#lord jim spoilers

[lazulibundtcake]

Remember Lord Jim?

Anyway this is what happens at the end:

But we can see him, an obscure conqueror of fame, tearing himself out of the arms of a jealous love at the sign, at the call of his exalted egoism.

He goes away from a living woman to celebrate his pitiless wedding with a shadowy ideal of conduct. Is he satisfied—quite, now, I wonder?

[ineffable-romantics]

I think one of the worst parts is that Crowley had to sit there and watch Gabriel (not Jim; The Archangel Fucking GABRIEL) get HIS Jane-Austen-William-Shakespeare-When-Harry-Met-Sally happy ending with a demon he never tried to change...

And then THAT.

[hotdogthightattoo]

plz plz plz gif the fingie touch for ineffable bureaucracy when bee gives gabriel the fly 😭

[acidic-potato-piss-water]

Nothing to see here, just two cringefail loser men that deserve eachother <3

@divorcingjimmatthews infected me with The Worms (the mental image of Jim having a drunk breakdown after the end of s2 and Jade reluctantly helping)

(line art only, just for funsies)

[krissiefox]

Sonic The Hedgehog (2020) Movie Review!

While I was sick recently, I was holed up in my room trying not to infect the rest of my family. I'd been reading Sonic fanfics in the meantime, and this gave me the idea to finally watch the DVD I got of the the 2020 Sonic movie, and then of course, I wanted to write a review, because it's fun (and my wife seems to like them)! I'll put a divider here, because this review does contain spoilers for most of the plot points, so this is your warning before you read on!

To get the unfortunate bits out of the way, the movie had a rough start, with the strange first design of Sonic becoming a social media trend of snark and negativity that I remember making me pretty depressed. In response to the backlash, Paramount changed up Sonic's design to something cuter. I've heard mixed claims saying that during this time the artists for the movie were abused with crunch, while others claim this didn't occur, so I'm not sure about whether or not it happened, but I hope not.

A worried Sonic ball, hiding from badniks....

With that unpleasantness out of the way, the movie eventually finished and came out, and at-least on tumblr I saw a lot of folks seemed to really enjoy it. My little brother expressed interest in watching it with me, so eventually while out shopping with my wife I picked up copies of the first two movies.

This movie does commit the act of "Hollywood Video Game Adaptations" by largely changing the source material and basically creating another AU for the Sonicverse, and I know that's a turnoff for some, so this wouldn't be every one's cup of tea as many folks would prefer something rooted in one the already established Sonic worlds. I was able to enjoy the film though, and found it quite cute, sweet and funny. It also gave warm fuzzies to see my favorite childhood video game hero in his first big screen movie adaption.

The Story follows Sonic as he is ousted from his home world by his owl mom to live on Earth, after a tribe of echidnas attacks their house. Sonic is ordered to live in hiding, and is given a bag of magic teleportation rings that he is to use only in an emergency to escape to another place.

As ordered, Sonic lives on Earth in secret, in a town called Green Hills. He spies on the humans and enjoys learning about Earth, but is still very lonely as he isn't allowed to interact with them. Some of his favorite humans are a local couple that he has named "Donut Lord" and "Pretzel Lady". One night, while playing at a baseball field at night, Sonic gets so upset about his isolated life that he causes a massive power surge with his speed, drawing attention to his location.

Dr. Robotnik meets Donut Lord!

The government calls in Dr. Robotnik (and his minion/boyfriend Agent Stone), whom in this universe is an earthling rather than a resident of Mobius. He is played by Jim Carrey as a delightfully fun and strange villain throughout the film. He takes over the search for the source of the power surge, and eventually closes in on the cave Sonic has been living in.

In a panic, Sonic decides he'll need to bail on this world, though he hates the thought of having to do so, being so fond oft it. He sneaks into Donut Lords home to use one of his teleport rings, when Donut (aka Tom) finds him and shoots him with a tranquilizer dart gun. One of Sonic's rings opens up and since Donut's shirt made Sonic think of San Francisco, that's where the portal leads to and Sonic's rings end up there.

After getting to know each-other, Sonic and Donut end up fleeing as vigilantes both from the government and Dr. Robotnik. Eventually they make it to San Francisco, Sonic gets his rings back, and he has a big showdown with Robotnik where he ends up sending Robotnik through a portal to the mushroom world he was originally going to go to. Donut Lord and Pretzel Lady end up adopting Sonic, and the movie wraps up as Sonic sees his new bedroom in a really sweet scene. Mid credits, we also get a teaser showing Tails arriving on Earth!

One of the movie's more badass looking scenes.

Outside of the aforementioned issue that creating an entirely new Sonic AU for the film will alienate some folks, my only other criticism is that I would have liked to learn more Sonic's owl mom, as she seemed pretty cool. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the film quite a bit. It was colorful, pretty, Sonic was adorable, Robotnik was very funny, and Sonic's new friends were quite likeable. Definitely a recommended watch for anyone curious about the film. :) I may end up watching the sequel sometime soon, too!

[cyanide-sippy-cup]

A Series of Unfortunate Events (the events being Shadow).

[midnightnautilus]

I’ve got a couple funky new stickers in the shop!

[thewomanwhoboughttheworld]

Last night, I was talking with one of my favourite people and I think I've figured some of Good Omens characters's zodiac signs.

Jim, short for James, short for Gabriel: I think he's a Libra, because Libras tend to maintain balance (that's basically his job, to keep balance in Heaven), he's detached while dealing with situations and has a great sense of aesthetic. But I think he's a Scorpio rising, which means he's also a little bit mysterious and tends to hide his emotions.

Lord Beelzebub: definitely a Scorpio. They're rebellious, passionate, revengeful. They're not one to mess with as they can be fairly aggressive. And they're definitely a Libra rising, since they still need to avoid conflicts and keep a certain balance in Hell. Plus they mirror Jimbriel and I just love that for them.

Michael: that's a tough one, but I think Michael's a Virgo. They're perfectionists, they want everything done in the way they decide and they're so, so cunning. I think Michael is possibily a Leo rising, as they want to be in charge, they're proud and have a strong self esteem.

Uriel: Uriel's a tough nut to crack, I'd say. I like them as a Cancer, as every Cancer I've known is usually calm and poised, fully trusting in the righteousness of the situation surrounding them. But I think they might be a Capricorn rising, as they tend to be cold towards the other people and have an excellent self control.

Maggie: I think she's a Pisces. She tends to think about the others first, she's very sweet and sensitive. She loves love, romance and everything sweet and is just a general sweetheart. (It helps that my friend is a Pisces too and she checks some of these boxes). I don't know what her rising could be, though.

Nina: I like her as an Aquarius. She wants her freedom, she doesn't want to be restrained and is very independent. She's different from the others and doesn't matter, she doesn't care what other people think of her as long as she's true to herself. Same as Maggie, I don't know what her rising could be.

Aziraphale: my sweet boy's a Pisces. He's very similar to Maggie in some aspects, sometimes he forgets about himself just so that the other can be safe. He's a dreamer, he gets lost in romance (as we see in S2), he's clever but sometimes his tendency to live in a nice fantasy takes over. He's a good natured person who's always tested by negative situations. But he's also a Taurus rising, meaning he loves material pleasures, mainly good food and good music, he's patient, faithful, loyal.

Crowley: my precious baby is a mess, that means he cannot be anything other than a fire sign. I like to see him as a Sagittarius, as he's so joyful before the Fall, he gets excited for everything that's laid in front of his eyes. Even after the Fall he's an optimist, he believes that everything will turn out fine in the end but is constantly faced with the brutality of reality. He's ironic and he often turns to irony to hide his discomfort. He's a rebel, an independent soul who will turn to loneliness as he can't find anyone who goes at his own speed. But baby's also an Aries rising, he snaps, gets easily angry and an overall impulsive person.

I don't know about the other characters, I should dig deeper, and I don't know if it makes sense but oh well. I like how it turned out, I think these signs represent them quite well.

Master post: here

[mcbitchtits]

hey Aziraphale Mr. New Chief Archangel, so some dude just showed up and roped you into his shit and now you have his job. how's that fresh gig lookin

hm. probably fine

[thatonequeeraunt]

Initially was totally all for Jim a complete 180 of the character especially the scene with Crowley and that whole conversation in Jim's bedroom

And then he started getting his Memories Back and I was like oh no back to the 360 he's going to suck

But then when you see the whole sequence of all the memories with Beelzebub and this was all done with the intention of them just wanting to be together brings me back around to another 180

[fuckyeahgoodomens]

The Season 2 Poster Details

From top to bottom :)

This is a Buddy Holly song Everyday which was originally supposed to be the Good Omens theme :)

Neil talks about it in the Introduction to the Script Book: “In the scripts, Buddy Holly’s song ‘Every Day’ runs through the whole like a thread. It was something that Terry had suggested in 1991, and it was there in the edit. Our composer, David Arnold, created several different versions of ‘Every Day’ to run over the end credits. And then he sent us his Good Omens theme, and it was the Good Omens theme. Then Peter Anderson made the most remarkable animated opening credits to the Good Omens theme, and we realised that ‘Every Day’ didn’t really make any sense any longer, and, reluctantly, let it go. It’s here, though. You can hum it.”

And there is also the Buddy Holly Everyday record! :)

Book The Crow Road by Iain Banks. The novel describes Prentice McHoan's preoccupation with death, sex, his relationship with his father, unrequited love, sibling rivalry, a missing uncle, cars, alcohol and other intoxicants, and God, against the background of the Scottish landscape

Book Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad. An early and primary event in the story is the abandonment of a passenger ship in distress by its crew, including a young British seaman named Jim. He is publicly censured for this action and the novel follows his later attempts at coming to terms with himself and his past and seeking redemption and acceptance.

Important themes in Lord Jim include the consequences of a single, poor decision, the indifference of the universe, and the inability to know oneself or others.

There is book The Body Snatcher by Robert Louis Stevenson. Its characters were based on criminals in the employ of real-life surgeon Robert Knox (1791–1862) around the time of the notorious Burke and Hare murders (1828). Neil said: Oddly enough, episode 3 will take us to a little stint of body snatching in the era.

There is Catch-22 book by Joseph Heller that coined the term Catch-22: situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules or limitations.

Is there only one hand or are there two? :) EIther 6 ;), or 6:30 :).

Through the window we can see the coffeeshop Give Me Coffe or Give Me Death where Nina works! :)

Azi is wearing his nifty glasses :).

Crowley is wearing his new glasses, they are RIGARDS X UMA WANG - THE STONE ECLIPSE (VINTAGE BLACK/BLACK STONES) - $435

There is the Holy Bible Aziraphale used in Season 1 :)

There seems to be a broken phone :).

The cakes behind Aziraphale are Eccles cakes :).

Azi is reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens published in 1859, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the Bastille in Paris, and his release to live in London with his daughter Lucie whom he had never met. The story is set against the conditions that led up to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. 

Another book there is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Neil said said that we will learn a lot about Jane Austin we didn’t know before.

And finally the Treasure Island book by - again :) - Robert Louis Stevenson, an adventure novel with pirates.

There are three geckos cuties. Who are they? Pets? Is Ligur haunting the bookshop? Who knows :).

A mysterious pamphlet, 'The Resurrectionists’ leaflet. (unofficial spoiler :)).

Also there is an old camera... mmm 🤔 Did Azi made some photos (of what? Him and Crowley, ducks? :)) Will we see them? :)

Their positions is an homage to the book covers! :)(x)

Will update this as fandom discovers new things! :)❤

[man-down-in-hatchet-town]

THERE'S A CASTLE ON THE HILL, AS THE STORY GOES...

As promised, some initial thoughts on the things I loved about seeing this show. Spoiler free, since most of us haven't gotten to see it yet, and under the cut since I do wax a bit poetic...

Cinderella’s Castle is, in a strange way, an exercise in irony. The show is a retelling of an ancient story that is beloved and recited throughout so many cultures, and yet somehow feels completely fresh. The modern take on glam-punk lighting, a score infused with styles from 80s synth to anime, a high fantasy set with the costumes to match, the spirit of Jim Henson lingering through both the puppets and some larger and intangible vibe, a script combining that Starkid humor and Hatchetfield darkness with a whole different style of speaking… all of these beautifully executed elements melted together into something that I’ve never before seen. To take a tale as old as time and make it unique is no easy feat, but Starkid did so with magic and charm to spare.

Like any good Starkid show, Cinderella’s Castle is relentlessly dynamic: fun and tragic and exciting and just-plain-silly, with many twists and turns and character moments will make you gasp or cheer just as often as you laugh. It simply rollicks. The story clicks right along, especially in act 2, but the characters are so distinct and fun that I found myself almost wishing the Langs had sacrificed their plotting and pace just to spend more time hanging with every single member of this ensemble of personalities.

And that’s also a tribute to the actors themselves. Jeff is David Bowie reborn as the impish and fabulous narrator. Jon and Joey bring Hop A Lot and Crumb to life with so much charm and presence that they practically had the audience eating out of their hands from the very first second. Like, seriously, you will not believe how invested you will immediately become in these talking animals. Kim’s Fairy Queen is as radiant and terrible as promised; her portrayal of immortal inhuman power compels and commands and stands fully distinct from the Lords in Black. Lauren and Mariah are delightfully disgusting as the vile but deeply lovable troll step-sisters; you can feel the fun they’re having practically radiating off of them. Curt’s Tadius is dryly funny and put-upon, but also provides a vitally grounding and centering presence in the larger-than-life world of the Lands That Are. His big scene with Bryce is probably my favorite part of the whole show. James Tolbert is nothing short of an absolute STAR as the Prince, stealing scene after scene after scene with ease and charm and more jokes about genitalia than I think any of us expected. Angela once again displays a completely different facet of her never-ending range, exuding such elegance and control even in trollish filth that I do fear that the kids on the internet are going to start calling her “mother” with greatly increasing frequency. "Facade" was an absolute highlight of the night. And of course Bryce anchors, propels, and heightens every scene she’s in with such apparent ease you forget she’s been rehearsing for weeks and isn’t simply Ella herself. Ella is this world’s bruised, brave, and angry heart, and you will absolutely root for her every step of the way as she wrestles with who she is and learns what it means to claim her own power.

This was Starkid’s biggest budgeted show to date, and you could tell. This group of Michigan Wolverines and friends have accomplished incredible things since the Very Potter days of a single door and some cardboard columns, and I’m so proud of how far they’ve come. And yet Cinderella’s Castle, the fifteenth musical in the fifteenth year, still retains some of that core Starkid magic that I’ve always believed boils down to love. You can so often see that love emanating from the performers on a Starkid stage: love for the show, for their friends, for their craft, for the audience’s energy pushing them through. And the sense of love and support and community radiating from the audience is just as palpable. The man sitting behind me last night was at his first ever Starkid show, and afterwards he remarked in awe how that was the best audience he’d ever been in. And all that love isn’t unearned—it is built and it is nourished by a proud history of creativity, of song and of dance and of laughter and tears. And Cinderella’s Castle, I think, is going to prove an installment worthy of both Starkid’s past and future.

Starkid family, Bogs Hollow grants thee Starlight.

[longwuzhere]

Second half of My Adventures with Superman ep 7 easter eggs and references

Some cool Easter eggs I caught watching My Adventures with Superman that I want to show to people so they can be in on it with comic book readers

My episode 1 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My episode 2 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My episode 3 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My episode 4 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My episode 5 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My episode 6 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My episode 7 first half of easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My episode 8 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My episode 9 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My episode 10 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My Easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman comic issue 1 post is here

My Easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman comic issue 2 post is here

My Easter eggs and references for My Adventures with Superman comic issue 3 post is here

(SPOILERS if you haven't seen the show yet):

Mxy knocks over a display case that contains the Helmet of Fate. The mystical, god containing item, makes its first appearance, along with Doctor Fate, in More Fun Comics #55 (1940) the panels were done by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman. The Helmet of Fate is the one controlling the body as it contains the god, Nabu, the Lord of Order. The helmet grants anyone who wears it magical powers and the mantle of the Doctor Fate. Usually the person most associated with the it is Kent Nelson but recent comics had Khalid Nassour take up the Doctor Fate name.

Next we see Mxy pass by the Cosmic Rod of Starman/Stargirl. In the

comics the original owner of the Cosmic Rod was Ted Knigh, the original Starman. The Cosmic Rod he wielded was about the size of a flashlight. It wasn't until Starman #4 (1994) (W: James Robinson, P: Tony Harris, I: Wade Von Grawbadger, C: Gregory Wright, L: John Workman) that his son, Jack Knight took the new and improved Cosmic Rod that his father made and used it for himself to take up the Starman name. The staff would then get passed on to Courtney Whitmore aka Stargirl who at the time took up the name Star-Spangled Kid, when Jack retired the Starman identity to raise his kid. Courtney took up the Starman name as Stargirl and used the Cosmic Rod to carry on the name. The Cosmic Rod gives its wielder flight and energy projection.

Mr. Mxyzptlk then passes over a flight ring in the display. Very good homage to the Legion of Superheroes. Originally the LoSH wore belts to allow their members to fly, but Brainiac 5 was able to make flight rings so they can be less encumbered by the belts as seen in the panel from Adventure Comics #329 (1965) (W: Jerry Seigel, P&I: Jim Mooney, L: David Huffine). The LoSH are a group of young superheroes from the 31st century who are from various parts of the galaxy that fight evil as a team. The group was inspired by reading the history of what Superman did and they want to uphold his ideals and legacy. If they do show up in the show I'll definitely talk more about them.

In another display we see the Soultaker Sword. The sword is associated with Tatsu Yamashiro aka Katana. It and Katana make their first debut in the Brave and the Bold 200 (1983) (W: Mike Barr, P&I: Jim Aparo, C: Adrienne Roy, L: Jim Aparo). The sword was forged by Muramasa, who imbued it with magical properties where whoever kills with the sword, steals the souls of the victim's. Tatsu's husband and children were unfortunately slain by the sword, wielded by her brother-in-law and Tatsu has since then taken the sword and use it to avenged those who were slain by him. Because of the swords magical properties, it can be used to harm Kryptonians. Yes magic is a weakness for Superman.

When we cut back to the League of Loises ship, Jalana goes Flamebird on everyone and name drops Comet. This is a very good homage to Comet the Super-Horse. Comet made his first debut in Adventure Comics 293 (1962) (W: Jerry Seigel, P: Curt Swan, I: George Klein, L: Milt Snapinn) Comet, along with Krypto the Super-Dog, Streaky the Super-Cat, and Beppo the Super-Monkey, formed the Legion of Super-Pets to save the Legion of Superheroes and Superboy from Brain-Globes of Rambat. Give Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow a read if you want to check out a really cool Comet story.

Krypton gets a name drop, Superman's home planet.

Someone on the MAwS team is a Kingdom Hearts fan.

Kryptonite is finally introduced in the show, the most well-known weakness of Superman's. Fun fact Kryptonite made its first appearance not in the comics but on the Adventures of Superman radio show in 1943. It wasn't until 6 years later in 1949 that Kryptonite is introduced in the comics in Superman #61.

At the League of Loises HQ we see MAwS Lois and Mxy walk down the hall with holographic projections of various Loises in the DC multiverse. The one on your left is obviously Lois Prime aka Fleischer Studios Lois the one on your right is Superman the Animated Series Lois. The one next to StAS Lois is Superwoman from Action Comics #60 (1943). The issue was created by Jerry Seigel and George Roussos where Lois dreams of having Superman's powers and saving the day.

As Mxy searches for his hat we see him open up a cache of various weapons that the Loises have collected. Some of them are pretty recognizable like the Card Captor Sakura staff that's by Mxy's head, Guts's giant sword from Berserk above Mxy on the second shelf from the bottom.

As the episode wraps up we see MAwS lois activate the data sphere she took from the headquarters and sees evil Supermen tearing up the city. The first we see is an homage to Overman from Animal Man #23 (1990) (W: Peter Milligan, P: Chas Truog, I: Mark Farmer, C: Tajana Wood, L: John Costanza) and the second is designed after Justice Lords Superman from the Justice League cartoon.

Overman is from a world where all superheroes are part of the government and each one is a clone from him. Justice Lords Superman is from the two-parter episode "A Better World" where his Flash died, Superman kills President Lex Luthor in retaliation and he and the Justice League become dictators. Gotta admit Superman does look pretty cool in that suit.

That will be it for this week's episodes Easter Eggs and references. If you made it this far down the post and want to see the other MAwS Easter Eggs and references post you can find them here:

My episode 1 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My episode 2 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My episode 3 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My episode 4 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My episode 5 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My Episode 6 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My Episode 7 first half of easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My Episode 8 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My Episode 9 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman post is here

My Episode 10 easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman is here

My Easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman comic issue 1 post is here

My Easter eggs and references in My Adventures with Superman comic issue 2 post is here

My Easter eggs and references for My Adventures with Superman comic issue 3 post is here

[gallifreyanhotfive]

Random Doctor Who Facts You Might Not Know, Part 46: Gallifrey at War Part 7

Spoiler warning for new content - Dark Gallifrey: Morbius.

The Doctor was involved in the Last Great Time War for millions of days. (Novel: The Day of the Doctor)

While on the planet Dust, the Third Doctor was shot in the chest by Magdalena Bishop and left to die in the street. Sarah Jane found Jim and cradled his head as he slowly began to regenerate. He thought this was very, very wrong. This weakened the Doctor's immune system, leading to the Doctor's infection with a biodata virus, which by the time of the Eighth incarnation would convert the Doctor to the perspective of the Faction Paradox. (Novel: Interference - Book Two)

As a result of this virus, the Eighth Doctor had lost his shadow. (Novel: Unnatural History)

A ghost of the original timeline's Third Doctor remained in the TARDIS databank. When the TARDIS was corrupted into the Edifice and the Edifice hung over Gallifrey, the Eighth Doctor used the TARDIS defense systems to destroy Gallifrey and Kasterborous, making the universe choose between the new timeline or the Metebelis timeline the TARDIS remembered. (Novel: The Ancestor Cell)

The civil war Morbius was involved in - usually called the Great Schism - involved the Time Lords using time as a weapon for bloodshed for the first time. (Audio: Morbius) This would technically make it a time war.

Early Time Lords destroyed the Hydran homeworld by dropping their own future on top of it. (Audio: Morbius)

By some accounts, the High Council was nervous to engage directly with the universe during this civil war as that was exactly what Morbius had said they should do, so they fought using a proxy- the Fifth Doctor. (Novel: Warmonger)

While the Supreme Coordinator, the Fifth Doctor wore a black military uniform. The Doctor’s army was composed of a mix of Sontarans, Cybermen, Ogrons, Draconians, and Ice Warriors. They defeated Morbius's forces, but the Doctor made sure Morbius would survive his 'death.' (Novel: Warmonger)

The final battle of Morbius's civil war occurred on Karn and resulted in the deaths of most of both armies as well as Karn's native population. (Short story: The Legacy of Gallifrey)

During the Vampire Wars, Gallifrey developed Anathema - a warship the size of an entire planet. It was armed with the Cold, a weapon so devastating it would break through the space-time continuum and suck everything into an alternate universe. (Novel: Interference - Book Two)

After regenerating on Karn, the War Doctor refused to allow his TARDIS to be equipped with weaponry (she would have been block transferred into a battle TARDIS) as he did not want to force her to change as he had. (Audio: Light the Flame)

Cass Fermazzi was present at the Battle of Skull Moon and was so horrified by the massacre that it embittered her to the Time Lords. (Novel: The Day of the Doctor) This hatred ironically led to the Eighth Doctor regenerating into the War Doctor, the precise incarnation who earned the title "the Butcher of Skull Moon."

The Dalek Time Strategist tried to manipulate the Eighth Doctor by finding an alternate universe version of Alex - his dead great grandson - and putting him in cryogenic stasis. The Doctor took the casket he was in and woke him up. (Audio: Restoration of the Daleks)

Bliss had been a companion of the Eighth Doctor, but due to changes in the timeline as a result of the Last Great Time War, this changed, leaving the Doctor and Alex without memory of Bliss. However, the Doctor felt as though someone was missing. They would eventually learn of Bliss from a memory recorder. (Audio: Vespertine)

Indeed, the Doctor eventually recalled enough to tell River Song about Bliss at some point. (Audio: Companion Piece)

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[dragon-kazansky]

Spirit of the sea

Izzy Hands x Reader (GN)

SEASON 2 CONTENT AHEAD!!!

Blackbeard rules the sea. Despite wanting his captain back, Izzy realises his mistake. Protecting the crew is his concern. Protecting you is his life mission. Stede's return brings hope, but there's a lot of work to be done before this crew becomes a family.

{Masterlist}

{Previous Chapter} - {Next Chapter}

Warnings: Spoilers. Amputation. Slight descriptions of NSFW content. Babygirl goes off the rails and tries to kill everyone.

Chapter Eleven - Indestructible little fucker

♡♡♡

You sit by his bedside. He's in agony. You hold his hand and dab at his sweaty forehead with a bit of old cloth. Not the most hygienic thing to do, but the only you can do.

Izzy is alive.

Blackbeard asked Frenchie to kill him, but not only did you tell him not to, he didn't want to kill him either. With Frenchie's help, and Jim and Archie too, you got Izzy below deck, hidden away in a small room. The entrance was blocked so it was isn't noticable.

That is where you were now. His leg cannot be saved and he's in horrible pain.

He's a total mess.

"Kill me, you fucking cowards!" He yells, not caring much for your comforting actions. All he can feel is the pain in his leg and in his heart.

"Shh." You try to get him to quiet down. If Blackbeard hears him you'll all be in deep shit.

"Lord above he smells somethin' terrible!" Frenchie says, coming into the room.

"Yeah, his leg's rotting!" Archie exclaims, almost cheerfully.

You run your fingers through Izzy's knotty and greasy hair. God, you just want to take away all his pain.

"It needs to be cut off," you say, not once looking away from Izzy. He looks at you, not reacting to your words at all.

"We just had him asleep. You're freakin' him out!" Jim hisses at Frenchie.

"Kill me--" Izzy goes to yell again but you quickly move your hand over his mouth. His words muffled by your palm.

"Alright. Listen, listen, listen. Start with his leg, see where it goes." Frenchie says. He makes his way out, unable to stand it down there any longer.

"I've done this before. Which one?" Jim asks, holding up two different weapons.

You keep your hand in Izzy's, looking at him.

"Definitely the fucked-up one. I think that one's all right," Archie said.

Both you and Jim look at Archie, deadpan expression.

"I'm not a fucking idiot. Which one?" Jim gestures to the weapons in their hand.

"Oh! Dealers choices."

Jim chooses one and then looks at you. "Ready?" They ask.

You nod and turn back to Izzy, holding his hand tight. This was not going to tickle, but you would do anything to save Izzy.

"Uno, dos-- tres." Jim starst to cut off Izzy's leg.

"He's a gusher! He's a gusher!" Archie says.

Jim gags. You have to keep your eyes on Izzy to avoid looking, but you can hear it. You think you're going to be sick.

Izzy yells in pain.

You lean forward and cradle his face in your hand, your thumb resting on his cheeks as he writhes in pain. He can't look at you, unable to focus, but you hope he can feel the warmth of your hand.

"I'm going to save you, Izzy," you whisper. "I'm going to save you."

♡♡♡

Fleeting looks across the ship. Shared in secret behind Blackbeard's back. A look of longing and affection, but also despair. Sadness that he cannot just reach out and pull you closer to him. Sadness that he cannot kiss your lips and caress you. His heart yearns to hold you, love you, care for you, but it cannot as long as Blackbeard keeps up this nonsense.

If Izzy so much as steps out of line, Blackbeard punishes him. If Blackbeard threatens the crew, Izzy takes the blame. He will take all of it just keep the crew safe, just to keep you safe. No harm will befall anyone other than Izzy of he can help it.

The stars were out. The night sky clear. Izzy was doing his rounds when he found you up on deck. Your head was tilted upward toward the sky. You looked stunning in the eye of the first mate. No one else was present so he stepped over to you with careful steps. He came to stand so close beside you, his hand reached to brush against yours. Your heart leaped out of your chest, but the smile on your face was everything to him.

"What are you doing out here?" He asked you.

"Wishing on stars."

He had to chuckle slightly at that. Sometimes you said the most carefree and strangest things. Ever since Stede Bonnet, he can agree that in some ways you both had softened up a little.

"What are you wishing for?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?" He asks, smiling softly at you.

"Because then it won't come true."

Izzy wished he had the guts to kiss you right there under the star filled sky, but he hesitated. The voice of Blackbeard rang clearly in his head, 'No messing about on my ship. Relationships are off limits.'

To watch you walk away that night hurt. He wished he had taken the risk. Just once more he wanted to feel your lips against his.

♡♡♡

It was gruesome as fuck. Blood stained the cot under Izzy. His wound wrapped up to the best it can be. Jim and Archie sat on the floor at the end of the bed, Izzy's leg in Jim's hand. You remained beside him, stroking your fingers through his hair.

Your mind was taken back to the night in his cabin where you confessed your feeling toward him. Though it ended horribly, it was still one of the best nights of your life. You'd give anything in the world to love Izzy like that again.

He was looking up at you through hazed eyes. His breathing was a little ragged, but nothing to be concerned over. He did just have his leg cut off.

You stroke your hand through his hair again. He closes his eyes slowly. You almost smile. He's relaxed by your touch. You want to just stay here and look after him. You want to take away every bad thing that's ever happened to him.

Your Izzy.

"We did it? He'll live?" Jim asked.

"50/50 I reckon." Archie replies.

You just gaze at Izzy. You know he'll live. He might not be okay, but he'll live. That's all you can ask for.

"He's very still right now," Archie points out.

"He's relaxed. At ease," you say.

"What's your interest in this guy anyway? He seems like a bit of a dick."

"He is," Jim says. "But he's our dick."

You smile softly. Yeah, that sounds about right.

"There was a time when life meant something on this ship. When we lived for each other. Not just to survive." Jim smiles at Archie. "Guess you never know when you're in the middle of the good old days."

You sigh softly. Yeah, that made sense. Jim was right. Your good old days were with this man right here in your arms. Those were the best days.

Late nights talking under the stars, fighting side by side, stealing coin to go spend on shore for a good time. Always with Izzy at your side.

Jim and Archie kiss. You see it in the corner of your eye. You smile softly to yourself. You'd love to share a kiss with your pirate too, but now isn't the time for that. He needs to rest.

"What was that for?" Jim asks.

"You have hope. It's cute," Archie says.

Again, you smile. Hope. You had almost lost all your hope, but when Izzy was near, you kept hold of it. He was your hope.

"Plus, I really like that story that you told about the wooden demon boy that thirsted for life. Or was it blood? No, I was cleaning up the blood--"

Jim kisses Archie again.

You don't get much time to let them enjoy their moment as heavy footsteps break the peace that has settled in the room.

The hairs stand on the back of your neck at the sound of Blackbeard's voice. The hand holding Izzy's tightens slightly.

Shit.

"What have we got here. Hm?"

"Hey, no one told me this room existed." Frenchie lies.

You gather that Frenchie must have been cornered by Blackbeard. Now he knew Izzy was alive.

You'd die for Izzy if you had to.

"Leave me, all of you." Blackbeard speaks calmly.

Frenchie goes back upstairs, Jim and Archie follow, though Blackbeard has to remind Jim to take the leg too.

You remain seated.

"And you," he says.

You glare at the man, jaw tense as you look at him with a tear filled gaze. You refused to them fall though.

"No."

Blackbeard says your name calmly, but it still sends shivers down your spine.

"He was your friend," you spit at him.

He doesn't look phased.

You turn to look down at Izzy. His head is rolled over to look at you. His eyes are open and you can see the expression in his eyes. You take a deep breath to prevent from crying and slowly let go of Izzy's hand. You shuffle past Blackbeard, who stands too close for comfort, and make your way up the stairs. You'd wait up there.

Izzy missed the warmth of your hand.

♡♡♡

It was after a raid when you retreated below deck to hide away for a while. The raids were constant. Daily. Blackbeard didn't stop. It was exhausting, but you kept on going. Each one worse than the last, and still the crew kept on going.

Sleep was a luxury these days. Every time you closed your eyes the raids replayed in your mind. The feel of your sword piercing through your victim was all too real even in your dreams.

You lay on your bed wide awake, eyes staring up at the ceiling. You could still faintly hear their screams, feel the blood staining your hands, the thumping of bodies hitting the deck. It doesn't seem to ever go away.

Your dark spiral of thoughts is broken by the sound of footsteps. You sit up, half expecting Blackbeard to be there, but you find yourself instantly relieved. Izzy is standing there, looking at you.

"Hey," he whispers.

"Hey," you whisper back.

Izzy comes a little closer. He looks tired, mentally and physically. You wished to take away that tiredness and let him relax for once in his life.

"Couldn't sleep?" You ask. He shakes his head. You pat the space beside you on your bed.

Izzy takes a moment, before joining you. He sits with just enough space between you both not to be touching. Though he wishes he could.

"Izzy?"

He looks over at you with a gentle gaze.

"Do you still love me?"

What a silly question.

"Yes."

You smile. That smile breaks his heart. He wants to scoop you up in his arms and hold you, kiss you, hug you tight. Discovery of affection for you gets him punished.

You look at him with such a soft expression and his heart beats quickly. His fingers twitch on his knee, eager to make contact with you in some form.

Fuck it.

Izzy wraps his arms around you and pulls you in close. His lips land on yours and you're left breathless as he kisses you. His arms feel like home to you, his kiss a saving grace in these dark times.

This is all either of you wanted. To be with each other. To love one another.

"What did I say about relationships?"

Fear fills your body. Neither of you had heard Blackbeard arrive, too caught up in each other. You had been caught. Of all times, it had to be now you were seen.

Blackbeard stands over his first mate, eyes set in a hard glare.

"Take off your boot, Izzy."

♡♡♡

"Have you come to take the other one?" Izzy asks, looking up at Blackbeard. He's full of hatred for this bastard, at least in this very moment.

"I think one's quite enough," Blackbeard says. "I just popped down to say a proper goodbye."

Blackbeard takes a pistol from his belt. He holds it up for Izzy to see.

"I had a dream about you last night." Blackbeard turned the gun in his hand and holds it out to Izzy. "Take it."

"Oh, fuck off."

Blackbeard tried to force him to take it.

"Fuck off. Fuck off!" Izzy shouts.

"Hold it! Hold it."

Izzy takes the gun.

"I dreamt that ya killed me." Blackbeard states. He prepares the pistol in Izzy's hand. "Shot me right through the skull."

Blackbeard moves so the barrel of the gun is aimed right at his forehead.

Izzy grins, his eyes full of spite. "Good for you."

"It was good for me," Blackbeard agrees. "It's just what the doctor ordered. Anyway, it wasn't even like that." He stands up and begins to walk away from the bed. "Not in my dream."

Izzy watches him go silently.

"I was standing." Blackbeard stands with his back facing Izzy. "Just like this." He stretches his arms open a little.

Izzy raises the gun to be in level with Blackbeard's head.

He starts laughing. A humourless laugh.

"Oh! You scared, Eddie?" Izzy asks, mocking him. "Too scared to do it yourself. Ay?" He laughs again. "Go on. Clean up your own fuckin' mess. I'm not doin' it. I've been doin' it all my fuckin' life."

That much is true.

"Fuck off."

"Farewell, old chum."

Blackbeard heads up the stairs. He leaves Izzy down in that horrible little room by himself. Alone with the pistol.

You see Blackbeard emerge from the room. You stand there, staring at him.

A gunshot goes off.

You cover your mouth to prevent yourself from screaming. If Edward is standing right in front of you, and Izzy was alone down in that room, that can only mean Blackbeard left him with a means to end his own misery.

The tears fall and you run toward Ed, but he grabs you and holds you back.

"Last go of me! Let go!" You try to fight him off, but Blackbeard was always stronger than you.

"He's gone."

Blackbeard doesn't let go as you cry out. You scream, you yell at him, you cry. He doesn't let go. He eventually guides you away from the little door and back toward the others.

Your heart had just lost everything it was living for.

♡♡♡

Izzy gazed at you with such a gentle look. You lay next to him, arm draped over his naked chest. The activity you had just shared was still fresh in his mind, replaying over and over. He had done it. He had shown you his love.

His hand gently reached out, his finger caressing your cheek so lightly. You were so... beautiful to him.

He loves you so much. Izzy isn't a man who shares his feelings easily. It doesn't come naturally to him, but he could no longer hide the burning passion he felt for you.

He thought the whole thing between Bonnet and Ed was foolish and a waste of time. But if they felt even a fraction of what he feels for you, then he was so wrong.

No one should be denied this feeling.

The way you felt against him, the warmth of tour skin against his, your thighs squeezing against his body. He wanted to do it all again. His name falling from your lips as you gave him everything he had to offer.

Izzy is a man in love.

That was a dream. Until it wasn't.

Blackbeard reared his head back at the worst time possible. Izzy paid the price for being the one to do it.

He learnt his lesson. Almost.

He wouldn't have changed that night for anything because he still got to spend it with you.

♡♡♡

"Yeah, sorry. I know you said you're expecting a lot from me, Captain." Frenchie is talking to Blackbeard. "But do you wanna do this here or down at the bottom of the ship 'cause I could just jump over and make it easier."

"Listen, if you weren't such a treacherous liar, I wouldn't have had closure with Izzy, so I thank you for that." Blackbeard rests his arm on the helm.

"Yeah, you're welcome. You're welcome." Frenchie is surprised.

"Take the day off, brother. Go live."

"Yeah? Sure you don't want me to any steerings?"

"Nah." Ed removes the tethers from the helm that were keeping it in place. "Do me good to be at the wheel for a bit. Clear my head."

Blackbeard turns the helm sharply around to the right. The ship jerks, knocking everyone unsteady. Frenchie has to hold on as he descends the stairs.

You had been looking out to sea blankly for the last half hour since getting up on deck. Ed just left you there with your thoughts while he spoke to Frenchie.

Fang had come over to ask what had happened. You couldn't find the strength to tell him, but that look in your eye had Fang shaking his head. "No," he repeated over and over. He began to cry too.

As the ship turned, you gripped the tailing harder, steadying yourself. You snap out of your sad thoughts to glance up at your captain. He was resting his head gently atop the helm, looking quite content.

Was he pretending your dead lover wasn't downstairs rotting away in that pit of a room? It made you sick.

You turn your gaze back to the sea. There's a storm ahead, and Ed is sailing right toward it. Fuck.

♡♡♡

"So, do we think he's better?" Fang asks.

"Fuck, no." Jim whispers.

"Well, I don't know about that. He seemed pretty calm to me," Frenchie says.

You look at him with a flat expression. "That's more scary than him lashing out in some cases."

"He said he just wanted to spend more time-" The ship jolts again and everyone goes crashing into the wall. "-with nature." Frenchie finishes his sentence.

"Nature? It's a fucking storm!" You hiss.

Everyone goes up on deck to find Blackbeard soaked through and having the time of his fucking life. The storm is harsh, rain pelting down and leaving not a single dry spot. You're pretty much instantly drenched as you stand there. It's dark and you can't see out to sea very well.

"Hey! Do you want some help, captain?" Frenchie asks.

"No, I'm good!"

"We're sailing into a storm, boss!" Fang says.

"It certainly looks that way, doesn't it, brother?" Ed yells, moving the cannon next to him. "It's a bad one, too. And some maniac got rid of the wheel."

You look up to see the helm gone. You stare at Ed with utter basement and disdain.

The ship rocks violently and everyone has to steady themselves.

"Well, that's the Caribbean for you, isn't it?" Blackbeard asks, enjoying this way too much. "Sunshine one minute, cataracts the next!"

"You'll fuckin' kill us, you fuckin' psycho!" Archie yells.

"Maybe, maybe not! The odds of surviving a storm like this are pretty low and if I fire one into the mast, the chance will go right down to zero!" Ed yells.

"You fucker!" You yell back.

"What do you want?" Jim asks him.

"What do I want? I want you to fight her to the death!" He gestures to Archie.

"Why?"

"That's a bit misogynistic, man."

The ship rock again, getting hit by a horrendous wave. You topple a little closer to where Blackbeard is standing.

"Yeah, probably. All love dies!" He yells. "I'm just hastening the process!"

You state at him in disbelief. "Is that why you... you had Izzy..."

He just looks at you with a grin, his eyes clouded with no sympathy. He wanted to kill off any love on this ship.

"Leave it, man, we're not gonna fight to the death." Jim says.

Archie throws a punch throwing Jim.

"That's more like it!" Ed cheers.

"In my experience, it's kind of how stuff goes, ya know." Archie tells Jim.

Jim and Archie fight.

"Come on! End her! Or I will end us all!" Edward shouts as Jim gets Archie on her back.

You watch the fight unfold, trying to make peace with the end of your life. You never imagined this would be how you go.

"It's okay. It's just life," Archie says to Jim.

"Come on! Do it!"

"Not on my life," Jim says. They help Archie up.

"Aww." Blackbeard is disappointed. "That's too bad!"

"You were gonna do it anyway!" You yell at him.

Blackbeard laughs.

"I was. I was."

He laughs in a manic manner.

Hatred surges through your veins. You push off the railing you were holding on for dear life and lungs at him. He continues to laugh as you grab his arm, making him look your in the eyes.

It was impossible to tell what were tears and what was rain on your face, but he knew you were crying. Your eyes were glossy and red.

The ship jolts again, this wave bigger than the last. Still you manage to hold onto Blackbeard, only slipping slightly.

He continues to laugh.

The crew try to stay on their feet. Someone gets knock overboard and Fang reaches out, but it's too late. The dark water has claimed them in it's hunger for destruction against the ship. Archie and Jim slide down the deck as the water carries them.

"You bastard!" You yell at Edward. "You fucking bastard!!"

He goes to light the cannon with the torch on his free hand. The torch is shot from his hand and he loses balance, you scatter backward, slipping on the deck from the sound of the gunshot. You're soaked from head to toe as you whip your head around the see where the shot came from.

All air leaves your lungs.

More tears mix into the rain on your face. You're gasping for breath.

Izzy stands with one hand clinging to the rope rigging, the other clutches the pistol Ed left him with. He's soaked through, his weight relying on his one leg. A nasty cut on his forehead from where he tried to shoot himself.

He is looking at you.

You can't form a single word. Your only thought is that he's alive. He's right there looking at you. You can't help smiling.

Fuck, you thought you had lost him.

Ed laughs when he sees him.

"You indestructible little fucker!"

That's your Izzy.

Fang lunges at Ed and pins him down. You find your strength and get up onto your feet. You don't hesitate to run toward Izzy. He watches you. You run right into his chest and wrap your arms around his torso. He drops the pistol so he can hold you, keeping you both steady with his other hand.

"You're alive," you whisper into chest. You can feel his heart beating in his chest. "You're alive."

Izzy closes his eyes and buries his nose into your hair, his lips pressing lightly against your temple. The feeling of having you in his arms is one of hope and relief.

He was never going leave you behind with Blackbeard. Never.

You help support Izzy over to where Ed lay on the deck. Fang comes over to help too. Jim, Archie, and Frenchie stare down at the man. He was in a losing battle if he chose to get up.

He didn't. He remained laying there.

Jim raises a cannon ball over their head.

"Finally," Ed laughs.

Jim drops the ball.

You look up at Izzy, hand pressed against his chest to help keep him upright. He looks at you.

The crew is free from Blackbeard.

You're both free from Blackbeard.

♡♡♡

@grippleback-galaxy - @askmarinaandothers - @godlikegallagher - @for-fuck-sake-im-alive - @whiskeyswriting - @lxsm2 - @bloody-bunni666 - @the-chocoholic-writer - @bugbugboy - @callmemana - @the-shenny-of-azkaban - @cool-ontherun-world - @outer-space-beech - @ahewi24 - @grace585 -

[mortiferumsomnum]

Soup Kitchens and Runaway Ghosts (Part 3)

*throws idea-fic at you guys* THANK YOU FOR LIKING THIS!!!! ASLDGKHSALKDGHLAKSDGH

Part 1, Part 2

****

When your boss tells you to come to Apartment 304 in Schnapp Avenue along the Upper West Side of Gotham, you don’t question it. You especially don’t question the grocery list that your boss listed down for you, neither do you question the need for fluffy blankets, pillows and paper bags.

You have to gather up the things in a box, get into your (stolen) car, and drive to your second location.

It’s just something you do.

The less questions you ask, the less you have to deny. That’s what Bill had learned in his life as a professional henchman.

However, after a long career of being a henchman, none had ever compared to the experience of working under the Red Hood. Sure, the guy threatens you with his guns, and shoots and misses your feet as a joke, but the man had been changing the lower-class neighborhood for better with all the control he has in the Gotham Underworld.

Bill never had to fear for his life, either. He didn’t have to worry about living a new day, and he didn’t have to worry about what wacky idea his boss had just cooked up. Now, all he worried is what kind of soup they’ll be making for the next day at the soup kitchen, and what new recipe the Red Hood’s favorite person, Jason, was going to teach them.

Honestly, Bill didn’t feel like a henchman at all. Maybe a butler-in-training, even if there was no hope for him being employed as a butler.

(In the future, Bill would fondly look back at this moment as he serves tea to a graying Alfred, who is relaxing in his bed as Jason... well, Master Jason, retold his semi-mundane day to his grandfather.)

Finally, he arrives.

*****

- ‘Congratulations! You killed someone! But not just someone! It’s multiple people!’ a voice in Tim’s head laughs. It sounds like a mix between murder-hungry Jason and that lunatic Joker. 

- There had been a time before he killed someone. Well, he thought he killed him. Johnny Warlock. Although in the end, the guy was actually alive the whole time, Tim remembers punching the guy’s fake until he couldn’t hear the fake’s grunts, until he couldn’t hear the fake’s heartbeats. Warlock hurt Spoiler, hurt Steph who he was in love with that time; he broke her leg and made her scream. He was so beat up over being a murderer, it took a while to get over it. (Source: Robin #123, Die Screaming, Boy Wonder!)

- It also doesn’t help that he even met a future version of himself who killed everyone, donned in a fucking Batsuit and acting like going far and killing your enemies was the norm. To be fair, in this future, every single teen titan were killing and taking things too far, but there is nothing more frightening than knowing that you have the potential to kill so efficiently without remorse. (Source: Teen Titans vol. 4 #17-19, Teen Titans of Tomorrow; Robin Today, Batman Tomorrow; Running Out of Time)

- Now, he killed people. On accident. Fuck.

- Before heading to the apartment, he decided to head to the scene, staking out in a shadowed area while observing what was going on. It wasn’t good. There were police everywhere. Jim Gordon was talking with a bunch of... investigators? Wait, they’re not Gotham-based investigators.

- He threw a tiny drone into the air, letting it catch wind before controlling it to fly closer to where the investigators were, planting a few bugs onto them and turning up the volume in his installed listening device. He was too far to lip-read. (I’d like people to know that in this au, he has some bugs on every officer in Gotham.)

- “Look,” that was Jim Gordon’s voice, “I get that you want to take over investigating this case, but I’m not handing it to you. You don’t understand the going-ons in this city. Red Hood is a crime-lord, yes. But this situation looks like the Red Hood was being chased for things not related to crime. Excessive how these ‘government based agents’ took to chasin’ after a single rogue without a single thought of avoiding civilians. It was the Red Hood leadin’ them to a civilian-less road, from how it looks like, rather than being chased into an environment where they could go all out. They didn’t hesitate to run-down a civilian, much less avoid children or seniors. In comparison to Red Hood who took great care to staying off of civilian roads and within GCPD territory.”

- “I don’t trust any of ‘ya folks who say yer from the government to keep my city safe.”

- “Like you have been keeping it safe for all the years you’ve been Commissioner?” one of the investigators scoffed. “Letting caped vigilantes beat up bad guys, and receiving weekly break-outs while your officers do nothing but sit pretty in their car with a gun?”

- Tim bristled. Jim Gordon is the only person who’s trying to do anything to make sure Gotham citizens stay safe, trying his best to weed out all the corrupt officers no matter how slow it had been going. Things ARE getting better. It’s not like Jim likes relying on vigilantes, either. The only time he relies on the Bat is when there is No Other Option. But he has mutual respect with all the Bats.

- Commissioner Gordon only raises an unimpressed brow, which looks so much like Barbara’s. “You’re still not getting it,” he said, turning around and doing a great impression of Batman walking away like a badass, letting his long coat billow in the wind. Unlike the Bats, however, he doesn’t disappear from sight and only enters his car, driving away.

- The investigators start talking to themselves. Here’s what Tim gathers: 35 men had been killed from his little accidental murder. (Breathe in, Tim. You can brood about it later...) They weren’t just chasing after Red Hood, but they were also after a ‘Daniel Fenton’ and an ‘unauthorized clone’ possibly made from Daniel’s genes. This ‘Daniel’ also can’t be brought back to his home, because his parents have also teamed up with them.

- They confirmed Jason’s claims about these people hunting down ghosts. But Tim finds out from them how they not only aim to hunt them down, they aim for complete extermination. It’s ‘Daniel’s’ parents who wants to conduct experiments, given that any findings will be reported to these people. 

- There’s... there’s just no way these people are actually from the government. If ghosts were real and the government were involved... wouldn’t that mean that there are actual laws on how ghosts are treated and dealt with?

- “Make sure to report to the boss about how much we need to spend to catch these ghosts.” Tim almost growls, clenching his fists. Because not only were they talking about getting rid of ghosts, but including the extermination of his definitely-not-but-totally-is-brother. He can’t let this happen. 

- Once these investigators were done talking, they went into their own car. Tim made sure that his bugs wouldn’t be tracked for at least the next 3 days. Then, he opened his comms to a private link to Oracle.

- “O, I need you to search something. Ectobiology laws.”

- “...What?”

- “Laws on how ghosts are dealt with.”

- “Tim... I... fine.”

- After a few moments, Oracle cursed. “This can’t be real. There are actual laws on--- Tim, how did you find out about this? Does Bruce know about this? What the actual--”

- “I don’t think even Harvey Dent knows about this, and he was an attorney. What did it say?”

- “In summary? It’s all ‘kill on sight’ for any ghost. They’re making reforms for some of them, though. None of them good. It mostly involves research.”

- “Are there any research on ghosts?”

- “That are not just narrative reports from Ghost Hunters? Yeah, from Madeline and Jack Fenton. They’ve written so many of them, they’re probably the only scientific source. Ectoplasm... it seems to be similar to the Lazarus Pits...”

- Tim pursed his lips. He doesn’t know how much Jason wants to share about Daniel and the clone. “O, these people want to catch Jason. He has the same ecto-signature as the ghosts that they seem to like tracking down.” He needs to update his safe-house to avoid Jason and his new wards from getting caught. But also, “We might want to see if Robin and Batman has some kind of ecto-signature on them... Maybe even Dick from how much time he spends with them. I’ll try to nab some of the gadgets from these vans and see if we can turn them into our own tech. 

- “You do that. I’ll update Batman on what’s going on.”

- Tim cuts the line off and sighs. His body suddenly feels heavy, and it’s not because of anything physical. It was a weight in his mind that refuses to lighten, only growing heavier and heavier. 

- But he remembers what he told Barbara, and he remembers that Jason is waiting for him with hot chocolate in the safe-house he needs to upgrade.

- He pushes his body forward. It’s probably thanks to his training that his body is able to do exactly he needs to do, staying out of the people’s eyes while snatching the tech before it could be loaded in some government trailer. his head felt foggy, and he couldn’t feel his hands and legs. But his body was moving. And the next thing he knows, he’s already changed out of his costume, headed to Jason on foot.

***

- The Doctor, Theodore “Teddy” Sturgeon (HEH. I named him after some author. Have you read To Marry Medusa? don’t remember much of the plot, but damn I remember loving it!), checked over Danny again. 

- Everything was healed. The vivisection and blaster wounds have healed into scars. Other parts of his body also showed some light scars, but the most dangerous ones have been healed.

- He sighed, rubbed a hand down in his face, and took a spare pillow. Then, he screamed into it.

- The smell of chocolate wafted around the apartment, making him feel nauseous, so he laid on the cold floor. Which, of course, made his nausea worse. 

- “Hey, Doctor Teddy! Do you want some hot chocolate?”

- No. Maybe some soup. But Teddy was too nauseous to talk. So, he only groaned back.

- “I’ll take that as a yes!”

- Of course groaning was a mistake.

- The Red Hood, who was now dressed like a civilian named Jason, came back inside with two mugs. He handed one of the mugs to Dani, who took it with a smile. Everyone in the room could tell how shaky her hands were, and that’s why ‘Jason’ led Dani to one of the smaller couches for her to sit down on.

- Then, Jason sat down at another couch and sipped from his own mug. Thank you Mr. Red Hood for thinking he was pathetic enough to not have any of his own hot chocolate.

- That was when there was a knock on the door. The Red Hood laid his mug on the wooden table that was also in the room, before getting up to answer the door, Dani doing the same thing and running right after him.

- [And I’d like everyone to know that Dani is smol. Like, she reaches until Jason’s hips smol.]

- He heard Dani gasp. “IT’S BILL!!!”

- He heard the Red Hood sigh. “Timmers, why are you burritoed and carried by my best chef?”

- “Hrrrrnnngggg...”

- “I’m not... I’m not that good, man.”

- Huh... that last voice sounds familiar. Doctor Teddy took a great effort to stand up, groaning and feeling his knees click. Then, finally, the people came back in, with Jason heading straight to the kitchen with a paper bag... probably full of groceries, and...

- “Oh, shit, Bill??”

- “Teddy??”

- Dani blinked at the both of them, sitting back down at the small couch while picking up her mug. “The two of you know each other?”

- Know each other? They used to work under the same bosses during the first Robin’s earlier years! Teddy was trying to get his degree while also getting paid doing all the easy stuff, y’know, like bandaging other henchmen up?? He was there when Bill had lost two of his femurs to Batman. He’s the one who brought him to Dr. Thompkins’ hospital.

- During those years, both he and Bill were so desperate to make a living, they refused to see exactly how deep in crime the both of them were getting. By the time the third Robin came into the picture, they drifted apart... well, it’s not like the two of them were close in the first place, but whichever boss Teddy was with, Bill was there too. It just felt weird not seeing the other whenever they were working under a new boss.

- Teddy got his degree, tried practicing in legal stuff, got too sentimental with some patients, and got arrested for doing unauthorized surgeries on people who definitely needed them. After being released, there was no hospital willing to accept him anymore... that’s when the Red Hood recruited him... and the rest was history.

- Bill chuckled. “Small world, huh?” he said. Then, gesturing to Danny with his chin, he smiled at Teddy. “Looks like we’re going back to old times, eh?”

- Teddy, who no longer felt the effects of nausea, only nodded. “Yeah,” he said, smiling back. Then, he gestured to the kid that Bill was carrying over his shoulder. “Does he need help?”

- Bill shook his head. “Nah. The kid just needs a cup of Jason’s hot chocolate. He looks like he’s been under the influence of Scarecrow’s fear toxin.”

- Teddy winced. “Yeah, okay,” he said, stepping aside so that Bill could place the kid wrapped in a fluffy blanket on the small couch the Red Hood was sitting on earlier. 

- Teddy squinted. “Is that... Timothy Jackson Drake-Wayne?????”

- Bill nodded.

- Oh shit... he knew that the Red Hood, Jason, looked familiar. Does that mean that his name is actually, truthfully Jason?? THE Jason Peter Todd-Wayne??? Second adopted son of Bruce Wayne who died????? No... no... maybe they just look alike. And have the same name. Or the Red Hood chose that name specifically because he LOOKS like Jason.

- But that makes no sense! The Red Hood shoots anyone who disrespects the dead. He’d be a hypocrite if he wasn’t... Jason...

- Red Hood, who might also actually be known as Jason, walked into the room with a tray carrying three mugs. He handed one to Bill, then one to Timothy, who accepted it with a tired thank you, and then a mug towards Teddy. Upon accepting it (and no, Teddy did not squeak while he thanked him! *sobs* he didn’t!!), Teddy realizes that his mug was filled with good ol’ chicken soup.

- Okay, whatever. You don’t throw under the bus someone who feeds you well. Taking a sip, he inwardly cried at how good it was.

- “So, the kid sleeping on the couch is your brother?” Bill decided to ask, taking a seat on a chair he dragged from the kitchen.

- “Yeah... kinda... but we like thinking we’re siblings!”

- “Hm... how long has he been out?” Bill asked. 

- Here, the small girl seemed to become smaller. Her face turned sad, and it broke Teddy’s heart because no small child is supposed to look that sad. The Red Hood... Jason patted the girl’s back to comfort her.

- “He’s been out even before she took me to check on him, Bill,” said Jason. “He’s also never woke up when the Red Hood brought him over to Doc.”

- Oh, ohhhhhh, so we’re keeping Jason and the Red Hood being the same person a secret? Okay, yeah, Teddy could do that. Wait, he called him Doc, and only Doc. He doesn’t want Bill to misunderstand that he’s being legal in his Doctor stuff. He’s as much in crime as Bill probably is.

- But he doesn’t have time to point that out, because Timothy Drake-Wayne grunted, bringing out from his blanket a plastic bag full of tech, looking a bit more lively now that he’s drunk the hot chocolate.

- “Is everyone in this room in the know about who’s chasing after... the kids?” he was looking at Jason for confirmation, who nodded.

- “The official story,” said Timothy, “is that the ‘Government Investigation Ward’ or GIW is after the Red Hood, due to his constitution being similar to that of a ghost.”

- Bill blinked. “I’m sorry... what?”

- Timothy ignored him. “Ghost is just a general term for anything that has ectoplasm. The real story is that they’re after the kids AND Red Hood, because all three of them have ectoplasmic components in their body.”

- Bill looked to Teddy with a question in his eyes. Ectoplasm? his gaze seemed to ask. 

- “When I was treating Danny over here, he had some green substance in his blood,” he explained. “It both enhanced his healing and the infection, so his body was literally at war on the inside.” Turning his gaze to Timothy, he confirmed, “That green substance must be what you’re calling ectoplasm, right?”

- Timothy nodded. “It is. I don’t know the full description of what this ectoplasm does, but it seems that all three seem to naturally create ectoplasm in their bodies.”

- “When the Red Hood said to the Bats that the GIW seemed to follow him due to what he was, it mostly meant that the GIW was following them through their ectobiological signatures.” Timothy then shook the plastic to make all of their attention point to it. “The tech in this plastic bag? I took it directly from the vans before they were retrieved by the government. Once I figure out how they managed to sense ectoplasm with these things, I’m going to upgrade the security measures in this room... and then to the new safehouse we’re going to move into.”

- Bill whistled. “I knew that the Waynes were probably sponsoring the Bats behind the scenes, but to be the ones personally making their gadgets? That’s amazing.”

- Doc suddenly put the pieces together... techy... Timothy Drake-Wayne being Jason Todd-Wayne’s step-brother...

- Oh shit. That’s Red Robin, isn’t he?!?????

- “You okay, Doctor Teddy?? You’re looking a bit pale over there...” said Dani with worry on her face.

- “I’m... I’m fine.” NO I’M NOT!!! “I’m just... processing that the government... is using the people’s taxes to chase after people who are very clearly alive....”

- Dani snorted. “You don’t know the half of it! But, yeah! This IS where all the taxes are going. That’s why a whole bunch of people where me and Danny came from commit tax fraud!”

- Jason huffed. “Danny and I, Dani.”

- Dani gave Jason the stink-eye. 

- Jason then pointed a thumb to the kitchen while looking at Timothy. “The dining table is clean. You could do your stuff there. There’s also extra hot chocolate on the stove.”

- Timothy gave a small thanks. But before Timothy could pass Jason, Jason took him by the shoulders and whispered into his ears that the Doctor couldn’t hear.

(”Thanks, Tim... I’ll chat with you later, yeah?”

Tim shrugged. “Or we don’t have to talk about it.”

Jason pats his shoulder. “Whatever makes you comfortable...” What else would Dick say, Jason wondered. Then, he added, “Just know that I’m here to listen when you do wanna talk.” Because there’s no fucking way he’s letting Bruce talk to Tim about what happened.

Tim was quiet, eyes shining under the dim light of the living room. “Yeah... thanks.

Nailed it.)

- Timothy then briskly disappeared into the kitchen.

***

- The investigators, who are actually known as Operative J and Operative K, using the aliases John Jones and Keith Keys, stopped their car in front of Wayne Manor, their gadget blinking and beeping softly as they stood in front of the gates. “Two ectoplasmic signatures here, over,” Operative J, John Jones, said into his comms.

- Operatives L, M and N were in front of Arkham Asylum, their own gadgets beeping softly. “One in Arkham, over.”

- Operative O, who was staking out in Schnapp Avenue, put his binoculars down. “Three in Schnapp Avenue: Daniel, the clone and an unknown man. Apartme----”

- Operative O wasn’t able to complete his report, because he was thrown into a wall, wheezing as he slid down.

- Then, he felt an electric shock to his neck, putting him to unconsciousness.

- “Operative O. Operative O, respond!”

- The Operative’s comms were crushed. Then, Operative O received another electric shock, frying any trackers he may have on his body that may lead the other government freaks to his location.

- Nightwing turned on his own comms. “O. Message Hood and Red Robin. Tell them that their location has been compromised.”

- “On it.”

- Nightwing then walked up to the unconscious Operative, picking him up by the back of his collar, and dragging him out of the rooftop. Some interrogations were in order.

****

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