Alex-Blanc

I switch between fandoms a lot and one day I might be doing one fandom and 30 secs later it's all another thing for a week or month. Credit to @yourlocalavian for the header image.

[alex-blanc141]

𝙷𝚎𝚢, 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝙰𝚕𝚎𝚡-𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚌’𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚜! 𝙸’𝚖 𝚊 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚖-𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚛. 𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚝𝚎 𝙸’𝚖 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚎-𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚒𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚄𝚗𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚛 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝙻𝚎𝚊𝚐𝚞𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝙸’𝚟𝚎 𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚢—𝚘𝚘𝚙𝚜. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜, 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚜, 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎.

𝙰𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝙱𝚕𝚘𝚐

𝙵𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚖𝚜? 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛-𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 — 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚄𝚗𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝙻𝚎𝚊𝚐𝚞𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚍. 𝚅𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚜? 𝚄𝚗𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝙿𝚘𝚜𝚝𝚜? 𝙰 𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚞𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚖𝚜, 𝚜𝚞𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚗: 2 𝚊.𝚖. 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚐𝚘.

𝙰𝙾3

Dive into my stories and explore the worlds I build: Alex-Blanc Stories

𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕒𝕘𝕤

Writing: Alex’s-Stories Art: Blanc-Rare-Draws General: Random-Blanc

𝓜𝔂 𝓖𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓬𝓪𝓵 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼

Respect all visitors: No bullying or hate speech allowed

Keep it clean: NSFW content is off-limits here

Embrace diversity: Zero tolerance for homophobia, transphobia, or racism

Be thoughtful, be kind — let’s make this a welcoming space

[robs-your-robins]

How do you think the batfamily + the JL would react to the reveal if Shazam's true identiry being Billy Batson? I personally think some will start using Clark-isms even if they cursed in front of him before

So Ive done the Bats so the JLA having to watch their words around Billy is hilarious.

Clark, accidentally dropping his coffee: Gosh darn it.

Billy:

Clark: *slapping a hand over his mouth*

Hal: So we're back at her place and I'm down-

Billy: *eating his ice cream in the corner*

Dinah: Down where?

Hal, dropping his hands: I can't explain it without the right words.

Dinah: There's a puppet in the rec room.

Hal: No, Spooky said gestures were out too.

Constantine: Why isn't there any decent fucking tea in this building?

Diana: *glaring*

Constantine: What?

Billy: *not even listening*

Constantine: What?

Diana: Use better words.

Constantine:

Constantine: I guess I'm not welcome them.

[cloudycera]

Tell us John.

Text if my hand writing is killing yall

Billy: Pray tell my good John, how do you keep as the kids say, keep fumbling these bad bitches?

Zatanna: HA!

John: Who gave you that bloody cell William?

[ledesaid]

FAMILY ONLY◄☼►

—We are his parents! Can't you see the resemblance?

—John, lower your voice, it's a hospital... —Zatanna's sweet voice slightly calmed the sorcerer.

—Sorry... my "husband" gets a bit tense when it comes to our little Billy's health.

—Billy? —the nurse raised an eyebrow in confusion.

The doctor interrupted the nurse as he came out with a clipboard in his hands.

—Are you the boy's parents?

—Yes! —they both said at the same time.

You shouldn't judge parents by their appearance, but... The father, inherently to his disheveled appearance, smelled of something peculiar... like hell itself. The doctor held back his comments and focused on the child's medical history.

—Well, it's not serious. —both magical users sighed in relief— We'll do an MRI and I'll prescribe some medication to reduce the swelling. He was lucky. What was he doing?

—Jumping rope with the devil in frigging hell! —Constantine's nerve jumped.

Zatanna looked at him in surprise; she didn't expect to see him so agitated. She had already heard what happened, but John still seemed not to believe it.

—He fell while playing... with his uncle... in the park... —Zatanna tried to calm the blond while being the voice of reason.

—They don't get along very well... We love him a lot —she smiled a bit in panic.

"Please don't call social services... We're good parents," was the last thing Billy heard before losing the battle with exhaustion. His friends were great, but this time... he would have preferred to remain the runaway Billy Batson.

But that little lie warmed his heart.

[cloudycera]

[ledesaid]

Billy Constantine #2

└┴└┴└┴└┴└┴└┴└┴└┴└┴└┴└┴

What can be expected from both of them?

A lot.

But ending up in the waiting room of purgatory, that is truly a test of patience, and it's costing both of them.

John: He could have sent us to the front of the line...

Billy: We're not going to ruin someone's afterlife just because you're incapable of standing in line.

John: Lad, these souls have been here for hundreds of years! If we stay and wait, we'll present our cases instead of a complaint!

Billy: We're not going to do that!

John: At least stop whispering, no one cares about our business on this side of the beyond.

Jon lights a cigarette while Billy walks around a bit.

He doesn't expect to find a few souls he met while searching for his genetic donor.

Billy: Is that you, Adam?

Adam: Friend? What are you doing here? I thought you had a free pass because of all that soul business and the firstborn nonsense...

Billy: Free pass?

Adam: Little red, your name is on the priority window!

Billy: My name?

Adam: You're a celebrity, your name is next to that Constantine guy and a couple of famous ones...

Billy: Wow... thanks. I was really thinking of making that whole queue, I have urgent matters to attend to. But what happened to you? How did you end up here?

Adam: I finished off the killer of my friends and I think I crossed the line...

Billy: Is there anything I can do?

Adam: You're too good to be here, if you can, leave for me, okay? For some reason, you don't have chains like the rest of the condemned...

Billy: Do you want me to deliver a message to someone?

Adam: Forget it, but if you can make me a grave up there, I won't be angry... I like carnations and girly stuff... Right! Tell Mandy I hid dad's money under the garden tree, it will help her a lot!

Billy: Consider it done...

Billy said goodbye with a sad hug.

John: Why do you have that look, lad? Did these poor idiots scam you?

Billy: Shut up. I found a friend... he told me we can go to the priority window.

John: Is there one of those here?

Billy: I believe him.

John: Good, let's go find it.

He got up without a fight this time.

John: Don't forget, we'll file a complaint for the illegal expropriation of two living human souls without a valid contract.

Billy: I know, and I also remember not to sign any additional contracts, not to lose the coins for the ferryman, and not to talk to the older souls. I'm not a kid, you know?

John: You still don't shave, to me you're an annoying baby...

Billy: And to me, you're an annoying pimple.

John: Great, a preteen... Can this get any worse?

...: Jonny?

John : *inserts British insult*

-----

Part 1 | U are here

[colossrat]

A coven of very stereotypical witches? You know, eating little children to stay young and all. They are very feared by many magicians.

But Captain Marvel? What would he be afraid of? They love him!

One day, a great threat is there and JL is fighting, Cap has fallen into a trap and is now suffering too, but he uses one last drop of his energy to send out a call for help.

Suddenly, the environment changes. It becomes cold, deathly cold and silent.

The coven begins to appear, in the shadows, like monsters with dark expressions, their arms covered in dark magical markings.

Everyone stares, paralyzed in shock as the coven encases the thread and together, they release Marvel and make a circle to do a ritual, with their combined energy they manage to send the thread to pieces.

Later, Marvel explains that said coven that many people feared are very nice ladies who constantly make offerings to him in an ask to absorb some magical energy to stay young. And so they don't have to kill little kids anymore either

They see a scene where a very grumpy scary woman turns all smiles as she makes Marvel lower his head so she can pet him like a little kid

Witch 1: Wow, I'm glad we made it in time! It's good to see you, it's good to see you!!

Witch 2: We missed you so much, kid! Let me pinch those cheeks!!!

And then they watch as Marvel still bends over so the witch can pinch his cheeks

Marvel: Ladies, please… my friends are watching

Witch 1: Oh, don't be like that, we're just showing some love to our favorite demigod.

Witch 3: Were they the reason you've been so distant lately? You barely show up anymore.

Witch 2: Klarion is a little sad. You canceled your play date again…

Witch 1: We know he doesn't show it much, but he really appreciates it when you show up to share magical knowledge with him

Marvel: ah, i know. hey, how about we meet up later today to catch up? I just need to help with the clean-up--

Witch 3: I'm sure those heroes can handle it themselves, honey. --right?

And she gives the League a dirty, dirty look, who are watching in silence

Superman: Sur-- sure! Go ahead, Marvel, we'll take over from here, you've already done most of the work

Marvel: Ooh, sweet! Thank you, mister Superman! And League too! Bye, bye

And they left after heading straight for a dark corner, right behind the wall

The cold, deathly vibes went with them

Dr. Fate: Where are they talking about Klarion the witchboy…?

Zanatta: I don't know, I'm a little lost…

Wonder Woman with a big smile: I'm happy to see my little brother with such a lovely family! And so full of women. I knew that he, being so polite, must have come from a female environment

Superman: Is that what you pick up from the interaction?

Wonder Woman: Sure they look a little dangerous, but that just shows strength! I know Marvel wouldn't tolerate anything evil. Dangerous, sure, but not evil

Batman: Hmp. (I agreed)

Dr. Fate with his brain turning to goo: Klarion… is he a playmate with Klarion…?

John Constantine, who knows how much Billy is a big magnet for dangerous people and creatures: Don't think too much about it, mate, it only gets worse

[junipernauta]

Billy and Constantine

Billy became Captain Marvel as in canon, but when Constantine met him, he knew immediately that Billy's just some kid. Okay, not at the moment, because Con has had a really rough day and he was exhausted, but he knew it when Billy left.

I have written about it in this short anyway

After that, Con didn't let Billy live alone on the streets, so Billy started to sleep at the House of Mistery. Billy was then 10-12, and nowadays he's 16, so he had got to know Constantine very well.

I really like them together, Con and billy is a fantastic team, and i love their relationship too.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention: Constantine doesn't like Shazam (the wizard). I mean. really. doesn't like. Because thats a horrible idea to choose a homeless 10-year-old child to be your champion and deal with humanitys mess.

[puppetwoman17]

Imagine if the JL ever need to get passage into Hell, whether it’s to get something or pass through to get somewhere else. They call in Constantine and he’s got a bunch of backwater ways and tunnels and all around illegal ways to access Hell.

Billy just laughs and tells them that he knows a perfectly legal, easy way to get in that won’t leave them in debt. Everyone’s not sure, but they tell him to give it a go.

So Billy takes out his phone and goes to a certain number.

And Constantine hears the voice on the other side and nearly faints because WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK THAT IS SATANUS.

The JL ask if he’s okay and he vehemently says no and explains how he just heard one of the lords of hell himself on the other line. Everyone is confused at this point because it sounds like he’s talking to an old friend.

That’s when Clark uses his hearing and by Rao he’s right! There’s a deep voice on the other end that he recognizes. Lord Satanus himself is talking to Billy about setting up another luncheon for next month with him, Mary, and Freddy. And Billy at his end looks totally unnerved by this.

Once the call ends, Billy says they’re ready to go and to wait ten minutes.

Literally everyone has questions. Billy just rolls his eyes and says “oh nothing, it’s just my uncle.”

See, now everyone has even MORE questions.

[cigamfossertsim]

billy: im sorry, but shouldnt british websites use biscuits?

john: why do you keep asking me?

[colossrat]

Billy doesn't like using magic like Cap, it's so unfair!

But one day JL is all fucked up, Cap says "oh shuckles ig I have to" and then he turns the entire military alien attack into butterflies. They all freeze to death in space. The ones that were safe in space shit or on Earth, well, they're just butterflies now

GL: Could you do this ALL THE TIME?!

Marvel, crying like a baby, lips quivering and everything: Well, yeah. But I really don't like using my magic!

Batman: Why, Marvel? Does using magic make you feel pain? Are you okay?

Marvel: Kind of? It's just so unfair… I don't like using it on anyone because I feel like I'm abusing my powers.

They've been made of bitches for weeks by these aliens…

Marvel: The fact that I just wiped out an entire species doesn't help either. I feel a little bad.

Superman: You did what?

GL: You did WHAT?!

Marvel: I used a spell that sees their soul intentions first! Only the ones who were attacking us, plus theyr plan B, the government, extra reinforcements, and those with bad intentions towards Earth are now butterflies… well, I guess I don't have anything to really feel bad about? Only the bad ones were benched

Flash: BENCHED?! YOU NEUTRALIZE 80% OF A SPECIES

Marvel: WHAT? NO. They're just butterflies now! And more like 98% because they were veeeery antisocial and hated everyone who wasn't their kind. The butterfly is a joke! You know? Social Butterfly.

Flash: What about the ones in space? They turned into popsicles! And they died!!!

Marvel: It wasn't my fault. I just changed their anatomy. The fact that they were in an environment that their new anatomy couldn't survive in is not my fault.

Batman: I'm going to take your report personally, Marvel… I need more clarification on your actions.

Marvel: Oh, ssssugar… can I at least eat some food and sleep first? I release a lot of magic, I need to take it slow. See?

He shows his hands that are shiny golden electric magic

Marvel: I need to rest or I might accidentally do some tricks without meaning to.

Zatanna over the comm: WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT MAGIC EXPLOSION OVER THERE? I CAN FEEL IT FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLANET. WAS IT DIANA? IT WAS DIVINE MAGIC-- CHRISTIAN JESUS, ARE WE FUCKED?!

Constantine, mumbling in the background of Zatanna's call: Damn, I should have taught him how to do a paralyzing spell before the transmutation… but he certainly deserves some gold stars, those butterflies are cute.

[shrugsinchinese]

Captain Marvel collecting all the pieces of Constantine's soul not to be nice but because he's still pissed about that time Constantine stole the Living Lightning

John Constantine: Wait, you gathered all the fragments of my soul? How?

Captain Marvel (inspecting his nails) : Oh, you know, the wardens of hell have monthly poker nights. Been going I've aver since they invited me.

JC: And you what, just won all the fragments?

CM: What, like it's hard? I occasionally lost a few shards but I eventually won it all back. Besides, one of them was actually a gift for an unrelated favor.

JC: ..well then.

CM: Well, what?

JC (withering glare): Well, what's it gonna take for you to give me the shards?

CM (cheerfully unwithered): I dunno... they seem much safer with me, to be honest. Considering that, you know, you were the on that lost them in the first place.

JC: Don't be a fucking wanker, it's my soul, I can decide what / want to do with it— (realization sets in)

CM (eyebrow raise, shit eating grin): Oh? Doesn't feel great, does it, when an integral part of your being is in the hands of someone else? And that someone else decides that they can wield your soul better than you—

JC: Alright, alright, I get it. You can stop being a bloody knob about it.

CM: Pot, meet kettle.

(Does Billy return the pieces of Constantine’s soul? Idk it’s up to you)

[killer-pancake]

I don't know if someone said this already, but John Constantine needs to take care of a child. I need to see this man giving mother. Like, let him be forced to adopt Billy Batson bcs occult plot things. Make Batman leave him in charge of Damian bcs of a curse or something. Has someone made this a fic yet?

[toobytoobs]

I need a fic where all the magic users know that the Champion of Magic is a child so they just start unintentionally co-parenting Billy.

Like, John Constantine will take him on outings to hell. Billy will run off and come back with a piece of Constantine’s soul that had been gambled away and Billy will refuse to explain how he got it.

Dr. Fate (against his better judgment) sets up a playdate between Billy and Klarion the Witch Boy where they are just running around causing chaos (nothing harmful thanks to Billy)

Zatanna lets Billy come to her shows where he’s putting every other audience member to shame with how loud he claps and cheers whenever Zatanna does a trick.

Give me a scenario where magic users are regularly teleporting into the watchtower just to give Captain Marvel a packed lunch, and telling him off —in front of the JL— for forgetting it.

[puppetwoman17]

Cap: Hey, so I know I’ve just been part of your team for a couple days, but I’d appreciate if you didn’t come to Fawcett unannounced.

Oliver: What? Is Fawcett another Gotham? Do you need us to steer clear of any plant ladies or fear gases?

Cap: *remembering that literal Hell is living under Fawcett, he hasn’t found all the suspendium device pieces after he broke it, and there are several magical creatures who take territory splits very seriously* Um… not exactly.

Oliver: Uh, then what’s the prob-

Constantine: *Grabs his collar* Don’t.

Oliver: Jesus, John! What’s got you so—

Constantine: Don’t. Ask. Just trust me. Do. Not. Go to Fawcett without Cap’s permission. Ever.

Cap: *didn’t know John tried to get in until now, shaking his head* Wow. I’m really disappointed in you.

Constantine: 😱

[bruce-wayne-enjoyer]

Batlantern is great because it's the only Batman ship where Bruce's partner can like his kids while also not taking any of their shit

Hal is a military man before he was a Green Lantern, and being both made him inject loyalty and devotion into his veins. He is a "wife > kids" sort of man and he won't hear your damn argument about it being otherwise. That extends to the kids.

Damian giving Bruce any lip, especially on an already bad day for Bruce? Well guess who is suddenly in a Lantern Construct of an Air Baby Jail. Is it humiliating, yes? Is it in a shape of a crib? Yes. Act like a child, get treated like one.

Tim deviating from Bruce's orders while in the field, and Hal hears it because his sweet boyfriend/husband/partner keeps a patrol radio by their bedside so Hal doesn't go restless with worry. Hal doesn't care if it's 2 AM and he's space lagged as fuck. He's hauling ass and hunting the boy down because "Your father said to stay in position and if I have to make you, I can and I will"

Dick makes a faux pas against Bruce after an argument that Bruce tried to shut down but he stubbornly made it go to far. Well, next day, none of Dick's manor keys work. Matter of fact, he has to re-log-in to every platform on the Bat Network because Hal has essentially used his ring to hack said network to push Dick out. The password to re-log-in? Dick has to type, word for word, a hundred times, the most notable mean thing he told Bruce during that argument.

Hal is taking none of their shit.

Bruce is pathetically spineless when it comes to his kids and when Hal first learned about it, he figured that explains a lot.

So when Hal and Bruce get serious enough that Hal is basically just as much of a facet in the family life? Total overhaul. Hal doesn't care if Bruce is right or wrong, they're going to respect Bruce for his patience or Hal will lose it on his behalf.

And if you ask the kids?

They are... surprisingly fine with it.

They're annoyed, definitely, but they will also begrudgingly admit that it is to their relief that someone good is here to have Bruce's side no matter what.

Bruce is either blissfully ignorant, or he's only allowing this if Hal promises not to hit the kids... which was a conversation on its own.

Hal, scoffing: I don't hit kids, Spooky. Least of all ours.

Bruce: No, but you made Jason do a wall squat for 30 minutes.

Hal: He called you a neurotic psychopath.

Bruce: He was reading my actual medical diagnosis.

Hal: Well I don't care 😠 only I get to call you a neurotic psychopath, actually

Hal: He had a tone and you know it. No son of mine gives his damn father any fucking lip, not if I have to anything to say about it.

Jason, from across the hall: Fuck you too, Mum.

Hal: Quiet ☝️ or I'm turning you into an orphan again

Somwhow it also meant that Hal is having a stare down with Alfred if he so much as breathed wrong in Bruce's direction.

[cakypa120]

Klarion: I feel bad.

Billy: Why?

Klarion: You're too good for me.

Billy: And I love you. Just the way you are.

Klarion:*blushes* Don't say such embarrassing things.

Billy: Ooh~*kisses Klarion on the cheek*

Klarion:*literally steaming from his ears*

John: Right in front of my salad?!?

Zatanna:*grimaces at the sweetness of the moment*

Doctor Fate:*whispers*For balance, for balance, for balance...