This is wonderful! A lot of fics talk about how lonely Danny would be as one of only a handful of halfas in existence. But there's a whole world of people with OCD!
They may have completely different obsessions, but they get it. They understand.
I want Danny to be able to find people who understand him, even and especially people with no powers at all
It’s not that I dislike obsessions, but I’d like to actually see them actually used more
The word obsession means: “an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person’s mind”
It has connotations of compulsivity and a loss of control
So if I’m told X character is obsessed with y, then I’m not actually shown the character being obsessed, it just feels… unsatisfying?
And a lot of the time we get told about it and then it’s never addressed again, or it gets treated more akin to a special interest
It’s Chekhov’s gun remaining unfired
Which is a shame because the works that do actually show the obsessive element of an obsession it feels like setup and payoff. It’s really cool and an interesting way to examine a character
And I get that takes extra work and isn’t always the story you want to tell, but it’s significantly less cool when it’s arbitrarily lumped in. It’s not a be all end all if it’s included and nothing is done with it, but it’s a bit like a nail not quite hammered into place: sticks out a bit and occasionally tears a small hole in your sweater(story)
Def not saying not to use it, but just food for thought on ways to use it I guess, or a way. Idk man I’ve definitely been overthinking this but people overthink every aspect of writing and tropes so that don’t make me special just sleep deprived
Please please please write more of this
After a long night of patrolling around Amity, Danny damn near collapsed onto his bed. His back ached from a stray ectoblast and his eyes felt heavier than a mountain. Technus had done something to the technology around the town. At random a piece of technology would suddenly go rogue with a virus the ghost implemented. The virus would make the item try to capture anyone in the vicinity using any means necessary. So Danny had been doing regular patrols around town to catch anyone who needed help.
That also means that his sleeping time had been radically reduced. Without even the energy to lift his head, Danny patted around for his phone. Once he finally found the device he hefted himself on his side with a groan. It was a new phone since he was the first casualty in Technus’ plan. Thankfully, Sam had given him another so his parents wouldn’t try to make him one. (Who knows what kind of ‘anti-ghost’ protection they would’ve put on it.)
Tucker had promised that he was working on fixing the virus going around. Hopefully, he had some kind of good news to share. As soon as Danny went to message him he realized he hadn’t downloaded their chat app to the new phone. With a sigh he knew that he would just have to use normal texting but with careful codewords.
Putting in Tucker's number with a yawn, Danny sent the first message.
‘It’s your undead bro. The night out tonight was killer. Any news on the techie progress?’
Danny smashed his face into his bed with a sigh after hitting send. Knowing Tucker he was probably face first in his laptop and won’t notice the message for a bit. He could probably just close his eyes and…
Before he could even consider taking a nap there was a generic jingle from the phone. He should really get to fixing that. Tuck deserves a much better ringtone than some bells.
‘Nothing noteworthy yet. It's harder to crack than normal but nothing I can't handle. Do you need me to take over for tomorrow?’
‘Also why aren't you using our chat?’
Danny squinted at the screen with a slight frown. It had been a while since Sam or Tucker tried to go out in his place. They learned pretty quickly that it made Danny way too anxious to have them out there without him. Something about not being there to protect them if they got over their heads made Danny’s chest ache.
And of course, Tucker noticed that he wasn’t using the app he made. It was a bit glitchy at times, but what tech wasn’t when it came to Danny? Not only was it secure, but it became an easier way for them to establish a timeline for filing. Jazz had been the one who realized that they didn’t have steady information on not just the rouges but the events of the fights. It became a staple to write out what happened and what went wrong after hearing her lecture about it.
‘Don’t have it on this phone yet. And you know how I feel about you being out there.’
Danny watched the screen for a bit, waiting to see if Tucker would reply immediately again. His mom probably caught him on his computer all day and was forcing him to separate himself from it for a while. It wasn’t an uncommon thing for Ms. Foley to do.
‘Yeah yeah, Mr. Possessive. Do you need me to walk you through how to get it again?’
Snorting at the pun, Danny easily replied. If Tucker was feeling sassy enough to joke about that, then he would push some buttons back. It was a simple banter that they sometimes fell into.
‘You know how I get with technology. I’m more likely to break something. Especially since this phone is so new. Whatever happened to flip phones?’
Danny snickered to himself at the message. Tucker had an ongoing war between new and old technology. While he loved his PDA he also admired some of the top-of-the-line devices. It was like the past and the future mixed in his friend's room. He would gush about the new devices but also gush about the older ones that still had functions that the newer ones lost. But flip phones? That was the only technology he knew that Tucker hated. It was the worst of both worlds for him. He’d been so excited when Danny’s flip phone was bricked by Technus’ virus.
‘I’m going to ignore that you said that.’
‘Also there’s going to be trouble in the park near you tomorrow. I’m already planning on going. Do you want in?’
Scooting up from his lounged position, Danny started to write back his reply.
‘Of course, I’ll be there. Don’t need you to go in alone and join the dead. Unusual for him to leave his plans there though. That’ll be fun to write in the report.’
The image of Jazz reading about that brought a smile to Danny’s face. She always found it interesting when one of the ghosts would change a long-time behavior. The fact that Technus was able to keep this rather on the down low would guarantee her interest. He was always one to blatantly announce his plans to the world to hear. Even though it’s a bit of a pain that he’s learning to keep things to himself it would peak Jazz’s curiosity, which made it bearable.
‘It is weird. And don’t remind me about the report. I still have the one from last week to write and I don’t want to do it.’
That made Danny laugh to himself a little. Last week the lunch lady tried to embrace the Ultra-Recyclo Vegetarian life. In the overflow of food, Tucker had gotten trapped in veggies. He was visibly green from having to eat some to escape. Sam had been excited about it at first before she saw how much food was being wasted. She ended up getting attacked for trying to explain the damage overconsumption and food waste could bring.
‘You looked like you wanted to vomit afterward. Well, at least we are prepared this time. We don’t always get that chance.’
Danny stretched out his stubborn limbs, feeling himself try to sink into the darkness. He’d have to end the conversation sooner rather than later. At this rate, he wouldn’t have a choice on whether he was taking a nap or not. At the familiar sound of bells, he looked back down at the conversation.
‘Unfortunately. Well, I’ll be finished by the time we meet at the park. I know you usually like to sleep after a long night.’
The reply made Danny’s core feel fuzzy with happiness. Tucker always knows him so well. He doesn’t know what he did to get such a fantastic best friend. It was at times like these that Danny knew he was so glad that they were in this together. With two of his best friends at his side, it made being a vigilante so much easier to bear.
‘Thanks. Remember that not just the dead get to sleep. Don’t push yourself. Goodnight.’
With that, Danny felt comfortable with setting his phone down to get changed into pajamas. It ached on his back to take off his shirt, but Jazz would be disappointed in the morning if he didn’t. She always got that pinched look on her face when he didn’t take care of himself to her standards. Her standards weren’t exactly high up either so it made him feel extra upset when he missed the mark.
Being careful to not lie on his back, Danny got back into his bed. He curled himself into the blankets with a small smile. One last chime of bells rang out in the room, probably from Tucker saying goodnight back. Picking up his phone, he opened up the lock screen and looked at his messages.
Instead of a goodnight, his stomach dropped as he realized a different number messaged him. A very familiar number.
‘Hey dude! I know you had to get a new phone so this is me. Not only did I figure out how it’s spreading, I think I finally found a way to get rid of the virus.’
Practically throwing himself off the bed, Danny got to his feet. Both his back and his mind screamed at him as he looked over the message. He tapped back to the one he’d just been replying to, finding his heart stopping at the string of numbers. One of the area code numbers was a six instead of a nine. He’d been messaging a stranger this entire time.
Looking back at the messages he convinced himself that it was fine. He was vague enough to not be recognized. It wasn’t like this person was from Amity. They won’t recognize the correlation between him and Phantom. Surely the other person wouldn’t take his words at face value.
Worst comes to worst he can have Tucker take over his phone for a bit and make sure the other person can’t find out who he is. He hadn’t bought the phone or had it under his name in any way, so they could only find out from the conversation alone.
Breathing out a breath of air he kissed his night of sleep goodbye.
‘I’ll be over in a sec Tuck. I think I just made a mistake.’
.....
So much potential
The Ghostwriter had gained a pupil. He was a boy no older than 16 in a tattered superhero costume and called himself The Scribe. He was a smart and studious child, always following around Ghostwriter writing so fast his hand was nearly a blur as his ghostly teacher spoke aloud his next book's story.
And that was that. Whenever you'd venture into the Ghostwriter's library you'd see a sweet yet brash kid always writing something down. That was the new normal now.
Until it wasn't.
---
Danny was in shock. He had never seen the Ghost Writer leave his library. Ever. And yet here the ghostly author was, hovering over Danny hands gesturing around nervously as he muttered worries.
"Ghostwriter, what are you doing here? What's going on?" Danny moved closer towards the distraught ghost and put his hand on the ghoul, his eyes darting from the ghosts worried hands to the bespeckled eyes that were brimming with ghostly tears.
"He's gone! My boy is gone! Please, you have to find him."
Danny startled, "Scribe? Woah woah woah. Slow down. Take a deep breath. What happened?"
The ghost was so distraught that he didn't even remark how ghosts couldn't breathe. He did his best attempt at a deep breath and looked back at Danny.
"I don't know. He just was there one moment and gone the next. I thought it was one of his pranks at first but his presence is gone. He was in my Lair and then... vanished."
---
Jason awoke in a dark claustrophobic coffin with a gasp. It's silly considering the circumstances but as he frantically tried to claw out of his box and find a way to escape, a nagging thought in the back of his mind kept telling him how this would be a great story.
Doing more than one? Choose whichever you found the most helpful. ❤️
False alarm, the baby isn't actually orange
He's not going to escape, what if it makes the babies cry?!? He couldn't do that
When John Constantine arrives at the watchtower he is expecting a quick in and out, drop off the reports Bats has been hounding him for and head back out on his way.
What he wasn't expecting was for the band of merry men to be holding the literal PERSONIFICATION OF REALITY captive!
What do you mean your holding him for questioning in relation to a case!? His energy was at the scene??? His energy is everywhere you half wits, he is reality itself! If he was planning on destroying anything it would be destroyed before you even knew it existed! You shouldn't even be able to hold him??? Why are you letting them hold you here!?
The entity just shrugs.
I think it's extra funny if you consider that during his time on the streets he almost certainly would have seen/heard people having sex, or talking to the sex workers in the alley, so he knows what sex is, he just never put two and two together.
"that's stupid, people have sex all the fucking time without having kids"
"that's,,, that's because they use birth control or condoms or whatever,,,"
Jason died pretty young, right? And it's not like he had a great education before that- and we all know Bruce is too awkward to give Jason any kinda talk so it's most likely he still doesn't know where babies come from.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bruce: Here is your other brother, Damian
Jason: Wow another one Brucie? the baby-storks must really like you huh?
Jason: why are you all looking at me like that
The joker was monologueing Infront of a camera for all of Gotham to see as he had the bat surrounded by goons with guns.
"hey, uh don't mind me, I just need a present for my boyfriend" the skinny white skinned boy with black hair and blue eyes seemed to step out of nowhere, walking towards the joker with an awkward smile of his face.
"oh? Are you ready to pl-ugh" the joker wheezed as he collapsed to the ground, danys hand phased into his chest.
"this is totally gonna get me a fiance" Danny grins, saluting as the bat and goons stare at him bewildered
I absolutely love the idea that Danny kills the Joker (because creepy clowns eww) and Jason happens to walk in right as he's panicking all over the place. Danny is desperately trying to explain it was an accident, while Jason's over here simultaneously feeling the best he's ever felt since his revival and falling head over heels in love at the same time.
Very cute, very fun, wholesome murder, 10/10 will read every time.
----------
Danny: *shoving Joker's body behind dumpster in a panic*
Jason: "Is that a dead body?"
Danny, recognizing Red Hood as someone famous in the Realms for avenging murder victims: "Oh hi Mr. Hood, ma'am, sir.. See this isn't what it looks like, it was a total accident I swear on half my life!"
Jason: "Half your wha-"
Danny, still in shock: It's just he was being all creepy, and I've had bad experiences with clowns before, I and then this one had a gun so I pushed him a bit, didn't mean to kill the dude, honestly!"
Jason: *walks over to check body*
Danny: "Soo, total accident, and I don't feel like being arrested, so I'm gonna go.."
Jason, realizing that is indeed the Joker lying dead behind a dumpster: "Hang on, at least give me-"
Jason turning around and seeing his saviour has vanished: "Damn, didn't even get his number."
...
Jason: *giddily takes selfie with corpse*
----------
Jason: *patrolling in relative peace when he sees some random guy and the flipping Joker in an alley, said Joker has a gun pulled on the poor guy*
Jason: *about to swing in to save the day and take out the Joker*
Danny, faced with a clown pointing a gun at his head while ranting about all the creepy things he's gonna do: "Yea no that's not gonna fly"
Danny: *Goes full on eldritch abomination and eats the Joker's soul, leaving his body as a lifeless husk*
Jason, standing at the mouth of the alley in disbelief:
Danny, turning back into his human form: "Oh eww, so not worth it, that guy tasted terrible."
Jason: *frantically straightens his jacket, tries to fix his hair and realizes his helmet's in the way, then strikes a pose and tries to look natural*
Danny: *turns around and realizes he's not alone*("omg is that Red Hood?")
Jason, using all his rizz: "Hey there handsome, don't suppose you'd let me treat you to some dessert after a meal like that? There's a place down the street ;)"
Danny: "..What?"
----------
Alternatively, Danny and Jason were already dating but got into an argument.
Danny, walking down a street brooding thinking: "Man, I've got to figure out how to make it up to Jason, chocolates, flowers, maybe get him a book, hmmm.."
Joker: *creepy giggling as he yanks a random kid that looks like he could possibly be a Wayne into alley™*
Danny, eyes lighting up: "Ohh yes you'll be perfect, thanks dude :]"
Joker: "Wh-"
..20 minutes later..
Danny, walking into his and Jason's apartment: "Babe! I'm sorry about earlier, but I have something to make it up to you!"
Jason, peeking around the corner with a frown: "Well whatever it is it's not just gonna fix- is that the fucking Joker?"
Danny: "Yep! Don't worry he only looks dead cause I'm holding his soul hostage right now, I thought you should get to do the honours <3"
Jason:
Danny:
Jason:
Danny: "...I have chocolates and that book you wanted to read as well..?"
Jason: "Marry me"
----------
Mmmhhh yes I love this trope so much!!
Started: 2024 June 15
Last Updated: 2024 June 17
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I have pet pigeons (they're my favourite birds if you couldn't tell) and this little fluffy idiot has decided to have a baby in fucking winter. It wasn't even warm when she laid the egg, it's been cold for like 2 months and I'm so worried because the baby looks so cold, and I know that Gideon is being a good dad and sitting on the nest, keeping the baby warm, but still.
The little baby is adorable though, it's past the pink worm stage and is in the bedraggled penguin stage, and judging by the colour I think the mum is Hot Chocolate, but you can't really tell until the feathers are like, fluffy
Dick breaks his arm doing something stupid and Alfred's patching him up
Robin!dick: have you seen this before?
Alfred: the stupidity of man is entirely unoriginal, of course I've treated this before
And then in the future, dick trying to comfort a scared kid
Kid: have you seen this happen before?
EMT!dick: of course I have, the stupidity of man is entirely unoriginal
i love the emt dick grayson headcanon and i think it's so much more apt than the cop plotline for a lot of reasons but i'm also obsessed with the fact that in this scenario, injured bludhaven residents scared that they're dying are being treated by a guy whose examples for medical bedside manner are "detached englishman" and "bruce wayne under psychological stress"
mainly fandom stuff, but basically anything that's stuck in my brain
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