#elro

[wombywoo]

forgiveness. 

[decibelcoatl]

Despite only getting back into the Iconoclasts fandom after so long, one personal headcanon still persists in my mind...that Mina - a pirate girl from another culture - acts as more of an authentic older sister figure to Robin than Elro - who is Robin's actual biological brother. And I'm sure there are other people who think that way as well.

But in all honesty, Elro...isn't actually a "real" brother. At least, not to me, in a sense. Not in a way that matters, anyway.

As far as relationships go, Iconoclasts does its best at showing off relationship dynamics, and how they affect other people. Grey went out of their way to court Black for a whopping 187 years, breaking down her barriers with utmost love, care and patience (up until Elro killed them, that is, and that's something I will never forgive him for). Royal met someone who also held an appreciation for flowers, which he loves the most (especially since Robin's nickname is "Sunflower"). Mina decides to stop running away, and turns over a new leaf to become a better person and secure a future that she can share with Samba.

The same can be held true for familial relationships, especially in instances where blood doesn't always make a family or even siblings. It's especially true when you compare how Elro acts around Robin to the way Mina treats Robin, or even how Mother treats Royal, her adopted "son".

With Robin and Elro, there is little warmth in how they interact, especially after the deaths of Henetta and Ella. I'd argue that there is very little love between them, either. Elro claims that he cares about Robin, but that "care" is relegated to how she should stay home where he thinks she'll be safe, even despite the fact that she's practically an outlaw and staying home will result in guaranteed Penance for her. Before he died, Polro wasn't much better off, either, insisting that Robin live a safer life as a farmer, like her mother and maternal grandfather. Robin literally finds more comfort in the machines she makes, and that's heartbreaking! And it is only after Robin kills God himself and restores the planet that Elro finally gives in and tells her that he won't tell her what to do anymore.

Robin and Elro may be siblings, but Elro sure as hell doesn't present himself as a kind and loving brother in a way that all older siblings are meant to. At least, not after Polro's death. Even Black sees Elro as a piece of garbage, though that's only due to him being responsible for the death of the first person she came to love.

On the other end of the spectrum, you have Mina. Robin just met Mina, and the two don't know very much about each other. And they only end up getting together when the One Concern attacks Isilugar, and then when Black kidnaps Samba after White dies.

And yet, within the short timespan...you can tell that Mina and Robin's relationship is far more genuine compared to that between Robin and Elro. There is love, care, respect, and protectiveness. Mina encourages Robin to go out and make her mark on the world, instead of sitting at home doing nothing. Like Elro, Mina worries for Robin's well-being; however, unlike Elro, Mina also acknowledges that Robin is her own person, and that she perfectly capable of handling herself, especially after Robin solos Black in the detritus sand pit. They may not share the same blood, but the feelings they exhibit are so real despite Mina not necessarily having the purest intentions at heart compared to Robin. Not to mention the way they work together during boss fights, with Robin incapacitating the opponent and leaving them wide open for Mina to make the killing blow (the Inti boss fight is a perfect example of their teamwork, especially when they high-five one another). Mina is able to establish a warm place that Robin can call home, and acts like a "real" older sister.

I might be looking a little too deep into this, given that I'm a huge sucker for the "found family" trope, and I like seeing how two unrelated people can develop familial or sibling bonds compared to "official" or "real" families/siblings. Kinda makes me want to write a thesis paper about it, lol.

[dbcoatl-art]

Some Iconoclasts doodles I did. Only Robin got a slight tweak, but everyone else is more or less the same as the last time I drew them (as my previous alias Cyber-Wildcat, that is).

[incorrecticonoclastsquotes]

Elro: I can tell you plan on making me into a criminal no matter what I say. Black: You ARE a criminal!

[progenyroyal]

happy birthday iconoclasts 🎉🥳 this game irreversibly altered my brain chemistry and now i have to live with the consequences!!!!!!

[the-starry-lycan]

Elro has no idea what's coming.

[imhereformysciencefriends]

1, 8, and 12, por favor!

the character everyone gets wrong

Philza Minecraft!! He's not A Dad™ he's not a stick in the mud he's not a nuturing presence he's not even the one keeping things in order. Yeah he fills in creeper holes and he's friendly and offers advice when people ask for it but that man is 10,000% a chaos bird who'll murder your turtles murder your iron golem and then murder you for looking at him wrong. This man airstrikes his surroundings for fun. He joined a secret organization and made the base spookier for funsies. He saw 1,000 wither skulls and *laughed*. He loves chaos he loves destruction he loves having a goof people make him so BORING

common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

The need to Meticulously Replicate traditional nuclear family roles onto "found family" characters is. THE WORST. just because someone is the "mom friend" doesn't mean they're the actual literal mother of the group have any of these people ever gone outside??? I know this many people cannot have been homeschooled. Romantic might not be any better than platonic but platonic is NOT better than romantic either and familial is neither better nor worse than either of those I am Weirded Out by people joining the "shipping little dolls" website in the "shipping little dolls" hobby trying to tell other people not to ship stuff. Dare I say I hate it even.

the unpopular character that you actually like and why more people should like them

Elro, justice for my man Elro he was trying his best under extenuating circumstances. Dare I say the Most Extenuating circumstances. His father recently died, he feels helpless in the face of a religious fascist regime, he just murdered someone who was sympathetic and kindly towards him, he endangered his sister's life, his wife and daughter died in front of him and he wholly blames himself (it doesn't help that if he Hadn't acted, that wouldn't have happened)(not his fault it's definitely the fascist regimes fault but still. Hard to assuade guilt like that), his sister is RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING herself, he lost an eye. He lost an arm. He lost his house. He has literally NOTHING left to his name EXCEPT for his sister and he has lost. So much blood. OBVIOUSLY he's not behaving rationally. OBVIOUSLY he is clinging to his little sister with all the force he has left trying to prevent her from dying doing something he considers stupid and suicidal. My man was wrong but like who can claim they'd do better in his shoes.

[metaldragoon]

They should be fine.