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Dick Grayson (bildungsromans) and Rapunzel (watcheslanterns)

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DC / Meme Threads Continuity

Obligatory Nightwing rescuing Rapunzel from the tower thread, prequel to all the meme threads so far as of uh... this comment

Childhood Friends / ~~Medieval~~ Tangled!Timeline AU

A young Robin!Dick is part of a traveling circus headed to Corona, only for him to stumble upon Rapunzel (littlestsundrop) somehow
They become pals, but are later forcibly split once Gothel gets really paranoid
They could reunite years later when Dick is already Nightwing-aged
- Cue angst lmfao

Dark Timeline

Events of Tangled except Gothel did, in fact, kill Flynn at the end
- Rapunzel's heartbroken, must stay true to her vow that she'd fight Gothel until she can escape
Meanwhile, events of Final Crisis = the world thinks Batman is dead, so Dick must take Bruce's place as the new Batman
- Dick's also heartbroken, except now over the loss of his father
Despite Rapunzel's vow, Gothel endeavors to take Rapunzel somewhere where she can't be found
- Gothel could takes Rapunzel to Ra's Al Ghul in exchange for protection
  - Rapunzel's hair is basically a Lazarus Pit without any of the bad side effects, after all
Maybe this will all compel Dickbats to cut Rapunzel's hair short at some point after they inevitably meet? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Rapunzel escapes a struggle (with the League of Assassins?) with only some of her hair intact, and she's determined not to cut the rest for now out of some misguided belief that she could still help Flynn
- But eventually after facing the facts and coming to know Dick, she would be able to let it go

Edited 2018-04-26 19:40 (UTC)

[ For as long as Dick could remember, his life and upbringing always seemed to carry this sense of escalation. Much like the trapeze acts he's been honing and perfecting under the tutelage of his parents, the rising action was critical, ever-present, and in his case? Thoroughly literal. Because as Dick grew older, the Big Top was only getting bigger. With every advancing year, his parents permitted him to challenge himself with larger spaces and more complicated acrobatic stunts.

Which is fortunate, because Haly's Circus is finding more and more venues across the continent. And recently, they've been called to perform in the kingdom of Corona!

Dick's heard a lot about the place, being such a well-traveled boy who also happens to be quite well-read (it's the advantage of having a lot of downtime while moving in a caravan, and being able to pick up books from town to town with his sizable allowance). What's intrigued him the most, though, is precisely the kind of thing that always intrigues him: a good mystery. He's only seen bits and pieces of text regarding this topic, but the mystery of the lost princess is a thing that's been in his thoughts for quite some time.

On the road to Corona, Dick's spent many a sleepless night on top of his favorite elephant, Sitka, gazing at the stars. Gazing and wondering what this lost princess was like (if she was alive), as well as the circumstances that surrounded her disappearance. Having yet to visit Corona proper, Dick's never really seen an artistic representation of the princess, no murals dedicated to her when she was an infant. Now, he's only got his imagination to go on... and it's really not much to work with if he's hoping for a revelation.

One morning, deep in the forest of the Coronan outskirts, the caravan has set up camp. The kingdom is a few more days away, but the animals all need their rest - especially the elephants, who are among the performers. While the sun is still up, Dick was tasked to go fetch some firewood. It was a simple enough duty that he didn't need parental supervision, except...

That might have helped the moment he tripped and fell into a ravine - a ravine that seemed to open to a vast and hidden valley.

Unfortunately, tripping also happened to sprain Dick's ankle. The poor boy, too curious and resilient for his own good, decides to walk on into the valley, too allured by what appears to be a tower overhead. The pain of the sprain is an inconvenience, at most - Dick can't count the number of times he's been injured just from training to be an acrobat. It might be a surreal sight, this: a young boy clad in reds, yellows, and greens walking around with a limp. He's even found a large stick to use as an impromptu cane, just so he can continue towards the tower.

It's certainly strange that a structure like this is out in the wilderness, with no signs or anything pointing to it. To Dick, it's almost like the place has either been long abandoned, or its owners simply don't want it to be found.

He doesn't spend much time contemplating the reason for this place's existence, far too captivated by the possibility that someone could be there now. So he looks up at the window and musters his best outdoor voice. ]

Hellooo?

[ No answer... yet. He takes another deep breath, and-- ]

Hey! Anybody up there?

[ Hmm. Maybe it is empty. So, how about-- ]

I'm just a kid, and I'm hurt real bad!

[ Okay, so he's exaggerating. But he might as well pull the sympathy card while he's still this young. He puts a little more weight on the cane just to sell it. ]

Literally-- ow, the pain! Woe is me!!

[ Rapunzel's mother was away. When Rapunzel was younger, her mother hadn't left often, and only on very short trips. Now that she was older though, her mother left on longer trips so that she could gather more supplies and foods. When Rapunzel had made it known that she didn't like it when she went away her mother was quick to remind her that she did it for her.

Now where would you get all those paints you love if I didn't go away?

You wouldn't want to starve now dear, would you?

Sure enough, Rapunzel had relented, but she still missed her mother desperately when she went away.

As it was, Rapunzel and Pascal are stretched out on the floor, working on a puzzle when they hear someone shouting from below. Rapunzel startles and jumps up on to her knees. Pascal turns a magnificent shade teal. She's never heard someone other than her mother shout to her before. No one even wanders out this far.

They hear another shout and Rapunzel exchanges glances with Pascal. The chameleon leans his head towards the sole window of the tower. ]

We can't. You know what Mother would say.

[ Pascal frowns.

Still, Rapunzel stares at the window. The cries are getting louder and more desperate. Finally, after much debate, Rapunzel moves towards the window. She peeks her head out just enough to see who is down below.

True to the shouts, it is just a young boy below, which puts Rapunzel slightly more at ease. Her mother has warned her about the terrible people in the world, but surely another child couldn't be evil. ]

W-who are you?

[ Her voice isn't very loud, but hopefully loud enough for him to notice. ]

Edited 2018-04-28 18:57 (UTC)

My friends call me Dick!

[ A beat. ]

...and no, they don't mean that as an insult! I think!

[ Why did he feel the need to clarify that to what appears to be a really young girl? At least, that's who he thinks is up there peeking down at him. ]

I'm part a traveling circus, and I sorta lost my way in the woods!

[ He regards his own injury, as he suddenly realizes that his parents might kill him for being so careless. He's gotta perform in a few days, after all!

Best not to freak out now, though. Freaking out is for later, when everyone in the circus can judge him. ]

Thing is, my camp's farther than I'm willing to go with this bad leg.

Got anything I can use to tie it down? Maybe an herb or something to treat the sprain?

[ Rapunzel's eyes sparkle at the mention of a circus. She's read about them in books, but obviously had never seen one. After first reading about one, Rapunzel had asked her mother to see one, but like to many things, she had forbidden it. Her mother had peppered her with tales of pickpockets and con artists that would steal her blind or trap her in some kind of freak show. The idea had chastened her, but somehow the idea of the circus still seemed alluring.

And looking down at the boy - Dick - the curiosity of the idea burned anew. Certainly someone like him couldn't be a part of the scary tales her mother had weaved. Of course, there's the fact that he's hurt, too. It doesn't seem right that she should let him go back injured when she could help him.

She hesitates though, picturing how angry her mother would be if she gets caught. All of her warnings swirl around her head in a torrent of confusion.

In the end, Pascal presses a foot to her cheek. She looks at him and she knows what he thinks they should do.

And she agrees.

She edges out of the window a bit more, studying Dick. ]

...Can you keep a secret? Like...a really, really big secret?

[ That's always a weird question when it comes from a complete stranger, but Dick doesn't see the harm in this particular person asking. ]

Uh... sure.

[ What's he got to lose, anyway? ]

As long as it's not something creepy that people might kill me for knowing, I'm all ears.

[ Rapunzel thinks for a moment. Maybe a terrible person would try to harm him if he knew her secret. But then again, nobody would know if he kept the secret to himself. So really, it had to be safe.

So, after a moment, Rapunzel swings her hair over the hook outside the window. It cascades down the side of the tower, falling just short of the ground. She's small still, but her hair had already grown to it's outrageous length.

She shouts out the window to Dick again. ]

Grab on! I'll pull you up!

[ Once a seemingly endless ream of hair descends from the high window, how can Dick not grab on? This might be the coolest thing he's seen in a long time, and he's the traveling circus kid!

He instantly snatches a sizable amount of hair to hold onto for dear life. ]

You sure this is gonna work?

[ He looks up at Rapunzel in pure earnestness. ]

I'm a growing boy, you know!

I'm sure!

[ Her voice is filled with the confidence that only experience can bring. Dick was much lighter than her mother, after all. Once she feels the tug of Dick's hands she makes for a testing pull upward.

Yes. There's no doubt that she can do this. ]

Hold on tight!

[ And with no more warning than that, Rapunzel begins pulling her hair, and Dick with it, up towards the window. ]

Holding!!

[ Dick should be used to heights by now (and he is), but the feel of all this hair doesn't give him the same security that a rope or wire does. He takes great pains to hide any evidence of himself panicking, only to clumsily tumble over the windowsill.

Fortunately, he lands on his good leg, but doesn't quite find enough balance. Instead, he just falls flat on the floor. ]

Ow.

[ He makes no attempt to get up, looking a little defeated. It's only his flair for dramatics, though. ]

Awfully nice establishment you've got here.

Is there a reason for no stairs, though?

[ When Dick falls into the room, Rapunzel releases her hair and skitters backwards. She grabs a chair and holds it firmly in front of her. Even if she has decided to allow him into her tower, she needs to be careful. Just in case.

She watches him carefully, as does Pascal from his perch on her shoulder. ]

It's for....safety? [ Even she sounds a little doubtful as she says it. But that's what she's been told and there was no reason for her mother to lie to her. ]

So no one can take me away.

I guess that's as good a precaution as any, huh.

[ Parent logic. Dick's no stranger to it... even if this is a little much. ]

Oh hey, is that for me?

[ He chuckles as he looks at what Rapunzel's doing with the chair, a tad oblivious to the fact that she's holding it as a defensive gesture.

Maybe if he jokes about it, he'll seem less threatening? ]

Thank you, I appreciate it, but I think I'm okay down here.

[ He gets up so he can properly sit on the floor, bad leg sprawled for perusal. ]

So what tonics have you got for this?

[ The joking does help a little. Rapunzel sets the chair down, be remains behind it. Pascal, meanwhile, makes his way down to the floor where he skitters closer to Dick. He eyes the boy, inspecting him from head to toe. ]

There's no tonics. [ Rapunzel holds on to some of her hair, playing with it nervously. ]

The secret I mentioned...you have to promise not the freak out either.

[ Dick quirks an eyebrow as Pascal inspects him, as he's never been this up close with a chameleon before. Even though he's ridden and hopped on elephants before, this is still a cool experience! He's tempted to pet Pascal, to get Pascal to sit on his shoulder, but he ultimately refrains - might be rude to do so without asking Rapunzel first.

And Dick can't bring himself to ask once Rapunzel makes her admission. Doesn't sound like a thing to interrupt, until he can finally ask a different question. ]

So the hair wasn't the secret?

How bad could it be?

[ hope this works. i was hoping dick could arrive for something unrelated and help her out? if not i can re-write. ]

[ Rapunzel's has lost count of how many times she has tried to escape Gothel. She wonders, as she crouches low in her darkened room, if Gothel has lost count as well. She wonders if that woman she had once called Mother regrets her choice so many months ago, if she relives that moment the same way Rapunzel does every time she closes her eyes.

She sees the panic in Eugene's eyes. She sees the dagger buried in his back and the blood that stains his clothes. She sees her name on his lips and the light that slowly dies in his eyes.

At first all she had been able to do way cry. Gothel dragged her from their hidden tower in the mountains to broken down car, and Rapunzel had wept the whole way. Eventually though, the memory turned her tears into fire. Anger and hatred bloomed in her heart, and she remembered the promise she had made.

She would fight. Every day of her life she would fight. Until she was free.

They had traveled from safe house to safe house, but every day Rapunzel had stayed true to her word. At every opportunity, she tried to escape. When Gothel demanded her healing powers, Rapunzel tore away from her until Gothel had to physically restrain her. Every incantation felt like a betrayal, that only made her fight harder.

In times of desperation, Rapunzel had slashed at her hair with a blade, threatening to cut it all, but they both knew that she couldn't follow through with it. Despite what had happened, some small part of Rapunzel still hoped that her hair could do something for Eugene, long left behind in that lonely tower.

Now though, in her latest prison, Rapunzel knew her escape would be more difficult than ever. Desperate, Gothel had brought Rapunzel to Ra's Al Ghul and the League of Assassins. Gothel told her little about these people, but she'd said enough for her to know they were dangerous. Danger or not though, Rapunzel refuses to give up.

Every afternoon, Gothel comes to her with a meager meal, always at the same time. Like clockwork, the lock on her door clicks, and the door opens. Rapunzel springs from her crouched position, a sheet in her hand. She runs at Gothel and throws the sheet over her head. Quick as can be, Rapunzel ties the sheet around her, making it impossible for Gothel to move her arms or to see.

Gothel screams and threatens, but Rapunzel doesn't heed a word of it. She dashes away, her hair bundled up in her arms. Some of it golden like the sun, other chunks of it brown and raged from her cutting. All around her alarms are raised and figures appear, ready to stop her.

She can't let them. ]

[ Rapunzel doesn't reply. Instead, she moves around the chair and makes her way to where Dick is sitting. She kneels down beside him and bundles up a length of her hair. ]

Just don't say I didn't warn you...

[ Carefully, she takes his wounded ankle and wraps the bundled hair around it. Ignoring any strange looks from Dick, she closes her eyes and sings the healing incantation. Her hair glows, lighting up the entire room.

At her side, Pascal watches, making sure Dick doesn't completely lose it. ]

[ They won't.

Not if Batman has anything to say about it.

Before Rapunzel can even assess just how many figures stand in her way, the entire perimeter is obscured in a cloud of smoke. She can hear pained grunts and shrieks as the hapless assassins fall one by one, beaten and subdued by a towering, dark figure. As soon as the smoke clears, practically every threat that stood in Rapunzel's way lies either unconscious or far too injured to move.

The last man standing is the new Batman: Dick Grayson. ]

Might be pointless to ask if you're okay... but feel free to share with the class. Do you know who I am?

[ He briefly scans the area for any remaining hostiles, only to turn his attention back to Rapunzel. ]

And can you tell me why the League of Assassins are holding you captive?

[ He removes his cape, proffering it to Rapunzel in case she might need the comfort it brings. She's visibly distraught, after all, and who can blame her? This is the League of Assassins, for pete's sake. ]

I'm getting you out of here.

[ Dick's not about to unload any baggage about the reason he's Batman now. Best for the world to believe, after all, that Batman never died.

Still, if there was a chance to resurrect Bruce, bring him back to a world that still needs him so desperately, Dick wanted to assess his options. See if a pact with Ra's Al Ghul to restore life to a man they both respect is even worth it... or if it's just a deal with the devil. Bruce's loss pains Dick still, like the loss of his parents had been repeated and amplified the moment he learned Darkseid had killed his adoptive father.

The pain lingers, Bruce's shadow inescapable ever since, but it isn't enough to distract Dick. Not right now, when it's clear that this innocent girl - who's evidently been in the League's clutches - needs his help. ]

To think, I was only here to talk to Ra's. The bastard will get his due retribution... but not until you're safe.

[ That's oddly ominous, but there's not enough time for Dick to complain as Rapunzel sings, her hair glows, and his leg magically heals.

His eyes widen at the spectacle, hair on his skin rising as he witnesses what's essentially a miracle. ]

You-- you--

[ It's like he's on the verge of a panic attack as he exchanges glances with Pascal, then Rapunzel, then back to Pascal, and-- ]

You have magic powers!? That's so cool!

[ He finally sits upright, appraising his restored leg as Rapunzel's hair unravels around it. He soon stands up, and to test himself, performs a backflip. ]

Wow! Good as new!

[ Dick's seen a lot of things as a member of a traveling caravan, but never anything outright supernatural, like something straight out of myth and folklore. He regards Rapunzel with an inquisitive look, practically on a sugar high with how visibly pleased he is. ]

Are you some kind of demigoddess? What's your name?

Why is this a secret when it's so amazing?

[ In all his naivete, Dick forgets what might necessitate the secrecy surrounding Rapunzel's magic - the 'parent logic.' ]

[ For a moment, Rapunzel is frozen in shock. She didn't know enough about the league to tell if this new arrival is a part of them. If anything he looks more intimidating than any of the others. It's only the instinctual need to escape that pushes her out of her stupor. In fact, she's about five seconds from whipping her hair to trip him up when he speaks. ]

I don't know who anyone is.

[ She shakes her head. Physically, she has a few scrapes, but nothing she can't take care of later. Emotionally? Mentally? Well, she was okay as she had to be for now. She couldn't let anything get in the way of her escaping, not even her own feelings. ]

My moth-

[ Rapunzel stops herself, almost biting her own tongue in the process. She had barely spoken with Gothel since Eugene had died, let alone said her name. Eighteen years of conditioning was hard to break. ]

I was kidnapped. The woman who did it brought me here so I couldn't escape.

[ The smallest of hopes pulses in her chest. The idea of an ally hadn't crossed her mind, and now that she seemingly has one, she doesn't know if she wants him. Eugene had been her ally, and that had brought nothing but misery in the end. She can't let herself depend on someone else again...but she could at least use him to escape. ]

Do you know the way out?

Edited 2018-05-08 22:06 (UTC)

[ Rapunzel just stares at Dick for a moment, partially awed by his backflip. She's never seen anything quite like it. Part of her wants to clap and cheer, but she knows that she must make sure he knows how serious her secret must stay.

Pascal sees her anxiety, and crawls back to her shoulder to comfort her. ]

My name is Rapunzel...I'm just a girl though. Mother says my magic came from a drop of sun.

[ She blushes slightly at his praise. ]

But it's a secret because people could take me for my power. Bad people.

Yes.

[ From his spiked gauntlet, a hologram emerges displaying a three-dimensional floor plan of the entire base. Dick points to the specific exit they're about to make. ]

This is where we're headed.

[ A little strange that this girl was brought here. Ra's normally didn't do kidnappings, so surely there must have been something special about her. Dick figures that any answer he wants, he'll either have to beat out of Ra's or seek out from the woman who did this. ]

Where's this woman you were talking about? Is she still here?

[ Dick's primary objective is Rapunzel's safety, but being Batman, he wants to be absolutely thorough. ]

Don't want the cape? That's fine, I could still use it.

[ He puts it back on as he starts in the direction of the exit. ]

Follow me.

I have plenty more questions, but this isn't a conducive environment for Q&A sessions.

[ As long as Rapunzel's close behind him, Dick advances towards the exit - a window overlooking a deep valley, from which the fall would obviously be lethal. Not that there's any worry, of course, as a bat-like plane hovers in place within jumping distance. The cockpit opens, but Dick steps aside to let Rapunzel go first. ]

Jump. Believe it or not, the plane will catch you.

[ No matter how long Rapunzel might deliberate, and whether or not she does choose to jump... forces have gathered behind Dick and Rapunzel. While Dick addresses Rapunzel, an assassin pulls him by his cape, and he lands on his back in front of a vast array of assailants.

Fortunately, he jumps so that he can kick an assassin in the face before engaging several others. Seems he doesn't need to give them all his attention, as he looks back at Rapunzel. ]

Jump! Jump now!

[ Should Rapunzel make it to the Batwing, it will descend beyond the assassins' reach, gliding to a distant cliff on the other side of the valley. ]

'Bad people,' huh?

[ Dick remembers how some bandits, Zucco's gang, keep running into Haly's Circus and asking for protection money. Though the Circus members have been strong enough to fight off these bandits, Dick secretly hopes things never escalate.

He tries not to think about it, even though it's been an obvious worry in his parents' minds. ]

Don't worry, Rapunzel. I'll protect you!

[ He shadowboxes, though he's about as threatening as a little boy throwing punches at nothing can be. ]

I'm strong, I'm fast, I'm agile... and you can always heal me if I get my butt kicked!

[ So that he doesn't overdo it, he stops it with the punching and sits back down to meet Rapunzel at eye level - what with her still on the floor. ]

I owe you, after all. It's really nice, what you did for me.

Thank you, friend.

[ The cape did bring a certain level of comfort, and for that reason Rapunzel returns it. She can't be comfortable right now. She needs to be on her toes, staying sharp. If she let herself relax, she could be trapped again. With or without this stranger's help, she can't let that happen. ]

I left her behind in my room, though I don't think what I left her in will hold for long.

[ She runs, not far behind him. Despite her long captivity, her endurance is strong, probably thanks to her hair. Bitter, she tries not to think on it too long.

When they reach the window, Rapunzel peers over and catches sight of the place. She's never seen one like it before, but she isn't nervous about the jump. In fact, she's climbing over the edge of the window...only to stop and look back. Even if she does get into the plane, she didn't know where to go from there. She didn't want to rely on anyone, but some advice couldn't hurt. Besides...it would be wrong to leave someone behind in the mess she helped to make.

So when she spots one of the assassins making a play for Dick's back with a knife, Rapunzel flings out her hair, wrapping it around the assassin. She flings him right at a batch of other assassins, knocking them off their feet and into a wall. She at least has the advantage of surprise with her attack method. ]

[ Rapunzel laughs at his show. His confidence and playful manner puts her more at ease. Pascal, too, watches in amusement. It seems Dick has won the chameleon's approval.

Her heart flutters at the word "friend". Pascal is her only friend in the world, and while she loves him dearly, having friends her own age, her own species, is something she's dreamed of for a long time - almost as much as seeing the floating lights. ]

Can we...I mean, are we really friends?

[ Dick refrains from proclaiming his excitement when he sees what Rapunzel does with her hair. She's practically made bowling pins out of these assassins. ]

Okay.

That is so much better than jumping.

[ He catches a katana blade between his palms before snapping it in half and kicking its wielder with a knee-breaking strike. As he continues to fight off amidst Rapunzel's contributions, the crowd of hostiles slowly thins once more. They have to remember the last time they fought Dick by himself, months ago when he was Nightwing-- it ended well for none of them then, so it certainly won't now.

To make quicker work of his opponents, Dick draws a pair of eskrima sticks to easily parry and counter the assassins' various weapons. He starts to notice that although the assassins are defensive against Rapunzel, they don't seem to be under any orders to attack her.

But surely there has to be a better reason than the length of her hair that's kept her in captivity. ]

We're nearly done.

[ He elbows an assassin in the face, one who'd attempted to attack him from behind. ]

Gather your hair.

When the smoke disperses, we leave.

[ Dick deflects several shuriken with his eskrima sticks, before intercepting an assassin's spear. His sticks seem to be durable enough that he uses them to snap the spear in two. He immediately kicks the spear's owner into the adjacent wall, just as he sheathes his eskrima sticks on his utility belt - only to pull out a smoke pellet in exchange.

He darts to Rapunzel's side and tosses the smoke pellet in the center of the remaining crowd. ]

To the plane. Now.

[ This time, Rapunzel can hop on the Batwing without fear of leaving Batman behind. He runs close behind her, encouraging her to lead the way as he keeps assassins at bay with concussive batarangs.

Before they can completely escape, though-- before Rapunzel can even step on the windowsill, she can hear a sharp and distinct cry behind all the clamor of the remaining assassins. A familiar calling of her name, albeit poisoned by entitled rage.

The voice of her so-called mother. ]

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for watcheslanterns

Deep Lore Notes

childhood au

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dark timeline

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works great!!

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