Gotham Knights
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Chapter 98: A Twinkle In Your Eye
In which the Great Reunion in Future Gotham continues and expands. This time more from the POV of Maggie the Elder. Who is going to be reunited with the love of her life. Both of them. Awkward. Well, this has been a longstanding theological debate, of course. With regards to multiple spouses in the Next Continue reading
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Chapter 97: This Heart of Ours
In which Duela and Turner start to bring back–well–almost everybody. Except Duela’s mom. Who Duela believes was reincarnated as one of their dogs. The dog she’ll bring back. So that counts. Kind of. Anyway. We’ll start with Maggie the Younger. Mairead Sawyer, on her death bed, only a hint of red left in her silvered Continue reading
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Chapter 96: Aces and Japes
In which—?????!!??! Turner Hayes was awakened by a cold wet nose. He opened his blue grey eyes. Saw two affectionate amber eyes gazing intently back at him. Tall pricked wolfish ears trained at him. A black mark on the tan forehead. Bit of frosting on the muzzle. Like Jack–but not. It was Ace. Sometimes known Continue reading
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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 91: ‘Lover’ is Here to Stay.
In which I make use of another song title portmanteau, while Duela and Turner’s reunion grows ever more impassioned, the Earth itself responding to their rampant renascent romance. While The Bugs look on in bug-eyed wonder, hoping to survive the aftershocks of amor. Long long ago, we didn’t have tiresome arguments about whether the godhead Continue reading
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Chapter 90: The Post-Mortem Pillow Talk
In which Duela and Turner, reunited after their long separation triggered by their untimely demise, discuss the present state of Planet Earth, peopled by sentient humanoid insects, gradually returning to life. Turner is interested in touring this brave new world. Much more interested in touring Duela. Because some things never change. Call it a two-body Continue reading
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Chapter 88: Dewey’s Circle
In which Duela comes face to face with someone I don’t feel quite right describing as a Special Guest Villain. Special Guest Demon might be more like it. Basically, there’s nobody who isn’t scared of him. One exception. She sings him a song–with no lyrics. The title has a double meaning. He hungered. There were Continue reading
Anita O’Day, Anthony Davis, David Murray, David Murray Octet, Dewey’s Circle of Inquiry, Duela Dent, fan fiction, George E. Lewis, Gotham Knights, Henry Threadgill, John Dewey, Lawrence ‘Butch’ Morris, Mordru, Olu Dara, Rodgers and Hart, Ruth Etting, Steve McCall, The Big Blue Marble, The Joker, Turner Hayes, Wilber Morris -
Chapter 87: It’s Easy To Remember
In which Duela continues to bewitch bother and bewilder the Bugs of New Genesis, as they struggle to make Earth a living world once more; adjust to their new home and its nigh-omnipotent protectress. Forager has an idea as to how Duela might push both projects along. Special guest hero from the comics, just for Continue reading
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Chapter 86: Bug Beautiful
In which Duela does the meet and greet with another association of aliens hoping to make Earth its new home. No more deets, except to say this chapter is dedicated to Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Johnny Hartman, Rosemary Clooney, Carmen McRae, Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke, Herman Hupfield, Jack Continue reading
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Chapter 85: They Don’t Make Them Like You Anymore.
In which an old friend comes to see Duela, in the distant future. On a dead earth. Where Duela has no friends. She doesn’t come alone. There’s someone she wants Duela to meet. Hmm. Meanwhile, Duela adds a new genre to her repertoire. Kind of. And there’s company coming. From outer space. Lots of it Continue reading
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Chapter 84: Lobohemia
In which Duela saves her mock-up of Gotham from a villain I bet nobody was expecting to turn up in these stories. Did anyone have him in the pool? The Main Man, he calls himself. Duela’s going to have a few other names for him. None complimentary. The Last Czarnian was having the most fun 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 81: I Remember You
In which Duela sings her last song. Of the 21st Century, anyway. Actually written in 1942, by Johnny Mercer, with music by Victor Schertzinger. This is not the end of the story. Quite a few chapters after this. Not quite sure how many yet. But all of them take place, you might say, au-delà de Continue reading
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Chapter 80: Chase to the Cut
In which a villainous plot comes to a head. So to speak. Lincoln March, in the assumed form of his son Brody, had spent years planning his big move on Gotham. Henchmen hired, influential contacts acquired, numerous obstacles to his rule expired–not all of them through his murderous machinations, but many. The one murder he’d 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 78: The Dead Marches
In which an old enemy returns. An old ally departs. And we move towards the final story in this future history of The Gotham Knights. Nobody sings in this one. But I’ll post a Rodgers & Hart song at the end. And something–darker. Maybe even Grimdarker. Not that H.P. Lovecraft was familiar with that term. Continue reading
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Chapter 77: Busker’s Honeymoon
In which Turner and Duela make their grand tour of Europe–as itinerant street musicians. Due to Duela’s gift for disguise, almost nobody but The Gotham Knights knows it’s really them. Featuring the long-awaited return of Turner With A Beanie. London. A crowded street. Doubledeckers passing by. Above the bus noise, we hear music. Mighty fine 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 75: Talia’s Tale
In which Turner and Duela meet their son Alfred’s new bride. Who has had her own daddy issues–even more serious than Duela’s, and she dealt with them even more drastically. Turner has a few words with Ducard about Alfred’s new loyalties. And with Duela about that feeling every doting mother gets when her boy weds Continue reading
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Chapter 74: The Wings of Winter
In which Turner and Duela, over twenty years from now, return to the shady rural airport they once took a fateful night flight to Switzerland from, to meet with Henri Ducard–and their son, Alfred Maximos Hayes. Plus somebody they haven’t encountered before. Special guest–villainess? Not sure how to slot her. Nobody ever is, really. Maybe Continue reading
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Chapter 73: The Two Maggies
In which Mairead Hayes, forty-odd years in the future, where she’s Maggie Sawyer, finds a lost memory of her namesake, Maggie Keegan–and how she faced her end. A darkened hotel room. A long time from now. Two people have just very satisfactorily concluded a very protracted bout of intercourse. Panting, perspiring, palpitating–laughing happily. One rolls 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 71: Writer’s Blockade, AKA Everyday I Write The Book
In which over two years has passed. The Gotham Knights aren’t teens anymore. Turner is trying to finish his book about their experiences. There are many annoying obstacles to this worthy endeavor. Pleasant beloved obstacles. Still annoying. In a pleasant beloved way. He’ll handle the singing duties this time. Punk/New Wave instead of Jazz/Musical Theater. Continue reading
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Chapter 70: I’ll Be Seeing You, AKA Croc Art.
In which Harvey Dent meets his granddaughter. And we find out how Cullen is doing with the Arkham Art Classes. Special Guest Villain, but maybe don’t refer to him as such. To his face. Cullen Row approached the gates of Arkham, briefcase in hand, with his usual mix of anxiety and anticipation. Teaching art to Continue reading
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Chapter 69: Love Rectangle, AKA The GentleNerd Is A Dope
In which Turner and Duela meet up at the farm with ‘Sharper’, to discuss their successful appearance on Gotham Insider, and how this could finally bring Turner’s plans for Gotham to fruition. The conversation turns from politics to sexual politics, relating to their past romantic confusions at The Belfry. Duela duets with Harper, as Turner Continue reading
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Chapter 68: I’ll Tell The Man In The Street
In which Turner and Duela continue their appearance on Gotham Insider, while host Summer Gleeson tries to digest the news that Duela is her boss. It’s not going down well. Keeps repeating on her. Maybe take enzyme pills? Maybe it’s time for another Rodgers & Hart standard. Still quite a few left. Be the first on your block to Continue reading
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Chapter 67: We’ll Have The Narrows
In which Duela and Turner, back in the present-day, are once again interviewed by Duela’s newshound nemesis, Summer Gleeson, relating to Turner’s plans for Gotham. Summer had the best of their previous encounter at The Olympus. Duela is jonesing for a rematch. And to sing the first-ever Rodgers & Hart standard. A full century old next year! Definitely not Continue reading
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Chapter 66: It’s Different, Baby, When It Happens To You
In which there is temporal mischief. Two different kinds. The kind where you travel backwards and forwards in time. And the kind where storytellers, having their way with characters they don’t own, screw around with previously established continuity–retroactively. Hmm. Should there be some previously established term referring to that? Also–character death! Not now. Later. Well, doesn’t everybody die later? Much later, we all hope. Gotham Continue reading
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Chapter 65: The Parental Pillow Talk, AKA Somethin’ Stupid
In which we once more spy on Turner and Duela as they horizontally converse–not post-coitally, or pre-coitally, because she just had a baby, for crying out loud. And that being the case, they can’t stay horizontal very long anyway. Babies being what they notoriously are. (Puppies too, but babies are worse. I am reliably informed.) Turner may be persuaded Continue reading
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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 61: Duela, A Duel, Aleuda
In which Turner hearkens to the strange story of Duela’s other self, who loves him, just as Duela does. And knows how to think before she acts, as Duela frequently does not. And of course looks just like Duela, since they inhabit the same physical form. Turner sings her a song. Can you guess which one? I’m going to break Continue reading
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Chapter 60: Little Girl Blue
In which Duela, trying to express her loneliness in The Belfry, on Christmas Eve, sings a Rodgers & Hart song basically everyone has sung. From Doris Day to Janis Joplin. None of whose love lives improved after they sang it. Quite the contrary, at times. Nothing against Doris and Janis, but my favorite renditions are from other girls. And no Continue reading
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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 56: Give It Back To The Indians
In which Duela makes a mistake. Then Turner makes a worse one. And I make use of Larry Hart’s most Non-Woke lyric, perhaps a mistake as well, but jut try and cancel someone who died in 1943 and has zero public places named after him. And laughed at everyone, himself most of all. Somehow, this one keeps coming back, 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 54: Come Rain Or Come Shine
In which Duela and Turner return to Gotham, with their new dog Jack, and of course their unborn unnamed offspring. Duela has inklings of dark clouds on the horizon. But she’s got a song for that. Naturally. Four, in fact. Yeah, that’s a lot, but I have so many to get to before this ends. If it ever does. Bear with me. Or Continue reading
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Chapter 53: If The Moon Turns Green, AKA The Pregnant Pillow Talk
In which Turner and Duela once more engage in post-coital conversation, which, given their feelings, and age, is also pre-coital conversation. Only now they need to converse on the logical consequences of coitus. Among other things. “Is that an owl calling?” “Mmmm?” “Turner, I asked you a question. The answer to which does not involve you suckling at Continue reading
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Chapter 52: Rescue Dog
In which Duela, aided and abetted by Carrie, turns the tables on Turner with a surprise of her own. Heroes rescue folks, right? Doesn’t say anything about whether the folks are furry. We all know Duela pretty well by now. Would she be satisfied with a rescue that involved filling out forms, producing references, then paying an adoption 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 45: Jane’s Eulogy
In which Duela says a final goodbye to the mother who deceived, abandoned and betrayed her. There’s no way to find her grave, so… A small trailer park at the far fringes of Gotham. A cab pulls up. Two people get out. A young woman with red hair, and a young man with light brown 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 40: Mined Games, Part 2
In which I quote Olivia Rose Keegan, from an interview she did with DC.com, where she gives her take on Duela–“She’s an absolute lone ranger, out for herself, which is why her relationship with her mother in “Daddy Issues” is so fascinating to me and also her relationship with Turner. She goes from zero to 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 38: I Feel Batty
In which Duela and her bridesmaid posse go dress-shopping for the wedding. Having survived The Joker, Mayor Cobblepot, The Court of Owls, and the reign of Two-Face, it’s entirely possible Gotham will survive this as well. Don’t bet heavily. As the cab neared its destination, Stephanie made her doomed plea for sanity and restraint. “Duela, 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 34: Bombs “Я” Us
In which Duela, Turner, and Carrie check out The Joker’s old storehouse (where Duela got those grenades she made her ‘bomber jacket’ from), to see what bad goodies they can use to distract Two-Face’s men, while Duela’s former colleagues rob him blind. You can imagine how thrilled Carrie was to learn about all this. Actually, Continue reading
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Chapter 33: Joker’s Moon
In which Duela, faced with the abduction of Stephanie, Harper, and Cullen by Two-Face and his pinstriped pals, enlists the services of someone even The Joker might have found intimidating to turn the tables on daddy dearest. All Turner can do is follow her lead. Because these guys are allergic to heroes. It was dark 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 31: The Blue Room (aka The Shadow of Silas Wayne)
In which Turner and Duela pay a visit to Wayne Manor, to deal with old legacies, talk about making better ones. They do a bit of ring-shopping on the side. Another surprise guest star from the comics. You’ll know her when you see her. Well, everybody knows her when they see her. The key turned Continue reading
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Chapter 30: The Mite in God’s Eye
In which Duela meets a Batman character she isn’t familiar with (though he knows her). Created by Bill Finger, like most Bat-personages worth mentioning (arguably including Batman, but argue it later), He got phased out of the comics in the early 1960’s. But he keeps sneaking back in. Pesky that way. Apologies to Larry Niven Continue reading
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Chapter 28: The Sharper Image (aka This Funny World)
In which Duela visits Stephanie and Harper (aka ‘Sharper’) to check out Tetch’s tech. I did an advanced Google search, couldn’t find any other Gotham Knights fic with this title. Best as I can tell, no story ever written has this title. What do I win? Late morning, in Gotham’s Chinatown. Harper Row was gazing Continue reading
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Chapter 27: Maggie
In which Duela and Carrie visit her old Arkham friend in the hospital. There’s another old friend there as well. Well, friend in an ironic sense. Cameo appearance by Veronica Cartwright. Also in the ironic sense. Carrie saw Duela waiting by the hospital entrance, looking antsy and anxious. She waved, Duela waved back, and the Continue reading
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Chapter 26: Crazy He Calls Me
In which Turner and Duela have brunch in The Narrows. And there’s Jazz. Oh, and they discuss what happened at Arkham, with The Mad Hatter and such. And some jerk hits on Duela. Even money who hits him back first. “That went a lot quicker than I thought it would.” Duela was in the mood Continue reading
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Chapter 25: The March Hare
In which Duela reconnects with her behatted benighted and bewildered Arkham singing coach, the honorable Jervis Tetch. Tea is drunk, candles are lit, gifts received, and I commit the ultimate heresy–violate a Disney song lyric copyright. Non-commercially, of course. Even so. If you don’t hear from me again, you’ll know why. Hopefully they don’t send 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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A Tale of Two Gothams: Finale
In which this mini-arc about two dates and a dance finally ends. Only a finale in that sense. Turner had been told in some detail, by both Duela and Carrie, what his father’s best friend, a man he’d admired and loved most of his life, now looked like. But seeing is believing. Now he saw, Continue reading
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A Tale of Two Gothams: Part III
In which the story of Turner and Duela’s two-day cultural exchange continues on the dance floor. Special guest appearances by two members of the Rogue’s Gallery, one of them reformed, the other decidedly not. Music provided by several jazz legends, who in this alternate universe are contemporaries, though they weren’t in ours. I meant this Continue reading
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A Tale of Two Gothams: Part II
In which Duela possibly overshares, but Turner won’t complain. On their first formal date, Turner showed Duela his Gotham. Now she’s going to show him hers. Should be interesting. Cameo appearance by a character who actually does not belong to DC/Warners, but to the late Donald E. Westlake. Who went by an alias when he Continue reading
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A Tale of Two Gothams: Part I
In which Turner and Duela go on an actual date. That does not involve infiltrating an evil Owl Cult. It will however, require money. Like the song says, Romance Without Finance is a Nuisance. But definitely. They begin in the Gotham Turner knows. End in the one Duela is more familiar with. Hence the title. 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 14: Haitian Fight Song
In which Duela and Turner fight for liberty. And the defacto series finale is defacto resolved. Bite my blogger ass, CW. (And bless you, show runners, none of it was your fault, except for the huge Bat Diaries plot hole I’m not going to mention in these stories, because I have no idea how to Continue reading
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Chapter 13: Ne Me Quitte Pas
In which Duela makes her stand, sings a song. Turns out she wasn’t kidding. There always is a knife on her somewhere. Duela surveyed the scene around her. Ducard’s men were reaching for their guns. Naturally. But she’d chosen her spot well–the piano was in a corner, no windows behind them, and she was behind Continue reading
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Chapter 12: Rien de Rien
In which Duela, seeking to end Turner’s apprenticeship, explains to Ducard why Turner in fact belongs to her, not him. In a spiritual sense. She’s not claiming Droit du Seigneuresse here. She claimed that in the library, months ago. There is also an extended philosophical and historical discussion. I mean, there’s French people involved, so Continue reading
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Chapter 11: The Wings of Spring
In which Turner and Duela fly to Bern in Ducard’s private plane, wondering if they’ll ever see Gotham and their friends again. Duela has a little secret. And they both have some things they need to share with each other. Just in case they never have another chance. “That’s a private jet”? Duela’s tone was 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 8: The Pillow Talk
In which Turner and Duela converse post-coitally. Also pre-coitally. Then post-coitally again. Etc. The fourth kiss (as Duela would later decree it to be) was all that could be hoped for. Followed by innumerable others, then a hasty disrobement, followed by a maddened mutual moan of relief when they met skin to skin. Then the Continue reading
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Chapter 7: Glad to be Unhappy
In which Turner–returns. Not a dream. Not an imaginary story. But try telling Duela that. As the plane descended, Turner Hayes could see the Gotham skyline in the distance. It was an odd feeling. His feelings towards his hometown had long been ambivalent. It had taken so much away from him. But it had given 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
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Chapter 4: Harvey
In which Carrie and Duela wish this one was about a giant invisible rabbit, but no such luck. Jimmy Stewart not returning his calls. I don’t own any of these characters, but for the present time, they own me. “Boys, boys, boys” rumbled the familiarly unfamiliar voice, redolent with malign humor. “I recognize she’s now Continue reading
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Chapter 3: I Am Stretched On Your Grave
In which our newly minted BFF’s take a late night walking tour of The Narrows , Duela gets her Irish up, Carrie goes full Wagnerian, and we learn not all mutants have superpowers. Special Guest Villain–oh now–that would be telling. But suffice it to say, he belongs to a major media corporation, not me. Carrie Continue reading
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Chapter 2: A ‘Ship Without a Sail
In which Carrie meets a retired Grecian deity, and Duela wears her Hart on her sleeve. I don’t own the rights to any of this, and am not profiting from it in any tangible way. Intangibles can have their charms. Wynton Kelly was a real pianist in our dimension, thus he belonged only to himself, Continue reading
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Chapter 1: Bored Meeting
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of these characters, nor am I profiting in any way from writing a story featuring them. Honestly, the way this chapter turned out, I might want to disclaim having written it, but I have to start somewhere, and there’s better coming. I think. The Gotham Knights Continue reading
Not Offended 