#crowsinthecornfield

Shroud is just the beginning.

His, and by extension, the team’s, origin story.

But that’s the problem, isn’t it? There’s always something bigger, someone better—

Robert squints at the headlines populating his phone screen, hastily texted his way by both Mandy and Chase in tandem, asking him in their own ways have you seen the news? because, yes, actually, Robert remembers reading about this literal months ago, back when the Scarecrow was actively terrorizing people.

Gotham is East Coast, a full three hours away (longer, if you actually plan on visiting), like a distant fever dream you can’t quite grasp between your hands.

Wait. Do they seriously think the Scarecrow would cross the nation and try to lay low in - ahem - Hollywood of all places? Where the cameras are always rolling?

He just doesn’t see it, the modus operandi, let alone the logic. But he promised them both he’d review the case, and keep his wits about himself, because, if you think about it, the guy would actually gain time back coming this way (versus if they were to give chase on his home turf.)

Robert leans back and stretches his arms overhead, letting out a mighty yawn. A shadow looms over him while his eyes are squeezed shut and he nearly jumps when a stranger sits down beside him.

Blink, blink.

The universe bends around you, just for a moment. The question is, what will you do with it? And where will it put you next?

"Ah."

Something is alive.

Something that should not be.

"You look like you have seen a ghost."

It’s odd to be in this liminal space, the void between words on the pages of Fate, as if she is languidly swimming through time and space. The voice echoing around her is familiar in a way that sets her blood aflame in the worst way. Theirs is not a red string, but black as night; theirs is not a connection tied by love, but destruction. The tail and the mouth.

Of course it’s you.

Kate hears her voice as if it is coming from someone else’s mouth, but she recognizes it as hers. Not the her she had been the moment before she arrived, but the her she once was; the her she might still be, if she hasn’t killed her yet.

Astarion's eyes rolled. "Time is of no concern to me," He remarked, biting back with bitterness in his tone. He grew increasingly tired of this conversation. He thought he knew torture inside and out, from Cazador's rule over him, but it was nothing like this. No, this was a far different kind of torture; torture that Crane had been inflicting on him for a good while - psychological pain. Resurfacing buried memories - memories that Astarion, dare he say, FEARED. He was slowly being damaged. Him and and his healed psyche. He was so close to fight or flight.

⠀⠀⠀(( Continued from an ask for @crowsinthecornfield )) ⠀⠀⠀The body moved. ⠀⠀⠀Violently. ⠀⠀⠀Like a limp puppet having its strings yanked. Batman just barely caught it in the corner of his eye. Immediately, the caped crusader was on his knees, moving the man into the recovery position. ⠀⠀⠀"Stay calm," he quietly hushed, "you're going to be okay--" it was hard to tell who he was trying to convince. The man sprawled on the floor, or himself. The body remained exactly that, however. Still and lifeless. Batman's eyes narrowed as he grunted, brow furrowing beneath his cowl. ⠀⠀⠀Upon closer inspection of the body, Batman couldn't help but notice an eery similarity to another well-known figure of his Rogues Gallery. The man laying before him was eerily similar to Edward Nygma, the Riddler - only his hair was far longer than what the Bat remembered. ⠀⠀⠀The Bat had an idea. He brought his gauntlet up, activating a small display as he looked into recent Riddler sightings. ⠀⠀⠀Nothing. If anything, it was as if Nygma had all but vanished. ⠀⠀⠀"Just what is going on here...?"

They said there was a man dressed as the Scarecrow picking people off of the streets. Some of the were found days later with their guts spilling from their stomachs. Some of them were never found at all.

Idle chatter.

Rumors.

Surely.

That’s what one could assume. Until, of course, Merry saw him. The briefest flashes of movement had caught their attention, and they had turned just in time to see a crow swooping through the air and following after him.

They recognized that crow.

Elizabeth.

Merry tilted their head. They still had their bag slung over one shoulder, coming home from a late shift at Gotham Central. A recent Clayface rampage had meant that even the orderlies were putting in overtime at the hospital.

Follow the crow, it was that simple. Follow the crow.

The stink off this guy was enough to curl his nose hairs. It was a smell that normal folks couldn't sniff but for a hulk with a nose stronger than a polar bear's, it was like a blaring alarm going off.

Red didn't trust himself being human around this freak with the bad vibes he was picking up off him.

" Wouldn't YOU like ta know, Boo Boy."

If fear was what this freak wanted.....Red was very good at causing fear....

" I was in the military....da first thing they teach ya is to find out what scares ya....and embrace it. Channel it.....make it yer strength an' not your weakness. Don't matter what scares ya.....ya don't have the time or privilege of bitchin' about it.

Pull up yer thongs n' get yer ass out there ready ta fight."