#jason may or may not adopt mari

[lily-drake]

It’s a Learned Trait

This is my Secret Santa gift to Night_ngale on Ao3! This story is inspired by this photo by @mumblesplash on Tumblr (yes I got permission, and thank you for it!):

For Night_ngale on Ao3:

Marinette had been having a wonderful day with her parents in Gotham, New Jersey.  Her parents had just finished a catering job there and today they had decided to go sightseeing to all of the tourist attractions.  They had taken her to the zoo, to the aquarium, to the museum, and now they were heading to a bo-ton-tanicel-al…. botanical garden!  Both of her parents were holding her hands and smiling brightly at her as they walked the busy streets.  It was such a nice day, absolutely nothing could ruin it for her!

Then an explosion happened, and there was running, and a ringing noise in her ears that just wouldn’t stop, and everything was moving too fast.  

Screams filled the air along with scary high pitched giggling that sent shivers running through her spine.  She clutched tightly to the pair of hands that held onto both of her’s just as tightly, if not tighter, as they fled the crowded streets.  Then they could feel the cool shadow of something big that was coming from up high.  She looked up and felt herself freeze up as a massive piece of concrete broke off of the building they were under and fell faster and faster and faster exactly where she and her parents stood.  She tried to move, she tried to get herself to run away from the danger that she knew even at her age meant that she would no longer be able to wander the Earth; but she couldn’t.  The people kept shoving past her and her parents, keeping them in place as everyone pushed and shoved to get far, far away from the ensuing chaos.  The crowd was too thick, the screams were too loud, the rubble was too fast.  The next thing she knew was two pairs of different sized hands shoved her forward away from the massive pieces of falling debris that was right above them.  She turned to look behind her to see her parents' horrified expressions as they too stared up at the ginormous piece of concrete that was hurtling towards them and so many more people.  People kept almost stepping on her and crowding her vision of her parents and they moved before she could blink.  

Before she could even process what happened next, someone had picked her up and moved her away before quickly covering her eyes.  A few seconds later a loud crash was heard and the ground shook so hard she would have fallen over if the person hadn’t been keeping her upright.  Once the shaking was over the person that had rescued her picked her up, holding tightly onto her as they moved their hand up and the sound of something being shot through the air sounded just above her.

“It’s ok, I’ve gotcha.”

Said a deep gruff voice, though she could barely hear it as the cold wind whipped past her ears biting at her skin.  Her knee length pink dress hugged her legs as her brain refused to function and process the events that had just occurred.  She felt her feet touch solid ground, but her legs didn’t seem to want to hold her as her brain continued to stay offline.  She couldn’t think, couldn’t comprehend, and would the ringing in her ears just stop!  Where were her mama and papa?!  What happened to them?!  

It sounded like someone was trying to talk to her, but she was underwater and she couldn’t hear a thing, she couldn’t even see what was in front of her clearly.  Her entire body felt like it was weighted down, the pressure slowly crushing her.   She couldn’t even think, her brain was just too quiet and the ringing was too loud!  There was too much, too much noise, too much quiet, too much information yet not enough at all!  She kept going down deeper with nothing to ground her fleeting thoughts until she felt something heavy being placed around her shoulders.  Her eyes slowly began to register her surroundings and, after who knew how long, she was met with deep light teal eyes that were filled with worry.  Their face was obscured by a red mask, but she could still make out most of his features.  He had dark black hair with a white streak in it.  She didn’t know why this was important, all she knew was that she had to keep looking at him.  It was like if she looked away from him then everything would get all fuzzy again and she wouldn’t be able to think, and the ringing would take over her again even though it was still there!  Why can’t it stop, just make it stop, she wanted her mama and papa!  Where were they?!

“Hey, things will be ok.”

The masked man gently stated.  He kept eye contact with her, watching her to make sure she didn’t start to hyperventilate and that she wouldn’t go into shock.  He carefully pulled the jacket around her full body, carefully pulling her limp and dysfunctional arms into the jacket’s large sleeves.  He gave her a small reassuring smile while smoothing out the sleeves on the jacket, pressing the warmth of it onto her.  “Can you hold onto this for me?  I’ll be right back, ok?”

She simply nodded her head and held onto the jacket tightly like it was a lifeline.  He slowly grabbed a helmet that was on the ground near his legs and put it on.  “Don’t move ok, you’re safe now.”

He looked back at her then ran and jumped off…., oh, she was on a roof.  When did she get on a roof?  She hadn’t noticed.  She stood completely still, her mind causing the cacophony of noises to fade in and out.  She could hear screams and bangs, then nothing.  She could hear fighting and laughter, then the ringing came back.  The sounds often came close to the roof she was on; the fear of it made her legs so weak she eventually collapsed onto her knees as she clutched the jacket tighter than before.  Eventually her brain finally seemed to grasp the reality around her causing tears to start falling down her cheeks and sobs escaped her lips.  Her parents were dead, she was rescued, but th-they’re d-de-dead!  

Sobs wracked her small frame as the noises continued on for she doesn’t even know how long.  Every time there was a noise louder than the rest she pulled the jacket even tighter around her small body expecting the worst.  She wanted to escape, she wanted to hug her parents, she just wanted to go back home to Paris.  She wanted to go back to the bakery and eat the desserts her parents made, see Nino and Kim and play games with them, she wanted to go to the pretty gardens at the park and lay with the flowers.  

They were supposed to be happy, they were happy when they saw the pretty fishies, they were happy when they saw the amazing artifacts in the museum, papa had held her on his shoulders so she could see the giraffes better when they had taken her to the zoo.  Everything had been so perfect, why did everything change so fast?  Why did her mama and papa have to leave her like this?  Why was there no rain when such a terrible tragedy had just occurred like in the movies?

There was a soft thump that made her wrap the jacket even tighter, if that was even possible.  She didn’t want to get hurt, she just wanted her parents back.  “Hey, thanks for holding onto that for me.”

The man from before said.  She looked up, her eyes watery, making his figure blurry.  She saw him take off the helmet and set it down.  He looked sad and remorseful as he slowly sat next to her, but never reached out to touch her, instead remaining a comfortable presence.  “You from here?”

She slowly shook her head no.  “P-Paris.”

Her voice was cracked and broken.  Her parents had her study English with her French studies because of all of the tourists that came by.  Not to mention Mama said that if she wanted to be famous then she had to know English.  How would she get back to Paris?  Who would take her?  How was she supposed to survive without her mama and papa?!  She couldn’t, she needed them, now they’re gone and she’ll die here because she has nothing without them.  

“Paris is a nice place.  Have any friends there?”

She nodded again, the movement causing the drops on her cheek to drip onto the ground.  He stayed silent, waiting to see if she would do or say anything further.  She was glad he let her take her time, she was tired and her brain was still too loud and fuzzy to really understand his questions immediately.  Dejectedly she replied,  “N-Nino and K-Kim are my friends.  Th-they stand up t-to Chloe f-for me.  Everyo-one else is too scared of her an-and her daddy.”

He reached out to touch her, but quickly pulled back.  He wanted to comfort the small child, but he wasn’t sure how she would respond if he touched her.  She looked so small curled up in his jacket, it would have been cute if it weren’t for the circumstances that led to the scene in front of him.  “Sounds like you’ve got some good people lookin’ out for ya.”

He said, trying to sound reassuring.  She gave a small smile and nodded, “Y-yea.”

“Why don’t we go somewhere safe.  I know someone who will take care of ya for a bit, okay?”  Red Hood asked carefully.  She nodded again and was about to take her arms out of the sleeves of the warm jacket, but before she could fully take it off the man stopped her.  “Keep it, I’ve got a lot of others back home, and this is gonna keep you safe, ok?”

She nodded slowly, letting him adjust and zip it up so the warmth that still lingered in it was all around her.  He slowly stood up, projecting his movements so as to not scare her before he extended his hand for her to take.  She looked at it hesitantly, slowly reaching out and taking hold of his hand as she wiped her cheeks with the sleeve of her free arm.  Her hand was so small that when he closed his her entire hand was encompassed by his own. He gently pulled her back onto her feet making sure she was stable before letting go.  “Hop on my back and hold on tight, ‘kay?”

He said softly–just like her mom used to when she was hurt–crouching down with his back facing her so she could climb on.  With a brief moment of hesitation, because what if this was a trap like Mama and Papa had warned her about, she carefully climbed onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck and gripped onto his shirt.  It was a bit hard as there seemed to be something hard sewn into parts of it, but it was okay.  He slowly got up and made sure her legs were wrapped tightly around his torso so she wouldn't slip or fall off.  When he was sure she was secure, he grabbed something from one of his pockets, angled it.  There was a loud bang, like the one she had heard when he had first grabbed her, though that memory felt like it was from so many years ago, that startled her accompanied by a whiz as it shot into the air.  He pulled on the device he was using to make sure it was taught and secure, then he ran and jumped off the building.  

Marinette screamed in fear and buried her face into his shoulder, holding him even tighter than before.  She kept her eyes shut, feeling out the rhythm of run, jump, fall, swing.  Eventually she started to feel a little more comfortable swinging through the air, that was until they started to fall again.  She screamed again louder than the time before and heard the noise of the man’s device again before she felt the taut jolt that signified they were soaring through the air once more.  Slowly, she tilted her head up and saw how amazing the city looked with all of its shining lights so high up in the sky with the setting sun sinking behind the tall buildings.  Wasn’t it just past 13:00 though?  She had just eaten lunch with her mama and papa; hadn’t she…?

Suddenly the lights weren’t as amazing as they were before, they were dull and full of sorrow and loss.  She didn’t want to look down just in case she saw them, they wouldn’t look the same.  She didn’t want to look down because then she might fall, and she didn’t want to fall.  Heights have always been scary.  She held onto the man tighter, scared that if she loosened her grip even the smallest amount, she’d fall.

They continued on in that fashion for a few minutes when the man with the red helmet set her down on a balcony.  It was plain with a swirled black metal guard.  The roof was bland and lifeless with nothing decorating it other than the fence, she didn’t like it.  “I’ve got a friend here.  He’ll watch over you for a while, okay?”  She nodded slowly, unsure of whether she should be relieved someone would take her in or scared that this was all some sort of trap.  She watched and listened as the man climbed down a fire escape and began to tap on a window.

Tap

…

Tap tap

…..

Tap tap tap

Then he stepped back and waited.  Another man with red hair opened the window with a small smile, “What’s up Hood?” He asked in a casual voice.

“I need you to watch someone for me.”

The red-haired man raised a brow.

“Her parents didn’t make it in the last battle with Joker.  Lots of debris, and I don’t feel like having serial-adopter-bats see her.”

“Makes sense.  Where are they?” The other man asked with a small nod, looking around the escape.  The man in the helmet held up one finger and climbed back up to her.  

“Can you come with me please?”

Marinette gulped, unsure of what she should do.  But the man has been really nice to her so far, and he’s even letting her keep his jacket.  Slowly she reached out and took his offered hand, letting him help her down the fire escape to the window.

“Hey,”

The other man said in a soft tone,

“What's your name?”

She looked down, anxiously twirling her foot from side to side.  “M-Marinette.”  She replied quietly, voice strained.

“That’s a nice name, how old are you?”  His voice was soft and gentle and it made her feel a little more at ease.

“Nine.”

“Wow, you’re pretty old, huh?  I’m Roy, do you want to come in and eat something?  I just finished making some sandwiches.”  She looked back at the man that had brought her here and saw him give her a small nod.  She nodded back and shyly followed the red haired man into the apartment building.  “Do you want some water?”

She nodded again, standing near the island counter.  She looked back at the window where the man in the helmet had been only seconds before, only to see that he was no longer there.  The man nodded and quickly got a cup from a cupboard and filled it with some tap water before placing it on the counter near her with a small plate that held what looked like BLT.  “I have a roommate, he should come by soon.  Just as a heads up, ok?”

She nodded, carefully climbing up to the barstool and sat down.  Marinette looked at the sandwich and started picking at it.  She really wasn’t that hungry, but it would be rude to not accept her host's hospitality.  Her mama had taught her the importance of respecting people that were trying to help her, especially when she was at her friend’s home.  Tears she thought she had run out of started to resurface as she thought of her mama.  She sniffled and wiped her eyes before more could escape.  

Roy looked at her worriedly.  From what he had read from the text Jason had sent him, her parents were caught by falling debris from one of Joker’s bombs that the bats hadn’t been able to dismantle in time.  He had been able to pull her away, but her parents along with a bunch of other civilians weren’t able to make it out of the way in time.  Jason said that he had managed to cover her eyes and take her away before she could see anything, but he knew that wouldn’t be enough to stop any type of trauma from forming.  

The girl was so small, he could only imagine what must be going through her mind.  Not to mention she was only visiting from Paris, she wasn’t even from Gotham.  Apparently her parents were catering for one of Bruce’s events, and that was the only reason they had even traveled here in the first place.

“Hey, do you want to watch a movie?  I’m sure we could find something you’d like.”  She didn’t respond right away as she processed what he had asked. It didn’t matter though, he’d give her all the time she needed.

“R-Ratatouille?”  Was her small reply.  A smile graced his lips, as he asked,

“Is that your favorite Disney movie?”  She shrunk in on herself and nodded with a small, 

“Mhm.”

“That’s a great movie, let me ask Jason to pick it up when he comes back.  He should be here soon anyways.”

“Okay.”  

Her voice was so quiet, but he could hear the joy in her voice.  He quickly texted Jason to pick up the movie when he was done debriefing with The Bats and started to make another sandwich since she was eating his, not that he minded of course.  

•         •         •

Jason walks in with a bag full of gummy candy, popcorn, a box of different flavored macaroons, and one Disney movie in its unopened case and plastic wrapping.  He was thankful to see that the small girl was sitting at the counter drawing.  He wouldn’t know what to do if she were still crying.  “Hey, heard we’re takin’ care of another kid?  I bet Lian will be happy to have a new friend when she comes back from her sleepover.”

He called out into the apartment as if he had no idea what had happened only a few hours before.  The little girl startled from her seat, quickly turning to look at him with her large bluebell eyes.  He really needed to keep her away from Bruce, she was perfect Wayne material and he refused for her to be tainted by him and the rest of his adopted child army.

“Yea, Red Hood dropped her off due to….”  He glanced at the girl sympathetically, “The incident that happened earlier.”

Marinette shifted uncomfortably and went back to drawing with a furrowed brow.  There was a heavy silence that filled the room until Jason said, “Well, I bought a bunch of snacks and was told to buy a movie, so….”

Marinette looked up again and hopped off the chair nearly tripping.  She quickly stood up embarrassed as both boys stared at her in worry.

“You okay Marinette?”  Roy asked carefully, walking towards her.  Her cheeks turned a slight red as she nodded.

“Y-yes, sorry.  I’m really clumsy.”  Her voice held a French accent that only made the little girl even more adorable.  Jason gave her a wide smile and gently handed her the plastic grocery bag.  

“Here you go.”

She carefully took the bag with a small, “Thank you”, and started to look through it.  Her eyes shined with childlike glee at the macaroons and they shined even brighter when she pulled out the blue-ray disk.  She quickly ran over to Roy and showed him the movie asking if he could put it into whatever he uses.  

It was interesting to see Roy smile and ruffle her hair.  He looked calm and happy, used to the role of caretaker.  Gently he took the disk, removed the plastic before opening it up, and walked over to the TV in the main room next to the kitchen and popped the disk in. 

“Hey, I’ll go grab some blankets.  Do you want to take your shoes off Marinette?”  He asked gently as he moved toward the linen closet.  She nodded and slipped them off with a slightly flushed face.  She watched as Roy sunk down on the couch where he patted at one of the seats.  Cautiously she walked toward the coach sitting in a rocking chair a few feet away from Roy.  You could never be too cautious, at least that’s what her mama used to say.  “Used to”, that felt wrong. 

When Jason walked back into the room he watched as the small girl hugged her legs close to her chest, face hidden behind her arms.  It was a heartbreaking sight, a sight that felt familiar as it pulled against his heartstrings as he remembered doing the same thing around the same age. 

“Thanks Jaybird.”  Roy whispered as he took the blankets from his hands.  He hadn’t even noticed that he was approaching.  He was out of it today, and not in a good way.  The opening narration of Remmy the Rat began to play through the speakers as Roy slowly and carefully wrapped a weighted blanket around the young girl's shoulders.  He watched as Roy talked to her quietly for a few moments, never initiating touch, waiting to see what she would say or do.  It was always interesting to watch Roy act like a father as he treated his kid far differently than either of his dads had treated him.  After a few minutes Roy stepped away, back to his spot on the couch not saying another word as the young girl collected herself before looking up to watch the movie with tear soaked cheeks that stabbed at Jason’s heart.

•         •         •

It was around the middle of the movie that little Mari fell asleep.  She had slowly begun to relax as the movie progressed until she had blinked a few times very slowly, then her eyes fell and stayed shut. She was emotionally exhausted from the day and had simply passed out, poor kid.

Jason watched the kid, but not in a weird way.  He was worried, and he didn’t know what to do.  The kid was stuck here, despite the fact that she’s not a citizen, and from what little information he could find with little time at his disposal, he couldn’t find any family that could take her now that she was an orphan.  Jason wondered if this was how Bruce felt when he had met all of them before he decided to make them his little band of misfit toys.  He often felt this way when he saw Lian, but it was never as strong of an emotion as he felt now for this child he had only met a few hours ago.

“You look constipated; which means you’re trying a failing to show some form of deep emotion.  So spit it out, what’s going on in that thick skull of yours?”

Roy asked quietly, turning his head slightly to give him a side eye before turning back to the movie.  Jason rolled his eyes and let out a long frustrated sigh.  “I don’t know Roy.  There’s just a lot going on, especially after the last attack.”

Roy quickly paused the movie and turned to look Jason in his eyes.  There wasn’t any pity in his gaze, but there was empathy and an openness that showed he wouldn’t judge.

“It was Joker’s fault.  So many people died because of the Joker, her parents,” he firmly gestured to the sleeping girl with tear stained cheeks sleeping on the small chair, whisper yelling so as to not wake her; “are no longer alive because of his actions today and Bruce still won’t get rid of him.”  Jason took in a deep shuddering breath, he needed to control himself, he couldn’t let the green creep in.  That wouldn’t do anything, it wouldn’t do any good for anyone, especially right now.

“I’ve tried to kill him,”  Jason admitted shakily, “I’ve tried, but he always finds a way to stop me.  I don’t understand how he cares for that-that creature more than his own- than me.”  A heavy silence fell between them only broken up by the gentle snores to their right.  

“I don’t want her to feel this way, I don’t want her to go through the same pain I went through at her age.”  Jason continued.  When I was trying to find out any information on her, a potential family member that could take her home I found that her grandmother on her dad’s side died in a motorcycle accident, her grandfather died of a heart attack, on her mom’s side it looks like her mother was disowned for unknown reasons, which means that they probably would not take in her daughter.  That leaves her with Social Services, and despite Bruce’s efforts I still don’t trust it; or as a street kid.”

Roy contemplated everything that Jason had just told him.  They had been through a lot together, in fact Jason and Star were the reasons that he was still alive, the reason he believed that he was doing a good job at being a father, they helped him keep going when everyone else had given up on him.  Roy glanced at the sleeping girl, then back to Jason.  Jason looked at the girl the same way Roy looked at his own daughter, with a sort of protective love.  Roy could tell that Jason cared about the kid; he probably saw himself Marinette.  It only made sense that he would feel extra protective around the girl as no one would want the same trauma that you’ve faced placed onto another.  

“Well, what do you think is the best thing to do Jason?  I know for a fact that you’re not going to be letting Bruce or any of the other bats, besides maybe Oracle, anywhere near her.  If what you say is true, and she really has no family that will willingly take her in, then what’s your plan?”

Another sigh escaped Jason as he leaned his head back so that it was hanging off the couch. “I don’t know Roy, maybe we can drop her off in Metropolis and let her be taken care of there.  They have a better system and I’m sure she would  be adopted by someone that would love her.”

Roy nodded, he could see the good in the plan, but there was something else.  Jason was still frustrated and didn’t like the idea.  “But?”  He prodded.

“‘But’,” Jason said emphasizing the ‘t’, “the thought of doing that makes my skin crawl in all of the wrong ways.”

Roy hummed.  This isn't some easy or light hearted task.  The kid had just lost both of her parents in the most sudden way possible, then she was taken away from the area and to the house of complete strangers, and to top it off she may never be able to return to her home country; but if she does she would be put into the foster system with no stability ot time to heal.  Of course she also had the possibility of being taken in by her grandparents in China, but there was a chance that they would treat her poorly since they had disowned her mother, and they may only take her in because of obligation.  Nothing about this was easy, none of it was simple.  If Jason wanted to somehow become her legal guardian then he would need to earn her trust, he would have to either legally become alive again or find a believable identity that would allow for him to adopt her.  

There were just so many variables, and it was too late for this conversation, yet not late enough.  

“Lian’s coming home tomorrow, we can figure this out while they play.”

Jason nodded, mostly to himself.  “You’re right.  We need to give her more time to process everything, I still need to process today.”

“Did you have a panic attack?” Roy asked worriedly.  Now that he was thinking about it there must have been lots of explosions, even if most of them were disabled.  Then there was the clown and how he just paraded around on the rooftops.  Jason had had a few before when he returned back to the apartment after a Joker breakout, it was horrifying.  Jason just gave him a sad, strained smile.

“No, thankfully.”

“Right,”  Roy said as he slowly stood up, stretching his arms up dramatically. “Well let's move her to Kori’s room tonight.  She’s still visiting Tamaran.”

Jason nodded, following suit.  Slowly he approached the sleeping girl, televising his movements despite the fact that she was still asleep before gently picking the girl up.  Roy watched with a gentle smile as he slowly walked to Kori’s room, trying not to wake her as he brought her to bed.  He had watched Jason do the same thing with Lian, playing the role of older brother perfectly.  Now, it looked like he might be stepping into a new role.  The same role that Roy carried right now.  But who knew what would happen.  As Roy settled in for the night in his own room a sudden thought came to his mind.  Jason was always complaining how Bruce had a “type” or MO for the people he really cared about; and that was that they needed to have black hair and/or blue eyes.  The girl that Jason saved and now is attached to has black hair and…blue eyes.  He quickly turned into his pillow and started laughing his butt of, hoping that no one would be able to hear him.  A couple tears slipped down his cheeks as he thought to himself, ‘so it’s a learned trait after all.’

Taglist:

@maribat-secret-santa @aespades @adrestar @astrynyx @doll246 @queenz-z @toodaloo-kangaroo @crazylittlemunchkin @seraphichana @miraculous-ninjabird @dorkus-minimus @mysticsoulgirl @ritacrow-blog @snow-leopard-777 @fidget-eep @sometandomstuff333 @lady-phoenix-of-tardis @shreeing @achaoticmess1 @miraculous-ninjabird @liquid-luck-00 @buginetye @stainedglassm @prettylittlebutterflie @laurcad123 @iloontjeboontje @heartsong18 @raeuberprinzessin @when-no-wings-do-broomsticks @jennifer-rose123 @moon5608 @corporeal-terrestrial @skitarii-alpha-c6-555 @saltysugarysembei @phantom120 @kking13 @depressed-bitchy-demon @a-slytherinish-gryffindor

[is-this-fandom-who-knows]

I know we all make jokes about how the Robins are all orphans, but when you actually do the numbers for when they became Robins...

Dick: 0 parents, John and Mary both dead :(

Jason: 1 parent, Willis and Catherine dead, Sheila alive, although Jason didn't know about her

Tim: 1 or 2 parents, 2 when he first wore the Robin suit, 1 when he became Robin officially. Janet was killed in that time. Jack was still alive, although in a coma at first.

Steph: 2 parents, living mom, and a living albeit shitty dad

Damian: 2 parents, although admittedly a lot of people thought Bruce was dead at the time.

... Dick's the only one to have actually been an orphan at the time of becoming Robin. You could make an argument for Jason, but that's still only 2/5. Not even half.

Additionally, for those who graduated from Robin:

Dick: 0 parents, wasn't adopted until he was Nightwing and his bio parents still dead

Jason: 2 parents, he died before Sheila and he was adopted

Tim: 1 or 2, he got adopted by Bruce and it depends if you count Dana

Stephanie: 2 parents, no change here

I gotta say Tim's really the only one who got orphaned as Robin and Dick's the only one who was really an orphan before becoming Robin or when he moved on from Robin. So as funny as it is... I gotta say that "orphan" is definitely not a requirement to being Robin or for leaving Robin. Dick may have set that example but no one else followed it. (Although kudos to Tim for giving it his best shot while in the cape! Very dedicated of you kiddo)

[11queensupreme11]

How would the yanderes react to the character and way of being of Piper and her relationship with Percy, I mean, I'm not judging Rick, but he went out of his way to make a Mary Sue and an icon for women with his way of being even at the expense of ruining his other characters (Annabeth, Percy, etc.) giving him powers that are not relevant in the previous books we had been told that the witchspeaker does not It worked with the gods and out of nowhere comes Piper and it worked when she manipulated Gai later with her attitude of "I'm a daughter of Aphrodite who doesn't like to be pretty, attract attention, be rich." I don't like that my father is a famous actor either, he knows how to fight and that makes me different from my mother's other children." What is this about? Aphrodite's children demonstrated several times that not only did they She worries about their appearance and that they know how to fight especially in the last hero of Olympus and most of the time Piper likes to be paid attention when she is with the 7 in the Argo I feel like Piper would be the type of character who has the script on her side and that's why things turn out well for her. While Rick gives Percy and Nico every character development that makes you think "stop Rick, he's one step away from breaking down," Piper literally said that he suffered a lot in his childhood because"Her father was not with her and he preferred to spend his time working" that is not suffering, your father spent his time working so he could take care of you Meanwhile, Percy's mother also worked and kept her away from him and she did not put herself in a suffering role, Nico Zeus killed his mother, Jason was abandoned by his mother, Leo had to see his mother Dying and blaming himself for it, But each one moved forward While Percy and the others, sorry, but I'm going to focus on my daughter in the books, it seems to me that sometimes Piper doesn't like Percy for the simple fact of being a competition.For Jason being the son of Poseidon

Sorry, I got excited and deviated from the question, what is it:

How would the yanderes react to Piper if she somehow didn't like Percy or treated her badly in the Argo when Percy tried to (as she did in most of the Mark of Athenea book) give orders

It may be a very unlikely situation according to some that Piper treats her badly but it is that in blue arsenic Percy adopted a personality that Piper and most feminists would not like.(Act adorable and like a helpless little girl)

(MY RESPONSE ENDED UP BEING SO LONG TOO LMAO, I'M SORRY)

so a long time ago i found this funny website about the types of mary sues, and here are the ones i feel like piper fits the bill for:

-> not just about piper's issues with her dad and being rich, but her whole thing with jason, which is ESPECIALLY prevalent in toa, where she bemoans about how hera and aphrodite FORCED her into a relationship with jason, when that was not the case at all. throughout all of hoo, we read about piper going through with the false memories even after being told that they were fake memories conjured by the mist, wishing that jason doesn't remember his past so he would stay with her, getting jealous over reyna, getting upset whenever jason thinks about anything related to camp jupiter, etc.

but rick was getting a lot of backlash over jasper/jiper, so he breaks them up in toa, but does it in a way to make PIPER look like the victim instead because, again, he really likes her and wants ppl to sympathize with her

-> someone on quotev mentioned this, but basically piper and annabeth lol. when piper first landed in camp, annabeth was spilling EVERYTHING to her and immediately became vulnerable, when annabeth was never characterized to be like that. she has always been standoffish at times, and after the war, she definitely wouldn't be spilling all her woes to a random girl. but again, rick wants her to be liked, and the best way to do that was immediately have her connect with a well-loved character from the first series

(i'm really sorry about these big ass adds that appear in the middle 💀)

-> piper out-charmspeaking drew, which was made easier for her since the aphrodite kids were given a massive downgrade personality and skill-wise. and like you mentioned before, her charmspeak working on goddesses even though it shouldn't.

-> piper has done a lot of stuff wrong. before they get to kansas, she gets visions from katoptris about jason having golden eyes (he and percy gets possessed by the eidolons and are forced to try and kill each other), REPEATEDLY gets a vision of her, jason, and percy DROWNING, and a dude with a vine hat (bacchus). and she only every speaks about the dude with the vine hat 💀. and after she, jason, and percy drown, she confesses that she had seen it before and apologizes for not saying anything because "i didn't know how to tell you guys 🥺" and she's immediately forgiven

-> honestly, it's not really just piper, but it shows more with her 💀 rick was trying to make her a feminist icon, but she reeked of internalized misogyny and it didn't help that all of her enemies or rivals were female characters who were comfortable with their femininity (they liked pink, wore makeup, liked dresses/skirts, etc.) and she triumphed over them every single time, which is basically proves that piper was RIGHT to think that way 💀

-> she was obsessed with jason bro 💀 like, almost possessive kinda yandere, but ofc it was never supposed to be seen that way, rick just unwittingly wrote her that way which is kinda funny

-> she's not exactly a villain (she's supposed to be one of the good guys) but she was DEFINITELY spoiled by the story for sure 💀

OKAY IM SORRY I WENT ON A TANGENT TOO, BUT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THE SITE I FOUND LMAO 😭

i'm not gonna have piper and percy interact much, tho to be fair, they didn't interact much in canon either so i don't think anything will change. piper will definitely notice percy's more girly side and be like "ew :/" but she's mostly going to be daunted by her because YES, she's girly and a bit of a girlflop, but she's seen her fight and seen how powerful she can be. she's mostly just gonna be sus and jealous cuz i plan on fleshing out percy and jason's relationship

(i plan on making jason lowkey jealous and bitter about percy because percy is everything he strives to be: perfect, and it makes him insecure. plus, she's clearly well-loved not just by the camp, but by her father and other gods, and he feels inadequate and wants to be like her, but percy's gonna try and help him through with it 🥺💖)

daddyseidon obviously detests piper and is pissed that she refuses to obey percy's orders. in his eyes, his daughter has the highest status out of everyone there and every word she says should be law 💀

hades is put off by piper. he doesn't understand what her problem is LMAO. while he doesn't think it's right for percy to be in charge (she's just a wittle baby, she should be in the palace and chilling, not fighting for her life! 🥺), she's still of higher status and should be obeyed.

(imagine their shock when they find out that percy's actually NOT treated as a princess there and is just treated as One of Them, which she's perfectly cool with ofc, but they hate ittttt 😂😂😂)

apollo is disgusted. his whole thing is about loving yourself and with piper's blaring internalized misogyny, she clearly does NOT love herself and makes it everyone's problem in his eyes 😭😭 he's so worried about percy, what piper's her pissy attitude influences his darling?!?!?! 🥺

beelzebub would just want her dead 💀 his stress levels are high okay, this poor man is stuck watching the love of his life fight against giants, monster, and GAEA 24/7, he just wants them all DEAD ALREADY

loki would find her the most hilarious thing ever (in a derogatory way). she's so full of contradictions it almost makes him feel better about himself 😭 says she's not boy-obsessed and that her siblings are pathetic losers, but acts crazy when it comes to jason. etc etc. it's not until she makes her dislike to percy known that he sobers up and goes "ok that bitch has got to go 😤"

anubis (omg i think this is the first i ever got to write about him like this?!) wouldn't even CARE about piper. she wasn't even in his RADAR and she would've been perfectly safe!! ...but then she goes and does ONE wrong thing to percy and now all bets are off 💀 anubis would've been the only one who would've spared her cuz his only concern is percy, but once she goes after her, he's planning on killing her and using her bones as a chew toy 💀

[windybluebelles]

In my “Mary Batson/Drake” post, I briefly touched up on the idea of Freddie and Billy coming to stay in Drake manor and Tim’s parents literally not noticing because, the few times that Jack and Janet where actually home, they would probably just hide in one of the rooms.

So that got me thinking, what if there were more?

I have actually read a few shorter fics where Tim takes Jason home, but I’m talking, I want him to get as many orphans as he can in his home and no one noticing. It’s a mansion guys I’m sure he could get away with it.

My current thoughts for who he could take are:

Jason (duh)

Steph

Cass

Maybe Duke (depends on the timeline)

Kon (cause Hawaii isn’t a great place to spend your first years of life alone)

Bart (just cause)

Cissie (90% sure her parents suck but idk)

Literally just everyone, it’s a massive house

And you may be thinking “but what about when his mum dies blah blah baabah” he just moves them into Wayne Manor instead. Guys this house is even bigger and literally only Bruce and Alfred live there, heck, Tim might recruit Dick on his orphan abduction escapades. Obviously they would get caught and adoption and shit but still

The ideas guys

[somewhereincairparavel]

okay. So I've finished book 1 of keeper of the lost cities for the first time. And I'm loving this keefe dude already?? Like I never thought I'd like a fictional character so quickly. All it took was like one page for me to fall for him, I am aware that keefe is one of the most loved characters in the fandom, and I can see why (correct me if I'm wrong).

Also the book is a solid 9.5/10, the only thing I was frustrated about was probably the slight info dumping about the whole blackswan thing towards the end? because it took me like 3 reads to understand the whole situation, of course, we could just narrow it down to me being slow too, lol. But I'm VERY excited to continue reading the rest. So while we're at it, I'll put in my first impressions of the characters, so I can look back on it after I've read all the books, to see how much my perception has changed of them.

Sophie- i like her, she's really mature for her age, I keep forgetting that she's like 12 lmao. But she's well written, her emotions seem very raw and natural. Of course, she may seem overpowered but, I think that's the whole point of the story, she is supposed to be overpowered, so I don't mind and i wouldn't call her a Mary sue. Overall great protagonist, my girlie deserves a break tho, she got dumped in the hospital atleast 6 times lol.

Fitz- i actually think he's cool. I liked him better in the beginning of the story tho, I feel like afterwards, the dude kinda just disappeared a little? Keefe and Sophie seemed to have more private interaction than those two, and keefe literally only came by in the middle. But yeah, I feel like he had more of a personality in the start. Keefe and Dex, in my opinion had more personality in 5 minutes than fitz did the whole book, but I wouldn't judge so quickly, it's only the first book after all, Hopefully he'd have more page time in the later books. I still like him tho, just not as much as keefe.

Dex- Yeah he is such a typical best friend, I love him. His beef w the vackers is so funny lol I was relieved when Sophie stuck with him even after she became popular tho, also, he seems to have a crush on sophie right? It's kinda obvious, but overall friendship goals 10/10. I vocally "AWW-ed" after he said "are you kidding, i can't wait to tell everyone that you're my first friend" like I need a guy bestie like him :(

Alden- honestly, my heart warmed so much with his father-like dynamic with sophie tbh. He seemed to genuinely care about her well being, but I don't want to get too attached to him tho, just in case becomes a traitor or some shit later on, you can literally never tell with the adults lol. I've read enough books to back that up. But yeah, i really like him and della, the amount of reassuring hugs he gives sophie really heals me :(, They're like sophies 2nd (well, in her case, 3rd) parents. The amount of effort and lengths Alden put to get her out of trouble is actually sweet.

Elwin- This guy is such a W. He is like an adult keefe tbh. He is probably my favorite adult so far lol.

Cassius- I'm sorry, but Mr jerk face over here reminds me SO much of Lucius Malfoy??? Like ?? I feel so bad for Keefe, like poor baby leave him alone smh. I really wanna deck his royal highness in the face tbh.

Biana- absolutely loathed her in the beginning, she gave off such bad snob vibes lol but I love her now. I like the trope of two people forced to be friends w eachother by someone actually end up becoming friends. It's rather uncommon as far as I've read, atleast.

Grady and Edaline- is it bad that i thought they were going to be evil? Yeah I have so much trust issues, it's concerning. But yeah, they're both big W's, their backstory, their temporary contemplation to reject sophies adoption, everything aligned well with their backstory. Greatly written characters.

And last but not least, the king himself, Keefe- okay, he's like added to my list of fictional crushes now lol (along with Percy Jackson, Jason grace, Steve Harrington, chat noir, Eugene fitzherbert, edmund pevensie and Ravi singh ofc). How does sophie not have a fat crush on him, like- ma'am if you don't want him, I'll take him. But jokes aside, he feels like the most authentic character out of them all, tbh. Epitome of great writing. He was inserted to the story as this random dude that sophie runs into, and becomes an og in like 5 minutes. He is like a mix of Eugene from tangled, Kristoff from Frozen and chat noir from mlb all at the same time?? I cannot wait to see more of him and his backstory, especially with his parents. I know alot of people dislike the humorous guy with depression trope since it's overused, but I like how it played out on keefe, he uses school as an escape, which is very relatable.

Also, bonus, i LOVE the world building, the light leaping and all, very creative. I cannot wait to get my hands on book 2

[corvidae-corvus]

So does anybody want to read a Spider-Man and Batman Crossover fic.

So the fic would be like

Peter ends up in the DC universe right? And he ends up in Gotham.

But he's not the only one who ends up the DC verse.

MAY, MARY, BEN AND RICHARD PARKER END UP IN GOTHAM TOO!!!!!

And like they were all revived by the Lazarus pit.

So now you've got 5 people with Lazarus Pit madness, all in Gotham separated (except Mary and Richard) all with green eyes and their hair has a white streak. One of them has super strength. 2 of them used to be shield Agents (that's my head cannon). And the other two are very nice but also very emotional. Ben is the calm one and May is the not so calm one.

It's also a Jason/Peter Parker fic.

Jason is 19 and Peter is 18 so like...is Damien introduced yet or nah? Like who's part of the bat-family and Jason at the time of me writing the fanfic is like no longer trying to kill them or anything but still hates Bruce and Tim and just the batfam in general.

Should I even make it a Peter/Jason fic? Idk cause like peter isn't gonna be adopted by the batfam.

Anyways I also want the fanfic to include Gotham City and the people who live there. Like everyday Gotham citizens just react to 5 of the kindest people they ever meet and they're all like...damn tourists. But then like they start to know them and they're like that's weird.

And like Gothamites can be kind to one another and stuff but they show their kindness way differently than the Parkers. Like they're waaayyyy gentler than any Gothamite.

And they're like oof, Gotham's gonna eat them up and spit them out. But NO. They like, survive and they're all a little feral but they're still HERE and they're trying to change Gotham and May opens up a homeless center like back home and it's called F.E.A.S.T and Mary and Richard are low-key crazy dangerous. Also Richard Parker looks EXACTLY like Dick Grayson huh...Ben is like the nicest one and the 18 year old is somehow the most feral and protective person they've ever met. Like that kid will cut a bitch. He's not afraid to break someone's arm if they look at his family a certain way.

And then there's Spider-Man who's new and super nice too but also willing to fuck over the batfam.

And just... Does anyone want to read a fanfic like this? If so y'all gotta help me. I'm currently reading a single Batman comic. But I've never read a Spider-Man comic. I've only ever watched the MCU and other Spider-Man movies. Watched the ultimate Spider-Man TV animated show. And watched justice League animated movies with Batman in it. (currently on season 2 of justice League unlimited). So um yea...I only have the summary written...any ideas?

[mind0zone]

Evangeline Keys

And a series of MariBat related quotes!

Eva: A list of people getting therapy the moment I get rich; Everyone.

Dick: I think that’s an exaggeration?

Eva: it’s not, you’re after Jason.

🕸️

Mari: So now that I found out he’s my dad I’m heading to Gotham

Felix and Eva (whose both been to Gotham, met Bruce Wayne, saw his chaotic children): why do you carry this luck around you?

Mari: Pardon? 😃

🕸️

Eva: I hate people who go “I wouldn’t wish that on my worse enemy!” I would, and I’d double the prayer as well.

Jason: are you sure we can’t adopt you too?

Dick: Jason, No!

Jason: Jason, Yes!

🕸️

Eva: Luka has every right to be the villain, I’m sorry Mari, you fucking failed.

Luka: Eva-

Mari: END THIS, THIS IS THE THIRTEENTH TIME!

🕸️

Eva: I used to think I like children, and would restrain from ever feeling like hitting them…and then you happened.

Damian: I was raised by assassins, you wouldn’t be the first to hit me.

Eva (who now feels bad and slightly mothering instinct): no, but I’m going to be the first to give you a hug and say it’s okay…

Damian(has been here before):BACK YOU DEMON!”

🕸️

Eva: Out of all your newfound Siblings who is the favorite?

Batboys (listening in):…

Mari(without missing a beat): Cass.

Eva (nodding in approval): right answer

Cass (smiles):

🕸️

Eva (after Damian got benched): free my boy, he did all of that, but it don’t matter!

Damian: I’ll excuse you purposefully horrible grammar, in turns of thanking you for your agreement.

Tim: ten people got injured horribly, and three are yet to be found.

Eva: and? Sounds like a them problem.

Damian: As, Miss. Keys, says.

Eva: Damian we talked about this, it’s Eva, Hun. 😕

🕸️

Eva: listen I’m not an orphan, but my dad and mama has been going on business trips without me lately, and I’m close to just coming to the conclusion they up and died.

Bruce: your adoptions papers are already filled out, nothing to worry about

Eva: MY WHAT NOW? 😟

🕸️

Eva: Not going to lie, Timothy Jackson is Drake-Wayne, spectacular name, your parents may have failed at parenting you, but name making they got 10/10

Tim: please go back to London

Mari: She stays.

Felix (missing their alone time and peaceful nation): No, she needs to go home!

Mari (without missing a beat): I will FIGHT you Felix!

🕸️

Eva and Felix (discussing the shared obviousness of Bruce Wayne’s identity): 🗣️🗣️

Tim (joining in cause he found out at nine):🗣️🗣️

Bruce (standing there blankly after asking a simple question): 🧍

🕸️

[vln-vibes]

Some thoughts

As someone whose both into Maribat (even if I haven't been as involved lately) and BatPham/DPxDC its hilarious that people have come to the conclusion that yes;

The Bats are definitely getting involved with these tired teen heroes that just so happen to have black hair and blue eyes and totally Wayne Adoption Bait TM

Both end up needing the Bats' help because of the whole World's Greatest Detective shtick regardless of the premise (Anti-Ecto Laws and Uncovering Hawkmoth's ID)

If we're going to the Shit's Already Hit the Fan Route then both parties have concluded that the best place to lay low was definitely the crime capital of America; Gotham City

(Even if they do so they try to stay under the Bats radar because of his no metas allowed rule (thats fanon btw) even if neither actually qualifies as metahuman (magic and a medical condition really)

Jason definitely has something going on because of the Pit that can be cured/treated by means of magic or ghost shit

Constantine is probably involved or is getting dragged into this mess whether he wants to or not

(If involved Captain Marvel probably has passing knowledge about the GZ or Miraculous)

Both Danny and Marinette being smol and no one expects them to be Stronk

Same duo also has been thrusted into unwanted responsibilities apart from the whole Teen Hero thing at 14 (Mari's age is unfortunately still up in the air but I'm pretty sure that's her age during the origins eps, thanks Astruc)

(Speaking of pretty sure both fandoms disregard what the showrunners/creators say about the show also but thats besides the point)

(Ghost King Danny (fanon but v good idea) and Grand Guardian Marinette (canon unfortunately for her because sure why not give this girl more anxiety))

Government is corrupt and is probably the reason why these kids get no help from experienced heroes

I just find this all hilarious looking into it

Also the fact im like 75% sure that both group may have gotten hate from the main DC fandom because the crossovers were seeping into their tags too

[mollyannice]

Books I think Jason Has Read

All Jane Austen books

Jane Eyre By Charlotte Brontë

Little Women's series by Louisa May Alcott

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Hamlet by Shakespeare (although Shakespeare should be watched not read because it's a play)

Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes (first in english and then after in the original Spanish)

This one will have people probably fight me about but The Chesepeake Bay Saga by Nora Roberts (The first 3 books are about 3 brothers who were adopted as teens who come home to raise their fourth brother after their Father dies in a horrible accident. The first boy was adopted after being caught trying to steal his adoptive parents car. He would have a love/hate relationship with this book series and the book series feels like an accidental mixed robin no cape AU with some Robins given different back stories)

Joke gag books (especially as Robin)

Black Beauty by Anna Seawell

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

[harryissuchalittleshit]

hi do you have any headcanons about lily-lu’s pregnancy and kids?

i just can’t get enough of her and ryan

Oh yeah do I have thoughts about Lily and Ryan and their kiddos 😊

Michael Harry - June 15, 2028

Michael is born about 10 months after Lily and Ryan get married

While he seemed like a surprise to the family, Lily and Ryan were more than happy to welcome their first son

They name him after Ryan’s older brother Michael who passed when Ryan was a baby and Lily’s father (obviously)

He is the second firstborn grandson to be named after Harry, following James’s oldest son Jason

Lily and Ryan were in their final year of university when they found out they were pregnant, they just finished their classes and moved to Godric’s Hallow when he was born

Michael is kind of a shy kid, he loves music like his dad and plays a lot of different instruments

He loves spending time with his godparents, Louis and Anamika, but especially Louis (who Lily and Ryan credit as the person who brought them together)

He spends a lot of time in the two studios at their home, either recording music with Ryan or watching Lily’s dance classes

When he goes to Hogwarts he’s sorted into Ravenclaw like Ryan and Louis, he fits in very well

He loves being an older brother, even if he isn’t always the most interesting or popular person to his sisters, but what do they know? lol

Stephan “Stevie” Dean - May 21, 2031

Lily had thought that it would be just as easy the second time around for her to get pregnant as the first

But then a year passes and another, Michael is two and while she didn’t want a big age difference between her kids she knows three years isn’t crazy

Then she gets sick, like horribly bad morning sickness that has her on forced bedrest

Her dance studio is still very young at this point and she needs her students

But this baby turns out to be zapping all of her life force and making her nearly unmovable

But then he’s here, and he looks just like Ryan

Stevie is a beautiful baby, named after Ryan’s father and adopted father

He loves to fly, to be fast, to feel the rush of wind in his hair, just like his Nana Ginny

He spends a lot of time with Harry and Ginny, flying in the fields outside their home

He’s sorted into Gryffindor at Hogwarts and becomes Seeker, taking after his Grandpa Harry

He quite popular in his time at Hogwarts, always breaking out his guitar at parties or showing off with his dance skills

He claims that he got the best of his family

Alena Mary - April 9, 2036

Alena is the baby Lily’s pregnant with in Karma. She’s a rainbow baby

After Stevie, Lily and Ryan decide they want a daughter, but that proves to be easier said than done

After a few rounds of fertility potions, two miscarriages, and so much heartbreak, Lily is ready to give up

She’s decided that she’s happy with the family she has with her boys, what more does she really need?

Then she finds out she’s pregnant again

It’s so scary to her, but she has a lot of support and it turns out James’s new girlfriend is pregnant too

Marci had Liliana about two months before Lily had Alena, but the pair of them are inseparable

They’re cousins and best friends, and it makes up for how sick Lily had been while pregnant with her

Lily is just happy that Alena has someone so close to her

The pair are sorted into Hufflepuff

They love to dance and when they graduate, the pair come back to the dance studio to help out between their busy schedules

Guinevere “Gwyn” Elizabeth - November 28, 2037

The older twin

After Alena, Lily and Ryan decide that they’re done, no more children, no more fertility treatments, nothing involving babies again

Then Lily misses her period a month after a Valentine’s Day snow storm

She’s sure it’s nothing

Go onto the next month where it is definitely something, two somethings

Ryan faints, Lily is sure that she’ll miscarry and that scares her

It’s at their twenty week scan that they decide to find out the genders, Ginny and Luna come along for support

It takes them a while to come around to the thought of two more girls, to a full family of seven, but then Ryan starts coming up with names

They name Gwyn after Ginny and his mother Elizabeth, to give her strength and kindness

She’s sorted into Gryffindor, a brave and fierce little girl not afraid to fight or sing or dance her way out of things

She has a particular gift for being charming, something she jokes about getting from her Nana Ginny

Hyacinth Roxanne - November 28, 2037

The second twin!

While she is the baby of the family, she is totally fine with it and loves the attention it gives her

She is the only one to not have two family names, but that was because Luna gave her the first name Hyacinth

Luna claims it’s a very funny pretty flower and that is exactly what she grows to be

She’s sorted into Ravenclaw and from there just grows and blooms

While her twin is more of the performer, Hyacinth is fine with being in the background, she feels like she gets away with more there

She’s very sneaky and resilient and has a way of getting out of any trouble, she is the only one of her siblings to be made Head Girl

Upon graduating from Hogwarts she goes on to the Aurors, using her talents for good instead of trouble…most of the time

[justforbooks]

The dapper and sagacious Ahmad Jamal may have looked more like a UN delegate than a jazz musician, but he was recognised as a truly great jazz artist by some of the music’s most notable pioneers. Jamal, who has died aged 92, was hailed in the 1940s and 50s by Art Tatum and Miles Davis, and more recently by McCoy Tyner and Keith Jarrett. In the 90s, when a jazz piano-trio renaissance was being led by gifted newcomers such as Brad Mehldau, Jason Moran, Geri Allen and Esbjörn Svensson, Jamal did not retire to the sidelines but played better than ever. The former Wynton Marsalis pianist and composer Eric Reed has said that Jamal is to the piano trio “what Thomas Edison was to electricity”.

He was a fascinating philosopher of contemporary music and a lifelong critic of the entertainment business, which he accused of fleecing African-American artists. Although he recognised the structural and technical distinctions of jazz and European classical music, he was adamant that there was no superiority of one over the other in what he called “the emotional dimensions”. “You have to know what the hell you’re doing,” he told me in 1996, “whether you’re playing the body of work from Europe or the body of work from Louis Armstrong.”

Jamal was born Frederick Jones in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and regarded the eclectic musical culture of his birthplace as crucial to his development. His father was an open-hearth worker in the steel mills, but his uncle Lawrence played the piano and at only three years old Jamal was copying his playing by ear. He took lessons from seven, and would recall “studying Mozart along with Art Tatum”, unaware of white society’s widespread prejudice that European music was supposed to be superior to that of African-Americans. Significant influences in his early years were the music teacher Mary Cardwell Dawson (founder of the National Negro Opera Company), and his aunt Louise, who showered him with sheet music for the popular songs of the day. Pianists Tatum, Nat King Cole and Erroll Garner were among the young “Fritz” Jones’s principal jazz influences, and he also studied piano with James Miller at Westinghouse high school.

At 17 he toured with the former Westinghouse student George Hudson’s Count Basie-influenced orchestra, worked in a song-and-dance team, and wrote one of his most enduring themes, Ahmad’s Blues, at 18. Two years later he adopted Islam, and the name Ahmad Jamal. He also joined a group called the Four Strings, which became the Three Strings with the departure of its violinist, and caught the ear of the talent-spotting producer John Hammond, who signed the trio to Columbia’s Okeh label.

The public liked Jamal’s distinctive treatments of popular songs, and so did Davis. Developing his new quintet in 1955, Davis sent his rhythm section to study Jamal’s then drummer-less group. Davis liked Jamal’s pacing and use of space (the prevailing bebop jazz style was usually hyperactive), and he noticed that Jamal’s guitarist, Ray Crawford, often tapped the body of his instrument on the fourth beat. Davis told his drummer, Philly Joe Jones, to copy the effect with a fourth-beat rimshot, which became a characteristic sound of that ultra-hip Davis ensemble. Davis began to feature Jamal’s originals and arrangements in his own output, including New Rhumba (on his 1957 Miles Ahead collaboration with Gil Evans), and Billy Boy (on 1958’s classic Milestones session).

The gifted young Chicago bassist Israel Crosby joined the trio in 1955, and the following year the percussionist Vernel Fournier – who fulfilled Jamal’s requirements for a subtle hand-drummer as well as orthodox sticks-player – replaced Crawford. The group became the house band at the Pershing Hotel in Chicago, and one night in January 1958 they recorded more than 40 tracks there. One was Poinciana, which had been a hit tune from the 1952 movie Dreamboat. Jamal modernised its Latin groove, maintained a catchy hook throughout the improvisation, and found himself with a pop hit that stayed in the charts for two years.

Eight songs from that night, including Poinciana, made up the million-selling album At the Pershing: But Not for Me. Jamal’s newfound wealth led him to branch out into club ownership by opening the Alhambra in Chicago, though the venture barely lasted a year. Crosby and Fournier left for the pianist George Shearing’s group in 1962, and Jamal recorded the Latin-influenced Macanudo album the next year, with a new trio and a full orchestra. He also explored his cultural and ancestral roots in Africa, then recorded Heat Wave in 1966 – with a new group (Jamil Nasser on bass and Frank Gant on drums) and a more contemporary feel, reflected in the funkier approach to his old piano hero Garner’s Misty.

Jamal’s knack of keeping audiences mesmerised with unexpected modulations, time changes and catchy riffs, while never losing the undercurrent of the tune, was still unmistakably intact. His trademark device of insinuating a song – through toying with its bassline or its characteristic groove, but endlessly delaying the appearance of the tune – was adopted by many later jazz pianists, including such contemporary masters as Mehldau.

In 1970 Jamal recorded Johnny Mandel’s M*A*S*H theme for the movie’s soundtrack, and with the albums Jamaica (in 1974, which included Marvin Gaye’s Trouble Man as well as M*A*S*H) and Intervals (1979, which included a Steely Dan cover), showed he was not averse to toying with pop forms and even electric pianos. But he soon returned to the jazz of his roots. In 1982 he made the live album American Classical Music (it was the term he always preferred to the word “jazz”), sustained a steady output through the decade, and with Chicago Revisited (1992) sounded as assured and inventive as ever.

Now in his 60s, Jamal began to develop a higher profile in Europe. Sessions for the Dreyfus label in France led to The Essence (issued in three parts in the 90s), and found him in full flight with the saxophonists George Coleman and Stanley Turrentine and the trumpeter Donald Byrd. In 1995 his version of Music, Music, Music and the original take of Poinciana were featured in the Clint Eastwood film The Bridges of Madison County. He made what he regarded as one of his best recordings with Live in Paris 1996 (featuring Coleman again), and returned to the city to celebrate his 70th birthday in 2000 with Coleman; he was in inspired form on what would be released as the album A l’Olympia (2001).

With the exciting James Cammack on bass and Idris Muhammad on drums, Jamal’s composing blossomed. Striking originals dominated his 2003 album In Search of Momentum, and he even made a faintly stagey but soulful foray into singing, amid a raft of virtuoso keyboard displays, on After Fajr (2005).

Jamal’s alertness to an irresistible riff, like his keyboard contemporary Herbie Hancock’s, made him a favourite with hip-hop artists, and De La Soul’s Stakes Is High and Nas’s The World Is Yours were among many unmistakable testaments to that. Mosaic Records’ nine-CD set of his game-changing work in the late 1950s and early 60s was released in 2011, his group made a spectacular live appearance in London in 2014, and his last album releases came in 2022 with Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse, parts one and two, featuring live recordings made in Seattle during the 60s. A third in the series is due for release this year.

Jamal was married and divorced three times – to Virginia Wilkins, Sharifah Frazier and Laura Hess-Hay. He is survived by a daughter, Sumayah, from his second marriage, and two grandchildren.

🔔 Ahmad Jamal (Frederick Russell Jones), musician, born 2 July 1930; died 16 April 2023

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com

[fundieshaderoom]

Fundie Families and Adjacents I Follow: Duggar

James Lee Duggar "JL"- February 3, 1936, d. February 9 2009 (age 73)

Mary Leona Lester- May 26, 1941, d. June 9, 2019 (age 78)

They married at ages 23/24 and 18/19 in 1960. They shared 2 children, 1 daughter-in-law, 21 grandchildren, 12 grandchildren-in-law, and 34 greatgrandchildren. Mary died of accidental drowning and JL died of a brain tumor. Their life was mostly based in Arkansas.

1- Deanna Lee- July 8, 1963

2- James Robert "Jim Bob"- July 18, 1965

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Deanna Lee Duggar- July 8, 1962

Terry Wayne Jordan

Deanna and Terry had their only child and were on and off for years. They married on September 14, 2006 and divorced on December 21, 2015. They share a daughter, son-in-law, and grandson.

1- Amy Rachelle- September 30, 1986

Amy married Dillon Grey King (April 3, 1988) on September 6, 2015. She was 28 and he was 27. They currently share one son and are based in Arkansas.

1- Daxton Ryan- October 9, 2019

----------------------------------------------------------------

James Robert Duggar "Jim Bob"- July 18, 1965

Michelle Annette Ruark- September 13, 1966

They married on July 21, 1984, at ages 19 and 17. The couple lives in Tontitown, Arkansas. They share 19 biological children, Michelle's adopted great-nephew, 11 children-in-law, and 36 grandchildren.

1- Joshua James "Josh"- March 3, 1988

Caleb Ryan- Miscarriage on January 23, 1989

2- Jana Marie- January 12, 1990

3- John-David "John"- January 12, 1990

4- Jill Michelle- May 17, 1991

5- Jessa Lauren- November 4, 1992

6- Jinger Nicole- December 21, 1993

7- Joseph Garrett "Joe"- January 20, 1995

8- Josiah Matthew "Siah"- August 28, 1996

9- Joy-Anna "Joy"- October 28, 1997

10- Jedidiah Robert "Jed"- December 30, 1998

11- Jeremiah Robert "Jer"- December 30, 1998

12- Jason Michael- April 21, 2000

13- James Andrew- July 7, 2001

14- Justin Samuel- November 15, 2002

15- Jackson Levi- May 23, 2004

16- Johannah Faith- October 11, 2005

17- Jennifer Danielle- August 2, 2007

18- Tyler Wayne Hutchins- February 10, 2008, in Duggar custody since 2016

19- Jordyn-Grace Makiya- December 18, 2009

20- Josie Brooklyn- December 11, 2011

Jubilee Shalom- stillborn on December 11, 2011

Josh married Anna Renee Keller (June 23, 1988) on September 26, 2008 when they were both 20. Anna and the kids now live in Arkansas and Josh lives in Seagoville, Texas. They now share 7 children. Josh was arrested on CSAM charges in April 2021. In January of 2022, he was sentenced to 12 years in January of 2022.

1- Mackynzie Renee- October 8, 2009

Miscarriage in 2010

2- Michael James- June 15, 2011

3- Marcus Anthony- June 2, 2013

4- Meredith Grace- July 16, 2015

5- Mason Garrett- September 12, 2017

6- Maryella Hope- November 27, 2019

7- Madyson Lily- October 23, 2021

Jana married Stephen Gerald Wissmann (July 15, 1993) on August 15, 2024.

John married Abbie Grace Burnett (April 16, 1992) on November 3, 2018. He was 28 and she was 26. They now share two children.

1- Grace Annette "Gracie"- January 7, 2020

2- Charlie- September 2022

Jill married Derick Michael Dillard (March 9, 1989) on June 21, 2014. She was 23 and he was 25. They now share 3 children and have a strained relationship with Jill's parents and some siblings.

1- Israel David- April 6, 2015

2- Samuel Scott- July 8, 2017

miscarriage- River Bliss- 2021

3- Frederick Michael- July 7, 2022

Jessa married Benjamin Michael Seewald "Ben" (May 19, 1995) on November 1, 2014 at age 22 and 19. They share 5 children.

1- Spurgeon Elliot- November 5, 2015

2- Henry Wilberforce- February 6, 2017

3- Ivy Jane- May 26, 2019

Miscarriage- Fall 2020

4- Fern Elliana- July 18, 2021

Miscarriage- December 2022

5- George Augustine- December 19, 2023

Jinger married Jeremy Joseph Vuolo (September 5, 1987) on November 5, 2016 at age 22 and 29. They now share 3 children.

1- Felicity Nicole- July 19, 2018

Halleli Grace- Miscarriage in November 2019

2- Evangeline Jo- November 22, 2020

3- Baby- March 2025

Joe married Kendra Renee Caldwell (August 11, 1998) on September 8, 2017 at age 22 and 19. They now share 4 children together.

1- Garrett David- June 8, 2018

2- Addison Renee- November 2, 2019

3- Brooklyn Praise- February 19, 2021

4- Justus- April/May/June 2022

Josiah married Lauren Milagro Swanson (May 18, 1999) on June 30, 2018 at age 21 and 19. They now share 3 children. They are based in Arkansas.

Asa Duggar- Miscarriage on October 4, 2018

1- Bella Milagro- November 8, 2019

2- Daisy- March/April/May 2022

3- Ezra- April/May 2023

Joy married Austin Martyn Forsyth (December 11, 1993) on May 26, 2017 at age 19 and 23. They now share 3 children.

1- Gideon Martyn- February 23, 2018

Annabell Elise- stillborn on July 1, 2019

2- Evelyn Mae- August 21, 2020

3- Gunner James- May 17, 2023

Jed married Katelyn Koryn Nakatsu "Katey" (July 29, 1998) on April 3, 2021 when they were both 22. They share 4 children.

1- Truett Oliver- May 2, 2022

2- Nora Kate- May 24, 2023

3- Baby Girl- 2024 or 2025

4- Baby Girl- 2024 or 2025

Jer married Hannah Marlys Wissmann (June 23, 1995) on March 26, 2022 at age 23 and 26. They share 2 daughters.

1- Brynley Noelle- December 25, 2022

2- Brielle Grace- February 2024

Jason is engaged to Maddie Grace Jones. They are planning an October wedding.

Justin married Claire Yvonne Spivey (February 27, 2001) on February 26, 2021 at age 18 and 19.

[imnotobsessedwfictionalchracters]

DC OC's Basic Information

Hey y'all! I'm Z/El and thank you so much for being interested in my OC's!

Here is the link to my Main Masterlist and My Navigation and my OC OC Masterlist

Just starting here, I am white. My characters are white. That being said, for the stories (such as Bex's) obviously I have main characters that aren't and if I ever write anything that isn't correct and is offensive, please correct me and I will fix that and apologize in advance.

Anyways, here is the basic information on all of my characters!

Name: Ashlea Elisabeth Moore

Also Called: 

Ash

Birthday (Zodiac): 

April 22nd of 1985 (Taurus)

Where They Were Born: 

Clarksville, Tennessee

Job: 

Waitress Photojournalist Journalist (Writing/Reporting) News Anchor

Family (Their DOB If Known)

Mother: Elizabeth Moore (1964) Father: General Michael Moore (1964) Brother: Dorian Moore (1979) Brother: Avery Moore  (1982) Sister: Ryleigh Moore (1988) Sister: Arielle Moore (1992) Sister: Jesika Moore (1995) Husband: Clark Kent (May 3rd of 1987) Son: Jonathan Michael Kent (June 9th of 2012) Daughter: Taylor Martha Kent (May 14th of 2015)

Description:

Dark Brown Hair Curly Hair  Dark Blue Eye color Glasses (Wears Contacts) Favorite Color is a Dark Violet 175.514 cm (5’9.1)

Face Claims

Child: Emily Carey Adult: Paget Brewster

Name: Lydia Taylor Swan

Also Called:

Lyds Sibyl

Title:

CEO Heiress Head

Birthday (Zodiac):

May 20th, 1979 (Taurus)

Where They Were Born:

Gotham City

Job:

CEO of Swan Industries

Family (Their DOB If Known):

Mother: Elsa Swan (1958-1995) Father: Sebastian Swan (1959-1995) Brother: Sebastian Ryan Swan (1981) Sister: Elsa Elizabeth Swan (1984) Brother: Alexander Beck Swan (1989) Boyfriend: Jeremiah Wood (1979) Boyfriend: Oliver Queen (May 16th of 1978) Boyfriend: Jack Bennet (1978) Husband: Bruce Wayne (April 7th of 1975) Adopted Son: Richard “Dick” John Grayson (March 20th of 1990)  Adopted Son: Jason Peter Todd (August 16th of 1996-Summer of 2012)  Adopted Son: Timothy “Tim” Jackson Drake (July 19th of 1998  Adopted Daughter: Cassandra “Cass” Cain (January 26th of 1996 Step-Son: Damian Al Ghul-Wayne (August 9th 2004) Daughter: Elisa Mary Wayne (December 14th of 2015)

Description:

Dark Blonde Hair Straight Hair  Dark Green Eye Favorite Color is a Dark Grey-Cyan/Lime Green 178.9684 cm (5’10.46)

Face Claims:

Amanda Seyfried & Emily VanCamp

Name: Rebecca Dylan Pixie Evans

Also Called:

Bex Star Hummingbird

Birthday (Zodiac): 

January 13th, 2005 (Capricorn)

Where They Were Born:

Blüdhaven

Job:

Waitress Journalist (Writing/Reporter)

Family (Their DOB If Known):

Mother: Rebecca Evans (1988) Father: Jonathan Weir (1988) Boyfriend: Joey Ventiligo (2004) Boyfriend: Steven Wheeler (2005) Boyfriend: Damian Wayne (August 9th of 2004)

Description:

Black Hair Curly Hair Hazel Eyes Glasses Freckles Favorite Color is a Dark Blue 177.8762 cm (5’10.03)

Face Claims:

Child: Reagan Revord Teen: Leighton Meester Adult: Elizabeth Olsen

Story:

The Evans Girls

Name: Taylor Marie Williams

Also Called: 

Tay

Birthday (Zodiac):

October 14th, 1992 (Libra)

Where They Were Born:

Cookeville, Tennessee

Job:

Librarian PR Manager for Wayne Enterprises

Family (Their DOB If Known):

Mother: Gwendolyn Williams (1957) Father: Peter Williams (1952) Boyfriend: Jason Todd (August 16th of 1991)

Description:

Black Hair Straight Hair Blue/Green Eyes Favorite Color is an Almost Black Pink 176.4284 cm (5’9.46)

Face Claim:

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

There was still family left after all. But... It's a little bit of a Circus.

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/ifC6XU2 by 3DBABE1999 ... ... Not all of Bruce Wayne's family died. Not all of Dick Grayson's family died. Not all of Peter Parker's family died. Bruce Wayne has two siblings that weren't with him the night Bruce's parents died Dick Grayson has two siblings that didn't die with the rest of their family. Peter Parker is about to find out he still has family left after all. .. In this May and Ben Parker were Peter's biological parents instead of Mary and Richard... For reasons... Bruce's siblings are... Complicated... One is a Half-Sibling and the other is adopted. Tony Stark, Bruce Wayne and Cassandra Webb are siblings and all three of them have a habit of adopting the multitudes of orphaned kids that fall into their lives. Words: 4774, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Series: Part 1 of Once you accept the Great Responsibility. Great Power will come. Fandoms: Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies), Hawkeye (TV 2021), Batman - All Media Types, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Iron Man (Movies), Captain America (Movies), The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV), Madame Web - Fandom Rating: Explicit Warnings: Rape/Non-Con, Underage Characters: Peter Parker, Clint Barton, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, Harley Keener, Harley Keener's Sister, Flash Thompson, Skip Westcott, Avengers Team Members (Marvel), Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Brown, Cassandra Cain, Duke Thomas, Damian Wayne, Cassandra Webb, Julia Carpenter, Mattie Franklin, Anya Sofia Corazon, Las Arañas Additional Tags: Female Peter Parker, Homeless Peter Parker, Orphan Peter Parker, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Tags May Change, Las Arañas - Freeform read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/ifC6XU2

[theultimatefan]

FAN EXPO Philadelphia Returns May 3-5, With Lopez, Gunn, Day, McKenzie Among First Stars

Fans of all things pop culture have marked their calendars for the return of FAN EXPO Philadelphia, set for May 3-5 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. With the show fewer than four months away, the guest roster for the pop culture extravaganza gets off to a huge start with the first nine standouts in what will be a star-studded lineup.

First to the post are headliners Mario Lopez (“Saved by the Bell,” “Access Hollywood”), Sean Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, “Gilmore Girls”), Felicia Day (“The Guild,” “Dragon Age: Redemption”), Ben McKenzie (“Gotham,” “The O.C.”), Holly Marie Combs (“Charmed,” “Picket Fences”), Adam Savage (“MythBusters,” “Unchained Reaction”), Michelle Hurd (“Star Trek: Picard,” “Law & Order: SVU”), Sofia Boutella (Rebel Moon, The Mummy) and Jason Lee (“My Name is Earl,” The Incredibles).

Lopez first gained attention for his role as “A.C. Slater” on “Saved by the Bell” from 1989-1993 and its reboot in 2020-21. He also served as host for the syndicated entertainment newsmagazine shows “Extra” and “Access Hollywood.” He also starred in the police drama “Pacific Blue” and had a recurring role on the daytime drama “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

Gunn played "Kraglin" in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and its sequels in 2017 and 2023, as well as providing the physical performance via motion capture for "Rocket Raccoon" in the films plus Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame and Thor: Love and Thunder. He also portrayed "Kirk Gleason" throughout the seven-year run of "Gilmore Girls" among his 60+ acting credits.

Day has more than 100 credits, from films to TV series to voice work, with many highlights including a 66-episode run on “The Guild” and recurring spots on “Supernatural” and “Eureka.” She teamed with original series host Joel Hodgson for a five-year run on the recent iteration of “Mystery Science Theater 3000” and had her first big fandom exposure in a recurring role as “Vi” on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

McKenzie, who portrayed the lead character “James Gordon” in the hit Fox TV show “Gotham,” was born in Austin, Texas, appearing in theater productions and a few TV shows including “The District,” “JAG” and “Mad TV” before the success of “The O.C.” launched him into stardom. His film roles have included Junebug opposite Amy Adams and 88 Minutes with Al Pacino. The University of Virginia graduate’s starring role in “Gotham,” which regularly hit nearly seven million weekly viewers, followed the Commissioner’s life before Batman came onto the scene.

Combs starred in "Charmed," which ran for eight seasons and has adopted a huge, loyal following since, as "Piper Halliwell," one of three witch sisters fighting evil in modern day San Francisco. That followed her breakout role in 88 episodes of the hit series "Picket Fences" and later led to appearances in more than 30 series and movies and a long run as "Ella Montgomery" on "Pretty Little Liars."

Savage, best known for his work as the co-host of the Discovery Channel series “MythBusters” and “Unchained Reaction,” has made his mark in the entertainment world as a special effects designer and fabricator, actor, educator, television personality and producer. His special effects work on such films as Space Cowboys (2000), Galaxy Quest (1999), Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and others earned him acclaim that led to the “MythBusters” gig and front-facing success.

Hurd has appeared in a wide variety of projects, notably in regular roles in “Star Trek: Picard,” “Blindspot,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “The Glades” and “Law & Order: SVU.” She had her first extended exposure as “Dana Kramer” on the daytime drama “Another World,” and last year co-starred opposite Jonathan Bennett and Cedric the Entertainer in the feature film The Plus One.

Boutella played the lead character in last year’s Netflix action-adventure feature Rebel Moon: Part One: A Child of Fire, a follow up to her role in “Rogue Heroes” a year earlier. She co-starred opposite Tom Cruise in the fantasy-adventure film The Mummy in 2017 and was also top billed in the science fiction drama Settlers and Prisoners of the Ghostland alongside Nicolas Cage and Nick Cassavetes in 2001 and the horror film Climax in 2018.

A native of Southern California, Lee is a photographer, producer, director, and actor. Having established a successful career as a professional skateboarder during the sport's pivotal late 80s and early 90s period, Lee would go on to pursue acting, which would lead to working in film, television, and voiceover, and with such directors as Kevin Smith, Lawrence Kasdan, Cameron Crowe and Rebecca Miller.

Single-Day Tickets, Three-Day Passes, Ultimate Fan and VIP Packages for FAN EXPO Philadelphia are available now. Advance pricing is available until April 18. More guest news will be released in the following weeks, including line-up reveals for additional headline celebrities, comic creator guests, voice actors and cosplayers.

Philadelphia is the eighth event on the 2024 FAN EXPO HQ calendar; the full schedule is available at fanexpohq.com/home/events/.

[bcminutes]

2023 Minutes

BC Minutes 1-15-2023

Attended by Ed, Bernadette, Jean, Dan, Carla, Ron, Mary, Bonnie.

Bernadette discussed with us and Carla the transition of her duties as Finance Chair to Carla. Bernadette gave over to Carla the books.

Mary arrived and decided to have a portion of the Annual Meeting.

Bonnie said she would be contributing $200 each month to the Community Center to defray heating costs for her using the building to do taxes for people and to teach others how to work as a tax consultant. The months she will do this are Feb, Mar, and April, 2023.

On January 20th the sacristy electrical work is scheduled for completion.

Mary voiced her opposition to paying Edison the $6000 they want for services rendered. Ed suggested we put this disagreement in the hands of the diocese. Mary intends to gather up all the invoices. Ron motioned we table the issue and Bernadette seconded it.

Doing something about the gym floor was tabled as well.

Mary wants to have an open house in the future to thank folks for their generosity in helping renovate our facilities.

A few BC positions were discussed:

Sr. Warden—Mary Carter

Jr. Warden—Ron Parris

Finance Chair—Carla Parris

Stewardship Chair—Camille Norman

Supply Priest Acquisitions—Camille Norman

Jean will make information available on heat pumps and the IRA’s means whereby our church may acquire help in financing them. Mary will talk with Sterling about heat pumps as well.

Respectfully,

Deacon Dan

BC Minutes 1-29-2023

Attendance: Ed, Bernadette, Ron, Carla, Stephanie, Mary, Dan, Camille

Deacon Dan opened with prayer.

Ed moved to adopt the minutes from previous meetings. There was a second and all were in favor.

Mary reported that the electrician has finished work in the sacristy and nave.

Ed reported that, according to Sterling, heat pumps are not feasible to heat and cool the gym. They work best in small spaces.

Jean suggested that exposed wood floors in the gym be sealed. She proposed to gather data on different products and their costs and report back during a BC meeting in the future. BC members look forward to her future report.

Ron agreed to contact sources that may wish to finance and put down a sealant on the gym floor.

BC members gave Jean the go ahead to purchase a new coffee pot for upcoming events at St. George’s.

Mary reported that Canon Jason will celebrate and preach at St. George’s on February 26. Deacon has informed Fr. Tom, as that day OMS and St. George’s will worship together.

Deacon Dan said that receipts for donations made to St. George’s will be in the mail this coming week.

Camille said she would check with Jason to see what he intends to bring to the UP Retreat on Saturday, Feb. 4. Jean has volunteered to provide coffee and water at the meeting.

Mary passed out the schedule for Holy Week provided by the UP. St. George’s will host the Holy Saturday liturgy.

Mary asked that anyone with suggestion regarding ministry in our neighborhood send them to Mary before the retreat on February 4.

Mary said the following are our current ministries.

Ron’s Meditation Class. Wednesdays 10:30-11:30AM

Diva’s Ladies Social Club. 11:00 one Monday each month. Pamela leads.

Dare to Care. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Tax preparation and instruction. By appointment. Bonnie leads.

Private tutoring. By appointment.

Change Today, Change Tomorrow. As needed.

Mary shared ideas for programming.

Senior Support Group.

Career Service Program.

Career Day. Suggested for spring.

Goodwill Industries. Join them in the Opportunity Campus.

Small Business Start Ups.

Gym Rental.

Ron states that he has received a quote for $1050 to provide railings to the concrete steps recently installed outside the Tachau House. Ed moved we accept the proposal and Jean seconded. All in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Dan/

BC Minutes 2-12-2023

Deacon Dan opened with prayer.

A motion was offered and seconded to accept the previous meeting minutes.

Mary said the diocese has agreed to pay the $6000 to Edison Contracting. No addition money is due the Edison,

Carla Parris has been cleared by the bank to write checks for St. George’s.

The railing for the Tachau House steps has been contracted to be installed. $500 has been paid with the other $500 due at completion. Work to be done this week.

Ed got a new quote from Sterling. Heat and AC can still be installed for $41000. Offer only good until March 1.

Camille mentioned that the UP will go see Roots 101 at the African American History Museum on February 25 at 11AM.

Camille also mentioned that UP will sponsor a Lenten Study beginning Wednesday, March 1, and meeting on ZOOM each Wednesday during Lent.

St. George’s will host this year’s Anne Braden Commemoration at 10:30AM on March 4. Food and programming will be provided by the UP.

The next UP meeting will be on March 15 at noon on ZOOM.

Ed said it was OK for the UP to use his Lenten cross for the Stations of the Cross event being planned.

St. George’s will host Holy Saturday this year. Details to be planned.

Mary said she will put a calendar on her office door that can hold all upcoming events.

Camille’s son is working up estimates on what different ways to seal the gym floor would cost.

Respectfully submitted,

Dan/

BC Minutes 3-19-2023

Attendance: Mary, Dan, Jean, Camille, Stephanie, Carla, Ed

Minutes to the previous meeting were read and approved.

A discussion ensued regarding the gym floor. While the floor may not be used as a basketball court, protecting it to allow it to stand up against the wear and tear it routinely endures was seen by all as important. Therefore, Camille was asked to speak with flooring people who can seal the floor, acquiring from them estimates of what it would cost. A motion was made and seconded to proceed.

NOTE: Camille pursued this to find contractors unwilling to do the work without also doing subfloor work, which was estimated to be very costly.

The Marmion Loan was discussed. Its balance is currently $1881.41. A motion was made and seconded to pay it off. No dissent was noted.

BC Minutes 6-4-2023

Attendance: Dan, Jean, Ron, Carla, Bernadette, Ed, Stephanie, Cam

One issue was discussed. Jean presented her idea for the gym floor. It was agreed that a small region of the floor would be tested with the product. Ron volunteered to sand a small area and apply the product that Jean has proposed we use. Once laid down we will be able to evaluate it and decide whether to use it on the entire floor area.

BC Minutes 7-9-2023

Attendance: Mary, Jean, Ron, Carla, Stephanie, Ed, Bernadette, Dan, Pamela, Camille, Linda (guest)

Ed made a motion that Bishop Committee meetings should be moved to weekdays. The motion was seconded. A vote was taken showing 6 people voting to affect the change. No vote of opposition was offered. The change was approved. Our next Bishop Committee meeting was scheduled for 7-11-2023 at 5PM.

Stephanie suggested we schedule meetings to occur on the same day each month and at the same time. Should Mary be unable to attend an upcoming meeting, Stephanie suggested she pass the leading of the meeting to her Junior Warden, Ron.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Dan/

BC Minutes 7-11-2023

Attendance: Ed, Bernadette, Stephanie, Bonni, Mary, Camille, Ron, Carla, Jean, Dan

Deacon Dan opened with prayer.

Previous minutes were accepted.

Mary said in May, Tomatoes in a Box gave out 10 pots.

UP will have its next meeting at St. George’s Tachau House on August 23, at noon.

VBS was a success having worked with 27 students.

Ron agreed to put down the product Jean brought in to seal the gym floor. He will clean and apply it to a small area for us to evaluate.

Lisa will ask Donald to give us a price to replace missing boards on the gym floor.

Mary has contacted 5 HVAC contractors, only two of which have submitted estimates. Mary will speak with Jason about the situation.

Mary has submitted a BC approved budget to the diocese. Church is asking for $9000, CC is asking for $25,000.

Bonni volunteered to be liaison to the National Convention to be held in

Louisville in 2024.

Jean has agreed to complete the IPL survey. This survey seeks to find churches that wish to earn grants by heating and cooling their properties mindful of the environment and energy conservation.

Committee agreed to pay a 13% assessment for 2024. Carla motioned, Ron seconded. No opposition was noted.

Ron spoke about Seeds to Oak, a nonprofit he supports.

Lisa’s daughter, Margaret, will have a baby shower in the Tachau House on July 22. Congratulations to the Vish family!

Mary will run a tutoring program to help youth prepare for the upcoming school year July 18- August 3, from 4:30-5:30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Dan/

BC Minutes—9-18, 2023

Attendance: Ed & Bernadette, Stephanie, Ron & Carla, Mary, Jean, Camille

Ed opened the meeting with prayer.

Motion was made to accept the minutes as written with corrections by Camille and seconded by Jean

We are on schedule for floor materials. He will work with Jean in procuring supplies. Ron stated that they should be finished in the next two months in November.

HVAC and the IPL grant are in the holding position with them. Jean had no additional information. We are hoping for a possible report in October.

Bonnie is still the liaison to the national convention. She is dealing with the aging of her mother and other issues. We are keeping her in prayer.

The Kindergarten Project was discussed and hoping for bigger attendance next year, 2024.

All of the financial documents have been received from Deacon Dan and are ready to be presented to the Diocese so that St. George’s can be seated and represented at the convention. Registration is for Deacon Dan, Mary and Camille and is due by October 6, 2023. The cost is $300 @ $150 per person. Total cost is $450 +240 = $690. The convention is in Bowling Green, KY this year. Camille has already reserved her room. Room reservations must be completed by October 26th. Camille and Mary will share the room cost. St. George’s will pay Mary’s cost of $60 to Camille.

Everyone expressed pleasure with the new St. George’s sign. We discussed the possibility of getting a sign to hang from the original to show the time of Sunday service. The changing of the time from 11am until 10:30 am was discussed and tabled.

Ron will contact Stanley Steemer, our rug cleaning company for years, to get the carpets cleaned before Thanksgiving, November.

Mortar flaking will be addressed and Ron will be in charge. The price was quoted as $60 for four (4) large cans. It is a spray on product.

Motion was made by Ron to accept the old business and second by Ed.

New Business:

We need new lay licenses. Deacon Dan will have to get them.

There needs to be a monthly financial report at each Bishop Committee meeting. The discussion concluded that this report is published in the Church News of the Month. If you are not receiving this report, check with Deacon Dan. The suggestion was made that a quarterly report should be done. Carla, Treasurer, will give the committee a monthly check book balance for the4 church and community center accounts. This was the practice of the past.

Mary discussed that an Internal Order check list need to be completed according to the Canon. We need a place to lock up offerings. We looked at the box we have. We need a new lock box. Camille will buy the lock box. She can be reimbursed by the church for this expense.

Ron spoke and explained the ICYPAA (Internal Conference of Young People in alcoholics Anonymous). The discussion included supervision of the young adults, ages 20-26. Meeting space is needed by them, especially in the West End and St. George’s was an option. We have exercise equipment, stair machine, basketball and we have been offered a foose ball table, treadmill, exercise bike. They would meet once a week. Motion was made and accepted to approve the use by ICYPAA if they decide to use our facility. The meeting room will be above the Dare to Care offices.

Meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Bernadette Hamilton

BC Minutes—10-9-2023

October 9, 2023 @ 5:15pm

Attendance: Ed and Bernadette, Stephanie, Ron, Mary, Jean, Camille, Deacon Dan and Rev. Matt Bradley

Deacon Dan opened the meeting with prayer.

Motion was made to accept the minutes as written with corrections by Camille and seconded.

OLD BUSINESS:

The materials for addressing the gym floor arrived and were delivered to the meeting for Ron to use in repairing the floor. There were special instructions on how to use the product and how to handle the can before and while in use.

HVAC and the IPL grant remain in the holding position with them. Jean had no additional information. We are still hoping for a possible report this month, in October.

Bonnie is still the liaison to the national convention. Mary is her backup person for receiving information

All of the financial documents have been received from Deacon Dan and submitted to the Diocese for seating at the convention by St. George’s delegate, Mary Carter and representative/alternate, Camille Norman.

Everyone expressed pleasure with the new St. George’s sign. The new sign is now in place and hanging. The changing of the time from 11am until 10:30 am was discussed and tabled.

Ron will contact Stanley Steemer, our rug cleaning company for years, to get the carpets cleaned before Thanksgiving, November.

Mortar flaking will be addressed and Ron will be in charge. The price was quoted as $60 for four (4) large cans. It is a spray on product. This still needs to be addressed in our November meeting.

Motion was made to accept the old business.

Remember, you may need a renewal of your lay reader’s licenses. Deacon Dan will have to get them. Please let him know if you are in need.

New Business:

Mary Carter, Warden has been nominated to sit on Trustees and Council Committee at this year’s convention. She has accepted the request.

There needs to be a monthly financial report at each Bishop Committee meeting was open for discussion in September. Deacon Dan presented the Bishop’s Committee with a six month Statement of Activity by Division from January – July 2023 for St. George’s Episcopal Church with total assets of $27,505.91; the Community Center has total assets of $4,896.30. Both accounts joined together show assets of $32,402.21 representing our total liability and equity. As of July 31, 2023 St. George’s had a ball of $37,681.62 and the Community Center has a balance of $11,499.68. We recognized the need to have a fund raiser for the Community Center. The only source of income for the Center is the monthly check from the Diocese.

We discussed space rental donations for use of the gym. The kitchen is not available for party rentals. The ICYPAA group had discussed the donation amount of $50 for their meeting times. Their meeting space would be above the Dare to Care office. Ron spoke and explained the ICYPAA (Internal Conference of Young People in alcoholics Anonymous) at our September meeting.

The Lock box was ordered and paid for by Carla through the Church’s financials. We needed a safe place to keep our funds and receipts if the treasurer, Carla Parris is not at church.

Mary Carter gave her Bell Award money in the mount of $500 the Episcopal Church Home. We have given donations for flowers to them in the past.

Mary has made contact with the Director of the five (5) halfway houses, two women, two men and one family house located at 29th and Virginia Avenue to help their clients (if needed) with resource information. Laundry Love was suggested to the Director by Mary if it starts again in our area, clothing items, food and other issues if needed. They are eligible for Dare to Care.

Rev. Matt Bradley presented “A Homeless Project”. There are official screenings completed by the organization managers/consultants. It is primarily a winter shelter project program only for women and children and marginalized persons. Rev. Matt Bradley sent St. George’s the organization’s Winter Shelter Pilot Program, Congregation Handbook 2019-20, Warming Center Volunteer Instructions, and Warming Center Community Norms. Deacon Dan forwarded the documents to members thru email.

The project requires a coordinator, a place for people to stay overnight and providing toiletries, dinner, breakfast and a light snack. They cannot stay in the center/gym all day and they must reserve a space for the next night. The total number of members will be 15. In private discussions the committee felt that we could provide meals. Further discussion is needed to determine the number of times we could make the meals available for the people and if it would be dinner, snack bag, or breakfast food.

Meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Bernadette Hamilton

BC Minutes—11-13-2023

November 13, 2023 @ 5:25pm

Attendance: Ed and Bernadette, Mary, Camille, Deacon Dan

Deacon Dan opened the meeting with prayer.

Motion was made to accept the minutes as written by Camille and seconded by Mary.

OLD BUSINESS:

Estimate from Hamilton Property Management group has been received from Ron Parris regarding the gym floor in the amount of $15,500. We need to make floor repairs before major work begins. Ron’s contract is too expensive for our budget. Mary voiced that she could not ask the Diocese for $15,500. Some of the job descriptions in the project proposal are out of his range and/or are seen as part of his sexton duties.

The gym floor needs cleaning and a review of the Sexton’s contract was suggested. It was also recommended that Ron give us an estimate on sanding the gym floor, putting the planks down to replace the damaged wood, no wood putty, and put down the floor materials purchased. The Diocese will not sponsor St. George’s for $15,500.

The IPL grant remains in the holding position with them. Jean had no additional information. We are still hoping for a possible report this month, in October, now we look forward to December or January.

ICYPAA information was put on hold until December, Ron is out of town.

The new HVAC is scheduled to be installed on Wednesday, November 15. The estimate has remained the same and the Sterling Co. did not charge us the increase in the estimate from August until November. Mary spoke with Mike of the Sterling Heating & Air Conditioning company. The cost will remain at $50,000. This amount will be paid by the Diocese.

Bonnie is still the liaison to the national convention. Mary is her backup person for receiving information. We received a 81st General Convention scan card with information sites on it and 10 reasons to be a part of this event.

Everyone expressed pleasure with the new St. George’s sign. The new sign is now in place and hanging. The changing of the time from 11am until 10:30 am was discussed and tabled. A change of start time for services was not discussed at this meeting.

Mary is waiting on a call back from Stanley Steemer, our rug cleaning company for years, to get the carpets cleaned before Thanksgiving, November. They talked to Mary and will send her an estimate.

Mortar flaking will be addressed and Ron will be in charge. The price was quoted as $60 for four (4) large cans. It is a spray on product. This still needs to be addressed in our November meeting. Ron was not present, out of town, and no report was made.

Deacon Dan will talk to Rev. Matt Bradley about the Homeless Project. St. George’s is able to provide meal/s for the group. In discussions, the committee felt that we could provide meals. Further discussion is needed to determine the number of times we could make the meals available for the people and if it would be dinner, snack bag, or breakfast food.

Mary Carter, Warden has been nominated to sit on Trustees and Council Committee at this year’s convention. She has accepted the request.

New Business:

Deacon Dan suggested two new projects for St. George’s.

People in the Pews Project – Deacon Dan would compose a letter asking Episcopal Churches to send a person from their church to worship at St. Georges. It would be a one-time visit or more if the people desire to continue coming.

Braden Committee Prep – St George’s and others would watch the video on Anne Braden’s life as a group.

The suggestions were received with enthusiasm.

Coats and Blankets Project: Mary stated that Church of the Advent will start to send items of clothing to St. George’s. Angie Mills from St. John’s in Murray, KY will participate. St. John’s Youth group will visit Louisville to go out and take items to the Homeless with us in December. A date for this event has not been set.

St. George will pack food boxes on December 12 from 3-5pm. We will do 65 Christmas baskets this year, 40 families from the center and 25 from the church. If you have a needy family, please let Mary know right away as slots are filling up quickly. Distribution of the boxes will be on December 16. Ed Hamilton will order the boxes.

The monthly financial report was presented as of September 2023 by Deacon Dan. St. George’s Episcopal Church has total assets of $25,971.79; the Community Center has total assets of $7,715.77. Both accounts joined together show assets of $33,687.56, representing our total liability and equity. Again, the only source of income for the Center is the monthly check from the Diocese.

Reminder: We may not receive a Bishop’s visitation this year as Bishop White is recovering from an eye problem. Our next opportunity would be in 2024

Meeting adjourned at 6:19 pm. Respectfully submitted, Bernadette Hamilton