#but they'll be free

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

I really love how even though Robin is messed up in the fog that he still reads as a sympathetic character. Could you tell us what happened to him or why he has issues remembering anything? Does he want to leave the fog?

✧ ━━ 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 : 𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐍 𝐀. 𝐁𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝙳𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝙱𝚈 𝙳𝙰𝚈𝙻𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

Thank you anon! I wasn't expecting such a sweet message in my inbox, and I would be delighted to delve deeper into the details of Robin's experiences - unfortunately I cannot spoil the lore I just finished ( it'll be posted soon! ) I'm glad however that despite all of his habits and uncomfortable mannerisms, that he still reads as a sad figure moreso than a purely terrifying one. He's lost a lot in life, and I want that to always be present; he will never be without his grief. No matter how much he tries to get rid of it. I can definitely go over the basics and explain his feelings towards Fog! Frankly that is long enough on its own since, despite the worlds that leave his mouth, Robin's feelings towards the Fog are pretty complicated and a bit all over the place.

A good chunk of this is because Robin truly, to his deepest core, does not remember what the world was like when he was in it. He cannot remember what food tastes like, what rain sounds like, and a lot of the things most people take for granted just don't exist in his mind anymore. Music, singing, the sweet smell of flowers in spring and the tweeting of birds nestling in the hazel thicket ... its all gone. That being said, he is very aware of the "lost" bit of him, and tries to hide his concern for the growing holes in his memory - but it really isn't working. It's part of the reason he instinctually is always seen wandering about the fields and forests, part of him still primally yearns for all of those things; but he's lost the words or reasonings to really explain it. If he did it would be like trying to describe the tones of a color that doesn't exist. I think he might honestly cry if he reintroduced to music or had someone show him that the organ in his church can actually play still!

Fun Fact: Robin never got to see the ocean, but he always wanted to.

He's been stuck in the Fog for over 150 years and each day that ticks on takes more out of him, and its forcing him to conform ever more to what the Entity wishes for him to be. The problem with that is given Robin is an actual human being, he can't be an unconscious tool for her use - but She can at least peel and strip away the parts that make him less than cooperative. The Entity gained that ownership of him once it resurrected him from his boggy death and forced him into the scorching light of the sun where every part of him that could not serve Her was burnt away to ash and blown off with the winter wind. Then he did what earned his entrance into the Fog.

But that's a tale for another day.

Within his lore, those tiny joys through nature were one of the only ways he could find any sort of solace as he had a relatively difficult life, granted it wasn't without its pure arresting moments of wonder ━ but a lot of it was riddled with grief and tragedy due to his bloodline. For this explanation I'll be focusing on the subject as its seen within Europe and more specifically the UK as that is where Robin is from, however there are other mentions of it within histories around the globe from various cultures. You see eating sins was an actual occupation, and a very much hated one at that; but it was a necessary evil in the eyes of many even if the church did not approve - and was practiced within the multitude of rural communities within the UK from the late 16th century to the earliest years of the 20th century.

I won't go into too much detail regarding the profession, but in short they were summoned into town when a death occurred. For anyone who had died without confessing their sins, a sin-eater would take on the sins of the deceased by eating a loaf of bread ususally placed on the corpse's breast overnight and drinking ale out of a wooden bowl passed over the coffin/body ━ practices varied throughout different communities but you understand the idea.

Abhorred by the superstitious villagers as a thing unclean, the sin-eater cut himself off from all social intercourse with his fellow creatures by reason of the life he had chosen; he lived as a rule in a remote place by himself, and those who chanced to meet him avoided him as they would a leper. This unfortunate was held to be the associate of evil spirits, and given to witchcraft, incantations and unholy practices; only when a death took place did they seek him out, and when his purpose was accomplished they burned the wooden bowl and platter from which he had eaten the food handed across, or placed on the corpse for his consumption. ( Funeral Customs by Bertram S. Puckle ; 1926 )

With the Entity taking away the comforting moments of his time alive; what does he really have to gain by trying to get away from the Fog? All he knows for certain is that the world he came from was cruel and he feels it is undeserving of any mercy that could be granted to it; how could he when all he remembers is the suffering he went through? He's deep in Her manipulations and genuinely believes the Entity is God coming to bring about the Fourth Seal and he's been chosen to participate. It's the only way his brain can make sense of anything that's happening to him, and he's really let it take complete hold of him. Any sort of compassion or sympathy or humanly bond is too late in its arrival, he is lost and he can never go home, both in the material world and in the plane of his mind. Or at least that is what he believes, but humans often overestimate their capabilities and their eagerness to be alone, and in comes a rather unexpected problem to his "I'll simply fade away into nothing and become what God needs me to be, and that is my purpose in this life" outlook.

In steps the biggest wrench in his plans.

No no, it is unfortunate for Robin but @mxlevolence is clinging to his blood soaked hand while he hangs over the edge of his doom ━ urging him to not let go, and for some reason Robin is listening to them. Their relationship is pretty complicated but GF so intensely affects Robin's view of the Fog that it's impossible for me to not talk about it. Vicious at one point mentioned that "poems cannot even begin to describe their relationship" and I think that still stands true. Especially for Robin, who struggles to really understand what friendship and love are because he is relearning what those emotions mean and what it's like to not be completely alone. They've found a kindred nature within eachother, and few and between are the days that these two don't interact, even if its just one of them approaching the other like "and another thing!"

━ And Robin hates it.

Well, more specifically Robin's human brain is really satisfied and happy by the social interaction its getting, and he is genuinely enjoying the time he has with Ghostface as well. That said he knows he isn't supposed to, and it is wrecking his viewpoint; what was once so clear of a destiny for him now seems blurrier and blurrier the more the Grave Walker opens their mouth. He gets the concept. He does! But ... The sadder angle of the entire thing is how easy it would be for Robin to just grab onto the bond that he's made and find strength within it, he is so close to being pulled back from the end of himself, but he's terrified of the consequences that might not even exist.

There is also the very high possibility that somewhere deep within Robin he does feel an immeasureable weight for the acts he's committed, and that maybe he doesn't think he deserves to be saved or the kindness that comes along with it. And maybe he's right. Robin has done atrocious things in the name of his God, and has shown basically no remorse about them; but that's the thing about love and mercy; it cares little for how worthy someone is of it. Whether or not Robin feels remorse for his actions seems to mean little to GF so long as they get to be free together, it doesn't matter what he did. All that matters is who he is, and who he shouldn't let go of.

Vicious kind of broke my brain when they referenced beloved Tolkien and I haven't been able to get the thought or the comparisons out of my head???? help???

There is something very curious about these two accidentally finding the humanity in each other that they're both desperately trying to erase from themselves ━ yet they're both like "NO NO NO" at the other doing it. How ironic that in order to save someone in the same situation as yourself that you have to take your own advice. Becoming a human being and accepting the weaknesses that comes along with it all to save a singular person is like ... idk man a massive fucking deal when you're talking about these two. It's almost desperate in a way. SO desperate in fact that Robin has found himself being a bit more honest and genuine then a Devil should be, and Danny has peeled off the Ghostface mask; things that they absolutely do not want to ever do. And yet! It's happening, and seemingly getting worse every thread.

I always find it really funny because Vicious and I were like "you ok if they die" "yes" "cool" and then we just let these two take the reins of the threads and tbh its been such a cool experience seeing them just ... exist and thrive! Well, ok maybe thrive isn't the right word, but steer the wriring? I suppose.

And there is the acknowledgement from Robin as well about his predicament, he knows whats happening to him, and what will. However at this rate, he's been so beaten down and sanded away that there's little left in him that can cling to any notion of hope, and instead clings to the glory of duty. It is an honor to serve such a reverent God etc etc. The delusion is very strong and Robin is happy to cling to it just as hard. Fate is unavoidable. They are to be given over to the jaws of fate one way or another, and he'd prefer the easier descent into the Entity's maw ━ and he wants that for Ghostface too. It would be a mercy compared to what could unfold if the Entity should grow to dislike them, and he does not want to face those possibilities.

Ahhh but you see, the cyclical issue of then "is he wanting Ghostface to just obey so his own horrors will be easier or is he worried about what the Entity will do to his dear friend should they continue to agitate it?"

From a narrative standpoint its relatively easy to see what part of that he thinks is true, and which is actually true. Robin will always be a man no matter what the Entity does to him or what he tells himself to be or what his village told him he was. And it is a very frightening experience to have that tossed back in his face and to reminded of how small he actually is within the grand scheme of things. His pain doesn't equal to any sort of cosmic destiny and the suffering he experienced was just the cruel indifference of the universe. It gets ever more unpleasant with the understanding that if Robin does remember what it was to be alive he will be standing face to face with the terrifying reality he's put himself in. Worse still is he's now being forced to confront it all because someone in this cold life cares enough for him to try and save him ... because as much as he will deny it and bite back, he wants to save them too.

[wearenotjustnumbers2]

If you watch the interview, you'll know that the girl here and another one sat in their tank and shelled kibbutz for 17 hours straight, and yet they're being hailed as heroes.

From the beginning, we knew Israeli forces were firing at their own people. We knew that Hamas doesn't have the weaponry to result the destruction we've seen. But since nobody believed, now the truth keeps unfolding about Oct 7.

Watch the interview with Yasmin Porat who was at one of the kibbutz's. She said Hamas treated them humanely, she said they were scared but they [hamas] didn't abuse them. The interviewer was taken aback. The interviewer asks if "terrorists" killed all the bodies lying in the ground but she said: "NO, it was UNDOUBTEDLY our forces." Her exact words. Google her name and listen to the interview.

[divinit3a]

oh i should draw sun too-

nvm.

[emptygoldstudio]

[3] Losing team 🥈

Prompt source for October

[marciaillust]

bro fuck it im workposting. i did illustrations, i storyboarded, i directed. I did many cool things in 2024 and millions of people all over the world saw em. that has to count for something

[hinamie]

fire nation festival wear aka a blatant excuse for me to push atla clothing design conventions to the absolute Limit

jjk atla!au with @philosophiums

[stinglesswasp]

Fanart of all that's said in the low light by headlocket

This fic will make you cry the most cathartic tears ever. Be sure to also check out the epilogue, in lieu of the bells 🥹🧡🧡

[violottie]

🇵🇸 please watch and remember this 🇵🇸

"PERSPECTIVE: In a world where some can close their eyes to suffering, others are forced to endure it without respite. Let’s remember our privilege to switch off, and consider the lives that can’t.��

by meeks_animates, 14/Apr/2024:

[screensandtangledwires]

my beloved , 4-channel tektronix TDS2014C digital storage oscilloscope

[umblrspectrum]

updated some ref sheets and also actually made jcj one

[yashley]

Did she keep you trapped?

[front-facing-pokemon]

[neurolady]

Just read a post an op shared about Crowley’s confession being ruined/rushed and not at all what he intended. And it suddenly dawned on me....

Aziraphale's confession got blocked by Hell

Shax and her gaggle of demon's interrupting the Ball!

Crowley's confession got blocked by Heaven

The Metatron and his coffee based manipulations

[diamond-rozie]

prompt 01: gotham academy's mentorship program

“Mr. Wayne, thank you so much for finding the time to meet with me.” Principal Carson, someone Bruce, became more and more familiar with as the years passed, welcomed him into his office. 

“I hope my children aren’t causing you too much trouble, Mr. Carson.” Bruce chuckled lightly, sitting in the guest seat. 

“After your generous donations to the school, I would find that difficult to believe.” Mr. Carson laughed conversationally, before getting right to business. “Actually, the reason I wanted to meet with you in person rather than over the phone despite, I’m sure, your busy schedule was to discuss Damian.” 

Damian had come to the Manor about a year and a half ago, and had been attending Gotham Academy for almost 9 months. Bruce had hoped that going to school with other kids his age would help Damian become more sociable and learn about larger society outside of the Bat, Birds, and League, but that was proving to be difficult considering the almost regular calls Alfred received from the school about Damian’s behavior or actions. 

Bruce couldn’t help the weary sigh that escaped him, “I assure you Principal Carson, we-” 

“I think you're misunderstanding, Mr. Wayne. Damian is not in any kind of trouble.” Mr. Carson reassured, “Well, for now that is.” He chuckled dryly. 

“Ah.” Bruce nodded, letting his airhead persona take the lead, while still showing that he was paying careful attention. 

“In the last few years, Gotham Academy started a mentorship program, where the younger kids usually between the grades of 5-8 can get mentored by their seniors. Damian is a brilliant child, concerningly so I believe. His peers often can’t keep up with him in terms of academics, but he lags far behind them in social skills. I think Damian would benefit from the mentorship program, where he can have someone who can truly keep up with him intellectually as well as guide him socially.” Mr. Carson explained. 

Bruce considered this, letting the idea turn over in his mind. Perhaps this is what Damian would need. “You sound like you have someone in mind.” 

“I believe the best candidate for the job would be Daniel Fenton.” Mr. Carson handed him the student profile. “He’s here on a Wayne Scholarship, which he’s held for the past year. Mr. Fenton is currently in the 11th grade, his chosen career path is astrophysics, which he plans to pursue into college. His grades are outstanding despite his difficult classes, and his professors all share the same sentiment that Mr. Fenton holds one of the greatest minds in the Academy. He shares many of the same classes with Tim as well. He has a friendly personality and gets along well with most people, pretty athletically inclined as well. All around Mr. Fenton is what Gotham Academy hopes our student to be.” 

Bruce looked over the profile in his hand. Daniel James Fenton seemed like an outstanding student. Perhaps it was time to put him to the test with Damian Wayne. 

---

When Danny had been called to the office, because apparently they had assigned him a mentee, he had been expecting the worst. All the scholarship students had to sign up for the mentorship program to be on standby if a mentee ever applied. All the other scholarship kids had said it was just a formality and that none of them ever got called for it. But classic Fenton Luck. 

When Danny walked into Principal Carson’s office he was prepared to be faces with some snot-nosed brat who wouldn’t know how to take no for an answer and didn’t care about classes because they would just inherit their parents big shot company was what he was expecting. 

So imagine his surprise when he walks into a room to a liminal kid, probably around 12, who looks like he wants to be there as much as Danny does. Danny takes one look at the kid who’s trying to project himself as angry and menacing, but Danny could easily read the kid's true emotions of nervous-scared-anxious thanks to their shared less-alive-than-one-would-expect status. 

“Daniel, welcome. This is Damian Wayne. He’ll be your new mentee from now on.” Mr. Carson smiled kindly, gesturing for Danny to sit down. The liminal kid - Damian - scowled at him, projecting irritation. But all Danny could feel off of him was nervousness.

Danny was screwed, wasn’t he?

--------

table of contents

[wildernessuntothemselves]

My family is dead. They’ve been bombed. 1 uncle, 2 aunts, five or more of their children, one of them newly graduated and newly wed with her baby. She was visting her mother. Her previous house had been bombed. Death followed her.

My uncle wanted to bring his family to visit Egypt. They were looking at places to rent. But for some reason or another it didn't go through. I will never again play a game of Remy with him. He will never tease me for being quiet. His daughter whose dream was to live in Egypt now lay torn to shreds.

Such a simple dream. Egypt? The country I escaped? That was salvation to them. Days before he died my uncle was asking my mother to put his family's names on the list to pass the border into Egypt. But they're not letting Palestinians pass, only foreigns.

Three of my family survived. They watched their parents, their sisters, torn to shreds. They can't even identify the bodies. One only recognized his sister by her Abbaya.

And none of it matters. Nothing will change. Israel will still win because at the end of the day it's not about humanity or loss of life or justice. It's all about money and power and Israel has all and Palestine has none.

The dead will be forgotten by the world and nothing will change.

[a-little-bit-of-tradition]

Goodbye Jay Halstead & Hailey Upton ❤️