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[nolanfa]

More gen (non-romantic) fic recs for @genuaryficrecs! Fandom: DC, batfam. Focus: Dysfunctional Batfam Type of gen relationships: parental and/or siblings This trope is kinda close to the Bad Bruce one but it's not quite the same; a Bad Bruce often is a manipulative bastard in control of everything, or just uncaring, while to qualify for this trope Bruce (or another family member) has to genuinely try and still be objectively terrible - and not just comically bad at communicating either; it usually references the several canon instances where Bruce knowingly inflicted severe physical injury to Jason, or beat his kids (or the various assassination attempts between siblings); usually also involves complex siblings dynamics. And they fucked up, and they still love each other so much but they don't really know how not to hurt each other and they're trying so very very hard and they're learning.

(… maybe don't read all of them in a row though, I don't think that could be good for anyone)

to the red planet Mars, by r_astra (https://archiveofourown.org/works/27613958) 6/6 Chapters, 36,912 words Not Rated, Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Main Characters: Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, the rest of the batfam

Official summary: Tim doesn’t notice the Batmobile roaring into the cave until the tires squeal as it skids to a halt. He starts, splashing long-cooled coffee across his lap as he lurches upright. Bruce is practically throwing himself out of the driver’s seat. He stalks around to the back of the car and Tim stares, confused. The trunk? He calls out. “Mask?” Bruce grunts a negative. Tim circles the car in time to see Bruce haul something—someone out. They’re big, but not quite as tall as Bruce, clad in black Kevlar and brown leather, wrists cuffed. Tim stops in his tracks when he recognizes the man. It’s Jason Todd.

Why I love it: This is about Bruce and Jason's relationship. This is someone going hey. Look at those canon events. If you stop and think about it, that's fucked up. And I love fics that look close like that at canon. And the characters in there are Not Okay - it's a story about abuse - but it's never hopeless. Because they're trying so hard to make it right and they've fucked up a whole lot, but they (the whole family) love each other and they're trying.

Excerpt: “We’re going to the cave.” Hood jerks his head up. “Hell, no.” Bruce starts walking towards the Batmobile. “No,” Hood repeats. “No way. I’m not allowed in Gotham, remember?” “Hn.” Bruce keeps walking, the pressure in his head building and then easing as Hood must start following. Hood doesn’t respond, but Bruce can hear him swearing under his breath in one long, continuous stream. When they reach the Batmobile, Bruce pulls out a pair of cuffs. “Seriously?” Hood sighs. He holds his wrists out anyway. Bruce slaps the cuffs on and checks to make sure they adjusted themselves correctly, then grabs Hood by the elbow and starts dragging him towards the back of the vehicle. Hood must be processing slowly, because he doesn’t start fighting until they get within a yard of the trunk. Bruce wins.

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An Aquarium of Nameless Things, by husborth (https://archiveofourown.org/works/18308171) 4/4 chapters, 14.120 words (has a very good second work in the series at 45k more, with a wider batfam sample; the second work is technically unfinished but stops at a satisfying place) T, No Archive Warnings Apply

Main Characters: Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson

Official summary: After a difficult case, Jason learns a few things about Bruce, and deals with them about as well as Jason deals with anything.

Why I love it: I like this interpretation of Jason and the Pit, with Jason trying really hard to keep a lid on it but also being emotionally 15 (I know nothing about emotional development I just once read the phrase "emotions too big for his body" and liked it), and swinging between actually dangerous/hurtful and siblingly petty. And them all being in over their heads and Bruce not healed yet (never healing) from Jason's death and a Dick, over-protective of Bruce, who never really knew Jason before, and the crushing weight of responsibility. They just feel so strongly.

Excerpts: “You’re an annoying prick who didn’t even eat all of my ravioli, which you stole,” Jason said into the phone. “[…] Also my carpet smells like mildew, so if you want to come shampoo my carpet in apology for your whole everything, that’d be great.” - “No,” Dick admitted. “But it’s my turn. Bruce almost died of an oxycontin overdose in front of me. Did you know that?” Jason’s face turned red and hot and got tight—liar, liar, liar, pants on fire, the fire licking at his legs in just the millennium he lay there dying, sucking air through bloody lungs. A lie. A sham. He’d been tricked, Bruce had tricked him, Bruce had made him think he cared but this was a lie, these were all lies. He would die, he would pass in a storm before him, and Jason would be left to root through the garbage, he’d be—the dogs were barking loud and they tore his heels bloody. “No,” Jason choked out. “I didn’t.”

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never be the first to believe, by ohnomydear (https://archiveofourown.org/works/17967926) 15/15 chapters, 98.132 words T, No Archive Warnings Apply

Main Characters: Tim Drake, Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Ric Grayson

Official Summary: If Bruce 'made up' with Jason at the diner following the events at Sanctuary, the Red Hood shouldn't be reluctant to ask Bruce for permission to be in Gotham for a necessary surgery. Instead, Jason kidnaps Tim and asks him to make sure Bruce doesn't know he's in Gotham. Yeah, nothing about this sounds like they've forgiven each other.

Why I love it: That one is ostensibly about Jason and Bruce, and the aftermath of the big fight where Bruce beats Jason all to hell. But it's also (more so, imo) about each of the siblings' relationships with Jason, and with Bruce. Yay for Robins banding together against Bruce. People talking past each other, contradicting POVs, and what forgiveness means/looks like. Also this one has an amnesiac Ric, which creates fun character dynamics.

Excerpt: “How did you get me this far?” And whose car was this? “The truth, or would you like a face-saving lie that we can both pretend to believe?” Tim groaned and reached for the coffee. “Which board room did I fall asleep in?” “Your office. For once. But intern Jared noticed and called the car company, which showed up in record time.” Jason gestured with one hand at the car around them. “And then they ‘took you home.’” “Why not just wake me up?” Tim hissed. “And don’t even get me started on how I don’t have an intern Jared and I’m really suspicious that he and the car company driver look astonishingly similar.” “Guilty. And as Bruce has always said, if Tim falls asleep on patrol, it’s because he made poor decisions about how much sleep he needed.” Tim gaped at him. “He—he doesn’t say that.” “No, he doesn’t.” Jason grinned. “But let’s say that I say it. Now, to business. Sorry I didn’t get the copies of the agenda printed first, but I was busy finding a wheelchair to get you out of the building.” Tim dropped his head into his left hand, groaning. “You realize I do have to go back there, right? And explain what that all was?” “That doesn’t sound like intern Jared’s or Driver Ulysses’ problem. Both of them are more concerned with finding their respective missing twin brothers – and solving the terrible murder of their mother, which took place ten sad, sad years ago.” Great. He’d made up backstories for covers with a four second half-life. Tim took a sip of the coffee and found it passable. “The agenda?” “You know I’m not allowed in Gotham.” Jason’s voice had gone flat, as if the humor had just dropped out of it.

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How Far Love Goes, by BeatriceEagle (@flybynightwing) (https://archiveofourown.org/works/31871722) 11/11 chapters, 99.549 words T, Graphic Depictions of Violence

Main Characters: the whole batfam

Official summary: Plenty of family reunions end in fighting. Not that many end in explosions. A mass Arkham breakout brings all of Bruce's children home, and with them, all the drama, secrets, and anger they've been keeping for years. Amidst rising tensions and a mysterious new threat in Gotham, the family has to work together to round up the rogues—and confront their feelings about each other.

Why I love it: A main plot peppered by tasty flashbacks (that inform our understanding of the present) of batfam interactions through twelve years, ranging from cute to heartrending. Complex relationships web that actually includes the girls too (Babs and Steph and Cass!).

Excerpts: “How about Nightwing?” said a voice from above, and then Nightwing somersaulted from the branches of a nearby tree, landing lightly on the ground beside Cass. Batman pivoted half a degree to face him. “Oracle called you too?” “Of course she did, B, there was an Arkham breakout.” “It’s handled.” Nightwing crossed his arms. “Handled like it was last time?” Batman mirrored Nightwing’s stance. “It’s handled.” “Excuse me, but I don’t feel like standing by and watching you get your back broken ag—” “Go back to Blüdhaven. They need you there.” Batman spun around and stalked away. Nightwing stared after him, his body leaning in the direction Batman had gone, like he was about to run after him. Then he slumped backward. “Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.” He turned to Cass. As always, his body language screamed awkwardness when he spoke to her. Even facing her, he angled his shoulders away, like he didn’t want to be in this conversation. “Is he letting you help him?” Cass shrugged one shoulder, deciding that was better than trying to put the mess of hers, Barbara’s, and Batman’s stand-off into words - [flashback from Dick's Robin days] Then, for the first time since they'd begun their stakeout, movement beside him. Dick looked over. Batman's hand stretched out towards him. In his gauntleted palm, a single yellow M&M. Dick looked up. Batman's face was unchanged. But the M&M was obviously for Dick, right? He picked it up gingerly, as if it were explosive. (And given that it had come from within Batman's cape, who was to say it wasn't?) Eyes still on Batman, Dick put the candy in his mouth. Just chocolate. No explosions. Batman's hand withdrew back into his cape. A moment later it emerged with another M&M. Green this time. Dick took it and grinned.

[nolanfa]

I feel the same way about the whole structure of english language tbh. English doesn't need a catch-all verb because you can just make nouns into verbs. A bike -> to bike. A ship -> to ship. A knife -> to knife. A bag -> to bag. A radio -> to radio. In a way french doesn't really have in such a widespread and immediate way.

So I've been learning French for a while and 'faire' is actually an incredible word. Like what a fucking breakthrough in economy of language.

Faire is a verb that is usually translated into English as "to do/to make," but it covers way more actions than that, which is very confusing for new speakers. because (I have realized) that's not really what faire means.

Faire is actually a word that just gestures vaguely in the direction of the object of the sentence and goes "you know." "Je fais du velo." "Je fais du courses." "Je fais mes valises." I'm biking. I go grocery shopping. I'm packing my bags. You're just sort of pointing at a bike and going "you know, the obvious thing you'd do with it."

English: "You mean RIDE it??"

French: "Sure whatever."

Like idk I just really enjoy the concept of a catch-all verb that you can just slap onto almost anything because who fucking gives a shit, you get the idea. There's a bike. what do you think I'm going to do with it.

[nolanfa]

Suffolk sheep! Not planning (for now) on glazing it (...maybe the small ones... minecraft-sheep-like... if I get transparent coloured glazes... but I don't have them for now). Sheep second to last and last are actually almost the same size, but second to last took about four times as long to do (better feet and wool)

[nolanfa]

more medaillons; a cat-themed batch (waiting to be fired).

[nolanfa]

I finally took pictures of the hanging drakes, so here you have all three ways they can exist in space: 1) in a flower pot (or a garden!) on top of a stick, 2) hanging in midair, and 3) on a flat surface. Each of them should be able to pull off all three.

[nolanfa]

[nolanfa]

Here's the masterpost for when I did the Steve Rogers Bingo. Larger previews under the cut.

B5 - Project Rebirth

Steve Rogers, alone (part of a series of 8 featuring a body part symbolic of each avenger); 1 picture + 55 words full version here on tumblr, on AO3 here

D1 - Domestic

Illustration for It’s All Smooth Sailing From Here , by pale_and_tragic; Steve, Bruce, Tony, and Pepper on the phone. full version here on tumblr, on AO3 here

D2 - On the run based on We did not make ourselves by M_Leigh; Steve and Bucky and the weight of their shared history and of everything that happened to each of them when apart; video, 1:22 full version on tumblr here, on AO3 here

D3 - Get Together Illustration for My Big Fat Wolf Wedding by AggressiveWhenStartled, galwednesday, quietnight, silentwalrus, skellerbvvt; Bucky and the five hundred bats that currently constitute Steve. Full version on tumblr here, on AO3 here.

D4 - "I went under the world was at war, I wake up, they say we won. They didn't say what we lost."

Sam and Steve and very much not Bucky; 1 picture + 100 words full version here on tumblr, here on AO3

D5 - James Rhodes

art for Cut the Wire (How to Stop a Civil War) written by youcancallmearrow ; Tony, Steve, and kinda Rhodey; animated gif, 4-ish images on tumblr here, on AO3 here

E4 - Body Swap Illustration for @hanitrash’s fic Soldat i Volkodav (the Fist and the Fang); Bucky, a shapeshifted Steve; four pictures of a clay sculpture full version here on tumblr, on AO3 here

--

And... Stats! 7 fills (wow getting kinda low for stats almost didn't bother)

Characters: - 3 (43%) with Bucky - 2 (29%) with Tony - 2 (29%) with animals - 1 (14%) each of Bruce, Sam, and Rhodey (and Pepper, kinda) - 1 (14%) with only Steve

medium: - 6 (86%) almost entirely digital - 4 (57%) contain words in the picture - 2 (29%) move - 1 (14%) with clay

context: - 5 (71%) are fic illustrations - 2 (29%) go with text I wrote

[nolanfa]

a snowy owl with large snow-walker feet

[nolanfa]

[nolanfa]

On the first three pics they got their first firing, on the vid they're still greenware (I need to make some firing/glaze tests, hence why three of them are still full black: I'll probably try to keep the bubbly effect for the dragons, it's fun, but I'd like to know whether I can control it).

[nolanfa]

FTH

Hi! I'm participating in Fandom Trumps Hate this year, in the fancraft bazaar (meaning I'll be offering physical items).

So. I'll be offering a clay medaillon with up to one symbol per face (I can do more than two sides, too, if I make it pyramidal. It will be heavier though). Example of a two-sided medaillon, painted with the Hawkeye symbol on one face and the Winter Soldier one on the other:

Price tiers: - 20 or more: a single-sided medaillon - 30 or more: a double-sided medaillon - 40 or more: a three-sided pyramidal medaillon - 50 or more: a four-sided pyramidal medaillon - 60 or more: a five-sided cylinder (base triangle) medaillon - 70 or more: a six-sided double pyramid medaillon (for example: if you offer 45, you may ask for a single-, double-, or three-sided medaillon)

Bidding form here. See bids here.

More info under the cut

Wait what's FTH:

@fandomtrumpshate is a charity drive centered around the creation of fanworks (fanart, fanfic, services (like betaing or podcasting), etc.; the vast majority of things are fandom-centered but it's not actually a prerequisite); the way it works is: you bid on an auction set up by a participant; on march 9th, the winner is selected; I (let's say you bid on my auction) contact the winner, who then makes a donation of the amount that won the bid to one of the charities on the list, and sends me the proof of donation; I send the proof of donation to fth, contact the winner to check what exactly they want, make it and then send it to them (they pay for the shipping); more info there: https://fandomtrumpshate.tumblr.com/FAQ (look around their blog for the other participants too!)

Timetable:

The example medaillon is already done and will be sent immediately if the highest bidder chooses those symbols. I can make other single- or double-sided medaillons in a couple weeks. For more than two sides, or if you want your medaillon glazed instead of painted, it may take a few months.

Why do you keep saying medaillon, isn't it just a necklace?

I can send it as a necklace (with waxed cotton string and a toggle clasp (the ones shaped like an I and an O) or just a knot) or just the medaillon if you want to hang it on a wall; we can discuss that later: as long as I already have the materials at hand I can do whatever you like best.

Symbols available:

I am mostly into Marvel and DC (and Teen Wolf but I don't think they have clear character-related symbols?), but if you want simple geometrical symbols from other fandoms (or non-fandom) I can do it too (just send me a reference).

Glaze? Paint? What's the difference?

The symbol can be painted on with stained glass-imitation paint, solvent-based. This solution is faster (a couple weeks), since I already have everything on hand. Or it can be glazed (glaze is a glass-like color/material fired at very high temperatures; it is very sturdy: you'll break the medaillon before you manage to scratch it, dilute it, or flake it off; the one I use is shiny). Glaze takes more time (a few months) because I need to make a new clay medaillon, wait for it to dry, get it to the kiln, wait for the kiln people to fire it, add the glaze, and get it to the kiln again for a second firing. The pattern will probably be lightly raised. I have slightly less glaze than paint colors, and black glaze is for now an issue (I can't guarantee it'll look good). For an example of a glazed medaillon I made, see the first picture here: https://nolanfa-shop.fourthwall.com/en-eur/products/medaillons-birds

Shipping - as in sending stuff :) :

I will ask you to cover the shipping costs in addition to the donation. If you win the auction, you'll have to make the donation to the charity of your choice (which is the amount I take into account for the price tiers) and send me the proof of donation, then send me the amount needed for shipping (I'll tell you how much it is depending on where you live).

More questions?

You can contact me at nolanfa (dot) art (at) gmail (dot) com if you have any questions.

[nolanfa]

Illustration for the excellent fic Do Every Stupid Thing by @thepartyresponsible (a most excellent author). Illo on AO3 here.

Trying a new style.

(hey @dc-marvel-crossovers this might be up your alley (but also tell me if you don't want me to tag you))

[nolanfa]

so I made a winterhawk medaillon.

It's clay (actual fired white clay) and the color is stained glass-like paint

You can wear it as a necklace, or hang it from the ceiling, or hang it to a nail on your wall and change sides every few days, the possibilities are endless.

[nolanfa]

(I won't necessarily follow the result but it will inform my decision)

[nolanfa]

[nolanfa]

Otter with ten toes and one ear.