rb this and tell me what ur accent is. this has no purpose except the fact i just realized i could have like... mutuals with cockney accents or newfoundland accents or something and thats just wild

highlights of the responses:

I get that being frozen for 100 years is a tough thing to go through but honestly Aang should have used it for comedy more

Katara: wow so this is Omashu

Aang: back in my day it was called weed city

Sokka: I’m… pretty sure it wasn’t

Aang: that’s what the fire nation wants you to think

Bumi, the second they arrive: welcome to weed city

Sokka: what the fuck

can we get this post to 420,000 notes

ive asked this a million times but my dumb ass has forgotten the answers and also tumblrs search function sucks so i ask yall once again:

ill tag it this time so i dont lose it

It's a weather phenomenon. It refers to when it's sunny outside and also raining. The sunlight hits the raindrops and makes them super visible and glittery. I believe it's also called a fox wedding in Japan.

Being transgender is really funny because in my head I'm my brother's...well, brother. But I'm his sister now! And that's both fascinating and also really weird. Because my relationship with him for like 22 years was based on being his "brother" and now that's weird because it'd be untrue to say that I am. I like the idea of being his sister though; it's exciting! I'm a woman now! But it also feels weird to me to think of being a sister in place of a brother. Maybe it's not that being a sister is new. Maybe I'm a girl but I'm still his brother? Maybe I'm a very brotherly-sister. It feels very "Am I a Man or A Muppet" sometimes, haha.

I am my brother's sister. But I was also his brother! And I don't want to abandon that; I LIKE being his brother. Maybe I can still be both.

This is Charles. He wants to go on a journey around tumblr. could you show him around?

Hi Charles!

Stares off into the distance:

So.

Apparently my brain is just going to run along with various crossovers. Today, I bring you the thought of a John Wick fusion au (actually five differnet ones) with Batman/DC. (Again: a reminder that all my DC/Batman knowledge is fandom based)

@north-peach hellllppppp

Couple of thoughts for this.

I love every single iteration of this. At first, I was wondering what would make Tim go 'John Wick' on someone, but I like all of these prompts SO MUCH!

How convenient it is that John dies at the end of movie 4. What a neat way to smuggle someone who isn't supposed to exist somewhere where he can be free of the Underground. Maybe, say....as a butler? Or an attendant to watch over the Drake Manor/Fortune. Just imagining hyper deadly John Wick working with Alfred Pennyworth (who absolutely knows who he is and where he's from) and learning to take care of Drake manor. Damian spots him and nearly vibrates into the watchtower with how excited he is (let my boy be a kid for once) and shows John ALL his animals and John has a special soft spot for Titus and any other dogs that come under their care.

Would Bruce still be Batman if he ran the Continental? I don't doubt there's one in Gotham, or that Bruce wouldn't know what it is, but I don't know if he'd want to be Batman in the Universe where he runs it. Could be that he believes running the crime himself will stop certain types of crime from happening(A La Red Hood style). In which case all his adopted kids run different sections of the Continental and are the powerhouses/enforcers who uphold the Rules within the walls. Dick is the concierge. He greets everyone at the front desk and is far to good at charming information out of their guests. Jason is the one who investigates/captures/punishes those who break the Continentals Rules. Barbara covers all tech aspects, etc.

Love these AU ideas!

Y e S.

I deeply enjoy the idea of Butler John Wick, taking over Drake Manor, tucking this little bird under his wing, Alfred and John meeting eyes across the yard like I remember you. Because I absolutely believe that Alfred has gotten in the way of Wick's missions before, and SURVIVED it, gave him a run for his money, and both of them respect the other deeply. Alfred is one of like minimal people who has gotten John's target to where he was supposed to BEFORE John could kill them. Did the target survive John? No. But Alfred made sure he did what he was supposed to do before John got to them.

They never expected to WORK TOGETHER over their charges, they could admit. There's a very British "I said it round about but in such a way you cannot mistake it for anything but the threat it is" conversations Alfred has with John over his family, Tim included.

Tim ALSO has to have a fun sit down with Alfred about the connections he has and why he has them.

As for Gotham Continental Branch run by Bruce, in that particular case, he's NOT Batman in my head. He's instead the upspoken head of the underworld there. He technically can't do anything outside of his hotel, not if he wants to remain in charge of it. It's supposed to be neutral ground after all.

That does NOT mean that everyone coming into Gotham doesn't know Bruce has....unspoken rules. Nothing that would bar access to the hotel of course, he doesn't have the right to do that for the things he doesn't like outside his hotel grounds. Not under the table. The things that can get one barred from the hotel are very clear in their rulebook, and if Bruce were to be seen as trying to operate above the table? It would cause problems for himself and his kids, and Alfred. So he's...creative about making his rules clear.

Everyone knows.

And while Bruce may not be Batman, because he has to be very clearly the head of his hotel and neutral- his CHILDREN are in fact still vigilantes and they absolutely can and will step in for things going on in their city. They operate in shifts over all out at once, because there are always some of them on call for the hotel. Sometimes they shuffle who wears what to hide the 'always missing when this vigilante is out' thing. Occasionally there's a shapeshifter involved to make it more obviously NOT THEM that are under those masks.

The fact that injuries on their person can be explained as their work in the underworld is helpful. Because they all have their own reps in the underground too.

It'd be a darker batfam au of course, because these people WOULD absolutely kill when needed. They'd set things up for THEIR 'best case" which doesn't always line up with the morals of the world, or what canon batfam would agree with. They have standards of course, but they're underworld.

When Wick met Pennyworth, he was still part of the underground. A job was a job, it was never personal. He and Alfred clashed because they had differing missions. That's all. And he actually deeply respects and admires the former MI6's skills and abilities.

Alfred also respects John, especially the way he took his sincere efforts to kill him in stride and never tried to retaliate against him. The man may be a cold-blooded killer, but he had rules that he followed. Morals that he wouldn't corrupt. Now that he's out? The Underground doesn't have room for 'personal'. Not for the lower ranks (which John, terrifying as he was, qualified as). Hell, what got John in trouble initially was letting things get personal. The regular world does. He needs to make sure this man understands that there are lines that won't be crossed.

Fortunately, John acquiesces to his demands rather easily. The life he's led is not kind to the body, and most days he has as many aches and pains as Alfred does. More on bad days. It's something they commiserate on when they have tea in Drake-and eventually Wayne-Manor. They talk politely about missions they were on(often on opposing sides). John shares tips on how to be even more lethal with guns. Alfred shares remedies for when his joints are screaming in pain. Both men may be wary of one another at first, but they trust that the other is utterly dedicated to protecting their wards. John even goes so far as to give Pennyworth a small collection of gold coins to use just in case something happens that he or the Bats can't combat on their own.

Well since we're bouncing ideas lmao.... @yizukikhons

Alfred is so thankful for the extra help in Wayne Manor. He's excellent at his job, phenomenal at it really, but he's still one man trying to balance....so much.

It takes a WHILE for John to be pulled into the Vigilante side of things but it still does happen, eventually. They ABSOLUTELY trade care tips for themselves. John also finds himself being taken care of and THAT is a wild time for him. Tim did it too, but now there's....a whole family that slowly accepts him into their number and care and- John had sworn to himself he'd never care so deeply again, not after Helen and what it did to him to lose her, but he...really couldn't help it. Tim grew on him, and these Waynes are growing on him too, as is the old Agent that once threw him over a balcony and shot him to keep his charge alive while John was trying to kill him.

Damian actually ends up deeply impressed with Tim, rather than ready to fight on sight because he's associated with Wick. Because Wick agreed to work for him, and that...that makes him curious. Bonus? His mother hears the name, and SHE knows Janet, and respects her, so she tells Damian Drake is a name he should know, should make an ally of, and he doesn't forget.

He is beyond pleased when Timothy Drake reaches a hand out to greet him, and takes it firmly, greets him as someone he wants to befriend. It changes...quite a bit on his integration to Wayne Family.

Wick actually helps IMMENSELY with that. Having his opinion is invaluable to Damian. Not only because he's genuinely excited to meet him, but because John can explain things to him in a way someone who grew up outside of their world could not. Ironically, Tim is ALSO very good at helping him bridge that gap as well, having grown up at Janet's knee and making his own choice to walk the route of vigilante instead.

This is the AU where Jason doesn't die, so he gets to pass that mantle down rather than having it be taken. Tim still has his own vigilante persona (I need to pick one for that, I think he picks something to honor his mother in this AU -squints-), and Jason gets to make his OWN persona rather than taking up an old Joker one. (Need to pick one for him too...Hm. Some bird of prey? Maybe something different like Nightwing's instead?? Hm.)

Tim eventually does find himself tucked into Wayne Manor as one of theirs of course, which John follows him. And as mentioned, it takes a while for him to be trusted with BAT-vigilante side of things, as Tim already trusted him.

Alfred ends up calling him down the first time for extra hands during an emergency surgery I think. They are a FORCE, working together to keep everyone fed, taken care of, and safe. The Wayne family lives in fear. I think I may have something go absolutely to hell, and that's how Tim ends up an official Wayne. Janet arranged when she realized how close Tim was to Bruce for him to be the one Tim went to. Jack isn't involved with the family and Drake is JANET'S surname in this AU that Jack would have taken due to the money and business, but did not for Reasons, so Bruce is next in line to take her son in if anything happened.

On the OTHER HAND. Janet still does all that (she absolutely is where Tim got his brain and she believes in contingencies) and lives, but gives Bruce the right to make calls. Perhaps some....altered records? Bruce listed as father? Might go with that, because I do love the idea of Janet living, loving her son, being a badass, who critiques her son's vigilante-ing, as well has his extended family's. Think I might go with this one. I like it, it's fun, and Janet rarely gets to be a good mom.

Since we're both enjoying ourselves...@wolfsrainrules

Bruce doesn't know how he feels about Tim's Underworld connections at first. Especially once he learns that Tim has killed before. (We all know how hard he felt about Jason killing as Red Hood, who should totally take the name Red Hawk, or some form of Hawk I think(Tim should be something like Wyvern, which are a form of dragon and often thought to be poisonous)) However, John and Alfred not only back him up, but Tim is able to explain WHY he kills without getting emotional about it.

The Underworld is not like Gotham's Rogues. They're not two-bit thugs just trying to make rent, or people lashing out against a broken, corrupt system. The Underworld was BUILT on blood. It's system is built from corpses and fueled by death. All of them are stone cold killers and the ONLY way to keep the rules in place is to ruthlessly enforce them. Tim will never kill as a vigilante, and he would never force Bruce to kill, but asking him to provide mercy to anyone from the Underworld who tries to cross him is to ensure HIS death rather than Tim's' opponent, and leave anyone he protects vulnerable (which includes you Bruce, dumbass. You think people from the Underworld haven't come after you? You think there haven't been attempts on your life from people who you inadvertently caught committing crimes in Gotham? The only thing that's protected you so far is the fact that they got caught by such a public figure, which left them excommunicato and cut off from the necessary resources) Bruce acquiesces. The fact that Tim swore he wouldn't kill as a vigilante helps. But things are...tense between the two of them for a while. Having John around helps bridge the gap between the two of them as he's a full adult who's lived in both the Underworld and the regular world.

As for what goes tits up to make Tim an official Wayne...initially I was thinking Penguin having access to the Underworld (he's old money and I could see him having a position sort of like the Bowery King) but then I got a better idea. Roman Sionis, AKA Black Mask, gets into The Underworld. He was always a ruthless mob boss, but with access to the resources of the Underworld? He's suddenly infinitely more dangerous. Yes, he's subject to their rules now, but like he's going to let that stop him from taking over Gotham like he wants. He uses his new connections to find out who Batman is. Sets hits on them. Holes himself up in the Gotham Continental and waits.

Tim can't attack him in the Continental. He knows the Rules just as well as anyone else. All he can do is ruthlessly protect his family as assassin after assassin tries to break into Wayne Manor to take out their marks and compile as much info on Black Mask as possible to get him excommunicato and cut him off. (Damian uses his League connections to get access to the Underworld and get a pin on Sionis's plans. Can't decide if some of the Bats join him under aliases or not. If so, it's probably Jason, Steph, and/or Cass) John helps defend the manor. He may be out, but as long as there's no one to report back that he's still alive? He doesn't mind protecting the new family he's gained. He still makes sure to disguise himself so anyone who might be watching can't tell it's him though. (hello? where did this idea come from?) Sionis is increasingly more and more furious with each failed attempt and targets Janet. Which, BIG mistake. Janet can more than take care of herself, and Tim called her the minute that Sionis started coming after them. However, the fact that Tim is protecting them to this degree? He has truly accepted these people as HIS. Cares for them the same way you care for Family. And the Wayne's are defending him just as much. Janet knows she hasn't always been there for Tim. She's raised him as well as she could in the Underworld, but there was only so close she could be to her son before people would've caught on to her weakness. (her baby was never a weakness, but others would've taken him as one and she wouldn't allow anyone to touch her baby thinking that they could get to her by harming him) Seeing Bruce defend her son, she makes a decision. Once the dust has settled, she brings out a birth certificate with the father's name blank, back dated to when Tim was born(that kind of thing is child's play for those in the Underworld) and offers it to Bruce. She's not willing to sign away her rights to her child, but she knows that Bruce will protect and love her son in a way she has never been able to.

Also, a piece of dialogue/scene that won't leave my head from when Alfred was protecting someone from Wick:

*The target, lighting a cigarette*: What, not gona comment about me killing my lungs?

Alfred, current MI6 operative: there's rather no point now.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Our schedule needs to be moved up. We need to get to Budapest within the next 32 hours"

"The fuck?! I thought the deadline wasn't until next week!!! The hell are we gonna get to Budapest in 32 hours?!"

"The deadline hasn't changed, our time has simply shortened."

"The fuck 016! If the deadline hasn't changed why do we need to get there so fast!"

"Because 32 hours is all I can garuantee with our current pursuer"

"Until they steal the info from me? I told'ya man, you don't have to worry I-"

"Until your death."

*Silence*

"...what?"

"32 hours is the maximum amount of time I can hold off our current pursuer while garuanteeing your survival. Any time past that and the likelihood that he'll be able to kill you before we reach our destination rises drastically."

"0-Pennyworth what are you saying? W-what do you mean I'm gonna die in 32 hours? The hell kinda guy is pursuing us?!"

"The man pursuing us is called John Wick."

"Who the fuck is John Wick!"

"No one you'll have heard about, or ever will hear about now"

"Stop talking like that! You're one of MI6's best agents! I ain't gonna die!"

"You are. John Wick is not a man who gives up easily. If he's given a target, he will pursue until that target is dead. Once we get to Budapest and deliver the Intel, I will be pulled from your detail, and John will kill you, whether he was able to get your Intel or not,"

"Then you have to protect me! I-I'll pay you whatever you want! Name a price!"

"Aaron-"

"Shut up! Just name it, and I'll make sure you're paid double! Triple!"

"Aaron. I am MI6. I don't take on personal missions. Moreover I am just one man. An ordinary man at that. Even if I guarded you 24/7 I can't hold off Wick indefinitely."

"..."

"..."

"So what that's it? It's over? Nothing to be done? I'm just a dead man walking am I?"

"Things are far from over Mr . McDougal. We still need to make it to Budapest"

"You think getting to Budapest matters?"

"Of course it does. Unless you wanted to return your information to sender?"

"...Fuck it. Fine. Let's get going"

I adore the thoughts here @yizukikhons

Maybe a series of snapshots of various Alfred-as MI6- and John Wick- in his prime as Baba Yaga- would be a fun side project lol . I DO enjoy Red Hawk for Jason, and I can ABSOLUTELY see Tim going hard for that Dragon-theme considering his choice of "Drake" lol.

Roman is a dead man walking, he just doesn't know it yet. Going after Janet was absolutely a mistake on multiple levels. She absolutely wrecks anyone coming her way, especially with warning. She's....beyond happy to see Tim find a family. She's always been a "me and mine" person, but more inclined to solo-jobs and living. Tim- she knew Tim was not. He was social in ways she just...didn't feel the need to be. He needed people. Not just any people- he has her standards- but he was more pack inclined than not.

Seeing him get that? Seeing him get it with Bruce? She won't take his little pack from him, especially not when she's seen them viciously protect him in turn. Bruce signs the birth certificate. It takes a conversation with Janet as well as Tim- and Janet respects and appreciates that Bruce talked to her son first, even if she knew what he'd say. Timothy Drake becomes Drake-Wayne.

Damian is preening over the new official relation. He's actually proud to claim Drake as a brother- especially since he has now witnessed Tim being underworld-ruthless. Seen him step up and tear through enemies coming after the Wayne family. Seen him fall in step with Oracle and ruin everything they could, between them, lay hands on for Roman. Seen them erase every hint of how Roman found his information. They're proactive. Tim goes in for physical copies, preforms strikes the way he learned at his mother's knee. He is giving his family heart attacks, but they're not experienced enough in underworld dealings and rules to actually help him. None of them like that. It leads to lessons, later. None of them want him to have to go in without backup ever again, thank you. Especially not in THAT kind of situation, with people who kill for livings, and are actually intricate and dangerous in ways none of them (bar Damian, and Alfred with his experience on the protection detail side) had thought about.

They're thankful that John was ready and willing to slip in after Tim if he had to. Tim had promised him he wouldn't have to. They'd put too much work into his 'death' and hiding him. He wouldn't make John give that up. John tells him he wouldn't hesitate, for him.

Tim has to take a deep breath and blink hard and fast for a moment, because he knows what that would mean for John, what it means that John is still going to follow him in, and wait, and if needed, step in. He resolves that John WILL NOT need to do so.

He's wearing small cameras- bat tech- so they can watch him, and Tim's a whole other ballgame when he's walking a room as The Son of the Drake. it's wild for the batfam to see. Tim owns that room from the moment he walks in, though. From the moment he walks in, and in whispers and awe after he leaves it too. Janet Drake taught him everything she knew, and Tim learned it all, improved and expanded on it. He knows exactly how to work and manipulate a crowd.

It's a little terrifying to watch.

Tim has all the pieces. Roman will die for what he's done. It's just a matter of waiting. Just a matter of pushing the right buttons. Roman won't stay in the Continental forever. He's too used to dealing with the Waynes as vigilantes with rules, too used to being on the ground, being Black Mask. He may wait, but he won't outlast a Drake's patience for ruining someone who went after their hoard. He won't escape their retaliation.

@wolfsrainrules I can't get the idea of Penguin as part of the Underworld out of my head, so here we go:

Penguin the Rogue and Cobblepot the Underworld broker are very different personas. As a Rogue, he's weak, quick to anger, impulsive when it comes to the Bats (they do frustrate him endlessly, but mostly he finds their clashes fun. It's a chance to let loose and know that none of his men are in life-threatening danger. Great training for the younger recruits) As a broker he's calmer, softer spoken, dangerous. Having dual identities makes people underestimate him. They think because he has to maintain a public persona as Penguin that he's limited in how he can retaliate. He's not. Cobblepot has been part of the Underworld since before college, and Roman Sionis is PISSING HIM OFF.

The man acts like their world is just another set of tools to be exploited. Not a living, breathing, deadly world that chews up more dangerous men and spits them out mangled beyond all recognition as a warning to others. Alas, it seems no one respects the Rules these days, and letting Sionis in is just a symptom of the larger problem.

So when Timothy Drake approaches him in the lobby of the Continental, face a pleasant mask, he can't help but be intrigued. Once he's been filled in on the relevant details? He's more than willing to skin Sionis himself.

Double dealing, sedition, putting hits on public figures. Sionis is trampling all of their traditions, spitting on them with the petulance of an insolent child. Well, unfortunately for him, the Underworld is not a place for children. He will be dealt with the same way anyone else is.

Oh I love that @yizukikhons

Penguin- Cobblepot-has made his mark in the underworld. They all know him to be dangerous and deadly, even if Gotham will laugh if you mention Penguin being so deadly. Sure you'll see him sometimes meeting people in the Iceberg, but...an actual threat? No.

The underworld knows better. Cobblepot is an old name, with older connections, larger webs than most. Cobblepot knows the Drakes. Has WORKED with the Drakes.

Tim has known from the moment he laid eyes on Penguin exactly who he was. Exactly how much more of a threat he could be than he was being. He also recognizes the training he's giving his men. Sure he has a rotating goon roster, but there are some in there that are his men and familiar faces- usually paired with the newer recruits that are being training via Penguin to be Cobblepot men.

Cobblepot has known since the moment Timothy Drake was seen with the Waynes that he was Janet's son.

Neither of them bring it up or acknowledge it. It's curtesy. Respect. Rules. Unspoken traditions. Roman Sionis is trampling all over them, he's being a danger to the whole of Gotham's underworld collectively.

Once Tim Drake- and how delightful, he hasn't delt with a Drake in ages, they're a pleasure to deal with- always reliable, and if you treat them right, fantastic allies to have. Once Tim Drake approaches him officially in the Continental, politely and by tradition in a neutral ground, with the situation and what he wants out of it? It's what he wants too- he's no fool to turn down a chance to work with a Drake and be added to their never ending list of possible contacts.

It would be a booming success, a boon, to be recognized, recommended, by a Drake.

Sionis' days are limited. Those who have been watching Black Mask try to pretend he's a big fish in an ocean he's just discovered, are also very tired of it. The Waynes are a respected public figure. They take care of this city- they donate and provide jobs and shelter. They are beloved. Killing Bruce Wayne, or his children, would cause a riot by the city, and that is not the type of attention they want. It could call the Table's attention too.

Technically he cannot be banned from Continental grounds as of yet. That doesn't mean that those within- and those with connections outside of it- won't work to get him off the grounds to be...handled.

Black Mask finds himself very carefully herded and tempted- poked and prodded to do exactly as they all expected he would.

He doesn't make it more than a dozen feet outside the protection of the hotel.

On another note! Tim absolutely introduces Jason properly to the underworld. He can see the itch in him to deal with things on a more personal level, a more permanent method. He can see that Jason is already tripping into it, taking over swathes of territory- especially once Black Mask no longer is a problem- and enforcing rules. Not shooting to kill anyone, he follows Bruce's rules, but he's still not willing to let things lie. He still believes that crime wont stop, and to be in charge of it would do more good. He just handles it differently than he would have as Hood.

Instead Hawk gets a personal introduction to the underworld, the rules of it, the figures he needed to know. He learns at Tim's shoulder, from files, from personal introductions, from experience. Tim lets him shadow him, a different persona that Red Hawk- do not tie vigilante selves to the self that is working in the underground. It's one of Tim's hardline rules. For Bruce, but also for them.

Jason is a little awed- a lot awed, not that he'd say so- to see the difference between Tim-his-brother, Wyvern-the-vigilante, and The Son of the Drake. To see more than what they watched by camera when he was doing the leg work. He'd wanted to help so bad when Tim was out and doing everything. He saw it work for him and WANTED so bad. To get this chance? He's not going to throw it away. Not a chance. He's grabbing with both hands. And Tim knows he wont. Knows especially that Jason would jump in blind, and he will not let his brother do that.

Damian is quietly vibrating in the back, a little jealous of this. Tim promises he'll teach Damian one on one about his methods, and they'll work together, all three of them, on something at some point.

Bruce has...no idea how to handle an up close look at what his son had explained to him. It was a totally different thing to hear Tim explain it, and to watch him shift over to Son of the Drake and defend the Manor, and everyone inside it. To watch him move, smooth and deadly and dangerous. To watch him pull out gold coins he's never seen before, and call someone, dark toned as he informs the other line he "wants to make a dinner reservation" and realize that Tim had called in a clean up crew-

At the same time...he can't deny it was needed. These people do not stop until they're put down hard in a way they cant get back up on.

@wolfsrainrules

Tim leaves a lot of the explanations of the Underground to John and Alfred. It's not that he doesn't think he can explain it-there are things that are better for him to explain seeing as the Drake family is so prestigious-but because he can see the look Bruce gets in his eyes when he's the one who explains the Rules and the consequences for breaking them(It's death. Almost every violation ends in death or excommunication, which is the same thing) He knows Bruce wishes he weren't raised in this world, had gotten to have a normal life. Tim...he gets it. He wouldn't trade his knowledge or abilities for anything, not when they help protect those he cares about but...he understands. The Underworld, for all it's Rules and Civility, is a savage place, full of crime and corruption. And crime and corruption are so very banal. It's the same whether it's a politician or a Table member.(hell, the whole Table given what happened to John) The vigilante part of him looks at the whole of the Underworld and sees a system that profits off of fear and misery, even if that fear and misery is contained to it's own people. Wyvern looks at the Continental, at Cobblepot(who always grumbles about people not following the rules anymore, not understanding that they were-at heart-criminals. No Rule would be followed indefinitely because they were already operating outside the law), and sometimes he wonders what it would be like if that system were gone. Part of him balks at that idea, horrified at the mere thought of destroying his first home. It screams at him that the criminal world would collapse into anarchy without the Rules, or the Table to enforce them. A different part of him knows it isn't possible. The Underworld has existed long before any of them were alive(even Alfred), and will continue to exist long after they die. But...

But part of him looks at his world, his home, and thinks *things could be better*. (He really has become his father's son.)

@yizukikhons

You're so right. It's a whole thing, all of the bonding is different, all of the relationships are different, and Tim goes from Underworld born and bred to a very strange middle ground, pulled in two directions.

Tim is the sort to do things with what he sees too. He absolutely is his father's son. Bruce saw a need and stepped in, and now Tim...Tim can't help but step up.

He knows he cant change traditions and Rules and such, not all of them, and certainly not alone. But...he can start them. He can cause ripples. And where better to start than Gotham? Where better to begin that the Continental, in neutral ground?

Tim talks to the concierge, to the staff, to the manager. He talks to the assassins and hitmen and every walk of life in his world that wants to listen.

It absolutely results in a few more targets on his back, because some people LIKE the way things are, but he can't help it. He needs to try.

I keep reblogging this at 2am because that's when the new ideas hit me I'm sorry @wolfsrainrules

Tim thought that his biggest opposition would be John. It was foolish perhaps to think that, but John is the one who was intimately entwined in the Underground, grew up knowing it's Rules as Gospel and lived by it's creed religiously. He forgot that John, as wealthy and successful as he was, was working class. He knew the feeling of being exploited. Expected to kill and die at the hands of people with more influence than himself, and how those sacred Rules never seemed to apply to those who had more power. Tim shares his plans for improving the Underworld and he's immediately on board. (If the systems Tim wants to implement had existed, Iosef would not have been able to accost him and his dog without consequences. John would've been able to get out-truly out-to be with Helen without bringing the Tarasov's into power, or making his marker with Santino. It keeps him up at night for days after Tim shares those plans)

Bruce nearly bursts into tears when Tim finally tells him. He's learning to live with this bloodier world, but to have Tim come to him and say 'I want to change it' with the same look in his eyes that he has whenever he talks of Gotham...it's both terrifying and exhilarating (His son is just like him. Oh God he's never been so proud or terrified in his life). He immediately sits down and starts setting up plans. They talk well into the night-even skipping patrol-talking about what outcomes they want and what kind of retaliation they can expect.

Jason is supportive. He looks up to Tim when it comes to the Underworld, and he's not so divorced from his vigilante roots to think that the system isn't broken. A Crime Alley kid through and through, he is also all too familiar with people exploiting systems to their advantage. It's Damian who is the most opposed. Unlike John or Jason, he is Underworld nobility. Born and bred to think that he is superior, and that it is his right to have others die in his name. Living with his father and siblings has deprogrammed a lot of that, but much like Tim he grew up thinking that this was the ONLY way that things could be, and he's still too young to fully grasp that his worldview isn't right. I like the idea of Tim having targets on his back for trying to change things. His attempts to change the Underworld has people both in and out of Gotham paying attention to him. Cobblepot thinks he's crazy. Living with Bruce is obviously turning him into an *ugh* idealist. It's also the most interesting thing to happen in decades (that kerfluffle with the Baba Yaga does not count. The Table is corrupt, what else is new?) Tim's ideas are even ones he (mostly) approves of! Go on little Bat! He won't stand in your way! (He can turn this to his advantage he's sure)

I feel like this story will eventually end with Tim becoming the head of the Gotham Underworld, sort of incorporating the prompt where he becomes the owner of the Gotham Continental. Gotham becomes it's own, strange world in the Underworld. A city with rules that leave many outsiders scratching their heads, but with results that no one can deny. Gotham becomes the best location for neutral grounds, for outside parties to come an negotiate at. They're subjected to strange codes of conduct, but the civility between disparate factions is undeniable. And if people try to start something, thinking that Tim's morals make him weak? They quickly find that Gotham is also not a place easily escaped. The city turns against them, clamping it's jaws around them like a steel trap. Even if they do make it out, any power they had will be in ruins by the time they get home. Tim makes it very clear that if he kills you? That's his MERCY. The Son of the Drake isn't weak for not killing, and that there are fates in the Underworld worse than death.

ooohhhh @yizukikhons genuinely, don't apologize, this is great.

also how could you leave these in tags lol

Fantastic. I adore the idea of Jason taking over Crime Alley in a weird mix of vigilante and underworld, taking a role like Bowery King. LoveLOVE the idea of all of Gotham shifting to follow the Rules as Tim puts in place, and everyone learns they have to too. How they'd cope with that.

Because Gotham...its so different, and if you dont watch it, it will swallow you down.

And Bruce just...not knowing how to handle Tim looking at him with a new-familiar-old spark in his eye, the drive and passion to FIX THIS. BONUS POINTS for Damian struggling, as underworld nobility to separate what Tim is doing, and what he agrees with. Damian learning all over again to stop and reevaluate. Watching the change happen- Tim's targets on his back, and all his family stepping up to keep him safe how they can, even as Tim ABSOLUTELY shows them death is a mercy when it comes to the Son of the Drake. Just...

UGH I love it. Love the idea of the underworld learning to treat Gotham like it's some kind of combination of Uncanny Valley type out of place with what they know, neutral ground in truth, even for the Table and Tim really definitely almost actually dies getting THAT into place, and some sort of "Earth is Space Australia" but applied to Gotham by the people operating outside of it. (@north-peach idk if you're reading this as it grows but it brings me joy)

@wolfsrainrules

The idea of Gotham as a sort of Underworld Australia is awesome and I wish I had thought of that first lol!

Janet is SO PROUD of her baby boy and brags to EVERYONE every chance she gets. Leaving her son with Batman was the best decision her son ever insisted on and she makes sure to send him gifts regularly, along with any gossip flowing in the wider Underworld during her travels. She stops by in Gotham often to dote on him. She finds his new rules strange-she's still Underworld after all-but she understands that this is important to her son and abides by Gotham rules as long as she's in the city.

Damian eventually comes around to Tim's way of thinking. He's more Bruce's son than Talia's, and though he never gets cut off from the Underworld in this AU, and therefore never comes to reject it entirely, with the help of John, Jason, Dick(I can't believe we haven't talked about Dick more in this AU!) He does come to believe that killing people is a last resort rather than the first. He helps establish Tim's set of rules. He's still more Underworld (initially) than Tim and is able to offer feedback on what kinds of Rules will be accepted, which will take an adjustment period, and which will have people trying to put a bullet in his head before he finishes his sentence.

What kind of reaction do people have at Bruce Wayne suddenly having these shady connections? A lot of people aren't even aware of his sudden involvement in the Underworld, but it won't go entirely unnoticed right?

Oh the Table is NOT HAPPY that Tim is trying to Change Things. If we're talking about arcs. There's the Jason arc(if we want start when Tim first comes to Gotham), the John Wick arc(where Tim helps John through movies 3 and 4), the Black Mask arc, and then the Table arc (where Tim decides to change the Underworld and all the opposition he runs into there). I'm thinking that the Table tries to excommunicate Tim, only to have him use his smarts, connections, and good old fashioned blackmail and skill to get them to back off. He targets Table members homes, digs up every dirty secret they have, and makes it clear that he is FAR more trouble than he's worth. This is the first time Tim proves that killing someone can be a mercy, as several Table members who tried to cut him off find themselves ruined and destitute. Eventually, in order to save face, Tim is made into a mediator for the Table. He's given a position similar to Iemitsu/the CEDEF from Katekyo Hitman Reborn (which would be a crazy easter egg/crossover!). His position is parallel to the Table, and he's not allowed to become a Table member himself(not that he'd want to be one) in order to prevent him from 'having too much power'(read, take over the entire Underworld and ruin their current way of life.) Gotham is declared a Neutral Party and treated like a foreign nation. The Continental doubles as an embassy of sorts in Gotham, and Tim takes to his new role like a duck to water. He still goes out as Wyvern, but The Son of the Drake firmly establishes himself as a man you never cross.

Speaking of the Batfam, I didn't get to talk enough about how skilled they are. Like, if they didn't have their 'no killing' rule, they would ABSOLUTELY be considered some of the most dangerous people in the Underworld. There's a reason Cobblepot uses the Bats as training missions for new recruits. They're dangerous and skilled enough to be Professional level threats without worrying that a promising new member will die just because they were dumb/inexperienced.

In the first few years after Gotham is made into Neutral territory, a lot of people come to 'mediate' thinking that there's no difference between the Underworld in the wider world, and the Underworld in Gotham. They get told the additional rules that they need to follow while in the city and laugh, thinking that Tim is just on a power trip and that the Table was nuts/weak for letting this boy run roughshod all over them. They are quickly proven wrong. The few who manage to make it out of the city babble about the mysterious bad luck they suffered. Cars vandalized, children on every corner employing hit and run tactics better than most strike teams. Shadowy figures watching them from the rooftops, picking them off one by one. Bosses getting arrested for crimes they committed with ironclad evidence that didn't exist yesterday(and yet every piece of it was true, even if it happened years ago). Flights that would cancel their tickets before they reached the gate, no matter how fast they purchased them. Shops that wouldn't sell to them, not even gas stations or convenience stores, leaving them to walk past the city limits, only to find all their assets gone once they got out. It's a Nightmare. Negotiation becomes much easier, because all one has to do is MENTION going to Gotham for mediation and people immediately shut up and become much more civil, lest the Table FORCE them to go to that hellhole of a city.

Of course, the average Underworld citizens have very different opinions. Sure, the city can be creepy at times, but as long as you follow the Rules? Surprisingly nice. Welcoming even. Several workers end up moving there because it's the only place where you can retire and not have to fear retaliation from your old boss, or any enemies you made. This of course, just makes Gotham even weirder. The city gets more and more deadly, but the crime rate goes down. It's hard to mug someone who can kill you with a penknife. And if you are former Underworld? You probably have plenty of money from your former life, and know better than to start trouble with that bastard/bitch who stole that job from you 10 years ago lest the city turn against you.

Plus, this is their city now. They've earned their retirement, and any Outsiders who come in thinking they can bring back the Old Ways? Well, they'll quickly find out why Gotham is so dangerous.

@yizukikhons isn't it? I thought that was great.

Yeeeeeees. Yesyes. All of this. Janet is honestly thriving. Like- look at her son go. She's so proud. She's MOST proud when the title King of Gotham outstrips even Son of the Drake for him. Look at her boy! Earning his own name! Outside of herself!!!! She's so proud of him, and she makes absolutely sure he knows it. Tim loves when she visits, and is deeply proud of how he's used what she taught him, even if neither of them expected it to end up like this.

I am ABSOLUTELY gonna run with an AU idea of what-if the whole family was underworld at one point, because you are RIGHT they'd be the most terrifying thing the underworld had ever seen, each of them so dangerous on their own, but the Wayne family being so much more terrifying because they work together and genuinely trust each other.

ANYWAY back to this. I really like Lord of the Narrows for Jason- it keeps him from claiming any names that would be in use elsewhere and stepping on toes. DICK. Oh, oh, Dick my beloved. SO. I DO have thoughts on him for this AU. Because we know, canonically, he was going to go out and fight crime on his own to literally kill the man who set his parents up to fall right? Dick has absolutely tripped into Underworld stuff entirely by mistake as a kid, and dug into it. It was an option after all, for how to deal with his parents' killer. He'd never told Bruce, but he absolutely looked into it. And he picks up some of the unspoken rules.

Adding in what his circus really was, and the travels he had as a kid? He knows more than most civilians, if not as much as one actively involved would, especially as a kid. So he knows enough to go to the Continental as a kid, and he may talk to some people Bruce would be DEEPLY upset to know he was talking to. Not about business of course- even HE knows that rule- but just...to learn more.

Perhaps makes some "friends" while he's there.

But Dick with his anger issues and everything else? Surprisingly educated despite never actively stepping foot into the underworld. It's part of why he gets along so well with Damian at the start. He knows enough. He's not an active member, but he's used the underworld connections. Usually when his rage is being an...issue. Bruce would flip if he knew his sunshine child used fighting rings and bets to vent. (Does Dick introduce Jason to them for the same reason? yes absolutely. Does Jason lose his mind a little bit to realize his big brother regularly bets and fights in fight rings to handle his temper behind the Bat's back? ABSOLUTELY.)

I love Damian watching the changes ripple out, and see such a FAMILIAR look in his brother's eyes, when he talks about changing things and...he can't help but take a second look then. Of course he has to- Timothy is so...passionate about this. And he's not really happy about it at first, but he can see immediately where their "Class" of underworld differs, because Tim doesn't have that understanding on noble-underworld that comes with being born to it. He's blunt when he points out the first mistakes- the ones that will have every noble coming for his head, and what he might change to achieve what he wants. As time progresses, and he sees the changes rippling through the working class of underworld, and ripple further up into the noble ranks, he starts believing it's needed, believing in what Tim is doing, which is where he starts sitting down with him to really brainstorm it out and plan.

I adore the idea of a Table arc where it really is just Tim surviving over and over again, the Batfam coming together with him, proving Cobblepot SO SO right. He's glad these people never- bar a few- stepped deep into the underworld at all. It's terrifying to see them step up to the Table's best and win. Consistently. LET TIM BE AN ABSOLUTE BADASS. This could ALSO be where Gotham starts building the network of homeless and such it becomes known for, as Jason uses old street kid connections to keep an eye out for threats to his brother.

Gotham, from the very beginning, establishes itself as ODD because the city knows outsiders, and they work together for each other against them. Even regular citizens will do it, because Gothamites stick together. You go through so many villain attacks together, and you dont even think about it anymore. Gotham is a crime haven and hive, but her people are strong and while they might fight, when the chips are down, they ban together in disasters, or against outsiders that cause trouble.

They're not Rouge Level after all. (And yes, Gothamites do roll their eyes at underworld people vs some of their big name villains)

But YES in the end, Tim establishes himself as the King of Gotham. Gothamites snort, because as the son (and did you hear? some whisper he was confirmed to be Bruce's son by blood) of Bruce Wayne, and well known face with various charities and forces for the city, of course he is. Bruce held the crown before him, why wouldnt it be one of his kids to take it? Underworld know it with a different emphasis, and whisper about the working class (if of a higher skill set then most) ascended to noble, that FOUGHT THE TABLE for them and cemented roles and rules for them-

They call him a "People's King" among themselves. THEIR King, a regard earned with his changes and rehauling. Regard kept because he stood his ground, and holds to it. He keeps his word, and enforces his laws and rules, and the city falls in behind them. How could they not?

Janet is near busting with pride. Bruce is absolutely pegged for having all these shady contacts, but...ask the right people and they talk about the connections his parents had. How honestly it's not too surprising he has them, just that it took this long for him to be caught using them. He supports the Bats dont you know? It's not surprising he'd use those connections for them. Probably for their gear the people whisper. He's still a darling of Gotham- look how well he uses his money and connections for their city! He's not too bad.

GOTHAM AS A RETIREMENT HOT SPOT FOR THE UNDERWORLD IS FANTASTIC. Tim sees it as a check and balance too- he holds to the rules, makes sure they're followed, and these people that retire here, they all WANT these rules to stay in place. They work with him to keep the city covered.

Lots of them fold the street kids under wing. They don't take Jason's people, but they act as check points and sort of safety nets while they're running around. Tim hires a lot into Wayne-adjacent jobs in various places. He makes a point to give them a chance and crack down hard and fast if he catches any of them touching things they shouldn't with the money or paperwork or other workers or anything, so they learn fast. Most dont even try it. It's the Son of the Drake who arranged it for them- they're not FOOLS. They've seen him tug on the flow of Gotham and redirect the entire city to his whim, they wouldn't dare.

I'm thinking Jason actually has two Underworld monikers. Lord of the Narrows, and another for working with the Crime Alley kids, because he knows he won't be a child forever. As much as the other kids like him, one day he'll be an Adult and there are things they won't go to him for anymore. The second moniker gets passed down among the kids to mark the head of the gang, and they report back to Jason with any problems that the others won't talk about.

Stares off into the distance:

So.

Apparently my brain is just going to run along with various crossovers. Today, I bring you the thought of a John Wick fusion au (actually five differnet ones) with Batman/DC. (Again: a reminder that all my DC/Batman knowledge is fandom based)

@north-peach hellllppppp

Couple of thoughts for this.

I love every single iteration of this. At first, I was wondering what would make Tim go 'John Wick' on someone, but I like all of these prompts SO MUCH!

How convenient it is that John dies at the end of movie 4. What a neat way to smuggle someone who isn't supposed to exist somewhere where he can be free of the Underground. Maybe, say....as a butler? Or an attendant to watch over the Drake Manor/Fortune. Just imagining hyper deadly John Wick working with Alfred Pennyworth (who absolutely knows who he is and where he's from) and learning to take care of Drake manor. Damian spots him and nearly vibrates into the watchtower with how excited he is (let my boy be a kid for once) and shows John ALL his animals and John has a special soft spot for Titus and any other dogs that come under their care.

Would Bruce still be Batman if he ran the Continental? I don't doubt there's one in Gotham, or that Bruce wouldn't know what it is, but I don't know if he'd want to be Batman in the Universe where he runs it. Could be that he believes running the crime himself will stop certain types of crime from happening(A La Red Hood style). In which case all his adopted kids run different sections of the Continental and are the powerhouses/enforcers who uphold the Rules within the walls. Dick is the concierge. He greets everyone at the front desk and is far to good at charming information out of their guests. Jason is the one who investigates/captures/punishes those who break the Continentals Rules. Barbara covers all tech aspects, etc.

Love these AU ideas!

Y e S.

I deeply enjoy the idea of Butler John Wick, taking over Drake Manor, tucking this little bird under his wing, Alfred and John meeting eyes across the yard like I remember you. Because I absolutely believe that Alfred has gotten in the way of Wick's missions before, and SURVIVED it, gave him a run for his money, and both of them respect the other deeply. Alfred is one of like minimal people who has gotten John's target to where he was supposed to BEFORE John could kill them. Did the target survive John? No. But Alfred made sure he did what he was supposed to do before John got to them.

They never expected to WORK TOGETHER over their charges, they could admit. There's a very British "I said it round about but in such a way you cannot mistake it for anything but the threat it is" conversations Alfred has with John over his family, Tim included.

Tim ALSO has to have a fun sit down with Alfred about the connections he has and why he has them.

As for Gotham Continental Branch run by Bruce, in that particular case, he's NOT Batman in my head. He's instead the upspoken head of the underworld there. He technically can't do anything outside of his hotel, not if he wants to remain in charge of it. It's supposed to be neutral ground after all.

That does NOT mean that everyone coming into Gotham doesn't know Bruce has....unspoken rules. Nothing that would bar access to the hotel of course, he doesn't have the right to do that for the things he doesn't like outside his hotel grounds. Not under the table. The things that can get one barred from the hotel are very clear in their rulebook, and if Bruce were to be seen as trying to operate above the table? It would cause problems for himself and his kids, and Alfred. So he's...creative about making his rules clear.

Everyone knows.

And while Bruce may not be Batman, because he has to be very clearly the head of his hotel and neutral- his CHILDREN are in fact still vigilantes and they absolutely can and will step in for things going on in their city. They operate in shifts over all out at once, because there are always some of them on call for the hotel. Sometimes they shuffle who wears what to hide the 'always missing when this vigilante is out' thing. Occasionally there's a shapeshifter involved to make it more obviously NOT THEM that are under those masks.

The fact that injuries on their person can be explained as their work in the underworld is helpful. Because they all have their own reps in the underground too.

It'd be a darker batfam au of course, because these people WOULD absolutely kill when needed. They'd set things up for THEIR 'best case" which doesn't always line up with the morals of the world, or what canon batfam would agree with. They have standards of course, but they're underworld.

When Wick met Pennyworth, he was still part of the underground. A job was a job, it was never personal. He and Alfred clashed because they had differing missions. That's all. And he actually deeply respects and admires the former MI6's skills and abilities.

Alfred also respects John, especially the way he took his sincere efforts to kill him in stride and never tried to retaliate against him. The man may be a cold-blooded killer, but he had rules that he followed. Morals that he wouldn't corrupt. Now that he's out? The Underground doesn't have room for 'personal'. Not for the lower ranks (which John, terrifying as he was, qualified as). Hell, what got John in trouble initially was letting things get personal. The regular world does. He needs to make sure this man understands that there are lines that won't be crossed.

Fortunately, John acquiesces to his demands rather easily. The life he's led is not kind to the body, and most days he has as many aches and pains as Alfred does. More on bad days. It's something they commiserate on when they have tea in Drake-and eventually Wayne-Manor. They talk politely about missions they were on(often on opposing sides). John shares tips on how to be even more lethal with guns. Alfred shares remedies for when his joints are screaming in pain. Both men may be wary of one another at first, but they trust that the other is utterly dedicated to protecting their wards. John even goes so far as to give Pennyworth a small collection of gold coins to use just in case something happens that he or the Bats can't combat on their own.

Well since we're bouncing ideas lmao.... @yizukikhons

Alfred is so thankful for the extra help in Wayne Manor. He's excellent at his job, phenomenal at it really, but he's still one man trying to balance....so much.

It takes a WHILE for John to be pulled into the Vigilante side of things but it still does happen, eventually. They ABSOLUTELY trade care tips for themselves. John also finds himself being taken care of and THAT is a wild time for him. Tim did it too, but now there's....a whole family that slowly accepts him into their number and care and- John had sworn to himself he'd never care so deeply again, not after Helen and what it did to him to lose her, but he...really couldn't help it. Tim grew on him, and these Waynes are growing on him too, as is the old Agent that once threw him over a balcony and shot him to keep his charge alive while John was trying to kill him.

Damian actually ends up deeply impressed with Tim, rather than ready to fight on sight because he's associated with Wick. Because Wick agreed to work for him, and that...that makes him curious. Bonus? His mother hears the name, and SHE knows Janet, and respects her, so she tells Damian Drake is a name he should know, should make an ally of, and he doesn't forget.

He is beyond pleased when Timothy Drake reaches a hand out to greet him, and takes it firmly, greets him as someone he wants to befriend. It changes...quite a bit on his integration to Wayne Family.

Wick actually helps IMMENSELY with that. Having his opinion is invaluable to Damian. Not only because he's genuinely excited to meet him, but because John can explain things to him in a way someone who grew up outside of their world could not. Ironically, Tim is ALSO very good at helping him bridge that gap as well, having grown up at Janet's knee and making his own choice to walk the route of vigilante instead.

This is the AU where Jason doesn't die, so he gets to pass that mantle down rather than having it be taken. Tim still has his own vigilante persona (I need to pick one for that, I think he picks something to honor his mother in this AU -squints-), and Jason gets to make his OWN persona rather than taking up an old Joker one. (Need to pick one for him too...Hm. Some bird of prey? Maybe something different like Nightwing's instead?? Hm.)

Tim eventually does find himself tucked into Wayne Manor as one of theirs of course, which John follows him. And as mentioned, it takes a while for him to be trusted with BAT-vigilante side of things, as Tim already trusted him.

Alfred ends up calling him down the first time for extra hands during an emergency surgery I think. They are a FORCE, working together to keep everyone fed, taken care of, and safe. The Wayne family lives in fear. I think I may have something go absolutely to hell, and that's how Tim ends up an official Wayne. Janet arranged when she realized how close Tim was to Bruce for him to be the one Tim went to. Jack isn't involved with the family and Drake is JANET'S surname in this AU that Jack would have taken due to the money and business, but did not for Reasons, so Bruce is next in line to take her son in if anything happened.

On the OTHER HAND. Janet still does all that (she absolutely is where Tim got his brain and she believes in contingencies) and lives, but gives Bruce the right to make calls. Perhaps some....altered records? Bruce listed as father? Might go with that, because I do love the idea of Janet living, loving her son, being a badass, who critiques her son's vigilante-ing, as well has his extended family's. Think I might go with this one. I like it, it's fun, and Janet rarely gets to be a good mom.

Since we're both enjoying ourselves...@wolfsrainrules

Bruce doesn't know how he feels about Tim's Underworld connections at first. Especially once he learns that Tim has killed before. (We all know how hard he felt about Jason killing as Red Hood, who should totally take the name Red Hawk, or some form of Hawk I think(Tim should be something like Wyvern, which are a form of dragon and often thought to be poisonous)) However, John and Alfred not only back him up, but Tim is able to explain WHY he kills without getting emotional about it.

The Underworld is not like Gotham's Rogues. They're not two-bit thugs just trying to make rent, or people lashing out against a broken, corrupt system. The Underworld was BUILT on blood. It's system is built from corpses and fueled by death. All of them are stone cold killers and the ONLY way to keep the rules in place is to ruthlessly enforce them. Tim will never kill as a vigilante, and he would never force Bruce to kill, but asking him to provide mercy to anyone from the Underworld who tries to cross him is to ensure HIS death rather than Tim's' opponent, and leave anyone he protects vulnerable (which includes you Bruce, dumbass. You think people from the Underworld haven't come after you? You think there haven't been attempts on your life from people who you inadvertently caught committing crimes in Gotham? The only thing that's protected you so far is the fact that they got caught by such a public figure, which left them excommunicato and cut off from the necessary resources) Bruce acquiesces. The fact that Tim swore he wouldn't kill as a vigilante helps. But things are...tense between the two of them for a while. Having John around helps bridge the gap between the two of them as he's a full adult who's lived in both the Underworld and the regular world.

As for what goes tits up to make Tim an official Wayne...initially I was thinking Penguin having access to the Underworld (he's old money and I could see him having a position sort of like the Bowery King) but then I got a better idea. Roman Sionis, AKA Black Mask, gets into The Underworld. He was always a ruthless mob boss, but with access to the resources of the Underworld? He's suddenly infinitely more dangerous. Yes, he's subject to their rules now, but like he's going to let that stop him from taking over Gotham like he wants. He uses his new connections to find out who Batman is. Sets hits on them. Holes himself up in the Gotham Continental and waits.

Tim can't attack him in the Continental. He knows the Rules just as well as anyone else. All he can do is ruthlessly protect his family as assassin after assassin tries to break into Wayne Manor to take out their marks and compile as much info on Black Mask as possible to get him excommunicato and cut him off. (Damian uses his League connections to get access to the Underworld and get a pin on Sionis's plans. Can't decide if some of the Bats join him under aliases or not. If so, it's probably Jason, Steph, and/or Cass) John helps defend the manor. He may be out, but as long as there's no one to report back that he's still alive? He doesn't mind protecting the new family he's gained. He still makes sure to disguise himself so anyone who might be watching can't tell it's him though. (hello? where did this idea come from?) Sionis is increasingly more and more furious with each failed attempt and targets Janet. Which, BIG mistake. Janet can more than take care of herself, and Tim called her the minute that Sionis started coming after them. However, the fact that Tim is protecting them to this degree? He has truly accepted these people as HIS. Cares for them the same way you care for Family. And the Wayne's are defending him just as much. Janet knows she hasn't always been there for Tim. She's raised him as well as she could in the Underworld, but there was only so close she could be to her son before people would've caught on to her weakness. (her baby was never a weakness, but others would've taken him as one and she wouldn't allow anyone to touch her baby thinking that they could get to her by harming him) Seeing Bruce defend her son, she makes a decision. Once the dust has settled, she brings out a birth certificate with the father's name blank, back dated to when Tim was born(that kind of thing is child's play for those in the Underworld) and offers it to Bruce. She's not willing to sign away her rights to her child, but she knows that Bruce will protect and love her son in a way she has never been able to.

Also, a piece of dialogue/scene that won't leave my head from when Alfred was protecting someone from Wick:

*The target, lighting a cigarette*: What, not gona comment about me killing my lungs?

Alfred, current MI6 operative: there's rather no point now.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Our schedule needs to be moved up. We need to get to Budapest within the next 32 hours"

"The fuck?! I thought the deadline wasn't until next week!!! The hell are we gonna get to Budapest in 32 hours?!"

"The deadline hasn't changed, our time has simply shortened."

"The fuck 016! If the deadline hasn't changed why do we need to get there so fast!"

"Because 32 hours is all I can garuantee with our current pursuer"

"Until they steal the info from me? I told'ya man, you don't have to worry I-"

"Until your death."

*Silence*

"...what?"

"32 hours is the maximum amount of time I can hold off our current pursuer while garuanteeing your survival. Any time past that and the likelihood that he'll be able to kill you before we reach our destination rises drastically."

"0-Pennyworth what are you saying? W-what do you mean I'm gonna die in 32 hours? The hell kinda guy is pursuing us?!"

"The man pursuing us is called John Wick."

"Who the fuck is John Wick!"

"No one you'll have heard about, or ever will hear about now"

"Stop talking like that! You're one of MI6's best agents! I ain't gonna die!"

"You are. John Wick is not a man who gives up easily. If he's given a target, he will pursue until that target is dead. Once we get to Budapest and deliver the Intel, I will be pulled from your detail, and John will kill you, whether he was able to get your Intel or not,"

"Then you have to protect me! I-I'll pay you whatever you want! Name a price!"

"Aaron-"

"Shut up! Just name it, and I'll make sure you're paid double! Triple!"

"Aaron. I am MI6. I don't take on personal missions. Moreover I am just one man. An ordinary man at that. Even if I guarded you 24/7 I can't hold off Wick indefinitely."

"..."

"..."

"So what that's it? It's over? Nothing to be done? I'm just a dead man walking am I?"

"Things are far from over Mr . McDougal. We still need to make it to Budapest"

"You think getting to Budapest matters?"

"Of course it does. Unless you wanted to return your information to sender?"

"...Fuck it. Fine. Let's get going"

I adore the thoughts here @yizukikhons

Maybe a series of snapshots of various Alfred-as MI6- and John Wick- in his prime as Baba Yaga- would be a fun side project lol . I DO enjoy Red Hawk for Jason, and I can ABSOLUTELY see Tim going hard for that Dragon-theme considering his choice of "Drake" lol.

Roman is a dead man walking, he just doesn't know it yet. Going after Janet was absolutely a mistake on multiple levels. She absolutely wrecks anyone coming her way, especially with warning. She's....beyond happy to see Tim find a family. She's always been a "me and mine" person, but more inclined to solo-jobs and living. Tim- she knew Tim was not. He was social in ways she just...didn't feel the need to be. He needed people. Not just any people- he has her standards- but he was more pack inclined than not.

Seeing him get that? Seeing him get it with Bruce? She won't take his little pack from him, especially not when she's seen them viciously protect him in turn. Bruce signs the birth certificate. It takes a conversation with Janet as well as Tim- and Janet respects and appreciates that Bruce talked to her son first, even if she knew what he'd say. Timothy Drake becomes Drake-Wayne.

Damian is preening over the new official relation. He's actually proud to claim Drake as a brother- especially since he has now witnessed Tim being underworld-ruthless. Seen him step up and tear through enemies coming after the Wayne family. Seen him fall in step with Oracle and ruin everything they could, between them, lay hands on for Roman. Seen them erase every hint of how Roman found his information. They're proactive. Tim goes in for physical copies, preforms strikes the way he learned at his mother's knee. He is giving his family heart attacks, but they're not experienced enough in underworld dealings and rules to actually help him. None of them like that. It leads to lessons, later. None of them want him to have to go in without backup ever again, thank you. Especially not in THAT kind of situation, with people who kill for livings, and are actually intricate and dangerous in ways none of them (bar Damian, and Alfred with his experience on the protection detail side) had thought about.

They're thankful that John was ready and willing to slip in after Tim if he had to. Tim had promised him he wouldn't have to. They'd put too much work into his 'death' and hiding him. He wouldn't make John give that up. John tells him he wouldn't hesitate, for him.

Tim has to take a deep breath and blink hard and fast for a moment, because he knows what that would mean for John, what it means that John is still going to follow him in, and wait, and if needed, step in. He resolves that John WILL NOT need to do so.

He's wearing small cameras- bat tech- so they can watch him, and Tim's a whole other ballgame when he's walking a room as The Son of the Drake. it's wild for the batfam to see. Tim owns that room from the moment he walks in, though. From the moment he walks in, and in whispers and awe after he leaves it too. Janet Drake taught him everything she knew, and Tim learned it all, improved and expanded on it. He knows exactly how to work and manipulate a crowd.

It's a little terrifying to watch.

Tim has all the pieces. Roman will die for what he's done. It's just a matter of waiting. Just a matter of pushing the right buttons. Roman won't stay in the Continental forever. He's too used to dealing with the Waynes as vigilantes with rules, too used to being on the ground, being Black Mask. He may wait, but he won't outlast a Drake's patience for ruining someone who went after their hoard. He won't escape their retaliation.

@wolfsrainrules I can't get the idea of Penguin as part of the Underworld out of my head, so here we go:

Penguin the Rogue and Cobblepot the Underworld broker are very different personas. As a Rogue, he's weak, quick to anger, impulsive when it comes to the Bats (they do frustrate him endlessly, but mostly he finds their clashes fun. It's a chance to let loose and know that none of his men are in life-threatening danger. Great training for the younger recruits) As a broker he's calmer, softer spoken, dangerous. Having dual identities makes people underestimate him. They think because he has to maintain a public persona as Penguin that he's limited in how he can retaliate. He's not. Cobblepot has been part of the Underworld since before college, and Roman Sionis is PISSING HIM OFF.

The man acts like their world is just another set of tools to be exploited. Not a living, breathing, deadly world that chews up more dangerous men and spits them out mangled beyond all recognition as a warning to others. Alas, it seems no one respects the Rules these days, and letting Sionis in is just a symptom of the larger problem.

So when Timothy Drake approaches him in the lobby of the Continental, face a pleasant mask, he can't help but be intrigued. Once he's been filled in on the relevant details? He's more than willing to skin Sionis himself.

Double dealing, sedition, putting hits on public figures. Sionis is trampling all of their traditions, spitting on them with the petulance of an insolent child. Well, unfortunately for him, the Underworld is not a place for children. He will be dealt with the same way anyone else is.

Oh I love that @yizukikhons

Penguin- Cobblepot-has made his mark in the underworld. They all know him to be dangerous and deadly, even if Gotham will laugh if you mention Penguin being so deadly. Sure you'll see him sometimes meeting people in the Iceberg, but...an actual threat? No.

The underworld knows better. Cobblepot is an old name, with older connections, larger webs than most. Cobblepot knows the Drakes. Has WORKED with the Drakes.

Tim has known from the moment he laid eyes on Penguin exactly who he was. Exactly how much more of a threat he could be than he was being. He also recognizes the training he's giving his men. Sure he has a rotating goon roster, but there are some in there that are his men and familiar faces- usually paired with the newer recruits that are being training via Penguin to be Cobblepot men.

Cobblepot has known since the moment Timothy Drake was seen with the Waynes that he was Janet's son.

Neither of them bring it up or acknowledge it. It's curtesy. Respect. Rules. Unspoken traditions. Roman Sionis is trampling all over them, he's being a danger to the whole of Gotham's underworld collectively.

Once Tim Drake- and how delightful, he hasn't delt with a Drake in ages, they're a pleasure to deal with- always reliable, and if you treat them right, fantastic allies to have. Once Tim Drake approaches him officially in the Continental, politely and by tradition in a neutral ground, with the situation and what he wants out of it? It's what he wants too- he's no fool to turn down a chance to work with a Drake and be added to their never ending list of possible contacts.

It would be a booming success, a boon, to be recognized, recommended, by a Drake.

Sionis' days are limited. Those who have been watching Black Mask try to pretend he's a big fish in an ocean he's just discovered, are also very tired of it. The Waynes are a respected public figure. They take care of this city- they donate and provide jobs and shelter. They are beloved. Killing Bruce Wayne, or his children, would cause a riot by the city, and that is not the type of attention they want. It could call the Table's attention too.

Technically he cannot be banned from Continental grounds as of yet. That doesn't mean that those within- and those with connections outside of it- won't work to get him off the grounds to be...handled.

Black Mask finds himself very carefully herded and tempted- poked and prodded to do exactly as they all expected he would.

He doesn't make it more than a dozen feet outside the protection of the hotel.

On another note! Tim absolutely introduces Jason properly to the underworld. He can see the itch in him to deal with things on a more personal level, a more permanent method. He can see that Jason is already tripping into it, taking over swathes of territory- especially once Black Mask no longer is a problem- and enforcing rules. Not shooting to kill anyone, he follows Bruce's rules, but he's still not willing to let things lie. He still believes that crime wont stop, and to be in charge of it would do more good. He just handles it differently than he would have as Hood.

Instead Hawk gets a personal introduction to the underworld, the rules of it, the figures he needed to know. He learns at Tim's shoulder, from files, from personal introductions, from experience. Tim lets him shadow him, a different persona that Red Hawk- do not tie vigilante selves to the self that is working in the underground. It's one of Tim's hardline rules. For Bruce, but also for them.

Jason is a little awed- a lot awed, not that he'd say so- to see the difference between Tim-his-brother, Wyvern-the-vigilante, and The Son of the Drake. To see more than what they watched by camera when he was doing the leg work. He'd wanted to help so bad when Tim was out and doing everything. He saw it work for him and WANTED so bad. To get this chance? He's not going to throw it away. Not a chance. He's grabbing with both hands. And Tim knows he wont. Knows especially that Jason would jump in blind, and he will not let his brother do that.

Damian is quietly vibrating in the back, a little jealous of this. Tim promises he'll teach Damian one on one about his methods, and they'll work together, all three of them, on something at some point.

Bruce has...no idea how to handle an up close look at what his son had explained to him. It was a totally different thing to hear Tim explain it, and to watch him shift over to Son of the Drake and defend the Manor, and everyone inside it. To watch him move, smooth and deadly and dangerous. To watch him pull out gold coins he's never seen before, and call someone, dark toned as he informs the other line he "wants to make a dinner reservation" and realize that Tim had called in a clean up crew-

At the same time...he can't deny it was needed. These people do not stop until they're put down hard in a way they cant get back up on.

@wolfsrainrules

Tim leaves a lot of the explanations of the Underground to John and Alfred. It's not that he doesn't think he can explain it-there are things that are better for him to explain seeing as the Drake family is so prestigious-but because he can see the look Bruce gets in his eyes when he's the one who explains the Rules and the consequences for breaking them(It's death. Almost every violation ends in death or excommunication, which is the same thing) He knows Bruce wishes he weren't raised in this world, had gotten to have a normal life. Tim...he gets it. He wouldn't trade his knowledge or abilities for anything, not when they help protect those he cares about but...he understands. The Underworld, for all it's Rules and Civility, is a savage place, full of crime and corruption. And crime and corruption are so very banal. It's the same whether it's a politician or a Table member.(hell, the whole Table given what happened to John) The vigilante part of him looks at the whole of the Underworld and sees a system that profits off of fear and misery, even if that fear and misery is contained to it's own people. Wyvern looks at the Continental, at Cobblepot(who always grumbles about people not following the rules anymore, not understanding that they were-at heart-criminals. No Rule would be followed indefinitely because they were already operating outside the law), and sometimes he wonders what it would be like if that system were gone. Part of him balks at that idea, horrified at the mere thought of destroying his first home. It screams at him that the criminal world would collapse into anarchy without the Rules, or the Table to enforce them. A different part of him knows it isn't possible. The Underworld has existed long before any of them were alive(even Alfred), and will continue to exist long after they die. But...

But part of him looks at his world, his home, and thinks *things could be better*. (He really has become his father's son.)

@yizukikhons

You're so right. It's a whole thing, all of the bonding is different, all of the relationships are different, and Tim goes from Underworld born and bred to a very strange middle ground, pulled in two directions.

Tim is the sort to do things with what he sees too. He absolutely is his father's son. Bruce saw a need and stepped in, and now Tim...Tim can't help but step up.

He knows he cant change traditions and Rules and such, not all of them, and certainly not alone. But...he can start them. He can cause ripples. And where better to start than Gotham? Where better to begin that the Continental, in neutral ground?

Tim talks to the concierge, to the staff, to the manager. He talks to the assassins and hitmen and every walk of life in his world that wants to listen.

It absolutely results in a few more targets on his back, because some people LIKE the way things are, but he can't help it. He needs to try.

I keep reblogging this at 2am because that's when the new ideas hit me I'm sorry @wolfsrainrules

Tim thought that his biggest opposition would be John. It was foolish perhaps to think that, but John is the one who was intimately entwined in the Underground, grew up knowing it's Rules as Gospel and lived by it's creed religiously. He forgot that John, as wealthy and successful as he was, was working class. He knew the feeling of being exploited. Expected to kill and die at the hands of people with more influence than himself, and how those sacred Rules never seemed to apply to those who had more power. Tim shares his plans for improving the Underworld and he's immediately on board. (If the systems Tim wants to implement had existed, Iosef would not have been able to accost him and his dog without consequences. John would've been able to get out-truly out-to be with Helen without bringing the Tarasov's into power, or making his marker with Santino. It keeps him up at night for days after Tim shares those plans)

Bruce nearly bursts into tears when Tim finally tells him. He's learning to live with this bloodier world, but to have Tim come to him and say 'I want to change it' with the same look in his eyes that he has whenever he talks of Gotham...it's both terrifying and exhilarating (His son is just like him. Oh God he's never been so proud or terrified in his life). He immediately sits down and starts setting up plans. They talk well into the night-even skipping patrol-talking about what outcomes they want and what kind of retaliation they can expect.

Jason is supportive. He looks up to Tim when it comes to the Underworld, and he's not so divorced from his vigilante roots to think that the system isn't broken. A Crime Alley kid through and through, he is also all too familiar with people exploiting systems to their advantage. It's Damian who is the most opposed. Unlike John or Jason, he is Underworld nobility. Born and bred to think that he is superior, and that it is his right to have others die in his name. Living with his father and siblings has deprogrammed a lot of that, but much like Tim he grew up thinking that this was the ONLY way that things could be, and he's still too young to fully grasp that his worldview isn't right. I like the idea of Tim having targets on his back for trying to change things. His attempts to change the Underworld has people both in and out of Gotham paying attention to him. Cobblepot thinks he's crazy. Living with Bruce is obviously turning him into an *ugh* idealist. It's also the most interesting thing to happen in decades (that kerfluffle with the Baba Yaga does not count. The Table is corrupt, what else is new?) Tim's ideas are even ones he (mostly) approves of! Go on little Bat! He won't stand in your way! (He can turn this to his advantage he's sure)

I feel like this story will eventually end with Tim becoming the head of the Gotham Underworld, sort of incorporating the prompt where he becomes the owner of the Gotham Continental. Gotham becomes it's own, strange world in the Underworld. A city with rules that leave many outsiders scratching their heads, but with results that no one can deny. Gotham becomes the best location for neutral grounds, for outside parties to come an negotiate at. They're subjected to strange codes of conduct, but the civility between disparate factions is undeniable. And if people try to start something, thinking that Tim's morals make him weak? They quickly find that Gotham is also not a place easily escaped. The city turns against them, clamping it's jaws around them like a steel trap. Even if they do make it out, any power they had will be in ruins by the time they get home. Tim makes it very clear that if he kills you? That's his MERCY. The Son of the Drake isn't weak for not killing, and that there are fates in the Underworld worse than death.

ooohhhh @yizukikhons genuinely, don't apologize, this is great.

also how could you leave these in tags lol

Fantastic. I adore the idea of Jason taking over Crime Alley in a weird mix of vigilante and underworld, taking a role like Bowery King. LoveLOVE the idea of all of Gotham shifting to follow the Rules as Tim puts in place, and everyone learns they have to too. How they'd cope with that.

Because Gotham...its so different, and if you dont watch it, it will swallow you down.

And Bruce just...not knowing how to handle Tim looking at him with a new-familiar-old spark in his eye, the drive and passion to FIX THIS. BONUS POINTS for Damian struggling, as underworld nobility to separate what Tim is doing, and what he agrees with. Damian learning all over again to stop and reevaluate. Watching the change happen- Tim's targets on his back, and all his family stepping up to keep him safe how they can, even as Tim ABSOLUTELY shows them death is a mercy when it comes to the Son of the Drake. Just...

UGH I love it. Love the idea of the underworld learning to treat Gotham like it's some kind of combination of Uncanny Valley type out of place with what they know, neutral ground in truth, even for the Table and Tim really definitely almost actually dies getting THAT into place, and some sort of "Earth is Space Australia" but applied to Gotham by the people operating outside of it. (@north-peach idk if you're reading this as it grows but it brings me joy)

@wolfsrainrules

The idea of Gotham as a sort of Underworld Australia is awesome and I wish I had thought of that first lol!

Janet is SO PROUD of her baby boy and brags to EVERYONE every chance she gets. Leaving her son with Batman was the best decision her son ever insisted on and she makes sure to send him gifts regularly, along with any gossip flowing in the wider Underworld during her travels. She stops by in Gotham often to dote on him. She finds his new rules strange-she's still Underworld after all-but she understands that this is important to her son and abides by Gotham rules as long as she's in the city.

Damian eventually comes around to Tim's way of thinking. He's more Bruce's son than Talia's, and though he never gets cut off from the Underworld in this AU, and therefore never comes to reject it entirely, with the help of John, Jason, Dick(I can't believe we haven't talked about Dick more in this AU!) He does come to believe that killing people is a last resort rather than the first. He helps establish Tim's set of rules. He's still more Underworld (initially) than Tim and is able to offer feedback on what kinds of Rules will be accepted, which will take an adjustment period, and which will have people trying to put a bullet in his head before he finishes his sentence.

What kind of reaction do people have at Bruce Wayne suddenly having these shady connections? A lot of people aren't even aware of his sudden involvement in the Underworld, but it won't go entirely unnoticed right?

Oh the Table is NOT HAPPY that Tim is trying to Change Things. If we're talking about arcs. There's the Jason arc(if we want start when Tim first comes to Gotham), the John Wick arc(where Tim helps John through movies 3 and 4), the Black Mask arc, and then the Table arc (where Tim decides to change the Underworld and all the opposition he runs into there). I'm thinking that the Table tries to excommunicate Tim, only to have him use his smarts, connections, and good old fashioned blackmail and skill to get them to back off. He targets Table members homes, digs up every dirty secret they have, and makes it clear that he is FAR more trouble than he's worth. This is the first time Tim proves that killing someone can be a mercy, as several Table members who tried to cut him off find themselves ruined and destitute. Eventually, in order to save face, Tim is made into a mediator for the Table. He's given a position similar to Iemitsu/the CEDEF from Katekyo Hitman Reborn (which would be a crazy easter egg/crossover!). His position is parallel to the Table, and he's not allowed to become a Table member himself(not that he'd want to be one) in order to prevent him from 'having too much power'(read, take over the entire Underworld and ruin their current way of life.) Gotham is declared a Neutral Party and treated like a foreign nation. The Continental doubles as an embassy of sorts in Gotham, and Tim takes to his new role like a duck to water. He still goes out as Wyvern, but The Son of the Drake firmly establishes himself as a man you never cross.

Speaking of the Batfam, I didn't get to talk enough about how skilled they are. Like, if they didn't have their 'no killing' rule, they would ABSOLUTELY be considered some of the most dangerous people in the Underworld. There's a reason Cobblepot uses the Bats as training missions for new recruits. They're dangerous and skilled enough to be Professional level threats without worrying that a promising new member will die just because they were dumb/inexperienced.

In the first few years after Gotham is made into Neutral territory, a lot of people come to 'mediate' thinking that there's no difference between the Underworld in the wider world, and the Underworld in Gotham. They get told the additional rules that they need to follow while in the city and laugh, thinking that Tim is just on a power trip and that the Table was nuts/weak for letting this boy run roughshod all over them. They are quickly proven wrong. The few who manage to make it out of the city babble about the mysterious bad luck they suffered. Cars vandalized, children on every corner employing hit and run tactics better than most strike teams. Shadowy figures watching them from the rooftops, picking them off one by one. Bosses getting arrested for crimes they committed with ironclad evidence that didn't exist yesterday(and yet every piece of it was true, even if it happened years ago). Flights that would cancel their tickets before they reached the gate, no matter how fast they purchased them. Shops that wouldn't sell to them, not even gas stations or convenience stores, leaving them to walk past the city limits, only to find all their assets gone once they got out. It's a Nightmare. Negotiation becomes much easier, because all one has to do is MENTION going to Gotham for mediation and people immediately shut up and become much more civil, lest the Table FORCE them to go to that hellhole of a city.

Of course, the average Underworld citizens have very different opinions. Sure, the city can be creepy at times, but as long as you follow the Rules? Surprisingly nice. Welcoming even. Several workers end up moving there because it's the only place where you can retire and not have to fear retaliation from your old boss, or any enemies you made. This of course, just makes Gotham even weirder. The city gets more and more deadly, but the crime rate goes down. It's hard to mug someone who can kill you with a penknife. And if you are former Underworld? You probably have plenty of money from your former life, and know better than to start trouble with that bastard/bitch who stole that job from you 10 years ago lest the city turn against you.

Plus, this is their city now. They've earned their retirement, and any Outsiders who come in thinking they can bring back the Old Ways? Well, they'll quickly find out why Gotham is so dangerous.

Stares off into the distance:

So.

Apparently my brain is just going to run along with various crossovers. Today, I bring you the thought of a John Wick fusion au (actually five differnet ones) with Batman/DC. (Again: a reminder that all my DC/Batman knowledge is fandom based)

@north-peach hellllppppp

Couple of thoughts for this.

I love every single iteration of this. At first, I was wondering what would make Tim go 'John Wick' on someone, but I like all of these prompts SO MUCH!

How convenient it is that John dies at the end of movie 4. What a neat way to smuggle someone who isn't supposed to exist somewhere where he can be free of the Underground. Maybe, say....as a butler? Or an attendant to watch over the Drake Manor/Fortune. Just imagining hyper deadly John Wick working with Alfred Pennyworth (who absolutely knows who he is and where he's from) and learning to take care of Drake manor. Damian spots him and nearly vibrates into the watchtower with how excited he is (let my boy be a kid for once) and shows John ALL his animals and John has a special soft spot for Titus and any other dogs that come under their care.

Would Bruce still be Batman if he ran the Continental? I don't doubt there's one in Gotham, or that Bruce wouldn't know what it is, but I don't know if he'd want to be Batman in the Universe where he runs it. Could be that he believes running the crime himself will stop certain types of crime from happening(A La Red Hood style). In which case all his adopted kids run different sections of the Continental and are the powerhouses/enforcers who uphold the Rules within the walls. Dick is the concierge. He greets everyone at the front desk and is far to good at charming information out of their guests. Jason is the one who investigates/captures/punishes those who break the Continentals Rules. Barbara covers all tech aspects, etc.

Love these AU ideas!

Y e S.

I deeply enjoy the idea of Butler John Wick, taking over Drake Manor, tucking this little bird under his wing, Alfred and John meeting eyes across the yard like I remember you. Because I absolutely believe that Alfred has gotten in the way of Wick's missions before, and SURVIVED it, gave him a run for his money, and both of them respect the other deeply. Alfred is one of like minimal people who has gotten John's target to where he was supposed to BEFORE John could kill them. Did the target survive John? No. But Alfred made sure he did what he was supposed to do before John got to them.

They never expected to WORK TOGETHER over their charges, they could admit. There's a very British "I said it round about but in such a way you cannot mistake it for anything but the threat it is" conversations Alfred has with John over his family, Tim included.

Tim ALSO has to have a fun sit down with Alfred about the connections he has and why he has them.

As for Gotham Continental Branch run by Bruce, in that particular case, he's NOT Batman in my head. He's instead the upspoken head of the underworld there. He technically can't do anything outside of his hotel, not if he wants to remain in charge of it. It's supposed to be neutral ground after all.

That does NOT mean that everyone coming into Gotham doesn't know Bruce has....unspoken rules. Nothing that would bar access to the hotel of course, he doesn't have the right to do that for the things he doesn't like outside his hotel grounds. Not under the table. The things that can get one barred from the hotel are very clear in their rulebook, and if Bruce were to be seen as trying to operate above the table? It would cause problems for himself and his kids, and Alfred. So he's...creative about making his rules clear.

Everyone knows.

And while Bruce may not be Batman, because he has to be very clearly the head of his hotel and neutral- his CHILDREN are in fact still vigilantes and they absolutely can and will step in for things going on in their city. They operate in shifts over all out at once, because there are always some of them on call for the hotel. Sometimes they shuffle who wears what to hide the 'always missing when this vigilante is out' thing. Occasionally there's a shapeshifter involved to make it more obviously NOT THEM that are under those masks.

The fact that injuries on their person can be explained as their work in the underworld is helpful. Because they all have their own reps in the underground too.

It'd be a darker batfam au of course, because these people WOULD absolutely kill when needed. They'd set things up for THEIR 'best case" which doesn't always line up with the morals of the world, or what canon batfam would agree with. They have standards of course, but they're underworld.

When Wick met Pennyworth, he was still part of the underground. A job was a job, it was never personal. He and Alfred clashed because they had differing missions. That's all. And he actually deeply respects and admires the former MI6's skills and abilities.

Alfred also respects John, especially the way he took his sincere efforts to kill him in stride and never tried to retaliate against him. The man may be a cold-blooded killer, but he had rules that he followed. Morals that he wouldn't corrupt. Now that he's out? The Underground doesn't have room for 'personal'. Not for the lower ranks (which John, terrifying as he was, qualified as). Hell, what got John in trouble initially was letting things get personal. The regular world does. He needs to make sure this man understands that there are lines that won't be crossed.

Fortunately, John acquiesces to his demands rather easily. The life he's led is not kind to the body, and most days he has as many aches and pains as Alfred does. More on bad days. It's something they commiserate on when they have tea in Drake-and eventually Wayne-Manor. They talk politely about missions they were on(often on opposing sides). John shares tips on how to be even more lethal with guns. Alfred shares remedies for when his joints are screaming in pain. Both men may be wary of one another at first, but they trust that the other is utterly dedicated to protecting their wards. John even goes so far as to give Pennyworth a small collection of gold coins to use just in case something happens that he or the Bats can't combat on their own.

Well since we're bouncing ideas lmao.... @yizukikhons

Alfred is so thankful for the extra help in Wayne Manor. He's excellent at his job, phenomenal at it really, but he's still one man trying to balance....so much.

It takes a WHILE for John to be pulled into the Vigilante side of things but it still does happen, eventually. They ABSOLUTELY trade care tips for themselves. John also finds himself being taken care of and THAT is a wild time for him. Tim did it too, but now there's....a whole family that slowly accepts him into their number and care and- John had sworn to himself he'd never care so deeply again, not after Helen and what it did to him to lose her, but he...really couldn't help it. Tim grew on him, and these Waynes are growing on him too, as is the old Agent that once threw him over a balcony and shot him to keep his charge alive while John was trying to kill him.

Damian actually ends up deeply impressed with Tim, rather than ready to fight on sight because he's associated with Wick. Because Wick agreed to work for him, and that...that makes him curious. Bonus? His mother hears the name, and SHE knows Janet, and respects her, so she tells Damian Drake is a name he should know, should make an ally of, and he doesn't forget.

He is beyond pleased when Timothy Drake reaches a hand out to greet him, and takes it firmly, greets him as someone he wants to befriend. It changes...quite a bit on his integration to Wayne Family.

Wick actually helps IMMENSELY with that. Having his opinion is invaluable to Damian. Not only because he's genuinely excited to meet him, but because John can explain things to him in a way someone who grew up outside of their world could not. Ironically, Tim is ALSO very good at helping him bridge that gap as well, having grown up at Janet's knee and making his own choice to walk the route of vigilante instead.

This is the AU where Jason doesn't die, so he gets to pass that mantle down rather than having it be taken. Tim still has his own vigilante persona (I need to pick one for that, I think he picks something to honor his mother in this AU -squints-), and Jason gets to make his OWN persona rather than taking up an old Joker one. (Need to pick one for him too...Hm. Some bird of prey? Maybe something different like Nightwing's instead?? Hm.)

Tim eventually does find himself tucked into Wayne Manor as one of theirs of course, which John follows him. And as mentioned, it takes a while for him to be trusted with BAT-vigilante side of things, as Tim already trusted him.

Alfred ends up calling him down the first time for extra hands during an emergency surgery I think. They are a FORCE, working together to keep everyone fed, taken care of, and safe. The Wayne family lives in fear. I think I may have something go absolutely to hell, and that's how Tim ends up an official Wayne. Janet arranged when she realized how close Tim was to Bruce for him to be the one Tim went to. Jack isn't involved with the family and Drake is JANET'S surname in this AU that Jack would have taken due to the money and business, but did not for Reasons, so Bruce is next in line to take her son in if anything happened.

On the OTHER HAND. Janet still does all that (she absolutely is where Tim got his brain and she believes in contingencies) and lives, but gives Bruce the right to make calls. Perhaps some....altered records? Bruce listed as father? Might go with that, because I do love the idea of Janet living, loving her son, being a badass, who critiques her son's vigilante-ing, as well has his extended family's. Think I might go with this one. I like it, it's fun, and Janet rarely gets to be a good mom.

Since we're both enjoying ourselves...@wolfsrainrules

Bruce doesn't know how he feels about Tim's Underworld connections at first. Especially once he learns that Tim has killed before. (We all know how hard he felt about Jason killing as Red Hood, who should totally take the name Red Hawk, or some form of Hawk I think(Tim should be something like Wyvern, which are a form of dragon and often thought to be poisonous)) However, John and Alfred not only back him up, but Tim is able to explain WHY he kills without getting emotional about it.

The Underworld is not like Gotham's Rogues. They're not two-bit thugs just trying to make rent, or people lashing out against a broken, corrupt system. The Underworld was BUILT on blood. It's system is built from corpses and fueled by death. All of them are stone cold killers and the ONLY way to keep the rules in place is to ruthlessly enforce them. Tim will never kill as a vigilante, and he would never force Bruce to kill, but asking him to provide mercy to anyone from the Underworld who tries to cross him is to ensure HIS death rather than Tim's' opponent, and leave anyone he protects vulnerable (which includes you Bruce, dumbass. You think people from the Underworld haven't come after you? You think there haven't been attempts on your life from people who you inadvertently caught committing crimes in Gotham? The only thing that's protected you so far is the fact that they got caught by such a public figure, which left them excommunicato and cut off from the necessary resources) Bruce acquiesces. The fact that Tim swore he wouldn't kill as a vigilante helps. But things are...tense between the two of them for a while. Having John around helps bridge the gap between the two of them as he's a full adult who's lived in both the Underworld and the regular world.

As for what goes tits up to make Tim an official Wayne...initially I was thinking Penguin having access to the Underworld (he's old money and I could see him having a position sort of like the Bowery King) but then I got a better idea. Roman Sionis, AKA Black Mask, gets into The Underworld. He was always a ruthless mob boss, but with access to the resources of the Underworld? He's suddenly infinitely more dangerous. Yes, he's subject to their rules now, but like he's going to let that stop him from taking over Gotham like he wants. He uses his new connections to find out who Batman is. Sets hits on them. Holes himself up in the Gotham Continental and waits.

Tim can't attack him in the Continental. He knows the Rules just as well as anyone else. All he can do is ruthlessly protect his family as assassin after assassin tries to break into Wayne Manor to take out their marks and compile as much info on Black Mask as possible to get him excommunicato and cut him off. (Damian uses his League connections to get access to the Underworld and get a pin on Sionis's plans. Can't decide if some of the Bats join him under aliases or not. If so, it's probably Jason, Steph, and/or Cass) John helps defend the manor. He may be out, but as long as there's no one to report back that he's still alive? He doesn't mind protecting the new family he's gained. He still makes sure to disguise himself so anyone who might be watching can't tell it's him though. (hello? where did this idea come from?) Sionis is increasingly more and more furious with each failed attempt and targets Janet. Which, BIG mistake. Janet can more than take care of herself, and Tim called her the minute that Sionis started coming after them. However, the fact that Tim is protecting them to this degree? He has truly accepted these people as HIS. Cares for them the same way you care for Family. And the Wayne's are defending him just as much. Janet knows she hasn't always been there for Tim. She's raised him as well as she could in the Underworld, but there was only so close she could be to her son before people would've caught on to her weakness. (her baby was never a weakness, but others would've taken him as one and she wouldn't allow anyone to touch her baby thinking that they could get to her by harming him) Seeing Bruce defend her son, she makes a decision. Once the dust has settled, she brings out a birth certificate with the father's name blank, back dated to when Tim was born(that kind of thing is child's play for those in the Underworld) and offers it to Bruce. She's not willing to sign away her rights to her child, but she knows that Bruce will protect and love her son in a way she has never been able to.

Also, a piece of dialogue/scene that won't leave my head from when Alfred was protecting someone from Wick:

*The target, lighting a cigarette*: What, not gona comment about me killing my lungs?

Alfred, current MI6 operative: there's rather no point now.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Our schedule needs to be moved up. We need to get to Budapest within the next 32 hours"

"The fuck?! I thought the deadline wasn't until next week!!! The hell are we gonna get to Budapest in 32 hours?!"

"The deadline hasn't changed, our time has simply shortened."

"The fuck 016! If the deadline hasn't changed why do we need to get there so fast!"

"Because 32 hours is all I can garuantee with our current pursuer"

"Until they steal the info from me? I told'ya man, you don't have to worry I-"

"Until your death."

*Silence*

"...what?"

"32 hours is the maximum amount of time I can hold off our current pursuer while garuanteeing your survival. Any time past that and the likelihood that he'll be able to kill you before we reach our destination rises drastically."

"0-Pennyworth what are you saying? W-what do you mean I'm gonna die in 32 hours? The hell kinda guy is pursuing us?!"

"The man pursuing us is called John Wick."

"Who the fuck is John Wick!"

"No one you'll have heard about, or ever will hear about now"

"Stop talking like that! You're one of MI6's best agents! I ain't gonna die!"

"You are. John Wick is not a man who gives up easily. If he's given a target, he will pursue until that target is dead. Once we get to Budapest and deliver the Intel, I will be pulled from your detail, and John will kill you, whether he was able to get your Intel or not,"

"Then you have to protect me! I-I'll pay you whatever you want! Name a price!"

"Aaron-"

"Shut up! Just name it, and I'll make sure you're paid double! Triple!"

"Aaron. I am MI6. I don't take on personal missions. Moreover I am just one man. An ordinary man at that. Even if I guarded you 24/7 I can't hold off Wick indefinitely."

"..."

"..."

"So what that's it? It's over? Nothing to be done? I'm just a dead man walking am I?"

"Things are far from over Mr . McDougal. We still need to make it to Budapest"

"You think getting to Budapest matters?"

"Of course it does. Unless you wanted to return your information to sender?"

"...Fuck it. Fine. Let's get going"

I adore the thoughts here @yizukikhons

Maybe a series of snapshots of various Alfred-as MI6- and John Wick- in his prime as Baba Yaga- would be a fun side project lol . I DO enjoy Red Hawk for Jason, and I can ABSOLUTELY see Tim going hard for that Dragon-theme considering his choice of "Drake" lol.

Roman is a dead man walking, he just doesn't know it yet. Going after Janet was absolutely a mistake on multiple levels. She absolutely wrecks anyone coming her way, especially with warning. She's....beyond happy to see Tim find a family. She's always been a "me and mine" person, but more inclined to solo-jobs and living. Tim- she knew Tim was not. He was social in ways she just...didn't feel the need to be. He needed people. Not just any people- he has her standards- but he was more pack inclined than not.

Seeing him get that? Seeing him get it with Bruce? She won't take his little pack from him, especially not when she's seen them viciously protect him in turn. Bruce signs the birth certificate. It takes a conversation with Janet as well as Tim- and Janet respects and appreciates that Bruce talked to her son first, even if she knew what he'd say. Timothy Drake becomes Drake-Wayne.

Damian is preening over the new official relation. He's actually proud to claim Drake as a brother- especially since he has now witnessed Tim being underworld-ruthless. Seen him step up and tear through enemies coming after the Wayne family. Seen him fall in step with Oracle and ruin everything they could, between them, lay hands on for Roman. Seen them erase every hint of how Roman found his information. They're proactive. Tim goes in for physical copies, preforms strikes the way he learned at his mother's knee. He is giving his family heart attacks, but they're not experienced enough in underworld dealings and rules to actually help him. None of them like that. It leads to lessons, later. None of them want him to have to go in without backup ever again, thank you. Especially not in THAT kind of situation, with people who kill for livings, and are actually intricate and dangerous in ways none of them (bar Damian, and Alfred with his experience on the protection detail side) had thought about.

They're thankful that John was ready and willing to slip in after Tim if he had to. Tim had promised him he wouldn't have to. They'd put too much work into his 'death' and hiding him. He wouldn't make John give that up. John tells him he wouldn't hesitate, for him.

Tim has to take a deep breath and blink hard and fast for a moment, because he knows what that would mean for John, what it means that John is still going to follow him in, and wait, and if needed, step in. He resolves that John WILL NOT need to do so.

He's wearing small cameras- bat tech- so they can watch him, and Tim's a whole other ballgame when he's walking a room as The Son of the Drake. it's wild for the batfam to see. Tim owns that room from the moment he walks in, though. From the moment he walks in, and in whispers and awe after he leaves it too. Janet Drake taught him everything she knew, and Tim learned it all, improved and expanded on it. He knows exactly how to work and manipulate a crowd.

It's a little terrifying to watch.

Tim has all the pieces. Roman will die for what he's done. It's just a matter of waiting. Just a matter of pushing the right buttons. Roman won't stay in the Continental forever. He's too used to dealing with the Waynes as vigilantes with rules, too used to being on the ground, being Black Mask. He may wait, but he won't outlast a Drake's patience for ruining someone who went after their hoard. He won't escape their retaliation.

@wolfsrainrules I can't get the idea of Penguin as part of the Underworld out of my head, so here we go:

Penguin the Rogue and Cobblepot the Underworld broker are very different personas. As a Rogue, he's weak, quick to anger, impulsive when it comes to the Bats (they do frustrate him endlessly, but mostly he finds their clashes fun. It's a chance to let loose and know that none of his men are in life-threatening danger. Great training for the younger recruits) As a broker he's calmer, softer spoken, dangerous. Having dual identities makes people underestimate him. They think because he has to maintain a public persona as Penguin that he's limited in how he can retaliate. He's not. Cobblepot has been part of the Underworld since before college, and Roman Sionis is PISSING HIM OFF.

The man acts like their world is just another set of tools to be exploited. Not a living, breathing, deadly world that chews up more dangerous men and spits them out mangled beyond all recognition as a warning to others. Alas, it seems no one respects the Rules these days, and letting Sionis in is just a symptom of the larger problem.

So when Timothy Drake approaches him in the lobby of the Continental, face a pleasant mask, he can't help but be intrigued. Once he's been filled in on the relevant details? He's more than willing to skin Sionis himself.

Double dealing, sedition, putting hits on public figures. Sionis is trampling all of their traditions, spitting on them with the petulance of an insolent child. Well, unfortunately for him, the Underworld is not a place for children. He will be dealt with the same way anyone else is.

Oh I love that @yizukikhons

Penguin- Cobblepot-has made his mark in the underworld. They all know him to be dangerous and deadly, even if Gotham will laugh if you mention Penguin being so deadly. Sure you'll see him sometimes meeting people in the Iceberg, but...an actual threat? No.

The underworld knows better. Cobblepot is an old name, with older connections, larger webs than most. Cobblepot knows the Drakes. Has WORKED with the Drakes.

Tim has known from the moment he laid eyes on Penguin exactly who he was. Exactly how much more of a threat he could be than he was being. He also recognizes the training he's giving his men. Sure he has a rotating goon roster, but there are some in there that are his men and familiar faces- usually paired with the newer recruits that are being training via Penguin to be Cobblepot men.

Cobblepot has known since the moment Timothy Drake was seen with the Waynes that he was Janet's son.

Neither of them bring it up or acknowledge it. It's curtesy. Respect. Rules. Unspoken traditions. Roman Sionis is trampling all over them, he's being a danger to the whole of Gotham's underworld collectively.

Once Tim Drake- and how delightful, he hasn't delt with a Drake in ages, they're a pleasure to deal with- always reliable, and if you treat them right, fantastic allies to have. Once Tim Drake approaches him officially in the Continental, politely and by tradition in a neutral ground, with the situation and what he wants out of it? It's what he wants too- he's no fool to turn down a chance to work with a Drake and be added to their never ending list of possible contacts.

It would be a booming success, a boon, to be recognized, recommended, by a Drake.

Sionis' days are limited. Those who have been watching Black Mask try to pretend he's a big fish in an ocean he's just discovered, are also very tired of it. The Waynes are a respected public figure. They take care of this city- they donate and provide jobs and shelter. They are beloved. Killing Bruce Wayne, or his children, would cause a riot by the city, and that is not the type of attention they want. It could call the Table's attention too.

Technically he cannot be banned from Continental grounds as of yet. That doesn't mean that those within- and those with connections outside of it- won't work to get him off the grounds to be...handled.

Black Mask finds himself very carefully herded and tempted- poked and prodded to do exactly as they all expected he would.

He doesn't make it more than a dozen feet outside the protection of the hotel.

On another note! Tim absolutely introduces Jason properly to the underworld. He can see the itch in him to deal with things on a more personal level, a more permanent method. He can see that Jason is already tripping into it, taking over swathes of territory- especially once Black Mask no longer is a problem- and enforcing rules. Not shooting to kill anyone, he follows Bruce's rules, but he's still not willing to let things lie. He still believes that crime wont stop, and to be in charge of it would do more good. He just handles it differently than he would have as Hood.

Instead Hawk gets a personal introduction to the underworld, the rules of it, the figures he needed to know. He learns at Tim's shoulder, from files, from personal introductions, from experience. Tim lets him shadow him, a different persona that Red Hawk- do not tie vigilante selves to the self that is working in the underground. It's one of Tim's hardline rules. For Bruce, but also for them.

Jason is a little awed- a lot awed, not that he'd say so- to see the difference between Tim-his-brother, Wyvern-the-vigilante, and The Son of the Drake. To see more than what they watched by camera when he was doing the leg work. He'd wanted to help so bad when Tim was out and doing everything. He saw it work for him and WANTED so bad. To get this chance? He's not going to throw it away. Not a chance. He's grabbing with both hands. And Tim knows he wont. Knows especially that Jason would jump in blind, and he will not let his brother do that.

Damian is quietly vibrating in the back, a little jealous of this. Tim promises he'll teach Damian one on one about his methods, and they'll work together, all three of them, on something at some point.

Bruce has...no idea how to handle an up close look at what his son had explained to him. It was a totally different thing to hear Tim explain it, and to watch him shift over to Son of the Drake and defend the Manor, and everyone inside it. To watch him move, smooth and deadly and dangerous. To watch him pull out gold coins he's never seen before, and call someone, dark toned as he informs the other line he "wants to make a dinner reservation" and realize that Tim had called in a clean up crew-

At the same time...he can't deny it was needed. These people do not stop until they're put down hard in a way they cant get back up on.

@wolfsrainrules

Tim leaves a lot of the explanations of the Underground to John and Alfred. It's not that he doesn't think he can explain it-there are things that are better for him to explain seeing as the Drake family is so prestigious-but because he can see the look Bruce gets in his eyes when he's the one who explains the Rules and the consequences for breaking them(It's death. Almost every violation ends in death or excommunication, which is the same thing) He knows Bruce wishes he weren't raised in this world, had gotten to have a normal life. Tim...he gets it. He wouldn't trade his knowledge or abilities for anything, not when they help protect those he cares about but...he understands. The Underworld, for all it's Rules and Civility, is a savage place, full of crime and corruption. And crime and corruption are so very banal. It's the same whether it's a politician or a Table member.(hell, the whole Table given what happened to John) The vigilante part of him looks at the whole of the Underworld and sees a system that profits off of fear and misery, even if that fear and misery is contained to it's own people. Wyvern looks at the Continental, at Cobblepot(who always grumbles about people not following the rules anymore, not understanding that they were-at heart-criminals. No Rule would be followed indefinitely because they were already operating outside the law), and sometimes he wonders what it would be like if that system were gone. Part of him balks at that idea, horrified at the mere thought of destroying his first home. It screams at him that the criminal world would collapse into anarchy without the Rules, or the Table to enforce them. A different part of him knows it isn't possible. The Underworld has existed long before any of them were alive(even Alfred), and will continue to exist long after they die. But...

But part of him looks at his world, his home, and thinks *things could be better*. (He really has become his father's son.)

@yizukikhons

You're so right. It's a whole thing, all of the bonding is different, all of the relationships are different, and Tim goes from Underworld born and bred to a very strange middle ground, pulled in two directions.

Tim is the sort to do things with what he sees too. He absolutely is his father's son. Bruce saw a need and stepped in, and now Tim...Tim can't help but step up.

He knows he cant change traditions and Rules and such, not all of them, and certainly not alone. But...he can start them. He can cause ripples. And where better to start than Gotham? Where better to begin that the Continental, in neutral ground?

Tim talks to the concierge, to the staff, to the manager. He talks to the assassins and hitmen and every walk of life in his world that wants to listen.

It absolutely results in a few more targets on his back, because some people LIKE the way things are, but he can't help it. He needs to try.

I keep reblogging this at 2am because that's when the new ideas hit me I'm sorry @wolfsrainrules

Tim thought that his biggest opposition would be John. It was foolish perhaps to think that, but John is the one who was intimately entwined in the Underground, grew up knowing it's Rules as Gospel and lived by it's creed religiously. He forgot that John, as wealthy and successful as he was, was working class. He knew the feeling of being exploited. Expected to kill and die at the hands of people with more influence than himself, and how those sacred Rules never seemed to apply to those who had more power. Tim shares his plans for improving the Underworld and he's immediately on board. (If the systems Tim wants to implement had existed, Iosef would not have been able to accost him and his dog without consequences. John would've been able to get out-truly out-to be with Helen without bringing the Tarasov's into power, or making his marker with Santino. It keeps him up at night for days after Tim shares those plans)

Bruce nearly bursts into tears when Tim finally tells him. He's learning to live with this bloodier world, but to have Tim come to him and say 'I want to change it' with the same look in his eyes that he has whenever he talks of Gotham...it's both terrifying and exhilarating (His son is just like him. Oh God he's never been so proud or terrified in his life). He immediately sits down and starts setting up plans. They talk well into the night-even skipping patrol-talking about what outcomes they want and what kind of retaliation they can expect.

Jason is supportive. He looks up to Tim when it comes to the Underworld, and he's not so divorced from his vigilante roots to think that the system isn't broken. A Crime Alley kid through and through, he is also all too familiar with people exploiting systems to their advantage. It's Damian who is the most opposed. Unlike John or Jason, he is Underworld nobility. Born and bred to think that he is superior, and that it is his right to have others die in his name. Living with his father and siblings has deprogrammed a lot of that, but much like Tim he grew up thinking that this was the ONLY way that things could be, and he's still too young to fully grasp that his worldview isn't right. I like the idea of Tim having targets on his back for trying to change things. His attempts to change the Underworld has people both in and out of Gotham paying attention to him. Cobblepot thinks he's crazy. Living with Bruce is obviously turning him into an *ugh* idealist. It's also the most interesting thing to happen in decades (that kerfluffle with the Baba Yaga does not count. The Table is corrupt, what else is new?) Tim's ideas are even ones he (mostly) approves of! Go on little Bat! He won't stand in your way! (He can turn this to his advantage he's sure)

I feel like this story will eventually end with Tim becoming the head of the Gotham Underworld, sort of incorporating the prompt where he becomes the owner of the Gotham Continental. Gotham becomes it's own, strange world in the Underworld. A city with rules that leave many outsiders scratching their heads, but with results that no one can deny. Gotham becomes the best location for neutral grounds, for outside parties to come an negotiate at. They're subjected to strange codes of conduct, but the civility between disparate factions is undeniable. And if people try to start something, thinking that Tim's morals make him weak? They quickly find that Gotham is also not a place easily escaped. The city turns against them, clamping it's jaws around them like a steel trap. Even if they do make it out, any power they had will be in ruins by the time they get home. Tim makes it very clear that if he kills you? That's his MERCY. The Son of the Drake isn't weak for not killing, and that there are fates in the Underworld worse than death.

Stares off into the distance:

So.

Apparently my brain is just going to run along with various crossovers. Today, I bring you the thought of a John Wick fusion au (actually five differnet ones) with Batman/DC. (Again: a reminder that all my DC/Batman knowledge is fandom based)

@north-peach hellllppppp

Couple of thoughts for this.

I love every single iteration of this. At first, I was wondering what would make Tim go 'John Wick' on someone, but I like all of these prompts SO MUCH!

How convenient it is that John dies at the end of movie 4. What a neat way to smuggle someone who isn't supposed to exist somewhere where he can be free of the Underground. Maybe, say....as a butler? Or an attendant to watch over the Drake Manor/Fortune. Just imagining hyper deadly John Wick working with Alfred Pennyworth (who absolutely knows who he is and where he's from) and learning to take care of Drake manor. Damian spots him and nearly vibrates into the watchtower with how excited he is (let my boy be a kid for once) and shows John ALL his animals and John has a special soft spot for Titus and any other dogs that come under their care.

Would Bruce still be Batman if he ran the Continental? I don't doubt there's one in Gotham, or that Bruce wouldn't know what it is, but I don't know if he'd want to be Batman in the Universe where he runs it. Could be that he believes running the crime himself will stop certain types of crime from happening(A La Red Hood style). In which case all his adopted kids run different sections of the Continental and are the powerhouses/enforcers who uphold the Rules within the walls. Dick is the concierge. He greets everyone at the front desk and is far to good at charming information out of their guests. Jason is the one who investigates/captures/punishes those who break the Continentals Rules. Barbara covers all tech aspects, etc.

Love these AU ideas!

Y e S.

I deeply enjoy the idea of Butler John Wick, taking over Drake Manor, tucking this little bird under his wing, Alfred and John meeting eyes across the yard like I remember you. Because I absolutely believe that Alfred has gotten in the way of Wick's missions before, and SURVIVED it, gave him a run for his money, and both of them respect the other deeply. Alfred is one of like minimal people who has gotten John's target to where he was supposed to BEFORE John could kill them. Did the target survive John? No. But Alfred made sure he did what he was supposed to do before John got to them.

They never expected to WORK TOGETHER over their charges, they could admit. There's a very British "I said it round about but in such a way you cannot mistake it for anything but the threat it is" conversations Alfred has with John over his family, Tim included.

Tim ALSO has to have a fun sit down with Alfred about the connections he has and why he has them.

As for Gotham Continental Branch run by Bruce, in that particular case, he's NOT Batman in my head. He's instead the upspoken head of the underworld there. He technically can't do anything outside of his hotel, not if he wants to remain in charge of it. It's supposed to be neutral ground after all.

That does NOT mean that everyone coming into Gotham doesn't know Bruce has....unspoken rules. Nothing that would bar access to the hotel of course, he doesn't have the right to do that for the things he doesn't like outside his hotel grounds. Not under the table. The things that can get one barred from the hotel are very clear in their rulebook, and if Bruce were to be seen as trying to operate above the table? It would cause problems for himself and his kids, and Alfred. So he's...creative about making his rules clear.

Everyone knows.

And while Bruce may not be Batman, because he has to be very clearly the head of his hotel and neutral- his CHILDREN are in fact still vigilantes and they absolutely can and will step in for things going on in their city. They operate in shifts over all out at once, because there are always some of them on call for the hotel. Sometimes they shuffle who wears what to hide the 'always missing when this vigilante is out' thing. Occasionally there's a shapeshifter involved to make it more obviously NOT THEM that are under those masks.

The fact that injuries on their person can be explained as their work in the underworld is helpful. Because they all have their own reps in the underground too.

It'd be a darker batfam au of course, because these people WOULD absolutely kill when needed. They'd set things up for THEIR 'best case" which doesn't always line up with the morals of the world, or what canon batfam would agree with. They have standards of course, but they're underworld.

When Wick met Pennyworth, he was still part of the underground. A job was a job, it was never personal. He and Alfred clashed because they had differing missions. That's all. And he actually deeply respects and admires the former MI6's skills and abilities.

Alfred also respects John, especially the way he took his sincere efforts to kill him in stride and never tried to retaliate against him. The man may be a cold-blooded killer, but he had rules that he followed. Morals that he wouldn't corrupt. Now that he's out? The Underground doesn't have room for 'personal'. Not for the lower ranks (which John, terrifying as he was, qualified as). Hell, what got John in trouble initially was letting things get personal. The regular world does. He needs to make sure this man understands that there are lines that won't be crossed.

Fortunately, John acquiesces to his demands rather easily. The life he's led is not kind to the body, and most days he has as many aches and pains as Alfred does. More on bad days. It's something they commiserate on when they have tea in Drake-and eventually Wayne-Manor. They talk politely about missions they were on(often on opposing sides). John shares tips on how to be even more lethal with guns. Alfred shares remedies for when his joints are screaming in pain. Both men may be wary of one another at first, but they trust that the other is utterly dedicated to protecting their wards. John even goes so far as to give Pennyworth a small collection of gold coins to use just in case something happens that he or the Bats can't combat on their own.

Well since we're bouncing ideas lmao.... @yizukikhons

Alfred is so thankful for the extra help in Wayne Manor. He's excellent at his job, phenomenal at it really, but he's still one man trying to balance....so much.

It takes a WHILE for John to be pulled into the Vigilante side of things but it still does happen, eventually. They ABSOLUTELY trade care tips for themselves. John also finds himself being taken care of and THAT is a wild time for him. Tim did it too, but now there's....a whole family that slowly accepts him into their number and care and- John had sworn to himself he'd never care so deeply again, not after Helen and what it did to him to lose her, but he...really couldn't help it. Tim grew on him, and these Waynes are growing on him too, as is the old Agent that once threw him over a balcony and shot him to keep his charge alive while John was trying to kill him.

Damian actually ends up deeply impressed with Tim, rather than ready to fight on sight because he's associated with Wick. Because Wick agreed to work for him, and that...that makes him curious. Bonus? His mother hears the name, and SHE knows Janet, and respects her, so she tells Damian Drake is a name he should know, should make an ally of, and he doesn't forget.

He is beyond pleased when Timothy Drake reaches a hand out to greet him, and takes it firmly, greets him as someone he wants to befriend. It changes...quite a bit on his integration to Wayne Family.

Wick actually helps IMMENSELY with that. Having his opinion is invaluable to Damian. Not only because he's genuinely excited to meet him, but because John can explain things to him in a way someone who grew up outside of their world could not. Ironically, Tim is ALSO very good at helping him bridge that gap as well, having grown up at Janet's knee and making his own choice to walk the route of vigilante instead.

This is the AU where Jason doesn't die, so he gets to pass that mantle down rather than having it be taken. Tim still has his own vigilante persona (I need to pick one for that, I think he picks something to honor his mother in this AU -squints-), and Jason gets to make his OWN persona rather than taking up an old Joker one. (Need to pick one for him too...Hm. Some bird of prey? Maybe something different like Nightwing's instead?? Hm.)

Tim eventually does find himself tucked into Wayne Manor as one of theirs of course, which John follows him. And as mentioned, it takes a while for him to be trusted with BAT-vigilante side of things, as Tim already trusted him.

Alfred ends up calling him down the first time for extra hands during an emergency surgery I think. They are a FORCE, working together to keep everyone fed, taken care of, and safe. The Wayne family lives in fear. I think I may have something go absolutely to hell, and that's how Tim ends up an official Wayne. Janet arranged when she realized how close Tim was to Bruce for him to be the one Tim went to. Jack isn't involved with the family and Drake is JANET'S surname in this AU that Jack would have taken due to the money and business, but did not for Reasons, so Bruce is next in line to take her son in if anything happened.

On the OTHER HAND. Janet still does all that (she absolutely is where Tim got his brain and she believes in contingencies) and lives, but gives Bruce the right to make calls. Perhaps some....altered records? Bruce listed as father? Might go with that, because I do love the idea of Janet living, loving her son, being a badass, who critiques her son's vigilante-ing, as well has his extended family's. Think I might go with this one. I like it, it's fun, and Janet rarely gets to be a good mom.

Since we're both enjoying ourselves...@wolfsrainrules

Bruce doesn't know how he feels about Tim's Underworld connections at first. Especially once he learns that Tim has killed before. (We all know how hard he felt about Jason killing as Red Hood, who should totally take the name Red Hawk, or some form of Hawk I think(Tim should be something like Wyvern, which are a form of dragon and often thought to be poisonous)) However, John and Alfred not only back him up, but Tim is able to explain WHY he kills without getting emotional about it.

The Underworld is not like Gotham's Rogues. They're not two-bit thugs just trying to make rent, or people lashing out against a broken, corrupt system. The Underworld was BUILT on blood. It's system is built from corpses and fueled by death. All of them are stone cold killers and the ONLY way to keep the rules in place is to ruthlessly enforce them. Tim will never kill as a vigilante, and he would never force Bruce to kill, but asking him to provide mercy to anyone from the Underworld who tries to cross him is to ensure HIS death rather than Tim's' opponent, and leave anyone he protects vulnerable (which includes you Bruce, dumbass. You think people from the Underworld haven't come after you? You think there haven't been attempts on your life from people who you inadvertently caught committing crimes in Gotham? The only thing that's protected you so far is the fact that they got caught by such a public figure, which left them excommunicato and cut off from the necessary resources) Bruce acquiesces. The fact that Tim swore he wouldn't kill as a vigilante helps. But things are...tense between the two of them for a while. Having John around helps bridge the gap between the two of them as he's a full adult who's lived in both the Underworld and the regular world.

As for what goes tits up to make Tim an official Wayne...initially I was thinking Penguin having access to the Underworld (he's old money and I could see him having a position sort of like the Bowery King) but then I got a better idea. Roman Sionis, AKA Black Mask, gets into The Underworld. He was always a ruthless mob boss, but with access to the resources of the Underworld? He's suddenly infinitely more dangerous. Yes, he's subject to their rules now, but like he's going to let that stop him from taking over Gotham like he wants. He uses his new connections to find out who Batman is. Sets hits on them. Holes himself up in the Gotham Continental and waits.

Tim can't attack him in the Continental. He knows the Rules just as well as anyone else. All he can do is ruthlessly protect his family as assassin after assassin tries to break into Wayne Manor to take out their marks and compile as much info on Black Mask as possible to get him excommunicato and cut him off. (Damian uses his League connections to get access to the Underworld and get a pin on Sionis's plans. Can't decide if some of the Bats join him under aliases or not. If so, it's probably Jason, Steph, and/or Cass) John helps defend the manor. He may be out, but as long as there's no one to report back that he's still alive? He doesn't mind protecting the new family he's gained. He still makes sure to disguise himself so anyone who might be watching can't tell it's him though. (hello? where did this idea come from?) Sionis is increasingly more and more furious with each failed attempt and targets Janet. Which, BIG mistake. Janet can more than take care of herself, and Tim called her the minute that Sionis started coming after them. However, the fact that Tim is protecting them to this degree? He has truly accepted these people as HIS. Cares for them the same way you care for Family. And the Wayne's are defending him just as much. Janet knows she hasn't always been there for Tim. She's raised him as well as she could in the Underworld, but there was only so close she could be to her son before people would've caught on to her weakness. (her baby was never a weakness, but others would've taken him as one and she wouldn't allow anyone to touch her baby thinking that they could get to her by harming him) Seeing Bruce defend her son, she makes a decision. Once the dust has settled, she brings out a birth certificate with the father's name blank, back dated to when Tim was born(that kind of thing is child's play for those in the Underworld) and offers it to Bruce. She's not willing to sign away her rights to her child, but she knows that Bruce will protect and love her son in a way she has never been able to.

Also, a piece of dialogue/scene that won't leave my head from when Alfred was protecting someone from Wick:

*The target, lighting a cigarette*: What, not gona comment about me killing my lungs?

Alfred, current MI6 operative: there's rather no point now.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Our schedule needs to be moved up. We need to get to Budapest within the next 32 hours"

"The fuck?! I thought the deadline wasn't until next week!!! The hell are we gonna get to Budapest in 32 hours?!"

"The deadline hasn't changed, our time has simply shortened."

"The fuck 016! If the deadline hasn't changed why do we need to get there so fast!"

"Because 32 hours is all I can garuantee with our current pursuer"

"Until they steal the info from me? I told'ya man, you don't have to worry I-"

"Until your death."

*Silence*

"...what?"

"32 hours is the maximum amount of time I can hold off our current pursuer while garuanteeing your survival. Any time past that and the likelihood that he'll be able to kill you before we reach our destination rises drastically."

"0-Pennyworth what are you saying? W-what do you mean I'm gonna die in 32 hours? The hell kinda guy is pursuing us?!"

"The man pursuing us is called John Wick."

"Who the fuck is John Wick!"

"No one you'll have heard about, or ever will hear about now"

"Stop talking like that! You're one of MI6's best agents! I ain't gonna die!"

"You are. John Wick is not a man who gives up easily. If he's given a target, he will pursue until that target is dead. Once we get to Budapest and deliver the Intel, I will be pulled from your detail, and John will kill you, whether he was able to get your Intel or not,"

"Then you have to protect me! I-I'll pay you whatever you want! Name a price!"

"Aaron-"

"Shut up! Just name it, and I'll make sure you're paid double! Triple!"

"Aaron. I am MI6. I don't take on personal missions. Moreover I am just one man. An ordinary man at that. Even if I guarded you 24/7 I can't hold off Wick indefinitely."

"..."

"..."

"So what that's it? It's over? Nothing to be done? I'm just a dead man walking am I?"

"Things are far from over Mr . McDougal. We still need to make it to Budapest"

"You think getting to Budapest matters?"

"Of course it does. Unless you wanted to return your information to sender?"

"...Fuck it. Fine. Let's get going"

I adore the thoughts here @yizukikhons

Maybe a series of snapshots of various Alfred-as MI6- and John Wick- in his prime as Baba Yaga- would be a fun side project lol . I DO enjoy Red Hawk for Jason, and I can ABSOLUTELY see Tim going hard for that Dragon-theme considering his choice of "Drake" lol.

Roman is a dead man walking, he just doesn't know it yet. Going after Janet was absolutely a mistake on multiple levels. She absolutely wrecks anyone coming her way, especially with warning. She's....beyond happy to see Tim find a family. She's always been a "me and mine" person, but more inclined to solo-jobs and living. Tim- she knew Tim was not. He was social in ways she just...didn't feel the need to be. He needed people. Not just any people- he has her standards- but he was more pack inclined than not.

Seeing him get that? Seeing him get it with Bruce? She won't take his little pack from him, especially not when she's seen them viciously protect him in turn. Bruce signs the birth certificate. It takes a conversation with Janet as well as Tim- and Janet respects and appreciates that Bruce talked to her son first, even if she knew what he'd say. Timothy Drake becomes Drake-Wayne.

Damian is preening over the new official relation. He's actually proud to claim Drake as a brother- especially since he has now witnessed Tim being underworld-ruthless. Seen him step up and tear through enemies coming after the Wayne family. Seen him fall in step with Oracle and ruin everything they could, between them, lay hands on for Roman. Seen them erase every hint of how Roman found his information. They're proactive. Tim goes in for physical copies, preforms strikes the way he learned at his mother's knee. He is giving his family heart attacks, but they're not experienced enough in underworld dealings and rules to actually help him. None of them like that. It leads to lessons, later. None of them want him to have to go in without backup ever again, thank you. Especially not in THAT kind of situation, with people who kill for livings, and are actually intricate and dangerous in ways none of them (bar Damian, and Alfred with his experience on the protection detail side) had thought about.

They're thankful that John was ready and willing to slip in after Tim if he had to. Tim had promised him he wouldn't have to. They'd put too much work into his 'death' and hiding him. He wouldn't make John give that up. John tells him he wouldn't hesitate, for him.

Tim has to take a deep breath and blink hard and fast for a moment, because he knows what that would mean for John, what it means that John is still going to follow him in, and wait, and if needed, step in. He resolves that John WILL NOT need to do so.

He's wearing small cameras- bat tech- so they can watch him, and Tim's a whole other ballgame when he's walking a room as The Son of the Drake. it's wild for the batfam to see. Tim owns that room from the moment he walks in, though. From the moment he walks in, and in whispers and awe after he leaves it too. Janet Drake taught him everything she knew, and Tim learned it all, improved and expanded on it. He knows exactly how to work and manipulate a crowd.

It's a little terrifying to watch.

Tim has all the pieces. Roman will die for what he's done. It's just a matter of waiting. Just a matter of pushing the right buttons. Roman won't stay in the Continental forever. He's too used to dealing with the Waynes as vigilantes with rules, too used to being on the ground, being Black Mask. He may wait, but he won't outlast a Drake's patience for ruining someone who went after their hoard. He won't escape their retaliation.

@wolfsrainrules I can't get the idea of Penguin as part of the Underworld out of my head, so here we go:

Penguin the Rogue and Cobblepot the Underworld broker are very different personas. As a Rogue, he's weak, quick to anger, impulsive when it comes to the Bats (they do frustrate him endlessly, but mostly he finds their clashes fun. It's a chance to let loose and know that none of his men are in life-threatening danger. Great training for the younger recruits) As a broker he's calmer, softer spoken, dangerous. Having dual identities makes people underestimate him. They think because he has to maintain a public persona as Penguin that he's limited in how he can retaliate. He's not. Cobblepot has been part of the Underworld since before college, and Roman Sionis is PISSING HIM OFF.

The man acts like their world is just another set of tools to be exploited. Not a living, breathing, deadly world that chews up more dangerous men and spits them out mangled beyond all recognition as a warning to others. Alas, it seems no one respects the Rules these days, and letting Sionis in is just a symptom of the larger problem.

So when Timothy Drake approaches him in the lobby of the Continental, face a pleasant mask, he can't help but be intrigued. Once he's been filled in on the relevant details? He's more than willing to skin Sionis himself.

Double dealing, sedition, putting hits on public figures. Sionis is trampling all of their traditions, spitting on them with the petulance of an insolent child. Well, unfortunately for him, the Underworld is not a place for children. He will be dealt with the same way anyone else is.

Oh I love that @yizukikhons

Penguin- Cobblepot-has made his mark in the underworld. They all know him to be dangerous and deadly, even if Gotham will laugh if you mention Penguin being so deadly. Sure you'll see him sometimes meeting people in the Iceberg, but...an actual threat? No.

The underworld knows better. Cobblepot is an old name, with older connections, larger webs than most. Cobblepot knows the Drakes. Has WORKED with the Drakes.

Tim has known from the moment he laid eyes on Penguin exactly who he was. Exactly how much more of a threat he could be than he was being. He also recognizes the training he's giving his men. Sure he has a rotating goon roster, but there are some in there that are his men and familiar faces- usually paired with the newer recruits that are being training via Penguin to be Cobblepot men.

Cobblepot has known since the moment Timothy Drake was seen with the Waynes that he was Janet's son.

Neither of them bring it up or acknowledge it. It's curtesy. Respect. Rules. Unspoken traditions. Roman Sionis is trampling all over them, he's being a danger to the whole of Gotham's underworld collectively.

Once Tim Drake- and how delightful, he hasn't delt with a Drake in ages, they're a pleasure to deal with- always reliable, and if you treat them right, fantastic allies to have. Once Tim Drake approaches him officially in the Continental, politely and by tradition in a neutral ground, with the situation and what he wants out of it? It's what he wants too- he's no fool to turn down a chance to work with a Drake and be added to their never ending list of possible contacts.

It would be a booming success, a boon, to be recognized, recommended, by a Drake.

Sionis' days are limited. Those who have been watching Black Mask try to pretend he's a big fish in an ocean he's just discovered, are also very tired of it. The Waynes are a respected public figure. They take care of this city- they donate and provide jobs and shelter. They are beloved. Killing Bruce Wayne, or his children, would cause a riot by the city, and that is not the type of attention they want. It could call the Table's attention too.

Technically he cannot be banned from Continental grounds as of yet. That doesn't mean that those within- and those with connections outside of it- won't work to get him off the grounds to be...handled.

Black Mask finds himself very carefully herded and tempted- poked and prodded to do exactly as they all expected he would.

He doesn't make it more than a dozen feet outside the protection of the hotel.

On another note! Tim absolutely introduces Jason properly to the underworld. He can see the itch in him to deal with things on a more personal level, a more permanent method. He can see that Jason is already tripping into it, taking over swathes of territory- especially once Black Mask no longer is a problem- and enforcing rules. Not shooting to kill anyone, he follows Bruce's rules, but he's still not willing to let things lie. He still believes that crime wont stop, and to be in charge of it would do more good. He just handles it differently than he would have as Hood.

Instead Hawk gets a personal introduction to the underworld, the rules of it, the figures he needed to know. He learns at Tim's shoulder, from files, from personal introductions, from experience. Tim lets him shadow him, a different persona that Red Hawk- do not tie vigilante selves to the self that is working in the underground. It's one of Tim's hardline rules. For Bruce, but also for them.

Jason is a little awed- a lot awed, not that he'd say so- to see the difference between Tim-his-brother, Wyvern-the-vigilante, and The Son of the Drake. To see more than what they watched by camera when he was doing the leg work. He'd wanted to help so bad when Tim was out and doing everything. He saw it work for him and WANTED so bad. To get this chance? He's not going to throw it away. Not a chance. He's grabbing with both hands. And Tim knows he wont. Knows especially that Jason would jump in blind, and he will not let his brother do that.

Damian is quietly vibrating in the back, a little jealous of this. Tim promises he'll teach Damian one on one about his methods, and they'll work together, all three of them, on something at some point.

Bruce has...no idea how to handle an up close look at what his son had explained to him. It was a totally different thing to hear Tim explain it, and to watch him shift over to Son of the Drake and defend the Manor, and everyone inside it. To watch him move, smooth and deadly and dangerous. To watch him pull out gold coins he's never seen before, and call someone, dark toned as he informs the other line he "wants to make a dinner reservation" and realize that Tim had called in a clean up crew-

At the same time...he can't deny it was needed. These people do not stop until they're put down hard in a way they cant get back up on.

@wolfsrainrules

Tim leaves a lot of the explanations of the Underground to John and Alfred. It's not that he doesn't think he can explain it-there are things that are better for him to explain seeing as the Drake family is so prestigious-but because he can see the look Bruce gets in his eyes when he's the one who explains the Rules and the consequences for breaking them(It's death. Almost every violation ends in death or excommunication, which is the same thing) He knows Bruce wishes he weren't raised in this world, had gotten to have a normal life. Tim...he gets it. He wouldn't trade his knowledge or abilities for anything, not when they help protect those he cares about but...he understands. The Underworld, for all it's Rules and Civility, is a savage place, full of crime and corruption. And crime and corruption are so very banal. It's the same whether it's a politician or a Table member.(hell, the whole Table given what happened to John) The vigilante part of him looks at the whole of the Underworld and sees a system that profits off of fear and misery, even if that fear and misery is contained to it's own people. Wyvern looks at the Continental, at Cobblepot(who always grumbles about people not following the rules anymore, not understanding that they were-at heart-criminals. No Rule would be followed indefinitely because they were already operating outside the law), and sometimes he wonders what it would be like if that system were gone. Part of him balks at that idea, horrified at the mere thought of destroying his first home. It screams at him that the criminal world would collapse into anarchy without the Rules, or the Table to enforce them. A different part of him knows it isn't possible. The Underworld has existed long before any of them were alive(even Alfred), and will continue to exist long after they die. But...

But part of him looks at his world, his home, and thinks *things could be better*. (He really has become his father's son.)

Stares off into the distance:

So.

Apparently my brain is just going to run along with various crossovers. Today, I bring you the thought of a John Wick fusion au (actually five differnet ones) with Batman/DC. (Again: a reminder that all my DC/Batman knowledge is fandom based)

@north-peach hellllppppp

Couple of thoughts for this.

I love every single iteration of this. At first, I was wondering what would make Tim go 'John Wick' on someone, but I like all of these prompts SO MUCH!

How convenient it is that John dies at the end of movie 4. What a neat way to smuggle someone who isn't supposed to exist somewhere where he can be free of the Underground. Maybe, say....as a butler? Or an attendant to watch over the Drake Manor/Fortune. Just imagining hyper deadly John Wick working with Alfred Pennyworth (who absolutely knows who he is and where he's from) and learning to take care of Drake manor. Damian spots him and nearly vibrates into the watchtower with how excited he is (let my boy be a kid for once) and shows John ALL his animals and John has a special soft spot for Titus and any other dogs that come under their care.

Would Bruce still be Batman if he ran the Continental? I don't doubt there's one in Gotham, or that Bruce wouldn't know what it is, but I don't know if he'd want to be Batman in the Universe where he runs it. Could be that he believes running the crime himself will stop certain types of crime from happening(A La Red Hood style). In which case all his adopted kids run different sections of the Continental and are the powerhouses/enforcers who uphold the Rules within the walls. Dick is the concierge. He greets everyone at the front desk and is far to good at charming information out of their guests. Jason is the one who investigates/captures/punishes those who break the Continentals Rules. Barbara covers all tech aspects, etc.

Love these AU ideas!

Y e S.

I deeply enjoy the idea of Butler John Wick, taking over Drake Manor, tucking this little bird under his wing, Alfred and John meeting eyes across the yard like I remember you. Because I absolutely believe that Alfred has gotten in the way of Wick's missions before, and SURVIVED it, gave him a run for his money, and both of them respect the other deeply. Alfred is one of like minimal people who has gotten John's target to where he was supposed to BEFORE John could kill them. Did the target survive John? No. But Alfred made sure he did what he was supposed to do before John got to them.

They never expected to WORK TOGETHER over their charges, they could admit. There's a very British "I said it round about but in such a way you cannot mistake it for anything but the threat it is" conversations Alfred has with John over his family, Tim included.

Tim ALSO has to have a fun sit down with Alfred about the connections he has and why he has them.

As for Gotham Continental Branch run by Bruce, in that particular case, he's NOT Batman in my head. He's instead the upspoken head of the underworld there. He technically can't do anything outside of his hotel, not if he wants to remain in charge of it. It's supposed to be neutral ground after all.

That does NOT mean that everyone coming into Gotham doesn't know Bruce has....unspoken rules. Nothing that would bar access to the hotel of course, he doesn't have the right to do that for the things he doesn't like outside his hotel grounds. Not under the table. The things that can get one barred from the hotel are very clear in their rulebook, and if Bruce were to be seen as trying to operate above the table? It would cause problems for himself and his kids, and Alfred. So he's...creative about making his rules clear.

Everyone knows.

And while Bruce may not be Batman, because he has to be very clearly the head of his hotel and neutral- his CHILDREN are in fact still vigilantes and they absolutely can and will step in for things going on in their city. They operate in shifts over all out at once, because there are always some of them on call for the hotel. Sometimes they shuffle who wears what to hide the 'always missing when this vigilante is out' thing. Occasionally there's a shapeshifter involved to make it more obviously NOT THEM that are under those masks.

The fact that injuries on their person can be explained as their work in the underworld is helpful. Because they all have their own reps in the underground too.

It'd be a darker batfam au of course, because these people WOULD absolutely kill when needed. They'd set things up for THEIR 'best case" which doesn't always line up with the morals of the world, or what canon batfam would agree with. They have standards of course, but they're underworld.

When Wick met Pennyworth, he was still part of the underground. A job was a job, it was never personal. He and Alfred clashed because they had differing missions. That's all. And he actually deeply respects and admires the former MI6's skills and abilities.

Alfred also respects John, especially the way he took his sincere efforts to kill him in stride and never tried to retaliate against him. The man may be a cold-blooded killer, but he had rules that he followed. Morals that he wouldn't corrupt. Now that he's out? The Underground doesn't have room for 'personal'. Not for the lower ranks (which John, terrifying as he was, qualified as). Hell, what got John in trouble initially was letting things get personal. The regular world does. He needs to make sure this man understands that there are lines that won't be crossed.

Fortunately, John acquiesces to his demands rather easily. The life he's led is not kind to the body, and most days he has as many aches and pains as Alfred does. More on bad days. It's something they commiserate on when they have tea in Drake-and eventually Wayne-Manor. They talk politely about missions they were on(often on opposing sides). John shares tips on how to be even more lethal with guns. Alfred shares remedies for when his joints are screaming in pain. Both men may be wary of one another at first, but they trust that the other is utterly dedicated to protecting their wards. John even goes so far as to give Pennyworth a small collection of gold coins to use just in case something happens that he or the Bats can't combat on their own.

Well since we're bouncing ideas lmao.... @yizukikhons

Alfred is so thankful for the extra help in Wayne Manor. He's excellent at his job, phenomenal at it really, but he's still one man trying to balance....so much.

It takes a WHILE for John to be pulled into the Vigilante side of things but it still does happen, eventually. They ABSOLUTELY trade care tips for themselves. John also finds himself being taken care of and THAT is a wild time for him. Tim did it too, but now there's....a whole family that slowly accepts him into their number and care and- John had sworn to himself he'd never care so deeply again, not after Helen and what it did to him to lose her, but he...really couldn't help it. Tim grew on him, and these Waynes are growing on him too, as is the old Agent that once threw him over a balcony and shot him to keep his charge alive while John was trying to kill him.

Damian actually ends up deeply impressed with Tim, rather than ready to fight on sight because he's associated with Wick. Because Wick agreed to work for him, and that...that makes him curious. Bonus? His mother hears the name, and SHE knows Janet, and respects her, so she tells Damian Drake is a name he should know, should make an ally of, and he doesn't forget.

He is beyond pleased when Timothy Drake reaches a hand out to greet him, and takes it firmly, greets him as someone he wants to befriend. It changes...quite a bit on his integration to Wayne Family.

Wick actually helps IMMENSELY with that. Having his opinion is invaluable to Damian. Not only because he's genuinely excited to meet him, but because John can explain things to him in a way someone who grew up outside of their world could not. Ironically, Tim is ALSO very good at helping him bridge that gap as well, having grown up at Janet's knee and making his own choice to walk the route of vigilante instead.

This is the AU where Jason doesn't die, so he gets to pass that mantle down rather than having it be taken. Tim still has his own vigilante persona (I need to pick one for that, I think he picks something to honor his mother in this AU -squints-), and Jason gets to make his OWN persona rather than taking up an old Joker one. (Need to pick one for him too...Hm. Some bird of prey? Maybe something different like Nightwing's instead?? Hm.)

Tim eventually does find himself tucked into Wayne Manor as one of theirs of course, which John follows him. And as mentioned, it takes a while for him to be trusted with BAT-vigilante side of things, as Tim already trusted him.

Alfred ends up calling him down the first time for extra hands during an emergency surgery I think. They are a FORCE, working together to keep everyone fed, taken care of, and safe. The Wayne family lives in fear. I think I may have something go absolutely to hell, and that's how Tim ends up an official Wayne. Janet arranged when she realized how close Tim was to Bruce for him to be the one Tim went to. Jack isn't involved with the family and Drake is JANET'S surname in this AU that Jack would have taken due to the money and business, but did not for Reasons, so Bruce is next in line to take her son in if anything happened.

On the OTHER HAND. Janet still does all that (she absolutely is where Tim got his brain and she believes in contingencies) and lives, but gives Bruce the right to make calls. Perhaps some....altered records? Bruce listed as father? Might go with that, because I do love the idea of Janet living, loving her son, being a badass, who critiques her son's vigilante-ing, as well has his extended family's. Think I might go with this one. I like it, it's fun, and Janet rarely gets to be a good mom.

Since we're both enjoying ourselves...@wolfsrainrules

Bruce doesn't know how he feels about Tim's Underworld connections at first. Especially once he learns that Tim has killed before. (We all know how hard he felt about Jason killing as Red Hood, who should totally take the name Red Hawk, or some form of Hawk I think(Tim should be something like Wyvern, which are a form of dragon and often thought to be poisonous)) However, John and Alfred not only back him up, but Tim is able to explain WHY he kills without getting emotional about it.

The Underworld is not like Gotham's Rogues. They're not two-bit thugs just trying to make rent, or people lashing out against a broken, corrupt system. The Underworld was BUILT on blood. It's system is built from corpses and fueled by death. All of them are stone cold killers and the ONLY way to keep the rules in place is to ruthlessly enforce them. Tim will never kill as a vigilante, and he would never force Bruce to kill, but asking him to provide mercy to anyone from the Underworld who tries to cross him is to ensure HIS death rather than Tim's' opponent, and leave anyone he protects vulnerable (which includes you Bruce, dumbass. You think people from the Underworld haven't come after you? You think there haven't been attempts on your life from people who you inadvertently caught committing crimes in Gotham? The only thing that's protected you so far is the fact that they got caught by such a public figure, which left them excommunicato and cut off from the necessary resources) Bruce acquiesces. The fact that Tim swore he wouldn't kill as a vigilante helps. But things are...tense between the two of them for a while. Having John around helps bridge the gap between the two of them as he's a full adult who's lived in both the Underworld and the regular world.

As for what goes tits up to make Tim an official Wayne...initially I was thinking Penguin having access to the Underworld (he's old money and I could see him having a position sort of like the Bowery King) but then I got a better idea. Roman Sionis, AKA Black Mask, gets into The Underworld. He was always a ruthless mob boss, but with access to the resources of the Underworld? He's suddenly infinitely more dangerous. Yes, he's subject to their rules now, but like he's going to let that stop him from taking over Gotham like he wants. He uses his new connections to find out who Batman is. Sets hits on them. Holes himself up in the Gotham Continental and waits.

Tim can't attack him in the Continental. He knows the Rules just as well as anyone else. All he can do is ruthlessly protect his family as assassin after assassin tries to break into Wayne Manor to take out their marks and compile as much info on Black Mask as possible to get him excommunicato and cut him off. (Damian uses his League connections to get access to the Underworld and get a pin on Sionis's plans. Can't decide if some of the Bats join him under aliases or not. If so, it's probably Jason, Steph, and/or Cass) John helps defend the manor. He may be out, but as long as there's no one to report back that he's still alive? He doesn't mind protecting the new family he's gained. He still makes sure to disguise himself so anyone who might be watching can't tell it's him though. (hello? where did this idea come from?) Sionis is increasingly more and more furious with each failed attempt and targets Janet. Which, BIG mistake. Janet can more than take care of herself, and Tim called her the minute that Sionis started coming after them. However, the fact that Tim is protecting them to this degree? He has truly accepted these people as HIS. Cares for them the same way you care for Family. And the Wayne's are defending him just as much. Janet knows she hasn't always been there for Tim. She's raised him as well as she could in the Underworld, but there was only so close she could be to her son before people would've caught on to her weakness. (her baby was never a weakness, but others would've taken him as one and she wouldn't allow anyone to touch her baby thinking that they could get to her by harming him) Seeing Bruce defend her son, she makes a decision. Once the dust has settled, she brings out a birth certificate with the father's name blank, back dated to when Tim was born(that kind of thing is child's play for those in the Underworld) and offers it to Bruce. She's not willing to sign away her rights to her child, but she knows that Bruce will protect and love her son in a way she has never been able to.

Also, a piece of dialogue/scene that won't leave my head from when Alfred was protecting someone from Wick:

*The target, lighting a cigarette*: What, not gona comment about me killing my lungs?

Alfred, current MI6 operative: there's rather no point now.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Our schedule needs to be moved up. We need to get to Budapest within the next 32 hours"

"The fuck?! I thought the deadline wasn't until next week!!! The hell are we gonna get to Budapest in 32 hours?!"

"The deadline hasn't changed, our time has simply shortened."

"The fuck 016! If the deadline hasn't changed why do we need to get there so fast!"

"Because 32 hours is all I can garuantee with our current pursuer"

"Until they steal the info from me? I told'ya man, you don't have to worry I-"

"Until your death."

*Silence*

"...what?"

"32 hours is the maximum amount of time I can hold off our current pursuer while garuanteeing your survival. Any time past that and the likelihood that he'll be able to kill you before we reach our destination rises drastically."

"0-Pennyworth what are you saying? W-what do you mean I'm gonna die in 32 hours? The hell kinda guy is pursuing us?!"

"The man pursuing us is called John Wick."

"Who the fuck is John Wick!"

"No one you'll have heard about, or ever will hear about now"

"Stop talking like that! You're one of MI6's best agents! I ain't gonna die!"

"You are. John Wick is not a man who gives up easily. If he's given a target, he will pursue until that target is dead. Once we get to Budapest and deliver the Intel, I will be pulled from your detail, and John will kill you, whether he was able to get your Intel or not,"

"Then you have to protect me! I-I'll pay you whatever you want! Name a price!"

"Aaron-"

"Shut up! Just name it, and I'll make sure you're paid double! Triple!"

"Aaron. I am MI6. I don't take on personal missions. Moreover I am just one man. An ordinary man at that. Even if I guarded you 24/7 I can't hold off Wick indefinitely."

"..."

"..."

"So what that's it? It's over? Nothing to be done? I'm just a dead man walking am I?"

"Things are far from over Mr . McDougal. We still need to make it to Budapest"

"You think getting to Budapest matters?"

"Of course it does. Unless you wanted to return your information to sender?"

"...Fuck it. Fine. Let's get going"

I adore the thoughts here @yizukikhons

Maybe a series of snapshots of various Alfred-as MI6- and John Wick- in his prime as Baba Yaga- would be a fun side project lol . I DO enjoy Red Hawk for Jason, and I can ABSOLUTELY see Tim going hard for that Dragon-theme considering his choice of "Drake" lol.

Roman is a dead man walking, he just doesn't know it yet. Going after Janet was absolutely a mistake on multiple levels. She absolutely wrecks anyone coming her way, especially with warning. She's....beyond happy to see Tim find a family. She's always been a "me and mine" person, but more inclined to solo-jobs and living. Tim- she knew Tim was not. He was social in ways she just...didn't feel the need to be. He needed people. Not just any people- he has her standards- but he was more pack inclined than not.

Seeing him get that? Seeing him get it with Bruce? She won't take his little pack from him, especially not when she's seen them viciously protect him in turn. Bruce signs the birth certificate. It takes a conversation with Janet as well as Tim- and Janet respects and appreciates that Bruce talked to her son first, even if she knew what he'd say. Timothy Drake becomes Drake-Wayne.

Damian is preening over the new official relation. He's actually proud to claim Drake as a brother- especially since he has now witnessed Tim being underworld-ruthless. Seen him step up and tear through enemies coming after the Wayne family. Seen him fall in step with Oracle and ruin everything they could, between them, lay hands on for Roman. Seen them erase every hint of how Roman found his information. They're proactive. Tim goes in for physical copies, preforms strikes the way he learned at his mother's knee. He is giving his family heart attacks, but they're not experienced enough in underworld dealings and rules to actually help him. None of them like that. It leads to lessons, later. None of them want him to have to go in without backup ever again, thank you. Especially not in THAT kind of situation, with people who kill for livings, and are actually intricate and dangerous in ways none of them (bar Damian, and Alfred with his experience on the protection detail side) had thought about.

They're thankful that John was ready and willing to slip in after Tim if he had to. Tim had promised him he wouldn't have to. They'd put too much work into his 'death' and hiding him. He wouldn't make John give that up. John tells him he wouldn't hesitate, for him.

Tim has to take a deep breath and blink hard and fast for a moment, because he knows what that would mean for John, what it means that John is still going to follow him in, and wait, and if needed, step in. He resolves that John WILL NOT need to do so.

He's wearing small cameras- bat tech- so they can watch him, and Tim's a whole other ballgame when he's walking a room as The Son of the Drake. it's wild for the batfam to see. Tim owns that room from the moment he walks in, though. From the moment he walks in, and in whispers and awe after he leaves it too. Janet Drake taught him everything she knew, and Tim learned it all, improved and expanded on it. He knows exactly how to work and manipulate a crowd.

It's a little terrifying to watch.

Tim has all the pieces. Roman will die for what he's done. It's just a matter of waiting. Just a matter of pushing the right buttons. Roman won't stay in the Continental forever. He's too used to dealing with the Waynes as vigilantes with rules, too used to being on the ground, being Black Mask. He may wait, but he won't outlast a Drake's patience for ruining someone who went after their hoard. He won't escape their retaliation.

@wolfsrainrules I can't get the idea of Penguin as part of the Underworld out of my head, so here we go:

Penguin the Rogue and Cobblepot the Underworld broker are very different personas. As a Rogue, he's weak, quick to anger, impulsive when it comes to the Bats (they do frustrate him endlessly, but mostly he finds their clashes fun. It's a chance to let loose and know that none of his men are in life-threatening danger. Great training for the younger recruits) As a broker he's calmer, softer spoken, dangerous. Having dual identities makes people underestimate him. They think because he has to maintain a public persona as Penguin that he's limited in how he can retaliate. He's not. Cobblepot has been part of the Underworld since before college, and Roman Sionis is PISSING HIM OFF.

The man acts like their world is just another set of tools to be exploited. Not a living, breathing, deadly world that chews up more dangerous men and spits them out mangled beyond all recognition as a warning to others. Alas, it seems no one respects the Rules these days, and letting Sionis in is just a symptom of the larger problem.

So when Timothy Drake approaches him in the lobby of the Continental, face a pleasant mask, he can't help but be intrigued. Once he's been filled in on the relevant details? He's more than willing to skin Sionis himself.

Double dealing, sedition, putting hits on public figures. Sionis is trampling all of their traditions, spitting on them with the petulance of an insolent child. Well, unfortunately for him, the Underworld is not a place for children. He will be dealt with the same way anyone else is.

Stares off into the distance:

So.

Apparently my brain is just going to run along with various crossovers. Today, I bring you the thought of a John Wick fusion au (actually five differnet ones) with Batman/DC. (Again: a reminder that all my DC/Batman knowledge is fandom based)

@north-peach hellllppppp

Couple of thoughts for this.

I love every single iteration of this. At first, I was wondering what would make Tim go 'John Wick' on someone, but I like all of these prompts SO MUCH!

How convenient it is that John dies at the end of movie 4. What a neat way to smuggle someone who isn't supposed to exist somewhere where he can be free of the Underground. Maybe, say....as a butler? Or an attendant to watch over the Drake Manor/Fortune. Just imagining hyper deadly John Wick working with Alfred Pennyworth (who absolutely knows who he is and where he's from) and learning to take care of Drake manor. Damian spots him and nearly vibrates into the watchtower with how excited he is (let my boy be a kid for once) and shows John ALL his animals and John has a special soft spot for Titus and any other dogs that come under their care.

Would Bruce still be Batman if he ran the Continental? I don't doubt there's one in Gotham, or that Bruce wouldn't know what it is, but I don't know if he'd want to be Batman in the Universe where he runs it. Could be that he believes running the crime himself will stop certain types of crime from happening(A La Red Hood style). In which case all his adopted kids run different sections of the Continental and are the powerhouses/enforcers who uphold the Rules within the walls. Dick is the concierge. He greets everyone at the front desk and is far to good at charming information out of their guests. Jason is the one who investigates/captures/punishes those who break the Continentals Rules. Barbara covers all tech aspects, etc.

Love these AU ideas!

Y e S.

I deeply enjoy the idea of Butler John Wick, taking over Drake Manor, tucking this little bird under his wing, Alfred and John meeting eyes across the yard like I remember you. Because I absolutely believe that Alfred has gotten in the way of Wick's missions before, and SURVIVED it, gave him a run for his money, and both of them respect the other deeply. Alfred is one of like minimal people who has gotten John's target to where he was supposed to BEFORE John could kill them. Did the target survive John? No. But Alfred made sure he did what he was supposed to do before John got to them.

They never expected to WORK TOGETHER over their charges, they could admit. There's a very British "I said it round about but in such a way you cannot mistake it for anything but the threat it is" conversations Alfred has with John over his family, Tim included.

Tim ALSO has to have a fun sit down with Alfred about the connections he has and why he has them.

As for Gotham Continental Branch run by Bruce, in that particular case, he's NOT Batman in my head. He's instead the upspoken head of the underworld there. He technically can't do anything outside of his hotel, not if he wants to remain in charge of it. It's supposed to be neutral ground after all.

That does NOT mean that everyone coming into Gotham doesn't know Bruce has....unspoken rules. Nothing that would bar access to the hotel of course, he doesn't have the right to do that for the things he doesn't like outside his hotel grounds. Not under the table. The things that can get one barred from the hotel are very clear in their rulebook, and if Bruce were to be seen as trying to operate above the table? It would cause problems for himself and his kids, and Alfred. So he's...creative about making his rules clear.

Everyone knows.

And while Bruce may not be Batman, because he has to be very clearly the head of his hotel and neutral- his CHILDREN are in fact still vigilantes and they absolutely can and will step in for things going on in their city. They operate in shifts over all out at once, because there are always some of them on call for the hotel. Sometimes they shuffle who wears what to hide the 'always missing when this vigilante is out' thing. Occasionally there's a shapeshifter involved to make it more obviously NOT THEM that are under those masks.

The fact that injuries on their person can be explained as their work in the underworld is helpful. Because they all have their own reps in the underground too.

It'd be a darker batfam au of course, because these people WOULD absolutely kill when needed. They'd set things up for THEIR 'best case" which doesn't always line up with the morals of the world, or what canon batfam would agree with. They have standards of course, but they're underworld.

When Wick met Pennyworth, he was still part of the underground. A job was a job, it was never personal. He and Alfred clashed because they had differing missions. That's all. And he actually deeply respects and admires the former MI6's skills and abilities.

Alfred also respects John, especially the way he took his sincere efforts to kill him in stride and never tried to retaliate against him. The man may be a cold-blooded killer, but he had rules that he followed. Morals that he wouldn't corrupt. Now that he's out? The Underground doesn't have room for 'personal'. Not for the lower ranks (which John, terrifying as he was, qualified as). Hell, what got John in trouble initially was letting things get personal. The regular world does. He needs to make sure this man understands that there are lines that won't be crossed.

Fortunately, John acquiesces to his demands rather easily. The life he's led is not kind to the body, and most days he has as many aches and pains as Alfred does. More on bad days. It's something they commiserate on when they have tea in Drake-and eventually Wayne-Manor. They talk politely about missions they were on(often on opposing sides). John shares tips on how to be even more lethal with guns. Alfred shares remedies for when his joints are screaming in pain. Both men may be wary of one another at first, but they trust that the other is utterly dedicated to protecting their wards. John even goes so far as to give Pennyworth a small collection of gold coins to use just in case something happens that he or the Bats can't combat on their own.

Well since we're bouncing ideas lmao.... @yizukikhons

Alfred is so thankful for the extra help in Wayne Manor. He's excellent at his job, phenomenal at it really, but he's still one man trying to balance....so much.

It takes a WHILE for John to be pulled into the Vigilante side of things but it still does happen, eventually. They ABSOLUTELY trade care tips for themselves. John also finds himself being taken care of and THAT is a wild time for him. Tim did it too, but now there's....a whole family that slowly accepts him into their number and care and- John had sworn to himself he'd never care so deeply again, not after Helen and what it did to him to lose her, but he...really couldn't help it. Tim grew on him, and these Waynes are growing on him too, as is the old Agent that once threw him over a balcony and shot him to keep his charge alive while John was trying to kill him.

Damian actually ends up deeply impressed with Tim, rather than ready to fight on sight because he's associated with Wick. Because Wick agreed to work for him, and that...that makes him curious. Bonus? His mother hears the name, and SHE knows Janet, and respects her, so she tells Damian Drake is a name he should know, should make an ally of, and he doesn't forget.

He is beyond pleased when Timothy Drake reaches a hand out to greet him, and takes it firmly, greets him as someone he wants to befriend. It changes...quite a bit on his integration to Wayne Family.

Wick actually helps IMMENSELY with that. Having his opinion is invaluable to Damian. Not only because he's genuinely excited to meet him, but because John can explain things to him in a way someone who grew up outside of their world could not. Ironically, Tim is ALSO very good at helping him bridge that gap as well, having grown up at Janet's knee and making his own choice to walk the route of vigilante instead.

This is the AU where Jason doesn't die, so he gets to pass that mantle down rather than having it be taken. Tim still has his own vigilante persona (I need to pick one for that, I think he picks something to honor his mother in this AU -squints-), and Jason gets to make his OWN persona rather than taking up an old Joker one. (Need to pick one for him too...Hm. Some bird of prey? Maybe something different like Nightwing's instead?? Hm.)

Tim eventually does find himself tucked into Wayne Manor as one of theirs of course, which John follows him. And as mentioned, it takes a while for him to be trusted with BAT-vigilante side of things, as Tim already trusted him.

Alfred ends up calling him down the first time for extra hands during an emergency surgery I think. They are a FORCE, working together to keep everyone fed, taken care of, and safe. The Wayne family lives in fear. I think I may have something go absolutely to hell, and that's how Tim ends up an official Wayne. Janet arranged when she realized how close Tim was to Bruce for him to be the one Tim went to. Jack isn't involved with the family and Drake is JANET'S surname in this AU that Jack would have taken due to the money and business, but did not for Reasons, so Bruce is next in line to take her son in if anything happened.

On the OTHER HAND. Janet still does all that (she absolutely is where Tim got his brain and she believes in contingencies) and lives, but gives Bruce the right to make calls. Perhaps some....altered records? Bruce listed as father? Might go with that, because I do love the idea of Janet living, loving her son, being a badass, who critiques her son's vigilante-ing, as well has his extended family's. Think I might go with this one. I like it, it's fun, and Janet rarely gets to be a good mom.

Since we're both enjoying ourselves...@wolfsrainrules

Bruce doesn't know how he feels about Tim's Underworld connections at first. Especially once he learns that Tim has killed before. (We all know how hard he felt about Jason killing as Red Hood, who should totally take the name Red Hawk, or some form of Hawk I think(Tim should be something like Wyvern, which are a form of dragon and often thought to be poisonous)) However, John and Alfred not only back him up, but Tim is able to explain WHY he kills without getting emotional about it.

The Underworld is not like Gotham's Rogues. They're not two-bit thugs just trying to make rent, or people lashing out against a broken, corrupt system. The Underworld was BUILT on blood. It's system is built from corpses and fueled by death. All of them are stone cold killers and the ONLY way to keep the rules in place is to ruthlessly enforce them. Tim will never kill as a vigilante, and he would never force Bruce to kill, but asking him to provide mercy to anyone from the Underworld who tries to cross him is to ensure HIS death rather than Tim's' opponent, and leave anyone he protects vulnerable (which includes you Bruce, dumbass. You think people from the Underworld haven't come after you? You think there haven't been attempts on your life from people who you inadvertently caught committing crimes in Gotham? The only thing that's protected you so far is the fact that they got caught by such a public figure, which left them excommunicato and cut off from the necessary resources) Bruce acquiesces. The fact that Tim swore he wouldn't kill as a vigilante helps. But things are...tense between the two of them for a while. Having John around helps bridge the gap between the two of them as he's a full adult who's lived in both the Underworld and the regular world.

As for what goes tits up to make Tim an official Wayne...initially I was thinking Penguin having access to the Underworld (he's old money and I could see him having a position sort of like the Bowery King) but then I got a better idea. Roman Sionis, AKA Black Mask, gets into The Underworld. He was always a ruthless mob boss, but with access to the resources of the Underworld? He's suddenly infinitely more dangerous. Yes, he's subject to their rules now, but like he's going to let that stop him from taking over Gotham like he wants. He uses his new connections to find out who Batman is. Sets hits on them. Holes himself up in the Gotham Continental and waits.

Tim can't attack him in the Continental. He knows the Rules just as well as anyone else. All he can do is ruthlessly protect his family as assassin after assassin tries to break into Wayne Manor to take out their marks and compile as much info on Black Mask as possible to get him excommunicato and cut him off. (Damian uses his League connections to get access to the Underworld and get a pin on Sionis's plans. Can't decide if some of the Bats join him under aliases or not. If so, it's probably Jason, Steph, and/or Cass) John helps defend the manor. He may be out, but as long as there's no one to report back that he's still alive? He doesn't mind protecting the new family he's gained. He still makes sure to disguise himself so anyone who might be watching can't tell it's him though. (hello? where did this idea come from?) Sionis is increasingly more and more furious with each failed attempt and targets Janet. Which, BIG mistake. Janet can more than take care of herself, and Tim called her the minute that Sionis started coming after them. However, the fact that Tim is protecting them to this degree? He has truly accepted these people as HIS. Cares for them the same way you care for Family. And the Wayne's are defending him just as much. Janet knows she hasn't always been there for Tim. She's raised him as well as she could in the Underworld, but there was only so close she could be to her son before people would've caught on to her weakness. (her baby was never a weakness, but others would've taken him as one and she wouldn't allow anyone to touch her baby thinking that they could get to her by harming him) Seeing Bruce defend her son, she makes a decision. Once the dust has settled, she brings out a birth certificate with the father's name blank, back dated to when Tim was born(that kind of thing is child's play for those in the Underworld) and offers it to Bruce. She's not willing to sign away her rights to her child, but she knows that Bruce will protect and love her son in a way she has never been able to.

Also, a piece of dialogue/scene that won't leave my head from when Alfred was protecting someone from Wick:

*The target, lighting a cigarette*: What, not gona comment about me killing my lungs?

Alfred, current MI6 operative: there's rather no point now.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Our schedule needs to be moved up. We need to get to Budapest within the next 32 hours"

"The fuck?! I thought the deadline wasn't until next week!!! The hell are we gonna get to Budapest in 32 hours?!"

"The deadline hasn't changed, our time has simply shortened."

"The fuck 016! If the deadline hasn't changed why do we need to get there so fast!"

"Because 32 hours is all I can garuantee with our current pursuer"

"Until they steal the info from me? I told'ya man, you don't have to worry I-"

"Until your death."

*Silence*

"...what?"

"32 hours is the maximum amount of time I can hold off our current pursuer while garuanteeing your survival. Any time past that and the likelihood that he'll be able to kill you before we reach our destination rises drastically."

"0-Pennyworth what are you saying? W-what do you mean I'm gonna die in 32 hours? The hell kinda guy is pursuing us?!"

"The man pursuing us is called John Wick."

"Who the fuck is John Wick!"

"No one you'll have heard about, or ever will hear about now"

"Stop talking like that! You're one of MI6's best agents! I ain't gonna die!"

"You are. John Wick is not a man who gives up easily. If he's given a target, he will pursue until that target is dead. Once we get to Budapest and deliver the Intel, I will be pulled from your detail, and John will kill you, whether he was able to get your Intel or not,"

"Then you have to protect me! I-I'll pay you whatever you want! Name a price!"

"Aaron-"

"Shut up! Just name it, and I'll make sure you're paid double! Triple!"

"Aaron. I am MI6. I don't take on personal missions. Moreover I am just one man. An ordinary man at that. Even if I guarded you 24/7 I can't hold off Wick indefinitely."

"..."

"..."

"So what that's it? It's over? Nothing to be done? I'm just a dead man walking am I?"

"Things are far from over Mr . McDougal. We still need to make it to Budapest"

"You think getting to Budapest matters?"

"Of course it does. Unless you wanted to return your information to sender?"

"...Fuck it. Fine. Let's get going"

Stares off into the distance:

So.

Apparently my brain is just going to run along with various crossovers. Today, I bring you the thought of a John Wick fusion au (actually five differnet ones) with Batman/DC. (Again: a reminder that all my DC/Batman knowledge is fandom based)

@north-peach hellllppppp

Couple of thoughts for this.

I love every single iteration of this. At first, I was wondering what would make Tim go 'John Wick' on someone, but I like all of these prompts SO MUCH!

How convenient it is that John dies at the end of movie 4. What a neat way to smuggle someone who isn't supposed to exist somewhere where he can be free of the Underground. Maybe, say....as a butler? Or an attendant to watch over the Drake Manor/Fortune. Just imagining hyper deadly John Wick working with Alfred Pennyworth (who absolutely knows who he is and where he's from) and learning to take care of Drake manor. Damian spots him and nearly vibrates into the watchtower with how excited he is (let my boy be a kid for once) and shows John ALL his animals and John has a special soft spot for Titus and any other dogs that come under their care.

Would Bruce still be Batman if he ran the Continental? I don't doubt there's one in Gotham, or that Bruce wouldn't know what it is, but I don't know if he'd want to be Batman in the Universe where he runs it. Could be that he believes running the crime himself will stop certain types of crime from happening(A La Red Hood style). In which case all his adopted kids run different sections of the Continental and are the powerhouses/enforcers who uphold the Rules within the walls. Dick is the concierge. He greets everyone at the front desk and is far to good at charming information out of their guests. Jason is the one who investigates/captures/punishes those who break the Continentals Rules. Barbara covers all tech aspects, etc.

Love these AU ideas!

Y e S.

I deeply enjoy the idea of Butler John Wick, taking over Drake Manor, tucking this little bird under his wing, Alfred and John meeting eyes across the yard like I remember you. Because I absolutely believe that Alfred has gotten in the way of Wick's missions before, and SURVIVED it, gave him a run for his money, and both of them respect the other deeply. Alfred is one of like minimal people who has gotten John's target to where he was supposed to BEFORE John could kill them. Did the target survive John? No. But Alfred made sure he did what he was supposed to do before John got to them.

They never expected to WORK TOGETHER over their charges, they could admit. There's a very British "I said it round about but in such a way you cannot mistake it for anything but the threat it is" conversations Alfred has with John over his family, Tim included.

Tim ALSO has to have a fun sit down with Alfred about the connections he has and why he has them.

As for Gotham Continental Branch run by Bruce, in that particular case, he's NOT Batman in my head. He's instead the upspoken head of the underworld there. He technically can't do anything outside of his hotel, not if he wants to remain in charge of it. It's supposed to be neutral ground after all.

That does NOT mean that everyone coming into Gotham doesn't know Bruce has....unspoken rules. Nothing that would bar access to the hotel of course, he doesn't have the right to do that for the things he doesn't like outside his hotel grounds. Not under the table. The things that can get one barred from the hotel are very clear in their rulebook, and if Bruce were to be seen as trying to operate above the table? It would cause problems for himself and his kids, and Alfred. So he's...creative about making his rules clear.

Everyone knows.

And while Bruce may not be Batman, because he has to be very clearly the head of his hotel and neutral- his CHILDREN are in fact still vigilantes and they absolutely can and will step in for things going on in their city. They operate in shifts over all out at once, because there are always some of them on call for the hotel. Sometimes they shuffle who wears what to hide the 'always missing when this vigilante is out' thing. Occasionally there's a shapeshifter involved to make it more obviously NOT THEM that are under those masks.

The fact that injuries on their person can be explained as their work in the underworld is helpful. Because they all have their own reps in the underground too.

It'd be a darker batfam au of course, because these people WOULD absolutely kill when needed. They'd set things up for THEIR 'best case" which doesn't always line up with the morals of the world, or what canon batfam would agree with. They have standards of course, but they're underworld.

When Wick met Pennyworth, he was still part of the underground. A job was a job, it was never personal. He and Alfred clashed because they had differing missions. That's all. And he actually deeply respects and admires the former MI6's skills and abilities.

Alfred also respects John, especially the way he took his sincere efforts to kill him in stride and never tried to retaliate against him. The man may be a cold-blooded killer, but he had rules that he followed. Morals that he wouldn't corrupt. Now that he's out? The Underground doesn't have room for 'personal'. Not for the lower ranks (which John, terrifying as he was, qualified as). Hell, what got John in trouble initially was letting things get personal. The regular world does. He needs to make sure this man understands that there are lines that won't be crossed.

Fortunately, John acquiesces to his demands rather easily. The life he's led is not kind to the body, and most days he has as many aches and pains as Alfred does. More on bad days. It's something they commiserate on when they have tea in Drake-and eventually Wayne-Manor. They talk politely about missions they were on(often on opposing sides). John shares tips on how to be even more lethal with guns. Alfred shares remedies for when his joints are screaming in pain. Both men may be wary of one another at first, but they trust that the other is utterly dedicated to protecting their wards. John even goes so far as to give Pennyworth a small collection of gold coins to use just in case something happens that he or the Bats can't combat on their own.

Well since we're bouncing ideas lmao.... @yizukikhons

Alfred is so thankful for the extra help in Wayne Manor. He's excellent at his job, phenomenal at it really, but he's still one man trying to balance....so much.

It takes a WHILE for John to be pulled into the Vigilante side of things but it still does happen, eventually. They ABSOLUTELY trade care tips for themselves. John also finds himself being taken care of and THAT is a wild time for him. Tim did it too, but now there's....a whole family that slowly accepts him into their number and care and- John had sworn to himself he'd never care so deeply again, not after Helen and what it did to him to lose her, but he...really couldn't help it. Tim grew on him, and these Waynes are growing on him too, as is the old Agent that once threw him over a balcony and shot him to keep his charge alive while John was trying to kill him.

Damian actually ends up deeply impressed with Tim, rather than ready to fight on sight because he's associated with Wick. Because Wick agreed to work for him, and that...that makes him curious. Bonus? His mother hears the name, and SHE knows Janet, and respects her, so she tells Damian Drake is a name he should know, should make an ally of, and he doesn't forget.

He is beyond pleased when Timothy Drake reaches a hand out to greet him, and takes it firmly, greets him as someone he wants to befriend. It changes...quite a bit on his integration to Wayne Family.

Wick actually helps IMMENSELY with that. Having his opinion is invaluable to Damian. Not only because he's genuinely excited to meet him, but because John can explain things to him in a way someone who grew up outside of their world could not. Ironically, Tim is ALSO very good at helping him bridge that gap as well, having grown up at Janet's knee and making his own choice to walk the route of vigilante instead.

This is the AU where Jason doesn't die, so he gets to pass that mantle down rather than having it be taken. Tim still has his own vigilante persona (I need to pick one for that, I think he picks something to honor his mother in this AU -squints-), and Jason gets to make his OWN persona rather than taking up an old Joker one. (Need to pick one for him too...Hm. Some bird of prey? Maybe something different like Nightwing's instead?? Hm.)

Tim eventually does find himself tucked into Wayne Manor as one of theirs of course, which John follows him. And as mentioned, it takes a while for him to be trusted with BAT-vigilante side of things, as Tim already trusted him.

Alfred ends up calling him down the first time for extra hands during an emergency surgery I think. They are a FORCE, working together to keep everyone fed, taken care of, and safe. The Wayne family lives in fear. I think I may have something go absolutely to hell, and that's how Tim ends up an official Wayne. Janet arranged when she realized how close Tim was to Bruce for him to be the one Tim went to. Jack isn't involved with the family and Drake is JANET'S surname in this AU that Jack would have taken due to the money and business, but did not for Reasons, so Bruce is next in line to take her son in if anything happened.

On the OTHER HAND. Janet still does all that (she absolutely is where Tim got his brain and she believes in contingencies) and lives, but gives Bruce the right to make calls. Perhaps some....altered records? Bruce listed as father? Might go with that, because I do love the idea of Janet living, loving her son, being a badass, who critiques her son's vigilante-ing, as well has his extended family's. Think I might go with this one. I like it, it's fun, and Janet rarely gets to be a good mom.

Since we're both enjoying ourselves...@wolfsrainrules

Bruce doesn't know how he feels about Tim's Underworld connections at first. Especially once he learns that Tim has killed before. (We all know how hard he felt about Jason killing as Red Hood, who should totally take the name Red Hawk, or some form of Hawk I think(Tim should be something like Wyvern, which are a form of dragon and often thought to be poisonous)) However, John and Alfred not only back him up, but Tim is able to explain WHY he kills without getting emotional about it.

The Underworld is not like Gotham's Rogues. They're not two-bit thugs just trying to make rent, or people lashing out against a broken, corrupt system. The Underworld was BUILT on blood. It's system is built from corpses and fueled by death. All of them are stone cold killers and the ONLY way to keep the rules in place is to ruthlessly enforce them. Tim will never kill as a vigilante, and he would never force Bruce to kill, but asking him to provide mercy to anyone from the Underworld who tries to cross him is to ensure HIS death rather than Tim's' opponent, and leave anyone he protects vulnerable (which includes you Bruce, dumbass. You think people from the Underworld haven't come after you? You think there haven't been attempts on your life from people who you inadvertently caught committing crimes in Gotham? The only thing that's protected you so far is the fact that they got caught by such a public figure, which left them excommunicato and cut off from the necessary resources) Bruce acquiesces. The fact that Tim swore he wouldn't kill as a vigilante helps. But things are...tense between the two of them for a while. Having John around helps bridge the gap between the two of them as he's a full adult who's lived in both the Underworld and the regular world.

As for what goes tits up to make Tim an official Wayne...initially I was thinking Penguin having access to the Underworld (he's old money and I could see him having a position sort of like the Bowery King) but then I got a better idea. Roman Sionis, AKA Black Mask, gets into The Underworld. He was always a ruthless mob boss, but with access to the resources of the Underworld? He's suddenly infinitely more dangerous. Yes, he's subject to their rules now, but like he's going to let that stop him from taking over Gotham like he wants. He uses his new connections to find out who Batman is. Sets hits on them. Holes himself up in the Gotham Continental and waits.

Tim can't attack him in the Continental. He knows the Rules just as well as anyone else. All he can do is ruthlessly protect his family as assassin after assassin tries to break into Wayne Manor to take out their marks and compile as much info on Black Mask as possible to get him excommunicato and cut him off. (Damian uses his League connections to get access to the Underworld and get a pin on Sionis's plans. Can't decide if some of the Bats join him under aliases or not. If so, it's probably Jason, Steph, and/or Cass) John helps defend the manor. He may be out, but as long as there's no one to report back that he's still alive? He doesn't mind protecting the new family he's gained. He still makes sure to disguise himself so anyone who might be watching can't tell it's him though. (hello? where did this idea come from?) Sionis is increasingly more and more furious with each failed attempt and targets Janet. Which, BIG mistake. Janet can more than take care of herself, and Tim called her the minute that Sionis started coming after them. However, the fact that Tim is protecting them to this degree? He has truly accepted these people as HIS. Cares for them the same way you care for Family. And the Wayne's are defending him just as much. Janet knows she hasn't always been there for Tim. She's raised him as well as she could in the Underworld, but there was only so close she could be to her son before people would've caught on to her weakness. (her baby was never a weakness, but others would've taken him as one and she wouldn't allow anyone to touch her baby thinking that they could get to her by harming him) Seeing Bruce defend her son, she makes a decision. Once the dust has settled, she brings out a birth certificate with the father's name blank, back dated to when Tim was born(that kind of thing is child's play for those in the Underworld) and offers it to Bruce. She's not willing to sign away her rights to her child, but she knows that Bruce will protect and love her son in a way she has never been able to.

Reblog if you’re 30 or older

This is an experiment to see if there really are as few of us as people think.You can also use this to freak out your followers who think you’re 25 or something. Yay!

Stares off into the distance:

So.

Apparently my brain is just going to run along with various crossovers. Today, I bring you the thought of a John Wick fusion au (actually five differnet ones) with Batman/DC. (Again: a reminder that all my DC/Batman knowledge is fandom based)

@north-peach hellllppppp

Couple of thoughts for this.

I love every single iteration of this. At first, I was wondering what would make Tim go 'John Wick' on someone, but I like all of these prompts SO MUCH!

How convenient it is that John dies at the end of movie 4. What a neat way to smuggle someone who isn't supposed to exist somewhere where he can be free of the Underground. Maybe, say....as a butler? Or an attendant to watch over the Drake Manor/Fortune. Just imagining hyper deadly John Wick working with Alfred Pennyworth (who absolutely knows who he is and where he's from) and learning to take care of Drake manor. Damian spots him and nearly vibrates into the watchtower with how excited he is (let my boy be a kid for once) and shows John ALL his animals and John has a special soft spot for Titus and any other dogs that come under their care.

Would Bruce still be Batman if he ran the Continental? I don't doubt there's one in Gotham, or that Bruce wouldn't know what it is, but I don't know if he'd want to be Batman in the Universe where he runs it. Could be that he believes running the crime himself will stop certain types of crime from happening(A La Red Hood style). In which case all his adopted kids run different sections of the Continental and are the powerhouses/enforcers who uphold the Rules within the walls. Dick is the concierge. He greets everyone at the front desk and is far to good at charming information out of their guests. Jason is the one who investigates/captures/punishes those who break the Continentals Rules. Barbara covers all tech aspects, etc.

Love these AU ideas!

Y e S.

I deeply enjoy the idea of Butler John Wick, taking over Drake Manor, tucking this little bird under his wing, Alfred and John meeting eyes across the yard like I remember you. Because I absolutely believe that Alfred has gotten in the way of Wick's missions before, and SURVIVED it, gave him a run for his money, and both of them respect the other deeply. Alfred is one of like minimal people who has gotten John's target to where he was supposed to BEFORE John could kill them. Did the target survive John? No. But Alfred made sure he did what he was supposed to do before John got to them.

They never expected to WORK TOGETHER over their charges, they could admit. There's a very British "I said it round about but in such a way you cannot mistake it for anything but the threat it is" conversations Alfred has with John over his family, Tim included.

Tim ALSO has to have a fun sit down with Alfred about the connections he has and why he has them.

As for Gotham Continental Branch run by Bruce, in that particular case, he's NOT Batman in my head. He's instead the upspoken head of the underworld there. He technically can't do anything outside of his hotel, not if he wants to remain in charge of it. It's supposed to be neutral ground after all.

That does NOT mean that everyone coming into Gotham doesn't know Bruce has....unspoken rules. Nothing that would bar access to the hotel of course, he doesn't have the right to do that for the things he doesn't like outside his hotel grounds. Not under the table. The things that can get one barred from the hotel are very clear in their rulebook, and if Bruce were to be seen as trying to operate above the table? It would cause problems for himself and his kids, and Alfred. So he's...creative about making his rules clear.

Everyone knows.

And while Bruce may not be Batman, because he has to be very clearly the head of his hotel and neutral- his CHILDREN are in fact still vigilantes and they absolutely can and will step in for things going on in their city. They operate in shifts over all out at once, because there are always some of them on call for the hotel. Sometimes they shuffle who wears what to hide the 'always missing when this vigilante is out' thing. Occasionally there's a shapeshifter involved to make it more obviously NOT THEM that are under those masks.

The fact that injuries on their person can be explained as their work in the underworld is helpful. Because they all have their own reps in the underground too.

It'd be a darker batfam au of course, because these people WOULD absolutely kill when needed. They'd set things up for THEIR 'best case" which doesn't always line up with the morals of the world, or what canon batfam would agree with. They have standards of course, but they're underworld.

When Wick met Pennyworth, he was still part of the underground. A job was a job, it was never personal. He and Alfred clashed because they had differing missions. That's all. And he actually deeply respects and admires the former MI6's skills and abilities.

Alfred also respects John, especially the way he took his sincere efforts to kill him in stride and never tried to retaliate against him. The man may be a cold-blooded killer, but he had rules that he followed. Morals that he wouldn't corrupt. Now that he's out? The Underground doesn't have room for 'personal'. Not for the lower ranks (which John, terrifying as he was, qualified as). Hell, what got John in trouble initially was letting things get personal. The regular world does. He needs to make sure this man understands that there are lines that won't be crossed.

Fortunately, John acquiesces to his demands rather easily. The life he's led is not kind to the body, and most days he has as many aches and pains as Alfred does. More on bad days. It's something they commiserate on when they have tea in Drake-and eventually Wayne-Manor. They talk politely about missions they were on(often on opposing sides). John shares tips on how to be even more lethal with guns. Alfred shares remedies for when his joints are screaming in pain. Both men may be wary of one another at first, but they trust that the other is utterly dedicated to protecting their wards. John even goes so far as to give Pennyworth a small collection of gold coins to use just in case something happens that he or the Bats can't combat on their own.

Stares off into the distance:

So.

Apparently my brain is just going to run along with various crossovers. Today, I bring you the thought of a John Wick fusion au (actually five differnet ones) with Batman/DC. (Again: a reminder that all my DC/Batman knowledge is fandom based)

@north-peach hellllppppp

Couple of thoughts for this.

I love every single iteration of this. At first, I was wondering what would make Tim go 'John Wick' on someone, but I like all of these prompts SO MUCH!

How convenient it is that John dies at the end of movie 4. What a neat way to smuggle someone who isn't supposed to exist somewhere where he can be free of the Underground. Maybe, say....as a butler? Or an attendant to watch over the Drake Manor/Fortune. Just imagining hyper deadly John Wick working with Alfred Pennyworth (who absolutely knows who he is and where he's from) and learning to take care of Drake manor. Damian spots him and nearly vibrates into the watchtower with how excited he is (let my boy be a kid for once) and shows John ALL his animals and John has a special soft spot for Titus and any other dogs that come under their care.

Would Bruce still be Batman if he ran the Continental? I don't doubt there's one in Gotham, or that Bruce wouldn't know what it is, but I don't know if he'd want to be Batman in the Universe where he runs it. Could be that he believes running the crime himself will stop certain types of crime from happening(A La Red Hood style). In which case all his adopted kids run different sections of the Continental and are the powerhouses/enforcers who uphold the Rules within the walls. Dick is the concierge. He greets everyone at the front desk and is far to good at charming information out of their guests. Jason is the one who investigates/captures/punishes those who break the Continentals Rules. Barbara covers all tech aspects, etc.

Love these AU ideas!

another interpretation that's really funny to me is that they Are a vast avatar they're just really bad at their job

To me, your sona IS a Vast Avatar. There are definitely Vast Avatars that deal in the ocean and sure, they usually deal in the sky too, but even Simin Fairchild exposed a diver to the Crushing Depths of the ocean. The fears can't be separated. The Vast will always rely on the Buried in some small way, and while many people take this to mean that they can make hybrid 'sonas (and they are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT and it's AMAZING) I take it to mean that even singular avatars are going to invoke other fear aspects naturally. Because that's the nature of the fears.

kill the shift manager in your brain

you are not wasting time you are vibing. you are not being unproductive you are literally chilling. make a grill cheese with cheddar cheese and slather a piece of the bread with some honey and maybe you'll relax

Innes Keeper's Formula For Fantastic Grilled Cheeses (for nearly no extra spoons!)

Are you hungry? Do you have a hankering for grilled cheese sandwiches like, way more than a normal person maybe? Great news! I am about to give you the secret knowledge I stole, like Prometheus himself, from the Akashic Records—to bring back to Prudencia! And I’m even doing it without a ten hour long lecture about how the Akashic Records makes me think of idfk, 9/11, and how that relates to sandwiches.

I will, however, briefly say this: You gotta trust me when I say cooking grilled cheeses via this formula WILL grant you Bloodborne Insight. There is no fucking reason that making a grilled cheese this fucking delicious should be this fucking easy. I feel like I’m cheating God every time I do it because it takes (nearly) no extra spoons. And here’s where I show you why.

INGREDIENTS — SEASONINGS -butter, i usually use 2 or 3 tablespoons per sandwich -garlic cloves, I use 3 usually -a source of heat, like red pepper flakes, or szechuan peppers -a source of spice OR a source of sweetness, such as dijon mustard or honey. slather that motherfucker on a slice of your bread. -a source of herbiness, such as oregano, thyme, sage, rosemary, etc in any combination that goes well together or on its own. if someone tries to tell you that you need it fresh, they’re fucking lying, the 2$ crushed powdered sage is fucking great. experiment with other spices such as ground turmeric if you're spicy

INGREDIENTS - THE METAPHORICAL MEAT OF THE SANDWICH -two slices of bread per sandwich. this is actually a massive influence on your sandwich taste and texture as a whole. a basic white or wheat will still be fucking delicious because like I said, I stole this from the Akashic Records cookbook section and found it under “fucking perfect grilled cheeses forever”. However, if you CAN—getting bread like brioche, texas toast, brown bread, rye, or sourdough will make a sandwich already being elevated super easily to “pay 23 dollars at a fancy restaurant” level of elevation.

-one to three types of cheese per sandwich. you can get away with one type but really try for two or three if you can swing it. this is also one of those massive influences over the sandwich—listen, i know, that’s obvious, but stay with me—what matters isn’t the SPECIES of cheese, it’s the TYPE of cheese. getting the deli at your local Safeway or Walmart or whatever and asking for the cheese they gotta cut (or just in general the fancier, better-quality cheeses) is literally the only major requirement that I ask of you. If you are on SNAP/EBT programs, me too, and I promise you: Please do this. Please trust me when I say do not get the cheap Kraft-type cheese because it’s less money. I know it’s a bit extra but it’s only a bit to get like 1/4 or 1/3lb and you have no idea how much I’m actually getting a little emotional about this, because the “rice with butter and beans or top ramen every single day” life is soulsucking and sickening and it is genuinely one of the greatest sources of suffering to human beings I can imagine, I’m serious. Following this formula will genuinely change your life/mental health just a bit because you know that you have one meal that is super delicious, super filling, pretty damn cheap when it comes to how much you get, and super easy to make on days where the idea of doing more than just 15 minutes MAX is gonna make you wanna die.

super sorry for that paragraph btw i just really cannot overstate how this is a lifechanger especially when youre poor/low spoons/depressed. delicious food makes me not be as depressed. this is that.

METHOD

That’s literally it. I really hope this helps.

outta my way gayboy im making this sandwich

oh. oh my god. holy fuck. what. how. why. this is delicious. i kinda burned my bread and my cheese didnt melt all the way but it's still the best thing ive ever tasted?????

oh my god. this is so fucking good. the butter melting and absorbing the spices and herbs already smelled amazing, but then i threw the bread on and it started smelling EVEN BETTER. then i took a bite. holy FUCK this is better than sex. i legitimately believe that Innes Keeper stole this shit from Prometheus, there's no other way to explain why this is so easy to make, yet so FUCKING good, other than cheating a god.

I didn't steal it from Prometheus he's my trophy husband!

ok me and my partner went back and made this. exact words upon eating were “we’ve cheated god” and “i feel like my world just got rocked” and then we were both energized to get back to drawing. proof:

please make innes keeper’s scientifically proven perfect extremely easy grilled cheese

I'M PUTTING THIS ON THE FRIDGE (WHERE I KEEP ALL MY CHEESE)

Fuck it I'm gonna make the infamous inneskeeper grilled cheese, I'm suspicious of the honey part working but fuck it let's see what happens

i want this sandwich to impregnate me

This sounds amazing and I'll have to try it, but may I make another suggestion?

If you're like me, and no grilled cheese sandwich is complete without a bowl of tomato soup: put peanut butter in with the cheese.

No, don't scroll away! I'm serious! The peanut butter adds cheap extra protein and brings a subtle nuttiness to the sandwich, which marries perfectly with the sweetness of the tomato and the savoriness of the cheese. The peanut butter melts into the cheese, making your sandwich extra gooey and smooth. It only works with tomato soup though. Peanut butter in tomato soup competes for top flavor, as does peanut butter and cheese. But the three together make a mouthwatering sweet, savory, tangy, nigh orgasmic experience.