#call me Lazarus because I’m back from the dead bitch :)

[justkeeptrekkin]

Resurrection and The Second Coming

There is a recurring motif in season 2, and that is the image of resurrection and being raised from the dead. I think this all points to what will happen in season 3 and tie into the Second Coming plot that was mentioned by Metatron. I’m not sure what exactly it’s indicating, obviously, but here are the clues:

1) 25 Lazuri miracle

I enjoyed the reference to Lazarus, and I found it quite striking! It IS interesting, isn’t it Crowley, that Heaven measure miracles by how many times it could have brought someone back from the dead?

And isn’t it interesting that Aziraphale and Crowley, combined, could bring back 25 human lives with a single, half-arsed miracle?

I’m getting the impression that bringing people back to life and the power to resurrect is going to be a bigggggg deal in the future plot.

2) The opening credits

The opening credits have been said to hold a few clues for season 3. One of the things I've noticed is that there’s plenty of apocalypse and hell imagery, none of which we see in season 2. For example, above, we see A and C moving underground, like they’re navigating some route to the underworld. Then we see them leading a growing crowd of people through a very traditional portrayal of hell, with fire and giant spiders etc., through the blitz, through a SPACE (?) and a very modern perspective of the apocalypse, with scrapheaps and riots. 

There’s a LOT to unpack in that, but what I want to focus on here is the concept of the afterlife. We’re presented with an almost Dante-esque, Ancient Greek view of Hell: A and C are walking through dim tunnels to a fiery, wretched view of the underworld. Where is this??? In the show, I mean??? We’ve never seen this version of hell. as far as we know, it has always been the bureaucratic landscape that we’ve seen in S1 and S2. We can assume it’s always looked like this because Heaven has always had the office-style setting since even Job’s time. 

So what are we seeing here? A and C leading people to Hell? Then... walking out of it!? It is very reminiscent of the ancient myths of Greek heroes attempting to bring the souls of their loved ones back to Earth. 

And, notably, we do not see either of them walk through heaven in the opening credits. 

Who are they leading through this opening credits scene and why?

3) Give me Coffee or Give me Death

I don’t actually have a lot to say about this other than there was a lot of emphasis on the name of the shop. Possibly just because it’s a fuckin’ cool name for a cafe... but even Metatron makes a pointed remark about it. 

Call me a tin-hat bitch, but I actually have a feeling that Nina, who is sooooo hyperaware of all the bizarre events going on around her-- to the point that she’s lucid at Aziraphale’s party-- is an angel. I think she was removed from the Book of Life, so no one knows she ever existed as an angel. She seems to have some connection with the supernatural, with Sight, and perhaps, given the name of her shop, the afterlife. 

4) The Resurrectionist and Mr Dalrymple

The whole minisode of The Resurrectionist was bizarre-- I really enjoyed it, but it does make 100% sense that it’s referred to as a minisode. Because it feels oddly separate from the plot (until of course we find out the connection with Beelzebub and Gabriel). Even then, though, it’s a little jarring. 

WHY this particular flashback in history? 

And WHY do B and G meet there in the first place? Out of all the places for them to meet in the universe? 

This is another rather heavyhanded hint towards the concept of resurrection and being raised from the dead. Mr Dalrymple, ethics aside, is using the dead to bring life to others. He’s giving the dead a new lease on life. 

And, listen, I’m a fan of the classics, so the connections to Shelley’s Frankenstein is VERY blatant-- bringing in the question of morality and playing god and the creation of life and modern prometheus and responsibility and resurrection etc. AND Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. (The latter especially in the sense that Stevenson was a doctor from Edinburgh.) 

I just think the minisode is another example of a thread left untied in season 2. 

5) Gabriel’s prophecy

“I remember when the morning stars sang together and all the angels of god shouted for joy.” (A reference to Job, see below)

“There will come a tempest and darkness and great storms. And the dead will leave their graves and walk the earth once more. And there will be great lamentations. Everyday is getting closer.” 

I mean, what else is there to say here? This is explicitly a prophecy about what will happen later in the story-- the dead returning and walking the earth. This HAS to be a reference to the Second Coming, which I talk about more in point 9. 

What if this is hinting at a giant rehaul of heaven and hell? The living and the dead facing true judgement?

6) Zombies in the blitz

Have any of you noticed that we’ve seen plenty of Heaven and Hell, but the only time we’ve ever seen any signs of human beings in said afterlife is with the Nazis? It only occurred to me while piecing this post together, but we’ve never seen anyone in heaven aside from angels. No saints, no good people who went to the good place. In hell we’ve seen lots of shuffling people, but honestly I’ve always thought they were demons. Now, we’re seeing the check-in process in Hell, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but... it’s just occurred to me that it’s the only time we’ve explicitly seen any human afterlife in hell rather than just demons.

What does it mean? Not sure. Perhaps it’s hinting at what will occur in season 3. Perhaps it’s suggesting that there is a major fault in how heaven and hell actually organise human afterlife. Maybe the system is broken beyond the institutional abuse we’ve seen among the angels and demons...

ANYWAY.  

Zombies are undead. Life resurrected. Lazarus kinda. Right? Obvious connection. But what *is* interesting is that these Nazis specifically were resurrected as a part of the plot to survey A and C. Out of all the people to bring to life... they are a pretty depressing and unsettling choice. Even if they’re like, comedically terrible/evil. Eek. 

Lazarus, after all, was supposed to be a good guy. (I think. Jesus brought him back to life after all.)

7) Job’s children

The various versions of this story I’ve looked at have been fantastically vague about what Job heard and what happened to him at the end-- which is, I gather, the whole point. The message appears to be about having faith in God. It’s a test of faith and love for the Almighty. 

But like, even the idea of the children being returned to life is vague. In some versions it looks like he gets his original kids back plus more, in others, it’s not specified. In this version, we see Crowley’s kindness in saving them in the form of metamorphosis (at least temporarily). Job’s children aren’t brought back to life as such, then, but they are returned to Job. In a way, the whole of this series is bringing stories back to life by retelling them on the screen. (Stop it, I know it’s a stretch...)

8) Magic tricks

Ok, so the most famous magic tricks in the book are the idea of DEATH EVADING ESCAPADES! Such as sawing a body in half. Or, in Aziraphale’s case, the bullet catch. 

I dunno where I'm going with this, but it feels relevant. Especially given that there’s the whole scare of ‘oh no we can’t use miracles! I could be discorporated! Then there’s all the paperwork... for RESURRECTION...’

9) The Second Coming

So, I am not all too familiar with the Second Coming. It appears across various religions and interpretations of the scripture. 

My understanding of it is LIMITED even after research, so I would appreciate others chipping in if they can clarify for me and for others. 

- It involves Jesus returning to Earth (often during a time of war and destruction among humans, though not in every religion).

- Jesus’ second coming to Earth will trigger Judgement Day. The living and the dead will be judged on whether they go to heaven or to hell. 

- Some Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the second coming of Jesus occurs after Armageddon and brings the ‘conclusion of the system of things’. A giant rehaul, I think.  

- For Catholics, the second coming will cause ‘the fullness of the reign of God and the consummation of the universe and mankind.’ What this essentially means is that mankind and the universe get to share in Jesus’ resurrection, so the dead will walk again. Just as God manifested himself through Jesus once, now, God will appear through the whole of mankind and the universe. Personally, I've always appreciated this interpretation of God-- that the Holy Spirit is everywhere and in everything, rather than a person in the sky.

- Catholics also believe that “at the moment of Jesus' arrival, three events will happen all at once in an instant, in the blink of an eye: the living will die, the universe will be transfigured, and the dead will be resurrected, judged, and recompensed. After this single instant or moment, the church does not know what will happen for the rest of eternity - only that the damned will continue to be in hell and the saved will continue to experience the beatific vision.” (thank you Wikipedia)

- Most religions see it is as the final true judgement of God over mankind. 

Conclusions

I don’t know what it all means, but I think it all boils down to the Second Coming, the final judgement, and perhaps a big reshuffle of heaven and hell. 

In my opinion, Heaven and Hell as we know it in the show will be completely deconstructed and reconstructed. I think perhaps Metatron has been the ‘man behind the curtain’, an imposter meddling with mankind, their prophecies, and even the Book of Life. 

Perhaps, all of these little hints are an example of Metatron’s ‘Second Coming’ plan bleeding through whatever reality we’re in. 

[scorpionyx9621]

I Hope Hopeless Changes Over Time: A Red Hood and Batman Fic

*Source of the image I found off of Pintrest. I tried to find the original artist but the link on Pintrest led to a dead Tumblr account. If anyone wants to find/point out the account to me so I can give proper credit to the artist please please do.*

I wanted to make a fic based on an ask I did from the lovely @dilfbatman about Jason and Bruce. I hope people enjoy this mini-fic that I've expanded upon.

TW: Blood, Physical Assault, Suicide Ideation, Swearing. Bruce being a shitty father but trying. Jason having demons 

3.75K words. 

Bruce was uneasy about Jason staying over at the Wayne Mansion. Even with other members of the family around. Jason has done so much wrong and has hurt so many people. However, at the end of the day, Jason still is his son. So when he gets a call from Jason in a hushed voice asking Bruce to stay the night. He hesitated for a second, but acquiesced, Jason was nothing if not independent, so to be asking Bruce outright to stay at the Wayne Manor meant something was wrong.

"Master Jason wouldn't reach out to any of us unless something was gravely wrong, Master Wayne." Alfred had reassured Bruce, who was staring absentmindedly at the glass case which housed Jason's old Robin costume. The costume that Jason had died in. Bruce always tried to repress the memory of holding his son's cold, lifeless body. The pain he felt from losing his parents burned in his heart as an everlasting stab wound. But the pain from losing Jason, his son, it was too much to bare.

"I'd be welcoming to Master Jason, but keep your distance. Master Damian is spending the night at Jon Kent's house, Master Richard is in Blüdhaven, and Master Timothy is with the Teen Titans tonight. I'll rest assured Jason doesn't try anything to harm you. But don't try to encourage a confrontation." Alfred explained. He always seemed to understand Jason to a tee after he came back to life.

"I don't know how you do it Alfred, you can read the boy like a book." Bruce had retorted. Cocking a half-smile to the man who raised him since his parents died.

"Master Wayne, Master Jason wears his heart on his sleeve. He always has. And one of the reasons why you two fight constantly is because, for as terrific as a detective you are, you are horrifically inept in reading the emotions of your children." Alfred had stated, those words bit Bruce. He wasn't expecting such sharp words from Alfred. "We failed Master Jason. And he's hurt, he's been hurt for years because of it. However he keeps choosing to come back and try and trust again. We needn't come at him with accusations of ulterior motives, but we should be supportive." Alfred stated.

"But cognizant of what Jason is capable of." Bruce added back. Jason may need help, but he's still dangerous. He has tried to kill Bruce and the rest of the Robins multiple times. He wants to trust Jason and warm up to him again. But the man who wears the Red Hood and stalks the streets of Gotham killing those he deems criminals is not his son anymore.

Alfred and Bruce greeted Jason as he walked in the large double doors of the Wayne Manor. The first thing Bruce noticed was the dark circles under Jason's eyes. It seemed as if the man hadn't slept in days. Jason was wearing sweatpants and a fitted black wife beater, accentuating his muscles. Jason would have looked more intimidating had his body language not suggested he was as disheveled as he was, physically and mentally.

"Thanks Alfred." Jason had said meekly towards the butler. He took one step into the mansion and looked at Bruce. Bruce noticed as soon as Jason's eyes met his, his tired irises contorted into anger. His lips pursed downwards but Jason chose not to say anything. Instead just walking past Bruce pretending not to acknowledge him.

"Master Jason, you will be staying in the guest suite on the main floor. I've already prepped everything for your arrival. Please make yourself at home." Alfred had said. Jason just shook is head as he headed towards the hallway leading the guest suite. Bruce didn't notice it immediately but the stench Jason had emitted stung in the air. It smelled like stale liqour and body oder. It seems Jason hadn't bathed in days. Bruce had wanted to say something but chose not to.

The evening went by quietly enough. Jason had taken a shower and changed into another fitted wife beater but still sported a tired energy about him. Alfred had put together a beef pot roast for dinner with red potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery over garlic mashed potatoes. A favorite dish of Jason's. The three of them ate quietly as Bruce continued to size up his son. He was conflicted. At one point he saw the man who blew up the head of a Gotham security force member with a torture decide he had created. On the other hand, he saw the boy who would beg for Bruce to buy him more books after he finished the maximum amount a library card would allow for a week in the span of 3 days. The son who told him being Robin gave him magic.

The dinner ended as it began. With awkward silence and the father-son duo eyeing each other. One with cautious trepidation and the other with abject hate. Bruce had decided not to go on patrol tonight as he felt he needed to be at the manor should anything happen while Jason was here. An uneasy sense of dread built over Bruce as he had said good night to Jason as the two passed by each other in the halls. Jason simply spat 'Bitch' at Bruce and walked into the bedroom. Bruce had been bad with other people's emotions, but something didn't sit right with the way Jason was carrying himself. He had decided to stay up tonight regardless. A sense came over him after being sworn at by Jason. A sense he hadn't felt in a long time. He felt as though his son needed help.

————————————————————

"You're a monster"

"Jason is a murderer"

"Stay away from Jason, he'll kill you."

"No one wants you around, Todd"

"You're just a good guy trying to be bad"

"This is the kid you had to replace me with as Robin? Bruce he's pathetic."

"I can't believe my daughter wasted the Lazarus Pit on a miserable failure like you."

"Maybe I'd be better off dead"

Jason tossed and turned. It's been days. He couldn't get the voices out of his head. Those whispery, moany voices that taunted and tormented him. He knew it was a result of the Lazarus Pit. Ever since Roy died and everyone left him the voices started taunting him again. He tried everything he could to get the voices to stop. He drank, he read, he worked out, he did everything he could. The only way the voices became quiet were when he was beating the ever-loving shit out of some criminals. This was not the mindset Jason had wanted. He wanted to go back to being supported by Bruce, the man who betrayed him. He knew that Bruce was weak. He couldn’t kill the Joker because of his weakness. 

Jason got up and walked over to the connecting bathroom to the suite that he was staying in. He went to the sink and splashed some cold water on his face. Against his better judgement, Jason looked up to the figure he saw in the mirror. He took note of his jawline, his face, his green eyes, his muscles.. but one thing that caught his eye was the fucking skunk streak of hair at the top of his head. The physical reminder of his dip in the Lazarus Pit. He had just re-dyed the spot not two days ago and it already came back. He did everything he could to try to hide the streak. It’s what he hated most about his new body. The pit wiped away all of the scars he had on his body. And any new fresh scar or wound would just fade in a matter of moments due to the effects of the pit. The only thing that ever stayed was that damned streak. 

Jason had nothing but disgust and contempt for the man he saw in the mirror, which, ironically, was himself. 

“You’re just using the sarcasm to hide your hatred.” 

“It’s your fault that everyone hates you.” 

“Killing the sick of the masses to save those who are weak is your calling” 

“Those reptiles deserve to die” 

“I don’t want to kill unless I don’t have to.. I don’t want people to hate me..” Jason tried reassuring himself. The voices in his head kept getting louder and louder. “I want Bruce and everyone to love me again....” He continued to try to re-assure himself. It was a false sense of hope as always. His mind soon wandered to a moment where he was on top of Dick in a fight. Confronting his older sibling and reciting a quote he had heard from a Japanese philosopher and optimist as he had the barrel of a gun placed against his older brother’s temple. 

“Do you know what the most convenient phrase in the world is, Dickie? It’s ‘I’m sorry.’ Anyone who hears that is obligated to forgive, no matter how hurt or angry they might be... There's no more disgusting phrase in all the world. It's used to displace your suffering unto others so you can escape your sins... The moment you employ it, your suffering becomes the other person's. A thing can be unforgivable, but oh, if they apologize... I say there's no reason to accept that suffering. You don't have to forgive them. Cast aside the mask of your conscience.“ 

“Stop this. Please stop this.” Jason had begged aimlessly into the air. He didn’t want to live like this anymore. He didn’t want to live, period. He just wanted all of this to end. He had caused so much pain and so much suffering to the people of Gotham all so he could attempt to hurt Bruce. But those words kept repeating in his head. He knew he had to stop this. He needed help, he wanted to go to Bruce and explain what was going on but Bruce would just have him institutionalized. His murderer of a son starts hearing voices in his head? A one way ticket to a padded room. 

Jason suddenly stared back into the mirror and saw something he detested. The green eyes that stared into his soul. The one he hated more than anything else. Was himself. This thing was staring him in the face mocking him, and he wanted it gone. 

“Do it Jason.” the voice had beckoned from the mirror. “Kill them all. Slit Damian’s throat and watch the fucker bleed. Bash Tim’s stupid face into the concrete until there’s nothing but mush. Rip Dick limb from fucking limb. Watch Bruce as you choke the last bit of life from his eyes. I promise all the pain will go away once all of this is done.” the voice sounded almost sweet as it promised to do all of this. Jason just retched as he saw the green eyed monster promising poison to him. He felt his vision fade to black. 

------------------------------------------------------------------

STOP IT. SHUT. UP. 

*CRASH* 

Bruce had jumped up from the chair he was sitting on in the library, the voice came from the suite that Jason was staying in. Bruce didn’t have time to think. He just ran towards the noise. He threw the door to the suite open and ran to the bathroom. There he saw Jason in front of a heavily cracked mirror. Jason was hyperventilating and he saw blood oozing from Jason’s fist which was pressed against the mirror. Bruce saw from the reflection that Jason had split open the left side of his lip seemingly from a shard of glass. It wasn’t long before Jason glanced up at the imposing shadow in the mirror and noticed Bruce’s presence. 

“YOU STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME BRUCE.” Jason had shouted at his reflection. Jason was shaking. Bruce had wanted to assess the injury that Jason gave himself. But he knew he was cornering a scared animal if he pressed any farther forward. Bruce stood their frozen. Pondering between trying to press forward upon a killer, or to check up on his son. 

“Jason, I just...” Bruce was cut off by another scream as Jason turned around. 

“IF YOU COME ANY CLOSER I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL KILL YOU WHERE YOU FUCKING STAND YOU PIECE OF SHIT.” Bruce finally got the cue. The hitch in Jason’s voice. This is the same hitch his voice made when he was a kid and was angry at Bruce. Alfred was right. This is his son. And right now Bruce needed not to be the Batman approaching the Red Hood. He needed to be Bruce, to help his son. 

Bruce walked forward to Jason, still shaking as blood oozed from the gashes of glass on his fist. Bruce decided against everything in his gut telling him to stop this criminal. This monster who killed for sport and to prove a point. He needed to help Jason, his son. 

Bruce was knocked back by a fist to his chest. Glass imbedded itself into Bruce as he felt the sting of their shards. Jason was right, he was going to hurt Bruce if he approached. Oracle was right, Jason had been abusing venom. The quick gain in muscle mass was proof enough but the stinging pain in Bruce’s chest also proved that hypothesis. Jason barred his teeth as his eyes displayed a seething hatred. Bruce would have been frightened on any other day. Today, Bruce felt a feeling he hadn’t felt in a long time. Bruce collected himself and got up to approach Jason again. 

“I TOLD YOU I’M GOING TO KILL YOU BRUCE. I FUCKING HATE YOUR GUTS. I WANT YOU TO DIE. I WANT ALL OF US TO JUST FUCKING DIE.” Jason screamed even louder this time. A hot stream of tears worked their way down Jason’s cheeks. Bruce no longer saw a rage-induced monster but the boy who took a tire iron to his gut on the streets of Gotham. The boy who would was thrilled at every opportunity he got to show Bruce the A’s on every test he got in school. This was his baby boy who needed his help. 

“Jason Peter Todd that’s enough.” Bruce said firmly, but not harshly. Jason stared directly into his eyes. “Jason. I want you to listen to me.” 

“Go to hell you motherfucker.” those words which escaped Jason were laced with poison. Bruce didn’t waver. 

“You can punch me as much as you want Jason and I’ll deserve all of it.” Bruce came closer to Jason. Jason proceeded to physically make himself smaller. Like a scared animal. Bruce remember what he did to Jason after he had seemingly killed The Penguin. How he beat Jason to within an inch of his life. His heart plummeted to his stomach as he saw Jason cower like a scared dog over his approach. 

“What are you going to do Bruce, beat me to a fucking pulp again? You hate me more than you hate the fucking Joker, don’t you?” Jason asked. Bruce truly saw the fear in those green eyes. He had to take a moment and realized just what he was doing. He unclenched his jaw and relaxed his shoulders as he approached Jason. This time he was back within striking range of his son. 

“Jason. I failed you. I have been failing you for the past 10 years since your death. I have failed this city and this family in providing the protection it needs. I couldn’t kill The Joker because I’m weak.” Bruce sucked at emotions and emoting. But Bruce hadn’t felt this shaky and wavering since the day he lost Jason. His son needed to know the truth. He deserved to know the truth. “Jason I never hated you. I hated the actions you have taken against the people of this city. But I’ve come to realize that the hatred and contempt I’ve held is because you do what I can’t do.” 

“Oh so now you’re coming over to apologize? I don’t owe you shit after what you’ve done to me.” Jason had stated. He may have been acting like a pinned animal. But his mouth will never not cut like knives. 

“Jason, when we had fought in the abandoned apartment. And you had the Joker with you. You had tried to shoot me after I had turned away from you.” Bruce said. Inching ever closer to Jason while trying not to be imposing. “In that moment, I threw the batarang because I knew you were going to retaliate against me. But I need you to know in that moment I turned away. I turned away because I decided I wasn’t to be the one to decide the Joker’s fate. He had taken your life and it wasn’t up to me to decide. I want nothing more than for the Joker to pay for the countless lives hes taken and ruined.” Bruce swallowed hard as he felt tears beginning to well in his eyes. “I failed you because I couldn’t kill the Joker. But in that moment, I wanted nothing more than to have my baby boy back. I wanted you back in my life. I still want you back in my life.” 

“Bullshit. Fucking BULLSHIT.” Jason spat at Bruce. The emotions were flooding out of his face. Anger, hatred, fear, but most of all sadness. Jason’s voice began wavering as he began to cry. “If you loved me why in the fuck have you never realized I’ve been trying to help the people of Gotham. Instead every time I take matters into my own hands all I meet are your fucking fists. I hate your guts Bruce. We’d all just be better off fucking dead. It’s all Hopeless. I’m hopeless.” 

Bruce took a deep breath. He tried to find his resolve. He wanted nothing more than to be able to reach out to his son again. “You’re absolutely right Jason. I’ll bet Gotham would be a whole lot better without me. Without the pain I have caused. And no amount of apologies will fix the pain that I have caused you. No words will ever take back the transgressions I have taken against you.” Bruce was crying this time. “But know this. You always have been my son. And I love you so much. The day I lost my parents was agony. The day I lost you, I felt like I had lost myself I felt I had died a bit inside.” Bruce choked out. “We both have done so much we regret. If I could take back all the times I hit you I would do it in a heartbeat. But no amount of sorry will take back that pain. I shouldn’t be in the position to be asking this. But I just want my son back.” Bruce swallowed. “You have every right to hate me, but I will never stop loving you. You aren’t hopeless and you never have been. You never have been a burden. You are valued by so many people. I. I love you my son. I love you Jason."

Jason’s face relaxed from a position of contempt and hatred and soon was overcome with years of pent up tears. Jason let out a hearty scream as he proceeded to weep and sob. As if a dam had broke and was threatening to engulf a town in an apocalypse. Bruce went against everything he had known and was screaming from the inside of his body and wrapped Jason in a hug. He was almost as large as Bruce himself and barely fit around his arms. But Bruce held his son and hugged him tight. Jason was crying uncontrollably. 

“I’m hearing these voices. They’re telling me I’m a monster and a killer and that I should kill all of you.” Jason shouted between sobs. “But I don’t want to. I’m so afraid Bruce. I don’t want to hurt anyone unless I have to.” 

“Just breath Jason. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. Let it all out.” Bruce had solidified his resolve and worked on being there for Jason. He couldn’t run away this time. His son needed him more than ever. And Gotham be damned. He’s not making this mistake twice. He’s staying here. For Jason. 

It felt like hours before Jason had run out of tears and sobs. Jason was fading and seemed like he was about to fall asleep. The shards of glass that were imbedded in his hand seemingly prevented Jason from bleeding out. Bruce had saw Jason’s eyes glaze over as his breathing calmed. 

“Jason, I’m going to pick you up and take you to bed.” Bruce had said, asking for permission from his second son. Jason simply nodded as he starred off. He was numb now. The pain seemingly gone for the moment. Bruce lifted Jason up and was taken aback by just how heavy his son was. He truly was 225lbs just like his records showed. This wasn’t the son who hid under the cabinets when Bruce first brought Jason home. But Bruce still saw the boy as his son nonetheless. As Bruce laid Jason on the bed Alfred had approached with a first aid kit. Proceeding to begin to clean up Jason’s hand. Jason was so exhausted he barely felt any of the picking and pulling or the iodine going into his wounds. He kept his eyes fast forward on Bruce. 

“Bruce. I. I’m sorry.” Jason had said meekly. 

“Don’t apologize Jason.” Bruce had stated. He ran his hand through Jason’s hair, giving a soft massage to his scalp. “You get some sleep now. I don’t think you’ve rested in days.” 

Bruce had remembered the time he had read Jason to sleep. This time he had thought back to a poem that struck him from his phone. It was from a famous lyricist and singer. As Bruce pulled up his phone he had found the poem and recited it as Jason fell asleep. Things are far from perfect or even better. But tomorrow was going to be the first day of the rest of his and Jason’s lives. 

“They told me once, ‘there's a place where love conquers all’

A city with the streets full of milk and honey

I haven't found it yet, but I'm still searching

All I know is a hopeless place that flows with the blood of my kin

Perhaps hopeless isn't a place

Nothing but a state of mind” 

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pHEW GOD THAT WAS LONG. I hope you all enjoyed the fic! This was my first published attempt at angst and whump and while I feel some parts are cringe. I am proud of what I made. 

Big thanks again to @dilfbatman for inspiring this fic. The inspiration of the title is the song Hopeless: by Halsey. The quote about I’m Sorry is from the character Shadow Maya Amano from Persona 2: Innocent Sin. And the poem at the end is the first part of the lyrics to the song Good Mourning by Halsey. 

[jaybhird]

at some point, every exile must return home.

the first thing he did upon returning to gotham was plant a car bomb.       he’s hoping alison will take a  less  aggressive  route.     or an equally as aggressive route—   (  because  ezra  fitz  has  it  coming   &   if  she  doesn’t,   he will  ).     she’s been through enough.     of course he both wants  &  doesn’t want this for her.     he wants her safe—  hundreds of thousands of miles away from that town and the monsters that inhabit it.     out of the reach of her parents and every man there,   far away from everyone who  ever thought to hurt her.     but she wants this.     she doesn’t want revenge,   she isn’t him.     she wants to help.     &  maybe he’s a little proud of her for that.       the alison dilaurentis who threw a toaster through a wall and called his girlfriend a  pilgrim  looking  bitch  isn’t the same person he’s looking at now.     she’s older.     wiser.     stronger.

it’s been coming for a while now.     as much as he  wishes  this was a shock,  it isn’t.     (  ‘ if you want to play hero and help your friends,  you’re going to do it properly. ’     &  he’d pressed the first knife that talia gave him into her hand,  determined not to have her buried again ).     he’s spent enough on gas money carting her back & forth between rosewood to know it’s coming.     lazarus rising from the grave again,   this time a daughter   &   not a father.     he still thinks of her sometimes as a child;   unwelcome in her own bones   &   half dead on his couch,   constantly playing news reports of herself with blood-shot eyes.     and it makes it easier to look up,   drag his eyes from the morning news and stare at the daughter who’s carefully unwrapping the gift that talia got her.     a red coat.     the red coat.

she isn’t the disgusting amalgamation of life   &   death that he is,   no leftover pieces of resurrection and autopsy scars.     she’s simple.    alive in a way he isn’t.   dead in a way he is.     he forgets sometimes.     that the only person who knows how grave dirt tastes is the girl who paints her fingernails pink   &   insists on watching the kardashian’s.     (  and maybe,   he’s trying to cling to the first memories he has of her in hope that she won’t wander far—  a daringly bruce wayne delusion,   to hope your child won’t leave the nest.     but birds learn to fly by falling.     he just doesn’t want her to fall as far as he did  ).

‘  yeah?     you don’t gotta be so dramatic about it.    you can just say you’re finally sick of living with me,  kid.     i’m not going to cry about it.     ’sides,   ask talia  nicely  &  she’ll probably pay your rent over there.     lemme know if you need help moving.  ’

[captainshazamerica]

The redhood nightwing fight scenes look like they're gonna be dope af like thats all I'm thinking about how awesome the fight scenes are (hopefully) gonna be (I'm already finding it difficult to see this jason as redhood cuz he's like literally a child but I dunno what age he redhooded in the comics so??)

I had no idea tim was even gonna be in it !?! Can I please get some kind of recognition from the batboys that they actually view each other as brothers and family! 😢

Someone needs to kill the joker It'd be kinda interesting if old bruce killed joker and it'd be nice if that was the last thing he did as batman buuuttt then again it'd be a nice touch if dick killed joker for jason, it would personally be disappointing if joker was just let live not gonna lie i really want bruce to kill him and that be the reason he gives up being batman because he failed to protect jason and then he broke his no killing thing so he just hangs up the cape

we are getting FEAR TOXIN yassssss cue awesome nightmare ish fearscapes (no idea if that's an actual word but that's what I call when you get to see everyone's fear hallucination)

Kory I love you, I do ship dickkory however I feel like she's too good for dick and should marry me instead lol I wanna see how donna is still alive? and I know there's people who are like ughh hank dawn go away already but I really freakin like hank and dawn as characters even though their suits are ridiculous did they break up last season I can't remember? Hank needs a break poor man someone give him a blanket and a hug and let him sit the fuck down everybody leave hank alone

That line where babs is like don't try be your father and dick is like excuse me what you saying there Commissioner Gordon, that will never not be funny 😅😅😅

I ain't in love with this show it has so much potential it could be so lit but I do like it anndd they got suits now whoop!

Wait is this my previous Titans anon? (The one where we ranted about Jason, or the one thinking they hadn’t seen S2 but went to watch it and realized they had? Or are you the same person? xD )And if so are you the same one who asked for the comic and fic recs? Just wondering in terms of if I’m talking to one person or not hahaha

But ahh I got so excited when I saw I got an ask about this 😍

Omg the nightwing red hood fight already got me so stressed lol. It looks great but ahh angst! But I think Jason is like 19ish in most versions when he comes back? Though tbh I forgot what age Jason is in this , I’ll have to see when i rewatch it soon. Curran, the actor, is actually 23, he just looks super young/short. He got pretty buff though. But yeah, that is an unfortunate thing wi the them rushing it already but also, I’d rather have it like this than if they were gonna spread it out through the seasons then it gets cancelled or something (poor Gotham s5, RIP). I think he was the PERFECT robin jason Todd though. Like I love his acting and portrayal of Jason(“Titans are back bitches!” classic Jason), he just is young looking and short. Gosh I still wanna know if they are going with the Lazarus pit for Jason or not! But like that also begs the question of whether they are doing a time skip cause normally Jason is dead for like 2-3ish years, but it doesn’t look like it from the trailer.

And yes, I’ve been looking forwards to Tim!!! While the trailer didn’t show it, the actor was on set a lot over these last couple of months (I’ve been keeping up with their instagrams xD) and seemed super close with the cast! I can’t believe the first look we got if Tim was him nearly crying, though that look already won me over, I love him and he is my son now. But RIGHT! That’s all I want, is the bat bros platonic love, gosh dang it😭 that’s all we want DC😭

BRO! OLD MAN BRUCE KILLING JOKER WOULD BE FREAKING PERFECT. Dang it! Now I’m gonna be so disappointed if that doesn’t happen 🤣gosh it would be perfect, and normally I would be like it’s Bruce, they would never do that, BUT, this show does that kind of “edgy” stuff anyway so if it’s ever gonna happen(without the Batman who Laughs plot line happening(which would make a perfect dc animated movie btw)), it would happen in this show, especially with what was shown in the trailer with him giving Batman up. Man, now my hopes are up for that xD though I wouldn’t mind if Dick killed him. I would be shocked though if they had the balls to actually kill off joker though, dc seems to refuse to do that :/

Omg I squealed at the scarecrow part omg. Dr freaking Crane is a big reason I spiraled down this entire fandom tbh. Like literally a year ago I got obsessed with him for some reason and that led into the Bat hole where I am currently WAY deeper than I ever would have thought 😂 and while I’m not hyper fixated on him anymore, I still love him so much and is my 2nd fav rogue, and it mainly started with Jonathan 🥺 we barely even see his face and I am already in love with the casting, the voice is perfect. And I LOVE when villains have to help the heroes, that is like one of my fav tropes ever omg, I was really hoping they were gonna do that to him. I hope he is in it for more than one episode tho. And oh lordy, like those poor Titans need even more trauma in their lives and now fear gas is in the equation. Oh no, I bet poor Gar is gonna get hit cause they just love to torture that poor boy. And tbh I hope the fearscapes(perfect word for it) will be better than most of the Gotham ones, those seemed a tad cheesy tbh

Lmao about you and kory😂 she is too good for him, but also, this Dick needs someone who can kick his ass and get his head out of his martyr butt 😂 tho tbh, I’m still not fully sold on Dickkory, Like I don’t hate it but I don’t LOVE it in many versions, like they can be cute but no strong feelings, the Original Teen Titans cartoon is like the only exception, I def ship those 2

Omg I low key forgot Donna “died”😂🤦🏻‍♀️ I feel like I knew it wouldn’t last so it didn’t have a big impact on me lol. Like I had/have a feel raven is gonna bring her back. I wanna know what happened to Rose/Joey! Like are they not gonna be in it at all? Especially with Jason going off the deep end?!

Lmao, hawk and dove’s suits😂 I think they did break up, I’ve only seen the series once through tbh, planning to rewatch before S3 tho(and try to force my mom to watch it tho she is convinced everything DC is too dark for her lmao), yeah, I don’t mind them, like I don’t want the focus on them but like they deserve to be happy/need a break, omg yes! That boy needs to be wrapped in a blanket and given a break, that grumpy boy is TIRED. Let him rest!

Lmao! That babs line is so great😂

I’m just so excited for all this live action Batfam content, considering the live action movies NEVER give us Batfam 😭(we aren’t talking about the 80’s/90’s live action robin lmao)

Also so sorry this was so long 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️

[lostonehero]

Remus never planned on having kids, he was for all intensive purposes a gay man. That didn't stop fate from being a bitch and throwing a scared twelve year old at his feet. Well it was more like he heard crying from an alleyway through the rain and car honking.

What Remus found was a kid or a preteen curled up in a cloak speaking greek of all things. Well atleast ge knew hreek thanks to where he worked. "Uh hello I am Remus and you are?"

The kid looked up at Remus a yellow eye glowed on his face. "Don't kill me I can't do what my mother did I promise." He hissed out weakly

Poor kid looked like he hasn't eaten a good meal and uh Remus kind of stood like a deer in headlights. The kids hair was made of snakes like actual live breathing snakes. Well if he had to adopt a kid atleast it's weird. He was already going through a metal checklist in his head on what to get for him. "What's your name?"

"My name?"

"Yeah what can I call you so when I bring you home you won't be called mr preteen?"

"Lazarus mister."

"Nice to meet you now let's get you out of the rain."

......

Ok Lazarus has been in his home for about an hour now and he is still transfixed on how the lights work. "Lazarus?"

"Yes Remus?"

"What year is it?"

Lazarus blinked his human eye "it's the second reign of....."

Remus blinked and smiled internally screaming. "Right well Lazarus we aren't in Greece anymore and its 2020."

Lazarus looked confused. "Are you with the gods who sent to kill all of us?"

"What no I'm a chef. "

Remus sighed into his hands he needed help or like a week.

.....

It took three days for Lazarus to be convinced that he was in the future and not just a gods room. It took Remus a week to get a police report going then to contact social services to adopt this child.

In the end nobody wanted to deal with this kid so they just left him to Remus. Which was good don't get him wrong he just didn't expect to become a parent. He needed to find a school that will take him.

Then the glaring issue roared its ugly roar. Lazarus wasn't human. Like yeah that was an important thing but also he was still just a child and that took priority. Now the dust had settled Remus is trying to swallow the fact his new child isn't human and that was a possibility of happening.

The supernatural shouldn't exist.

.......

A rushed knock then a opening if the door as Logan stumbled inside the apartment. "Remus I got your message what's the emergency."

Remus is trying to get Lazarus's snakes into a pony tail so they won't go in his eyes he hasn't dared to ask if he could cut them like hair. He was also glad they weren't venomous like Lazarus. "Oh uh hey Logan you got here earlier then I thought.... uh just a second." He manages to get it in a somewhat functioning pony tail.

"Is this the professor?" Lazarus asks still speaking greek.

Logan blinked. "Is this the emergency because this obviously shouldn't exist gorgons went extinct back in ancient Greece."

"What?" Remus pushes Lazarus to go to his room.

"Gorgons are extinct."

"No no I got that but Logan you are a scientist why do you believe in magic and the supernatural."

"Remus I'm a witch."

Remus was at a loss and trying not to scream. "Look I don't care can you first help him speak english and two help me take care of him I'm not a good teacher."

"How did you get a gorgon?"

"I found him in an alleyway he was shivering and covered in just a cloak."

"How odd.... but I will help. How old is he?"

"12 give or take he keeps saying he isnt like his mom and he won't turn me into a statue."

Logan had a look of heartbreak on his face. "Oh that poor child. Remus I'll be staying here for awhile to help you get aquiatented with the supernatural and to help Lazarus."

Remus just nods.

.....

"Let me get this straight you were hiding behind your mom then you fell into something." Logan asks laz again

Laz nods looking up from his beef jerky that he has been happily eating.

"Fascinating."

Remus sighs they've been at this for about half a year Logan practically moved in they started to fuck which is wonderful, and Logan is also in the process of getting Lazarus into school. Turns out there is a supernatural school.

"Whose that?" Lazarus points to the picture of Remus and Roman. "He looks like you is he your brother?"

Remus smiles "he is that's Roman. Uh we don't talk much now in days."

Logan sighs picking up the stick from the wall after it smokes.

They sat in silence before Logan smiled. "Perfect we can be there within the hour."

......

Remus was amazed at the building they entered outside it was like a shoebox but on the inside it was massive.

"Right Logan when you told me you had a gorgon I thought you were mad but now.... I still can't believe it they went extinct before I was born." Patton says. "And well I've been alive since the height of Rome, but nonetheless he is welcome at this school."

Lazarus looked up at the statue of a hero holding a severed head of a gorgon aka medusa aka his mother. He began to cry.

Remus immeditally pulled Lazarus into a tight hug.

"That's my mom." He cried harder. "Why do they have my mom?"

Patton froze and Logan quickly snapped the statue away.

Patton looked at Logan "why didn't you say he was medusa kid ?"

"Patton the kid only knew that he was a product of rape and his mother loved him." Logan retorted.

Remus gets laz to relax and stop crying. "Its ok Laz."

"Not ok mama is dead."

Remus smiles softly. "She would of wanted you to be happy and safe."

Lazarus frowns. "I'm safe mama would like that."

"Yea she would."

[krispydefendorpolice]

The Demon’s Bride (4)

Call out to @vitaliciouscreations for their “Drop of Paradise” story. I’m using the same name Tiān but they came up with it (to best of my knowledge). Another fun read. Anyone interested in me putting up a random maribat recomendation in this part?

On to the story

Beginning Previous Next Masterpost

_________________

Chapter 4

After dropping Mari in front of the hotel she was staying at, where the teacher definitely had not noticed she was missing he fumed, Damian returned to the Bat cave. His father, all three of his brothers, his sister, Alfred and the rest of the extended Bat Clan were waiting.

“You never turned your comm back on,” Bruce commented.

“I needed to speak with Mari before talking to you,” Damian said, passing his father and pulling up files on the Bat computer.

“We had noticed. It would have been nice to know you were alright after she took down Jason the way she did.”

“Hence the reason I left my tracker on instead of disabling it. You knew where I was.”

“Who is this mystery girl the boys are talking about?” Barbara, aka Oracle, asked.

Damian ignored the question while he filtered through the files of the Wayne conference attendees for the school group staying at Mari’s hotel and down to the students on the trip. He pulled up the school picture of Mari and the information they had on her.

“She is a friend from my childhood,” he finally said looking at the information. He saw that her name was Marinette Dupain-Cheng, her parents on file were listed as Tom Dupain and Sabine Cheng. So they hadn’t changed it, he thought, disappointed in himself because he never looked.

Damian turned when no one said anything after his declaration. Leaning against the console he waited for their responses.

“Bull shit Demon Spawn. You’ve never mentioned friends other than Jon and the Titans before,” Jason said, “and even then it’s because they are not your friends.”

“I assure you she is,” Damian said.

“Then why is this the first time any of us have ever heard about her?” Dick asked.

“None of you have ever shown a particular interest in my childhood with the League of Assassins before now, so why would I have talked about her to you?” Damian answered with a question of his own.

“Because you bit off our heads every time we asked anything,” Tim argued.

Damian narrowed his eyes, “The last time anyone asked me anything about the League I was 11 years old, had just moved in with a bunch of strangers, and had witnessed my family and my whole life destroyed by a madman. Of course I fucking yelled at you. I couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t cry, yell or rage about the unfairness of watching my family, my family,” he emphasized, “die because I was with strangers and emotions make you vulnerable and I could not afford any more vulnerabilities with the unknown situation I was in.”

The entire clan was silent during his tirade, and a bit ashamed at what he was revealing to them years afterwards.

“I’m sorry Damian. We should have realized that and asked you how you were handling the changes at the time,” Bruce was the first to apologize.

“So you weren’t just rabid from Mom’s Tender Loving Care?” Jason asked.

“Master Jason,” Alfred chided while the rest of the clan just gave Jason a Really? look.

“In the 10 years I lived with her I probably spent less than two in her actual company,” Damian said. “I don’t think I would have responded well at the time even if you had realized,” he acknowledged Bruce’s apology.

“Can you tell us about her?” Bruce asked.

“I can but there’s a lot to talk about to really understand everything. I’m meeting her tomorrow for her free day, we can come here for dinner. I can give you some of that background information now and she can answer any of the questions about herself that I can’t answer.”

“Alright. So tell us what we need to know.”

“Might I suggest we move this discussion out of the cave and to the parlor where we might be more comfortable while we talk,” Alfred interrupted.

“That sounds like a good idea Alfred,” Dick said.

**************************

They did as Alfred suggested and moved to the sitting room so they could sit comfortably while talking about Damian’s past. They were all aware that before he came to them at the age of 10 he had lived with his mother and grandfather and with the League of Assassins. He had been volatile and reckless even while he was taking up the mantle of Robin and began following the others into the vigilante lifestyle.

But apparently there was more to his actions as a kid than just being a snobbish brat raised to believe he was better than everyone else.

Damian sipped at his cup of Black tea while settling his mind around what he was going to discuss. He had spent the last 7 years trying not to think of the other half of his biological family and believing the rest were dead so that he hadn’t had any other reason to reflect on his youth in the League. But that had obviously been a mistake. If Mari survived did anyone else? Can I get my family back? He wondered to himself while the rest of the clan settled down with their drinks of choice.

Finally everyone was settled. Bruce was the one to set the ball rolling.

“So what should we know?”

“Before I start about what I know,” Damian began turning to Jason, “I need to know more about what you know of the League, Todd.”

Jason raised an eyebrow and looked at him stonily. If Damian was quiet about the League as a kid (lies, he really wasn’t because he was an Al Ghul dammit) then Todd was a monk who had taken a vow of silence (slightly less a lie, he didn’t talk about it but he did rant about what a bitch Talia was). None of the Bats knew much about his time with the League other than he met Talia before returning to Gotham to seek vengeance on the Joker.

“Like what, Demon Spawn?” Jason asked.

“Well, first, did you have a designation?”

“A what?”

“That’s a no then. Consider yourself lucky, or not, since you were one of mother’s various pet projects then.”

“Damian,” Dick warned as Damian still had a tendency to be very blunt, to the point of being abrasive, when talking about other’s trauma’s.

Damian frowned before nodding in acknowledgement of the warning and in apology for his tone.

“I suppose the first thing you should know is that the League of Assassins is only about two hundred years old, while Tiān the city from which it was established is thousand of years old. Grandfather found it years ago and started to recruit certain prized and influential citizens and families into following him. Eventually the majority of the city were members of his cult and doing his bidding. We can get more into why the League as its own city is important tomorrow.

“Now, since the League is a cult and it was born out of an independent city how has it maintained it’s membership for so long? And I assure you it wasn’t because grandfather shared the secret of the Lazarus Pits with anyone” he asked.

“They recruited new members,” Dick answered with a shrug.

Damian gave him his own Really? look. “Recruits only account for about 25% of the new trainees and they are usually older teens and young adults. The people that are disenfranchised from the society outside of the League. Individuals with knowledge of the world outside shaped by influences from outside and not by Ras Al Ghul,” Damian said. “I was one of 79 children born in my year group. I was not raised by Talia no matter how she spins it. Despite having a personal bodyguard, private tutors and a nursemaid because I was an Al Ghul heir, I was raised with the other children my age in the al’akadimia*.”

“Talia didn’t raise you?” Barbara asked.

“She oversaw my training, instruction and education which seems to be her impression of parenting, but no, she was not involved in the day to day of my life growing up. I got more of that with Father in the first few months than I did from her in the entirety of my time with her,” Damian answered.

The Bats were silent as they digested this new piece of information from their youngest.

“In the cave you mentioned losing your family. It sounded like it happened in Slade’s attack. If not Talia, who were you thinking of? The girl?” Tim asked.

*academy- Arabic via Google translate

_________________

So, this chapter f*cked with my head. I was just writing and playing with the story and had to come up with a reason for Damian being such a little shit as a kid. And I threw in the line about him losing his family and moving in with strangers when I had an oh shit moment of enlightenment.

In the Son of Batman, Damian witnessed his grandfathers death. His mother brought him to strangers and essentially dropped him on their doorstep. Then we get into the fact that most likely he was essentially abused growing up (how else do you get a kid that wont show emotions) but they were still his family and yeah...

I try throwing in a flippant reason but really it kinda sounds like a canon reason too.

I had never thought about why canon Damian was the way he was especially in that first movie and now my head hurts. I’m curious if anyone else has ever given that a thought or if you’re just now having that oh shit reaction?

Taglist: I’m so happy so many are enjoying it. I’m trying to get everyone but if I miss you I’m sorry but it’s not intentional. Also, I appreciate the comments but unless you ask I won’t tag you so if you’ve commented and not been tagged it’s cuz you didn’t ask or because I overlooked it trying to find everyone who’s asking to be tagged. And I’m going to ask that you message me since I’m having trouble finding all the asks in the comments. Thank you.

And thank you all!

@ozmav @multifandomscribette @mochinek0 @inevitableenquere @zebrabaker @poshplumcot @tog84 @luciferge @sonif50 @ravennightingaleandavatempus @northernbluetongue @actual-human-disaster @clumsy-owl-4178 @aarushi-03 @bluerosette23 @g-arya @moonyloonyx @fertileleaf @shreky-boi @thanks-captain-obvious @panda3506 @hinata3487 @thequestionablyhuman @dontgiveaflyinflip @dast218 @chocolatecatstheron @asianfrustration13 @slytherinsheashire @weird-pale-blonde-person @yin-390 @mycupisbroken @vixen-uchiha @kuroko26 @autisticlinx @worlds-tiniest-spook-pastry @mariae2900 @zalladane @hypnosharkrebeldreamer @tbehartoo @novicevoice @violatiger8 @thebookish3lf @fandomkitty8 @redscarlet95 @gingersnapnoir @chewbaccaatemythoughts

[mila-dans]

The Cross and the Grave

One shot: The Cross and the Grave

Takes place in alternate universe where Dean is an angel of the Lord and Castiel is a human hunter. Based on “Lazarus Rising.”

Word Count: 2000

(Thanks for the gif: @unicorncastiell​ )

Crawling out of a grave isn’t exactly what you think your first moments conscious would be, but for Jimmy Novak, this was exactly how it happened when he woke up this morning. Only four months ago did he have an encounter with hellhounds resulting in his soul being sent downstairs. A hunter making a demon deal doesn’t sound very plausible but when it comes to the Novak's, anything is possible. Especially when it involves saving their loved ones. 

Gabriel, Jimmy, and Anna Novak. They were closer than peas in a pod. It wasn’t always like that though. Before, Anna was studying to become a teacher while Gabe was studying the curves of every body that ended up in his clutches. Jimmy on the other hand, Jimmy continued what the three of them and their father started. The family business: saving lives and killing the bad guys. The three were raised like warriors, assassins. Their dad was not what you’d call a good one. It was always his way or the highway. Gabe grew up listening to his father and respecting him. It wasn’t until little Anna rebelled and left that he decided to reevaluate his life. With two children gone, the one and only father, Chuck Novak, decided to be more hands on with the affairs of his son. The only one that stayed. Jimmy and his father spent years, side by side, fighting demons and slaying monsters. Sure the team was smaller and Jimmy couldn’t quite understand why his brother and sister left, but this was his job. This was his life. He had to do it. No matter how many mistakes he made or how much pain was caused by him, he would never stop trying to fix it. Try to make it better. 

Long story short, no matter how long it had been since he saw his siblings or how bad on terms they were, when it came to looking for his father, he couldn’t do it alone. After recruiting his reluctant family, the Novak's were back in action. They lost some and won some. But last year, they lost a lot more than they could handle. They lost Anna. It took a toll on the brothers. A dead sister who had her whole life ahead of her. Gabriel could only take it with a couple cases of whisky and a handful of hookers. But Jimmy? Well, he couldn’t take it at all. Selling his soul for her life was stupid. Not as stupid as what he was about to do now, but it sure was stupid. He had a year to live. A year to watch the clock ticking on his life. Gabriel tried to give his brother the fun and crazy life that Jimmy had always missed out on while Anna did everything she could to fix it. Jimmy knew that he was going to hell and there was no stopping it. It didn’t matter what Anna dug up or what Gabriel threw at him as a distraction, he knew that his next stop would be his last. 

Jimmy spent his last year filled with blood and gut covered hands. Within the last hour of his life, he tried to ice the demon Lilith but instead lost his chance at the bitch and lost his soul to a whole different bitch. But after four months down in the fiery depths, he pulled a full Lazarus and now he stands with the demon blade in hand, alongside his brother, getting ready to summon whatever the hell it was that pulled him up in the first place. 

“You ready?” Jimmy asks.

“In order to be ready, I think we’d at least have to know what exactly to be ready for,” Gabe answers with his undoubtedly nervous tone.

The brothers were about to summon the being that brought up Jimmy from the pits. Thanks to an old “friend” of Gabriel’s, they got a name: Deontavious. And it only cost them a pair of eyes. Whatever this thing was, it wasn’t just an average pay-grade demon. Hell, they don’t even know if it is anything close to a demon. It had the strength to bring someone back to life. That kind of fire power wasn’t something that they had seen before or ever even heard about.

Gabe finished spraying some sigils on the wall of the old barn. The barn was courtesy of yet another “friend” of his. If you weren’t a friend of Gabriel Novak, you were an enemy. And let’s just say, he didn’t have too many of those. At least not any that were alive more than a week. If you ever think that Jimmy or Anna are the bad ones, just wait till you get on the bad side of eldest Novak. And boy was he creative.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Gabriel asks. He knows he doesn’t want to but he also knows how stubborn his brother is. Jimmy looks at Gabe as if they hadn’t just spent the last two hours prepping for their meeting.

“Yes!” Jimmy answers. He rolls his eyes and goes to place his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Yes, alright?” Gabriel looks at him with uncertainty. “Listen, Gabe, we know that crap is happening all over in the supernatural world and the least we can do is figure out what type of crap we are in first. Okay?” Jimmy looks at him waiting for a response.

“It sounds like a load of crap to me,” Gabriel responds with a smirk. Jimmy sighs in annoyance. They continue to wait for about a half hour under the flickering light bulbs and in the sound of sarcastic comments from the eldest brother.

“Did you do it right?” Gabe asks.

“Wha--You did the ritual! I should be asking you if it was done right!”

“Oh, yeah,” Gabriel lets out. He nods a little and becomes caught up in his own train of thought. Jimmy gives his brother a questioning look.

“So? Did you do it right?!”

“Yeah!” Gabriel responds with a defensive tone. “I’m like, eighty-seven percent sure that I did it right.” Jimmy gives Gabe a glare.

“Eighty-seven percent? Eighty-sev--Gabe!” Gabriel throws his hands up in defense as Jimmy takes a step closer. “How are you not sure if this was right or not?!”

As if on cue, a thunder cloud rolls over the barn. The brothers look up to the sky and see the dark fog setting over them. Lighting starts to strike as the doors start to slam.

“Just the wind?” Gabriel asks with a tremble in his voice and a shy smile on his face. Jimmy gives his brother another glare. The attention shifts back to the shaking barn doors as the clattering gets louder and louder.

With a sudden bash, the doors fall to the floor. The boys grab their guns and start to shoot at the silhouette of a man. The man doesn’t flinch, but instead, he walks closer and closer to the brothers as every light bulb shatters above him. 

The man is in a blue suit with a shirt in only a lighter shade and a tie to match. His eyes are a shade of jade and his light brown hair is in a short cut. The man has a sharp jaw and a bit of freckles across the bridge of his nose and to his cheeks. 

As the brothers run out of ammo, they stare in amazement of the bulletproof entity before them.

“Who are you?” Jimmy asks as he takes a step back to question whether to run for his life or die in a blaze of glory.

“I’m the one who gripped you tight and raised you from perdition,” the man answers in a deep voice.

“Yeah,” Jimmy chuckles, “Thanks.” When the man gets within arms reach of Jimmy, the middle Novak takes his chance, stabbing the creature with the demon blade straight in his heart. The man looks as Jimmy confused while the brothers stare in fear of the being as he pulls the knife from his chest, causing it to clatter on the floor. The man then walks toward Gabriel and places two fingers to his head, causing him to fall to the ground.

“We need to talk, James,” the man insists.

Jimmy rushes to his brother to check his pulse. The man walks over to the weapons table and starts to stab himself with the weaponry as to see if it will penetrate his skin or even cause a scratch.

“You’re brother, Gabriel, is fine.” Jimmy glares at the man and stands up. “I only made him unconscious,” he gives a cheap smile. 

“Why?!” Jimmy demands as his face becomes stricken with rage. “Who are you?!”

“I am Deontavious,” he answers.

“So I’ve heard. But what the hell are you?!”

“I am an angel of the Lord, James.” Deontavious looks at Jimmy and smiles proudly.

“Angel, my ass,” Jimmy chuckles. “What are you really?”

“I told you,” he replies, taking a step closer to Jimmy to lean in and look at his eyes. Jimmy stands frozen. “Yet, you don’t believe me. You have no faith.”

“Oh, I have faith, alright. I have faith that angels are as real as unicorns. That’s my faith.” Deontavious smirks at Jimmy and takes several steps back. Out of his sleeve, he holds a silver blade. The lights flash in the room, then go out all together. A blue light emits from Deontavious’s eyes and a shadow of wings extend on the wall behind him. The thunder crashes as lightning strikes. 

The lights turn back on and the storm stops.

“So an angel burned out an innocent woman’s eyes?” Jimmy questions as Deontavious returns to a relaxed state. 

“I warned her not to look in on my true form. The sight, the sound, it is overwhelming to humans. You know that though.”

“Wait, so you’re telling me that what happened back at the gas n’ sip and--and the motel was you just being you?”

“If it makes it easier to see it that way, then yes.”

“Then what is this?” Jimmy points at Deontavious. “How am I able to see you now?”

“It is because this is not me. This is a vessel.” Deontavious runs his hands through his hair.

“Possession? You’re possessing someone?!”

“Yes. But it is not like you think. This man, Dean,” Deontavious examines his body, “He was suffering. Struggling to make ends meet, as you would say. I only asked him if I could use his life, his body, for the greater good. He was the one who accepted.”

“Well, Dean is better than Deontavious. I’ll give you that much. But tell me, what are you, really?”

“I already told you, James,” Dean replies with a confused look.

“An angel. Right. But see, why in the world would an angel rescue me from hell?” Jimmy asks.

“Haven’t you heard of good things happening?” 

“Sure, to good, all American people, which is a group that I don’t belong to.” Jimmy crosses his arms as Dean walks closer to him. He stares in his face once more, looking down into his eyes.

“What is it? Do you not think that you deserve to be saved?” He asks. Jimmy tightens his jaw and takes a deep breath.

“Why?” Jimmy asks with a deep tone.

“Because, James, God commanded it. We have work for you.”

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Thanks for reading!

[amazingflyingdick]

right here.

WHO: Dick Grayson @amazingflyingdick, Jason Todd @thatsjasonfkntodd, and mentions of Barbara Gordon @the-orxcle. WHERE: A random alleyway. WHEN: June 30th, 2020. WHAT: After receiving a text from Babs, Jason goes to check on Dick and comes across a disturbing scene.

Jason: The last thing he wanted to do was leave Roy alone, and he’d had a mind to keep arguing with Babs until she’d told him the name given. Dick’s sudden silence over the comms immediately took on a more sinister feeling. Roy would just have to be alright for a little while. Jason told him he was going out, that it shouldn’t be long, but didn’t give details beyond that. He didn’t know what the fuck was happening and it wasn’t the time to lay out a bunch of speculation.

He didn’t take his mask or any of the armor, but he grabbed his twin pistols and the Kris dagger and stored all three in his jacket. Hopefully he wouldn’t need them. Hopefully he’d be rolling up on Dick putting a band aid on some kid’s knee, get a lecture for being in public and armed, and be able to go back to Roy’s apartment. Hopefully, hopefully.

It was only a couple of blocks, Babs had given him the location, and it didn’t take him long to skip roofs until he got over there. He didn’t see anything at first. There was no NOVA patrol, no agents. Hell, there weren’t even civilians. When he abandoned height advantage to get his feet on the ground, he ended up seeing the blood before he saw his brother. The dark red seeping into concrete sidewalk was a too-familiar sight in his life. With a whispered Fuck, he followed the line of it until he saw Dick leaned against the side of a dumpster.

The fabric of his jeans scrubbed against the concrete as he got down beside him. “Dick...hey, hey man, I need you to answer me.” He swallowed the bile in his throat and ignored the rising panic. Shallow wounds bled a lot, more than they should. Might just be that. Dick: The scraping sound Jason's jeans made on the ground made Dick react. He wasn't sure what happened, not really, but the ringing in his head was loud and persistent and he was tired. It wouldn't be the first time he'd worked past his scheduled shift, but there was no reason he should still be here. The bar was dark and he couldn't hear anyone, couldn't see anyone except...

"Jay?" His mouth felt like it was filled with cotton. He felt something warm and wet on his cheek and he reached up to follow the trail back up to the side of his left eye. Even with gloves on, he felt the hole. The bullet went straight through and out the back of his head, the projectile embedded in the brick just a few inches above his head. He'd been kneeling when he was shot. "I think I cut myself. What time is it? Does Bruce know you're in Bludhaven?" The matter-of-fact, concerned tone was so utterly normal and completely displaced in a dark, blood-soaked alley.

The buzzing in his ears was getting louder. Dick winced and pushed to his feet, barely leaning against the wall before pressing his hand against his head. Blood had already soaked the back of his hair and uniform. He had the vague understanding that something was wrong but he didn't know what it was, but his mind jumped between what he was seeing and strange, disconnected memories that were part hallucination. "Think you can go get me the first aid kit, Little Wing? It's in the back, under the sink. I'm okay, I just have to patch myself up." Jason: Jason felt his throat go tight as he saw just where the blood was coming from. It was too dark where they were for him to see the wound itself, but it was clear that the source of all the bleeding was the back of his head. That coupled with the delirium, or maybe he was full on hallucinating, had Jason reaching out for him as soon as Dick stood up.

“I think it’s a little bigger than a cut, dude. Why don’t you...why don’t we sit back down for a minute...” They all knew field medicine, basic first aid, things that would keep them alive until they got actual medical care at the Batcave or the hospital or somewhere. Jason had a first aid kit on him, but it was small, the most basic of basics. There was gauze, though, and he had to do something to stop the bleeding. “Let me check you out. You can’t reach it yourself.”

Once he had the space to do it, Jason shifted until he was at Dick’s side instead of in front of him. He reached up with one hand, ready to feel for a cut. What he got instead was unmistakably a gunshot wound. As soon as he touched it, he jerked his hand away like he’d been burned and felt a trickle of cold go all the way through him. Fuckfuckfuckfuck.

He yanked the whole roll of gauze out and the tape with it. Before he even got started, he sent Babs a single line of text.

Send medical.

Dick: Dick did stop when Jason reached out, confused, but when he brought his hand away from his head he could see it was wet. It looked black in the dim lighting of the alley. He looked down at the blood on the pavement, already congealing, and thought there was no way he could even have that much blood in his body. It couldn't all be his.

"What happened? Was there a fight?" Something happened, something bad. That was something even he could reason out, despite being more and more distracted by the ringing in his head. It was giving him a headache. "Just a head wound. They bleed a lot, remember? Pretty sure I still have that scab from the train." That had been more than ten years ago. Dick's mind was jumping back and forth. One minute he knew he was in an alley in Star City, but the next he was just as convinced that this was Bludhaven. Jason was fourteen. Bruce was going to be mad at him for letting him in the bar at all, even if it were closed.

Jason's hasty movements made him reach over and calmly pick up the tape. He was already tearing off a piece for him by the time Jason finished with the text. When he set the roll down and saw that just his hand left it soaked in blood, he had a sinking feeling in his chest. "Jason." His sudden change in tone, urgent, with an edge of fear, made it obvious that he was back in Star City. Suddenly he was talking fast, eager to get the information out before there wasn't time. He could barely focus. "The kid I found, he said his name was Gary Kemp. The NOVA agent. I don't know who shot me, but..." He paused, blinking, and reached up to touch the wound even if it meant getting in the way of any first aid Jason was rendering. "Oh no." He was shot in the head? Dick laughed softly. "Now I have to come up with something better to say just in case my last words end up being about NOVA." Jason: As soon as he pressed gauze to the wound, it was soaked through with blood. He packed more onto it for both sides, and taped it down even though it meant pressing it to Dick’s hair. It wasn’t going to help for long. Jason’s hand was shaking a little as he held the second piece of it in place even after the tape. He only let it go when Dick suddenly snapped back into reality and the franticness of that did nothing to quell the dread pooling in his stomach.

“Fuck off with that,” he said immediately, not for a second letting that thought linger. “Babs has got help on the way. Me and Steph aren’t accepting new members of the club right now, so you’re going to have to live. Admissions are closed.” Jason moved to get Dick leaning back against the front of the dumpster, even though that was a horrible place to be. He didn’t want to move him to find anywhere better. Dick: Even through the haze of the strange pinging in his head and the slow creep of pain, Dick noticed Jason's hand shaking. He did shift back to lean against the dumpster, but reached up to put his hand on Jason's arm before he could move back. Normally he would have said nothing, he would have let Jason have that peace of mind, but there was so much blood. It was getting harder to breathe and he felt as if his head were burning from the inside. The pain made him want to move, but he settled for twisting his fingers in Jason's jacket. "Don't do that."

He didn't want to die in front of Jason. The thought made him feel cold. But even his unwavering optimism couldn't deny the reality of what he was facing. This wasn't something he was guaranteed to survive, let alone walk away from unscathed. There were so many things he could say and even wanted to say, but he didn't want to wrap his head around it. He thought about his family and how their last memories of him were that disastrous dinner, he'd never have the chance to make it up to them. He thought about Slade and hated that he would prove his cynicism correct by dying here, like this, even though it was because of his own actions.

Jason was here, he claimed not to care about the past, but suddenly Dick had to make sure. He had to talk. "I wanted more time. With you. To be your brother." It was a strange way to word how he felt, but it was difficult to explain it properly. "Also, please don't let anyone put me in the Lazarus Pit." Jason: It was funny, in a way that wasn’t actually funny at all, that he’d seen so much death in his life but so little of it had been accompanied by the burden of actually saying goodbye to anyone. His father had died across the city. His mother had been gone by the time he was on the bathroom floor. It didn’t make them any less dead or make it less real, but he’d dealt mostly with the aftermath and not the process. There had been close calls and very near misses with other people, but none so close as a bullet to the head and blood in an alley.

Jason closed his eyes. He had to. He could feel the irritating burn of tears and he needed it to go the fuck away. “Come on, Dickie. You’re not leaving me here to deal with everyone’s dumb bullshit without you. I didn’t sign up for that. That’s your job.”

Life had never been fair. He’d learned that by the time he could walk and talk. Life was a bitch that you had to figure out how to survive and twist into something you could stand. He hadn’t always managed to do that, and he still wasn’t great at it, but it had felt like a few things were getting better, like he’d been able to right some of the wrongs that he’d held onto for so long. Unfair didn’t begin to cover it if it was just going to be over that fast. “I need you here,” he said without realizing it until the words were out, even though they’d  barely been a whisper. They all did, but they weren’t all sitting there in a pool of Dick’s blood to say it. Just him. Dick: "You're better at it than you think." It didn't matter how many times he blinked. Jason was still blurry. Eventually Dick gave up trying to bring him into focus and kept his eyes closed. It made his head feel better and he could focus on staying conscious until the ambulance got there. It made him feel as if that gave him some control over the outcome of this, or at least gave him a better chance, because this wasn't how he wanted things to end. Not when he'd finally turned so many things around for the better. And not before he had time to repair the relationships he'd strained. Jason being left to handle Tim and Damian didn't alarm him, not really, because he knew that beyond Jason's hostility he still had the desire to connect with them. "They look up to you."

He heard the words beyond the roaring in his ears. Dick hadn't settled comfortably into the thought of death, but he'd recognized the very real possibility of it, but then... maybe he just wouldn't let it be an option. This was one more bullet he'd take and come back from. It might not bode well that it was a bullet to the head, but he could still feel all of his fingers and toes. He still knew his own name. He could still see, even if his vision was messed up. Jason should have found him already dead, but he didn't. If he were lucky enough to survive the initial shot, then he wasn't going to let himself die in an alleyway just because he got too complacent. "I'm here. I'm not giving up that easily." Dick wanted to smile, but he knew his mouth was full of blood and he could feel it moving down his throat. It wouldn't have the reassuring effect he wanted. "Just keep talking. About anything. Tell me something about you I don't already know." It was something he normally would have done, but he was finding it more difficult to keep his voice even. His body felt cold and even his voice shook from it. Every few seconds he thought he heard the ambulance in the distance, but it was that persistent ringing nose he couldn't get out of his head.

Jason: “Yeah well, they shouldn’t.” He didn’t elaborate. It wasn’t the moment for that. There had been times when he was willing to step in for the family, when he’d helped because they’d asked or needed it, but he was still struggling with the idea of being a more permanent part of it even if that had been kind of happening on its own. He didn’t want to really consider the idea of someone, least of all him trying to fill even half the role that Dick did. He’d spent so much of his life being resentful of it and it just wasn’t his to take. It wasn’t anyone’s.

The risk of Dick nodding off if they just sat there seemed too great, even as Jason struggled to think of one single thing to tell him. Something popped into his head in a few moments and he told the story before he had a chance to talk himself out of it. He’d thought about it a couple of other times, but there had never been a reason to bring it up.

“I saw you perform in the circus once. My dad lifted some tickets off a guy in the parking lot and got us in.” It was one of the few ‘normal’ memories that he had of Willis. What passed for normal, anyway. “I was probably six. I thought the animals would be the best part, but then you guys showed up. The Flying Graysons.” Jason swallowed and leaned back against the trashcan, listening for an ambulance he didn’t hear yet. “It was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. I thought you...” he let out a short sigh, embarrassed to actually be admitting it after so long, “I wanted to be you so badly that night. I’d never been as happy as you looked.” Dick: Dick shook his head. "Doesn't matter." They would regardless. He wanted to tell Jason that it meant something that they looked up to him for who he was, rather than an image that didn't exist, a standard that was more competition than admiration, but he had a feeling it wouldn't make much of a difference. It was a burden that he understood. It had been on his shoulders because he knew, after what happened to Jason, that they would need someone who wasn't Bruce. Dick never set out to project some golden standard and he would have denied it, if confronted, because he placed value on authenticity. It didn't occur to him that not doing things or holding back parts of himself was creating a false image of perfection. He'd been so wrapped up in what he needed to do or give that it was automatic to breeze over everything with ease or nonchalance.

It took years and a chain of events for everything to break down. For him to get here. Now he was finally getting some sort of footing, even if it were shaky. Even though he heard Jason, it took longer than usual for him to understand what it was he was saying. When it started to sink in he quickly opened his eyes so he could try to look at him. He was still blurry, but it hadn't gotten worse. "You were at... Haly's?" It took a beat longer than it should for the word to come to him. He didn't like that, but he tried not to linger on it. If Jason were six, it meant he'd been eight. It couldn't have been long before the murders. Jason wanting to be him just because he'd been happy was devastating. "I was," he finally whispered. His lips felt wet and he reached up, confused to find a strange mixture of blood and tears. "I wish I could be him." Dick's voice was getting more slurred, but he still seemed determined to speak, to keep talking, "Now? You've been that happy. Haven't you?" Jason: Jason could tell that Dick was struggling to talk, even though he was still doing it, and he was genuinely afraid to look at him. He already knew what he was going to see. Sure enough, when he made himself turn his head, he saw the dark shadow of blood between his lips and the unnatural paleness of his face. The gauze he’d put against the bullet wound was so dark with blood that it looked almost the same shade as his hair. Jason curled his hand into a fist at his side, scraping his knuckles against the rough cement, and made himself keep talking.

“Yeah. Haly’s. The old man thought he did me a big favor with that one.” And he had, in his own fucked up way. The only reason Willis had to steal circus tickets, of all things, was to take Jason. He’d still been a drunk asshole, but not every minute of every day. “I...don’t know,” he admitted, a little surprised by his own answer. “Maybe.” He should probably know if the answer was yes, though, right? He should know if he’d been that happy. Every good thing in his life always seemed to be weighed down by something else, though, and it had always been that way. “You looked free,” he added. “I guess we both want to be him now. Don’t think I’d look good in the leotard though.” He didn’t laugh even as he made the joke. Dick: Free. It was an interesting word to use. If Dick were fully capable of analyzing it he would have, but it somehow meant something in a way he didn't have to fully understand. Not right now, at least. It mattered more than Jason was telling him this now when he hadn't ever said a word about it before. Dick had no idea that Jason saw him at the circus. None at all. It was almost a relief knowing that he'd seen him before the worst day of his life.

Even though he'd been happy since, there was no denying that he'd never been as happy as he was that day in the circus. That was a different world. And even though Jason's answer made him sad, he wasn't willing to believe that he couldn't be that happy one day. "When this is over, we should go." Haly's Circus was still around, but it was back east somewhere. Dick didn't keep up with them. It was easier to keep his distance. "Don't think we can be him," he said quietly. The ringing in his head was a low buzz, but the world was getting dimmer and he closed his eyes again. He didn't want to lose consciousness now. It felt too soon, like he wasn't done saying what he needed to say, but he was struggling to articulate it. "That's what I want. For you, I mean. To be happy. Free. Do whatever you need to do to get it." Jason: When this is over. Jason clung to that a little too hard. “Yeah...yeah, sure, we’ll go. Road trip.” He would have never agreed to it under any other circumstance, and if Dick remembered it when he recovered he was going to vehemently deny that it had ever been said. But for those first few months at Wayne Manor, he’d wanted a brother like that. A family like that. He’d never got it, none of them did. They got something else entirely, and a road trip meant fighting crime across borders.

He sat up straighter as he heard what he was positive was finally an ambulance. It was still a few blocks away, maybe it wasn’t even coming to them, but he was sure he heard it. “That’s a tall order, Grayson. Nobody’s free.” Least of all him. “I’ll work on the other one.” He was trying. He’d been trying for years to get to something besides just bitterness and anger. It wasn’t always successful, and usually when it was he found some way to sabotage it.

He could hear Dick’s words sort of slurring together. With his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt, Jason reached out and put a hand on Dick’s shoulder to keep him sitting up. “Just a couple more minutes. Hang on.” Please. Dick: The agreement brought him an absurd amount of relief. Dick nodded, his grip on Jason's arm loosening even though he didn't release him completely. That tight grip was keeping him present and he needed it. He needed to stay present and not let himself get confused about where and when they were. Not again.

"Maybe not," he agreed, the heaviness in his tone more honest than it'd ever been. "But we can get close." He doubted he would ever be completely free. Part of him would always feel indebted to Bruce and the rest of his family, at least in some small ways, and that was a connection he wouldn't willingly sever even for his own sake. That Jason was willing to try and be happy was what he needed to hear and he nodded, slumping against the dumpster and finally letting himself relax. In the distance he thought he heard an ambulance, but he wasn't sure.

Jason's hand on his shoulder kept him upright. Dick took a shallow breath and heard it rattle in his throat. "Please don't go." It was a struggle to get the words out and he knew they were selfish, but  he couldn't help the request and it came from somewhere deep, unconscious, and his fingers twisted in Jason's sleeve as if he needed reminding that he was still there. Jason: He’d had to stamp down the urge to try again and stop the bleeding himself. There was nothing he could do, physically, and even though he knew that it was hard not to sit there and think that Dick was dying right next to him and he wasn’t trying to do more, find some way to make it better even if that was impossible. It seemed like keeping him awake was more important.

“Maybe we can.” He didn’t believe it. The second they’d put on the Robin suit, the very instant they’d let themselves become part of Bruce’s life and Batman’s ‘legacy,’ they’d thrown out freedom. It was the price paid. Freedom came with not knowing how ugly all the ugly parts of the world really were. Jason had never had that and Dick had lost it. There wasn’t any going back.

He fought not to close his eyes again. The idea of opening them to see Dick having faded away was too much. “Still right here,” he muttered. He moved his other hand on top of Dick’s, trying to ignore the fact that both of them had blood on them. It was impossible not to.

The ambulance sirens were closer. Jason heard them one street over, but couldn’t see the lights yet. He was going to have to get up so they could find them and know where to go, but he’d wait those last few moments. Dick: Even though part of him knew Jason was right, knew everything changed for them the day they donned the mantle of Robin, Dick still wanted to believe that their future was more malleable. He didn't want to be held down by the past. It was one thing that might make him different than the others: his unwavering belief that things could be better, even when they were at their most dire.

Like right now. Part of him knew that he was hovering at a dangerous level, right on the edge of something - and he didn't know what that something was, but he was trying to resist the pull to give into it. It would be easier to let himself fade into unconsciousness. There was almost a comfort in not feeling any more pain.

He thought he heard the ambulance, but he wasn't sure and it wasn't worth ruining the moment to ask. His grip on Jason's hand tightened, almost desperately, and he was barely aware of the other intruding voices once the EMS crew arrived and took over. He didn't want to lose the grip he had on Jason's hand, or arm, or whatever he could touch that was concrete and kept him in the present. The second he was pulled away and the contact was lost, he gave into the cool, comforting blackness, even though he didn't see it as giving it. It was simply the respite he needed before he returned full force to fight.

[matty-de-clermont]

End of an Era...

Far from a happily-ever-after, the emergence of a new threat brings the next generation of the De Clermont family into a fight for the survival of all creatures and their family when it strikes at the very heart of the ancient clan.

WARNING: Major Character Death

SPOILERS: Book of Life and Time’s Convert

———

“Rebecca, go to the library!” Diana demanded, failing to keep the faint trembling from her voice.

“Eric, where is he?’ The eighteen-year-old bright-born asked instead, her blue eyes searching out the answer from her cousin.

Gallowglass said nothing and instead looked to his aunt for guidance.

“Do as your mother says!” Matthew demanded, his tone much sharper than usual.

“Take Andrew upstairs,” Diana lifted the infant from his cot and placed him in his sister’s arms, “tell Philip and Jack to stay there and the three of you mind Andrew, Sarah and Christopher until we call for you.”

Rebecca had ample experience in knowing when to argue with her parents and when not to, this situation was the latter, even if she wanted an answer to her question.

Instead, she took her brother upstairs.

Philip looked up from his chess game with Jack when they both entered the library, the worry etched on his face also.

His griffin Apollo sat curled near the fire, his large body curled around Christopher’s smaller Hippogriff, Hermes.

“Gallowglass has come back, alone?” Phillip asked her.

“Yes, but I don’t know what happened, I was banished up here,” she explained, placing the infant in her arms into a playpen, his other two siblings already asleep.

“Can’t you, y’know?” Jack asked Philip.

“You think I can weave an eavesdropping spell without Mom sensing it?” He asked, incredulous.

Rebecca shook her head, knowing he was right, her eyes cast out over the grand canal, watching the lights of the boats go to and fro.

Venice had become their home, sanctuary and refuge after Hubbard, her youngest brother’s namesake, was killed whilst helping them escape London.

Marcus and the depleted Knights of Lazarus took up residence in the cleared out Isolla Della Stella after the creatures of Venice rose to the aid of the Bishop-Clairmont’s and expelled the non-friendly congregation members.

There was no Congregation, only angry humans demanding justice for the millennia they had been used as pawns in the games of creatures. The world wars, atrocities engineered and guided, much of the time by Philippe De Clermont himself.

“Has anyone told Miyako?” Rebecca asked.

“I’m sure Dad has.” Jack assured.

“I swear, if they-“ Rebecca stopped, half fury and half fear.

“Becca, remember who you’re talking about. Uncle Baldwin’s not someone we need to worry about.” Philip tried to comfort her.

“They have him, Pip, that fucking psycho bitch and her sycophants have him locked in their dungeon doing god who knows what to him.”

“I know, and he’ll be fine.” Philip pulled her into a hug that made her feel momentarily better.

“Mum’s here.” Jack announced before the door opened.

Diana entered, the sound of yelling and broken pottery clearly audible from downstairs before she closed over the door.

“Where is Uncle Baldwin?” Rebecca demanded.

Diana shook her head and took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry my darling,” she caught her daughter before she fell, one arm around her shoulder as she used her free hand to beckon the boys to join also.

Baldwin had been given a traitors death, beheaded and burned.

As was the case with his elder brother Hugh, there was nothing left to bury. No loving family members had been permitted to provide the Roman custom of ‘the last goodbye’, a kiss to free his soul to travel to Elysium.

Every church in Venice rang their bells on the hour for twelve hours for the twelve days of mourning in protest at the loss of one of their guardians.

Rebecca bit down on her rage for those twelve days, whilst her family and their friends, Baldwin’s brothers in the Knights, her cousins - including Baldwin’s own daughter Miyako - all tried to imagine a world without him in it.

On the thirteenth day, the business of managing the family took centre stage.

Gallowglass fought like a bear to shake off the shackles of De Clermont family leadership both Matthew and Ysabeau placed upon his shoulders.

Since all of Philippe’s son’s were dead, the responsibility passed to the eldest surviving heir of the eldest deceased son, much to Verin’s disapproval. Gallowglass would have happily handed to her if he could.

He could not, and instead bent to the demands of his family expectations, starting with his addressing the remaining Knights, including his cousins.

“We have mourned for twelve days, despite the fact that Baldwin himself would have found that excessive,” Gallowglass broke the tension with the light joke, “now we must do as he would have ordered us to, look to the future and survival of our family. He died-“

“He was murdered,” Miyako interrupted from the doorway, “he did not die in battle, Eric!”

“Miyako,” Matthew addressed his niece, “I promise he will be avenged.”

“No need, I’ll kill her myself!”

“I appreciate your grief but you will not.”

“I do not answer to you Matthew!”

“No, you answer to me,” Gallowglass boomed, “Matthew is right, I will not lose you too and you will no longer refer to me by that name, we are not of equal rank. Is that clear?”

“Crystal clear, Sieur. Might I be excused?”

“You may.” Gallowglass gave his permission and she turned, momentarily catching Rebecca’s eye as she did so.

What followed was tedious reports from those gathered regarding everything except a plan to horribly murder each and every creature that had a hand in Baldwin’s death.

“I need some air.” Rebecca told her mother as she stood up and left.

“I’ll go with her.” Diana decided.

“No, you need to stay, in case this place erupts,” Philip argued, “I’ll go.”

Diana nodded, Philip was always the best at getting his sister to calm down.

He found her in an empty room, pacing beneath the oculus in the ceiling.

“I don’t understand,” Rebecca spoke up eventually, “why did she hate him so much?”

“She was turned by Him,” Jack, who had followed after them, still never said his grand-sire’s name, “it’s what allowed her to take the De Clermont seat. He must have hurt her, bad, it’s why she wears that creepy mask, and needs a witch to speak for her.” Jack added.

“You pity her,” Rebecca accused, “after what she did?”

“You’d be surprised at what He can make you do.” Jack answered, ashamed and Philip placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“Benjamin Fox has been dead for almost eighteen years, she appeared three years ago, why wait so long and why? Is she acting out of revenge for her sire’s death, or looking to kill all of us because of what he did to her, whatever that was.”

“Becca-“ Philip tried to stem the tide.

“Who was she before, was she a human, a witch, daemon? How old is she, when was she turned? How do we not have an answer to any of this yet?” Rebecca’s mind spun.

“Finally,” Miyako commented from above them on her perch at the edge of the oculus, “someone’s asking the right questions.”

She dropped down with the grace of a cat.

“Dad will find out, Marcus will gather the Knights and-“ Philip started.

“And what? They get captured too?” Miyako shook her head.

“You can’t go after her yourself,” Philip told his cousin, “Uncle Baldwin was three times older and more experienced than you are and she still managed to trap and kill him.”

“I don’t mean now, I mean then!” Miyako told him.

“No, don’t even think it.” Jack shook his head.

“You’re giving me orders?” She hissed.

“Let’s take a breath,” Philip suggested, ever reasonable, “Miyako, what are you saying?”

“She wants you to take her on a Time-Walk, kill the masked vampire when she was vulnerable!” Jack explained.

“We can’t play with the past like that!” Philip reacted with horror.

“What do we need to find out who she was?” Rebecca asked.

“You are not doing this Rebecca, Mum will go nuts!” Jack agreed with his brother.

“I’m not saying we time-walk, I’m saying if we find out who she was it will give us an edge in defeating her now!” Rebecca lied, giving Miyako a pointed look.

“What do we need?” Miyako repeated.

“Pip?” Rebecca prompted but he remained silent.

“Father was just the beginning,” Miyako argued, “he loved you all and it is now my duty to protect you. Tell me what you need to weave your spell and I will acquire it.”

“I promised mother I wouldn’t use my magic for those purpose in case it hurts any of you, but-“

“But what?” Miyako prompted.

“If she was able to kill Uncle Baldwin then no-one is safe. We need a sample of her blood but that’s not going to be possible.”

“Let me worry about that!” She replied curtly.

Jack shook his head, the proceedings moving too fast for his comfort.

“Mum and Dad will have a plan, we should wait until we find out what it is.”

“I agree with Jack,” Philip nodded, “if we act now it could compromise what they’ve planned.”

“So, we wait?” Jack asked hopefully.

“Yes, we await our orders.” Philip agreed.

“And if those orders are to stand down and do nothing?” Miyako challenged.

“Then, and only then, will we act!” Philip decided and was met with grudging agreement from Rebecca and Miyako and relief from Jack.

———

PART 2

[jbuffyangel]

Disloyalty: Arrow 7x20 Review (Confessions)

Is anyone feeling like the ramp up to the season finale is lacking ramp up? Cause I do. 

Also, it’s time to talk about D*nah.

Let’s dig in…

D*nah Dr*ke

The fact I’m starting with D*nah and not with Felicity or Olicity really says it all doesn’t it? Where should the priorities be right now given that it’s Emily Bett Rickard’s final few episodes? Hint: IT’S NOT D*NAH DR*KE.

“Confessions” employs a well known cinematic story telling device called the “Rashomon Effect.” It’s named after a 1950 film where a murder is described in four contradictory ways by four witnesses. Cool right? Yes, it’s a wonderful way of showing how an individual’s perspective, and self interests, can warp “the truth.” One of the best films to employ this technique is called Courage Under Fire. It stars Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan and Matt Damon. Watch it. Thank me later.

I think the Arrow writers are using the Rashomon Effect in “Confessions” but that doesn’t mean it’s effective. The episode has the same problem as “Spartan.” It’s placement in the season is bizarre.  “Confessions” would work much better if it aired in the 10-15 episode range, but as one of the final it’s kind of a snoozer. I was super bored. Bored and annoyed. That’s me.

“Confessions” is a looooooot of exposition. Two guards have been murdered and once again Oliver Queen & Co. stands accused. My irritation begins with the Star City Police Department. At this point these ungrateful and disloyal twiddle dinks deserve everything the Ninth Circle has coming to them. My firm belief is Oliver and Felicity should dump this Emiko mess on SCPD’s lap, get the hell out of town and raise their family in peace. But they won’t do that because they are “heroes.” Their selflessness is super annoying.

The good news is our Parkour Prince and Olicity’s first born son Roy Harper is back in town! Oh how I have missed that perfectly sculpted jaw line.  

Source:  arrowdaily

The big question of course is who killed the two guards? I mean… I guess I care.  

I’m not completely heartless. It’s sad the two guards are dead, but we already know Oliver didn’t do it. Neither did Felicity or Diggle. D*nah is investigating, so I’m assuming that puts her in the clear. So that leaves Rene, Roy or Emiko.

We can boil this list down even further given how shifty Roy is acting and the fact we know he’s living on a deserted island twenty years in the future. It’s either Roy or Emiko. I’m five minutes in and I’ve already figured out 95% of the plot. Yawn.

Every character gets their turn in the hot seat with D*nah and Sergeant Bingsley (isn’t that a great name?), who pretty much hates Oliver. 

Source: smoakmonster 

I’m not going through every single character’s perspective on the events in question mostly because it’s pretty boring (save for Felicity). Oliver, Felicity, Diggle, Roy and Rene’s details vary but all their stories arrive at the same conclusion – they didn’t do it and Oliver’s terrorist sister probably did.

Source: smoakmonster

This leaves us with one of two options – either Oliver & team are telling the truth about Emiko or they are covering for someone on the team i.e. Roy. Here’s where we arrive to the crux of my problem with “Confessions.” 

D*nah Dr*ke. 

The whole story hinges on D*nah either being a disloyal jackass or the audience believing she’s a disloyal jackass. Neither option says very good things about her character.

Oliver is sorry about the guards, but the team stopped a terrorist act so they are ahead by the numbers and boy he ain’t wrong! Yeah I know. Every life matters but also THEY STOPPED A TERRORIST. 

D*nah and the SCPD’s evidence against Oliver is the guard’s were killed by emerald green arrows. DUN DUN DUNNNNN!!!! It’s too bad there isn’t another vigilante dressing like the Green Arrow running all over town. OH WAIT THERE IS.

D*nah and Oliver fess up to knowing the identity of the New GA and he admits Emiko is his half sister. Oliver seems extremely reluctant to name his sister as the murderer. D*nah and Bingsley believe Oliver is protecting Emiko, so it feels legit when he quietly confesses she killed the guards. She is the reason Oliver is lying and stonewalling, so Bingsley (kind of) buys his story. Quite frankly this is a stroke of genius.  My boy was on fire with the plans tonight!

Long story short, Roy killed the guards in a fit of bloodlust rage, but Oliver is ride or die for his boy and insists the team cover for him. 

Source: smoakmonster 

However, Oliver’s plan is completely dependent on D*nah accusing her teammates of murder to misdirect the investigation, so he can casually/not so causally point the finger at Emiko. 

Source: smoakmonster 

We spend much of the episode listening to D*nah say, “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?” and, “I want to believe you Oliver but you gotta admit this looks really bad,” because the arrows are green.

Me: Holy hell woman. He went to prison for you. What more does he have to do to inspire some friggin loyalty from you?

Oliver argues pretty much all of my words because he feels me on a spiritual level. He didn’t do it. D*nah should know him better than that. And all he gets is her stony face and judgmental eyes. I mean, God forbid Oliver Queen make the department look bad!

The reason Oliver used D*nah this way is because she’s been judgmental and disloyal all season long. She barely lifted a finger to help Felicity get Oliver out of prison, she arrested Rene for being a vigilante and was up Siren’s ass all the time. (Okay, that last one was warranted.) Her primary worry is holding on to her job as captain. And don’t even get me started on Season 6.

Felicity: Oh you mean when Ricardo Diaz kidnapped Roy to turn him against Oliver? You might have forgotten about that since you weren’t exactly on speaking terms with Oliver and I at the time.

BOOM. Felicity Smoak is my level of petty. I love it. Drag her sis.

At first, I thought the writers were going with Plan A – Emiko killed the guards. So, my irritation with D*nah and her constant blame game when it came to Team Arrow’s actions were at an all time high.  I’m not kidding. I want Siren back. Can we do a Canary exchange? E2 gets D*nah . At least the writers have picked a personality with this version of LL.   I’ve gone from advocating for Laurel’s death to missing her newest incarnation. This is a full circle moment.

D*nah has many of the character problems E1 L*urel had. The writers are 100% committed to assassinating her character whenever the plot deems necessary. There’s really no other explanation for D*nah’s flip flopping personality and constant suspicions of Oliver Queen. We’ve been here before.

I know for many outside fandom this Roy reveal was an extremely great GOTCH YA, 

but I think fandom was on to Roy + rage = Lazarus Pit since the beginning of the season. It’s fine. We’re a very difficult group to surprise because we pay attention to all the itty bitty details a casual viewer blows right past. That wasn’t my annoyance with the episode.

My annoyance is the writers knew I would be annoyed with D*nah and believe she is selling out the team. 

Sometimes Arrow is very self aware and this is one of those moments. They know fans are frustrated with the character and yet instead of fixing it they lean into it. 

D*nah is blaming and accusing Oliver every other week. Her behavior really hasn’t changed that much from Season 6. So, the one time she’s on board with Oliver’s call I’m supposed to rejoice? No. 

Sorry, particularly when the writers use her awfulness to sell the ruse. IF YOU KNOW SHE IS AWFUL THEN WHY DON’T YOU FIX IT?

I couldn’t even be happy about D*nah being “one for all and all for one” because she continues to bitch about protecting Roy to Oliver after they are cleared by the police.

D*nah: Two innocent people died and we’re covering it up.

Oliver: D*nah is someone on this team goes down then this entire team goes down.

Felicity and Diggle also make strong arguments about sitting in lock up while Emiko wreaks havoc on the city. OTA is strongly #TeamProtectRoy.

Source:  lucyyh

Rene: But Roy’s not a part of this team. He’s been gone for months doing who knows what.

Oliver: With due respect, you don’t know what he’s been through. Roy is and will always be as much a part of this team as the rest of us.

D*nah: Except the rest of us don’t go around killing innocent people.

OKAY NEW KIDS. You’ve been going here for two stinking years whereas Roy has been around since Season 1. RESPECT YOUR ELDERS. 

I understand D*nah and Rene don’t have a personal connection to Roy, but when the guy who went to prison for you vouches for him then that’s all they should need. PICK A SIDE. Are you on this team or are you out? If you’re on the team then fall in line.

One thing I will always love about Oliver Queen is his LOYALTY. Roy sacrificed everything for Oliver, so he doesn’t even blink at two dead guards. 

Roy was clearly out of his mind, so the Newbies need to take a beat and follow the leader. Maybe you don’t know Roy, but they should know Oliver by now. And that’s the essential problem. Do Rene and D*nah trust Oliver Queen? No. I don’t think they do. Not fully. So what the hell are they doing here?

Also, has D*nah completely forgotten she is also a murderer? Because I haven’t.

The difference between Roy and D*nah is she doesn’t have bloodlust as an excuse. She was of sound mind and body when she pulled the trigger, so I really need her to shove the moral condemnation.

The entire reason this episode focused so much on D*nah is because she has been the character most predisposed to disloyalty this season. The entire reason this ruse worked on any kind of level with the audience is because we believed D*nah’s disloyalty. The entire reason Oliver knew the plan would fool the police is because D*nah’s disloyalty is believable. That is a very big problem. She is not a character I root for anymore and what’s even sadder is the writers don’t seem to care.

Roy Harper

I’m not putting my frustrations with “Confessions” all at D*nah’s feet. Now is the time to take a long and hard look at our problematic son Roy Harper. 

Here’s how the episode should have gone:

Roy: I died, Thea dipped me in the Pit and we used the Lotus Elixir, but I still have rage issues because Mirakuru is forever screwing me over.

Oliver: Cool.

Then, Dad would send son out into the field with a babysitter. Kind of like a buddy system. By the way, didn’t they use the only Lotus Elixir on Thea in Season 3? Me thinks yes, but apparently Nyssa has access to a whole lotus garden now.

What’s hilarious about this is Oliver used the Pit on Thea, she used the Pit on Roy and L*urel used it on Sara. And yet they adamantly refuse to use it on L*urel.  Nyssa has plenty of Lotus Elixir and Constantine is flying around time with Sara, but they still won’t resurrect her character. Oh Arrow. I see your petty and I love it. 

(Yeah I know they aren’t resurrecting Moira, Tommy, Robert, etc. but none of those people are actively seeking employment on the show.)

Anywho, back to Roy. Oliver brought him back to town because Emiko doesn’t know who he is and he could be their ace in the hole. Also they needed someone really good are parkour.

The writers addressed the “Why not Thea?” question, but Oliver’s answer left something to be desired. He’s not going to tell Thea about Emiko until she’s in custody? 

Uhhh… okay. I understand Oliver not wanting to drag Thea back into the Star City drama, but he could pick up the phone and let her know what’s going on. I’m not comfortable with a lie by omission. Would Thea come running home if she knew about Emiko? Yeah, maybe but I feel confident they could cook up a Lazarus Pit emergency instead of Oliver lying to his sister. Again.

This is 99.99% Roy’s fault and I’m glad Oliver holds him responsible for keeping a secret like this. It is possible to love and protect someone while holding them accountable. It doesn’t have to be either or.

This is what loyalty, friendship and team work looks like. D*nah and Rene could learn a few things from Oliver Queen.

Felicity Smoak and Olicity

It’s frustrating we’re on episode 20 and I’m spending 95% of my review talking about D*nah and Roy. I have long ago accepted Arrow is never going to focus on Felicity Smoak and Olicity to the level I would like them too. I’ve let that anger die many moons ago. However, I do occasionally get frustrated and this is one of those episodes. The need to use Felicity Smoak to her max potential seems even more urgent because of Emily’s impending exit.

And yet, Arrow remains Arrow. They won’t shift from standard operating procedure even now. Generally speaking, the big Olicity moments happen in the premiere, mid season finale/mid season premiere and season finale. I get it, but EMILY IS LEAVING. 

It’s time to chuck the SOP. Granted they’ve focused on Felicity more than ever have before, but this kind of exposition episode and focus on secondary characters would have been an easier pill to swallow if it came earlier in the season. But 7x20?

Maybe there’s an explanation for that and maybe there’s not. I don’t know for sure, but as a viewer it frustrates me.

Upside: We watched Felicity eat a bunch of yummies and be her perfect, adorable self. 

Source:  lucyyh

She almost told Roy she was preggo and Oliver had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing. 

Source:  felicitysmoakgifs

Her feelings about Rene are the same as mine and it gives me life.

Source:  smoakmonster 

We end on a cliffhanger with a worried wifey freaking about bae.

Source:  olivergifs

And her hair is its own storyline. Wow.

Source:  smoakmonster

The fact these are the only real moments I have from one of Felicity’s final episodes is sad to me, but I appreciate them nonetheless. Despite my love, Arrow is an imperfect show and it will remain so until the very end.

Stray Thoughts

Tweet of the night.

THEA IS HAPPY. DO NOT TOUCH MY CHILD WRITERS.

It’s entirely possible Roy goes to Lian Yu because he can’t find a cure for the bloodlust and cools his heels there for the last 20 years. Pretty much anything is better than the writers killing Thea, so if it protects my Theroy happy ending then I’ll get behind it. They are literally dumping characters in Pauseville until the series finale and I am here for it.

Do Thea and Roy both have a red hooded jacket or do they sharesies?

Look I get Rene is in love with Emiko, but she's trying to murder her brother on the regular for stuff Robert Queen did so this whole “family is important to her” stance he is taking is completely laughable. Will anyone on this show ever make sense? Oh right. Felicity AND SHE IS LEAVING.

Oliver is making a shocking amount of sense. Fully realized superhero Oliver is so unnerving. EPIC MOMENT. Source:  olivergifs

I'm glad Emiko finally dropped the Gambit bomb. Pun intended. Oliver needs to know the evil sister has been plotting since S1 because full circle baby!!!

Me: It's gonna take a lot more than dropping a building on him to kill Oliver Queen.

Also me: SOMEONE SAVE HIM!!!!!!!! THERE'S TOO MANY TOMMY MEMORIES AND I CAN'T HANDLE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAKE IT STAHP!!!! Source  olicitygifs

The final five minutes were good and delivered an action packed punch, but man it was a slow ride to get there. Time to pick up the pace Arrow! We’re almost to the finish line.

Disclaimer: Any gifs on the blog are not mine. If you would like a gif removed from my reviews, please message me. 7x20 gifs credited.

If you’d like to support the blog, please buy me a cup of tea!

[ellnaturae]

Children of the revolution

CHARACTERS: Elliott Gilbert, Elard, Elena, Elham, Bob and Lazarus Black.

TIME & LOCATION: September 18th, 2019. Elard’s hidden place.

NOTES: Elliott goes to meet Elard again in hopes that they can get to talk.

Content Warning: Mentions of violence, abuse, slavery, death and murder. Very much Karin self-pandering right at the end.

Elliott knows the place, he has been there before once, when unsuccessfully he tried to start a conversation with Elard about the future of the magical community and what they could do to change it, if they did it together. But Elard had always been very proud, very strong headed, and even if he wouldn’t admit it, Elliott was too. He walks downstairs to a basement, the room is big, there is a table, some chairs, a couch, a tv, and a fridge, it looked like a nice home, a bit shabby, with a feel of improvisation and possibly stolen furniture,though oddly comfortable and warm, but at the same time Elliott felt cold, maybe because he was unwelcomed. It seemed like music plays somewhere, he isn't sure where it comes from, but he notices the tap of a foot to the rhythm.

"Ras Algethi" Elard deep voice calls him as he stands up from a chair and takes a few steps towards him stopping Elliott from entering more in the room, behind him still sitting on the table there is a blonde brawny woman, another shedim, he recognizes her from the last time he talked with Elard.

“My name is Elliott” he simply says in response.

Elena doesn't move but her eyes are fixed on Elliott, and he knows this, but he tries to seem confident. Next to her a new face calls his attention, a very thin man, with curly hair, dark skin, glasses and a tartan three piece suit, he drinks a glass of milk with a straw, as a crow rest on his shoulder. He is another shedim, Elliott can tell but he seems to not care much for the unexpected visit. Over the couch there is someone else lying down, their face is partially covered by their hoodie so he isn't sure if he already knows this person or not, they may be asleep he thinks and tries to step a little closer into the room.

Elard shows a smirk, but he doesn't really seem happy to see him, more like amused.

"Are you here to fight?" he says as if any other motive of his presence wouldn’t be satisfactory.

“I’m here to talk” Elliott answers.

“Ugh…” Elard complains “You always want to talk, but all you talk is none-sense” he directs a disgusted look towards Elliott.

“Caw! None-sense!” the crow speaks as if it was a parrot, and even if this confuses Elliott for a moment he then directs his eyes to Elard.

“You never want to listen, I’m surprised you know what I want to talk about at all...” even if he promised himself to be calm, so things didn’t end in a fight like last time, Elliott can’t avoid showing how upset he is.

“Oh, really? Enlighten me with your peaceful protests and your respectful debates” Elard mocks him “I’m tired of that garbage, and I’m tired of you coming here every time there is a big crisis in the magical community, like trying to convince me I should be on your side” Elard frowns “I’m not on your side, I’m not on those idiots sides either, I’m not going to be controlled by anyone, not by them, not by you, I plan to make my own revolution”

“Your own revolution? By joining forces and ending other people’s lives?” Elliott asks concerned “Didn’t you see what happened with the Fae? How is that going to end well? Who is going to benefit from that?”

The figure on the couch moves and sits up, his hoodie no longer covers his face but Elliott has yet to look at him and realize who that person is.

“Don’t you understand?” Elard speaks loud “We won’t have real freedom until the last one witch who knows the spell is dead and gone”

“We can be better than that” Elliott insists “We can find a way to break the spell, to destroy it, to erase it, there must be a way” even though he knows it has been a long process that someone has to still yet find a solution to “and we can fight together for our rights, for a better future, so this community grows stronger and evolves.”

“Don’t be naive, who is going to give us the answer to that? There is no book, no person, who is going to be giving us the information, that knowledge is passed down from one son of a bitch to the next, and man, you know how much they don’t want us to know” Elard expression turns dark, hurt “not even you in your fancy school have the answer, do you?”

Elliott looks down to the floor, partially ashamed that even if he wanted to dedicate all his time to that task, in all these years he hasn’t found anything truly relevant for it. Elard was right in that, whoever, if someone, had the answers to the defeat of that spell they weren’t going to give it away to shedim, and definitely won’t let them have access to anything that would even allude to it.

“I don’t… but that doesn’t mean that-” Elliott tries to rush because he knows Elard will try to interrupt him and he does.

“See, you have nothing, you just have fake hopes, a nice speech and a handsome face, some people may listen to you because of that, but that doesn’t make you right” Elard complains “These are the options, you are with us or you are with them” he says bitterly.

“You know is not that simple, and you know I’m definitely not on their side” Elliott frowns, suddenly even if Elard had always been taller than him he seems even bigger, intimidating, but he stands his ground “If we don’t stand together, we fall apart”

“Are you a pop song? Give me a break” Elard mocks “I’m not going to stand next to you knowing you are going to leave me behind”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Elliott asks annoyed, Elard and him are face to face, standing each a bit closer to each other as if trying to intimate just by standing there “Me? Leaving you behind? That’s rich”

“You were such a fierce warrior!” Elard shouts “I wanted you by my side, when I started making plans you were there, you wanted to join me, we could have made great leaders for the revolution” his tone shows anger but his facial expression shows sadness.

“I never wanted that” Elliott says sorrowfully “I admired you, what you wanted to achieve, the freedom of our people, it was a dream, the hope I needed” he admits, “but then you killed and run, and justified your action as the first step of revolution, and I just couldn’t follow that… that wasn’t what you said we would do, the revolution I imagined would never be built over the bodies of other people... you left me behind”

Elard stays in silence, the whole room does, even the soft music coming from nowhere stops playing. Elliott was looking at Elard the whole time, but when he looks away, he does the same, perhaps, for a moment all those memories are too much to bare. It is then when he notices the man on the couch and recognizes him as the shedim he helped escape from the Erhenthal home. He barely can react when Elena talks.

“We all killed to be free” she says bothered by Elliott’s words “You think you are better than us?” she stands and looks at Elard then at Elliott again “You got it easy, fancy boy” she says with disdain “Whatever way you got out of that place, you got lucky and got a life, and now you are in a witchy school getting pampered, i guess being their pet is better than being their slave” she mocks “while you are assimilated and made to believe life can be good, we are seeing it for what it is, being on the run…. we are never going to be part of your utopia, because you already don’t want us there”

“Is that so?” Elliott asks looking at her then looking at Elham, and finally looking at Elard. The other shedim with the crow, hasn’t spoken a word, in fact hadn’t even looked up, however, he seems to be talking in whispers with the crow from time to time “that’s not true” he says to Elena “you know that’s not true” he then looks at Elard.

Elard shakes his head.

“You are among them, you call them your friends, people who let us suffer, who see us being used and abused and don’t move a finger, people whose families are proud to say they own us” Elard says “You will change your mind… eventually, and maybe we will be okay with you joining us” he chuckles.

Elliott shakes his head, disappointed but partially feeling like for once they could talk and maybe that meant something.

“Or maybe you will change your mind” he says though not very convinced as he walks to the door.

“Or maybe none of you will” the silent shedim finally talks.

“Caw! None of you will” the crow repeats and for a second Elliott feels like he is smiling.

The curly-haired shedim moves to the door and opens it, moving aside as if waiting for Elliott to step out.

“Are you going out? I’m going out” he looks at Elliott very seriously as if nothing that happened had to do anything with him. The crow looks at Elliott too and now it makes him feel uneasy.

“Yeah…” as he leaves feeling now kind of out of place and awkward, he walks slowly upstairs and notices the other man follow. He turns his head around a little, just curious, and notices how the crow slowly flies away from his shoulder and then lands on the stairs, in an instant a figure appears wearing a long black feather coat, with long thick deep black hair, and a prominent nose. Elliott almost trips as he gets distracted by this.

“Caw” they say mockingly and showing a sharp smile.

When they are at the end of the stairs, Elliott starts moving away to look for the perfect place to teleport back to NYADA without being noticed, however as he does he can’t avoid to eavesdrop the others conversation.

“I don’t eat” the shedim says.

“You can order a glass of milk if you want” the trickster complains “Do this one for me, Robert, I really want to try that restaurant”

“Bob” Bob corrects.

“Robert” Lazarus teases.

The small discussion as they leave the abandoned building makes Elliott smile, though it quickly goes away as confusion takes over by the mundane conversation and the calm attitude of the couple, after what was discussed just moments ago in front of them. Maybe they just made up their minds, or maybe just no one will ever take him seriously, he sighs and then teleports back to his room.

[charlottedabookworm]

and the crown it weighs heavy

“Well,” he drawled, blinking in the sudden bright light – sunlight, and Six but that wasn’t that a trip, when was the last time he’d seen the sun? – as he looked around, squinting to meet the shock-wide eyes of his younger self. “Shit.” This wasn’t Galahd. Not even close.

What the fuck had happened to putting him down somewhere quiet and unpopulated?

A courtyard in the Citadel in Insomnia wasn’t quiet.

He tilted his head back so that he could stare up at the cloudless sky. “This wasn’t the agreement, Old Man,” he muttered tiredly, not really expecting a response and not getting one. The sky remained clear and silent. Dickhead.

The plan had just gotten a lot more complicated, now that they knew he was here.

Peering slowly around the courtyard, he couldn’t help the slight smirk that formed on his face at the sight of so many of the glaives, all of whom were staring at him in surprise; and he pushed away the part of his mind that whispered about being surrounded by ghosts.

“What the hell, Nyx?” Crowe demanded angrily, and he could see the exact moment that people – those who had no idea who he was, what his braids meant – realised that her words were directed at him instead of his younger self.

Fuck. It didn’t surprise him that she was one of the few that recognised him, his little sister, even though it made everything so much more difficult. He should warp away now, before anything else happened, should disappear and complete the plan (such a pretty way to call him killing his way through Niflheim before sacrificing himself to the land in the hopes that it would be enough, that his little brother wouldn’t have to martyr himself for the world once more) before anything could happen to stop him.

But, Six, he’d missed her.

She looked so young, they all did.

He’d forgotten just how young they’d all been until now. Surely, surely, a couple of minutes wouldn’t hurt. He could spare a few moments to take in everything that he was fighting for, to firm his resolve, before he had to leave. He had that time.

(The words fell flat, even in his own mind, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to leave)

“The Old Man is a bastard,” he shrugged slightly, knowing that that would explain everything to those who from Galahd. “And call me Regulus. It’s good to see you again Crowe.”

‘Regulus’ - because it was more his name than Nyx was, these days, after so many years of trying desperately to hold the world together when the sun was gone, and his brother taken, Little King in the Darkness, his mother would be proud – sighed, suddenly completely exhausted.

Time travel was exhausting.

Being surrounded by the ghosts of everyone that he’d failed, far more so.

“You got old, Ulric.”

Regulus rolled his eyes at the glaive, unbothered by the insult – it was true after all, he looked at least a decade older than his physical age depending on the day and the weather – and unable to bring up the old feelings of betrayal and anger. Luche had made mistakes, they all had, but he’d done what he’d thought was right, what he’d thought necessary, and he’d had a long time to come to terms with that. Still, “I’m 42, Lazarus.”

Nyx sputtered, staring at him in horror. “What happened to us?!”

He winced. “Ah, I did something rather reckless.” Which was probably understating it a little, honestly.

Regulus had done many reckless things in his life, he could admit that – though nowhere near as many as Libs would attest to, because they had vastly different definitions of the word reckless – but that one was the worst of them all.

Not counting what he was currently doing, of course.

Libertus blanched, knowing him well despite the years that now stretched between them. “What did you do?”

“You know how you always told me that my habit of arguing with powerful beings who could kill me with a thought would end badly for me eventually? Well, you weren’t wrong.” Though the Lucii had definitely deserved it. “Magical backlash is a bitch.” That he’d survived was a miracle that he had his father to thank for, but the experience had aged and scarred him permanently. “A decade spent in complete darkness probably didn’t help either.” Or the stress of trying to keep everyone alive in a world without light. They’d all looked far older than they were, at the end.

“Nyx,” Libertus said sternly and fuck, but he missed his own Libs; the one who had been by his side through everything.

He missed his brother.

But his Libs had been needed back there, just in case this didn’t work, and this Libertus was so young and he didn’t really understand, and it hurt.

“It’s Regulus, please.” He said slowly, quietly but firmly. He turned to look them all in the eyes, one by one, until he was smiling sadly at the only one of them that could truly be called Nyx Ulric. “Nyx – isn’t who I am, not anymore. I haven’t been Nyx for a long time.”

Such a very long time.

He hadn’t realised just how much he’d changed, just how much he’d lost, until he was staring the man that he had once been in the face; hardly able to recognise how young and happy he’d been.

Nyx had been a glaive and a protector, broken by his experiences but not yet shattered, still hoping for an end to the war, still clinging to the idea of peace. Nyx Ulric hadn’t yet watched his second home fall, hadn’t watched his father and brother die, had been forced out of necessity to be King to all of those who lived in the Darkness.

Regulus wasn’t Nyx Ulric anymore. He was far too broken, too shattered, for that.

In the end, that was why he was here.

That was the point of this plan.

And, looking out at his – young, so young, Nyx could hardly remember being so young and yet it had only been a decade – friends, realisation struck him like lightning. He laughed, the sound hysterical, and tilted his head up to the sky with a bitter smirk. “So, that’s your plan. Well, it won’t work, Old Man. You can’t change my mind.”

A flash of lightning and Ramuh was there.

People, those not of Galahd, scrambled backwards – weapons drawn and then quickly dropped away from the Astral that had just appeared. Regulus just watched, laughter dying away, looking at the figure who just stared back at him, eyebrow raised like he was a child to be scolded.

He supposed, to the Astral that had half-raised him, Regulus was.

“You are my Chosen, Regulus of Clan Ulric, borne to my people, raised on my lands, you swore your life to myself and to my people before all else. Yet you ask that I not interfere, even when you plan to die.” Ramuh thundered, scowling.

Regulus didn’t flinch, even as everyone else did. “The oaths that I have sworn, the people that I must protect, they are why I do this. Why it is necessary.” He drew in a deep breath, not stopping to bask in the fact that he was able to breathe air that didn’t yet hold the distinctive tang of the scourge’s corruption, and he stood to his full height; shoulders back and head held high, looking Ramuh in the eyes. “My life, for all of theirs.” He said quietly. “That was the plan, Old Man.”

“Plans can change.”

And, no.

No.

The plan was all that Regulus was clinging onto, now. All he had to live for; his family dead or left behind, his people gone or unknowing. He would change the past and die and his people would live and that was how it had to be. That was all he had left.

He couldn’t…

“Ramuh, Old Man, Grandfather…” Regulus begged. “Please.”

“You call me grandfather and then you ask that I allow you to die, alone and unmourned, upon the completion of your self-imposed mission. Truly, you are the epitome of the cruelty of both of your lines.”

Now, he did flinch.

“I know.” Of course, he knew. “But there is no other way.”

Ramuh smiled at him gently, harshly, like he had when he was a child; lying to himself, unwilling to believe what was right in front of him. “If you believed that, my Chosen, then you would have already left.”

[pinealperspective]

A few random quotations, collected from the book "Pulp" by Charles Bukowski

• “I was gifted, am gifted. Sometimes I looked at my hands and realized that I could have been a great pianist or something. But what have my hands done? Scratched my balls, written checks, tied shoes, pushed toilet levers, etc. I have wasted my hands. And my mind.”

• “Man was born to die. What did it mean? Hanging around and waiting. Waiting for the ‘A train.’ Waiting for a pair of big breasts on some August night in a Vegas hotel room. Waiting for the mouse to sing. Waiting for the snake to grow wings. Hanging around.”

• “Hell was what you made it.”

• “Sex was a trap, a snare. It was for animals.”

• “What was wrong with me? Was this dame getting to me? She had intestines like everybody else. She had nostril hairs. She had wax in her ears. What was the big play?”

• “You only live once, right? Well, except for Lazarus. Poor sucker, he had to die twice.”

• “I killed four flies while waiting. Damn, death was everywhere. Man, bird, beast, reptile, rodent, insect, fish didn’t have a chance. The fix was in. I didn’t know what to do about it. I got depressed. You know, I see a box boy at the supermarket, he’s packing my groceries, then I see him sticking himself into his own grave along with the toilet paper, the beer and the chicken breasts.”

• “’You won’t laugh at me like the police did?’

‘Nobody laughs like the police, Mr. Grovers.’”

• “Now all that I can tell you is that there are billions of women on earth, right? Some look all right. Most look pretty good. But every now and then nature pulls a wild trick, she puts together a special woman, an unbelievable woman. I mean, you look and you can’t believe. Everything is perfect undulating movement, quicksilver, snake-like, you see an ankle, you see an elbow, you see a breast, you see a knee, it all melds into a giant, taunting totality, with such beautiful eyes smiling, the mouth turned down a bit, the lips held there as if they were about to burst into laughter over your helplessness. And they know how to dress and their long hair burns the air. Too god-damned much.”

• “Passed the Turf Club. Looked in. Just a bunch of old guys. With money. How did they do it? And how much did you need? And what did it all mean? We all died broke and most of us lived that way. It was a debilitating game. Just to get your shoes on in the morning was a victory.”

• “Something was always after a man. It never relented. No rest, ever.”

• “We waited and waited. All of us. Didn’t the shrink know that waiting was one of the things that drove people crazy? People waited all their lives. They waited to live, they waited to die. They waited in line to buy toilet paper. They waited in line for money. And if they didn’t have any money they waited in longer lines. You waited to go to sleep and then you waited to awaken. You waited to get married and you waited to get divorced. You waited for it to rain, you waited for it to stop. You waited to eat and then you waited to eat again. You waited in a shrink’s office with a bunch of psychos and you wondered if you were one.”

• “Getting out of bed in the morning was the same as facing the blank wall of the Universe.”

• “But trouble and pain were what kept a man alive. Or trying to avoid trouble and pain. It was a full time job. And sometimes even in sleep you couldn’t resist.”

• “The best interpreter of the dream is the dreamer. Keep your money in your pocket. Or bet it on a good horse.”

• “I wasn’t dead yet, just in a state of rapid decay. Who wasn’t? We were all in the same leaky boat, jollying ourselves up.”

• “’You’re a lousy philosopher,’ said Lady Death. ‘For me,’ I told her, ‘I’m perfect.’ ‘People live on their delusions,’ she said. ‘Why not?’ I suggested. ‘What else is there?’. ‘The end of them,’ she said.”

• “Existence was not only absurd, it was plain hard work.”

• “There’s always somebody about to ruin your day, if not your life.”

• “Everybody was screwed. There were no winners. There were only apparent winners. We were all chasing after a lot of nothing. Day after day. Survival seemed the only necessity. That didn’t seem enough. Not with Lady Death waiting.”

• “‘You a pimp?’

‘Oh, no, sir.’

‘You sell drugs?’

‘No, sir.’

‘Wish you did. I need some coke.’

‘I’m a bible salesman, sir.’

‘That’s disgusting!’

‘Just trying to spread the word.’

‘Well, don’t spread that shit around me.’”

• “Well, people got attached. Once you cut the umbilical cord they attached to other things. Sight, sound, sex, money, mirages, mothers, masturbation, murder and Monday morning hangovers.”

• “I should have been a great philosopher, I would have told them how foolish we were, standing around sucking air in and out of our lungs.”

• “Most of the world was mad. And the part that wasn’t mad was angry. And the part that wasn’t mad or angry was just stupid. I had no chance. I had no choice. Just hang on and wait for the end. It was hard work. It was the hardest work imaginable.”

• “Two women meant twice as much trouble as one woman.”

• “Why couldn’t I be just some guy sitting watching a baseball game? Involved in the outcome. Why couldn’t I be a fry cook scrambling eggs and acting detached? Why couldn’t I be a fly on some person’s wrist, crawling along sublimely involved? Why couldn’t I be a rooster in a chicken pen pecking at seed? Why this?”

• “‘We’ve thought it over, it’s just awful. We don’t want to colonize your earth.’

‘What’s too awful, Jeannie?’

‘The earth. Smog, murder, the poisoned air, the poisoned water, the poisoned food, the hatred, the hopelessness, everything. The only beautiful thing about the earth is the animals and now they are being killed off, soon they will be gone except for pet rats and race horses. It’s so sad, no wonder you drink so much.’

‘Yeah, Jeannie. And don’t forget our atomic stockpiles.’

‘Yes, you’ve dug yourself in too deep, it seems.’

‘Yes, we could be gone in two days or we might last another thousand years. We don’t know which and so it’s hard for most people to care about anything.’”

• “All in all, I had pretty much done what I had set out to do in life. I had made some good moves. I wasn’t sleeping on the streets at night. Of course, there were a lot of good people sleeping in the streets. They weren’t fools, they just didn’t fit into the needed machinery of the moment. And those needs kept altering. It was a grim set-up and if you found yourself sleeping in your own bed at night, that alone was a precious victory over the forces. I’d been lucky but some of the moves I’d made had not been entirely without thought. But all in all it was a fairly horrible world and I felt sad, often, for most of the people in it.”

• “Often the best parts of life were when you weren’t doing anything at all, just mulling it over, chewing on it. I mean, say that you figure everything is senseless, then it can’t be quite senseless because you are aware that it’s senseless and your awareness of senselessness almost gives it sense.”

• “Definition of a nice neighborhood: a place you couldn’t afford to live in.”

• “Most men don’t live well at all, they just wear down.”

• “‘But he said he was going to kill you, didn’t you hear him?’

‘He probably didn’t mean it.’

‘You don’t go on ‘probably’ when love and guns are in hand.’”

• “I didn’t turn on the tv, I found that when you felt bad that son-of-a-bitch only made you feel worse. Just one vapid face after another, it was endless. An endless procession of idiots, some of them famous. The comedians weren’t funny and the drama was 4th grade.”

• “My old man had told me, ‘Get into anything where they hand you the money first and then hope to get it back. That’s banking and insurance. Take the real thing and give them a piece of paper for it. Use their money, it will keep coming. Two things drive them: greed and fear. One thing drives you: opportunity.’ Seemed like good advice. Only my father died broke.”

• “Hell, I’d even failed with women. Three wives. Nothing really wrong each time. It all got destroyed by petty bickering. Railing about nothing. Getting pissed-off over anything and everything. Day by day, year by year, grinding. Instead of helping each other you just sliced away, picking at this or that. Goading. Endless goading. It became a cheap contest. And once you got into it, it became habitual. You couldn’t seem to get out. You almost didn’t want to get out. And then you did get out. All the way.”

• “I hung up. I stared at the phone. Deathly damned thing. But you needed it to call 911. You never knew.”

• “Boring damned people. All over the earth. Propagating more boring damned people. What a horror show. The earth swarmed with them.”

• “‘We could get to know each other,’ she said.

‘It wouldn’t pay off, it would only be stupid.’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘Experience”.

[theabominableblogger]

My Reaction to “Gotham” S5E2

In Which Harvey Continues to be the Best Goddamn Thing in This Show

I was a lucky son of a duck and managed to get this reaction while the episode was airing live on FOX last night.  For episodes 3-12, I will be waiting for Hulu to receive them because of an upcoming spring semester at college.  So for episodes 3-12, I will be in the dark until Friday or Saturday (so no spoilers from y’all).

Also, on TV, there are so many GOD.  DAMN.  COMMERCIALS.

AN:  I managed to record my reactions to this episode and hopefully I can transcribe what I said into this post.

*Recaps shows the chopper*  OK, so who freakin’ shot down the chopper?

Oh, Tabitha...

*We see a whole bunch of injuries on Will’s back*  What the...

“They call themselves the Soothsayers.”  The Sooth- what?

“They’re digging some sort of tunnel.”  *gasps and reels back*  It’s Jeremiah!  ‘Cause he has a tunnel!  Oh my God!

What’s the tunnel for?

OK, never mind then, I don’t think Jeremiah’s in charge of the Soothsayers

“The second you [Jim] step outside that door, someone’s gonna take a shot at you, and if it’s not you that’s getting hit, it’s the schmoe standing next to you.”  *laughs*

*Jim hangs up on the radio*  Who’s on the other end?

“Four shells each.  Half a mag each.”  Wow.

“Will says the Soothsayers are here, which means we have to pass through Sirens territory.”  Ooh.

“She’s [Barbara] gonna be thrilled to see you [Jim] after what happened with Tabitha.”  Ooooff...

Wait, so is the Dark Zone like around Gotham?  At the docks or...

What?

So this is Robinson Park, OK... so this is where Ivy is.

Oh, these sets look nice.  Getting some serious Arkham Knight flashbacks.

Swore I just saw someone move in the background...

*Bruce catches a guy trying to sneak up on him*  Yeah.

“They came for help too!”  What district are they from?  Why are they British?

*jams along with opening theme*

*silently headbangs to heavy metal cover of "Ring of Fire” by Social Distortion playing in Barbara’s club*

*Everyone stops dancing when Jim arrives*  Oooohhhh... ooohh hoo hoo hoooo...

“It’s a police matter.”  “You know, they should really write that on your tombstone.”  *laughs*

“Drive right into this nightmare you’ve created.”  Actually it’s Jeremiah... kay...

“HAVE AT HIM!  RIP HIM TO SHREDS!”  Ooof.

*Panning shot of an absolute dark Gotham*  Oh my God.

*laughs*  There’s just this one random burst fire hydrant!

So is this whole episode gonna be them [Jim and Harvey] fighting their way out of the Dark Zone?

*jaw drops when someone shoots an arrow at Harvey*

“It’s a freaking arrow, Jim!  IT’S A FREAKING ARROW!”  *scoffs in shock*

Whooooo I remember her [the Day of the Dead lady] from the trailers!

Yeah, that’s the same... freaking tunnel

“The smoke... you [Gabriel] should take it.”  No.

“It’ll give you energy-”  Oh my God, is that Viper?  Is that Viper from S1?

“-see the future.”  What?

Or does Jeremiah shanghai this whole tunnel later this season?

“Once this tunnel is complete, we will have exclusive access to the mainlands.”  Oh my God, they are going to the mainland!

God, that guy [Sykes] just spit everywhere!

Sykes?  Isn’t that the bad guy from Oliver and Company?

“In Penguin’s grace, we will remain.”  Ohh, that’s a good line.

“What are the cattle prods for?”  “Fun.”  *scoffs in hilarity*

“If he [Sykes] moves, kill him.”  Oh ho!  Jim’s not messin’ around!

Yeah, that’s that same tunnel that Jeremiah [and Ecco] are in in some of those pictures.

AN:  Take a shot every time I mention the damn tunnel.

So is Gabriel Will’s older brother?

“Why would anyone be a cop in a world like this?”  “Well, the Halloween shop was all out of gas masks so it was either this or Sexy Nurse.” *reels back in chair from laughter*

“Let take ‘im, boys.”  CHEESE IT, BOYS!

*Sykes and his men try to take the kids*  Oh no.

*Jim comes to the rescue*  Yay.

*One of the car tires get shot*  Ooohhh...

*Commercials start*  OK... OK... so... what?

Wait, so is Jeremiah gonna leave for the mainland?  Like “Syke, I’m gonna get out of here!”

Noo... because his mission is Bruce so I don’t think he even wants to leave Gotham.  It’s the whole “I don’t wanna kill you!  What would I do without you?” mantra going on.

Whaaaaaatt...

What is she [Ivy] wearing?

“You have to believe me.”  “Forgive me if I find it hard to do so.”  COLD.

“It wasn’t me.  It was the park.”  *in unison with Bruce*  The park?

“The plants are my protection.”  ...OK.

“Maybe we can help each other.”  Bruce...

TELL HER IT’S SELINA!

“There’s a seed.  It’s growing under the oaks.  It’s said to have magical qualities.  When digested, it goes to the damaged tissue and bone.”  A seed?

Wwwhhhhaaaattt?

Ed?  Hello?  How are you?  Where are you?  Are you in the library again?  Why are sleeping with your glasses on?

What is going on?

That [library] looks like Oswald’s old house [the van Dahl mansion]

Oh my God, are we gonna see Ed peeing?

EEUUGGHHH we don’t need to be seeing this...

Oh my God, there’s someone in the frickin’ [bathtub]...

“There’s nothing there.”  *laughs*

Waaaaiit... what’s going on?

[Ed] You’re gonna attack him [the Street Demon] with a toilet plunger!  *cackles*

“Did I uh...” *chuckles*

“We’re gonna have to do all this again?  Guess so...”  *scoffs*

What is that place?

“It’s not safe out there.”  No dip, Jim.

“Maybe there’s still good people left in Gotham.”  Mmmmmm....

Yeah, you’re [Jim and Harvey] gonna leave three kids there [in the lobby].  All alone.  In a strange building.  Great.

Harvey, you’re a blessing.

Yeah, you’re gonna leave the three kids there.  Right.  Great idea.  Great idea.

These sets are fabulous.

“Hello?”  Blaaggghh!  Jump scare!

“GCPD.”  Take a shot!

Was that a crow [in the background]?

There’s just a bunch of random folded clothes everywhere.

*Harvey finds the dinner table full of body parts*  Oh my God...

Are those teeth?

*Harvey finds a plate of bloody fingers*  :0

Oh my God, freaking- they’re freaking cannibals?!?

*gasps when Mother attacks Harvey*

*has to leap out of seat to cool off when commercials start*

Oh wow, I love Sweeney Todd.

*ends up coughing up a lung*

So far, again, this feels like a foundational episode.  It’s just like “OK, we gotta work on this, we gotta make sure this is safe,” and yeah.

I wonder if the Jaime Murray character is gonna show up at the end of the episode or something.

AN:  You may think that... but no.

I also wanna know what kind of crack these writers were on for this final season.  Tze Chun had the good shit; I dunno about the others.

*gasps in disgust when Ed hits the Street Demon in the mouth with a wrench.”

“[Ed] You wanted to know where the Street Demons base was.”  Why?

“Aaand you wanted to make sure the boss would be there.”  Why?

“OK, how did I [Ed] seem?  Was I... confident?  Flamboyant?  Charisma for days?”  *giggles*

“Or was I conserved, kinda repressed, a little nerdy?”  *laughs*

Soo... did Hugo combine the two personalities?  ‘Cause the pushing up the glasses is a new thing.

*gasps when Ivy kills the men who were holding her.”

“[Bruce] You are so utterly naive.”  Oh my God.

“[Selina] She is paralyzed and has lost the will to live.”  “Good.”  What?!?

“That bitch destroyed the last of the Lazarus Water.”  ExCUSe me?!?

“Let her suffer.”  Noooo...

You can tell that Peyton List [Ivy] is just wearing a whole bunch of face powder on.

“I am feeding the earth these wretched creatures.  It consumes them.”  She has lost her freakin’ mind.

*Ivy starts caressing Bruce’s neck*  Do not prick his neck.

“Those men you killed were right.  You are a witch.  A murderous, callous witch.”  WHOOOOOOO- oh my God...

Hoo!

“What’s your name?”  “I- I can’t remember.”  What?

“She found me?”  “Who?”  “The ghost!”  The ghost?

“She makes me call her.. Mother.”  *reels back and puts hands in the air*  It is Mother and Orphan!

Wait, is that the kid?

*The kid stays behind*  It is the kid!  That’s Orphan!

Oh my God...

“The lights will make you dizzy.  And then you’ll go to sleep.”  Oh this is cool..

“Jim, I don’t feel so good.”  Wow, I love Infinity War.

Actually no, I hated it.  I was sick the first time I saw it.

*gasps when Mother sneaks up behind Jim*

They really do need to put a flashing lights warning on this.

*gasps when Mother fights off Jim and Harvey*

*Harvey tries to leave*  There’s an open window!  You broke a window!  Go through the window!

*looking through the Gotham tag on Tumblr during commercials*  Wow, someone wrote some fanfiction quick.

Oh wow, I love Ghost Adventures!

*gasps when Ed and the Street Demon find the Street Demon leader wiped out.”

[Penguin Was HERE] Really?!?

*imitates the guitar riff going off*

*Ivy leads Bruce to the seed*  Oh my gosh, that’s so pretty

*Ivy gives Bruce the seed*  I ain’t eatin’ that...

“One thing’s for certain... the seed will alter her [Selina] forever.”  Great.

“Some say, the darker angels of our mind-”  Great.

Also, yay for natural lighting finally in this show.  I love it when they use natural lighting in the show.  It looks so nice.

“What’s the matter, Bruce?  Don’t know if you can trust me?”  I don’t trust you.

“I don’t.”  “Good.  then you’re finally becoming a man.”  Ivy, you’re like his age.  shut up.

*Ivy sits in one of the low sitting trees*  OK, so if the tree branches just grab her and just sink down into the ground, this will be the greatest thing.

“Detective Gordon, your hand’s bleeding.”  Uhhh...

*Sykes and his men arrive*  Oh my God... monster truck!

“Wait just a minute!  Please...”  Whoaaa... who are you?

I don’t know who that is.  She [the Day of the Dead looking lady] looks cool though.

*commercials start*  Who is this?  Who are you?

Five bucks:  Barbara comes in and saves the day even though she still hates Jim.  She hates everybody.  She comes in like “I’m just here for the kids, not you.”

Oh noo...

“Did you [Bruce] find the witch?”  “It was Ivy.”  Great!  Alfred’s like “Oh bloody brilliant!”

“What choice do I have?”  Bruuuce...

“I want to help Selina as much as you do but Ivy’s a maniacal, cold-hearted killer.”  You met her like twice, Alfred!

But true, she is.

“So if Ivy wants to kill me, she can have at it.”  Oh my God...

Who wrote this episode?  I’m gonna have words.

*Bruce gives Selina the seed*  Yeah, you’re gonna shove that down your throat.  Great.

Is she gonna chew it?

*Selina starts chewing the seed like a gummie vitamin*  OK then...

It’s the Spiderman bite except in fruit form.

*freezes when Selina starts seizing*

“God, what have I [Bruce] done?”  *extremely sad face*

“I’ll tell you what!  I’ll [Sykes] take his head!  And you can have the rest of him!”  *scoffs in shock*

*gasps when Jim shoots the Day of the Dead lady*

Is that a monster truck?!?

My sister:  Is that a tank?!?

That’s a monster truck!

*both immediately at loss of words when Barbara hops down*

Wow, I love Hot Wheels!

*jaw drops when Jim uses his last bullet to kill Sykes and defend Barbara*

Wow... that just... came out of nowhere!

“Wow.  Wasted your last bullet for me.  Must be love.”  No it is not.  Barbara, how dare you say that?

*Barbara tells Jim she wants to kill Penguin.”  Great.  Great plan.

Wait, you’re gonna invite Barbara to the Green Zone?  Yeah, great plan, Jim.  Great plan!

*Jim and Co. arrive at the Green Zone*  Whoa!

He [Lucius] looks fab!

Wait a minute, is this [the Green Zone] that apartment complex that got blown up in the trailer?!?  Are you freaking kidding me?

They’re gonna freaking blow this place up later in the season.  God dang it.  Who did it and why?  Who does it and why?

We stan one future police commissioner.

“See you around, killer.  We have some unfinished business, you and I.”  Nooo you don’t.  Cool off!

Oh crap, is she [Selina] gonna be gone in the morning?!?

Oh my God, Bruce hasn’t slept in like 48 hours?!?  Great.

*gasps*  She’s [Selina] not there!  Did she go out the window?

Did she pull a “Dark Knight Rises” and back flip out the window?

“Bruce...”  Oh no.

She [Selina] looks like Michelle Pfeiffer.

“[Selina] How do you feel?”  “Different.”  Why are her eyes closed?  Open yo eyes!

“I’m better.  Even better than before in fact.”  Mmmmm no!

*Bruce hugs Selina*  Yay hug!  We like hugs!  We like some hugs!  Yay!

Oh my God, she’s gonna go on a murdering spree and kill some people, isn’t she?

*Selina’s eyes*  WHAAATT the frick?!?  Wha-

WhaAAAAttt?!?

*gasps when Ecco pops up in the promo for next episode*

*ejects out of chair to cool off*

AN:  Ecco, your man better treat you right or I’m gonna fight him AND the writers.

We’re getting WhaAAAtt??? WHaaaAAT?? 

Oh my God...

[yllucsanad]

14 and 15 from the x files asks 😊

14. Favorite episode(s)? Why?

ok you didnt ask for nearly this much but ive always wanted to make this list anyways so here ya go!!

1x01 Pilot: I mean,,,, does this even need an explanation? 

1x03 Squeeze: amazing MOTW, “do you think i’m spooky?”, “it seems you were acting very territorial” “of course i was” this is episode thREE PEOPLE, the gray/green alien conversation lmaoooo

1x24 The Erlenmeyer Flask: rip deep throat, iconic “trust no one”, the alien plot seriously begins the thicken here

2x01 Little Green Men: they have a secret meeting how cute, Mulder recording everything for Scully um hello someone is in love

2x08 One Breath: Mulder TEARING apart the hospital and screaming at people for Scully, coma hand holding and crying in his apartment, the return of her necklace, “mulder? i had the strengths of your beliefs” 

2x13 Irresistible: like obviously donnie pfaster makes me uncomf but the way mulder tips up scully’s chin and makes her look at him and then she breaks down and FINALLY lets mulder see her as something besides hard as a rock

2x17 End Game: Scully taking charge and saving Mulder’s life, Mulder trading “Samantha” for Scully

3x04 Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose: this episode is very funny and i appreciate that in this dark x files universe, QUEEQUEG, “how do i die?” “you don’t”, “autoerotic asphyxiation” 

3x13 Syzygy: “sure fine whatever”, jealous scully, cigarette smoking scully, “shut up mulder”

3x17 Pusher: this ep is simply amazing in every way and we all know it

3x22 Quagmire: mulder hating the dog for no reason, RIP queequeg, the conversation on the rock

4x03 Home: this episode is gory and cool, the conversation on the bench, scully making noises to try to get the sheep to move lmao, mulder playing with the baseball and the tv and being sad that elvis died, and im a sucker for kevlar 

4x13 Never Again: Iconic is all i need to say

4x14 Memento Mori: yeah the cancer arc sucks and all but the msr is soo good in this like i can never get over it, the flowers

4x20 Small Potatoes: a great light hearted episode in which scully and “mulder” almost KISS

4x22 Elegy: this episode makes my list because it is so raw and emotional, because mulder gives scully no personal space ever, the bowling scene. scully’s session with the therapist

5x01/02 Redux & Redux II: “keep going fbi woman”, mulder never ceasing to cry about scully, “one sorry son of a bitch speaking”, all the kisses, the hand holding, mulder coming back “from the dead” because he had to see scully, the smile when he tells skinner her cancer is in remission

5x04 Detour: “kill me now”, the wine and cheese (poor scully she really tried), “i dont wanna wrestle”, “maybe if i rains sleeping bags you’ll get lucky”

5x05 The Post-Modern Prometheus: a happy motw ep is always great, b&w, the humor in this one is just golden, the dancing scene of course

5x10 Chinga: mulder without scully lmaooo, “marry me”, the pencils lmao

5x12 Bad Blood: do i even need to explain my love for this one?

5x19 Folie a Deux: a lot of people dont like this ep for some reason but i do, mulders split lip is Hawt, “one in five billion”, “folie a deux. a madness shared by two”

5x20 The End: fuck diana BUT uh, pic of mulder and scully hanging in the office, gibson impressing the fuck outta everyone, gibson exposing mulder about diana and scully, mulder fuckin up spender, the way scully holds mulder after the office fire

6x03 Triangle: the filming is so beautifully done, i love a good irl AU, the KISS i could write ESSAYS about this kiss, “i love you”

6x06 How the Ghosts Stole Christmas: mulder literally steals scully’s keys so she cant leave, they LITERALLY kill each other and then go exchange gifts after they said they wouldnt get each other anything i mean CMON

6x08 The Rain King: everyone assuming mulder and scully are a couple, “i do not gaze at scully”, scully’s speech to sheils

6x14 Monday: i just really really like this episode for some odd reason i cant put my finger on

6x15 Arcadia: again, another episode that i don’t feel the need to explain why i love it lol

6x18 Milagro: scully being fascinated by this guy, mulder being possessive jealous and worrisome, the hug when scully doesnt die, scully grabbing mulders arm, “in my book I’ve written that agent scully falls in love. but that’s obviously impossible. agent scully is already in love.”

6x19 The Unnatural: the ice cream thing, the ripping of the document, i do enjoy the story, fuckin mulder and his baseball obsession, the Scene (you know the one) hips before hands OO baby

6x21 Field Trip: a very cool episode, mulder telling scully that he ends up being right like 98.9% of the time and shes like o fuck, she thinks mulder is dead :’(, they literally trip together, the hand hold at the end

7x06 The Goldberg Variation: lots of good ol flirting, i enjoy the case, the sink lmaoooo, “i like baseball too”

7x14 Theef: “i’ll always keep you guessing”, mulder saving scully by pulling the pins out of the eyes, 

7x16 Chimera: “do you have a significant other?” “not in the widely understand definition of that term”, “mulder when you find me dead, my desiccated corpse propped up, staring lifelessly through the telescope at drunken frat boys peeing and vomiting in the gutter, just know that my last thoughts were of you, and how i’d like to kill you” “i’m sorry who is this”, and also mulder just being really great at his job seriously turns me on

7x17 all things: must i explain?

7x19 Hollywood A.D.: a Classic, scully showing tea leoni how to run i heels, mulder packs it to the left, skinman, bubble baths, the laughing and the hand holding at the end i am DECEASED

7x21 Je Souhaite: i def like the case in this one, scully’s entrance to the office in the beginning (hmm someones suspiciously happy), scully and her invisible body lol, mulders wish was fantastic, the whole last scene as well as “well i’m fairly happy. that’s something” atths ya know

7x22 Requiem: ok like even though its depressing as fuck in end i love this ep, scully visibly turned on by the fact that mulder assaulted someone, “let’s go waste some money”, “we could start sharing rooms”, mulder holding scully when she faints in the woods, mulder watching scully with the baby, the whole bed scene, the HUG cause mulder couldnt live without her if something happened, PERGNANt

and as far as season 8 goes….. every episode besides the ones with mulder are meh and lets pretend 9 didnt happen except i guess The Truth was good considering the circumstances

and i aint gon get into the revival ho boy

15. Favorite MSR moments?

most of them are listed above but other than those:

in firewalker when mulder holds scully’s face

when scully puts herself in contempt of court for mulder and then the HUG

BBQ SAUCE

in die hand when mulder rolls himself over scully when shots are firing

all the comfort and care in end game

they way scully cares for mulder when his father and mother die

haha mulders reaction when scully identifies the plane at the bottom of the water

the lace thing, the china pattern thing

scullys concern for mulder in paper hearts and the hug

mulders memoization of scully’s senior thesis

mulder showing off athletically for scully, scully enjoying it

in pine bluff variant when scully recognizes mulder by his bandaged fingers

in dreamland when scully says she would kiss mulder if he wasnt so ugly and the exchange of the sunflower seeds, also mulder knows her breakfast

jealous scully in alpha

the touchstone conversation

the millennium kiss

everytime mulder calls scully dana (beyond the sea, lazarus, the field where i died, trust no 1)

in tooms the first and only time scully calls mulder fox (i know he doesnt really like it but i still wish they did it again because it carries a big weight)

the decontamination shower

when scully cares for mulder when he is in shock

when scully shoots mulder and tends to his wound later

and we musnt forget fight the future and i want to believe

[a-fandom-life-for-me]

Lazarus Rising 4x01

I want to beat the hiatus blues with some SPN throwback so let's  play an ask game (as tagged by @ain-t-bovvered ).

I will watch the first 2 suggested random SPN episodes that are left in my ask. I’ll answer to you with my commentary on it.

@castiel-saved-me-from-myself challenged me to watch 4x01 “Lazarus Rising” which is honestly THE episode where I crossed over from “this is a good show” to full on fandom obsessed. Coincidently this is also the episode I discovered I have a massive wing kink so thanks a lot Maria for exploiting that 😆

Ok here we go…

Oh right dean was in hell, that was a horrible deathscene.

How is dean so calm? Like, waking up buried alive islegit my biggest fear

Zombiieeeeeeeee lol jk

Thirsty dean!!!! Boy he just doesn’t know how thirsty yet;)

Holy perfect abs batman!

The HANDPRINT!!!!!!!!!! *SQUEALING*

Of course he gotta grab that busty Asian beautiesmagazine….

But clearly Cas don’t approve… *high pitched ringingsound*

DEAN THAT’S YOUR FUTURE BAE TRYING TO TALK TO YOU *gross sobbing*

Dean trying to call bobby who gives zero fucks lol

BOBBYYYYYYY

Dean: “you’re the closest thing I have to a father” *more gross sobbing*

Surprise holy water to the face is never not funny

Bobby: “What do you remember?” Dean: "Not much…" *mr fizzles thinks you’re a liarrrrrr*

HANDPRINT AGAIN

Hey there future Mrs. Padalecki!

Pizza men lol *whispers* foreshadowingggg

Sam. Is. Ripped….. holy shit I forgot how thick he was inthis season

“Hiya Sammy” awwww

Bro hug! no waIt, denial first… THEN bro hug, theWinchester way.

Awkward Gen lmao “are you two like… together?”

Sam: “Oh wait you probably want this back” IT’S THE SAMULET (where the heck is that thing now?) 

Dean calling his baby sweetheart and getting mad at Sam for putting in an iPod dock is the most Dean thing ever

Dean: “Where’s Ruby?” Sam, casually shrugs: "Dead or in hell.“ *Mr fizzles thinks you’re a liarrrrrrrrr*

Pamela!! ugh I loved her, that crazy bitch is my spiritanimal

The sexy banter is strong with this chick. Strong like that gun show she is sporting in that tank top. I am not a lesbian but hotdamn!

Handprint again!!!

And we finally get our overlord’s name: Castiel

Noooooooo there goes Pamela’s eyes.

Pamela is blind and the boys just go out for pie? Uh, ok Iguess.

Oh shit, Demon Diner

Demon: “What makes you so special?” Dean: “I like tothink its because of my perky nipples.” Finally something truthful. Yes Dean,you have some beautiful nipples. I’d like to see them more often. Just asuggestion…

Dean bitch slaps a demon and basically drops the mic “that’s what I thought, roll out Sammy, here’s some cash for the pie.” Never mind that’s the most Dean thing ever.

Dean” “We’re dealing with a bad mofo here.” lmao no honey you’re dealing with a softie lil angel

Where’s Sam sneaking off to?

Castiel tried to talk to dean again, only this time there’sa mirror above a bed?! *cough* foreshadowing* cough*

Bobby comes to the rescue but like, why isn’t he affected? Plot hole…

Sam: “I’m getting a burger.” Dean: “Bobby and I are getting beers.” But no one is doing what they say and it’s just Oprah screaming “you get a lie, you get a lie, EVERYONE GETS A LIE!”

Sam is back at demon diner where all the demons have had their eyes burnt out and waitress demon says “I could smell your soul half a mile away” and now I’m really super intrigued. What does a soul smell like???This is gonna keep me awake at night now.

Oh right demon blood addict Sammy with his demonbanishing powers. That was bad but it was also pretty damn BAMF.

Hello again Future Mrs. Padalecki! Or should is say RUBY*GASSSSP*

The barn all covered in symbols oh shit here we go!!!!!!

I am honestly shaking I’m so excited…..

Ugh random Sam and Ruby scene…

Ok back to the barn, HERE we go…

Rumbling… omg omg omg omg

Dean: “maybe it’s the wind.” No Dean ITS NOT THE WIND

SPARKS

DOOR

IN HE WALKS ALL GLORIOUS IN TRENCH COAT AND SPARKS AND BLUE EYES AND…. SEX HAIR

“I’m the one who gripped you tight and raised you fromperdition.” FUCKING ICONIC

Dean gets all stabby but the “aww that’s cute” look onCastiel’s face when he pulls out that knife slays me.

The first time he says Dean’s name in that deep, celestialrumble of a voice… Dean didn’t stand a chance.

“I’m an angel of the lord.” He says completely casually like NBD.

I love how they cannot take their eyes off each other

“You have no faith.” Finally some truth… heartbreakingtruth.

YAS WINGSSSSSSSSSSSS *incoherent screeching*

Dean: “that was you talking? Next time, lower the volume buddy.” Poor Castiel he looks so sad, someone give him a hug.

WAIT it gets worse…

“Some people can perceive my true visage, I thought youwould be one of them.” You can see the moment his heart breaks a little. Ugh mine broke too. Again. Every time.

Holy tax accountant lol poor Jimmy. If that’s what Dean thinks a tax accountant looks like then where can I find one? That sex hair is just… uhhhhhhh

Awwwwwwww :3 we have our first confused puppy head tilt

But its to ask, “Don’t you think you deserved to besaved?” aaaaaand now my heart broke again.

We have work to do…. CUE SUSPENSFUL MUSIC oh boy get ready for it guys, you have quite an eventful 9 years ahead of you!!!

Thanks for that roller coaster trip down memory lane @castiel-saved-me-from-myself