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too-much-tma-stuff · 10 months

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I Don’t Believe You Care

Y’all are my beta readers XD if you see any errors please let me know. I’m going to post this on AO3 later.

Part one here

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The scolding that Bruce gave Damian was the gentlest either of them had ever received, but it did cow Damian enough that he behaved while meeting Cass and Stephanie. It helped that they were sweet, Stephanie was a bit energetic and overwhelming but Cass was quiet and seemed to understand them better. She helped reign in the over-enthusiastic family friend and Danny was glad to have her as a sister. She didn’t speak much, she communicated in signs that he didn’t understand but he thought that he could learn in time, and he wanted to. When he told her so she smiled and Steph squealed, insisting loudly and brightly that they would be happy to teach him!

He couldn’t help but feel relieved that when Alfred asked Stephanie if she would be staying for dinner she joked that she should actually spend some time at home for once. It seemed like she didn’t live here, though they knew of her identity as Spoiler and her involvement with the bats, all her noise and movement wouldn’t be a consistent presence around the house. Not that Danny didn’t like her! He just thought he’d like her best in relatively small doses before she could overwhelm him.

He would ask Cass to teach him when Steph wasn’t here, it might be just slightly trickier, but he could use the excuse of letting the two friends spend the time they had together. And maybe Tim could help him practice? He must know how to communicate with his sibling after all, and Danny could already tell he and Tim were going to get along.

He was even more glad that Steph had gone when Dick arrived because as the man came barrelling in like a hurricane Danny didn’t want to think of how much chaos and noise they would be together! For all his practice in social graces they really should have prepared him for this chaos, crowds, and friendly contact. But the compound had been short sighted and ill prepared in such regards.

Dick was the worst, Danny was almost jealous of Damian who could snarl and squirm and draw a knife on the man when Dick tried to hug him. Danny put on a smile and forced a laugh and pretended that his instinctual reaction to being held like this didn’t make him want to bite and rend. He knew that Dick meant well, or at least he thought so, the man was honestly famously good natured and cared for his family. Danny wanted to be on his good side, and couldn’t bring himself to actually say he didn’t want to be touched, or at least wasn’t used to it. The sudden, quick, and broad movements Dick favoured with his dramatics made Danny want to flinch though he had better self control then that!

He dodged hugs as gracefully as he could for the rest of the night and managed to sit him and Damian between Bruce and Tim for dinner, with Danny sitting next to Tim of course. The food was good, and everyone in the family was very welcoming, but by the end of it Danny was exhausted.

He was good at this sort of thing, trained to charm, and redirect apparently effortlessly, but the thing was it wasn’t effortless, and these sorts of situations were harder to simulate then battle. Danny had done a good job, he could tell that he had them charmed, and had them warming up to Damian too actually, but he also knew that he was drooping. He should hide his fatigue, but he was still human, he yawned.

“You’ve had a long day young masters,” Alfred said, instantly picking up on the mood, he was an impressive man and they both knew it. “Now that you’ve eaten why don’t you go settle in your rooms and get some rest? I took the liberty of going to buy you some pajamas and basics that should fit the two of you. I’m sure Master Bruce will be happy to take you both out to buy clothes more suited to your taste tomorrow,” he added.

“I think that’s a good idea, don’t you Damian,” Danny asked, glancing over at his brother.

“I’m not tired,” Damian harrumphed, of course he wouldn’t admit defeat. “But I would like to see where we will be staying,” He added. No doubt he’d thoroughly check security and for any potential surveillance before he slept. Danny wasn’t going to bother.

“Very good young Masters,” Alfred said with a nod, pausing to look back at Dick. “Will you be staying the night as well?” He asked the older man, who gave a rueful smile and shook his head.

“I’m needed in Bludhaven, I was able to come for the day on such short notice but I couldn’t get more time off. I’ll schedule a proper vacation as soon as possible so I can come back and visit!” He said giving Danyal and Damian an encouraging smile, and Danny did a good job of looking disappointed that Dick was leaving even though he was glad to have some time to get his feet under him before more of the family would be under the same roof once more. Maybe he hadn’t been as subtle as he thought about dodging Dick’s affection though, because he didn’t try to hug either of the boys goodbye.

He bid their siblings farewell and followed Alfred up to his bedroom, seeing Damian into his first and then going into his own. He was quick to brush his teeth and change into the comfortable, soft pajamas they’d been bought which did fit perfectly. Unfortunately when he flopped down into bed, regardless of how exhausted he was, he couldn’t sleep. He kept replaying the events of the day, how he did, how he could have done better, what he had learned about the family and what it meant.

After maybe an hour once things had gone quiet on the other side of the wall and he thought Damian was asleep Danny sighed and got up. He opened his window and climbed out, he braced his feet on the sill and shoved off, jumping unnaturally high for a human to grab on the edge of the roof and drag himself up onto it. He scrambled up gracefully and silently, finding a comfortable place to lay, looking up at the sky. He stayed there, zoning out for a while before he heard a soft thump on the roof near him.

“How did you get up here?” Bruce asked, dressed as Batman this time, Danny glanced over and gave him a small smile.

“You can’t really see the stars here,” he said, looking back up at the sky. “I won’t miss much about the compound, but I’ll miss the stars.”

“Not settling in particularly well?” Batman asked, sitting down on the ridge of the roof, a respectable distance between them.

“Oh I’ll be alright,” Danny said with a shrug. “They always raised me to be your heir after all, Damian will have more trouble than me. Want some advice?”

“Hm,” Batman said, an affirmative sound.

“Take him to a zoo, buy him art supplies. He’ll deny he cares about such things, but I know him better then anyone and he does. Once he realizes he really can be himself out here, that’ll help start undoing the brainwashing.”

“How are you so insightful about the situation? You can’t have avoided the brain washing.” Batman asked, and Danny shrugged. “What about you?”

“What about me?” Danny asked, glancing over just for a moment.

“How do I bond with you?” Bruce asked, and Danny laughed.

“You don’t have to. I don’t need to be won over or convinced. Our grandfather is a violent fool who only cares for himself, teaching me to recognize manipulation showed me what he really was years ago. If you turned me away entirely I still wouldn’t go back to the league.” He said with a wry smile.

“Hm,” Batman sounded unimpressed. “You’re still my son. I’d like to bond with you?”

Danny sighed, not sure why Batman was being stubborn when his energy was best spent elsewhere. He sat up and looked over at Batman, tilting his head slightly. “I don’t need you,” He said somewhat bluntly. “Damian does, give him your focus. If you truly want you can buy me an instrument, and books on astronomy.”

Batman nodded thoughtfully and Danny lay back down, there was a few moments of quiet between them before B spoke up again. “How did you get up here?” He asked again and Danny sighed.

“I guess you have to know eventually,” He murmured. “Part of the reason we’re both here is because Grandfather couldn’t decide who he wanted to be his heir, it was always supposed to be Damian but something happened and suddenly I was a much more attractive choice.”

“What happened?” B prompted after a moment.

“You know about the Pits? Most people dunked in it come back less, in the mind usually, sometimes less human, feral and monstrous. But rarely, once in the blue moon, someone comes back more.” Danny glanced over at Batman, and when he blinked he let his eyes flash green, glowing with the vile waters the kept Ra’s limping along. He could have explained more about the ways that he was different now, but he didn’t want to let on more then he had to at this point. He wasn’t naive enough to trust Bruce just because they shared blood, so he simply said; “I came back More, and I mean, I’m still a trained assassin, I probably could still have gotten up here even if I hadn’t.”

“But seemingly being chosen by Lazarus made me seem like a better option to grandfather, and your… complicated feelings towards empowered people is well known. So they didn’t know if you’d like me anymore.” His eyes faded back to blue and he looked up at the sky again, he couldn’t read Bruce’s expression under the cowl anyway. “It took a lot of subtle work to convince them to send us both so you could ‘decide which of us you wanted’.”

“Do you expect me to choose one of you?” Bruce asked, unreadable as ever.

“No, not really, you clearly like having many children. Damian still thinks now that you have a biological heir you’ll turn your adopted children away, but that’s grandfather talking and he’s a fool. If you do choose one then choose Damian, I’ll be fine on my own but he needs the help navigating this world. He’s strong, he’s clever, he’s more observant than me, he’ll make a good detective. He’ll be more loyal than me once you win him over too. He’ll be harder to break of the bad habits, I’ve never been as good at killing as him, but once he learns the way you do things I think he’ll be a good Robin.” Danny said, pulling up his knees and wrapping his arms around them, it was a bit chilly on the roof.

Batman hummed and nodded, which was good, if he had continued to push Danny would have had to bring up Jason. He knew that Jason was alive of course, but Bruce didn’t and Danyal would say he was more likely to end up like Jason if he had to but that was a last resort.

“Well I want you to know that both of you are very welcome here. And neither of you have to be Robin, or anything that you don’t want to be. I’ll support you in whatever you want to do, and you being a meta doesn’t change that at all. Both of you have a home here,” Bruce assured.

Danny nodded and gave Bruce a smile before standing up and smiling. “That’s good to hear,” He said, while not believing it at all. Bruce couldn’t and shouldn’t offer such unconditional support after just meeting them. “I should get back inside, it’s getting cold, and I am tired,” He said, wandering over the edge of the roof and stepping off, twisting around to grab the edge and swung off and back through the window before closing the window and brushing himself off so he wouldn’t get to much dirt in his sheets before crawling into bed.

He wasn’t fully asleep before the door to his room opened just enough for Damian to slip inside, he wasn’t surprised, Damian and he weren’t as independent from each other as they acted like they were. “You should have locked your door and blocked it somehow. We cannot trust the mongrels Father has taken in,” he hissed at Danny.

“Damian, shut up and get over here,” Danny mumbled sleepily, not bothering to open his eyes as he lifted the blankets on the other side of the bed. He heard a scoff and waited as Damian did whatever he needed to to feel like the room was secure and then came over to slide into bed next to Danny. Danny held out his arm, they didn’t exactly cuddle even when like this, but Damian liked to hold Danny’s wrist and feel his pulse. He had done it when they were younger but he had stopped for a while, it had only started up again after he had watched Danny die, it was understandable.

Damian wrapped one hand around Danny’s wrist, seeking out his pulse and tucked the other arm under his pillow, no doubt stashing a knife there. “None of them are going to hurt us Dami. They’re used to having multiple siblings, they probably compete, but other then one notable exception we’ve never heard of any of them trying to kill each other have we?”

“You don’t know that, Father’s has never had a biological child before, they must recognize we’re more of a threat then the others,” Damian argued in hushed tones.

“They won’t, we haven’t even proven ourselves yet. We could be incompetent.”

“We’re not!” Damian objected, his voice raising just a little and Danny hushed him softly.

“No, we’re not, but they don’t know that. I would suggest we keep out heads down for at least a month, we learned what we could about them from a distance but we should observe them. We’ve never been out of the compound except on missions, we have a lot to learn and whoever does end up his heir will have to be able to pretend to be normal. I intend to take Tim up on the lessons on popular media, perhaps it isn’t practical, but what about when we inevitably have to interact with people our own age at parties? What about interviews?

“We don’t want to reflect badly on father and if we don’t know Anything about such thing, or have any hobbies, or anything of the sort people will assume he treats us poorly.” Danny murmured and Damian harumphed, even without opening his eyes Danny could tell Damian was gritting his teeth.

“Why should we care what the uncultured masses think?” He hissed furiously and Danny cracked a small smile.

“Because father does. As the Bat his reputation is half of his weapon, and his identity as Bruce Wayne is carefully crafted to both divert suspicion from him being Batman and to make people like him. Father understands well how ones image is a tool, and being a good father is part of his image as Bruce Wayne, we will have to play into it if we want to succeed.” Danyal explained as gently as he could, he didn’t believe all of what he was saying really, or at least the way that he was framing it. He was framing it in the way he thought was best to make Damian start giving the outside world a chance, and hoping that when he did give it a chance he would find he liked it.

It was quiet for a long time which was good, it meant that Damian was properly considering what Danny had to say. He was nearly asleep before Damian spoke again, rousing Danny from his half doze. “Alright, knowing these ‘siblings’ patterns would help, and I can concede the point on the importance of reputation,” He said stiffly.

Danyal had to suppress a smile at his brother’s tone. “Good. And try to remember that unlike Mother and Grandfather batman has a rule against killing. Anything you do you must make sure it is never tracked back to us, especially because he’s not going to suddenly stop caring about them because we share his blood. If he finds out we hurt one of them it would absolutely ruin our chances, or be a huge set back at the very least,” He added, again trying to gently steer his brother in the direction he wanted. He was being manipulative, but it was the way he knew that worked.

“Father should know better then to develop such misplaced attachments,” Damian grumbled but then after a moment of silence he sighed and nodded. “All of our missions have had to be done in secret anyway, with time and planning we’ll manage.”

Well, it had bought them time and that had been Danyal’s goal so he nodded as well. “Good, now sleep Ahki, we’ve both had a long day and I’m tired.”

Damian let out a soft hum and that was all, he kept hold of Danny’s wrist even as he fell asleep, as he always did. Danny liked it too, the physical reminder that Damian was there, that they were safely together. He didn’t think that either of them would have to sneak out before dawn to make sure they weren’t caught and punished for such childish behaviour, he truly felt like they could rest.

Part three

#Danyal al ghul #damien wayne #bruce wayne #tim drake #stephanie brown #cassandra cain #alfred pennyworth #danny phantom #dc #dc x dp #demon twins #twins AU #the league of assassins #batman #implied child abuse #this is a more introspective chapter #lots of talking

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818-jadelvr · 5 months

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Jude beinh Inlove with readers accent?

The Sound of Your Voice

jb5 x f!pen latina!reader

I love this.

Summary: You’re playing UNO with ur family Jude which brings out your anger, which brings out your accent.

It wasn’t that your accent was thick or anything but you did have one and it came out when ur mad. You were currently VERY mad. You were in the living room playing UNO with your mom, dad, older sister Stephanie, and your three older brothers, Ivan, Evan, and Christopher, Jude was also playing with you seven and let’s just say that he was having the time of his life.

Hearing you get angry at any of your siblings for either skipping your turn, making you draw four cards, or choosing a color that you didn’t have in your current stack. It all angered you, and worst of all that said NO stacking because they would’ve all lost to you.

Jude on the other hand was enjoying all this, your sudden out bursts of rage that filled you when you got skipped AGAIN. Only this time it wasn’t Stephanie, it wasn’t Christopher, Evan, OR Ivan… it was your dad. Your own father. you suddenly get up and do a lap around the kitchen table. “LOOK IF ONE OF YOU DO THIS TO ME AGAIN I’LL KICK YOU. THIS ISN’T FUNNY.” you yelled in a thick accent.

It kind of reflex of your vocal cords that once you got mad or you were super excited you started sounding like Gloria from Modern Family. (I love Sofia Vergara) and it only happened to you. Only you. And Jude ate it up every time. He loved it, he loved the way you pronounced certain words, the way you would roll your ‘r’s’, he loved everything about it

As everyone laughed at you Jude was looking at you in awe, like he was in love with you accent itself, so he stood up and followed you, as now you were doing a lap around the WHOLE house “Love come back” he says pleading as if you were leaving him “No. ellos piensan que son tan graciosos.” (No they think they’re so funny)

“oh my goodness, please babe, they’re just trying to have fun.” he says trying to calm you down, but to be honest you didn’t know why you were so worked up, it was just a game. “You know what? You’re right this is so stupid. Fuck why am I mad?” you ask him like he knew the answer to the question “I don’t know angel. But all I know is that I love the sound of your voice” he says smiling at you “Gracias mi amor” (thank you my love)

Y’ALL DID I EAT THIS UP?!?!?!?! I HOPE I DID🤑🔥

#hey jude #jb5 #jude bellingham #jude bellingham fluff #jude bellingham imagine #jude bellingham smut #jude bellingham x hispanic reader #jude bellingham x reader #jude bellingham x you #judebellingham #818 jadelvr #pls comment and tell me i did that lil one bc i need validation

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basiatlu · 5 months

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On Theft in Art

First: thank you to the anon here and the other many people who brought this to my attention! I know you did it out of support of me and I love you for it.

I was ready to keep it private as I didn’t want anything negative to come up and be associated with my art. But as I was asked across different platforms concerning the art in question I realized it really bummed me out. I’m here to have a good time in the fandom and create with you all. We have a good thing here in the community and I didn’t want any smoke with another artist - a mutual even.

So to help me feel a little better about it I want to turn this into an opportunity to teach others on the differences between Reference, Inspiration, Reinterpretation, and Theft

Reference: (usually) a visual source of information in order to better understand something. Example here is of my reference board and the art I am currently working on.

My favorite example of a professional using reference photos is by Hirohiko Araki (creator and artist of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure), who uses fashion editorials and photoshoots ALL the time it’s awesome - tysm @yumiaiyuma for showing me this goldmine

Study and Inspiration: here is a great example from the wonderful Stephanie Pepper. Notice the caption stating these are studies, the movie it is from, and I will even go on to say that this artist is influenced or inspired by the prolific works of J. C. Leyendecker (but what’s key is that Stephanie Pepper has developed and practiced to the point of deviating from his work and become a style of art completely her own - and she’s so recognizable in my opinion!)

Personal Example for Inspiration:

An Example of Reinterpretation: note - Both these classical artists whose works are being recycled are dead and no longer missing out on potential work and income. Where stealing ideas and art from current artists hurts them financially and mentally and emotionally. Howl as The Fallen Angel by _mimimaru on Instagram is an interpretation of a 1847 painting by Alexandre Cabanel and is now considered public domain // the Mickey Mouse self portrait was by Charles Boyer and is a parody of the famous illustration by Norman Rockwell and was commissioned by Walt Disney, himself.

Now here’s the part that is concerning to several people, myself included.

Recently, an artist found the reference I used, and decided to draw Andromeda, Bellatrix, Narcissa, and Regulus staring at Sirius getting supposedly punished by Walburga Black off screen.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t a matter of tracing or claiming my image as their own. I do not mind at all if myself and another artist end up using the same reference. It happens all the time. Referencing and studying is not stealing. Reinterpretation is great for meme art challenges and paying respect to old classics. Even being inspired and doing one’s own version of another artist’s idea is totally cool, especially if you tag and/or shoutout the artist that inspired you.

I genuinely love and appreciate everyone who has brought this to my attention and who has been supportive and defensive of me with this. That reaction means more to me than anything else in this whole ordeal, if I’m being honest. So thank you all so much, with all my heart.

In closing: Do I hope this is all one gigantic coincidence? Absolutely. It’s one of those very uncool things that hurts my heart as an artist. I just want everyone to enjoy art and inspire each other so we can all grow. I do not want any malice to come from this either. I just wanted to inform everyone that I am aware of this, and give some of my thoughts on it. I also wanted to use this as a way to educate everyone on artistic process and why these things might happen sometimes.

Edit: me and the artist have chatted and we see it as a silly coincidence ♡ and honestly I'm happy and so relieved with that. But I think a lot of this info is still good to be mindful of in a creative community where we circulate ideas and content regularly.

#shushbosh #ugly business sorry #I’m happy to talk with anyone on this of course #art thoughts

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beepawz · 1 year

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(Do not look at the background it was rushed. Other than that, enjoy the quick drawing of Stephanie and Cass) If Cass’s outfit looks odd it’s because its not a cannon suit. In this au she modeled it after Macaque. (I wanted an excuse to give her a red cape) Thinking of calling this au MonkeyBat (I know im bad at naming things) unsure tho

Also, here’s the link to the LMK specific headcannons. Enjoy:

· Cass is 17 when she first went back to the dimension she was born in

· At this point I wanna say we’re close to the end of season 2 of Lmk so she’s started her training with Macaque

· She learns the basics first- how to summon her staff, shadow travel and she’s working on making shadow clones

· When Batman finds her, it doesn’t take long to tell she has powers, so he assumes she’s a meta

· Cass likes to go back and forth between dimensions

· She disappears randomly to go back home before showing back up at the manor for random periods of time

· No one knows where she goes off to. Trackers don’t work (she always finds them) and not even Batman or Superman can find her

· When asked where she was she either shrugs or says home she will not elaborate

· At first the family was suspicious but as time went on and it became clear she wasn’t doing anything malicious they kinda dropped it and it became usual

· Tim is still trying to figure out where she goes

· Bruce is too but not like Tim is

· At first, she didn’t care to much for her birth dimension and that doesn’t really change much except for the batfam

· She came back because she likes the family. She likes helping them out at night and hanging out with them

· She still refuses to let Bruce adopt her though and tells him he’s like an uncle to her.

· She drops hints that she has a family and but never drops names or locations

· At first the family think she might be talking about Lady Shiva and David Cain, but it doesn’t take long for it to become clear they aren’t who she’s talking about

· The search continues

· The batfam know that Cass can shadow travel, inhuman strength, her durability and that she has a strange shadow staff (that seems to come out of nowhere) but that’s about as much as they know on her powers

· It takes about 2 years for the batfamily to figure out she’s technically from this dimension but it’s not her “home” dimension

· She doesn’t tell them because she sees no harm in keeping it to herself. Besides it’s kinda funny watching them try to figure it out. She also wants to see how long these “world’s best” detectives take to figure it out. It’s not like she’s not dropping subtle hints.

· Stephanie is the first to find out about everything. Duke is second.

· They’re both smug about it once the entire family knows.

· They are also the first two that Cass brought home to meet everyone

· Before everyone else knows, Steph and Duke like messing with the rest of the family by making their own hints/references to Cass’s family

· It frustrates the others more than ever

· The three are having a great time

· As she gets more of her powers, she doesn’t really use them while around the batfam

· She just doesn’t see much reason to. She does however use them to fuck with some of the rouges if she’s on her own

· No one believes them when they say she turned into a slightly demonic shadow being

· Well no one but Tim

· Tim will figure her secrets out. Cass finds it entertaining.

· Cass and Duke get along great.

· Dukes just glad there’s someone else with powers around

· The first time Constantine met her, he showed up, looked at her, turned around, and noped right out of there. He doesn’t explain anything and refuses to be near Cass unless he has to

· Cass finds it hilarious and will sometimes sneak up and scare the man

· When confronted or asked if she knows why Constantine acts like that around her, she just shrugs.

· It’s not her fault he’s scared of the sheer demonic presence she give off

· With the exception of Constantine, she does try to avoid the league and other magic users. To many people who could possible out her by her presence alone and she enjoys being a mystery

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regardstosoulandromance · 3 months

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review: once upon a broken heart by stephanie garber

As someone who is a little too online in the bookish community, I've been hearing people sing the praises of Stephanie Garber’s Once Upon a Broken Heart since its publication in 2021. Although the spin off to the Caraval series, general conscientious is that it’s not required to read Caraval before Once Upon a Broken Heart. It was an easy read I tore through one afternoon while sick on the couch, this highly popularized novel was not worth the hype it gets.

For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings... until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.

Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic but wicked Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.

But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game—and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after or the most exquisite tragedy… (summary via Goodreads)

Once Upon a Broken Heart would be an amazing fantasy novel, if you’ve never read a fantasy novel before. Unfortunately, the world building is messy and nonsensical, prioritizing aesthetics over substance of any kind, character, plot or otherwise. Instead of a narrative that makes sense, Evangeline Fox is a heroine with pink hair and pretty dresses, Jacks is a cocky magic boy who always seems to have an apple at hand and a detailed description of his mouth.

Evangeline’s motivations are clear, because she tells us constantly, but there’s no emotional depth. She originally visits Jacks because she believes her boyfriend Luc has been bewitched into marrying her step sister Marisol. What’s so great about Luc, you may wonder? I’m not sure, Evangeline likes him, but we don’t meet her beloved Luc until nearly two thirds through the book, and he’s only one the page in a single chapter.

None of the character relationships are fleshed out, instead relying on fairy tale tropes to fill in the blanks the lack of development leaves. Evangeline’s step mother is cartoonishly villainous, Marisol is predictable the villain, and after Evangeline’s original visit to Jacks she lets the story take her along instead of controlling her own narrative.

Jacks is a Fate, a trickster demigod also known as the Prince of Hearts. He’s cocky and crafty and as in folklore, making a deal with him often comes with unintended consequences. He likes apples and if he kisses anyone but his One True Love, they’ll die. He’s the annoying bad boy character to a tee complete with a tragic backstory as to why he’s heartbroken and I just didn’t care for him. I don’t care for his kind of over confident character type and I will admit that’s more of personal preference than anything else.

Then, inexplicably, they introduce vampires two thirds of the way through. Fates are immortal yet can be killed, adding some stakes to Jacks existence, but they can also be turned into vampires? So in this world, vampires rate higher than the god-like characters. The inclusion of vampires was just too random and strange, kind of a pointless addition for the drama and creepy aesthetics of it all.

A big draw of this trilogy is the slow burn romance between Evangeline and Jacks. In this first book, the pair are barely friends, more like reluctant allies. This is fine, totally in line with a slow burn narrative, but neither character was interesting on their own let alone together.

The concept of the novel was an interesting one; a fairy tale land, the pink haired heroine, making a deal with a magical prince of hearts are good ingredients of a story. But where Once Upon a Broken Heart falls flat is in the execution. It’s equal parts confusing and unnecessarily convoluted while being boring and mediocre. My biggest complaint about the book is that the writing style is utterly insipid. It’s basic and lifeless, without anything interesting about the narration, sounding far too young for a young adult novel. It truly feels like baby’s first fantasy novel with all flash and no substance.

#book talk #books #book review #anti ouabh #sometimes you just gotta write an angry review for the shitty book you read while sick #im getting back into writing book reviews but trying to keep it from feeling like a job

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kinetic-elaboration · 1 year

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May 13: A Simple Favor

I ordered in dinner and watched A Simple Favor because it seemed like a fun sort of movie to improve my mood or at least distract me. I’ve been meaning to watch it for a while, partly because it looked like an enjoyable thriller, partly because I wanted to see Blake Lively looking hot as fuck in those suits, and partly for a secret third and silly reason.

Anyway, I liked it a lot! The last 15-20 minutes, maybe everything from the graveyard scene on, was a little weak, in the way that a lot of thrillers (and horrors) are weak: the best part is the build up and when you actually start learning the answers and seeing the climactic action, it’s disappointing, less interesting than whatever you might have vaguely pictured. I think many films in these genres also overthink the need for a Big Climax—something that somehow justifies all the build up by being very gory or having a lot of extra twists or turns or whatever—and end up with something dull. I think Favor had a bit of that issue. It made me think of that Community episode that was nothing BUT twists and that’s… not great for it lol. Like it wasn’t sure what to do with itself so it just kind of… reached for All the Cliches.

But even that is a fairly small complaint. Most of the film before that exceeded my expectations by a lot. It kept me on my toes and had me trying to predict what the next twist would be. Who was lying? Would Stephanie and Emily run away together? Was Sean the actual bad guy? Was STEPHANIE the actual bad guy? I’m not gonna lie, at one point I was quite convinced that there were Clues that she was just as much of a liar and manipulator as Emily was (the backstory with her brother, the ease with which she moved into Emily’s life, the use of the vlog as a narrative-device implying that she is good at creating a persona, etc.) and that ultimately we might find that Stephanie was responsible for Emily’s disappearance or perhaps working with her, etc. Which I actually do think could have been cool. I was hoping for one of those sequences where you see the whole movie again but this time with extra bits filled in that tell a totally different story… Oh well.

But ultimately both Emily and Stephanie were basically who I thought they were up front. (And Sean was just a wet noodle of a man. No mystery there either.) I didn’t really think Emily was so hard to figure out or so mysterious or unusual. She was basically just a liar and sociopath? In the very literal sense that she really didn’t believe in the reality of other people. That’s it. I mean, it’s not hard to wrap one’s head around really.

My biggest disappointment with the movie was that we didn’t get to see more of her. I anticipated this would be my biggest disappointment based on the general premise of the film and also because I know no one would put Blake Lively looking like That in a suit opposite a female co-star if they weren’t intending to draw in wlw viewers and then disappointing them deeply, so. Yeah. Saw that coming. And all that is true because there was definitely a lot of interesting stuff between the “best friends” that wasn’t fully explored. But I also think that when Emily is on screen, she’s so much more interesting than when people are just talking about her or telling stories.

I just have a real soft spot for stories where two characters form a quick and intense friendship based on one’s characters extremely charismatic nature, and then the other character is Ruined for life, or at least permanently altered in some way. Hill House. Tinker Tailor. Etc. No particular reason I love these narratives so much. And that’s definitely what Stephanie and Emily have at first: Emily is beautiful and powerful and she gives Stephanie permission not to say I’m sorry; she shows a real interest in her, or seems to; she seems to hold Secret Knowledge. Of course Stephanie is obsessed with her, and of course she’d then get ever more tangled in her life. Because they’re both women, there’s a bit of the double-thing going on: Stephanie trying on her life, trying on her clothes, sleeping with her husband. Because Blake Lively looks like That, there’s a bit of the erotic thriller too: the romantic slow-walk in the rain, the…literal making out on the couch. That all of this drags Stephanie down and in some way makes her a different person is definitely, like, my kink. But it works best when she’s actually interacting with Emily, which she doesn’t actually do that much. So there was a bit of that frustrating trope where the same-sex-romance dynamic is swapped out for an opposite-sex-romance dynamic through the use of an avatar. Like, Sean could have been an interesting character, but at the end of the day, I think he was just…there, to represent Emily when Emily wasn’t around. And he’s no Emily lol.

I sound like I’m being so harsh! Honestly, I really, really liked the film. It was fun, it was clever, it was funny, it was stylish, it was hot—it had sort of a poor ending, but it wasn’t an awful one, and anyway I can live with that. I would watch it again.

#the year 2023 #2023: movies #2023: fandom thoughts

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arjaandsimoni · 1 year

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Snakes Along the Riverfront

The Ohio Riverfront, Newport

Stephanie huffed as she walked through the Newport riverfront with Stephy, the young boy eager as always to get out of his father’s house for multiple reasons. For one, the abusive nature of his alcoholic widower of a dad, for another it was the only time he could really let himself, well, be himself… or herself? He was still debating that bit. Loren still used ‘she/her’ but Loren could also bench press a Buick and if some politician used her to earn points with his base he’d be taking his teeth home in a bag.

While Stephy knew he could use magic now, he lacked the confidence to use it on his own. It was just easier with Stephanie backing him up. It was easier to do a lot of things he thought, glancing down at his outfit. A girl’s tank top, a loose black skirt, and sandals. He was terrified at first, but as long as he didn’t draw attention to himself nobody noticed, just another kid in the crowd.

Still, at least it was a nice night out this time. Isolde was likely still fuming back in Arcadia over the hedge beast’s destruction and after a scene that had left several cars smashed and several more upside down all along Madison Avenue they could use a quiet night. How the mundanes missed THAT one he’ll never know, he imagined glamour must have been involved somehow.

“I just…” sighed Stephanie suddenly, “I know where she’s coming from, but… I mean for me giving up my magic would be like you giving me back all those outfits I let you have.” she huffed, “… and your magic. It’s the djinn and the bottle. We let it out, can’t demand it goes back in.” she nodded.

Stephy thought about that, then winced and nodded, “Yeah… that… I definitely don’t wanna do either of those.” he replied, looking down at himself. It was a rather plain outfit, but the minute he’d put on one of Stephanie’s old skirts he knew he preferred them greatly over pants, jeans, or anything like that. Given the chance he’d wear them forever.

“Oh well… I got some of my allowance left, wanna check out the aquarium? Not much else to do out here since Barnes & Noble shut down.” she nodded. There were a few restaurants, but most of them were the kind of upscale places intended to draw the suburbanites and city-dwellers out and were well beyond a kid’s allowance, where the Aquarium could offer reduced admission for anyone under eighteen and got a tax break for doing so.

“Yeah okay.” he grinned, “Always like seeing the penguins swim. It’s more like they’re flying underwater really…” he nodded.

“Yeup, penguins can fly, they just gotta be in the water to do it. Kinda like you ‘n dresses.” she teased.

Stephy blushed, shoving her arm playfully as they got up and Stephanie took the admission out of her fanny pack, being rather careful to make sure the rest of the contents stayed hidden. Her ‘witch kit’ contained more than a few items that a young girl shouldn’t be carrying, at least according to adults anyways.

As they went inside a long slim figure silently crossed the roof of the aquarium, opening an air vent on top and slipping down inside it…

Meanwhile, Inside the Aquarium

Arja and her father were walking through the exhibits following his meeting with the executive board of Proctor and Gamble. They wanted to look into some business interests in India and needed premises to build and there was land available near his hometown of Jaipur that his family happened to own. The meeting was a pleasant enough affair for him, but for his daughter ‘excruciatingly boring’ might be a better way to describe it, nevermind she had to dress up to impress a bunch of old white men with his ‘lovely exotic little girl.’

She grumped at that, you think they’d never seen someone wear a saree before. Still, the wrap was back in the car and she was just wearing the red tube top and pair of baggy pants she wore under it with her sandals now. No more ‘prim and proper daughter to the powerful and important Rajesh,’ she could just relax for a bit.

Currently she was admiring a section of the aquarium set up to mimic the swamplands common to states like Louisiana where they kept their alligator exhibit. “Huh, so this is what the more rural parts of this country look like. Bet there’s some neat stuff to hunt here.” she grinned to her father.

Rajesh chuckled, “Indeed. I visited once or twice in my youth. Alligator meat is surprisingly pleasing to taste. Perhaps I shall have to find a local Cajun restaurant if we have time.” he nodded.

She nodded back and looked back down, then blinked. “Huh… hey where’d it go…” she muttered. The gator had been serenely floating near the surface, pretending to be a log as it would to lure in prey… then suddenly the water erupted in splashing and angry snarling causing the patrons of the aquarium to jump back in shock!

Arja tensed, staying near her father as slowly the water darkened… a coppery scent filling the air. “Oh no… did someone’s kid fall in?” she whispered… then the corpse of an alligator bobbed to the surface, its head floating up several feet away, and the screaming began.

“OH MY GOD SOMETHING TOOK ITS HEAD OFF!” came a shout from another visitor.

“Get the kids out of here! Someone call the attendants! What the hell just happened?!” came another as they tried to pull their loved ones back out of the exhibit.

Several kids began crying, more than a few were just stunned by the sudden brutality, but Arja wasn’t. The young Indian girl’s eyes scanned the water’s surface. She’d seen this sort of thing before back in India… “Dad… we need to get out of this exhibit…” she whispered.

Rajesh nodded to his daughter, “Yes, right no- LOOK OUT ARJA!” he shouted, shoving her to the left as he dove and rolled right with an agility that one might not expect from a well-dressed businessman as the water behind them erupted… and then the screaming really began!

Emerging from the water was a massive serpent, like a huge cobra, but with an all-too-human like face and muscular arms, a sword with a wavy blade gripped in its clawed hand crashing down right where Arja and Rajesh had been standing moments before! “DAMNED ALLIGATOR!” it hissed in fury, “Ruined my ambussssh…” the serpent glared, its yellow eyes locking onto Arja. “I’ll ssstill complete my tasssk… THE LINE OF THE VANARA KING DIESSS TODAY!” it roared, the long serpentine body bursting out of the water.

Arja glared, and the air around her seemed to shimmer in a heat haze. “A naga… you followed us all the way here?!” she snarled, flexing her hands, “Dad! GET BACK!” she shouted, and suddenly her teeth changed into fangs. She took a deep breath, bending backwards as her cheeks seemed to glow from within like she was holding a lit lightbulb in her mouth.

A moment later flames erupted down the hallway!

Further Back in the Aquarium

Stephy and Stephanie glanced at each other as people fled back through the aquarium tunnel, then the fire alarms all went off at once. “Well, that’s probably not a good sign.” said Stephy, glancing at his cousin.

“Yeaaaaaaaah, we should look into this.” she nodded, “But… be careful, remember what I told you about our magic indoors.” she warned, slipping her hand into her pack and taking out her silver dagger, holding it backhand, then rushing towards the source of the noises.

Stephy nodded, “Yeah, it doesn’t work as good if there’s no natural wind.” he replied, a bit anxiously, then followed quickly behind her.

The duo rounded the corner and skidded to a stop. The naga had wrapped its long snake-like body around the bridge through the exhibit, the other alligators having swam for cover as the flames erupted, and standing between it and an Indian man was…

“A monkey?” muttered Stephanie.

A golden furred monkey girl, sparks coming from between her fangs, her tail lashing behind her. “Who sent you?! Who has the BALLS to try to kill us in public like this?!” she snarled at the naga.

The serpentine woman hissed at her, “It doesssn’t matter child of Hanuman, NEITHER OF YOU WILL LEAVE HERE ALIVE!” it shouted, then quick as lightning it launched itself at her, mouth outstretched and fangs glistening, dripping with a green caustic liquid!

Suddenly, a loud whistle sounded and it ran face-first into the same wind-mine trick that had taken down the hedge beast! Its head snapped backwards with a pained cry as Stephanie and Stephy scrambled past it.

“Outside! Get outside!” she shouted to the man and his monkey companion, “We can help but we can’t fight as well indoors!” she nodded frantically.

The monkey girl looked at her in confusion, but a furious hissing sound got their attention. The attack had only stunned the serpent momentarily! “You heard her Dad! GO FOR THE EXIT!” she shouted as the four of them bolted for a nearby fire exit.

Rajesh shoulder-checked the door open and they all bolted out into the cool evening air scattering back as the naga erupted from the doorway a moment later. It didn’t care if anyone saw it or not, as far as it was concerned this was a suicide mission, but one it had accepted. It had made peace with that and trusted its next incarnation would be a reward for dying for its cause.

Stephanie nodded to her cousin, quickly putting her dagger back, “Stephy, transform! We’re outside, she can’t reach us in the air!” she nodded, the two of them spreading their arms as feathers burst from their skin, their knees snapping back as their legs turned into bird-like talons.

The naga’s eyes widened in fury, “Garuda?! HERE?!” she hissed, then narrowed her eyes, “… no… no you are not of their flock… what are you?”

Stephy blinked, “Garuda?” he asked, looking to Stephanie.

“Ask later fly now!” she shouted, letting out a bird like cry as she shot up into the air. “Stephy, stay near the man, I’ll back up the monkey!” she called to her cousin.

The monkey was just as surprised as the naga however, “Huh… western garuda?” she muttered, then looked back to the naga as it glared down at her. It reared back, raising its sword as the monkey snarled, conjuring a fistful of flames in each hand, before slamming its sword down as she rolled back, then pitched both fireballs at the snake’s face.

The creature dodged with uncanny agility however, “Pathetic! You cannot match my ssspeed!” it spat back at her.

“How about mine?” shouted Stephanie as she dove suddenly, her talons outstretched. They may be more like a raven’s than anything, but with her size they were good and sharp… and that naga had very large eyes.

The naga was caught by surprise, unable to dodge in time, and the talons bit home, slashing deep into its face!

“MY EYE!” it roared, glaring up at it as its hand clapped to the right side of its face, blood and ocular fluid seeping between its fingers, “I’LL FEAST ON YOUR FLESH, GARUDA OR NOT!” it snarled, only to meet a blast of flames coming from the other way as the monkey ran for a nearby tree. Quick as a blink she was up it and lept onto the roof.

“Hey! Red-hair-garuda… thing! Girl! Over here!” she shouted. Stephanie banked over to her and the monkey leapt, landing on her back with a loud oof from the girl as she wobbled in midair, then whistled to right herself. “Listen! I dunno what you are, but your magic is a lot like some friends of mine from back in India. Ever work with a fire-user before?” she asked.

Stephanie shook her head, “No, why?” she asked as Stephy circled over Rajesh, but it seemed the naga only had eyes for the monkey and his cousin now.

“Yanno how you feed flames with a bellows or a fan? Wind magic and fire magic can work together! We can take that thing down, but I’ll need your help… gimme wind and I can make a fireball too big for it to dodge!” she grinned.

Stephanie thought, then grinned back and nodded, “Got it!” she replied.

The monkey raised her hands over her head, conjuring a fireball as Stephanie hovered as best she could in midair, then let out a sharp eagle-like cry as wind rushed towards the flames. The monkey gasped and almost fell off as the fireball suddenly went from the size of a basketball to the size of a beachball, then kept growing. “HEY HEY NOT THAT MUCH! We’re not trying to torch the whole aquarium!” she shouted.

“S-sorry! I’ve never done this before!” she called back.

“It’s okay, this’ll do… just… FINE!” she snarled, then hopped up on Stephanie’s back and leapt, smacking the fireball down towards the naga like she was spiking a volleyball.

The naga hissed, but the area was open enough… it could still dodge! But then Simoni whistled sharply several times in succession, making a quick melody, and when the naga dodged right it slammed into another wind mine, which blew it into another, which knocked it into two more.

The stunned serpent shook its head, the sudden blasting back and forth rattling its brain. then the fireball landed and EXPLODED! There was a loud furious scream, the serpent’s body suddenly engulfed in flames, and it darted northwards! Howling in pain and anger it dove into the Ohio River, landing with a massive hiss of steam!

Stephanie caught the monkey’s hand in her talons, carrying her down to the riverbank, but there was no sign of her attacker. Either the naga had drowned, died of its burns, or fled to safety in the water.

“Well… that was new…” muttered Stephanie, shedding her feathers and scales and straightening up. “What the heck was that?” she asked the monkey girl.

The monkey frowned, then slowly her fur just… un-grew as her tail shrank back into her hips, her teeth going from fangs to normal human teeth. “A naga, one of the kin of Sulochana, daughter of the king of serpents. My ancestor helped kill her and her husband in a war centuries ago and they’ve held a grudge ever since. This isn’t the first time I’ve had one of them come after me, but they never did it outside India before.” she huffed, then looked at her, “Forget that though, what the heck are YOU? You fight like a garuda, but I’ve never seen one with red hair and black wings!” she said.

“Garuda? I’m a witch of Clan Fullmoon!” she giggled, then held out her hand, “Stephanie Fullmoon specifically, nice to meetcha… um…”

The monkey girl looked at her hand, then grinned and clasped it with her own. “Arja Barjar, descendant of Hanuman, King of the Vanara.” she replied.

“Huh…” blushed Stephanie, “Um, well… nice to meet you.” she replied. This girl was something else. She fought that monster without even hesitating, and she fought it well… and Stephanie could tell by her hands she was a good fighter, she felt athletic…

Arja glanced down, the girl blushing a bit herself, “You… can let go of my hand now.” she tried.

Stephanie blinked, “Buh…” the eeped and pulled her hand back, “Right right sorry! Just… still a bit shook up, never fought a naga before. I mean they’re not unheard of in the US, but its mostly just this one tribe of Hopi Native Americans and they live way out west of here and they don’t call theirs naga and…”

Arja chuckled, grinning at her, “Huh, so your country has them too…” she nodded, “Neat.”

Then suddenly Stephy swooped down, “Hey um… guys? Hate to interrupt but we got like a dozen cop cruisers and three news vans out there and a ton of mundys screaming about a snake monster and a fire-breathing monkey girl.” he warned, shedding his scales and feathers and changing back to fully human as well.

Arja and Stephanie winced together, “Yeaaaaaaah…” blushed Stephanie, “A giant explosion like that is hard to miss…” she muttered, “We should probably get out of here…” she nodded, “Um, nice meeting you though…”

Arja grabbed her wrist as she turned to leave, “Hey, Stephanie. Before you go… I’m gonna be in town for a bit and it’d be nice to, yanno, have someone my own age to see the city with. I mean, dad is great and all but, well, he’s a dad.” she shrugged. “And you’re a local, you probably know the best parts.” she nodded.

Stephanie blinked, “Uh… yeah? YEAH oh okay sure yeah!” she nodded, “Its summer vacation so I don’t gotta worry about school or anything, yeah sure!” she grinned back, fishing her phone out of her fanny pack as Arja got hers out of her pants pocket.

The two exchanged numbers, then Stephy glanced up, “Getting a looooooootta cops up there…” he warned again.

“Yeah, we need to leave, if we’re lucky they didn’t see us…” she winced, “Um… I’ll text ya when I get home?” she offered.

Arja nodded, “I’d like that.” she grinned back.

Stephanie hesitated, then nodded back, then she and her cousin rushed off down the riverfront on foot. Best not risk any shapeshifting with all the cameras around.

Arja watched he go with a grin and raised eyebrow, “… witch huh?” she smirked to herself. “Heard of witches, saw that Oz movie… didn’t know they could be cute too.”

Stephy and Stephanie slowed to a walking pace as they got nearer to the bridge between Newport and Covington, heading to the bus stop so Stephanie could get home without arousing any more suspicions from the locals. Finally, Stephy spoke up, “Soooo… care to tell me what that was?” he asked.

Stephanie didn’t respond at first, then seemed to snap out of a daze, shaking her head, “Huh? What?! What what what, er was? What what was?” she asked.

Stephy raised his eyebrow at her. “Steffi… your face is all red, and you barely noticed me when I landed and warned you about the cops. You’re usually the one telling me how to handle stuff remember?” he asked.

“Was I? I mean… it was just that naga and that Arja girl and all that… I’ve never seen anyone do stuff like that before and it just kinda threw me…” she replied.

Stephy nodded, glancing away, “Yeah, I thiiiiiiink it was more that Arja girl than anything else…” he replied.

Stephanie blushed bright red, spinning to face him, “W-what do you mean by that?!” she demanded.

Stephy smirked, “Steffi, c’mon… you’re standing next to a boy in a dress.” he giggled, “Do you really think I’m going to judge you?”

She glanced away, coughing a bit, “She was… just… I dunno… something about her just kinda… I dunnoooo…” she flailed her hands a bit, “Just… forget it…” she muttered.

Stephy grinned and slipped his hands behind his back, “Suuuuuuuuuure… sure. Whatever…” he giggled, thinking ‘so this is how it feels to be on the other side of this’ to himself.

That night after Stephanie got home she flopped into her bed, then picked up her phone and texted Arja's number.

‘Hay, want 2 go see a movie tomorrow? Sonic is still showing.’

After the longest ten minutes of her life so far her phone buzzed and she snatched it back up.

‘Sure! Txet me when u ready! :)’

Stephanie re-read it five times, then laid face down on her bed, pressed her face into her pillow, and took a deep breath. A minute later the tree outside almost blew over.

#supernatural adventures #modern fantasy #fiction #naga #lgbtq

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schraubd · 1 year

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Incredible Disappearing and Reappearing Authors

The Texas judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk who issued a trainwreck of a decision trying to ban the abortion pill is separately in the news for potentially hiding an article he authored while being considered for his judgeship. The basic gist of the story is that he submitted an article to the Texas Review of Law & Politics, a conservative law journal, attacking legal protections for trans Americans. While the article was being edited he removed his name from authorship and replaced it with two colleagues (Stephanie Taub and Justin Butterfield), allegedly so he could avoid disclosing the article to the U.S. Senate, which was in the process of considering his nomination to a life-tenured district court position.

Many people think this seems pretty sketchy. I'm inclined to agree. But I want to see if I can drill down as to why, because I have conflicting intuitions about some similar fact patterns, and so I'm not sure what's driving my judgments here. So let's work through some hypotheticals.

Let's call the two relevant authors K and J. Fact pattern number one is going to be essentially what Judge Kacsmaryk is accused of having done:

1. K writes an article, submits it to a law review, and has it accepted. After it is accepted, K decides he doesn't want his name associated with piece during the pendency of his judicial nomination, so he arranges to remove his name and have J -- not previously listed as an author -- be the public author on the piece.

And here is, as far as I can gather, the explanation of what happened from Judge Kacsmaryk's supporters -- i.e., this is his defense/apologia:

2. J writes an article, but K submits it to the journal under his name as a "placeholder". After it is accepted, K eventually removes his name and has it replaced by J, who was the legitimate author of the piece.

People are reasonably focusing on Kacsmaryk trying to hide information from the Senate. But there's also a more basic academic ethics problem here, that's present both in the accusatory and "defense" version of the story. Simply put, if J did sufficient work on the article to be legitimately credited as a co-author on the piece, why wasn't her name on draft to begin with? And if J didn't do sufficient work to credibly be deemed a co-author, it's dishonest to present her as having written the article.

Indeed, at one level the "defense" story is worse, because the paper was initially submitted under false pretenses -- K is by stipulation not the actual author, but his name was the sole author listed on the piece when it was submitted and accepted. I have been a law review editor and advisor, and of course have written numerous law review articles (and have many colleagues in each of those roles) -- I have never heard of this "placeholder" authorship idea. The only reason I can imagine someone doing it is to try and get a paper accepted by a journal based on the prestige of the (non-)author's name. Absolutely not okay.

So from that vantage point, either way you slice it Judge Kacsmaryk seems to have done something shady. But I want to tweak the scenarios a bit, because as I said some small changes at least for me change my intuition sharply, and I'm not sure what to draw from that. Consider this variant:

3. J and K write an article together, and submit it with both their names on it. The article is accepted, but at some point in the editing process K decides he no longer wants his name on the piece. The article is ultimately published under J's name only.

This intuitively feels less problematic, but I'm not sure if my intuition is correct. The driver, I think, is twofold: J was always presented as an author of the piece, and the piece is being published under the authorship of someone who we know was (one of) the author(s). Is that enough to make this okay?

One reason I'm inclined to approve this is that the alternative seems odd to me: a piece that J co-authored can never be published if K doesn't want to move forward, even if K is fine with the article being published (so long as his name isn't on it). That seems wrong to me; I don't like that form of limbo. It's different if K was the only real author; I'm not convinced he can hand off his solo work to someone else and say "publish it in your name." But if J was already one of the authors on the piece, I don't feel as bad about letting her take over sole authorial credit (with K's permission) if K wishes to withdraw. Think of it as a sort of joint tenancy in the paper (or, if you prefer, joint and several liability over the paper's contents). Each co-author has full claim over the entire paper; we don't try to subdivide and say "this part is J's share, this part is K's share." And so if K pulls out of the paper, it is fine for the entire paper to revert to J.

If we do think of scenario 3 as problematic, then the question is what, if anything, can cure the problem.

4. J and K write an article together, and submit it with both their names on it. After it's accepted, K decides he no longer wants his name on the piece. They withdraw the piece from the journal it is accepted at. Later, J (with K's permission) submits it to another journal with J listed as the sole author.

To the extent our problem with #3 is that the accepting journal was under the impression that J and K were both authors, #4 fixes that by only representing J as the author from start to finish. To the extent that we think that the problem is that K "really" was an author on the piece and it's misleading not to include him as such, then #4 fixes nothing, but then we still have this weird limbo problem.

Which brings us to scenario 5, which is some form of disclosure short of co-authorship:

5. J and K write an article together, and submit it with both their names on it. After it's accepted, K decides he no longer wants his name on the piece. J continues on with publication, but in the acknowledgements he states that he collaborated with K on an earlier version of the piece and that K gave permission for the piece to be completed on its own.

This seems like the appropriate move to make.

For what it's worth, I was in a somewhat similar situation with my "Epistemic Dimension of Antisemitism" article. I initially was working on the project myself, later asked on a colleague as a co-author, and we submitted the piece to a journal under both our names. That publication venue petered out during the editing process (through nobody's fault), and my co-author in the interim changed jobs to one where it would have been awkward for her to be writing pieces like that. So, with her permission, I continued on with the project solo, and when it was finally published (in a different outlet) I included in the acknowledgements a line saying "Special recognition is due to [former co-author], with whom the author collaborated on an earlier version of this project and who graciously gave permission to the author to complete it on his own."

That, to me, was an adequate resolution to the issue (though maybe people disagree): my name listed as the author, but with disclosure. And the disclosure solution, to be clear, only "works" (to the extent you think it does) insofar as I was always at least in a co-authorial position in the article. So it doesn't cover Kacsmaryk's case insofar as there was a complete replacement of authorship -- persons who were not listed as authors magically "became" the author (whether that's because the true author, Kacsmaryk, disappeared, or because the actual true authors, Taub and Butterfield, were inexplicably left off the draft in its initial submission).

But Taub and Butterfield's article also does not contain any acknowledgement or reference to Kacsmaryk whatsoever (which surprised me). And it is worth noting that, even had he been thanked in an acknowledgements section by the "new" authors, that probably would not have drawn Senate scrutiny (certainly not the same degree as if the article went out under his name). That is to say, leaving aside the "who are the true authors of this article" question, my solution to this problem probably would have "worked" as a means of throwing the Senate off the scent. Which maybe undermines it as actually a valid play; or it just suggests that the norms associated with being considered for a life-tenured judicial position are more stringent than normal academic conduct.

via The Debate Link https://ift.tt/MzJU7Xp

#academia #legal ethics #publications

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cmsrainyasshole · 2 years

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But I also know that I’m about to have to start fighting these goddamn Indian women too well to be fair they are Indian American… Not Native American I mean like dot that’s the place where the police say that they can cross lines and they didn’t know that certain treaties were in place… I guess the Indian community also needs to understand that along with the Arabic community if you intend on keeping your lives and that also means learning how to treat people fairly so why don’t you guys start adjusting some of that I’m tired of these gas station bastards no offense I know you guys are low class and I know the story before as well you were never going to stay or your family they were never going to stay a part of the Asian culture well that’s what happens when you act like a scam

They are a scam you know?

And they fuck people out of money in overcharge left and right doesn’t seem like the cops arrest them enough no offense or whatever

Probably the cops use those folks to work with them in order to have more children to abuse and more human trafficking victims to hurt and we need to definitely investigate the BP crew I have a feeling that entire crew especially the darker complected man that man is a child molester unfortunately I have to be fair BP

Yeah of course you guys it thrills me to run into pedophiles who are Arabic or Indian it just thrills me but you know what guys it really doesn’t it no it’s not a thrilling situation stop overcharging people stop being stingy fucking son of a bitches leave that trash across the fucking sea and as far as that blank that seems to be drawn take a fucking bath you dirty nasty smelly body odor ridden brown bastards well you know what I wrote it better and I wrote it truthfully because I have integrity and honor and higher cost than you eat shit no no it’s a cast withan e don’t make any mistake

Bet your bottom dollar that I’m not with Annie

And I’m not with Andy either

Don’t draw any inferences I’m not with anybody that she would think or that you thought I was maybe Lois you’ll have to tell me some more about Stephanie’s disgusting mind sometime when she goes to penitentiary well you know that she and Nick are both headed there when his investigation is over those two will get the death penalty

Judge Judy even comment commented on this situation but yeah I mean Stephanie and Nick are just waiting basically at this point because they already know that when the investigation is over that they will spend the rest of their lives in prison and then last minute they will be given a dry sponge in the electric chair

And then you guys will understand genocide is not very funny

Nicholas would try to pretend to be the cop but he wouldn’t of course because everybody knows that he’s a methodicted alcoholic well he’s also addicted to other peoples methods because Nick has never had a mind of his own he never would and as soon as the disconnect happens he turns into a mentally retarded drone

#BP #no #bo #ew

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its-minart · 2 years

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This is my formal apology for my last post about these babies <33

Have a Happy Halloween btw

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mochegato · 3 years

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Even the Losers

Chapter 9

Chapter 1 Chapter 8

Marinette stopped a few feet from the corner of the restaurant at which M. Wayne had made their reservation in order to collect herself. She checked her reflection in the restaurant’s darkened windows to make sure nothing had changed in the past few minutes. It wasn’t that she wanted to impress M. Wayne, but she didn’t want to make him think less of her either. She wanted to be perfect for him and yeah, maybe, she wanted to impress him, make him want to stay… this time.

She brushed her bangs out of her face a little rougher than she intended to, trying to force those thoughts out of her head and punish herself for thinking them in the first place. This wasn’t about making him like her. She lived this long without him. She didn’t need him. She’d be just fine without him. She had been so far. It didn’t matter if he didn’t love her. It didn’t matter if he didn’t like her. It didn’t mean she was unloveable.

She watched as her reflection deflated. It just meant that one of the two people who were biologically programmed to love her no matter what, didn’t. That he fought through biology to brush her off. She shook her head and stood straight up again. But! But, that didn’t make her unloveable. Jagged did the same to Luka and Juleka and they were two of the most amazing people she knew. They weren’t unloveable, and neither was she. They repaired their relationship and so could she.

This was about adding to her family, not filling a hole in her life. There was no Bruce Wayne shaped hole in her life. His opinion of her didn’t matter. His opinion of her didn’t change who she was. She was going to be who she was around him and if he didn’t like it, she lost nothing. She would still have an amazing family. She would still have amazing friends. She would still be loved.

This was about him fitting into her life. Not the other way around. This was about her deciding if there was a place for him. If she wanted him there, to give him a chance or not. This was about getting answers so she could make those decisions. She took a breath. This was about giving him a chance to speak and for her to listen to what he said.

She nodded to her reflection resolutely and pushed through the doors to the restaurant’s waiting area. Her eyes widened incrementally seeing the lobby. It screamed luxury and exclusivity. Only certain people were allowed here and Marinette was confident if she hadn’t been meeting Bruce Wayne, she wouldn’t be considered one of those people. The maître d’ eyed her with a sneer that looked so at home on his face it must have been his normal expression.

She gave him a nervous smile. “I’m here for a reservation under the name Wayne.” The maître d’ looked her up and down and gave a curt nod. He walked toward the doors to the dining room without saying anything to her.

Marinette smoothed down her hair one last time as the maître d’ led her through the doors to the dining area. She clutched her purse so tightly her knuckles were turning white. She really hoped Tikki had found a different spot to hide in, because otherwise it had to be incredibly uncomfortable for her. Marinette was focusing all of her tension into her hand and forcing the rest of her body to relax so she wouldn’t appear as terrified as she actually was. Now if she could just get her heart to start beating in a regular rhythm, she’d be all set.

She gave a nervous smile to Bruce as he stood to greet her and struggled to remember any part of the pep talk she had just given herself a few minutes ago. Because as soon as she saw his relieved and excited face, she started forgetting. It was not about wanting to see that expression on his face and knowing she was the cause. This was about her. She should not be filled with anxiety about making him lose that expression and wanting to walk away. He was proving himself, she wasn’t proving herself.

“Marinette!” He gave her a warm smile and held his hand out to shake hers while she went in for a cheek kiss greeting at the same time. He chuckled awkwardly and quickly shifted his hand to her arm as he kissed her cheek as well. He nodded to the maître d’ and pulled her chair out for her. As soon as they were alone, he sat down anxiously. “Thank you again for agreeing to meet me. You look nice.”

Marinette smiled and nodded to him. “So do you. And thank you for agreeing at such short notice.”

He chuckled nervously. His eyes darted between her, his glass of wine, the menu, really anything as he searched for his next words. It shouldn’t be this hard. He spoke to boardrooms of hostile and dangerous businesspeople. Speaking to his daughter shouldn’t be harder. She wasn’t going to destroy a city. She wasn’t going to undermine entire groups of people just so she could make a few more dollars. She wasn’t dangerous… well, not to anyone but him. With him, she had the power to destroy his heart with just one word.

“I ordered a merlot if you would like some. If not, I can call someone in…”

He started to get up to call someone over, but Marinette lunged at him to get him to sit down and not draw attention to them, knocking over his glass of merlot. Marinette’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh no, no, no, no,” she whimpered helplessly. She grabbed a few napkins to clean it up. Why? Why did her clumsiness have to act up now? In front of M. Wayne. Why did she have to be such a klutz? She could feel the tears stinging her eyes as they tried to escape.

“Marinette,” Bruce cooed gently. He gently gripped her wrists and pulled them away from the table. “Marinette, it’s okay. It happens. You should see a normal dinner at the manor. If there isn’t at least one spill or something isn’t broken, we start thinking someone is sick.” She finally looked up at him apprehensively and he could feel the breath leaving his chest. His eyes softened and he tried to give her an encouraging smile. “It’s fine. We can just move to another table and I’ll leave a big tip.”

Her eyes widened even larger and she looked around. “We can’t just…” She stopped when she noticed the empty restaurant. It was prime dinnertime, or at least it was in France. Maybe a bit early, but not uncommon. But this restaurant was completely empty. Not even families with kids. And there was no way M. Wayne would choose a restaurant that nobody liked. “Do Gothamites eat dinner really early? Or really late?” she whispered, not wanting to break the silence that engulfed them.

“Hmm?” Bruce hummed in confusion.

“There aren’t any… It just isn’t as crowded as I would expect,” she explained. “Not that that doesn’t work in my favor in this case.”

“Oh,” he nodded his head in realization and gave her a soft smile. “No, not as crowded as the place usually is. I rented it out.”

“You rented out the entire restaurant?” she whispered incredulously. “At the last minute?”

Bruce’s smile widened at the astonished look on her face. “I didn’t want people gawking at us all night or taking pictures and the manor is rather hectic.” He grimaced slightly at the thought. “Not to mention, we’d have just as many gawkers there. And I wanted this first meeting to be just between us. So I made sure we had some privacy.”

Marinette shook her head. “Right. Forgot. Rich.”

Bruce chuckled too. “Yeah, I forget sometimes too.” He sat at a table next to the one they had been sitting at.

Marinette scoffed lightly and joined him at the new table. “I doubt that.” She slapped her hand over her mouth, her eyes going wide as she stared at him. “Sorry. I’m sorry. That was… so rude,” she stuttered. She dropped her eyes quickly. She mentally berated herself for sabotaging this so efficiently. She doubted she could do it more effectively if she were trying.

Bruce shook his head. “No, not at all. You’re not wrong. And a lot more polite about it than Jason would have been. Or Stephanie.”

Marinette looked back up at him through her bangs. “Oh… um… okay.”

Bruce squeezed his eyes shut behind his menu. He was screwing this up so badly. Instead of making her feel more comfortable, he was making her increasingly nervous and doubtful. He pursed his lips as he searched for anything to talk about to lighten the mood. “I hope you like it here. The food is really good.” He had to stop himself from physically slapping himself for that terrible non-sequitur. His entire job was to say things in an engaging, elegant way. It was a skill he’d started honing decades ago. Where was that training now?

Marinette opened her menu as well with an anxious smile. “Great. I’m starving.”

“Hi Starving, I’m your father.”

Marinette blinked a few times at him, trying to catch his eye but he was staring blankly at his menu. “Did you just…”

“I admit to nothing,” he answered flatly, still staring at his menu.

Marinette continued to stare for a few seconds before breaking down into giggles, the tension that had been building since she entered the restaurant breaking with his joke. “I… I can’t… believe you sai… said that,” she gasped out between laughs.

He watched her with an amused glint in his eyes and a relieved smile. “Do not tell your siblings. Dick will pout for a week that he wasn’t here to hear it.”

Marinette let her giggles die down and nodded. She looked up at him with a much more relaxed smile. “Not known for your sense of humor?”

“No, definitely not,” Bruce shook his head with a grin. He set down his menu to focus on Marinette. “Jason used to tease me mercilessly about it.”

Marinette quirked her head to the side, an amused smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. “And was Jason a comedian or he just liked to tease you?”

“A little of both. Dick is more of our comedian. He’s usually the first to make a joke… to lighten the mood. Stephanie will make a fool out of herself to get you to smile, or herself. She likes being over the top. But Jason, when he was a kid, was excited about everything. Everything in life was new and exciting. He was constantly smiling and bouncing from thing to thing. So optimistic.” Bruce’s eyes unfocused as he remembered the first year after Jason came to the manor.

Marinette furrowed her brow in doubt. Not a single one of those words were ones she would use to describe Jason from the time she’d spent with him. Maybe her translation of the words was wrong? “Jason? Jason Todd. Your son Jason.”

Bruce chuckled wryly. “Yes, that Jason. “ A pained expression flashed across his face morphing into a sad frown he didn’t even try to hide. “A lot changed over the years. Some… things happened about eight years ago. It changed all of us.”

Marinette let out a dry laugh as images of Hawaiian shirts and rock giants flashed through her head. She turned back to her menu to avoid his eyes. “I can understand that.”

Bruce furrowed his brow, a guilty frown settling on his lips for a few seconds before he plastered on a smile. “Now he’s more likely to make a sarcastic remark than a joke. But, he’s fiercely protective of his family, maybe more than any of the rest of us.”

Marinette thought back over their interactions and slowly started nodding. “He seems like it.” She paused when the waitress came in to take their orders. She smiled politely while the waitress was in the room, acting the part of a dutiful, happy daughter rather than a temperamental stranger who took her frustrations and insecurities out on him without letting him explain. And that’s what this was about, letting him explain. But before he could do that, she needed to make sure he knew she wasn’t mad. Well… that she wasn’t going to attack him anyway.

As soon as the waitress left, her shield was gone. She could no longer hide behind the façade. Now she had to face him. She looked down and squeezed her eyes shut. She took a beat before she looked back up at Bruce. “I wanted to say sorry for how I behaved when you came to my hotel room. I wasn’t being fair to you. I only found out about you a few days ago and then the world found out and then you were at my door. It was a lot all at once and I did not handle it well, so I’m sorry.”

Even with half her face hidden from looking down as she spoke, Bruce could see the shame radiating from her expression. When she finally looked up to make eye contact he had to force himself not to gasp at the guilt and pain in her eyes. His heart clenched at the sight. He hated seeing her look like that. He’d do anything to keep that look off her face. That was his job. That was the entire point of what he’d done. But he failed. He might have failed at it so far, but he was going to make up for it now… if she would let him.

His hand shot out almost too quickly to see and gently squeezed hers, hoping that at least that level of intimacy was allowed. “No, I invaded your space. I forced a confrontation before you were ready. I knew I shouldn’t do that. Sabine… your mother warned me not to do that and I did it anyway. I’m sorry for that. I didn’t… I didn’t want to lose my chance to…” He looked down at the table and frowned trying to get his words in order.

“I didn’t want you to leave before I could talk to you, to try to connect and explain.” He looked at her almost desperately. “You were here, right here. So close. I couldn’t let you slip through my fingers again, not when I knew you knew. Not when I didn’t have to keep it a secret anymore.” He frowned and looked down at his glass, pulling his hand back into his lap. He suddenly chuckled wryly. “If there was ever a good reason to begin with.”

Marinette sucked in a breath not ready for this conversation yet. She thought they’d ease into it. Get comfortable, then get into it. But apparently M. Wayne’s approach was to rip the Band-Aid off. Dealing with uncomfortable situations was definitely not an inherited trait because her method of avoiding any uncomfortable conversations in increasingly unlikely and embarrassing manors until the entire thing festered into a debilitating, unnecessarily explosive fiasco, was not a technique she picked up from her maman either.

Bruce looked back up at her with a determined look. “Marinette, you had a right to react. You had… have a right to be upset or hurt or both. I deserved it. Believe me, I understand that. I’ve gotten worse from your siblings for less. Don’t feel like you have to apologize to me. However you react, I can take it and I’m not going to walk away again. But I am hoping that you being here means you want to move forward, you want to try.” He looked up at her questioningly, an edge of fear in his eyes. “Do you?”

Marinette let out the breath she’d taken in. She looked down and pushed a strand of hair that was still in place behind her ear, letting her fingers linger so she had something else to focus on for a moment. When she looked back up, there was a more determined look in her eyes. “Yes. I… I want to listen. I want to understand.”

Bruce nodded with a grateful smile. “Thank you. I know this is a lot and it hasn’t been fair to you and I’m sorry for… everything.”

Marinette nodded. “Thank you.” They both sat and looked in the vicinity of each other uneasily, both waiting for the other to say something first. Marinette tapped her fingers together while she waited for him to continue speaking, to give the explanation he’d promised.

Bruce was waiting for… he wasn’t sure. Inspiration maybe. He’d thought through what he wanted to say. He’d gone over it all, but somehow seeing her in front of him, looking in her eyes and seeing her vulnerability laid bare, none of his excuses seemed like enough. None of them seemed valid, but then again, they never were.

After a few minutes of silence, he finally spoke up. “When you were born, I was younger than you are now and I didn’t think I’d be able to be a good father.” He frowned at the table. “And in my head it was better for you to not be with me at all. I thought I’d bring you down. But your mother…” he gave her a wan smile, “she was always strong and good. I knew she would be an amazing mother… without my interference. I thought you had a better chance away from me and Gotham and in my idiot mind that meant cutting off all contact.”

“But you took in other kids,” she pointed out timidly.

Bruce nodded and flicked his eyes up to hers before looking back down in guilt. “I didn’t intend to. I came across Dick about awhile after your mother took you to France. He lost his parents. They died, were killed in front of his eyes, like mine had been. He was angry and violent. He needed someone and I thought I could help. I might not be a good parent, but I could help him… keep him from becoming… me.”

Marinette’s brow furrowed sympathetically. “Would that be bad?”

Bruce cringed slightly, remembering how he was at the time. “Yes, it would have. Anger and desperation? They can do bad things to a person.” He looked at her pointedly. “Makes you make terrible decisions.”

Marinette nodded in understanding. She understood how far desperation could drive a person. She understood how dark some people could go. She understood how bad things could get if they continued unchecked. She’d fought those people. She’d helped defeat one of them. And no matter how bad the battle was, it was always harder handling them after they were defeated, when all they had was their grief.

“Jason… he came a few years later. He was alone and on the streets. He was tough and smart and so excited about life, but he was never going to get the opportunity to do anything on the streets.”

“And you wanted to help him too,” Marinette finished his unfinished thought.

“Yeah. He needed someone to let him be a kid, let him be passionate, to love him like a parent should. And I couldn’t leave him there. And Tim… he kind of snuck in and declared himself family. He wasn’t wrong. He is. He came along after Jason… was gone. He filled a void I didn’t even know I had until he stepped in. And I hope I’ve done the same for him. He didn’t have the best childhood either. And now… I can’t imagine the family without him.”

Marinette gave him a small smile. “Sounds like he adopted you.”

Bruce nodded absently, his eyes taking on a far-off focus as he remembered the past. “Sometimes children are smarter than their parent. In the case of my kids,” he looked up at her meaningfully, “all of them, it’s true.

“They didn’t have a better choice… you did. And in my idiotic self-destructive mind, I was helping you. I was convinced for more than a decade that the best thing I’d done in my life, the most selfless, was walk away from you, not force you to have to suffer with dealing with me. But I was just afraid and selfish. I made a stupid choice. By the time I realized how monumentally I’d screwed up, Jason was gone and by the time I got my head back on right, Damian was here and Damian needed all my attention.”

“You didn’t have Damian since he was a baby?”

Bruce shook his head. “No. I didn’t even know about him until he was ten. Then his mother just dropped him off with me. His childhood…” Bruce let out a long breath. “His grandfather taught him since birth that he needed to earn love, or as close as he’s capable to love. Damian’s mother told him he was better than everyone else… so you can imagine the kinds of issues we had for quite a while.”

He gave a proud smile. “He’s made such a big change since he came. He’s grown so much.”

“You sound proud,” she observed poignantly.

Bruce’s smile turned bittersweet. “I’m proud of all of my kids. You’re all amazing people. I don’t know how I ended up with so many amazing kids.”

She smiled and hoped it didn’t come off as awkward as it felt. “So what about Duke? And I think Jason mentioned sisters.”

Bruce nodded. “Cass is the only one I adopted. Stephanie is just around enough that she’s essentially a child. Same with Barbara. I ran into Cass while I was travelling. Her parents were mentally and physically abusive to the point that she didn’t speak until she was a teenager.” Marinette gasped. “She’s a lot better. She communicates with us a lot, mostly through sign language. And Duke… Joker tortured his parents because they saved me once.”

Marinette gasped and grasped his hand, squeezing it. When he met her eyes she gave him another encouraging squeeze and a warm smile. “They’ve all come such a long way. I’m sure a better parent could have done more but somehow we’ve all become a slightly dysfunctional family. Watching them… It’s amazing to see how far they’ve all come. They’ve all had to fight so hard, go against so many obstacles.”

“It sounds like you’ve done a lot of work with all of them. And they’ve grown amazingly with you watching over them. They were incredibly lucky to have you,” Marinette said quietly a strained smile on her face, no longer making eye contact with Bruce. She took back her hand to take a drink of her wine.

Those were valid reasons. She could admit that and she didn’t begrudge them the better life being with M. Wayne afforded them, but still… She fought frowning at her lap. It all made sense. Every step made sense. They needed someone and he could provide, so he did. From an objective perspective. It made sense. Did it make her a bad person if that didn’t make her feel better? What did it say about her that she was still hurt? That she still was angry, felt betrayed? That it wasn’t enough?

Bruce’s face fell as he watched her change in demeanor. His chest clenched. “I never stopped thinking about you and how you were doing. I never stopped loving you.” He reached out for her hand but let his hand dropped when she didn’t offer it readily. “I know you don’t feel that way about me, you just met me, but I’ve loved you from the moment you were born. And I know it’s hard to see and I don’t show it well… at all… but I’ve always tried to make sure you were taken care of, that you never wanted for anything. I’ve kept up on your life to make sure.

“And I need you to know it was never because I didn’t want you. It was never that I thought my other kids were better than you in any way. It was never because I didn’t think you were good enough. I didn’t think I was. I thought you deserved better than I could ever give you, better than you could get in Gotham. But running away wasn’t the way to do that, and I realize that.” He was unsure how to interpret the wide eyed look Marinette was giving him, but he plowed on, needing to say it anyway.

“I really did intend to try to connect. That’s why I went to your final showing. I showed pictures of your work to someone on the fabric project and said I happened to see you there.” He chuckled lightly and shook his head. “I thought I’d have to do a bunch of conniving behind the scenes to get Lucius to use you. But as it turns out, he’s just as excited to get you on the project as I was. He mentioned you to me after you spoke with him.”

Marinette smiled. It was small and self-conscious, but significantly better for Bruce to see than the strained smile she’d had earlier. “M. Fox is a very nice man. I liked speaking with him a lot.”

“And he is quite fond of you.” Bruce smiled fondly at her but his smile quickly turned conspiratorial. “I think he likes you better than he likes me, actually.”

Marinette straightened up in her seat. “I plan on accepting his offer to consult on the project.” She looked up to make eye contact with Bruce. Her body tensed slightly in preparation for her next words. “If… if that’s okay with you.”

Marinette gave a small, uncertain smile when she saw Bruce’s brilliant smile. “Yes! That’s great to hear.” His face turned serious. “What does that mean for… do you want to…”

“I was hoping to take you up on the apartment offer as well… if that’s still an option.” Marinette looked down again, her anxiety back. “It will help Max while he settles in and I thought I could use it while I figure out how the project is going to work and what the requirements on my time will be.” She tapped her fingers together, unable to control her fidgeting. She looked up nervously. “I thought it would also give us a chance to see each other more and your other kids.”

“Absolutely. It is absolutely still available. If you want your own apartment, I can get a penthouse for you. Or you’re welcome to stay at the manor,” he rambled excitedly.

“M. Wayne,” Marinette interrupted. Bruce immediately sobered at her serious expression. “I don’t need special treatment. I don’t need you to buy me things. And I don’t know how long I’ll be in town. Adrien and I are trying to figure out where we want to set up and I’ll need to start taking commissions again.”

Bruce nodded. “I understand. Sorry. I got excited and got carried away. Rich, you know… it’s how we show love.”

Marinette’s face immediately soured as she thought of Adrien’s and Chloe’s childhoods. “That’s not love you’re showing. I’m staying to get to know you and your family, not get things.”

Bruce blinked at her a few times. “Right. I know that. I never thought it was,” he assured her awkwardly. He took a sip of his wine and glanced around the room. He suddenly perked up. “Speaking of commissions, I was hoping we could finally commission you… if that’s okay!” he added quickly. “I don’t want to put pressure on you. I’ve just been waiting to get something made by you for years.”

Marinette blinked a few times and looked down. Her brow furrowed. She fought letting out a sigh. “No, you’re right. I should.”

“We’ll pay you, of course,” he insisted.

Marinette rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to charge you to make something for you.”

Bruce shook his head. “You run a business. I’m commissioning the business. I can cover our commission.”

Marinette huffed and narrowed her eyes at him. “Compromise. You pay for materials. Nothing more.”

Bruce narrowed his eyes back at her. “Materials and time.”

Marinette huffed out a laugh. “Okay fine.”

Bruce grinned. “I’m excited to work with you. I wasn’t kidding. I’ve wanted to commission you for years. I’m a fan of your style and art.”

Marinette opened her mouth but closed it quickly when the waitress came back in with their food. Bruce leaned back so she could set the plates down. “Speaking of, how would you feel about going to the art museum tomorrow and then maybe get some lunch after?”

Marinette nodded. “Oh yeah, there was an exhibit that looked interesting.” She nodded to the waitress and thanked her. The waitress lingered for just a moment before leaving the room.

“Would 9 work for you? Oh, no wait.” He scrunched his face in annoyance. “I have a meeting at 10. It should be done by noon though.” He looked up and gave her an earnest look. “I’ll make sure it is done by noon. How about lunch then art museum?”

Marinette smiled and nodded. “That sounds good.”

“Great. I can bring the keys for the new apartment. Now, I’ve done all the talking. Tell me more about you. Tell me about your friends.” He took a bite giving Marinette his full attention while Marinette talked about her friends and how they had all met and some stories about their time together.

She started out slowly, building up more confidence as she spoke. The more she spoke the more comfortable she was with what she wanted to say. The quicker she was able to filter out what information she didn’t want to share. She wasn’t ready to give him much yet, not enough to do anything with, not more than he could probably get from searching Instagram or Tik Tok, but it was a start. A start to what exactly, she wasn’t sure. But it was a start to something.

Tags:

@maribat-bdbwm @jayjayspixiepop @redscarlet95 @alice-hazelwood @deathssilentapproach-blog @unoriginalmess @alyssadeliv @emotionalsupportginger @frieddonutsweets @when-no-wings-do-broomsticks @toodaloo-kangaroo @colorfulmongerpsychicranch @iloontjeboontje @wolf-for-life @maribatserver @aespades @prettylittlebutterflie @imarivers8 @ certainmuffinbagelcalzone@ritacrow-blog @unoriginalmess @demonicbusiness @kking13 @lady-bee-fechin @blur-of-colours @kittenmywaythrulife @kashlyn @loysydark

#maribat #bio!dad bruce #bio dad bruce wayne #roynette #Even the Losers #prompt - dad jokes

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spiritofstarlight · 3 years

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Once Upon A Broken Heart Theory

I still remember the fateful (pun intended) day I picked up the collectors edition of Caraval with the prologue to what is now OUABH. Immediately knowing it was about Jacks and just as excited as everyone else.

UNTILLLLL

I finished reading it. I don’t think the prologue is about Jacks, it’s about Luc. And we definitely haven’t seen the last of him.

Here’s the Prologue:

I remember being a little confused that it could be Jacks, but now I definitely don’t think it is. She met Jacks in his church, not in the shop. And then we have this scene towards the end of the book after our last interaction with Luc:

It so heavily references the prologue. We also were shown how Luc didn’t hesitate to attack her when Jacks controlled himself.

I’m not sure how this will play into book 2, but I think Luc has a larger role to play. Without any basis either- I think the young man waiting for her before she visits Apollo wasn’t Jacks, but Luc. It doesn’t make sense that Jacks wouldn’t go straight to her if he was already there, he’s not the waiting type. When he says “I’ll come to you” I think it’s because he was father away than she assumed.

With Stephanie’s writing, nothing is as it seems and the assumptions and conclusions the protagonists draw are almost always wrong. I think there’s a million twists left in this series and I can’t wait to experience them all!

#once upon a broken heart #ouabh #ouabh spoilers #caraval #stephanie garber #evangeline fox #jacks #prince of hearts

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paintball169 · 3 years

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Day 4 - Bonding

Today was National Parent’s day. And Marinette’s School was celebrating by Calling their child’s parents to the School, Where they were going to talk about some Fond memories. Now Marinette’s Parents were in California for a Baking contest. And her Dad couldn’t come either because he lived all the way in Gotham. She had vaguely mentioned it on their daily calls. Everyone’s parents were here. All except hers. Even Gabriel Agreste was there!

At this moment everyone was playing a game of truths. They had to say what they genuinely thought of a classmate.

“Marinette, It’s your turn!” Miss bustier called out. She vaguely nodded and descended down. “Where are your parents?”

“They’re in California for a baking competition” She answered glumly. The teacher nodded and gave her a slip. Lila. She had to tell about Lila! That was easy!

“Lila rossi.” Bustier called out. Everyone’s eyes were on her.

“If I were stuck in a room with Lila and Hawkmoth, and I had a gun with two bullets. I’d shoot Lila twice. She’s a devil. I’m not sure if they’d kill her. Probably more than two bullets will be needed. And My brothers are police officers so I aim well. I’d shoot the devil’s head twice without missing!” She said glowing with excitement. Everyone’s jaw dropped. Lila began shaking with fear. Gabriel managed to say “Oh dear lord!”

Then there was a snort. “You’ve been spending too much time with Jason haven’t you?” She knew that voice. It was her dad Bruce! Her jaw dropped and she just stared at him not finding words to say.

“M-Mr. Wayne, What are you doing here?” Bustier asked.

“Today was Parents day, and this is her last year in Lycee, So I thought I could make it special.” He simply answered.

“Wait, don’t tell me -” Gabriel started.

“Yep, Marinette’s mine and Sabine’s Daughter.” He answered.

That snapped Marinette out of her thoughts. She began tearing up and quickly launched herself at him. “You came, You freaking came!” She said, her voice raspy.

“Of course I did. Tom and Sabine weren’t here so I came. Now what have I said about comparing lila to a devil?” He asked, trying to cheer her up.

“Not to. She’s more than a devil.” She said, chuckling. That earned Gasps.

“You can’t insult me, Mr. Whoever you are! Do you know who I am?!” Lila asked with her shrill voice. Jaws dropped. Everyone began thinking didn’t she say she was dating Damian wayne.

“Of course I do, you’re Lila rossi, the one who’s threatened my daughter multiple times, The one who says fake fantasy tales, I mean how are you that stupid! My daughter designs Jagged stone! You are also the makeup master, you draw fake makeup bruises to accuse my daughter! I know who you are alright. But do you know who I am?” Her father asked. Jaws dropped when he said that.

“Hmm, let me see a scumbag?” Lila says her facade is totally gone.

“No wrong answer. I am Bruce wayne. Expect Lawsuits on Slander and Harassment.” He says chuckling. Lila Pales. Runs away.

“Now as I was saying,I’m a busy man, yet I make time for my children.

We do bonding trips together once a year. I take a day off to spend time with my children many times.

With Dick or Richard, We go bakery scouting. We taste every treat. With Jason, We just sat and Bicker. With Tim, I go Photography with him. He loved to go Birds and Bats watching when he was a kid(Vigilante stalking). With Damian, We go to the Animal Shelter. The way his eyes light up whenever we go, It’s fascinating. With Stephanie, She might be Tim’s girlfriend but I adopted her in the End, She teaches me how to play pranks. With Cassandra, We go to watch Dance Shows. With Barbara? Then again she might not be my kid, but commissioner gordon’s but still. We go shoe shopping. She has a whole walk in the Shoe Closet! With Duke, He’s my Business partner’s kid. He’s a sweet Innocent Cinnamon roll. We go to Watch Movies. With marinette, She lectures me on how these are different types of fabrics.

I might be a busy man. Doesn’t mean you need to ignore your children. Once you grow apart It’s hard to be close again.

One word to describe my Family, for others might be rich, For me Chaotic.

Everyone in my family has weird Habits. Dick Likes to Climb Chandeliers. Jason likes to get Death notes. Tim Stays up all night. When he was a kid he used to Stalk Batman and Robin. He’s a Fan. Damian likes to chase Every one with Katanas. He also likes to take in any animal he finds. Example a Cow and a Goliath. We have a Mansion just for his Pets. Stephanie likes to collect every Purple thing she finds. Cassandra moves in shadows scaring every guest. Barbara Likes to do modifications to her Wheelchairs. Duke likes to go Maze hunting. And Marinette, She Coffee Talks, Whenever she’s under the Influence of Coffee, She talks only the Truth.

Sometimes I end up taking my kids to work. And every single time I end up losing them.

I usually find Dick in the middle of a crowd in Cafeteria doing tricks. Jason’s always found in the corner of a library. I usually find Tim lecturing in some meetings, And employees nodding along! That was a long time ago. I don’t need to find Cass, She’s the only Sane person in the Family. To find Stephanie, Follow the Trail of Pranks. Duke’s usually in his father’s study with Barbara. Marinette usually is found with an employee talking. Damian is found Pissing Employees out.

My children Do the weirdest things. I love them. One Time Jason let a three year old marinette drive my Car!”

“Hey that was one time!” Both Jason and Marinette shouted.

“Now I must get Going.” And that’s how Bruce Wayne Exposed Lila Rossi. With recollection of old Bonding Trips.

@maribat-bdbwm

#mbdbwm2021 #Bio Dad Bruce Wayne #maribat #Bio!dadbrucewayne2021 #lilasalt

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river-bottom-nightmare · 4 years

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Hey I love your...everything about dick Grayson. I have a terrible memory but I remember someone saying they think dick Grayson has ADHD and I think it was you? If it was can you talk about it a little more? Like, give some examples of traits? I love that headcanon but as someone not that knowledgeable of this stuff I wanted to get someone else's pov on the topic

agh thank you!! and yea, that was me, in this post. that was just me rambling a bit and me jotting stuff down, but i did say if you wanted more i’d be happy to give more. and so, in headcanon format, here is more.

One of Dick Grayson’s defining traits is that he could not sit still. Everybody had noticed it, everybody had commented on it, and everyone pretended to find it annoying while also knowing that his constant fidgeting, bouncing, leaping, talking, and laughing was a comfort. The buzz of energy surrounding him was a constant, and prompted many many people to offhandedly remark to Bruce, “He’s probably got ADHD.” Green Arrow, when Robin was talking Flash’s ear off when he first met the Justice League. A socialite in a dress with a borderline-obscene neckline when Dick came up to him for the eighth time that night, drawing his attention to something new. Even Harley Quinn, as he jumped around her in circles after they’d tied her up to a pole in a warehouse while Bruce copied the data, although she said it with a fond little grin and a bit more, well, educated style.

And if he was being honest? Bruce agreed with all of them. Just, in a different way.

Dick’s hyperfixiations were a sight to behold. He’d find something interesting to label as his New favourite thing ever, Bruce!!, absorb everything there was to know about the topic, then move on to something new in a month. Which had always been the problem. Bruce couldn’t begin to count the nights he had to coerce Dick into coming downstairs, leaving his rare igneous rock collection or his college-level textbook about nerve paralysis or his new batch of poisonous flowers, and eating something, or going to bed. There was a reason Dick was underweight for most of his life, and still was as an adult.

It was in his “all or nothing” attitude, the way he threw his entire self into the job, or whatever needed to be done. But if he decided something wasn’t worth it, or that he was done, he dropped it entirely, with no lost love. His impulse control was bad, but that was something Bruce could help him with, train him to keep a level head or make the right choice. Though, making choices was another thing to tackle altogether. Choice paralysis was the best way to describe it. If Dick didn’t absolutely make up his mind about something, then he was split, caught between two different choices, and he couldn’t say no to either.

Jason may have rage coursing through his blood, but his anger was solid, dependable, reliable. Dick’s mood swings, however, were monsters that Bruce had been trying to understand since Dick was a child, his kindness and understanding changing to harsh words and accusatory looks so fast it gave Bruce whiplash. Jason seemed to be one of the few who could wade his way through them, never trying to change him or stop him, just trying to understand him.

Tim’s internal clock may be blown and shot to hell, but it was out of willpower, determination. He had work to do, and he would power through his tiredness until it was done. (And then he’d grab an oversized superboy t-shirt and crash for a couple days on end.) Dick, on the other hand, could not sleep. Lying in a bed made him restless, but sitting in the kitchen hunched over a mug of chamomile tea made gave him a headache. Dick had once told him, in the hours where it was too early to be morning but too late to be night, that he just wanted his brain to stop for once, to just shut off. Bruce didn’t have an answer. Tim, apparently, had an answer, because he would sit up with Dick in that kitchen, turning the lights down low, and talking with him about this cool new spot he found for his photography, or some changes he’s thinking of making to his suit. Tim’s quiet rambling seemed to ease the headache, at least.

Cass and Dick may not have many things in common, at first glance. They never bonded the way they did to other members of the family, the way Cass and Steph learned to laugh together or the way Dick and Jason finally reached an understanding, and were able to just spend time together. Bruce actually thought Cass would get along with Damian, given their shared assassin history. But Damian just looked at him strange, and said “I’m not the one who was raised as a human weapon.” And that...that was true. Cass may have been isolated and alone, and Dick might have been raised with love and affection, but Bruce couldn’t deny that the two of them had been raised, as Damian put it, human weapons. And despite Dick’s ease and grace and innate flexibility, Bruce knew that Dick itched at his skin, sometimes felt uncomfortable and not in control in his own body. But then he saw Dick with Cass one day, stretching and going over some basic yoga poses, the silence between them thick with something heavy and grateful. Bruce memorized the content and peaceful look on his children’s faces, then left as quietly as he’d entered.

Bruce was no stranger to Stephanie’s self esteem issues, overhearing her in front of the mirror many a time, clothed in the Robin costume and telling herself, in between gritted teeth, “I deserve to be here. I’m good enough. I’ve got this.” As for Dick, his self esteem issues were a tad different. His constant need to make people like him, his jokes and quips that were aimed to make people think he was funny, think he was worth it, his absolute terror of rejection, the way he broke off relationships and had trouble maintaining the ones he did have under the philosophy of leaving before they rejected him for real. A whisper in the back of Bruce’s mind whispered Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, though neither of them were fond of labels. But it wasn’t hard to miss the easy stream of compliments flowing back and forth between Dick and Steph, usually good natured teasing, but no less sincere. It helped them more than they realized.

People may say Damian was violent, rude, and prone to outbursts. And this was true, for the most part. Bruce knew Damian was still getting a handle on his emotions, but he also knew the kid actually meditated in his free time, and most of his actions were well planned and thought out. Dick, on the other hand, had outbursts frequently. He’d just gotten much better at controlling them, or maybe just blowing up at Bruce and hiding them from the rest of the family. And his emotions were a hurricane, a whirlwind of raw power. Regulating him had long since gone out the window. Luckily, Damian seemed think the opposite (or maybe Bruce had given up too early). Dick never actually seemed to enjoy meditating with Damian, but controlling their tempers was something the two of them were working on together, one backing the other up or slow them down, and vice versa.

Every time someone came up to him, telling him Dick was just so cheerful and hyper and constantly in motion, Bruce was brought back to the first week in the manor, Alfred raising his eyebrow at Bruce after Dick’s latest antics had landed him in his room, refusing to open the door for anyone. Bruce knew Alfred was running through a mental checklist in his head, same as him. Alfred had told him, “This is going to be quite a bit of trouble, Master Bruce.” Bruce had shown his weary agreement. Then Alfred had nodded resolutely, and said “I suppose we shall just love him right, then.”

Bruce knew without a doubt that Alfred had succeeded in that particular promise. But Bruce was still asking himself whether or not he had.

ADHD is,,,,,,,hard to write. tag list: @comicsandhoney @dangerduckjpeg @yesboopityboop @birdy-bat-writes @astroherogirl @anothertimdrakestan @thebatsandbirdsofgotham @subtleappreciation

#dick grayson #nightwing #dc #batfam #scribbles from the swamp #dick grayson headcanon #nightwing headcanon #dc headcanon #batfam headcanon

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minor-solemnity · 3 years

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Curiosity pt. 3

Marie’s footsteps fade and then it’s just the two of you. Immediately, Riddle’s concerned expression clears and he watches you with an annoyingly satisfied smirk lacing his annoyingly pretty features. “Well, this is interesting,” He says and you have to force yourself not to grimace. He must see something in your expression anyway because his smirk grows wider. “Turn out your pockets.”

“Just once more - explain to me exactly what it is that we’re attempting to do?” Maries asks from where she’s lounging against a statue opposite Mr Larkins office. You tilt your head to glare at her and studiously ignore her huff of laughter as you return your attention to the task at hand.

The task at hand being trying (and so far, failing) to break into Mr Larkins office. You’re kneeling on the floor outside the door, tapping the wood with your wand in a methodical order. You’re not exactly sure what protection charms he’s put in place but whatever he’s done, it’s solid work. “As it’s clearly eluded you, we’re trying to get into Larkins office. And you didn’t have to come, Marie. You could have just stayed in the dorm and caught up on your charms homework.”

“Oh, you’re right I could have done that, but this is so much more interesting.” She counters, “Or it would be if you could get into his office. I thought you said you’ve done this before.” You let out a short growl of frustration and she laughs again. The door to the office remains firmly locked. “But okay, we’re trying to break into the Quidditch teacher’s office. Care to share, why? I know you hate quidditch, but this seems a little extreme, doesn’t it?”

“I have. He’s changed the wards. Paranoid bastard.” Though really, can he be called paranoid if he was correct in his assumption that someone would try and break in? You sigh and rest your head against the wooden door, trying to calm down and temper your frustration. Wardbreaking is mostly concentration and patience and you know that getting angry will only increase the time it took to get the door open. “We’re breaking in because Larkins hasn’t been completely honest about what he gets up to in his spare time.” You say, at last, deciding that it's best to keep things as vague as possible.

You love Marie dearly, and you don’t want her to get into trouble just because you can’t let things go. If someone catches you, you’re going to be in so much trouble. Breaking curfew is one thing, breaking curfew to rummage around in a teacher’s desk is something else entirely.

In response, she hums, clearly dissatisfied with your evasion but unwilling to call you out on it just yet. “Have you tried a hairpin?” She asks suddenly. You blink and turn to stare at her, your forehead creasing in confusion. At your expression, Marie rolls her eyes and her hands reach to pat at her hair for a second before she pulls two hairpins from her braid. “Move.” She mutters and flaps her hands at you until you scoot out of her way. She fiddles with the lock for a minute or two and you keep a careful watch on the corridor, not that it would make much difference if a Prefect or Professor were to arrive. Distantly, you hear a click and Marie turns to you with a broad grin, “I swear to god, sometimes you just need to do things the old fashioned way, honestly.”

Mr Larkins office is just as you remembered it being. There are a bunch of quidditch posters pasted on the walls, spare brooms and quaffles stacked haphazardly in the corner, and his desk is overflowing with lesson plans, match timetables and diagrams of different flying manoeuvres. Marie looks around with vague curiosity and settles down against the door. At your questioning look she rolls her eyes, “Well, seeing as you seem intent on keeping your best friend in the dark about what you’re up to, I hardly see how I’m going to be much help.” Which… fair enough, honestly. You have no intention of sharing more than you have to.

You give the room a quick once over before turning your attention to the desk. Unlike the door, the first drawer you try opens with ease. “Arrogant idiot,” You murmur as you rifle through the documents you find. There are few articles about the new League rules but nothing of interest. The next two drawers reveal much the same and you feel the frustration returning as you pull open the last drawer left. Inside is a thick folder and you feel your heart sing with triumph. “This is it,” You whisper as you thumb through the file with increasing anticipation. “Geminio,” You murmur tapping the folder with the tip of your wand and stuffing the replica version back in the draw. Next, you transfigure the original folder into a quill and turn to Marie. “Right, let’s get out of here.”

“You know, I am always going to be jealous of your Transfiguration skills,” She says, gesturing to the quill that you’re tucking into the inside pocket of your robes.

You roll your eyes and move to open the door, “Don’t be ridiculous, Transfiguration and Charms are all I have going for me.” And it’s true, Transfiguration and Charms aside, your grades are severely lacking. You had, at one point hoped to go into Cursebreaking, but that was before you’d found out that you need Os in Defence and Potions for that, as well as a penis. You scowl thinking about the injustice of being denied your chosen career path just because of your gender and are so deep in thought that you almost don’t hear Marie’s hiss of surprise as you leave Larkins’ office.

Lounging against the same statue that Marie had been just a half-hour previously, is Tom Riddle. He raises an eyebrow as you and Marie stare at him. Dread trickles down your spine at his expression. To anyone else watching the scene unfold, Riddle looks like a prefect who is incredibly disappointed to find students stumbling out of a teacher’s office past curfew, but you don’t miss the slight curl of his upper lip or the flash of satisfaction in his eyes. Slowly, as though he hasn’t a care in the world, he pushes himself off of the statue and brings himself up to his full height. He’s at least half a foot taller than you and you find yourself once again having to tilt your head back to see his face. Besides you, Marie stands, eyes downcast, hands trembling slightly.

“I do hope you have a good reason for this. Breaking into a professor’s office after curfew could well be grounds for expulsion.” He murmurs and despite the lowness pitch of his voice, it rings out clearly in the quiet of the corridor. Marie makes a sound in the back of her throat that could be a whimper. Riddle’s gaze slides towards her and his expression changes briefly. You think he might be refraining from rolling his eyes. “As it stands, I would hate to have that on my conscience, we are so close to graduating, after all. And Miss Dawkins, you are a muggleborn, are you not? I imagine it would be difficult for you to find work if you were to leave Hogwarts without your NEWTs.” Marie goes completely still.

Panic flares white-hot in your chest at his words. What Riddle is saying is completely true; it would be difficult for either of you to truly succeed in the wizarding world but you’d probably be okay… You’re half-blood and your family affords you some cushioning, but Marie… Marie would not do well. “Riddle, you can’t,” You say and hate the pleading edge to your words. This would be your fault. Marie wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for your inability to leave things alone… Well no, you had told her not to come and she had insisted but regardless, you were the one who wanted that folder and she would be the one to suffer should the worse come to pass.

Riddle shakes his head and sighs. “And I have no intention to, but I will have to dock points. And you both have detention for the rest of the term.” Marie breathes out a deep sigh of relief. “Miss Dawkins, go back to your dorms now.” His tone brooks no argument and after a brief pause, Marie nods and turns to leave, but not before thanking Riddle for his kindness and understanding. “No need to thank me, Miss Dawkins, just please, no more sneaking around after dark.”

You do so, revealing a couple of hair ties, your wand, your fucking history essay of all things, and the quill. He frowns and you smile sweetly at him, silently pleased with his frustration. He turns to look at you and you almost want to shrink away from the intensity in his eyes. “What did you find in the office?” He asks and any amusement in his voice has faded, replaced by a hardness that promises consequences should you lie.

“Nothing.” You snap and thank Merlin your voice doesn’t shake. “There wasn’t anything in there. If there had been, obviously I would have taken it.” You can tell immediately that he doesn’t believe you. His eyes search yours which such scrutiny that this time you do look away, staring at the statue behind him determinedly.

“You’re lying. I don’t appreciate being lied to,” He pauses and some emotion that you don’t have time to decipher flickers across his face before it’s snuffed out and the collected facade that he usually wears is back in place. It’s sort of fascinating watching him school his emotions with such skill and control. The next time he speaks, there’s no anger or frustration to be heard in his voice. “Why are you so interested in Mr Larkins office? And please, don’t forget the situation you’ve found yourself in.” The unspoken threat is clear and it's only Marie’s precarious position that stops you from telling him to fuck off.

Resigned, you stare at the ceiling and say flatly, “Larkins was really against letting Stephanie, or any other witch, play on the house teams. I found out something about him that was enough to make him reconsider. I was looking for more evidence to make sure that he didn’t go back on his decision.” It’s as close to the truth as you’re willing to tell him. Now that he knows part of the story, it probably wouldn’t do any more damage to tell him the rest of it, but the thought rankles you and you stubbornly don’t want to divulge any information.

To your surprise, Riddle doesn’t press you for more information. Instead, he’s looking at you with something akin to puzzlement marring his features. “You don’t care about quidditch, why would you care if girls are allowed to play or not? Is Miss Kirkdale doing something for you in return?”

It’s your turn to look confused and you’re dimly aware that you probably look ridiculous as you stare at him slightly slack-jawed. “No? Why would she do… Stephanie is my friend, Riddle. You do have those, don’t you?” He raises an eyebrow as if to indicate that yes, he does have friends, and no, you’re not making sense. “Stephanie won’t be able to play in any League if she doesn’t even have experience playing for her house,” You explain slowly, “I don’t care about quidditch, but she does and I can do something to help her so…” You trail off a little helplessly. Why was that the most confusing part of it all for him? Surely he did stuff for his friends?

“You should go back to your dormitory,” Riddle says at last. The confusion is gone, carefully hidden, and if you hadn’t been the one having this conversation with him, you would have thought he’d been talking about something as mundane as the weather. You don’t need to be told twice however and you quickly stuff your items back into your robes and make to leave. Before you can walk two steps, however, he catches you by the wrist and suddenly, his voice, soft and low so close, “I will find out exactly what you’re hiding from me. I think by the end, you’ll probably want to tell me yourself.” If you shiver it’s because you’re unsettled. Not because you maybe want to find out exactly what he means.

You shake his hand off and hurry down the corridor towards the safety of your common room. You can still feel where his fingers had wrapped around your wrist long after you’ve gone to bed.

(part 1) (part 2) (part 3) (part 4) (part 5) (part 6)

#tom riddle #tom marvolo riddle #tom riddle x reader #tom riddle x oc #tom riddle x y/n #tom riddle x you #tom riddle imagine #tom riddle imagines #tom riddle fanfic #tom riddle fanfiction #minific

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