Here is a reminder, in case you needed it (as I did yesterday) that you can BREAK YOUR STREAKS
you can just stop
there is no moral value or judgement in having a streak or not
companies are banking on your streak count keeping you coming to their app and being a committed user - this benefits them and their advertisers and not you
instead you can make active choices today or any day you want to do things that bring you joy or are helpful
a habit is still a habit if you manage it even like 75% of the time (or 50% of the time or whatever it is, maybe your habit doesn't actually need to be one that requires you to do it every day)
This brought to you by me trying to reduce my phone screen time to stuff I actually want to be doing and not just cycling through the same apps every day, and the surprising revelation that keeping up a streak might not be good for me, actually.
the funniest thing about those 'movie!Rocky is a nudist' jokes isn't that he has to tell Grace he's been naked the whole time.
the funniest thing is the video logs Grace sent back to Earth. he nakey.
which means there's an entire planet that doesn't know Eridians wear clothes at all because their only exposure to this species is a nudist.
Humans and Eridians meet again one day, and all the Eridians are wearing clothes, and sweaters, and accessories like normal people and the humans have a brief huddle about this before one of them walks up to Rocky (probably much older now) and says, "so, uh. those video logs. you, um, you wear clothes?"
And Rocky swears on his life he can hear Grace laughing at him from the afterlife because they've both just realized that Rocky flashed an entire planet.
Bruce was willing to admit without hesitation. He'd bee raised around beauty. Knew models and stars and princesses. Somehow, Zeit managed to out-pace all of them. Beyond physical appearance to elegance and grace that even Talia couldn't have matched. It would infuriate her, he knew. He was keenly aware that something was strange out this figure. Too much time as Batman and with the League to think Zeit was a regular human.
"Any restrictions I should know about?" He'd texted the maitre'd to get his table ready. Surprising them with a gluten allergy would be a step too far.
"None."
"Great!" He slipped the phone away. "At two for two. So, care for a lift?" Alfred rolled up to rising steps of the academy. He was holding the passenger door of the town car open.
Zeit paused on the steps of the academy, expression going blank just long enough for Bruce to notice. "Yes."
"Great! Alfred, Cafe de' Paris. I've got a reservation for two."
"Very good, sir."
In the dim light of the car, Zeit almost glowed. if it was intentional or simply Bruce's delusion; they were beautiful. Asking them out had been a whim and a half. He hadn't been this reckless with a date in a while. Especially after Damian. "Danny seems pretty skilled at martial arts. You must be proud."
Zeit smiled, patient and pleased. "Yes. He has learned well and will continue to do so. Having a sparring partner who suits him so well is...rare."
Alfred, who knew why Bruce had gone to the academy, glanced back.
"Damian outclassed his age group. Some clubs won't let him participate with the older students."
"They will be great companions." Zeit assured him.
"You don't think this will cause a blood feud?" He sincerely hoped not. The boys had been left on nearly decent terms. Damian, at least, knew not to push his luck.
"Nothing so drastic."
"Then I have high hopes for their friendship." Damian needed a new friend. He needed friends in general.. People to talk to beyond vigilantes and heroes. "If Danny is a boarding student; then maybe we can set up a play date."
"The boys should make such an arrangement."
"Rebelling for the sake of rebelling?" He raised an eyebrow when Zeit nodded. "All of my children. It was a steep learning curve."
"It is."
Talking about parenting was a taboo while at parties and events. People would listen for gossip, not to give advice. God, he had taken so many parenting classes for the fostering license. He'd read so many books, and articles, and interviewed the Kent parents. "Do you ever feel like you're not making a mistake?" Bruce hadn't meant to ask that; but Zeit tilted his head.
"No. Very few things are more difficult."
"You'd think that with all of my kids I would have learned most of the tricks. It's different every time."
"Yes."
When they arrived, he managed to keep his irritation from the obvious stares from the other guests and gossips clear. Zeit observed the decor. Tasteful, elegant, without the drab touch of modernity. It was one of the few times Bruce utilized his position. Telling the manager and owner with a heavy-handed firmness that they didn't need to update much of the decor or change the aesthetics. They hadn't, and he'd kept bringing dates and business lunches.
"Lovely. A moment in time, well-captured."
"I like the classic styles. If we wanted everything to be white and bland then we'd be Metropolis." For some reason, Zeit seemed to think it was deeply amusing. They had ordered appetizers and drinks. Zeit's charms drawing more attention the longer they sat there. Unwilling to let them notice, Bruce continued. "Why Gotham? For Danny, I mean." It took everything not to shiver as the jade eyes focused on his face, nose, chin, and then hands. It had been a long time since he'd really blushed.
"Opportunities. Probabilities."
"Gotham isn't a normal city."
"Danny is not a normal child. A sapling, having outgrown it's pot, must have the resources to become...great."
"Huh. I...it is every parents dream their child surpasses them, I guess." He knew countless people who did not believe that. They hammered their children down so they would always be over them. Liking Zeit was well-and good, but he'd avoided people with children for a reason.
"Indeed. Most of my children already have."
"Most?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Some will need more time." The beauteous creature admitted.
Bruce was a man of controlled impulses, or so he liked to think. He knew most of his vices. Had them announced often and regularly by his children and partners. He'd traveled the world. Gone to space. Engaged in spy craft and warfare and plotted for every possibility to quell the constant anxiety thrumming behind his eyes. He could weigh which one would get him in trouble and which would get him out of it. Letting himself be tipped back onto the mattress was a toss up. He wasn't sure if this was one of those ideas which would trigger a catastrophic outcome. If it did; he hoped he would enjoy it to it's fullest.
He'd been divested of his shirt by that point. And propped himself up on his elbows to watch Zeit carefully undo the obsidian buttons of his shirt. Miniature sundials had been painted in gold. A striking contrast to the white cream. "Where do you get those buttons?" Bruce asked, despite the intending-to-be-compromised position.
"A craftsman and an artist." Yes. Zeit did have sharp teeth. The imprint of which were already bruising against Bruce's neck.
"Oh." Zeit, Clockface earrings. Sundial buttons, and now the impressive tattoo of the inner gears of a grandfather clock over the right of their torso, shoulder, and arm. Impressive work, parts of which seemed to shimmer in mother-of-pearl. Bruce trace his hands up the others arm, outlining one of the gears before glancing up. "Beautiful." It wasn't his imagination. Zeit was blushing. More than a little pleased; Bruce tugged them down.
#$#$#$
Danny stared at the phone in front of him as the call tried to connect. He'd given it two tries. A third and he could call it quits. Unfortunately, it was picked up at once.
"DANNY! How are you? How's school? Maddie! DANNO IS ON THE PHONE!"
"Danny!" his mother's voice joined in the cacophony. "I have bad news for you. Technus beat all of your high scores in Mario Kart."
"MOM! Why'd you let him do that!" He sat up straight. "Come on!"
"I forbade him from your Doomed scores. He seems to enjoy racing games more. Anyhow, how is school?"
"Oh, fine. Uh. I got into a fight today." There was a brief silence.
"Did you win?" Maddie asked.
"Maddie!"
"It was a draw." he admitted.
"Oh, that's impressive. Pandora said you're doing very well. They must be very skilled."
"TAKE 'EM DOWN DANNY-BOY!" Machinery whirred in the background.
"It's fine. Anyway, the school called Clocky." Again, concentrated silence on the other end.
"How...did that go?" His mother, correctly, sounded cautious. When Clockwork had shown up at the high school, it had been chaos. Lancer had hardly been able to focus. His brain only seeming to remember bits of sonnets and love poems. The day before Danny had left, Dash had announced that he was bi and would beat up anyone who made fun of him. Star had nearly strangled Danny for hiding, "such a hot relative!" Tucker, Sam, and Danny had spent the whole time cringing as classmates discussed Clockwork.
"Well, Damian, he's the kid I fought, his dad asked Clocky out in front of everyone. They went on a date, I think."
"Oh...that's not so bad. I hope they have a good time."
"Mom! That's not what you're supposed to say!" He protested.
"Clockwork is older than the sun, dearie. I think they know what to do if someone gets fresh on a date."
"Especially if that's what the old ticker wants!" Jack exclaimed, voice muffled by distance. Shrieking, Danny buried his head into the pillow. When he emerged, his parents were laughing.
"I'm pretty sure Damian and his siblings are going to kill me."
"Damian has siblings? That's nice. You could make friends. Friends in Gotham. I know you have Sam and Tucker, but they're still in Amity Park. You should try to make friends where you are."
Danny sighed, rolling onto his back. He'd put glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling. His favorite constellations and a few he'd made. "Yeah. Just because his dad asked Clocky on a date doesn't mean we're going to be friends."
#$#$#$
Tim blinked to find Damian waiting in the front of the school. The Demon-Brat had a large bruise, and was scowling in the direction of the boarding rooms. "Didn't you get sent home for fighting? Who managed to hit you?"
"Apparently one of his P.E. classmates," Duke joined them.
"...one of the civilian classmates?" Tim whispered.
"He is a fine warrior with excellent training! He was a proven adversary. Father has given me permission to spar with him in the future. He did not leave a way to contact him. Timothy, I will need your assistance."
"Hold up, demon child. Is this a civilian?"
Damian scoffed. "He pretends to be. He is not."
"What's his name?" Tim sighed. He could get the brat a friend, maybe it would help cool him down."
"Daniel Fenton. He prefers to be called Danny." Damian turned on his heel, making toward the towncar which pulled to the front of the school.
"Did he just?"
"Yeah." Duke breathed. "I think Damian just made a friend?"
"Of course he wants to be friends with someone who gave him a bruise. Why can't Bruce's kids be normal?" Tim ignored Duke's heavy stare and went to join Damian.
