Look, I read. A Lot. The dozen-books-a-week type. Except my bestie introduced me to free fanfic online amid highschool, which is both free and requires no rushing to the library before they close. So. Between classic-definition Epics and endless one-shots and everything in between? Yeah. I read A Lot. This is for That Sort of stuff. Prompts, ficlets, recs, headcannons, and of course Analyses Galore, of everything from fanfic to comics to novels and historic media. 99.9% reblogs, ofc.
Legolas: I’ve never heard someone speak like that before…it was strange, and stilted, and you used full words the whole time.
Aragorn: Elves may sound fancy to us, Frodo, but they speak slang, and almost exclusively in metaphors.
Frodo: Oh.
Legolas: Aragorn has described it as ‘a monstrosity of a language’.
Gimli: Dwarves have a better language.
Legolas: You do.
Gimli: Ha! You admit- wait, you admit it?
Legolas: Elves curse by using the names of trees. Tree names! You have actually cusses. Do you know what I would give to cuss, just once in my life, Gimli? Do you know what I would give to tell someone to f- f- f- I can’t even say it.
Gimli: You can’t say fuck?
Legolas: …I have an idea.
-
Legolas: The-
Gimli: Fuck.
Legolas: -are you talking about?
Boromir: Why did we let the dwarf start swearing for the elf?
Aragorn: Because I can’t wait to see Thranduil’s face when he finds out.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Can you imagine being Gandalf? Getting shit from other wizards because you have a thing for hobbits and you're just like, okay. Okay, maybe I'll temper my fascination with hobbits.
This Ring quest will have two hobbits. Maximum.
Then they all get to Rivendell and have somehow multiplied into four hobbits. And it's like. Okay. Maybe the others are right.
Maybe this is too many hobbits.
We have as many hobbits as we have not-hobbits.
But damn it, you just don't want to get rid of any of these hobbits. Screw it! Everyone can deal. Four hobbits. This is a four hobbits problem.
So away you go.
And things go bad in the worst possible way.
Over and over.
You've lost your hobbits. You've lost yourself. The fellowship has been separated.
It takes everything in your power to help the humans defend themselves, bringing them together to save Rohan. Finally, as things begin to look upright, you're ready to face the war with everything the Rohirrim have left.
You're ready to face him. This may be the hardest battle you've ever fought. But you ride.
Then you get there and two of your fucking hobbits are sitting there like "Yeah, while you were gone, we raised a tree army and beat Saruman's ass. Wanna help us loot his tower?"
C'mon, man, this wizard party is righteous. I just saw some guy clap his hands together and say "interdimensional beer pong" or whatever, and everyone around him started doing a keg stand. The crowd didn't even cheer for him, that's how epic this party is. My ass is casting glowstick and level 2 weed gummy. I think I just heard "power word: rave" two groups over. You gotta come over here.
so this knight came to my wizard's tower one day and asked me to cast a spell that would allow him to take his beloved princess' hand in marriage. pretty typical this kind of wish, and i had just the spell. a combo of "turn person into a royal" and "transform appearance to match romantic ideal", easy. he paid handsomely for it too, so how can i says no?
turns out his princess is a lesbian and nobody knew, so when i cast the spell it made him into a beautiful princess. she asked for a refund right away and begged me (cryin', held me at swordpoint) to turn her back, but i says to her, i says, "The die has already been cast, and your fate is now sealed!" which is my way of sayin' "no refunds".
turns out, bein' a princess weren't so bad for her and she was able to take her sweet and beloved princess' hand in marriage. seems like everything worked out.
but then, surprise of my life, they both show up to my tower and my spell was undone. some dark sorcerer shithead (some kinda sketchy royal adviser who wanted to usurp the throne, a million like 'im) had removed my enchantments and turned our princess back into a knight. but she didn't want to be a man no more and asked me to redo the spell. gladly i changed her back in exchange for fuckin' up this sorcerer shmuck, (could be a threat to my business, you see) gave 'er an enchanted sword an everything. to my shock, the other princess takes the sword and vows to get this guy for me.
now i got all this guy's magic shit and good graces for life with the queens of the land, plus the best advertisement money can't buy. "yes, i am in fact That wizard from the story of the princess knight!" classic.
anyway, all that to say, no i ain't changin' yous back. you'll be mommy's pretty little maid and you'll like it.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
masterpost please no editing or concrit, I literally cannot get my brain to read over my own work right now to edit ;-;
Constantine drains half a bottle of water before he starts talking. “These people were batshit, but they were smart. Dangerous fuckers. Never seen tech work with magic and other realms like this. Can’t be confident that absolutely everything is shut down, but no one should just… trip on their face into the realm of the dead.”
“I… well, that’s good, I guess,” Barry says with a blink.
Bart feels a little sorry for him. Barry, who’s totally crash with most stuff, still really struggles with magic and things. Danny has helped that, but, like, it’s an uphill race. Bart’s leg jiggles faster with impatience.
He was banished to the corner of the break room when he arrived and told to sit and hush. Which, like, is okay. He can do that. For a bit. He’s just there waiting for the go ahead to zip off and bring the rest of the team to the site. The site being called safe is a big step that way. The adorable blob he was handed when he sat made what Bart had to guess was a happy warble as they jiggled.
(Maybe Barry would let them keep one, as long as Bart and Danny promised to take care of it.)
“We believe that all should continue to travel in duos or trios,” Dianna says. Bart can’t help but straighten up. Dianna just sort of commands that. When she fixes him with a stare he almost wilts though. “I would also suggest that our younger members travel with more senior members.”
Bart waited a beat, and then says, “But we can be around then.”
“I don’t think that was the take away from that, Impulse,” Barry says. He looks like he just bit into one of Wally’s extra hot burritos by mistake.
Bart shrugs. “It’s what I took from it.”
“I am sure that Robin will feel the same,” Bruce says, all dark and brooding like. “All Young Justice members must be accompanied by at least two Justice League members. And there will be no going into the main lab until both the Dark team and Afterimage feel like it is right to do so, is that understood?”
Bart nods quickly. “Yep, I mean yes. Can I go get them then?”
Bruce gave a long pause. Bart’s leg jiggles. “Flashes, go with Impulse to bring Young Justice. The break room will do.”
“Yes,” Bart hisses and he’s off.
Then back.
He carefully sets the ghost back into one of the paper boxes with the others.
“I, um… forgot,” he mumbles, and then he’s really off. He comes to a screeching stop in the Young Justice Lair™. Tim is, of course, at the computer. Kon, Cassie, and Danny are at the table, and Cassie is mid some sort of story about the siege and Danny looks at least not 100% miserable. “Hey guys! So, me and”—Barry and Wally come to a stop slightly more elegantly— “them are going to take you to the site. We have to stay with an adult, and I think they’re going to keep us in a break room, but like…”
“Will they tell us more about what’s going on?” Danny asks, now looking 100% miserable.
“Or at least let me look for Technus in their main server?” Tim asks, without looking up from the computer.
“Um,” Bart says helplessly, “maybe?”
“Robin, you’ll have to talk to Batman about that,” Barry says, “but helping Technus is one of our goals today. Afterimage, yes. You’re one of our most informed heroes on this, your knowledge will be helpful. But we need to make sure that you stay safe while we all work. That includes taking breaks when you need to.”
“I’m not a hero,” Danny mumbles.
“Maybe not right now,” Barry agrees, “but you’re family. We’re here for you, and we want you safe.”
“We’ll look out for you too,” Kon says. His voice is softer than Bart is used to, smaller somehow.
Danny gives Kon a shaky smile.
“Okay,” Wally says with a clap of his hands. “Robin, I’ll come back and grab you after we take the others. Have whatever tech you need to help Technus ready to go.”
Tim gives a little wave of confirmation.
Bart, who’s smoothest, takes Danny, who is still new to traveling this way. Wally gives a sweeping bow to Cassie, who rolls her eyes, but lets Wally pick her up. This leaves Kon for Bart. Bart holds out his arms with a grin. Kon sighs, but uses enough TTK for Bart to ‘pick’ Kon up and zip off after the others. When they come to a stop in the break room, Kon hops down the same way he does in battle. It’s like he expects the copy machine to bite him or something.
(Considering where they are, Bart figures that’s not exactly out of the question.)
“Emotional support blob delivery!” Dick calls as he saunters in.
“What?” Cassie asks.
“Emotional support blob. I’m totally giving a box to Dinah for therapy reasons,” Wally answers.
Barry opens his mouth and then closes it as he considers it. “Not a bad idea, hold that thought.” And then Barry is off to get Tim.
“Blobs?” Cassie asks. She picks one of them out of the paper box Dick is holding. It hangs from her hands, slowly oozing down towards the ground.
“They’re, um, they’re basically emotionally charged ectoplasm,” Danny says. He’s standing with his back up against the wall, watching them all. “Ectoplasm is what makes up the Infinite Realms. Sometimes if there’s a emotional high in an area or if a ghost is ended, they form in that ectoplasm and coalesce into the little guys. They’ve got about the same sort of mental processing as a frog.”
Cassie tilts her head to follow as the eyes of the blob slip down to the bottom. “Do their eyes always shift like that?”
Danny shrugs. “Yeah, sorta. They’re not as… formed because a ghost’s form is just latent memory of who they used to be or want to be or are within death. The blobs ghosts don’t have that. Sorta the same as will-o-wisps and stuff.”
“Weird,” Cassie says. “Like, cute, but weird.”
The non-speedsters (except for Danny), all rock slightly in the breeze as Barry reappears with Tim.
“Which way is B?” Tim asks, right down to business.
Dick has to get in Tim’s way to stop him from wandering off. Dick places a hand on Tim’s chest. “Nope baby bird! You’re staying right here in kiddy jail, okay?”
“Not, not okay,” Tim says. “I have to try and fix Technus. Have you found a central computer? Where is it?”
“Just wait, okay? Once we have everything secure, we can deal with that,” Wally says.
Bart frowns at him. “Constantine said it was!”
“He said the building was,” Barry says. He squeezes Bart’s shoulder. “But you know that’s not the only things to worry about in a rescue operation.”
Bart glances to Danny, then quickly down at the ground. “I, right.”
“Who… who have you found?” Danny asks. His voice breaks around the words.
“Not everyone is sticking around to give names,” Dick says. He gets close enough to hand Danny a blob ghost. He clutches it tightly ad Dick continues. “There are a few yeti. Some amazonians, Wonder Woman is furious about that one. She’s heading to talk with them. Green Lantern is trying to get a list of the others since this is a cross realm issue. There’s one ghost that is helping a lot, she’s a lunch lady.”
Danny sucks in a sharp breath. “Does she… is there… is Boxy with her? I, um, he’s in overalls and a knit cap.”
“I, yeah, I think I saw him with her,” Barry says.
“Okay, that’s good.” Danny’s shoulders drop so suddenly that that he wavers on his feet. Kon steps forward to help steady him with an arm around Danny’s shoulder. “I, um, I can help identify the ghosts, not all of them, but a lot. The yetis are friends and I trained with the amazons. And others were… rogues, I guess? But they were just being ghosts. Like Boxy. He just… he’s the box ghost. He likes to collect boxes.”
“I’ll make sure to bring him one of the paper boxes, okay?” Barry offers. He’s using his talking to victims voice. “We might take you up on that, and I know that you probably want to see them, but some of them are in rough shape, and we want to give them some time to rest.”
In other words, Barry doesn’t want them to see the gore of it all. Bart doesn’t know if Danny gets what Barry is really saying, but Danny nods anyways. “You’ve at least… all of the… everything is stopped, right?”
“There is one that seems in a stasis, but the ghost isn’t in any harm that we can tell. We’ve left the computers on for Technus,” Wally says. “That one we will need your help on, okay?”
Danny nods again, slowly.
“Well then!” Barry stands with his hands on his hips. “I’ll bring some waters and snacks, but settle in. And yes, Robin, I’ll talk to Batman about getting you into the system, alright?”
“You all enjoy the blobs,” Dick says. “I’ll get a box to Boxy, and then check on how settled everyone is. Like Flash said, just have a seat, okay?”
“Yep, we can do that!” Bart chirps and put on his best smile. Kon lets out a soft snort, but Bart just ignores him. He holds his smile until all of the adults leave. “Right. Sorry that they’re really not letting us go anywhere yet…”
“You’d think they’d trust us of all groups in evil labs,” Cassie says. She throws herself into a seat, blob ghost held up over her head. It rotates slowly like some weird lava lamp.
“Why would they do that?” Danny asks.
“Because of me,” Kon says simply. He guides Danny over to one of the chairs, doing that mother hen things he does sometimes to Tim. “The pretty much raided the lab I was in and save my ass from a life of serving a megalomaniac billionaire.”
“The billionaire to evil lab pipeline is real. My godfather had one. He cloned me,” Danny says concernedly. “They took him too. He’s like me. Was like me. I’m pretty sure they ended him.”
The silence after was pretty awkward. Bart was glad Kon broke it. “What happened to clone?”
“Most of them destabilized, turned into ecto,” Danny says, squeezing the blob ghost in his hands. “One survived, I’m hoping that she’s still out there somewhere. He had more still in tube but not… you know, people yet? They used the bodies for tests.”
“Oh.” Bart sat on the edge of the table. “I’m sorry.”
the thing with moshang is that theyre never on the same page. they both know they’re on different chapters but never once do they consider that they’re reading entirely different books 😭
every now and then i remember how funny the lego batman Dick Grayson adoption story was. like, Dick was just a fanboy in an orphanage who decided it would be cool if Bruce Wayne was his dad, so when he met Bruce he straight up just asked if Bruce would adopt him, and Bruce wasn't listening to a word this kid was saying because he was distracted, so he just assumed Dick wanted an autograph and signed the adoption documents in Dick's hands, and then he just got in his car and drove off. Alfred had to be the one to go back and get him, just sighing as he opened the car door like 'well, i guess it's legal now, you better get in'. like that's gotta be top ten funniest fucking ways for Bruce to adopt a kid. i think that method should be used more, and i personally think it should be used by Tim.
like- fanboy/stalker child Timothy Drake; knows his parents suck and he decides he wants a new dad. and who would be fucking better than the man he knows for a fact to be Batman?! i want Tim to straight-faced no fear just march up to Bruce during some kind of event with guardianship papers he's already forged his parents signature on, deciding to face-to-face randomly ask this man to be his new dad.
Bruce is not paying attention to anything this kid says, by the way. Bruce is trying to leave the event because Jason's with him and he wants the kid to get an early night before school the next morning. there's press and people asking for pictures swarming the street between him and his car. it's too loud, he's got Jason clinging to his hand and trying to keep up from behind, and there's so many people clamouring for his attention that when this little kid somehow manages to slip up to his side, paper and pen in hand, that he vaguely remembers as one of the kids in his neighbourhood, Bruce just quickly scrawls his signature where the kid points and then tries to shove the paparazzi back again.
Jason's the only one who notices, having tuned out all the other visual and audio mess because he trusted Bruce to handle it. when he sees the glee on Tim's face his hand slips from Bruce, and while the man steps away to demand everybody clear a pathway to his car for him and his kid, he leans over and actually reads what Bruce just signed.
he looks at the paper. he looks at Tim. he looks at the paper.
it's genuinely the funniest fuck up he's ever seen the man do. he visibly has to hold back laughter as he claps Tim on the shoulder and solemnly declares, "welcome to the family, weirdo." before Bruce reaches back to grab him by the sleeve and tug him away again.
Tim goes home to pack his bags and then smugly shows up at Wayne Manor the next day, where Jason lets him in and shows him to one of the empty bedrooms. Alfred spots them and stops for a minute, wondering if this is something he should be involved in. then the kettle goes off and he figures it's not his problem. Bruce does not clock that there is another person unpacking and starting to live in his house until Tim sits next to him at the dinner table and no-shame starts referring to him as dad while Jason gives him the most shit-eating grin imaginable.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Danny didn’t really bother to unpack anything. The room that manifested for him had everything he could want right down to the duplicate copy of his bedroom. Everything else could stay in his bags until he found out what new human haunt he would be relocating to.
It wasn’t like he had plans to spend much time in his living, human form while in the Infinite Realm. He wouldn’t need much of it though he was half wishing he’d brought some snacks with him.
He had a kitchen, how did he put food into it? Did he just will it to be there or was there some kind of grocery store in the realms? Was that how this room worked?
Was the entire Keep some kind of sentient, ever changing mood ring? Were all lairs like that?
Not for the first time, Danny felt out of his depth. There were so many instincts to being a ghost that he didn’t have and today he’d followed his gut and left his living life behind him. Temporarily? Clockwork said they’d find him a new haunt but what did that mean?
Would he be living on his own? How would he pay for his own place? How would he go back to school? What if the GIW found him anyway? Would he just be labeled evil and be on the run again? Forced to return to the realms even if it couldn’t satisfy all of him?
Danny floated in his new bedroom, eyes staring up at the stars above him. The void of space was relaxing, but it didn’t entirely soothe the panic he was feeling. Could he still have a panic attack as a ghost? He wouldn’t hyperventilate, but he’d seen his fair share of ghosts freaking out. Panic attacks might have even been normal for beings who felt emotions so strongly.
He’d have to ask Frostbite the next time he saw the yeti. Maybe he should even make that a priority. Frostbite still called him ‘Great One’, would that change once he learned Danny had joined Panya’s fraid? He hoped not.
He tried to shake the thoughts away like an etch-a-sketch. He couldn’t stay in here moping and while it was nice of the others to give him some space, he didn’t want to be alone with his thoughts right now.
Leaving his room had been a matter of floating down to his door, the challenge was working out which way to go next. Maybe he could find Clockwork. The others were nice but he was looking for something familiar and maybe a little validation that he hadn’t made a mistake with his choices today.
The hallway to his left changed and an archway appeared in its place that hadn’t been there before. It led out of the keep and outside and since no areas were supposedly off limits, Danny headed that way. It was a castle after all, so what else did castles have?
He thought about the games he’d played or movies he’d seen but instead found lush plants and trees of all kinds of colors that grew alongside small stone paths. The desire to see ghost bees was amusing but with his luck, they’d be more like killer hornets the size of a car.
Danny stepped into the garden, though he had some trouble reconciling it in his mind. It was like an open court yard, and the sky was still green. There weren’t clouds but distantly he could see a door or two in the distance of someone else's lair.
The flowers were strange, but a few he recognized from his encounters with Undergrowth. They were strange looking, like fantastical versions of Earth plants. Something pulled out of fantasy books, but they grew here so effortlessly.
Danny wasn’t sure if they were wild or if someone tended to them. He didn’t know Panya well enough to know if she was the type of woman who liked gardens.
“So you’re our new ghostling.”
Danny jerked back at the voice he didn’t recognize, ectoblasts coating his fists waiting to be fired.
“I didn’t mean to scare you, little one.”
“Where…?” Danny finally found the man sitting under a white tree that had purple and pink leaves. It was almost a relief that he didn’t seem to be a giant like everyone else he’d met in the keep so far.
“Who are you?” Danny asked, suspicious.
The man chuckled and didn’t seem to see Danny as much of a threat. His hair was a long, dark brown but it was the enormous antlers on his head that drew Danny’s eyes. Beside him were three large white dogs with red ears. They’re tails were like wisps and they watched Danny keenly, likely to determine if he had treats or not.
“My name is Arawn. Phobos has told me a little about you before, young Phantom.”
“Arawn?” Danny repeated, slowly approaching. The man seemed to be at home in the Keep’s garden which likely meant he was supposed to be there. “You’re apart of Panya’s fraid?” He felt dumb now and flicked his ectoblasts away. Of course the guy belonged here or he wouldn’t be here at all.
“I am,” He said patiently. “Have been for a long time. Panya and I becoming friends was quite the amusing story. We should get her to tell it to you sometime.”
“I guess,” Danny muttered, eyeing one of the dogs. “Never seen ghost dogs like them before…”
“Ah?” Arawn actually smiled at them. “They are called Cŵn Annwn. Spectral hounds. Their names are Keegan, Sloane, and Winnie.” They were just too adorable.
“They are unique to my Otherworld.”
“Otherworld?” Danny repeated. “Can…I pet them?”
Arawn grinned, “Of course. They pretend they receive no affection at all.” He waited for Danny to sit down and hold his hand out to one of the hounds before continuing. “Are you familiar with the Otherworlds?”
“Um? I don’t think so,” Danny muttered, smiling when Winnie nudged at his hands and allowed him to pet her ears.
“That’s alright. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have on the matter,” Arawn said. “The Infinite Realms are home to many afterlife destinations. Heaven. The Underworld. The Otherworlds,” Arawn made a gesture that probably meant there were dozens just like those.
“Oh, okay,” Danny said slowly. “So they’re unique to one of the afterlives. That probably makes sense.” He smiled when Winnie tried to climb into his lap despite being bigger than a great dane.
He could feel Arawn’s amusement, but it wasn’t the taunting kind of laughter that Danny was used to at school. His emotions weren’t so hard to grasp as some of the others but Danny also got the impression that Arawn was projecting for his benefit. Knowing that was so strange.
“You’ve had a lot of changes tossed at you today, haven’t you?” Arawn asked and /Sympathy/ accompanied his words.
Danny shrugged and kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want to talk about his parents or the way he’d left them. He didn’t want to think about his phone call with Jazz or the sense of belonging he felt at being presented his own space in the Keep. There were already too many emotions likely escaping his notice that the others could read. He didn’t need to open that door and spiral into a full blown panic attack.
Winnie licked at his face and Sloane inched closer to him. They were so different from the ghosts he was used to but he could admit to enjoying how friendly they were.
“If you would ever like some assistance, you only need to ask me,” Arawn said.
“With what?”
“Anything. I have a bit of experience with you lot.”
“My lot?” Danny repeated, but something in his brain short circuited as he really looked at the man sitting across from him. He was ethereal sure, and more of an average size but it only just occurred to Danny that this man was far more than he seemed.
“Your heart is beating. You’re alive.”
“It is. I am,” He agreed.
“But…” Danny frowned, feeling like he was handed only half of an equation. “Panya said… my fraid fell apart because it was too alive…”
Arawn’s expression softened and the /Concern/ was pouring off of him. “Oh, Phantom. Do not be too hard on your fraid. Panya wasn’t wrong. Without the proper aptitude or training, it is very difficult for the living to be a part of a fraid full time. That does not mean they don’t care about you.”
“Apptitude?” Danny asked hoarsely.
“I am a god, Phantom. You would possibly only know me if you had knowledge of the celtic pantheon. I rule Annwn, the Otherworld here in the Infinite Realm. Being a god of the dead is a bit of a cheat, but it put my path alongside Panya’s.”
“Death god?” Danny repeated. The only death god the mainstream media ever taught him about was Hades. “That… I guess that explains this. You just visit the Keep?”
“That’s right. I was surprised to feel Panya wake again and I was coming to check on her after the mess that arose the last time she’d woken too early. I am… terribly sorry about that. You were left to deal with her on your own.”
Danny sighed, feeling oddly shaky. “Yeah. It turned out okay. Here I thought I was already fighting her at full power.”
“I’d like to think Phobos would have stopped her before things got too out of hand while he was waiting for the rest of us to arrive,” Arawn made a face. “But I understand your entire town was briefly pulled into the realms. We should be thanking you for the part you played.”
Winnie licked Danny in the face again and it calmed something in his core. She was acting oddly like a service dog… “Panya said something about it being the Observants fault. I still don’t really get it.”
Arawn nodded, and the genuine commiseration he felt from the man was comforting. “Today has been long for you, but keep in mind that you are family now. When you’re ready for the full story, just ask. I’m sure Panya will tell you what she remembers.”
“Family,” Danny repeated quietly. “So quickly? So easily?”
“Quickly? Perhaps. Not easily. You already had a bond with Clockwork and he was willing to fight for you. Panya’s decision, I can not speak on, but know this. Our fraid is small. Small but each of us fit. Panya knew in her core that you belong with us. I see no reason to doubt her.”
Danny shuddered under the weight of his /Honesty/. “Do you think I’ll ever see my fraid again? My living fraid?”
“Of course.”
Danny looked up at him startled at how easily he answered. “Really?”
Arawn’s smile was so steady and Danny was briefly distracted by wondering if his antlers were heavy. “You are young, Phantom. I imagine your fraid was as well. I have no doubts you will see them again.”
“Do… you think they could learn to have some kind of… aptitude to be around me again?”
“If they choose it, yes. Being close to death is not easy but it can be learned. If they are prepared for it mentally, it is very possible.”
Danny felt himself smile too, something in his chest easing. Getting to see his friends again, knowing it was possible was a weight off his shoulders. Panya had said he could stay in contact with Jazz, but this felt different. Promising.
“When that time comes, I will help them adjust if you want.” Arawn offered.
“Thank you,” Danny said immediately, hugging Winnie still. Sloane and Keegan had inched closer too and he couldn’t help but rub their red ears. He’d have to read up on spectral dogs or something. Glancing up at Arawn, Danny thought he might have to read up on Celtic gods too.
Awarn wasn’t just calm, he was casual with his acceptance. It wasn’t exactly the first thing he thought of when he thought of gods of the dead, but it’s not like ghosts were inherently evil either.
“A little, yeah,” Danny muttered, taking an unnecessary deep breath. “I have a ghost dog too. Well, he’s not really mine but he shows up to play fetch. Maybe i’m just his person.”
“Tell me about him.”
Danny’s smile grew. “His name is Cujo.”
~
*very loose interpretation of a celtic god
The Keep was maze-like, but somehow it made sense. Deimos told him it was because he belonged there. As a member of the fraid, which had clicked into place without his notice, he was welcome in the Keep. If someone else tried, they’d likely get lost and even a ghost would have trouble making their way out again.
There were all kinds of areas, decorated from all kinds of centuries and though he couldn’t exactly tell them apart, cultures clashed and mixed cohesively enough to make this a home. For a place he had assumed had been empty, it felt lived in. Well, existed in?
The Keep ended up being a very large, castle shaped home.
Skeletons roamed but they didn’t attack. They didn’t even glance in Danny’s direction.
“We are not here all the time,” Phobos said, carrying one of the bags that Danny had packed. His twin had the other two. “But it is always a home we can return to. It will be the same for you.”
“Do you have other places? Lairs of your own?” Danny asked, thinking of Clockworks citadel.
“Right,” Deimos said, floating beside Danny as they moved down a new hallway. According to them it had formed itself once Danny had entered the Keep with Panya’s silent permission. A whole tower of the castle dedicated to him.
“You’re welcome to visit those too. When you are older, you will likely create a secondary place of your own. Until then,” Phobos paused at a door that was made of a dark wood. They waited only a beat for Panya and Clockwork to catch up before gesturing to Danny to open it.
“Uh?”
“Let us see your room,” Panya said, nodding her head for Danny to be the first to step inside. He wasn’t sure what he expected from a ghost castle bedroom but when he pushed the door open, he was floored. Inside was the most bizarre combination of furniture he recognized from his house, Sam’s and Tuckers. The sofa from his house, with pictures on the walls of his friends and Jazz. Not to mention many snapshots of the ghosts he'd befriended from Amity Park.
There were chairs from Sam’s house, antiques no one was actually allowed to sit on and the plush blue carpet from Tucker’s house. The black drapes covered windows like the ones in Sam’s bedroom and the recliner was Tucker’s. It was a cozy sitting room with good lighting but no doors.
Danny stood there gaping at the familiar sight mixed together in odd places and realised that he missed a staircase that spiraled around the outer perimeter of the room. Stunned at what he saw, he looked up. His room didn’t expand out but instead expanded up. The staircase reached at least five different floors but what stunned Danny the most was the ceiling. A beautiful starry night sky looked down at him, the stars twinkling and…moving, Danny realized. Ever so slowly, the constellations above him changed to new ones, the dark night sky reaching down into the top floor of this castle tower.
“This is mine?” Danny asked, voice thick with emotion he didn’t know what to do with.
“This is yours, boy.” Panya said softly, and Danny couldn’t feel many of her own emotions beyond being pleased that she suspected Danny liked this surprise.
He stood in the center of the room right in front of the sofa before he drifted up into the air, taking the fast way through flight instead of the stairs themselves. He got a small peek into each floor, more rooms decorated from his memories.
The home theater from Sam’s house. The kitchen from Tucker’s house that was oddly equipped with a booth from Nasty Burger. His own workshop was on one level all by itself and though Danny didn’t stop to immediately explore, he was sure he spotted a spare thermos on the work table.
There was a spot from a space camp he visited as a child and the corner of the public library he used to visit with Jazz when they held events for small kids. He’d forgotten about that until just this moment and all he could think of was wanting to call Jazz and ask her if she remembered those days too.
There were movie posters and a gaming computer. Little glow in the dark stickers were everywhere, off setting the real stars shining from above. On the top floor was a bedroom with his bed and familiar comforter. His night table, his dresser, his beat up comfy chair. There was more space paraphernalia than he’d ever owned including a model rocket that was as tall as he was that he was just itching to touch. The walls weren’t the same off white, but dark and glittered with stars. It was like someone had dropped his bedroom in the middle of space and there it hovered.
Feeling his breath caught in his throat was the oddest sensation since he didn't need to breathe right now.
“Is this really…” Danny turned around only to find himself alone at the top of his tower. He floated back down and found everyone else waiting at the door. “Um?”
“It might be my lair, but this room is for your use,” Panya said as she leaned against the hallway wall with her arms crossed.
“Not exactly taboo, but polite,” Clockwork said. “The same way we respect other’s lairs. You are free to come and go but this room is yours unless you invite someone in yourself.”
“Our lairs are a reflection of ourselves,” Phobos added.
Deimos picked up right after him. “It can be very personal.”
Danny thought of the library corner he shared with Jazz. His happier memories from camp. Bits and pieces from Sam and Tucker’s homes that they’d shared with him. He could see how it would be very personal.
“Well, um, I don’t mind as long as you knock?” He offered. He hadn’t really thought much of his parents bursting in on his personal space. It had been normal and he hadn’t even minded it until he’d had something to hide.
“We should give you some time. Let you decompress for a while. The day has been….long,” Panya said. Danny still felt traces of her emotions. /Pleased/Care/Trepidation/
“Unpack,” Deimos mused. “Rest.”
Phobos nodded, “We’ll come get you later, or you can explore on your own to find us.”
“Unpack, right. Yeah.” Danny muttered, glancing down to his bags pushed just inside the door. “Yeah, I think I should.”
He looked at Clockwork, and the Master of Time merely nodded at him. A silent message that he would be staying for a while too and would see Danny soon. It eased his nerves that he didn’t want to deal with right now.
“Remember Danny, you are safe here,” Panya said and emotions didn’t lie. She was telling the truth.
After the Summoning Incident: Justice League Debrief
part 1, part 2
The Justice League meeting chamber was quiet. Too quiet.
The heroes sat around the massive conference table, some looking contemplative, others still processing the absolute chaos that had just unfolded. The Batkids had scattered to their usual perches, some smirking, others—like Damian—still scowling.
Batman, as usual, sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable.
Superman was the first to break the silence. “Well… that was unexpected.”
Wonder Woman nodded, arms crossed. “The boy was not at all what we prepared for. He is young, brash, and clearly still learning. And yet, he succeeded.”
“Barely,” Damian muttered under his breath.
Jason grinned. “I don’t know, Demon Brat, I think he did pretty damn well. Didn’t even die or anything.”
“He’s already half-dead,” Damian shot back.
“That’s semantics,” Jason said with a shrug.
Constantine, who had been pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration, finally spoke up. “Right, so here’s what we learned, then: the summoning worked, but not the way we expected. We didn’t get the Ghost King. We got the heir to the Ghost King.”
Flash leaned forward, confused. “Okay, but why does that matter? He still fixed the problem.”
“Because,” Batman said, voice low, “we summoned him by name—meaning he’s significant enough that the magic acknowledged him, despite him not being the ruler of the Ghost Zone.”
Zatanna frowned. “That shouldn’t have happened unless his claim to the throne is strong. Which means…”
“He’s important,” Constantine finished grimly. “And probably more powerful than even he knows.”
There was a pause.
Superman, ever the optimist, offered, “Well, he did seem responsible, considering he handled the situation without any casualties.”
Aquaman, who had remained silent for most of the discussion, finally spoke. “That is all well and good, but what concerns me is his guardian.”
The League collectively tensed at the mention of Pariah Dark.
Hawkgirl leaned back in her chair, frowning. “Yeah. Not every day you meet a giant ghost warlord who decides world domination is off the table because he’s got a new kid to dote on.”
“The real question,” Green Lantern said, “is why Pariah Dark, of all beings, chose him as his son.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Batman said. “Pariah Dark isn’t just a ruler. He’s a conqueror. The fact that he’s abandoned his previous goals simply because he’s taken a liking to this ‘Danny’ suggests a level of attachment that is… dangerous.”
“I dunno,” Flash said, tapping his fingers against the table. “The guy seemed weirdly soft on the kid. Like, full-on ‘overprotective dad ready to murder anyone who sneezes at his son’ levels of doting.”
Jason snorted. “Can you blame him? The kid’s hilarious.”
Damian rolled his eyes. “That does not negate the potential threat.”
“Which leads to our next problem,” Constantine interrupted. He gestured vaguely toward the space where the summoning circle had been. “That was the third time he’s been summoned this week.”
Batman’s eyes narrowed. “Three times?”
Constantine nodded. “From what I could gather, idiot cultists all over the place have been trying to summon the ‘Ghost King’ for centuries. Problem is, it hasn’t worked in millennia—until now. Which means something’s changed.”
Green Arrow leaned forward. “And you think it’s because of him?”
Constantine sighed. “Has to be. That kid might not be the Ghost King, but he’s enough of a power in the Zone to be dragged here through the same ritual.”
Superman frowned. “So you’re saying if people keep summoning him…”
“…Eventually, someone’s going to do it with bad intentions,” Batman finished.
There was another heavy silence.
“I say we keep an eye on him,” Wonder Woman said. “Not as an enemy, but as a potential ally. He may not trust us now, but if he is being targeted, he’ll need protection.”
Jason chuckled. “Good luck with that. Kid was practically begging to be sent home before his chem test.”
Hawkgirl smirked. “I still can’t believe that was his biggest problem tonight.”
“Teenagers,” Flash said, shaking his head.
Batman didn’t react to the lighthearted remarks. Instead, he turned to Constantine. “Can we track future summonings?”
Constantine exhaled a long breath, rubbing his temple. “Not easily. The magic is old, and the Ghost Zone doesn’t follow the same rules as our realm. But…” He glanced at Zatanna. “With enough prep, we might be able to set up a countermeasure. Or at least a warning system.”
“We should also determine how much control he actually has,” Aquaman said. “If he is an heir, his powers may be growing. We should be aware of what he’s capable of.”
Jason grinned. “So what, we’re gonna test his power levels? Let me know how that goes when Pariah shows up ready to throw hands.”
Batman stood, effectively ending the conversation. “For now, we’ll observe from a distance. If he truly is being targeted, we may need to act sooner rather than later.”
“And if Pariah Dark takes offense to that?” Zatanna asked.
Batman’s expression darkened. “…Then we prepare for war.”
Meanwhile, Back in Amity Park…
Danny groaned as he flopped onto his bed, exhausted beyond belief. “I hate magic,” he mumbled into his pillow.
Jazz, standing in the doorway with crossed arms, raised an eyebrow. “Rough night?”
“The worst,” Danny groaned, turning onto his back. “I got summoned by the Justice League—AGAIN. And Pariah nearly destroyed them before I could talk him down.”
Jazz sighed. “That’s, what, the third time this week?”
“Yes!” Danny threw up his hands. “I swear, if one more idiot cult tries to yank me across dimensions, I’m going to scream.”
Jazz smirked. “And then what?”
Danny scowled. “…Then Pariah will probably destroy another dimension out of spite, because apparently, he thinks I’m too stressed for a ‘mortal child.’”
Jazz chuckled. “Well, he’s not wrong.”
Danny groaned again, grabbing his pillow and shoving it over his face. “I hate everything.”
Jazz patted his shoulder sympathetically. “Welcome to adulthood, little brother.”
Danny just let out a long, muffled scream into his pillow.
one thing I haven't gotten critiqued on yet but that I can see looming on the horizon, is that I really like to have main characters who are non-human and autistic-coded. and I've seen the conversations about how it's not actually all that validating to have "autistic rep" if the character in question is just an alien or a robot or whatever, and I actually do agree with that (for real!), but unfortunately I want to be a creature so so bad, I just really really want to be a creature. or like a little gnome or bug or something. so a good number of my autistic self inserts will just be awful fuck ass creatures and I apologize for that.
Dante moves to Gotham for a fresh start and opens a bakery called
"Dante's Infer-dough" (because he's a pun-loving, quippy dork, no matter how cool or mysterious he acts). He uses his powers to do most of the work (heat core/pyrokinesis for baking & duplication to run the place single-handedly where no one can see).
He also gets ingredients from the Infinite Realms that you can't get on Earth, from Realm-exclusive ingredients to things that are extinct. Super cagey about his recipes, for obvious reasons, but tries to be accommodating to people who need to know the ingredients for health reasons.
Has a sign that says, "START SOMETHING AND I'LL END IT." He doesn't care if you're a civilian, vigilante or rogue, if you cause problems he will HAVE a problem. There's a "NO CLOWNS OR CIRCUS/CARNIVAL SHIT" rule, but he'll allow Harley in if she's not dressed up in her costume.
Red Hood decides to check out the new business, make sure it's not a cover-up for something sinister. I'm a sucker for the whole "gives ecto-infused food to liminal who doesn't know they're liminal" thing, so let's have Dante warm up to the guy and start adding ectoplasm to his orders because he clearly needs it.
Does Red Hood start to fall for the mysterious beefy baker who makes heavenly food? None of your damn business! Do you know who else should mind their business? His family! They noticed his shift in demeanor and are now "subtly" investigating Dante and the bakery out of curiosity. Dante is kinda annoyed that all these vigilantes are sniffing around, because he has to be more careful to not be caught using his powers, but holds to his rule of not starting conflicts.
Just ending them.
Things I can see happening in no particular order:
The Batfam losing it when they realize they can't identify some of the ingredients, or that the only match is a food that doesn't exist anymore. Who is this guy and where is he getting this from???
Red Hood trying to strike up a convo about books (the bakery name is literally a reference), only to be heartbroken when Dante admits to not like reading. He bounces back when Dante explains that he struggled with it in school and an asshole English teacher ruined the subject for him. Red Hood is now determined to fix Dante's relationship with literature
Maybe afterwards he installs a little bookshelf in the bakery and Red Hood falls even further
Dante getting to square the fuck up with someone who breaks his very simple rules of "be chill & no clown shit". No one's really shocked by it, this is Gotham and the guy is clearly jacked. People are still impressed by his clear fighting skill. Mostly Hood. The Batfam are adding this to the list of "BAKERY MAN ODDITIES"
Dante side-eyes Nightwing whenever he's in the bakery, because he may not be in the circus now, but Dante can practically smell it on him. If he does anything too circus-y Dante glares at him and taps the sign. The guy is on thin fucking ice.
Anyways, that's what I've got for now, I might come back to this later.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
The GIW passed an amendment to the Anti Ecto acts that protects Halfas and Liminals after they see Danny transform. A week later Danny is captured by a Meta Human Trafficking group.
The JL is looking to see why part of the American Government is waging war on this one particular Trafficking circle.
See, I could see that! Like their whole thing is -> Ghosts are Facinating! (.....but dangerous!!)
Like? Is a super nova beautiful? Yes! A tiger? Absolutely! Wildfires and tsunamis, majestic in their awe inspiring power? Why of course! BUT! Do we let civilians go up and TOUCH these things?
Ha! Fuck no.
They already HAVE pretty substantial evidence that SOMETHING (probably ghostly) is going on. They investigate it. They keep IT from getting hurt or hurting innocent people. Sometimes? It's radioactive material. Sometimes gas leaks. Sometimes GHOSTS! (Very exciting)
There is so much we can learn from that! Push our understanding of the Cosmos forward! Clean energy maybe? Medicine? Who knows!? But they INVESTIGATE! Learn. And, most importantly, get ON SITE first! So they can throw up Caution tape and keep anyone from ending up in the hospital (or worse).
They're basicly the "I want to believe" crowd for ghosts. But also Nasa. But ALSO the highest paid skeptics money can buy and environmental impact specialists etc. They'd NEVER have hired the Fentons. And in fact, probably have them on a WATCH LIST right along side several cults. Solely? Because the Fentons are trying to PUNCH A HOLE into(!!?) The long theorized ghost dimension.
Like?? NO?! DO NOT DO THAT!?
WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!?
Do you BORE A HOLE into the planet to study the way magma moves?! MAKE a fucking blackhole in a populated downtown to STUDY THEM? Maybe try breeding highly venomous snakes next to a preschool, next? While you juggle kerosene?! The FUCK, Fentons!!?!?
Ghosts are fascinating, rare, but DANGEROUS. Ectoplasm is wholely unstudied! LIMNALS weren't a THING! This has been an ethical and Moral NIGHTMARE scenario. The knowledge they've gained is AMAZING... but like... at WHAT COST? Holy shit.
conversations overheard through the batkid com lines pt 74 (masterpost here)
Jason: *over the sound of a motorcycle speeding* -swear to god, this bitch looks me dead in the eyes, and i'm thinking 'man i'm about to get clocked aren't i?'
Dick, indignant: Hood, you can't- *breathy laugh* you can't tell somebody to their face that their child looks like the 'do the roar' kid from Shrek!
Jason, still speeding: i can if it's true. anyway, she didn't clock me but she did tell me she was gonna report me to the HOA, so i was like, fuck man not this shit again,
Dick: *cackling*
Tim: they're like your version of the galactic empire, huh?
Jason: at this point, yeah. anyway i told her not to, and that we should just-
Damian: uh- i am, i think, but i don't think Hood is hurt.
Dick: what? DID YOU NOT HEAR-?!?
Damian: i know; but Red isn't worried so obviously he's fine.
Dick: HOW THE FUCK WOULD HE KNOW, HE'S IN DIAMOND DISTRICT TONIGHT!?
Tim, absently: oh yeah Hood's fine, he probably just broke his com or something.
Damian: see? his sense would have gone off.
Dick: ...his 'sense'?
Damian: Red Robin has a special Hood-sense that tells him when Akhi is in danger.
Tim: hm- um, yeah. i got exposed to a magical artifact and now i'm connected to Hood mentally.
*a beat*
Dick: what.
Damian: Hood has text me. 'somebody shot a firework at my bike and it scared me, i broke my com in the crash, tell everyone i'm not dead'. ...i'm gonna go see if he needs help.
*disconnecting ping*
*silence*
Dick, muttering: 'a firework scared me' it's like working with a fucking border collie.
Tim: *snort* i mean at least he's alive?
Dick: yeah- ok, you do not have a fucking magical connection to Jason.
Tim, amused: yeah, nah i don't.
Dick: so what the fuck is he on about?
Tim, without missing a beat: oh we've synched our fitbits to compete in weekly step-counts, so if his heartbeat gets too elevated or stops completely i'd get an alert.
*a beat*
Dick: so why does Damian-?
Tim: we just thought it was funny if he thought i was magical.
