#ifitoldyou

[primeemeraldheiress]

So I am re-reading If I Told You, as one does to stay sane in the Pandemic, and I have a small question.

During the part where Duck is giving Jay updated tech and things, he gives him a pendant on a plum colored cord. Apologies if I am completely missing this, but what is the significance of that pendant? Is it a Romani courting custom or an Omega custom or even a Legaue custom that I completely skipped over? *sits down to wait patiently in her Dunce hat*

Hey! I actually answered this ages and ages ago so I’m just going to link that post here. I had originally planned to do more with that and to showcase more of Jason’s personal growth in the fic. However, it didn’t want to be written that way so it kinda fell by the wayside. 

There’s absolutely nothing to feel silly about. Looking back now, I should have either removed that or elaborated in that moment within the fic itself when it became clear that the story was going to focus on different things than I originally thought. There’s nothing in the fic that explains. 

It is something that, if I ever get around to it, I would like to elaborate on in the companion fic. 

💖🌹

[primeemeraldheiress]

I've been wondering since I first read it, and I hope you don't mind questions about your existing fics, but in "If I Told You," do Bruce and Jason have pups?

I love questions about all my fics. 

All of them.

Please send me questions!

They’ll have a couple of pups eventually. Bruce and Jason joke about it but Jason’s on meds and they don’t actually think it’s a great time to have more. (And Bruce has so many already.) But… well, Jason’s young and Lazarus messed with his biology enough that suppressants and birth control aren’t as effective so it’s definitely going to happen whether they plan on it or not. 

Once Damian’s over the fact that he won’t be the baby of the family anymore, he’s going to be ecstatic that he gets a baby sibling to spoil. 

It comes on the tail end of a bad mission/big upheaval in Gotham.

Jason’s pissed terrified at first. Bruce is anxious. For all the kids he has, he’s never had a baby. What the hell is he supposed to do with a baby? 

Jay’s mood swings are awful but no one can even tell he’s having them because he falls back on his old habits of bottling his emotions from when he was on the streets and it wasn’t safe to show them. He hides his scent constantly to mask how he’s feeling and his insecurities. It’s months before Bruce manages to reassure himself and Jason and Jason is able to work through enough of his fear to return to more normal and healthy emotional patterns.

His second pregnancy a few years later goes much better. With the birth of their daughter and the steadiness of their bond and the pack, Jason’s much better off already. He’s had plenty of time to settle and it’s obvious that he’s more confident in his alpha. Bruce is better able to handle everything, as well, and that makes it all run a lot smoother.

(They also probably adopt at least one more. Jason finds a pup in the Alley. Abandoned or orphaned. Trying to survive. And is just like MINE. Bruce has no room to say anything.)

[primeemeraldheiress]

Hi!! I'm rereading If I Told You (it's *amazing*!!!!) and I'm curious about the meaning of the pendant and the plum cord that Dick gives Jason

Hey anon! This is something that meant to expand on in the fic but never found a good place for.

This is the pendant that Dick gives Jason.

“This pewter pendant necklace is a testament to perseverance and personal fortitude. The inscription, “No mud no lotus,” is taken directly from the teachings of revered Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, whose own calligraphy serves as the blueprint for this unique line of necklaces.” (It can be bought HERE if anyone wants it.)

Jason’s working on himself and that involves his own spirituality and a, though somewhat loosely interpreted, form of Buddism. He’s a bit of a picker and a chooser when it comes to what he believes. 

Jason’s surprised that Dick noticed and that he noticed well enough to choose such a poignant gift.

Thanks for such a great ask, anon! I love explaining these little things!

[primeemeraldheiress]

I was asked a question about If I Told You:

I was asked a question about If I Told You privately but I thought it was a good one so I should address it publicly for those that might be wondering. 

“It’s a League word.” Jason said as he joined them. “It means, roughly, ‘lead omega that is not mated to pack alpha’.” Jason unlatched his helmet and set it on a crate. “He’s calling for his big sister.” 

I was asked why Jason says “sister” when he’s obviously the omega in question.

There are actually a few reasons for this. Most are language-related. In this world, the omega and omega related words are going to typically be translated as female-gendered automatically. In languages where words have their own genders, they’re going to be female-gendered words themselves. Additionally, in some countries, not many but a few, omegas would always be referred to as she/sister/mother/her and alphas as he/brother/father/him regardless of actual preferred gender. 

At this point, Jason is also looking to hide his designation so he would totally say sister to throw off any potential suspicion.

Finally, the word I altered to get “ukhai” was actually the Arabic word for “sister.” 

I’m a nerd. I like languages and playing with them. 

[primeemeraldheiress]

If I Told You

Relationships: Jason Todd/Bruce Wayne, Jason Todd & Damian Wayne, Batfamily Members & Jason Todd

Characters: Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Damian Wayne, Tim Drake, Dick Grayson, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Alfred Pennyworth, Roy Harper, Lian Harper, Jim Gordon

Additional Tags:, Omega Jason Todd, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha Bruce Wayne, Protective Bruce Wayne, Courting, Mating Rituals, Unreliable Narrator, Courtship, Reveal, Pack Dynamics, Scenting, Bonding, Language

“Ukhai!” Came a wail from the top of a stacked pile of crates. The pup’s voice was filled with fear and exhaustion.

“We don’t even know what he’s saying.” Nightwing whispered furiously. “He’s snapping at anyone that comes near and he won’t come down. I don’t know what to do.”

“It’s a League word.” Jason said as he joined them. “It means, roughly, ‘lead omega that is not mated to pack alpha’.”

“But we don’t have a pack omega.” Tim groaned. Jason snorted softly.

[primeemeraldheiress]

"If I Told You" and #2, please.

The very first scene in If I Told You I wrote was the scene in the warehouse that we open on. It was a rough scratch. I think I went back and edited it, fleshing it out probably six or seven times. It was the most heavily edited scene in the fic. The second scene I wrote was the end scene/claiming scene. 😏 Because gods know I can’t write a fic in fucking order. 😂

[primeemeraldheiress]

40 questions meme 3, 17, 23

Is there a trope you wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole?

Hey hon. I actually answered that to the best of my ability in Scan’s ask here. 

Do you write your story from start to finish, or do you write the scenes out of order?

Almost always out of order. There’s usually a scene toward the end of a story that comes to me first that I have to get out before I can do anything else. I start there and backtrack. In the case of some fics, the longer ones like If I Told You, Carry Me Home, and Your Name in My Teeth, there were actually several scenes I wrote out of order and had to weave together as I go. Sometimes it requires a bit of rewriting and editing, though the most I’ve had to rewrite a scene was the final scene in Teeth. It was the second scene I wrote and the whole fic took on a darker tone as the story went, leading to some tonal changes in the final product that had to be accounted for. 

If you were to revise one of your older fics from start to finish, which would it be and why?

I have two answers to this. One, since I started writing Batfam and one just in reference to what I have posted on AO3

There Beneath, hands down. I wrote it for the Batfam Christmas Stocking last year. I wound up being rushed because I didn’t have tons of ideas for it and my hands were a little tied because I wasn’t sure what counted on the giftee’s DON’Ts for what so I feel like important emotional impact got left out. I’d like to redo it sometime. It deserves a second look.

Shadows Hide is a Dragon Age II WIP that I started in my freshman year of college I’d like to go back and finish sometime. I wrote it in a fever pitch when I was very sick over my Christmas break. I know where I was going with it and what I wanted to do with it but I kind of lost interest/time. 

[primeemeraldheiress]

More Sneak Peeks!

AA fills for SladeRobin week (5 completed so far!)

“What do you mean he’s disappeared?” A feral snarl tore itself from her throat.

“Hood…” The voice on the line soothed, “Calm down. Slade’s the best. He knows what he’s doing.”

“He was investigating a meta trafficking ring.” Her voice all growl. “Don’t tell me to calm down!” She moved across the room and snagged an earpiece, quickly connecting it, before pulling a bag out of the closet. “Tell me everything.”

----

The guards to the side of him fell, quickly followed by all others in clear line of sight. Half by him, half by Jay. Oh, he’d missed watching her work. Those headshots had been glorious. Across the room, the rest of the guards fell - to red fletched arrows and assassin blades. 

-------

He paused before... "Come with me." 

"What?" She whipped around to stare at him. Macbeth forgotten as it fell from her hands.

"Come with me." He repeated, gaze intent. “Work with me for awhile.”

----

“Did he hurt you?” Clark growled, alpha protectiveness rearing its head.

“Of course not!” Jay exclaimed, coming to a realization. “Uncle Clark, would you mind putting my mate down, please?”

“Your-” The hero choked, “Your what?!”

-----------------

Non-AA Sneak Peek - If I Told You - NOW ON AO3

“Ukhai!” Came a wail from the top of a stacked pile of crates. The pup’s voice was filled with fear and exhaustion. Jason nodded to Batgirl as he walked by her and strode towards the group of men next to the crates.

All three wore their concern differently. Nightwing the most openly. Red Robin just looked annoyed but Jason could scent the worry underneath. Bruce just looked impassive as always but it was the “I’m-blanking-to-not-show-my-fear” impassive.

“We don’t even know what he’s saying.” Nightwing whispered furiously. “He’s snapping at anyone that comes near and he won’t come down. I don’t know what to do.”

“It’s a League word.” Jason said as he joined them. “It means, roughly, ‘lead omega that is not mated to pack alpha.” Jason unlatched his helmet and set it on a crate. “He’s calling for his big sister.” Jason clarified at their slightly baffled faces. Shouldn’t Bruce know this? Didn’t he train with the League? Maybe pack dynamics weren’t a part of what they taught.

“But we don’t have a pack omega.” Tim groaned. Jason snorted softly. “And he’s never mentioned one before.”

“Ukhai!” The mournful cry came again and the scent of distressed pup flooded his senses.  

Jason winced and dug his nails into his palm.

_________________

Really, Tim. Do you not have a pack omega?