Cullen Row
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Chapter 95: Bored Meeting IV–Tense Future
In which The Gotham Knights, Prime One, and Forager discuss their current domestic arrangements, along with the repopulation of Future Earth in the Post Anti-Life Equation Era–and what might follow. I guess you could call those domestic rearrangements? Humans. Aliens. Plants. Animals. Finding space for all, a modus vivendi. Maybe a slightly bigger deal than Continue reading
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Chapter 94: Un Vieux Clocher.
In which Duela makes the rounds of her restored social circle–or as the French say, La Ronde? In a Belfry that is both old and new. As is the world itself. “That could have gone a lot better.” “Or a lot worse. If not for Harper.” “Yeah! She really came through for us, Turner. Some Continue reading
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Chapter 93: Thou Swell, Thou Batty
In which The Gotham Knights are reunited in the distant future–but the strain of bringing them all back together has left Duela in an odd abstracted mental state. Nothing new for her. Except now, courtesy of Bat-Mite, she has the power to warp reality itself. So reality’s going to get warped. Duela-style. The last thing Continue reading
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Chapter 92: We’ll Be Together Again
In which Carrie, Cullen, Harper, and Stephanie, mourning Turner and Duela, get an offer from the distant future which they can, if they wish, refuse–but do they? “We really need to stop meeting like this.” Carrie was trying to joke. But her tone was deadly earnest. And her timing was never the best. Duela used Continue reading
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Chapter 82: La Mer
In which Bat-Mite explains to Duela why she isn’t dead anymore, why Turner isn’t all there (though part of him is), what happened in her very long absence, and why she has to fix it all somehow. Also that she is now–well–let’s see how the explaining goes. “So is this Pismo Beach? I knew I Continue reading
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Chapter 79: Two Funerals and a Warning.
In which the Gotham Knights and their families mourn the deaths of Harvey Dent and Lisa Kelley. Sing a few songs to mark their passing. And discuss the increasingly odd behavior of Brody March. Two best friends for life greeted each other with more than their usual warmth. Both arrayed in somber black attire. Not Continue reading
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Chapter 76: I Wish I Had A Dog Again
In which Duela throws her new daughter-in-law Talia a post-wedding party, so those she loves can meet the new family member. Mairead shows up, her fellow cop, James Sawyer, on her arm–we’ve already met him. And the usual former suspects. Two dogs happily run their doggy scams to get table scraps, and we hear some Continue reading
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Chapter 72: The Fall of the House of Arkham, AKA Sinnerman
In which Arkham Asylum gets leveled to the ground, while The Gotham Knights and their friends watch. The afterparty is at Wayne Manor. Some former Arkham inmates are on the invite list. There’s another time jump here. Bigger one coming. Soon. Gotham Knights: Our Fight for Friendship, Family and Fairness was the biggest seller Gotham Continue reading
Arkham Asylum, Bat-Mite, Carrie Kelley, Cullen Row, David Lynch, Duela Dent, Edgar Allan Poe, fan fiction, Gotham Knights, Harper Row, Harvey Dent, Inland Empire, Maxie Zeus, Miagani Tribe, Nina Simone, Sinnerman, Stephanie Brown, Turner Hayes, Two-Face, Waylon Jones AKA ‘Killer’ Croc, Wayne Manor, Wynton Kelly -
Chapter 64: Que Sera Sera
In which Duela gives birth, surrounded by people who love her–and we learn the name she’s chosen for her daughter. Hasn’t been a year since Turner came back to her. She’s changed a great deal since then. But Duela will always be–Duela. (Just FYI, there’s a Sun Fat Tat Express in the Gotham Chinatown of our own dimension. I therefore Continue reading
Bat-Mite, Billie Holiday, Bruce Wayne, Carrie Kelley, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Cullen Row, Doris Day, Duela Dent, fan fiction, George and Ira Gershwin, Gotham Knights, Harper Row, Helena Wayne, Jay Livingston, Maxie Zeus, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Ray Evans, Selina Kyle, Sly and The Family Stone, Stephanie Brown, The Joker, Turner Hayes -
Chapter 58: Lullaby of the Leavetaking, AKA The Cat and the Bat
In which Duela goes on singing her heart out at The Narrows Cafe to deal with her self-imposed split from Turner–but turns out there’s also a split inside herself. Meanwhile, Selina fills Turner in on how she and Bruce split before his death. The other Knights try to get professional help. Not for them, though I’m sure they Continue reading
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Chapter 57: ‘Just Friends’, AKA Track of The Cat
In which Turner and Duela’s hearts continue to shatter, this time at The Narrows Cafe. While their friends look on on dumbstruck dismay. And a special guest villainess is experiencing deja vu, as she looks on from the shadows. Carefully, on tiptoe stealing. Goodness me. Why, what was that? Silent be. It was The Cat. “No.” “Singer chooses the songs, Continue reading
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Chapter 55: Cullen Comes To Arkham
In which Cullen accompanies Duela to visit Harvey Dent in his cell, while Turner confers with Linus Hampton about his plans to give Bruce’s fortune away. And I reference the title of a Chester Himes novel while breaking my pledge not to go past 55 chapters, because obviously this isn’t the last one. I’m not even sure Continue reading
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Chapter 51: Horse Sense
In which Turner has a surprise for Duela, and she’s reunited with an old friend. She has a song for both of them. And there’s a bit of a narrative transition. Can’t be starting every chapter a few hours, minutes, or even seconds after the last one started. Catches up with you, chronologically speaking. So let’s catch up. Not least Continue reading
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Chapter 50: Tea For Two
In which the honeymoon finally begins, at the Green Glen Motel. Duela reveals a shocking secret. And yeah, I’m using that song. It can’t all be Rodgers & Hart. There were other good songwriters. Still are, I believe. Fewer. And since it was published in 1924, out of copyright. Come and get me, Youmans & Caesar! You’re out of copyright too! When I’m out Continue reading
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Chapter 49: And Her Jeers Flowed Like Wine
In which Duela, Turner, Carrie, and Cullen continue to make their way to the Green Glen Motel, but have one more obstacle to surmount before they get there. Special Guest Villainess from the comics. Tell me if you’ve heard this one before… “Guys, we’re being followed again. By what I think is a clown car?” Cullen sounded confused. “Oh Continue reading
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Chapter 48: Batmobility
In which two thirds of the team takes on assassins out to kill Turner and Duela, Carrie has a much better car to drive, and Cullen ditches his wedding date. Turner and Duela are feeling a mite thwarted. The honeymoon isn’t over, since it hasn’t properly begun yet. “There’s three SUV’s tailing us. Trying not to be Continue reading
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Chapter 47: The Red Bean Reception
In which there is singing, dancing, cake, dim sum, friendship, true love, intrigue. And a few surprise guests. The wedding processional Duela had instigated outside City Hall on a random whim was starting to get out of hand. As word got around, the streets began to pack with onlookers, many cheering, some booing, all gawking–four Continue reading
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Chapter 46: The Red Wedding
In which Turner and Duela get hitched. Finally. Okay, Turner’s been back maybe six weeks, they met less than a year ago. It just feels like a long time. Anyway. Here goes. Ready for your close-up, Duela? “Stop fidgeting! Your hair is a mess!” “It always is. Turner likes it that way. He better not Continue reading
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Chapter 44: Sez Who? Sez You! Sez I!
In which a victory party is thrown at The Olympus Nightclub to commemorate the overthrow of Two-Face, and then Duela overthrows Reality. Just for badness. Don’t worry, she’ll put it all back the way it was. Probably. They reset the entire universe in the comics every few years these days and never undo it. This Continue reading
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Chapter 43: The Rogues Gallery Caper (AKA, My Friend The Night)
In which Cullen’s artwork is unveiled at the Gotham Museum of Art, while his friends look on proudly. He has a surprise for Duela. While she’s plotting one for the entire city. Still time to play matchmaker on the side. She multitasks a lot. “My name is Cullen Row. The family name I was born Continue reading
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Chapter 42: Bored Meeting III
In which the Gotham Knights confab in Duela’s hospital room, to figure out what’s next. Because seriously–what’s next? They don’t have any more villains to fight. Does this mean Villainography is no longer a valid field of study? Duela is going to have a thing or two to say about that. But mainly she just Continue reading
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Chapter 41: It Could Happen To You
In which–well–that would be telling. Let’s find out. We’ll begin with seven normal-sized people. (I couldn’t get Peter Dinklage.) The mood in the hospital waiting room was, shall we say, funereal. Even though Duela had not been declared dead. “All I had to do was take the damn hat off. It was right there. Snatch Continue reading
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Chapter 39: Mined Games, Part 1
In which Duela ventures into the shared consciousness of Two-Face and Harvey Dent, attempting to make them one person again. A serious endeavor, with potentially fatal consequences. Does she approach it with the proper solemnity due such a fraught situation? Have you met her? Turner has. And he waits to see if their acquaintanceship is Continue reading
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Chapter 37: I Didn’t Know What Time You Write A Book In
In which Duela has a song for Turner, and he has one for her. Future plans of various kinds are discussed at a cafe. But first, a bit of mopping up at Two-Face’s apartment building. All mere preface to the coming battle of wills inside Harvey’s head. When the hurly burly’s done. When the battle’s Continue reading
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Chapter 36: Hat Trick
In which Duela, Turner, and Carrie break into Two-Face’s lair for a showdown. While Harper, Stephanie, and Cullen wait to learn their fate. Special Guest Villain–oh really, the title should give that away. Across the street from the apartment building, Duela handed Turner and Carrie two small pills to swallow–Batman’s antidote to Joker ‘venom’, that Continue reading
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Chapter 35: Villainography
In which Two-Face has a chat with his most-unwilling guests, Harper, Stephanie, and Cullen–and reacts to the reports coming in about what’s happening to his criminal empire under cover of night, with the Joker’s Moon grinning down at him. I’m sure he’ll take it all in the best possible humor. Please note the qualifier. Cullen Continue reading
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Chapter 32: The Beast in the Brambles
In which Turner and Duela return to the Green Glen Motel with Maggie, only to find Two-Face is making his move–then someone makes a move of his own. Special Guest Star decidedly not from the comics. Though there were some graphic novels. “So the way of it is, there’s no end of things wrong with Continue reading
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Chapter 24: Our Dinner With Harvey
In which four of the Gotham Knights sit down to eat with Two-Face, in Harvey’s apartment. I didn’t call it ‘Our Dinner With Two-Face’ because I was going for a Louis Malle ref, and Harvey kinda sorta rhymes with Andre. Harvey’s still in there. Maybe he’ll put in a brief appearance. Turner and Duela, having Continue reading
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Chapter 23: Into the Linus’ Den (aka The Summer Time News).
In which Turner and Duela consult an attorney, do a TV interview–and not long after that– “Dinner with Two-Face is tonight. Duela and I have to go. Who else wants to? Maybe that’s the wrong way to phrase it. Who’s going?” “Me, Turner. I want to be there for you and Duela, but also–I want Continue reading
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Chapter 22: The Ones Who Dream
In which Duela dares to show Cullen she cares. And then they share. “Hello? Am I in the right section? I was looking for this book about an artsy guy who had a bad night out, and missed an important meeting. Reviews were mixed, but thought I’d give it a scan.” “If you’re expecting this Continue reading
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Chapter 21: War Meeting
In which I return to numbered chapters, because I can’t think of an alternative way for me to remember where I am in this on-the-fly novel I’m writing. Somewhere in season three of a show that should not have been canceled so soon. So many questions here. How do we deal with Two-Face? Where is Continue reading
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Reprise: Bored Meeting II
In which I delay starting the new storyline a little longer, and anyway, the first Bored Meeting is still one of the more popular chapters. For some reason. Personally, I wasn’t that thrilled with it (there’s no songs!), but as I like to say, there’s no accounting for taste–the books never balance. Maybe I should Continue reading
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Interlude: Hobohemia.
In which we take a little break between storylines, now that The Ducard Affair has concluded. Meanwhile, back at The Belfry…… Harper couldn’t sleep. The futon was comfortable enough, she could not have desired a more compatible bedmate than Stephanie, who was out like a light, not even snoring. Stephanie had needed to get her Continue reading
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Chapter 10: Forever and a Day.
In which the reunited team celebrates Turner’s return–and deals with his and Duela’s impending trip to Switzerland, to confront Ducard. If all we ever have is today–make it last forever. “Quibbling, I tells ya!” Duela shouted, a manic gleam in her eye. “I’m singing my heart out over him being gone forever, dancing with his Continue reading
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Chapter 9: Morning Song
In which Duela learns about Turner’s instrument. ( Oh get your minds out of the gutter.) The reunited couple face the cold light of dawn, and like it just fine. The remaining Gotham Knights face the cold light of reality–Turner isn’t dead–and like that even more. Bo Han is a fairly obscure DC Comics character, Continue reading
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Chapter 6: I Cover the Waterfront
In which Stephanie goes full Emma (it’s an Austen ref, go with it, and no I’m not saying she’s Clueless), Duela duets with Lady Day, Cullen and Harper try to make amends, and I finally find something for Brody to do. I was going to use him in Chapter 5, but it didn’t work, so Continue reading
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Chapter 5: The Whores of Arkham
In which Carrie lays down the law, Cullen makes a faux-pas, Harper realizes she’s been harping a bit too much, and Duela is mortally offended, which would seem to contravene our mission statement, but let’s see how it goes. Turner’s return is imminent. Not yet nigh. (Parenthetically, hence the parentheses, it would make me so Continue reading
Not Offended 