. A similar effect was made by the choice of not showing us so much action, that I find to be a great way of playing with human tendency to fill up holes. It's hard to terrify with what's said, as much as you can with just leaving a few questions unanswered. “Skinamarink” makes sure that we feel bad for the main characters. They're children, unable to do a lot of things, as we found out as the story progresses. Siblings also can't understand a lot. We see their innocence, in little parts of their words or acts. The only people – beside themselves – that they could trust, disappeared into thin air.

My reflections (Story Spoilers ahead)

An experimental way to scare people and hard to swallow themes, would probably be enough to make me watch “Skinamarink”. However, this wouldn't be enough to catch my attention – especially for a time longer than around a week. As I mentioned before, I'm not fond of this production because of the literal story that “Skinamarink” gives us. I believe that the intriguing and thrilling part about this story lays in details. My mind wasn't filled with reflections about a physical torture or a childhood fear, but with theories. After a re-watch and the way that people on the Internet tried to break down the story, I got a forming picture of what the “Skinamarink” could tell us. For me, it is not a story about a paranormal entity, that got power over two kids. It's about an abusive household, broken family and a crippled young mind.

Pointing at only few clues, we know that children are having problems in their family. They don't want to talk about their mom. We aren't given any direct reason, but we know that she's somehow connected to the monster that torments them. However, later, there's a moment almost opposite to their earlier words. I don't find it to be brought up by people in their theories, but Kaylee wanted her parents. She wanted to see them. Both dad and mom. These same people, that we know children, are reluctant to speak about. I find it to be such a great way on how desperate they're in their situation. Maybe, they don't want to speak about mom, but when monster is trapping them, both of them just don't know any better. If we go by the metaphorical meaning for paranormal activities, it's safe to assume that it could be a sign, that mother wasn't always abusive. Perhaps Kaylee wishes for her mom to be like she was before? The interpretation itself – of course – is optional and subjective. Personally, I like to believe in this, as it nicely connects to the theme, that was also present in other movie from Bale titled “Heck”. The difference mostly comes from the directness in “Heck”, where in “Skinamarink” it's a speculation.

Conclusion

“Skinamarink” was an interesting movie to watch. I admire the visuals and specific aura, that builds up into a worthy experience. Fear, wonder and compassion come together, for us to decipher its story. It isn't for everyone, but I highly recommend giving this piece of artwork a try. If You're about to watch this movie, I wish You an enjoyable evening with this production. For those who already watched it, I'll gladly read Your thoughts on this movie and Your theories. No matter, if you read it in the darkness of the night, or in the light of the day, I wish You a lovely time. To the next evening, whether it may be another review, photograph, or a drawing. ~ A.K. Samael

+ + +

[pixlokita]

I saw the Epic Mickey beta trailer and felt so robbed so I decided to make my own concepts of the game 😤 and then @pekoeboo was also losing it so we came up with a bunch of concepts, the heart being a stabilizer was her idea ;-; and she helped with that fourth pose :’>

Disney how could u take the edge away from us … Disney when I catch you Disney, Disney when I catch you…

[panics-side-blog]

Alucard going fucking crazy over eating your pussy out while you're on your period.

The mixture of arousal and blood just hitting all the right spots for him to the point he really has to hold back to not let his fangs sink into those plushy thighs.

Long thick tongue going deep in hopes to get more of that delicious goodness, his nose bumping against your swollen clit as he makes a total mess of himself and you, while the only thing you can do is whine and moan out.

You hear him growl and snarl like a hungry dog as he licks your pussy clean from any drop of blood you can give him, it's the safest way for him to taste the red liquid while also enjoying your soft, warm body in the most intimate way possible.

Each time you get your period he is secretly very giddy about it while on the outside he just has a calm, knowing smirk on his face as his eyes linger on you for a few seconds longer than usual.

Honestly I feel like if you would be comfortable with it, he would have no issues with you to free bleed, let that pussy/uterus do it's thing ‼️‼️💥💥🗣️

[fishareglorious]

kakania numero uno reverse 1999 character on the fact she makes a dig on the sex life of the guy she was dueling with at the moment. while also somewhat kinda maybe implying she fucked his wife

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

one of the reasons why i love ToA so much is the little bits and pieces of the gods we get to see.

so i guess this is really more of a 'this is why i love the gods so much' rather than my usual 'this is why i love ToA' post lmao

but fr, the gods are just sooooo much more fleshed out in ToA. they're more complex, and have these layers to them that pjo and hoo just Did Not convey (and really, only conveyed those things post publication of ToA, which came with the tools on how to decode the gods and read between the lines).

and i'm not even talking about Apollo here. he is by far the most fleshed out god we have because he's the pov character, but i also mean all 12 of the other olympians - they're just so juicy!!

like okay, sure, in pjo and hoo we get glimpses that Dionysus may care more than he lets on, but ToA CONFIRMS this, but not in an 'in your face' way - but in the 'Dionysus picks at Apollo like a little brother would' way, and in that FIRST interaction between Apollo and Dionysus, we can SEE what their relationship was like!!

Hermes is another VERY layered god, ESPECIALLY with pjo's context. but that context ONLY gains its own importance BECAUSE of the story ToA gives us - we would NOT have 'resigned to fate' Hermes without it. or embittered at his favorite brother Hermes. we love this Hermes eheheheheheheh

Artemis also gains more character, and is no longer just the stoic cool badass #Girlboss she's largely presented as - she's scared, she fears for Apollo, so much so she SPLITS. she comes RUNNING to help him in TTT as soon as she could, giving her a softer side, while simultaneously expands on her previous appearances and allowing us to see how she is unconsciously enabling the abuse Apollo's experienced. LAYERS !! !! !!

DEMETER. OOOHHH DEMETER ILY, IN MYTHOLOGY AND THE RRVERSE. BUT FOR COMPLETELY DIFFERENT REASONS LMAO

we can infer Demeter has basically shot herself in the foot by obsessing so much over Persephone, where she NEGLETS her other kids (ex: Lityerses, Meg). myth Demeter would NEVER but rrverse Demeter is still a fav BECAUSE of how flawed she is.

ARESSSSS do i even need to say anything. we KNOW Ares and Apollo are bros because of how often Apollo takes pot-shots at him in his dialogue LMAO true brother behavior

Hades is a chill uncle with Apollo in particular. i mean. *gestures* he used to purposefully mess up Apollo's aim when shooting for no reason. need i say more?

looking back i'm also a little intrigued by how little Poseidon was mentioned - perhaps lending credence to the idea that he and Apollo grew apart over the centuries?

also Hestia's position as the goddess of the hearth and home calls into question how passive she is on olympus BECAUSE of the shitshow it's become!! she defends it!! what has caused the hearth and home, the FIRSTBORN OF KRONOS, of the ENTIRE PANTHEON to be so stagnant in the face of this toxic cycle? the people want to know and so do i.

Hephaestus is trickier to pin down for me because he has little mention, but there's one SPECIFIC one that has stuck in my brain and its the "apollo missed an entire decade watching Hephaestus's newton's cradle INSIDE HIS OFFICE"

what was apollo doing in his office. and why did hephaestus - notorious introvert - let him stay in there. these are the questions we are all dying to know.

ATHENAAAAAAA !! !! !! !! !! that nod she gives apollo at the end. her bet on his SUCCESS. need i say more? she's bros with him trust <3 add in the mythology and it gets SPICY

Aphrodite is arguably a tricky one to pin down too, and honestly we as a fandom have probably taken more from the mythos to pin down her character than with the others, but she's sooooo interesting too!! the eldest olympian. powerful goddess. extremely cunning and ruthless. and yet she's seen as airheaded and vain by practically everyone.

makes you wonder who else is like that. *quick glance at our favorite god* i dunno who that could be. *whistles innocently*

and do i need to say anything about Zeus? about the tragedy of him falling into the cycle he was meant to break? ABOUT THE TRAGEDY OF HOW HE DEF WANTED TO BE A FATHER BUT HIS PARANOIA GOT THE BETTER OF HIM UNTIL HE NO LONGER WAS ONE??

*seizes you by the shoulders* HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO BE NORMAL ABOUT THIS. HOW.

and ofc. one of my FAVORITE gods...Hera. oh, ho ho Hera. you do NOT deserve the hate you get <3 okay maybe a bit of irritation is warranted because you do pull off risky things in hoo but we stan a goddess who takes charge in this house.

YOU CAN'T CONVINCE ME SHE'S GONNA BE - well, nicer? is that the right word? - BETTER WITH APOLLO POST-TOA. AFTER SEEING EVERYTHING HE SUFFERED? AFTER SEEING HIM SHED THE MASK? AFTER JASON GRACE?

*pounds mercilessly on the table* I WILL NEVER NOT BE ANNOYING ABOUT THEM I LOVE THEM ALL INCLUDING THE BITS OF CHARACTER FROM THE MINOR GODS WE GET TOO!!

[magical-girl-coral]

[askoverkill]

(Okay so you look like an absolute monster right now, you have to apologize)

Sorry, sorry! I should have asked before! I’m still a little out of it, from the, ah… bleeding. But I think you’ll do a good job Isabeau!! You got this!!!

transcript below:

(Oh stars, you must look like you want Isabeau dead!)

Sorry, I'm sorry, I should have asked!

I'm a little out of it, from, from uh,

Siffrin, you should probably stop talking.

From the bleeding. My blood loss.

Siffrin, please.

...Okay.

[horsemoment]

I just realized i never properly introduced my OC Star Burst!

Star Burst is a pegasus who lives in Cloudsdale and works graveyard shifts at the Cloudsdale Weather Factory. During the day she’s an unusually reserved and sleepy pony, but during the night she becomes energized and witty. Her talent is surprisingly impressive feats of strength and flying speed, but only for short periods of time during day and slightly longer periods of time during night.

She loves cider, the nighttime, and hanging out with her friends!

My design of her was inspired by comets and shooting stars 🌠

[seleneprince]

The Neglected! Wife from my yandere!batfam au

Name: Rosa Perez (only by default. Insert whatever name you want there)

-Hispanic inmigrant. She came to Gotham as a kid with her family, looking for a better life...and to expand their criminal empire.

-She was born into crime. She was raised in it, and damn good at it. It was the family bussiness, and from a young age she was pushed into taking part on the usual gruesome parts of the job.

-Killing, torturing, trafficking, all the drill. And when she got older, she became a sex worker too, which allowed her to scout for information to blackmail people, conspire against them in the most painful way...or end them in their most vulnerable moments.

-Her family built their empire from nothing. From the streets of their native country to the alleys of Gotham, they became a force to be reckoned with. And she was one of the most efficient, dangerous assets. The ace, the multitasker. There was nothing she wouldn't do if there was profit in it.

-They weren't the most loving or healthy family in the world, but they were all she had. In the end, they always got each other's back no matter what. And she didn't have many options anyway.

-Then, as a teen, she met a boy. The total opposite of her. Rich, composed, with impeccable manners and a deep, almost obsessive sense of justice and morality, as white and clean as the clothes he prided himself in wearing. A golden boy, brought up in the kind of luxury and privileges that you can only have by being born in the right family. She hated him on sight. And it was mutual.

-He represented everything she despised of Gotham's socialite. The lack of self-awareness over his privileged position, the ignorance of the systemathic oppression they were partly responsible for against people like her, the hypocritical morality he carried like an honor badge that was only valid when it came to certain problems but was actually full of loopholes. His smug confidence, his naïvety, his stupid belief that he alone could make Gotham a better place. Where the guilty would be punished accordingly and the victims avenged.

-It was laughable, really, if it wasn't so pathetic too. Which is why they always clashed whenever they crossed paths. He was too idealistic, she was too realistic. They were from completely different worlds, facing against each other like twisted mirrors.

-And yet, as time passed, as they grew up watching each other change, how the world around them evolved with them as well, something between them...shifted. She couldn't tell exactly when it happened, but the fights turned into fiesty debates. The debates into softer talks in rooftops or in his car. Maybe it began when he asked her to show him the world through her eyes, to help him understand better so he could actually make a difference in the future. Maybe it was when, along the way, she started to see the world through his eyes too.

-Without wanting it, without even meaning to, she started to like that boy. And then, she fell in love with the man he became.

-Neither of them could imagine how that taking that simple step would be the beginning of the happiest years of their lives...and their downfall.

-Because her man was broken, beyond repair, divided in two fragments of his soul that fought for control constantly and threatened to destroy himself. Sometimes it was him, the man she knew, and sometimes it was another one wearing his face.

-But she loved him. With every fibre of her heart, every nerve of her body, it all pulsed for him. With that man, she not only learnt the meaning of true love, she also learnt to love herself. And no one, not even that demon who stole his face sometimes, could take that away from her. Because beneath those broken fragments, beneath that darkness that threatened to swallow her too, she knew he was still the boy who made her feel alive like nothing else, who made her laugh until her face hurt, who stood with her when she fought her own demons.

-And yet...life has a really twisted and sick sense of humour. It loves to mess with them.

-She got pregnant for the first time, entirely by accident...and it wasn't from the man she loved.

-It had been a busy, drunk night, another one enduring the worst of her job. She was tired as well, and a rich man spotted her across the club she worked at. When he approached her, she told him the same words she threw at everyone who showed her that kind of interest:

"I don't come for free, sunshine."

-Turns out he had no problem with that. He could afford it. That and the whole club. And so, he ended hiring her company for the night. She recognised him too late, but she couldn't turn down a client. Specially not this one. No matter the conflict in her heart.

-Because how could she not recognise Bruce fucking Wayne himself? And given their story, no less?

-She remembers their first real meeting as if it was yesterday. Of course, that stupid night at the club wasn't the first time their paths crossed. Back when they were still young, foolish, and reckless in their own ways. His expensive car slammed into her, not hard enough to kill, but enough to send her stumbling back. Slammed into the hood, then rolled off, her bodyt hitting the pavement with a thud.

-She remembers already having a bad day, and that only made her see red.

-Before she knew it, before she could even think, she punched the window. Her bare fist colliding with the glass with a brutal force that could be explained by her rage (and maybe years of experience breaking bones). Glass spidered instantly under the impact, and she wasted no time in letting them know what she thought:

"Are you blind, rich boy?! The hell kinda driving is that?!

-And of course, because it couldn't be any other way, her lover, back when they still couldn't stand each other, was already storming out of the car to get in her face. Yelling

"What the hell, Rosa?! You just punched his car's damn window off. Are you fucking insane?!"

-And she screamed right back.

"Excuse me?! How am I the insane one here?!" she shot back, stepping toe-to-toe with him. "Your dumbass friend over here almost ran me over! All that money for expensive cars and yet you idiots can't fucking drive? Figures."

-And that was the first time she and Bruce Wayne saw each other, although she didn't actually see much of him back there. She was too busy standing in the middle of the street, in the middle of another full-blown screaming match with the future love of her life. And Bruce didn't get out of the car (probably scared they'll chew his head off if he intervened).

-And he never left his life after that. He always hovered on the edges of her world, one way or another, like two planets circling around the sun. Same orbit, but never actually making contact. Until, of course, that fateful night where her life changed forever.

-She barely remembers how it started. She remembers his hands, strong, calloused, nothing like the man she loved. She remembers words whispered in the dim glow of expensive hotel lighting. She remembers the kind of warmth that felt like a brief escape from her chaotic life.

-She remembers waking up alone and thinking: ·Good. That’s all it was meant to be."

-Then she went back to her life. She made out with her lover and everything went back to normal. And for a while, she didn't think of that one-night stand again.

-Until she was late. Until she had to take a test. Until she stared at two pink lines and felt her stomach drop.

-She was told to abort the baby by those close to her, since not only it would be another burden for her, but she wouldn't be able to give them a good life.

-However, she refused everytime. She briefly considered using the baby to get a hold of the Wayne's fortune, but she dismissed that thought quickly, and decided to keep her precious babygirl to herself instead. The high society wouldn't ever accept them anyway, and if they gave a shit, it'll be only to take her baby away from her.

-For the first time in her life, Rosa had something more worth living for. Something that was entirely hers, her own creation. And she refused to let anyone or anything take it from her. It made her realise romantic love didn't hold a candle to what she felt the first time she heard her baby's heartbeat.

-She could've told her partner the truth. She thought she deserved to know, but then...she saw it in his eyes. The genuine joy when he first held the ultrasound in his hands. The way he whispered, "She’s perfect, my love. She will be ours." Even though he knew she wasn't. Not really.

-So she told him a slightly concealed truth. That the father was a client, an accident from one drunken night. A faceless man neither of them needed to worry about, because she had no intention of letting know of this. She didn't want him involved. Not when she already had the perfect father for her babygirl right by her side.

-He had stepped into the role of father for her daughter without hesitation, with joy. And then, when she had the twins, his biological children, she thought that would be it. That everything would be fine. Bruce Wayne would never be part of her life. That she would never have to see him again or ask him for anything. She even left the gang and her work behind, ready to start anew with her new family and devote herself to them. She found a much cozier place as a waitress in the Iceberg Lounge (Penguin owed her some favours anyway).

-But life decided to fuck her over again.

-Suddenly, the man she loved was ripped away from her. His name was splattered across headlines, his legacy destroyed beyond salvation. Batman took him and Arkham picked him up, trapping him indefinitely in those endless walls of madness.

-The man who once held her at night, who whispered dreams of a better life, was now gone. Their protector, their provider, the one she trusted with hers and their chidren's future. Because he promised he wouldn't fail them. That he would always be there for them, and they'll build a happy future together, with a better Gotham once he fixed it to his image.

-Suddenly, she was alone. No allies. No protection. No way to keep her children safe.

-And when Gotham’s underbelly came knocking, those who had blood debts to pay with her other family, sent men to end her life in front of her babies, she realized something brutal and undeniable as she washed the blood of her hands:

-They weren't going to survive.

-Not if they kept living this way. Relying on others, trusting their lives in other's hands. She had to act. And now.

-And she saw it clear as a day. There was only one way to fix this. It was unthinkable, she hated it, but looking at her children's lost, scared faces, her heart squeezed painfully. Her feelings didn't matter. Whatever sense of loyalty she felt for her lover didn't matter. Her children were her priority.

-After she burned the house, with all evidence inside, she was interrogated by the police. She kept her kids behind her all the time, never letting a single officer so much look at them. She felt that she would claw the eyes out of whoever tried to talk to them. Then, Comissary Gordon took the lead and guided her to his car. She expected to be taken to the comissary for the boring, official procedure, but instead, he took them to a damn ice-scream stand.

-He paid for their orders, offered them seats and just. Sat there. Watching as the children ate their ice-scream peacefully, sometimes running around, as if the sugar made them forget what they just went through. And seeing Gordon's face when she asked him why, why did he do that, she realised that was precisely his intention. Make them forget, if only for those brief minutes.

-She's still grateful with him for it. He's the only person in the GPCD she tolerates.

-Afterwards, they stayed in an cheap hotel in the outskirts of the city. She couldn't go to her relatives, that's where her enemies would look. She hid, hid her children, and blackmailed the hotel's receptionist to keep their mouth shut about their presence with stuff she had about them from years ago.

-The following days were a blurr. Taking care of her kids, making sure they were safe, and stalking the hell out of Bruce Wayne.

-Watching, studying, looking for his weaknesses. She was going to force his hand somehow. She was desesperate, out of options, and completely determined to get to him.

-The constant thought clawed at the back of her head: "Find the man. Find his weakness. If nothing else, steal from him. Use his name. Use his resources. Use whatever you can. He owes you that much."

-And then? She saw it.

-Saw Batman, the untouchable legend, Gotham’s untouchable king, remove his cowl. And suddenly, it all made sense.

-Of course. Of course. The richest man in Gotham, who disappeared at night. The philanthropist with no actual time to be one. The cold, untouchable billionaire, who acted like a ghost in his own city.

-Bruce Wayne was Batman. The Dark Knight. And the man who put the love of her life in Arkham Asylum, ruining their lives.

-And there, along with the crushing shock, she felt a cold sense of satisfaction. Finally, she had it. She had his weakness. She knew exactly what to do.

-She put on her best dress. Dressed her daughter accordingly too. And after entrusting her youngest kids to a relative for a short while, she drove them both to Wayne Manor. Not before telling them that things were going to change for better now.

-She walked into his house, into his fortress, ready to make him pay. For the child he put in her. For the choices he made. For the consequences of his actions. Whether he liked it or not.

-She sat in the chair in front of him, poured herself a drink, and greeted him with a smile laced with venom.

"We need to talk, cariño."

-She slid a folder across the desk. Their daughter’s birth certificate, along with the pictures she took revealing his real identity.

-His eyes scanned the paper, and for the first time in his life, she seemed surprised. Shaken. He looked up to her with fire blisting in his eyes, but she smiled back.

"You took something from me, from us" she said, voice even, but dangerous. "You took him away. And now? You’re going to make up for it."

-She held her daughter's shoulder, finally getting him to look at her. Her fingers tightened in reflect. She reminded herself why she was doing this, why she had to. For the little girl besides her, and the other two waiting for them to return. She would throw herself at the mercy of Satan himself if she had to.

-Because this was his fault. Their father was gone because of him. She was alone because of him. Her children were in danger and almost died because of him.

-And so, like that, they got married. There wasn't a ceremony. Just signing the papers and exchanging rings. She didn't need more. Didn't want more. The only wedding she wanted flushed down the toilet when Batman threw her partner behind a cell.

-The four of them moved to the manor. Their bedrooms were alocated on the opposite side of the manor to theirs, isolating her further. She knew it was a punishment, the only way he had to get back at her. As if she cared. She didn't marry him for love or attention. She wanted his surname behind her kids' names so they were safe. Besides, she would've set the curtains on fire before sharing a bed with him.

-What she couldn't stand was seeing the cold indifference directed to her children, specially to her oldest daughter. The one who was a Wayne by blood. Okay, she couldn't expect Bruce to care for the twins, they weren't his biologically (and if God listened to her, he wouldn't ever know who their father was), but her oldest girl? Her precious babygirl? She was his. The DNA tests he took himself afterwards confirmed it. She was the breathing copy of Martha Wayne, for fuck's sake. Shouldn't that make him feel something? Anything?

-It pained her more than anything, because there was nothing she could do. She couldn't fix the crushed look in her sweet girl's eyes at the rejections, the constant dissapointment, the crushing realisation that her siblings didn't love her. That her new father didn't care about her.

-She almost broke when her little girl told her she missed her other dad, the one who actually loved her. She cried herself to sleep in her room. "I miss him too, my love. I miss the man who loved me."

-But this was their life now. This...this was for the best. She could handle a loveless, cold marriage. She also vowed to never follow her heart again, never rely on anyone else beyond the bare minimum. She trusted love to keep them safe, and it almost cost her everything. Never again.

-Let them look down on her, on her children. Let Batman's little soldiers hate her, resent her for blackmailing him. Let him ignore their daughter, the child he put in her because he couldn't use a fucking condom.

-At the end of the day, her children will be safe and healthy. And that's all that matters.

-If she has to go back to her roots and stain her hands with blood again to ensure it, so be it.

[stars-obsession-pit]

Amanda Waller scanned through another lengthy report from the leadership of the Ghost Investigation Ward. Worthless. So much posturing, yet not a single important development in their research.

She made a mental note to try to replace whoever wrote the report with someone less prone to bullshit. Not that the odds were great of finding suitable replacements—all her most competent and loyal agents were tied up dealing with more pressing concerns.

For all the dangers ghosts and ectoplasm posed, they were at least rare. Natural portals were uncommon and typically short-lived, and earthbound shades were weak enough to pose little risk. The development of anti-ghost weaponry was vitally important for real national security but could, for now, be left on the back burner without too much direct oversight from her.

Then one single line caught her eye. An offhand mention. Independent ghost hunters Jack and Madeline Fenton claim to have created a functional ghost portal.

It probably wasn’t true—lord knows she’s seen plenty of hoaxes before—but something about it made her pause. It might be finally time to send transfer some of her better agents to the Ward to look into things properly.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

I came here for the silly haha doodles, but I've stayed for the absolutely blazing commentary in the tags. Your analysis of this story is so so so good! Thanks for all the work and thought you put into this!

I am just a silly little comics blog. I am not hiding anything in the tags, no way. Never.

[idunnaldwir]

But you love him?! Even though he did so much harm? Even if he is such a mess?? That's sick!! There must be something wrong with you! Yes, I love him exactly because he is so broken and did so much harm. I love him because he has an arc and a story. I love him because he knows he's broken and because he can be forgiven and change and do better. I love him because if someone like him can be redeemed and do better, surely I can as well. Because if someone like him can receive grace from others, surely I deserve it as well.

I love him because I do not see myself as a golden, righteous hero, but rather as a flawed work in progress.

I love him because I do not believe people are unredeemable, nor to be condemned forever.

This is the value of anti-heroes and even villains, to be mirrors of self awareness, but also self love. To be founts of catharsis.

[tunemyart]

Our story begins with two Jane Does and a mystery.

One of them is dead. The other spends the majority of the episode trying to find out who the dead woman is. "Tell me who she is!" 'Agnes' finally yells at a suspect while brandishing crime scene photos at him. "Tell me what happened to her!"

"What are you talking about?" he yells back, frightened. "These are just flowers!"

The story begins with a dead witch. The only clue as to her identity is a library card found at the scene of the crime. Eventually, 'Agnes' visits the morgue to see the body, and she discovers that the library card has been repurposed as a toe tag. Slowly, a name scrawls across it: W. Maximoff.

Across the room, Death appears. "Case closed, then?" she asks.

The answer is obviously no. 'Agnes' knows it, too.

"There are two Jane Does in this case," Death tells 'Agnes' slowly, deliberately. "You know her name. So what's yours?"

Immediately above the red letters spelling 'W. Maximoff', another name appears on the dead woman's toe tag: 'A. Harkness'.

Tell me who she is! 'Agnes' had shouted. Tell me what happened to her!

And so we spend eight episodes finding out.