So...
You know how if you're (American) in another country, and find another American and all the sudden it's like 'Hey! Friend! Friend! That's my bestie!' That person could be from an entirely different state but all the sudden you're similar around the unfamiliar so you're buddies!
Does that happen with monsters?
Better yet-
Say you're a human, the only human being hired onto a large cargo ship that travels planet to planet through space. Most of the others you work with are so different in appearance and species you sometimes don't know even if some of them have eyes, or just use a form of echolocation.
Still! It's a nice job, you're given respect due to your status as (a deathworlder) a human, and you're settling in nicely the first few days.
There's a pack of aliens you haven't met yet though, The Aslai.
Huge creatures with a semi-humanoid appearance paired with patches of striped fur across varying parts of them. A maw that unhinges in three distinct separation points, fur tipped tails that vary with color, and slightly elongated limbs.
Of course, the Aslai are the engineers. They work in the sub-floor deck where the machinery and engines are stationed. Heavy creatures with prehensile tails that can lift just as much as their long, burly arms. Creatures made to be strong, and with vast intelligence, the Aslai are perfect for such jobs. Most times they flock to them, truthfully.
Like how winged and levitating aliens prefer jobs that involve them leaving the ship where they can move freely through open space with the right gear.
The first time you see one of the Aslai, they're walking with heavy boot steps to the mess hall. You both freeze in the hall though.
For you? It's got a human-ish face and you're experiencing one hell of a level of the uncanny valley effect in real time.
For Hesh, you look like a softer, mini version of the Aslai. Their tail flicks in excitement and with heavy steps they draw closer. A brighter fur pattern than their fellow Aslai, they're noticeable by anyone. They croon in a low gruff tone, reaching out and prodding at your arms, legs, cheeks, happily babbling in some method of communication you can't exactly understand.
It's when the other three Aslai suddenly appear with different fur patterns and facial structures, mimicking the first one that you seem to realize they're 'cooing' over you. Like if you saw a stray cat on the way home...
You're about to say anything when one of the botanist -a Threxacord by the looks of its mandibles- speaks sharply, "Don't you have somewhere to be, human??"
Technically it's right... You're not at your post, but you were told by your immediate boss you could go on lunch. You don't have a chance to explain that though, not when the second largest Aslai lifts you up and sets you on its shoulders.
"Don't talk to our human that way." The rough, crackley voice is a shock to anyone who hears it, but the pack of Aslai seem comfortable. You can only hand onto the horns atop it's head to keep in place as a different one continues, each on the same thought process.
"Drunum, shouldn't you be tending to your artificial soils?" It's more of a throaty growl than words, but the irritation is clear.
It's only when Drunum hisses as it retreat when the Aslai you're semi-surrounded by relax, looking over at you with bright, fanged grins. They seem to each be muttering variations of the same phrases.
"Oooh, little Aslai! Honorary Aslai!"
"Are you a meat eater too? I bet you're a meat eater-"
"You're warm blooded, that's great! So am I!"
"Look, you've got five fingers too! No claws, but that's okay!"
The pack easily brings you to the mess hall, deciding then and there you're one of them. Just a tiny version. Practically cousin species!
I was going somewhere with this
I want less of "the Drakes were terrible people and parents and Bruce rescues poor sad Timmy" (not knocking the trope it just got old for me)
And more of Bruce suffering a hell of his own creation as he tries to figure out how to parent Timothy "latchkey kid" Drake, who doesn't respect the concept of having parental supervision in general and more specifically Bruce's authority as his new guardian at all, because Tim was basically his caretaker for the entire beginning of his tenure as Robin
Any kind of Parental Action would have Bruce choking in his own hypocrisy. Like... imagine trying to get your teenage son to go to bed when he's been putting your ass down for naps for like, years, by that point. Imagine telling him to eat healthier when at 13 years old he was helping your butler with designing your meal plan 'cause you were too depressed to eat
Bruce gently tries to get him to stop working on a case to take a break, and Tim raises a single withering eyebrow (he learned this from Alfred) and Bruce immediately shuts up. Tim only listens to Bruce when he wants to and being legally adopted by the man hasn't changed that
(And I want fics of the rest of the batfam reacting to this dynamic soooooooo bad)
here’s more of my persona this time without boobs :D
btw it says yas and slay curtsy of Jaiden
ooops forgot his sash
YALL i’m fixated on rottmnt i wanted to draw them and accidentally yassifed them
Leo’s my favorite i’m prolly gonna redo Donnie and Ralph lol
I dunno why i decided yellow the unifying color lol
AND I FIRGOT APRIL
I don't really care for Sealand except as a source of jealousy for America. He sees this "child" that looks so much like himself at that age and how England dotes on him and is so frustrated by his own feelings. He's frustrated how jealous he is and how badly he wants to be held in England's arms again, frustrated that he wants to be loved that way again (even if he has England's love romantically) after all he did to be on his own exactly so he wouldn't be coddled anymore. He isn't unkind to Sealand but I like to think he's a bit quieter and more reserved when the principality is around, particularly with England because he feels he needs to be more 'adult' to make up for his childish feelings of jealousy. At any other time he's clingy as a barnacle but when England has his attention focused on Sealand, America grits his teeth because it reminds him of being that beloved child that constantly saw the world over England's shoulder and he hates it as much as he wants it again. He hates that he only wants it again because now someone else has it.
bruce being a flawed dad and fucking up so many times while raising dick but dick insisting on seeing the good in him first and to help him is so UGHHHH
"because of dick grayson bruce wayne became a better man" is so incredibly true man. dick grayson is an incredible human being and his "help first not punish" attitude he demonstrates with many but most notably bruce. dick truly changed him for the better and AND AND
oughh i could talk for hours but their dislogue at alfred's grave in issue 100 of nightwing, log entry BT-70 from bruce in gotham knights and episode 80 of wayne family adventures all sum it all up pretty well
May your next period be light and end quickly
The paparazzi somehow gets a hold of Damian shortly after he starts living with Bruce and leave fully convinced that "that child is the Antichrist. Brucie Wayne has been tricked into raising Satan's spawn, and he is too naive to notice."
The following articles lead to Damian being banned from talking to reporters and Bruce suing every tabloid in Gotham to get any speculation regarding his son's origins taken down, but it doesn't stop the rumors from spreading.
Years later, Damian is more adjusted to life outside the league, and the ban is lifted. Damian is finally officially introduced to the media, and after learning how to be a normal child, and with the influence of his older brothers, decides to play into the whole "might actually be the Antichrist" thing.
It becomes a part of his public persona, and Damian wayne is henceforth known as the maybe slightly too polite, somewhat ominous, short tempted heir to Gothams most successful business empire, and because it's Gotham people just expect that the city is probably getting pulled into Hell pretty soon and move on with their days because, what are they gonna do about it, he's a Wayne.
so i decided to use references and i’m happy with them :D
Not to gush about the Radio Adaptation again but... I love when Holmes starts singing just loud and with his full chest, it's so obvious how much fun he has singing, it sounds so authentic and it's so so good ;-;
[ID: a digital drawing of Holmes, wearing a blue dressing gown over his night shirt. He's walking, holding his violin and a book under his left arm while gesturing outwards with his right hand, his eyes closed and singing with a big smile. /End ID]
We don’t see Insane Nightwing enough for my tastes like:
This mf listens to NO ONE if he doesn’t want to and everyone just goes “omg what a great leader always with a better plan.”
Argues with fucking BATMAN of all people and is not a stranger to winning said arguments.
Has been kicking villain ass since 8 years old and can figure out what your great-great-great aunt twice removed was doing on April 16, 1721 and will use it as blackmail for your entire bloodline.
Probably still uses Facebook.
Would 100% wear Velcro Lightning McQueen light-up sketchers and outrun you in them only to do a quadruple backflip at the finish line as his victory dance.
He knows the exact behavior patterns and personalities of his entire team/family/coworkers and can plan their movements/reactions to near perfection in almost any circumstance. Has used this to prank them.
Learned how to cook out of spite to prove to Bruce he could live on his own (after one of the aforementioned fights. Also, after proving he could live on his own, was not immediately alerted to his little brother’s passing because Bruce has a Complex).
“Tim! Tie your shoes when you walk down the stairs you could trip and get hurt!” “You literally just got shot please worry about yourself for once??”
Has trained under Batman’s pacifistic “no killing” policy and then also fucking Deathstroke the Assassin and Mercenary. Neither one was particularly kind to his psyche
Killed the joker but imo was very justified and not insane at all. But also just sort of just… let blockbuster get killed that one time. Has also killed others
The whole vampire series??? I still haven’t read that one yet but everything I’ve heard about it has been against my will
Has had beef with multiple children (special shoutout to Jason Todd)
Somehow made peace with his family after Bruce allowed all of his other children to don the name Robin, which was given to Dick by his Very Dead mother (and of which the meaning how now been diluted and the connection to his parents severed)
Please add on to this if yall think of anymore bc I just know that man has his Moments