John Constantine knows full and damn well that Phantom isn't a thousands year old ghost.
He knows because, in the middle of a fight against a deranged warlock, Phantom let out a small, warbling chirp in response to getting hit.
He'd quickly covered it up, but Constantine knows that that chirp is.
What if no ghosts respond to Phantom because the cry doesn't register as a cry to them? Because he's a halfa.
Sure, he can make the sound, and it sounds correct to human ears. But the flesh muffles the core resonance that accompanies the sound. Without that core resonance, to other ghosts, it sounds like mimicry.
Maybe it triggers an uncanny valley kind of response, where it sounds like something other trying to lure you in by pretending to be a baby.
And with Halfas being so rare and/or the Realms still in such disarray since Pariah was originally sealed (having lost the centralized knowledge and archives of a unified people as various smaller, independent factions arose in the High King's absence), no one knows about this unfortunate interaction of flesh and core in Halfas. If anyone ever did, that knowledge has long since been lost.
(Consequentially, this would put Vlad in basically the same boat here. No wonder he's so desperate for family. He's abandoned too.)
hear me out what if the ghosts that DO hear him make this noise think he’s trying to lure them into a false sense of security (uncanny valley train of thought here) and get mad??
Mad, or creeped out, cuz they think Danny is a lure for a ghostly angler fish. They all believe they're fighting a part of a larger being that's targeting ghosts near the Amity Portal.
Still thinking about this concept because i love the idea of both Danny and the ghosts from the Zone fighting to protect their home. Danny thinks the ghosts want to terrorize Amity Park, and the ghosts think Danny wants to consume the ghost neighborhood after being stuck in the human realm for centuries. No wonder he can defeat them all!
Constantine would have an uphill battle proving Danny is young, and not just a young mimic ready to eat someone.
(Some people mentioned why skulker might feen for Danny in the comments because he sounds like an extinct ghost predator who mimics and what happens if Danny’s flesh wasn’t covering his core. So I’m merging them together.)
One day Skulker says he’s going to put a end to the creature that’s been terrorizing the infinite realms by amity park. So he broadcast his hunt across the realms like an episode of river monsters. Even some of Danny’s rogues come to watch from the sidelines. As Skulker chases Danny on one of the more rainforest looking floating islands.
Skulker takes it to far and basically gouges a hole in Danny’s chest somehow. Either with a new weapon or his hands and Danny is on the verge of dying. His core is now exposed as the flesh hurries to regenerate to cover it. However the whole realms is now hearing the frantic, pleas and scared whimpers and cries of a baby. As Danny has tears in his eyes as his struggling to free himself from Skulkers grasp.
Skulker himself his traumatize upon realizing. All this time. He was hunting and hurting a child, a literal baby who was lost and confused and just needed some help. Who’s ignorance on ghost culture and life wasn’t a facade but genuine because he was newly dead. Who’s speed and fighting weren’t predatory instincts but adrenaline induced fight or flight responses to keep him alive from the threat…..them. They were the threat. The ghost child as he called him in disgust and mockery was just that. A child. A infant. A new born. He looked upon the bloody scared face of the kid they knew. The fear the distrust. The panicked wide eyes that had seen too much.
They had made a grave mistake.
HurtPainFear
Was all that was felt across the realms as Danny’s cores screaming resonance was finally covered up by skin once more. Danny freed himself from Skulkers loosened grip and fled the scene.
What had they done?
The first person that Danny went to was John Constantine. He had just been hurt, (It hurt so badly, why don't they listen? He didnt want this, it hurts it hurts it huRTS) and he was crying, the tears of an unknowing plea, for help, for family, for safety being not just rejected, but being shown that all he will get in return is pain... he doesn't think ghosts will let him get close anymore...
He stumbles into Johns chest, shaking and with a mournful baby ghosts cry, he passes out in his "sad trench coat man"s arms.
John has been fighting for Danny to be recognized as a ghost newborn, but has been shoved away with a "You don't understand, Hellblazer. He is not what you think!" Every. Single. Time.
He even tried to track down The Ancient Of Time to get him to help, but when he could barely glimpse the tower in the distance, the young ghost under his arm, he was shoved away by The Observants. He basically begged them to let him see Time, but was refused.
And now... he has a newborn with a huge gash in his chest, the ectoplasm trying to cover his core, still bright green as it desperately tried to heal him. Danny couldn't swallow in this state, so John just poured some healing potions over Dannys chest and prayed that it would work to help his... friend.
That's when John heard his alarms start to blare through The House of Mystery.
Someone was portalling into his home when he was only just starting to try and heal his young... son friend.
That's when he saw them.
Ghosts.
John didnt know if he could kill something already dead and more powerful than him, but he sure as fuck would try if it meant keeping Danny safe.
John steps out of the bedroom where he'd laid his the kid down to face the rip slowly tearing into reality. He shuts the door behind him. If necessary, the House should be able to play keep away with the kid. Shifting rooms around is one of it's specialties.
The bright tear gives John a sneaking suspicion of what is on the other side, and gives him plenty of time to ready a spell. He doesn't know if he can beat something already dead and powerful enough to snap his many wards to prevent portaling into the House of Mysteries, but like hell is he gonna let those bastards finish Phantom off without a fight.
The only reason John doesn't immediately try to blast the first thing out of the swirling green vortex to kingdom come is because it's a bag. A big, black leather bag that looks to be bulging with whatever is inside; held aloft by a big white paw. But most importantly, the bag is adorned with some patches, the most prominent of which is a bright green drop inside an ice blue diamond. The Realms' universal symbol for healers. It's not enough for John to completely drop his guard, but it is enough for him to hear out the furry face that follows the bag into his living room.
"I greet you. I am Chief Frostbite of the Far Frozen, foremost healer in all the Realms. There is a gravely injured infant ghost in your care. I come only to provide the medical attention he desperately needs. Will you allow me to attend him?" As he speaks, the hairy beast lowers himself to a kneel. Even bent and bowed, he's taller than John. Which might have been terrifying if he weren't so damn pissed.
"Oh now someone believes me? I spent months trying to convince just one of your lot the kid was a fresh-corpse. And suddenly someone listens, while he's almost ended? Right. Why should I believe a word out of your muzzle, Sasquatch?" John makes no attempt to hide his derision, but the ghost's face shows no sign of offense. Just calm certainty.
"I am a yeti. Chief Frostbite of the Far Frozen, forem-"
"Most healer in all the Realms. Whatever. How do I know you aren't just here to finish what was started? Hell, how do I know you didn't start it yourself?" Still, not a flicker of a flinch.
"I am a healer. It would be a defiance of my own core to do intentional harm to another being, ghost or not. I will swear to this on any oath you deem fit. I will allow myself bound by any magic that would ease you. As long as you will allow me to attend him." The ghost speaks plainly, not a hint of deception. And John is pretty damn good at sniffing out deception.
"Why now? How did you even know to come, and why come now? This isn't the first time the" (his) "kid has been hurt real bad. The worst, sure, but not the first. Where were you those other times? Or when I was searching the whole blasted Realms for just one ghost to listen when I told them Phantom was a baby? How come I've never even heard of you, oh foremost healer in all the Realms."
"I know because his core cried out so loud and so powerful, all the Realms resonated with it. I am uncertain why I would not have heard the cry before. Though even if I had, I would not have been able to come. It is no surprise you did not find me or my people. On the Orders of Pariah Dark — who valued brute strength above all else and viewed healing and those who provided it as lesser — all healers were exiled to the furthest reaches of the habitable Zone. It is only in recent weeks that we have felt that restriction lifted from our cores."
"Why's that? What changed?"
"Pariah Dark was awakened, challenged, and defeated. The Crown must have recognized the Victor and accepted them as the new King."
John isn't one to be swayed by pretty words; but there is something to be said for the yeti's prompt, clear answers and neutral tone easing the worst of his paranoia. Either he's a damn fine liar or he's telling the truth. Still, a small bit of insurance couldn't hurt. Especially not when the beastie offered it.
"Swear it. Swear on your own core, and those of your people, that you will heal Phantom, not hurt him."
"I swear upon my core, and the cores of my people, I will not intentionally harm Phantom and I will do my best to heal him." Smart bastard, shifting the wording just so. But fine.
"Fine, come o-" Before John can even finish the sentence, the ghost yeti is gone. Not even a second later, Phantom's core cries out. John turns and bursts into the room, where Frostbite is already unpacking his bag. A few tools, wrappings, and vials and vials of ectoplasm, various shades and labeled in, definitely not English. Frostbite speaks lowly, comfortingly, to Phantom. Who doesn't even seem to be actually awake. His core must have reacted instinctively to the other ghost's presence. There is also a deep rumble from the yeti's core, which is probably, hopefully doing most of the work of soothing his the unconscious kid.
"Why did you even need my agreement if you could get to him anyway?" For the first time in their entire interaction, Frostbite seems shocked, appalled even by the question.
"I could not exclude you from his care unless you acted directly against his needs! You are his Mother!" For a few seconds, John can only sputter.
"Do I look like a bloody bird to you, mate!?" Frostbite flicks his gaze back to him for half a second, then returns to his task. He has everything out now and begins by pressing some kind of scope to Phantom's still exposed core.
"No, you appear to be a normal human mage." Goddammit. John pinches between his eyes a moment. If he wasn't terrified of what exposing his insides to smoke could do to the kid, he'd so need a cigarette.
"That's not... I meant, do I look like a female to you?"
"No. What does that have to do with anything? Also, what potions have you dumped on him? What were the ingredients? They shouldn't, but it is wise to ensure there will be no unexpected interactions with my ectoplasmic medicines."
"Just a bunch of basic healing potions." John grabs a book with recipes off his shelf. "First bookmark. I keep 'em on hand. And I don't know what things are like wherever yetis come from, but for humans mothers are typically female." Frostbite reads over the page quickly, humming lightly.
"Hmm, linguistic semantics then. Mother is likely the closest English translation matching in both definition and common connotation."
He nods sharply and sets the book aside, returning his attention to Phantom. He starts with pouring a small steady stream of ectoplasm directly onto Phantom's core, which John now sees has a small fissure in it the ectoplasm is flowing in to. The core soaks it in so quickly, not a drop makes it though the hole in his the kid's chest to the sheets below. John is starting to feel awkward just standing there so he grabs a chair in sits by his the kid's side.
"Closest English translation to what?" Just the fresh, concentrated ectoplasm is already helping way more than his potions did. John can tell. Ectoplasmic flesh is already stretching across the chasm in his his his the kid's rib cage.
Frostbite stops pouring the ectoplasm in before it can cover the core. Apparently doc still needs access to it as he reaches for one of his jars of slightly off color ectoplasm, this one tinted with a bright, ice blue. "To how his core calls out to you."
Oh.
Shit.
Does John have a kid now?
Frostbite picks up a small glob.
At least this one is already dead.
Frostbite reaches for the fissure.
How bad could he possibly fuck this up?
The moment the yeti makes contact with his kid's core, Phantom jerks up. Suddenly awake. And screaming.
A farshee wail to put Canary to shame.
But only for half a second, before he collapses back into the bed.
A flash of light.
White hair becomes black.
Pale skin becomes sun-kissed.
A core becomes an erratically beating heart while the, smaller, but still present hole exposing it starts weeping red.
Frostbite looks shocked and uncertain; and John is suddenly aware that he can fuck this up so much worse than he first thought he could.
#I realized there's been no indication so far the John knows Danny is any less than fully dead and decided to make sure he found out#Frostbite could tell Danny wasn't a normal ghost - but none of the ghosts really know what a halfa is#In fact that term probably doesn't exist in this AU#Instead the might call Danny like Mock or Sham or something IDK#Point is Frostbite knew he wasn't normal but didn't know how abnormal#After all - Frostbite hadn't even met Danny yet#He is very shocked and a bit confounded by this new information about his patient#He'll also be the first to put together that Danny's fleshy bits are muffling the core resonance#But they'll have to finish letting Danny's chest heal over the core first#Also - yes I did invent a unique medical symbol for the Infinite Realms#In an infinite dimension that presumably receives the restless dead of a vast and widely populated universe#There's no reason to assume that other civilizations had the same or even remotely similar symbols to the human ones#Red and hearts don't have the same associations when you have a core and bleed green#And even the plus/cross is - again - not universal#But like the red cross you'd want the symbol to be simple and replicable#Nothing as complicated as a caduceus even if it were universal#So I settled on green drop - ectoplasm - and an ice blue diamond as a kinda tip the hat to the yetis#You may have also noticed the hint of ghost king Danny#My thought is basically that the crown accepting Danny as King is what triggered Skulker to this hunt to begin with#The ghosts were downright terrified of a being they thought was their predator somehow becoming King#They did not expect the Crown to recognize the victory nor Danny as King#Because - crucially - they did not think Danny was actually a ghost#They figured throwing the 'mimic' at Pariah to let it eat him would just cause the crown to fall out of anyone's hand.#Let it fade into obscurity forevermore unclaimed#So when it accepted Danny everyone panicked#And while the broad news of the change in power had reached the Far Frozen - the details had not#Hence why Frostbite didn't know it was the very ghostling he came to treat that did it#He knows now : )#And he has some. Words. for several other ghosts about it#But the injured ghostling comes first
Love the medical symbol and explanation.
This means that Frostbite's arrival is independant of Skulker or any other Rogues. There's trouble incoming!!
Also question. As Danny met any Ancients at this point? I have no freaking clue what canon timeline is, have they met him and do they have thoughts?
Whether or not Danny has met any Ancients at this point largely depends on who you consider to be an Ancient. Since Ancients are a fan creation and not canon.
With my tags placing this just after Reign Storm, the ghosts Danny has canonically met at this point are: Lunch Lady, Box Ghost, Dorothea*, Skulker, Technus, Pointdexter, Desiree, Vlad, Dairy King, Walker (and his goons and anyone in the prison at that time), Spectra, Bertrand, Cujo, Klemper, Ember, Fright Knight, Johnny, Kitty, Wulf, Vlad's Ghost Animals, and Youngblood.
*though to him she'll just be the Dragon Ghost Lady for quite some time yet
Reign Storm is actually before TUE, so Danny hasn't even met Clockwork yet. That said, per raccoonrobyn's addition, John did try to take Danny to Clockwork but was denied by the Observants. So technically Danny should also know the Observants here. (Fun fact - if memory serves Danny never actually met any Observants in the show itself. They only interacted directly with Clockwork before and after the events of TUE.) Though whether the Observants are Ancients or a different class all together is, again, dependent on how you classify it.
On the above list, the only one consistently regarded as an Ancient is Fright Knight. Though frankly, you could argue that anyone or even everyone on that list is an Ancient if you wanted. Personally I've got a headcanon I'm found of where Youngblood is the Ancient of Childhood (and possibly the only ghost that recognized Danny as at least a baby if not a baby ghost, and tried to get him to play with them.
All this to say, by how I would generally classify it, Danny would have met 2 Ancients at this point (with the Observants being a kind of governing body but not Ancients). That said, this is a round robin, so anyone is free to work this in any other direction they please.
