#bruce may break his no killing rule

[evilminji]

Okay, as I have mentioned, I'm Ace AF. And you know that plot line in kids cartoons where the alien or foreign Warrior Royalty just sort of *violently kicks down door in full armor* "We Will Marry."? I?? Always said:

"Sure!" (#OhThankFUCK!)

Like what do you mean "No"? The powerful, attractive, monarch that is very into you has travel a great distance JUST to marry you! Now you don't have to date! They seem nice! You can skip the whole "trying to find a life partner" awkwardness.

So, Sudden New Fiancee(tm) how we doing this? Blended customs? Two weddings? One in your peoples traditions, one in mine? Should we invite your family? Tell me more about yourself.

God, this solves just... SO MUCH for me? No having to make small talk. No "do they like me?" Or "am I reading the signs here right?" No failed dates! It's positively ideal! AND they announced why they were qualified, in a VERY impressive show of power and prestige, when they arrived! Good lineage AND accomplished!! Very nice.

Don't get why everyone's so upset.

Sure the "we leave at once" thing that usually follows would have to be discussed, but that's what you DO as spouses. Really guys, it's like you think I'm incapable of common sense here.

And you know who probably agrees with me? Damian Wayne.

Hell is other people, INDEED. You expect him to just... randomly go up to people and try Courting them? What do you MEAN it's "creepy" to compile portfolios on eligible individuals of worthy bloodlines? How ELSE is he supposed to know if they are worth attempting to talk too?!

There are BILLIONS of humans on this gods forsaken rock, Richard! Is he supposed to just GUESS? Gamble and hope for LUCK? This is a MARRIAGE not a "best friends club"!

Then? Danny showes up.

Gotham heard her baby talking. Heard her KING being harassed by clearly plotting Observants and power hungry ghosts MANY times his age. Connected some dots. Formed themselves a new OTP.

Danny says "Fuck It". Worst he can say is No. According to Gotham, he is neither Shy not the meek obedient sort. Is in fact, VERY stabby. So if he's not interested he'll no doubt be BRUTALLY clear about that.

So? Danny gets Fright Knight. Go get him a horse. Someone fetch Cujo some armor. He's been told the guy like weapons and animals.

TIME TO BE IMPRESSIVE.

He goes FULL Regalia. Armor of solid night sky. Cape of frost and stardust. Crown like crack in reality itself, through which the cosmos gleam and shift. He gets a horse from the far frozen. They're wooly and carnivorous. Gets THE most impressive sword he can find to wear.

It's gonna be a gift, since he doesn't need it.

He does the whole "rend the skies open" thing. Fan fair and knights. Every title he's ever been given, no matter how embarrassing he find them in reality. And announces his intentions. Declares that ONLY Damian Wayne, aka. Robin, is WORTHY to Marry Him. And (in the traditional Ghost proposal of "either accept or tell me to fuck off" /w violence) Demands Damian accept his offer of Marriage.

Right there.

IN THE WATCHTOWER.

In front of EVERYBODY. And yes, ESPECIALLY the Bats. Who are making glitching, vaguely threatening DEMONIC NOISES. Because? You... you THREATEN the BABY? Death. Ten thousand years DEATH.

People are :O ing and backing away from the visible heatwave of unadulterated FURY being put off by Batman. Danny is nano-second from every bone his ANCESTORS had being reduced to a fine paste.

Then? Damian consider him... considers the sword being thrust in his direction, still held aloft in a steady and armored hand... contemplates those titles for a second...

And goes: "Acceptable. Very well, but I have demands."

N..... Nani the FUCK? Says local Bat-Dad. No??? You are NOT GETTING MARRIED.

Try to stop him. He very obviously IS, according to Damian, the man brought him a kick ass sword and has a giant green dog. Is the king of an ENTIRE REALITY. Yes, he realizes he probably COULD do better... but frankly? This one's cute. But if it upset you so... extended engagement. There. Happy?

NO! Because the JLA Dark are LOSING THEIR SHIT. Damian is still UNDERAGE. We don't even know how OLD this being is! NO MARRIAGE.

Damian is unimpressed. A whole six months? That he's likely already LIVED thanks to various timeloops, temporal shenanigans, and reality warping bits of fuckery? You're reaching.

Just? Marriage Meet Cute.

@hdgnj @ailithnight @the-witchhunter @nerdpoe

[the-blood-dripped-crown]

The Blood-Dripped Crown

(Medieval Reverse Robins/Background information)

Part one: The Kingdom of Shadow bird

     Before there was the kingdom of Shadow of Birds there were two separate kingdoms Fallen Shadow ruled by Ras al Gul and Rising Bird Ruled by Thomas and Martha Wayne. For many years these two kingdoms had been at war but it came to an end with a treaty and agreement still unknown by most. Due to old law, Talia and Bruce were forced into an arranged marriage to bind the kingdoms to each other. While it was his duty to marry Talia, Bruce told her he would break off the engagement if that was what she wished. She declined and the two were married and thought it was not in the plan they fell in love.

     With their marriage, the crowns of each kingdom were passed down and the two kingdoms merged into one with Bruce as the King and Talia as the Queen. They ruled together as Partners hoping to ensure unity among the new kingdom. However, relations were rocky as the two former kingdoms divided themselves. Ras's Former subjects were called Fallen Shadows and the others were Rising Birds. Fallen Shadows were seen as harsh and gloomy while Rising Birds were weak and foolishly optimistic.

     Fallen Shadow had been an assassin Kingdom with each of its subjects trained in the art of killing since birth. When the two Kingdoms were joined Assassins trained a rift among the people and noticed from the eyes of the world. So Bruce put in place a Kight regimen consisting of people for both former kingdoms. Ras disapproved of how his daughter and son-in-law ruled his old Kingdom, demanding that they reintroduce assassin training to the whole kingdom. When they refused he announced that he would reestablish the kingdom of Fallen Shadow taking any who had wished to Join him. While any Fallen Shadows did accept his invention most stayed loyal to their Queen even if they disapproved of the King. Ras took the ones who would join him and moved on leaving Shadow Bird even more divided.

     With the Kingdom barely held together all eyes were on Bruce and Talia. As Royals, there was a lot of pressure for them to conceive an heir, especially with relations among the subjects so rocky. Talia soon became pregnant and gave birth to a son named Damian. With the birth of the prince came the unity that Bruce and Talia had fought so hard for. It may have not been great but it was there. Over the years the bond would grow until they acted as one kingdom sadly this would all come to a halt.

     Seven years after the birth of the prince Ras made his move attacking one of Shadow Birds alleys. The battle was brutal. most of the defending kingdom was slayed including the King and Queen. The few survivors were taken in as prisoners, one of them being a young prince that Ras planned to raise as an heir.

     Bruce and Talia knew they had to put an end to Ras's rule or they would lose their own kingdom. So Bruce got his Knights ready for war but Talia knew they would be highly out manned so she went to her people and asked them to use their former training. Talia led the charge and after a blood-filled battle, Ras was captured. He was blinded and banshee from the kingdom and his subjects returned to Shadowbird along with his heir whom Bruce took in as his own. Those who had returned were looked upon with suspicion. Rumors spread among the kingdom and the unity of Shadow Bird was once again rocky.

[zahri-melitor]

The next Potted Fanon History is Robin II: JASON TODD.

Jason, 9-10: Willis Todd was abusive and goes to jail due to henching. Catherine Todd was addicted to drugs and dies from cancer. Jason ends up homeless. It is very tragic.

Jason, 12ish (extra angst edition): He may have done sexwork on the streets for food.

Jason, 12-13: found on the streets after jacking the tyres off the Batmobile.

Jason as Robin: Robin is Magic! The intelligent Robin! Extremely literary! A sweet innocent child! Cared about children and sex workers and those affected by drugs! Simultaneously, the only storyline anyone has ever heard of is Garzonas’ death.

Alternate Jason as Robin (less common): Jason always had an angry side. He was enraged by the hardships of the world and by people committing crimes against children and sex workers. Also the only storyline anyone has ever heard of is Garzonas’ death.

Jason around 14: goes on ski trip with Dick.

Optional Jason and the Titans: Jason meets the Titans as Dick’s brother. He may go on one or two missions with them. The entire and only point of this event is for Jason to encounter Roy and Kory. They are fairly close in age. Do NOT think about this too closely.

Jason, 15: A Death in the Family, Which hurts more, forehand or backhand, etc. Harley may be present for this. Harley may have tried to talk Joker out of this.

Jason, 15.5: digs himself out of his grave. USUALLY found immediately by Talia and dunked in a Lazarus Pit. Ra’s Al Ghul is extremely unhappy about this.

Jason, 16-18: PIT RAGE. World training trip sponsored by Talia. May spend time with Damian. Frequently killed his teachers for being bad people.

Jason, 18-21: returns to Gotham as Red Hood with a sportsbag full of mob boss heads and many guns. Moves immediately into Crime Alley and it becomes ‘his territory’. All the Bats avoid it. SLITS TIMS THROAT. This might just be from Jason stalking Tim or it might occur in Titans Tower.  Face off with Bruce over killing the Joker, Bruce slits Jason’s throat.

Jason, Titans Tower: Jason goes to Titans Tower and beats Tim up. This is due to PIT RAGE as Tim is his REPLACEMENT. Exclusively calls Tim that.

Jason, 18-21: Following UTRH, Jason continues crime lording around Crime Alley. The small street children and sex workers all trust him. He has RULES and they WORK. Nobody sells drugs to children or hurts them. Anyone hurting a child sets off Jason’s berserk PIT RAGE. Torments Black Mask.

Jason, 18-21: At some point following UTRH, Jason (re)encounters Roy and Kory and forms the Outlaws. It may take place while travelling through the multiverse for unspecified reasons. (Basically this encounter replaces Jason’s 52 arc).

Jason, 20-21: When Bruce dies, Jason is in jail because someone (usually Bruce or Dick) locked him up for being a Crime Lord. Tim breaks him out and Jason has the first kind thought towards his Replacement ever. If we do Battle for the Cowl Jason argues that he should be Batman as he’s the only one who can clean up Gotham. His offer to have Tim as his Robin shows how much he now respects Tim. Alternatively, Batarang to the chest and trying to kill Tim again.

Jason, 20-21: Jason eventually realises that he has PIT RAGE that makes his eyes glow green. All the Bats and other heroes who encounter him understand how hard it must be to have been in a Lazarus Pit, because of the unstoppable and constant permanent rage afterwards. Jason manages to suppress this rage and he is a hero for it. He immediately feels intense guilt for hurting Tim as the Pit has made him do many things. However if he ever gets angry it returns. (Yes. He’s the Hulk).

Jason, 20-21: While Dick is Batman, Jason starts feeling more guilty and helping out occasionally. He may have Fond Memories of training with Damian in the League. He starts using rubber bullets in his guns when working with the Bats, or just shooting people in the knee. Everyone else thinks this is a reasonable non-lethal compromise. He has his own patrol route around Crime Alley that the Bats STILL do not enter without asking his permission.

Jason, 20-21: Apologises to Tim. This happens after rescuing Tim out of some peril. Tim immediately accepts the apology and they start hanging out together. They are now Best Brothers because Tim just can’t trust Dick anymore, but Jason apologised.

Jason, early mid 20s: On some space mission with the Outlaws, Jason acquires the All-Blades. These are magical glowy space swords that can only harm evil.

Jason, early mid 20s: after Bruce’s return he and Jason make their peace with each other as long as Jason does not kill. Jason is still mad Bruce won’t kill Joker for him. There are periods of angst about this.

Jason, currently: Jason is the Family Black Sheep but has agreed to not shoot people lethally in Gotham. He is invited to family events, but publicly he is Still Dead (TM). He may still be doing some Crime Lording on the side for money. He has not been back in jail. In the midweek, Jason can be found going shopping with Alfred for groceries, cooking with Alfred in the kitchen and discussing historical literature and Shakespeare.

Jason, currently: is either Best Friends with Roy or dating him. They are buddies who are rarely seen apart in superhero contexts. Lian (who is 7-8) thinks of Jason as her other father. He is close to Tim and they team up often in Gotham, unless he is alternately close to Damian or Steph. He’s the Other Big Brother of the Bats.

[nalyra-dreaming]

Throughout the first season the spectre of Nicki definitely haunts the narrative, and around most of lestat’s neuroses involving Louis, but rewatching ep 5 recently Armand’s presence really is felt strongly in the dialogue before the violence breaks out. Lestat is absolutely only thinking of one vampire when talking about vicious Europeans vampires of course, and while he may not be thinking that armand would try to seduce Louis specifically (although maybe?? Depending on if they go that way with armand/Nicki) when Claudia says that final bit out loud to Louis about finding other vampires worthy of his love, we as viewers/book readers know exactly what that was foreshadowing. The writers are layering things so wonderfully that there’s probably things retroactively that we will realise was set up for other thing in season 2 or 3 the writers have planned. I can’t imagine what it would be like not knowing anything from the books and then rewatching season 1 when things are revealed, and then also devils minion stuff potentially.

It will be interesting what choices they make when revisiting ep 5 if those armand ‘references’ are meant to maybe prepare us for his influence in the memories we are about to witness in those scenes 👀

Yes.

They have done their homework.

What did Armand say to Lestat: ‘You long for me and I for you, and we alone in all this realm are worthy of each other. Don't you know this?’

Claudia's comment in regards to the "worth" references and calls back to that (already), and also gives a damning judgement. I don't know if you read y fic "Laden as the sea", but I've just been over that scene - with a rather lengthy note comment *laughs*

Because yes, there is a lot in there.

I have said it there (and here), but I fully expect the throwaway, seemingly-cop-out-comment of "I don't know what possessed me that night" in episode 6 to come back, too. Later. Maybe much later. But I would bet anything that it will come back. Because they're doing the books. And... they're doing parallels. These parallels are everywhere, setting up so much already. With all the references they threw in with timeline and backstory they must have planned the next 3 to four seasons already... rough timelines at the very least.

In regards to episode 5... I think we will get another "episode 5" in season 2, I think that will call back to the first season. Whether they truly go and change what we were shown or if they only make it click into place what happened doesn't really matter to me I have to say... episode 5 had so many layers that it's hard to strip any of them off. And I don't necessarily need to see it - the show has gone to so many lengths already to make sure we are aware that it's not the (whole) truth. *shrugs*

As per who Lestat is thinking of... yes of course he thinks of Armand then, and Les Innocents, etc, but also... Magnus. It is no coincidence that there were tears in Sam's eyes when Lestat realized what had happened to Claudia. And it is no coincidence that he asked Louis to read her then. And it is no coincidence that he tried to track down "Bruce" afterwards, and kept track of him on long distance.

And as per Louis... Lestat goes to lengths to make sure that Armand won't kill Louis when he gets to him... he is terrified of the "old vampires" - the old rules. Both Claudia and Louis are not fit for the old rules.

And Armand often cleans up after all, later, too.

So yes, he thinks of Armand there. But not only Armand I'd argue.

PS: That said, if they go the Nicki/Armand route, too, then that aspect is of course part of it, too!

PPS: Rewatching when all is said and done will be sooooo interesting??? I am biting my nails already just thinking about seeing it all click into place *laughs*

[spiralcass]

Damian Cain and Cassandra Al-Ghul

What if Damian Wayne had been the eugenics baby of David Cain and Lady Shiva, while Cassandra Cain was the daughter of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul, born to inherit the world? 

Damian is never taught to read or speak. The only person he spends time with usually is his father, David. He undergoes all the same Hellish  training and abuse, and learns to understand body language like most people do the spoken word. He takes great pride in his skills. And his entire sense of self is built around making his dad proud. But history does not go as it did in another world. Damian is a compassionate soul, but no one possesses a heart like Cassandra Cain’s. When Damian takes a life for the first time at age 8, he is horrified. He knows he’s done an awful thing, seeing what it’s like to die. 

But he doesn’t run. 

It kills him, but he thinks to himself that this pain is no different than getting shot. Just worse is all. He’ll get to used to it, he’s sure. After all, he can’t leave his dad. Who is he without him? And he still has so much to learn. 

Eight years later, Damian is sent to kill James Gordon, David anticipating he’ll have to take on his former student, Batman, and hoping his pride and joy will kill the caped crusader. 

Damian kills Jim. 

Batman catches up to him before he can make his escape and the two fight. While Damian is the far superior martial artist, and even Bruce’s gadgets aren’t enough to level the playing field, Damian isn’t the only one who can read people. 

Bruce has raised two kids. Two deeply scarred kids. And he can see the pain written all over Damian. As he gets to the bottom of who he is and what’s going on, Bruce is able to convince the teenager that he doesn’t need to keep hurting himself. He’s proud of his skills, but he can also be proud of how he uses them. If his father truly loves him, he’ll accept this. 

Damian breaks down into tears, and Bruce takes him home. 

Damian gets off to a rough start with the rest of the Batfamily. Barbara naturally hating him for killing her father, and Dick, Tim, and Jean-Paul all taking her side. However, they can’t stay mad at the boy for long after learning his story and everything he’s been through. Barbara doesn’t want to be his friend, but she’ll accept him as an ally. Dick and Jean-Paul elect to be positive male influences on the kid, Dick especially not trusting Bruce to fill that role. And Tim? He’s not thrilled about the idea of sharing, but he eventually warms up to the idea of them being The Brothers Robin. 

Three years later, Talia Al Ghul arrives in Gotham with the daughter Bruce never knew he had, 10 year-old Cassandra Al Ghul. 

Cass was raised as a princess, spending most of her time training to one day rule the world with her loving and warm, but strict and perfectionist mother. She cannot read body languages, instead speaking perfect English, Arabic, and Chinese. However, she remains both Autistic and dyslexic. When she was younger, she feared she would be seen as a failure for her disabilities, unfit to lead humanity to greatness. However, Talia assured her that there was nothing wrong with her, that she was perfect how she was, and the only failure would be in letting the things that make her different hold her back. 

By the time she’s 10, Cassandra Al-Ghul possesses a larger ego than either Cassandra Cain or Damian Wayne. She is a spoiled brat and one raised and trained by assassins. However, she’s still Cassandra. She is still the most compassionate soul in the world. And so, while she may not fear killing or take any issue with it when it’s necessary, she does not treat life lightly, only killing those she deems necessary, or, in perhaps the way that seperates her most from her counterpart - those who she thinks are incapable of change. 

Cass spends time with her father and her three brothers. She admires Batman, her mother always having told her of romantic adventures they’d been on together, and tries her hardest to get Bruce to come home with her. 

Dick and Tim annoy her. They have no place in this story. Just a couple of peasents who’ve gotten too big for their britches who think her daddy is their daddy. 

Damian though? She likes Damian. He has good pedigree, he’s an even stronger fighter than herself, she finds his sardonic speech charming, and she sympathizes with his abusive upbringing, wishing he could have had it as nice as her. While she only grows mild fondness for Dick and Tim overtime, her and Damian become a close older-brother, little sister duo. 

And when Bruce is killed, that duo becomes Batman and Robin. 

[marvelrarepairbingo]

Hey everyone! Love is in the air this February here at Marvel Rare Pair Bingo as we kick off our mini-Valentine’s event. For the month of February we are running a mini-event for those looking to spread a little more Marvel love. If you’re interested in checking it out, click here and see how you can get involved on this month long mini-event! We’d love to have you with us! Now below the cut you can find the fantastic fills that were made during week one of this mini-event! Enjoy!

Author: The UltimateUndesirable Title: Waiting To Feel The Wind Card #: 2 Square Filled: E2 - Kissable Pairing: Jennifer Walters/Katy Chen Rating: Teen Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Summary: After a long week, Jen really just wants the opportunity to get out and away from work. What better way to do that than with an old friend that likes to fly in the wind? Katy is from the expected day to day life, and is everything she craves. Word Count: 898 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44601274 Author: The UltimateUndesirable Title: Jarvis Is Watching Card #: 3 Square Filled: O1 - breaking the rules Pairing: Pepper Potts/Maria Hill Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply but PWP Summary: Maria and Pepper don't find a lot of time together, and finally having a relationship that can keep up with her she is always at the ready to embrace everything given to her. If that means moments of spontaneous passion in less-than-ideal places, then so be it. Word Count: 531 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44634913

Author: The UltimateUndesirable Title: A Quarter of Snow Card #: 10 Square Filled: E1 - darling Pairing: Sif/Hela Rating: Teen Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Summary: Hela has insisted on visiting Midgard to see her Modir and Father. As a good loving girlfriend, Sif is happy to oblige. Mostly. Just not during winter because while the part Jotun may be made for it, she is most definitely not. Thankfully the other woman takes her moodiness with graceful ease that does nothing other than remind her why she loves her. Word Count: 523 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44601526 Author: The UltimateUndesirable Title: Pussy Pays The Bills Card #: 3 Square Filled: L1 - secret crush Pairing: Darcy L/Jane F Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Summary: Darcy knew there was money to be made when it came to lesbian porn. She didn't know about the latent romantic tendencies she had towards her best friend. While it creates a bit of an emotional hiccup, it makes for some damn good genuine pleasure. No one has to know the moans aren't faked. Word Count: 1027 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44601733

Author: The UltimateUndesirable Title: Reunited Again and Hopefully Forever Card #: 1 Square Filled: L1 - separated and reunited Pairing: Kate B/Yelena B Rating: Teen Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Summary: Kate has been waiting ages for the opportunity to have Yelena back in her life, or more accurately face to face once more. After she left for Russia, she didn't know what to expect of their little spark. Nearly a year apart has left her with the answer though. The want for even more. Word Count: 828 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44657443 Author: Jeremy Title: The Baby Squad Has A Movie Night Card #: 8 Square Filled: E2 - Valentine’s day sucks, let’s watch movies and stuff our faces instead. Pairing: N/A Rating: G Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Summary: Clint loathed Valentine's Day. Luckily enough his friends make it bearable. (Notes: Completely self indulgent, based on an AU, and it might not make sense except to the people who know and love these characters and their established dynamic) Word Count: 575 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44791243

Author: Jeremy Title: Sneaking In Card #: 8 Square Filled: V2 - Sneaking In/Out Pairing: Bruce Banner/Justin Hammer Rating: G Warnings: Brian Banner's A+ parenting is mentioned Summary: “Dad will kill you.” “I doubt he’ll notice,” Justin said dismissively, instead wrapping his arms around Bruce’s waist and giving him a smile. “I wanted to come and see you.” Word Count: 556 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44858125

[dairy-farmer]

Thinking about Bruce in suicidal Tim au and the implications for his character and such.

I think Bruce as a character is really driven by certain moments that he allows to become fundamental pieces of his existence. Aka, the murder of his parents and how it transforms him into Batman, and that’s who he is now. The death of the Graysons, and suddenly Batman is not a monster, but a father. These become catalysts, blueprints for his existence. The keystones of his soul. The transform who he fundamentally is.

I think Jason’s death neatly became one of these— transforming Batman into a darker, less heroic figure. He nearly breaks his no-kill rule, and thus, his older mission and self, but is rescued by Tim becoming Robin.

I think Tim’s near-death is one of these moments, not just for Bruce but for the whole family. It fundamentally changes them, who they are and what they view as their goals and mission. They get along better, interact less with the outside world, view each other for the first time as a real *family*. It verges from sweet into the realm of cult-like. If you’ve ever read any dark batfam fics, I think a lot of the dynamics there can apply here.

Part of the danger of this paradigm shift is that it essentially replaces Bruce’s previously held convictions. I once saw someone talking about how Bruce is ultimately the moral compass of the batfam, and how the rest of the batfam are good, ultimately because he is. If Batman killed or was not good, the others would follow, even if not consciously, with the apparent exception of Jason, who tends to be a rebel. This can actually be seen in a lot of the canonically ‘dark-earths’.

I think this shift of the family into something condependent would have Tim as their fragile, beating heart, the thing that binds them together. They become scarier, more ruthless, and most importantly, more competent, because they’re not fighting each other all the time. I think there would be real danger of the no-kill rule being broken— maybe only covertly, when nobody would know, because the *idea* of the bats as being no-kill is important, even if they no longer care about its actual practice. Maybe even just Bruce secretly funneling ‘problems’ to Jason, so that the Red Hood may take care of problems the other bats can’t publically tackle.

Most of this wouldn’t really be apparent to Tim in obvious ways, as they make stringent efforts to shield him from any aspects of the outside world, whether it be corporate or super-related. But it would be something that effects the world at large.

Bruce becomes terrified of the idea of Tim being in any way isolated, and implements rules so that Tim will never be in a room alone, ever. He (correctly) views isolation as a major contributor to Tim’s ‘troubles’, and fashions Tim into this heart of the family. Even if he isn’t directly participating or speaking because he’s tired, or fuzzy, Tim is at every meal, never ignored. They have movie and game nights, always gently ask Tim questions about the current conversation if it’s appropriate and he seems alert.

In Bruce’s head, Tim was made to be a sort of hearth-figure for their family— if you know Greek mythology, he sort of crafts him into this Hestia-like figure in his fucked-up head. He fantasizes about a Tim who is spoiled and loved and *happy*— him laughing during game nights, cushioned in a nest of pillows on the floor that allows him to gently rest, partially reclined, while still reaching the board. Him gently bantering with his siblings during dinner, his cushy wheelchair (designed to be largely only mobile via an outside pusher) knitted blankets over his lap and feet, cheeks rosy.

He definitely sort of rationalizes and deifies and does all sorts of other stuff in his head and reality to Tim— in some way, I think he believes that it was meant to be this way, that Tim being disabled was fated and maybe even righteous, so that he could be cared for and protected by his family, never able to runaway like he previously had a habit of doing. As long as he’s not in pain, he rationalizes. He doesn’t need to be strong. He has us for that.

I wrote a little Drabble in my notes app I’ll drop in ur askbox after this cus this is already getting long but. Many thoughts head full.

!!!!!! I love this analysis of bruce’s character!!!! the way you deconstructed him to his very base self because this is absolutely something that would happen to him!!!

i think i’ve talked about this before- about trauma pausing someone in time, that’s why you see so many takes today on people ‘healing their inner child’ by doing things that soothe them from the time where they experienced a lot of turmoil and trauma.

bruce is a mentally unwell man, he’s a person who definitely hurts himself and others at times because he is unable to place as much dedication to his healing as he does to what he thinks he should be doing.

this takes a toll not just on him but his relationships.

before this all happened i think the bats were more like a collection of people with shared history living together but not quite a family. they didn’t have that level of emotional investment, sure they may have cared for each other but love? they’ve all been stalled in their development for emotional connection in so many ways and since bruce was the one who raised them at very important points in their adolescence where they’d have needed guidance for how to develop and manage relationships...

bruce was just never fully equipped to take on this task. he was woefully underqualified and while he did put in an effort he didn’t do what needed to be done so that all his kids understood that while he couldn’t express it well he did love them.

this fundamentally is what sets him down on this road where tim nearly commits suicide and only survives because they got him help and time and even then, tim has permanent damage. (damage that he could be rehabilitated from and allow him to live and independent life but that’s not what bruce wants.)

I remember in one of my classes a girl did a presentation on the psychological needs of the family members of people who have attempted suicide. many get ptsd, anxiety, and even depression. family members are often considered to play vital roles in preventing future attempts as well as assisting in the rehabilitation of the person who attempted but the thing is most people aren’t equipped to assist with that kind of care.

100% tim’s suicide attempt pressed hard on their already cracked psyche, it put the family into a sort of ‘hunted’ state where they can’t help but feel like something horrible will happen. so they become possessive, they become violent, lashing out not at each other but the rest of gotham’s underbelly because that’s the only ‘acceptable’ way for them to channel those frustrations, fears, and anxieties. (they don’t have a healthier way of doing it, they’ve never been taught)

on some level they were always like this, they were already teetering on the edge and it was this thing that pushed them over it. if bruce had been slightly more mentally well, if the rest of the family had learned decent coping mechanisms from bruce, their primary caretaker in their adolescence, this may never have happened.

but it did. and the only ones they all feel like they can turn to for support, who they think will understand, is each other.

bruce becomes this very paranoid, obsessive man who develops a codependence on tim and the others follow by example whether they realize it or not.

bruce is sick enough to justify it all in his head, rationalizing his actions as very logical things to do.

telling the world that his son died from his suicide attempt and making all the friends and acquaintances outside of gotham believe it so no one goes looking for him. 

keeping him isolate not from the family! but the rest of the world. in bruce’s mind tim doesn’t need anything aside from them.

because losing tim almost made them lose it because he can remember the sight, the heart stopping minutes when he was so sure he was dead and he never wants to feel like that again.

the only way tim never ends up in that sitaution again is to make sure he’s never able to get onto a roof again. tim becoming wheelchair-bound seems more like a blessing and a second chance.

and sure maybe bruce never really dedicates himself to healing tim’s legs or making sure he can regain that ability. but it’s for a reason. the way that bruce and the others will 100% not see anything wrong with their actions because at least tim is alive and with them..

poor tim. it truly is a monkey’s paw. he got what he wanted. but not the way he wanted it.

[65pinkroses]

Legal Fictions: 1988′s Batman Getting the Law Wrong

I mostly use this tumblr for my poetry and vibes, but those of you who know me IRL know that I spend a lot of my free (and formerly school) time considering Batman comics from the disciplinary lens of law and literature. So for fun I thought I’d break down two examples where Batman just makes stuff up about the law for plot. (Because I can’t keep bothering senior counsel about this during coffee breaks). Also both of these issues are by Jim Starlin...sorry, Jim.

Don’t worry, I may be a lawyer but I won’t use too much jargon!

Example 1: Batman #421 (1988)

Is it true that evidence would be thrown out and the case dismissed...because Batman was the one who obtained the murder weapon? Probably not.

In this issue we see Karl, a misogynistic serial killer, head to trial for his crimes. With the murder weapon as evidence, the case is clear-cut. But uh oh the Judge says we have to throw out the whole case! What? Let’s break this down.

What is evidence?

In general, it’s an object or information that is relevant to proving/disproving an element of the crime.

What is inadmissable evidence?

Evidence can be “inadmissible” even if it is relevant, if it will unfairly prejudice jurors against a defendant.

Why is the judge here saying that the evidence (the knife) was obtained illegally?

In the United States, the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution protects citizens against “warrantless search and seizures.” Basically the police and other “State Actors” can’t just randomly break into Karl’s house and take his knife the way Batman did. This is called the “Exclusionary Rule” of evidence, where a defendant can say “hey, the police searched my house without a warrant it’s not fair to use that against me because it goes against the principles of justice.”

Okay, so why is this issue incorrect?

Well Batman isn’t actually the police! Private citizens don’t have any rules against obtaining evidence. If Bruce Wayne broke into Karl’s house and brought the knife to court that’s not Fourth Amendment violation. (I mean I don’t recommend that, that’s gonna be kind of questionable and so forth but not illegal per se)

Batman is a private citizen dressing up as a bat to fight crime at nighttime he’s not acting for the State. (If you’re interested in a detailed discussion of this you can check out "Is Batman a State Actor?” by Joshuah Lisk)

Also “without the knife, the State didn’t have enough to convict”? What was this case built on? Hopes and dreams? This is a murder trial! Where’s the jury! It’s fine, I’ll be fine.

Bottom line: sorry, Jim, that evidence was totally admissible and Karl would’ve been convicted (probably)!

Example 2: Batman #424 (1988)

Would Diplomatic Immunity really allow Garzonas to get away anything? Unlikely!

Felipe Garzonas commits rape and battery. But because he’s the son of an ambassador he can just walk away, apparently.

So, Diplomatic Immunity is a principle of International Law that countries agree to under the 1961 Vienna Convention. The intent is to allow safe passage and peaceful foreign relations between nations. It is not a “license for misconduct” and there is a duty to respect laws.

As the son of an ambassador Felipe MIGHT have diplomatic immunity. If he’s under 21, or under 23 and in school, he would qualify. I mean to me he looks like maybe 35. If that’s the case then he has no immunity.

Pretending this man is 20 and that he has Diplomatic Immunity...he’s probably still in big trouble. Either a) the US can declare him a persona non grata and say “get out please” or b) the government of “Bogatago” can revoke his immunity leaving him open to criminal charges and prison time in the US. This has happened before! In 1997 when a Georgian representative drove under the influence and killed someone, the Georgian government revoked his immunity and he served time in North Carolina.

So, Jason should never have been put in the position of having confronted Garzonas himself. Gordon was totally within his rights to hold Garzonas and call up the embassy!

(This case also has a supposed “he says she says” element that I don’t have time to get into but Gordon should not have let him go imo if you want me to discuss this in another post let me know)

And don’t even get me started on THE JOKER GETTING DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY. And then?? Trying to assassinate the entire UN Security Council??? That’s. It’s a plot convenience don’t worry about it.

And that’s it! I hope this was educating and fun for my fellow Batman fans. If you want to talk more about Batman and the law feel free to reach out! Also if you like the law and comics in general LawintheMultiverse is a fun blog I read! I should??? Probably?? Ask to make a guest post there sometime!

[cienie-isengardu]

Hi! I love your blog and particularly your Anakin/Vader meta stuff! I have a (imo) fun question for you: what would a team up between Batman and Vader look like? How would they regard each other? I’m imagining them forced to help each other rescue their kids or something, lol. I was inspired by your posts from the comics and then the meta about Vader and his relationship with stormtroopers vs officers.

Cheers!

Thank you! ♥️

Oh that is an intriguing but also tough question to which I feel the answer will depend a lot on the setting. Going with the rescue kid scenario, Batman thrown into the Star Wars universe or Vader into Gotham build totally different circumstances.

Both characters have their specific modus operandi that may easily clash and both are difficult to work with to begin with, but I feel that Vader thrown into Gotham would be easier to cooperate with as he has zero interest in taking over the city. The major problem will be to pursue Vader to not kill everyone that threatened Luke’s life but beyond that the city and its citizens have not much to offer. Earth technology is pretty outdated compared to star wars reality and even if some weapon was a marvelous exception, Vader has little regard for technological terror, as was seen with the Death Star. He may be interested in magic and superpowers as I believe this could be the closest thing to his understanding of the Force but without the Emperor around and with no one to butt into his family relationship, the trip to Gotham could be actually quite refreshing experiences. Vader on his own, without Empire to worry about, Palpatine’s spies lurking in the shadows, rebellion to eliminate or political rivals to kill? Yeah, sounds like a dreamy holiday and a good opportunity to connect with his son. 

(Anyone remember “Savage Heart” comics in which Vader spent some time in the wilderness and along the way became leader of an animal predator pack? I kinda feel like being in Gotham could be similar in regard to evoking “family” emotions in him, just him and the little group he is bound to protect.)

If Luke’s life was in danger, there was no Palpatine to use his fatherly feelings against him - and even if there were stormtroopers/members of 501st Legion accompanying him, leaving them behind to deal with the matter at hand alone fits perfectly Vader’s operating methods. In that scenario, with Vader being on totally unknown (neutral) land and free to openly do things he normally couldn’t due to his Sith apprentice status and obligations to Empire, I think Vader could be more likely to humor Batman (and Luke) about their cooperation. Of course, the inevitable clash between them would come down to the no killing rule of Batman because Vader is the pragmatic type that has no hesitation about eliminating enemies for good. Dead enemies can’t hurt you and leaving madmans like Joker alive is asking for trouble and this is one thing I don’t think Batman and Vader will agree anytime soon (though a part of Anakin may be impressed by Bruce’s indomitable resolution and iron will to not break this rule even when Batman lost so much already, especially when he lost a son - Jason - because of Joker. At the same time, Red Hood is definitely on board about killing the villains so I guess Batman is going to be pretty busy with keeping Vader AND his wayward son from reducing Gotham underground into ash. And in general, Luke and Jason and their difficult relationship with fathers wouldn’t be an interesting part of Bruce and Anakin’s teamwork?)

At the same time, there are a lot of things Vader could be impressed about Batman. The skills of a “powerless” human who dedicated all his life to self-improvement and who is capable of going head to head with metahumans. The iron will and stubbornness that keep Batman pushing beyond his limits to finish the “mission”. The smartness and genius mind. The dedication to fight crime even - especially if - it is against the best interest of corrupted politicians. Because this is what Jedi should be; this is what Anakin hoped Jedi would be when he dreamed about being one of them. Batman is the type of superhero who goes against criminals and those in power alike and is not afraid of breaking the comfortable status quo. And Vader likes hard-working, thinking outside the box, dedicated and capable people. Batman on another hand, without any Empire or Rebellion around wouldn’t know what Sith is and what a true evil he is capable of, so unless Luke fills gaps in his knowledge or Vader went on full dark side rampage, there is a chance he would give Vader a small benefit of doubt. As in, the dangerous man is here truly to save his estranged son and be off once the boy is safe and sound without causing unnecessary chaos and death. Though seeing Vader in fight may be an additional reason to send him back as fast as possible to whatever reality he came from.  

Of course, working with Batman or Vader is not an easy task as both are pretty stubborn, brilliant yet very difficult men but also both are capable of working “with the enemy” if the situation calls for truce. I personally think that if not openly challenged, they could actually find a common ground relatively easy.  Because whatever people think about Vader, he can be pretty cool-headed and cunning without brutality - he just prefers to deal with things in less complicated fashion (and who can blame him with a master like Palpatine who loves scheming and psychologically messing up people?) And really, despite the rigid moral rules Batman follows, he is pretty respected even among villains and the secret agency/agents. Over the years he built a specific “understanding” with some of them, like Ra's al Ghul, classic Amanda Waller, the head of Suicide Squad (or Predators) so I think this isn’t far stretching idea that given a time and opportunity, Batman and Vader would fall into similar category of mutual respect, as Vader is closer to the type of villains capable of truly respecting certain people than to obsessive madmen like Joker. 

Which is why I think Vader and Luke showing in Gotham is the easier scenario. However Batman (and any of his kids) thrown into the Star Wars universe creates additional complications whose level will increase the closer to Coruscant they showed up. For one, here Vader is tied to his duties to the Empire and thus under Darth Sidious’s watchful control. Which I believe wouldn’t allow Vader to openly team up with Batman because a) Bruce would quickly figure out Empire is the corrupt government that should be taken down or at least fight against and b) saving Luke is Vader’s personal goal that isn’t exactly safe for him, because again, Palpatine has his own plans in regard to young Skywalker and Vader is treading on thin ice between loyalty to Empire and sabotaging his master. 

So to team up with Batman to save Luke, Vader would need to use all the cunning skills and his trusted agents he possesses to not draw Palpatine’s unnecessary attention to himself. Of course, the farest from Coruscant, the easier to do so, but if Batman landed on Coruscant and started there causing problems for Imperials (and well, he would, wouldn’t he?) then catching Bruce and actually making a deal with him without Sidious’ knowledge would be pretty challenging. Batman could easily be seen as a rebel agent albeit I think his no killing rule is enough distinct trademark to catch Vader’s attention - attacking imperial soldiers and/or successfully stopping imperial operations without killing any trooper in the process is not the typical rebels’ modus operandi (and I’m not saying it as criticism toward Rebels, just stating a fact). Which gives Vader an interesting angle to seek said “enemy” and figure out how to use it for his own purpose (saving Luke). Anakin could be dispatched by Palpatine to deal with an annoying problem or Batman’s tactic could simply have caught Vader’s attention and I guess in the case of those two running into each other, an interesting battle of skills and wits would follow as in sw universe Batman has better understanding of Empire’s inhuman crimes thus a solid reason to not trust Dark Lord of the Sith on his trail. So as much as siding with Rebels feels the natural outcome, Batman’s no killing rule always included even the worst villains so he is not one to assassinate / make a coup on imperial high ranking officers. And well, wouldn’t it be funny if Batman became a target for both Empire and Rebels, as he is not there to kill anyone or let anyone to die on his watch and get into both sides’ operations on daily basis and no one have a fucking clue who this man is and what is his problem?

(Also, how far Batman goes with the no killing rule when dealing with the Empire? In Gotham there are possibilities to keep the worst villains under sort of control and sure Arkham Asylum isn’t the 100% safe place for that as serial killers / seriously mentally ill people managed to escape from there but it provides an alternative to sentencing someone to death. Meanwhile in the Star Wars universe defeating Imperial officers does not remove them from the rank and it is not like Batman can abduct them and put them in prison as the Empire's hold on the galaxy is tight. Would he stop a rebel attack to save Vader if he was meant to die in said attack? I kind of think Vader in Gotham would feel much better than Batman on Coruscant or any planet under imperial occupation.)  

At the same time, if Vader knew Bruce’s kid(s) was kept in imperial custody or alternatively, he was the one holding Batman’s family to force him to save Luke from imperials/bounty hunters/whoever else - and Batman as the unpredictable, unaffiliated agent is a good choice to bring enough chaos to keep Vader out of Palpatine’s radar -  the deal could go in both ways. On one hand, Vader changed his deal with Lando in TESB and was willing to kill Boba Fett in Enemy of the Empire (though once there wasn’t reason to fight over he did not bother to kill Fett anymore), on another the tie-in material provides many examples that he can respect his agreements and the let you alive after job done right is in fact a real option. Frankly, Vader has a very straightforward attitude when it comes to making a deals, as he openly states he may kill you if he won’t be satisfied with the outcome, as was seen with Dengar in Payback from Tales of the Bounty Hunter:

Dengar raised his hands in surrender, leaned back to the wall of his cell. The constriction released. "If you're going to kill me, get it over with! I've got nothing to lose!" Dengar shouted. "But I won't make it fun for you!"

"I'm not the Emperor," Vader said ominously. "I don't kill for amusement, only when it serves my purposes."

Dengar smiled. "Well, then we have something in common."

"It appears that we have more than one thing in common" Vader said, "we both want Han Solo?

"Unfortunately," he continued, "I have an Imperial Death warrant against you. I cannot revoke that warrant, but I am willing to consider a reprieve."

"Under what conditions?" Dengar asked.

"I will let you live, to hunt for Han Solo. Once you find him, you bring him and his friends back to me, alive. After that, if I am well pleased, I may spare you. But if I am not pleased by your performance, I will give you time to run. Then my hunt begins."

Darth Vader threw Dengar a blaster, just as Dengar had given one to Kritkeen. Vader's meaning was clear. If Dengar failed in this hunt, Darth Vader would become the hunter. The monster who had destroyed the Jedi Knights would be on Dengar's tail. Dengar licked his lips, thinking that if Vader hunted him, Dengar would at least show a good accounting of himself. (Tales of the Bounty Hunters)

or that death may happen, eventually anyway as Vader said to Nas Ghent (it’s not the Emperor’s attention you’ve earned — it’s mine. I’m not here to kill you, though I might… eventually.)

Working for Vader was a hazardous job. Some offered their service to the Dark Lord of the Sith ‘freely’, in return getting protection for others, like Jix Wrenga or Wyl Tarson did. Some were spared even though they ultimately betrayed Vader like clone veteran Hock Malsuum or captain Luca did and were still left alive. So even if Batman and Vader at some point decided to outsmart each other - and I think the betrayal would be a matter of time as both characters are pretty stubborn about their beliefs and bringing order to the galaxy is definitely not the same as equal justice for everyone - they still could part on relatively good terms. Especially if Batman bothered to save Vader or his men at some point, as Vader takes deeds like that into account. 

So, in general, I imagine teamwork between Batman and Vader as an interesting if not an intensive experience, mainly for the clash about no killing rule and in general extreme different morality of those two, but also both care a great deal about their families so in the right circumstances begrudgingly they may join forces to solve their common problem. The fact that both are the serious, no-nonsense type of characters probably will help a lot but like I said, the shape of their interaction will depend on the universe in which they met. Gotham for Vader is like a nice vacation because there is no Palpatine to worry about for a while and he may be in enough good humor to not kill people on the right and left (to Batman and Luke’s approval). Meanwhile, the Star Wars universe seems like a politically ruthless game for survival that may put Vader and Batman on collision in a more direct way than the first scenario and thus backstabbing and using others as a tool to do dangerous bidding is more likely to follow. Not necessary enough for Vader to try kill Batman on purpose (because again, once there is no more reason to fight, Vader is not always interested in his “enemy's" death) but for sure to treat the other man as potential danger to his own well-being. The Star Wars universe - and its residents - is just a much darker place than Gotham City, or so I think.

[toothybat]

Angel/Demon Batjokes AU

Don’t mind me, I’m just gonna transplant all my AU ideas from discord to tumblr.

Imagine an AU where Bruce is a demon trying to be good and receive redemption, and Joker is a fallen angel trying to get in his way and convince him it’s pointless to do so. Something something fallen angel / fell into a vat of acid parallel Something something Batman in bat costume / demon parallel

Alfred is also a priest in this.

Lore

The divine and demonic have had an ongoing truce since the death and resurrection of Christ. They are no longer allowed to interfere with mortal lives. This is why miracles haven’t visibly happened for around 2000 years, and why many humans don’t even believe in angels and demons anymore.

Some Truce stipulations:

No demon may interfere with mortal lives for the purpose of corruption.

No angel may interfere with mortals lives the purpose of redemption.

Demons and Angels may not enter each other’s realms.

Angels and demons inhabit a realm of moral paradigm based on a set of True Rules which governs where human souls end up after death. The more souls inhabiting their realm, the more power each individual demon/angel has. And of course, the better they can beat each other. So they each have a vested interest in gathering souls. This explains why they even care about humans at all.

There are rule-breakers on both sides. Angels trying to redeem humans, demons trying to corrupt them. There are also exceptions to the rules: there are those who are basically the police and try to stop rule breakers from interfering with mortals. And then there’s grey areas: demons and angels who don’t try for redemption/corruption, but live among humans because they are bored and they feel like it.

The divine and demonic are impossible to kill while inhabiting their respective realms. But on Earth, while they are still harder to kill than the average human, they are vulnerable. As a result, it is very rare for divine and demonic beings to actually live on Earth. If they die on Earth, they die permanently.

They wear human disguises to blend in with the human world. But the disguises make them even more vulnerable while on Earth than their true forms, so the disguises can break/blur when they feel threatened. They can kind of shift from looking fully human, to human with angelic/demonic traits... or actual demonic monsters & biblically accurate angels.

Bruce

Bruce is a demon seeking redemption, which is something entirely unheard of for the demonic. His parents were both demons living as humans, and so Bruce was raised in the human world and kind of accidentally adopted human values. When his parents were murdered, Bruce eventually wandered into a church and was taken under the (metaphorical) wing of human priest!Alfred, who believes everyone can be redeemed. Even a demon.

Bruce wants to redeem people. Bruce wants to redeem himself. He experiences a lot of internalized shame over what he is. He wants to be better. Bruce rigidly lives by the True Rules, and he would like others to live by them too. Because he wants people to go to heaven, and he would also eventually like to be allowed there too.

Bruce takes up the mantel of the Batman. He drops his human disguise somewhat when gliding around skyscrapers. He also doesn’t have many Batman gadgets like in canon, but his demonic powers compensate for this a lot. He dislikes using them though, because Bruce has internalized racism(?) about being a demon. He is capable of going full cryptid monster, but it’s extremely rare that he does this. He fears people figuring out he’s a literal demon instead of human. And he views angels as being literal superior beings. In a moral sense and cosmic sense. He thus, has really strange feelings about the Joker lmao. 

Joker

Joker was an angel cop on a mission on Earth. He was disguised as a human in a gang of humans, because he’d heard rumors that a demon was out here interfering with mortals — which is against the rules. The demonic are not supposed to try to corrupt mortals by interfering with their lives.

This demon, was of course, Bruce. And neither demonic or divine had figured out wtf he was doing yet.

Here’s the thing; there’s a hilarious loophole to the rules. Angels cannot try and redeem humans. Demons cannot try and corrupt them. But there’s no rule that says an angel can’t corrupt, and a demon can’t redeem LMAO.

It concept wasn’t even considered because it’s antithetical to the natures of the divine and demonic to seek such a thing.

Until Bruce came on the scene, of course.

So it was a misunderstanding that fell out of hand very fast. Joker thought a demon was corrupting humans, when actually Bruce was doing his Batman thing. Batman was unaware that one of the humans in the gang was an angel in disguise. Joker was unaware that this mysterious potential demon wasn’t actually an evil entity.

Thus we get to the drama: they fight at ACE Chemicals like in canon. Bats thought he was fighting a human red hood gang member. Joker as Red Hood wore that big cape. By some split second of bad timing, Batman lands a hit on Joker which makes his disguise blur. In human form, Joker is more vulnerable, so when he feels truly threatened the angel form starts coming out.

It’s dark though, and while Batman has night vision demon sight, the chemical vats are pouring green steam and smoke making it hard to see. He throws batarangs at what he thinks is the cape, trying to pin Joker down and trip him up. It’s not the cape though. It was the wings. Severed. Joker screams in pain, stumbles, tumbles over the railing, yeeting himself right into the chemical vat.

Joker Forgets

Bruce tries to catch him, fails because he trips on something. He looks in horror as the man falls into the vat. Then he looks at what tripped him. Severed angel wings.

Joker falls into a vat of acid and forgets he was ever not human.

He follows canon pretty closely after that.

Since the wings are divine, they’re not like, anatomically attached to Joker’s back like normal bird wings. So he doesn’t actually have an extra set of shoulder bones in his back. They’re attached via magic or something. Doesn’t mean that they can’t get hurt, obviously. But it possibly does mean that stumps aren’t left behind. Or that there’s no scars. Or that the scars are perfectly circular.

Bruce keeps the wings along with the Red Hood in the batcave. Joker can still feel it when anyone touches his wings no matter where they are. Even though they’re not physically attached to him anymore. Bruce doesn’t often go around fondling his trophies, especially since the wings are so painful for him to look at. But sometimes he does.

Bruce: pets wings in the batcave Joker, 20 miles away in a hideout: what the F@CK?!?! Joker: involuntarily shuddering with ASMR

Joker Remembers

Alternatively: if Joker remembers, the wings may have fallen along with him into the vat and been burned away to nothing. He can’t return to heaven without his wings. Joker learns that Bruce isn’t even a bad demon. That he’s actually seeking redemption. He learns about the loophole in the rules. And he cannot stop laughing.

Joker is an agent of chaos. He knows the rules by which a human ends up in either realm. He tries to make humans break the rules deliberately so that he can kill them and they’ll end up in hell. He corrupts people not because that’s necessarily his goal, but because it opposes and annoys Bruce. Occasionally he does it because he thinks it’s funny. Corrupting the most innocent, the goodest people, because how ironic is it for someone to work so hard and be so good only to end up in hell?

Angels: do not be afraid. Angel Joker: be afraid.

Bruce knows the rules too. That’s part of why he’s so against killing.

People think Joker is human. And maybe Joker thinks Joker is human too, and so he does his best to embrace humanity as he sees it: and becomes the worst of them. Because he can no longer be the best of angels.

Other times Joker kills people whether they’ll end up in heaven or not. Joker doesn’t see why it matters where people end up. He was an angel, a divine being, and he lost his wings through no fault of his own. He ended up on Earth with the rest of these billions of worms despite his divine status. This was not supposed to happen. But it did. And it was so pointless.

And now a demon is trying to earn his way into redemption, which Joker finds hilarious because that’s also breaking the all important Rules which he has learned to completely disrespect. Following them did nothing for him — he’s Earthbound regardless. Even if Bruce did manage to redeem himself, the thing that happened to Joker could just happen to him too. All that work, for nothing. Why bother? Why not just have fun and reap all the laughs this world has to offer if working so hard could all be for nothing anyway? Bruce doesn’t know for sure if it’s even possible for a demon to earn redemption!

And maybe eventually it also turn into: Bats no... you CAN’T redeem yourself because if you did I’d be so lonely here on Earth 🥺 Don’t leave me

Robin, if he exists in this AU, is a human kid. All of them kids Bruce adopts are humans.

Joker possibly hates this because he sees humans as inferior, they don’t matter. Joker would do them a favor by killing them even, since they’d end up in heaven. And if it’s a heaven away from Bruce forever... well, two birds, one stone.

[adamwatchesmovies]

Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)

Batman: Under the Red Hood may be superior to its source material. This animated film retains everything that made the original story compelling but does away with the excess baggage that naturally comes from long-running series like Batman.  It's fast-paced and far above what you expect from a title that premiered on home video.

Based on the Under the Hood storyline by Judd Winick, the action is set years after the murder of Jason Todd, the second Robin, at the hands of the Joker (John DiMaggio). In Gotham City, a skilled marksman, martial artist and strategist known as The Red Hood has begun a campaign to rule the criminal underworld. As Batman (Bruce Greenwood) attempts to decipher the identity of this new foe, crime lord Black Mask (Wade Williams) is driven to desperate measures.

An early entry in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series, Under the Red Hood can feel a bit censored at times (something that’s been rectified with the later entries in the series, for better and worse). There are also shots where you can tell the animation department had to resort to some CGI shortcuts to render the action they wanted. Those are acceptable shortcomings in a release like this, meaning the only real flaw… is the length. By beginning with Jason Todd's death instead of having it set literally years ago with a stack of stories between them, you just know the two are connected. Even so, the film is surprisingly emotional, particularly when the story flashes back to Batman's memories of Jason. You feel the impact his death had on the caped crusader and the final scene is such a punch in the gut it’s hard to shake.

Under the Red Hood features a tight story and makes great use of the Batman mythos. Particularly interesting is the way “normal” criminals like Black Mask (who steals every scene he’s in) interacts with the Joker.

Batman's relationship with his villains is a topic that's frequently explored and in this film, it's done satisfyingly. The Red Hood is killing people, but no one would shed a tear for them. Does that make his actions ok? No, but had Batman adopted the same mentality, The Joker wouldn’t have murdered Robin. Who knows how many people would still live.

If you’re looking for action, you’ll be pleased with this film. There are extended sequences where multiple characters are fighting with a wide variety of styles and weaponry. It looks great, and it’s exciting, a nice break from the detective work and the emotion/drama naturally found in this story.

Batman: Under The Red Hood is an impressive adaptation of a comic book story that had an impact on the Batman character. Over the years, the quality of these DC Universe Animated films has wavered but you can safely bet on this one. (On Blu-ray, August 11, 2018)

[hgojsse]

Hello to all of you !

I have a small post ready here with some character insight I have been working on, along with an update on my designs and rendering process !

So Batman, I have been thinking quite a lot about him, how I want to portray him in my story. I admit that he is probably the one I have the most mapped-out in my mind: starting off just like Pattinson with REAL anger, moving on gradually to a more mature/ wise when having the robins and getting older.

With the design, an idea I like that has been brought forward with Batman’s evolution is going on from a quite bulky looking suit (Arkham origins or even Batman Begins) due to his rash nature and needing more protection in battle, in order to move to a more ‘slim’ suit (Arkham Asylum, usual comics suit) to show how much he has gained in experience.

So, where does my Batman stand ? I guess most of the stories I want to focus on (although I want a really complete story) is his prime age. So that means, prime suit (not so focused on armor). Personality-wise he is the hood amount of brooding, but not so enticed on breaking bones (he doesn’t have to, his reputation is well established). He is a formidable fighter, a master strategist. One think I did want to include is his warmth and father nature with the Batfamily, as it is portrayed in the WEBTOON Batfamily adventure comics. Yeah I mean Bruce may have his demons, a rather dark and cold demeanor but I want to make it clear he very much is a father to the Batfamily…

That gives a nice Segway to move to Bruce!

I think his journey is just as essential as Batman. Moving back to Gotham, he very much starts of as a recluse, having to move out of his shell and become a socialite.

In this sense, my idea is a cross between Pattinson and ending up like Affleck/ Arkhamverse Conroy. Someone who radiates charisma, but doesn’t really GAF. He is really implicated in Gotham’s charity and renovation.

Style wise, he got everything from his parent’s education and Alfred after their death. He is always impeccably dressed, with the most high end brands, tailors (I might do a separate head cannon on brands some characters wear.)

And we can end this post with some Alfred trivia !

So, I have some pretty clear thoughts about him. Born in London from a rural family. I like the idea that from a very young age he has known what violence looks like (he had a cool and loving family don’t worry, only grew up in rough places).

He moves on to the military, was so prolific he was recruited by the MI-5, he did special ops including one in Gotham where he was injured and taken into Mercy Hospital and saved by…Thomas Wayne !

Feeling indebted, he dropped the military and started working as bodyguard and butler for the Wayne’s.

I wanted to reference the earth one story and early dynamic between Alfred and Bruce being a tough love and rocky but extremely strong and caring relationship. I will develop some other story points later on but a thought I had (probably not original) was that he developed, along with Bruce the two cardinal rules for the whole endorsement of the Batman project: No guns and no killing. (I will need to detail that even further.)

And that’s enough for this time ! How do you like this more trivia-oriented post ?

[petrorabbit]

I recently decided to watch all Batman movies. Then I saw how many movies that was, and added a bunch of qualifiers. It’s still too many movies but, you know, we do what we can.

I’m going to be posting about each movie after I watch it. I don’t expect this to be interesting to anyone who isn’t me but I might as well document the process. More rambling details under the cut.

The full list of theatrical and direct-to-video movies that feature Batman was 83 movies long, 84 if you count Catwoman (2004) which I do intend to watch for reasons of historical significance even though Batman doesn’t appear in it. For purposes of this list, a movie counts as a Batman movie if Bruce Wayne, or another character acting as Batman, has at least one line of dialogue. Crowd scenes like Space Jam 2 don’t count but baby Bruce in the Joker does. 

The first qualifier that I tried was that I wouldn’t watch anything with a runtime under 1 hour, or anything that was just episodes of a TV show edited together, but this didn’t pare down the list nearly as much as I hoped. I really didn’t want to use different qualifiers for direct-to-video movies versus theatrical releases, but I made it about 10 minutes into Mask of the Phantasm before I was forced to confront the fact that I don’t actually care about Bruce Wayne The Man Himself that much. So for direct-to-video movies, at least one of his children has to be in it as well. Theatrical movies get to skip this requirement because otherwise I wouldn’t be watching uh, almost any of them. 

These qualifiers only mark which movies are mandatory - I’ll probably end up watching a bunch that break these rules, but at least this takes the pressure off a bit lol

I haven’t gone back through and culled the list yet, so here is the full list of 84 movies.

Batman (1943 serial)

New Adventures of Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder (1949 serial)

Batman Dracula (1964 Warhol)

Batman: The Movie (1966 Adam West)

Batman (1989 Keaton)

Batman Returns (1992)

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

Batman Forever (1995)

Batman & Robin (June 20, 1997)

Subzero (1998)

Return of the Joker (2000)

Mystery of the Batwoman (2003)

Catwoman (Jul 19, 2004 no batman)

Batman Begins (2005)

The Batman vs. Dracula (2005)

Justice League: The New Frontier (Feb 26, 2018)

Batman: Gotham Knight (July 8, 2008)

The Dark Knight (July 18, 2008)

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (Sep 29, 2009)

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (Feb 23, 2010)

Under the Red Hood (July 27, 2010)

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (Sep 28, 2010)

Batman Live (July 19, 2011 stage show)

Batman: Year One (Oct 18, 2011)

Justice League: Doom (Feb 28, 2012)

Holy Musical B@man! (Mar 16, 2012)

The Dark Knight Rises (Jul 20, 2012)

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Part 1 (Sept 25, 2012)

The Dark Knight Returns - Part 2 (Jan 29, 2013)

DC Super Heroes Unite (May 21, 2013)

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (Jul 30, 2013)

Justice League: War (Jan 21, 2014)

The Lego Movie (Feb 1, 2014)

Son of Batman (Apr 22, 2014)

Assault on Arkham (Jul 25, 2014)

Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (Jan 13, 2015)

Batman vs. Robin (Apr 7, 2015)

Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts (May 12, 2015)

Justice League: Gods and Monsters (Jul, 21, 2015)

Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem (Aug 18, 2015)

Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League - Attack of the Legion of Doom (Aug 25, 2015)

Batman: Bad Blood (Jan 20, 2016)

Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League - Cosmic Clash (Feb 9, 2016)

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Mar 25, 2016)

Justice League vs. Teen Titans (Mar 29, 2016)

Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League - Gotham City Breakout (June 21, 2016)

Batman: The Killing Joke (Jul 22, 2016)

Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants (Jul 24, 2016)

Suicide Squad (Aug 5, 2016)

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (Oct 6, 2016)

Justice League Dark (Jan 24, 2017)

The Lego Batman Movie (Feb 10, 2017)

Batman and Harley Quinn (July 21, 2017)

Batman vs. Two-Face (Oct 8, 2017)

DC Superheroes vs. Eagle Talon (Oct 21, 2017)

Justice League (Nov 17, 2017)

Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Jan 6, 2018)

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (Jan 12, 2018)

Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash (Feb 13, 2018)

Batman Ninja (Apr 24, 2018)

The Death of Superman (July 20, 2018)

Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (July 22, 2018)

Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Aquaman: Rage of Atlantis (July 22, 2018)

Reign of the Supermen (Jan 13, 2019)

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (Feb 2, 2019)

Justice League vs. The Fatal Five (Mar 29, 2019)

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mar 31, 2019)

Batman: Hush (Jul 19, 2019)

Lego Batman: Family Matters (Jul 21, 2019)

The Joker (Aug 31, 2019)

Superman: Red Son (Feb 25, 2020)

Lego DC: Shazam!: Magic and Monsters (Apr 28, 2020)

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (May 5, 2020)

Batman: Death in the Family (Oct 13, 2020)

Batman: Soul of the Dragon (Jan 12, 2021)

Zack Snyder's Justice League (Mar 18, 2021)

Injustice (Oct 19, 2021)

Batman: The Long Halloween, Parts 1 and 2 (Jun 22, 2021)

The Batman (Mar 4, 2022 Pattinson)

DC League of Superpets (Jul 22, 2022)

Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons (Oct 7, 2022)

Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires (2022)

The Flash (2023)

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)

[msclaritea]

This is a response to a private question I received. I hope this helps to answer some questions and forgive me if all of this is upsetting. As an ally, I find all of it incredibly upsetting. Hope this helps.

Years ago, CDAN, a popular and pretty damn accurate gossip blog told the story of how the Lavender Mafia was created and it makes total sense. Someone in Hollywood endeavored to help gay actors in getting into the business, with helping them get jobs, protection. Allegedly, it was Merv Griffin, who had only the best intentions in helping. But then, another guy came along, introducing the idea that, "No. If these people want jobs, they have to pay to play." In essence, being willing to do anything. Allegedly, that was Geffen.So the 2 groups developed, but as with everything else in life, especially lately, the dark side got stronger. There are tons of sex scandals including child abuse linked to various members and unfortunately, now, a lot of their members are the most powerful in Hollywood but also in the British entertainment industry, and in media. They want to be the ones to make or break careers. Some Gay people may look at this and go 'great! They're looking out for us." In a way, but only a handful make it and only by playing by the rules. These days, with the introduction of Russian influence, that's tipped over into even more heinous criminality. Also, mafias are not known for championing the rights of anyone except themselves. And just like other marginalized groups, throughout history, even the Gay movement has it's share of bad actors who use the movement as cover. Black movements and women's movements have been used. And how do you ensure that you will always be able to use a movement as cover? By making sure that the movement never truly succeeds. We all get just so close, only to have an invisible hand come along and snatch them away. Look at Bruce Jenner as one example. Transitioned and was assumed would be a champion for Transgender but instead she supports right-wing. At least she's publicly honest about it. Most will not be. This is also not to say there are not straight members in this group. There are. But the original members are the strongest.

Cue everything that's been going on with Benedict and us now knowing he is known as a Monarch, one who suffered some of the worst abuse as a child. The rule among cultists who do this is that a Monarch is supposed to die. Apparently to these sick bastards, they're also supposed to be humiliated at every turn. Leaf first pointed out about Parade's End being a sort preprogramming Team Z engaged in; a sort of blueprint for what they planned to do to him. But then recently, I realized that this same storyline has been done to Ben in at least a half dozen other projects: his character is a smart but lonely type, is shunned by people, humiliated in some way and usually dies alone. Christopher did not die but he DID suffer a social death. That's when it clicked: Ben was treated exactly like this in BBC Sherlock. The casual audience never bothered with all the clues but the meta writers here did. As far back as 2016 I learned through my own research, ironically, after feeling so frustrated about Season 4, that The Sign of Four canon is based heavily on the play Faust and there are many parallels in the BBC show to the play. Meta writers found many clues to Sherlock being subtextually in a medical crisis. Subtextually, Moftiss killed Sherlock, who then goes on to a final battle with the devil, like Faust. There are other tie ins between the projects, including using personal stories from the victim's life. Recall the Boot and 'Its a Shotgun wedding!' Over the past year since being involved with all of this, I noticed links to BBC kept popping up in this drama but didn't get it. Now I do and it can't be denied when you look at the recent history of the BBC and all of sex scandals they've been involved in. I'm not saying every person, every artist there is involved but some of those who run it, are. And who did I say earlier was in charge?

[marytvirgin]

↬ 4 – Unexpected familiarity.

"May the feelings that appear in your heart be like those in my chest." — Juliet, Romeo & Juliet

Alice's body trembled slightly on the hard surface of the wooden table, a fine layer of sweat glistened on the sleeping young woman's healthily pale skin, fists clenched occasionally, eyes moved frantically behind closed lids. That definitely wasn't a good night's sleep.

While lost in the world of dreams — or nightmares — the man who was definitely not invited to enter analysed all the decor in the room, paying special attention to the wall of photographs. Most of the people in the photos were familiar faces, there were photos of Alice with Dick at different stages of her life, photos with Alfred, photos of her late parents, photos with Bruce — surprisingly in some of them the Wayne was smiling. In others there were people he has never seen before, in one of these photos with new faces there was the man with black skin and a handsome smile that he had taken hostage in the hospital on one of the previous nights and when he realized that there was certainly a closeness between the two, his face became he wrinkled in scorn and jealousy beneath his helmet.

As he looked further to the side, something caught the man's attention, a picture of him and Alice hugging, her lips glued to the jovial face of the other teenager, drawing a happy smile from him. Red Hood ran his calloused fingertips over the picture taken by Dick and smiled wistfully at the things he would do to change everything that happened. With extreme care, he removed the Polaroid photo from the wall and put it in the most protected pocket of his combat gear. As he turned to where Alice was asleep on top of college books and notebooks, he noticed the woman's agitated state. Jason couldn't stop himself from touching her face, but before his gloved fingers could touch her skin, Alice woke up from the nightmare. Realizing instantly that there was someone in her room, she took one of her hands to the Glock pistol stuck under the table, unlocked it and pointed it at the shadow next to her. All in less than three seconds.

— What the fuck do you think you're doing here? — Alice got up, the brunette's sky blue eyes never leaving the spot where the intruder's face should have been.

— Hmm, I didn't think you had a gun. — Red Hood said, crossing his arms over his broad chest without being intimidated by the gun barrel close to his own face.

It's not that he doubts the ability of the woman facing him to hurt him if she needs to, he knows how committed she was years ago and how much more she must be these days — the blows from their first meeting still seriously hurt —, and he also remembers telling her shortly before he died that "if you have to permanently knock someone down for a living, do it". And even years later, Jason knows that if she needs to kill someone to live, she will. He made her promise that she would, that she would do anything, even break her mentor's greatest rule, to stay breathing.

— Believe me, that's not the only gun I have in my house. — Alice arched an eyebrow.

Despite appearing calm, her heart was racing. Even with her eyes focused on the man and any movement he could make, Alice was mentally tracing possible ways to reach one of the help buttons installed by Bruce as soon as she went to live alone. The headboard of the bed never seemed so far away.

— Now, answer my question. — Despite the given order, the criminal just stood there, staring at the woman in front of him, wondering how she managed to look prettier than she was before everything went wrong for them. Alice frowned, confused at the lack of reaction from him, but still kept the weapon firmly in her fists, ready for action if necessary.

Hood uncrossed his arms and raised them, taking a few steps back towards the window, and as much as she wanted to fire the gun or try to hold him there until Bruce arrived, Alice was aware of the disadvantage she had at the moment. A gunshot on the outskirts of Gotham would not attract much attention, but there in a prime area, in an expensive building that once belonged to her parents, Alice was fully aware that it would cause a fuss that would not help at all.

— What do you want from me? — Alice asked again, lowering the gun.

That seemed to affect the Red Hood somewhat, the stout man's steps stopped for a moment and the head protected by the red helmet turned slightly to the side.

— You didn't hurt me as much as you could have in the hospital, other than talking and acting like you've known me before. And now you're here, in my private apartment, seeing my face without the mask, having the opportunity to get me out of your way, but you've done nothing. What sick game are you trying to play? Who are you? How the fuck do you know who I am? — Both remained immobile for a few seconds until the man moved again to the window and left the place without answering anything.

Frustrated, Alice jammed the gun and tossed it onto the study table filled with her college materials. She walked over to the bed and sat there, resting her face in her trembling hands. Only after a few minutes did she get up again and looked around the room, and it was at that moment that her light eyes stopped on the photos pasted on the wall, more precisely on the vacant place where the most valuable photo she had should be. In complete desperation, Alice began to search the entire apartment in search of the last photo she took with Jason weeks before he died. When she realized the photograph wasn't there, Alice's fists clenched at her sides, without hesitation she reached for the button hidden behind the bookshelf and pressed it. It didn't even take ten minutes for Batman and Nightwing to walk through the open window and into the messy room.

— He was here.

The batcave was silent despite the two people inside. Since the break-in at Alice's apartment two nights ago, tension had arisen among the batfamily. What made the situation worse was that the Red Hood, in addition to knowing that the Huntress is Alice Hinxton, daughter of the Hinxton couple — deceased multimillionaire businessmen — now knows about Jason Todd and all those with whom she lived. Connecting the dots and discovering identities had become extremely easy, and the consequences of this are unimaginable.

Since then the search for the whereabouts of the Red Hood was not taking breaks, Dick decided to stay in Gotham until he managed to arrest the criminal and Alice was forced to stop college classes for safety. All of them — excluding Barbara Gordon — were locked inside Wayne Manor during the day and at night they patrol the city.

— Bruce. — Alice called abandoning the prototype of her new suit.

The blue-eyed man muttered something making it clear that he was listening to what she was going to say, as he always did. Their relationship has always been something special, even before Alice's parents were murdered by the Italian mafia when she was just eleven years old. For being a great friend, being often called godson by the brunette's parents, Bruce did not hesitate to welcome her at the Wayne mansion, as he did with Dick years before and as he would do with Jason shortly afterwards.

— What are we going to do? — Alice questioned in a low tone. Bruce turned a chair he was sitting on and looked at the brunette. The answer wasn't verbal, but the way Bruce faced her is the same one he always used to assure that everything was going to be ok, although this time they weren't so sure.

— What we do best. Dress your suit. — Bruce said turning to the batcomputer. — At any minute now, we're going out on patrol.

Alice nodded briefly before picking up the outfit and heading to the batcave changing room. Upon returning dressed and ready for combat, with all weapons and accessories attached to her body, Alice can hear a conversation echoing through the cave.

— Who did you bug this time?— She asked, smiling playfully at Bruce.

— Black mask. — Alice grunted with the answer.

Oh yes, how she hates mafias and her bosses like to play gods.

— He sounds pissed off. — She smiled contentedly with the mobster's screams.

— Our problem is the guy who ordered the droid, he's called the Red Hood. — A calm female voice explained when the male screams were silent for a few seconds — I don't care what it's called, do you idiots have any idea how many buyers I had for that? A list of dictators, puppets and freaks longer than my arm! Millions thrown in the trash! And whose money was it? He was yours. My money! Mine! It wasn't in my plans. He was going to guarantee me entry into international trafficking, now I have to keep picking up crumbs in this shitty city called Gotham! And it still gave me problems with the Bat that ripped the drug out of the robot's head! I could at least sold it as scrap metal! But Batman got it! Yeah, Batman likes to collect.

— I almost feel sorry for him. Almost. — Bruce grunted in rebuke at the comment.

— Look, that idiot, Red Nose… It's Red Hood. Screw it. He is dead. Take care of him.

— Believe me, you're not the only one who wants him off the radar.

— You, new guy. Sir! Don't be nervous, boy. But if you keep looking at me like that, I'm going to take your eyes out. Give me the details of overnight shipment. Yes sir.

— Finally. — Alice murmured starting to stretch her arms and legs.

— There are ten boxes of various SMGS, SPGWS with five thousand .45 calibers, your favorites. And two boxes of RPGS. Everything is already bought and paid for, so it's just a delivery and not a purchase. But due to recent events, I took the liberty of increasing security at the landing site.

— Holy crap. — Alice breathed out in shock. Bruce grunted as he tracked said drop location before rising from the large, comfortable chair.

— Dick is already on his way to the delivery point, an operation that will take place today at 11 pm. We will have an hour to put together an action plan.

Stealthily lowered onto the roof of one of Gotham's many business district buildings, Alice watched the black helicopter approach the helipad and deftly land in the indicated spot. Taking the binoculars away from her eyes, Alice put a hand to her right ear.

— The truck has just arrived. I counted only two passengers, they being the pilots, from my angle I can only see four men to receive the armaments.

— From where I'm standing I can see ten more. — Nightwing completed hiding in the building east of where she is.

— There are only two ways out: through the sky or through the building. Wherever the Red Hood is now, he's sure to try to leave with the helicopter. — Batman's voice was a tired baritone.

— Speaking of which, it would have been a good idea to bring the batjet with us. — Huntress grumbled as she watched one of the men enter the helicopter to check out the merchandise. — In case we need to get in, it's a lot easier from where I am to… — Alice broke off when she noticed suspicious, agitated movement inside the air vehicle. Soon after, the pilot and co-pilot were violently thrown to the floor of the helipad by the only man who had entered. — He's stealing the helicopter!— Alice shouted, rising when shots were made towards the helicopter.

Batman acted quickly by throwing a device designed to cause engines to fail on the tail of the helicopter. Sparks and smoke billowed from the engine before the Red Hood's control over the vehicle's steering was lost. Seeing the ship spin wildly in the air, Alice bent down and picked up the pistol that she had carried there without Bruce knowing, and fitted the special ammunition cartridge. Raising her arms in front of her body, Alice gripped the gun firmly and aimed at the man still in the out of control helicopter. As the Hood leapt onto the roof of the building next door, Alice's index finger pressed the trigger. For the vast majority that would have been a wasted shot, but for her, it was perfect. The small tracker lodged itself in the back of the criminal's helmet even as he rolled on the ground before starting to run away from there, abandoning the weapons and the helicopter that Batman and Nightwing were trying to prevent from crushing the cars and people that were still passing through the city.

— I'm in hot pursuit. — Huntress warned, tucking her gun into the newly attached holster on the back of her utility belt, and threw herself off the building.

Using the cape as a glider, she managed to cross the avenue over the top and finally landed on the building where the Hood had been a few seconds ago. The pursuit was discreet until the other two vigilantes joined the race. Going from complete buildings to buildings under construction and explosions caused with a fire extinguisher, the four ran constantly. Rounding the corner of an old building, Alice watched the Hood remove his gun from its holster and turn towards them.

— Damn it! — She exclaimed, turning to the two men who arrived behind her and pushed them back, taking everyone out of the way of the bullets.

— This guy is good! — Dick said after realizing that the Hood shot them from the top of a blimp at a good distance, with enough winds to change the paths of the bullets and still moving. And yet, he did get ir right.

— Yeah, he's showing he's good. — Bruce said before throwing himself off the building.

Alice grabbed Dick by the muscular waist and threw herself behind her former mentor, passing from the top of the airship to a new terrace. Once they landed, Alice looked up quickly enough to watch the Red Hood cut the cable Bruce used to try to hang him by his foot when he jumped off the building. Dick gasped behind the vigilante just as she stopped suddenly at what she had just seen. That familiar movement fitted a piece of the confusing puzzle Hinxton had in her hands, which in the heat of the moment had gone unnoticed by her.

— He's not good, he's very good. — Dick stated again. From where they were, the three watched as the Red Hood jumped from where he was and grabbed a steel cable and skilfully hung it until he landed on the small train station covered by a glass and metal structure. — That was impressive.

— I didn't find it that impressive. — Batman sneered before following the other man.

Resisting the urge to ask Bruce to back off before things got out of hand, Huntress ran and jumped in after the other two men, with Dick right behind her. As soon as she landed on the cold floor of the train station, Alice looked around, wondering at the sudden silence. With no sign of the Hood in sight, the three stood still, until a sequence of beeps sounded in the station, drawing everyone's attention to the bomb stuck in the metal structure of the place.

— Get out of here! — The three started to run.

Alice in a moment of "survival mode" removed the hook from her waist and shot towards one of the iron columns. Upon squeezing the trigger again, she was dragged backwards farther than Bruce and Dick could manage. Alice didn't even realize that the explosion had already happened, the fear she had of bombs turned her off from the world for a few seconds. When she returned to control of her own body and looked forward, Alice saw Dick injured on the ground while Bruce faced the way that Red Hood used to scape.

— Damn it, Nightwing! — Alice ran to her older brother and bent to see the ankle that was already starting to swell. — Batman, we have to get out of here now!

— Let's go. — Bruce muttered with an odd frown on his face. Less than a minute later, the batjet was landing there, ready to take them to the batcave.

It was only when she was sitting in the aircraft seat that Alice recognized the familiarity of many things she had seen that night. Luckily for her, before everything got out of control, a tracker had been implanted in the man.

Alice could only sit there, silent and guilty. Guilty for having no intention of telling Bruce about anything. She would personally go after the man who had been keeping her awake lately.

It's time for the games to stop.

[acidcaught-a]

THE LONG HALLOWEEN:

  It is the wedding day of the nephew of Carmine Falcone. Bruce and Selina are both in attendance. Falcone hints towards his connection with Bruce’s father. Harvey is in the parking garage writing down license plates. He gets hit by Falcone’s goons and is found by Bruce and Selina. It’s late, and he goes to Gordon’s office, where he’s chastised for taking too great a risk. They go to the roof to wait on Batman and Harvey comments on how his work is hell on his marriage. Gordon tries to introduce the two but it’s obvious they know of one another.

They agree to bend the rules, but not to break, as they fight to bring down the mob boss, Falcone. Batman vanishes, leaving behind a ledger that belonged to the mob - evidence. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne keeps Falcone’s money from Wayne Enterprises. Falcone has another mob boss, Maroni, in the loop, and more innocents die. Gordon calls Dent at home and tells Gilda about the latest hit. She goes to the basement to cry to Harvey about how one day, it’ll be him that’s been killed. The next day, Batman, Gordon, and Harvey discuss another murder: Falcone’s nephew, the newlywed.

Thanksgiving: Batman and Harvey find a warehouse full of cash, and burn it down. Dent goes home, kisses Gilda, opens a package, and the house explodes in a fiery blaze.

Batman and Gordon interrogate the man who “killed” Harvey. A long list of men come forward with rehearsed stories of how they killed the D.A. But Dent isn’t dead, Gilda is in the hospital, and the men made bail in less than an hour. The Joker comes in the next issue, taking issue with how the killer of the mob’s men has been dubbed the Holiday Killer, taking up attention he believes he deserves. Jokes calls Maroni “Holiday”, as Falcone’s men are the only ones getting killed.

Christmas: Harvey carries Gilda over the threshold of a home he admits they cannot afford. She goes upstairs and he finds the Joker in the living room. He threatens Harvey (”If I find out you’re “Holiday”...) and then leaves to do the same thing to Falcone, then kills Maroni’s personal guard.

Valentines Day:  Harvey’s working late, his assistant comes in with new evidence against Falcone, implicated Bruce. Harv goes home to find Gordon and his wife there too. Harvey and Gordon talk about Bruce while Batman fights the Joker. Bruce and Selina are together in public when a woman sells him a thorned Rose. Maroni gives Harvey’s assistant Vernon a load of cash. “Holiday” strikes again. Maroni wages war. Gordon and Harv return to their respective homes, giving midnight flowers and chocolates to their wives. Bruce goes home where Poison Ivy awaits.

St. Patrick's Day: Falcone’s long lost daughter returns home from prison. Bruce gives permission to the Wayne Enterprises board to do business with Falcone. More mobsters are dead, Harvey mentions to Gordon that their job is being done for them. Gordon reminds him: this is murder. Falcone’s daughter Sofia visits her aunt Carla, who is against Falcone. But now that money is flowing, she has no complains, and will not be against them. Bruce is home with Ivy, who still has him under her spell. Falcone has hired her to convince him to do business with the mob, and she’s done so. Catwoman breaks the spell and removes The Green from Bruce’s mind. Ivy collects her payment from Falcone and leaves.

April Fool’s Day: Riddler is hired by Falcone to find Holiday. Batman believes it may be Harvey committing the murders. Harvey believes Bruce is connected to the mob. Riddler doesn’t know who Holiday is, and Sofia takes him away from Falcone’s office. She shoots an outline of his body. “When does a killer..... not kill?”

Mother’s Day: Calendar Man has no answers for Batman. Jonathan Crane escapes Arkham Asylum. Sofia finds the maker of the weapon used in all killings, but he’s shot dead just before she arrives. Bruce goes to Crime Alley - luckily, not at home when Harvey and Gordon arrive to question him. Gordon finds him, but Bruce has been infected with Crane’s gas. He goes to his mother’s grave and cries.

Father’s Day: A flashback has Bruce realizing that a midnight visitor was the father of Carmine Falcone.. bringing his wounded son to the famed surgeon Thomas Wayne for help. Thomas Wayne saved Falcone’s son. Alfred is on the stand and Harvey isn’t winning the battle.

Maroni’s mentor, the last crime boss of the Maroni family, is shot down in his garden. Sofia gives Falcone a father’s day gift and his reaction leaves her disappointed. Bruce is acquitted. Harvey tells Glinda he went to see his crazed father, who gifts Harvey a coin. Bruce and Alfred have a heart to heart about Thomas Wayne’s actions. Harvey’s assistant calls him into the office, where a bloody Maroni waits.

Independence Day: Gotham city coroner is killed. Harvey admits his mistake to Batman about going after Bruce. Sofia visits Maroni in prison. She reveals that she went to prison for Maroni, and they kiss with bars in between. She insinuates that he has to get rid of Dent. Jervis Tetch and Scarecrow make another mess. Batman stops them with Catwoman’s help and tells her he knows Falcone has been getting Gotham’s rouges out of prison.

Roman Holiday: Glinda finds a .22 on Harvey’s workbench. He tells her that he brings evidence home all the time. She knows that’s a lie. Maroni is due on the stand. Harvey’s assistant gives him “medicine for his stomach ulcer.” Falcone is thrown a surprise birthday party. Harvey questions Maroni on the stand.. and Maroni throws quick acid at Harvey’s face. Gordon, Bruce, and Gilda wait on the doctor at Gotham’s hospital. The doctor says Harvey has escaped.. and collapses with a scalpel in his back. Falcone’s sister is killed.

Labor Day: Harvey finds Solomon Grundy, and recites the old rhyme to get Grundy to stop attacking him. Gordon blames Harvey for all the attacks, and views Batman in a different light. Batman goes to Falcone to ask for Dent’s location. Falcone says his people have dubbed the last year as “The Long Halloween.” He has lost his sister, his nephew, and his son. Batman throws Falcone back into his room and Sofia enters brandishing a gun. Falcone stops her and lies, saying he stumbled. Batman is in the Dent’s basement next. Glinda enters, crying, as Batman points out the gun shavings on Harvey’s desk. Calendar Man tells Batman that Maroni is Holiday’s next hit, so Batman sets a trap. It works. The killer is Falcone’s son, who was thought dead.

The Next Halloween: The mob boss, Maroni, is dead. Alberto, Falcone’s son, is in prison. Batman blames himself for not trusting Harvey Dent, who is still missing. Alberto goes on a rant, as Falcone never remembered his birthday. Batman says, “The Roman must have known...”

Falcone and Sofia go downstairs. The room houses Catwoman, Ivy, Crane, Joker, Tetch, and Grundy. And in the darkness, Dent.

Batman intervenes, but it’s too late. He watches Harvey kill Falcone. Sofia charges forward to save her poppa, but Catwoman holds her back. Harvey leaves and kills the assistant who gave Maroni the acid. He heads to the rooftop to meet Gordon and Batman. He’s ended “The Long Halloween.”

Harvey is arrested and is in Arkham Asylum. Gilda speaks to herself as she packs up their home. She killed them too. Filed down the gun. Used a baby’s nipple as a silencer. Wore his coat and hat. Let them believe in Holiday; she believes in Harvey Dent.