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bluejaysandblackbats · 15 days

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Sweet Honey Bee

Fandom: DC Comics, Flashfam

Summary: Bart tries to uncover the seemingly sinister deeds going on at the campus while visiting Thad's art school.

Chapters: 1/?

Characters: Thad Thawne, Bart Allen, Meloni Thawne, Don Allen, President Thawne

Additional Tags: Bart and Thad Smoke Weed in This, Ballet AU, No Powers AU, Dark Academia, Boarding School AU, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Identity Swap, Protective Siblings, Family Bonding

Chapter One: The Gate

As they pulled through the iron gates to the heavily-forested campus, a sliver of sunlight pierced through the trees and landed on the water in the fountain. Statues and gothic art installments littered the quad. Modern hand-carved gargoyles, grotesquely frozen in horrific writhing positions, glass aquariums with realistically-painted dolls frozen in water-like resin prisons, old hollowed-out televisions-turned-terrariums . Bart shivered. “They take Halloween seriously around here, don’t they?” Don whispered.

“In May?” Meloni asked as she took a hat from her purse and slipped it over Bart’s head.

“Mom—.”

“It’s chilly out… Donny, do you remember where the lady told us to go?” Meloni asked. Don nodded, crouching down to look inside a television terrarium.

Meloni hugged herself, and Bart stood on his tiptoes, staring defiantly into the eyes of a stone-carved beast. “Sunshine, get away from that,” Meloni warned. Don turned the knob on one of the TVs as the exhibit label suggested, and it played music. The knob turned counterclockwise by itself.

“Would ya look at that!” Don smiled. “That’s neat! Real neat!”

“Dad, we gotta go. We’re gonna be late meeting TJ,” Bart reminded him.

Don led them past the fountain and into the garden. It was all set up for an outdoor play, but everything was covered with a tarp. Bart wanted to wander further into the garden, and Meloni reigned him in by his backpack. “Nuh-uh, Sunshine. Stay close,” Meloni whispered.

Don followed a decorative stone pathway to the garden’s edge, where a weeping willow stood alone. Behind the willow stood four gothic buildings. Spooky black buildings with large, dark blue stained glass windows. A light flickered on in one of the bay windows, and a windchime made soft hollow glass noises as the wind licked at its chimes. “Which one is Thad’s? They all look the same…” Meloni pulled Bart back.

Don pointed to the third building on the left. “Juniors live in that one. If he’s not home, he said he’d be at the BH,” Don replied. They walked toward the junior dorms, and Bart pressed the button with their last name on it.

“Hello?” Thad answered. His voice was like Bart’s, but his speech was slower, less confident, and shaky.

“Teej!” Bart shouted. The line went silent, and they waited for nearly a minute before the door swung open. Thad embraced Bart and nearly knocked Bart off his feet.

“Smeeny!” Thad exclaimed. Bart held on tight, pressing his face into Thad’s shoulder, breathing him in. “Smeeny…” His voice broke, and he cried.

Bart spun him around. “Schmingy nee!” Bart replied. It was their language. The words didn’t have a specific meaning, but they had emotion. Don took a picture of the boys. A handful of little nonsense words meant everything to them. Thad and Bart let go of each other, and Meloni showered Thad in kisses.

“Hi, Honey Bee! I missed you so much!” Meloni laughed. It was like all her fears melted away. “And you’re still wearing the cologne?”

“Mom,” Thad laughed. He did wear it. Everyday. And he eternally smelled like rosemary and lavender. Bart picked the scent for him three years ago, and Thad’s worn it ever since. “Dad?” Thad lifted his gaze to meet eyes with his father. Don’s eyes were kind and wrinkled at the corners with pride and experience.

Don picked Thad up and squeezed tight. “We missed you so much, Sparky,” Don whispered, “Still playing tennis?”

“Not enough time right now. I’m doing two ballets for the summer showcase. I never leave the stage for Apollon or Le Spectre de la Rose, so I dance continuously for forty-five minutes, not accounting for the costume change during announcements and makeup,” Thad explained. Don nodded.

“Taking care of yourself?” Don asked. He looked Thad over and hugged him once more. “I love you so much. Have any of us told you that today? We love you, Sparky.”

Thad grinned from ear to ear. “I love you too, Dad. And I hate to jet, but I’ve gotta get to my afternoon rehearsals. I’ll see you at dinner, though? Won’t I?” Thad questioned. Bart nodded as he stared at Thad.

“You’re not gonna rehearse in that, are you?” Bart teased as he tugged on Thad’s turtleneck. Thad took Bart’s hand, placing it at Bart’s side.

“I’m wearing my ballet clothes underneath, Mew,” Thad whispered, “I’ll see you guys at the cafeteria in two hours, right?”

They waved and walked to the car to grab the rest of their bags. “He looks so good,” Meloni smiled.

Don grinned as he hung his camera around his neck. Bart took Meloni’s bag. “Dinner’s in two hours?” Bart whined once he registered what Thad said.

“I packed an extra sandwich for you,” Don reassured him. “Text Grandma and Grandpa and tell them we got here safe, and Thad looks great.” Bart reached into Don’s pocket. “Why can’t you use your phone?”

“It’s dead… Is Grandpa Teddy coming?” Bart asked. Don chewed his lip and nodded. “Is he still mad at you for Easter?”

“He’s always mad at me, Squeaker… But this time, I’m not going to play into it. I’m smarter than that,” Don replied as he opened the guest house door and rang the check-in desk bell. Bart tapped Don on the shoulder.

“Didn’t you say that last time, Dad?” Bart asked innocently. Don wrinkled his forehead, and Meloni giggled.

“He does have a point there, Duckie,” Meloni whispered sweetly. She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“Why’s he have to come to this one? Wasn’t it enough that he ruined the twins’ first birthday? Or Easter? Or Bart’s cheer competition last summer?” Don muttered. “I bet he got here early to sit in the guest house and think of ways to ruin Thad’s performance.”

“I will handle Daddy… Okay? I will handle him,” Meloni whispered, “You can’t let him get to you… He’s only sore because he knows I can’t live without you. You were my singular act of defiance, and he still hasn’t forgiven me.” Meloni stood on her tiptoes and kissed Don’s cheek.

Bart took the key from Don and rushed up the stairs. “I won big, huh?” Don whispered. Meloni nodded. Don picked Meloni up and carried her up the stairs. “Damn right, I won.”

“Donnie cut it out,” Meloni giggled. When they reached the second floor, he set her down. “Which room are we in?”

“Two-oh-five,” Don replied. They turned right and walked down the hallway until they found a room with a yellow door.

Upon entering, they overheard Bart talking to Mr. Thawne in the kitchen. “Perhaps you could stay with me next school year, so you can reach your full academic and athletic potential—.”

“Bart’s doing fine in school,” Don interrupted, “And I recall you offered the same opportunity to Thad eight years ago…”

“That was eight years ago. This is now. I’m more patient now, and I recall you begging for my help back then… Being that Bartholomew was sick—.”

“Daddy,” Meloni warned. “Both of you, stop it. No fighting… No putting the kids in the middle… Just cut it out. Why can’t you both be like Bart? He gave up an important weekend with his friends for this and hasn’t complained once.” Meloni kissed Bart’s forehead.

“Okay. I’ll go first. I’m sorry that I got snappy with you. Bart’s old enough to decide where he wants to stay next school year, and I appreciate you taking an interest in his academic career,” Don apologized. Meloni rocked forward on the tips of her toes and smiled.

“Thank you… I apologize for putting Bartholomew in the middle of our brief spat, and I’m sorry if I implied that you haven’t done an adequate job parenting the twins,” Mr. Thawne mumbled.

“Thanks,” Don replied.

“Good. Now that that’s settled… Let’s get unpacked and rest for a while. Dinner isn’t for another two hours,” Meloni smiled. Bart groaned.

Don took a paper bag from his suitcase and handed it to Bart. “I’ve got you, Squeaker,” Don whispered. Bart smiled from ear to ear as he opened the bag and unwrapped his sandwich.

“Best dad ever,” Bart whispered before he took a bite. Don messed up Bart’s hair.

“Would you like a sandwich, Mr. Thawne?” Don asked.

“No, thank you. I’ll hold over until dinner,” Mr. Thawne replied.

“I’ll take a sandwich, Duckie,” Meloni whispered. Don kissed her cheek and handed her a sandwich. Don smiled proudly.

#fic #flashfam #sweet honey bee fic #Thad Thawne #Bart Allen #Meloni Thawne #Don Allen #President Thawne #Bart and Thad Smoke Weed in This #Ballet AU #No Powers AU #Dark Academia #Boarding School AU #Angst #Hurt/Comfort #Identity Swap #Protective Siblings #Family Bonding

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popculturebuffet · 2 years

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Kevin Conroy Tribute Review: Batman the Animated Series: Perchance to Dream (comission for WeirdKev27)

In Loving Memory of Kevin Conroy, 1955 to 2022

In Loving Memory 1955-2022

Kevin Conroy was my batman. Sure there have been other greats in the rolls from the Late Great Adam West, to as recently as the thankfully not late but still great Robert Pattinson, but when it came to what sounded and felt like Batman, to what really summed up the character for me and who he was, the triumph of his heroism and feats and the tragedy of his lonliness and pain, there was one man who always came to mind.

It's easy to see why: I grew up with Batman the Animated Series: while I was only about 4 when it first started airing, thankfully Cartoon Network knew what they had and thus warner aired it in reruns frequently, most fondly on Toonami with it's own cool lead in graphics with Batman declaring "I am vengeance, I am the night, I am batman." It was bliss for young me, watching everything from the tragic downfall of harvey dent, to the cold sadness of mr freeze, to that time an alligator man kidnapped the homeless because as I realized last night as me and Jess watched Batman fight a werewolf, this series could get weird. It's where I met my favorite batman Villian Scarface.. and the guy carrying him too. It's what really shaped my perception of the character. I'm not saying no other interpretation is valid, I truly loved the gonzo silver age Batman Brave and the Bold, the recent dark and moody The Batman, the not so recent year one ish The Batman (Cartoon), the utterly fun Burton Batman… there are tons. But you never forget what brought you there and even now as a grown ass man.. the cartoon stands up as a throughly mature work that stands as a solid model for how to hook those young and those old , as both 8 and 30 year old me can attest, to make something for everyone and to show just how broad an appeal animation has.

Conroy's further work on Superman (With the utterly awesome World's Finest four part crossover), Justice League and many, many more just cemented him in my eyes. This was Batman. IT wasn't the only way to portray him but it's hard to argue it wasn't the best.

Yet despite being so essential to my life.. I hardly knew Kevin Conrony it turned out. See in June of this year, I learned I didn't know him at all. I knew what a good voice actor he was but I just never thought, being kinda clueless at times, to actually look into the man. And as he told it in the utterly awesome autobiographical short comic story, Finding Batman

Finding Batman can be found as part of Dc's Pride 2022 a now annual celebration of DC's queer characters, and the issue was made free online for all to honor his passing. I recommend the whole thing, as there's a lot of good stuff.. but Finding Batman was the highlight. As you can guess by the title and as was a shock to me, Kevin Conroy is gay. He has a husband that survivies him and as you can imagine coming up as an actor in the 80's while also being gay.. wasn't easy. The story brilliantly outlines the pain he dealt with, having to hide it like a mask, and loosing rolls simply for who he was. IT's a painful, raw, and ultimately triumphant look at who Kevin Conroy was and why he connected with batman: Like Batman wears Bruce Wayne as a mask, Kevin had to wear being straight as a mask lest his true self be uncovered. And like batman he had ot deal with tons of pent up pain, anger, and heartbreak.. and thus.. perfectly slid into the role. The only reason I didn't review this.. is that I just really can't review an autobiography comic. It's hard to talk about story and tone when the story is VERY real, was very painful to someone and a lot to deal with. It feels wrong. It's the same reason despite equally loving it I didn't cover ND Stevensons comic about them realizing they liked women. Because ultimately it's someone's life story and should be there's to tell, not mine. Most I can do is tell you it's there.

What I can do… is Review Kevin's Faviorite episode, something Kev and I agreed was a good choice: I had thought of it before and kev bringing it up as Kevin Conroy's faviorite clinched it.L While I had PLENTY of brilliant episodes to choose from, this series is rememebred for good reason, I wanted one that really spotlighted Kevin as a performer, that really showed his range, substance and what he could really do. And what better one than when Bruce Wayne contronted Batman? That when Bruce is faced with the very thing that keeps him from being happy. When Bruce gets everything he could want.. and sadly dosen't get to keep it. Ths is Perchance to Dream… and it's under the cut. For Kevin.

Perchance to Dream has a very simple brilliant hook. We start with a normal batman the animated series episode for about a minute: We get one of the greatest opening sequences of all time to one of the greatest theme songs of all time as usual. Seriously the animation, the quick movement, the beautiful use of Danny Elfman's theme.. it all just meshes together perfectly. I probably don't need to tell most of you reading this how great it is.. but sometimes you have to state the obvious because the obvious is so frickin cool.

At any rate it starts pretty simply after that: Batman tails some crooks, goes into a shady warehouse, gets knocked out by .. something.. and wakes up fine in his bed, confused. Then we get the hook as Alfred.. .feels entirely off. He dosen't know what Bruce was up to last night, thinks Robin is some other woman he's seeing ont eh sid eof selina, and more importantly than that.. has no real response to Bruce possibly cheating. Given the guy's main functions are to doll out sass and fatherly advice, it's a nice subtle clue that something is .. off.

The slightly bigger one .. is that the iconic clock entrance to the batcave, the one that's in just about every version of the character… is just a clock. Bruce gets increasingly frustrated.. when the hammer really drops and it finally sinks in just what's going on: Bruce's Parents show up. Kevin's performance of bruce seeing them is also just… heartbreaking. Being Batman… he just.. can't accept their alive. This has to be a trick or a dream or SOMETHING. The other stuff was just off and could just be some sort of scheme, but his parents.. he knows them. They've haunted him, their the reason he became the bat, there's likely not a day he doesn't think of them.. and here they never got shot, bruce is just a happily engaged former playboy who hasn't accomplished much.. it's not the life he had.. but it's a happy one.

Naturally bruce isn't happy or settled, and it's a nice way to have him speak for the audience: the audience too is thrown off by this new reality. They also cleverly get the exposition out about who bruce is in this reality by simply having him ask alfred, knowing it's silly but having him humor him. It also shows that despite the new life.. Bruce is still Batman and Bruce is still a mask. Being thrust into a new reality dosen't change that it only makes him question what's the gimmick? What's the trap? It's what the audience is asking too. It's also likely asking who takes care of the Rogues in a world without Batman? And that's where we get a clever twist after Bruce sees Selina in this reality at the office… and someone comes in announcing batman is outside catching those crooks with his grappling hook.

Yeah turns out BATMAN is still around… and THAT is what convinces Bruce this might be real. And it makes sense: Alfred, Selina , his Parents they all feel off slightly, an idealized version of them without the things tha tmade them real: Alfred isn't looking after bruce like a surrogate father (because his biological one isn't full of holes) and Selina isn't simply a mask for catwoman. His detective alarms naturally grow off. But if he isn't batman, if none of the evidence he ver was batman is around..w as him being batman just a delusion that left him with batman's skills? Is this the real life and was that just fantasy?

It's made more concrete with Leslie Thompkins in this reality. For those not as familiar with her, this series helped boost her stature, she's a child psychologist and skilled physiscian who comforted bruce the night his parents died and one of the very few in most continuities who knows hes batman. So even if he's not here… he's still someone he'd trust and he's still friends with her. She explains it as imposter syndrome: Bruce isn't satisfied with his life and not having earned anything so he created an exciting new one a delusion. It works.. but it's clearly both because the argument is persausive… and because Bruce WANTS it to be real.

It's what makes the episode heartbreaking: Bruce finally gets a happy life: Batman exists…. but so does bruce. He's no longer a mask he can just.. be whoever he wants to be. He has to honor his parents legacy sure… but he no longer has to do so because their cold in the ground. He no longer has to protect the world or fight evil. Someone else is doing it. He can just be.. happy. He and Selina can have an uncomplciated realtionship. He can still do charites and such and get involved in the company again. He can enjoy his parents. He's free.. finally free. And the sheer joy in his voice is so.. kind. We've never seen bruce like this. We've seen him happy.. but we've never seen him content. Finally free to be who he wants to be.

And it makes it that much more heartbreaking, as deep down he and we likely know this isn't real.. and when he tries to read only to get gibbrish.. it' sconfirmed. The sheer heartbreak on his face followed by his breakdown.. it shatters you. Kevin's coarse delivery of "this isn't real' is not of Batman's usual "I figured it out but grufly" delivery.. but of a man realizing his first instinct was correct.. and being broken by it. None of this is real.. it's all a dream. It's also why Leslie's argument likely worked and WHY there's another batman: it's bruce's brain, and the machine he's in fighting him, creating something to challenge his own rightful doubts. He's his own worst enemy.. both because it created the fantasy.. and because he couldn't help but shatter it. In the end he's batman.. and Batman can't help but pull at the strings till the curtainc omes down

From here Bruce tries to find Batman, being half deranged snarling HE DID THIS TO ME, and buying a rope and hook. His behavior is unhinged.. but it's easy to see why: he was the man who had everything.. and now he's just batman again. And while being batman is cool on paper in practice it's being alone, your parents dead and being trapped in a never ending quest, a noble one.. but one that leaves you mostly alone. He has allies.. but he forever will be on this quest. Well until he retires but that's not really the point and still left him with nothing so nyeh.

The police try to bring him in as his parents are looking for him.. but he easily dodges them because Batman, and confronts Batman at the tower of a cemetery. The performance here is stunning: it's Kevin using the bruce voice.. but clearly being batman, while the dream batman is cruel, happily going along with the summation of how bruce figured it out. how is.. kinda stupid. It was a good idea in theory but because the writer got how the brain works wrong it's him saying since dreams are on the left and speech is on the right, you can't read in a dream.

Yeah it's the reverse and it's something even without the internet for research that any of the crew could've looked up.. but it dosne't hamper the episode> it's goofy yes.. but it's not th epoint. The poitn is ptiting bruce against batman, literally showing the reason he can't truly be happy. Bruce gets to lash out. And what's clever is he never says this outright, never says it. but you can feel it. The line earlier is the closest he gets "he did this to me". While on the surface it's him being mad at whoever did this, in practice.. he's mad that he's chained again. while he'll never turn his back on his quest it dosen't mean he LIKES it or isn't aware deep down how deeply unhappy he is, how ultiamtely alone he'll be. he has friends and allies sure.. but deep down this is what he has more than anything, more than a normal life. And it's all he'll ever have.

This story, based on Detective Comics #633 to my suprise though changing some things (i.e. robin is absent), keeps the core: Batman gets everything he could want.. but in the tend the trauma that shaped him into the night.. also means he can't accept it. A fantasy like this worked on superman in the classic for the man who has everything (later adapted after this episode for Justice League Unlimited and yes I will be getting to it someday), because Superman had a happy life. it was trading one life for another. Batman has a life he's proud of.. but one that's inherently rooted in a trauma he never quite adressed, one he instead shaped his life around. It's a vow,a burden, a crusade, a cause, but it's something that dosen't make him happy. This story gives him that.. but the ultimate fakeness of it means he can't truly enjoy it.. and the second he spots the thread.. it' sgone

The why is also brilliant: instead of a mutant making himself into bruce wayne not getting batman and bruce were the same person, long story, it's the Mad Hatter. Sure they coudl've done the original but this works better both for the story their telling with the concept, and just simply that it's someone the audience knows. It's someone they've seen before so it is something they might be able to figure out. IT's hard to sure, but it's something they could see coming.

Roddy McDowell doe sa terrific job as him too, and his reasoning is heartbreaking "You ruined my life. I'd be willing to give you any life you wanted as long as you stayed out of mine" (He's also a simularcrum of jervis, just so we can dance around the identity issue. He can't see the dream and has his copy taking care of it for him). Sure Jervis was a stalker and a pathetic person.. but he's ultimately a very ill man who just wanted to be happy and thought he was doing batman a favor, not realizing that instead… he hurt Bruce worse than almost any villian ever has or will. He gave him something he can never have.. and for that Bruce is furious. He also gets out of the dream despite their being no off switch by jumping off a building.. and the shock waking him. As you do… if you is batman. And if your forever the night… no matter how much you dream otherwise.

Perchance to Dream… is a masterpiece. Going back to it I was in awe of it's deft construction, pacing and timing. But mostly.. I was in awe of Kevin. I wanted to pick a good performance but the torment bruce goes through, his brief ray of happiness and playing off himself. It's all so good. A large reason why I chose this one.. is that it's Kevin's show. There are other actors in it but at the end of the day this is an episode not defined by batman and the cool villian playing off one another (This show was very villain centric and it was awesome), but simply Bruce tortured by being happy. It's a fitting showcase for a man who truly was the night.. and will truly be missed. Thanks for reading.

#kevin conroy #batman the animated series #batman #perchance to dream #bruce wayne #dcau #animation #dc comics #warner brothers

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squijim · 1 year

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I always think of this comment by you about if Wally did come back. And like, I always would have wanted Wally storming away from everyone else and just ending up where else but….keystone city, feeling like he’s hit rock bottom but willing to dig and just so happens to run into Hartley Rathway and Linda Park and that’s when you realize he’s always gonna have that five year gap from his old friends but that doesn’t mean…he can’t truly start over.

And Wally’s powers have always had a element of clap if you believe to them so I think a part of him needs to get away from others to come into his weird speedforce powers, maybe run into Max or something. Like he needs to fight Zoom behind a Dennies, and uncover like 10 cults in 2 months like Wally does in the comics.

Plus, like Jesus Christ in heaven all I want is for Wally and Linda (and Hartley) to be known as besties again

i just want wally and the flashfam to be taken more seriously by the young justice writers. literally every single family unit in yj has had its moments in the sun; this last season had a big emphasis on the supers and martians, the previous season with the arrows, s2 with the atlanteans... surprisingly the batfam has had little screentime but dick has always been a main character and i think the batfam's strong presence in pretty much every other dc property makes up for it.

but the flashes?? i'm racking my brain. there was "coldhearted" in s1 which featured mary and rudy eating breakfast with wally. they showed up again in the season when the adults were sent to a different dimension,, and they showed up when wally died. bart had one conversation with jay about being an outsider but that wasn't even one-on-one. the flashes appeared here and there in season 2 when bart was first introduced and then nothing really happened, nothing about the tornado twins or bart's past or anything...

the flashes are all about family but when has that ever been represented? every single episode or scene featuring them aside from the wally + wests moments has had some element of tension. bart and jay's convo, bart's interactions with barry, even wally's interactions with barry, but they're supposed to be like father and son!!

and then you add the fact that the characters are never in central, the only flash villain (aside from Grodd who never shows up) who's around is Captain Cold but he barely has any lines and is never solo. there's been no zoom, no rogues, no trickster or reverse flash or weather wizard. max mercury has never showed up. no mention of hartley or linda.

i love spitfire and i love them together and i love wally's friendships but i want the emphasis on /him/. his origins were briefly discussed in the denial episode and in a comics attachment but we never talk about wally's insecurities, or his backstory, or why he retired, or his idolization of barry— all of the things that have been historically key to understanding Wally West. I'm still upset that every other character got a good therapy session with Dinah after "Failsafe" but Wally. Why deny the audience a chance to learn more about the serious sides of him only to make a joke about him being in denial which we already know?

Ugh.

I agree with everything you said, Anon. I want Wally to figure out who he is away from the others on the team. What place does he have in the world now? How much catching up is there to do? Can he still get his degree, his dream career? How does Wally, whose pride is so easily hurt, come back from these blows?

#my first ask :')#i love it please keep sending in your thoughts on wally in young justice #yj writers hire me challenge #wally west #young justice

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