#misc thought: i know people talk about her character being assassinated to prop up damian's. i do not know the specifics of this

[spiritsglade]

Could you do Talia al Ghul for the character ask game? I’d be curious to see your thoughts on her!

[character ask game]

Hi hello!! Unfortunately my Talia knowledge is deeply limited so like 90% of this is just Lost Days haha.

My first impression

I think my first real encounter with her was in the fic Across the Sands by Lulu_Rhythm. I haven't reread it since but I remember enjoying it. At that point I was still very much operating based on fanon and hadn't read the comics yet. Her portrayal is relatively positive in that fic iirc, but I remember viewing her as an antagonist and the associated dislike.

I may have read negative portrayals of her (as in, purposefully manipulating Jason into hate Bruce) prior to that, or just got that vibe. First impression was overall negative.

My impression now

She's a really interesting character and one that I want to read more of, when I get the chance!! I am not quite at defending her with my life level yet but I will FIGHT you if you make her evil.

Favorite thing about that character

Her compassion, I think. How much she cares. I don't know the exact details of her relationship with Ra's but from what I heard it's extremely compelling!! I love characters torn between loyalty towards their parents & their own values.

Least favorite thing

I don't know what Morrison did to her and I don't want to know and if I close my eyes it doesn't exist and cannot hurt me. Also that scene in Lost Days Issue #6. Not at all surprised Winick wrote that considering that Batman Annual 25 also had her kissing Jason on the mouth. Going to continue to pretend that doesn't exist <3

Favorite line/scene

But you should know, more than any other reason--I have done this for LOVE.

^ thinking about this alll the time. It's part of the letter she writes for Jason before throwing him in the Pit.

Favorite interaction that character has with another

Lost Days Issue #1 scene where she's just rambling to a catatonic Jason about Bruce. "Since he lost you, he's changed. He's become.. unforgiving. I know that most probably don't see that quality in him… but you know. I know it, too." <- sobbing

A character that I wish that character would interact with more

I've heard that Dick hates her and I think that's fun. I would like to see more of that. This is probably my own fault for not reading many of her comics though (I'm working on that).

While we're here I am also planning on checking out more of her original meeting with Bruce and stuff about their relationship in general.

Another character from another fandom that reminds me of that character

Hmm bit of a stretch but Icicle from Wings of Fire. Fucked up families & a Fandom that loves villainizing them.

A headcanon about that character

Probably less a headcanon and more a specific way of reading canon, but this is a concept that I immediately forget how to explain the moment I decide to try, so here's a couple paragraphs from a fic I wrote back in November that sort of catches the vibe.

She has known the body longer than she has known him, and that makes something prickle down his spine. Jason Todd is dead, and so is Robin, and so is the shell that Talia liked. That Talia misses, because no matter how much she speaks like they are one and the same, Hood has a body with adroit hands and an intact skull. He has a body that grows too fast for its skin, like even it knows there is something wrong with how it has been made anew.

Waves my hands around vaguely. Talia's relationship with Jason pre and post-Pit are very different. I think she misses the easy peace she had with pre-Pit Jason. There was a fondness there.

A song that reminds of that character

Not a song listener... it's been a while since I listed to the Lace Silksong sample by Christopher Larkin but I'm gravitating towards that.

An unpopular opinion about that character

Don't think I know her well enough to have a good grasp on this but I will reiterate she is not evil. Yes she was manipulating Jason in Lost Days but she wasn't brainwashing him into hating Bruce. Most fanon interpretations of Jason I can stomach (I can tolerate 'replacement' on a good day) but if you bring up Talia manipulating him into hating Bruce and/or wanting to kill Tim I am walking in the opposite direction.

Favorite picture

Mikel Janín's Talia al Ghul I love you...