This Is A Poem

I’m such a prequel girlie at the end of the day. Hahaha yes tell me a story that was always going to happen. Tell me a story that’s been dead since the beginning

Short DPXDC Prompts #404

One of John Constantine’s ancestors made a deal with Pariah Dark. He recently learned that The Ghost King is now back and with his luck, will soon come to collect its debt.

DP x DC Prompt #1

Danny's halfa status gets discovered by his parents and they go full trigger-happy on him. He barely manages to escape, but he is severly wounded still. He's sixteen.

Dani (or Elle or however you wanna call her) finds him by chance (oh nononono Clockwork had nothing to do with this, wink wink) and yoinks him up to bring him somewhere safe. She's a little distracted, so she doesn't notice when she runs -or, well, flies- into a house. Literally. (nop definitely not Clocky's fault)

John Constantine nearly has a heart attack when two fucking ectoplasmic ghosts, the most solid, most radioactive, strongest, most destructive fucking ghosts crash through his window and land right in front of him. For some reason, the House of Mistery hasn't even cursed them despite being uninvited. He's like "welp, guess I'll die, but I ain't going down without a fight" until Dani starts crying and begging for him to help her brother. Then he's panicking because holy fuck these are kids, there's a bleeding dead child in his house.

Then Dani de-transforms and Danny's trandformation breaks as he falls unconcious and holy fuck now there's two very alive kids who used to be dead like, a minute ago and fucking shit that's a lot of blood.

So Constantine patches Danny up and Dani tells them they've got nowhere to go. She's a clone with noo family except for Danny and, well, his parents are the ones that almost make him go from half-dead to fully dead. On a whim, John decides fuck it and lets them stay at his house however long they need to. The House of Mistery is really fucking big after all nd it's already full of monsters and shit, what's two more ghosts to haunt it?

So they spend time together. Shennanigans ensue and a pranking war or two happen at some point. Those fuckers cause him so much trouble he's sure if he hadn't tricked his way into inmortaality he would be getting gray hairs.

Then, at some point, the ghost siblings do something that's incredibly fucking stupid like open up a book of spells constantine hadn't taught them yet and going ballistic through the house, chasing monsters and playing with literal fire. He fixes whatever nonsense situation they'd gotten themselves in (since when was he the one to fix other people's problems?) and scolds them for being dumb and irresponsible when he hits that oh in italics moment and realizes oh shit, I'm a father now.

He scoops them both up in an embrace and tells them thay could have gotten hurt and they both go oh shit, we have a father now.

Basically their dinamic doesn't change, except Dani and Danny call him dad sometimes. They talk about life and death and dying when he finds out they don't have a grave, not even a cenotaph!

The Phantom duo hadn't really thought it was that important. Sure, they were half-dead, but not all the way, why would they need a grave? They didn't even have a body to bury!

But their dad, with his magic, makes them each a gravestone anyway. He puts their names in it, on Danny's he puts his date of birth and death when he was 14, and on Dani's he puts the day she was created and the day she fell through his window.

"Why that day?" she asks. "I was already dead then."

"You were born dead. The dates on a grave are to mark a person's journey and tell their tale. I put the day yoour journey started, and the day it enden, when you came here to rest."

And that was that. He put their graves on the house's prettiest spot on the garden. He placed flowers and lit up candles on them. He put protections on them so nothing would be able to harm them.

Danny and Dani felt lighter, as if a weight they didn't know they carried suddently lifted. Their bodies filled with warmth and love everytime their dad left flowers on their cenotaphs or they left them for each other. They were thankfull for them now.

Meanwhile, the JL and the JL Dark were both getting worried. Sure, Constantine was always sectretive and distant, but this was already excessive. He barely picked any calls, and when he did he barely talked and sounded incredibly tired (Dani and Danny's fault). When they had a meeting, he looked like death warmed over. Tired, disheveled and depressed (damn he missed the little shits, he couldn't wait until the meeting was over to get back home) and he always got a longing look every time he saw one of them with their protegés (he really misses his kids, damn he's got it bad for them). This has been going on for a few months and he's only getting worse.

So they ask to go visit him. Y'know, to go check on him. Just to see if he was okay. Constantine's annoyed but his kids convince him to let his friends visit him. They don't want to be seen by them (they're kinda scared of strangers) but they think their dad should hang out with his co-workers. It's not healthy to be cooped up in the house, even they get visits from Sam and Tucker!

So the JLD came to the House of Mistery. They were just catching up a bit when some magic fuckery happens and somehow they end up on the gardens outside the house (which is really just some grass and wildflowers John calls a garden). Constantine tells them to stay there untill he comes back from fixing whatever the fuck that was.

Of course, they don't stand still. They go fuck arround the "garden" while they wait for him to get back, and they come across two tombstones. Their blood runs cold when they read the names.

Daniel and Danielle Constantine.

Daniel had been dead for two years, but he was only fourteen. Danielle had been born a month or two after Daniel had, so whoever their mother was had been already pregnant when Daniel died. The girl, just two years old, had died very recently. She died just when Constantine had started to act strange.

Their friend was grieving his kids. Fuck, they didn't even know John was a father! Where was the mother? Was he married? Why didn't he tell them? Was the mother dead? Why wasn't she burried there, then? Had she left? Was their friend grieving alone?

They got back to where their companion told them to wait in. Now they understood why he didn't want them snooping arround. They decided to help their friend however they could.

Misunderstandings happen.

"Please don't be Silent Hill. Please don't be Silent Hill." The boy kept up his mantra as they approached the sign from behind.

Sure enough, the sign declared this place was named Silent Hill. The boy, Danny, had explained Silent Hill was a survival horror game franchise and that they were "living out the game" Cass nodded. She dealt with horrors regularly in Gotham and she knew how to survive much better that the average person.

She thought this would be easy.

She was wrong.

Danny as Phantom was ridiculously useful, and his knowledge of the video games was priceless given their situation but even he could only do so much. By the end of it she was carrying her new very tired and very traumatized boyfriend bridal style through Gotham.

Let me tell you, gothamites seeing Black Bat carrying some glowy meta around like that gave many people the absolutely correct idea that BB was dating him.

The batfam are freaking out. Thier sister disappeared for weeks without a trace and then suddenly reappeared with a boyfriend? Suspicious.

My adaptation of the God of Arepo short story, which was originally up at ShortBox Comics Fair for charity. You can get a copy of the DRM-free ebook here for free - and I'd encourage you to donate to Mighty Writers or The Ministry of Stories in exchange.

Again it's an honour to be drawing one of my favourite short stories ever. Thank you so much for the original authors for creating this story; and for everyone who bought a copy and donated to the above non-profits.

DpxDc AU: Tim as a child was never given a lot of information regarding the scribbling messy handwriting that appeared over night all over his arms- naturally he came to his own conclusions.

Tim Drake was home entirely alone at 9 years old and was about to go out for the night to test his brand new long exposure camera lens when he sees the writing on his arm. It’s not English, like he assumed it was at first, but it was using the alphabet to represent… Tim isn’t bad at math but this formula is complex for his little genius brain.

Looking at his camera, he decides he can spare a moment to look it up, solve it, and get back out into old town Gotham in time for Batman and Robin’s final patrol lap. He does just that, finding the problem to relate to some aerospace engineering and then quickly deduces what laws and theorems need to be applied. He finds a pen, writes down his findings in much neater handwriting onto his arm, and goes out. It’s barely a remarkable night at all. He gets a much more memorable photo of Robin roundhouse kicking a hench person.

Things just continued on that way. Tim would find some complex math, physics or chemistry prompt on his arm (surrounded by various question marks or notes or sad faces)- he’d answer it as best he could and move on with his life. Perhaps his parents were manifesting these pop quizzes? Perhaps his subconscious felt guilty about abandoning his studies for more Bat related pursuits? Tim really didn’t care to think much about it once he became Robin- there was too much on his plate and too many peoples problems for him to fix.

Notably, however, after the attack at the Tower, the pop quiz appeared and Tim wrote back that he wouldn’t be able to find an answer to this one. It was the only time Tim questioned the markings appearance and it was because the next thing that appeared was “Hope you feel better soon.”

… his parents wouldn’t include that on a pop quiz. Cursed then. Tim decided it must be a curse, whatever, he’d deal with the implications later in life.

Tim then has the worst year of his life, hes 15, no longer Robin and the questions from his curse are getting less math oriented and more… philosophical. A lot of mentions of death that, in hindsight helped him actually grieve, and a lot of theories about dark matter and souls. Tim answers back as best he can but he’s drained and his answers aren’t very good in his opinion. He gets minimal feedback.

It all comes to a point that he’s at a family dinner, Bruce is at the head of the table, Jason has promised just to stay for dessert, Damian hasn’t thrown a single insult his way and Steph was laughing at him- when a new theoretical model appears on his arm.

“You’re just as bad as Bruce, Timberly. Hiding a soulmate from all of us, how fucking typical.” Jason points out, while watching Tim scribble back some math with a question mark onto his arm.

“A what? No, this is just a curse. I get pop quizzes every now and then.” Tim bats away Steph who rapidly approaches and began to analyze his arm (the rest of the family isn’t far behind).

“Drake. Explain how you came to this conclusion.” Damian seems more curious than anything, if his lack of insults was anything to go off of.

“Since I was young I’ve had at least weekly math check ins, I never had a parent or anyone else around so I assumed my parents had me cursed to ensure I stayed on top of my studies. Sometimes it’s physics or chemistry, for a while there it was a ton of philosophy and behavioral psychology.” He shrugs his shoulders.

“Master Tim, I believe the lack of adults in your life has led you towards a false conclusion. That is most certainly a soulmate mark. The individual to whom you are responding is undoubtedly your other half.” Alfred attempts to calm the room before explaining to Tim. Tim isnt sure if he believes the butler, though Alfred only very rarely lied, so he grabs the pen once more. He writes his first question back: “Who am I to you?”

The room waits in anticipation and within moments a brand new line appears on Tim’s arm and he is vindicated: “We do math together???”

——

The reason Danny is failing English is because his built in homework helper sucks ass at metaphors and has apparently never read any classic literature. The tutor on his arm is great at puzzles and math tho.

Danny gets a reply back one night that he wasn’t expecting (Who am I to you?) and he mentions it to Jazz. Who goes insane that Danny didn’t even question it and just went with “meh, probably haunted” as his explanation for the phenomenon for all these years.

Apparently, if Jazz was right, he had a soulmate who was uh, super fucking smart. That was an overwhelming thought.

The next day Danny is in crisis mode and writes back “Wait, WHAT AM I TO YOU??? Can I help on your homework??”

Danny gets vindicated when the writing on his arm presents a shit ton of dates and information for an unsolved Gotham cold case. See, Haunted.

———

Eventually between Danny becoming the top candidate for astrophysics at Wayne Enterprises and Tim Drake being outed as having contributed tips to the GCPD that solved cold cases- they meet and realize just how dumb they’ve been.

I want Batman to visit Amity Park. Whether it’s because of Vlad Masters or the supernatural energy there, as long as it’s not the Fenton’s I want him to visit

I want Bruce to go out during the night for his investigation only to see Danny sitting near the trees, lazy as he threw a ball for a glowing green dog over and over.

I want Bruce to stop, to hold, cease and just pause. Not because of the glowing dog that may or may not be a part of his investigation but because of how Danny looks to him.

He looks like the child he brought to the manor who experienced depression at an early age from the murder of his parents. He looks like his kind-hearted child who would look longing at certain times, longing when he still believed in the magic of his name. He looks like his daughter who was talented and strong but would hold the weight of the world if a life was taken under her protection. He looks like his tired son who would always take on the burden of working hard to gain the approval that he already has. He looks like his son who would stare out in space thinking of the parents that have yet to heal. He looks like his son who seems lost with the world around him at times because of how different he was raised from the rest.

He looks like a child that needs saving.

Despite how his children would tease him, how Alfred would probably drawl “another one sir?”, or how the dog was connected to his investigation in some way (that green glow was not natural) he did not leave.

Instead, he walked towards the boy, footsteps loud as to announce his presence.

That was the start of their nightly meetings. 

(I want a slow story of Batman meeting Danny. I don’t want Danny to be in trouble or be in danger in beginning or for Batman to suspect him in any way. I want a natural meeting of the two that slowly progress from there, from Danny seeking comfort from this man cloaked in shadows and Bruce slowly thinking of Danny as his. 

I want Bruce to be stressed out by the fact about the supernatural things that happen in Amity, how Master’s has a secret lab basement below his house, and the ghost that haunts Amity on a daily. I want him to feel the annoyance and massive headache it is to deal with the supernatural of all things, but the moment he sees Danny sitting in the shadows of the trees waiting for him all of his worries just, disappear. 

I want Danny to feel the weight of being the new Ghost King and the responsibilities that it holds. He would love the perk of fewer attacks from Amity but he still has to deal with the responsibilities of being a King, the adding factor of many of the ghosts he meets all seem to fear him like Pariah Dark, and how his parents were becoming more unbearable by the day. I need him to feel the weight of his identity catching up to him every day, but the moment the moon is up and he sees a man with a bat suit he can’t help but relax a little, his core letting out a happy hum.  

I want the two to become family on their own terms before everything goes to shit. 

I want a bond before the danger.

I don’t want a hero protecting a victim or a young hero looking for help. I want a single father and a struggling boy to find each other and meet halfway.)

Uncle Vlad AU

AU where Vlad actually gets along with the adults in the Fenton household pretty well. The Problem is the Teachers. (And ghosts. But mostly the teachers).

Maddie:

He and Maddie have been flirting awkwardly since they were 10 years old because it was funny when adults did it, and never stopped. Neither means anything by it.

Yes, Mr. Lancer, Jack does know that.

No, we do not need you to send Danny home with the Scarlet Letter. There is no affair. You know what, if you spent this much time protecting my kids from bullies, we-

Good mom, ok? She is! Sure, she gets distracted by work a lot, but she's not intentionally negligent, and she does her best. She just isn't able to connect with Danny the way she can with Jazz.

Jack:

Thinks the awkward flirting is hilarious. Regularly eggs on both his wife and BFF. Hides out at Vlad's to watch football games.

ADHD solidarity with Vlad. Two bros chillin' on a Packers couch, oi, asshole, did you just fumble in the first kickoff! Yeah, he did, which reminds me,did you want to come by for-

Jack was supposed to be there to ask Vlad for help on the portal. They have watched the Bears beat the Vikings, made plans for the weekend, managed to cook an entire meal, and it's not until 2 days later that Jack remembers. (Am I projecting my ADHD? You better bet )

Like Maddie, he isn't intentionally negligent, he just gets distracted super easily. He does his best, but often fails. A true himbo: strong of body, giant of heart, dumb of ass.

Vlad:

Died 20 years ago, but also recognizes that putting his face into a portal to another dimension wasn't a great idea.

Reiterates lab safety constantly despite consistently breaking the rules.

"Remember, children, do not eat or drink in the lab."

"Um. You're drinking ectoplasm right now, though."

"And I'm dead! I can get away with it!"

Despite this, neither Jack or Maddie know he's dead. Plasmius? "Cool costume!" Loses a hand that grows back in a day? "How'd you get that illusion to work?" Jokes about being dead? "Ha ha, yes, we get it. You're dead inside and like grim humor."

Neither Danny or Jazz- who do know- are allowed to tell their parents, because, "come on, guys, don't ruin a 20 year experiment for me! I wanna know how long it takes!"

Vlad is "independently wealthy". As in, he robbed a bunch of billionaires, and has blackmail on twice as many.

So as not to draw too much suspicion, he's a writer. Mostly trashy romance novels or technical manuals. There is no in-between.

Danny:

Dies. Immediately joins Vlad in death jokes. Jazz: You NEED TO talk about it! Danny: IDK, Jazz, I'm still pretty shocked. Get it?

Vlad: Hey, I gotta go visit dead family for the holidays, wanna come with?

Danny: Is that where you go every year? What do you do?

Jazz: Please don't make a ghost joke, please don't make a-

Vlad: Yeah, well, we go haunting, play games, decorate the cemetery, you know. Just get into the holiday spirit, and have a damned good time.

Jazz: I'm calling the Ghostbusters.

Starts learning how to fight ghosts- Uncle Vlad helps, of course, and- DANIEL PHANTOM, WHY are you HERE, and not in math class?! GO.

Nobody knows why Vlad's so chill about the death thing until his family comes to visit- turns out, his mother's maiden name was Addams. Yes, those Addams'.

book quotes that i will never recover from

"he is half of my soul, as the poets say. " - song of achilles

"write me a letter telling me how to live the rest of my life without you." - how to make friends with the dark

"they were my birthday presents." - shatter me

"she had realized that she had forgotten the precise blue of his eyes and the depth of his laugh." - clockwork princess

"my name is sam cortland... and i will not be afraid." - assassin's blade

"you chose me four years ago. would you choose me still?" - these violent delights

"we were all supposed to make it." - crooked kingdom

"i remember everything." - the invisible life of addie larue

"come home and shout at me. come home and fight with me. come home and break my heart, if you must. just come home." - cruel prince

"i wasted all those yesterdays and am completely out of tomorrows." - they both die at the end

"you hated the idea of me." - the final gambit

"bob says hello." - house of hades

"abuse can feel like love. starving people will eat anything." - nightfall

"i missed you only with an ocean between us. but if death was separating us... i would find you." - queen of shadows

"i loved him. i love him. as best i could." - we were liars

"i'm the villain, even in my own story. but you were supposed to play a different role." - finale

"i will find you again in the next world—the next life. and we will have that time. i promise." - a court of wings and ruin

"i spent half of my time loving her and the other half hiding how much i loved her." - the seven husbands of evelyn hugo