#darkephantylight191

[mickules]

Ok, but the way Taka’s eyes light up when he discovers flavors and is just like, “what have I been missing out on my whole life?!”

Imagine if Mondo just proceeds to take Taka around to try a bunch of different foods. The looks of wonder and innocence in his eyes is almost enough to cover the hole in Mondo’s wallet

[from this ask] It would absolutely be one of Mondo's favourite things, but soon the class find out, and they all want to get in on getting Taka to try their favourite food.

[one of the minicomics this ask dump] Some have been privy to seeing Taka eat a sub sandwich in 3 bites, and they would not like to repeat the experience.

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Junko was incredibly disappointed when it was discovered Taka is a SPICE FIEND. She has yet to find a food he actively dislikes, and so far no amount of threats from Mondo has made her give up the search.

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Taka doesn't like to dwell on his upbringing as part and parcel of his whole ethos of determination, so wouldn't bring it up voluntarily. Taka tends to unconsciously avoid eating around people so it's a long while before anyone notices his habits, and even longer for them to get him to recognise it as unhealthy and not 'efficient'

Eventually, in frustration, he points out that: "Akane eats like me, does that mean she has unhealthy eating habits too?" to a chorus of blank faces and the gentle explanation of: " . . . Taka . . . Akane's got the worst eating habits" From there it becomes a simple matter for his friends to join the dots between Akane's childhood poverty - Taka's family debt - and their shared defensive eating. When he finds out about Akane's background it does give Taka some piece of mind to know there's someone who understands some of his struggles and lost childhood - Akane and Taka don't always see eye to eye, but they do end up bonding tremendously over it and their efforts to get healthier.

[from this group of asks!] Whilst Byakuya almost definitely has employees to undertake such tasks, I can see a busybody like Taka, only intending to drop off some study notes for Byakuya, inadvertently insinuating himself onto the organisation committee. Taka, completely by accident, ends up with a paid position on Byakuya's staff (since you know Byakuya couldn't just ask for a favour like a normal person)

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Byakuya has an eye for theatrics; imagine the optics! Fellow attendees scoffing at the young, clearly inexperienced heir, I mean look at his woeful choice of guest from that disgraced family! Only to discover that the elaborate evening they've been enjoying was completely organised by said guest, and then seeing that same guest yeet a man twice his size out of the convention hall. That'd definitely add to the notorious Togami reputation.

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Business spokesmen aren't always strictly at business events; they're usually also patrons or donors to societies, charities and political parties, so there's a slew of different events it could be. In fact it'd be even more poignant if it was a political fundraiser, or something of that nature. Since Taka is an unwelcome reminder to his maternal family of their previous failed foray into gaining more political leverage; it's even funnier if Byakuya is actively trying to shove that in their faces.

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Taka can't catch a break - both his grandfathers are pricks. Righteously indignant Taka is excellent, but I have to admit I have a soft spot for bitingly petty Taka, even if it's it's a little out of character for him: "I cannot imagine your embarrassment then Chairman; as it is an Ishimaru who had to remind you to behave in a manner befitting the dignity of your station."

Taka might have a resolve of steel when it comes to remaining civil in difficult negative situations; In positive situations however? He's not as well practiced. . . Or: Taka finds out he rather likes adrenaline really.

He was blinded by his morals and nothing else.

@starlightmedow It's got to be easy to catch some parental feels when it comes to Chihiro. You know Mondo and Taka wouldn't be down for the babying kind - but rather the nurturing, too loud cheering on in the crowd kind. Think the muscle improvement club from Mob Psycho 100

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"One of these things is not like the others ~ one of these things just doesn't bel~ong!" (It's mothman; he's the only cryptid) In all honesty a rabbit works well for Chihiro. Adorable, but when faced off against a predator? Rabbits can be FIERCE!

I like the idea of all the programs interacting with each other! Alter ego as the more experienced and proactive learner helping the others, Chiaki being hesitant but smart and willing, whereas Usami is very enthusiastic but the least knowledgeable. Chihiro watching over all of 'em It's a fun dynamic! (I have to admit I do prefer Chiaki as a completely fabricated AI rather than based on an actual person, which I know is how it ends up shaking out in canon; her slow yet intelligent demeanour reminded me of an old desktop resolutely chugging along)

@starrygatorr aka: Taka is gaslit by a child That certainly sounds like an AU with a lot of juicy potential to it! Taka doesn't seem the sort to be well liked by children due to his strict nature and perma-scowl. He'd be delighted to be approached by any of the children - it's a shame it happened to be the emotionally-manipulative, mini-megalomaniac! That being said, flipping it on its head, Taka's sheer bullheadedness and obliviousness might act as a natural counter-agent to Monaca's stratagem of picking at insecurities, making him someone who doesn't get side-tracked by her normal tactics (but also making Mondo a much more attractive target for her schemes . . .) All in all, there's a lot you can play with there! Noice!

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[from this comic] You know what; Junko pretty much canonically just goes around nicking other people's ideas and smushing them into her killing game anyway! Hell I don't think she even came up with monokuma on her own

"smoothie of ambiguous content" is a true Mukuro mood

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[from this ask again] Mukuro's not one to mince her words after all XD

@spacepaprika The idea of the Ultimate Moral Compass just flat out admitting to a criminal record is unironically hilarious to me - especially given Makoto 'I pissed the bed' Naegi's "dark secret". However I think a criminal record would probably kill any chances he had of becoming Prime Minister. I do have my own idea of what that secret might be, and I plan to put it in a comic . . . 👀 without context - it involves him having been expelled from his middle school *sows seeds of intrigue*

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@darkephantylight191 Mondo never pulled any pranks himself, but he certainly didn't stop anyone else from doing it. He was the most vocal and blatant about breaking the few rules Hope's Peak actually has and basically constantly found himself in Taka's crosshairs, and Taka wouldn't let even the smallest infraction go. Essentially they both riled the other up, sometimes completely intentionally as they'd both assumed the other was exactly the type of person they hated, without actually finding out if that was true or not.

(next set of asks [about daiya’s accident]) (previous set of asks [about the parent trap AU])

[mickules]

There will be a comic of Daiya survived the biker crash?

The crash was bad Daiya's injuries are concentrated to his abdomen and legs. He got some gnarly road rash, broke his right badly in several places, needing the bones to be pinned, and shattered the kneecap in his left leading to an above the knee amputation. When Mondo got the news that Daiya was going to survive, but hearing the extent of his injuries; Mondo made the self-destructive choice to essentially banish himself from the Diamonds, forcing himself to believe that was the only way he could 'right' his wrong. Of course it was actually a way for him not to have to face up to his intense guilt, and expectation of Daiya's hatred. Daiya of course WAS angry, not so much Mondo but the whole situation. He was scared and angry and in pain, but the longer he went without a word from Mondo, his anger and distress began to dissolve into a fear for Mondo's wellbeing- by the time Mondo comes back, Daiya's already forgiven him in his mind. The gang managed to spin Mondo's absence somehow into some sort of 'heroic quest for vengeance' that painted him as coming to Daiya's rescue after the crash - a tall tale that Daiya isn't aware of, and that Mondo cannot seem to quell, so he still develops imposter syndrome and an inferiority complex, although not as pronounced as in the game.

By a twist of fate, it's this injury that leads Daiya into his legit post-diamond business. Since he lost his left leg, he could no longer ride his bike as he was unable to change the gears with his left foot. He'd had rat bikes before so he'd dabbled in jerry-rigged repairs, but modifying his bike so he could change gears with his hands was a huge undertaking which he threw himself into. He ended up loving the challenge and started up a garage for specialised motorcycle customisations.

Daiya now walks with a noticeable limp, and on rare occasions he uses his crutches when his right leg acts up. The fact he uses a prosthesis for his left isn't obvious unless he runs.

(fun fact! Daiya's injuries here are based on an old family friend's who had to have his leg amputated after a bad bike crash on the Isle of man, ironically whist spectating, not participating in, the notoriously dangerous Isle of Man TT bike race)

@tea0-0stache (!! :D Many Thanks!) I have Araki and Josuke Higashikata to thank for prebby Daiya

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@mezzybaby-art [a minicomic from this ask dump] plus [where Daiya and Takaaki get the idea from] Daiya is a terrible dancer, and that was BEFORE his injuries from the bike accident. He's the type to prop up the bar, but he's not too proud to embarrass himself on the dancefloor on the rare occasion.

Mondo definitely has some . . . less than tactful questions for Daiya, which ends up being a somewhat awkward, but productive conversation about how Daiya can show his support for any gay diamonds by being happy to be seen in a gay bar, how he can redirect any hate to himself rather than the member if any rival gangs take issue with it. By painting being a visible ally as an example of positive masculinity, it begins to chisel away at Mondo's insecurities. Eventually the conversation steers toward the question of "but if you and Officer Ishimaru were bein' good allies and shit. . . why'd Takemichi send me the video?" this leads to an even longer, even more awkward conversation that culminates in Takemichi accidentally blurting out his orientation to a stupefied but supportive Mondo.

Essentially: having little to no understanding of lgbt+ things previously, Mondo leaves with the new sensation that a real man isn't a bigot; and the understanding that if a total badass like Takemichi could be gay, then he's clearly gotten the wrong idea from somewhere about what being 'gay' is. Maybe it's worth looking into . . . (throughout the conversation Daiya is desperately trying to hint that it's totally fine if maybe Mondo comes under that lgbt+ diamond umbrella, that Daiya's support extends to any of Mondo's friends *hint hint* from school, but it goes totally over his head.)

Takaaki meanwhile has to explain to Taka what a Drag Queen is.

(note the [pride] comic I did exists separately from this ^ main non-despair au, as I crave mutual pining idiots, so they aren't nearly as self aware here XD)

Mondo having to work through and unlearn his toxic masculinity is definitely one of the more interesting aspects of his character - especially as it is unambiguously the source of his downfall, which is a rather rare acknowledgement. Daiya had to have been pretty young when they formed the gang. I can easily see a doctrine like "don't hit girls" being misguided but made in good faith. Over time that kind of unnuanced phrasing coupled with how Daiya was put on a pedestal, could easily morph it into the absolutist stance that Mondo takes: "I shouldn't hit girls" and "I shouldn't bully the weak" becomes: "I shouldn't hit girls BECAUSE they're weak" - which ain't it chief. I don't think Daiya has as many hang-ups as Mondo does, although I've no doubt he still has his own preconceptions. But for what it's worth I think he'd be more receptive than Mondo when he's challenged on them, since he's not weighed down by the same peer pressure from the gang. Daiya can't help but be impressed by Sakura's sheer grit; it deserves nothing less than his full respect.

(next set of asks [some more pairing asks (and a lil fem!ishimondo)]) (previous set of asks [about taka’s habits & the thh kids])