DP X DC: Liminal Two-Face

DP x DC: Liminal Two-Face

Note: Harvey Dent is one of my favourite villains from my days watching Batman: The Animated Series, so I have to include him in this mess. Please watch the BtAS episodes Two Face Part 1/Part 2 for the animation if nothing else. It's all so good. Serum Lake's video essays on the episodes are great.

So, Two-Face's whole thing is his duality. He's Justice and the Corruption of Justice. He's violently unpredictable, but he has very strict rules that he follows (and will make you follow). Simply put, the man is liminal in the most literal sense - something straddling the boundaries between two opposites and made strange for the contrast.

But what if he became a liminal, in the Ecto-Contaminated sense?

This is obviously a problem for Danny Phantom to deal with. You can't have a former District-Attorney/gangster with budding ghost powers fucking up Gotham uncontested - he'll disrupt the ecosystem!

So Danny gets word that some lawyer type was attacked, he was exposed to something like ectoplasm, and now his personality (and face) is split down the middle. Not all that odd, for a city like Gotham.

What is odd is how much like a ghost Harvey already seems.

He has an obsession with fate being decided by the flip of a coin - a very fitting gimmick for a ghost of duality. His body is horrifically disfigured, but only half of it, and in a way that would make him fit in with any group of ghosts. That bulging eye is incredible, and the discolouration of his skin is so vibrant! And he's got so many teeth on display, all the time!

He looks like a ghost, acts like a ghost, and as time progresses, he starts displaying the powers of a ghost. His "evil eye" can see your crimes. He's actually changing fate with a flip of his coin, and he doesn't just break down mentally if you take it - he'll lose all reason if you do. Not to mention the usual increase in strength and speed.

His disfigurements are also becoming more exaggerated as his power grows. The damaged side of his mouth stretches further and further back, revealing bigger, sharper teeth. There's an unnatural sheen to his scarred skin, like an oil slick shimmering blue-purple-green-red. He has claws. His eye is getting larger, wider, and glows a luminous yellow.

At the same time, Danny is having fun facing off against Two-Face! The guy has very strict rules, and Danny genuinely enjoys finding ways around (or through) them, and completing his (deadly, usually explosive) little challenges. Once he does, Harv generally goes quietly. And Harvey is a good man at heart, for all that he's a certified fruitloop, and between punches he's got some great insights into criminal justice and the social impact of heroes. Danny maaay have used him as a source on one or two essays.

To Harvey Dent, fighting Phantom isn't as personal or distressing as fighting Bruce-as-Batman. The kid is snappy and rambunctious, and he's so innocent when it comes to how the world really works. He thinks that if he tries hard enough he can fix any problem, solve any issue. And boy, does he have a temper when something sets him off!

He reminds Harvey of himself. His old self. The Harvey Dent who wanted to fix Gotham. Before he lost control. Before Two-Face ruined all the good work he'd done.

So maybe Harvey helps the kid out a little, in a roundabout way. He uses the anger control exercises he learned in Arkham a little too obviously, in the hopes Phantom will catch on and try them himself. Talks about all the pressure he put on himself that lead to his downfall, and how he should have been more honest about his struggles with his friends. Maybe he's a little more "Harv" around Danny.

It doesn't help that the kid nearly passes out one day mid-fight, exhausted to the point of dropping the ghostly white hair and glowing green eyes, and Harvey finds out that Danny is also a lot like Bruce. In place of Phantom is a young man with oil slick black hair and haunted, stubborn blue eyes. Never mind that Danny is weaker in human form; he clearly will continue the fight if he has to.

Harvey doesn't have it in him to fight a kid who looks so much like his old friend when he was at his worst.

Sooo this happened on tiktok

And the comments are gold

(+Extra)

Should I digitize this?

I am not immune to magical animal transformation fics. Also, my cat!Danny agenda. So, like, Damian finding a magically transformed Danny, mistaking him for a regular cat, then sneaking him into the manor obviously tickles my fancy. But also, Cat!Danny winning Alfred over by being a complete narc every time one of the bats try to do something stupid while injured is just... *chef's kiss*

Bruce- *trying to sneak down to the batcave while injured* Danny- *looking for mischief, sees injured Bruce swaying in hallway* Mrow? Bruce- Shh. Danny- *slightly louder* Mrep?! Bruce- I will give you all the tuna in the world if you- Danny- *air raid level yowling*

I'm back on tumblr hehehe,, my utrh jason collection :3c

DPXDC prompt. Field trip.

Some people would call gothamites petty, but given that most of the USA population treated them as scum, they believed that their behavior was justified.

They didn't like tourists, to put it mildly. Therefore, after learning that in their city were people on a field trip from Amity Park who could not leave Gotham for several days due to weekly escape from Arkham, the news channel immediately decided that a short interview from the guests would definitely amuse the locals. The reaction of outsiders never ceases to be ridiculous.

Reporter: ~Good afternoon~ Gotham News! May I ask you to share what you liked most about our wonderful city?

Mr. Lancer*still in a cold sweat and looks at every passerby as a potential villain*: Uh, no, me..It's so unexpected. Well, first of all, people here are very…

Danny *is high after the tasting samples Dr. Crane gave him for free and is extremely eager to share his happiness with others*,* picks a microphone*.

Danny: Gotham is the best city in the world! Like seriously, damn, I'd like to die here. Although there are constant shootings somewhere, half the time people don't even shoot at me! I haven't been this relaxed since middle school! And in the evenings, there is often such a pleasant scent of fear and despair on the streets. This fear toxin of yours is a real miracle! It's sooo good!

Sam *decides to take the initiative in her own hands before Fenton says too much*: Personally, I am very pleased with the number of green spaces you have in your city. It's nice to see that here eco-activists are really being listened to. Also, the fact that most restaurants have a thoughtful menu for vegetarians left a very pleasant impression.

Dash in his favorite T-shirt "it's not gay if he's dead": Four words. Hips of Red Hood. The fact that it is not marked in the guidebook as the main attraction of the Crime Alley is a real crime. This dude clearly never skips leg days. My respect.

Tucker: What can I say? The speed of internet here, even during villains attacks, is absolutely  unbelievable. I don't want to leave this place.

Jazz: I love Gotham! Finally, I was able to buy all the works published by Dr. Harleen Quinzel. *girl picks up an impressive stack of books* For some reason, they are not available online.

The camera points at a red-haired guy with a twitching eye.

Wes: I'm 85% sure Bruce Wayne is Batman. I have a proof and I am ready to provide it.

A girl with a "Good Guess" pin from Riddler enters and takes camera away from conspiracy theorist.

Star: Sorry, he slipped out at night and went to look for problems. Again. Don't pay any attention to him. He's always like this when he drinks more than two energy drinks in a row.