#also a crusading mentality is in there

[raspberry-gloaming]

This will make sense to me and exactly a handful of people but by God I love this fucked up family

[glassofoj-twitter]

Polnareff’s Prosthetics (read more about this au in the tags)

[biohazard-inevitable]

Sometimes ya just gotta sit and play a mental episode of my little pony in your brain with your own original character and vibe

[kitsune-pop]

I love how much of warhammer 40k is clearly a bunch of white dudes sitting around, thinking up the worst shit imaginable and going "thank god that could never happen to me, the cishet white guy"

angron is a one for one depiction of slavery, yet is painted as the bad guy for wanting to stand against oppression

mortarion is disabled and constantly has his decisions taken away from him by able bodied people only to be seen as moody and uncooperative

magnus is gay or trans or both. literally a guy blamed for something he was born with that he cannot control and told you're bad if you explore this part of yourself. also you're illegal now

fulgrim was actively encouraged to pursue perfection, despite never being good enough for others. he pushed any personal pleasure aside for an uncaring crusade and then is demonized for saying "fuck it, I'll have fun"

lorgar. also known as "this is why you don't abuse your kids"

horus is the golden child who's sent out into the world by himself only to find out Gee, Maybe I'm Not Ready because good ol dad did everything for him then told him "figure it out lol"

alpharius omegon are the autistic kids who don't understand why pops is doing this, maybe we should do things a little different than "blood soaked crusade"

perturabo is the burnout middle kid who did everything to impress his father only to be told "that's what's expected of you" who then got mad since acting out was the only way he got attention

konrad curze has a mental disorder. and is abused because of it

all of these characters were so close to being some of the best representation for minorities we could get in media only for gw to eat shit right at the finish line because they can't commit to an actual story. and it's amazing just how little these writers understand that the things they depict are all real things that people suffer through every day, and are demonized for every single day, especially when we are told these characters are irredeemable and should be destroyed, no questions asked

[fdelopera]

I'm trying to find the quote about how Jews are painted with the worst sins a generation can imagine. That it used to be communism, now it's settler colonialism - but I cant find it anywhere! Do you know the one I'm talking about? I feel like you might know

Hi @counterpunches , thanks for your question. I believe you are thinking of the keynote speech by the great Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z''l that he delivered before the European Parliament in 2016.

Since Rabbi Sacks delivered his speech, of course, Europe, the UK, and Ireland have continued to descend into the chaos of their own self-destruction, of which Jew-hate is the first major symptom.

These goyishe freaks think they are just having "fun" celebrating Islamofascist terrorism, glorifying in the slaughter of Jews, and attacking the Jews in their own communities, but really these goyim are DIGGING THEIR OWN GRAVES.

Here is the video of Rabbi Sacks' speech. I've also provided the transcript below under a Read More, and I've bolded the sections that relate to your question.

I recommend that everyone listen to Rabbi Sacks' speech. Nearly 10 years after he delivered this speech, his words could not be more true:

If Europe lets itself be dragged down that road again, this will be the story told in times to come. First they came for the Jews. Then for the Christians. Then for the gays. Then for the atheists. Until there was nothing left of Europe’s soul but a distant, fading memory.

Today I have tried to give voice to those who have no voice. I have spoken on behalf of the murdered Roma, Sinti, gays, dissidents, the mentally and physically handicapped, and a million and a half Jewish children murdered because of their grandparents’ religion. In their name, I say to you: You know where the road ends. Don’t go down there again.

You are the leaders of Europe. Its future is in your hands. If you do nothing, Jews will leave, European liberty will die, and there will be a moral stain on Europe’s name that all eternity will not erase.

Stop it now, while there is still time.

Transcript of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks' z''l speech:

The hate that begins with Jews never ends with Jews. That is what I want us to understand today. It wasn’t Jews alone who suffered under Hitler. It wasn’t Jews alone who suffered under Stalin. It isn’t Jews alone who suffer under ISIS or Al Qaeda or Islamic Jihad. We make a great mistake if we think antisemitism is a threat only to Jews. It is a threat, first and foremost, to Europe and to the freedoms it took centuries to achieve.

Antisemitism is not about Jews. It is about antisemites. It is about people who cannot accept responsibility for their own failures and have instead to blame someone else. Historically, if you were a Christian at the time of the Crusades, or a German after the First World War, and saw that the world hadn’t turned out the way you believed it would, you blamed the Jews. That is what is happening today. And I cannot begin to say how dangerous it is. Not just to Jews but to everyone who values freedom, compassion and humanity.

The appearance of antisemitism in a culture is the first symptom of a disease, the early warning sign of collective breakdown. If Europe allows antisemitism to flourish, that will be the beginning of the end of Europe. And what I want to do in these brief remarks is simply to analyse a phenomenon full of vagueness and ambiguity, because we need precision and understanding to know what antisemitism is, why it happens, why antisemites are convinced that they are not antisemitic.

First let me define antisemitism. Not liking Jews is not antisemitism. We all have people we don’t like. That’s OK; that’s human; it isn’t dangerous. Second, criticising Israel is not antisemitism. I was recently talking to some schoolchildren and they asked me: is criticising Israel antisemitism? I said "No" and I explained the difference. I asked them, "Do you believe you have a right to criticise the British government?" They all put up their hands. Then I asked, "Which of you believes that Britain has no right to exist?" No one put up their hands. "Now you know the difference," I said, and they all did.

Antisemitism means denying the right of Jews to exist collectively as Jews with the same rights as everyone else. It takes different forms in different ages.

In the Middle Ages, Jews were hated because of their religion. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century they were hated because of their race. Today they are hated because of their nation state, the state of Israel. It takes different forms but it remains the same thing: the view that Jews have no right to exist as free and equal human beings.

If there is one thing I and my contemporaries did not expect, it was that antisemitism would reappear in Europe within living memory of the Holocaust. The reason we did not expect it was that Europe had undertaken the greatest collective effort in all of history to ensure that the virus of antisemitism would never again infect the body politic. It was a magnificent effort of antiracist legislation, Holocaust education and interfaith dialogue. Yet antisemitism has returned despite everything.

On 27 January 2000, representatives of 46 governments from around the world gathered in Stockholm to issue a collective declaration of Holocaust remembrance and the continuing fight against antisemitism, racism and prejudice. Then came 9/11, and within days conspiracy theories were flooding the internet claiming it was the work of Israel and its secret service, the Mossad. In April 2002, on Passover, I was in Florence with a Jewish couple from Paris when they received a phone call from their son, saying, “Mum, Dad, it’s time to leave France. It’s not safe for us here anymore.”

In May 2007, in a private meeting here in Brussels, I told the three leaders of Europe at the time, Angela Merkel, President of the European Council, Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament, that the Jews of Europe were beginning to ask whether there was a future for Jews in Europe.

That was more than nine years ago. Since then, things have become worse. Already in 2013, before some of the worst incidents, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights found that almost a third of Europe’s Jews were considering emigrating because of antisemitism. In France the figure was 46 percent; in Hungary 48 percent.

Let me ask you this. Whether you are Jewish or Christian, Muslim: would you stay in a country where you need armed police to guard you while you prayed? Where your children need armed guards to protect them at school? Where, if you wear a sign of your faith in public, you risk being abused or attacked? Where, when your children go to university, they are insulted and intimidated because of what is happening in some other part of the world? Where, when they present their own view of the situation they are howled down and silenced?

This is happening to Jews throughout Europe. In every single country of Europe, without exception, Jews are fearful for their or their children’s future. If this continues, Jews will continue to leave Europe, until, barring the frail and the elderly, Europe will finally have become Judenrein.

How did this happen? It happened the way viruses always defeat the human immune system, namely, by mutating. The new antisemitism is different from the old antisemitism, in three ways. I’ve already mentioned one. Once Jews were hated because of their religion. Then they were hated because of their race. Now they are hated because of their nation state. The second difference is that the epicentre of the old antisemitism was Europe. Today it’s the Middle East and it is communicated globally by the new electronic media.

The third is particularly disturbing. Let me explain.

It is easy to hate, but difficult publicly to justify hate. Throughout history, when people have sought to justify antisemitism, they have done so by recourse to the highest source of authority available within the culture. In the Middle Ages, it was religion. So we had religious anti-Judaism. In post-Enlightenment Europe it was science. So we had the twin foundations of Nazi ideology, Social Darwinism and the so-called Scientific Study of Race. Today the highest source of authority worldwide is human rights. That is why Israel—the only fully functioning democracy in the Middle East with a free press and independent judiciary—is regularly accused of the five cardinal sins against human rights: racism, apartheid, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and attempted genocide.

The new antisemitism has mutated so that any practitioner of it can deny that he or she is an antisemite. After all, they’ll say, I’m not a racist. I have no problem with Jews or Judaism. I only have a problem with the State of Israel. But in a world of 56 Muslim nations and 103 Christian ones, there is only one Jewish state, Israel, which constitutes one-quarter of one per cent of the land mass of the Middle East. Israel is the only one of the 193 member nations of the United Nations that has its right to exist regularly challenged, with one state, Iran, and many, many other groups, committed to its destruction.

Antisemitism means denying the right of Jews to exist as Jews with the same rights as everyone else. The form this takes today is anti-Zionism. Of course, there is a difference between Zionism and Judaism, and between Jews and Israelis, but this difference does not exist for the new antisemites themselves. It was Jews not Israelis who were murdered in terrorist attacks in Toulouse, Paris, Brussels and Copenhagen.

Anti-Zionism is the antisemitism of our time.

In the Middle Ages Jews were accused of poisoning wells, spreading the plague, and killing Christian children to use their blood. In Nazi Germany they were accused of controlling both capitalist America and communist Russia. Today they are accused of running ISIS as well as America. All the old myths have been recycled, from the Blood Libel to the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The cartoons that flood the Middle East are clones of those published in Der Sturmer one of the primary vehicles of Nazi propaganda between 1923 and 1945.

The ultimate weapon of the new antisemitism is dazzling in its simplicity. It goes like this:

The Holocaust must never happen again. But Israelis are the new Nazis; the Palestinians are the new Jews; all Jews are Zionists. Therefore the real antisemites of our time are none other than the Jews themselves.

And these are not marginal views. They are widespread throughout the Muslim world, including communities in Europe, and they are slowly infecting the far left, the far right, academic circles, unions, and even some churches.

Having "cured" itself of the virus of antisemitism, Europe is being reinfected by parts of the world that never went through the self-reckoning that Europe undertook once the facts of the Holocaust became known.

How do such absurdities come to be believed? This is a vast and complex subject, and I have written a book about it, but the simplest explanation is this. When bad things happen to a group, its members can ask one of two questions: “What did we do wrong?” or “Who did this to us?” The entire fate of the group will depend on which it chooses.

If it asks, “What did we do wrong?” it has begun the self-criticism essential to a free society. If it asks, “Who did this to us?” it has defined itself as a victim. It will then seek a scapegoat to blame for all its problems. Classically this has been the Jews.

Antisemitism is a form of cognitive failure, and it happens when groups feel that their world is spinning out of control.

It began in the Middle Ages, when Christians saw that Islam had defeated them in places they regarded as their own, especially Jerusalem. That was when, in 1096, on their way to the Holy Land, the Crusaders stopped first to massacre Jewish communities in Northern Europe. It was born in the Middle East in the 1920s with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Antisemitism re-emerged in Europe in the 1870s during a period of economic recession and resurgent nationalism. And it is re-appearing in Europe now for the same reasons: recession, nationalism, and a backlash against immigrants and other minorities. Antisemitism happens when the politics of hope gives way to the politics of fear, which quickly becomes the politics of hate.

This then reduces complex problems to simplicities. It divides the world into black and white, seeing all the fault on one side and all the victimhood on the other. It singles out one group among a hundred offenders for the blame. The argument is always the same. We are innocent; they are guilty. It follows that if we are to be free, they, the Jews or the state of Israel, must be destroyed. That is how the great crimes begin.

Jews were hated because they were different. They were the most conspicuous non-Christian minority in a Christian Europe. Today they are the most conspicuous non-Muslim presence in an Islamic Middle East.

Antisemitism has always been about the inability of a group to make space for difference. No group that adopts it will ever, can ever, create a free society.

So I end where I began:

The hate that begins with Jews never ends with Jews. Antisemitism is only secondarily about Jews. Primarily it is about the failure of groups to accept responsibility for their own failures, and to build their own future by their own endeavours. No society that has fostered antisemitism has ever sustained liberty or human rights or religious freedom. Every society driven by hate begins by seeking to destroy its enemies, but ends by destroying itself.

Europe today is not fundamentally antisemitic. But it has allowed antisemitism to enter via the new electronic media. It has failed to recognise that the new antisemitism is different from the old. We are not today back in the 1930s. But we are coming close to 1879, when Wilhelm Marr founded the League of Anti-Semites in Germany; to 1886 when Édouard Drumont published La France Juive; and 1897 when Karl Lueger became Mayor of Vienna. These were key moments in the spread of antisemitism, and all we have to do today is to remember that what was said then about Jews is being said today about the Jewish state.

The history of Jews in Europe has not always been a happy one. Europe’s treatment of the Jews added certain words to the human vocabulary: disputation, forced conversion, inquisition, expulsion, auto da fe, ghetto, pogrom and Holocaust, words written in Jewish tears and Jewish blood. Yet for all that, Jews loved Europe and contributed to it some of its greatest scientists, writers, academics, musicians, shapers of the modern mind.

If Europe lets itself be dragged down that road again, this will be the story told in times to come. First they came for the Jews. Then for the Christians. Then for the gays. Then for the atheists. Until there was nothing left of Europe’s soul but a distant, fading memory.

Today I have tried to give voice to those who have no voice. I have spoken on behalf of the murdered Roma, Sinti, gays, dissidents, the mentally and physically handicapped, and a million and a half Jewish children murdered because of their grandparents’ religion. In their name, I say to you: You know where the road ends. Don’t go down there again.

You are the leaders of Europe. Its future is in your hands. If you do nothing, Jews will leave, European liberty will die, and there will be a moral stain on Europe’s name that all eternity will not erase.

Stop it now, while there is still time.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Sympathetic Villain

Sympathetic villain - an antagonist in a story who has redeemable qualities.

Tips for Writing a Sympathetic Villain

Despite their immoral actions, sympathetic villains must have relatable motivations. Here are five tips for writing a great sympathetic villain for your story.

Make them believe they’re the hero. A sympathetic villain is willing to do bad things because their evil actions will bring about a positive change, from their point of view. Consider how your villain could see themselves as the true hero. Flesh out their perspective by imagining how they see your story’s protagonist as their personal villain.

Craft a tragic backstory. A tragic backstory gives your villain a sympathetic reason to justify their evil deeds. Slowly reveal your villain’s tragic backstory as the narrative unfurls. A slow reveal will add an aura of mystery to their motivations while also avoiding a colossal exposition dump early in your story.

Give them an internal conflict. Before you begin writing, sit down and flesh out the character. What event is the source of the internal struggle that informs their behavior in the story?

Employ supporting characters. Creating a supporting character who illuminates your villain’s sympathetic qualities is a simple way to help readers understand your villain’s point of view. In the X-Men saga, Professor X—the leader of the heroes—believes he can redeem Magneto, the villain, expressing that he is a virtuous person underneath his darkness.

Show them doing a good deed. Like good people can do bad things, bad people can do good things. Imagine a plausible good deed that your villain would perform in the context of their backstory. For example, if your villain’s sibling was a civilian casualty during a wartime attack, they may refrain from attacking your protagonist when an innocent civilian enters the line of fire.

Even when performing terrible acts or standing in the way of a beloved main character’s mission, the reader sympathizes with their motivations, often due to their redeemable qualities or tragic backstory. This type of complex character may be a tragic villain or an anti-villain.

A tragic villain is a character who becomes evil in the face of uncontrollable traumatic circumstances; this type of villain often despises their wicked nature.

On the other hand, anti-villains believe themselves to be a story’s hero, seeing their evil actions as noble.

These villainous characters are the opposite of anti-heroes, who perform good deeds despite having questionable motives or a cloudy moral compass.

Examples of Sympathetic Villains

Killmonger: Killmonger, the villain in Marvel’s Black Panther, dedicates his life to dethroning his cousin T’Challa, the king of Wakanda. In the process, Killmonger wants to stop the oppression of people of African descent by arming them with Wakandan weapons. However, he is willing to do terrible things to innocent people in the process.

The Joker: The Joker in Batman is fairly straightforward in his villainy, but his tragic backstory of being mentally pushed to the brink makes him compelling to watch. The audience suspects that if someone tested their sanity, they might act in the same way—and that’s all it takes to create a villain worthy of the caped crusader.

Thanos: Thanos—the main foe of The Avengers and the big bad guy in The Infinity Saga of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe)—has a goal of erasing half the universe’s population. His motivation stems from his own species’ extinction in the face of overpopulation, which exhausted his planet’s natural resources. Despite his nefarious mission, the audience feels sympathy for Thanos’ trauma and loneliness.

Source ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[missbliss12]

Just letting you know, there's an anon going around messaging people that you ship a child with their caretaker and urging them to reconsider interacting with your posts

Thank you to the anon who messaged me about this, and thank you to the anon who is unhappily engaging with my work! As a fine artist, comic artist, and person who likes to think about culture, stories, and history, I’ve been wanting to write about the Dynamic Duo for a while. This is a good opportunity for getting those various drafts together. And for anyone who’s curious about DC comic dynamics and likes, like me, to play with comics… I hope this can be an interesting little read into the various ways of reading Batman and Robin, and why one might choose to engage in a queer reading of “Brudick.”

Bruce and Dick: Father and Son, Brothers in Arms, Partners Fighting Crime

First, Bruce and Dick can certainly be read as “Father and Son.” There are several Dynamic Duo stories from various decades that do this, some of which I quite enjoy.  

Like in Batman Vol. 1, No. 20 (1944), where Bruce has to fight Dick’s corrupt blood relations to retain guardianship of his almost son/best friend.

And in writer Tom Taylor, artist Bruno Redondo, colorist Adriano Lucas, and co.’s Nightwing comics, including Nightwing Vol. 4, No. 100 (2023).

But “Father and Son” isn’t their only definitive relationship.  

Dick wasn’t adopted by Bruce at first for logistical reasons inside and outside of text (the difficulties of single men adopting kids during the 40s, when Batman and Robin was first published, for example.) There are comics that describe them as brothers for example, including when Dick first leaves to attend university as a young man and when he dons the Batman cowl after Bruce “dies.”

Batman & Robin Vol. 1, No. 7 (2009) by Grant Morrison, Cameron Stewart, and co.

Batman Vol. 1, No. 217 (1969), by Irv Novick, Dick Giordano, and Frank Robbins.

(Said vow of manliness was then followed up by Dick crying like a heartbroken heroine of a 1960s romance comic.)

Young Romance No. 125 (1963)

Dick and Bruce have even, on significant occasions, denied being father and son (though one could choose to read that as the first step of a cautious, tsundere journey towards patrilineal bonds)

Batman Vol. 1, No. 439 (1989), by Marv Wolfman, Pat Broderick, Adrienne Roy, and co.

The bond that Bruce asserts with Dick in this compelling story is based not on him replacing Dick’s parents, but on bonding with him as a similarly traumatized and wounded child.

This resonates with the words of David Mazzuchelli, fantastic mainstream and indie comic artist behind Batman: Year One. In the “Afterwords” section of Year One, Mazzuchelli describes the pair as being a pair of innocent, un-sexed twelve-year-old boys (Bruce mentally) who connect as best friends pretending to be heroes. 

(Take a look at Austin Kleon’s blog for the full post where this comes from – all photo credits to him)

This reading of the Dynamic Duo who are mainly partners, fighting against the crime that destroyed their parents, vibes with Darwyn Cooke’s beautifully rendered DC: The New Frontier (2004).

As Batman explains, they are “two lost souls who found each other”... romantic, no?

2. Bruce and Dick: Romantic Partners

With all the various interpretations of Bruce and Dick over the decades, from the perspectives of various writers and artists, there is also room for a romantic reading. Not just the comic panels taken out of context and spoofed on the internet. From this Reddit post… 

…To “A Brief History of Dick: Unpacking the gay subtext of Robin, the Boy Wonder”, a great summary by Glen Weldon, author of The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture. The comics themselves are ripe for various – *eh-hem* – creative readings and misinterpretations.  

Canon Jokes about Batman and Robin’s Relationship

But Bruce and Dick’s ambiguous relationship is also referenced in DC’s canon comics, like World's Finest Year 6: The Imp-Possible Dream (1999) by Karl Kesel, Peter Doherty, and Robert Campanella.

By aligning Dick with Lois Lane, damsel in distress, DC’s officially published comics pokes at the stability of a purely platonic father and son relationship between the Dynamic Duo.

Then there are the much more disturbing jokes from the Joker in Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (1989) by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean. 

Joker makes plenty of insinuations about Batman’s mental wellness and his attraction to a Robin. Queerness as pathological isn’t new to Batman – it’s embodied in the Joker, a lipstick and acrylic-wearing man obsessed with another man. Joker not only evokes drag queens; in Batman: The Dark Prince Charming (2017-2018) by Enrico Marini, he even dresses as one.

It’s easy to forget the Joker’s queerness with Heath Ledger’s highly popular elemental Joker, Joaquin Phoenix’s sad boy follow-up, and the heterosexual, Harley Quinn-touting Joker of the Batman animations. But I think Joker has lasted – and surpassed Robin in popularity – because Robin was a good boy who was scandalously attached to gay jokes while Joker was a bad guy, who one, historically, could easily accept as being evil.

And then Robin became the Joker.

Like Sin City, Frank Miller’s infamous Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again is a testosterone and titty fueled extravaganza. And it makes Dick a Joker mutant targeting Bruce’s new sidekick, former female Robin, current lovely Catgirl, Carrie Kelly. A side-by-side comparison shows who is more desirable and healthy amongst them.

Dick envies Carrie, going so far as plotting to steal her body by skinning her alive. 

It’s not a good look on Dick. It is also sad, twisted, and one of the most fascinating ways Frank Miller could have acknowledged Dick’s mixed cultural legacy within DC published comic (even one set in an alternate universe). Here is a panel of Dick declaring his wicked love, driving Bruce to (lover’s) suicide.  

So there is room for laughable and sick interpretations of romantic Brudick. Now let’s take a look at a healthier option for these not-quite lovers, enemies, partners, and family members.

3. Batman’s (and Robin’s) Queer Liberation: Fredric Wertham, Feminism, and Kevin Conroy

I’m personally captivated by a romantic reading of Bruce and Dick. Stories revolve around conflict and that poses A LOT OF PROBLEMS. It also has led to plentiful interesting fanart and fanfiction that tries to make sense of decades of stories with a cohesive narrative. While there’s plenty of porn (which, no anti is entitled to shame others about), it also involves strangely compelling coming-of-age stories that few other slash pairings can inspire.  

Also, Bruce and Dick’s queer potential is really important for Western comics history – it’s part of what Fredric Wertham M.D. took comics to task for in the 1950s, leading to a (flawed) study, a Senate Hearing, censorship and comic codes, as well as the creation of family friendly female characters! Wertham clearly read the comics as queer – and that still holds currency for other LGBTQIA comics fans who see themselves in Batman and Robin. 

Excerpts from pg. 190 of Fredric Wertham’s Seduction of the Innocent (1954):

Wertham also accuses Wonder Woman and her friends of loving women to the detriment of men on page 193:

DC superhero media has a history of deviant queerness – to say no is to deny an important facet of comics history. 

Mining said queerness can give room for female characters to be more than objects of men’s violence/sexual objectification. One of my favorite Batgirl comics gets Batgirl away from Dick Grayson, putting her on her own journey of friendship, love, and self-fulfillment in the capable hands of Babs Tarr.

From Batgirl, Vol. 4, No. 40 (2015):

Other female characters who have flourished when given the ability to be more than love interests include Batgirl’s bestie, Supergirl, in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2021-2022) by Tom King, Bilquis Everly, and co.

Superhero stories are so big, full of questions about what makes a person moral and how/whether they can ever truly belong. Do stories that play with Bruce and Dick as romantic connect to those ideas? They certainly do.

And, as we see from the autobiographical comic of Kevin Conroy, iconic voice of various animated Bat-men, these questions and deviations can enrich our superhero stories too. Excerpts below from “Finding Batman” by Kevin Conroy, J. Bone, and Aditya Bidikar, published in DC Pride 2022.

The Batman and Robin stories are so strange, plentiful, and varied – there’s room for various interpretations, none of them “wrong.” 

If the anon who’s messaging other social media users to stop looking at my art wants to tackle issues like child exploitation, or if they want to support girls and women who are in danger of incest or rape, they can donate and spread awareness of organizations like Save The Children, Planned Parenthood, and others using ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer.

And for wholesome DC comic recs with gals of color, I recommend DC comics like Diana and Nubia: Princesses of the Amazon (2022) by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, and Victoria Ying and Girl Taking Over: A Lois Lane Story (2023) by Sarah Kuhn and Arielle Jovellanos. My twin collaborator and I are also working on stories that tackle superheroines and intersectional feminism – stories which criss-cross with our platonic and romantic Brudick stories!  

[im-totally-not-an-alien-2]

Halloween prompts year 2 day 28

Thomas stared down at Bruce-no- Danny as he led him by the hand toward what he had dubbed as his "Secret Lair" which was just an old fall out shelter in the woods that had been well hidden and forgotten about. The door to it was old and still buried under years of dirt and plant growth, requiring Danny to phase them into it which made Thomas wonder how his grandson had found it in the first place.

Inside was surprisingly high tech. "You have a secret lair filled with all this equipment but don't have any weapons or armor?" Thomas asked, making mental preparations to fix that.

Danny sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck and explained his only allies were two other 14 year olds who were also untrained, unarmed, unarmored, and unsuper-powered which would explain why Danny was so excited to be working with an adult vigilante who at least knew what they were doing.

The kid didn't even mind when some of his more evil or harmful rogues "stopped showing up" thankfully no one would really question the reclusive Vlad Masters "going back to Wisconsin" only to never be seen again. No one saw much of him before coming to Amity Park, it made since he would become a hermit again once he had his fill of human interaction.

And if hes later found dead in his cheese castle? Well, the body had decomposed too much to really say what killed him. His will left everything to a Daniel James Fenton/Daniel James Masters which visibly infuriated Danny. Thomas mentally patted himself on the back. It was a good call to get rid of that one. The will was a surprise, though one that can only benefit Thomas in his crusade of protecting his grandson. Its not like he can return to a timeline that no longer exists anyway.

Unfortunately this doesn't stop the bats from hearing about "Batman" operating in a city in Illinois for the past few months...

[softomboy]

Jotaro/Kakyoin/Polnareff X Autistic Reader ★HEADCANONS★

How would the Crusaders treat you regarding your special traits?

. ݁₊ ⊹ G/N Reader ݁₊ ⊹ .SFW. ݁₊ ⊹

Themes: Inappropriate use of stands, Touch sensitivity, Noise sensitivity, Food "pickiness", Photosensitivity, Sense of humor, Overstimulation, Burnout.

★ IMPORTANT NOTE :

As my fellow autistic people might know, we all have different traits. I'll base these HCS based off my general experience. Also, english is my 2nd language so sorry beforehand for weird expressions, if there's any. Enjoy! <3

───────────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆───────────

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ Jean Pierre Polnareff

❥ I really think he would be the most understanding (alongside Avdol) and supportive, that's why I'm putting him first

❥ When you two gained a little confidence after meeting eachother, he made sudden physical contact without announcing himself (slapping your back or firmly holding your shoulder out of the blue), which he didn't know would greatly startle you, even if you didn't show it.

❥ Since you explained it to him, he became THE GENTLEST. He tries to be in front of you or at your side whenever he's about to make physical contact, in order for you to anticipate and mentally permit the action.

❥ He caresses your shoulder and back, surrounds you with his arm, occasionally hugs you.

❥ You know the crusaders are trustworthy, and great guys. So you don't feel hesitant to make physical contact with them at all, which is very valuable.

❥ He's the most touchy with you because you two get along very well.

❥ His generally cheerful attitude helps your anxious one.

❥ Not to mention that his simple humor and his goofyness are absolute gold

❥ He makes you laugh a lot with the stupidest puns, and the others can see him inflating his chest with pride from making you feel happy.

❥ Whenever you don't understand a joke, one of the crusaders will always explain it to you. But when Polnareff doesn't understand it as well, you become the clueless duo™️

❥ When you're going to eat at a hotel buffet, restaurant... He always remembers what your go-to foods are, and points them out for you.

❥ "Look, y/n-chan! They have (food) here!"

❥ If you're overstimulated, he'll give you space and tell the others to keep as quiet as possible and not disturb you. He'll literally be your guard knight for the day and remember you he'll help in any way he can.

───────────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆───────────

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ Kakyoin Noriaki

✦ He hasn't talked with you about the 'tism a lot, because he thinks it must be a tedious enough thing to live with and doesn't wanna pressure you into informing him about all the details.

✦ However, he'll listen attentively and try to remember everything you point out about yourself. Kakyoin cares, and shows it trough his actions.

✦ He likes to gift you emeralds he creates with Hierophant Green, because fidgeting and watching the light refract in them keeps you entertained and helps a lot with stress.

✦ Whenever he notices you peacefully playing with an emerald, he smiles to himself.

✦ Especially when you're watching the sunlight bounce inside the green gem, which is beautiful. And the emerald's pretty as well.

✦ Regardless if you're good at painting or not, he'll encourage you to paint with him in order to decompress.

✦ Mostly abstract or kindergarten level paintings, nothing serious in order to set your intuition and senses free.

✦ When you forget to put on your sunglasses while it's really bright outside, he knows you'll get gradually overstimulated and pissed off.

✦ So he remembers you to put them on, or offers you his own.

✦ Always tries to get you to eat pieces of fruit when they're available.

✦ If you like fruit he'll pick up your favorites, and if not he'll try to pick the most appetizing looking ones and convince you to try them.

✦ "These dates are amazing, they almost taste like brown sugar. Want to try one?"

✦ He'll not force you to try the ones you have tried and don't like, though.

✦ He has helped you on some occasions to regulate sensorially, simply by tying a straightjacket around you with his stand. The pressure feels like a tight hug, and it is strangely soothing, calming you down completely in a matter of minutes. You're both weirdly into it.

───────────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆───────────

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ Jotaro Kujo

★ There's AT LEAST one thing you have in common: You don't like small talk. So being able to sit in comfortable silence with him turns out to be a nice break for both.

★ For that reason, he always listens to you, because he knows you won't talk just for the sake of it. If you bring up something, it's most likely worthy of his attention.

★ His cold behavior makes it seem as if he doesn't care about your sensitivities. However, Star Platinum shows otherwise.

★ As much as an obedient Stand he is, he's always ready to appear against Jotaro's command in order to interact with you.

★ Star has appeared in some occasions to cover your ears with his enormous hands when you're overwhelmed by all the noise in a crowded place.

★ "Give me a break..."

Jotaro whispers, walking by your side while his stand is floating above you. He is concentrating on shielding your ears from the hubbub of the place. Jotaro lets out a sigh with his mouth closed, remotely feeling the soft texture of your hair trough his stand's hands.

★ Star also brings you little gifts. Catches bugs for you to see, picks cool rocks, steals little trinkets to give you. Everything just to make you smile, which warms him to his core.

★ As much as Jotaro acts pissed about his stand manifesting w/o permission, he is actually glad that at least his Stand is able to do things for you he's too embarrassed to do himself.

★ And don't ever bring this up: you've catched him smirking once or twice at his stand's actions. Specifically when he makes you smile.

★"Eat your damn food and drink your goddamn water. If not, don't be complaining about being hungry later, because I'm not letting Star bring you snacks".

★ (Like he can do something to stop him. Seriously SP is out of control ☠️)

★ At some point, you mentioned in front of him that having a bit of weight on top of you normally helps you sleep better. Next thing you know, Star Platinum's snuggling next to you in bed whenever you're struggling to fall asleep.

★ He hugs you with one of his arms and the slight pressure of its weight makes you feel secure. (He's the cutest thing ever I seriously cannot)

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I was initially planning to include Avdol and Joseph in this, but I was too lazy to keep writing ☠️😭 I am truly sorry for my sins against Avdol and Joseph fans

Maybe if I get requests for them I'll make another post for them both ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) idk

Please like & repost if you like this ndv crap 😳❤️

[nquesoxlies]

Every time I see are BoB out here calling Lou racist, homophobic and a Trump supporter and acting like they're on some moral crusade to protect the sanctity of this network procedural I'm just baffled and furious?

Like, I don't know him. He could be a jackass? But I am relatively certain they do not have the receipts for this. Not to mention that we do have receipts that strongly indicate their fav is problematic. >.>

There's also just this weird all or nothing mentality that is aimed at people they don't have pants feelings about that is just fucked up. No one is a paragon. Humans are messy. We need room to fuck up and learn better. Lou has been in the public eye for a while given his shitty dad is a famous guy who dragged his family into "reality" TV stuff. (If anything Lou is a nepo baby, but he can't help that lol) I'm not saying we have to support obviously terrible people, but um, we don't have the receipts.

See also claims "Oliver hates him." Or "poor Aisha, having to work with Him." Based on zero evidence and against much evidence to the contrary.

But again, we don't know these actors.

Maybe if these same people yelling about Lou had not also attacked EVERY other LI that wasn't their pants feeling preference, we could take their claims more seriously, but the pattern is real rancid. And if they actually cared, they'd be hitting everyone with the same standards. Which they aren't.

Anyways. I'm exhausted. Thanks for being awesome!

Until I see a legit receipt showing that Lou is any if those things within the last few years... I think I'll use my common sense to know who promotes/supports AI and right-wing propaganda and who doesn't.

[the-artist-grimm]

Hey, Grimm, I've been meaning to ask, but what other information do you have about the vessels (besides 7, 12 and 13, which you explored already)? I know 9 is gender fluid as well, but that's about it.

Also, credit where credit is due, you were the inspiration for my Forneus to be a former vessel as well, though I went with tarot instead of numerology as theme.

Crimson Angel AU - Vessels 1-12

(I don't have too much on the others but I got some notes!)

Vessels #1 and #2 - Tasked with breaking into Shamura's archives to find a way to break the spell

#1 (Unity) They were Narinder's only witness, and after their Lord was chained, killed themself to reach his side, knowing he'd resurrect them. They worked diligently but abdicated after 150 years, as after well over a century of having no luck in freeing their god, they were tired. They did not die in pain, they simply stabbed their heart and asked Narinder not to revive them. Narinder only realized it a while after, but they had loved him-and though he'd not felt the same, he did feel guilty for letting them go on for so long. Their lengthy service was because of their unrequited love, and had he'd known, he would've insisted they go live their life and leave him.

#2 (Duality) Was actually a set of twins, a Brother and Sister whom died together and asked to share the crown. Tag-teaming crusades and the cult, they managed to finally help him understand the spell, yet after 120 years the two were tired as well, and thus he released them from service, wanting time as well to contemplate what to do from there. To his horror, however, they returned to him in less than a year-executed by War for their 'crimes' against the Old Faith. He offered to revive them again yet they refused, and thus passed on.

Vessel #3 - Originally tasked with the archives again, then the first to try killing the Bishops

#3 (Trinity, the Spirit Realm) She was once a budding seer, yet died after one of her card-readings angered a client. Narinder originally asked her to try searching the archives for another way to be freed, but eventually came to understand he had no choice, and sent her to try and fight his siblings. Somewhat stable at first, her mind, however, gradually began to crumble under the weight of death and blood, and eventually his once calm vessel became violent and un-predictable. Narinder forced her to abdicate after 100 years of service, and she died a month later after her cards said she could take on War alone without a crown. It was her who made Narinder order Red to keep closer watch on vessel mental states.

Vessels #4-#6 - Tasked with trying to kill the Bishops

#4 (Balance) The oldest vessel at age 55, he was a former guard captain. An effective leader, he, however, was not physically fit to fight as much as required, even with the crown's aid. He voluntarily abdicated after only 60 years then was executed by Leshy after 5, he'd not heeded Narinder's warning to be careful of the Bishops.

#5 (Freedom, Curiosity) The youngest vessel at 18, they were very eager to serve, but were very lax about their cult. A wildcard in battle they somehow managed to do ok against witnesses, but in the cult it was more like college students throwing a party. After 130 years they still proved just as reckless, so Narinder requested them to abdicate. They managed to calm down after and even settle down, yet after 10 years they and their new family-a husband and child, were executed. Just as #5 had realized there was something nice about a peaceful life, a former follower ratted them out.

#6 (Perfection) Another ok vessel, but highly vain. They followed Narinder's requests at first, but gradually grew more fond of gaining their own power, to the point where for 30 years managed to avoid all contact with their god. It was Red who threw a bit of a rebellion that got them back into the gateway after killing them in their sleep, and Narinder forcibly took Red back. Their own cult murdered them come morning, once they realized their 'god' was nothing more than a vain false idol-one whom had grown very fond of violence towards their own people in later years. Murder was the followings' payback. They held the crown for 135 years.

Vessels #7-#11 - Tasked with trying to kill the Bishops' following/disciples, all under STRICT orders to not engage with the gods

#7 (Lady Luck) Forneus. you know her already, but lets review. Strong sense of justice, very capable in a fight, the picture of a perfect vessel-if she wasn't just a little arrogant. Her overconfidence never hindered her however, and while he did grow uncertain about how many lovers she took it wasn't a point where Narinder felt concerned. After 80 years, however, she called out to him via the crown more serious than she'd ever been-she'd discovered that she was pregnant. A trip to the gateway could kill the unborn, and resurrections could only affect her. Having never considered raising a child she suddenly was at an impasse and unsure, yet after a long talk with Narinder kinda uncertainly giving her encouragement, she decided to take it as a sign to step back, and relinquished the crown.

#8 (Infinity) #8 was not as effective as Forneus, yet they also were highly determined to do their best no matter how many deaths they faced. Served for 40 years and only abdicated upon the realization they were outliving their loved ones. Life was infinite for them, but not their family. Died 6 years later of grief, after watching their youngest sibling die peacefully of old age. Narinder had gotten lucky with them as a note-he'd chosen them on a whim after the twins had arrived, and it was by pure chance they proved competent. They, however, never noticed the twins, they were so small and quiet.

#9 (Sorrow) #9 was genderfluid and had once been a lover, and wanted revenge for their spouse who died after stealing from Chaos' domain. Though Narinder was hesitant about another anger-fueled vessel, they begged for a second chance, and he decided to give them a try. 25 years was all they lasted, since Red reported they were becoming increasingly cruel and violent in later years and Narinder took quick action to avoid it progressing further. They were executed for murder not long after, after becoming a vigilante killing anyone who dared praise a god's name. They willfully ignored Aym and Baal out of anger for never having children of their own-and once actually lashed out at them when they'd gotten annoyed at hearing the toddlers playing. They made the twins cry about 5 years in, and while they actually did apologize after that Narinder was more wary about letting vessels interact with the twins.

#10 (Completion) Vain similar to #6, yet not to the point of selfishness. He managed a Cult just fine and was decent at combat, but he served only 30 years, however, after falling in love. He died not long after marrying though, since as he could not rely on a doctor of Pestilence's cult for assistance, his spouse could do nothing to save him after he'd fallen ill. He ignored the twins but sent food when asked-including uh...corpses. He'd been born into Heket's cult and cannibalism had been an old habit he'd never kicked. He used to hide heretic bodies in the offerings chest forgetting it was a one-way system.

#11 (Potential) Decent leader, decent fighter, served 30 years where-upon the Prophecy was heard of. During one crusade through Darkwood they managed to hear from Clauneck about it-he'd given the reading to the bishops, and while the duck typically allowed fate to pass as it desired, their discussion of executing all sheep concerned him enough to give a warning. Narinder initially wanted 11 to take on the role of mentor for this promised liberator, but 11 did not like the idea of babysitting and abdicated, leaving on poor terms for either side. As such, they did not heed Narinder's warning to be wary, and were captured and executed a few months later. They in general disliked kids, and made sure the cats were all made aware of that every visit. Aym and Baal's later hesitance towards Anthea is partially because 11 often complained about how loud/rude/annoying children were, despite Aym and Baal having only whispered to each other once or twice during a visit. Narinder had tried to convince them it was 11 who was the issue not them, but neither can really forget that and 9's previous scolding. Anthea encouraging them to talk had them a mix of surprise and a little nervous early on.

Vessel #12 - Tasked with just learning how to fight, manage a cult, and hopefully act as a bridge to pass it on to the Lamb.

#12 (Stability) Ratau was the vessel with the largest gap between him and his predecessor. 35 years separated them since Narinder spent too long trying to find someone perfect to no avail, and Ratau's anger at the Bishops, the realization that the Sheep were nearly down to 1, and the frustration of not having anyone lined up made him decide to just do it. Ratau only lasted around 10 years however, his initial rage had faded and while he was well-liked by his following he was not strong in the face of conflict, and after the Fox incident, abdicated of his own will, with Narinder simply telling him that when the Liberator arrived he'd call upon him once more. Of all former vessels Ratau was the only one who took Narinder's parting warning of the Bishops going after him seriously-he set up his lonely shack, and lined his territory with traps. The friends he'd made also proved useful, and he managed to avoid capture for the next 40 years. He did notice the twins, and actually did kinda awkwardly wave at them a few times, but Narinder's protective glaring scared him off from doing it again. Had he not Ratau honestly might've tried getting to know them since he did like children, but because he was too scared he never even looked at them after out of fear.

Anyway, thank you! Though as a note I believe it was @/waokevale who was one of the first to make Forneus a vessel, but I'm glad my work inspired you too! Forneus is such an interesting character so its fun to play with her background! :D

And cool!! As pointed out by @/parememi Forneus, Ratau, and Anthea actually line up with the perfect tarots for themselves too which was a happy little accident, (Forneus is The Chariot, Ratau The Hanged Man, and Anthea Death) but while I thus have tarot associations for them because of that, the rest just got numbers.

I went with number symbolism mostly since I see the vessels as points on a clock, with them being a countdown to the '13th Hour' of the Last Lamb-the impossible vessel not meant to survive.

Boarders are by @/lambouillet

[butterflywordsmith]

BatFamily as a ruling Pantheon: Gods of Gotham

Bruce/Batman:

Names/Epithets - Brix, Father Willow, The Dark Knight, The Night King, Guardian God, Crusader, Phantom Lord, Saint Brix of Gotham, Father of Gotham, Master of Caves, God of Justice, Comforter of Innocents, King of Shadows, Watcher, God of the Vigil, White Eye, Whose Voice Rumbles Like Thunder

Patronages- Protection, Adoption and Orphans, Secrets, Revelations, Detectives, Night time, Mercy, Charity, Wealth, Justice, Travel, Dual Identities, Seduction, Mentally Ill People, Gadgetry, Martial Arts, vigilantism, Insomniacs, First Watch, Alleys

Symbols/Attributes- bats, cowls, armors, throwing blades, the colors Black and Grey, gold coins

Offerings/Prayers- usually take place in caves and at night for rituals. He does not ask his followers for sacrifces of their money, food, blood or anything of the like. In fact, such a thing offends this deity. Brix is a generous god and a fiercly protective one. He would not see mortals go without for him to provide protection or enact justice on their behalf. He doesn't want anything material from his followers because he loves the Gothamite People unconditionally. So what does he ask for when they petition him? Not much usually. However, every now and then comes a mortal with... well, a past. One they aren't proud of. All he asks is that they confess and commit themselves to a path of redemption. Even better if they perform charitable acts in his name. That doesn't mean he is an easy god to work with. In fact, he's often blunt and critical in his judgements. And for those seeking to learn his mysteries in ways of combat, the initiation process is grueling and brutal. His monks and priests are among the most feared in the world for this reason. He will also grant special blessings to those who can tell him something he doesn't already know. He is wrathful and violent toward those who threaten the Gothamite civilization. He enjoys when his followers bring things for him to give to the other members of the pantheon as his children tend to enjoy gifts. He is often at odds with other gods within the city- particularly the Demon Clown God. In times of great peril, lanterns that light in the shape of a bat in the sky will summon him instantly.

Dick/Nightwing:

Names/Epithets- Rikhart, Rik, The First Robin, He of the Mantle, The Blue Feathered God, The First Titan, First Son, The Gray Son, Blood of Bludhaven, Prince of Two Cities, Blue Bird Prince, The Night Wing, The Trapeze God, Rope Walker

Patronages- Circuses, Acrobats, Robins, Fraternities, First Borns, Strategy, Peace, Joy, Gatherings, Unity, Leaders, Beauty, Performers, Compassion, Romance

Symbols/Attributes- The Colors Blue, Red and Black for his older form/ the colors red, green and yellow for his child form. Fighting staffs, Torches, Batons, birds, mirrors (for vanity), tents, tightropes, nests.

Offerings/Prayers- You might make offerings to Rickart at the tops of towers, or you can make a tent to commune with him. He's typically a joyful god although his temper may strike if he feels volatile. His feelings toward Brix may be positive or negative with any shift in the wind so be careful to do proper divination if you plan to invoke father and son together. It can be incredibly powerful energy for better or worse. Same if you plan to invoke Rickart with any of his brothers. Know that if you require the protection of the entire pantheon, however, they will all put their differences aside for the sake of Gothamites- and Bludhavenites in his case. The best way to earn Rickart's favor is to perform for him. Bonus points and extra blessings if you have already proven yourself capable of handling workings with one of his brother gods or worse- his father. This particular god will manifest a physical form to lay with mortals but it must be an act done and offered willingly if the mortal is impressive in both beauty and skill. Most people come to Rickart before the others as he is known as "The Nice One". Make no mistake, his kindness is by no means weakness. He is kind because he can afford to be. His priests are among the most loyal and devoted and he has temples in Gotham and Bludhaven where performances are known to happen regularly.

Jason/Redhood:

Names/Epithets- Iasonas, The Phoenix God, The Rebellious Prince, Raging God, The Heart of Gotham, He Who Bleeds Eternally, Lord of Thieves, The Accuser, Healer of Souls, Dual Bladed One, Red Hooded One, Iasonas White Lock, Master of the Pistol, Severer of Heads, The Executioner, The Poet, Master of the Word, Blood Scribe

Patronages- Necromancers, Near Death Experiences, Straight up death experiences, Death, Judgment, Retribution, Writing and Literature, Libraries, Graveyards, Funerals, Books, Theaters, Poor people, Drug Addicts, Prostitutes, Thieves, Magic, Torture Victims, Runaways, The Homeless, Automatic Writing, Mediums

Symbols/Attributes - Guns, Pens, Books, Hoods/Masks, Dual Blades, Grave Markers, Coffins, the colors red and black. Do not invoke the red, yellow and green of his younger self it will only anger him. Typewriters, Resurrection Sigil

Offerings/Prayers- You may make offerings to this god in graveyards, cemeteries or mosoleums. You may also pray to him in libraries and schools. He is a complex god, often oversimplified to his more violent traits. While he may respond neutrally to this, his favorite prayers are those made in the libraries. If you wish to be proficient as a writer or to discover knew information through sacred texts, he will help you. Appeal to him by reading him something you wrote or from an excerpt of something commonly known to be his favorite. For more violent petitions, you may make your case to him and ask this God to avenge you in the event of wrong doing against you. He will act swiftly. Be certain that you want your enemies dead if you choose to petition this god for such things and be aware an offering of blood may be required. He may also assist in Resurrection. He has a complex relationship with his family of deities. Do divination when invoking him with any of them but usually Damasus is a safe bet. Iasonas has a soft spot for poor, needy and generally in distress people. This god will not abandon you. Just be mindful of his violent methods. He may also possess his more advanced followers to write through them if they possess the gift of automatic writing and his priests are often highly skilled scribes and mages as he is Magic itself.

Tim/Red Robin:

Names/Epithets- Timotheos, The Cardinal God, Red One, Lord of Genius, Prince of Reason, The Observer, The Judge, Master of Principle, Commander of Order, Once Clown Twice Bird, The Abandoned One, Lord of Substitutions, The Follower, Rescuer, Sacrifice God, Tech Lord, Gotham's Mourner, The Grand Architect, Keeper of Record, Lord of Time, The First Prophet

Patronages- Inventors, Businesses, Technology, Neglected Children, Teachers, Martyrs, Spies, Photographers, Sculptors, Record Keepers, Archives, Cleanliness, Hierarchies, Government, Bisexuals, Mourning, Architecture, Historians, Time Travellers, Xenophiles, Artificial Intelligence, Museums, Divination and Prophecy

Symbols/Attributes- the colors red, black and yellow. bo staffs, keyboards, capes, gavels, wreaths, flowers, hourglass, clocks, temple symbol, pillars, compasses, maps, cameras, sculptor tools, cardinals, vehicles, Tarot Cards, Bones, Winter, Cycles, The Seasons

Offerings/Prayers- There are many places and ways one might commune with Timotheos: clock towers, ancient ruins, architectural marvels which have stood the test of time, in computer programs that are plugged into Gotham's magical energetic grid, in Museums etc. Your safest bet is one of his temples, though. He is a calculating and reasonable god, albeit a rigid one. Very set in his ways, that one. This god has a distinct set of right and wrong and yet- he can be quite mysterious in that he often acts in ways which do not make sense to others, even his fellow gods- usually because he knows something they dont. While it may seem this deity is an adherent of "my way or the high way", he does feel immense compassion for Gothamites and particularly those who feel abandoned. He was once a lonely god and will strive to provide support to those in need. To gain his favor, providing him with artifacts from far off places, building temples of beauty and durability are a good start. He enjoys when his followers keep his altars pristine. His priests are diverse. Some are able to slip through time and do work for him. Others are prophets who share visions with Gothamites who will hear. Others are Spies within historic secret societies deeply involved in government agencies. You never see his devotees coming and he likes it that way. He does enjoy flowers here and there but they must be removed when they begin to wilt or lose fragrance. Once blessed, dried petals may be reused by devotees for cleansing spiritual baths. When angered, he may change the weather or throw the seasons out of wack to express his displeasure with the mortal world. He may set it to rights when appeased. He is perhaps the brother god with the least conflict with Brix, their Father.

Damian/Robin:

Names/Epithets- Damasus, Blood of Brix, The Illustrator, Prince of Assassins, Sadīq Al-Hayawānāt or Friend of the Animals, The Half Foreign God, Beast of Gotham, The Supreme Artiste, Sword Master, Prince of the World, Child of the Wind/ Whose Mother is like Wind, Inheritor of the Earth, The Painting God, The Child Who Never Was and Always Will Be, Canvas Born, Healer of Harms, The Last Betrayer, The Redeemer, God of Truth, The Cultivator

Patronages- Animals, Asassins, Painters, Illustrators, Foreigners, Combat, Swordsmanship, Children Born Nonconsensually, Blood Children, Child Assassins, Priestshoods, Secret Societies, War, Vegetarians, Doctors/Healers, Farmers and Agriculture, Nature

Symbols/Atrributes- Swords, Dogs, Cats, Robins, Trees, a Wind Sigil. Green, Yellow, Red, Grey and Black. Paint Brushes, Pencils, Blank Canvases, Pottery, Hieroglyphs, Scriptures, Cows, Turkeys, Fruits, Crops, baskets, wheat, pollen

Offerings/Prayers- You may find him in the trees, in the fields, in the mountains- anywhere you may find animal life... you may even whisper his name to the winds and he will hear. His arrival is swift and he will demand your reasons for summoning. Do not waste this deity's time or the consequences will be brutal and swift as his blade. The love he shows toward the beasts of the Earth is legendary. If you wish to earn his favor you may offer him a new pet. He bestows blessings upon those who rescue and protect animals in his name. Many sanctuaries are named for him. His name is often invoked when putting injured animals out of their misery with prayers that their souls be kept under his care. He appreciates The Arts and will also accept artworks and paints, canvases, pencils, parchment etc. You may present him offerings of drink in ornate pottery. He is complex like his family and will respond differently to being invoked with them. Divination prior to invocation with other members of the family is a must. However, your safest bet is to invoke him with his brother, Iasonas. This god refuses to lie and will punish those who attempt to decieve him. His anger takes the form of tornados and hurricanes. Harsh as he may be, he only kills when he feels fully justified and with intention- remembering the guilt of having once killed Rikhart on accident, angering Brix, before Iasonas aided him in resurrecting their brother and restoring their family. As such, he has since also been a healing god and will provide healing to the sick and ailing. His sigil is at the entrance of most hospitals and many of those thought to have uncurable ailments have been healed in his main temple where feeding the cats is common practice. His priests are notorious for being highly skilled combatants. His devotees often include dog trainers, whose canines are feroocious in battle. Horseback riders are also included among his followers. One time, someone betrayed their oath to Damasus so severely and disrespectfully that he caused them to be trampled to death in a stampede. Do NOT offer this deity meat as it offends him. You may prepare cooked vegetable dishes, offer raw fruits, nectars, and cruelty free sweets. He keeps Gotham's crops fruitful for this purpose- answering the prayers of farmers. He often requires Timotheos to assist him with this as his older brother controls the seasons.

Cassandra/Black Bat:

Names/Epithets- Kekasmai, Kassandra, Moon Princess, Mistress of Silence, Goddess of Perception, Lady of Illusion, The Dissolver, The Preserver, Sweetness of Brix, The Unseen One, The Swift Bat, Muse of Gotham, Mistress of Song, Dancing Lady, Feasting One, The Shadow, Mistress of the Tides, Our Lady of Reflection, Princess of Promise, One with the Sight

Patronages- First Responders, Psychologists, Neurodivergents, Nonverbal people, child abuse survivors, Child Soldiers, Liars, Comedians, Sports, Feasts, Restaurants, Cooks, Memory, Mimicry, Learning and Students, Oaths, Intuition, Water, Telepaths, Empaths, Swimmers. Dancers- and by extension, music/musicians. Rehabilitation. Daughters and Sisters, Sororities. Martial Arts, Astronomers, Astrologers

Symbols/Attributes- A bat symbol, the color black, the Moon, Mirrors (for reflection), Dolphins, Whales, comedy and tragedy masks, music notes, a lyre, the lyra constellation, monkeys, spiders, eyes, crystal balls, stars, telescopes

Offerings/Prayers- This goddess is perhaps the most elusive when it comes to gaining a direct audience. She rarely strays from her father's side- and usually communing with her means invoking Brix first. The Father of Gotham is rather protective of his only daughter. Not that she is incapable- in fact, she is perhaps among the most powerful of her siblings- in combat at least, and capable of causing great storms and tsunamis when angered although it is rare. She is not easily decieved either and can sniff out the true intentions of any who call upon them- which Brix finds incredibly helpful when it comes to dealing with Gods from other pantheons. She has more priestesses than priests but she welcomes any devotees who devote themselves to the Way of the Bat. The pantheon is undoubtedly a family, albeit a turbulent one. And this highlights her unyielding loyalty to her father. She takes oaths quite seriously for this reason and will condemn those who break them. Unlike her father, however, she does accept material offerings for her own benefit. Bowls of purified water and candles which blow out when she arrives. She is also a hungry goddess. Feed her well in her sacred spaces: meats, cheeses, breads, vegetables, fruits, anything of the like. In the event that you manage to get an audience with her alone, be warned that she may not be as restrained with her energy. She is, at least the more patient one after Rikhart and will listen and understand the best. This has made her a great mediator, not only within the pantheon, but between it and others. If your first appeal was denied and you felt it was unjust, a direct audience and proof of wrongdoing with her will usually solve the issue. But if the initial denial was jusified, she enacts twice the punishment for the insolence.

Duke/Signal:

Names/Epithets- Dux, Lord of the Day, The Sun Prince, The Uniter, Lord of Revolution, He Who Answers, Ghost Prince, Master of Light and Shadow, The Star of Gotham, He Upon Whom Gotham Rises and Sets, The Greeting and Farewell God, Morning and Evening Star, The Shining One

Patronages- Revolutions, Uprisings, Puzzles and Riddles, metas of Gotham, Films, Codes, Leadership, Militias, Guerilla Fighters, Rebels, Protection, Liberation movements, Freedom Fighters, Chess Players, Pool Players, Mathematics, Games, Electricity and Electricians, Lights of all kinds, Electric Storms and Lightning

Symbols/Attributes- The Sun, the color yellow, nunchakus, puzzle boxes, rubix cubes, mathematical symbols, an upside down question mark, a light bulb, a thunderbolt, sun dial

Offerings/Prayers- 90% of the time this god is only active during the day. When the Sun is still in the sky is the optimal time to build an altar and commune with him. Or you can visit one of his sun temples! The only times you may experience him at night is during a storm where the lightning is abundant. It means he is communing with other members of the Pantheon and can be reached- but that also requires a lightning rod and everyone doesn't have that on hand. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until morning. Dux is incredibly formidable as the sole protector of Gotham during the day, earning him high regard from the rest of his pantheon. He is perfect to summon as a group or army if you can convince him that your cause is worthy. He will always lead you to victory. He's also perfect for cracking codes and solving Mysteries and deeply enjoys puzzles and riddles. If you wish to offer him something, you may give him a riddle to solve and add to his collection or you must satisfy him by solving a riddle he has for you. You may also gift him puzzles. One offering he wished he recieved more is glass lamps in various colors, so his devotees will not be left in the dark in his absence during the night time hours. He's a god of ambiance. Win against him in chess and recieve a blessing! His devotees and priests tend to be large groups of liberationists. They have power in numbers and he has the most direct devotees.

Alfred💖:

Names/Epithets- Ælfræd, The God Keeper, Strength of Brix, The Attending God, Warmth of Gotham, Lord of Shelter, Master of the Hearth, God of Manners, One Whose Aim is True, God of Rest, With Whom Gods and Men Recover, God of Devotion, The Elder God, Master of the Needle, Father of Fathers, The Mender

Patronages- Advisors, Public Servants, Butlers, Adoptive Fathers, Hunters, Snipers, Surgeons, Paramedics, Physical Therapists, Combat Medics, Actors, Security, Fidelity, Domestic Arts and Sciences, Home and Hearth, Etiquette, Fire, Shooting Ranges, Property, Communications, Disabled People, Textiles and Sewing, Knitting

Symbols/Atrributes- Two Rifles crossed in an X. A white glove, a flame, a tea leaf, a Silver Spoon, Feathers, a sewing needle

Offerings/Prayers- This is a God who mainly attends to Brix and his children. However, there are people in the world who have need of him- mainly because they are much like him. So, the best place to gain audience with him is your very own home. He is the only god it is recommended to do this with. It's better if you have a fire place but a simple candle will work as well. You may offer him tea and show him proper hospitality when his presence enters your home. Manners are very important to Ælfræd and he will not tolerate rudeness. Be mindful, lest the fire you used to summon him somehow cause a housefire. That said, should you come with a worthy request, he is normally a last resort to getting the rest of the pantheon on board. If you perform domestic duties well and the space is to his liking he will bless your home with protection. His devotees range from housewives to a secret order of butlers and medical professionals who have intelligence affiliations.

Part 2

[blackkatmagic]

Always funny to me when Mandalorians go "The Darksaber is Our Special Mandalorian relic" to a jedi cause like:

- it's a lightsaber, a jedi lightsaber

- Tarre internationally had it left in the temple and they stole it

- the mental gymnastics needed to ignore that Tarre was also a jedi

Come on guys. Also Jaster you're the history nerd you should know enough to have Some shame.

I wonder how long he was geeking out to Myles about A'den after that encounter

While I very much do believe that the Jedi have the only real claim to the Darksaber, given that Tarre left it to them (and also, if you want to take a more recent view of things, Mace technically defeated Jango who defeated Tor and therefor the rightful Mand'alor is Mace Windu, but that's a whole separate rant), I think it's technically understandable, given Mandalorian culture, for them to believe that the Darksaber is theirs.

It's something that's going to come up in more detail in future chapters, but like. The Darksaber is fairly meaningful to them as a people, and Tarre clearly was as well, so it's not weird for them, especially coming from a culture that's built on a foundation of conquest and absorption of other peoples, to just...assume that their claim over the Darksaber usurps the Jedi's.

Also, re: the "Jaster should know better" part, I feel like fandom as a whole greatly underestimates his ruthlessness, and sort of...stamps their own version of "honorable" over him, if that makes sense? Like, the honor code that Jaster based his reforms on was from the Crusades. It's not exactly the Geneva convention, even if it is a step up from the complete lawlessness the Mandalorians had before him. It was also mainly to keep Mandalorians from fighting each other when hired by opposite sides in a conflict, and much less about what a non-Mandalorian would have considered honorable.

This isn't meant as criticism, to be clear! It's just me being salty in general about how fandom makes Jaster so much less interesting because they want him to be some sort of paragon of virtue, when he's basically a mercenary king and a literal cold-blooded murderer who uses child soldiers when he thinks it would benefit him. The dude is fascinating, but he's not automatically going to respect the Jedi's claim to a meaningful historical artifact just because. He's a product of his culture, just as much as Feemor is a product of his.

[andythecarpathian]

On the Accusations about Neil Gaiman

I've been spending more time than I would like about it, so rather than writing a whole new thing, I'm going to paste some advice and general thoughts I posted on Reddit over here. Take with as much salt as you feel is appropriate.

The knee-jerk reaction is to label everyone as either a hero or a villain. Everyone is stuck in this binary way of thinking that is truly exhausting. Try to shed it and think of people complexly, and it'll allow you to continue enjoying your life. By denying yourself something joyful, you're not moving the needle at all for literally anyone but yourself.

Putting aside for a moment any potential biases of the podcast and the people amplifying it, Gaiman himself has admitted to some creepy, toxic-ass behaviour. He was older and in a position of power. Folks will jump from that to someone being a bad person and not wanting to engage with their work any more although those self-same people will continue to spend an awful lot of time discussing that person online, as we've seen this week. I think it's also true to say that he had his own mental health struggles, that the consent in these situations was grey, and that there's an awful lot to what happened that we don't and will never know.

As to my point about 'cancelling' Gaiman, I used to be much more hardline about that kind of thing. These days, I've mellowed; partly with the knowledge that boycotts rarely work, and partly because famous artists are somehow held to a higher standard these days than politicians and certainly more than your average person.

I also think there's a spectrum of reaction from uncritical adoration to wroth-fuelled cancelation. Personally, I'll keep consuming and loving Gaiman's work, because it's still fantastic art that has a lot to love. While I'm consuming it, I'm sure I'll wince and read differently depictions of younger women and relationships with power differentials. How I consume and interpret the art has absolutely change. But I'm leaving my pitchfork on the farm. You might well make a different choice, and that's fine.

Personally, I'll neither join the moral crusade nor mount a particularly strong ethical defense.

[royonninjago]

Something Interesting about the Forbidden Five's Elemental Powers

We still have little in the way of the actual personalities of the rest of the Forbidden Five, but now that I'm pretty sure that we have all their Elemental Powers (assuming there isn't a mistranslation or something), I think I've stumbled across a pretty interesting link between all of them.

Domination.

Each one of their powers roughly translates to a form of control or manipulation, which could play into why they're so dead set on conquering every realm in existence. As for my why I think this, here is my reasoning:

Brute Force This power represents domination through violence and right of conquest. It is the oldest and rawest form of control, representing the concept of might makes right. From what we've seen of Nokt and his "everything is war" mentality, I feel that this is especially fitting.

Fear This power represent domination through sheer terror and psychological manipulation. This form of control is a lot more primal than Brute Force, as it exists inside everyone. We haven't gotten as much screen time with Rox, but what we have seen is that she is much smarter than Nokt as she not only is a prolific wielder of Theroxian magic and is the one who created the Wolf Masks, but I think that it can be inferred that she was a large contributor to the "Elements of Betrayal" plan, if not the mastermind behind it.

A quick aside, but since Doc Wyatt has confirmed that Nokt and Rox are the leaders of the Forbidden Five, I think what that means is that they take leadership roles depending on the situation. Rox is more of a big picture strategic and plan making type of leader that decides what to do, when do to it and how it should be done. Meanwhile, Nokt is the on the ground leader that leads troops into battle and makes quick on the fly decisions that affect the flow of battle. This especially seems to be the case within the context of that flashback scene of Rox making the Wolf Masks while Nokt returns from battle with Zarkar as a prisoner.

Also, from here on out it is purely speculation based on the rest of the Five's Elemental Powers and their designs and motifs surrounding them.

Swarm This power represents domination through mob mentality and group think. I know that in the teaser trailer it looks like they're just controlling a large amount of and turning into a swarm of insects, but since this Element is called "Swarm" and the one who wields it is a giant bug person, I think it's safe to assume that any insect that operates under a hive mind is fair game. Besides, this one seems to be pretty self explanatory, after all how many people have done something just because other people are also doing it? As the famous "I can't remember who said it" once said, "a person is smart, but people are stupid".

Misfortune This power represents domination through superstition and faith. For thousands of years, people have been living in a chaotic and unpredictable world, and to cope they have been turning to the supernatural to rationalize it. And, historically speaking, those who have claimed to be in control of these supernatural forces have become very powerful and influential within their communities. And, historically, not all people with this kind of power have used it for exclusively good intentions. I mean, look at the shit that went on during the dark ages and the crusades and you'll understand what I mean. A miscellaneous and not fully formed thought I've had is about the chains around Zarkt's body and his Element being Misforture paralleling Pandora's box being locked up and holding in all the world's evil and misfortune. If someone who knows Greek mythology could put the pieces together then that would be cool.

Decay This power represents domination through culture and tradition. I admit this one is a bit of a stretch, but I think that the best parallel for this power is how eventually all institution erode and lose their sense of purpose, eventually becoming ripe for someone to usurp their power and influence for their own selfish needs. It's a story that has been told and repeated for as long as civilizations have existed, and as a mummy person Kur would be perfect for this Element since they most likely have seen the rise and fall of empires and would know exactly what to do. Read into that how you want.

I'm interested to see how the other members of the Forbidden Five are as individuals and how they interact with the Ninja and each other. If you have any other ideas to add on or refute or whatever, I'd love to hear them!

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Hi again, i am in need of you help. How do you write a loyal knight character? A true devotee of their charge, but not so much it turns dog-like.

Writing Notes: Loyal Knight Characters

Hi, you can consider using some character tropes as a guide. Found a few examples for you:

"Knight in Shining Armor" Trope: The medieval knight who fights baddies, whether villains, knights, or dragons, and in The Tourney, charms ladies without deliberately seducing them, behaves honorably, and saves the day with his sword; but also, any hero who behaves similarly.

The "shining" originally referred to the way his armor and weapons were kept in good condition, as opposed to the rust that accumulated for less competent knights. Most knights will be depicted wearing plate armor, despite it appearing relatively late in the era of knights. Them using a Knightly Sword and Shield is also pretty likely, though the usage of plate armor with Knightly Sword and Shield is actually historically inaccurate since shields were considered redundant while wearing plate armor.

"Lady and Knight" Trope: The brave, chivalrous knight defends and falls in love with the fair lady.

"The Paladin" Trope: Paladins are warriors dedicated to furthering the cause of all that is good. Holy crusaders, they combat the forces of evil wherever they are found, and defend the helpless as much as possible. Above all else, paladins are good.

"Knight in Shining" Tropes

This is the set of tropes that cluster around Knight Templar: the forces of light in hardcore mode, excessively or otherwise.

This mentality is all the way over on the Idealistic side of the Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism.

The Trope Codifiers are the Chivalric Romances of the medieval Matters of Britain (Arthurian Legend) and of France (Charlemagne) — especially the innumberable fantasy novels and verse epics of the 15th through 17th centuries which were based on, set in, or vaguely inspired by the older Carolingian myths.

The Arthurian myths have a less militantly idealistic style than the Carolingian ones; the Arthurian work most completely of this style is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

This pattern is rarer outside of Europe (and before the Middle Ages) than within it.

The closest analogue to European chivalry was bushido, the code of the Japanese samurai, but the Japanese code emphasized loyalty to one's lord, even to the point of doing evil,

while the European one emphasized loyalty to one's conscience, even to the point of treachery.

Of course, that doesn't mean that non-European heroes can't act like this—and it doesn't mean that European heroes always do, either.

The Roman-derived tradition of "My Country, Right or Wrong" was always present in Europe.

Originally, the word knight was a job description with no connotation of high birth or status: it merely meant a warrior who was skilled and wealthy enough to fight on horseback, and owed their service to someone powerful.

The English word knight is derived from an Anglo-Saxon word for "servant", while most other European languages use a word meaning "horseman" (e.g. German Ritternote or French chevalier).

The word began to take on new meaning in response to social changes at the dawn of The High Middle Ages: the flourishing of merchants and cities gave them new wealth and power to compete with the nobility, while the increasingly independent Catholic Church became more assertive in trying to curb the misbehavior of the warrior class.

In order to maintain their distinction from the class of people who worked, and to reconcile the violent nature of war with the ideals of courtesy and piety, the nobility and gentry absorbed the military role of knighthood while turning it into a more exclusive and regulated order.

A noble child would usually start as a page in order to learn discipline and manners, spend their teenage years as an arming squire taking care of a master's horse and equipment, and when they had grown into a fine warrior, they would be recognized as having earned their spurs. Not everyone became a knight through such careful grooming, though.

Commoners could be rewarded with knighthood for exceptional service, and rulers facing a shortfall of heavy cavalry would sometimes make laws requiring anyone who possessed a certain amount of property to present themselves to be knighted whether they liked it or not.

Sources: 1 2 3 4 ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References

Hope this helps with your writing! More research might be needed for literary/historical accuracy.