#use case testing

[bacchuschucklefuck]

typical tavern scene

[aingeal98]

More Jason and Cass thoughts (sorry but also not sorry) but if I was magically given full control over DC and could write what I'd want obviously I'd make Cass Batman but I've been thinking of what sort of reaction and role Jason would have in response. I think I'd write his version of "Congrats on the new job!" as a test, involving the Joker and civilians and gangs and Red Hood and a ton of explosives. Bruce failed me, and now he's given up. You're his successor, let's see how you handle this dilemma that freaked him out so badly he threw a batarang into my throat rather than let me avenge my own death in front of him.

So obviously Cass will overcome the traps and the puzzles. That's the fun part to show how competent both of them are and sprinkle in little character moments as we go. But then we reach the emotional crux of the matter, probably laid out as some sort of saw trap because it's Jason. Here I am, a victim of murder. You say nobody dies tonight but I did, and I want the man who did it dead. Not only did Batman fail to avenge me but he failed to stop the Joker from going on to create even more victims. What right do you have to stop me from getting justice for myself? What right does this man have to life after what he's taken from me and from countless others? I'm not trying to kill a random stranger, I'm specifically demanding justice for my own death that I never got while I was gone.

There are two ways this could go. The straightforward route if I knew my time on this run was limited would probably be a pyrrhic victory like the ones Cass's og series was so fond of. Just like Bruce in utrh, she acts on instinct and saves the Joker (and Jason this time) . A win technically, but she fails the test. Jason is once again vindicated but with nothing to show for it. The story ends with Cass sending the Joker back to jail and going back to the batcave, where the old Robin costume looms judgementally, highlighting her failure. It would be the most fitting end given their character molds, all tragedy and conviction and unstoppable force meets immovable object etc.

However... I think the option I prefer would be a little different. Cass levelling with Jason, a killer talking to a murder victim. She has no right to stop Jason from getting justice, she has no love for the Joker but she knows any death she allows to happen like this would devastate her, just like that death row inmate long ago she tried to break out but ended up letting go once the family of the victim talked to her and demanded justice. I think... In this specific situation, she'd just be honest. Morally she has no right sure. Personally she just really really doesn't want anyone to die. Give her one chance, please. Let her try it her way. Not demanding, not lecturing or insisting, just... Please. Don't do this. Let me try another way.

And then what? Jason asks.

In the end a deal is struck. Cass will take the Joker and lock him up, ensuring he never harms anyone again while also trying to rehabilitate him. But the second she fails and he gets free, Jason kills him and she won't stand in his way. It's the kind of deal that leaves both of them mildly disgusted and dissatisfied with themselves, neither of them naturally creatures of compromise when it comes to this specific topic. But Cass is willing to do anything to avoid death and Jason did not expect the new Bat to be so... Flexible? Kind of? Of course maybe she won't actually hold up her end of the deal and when the Joker gets loose she'll try and stop Jason from killing him and he'll get his miserable vindication, but right now this is something strange and new and he's mildly confused and curious about where it will go. He doesn't believe in her ability to contain the Joker forever but he's willing to let her try because her reaction to that future failure interests him. She's given him a sword of damocles to hang above her head and he didn't ask for it or expect it. It's the type of power he never thought the Bat would just... Hand to him.

The conflict ends with neither of them fully winning or losing. They both don't really know what to feel about this.

The thing is, the second Cass let's Jason kill the Joker she's hanging up the mantle. She's staking the Bat on this, because it's always go big or go home with her when it comes to saving others, even someone like the Joker. In this magical universe where I have unlimited power, Cass would lock the Joker in a secret bunker and have Leslie Thompkins talk to him daily, mostly because I think her pacifism speeches and debates in the comics would make a fun contrast to the Joker's evil sadism. (But what about his rights? Doesn't he deserve a trial and to be held in a regular prison? I'm going to be honest I think Cass would be very comfortable bending the rules on this specific situation. Morally questionable but I'd have fun with it. She's going to let Leslie treat Joker like her personal pet project to save his soul because yes she wants him to change but also she's got a city to save every night so go crazy Leslie, have fun.)

And the Batman series would continue with Cass as the lead, new challenges and new antagonists and every twenty issues or so for the first hundred we'll cut back to the Joker briefly if his chats with Leslie can help highlight some thematic element of the current arc. But bit by bit he'd slowly fade away onto oblivion, maybe getting referenced every hundred issues or so until eventually no one remembers or cares about him because there's so much else going on. Meanwhile Jason's got a good thing going as Red Hood, primarily based in Park Row and a tentative ally on the occasion when their vigilante work aligns. Unlike Joker he's a much more frequent character in the comics, and after say 10 years (this is my magical fantasy universe Cass's batman run is going to last for a very long time alright) when people think of DC characters they think of Red Hood long before they think of the Joker.

Is any of this realistic? Right now of course not. It's why I'd go with the pyrrhic victory if I actually got the chance, because it would be the best way to tell the story in the larger context of the Bat narrative. But it's my fantasy DC editor and writer daydream and I'm going to dream big. They're never going to be normal happy siblings, their personal demons will never fully let them be free and the looming possibility of losing everything they currently have narrative wise if Bruce comes back as Batman will always be there. But it's maybe the closest to peace they'll ever get. Unsatisfying and tame compromise that probably violates several laws and ethical codes but whatever. Cass has never read the Geneva convention and Jason's not going to shed tears over the Joker. Let him die relevancy wise if not physically.

[dear-ao3]

shaking my head at everyone whos freaking out about valtteri doing a test at mclaren. this does not mean anything. valtteri is a reserve driver for mercedes. you know who also uses a mercedes engine? mclaren. and under the engine agreement they can borrow reserve drivers from mercedes. you know who else is a mclaren reserve driver? possibly the Only other mclaren reserve driver this year? pato o'ward. and you know what pato o'ward does? he races in indycar. a series in america. that has him tied up for at least two thirds of the f1 season. so it makes sense. that mclaren. would want to test out valtteri. who is not currently racing in another series and Has a full super license and is just sorta There and Around in their 2024 car to see how he handles it in the case that he needs to jump in for lando or oscar Especially since it seems like mclaren have a good shot at both championships this year.

[trashcanwithsprinkles]

Baizhu design :V ? For funsies totally not going to draw him or anything

had way too much fun with this one hahah

[highschoolfrenemy]

That's what makes the betrayal hurt so much.

[carlyraejepsans]

One thing I think people forget is that sans probably wouldn’t talk about missing his home and never being able to go back and giving up unless he absolutely felt he had to

with frisk he’s pretty sure that’s the time traveler that could very well end the entire world. He’s trying to reason with em as a someone he’s hoping could be a friend at that point because he’d really rather not have that happen

In geno is IS the end of the world and he’s hoping you’ll realize this is stupid and cruel and reset. It’s not like he’d have this conversation on a random Tuesday with papyrus

yeah agreed, sans goes out of his way to not talk to/with papyrus about their life before the underground. remember the newsletter q&a? (this is more a theory, but judging from their behavior i personally think papyrus is an amnesiac/sans thinks he is, and he's trying to spare him the grief of remembering).

his memories and mementos are stored behind his house for a reason, he's had his realization that he'll never go back already: there's no sense in reopening that wound again if he has an option to avoid the topic.

[salt-baby]

at some point in disability you stop wanting to "get better" and this is just really hard for able bodied people to understand for some reason

[astralleywright]

lots of people interpreting Ashton's "i want the gods to pray to us" devoid of the context of the lines directly before and after it, so here's the full quote: "in my darker moments, that's what i want, is i want to see them pray to us. i want to see them ask what we want." it was not intended to be a statement, but an admission, and it wasn't about worship at all; its about the fact that Ashton spent his whole life praying to any and all gods for some safety or healing or comfort and got nothing, only for them to finally bother to show up when he and the Hells became useful or inconvenient.

[vaguely-concerned]

the sheer number of funerals, memorials and general scenes to do with mourning rook comes along to does start to take on a faintly darkly comedic edge the second time around. the universe is trying to tell them something and oh my maker they've got air pods in they can't hear us

[angermango]

"Oh, I know very well. How the puzzles beckon so sweetly...

As expected of you, Layton.

Only an honest death will cure you now."

...

expanding on that Lady Maria vibe for Descole from the first Laytonborne post, and that famous boss intro.

Descole would make a hellish boss fight, i know it. i mean have you SEEN how he moved during Eternal Diva and with that big ass sword? now imagine that with Soulsborne-scale strength and possible other additional powers.

plus his theme could be pretty easily adapted into a Bloodborne boss style piece I think, just add more orchestra heavy brass and cellos and some ominous Latin chanting choir and presto. that organ goes so hard too.

[missescalientee]

Human Explorer Jade, she’s asking JD if he’d still love her if she was a worm

The answer is yes ofc

A different hue I also liked

[girderednerve]

i am also really mad that luigi mangione has been accused of terrorism, but most of the reason i'm really mad about it is that prosecutors over-charge accused people all the time in order to extort them into accepting plea deals & waiving their right to a trial. 'terrorism' is an egregious, clearly political claim, but to me this charge reads as exactly in line with the same lazy cruelty of every DA's office, & most people do not get any attention or outrage for it

[meyhew]

i have something to say 👩🏽‍🦯‍➡️

[hakaiart]

hiro manosaba....

[hauntingblue]

Rewatching act 2.... yeah ISHA WATCH OUT FOR THE CYCLE ISHA!!!!! NOOOOO

[superbat-lmao]

Robin was standing on a roof a couple buildings over, following orders. Batman told him to wait while he dealt with the GCPD and that he would meet him at the car. So Robin was waiting.

He flicked his gaze around the accompanying roofs and tried to count his breaths. Anything but looking at the pavement below.

There was a flicker two buildings over and he turned his gaze absently, watching for shifting shades of black and grey that denoted movement. He waited.

There.

He moved quietly towards whatever was on the other roof and approached low and out of sight.

There was a series of clicks in the distance and short inhales of breath. He still didn’t have a clear sight line and shifted forward from behind some brickwork to get a better view.

It was a kid in a grey hoodie with some piece of metal in his hands. A camera.

The kid was moving down the fire escape and clicking the shutter when the opportunity presented itself. They were pretty high up, at least 7 stories. Robin snorted at the resilience of the kid, even in the alley he’d known better than to go more than 5 stories on a rickety fire escape if he could avoid it. But then, no kid in the alley would have been able to afford the equipment in the kid’s hands.

There was a sharp inhale next to him and a short shout. Robin sprung forward, realizing the kid must’ve heard him and looked down to see his eyes widen as the fire escape lurched. The kid over balanced, Robin was hurtling towards him, firing his grapple but it wouldn’t be enough. The kid started with a good 20 feet between them and Robin couldn’t overcome physics.

There was a wet crunch below him and then silence.

Someone was screaming.

Batman found Robin covered in blood with his arms wrapped around what looked to be a kid, eyes blank and busted camera lying near his feet.

He wasn’t screaming anymore, and Batman couldn’t keep up with all the words he was saying, but the tragedy was clear. He knew he would have to step forward and pry his son away from the fallen boy, there would be parents to inform but for a minute he just stood there.

First Garzonas and now this.

Two falls was enough for the night.