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incoherentbabblings · 3 years

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Hi!

I love your content, your love for TimSteph, and I was actually going to ask what you love so much about them. I, for extra credit for English, decided to write an analysis of Stephanie (and why I love her so much), but I just got into comics, and cannot really put my feelings for her in words ... which is odd, considering how much I love her and writing. Also, I was going to do a section on why TimSteph is narrative genius, and I needed help elaborating on that too.

Could you help me out, please? Thanks!

(I feel the need to mention that I have read quite a lot of comics with Stephanie in them, though not all. I'm not much of a comic book fan, but I'm really interested in the Batfamily!)

I'll be very happy to write out bullet points that you could talk about, and feel free to go through my ask and I'll babble/TimSteph meta tags for anything that you think may be worth discussing in your own words - there's like four or so years of stuff there to spark your brain.

HOWEVER!!!! Keep in mind though that much of what I have written is half based on textual evidence and half me just writing what I like/wish would crop up in canon.

For example, yes I like to draw comparisons between Tim being cold and Steph being warm, moon and sun and so on, but there's genuinely nothing in text to hint as this being an actual character trait or symbolism. If anything Tim's stated to be warm several times, more than Steph.

So, and I am sorry to be so blunt, but if I take your request in bad faith for a moment, don't use either directly or indirectly what I've written for your work. Especially without actually going and reading the arcs I talk about. A lot of the time it doesn't hold up under genuine textual scrutiny, and we want to be good academics here! There's Death of the Author and then there's me making crap up because I want to include it in a fanfic. Not the same thing! My blog is called IncoherentBabblings for a reason after all!

I will therefore say this: If you want to write about Steph as a character, I would use the below video as a point of reference. Using the below, you can then go into why she resonates with you the way she does, or why her relationship with Tim is so interesting to you.

youtube

If I were you: focus on her dynamic character development: cynical to idealistic. And use three points in her publication history to do this: her introduction in Detective Comics, War Games, and Batgirl. I am sorry to recommend War Games as something to read but it is important to her character. Use the Stephanie Brown Wiki to help!

That lends itself to a biography of her character, a look at her motivations and values, her role within the batfam, and so on. You can also use this to make comparisons with her peers, specifically Tim moving in the exact opposite direction development wise; Babs and Cass in their approaches to Batgirl; and the other Robins through her similar character progression as Dick, which in turn allows her to be a good mentor to Damian, and finally how her character arc runs perpendicular to Jason's. Does that make sense?

Anyway, let's get going! If I were to write an academic piece on Stephanie, these are the main points I would work through. In other words, this is what I would do. You probably will not need nor want to go into this level of depth, and you will want to make it much more personal about why she resonates with you, which may be different to why I love her. So don't worry about touching base with all of them. This is like... 10,000 word essay level stuff. And don't get overwhelmed. I've taken your request far too seriously is all.

Again, I can't write it for you! You gotta do the reading and writing I'm afraid.

...But I still wrote 1,500 words anyway. Gosh darnnit.

Steph’s Character Development

Always keep three points in her character history in mind – her aged 14/15 in her introductory arc in Detective Comics, her aged 16 in War Games, and her aged 18/19 in her Batgirl run.

How does she change? How does she grow as a character? What events caused these changes? Compare that angry 14-year-old trying to choke her father, to the 19-year-old crying happily on the roof. A lot happened between those two points! Outline the main plot beats.

Steph's Role as a Batfam Character:

Protagonist or Antagonist: Supporting Protagonist

Static or Dynamic: Dynamic (think of her character development - angry to alturistic; she softens in her life outlook and in the way she treats others as the years go by)

Minor or Major: Minor and we all mourn that fact :(

Foil or Symbolic: A foil to Tim Drake (and to a lesser extent the other Robins, specifically Jason Todd)

Importance of the character/Position in Society: Fourth Robin, third Batgirl, own superhero. Tim's girlfriend, Cassandra's best friend, one of many of Bruce's 'children'. Initially introduced just as a one-off character for a small arc in Detective Comics, brought back with the intention of being a supporting character to Tim Drake, and eventual love interest. Eventually gained enough popularity on her own terms to support her own solo comic, but has since returned to a supporting role. The character she supports, at the end of the day, is Bruce Wayne.

Motivation

What influences their decisions?: Stephanie's dynamic characterisation comes in here. Compare her motivations during her introductory arc, versus why she does what she does in War Games, versus why she dresses up at Batgirl - Stopping her father, getting Batman's approval, need for redemption.

What do they value?: Values emotional openness, vulnerability, second/third/fourth chances.

Goals/Hopes/Dreams: No long term goals/hopes/dreams in the domestic sense... Continue to be vigilante. Be respected by her peers. Continue to improve self worth through deeds. Graduate college?

What are their views: Views the justice system and police as corrupt, but still trusts in the inherent goodness of people. Focus is usually on the individual, rather than societal or structural.

Actions

Behaviour, Attitudes, Impact on Story and other Characters, Internal Struggle (Wants versus Needs): This is why I think you are best to look at three points in her story - Intro Arc, War Games, Batgirl. Focus on her Wants versus Needs - Steph's take a very long time to align, but they finally do in Batgirl.

Character development is usually driven by the conflict between what a character wants. The plot forces them normally to confront the fact that what they want is not gonna work out, and what they needed instead takes priority.

Everything usually goes tits up for Steph when she is in the driver's seat of the narrative because what she wants from a situation is rarely what she actually needs to happen. See every time she seeks Bruce's approval. She wants it. She absolutely does not need it. And only as Batgirl do we get that acknowledgement, which coincides with her being at the healthiest point in her life emotionally. Look at what she wants as Spoiler during her introductory arc, as Robin/Spoiler during War Games, and then as Batgirl. Why is she so unhappy in the former two? Why have her wants finally aligned with her needs with her time as Batgirl?

Character Traits

Personality: Cynical but perky. Sardonic but sincere. Think about how she changes over the time. This can be attributed to her different writers, but - for example - is there a universe reason for why Batgirl Stephanie is so much more socially awkward than Spoiler Stephanie?

Strengths & Weaknesses: Link these two together because Steph is a very good example where her strengths as a character can simultaneously be a weakness. Her determination can lead to her making ill conceived decisions. Her empathy can lead to her putting her trust in the wrong people. Her forgiving nature can lead to her being taken advantage of. Her temper, whilst landing her in hot water, can also just as often get her out of it.

Relationships

How do they interact with others: Focus on which characters pop up in all three arcs – Steph and her parents; Steph and Bruce; Steph and Tim. I am chucking Cass out the window here, sorry Cass, but if you’re focusing on these three arcs, Cass doesn’t really fit in.

How others view them: Conditional love/affection from her father and Bruce. Unconditional love/affection from Tim and her mother (though both are not without serious pitfalls).

How they view others: Stephanie has explicitly never loved her father. She has also never explicitly hated him either. What does that say about her? Look at her changing closeness with her mother. What changed between them, and again, what does that say about Stephanie? Crystal got sober, supported Stephanie through her pregnancy, Arthur was removed from their lives, Stephanie makes a conscious effort to be closer to her after returning ‘from the dead’, though continues to lie consistently to her. Stephanie admires Bruce, whilst also right from the get go insisting she does not answer to him. She never quite lets go of wanting that approval.

How does society view them: Her outsider role within the Batfam. She never quite belongs, and at points her closest relationships are actively discouraged from seeing her. Which Tim specifically never entertains. This outsider nature bites literally everyone in the butt during War Games. Her outsider status is still in place by the time Batgirl concludes, due to its largely self-contained nature as a book, but this is less being an outsider more having earned to right to operate independently. Trust has been given and earned.

Dialogue

What does she say and how: A teenage girl in New Jersey from a working class background has a very distinct voice. She does not mince words, nor does she hide what she is feeling. If she is happy, she will say so. If she is annoyed, she will say so. What she won’t do is ask for help when she needs it, due to her background formulating a need for her ‘to do things on her own’.

Think of famous/important Steph quotes from the three arcs I keep talking about – the excuse me if I don’t jump when you bark, the I really was part of the legend, the only variable you can control is yourself. These show how Steph views others and herself.

When I was writing I Would Have Loved You, I literally made a spreadsheet where I have picked out what I think are pertinent quotes from every New 52 issue featuring Tim or Steph along with a synopsis that explained what they were up to/what the main theme of the issue was. Not saying you should do the same because I’m just that goddamn anal when it comes to this sort of stuff, but the point is – look for quotes by/about Steph which highlight the above things we’ve talked about. You have thirty years to go through!

Author Intention

What purpose does this character serve?: A character that young female readers could get attached to – the every girl/girl next door archetype or a character that young boys could have a crush on – the kind of girl who’s into the same sort of stuff as you, I think Chuck Dixon once said of her, from her initial appearance. Fodder for Bruce and Tim’s man pain in War Games. Batgirl it’s a combination of filling the void for a female lead solo character in the batbooks, but also tonally taking on a much lighter and self-contained book that new readers could jump into very easily, directly compared to the more lore heavy Batman, Detective Comics, and Red Robin books.

What is the author trying to communicate: Steph’s character shows that determination can only get a person so far, a support system and doing things for the right reasons (again remember that want versus need argument) is the only way a person will genuinely succeed.

What is her main theme?: Balancing cynicism and idealism – doing acts for the right reasons, and discovering what these reasons actually are.

...

Is this even usable for anyone but myself? Possibly not!

Still... Go write! And good luck!

#ask and i'll babble #stephanie brown #tim drake #timsteph #dc #anon i am sorry if i misconstrued your intentions #but i hope if nothing else this helps you verbalise why you like steph and timsteph by extension #good luck for your writing!

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ocean-in-my-rebel-soul · 6 years

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More about my OCs: Herah Adaar

I am having some feelings so Imma ramble about my OCs, feel free to follow along, and check my tags for other meta.

The Companions

Warden Blackwall (pre-Revelations)

There’s a kind of sadness that sometimes lives in his eyes when she visits him, and she doesn’t understand why. He’s often aloof in a way that she remembers from her early days with the Company, and she wishes he could fight whatever plagues him and come out of his shell. She respects him, admires him for more than just his skills in battle. He’s always been straight with her and she values that. Out of everyone except Dorian, she thinks she’s closest to him, despite his aloofness. Kindred spirits, maybe. They often find themselves in each other’s company, and both share a love of fine, aged whiskies. She asks him to accompany her on excursions most often, not only for his strong blade but for his singing voice. He seems to know the best drinking songs and can sometimes be persuaded, or drunk enough, to sing for the camp. She treasures these moments - the aloofness is dropped and he is vulnerable, if only for the night.

Thom Rainier/Blackwall (post-Revelations)

She gets it. She does. Life as a mercenary had her doing some shady business and some things she wished she never had done. Life goes on. It’s only been by the grace of the Maker that Leliana hadn’t discovered more unsavory bits of her past, and she doesn’t hold his against him. She’s hurt, though, and is for a long time. He didn’t trust her, even after years of working together, two well-conditioned cogs in a great machine. She pardons him - of course she does. Justice is not hers to serve, but she reflected upon his willingness to die in Val Royeaux, in his years of service under the Inquisition’s banner, and that under the Grey Wardens’ banner, falsely planted as that may have been. She had Leliana drag up contacts that had testified to his good deeds, protecting villages and training townsfolk to fight brigands and bandits as he lived as Blackwall. She pardoned him, and asked at the sentencing that their friends consider his actions and deeds on both sides: as Thom Rainier - previous to the command that killed the Calliers, a pawn in The Game of Orlais - and as Blackwall, the protector of the weak and the penitent hermit who struggled for atonement with every action. Not everyone understands, and not everyone treats him well after his return to Skyhold after the revelations are exposed, but she does. It could easily be her in his place. She encourages him to craft himself anew, as he sees fit: he asks to be called Thom Blackwall, and she supports that wholeheartedly.

Cassandra Pentaghast

Cassandra reminds her of Shokrakar. Sure, Sho isn’t as devout in her idea of justice and faith, but the two are eerily similar. Falling to Cassandra’s lead in the beginning felt natural, like it was expected. She respects Cassandra’s faith, though she doesn’t always understand her zeal, and asks her for advice a lot. Even with Cassandra having considered killing her in their first interaction, Herah greatly values what brought them to their close friendship. She respects that Cassandra avoids the trappings of her noble birth and actively shuns anything that ties her to the monarchy of Nevarra. What Herah loves most, though, is that Cass respects and values her back, in great enough measure to confide in her. Herah frequently wonders at the reasons why Cass keeps herself distant from those around her, and honestly, if there were a single person to blame for that behavior, she would move the heavens to kick that person’s ass. Cassandra is, by and large, her guiding star as she works.

Cole

She never quite knows what to make of Cole. Logic and her training state that Cole, as he is, should be largely impossible. Solas seems to be okay with the young man, though, so she pretty much defers to the other mage in issues dealing with spirits. Cole, though... he’s a handful. On one hand, his way of helping often is at odds with the support staff of the keep, tossing bread on the battlements, throwing perfectly good turnips in the fire, stealing uniform-issued daggers from the scouts and runners. On the other, Herah must admit that the last action was well-founded; she has personally seen multiple scuffles in the tavern escalate to bloodshed in the courtyard, so she isn’t too worried when he takes someone’s daggers. Cole also doesn’t make use of his payments for working for the Inquisition, so she has the banker re-route some of his stipend toward the kitchens and other departments, and quietly has the quartermaster order more supplies than initially called for. She’s told Cole this, and he had no response one way or another. She hopes she’s helping.

Dorian Pavus

Dorian is her best friend. If she considers herself close to Blackwall then she and Dorian are in each other’s pockets. They bond over wine, asshole Tevinters, and their shared proclivity for fire magic. She has listened with rapt attention to his many lectures on magical theory and often jokes about having to keep pads of parchment at hand for his tendency to launch into ramblings on the subject. Since they returned from the Failed Future, as they call it, they have been largely inseparable, and both suffer PTSD from the experience. Their other companions understand but don’t actually get it, and sometimes Herah’s nightmares - that this was a failed future, and that what they experienced at Redcliffe is the real and current reality - can only be soothed by Dorian’s presence. When they’re not dallying with their respective love interests, they can often be found in each other’s quarters. She suspects she could easily love Dorian, in ways she can’t now, if she were a man. A drunken kiss one night led to that suspicion, but she doesn’t press it. She values him for who he is, not who his family and his country think he should be.

Iron Bull (Qun)

Iron Bull scares her, as much as he intrigues her. She is the epitome of “afraid but aroused” in his company and tries not to think about it. It was worse when they had first met, and time has eased their relationship into relative friendliness. That he seems to defer to her decisions goes a long way toward building their friendship, and he always answered her half-terrified questions about the Qun and Qunari life. She respects that, and appreciates what she believes to be his no bullshit method of interactions. He seems to have no interest or investment in hauling her off to Par Vollen, and he revealed his status as Ben-Hasserath to begin with, and she keeps those thoughts in mind when her nerves run away with her.

Iron Bull (Tal-Vashoth, after saving the Chargers)

She remembers how he froze out there. He was terrified. Terrified for his men, his found-family, his closest companions for years. Terrified for his place in the Qun, for the ramifications deserting would have upon his inner and outer lives. She hopes never to see that look of panic ever again. They were able to save the Chargers, and she doesn’t regret that one bit, but she watches him closely - no longer out of fear, but to keep him close, to support him. This is something new and scary for him and she hopes to return his kindness. There are quiet occasions when he asks her questions about growing up without the Qun; in the beginning she told him vague generalizations, still nervous about what he represented for so long, but as they grew closer she started talking more on the subject. He’s the only person, other than Josephine, who knows her family’s names.

Sera

Sera reminds Herah of her younger sister, brash and abrasive but with a good heart. She knows the elf has a desire for good, though doesn’t always see past the unorthodox methods to get there. They share a love for cookies, though she doesn’t have Sera’s love for oatmeal raisin. The elf swears her favorite thing about them is that the raisins look like chocolate but actually are fruit, and that they look like mouse shit is just extra heaps of wonderful. Herah is greatly amused by this declaration, and whenever she needs to soothe tensions between the elf and others around the keep she does so with a plate of the cookies. She kept a mental list of the small things Sera does around the keep (she can be seen working with the maids and runners, most often, which has earned her an even darker reputation for sneaking around) and Herah used these to prove Sera’s worth to the others in the beginning before tensions died down and everyone accepted each other. She tries not to have Sera and Solas, or Cassandra, or Vivienne on the same trip for too long, though, out of deference to her friends’ respective hangups.

Solas

He’s a mystery wrapped in plain tunic packaging. He doesn’t allow himself to get close to anyone, she’s noticed, but he is animated when he talks of the Fade and of spirits. She wonders if he’s lonely, cooped up by himself (even if it’s of his own doing) and tries to spend time with him, hoping to help him feel like he has a place on the team. He once confided in her that he’s overheard her and Dorian speaking on various magical theories, and the three of them soon started spending more time together. Sometimes it ended in arguments between Dorian and Solas on the precise nature of this or that, in which she just relaxed and watched them debate, but more often than not it was a teachable moment where she learned more than she expected. Solas has helped refine her healing skills, after grumbling that with her lack of talent for it she might actually make someone worse, rather than better. The remark was without heat, though, so he hoped it meant that he had a genuine interest in spending the time to teach her. He’s painted a small portrait of her, which he gave her on her birthday, depicting her closing the Breach. He hoped it would remind her of her own power - not just that of the Anchor, but of her innate strength and will. She keeps it hidden for her eyes only and reflects on it when things get too overwhelming.

Varric Tethras

She could listen to Varric tell stories for hours, and knows this for a fact - she’s done it on numerous occasions. She has read Tale of the Champion perhaps a dozen times, not only for the adventures and trials within, but ruminating on the power and force of nature that is Marian Hawke. She was half-convinced, with every read, that Marian didn’t actually exist, and only accepted otherwise after meeting the woman herself. Varric introduced her to the delicacy that is drinking chocolate and changed her life for the better. Working with the mercenary company had its benefits but fine dining wasn’t one of them. She and Varric have a weekly chess game, and she loses every time - but he will swear up and down, even on Bianca’s fantastic aim, that she’s getting better with each game.

Vivienne de Fer

She understands few things of Vivienne with certainty, but among them are these: that she is powerful, ambitious, and wants to see genuine change to how the Chantry operates the Circles of Magi. When Herah chose her specialization she chose to follow Madame de Fer’s advice and pursue the Knight Enchanter training. She’s spent many occasions in battle watching Vivienne cut through their foes with a deadly precision and focus she’d never seen before, and it inspired her. The weight of the pommel in her hand is still unfamiliar but Vivienne teaches her the finer points of the spectral blade’s use, something that Cullen, for all his expertise, can’t communicate effectively. There’s a certain ruthlessness in the way Vivienne operates, one she didn’t see before but does now. She is not a woman to cross lightly, and makes no bones about it. Vivienne is powerful and worked hard to get that way. Herah respects that, the way she respects bears: from a polite, well-armed distance, with a hope that the power in question isn’t turned on her. That’s not to say there isn’t a genuine friendship in the works - Vivienne once confided that Herah reminds her of herself, a remark that confused her for days. “Brash and bold, but tempered by experience - the most flattering, deadliest design,” she said. There have been a couple occasions where Vivienne’s carefully crafted facade have slipped in her presence, and when Madame de Fer asked her to accompany her to Bastien’s side, she could not refuse. Vivienne was a genuinely compelling character in her life, and while they didn’t always see eye to eye, she has come to be a powerful ally and companion.

#headcanon #Herah Adaar #my OCs #Dragon Age Inquisition #meta #fanfic #Adaar's Adoration #my fanfic #companions

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