[DC] Purgatory

[runespoor7]

Title: Purgatory
Characters: Dead parents. Martha and Thomas Wayne, Sheila Haywood, Catherine Todd, John and Mary Grayson, Adeline Wilson, Lili Worth, Roger Gordon, Jack Drake. Like I said. Dead parents, mostly Batfamily-oriented.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Watching over your children from above isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Notes: written for a

Comments

[coldfiredragon]

This is a great fic and the person that came up with the prompt that this was the base for is a genius! I'm glad you picked it up and expanded it!

[eternal_moonie]

WOWZERS!!

This is great!!

[runespoor7]

Thanks you! :D

[runespoor7]

Thank you! The prompt was originally from modestroad; I'll edit the post so it's apparent.

[ladyblkrose]

Wow, this was very interesting and a different look at the families that passed on. You did a great job with this prompt.
Thank you for sharing.

[runespoor7]

I read Rucka's Death and the Maidens recently, and when I saw this prompt it was the impetus I needed to write about some things I'd been passively intrigued in. And especially the prospect of fleshing out Martha Wayne.

Thank you for letting me know you liked it.

[runespoor7]

I agree. It's a shame really, because family's one of the driving forces behind the Batfamily, and just because they've formed a new family doesn't mean the old one stops being important to them... Seeing Martha and Thomas despair over what their son's done with his life is probably one of my favourite tropes. (Bruce Wayen Cannot Win. Ever.)

And of course Sheila is a great character, once you give her the chance.

[brokaw22]

I really liked this. Good job!

[runespoor7]

Thank you very much!

[stormqueen280]

This... gotta be the most original, intriguing and well-written piece I've read in AGES. I absolutely love it - especially the idea of the afterlife having an open bar!

“Way I see it, if you didn’t tell him that then you’re not the one who’s got the right to be proud of him.” - Fantastic line, and rather true, when it comes to Jack Drake.

[malkavianlove]

This whole thing was great. Have you given any thought to expanding on this? You've done such a brillaint job voicing the sadness and regret that so many of these people are still feeling as they watch what there children become and accomplish both because and inspite of their influence and their deaths.

[runespoor7]

I had other scenes sort-of in mind, other parents I was thinking about, but I didn't feel like I knew or understood them enough to continue, and I would've gotten stuck and frustrated on this and it would've never have been finished. Better to cut it shorter and call it done, I thought.

I was thinking that no parent can rest easy knowing their child is risking their lives day in and out, not when it cuts them from other people. Another danger of secret identities. Especially the Waynes and Jack Drake - though in Jack's case I also wanted him to realize that he was proud of his son the hero.

[runespoor7]

Oh, wow. I have the biggest grin.

I've thought way too much about this, but: in my mind, the afterlife simply provides what people want it to. They're stuck here - for a given value of "here" - but they can imagine whatever earthly comfort they desire, as it's not the important kind of comfort anymore. So the "I need booze to deal with this" is one of urges that gets fulfilled most often there.

I really wanted Roger (who wasn't the best father either) to say that to Jack. That's probably the line I reworded the most, because I really wanted it to fit; I'm glad it worked.