#stephanie is a grey space

[favourtonon]

I have just realised that i haven't said this which is stupid of me but I hate batcest that's it ew they are siblings

[evilhorse]

They were afraid of me, Scott.

(Phoenix #1)

[punkeropercyjackson]

Thinking every character would be into older men is a weird ass assumption to make actually,especially when the characters in question aren't even adults

[waywardducks]

Batman: *Walking into the manor after a day out doing Brucie things* What the-?

Damien: *hands over his ears, covered in glitter* Father, thank the Pit! You are home! Please stop them! They've been at this for two hours now.

Stephanie: *singing her heart out under a disco ball* Danger and dance! Clapping the hands

Dick: *swinging on said disco ball* ELECTRIC ELECTRIC

Tim: *sitting on Batcow (why is the cow in the house?) * When we’re out in this space! On the planet of the-

Jason: *with a hairbrush as a microphone, He’s also covered in glitter* BASS— Life, it never die

Duke: *not doing anything bad, just chilling* Women are my favorite guy.

Batman: *eye twitching, feeling his hair turn grey* Which TikTok trend is this?

Bonus-

*Later after everything’s been clean up.*

Batman: *in the cave doing casework.* tell the world, stop the war.

Batman:

Batman: Fuck

[hardly-an-escape]

Square: B2 - FREE SPACE

Title: "would you go along with someone like me?" (ch. 2)

Rating: T

Ship: Dream/Hob

Warnings: No archive warnings apply

Additional Tags: college AU, non-traditional college students, don’t worry they’re actual grownups, poet Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, history student Hob Gadling, referenced character death, rating will go up in later chapters, more tags to be added

Summary: Hob is a freshman history major and a first generation college student, while Morpheus is completing a graduate degree poetry. When they're crammed into a small room together due to a shortage of on-campus housing, it seems like an odd couple situation at best and a recipe for disaster at worst. But as the months go by, mutual respect turns into real friendship. And then... something happens that Hob never expected.

Link to AO3.

another @dreamlingbingo fill! I know it's been over a year since I posted the first chapter of this fic. I know. I'm sorry. I will try to make sure it takes less than a year to post chapter three.

October blew in, blustery and bright. The campus glowed with autumnal light. In the long, cool afternoons it would bounce between windows and gild granite columns. It even illuminated the study carrels in the fourth floor stacks of the undergraduate library, turning dim and dusty rooms into little pockets of brightness and learning and hope.

There were rainy days, too, but even they seemed apt and atmospheric; it wasn’t cold or dark enough yet for the grey days to be truly dismal, so the inclement weather was still more a novelty than anything else. A good excuse to spend the extra dollar on a hot mocha and wear one’s favorite cozy sweater.

Hob was either hugely elated or fantastically depressed, depending on – well, it could be anything. The weather, the grade on his latest paper, the relative freshness or staleness of the bagels in the history department, the phase of the bloody moon. On some level he knew it was just emotional whiplash from throwing himself into the deep end of academia after so many years spent in unacademic pursuits, but on his harder days he was beginning to think the hormonal soup of his young undergraduate classmates was rubbing off on him somehow.

On one such day, Hob returned to their tiny dorm room, dropped his bag on the floor, and faceplanted on his narrow bed with a heartfelt groan.

Morpheus was in his usual spot – perched on his desk chair and curled into a position that should not have been possible for his thirty-something spine and hips – and did not look up from his notebooks at Hob’s flop.

Hob groaned again.

“I imagine you want me to ask you what’s wrong,” Morpheus said, still not looking up.

“I am a fool,” Hob said dismally. ���A fool and a buffoon. A nincompoop, even.” He pushed himself up into a sitting position. “Sometimes I wonder what I’m even doing here, mate, I really do. I mean who am I kidding? I’m almost thirty two years old and I’m sitting in these fresher history lectures and fucking Stephanie is running rings around me. Have I told you about Stephanie? She’s nineteen. Nineteen, Morpheus. We have, like, three classes together, and she’s kicking my arse, she has her entire career planned out, all the way to a Ph-bloody-D, and I can’t remember whether ‘Ottoman’ has one T or two.”

“Two.”

“I know that, you insufferable git, I’m trying to have an existential crisis here.”

“Ah. And is that happening concurrently with your one-sided competition with a child? Or does one precede the other?”

Hob raised his head enough to stick his tongue out at Morpheus. Something he’d learned about his roommate over the past few weeks – something their dorm neighbors and many (if not most) of Morpheus’s classmates didn’t quite seem to understand – was that Morpheus could actually be screamingly funny at times. The problem was that his humor was so bone dry, his delivery so absolutely deadpan, that it was difficult to tell the difference between the times he was being funny by accident, the times he was being funny on purpose, and the times he was actually being deadly serious and would be incredibly offended if people misinterpreted his words as some kind of joke.

Hob had already been on the receiving end of his irritation more than once, usually through pure misunderstanding. He knew he had a puppylike tendency to assume that everyone was his best friend until proven otherwise; Morpheus clearly had a tendency to assume exactly the opposite. The very first time Hob, barely a week into their shared existence, had asked if the other man wanted to get lunch together some time and help each other study, Morpheus had bristled so severely that he looked like a porcupine and claimed that he had no interest in either food or company.

He’d never apologized, per se. But later than night, the sandwich Hob had smuggled back from the dining hall in his jacket pocket and left in their dorm-sized fridge, labeled with Morpheus’s name on a sticky note, had mysteriously disappeared.

Much worse had been the time Hob, in one of his occasional fits of organization and cleanliness, had dared to tidy Morpheus’s desk.

He’d been on a roll – had done his laundry (and put it away!), and changed his sheets, and swept, and tidied up the shoes and jackets in the tiny shared alcove that passed for their hall closet, and then he’d turned his attention to the built-in desk that spanned one full wall of their little room. Hob’s half was always a bit messy, with some piles of notes and one or two books left haphazardly open to key pages he was certain to return to at the right moment. But Morpheus’s side looked like a bomb had gone off. He always had at least four or five notebooks on the go, plus what might be described as a small mountain of poetry anthologies, chapbooks, and photocopied coursepacks. The corner where the desk met the wall contained a veritable snowdrift of various ephemera: scraps of paper, receipts, dried flowers, bottle caps inexplicably labeled with dates and locations, labels carefully peeled off of beer bottles, a scant handful of beads and other shiny bits and pieces, and a single earring that looked like some bright young thing had lost it on her way to the club.

And Hob wasn’t stupid. He knew Morpheus could be a little prickly about his space and his things. Protective might be a better word. He supposed it was a side effect of growing up with a bunch of siblings; though he was an only child himself, Eleanor had had an older sister, and had told many tales of epic battles over favorite shirts and library books and other such treasures. So hadn’t thrown anything away. He’d moved it all aside and dusted and wiped, and then shuffled the papers into a neat stack, set the books against the windowsill in a semblance of order, and collected the ephemera in a little plastic basket that had been in the share box in the common room. He thought, when he was done, that it had still looked pleasantly cluttered – just less like a tornado had gone through their little room.

He hadn’t been expecting praise. He already knew better than that. But he also hadn’t been expecting Morpheus to project a wall of furious silence for the several days.

It got so bad that he’d spent half an hour hunting through the “ethnic” aisle of the grocery store to see if he could find any English sweets with which to mollify his roommate. The closest he’d gotten was a Ritter Sport with whole hazelnuts and a packet of Canadian potato chips, both of which sat, unacknowledged and uneaten, on Morpheus’s side of the desk for nearly a full day before being shoved unceremoniously back over to Hob’s side while he was in a lecture.

Hob started to consider emailing Teleute (who had given him her business card before she’d flown back to London) on the fourth day, just to ask exactly what level of unforgivable sin he’d committed, and whether any penance could possibly absolve him of it.

He was, luckily, saved from the indignity of asking his roommate’s sister how to circumvent his little temper tantrum, and by none other than Morpheus himself.

He got home after a lecture one day to find Morpheus perched nervously on the edge of his bed, a bottle of Bass beer clutched nervously between his knees.

Hob shucked off his shoes and tossed his bag on his own bed before flopping down, legs akimbo. The room was so small that if he and Morpheus both stretched their legs out, their ankles would probably touch in the space between their narrow beds.

“Hello, Hob,” Morpheus said formally.

“Morpheus,” Hob said. “Talking to me again, then, are you?”

Morpheus, to his credit, flushed slightly. “I would. That is. I have… I would like to apologize.”

Hob made an expansive sort of go ahead gesture and leaned back, waiting.

“I was talking last night with my sister – not Tel, whom you met, but my youngest sister. I was…” He ducked his head. “To be frank, I was complaining about you. About how you had tidied my desk and how much it upset me. She pointed out, quite rightfully, that it sounded like you were trying to help; trying to do something kind. She also pointed out that there have been several occasions when she herself has made an awkward or unwelcome choice in an effort to do the right thing. I… cannot argue with her logic.”

“I really was just trying to help,” Hob said. “If I promise never to touch your side of the desk again, will you stop ignoring me?”

Morpheus flushed again. “Yes. And I would extract no such promise from you. It was. Thoughtful.” That seemed to be a hair too much genuine emotion for the man, who stood abruptly and shoved the bottle of beer at Hob. “I have brought you this. A peace offering.”

“Thanks, mate. I –” Hob began, but Morpheus was already throwing on his peacoat and out the door in a whirl of black. “Okay. What a fucking weirdo.”

The beer was good, though. A taste of home. Hob picked the label off and left it on Morpheus’s side of the desk.

read on AO3 >>>

[confused-wanderer]

The batfam’s favourite family member is often a debatable topic, and for this reason I propose the answer:

It depends.

If the bats want comfort, just want to be pampered, play some games or watch movies, be coddled, kept safe, warm and cozy, a place where they can unwind or just stay as long as they like they go to Dick. Theres just something about his aura that always had a way of making people feel less alone, and tears and laughter are welcomed with open arms. It’s where they can shed their responsibilities and just for a few hours be the younger sibling who’s spoilt.

If the bats just want someone there, not to talk to necessarily but just another presence they usually seek out Barbara or Tim. Conversations and silences are always comfortable, and you can do what you want with a guarantee they don’t mind. Be it just watching them work, or doing your own thing. It’s silent companionship and at times where they just wanted to be , not running around or doing work, they’d just plop down next to them.

If they wanted someone to do crazy shenanigans with, create chaos or dabble in morally grey areas they’d call Duke and Stephanie. The ends justify the means and if that means sometimes blowing up stuff or stealing from the thieves it’s a fun night out and you know that when you call both of them would be down to hang. It’s always a fun time which ends with a night of dubious choices and fast food while you all sit on the rooftops and laugh your hearts out.

However, if they got scared, the first person they would go to is Jason. Jason was the kind of person who’d punch first ask questions later. The kind who’d let you have your space as you cry without prying on the issue until a few days later when you’re calm. He’s the guy who would feel anger on your behalf, and if there’s a fight he’ll be the first one to back you up. A night at his house shows his gentler side, with him reading books and talking about literature till you fall asleep, to going out and bringing groceries to make you your favourite breakfast in the morning. He never shows how concerned he is, but actions always speak louder than words.

Cassandra and Damian are always the first ones sought when you develop a new interest or obsession, no matter how niche. Cassandra loves listen to you excitedly ramble on about why you love it and encourages you to continue breaking down the core components, happy to listen to you spiral down your hyper fixation. Damian always pretends he doesn’t care, sometimes even scoffing but deep down he is deeply touched that you let him in on something so precious and close to you. And if one day when you’re down or it’s your birthday he won’t say a word as you find a beautiful portrait of it on your bedside.

[droughtofapathy]

"Welcome to the Theatre": Diary of a Broadway Baby

2024 Chita Rivera Awards

May 20, 2024 | Special Event | NYU Skirball | Evening | Award Ceremony | 2H 40M

What a special night full of wonderful tributes to the late Chita Rivera. This marks the first year we don't have the legendary Chita Rivera with us. But she was with us. The whole evening was sublime, so here are the standout moments for me.

Highlights from the event:

Host Jared Grimes's freestyle tap-dance routine.

Bebe Neuwirth in a pretty dress with her pink glasses introducing a special staging of "All That Jazz" with Bob Fosse's original choreography.

Stephanie Pope Lofgren's "Kiss of the Spider Woman."

Ben Vereen's tribute speech to Chita. He had the audience inhale, and exhale, and said that was Chita with us. She was all around us in the very air we breathed.

Norm Lewis sang "Bui Doi," and it solidified for me that even a magnificent singer cannot soothe my anger and hatred towards that show. I fucking hate Miss Saigon.

Damn, Debbie Allen looked good. She had her own Chita stories, and introduced "America," with Kyra Sorce (Bernadette Peters' goddaughter) dancing Anita. The Rosalia dancer is the very same one who originated the role in the 2009 production and was featured at the Sondheim 80th Birthday Concert celebration. She looks and sounds exactly the same after fifteen years. I knew her immediately.

David Hyde Pierce gave a marvelous introduction to Lifetime Achievement Award winner Bernadette Peters.

Christ almighty, okay, I am now officially a Kristen Chenoweth convert. I have spent almost two decades being relatively unmoved by her character voice portrayals, but her legit singing? Incredible.

Lea Salonga did something magical that night with her "Move On/Not While I'm Around" medley that cannot be put into words. Just listen.

Truly the best tribute video I've ever seen. Bernadette Peters's life is astounding. I hope they make it available to watch in the future.

I shan't be talking about the actual awards, because I am not entirely pleased.

John Kander also sent in a little video tribute to Chita and Bernadette, and Joel Grey sent his regards and a story.

Verdict: My Soul Transcended Space and Time

A Note on Ratings

[heckcareoxytwit]

A preview of Phoenix #1

PHOENIX #1

LIFE! FIRE! POWER! POSSIBILITY! PHOENIX! She is JEAN GREY. She is PHOENIX. She saves the world. She brings death. One woman, alone in space, who not only must do what no one else can: she yearns to. A desperate S.O.S. from NOVA brings the Phoenix to the edge of a black hole, where hundreds of lives hang in the balance… and whatever Jean does — or fails to do — will bring darkness to the universe and haunt her in ways she can scarcely imagine…

Written by: Stephanie Phillips Art by: Alessandro Miracolo Cover by: Yasmine Putri Page Count: 36 Pages Release Date: July 17, 2024

[smashpages]

Stephanie Phillips + Alessandro Miracolo send ‘Phoenix’ into space this summer

Jean Grey once again wields the power of the Phoenix in the new ‘From the Ashes’ series.

cover by Yasmine Putri

[starwriterulia]

Tomb of the Goshenite Stargazer Dragon - Chapter 1

THIS FANFICTION CONTAINS HEAVY SUBJECT MATERIAL THAT MAY TRIGGER READERS WITH ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND PTSD. CHAPTERS 1-4 INCLUDE DISCUSSION OF:

PHYSICAL DISABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH ROBINOW SYNDROME,

REACTIVE ATTACHMENT DISORDER AND ITS CONNECTIONS TO THE AUTISM SPECTRUM,

CHILD ABUSE WITHIN FOSTER CARE,

PARENTAL NEGLECT POST-ADOPTION,

LOSS OF INNOCENCE DUE TO INTERNET EXPLORATION,

AND THE LOSS OF AN ADOPTIVE PARENT.

FURTHERMORE, SOME CHAPTERS CONTAIN 18+ CONTENT.

Bat divider by @violetbudd

Creator support banner by @cafekitsune

Latest revision: August 18, 2024. Added "Support your creators by reblogging" banner. Revised story Description following recent developments in the story, and moved it to Masterlist. Added Chapter summary. Added ⏭️ emoji below end of chapter banner with text explaining its function as a navigational button.

Chapter summary: Ra's brings Faith Lawson to Wayne Manor, and gives Bruce sufficient information about herself and Thalassic Space, then Faith sends Bruce home via a door that appeared in the Holding Room Ra's was in, in Platonia.

Fandoms: DC Comics, Batfamily, no Batcest, Thalassic Space (OC; takes inspiration The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, Silent Hill 2, Silent Hill 3, and other sci-fi, fantasy and horror titles, as well as original concepts, such as the science and lore of the galaxy.)

[In order of appearance] Characters: Bruce Wayne (Batman), Faith Lawson (TBA; self-insert) J'onn J'onzz (Martian Manhunter), Carter Hall (Hawkman), Shiera Sanders (Hawkgirl), Diana Prince (Wonder Woman), Urania (OC), Ra's al Ghul, Damian Wayne (Robin), Tim Drake (Red Robin), Barbara Gordon (Batgirl), Dick Grayson (Nightwing), Stephanie Brown (Spoiler).

Word Count: 9700+ / 11, 682 (post-revision on July 24. Seriously.) 4092 (July 30 revision. MUCH better.)

Content warnings: Mild depiction of blood; Urania talks about the murder of Ulia and her lover, a trans boy, both who were mutilated, and Ulia's corpse was raped; Faith talks about her adoptive father's death; Faith talks about the high school knee injury that sowed anxiety and depression in her life; Faith talks about her harrowing foster care experience, in which she was given Benadryl instead of proper discipline and attention.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2

Saturday, February 10, 2024. 1:12 AM.

Batman meditated at the bottom of the left stairs in the great hall of Wayne Manor, the soft lights kept on during the night alight creating spots of amber in the dark. A woman with a light soprano voice groaned in pain and coughed violently behind him, from the study door, and continued to cough as she entered the great hall. She heaved and gasped for air while approaching him. ‘She has the seasonal flu.’ Batman noted. He turned his head to observe.

The young woman was ivory white, 4'6" tall, and had uncombed, mid-chest length black hair, three inches of ash blonde grown out at the top. She had a round face, a bulbous nose, hazel green eyes, dark circles, and dark, thick brows. She wore a black T-shirt and black pyjama pants with white ghosts, and light grey socks. She walked with a slight limp and carried a navy-blue duffle bag with golden letters spelling NVSS.

'I don't recognise that school. Her arms come to her upper thigh. Her biceps and forearms are about five centimetres long. She has dwarfism.' Her feet were wide, the arch of her right foot high. 'That can’t be her only injury that required operation. Her limp tells me she’s overexerted herself tonight and that she might have had a knee injury, which might have been caused by her dwarfism.'

Her chest was a C cup, she had thick thighs and 'A nice ass, I won't deny that.' There was an open cut on her right forearm. 'The item or weapon the villain used to cut the young woman activated her magic, displayed as the thin layer of white-blue light around her right hand. She stopped the attack and sent the villain away, likely to some kind of pocket dimension, giving her time to pack some belongings. But because of her disability and the villain possessing the item, she had to come along.'

'Also, this villain knows Batman's identity. They brought her here to get on my nerves. Narrows down the list by a lot. My guess is Ra's al Ghul.' Batman interacted with his gauntlet to begin an audio recording that he broadcast to the Watchtower. Martian Manhunter, Hawkman and Hawkwoman were on location, the latter two approaching the monitor.

The woman said, "Hi."

"Hello." Batman replied. He stood and climbed the steps to stand in front of the woman. "What’s your name?"

"Faith Lawson. I'm from Earth-33, and I'm twenty-four years old. September 4th, 1999, is my birthday."

Batman said, "Nice to meet you, Faith. Welcome to Earth Prime. Are you from British Columbia, Canada, by chance?"

"I am! Um, would you please help me?" From the study, a man screamed, his voice travelling with numerous wild screeches.

Batman noticed the light around the woman’s hand brighten. 'It must be managing her nausea while she needs to talk.'

The young woman said, "Oh, Platonia just acted on the last request I had, in case he cut himself with it, thinking it would give him control of Platonia. He's been brought to a Holding Room. No windows or doors, just a timeout. Time passes at half-speed in Platonia, and he's durable, so we don't need to worry about him dying."

'Not sure I believe that.' Thought Batman.

The computer of the Watchtower announced, "Welcome, Wonder Woman and Urania." Urania was a ivory white skinned woman with black, curly hair and dark brown eyes, wearing a toga and Greek sandals.

"Is she safe?" Said Urania

"She seems to be. Sounds like she has the flu, though." Hawkwoman said, walking back to Hawkman and Martian Manhunter with Wonder Woman and Urania.

"Welcome to the Watchtower, Urania of Pierian Spring. Please, tell us about your daughter." Said Martian Manhunter, as Wonder Woman, Hawkwoman and Urania stopped nearby Martian Manhunter and Hawkman.

"Sorry, one minute, Faith." Batman said the young woman, pointing to his ear.

"Oh, you're probably listening to the Watchtower, where Urania just arrived, right?"

"Yes, I am. Sorry, Watchtower. Urania, you may continue."

Urania said, "Thank you. In her previous life, 687 years ago, Faith was born as Ønske, sired by Víðarr and birthed by Skuld, and named by the Allfather, Odin. Skuld and Víðarr were too duty-bound to raise her, so Freyja and Freyr fostered her. The summer she was fourteen, Ønske saved a dragon pup from poachers on Vanaheim during a new moon, and returned the pup to its mother. The pup, Skinne, had a body of goshenite, a pink right eye, a yellow left eye, and pink and yellow stargazer lilies on her wings. Her mother, Frodig, was fluffy with pink fur and yellow eyes, and her father, Skjør, was made of white diamonds and had eyes of pink quartz."

"Frodig merged Skinne with Ønske to bestow Ønske with her Dragon Persona, the Goshenite Stargazer Dragon. That autumn, Ønske met Danu, the Fairy Queen of the Celts, after saving a coven of human fairies from Catholic witch hunters using seiðr and draconic illusions. From Danu, Ønske was given a Fairy Persona named Solas, whose firery sunrise wings turned black with dazzling white stars if Solas stood under a new moon. At fifteen, Ønske hunted with Freyja in Jotunheim for the troll-wolf beast called Blokkere, whose eyes and horns burned blue fire like the Naglfar. He was a pet of the pirate warlock Ebony Giant Elf named Bartholomew, who made himself captain of the Naglfar with his dark magic, eldest of the three sons of the Fallen Angel Nerobzal, once the Court Fool of Yahweh named Erophael. Oh, shall I tell you his story, as well? It is relevant."

"I don't see why not." Said Martian Manhunter.

"When Roman Emperor Nero committed suicide, Erophael laughed. Because it was not for joy but out of mockery for Nero's pathetic life, all life on Earth began to destroy itself. Yahweh banished Nerobzal to the Ninth Circle of Inferno, where Lucifer told Nerobzal about the white door behind Lucifer that no angel, demon or sinner had ever been able to open. Lucifer said that Nerobzal could claim whatever was beyond it, if he suceeded. There was a rather alarming situation involving the abomination living in the Perimeter of the Ninth Circle and Lilith that required the full attention of the angels, demons and Demon Hunters, who all ended up fighting each other. Nerobzal was freed by a kiss-ass demon who loved Lucifer, and Nerobzal skid on the ice towards the door. When he touched it, he knew what to do. Ulia, would you mind telling us the ritual?"

"Sure! So, the Domain of Platonia is a fortress entity inspired by the Navidson hallway from House of Leaves surrounded by the Skybox from the Team Fortress 2 ARG Project Skybox, defined as Julian Barbour’s platonia, a hypothetical entity containing every possible momentary configuration of the universe, primarily accessed via a door opening ritual inspired by the Doom II mod MyHouse.wad. Domains can also be created as a sailing ship or spaceship. I've had the idea of Platonia for about a year."

Urania said, "When you were a demigoddess, you knew about it for three years, until your death."

"MyHouse.wad reintroduced me to House of Leaves, and Platonia inspired the other two types of Magical Occupancies in Thalassic Space. Realms are moon planets created by gods, demons, demigods and demi-demons for magic people, which are Astral, Snow, Ebony and Fir Elves, Oak Dwarves, Spruce Humans, and anthropomorphic people, which include Felidae, Canidae, Lacertilia, Chiroptera and, ha ha, lemme, lemme say this a little slower so I don't get it wrong: Cyprinodontiformes,"

"That was pretty good!" Said Hawkman.

Faith laughed as she finished the sentence. "To live on with the creator. Plains are magic islands that can have shores on multiple planets at once, and are inhabited by magical creatures and humanoids, such as fairies, unicorns and Dragon Kin, namely Dragon Form people, along with dragons who do not have a humanoid form, and monsters and beasts who may have a humanoid form."

Batman hummed. "I'm with Project Skybox and MyHouse.wad. Tim went on a long rant about both of them, when they were trending."

"Oh, good, that saves me som time. In Thalassic Space, Platonia will also appear if someone does that ritual, or places their left hand on the door, knocks five times, and then opens the door. The ritual can be undone by doing the same with your right hand on the door after closing the door." Batman hummed.

"The Departed are ghouls original to Thalassic Space who serve the Four Princes of Hell. If enter Platonia without the ritual, the Departed and Umbrella Man will find you. When Platonia realised my aductor is a demon, it stopped being aggressive after he found the Nordic iron doors to my dragon tomb. Well, the Departed are surely trying to eat him, but Ra's is durable."

"Ra's al Ghul. I thought so. Not many of my villains know my identity, or would go so far as to bring a would-be victim into my home."

"Yeah, we had a wet dream where I was in his bed. He said I was perfect: a girl who looked like I do, had a creative mind, and, he assumed, powers that he could manipulate. I closed my eyes with a tired, amused hum, ya know, 'cause it was a lucid dream, and weird things happen all the time. I tried to let the episode end and take me somewhere else. But my Role was transferred to my Nero Persona, a jumpscare girl with a kuchisake-onna smile named Odeya. She had other ideas about how to end the dream. She poked her head from under the bed, told Ra's how to open a Door to Platonia, and then he woke up in front of his closet door and did the ritual."

"He could manipulate your mind, too."

"Oh, I know. If he wasn't evil, I'd be into him. I'm asexual panromantic. I don't need to explain my undying love for gender expression, but I will say that one thing I've learned from playing The Lord of the Rings Online and meeting Preston is that sometimes older men and women are pretty awesome. They can be patient, romantic and wise. Those are like, my favourite parts of a person that aren't physical. I love looking at facial features, followed by shoulders, back and hips, hoo mama!" Faith tilted her head back as she said this, and laughed. Urania and Wonder Woman giggled. "You obviously know asexuality is a spectrum, so I don't need to explain that." Batman nodded, humming. "I also have a personality disorder called Reactive Attachment Disorder."

"I’m familiar."

"My foster parents did the damage. My adoptive parents tried, but they couldn't gentle parent me for long, so my dream world version of my mom is cruel."

"What about your dad?"

"He passed in November 2021 from an aortic dissection. He was a good man. We all miss him."

"I’m sorry for your loss."

"Thank you. Anyway, we can just go in the room, I'll open the door, tell the Departed to leave with a gift of my hair and blood, and then the old man can take the door home. We'll see him again when we see him again. If he finds me in my next dream, I'll try just send him home? W-We'll see. Have Zatanna on speed-dial."

"I'll do that, Faith. Thank you." Faith nodded.

"You were saying, Urania?" Said Hawkman.

"Yes, thank you. After eight long hours, Blokkere was slain, but Ønske's left leg and lower back were brutally wounded. As Freyja held Ønske, she had a vision that urged her to leave with Ønske for Pierian Spring, in the forest on the back side of Mount Olympus. They arrived under a full moon, and Freyja begged for Ønske to live and walk again in exchange for the muse who would accept to become Ønske's mentor. My sisters and I had foreseen their arrival and Ønske's future as Faith, and agreed that I was best suited. When I healed her, I bestowed upon her the name Ulia Χαμένος (Chaménos), meaning 'lost', as tribute to the people of Thalassic Space whom she would go on to protect. I prefer to call her Ulia, as you have surely noticed."

"For four years, Ulia travelled with Freyja and Freyr or with me and my sisters around the Nine Realms and Ancient Greece. She was even invited to Paradiso, the summer of the first year, and the archangel Uriel greeted her as patron angel and bestowed Ulia her mortal name and story, which she would be reborn as. The Yule of her nineteenth year was spent on Mount Olympus, and among its guests was a elf-eared, silver dragon-skinned transgender prince with white hair and blue eyes named Argophael. He was sired by Menoetius from Opus and birthed by Danu, Fairy Queen of the Celts, but stolen as a babe by Bartholomew, which my sisters and I did not know of, nor had heard about from the Norns. Zeus revealed it was secret because Bartholomew had taken planet Bafsina of Thalassic Space hostage, but it could be freed now that Argophael can fufilled his quest to arrive at Yule. Zeus told that Argophael was Ulia's Animus and one true love, but it was an ill-fated love, as Bartholomew would now not only hunt Argophael, but Ulia."

"Argophael gifted Ulia a snowglobe depicting a galaxy containing a white-blue O-type star to the north, an asteroid belt of goshenite to the east of the star, a black hole that I knew to be Sagittarius A* to the south, and an asteroid belt of obsidian to the west of the black hole. Ulia kissed Argophael, and a yellow G-type star and a red M-type star appeared in the galaxy, colliding with the O-type star and sending a massive wave of energy into space, creating a solar system like Earth's before the G- and M-type stars merged and became the "vampire" companion of the O-type star that it had been missing. Ulia and Argophael slept together that night, and the next morning drew the first chalk-portal to Thalassic Space on a wall of Mount Olympus. They travelled for three years, sending letters frequently, and settled in the Puzzle Tower at the Carnival of Seasons of White Sun Harbour on the moon planet Realm of Tree Peoples. This is where the Ebony Elves, Oak Dwarves and Spruce Humans of Thalassic Space came from. Astral Elves came from the Lightless Realm, ruled wisely by the second son of Nerobzal, Krampus, before he was tainted by the Fool's Poem, written by Nerobzal after he escaped into Platonia."

"The Fool's Promise was the self-mutilation that those who read the poem aloud with hatred in their heart would undergo to submit themselves to him, and join Nerobzal's army of undead, dark sorcerers, and evil vampires and werewolves. Snow Elves came from the Lightful realm, ruled by the youngest son of Nerobzal, Santa Claus, until they and Santa fled with the Astral Elves for the three original planets of Thalassic Space, Yotutrnaeyl, Bafsina and Grace, after Krampus was lost to the Fool's Poem. Last of the Tree Peoples, Fir Elves came from the Realm of Album, and in the northern sea of which was the island called the Sanctuary of Gla'si where the first unicorns and pegasi of Thalassic Space were born from the womb of Epona, sired by Helios."

"Bartholomew murdered Argophael and Ulia as they were enjoying the night life of the Carnival from the balcony of my tower. It was an air assassination committed with Bartholomew’s black ebony sword aflame with the blue fire of the Naglfar. The cat anthropomorphs who maintained the Puzzle Tower and filled with the sounds of their own children and challenge tours for carnival guests found the lovers the next morning. Argophael's body had been mutilated, his face and the skin of his hands and feet removed as he died. Bartholomew raped Ulia's as she bled out, and seared her arms, legs and stomach with the fire of his sword."

"Gods, that's horrible." Said Wonder Woman.

"The cats restored their bodies and laid them in the sarcophagus in the final room of the dragon tomb Freyja and Freyr prepared, at the command of the Norns, after Ulia had recieved her Dragon Persona. The tomb was filed with draugr and traps."

Faith said, "My dragon tomb is actually a dungeon. It's Saarthal from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim."

"Hm." Said Wonder Woman, with a smile. "It sounds like you had fun creating all of this, Faith."

"Oh. It's obvous, isn't it?"

"Oh, it is, but that's not a bad thing."

Batman asked, "How long have you been working on Thalassic Space?"

"Since my dad died."

"You’re unpublished?"

"Yes. The Double Eight of Thalassic Space will be my first. It's been taking a while because of depression and other things related to being an adult on income assistance who's only been employed for a year now."

"I think it'll be a hit." Said Wonder Woman.

"Aw, thank you!"

Urania said, "The last room takes a deviation from Saarthal, however. A massive, beautiful stone bridge where friends and family left letters and gifts connects the doors to an island surrounded by water from Pierian Spring. The island hosts the sarcophagus of Ulia and Argophael, as well as the sarcophagi of ten Dragon Priests."

Faith said, "For context, usually one is enough to pose a challenge."

"To exit without retracing your steps, you have to solve one of four puzzles. That will return you to the surface of the Plain of Ulia and Argophael, in the southern waters of the Realm of Tree Peoples. And that, ladies and gentles,"

"And non-binary peoples!" Faith chimed in.

Urania laughed. "Yes, them too, is a comprehensive retelling of how Ønske Ulia Chaménos lived and died."

"Thank you for sharing the story with us, Urania. And you, Faith, for your assistance." Said Martian Manhunter.

"What can I say? Storytelling is my passion! Oh. Ha ha. Mother. Guess what I still have to tell them, after I send Ra's home?"

"What do you feel is necessary, daughter?"

"The Dream World on Paper, and how, through it, I'm the Great Little Starwriter and Playwright of the Rondo Theatre." She said at half volume, making eye contact with Batman, "I prepared too much, in four years."

"You might have. It's all solid, though."

"Thank you!"

Urania said, "Yes, Ulia. You should tell them that, too."

"OK!" Faith said, cheerfully. "Into the study we go." Faith and Batman went into the study. There was a new white door on the far wall.

Batman said, "The window is gone."

"It will come back, once we end the ritual." Faith led Batman to the door. She pressed her left palm to the door and knocked on it five times with her other hand, left hand glowing neon orange as she knocked. Two seconds passed. Five knocks sounded from the inside. Faith opened the door. Before Batman and Faith was a long stone hallway with a bend to the right.

"Platonia, do you understand me?" An upwards grumble from the walls. "Please show us where you're Holding Ra's al Ghul. Thank you." Four seconds passed. The walls moved towards the exit, then rightwards for several seconds before opening to a small room with a four-foot-tall ceiling. Ra's was crouched and slashed his sword towards eight naked humanoids with pale grey dry skin devoid of genitals, hair and eyelids. The goshenite dragon tooth, the size of a pomegranate, laid on the ground near Ra's’ feet.

"Hello, Departed." Faith said. The creatures snapped their heads towards her. They had monochrome irises and neon red pupils. "That is enough. Leave my dragon tooth at my feet and return to the Underside. You may take a little bit of my hair and blood as payment. Thank you."

Instantly, the Departed scattered, phasing through the concrete walls. Three tried to bite Ra's arms and legs while Ra’s roared and fought them off. One Departed used this commotion to take the dragon tooth, and hurried to the entrance, stopping inches in front of Faith and placing the item down. Faith's cheeks rose in a smile. She crouched on her left knee, picked up the tooth in her left hand, and cut off a bit of her hair, offering it in her left hand while gently dragging the tooth along the wound on her arm to draw blood.

Batman kept an eye on Ra's. The demon sat, bewildered and out of breath, watching Faith and the Departed. Faith said, "You may drink for three seconds and share it with your kin."

"Thzaznank yabozuz." The warped voice of the Departed said. It took Faith's hair into its right hand. It made eye contact with Faith, pausing. Batman saw a spark of ill-fated attraction in her eyes. The Departed held Faith's wrist with its left hand and bit into her wound and began to drink.

Martian Manhunter said, "I don't recognise that language."

Hawkman said, "Probably because it's from Faith's fictional galaxy."

"Once fictional, now realised." Hawkwoman said.

"Precisely so." Said Urania.

Batman muttered into his gauntlet, “It’s a letter substitution language. It said, "Thank you."."

As Batman whispered to the League, Faith said, "Ow." And hissed. Seconds passed. "You are out of time."

The Departed separated its mouth from Faith's arm and licked its thin lips. "Yabozuz tazsrte delabiciouzs."

"You taste delicious." Batman quietly translated.

"I'm glad you enjoyed. Take care, now."”" Faith bowed her head.

The Departed mirrored the gesture. "Goz'dbzyabe." It turned and scampered away and to the right, phasing through the wall.

"That was “Goodbye.", obviously." Batman said.

"That door behind you will take you home, Ra's." Said Faith. "You've been given mercy by the Domain of Platonia, and the Nero Spirits who serve the Princes of Hell. Nightmares will burden you for two weeks, then one of the ghouls who just harassed you will visit you a quarter after one o'clock in the morning and offer to take your memories and knowledge of Thalassic Space in return for peace. Pursue my power again and you'll meet more of the evil and good forces of the galaxy, and me, with practice of my powers."

"You're fucking mad, girl." Ra’s smirked. "You could make this easier for both of us if you had just laid there and let me use you."

"I don't like men who don’t know boundaries. You're hundreds of years old, so there’s no point in trying to teach you. I'll just keep sending you home with blue balls." Ra's growled, got on his feet and opened the door. "Have a good night." Faith said, in a friendly tone.

"Goodnight." Ra's said, grumpily. He entered the door and closed it behind him. Faith sighed, closed the Door to Platonia, and repeated the ritual with her right palm, emitting white-blue light, on the door and her left hand on the doorknob. Batman noted that her hand stopped glowing, idly. The window returned.

"How was that?"

"That was good. Thank you." Faith nodded. "You can take any of the guest rooms on the right side of the next floor. I'll have Damian bring some tea up for you, and I'll bring you soup and medicine in the morning."

"Thank you." Faith walked out with Batman. She grumbled in pain as she began to climb the stairs.

Martian Manhunter asked Urania, "Will you be visiting your daughter tonight, Urania?"

"No. I will visit once she has had sufficient rest," Urania made claws with her fingers, pointed together and posed as if holding a rock melon sized ball. A golden celestial globe appeared in the space her hands had made. Urania grabbed it, and offered it to Martian Manhunter, who readily accepted it. "Or if she needs me when you are unable to reach Zatanna for magic control."

"That sounds all well and good, Urania. Thank you again." Martian Manhunter offered to shake Urania's hand.

Urania accepted the gesture. "You are welcome. Goodnight, all." She said, leaving the room with Wonder Woman. "And goodnight, Ulia!"

"Goodnight, Mother!"

"Robin?" Said Batman, stopping in the hallway as Faith entered the first guest room and turned on its light.

"Yes, Father?" Robin appeared from the shadows of the upstairs floor, close to where Batman stood.

"Would you please make Faith ginger tea with honey?"

"Yeah, OK."

"Thank you." Batman followed Faith into the bedroom.

Click emoji to navigate to next chapter. ⏭️

[dyslexicandakeyboard]

How each of the batkids found out that Bruce's dating

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

Dick: *Walks in on Bruce kissing Selina*

Dick: MY EYES! THEY BURN! *gags* ALFRED!

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

Jason: *Barges into Bruce's room without knocking*

Jason: *Sees a naked Bruce ontop of Selina*

Jason: *Pulling up instagram live* Eeew. I just saw B's ass. *Throws up peace sign*

Bruce: *Covering himself and Selina up*

Bruce: Jason!

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

Barbara: Bruce, I need you to do something for--

Barbara: *Walks in on Bruce texting with a smile on his face*

Barbara: *Slowly backing out* I'm gonna leave cause I feel the space-time continuum collapsing and I'm not gonna be around for this.

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

Duke: *Is at the wedding*

Duke: *Who was literally not informed of this at all* What's happening?

Stephanie: Bruce and Selina are getting married. They been dating for like three years now.

Duke: And no one thought to call me. Or even text. I'm not on social media. How was I supposed to know!

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

Tim as Robin: Bruce, I found some evidence--What are you doing?

Bruce as Batman: *About to raw Selina on the rooftop*

Bruce: School night. Home now. Go

Tim: Okay

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

Cass: Why do you look nice tonight

Bruce: *Is getting ready for a data* No reason

Cass: *Nodding* Selina likes your butt in the grey pants. I heard her talk about it.

Cass: *Leaves the room*

Bruce: *Changes pants*

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

Damian: *Looks at Bruce*

Damian: Do you plan on marrying Selina?

Bruce: Huh

Damian: I just conversed with her reminding her of her place and my mother's importance to you. But, I will admit, Selina is a positive influence on your life and she has a cat. I do not mind if you take her as your wife provided as she does not bare a child. *Bruce chuckles* Father, my birth right is at stake here. Do not laugh. This is a dire matter. My life as we know it will change the moment Selina bares you a child.

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

*Bruce and Stephanie on patrol*

Stephanie: So, Selina

Bruce: Nh

Stephenie: Thought you both could do better.

[invisibleicewands]

This life story begins at the end, with Aneurin “Nye” Bevan in a hospital bed, befittingly for the visionary political colossus who created Britain’s National Health Service in 1948.As Bevan (Michael Sheen) is creeping towards death, flashbacks of memory bring a hallucinatory quality reminiscent of The Singing Detective: beds and ward curtains are woven into scenes of his childhood as a Welsh miner’s son and a stammering schoolboy bullied by his headteacher. We follow his rise from local council politics to the House of Commons and high office under Clement Attlee (Stephanie Jacob, slightly sinister in a bald wig). Doctors and nurses morph into a bevy of characters from his past, the cast juggling this multiplicity adeptly, and there is a surreal song and dance breakout number as, one presumes, Bevan’s morphine kicks in.In a production written by Tim Price and directed by Rufus Norris, there is some inspired stagecraft as the hospital curtains of Vicki Mortimer’s ingenious set swish to reveal debating chambers and libraries. But the narrative is too long-reaching and schematic, its extensively researched material not fully absorbed dramatically.Co-produced with Wales Millennium Centre and running at over two and a half hours, Nye is a too full, yet too simplified, survey of the personal and political elements in Bevan’s world, with some high-pitched moments accompanied by syrupy music.

Bevan is presented as a renegade, Jeremy Corbyn-like figure of his day: both a thorn in the side of Winston Churchill (impersonated well by Tony Jayawardena) and the Labour party. There are council meetings, parliamentary debates, his first meeting with his wife, Jennie Lee (Sharon Small), the war and its aftermath. So much is packed in that the momentous invention of the NHS is tackled, as if in summary, in the last half hour.

Only then do we hear how the nation’s doctors were heavily opposed to Bevan’s proposition. There are exchanges on a screen with an army of hostile medics who look like Minority Report holograms, but we whizz past this opposition, which has enough in-built conflict to be worthy of is own full-length drama.

Sheen (grey helmet hair, chequered pyjamas) is well cast for his natural charm. He brings a curious fey playfulness and vulnerability but does not plumb the depths of his commanding character – or perhaps the busy script simply does not allow it. However, Bevan’s limitations as a son to his dying father bring some emotional mileage as he is too busy caring for the nation’s wellbeing to be there for him.

Small is not given much room for manoeuvre either, and Lee is used for exposition purposes rather than dramatic ones. She talks of her open marriage, describing Bevan as a “rutting stag”, which sits at odds with the cutely pyjama-clad man on stage. There are brief reflections on navigations between her career as Westminster’s youngest MP – and one of only five women – and her marriage. Both she and Bevan hailed from working-class backgrounds and there is a moment when he talks about “impostor syndrome” in this hallowed space. She is unequivocal in her outsider status: “That’s why this place needs us.” Despite these feisty lines, she remains flat, which seems a crime – her character could have been far richer.

Nye is still a vital play because Bevan is a vital man of British history. It succeeds in showing us just how high the hurdles he faced were. When he describes prewar healthcare – one service for the rich, one for the poor – it rings of today’s two-tiered system. “I want to give you your dignity,” he says, as the NHS launches. It is a rousing moment yet contains a terrible, tragic irony, given what is coming to pass with his precious legacy.

[evilhorse]

I need a reminder of home.

(Phoenix #1)

[williamaltman]

PHOENIX #2

• STEPHANIE PHILLIPS (W)

• ALESSANDRO MIRACOLO (A)

• Cover by YASMINE PUTRI

• JEAN GREY is dedicated to protecting innocents in deep space! Yes, space is vaster than imagination, greater and darker than the mind can comprehend – and yet, not big enough to stop family from dropping by without warning…

• But that’s how it goes when your father-in-law is CORSAIR of the STARJAMMERS! Leaving the pirate life behind, he’s got the inside line on huge news, and PHOENIX is the only one who can act to save untold lives – that is, if she can believe he’s telling the truth…

[dibs4ever]

Dick and Stephanie coming into the Manor kitchen

Dick: No-no absolutely not

Stephanie: Oh come on Dick please just one video

Dick: It made me uncomfortable last time

Stephanie: Help a sister out

Dick: Steph you’re talented and interesting enough on your own. You’ll get followers by being you

Barbara: What are you two bickering about?

Dick: Steph wants me to be in one of her TikToks

Stephanie: And he said he doesn’t want to be in a public video where everyone can see. But the last time he was in my video it became my highest viewed one. I got 105k likes and gained 200 followers and now every comment on my following videos asks for him in it

Barbara: Well thats true, Dick doesn’t like attention ....at least not from large crowds who are gawking at his appearance. Which brings me to ask how you even got him to be in one public tiktok.

Stephanie: it was kinda by accident. Remember when I stayed at you and Dick’s apartment for the night?

Barbara: Yeah?

Stephanie: I was making a video in the space in front of the kitchen, didn’t realize Dick had walked into the kitchen wearing only grey sweatpants. Drank some milk right out of the jug and walked back out. Then all the comments came flooding in

Barbara: Dick! Why’d you do that?

Dick: I was half asleep, I got a drink and crawled back into bed with you. Honestly I forgot Steph was even there. She’s lucky I was wearing pants.

[aristocraticvision]

Chapter 365: The Prince’s Speech (Pt. 2)

“Good evening, I’m Scott Dearborn. It’s eleven o’clock and this is WBN News.”

“Tonight’s opening gala of the Royal Academy of Science and Technology’s 2023 Conference at the Weston Museum of Natural History was a veritable who’s who of Weston’s scientific community, kicking off an impressive, week-long series of presentations, live experiments and theoretical discussions that will share the latest ideas in a wide range of scientific fields.”

“The highlight of this year’s gala, however, made tickets nearly impossible to get, as Crown Prince Michael himself was scheduled as the evening’s keynote speaker. Unfortunately, the prince turned out to be a no-show – slipping out the stage door just as he was introduced by academy president Dr. Carl Salworth.”

“According to Brian Brahms, stage manager for the evening’s presentation, the crown prince seemed agitated from the moment he arrived.”

“I don’t know what was wrong with him, but he refused to speak to me. Maybe I just wasn’t important enough. But I’ll tell you what, there were a lot of important people in that audience, and they were not happy – not one bit.”

“Academy president Dr. Carl Salworth did his best to cover the prince’s sudden departure, claiming that the young royal was called away suddenly, but most in attendance believe the damage was already done.”

“I’m getting really tired of these entitled young royals thinking they can do what they want any time they feel like it. I took extra time away from my classes to fly in early for the gala – just to hear the prince’s address, mind you, and he just decides he doesn’t feel like speaking? Unacceptable.”

Grainger’s opinion seems to be common among Westonians, who have been less than impressed by the Crown Prince’s behavior.

“It’s like he’s not trying to get to know the people of Weston at all. In fact, it feels like he doesn’t even want to. I went to a mall opening a couple of years ago just to see him and his father, but you could tell he didn’t want to be there. All he wanted to do was get away. Typical rich kid, maybe, but I expected more from Stephen’s son and heir.”

“The kid’s a waste of space, in my opinion. Prince Theodore turned out to be a great guy, and Stephen sent him to Torenth. And Stephanie – well, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t adore her. But Michael … I don’t know, he’s just not someone I can see running the country – blood heir or not!”

“So far, the palace has declined to comment on tonight’s gala or Crown Prince Michael’s disappearance, but one can guess the young prince has some explaining to do to his father. We’ll follow up when we hear more.”

“In other news, the Oceanic Space Administration announced today that Lieutenant Commander Matthew Fellowes-Grey, son of Devon Fellowes-Grey, the Duke of Renley, and his husband, Grant Fellowes-Grey, the Viscount Perry, has been selected to lead Oceana’s first lunar mission, scheduled for next year. The mission is expected to land on the moon to survey the proposed site of a lunar base. We’ll have more on that story and more when we return.”

CHAPTER 1 | BEGINNING OF PART 4 | PREV | NEXT

Continent of Oceana | History of Weston | History of Corwyn | History of Torenth | History of Allycia