#and then there's kara who keenly feels too kryptonian to be human (but questions kryptonian culture after living on earth some too)

[mamawasatesttube]

aoejznajwuzgVw. OKAY SO

This is gonna be such a ramble, I apologize in advance, but first off, yes Nightwing Kara does indeed pair with Flamebird Kon (or Supernova. You’ve converted me wjejshwhs)

So the idea is literally born from just like, her and Karen’s brief time as the Flamebird and Nightwing of Kandor, and it got me thinking about what it would be like for that concept to have been more expanded upon. And the ways that it could keep in theme with the Superfam and the immigration story, especially with Kara and Clark as first generation, and then Kon as second gen.

Then that got me thinking (as always) about Kryptonian culture and what it means to Kara and Kon. Like, Kara does struggle with keeping her Kryptonian heritage alive and staying true to it atop of assimilation, and how she just can’t blend in with humans in the way that Clark and even Kon can. And then there’s Kon who doesn’t always have a reason to want anything to do with Krypton, despite being Kryptonian himself. Like, the way the three of them are so so interesting to me in the ways that they just never fully feel like they belong. Also like, parallels! While some of Kon and Kara’s story’s are obviously meant to be throwbacks to Clark, it means that they (Kara and Kon) end up paralleling each other in ways that are so delicious, but completely accidental. For all their differences, they’re also so similar in a lot of ways that are completely different from Clark , namely their tempers.

Which brings me back to Nightwing and Flamebird! It would be such an interesting way to like, really explore Kon and Kara’s dynamic, and what they mean to each other. Like, Kara is a nonbeliever. She doesn’t believe in the Kryptonian gods (which is funny af considering Thara became the Flamebird vessel in canon), and I like to think that after crash landing on Earth and seeing that gods to in fact exist, there’s more than a bit of bitterness on her part. I think it would be such a good opportunity to have Kara, technological prodigy of the science guild, be the vessel of one of the gods and really confront what that means.

I have more, but I’m already making this message so long qoejzbwhehehw

ARTHUR THIS IS SO GOOD. WAIT A MINUTE IM YELLING I LOVE THIS CONCEPT SO MUCH ?!?!?!?!???

firstly i do still think its so funny re: kara and flamebird/thara like. no gods arent real dont be silly. yeah thats my bestie theres a god using her as a vessel but like. its probably nothing. something here along the lines of that joke about edward elric meeting god and then deciding he's an atheist anyway.

but also YES......... science guild kara vs the idea of faith and also like, the way gods can and do exist in the dc universe, but not as the untouchable and lofty ideals that a lot of real-world religions tend to posit godly figures as (which is not in any means saying all real world religions do that, as i primarily have experience with only 3 out of A Lot of those, but. yknow.) i think that adds a different flavor to that kind of conflict. like, they're immensely powerful but also just as flawed as anyone else, oftentimes. interesting and fun potential to toy with there (ofc id come at it from a specific angle personally bc haha religious trauma but. lol!)

but kara and wanting to keep her culture alive and then doing so in this very literal way while still grappling with what facets of that culture she wants to represent and support. that's FUN. very real immigrant story in that.

[admhawthorne]

Super Goddess Fic: Attempt Three!

“That place down there,” Kara pointed to a small, hidden away restaurant as they flew over the city. “It has the best pot stickers in town. Seriously, if you haven’t given them a try before you leave, you’re missing out.” She smiled brightly at the woman flying patrol with her.

The start of their rounds had been stiff and uncomfortable as they tried to gauge the other, but, after Kara almost hit a lightning rod on top of a building while trying to not look like she was staring at Diana, the mood had shifted to something much lighter. It’d taken the Amazon several minutes to get over her fit of laughter at the whole situation, and, after Supergirl managed to get her raging blush under control, things had become much easier between them.

Between moments of helping keep the city a safer place, Kara had begun to give her companion the grand tour of National City as only a native to the town could do, which, for Kara, meant telling Diana all the best places to eat.

“I do enjoy pot stickers, though I must confess I prefer a nicely cooked piece of steak after a long battle. The protein is helpful for maintaining strength.” Diana glanced around, eyes keenly aware of everything happening below them.

“Oh, yeah, good point,” the blonde huffed with a hint of disappointment. For some reason she couldn’t pinpoint, she really wanted to impress the other woman. “Well, it’s good to be healthy, but you have to treat yourself sometimes, right? I mean,” she pointed at another small shop further into the arts district of the city, “that place has the best ice cream ever, and I mean ever. I’ve been to a lot of ice cream places since I got to Earth, and no one’s ever been better than ‘Scream Cream.’ They make everything there in small batches, and they have this flavor called Supe…” She looked over and immediately stopped flying. Diana had disappeared from her side, and a quick look round found the brunette hovering in the air a few hundred yards behind her.

Kara circled back. “Is everything okay?”

Diana nodded, and, much to the blonde’s surprise and delight, she blushed slightly. “I really enjoy ice cream. I’d never had it until I left my home, and,” she ducked her head and smiled guiltily, “I think it may be one of the best inventions man has ever created.”

“Yeah, I’m going to have to go with you on that one,” Kara happily agreed. “Ice cream is amazing.” Her grin widened as she watched the brunette stare down at the ice cream shop. “Do you….” She trailed off, her throat suddenly tight and her nerves picking up. Was this a good idea? She already knew it probably wasn’t, but the look on Diana’s face was enough to make her not care. Someone who had such unguarded love of something as simple as ice cream was someone Kara wanted to have ice cream with. “Do you want to get some?” At the sharp, questioning look she was given, she shrugged uncomfortably. “I do a lot of patrols through this area on the weekends, and the owners are used to me coming in for a drink of water or a scoop of ice cream. They… uh…” She was blushing again. “They actually made a flavor just for me and keep it in stock.”

“Truly?” Diana tipped her head to the side, a sparkle of humor in her eyes. “What do they all it?”

Kara coughed self-consciously. “They call it ‘Supergirl,’ but, I mean, it’s not about the name. It’s… okay,” she was starting to babble, “look, it’s the best thing. It’s chocolate ice cream with pieces of candied pecans, bits of freshly made pie crust, and they swirl in the filling people use in pecan pies.” She demonstrated the swirl with a motion of her hand. “It’s so good. It’s not exactly as good as my adopted mom’s chocolate pecan pie, which is THE best dessert I have ever had from any world, but it is really close, and, if you wanted to try it, I would…”

“I would be honored to share a piece of your home with you,” the brunette cut in, reaching out to place a soft touch to the Kryptonian’s forearm. “Thank you for the offer.”

Once again, Kara realized her guard was down, and, once again, she was both shocked and not so shocked that she’d done it. She didn’t know this woman, didn’t know her intentions or her level of integrity, but she felt this pressing need to be open with her, as if the truth of who Kara really was and not the façade of Supergirl or Kara Danvers was bubbling to the surface and escaping in little rivulets of steam simply because she was in proximity to Diana’s warmth.

It was strange, and she should have seen it as dangerous, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel that way. Instead, she felt a comfort she hadn’t felt in over a decade.

Looking down at the place the Amazon’s hand rested on her arm, she gulped. The touch made her feel heated, and it registered where she’d felt that before. She shook her head. She wasn’t ready to deal with that, and ice cream would definitely help her cool down. She forced herself to look up and smiled brightly at the sincere gaze that met her. “What is the best way to enter their establishment without causing them distress? I assume Supergirl doesn’t walk through the front door?”

“Yeah, no, not really.” The blonde reluctantly pulled away from Diana’s hand and started toward the shop. “I go in through the back.” She nodded toward a small, enclosed area behind the building, which would keep her entrance private. “Oh,” she stopped again, catching the other woman’s eye to make her stop as well. “They’re going to want to know what to call you. Are you… I mean, do you… Is Diana…”

“Diana is my name, but I’ve learned covering my identity to the general public is important for the sake of privacy, which is unfortunate. Where I come from, people respect the privacy of others.” Her face looked sadly wistful for a split second before she sighed, letting whatever was bothering her go. “I’ve been called Wonder Woman in the past. It is, perhaps, a bit opulent, but I didn’t name myself. Had I, I might have gone for something more traditionally Greek.”

Kara chuckled. “I know that feeling. I didn’t name myself Supergirl, either. Cat Grant decided to call me that, and it stuck.” She motioned down at her chest. “I guess because of my House’s crest and the fact my cousin goes by Superman.” She rolled her eyes. “Come to think of it, he didn’t name himself, either. Lois Lane, a reported at the ‘Daily Planet,’ started calling him that, and here we are.” She threw her hands out to her sides in a show of indifference. “I mean, all things considered, I guess it’s not so bad.”

“But it is not your name nor one of your own choosing,” Diana pointed out. “Names are powerful tools. Knowing someone’s true name is a deep show of trust, especially in this world, is it not?”

The blonde blinked a few times, letting that thought sink in. “Yeah, I guess it is.” She crossed her arms over her chest and really looked at the armor clad woman floating in front of her. “And you told me yours without hesitation.”

“Warriors fighting on the same side should know each other. Trust is an important part of establishing the strong bonds needed for warriors to be effective together on the battlefield,” Diana responded simply.

Kara narrowed her eyes in thought, watching the other woman’s body language carefully. “And are we on the same side?”

“I believe in protecting humanity. I believe that the first thing any champion of human lives must do when they encounter conflict is try to talk through the conflict to resolution. I believe that, if talking doesn’t work, then fighting must be effect to stop the threat, even if that means using deadly force. I believe those of us who are the strongest have a sacred duty to help, protect, and heal as we can those who are not as strong. I believe in love and the power behind it, and, if these are things that you believe in, too, then, yes, I would say we are on the same team.”

For a long stretch of time, Kara floated in front of Diana and stared. How could anyone be this open and honest to a stranger? Was she actually being honest? Deadly force? Her cousin never killed, but Alex had. Alex had killed to protect her, and, yes, sometimes deadly force was necessary regardless of how repugnant it was. How could she know that what the Amazon said was true? She wanted it to be true.

She shook her head. “Diana, I can’t…”

“Wait.” Holding a hand up, Diana reached to her side with her free hand and pulled the coiled rope that rested there from it. It instantly burst into a shining, bright golden string of light. “This is the Lasso of Truth. It was a gift from Hestia. It compels whomever is touching it to tell the truth.” She held the coiled rope out in front of her. “When two or more people voluntarily touch it, they share in each other’s truth. Please,” she nodded to the rope, “I want you to know that what I say to you is true in my truth.”

Kara stared at the glowing rope suspiciously. Again with gods? Could a rope do something like that, and why was it glowing? Still, she needed to know, and there was something about Diana. She just… she was going to take a leap of faith and hope her sister didn’t kill her later.

Reaching out, she took the other side of the coiled lasso. Immediately, she felt warmth encase her. It was welcoming, like an amped up version of what she’d been feeling as she flew by Diana’s side all evening. Doubts left her mind as her eyes met the brunettes, and she smiled. “Wow.”

“Yes,” Diana agreed, returning the smile and nodding in understanding. “We are on the same side, Supergirl. I am not here to hurt your or your city. I am here to help. I came here for work, and I will be here until my work is done, but, while I am here, I want to help you as you help your city. I have no ulterior motives.”

Kara felt the truth of Diana’s words resonate through her. There was no way what she was being told was a lie, and, even though she didn’t understand it, she trusted that what she felt was true. She believed.

“Okay,” she said a little breathlessly at the feelings swarming around her, “I trust you, and I’m glad you’re here. It gets lonely doing this by myself, even though I have people helping me on the ground.” She took in a deep breath and held it. Had she not been holding the rope, she may never had decided this was a good idea, but right now it was all she wanted to do. She wanted to strengthen this bond they were creating together. “And my name is Kara Zor-El, or Kara Danvers for those here on Earth.”

The brunette nodded. “I have a name for this world, too. Prince. Diana Prince,” she chuckled. “Someone dear to me decided that giving me the surname Prince would be much more acceptable to people of this world than me explaining that I am, in fact, a Amazonian princess with no surname.” She shrugged. “I can’t say they were wrong.” She gently tugged the rope from Kara’s hand and returned it to her hip. “Thank you, again, for your trust.”

Kara cleared her throat a few times and shook her head to dissipate the fuzzy feeling left behind from being pulled away from the warmth of the lasso. “Thanks for helping me feel good about doing it.” She nodded toward the ice cream shop. “So, ice cream, Wonder Woman?”

Diana laughed. “Lead the way, Supergirl.”