madeofgoesfast:

A lot of things have been bothering Steven. Nic's death is still pressing... and he's just reaching the point he's realizing he, Mickey and especially Cindy, could really use something to help occupy their time and minds. He's familiar enough with Hawks, he hopes she has some of the 'family curse'.

He also really needs a source of income, so he can be the one to take Mickey out now and then. Which feeds back into the first issue.

So... being a Garrick, he goes about being proactive. Something to do, a potential way of making money, and some fun for people.

He starts by placing calls to Mickey (first and foremost), Jai, Cindy, Petra and Cat Grant, asking them to meet him in the JSA lounge. By the time they get there, he's speed sketched some stuff out for his presentation.

dareyoutorun:

Jai waited in the lobby at the hospital after leaving a message on Dad's phone, then calling Traya and Irey. He'd changed out of his costume almost immediately after dropping his mother off and then entered the hospital as he son, asking to see his mother.

She was in surgery now, so Jai paced the floor and waited for news, trying to understand what happened earlier. His powers simply shut down on him. What did that mean? It had never happened to him before. He hoped it was an isolated incident, because he couldn't afford to have it happen again.

He sits down and waits for the doctor to show up and, hopefully, bring some good news.
 

dc_parent:

"Good morning, this is Linda Park-West coming to you live from the opening of the new Keystone First National Bank. This bank was previously Keystone Savings and Loan, but was recently purchased and updated by its new owners, WorldCom International. According to a statement from World Com, this bank will be the first in 'a new wave of banks that come equipped to deal with the rigors of living in major cities that deal with meta-human issues." Linda says, turning slightly to welcome the bank manager, Coleman Reese.

"Mr. Reese, thank you for joining us. This is quite a turnout! Did you expect this?" Linda asks.

"Oh, we hoped for it, but it's good to see it happening and this is what want. We want people come and check us out. Keystone First National wants to be your bank for life and the first 10,000 customers will get free checking and savings accounts." Mr. Reese says.

"Maybe I need to bring my kids down here." Linda laughs.

The two talk for another minute and the current interview ends. Once her cameraman calls for a cut, Linda hands over her microphone and looks around at the crowds. She wanted a hot dog before the next segment and she thought about calling Iris and asking her to check on Jai.

Her kids were going to be adults next month and Linda smiled wistfully. Her babies were all grown-up. Where had the time gone?

Just then, she figured out what she could get them for their birthday.

"I bet they'll love this." she says, heading inside the bank.

dareyoutorun:

After his conversation with Din ends and he leaves. Jai picks up his phone and dials Irey.

"Hey, where are you? I need to talk to you." he says, his voice a bit shaky.

littleladylord:

The defeat of the monsters had gone well. And their antics in Asia were still getting some attention. And Jai had finally manned up, so she didn't have to stay mad at him. So Cindy called up everyone had been involved in their ad-hoc strike force for a meeting.

She leaves Daddy out of it this time, sitting in a nice, high-backed chair. The kind a girl can steeple her fingers in, waiting for them to arrive.

sonoftheatom:

After his talk with Petra, Dinadan started seeing a therapist. It's helped. He'll probably be able to go back to school in the fall and sit in a classroom without having a panic attack. He's just not sure he wants to.

It's important to his dad that he finish high school and go to college. And he's enjoyed school, enjoyed his time in the states, enjoyed meeting his dad's friends and befriending their kids. He likes his relationship with Petra, even if it's weird because he's still not feeling right. But after today...he's wondering if he ought to throw in the towel and change his focus to New Morlaidh, permanently.

Dinadan strides through the palace toward the room where they keep the telephone. There are a lot of people he'll need to talk to if he decides not to go back to Ivy Town in September, but right now he needs to talk to someone that he hasn't spoken to in a long while.

He dials the Park-West family's phone number and listens, pulse pounding, to the tinny sound of ringing.

dc_holiday:

"A father is a guy who has snapshots in his wallet where his money used to be." -- Unknown

masterofmatter:

It has to be done. It has to. If this crap continues on, it won't be good for any of them. Not just for Jai, who has to be going through issues. Not just for Traya, who he had been avoiding ever since he confessed there may be more than just friendship. And not just for him. So he finds a place that is open but deserted. The Ivy University Architecture and Engineering Study Rooms, on the first floor.

After holding his phone for several minutes, he begins to type out a message.

I hate doing this over text, but this needs to get resolved. Meet me in the Ivy U Arch&Engin stufy rooms 1st floor.

Then he scrolled down to the J's, casually noting the lack of names. In fact, Jai was the only one and he put it in on a whim. He didn't even know if it was a current number not. Then he clicked the box and scrolled down to the T's and clicked on Traya.

And away the messages go. Michael hopes this won't be a big mistake. He really does.

dc_parent:

Max scowled at the reports. Phantoms, Vampires, Robots, Monsters. A veritable Saturday Morning Cartoon full of trochee-termed cliched freaks. And not a helpful hero in sight. So many of them didn't even take his calls these days. Almost made one want to go back into the business.

...It really did almost make one want to go back into the business. So many of the younger set seemed to get along with Cindy. Maybe they'd be more willing to be civil in order to deal with deal with problems like this.

"Sweetie? I need your Rolodex."
"Dad, I don't have a Rolodex. I have an iPhone."
"Same thing, sweetie."

And the messages start going out.

batdaughter:

Keith wasn't dead.

This knowledge pounded through Marissa's head every second of her waking days, most significantly when she was dealing with Keith's family.  Dinah had made the gesture of inviting Marissa to come out to be with the family for the funeral preparations which meant that she was surrounded at any given moment by someone who should know that Keith was alive.  Dinah was easy to fool; the woman's grief was palpable and she voluntarily kept herself distracted by alternately working on Mia's wedding and the funeral.  Oliver never acknowledged her, which was fine.  Men have their own ways of grieving.  She hadn't had much contact with Mia, either, but that was by design.  Marissa still hadn't forgiven herself for letting Mia die so it was already awkward.  Sin, however, had been harder to shake.  The small woman seemed to be looking right through Marissa at every turn.  Keith was right; she was creepy. Marissa was fairly certain she knew something was wrong, which made Marissa faintly paranoid.  Keith wasn't dead.  She knew it and she really couldn't sit around and do nothing about it.

Left alone in Keith's room, Marissa found one of his old cellphones.  A few moments later she had his contact list and there was a particular number she was looking for.

I need to talk to someone about Keith. Star Tower Hotel restaurant 4pm. -MW

She had been generous with the time, but she knew Jai West was fast so Marissa was already there waiting when she sent the text.

littleladylord:

Cindy Lord had heard rumors, and they hinted at something up with which she would not put.

She dialed. "Michael. We need to talk. Have you eaten?"

dareyoutorun:

Jai sat at home, in his room, and looked down at the letters before him with a mixture of excitement and dread. Several of the schools he'd requested information from had written back, asking him to come and view their campuses this summer. Coast City University. Gotham University. Florida State and Loyola. University of Connecticut , Star City University and Butler. All of them wanted to meet him.

Then, he looks over the at the first line of the letter that came for him this morning.

...You have been selected to attend the Ellison Student Journalism Youth Forum in London, England from July 11th-July 15th, with Keynote Speaker, Lois Lane....

Jai was excited to go, if for no other reason than wanting to get away from everything around him for awhile. He wasn't Kid Flash anymore, and he wasn't a member of the Justice League. Both of those were his choice, but neither of them made him feel better. And worse, he still thought about Traya all the time.

"Yeah, I really need to get away." he says, to no one in particular, rising from his bed and changing clothes. He tells his mother he'll be back and later and he's gone before she responds.

Three minutes later, he's in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, skipping rocks in the water along the beach. It's soothing enough that he might get a few minutes of peace.

dareyoutorun:

One week after his resurrection, Jai West arrived at the YJLA HQ, looking for someone he could speak to. He hoped Jon was here; it would be easier for him to talk to Jon about this, or maybe even Corrina. He had to inform someone, though, so that they could start looking for a replacement if necessary.

He passed the meeting room, with meeting table reserved for the core members of the League. Jai walked into the room, looking down at everyone's familiar symbols carved into the table. He'd heard that the JSA have a table just like this at the Brownstone, but he'd never seen it.

Anyone walking by would find him there.

catchmeifyoucan:

"You've been in your room since we got home," Iris said, knocking on her brother's door.

"I know you're upset...but that wasn't you, Jai. Please, let me. I just want to talk. We don't even have to stay here. We could go to China. For real Chinese food."

Another pause.

"Jai, please. Talk to me."

dc_misc:

The city of Star City looked deserted. The citizens had either fled or had been turned into black lanterns. At the heart of the city was the entity known as Nekron. Nekron used the city as his base as his black lanterns ravaged the Earth.

The black lanterns increased their numbers each day and the power levels of the black lantern battery increased with each person that died.

Soon Nekron would have enough power to obliterate all life on this planet.

catchmeifyoucan:

(Takes place before this thread)

Ever since she had taken up the mantle of Kid Flash, Iris had been busier than normal. Especially when it came to patrols.

Things weren't the same without Jai. And while there were some days when she just wanted to just go to her room and cry, she knew she couldn't. She had to be strong.

For her team. For her family. Cerdian, Cait, and Jai wouldn't have allowed themselves to crack under pressure, so neither would she.

Iris came home from patrol that night to an empty house.

"Mom? Dad? Anybody home?"

sonoftheatom:

[Bendytimed to before this]

Out in the yard behind his house, Dinadan goes through his forms. He's still not happy with them yet -- having to take time off for recovery had played merry havoc on his exercise routine -- but he has homework that needs to get done and, since his father's out of town tonight, he's in charge of making his own dinner. He thinks about calling Petra and going over there for dinner, but...homework. He really needs to do his homework first, before he calls Petra, or else he'll get distracted.

He rolls his head from side to side, stretching the kinks out of his neck, then lays his sword down on the grass and begins going through his post-exercise stretches, his mind focused on organizing his evening's plans.

tiny_tornado:

Traya was on monitor duty in the YJLA HQ, her helmet resting on the control console while she paid attention to the various broadcasts.

So much death and destruction in the world lately.  So many heroes who had died.  Superman.  The Blue Beetle.  Metamorpho.  Cait.  Cerdian.  Jai.

It just seemed like the world was heading to hell in a hand basket.  The darkness encroaching in.

But she couldn't believe that.  Couldn't.  They were the heroes.  They always won.  Good would always triumph over evil, so long as they held onto hope.   Just like her dad always told her.  No matter what happened, you kept right on trying until you got it right.

She leaned back and sighed.  No major emergencies that required responding to since Gotham.  Even with whatever was going on in Atlantis.

headofthedemon:

Damien Wilson watches as his technicians monitor the progress of the machine as it begins to power up. Jai West is performing without issue and Damien stands with his mother and sister,  watching as the clock approaches midnight. This project is the culmination of decades of work, going back to his grandfather's experiments. Ra's al Ghul had a sweeping vision, Damien agreed, but he allowed too many small details to remain to chance, such as his ongoing issues with Batman.

Bruce Wayne's death was an issue, but Terry McGinnis was going to be a problem, as would Wayne's daughters and other partners.  The Outsiders would come for him eventually, too. He had no doubt that he could stop them as they came, but an en masse attack would be harder to stop than a piecemeal one. Hence, tonight's experiment.

"Master, the Machine is ready for use. The Denver sub-station is also up and running. America should be protected from the experiment." Lloyd Simmons says.

"Excellent. And Mr. West's status? " Damien asks.

"He's performing optimally." Simmons says.

"Very well. Proceed." Damien says, looking over to the reddish-yellow blur inside the cylindrical machine beyond the glass. The power from Jai's exertions was captured and fed into the machine, allowing it to operate at such a high level. The young man was a generator of immense energy. If he survived this effort, Damien would use him again, or perhaps one of the other speedsters his people had been tracking.

"Morgaine, this year is nearly over. Do you have any resolutions, my sister?" Damien asks.

dareyoutorun:

Jai West doesn't need to be able to think clearly to know that he's in bad shape. His brain feels as though it's floating in toxic waste. He doesn't know how many times they've drugged him or forced him to run, but he's sure it's a lot. They feed him well-enough, but whatever they're lacing the food with slows his normally high-speed thought processes to tortoise speed. Irey could probably run faster than he can think right now, and it sucks.

And every other day, /he/ shows up to talk.

Today, Jai has started the morning by puking up his breakfast. He's lying in the puddle of his own vomit when the Boss (and that's all he can be, because everyone runs to do what he says on command) shows up for their talk.

"You look...dapperrrr....today." Jai slurs in the man's direction.

dareyoutorun:

Jai West should have been at JLA headquarters with the others, but a few things conspired to keep him from doing so. First, his tutoring session with Mitzi Storm ran /way/ over the time limit they'd set because Mitzi was having issues with Trigonometry. Jai patiently explained everything a few times and Mitzi seemed to get it, culminating in her being able to finish several of the equations on her own.

Mitzi was so thrilled at her progress that she kissed Jai out of sheer joy.

He was in no hurry to tell Traya about /that/, so when the guys said they wanted to go to Big Mack's for burgers, Jai was all for it. He figured he'd get a quick dinner in, catch up with Traya for a bit, then go home and talk to Mom about his report on the American media and its influence on society.

Once dinner was done, Jai was ready to tell Traya what happened, despite all of his friends' advice to the contrary. They all thought it was a better idea for him not talk about it, especially since they were still using Traya's name with air quotes. He really had to get her to come to the school sometime and show his friends up.

He walked down the street to an alleyway, ready to run for it when his cell phone rang. Lookign at the Caller ID, he sees Mom calling him.

"Hey, Mom. What's up?" Jai asks.
 

( Read more... )

dc_holiday:

All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween as it has been come to be called, is a popular holiday with children and adults alike. It is a holiday that had its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain or Summer's End. Samhain celebrated the end of the "lighter half" of the year and the beginning of the "darker half".

On this evening the barriers between this world and the Otherworld were believed to be thin and the spirits, good and bad, of the dead could pass through. The spirits of the family's ancestors were welcomed in while evil and bad spirits were warded off by the wearing of masks and costumes. The costumes and masks disguised one as a harmful spirit and avoided harm from others.

It was also a harvest celebration and time to take stock of food stores for the winter. Livestock were slaughtered and the meat prepared for storage. It was the final harvest of the year and the crops were then stored for the winter. Celebrations included bonfires and tales of the family's ancestors.

It was a celebration of the dead and of the harvest.

Today we dress up in scary and not so scary costumes and masks and go door to door for candy or attend costume parties. It is a night for revelry, pranks and fun.

dc_titansofmyth:

Asteria, goddess of the stars, was fascinated by these mortals and the devices they had to view the stars. She was currently at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. She was looking through the telescope after having chased off the mortals.

dc_titansofmyth:

Selene, once the goddess of the moon before Artemis, walked toward the office building of a small subsidiary of LexCorp. She raised her hands and beams of light shot from her hands and shattered some of the windows. People inside screamed and started to panic as shard of glass went everywhere.

young_swimmer:

Cait had called Jon and a meeting had been set once all the avatars had been located. It seemed like every god and goddess had chosen an avatar to act in their stead during this crisis. They would all be needed along with the rest of the teams. Their opponents weren't just supervillains, but were gods.

Cait along with Ty, Ruth and Dinah headed for the JLA headquarters. Dinah was Hephaestus' avatar, Cait was Poseidon's, Ruth was Hera's and Ty was excellent at coordinating and knowing things. They would be the representatives for the Teen Titans.

They arrived and took seats at the table.

dc_gods:

Hermes, son of Zeus and Maia, was the patron god of commerce, thieves, travelers, sports, and border crossings and also the messenger of the gods, skidded to a halt in front of Jai West.

"Jai West, son of Wally West, I am Hermes and you have been selected to be my avatar during this time of troubles."

dc_titansofmyth:

Oceanus, Titan and once ruler of the oceans, rose from the waters of the North Sea close to the Faroe Islands. He looked at the large monstrosity of a LexOil oil drilling platform rising out of the water. These mortals had the nerve to poison his oceans. Oceanus would show them what happened to insolent beings who dared to poison Gaea with their technology.

Oceanus summoned the power of the ocean itself as he moved toward the platform.

catchmeifyoucan:

Since the calendar had turned to the month of September, Iris had been counting down the days until their birthday. She'd been planning the party since back in June. Jai normally had no problem letting her handle the party planning itself.

She had invited all of the Titans, including Pipi and Mitzi, of course. And Jon, Corinna, Traya, Cindy, Jerry, Keith, Cerdian, and Wendi, too. And Riley, because if she didn't invite him, he'd probably tag along with Dinah anyway. She also told Cait that she could bring her mom along, if she wanted to get out of the Tower, and that her parents probably wouldn't mind the company at all. Jai probably invited some people too, though the guest list was pretty much the same between the two of them.

Everything was all set up, and Iris placed the wrapped package that had Jai's gift on the table where the other gifts would go. Grinning from ear to ear, she waited for everyone to arrive.

dc_monsters:

The waters of the Atlantic could be turbulent and deadly with the storms that kicked up the waves. Today it was a bright sunny day and the waters were calm.

Or were calm.

The waters around a fishing trawler in the Grand Banks erupted in a spray of water. The Leviathan, a creature of myth and legend, was alive and hunting in the waters of the North Atlantic. The large monster roared and attacked the fishing trawler.

The captain of the boat managed to get a short message to shore before the ship started to sink, taking cargo and crew with it.

dareyoutorun:

Jai was somewhat depressed at the idea of going back to school next week, though he would be glad to see his friends again. He'd also signed up to tutor mat this year and he'd find out who his "student" would be not long into the school year. No sports, of course, because of his powers. He also had to make sure Irey didn't find her present until their birthday.

Thinking about all of these things kept his mind off his largest worry, the one that had eaten away at him all summer long: Traya was going to college, with college classes, college parties, and college activities.

Worst of all, there would be college guys.

It wouldn't be hard for him to see her when he wanted, but they'd both agreed to enjoy the summer (which they had, by God) and see where things went from there. What if she'd changed her mind about him? What if she wanted to explore college and everything it had to offer.

Finally, the wondering got too intense and Jai had to get things out in the open. He whipped out his phone and fired of a text.

Hey, u free?

green_lantern:

It wasn't something Dex would have thought on his own, but Maura had insisted on him meeting the Young Justice League. He had learned about the League through other green lanterns when he was on Oa and heard many stories about their bravery and actions. He had hoped to get assigned to Earth and be able to fight along side of them.

He changed into his uniform and headed over there.

He was undaunted as he approached their headquarters.

littleladylord:

Four different kinds of gourmet Macaroni and Cheese. Stacks upon stacks of different finger sandwiches, with the yards worth of crusts used to make a couple of heated trays of bread pudding. A pineapple-banana-pecan cake possibly bigger than the birthday girl herself. A small table of vegan stuff, just in case.

Cindy couldn't stop grinning at it. Had she found awesome caterers or what?

The band specialized in swing covers of hard rock songs, but could play just about anything. There was a dance floor. All her friends from school were there, dressed to the eights.

Of course, all Cindy's friends from school didn't really fill up the little reception hall. And she certainly didn't have a big family. But that was okay, more room for her soon-to-be-colleagues fellow super-brats.

And so she scurried, from arrival to arrival, for cheerful welcomes.

littleladylord:

'The pleasure of your company is cordially requested by Miss Lenore Cynthia Montgomery Lord at a celebration of her 16th birthday. at 6 pm on the 25th of July.'

Calligraphy. Cardstock paper with those little RSVP cards and everything.  That should make it clear that her birthday is going to be awesome, right?

Cindy Lord's powers don't work in print, so she feels there can be no confusion about what the fancy etiquette signifies beyond, in Cindy's mind, 'important'. 

Among the rather prissy-looking envelopes sent out are those addressed to Miss Traya Smith, Miss Petra Beatriz Gardener, Mr. Jonathan Kent, Her Royal Highness Caitria Curry, Mr. Jai Allen West, Miss Iris Lillian West, Miss Dinah Michelle Kord, Mr. Riley Edward Carter,


But she makes sure the little notes on the invitations include 'Dress flexible'. She doesn't want anybody not coming to her party because they didn't feel like wearing heels or a tie.

in_a_snap:

(Timebendyed so anyone can be involved)

Jerry had heard that there was suppose to be an amazing meteor shower tonight and the best place to see it was in the Arches National Park in Utah. He had let dad knew he was going to spend the night there which his dad was totally fine with.

After teleporting in with some basic supplies he started looking for a good place to watch it from. Teleporting around the park he saw a mesa that looked like he could get a great view from. He snapped his fingers and appeared in a flash of green at the top of the mesa.

What he saw up there was something that he Jerry Carr had trouble believing. There was a organic looking machine with little robotic drones eating the rocks. And one charged right at him.

Quickly snapping both hands he teleported away and teleported a boulder right on top of the drone crushing it. Jerry let out a sigh of relief until he noticed that the drones were now eating the boulder and forming even more drones.

This was bad and Jerry knew he could not handle this by himself and felt that it would be smart to call in as much help as he could.

Teleporting back to his stuff away from the mesa he grabbed his cell phone and started calling all of the people he knew who were superheroes to get as much help as he could.

dc_holiday:

What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it ... Dad

dc_holiday:

Mothers are the place that we call home.
On them we rest our heads and close our eyes.
There's no one else who grants the same soft peace,
Happiness, contentment, sweet release,
Erasing nighttime tears with lullabies,
Restoring the bright sun that makes us bloom. - Anonymous

sonic_arrow:

Archer called in the YJLA for something rather important.  He had been thinking about dropping out of the group for awhile, but never really had the motivation until recently.  He waited in the meeting room, fully diguised in his get-up as Archer.  There were only three people in the YJLA that knew he was Keith Queen, and he wanted to keep it that way.

dareyoutorun:

"Jai, we need to talk...about you and Traya." Linda says, having cornered her son in the kitchen of all places, setting down her purse. She doesn't want to fight with him, but he's too much like her; stubborn as all get-out when he feels that he's right.

Jai rolls his eyes and sighs deeply, knowing what his mother will say next, or some variation of it.
( Read more... )

dareyoutorun:

Jai West is four minutes early, but doesn't know if Traya will consider that late. He's inherited his father's and great uncle's ability to be late, even though he's The Fastest Boy Alive.

His face is healed from the attack he suffered from an alien gorilla earlier this week. The rest of the team is okay, although it was strange to be kidnapped as part of a plot to bring Henry and Katima together (don't even get him started on that). He hopes that Henry and Katima have something real, but he's sure that's not going to tie itself up nice and pretty for everyone involved.

He's wearing some of the new clothes that Iris helped him pick out: black shirt, blue jeans and black boots as he waits for her to arrive at the mall. Jai's even decided to come to Traya's town to keep nosy little sisters (re: Iris) from tagging along for updates. 

He takes a deep breath and resists the urge to run home and change for the third time.

lantern_rogues:

Torgar is annoyed.

"We don't have the entire League yet. We'll need to collect the Green Lantern," he tells the others.

dareyoutorun:

Jai West's life is pretty awesome right now. He's got good grades, cool friends, he's a hero, and best of all, he has a hot date on Friday night with Traya Smith. Life is pretty good just now as he races about Keystone City in costume, helping people who cannot help themselves.

He hears a scream from a nearby alley and in moments he's there, looking for the jerk mugger he needs to deal with.

Or so he thinks....

lantern_kid:

Henry grins as he makes certain the bowls of chips are filled. Sodas are available. He's got a hidden stash of beers in his room, but... it's an underage superhero party. They're not visible to most. Those who want one will know to ask him.

People will be arriving soon. He's got tunes, he's got snacks and drinks, he's got games set up to go, and he's got superhero kids coming from all over. While the primary purpose was to make certain the YJLA got a chance to meet Avalon and Josh, the Titans and others have all been invited, too.

This party will rock.

lantern_kid:

Henry cut his last class today. He needs to make it out to Keystone by 4 their time, to be able to catch Iris alone. He doesn't want to talk to Jai right now... he'd be tempted to punch him in the face.

So Henry lands unseen behind the bleachers and steps out, dressed in normal clothes again, approaching the cheerleaders as they disband. Normally, he has a different motive when approaching a band of cheerleaders after practice, but today, it's business that brings him here. He stands nearby, hoping that Iris notices him waiting.

lantern_kid:

Of course Black Hand would attack Coast City with his latest scheme for world-devastation when Dad and Carol were both out of the galaxy. Thankfully, he did have some backup -- his new Blue Lantern partner was pretty much the only thing keeping Henry alive right now.

Henry hopes that the Guardians can do something to help his arm. Black Hand managed to touch him, and his left arm feels like it's shriveling away, held in check only by his green charge. But it's not time to worry about saving his arm right now. He needs to take Black Hand down, and fast, before he kills any more people.

"Hey, Hand?" Henry snarls. Ava's been keeping him on the ropes for a bit while Henry catches his breath. Black Hand looks up at the Green Lantern. Henry's mind races to think up a pithy line he can deliver.

"Fuck off."

Oh, well. He'll be more pithy next time. He unleashes the full power of his green ring at Black Hand, knocking the zombie flat on his back. "Wrap him up, Ava," he tells his partner. "We need to get him to the Sciencells."

Henry wavers a moment... then collapses, the ring fighting to keep the infection from spreading up his arm. But something must be done, and quickly...

old_saint_nick:

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Christmas Day is a Christian holiday, it's true, but it also has become increasingly secular. It is an opportunity for love, charity, and goodwill.

There is some debate within mystical circles if there is indeed such a creature as the embodiment of Christmas Giving known as Santa Claus. But whether or not there is such a being, the spirit of giving itself is very real, be it incarnated in a fat man in a red suit or not.

Throughout this small blue planet of Earth, people have brought trees into their homes, decorated them with lights and ornaments, and placed them in locations of honor. Stockings have been placed on the chimneys. And gifts have been placed under the tree.

Some are looking forward more to the receiving than the giving. But for many, it is the act of giving which warms them, which fills them with the holiday spirit.

Each person, in their own way, becomes a part of this spirit of giving. Each person, in their own way, becomes Santa Claus.

The Watchtower of the Justice League is not easily seen by passersby. Despite this, it is lined with a number of Christmas lights, thanks to certain spacefaring members of the League, while inside, decorations fill the common areas. As for the League members themselves...

dc_eldritch:

No one in the world on this night escapes it. They find themselves wanting to just curl up for a few minutes for some sleep. Weather it is just a nap or actually going to bed they find themselves sleeping. They do not get to sleep well. Screams of hosts long since dead haunt them and many of the dreamers find themselves herded up like cattle by strangers in heavy robes carrying pitch forks and guns.

"Where are we going," a man asks.

One of the robed men speaks. "To see our lord. You do not know the way. We shall guide you."

A child cries that she wants her mommy as they are separated. A man is shot for trying to run away and the smell of something burning fills the air.

The world is on fire and no one can escape it. They must go with the strangers to see their lord.

The dreamers are brought to a boat that goes across a sea of blood and gore. They find themselves marched across an island and they enter a tall nd terrible temple. When they try to really look at it a few go mad and start to gibber nonsense as their hair turns white and their skin wrinkles and shrivels up. They are suddenly very old.

The chanting is heard as the dreamers enter the temple.

"Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn," the terrible chant is burned into the minds of people who are truly insane. People who are blessed or cursed with knowledge of the magical world find themselves puking both in the dreaming and the real world. For reasons they can not explain in the dreaming world they know that this place is terrible.

And then they are brought into the main chamber of the temple. A scream goes out as a great clawed hand comes down and begins to grab people by the dozens and brings them into the mouth of a terrible creature. The people who are eaten are lucky if anyone who can be called that. They wake up.

The are not so lucky. They think they are awake. They think are safe. But there are things lurking in the darkness of their dream world, waiting.

newimprovedbat:

Crime doesn't sleep in Gotham City.

Since donning the cowl of Batman over a month and a half ago, Terry McGinnis has learned this quickly. He's learned a lot of things quickly. He's had to. In Gotham, crime doesn't slow down just because it's defender is new to the game.

And for about that month and a half, other than finding a way to juggle his personal life as Terry and his moonlighting at Batman, he's been on the prowl, looking to crack a drug-dealing ring that's been going out of Gotham since before he stepped into the Bat-suit.

The dealers have been quick, covering up their tracks, moving just when Terry got a lead on their location. Always one step ahead of him. Deliveries to other cities handled in broad daylight, under 'business shipments'. Broad daylight, when the Batman didn't prowl the cities, striking fear into the hearts of criminals and delivering justice.

Last night though, someone slipped up. Last night, someone told Batman where he could find the mastermind behind the drug-smuggling ring. Carlo Falcone. The mob's up-and-coming star. Of course it had to be the mob. This didn't shock Terry in the slightest. The Jokerz didn't have the brain power or the organizational skills to pull off something this big.

And Terry's poised over where his "informant" told him that he could find Falcone and his goons. Gotham pier. Third warehouse down.

He watches from the rooftops, waiting to strike.

imperiousamazon:

Outside of the Titan's Tower lands yet another number to be added to the growing team. She isn't here willingly but the young Amazon sets her shoulders back with pride and scans the island with a critical gaze. She can not belive that she has been sent here still. Mother can not be serious about this!

True she had been getting mouthy but there were other ways to discipline someone than to send them to strangers. She did not care for Man's world. She may have heard stories of it's heroes and the many adventures that all the Amazons who had left the island at one point or another had but that did not mean Corinna wanted to join in on them.

She starts to walk towards the entrance to the tower and for a moment flashes back to a dream she had a few weeks ago. She knew she was going to come to a strange tower one day, didn't she? The idea rattled around in her mind until Corinna pushed it away as ridiculous right before she stopped and knocked on the front door.

No reason to be rude after all.

lantern_kid:

17 years ago, a zombie invasion of New York City led to Hal Jordan to find an abandoned infant. Eventually, this infant was adopted by Jordan.

While Henry's exact birthdate is believed to be October 24th, he generally celebrates on the day his father found him... and this means he doesn't hold back when he throws his Halloween parties.

He's dressed as a zombie Hugh Hefner as he carefully checks over the snacks and drinks. People should be arriving soon. The decorations are all in place: black walls, different colored lights in each room, a strobelight by the dance floor, balloons and streamers, corpses and skeletons...

People should be arriving soon, and Henry is thrilled. He's got some cute people coming, both superhero-kid and civilian, and he's looking forward to seeing people mingle.

catchmeifyoucan:

Bendytimed to late September, early October

The cake's on the kitchen counter and everything's ready. The food is on a long table in the living room, various snacks and assorted boxes of pizza. Fun, upbeat, lively music plays in the background.

Invitations have been sent out weeks in advanced and the West house is ready for a slew of guests.

And Iris...is ecstatic. Ever since she was a little girl, she's dreamed of this. Her Sweet Sixteen. Well...technically her and Jai's Sweet Sixteen...even though Sweet Sixteen always seemed like a girl thing anyway so did that make it what, a Sour Sixteen or something for him?

Anyway....

Technical terms aside, she was as hyperactive as ever, in her brand new light blue dress and white ballet flats. Invitations had been sent out to everyone, family and friends alike.

A wide grin on her face, she zipped around the room, making sure that everything was perfect, and avoiding tripping over Jai, who was reading a book (like always) on the floor in the living room.

The doorbell rings, and her grin widens.

"I'll get it!"