fanon really built up "Cass is Bruce's favorite child" and meanwhile I'm sitting over here with a whole stack of panels in a folder labeled "Dick is Canonically Bruce's Favorite Child" adsfghjkl
#listen I know technically Bruce doesn't actually have a fave and loves all of his kids equally #but the overwhelming canon evidence that when push comes to shove Dick is a *hair* above the rest of them......remarkable #there's just....so many you all don't even KNOW
For fun (cited where I know the issue numbers), here's some of the more obvious ones:
"Nightwing. He is the best. The only one I could have picked to lead you. He will honor you. We will make you champions. That's it. That's the speech. Get to work, Justice League. The world needs you." -JLA: Obsidian Age (JLA #69)
OMAC: "And your favorite. Subject Beta--Grayson, Richard--Nightwing." -Infinite Crisis #6
"Then he stopped for a second and said...'The only time I ever feel pride is when I look at Nightwing. Sometimes I think he's the only thing I ever did right.'" -JLA #73
"What happens to everyone on this Earth when yours comes back?"
"They'll be folded into its historical fabric."
"You mean they'll die."
"No, they'll be replaced. Just as everyone on my Earth was. But they'll be better. I never lie, Bruce."
"And what about Dick Grayson?"
"Yes?"
"Is he a better man on your Earth than he is on mine?"
"No." -Infinite Crisis #3
"From the day I started, Bruce and Dick made me feel at home. And after Jason...and especially my Dad...Bruce made sure to always treat me like his own son. But even with all his careful and methodical attention--to any younger child--the firstborn is still the firstborn." -DCU: Last Will and Testament (2008)
"That's because...I learned from the best."
"A good teacher relishes a good student. You were the best of them all, Dick." -Batman Beyond comics (technically AU, but still....)
Bonus:
"I...I'm going to be a member of the Justice League one day?" "No. You're going to lead it." -Justice League (2011) #51
Dick Grayson has more identities than there are colors in the rainbow.
There’s Dickie Grayson - school favorite, basketball star, and mathlete. Best friend of the Titans and beloved love of many. Also a wonderful brother, devoted son, and dear grandson.
There’s Richie Grayson - darling of high society. Women swoon over him, men appreciate him (ie Roy’s “pretty bird”), and as a gothamite aptly put it, “who wouldn’t recognize Gotham’s very own Paris Hilton”.
There’s Ric Grayson - cold, night thrill seeking civilian with more trust issues than money in a trust fund.
There’s Nightwing - according to Supes, “your words are worth their weight in gold”. According to Bruce, “sometimes I feel he’s the only thing I did right”. According to Hawkman, “the one person the entire superhero community trusts after Superman”. And so much more. Strong enough to defeat Ra’s Al Ghul in a sword fight and be given the name “Detective”. Beloved hero and the pride and joy of the superhero community
There’s Agent 37 - An international, multilingual super spy who broke his partner’s hardened interior while rigorously maintaining his morals in the face of adversity. So handsome that while a psychotic murderer was chasing him and his partner, he reached up, switched off the spiral, and was so beautiful that the stunned woman went, “woof”, lost control of her bike and crashed.
There’s Renegade - Deathstroke’s apprentice who was carefully trained by him until he tricked the man and freed himself. Taught Deathstroke’s daughter Rose to be a hero and was punished by his nemesis through the Chemo bombing of Bludhaven. Yet Deathstroke still hugs him and says “Nice to see you again, kid. You look well” and leaves messages on his fogged bathroom mirror, “message received”, and waits in Dick’s bedroom while he’s dressing to let him know why he’s in the city.
There’s dick Grayson - mob enforcer for Black Mask and took down his crime syndicate from the inside out.
There’s Talon - His grandfather’s legacy of being an undead assassin for the court. The Gray Son of Gotham.
Finally there’s Robin - the 8-18yr old who went on joy rides with Superman, said “Holy ___ Batman!”, the one who was astounded when He asked if he would join the Justice league and Batman said, “no, you’ll be leading them”. The one who was driving batmobiles at 8 and singing songs to comfort victims that still remember him and his warmth 20 years later. The acrobatic prodigy that left the country in wonder. The first sidekick and role model for many young heroes that came after him.
He has many more identities I couldn’t name but - imagine if Dick could change these personalities in a heartbeat. One second he’s peppy and overjoyed Robin and the next he’s flippant and dismissive Ric Grayson. Oh the possibilities
I don’t remember where this quote’s from but: the man has a temper that could start wars. And a smile that could end them.
MAGIC USERS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS (because i’m mentally unwell and needed something cool to research)
FOREWARNING: In this, I do say that “witch” and “wizard” are not gendered terms and witches are different from wizards. This is literally just my headcanon (for lack of a better word). Most fantasy media does say that they are the 2 magic genders, but it’s my post and i’m going with the definition that I like.
Abjurer: Specifically deals in protective spells and the suppression of others’ magic.
Alchemist: Focuses on potion making, chemistry and alchemy (I know, shocker).
Artificer: Magic craftsmen. They do not cast spells, and instead can infuse objects with magic (such as a sword or wand).
Bard: Casts divine magic using their music and charisma.
Cleric: Their magic is a favour from the Gods to them. They pray at the beginning of the day every day to get their powers.
Chiromancer: Specialises in palmistry or fortune telling.
Diviner: Uses magic to foresee or predict future events or to discover hidden knowledge.
Druid: Wields nature-themed magic. Like clerics, they get their magic from the gods.
Enchanter: A general name for someone who uses magic.
Hydromancer: Specifically focuses on controlling water or liquid.
Illusionist: Uses magic to create illusions. Also known as evokers or conjurers.
Mage: Similar to the sorcerer, but instead of relying on willpower and instinct, they are more uniform, while sorcerers are more on the creative side.
Necromancer: Specifically focuses on reanimation of the dead.
Oneiromancer: Specifically focuses on dreams and prediction of the future.
Pyromancer: Specifically focuses on controlling fire.
Sorcerer: Does not learn magic, and instead has it within them. This can be, for example, because it is in their bloodline.
Warlock: Gains magic from a divinity or higher power. The magic equivalent of fucking your teacher for grades.
Witch: Does magic that is particularly focused on plants, herbs, healing, and cooking. Witches mostly make potions and have familiars (most commonly cats, frogs/toads, rats or ravens)
Wizard: Learns magic from books and study. Many also have staffs, wands, or another means of casting spells.
It always got me how, right from the beginning, Will is depicted as doing exactly the right thing. The thing that you would usually be yelling at the screen for the characters to do when they're being stupid:
He's honest, he abandons his bike and runs, he locks the door and puts the chain on, he immediately yells for his mom and Jonathan, he phones 911, and when all else fails, at the age of fucking twelve, he grabs a gun to defend himself. And despite all that, he never stood a chance. We're supposed to root for him. It makes it that much more satisfying when he's saved in the end.
Similarly, in s4 Will is shown to do everything right to help his sister and his best friend. He supports El at school, he argues with her about being honest with her boyfriend, he fights to see her when she gets arrested, spends an entire season looking for her while acting as their relationship counsellor, and when all else fails, he gives his love confession that he'd been holding in for years as hers, because he cares more about seeing them happy than himself. Will resigns himself to suffering in silence for the sake of the people he loves, he thinks he never stood a chance because he feels like he's alone, he feels like a mistake and WE ARE MEANT TO ROOT FOR HIM.
All in all, I think this is just another beautiful way they've set up byler endgame. That mirrored catharsis of Will doing the right thing, only to go through so much undeserved pain, before he can finally live and get what he deserves, will be so very worth it and will make for a great main character arc :')
(TW: RACISM, DOXXING) ‼️‼️ READ THIS /SRS There’s this really superb important thing to read about regarding what’s been going on in sttwt regarding poc minors getting doxxed and harassed. It’s so important to spread this around, this is disgusting behavior that should not be ignored. REBLOG. DO NOT JUST LIKE /SRS Posting links to the thread:
Long rambley byler headcanon ahead but I put a cut <3
Okay yes the Mike and Hopper hostility is very funny, and it's very funny to imagine Hopper thinking he got rid of Mike when he and El break up only to realize Mike is now dating his son.
However,
Imagine Mike suddenly becoming far more respectful to Hopper now that he's dating Will and Hopper being completely baffled by this.
Mike's finally in a relationship that he actually cares about maintaining. He knows he and Will are going to be together for the rest of their lives. Therefore he and Hopper are going to be in each other's lives forever. So they may as well get along, right?
And he knows that Will loves Hopper, and Will finally getting to have a loving and supportive father figure makes him so happy. How could he be a jerk to the man that is giving Will something he's always needed?
(Yes all of this applied to El too, but Mike was never very sensitive to El's feelings. And we know he is very sensitive to Will's.)
So Mike stops insulting Hopper. (For the most part.) He keeps the door open three inches. (When Hopper is home.) And he makes and effort to foster a positive relationship with Hopper.
Sure, he slips up sometimes. Maybe even frequently. Mike is a bitch (affectionate) so some bitchiness is inevitable. But Hopper can see that he's trying.
Also, we all know that Mike and Hopper’s canon relationship isn't just a rivalry. Hopper cares about Mike, a lot. And Hopper is probably more of a father figure to Mike than Ted ever was. So there's a basis of affection and mutual respect there.
(Cute GIF to make you cry)
So give me Mike calling Hopper 'Sir' and Hopper looking at him like he has three heads. Give me Mike clinging to Will constantly, but separating himself and keeping a respectful distance when Hopper enters the room, until Hopper rolls his eyes and says, 'It's okay, kid.' at which point Mike grins and resumes clinging to Will. Give me Mike awkwardly trying to make small talk with Hopper. Give me Mike getting Hopper a Christmas present. Give me Mike making sure he gets Will home by curfew unless Hopper is covering the night shift and won't be home anyway.
But yes, give me a dash of Hopper and Mike hostility too. Give me Mike holding Will's hand at the dinner table and Hopper asking, 'Wheeler, do you think you're physically able to go more that five seconds without touching Will?' And Mike responding, 'Wow, old man. I didn't know you hated gay people.' And Will has to stifle his laughter as Joyce lightly hits Hopper for teasing them.
Give me the one time Hopper comes home to the door not being open three inches, but in fact being locked. And give me Hopper pounding on the door threatening to take it off the hinges, until Mike opens the door, rolling his eyes and says, 'Relax, old man, we forgot.' And Hopper dubiously responding with 'You forgot you locked the door?' And Mike sheepishly shrugging.
Give me Hopper being so happy that Mike and El figured out what was best for both of them and that Will is finally happy. Will, the son of the woman he loves. Will, the kid he went through hell to find, the kid he never gave up looking for even after finding his body. Will, the kid he watched be possessed by the mindflayer and go through unimaginable pain, while also being there for Joyce as she went through it with him. And now, Will. His son.
Give me Hopper not being able to stay mad at Mike anymore anyway, because he sees just how much he and Will love each other. And he trusts Mike with Will. You don't hurt someone who you love that much. You protect them. He knows Mike will protect Will, just like he has.
Give me Hopper loving Will and Mike so much, but showing it in his own Hoppery way. Give me Mike and Will walking around Hawkins holding hands because if anyone bothers them, the Cheif of Police will be on their ass to cite them for harassment.
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