Um, Hi?

Chapter 11- 12 art

[We never really heard much about the other timeline Dark Danny originated from. All we know is that he went berserk and destroyed it. But how?... why would Danny do such a thing? Is he really just a heartless monster now- hellbent on murder? And what about Vlad? What about the citizens?.. How did such a dark future come to be..? Surely SOMEONE could have prevented such a disaster....]

READ NOW!

"...What?" Flash asks, protein bar halfway to his mouth. He's in the cafeteria of the Watchtower, and he's not the only one with his eyes pinned to the TV.

"I'm not sure I understand, Linda, can you clarify what they mean by that?" The male reporter asks, smile strained.

"Certainly, Todd. The Infinite Realms has stated that they do not believe that the United States of America is a real country, and as such, will not seek to make any deals or treaties with them."

Wonder Woman raises an eyebrow, leaning back in her seat.

"Then...then what do they think America is?" Todd asks from the TV, sounding a little desperate.

"Apparently, they view America as 'a collection of toddlers that bathe in money pretending like they own the world'."

Honestly? Power move would be to recognize the Tribes. Since according to THIER(Infinite Realms) records? They were there first. Sorry guys! You're illegal immigrants. We only recognize the RIGHTFUL governments of this land.

"That appears to be correct Todd."

"Then what, exactly, do they think is in-between Native lands? The ocean?"

"Apparently, as I clearly stated before, they believe it's a no mans land infested with toddlers that bathe in money and pretend they own the world."

"That doesn't make any sense!"

And then, per his agreement with various Native Nations, when one of his does come to cause trouble, the King sends an envoy to bring them back, since the humans would struggle to defeat a rogue ghost. (Danny retro-proactively authorizing his work as Phantom and also attempting to obscure the fact that he is the King.)

All in all, one nation refusing to recognize another is a political issue. The Justice League should be very careful, very hesitant to insert themselves into a political spat between countries. It's one thing to act in defense of the whole planet, or even to take a stance for people's rights. But international politics is not and should not be Justice League business. Even trying to get involved could be read as a massive overstep of power; a breach of trust that could erode any good will or cooperation they currently have with world governments.

I could, however, see them thinking the King's information is out of date and trying to update him about recent changes of power from the last few hundred years. But once he makes clear he knows of and simply does not acknowledge the colonizers as the reigning government; well he's not really a threat now is he? Not the kind of problem the Justice League needs to solve.

Which is a shame, since spinning is really where the "resource provided by the earth" tangibly becomes "object with a use."

Aspects of spinning, such as the amount of twist and the length of the fibers, are impactful upon the thread or yarn created, but lots of fiber crafters don't get to directly play with those variables...

It is so strange how textile production is so utterly dominated by very few fibers, when so many are possible. Industry keeps coming up with new ways to transform bamboo or something into fibers, which is all well and good, but we have yet to run out of easily usable natural fibers that have worked for thousands of years.

For those especially I can't over-recommend the Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook or the Field Guide to Fleece (Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius.) An awful lot of excellent fiber breeds and species are now unknown, under-used, and in danger of going extinct; Shave 'Em to Save 'Em and the Livestock Conservancy in general are good resources for finding local people working with those. There's a chiengora (dog wool) group on Ravelry that's great, too, and lots of easily searchable info on raising silkworms at home and spinning from hankies.

Fibershed did a spotlight on dogbane, nettle, and milkweed in comparison to hemp and flax. They talk specifically about Native American techniques and current cultivation of all three, particularly dogbane, and ways to spin yarn and make rope. They aren't super in-depth about processing the fibers, but it seems like it's because they have more tutorials/guides on other pages. Bast fibers all have a similar retting->drying->scutching->hackling->spinning (you also have to ripple flax at the beginning) process, generally speaking.

Of course, flax is a really accessible plant fiber to spin yourself! You can plant it yourself, buy unprocessed flax (locally or online), or buy processed but unspun flax. If you're interested in the whole process, this book is the flax bible: Linen: From Flax Seed to Woven Cloth by Linda Heinrich. There are a lot of youtubers who go through it all, too.

If you're interested in kudzu, then may I suggest Oigawa Kudzu-fu Studio! They're located in Japan, but they have helpfully created an English website, too, where they go over making kudzu-fu (Japanese name for the cloth from kudzu). And if you ever find yourself going to Japan, you can take a class from them.

On Oigawa Studio's info page, they also mention that they work with ramie (plant in the nettle family), linden tree (basswood), and wisteria, so do with that what you will. I assume a lot of those resources are in Japanese.

Respect the Spindle. Anyone looking for the how's & why's of hand spinning will find answers there. Interest in hand spinning has seen a steady growth in the past 15 yrs since this book's release.

Thriving: "I got this"

Calm and steady with minor mood fluctuations

Able to take things in stride

Consistent performance

Able to take feedback and to adjust to changes or plans

Able to focus

Able to communicate effectively

Normal sleep patterns and appetite

Surviving: "Something isn't right"

Nervousness, sadness, increased mood fluctuations

Inconsistent performance

More easily overwhelmed or irritated

Increased need for control and difficulty adjusting to changes

Trouble sleeping or eating

Activities and relationships you used to enjoy seem less interesting or even stressful

Muscle tension, low energy, headaches

Struggling: "I can't keep this up"

Persistent fear, panic, anxiety, anger, pervasive sadness, hopelessness

Exhaustion

Poor performance and difficulty making decisions or concentrating

Avoiding interaction with coworkers, family and friends

Fatigue, aches and pains

Restless, disturbed sleep

Self-medicating with substances, food, or other numbing activities

In Crisis: "I can't survive this"

Disabling distress and loss of function

Panic attacks

Nightmares or flashbacks

Unable to fall or stay asleep

Intrusive thoughts

Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Easily enraged or aggressive

Careless mistakes and inability to focus

Feeling numb, lost, or out of control

Withdrawal from relationships

Dependence on substances, food, or other numbing activities to cope

Then he says, “I mean, the problem isn’t the gender thing. The problem is four words: she, her, he, and him. We got rid of stewardess and turned it into flight attendant. It doesn’t matter if the flight attendant is a man or woman, so we got rid of it. We just need to get rid of those. I don’t need to know.”

“You don’t need to know… people’s gender?”

“No. I don’t care, I don’t need to know, and I don’t want to remember it.”

If you start ballet at 16, you are too old to ever expect to be able to do it seriously. If you start at 12 you’re too old. If you want to do ballet as a serious thing, as a career, you need to start at like eight years old or even younger, because your bones and joints need to be trained while they’re still flexible in order for you to be able to perform many of the required motions and stances of ballet. In particular, you need to be able to perform turnout of the hips, but all of your joints in your legs and feet will be affected, and this irreversibly changes your body.

And yet! Nobody talks about this as a negative thing! Little girls say they want to be ballet dancers, and if their parents have enough money, that’s what they get to be! Does it cause problems in later life? Yeah, sometimes! Often, even! But nobody talks about that because it’s a thing for cis people to do and so naturally it’s all fine!

By the time I was done dancing at age 18, I had been through physical therapy for 3 separate issues caused by ballet. The worst one was because of how my hips and muscles developed and it cause discomfort in my knees so bad that I couldn’t walk very far without pain, much less climb stairs. One time at a pt session, a neighboring patient, who was elderly, said I was “too young to be here”. I was in middle school so I rolled my eyes. It was/is funny to me.

I am 23 now, and I still get stiff in some places, and I’m sure it is related to dancing as a kid. I snap, crackle, and pop like Rice Krispies.

I have no regrets because ballet and was a big part of my life. I just know that it will have long term effects on my body and there is nothing I can do to change it.

Danny tries flirting with Tim in public when Jason is nearby, when Jason does the Brotherly thing and gets offended at the concept of anyone hitting on his baby brother. Tim eventually gets flustered and leaves, and then Jason walks up and puts a hand on Danny's shoulder.

"Look at my baby brother again, and I will shove a fucking gun down your throat."

Danny looks Jason up and down, and grins.

"Don't threaten me with a good time, prettyboy."

Neither Jason or Tim(because he was obviously still listening somehow, it's Tim) know what to do with this development.

Oooooh, how will Danny choose?...

...

Daniel Nightingale

26yo

Trans Male

Owner of Nightingale technologies.

The Waynes, the Bat Family, weren't normal about each other. They were vicious, controlling, obsessive, and as cruel as they were caring with each other at times.

Jason Todd-Wayne did not like Tim Drake. The smear campaign against his childhood self that he had undergone to "fix" Bruce's self destructive spiral after his death wasn't forgiven.

But that didn't make him not family...

Not his problem...

Nightingale was chatting with Tim about something or another. Tim had his business face going, clearly oblivious to the man's flirting.

Finally, Tim excuses himself, and Jason follows Nightingale to the bar. The man flashes a charming grin. "Mr. Todd-Wayne, it's an honor."

Jason flashes what's supposed to be a threatening smile leaning in as he hands Nightingale his Craft Beer. "Stay away from my brother or you'll be choking on my favorite gun."

Nightingale's eyes light up with irritating excitement closing what little space is left between them, breath unnaturally cold againsthis ear. "Don't threaten me with a good time Red."

Jason blinks and the man is gone, disappeared into the shifting crowds like a ghost. Something deep in his gut twists and settles.

...

Daniel Nightingale is squeaky clean, too clean. Records from before shortly after his 16th birthday are fake id clean.

Jason decides to run Nightingale against facial recognition mapping. Not particularly useful for a Trans male subject, but it might get a hit.

65% match, a single article in a newsletter from a mid sized town. Daniel Fenton. Mention of an article that no longer exists.

The town was permanently abandoned due to some sort of industrial accident. Radiation and chemical contamination. The entire area is now federally controlled and closed off to everyone but a select group of scientists and engineers.

Daniel Fenton, and his Family, the parents, the Doctors Fenton, godfather Masters, and Jazz have completely disappeared.

Jazz Fenton matches a child trauma specialist living in France, a Doctor Jacklyn Bran.

There's no matches for the parents and godparents.

"Who are you Daniel Nightingale."

...

He should talk to Bruce. He doesn't want to.

"Agent Smith, you're looking very short today, and rather feminine, decided to try a new look?"

*grunt of annoyance*

"Mr Nightingale. Several...parties have begun investigating you."

*hums lightly around the straw*

"I'm aware. Met a couple of handsome, curious birdies."

*gritted teeth*

"There's secrets that are best left buried Mr Nightingale."

*dangerous chuckles*

"Agent Smith, I'm aware. This isn't your or your employers business."

*thick swallowing"

"Just be careful Mr Fenton. Those Birds bite."

*slowly widening grin*

A ghostly visage of a young man carrying a camera and intermittently stopping to write something in a notebook flies in the void between a rough grouping of islands. Finally he feels the being he's looking for.

Wes drops in front of his twin with a sigh. Kyle is tending some strange flowering plants, plucking a portion of the buds and leaves from each before moving on. "Kyle, Ember is sending out invitations to a pop up concert in the singing towers of the Mothric jungles. The old crew was wondering if you would take a couple of bottles boo-berry wine for a box of bliss?"

Kyle hums to himself, core ringing calculations into the realms. "Boo-berry's fine but if they can get Lancer's ale instead I'll throw in a box of dreams. Why did they send you over by the way?"

Wes shifts uncomfortably, "Pauline says we should talk about things....I don't regret tricking mom and dad into sending you away even if it didn't really work."

Kyle, despite getting only a few more years alive than Wes, looks decades older for a second. "I don't forgive you, but I understand. I'm not happy you didn't give me a choice. I'm not happy you forced me to see the rest of you die, bury you, but I get it. I understand Phantom needed you to stay..."

Wes hugs his twin tightly, a mess of emotions vibrating between them. "I missed you. Can I...help around here?"

My stepmother did NOT like the way her Libertarian Viking Neighbor framed pregnancy as the fetus "attacking the woman". She incredulously told him this was extremely disrespectful to expectant mothers to portray pregnancy as so violent and negative.

Libertarian Viking Neighbor's response was that people consensually hurt each other all the time, and "there's like a whole community about that, with the acronym the one that starts with a B" And his reasoning was that if the mother was consenting to bring attacked by the baby, it in fact wasn't violent and negative because there was consent.

“Grace says he would like half of dome to be water.”

“Oh, is necessary for humans to have large amounts of water question?”

Small Eridian equivalent of a sigh. “No. Not needed for life. In fact Grace will die if he falls in water and does not get out.”

“Tell him we give him water in containers that won't kill him. Lots lots lots of water on Erid for Grace to drink.”

“No. Grace say he want water on ground. Also want it with excess sodium chloride compound so it will be unhealthy for drink.”

“Grace want this liquid for celebration.”

“Of course.” They scan it. “You have wrong liquid. This contain compounds which are poisonous for humans.”

“Yes yes yes. Grace say humans like feeling of being slightly poisoned.”

northern water tribe leader: that’s not necessary, no one can survive submerged in the artic ocean for so many minutes

zuko:

Zuko:

Advisors: Princess Azula did perform the astounding feat of infiltrating Ba Sing Se…

Zuko: Huh? Oh, that’s not hard. It’s pretty nice, if you don’t mind the brainwashing, but you can’t get a spicy octopus for love or money. We ate so much jook. *shudders*

Advisors:… you got in too…. interesting.

*

Advisors: The mysterious Water Tribe city at the North Pole

Zuko: It’s a pretty place, if you like ice.  Lots of sealturtles. They have a really nice little sort of sacred grove thing there, too, I kidnapped the Avatar from it once.

Advisors: …. we have some questions….

*

Advisors: We still have not found the Fire Lord’s secret supplier of new weapons - 

Zuko: He’s at the Northern Air Temple. (Realizing they’re all staring at him) Oh, no, I haven’t met him personally, but I have friends who have. He sounds like a very interesting guy.

Advisors: SO MANY QUESTIONS

*

Zuko: (while directing post-war reparation efforts) Oh, and we need to send a lot of people to work on replanting the forest around this obscure village.

Advisors:…. may we ask why?

Zuko: Apparently the local panda spirit is pretty mad about having its forest burned down. 

Advisors, now afraid to ask: ….Yes, Fire Lord. 

*

Zuko: At least he died doing what he loved?

Zuko pointing at the map: it’s really not that hard to find, I’ve been there three times and lived there for a bit. Its near the su- oh right I can’t talk about it

*

Advisor: we heard that last year four prisoners broke out of The Boiling Rock, it was horrible and criminal, what do you think of it?

Zuko:

Zuko: alright lets take a moment to imagine I’m not the Firelord and I’m recognized as a criminal to the fire nation-

*

Advisor: a criminal called “The Blue Spirit” has resurfaced what should we do?

Zuko: hm, are you sure they’re not just a freedom fighter or Kyoshi warrior-

Advisor: no I’m fairly certain that The Blue Spirit is of water tribe origin and not of the earth kingdom.

Zuko: Oh, interesting. And what do you propose we should do to stop them?

northern water tribe leader: that’s not necessary, no one can survive submerged in the artic ocean for so many minutes

zuko:

Zuko:

Advisors: Princess Azula did perform the astounding feat of infiltrating Ba Sing Se…

Zuko: Huh? Oh, that’s not hard. It’s pretty nice, if you don’t mind the brainwashing, but you can’t get a spicy octopus for love or money. We ate so much jook. *shudders*

Advisors:… you got in too…. interesting.

*

Advisors: The mysterious Water Tribe city at the North Pole

Zuko: It’s a pretty place, if you like ice.  Lots of sealturtles. They have a really nice little sort of sacred grove thing there, too, I kidnapped the Avatar from it once.

Advisors: …. we have some questions….

*

Advisors: We still have not found the Fire Lord’s secret supplier of new weapons - 

Zuko: He’s at the Northern Air Temple. (Realizing they’re all staring at him) Oh, no, I haven’t met him personally, but I have friends who have. He sounds like a very interesting guy.

Advisors: SO MANY QUESTIONS

*

Zuko: (while directing post-war reparation efforts) Oh, and we need to send a lot of people to work on replanting the forest around this obscure village.

Advisors:…. may we ask why?

Zuko: Apparently the local panda spirit is pretty mad about having its forest burned down. 

Advisors, now afraid to ask: ….Yes, Fire Lord. 

*

Zuko: At least he died doing what he loved?

Zuko: “Oh you’re still looking into that?”

Adviser: “He is a wanted criminal in both the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation for espionage, theft, assault and battery, breaking and entering and breaking numerous other local laws and customs.”

Zuko: “Huh when you put it like that it does sound pretty bad.”

Adviser: “My Lord, surly you heard of him and his crimes.”

Zuko: “Of course I heard of him. Its just… I mean considering all the good he did. His heart was in the right place?”

Adviser: “…”