A Guide To Designing Wheelchair Using Characters!

you know what's funny? all the Justice Leage|DC x Danny Phantom crossover fics, that start with or otherwise include the premise of the Justice League (often led by Justice League Dark, and John Constantine in particular) summoning the new Ghost King to ascertain his threat status.

like. there's something very human about that. believing that, because you have named yourselves the defenders of your world, that you have any authority to demand answers of interdimensional royalty -- of anyone, really. the Green Lanterns, sure, they're quite literally a universal force and are such recognized. but only thru the lands that agree to that or are included in a sector that is under any Lantern Corps jurisdiction.

the Infinite Realms are under no one's jurisdiction but their own, so the thought of the justice league demanding answers from them is akin to a random child coming up to you in the airport and demanding you give them something. like, I'll entertain this conversation cause you're adorable but also, you have no power here, child. where is your adult?

and, from what I've seen, no one can get Constantine to do what he doesn't want or need to do. not even Batman, who is just a man.

so he'd love to be holed up in the House of Mysteries, leaving the capes to mess around and find out. but then that would make it his responsibility, so he's there to oversee the summoning and step in if neeeded, but personally has no desire to add another curse to his coat.

anywho, I'm just imagining the Justice League summoning Ghost King Danny and demanding answers and, like any teenager who knows he'll have no repercussions for doing so, he tells them to fuck off (imagine, if you will, the same joy you feel when your parents say that you're allowed to go against the rules in school because the rules are arbitrary and self-serving at best and harmful at worst, and you won't get in trouble for it even if you get detention/suspended at school)

and they're all aghast cause, what? who do you think you're talking to? and Danny's all, no, who do you think you're talking to? I am the King of the Infinite Realms, Protector of Amity Park, Keeper of the Stars, *insert all his other random titles a la Thor and Loki stalling*, and you do not make demands of me, mortal. then he just dips, cause really? a tiny lil containment circle? ha!

Dani X Damian Danny X Val (aged-up duo, time travel mission)

Danny was called to the school because Dani had fought a boy. Similarly, Bruce was called in because of a fight involving a girl.

Headmaster's Office

Danny: "What's going on?" Dani, with a black eye: "I'm going to court him!" Bruce: "What…" Danny looked heartbroken: "Val… is she at that age?" Val: "Why would you even want to court him?" Damian, with a black eye, wouldn't look at his father looked at the girl.

Dani: "He's strong and he can fight. We can make it work." Danny: "…Just because of that?" Dani: "Didn't you and Mom start out that way?" Val, trying not to laugh: "She's not wrong." Danny: "Val!" Damian: "She's not weak and she can fight." Bruce: "Damian!"

The Headmaster, to both fathers: "They won't work out that way, have no fear. They won't 'court' or anything similar. Give it a few weeks, and it'll be over."

Years Later, at the Wedding

Both Bruce and Danny made sure the retired, elderly Headmaster was with them at the wedding. "Grow out of it, you said." "A few weeks, you said." Headmaster: "Okay, I'M SORRY!"

I just had a DPxDC crossover idea that I thought was funny.

What if every time John Constantine sold his soul he was basically agreeing to being “adopted” by the entity he was selling his soul to.

He thinks all of the entities he sold his soul to are leaving him alone because they’re too busy fighting/have a truce to not fight as long as none of them claim his soul, meanwhile he’s got like a dozen or so ghost/demon parents ready to go to court to fight for custody when he finally dies.

Danny, having been taken in as a ward by an older ghost since he technically counts as a baby ghost until he’s 100 or something, meets Constantine for the first time and is like: “Why are you 1/15th my brother?”

Bonus points if Danny is technically the big brother in ghost terms because he’s been a ghost the longest. Sure Constantine may be a little liminal but that doesn’t count he doesn’t even have a death day yet.

Like:

Danny (Certified little shit): “Baby brother why do you never come to dinner? :(”

Constantine, too sober for this: “The fuck did you just call me?”

Constantine vehemently denies any relation but they bicker like siblings.

DPXDC Prompt# 1- Tea on Time "No. Nope. Nuh Uh." Dani rocketed out of Clockwork's tower like a bat out of hell. Wondering if bleach could wipe her memories if she unstabilizes and reforms her head. "Dani, Please? DANI?! WAIT!" The purple-robed figure was just a leg behind her as he kept trying to freeze time, sporting a blush just as dark as his robes against his normally blue skin.

Dani has never been happier for her sixth sense telling her to ask Danny for the medallion. Otherwise, she had no idea what the Time Ancient would do to not let this slip. 2 hours earlier Of course, another halfa was sent to bash a member of the Flash family. Supposedly, the reaction to speedsters was a tale as old as time.

Little did she know, she'd discover just how wrong that was. Or With Jasmine having Dani collect dirt on the ancients, the clone halfa finds out the reason Clockwork beefs with the Flash family is because he was the speed force when he was a teen and achieved some enlightenment that forever keeps a 16-year-old version of the ancient as a separate entity. This whole time, Clockwork has to keep living with the reminder of his young and dumb mistake and has his grandkids clean up his mess.

DPxDC Prompt where when Jason dies, his AO3 account goes sadly untouched for an uncharacteristically long time (considering his near-weekly updates prior to his death). His sudden absence does not go unmissed by his dedicated readers, and Danny’s always wondered what the hell happened to xXxNight_BirdxXx.

He mostly forgets about it– too distracted by the portal accident and fighting ghosts– but Danny never unsubscribes.

Years later, Danny just about breaks his phone when he gets an email notification saying that one of his favorite old fanfics updated. It’s one by xXxNight_BirdxXx, who he’d all but assumed fucking died (considering the guy also dropped off of the other community tabs he used to frequent).

When Danny checks the update, the author’s note is… a little strange. He thinks that xXxNight_BirdxXx might be joking about dying, coming back and digging his way out of his own coffin, and then getting sidetracked by revenge for a few years, but… well, Danny’s seen weirder.

Danny decides to take the most obvious course of action: subtly trying to ask this man a few ghostly questions through his comment section. 

A general cane guide for writers and artists (from a cane user, writer, and artist!)

Disclaimer: Though I have been using a cane for 6 years, I am not a doctor, nor am I by any means an expert. This guide is true to my experience, but there are as many ways to use a cane as there are cane users!

This guide will not include: White canes for blindness, crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs as I have no personal experience with these.

This is meant to be a general guide to get you started and avoid some common mishaps/misconceptions, but you absolutely should continue to do your own research outside of this guide!

The biggest recurring problem I've seen is using the cane on the wrong side. The cane goes on the opposite side of the pain! If your character has even-sided pain or needs it for balance/weakness, then use the cane in the non-dominant hand to keep the dominant hand free. Some cane users also switch sides to give their arm a rest!

A cane takes about 20% of your weight off the opposite leg. It should fit within your natural gait and become something of an extension of your body. If you need more weight off than 20%, then crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair is needed.

Putting more pressure on the cane, using it on the wrong side, or having it at the wrong height will make it less effective, and can cause long term damage to your body from improper pressure and posture. (Hugh Laurie genuinely hurt his body from years of using a cane wrong on House!)

(an animated GIF of a cane matching the natural walking gait. It turns red when pressure is placed on it.)

When going up and down stairs, there is an ideal standard: You want to use the handrail and the cane at the same time, or prioritize the handrail if it's only on one side. When going up stairs you lead with your good leg and follow with the cane and hurt leg together. When going down stairs you lead with the cane, then the good leg, and THEN the leg that needs help.

Realistically though, many people don't move out of the way for cane users to access the railing, many stairs don't have railings, and many are wet, rusty, or generally not ideal to grip.

In these cases, if you have a friend nearby, holding on to them is a good idea. Or, take it one step at a time carefully if you're alone.

Now we come to a very common mistake I see... Using fashion canes for medical use!

(These are 4 broad shapes, but there is INCREDIBLE variation in cane handles. Research heavily what will be best for your character's specific needs!)

The handle is the contact point for all the weight you're putting on your cane, and that pressure is being put onto your hand, wrist, and shoulder. So the shape is very important for long term use!

Knob handles (and very decorative handles) are not used for medical use for this reason. It adds extra stress to the body and can damage your hand to put constant pressure onto these painful shapes.

The weight of a cane is also incredibly important, as a heavier cane will cause wear on your body much faster. When you're using it all day, it gets heavy fast! If your character struggles with weakness, then they won't want a heavy cane if they can help it!

This is also part of why sword canes aren't usually very viable for medical use (along with them usually being knob handles) is that swords are extra weight!

However, a small knife or perhaps a retractable blade hidden within the base might be viable even for weak characters.

Bases have a lot of variability as well, and the modern standard is generally adjustable bases. Adjustable canes are very handy if your character regularly changes shoe height, for instance (gotta keep the height at your hip!)

Canes help on most terrain with their standard base and structure. But for some terrain, you might want a different base, or to forego the cane entirely! This article covers it pretty well.

Many cane users decorate their canes! Stickers are incredibly common, and painting canes is relatively common as well! You'll also see people replacing the standard wrist strap with a personalized one, or even adding a small charm to the ring the strap connects to. (nothing too large, or it gets annoying as the cane is swinging around everywhere)

(my canes, for reference)

If your character uses a cane full time, then they might also have multiple canes that look different aesthetically to match their outfits!

When it comes to practical things outside of the cane, you reasonably only have one hand available while it's being used. Many people will hook their cane onto their arm or let it dangle on the strap (if they have one) while using their cane arm, but it's often significantly less convenient than 2 hands. But, if you need 2 hands, then it's either setting the cane down or letting it hang!

For this reason, optimizing one handed use is ideal! Keeping bags/items on the side of your free hand helps keep your items accessible.

When sitting, the cane either leans against a wall or table, goes under the chair, or hooks onto the back of the chair. (It often falls when hanging off of a chair, in my experience)

When getting up, the user will either use their cane to help them balance/support as they stand, or get up and then grab their cane. This depends on what it's being used for (balance vs pain when walking, for instance!)

That's everything I can think of for now. Thank you for reading my long-but-absolutely-not-comprehensive list of things to keep in mind when writing or drawing a cane user!

Happy disability pride month! Go forth and make more characters use canes!!!

the Constantine twins are on the TL again

Under ordinary circumstances, Danny wouldn't have resorted to throwing punches first ask questions later. But he was on the run and he was tired so when the hero sneaks up on him, he swings. Now he is on the run, tired, and has a concussed hero to take care of.

this was originally supposed to be a single drawing but I liked the idea and so I extended it to be this short-comic. Also added toe BGs I had to make for these shots.

Zatanna projecting her period cramps onto Constantine