A commission, requested by @sarah-nonaginta-novem, depicting Roman Sionis shedding his former face to reveal the man he's about to become: Black Mask. Thank you so much, dear, and happy almost-Halloween! ^-^🖤🤍
A commission, requested by @sarah-nonaginta-novem, depicting Roman Sionis shedding his former face to reveal the man he's about to become: Black Mask. Thank you so much, dear, and happy almost-Halloween! ^-^🖤🤍
Hi! You seem really cool! I’m also a Roman Stan! If you ever wanna discuss the Arkham games or spew headcannons back and forth feel free to message me! :)
Yay, my first headcanon list!!! Hello friend! 😊 Here are my list of headcanons I mentioned a few days ago. Since I have a billion headcanons about him I focused on Arkhamverse Roman Sionis/Black Mask. A lot of them are lore oriented and I have dumped in my fanfiction commissions written by @gilverrwrites . I pretty much created an entire origin story, because Arkhamverse Roman officially does not have one. I will confess some of these headcanons have influenced my AU Roman. For everyone's sanity I condensed my headcanon list down to 50. Warning- many are dark, melancholic, and angsty. (NSFT/MDNI) I do not know if you will or not, but enjoy!
• Main reason why Roman is so upset over Tiffany's death is because she was grocery shopping for his first Christmas dinner. They had an ugly argument over her plan to cook him Christmas dinner the last time they spoke in person. She insisted on cooking him Christmas dinner for the first time in his life despite his protests. Unable to forgive himself, Roman does not know which is worse not being strong enough to save and protect the love of his life from Joker or being a cruel asshole towards her the last time he saw her face. Either way, he feels like he betrayed her trust and regrets rejecting her act of kindness. He sees it as the worst wrongdoing he has ever done in his life.
• Roman hates most major holidays they bring back too many memories of his traumatic history of childhood neglect and abuse. Him and his parents never celebrated holidays as a family. Treated like he did not exist every holiday in Roman's life was a corporate or socialite event among Gotham's wealthy circle. If Roman broke any of his parents instructions, made mistakes, or did anything else wrong he was punished. The holidays Roman remotely enjoys are Halloween and Valentines Day. Roman goes all out for his lovers on Valentines Day. Cooking breakfast/dinner, rose bouquets, and showers them with gifts (chocolates, perfumes, clothing, etc).
• The Sionises, Charles and Lorenza (Roman's Mother has never been named so I gave her a name), masking themselves were rich shitbags. The polar opposites of Thomas and Martha Wayne in every way possible. Roman throughout his youth was his Father's punching bag. Never intervening Roman's Mother instead covered up any physical signs of abuse with her cosmetics. Lorenza was an awful Mother. She didn't cook, bake, clean, do the laundry, wash the dishes, etc. She was the living paperweight who sat next to her wine bottle, pack of cigarettes, cosmetics and looked pretty. The only reason why she stayed with Charles was the wealth Janus Cosmetics brought in. She sacrificed Roman and exposed him to his Father's abuse. The scar across the right side of Roman's face was received from his Father. In public they used their only child as a pawn whenever they sucked up to other wealthy families. In the end, they neglected him and never cared about his well-being. As a result Roman has both daddy and mommy issues. (Edit: Goofed up and forgot to mention that every Roman in my mind was dropped on their head.)
• Roman began working at Janus Cosmetics when he turned 18. Realizing he was never going to receive his parents love and approval 21 year old Roman burned down his Family Estate, murdering them in the process. Few years later rather than bankrupting and losing Janus Cosmetics Roman, 25 years old, used it to fuel his criminal empire. Sionis Industries/Steel Mill, meatpacking plant, restaurants, clubs, Gotham Merchant's Bank, etc.
• Circe does exist in the Arkhamverse. This one @gilverrwrites and I concocted together. Circe is the reason why Roman abandoned Janus Cosmetics. Roman wished to impress Circe, the face of Janus Cosmetics, after he disposed of his parents. Roman being young and naive believed Circe was in love with him until she left Janus Cosmetics for a greater more profitable cosmetics company. Roman begged Circe to stay by proposing to her. Circe rejected Roman's hand in marriage in front of the entire company embarrassing him. Sent over the edge, Roman saw this as a grave betrayal and destroyed Janus Cosmetics because it served as a constant reminder of Circe. Committed embezzlement, squeezed the life out of Janus Cosmetics, utilized the same chemicals for his drug manufacturing, etc. Circe eventually became the first addition to his skull collection and is the only female skull. Her skull is next to Roman's non-electric phonograph located at his old steel mill office. Roman thought he was never going to fall in love again before Tiffany came into his life. Circe and Tiffany were polar opposites. Instead of being upper class Tiffany came from nothing. Unlike Circe, Tiffany never masked who she was.
• Roman used to listen to Frank Sinatra and his favorite classical music on his non-electric phonograph.
• Skulls of rivals and traitors comprises the rest of Roman's skull collection.
• Roman and Dr. Young, his Lacey Towers neighbor, did know eachother. They had a private partnership nobody ever discovered. So Dr. Young could have the funds to pursue her own private research she was Roman's chemist for his drug manufacturing and lied about not knowing much about him while she worked at Arkham Asylum. Dr. Young stole his original wooden mask and had power over him during all the times he was an Arkham Asylum inmate. She enjoyed the mindfucking she inflicted during his so-called patient sessions, most were about Roman's Father. Before becoming Black Mask Roman, in a fit of rage, destroyed the Sionis Family Crypt and carved his first mask out of his Father's black ebony coffin.
• Paranoid Roman upgraded his mask, his original wooden mask to the one in Arkham Origins, in order to make it bullet-resistant. Unfortunately bullet-resistant materials are not blast-resistant if the explosion is large enough. (Arkham Origins Blackgate)
• Roman loves dogs more than people and owns three Belgian Malinois (two brothers one sister). I had @gilverrwrites name them- Prospero, Fawkes, and Maschera.
• Roman did not make it out of Blackgate Prison after his mask was fused/melted on his face. He was soon recaptured and thrown into Blackgate's solitary confinement. Bolton made Roman's life a living hell while he was locked up. During the riot in Arkham Shadow Roman escaped with Garfield Lynns who was also in solitary confinement at the time.
• Dr. Jonathan Crane exposed Roman to his "Shadow" Fear Toxin. I did not include this in my first fanfiction commission, because I am pretty sure nobody is supposed to publicly know about Dr. Crane's shadow experiments.
• Roman felt no closure after he heard about Joker's death. He only felt rage knowing that Joker died at Arkham City before he could have his revenge. Roman wanted to kill Joker in Arkham City, but Hugo Strange and Lyle Bolton were always in the way. Roman will hold onto Tiffany's photo till the day he dies.
• Roman wears a pacemaker because his delinquent unscrupulous past came back to bite him. Too many drugs, specifically cocaine, and drinking back when he was a rebellious kid running around Park Row/Crime Alley. Originally Roman did not want the pacemaker Tiffany forced him to get it. Childhood neglect/abuse increases substance abuse, criminal activity, risky sexual behavior, etc. Roman was only 14 when he lost his virginity to people much older than himself. He has had a fucked up life, people around him dismissed him and thought he was just another "spoiled rich kid". As a high-functioning addict he still dabbles with cocaine. His chain smoking and lack of anger management certainly does not help his pacemaker too.
• Roman is one of thoes workaholic guys who often neglects both his physical and mental health. He never pays attention to his heart rate, especially whenever he loses his temper, and needs a Mr./Ms. Li type assistant to take care of his grouchy ass. His lovers, for the most part Tiffany before her death, are around and help him with his pacemaker.
• Sure Roman is sadistic and vicious however he is not Joker, Mad Hatter, Professor Pyg, etc-tier, you know? Dungeons and Dragons role-playing standards Roman is "Lawful Evil" while Joker is "Chaotic Evil" if that makes sense. Chaos, disorder, and destruction is bad for business. I find it hilarious how Roman is the reason why James Gordon kept his job position as GCPD'S Captain. He talked Commissioner Loeb out of killing James and convinced him that James is good for the department's reputation. That and I suspect Roman personally respects Gordon's honesty.
• Many of Roman's personality traits are survival mechanisms.
• List of people Roman is soft on- Alfred Pennyworth, Barbara Gordon (especially since she's one of Joker's victims), Renee Montoya, James Gordon, Zatanna Zatara (he loves her shows), Dr. Leslie Thompkins (was soft on because people theorize she is dead), and Harvey Dent/Two-Face. Out of all Rogues Gallery members Roman gets along with Two-Face the most. They view eachother as equals and have shared accounts of their abusive Fathers. Their relationship is more intimate than they care to admit.
• In order for someone to get tortured or tortured to death by Roman they would have to really REALLY piss him off. List of people who provoke Roman- Traitors, people who are blatantly disrespectful, thieves, rivals who push his buttons (Oswald Cobblepot for example), liars, insubordinate False Facers/henchmen and prostitutes, etc.
• As long as Roman's followers show loyalty and respect Roman is fairly chill all things considered. He socializes with a couple here and there if he warms up to them enough. Him and his body double Giovanni had a tight-knit relationship. He was drunk out partying with Giovanni the night they fought Joker at his Lacey Towers apartment. His grouchy temper is just something everyone has gotten used to over the years. Under the right circumstances Roman is a "loosen up" type of drunk. He is not as uptight as Oswald. He went so far as to call his followers his "family" in Arkham Shadow.
• Physically harming and/or raping any of Roman's prostitutes is a death sentence. He does not have time for messy situations. Again, disorder is bad for business. He takes it personally too and sees it as an attempt to usurp his dominance. As their leader he feels the need to show his pack he can protect them.
• This one may seem controversial. Roman has never committed rape himself and does not condone it. He believes that rape is beneath him he is not a complete savage. He instead utilizes his seductive attributes. "Oh please, I never have to force myself on anyone. I'll have you beggin' for me in no time."
• Roman avoids hurting children at all costs. A part of him wishes that his skull face did not scare them so much. Sometimes a kid will say it looks cool.
• Roman knows a thing or two about metallurgy from working at his steel mill. Specializing in the science of metals is one admirable skill Roman possesses. Key difference between Roman and your average rich person is that he does not shy away from manual labor. Because of this Roman has earned the respect he desires among many of his followers. His blue shirt in Arkham City represents Blue Collar.
• Roman's followers also respect him for possessing a resilient never give up attitude.
• Two reasons why Roman wears his signature black leather gloves. First Reason- I think most of us Roman lovers agree it is an intimacy thing. Second Reason- Between manual labor, fighting, and temper tantrums (smashing furniture and punching walls) Roman hands are heavily scarred.
• Before Roman fell from grace he built mutual respect with his main rival Carmine Falcone. When Roman said "friend of the family" while he spoke to Alberto in Arkham Origins he meant it. Carmine served as an inspiration to Roman the moment he decided to become a crime lord. He was lead to believe becoming the new feared King of Gotham's criminal underworld is the only way to be a respected figure in a brutal and corrupt place like Gotham. Roman's relationship with Carmine shifted after he lost everything though.
• After Joker destroyed everything he had and stole his identity Roman in private often has heated arguments full of self-loathing, self-criticism, and internal turmoil with himself. Roman is at war with himself because deep down he knows all of his power was taken away and he is a shadow/shell of his former self. Roman ultimately blames himself for all of his own failures. Failure and being seen as weak are Roman's greatest fears. He questions himself if he is strong or good enough as Black Mask.
• Roman refuses to work with The Court of Owls. Not only are they the same rich people he despises he thinks they are a buncha cowards.
• While Roman is not the best martial artist he knows advanced boxing skills. Most of his hand to hand combat experience comes from years of street fighting during his younger years. Once he gains the upper hand it is a beatdown. Fun fact, boxers like Muhammad Ali tend to be excellent dancers. ;)
• Roman is one hell of a shot though, better watch out, he carries thoes duel pistols for a reason.
• Total homebody like a true Gothamite. Last time Roman traveled a far distance anywhere he was with his parents. Despises everything about Metropolis. He only sets up shop in Bludhaven, Gotham's sister city, out of desperation.
• Thinks Lex Luthor is the biggest pompous douchebag in the entire universe. Seriously, fuck that guy.
• Roman was a goth kid during his younger years. He smoked a shit ton of kretek clove cigarettes and was into black leather. He still as an adult listens to all of his favorite goth bands. I honestly can not think of anyone else who takes a ebony coffin and carves a skull mask out of it.
• Young goth Roman was Little Bruce's babysitter for multiple days at a time whenever the adults were out of town. The two of them are thirteen years apart. Bruce made Roman watch The Mark of Zorro, The Gray Ghost, and numerous other old films every time. Roman would brood on the opposite side of the couch as Little Bruce, who did not have many friends because of who he was, attempted to interact with him. Children love to talk, a lot. Especially when it comes to subjects they are in love with.
• Obviously obsessed with masks like his other counterparts. Roman wanted to be in theatre arts class in school, but his parents scoffed at the idea. Him and his lovers go out to see his favorite plays. I wish they showed a mask collection either at his Lacey Tower apartment or steel mill office. :/
• Young Roman was a small time drug dealer both on the streets and school. Luckily for him he was smart enough to never get caught. He bribed cops way back then too. By the time he became Black Mask in adulthood he already knew his way around Gotham's criminal underworld.
• Roman has always been envious of Bruce's relationship with The Waynes. Roman saw how loving and caring The Waynes were towards their Son. Such negative feelings made Roman resent his own parents more than ever. Tragically for Little Bruce he thought Roman was his friend. Roman was cordial while he interacted with Bruce, but deep inside felt anger and envy. To rub salt into the wound in order to suck up to The Waynes Roman's parents gave Little Bruce all of the attention, praise, and affection they withheld from him.
• Despite Roman's resentment towards Bruce he honors Thomas and Martha Wayne. He acknowledges the fact that while too soft they were legitimate good compassionate people who did not hide behind a facade, unlike the rest of Gotham's wealthy circle. Every once in a while he will pay a visit to their crime scene bringing them flowers. Their hearts were in the right place and they tried their best to try to make an unforgivable environment like Gotham a better place before she took them away. Him and his parents attended to The Waynes funeral.
• Mr. Rogues on YouTube inspired this headcanon. Stashing his drugs in Old Gotham Cathedral was meant to be a symbolic gesture more than anything else. Unveiling Gotham's true face, Roman believes nothing can save her from herself. She is a disgusting hellscape all you can do is learn how to survive. Old Gotham Cathedral was popular among wealthy Gothamites including The Waynes, Falcones, and Lorenza's family back in the day. Until it was forced to shut down by the city due to the fact that it is located in Park Row/Crime Alley.
• Another headcanon I partially borrowed. Hopefully this is not considered cheating? I wrote a past post about it, but then decided to delete the post because my headcanon changed to some extent. Roman is half Italian on Lorenza's side of the Family and half Jewish, Romaniotes in particular, on Charles's side of the Family. Half Italian and half Jewish people are so common on the East Coast there is a nickname for them. I do not know if this is meant to be derogatory or not I apologize in advance, Pizza Bagels. Lorenza, born and raised Roman Catholic Italian, went to Old Gotham Cathedral back when it was still in operation. Years before Roman's birth his Mother decided to jump ship the moment Catholicism lost its influence in Gotham. Because his Father was Jewish, his Mother converted to Judaism to pursue her own selfish motives and personal gain. Avaricious, She sought after all the wealth Janus Cosmetics had to offer. Not caring about believing the faith and practicing spiritual opportunism his parents only used it as a tool to get around Gotham's wealthy circle. Roman was raised Secular/Culturally Jewish and had a Secular Bar Mitzvah. When it comes to his personal religious beliefs he is Agnostic. As he grew up he acquired his Mother's East Coast Italian accent and calls it his Mother's Tongue.
• Janus Cosmetics was founded in the early 20th century by Roman's Romaniote ancestors after they immigrated to Gotham City. Reason why there is Art Deco Janus Cosmetics posters. Roman's Italian ancestors immigranted to Gotham City around the same time.
• To everyone's surprise Roman is a reader. Reading and studying religious scripture, for both Catholicism and Judaism, young Roman outsmarted his parents. He has learned some Latin, Hebrew, and Yevanic/Judaeo-Greek throughout his life. Even though he was not the best student in school he is a well educated sophisticated individual. Martha Wayne enjoyed his company and he kinda had a crush on her. His favorite book is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I want to see this in the Arkhamverse.
• Only tolerates Thomas Elliott the two have never gotten along. Roman had Thomas assist him with his fused/melted on mask and perform surgery so it would look and fit better. Reason why Roman now has no nose and exposed teeth. Thomas was a born psychopath. On the other hand Roman, once an innocent child, was made into what he is through years of suffering. If he had good parents similar to The Waynes he would have been a totally different person.
• Roman's favorite food is a rare T-bone or Ribeye steak. The man is a through and through red meat carnivore.
• Favorite liquors are tequila, brandy, and scotch. Definitely a crystal glass of scotch whenever he has a cigar in his other hand.
• Leo is Roman's Zodiac/Astrological Sign his birthday is August 16th. I have not decided on his exact birth year yet all I know is that he is Gen X. He was 38 in Arkham Origins and 49 in Arkham Knight.
• Underneath all of Roman's fancy suits is a hairy, scarred, rugged body that causes all of his lovers to go feral in the bedroom. It turns him on when they kiss his scars including the pacemaker.
• Roman is bisexual. He enjoys being the dominant or submissive one depending on his mood. Tiffany was allowed to peg him and play with his backdoor. He is always sleeping around.
• Jason did not kill Roman in Arkham Knight that was a body double. Roman dislikes Red Hood at first because Red Hood reminds him of his younger spunky past self.
For more dating, relationship, and sex headcanons I feel like I would just be repeating what @gilverrwrites and @tarrenterror25 have already posted. I highly recommend checking out their blogs. They have the best headcanons, plus fanfics, in general. One thing I will say Roman LOVES to give his partners "love bites" with thoes exposed teeth during forplay, power play, and sexual intercourse. ;)
✧ Broken ribs suck. You don’t just “walk it off.” Breathing hurts. Laughing hurts. Existing hurts. Characters with rib injuries won’t be doing heroic sprints.
✧ Concussions aren’t instant naps. Dazed vision, nausea, dizziness, maybe even personality changes, but they’re not going to collapse neatly like in the movies.
✧ Blood loss is sneaky. It’s not just about dramatic pools of blood. It’s dizziness, confusion, and the body getting cold as circulation tanks.
✧ Adrenaline lies. Someone can take a serious injury and not feel it until the fight’s over. That “I didn’t realize I was bleeding until later” trope? Very real.
✧ Twisted ankles are brutal. One bad step and suddenly running is off the table. Even walking hurts like hell. Perfect way to ground a chase scene.
✧ Burns linger. Even small burns hurt more than most people expect. Blisters, infection risk, constant pain, it’s not just a cool scar later.
✧ Dislocated shoulders = useless arm. Characters can’t keep swinging a sword or firing a gun. They’re basically fighting one-armed until it’s fixed.
✧ Shock is a thing. Pale skin, trembling, rapid heartbeat, and eventually disorientation. A character might not even realize how bad their wound is.
✧ Stitches aren’t magic. Getting sewn up is painful and recovery takes time. They’re not instantly battle-ready after a needle and thread.
✧ Scars tell stories. Some fade, some don’t. Some stay sensitive forever. Don’t forget the aftermath when the wound becomes part of the character.
Do you think there were moments, early on, when Robin would do something so childlike on patrol (nothing wrong, just small things) that it would suddenly hit Bruce ? The way he’d rub his eyes when he was tired, or how his lip would tremble for just a second after scraping his knee before quickly powering through it. How he’d hum to himself while waiting on a rooftop, swing his legs when he thought Bruce wasn’t looking, or get excited pointing out constellations in the Gotham sky like it wasn’t the same polluted mess as always.
So for a split second, the mission wouldn’t matter anymore. Bruce would just turn around and say, “We’re going home,” leaving Dick confused, tugging at his cape like, “What ? But we just got here.”
On those nights, Bruce would overcompensate by getting Dick’s favorite dessert, letting him stay up late to watch movies, or taking him to the amusement park the next day. It was his subtle way of making up for what he’d almost forgotten : that before he was Robin, Dick was still a child who deserved to be one.
imagine some interviewer casually asking bruce wayne who he thinks batman really is and bruce just goes completely straight-faced “it’s me i’m batman” and the interviewer laughs like “haha good one mr wayne” and then the next day gotham just collectively decides this is just like. the funniest thing ever. and now they all start calling batman “bruce wayne” so now you’ve got cops on the radio like “bruce wayne’s on the rooftop again” and news anchors saying “mr wayne apprehended two suspects last night” and batman’s just standing there in the rain growling “stop calling me that” (obviously playing along, he’s so committed to the joke) and everyone thinks it’s just a bit cus batman = brucie wayne is literally so preposterous and meanwhile the batfam is LOSING their minds
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