#tom drake

[likeafantasy]

♯ 25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS .ᐟ ⌁ (15/25) ↠ Meet Me in St. Louis (1945) dir. vincente minnelli

[brucewhumppage]

Just some angsty Batfam thoughts (in combination w/ SuperBat)

After coming together with Clark, Bruce starts spending more time with Kon and Jon as they are his new step-children and also well-known friends of his children.

It's so subtle at the beginning, that the batkids don't even realize how much time Bruce spends with the Kent children, until Kon and Jon constantly talk about their super cool step-dad (or for short/familiarity "B").

It starts with little praises like "oh, your dad is so cool" and turns more and more to "look what B and I did together!"

The batkids just roll their eyes, thinking that soon, they'll also begin to feel overwhelmed by Bruce's constant presence, but as the weeks and months go on, they feel jealousy.

Because what do you mean, Bruce cooked for you? The others told me he can't cook, he never cooked for me but for you he will?

What do you mean, Bruce helped you design and sew a new patch to your jacket? He never helped me explore my own style?

But it's not as if Bruce never wanted that for his own children, more so did his own children refused him the right to do normal parent stuff for them. So with two children who want him, search him out, just asking him to do something enjoyable together with them? A dream come true.

And so the kids start to try and bad mouth Bruce to cope with their jealousy, cause Bruce never did that for them even though they wished for him to do these things w them.

But Kon and Jon take none of that, cause that's their B, their super cool Uncle turned step-dad. They start saying to their long term friends, their best friends, and their siblings, that if they hate Bruce soo much than they won't share him anymore with the batkids.

Things blow so out of proportions that in a near physical battle, Bruce steps in together with Clark, demanding an explanation. The accusations come from all sides, nobody is left without some kind of blame. Bruce and Clark decide to take their respective children and talk separately from one another, trying later on to come together again for a solution.

As soon as the Batclan is free from outside influences, the kids start laying in on Bruce, how he plays favorites, that he never done these things with them, why he now of all times, decides to be the dad they always wanted.

And Bruce, being completely confused, explains to the kids that everytime he tried to be that for them, they've rejected him. They all have told him numerous times, that he wasn't their dad, he was too much, etc.

And that he thought he could never have that with them either.

Cue to batkids being like... "Oh yeah, I think I remember saying things like that..."

Aaaannd after that I'm drawing a blank.

Continuations are very welcome, as well as a more detailed take of that.

[maverick-werewolf]

On Werewolves and My Work

Things have been quiet lately, but I've been hard at work. I'd like to take a moment to direct your attention to a page on my site that seems to be oft-overlooked - this isn't the first time I've pointed it out, and I doubt it will be the last, but I find it important nonetheless.

I especially want to highlight this with the upcoming publication of my next nonfiction work: a collection of werewolf folklore stories/primary sources, with added historical context.

My protagonist, Tom Drake, from Wulfgard, in werewolf form. Artwork by Justin RR "Saber-Scorpion" Stebbins (my brother).

Werewolves are my greatest passion. I cannot put into words how fully the werewolf curse captivates my mind and imagination, as it has for so much of mankind for countless ages. There are endless elements to explore and stories to tell with werewolves and so many annals of folklore, myth, and history to discuss relating to the idea. That is why I have all but dedicated my life to the concept of the werewolf.

Werewolf illustration from a 1941 issue of Weird Tales.

Why I Love Werewolves

Let me take you to a lonely night in the fens, or on a quiet city street...

The air hangs thick with fog. A distant howl, wolfish yet wrong, drifts over the graveyards and haunted forests that are cast deep blue in the full moon's baleful glow. You know that cry is the voice of a cursed monster that is also, conversely, an innocent soul: haunted, powerless, enduring the untold agony of the transformation - and now, above all else, indescribably dangerous. It is a man cursed, lost in rage with which no one could contend, and always starving for flesh...

It is a werewolf.

The werewolf curse is one of the deepest tales of tragedy. The werewolf is a being of duality, of halves, never to be truly whole. Neither man nor beast, they must wander, alone, lost, at odds with themselves, in sorrow, fury, and eternal hunger. How does one reconcile committing atrocities in a beast's skin? How can any good person continue as such a monster?

It gives me chills just to think about. I've never seen a concept more haunting, fascinating, and horrifying than that of the werewolf, and I know I never will. You cannot best the oldest of legends and such a core terror that haunts all humanity: the idea that even the most civilized a man could become the most terrible of beasts.

This is why werewolves have haunted the human psyche since the dawn of time - and they always will.

Obviously, there are many takes on werewolves, especially these days, and not all folklore told such tales, but I'm speaking in terms of why werewolves captivate me personally. To me, it all comes back to The Wolf Man (1941), as inspired by legends and turned into a tale of tragedy that touches the hearts of all who hear it. You cannot help but relate to such a character and feel sorry for him, but you must wonder... what would you do in such a situation? What would you do, as a werewolf - or as a werewolf's loved one? What would you do, if someone you cared about turned into a monster? And what would you do when that monster came to your door - either asking for help... or to take your life, against the will of the man who bears the curse?

That is untold narrative power.

And that is why I love werewolves.

If you've read this far, I humbly ask you to take a look at my fiction in particular, namely my series Wulfgard: The Prophecy of the Six, starting with its first installment, Knightfall. It's a bit like Lord of the Rings meets The Wolf Man. If you love traditional fantasy, adventure, horror, werewolves, knights, mystery, strong characters, even pitched battles, and so much more, this book has it all. I promise you won't be disappointed. Of everything I ever do and create, The Prophecy of the Six means the most to me, and I would be honored if you read it.

P.S.: I have revamped my P4t-ree-on a lot lately to include more werewolf things (rants! folklore posts! reviews!) again and try to reenergize it. Be sure to go check it out. I am maverickwerewolf there. Find it in my pinned post. <3

[ratinapinksuit]

canon batfam meets fanon batfam

You don’t understand how happy I got when I saw this in my inbox I plan on writing a longer post (which will probably expand into a fic) but we’ll break this down and have them take their turns. So sorry this took so long 💖💖

Dick Grayson: Thinking of Fanon Dick, he’s someone who has “oldest daughter syndrome” which means he argues with Bruce a lot (✅) on how to be a good parent (❌) and is a better parent than Bruce. (❌❌❌)

Dick would HATE this. He can be a pretty mean spirited person, especially when people insult his dad/batman. The “jolly happy go lucky” attitude is (to me) like Bruce’s Brucie Wayne persona. But he’d have a much, MUCH, bigger gripe about how Fanon Dick is a “better parent”. The animosity between Canon Dick and Fanon Dick would begin as they watch each other interact with their siblings and Bruce. C!Dick would hate how F!Dick parents the other Batkids and nags Bruce to be “a better father” and live up to unrealistic standards and expectations. Because how can a version of himself not love his dad??

C!Dick can NOT stand his siblings sometimes (not to say he hates them) and F!Dick feels like a caricature of the love he does have for his family.

Jason Todd: Idk much about Canon Jason outside of WEBTOON’s redhood and the outlaws, Jaybin, and his villain arc. But! I will try :) To me, Jason is someone who carries a lot of conviction in his beliefs says things how they are even if it’s harsh. Jason’s relationship with the family is rocky but they’re compatible after a lot of long, probably teary eyed, conversations. It’s not like it used to be, but it’s better than it was. Jason probably tries to act like he isn’t a part of the family, that he isn’t like them but the truth is he is exactly like them.

I think the differences C!Jason would see in F!Jason is the attitude. F!Jason can feel childish sometimes, like he’s stuck in the past, an immovable object. C!Jason would be more developed. He acknowledges the past, the effects it has on him and doesn’t stew in it. C!Jason, at the end of the day, cares about others and justice (previously skewed perspective in the past)

One thing I want to address is the differences in attitude towards guns, sometimes when people write F!Jason they kinda make him a big fan of guns and he’s irresponsible with them, C!Jason wouldn’t like that. C!Jason would be more responsible with his guns, not be some sort of “fanatic” and also he’d be aware of how he carries himself in general.

C!Jason wouldn’t like F!Jasons jokes of “lying to the press about Mr. Wayne” when he was younger bc C!Jason would know that Bruce had a lot of trouble with CPS keeping dick as a ward, much less adopting Jason

F!Jason can’t take accountability whereas C!Jason can. F!Jason gets away with being an asshole to his father, siblings, and people around him as he lashes out and C!Jason would hate it and he’d tell him to “stop whining”. What ever F!Jason is butt hurt over, C!Jason probably isn’t. Like Tim “replacing him” or Bruce’s no kill rule (bc let’s be fr, Jason KNEWS he had a no kill rule since Jaybin, he’s not harassing him over it). ALSO! F!Jason teases Bruce over his poor mental health whereas C!Jason does too but also acknowledges that the whole family is lwk messed up mentally and NONE of them are coping with it ngl.

But Jason is still Jason, so I think they’ll see similarities in themselves like the shared hobby of reading, bothering their family, and struggling with the whole “dying then coming back to life and feeling betrayed by dad and the world bc things are different and Gotham’s justice system sucks” thing, they just deal with it differently.

Tim Drake: Oh gosh, the things that can be said about Fanon!Tim Drake 🫠 When I think of F!Tim, he’s someone that’s been characterized as a “poor little meow meow incapable of doing anything” while he’s also “super duper competent”. C!Tim would think it’s strange how obsessed with coffee F!Tim is considering he doesn’t like it. He would also find it strange how. . . Wimpy he is. There’s so much angst about F!Tim that isn’t even true😭😭 like titans tower. Pretty sure C!Tim was bout the beef C!Jason was trying to have with him and was teasing the hell out of him.

Yet also, F!Tim doesn’t believe in Batman as much as C!Tim does. C!Tim heavily believes in Batman and his beliefs that he saves assassins because he can’t stand letting people die.

Damian Wayne: C!Damian hates how violent F!Damian is because he’s been trying to be better and he IS better, so it’s strange seeing a version of himself with the same experiences as himself that’s still so different from him. C!Damian grows into a kind person with the encouragement of his family and lets go of the “Robin is my birthright” thing while F!Damian hasn’t, in fact, he seems overly obsessed with it. F!Damian is violent to a degree that’s idiotic and immature and he really hates Tim for some reason whereas C!Damian and Tim have a better relationship and C!Damian is smart and sophisticated instead of the cartoony way F!Damian acts.

C!Damian really doesn’t like how F!Damian isn’t committed to Batman’s legacy. In the beginning, Damian had trouble acclimating, he’ll admit, but he’s trying to follow his new families path, trying to redeem himself.

Collectively: They’re wondering why they’re so mean to Bruce. Not in a “constructive criticism” way or teenage rebellion but just rude. The four of them are unique flavors of obsessed with Bruce (Dick especially) so it’s weird seeing versions of themselves that aren’t.

Ik this is the batboys and not Duke, Steph, or Cass but Fanon Duke doesn’t exist, I’m not well versed in Steph, and Fanon Cass doesn’t exist either. I could say that C!Stephanie is smarter than Fanon and also doesn’t hold a grudge against Bruce as much as F!Steph does bc C!Steph has faced much worse and that F!Steph lacks the complexity that C!Steph does because Fanon has a habit of picking ONE (or two) traits and making it the ENTIRE character’s personality. There’s also the fact that Fanon Cassandra is sometimes used as an emotional crutch, which is annoying.

[jes-illustrates]

College got me in a chokehold rn ✨

[citizenscreen]

Tom Drake (August 5, 1918 – August 11, 1982)

[esqueletosgays]

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944)

Director: Vincente Minnelli Cinematography: George J. Folsey

[avonlea71]

Judy Garland & Tom Drake - Meet Me In St. Louis (1944).