I feel like people really underestimate the importance of Dick being the first Robin. Like, reverse Robin AUs are interesting and such, but I just hope people realize that in the context of canon, they would never work. The reason Batman and Robin ever works is because the first Robin was Dick Grayson specifically. Because Bruce would never have taken in any child if Dick's tragedy hadn't specifically happened to mirror his own experience. Dick Grayson was the only one Bruce truly saw himself in first, because the fundamental event that defines them is the same. And he sees the opportunity to help someone the way he was never helped, to make sure that Dick didn't go down the dark path he did. So, my point here is that the only one Bruce actually made the choice to take in, the only one who could kickstart it all, is Dick Grayson, because he is the only one with whom Bruce could immediately empathize and connect with.
This never happened with any other Robin. He took in Jason because he missed Dick, he took in Tim because Tim forced himself into the role, he took in Steph because he was trying to make Tim come back to being Robin, and Dick made Damian Robin. Of course, he loved all of them, and they all have their unique relationships with Bruce that are very important and inform their characters, and he does need them too. But he specifically formed this connection with Dick that made Dick the only person he ever considered taking in. It took a very specific set of circumstances in Dick's backstory that made Bruce commit an impulse adoption that just isn't really present in any other Robin's story. And the reason Jason or Tim or Steph or Damian or anyone else whom Bruce has taken under his wing even got that chance is because of the work Dick Grayson put into Bruce Wayne.
Before Dick, Bruce was reckless and didn't care at all about himself, to the point of almost being borderline suicidal. He was more brutal, more violent, etc. The reason all this changed, is because of Dick Grayson specifically. He was the one with whom Bruce opened up, with whom Bruce was forced to grow up, to take responsibility and learn to take care of both Dick and himself. Dick, to Bruce was the one who brought "color to their [his and Alfred's] monochrome lives." Dick Grayson's specific brand of happiness and joy changed Bruce for the better. Dick gave Bruce hope. This is true for other Robins too, but only because they followed the precedent that Dick Grayson set, only because they slid into his role (they have their own interesting relationships with Bruce, but this specifically is from Dick that other Robins carried on. A legacy, if you will). Dick Grayson turned Bruce into the kind of man who would become a serial adopter.
Without his influence, without his precedent, there would be no Batfamily, because Bruce would never have gotten to the point where he would be able or willing to take in someone else and care for them properly (It took living through his trauma again to get him to take Dick in lmao). Hell, there would be no Batman because Bruce would have gotten himself killed a long time ago if Dick hadn't helped him learn self-care. Dick knows Bruce best, because he understands him on a fundamentally deeper level than anyone else in the world. And he's the only one who can make Bruce open up at his rawest, most downtrodden state. He is the only one who can give Bruce at his lowest that kind of hope. There is no Robin without Dick Grayson. It's literally a tribute to his parents, using their colors and the name his mother called him. He created that identity as a symbol of hope. He helped Bruce become the kind of man who could and would let other people that he had to care for into his life. Without Dick Grayson, you can simply forget about any other Robin or the Batfamily as a concept even existing.
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June 2023
How could you forget Lup?
[Image Description: A 5-panel illustrated comic featuring Taako and Lup in a limited color palette of pink, light brown, light red, purple, blue and yellow. Taako is is depicted with light brown skin and dark hair, which he ties behind his back. He wears a purple cloak. Lup is depicted with light brown skin and dark hair, which she ties in front of her. She wears a red cloak.
Panel 1: Young Taako and Lup, on both sides of a pot. Lup is stirring as Taako looks in. Below the panel is captioned with purple text:
“What’s the feeling”
Panel 2: Close-up of young Taako and Lup. You can see half of their face, and they are excitedly talking to each other. Below the panel is captioned with purple text:
“When you have a broken home, home, home?”
Panel 3: Pans down to young Taako and Lup’s torso. They are standing close to each other, indicating that they are holding hands. Below the panel is captioned, text in purple:
“Where’s the love when you were left on your own”
Panel 4: Taako’s hand, wearing the Bureau of Balance bracer. His hand is relaxed, but alone. There is a brief out line of Lup’s hand, reaching out for his. Below the panel is captioned with purple text:
“So alone”
Panel 5: Taako is standing center-frame, and you can only see the bottom half of his face and his torso. There is a single tear rolling down his cheek, his mouth slightly agape. He is grasping the Umbrastaff tightly in one hand, holding it close to his chest. There is a faint outline of a hand on his shoulder. Below the panel is captioned with red text:
“Who said you’re on your own?” End ID]
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Ahem. I know what other brushes LO uses ;)
(Forewarning: most of these brushes are from early LO and as such aren't used anymore. I will put an * next to the recent brushes Rachel uses.)
Pastels, Gouache, and other textured brushes (used mainly for backgrounds):
Pastel Palooza (Kyle's Megapack)
Pastella (Kyle's Megapack)
Fat Fun 100 (Kyle's Megapack)
Fat Fun Spongy (Kyle's Megapack)
Hard Square Pastel (Kyle's Winter 2019 set) *
Pigmentia (Kyle's Fall 2021 set) *
Sheriff Coal (Kyle's Spring 2022 set) *
Watercolors (used for backgrounds like clouds and texture)
500 Giant (Kyle's Watercolors)
Medium Wash Texture (Kyle's Watercolors)
Soft Irregular Wash 150 (Kyle's Watercolors)
Soft Wash 120 (Kyle's Watercolors)
FX:
Kyle's Splatter Brushes - Splatter Bot C (Kyle's Splatter set)
Stars 1 and 2 (Kyle's Splatter set)
Pressure rake (Kyle's Rake set) (warning: while this brush can be imported into CSP, this brush only properly works in Photoshop and Procreate because of their specific brush engines that allow 360 brush tip rotation)
Wet Ink Dynamic (Kyle's Splatter set)
Wet Ink Random (Kyle's Splatter set)
Bird Mix (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Bird Mix Vintage (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Break Glass (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Crackup (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Downpour (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Gulls 1 and 2 (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Manga Line Varied (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Manga Lines Broken (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Any of the smoke brushes (Kyle's Concept brushes) (warning: like the pressure rake brush, they work properly in Photoshop or Procreate)
Get the concept brush set. I'm not joking.
The entirety of Kyle's Winter 2022 set (Rachel is using these for how winter looks in the mortal realm) *
Foliage:
Fall Color Save (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Foliage Color Mix (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Foliage Mix 2, 3, and 4 (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Foliage Mix Dry 1 and 2 (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Brancher Big, Medium, and Small (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Foliage Pro 1 - 8 (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Foliage Small Color (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Foliage Ground cover (Kyle's Concept brushes)
Maddy Bellwoar's Ghibli-inspired brush sets* (can be found on Gumroad for the cheapest price)
Hope that helps!
listen here my dear sweet anon
first of all, there is no forewarning needed here that these are mostly from early LO, early LO is what I'm dying to recapture so you already struck gold and you can stop digging (or don't, because holy shit finding this in my inbox was like christmas for puff round 2)
second, i hope you're happy choosing this timeline where you're my new bestie because goddamn this is COMPREHENSIVE
and third (and most importantly) how in the flying FUCK did you know about some of these
like it's clear at this point rachel uses a lot of the kyle webster brushes, i kinda figured that out ages ago and it was just a matter of figuring out which ones she uses which you've done me the solid of putting together for me
but the ghibli background set?? the brushes that are exclusive to the newest episodes ??
either you've just become the champion of being the most hyperfixated on old LO orrrrr you know something we don't and there's a reason you're using the anon tag-
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