Where Every Scroll is a New Adventure
The potential for angst with this is off the charts, but what I’m really thinking of is the potential for friendship and understanding between Jason and Mary Dahl, aka Babydoll. Both of them trapped in a body they should have outgrown, never fitting quite right in their own skin, adults (or teen/young adult in Jason’s case) that still have the appearance of children.
There’s just so much potential for a deep talk about the realities of an unaging, childlike appearance, understanding coming from an unexpected source, and eventual friendship, even a sort of rehabilitation or at least acceptance for Mary, with a new support system and friends.
Honestly, Babydoll being sympathetic and giving advice, while finding a friend in turn, is way underutilized in Batman and Batman adjacent fics where a character is eternally young in Peter Pan fashion.
DC PROMPT
Jason Todd doesn't grow old. Not because he dies. Well, technically, because he did die. When he was 14. And the Lazarus pit stopped him from aging. Forever.
When he becomes Red Hood, he's not seen as a threat at first. Some scrawny, 4'7, barely weighs 60 pounds soaking wet kid with a dumbass mask? Pssh, Crime Alley deals with Batman on the daily, that kid ain't nothing.
Until said kid begins beating their asses. Horrifically. So now, Red Hood is known as the first ever child crime lord.
And the angst? Oh, there's angst. Because rather than dealing with the knowledge that Jason grew up when he was gone, they have to deal with the fact that Jason looks the exact same as the night he died.
Jason is still that scrawny, malnourished 14-year-old, with a smile that could light up the room despite him never showing it now.
Jason can still fit in his old robin costume. He could still. Fit. In. His. Robin. Costume.
That mere realization startled Bruce so badly.
I kinda agree.
From the small clips we saw and how popular her show was said to be, she did have talent. However, I bet anything that her talent was stunted. From what we've heard she only had one real role: Baby-Doll. With her condition she likely stuck to kid-based acting, so anything outside of that was likely difficult or off in her performance, not as good as her TV show character.
Naturally no studio wanted to hire her, so her acting skills for more mature characters couldn't grow by much besides what she herself practiced. That times her appearance made audiences and Hollywood turned off, I also suspect that Macbeth was just a trashy movie to begin but sense Mary played a lead she got most of the blame. By the time she realized she couldn't get hired and begged to have her show back the world had moved on.
Another small thing that really pisses me off in regards to Baby Doll is the ten seconds in the episode where it shows her playing the role of Lady Macbeth. From what we got to see, even if it was less than a minute, it was a pretty decent performance and didn’t really deserve Robin’s negative comment on it. I may be reading too much into it but it really seemed like she was a decent actress and people just refused to take her seriously because of her condition.
If I’m not careful this could be controversial (jk) I’m just going to pick people Tetch is normally associated with and give a brief description of how I see them
1: Jonathan Crane - Friend
Jonathan and Jervis (once called the J.js’- bad move Joker) they’ve had a rather close relationship grow originally Jonathan was one of Tetches tormentors in Arkham, but that eventually changed when the two worked together. Know you’ll find them sitting across from each other in the corner of a room chitchating. I have no problem with the ship and it’s nice as a scroll through Tumblr.
2: Edward Ngyma - Mutual/kinda friend
Mutual, they’re not the closet to be called friends (as differing interests stop them) but they’re not enemies either (similar feelings about school) and can be seen sitting together or standing near each other from time to time. If Tetch needs information/ or just feels like listening to someone talk Edwards usually his person. I’ve seen them as friends, couple, and enemies so I’m kinda just nuetral to it all. (Gotta say I feel almost guilty for putting the dorksquad way less close than before)
3: Pamala Isley - Stay away
Ivy and Tetch got of to a REALLY bad start. Tetches kidnapping of females really pissed Ivy of at the start, so much they normally didn’t stay in the same room. However over time Ivy has definitely reconsidered her stance considering all of the other rogues and DOES want to try and talk to him again. Sadly at this point Jervis would rather avoid her. (I REALLY like the SpringMadness ship, but I feel like it’ll take a long time to happen, just like a tree)
4: Mary dale - “Hey Jerv” “Hey Mary”
They have tea parties together, talk together and help each other with there Maladaptive daydreaming. All in all they have a positive relationship, the doctors normally don’t mind but they do worry about each other encouraging the others delusions. They were close only after a week of knowing each other.
5: Lyle Bolton - eeeeeh welllllll no
It’s hard to say anyones close to Bolton especially after the “Lock up” incident. Tetch is completely terrified of Bolton, while Bolton just finds Tetch exhausting. In a Bolton reformed au I see them tolerating each other if not avoiding each other. (On occasion Bolton has helped Tetch out of trouble.)
6: Alice Pleasance - No
Alice at first say Tetch as a friend later fear, then completely loath and finally someone to no longer care or think about, she’s either happily married or single. Tetch is sad at the least about all this.
7: Madeline Daresbury - OC
Yes, I’m putting my own OC on here! Madeline and Tetch are two peas in a pod if not, a dependant on the other. Madeline happily goes along with all of Tetches delusions and Tetch enjoys her company (he doesn’t know that Madeline is also using him as a surrogate for her little brother). The two are normally not in Arkham together (Madeline goes to Black gate) but can be usually be spotted together outside of Arkham.Whered The Mad Hatter be without his March Hare?
If you have any questions or other stuff about my character relationships please let me know!
Harvey dent aka Two face - Split personality disorder, abuse survivor, suicidal, can’t make decisions without his coin Kirk langstrom Aka Manbat - Addict, was working on a cure for deafness, has no control over himself Bane - Grew up in prison, Addict
This is why Batman keeps fighting them and putting them back in Arkham. If he didn't more than likely these individuals who need help won't get it. So I guess it's a good thing he's punching them in the face. Besides they do at times deserve to be punched in the face by a single man in a bat suit. (Surrounded by children)
Roman Sionis AKA Black Mask: Has a pacemaker for his heart condition.
Jonathan Crane AKA The Scarecrow: Underweight, abuse survivor, canonically hypermobile and thus suffers from chronic pain, hypotonic.
Waylon Jones AKA Killer Croc: Abuse survivor, condition causes chronic pain.
Jervis Tetch AKA The Mad Hatter: Small, possibly suffers from a hypoplastic condition.
Mary Dahl AKA Baby Doll: Suffers from a hypoplastic condition, literally the size of a small child.
Victor Fries AKA Mr. Freeze: Can’t survive outside his cryosuit, probably in his 50s.
Pamela Isley AKA Poison Ivy: Abuse survivor, skin is highly toxic, probably suffers chronic pain as a result of her condition.
Garfield Lynns AKA Firefly: Covered in burn scars, scar tissue likely causes chronic pain.
Oswald Cobblepot AKA The Penguin: Has a bad limp, physically incapable of fighting.
Edward Nygma AKA The Riddler: Abuse survivor, physically weak, canonically recalls every beating he’s ever gotten.
Jason Todd AKA Red Hood: Suffers from severe PTSD, literally Bruce’s kid.
Basil Karlo AKA Clayface: Can’t keep one shape for long, has chronic pain, probably not a good plan to punch mud.
Peter Merkel AKA Ragdoll: Hypermobile and definitely has chronic pain as a result.
Feel free to add anyone I missed.