Art Trade I Did With A Friendo On Twitter Where We Did Eachother’s Cultural Holiday! Their Holiday

This timeline is killing me chat

the al ghuls’ whole thing is supposed to be protecting endangered exotic species of animals etc so i really think that talia (arab princess-adjacent that she is) would definitely have falcons for falconry especially bc it’s literally part of her heritage 

commissions 

bro the new bangalore skin ……………………………..

The Psychology of Talia

For throwntotheair, who has a few questions about Talia. :) I’m grouping this under a few broad questions that should bleed into answering some of the others you mentioned.

The preface of this, of course, is that all of my answers are based in the character of Talia al Ghul prior to Grant Morrison writing her. So the 30+ years of content and development we had beforehand. Grant largely ignored the fundamental pieces of her character that were recurring themes over the years, turned her into an infanticidal rapist and, generally speaking, made her as 2-dimensional as possible. His interpretation also gave Talia wildly inconsistent motives, so he is not a good measure for delving into her character.

What are her motives?

Talia has always been motivated by one thing: love. Love for her father, love for Bruce, love for Damian. Even love for the planet (though less so than Ra’s). Each step of her journey has love somewhere in the why. The primary conflict for her, especially early on, was the tug-of-war between acting for good (because of her love for Bruce) or acting for evil (because of her love for her father). 

The animated series still gives one of the best summaries of Talia’s goals, too: she says that she believes in her father’s vision for the world, but not in his means (namely mass genocide). 

Even in dealing with Damian (Morrison, again, notwithstanding), I think she meant everything for love (I’ll explain more in the ‘why did she raise him this way’ section).

When she throws Jason into the Lazarus Pit in Lost Days, her letter to him says that she has done this “for love.”

Despite her badassery, Talia is actually a very loving, empathic person (though sometimes she denies it). Either way, love is at the core of what she does. For her father, that love spills over into loyalty…most of the time.

Why the loyalty to Ra’s (Why has she never stood against him?)

Wellllll this is two parts. The first question: love and indoctrination. The second question: she has.

First we have to understand that Talia is pretty much a psychological trainwreck. In Batman Chronicles #8, we see one of the only stories that’s specifically from Talia’s point-of-view. This and Lost Days are as close as we really get to such direct access to her thoughts.

Yeah. She’s messed up. We should note that Ra’s, despite his being just about Worst Dad Ever, does genuinely love Talia, in his own way.

Realize that Talia has been raised exclusively in Ra’s in environment (like Damian) and that the way she raised Damian was A LOT like she was raised. She’s in a place where he father is viewed as a deity, it’s this massive, powerful cult, and so there’s a level of indoctrination going on.

But that said…Even from the beginning, Talia was defying her father.

She thinks for herself and, growing through the years, she becomes increasingly agitated, worn down and plain ol’ fed up with her father. I would argue that in most cases, she betrays him for Bruce (or Jason, or Damian) because she knows he’s wrong.

(Prior this panel, Batman asks why Talia is betraying Ra’s, and if it’s because she loves him:)

Doesn’t she seem to be lacking independence?

Here’s where I think there was a massive missed opportunity. Talia, after being shot for betraying her father in Tower of Babel, nopes out and goes off on her own. She’s fed up with both Bruce AND Ra’s.

Ra’s shows up and has Talia kidnapped to bring her back. She winds up rescuing Bruce one more time before leaving BOTH of them and heading off to Hong Kong, where she becomes a successful businesswoman in her own right.

At the time, Lex Luthor is about to run for president. He shows up at her door:

Talia becomes CEO of LexCorp. I wish so much that more happened in this era for her. She butts heads with Superman a few times (and even teamed up once and it was awesome), but it was so under-utilized. In the end, though, she runs the long con on Luthor, willfully bankrupts LexCorp and sells off the assets to Wayne Enterprises. Mostly just to spite him.

She hates Lexcorp mostly because she’s an environmentalist. And because Luthor.

So she’s this awesome independent businesswoman who manages to trick one of the smartest men in the DCU.

Unfortunately, her half-sister shows up during this era in Death and the Maidens. She kidnaps and tortures Talia by murdering her over and over and bringing her back with her Lazarus Pit. This goes on until Talia’s psyche shatters.

Nyssa brainwashes Talia, first with intent to kill Ra’s. Ra’s eventually kills Talia.

When Nyssa kills Ra’s, she and Talia both continue with Ra’s mission (with Nyssa as the Demon’s Head until her death). Then Talia, still brainwashed, becomes the Demon’s Head and leads into the modern area (as with Villains United which ran pretty close up to the New 52).

Why did she raise Damian in that environment?

To put it short: because it was how she was raised and because she knows it’s the only way for him to survive. When Talia was 18 (her first appearance) she was kidnapped by an enemy of her father. Her entire life has been violence, danger and bloodshed. Her father is a powerful, dangerous man in a dangerous world.

If Damian had not been trained, in her mind, he would not have survived. I think she believes it was the best way for him to be able to protect himself. Some indoctrination bleeds through (as her raising him would be post-brainwashing, though the timeline is a bit wonky). 

I hope that helps! I’ve got a lot more essays in on my blog, plus one that’s a comprehensive account of Talia’s history.

Death of the Demon

Short story in which Talia murders her father, intent on tending to her son and living happily.

CW // Implied/mentioned suicide, Graphic depiction of pain/ injury

Talia stands on the edge of a cliff, looking across at the mountain range before her. Her legacy, she thinks, land that should be hers. Was supposed to be hers. This cliff was hers, this palace was hers, this army was hers. It was meant to be. When Ra’s passed… but he never did. He never will. The lazarus pits scattered across the globe prevent this from being the case. And as she gazes out at the horizon, watching the servants carry as much luggage as they can, she realizes it is endless. This pointless cycle. Where Ra’s gets himself killed and his body is retrieved by those who revere him. Who fear his wrath even in death. As his body is tossed, again and again, into pits of green liquid. Bubbling and boiling and spitting him back out, worse and worse each time. There was no beating someone who laughs in the face of death.

It infuriated her. Knowing she had no control over a single aspect of her life. Not even the people she loves. For so long she’s been awake, waiting, plotting… pondering over hundreds of options. And now she had everything put into play. Her people were leaving, moving on to a new place with a new and fresh lazarus pit. The one they’d been using for so many years now was slowly drying up, but it had one use left. One she intended to take.

She glances out at the horizon once again, taking in the pleasant warmth of the setting sun. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Her eyes open slowly and she begins to hum a tune, singing quietly as she steps closer to the ledge. “Nami nami ya sghiri, ta ighfa a’al hasiri.” The lullaby grows louder in her head, her mothers voice coming into mind. Her eyes close again as she thinks of her mother.

“Nami a’altimi ta tnzah, I’gheymi.” Her mother sings to her, softly so not to wake her father who sleeps in the other room. “W yseer a’ana dawo kbeer, yedawi a’a kil ‘ljeeri.” Soft hands smooth over her forehead, tucking strands of hair away from Talias face and behind her ear. Her mother presses a kiss to her forehead, and Talia drifts to sleep.

“Bukra bayyek jayye… Hamel ghallet ‘lemon…” Talia sings, stepping closer to the edge, until her toes hang across it. Her brows furrow, and she thinks of her son. All the times she’d sung that lullaby to him just as her mother had to her.

“Bijeblek tanura w shal, ta tedfi bkanon.” She’d lay in bed with him, his head on her lap, and she’d stroke his tired face with such a gentle caress. One you would never expect from the dragoness. “Ya zaghtturet elhandaqa, sha’arek aswad w mna’aa…” Even when he was surely asleep, she would sing. And when the song was finished she would lay back on the headboard and stay with him, rubbing his back until she grew comfortable enough to sleep. Never for the full night, but for at least a few minutes every hour. That was all she ever needed.

Her foot dangles over the cliff. If the plan did not succeed… she would be left to rot at the bottom of these mountains. Strangled by the bones of warriors long dead, who may finally get their revenge on the daughter of the demon. If she did die here, it was without regret. Her son was safe, and that was all that mattered. She had no fear or doubts though. She knew this was a full proof plan.

“W li habbek bebusek, w li bghdek shu betraqa.” She finishes the last of the lullaby and falls to the depths below, with only her son in mind. “‘Ala raasii, my son. We will be together.” The force of the wind scratches her skin, tugging at her hair and forcing her eyes closed. She accepts it openly, arms outstretched as if desperate for its embrace. It is not the first time she has fallen, it will unlikely be the last.

CW // Graphic injury

Her body hits the ground with a sickening crack and the world goes dark instantly. Just as suddenly as she was gone, she is brought back, and when her eyes open she is met with pools of bright green swirling around her. She feels the excruciating pain of her bones rearranging, snapping into place and sealing together. Of her skin, once bloody and broken, rapidly reconnecting. And as she twists and contorts, her mind shatters and rebuilds. Her goal still ever present in the back of her head as her body lifted from the pools.

CW over —

Ra’s holds her in his arms, gently releasing when she starts to move, and she sees the look on his face. Anger, resentment… relief. There is not a servant in sight, nor an assassin to be detected. Aside from the ones she’d entrusted to guard the pool.

“What on Earth were you thinking?” He practically growls, watching her flex her fingers.

She doesn’t hesitate with her answer. Every move and sound he makes is one she’s long predicted, and every move she makes is one that has been carefully planned through. “Forgive me, father. I’d simply thought it best to be rid of the last remainder of essence before our departure.” She is monotone when she speaks, and Ra’s strokes his beard thoughtfully before humming. It is a plan he approves of, of course… why wouldn’t it be.

“And you did not think to inform me?”

“I was simply training my body and mind the way you taught me to.” She reminds him, furrowing her brow. As stated before, it was not the first time she had fallen. The pain was something so normal to her, but she remembers how unpleasant her first time was. How loud she screamed. “Have you forgotten our regiments, father?”

Ra’s shakes his head, hands clasped behind his back as he paces the room. It is silent for a moment, and as his back is turned she retrieves the sword she’d stowed away within the cave, brandishing it at him. He turns to her, a sick but bemused grin on his thin lips.

“What is this, you wish to spar now, my dear Talia?” He reaches for the blade on his waist. “Very well then.” He lunges at her quickly, and their swords clash. With every swift strike he makes, she strikes back even faster, twisting around him and knocking him onto his back. He huffs, preparing to flip up, but is met with a sword to his chin.

“This is no sparring match, father. This is battle.” She raises her sword to strike but is kicked back by Ra’s, who quickly stands and meets her blade once again. Talia slices into his skin and he slices hers in turn, swiping quickly and targeting her weak points. They break away for a moment, circling the ground like sharks.

“You wish to best me, daughter? You could not even best The Batman!” He spits, lunging at her ferociously.

She meets his blade, clanging together against it with each strike. “That is because I love Bruce. Not because you tell me too, but because I want to!” She growls, true to her dragoness name, and strikes his arm. “I am my own person! I am a human being! You cannot- you WILL not… take that from me, ever again.” With this bold statement, Ra’s laughs.

He catches her off guard and knocks her onto her stomach, pressing his foot onto her back. “You are nothing but a pawn Talia. No different from your sisters or brothers, nor your mother or your son.” For a moment there is a sense of fear within Talia. A moment of unpreparedness. He steps on her even harder, and she winces at the pain, struggling to reach for her side.

“No…” She huffs, struggling to move. “I will be free… I will be free!” She screams, surging with adrenaline, and forces him off of her. She flips over to where her sword sits at the edge of the lazarus pit, hastily grabbing it and brandishing it at her father.

“I am Talia Al Ghul, daughter of the demon, the most dangerous woman alive. I will conquer you just as I have conquered countless enemies.” Her sword hits his with enough force that it is knocked from his hand, and he seems genuinely surprised. “I will kill you just as you have killed my sister!” She screams, slicing into him with her sword, again and again with each scream.

“Just as you have driven away my brother, I will drive you into the ground!” SLICE. “Just as you have beaten my beloved, I will beat you! And I will rise over you with the strength you could never obtain, with the drive you senselessly pursued, and I will do it all without YOU!” Her sword plunges into his stomach and through him, his body slumping against hers. She whispers in his ear.

“I will push you into the pit of which has driven you beyond recognition, that has infected your mind to the point of insanity. Just as it is dried of its essence, so too will you, and you will never rise to see the light of another day. I am the demons head now. You…” She pushes him off of her blade and into the murky green pool below. “Will be nothing.” Talia huffs, watching his body sink until it is at the very bottom, and turning toward the exit.

“My lady!” Her trusted companion calls out, bowing hastily, while the others rush to tend to her wounds. Talia only pushes them off. “Is it done?” She asks, and Talia only nods, walking off quietly. Everyone else follows after her.

Except for one.

End!! Lmk if I’m doing a good job writing Talia! For anyone curious the song she sings is a lullaby called Nami Nami! I found the translation on a website, so I hope it’s accurate

Sleep, sleep my little one

Slumber peacefully on the rug

Sleep in the darkness

Until the cloud passes

After it will come a great light

And we will all see it

Sleep, sleep my little child Sleep, sleep my little one

Sleep, sleep, sleep Slumber peacefully on the rug

Sleep, sleep my little one Sleep, sleep my little one

Sleep, sleep, sleep Slumber peacefully on the rug

Daddy has gone to work

Father has gone

He will be back when the moon rises

And bring you a gift

Daddy will return tomorrow

With the lemons he has gathered

He will bring you a skirt and scarf

To keep you warm

You are my sweetest little one

With beautiful dark hair

Whoever loves you will embrace you

And whoever not

Woe unto them!

Sleep, sleep… Sleep, sleep…

Bucky Barnes | What If… Zombies?! (2021) 

I also want to add that I do art! I am going through a bit of an art style crisis as of late, but if people want to request things from me, I’ll try to get them done. Here’s some of my work :)

Plus, I WILL take writing requests if people want to see a particular scenario! So it’s not just headcanon requests or anything like that, it’s also writing and art as a whole!!

(Sorry about the filter, I just don’t watermark my art because I don’t post it online, but I didn’t want anyone to steal and take credit. I’ll be sure to properly watermark the art I post and it will look totally normal.)

I just opened up my ask page, which I did not have before because I’m very stupid and do not know how to use tumblr. I would really appreciate it if people would submit any questions they have, especially about Talia and the Al Ghul family. Also, if you have any tips on how I can make my page a bit more tumblr friendly, I’d so greatly appreciate it! I really don’t use tumblr much, I don’t have the most practice with it, so I’m still figuring things out. I hope to make my posts more aesthetically pleasing in the future. Thank youuu!!

Showing when writing: Emotions [part 1]

Embarrassment

blushing

fidgeting

sweating

hiding their face in their hands

wide eyes

crossing their arms around their body

stutters

stammering

shifting their weight from side to side

exaggerated movements

nervous quirks appear such as picking at their nails, playing with their hair, and rocking on their heels.

avoiding eye contact

glancing or staring at random objects

stiff smiles

scratching the back of their head or neck.

subject changing

forced laughter

Anticipation

big smiles

wetting their lips

energized

constant movement

grinning

can't concentrate

clumsiness

fidgeting

questions

Awe

frozen

wide eyes

slack jaw

harsh or erratic breathing

grinning

staring

Surprise/shock

gasping

open mouth

slack jaw

wide eyes

covering their mouth with their hands

raised eyebrows

frozen

staring

stepping back

stutters or stammers

Triumph

Tilting back head and yelling out

fist pumping in the air

Jumping

Roaring

Whooping

laughter

bright smiles

grinning

Anger/Threatening

Shaking fist

Pointing

crossed arms

glares

frowning

scowling

Stabbing with finger

Slamming fist against something

Veins throbbing

Jutting out their chin

Clenched fist

Clenched jaw

flushed face

Eyebrows lowered or furrowed

squinting

Teeth bared

Wide stance

Tight-lipped smile

Rapid breathing

Sweating

aggressive stance

Flared nostrils

Puffed chest

loud voice

Nervous

lip biting

biting nails

blinking

tears

stepping back

awkward laughter

clumsiness

dry lips

dry mouth

fidgeting

darting eyes

wrapping their arms around themselves

repeatedly folding and unfolding their arms

clutching at themselves, their hip/shoulder/stomach

drawn in/furrowed brows

avoiding eye contact

jittery

pitched voice

no appetite or nervous eating so a bigger appetite

pacing

toying with things

restless

bouncing leg

rubbing at their face

scratching

sweating trembling

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