#Bruce Wayne the public figure is absolutely a construct. BUT SO IS BATMAN. Because Batman must be something more than human.

[msfcatlover]

[ID: A single panel from an old Batman comic, depicting Batman escorting a man dressed like him away from the viewer. Batman is saying, “Let’s go, son. Let’s get you some help.” Around them are several narrative boxes, in two different colors. The green boxes, cumulatively, read: “But the avenger within the Batman co-exists with the compassionate man. Batman is indeed two people… and both are Bruce Wayne.” The single yellow box reads simply: “The End.” /ID]

Excuse me as I just leave this here…

[engagemachine]

hi there! i have been a fan of your writing for 2 years now!!!it stucks with me and ive grown so much since i first started reading your fics, taylor is so special to me and you too!!!

i know its kinda cliché but i would LOVE your take on a AU where bruce wayne is somewhat part of taylors life and the joker shows up (you can make that however youd like, i would just absolutely batshit on how you would write bruce), i know its a really drained subject in the "fanbase" but i totally feel like your picture on it would totally differ from whats already out there, since your storytelling is super unique, believe me, no one has the talent you have to write the joker!!!ive looked!!! your way is simply special and so accurate, i feel like it would be something more than worth reading!!!anyway id love if youd give your opinion on it, have a great day!!!

Hi baby doll. 🥰 Oh thank you so much for this message, this is SO cute. <3 Thank you for being a reader for TWO YEARS (I'm honored!!!!) And also you are so sweet to say that Taylor (and me) are so special to you. PLS. Don't make me cry.....

Re: Bruce Wayne. Okay, so it's kind of crazy to think about, but like, in all the years that I've spent writing for the TDK fandom (started posting in 2009) I've only written Bruce once during that entire time, and it was for a crossover AU with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, so we didn't even get to see him interact with other characters within the universe (such as Alfred, for example).

Readers throughout the years keep requesting this though, this idea of Taylor being under Bruce Wayne's care and/or being adopted by him, and the more I see people wanting to read about it, the more I catch myself maybe... slightly... leaning into it. There is little doubt in my mind that the two of them together could lead to so many amazing moments and character interactions. They're both orphans, after all, and they both share the common thread that is the Joker (even though Taylor wouldn't know this, because she doesn't know Bruce Wayne is Batman). But also he'd be such a father figure for her, which Taylor has never had in her entire life, and that's already such an interesting dynamic to think about. He would take very good care of her and she would probably called Alfred "Uncle Alfred" or something, like can we PLEASE discuss this..........................

My main problem with constructing an AU of this nature is that once Taylor has had a taste of the good life, I don't conceivably see her ever wanting to be with the Joker again. BUT, the more I've thought about it, the more I can see the Joker finding SOME way of getting under Taylor's skin (it's what he's best at, after all) and manipulating her into believing that Bruce can't offer her the kind of life that he can, that Bruce doesn't care about her, etc, etc.

Also, it's interesting to consider how Taylor and the Joker might meet in an AU like this. Would she even remember him from her past? In the JK/Burn universe, we find out that the Joker has been looking for after having spent many years thinking about her. But in this universe, would he still care about her? Would he maybe see her on TV (when she's adopted by Bruce, because obviously this would be a hugely publicized moment) and how old would she be? I hate the idea of him kidnapping her as a way of sending shockwaves through the city and getting Batman's attention (just because it's so trite and overdone in the fandom, even I don't think I could freshen up that trope) but then how else are they meeting/coming into contact with each other?

An AU like this is daunting to me because it would have to be planned out so far in advance... and I generally don't plan my stories that far ahead. I've just never been that kind of writer. My best writing comes when I'm winging it, generally speaking.

IDK. What are your thoughts? Did anything I mention here interest you?