Inspiration

Chapter 1: Batman Forever/BTAS

Batman Forever's plot, BTAS's characters!

The Riddler needs money for a new scheme, and doesn't want to risk the Bat's wrath until it's complete, so he makes a new alias in order to find work - Dawson Red (I cannot remember why I chose that name). 'Dawson' gets a job at Wayne Enterprises, where he grows to respect Bruce Wayne. But when Wayne disregards his project like all the others, he vows revenge.

He tests his device on his rude superior, sending him into a coma when it malfunctions, and doctoring the security footage to cover it up as his boss's own ineptitude doing it.

The nearly-complete Box in tow (with some interesting side-effects), Riddler searches for a new way to earn capital. It's then that he sees a live news report of Twoface's latest trick - Holding a circus hostage to expose Batman! Riddler giggles in glee as he watches, pouting when Batman and Robin manage to foil his plot and narrowly save the circus performer's lives. But Twoface has escaped, and given Riddler a great idea...

Meanwhile, Twoface has been up to a lot lately - It's the second anniversary of the first time he was caught, after all. Big Bad Harv decides a robbery at the Second Bank of Gotham. Harvey spares the guard's life, but Big Bad uses him as bait. Batman comes up an elevator, Twoface's mooks shoot at it, but Batman hides in the ceiling. Cue the fight, Batman taking the bait even though he recognizes it as such, and a pit of 'Boiling Acid!' attached to a helicopter. Batman saved the guard and most of the money, but Twoface gets away.

Twoface comes home to his new lair, which is half smashed to pieces, half clean and tidy. The two twin mooks of his (Who didn't die in this version, because I say so), Min and Max, bought groceries. Min bought stuff he knows Twoface Likes when Harvey's in control, while Max bought things for Big Bad. Both of Twoface's sides appreciate this, thanking them and getting ready to eat.

'I hope you there's enough to share.' Riddler steps out of the shadows, much to Twoface's chagrin. He convinces him to flip the coin before killing him, it lands on heads, and Riddler offers a unique proposition to learn not only Batman's secret identity, but to learn all of Gotham City's secrets.

He demonstrates his newest invention on Min and Max 'This is your brain on the Box. This is my brain on the Box. Anybody else feel like a fried egg?'

After scaring Riddler a bit with a coin toss (Good side - Spare his life but don't work with him. Bad side - spare him for now -- though, Riddler doesn't know that --, and take his deal), the two go into business together.

The reason Robin's mad is because his family was killed in a similar way to how Twoface nearly killed the circus performers.

The 'big Riddler', 'Riddler hacks the batmobile's GPS', and 'Batman's parents' deaths aren't his fault' scenes are back.

Riddler talks like he does in BTAS - Calm, smug, proper, mildly amused, and vaguely english, with the occasional temper tantrum or chuckle - but has most of his movie counterpart's lines.

For instance - 'NOO! Don't kill him! If you kill him - he won't learn nothing! Hahahahaha!' Becomes 'No! Don't kill him. If you kill him, he won't learn anything. *Smug smile, slight chuckle*'

Likewise, Twoface doesn't laugh manically or scream half his lines. Though the shippy moments between him and Riddler are still there, in a different way.

Nygmatech - RedTech.

And, of course, no-one dies. But Riddler and Twoface do get all the info they gained from the Boxes scrambled, forgetting Batman's identity.

Instead of arguing 'killing is bad', Bats argues 'Harvey's my friend, and he's still in there!'

I can't even remember when I wrote down these notes. It's not a fic that would be easy for me to write, but I really do want to read it someday.

Am I the only one who noticed how Riddler is the only character in Batman Forever to treat Harvey's personalities equally? He compliments both of them, makes sure both are paying attention, and just generally refers to both of them multiple times.

Even Sugar Lace and Leather Spice each have a favorite side, but Riddler seems to like both of them. Considering Twoface very clearly sees himself as two separate people in this movie (saying 'we/us' when referring to himself, introducing himself twice, etc), is it any wonder he bonds to the only person that treats him that way? He seems to grow close to Edward really fast, whether you see it as shippy or just friendship.

Chapter 2: Civilians

A civilian AU, but they still have powers.

Fries' survival suit, Harvey's scars and split personality, Jonathan's demon, Joker's everything, Ivy's plantness -- could these people have really lived normal lives?

If Dr Victor Fries had gotten a deal to work with Wayne Enterprises, would he still have made as much progress saving his wife?

Could Harvey and Big Bad Harv learn to cooperate enough to still be a DA? Would anyone really let them?

Could Jonathan find healthier outlets for his obsession with fear How would being consensually possessed by a demon help or harm that? How long could he continue teaching?

Could Joker survive in any sort of 'normal' life role? Would he still manage to 'dance' with the Dark Knight, in a new way?

Could Ivy hold herself back enough to campaign for plantlife in a more legal way? Would she see better results? What about when she discovers the power in her Kiss?

Which other Rogues has the biggest reasons to turn to crime? Which other Rogues look/act the weirdest? What would their civilian lives look like? How many could succeed, and how many are doomed to failure?

Chapter 3: In Space!

Okay, slightly toned down version of the Rogues, by which I mean even Joker's not a murderer.

The Rogues (and Robin) get lost on an alien spaceship and become a crew in order to survive, struggling to get home.

After a couple adventures, they find out they're clones, and choose not to go home but to instead continue their space adventures.

Lock-Up's there as well, as their 'token evil teammate' (as much as that can apply to villains). He spends most of his time in the brig, but they eventually need him for something, but none of them can trust him.

// The Rogues wake up on an alien spaceship, each with instinctual training for a specific job, their personalities and behaviors changed to various degrees. As they try to make their way home, they start to come to an unsettling conclusion; maybe none of them are who they think they are.

Each of them find themselves with a pre 'programmed' role, which seems to have absolutely nothing to do with who they were/are, so they each have to adjust to completely new behaviors/skill/knowledge.

1) Riddler -- Captain

2) Joker -- Chef

3) Harley -- Medic

4) Croc -- Engineer

5) Jervis -- Pilot/Navigator

6) Scarecrow -- Alien software/Linguistics/cultural Expert

7) Isley -- Resource Procurement (mining, trading, whatever)

8) Robin -- AI/Robotics expert (bonds with the Rovers and Ship's AI)

9+) Whichever others you come up with.

Nora is cryosleeping in the ship's hold.

Twoface's personalities (Harvey and Bigg) get more cleanly separated, able to communicate and deal with each other easier.

Even Joker finds himself suddenly listening to Riddler, unless he consciously decides not to.

Absorbed part of the personalities of the original crew??

Robin doesn't know which Robin he is, with the memories of all the Robins? But, like, he's a 10yo.

Pets, such as Scarecrow's crows or Harley's hyenas, are there as well.

Little robots fixers/helpers/explorers called Rovers.

Ship's AI is sassy, and definitely knows more than they're letting on, but is otherwise extremely helpful and friendly 

Chapter 4: Batjokes Identities

Sometimes, Batman and Joker's fights take an interesting turn.

Sometimes, Batman and Joker play a game.

Every time they make out (or more), Batman gives Joker a clue about his house (the half of the city it's in, the color of the roof, whether it has a yard)

Part of Joker comes to dread their get-togethers, as much as he loves them. He wants to figure out his Bats' identity on his own, but each encounter brings them closer to Batman just telling him.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Having Riddler help still counts as doing it on his own, right?

As per usual, this is version of Joker that doesn't kill (except maybe in self defense or rapists/murderers), and has never hurt one of the Robins. Because dating your son's murderer is completely psychotic.

Chapter 5: That One Time Scarecrow Really Didn't Want To Use His Fear Toxin

One day, Jervis asks why there are so many different strains of Fear Toxin. Scarecrow excitedly explains all the differences, ending in one he's still testing, but is pretty sure makes one mentally live through their absolute worst fear.

Jervis makes an offhand remark about wondering what his own greatest fear is, causing Scarecrow to snap back to his Jonathan mindset and say something like "...excuse me? Could you repeat that?".

Jervis reiterates that he's curious, stating that his mind's often too scrambled for him to guess. He then nervously asks if, perhaps, he could volunteer for one of the Fear Toxin Trials?

Trying to keep his reputation intact, Jonathan reluctantly agrees, giving multiple warnings. Cue a lot of angst on Jon's part during the days leading up to the trial, trying to understand why he doesn't want to put the Hatter through this.

Maybe because they're friends? But he had once used a dare to more-or-less force Edward into going through one of the trials. He'd never done it to Harleen, but part of him sees her as a child, no matter that he met her when she was already in her twenties.

So why, why, WHY?!!! (Cue manchild tantrum where he wrecks part of his hideout).

On the day of the trial:

* Much nervousness and attempts at hiding it

* Jonathan (who can't switch to Scarecrow mode, no matter how hard he tries) explaining in faux-gleeful detail what's about to happen.

* Jervis slowly starts to panic, ending in him screaming for the trial to end before it's begun, morosely apologizing.

Turns out, he only wanted to do it because he wanted to do something nice for his March Hare, but he was too 'weak'... He's so very sorry-

Jonathan, kinda snapping, yells at him that he's been a wreck the past few days because of how much he did not want to do this! He was only doing it for Jervis' sake (and a tiny bit for his reputation), and it turns out the Hatter never even wanted to do it?!

Fluff, bonding, maybe love confessions? Nursery rhymes and quotes. Maybe accidental fear toxin exposure?

A bit of explanation: this fits into my headcanon that, besides enemies/specific targets, Jonathan's Fear Toxin is volunteer only. He holds regular trials to test his Toxin on volunteers, paying them relatively well, but doesn't accept children/the elderly/those with heart conditions/etc.

Oh, and Jon has two different 'mindsets' (Professor Crane and Scarecrow) but it isn't exactly two separate personalities. If you write this, use whichever interpretation of Scarecrow vs Jonathan you wish, that's just the one I was using when I wrote these notes.

Chapter 6: Ivy's Kiss Backfires

For this particular storyline, it's important to work under the assumption that Ivy's Kiss has no affect on gay men, or at least a different affect (it still affects bi men normally.)

Angry at one of the other Rogues for whatever, Ivy decides to use her Kiss to force him to do something embarrassing as revenge. Things get awkward when it doesn't work.

AKA, one of the Rogues is secretly gay, and Ivy accidentally outs them.

Alternatively: Batman is the one she outs.

Alternate alternatively: Bruce Wayne is the one she outs.

Alternative alternative alternatively: Ivy Kisses a woman (maybe accidentally, maybe playfully, maybe on a dare, whatever), and it does work.

Chapter 7: Highschool Teachers

A new mayor has come to Gotham, but he's not a native Gothamite. He has two problems.

1) No one can keep the Rogues locked up in Arkham, as they're all too smart.

2) The highschool his daughter loves attending is about to shut down due to lack of teachers.

He comes up with a single solution to both of these issues. He's such a good mayor, isn't he?

A group of the Rogues suddenly find themselves as teachers as a type of parole, wearing tracking bracelets on their ankles to prevent escape. Much to their annoyance, they actually begin to enjoy themselves, mostly because the students are just as crazy as they are.

Optional side plot:

The school has a bunch of metas, aliens, monsters, supergeniuses (and maybe batkids). They've been waging a secret, small-scale super war for years now. Somehow, the Rogues find themselves mentors to both sides of it.

Superheroes and supervillains are supposed to hate each other, so what happens when these super kids act more like frenemies or flat-out friends, even when in the middle of combat?

Note: The mayor isn't entirely insane. In this version, none of the Rogues are murderers/rapists/cannibals/pedophiles/torturers/child abusers.

Chapter 8: #OnlyInGotham

A newly-promoted newscaster in Gotham is given a list of words he is not allowed to say on air:

* Two

* Riddle

* Joke

* Fear

* Afraid

* Scary

* Terror

* Alice

* Funny

* Eco terrorist

* Genius

Etc.

He is new to Gotham, and happened to move their during a lull in crime, so he doesn't understand why he can't say these different words. The rest of the studio crew (being all native Gothamites) don't understand why he's confused, and communication problems ensue.

Getting annoyed by the constant struggle to report without using any words on the list, the newscaster decides to just use all of them.

Of course, this attracts the attention of Gotham's Rogues. Our poor protagonist soon finds himself on a forced tour of Gotham, learning just why the people of this city behave the way they do.

In the end, will the newscaster go crazy? Or will he act like a true man from Gotham? Is there really even a difference?

AKA: an excuse to show off the unusual behaviors, rituals, and vocabulary the people have Gotham have developed thanks to the Rogues and Bats.

Chapter 9: It's All In Your Mind (Why You Shouldn't Mess With Jervis Tetch)

Jervis gets pissed off at Joker. Not just annoyed, but truly angry. Joker has crossed some sort of line, and is now mocking him for being too weak to get revenge.

So Jervis hypnotises him. Truly, utterly takes over The Joker's mind to a greater degree than he normally does to people. He forces the Joker to be one of his henchmen, getting his revenge by ordering the Joker around and completely controlling him.

Of course, Joker eventually snaps out of it, but not on his own. It takes Batman to save him. Despite not being physically hurt, everyone expects Joker to retaliate against The Mad Hatter.

Instead, Joker laughs it off, stating he's grown to respect Jervis and admitting he was wrong about him being weak. Joker doesn't stop annoying/teasing him, but he never crosses a line with Jervis again.

Is he low key scared of the Hatter? Maybe. Is Jervis equally scared of him? No, Jervis is far more terrified of him. Balance, after all, must be kept.

Chapter 10

A new Wonderland-themed villain attacks Gotham, and Batman must turn to Jervis Tetch for help.

Includes Batman having to sit through a slide presentation on the works of Lewis Carroll.