the thing about dick and jason's dynamic pre-aditf is easy to read into because the writers put little to no effort in it, they interacted once and it set the tone for something interesting, but that's it. there's fanon that goes into one direction, upping the hostility, which canon itself has done here and there, and at least has the Drama factor going for it. then there's the "counter-canon" which is a lot of people I see insisting that this was a neat, nice, uncomplicated brother relationship which. YAWN. have you met them. they aren't uncomplicated people. put in the effort they refused, give them issues, etc. etc.
anyway, this was all to say that at least so far, I'm disappointed with dick & timmy todd's dynamic in tnba because I think it reflects the same lack of effort. they don't have that past connection through harley circus comics!dick and tim drake did (although in a way that was probably trying to eacho that they bring them to a case in harley circus... except timmy has little to do there), but they're also seemingly as unwilling to explore what could have been with a more jason-like kid, right after dick left bruce. and they try to hint at timmy's presence bringing dick back into the fold but that doesn't feel earned either. pity.
58 notes
·
View notes
Boats and Babies
"My Little Cocoa Bean" Series
Summary: The Wonka family takes a trip to the beach.
"You...what?!" you asked incredulously.
"I bought a boat!" Willy repeated gleefully. You stood in the kitchen frozen, mouth agape trying to process the information. He let you stand there a few awkward moments before he finally added with a snicker, "Just for the weekend."
"Don't you DO that to me, Willy Wonka!" You bopped him on the arm with the wooden spoon in your hand with your exaggeration of "do." He laughed and feigned hurt from your retaliation. "So you RENTED a boat. And what are you going to do with a boat, pray tell?"
"WE are going on an outing this weekend. Just the three of us. As much as I love the world of our own that we have carved out on land, I do sometimes miss the sea," his voice trailed off.
You loved the idea of getting out of town for a bit, enough to forgive his earlier prank. You and Willy hadn't taken a trip since Ben was born. The boy was finally big enough to handle some adventure and had been obsessed with boats as of late.
You spent the rest of the week gathering up what you would need for some fun in the sun with a toddler in tow. Willy mapped out a route to a beach far enough away for a fun boat ride but close enough not to require an overnight stay.
The day finally came to pack up the boat and launch. Ben clapped as the family walked to the docks. One of his favorite things to do lately was to look at the boats. You and Willy had kept your plans quiet from the boy.
"I have a surprise for you, Bean," Willy said as he knelt down to the boy's level. "How would you like to actually go for a ride on a boat?"
Ben looked up at you both with eyes as big as saucers. "Really?!" he shouted.
"Really!" Willy responded with equal excitement. You all walked a little further down the dock. "Here she is." He stepped down into the boat, then turned and gestured for Ben to come closer. Suddenly nervous, the boy attached himself to your leg.
Willy patiently held out his arms. "It's alright, Bean. I've got you." Timidly, Ben stepped closer and reached out to his father, who deftly scooped him up and set him down in the boat. Ben clung to Willy's shirt as the boat rocked. "Don't worry, son. You'll get your sea legs eventually. Now, let's get this lifejacket on you so I can help Mamma get our things into the boat."
Once he got the boy settled, Willy grabbed and stowed the bags, then offered you his hand. It had been a while since your last boat ride, so you felt a little shaky, too. You lost your balance slightly and fell back into Willy, who caught you by the elbows. "Well, hello there." He grinned down at you and waggled his eyebrows. More than six years together, and he was still a flirt.
As expected from a lifetime on the water, Willy was a natural at prepping and launching the boat. Soon, you were out on open water. Ben relaxed and took in the sights, though he kept a tight grip on your hand. You enjoyed the feeling of the wind in your hair, and when you closed your eyes, you felt like you were flying. You looked back at Willy with a huge smile and found him staring back at you with a content, dreamy smirk.
After an hour or so on the water, the beach appeared on the horizon. As you got closer, Willy jumped over the side to pull the boat to shore and help you both out. Restless from sitting, Ben immediately started running around, picking up shells. Willy cautioned him to stay out of the water until everything was unpacked.
You and Willy got everything set up quickly, complete with blanket for lounging and umbrella for shade. Once set, Willy ran after Ben, grabbed him from behind, and spun him around. The boy shrieked with glee as you all made your way to the water's edge.
Nothing prepared your heart for the sight of Willy wading in the shallows, pants rolled up and holding Ben's chubby little hand. They pointed and chattered about the little creatures in the tide pools as Willy recounted stories of the wide variety of animals he had seen on his voyages. Ben ran back and forth between Willy and you, bringing you shells and pebbles from his scavenging. When they moved on to build sand castles, you stepped away to prepare lunch.
"Alright, my boys. Time to eat!" you called. Willy grabbed up Ben by the waist and hoisted him onto his shoulders.
"Hi, Mamma," he waved from the towering height of his papa's frame as they got to the picnic blanket where you sat. Willy flipped the boy over before gently setting him down beside you.
"Hi, baby. Ready to eat?"
"Yeah! My tummy growly," he said before growling like a bear.
"Mine, too," Willy agreed, growling back.
The boys eagerly devoured the sandwiches you prepared. Exhausted and full, Ben quickly succumbed to the relaxing sounds of the waves hitting the shore and napped in the shade of the umbrella. Willy laid his head in your lap, and you couldn't help but card your fingers through his chocolate curls.
He looked up at you and smiled. "I love you. I love this," looking over at Ben. "I want more."
"Me, too."
Willy quickly propped himself up on an elbow to stare at you. "Really?!"
"You say that a lot, don't you, Mr. Wonka?"* You winked. "Really. I had already been giving it some thought, but seeing you today with Ben convinced me. For someone who was worried he wouldn't know what to do, you're awfully good at being a father."
"And you are the best mother," he replied as he lifted his hand to your cheek. You leaned into his touch and closed your eyes with a soft sigh.
"I always wanted a big family," he reminisced as he laid his head back down. "But I never thought it would be in the cards for me. Sometimes, when Mamma had to work and it was too quiet with just me on the boat, I wondered what it would be like to have siblings. That dream died with her until I found Noodle. I don't want Bean to ever be lonely like that."
A tear slipped from your cheek to his as you looked down into his greenish blue eyes. He had such a big heart and so much love to share.
Before you could respond, Ben started to stir, and Willy slipped back into dad mode. He rolled off your lap onto his belly to be level with the boy, chin resting on his forearms. Ben blinked the sleep from his eyes and smiled. "Hi, Papa."
"Hi, Bean. Ready for some more adventure? I think it's high time that I teach you how to swim." You watched the two run back to the water's edge, in awe of Willy's near boundless energy. You knew he'd have no trouble keeping up with another little one. Or two.
<><><>
MASTERLIST
*This is an inside joke from when the reader and Willy first met. Read Boxes for more context.
113 notes
·
View notes
Sir Tim Laurence’s black eye is from gardening incident, says palace
The Princess Royal’s husband was seen sporting the injury at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution 200th anniversary
By Victoria Ward for the Daily Telegraph
Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal’s husband, was sporting a black eye at a charity event at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
The 69-year-old sustained the injury in a gardening incident involving some fencing at the weekend, according to royal sources.
Sir Tim did not let the shiner put him off attending the service marking the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), for which he is a vice president.
The ceremony was also attended by the Duke of Kent, 88, the president of the RNLI, who signed the charity’s 200th pledge scroll alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of Westminster.
The Archbishop hailed RNLI staff as “models for everyone” who “risk their lives for those who are not known to them”.
The charity’s lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 144,000 lives since its formation in 1824.
65 notes
·
View notes