The Binks Family (Gotham)

[Gotham]

Chris B wrote this up for us (along with some suggestions from Chris G and myself about what occurred at the end of our last session)

The Radiant Ranger opened the door to the Sentinel’s HQ and was genuinely surprised.  It was just before 2AM, and standing in the doorway was Barbara Binks, reporter for Channel 8 news, and an ardent detractor of the super team.  The Ranger was expecting someone, but not the press.

 

“Hey Babs. What are you doing here,” the Ranger asked groggily and confused.

 

“Where Is My SON!”

 

The Ranger’s jaw fell open as she started into the eyes of her nemesis.  Fire and hatred started back at the hero, and the Ranger was stunned. Desperately thinking, she put the pieces together.  The team was waiting for the mother of their young intern, and now Barbara Binks stood in their doorway. ‘Holy hell,’ she thought to herself in terror.

 

Recovering, the Ranger opened the door.  “Please come in, Scotty is this way.”

 

The Radiant Ranger led the reporter into the common area of the Sentinel’s headquarters.  Scotty Binks, aka DOOMSKULL!, was curled up in a corner, dreading the coming confrontation.  As soon as the women entered, Binks shots over to her son. 

 

“Scotty, are you okay,” she asked in pain.

 

“No, I don’t think so," Scotty replied.  "Mom, I think I killed two people tonight."

 

In shock, Barbara’s world view narrowed to one simple concept.  “We’re going home, now,” she said sternly.

 

“No mom,” came a quiet reply.

 

“No?  Gather your things!”

 

“I’m not going,” Scotty replied still curled into a ball.

 

The rest of the Guardian stood and watched the exchange with pity, and the Radiant Ranger attempted to interject.  “Please, let me tell you what happened…” she pleaded but was interrupted.

 

“No!  You don’t get to say anything,” Binks scolded.  Turning back to her son, she repeated her demand, “Get in the car now!”

 

“NO Mom! I’m not going!” Scotty screamed back at her, stretching and contorting his elastic face into a menacing form.

 

Terror filled her core as she watched her son lash out at her with his meta abilities.  Barbara took a step backwards at the sight, unable to concentrate.

 

After what felt like an eternity, she began to accept that she had little power to enforce her will against these supernatural beings.  With sadness, she looked at her son then at the Sentinels arrayed around him, and Barbara understood that she lost. 

 

Standing tall, she composed herself and briskly walked out of the Sentinel base without her son.

 

As the reporter made it to the front door, the Radiant Ranger caught up with her.

 

“Can’t we talk this out,” the Ranger pleaded.

 

“What gives you the right to take my son and expose him to danger,” she barked with fury.

 

“He is an intern, so he can learn to use his powers properly,” the Ranger replied in what she hoped was a calming tone.  “Your eldest son suggested it.”

 

Fueled by deep remorse and hatred, Barbara ignored the Rangers comments and left.

 

Scotty Binks broke down and started sobbing heavily from the confrontation that just occurred. 

 

“Why don’t we try to get some rest,” the Radiant Ranger offered as she tried to console her intern.  “You can stay here tonight.  Will, can you stay, too?”

 

“Yeah, I can stay,” Kid Splice offered, unsure as to how to help his friend.

 

The team dispersed, leaving Scotty curled on the couch covered in a blanket from the bunkroom, and his friend beside him in one of the lounge chairs.  The Ranger settled onto the edge of the couch and rubbed Scotty’s back until he fell into a fitful sleep.    

 

********

 

A few hours passed, and the team heard the familiar chime of someone at the front door to the HQ.  Slowly, the Ranger stood and walked over to a video monitor and noticed a couple of police cars and a news van were in the parking lot.  She quietly moved to the foyer and opened the door.

 

“Ah, Radiant Ranger,” one of the officers said.  “Ma’am, we are here to pick up Scotty Binks, is he here?”

“Maybe,” she replied.  “Come in, officers.”  The police entered the base and followed her gesture toward the office area.  The reporter and camera also tried to step through the doorway, but was stopped by an outstretched laminated arm.  “I’ll be back to answer any of your questions,” the Ranger stated and shut the door to the HQ.

 

“Please, follow me,” the Sentinel said to the two officers, as she lead them into the back area.

 

The police quickly looked around, and realized they were inside the heart of the Sentinel’s HQ.

 

The Radiant Ranger walked up to Scotty, who was now sitting, his hair disheveled and uniform crumpled.

 

“Are you Scotty,” the officer asked.

 

“Yes”

 

“We’re here to take you home, Scotty,” the other officer said with a tense smile.

 

Pulling the blanket to the side, Scotty rose from the couch.

 

“Officer, can you take him through the side door,” Kid Splice asked on behalf of his friend.

 

Scotty hearing this refused, wanting to go directly out the front door.

 

Exiting out the door the news greats them. Before they can ask any questions Scotty looks at her mother’s news crew and says right into the camera “I am Scotty Binks, also known as Doomskull the Destroyer, and I am a superhero,” he said softly yet proudly with a sniffle.

 

The policeman escorts Scotty into a patrol car near the entrance.

 

To draw some of the attention away from her intern and to fulfill her earlier promise, the Radiant Ranger walked out of the front door and up to the waiting reporter from Channel 8 news.

 

“Was Scotty kidnapped?”

 

“No.” 

 

“Why did the Sentinels have Scotty so late at the HQ?”

 

“He was with a friend.”

 

“Is he a part of the camp you are setting up?”

 

“No.”

 

The Radiant Ranger answered a few more questions, then returned inside.

[Gotham]

What happens after and why - 

Where Barbra stands - 

She isn't much different from her life on the TV verses home life. She is a very good reporter that does research beyond what most reports do. 

She knows mutants are uncontrolled and dangerous. 

There is no mask for her to take off once work is done and her to become a mother - which she says about normal citizens all the time in her reports against mutants. 

 

In her life she portrayed the perfect family. The father, the son and the wife. She molded this life to excel in her career. When Scotty was born the military allowed him to go home to see his son for a few weeks. When he was sent back overseas after that he was killed in an accident.

She continue to mold her family to be as normal as possible for her career. Of course she didn't accept the military saying "accident" she wanted to know what happened. She investigated and found out it was a mutant attack on his helicopter. For 15 years she has been against the mutants. While not on the camera and out on the street she knows people watch her (as much as any normal city reporter). She made sure her son's where dressed proper and that they didn't get into any trouble at school. 

When she found out her son Jonathan joined the military she was crushed and worried deeply and her fight against mutants increased. When he arrived back into Gotham she was relieved after his service years. She has been though much stress in her life and still more with her work.

 

Now bring this into perspective - something that almost destroyed her family is once again going to do the same thing. Not only will it destroy her family but her whole career has been crushed. "I killed two people today" and she finds out that Scotty is a mutant makes her knowledge of what mutants are confirm her belief. 

Scotty arrives home, being dropped off by the police. Barbra hugs him and tells him to stay inside to complete his homework and then adds that he is grounded. 

Scotty replys "until when?" she respond until it's safe then she goes into her room locking the door. 

The internet is shut off, the cell phone service is shut off. She hasn't left her room but you hear the TV on.

 

Scotty talks through the door "So, mom, how's it feel to know your son is a dirty mutie?" as he slams his door to his bedroom to complete his homework and fall asleep. 

As Scotty lays in his bed he thinks of how to get out of this. Who would know of a good lawyer he could can use to get out of this place.

 

 

As you know this is Gotham and it can get DARK sometimes. This will be one of those times. 

 

Scotty will continue his antics inside the penthouse/condo throughout the night then the following day. He knows his mom can hear him but she doesn't come from outside her bedroom. Eventually Scotty will investigate what is going on in her bedroom (either breaking down the door, using his eyeball to stretch under the door) and find his mom laying on the bed not breathing. Two empty medicine bottles lay empty on her night stand. The TV is on with the news on. In her arms she is clutching a picture frame. Within the frame is a picture her family - her two boys and her husband.

Without thinking Scotty grabs her and throws open the window. It is late morning and people walk the sidewalk below. He stretches  down to the sidewalk below. Scotty yells at someone walking by to call 911. They do and then Scotty tells them to call the Sentinels. As they don't have the number (and neither does Scotty as his phone was taken away from him by his mom) they start to look it up online. 

As the ambulance arrives the Sentinels appear (via Traveller), both medics and Kid Splice try to revive her without success. She is brought to the hospital and pronounced dead.

 

[Gotham]

During the next few days channel 8 put together a life history of Barbra Binks. There is a funeral which is held. 

Jonathan Binks (aka Erulim) is devastated by this but Scotty goes into a mental state beyond anyone's help. Jon attempts to console him along with the Sentinels and his friend Adam but has no effect. Eventually bringing them to a psychologist which suggest specialty help from Arkham as he could be a threat to others as well as to himself. 

Erulim will put him here visiting him everyday. 

Weeks later Erulim thinks to himself "why did my mother die?" and comes up with because her son had mutant powers and she had no idea on how to accept this.

He starts to feel helpless as he couldn't help his own mother. Eventually his thoughts turn.

I wonder how many other families are out there that have the same problem? There are kids out there that get beat by their parents after they find out they are mutant. The mutant kids that get picked on at school. Kids that get found out of being a mutant and get disowned. 

His thoughts then turn towards his camp and he realizes that the camp isn't just about kids with powers but it needs to be about their families. How does a family cope with having a mutant amongst them. 

In the coming months Erulim becomes extremely passionate of the camp and makes it a full school for mutants. He turns over Sentinels to Fastball, The Patrolman and Radiant Ranger. 

He then focuses all his energy into helping mutants and their family. He not only focues on mutant kids assisting with powers but also helps families that just don't know yet. 

He helps the kids with not only the importance of their found power but other aspects of it. How important it is to have a secret ID, how to stay out of trouble while still helping others, how to deal with the media, a balance of being a hero and family, and most important is helping the student figure out who they really are.

The death of Barbra Binks from Jonathan Binks is treated as an Uncle Ben passing on from Peter Parker. 

Peter doesn't close off the world but uses this to re-focus his life into being the best hero. He then becomes Spiderman. 

[Ian Sheadel]

Ranger outs Johnathan, adding fuel to a raging fire... But then handles the media interaction quite well. 

J.B.'s outline is more or less where I would go with this.  It's a terrible, tragic, enraging incident, but once the most volatile of the emotions subside, what's left is a renewed vigor to dedicate myself to the mission.  

   It is at first hard for Erulim to 'let Ranger and the team in' as he struggles with what's occurred.  In part, he keeps them away because he himself doesn't know how to feel, what to think, what to say.  After the funeral, he stays with Ranger to have some company and keep him more level.  It is on that night that his walls finally crumble and he lies weeping on her couch feeling the full impact of the pain and confusion he holds:

 - The anger at a mother who couldn't find a way to listen, who quit instead of finding a way out of the darkness, who allowed her love of a false past destroy the future she could have had.

 - The shame he feels over being so angry with his own mother, his dead mother. 

 - The fear of losing a brother to that same confusion.  The uncertainty of which path Scotty will choose in the coming weeks, months, years. 

   This night is a breakthrough for him.  Allowing the full weight of his emotions to be present and thereby released turns out to be the first break in his clouds.  It is this temporary catharsis that allows him to inject a seed of logic into his state.  He spends the next several days writing, talking to his mother's grave, and talking with his brother at Arkham.

   Through a great pouring out of his heart and diligently envisioning the directions his life may go, he realizes that he cannot allow a tragic mistake nor a personal pain to cause a cascade of darkness to spread over other lives.  It has to be used.  It has to mean something.  If for no one else, then for himself and his future. 

Personal Mission Statement:  

    I will use my life to empower others to overcome fear.  Through my time, energy and resources, others will be removed from pain and learn to stoke the flames of their own inner greatness.  Through my past and my mother's eyes, I have great compassion for the masses full of fear and uncertainty and anger towards the meta-community.  But from my heart and to my future and the future of all meta's and all humanity, I have instilled in myself an unprecedented dedication to overcome fear with integrity and altruism and to abolish hatred with unconditional love.

    Ranger and I continue to talk often.  She wishes to support and bolster me in friendship and perhaps in guilt.  I in turn see the weight she carries and wish not to allow the darkness in the Binks family to spread and bring down a beacon of light. Over the course of these discussions, I write her a letter:  [We could roleplay a back and forth if you wish, but wanted to put to paper some of the thoughts and encouragements I would give to Lauren at one point or another during this dark time.]

Lauren,

   I can't thank you enough for the love and support you have shown to both myself and Scotty.  I know that you feel some guilt over the way things went and perhaps some anger in our having younger heroes joining us on missions at all.  Scotty is young and perhaps that makes him more sensitive to the traumas we all face.  The struggle of taking a life is one that every soldier or hero has to wrestle at one point or another.  I believe in him.  He is kind, sensitive and perhaps acted with naivety, but he is also strong.  I believe that his goodness will overcome eventually and I won't stop drawing it out of him.  But I want you to remember that ultimately, that decision lies with him.  We can't make it for him.  Despite whatever guidance and support we might provide, the struggle he's in is an internal one and he's the only one who can decide that the fight is still worth fighting. 

   

    As for my mother, that was her choice too.  I was so angry with her for being weak enough to quit and take the only chance I might have had to save her, to show her what she couldn't see.  But she didn't give me that choice, and I have to accept that.  My mother spent her whole life living for the image she portrayed to the world.  I can remember three times, three in the last 30 years, that I saw the real, deeply authentic Barbara come out.  Even sitting around the table, there was always an undercurrent that this was what was 'expected'.  This was the 'proper thing to do', not because of the impact on someone else, not from some high moral standard, but because it was expected.  She lived the life that her viewership wanted to see.  That's who she is. 

    And please don't misunderstand me.  I love my mother dearly.  She fought furiously for us to have a good life. She was doing what she thought was right and what she thought would make our lives okay.  But she lived in constant fear of keeping that equilibrium, that net of safety.  When that net broke free, there was just nothing underneath to keep her from falling.  It will always hurt that that's the case, but it doesn't make it any less true. 

   But you and I, we have decisions to make too.  No matter who you are, no one gets to go through this life without feeling pain and adversity.  We all have a struggle and a cross to bear.  Being uncomfortable allows us to grow.  Change is hard, but it's the only way that life tomorrow will ever be better than life today or yesterday.  My mother lived for yesterday.  I've decided that I can't allow the story to end there.  She is a part of my story and always will be. She ended her role in it, but the story keeps going.  This is a story of how darkness can be overcome by light: how pain can be inspire joy. 

   You'll have to decide what you want your life to look like.  Whatever you choose, I'll support you, whether it's with the Sentinels, or building community centers, or a life of quiet service out of the limelight.  But whatever you choose, I need you to know it is a choice.  Here's what I believe Lauren, from the bottom of my heart:  You have a light to share with world.  Every pain and trauma and enemy you've faced have been your teachers.  They taught you important lessons, lessons that this world needs to learn.  Whatever you decide to do with that light, just don't hide it.  Give it to the world, learn to dream bigger and bigger every day that you're alive.  Because life is a gift and I truly believe we have a responsibility to use it to do some good in this world.  I hope you'll be around to help me. 

~Erulim

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[Gotham]

Ranger outs Johnathan, adding fuel to a raging fire...

As much as we thought Radiant Ranger outed Erulim she didn't all she said was -
“He [Scotty] is an intern, so he can learn to use his powers properly,” the Ranger replied in what she hoped was a calming tone. “Your eldest son suggested it.”

This falls in line pretty much the way I assumed Erulim would react (only with way better grammar, sentence structure and details I wish I could come up with).

Fantastic post form the Bink's eldest brother.

[Chris B]

I thought Ian was talking about the last session he was here, where the Ranger mentioned the name Jonathan and Erulim in the same sentance to a reporter.  I'll need to look back at my stories. ☺

If I recall, Ian was kind of shocked.

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[Chris B]

On Wed, Jul 31, 2019, 9:24 PM Chris B <chrisj...@gmail.com> wrote:

I thought Ian was talking about the last session he was here, where the Ranger mentioned the name Jonathan and Erulim in the same sentance to a reporter.  I'll need to look back at my stories. ☺

If I recall, Ian was kind of shocked.

On Wed, Jul 31, 2019, 9:22 PM Gotham <portlan...@gmail.com> wrote:

Ranger outs Johnathan, adding fuel to a raging fire...
As much as we thought Radiant Ranger outed Erulim she didn't all she said was -
“He [Scotty] is an intern, so he can learn to use his powers properly,” the Ranger replied in what she hoped was a calming tone. “Your eldest son suggested it.”

This falls in line pretty much the way I assumed Erulim would react (only with way better grammar, sentence structure and details I wish I could come up with).

You are excellent at writing stories too, John. 👍   No one beats Mark, though. 😊

Fantastic post form the Bink's eldest brother.

I agree.  Excellent job, Ian and thanks John for laying the groundwork!  Great work all around.

[Ian Sheadel]

Ranger outs Johnathan, adding fuel to a raging fire...
As much as we thought Radiant Ranger outed Erulim she didn't all she said was -
“He [Scotty] is an intern, so he can learn to use his powers properly,” the Ranger replied in what she hoped was a calming tone. “Your eldest son suggested it.”

It was to this "eldest son suggested it" that I was referring.  This means that at the very least I knew about Scotty's powers and was in favor of him joining (betrayal).  And could mean that I'm also connected to the Sentinels as why else would Radiant Ranger know and be talking to me (super betrayal).  When she first walked in the door, I had nothing to do with any of this, in her mind... Hence, outed. 😝

This falls in line pretty much the way I assumed Erulim would react (only with way better grammar, sentence structure and details I wish I could come up with).

Fantastic post form the Bink's eldest brother.

Thanks. It's fun digging into really heartfelt content like that.  Reminded of writing letters as a kid with real life emotion.

P.s. I agree with Chris, we've got a full panel of accomplished storytelling artists here

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[Chris B]

On Thu, Aug 1, 2019 at 8:35 AM Ian Sheadel <shead...@gmail.com> wrote:

Ranger outs Johnathan, adding fuel to a raging fire...
As much as we thought Radiant Ranger outed Erulim she didn't all she said was -
“He [Scotty] is an intern, so he can learn to use his powers properly,” the Ranger replied in what she hoped was a calming tone. “Your eldest son suggested it.”

It was to this "eldest son suggested it" that I was referring.  This means that at the very least I knew about Scotty's powers and was in favor of him joining (betrayal).  And could mean that I'm also connected to the Sentinels as why else would Radiant Ranger know and be talking to me (super betrayal).  When she first walked in the door, I had nothing to do with any of this, in her mind... Hence, outed. 😝

I had to say something that would make her stop and listen!  That woman was being unreasonable. 😋

Yep, Erulim would know about it, too.

 

This falls in line pretty much the way I assumed Erulim would react (only with way better grammar, sentence structure and details I wish I could come up with).

Fantastic post form the Bink's eldest brother.

Thanks. It's fun digging into really heartfelt content like that.  Reminded of writing letters as a kid with real life emotion.

Heartfelt content is not in short supply here.  We managed to turn an unassuming milk run into a Joseph Campbell character growth situation! 😉

 

P.s. I agree with Chris, we've got a full panel of accomplished storytelling artists here

Bring on the baggage!  It makes for great copy.

[Chris B]

On Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 8:35:35 AM UTC-7, Travelling Gotham wrote:

Thanks. It's fun digging into really heartfelt content like that.  Reminded of writing letters as a kid with real life emotion.

Wait a minute!  You haven't had real life emotion since you were a kid???

[Ian Sheadel]

Thanks. It's fun digging into really heartfelt content like that.  Reminded of writing letters as a kid with real life emotion.

Wait a minute!  You haven't had real life emotion since you were a kid???

Well, less of it perhaps.  What I really meant was it reminded me of letters I wrote as a 'kid'.  The only letters I remember writing in the last 10 years were to exes / girlfriends.  Similar and heartfelt for sure but a slightly different context... Smart Alex  :P

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[Chris B]

On Thu, Aug 1, 2019 at 2:52 PM Ian Sheadel <shead...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks. It's fun digging into really heartfelt content like that.  Reminded of writing letters as a kid with real life emotion.

Wait a minute!  You haven't had real life emotion since you were a kid???

Well, less of it perhaps.  What I really meant was it reminded me of letters I wrote as a 'kid'.  The only letters I remember writing in the last 10 years were to exes / girlfriends.  Similar and heartfelt for sure but a slightly different context...

Yeah, who writes letters any more?  Besides the letter to Lauren kind of qualifies as GF, right? 😍  LOL!! 😝

 

Smart Alex  :P

Well, at least things are getting back to normal! 😁