For the dragon rider au, what does dragon riding gear/armor usually look like? Is it lighter to allow for more aerodynamics, or heavier for more protection? Something in the middle?
Also. How big are Red and Robin?
It depends on the dragon!
Robin for example has to wear a light saddle as he’s only just big enough to carry a rider. Even more weight would severely hinder him during flight! So Tim wears well insulated clothes for the cold air further up, the safety harness, and little else in terms of armor.
The larger dragons don’t have this kind of limitation, so most of the gear/saddle design is up to their rider with the universal focus being safety and comfort.
Bruce has a rather clunky saddle on Bat with several small bags and pouches built in for various items. Bruce himself wears a rather heavy set armor (think Batsuit) that’s still comparatively light to allow for an easier time to mount and dismount his dragon.
Dick’s saddle is rather sleek with fewer pouches, allowing him to blend almost completely into Nightwing’s feathers when he wants to (great for warmth and added insulation). His gear is focused on flexibility, and he mostly opts for leather armor with a thin layer of inlaid chain mail. Not enough to keep arrows from piercing it but hypothetically enough to prevent it being a fatal injury. (He also tends to “forget” about strapping himself into the safety lines, claiming it hinders his maneuverability. This is a bold faced lie.)
The one thing all saddles and individual rider gear has in common are the safety lines that are hooked into fixed points on the saddle and can be attached and loosened to a specific harness the riders have to wear (mostly in the form of a thick and supportive band around the waist). They keep the riders safe from falling during risky air maneuvers.
As for a size comparison here’s a rough comparison chart! You can find more in the Digital Art tag on this blog 💚
