Yk that post that's like ‘signal is the spiritual successor to nightwing’ bc I DO & IVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT NON-STOP.
And the comics pretty much confirm it (To Me) in Grayson #15.
So in this issue each of the Robins, minus Steph (RIP Steph) get paired off with one of the We Are Robin gang and give them their own advice on what it means to be Robin.
Tim—whose main problem with this whole thing is that they don't know these kids, how can they trust them?—gets paired with Andre Cipriani, a mob kid whose dad was murdered by a rival gang when he was eight years old. Tim trains Dre by having him fight blindfolded. He tells Dre that being a Robin is about truth and investigation, which makes sense, right? Tim became a Robin by figuring out Batman and Robin’s secret identity (keep this in mind, all the Robins’ advice links to their origin).
To be a Robin, you have to understand what you don't know. And then you must seek to know it. You must always ask: how can I see into the dark? Batman once told me, being a Robin can be summarized into one word: investigation.
These two were an interesting choice to pair up. I would've thought they'd put Dre with Jason, given their violent tendencies—Dre is smart, but at this point in the comics doesn't strike me as particularly investigative. Then again, right after this arc he goes undercover in a gang, so maybe he learned something?
Speaking of learning something: at first I thought they should've paired Dre with Steph (#teamcriminaldads lmao), and while that would be an interesting team, Dre did learn from Tim. If Riko were present in this issue, she would've been a good fit for Steph, as she idolizes the Batgirls and Steph was both a Batgirl and a Robin. Plus, Steph and Riko are both brave & have mean streaks, something that Riko has trouble showing because of her shyness. Steph’s advice probably would've been along the lines of “being a Robin is about defiance”.
Besides, if Tim and Dre weren't paired up, we never would've gotten this interaction.
— You like Liszt.
— What?
— Franz Liszt. The composer. You play the piano. I looked you up. People who play the piano like Liszt.
Points to Tim for the most autistic small talk ever. ‘You like this, which I know because I researched you in a totally non-creepy way.’ Amazing. 10/10.
Dax gets paired with Jason. They're interesting parallels. Dax is the inventor/mechanic of the team, but also sort of the wild card with very strong morals, like Robin!Jason in a way. Like Jason, Dax’s father is (implied to be) a crook, though they took different moral directions because of that—Dax is completely opposed to gun violence.
Anyways, Jason's main reservation is that you can't have Robin without Batman. And I guess he decided to solve this issue by just becoming Batman & making the WAR crew relive his origin story by stealing tires from the mob.
Y'know, kid, Batman once told me, being a Robin comes down to one word: confidence.
Jason Todd, the Crime Alley street kid who had the balls (and the skills) to steal Batman's tires and get away with it. Sort of. Confidence, indeed.
Damian's problem with the Robins is, of course, that they're weak, and strength (according to him) can't be trained; you either got it or you don't. He gets paired with Izzy, who probably has the toughest home life of the WAR crew. Her brother's in a gang (that he regularly beats her up for not joining), and she's failing all her classes because she's too busy working night shifts at her mom's restaurant to sleep or do homework.
So Damian's advice to her is pretty apt:
Batman told me that there is one word that captures the essence of being Robin. Suffering.
Damian and Izzy are both outwardly surly, stubborn characters who have had to fight to survive. Notably, Izzy is the first of the crew to almost resort to killing/guns (in WAR #6). She's also probably the best fighter in the WAR crew after Dre and Riko. She does dancing, gymnastics, judo, and kick-boxing.
And, finally, we reach the point of this whole post: Dick & Duke.
Duke deduces Dick's secret identity in like .5 seconds.
— I've solved a lot of hard in my time. This ain't hard.
— No. No, it wasn't hard. Not for you. Again, Duke Thomas?
Dick: You discovered my secret identity!
Duke: What? Like its hard?
After scoping out their strengths and weaknesses, Dick sends the Robins on individual assignments: Dre and Tim to investigate, Dax and Jason to cause a distraction, Izzy and Damian to apprehend Robo-Batman/Gordon.
Dick brings Duke on to a roof for a stake-out, where they have this exchange.
— You think only the originals understand how to be Robin?
— Nope.
— Yeah. Me neither.
Then it turns out that Dick actually turned them all in to the cops because he wanted them out of harm's way. He's been watching Duke for a while and he knows he's scared of heights, so he led him onto a roof he knew he couldn't get off of. Just before they part ways, Dick imparts his Crucial Robin Advice:
Batman once wais to me that being a Robin is about one thing. Family.
(I find this whole thing super ironic considering Dick's whole aside concerning the Robins was the fact that it doesn't matter if people know you're manipulating them as long as it works.)
The point of Robin? Family. Dick and Duke are alike in this way. Dick only became Robin to get justice for his parents’ murder. Duke only joined WAR to find his parents.
Their origins and motivations are similar, and so are the characters themselves. Dick is often called the world's second-greatest detective next to Batman himself. Duke is a child prodigy—one of our first introductions to his character is when he tried to solve the Riddler's riddles in Zero Year. He loves puzzles. He's an amazing detective.
And, of course, one of the things we know and love about Nightwing is his inherent kindness, something that's present throughout Duke’s entire character arc. Even their hero names, Signal and Nightwing, are parallels of each other (light and dark). Batman’s first sidekick and his last. And, like Nightwing, Signal formed his own team (WAR) with no help from the others (except Alfred ig).
Of course, the entire point of Signal’s character is that he's not just a Robin. He's something different. It reminds me of that post that's like—’poor dick grayson, originator of a legacy he never meant to be a legacy, crushed with guilt and jealousy when he looks at all those who came after’. To me at least, it makes sense that Nightwing’s successor would've never been a Robin at all.
“Leather in the summer, silk in the winter. This is such an art, where do I begin uh. Used to sing tenor, in the church choir. Really I was flexin’, but the girls they were fine. I’m the type of guy that notice subtle signs. When I cuddle mine, she ain’t even tryin. To look sexy, but even if she was so what. Mother fucker grow up, don’t mean to be so abrupt. But that lets me, know that she’s a human being. And being human’s hard, on the boulevard. Girl you got it bad, glad I’m not one. But yet you got it good, you are the hot one.
But I’m Andre, Benjamin Andre to be exact. You hoped to meet a gentleman one day, well this is that. In fact, Dookie introduced at a show. About a year or so ago, I don’t know, mind slips me. I’m in the southern states, you know where all the pimps be. Dressin all boogey and carryin’ ugly cups. And yes you’re getting booed if your shit does not get down. And yes you’re getting sued by women who didn’t get up. Out their seat on the bus, and feet shouldn’t rust. And beat is a must, and we shouldn’t lust. But we do, I’m laughin’ at the calendars and clocks. Ascot to match the socks, what’s in your Speakerbox. Pink and Blue, you’re lolly gaggin, you’re slow pokin. You got me open, you’re playin wit me, darlin I’m not a toy. As if Anita Baker brings the joy, you’re a kiner, the Tyner meanin the real McCoy, I can’t wait.” - André 3000, I Can’t Wait, Sleepy Brown, OutKast
Guys I was watching victorious and the scene where everyone eats licorice from Cats bra IMMEDIATELY made me think of Y/n, Hobie, and Pavitr , also i have a strong belief that Pav is in LOVE with sweet tarts especially their ropes 😭‼️
warnings-eating candy from a bra, poor British slag (google is my friend), mention of breasts ?
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"Jesus i wondered who pissed in his cereal" you mumble as you pav, and hobie we're currently walking to the cafeteria, the three of you just came back from miguel's "office" and being scolded after failing to stop a villain in another dimension.
"The wanker could've gave us a little credit, we almost had the guy" Hobie speaks flailing his arms up "That's what i'm saying! we were so close, we would've caught him if someone wasn't on their phone" Pavitr agrees giving a straight up side eye to you as you role your eyes "My mom was asking where I was, if I hadn't responded I would've been grounded!" the three of you finally renter the cafeteria strolling over to the table you guys normally sat at in the corner, as you guys were walking Hobie swipes a bagel "getting grounded for not being at home is bonkers" he speaks stuffing almost have the bagel in his mouth as you and Pav watch in amazement, and disgust "gross- and yeah, how do u think i feel being a super hero and having a strict ass momma" finally reaching the table pav sits down first and u sit next to him "yo, where you going?" the two of you watch as he ends up retreating back to where you guys had just came from "bagels!" he shouts turning his back towards the table.
"anyways, we should take this time talk about your weird obsession with candy" Your friend turned to look at you "what do you mean my obsession?" you begin pouring a bag sour patches that came out of no where in your mouth "where did- where did that come from?" Pavitr asks looking you up and down looking for a pocket or something the sweet item could've fitten in "you really wanna know?" u raise an eyebrow and smile, his cheeks turn color just slightly as his mind start to think about all of the weird places that could fit random pieces of candy.
"aye i'm back, i got us some shit" Hobie sits down on the other side of you with a mini plate of bagels, a fat bag of plain lays, packets of hot sauce for the plain chips (in which he learned from you), and three sodas "how the hell did u carry all of that?" you squint as he gently lowers the plate then proceeds to basically drop everything else "his long ass arms that's how" the indian boy surprisingly curses "so what were you guys talking about?" hobie asks stuffing yet another bagel in his mouth sliding the two bottles of soda to the two of you "Pav said that I have an obsession with candy" you speak grabbing the bag of chips "oh yeah i've been meaning to talk to you about that" he swallows "told you" you roll your eyes "oh so now y'all ganging up on me?" hobie groans at your exaggeration "that's not what we said, you know it seems like every time we're out you have some type of candy on you that's comes out of absolutely nowhere!" pavitr defends
"thanks again spider woma-" the innocent man u just saved from a burglar looks up at you as sit there mask lifter above ur nose as you munch down on an airhead "uh huh anytime"
"y/n what the actual fuck?" miles asks as you bring out a bowl of only lucky charms marshmallows for breakfast"
"this is NEWSNEWSNEWSNEWS reporter Margret speaking to discuss Superhero Spiderwoman delusional candy obsession, there being multiple reports and sightings of the female heroine eating a kit kat mid patrol-"
"Y/n that's when you-" miguel stops explaining the plan he had set out for you and gwen staring at you scarf down a whole snickers bar "what the f-"
you sigh in defeat "yeah mate, where do you even- never mind" Hobie stops himself from getting in detail about how and where exactly you store your candy "maybe you should see the spidey-therapist about this?" Pavitr suggests "therapy? about candy? yeah right" you shut him down "I'm just saying that all of this candy isn't healthy, your my friend and i care about you, I don't what you to-" "hey pav?" you cut the him off "if i give you a piece of sweet tart rope would you shut up?" asking you turn your head to see him making a zipper motion along his mouth. You then seemingly unfasten your actual zipper down the middle of you costume just a tad as you pull out a long rope of tangy strawberry goodness from the between your breasts "Hobie your scissors" you gesture your hand as he pulls out a sharp ass pair of scissors, he cuts a piece and you hand it to Pavitr on the other side of you turning back to Hobie he cuts another piece for himself, you then put the rest in your mouth, the three of you chewing in silence- enjoying the warm bra candy.
“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” — Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest
(College Professor Benjamin Tallmadge vs College Professor John André x the vampire Audrey ~ charmantevamp but make it dark academia, and Audrey playing “teachers pet” x2).
Dark Academia classical: playlist.
An education in malice: playlist ~ curated by @saintmachina.
Inspired by this post by @honorhearted, An Education in Malice the novel by @saintmachina and this fic by @musicboxmemories. I’ll write this fic/RP, eventually, I just wanted an excuse to edit these. Also ft me romanticizing academia, and college, cause I can.