#I barely remember what I wrote

[accirax]

and finally, here are the last two prompts of DRDTtober 2023! thank you to @librariansrose and @mikmiho for organizing the event, and to all of you for leaving such nice comments on my comics :) i haven't done a -tober event since, like... 2017? so, it was a fun-yet-definitely-time-consuming exercise to try it again.

although there isn't a given prompt for halloween day itself, i still have something drdt related planned to close out the month (assuming i finish it in time... :|) so, stay tuned for that!

[zeroducks-2]

(I hope I worded this right and that it does not come across as rude or snarky, I genuinely want to hear your thoughts) So does that mean your interpretation of Bruce is that he is, how do I say it, “indefinitely fucked/flawed”? That there are not many moments where he did goodness for the pure sake of it? Or it’s something like, 90% flawed 10% good?

It actually depends on who writes him, and on the media we're taking into consideration. I know that this might sound contradictory with my previous post, but I honestly don't think there's one interpretation of a character who's 80+ year old and went through the hands of hundreds of writers.

There are a few things that only "happened once" if you understand what I mean, like Cassandra's story. That story has only one iteration, there are no variants to take into consideration or other Batman media that explore it, so we can judge it by what happened that one time, but this is a rarity among the most important Batman stories. Think of UTRH. Bruce is way less ruthless in the animated version and the ending is very different from what happens in the comics.

Bruce did a lot of good things for the pure sake of it, there's no denying that. He's able to offer a helping hand even to the most monstruous, he will help criminals because he genuinely wants them to better themselves. He will get down to his knees to hug and comfort a crying child, he will use his money and resource and do whatever he can to heal his city.

But he will also beat people to the point of crippling them, he will send folks to jail for the most minor of offences, he considers disabled and "mentally challenged" people as a burden for society.

He loves the kids he keeps around and would die for them. But he also hits Dick and will beat him into a pulp when Dick refuses to do his bidding. He suffered for Jason's death and wanted to kill Joker in the heat of the moment, but will also cut Jason's neck and leave him to die again in order to save Joker's life. As protective and sweet as he is with Tim, he used Stephanie to manipulate him into becoming Robin again, acting terribly towards both kids. And I could go on but you get the picture.

All of these things shouldn't coexist but they do because the character is written by different people with different opinions and understanding of right and wrong, of what is an isn't an acceptable behavior for a man and a parental figure to have, and of who the character is and stands for in general.

It might seem that I don't like Bruce all that much and I surely don't like him as a person, but I also love him as a character for what he represents historically, for the nuance of his many depictions. Though I rarely ever defend him when it comes to people criticising his actions, because those actions need to be criticised. And I will hiss at canon stuff that insists on making Bruce always look like the flawless hero because he ain't it, and at people who claim that nonsense takes are canon (like Cass being his favorite) because I have a personal issue with people taking a headcanon that comes from the fact that they didn't read the comics, and shoving it on everyone's face demanding they accept it as "what actually happened".

I hope it makes sense.

[battle-subway-ghost]

Also if you're wondering how the hell I'm digging up 10 year old posts from old facebook groups that never got any attention: I'm not very normal about investigating things like this.

[daddyplasmius]

hand on my stupid heart flashbacks

this is a No One Knows AU & Full Hazmat AU where Danny ended up in the Ghost Zone & didn't go back into the human world initially because he thought he was dead. by the time he realized he is, in fact, at least half alive, he'd already been missing for at least 2 weeks. will probs never finish homsh sorry. i wrote this a couple years ago in a haze & just haven't been able to finish it because i can't replicate the style, which i find is what i love about this fic the most. it wouldn't be the same without it. posting the flashback introsーwhich are meant to be read between chapters/the actual plot, starting after chapter 1ーcuz fuck it. excuse typos & shit, i never properly edited it, as i forgot it existed immediately after i wrote it original description of homsh: Danny Fenton has officially been missing for over a year. Maddie & Jack Fenton refuse to give up on their son. Sick and tired of the police running them in circles, and the case getting colder by the day, the Fentons turn to their last resortーPhantom. 800~ words (full unfinished fic is 20k~)

-

When Danny woke up surrounded by thick, green fog, and couldn’t breathe without swallowing heavy air that was more like water than anything, he was sure he was dead. The portal glowed behind him, illuminating the pitch darkness around him in soft, yellow, warm light.

He almost went back.

Almost.

He was dead. His parents were ghost hunters. They had drilled into his head from the moment he was born that he could never, ever panic in death. That he would accept it. That he would not be scared. So he would be prepared to be brave in the face of death and would not become a ghost.

He panicked. He did not accept it. He was terrified. And so he woke up in the Ghost Zone.

-

Danny went back through the portal when he saw some ectopuses acting… strange. Like they had an idea in their heads. Like they had a plan.

Which was weird, with animal ghosts. He had only been in the Ghost Zoneーmom and dad called it that, he rememberedーfor a couple weeks. Or, he had already been there for two weeks. Or maybe time worked differently and he was there five minutes, or four years orー

The ectopuses went through the portal and, despite everything, Danny went after them.

While he was busy reeling at being home, the ectopuses immediately attacked dad. Danny was horrified. Jack was overwhelmed. Danny stepped in, in a moment fueled by sheer adrenaline and stupidity, snatching a Fenton Thermos™ off a shelf and releasing his shaky invisibility. The ectopuses didn’t stand a chance. And when they were safely in the Thermos, he slowly turned around to dad, ready for the confrontation. Ready for the “what happened to you?” and the “where have you been?” and the “we’ve missed you”.

Dad scrambled to shoot at him.

Danny fled.

His parents didn’t recognize him.

-

The Lunch Lady attacked when Danny was mourning Halloween.

He’d waited all year. He made a costume that summer. He wouldn’t get to go trick or treating with Sam and Tucker this year. Or any year. For the rest of his lifeーor existence. Whatever.

The Lunch Lady appeared in the school and demanded in straight fury, “Who changed the menu?”

Everyone pointed at Sam.

Danny hadn’t known just how powerful ghosts could be. His parents never told him the specifics. Just that they were dangerous.

This ghost grew and her aura hit him like a hurricane, almost physically pushing him back. It was so strong that the students in the Casper High cafeteria seemed to feel it too.

The Lunch Lady was a much harder opponent than the ectopuses. She levitated meat. She used it as a weapon, and seemed to bring it back to life. She created weird meat creatures that grew sharp teeth and claws out of bones. They were mindless, attacking everything that got too close to the ghost. Danny would have run away without hesitation, if Sam hadn’t been in the crossfire.

Danny fought the Lunch Lady. It was a long struggle, but he caught her in the thermos after over an hour. When he turned to Sam and Tuckerーboth of whom he had to save due to Tucker trying to jump into the fightーall three of them bloody and bruised, he cringed. But a part of him hoped. Desperately.

Surely they would know him on sight.

“Wh-what are you?” Sam gasped at him finally.

Danny flinched as if she had struck him. “J-just… your friendly neighbourhood phantom.”

-

Danny didn’t know what possessed him. Oh. Pun not intended.

He just barely caught the Fentons leaving in the GAV, dragging suitcases behind them. He couldn’t help himself. What on Earth were they doing?

They were going to Vlad Master’s mansion for their college reunion.

It was a whole thing. But something was off. Besides all the adults reminiscing about the 80’s.

Danny sensed ghosts immediately but he couldn’t see anything. Unfortunately for him, Vlad could also sense him. It was two days of Danny staying invisible, and Vladーthe halfa? Is that what Danny is?ーtrying to kill Jack. Somehow, Danny managed to fight off Vlad, not turn back, and without the Fentons getting hurt. His secret intact.

VladーPlasmius, also learned about Phantom. And Vlad hated him. The manーghostーwhatever, seemed to only care about one thingーpossession. Of money. Of things. Of people. He was more ghost than Danny had ever seen. Vlad’s obsession was overwhelming.

Danny couldn’t believe someone so much like himself could be so disturbing.

[tls123]

i lost a full hour of work, the work i was dreading the most and was so fucking happy to just be done with

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

11x9 is like the most touchy episode its kinda nuts how much theyre touching like this is more in one episode than all of the rest combined

[californiaquail]

reading my journal from my freshman year of high school when i was in the cult

[rubenesque-as-fuck]

Bluhhhh, went on a spur of the moment karaoke date tonight with someone I started chatting with on Bumble earlier today. He mentioned he was going to karaoke and said to feel free to join so I thought, "Fuck it" and went. The heat was so miserable in my apartment that is was a relief to have an excuse to drive with the AC on anyway.

Got to the venue and he was cute enough, a little bit goofy. Was feeling ambivalent but not negative about the vibe. We both eventually sang one song each and then decided to head out. He said he didn't have a car and that it was a 20-30 minute walk, so I offered him a ride.

We parked in his neighborhood and chatted in the car for a bit. Then he asked if I wanted to make out. I agreed. Sure, why not. It's my birthday weekend (not that I had mentioned this fact to him), I deserve a lil smoochin', right?? And y'all.

It. Was. Terrible 😒😦😫

Just. Okay. First off, I'll fully admit that my car is not ideal for making out in. It's small and boxy and the front seats are far apart. So that's already a bad start. But the car wasn't the real problem.

It was the tongue. The TONGUE. Storming into my whole mouth like an angrily invading slug almost immediately. No subtlety whatsogoddamnever. After a minute I literally had to just push him back and say, "Too much tongue there, bud." Because I couldn't stand it any more. He eased up a bit, but it was still... not great overall. Thankfully he at least knew better than to start honking on my tits immediately 😂

After a little while he asked if we could move to the backseat, which I told him was a terrible idea because it was currently covered in a big doghair cover with a bunch of straps and buckles. And also because I didn't want to get too wrapped up in anything too quickly- which was true, but also just wasn't feeling super confident in any other techniques he may have had if his kissing habits were any indication. Also also, I'm not fucking 19 any more and I don't want to make out in the backseat of a car on some dark street where cars keep driving past? I pay rent so I can make out and get freaky indoors?

Anyway, me saying I didn't want to do anything in the backseat broke the spell and he decided to head out. Not sure if he truly thought he was gonna get hot backseat action or what. We'll see if I hear from him again. I'm kinda not sure if I want to 🤔 my whole car smells like bad cologne now, too.

Didn't help that I kept thinking about how I'd still rather be kissing D instead. Which, yes, I'm aware is dumb. It constantly begs the question "Did I not like this person because they aren't for me, or just because they aren't him?"

[crowtrobotx]

I keep jumping between Ch. 21 and 22 right now which is bad because they are very different vibes but. I have discovered through this whole process that I am one of those people where if I don’t write something down immediately after it enters my brain I will never get it back.

[nimue-hidden-lake]

Just wanted to say that this... Is getting to me.

You can't get away with this Hokke! You cannot!

[delusionaid]

Hope you've all read my recent metas thoroughly, pop quiz is in 10 minutes.

[hyliasblade]

Despinte Not knowing who Goku Is I got 40

[kvetchinglyneurotic]

i am genuinely sorry i inadvertently made you do research/homework for the speciality ask/response!!! BUT, so happy you find tassie devils cute!! poor little monsters (affectionate) need all the love they can get (death to face cancer)! just reiterating that you posting that the final (!!!!!) chapter of THD was written set off the same screeching noise in my brain! i've dug into the OG work you've posted on AO3 and am (actually, possibly, not really dw) dying to know if you've written/published full length novels?? your writing style/skill is so incredible i would love to purchase and read all of the everything that you've done! (if you haven't written/published you 1000000% should and i would LOVE to support you in all of it) hope your day is even half as incredible as your writing!! xxx

Don't be sorry! I love acquiring miscellaneous bits of information and the extremely loud and disturbing Tasmanian devil screech made my day. My original fiction projects really are my babies (so is THD but in a slightly different way) and it's wonderful to hear you've enjoyed them! At the moment, I'm only published in my academic life — I have a couple of articles in undergrad journals and a revise and resubmit on one for a graduate journal — but my series All Our Yesteryears will be novel-length (or several novel lengths) and posted on AO3. It's a project that I've been working on for years and has somehow produced two(!!!) full-length novels and one 86K short story collection as I've cycled through various methods of organizing this very long and complex story over the years. Which is to say that all my fiction writing will be online for free for the foreseeable future, but it's truly amazing and so lovely to hear that anyone is willing to pay money to read something I wrote.

[t4tdanvis]

Either Gene reproduced asexually or he slept with his brother’s husband (or alternatively sasha but i think travis is far funnier)

the thought of it being travis is fucking sending me

[coffinsister]

Lmao those streamers be so salty

[avid-idiot]

Damn, how badly was I sleeping tf?