#the threat of vigilantism

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Promises Kept.

January 5, 2024

ROBERT B. HUBBELL

When Joe Biden declared his candidacy for president in 2019, the nation was bruised, battered, and divided by three years of Trump's unrelenting chaos and carnage. During Biden’s year-long campaign, Trump plunged America into darker waters as he tried to extort Ukraine into fabricating lies about Joe Biden and his son. Trump then engaged in gross dereliction of duty by mishandling the nation’s response to Covid, ultimately resorting to lies and quackery as the death toll mounted.

Biden stepped into the breach, promising “to restore the soul, honor, dignity, and decency” of America. In word and deed, Biden has kept those promises—despite virulent and violent opposition by MAGA extremists who sought to prevent the peaceful transfer of power—and who still seek to destroy our democracy today.

Historians may view Biden’s greatest success as the restoration of normalcy, decency, and rationality to the executive branch of the US government. Biden’s legislative accomplishments are historic and will be an enduring legacy standing alone.

Identifying Biden’s legislative successes is easy; identifying the depth and breadth of Biden’s restoration of decency and rationality is more difficult—because living in a normal frame of reference is subtle and ineffable. It infuses every aspect of democracy and political discourse. It is the absence of chaos, it is not waking up every morning thinking, “Oh, God. What has he tweeted now?”, and it is not hearing every governmental action re-interpreted through Trump's lenses of narcissism, delusion, and insecurity.

Joe Biden acts within a rational political framework. His policies can be praised or criticized because they exist (in writing) and reflect the reasoned judgment of Biden and his staff after a period of reflection and debate. They are not made up “on the fly” in response to reporters’ questions shouted over the noise of helicopter rotors.

The return to normalcy, decency, and dignity is neither sexy, compelling, nor “made for TV.” But it was precisely what the nation needed after the chaos of Trump's tenure as president. Joe Biden kept his promises. For that, we owe him a debt of gratitude that we must repay in 2024.

On the eve of the third anniversary of January 6, Biden is launching his 2024 campaign in earnest. In a political ad previewed on MSNBC, Biden said that he is making “the preservation of democracy” the centerpiece of his campaign. In the ad, Biden says, in part,

All of us are being asked, “What will we do to maintain our democracy?” History is watching. The world is watching. Most importantly, our children and grandchildren will hold us responsible . . . .

A campaign theme of “preserving democracy” is neither sexy, compelling, nor “made for TV.” But it is precisely what the nation needs as it stares into the abyss of a second Trump term as president.

I have heard from dozens of readers this week who are disappointed with Biden’s responses regarding immigration and the war in Gaza. Some have suggested that they will not vote or will vote for a third-party candidate. Both of those options are the functional equivalent of voting for Trump.

The freedom to criticize the president is a privilege of our democracy guaranteed in the Constitution. We can debate presidential policies only if we have a democratic frame of reference within which to hold those debates.

That democratic frame of reference will exist under a second Biden term. Under Trump, the democratic frame of reference will be replaced by a simple test: Does speech praise Trump? If not, the speaker will act at their peril. Trump’s vigilantes will threaten the speaker, and state and federal agencies will pretend the threats are harmless jokes or over-exuberant expressions of loyalty to Trump.

The threat of vigilantism to punish speech is not hyperbole. As we approach the third anniversary of January 6, elected officials who criticize Trump or apply the law to his unlawful conduct are being deluged with death threats. They are being “swatted” by sick individuals who call 9-1-1 to make false reports of crimes in progress—resulting in the deployment of armed emergency responders to the elected officials’ homes.

Like Joe Biden, Trump has made promises. He has promised his followers that, if re-elected, “I will be your retribution.” He has also promised that he will be a dictator “on day one” if he is elected to a second term.

Joe Biden has kept his promise “to restore the soul, honor, dignity, and decency” of America. We should take Biden at his word that he will work to preserve democracy if re-elected in 2024.

As with Biden, we should take Trump at his word: He will exact retribution and act as a dictator on day one of his second term.

The competing promises of Trump and Biden tell us everything we need to know about the choice we face in the 2024 election.

Concluding Thoughts.

The choice between presidential candidates in 2024 could not be starker. There is no ambiguity, nuance, or grey area. We must help Joe Biden communicate that fundamental difference and help people understand that the choice in 2024 is not about policies or the economy. It is about democracy—and whether we are for it or against it.

#Robert b. Hubbell #Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter #Biden Administration #Democracy itself #the threat of vigilantism #preserving democracy #Boston Globe

[starry-bi-sky]

in 1 side we have Massive Angst of Talia and Bruce

on other side we have Okay normal life Clone Talia, Himbo Danny and Damian. Wait that is just Spy x family but Clone x Family.

No kidding. I can't say much for the angst between Talia and Bruce because I don't know their dynamic that well beyond that in one run they were supposedly in love with one another (and still are to some extent) but they're on such ideological opposites that it's never gonna work in the long term. And in another run Talia is just seducing Bruce (which iirc came about from post 9/11 hatred towards the middle east, and resulted in Talia's character being butchered by some asshole).

BUt on the other end we have Nasra, Danny, and Damian. Who I don't think ever really take on a traditional nuclear 'familial' dynamic since Danny and Damian agreed to both be brothers first and foremost - they're not seeking out a father-son relationship with each other, even with Danny occasionally being parental from time to time. And Nasra and Damian would still have an almost sibling-like rivalry towards each other as well (honestly I think it'd be very Tim and Damian-like), I think. That with a mix of "rivalry between little sibling and their older sibling's partner" too. Either way its def not mother-son like in the slightest, but still familial. Even if unorthodox

But either way they are still family with the additions of Sam and Tucker and Jazz! I like to imagine that Nasra and Damian both are actually pretty into art. Damian uses spray paints as his medium, however, and Nasra gets into charcoals and watercolors, and they compare different art mediums when they start tentatively getting along.

OH also unrelated but more on clone^2 but - danny in clone^2 like, killed like three guys when he was 17 because they attacked him and damian and nearly killed them both. Imagine being Bruce and finding that out

#dpxdc #dp x dc crossover #danny fenton is not the ghost king #dp x dc #dpxdc crossover #danny fenton is a clone #dp crossover #dpdc #dp dc crossover #clone^2 #dpdc crossover #dpdc au #and nasra and damian having a tim-and-damian like relationship with one another is very funny to me because DW and Talia are still pretty #mother-son with their relationship. #and then Damian meets his clone (and DW is 16 years old around the time Nasra shows up) and little Dee and Nasra both turn to each other #the moment Danny's back is turned and are basically making death threats at one another. if it wouldnt get him in trouble Dee would've #sprayed spray paint into the eyes of Nasra - that's what he does with ghosts nowadays. It's very funny to him they get so mad. #also if i was a better artist i would draw these three together. I still might but it'd probably be like. just a general look of what their #vigilante uniforms would be. plus maybe even civies if I'm feeling up to it. With an older damian because he's got that skater boy aestheti #going for him and its my favorite thing about clone damian #danny: ive killed before #bruce and the fam: wh. what. you’ve what

[pettyprocrastination]

Miguel o’hara would also give miles shit for not having an A in his spanish class and you can’t change my mind. 

#tj talks #miguel o'hara #realistically? he and rio would not get along because yknow. grown man vigilante and shes a protective mom #for comedic purposes? he has her phone number to let her know if anything happens to miles *he did not want this. she insisted on it* #and will use her number as threat to miles when he isnt doing what miguel wants #'i WILL call your mother' 'haha youre so funny..wait what are you doing. nononohanguphangupHANGUP'

[krispyphan]

Okay but Shadybug and Claw Noir being in the Dc verse. THE SHENANIGANS !!!!! I don’t even have a lil story to go with this prompt 😭

#miraculous ladybug #dc x mlb #mlb x dc #ml x dc #dc x ml #shadybug #claw noir #ladybug and chat noir #miraculous crossover #LIKE Imagine after they get their redemption they come back to their world as like vigilantes #like neither can really tone down their strength for normal people (due to only fighting akumas and shit) #but they’ll definitely go toe to toe with a alien trynna pull up on France #the JL coming down to see what’s going on in Paris/France and learn that two teenagers have been reeking havoc on Paris for years #LIKE AND THATS WHY THE JL NEVER ANSWERED THEIR CALLS ITS BECAUSE IT WAS TWO TEENAGERS #Shadybug probably did the reverse thingy just so the JL didn’t come looking for them #then they learn these kids are now two vigilantes (like their idol Batman) and kinda help Paris from other threats

[eroticcannibal]

I've tried. I've tried for years. Prison absolution is not only not something I agree with, but its a harmful aim. Its fucking paradox of tolerance shit, ok? For people to be free, some people must not be free. I am on board with reform, I am OK with imprisonment being so fucking rare that prisons must be closed and house arrest is the only way to do it. But I simply cannot bring myself to agree that no one should be imprisoned. I firmly believe that is an immoral and dangerous view that only condemns victims to glorified imprisonment in their everyday lives. Not everyone can be fixed. Some people are just evil and will hurt people unless you stop them doing it. I've tried! I've tried to be a good prison abolitionist leftist! I've weighed the arguments! But the "solutions" are not applicable to the real world I live in.

#word of god #at the end of the day the only way i (a victim) can ever have freedom and autonomy is if he stops being a danger #so he can either chose to stop being an evil person (he will not) #or he could be imprisoned #or he could die #or i and my family can spend the rest of our lives in constant danger #and not just us but every person he has hurt and every person he will hurt #every child he will hurt #every second he is free is another chance for him to hurt someone AND HE WILL #idk i think taking away the option of prison for people like him #will only lead to more vigilante justice #despite the fact he wont be prosecuted the threat of it keeps him cautious and gives me comfort #what of we did not have that? one of us would probably be dead by now

[muse-stellium]

One of these days I'm going to go on a ramble about how much I love Nina's apparent friendship with Eddy and none of you can stop me 🙂

#✧･ﾟ:*𝐿𝑜𝑜𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒞𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝓈*:･ﾟ✧ - Random Thoughts #|| wrongfully convicted capoeira mans meets intentional criminal womans w near vigilante like motives #|| all bc devil mans hired both of them to put up w him & be his bodyguards / army leaders #|| they trade prison stories amid what did our boss do now stories 😔💜 #|| even if Eddy's T8 story somehow puts a wrench in the idea - I will go canon divergent if I have to. Harada this is a threat. #|| Their friendship is the only semi wholesome canon content I get w my girl and thus this is my hill c': #|| I will T pose. I will gatekeep gaslight girlboss you watch me.

[jupitermelichios]

comics should place characterization first

me: people should stop openingly fantasising about jayroy shippers dying because they don't like roy's post-2011 characterisation, that's fucked up

you, apparently: actually it's fine to do that because sometimes the comics are bad

I say again, comics are an ongoing mediums and writers change. there are always going to be versions of your faves that you hate, and sometimes those are the ones that get carried forward into ongoing canon, and that's just the nature of the medium. it's not about good or bad characterisation, that's just a fact about all ongoing multi-author mediums.

if you can't handle that without wishing death on strangers, comics are not the hobby for you. watch movies, read novels, find fiction that has one author and one creative vision until you develope the emotional maturity to interact with people who like stuff you don't without slinging insults and ill wishing people!

#complaining about comics is the primary hobby of all comics nerds #we all do it all the time #but most of us manage to do it without suibaiting and sending death threats! #(i'm allowing myself one petty moment and it's to point out that arsenal also fucking kills people) #(I'm so sick of people saying roy would never be friends with jason because roy is a sweet good boy and jason is a killer) #(he shoots people with fucking guns! his name is arsenal! he had a fucking gun arm that one time!) #(you don't have to think they'd be friends but please stop pretending there's some kind of violent vigilante moral scale here)

[robocops-a-christ-allegory]

The evil vigilante arc just happening again but quickly and with Pat and Adeline is also extremely fucking funny. Its a curse theyre all cursed

#DC if youre reading this I dont mean this and if you make Vigilante actually cursed Ill break things #The threat of Vigilante becoming more popular would be like #there would instantly be something confirming the costume is magic and cursed or something. #I was gonna say 'maybe Im being too cynical and that was more of a 90s/2000s thing' and then remembered #how Moonknight is just fully a magic character now. DC I dont mean it.

[kingdomoftyto]

I never did mention, but I finally beat Vesperia! It was okay--a more than solid rpg, but not one of my personal faves from the series. The plot was pretty standard for a Tales game--maybe slightly more deus ex machina-y in the final act, though I may just be forgetting the most egregious things from some of the other titles. Rita stands out as my single favorite character (to no one's surprise) and honestly probably one of my faves overall for the series. Judith was also pretty fun, and I liked Raven's story arc even if it felt a little clumsy or confusing at times. And obviously the Yuri-Flynn dynamic/relationship/tension pretty much carries the entire game.

Speaking of which, I've already devoured a week's worth of Fluri fanfiction (impeccable ship portmanteau, btw) and have a whole stack of longfics still waiting in my Marked for Laters. They're so stupid and noble and good for each other, I love them a lot. I'll have to rec some of these later if I think about it.

(I also found out yesterday that there's a heckign FEATURE-LENGTH MOVIE about the two of them as knights-in-training, which!!!!!!!! guess what I'm watching tonight)

Anyway. Glad I finally played it! Not sure it quite lived up to my expectations, but then again I think Arise simply raised my standards to an absurd level lol, so it's not entirely Vesperia's fault. It also would've helped if I'd been any good at using Yuri in combat, but alas,

#Tyto plays ToV #I wanted to REALLY love Yuri as a protagonist and like. I DO like him. he's a good and interesting character #but I never felt like they QUITE scratched some of the itches I was hoping they were going to?? #I don't even know how to explain it really #it's just. idk. they established him as this antihero vigilante archetype. and then had Flynn as his foil. #and then had the Empire vs Guilds conflict going on sort of in parallel to that #but not REALLY bc both Yuri and Flynn are too idealistic to let any blind nationalism get in the way of what they think is right/just #and............. idk like they DO explore a lot of nuance within that dynamic but I was left wanting MORE still #and maybe the ultimate threat being mostly unrelated to the war was part of the problem? #like. they were just cramming too many ideas on top of each other for this one. #the villain is War but also.... Climate Change? a little bit? lmao that's oversimplifying obviously but #if you've played it you know what I mean #the answer to Both problems is humanity overcoming differences and choosing to work together even when it's inconvenient #which is an AWESOME central theme for a story and I really dig it. but like I said it felt kinda disjointed at some parts #(disclaimer I'm sure if I'd written out my thoughts like this for the other Tales games I'd have just as many things to nitpick ahfdjshf) #(it was still really good!!! I had fun I liked it this series rocks I'm gonna shut up now lol)

[captainsweet]

My Twin is fr like a More Violent Casey Jones and I didn't even think that was possible until I actually listened to what they said for once.

Dude breaks a leg every other day and is super violent yet dies as soon as a roach is in the room, L on his part.

Anyway Wish him and the Other One Happy Birthday rn because they won't get it and it'll be super funny.

#No I am not joking #They WOULD become a Vigilante if they could #And if they would live #And there was crime #All in all they would totally do it and I think he would actually handle his own #People didn't get sent to the Hospital for nothing #Casey Jones #Wish him a Happy Birthday #Today is both of their birthdays so do it #This is in fact a threat #birthday #Happy Birthday #I find it real funny I'M the Raph in this situation #Despite Raph being more violent canonically #I think #The Other One is the Michelangelo #So please drone on about their coolness and how amazing the are at Chess #It doesn't have to make sesnse just do it #This is not an option #tmnt #Michelangelo

[masquenoire]

🎥 Who is my muse’s celebrity crush? 🎀 Who would my muse sleep with if nobody ever had to know?

sex + romance headcanons!

🎥  - He’s never admitted it to anybody but Roman’s celebrity crush is Roxy Rocket. While not an actress so therefore not a ‘true’ celebrity, he was taken by her deeds performing as a stunt double, finding them to be far more interesting than the titular actress she stood in for during action scenes. His admiration only grew when, upon losing her job because no company would insure her, took her thrill-seeking to the next level and became a minor supervillain in Gotham. Unlike many criminals who were in it for wealth, power or simply to cause murder and mayhem, Roxy’s crimes were fairly benign in nature given that she preferred the thrill of danger over committing serious offences. While the two have never actually spoken to one another, Roman enjoys hearing about her latest encounters with Batman and still has a few ‘behind the scenes’ discs of movies from when she was still employed as a stunt double. 🎀 - As to who Roman would sleep with if anybody ever had to know, it might possibly be Catwoman? It’s been shown in comics that Roman can become fixated on certain individuals and develop some truly nasty obsessions, Catwoman notably being one of them. He’s not sure whether he’d like to sleep with her or torture her on a psychological level far beyond that of most of his victims, but she holds a unique interest for the man that even he’s not sure how it happened exactly.

#chauvesourisnoire #memes ;; sex and romance headcanons #I'm sorry this took a while to answer! #I was honest to god drawing a blank when it came to answers #Like... what celebrities? #When it comes to vigilantes and anti-heroes Roman would rather torture or kill many of them #Even if they are attractive they're going to be a threat to his operations #Do fellow rogues count as celebrities? Probably not #But Roxy was one I could? Maybe see?? #Roman likes a bit of thrill-seeking himself #You wouldn't be a crime boss in Gotham otherwise #I don't follow any Catwoman roleplayers but if any are reading they don't have to accept this headcanon #I just see that Roman can get weirdly obsessive with certain characters like for some reason he and Catwoman have BEEF in the comics #I still don't get why but can see Roman getting weirdly obsessive about it #And he wouldn't say it out loud to anybody else every rogue knows the Bat and the Cat are a thing #Thank you for sending these in graves these were fun to think about!

[orcelito]

New way to kill someone in a dream. Literally ripping their soul out of their body and crushing it in my fingers??? Like ok

#speculation nation #dream shit #it was actually a really cool like. story kind of thing #idk they admitted to spying on my grandma to perfectly reconstruct her house (as a thinly veiled threat) #and i was just like. 'hm. okay.' and then just reached in front of this woman's face and Grasped #and there was a moment where i could hear her soul talking to me. begging for her life #but i decided she was a lying fucking snake and crushed her soul into nothing #her husband's soul was harder to pull out. Spiritually Stronger i guess. & i had to ask for help from my friends #and we pulled it out together. then made our escapes. #then there was a narration shot of maniacal laughter as this dude watched us go (we were the tokyo mew mew girls for some reason) #and was narrating to himself how regeneration is annoying. but not impossible. and he Would Have His Revenge.. #love the implication here of the mew mews being soul snatching/crushing vigilante killers tho. lmfao #but yea ive killed in dreams before and i Will Again #usually it's just snapping someone's neck tho lol. very hands-on. this was definitely new. #LISTEN the dream killings r typically all justified. generally in self defense. #but yes i do have a real trend of killing in my dreams. and very very few times i die in my dreams. #miss me with that death shit. IM the killer. #it's a piece of psychological Something of mine that i find fascinating. dreams are so entertaining to analyse.

[ashenberry]

OH YEAH YOUR LITTLE GUYS sorry i forget their names,, who was the blue one in the middle of that art you posted?? whatre they like?

WAH that one is rosin :3c He. well hes loosened up alot since his original run when i was in middle school but out of the trio he is the most pessimestic and also the powerhouse when it comes to fights. If you ever notice the scar on one of his eyebrows its from a rock. rock to the head. his home life is a little fucked and he has a little sister named lily that he cares for half the time

#ashen.ask #expanding upon the powerhouse bit I’ve got like. 3 main stories for them rolling around in my head and one of them does involve the trio- #-being psuedo vigilante heros and Ros falls into the hulk archetype as his power is the ability to turn into stone #AND mein gott. ashen middle school era rosin had like the most tragic back story and he was a bitch and he’s still a bitch he is like. one- #of my favorites but story shifts cut out a lot of the early childhood deaths so i could no longer justify all the trauma #guess the best way to put it is while current run Rosin is still a very guarded person it’s nowhere to that extend any more he’s no longer- #assuming everyone’s a threat unless given a reason #Alright. that turned into a #ashen.rambles #in the tags #ashen.ocs.rosin

[thebadtimewolf]

🔪 (hullo! context free, if you're still accepting)

Send 🔪 for my muse's reaction to your muse threatening them with a knife.

"Unless you're planning for a great long night with me past first base without pleasantries, I'd rather just get dinner first."

"And before you say it - no, i'm not joking. I'm literally about to buy three large pizzas, two large orange sodas, and three packs of cookies. For myself. To eat in one sitting."

#ch: the vigilante #v: tbd #ic #somethingbcrrowed #answered #{crash course: threats dont work with her because she'll flirt. especially if she finds them cute}

[thekitsunesiren]

Dc x Dp #46

"I'm transferring you all to another branch to focus on your teamwork." Batman announced to the Young Justice League out of nowhere.

The news surprised the whole group. They've been together for quite sometime and had gotten alone just fine. Sure, they had disagreements here and there, but that wasn't enough for them to need more training, was it?

"We've been officially working together for a long time. Why do we need teamwork training now?" Robin asked, being brave enough to talk to the well feared vigilante that many were fearful to speak against.

Batman said nothing as he scrolled through the tablet in hand, obviously searching for something.

"Because you still have problems with your teamwork. You need the help of another team your age to get a better view point of what you're doing wrong. And hopefully you'll be able to learn about the different type of enemies

"Wait, wait, wait! Our age? You mean there's another team that we didn't know about?" Kid Flash asked, the news obviously being a surprise to him.

This news was a surprise to everyone in the group. All of them thought that they were the only young heroes that worked under the Justice League.

Finding what he was looking for, Batman opened a file and the team looked at the large photo that appeared on the screen. The photo contained four teens, just around their age if not older or younger.

One was a black teen with a red beanie, and Robin was surprised to see the bulky tech in his hands that he was using. What kind of outdated tech was this team using?

Next to him was a goth looking girl with raven black hair wearing a black short with a black and green plaid skirt. Her face was concentrated into a stern glare that gave Wally the shivers. The gun that she held in her hand didn't help either.

There was another girl as well. Her black hair down and resting against her shoulders. Said shoulders and the rest of her body covered by a black and red suit with a hoverboard against her feet and another strange weapon in her hand. A gun maybe? Red Arrow was curious to see her aim when moving on that board.

And the last kid wasn't standing. He was floating. With snow white hair and green eyes that seemed to glow everytime they looked at the photo. He looked to be around the same age as the other three, but he wore a black jumpsuit with white boots, gloves, and belt. On his belt rested a thermos? Superboy didn't see how such a scrawny thing could be of any threat.

One thing was similar was that how all of the humans eyes seemed to glow. Almost as bright as the- metas'? Aliens? -did.

"These are the members of Young Justice: Dark. They have been under the Leagues employment for three months, but they've been working on their own for almost two years and managed to stop several world ending disasters dealing with the supernatural."

The statement from Batman shocked the team. Them? On their own for two years fighting against the supernatural? Surely he was joking?!

"But-how? We've never heard of them, and they were world ending, we should've known about it." Robin argued.

"Because they've never left the threats leave their town." Came Batmans clipped reply. "There have been a few close calls, but all of them have been handled. As for why the League wasn't aware, there was interference that stopped the League from knowing about Amity Park. This is the team that took our place."

This was the team? Two years unsupervised against supernatural threats that they didn't know about and they still remained uncovered? Just how strong was this team?

"I'm assigning your next mission to work under them. For the time being they will be your superiors and you will follow their instructions if you come into contact with any enemy. Do not go against their orders or else it will be dire. With this, you will learn about threats stronger than you have faced and better yourselves as a team. Do not mess this up."

#dc x dp #dp x dc #dpxdc #dp x dc crossover #dp x dc prompt #danny phantom crossover #dc×dp prompt #dp crossover #Young Justice x Danny Phantom #Danny and the gang are Young Justice: Dark Amity

[deadsetobsessions]

Danny used to be a vigilante, firmly on the side of good. Like, illegally, but morally good.

Danny’s 100% sure that whatever he is now, it’s not good.

Is Gotham’s influence just Like That?

He was homeless when he got to this thrice damned city (literally, because Lady Gotham was so cursed) and now he’s… here? In a mid-level penthouse with a rotation of homeless kids going in and out of his kitchen and eating out his pantry??

Danny adjusted the cuffs of his dress shirt, making the conscious decision to ditch the tie. He’s a tall 6ft 4 now, taking after his Dad. His head smarted all of the time, hitting doorframes when he was being a bit clumsier than the normal ghost-like grace he had learned to channel as The Phantom.

The Phantom instead of just Phantom. Why? Because Phantom was the name of a teenage vigilante in another dimension. The Phantom, on the other hand, is an intimidatingly tall, deceptively kind, extremely dangerous kingpin.

Honestly? Danny didn’t even want this life. Like, he had no idea it would snowball like this??

He supposed that it all started when the Penguin was trying to snatch kids off of his block on Crime Alley. Not officially his block, of course, because Danny didn’t actually enter this city to be a crime-shadow thing. But he hadn’t lost enough of Phantom the Vigilante to ignore kids getting hurt. He still hasn’t, if he’s being honest. He flew into a frantic search, tracking down the missing kids to Penguin’s bar. The Iceberg Lounge. Apparently, he wanted the kids to do some menial tasks and what not. Danny, rage flickering through his core, intangibly went in and robbed Penguin of every coin and secret the man kept.

Then? Danny blackmailed the Penguin to guarantee his kids a measure of safety from the Rogue. That began the slippery slope into whatever it is he does now. Penguin was being kept in line by Danny’s threats, the grip he had on the Rogue’s weak points, and a wonderful bit of intimidation.

——

“What, you stinking phantom? I’m stickin’ to yer rules!” Penguin snarled, forced to his knees by invisible blob ghosts.

Danny, salty and pissy from the lack of sleep he’d experienced trying to keep Penguin’s men in line as a result of Penguin trying to test where Danny’s lines were, dropped the temperature to the point where Penguin started shivering. Considering the place was already cold- the Iceberg lounge lived up to its name- it meant that Danny was standing nonchalantly in a room that was negative twenty five degree Celsius in a sweatshirt, Danny was already making good on his natural intimidation factor.

“It’s The Phantom to you, Oswald.” Danny said, in the tone of someone saying “it’s the shit, to you.”

Danny narrowed his blue eyes, letting a tiny tint of ectoplasm make his eyes glow a bit in the suddenly icing over room.

“Your people have been getting on my nerves, Oswald. Roughing up kids is so… uncultured. Are you sure you’re a Cobblepot?”

Penguin snarled, the effect of which was rendered ineffective due to his increasingly violent shivers. Plus, Danny loomed over him without even trying.

Danny, annoyed and asking himself “What Would Dan Do To Intimidate This Guy?”, gripped Penguin’s shoulder and hauled him up one handed. He dragged the mob boss over to one of the booths, avoiding the bodies he’d dropped (non-lethally) when Danny first walked in to ruin Penguin’s night. He shoved Penguin in chair he iced over, because Danny’s petty and if he saw one more bruise on his kids at Penguin’s hands, Danny was gonna go full Dan the Murderer.

He at least allowed to room to warm up before laying into Penguin, though. He stayed standing. Hey, he had the height advantage to use. He could have kept Penguin kneeling, but it was probably god the best that the mob boss got some sense of pride back.

(Danny had no idea that sitting as someone loomed over you to lecture and threaten you was even worse than kneeling. At least with kneeling, you knew where you stood. But sitting? It leaves you horribly off kilter.)

“I told you to keep your people in line. Kids are off limits, Oswald.”

“I kept them in line!”

Never let it be said that Oswald Cobblepot had a normal functioning sense of self preservation.

“Really?” Danny jabbed his pointer finger lightly on top of Penguin’s trachea and allowed his fingernails to sharpen into Phantom’s sharper digits. Penguin tried to lean away. “Then why did they start a gun fight when there were kids visible on the street? Why did I see one of my kids get hit by one of your poor excuses of a bouncer?”

“I-”

“Don’t care much for your excuses, if I’m being honest. I let you mess around with the little projects you have, without even breathing a whisper of your secrets. Sionis would love to know how you double crossed him the last deal, yeah?”

“I- I’ll keep them in line!” Penguin stuttered.

“Well, I believe in second chances,” Danny bullshitted. Ancients, how was this even working? “So I suggest you make an example of the guy that smacked Hailey around before I make an example out of you, Oswald.”

“Fine! Fine!”

——

And with that, he got access to Penguin’s resources and men and more importantly, the corrupt police officers. He made Penguin “boot out” the pedophilic ones (in a very violent way) and kept the rest.

Then? Mr. Freeze froze over the god damn pipes and Danny had to intimidate and make a deal with the Rogue so he and his increasing roster of orphans had access to warm water.

In exchange for Danny’s restorative and, more importantly, unmelting ice, Mr. Freeze was now Danny’s… on-call enforcer?? When he’s not researching cures for his frozen in a pod wife, that is.

Danny was satisfied with that. He was! But then Black Mask happened, with the man trying to engage in a battle of wits with Danny over the control of Crime Alley which, at that point, was firmly Danny’s territory.

The thing is, Danny doesn’t play nice anymore. Why bother with pointless mind games when he could just…

——

“So, you’re The Phantom.”

“And you’re Sionis.”

Black Mask twitched at the name, gloved hands pulling out his guns. Danny sat on the counter, head touching mid cabinet, and sipped out of Sionis’ favorite mug.

Because Danny broke into Black Mask’s safe house and stole his quality coffee. The man’s eyes were wary.

“How did you get in here?”

Danny shrugged. “Walked.”

Danny held the coffee out of the way as Sionis unloaded a clip into his chest and lunged forward to slap a mask onto Danny’s face. After waiting a bit, as Black Mask’s smug triumph bled into shock, Danny laughed and, using a bit of his natural strength, tossed the guy off of him. He casually took the mask off of his face.

“Jeez, I’m trying to be nice, here.”

“So, you’re a Meta.”

Danny grinned. “Eh. And you’re a cult leader with a mask fetish.”

Danny tuned out the rant about the “true face of Gotham” or whatever, already bored, and sipped at Sionis’ coffee. The ass might be a psycho, but his coffee tastes were wonderful. Danny stood up, rinsed his mug, and turned back to Black Mask.

“You’re trafficking people. Kids.” He said, cutting through Sionis’ chatter. He was sly about it too, committing violence and torture in a way that would ensure obedience and fear. Danny probably would have never caught on, Black Mask’s schemes being so ingeniously created and executed, had he not kept a hawk’s eyes on the more vulnerable members of Crime Alley’s community. And the rest of Gotham’s vulnerable communities, of course.

“My, a wonderfully obvious conclusion. Now, Phantom, I have a proposition for you.”

Sionis seemed to have gotten his bearings back. Danny tilted his head at him, looking down.

“You can work for me,” Sionis said, before opening a laptop with video feed to one of his masked men or whatever holding a knife to one of Danny’s more fearless kids. Danny snarled.

“Or, refuse, and your kid will lose a finger for every instance of your defiance.”

“I told you not to touch the kids, Sionis. I don’t allow trafficking either.”

Black Mask chuckled. “Cut off a finger, Sadness.”

“Yes, bos- ARGHHHH!”

Danny watched as Mr. Freeze froze the goon’s arms before breaking them.

“I’ve got her, Phantom.”

Danny nodded at Freeze, keeping an eye on Sionis in case the fool bolts.

“So, what are your cards now, Sionis? You’ve sure pissed me off with nothing to show for it.”

And that was the last night anyone heard from the one that was supposed to be the King of Crime.

But Gotham knew the head mounted on a pike at one of Black Mask’s hastily abandoned bases was a warning, that The Phantom was watching.

——

Then he somehow got a gaggle of more orphans that were undead zombie “Talons?”

From there, he just obtained influence over the crime bosses of Gotham. Because his Talons kept bringing him heads and blackmail and his crime alley kids and Gotham orphans kept bringing him information for food and safety?

But like, Danny never wanted anything in exchange for the safety he provided. His core could give less of a shit whether he got anything in return. But he couldn’t convince his kids of that! They’re putting themselves in danger and ugh-!

Danny checked himself once more in the mirror. Ready, he stepped out into the night to wait for the Bats at his new favorite VIP spots.

On the way, he passed Ivy and Harley, who he waved to. Pamela worked under him because he controlled Gotham’s criminal underground (which also mean the official parts of the city considering the sheer amount of corruption) and influenced them into more plant friendly methods. His dominion over Undergrowth also helped immensely.

Harley? They’re friends. He beat up and crippled her abusive ex. She gave him therapy and stopped torturing people for fun.

Danny stepped into the back door of the Iceberg Lounge. No one stopped him. No one dared to.

He settled onto a velvet couch, nodding respectfully at the server that had immediately and nervously set down his mai tai. He glanced around for cameras and wire taps, before giving up and upping his ectoplasmic output to short any recording devices out.

He sipped his drink as he waited.

“Batman.”

“Phantom.”

“Oh, good. You didn’t bring Robin,” Danny said, watching Batman tense. “Kids shouldn’t be in places like these.”

Batman stayed silent.

“Come on, sit.” Danny gestured to the couch across from him.

“This isn’t a social call. I’ll stop whatever you’re scheming-” Batman growled.

“Oh my god, you’re so dramatic. Is this where Nightwing gets it from?”

Batman snarled.

“Sit, sit.” Danny rolled his eyes.

Batman stayed stubbornly looming. Danny sighed, allowing his voice to slip into velvet danger.

“I told you to sit, Bruce Wayne.”

“You-”

“I won’t repeat myself again, Bruce. You’re testing my patience.”

Bruce sat, wary and hyper vigilant. Danny sighed, settling back in his chair.

“You’ve heard of Red Hood, yes? Don’t answer that, it was hypothetical. I know you’ve heard of him.” Danny waved a hand impatiently. “I don’t really care why he’s setting up shop in my Alley, but he’s upsetting the other crime lords. They’re asking me to interfere.”

“I don’t work for you.”

“No,” Danny acknowledged with a nod. “But I could make you, if you push it. Politeness would serve you much better right now, Bruce, seeing as I am doing you a… favor. And since I’m not shouting to the world who you are under the cowl.”

Danny gave Batman a pointed, patented, mom glare.

“… Apologies.”

“Now, you might be wondering what that favor is.” Danny watched Batman’s cowled face carefully. “I thought you should know that the Red Hood is your “Jason Todd.’”

Batman was still. And then Batman leapt at him, snarling, “How dare you-!”

Danny caught the vigilante by the throat and squeezed.

Batman’s flurry of punches- which, mildly ow, those gauntlets kind of hurt- quickly changed to clawing and maneuvers to get out of the choke hold. Danny held steady, cutting off the vigilante’s air supply until he began to go limp. He’s not Superman. Danny will bruise and kill, if he had to.

“Are you going to listen to me now?” Danny asked mildly, emulating both Black Mask’s drawl and Dan’s effortless psychosis.

Batman gave a weak nod. Danny plopped him unceremoniously back onto his couch. He sipped on his drink once more as he waited for Batman to cough some sweet air back into his lungs.

“I’m telling you to get your little birds in line before I have to go hunting, yeah? Keep your kids out of danger, Bruce, and I won’t have to step in.”

“He- how do you know..?” The growl isn’t there anymore, and Danny felt a smug sense of vindication of having smothered it out of the guy. Woah, no, that thought was too Dan and too little Danny. Danny handed him a cup of water, which Batman didn’t drink.

Danny rolled his eyes and raised an eyebrow. “Drink. If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it by now. And as for how I know…”

Danny held up a beat up copy of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, filled with Jason’s writing. He tossed it to Batman, who caught it with blank eyes.

“Water,” Danny reminded him firmly, feeling like a mother hen. Batman gulped down his water, eyes flicking between the pages of Jason’s annotated book. Ancients, Danny couldn’t believe he annotated his book. A crime lord, like that? Well, it’s not like Danny could say anything.

Batman looked up at him, a silent demand- no, plea, because he’s not in a position to make demands- for an answer.

“Broke into his safe house. You should contact your fling, Talia. Seems like she dunked him into these “Lazarus pits” and told him you replaced him with the current Robin.”

Danny could see Batman’s emotional gears hard at work and honestly, he doesn’t have time for that.

“Now, we’re done here. You owe me one for the information. I’ll collect later.” Danny grabbed the Dark Knight, who stayed oddly unresisting (shock, maybe?) , and hauled him up.

“Tell Tim Drake to eat more. He looks too skinny.” With that, Danny dragged the Dark Knight to the window and punted him out. His kids were waiting on hot chocolate night and Danny had to go shopping for quality ingredients.

——

“YOU COULDN’T HAVE TOLD ME THE BIGGEST CRIME LORD OF YOUR CITY WAS THE FUCKING HIGH KING OF THE INFINITE REALMS?!”

“Hn.”

“BLOODY HELL, DON’T YOU GRUNT AT ME, YOU BROODY BASTARD!”

Constantine let out a scream. Shite, the king who held his soul contract was a crime lord. Great.

——

The reason intelligence and convoluted schemes and genius doesn’t work against Danny is because he’s got weird standards of what he’ll tolerate and the fact is that his normal dumbassery and mother hen tendencies cancels out and coherent thoughts or plans he might have had.

#danny phantom #batman #dc x dp #bruce wayne #jason todd #red hood #bamf danny phantom #danny the accidental crime lord #danny took over Gotham by adoption and intimidation #morally grey danny phantom #Gotham #scary danny phantom #tw: choking #not in the nasty way #in the intimidation tactic way #danny is losing it #a bit #nightwing #tbh I just wanted to write dark! Danny lol #without the whole world ending mass murder