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onebadwinter · 3 years

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The Joker Tropes

Taken from Here

0% Approval Rating: Apart from Harley (and even then, only when their on-off relationship is "on"), Gaggy and Punchline, no one likes or supports the Joker. In any way, whatsoever. Damn near every other member of Batman's Rogues Gallery hates his guts, mostly because not only is he completely sociopathic and unpredictable, but also they are all scared shitless by him. The only reason why he's even allowed in teams such as the Legion of Doom is because of that fear: if they exclude him from the lineup, then chances are that dead bodies will be lining the streets in their name. Trickster spells it out in "Underworld Unleashed." Trickster: Great going, Neron, bring in the one guy no one wants to be in the same room with. When super-villains want to scare each other, they tell Joker stories.

Abusive Parents: One common tactic for the Joker to garner sympathy is claiming he was ill-treated by his parents. Given his propensity to spew out different and sometimes contradictory backstories, nobody knows if they're true.Harley Quinn: Joker told me things, secret things he never told anyone... Batman: What did he tell you, Harley? Was it the line about the abusive father, or the one about the alcoholic mom? Of course, the runaway orphan story is particularly moving, too. He's gained a lot of sympathy with that one. What was it he told that one parole officer? Oh, yes... 'There was only one time I ever saw dad really happy. He took me to the ice show when I was seven...' Harley: (crying) Circus... He told me it was the circus. Batman: He's got a million of them, Harley.

Acquired Poison Immunity: In many continuities, he's immune to his trademark Joker Venom/Smilex. In a crossover comic with Captain America, he also proves to be immune to Red Skull's "Dust of Death", as their trademark poisons are too similar to each other.

Ambiguous Disorder: He's undeniably insane and Ax-Crazy, but has no official diagnosis. If anything, he can just be diagnosed with "Being the Joker". However, it’s possible he’s perfectly sane and just The Sociopath, and is using his manipulation abilities to continue his reign of terror.

Ambiguous Start of Darkness: Related to his Multiple-Choice Past; the only thing consistent is that he was a low-level crook who got dunked in chemicals to become the Joker. C While some origins (most notably The Killing Joke) have him being forced into crime, others have him as already a sinister criminal beforehand. Batman (1989) and Batman: The Animated Series choose the Evil All Along interpretation.

Appropriated Appellation:

Arch-Enemy: A classic example to the Batman, and not just in the comics - they are pretty much the iconic gold standard when it comes to this trope. The two of them are the page image for a reason.

Attention Whore: A big part of his motivation in various continuities. He even admits as such at one point, while denying he's not behind one particular crime.Joker: Do you really think I would stir up so much trouble and not make sure you knew it was me?

Ax-Crazy: One of his main characteristics is his willingness to psycho on anyone, including his own henchmen.

Bad Boss: Willing to casually kill his own henchmen for any reason, be it part of a plan, for amusement, or simply on a whim.

Bad People Abuse Animals: Defied by The Joker in at least one story (Emperor Joker). Evil Jimmy Olson kills Superman, who has been turned into a dog, by crushing him underneath a fire hydrant. The Joker is simply annoyed, because he doesn't know how to make something as pointless as beating a dumb animal funny. Jimmy Olson is then beaten to death by two giant robots who appear out of nowhere.

Believing Their Own Lies: He sometimes believes his Multiple-Choice Past, Depending on the Writer of course. One issue of the Robin Series had the Joker actually in tears as he told the psychiatrist of his abusive childhood, only for the psychiatrist to coldly point out that it's the seventh story he's told now.

Berserk Button:

Black Comedy: This is one of Joker’s specialties. To normal people, killing would be a terrible thing, but to Joker, it’s hilarious, especially if he does it in a way that amuses him.

Bond Villain Stupidity: In a "Detective Comics" story written by Paul Dini, the Joker (while impersonating a stage magician he had previously murdered) shot Zatanna in the throat so she couldn't recite a spell to save herself, then locked her in a tank of water while strapping Batman in an electric chair. He didn't shoot her in the head because he wanted Batman to watch helplessly as she died. This didn't go so well because first, he's BATMAN! and second, Zatanna was able to write a healing incantation on the lid of the tank using her own blood, which made the spell even more powerful.

Boring Insult: While the Joker has used it a few times on others, he mostly does it to hear the sound of his own voice as the people he usually slings this insult at don't really care whether or not they're boring. On the other hand, this is Joker's Berserk Button when others use it against him. Most notably, he reacts poorly when Terry deliberately exploits this flaw with glee and even rubs it in his face in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. After all, the natural enemy of a comedian is The Heckler.

Breakout Villain: The Trope Codifier for comics. DC's initial intention was to kill him off in his second appearance. Fortunately, editor Whitney Ellsworth convinced DC to spare him, a panel was hastily added to show that he'd survived, and the Joker rapidly became not only Batman's Arch-Enemy, but arguably the most iconic example of an Arch-Enemy in all of fiction.

Break the Comedian: A sure way to determined if things have gotten real, even for the Joker, is if he isn't laughing or joking. A famous example involved the Joker being frightened during the events of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing run, when he was horrified by Arcane's actions.

Clear My Name: The Brave and the Bold has him framed for several murders and he must use Batman's help.

Collective Identity: As revealed in Darkseid War and DC Rebirth, the Joker has been used by three people, though Batman: Three Jokers clarified it as this: The Criminal (the original "Golden Age" Joker from the character's debut in Batman #1), The Clown (the "Silver Age" Joker, strongly implied to be the one who killed Jason Todd), and The Comedian (the current "Modern Age" Joker, who kidnapped and tormented Jim Gordon).

Combat Pragmatist : While his fighting prowess varies from remarkably proficient to extremely weak Depending on the Writer, the Joker is a consistently dirty fighter, striking enemies when and where they are most vulnerable. Besides his myriad of gag gadgets, he often carries concealed weapons, gases and acids on his person, and won't hesitate to brandish a wrench or smash a chair over your head in a pinch. He is usually adept with knives and, unlike Batman, rarely has any reservations about firearms. He has no qualms kicking an opponent when they're down, and will employ deception, feigning surrender or defeat to get Batman to lower his guard.

Comic-Book Fantasy Casting:

Confusion Fu: This is often his last line of defense when Batman corners him, especially in the animated television shows. Effectiveness varies.

Cop Killer: Sometimes police officers are among the Joker's victims:

Create Your Own Villain: Most stories posit he was chased by Batman through a factory with No OSHA Compliance, which caused him to be exposed to acid, discoloring his skin and hair and driving him insane when he sees his reflection. Often he claims Batman is responsible for turning him into The Joker.

Creepy High-Pitched Voice: In voiced roles, he usually has a high-pitched voice to contrast Batman's Badass Baritone.

Crossover Villain-in-Chief: In DC's Crisis Crossover events that involve a lot of villains, like Salvation Run and Forever Evil, The Joker usually fills this role along with Lex Luthor.

Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Insanity aside, sometimes the Joker's plans and methods are so out there they just seem stupid. Despite appearances, he's usually very cunning, and always very dangerous. In fact, part and parcel of what makes the Joker's plans devastating is that he knows how to hide the punchline for lack of a better word. The plans are so innocuous, so disheveled and so utterly random that they usually have no sane MO, which makes it hard to see the bigger picture of the plan unless Batman pieces it together quickly.

Critical Psychoanalysis Failure: Happens frequently, though this may be an indication of the competence of the staff at Arkham. One such time was with Dr. Harleen Quinzel, who bought his story hook, line and sinker and declared him sane, then broke him out of Arkham and started dating him (of course, her exact analysis was that he was utilizing Obfuscating Insanity and it's implied that she was actually right, so perhaps she was the only good doctor at Arkham after all...)

Deadly Prank: He generally considers murdering someone for a joke to be morally no different than putting a whoopie cushion on their chair.

Depending on the Artist: His depiction varies a lot between eras and between different artists in the same period. Major differences are whether he can form facial expressions other than a grin, and whether he is average-sized or freakishly tall and thin.

Depending on the Writer: There are many huge variations, the most common and glaring being:

Depraved Homosexual: Not above invoking this deliberately to get under Batman's skin. Whether he means all his flirting and feel-copping varies slightly Depending on the Writer and heavily depending on one's own interpretation.

Diplomatic Impunity: In A Death in the Family, Ayatollah Khomeini appoints him the UN ambassador to Iran, giving him diplomatic immunity. This was later retconned to the fictional Syraq due to reasons of taste.

Dirty Coward: There is a common misconception that Joker has no regard for his own life and doesn't care if he dies or not. In actuality he does care, and the reason he keeps taunting morally good characters into killing him is because he's confident that they don't have the guts to off him. When he comes across someone who is willing to kill him, he shows his true colors as a sniveling little coward where he starts pleading for his life.The Punisher: I got all the therapy you need right here, comedian.The Joker: You're really going to do it.

Disproportionate Retribution: Has been known to try to kill people for minor slights, such as welshing on a bet on a sporting event for trivial stakes.

Domestic Abuse: This characterizes his relationship with his "henchwench" Harley Quinn to a T. Joker frequently yells at her, puts her down, humiliates her, and exposes her to all manner of violence ranging from "merely" slapping or punching her to outright trying to murder her. Such is her Mad Love that she ignored his abuse for most of her existence in comic history, with the two only separating in the late 2010s.

The Dreaded: Easily one of the most feared villains in the entire DC universe. Other villains are afraid of him; it's been said that when criminals want to scare each other, they tell Joker stories.

Driven to Madness: Doing this to others has become part of his MO. What triggered his own insanity and belief in nihilism remains unknown.

Early Installment Weirdness: Just take a gander at his earliest appearances:

Electric Joybuzzer: One of his signature weapons, a lethal variation, most memorably used in Batman (1989). He ended up Hoist by His Own Petard when trying to use it on Static.Static: That was fun. Let me try! (BZZZZT!) (Batman approves.)

Enemy Mine:

Even Evil Has Standards: Oddly enough, this trope does occasionally apply to him.

Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Completely averted with Harley. He physically and emotionally abuses her and tried to kill her on numerous occasions. They eventually break up in the New 52 continuity.

Evil All Along: Some versions, such as the DC Animated Universe and Batman (1989), go with the interpretation that the Joker was evil, if not outright Ax-Crazy, even before his fateful transformation, with the chemicals just making him worse.

Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: The Joker is Nihilism Incarnate: he believes that life is pointless and insane, and the only thing anyone can do is give into the madness. Life is a joke, and once he got the joke he never stopped laughing at it. One of the reasons he's obsessed with Batman is because Batman is The Anti-Nihilist: Batman also thinks, to some degree at least, that life is meaningless. But rather than embrace the madness, Batman fights against it, trying to bring order to chaos through his heroic actions. So Batman got the joke too, but he's not laughing, and the Joker doesn't understand why.

Evil Genius: Though rarely the focus of his character, Joker is usually an extremely gifted chemist, constantly creating new and better versions of his signature laughing gas. He's also (unsurprisingly) a skilled planner on par with Batman himself, in addition to being extremely charismatic and manipulative when he wants to be.

Evil Is Petty: Joker truly sees no difference between throwing cream pies, robbing a museum, and brutal, torturous mass-murder. To him, it's all just part of the joke.

Evil Sounds Deep: Jack Nicholson in Batman (1989) and Kevin Michael Richardson in The Batman both give the Joker a deep, sinister voice, contrasting his usual higher-pitched depictions in other works.

Facial Horror: His iconic "perma-clown" appearance (the green hair, chalk-white skin, and most of the time, red lips) is the result of being submerged in a tank of chemicals. However, there was times this has gotten worse.

Fame Through Infamy: He's practically built a career on crimes designed more to spread his infamy than anything else. Perhaps his true illness is that he is an Attention Whore through and through...

Faux Affably Evil: Often addresses others in a polite and friendly way before he unleashes merry hell on them.

Flanderization: Over the years, his actions have become almost exclusively focused on causing as much carnage and chaos as possible or harassing Batman and his allies rather than performing any non-lethal mischief or practical crime.

Foe Romance Subtext: Sometimes will mess with Batman's mind by calling him by pet names or using innuendo. Or outright groping him. According to later writers, Joker regards their hero/villain dynamic as a very special relationship, and resents anyone or thing that gets in the way of it (like all those family members Bruce enjoys hanging out with), which is disturbingly like a jealous lover.

Foil: To Batman in several ways. If the origin offered in Killing Joke is to be believed, both Batman and Joker had one bad day that put them on very different paths.

For the Evulz: The usual motives of the Joker. Many of his crimes always involve sowing chaos and the schadenfreude of other people's misery.

Freudian Excuse: Even he isn't sure of his own history and will crop up multiple reasons for his insanity. The most accepted version is that he was a thug named the Red Hood who gets disfigured falling into a vat while trying to escape Batman. His backstory still remains a mystery.

Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse: Best displayed in The Killing Joke: Joker's "one bad day" is just an excuse, as he neither knows nor cares if it actually happened that way, and Batman confronts him on how his attempt to similarly break Commissioner Gordon failed.Batman: Despite all your sick, vicious little games, he's as sane as he ever was! So maybe ordinary people don't always crack. Maybe there isn't any need to crawl under a rock with all the other slimey things when trouble hits. Maybe it was just you, all the time!

The Friend Nobody Likes: Often plays this role among villain team-ups. It's implied that the only reason the other DC villains ever invite him to things is because they're terrified of what he'll do to them if he's not. Alexander Luthor Jr.'s death at the end of Infinite Crisis is brought about because, as Lex Luthor puts it:Luthor: You made one big mistake. You didn't let the Joker play.

From Nobody to Nightmare: The key thing about his Multiple-Choice Past is that nobody really knows who he was before he put on the Red Hood and fell into a vat of acid. As such, Joker was literally a nobody... who turned into the DC Universe's scariest villain, and who at times has upstaged even Brainiac or Darkseid.

Frozen Face: Most depictions have his face as such, with his massive rictus grin being something he can't really stop doing.

Gadgeteer Genius: While he seems to be a chemist first and foremost, the Joker has no trouble coming up with a range of tools and weapons of his own design and is easily as smart as Batman in this area. Other stories show that he has a solid enough understanding of such varied fields as engineering, computers and even robotics that he can at least hijack the sophisticated inventions of others and use them for his own ends with no difficulty whatsoever, and he is generally implied (though rarely outright stated) to have had a scientific background prior to becoming the Clown Prince of Crime.

Glasgow Grin: Heath Ledger's portrayal features very noticeable scarring from such wounds and tells two conflicting stories of how he got them. Sometimes, Depending on the Artist, the Joker has one in the comics, usually in out-of-continuity stories.

Gonk: Depending on the Artist, he varies from "disfigured, but still fairly handsome" to "barely passes for human", the latter cases usually feature him with a really long and narrow nose and a huge, exaggerated mouth with a permanent Slasher Smile.

Guest Fighter: After making appearances in the previous crossover and being a major player in NetherRealm's other big series, Joker shows up in Mortal Kombat 11 all on his own, freed from the restrictions of a Teen rating and able to showcase the true depths of his depraved bloodlust.

Handshake of Doom: Often kills unsuspecting victims by offering a handshake. When the other person grabs his hand, their palm is pricked by a device that resembles a joy buzzer, which injects deadly venom into their blood stream.

Hate Sink: Posthumously, his Injustice-verse incarnation is the primary target for audience scorn and gets saddled with this role by everyone in the game, its sequel, and the tie-in comics — the version from the Injustice-verse itself, at least. This is because he tricked Superman into killing his own wife Lois Lane and nuking Metropolis, then pulling a Strike Me Down with All of Your Hatred on the poor guy who that set him on the path to becoming a tyrant, all for the sake of doing it, and because he was tired of losing to Batman, so he decided to go after an easier target. His role as The Corrupter to Harley is explained to make her redemption feel more plausible, as even she has come to despise him for his actions. In particular, while Superman does terrible things, he is portrayed as a Tragic Villain due to the losses he suffered before becoming a bad guy, and as such, his killing of the Joker is always played for maximum pathos. Even villains as despicable as Brainiac, Darkseid and Gorilla Grodd openly despise him. This even continues into his Guest Fighter appearance in Mortal Kombat 11note , where even the likes of Kano, Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn can't stand him.

Human Head on the Wall: There's a rather famous piece of comic book artwork◊ drawn by Brian Bolland featuring The Joker lounging in a chair in front of a trophy wall mounted with the decapitated heads of various DC heroes and villains, all of them painted white and their faces distorted into a smile like the Joker himself. It's even been parodied a bunch of times with other comic supervillains sitting in Joker's place.

Iconic Outfit:

I'm a Humanitarian: There have been a few times when the Joker engaged in cannibalism, such as an issue of Grant Morrison's JLAnote after Day Of Judgment, where upon the reveal that the Martian Manhunter took the League and the now Hal Jordan hosted-Spectre into the Joker's head, the Joker lamented eating a man's tongue raw. Additionally, an infamous bit in Emperor Joker has the Joker eat all of China while he had Mr. Mxyzptlk's powers.

Insane No More: Is cured by Batman forcing unknown pills down his throat in the non-canon Batman: White Knight, causing him go back to his real name, Jack Napier, make a Heel–Face Turn and accuse Batman of being part of the problem (he's also considerably better than the usual Joker, being closer to the earlier trickster personality).

I've Come Too Far: At the end of The Killing Joke, Batman tries to reason with the Joker, insisting that they've got to stop before one of them kills the other and offering to help rehabilitate him. Joker briefly considers the offer before solemnly turning it down.Joker: No. I'm sorry, but... no. It's too late for that. Far too late.

It Amused Me: His raison d'etre. Why kill people in horrific ways, ruin their lives, and generally make the entire universe a worse place than he left it? Because it's funny.

Jekyll & Hyde: Inverted in the case of Batman: White Knight, where taking pills cures Joker of his insanity and brings back his original Jack Napier persona. However, if he fails to take the pills, the Joker resurfaces, which is exactly what happens in Batman: Curse of the White Knight, and he's much worse than before.

Jerkass: Though that is a total understatement, Joker still more or less counts as one. When he isn't killing or torturing people for his own amusement, he's taunting them and trying get under other people's skin.

Joker Immunity: The trope namer. He was originally conceived as a one-off villain but proved too interesting a character to be killed off so quickly, and a last-minute edit had him survive instead. He's so famous for this that most works that kill him off, the audience doesn't buy it, and it serves as an effective twist the rare times when he is Killed Off for Real. But even those rare occasions may continue to feature him in flashbacks or hallucinations as a Posthumous Character.

Knife Nut: In many appearances, knives are his Weapon of Choice, either to disfigure his victims or kill his foes. Often both.The Joker: Do you want to know why I use a knife? Guns are too... quick. You can't savor all the little emotions. You see, in their last moments, people show you who you really are.

Large Ham: Holy shit, yes. He has an enormous sense of showmanship and is seen cracking Black Comedy jokes every minute, and it's a nigh-guarantee that whoever is portraying him will be munching the scenery to the very structure. Most especially the case if it happens to be Mark Hamill.

Laser-Guided Broadcast: In comic books as well in most of the media, when The Joker takes the control of TV and makes one of his menaces to threat and/or destroy Gotham City, good part of his message goes directly to Batman by tempting him to stop his plans, where usually destroy the city is just a secondary plan, getting/trapping/killing Batman as his real main plan.

Legacy Character: The idea of multiple Jokers is used in Gotham. There are two Jokers - Jerome Valeska, and his twin brother Jeremiah Valeska. The former is a deranged mass murderer who spread madness through Gotham. The latter is the actual Joker who becomes Batman's Arch-Enemy, and is even more dangerous than his predecessor.

Lethal Joke Character: In-Universe. Those unfamiliar with him tend to write him off as just some fool dressed as a clown, only to realize very quickly why they should keep their guard up around him. He's still one of the most dangerous characters in the DC Universe, despite existing in a world filled with super-humans and gods.

Master of Disguise: A talent he possesses even in his earliest stories. Joker is an expert with make-up, costumes and impersonations and has posed as everything from police officers to doctors to even Batman himself. He can go to extremely elaborate lengths to pull off his deceptions too, fabricating entire backstories and staying in-character for months at a time to see his plans through.

Mirthless Laughter: The Joker's constantly laughing, either at the pain and misery of others, the pain and misery he inflicts on others, or even his own pain. However, as describe by many and offered by the reader based on his scenes and what he does, there is NEVER any joy in his laughter. Never any real happiness. Just cruelty and mockery of pain and sorrow. If he does indeed have a tragic backstory that caused his madness, then this makes sense as he has chosen to laugh instead of cry. His statement about how the universe should end "so there won't be anymore people like me" during the Emperor Joker storyline lends weight to him being a Sad Clown.

Misanthrope Supreme: While it's not evident given Joker's Laughing Mad demeanor and his penchant for macabre jokes usually at the life and limb expense of someone else, Joker is actually absolutely full of hatred and spite towards basically everyone and the entire world. Several stories have gone into this and it's implied that the Joker finds it so easy to kill everyone around him, not because he feels nothing for them, but in fact because he loathes everyone aside from his twisted relationship with Batman.

Moment of Lucidity: There've been a few times when outside forces have sent him into a fit of temporary sanity over the years.

Monster Clown: One of the classic examples.

Multiple-Choice Past: Practically the poster child and possible trope namer. Even he isn't sure of his own history. The most accepted version introduced in Detective Comic #168 (1951) has him as a thug named the Red Hood who jumps into a vat of chemicals to escape Batman, disfiguring him and inspiring him to adopt the name Joker. Why he went by the name the Red Hood has changed over the years: The Killing Joke claims he was a failed comedian pressured into becoming a criminal to support his pregnant wife. The trauma of his disfigurement from jumping in the acid and his wife's earlier accidental death drove him insane. However, even this backstory is questionable, as the Joker himself calls it "multiple choice".

My God, What Have I Done?: Whenever he is made temporarily sane, most notably by a Lazarus pit after Ra's Al Ghul killed him after a Villain Team-Up and in JLA #15 during the Rock of Ages storyline, Joker usually expresses deep remorse for his crimes. Unfortunately it never lasts.

The Nicknamer: He's prone to giving nicknames to allies and enemies alike. Sometimes affectionate, sometimes snarky, but always undesired. Calling Batman "Batsy" or "Bats" and Robin "boy blunder" are probably his most iconic.

No Celebrities Were Harmed: Some of the Joker's victims fall into this.

No Name Given: The Joker is the only Batman villain who doesn't have an official real identity. However, there are three occasions where names have been used. The Jack Nicholson version used the name "Jack Napier", which was briefly mentioned in the Animated Series episode "Dreams In Darkness" since the series was partially based on the movie, albeit the doctors list it as one of his aliases. The Gotham version played by Cameron Monaghan gives him the name Jeremiah Valeska. The Joaquin Phoenix version used the name "Arthur Fleck", though the movie raises the question that he doesn't know who his father is, so 'Fleck' might not even be his surname. The Telltale series plays with this by 'naming' him 'John Doe' - which is just a stand-in name police/hospitals use when they don't know someone's identity. While he still has no official name to this day, it's general fan consensus that it's either Jack Napier or just Jack.

Not a Mask: Sometimes he pretends to wear makeup, but it ain't makeup. Jack Nicholson's version wore flesh-tone makeup over his pale skin several times after his transformation. Though, this is Depending on the Writer, as Heath Ledger's depiction does wear makeup. It's unclear if this is the case for Caesar Romero's depiction, as Romero's mustache is visible at times (he refused to shave for the part).

Not Me This Time: Though he certainly wouldn't mind committing them, he's been framed for murders he didn't commit several times, such as by James Gordon Jr.

Obfuscating Insanity: Zig Zagged Trope / Depending on the Writer. Some stories claims The Joker is actually sane, but pretends to be otherwise to avoid the death penalty. Others says he is genuinely crazy. It must be noted that Joker, like other Batman villains, was only identified as insane from the 70s onwards by various writers.note

Offscreen Villain Dark Matter: Despite the Joker's infamous reputation and violent instability he never has any issues finding new henchmen for his schemes nor does he ever has any issues finding the resources needed to pull off his often convoluted plans and he's often able to do it all without attracting the attention of Batman or the authorities until he's ready for them.

OOC Is Serious Business: A general rule of thumb: If the Joker isn't smiling, something very bad is about to happen.

The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: Pretty much sums up his feelings towards Batman. He often flies into a rage whenever someone else attempts to kill Batman when in his company, and whenever Batman (seemingly) dies he has a tendency to completely snap and turn sane. This actually goes the other direction as well: the Joker feels that Batman is the only one allowed to defeat him, and it's shown he's terrified of someone else doing him in in some continuities.

Outside-Context Problem: A recurring theme of Joker's "first appearance" stories in various adaptations is that nobody in Gotham is prepared for a guy who's only in it For the Evulz. Also, the Joker himself likes to find these, and exploit them.

Phrase Catcher: Back in his prankster phase during the Silver Age, whenever one of Joker's capers got foiled, someone would inevitably trot out the line "The joke's on you, Joker!" For obvious reasons, his current Monster Clown incarnation doesn't get this nearly as often.

Pimp Duds: He sometimes accessorizes his purple suit with a very wide-brimmed hat, which makes the ensemble look like a stereotypical pimp costume. Jared Leto's turn in Suicide Squad (2016) runs with this in his dynamic with Harley Quinn.

Pre-Insanity Reveal: The Joker, depending on the version, may have been an ordinary comedian before he went crazy and became a super-villain.

Purple Is Powerful: Purple is one of Joker's three colors (along with white and green) and he is powerful.

Psychopathic Manchild: For starters, when Batman is telling Joker to stay away from the Gordons after he apparently hurt Gordon's wife (it was actually his son, Gordon Jr. who did the deed), Joker commented that he didn't do anything to "the old bitch", and starts commenting to Batman that he misses the old Batman, and commented that he "doesn't want to go to bed yet" and that he "wants to play."

Redemption Rejection: In The Killing Joke, Batman defeats the Joker once again and then desparately pleads with him to accept help recovering from his madness before they eventually kill each other. In one of his rare, completely serious moments, the Joker sincerely apologizes and tells Batman that it's far too late for that.

The Resenter: Joker has often shown resentment towards people in many ways in different stories. The best example is him being resentful of anyone who garners more attention from Batman than him and anyone he sees as "stealing his act", i.e. being a laughing mad, jokey maniac cramping his style (The Creeper in Batman TAS). Regardless, many of his crimes and attitudes often carry an undercurrent or resentment be it towards to Bat-family because he resents sharing Batman with anyone or normal people for living their mundane lives free of care. Given how much spite seems to fuel his rampages, Joker's probably got a mountain of resentment inside of him.

Restoration of Sanity: On occasion, Joker's sanity will suddenly return to him, usually in stories where Batman retires or is believed to have died. His reactions tend to vary - sometimes we don't see how he reacts to what he did, but other times he actually shows genuine regret for his actions. Of course, these never tend to stick.

The Reveal: When Batman sat in Metron's chair in Darkseid War, one of the questions he asked was who the Joker was and the answer freaked him out. In DC Rebirth, it's revealed why: The Joker is a Legacy Character: the Joker responsible for Death of the Family and Batman: Endgame is not the same man who crippled Barbara Gordon—and neither of them are the original Joker.

Riddle for the Ages: Being the Trope Namer for Multiple-Choice Past, it's unknown who he was before falling into an acid tank and whether he was nuts even before being dunked. He even believes his origins, Depending on the Writer of course.Joker: They throw me out, and I had a wife and an unborn child… or it was two cows and a goat? Sometimes it's so confusing…

Rule of Funny: One of his primary themes (alongside insanity), as explained in Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?: "Kid. I'm the Joker. I don't just randomly kill people. I kill people when it's funny. What would conceivably be funny about killing you?"

Secret Identity Apathy: In most continuities, he simply doesn't care about Batman's Secret Identity, understanding that Batman is the true face and not the man behind the mask. It's shown sometimes that the Joker will actually be upset if someone outs Batman's identity to him, usually because it spoils their dynamic in some way. When Scarecrow pulls off Bruce's mask in Harley Quinn, it practically triggers a Villainous Breakdown.Joker: Half the fun of our relationship was the mystery! Now I know Batman is just some boring, rich asshole with parental issues!

Self-Made Orphan: In The Brave and the Bold #31, Atom reads his mind and sees The Joker burning his parents alive after they catch him killing animals.

Slasher Smile: He wears one almost by default. Reportedly, it was inspired by this photo◊ of Conrad Veidt in character as Gwynplaine (a man with a disfigured face, causing him to have a perpetual grin) in The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo.

The Sociopath: A skilled and gleeful manipulator, a vicious butcher who brutally tortures and murders others simply because he thinks it’s funny, extraordinarily impulsive given that he’s prone to turning his murderous urges on his own men on a whim or because one upset him in some way, shape or form, and has not even the vaguest notion of empathy, neither for his men or his victims.

The Spook: His backstory is an eternal Riddle for the Ages. DC Comics refuses to take an official stance on this.

Start of Darkness: Detective Comics #168 posits he was a laboratory worker who becomes the Red Hood in order to steal a million dollars from his employers and retire. In The Killing Joke he quits his job to become a comedian, but fails and is coerced by mobsters to commit a robbery, becoming the Red Hood. His disfigurement and (in The Killing Joke) his wife's death earlier in the story destroy what little was left of his sanity and he becomes The Joker. Maybe.

Stealing the Handicapped Spot: He doesn't do this. Rather, he hates it when other people do it and finds it hilarious to horrifically cripple them so they can legitimately park in handicapped spots.

Straw Nihilist: Provides the trope image and is the poster child for this. He claims that everything in life is just "one big joke" and death is the ultimate punchline. Joker also believes that "a bad day" is more than enough for anyone to turn out like him. This is shown notably in Injustice: Gods Among Us, The Killing Joke, and The Dark Knight. The Red Lantern Atrocitus even wonders what drove Joker to nihilism during an intro banter with the clown in Injustice 2.

Strong as They Need to Be: His fighting skills fluctuate wildly. Sometimes, Joker is an excellent fighter who can actually defeat Batman in a straight-up fight, whereas most writers prefer to present him as so weak that he can be knocked out cold with one punch.

Stupid Evil: Depending on the writer, The Joker can sometimes fall under this, where his cruelty and sadism tend to lead to his own death at the hands of all the people he's wronged.

To Create a Playground for Evil: His motivation in stories like Emperor Joker.

Too Kinky to Torture: The Joker has shown a proclivity for this over the years. At one point, the Joker berated a man who'd captured him for only hitting him in the face and The Dark Knight similarly sees the Joker berate Batman during the the latter's beating of him. He also enjoyed his and Bruce's final fight in The Dark Knight Returns. Salvation Run had established the Joker's been in constant pain since he took his fateful dive into the vat of chemicals that altered his appearance and not only had gotten used to it, but grew to enjoy it. This quote from The Dark Knight sums it up perfectly: Stephens: I can tell the difference between punks who need a little lesson in manners, and the freaks like you who would just enjoy it.

Tombstone Teeth: He is often drawn with too many too-long teeth as part of his trademark rictus grin, highlighting his nature as a psychotic and sadistic killer.

Troll: Most incarnations of the Joker dress themselves as being a lethal one of these. The best example is his DC Animated Universe version, who tailored each of his schemes as a joke or a prank, and sometimes even lectured his underlings on the importance of proper buildup and delivery when telling a joke. Batman in particular is the Joker's preferred victim, and many a Joker has refused to kill or unmask a Batman dead to rights, simply because it would spoil the fun of trolling him. But when others upstage or taunt him, he really goes nuts, as it's one of his Berserk Buttons.

Unreliable Narrator: Even he isn't sure of his own history, so anything he claims is suspect at best.

Villain Has a Point: Given his devotion to Rule of Funny, he's quite knowledgeable on what makes successful comedy, as seen with the featured image on Don't Explain the Joke.

Villain Song: There's no other villain who has belted out as many memorable music moments, not even the Music Meister. Three of them incidentally were sung by Mark Hamill behind the mic:

Villainous Aromantic Asexual: He is shown to be more interested in his schemes and mayhem rather than sex. He has had sex with Harley, but it is implied that it's more for her rather than his own enjoyment. He has actively ignored her when he simply wants to work on his schemes, even when she's in the translucent red night dress.

Villainous Friendship: No matter how bad things turned out last time, Lex Luthor and Joker will always work together again. Played With, as it isn’t just because of friendship. As Luthor himself notes in the ending of Infinite Crisis, you always "let the Joker play," lest he come after you for revenge later on for leaving him out.

Villainous Harlequin: He was this during the Silver Age. He is also this in Batman (1966) and Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

Villainous Rescue: In Dark Nights: Metal, The Joker pulls this off by teaming up with Batman to defeat the Batman Who Laughs, Batman knowing that a jokerized Batman would have the upper hand teams up with the Joker. It is so unexpected that the Batman Who Laughs, who is still prepared for anything Batman would conceivably think of, is unable to counter it let alone even consider it a possibility.

Villain Protagonist: He was the star of his own nine issue self-titled series from 1975 to 1976. In order to adhere to the Comics Code Authority, The Bad Guy Wins was never in effect - while he usually managed to get one over on other villains, each issue would end the Joker being apprehended for his crimes. He also got his own movie in which Batman didn't even exist yet, delving deep into what someone would have to go through to become the Joker.

Weapon of Choice: The acid-spitting flower, Smilex/Joker Venom... and simple crowbars, established by how he killed Jason Todd.

You Gotta Have Blue Hair: He has neon green hair caused by the chemicals he fell into.

#TheJokerInformation

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thankskenpenders · 5 years

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While we still have three issues left featuring stories written by Karl Bollers, we’ve pretty much come to the end of his run as lead writer on Archie Sonic. As I’ve said many times, his work certainly had flaws, and there were stories of his that bored me. (I definitely could’ve done with less stories where Sally’s parents prevent her from joining the action.) But there were also many I quite enjoyed, and on average I’d say his stories were usually pretty okay. He definitely went out on a high note with Return to Angel Island, though. That’s for sure

In this post, I’d like to look over the list of scrapped story ideas listed on Bollers’ wiki page, and give some thoughts. Had he continued writing Sonic, this is what he would have done

Sonic and Amy becoming a couple after being stranded at sea together and keeping it a secret from Princess Sally.

Ehh... I’d have to see how this really played out. Sega was pushing SonAmy super hard at the time with Sonic X, though, and the Archie comics had barely even acknowledged Amy’s crush on Sonic, so I guess something like this had to happen eventually. I’m also sure it wouldn’t have lasted long, since it was obvious Bollers would have Sonic and Sally reconcile eventually

Tails reuniting with his parents by traveling into space on a modified Tornado.

This would’ve been pretty neat, honestly! I’d just hope that Tails wouldn’t stay out in space for too long

Amy's origins being explored in a fuller adaptation of Sonic CD.

Very cool! Definitely would’ve liked to see this. But Ian ended up doing more with Amy and incorporating the stories of the Genesis era games into the comics later on, so I guess we didn’t really lose much by not getting this story from Bollers

Knuckles departing Angel Island after learning that his presence exposes the location of the Master Emerald, going on a global pilgrimage to learn martial arts, and battling a Dr. Eggman controlled-Monkey Khan while under the control of the Iron Queen before discovering the Master Geode.

Now THIS sounds cool. While I’m not exactly a fan of Monkey Khan, I think sending Knuckles off on a big adventure and having him learn more fighting skills would be a great use of his character. Way better than having him sit around on Angel Island all day, that’s for sure. And after how great Return to Angel Island was, I would’ve loved to see more Knuckles stories from Bollers

Mammoth Mogul beginning to age rapidly due to his original Chaos Emerald running out of energy, forcing him to seek out alternative sources through illicit archaeological expeditions and hiring mercenaries like Nack the Weasel. The Master Geode, a powerful gemstone that would fulfill Mogul's needs, would be contested by him, the Iron Queen, Robotnik, and Rouge the Bat.

Also pretty cool. I’m assuming this is all part of the same overarching story as Knuckles’ martial arts training. It’d be fun to see this combination of new and old game characters as well as old Archie characters vying for power. I also love that all these forces would be vying for control of this powerful gem, but then Rouge is also there because... she just wants it. All of these characters would have their time to shine in Ian’s run, though

Sally being a pawn in a villainous plot by the corrupted Source of All and Ixis Naugus to prevent the future first previewed in Sonic In Your Face.

Antoine gaining his scar due to an accident with a knife and becoming a villain after allowing himself to be possessed by a corrupted Source of All in hopes of winning Bunnie back.

The Source of All surviving Robotropolis' destruction and reconstituting itself in a remote mountain range, beginning to exert control over King Max, brainwashing the Arachne and another group of Spiders known as the Strand, and possessing Antoine while under the control of Ixis Naugus.

We’ve already talked about this canceled subplot before, but oh man, I would’ve loved this. I always hated the concept of the Source of All, and the idea that Max’s actions were all justified by some sort of omniscient future vision. The Acorn family rituals surrounding the Source were also already extremely creepy, so turning their bonding with the Source into a bad thing would’ve been an incredibly easy pill to swallow

Bunnie and Antoine breaking up due to a change in Antoine's personality, with Bunnie's origins later being explored and her true name being revealed as Scarlette O'Hare

I mean, Bunnie’s last name being Rabbot (pronounced Rab-OH) was always silly, but I don’t know if we really needed this. Y’all know I’m down for more Bunnie, though

Rotor retiring from field duty in order to pursue a role analogous to that played by "Q" of James Bond fame.

They’d already been leaving him out of missions for years. I guess this makes sense, and at least turning him into the guy who makes the gadgets for everyone would give him a more clearly defined role

Locke and Lara-Le putting aside their previous disputes to help raise Knecapeon "Kneecaps" Mace after his father Wynmacher ends up in the Egg Grape Chamber.

I’ve talked about all this a bit before. Really not sure what to think of it. My gut instinct is that I don’t like the idea of Locke reuniting with Lara-Le at all. He hasn’t earned her forgiveness. But I’d have to see how Bollers wrote it, I guess

Robotnik kidnapping Hope Kintobor under the pretense that he is the only correct choice to be her legal guardian, while genuinely using her as bait to lure in Shadow the Hedgehog.

Not sure how I feel about Hope getting kidnapped, but the mental image of literal tyrant Dr. Eggman going to child protective services and pretending he’d be a good guardian for Hope as part of a scheme to get Shadow is really funny to me

Ixis Naugus attempting to return by transforming Max's body into a duplicate of his own, only to be thwarted by the destruction of the Crown of Acorns

I would’ve liked to see Naugus explored more, but hey! Ian sure used him a lot. So this is another case where we aren’t missing out on much

Nate Morgan surviving the destruction of Robotropolis, being De-Roboticized by the Bem, and returning as Coconuts' amnesia-addled ally, who creates a new Metal Sonic, Metal Amy, Metal Knuckles, and Tails Doll that are mistaken for Robian versions of the heroes.

This would’ve been a REALLY interesting development. Bollers was very open about how he hated the direction Nate Morgan had gone in and had some interesting plans to bring him back. And, well, this is it. Kind of reminds me of a certain subplot with Eggman in the IDW comics, except in reverse

I also love how this would’ve brought in Metal Knuckles, Tails Doll, and a new Metal Amy. Bollers really seemed to be enjoy bringing in elements from the older games in his later years at Archie, with much of the action in Return to Angel Island taking place in actual zones from S3&K. Getting Coconuts involved is also wild. This would’ve been a really fun story

Snively taking up a fifteen foot-tall mechanical battlesuit and the alias "Skarkus" in pursuit of revenge against Robotnik for leaving him alone against the Xorda, leading to an alliance between him and Shadow.

Yeah, this one sure is. Something. Honestly I have no idea how it would turn out. It’d be all about the execution

A.D.A.M. and NICOLE becoming romantically involved, leading to A.D.A.M. seizing control of the Shadowbot army and leading them from New Megaopolis to Knothole.

Okay I hate this one lol. But to be fair, I mostly hate it because the other writers ended up taking Nicole in a completely different direction and giving her her lynx form (and eventually pairing her with Sally). Bollers had no way of knowing that Nicole would become such a central character, so I can’t really blame him for having an idea like this, I guess

A new Dingo Regime leader named Colonel Mange being introduced, with Croctobot, Jack Rabbit, and Gala-Na being reintroduced as Robotnik Sub-Bosses over Downunda, the Great Desert, and Albion. This would have led to the disappearance of the Downunda Freedom Fighters and a confrontation involving the Mercian Freedom Fighters.

Ah, the beginnings of Eggman having Mobian sub-bosses working for him. I guess Kage in Return to Angel Island was really the start of this, but still. Gala-Na becoming a subordinate of Eggman actually makes a lot of sense to me. She was already an antagonist in the Chaos Knuckles arc, and it’s painfully obvious that the Albion echidnas are selfish pricks who only look out for themselves. If she thought that siding with Eggman would protect Albion, I totally think she’d sell out

Anti-Sonic coming to enjoy impersonating Sonic and enjoying the love of his parents and adulation of his people, leading him to plan to eliminate Sonic and permanently take his place.

This one’s also kinda interesting I suppose, although we definitely got no shortage of Anti-Sonic impersonating Sonic in the last year of Penders stories. Can’t say I’m dying to see this story told

---

So, all in all, definitely some interesting ideas! If there’s two major throughlines I see in this plans, it’s 1) bringing back forgotten elements from both the games and earlier comics and 2) reinventing Penders characters and concepts. Which makes a lot of sense, because that’s exactly what he was doing with Return to Angel Island

Part of me is sad that these stories were never told. The Source of All being evil and Knuckles’ martial arts training stand out to me in particular. But there are other ideas that are pretty similar to things Ian would do in his run, like Eggman having Mobian sub-bosses or Naugus coming back, so it’s hard to feel too sad. It’s also hard to know how good the execution would’ve been on these pitches

Of course, if there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that these stories probably would’ve been better than the ones we actually got from Penders and Chacon over the next year and a half

#StH 141 #tkp post

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musicalmukebox · 6 years

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Let’s Get (Back) Together | l.h. (8)

Ctto of the gif!

AU: Parent Trap Dad!Luke

Summary: A strong love which led to a strong marriage and twin daughters. Yet in the end, it didn’t turn out so well. You strongly refuse to encounter him ever again. But what happens when both of you coincidentally send your twin daughters to the same summer camp in Florida after 10 years?

Word Count: 5.7k

Warnings: swearing, mentions of alcohol and usage

A/N: Almost there!!

I don’t own Parent Trap and its ideas. It’s only used as inspiration.

1 / 2A / 2B / 2C / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15

Feedback/Questions/Others? Here.

2020, Sydney

“Don’t think that way, babe. They are going to love you.” Luke reassures you, driving to his parents’ home and placing his hand on your thigh so you’d lessen your freaking out session.

Ever since you and Luke have been planning this trip so you could relaxation from working at the set for your upcoming film “Constant” and meet his parents, it was nerve-wracking. Oh, and yes you’re finally making your debut in the movie industry!

You really wanted to show to them that you were just as empowered, determined and loving as their son and not a social climber of some sort, especially since you are a struggling actress. Happily, they loved him and how he made you happy. You get now what Luke felt when he met your parents last month, all the nerves going crazy and overthinking too. Now you wished the same for yourself, especially since this trip will involve staying over at the Hemmings residence.

“But Luke, in case you forgot, I am the same girl from the Valentine music video who got really fucking frisky with you! Not a good impression honestly.” You blurt out, pressing the button to slide the car window open so you could use your e-cigarette and let the strawberry scented smoke out your lungs. You let your head out a bit to feel some of that cool breeze, just letting yourself go.

“You don’t have to use that thing all the time when you’re stressed, you know?” Luke pointed out, taking a short glance at you then back at the long road. You let a slight chuckle while taking a swift smell of that sweet aroma before facing yourself to Luke. “That’s pretty hypocritical of you, love because you also brought yours. But you are right, truly there are other ways get some stress relief.” You purr, trailing your fingers up his thigh near his hardened crotch, twitching more as you keep going. His grip on the handle tightened, more at the sight of your lips puckering up that e-cigarette and exhaling with a “pop”. Note also that he’s other hand was gripping your thigh, squeezing it repeatedly.

“Fuck, Luke.” You moaned, letting your body lie further on the chair whilst smoking.

“Babe, as much as you look fucking good in that dress and desirable to fuck right now, we’re almost at the house.” He says, controlling himself before he lets his dominance take over and lets his hand go from your thigh and putting them back on the wheel. “Tease.”

It took another 10 minutes before Luke’s car parked by the driveway of his family home, excited to be reunited with his loved ones after a while. Exiting the car, he ran up to his front door and knocked, being a man of good manners. You, on the other hand, followed right behind him, hands sweaty and overthinking everything.

“They’re going to find a flaw on you, and hate you.”

“You’re not good enough.”

“You still have time to back out and run!”

Luke easily notices your droopy eyes, slowed walking and quickened breathing, which were all too familiar. As you reached his side, hands on your pocket, his hands held your waist, moving your bodily position from facing the door to facing him. You were still looking down until his finger lift your chin, your eyes locked with his.

“You calmed me when I was nervous to meet your parents, and to our happiness, they liked me. My parents will adore you because you are amazing, okay?” He reminds, sealing it with a short peck which matched the timing of the door being opened by a splitting image of Luke, yet he was much taller and scruffier, also his hair was tied back.

“Luke, mate!” He smiled, pulling your boyfriend in for a heartfelt hug. “Getting buffer now, I see?”

“Maybe more than you now since I’ve quit drinking, Jack. Well sort of.” Luke half jokes, holding his laughter. The man, whose name happens to be Jack, rolls his eyes in annoyance and jokingly, laughing along. “You wish, Luke. Oh, and hello to you.” His focus changed to you, looking up and down.

“(Y/N), this is my older brother Jack. Jack, my girlfriend, (Y/N).” Luke introduces you both, further making you both acquainted to each other. You were already preparing yourself to what’s going to occur, whether they will act fake or nice to you. Expecting the worst, you were surprised when Jack brought you in for a friendly hug.

“Nice to finally meet you! Come on in!” He invites you inside, slowly entering the open and big house they have. You could smell the aroma of vanilla spread all throughout, reminding of Luke’s house in LA. You also noticed the different pictures hung on the walls, like family, individual and scenery shots, in which the latter are taken by his mother, Liz. Oh, meeting her in person got you the most wrapped up, especially she is the main woman of the household which is male dominated. Despite this, there was one photo that stood out the most was a young and chubby looking school photo of Luke.

“Aww, baby boy.” You cooed, trailing the glass frame and acting affectionate. Luke “You looked so cute and innocent here, love. What happened?”

“Oh haha, real funny. It’s not as worse as your photo as a devil for Halloween circa 2004.” He strikes back jokingly, mentioning an embarrassing memory from your childhood because your costume got dirtied by mud when you accidentally tripped on some excess cloth from your pants since the costume was too long.

“We don’t speak of that humiliating memory, loser!” You spanked him on the shoulder, the memories of that playing in your mind. “Oh, c’mon it was funny! Also, you were being mean!” He retaliated by grabbing your wrists in defense.

“Ooh, you are so smitten, mate!” Jack teases, giving him a pat on the back. “Oh, he is huh?” You give him a smirk, flattered. Luke blushes pink, shy to express his admiration and love towards you sometimes because he likes to keep it to himself. But with you, you’re an exception.

After looking and teasing Luke about his old pictures, Jack led you and Luke to the living room, where a young woman and little boy were playing with trucks and action figures on the floor.

“You’ll never get away, Loki!” The young boy holds up a Spiderman figure, playing his character. “Try me!” The young woman plays back, holding up a Loki figure, striking it at the Spiderman. They begin “fighting”, only ending in a fit of giggles wherein also the woman carried the young boy up in the air.

“Mommy, I’m flying!!” He bubbled, his toothy smile melting your heart due to the cuteness. “Woah there, little Max has grown a bit!” Luke says as he makes his way to the woman, putting down the little boy still holding his action figure and then lightens up at the sight of his tall uncle. “Uncle Pukey!” He exclaims, his tiny legs running over to the tall man who picks him up high in the air. As he brought him down, Luke kneels down to reach his height.

“How you been, Max?” He asks, messing his hair a bit. “I’m happy now you’re here! Also, I just turned 4!” He puts up four fingers, giving him a toothy smile that lightened up your mood before running back to his toys. Yet it kind of gutted Luke because he’s missing out on his nephew’s life. Hopefully, he’ll never be like that to his future kids.

Welp.

“He’s getting a bit tall now, I see.” Luke adds, his attention to the woman lying on the couch in tiredness. “Turning into a handful too.” She says, regaining her strength and stood up again. “Missed you, you Jack wannabe.”

Luke chuckles, his arms opening for her for a hug. “Missed you too, Celeste.” As their hug ends, Celeste beams at the sight of you, her energy boosted.

“Oh my, you must be (Y/N)!”

“Hi, you must be Cel-” You prepared your hand to shake, yet instead, she gave you a warm hug which you didn’t expect. “Love, shaking hands is so formal. Besides, I can tell that you’re really nervous by the way your eyes crinkle and breaths quicken.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“I can read people pretty easily, not to brag or anything. Oh and yes, I’m Celeste, Jack’s wife. ” She introduces, looking from top to bottom. Much to your cluelessness, she likes you and your reservedness.

“Wow, it’s about time you’re here and didn’t greet me first!” A much older-looking and shorter woman enters the scene, crossing her arms at Luke, who is stationed at the floor with Max and playing with him.

“Sorry, mum. Couldn’t resist playing my favorite nephew.” He jokes before standing up and giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Do you mean your only nephew?” Jack says, showing off his common sense. “Shut up, Jack.” Luke responds, getting everyone annoyed because Max was in the room, wherein there is zero tolerance for swearing.

“Clean that dirty mouth of yours, mate.” Jack reminds, covering little Max’s ears, making him squirm a lot. “There is a child here.”

“Some things don’t change with you, hun.” The older woman comments, before changing her attention on him to you. You couldn’t decipher what she was thinking at that moment nor if she sensed bad or good vibes with you.

“Ah, you must be (Y/N)!” She smiles as she approached you. You did the same thing with Celeste and reached out your hand shake for formality. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Hemmings.”

“Call me Liz, love. You are as beautiful as Luke described.” She declined the handshake to give you a hug. This family is very affectionate, you noticed. Unlike yours, wherein they were pretty strict with Luke at first, yet they warmed up to him in the end.

“Oh, thank you. You are just as lovely, Liz.” You didn’t know to reply at first yet you couldn’t help blush while remaining humble.

“Liz, is Lewi here?” An older and much shorter man joins the scene, right behind Liz.

“Yup! And brought a special someone.” She answers, giving a kind and genuine grin, which is a sign of acceptance. Well, so far.

“Oh, (Y/N)! I’m Andy, by the way, great to finally meet you!” He introduces himself, wherein based on everyone you’ve met so far, he must be his dad. “Hi, dad.” Luke gives Andy a hug before standing right beside you, his arm on your waist.

“Luke has told us so much things about you.”

“Really like what?” You asked, curious as to what your boyfriend must’ve shared. Were they bad? Good? Funny?

“How about we eat first then let’s talk.” Liz instructs, her arms inviting us to the dining room where various food and beverages are served. “Come one, everyone, let’s eat!”

Nodding, everyone gathered at the long dining table, satisfying their hunger and thirst through Liz’s cooking and catching up, especially on Luke because he’s the only one living in LA aside from you. Also, his other brother Ben caught up to you guys for dinner, along with his family. His wife’s name is Kara and has two kids: Jacob, who’s 6 years old, and Lily, who’s 3. Happily for you, Ben had a liking for you like everyone else, which made dinner much more enjoyable.

It was as if your worries have gone away whilst eating dinner, especially when everyone asked you different questions, which you answered truthfully. Celeste pointed out how odd it was how you met but quoting her, “a great result because you make Luke really happy.”

Andy admired how you managed to still graduate even if you changed career paths. “Being able to speak a different language is an advantage whether you’re acting or not.”

As for Ben and Jack, they find it incredible that you’re there to “keep him grounded and help him get through media” especially since you are a rising star.

“I like (Y/N), uncle Pukey. She makes you happy.” Max says at the table as he drinks his orange juice from a sippie cup. Everyone aww’d, and your heart has never been happier.

As dessert, which was cake, was being eaten and wine was drank by everyone still at the dining table, Liz began getting dirty plates for her to clean. Seeing how many they were, you offered to help her out. “Yes sure, love. Thank you.” She thanked, strengthening the grip on the plates on her hands so they don’t fall.

Getting the remaining plates, you stayed beside her whilst washing quietly in order to have a fast pace and still catch up with the others at the table.

”He really loves you, you know?” Liz began, capturing your attention away from the plates and facing her.

“I do, and I love him just as much, Liz.” You say, your nerves creeping up back to you, tilting you head to where Luke was at the dining room. The chandelier light shined at him, wherein his eyes crinkled and smile widened, laughing afterwards.

“It warms my heart for him to find someone like you, who doesn’t let others like the media define him for you and keeps him grounded. Just the way he talks about you in the past, just wow you got him smitten.” She shares, lovingly and with relief. “As his mother, all I want is the best for him always. Don’t ever hurt him, alright?”

“I won’t ever, Liz. Your son is the best thing I’ve ever had in this tough life, and he makes me really happy.”

2034, Los Angeles

“She looked like an angel.”

“Luke, stop. She ended things and hurt you.”

“It was like she never aged a bit.”

“Shut up, Luke! You’ve moved on right?”

Those were some of the many rivaling thoughts running through Luke’s mind as he was washing his face repeatedly in the restroom, trying to forget that strong connection from earlier. He felt nervous, most especially at the fact you are living and breathing in the same area. Some 10 year separation, huh? Things get weirder when he recalls Rebecca, well actually Stella, back in Sydney asked him what he would do if he sees you again. He said he’d say hi and talk, but as of now, he can’t think straight. Now, he kept pondering on other things to distract himself, like what shirt will be changing to for the afterparty, whether to do a note change in the band’s performance of Valentine later, and if Sierra saw her earlier.

For the latter, if she did, things will most likely not go well.

Wiping his face on some paper towels, he ran fast to the band’s dressing room, aware that he will be stepping on stage in a little while. His phone started ringing and vibrating with numerous texts and calls. At last, he found the door labeled “5SOS” and opening it, he sees his fellow band members practicing on their respective instruments and having conversations with their kids and wives. “Finally, you’re here!” Sierra cheered, reaching over to him for a peck on the lips. “You got everyone worried! And your shirt’s a bit wet too.”

“Don’t scare us off like that, mate. You’re our frontman, we will fail without you!” Calum says, concerned. “Fuck, did someone get your blazer or something?” Michael cusses, shocking Crystal. “Michael!” She protested, covering the ears of Beatrix, who was beside her and talking to Scarlett about . “There are children in the room.”

“Mom, let go!” Beatrix groans, removing her hands and carries on with Scarlett. Rebecca, the real one, was busy talking to Alex, “catching up”, and as she saw Luke, she was ecstatic. “Dad!” Running to his side, she gives him a tight hug, a hug almost a month overdue.

“So peppy over there, poppet? I just saw you a while ago.” He comments as he kneels a bit and wrapped his arms around her. “Honestly, it felt longer, dad.” Rebecca says satisfied, finally feeling more at home and contented to talk with her accent too.

“Becks love.” Sierra called out, disrupting the moment much to Rebecca’s dismay. As an aunt, she was okay but now after what’s been happening, she’s not having it. She discreetly observes her body language and facial expression. She kept tapping her feet and her smile was crooked as she held her phone out. Impatience, like she wanted something and didn’t wanted you in it. “Oh yes? Sorry, Sierra.” Rebecca answers, giving her an innocent grin and still hugging Luke from the side.

“Well, Becks, do you mind if you take a photo of your dad and me? You know, more photos for the wedding, the better.” She asks politely, handing the phone to Rebecca and going over to one side of Luke, putting her arm on his waist and vice versa. “Oh okay, sure.” As the device was in her hands, she discreetly smirked as she had an idea. How fast or slow can Sierra crack? Upon doing this, it was so she knows what she was in for if Sierra was her step-mom.

Mare.

Round 1: It was dropping her phone “accidentally” on the floor while Luke and Sierra were fixing themselves a bit for the photo. “Oh shiz, sorry Aunt Sierra.” She frantically picks it up to sell the character, sliding left on the phone to access the camera. From afar, she can see her annoyance in her eyes, rolling them, and the hand on her waist crumpling a bit.

“I-It’s fine, Becks. Just take the picture since your dad is almost going on stage, yeah?” Stammering, Rebecca captures the moment, putting down the phone camera. “Yay, thanks Becks!” Sierra runs over to Becks’ side, opening her phone to check the photo. “This is amazing! What do you think, Lukey?” She says in approval, handing her phone to Luke. For a second, Rebecca grimaced over that nickname of her dad.

“I-It l-looks great. Nice one, poppet.” He compliments, walking to the other side of the room to get ahold of his guitar. He was still out of focus, searching for any distraction because the picture taking didn’t really help and with Rebecca in the room, he couldn’t stop thinking about you because she’s half of you.

“Dad, are you okay?” Rebecca cuts him off from his thoughts, her blue eyes identical to his looking fretful. “You’ve been acting weird since you got here, like you saw a ghost or something.” Does a ghost of marriage past count?

“I just needed my guitar.” Luckily, his guitar was just at fingers touch, gripping on it and putting on the strap around his figure. “Smooth move over there.” She jested, nodding her head up and down. Luke continues his gaze at her, the nodding of head reminding him of something you would do.

“Shut up, Luke! You’ve moved on right?” One thought repeated.

“5 minutes until performance, boys!” A man, probably one of the organizers, announced in the room upon opening the door, instigating the boys to gather what they need before heading out. Luke grabbed one of the many picks he had and took a gulp of water to refresh him before the performance. Surely he’s used to it, but the tables have now turned since he saw you, and also that you will be watching him. If only he had a drink, but he’ll get to that later at the afterparty.

Lord, help him.

“Why did I choose to wear heels again?” You complained right after you stepped out of the vehicle with Timmy, facing once more the familiar flashing lights of different cameras and the paparazzi screaming your name and blurting out of context questions. Timmy was right with you to get through that horde and enter the after-party venue, where there will still some photographers, but consensual ones. The lights were dim, numerous private booths and tables near the dance floor, different artists performing, all sorts of alcohol and food being served. Tempting as it was, you just recovered from your previous indulge from a while ago and taking a rest.

“I believe we have found our table, babe.” Timmy says, his finger pointing to a table with the label “Cast of Take Me or Leave Me” by the right side of the stage. You just wanted to hold his hand, but it cannot be so you settled on interlacing your arm on his, which is a sign of respect and chivalry that would not be easily suspected. As you both directed your steps to that spot, you then recalled that you were to meet up with Rebecca, or Stella now, and Gina as soon as you entered the venue of the after-party. “Sorry babe, wait.” You pause your movement, bringing your phone out and dialing Gina’s number. Placing the device by your ear and letting it ring, you then hear shuffling and soft voices in the background. “Hi, Miss (Y/N). How may I help you?”

“Hey, Gina. Where are you two? I figured that we would meet up here at the after-party to, you know, discuss.” Your voice softened, most especially on your emphasis on the word discuss, looking around the venue in hopes of finding them yet the lighting was too minimal and only neon lights were dominant. “Oh, we’re at one of the lounges near the bar, the third nearest. Rebecca almost passed out because she’s dehydrated.” Gina professes on the other line.

“Shit, I’m on my way there.” You panic before hanging up and turning your back on Timmy. “Babe, wait up!” He stopped you, his hand gripping on your shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah. Got some old friends here and I’ll just say hi if that’s okay.” You lied, ready to run and get some water at the bar. You weren’t much of a secret keeper towards him, but this one is just not too easy to tell at the time. For Timmy, he was thinking to accompany you, yet he is reminded of your relationship which is very private so he shrugs the request. “Oh, okay. I’ll be with Cami and Miles over there. Be back soon, alright?”

“No problem, babe.” You give him a kiss on the cheek before heading your way to the busy bar. Different people with different requests who cannot control their impatience. Yet when you made your appearance, one bartender instantly was available for you.

“Miss (Y/N) (Y/L/N)! What would you like for this evening?”

“Not to sound like a bummer, but I’d like water please. It’s for my daughter.” He nods at your request and gives you cold bottled water from the cooler below the table. “Here you go, miss. Enjoy your night.” As you thanked and tipped him with a 10 because you were feeling friendly, you searched for that third lounge nearest to the bar, which happens to be the most isolated too. When you did, which was a burden for your feet, you knocked first out of courtesy.

“Miss Rebecca Hemmings!” You called out, just wanting to get everything over and done, mainly that just hours ago, you were eye to eye with your ex-husband, fully speechless. This was someone whom you’ve loved yet damaged you. You needed him out for good because it was too much.

The door slowly opens to reveal two identical girls by the door. Duh, you have twins, but it’s not likely to already see each other this fast, right? “Hold up, I’m beginning to see double.” You blinked numerously.

“Well mom, you are.” The girl in the dotted dress confirms, smiling as she looked at her other sister for a second and using her Australian accent to remind you that it was Rebecca. As for the girl in the leather-like dress, it was Stella, whom you’ve mistaken earlier as Rebecca, thinking she was just wearing a jacket. You were ecstatic, they were together at last and you weren’t tipsy anymore

“Oh my God! You both have found each other, and are so beautiful.” You gushed, bringing in them for a hug. That last time they were together were when they were a year old, in separate baby baskets in which afterwards, Luke took Rebecca and you took Stella. They were so unaware of what they were going to face, or rather miss out. But now, time to snap back to reality.

“Now, you two have explaining to do!” Out of the blue, a woman with red hair and light brown eyes pops out from the door. Familiar looking you thought of her. “Hold on, loves. Maybe it’s best that we head inside so no one gets suspicious.” She reminds, her arms directing the twins to go inside which they easily follow. Afterwards, she focuses on you. “Hi miss (Y/N), I don’t know if you remember me, but..” Her voice and face were very familiar, and then memories of the past played in your head of this woman and how she once took care of Stella for over a year.

“Oh my, Felicia! It’s been so long.” You give her a short hug before you entered inside the cold lounge. Felicia grins at your kind action. “I knew I always liked her.” She tells herself, checking around the vicinity if anyone was watching then closing the door gently.

“First off, I already just saw your dad when he was going backstage with your aunt Sierra, taking these cutesy photos like best-friend style kinda. He was very dumbfounded, like he had no clue that “Stella” and I were going to be both here. And between the both of you, you didn’t tell him that I was going to be here, huh?” You confronted in frustration while stood in front of the two girls seated at the couch, her palm on her forehead and pacing the room back and forth.

“You saw him already?” Stella gasped, concerned that everything was bound to fail already before the meeting. It would be too soon. “Surprisingly yes, like we locked eyes so deeply, and I can sense that he viewed me like a ghost, like the ghost of marriage past. Well true.” You coincidentally matched your analogy as you explained what happened. As you were about to add on, Gina barges in the room holding water bottles.

“Here guys, the water bot – Oh hello everyone, hi Miss (Y/N).” She awkwardly greets, placing the bottles on the table beside her. Short background, it was just her and the twins a while in the room before she left to get water for Rebecca, then Felicia followed afterwards because she had to give Luke’s extra shirt for the after-party. As Gina waves at every single person in the room, yet paid more attention on the eyes of the unfamiliar red-haired, snow white-skinned woman in the room. The eyes of Felicia.

“Hi! I’m afraid we haven’t met personally, but I’m Gina. Nice to finally meet the woman Rebecca speaks highly of.” Gina approaches Felicia, shaking her hand. “Hello! Likewise, love. I’m Felicia.” She shakes back, making a bold move by kissing her hand. “Lovely to meet you.”

Unconsciously, their grasps prolonged as well as their staring at each other. You caught from the moment that they were slightly interested in each other, but this wasn’t the right time to pursue it.

“Ahem.” You coughed, waking the girls from their mini moment and back to your talk towards the twins. “Sorry, miss. Continue on.” Gina apologizes, putting some strand of her brown hair behind her ear, still flattered by Felicia’s action and not to mention that she is right beside her feeling just as giddy.

“Let us now change the topic. You are going to tell me right now why we’re here and also without telling your father.” You say with conviction, in dire need of answers and no more secrecy.

Yet Gina interrupts the talk again. “Excuse me, miss (Y/N), now since this is a family topic, Felicia and I will be heading out.”

“I agree, miss (Y/N). Now shall we, Gina?” The two take small steps towards the exit. Suspicious as it is, you figured that those two maybe hiding some information too.

“Wait!”

Everyone froze. You took in some deep breaths because you were mentally preparing for what you are about to ask and the answers that will roll along with it, which will just bring you more overwhelm and stress. “Is there something I don’t know that you all do?”

Silence, Stella was looking at Rebecca, pestering her indirectly through her hand movements to say something. Rebecca sighed, her heartbeat racing fast. “Mom, Dad’s getting married.”

“What? To who?”

“Aunt Sierra.” Stella admits, frowning at the name without hesitation.

You couldn’t believe your ears. You prayed hard hoping that it wasn’t true yet no joking nor smiley expressions came from your girls to back it up, which just confirms the fact.

“That bitch.” You yell, clenching your fists and ready to punch the wall. Your adrenaline was rushing through veins without any pauses and willing to snap at anyone who tries to stop.

Here’s the thing. Sierra has always been mean to you behind doors since the day Luke introduced you to her back in the day, saying that you weren’t good enough for him and that you should leave him for someone else. Although you never hide anything from Luke, this was something you just can’t tell him. This was because Sierra has established close friendships with the boys for years, which is also good for the music industry and you wouldn’t want that to be ruined over the fact that she didn’t like you. Besides whatever she said, you could care less. But now to marry Luke? This is different, and you felt betrayed.

“I never told anyone about this, but Sierra and I never liked each other because she says I’m never good enough for your father and that he deserves better.” You hissed, tightly gripping on one of the pillow from the couch. Rebecca and Stella are beyond scared as they have never seen you this enraged about anyone, making their way to you with water.

“Mom, are you jealous?” Stella questions, directing you to sit down and just relax by the softness of the couch, even for just a little bit.

“No, love. I-It’s just that if your father was to find someone else after me, it would just not be her.” You elaborated, desiring your e-cigarette so badly yet it is in the possession of Mark because Rebecca told him to keep it away from you. Oh great.

Funny enough, it was like you switched roles: the twins were asking the questions and you were answering them. “Since you and aunt Sierra were never ever in good terms, why didn’t you tell dad?”

Taking a breather, “Sierra’s a singer like your dad and has been friends with him too for years, longer than my and your dad’s past relationship. Also it was good for business he says.”

“Well mom, this is terrible, and she is quite awful, and this can’t push through! The only way he won’t marry her is if – you tell her Stella, you both know each other more.” Rebecca switches positions with Stella who was seated beside you. “Is if he sees you again.” She finishes her twin’s sentences, with a hint of hope things could get better.

“You’re not setting us up now, are you?” You implied, raising one brow.

“Actually, we are. You both are perfect for each other.” Rebecca stated frankly, defending her stand just so you can get more of an idea. As you were to counteract her point, you could see at the corner of your eye Gina and Felicia tiptoeing to the door so they can leave.

“Hold up.” You halt, facing them. “Do you guys know this too?”

“What no, this is outrageous!”

“No no no, I’m clueless about this!”

Their voices were a pitch higher, kept shaking their head and raising their brows. You could easily read people, and based on that, you undoubtedly knew they were lying. “I smell lies from you both.”

Defeated, they gave in. “Technically, yes.”

“Yes, and it was so sweet.”

“Stella told me this and I’m a die-hard romantic.” Gina gushed, her brown eyes lighting up and heart so warm despite the situation they were in. “Omg really? So am I!” Felicia replies at her, astonished and feeling giddy as she gazed at the brown-eyed girl again.

As much you appreciated at how close those two were getting, you needed to get through the reality of this situation, to get through unfinished business once and for all. Standing up much stronger and taller, you spoke up once with more conviction and discipline.

“Let me say this loud and clear, girls. Luke Hemmings and I have nothing in common, well anymore. He said that I held him back, and I agreed with him. Besides, if he’s liked Sierra when we were together, then so be it. I’m already happy with your uncle Timmy, more than your father made me feel. Your father and I, our relationship just happened so fast, and ended the same way too.”

Drained, Stella gives her input. “Mom, I love uncle Timmy and all, but you and dad had something special, which led you to having us.”

She was right without a doubt, but sadly, that something has ended and neither of you are interested with mending that ever. The only thing you want to settle with him would be the bonding time of the twins. “I know my loves, but unfortunately, times are different. When we finally get to talk later, I will explain to him that I am here for one reason only, which is to switch you back. Understood?”

“Yes, mom.” They agreed, bowing their heads and laid on the couch, unhappy with the result. This was a huge setback for their plan, but hey, setbacks lead to a big comeback! That’s what’s keeping them positive.

“Alright, now excuse me, I will be looking for Timmy and get another drink, maybe the photographers and some of my other friends need pictures too.” You say in relief before leaving the room to do such. At least that’s settled, right?

Having clever twins would think otherwise.

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