Chapter 1: Round One
Chapter Text
1. The Great Gatsby (“they seem to say”—Blake’s Sunflower, by Elizabeth Smart.)
Gatsby stood on his dock, staring at Daisy’s green light. The more he watched it, the more it seemed to be blinking at him in Morse Code (something he’d picked up while travelling with Dan Cody). “She’s waiting for you,” it signaled, “All you have to do is take her.”
2. Justice League Unlimited (“All the Christmases roll down toward the two-tongued sea, like a cold and headlong moon bundling down the”—A Child’s Christmas in Wales, by Dylan Thomas.)
“Aren’t you going to celebrate Christmas?” Huntress asked, looking into the Question’s room.
Question shook his head, focused on his bulletin board. “Christmas is a holiday of capitalism and propaganda. I don’t participate if I can help it.”
She rolled her eyes affectionately. “I’ll bring you back a candy cane.”
3. Portal/Poker Night 2 (“But he fools caught it,”—A Coat, by William Butler Yeats.)
GLaDOS’ internal processors whirred in a way that might have been a sigh. Another night, another round of dealing with morons betting heavily just to make their balls look big. Well, at least she’d get the satisfaction of mocking them whenever they made a bad play (which would be often).
4. Rose of Versailles (“My fond frail happiness out of me.”—In the Vaulted Way, by Thomas Hardy.)
Oscar tightened her grip on her sword, trying to concentrate on the target in front of her and not on the thought of André lying in bed, dark eyes bandaged thanks to the Black Mask. She was ashamed to admit it, but she’d never felt this worried about him before.
(WARNING: VAGUE SPOILERS FOR TRON; LEGACY)
5. Tron: Legacy (“Is the love men must return.”—Men Loved Wholly Beyond Wisdom, by Louise Bogan.)
“WHY?” 2 asked, glancing at 1 as the Users carried the ISO away, “WHY TAKE THE RISK?”
1 shrugged and added more percussion. “I THINK THEY CALL IT LOVE.”
2 nodded. He’d filtered enough of the Users' music to know that that was a sensation that could not be denied.
Chapter 2: Round Two
Chapter Text
1. The Great Gatsby (“Concluded that I heard Him not. You thrive”—Sonnet 35, by John Berryman.)
Nick was saying something, but Gatsby only half heard him. He would do whatever it took to get Daisy back, to give her everything she’d ever dreamed of. To make her a queen, no, a goddess, like she deserved.
“Can’t repeat the past?” he said, “Why of course you can!”
2. Justice League Unlimited (“it after all, a place for the genuine.”—Poetry, by Marianne Moore.)
Question stood in a corner of the Watchtower, eyes sweeping over the various heroes, looking for any hint of deception. There was none to be found. He allowed himself a slight smile; he still didn’t trust any of them, but perhaps he could start feeling a little more at ease.
(WARNING: VAGUE SPOILERS FOR PORTAL 2)
3. Portal/Poker Night 2 (“I would not care to reach the moon,”—De Profundis, by Christina Rossetti.)
“I wouldn’t mind going to the moon!” Claptrap chirped, eyepiece swiveling around to look at GLaDOS, “Whaddaya say, babe? Care to join me for a little romantic Earth gazing?”
“I have already seen the moon,” GLaDOS answered coldly, “It was…unimpressive. Though I am tempted to send you there alone.”
(END SPOILERS)
4. Rose of Versailles (“outlets in Bonn & Tokyo”—Dream Song 69, by John Berryman.)
“What do you think, Oscar?” Queen Antoinette asked, displaying her newest dress, “Madame Bertin says this is destined to be a sensation! She believes it will soon be worn all over the world!”
“It’s lovely, your Majesty.” Oscar said, hoping rumors of this dress wouldn’t get back to her grandmother.
5. Tron: Legacy (“With neither dislike nor desire; rather with both, so equalled”—The Bed By the Window, by Robinson Jeffers.)
Programs often wondered why 1 and 2 had white circuits, rather than yellow, red, or blue. If anyone ever bothered to ask them, they would have answered that it was for the sake of neutrality. They didn’t particularly care which side won; all that mattered to them was making music.