#featuring: koda

[dynamitekansai]

[orangedogsquad]

A girl and her gross swampy brother

One nice recaller and one who’s about to run into the fence

[graphicpolicy]

Exclusive Preview: Daredevil #8

Daredevil #8 exclusive preview. A special oversized issue marking 60 years of Daredevil! #comics #comicbooks #daredevil

[shotorozu]

(gender neutral reader, reader went to middle school with bakugou and midoriya, reader can make chocolate, and reader bent their back for the making of said chocolate, not that much beta read /derogatory, i got carried away 😭)

bakugou katsuki is a feared, but admired guy— especially during valentines day.

it’s interesting.. when he was a younger boy— he’d take gifts from admirers (usually girl classmates or other kids that frequent the park he goes to) with widened eyes and a scoff, snatching the gift away from them with quick hands, and mumbling how valentines day is stupid— that it’s lame and he doesn’t understand it.

but refusing gifts are rude, he’d remember his mom say, after he refused to accept something his dad made for him— and back then, he’d listen to his mom like his life depended on it. so, for a year or two— he’d take gifts.

but as the blond boy manifested a quirk and became just a bit older— he started ignoring her words altogether, having had grown out of the “listening to mom all the time is cool” phase.

his features started defining themselves, and he was starting to become taller. before he knew it— he had a sudden wave of admirers crashing down at him almost everyday of the year.

and it almost excluding valentines day.

because he’d sneer at anyone willing to offer their affection in the form of sweetened confectionary, and resorted to blowing up love letters into smithereens.

if his personality wasn’t obvious enough, this was precisely the reason why his admire-from-afar to get-personal ratio was obviously imbalanced.

of course, no one really learns— even as he grows older, enters UA for highschool, and retains his personality even after some realizations, because bakugou katsuki is quite beautiful.

so there’s at least a handful of admirers that are willing to risk it all— even if it meant some form of humilation or intimidation.

but not you.

you’ve prepared a little something for everyone in your class— yes, even the forbidden grape haired classmate and him. your hands practically hurt from stirring, and you feel like if you’d even bend up slightly, you’d hear multiple cracks amass from your back.

but you think it’s all worth it. your work tastes good, looks good and cute, and you’re certain everyone would enjoy how their chocolates varied in flavor, even if the change was just slightly noticeable.

you hand out chocolates to each respective person as soon as they pop into the common room.

the girls of your class perk up in interest and clamor around you— smiles adorning their faces as they line up to receive their chocolates.

mina, kyouka and hagakure compare their flavors together, momo asks you how you did it, because she’s “bad at cooking”

ochako’s already munching on the sweets, when he starts thanking you. finally, tsuyu just looks at you silently, and gives you a warm side hug.

midoriya goes beet red when he realizes that you personally gave everyone a slightly different flavor (you don’t know how he blushed over that, but you find it endearing.) todoroki, tokoyami, shoji, sato, koda, and ojiro look a little confused and dazed at first when you give them your chocolates, but they end up accepting it with gratitude.

kirishima, iida, kaminari, sero, aoyama and mineta accept your chocolates rather quickly, wasting no time in giving their thanks (excluding mineta— who just teased you about liking him, which was and will never be the case)

but through it all, you managed to avoid eye contact with your snarky blond childhood friend and classmate— who was silently trailing you with crimson eyes the entire time.

for a moment you think he’s mad at you for not giving anything, which you’d understand— if it weren’t for the fact that he is valentines day’s #1 public enemy. but you exchange this thought for something else.

he must think that you’re strange for making the class chocolate, and you wouldn’t blame him. usually, it’d be sato making stuff like this. not to mention, you heard him remark rather loudly about the kitchen smelling strongly of chocolate, in his usual bakugou tone.

you made the right choice not to give him the chocolates you made, you think to yourself. not to mention, how amidst it all, you might’ve showed a slight bias to his chocolate’s design— and revealing your crush on him on today of all days is less than ideal.

and you think nothing of his behavior—

“s’ i’ve got nothing, huh?”

he jumpscares you when you close your locker, and he lets out a snort when your shoulders rise in reflection of your surprise.

your gaze trails to his locker, which cannot close due to a lump of chocolate and letters preventing it from properly doing so. “you’ve got plenty, though. i don’t want to give you diabetes or anything.”

(which was half true because wow the amount of chcolate—)

“you gave all of them chocolate. why’da do that?”

“because.. it’s valentines day..?” you start walking away from your locker— and to which he follows all the way. you try not to think much of the action

“but what makes you think that i shouldn’t get any.”

normally, one would state that as a question, but the way he said it, the tone of his voice— it wasn’t said like one.

“i know you, kachaan,” you reason while making use of his childhood nickname, which gains an eye twitch from the blond. “if i was told to count how many letters you’ve burned and chocolates you either gave away or thrown out, i wouldn’t have enough fingers on my hands.”

“‘cause all of them were fuckin’ store bought?”

“and what if they weren’t?”

“then they were horrendous.” he states, matter of a fact. then, his eyes narrow, “and it’s not like you’re giving me a damned letter.”

you feel your cheeks heat up. that’s not the case— but the idea of writing him a love letter has your mind going into haywire.

“it’s not. but you’ve never showed interest in this sorta thing in a long time.”

“what— eating chocolates?”

“pretty much.”

he blinks, unamused. “you can be such a dumbass sometimes. can’t take the fucking hint.”

you’re pretty sure he meant to say that quietly, but he didn’t. you’re unphased at this point.

but you don’t get what he means, so you try to defend yourself. “but—” your words come to a sudden halt, as you realize the uselessness.

“wait, why am i trying to reason with you?— look, i actually did make something for you too. if i didn’t then that’d be such an asshole move of me to exclude you.”

“really. you’re not bullshittin’ me?”

“no.” you reply, firmly. “but you have to promise not to laugh. you can insult me, but laugh? no way.”

he raises an eyebrow.

then, you shift onto one leg and start looking for something in one of the front pockets of your bag. the search doesn’t take long, because you pull something out— medium sized chocolate in clear wrapping, with an orange bow tying it together.

it’s clearly slightly bigger than the rest of your classmates, and you hope he doesn’t notice.

he silently unwraps the chocolate, and gets eye to eye with your creation. it’s three pieces of chocolate shaped as explosions— the middle explosion being bigger than the other two. anyone who sniffed it could smell orange first, as the middle (biggest) piece has a swirl of orange and milk chocolate, the left piece is simply milk chocolate, and the right piece is white chocolate.

he takes the middle one and bites half of it, and chews. you observe, like he’s a top chef reviewing your latest work, and when he finishes, he says—

“not bad,” he remarks, flashing that heart racing smile. “wanna taste?”

you gulp, stupefied by his offer. words don’t have real meanings for a second. “huh?”

then, he’s reaching up and popping the other half into your mouth, thumb pressing against your lips.

you almost choke— and it wasn’t from the chocolate. you bite, taste the flavor, the mouth watering taste of orange and chocolate swarming your mouth.

to twist the knife into the wound— he cups your face and presses a deep, but quick kiss against your lips. his soft lips linger onto yours, and this intensifies what you can already taste.

and then, as quick as he kissed you, he pulls back— gaze still lingering on your lips.

a toothy grin starts to grow on his lips, and he pats your shoulder— beginning to create distance between you two by walking ahead.

“next time, give me the chocolates first, will ya? tastes fuckin’ good.”

you have a feeling he isn’t talking about the chocolate.

[felassan]

Notes on Dragon Age: Vows & Vengeance Episode 1

This is more of a dry info post than a speculating & thoughts post hh. (I really liked the episode!)

---

Episode 1: Once a Thief…

... "always a thief". 😊

EPISODE DESCRIPTION: Nadia Carcosa, a reformed thief, returns to her criminal roots after a wedding proposal goes sideways and her partner Elio, a revered mage in the Tevinter Imperium, gets dragged into a conspiracy with world-shattering consequences.

---

The picture for this episode features the faction symbols of the Shadow Dragons and the Mourn Watch.

It's Neve who appears in this episode. This tweet & art piece were referring to Neve.

In the opening scene, the tavern singer (not Maryden Halewell) is performing Oh, Grey Warden, the tavern song from Dragon Age: Inquisition.

The first piece of elven that Solas speaks is "Ar dirthan'as ir elgara, ma'sula e'var vhenan". It appears in this banter dialogue between Solas and Sera in Inquisition:

Solas: "Ar dirthan'as ir elgara, ma'sula e'var vhenan." Sera: "Pppbbthh!" Solas: "Excuse me?" Sera: "Excuse yourself, whatever you said and what I did, same difference to me." Solas: "I'd hoped, well, our people can sometimes feel the rhythm of the language despite lacking the vocabulary." Sera: "Uh huh? Know what else is good? Words that mean things. Like these. Words." Solas: "Fenedhis lasa." Sera: "Pppbbthh."

The second piece of elven is spoken by Solas and Elio. It's the elven language version of a song from Dragon Age: Origins, I Am The One.

[elven version] Heruamin lotirien Alai uethri maeria Halurocon yalei nam bahna Dolin nereba maome Ame amin Halai lothi amin Aloamin Heruamin Heruamin oh lona Imwe naine beriole Ame amin Halai lothi amin Aloamin Heruamin Ame amin Halai lothi amin Noamin Ame amin Halai lothi amin Noamin Heruamin --- [common tongue, as performed by Maryden] I feel sun Through the ashes in the sky. Where's the one Who'll guide us into the night? What's begun Is the war that will Force this divide. What's to come Is fire and the end of time. I am the one Who can recount What we've lost. I am the one Who will live on. I have run Through the fields Of pain and sighs. I have fought To see the other side. I am the one Who can recount What we've lost. I am the one Who will live on.

The podcast features new music which is credited as "Featuring original music by Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe". Some of the music bears a resemblance to parts of DA:TV music that we've heard before. Track G7, D'Read Koda, on the Dragon Age vinyl was composed by Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe. Given this tweet by dev Derek Wilks, "Absolutely incredible music in our game. Listen to it every day when I’m working, just for fun" [source] which seems to confirm it, it sounds like Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe are the composers of the DA:TV soundtrack.

Olen is voiced by Damien Gerard. A few months ago the listing for this actor on this website listed them as an actor for several named characters in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf: ‘Olen’, 'Marek’, 'Lord Borgiani’ and 'Templar Captain’. [source] I'm not sure if Olen will appear in the game or if this listing just called it DA:D as at that time the podcast wouldn't have been public knowledge yet. Given the listing for Olen was legit, we will likely encounter Marek, Lord Borgiani and Templar Captain at some point in DA in any event

The Eye of Kethisca

The Eye is a magical ancient artifact. It glows and exudes a magical hum, with the hint of inaudible whispers. When Elio drew power from the Fade near it, this grew louder and the artifact exploded in some kind of sonic boom, unleashing a wave of energy that tore up the ground and almost killing him. However, Solas was able to 'calm' it by speaking elven. Solas explains that the Eye was made from a rare gem mined in the caves beneath the Silent Plains. It was crafted centuries ago by a powerful Dreamer, meaning that it is connected to the Fade. Solas reveals that Elio's bloodline is tied to the Eye of Kethisca, as that Dreamer had the name An'Dante and was Elio's ancestor. Solas explains that when Elio summoned his magic near the Eye, he unknowingly formed a bond with it and it amplified his powers. When Elio asks Solas if the Eye will help fix the weak Veil in the caves, Solas replies "more or less".

Solas heard that the Venatori had plans for the relic. He obtained it before that happened.

Locations

The Arcanist Hall in Minrathous contains The Archives. These hold every object, scrap of writing, relic or antiquity that is even remotely interesting to the Tevinter Empire. These relics are held on shelves. The building is funded by the Magisterium, which pays the guards' salaries. The building is notoriously difficult to break into.

The Silent Plains: There are caves beneath the Silent Plains. Centuries ago, a powerful Dreamer called An'Dante mined a rare gem from these caves and crafted a powerful magical relic called the Eye of Kethisca. In at least one of these caves, the Veil is fragile as in ancient times, many people were sacrificed there in its grounds, and the spilled blood weakened the barrier.

There are ancient burial grounds in the Hinterlands.

Lore things

Names (podcast-specific): Edmund, Olen, Nadia Carcosa, Magister Elio Andante*, Joren, Vik

*In one place in the official transcript, "Andante" is written as "An'Dante".

Main characters: Nadia is a non-mage, a Liberati and an accomplished thief & cat burglar. Liberati are a class of people who were slaves that were freed. They are still not Tevinter citizens, and have only limited rights. She lives on a houseboat in Docktown, Minrathous.

Elio is an Altus mage, a Magister & member of the Magisterium. He is a powerful Rift Mage. He has his own estate in Minrathous. Altus mages are believed to be the descendants of the Dreamers or magisters who were able to speak to the Old Gods in the Fade. Solas reveals that Elio's bloodline is tied to the Eye of Kethisca, as the Dreamer that created the eye had the name An'Dante, being Elio's ancestor.

Spells: Flame Blast, Firestorm, Stonefist, Neve’s ice magic, a magical blast of wind

Food and drink: Fresh oyster, fresh clam, pickled krone, salt, pig, fish, Orlesian ale, rum

Animals: bird, seagull, oyster, clam, fish, cricket, horse, bat

Plants: Andraste’s Grace

There seems to be a rank in the Tevinter Templars of Sergeant.

The preview for the next episode reveals that there is a character or entity called "The Deathless One".

[ace-touya]

Class 1-A PowerPoint Night

A PowerPoint night is when a friend group all make PowerPoints on random topics and present them to each other in case anyone doesn’t know. This is what I think all of class 1-A would do.

Yuga Aoyama makes a PowerPoint explaining french slang terms that he thinks the entire class should start using

Mina Ashido makes a PowerPoint rating everyone’s families. Points are awarded based on presence of both parents, how well each student gets on with their parents, whether they have siblings (younger siblings get less points than older ones) and how much she personally likes their family members.

Tenya Iida makes a PowerPoint on how to revise for their upcoming exam, complete with diagrams and information about the psychology of learning. The class feel like they’re in a lecture.

Tsuyu Asui makes a PowerPoint where she turns things the class has said into Pinterest-style inspirational quotes and they have to try and guess who said what.

Ochaco Uraraka makes a PowerPoint on tips to save money, because you cant tell me some of the people in this class buy useless things they either lose, forget about, or have no idea what to do with.

Mashirao Ojiro makes a PowerPoint of things he does not understand. It features things such as the existence of languages, barcodes, and credit cards.

Denki Kaminari makes a PowerPoint called ‘Crying Wrapped’, which details the reasons he has cried over the least year, which months he cried the most and the least in, and rates his top 5 cries with little explanation

Eijiro Kirishima makes a PowerPoint called ‘things I’ve seen at the gym that just make sense’. Some of them have pictures to go along with them, and Ochaco and Katsuki nod along and say ‘I remember that’ to every other slide.

Koji Koda made a PowerPoint on why Aizawa should let them have a class pet. The PowerPoint actually had good reasoning so they emailed it to Aizawa, who only responded ‘no.’ And did not elaborate.

Rikido Sato makes a PowerPoint assigning each classmate a type of cake. He lists the reasons, the ingredients, and has a nice message for each member of the class on the slide with their cake

Mezo Shoji makes a PowerPoint about how Tokoyami is Not Real. Enough said.

Kyouka Jiro makes a PowerPoint detailing the soundtrack she would put together if their life was a movie, complete with photos and video clips of stuff they’ve done to go along with each moment she assigns a song to.

Hanta Sero makes a PowerPoint called ‘Canada is not real’, and it lists all the reasons why he believes Canada is made up. Shoto is nodding along and finds it very thought-provoking

Fumikage Tokoyami makes a PowerPoint analysing everyone’s entire zodiac charts. Kirishima is shocked to find out there’s more than just the sun sign. They also give everyone their horoscopes for the next month.

Shoto Todoroki makes a PowerPoint on conspiracy theories that he actually believes. They’re all completely insane but he does end up convincing some members of the class by the end.

Toru Hagakure makes a PowerPoint on Disney Men and whether or not she would trust them with her drink with little to no explanation. All the girls agree with her ratings.

Katsuki Bakugo makes a PowerPoint rating each of the barbie movies based on whether or not he could beat the protagonist in a fight. The class is shocked to find out that Katsuki does believe he would lose to some of the barbies.

Izuku Midoryia makes a PowerPoint analysing the class’s fighting techniques and their strengths and weaknesses as heroes, using all the notes he’s written about each of them in his notebooks. Additionally, he assigns everyone in the class a current pro hero that they’re most similar to.

Minoru Mineta makes a PowerPoint rating the girls in every class of their year group and is not allowed to present it.

Momo Yaoyorozu makes a PowerPoint assigning each classmate a different kind of tea, complete with the benefits of each flavour and why she would give it to them. She also includes the prices and the best places to buy them.

[genericpuff]

I'm honestly amazed by how well you can imitate the LO S3 art style! Have you always been good at this sort of thing or is it a skill you developed due to your work as a tattoo artist?

ahhh thank you, but ima let you in on a little trade secret -

it's literally just referencing LMAO which is a valuable skillset to have! but one that I think a lot of folks tend to overlook because they think "learning to draw" means "I need to be able to draw everything perfectly from imagination!" Which sure, learning how to draw things without needing references might be cool, but it's ultimately not the sole defining feature of a "good artist" and I think there's frankly way too much emphasis put on "drawing without references" these days because it creates this unrealistic expectation of what an artist is. Referencing is part of the process! It's important! And it's a valuable skill to have so that you can actually grow your skills beyond your own limits! Referencing is as important to the process of creating art as research is to the process of writing, you can only produce so much new stuff if you're not taking in new stuff alongside it.

Though I use this skill a lot in tattooing as well, it's mostly rooted in my animation schooling which broke me out of the habit of drawing purely from imagination and taught me how to properly reference other material for educational purposes.

And I'm sure there are people in audience right now gasping at the fact that I simply cropped a bunch of different shots of Minthe from S3 and rearranged them like some surgical madman playing with body parts-

-but this is like, the actual majority of the process when it comes to learning other art styles and this process is taught as a skill in a lot of art schools because it forces you to draw what's there rather than what you think is there. This is the basis of master studies, to learn the techniques of other artists by trying to mimic them as closely as possible. Don't know what tools that artist used specifically? Try to recreate the work anyways with your best guess. Even if you only get close but not perfect, you'll still likely learn a lot along the way and may even develop some brand NEW techniques that weren't present in the original work you're studying from.

Imagination is necessary to the creative process, but it's only part of that process, you can't suddenly learn how to draw the way other artists draw through imagination alone because your imagination is limited purely by your own lived experiences. Our brains don't come pre-installed with these skills, they can't just magically unlock the capability to "do the thing". Just like how we have to learn to follow recipes as a means to becoming a baker or learn to read the alphabet to learn how to read and write, we have to learn how to draw what we see and reference the material around us if we truly want to expand our own innermost knowledge which will allow us to draw from imagination.

Here are some other examples of studies I've done, such as my attempts to learn the art style of The Doctor Foxglove Show:

As well as a background study from S1 of LO:

And of course here are a handful of the shitloads of studies I've done to try and "figure out" how to draw Hades and Persephone from S1 of LO:

Aaaand just for the fun of it, here are some completely non-LO studies, like the ones I did of Kazuma Koda's background work and Akihiko Yoshida's character designs for Nier: Automata:

And this sorta rotoscoped ??? animatic of Mitsuhiro doing the opening jig for Still Feel by Half Alive which is 100% not done and probably never will be LOL

I'm always progressively doing studies of both LO and other media in this way so that I can update my knowledge and continue to improve my skillset.

Though, despite my best efforts to mimic the original creator's style, works like Rekindled will always have my own stylizations present, as that's just an inevitable consequence of it being made by myself and Banshriek (and the fact that we just refuse to draw worse to look more like LO because jfc so much of LO's original art, even the stuff we love, is rooted in Rachel's trial and errors lmao), but that's a feature, not a bug :') <3

So the answer is yes, the Minthe S3 redraw was done through skills I developed over time, though not necessarily through tattooing, simply through learning how to actually practice properly beyond "drawing a lot". And you can too! Draw lots, but also remember that your brain isn't naturally just going to "get better" at whatever you're trying to achieve just because you really want to achieve it. I try to avoid the mantra of "just practice" because it oversimplifies what's truly necessary to learning - having something to learn from outside of your own imagination. If you don't learn how to practice properly, then you'll just wind up repeating the same mistakes and reinforcing the same bad habits over and over again.

All that's to say, if you want to learn how to draw like a certain artist, try and recreate their art for yourself ;0 (but like also please for the love of god remember that it's for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, I shouldn't have to tell y'all not to copy directly off other artists' work for your own because that's just deadass stealing lmao) I know this enters the ethical dilemma of tracing, and whether or not it's a "valid" way to learn, but there's a lot of virtue in learning through referencing other artists and building new skills through them. I'm sure folks will argue that it's a 'crutch' or 'training wheels', but that's all often being touted from the perspective that crutches and training wheels... are automatically bad things and aren't meant to help people ?

Like obviously if you want to create your own thing that isn't purely "living in the shadow" of the works that inspired you, you WILL have to make that leap into the unknown. But that leap's a lot less scary to make when you have a parachute.

[quirkwizard]

I've been getting a lot of asks about the various futures of the characters in this setting, specifically Class 1-A. So I thought it'd be fun to mix them all up together and toss in some headcanons about the various students in the future. And yes, I will change some of the hero names and titles to what I believe are better versions. Because I like to think that someone from the Management Course got to these kids before they went public.

The Fresh-Picked Hero, Vineyard: Rank: 100s to 150s Specialization: Defense Popular Product: Sticky purple orb toys that you can throw around.

Mineta eventually grew to a more decent of a hero. He learned to properly apply himself rather than coasting on what little talent he had and worked to put on a brave face when fighting villains. He was hoping his growth would improve his image with the ladies. It did not.

The Super Sweet Hero, Sugar Ray: Rank: 100s to 150s Specialization: Combat Popular Product: A line of sweets designed and endorsed by Sato himself.

In spite of his brutish power and appearance, Sato found himself loved among old folks and housewives that loved the recipes he came up with. He'd always spare his treats with anyone he helped in his hero work, always brightening the spirits of anyone he came across.

The Taping Hero, Cellophane: Rank: 100s to 150s Specialization: Recon Popular Product: A brand of tape supposedly based on Sero's own tape.

While never the most popular or successful hero, Sero was always the most approachable one of the class, remaining down to Earth in spite of his past and lifestyle. This ended up making him more of the "working man's hero", finding fans in blue-collar workers. His power may have played a part in this.

The Fighting Hero, Martial: Rank: 100s to 150s Specialization: Combat Popular Product: A line of fur coats inspired by his tail and costume.

Ojiro was never going to be a popular hero, yet found a hardcore audience in niche communities. He would go on to found several dojos that would help young heroes learn how to apply themselves as marital artists, with or without their Quirks, and would accept many of them as his sidekicks.

The Unseen Heroine, Ultraviolet: Rank: 100s to 150s Specialization: Recon Popular Product: A shoe line inspired by the ones from her costume.

In spite of the massive controversy when she appeared on the hero scene because of her power, Hagkaure has taken to stealth-focused hero work well. Still, she tries to gain as much attention as possible as not to be left in the background. Surprisingly, this does not interfere with her work since no one ever sees it coming.

The Petting Hero, Anima Rank: 100s to 150s Specialization: Rescue Popular Product: A playset featuring various animals Koda works with, including little information cards on them.

While Koda had a role in the Heteromorphic moment, he found himself far more preoccupied with animal protection and conversation, working to endorse several zoos and sanctuaries. The once shy boy found his voice in sharing his love of animals. He remains popular with young children.

The Tentacle Hero, Sixth Sense: Rank: 50s to 60s Specialization: Recon Popular Product: A mask and headpiece set resembling Shoji's costume.

True to his word, Shoji helped foster and repair the relations with the Heteromorphs. He worked tirelessly as the public face of the movement and as the hero who would help deal with cases of Heteromorph related crimes. In time, Shoji started to feel like he didn't needed to hide his scars.

The Illustrious Hero, Rayonnant: Rank: 100s to 150s Specialization: Combat Popular Product: A clothing line heavily inspired by his own fabulous wardrobe and costume.

In spite of his flashy looks and grandiose persona, Aoyama was always one of the more empathic heroes. He would always help encourage "lost causes", becoming an icon and true hero for those that felt alone and afraid. He wanted to make sure they all grew to shine as bright as he did.

The Astonishing Hero, Paradigm: Rank: 100s to 150s Specialization: Recon Popular Product: A toy version of his masks that distorts your voice.

Preferring to stay away from the limelight, both for himself and his Quirk, Shinso made a valuable underground hero for the world at large. He's been immensely helpful in deescalating dangerous situations and assisting police in doing wet work to gather evidence. In spite of that, he never once felt like a villain.

The Stun Gun Hero, Chargebolt: Rank: 70s to 80s Specialization: Combat Popular Product: A toy version of his disk launcher and glasses

While not as lazy as he was in his youth, Denki still takes a laid back attitude to hero work and tends to treat it more like celebrity work. Less out of any selfish desire and more that he's surprisingly good at that part of it, especially with teenagers. Still does little electrical shows and short circuits himself sometimes at the request of fans.

The Hearing Heroine, Treblemaker: Rank: 20s to 30s Specialization: Rescue Popular Product: Various musical equipment themed after her, especially headphones and musical toys.

After her injury, Jiro focused less on hero work as a whole. While she still went out and landed her ear when she was needed, she instead used it as a platform to prop up her music to a resounding success. She'd often use her music and concerts to help raise money and attention to disaster areas she had worked in. Eri has been and always will be her biggest fan.

The Alien Heroine, Pinky: Rank: 10s to 20s Specialization: Combat Popular Product: Various health and beauty products, especially skin care ones.

It's been said by her fans that Mina was built to be a hero. And they'd be right. Between her flashy power and friendly personality, she quickly gained a following and shot up the ranks. She remains a fan favorite among the crowds, earning the fan name of Alien Queen. Tends to gossip a lot about her fellow heroes and causes undue drama.

The Sturdy Hero, Red Riot: Rank: 20s to 30s Specialization: Defense Popular Product: As much as Kirishima wants it to be his workout equipment and videos, it's his hair care products.

Kirishima became a noble and courageous hero, always being the first to run into whatever danger was in his way. In spite of his simple ability, his overall brand helped him garner the attention he deserved. He became an icon for young men around the state, inspiring them to be brave, to improve, and to protect the ones they love.

The Everything Hero, Refine: Rank: 5s-15s Specialization: Support Popular Product: A junior chemistry set that actually taught quite a bit about chemistry.

While never at the front of any one operation, Momo's plays a pivotal role in organizing and planning many operations, both big and small, and is considered the resident "mastermind" among the heroes. When she isn't doing that, she is assisting Uraraka, helping to provide the resources for needed to help those who can't afford the needed support equipment.

The Jet-Black Hero, Tsukuyomi: Rank: 10s to 20s Specialization: Combat Popular Product: Various plushies designed after Dark Shadow

In the shadows of the night, this dark hero would strike out giving all villains a true terror for the dark beast inside him. Yes, Tokoyami is still a massive dork. His own phrase of "Revelry in the Dark" became his catchphrase in the public eye, especially among his massive chunibyo fan base, much to his embarrassment. He thinks he could have come up with something cooler.

Rainy Season Hero: Froppy Rank: 100s-150s Specialization: Rescue Popular Product: A collection of Froppy themed water accessories, like goggles and water guns.

Tsuyu still patrols the coastline with her sidekicks, the Tadpoles, searching for anyone in need. While her niche work keeps her from the limelight, she is still extremely popular with small children. This is helpful whenever she helps Uraraka with her Quirk Counseling endeavors, helping to educate younger children on the matter.

The Turbo Hero, Ingenium Rank: 10s to 20s Specialization: Combat Popular Product: An Ingenium themed car for the action figure to drive around, much to Iida's confusion.

As Tenya grew older, he began to mellow out more, becoming more like the man Tensei was than the man Tenya thought he was. Still, he holds himself and his sidekicks to the high standards of the Ingeium family name. Hopes to instill those values in the younger generation and works extensively with Uraraka with her efforts in Quirk Counseling.

The Lighthearted Heroine, Uraravity Rank: 20s to 30s Specialization: Rescue Popular Product: A series of space themed toys based around a space mission storyline her brand did.

Uraraka went on to participate in and champion the act of Quirk Counseling. She helped to push for the implementation and personalization of the process across many schools. She wanted to make sure that no one would feel hatred for the Quirk and would regularly go around to help teach kids to understand and accept their Quirks.

Great Explosion Murder God, Dynamight: Rank: 5s-15s Specialization: Combat Popular Product: Toys inspired by his bracers that light up and shoot out plastic darts.

Ever the firecracker, Bakugou remains a solo hero through and through. He fails at having any real media presence and is well known for his tumultuous relationship with the press. Still, he remains one of the most impressive heroes in terms of incidents solved and time spent patrolling. Tends to take in "troubled kids" and whip them into shape as his sidekicks.

The Thermal Hero, Shoto Rank: 5s-15s Specialization: Combat Popular Product: A limited edition model based off of his first costume.

Shoto became the pro hero he was always meant to be, moving on from the shadow of his family. However, in spite of his time and dedication, his public image keeps him from the higher rankings. He still cannot talk to people to save his life, and the awkward interviews are legendary in the hero fan community. Still manages to rank high among the "Hottest Heroes" listing.

The Greatest Hero, Deku: Rank: ??? Specialization: Combat Popular Product: A short-lived action figure from his time as a hero. It is considered a high-value item that any fan would kill for.

Deku's time away has led to endless speculation on what happened to him and why he left. However, with his big splash back on the hero scene, he's made huge waves in the hero world and is fully expected to shoot up the ranks. Many fans watch on in excitement to see what will come next of the young hero. Though for him, he's still eager to help teach his adoring students.

[mya-valentine]

Hi! I was wondering if you can do platonic headcanons with reader that has hooves? :>

Headcanon: Class 1A With a Classmate With a Demon Quirk

A/N: I had way too much fun writing this😂😩

The students of Class 1-A are fascinated by your demon quirk and hooves. Mina and Kirishima, especially, are always asking about your abilities, wanting to know more about the demonic traits you possess.

Your hooves make distinct sounds when walking, so whenever you're approaching, everyone knows it’s you. Kaminari always jokes that it sounds like a mini stampede, while Jiro finds the rhythm of your steps oddly soothing.

Thanks to your hooves, your balance and agility are unmatched. You easily excel in physical activities like obstacle courses. Sero admires how quick you are during training sessions, often joking that you’ve got "devilish reflexes."

Knowing that your demon quirk gives you a lot of energy, Sato bakes special high-calorie snacks to help you recharge after using your powers. He says the extra sugar will keep your "demonic strength" going strong.

Class 1-A is protective of you. If anyone from outside the class makes fun of your hooves or demon appearance, the whole class stands up for you, led by Iida with his stern lectures about respect.

Your hero costume is tailored to accommodate your hooves and demonic features. You designed it with help from Hatsume, who added enhancements to make it even more functional, like special gripping soles for extra traction.

You occasionally use your demon quirk for harmless pranks—like making your eyes glow or showing off your sharp claws. This either scares the daylights out of Mineta or amuses people like Kaminari and Ashido, who are always up for a good laugh.

Bakugo has taken to calling you "Hoof Head" or "Demon Feet" in his usual blunt fashion. It’s more of a teasing term of endearment, but he respects your strength and teamwork, especially during battle.

Aizawa sees potential in your quirk, particularly your demon transformation abilities, and encourages you to control it better. He’s always on the lookout for ways to help you improve your techniques while keeping your wild energy in check.

When everyone’s hanging out, you’ll often get questions about your demonic ancestry or if your hooves give you any cool powers. The class loves learning about your background, especially Midoriya, who diligently takes notes on your quirk.

During combat training, your hooves give you an advantage in close-quarters combat, and Aizawa often pairs you up with students like Tokoyami or Ojiro, who can challenge your agility and raw strength. Tokoyami thinks your demonic traits complement Dark Shadow’s abilities, leading to friendly rivalry.

Every now and then, you have to take care of your hooves, and Jiro and Momo always offer to help. They’ve turned it into a relaxing self-care session where they bring out files and polishes, chatting away while you all take turns maintaining your gear (and hooves!).

Kirishima absolutely loves your hooves and demon features because they scream "manly" to him. He constantly talks about how your hooves are a symbol of endurance and wants you to help him with "toughness training," where the two of you push each other to the limits in intense workouts.

You and Kaminari are notorious for leaving mysterious hoofprints around the dorm or during class trips, spooking the more easily scared classmates like Mineta or Tsuyu. You love the mischievous fun of it, and Kaminari always backs you up with some playful electric sparks for added effect.

When playing sports or any sort of team game, your powerful legs make you an absolute beast. Bakugo always wants you on his team for dodgeball, and you’re often the MVP for your speed and strength. Kaminari calls you the "devil’s ace."

Your hooves sometimes attract attention from animals. Koda is always curious about how animals react to your demonic presence. You find that certain animals are drawn to your hooves or are intimidated by them, which amuses the class during nature hikes or field training.

Midoriya frequently consults with you on how to adapt your demon quirk for battle scenarios, while Ochaco helps brainstorm ways to lessen the weight of your hooves to improve your jumps and kicks.

In battle simulations, you’re famous for using your hooves to land powerful kicks that can knock enemies back or break through solid walls. Bakugo and Todoroki acknowledge your strength and occasionally team up with you, using your kicks for explosive combos.

Mineta often tries to make jokes about your demon features in a way that annoys the class. Whenever this happens, Yaoyorozu, Jiro, or even Aizawa quickly shut him down, with Bakugo sometimes telling him to "quit being an idiot" while Sero distracts him with tape.

Even though Bakugo gives you tough nicknames and acts gruff, he actually respects your demon quirk and hooves more than he lets on. He secretly appreciates how your strength complements his explosive combat style, and he counts on you to back him up during intense missions.

During class trips or outdoor activities, your hooves sometimes make hiking or walking long distances easier. You end up helping your friends navigate tough terrain, carrying or supporting them when they need it. Kirishima always calls you the "ultimate hiking buddy."

During sleepovers in the dorms, your hooves are always a topic of conversation. The girls especially love asking about how they work, and Mina tries to convince you to paint them a fun color for pajama parties, even if it’s just temporary for fun.

There’s a running joke that one day Bakugo and you will have an epic battle between his explosions and your hoof kicks. Even though you’re always joking about it, everyone kind of wonders who’d win in a true "explosive vs. demonic" showdown.

With your demon quirk, your classmates sometimes see you as a natural leader, especially in difficult or intimidating situations. When tensions are high, they trust your strength and decisiveness, relying on you to push through challenges with your hooves pounding forward in determination.

.

.

.

Masterlist

[midnightsun-if]

”Probably using some of the other roommates as “human” shields…. Which would end up being interesting depending on who it is.”

how would each RO react to being the human shield?

Koda:

“Can I hide behind you for a sec, big guy?”

A warm grin tugs at Koda’s lips. “Sure!” He shifts a bit so Blake could worm into the space behind him. “Is there something you need? I’m just doing some light reading for Sloane.”

Blake’s brow furrows in confusion. “Why?”

“Something about me not understanding the core concept of personal space.” Koda shrugs. “Thought I should get a bit of a head start on learning.”

Opening and closing their mouth, Blake tries to come up with a proper response to that but, before they could, which was either fortunate or not, the door to the den slams open and you’re fuming form stands at the entrance. A sight that causes them to skink further back into the shadows and behind the considerable bulk of the bear-shifter. Good, I probably won’t be seen. All I have to do is be quiet and—

“Hey MC!” Koda waves his hand, booming voice almost rattling the glass panes of the high arching windows. “Blake and I were just doing some reading. Would you like to join us?”

Scarlett:

“Hide me.”

The panicked voice causes emerald eyes to raise from age-worn pages, an elegant brow furrowed with the barest hints of exasperation being shown by the downturn of full lips. Rising from her seated position, Scarlett scoffs at the seemingly endless audacity that Blake Herrera showcased on a daily basis.

“Do you truly think—“ Her words are cut off as the insipid hell-spawn tucks themself behind her, just as the library door bursts open and you make an appearance. At the sight, and by simply knowing the relationship between the two, Scarlett almost lets out a long-suffering sigh. She’s been alive for over two hundred years, but she’s never been quite as tired since having to deal with you both. “I’m not getting in the middle of this.”

Taking her book, and the rest of her wine, Scarlett arches a brow as she looks into widened violet eyes. “You’ve dealt your own hand. Now reap what you’ve sowed.” With that she makes her way out of the library, only offering you a cursory glance as she passes. “They’re all yours. Please try not to make too much of a mess. I do wish to return later on and finish my reading.”

Cyrus/Cyra:

“Think you can help me with something, hot stuff?”

A delicate brow furrows. “I thought I told you to desist with that nickname.”

“Right, right. Sorry.” Blake offers them an apologetic smile. “Still… D’ya think you can help me with something, Birdie?”

Red flashes in the dual-colored gaze before a calming breath is issued to stem whatever reaction they were about to have. “What is it? I’m not sure I’m interested in any proposition you’d have to offer me.”

“For one thing that sort of hurts my heart to hear and for another if I was propositioning you, you’d be more than aware of it.” The demon-hybrid glances over their shoulders worriedly. “I just need to use you as potential cover in case MC finds me. Simple, right?”

“That doesn’t sound simple in the slightest. You know I don’t like getting in the middle of whatever squabbles you and MC have with one another.” They pinch the bridge of their nose. “Especially since they tend to be quite ridiculous.”

Blake splays out their hands, faux-innocence etched across their face. “Aren’t I one of your subjects? Isn’t it like a duty, or something, to help protect me?”

“That’s not how that works at all, Blake.” They glance at something, an amused look briefly gracing their features. “It seems like my time here is up. I have a test to get prepared for and I don’t think a panicking demon will help me concentrate for it.”

They pat Blake’s arm, an almost awkward smile on their lips. “I do hope I see you for dinner.”

Quinn:

“You’ve eaten more of MCs food, haven’t you?”

The plea for help is born and dies on Blake’s lips as Quinn’s amused sapphire gaze meets their own— a small pout forming on their lips in its stead.

“It’s not any fun to be fleeing for my life when you already know the reason.” Blake shakes their head, crossing their arms. “How did you hear about it anyway?”

Quinn arches a brow. “We’re in the living room, Blake. A mere fifty feet from the entrance to the dining room.” At Blake’s expectant look a soft sigh escapes them. “I heard it. With my ears.”

“Well that’s just cheating.” Glancing behind them, they’re glad to see that MC hasn’t gone in full pursuit yet. Probably still assessing the damage. “Do you think you could distract MC for a bit? At least until I find someone who’ll actually play along.”

Quinn shrugs. “I don’t see why not. I’ll give you an extra five minutes to find someone.” Sapphire eyes glance towards the dining room. “I’d make it quick though. I don’t think MC will let this pass so easily this time.”

No, Blake muses, I don’t think so either…

Caden:

“Hey, Casper,” Blake says, charming smile in full effect as they sidle next to the hunched over form. “Haven’t spoken to you in a bit. How have you been?”

Argent eyes flicker with curiosity. “We rarely ever speak. In fact I can think of only three times we’ve had actual conversations.” Caden looks back down at their work, jotting down a couple more notes in various places. “Shouldn’t you be with MC? I’d assume you’d be spending the afternoon together.”

“Thought I’d spend it with you instead. Realized that we haven’t gotten some one-on-one time together and wanted to fix that.” Something that Blake will have to rectify regardless; just not when they’re currently fearful for their life. “What do you say?”

Caden looks up, eyes flickering to the entrance of the dining room before looking back. “I say that you’ve gotten yourself into trouble and wish to have a way out of it.” Closing their notebook, they stand from the table. “And, I regret to inform you, that I do not work for you. I do not wish to interfere with whatever it is you’ve done with the child of the woman that actually pays my salary. I do wish for the best for you.”

With that Caden makes a quick exit out of the room. Leaving a flabbergasted half-demon and fuming vampire behind.

Sloane:

Hazel eyes narrow into slits even before Blake can get one word out, lips curling into a snarl around the cigarette dangling from them. “Whatever you’re about to ask the answer is abso-fucking-lutely not.” They take one last drag, before they crush the remnants of the cigarette underneath a leather clad heel. “I don’t have time to deal with your brand of idiocy today, Herrera.”

Blake places their hands over their heart. “I’m hurt, wolfie, deeply and truly.” Sloane’s eyes narrow dangerously at the nickname. “I promise if you help me out this time, I won’t bother you for the next month.”

“Or—“ Sloane rolls their shoulders, lazy smirk tugging at their lips. “I could leave you to whatever mess you’ve created for yourself, which will probably keep you out of my hair for even longer.”

“You see that’s not exactly the answer I was hoping for.”

Sloane shrugs, hazel eyes locking with something over Blake’s shoulder. “Then you shouldn’t have come to me.” Pushing off the wall they had been leaning against, they brush past the demon-hybrid. Leaving Blake to contend with their irate best friend alone.

Reginald/Regina:

“Short Stack,” Blake calls the moment they clock the familiar human with an armful of books and papers. “Need a favor.”

A wide smile stretches across their lips, blue-green eyes sparkling with immediate interest. “What do you need? It’s not about another seance, right?” Their brow furrows slightly. “Scarlett told me you were just messing with me about that.”

Blake scoffs. “Beauty Queen likes to ruin future projects it seems.” Serves me right for messing around with her… She could have done a lot worse. And has… Shaking their head, Blake forces themself to focus. “But it’s not about that, sprout. I just need a place to hide out for a bit and thought that I could hangout in your room.”

“You want to hangout with me? Isn’t MC done with their classes?” Skillfully maneuvering the objects in their arms, R glances down at their watch. “It’s about that time.”

Wrapping an arm around slim shoulders, the demon-hybrid lets loose a soft chuckle, quickly pulling the small human in the direction they needed to go when they take note of their irate best friend on the other side of the quad. “Why would I want to do that when I have you right here?”

“I suppose.”

A charming grin catches on Blake’s lips. “You got any food in that bag of yours?”

[aurora-daily]

AURORA hosting Tearjerker on BBC Sounds!

On the first episode called "The First Tear" she "shares a playlist of nostalgic songs from her younger years that have provided solace and comfort, from the first songs she cried to, to the music she still uses for support today. Featuring pieces from Chopin, The Chemical Brothers and Nick Drake." [link 1]

Tracklist of the episode 1:

Prélude in D Flat Major (Raindrop), Op. 28, No. 15 by Frédéric Chopin

The Brothel by Susanne Sundfør

Sofia (feat. AURORA & iris) by Askjell

Hanna's Theme by The Chemical Brothers

The World Spins by Julee Cruise

Adoration by Florence Price

Anthem for No State, Pt. I by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

This Woman's Work by Kate Bush

Lump Sum by Bon Iver

That Home by The Cinematic Orchestra

Après un rêve, Op. 7, No. 1 (Arr. for Cello and Piano) by Gabriel Fauré

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act II: No. 14c, Pas de deux. Variation II Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Landslide by Fleetwood Mac

Three Hours by Nick Drake

Suzanne by Leonard Cohen

The second episode called "Songs for the lonely" AURORA curates "a playlist to make you feel less alone. Featuring music from Erik Satie, Radiohead and Anna Clyne. Plus Aurora has a listener submission for the "Song That Saves Me"", as "It’s hard to be a human today. Somehow we can all feel lonely with the weight of the whole world on our shoulders, but music has the power to make us feel less alone." [link 2]

Tracklist of the episode 2:

Where Life and Death May Dwell (Icelandic Folk Song) - Upright Piano by Snorri Sigfús Birgisson

Gnossienne No.1: Lent by Erik Satie

Lover, Where Do You Live? by Highasakite

To Speak Of Solitude by Brambles

Hymn for Khadija by Anna Yarbrough

Exit Music (For A Film) by Radiohead

The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: XII. Benedictus by Karl Jenkins

Fólk f��r andlit by Hildur Guðnadóttir

Spiegel im spiegel by Arvo Pärt

It's Hard to Be Human (feat. Marissa Nadler) by Lawrence Rothman

Streymir (Voiceless) by Gabríel Ólafs

Tell Me About It by Thea Wang

Hoppípolla by Sigur Rós

The third episode "Beautiful sounds for human connection" celebrates the power of music that connects and brings us together: "Humans have always sung. Music is a natural part of us, and it has always been. Since the first sorrows, we sang to release the pain. And from the first births, we sang to celebrate. Music connects us. And when we sing together, and experience music together, we truly reconnect to a part of ourselves we were dangerously close to forgetting. In this week's episode of Tearjerker, Aurora celebrates the music that brings us together with pieces from The Staves, Clara Schumann and Astrid Sonne. Plus, Aurora has a listener submission for the 'Song That Saves Me'." [link 3]

Tracklist of the episode 3:

Journey to the End of the Night by Lisa Morgenstern

Down To The River To Pray by Alison Krauss

Love Is Colder Than Death by Questo Mostrarsi

momentary - choir version by Ólafur Arnalds & VOCES8

Whitacre: Lux Aurumque by Eric Whitacre

No Me, No You, No More by The Staves

happiness by Taylor Swift

cellophane by FKA twigs

Boadicea by Enya

Kiuá by Andréa Daltro

Io by Miyako Koda

Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap

Soirées musicales, Op. 6: II. Notturno. Andante con moto (Version for Harp) by Clara Schumann

Strong, Calm, Slow by Astrid Sonne

[choiceshorrorfest]

Choices Horror Fest

This is it! With just over two weeks to go before our Horror Fest commences, we are delighted to reveal that we now have finalised our list of prompts for this year’s event.

That being said, we are happy to announce that the books/series’ that we have chosen to include this year are: Nightbound, The It Lives Series (inc. It Lives Within), Terror Fest and Bloodbound!

The event will be as follows…

Each week will be designated a book/series. This week will be made up of days for the LIs (among other characters and themes).

To go along with the these days, seven prompts relating to the events of these books, as well as things associated with them (such as legends and fictional beliefs) will accompany them. These will not be in order - you can use them for whichever character you wish to during that week.

One of the prompts (Descendent) has been included as a prompt for Terror Fest; although this is the case, we are happy for this prompt to be universal - they’re all descendants of someone, right?

Terror Fest is a book that still has chapters currently being released; though this book is being featured, please refrain from writing anything that contains spoilers (we’re looking at you, VIPs 👀)

Now that is out of the way, these are the dates:

Oct 1st to the 7th - Nightbound

1st - Nik

2nd - Vera

3rd - Cal

4th - Katherine

5th - Main Character

6th - The Graveyard Shift

7th - Villains/Side Characters

Prompts for Nightbound

Lineage/Family

Magic

Haunted

Wraith

Rivalry

Atonement

Malevolence

******************************************************

Oct 8th to the 14th - The ‘It Lives’ series

8th - Lucas/Tom/Abel

9th - Ava/Danni/Jocelyn

10th - Andy/Imogen/Amalia

11th - Stacey/Parker/Lincoln

12th - Connor/Dan/Noah

13th - Main Characters

14th - Westchester/The Power

Prompts for It Lives

Possession

Revelation

Occult

Mistakes

Gift

Manipulation

Distrust

******************************************************

Oct 15th to the 21st - Terror Fest

15th - Tyson

16th - Zaire

17th - Lucky

18th - Koda

19th - Main Character

20th -The Many Tales of Stabby Joe

21st - Sibling Rivalry

Prompts for Terror Fest

Descendant

Instinct

Suspect

Vulnerability

Unease

Faceless

Urban Legend

******************************************************

Oct 22nd to the 28th - Bloodbound

22nd - Adrian

23rd - Kamilah

24th - Lily

25th - Jax

26th - The Bloodkeeper

27th - The First Vampire

28th - The Second Son

Prompts for Bloodbound

Bloodbath

Bitten

Undead

Stake

Revelation

Servitude

Parasite

******************************************************

So, that’s 28 days covered.

But that’s not where this event ends…

From the 28th to the 31st, another book will come into play - one that was very much a fan favorite when it first aired in 2018.

THE ELEMENTALISTS!

29th - Love Interests

30th - MC

31st - Family Bonds

Prompts for the Elementalists:

Sibling Bonds

Betrayal

Dark Arts

Familiars

Sun and Moon

Power

Reflection

Thank you for taking an interest in this event; we hope that you will enjoy this event just as much as we have enjoyed planning it - it’s going to be so much fun!

Look out for the rules and guidelines - they’re very important!

Until then,

Amy (kinda-iconic) and Andrea (bloodboundismylife)

[dira333]

Water Lily - Kisame Hoshigaki x Reader

tagged: @missalienqueen @snuggleboots

The rain was more than welcome.

Kisame never minded the rain, had been born and raised in and around water. He loved that about Amegakure, felt more at home here than he’d ever done in Kiri. 

There was just something honest about it, the way its drops washed away every lie, every chance of deceit. Where one could easily hide in the neverending fog of Kiri, they’d have to bare themselves to the world in the rain of Amegakure.

.

It was close to nightfall by the time he made it out of the hidden village.

Kisame could have easily found a bed there, but he wanted to get out, clear his head, and think about the offer he received.

As a Rogue-Nin, he didn’t have that much to choose from. A hidden life, or a life of being chased. He’d never been one to hide away but he was getting older. Maybe he’d one day get tired of hunting down criminals for bounty or fight those who hunt him. Maybe one day he’d want to have a family too.

If Kisame accepted Pain’s offer, he wouldn’t have to worry about money for a while, but the Akatsuki didn’t sound like a group he could walk away from as easily as he did with Kirigakure. 

He paused in his musings, forcing the thoughts from his mind to enjoy the wet squelch of his sandals, the cool feeling of rain soaking through his clothes. If there was a river nearby he could take a dip later after he found a bed to sleep in.

-

Lanterns bravely defied the rain, their soft light ready to fight the coming darkness.

It looked warm and welcoming and Kisame spontaneously decided that he would stay here for the night. He moved through the crowd of people, eyes focused on the signs, looking for an Inn.  When he stopped in front of one, something tumbled into his side.

When he looked down, two curious bright eyes peered up at him. A child, maybe three years old. Kisame frowned, and waited for the crying that usually followed when small children took sight of his features.

Instead, the kid started beaming, reaching for him with chubby fingers.

“Fishy!” It cried out joyfully. “Big Fishy!”

“Oh, Suzume!” Two arms swooped in and pulled the child away from his leg. It was a young woman, visibly related to the child. 

“I am so sorry.” You apologized, not meeting his eye. You were pretty, not unlike a water lily that bloomed in murky water. 

“Fishy!” Suzume kept exclaiming, struggling against the arms keeping her away.

“You like fish?” Kisame asked, watched with quiet satisfaction as your eyes finally flew up to his face, and widened at his sight. For some, it was his Hitai-ate, clearly crossed through, for others his animalistic features. He wondered what it was that scared you.

“I love Fish!” The child beamed up at him, not the least bit scared. “My favorite are sharks! Then dolphins. Whales are cool too! And Jellyfish!”

“Why do you like sharks?”

“They are so funny!” Suzume giggled and turned her face to you. “Right, Onee-chan?”

You didn’t answer, your eyes still on him as if you were searching for something.

“Are you looking for a place to sleep?”

“What if I am?”

You nod to the sign above the door. “Old Man Koda rips people off. Our place might not be as big but our prices are honest.”

He’d be a fool to say no to that offer and while Kisame Hoshigake might be known as many things, he’d never been a fool.

-

Kisame hears the pitter-patter of quick little feet before he sees her.

Suzume fails to hide herself, a chubby shadow betraying her efforts to be secretive.

“Fishy?” She asks, whispers way too loudly. “Can I bathe with you? I can scrub your back.”

He wouldn’t have minded a similar offer from her big sister, but he grins at the little girls eagerness. Kisame pushes open the door to Suzume already beaming up at him.

In her arms is a stuffed toy that has seen better days. The shark has lost most of it’s filling and its felt teeth are no longer white but a dirty grey.

“This is Mr. Mimi.” Suzume explains and steps inside the little washroom. “He watches over me.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.” Suzume nods her head eagerly, walks up to the bathtub and climbs up, takes a seat on the rim. Her movements tell him that this isn’t the first time she’s scrubbed someone’s back.

“Do you bath with your sister?”

“Yes.” She nods. “You have to get into the water.”

“You don’t need to scrub my back.” He tells her, keeping his towel securely around his waist as he takes a seat in the tub. It’s too small for him, but he folds his legs under him and grins up at Suzume. “You can just tell me about Mr. Mimi.”

-

By the time you step inside the washroom, it’s clear that you must have looked for your sister everywhere. Your hair has turned into a frizzy halo around your head as if you pulled at it in desperation and your eyes are red from unshed tears.

“Suzume!” You cry out when you spot her, still sitting on the rim of the bathtub, chubby feet dangling in the cooling water, Mr. Mimi secure in her grasp. “What are you doing?”

“She wanted to scrub my back.” Kisame offers with a grin. “I could barely keep her at bay.”

“I was telling him about Mr. Mimi.” Suzume squirms in your hold. “I’m not done yet.”

“Yes, you are. You should be in bed. And you can’t bother our guests! You know that.”

“But! Mr. Fishy!” Suzume starts crying. “I’m not done yet.”

“Relax, Kiddo.” Suzume immediately stops her wailing at his words. “You can tell me in the morning.”

-

Kisame finds you in the kitchen after that, a pot of curry bubbling in front of you.

“I am sorry about my sister.” You say without looking at you. “She’s normally not that clingy.”

“It’s fine.” He takes a seat at the table, his eyes on your back.

You’re not Shinobi, but you have some sense of Chakra Control. He can taste it like he can taste the possibility of a great fight or the deceit of a stranger.

“You’re not Shinobi.” He’s not asking, but you nod. “Not anymore. My parents took me from the Academy at eleven when my little brother was born. He needed a lot of care and it was cheaper to have me care for him.”

“How do you make money?”

You shrug and put a plate in front of him. He digs in with a quick “Itadakimasu”. It’s delicious.

“I house travelers like you. I mend clothes, bake, whatever needs to be done. I’m not eligible for missions because I never properly graduated, but we make do.”

“Your brother?”

“Dead.”

“Your parents?”

“What do you think?” Your voice is sharp now. He shrugs like you did before.

Why is he even that interested in you? You’re not the first pretty girl he’s seen on his travels. 

He should just take you to his room - which coincidentally belongs to you anyway - and get this over with. Tomorrow he can leave with a clearer mind and never think of you again.

But he doesn’t. 

Kisame sleeps alone, dreams of rainy days and the gleaming white of a water lily in a murky pond.

-

“Fishy!”  Suzume lands heavy on his chest, beams into his face as he blinks.

“It’s way to early.” Kisame grunts and she giggles, tugs at the blanket covering him.

“I gotta tell you about Mr. Mimi!” Suzume exclaims eagerly, climbs under his blanket before he can protest. She’s fast when she wants to be.

That’s how you find them half an hour later, Suzume snuggled into his side, waving Mr. Mimi around as she tells him her dreams while he dozes.

You make breakfast and keep quiet over it, speak only through short glances.

Kisame should get going. Pain didn’t give him an ultimatum, but he’s not someone you keep waiting.

Instead he grabs his trusted sword and a scroll filled with Kunai.

“Is there a place we can train?” He asks. Your eyes are big as you nod. But you don’t disagree, walk him down the street and to a field. The grass is slick with rain, the thick droplets have already soaked through his clothes but neither you nor Suzume seem to mind.

“I don’t know the rules.” Kisame points out gruffly. “But can’t you retake the exam? Become a Genin at any age?”

“Who would look after Suzume?” You ask back and he shrugs, unable to speak. Instead he grabs a bigger branch, cuts away with his Kunai until the shape roughly resembles one and presses it into Suzume’s hands.

“Watch me closely, Drop.” Kisame taps one finger against her temple when she furrows her brows in confusion. “Don’t think. Just watch.”

-

After one week he corners you in the kitchen at night. He doesn’t have to say the words, can already see the answers in your eyes. 

Pain can wait a little longer for an answer.

After one month he starts telling you about Kirigakure. The kind of jobs he takes. 

Kisame would never say it out loud - doesn’t have to - but there’s a different kind of honesty to his words when he’s with you, alone, only the rain clothing them.

Two months in and he can feel it, the fire in his bones that makes him restless. Kisame’s never been good at staying in one place - never mind that it’s dangerous for someone like him. He needs the constant thrill that only dangerous missions bring.

Kisame’s not surprised that you can read him before he has to say it.

“You should leave.” You point out one night, your head on his chest. “Make some money. You still need to pay your bill with me.”

“And here I thought I paid you off with my body.” He jokes but his humor falls flat.

“Kisame.” You sit up to look down at him. He can barely make out your shape, but he’s grown to memorize you, the curve of your lips, and the swell of your cheeks. “I will never hold you back. If you need to go, you need to go. Besides, I’m almost bored of you anyway.”

“That’s a lie.” He points out and you sigh. “Yeah. But still. I understand. You did enough for us already. We will be fine.”

He doesn’t believe it. Not because he hasn’t seen your progress or has watched Suzume grow from misusing a wooden Kunai to handling a real one, but because it would mean that he no longer has a place with you, will no longer be needed.

Kisame didn’t know he could need to be needed until he was.

So he bows his head and tells you. 

-

In the morning he grabs his stuff and pats away Suzume’s tears.

“Hush.” He says, voice gruff. “I’ll be back soon. Look out for your sister. Keep yourself safe.”

“I’ll miss you.” She hugs his leg with all the strength of an almost four year old kid.

“I’ll miss you too.” 

You hug him too, but it’s not the same as it is at night. You don’t give yourself up as wholly as you do in the darkness, hold back so much of yourself that it feels like hugging a stranger.

Nothing is certain in a world like theirs, but maybe, just maybe, Pain could bring forth a different one. One where Suzume doesn’t have to learn how to kill. One where you don’t have to be afraid of strangers. One where he can come back to you and stay, knowing no harm will follow him home.

-

Years have carved their marks into his skin.

Suzume will graduate soon, will wear her Hitai-ate with pride. 

She still calls him Fishy, still crawls onto his lap when he’s home. Still cries when he leaves eventually. She’s taken a special liking to Itachi too, has scrubbed his back in their bathtub and served him Dango on the few times he brought him over

Kisame blinks against the rain running down his face, doesn’t have to taste it to know it will be salty. Suzume will be heartbroken over Itachi’s death. If only he could keep it from her.

The closer they are getting to their goal, to the world that Pain has promised them, the less faith he has in it.

What good is a world that kills everything he loves? 

Kisame’s never been a coward, but he’s no fool either. This will kill him, sooner or later.

-

You welcome him back with a smile and a kiss.

There’s something different about you, but you refuse to tell.

Suzume asks about Itachi and he lies through his teeth, if only to have one more day of peace.

It’s only after dinner, in the warmth of a shared bath, that he recognizes all the signs.

The swell of your belly, the new kind of smile you carry, the gentle way you press his hands to your lower stomach.

It’s the best thing that has ever happened to him, and he can’t even be happy about it.

Tomorrow he will have to leave again. They still have to capture the Eight-tails and the Nine-tails. Who knows when he will be back, if ever.

It’s a testament to your strength and not his that you don’t cry.

Calmly you ask for details, and hold him while he crumbles.

“So you lost faith.” You say quietly when he’s revealed even the last secret. “I can’t say I ever had any.”

“But Amegakure?”

“I don’t think that Amegakure will be able to rise because of violence or pain. Just think of yourself, what kept you here? Wasn’t it our kindness? Kindness will always be stronger than any pain.”

You cradle his face in your hands and look at him in a way he’s only ever seen you do. Like you know him better than he knows himself.

“If you can, come home. It doesn’t matter if we have to run our whole life. It will be a better life with you in it. If you can’t, I will accept it. I will raise this child to think of you with pride. This is the gift I have for you. Do with it what you will.”

He leaves in the morning. The sun isn’t up yet and neither are you.

No one knows what the future will bring. Either way, he’ll have to make a decision.

-.-

You pull Suzume from the Academy before she can graduate. 

You resign from your position as a Chunin when your pregnancy becomes obvious. 

Kisame has made sure to leave you money with every visit and your savings will take you a long way if you budget right. 

In all of this, you keep hoping that he will return in time for the birth of his child.

But you give birth without him, Suzume the only one there to hold your hand through it.

As months turn into a year your hope changes. 

You hope that he returns at all.

You hope that he’s still alive.

You hope that he was granted a quick death, that he was allowed to die with dignity.

-.-

The rain is more than welcome.

It washes the dried blood off his face. Most of it is his own. 

Kisame still loved that about Amegakure, the way he knew he was coming home just by the rain alone. How it hugged him loosely as he walked through, called him home through the pitter-patter of raindrops.

-

Lanterns bravely defy the rain, their soft light ready to fight the coming darkness.

The village looks as warm and welcoming as the first night he walked through. Although much time has passed, barely anything has changed. When he stops to check his reflection in a window, something tumbles into his side.

When he looks down, two curious bright eyes peer up at him. A boy, maybe one year old, beams up at him, its smile filled with sharp teeth. He frowns, his heart shuddering with the implication.

The kid reaches for him with chubby fingers.

“Fishy!” He cries out joyfully. “Big Fishy!”

Kisame picks him up without a second thought, ignores the pain shooting through his back at the movement. 

“Haruto!” Your voice breaks when you recognize him. A choked sob bursts from your lips, then you’re in his arms too, your momentum almost tipping him over.

“Onee-chan, where are you- Ni-san!” Now’s Suzume hanging off him too. 

-

It’s way past his bedtime when Kisame finally puts Haruto down to sleep.

He cannot stop looking at him, cannot quell the guilt he feels for missing so many moments already. If things had been just a little bit different, he might never have come back at all.

“Let me look at your injuries.” You ask.

“How did I deserve you?” He asks instead. Your hair is in disarray, feeding Haruto dinner has left stains on your shirt, but you’re still his water lily, unblemished by the dirt of the world.

“By existing.” You tell him firmly, but your voice softens when you continue. “By coming home.”

[arawsuu]

Very trying times, gravity just takes hold of him u_u

Featuring @jax-is-rattled's character Noc about to absolutely crush Koda. Its alright though, he'll probably be fine!

[felassan]

DRAGON AGE: SOUNDTRACK 4LP BOX SET - DISC 4 SIDE A (BONUS DLC TRACKS) 1. I AM THE ONE (DARK FANTASY VERSION) [DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS] (4:10) 2. MAIN THEME [DAI DESCENT DLC] (2:58) 3. AFTERMATH [DAI DESCENT DLC] (1:29) 4. DARK SOLAS THEME [DAI TRESPASSER DLC] (3:01) 5. QUNARI ATMOSPHERE [DAI TRESPASSER DLC] (2:41) 6. LOST ELF THEME [DAI TRESPASSER DLC] (3:58) 7. D'READ KODA (1:08) [HIDDEN TRACK]

I find the arrangement of the tracks on Disc 4 Side A "Bonus DLC Tracks" in the Dragon Age OST vinyl interesting. it's called "Bonus DLC Tracks" but the first track it features is "I Am The One (Dark Fantasy Version)", which isn't from DLC, it's from basegame DA:O, and ofc the last track is new. this disc is the only one of the discs to include songs from multiple games (and not even just two, but three: DA:O, DA:I and DA:D, assuming that "D'Read Koda" is from or tied to DA:D). and the order the Trespasser tracks are included in is different to the order they appear in on the Trespasser OST, at least going by the Trevor Morris album (on there it's Dark Solas Theme, Lost Elf Theme, Qunari Atmosphere). I wanna say that the way it was arranged was intentional, like the specific arrangement of the tracks on this disc is like hinting at telling a sort of a story or a tease. he's lost, and then things come to an end (his story and.. something else?). a passage of music that brings the music to a close (coda), that brings a piece or movement to an end. I think of when Flemythal said

Alas, so long as the music plays, we dance.

and when Solas said

 I walk the dinan'shiral. There is only death on this journey. [death is an end, and it can be a metaphor for the end of something too]

my eye is also drawn to:

I am the One (Dark fantasy version) [...] Dark Solas theme

especially since there's a different version of I Am The One ("High fantasy version") that could have gone in there instead (which as the second song on the DA:O OST, the high fantasy version is more of a 'where this all began' song).

the idea that "I Am The One" is about Solas/Fen'Harel and what happened in ancient Elvhenan (and what his intention is in the future) is a common fan theory, and not a new one. [link to English translation of the lyrics] the lyrics could be applied to a lot of things, or nothing at all, but back then there was a war (both within the Evanuris and one they fought before that), a divide between the gods, the sky was held back/there was great destruction when the Veil was raised (but despite that there was a flicker of hope in that the elves were freed from the Evanuris), the nature of time for the ancient elves was changed (elven immortality/mortality), he references the potential for the world now to burn in the raw chaos if he succeeds, In Your Heart Shall Burn/From The Ashes etc. he ended up being one of the only survivors who lived on from the event and fears dying alone, is one of the only elves in modern Thedas who remembers, he's asked for and turned to for guidance at various points (Lasa ghilan / Ma ghilana mir din'an / Ma ghilana, vhenan / Fen'Harel ma ghilana), he believes he's the only one who can fix it now in the modern day, etc.

listening again to D'Read Koda, the echo-y, pulsing aspect and how it rises to a crescendo reminds me of the music in the Dread Wolf Rises teaser (which is still such a banger). and the discordant notes remind me of the same here and here in the 2020 trailer music. the 'discordant note' hook is also present here in the in-game cinematic (also at the start and throughout it sort of underpinning it), and the general ominous atmosphere of the 'koda' also echoes that of the various bits of music we've heard in trailers and the in-game cinematic before.

anyways, since I don't have a vinyl player I made the tracks as a lil playlist for myself on Spotify and have been listening to that then playing one of the videos with the D'Read Koda audio in it (since ofc it isn't on Spotify rn) to have the same effect, and it's interesting.

[quirkwizard]

What do you think Class 1-A's action figures would look like in universe?

Non-quirk related question haha. What do you think class 1A's barbie-ken taglines would be? Not sure how to frame the question but for example for Tokoyami it could be, "This Ken is gothic" or for Ochako it could be, "This Barbie is on cloud nine" (due to her quirk)

I mean, I'm not sure if there is much to say on that. I feel like any taglines for actions figures would just be pretty generic, but I can talk about action figures.

Sato: Comes with a series of small snacks that you can feed him to cause him to bulk up and you pop open the stomach to get them back.

Koda: Just a simple figurine of him with a bunch of small animal models that you can play with as well. Comes with a button to play animal sounds.

Mineta: Orbs on the head are removable and the toy comes with arms that catapult the orbs forward. Possibly with a pointless target pad that no kid will use.

Sero: His tape dispensers can be pulled out like a rip cord, letting the action figure pull itself to whatever you put the doll on. Filling them with regular tape did not work well with test audiences.

Aoyama: Armor is made of a super reflective material that shimmers and has a flashlight in the belt to replicate his beam. Also comes with a lot of costume variants and accessories at Aoyama's instance.

Hakagure: Like Aoyama, her toy is very reflective, almost like a giant prism that gives off colorful lights when put up to any light. A stocking issue made it a hard to find collector's item for a time.

Ojiro: The tail can be curled up and then released, causing the action figure to fling forward. This curling can be used to make it hang on stuff as well. His tail also comes with "kung fu action grip", because of course it does.

Denki: Comes with a bunch of flashing lights and sounds for his electrical attacks. Has a swithcable head for his regular face and his low power face, much to Denki's chagrin. Batteries are not included for some reason.

Jiro: Definitely has some music aspect for it's main gimmick, like being able to use her jacks to plug your MP3 player into it to play music on it or having recordings of her songs on it when you press a button on it.

Kirsihima: Either has a bunch of plates on it that you can put on him to harden him up or you push a button to pop them out of the toy. Had issues in production because of how dangerous the hair spike was for kids.

Mina: Has an action figure with a lot articulation. It's main feature is a goo that comes with it that kids are suppose to put in and fire out of the toy. They fill it up by removing head and pouring the goo in, much to Mina's horror.

Shoji: The main feature would obviously be his arms. They'd either work like super stretchy arms or have a much of attachments that a kid could connect and stack on top of each other to add on whatever organs they want.

Iida: This figure with a set up buttons that can kick the legs forward, able to demolish any stack of cups that you happen to set up. He happens to be bundled a lot with overly complex, Ingeium themed cars, much to Iida's confusion.

Tsuyu: Has a lot of suckers on the hands and feet so you can stick it to surfaces. The tongue can be shoot out as well to grab onto stuff, kind of like those sticky hand toys. Yes, it is water proof and a popular bath toy for young children.

Tokoyami: Probabley has a standard figure with Dark Shadow with larger versions of it being sold separately. The parts of Dark Shadow can be removed and put onto Tokoyami for his armored form. It has a glow in the dark feature, without a doubt.

Shoto: Comes with fire and ice attachment to simulate shooting it out of his hands and feet. The scar was on the wrong side of a better part of it's run and it's occasionally bundled with Endeavor toys to help increase Enji's poor sales.

Momo: Her costume had to be changed on the figurine in order to be sold in stores. She comes with a massive amount of accessories to have her wield, along with little facts and tidbits about them. Momo demanded that her toy had some educational merits.

Katsuki: Probably has some spring power launcher in his arms that you can use to fire out plastic darts. Definitely has something that screams out catchphrases like "Die!" and "I'll kill you!" that would have to be rewrite and recorded several times to get them published.

Uraraka: Has a button that makes her hands glow like she does when she uses her powers along with has wench systems like Sero for her grapple hooks. Probably has a weird spin off line based around it, like Uraravity's Space Adventures featuring the Alien Queen Pinky.

Izuku: The most popular and with the most variations, though the standard ones glows with a button press, has spring shoots for the boots, and an spring in the hand to fire plastic air blasts. Sometimes comes out with special versions that come with other Quirks he had.