How’s this for an anti-hero version of Dick Grayson(called Nightshade or ‘Grayson’ for his real name) in this alternate DC universe?..basically…its an inverted version of Dick Grayson…both have similar traits…but notable differences… Nightshade has similar origins to main universe Dick…but things diverged…to where he never was taken by Bruce…because Bruce wasn’t there at the time…rather…it was Joseph ‘Slade’ Wilson instead…who was there at Haly’s Circus because he received intel that the Court of Owls…was involved in the Circus for some reason…then was there in that pivotal moment…he was there in the crowd as the tragedy occurred…as Slade saw potential in the young Dick Grayson then and there…mixed with his own ruthlessness… And of course morally gray…as unlike Nightwing from the main DC universe, who is well-liked by everyone…an inspiration…finds a home…Nightshade is VERY different because of the way he operates…influenced by Slade’s teachings and various other people and from his own experiences as well…begins to see that justice sometimes…means getting your hands dirty…but that doesn’t mean he will kill first…more of…hoping it doesn’t come to that…a unique moral code…shades of gray…as this Dick takes cue from this universe’s version of Batman and Robin…but doesn’t forget Slade’s teachings…hence the anti-hero…as Dick is angry because of the world Slade showed him…angry for the people who killed his parents…and at one point…LOVED to spite Slade…but soon learns to be patient and not be spiteful eventually…and sometimes..he questions his path..its not like he can just leave everything at once here....and at some point...decides to own life..even if it is a little murky.... Lastly, Rose, Grant and Joey Wilson…foster siblings of Nightshade…they ALL have a complex relationship with Slade…Rose…Grant…and Joey call Slade ‘dad’ or ‘pop’…but Nightshade?..he will always call Slade ‘Slade’…that’s the rule he has…and with the exception of Grant…Nightshade has done his best to ensure that at least, Rose and Joey stay far away the hell from Slade’s influence…a responsibility Nightshade was willing to bear…family after all… Here’s more details…A 1b. Motivations and Goals: Before Slade…it was simple enough at FIRST..…anger and revenge against Tony Zucco…the ones who killed his parents…then it all changed with Slade’s involvement..his motivations changed..…and his trainings…his ethos…after all…why did the world’s greatest assassin take in the last of the Flying Graysons!?..he wants out…he never imagined being trained or ‘raised’ by the likes of Slade Wilson!..as he considers himself still as a ‘Grayson’…not as a ‘Wilson’…and its all so jarring for Dick…as he can’t believe his ‘foster dad’ is cruel and terrible like this!..why take him in!?..as Dick is thrust into a world entirely beyond Haly’s Circus…harsh world-views…ideologies…training…mentors…and all for what?..as his focus then goes onto the Court of Owls…to think THAT was the reason why Slade was there at the time?..Zucco…Court of Owls…Slade’s training…harsh world view…which all builds the foundations and desires to eventually NOT be like Slade…and become someone more…revenge and justice become intertwined for Dick…and the fact that Slade forcibly enhanced Dick…then Dick tried to remove it…which came with health effects and such…ending his days as the ‘Gray Sparrow’…..and then moving on as 'Nightshade'...he wants to do better by himself.....use what he learned to be his own man(not become Slade)...to do some measure of good because he's aware(or feels) that he can't be a shining hero...so anti-hero it is.....for as long as his morality can hold it so..and his way of murky heroism began to spite Slade but it becomes something much more along the way here..too late to be a 'shining' hero...but too stubborn in a way that he wants to make his own life..even if it means murky heroism...his drive to continue on as 'Nightshade' serves as a form of penance and in some twisted contradictory way...'freedom'...of sorts, as he figures....fine..if he was too late to be saved?...then maybe its not too late to save others....even if it means going all over the world....to ensure that people like him don't happen again(if ever)...basically..his motivtions and reasons of being an anti-hero were a mix of independence, irritated that he's always being seen to 'Slade's Shadow'...and seeing that being the 'shining' hero hasn't done a good job for him...he'll be a hero...HIS way... 2b. Internal Conflict: It began as simple revenge against Zucco…to being trained by the world’s greatest assassin..to trying to achieve justice for his own ends...…and a feeling of desperation and hopelessness…he begins to like his new foster siblings…Rose…Joey…but Grant doesn’t like him…and he wonders…who is he really now?..no longer considered of his part of the Flying Graysons?..and was he meant to be a Talon by the Court of Owls if Slade wasn’t here?..what he was really?..and…and tries to balance of ‘fight fire with fire’ and the prospect if he can do ‘good’ at all…he ran away so many times…to try and survive…and at the end…wonders if he can at least…maybe…maybe?..put Slade’s training to good use…no matter how hard he hates it…and Dick insisting he’s still a ‘Grayson’…not a ‘Wilson’…and his eventual interest into technology.....to augment himself...NOT a crutch...…desperately wanting to keep his past at Haly’s Circus but it feels tainted by Slade and the various deadly people and such…..as it morphs into a journey and legacy of achieving justice on his own means......he was already seen as the 'villain'...despite not wanting to be..so he just makes the best of it...even if it meant going his own way(but eventually meeting other people)..he has all this skills and deadly training...and scoffs at becoming some 'generic' assassin...ugh..who even WANTS that...as he observes the more traditional superheroes from afar......coupled with his rebellious ways....sets out to prove himself to the world....and most notably so...as he wonders if he actually 'loved' Rose and Joey or forced himself to love them?...and being a 'traditional' hero....he thinks...its impossible in a sense of being 'dumb'...he can't just 'be' like that...can he?.. 3b. Relationships: Dick has mixed feelings with Wintergreen, as he is Slade’s confidant…but Wintergreen has his moments and care for him…Rose?..Dick feels guilty…because he was so rebellious and all wanting to get away from Slade…he wonders if maybe…could have done more…or maybe not?....he cares for her…and she in turn has never had a ‘big brother’ like Dick before…unlike Grant…and Grant?..doesn’t like Dick at all…at best…its only begrudging respect…and still…Grant is the only loyal one of Slade’s kids…Adeline is mixed…Slade…its complicated…as Nightshade’s relationship with Rose and Joey…its mixed feelings. As for the heroes…he likes some of them…like Cardinal(Tim Drake)…but has more resources through Wayne Enterprises…he likes Cassandra Cain(Black Bat) if only because…she’s different from the rest of the Bat-Family…Batman?..well…a mix of respect…and steely resolve if their paths clash…Nightshade will try to be ‘courteous’ about it at least…and in general…he won’t drive people away if and when…at least not intentionally…the heroes that is…its a professional relationship…Nightshade likes a few… 4b. Character Traits: He tried acting classes, and played roles for a missions once…then tried doing it for personal reasons..because acting and being undercover sometimes he can be someone else for a time...what else..…tried smoking…hated it…drinking?..he can surprisingly hold his liquor…hates anything with coconut in food…can actually cook unlike his main DC universe counterpart…jury-rigging tech…a way of independence from Slade’s influence surprisingly…mixes it with mind games..…fools people into thinking his tech is failing…when it either hasn’t…or wasn’t THAT much ‘tech’ in the first place…as he uses tech as extensions and tools so to speak, after the surgery of removing his enhancements…or tried to…both of necessity and slowly just began to like it…including fashioning a sleek tactical-suit from various resources…and has a sleek, aerodynamic helmet or mask…functionality with aesthetics…modular gear…lightweight…utility belt…discreet compartments…the tech is just there to ‘augment' the acrobatics even more…but found it a way to compensate for his lost enhancements…distract with the tech then disorient with the acrobatics and martial prowess…uses a variety of weapons and gear…depending on the mission…resourceful and improvises…ALL his custom tech revolves around his acrobatics and ‘unpredictable predictably’ with a sense of strategy…..he's self-aware of being too reliant on technology....he's resourceful(he HAD to be).. 5b. Backstory: Slade was at the crowd at that time of Haly’s Circus…maybe…pre-eyepatch or not?..…but already at the beginning of his super-serum…he was here on an investigation…he may or may not be already wearing the iconic orange and black costume just yet…to explain away how he managed to sneak through…as Slade’s investigation…he didn’t know he was actually tracking down the Court of Owls at the time…because at the time?..it was just…was a ‘nuisance’…an annoyance that kept on interfering with his ‘work’ already there…a secret operation… and Slade had an inside man…Henry Gambart to investigate around Haly’s Circus and snoop around…there was a possible lead…and that’s when Henry Gambart learned of Tony Zucco…as Henry tells Slade that Zucco plans to kill off the Flying Graysons for some kind ‘protection racket’…which piques Slade’s interest…oh?..So Zucco wants to make the young star that is Dick Grayson…an orphan hey?....Slade contemplates it…if he tells Henry to tell Zucco to you know ‘fuck off’…the investigation for Slade might go smoothly ‘enough’…but if Slade doesn’t…well…chaos and all…as Slade cares out of a pragmatic sense…not morality…a headache if Zucco manages to kill off John and Mary Grayson....Henry bungles the attempt to stop Zucco either way…causing Zucco to do that incident…Dick’s parents fall on the ground and die…as Slade blinking…damn it, Henry…what did you do?.....Slade sees the young Dick Grayson…crying…being comforted by people…and such…he looks around…there’s people and he saw the performance of Dick Grayson there…and feelings only known to him…takes an interest in the boy…his potential is noted…and one of pragmatic use as leverage…but damn it, Henry!..you fucked up…Slade thinks…as he sighs…as Slade finds himself chuckling…is he ‘caring’ for the boy now?..well…..a few years pass…Dick is passed from shitty foster home to shitty foster home…grieving…mad…people clueless…some tried with best intentions…..Dick is passed from Foster home to foster home due to the shitty adoption system there…its left vague if it was arranged by the Court of Owls or not to make turning Dick into a Talon more easier…..Slade manages to track down Dick Grayson through his contacts…and with some paperwork…business and such…manages to take in Dick Grayson…out of pragmatic interest…and maybe selfish concern and all…after all…Henry fucked up…...Slade also puts in a cover thanks to his allies that some ‘relatives’ took in Dick to avoid suspicion from other people…as its left vague if Slade was already a manipulative bastard at this time or if Slade showed a pittance of care…starting with ruffling young Dick’s hair…and patting his back… 6b. Code of Conduct: He’s willing to get his hands dirty, influenced by Slade’s teachings mixed with his own experiences and views that came with shades of grey. He wants to give people a chance…‘caring’ in a sense to be pragmatic of things…and takes no pleasure in the killing, but if he has to?..he WILL. Going further of course, the matter of collateral damage…he will try to mitigate that…aware that actions of consequences…and for better and worse…draws a fine line of neither the traditional hero…nor a villain…which in a sense, coupled with how he does things his way, gives him a sense of unfortunate ‘unpredictable predictability’…and chooses to build reputation, skills, and resources, HIS way…if nothing else…he figured…he can take what Slade molded him to be and ‘counter-mold’ it his way…and collateral damage...well..he's aware that no plan is fool-proof..so he does his best anyways...and of course 7b. Evolution: He goes from angry and wanting of justice to kill Zucco…to confused…shocked…baffled…on why someone like Slade took him in…to developing a more sense of ‘justice’ when he learns that this group called the ‘Court of Owls’ was secretly linked to Haly’s Circus…Old Man Haley and Bryan were in on it…its a mix of all these things…as he goes from desperate, angry, and spiteful man…to determined…bitter…but more…‘steadfast’…as he navigates the world…the tech was his way of making himself independent from Slade and his foster siblings is all… and some numbness…because sadly…him being taken by Slade…practically acted like a ‘beacon’ for various shady people…such as Shiva and others, who wondered…why did Slade take in the last of the Flying Graysons??..as Dick being exploited…‘abused’…as a ‘weapon’…a tool…influences his world view…feels like he’s being ‘poisoned’…and sure…he’s learned all these skills and training…deadly skilled…efficient…but so what?..sarcastic…bitter…but hides his anger better…a ‘performance’…but…he gets better…pragmatic…strategy…more patient…..and becomes a nuanced anti-hero.. Way more details…B Mixed Feelings Towards Slade: 1. Slade’s cruelty is much more apparent…harsh Drill-Sergeant in raising Dick…some of Slade’s contacts wondering ‘Why the hell did you take interest in that kid?..’…who is the last of the Flying Graysons?..Slade is a harsh teacher…for example…when Dick was captured by that world’s H.I.V.E…Slade ended up rescuing him…not out of care for direct reasons…but seeing as how Dick got captured that way…Dick clearly needs more training…Slade doesn’t care…but cares enough in a way that as Wintergreen describes that Slade cares for his children, Dick most of all, but Slade is just too broken a human being to even express it… Personal anti-hero traits: 2. From his early experiences from the tail-end of the Gray Sparrow to the early days of Nightshade…he learns the ‘art’ of perception…cunning and manipulation…after all…he was essentially pushed into that gray…unfortunately…so he does his best…at first he was mad…bitter at it all…then at some point…he got the idea of don’t get just mad…get EVEN…as he knows people already see him in a certain way…fine…so he gets his contacts to manipulate perception to people see his actions in a certain light…get the heat off of him somewhat…if possible. He’s willing to kill…but…won’t do for it for pragmatic reasons just as well…attracts attention…the heat…not just because its the moral thing…otherwise…he’ll play mind games…is self-aware that although Batman doesn’t kill…he does break the bones of thugs and gives them brain damage…something Nightshade uses for his own tactics…strategically…and works with villains if and when need be…and?..willing to take calculated risks…strategically that is… Family Dynamics… 3. To clarify… for the ‘Wilson’ Family…and before Dick was taken in…Rose and Grant were loyal to Slade…loyal daughter and son…Joey as well…until Dick came…who would indirectly inspire Rose to follow her own path…Rose having mixed feelings…Grant?..a little jealous of Dick…and insisted that Dick can’t do anything else but follow in the ‘family’ footsteps…and even tried killing Dick a couple of times just to see how ‘serious’ Dick was…and Dick asking why a man like Wintergreen follows Slade at all anyway?..other then the obvious? Unique Traits and Hobbies: 4. At some points…he began to go undercover…for the missions and cases…and much to his own surprise…he finds it a bizarre way to channel that ‘showmanship’…a crude, and sad way to remember his roots at Haly’s Circus…and coupled with Slade’s harsh training and such…culinary skills were part of his going independent route from Slade…doesn’t hurt to cook well no?..and the customizable specialized gear…he likes to have people on their toes…pragmatics with a surprise that he never imagined himself to become quite the tinkerer honestly…as ALL his tech revolves around his acrobatics and yearning for his past…and the tech was a way for him to stand out from Slade and his foster siblings…the colors of gunmetal black and blue for example…..not too reliant on tech of course.....and in a way 'relearns' his circus roots by 'learning' how to become 'charming' again...coupled with the influence of Deathstroke and various others...comes off as either genuinely charming or 'practiced' charming..and sometimes scavenges resources..if and when he has to...from jury-rigging to using remains of supervillain equipment...and DOES sometimes question when he is doing the 'right' thing...and because of an incident during his Gray Sparrow days and because of learning in harsh lessons of the matter of perception...learns the importance of 'perception' and image...coupled with his circus roots...eventually learns the value of 'strategic theatrics'..and at one point...refused to use guns for obvious reasons..but then compromised by learning to use guns on HIS terms...not out of pressure and fear of becoming like Slade...and has the infamous distinction of being trained by Deathstroke, Lady Shiva, AND Nyssa Al Ghul...but soon gets training from other sources as well...and his main choie of weapons are his eskrima batons that can combine into a Bo Staff and can be reverted back....in addition?..he sometimes uses a Katana or other weapons and equipment for 'special' occasions....attempts in doing loadouts.... Pragmatic Caring and Moral Lines: 5. He can’t deny the trainings and skills he got from Slade and other deadly mentors over the years…as he wonders…save the innocents because its the ‘right’ thing AND get the good publicity?..which seems obvious right?..and as well…Slade still ended up becoming ‘Deathstroke’…and once tested Dick…save the innocents caught up in this mess by this man that Slade hired to test Dick’s ‘progress?’…kill the man who’s threatening the city?..or save the innocents?..Dick ends up saving the innocents and just BARELY saves that city in time…how’s that for a story like that?..and tries to avoid the collateral damage...out of a sense of pragmatism and sliver of morality there....as he knows that no plan is fool-proof...so calculated risks all-around(if possible)...and he DOES feel guilty at times at what he does...but he's aware he can't just 'go back' THAT easily.or undo the past....in a sense of...he respects Batman's no-killing rule...but finds it 'unrealistic'...that being said...he won't go guns-ablazing outright and be gung-ho..he's already seen enough of that...but that being said..won't mind driving up the pressure to do things HIS way....and he'll work with ambigious figures if it serves a greater purpose...but otherwise goes about as a necessary evil...too late to be a 'shining'hero given his skills and how people view him....but not the villainous type either...and OBVIOUSLY...no killing kids.. Rebellion and Character Evolution: 6. Slade hitting him after Dick calling ‘childish’ in a debate of why Slade teaches him of the world’s so cruel and such…Slade manipulating Dick…then Dick watching his world’s Batman save a bunch of people from a burning fire after subduing criminals…Slade arguing that Dick is wasting his talents and skills on being a ‘petty’ anti-hero that thinks ‘too small’…Dick seeing how Slade is manipulating Terra for his own ends, and how Dick ultimately felt guilty for not doing anything about it…and surprised that Slade had another son, Joey Wilson, but chose to ignore him, was something Dick couldn’t believe…in fact…Joey Wilson was in the hospital after a supervillain tried to make Joey kill himself…Slade still working for a woman like Amanda Waller…and Slade working for the Joker…seriously??..and his anti-heroism was fueled by the bitterness of the fact that the heroes couldn't 'save' him from Slade...so then Dick goes onto 'save' himself in a manner of speaking..even though his early rebellions and fight against Slade backfired.....and at some point..notes the irony...almost feeling like Grant Wilson in wanting to 'surpass' Slade...but then some heroes, and eventually Dick himself, is reminded that while true...its to surpass Slade to become his own man and type of 'hero'(however murky).... 7. Personal Relationships: Compared to main universe DC Nightwing, Nightshade isn’t that ‘well-liked’ because of his methods…him being an anti-hero…it wouldn’t have been a problem for the heroes if he become firmly good like Rose and Joey…but the fact that Nightshade is willing to get his hands dirty for justice…and the way he stands out because of his history, as Nightshade has mixed relationships with many people…he’s willing to work with heroes and such, but they don’t like him…villains find him…intriguing…unusual because of his history and past with Slade…anti-heroes crowd around Nightshade…the Titans…the Justice League…the Bat-Family…all have mixed reactions…and soon of begrudging respect…for his skills at least… Growth and Redemption: 8. Dick struggles for the ‘progress’…he hates Slade and all…but can’t deny the influence on him, mixed with attracting the attention of the world’s deadliest here… Lady Shiva…Nyssa Al Ghul and others…who eventually trained him…basically…being trained and ‘raised’ by Slade…made him a ‘beacon’ by the world’s deadliest…and…when he’s finally trying to free himself…is he really nothing more then a ‘wannabe’ who’s on a ‘temper-tantrum’ after all?..he’s deadly…but tries to act differently then what being Slade taught him…trying to act nice and polite…but between how he was raised and trained…he finds himself a puppet…what does he want for himself now?..he was trained and learned from the deadliest…becoming a formidable anti-hero in all forms…as some heroes begin to point out that his ‘adapt or die’ has shaped him…as Dick evolved from this early simple days as the ‘Gray Sparrow’…using Slade’s training for good….until things changed…then he became ‘Nightshade’…as he goes from spitefully angry and typical to a more pragmatic calculating anti-hero who learns to be more patient…and with a dark sense of humor as well...and ironically...Slade become his sort of 'motivation' out of spite...even if it meant being self-taught and learning in his own time....as his life and journey is through in being his own man and 'redefining' himself despite the many mistakes he's done...to be the 'greater good'..and not just ending up as some mercenary/assasssin whatever....as he becomes an auto-didact at some point...reading the Art of War...Machiavelli and so on....theoretical vs practical... Remember…this is an alternate DC universe where Dick Grayson never became ‘Robin’ or ‘Nightwing’…but instead from 'Gray Sparrow' to 'Nightshade'.. because Slade was there…not Bruce… Obviously…this WHOLE thing needs a LOT of improvement…LIKE A WHOLE LOT!...but its a solid foundation for now?..