#but to me he isn't the hero per se

[dbphantom]

you know if you guys voted for stretch armstrong i probably would have shut up a lot sooner tonight

[frownyalfred]

Do you think new league members ever get surprised by the built-in nepotism? Like Bruce being who he is like codified rules of hero title succession (like Dick taking Bruce's place as Batman and with it, all his founder status) or the Flash being a titled with a long history of being passed down. I mean, Bruce is even planning on Dick inherenting the league to become it's leader.

Do you think new members look at the member handbook, in the students, apprenticeship, partnerships, and sidekicks, and go "huh. That seems kinda... rigged??". Because honestly? If you're great, sure you can gain a lot of respect and power in the league but you'll never gain more power (from admin power to social power to beyond) then the founding members and founding membership can be inherited.

It's an interesting question. I can't speak to the canon responses very much, but I imagine it has a lot to do with people respecting the hell out of Dick Grayson/Nightwing and knowing he truly is the best leader to inherit Bruce's role. Batman's motivations in assigning that role to Dick isn't for some personal benefit, or a continued stake he wants to maintain in the League. He's not giving the position to Dick, essentially, to benefit himself or Dick -- he's giving it to Dick because he truly believes Dick is the best person to pick up the cowl after him. If he wasn't, I don't think we'd see Bruce handing off the League and Batman to someone who wasn't ready or wouldn't ever be ready.

I will also note that this 180 on nepotism is a very very new gen z phenomenon. I'm not saying I agree one way or another, so don't reblog saying frownyalfred says nepotism is okay. But also, we need to take a step back and realize that for a very long time in this country's history, nepotism, especially in "family" businesses, was damn near expected. Parents gave their kids their businesses when they wanted to retire. Dads hired their sons in their offices, etc etc. There were shades of nepotism, too -- giving a random son a title he didn't earn, versus hiring your accomplished son who just graduated top of his law school. It's not as clear cut as people online would like you to believe, that all nepotism is horrible, that all positions are unearned if they are given by family/friends, and that the worst thing in the world you could do is commit an act of nepotism and not, like, anything else more horrible. That's a tumblr/tiktok thing, which I feel I'm allowed to call out as a fellow member of gen z.

The Justice League isn't a business per se, but it is still something Bruce built and funds. So while we might see some mutterings about nepotism, yeah, I don't imagine anyone is going to get in Bruce's face and give him grief for giving his 1) highly qualified son a 2) position he trained for, for years that 3) Dick is ready to take when Bruce is done 4) in Bruce's own damn house (satellite).

Looking at hero succession through the lens of nepotism does the characters a disservice, I believe. We're applying a 2020's phenomenon (which is shedding important light on irl inequality and inequity, don't get me wrong) and ideas of "fairness" when the subjects are vigilantes and heroes.

And, disregarding everything I just said, the League itself does things by vote -- voting in Dick Grayson and having those checks/balances to Bruce's own goals is important, which is why he built them into the League itself. He can lobby the League, propose Dick, indicate his own preferences as a voting member, but if the entire Founders' table disagrees with him? His hands are kind of tied.

[ozzgin]

Hi! thank you for my matchup and I really enjoyed it. You made all of my matches sound like they want to marry me, hehe (especially with Izuku). BTW, get well soon! Also, this isn't a request (just something I imagined): Izuku who absolutely loves the reader. One day, he randomly brings them a gift. As appreciation for his gifts, reader kisses Izuku all over his face.

Very glad to hear you enjoyed the results! I was somewhat nervous it’d be a hit or miss because I had never written anything BNHA related, but I had a lot of fun. Turns out writing for Deku is a surprisingly pleasant and cozy experience. So I certainly don’t mind expanding on your idea if that’s alright with you! :)

BNHA Headcanons: Midoriya Izuku as a loving boyfriend

Featuring Deku and a reader on the receiving end of his acts of love. Just some fluff ideas.

Once Deku finds a source of interest, he will research it to exhaustion. His humble notebook of rushed scribbles or detailed documentation is a black hole of information with no visible end in sight. Naturally, this habit of his will extend to his loved ones. Especially you. Knowing everything about his significant other is only common sense. Your likes, dislikes, hobbies, opinions…All the traits that you’re comprised of have been dutifully compiled on paper, and Deku will treat this manuscript like his own little Holy Book.

It is to be noted, however, that he’s not just a hoarder. All these facts are not kept around out of mere idleness. More than anything, Deku loves to see your smile. It’s particularly addicting, more so if he’s the cause of it. Thus he will do everything in his powers to entertain you and guarantee a bright expression on your face.

His main love languages are acts of service and gift giving. He doesn’t need special occasions to shower you with little gestures of affection. It’s not even an active effort per se. He will be shopping for groceries and notice your favorite soda is back in stock, swiftly adding it to his cart. He’ll learn your favorite artist is in town, so he’ll carefully check your schedule and buy tickets ahead. He knows you have an upcoming exam that stresses you terribly, so he’ll arrange a review session shortly beforehand with handmade flashcards and summaries to help you remember key aspects.

One could say it’s his nature to be attentive. For the longest time he’s been an outcast, standing in the audience and solely observing the others. The heroes on stage. Even as his turn came to step up into the spotlight, his introversion and introspection have continued to polish his skill of reading people to perfection. The slightest twist of your mouth will offer him everything he needs to know about your mood.

Safe to say Izuku, of course, doesn’t expect anything in return. He’s doing it out of his pure, unadulterated love for you. Although if he must be honest, your reactions to his surprises do leave him chasing for more. Last time it happened, he almost teared up wiping the lip stains you left on his face. Gazing at his reflection in the mirror, Deku couldn’t help the pride swelling up his chest. He would’ve loved to parade U.A. like this, letting everyone know about his undeniable bond with you. Sadly, he’s much too anxious for that kind of attention. Worry not, they shall live on in his memory.

[birdmitosis]

Okay, I was watching someone's VOD because I can't get enough Slay the Princess content and some people have gotten variations on routes I've never even seen before!!! I have somehow never seen the variation of The Razor where you start off with Hunted and Paranoid right away in Chapter 3, and I was not prepared for how funny Paranoid's unique dialogue lines are there.

If you choose to flirt with The Razor for your first option, while Hero and Hunted are like "I'd rather not":

(Paranoid pls) And if you choose The Look option:

(PARANOID PLS) (And I've definitely seen Hunted's line before but I always kinda forget how funny that is, too, when Hero is confused:

I think it's the matter-of-fact delivery of it, LOL) Also, after she kills you, the part with the Cheated is hilarious too because, like, usually to me it looks like he's mostly really talking to Broken, but:

And his line when Cheated suggests we start stacking Voices isn't as funny per se but I do want it as personal reference because it's interesting to me:

Final note: I am actually pretty sure that outside The Adversary's route when the Narrator flat-out admits to you that if you think something it becomes real, and The Apotheosis's route where IIRC he says something similar to you about giving her power, Paranoid is the only one of the Voices who independently lands on the concept without any leading:

(I've seen this line before, too, but I do really like that little detail.)

[utilitycaster]

Bells Hells Level 11!

As always: are there errors or major omissions? Let me know! Your preferred feat or spell isn't listed? That's because it's not my preferred feat or spell, and you should make your own post for your own preferences! Additionally, because level-ups are no longer done at the end of sessions but are rather their own separate videos, I now include speculation for the next level(s) since there's often very little time to speculate on the current level.

Chetney: Level 10 in Blood Hunter means Dark Augmentation and a 3rd blood curse. Dark Augmentation increases his speed by 5 feet/round and grants him a +3 (his Int modifier) to all physical saves. As for blood curses...they're fighting mages, so Muddled Mind is looking pretty nice, but Eyeless is also useful and Binding is very versatile. Looking forward: if he continues to level in Blood Hunter, his hemocraft die goes up to a d8, his strikes in his wolf form go up to a d8 and get +2 instead of +1 and he can use his wolf form twice between rests and he regenerates a small amount when he's below half-health. 11 Blood Hunter: It's a big level up, folks.

Laudna: She leveled up in sorcerer and took her ASI to max out charisma, which I support as someone who always respects a main stat boost. She gets a new spell and I would advise leaning into utility and taking Dimension Door, personally. Looking forward: I think I've made my feelings on the concept/multiclass clear in the past, but practically speaking, if you're progressing in sorcerer, it's probably wiser mechanically to keep doing so. Level 9 grants 5th level spells.

FCG: Begone Thot Destroy Undead improvement, and 6th level spells! I mentioned before that I'm really looking forward to Heroes' Feast. He also gets some big utility spells, notably Heal, True Seeing, and Word of Recall. Looking forward: 12 is an ASI and oh buddy please up your WIS score. A feat that does +1 to WIS is a valid choice, just...bring it to +4, please? For me? Observant would be fun if not super necessary since Orym's got that covered; skill expert could also be fun. But as stated with Laudna, straight ASI in your main stat is always a solid choice.

Fearne: Fearne took a second level in rogue, which grants her cunning action (dash, hide, or disengage as a bonus action) which is quite useful if she ends up in combat, especially since, despite a good HP roll this level, she's a touch squishier following her time with Novos. I actually support this, both because Ashley has a strong vision for Fearne and also because I think keeping the party dependent on the Staff of Dark Odyssey is good for the story - let's wait a bit longer until we get Transport via Plants! Let's take the scenic route! Looking forward: L10 druid is a good level - the Cauterizing Flames feature, which is a bit niche but extremely cool, is one I'm looking forward to. I'm not opposed to her moving forward with rogue, per se; I think if she does, Thief is the obvious (and correct) choice. However, Cauterizing Flames is really very good and I would like to see it.

Imogen: I mentioned Chain Lightning and True Seeing as some fun options for her. She also gets access to Disintegrate, which would be very fun to cast on, say, Otohan. Or Ludinus. Or her mom. Fuck them Vanguard. Looking forward: sorry got distracted by the idea of disintegrating the Vanguard members...12 is an ASI and honestly I'd just take the +1 to INT and WIS. Imogen's got so many feats, and I really think having better mental stats would be a great sign of growth, she's done the character work to deserve it, and it never hurts to roll a little better on a wisdom save (I say as a known dumper of WIS).

Orym: He can attack 3 times per round. This is why fighters are great. If you do not think fighters are great you can catch three attacks in six seconds from these hands. Looking forward: yes! it's yet another ASI/Feat. And once again, I think a stats boost is best. Tank better with a +3 to con, and then he can either get smarter, or get more charismatic if he's considering paladin (note: I like the idea of Orym remaining a pure fighter more, but I do not control the Liam, and he's a reliably thoughtful player mechanically so I'm interested in what he does. As always this is me saying opinions and not being prescriptive). He gets another ASI at 14 (fighters! best pure battle class!) while everyone else is getting class features so that's when I'd take a feat.

Ashton: Relentless rage - keep raging while unconscious! Very punk rock. Looking forward: Level 12 is an ASI and yes not to sound like a broken record, but max out that strength. It's up to you and Chetney, and who knows how much longer he'll be around.

[ultfreakme]

Nia, Jay, Jon and the 'Last Straw': Quick Analysis

So Absolute Power #2 dropped, and we get to see Nia(Dreamer) rebel fully against Waller regardless of the consequences to herself or her family. Her breaking point is watching a brainwashed and tortured Jon being forced to attack his father.

This is great! This has been a long-time coming for Nia. But this isn't a moment of triumph per se for her. This is not the first time she's seen a friend of hers suffer because she couldn't break away from Waller. Her first time witnessing something like this was with Jay.

Jay got hurt, she lets it happen, she explicitly betrays Jay and admits to her complicity in Gamorra's takeover by Waller, and in his mother's death.

Jon also got hurt, she seems to have let it happen, she's once again aware of her role in this and was about to be indirectly responsible for Jon's father dying.

But why was Jon her breaking point, but not Jay? What was the difference?

This was her reaction to seeing Jon hurt:

But this was her reaction to Jay being hurt

Nia's been put into a terrible situation where she has to choose between her friends and her family. I am not saying she should've let her family die for Jay, but in terms of scale, Jay kind nailed it on the head with Nia prioritizing certain kinds of people over others. She is not intentionally doing this, but this is a thing she does and the theme is brought up in Bad Dream(the Nia Graphic Novel). Her mother and other Naltorians prioritized Naltorians over Cyandiis which led to the large-scale destruction of Cyandii.

Nia has now chosen her people (her family and Parthas), over Gamorra. She continues to choose her people (the hero community), over anything else. No matter how you spin it, Gamorran lives and Jay's imprisonment was not enough of a personal affectation for her to go "no fuck this."

WHICH IS BAD.

Because yes she did the right thing as a hero but the mentality that led to Dream Team's end and Gamorra's takeover is still very much present. This is really good character writing to me, because unlike say Jon or Jay or any of the other heroes, Nia became Dreamer in an effort to connect with her past and the trauma of her mother's death. She wanted to be a hero, but her priorities were in understanding her newfound powers.

She had no guidance, she did not witness the kinds of decisions a hero will have to take. Superman isn't always winning because he's just objectively powerful, he's Superman because he's selfless (to the detriment of his loved ones at times). It's a hard job, you have to put aside your very normal attachments and be willing to sacrifice. It's why not everyone is cut out to be a hero, it's a HUGE ask to say someone should go "yeah I'll give up my family if it means saving the planet". Practically at every turn, a superhero runs into the trolley problem. Many time, they can save both, but there are times when they have to pick and choose, and hope to god that things will work out well.

Nia made a typical hero decision in AP #2, a decision many a hero has to make when she chose to sacrifice her family and herself, to stop working for Waller.

But will she examine why Jon and Clark were her breaking point, but not Jay and all of Gamorra? She's a hero, but is she falling into the old Naltorian cycle?

Additionally, I don't think Jon is going to be particularly pleased to know that Nia stopped because she saw Jon, but not when she just stood there and let Jay get shot. That is, after all, his boyfriend whom he saved Gamorra with. Like Nia wrecked everything about Jay, and also ruined Jon's first mission as Superman and wasted all his efforts and turmoils. Jon is the type to let himself take the brunt of everything because of his fear of himself- he saw the things Clark put them through. If say, Waller got Jon instead of Nia with the "I'll kill your family if you don't obey" thing, he'd have immediately gone "no, they wouldn't want that, in fact they'd be disappointed if I picked them over a whole country". Jon's already got that hero mentality, and frankly so does Jay (he had no idea of Sara was alive, but he did not search for her because he knew to prioritize at great personal cost. He was even willing to let himself die when fighting Sara).

Like, this just makes Nia even more unforgivable in Jay's eyes because Jon-Jay-Nia were all friends for the same amount of time, they SHOULD hold the same value to each other. But now it looks like Nia has a ranking order.

This is not Nia hate please PLEASE don't take this as Nia hate. She's just.....so utterly human here. Like this is what would happen if a regular person with no support tried to be a hero. Her actions are understandable, but that doesn't mean other characters need to forgive her for it when her learning curve led to so much pain for others.

[feliciadraws]

*WANDERSONG SPOILERS*

I wanna talk about Audrey, the so-called 'Hero.' Now I'm not that good at writing or posting meta but man oh MAN Audrey is actually so much more interesting than I initially took her to be; she's actually deeply insecure about not only herself but how the world perceives her AND has a skewed, dare I say, SUPERFICIAL, idea of what it means to truly be the hero. She primarily sees it as a role she has to play or fulfill, rather than something someone chooses to be, and while she "knows" herself to be the hero, she doesn't actually BELIEVE she is A hero in herself. Even further is that she WANTS to be The Hero but is so dyed in the proverbial wool in both her insecurities and her perception of her role as The Hero that she doesn't want to stop, she wants to fulfill the role she was given so bad that she broke her promise to the Bard when she said she wouldn't kill anymore Overseer spirits upon killing the King of Hearts because, how she sees it, 'that's how it is.' What was interesting is that Audrey spoke about her dislike of being told what to do and where to go when Eyala was acting as her guide, that she found it demeaning that she couldn't think or act for herself, but was that her interpretation of being told to back down by Eyala? After all, Eyala did mention to the Bard that when she warned Audrey, Audrey felt that Eyala was 'taking something away from her', and that something was the role of The Hero, without which she would still be a nobody that no one saw or knew or cared about.

She wants to be the Hero and is so attached to that role and the adoration it had brought her and wants to fulfill that role because she believes that what truly makes her and that without the title of Hero and the Sword and the powers, she can't be A hero. Her insecurities tell her that she can't be A hero outside of being THE Hero, and she can't understand not only how the Bard had gotten so far but how he continues to have hope, despite his own innate feelings of despondence and his own melancholy. But he keeps going because of his hope, hope that he can still save the world and that there is always another, better way, a way that one can choose. A different way to be a hero, if you will. And I personally think that the Bard's approach to being a hero, it's confounding to Audrey for many reasons, one of those being that he wasn't chosen by anyone or anything to be a hero per se, but he chose to be a hero HIMSELF, despite everything acting against him, including Audrey herself. The Bard admitted he's jealous of Audrey being chosen to be the hero and her sword and her powers, not knowing that his innate goodness and his CHOICE to be good make him a hero, without the need for a sword or a title or a higher calling.

I honestly love how Wandersong toys with the definition of the word 'hero', and not only subverts the typical fantasy RPG hero archetype with Audrey, right down to the outfit and the magic sword, but DOUBLE subverts her; she could have been a twist villain who was simply a villain masquerading as a hero, but even this was subverted by making her not a hero, but not quite a villain either, but an insecure girl who sees herself as a nobody and is so obsessed with fulfilling a role that makes her a somebody that she's going to end up destroying the world and herself (both figuratively and literally), but is blinded by her self-perception and insecurities so that she can't see anything within herself that's heroic, making her both a mirror and a foil for the Bard.

I'm not sure where I was going and I know Wandersong isn't the first game to do this but I love how it was done here so far (I'm starting Act Seven), not least because I hated Audrey at first but she's actually growing on me, as much as I hate to admit it, not least that she actually resonates with me much more now this revelation has come about. I was pleasantly surprised and now I want to study this girlfail mess of a human being under a microscope.

[synergysilhouette]

Changes I'd make to Tim Drake (Warning: may be controversial)

As my favorite Robin, I've needed to make this post for a long time. I know my opinions may not be agreed upon, but I hope my dedication is still appreciated, nonetheless.

He isn't dragged for his superhero goals--Any poor mistake that DC makes, they decide to pin it on him having poor judgement, which is really unfair. As many things that get ignored/retconned (even if they arguably shouldn't be, depending on the subject), it feels bizarre to drag Tim for things like his ill-fated "Drake" costume and era, especially when it was walked back on so quickly. On top of this, people seem to look down on him for genuinely enjoying being Robin. Robin wasn't always a "move on" position, per se; Dick had been Robin for consecutive decades before deciding he wanted something different, while Jason was murdered and became someone else as a reflection of this. Tim became Robin because he saw that Batman NEEDED him, and deduced Batman and the previous Robin's identities on his own. If he wants to do stop being Batman's partner (or sidekick, depending on perspective), it should be his own choice, not everyone else saying "this was a temp job and you're out."

He has his own unique color, costume, and maybe even codename--Even if he remains by Batman's side, Tim deserves to be distinct; his codename and color scheme are shared with all his brothers, and it doesn't do much for him. I'd definitely prefer a cowless take on his Savior costume (unsure about the codename; it feels a bit too on-the-nose, but it also feels like it represents his need to help others) or bring back his N52 Red Robin suit WITH the wings as well as making him the brother in purple, which goes well with the Batfamily's aesthetic as well as signifying his romance with Stephanie and friendship with Bunker.

He's going for a psyche major--I feel like this fits so well with his motivations. It's weird that the Batfamily doesn't put more stock in studying psychology outside of Harley (who rarely uses this skill, much to my chagrin). Tim wants what's best for everyone, and became a hero in order to help people. He isn't simply trying to stop problems, but prevent them and make Gotham a better place for everyone. While he can still go for a cyber-related degree (I don't remember his exact major), I'd prefer he also go for a degree that furthers his desire to understand and improve others, plus it's good to help him better understand himself as well. Definitely would've made this something he furthered in "Heroes in Crisis" (which I should make an post about another time).

He isn't bi--Hate me if you must. I'm a gay guy, and I just didn't vibe with this reveal. During the mid-2000s, it was stated by one of his artists that he and the writers kind of already saw Tim as bi, though DC never made this canon until 2021. As far as I know (as a 2010s comic person), it never seemed like DC was keen to lean into LGBT sexuality for Tim, and given that they've been treating him poorly post-N52, it feels like this was a random "let's find a way to make Tim as popular as his brothers" by making him stand out in a way that they didn't. I know this is a bold claim, but this is a feeling I've had for a while now, especially since his personal life now mainly revolves around Bernard (personal bias, but I'm usually not a fan of heroes dating non-heroes; I'd prefer him with Bunker--or Connor, if he's romantically into guys). And they haven't done him many favors since; DC infamously described him as the "always-online bisexual" in a now deleted tweet that embodies my concern that they're just defining him by his sexuality now, as well as a solo comic with horrendous art for most of the run. If Jason or Damian were depicted as bi (with the latter being the least controversial choice, imo, given his younger tenure in comics and romantic life not as fleshed out), I'm almost sure they'd be better handled, probably because they've been better handled as characters in recent years. Overall, I found Tim's retcon of sexuality unnecessary (yet we have bi characters such as Ghostmaker who were LGBT from the get-go and don't get nearly as much attention) and overall used as a metaphor for his "indecisiveness" at making decisions that DC forced onto him.

He still has a (biological) family and life--A big problem with writers and artists is that they sometimes have a problem with trying to make the 4 Robins identical in appearance and lives. Unlike Jason and Dick, Tim wasn't an orphan adopted by Bruce, not originally anyway. He had his own life and chose to be part of Bruce's world, and the need to make him an orphan with pretty much nothing going on in his civilian life was disrespectful (is he still an Olympic-level gymnast? Kinda love the idea that he takes time off for "me time" here and there and that's when Damian or another Batfam member jumps in). Let him have friends and family as Tim Drake, not just as Robin. Let Bruce be his dad without killing off his biological one. Let Tim have autonomy and individuality!

More A-list connections--This is being petty, but most of his friends are next-gen heroes with no major stuff going on for themselves, just like him. Surrounding yourself with important people can help you become important, too. I'm not telling friends to drop his friend groups (him and Conner have one of the best male homosocial relationships in comics and it sucks how they got overshadowed by Damian and Jon), but giving him more relationships with well-known characters could help his status. Plus maybe involve him in more teams outside of Teen Titans and the Batfamily; it's not good that he jumps between being an underrated member amongst iconic characters and a leader of underrated people. Just make sure he's not trading positions to become another hero's apprentice--there was once plans for him to be the next Blue Beetle as well as a temporary Nightwing, neither of which would be good for him, tbh. I have similar feelings for Starfire (we need more of her friendship and Superman; plus I'd love another underrated TT team led by Tim, perhaps with Ryand'r).

Never lose sight of who he is--The idea with Tim (at least from what I've absorbed) is that he's the most optimistic, maybe even naive, version of Dick, committed to wanting to help people and support them, and not one to brush them off of devalue them. He's got a heart, not just a brain, and I like to consider him one of the glue sticks that holds the family together. He doesn't need to be edgy or cool in the way that Damian and Jason are, nor should he be reduced to a sex object like Dick (which is another post entirely).

[tokiro07]

Perhaps I should get out of the habit of thinking about future games every time a novel and groundbreaking video game gets announced, but the endless potential is the best part for me, so let's talk about what Echoes of Wisdom could mean for the Zelda franchise if successful

Outcome 1: Playable Ganondorf

If Nintendo is willing to listen to our collective desire for a true Zelda game, there's now the possibility that they'll listen to the slightly quieter but still significant desire for a Ganondorf-led story in the Zelda universe

If Zelda's game is puzzle-focused (Wisdom), and Link's are exploration-focused (Courage), then Gandondorf's would be combat-focused (Power). Perhaps Nintendo could take inspiration from Dark Souls or Devil May Cry depending on whether they want to focus on difficulty or style, giving the player either a sense of earned skill or a power fantasy

I also wouldn't mind if we got other playable characters going forward, though aside from Ganondorf I can't really see any character being a big enough name to draw a general audience. Like Tingle is a super popular character in Japan, so he got a couple of games, but how likely is say, Midna to get her own game?

Though, she may not need to get her own game, per se, when instead...

Outcome 2: Other Playable Zeldas

It seems like Echoes of Wisdom takes place in the same era as Link's Awakening, assuming that Grezzo isn't just reusing the art style. If that's the case, then this is the same Zelda as in Link to the Past, which means that this story is expanding on that particular iteration of the Zelda bloodline

If they do more Zelda Zelda games, they'll certainly want to introduce or experiment with different mechanics rather than just doing the Echo mechanic ad infinitum, and the sheer number of Princesses they have to work with means that they have plenty of places to draw inspiration from while also being able to revisit each of their associated eras

Revisit Ocarina for a Sheik game. Revisit Wind Waker for a Tetra game. Revisit Skyward Sword to explore Zelda's relationship with the Goddess Hylia. Revisit Twilight Princess so she can team up with Midna. Revisit Adventure of Link to elaborate on the fact that there are two Zeldas running around there!

I'd love to learn more about Vaati and the Minish, or Byrne and the Lokomo, or Hilda and Lorule! Whether these are sequels or interquels, Zelda's perspective in each of these eras would be such a great opportunity to expound on the franchise's lore

Not to mention Breath of the Wild's Zelda! I know they said they won't do another sequel in that era, but Zelda's time in the past in Tears of the Kingdom could easily have been its own game! If they want to continue on with the Breath/Tears style, I really think that Zelda herself would be a fantastic way to keep things fresh

Of course, there's also the distinct possibility of...

Outcome 3: NEW Eras

Rather than recycle old content, Nintendo could just continue to add new eras and iterations of the reincarnation cycle as they always have and just bounce back and forth between using Link and Zelda based on which they feel is more appropriate for the story or mechanics they feel like designing around

Thinking of novel ways to shoehorn a plotline into existing Zelda stories might be difficult, especially if doing so would require contradicting or negating major elements of said stories. Doing something for the sake of being cool goes to waste if it just pisses off the fanbase, so it might be better to just make something wholly new

The Echo mechanic is kind of out of nowhere anyway, there's nothing about it that requires it be in the Hero of Legend era, or even that it be an ability unique to Zelda specifically. Link's a blank slate, but one who always holds a sword, so the overall gameplay of the franchise has a pretty consistent throughline. If Zelda keeps getting her own games, they'll likely keep coming up with new magic-based puzzle-centric mechanics to differentiate her from Link, but each one will feel completely distinct from the others, possibly to the point of being unrecognizable aside from sharing the name alone

However, it's also possible that there will be one particular throughline to make them feel consistent...

Outcome 4: 2D/3D Split

As I said, Nintendo has gone on record that they plan for the 3D Zeldas to be in the open-world Wild era style for the foreseeable future, and it's been almost a decade since the last 2D Zelda at all (assuming you count Tri Force Heroes, and if not, it's been well OVER a decade since Link Between Worlds), so it really does seem like Nintendo has been moving away from that style

Until today, that is. With Echoes of Wisdom, it's clear that Nintendo hasn't completely abandoned the more traditional top-down style, and instead may be attempting to give it more of its own distinct identity. It's a great opportunity to rebrand, as one of the reasons they may have been hesitant to make 2D games was for fear of muddling the brand. I personally think that would be silly if true, but I also will embrace this excuse to revisit my preferred form of Zelda gameplay

I'm not saying that they'll permanently make the 2D games exclusive to Zelda herself, but it does seem like something that might become emblematic of the current era until there's either another change in artistic direction or in management

None of these possibilities are mutually exclusive, and there are certainly other possibilities than what I've projected. There may not be any intention of making a Zelda-led franchise, or they might specifically root this series in this specific iteration of the Zelda character with different abilities

Whatever happens, whatever Nintendo chooses to do with this section of the series, I'm extremely excited for Echoes of Wisdom and I look forward to the breath of fresh air it brings to the franchise as a whole

[mettywiththenotes]

Once upon a time I expected the story to deconstruct the roles of heroes and villains in the way that these are just people given titles that society defines them by for the rest of their lives, and I think, in a way, the story does do that a little with Tomura and Izuku

Tomura is shown in light tones, almost angelic, and is called "a hero for the villains" at the end of his character. Which I feel is a change from what he's been known as since the manga introduced him: a villain. He's always just been a villain, no matter his circumstances, because that's what the story pushes and that's what the heroes repeatedly call him. But "a hero for the villains" turns it on its head because its the first time the story (not the heroes, notably) suggests that maybe he's been a hero this entire time, just in a different way, giving a spin to the term "anyone can be a hero"

Izuku is shown in dark tones multiple times, depicted as villainous, almost demonic, in appearance. Which isn't a new thing per se, but it shows a hero can still be a hero even if they look like a villain sometimes. Izuku's incredible anger and recklessness complete this look for him because it is terrifying to be up against someone who will not allow their body's limitations to keep them from their goal. Visibly breaking yourself while still dragging yourself to fight is "scary", "dangerous", "violent", all words commonly associated with villains, too. His rogue arc costume is the first to display this (the visible neglect, the blood and mud, making him look unapproachable) as well as his black whip form (allowing a quirk to dig beneath his skin, in order to move himself around like a puppet, to give him claws and sharp teeth, combined with his wild expressions. The way it looks as if it is infecting him (no wonder Hori called it Carnage)). And it's no coincidence that both have the exact same dialogue upon others seeing them: "I'd never guess you were a hero."

You could also argue, depending on your perspective, that Izuku is sort of a villain for the villains. The villain's villain. Because he couldn't get through to Dabi in war arc (even though he's the Hero Hopeful MC who got through to Dabi's brother and struck a chord in his father so he should be able to get involved and do it, right?), he couldn't connect with Toga (he basically just made things worse by refusing to understand why she thinks the way she does), he kinda sorta killed Tomura (even tho it was an accident, but remember that shortly before this happened Tomura was suggested as a hero for the first time in the story), and he broke Spinner's heart by doing this

Of course, these things aren't inherently villainous. But they aren't marks of a hero, either. They don't usually kill the people they are trying to save, or struggle to even contemplate connecting with the opposing side, especially towards the end of a story

This isn't me saying Izuku was "the real villain" and Tomura wasn't "the real hero" either. I'm trying to say that these are just people who have found themselves on opposing sides, forever given a title that is meant to define them, and yet the story manages to show how their titles of Hero and Villain aren't what they are defined by. It's their actions, which in many ways, can be both bad and good. By mixing it up a little (Izuku being a hero but looking villainous, unable to connect with other villains) (Tomura being a villain but looking quite heroic, able to connect with those who have been ignored by their peers/society), I think it shows that, similarly to "anyone can be a hero", anyone can also be "a villain" too

Because everyone in the entire world is capable of good and bad that can impact the wrong and/or right people

On the whole, it's a human way to show them, and even though Tomura wasn't physically saved, I think the story at least succeeds in showing that human side

[villainsandvictimsalliance]

Any opinoins on hero killer stain

If you want my personal opinion as a reader and a fan, here it is.

If you want an analysis of him as a character, I can do that and be impartial (not completely because I'm human, but c'mon I also know how to properly do narrative critique).

The summary is that Stain is a really important character to the story. Here's a quick list:

He's the closest we got to a vigilante in bnha, because he's somehow "working" to improve the hero society, but he's doing so outside of the law and by killing people.

He's the grey moral character by excellence in bnha. He decides what is right or wrong for society based on his own ideals. Proof of that is his introduction to the manga as thee hero killer and letter his participation in the events of the fight against AFO, when he helped the pro-heroes.

In his own words, Stain is the opposition of Shigaraki: he wants to destroy the current society not to end the heroic age, but to bring back what he considers true heroism. He introduced hero nostalgia to the story, as opposed to the way Tomura would dismantle the image of heroes being like perfect gods.

As far as narrative tools go, Stain introduces the conflict of creating a world where heroes get paid for their job. How do you regulate it to make sure that people are heroes for the right reasons? Where is the line between selfishness and selflessness? Where is the balance for a hero that is also a human being?

Stain kickstarts the League of Villains. He's the inspiration that leads characters like Toga and Dabi to join Tomura. In that sense, he is the beginning of the villains' success.

Although he isn't the one that starts the destabilization of the hero society, he is the one who starts destabilizing the pro-heroes per se. Stain introduced the first time in the manga when pro-heroes are being widely targeted by villains.

In consequence, Stain is the first to frame pro-heroes as just humans to the masses. By attacking them, Stain shows how pro-heroes can be in danger as anyone else. They need to be saved and helped, they are victims too.

Stain is the first one that faces one of the UA kids ideologically. He's the first who taunts the line between what it really means to be a hero and how so-called "heroic acts" can be bad in nature. This one is interesting because both Stain and Iida were willing to kill people in the name of "justice".

Stain is part of this saga of events that are meant to deviate the class 1A kids from the vigilante and villain paths. Bakugo would have his moment in Kamino, Deku would have his during his "dark era" and Shouto already had his at the Sports Festival. It goes a little like the kids finding out who they DON'T want to be. Stain was Tenya's moment. Tenya didn't want to be like Stain, but like Tensei, his older brother. Stain is Tenya's narrative foil too.

I can continue the list or dive into one of the points, but I don't know if this already answers what you were asking for, anon.

If you have any more questions or requests, let me know!!!!

[mishy-mashy]

On the note of Banjo, it makes more sense if he were a Vigilante. I believe he actually was this, rather than a Pro Hero.

Daigoro Banjo, AKA Lariat. It's not explicitly stated he was a Pro Hero, and he recognizes Japan during the first appearances of Abilities.

In the anime (ep 133), the subs translated this as:

"This devastation... it's like we've gone back in time... Trying not to catch the eyes of villains, just hiding every day... it's like when superpowers first appeared."

Banjo recognizes Japan's disarray, and from brief flashbacks of the vestiges, including All Might talking about his dream for a symbol, we can see Japan really was as Banjo recognizes.

But Tomura, in the mall, says people just smile without concern. They've forgotten, or never experienced, that past. Banjo can clearly identify it, and when we get his full name, he definitely lived during that turmoil (neverminding his age, I think of him as 36 or somethin, and Shinomori died at 40).

This would actually make Banjo a Vigilante. They mention that back then, Vigilantes and the first Villains used codenames like comic books, so Banjo being Lariat could easily just be that.

(Not so related, but references to recognizable things like Pokémon and superheroes like Spider-Man appealed to the masses as familiar, so when Abilities first showed up, it would've been around our time [2000s].)

Look at when the League of Villains asked Toga why she had no villain name;

When we see Banjo using his Ability and we get his name, we see that Japan isn't in the best state. Look at all the damage and fresh smoke below him.

All Might says that during this time, All For One's power ran unchecked, and he stole many powerful Abilities, if not crushed the users. Other than simply being first/second-generation, this also explains why, individually, all the OFA vestiges had weak Quirks. Even Kudo's was weak. It's just that it evolved with One For All and had enough nuance to become something more. Abilities like Float and Danger Sense didn't change at all, and Smokescreen only increased the amount of smoke Midoriya could make.

Since Banjo lived in the same time as when Quirks had started appearing, he knows the turmoil, but also was around long enough to be a Vigilante. Pro Heroes hadn't come into play immediately; Vigilantes were where they started.

Even Gran Torino was a Vigilante. It's why Midoriya found nothing on him when he looked him up. Gran Torino only became a Pro Hero to get his teaching license so he could teach All Might for a year, but that didn't stop him from being a hero, per se—he just did it through vigilantism. Gran Torino still did hero stuff before the hero license, and we see him flying and talking with Nana in a costume before he ever taught All Might.

Banjo doesn't strike me as a guy willing to jump through all the hoops when he can just go out and do it himself anyway. And with Japan in chaos still, does he – or the officials – have time for that?

Bakugo even describes Banjo as a nobody, because he doesn't recognize him. This would make sense when remembering Gran Torino was also unknown; because they were Vigilantes. I don't think Bakugo is referring to not knowing them just because their Abilities are weak. Heroes back then would be well-known as retro (ex. Crimson Riot, who Midnight recognizes immediately, despite his not-so-strong hair-hardening Ability), even if they weren't powerful.

Blackwhip is a useful Ability, and back in Banjo's time, considering Abilities in the first generations included Smokescreen, Danger Sense, Float, and Air Jet, Blackwhip is actually higher up in power and usefulness. And he's still unrecognizable.

If he were a Pro Hero, he'd be considered pretty amazing. But he's unknown, has a codename, and acted as a hero when Japan was troubled; his being "nobody" makes sense as a Vigilante.

Heroes didn't happen immediately. They began as Vigilantes; so for Banjo, at the start of using Abilities to bring some sort of order, he would've been in the Vigilante age. Or where heroes are just starting.

Nana was a Pro Hero. Kotaro resents heroes because she was one. Her friend, Gran Torino, was not a Pro Hero until he had to teach All Might for a year. People were more likely to be Vigilantes than Pro Heroes at their time, just because Vigilantes are where they started first.

Being a hero meant courses and licenses, and in a time where Pro Heroes were barely existing, with people still using their Abilities as they pleased? Banjo was probably a Vigilante.

Look at how America handled Vigilantes and starting the Pro Hero business;

Out of 189 Vigilantes, only 7 were recognized as heroes.

America wanted to make a divide between how people should use their Abilities for good. That's why so little people got to be heroes; Vigilantes were too destructive, and that wasn't proper behavior for those protecting the peace. We even see that UA teaches to keep damage to a minimum.

And whoop-dee-doo, look at how Banjo uses his Quirk.

HE'S DESTROYING STUFF. JUST TO GET AROUND. NO NO NO.

He was never actually called a Pro Hero. It was assumed because he has a codename; and codenames were just customary back then, to make identification and classification easier between Vigilantes and Villains while hiding their real identities.

He wouldn't have made the cut as a Pro Hero, lived during a time of rising Vigilantes against society's chaos, wasn't known at all (typical of Vigilantes) despite his good Ability, but had a codename (Lariat), and lived at the same time as Nana and Gran Torino.

So yeah, I consider Banjo to be a Vigilante rather than a Pro Hero. There's more things that push him toward being a Vigilante, compared to just having the alias Lariat being why he's called a Pro Hero by the fandom.

[the-peak-tmnt]

Hey there! 👋 I just finished reading the latest chapter of Reciprocity and (hope I'm not bothering you) but I wanted to say all of this while it was still fresh in my mind!

Firstly: I love love LOVE how you lightly touched on Splinter and Raph's relationship pre-losing Leo before things got tense between them. It was just SUCH a nice breath of fresh air from how things currently are with them 😭 (hope they'll have that father & son relationship again someday).

Secondly: Love how you're giving us a glimpse into Leo's anxiety. As someone with crippling anxiety myself, I HEAVILY RELATE TO OUR BOY. And did he almost tell Raph about his spiritual connection!? (I forgot exactly what you called/described it as in your fic, but I noticed it!!)

Thirdly: Your overall world building and real-life references are always such a delight to read. You really make the story and characters FEEL believable, like the film was aiming to do! So reading about them receiving fan-mail and art from kids is SO SWEET.

I know this is already long (sorry); but there's one thing I'd like to ask. The part with the little girl wearing the armbrace and bandanna in Raph's colours WARMED MY HEART. So, this may be a silly question to ask, but will that girl ever make an appearance again?

I understand the point was so that Raph realized the importance of them being "heroes" and inspiring people. I just can't help but imagine a scenario where he randomly runs into her again after everything that's happened. (Not saying you have to put this in your story - pls don't do that omw this YOUR baby!!). It's just something I've been thinking about for HOURS - it really stuck with me.

Again, sorry this was quite long! 🙈 Keep up the great work, take your time, and stay amazing! ✨️

Ahhhhh you are SPOILING ME today! First the fan art on Twitter, now this wonderful comment 😭 And it's never a bother to hear from someone!!!

Firstly: I love love LOVE how you lightly touched on Splinter and Raph's relationship pre-losing Leo before things got tense between them.

Glad you liked that! I really wanted to give everyone a glimpse of "the good old days" (if only to make the current state of things even more painful lol)

Secondly: Love how you're giving us a glimpse into Leo's anxiety. As someone with crippling anxiety myself, I HEAVILY RELATE TO OUR BOY.

On the one hand, I am really sorry to hear that. But on the other, I'm glad that more than a few people have said the way the boys are written feels authentic and relatable. The things the boys are struggling with are delicate subjects, and I'm trying my best handle them appropriately and do them justice.

And did he almost tell Raph about his spiritual connection!? (I forgot exactly what you called/described it as in your fic, but I noticed it!!)

Leo was trying to tell Raph about it! At that point, everyone thinks Leo is just a really sensitive and empathetic guy. I don't want to give too much away, but at that point, Leo was beginning to realize that what he was feeling was something more than that. It's freaking him out though, and Raph was the only person he felt comfortable enough telling back then 😭

I haven't actually given it a "name" per se, because Raph still isn't really aware of it when he's awake. I've been using a few different words interchangeably like connection, bond, link, etc. As things progress and we learn more, my plan is to have one of the characters give it an "official" name.

Thirdly: Your overall world building and real-life references are always such a delight to read. You really make the story and characters FEEL believable, like the film was aiming to do! So reading about them receiving fan-mail and art from kids is SO SWEET.

THANK YOU! I just really really love world building, and I especially love the world building of Mutant Mayhem. It feels real and believable. Its just really fun to sit here and think about how this would play out in the real world (even the boring and logistical parts like having to go to the post office or how they're able to pay for things lol).

I know this is already long (sorry); but there's one thing I'd like to ask. The part with the little girl wearing the armbrace and bandanna in Raph's colours WARMED MY HEART. So, this may be a silly question to ask, but will that girl ever make an appearance again?

akjshfgaksdfhdsaf I can't tell you but...!!!! Sort of! Kind of! Not her specifically, but there will be another Raph and "little kid looking up to him as a hero" moment that's very important and a huge turning point in the whole story and it is taking EVERYTHING I have not to give too much away!!!!!!! WHY CAN'T I WRITE FASTER?!?!

Thanks again so much, I love comments and asks!

[anthropologist-on-the-loose]

discworld looks like such a fun book series!!! but the large amount of novels and of different suggested reading orders have put me off actually starting the series. do you have any suggestions?

Yes!!!

Here's a little secret for you: most of the Discworld novels are actually fairly short, especially the early ones. I first read almost all of the Discworld books in one summer between 8th and 9th grade (there was roughly about 35 of them published at that time). So while the number of books can look intimidating, most of them are a much quicker read than the doorstoppers people tend to imagine when thinking about classic long-running fantasy series.

Regarding the reading order: yeah, there's a ton of different suggested reading orders out there. This is for two reasons. The first reason is that quite simply, the earliest books in the series... don't measure up to the standards of his later works. They're not bad, per se. But when compared to his later books, they're not as polished and the pacing isn't great. Early Discworld books also don't have nearly as much pointed social commentary; they're largely parodies of the standard sword-and-sorcery fantasy tropes that were popular in 80s pulp fiction. They're still decently funny if you're familiar with fantasy genre cliches from 40 years ago, but even then they may not be compelling enough to make you want to read thirty more of them. That's why most Discworld fans try to get people to start by reading later works.

Which brings us to our second reason for all the different reading orders: unlike many series where reading the books out of order wouldn't make any sense from a plot or character development perspective, each novel in the Discworld series could technically be a stand-alone book. While most of the books do follow each other chronologically in the same order they were published, they don't need to be read in that order to be understood. My personal reading order for Discworld was literally "whichever book is currently available at the library within biking distance" and I still was able to enjoy all of them.

Within the broader series, there are a few "sub-series" - series which follow the same character and/or set of characters over time. These sub-series are usually the easiest way to get people into Discworld, because once they become invested in a particular character they're likely to want to keep reading about that character.

The main sub-series people tend to recommend is the City Watch sub-series (starting with "Guards! Guards!"). This is for a number of undeniably valid reasons. The main character is very flawed but very likable, the books usually have a whodunnit plot that can attract people who might not normally read fantasy genre, and they're pretty influential in regards to the overall development of the Discworld's world building.

The second favorites for recommended sub-series are usually either the Death books (starting with "Mort", follows the actual physical Grim Reaper and his mostly human family either having or solving various existential crises) or the Moist von Lipwig books (starting with "Going Postal", a later but important entry in the series following conman Moist von Lipwig as he establishes various governmental institutions such as the post office or the mint (this series literally helped me better understand our real-life contemporary fiscal system)).

But what might draw you in to Discworld in general really can depend on what kind of interests you have. For example, if you're a big fan of Shakespeare and are really familiar with his works, Wyrd Sisters will probably draw you in with all the Shakespeare references. But if you're not as familiar with Shakespeare, then that particular book may not be the most interesting starting point.

My first Discworld novel was "The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents" (my friend at the time wanted me to read it because she had pet rats and was scouring the library for books where rats were heroes instead of villains). It's technically a young adult novel, but the storytelling and writing style was intriguing enough to get me looking for more.

I think my single favorite Discworld novel is "Small Gods", which is a standalone novel (not part of any sub-series) about what religion means. Part of it is that I happened to read it at just the right time in my life, but also it's just a great book that discusses some truly meaningful issues around belief and religion and it influenced how I see the world. Plus, on a conceptional level? The plot is hilarious. "All powerful god of a monotheistic religion accidentally gets stuck in the form of a tortoise and only one single person can speak with him so now they have to work together to prove to everyone in their pseudo-Catholic community that God is currently a literal tortoise."

I guess. If you've managed to read this far. If you have any further questions. Feel free to ask as you can probably see that I'd be more than happy to answer them.

P.S. This is one of the better "get started reading Discworld" guides I've seen

[trixie-troubleby]

Are you still taking prompts? If so, consider: Sportacus needs to get up to his ship, but for plot reasons, the ladder isn't available/working. The solution? Clearly, Robbie must fire him out of a cannon.

Hi yes sorry, yeah! I’m always taking fic requests. This was pretty fun!!! Thanks for sending the request in, I hope you like it!

It had been Trixie’s idea. And well, it wasn’t a great idea per se but the kids all agreed it was and Sportacus had figured out that if they put their minds to some it was easier not to disagree.

Which meant oddly enough, Robbie was the voice of reason.

“You want what?” Robbie demanded through the speakers by his door.

“Please Robbie! Sportacus can’t get back home.” Ziggy whined.

“We just need to borrow your cannon for like twenty minutes!” Pixel added.

“And we’ll take real good care of it!” Stephanie said brightly.

“I– oh my god.” Robbie groaned. “I’ll be right up.”

“With the cannon?” Stingy asked.

“No, not with the–“ Robbie exclaimed. “You f–“

“Language, please.” Sportacus sighed, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Language, please.” Robbie mocked. Moments later he appeared from the pipe down to his lair. “I’m not letting you shoot Sportaloon out of a cannon.” He said as soon as his feet touched the ground. The kids booed him.

“You try to shoot him out of a cannon all the time!” Trixie complained.

“Yeah and it’s not like it’ll hurt Sportacus! He’s a super hero!” Ziggy insisted.

Sportacus cringed slightly. “Slightly above average–“ He murmured under his breath. Robbie caught his eye. The villain looked somewhat smug.

“You just don’t wanna help!” Stephanie huffed.

Robbie examined his nails. “Listen kid, if he can’t get into his ship then that means we’re stuck with him and that’s the last thing I want. But I’m not gonna let a buncha eight year olds loose on the town with a cannon.”

“We’re not all eight!” Stephanie glared at him.

Robbie pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated. “I’m done arguing with children.” He looked up to Sportacus. “You.” He pointed. “Do you really want me to shoot you from a cannon?”

Sportacus hesitated, feeling the eyes of the kids on him. “Do you have any other ideas?” He finally asked. The kids all booed.

“C’mon, I’ve got an industrial grade platform lift.” Robbie nodded. The kids furrowed their brows as they tried to figure out what that was. Sportacus knew what it was but couldn’t think of how to describe it.

Robbie sighed. “It’s a machine that stretches up while holding a platform.” Robbie responded. “C’mon.”

They got the platform out of Robbie’s shed, driving it through the town until finally the got to the place where Sportacus called his airship to. With the airship’s platform lowered as far as it could go, Sportacus stepped onto Robbie’s machine. He looked hesitantly at the controls, then looked down at Robbie pleadingly.

Robbie groaned. He climbed onto the platform and pulled the lever that it made it start rising. It was slow going. Robbie didn’t look at him.

“Thank you for helping me today.” Sportacus smiled slightly.

Robbie shrugged. “Whatever.” He examined his nails closely. “I had the feeling they wouldn’t leave me alone until I did.”

Sportacus snorted. “You know they like you, Robbie. They look up to you in certain ways.”

“They… look up to me?” Robbie blinked at the hero.

“Your… ingenuity, creativity, things like that.” Sportacus nodded.

“Huh.” Robbie hummed.

They approached the airship without another word passed between them. As the platform lift reached its max height, Sportacus leapt onto the railing and jumped up to his ship. He waved to Robbie and the kids as he disappeared into the ship.

Robbie stared at the ship for a moment too long after Sportacus was gone. “Thanks.” He mumbled at the ship before he finally started the descent back down.

[the-journal-in-law]

Truth Teller

Prompt from: @creweemmaeec11

A hero who has the ability to detect lies. At first, everything was great, they where hailed for their ability to interrogate villains and learn the truth of their undertakings.

The problem arose when hero started realizing just how many lies the politicians were telling, the police, their own bosses.

The worst part, was how expected they were to play along. Because to call them out...

Well, the hero would be lying if they said that was anything but a death sentence.

Part 2

"It's nice to meet you again."

"Sorry, I had an urgent appointment."

"Love your new hairstyle!"

Hero groaned at the headache the voices caused.

It wasn't the voices, per se, but the deceit in them. There was so much of it. It was like everyone in this event had a disease that made lies pour out of their mouths like water.

In this large ballroom of elegant architecture and shining silver accents, these people in expensive suits and fancy dresses were wolves in sheep's clothing. Every action was calculated, and every word said aloud was meant to suit one's agenda.

Case in point; the man approaching Hero.

He had greying hair and wore a classic red tie. "You must be the Hero everyone's been talking about lately! What are you doing in this dark corner of the room?"

To get away from people like you, they wanted to say.

"Is it true you captured the serial killer? I admire your dedication to your work."

Hero fixed a smile on their face, ignoring how their brain pinged the untruth. Just another politician wanting to cosy up to them. "I did ensure the serial killer's identity was proven, but the police played a big part in securing her," they replied smoothly.

The politician laughed. "You're as humble as the rumours!"

Another ping, but quieter. A half-truth. Was it that there were no rumours, or that he thought Hero was arrogant?

"Do you find joy in listening to the word of mouth?" Hero inquired, swirling their champagne glass.

"Aha." His laugh was weaker, a bit flustered. "Of course not! Um, if you'll excuse me, I think my wife is calling."

Hero tilted their head, watching him disappear into the crowd. Interesting how that last one had been truthful. Was he a coward or simply wise enough to know when to retreat?

They slid their gaze around the throngs of people, not paying attention to anything in particular.

Hero sighed.

A chuckle came from behind them. They tensed.

"Why such a pitiful sound?" A smooth voice, like silk on skin. It emitted charisma and power, like it had commanded hundreds of armies and convinced kings to do its bidding.

"You seem to know me." Hero trained their eyes straight ahead. "Will you introduce yourself?"

Another chuckle. "Will you not look at me?"

Hero stayed silent.

The way they phrased their sentences as questions, the ability to stay hidden from Hero's senses, and the absolute respect they radiated - Hero had an idea of who this was, and to meet their gaze would be suicide.

"Will you not look at me?" they repeated, coaxing.

Hero realised their body was subconsciously following the demand. They forcibly stilled, saying, "No."

"Interesting."

Hero blinked in surprise when the usually empty platitude didn't register as a lie.

"Do you know what my power is?"

Hero opened their mouth before they could stop themselves. "The power of suggestion. To plant ideas into people's heads. To take control of their mind through eye contact."

"Good," they purred, and Hero flushed. "Do you know who I am?"

"Yes."

"Do you know why I'm speaking to you?"

"No."

They leaned down, mouth hovering above Hero's ear. Their breath was warm. "I want to recruit you."

Truth.

"What makes you think I'd join you?" Hero asked stoically.

A huff. "Isn't it obvious? You should know better than anyone how corrupt this society is."

Hero didn't refute that.

Seemingly satisfied, a hand slipped something into their breast pocket. "Call me when you make up your mind."

When Hero turned around, they were gone.