Princess Of Gotham
Princess of Gotham
Chapter 17: Clowns Without Jokes
My life was never pink. It was closer to black than pink. But deep down I always knew that there were people who suffered even more than I did, so I shouldn't feel so bad. Everyone told me that. I learned to act, hiding my fears and sadness under a mask and playing a perfect-looking character.
And I knew I wasn't the only one suffering, my own family had demons they refused to accept. I knew that there were people my age suffering worse wars against enemies so atrocious that just describing them made your body tremble. And I thought about it every day of my life.
My mother was killed in front of my eyes, her last words directed at me. My father left me in front of an orphanage after that, saying he would come back for me, and he did come back, years later and only to tell me it was his worst mistake. I found out that my father was equal to or worse than the Joker himself.
But at the same time, I feel it's nothing with all that my cousin suffered. Losing an arm, eye, lung, and ear in the explosion that gave him his powers, being sold to Lex Luthor as an object of experimentation.
My reasons for killing Slade Wilson were very personal. To end a war that had been forming in my head for years. And that those two scumbags were free complicated my plans and the overprotection of my adoptive family tied my hands behind my back.
"We are on the street parallel to yours, to the north, there is an avenue, try not to let them get there," I heard Sound-Road say over the intercom. We had reached that street a few seconds ago and it wasn't long before the rest of the support would arrive.
"Eclipse, I would really appreciate your help right now," said Callan, who was standing next to Sam, sounding quite tired. I didn't think too much about it and took my shadow to get to the other street.
"Shooters, get into position, that includes you Arrow," I said, shortening the path down one of the alleys.
Callan having a beast on her side made her often uncontrollable. But no worse than many of us. Her anger made her very powerful, even defeating me at my best moments.
"Hakan, head towards the exit to the main avenue with Sound-Road. Try not to let anyone enter or leave this area," I informed him over the intercom while hitting one of the drugged clowns with my shadow.
I received no response, which made me think he had received my order. Pandora joined me seconds later, her spear skills easily comparable to the most capable warrior Shade had ever trained.
I received no response, which made me think he had received my order. Pandora joined me seconds later, her spear skills easily comparable to the most capable warrior Shade had ever trained.
"I never leave home without it," I said, holding my shadow in my left hand. It was enough to keep them away, but we would need more than that, and by orders of Batman and my own father I was forbidden to shoot at any civilians, but technically they were not civilians, or at least they were no longer civilians.
The sound of an explosion was signal enough for me to draw my gun and load it, signaling Callan to back me up.
The wolf attacked one of them as dinner, while three bullets ripped through the body of another one of them. We were so focused on them that we didn't realize there were more than seven of them, the other four were running away to the place we had already speculated they would. Olive speared the last of the ones surrounding us. Well, this was getting out of hand. But nothing Pandora's healing skills couldn't fix.
Another bomb, this time closer to us, but it didn't worry us. The shadow reached around two clowns who were trying to escape. Olive placed her hand on the shadow, and when it disappeared, the two men were writhing on the ground.
As a green gas began to become visible, I motioned for Pandora and Callan to put on their gas masks. Cheis and Sam were watching me from the rooftop of one of the buildings waiting for my orders, I simply signaled them to shoot the guy who had pulled out the gas bomb. Shade and Sound-Road arrived in time to dissipate the gas and get us breathing easy.
"We'll need more than gas masks if we're going to be facing those clowns," Sound-Road suggested as the police began to arrive, "Even if the Bat-family forbids us to go near the Joker, we can't let his helpers attack.
"Mike is right. While Batman takes care of the clown, we should have a team to track the helpers while the rest of us go after Slade," Scorpion said, standing next to me.
"We could create our own weapon against them. A gas that by itself is just as powerful as laughing gas or Scarecrow's gas, but in combination with one of these, it would act as a neutralizer," Shade said when we were all resting in an alley near the Wayne building.
"I'll tell Jim to schedule a meeting for tomorrow afternoon after school," I said, pulling my phone out of one of my belt pockets.
"Which you will attend," Olive told me.
"Right," I replied as if I didn't want to.
It was very often that when I stayed with my father I did not attend classes, not because he did not force me, but because he was almost not there and preferred that we spend time together, and when I stayed with Bruce he forced me to go with my cousin to the academy. I turned to see my cousin and signaled that we would talk later.
I called it a night on patrol and sent word to everyone else. I didn't want to go home at that hour, and Dad would probably be out patrolling or drinking at a bar somewhere too. I looked for a good place to sit for a while and think.
When I finally found it, I took off my visor and pulled a tracking device from my belt. I turned it on and waited for my target to arrive.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" asked a voice from behind me.
"I just wanted to ask how you were doing, you weren't answering me and I was starting to get worried," I said, lowering my voice so no one could hear us.
"I'm the one who should be worried, you've been acting really weird lately," she replied, stretching out her hand towards my face.
"I know, it's just... Everything is coming together and my mind is totally scrambled. And that bitch is in town. I don't know what to do anymore," I sobbed, dropping to my knees, taking my face in my hands.
"It's all right, everything will be all right. No one can hurt you as long as I'm alive," he said, sitting down next to me, wrapping me in an embrace.
"Thank you Asset," I said after a while.
More Posts from R-cabrera and Others
Life and Death
Terrors of Gotham
Prologue
Log #59
My name is Jane Pasley Todd, also known as the vigilante Eclipse. I have worn this mantle since I returned from the dead (a few years ago now) and have never doubted this identity until now.
My team has begun to act in strange ways. Although my position as leader was democratically elected, many have begun to ignore my orders even if it means endangering the lives of others. They have started to become even more stubborn than they already were in the beginning, I am glad they are sticking to their ideals, but not when it could wipe them all out.
Angie, my cousin, says I should let someone else take over, as she has begun to notice signs of anxiety and lack of control over my shadow, but I don't trust the team to adapt quickly to the new leadership, especially when we are in such critical times.
My brother doubts that Angie's intentions are the right ones. Although to be honest, he has never trusted her, as has Assana. But he says that as long as Richard has his eye on her, he won't say anything to the rest. Apparently, he's the only one who still keeps his trust in me.
Arthur starts to pull away from me and try to fight over any measly thing that happens. He urges violence at the worst times. The same thing starts to happen with Andrea and Henry, although from the latter I understand it, his powers are enhanced by anger. But from her I would never have imagined it, of course, her character has changed over time, copying some of the reactions of the rest of our companions as soon as she left the orphanage and felt much safer with us.
The reconnaissance mission in Lexcorp, Metropolis, went better than expected. We managed to gather even more information than expected. Unfortunately, the second part had to be postponed at the suggestion of Casper and Oswald. Between the three of us, we started thinking about possible rescue team members.
Shade has not notified me if she has any plans to settle permanently in Gotham. This simply means that even she doesn't know if there's anything behind this whole mess.
End of Log for Pentagon.
A little challenge I made for myself. I am trying to make drawings using only five colors that I take out from a color palette online and mix them to create new ones for lights and shadows.
This is a character (?) for my new story Coffee, plants and Butter Toffees.
Princess of Gotham
Chapter 7: Scorpion and Poison
James paid for the next 4 beers. But he did have to go downstairs to act the hero and ask for them for free, saying they were for Batman, it didn't work out well, he couldn't get away with it and had to pay for them. When he returned to the rooftop he gave us each a can, although I didn't even open it and just gave them to him for a draw.
"... And then Roy told me I was an idiot and.... and...What was he saying?" Jason was saying, taking sip after sip of his can, as he told us about his latest great feat with his team. A great feat that no matter how hard he tried, he never managed to finish.
Apparently, the only interesting thing that happened with Nightwing and Pandora was a speeding driver, so I invited them to hang out on that rooftop too, a family reunion more than anything else, but they still weren't there.
"Wow, wow. I thought I'd run into one little bird today, but not four." Said someone behind me in a voice I knew all too well. A spider web stuck to me juicy and was snatched out of my hand.
"I didn't think I wouldn't step on a spider but look at us." Said James, getting up to go say hello to Poison.
"My juice," I sobbed, still in the same position. "This time I did pay for it."
Jared Barrera, like me, grew up in the orphanage, watching our backs. He, too, had gotten his powers from genetic experiments. He was a big fan of a comic book character who had spider powers. Even with that, he had great skills in acupuncture, which explained those knitting needle-like weapons. A skill that served him well being on a team like ours.
James and Jared greeted each other, like the great friends they were, and agreed that the next round of beers would be on Jason.
"I'm supposed to be in charge of you guys, not that I'm buying for you," Jason complained, also getting up to greet the newcomer.
"Bosses, I'm here." Jared greeted me from afar, as I was still sitting, sending the shadow to steal another juice. Assana just turned and waved to him. "Scorpion told me he was going to pick them up to go out drinking somewhere, but I think something happened because it's already late." He said to James, looking at the imaginary watch on his wrist.
"James was just planning to call you for that," I spoke after standing up and giving my newly arrived friend a nice greeting. "Now not only do you owe me $100, but you also owe me a juice.
We all sat on the floor waiting for Batman to give us the signal to leave, or for Nightwing to design to answer the calls. We listened to some anecdotes of Red Hood and the Outlaws, marveling at each half-told tale, a story could never end well. At one point James began to recount some of the missions he had had with Scorpion and Superboy, a temporary member who helped out on some missions.
After two o'clock in the morning, another hero joined our little gathering.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and esteemed non-binaries, these are the heroes who guard our city." Announced Oswald when he arrived at my side, snatching the juice that Jared had given me.
-Seriously you guys aren't even going to let me finish a juice. - I said as I looked for an empty can to throw at the newcomer.
Oswald Queen was for many years a secret assistant to Green Arrow focusing on helping him with strategies and locations, he never went out to the battlefield. There came a point when he got fed up with that anonymity and began to support Arsenal and, later, supported the Teen Titans. But it wasn't until the creation of Major Arcana and the Justice League's intervention in the team that he was free to go out on patrol and got the recognition he deserved, was even officially adopted by Oliver Queen and began to be known at some social events.
Although he doesn't have a metagene or any extraordinary skills, he has a special talent with the bow and in hand-to-hand fighting, but there were obviously people who outshone him in marksmanship
"At least tell me you stole a drink from James." Oswald pleaded, I simply shook my head in denial. "Spoilsport." He criticized, then turned to my other companions. "Did they leave me something?" He questioned, starting to look for a new can.
"Yes, we kept the garbage. Go throw it away," said Assana, passing him two empty cans and pointing with her head to the garbage can on the avenue we were supposed to be watching.
"Don't be like that, at least invite him a can." Jason scolded him, passing a can to my brother so he could give it to the newcomer.
"Thank you, Mr. Todd." He thanked him, once he had a new can in hand. "But I was just coming to tell your daughter that we have a huge problem."
Troubled Romantic who is Heir to a Great Fortune (yes please, i need the money)
For anyone who’s ever wondered who they’d be in a 19th century novel
The wait is over: 19th Century Character Trope Generator
I'm "Meddlesome Bachelor with 2,000 pounds a year" yes please sign me up
-_-
Assana/Shade: can you recommend to me any books that made you cry?
James/Blackbird: general mathematics 6th edition
The view from my window
A nice sketch I made
This is the Dumbledore we should've had and we missed:
A Dumbledore that should've been an example and a father figure for the students.
A Dumbledore that fights for the injustice of the Wizarding World. The discrimination against muggleborns. Someone who never lets kids fight a war that isn't up to them. But lets them fight for their rights and their opinions.
Someone that understands kids and teens and their needs according to their age. Someone that has fun when he needs to have fun. And also someone who is an authority and scolds when he needs to scold.
Imagine a Dumbledore that is friends with James Potter and encourages him to change and grow up from his immature self. To realize what it is important in life. To try to gain Lily's love by showing her his true self. Not by showing up.
Imagine Dumbledore being a parent figure for Sirius. Letting him know there is nothing wrong with him if he is different from his family. Being a gay guru for him and helping him realize his feelings for Remus. But making sure he doesn't lose himself for love just like he did for Grindelwald.
And imagine him helping queer youth, because he is queer himself.
Imagine a Dumbledore giving Remus confidence. Letting him know that he is not a monster and he deserves happiness and love. Asking him how he is every month. Inviting him for tea and distracting him around the full moon. And with his power, helping him destroy the prejudices people have of werewolves and doing the impossible to change the law against them.
Imagine a Dumbledore making Peter be more sure of himself. Encouraging him to study, letting him know that he is not stupid, that he just needs a bit more effort to learn. Making sure he is not sad about feeling alone or being scared about the war. Because he is the most vulnerable of the Marauders. Making sure Peter knows his friends love him no matter what.
Imagine a Dumbledore that helps kids that are lost, or are forced to take the wrong side. Not by punishing them but by helping them realize their beliefs are wrong or they are more than their pureblood families. Like Regulus, or Barty.
Imagine a Dumbledore that doesn't discriminates muggleborns. In fact, he gives them more importance and love, to demonstrate that they deserve attention as well. And a Dumbledore that gets angry and wild when an injustice occurs.
Imagine a Dumbledore that is Minnie's best friend. Someone that not only cares for her and the rest of the teachers as staff. But as human beings. Someone that understands their personal problems. Imagine Dumbledore helping Minnie realize she deserves a happy ending as well, no matter how much she had suffered. And how much she had lost. Perhaps helping her encounter her past loves again.
Just imagine Dumbledore going against the Magic Government and annoying parents who want to keep the school a conservative elite pureblood place. But tries to transform it into a respectful school for anyone no matter their blood status or skin color or religion or sexual orientation.
Dumbledore should've been a Godfather that is always for students, teachers and staff no matter what. That helps when he is needed. Someone in who people should trust. Students should've loved him as a father. And Dumbledore should've loved the students as his own kids.
Dumbledore shouldn't have been someone that manipulates people. Not someone that gives a false image of himself. Not a selfish asshole that only thought about winning a war. Not someone that used everyone as a pawn in a larger game.
I think Dumbledore had the potential to be a king, a saviour, a role model, a real hero. But he wasn't. He just tricked everyone but he was a coward.
So, as I'm not doing my writing stuff here (except for quick poems), I think the correct thing would be to introduce myself
My name is Rochely or Roch for short. I'm 20 years old
I go by she/they pronouns. And I'm bisexual
I'm originally from the US but I moved to Mexico when I was little
I like to write, paint, and take photos, and I enjoy learning astronomical and astrological stuff. I also study grapfic design
My birth chart is something like:
Sun in Aquarius, Rising in Virgo and Moon in Capricorn.
I just want a partner that can understand me and all the stuff I talk about
LGBTQ+ is accepted in this blog
I constantly post random stuff, from art, to batfam, to history and more.
I'm brain dumping here mainly and on my Threads account. I'll link it later.
I use two Instagram accounts, a personal and my design stuff, also linked
For my writing stuff (the novels), you can visit my other blog @rochs-c
I only saw you once
I only saw you once, and I was already dreaming of you.
You only spoke to me once and I was already imagining your hand against mine.
You only greeted me once and in my mind wandered all the topics we could talk about.
And the more you talked to me the more I felt my mind wander through those scenarios.
And then anxiety would strike.
What if you only talked to me out of guilt?
What if you only said hello to me because you needed something in the end?
What if this is all just your way of getting something out of me?
Your way of manipulating me until I'm at your feet and do everything you tell me to do.
Your way of proving that I'll always let you walk all over me.
And then your message comes through and everything seems to cease to exist.
The anxiety, the imaginary scenarios.
Am I falling in love with you or with the illusion?
The one I like because it makes me feel good.
It makes me feel that I'm finally worth something.
That I'm not just one more in the system.
And then you ask me to help you with something.
You ask me to do homework together and I don't refuse because finally having someone else's company makes me feel good.
But the same thought comes back to my mind.
I imagine again the pain of rejection.
What will my life be like once you stop talking to me?
And if you hear those rumors from people, what will you think of me?
Will you stop talking to me or pretend you never heard them?
Or will you accept them and tell me to my face what a shitty person I am? And you'll leave and I'll be the same as in the beginning, alone.
Cold in my professions and in my friendships.
Modifying a little bit Hamilton's famous line.
And like him, pretending to give minimal importance to personal relationships.
Trying to keep myself free of any particular attachment.
And keep my happiness independent of the caprices of others.
If you ever leave I'll again be wondering when a person will come along who will truly stay with me.
I will be called manipulative at the end of this text
But believe me that midnight is when I become the most sincere.
Because my mind is so weak that it doesn't rest.
And I think about it so much that I don't sleep peacefully.
And I hope that after all this if you ever find out who wrote this, and that it was meant for you, don't leave.
Stay and assure me that you will never leave.
Just make me believe for a few seconds that I am no longer alone.
And let me see you one more time
Midnight Thoughts
she/they 20 years. This blog is a mess of a lot of things. Roch's personal Blog
127 posts