#i wish they made him an actual villain and not a hero in disguise

[bublegunn]

Midnight at the Pera Palace (2022) x EP: SEVEN

[the-s1lly-corner]

Hey thanks for accepting this ask. So what I wanted to ask is how the amazing digital circus crew would react to a reader who's a strong hero...that's incredibly optimistic, dense and Guilable thinking that the world acts like a cartoon/comic sometimes

TADC cast x comic hero type reader!

meant to start knocking out these last two requests earlier this morning but i had to clean up the house a bit; but im finally getting onto it! reminder that requests are currently closed and any requests sent in will not be answered and will be deleted to keep the inbox clean; so please keep your requests until i announce theyre open again! plan on taking a day or two off to rest my brain n back as well as catching up on art and my own personal fic. the requests being answered currently were sent in prior to requests closing with that said, i hope you enjoy this anon!!

CAINE:

honestly i think caine would be the same way, not exactly but i think he would some of the cluelessness in terms of how the real world works... except its mostly with the non digital real world; call it inexperience or something! lets you play hero during the IHA.. honestly you kind of fit right in with your personality, with tropes and being a stereotypical comic book hero, if not a little naïve. pretends he doesnt recognize you when you walk around in your "citizens disguise"

likes coming up with villain npcs for you to fight during adventures

POMNI:

initial confusion when she sees you just walking around with a tie plastered to your chest, asks you what its for as well as dropping your name. even more shocked that youre shocked that she knows who you are. kind of just accepts this is a thing you do and doesnt question it, especially as she settles into the digital world.. at least youre handy during IHA.. i think during my little break i might try to figure out how i wish to right pomni because i really do wish i made her stuff more... interesting

RAGATHA:

honestly i think she would make you stuff to add to your disguise. doesnt want to shatter the illusion for you so she just tries to casually give you stuff out of the kindness of her heart... which isnt... totally wrong.. honestly i dont think she would try to change you or bring up the bad disguise thing so long as its not somehow putting you in danger. in fact i think she finds your whole hero personality endearing, you guys are both optimistic and its nice to be around someone who isnt just. losing their marbles or being a dick.. plus, you arent technically wrong to view the digital world as a cartoon, i mean, look at it and look at the physics of the world and all

JAX:

oh he is going to be a menace, probably makes a joke villain persona to mess with you only for you to immediately gun for him and deal with his "evil antics",, i mean hey as long as jax doesnt put his silly little villain mask back on you wouldnt suspect a thing... maybe... i think he would roll his eyes at some of the things you say, since youre way more optimistic and out there than ragatha... probably uses your gullible..ness... as a means to trick you

KINGER:

honestly the "as a royal myself" line he dropped in the pilot makes me think that at some level he believes himself to be a real king; or maybe he was just REALLY playing into his whole theming and he knows hes just some dude but was trying to appeal to the gloink queen... what im trying to say is that i think there might actually be a solid chance he fully leans into your hero thing, and perhaps even falls for your disguise (if him constantly forgetting gangle is standing right next to him says anything about his observation skills and/or mental state)

ZOOBLE:

similar to jax but also not. finds your optimism a little too much sometimes; especially if youre very outwardly social and friendly so its not like you swoop in to do your hero duties but you also stop to talk to the 'civilians' of the circus.. though unlike jax they wouldnt try to trick you, nor do i think they would exactly be mean to you. a little irritable by your energy and attitude, maybe, but i think zooble gets irritated by almost everyone in the circus.. reluctantly plays along with your disguise

GANGLE:

i think she would be into it, probably draws you in your non-disguise outfit. you get fanart, yay! probably similar to pomni in the whole, just accepts how you are both as a person and with your antics, but i think she just accepts everything everyone else does! not much to say, shes a fan of it and if you stand up for her when jax is mean thats just an added bonus for her

[kitkatopinions]

something that's always bothered me is how exactly anyone in mistral found out pyrrha was dead. like, they made a big deal about how the tower going down cut off communications, and she only died after that, furthermore, the last thing ppl saw on the *live national broadcast* was pyrrha killing someone?? why does she get a statue??

So, with Qrow sending James a letter, I think it's easy enough to say 'Glynda probably sent her family a letter' to explain how people knew about Pyrrha's death. But, it's a very good point about her having supposedly killed someone on TV on something that seems to be viewed about as much as the Superbowl. Gonna be honest, just with how horrible and suspicious a bunch of people are, I feel like there would be some people who bought into Cinder's speech completely and viewed Penny as just a super suspicious weapon, and therefore viewed Pyrrha as even more of a hero for 'exposing Atlas' for the super duper bad weapon disguised as a normal student.

There would probably be other people who do unfairly view her as a horrible murderer who killed Penny in cold blood. Other people would probably take the mentality that it was a horrible unfortunate accident. And then there would probably be some conspiracy theorists who come up with wild theories about the whole thing being faked, or having been set up by Ironwood in order to justify the embargo later or something. It makes sense to me that Pyrrha's family would've tried to fight for some kind of acknowledgement of Pyrrha's heroics and sacrifice (though the whole monument statue to her is a whole problem anyway,) but idk, would people have fought it? Would there be people defacing the statue in protest?

I kind of wish that sort of thing had actually affected the story and characters, because it only makes sense that not everything would just go away after the Fall. Public perception would be affected by how things were at the Fall of Beacon. There are people who might think of Pyrrha as the villain in the story. There are other people who would think that Yang was some horrible violent person who broke someone's leg for no reason after she won her battle and then yelled 'that's what you get' at him. There are people who probably heard that Weiss had lost her mind from Jacques and ran away after having a nervous breakdown at a party and trying to attack some poor woman. Other people might know Jaune as that team leader from TV who tried to have a team meeting in the middle of the match and couldn't even make his team remember team attack names. It isn't that any of this would be fair, obviously we as an audience know that Pyrrha never would have hurt a competitor on purpose, that Yang was innocent and Mercury and Emerald had set her up to get her kicked out, and that Jaune's come a ways since volume three, and Weiss's father was an abusive jerk and her 'nervous breakdown' was very well justified and doesn't make her dangerous or anything. But other people don't know that. The average citizen wouldn't know that.

When Jaune flashes his badge at a group of civilians, at least one of them should be wary to follow the guy they last saw yelling 'we're in the middle of a meeting, what don't you get about that?' Maybe one of the Ace Ops could question why Yang is being given a license. Maybe one of the people at Jacques' fancy party should act like Weiss is going to have an emotional outburst. Maybe there would be someone who casually remarks to Nora that they're glad her team has been able to move on after 'what Pyrrha did' and Nora can actually get to express grief and anger.

But instead, it's just kind of, brushed under the rug. The writers sometimes act like everyone has a script, even the random C-listers and D-listers who couldn't know what's going on. Characters only have to deal with consequences when the writers remember.

[brick-a-doodle-do]

Rambling up ahead, with some things that might bother some people? Just mentioning experimenting on non-humans and death—you've been warned......

All of this takes place mostly in the second story, but there's info that's important for the first one bc it exists even in the first....

So what I wanted to ramble about was that there's this really bad hidden experiment lab that no-one knows of. Heroes and villains are both being kidnapped, and they're responsible for the dragons disappearing.

Not only that, they know of the prophecy and purposely tried to stop it by getting rid of the dragons and spreading lies that they're super weak since once they're too far removed from being pure dragon, their bodies can't handle their own magic and thus, are easily mistaken as not having any magic at all.

That's why dragons are discriminated against...they have a tough body but they can't handle the magic power of a dragon and can't even move it around. It was easy to lie to the world and also use something (or someone 👀) powerful to wipe their original memories of dragons.

This massive underground group operates out in the open with something else as their disguise (I can't tell you who it is or it'll spoil way too much), but they also abhor mixed races. Some are fine and accepted, but not all of them. Vara actually hides that he's a mixed race because he's scared of what will happen and for food reason...there's a reason Voidshire returns in book 2...

He actually comes back with very good intentions. He doesn't wish to hurt anyone and just wants to find and save Vara, then get to the root of the truth and even find out about his own dad. The problem is that the cover these people use made it extremely easy to pin him as simply a returning villain rather than a savior...and thus the most powerful villain is back in action, but with even greater power than before.

These people capture and experiment on mixed breeds because they want to discover magic to prevent the end of the world that's described in the prophecy. It's also to test medicines, tools, and new magic on them...see how durable the race is, and if they could be dangerous. They've begun to suspect that the one noted in the text managed to come into being despite them wiping out the dragons and it makes them work even harder. They are also the ones that wanted to make use of a dragon's power because they were jealous, wishing for that strength for themselves. So they caught every strange mixed race because they were scared it could be the one in the prophecy.

Sadly for these people the person who decides the fate of their world has been tossed to hell and back several times now, and is out to get them. They stole his hero after all...he'll stop at nothing to get him back home. They had two outcomes in the prophecy and they're scared of the one where the choice is "destroys the world themselves" before or after the world disaster

So then here's how Ezephr comes into play...

Those same people were the ones who raised Ezephr so horribly. They wished to create a weapon to combat the upcoming world disaster or even the prophesized hero. The problem was they forgot to account for insanity and the lack of using anything to keep the subject under their control. After Ezephr took out every single person in that one incredibly major lab, they started putting things on their "tools" to be sure they always had control. No need to have a repeat where they can't stop the thing...but now they're mindless and only follow orders, exactly how they like it.

Point is, Ezephr was their greatest creation and achievement. They started trying to replicate him over the years, which is where some of the villains that seem to weirdly stick together come from. As mentioned, they put controls in place even when somewhat releasing them into the world to see what happens. The difference was Ezephr having a mind of his own that desired to never feel so much pain again.

Angels get their power from their greatest desires. It manifests somewhere from 13 to 17, but he got his at 12 bc of how desperately he desired it. The power overruled the laws of the world itself and formed in him early...which also left weaknesses in his defense. Still, this power was what allowed him to actually be much stronger than Irzayn/Voidshire for the entire story. He's just not really classified as a villain and more so as a worldwide threat.

Except what wasn't mentioned was that they did once try to put something in him to control him...the problem was them underestimating his anger towards them and how his power would prevent it from working. It had been too weak and let him think on his own from the beginning, which was the only reason this all happened. But that tiny bit of control leaves him loyal enough that if the main base is attacked...he'll feel a strong desire to protect it.

He won't even know why though. In fact, in the final fight with Irza, he's asked why he's doing this. Ezephr only shrugs and tells them he has no clue...he was just compelled to do so. At this point he's already kinda aware it's because he's being half controlled, but it takes a bit before he's able to lash out at one of the important people in that evil association.

This was actually when Irza defeats Ezephr for the first time, and not because the angel let him win, but by using his own strength and going toe-to-toe with him. This is where they should be glad that Irza is tied to Vara and his mom so strongly bc he will have the power to crush the earth with shadow of he really wished. The problem? He's got two people shouting at him not to get hurt, don't glare at people, don't start fights, don't be rude, eat your food, go to sleep...they take care of him and are the only reason he's redeemable.

If the two sunshines in his life weren't grounding him and pulling him out of the darkness of his own power he would be the same as Ezephr...well not as sadistic but there'd be no saving him. With them, he gets ripped to safety and shown there's at least two people that care about him despite the world hating him.

Which really makes me want to talk about his dad, actually. Mainly bc that guy was a very strong dragon gifted with vampiric power and is still alive throughout the entire story, just...gone. But the best part? The guy doesn't even know Irza exists. He doesn't know he has a child.

He left Maya (Irza's mom) to keep her safe but had no clue she was pregnant when he did. So...ok I can't hold it anymore! There's a fight between Irza and his dad where neither of them know who the other is at all!!!!!

Tbf it was a misunderstanding and had some mind control involved, but still! It makes my brain spaz excitedly bc that would be such a violent fight...both are way too strong for their own good and it would mostly be a tie, but only because Irza has experience at that point. If he wasn't used to using his defensive powers for attacks, he would have lost instantly. His dad is fully attack based while Irza is a support. This also means his dad's physically stronger too.

If they punched a dial, his dad would be at least ten points above Irza. Also I can't say much more than that without it spoiling but I thought that would be fun to know about the guy...oh! His dad's name is actually Akeraanzeh Heron (he used Maya's last name and got rid of his). Nicknamed Aker.

Family list bc I rambled too much:

Akeraanzeh Heron—dad (pronounced [ache-err-on-zuh])

Maya Heron—mom (pronounced [may-uh])

Irzayn Heron—son (pronounced [err-zane])

I probably have a lot more to say that I just forgot so...questions?

Just to have fun—I sent this 4/03/23 at 11:00pm exactly, which is 1am for you

5 DAYS that's pretty good for a splurge :D not even one reminder from you :3c

okay yes you heard them!!! talk of death n stuff. gore. idk. just beware under the cut ✨

YOO guided evolution much ?? im sorry i had to use up my complimentary fanfic reference

ooh ooh who is THEY ????? and damn what do they have against dragons :(( ik it has to do with the prophecy (probably) but i totally forgot what the prophecy was,,,

and OOh i see. so very strong but it's too strong for them to comprehend? how does irza manage it then?

i like spoilers. give me the spoilers. i won't spoil them to anyone else. GIVE ME THE SPOILERS 3D.

and also what are some of the more normalized mixed races?? have you gone that far yet ????

YOO and by returning do you mean when he teams up w quickvine? or a different occasion?

oop nvm my question has been answered asjsfjd soo something happens to vara then???? 👀👀👀

mm love him cleaning up his life :D

oh damn never mind sorry irza u can't have peace :'D

woww testing on humans, assholes frrrr ,,,, i see. well i can kind of see their angle but also. ?????????? god damn,,,, do they like fully keep them prisoner? what's the treatment like?

OHH i see why irza wants to find vara now. and YEAHH they absolutely messed with the wrong person, if you touch vara you're gonna get irza immeditely. vaza my beloved <3

is the world disaster a separate thing, and is it inevitable or something that can be prevented? (not including irza doing it himself)

EZEEEEE MY BELOVED !!!!! SOME EZEPHR LORE I'M GETTING EXTRA COMFY FOR THIS >:333

YOOO okay i see. ah yes we all know how trying to create a weapon always goes SO well /sar ,,,, have they never seen a movie before?? smh

well i mean yeah if something i was trying to achieve was accomplished i would try to recreate it. are they doing it just to have multiple weapons like eze or just because they want to perfect the person? and how does original eze react to this?? does he know about it??

and are the clones not "real" people like eze is? i see you mention that but like how real are these clones? are they like ai/robots or smth different? ALSO what does happen when they're released into the world? if technically they're like eze, then what's stopping them from just. destroying things? and also i beg the question of why these people don't do confined experiments that only consists of a few subjects rather than the entire world? and their plan. it's to create something that'll stop the prophecy from coming true right?

also if eze killed everyone how did they regain their staff? dumb question but i like all the random details :D

OOH the uhh powers/deepest desire thing!! you mentioned he got it because of how badly he desired it!!!! does that link to a possible god(s) in this universe?? or just a lucky manifestation ?

i see. he's a doomsday device. doomsday as a person >:)

what even was his power???? just the power of being op?? 😭

wow omg eze is such a FJGDJSGDSFK guy. poor man doesn't know why he's a literal ticking bomb, he just is trusting his gut fgjdfsd i can't tell if that's sad or not :'(

i am holding back my urges to compare him to minecraft youtubers so i will refrain. anyway i kinda feel bad for him, literally he's awful but now that i know more than just "he had a bad past" it's just. makin me feel empathetic for him 🙏

OOH GO IRZA GO!!! confidence my guy ✨✨

SDVKFFDSFDJADFSFJESFJAFAKFDSFAGFSJEFKGKAMMMVFSMFKMASKDOEWKAVFMBRA (that's my response to that paragraph)

i love him. seeee he's not a total monster he still listens to the people he lovesssss. vaza. get out of here MOM, vaza only matters :D (i will become a toxic vaza shipper /j)

but also at the same time it shows that ezephr has no one there to ground him, just himself, which has literally already been corrupted and he can't really pull himself out of it. there's no one there to give him the sweet relief of relaxing for the day :(

OOOO IRZA DAD IRZA DAD!!!

MMM irza got daddy issues then????? eeee and would irza's dad ever want to meet him if given the chance?

SFGDFJSG WHAT DON'T DROP THAT CASUALLY ?!?!? A FIGHT?? daddy issues victim vs daddy issues victim enforcer-ish except neither of them know that. i love it.

LOVE 👏 IT 👏

AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT U TRIED TO KEEP THAT A SECRET BUT COMPLETLEY FAILED LMFAOOO

MIND CONTROL YOO?? :000

and mm i wonder if there are any moments in that scene where they see any similarities? not just like power-wise or looks or anything like that, like certain habits/traits that irza may have inhabited from him that make him wonder,,,,,

and MMM a candidant for defeating irza. nice. gotta love those :D

dndvdfjs STRONG man.

and ooh a pronunciation guide,,, i had irza's name right lets goo >:)

all of my questions are scattered in this post so yehh!! thank you for all this info >;3

[thequietmanno1]

TheLreads, Vigilantes ch 109, Replies Part 2

1) “Don’t worry Koichi! Everything is possible with the power of friendship and this gun you have on your hand. And feet. And every inch of your body.”- Now if only he could actually hit them, that’d really be a game changer.

2) “KOICHI ARE YOU FUCKING BENDING THE BULLET’S TRAJECTORIES AS TO NOT HIT THEM?! WHAT IN THE FUCK DUDE

IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THOSE WERE RICOCHETS”- Koichi has the power of Wanted. Seriously, he’s like the deadliest sharpshooter on the planet, in the hands of a kid who’d struggle to hurt anything remotely humanoid. Such a waste of perfectly good violence… 3) “C'MON KOICHI

USE THE GUN. YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO. YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO SPILL BLOOD.

DO IT

GIVE IN TO THE DARK SIDE”- When Koichi actually starts fighting back, that’ll be the moment you know the fight’s about to end. Not possible to drag the fight out much longer when the superior fighter decides it’s time to cap a dude. 4) “The power of your brain cannot measure up to koichi’s brainless behavior. You cannot outsmart him in a way that matters.”- Nomura’s giving himself burnout trying to compete on a level wherein Koichi just naturally exists without effort, and in so doing, is spelling his own demise from, appropriately, overclocking himself.

5) “Yeah but again, those guys don’t have quirks besides blowing up. If Koichi wishes he can just outrun them without any trouble. C'mon McBee, you can do better than this shit.”- And now, between the multiple eyes, arms and the metaphorical “web” entrapping Koichi, Nomura has indeed taken on an arachnid motif to contrast Koichi’s bug one.

6) “…

wait…

Wait a second… We’re not implying this is not part of McBee’s imagination, but rather… that this is AfO “observing” him, right?”- Nomura’s mental issues obscured it, but indeed, for a while now, you might have noticed the “hallucination” was much too lucid and clear-headed to still be a fragment of Nomura’s psyche alone, not to mention how it was advising him in a manner that made it seem like they were two different people.

7) “IT’S FUCKING AFO IT DEFINITELY IS AFO I CAN’T FUCKING BELIEVE IT FUCKING HELL IT’S HIM”- Fitting for the faceless man, his trademark smile is all we need to know who this “ghost” haunting Nomura’s mind actually is.

(Vigilantes ch 71)

8) “OH JESUS IS THE GHOST OF CLOCK WHISPERING IN HIS EAR”- Well, more like the ghostly vision of the overarching villain of the story somehow in mental connection with him this whole time. We were looking for the mastermind behind the Trigger experiments, and just like the proverbial devil, he appears before us in disguise, whispering deceptions disguised as truths into the ears of avid listeners that feed their negative impulses and drive them down darker roads.

(Vigilantes ch 99)

9) “You can really tell this O'Clock is part of his imagination solely by the fact that he keep praising him for the most mundane of stuff. McBee is gonna trip and his tulpa will be like “masterful execution of this acrobatic maneuver, only a true hero would be able to pull such a trick””-  Or, you know, AFO knows exactly what to say to butter up his unstable test subject in order to get him to comply with orders.

(Vigilantes ch 99)

10) “…

McBee I think you got your script mixed with Stain. That one is a bit out of character for you, considering everything we saw about you before.”- It is, however, right in line with what AFO would say, however begrudgingly, as he has to acknowledge the man who defeated and scarred him as a being worthy above all others, otherwise it would diminish him by proxy to have lost so badly.

(Vigilantes ch 100)

11) “Are you including your emotional support tulpa on that as well? Because I wouldn’t admire him, I feel like he’s rather biased towards making bad decisions.”- Well, given who said Tulpa actually is, making bad decisions for others is sorta his whole deal, what with wanting to basically dethrone Satan himself in the eyes of the world and corrupting others to the dark side..

(Vigilantes ch 102)

12) “OH JESUS FUCK ME

NOW THAT’S A LOOK McBEE

ALMOST REMINDS ME OF A CERTAIN SUPER VILLAIN THAT CAN STEAL QUIRKS AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD

WONDER WHAT HE’S UP TO NOW”- Why, he’s far closer than you would think. You might even say he’s right under everybody’s noses… (Vigilantes ch 102) 13) “Holy crap even the O'Clock Tulpa had to call him out on his bullshit and tell him to pay attention. When even your imaginary friend has more common sense than you do.”-He’s not the main supervillain of the series for nothing…

(vigilantes 102)

14) “OH YEAH, REALLY SUCCESSFUL I MUST SAY

HILARIOUS TO THINK THAT THE ONLY REASON AFO DIDN’T ACTED EARLIER WAS BECAUSE HE WAS WASTING HIS TIME WITH THIS USELESS THING

HILARIOUS”- At least he’s being hands-on with proactively managing this disaster. Hell, he’s even relishing how it’s going off-script, because that’s how the fun stuff happens.

(Vigilantes ch 107)

15) “Oh yeah, he is the one with a high opinion… He… Not you, the person imagining him talking to you, right?”- AFO is always one to take interest in new Quirks with a lot of potential, and Koichi’s here is basically evolving into a do-anything problem solver. He’s practically verging on matching Izuku’s own multiple powers with just the one singular he possesses. (Vigilantes ch 108)

16) “Also I’m noticing some interference there O'Clock tulpa, do tell me, is the line with McBee getting weaker now that he’s losing his mind and giving in to his primitive self? Or is he refusing your help and trying to cut it?”- I think it’s that the faster Nomura goes, the harder is it for AFO to keep up with the mental communication he’s got going with him. He can somehow keep up with his usual speed, but this extra-fast version is giving him some lag time.

 

17) “I SWEAR TO GOD. IF WE’RE REALLY GOING DOWN THIS PATH- FURUHASHI, YOU BETTER NOT HAVE PULLED THE RUG FROM UNDER ME WITHOUT ME NOTICING. I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR ACTUALLY DOING A TWIST THAT CLEVER.

I SWEAR TO GOD”- Furuhashi’s already hip-deep in your sin bin by now, what’s a few more unforgivable actions going to matter at this point? @thelreads

[tiny-smallest]

things I Did Not Expect from Journey To The West, a summary by an lmk fan whose wife is reading and sharing EVERYTHING:

Wukong is basically baby in the beginning? Like my god he’s just so excited and eager to learn??

The jokes about ‘ANOTHER MOUNTAIN’ and ‘ANOTHER RIVER’ Were Not Exaggerating

it really is a monster of the week format, which is neat; I wonder if this novel is where that trope started

Wukong is incredibly polite... most of the time

there is actually some basis in the book for things I saw circulating in fandom which is kind of cool

there is also some basis in the book for things I assumed were made tf up, like Wukong being a hero to the people of mortal realm as told in Macaque’s shadowplay backstory (found in the Slow Cart Kingdom chapter, where The Gold Star Of Venus tells the captive monks that Wukong is “a person of vast kindness” who “will avenge injustices, assist the oppressed, and comfort widows and orphans”

Wukong doesn’t dispute this, either, which means he’s actually done it

Wujing is very quiet at first, but slowly starts coming out of his shell and is kind of sassy sometimes! I love it but I wish he had more screentime? more time in his head?

the author really did just forget the horse is a dragon I wish that bro did anything at all

Bajie is... surprisingly awful for awhile, and in ways I can maybe see are supposed to be him acting out because of the whole ‘let me force you on this trial on pain of something probably worse’ thing, but it’s frustrating the novel doesn’t give him the same depth it gives Wukong by giving us more insight to his thoughts

speaking of which I’ll be honest, when I first poked into the lmk fandom and saw people who had ready jttw there, I was expecting their accounts of Wukong and a lot of the awful shit that happens to him to be exaggerated some because he’s their favorite and sometimes you just quietly inflate the facts to make your favorite less problematic c’mon we’ve all done it but- no. 

Holy shit, they were not kidding this monkey really does just get put through so much shit. 

The BOOK takes MULTIPLE instances to DIRECTLY SAY he’s in tears, and not the ‘noble, poetic’ kind of tears that a lot of old epics give to their heroes (minus maybe the Flowerfruit Mountain revelation in the WBS chapter) but like- very real tears. 

He has a few instances where he’s a bully and he steals some shit but none of that warranted what happened to him, there’s the MOUNTAIN AND THE FUCKING CIRCLET, there’s him taking blow after blow for Tripitaka (sometimes kind of rightfully, since there’s a couple instances so far where it’s his fault the situation exists at all), there’s him being set on fire and drowned and Bajie constantly turning Tripitaka against him in the beginning, Wukong is constantly saving them all from danger after they do something he told them not to or walked up to someone he told them was a demon, and like at least two or three times Tripitaka promises they’ll listen next time, or thanks him, and then PROCEEDS TO NOT DO THAT, there’s the fact that Tripitaka uses the circlet WAY too many times, and in situations where nobody’s life is in danger, there’s the fact that Tripitaka always resorts to name-calling when he’s angry with Wukong, there’s multiple references to Wukong looking sick and starved, there’s watching in real time as he internalizes the idea that he’s ugly and scary and his only worth is what he can do for other people- holy shit this monkey has trauma, and he really, honestly doesn’t deserve it compared to what he’s actually done.

like no seriously I don’t have all the time in the world to hunt all these quotes down but here’s one that happens when Wukong tries to prevent them from discovering a demon who had disguised himself as an innocent human child in trouble:   "You wretched ape! How villainous you are! You don't have the tiniest bit of kindness in you! Every thought of yours is bent on making mischief and working violence! I told you that it was a human voice calling for help, but you have to spend countless words to claim it was a monster. Look! Isn't that a person hanging on the tree?" Seeing how the master was putting the blame on him and also the form before his face, the Great Sage lowered his head and dared not reply, for there was nothing he could do at the moment and he was afraid that his master would recite the Tight-Fillet Spell. He had little choice, in fact, but to permit the Tang Monk to approach the tree.

like bruh that one made me straight up feel murder as an emotion

(also ‘Wukong isn’t the main character’ MY ASS)

in that same vein Book Tripitaka is just... so unlikable

like I see there was a definite attempt at making him interesting- it’s clear that some of his reactions are borne from the trauma of what happened to him right at the start of his journey, and it’s intriguing to me that as the novel goes on he outright regrets ever agreeing to this quest- much different than most characters on A Hero’s Journey, and especially given that he’s a monk on a religious mission

also worth noting that it seems the gods almost deliberately set it up so that he and Wukong would have instant friction

but my god the way he treats Wukong when Bajie is infinitely more trouble and disrespectful is just... infuriating; he’s downright vicious to him

I did not expect to hate Kuan-Yin so much but I super do fuck her

what happens to Red Boy is so very fucking DISTURBING FUCK KUAN-YIN

also fuck Erlang

THERE’S JUST A CASUAL GENOCIDE? OF FLOWERFRUIT MOUNTAIN? THAT’S LARGELY GLOSSED OVER AFTER WUKONG FIXES THE ISLAND AND KILLS THE HUNTERS?? LIKE BRUH THAT’S PRIME ANGST MATERIAL CAN WE MAYBE DIG INTO THAT A BIT MORE??

certain chapters I saw hyped up really are Actually That Good, including the White Bone Spirit chapter, the Slow Cart Kingdom chapter, the Red Boy chapter, and the (very bizarre) Macaque chapter

it probably wasn’t the author’s intention but Tripitaka comes off as super aroace

on that same note, Wukong says a thing or two that gives a range from which to pick your favorite personal headcanon; mine is demi

Bajie keeps losing it over women but also knows what Wukong’s ass looks like which is bruh okay

the tiger slaughtering I saw referenced really does happen just immediately after Wukong is freed, and then Wukong makes that skirt just... part of his outfit forever

Wukong really does utterly adore his monkeys it’s so cute

the Macaque chapter is indeed weird, but very good; also super cool to see what might be fiction’s first instance of the evil doppelganger trope

that part where the three disciples sneak into a daoist temple to eat all their food and hang out? is really cute, and I wish we had more moments building up to that kind of development in their relationships

but interestingly, we DO see developments that happen as a RESULT of this chapter!

Bajie is way less trouble, for one thing, making more jokes with the others and causing far fewer headaches

and Wujing is more talkative! as well as sassy!

as for Wukong, when Tripitaka starts panicking over obstacles in their way, he starts saying “we’ve got this” and “you have the three of us” instead of “you’ve got me” and “I can handle this.”

Wukong is disturbingly So Ready to show off how unkillable he is and I’m glad the lmk fandom has agreed this is a self-harm behavior because YIKES

the amount of times Tripitaka falls off his horse or experiences his soul yeeting itself from his body is both relatable considering the circumstances, and really frustrating

Wukong seems to agree actually because most of the time he’s surprisingly kind and cheerful when assuring Tripitaka but every now and again he snaps and says or does something mean

Wukong and Tripitaka’s relationship is by far the most explored one at this point (just finished the Macaque chapter) and somehow there is still wasted material THERE’S MORE YOU CAN DIG INTO BOOK PLEASE

the fact that Wukong and Macaque fight like feral cats to each location in that chapter remains hilarious and is especially funny without the lmk context (of which we still have none)

so much of this book explains so much about lmk Wukong but like we still need to know exactly how much of the book they’re making canon to their universe skjfnslkdjfnsdf

[a34trgv2]

Blue Sky Studios Was A Treasure

When it was announced that Blue Sky Studios would be closing its doors, not gonna lie, I was actually sad. I thought Spies In Disguise was great and was looking forward to their next film. While it is unfortunate that Blue Sky Studios is no longer in business, I think we should take the time to remember how they left their mark on the animation industry. Having rewatched all their films, I'm actually surprised how good, great even, they all are and even more surprised that they aren't talked about enough. So, let's fix that by going through them all in this post.

Starting off with a film I initially thought was good albeit a bit formulaic, Rio holds up much better than I originally gave it credit for. Blu and Jewel have great chemistry with one another and throughout the film I was rooting for them to actually be together. Nigel is also a great villain who just relishes in how dastardly he is and provides a genuine threat to our heroes. I also thought the songs were upbeat and catchy, particularly Hot Wings and Pretty Bird. Like I occasionally hum these songs to myself often and gladly sing along whenever they play onscreen. I also thought it was really funny, particularly Tulio who’s just so eccentric and over the top. What really sells this film is the way Rio de Janeiro is brought to life through Blue Sky’s amazing animation. Like dude! I actually want to take a trip to Rio because to this film alone.

Epic is an aptly titled film because it more than delivers on its concept. It tells a great story about the battle between the Leaf Men and the Boggans for dominance over the forest. It's full of intense action, well rounded and likable characters, sharp humor and really talented voice work. The action alone is worth seeing this film for as this film has some of the best action scenes I've seen in an animated feature film. It's fast paced, there's high stakes involved, and each punch feels powerful. I especially love every scene involving Queen Tara, so much so that I wish she was in the movie more.

Ferdinand is the only other film Blue Sky Studios was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars and for good reason. This is one of the best film about a gentle giant, in this case a 2000 lbs. bull who would rather smell the flowers than fight. This film is also really funny, has memorable characters and great voice acting, particularly from John Cena as the big bull himself. Cena makes Ferdinand sound like a caring big brother and really sells each line in the film. What truly makes this film worth seeing is the ending; no spoilers, but if you've read the original book or seen the Disney short, you know it's all sorts of satisfying.

If Charles Schultz had lived to see The Peanuts Movie, I'd like to think he would've been proud of the final result. All the characters from the classic comic strip and TV specials stay true to their core personalities and a given new life to the talented kids that played them. Charlie Brown is given a really good arc in this film in which he learns that the best way to make the Little Red Haired Girl like him is just be his honest, caring and unselfish self. Of course Snoopy is a show stealer and every scene he's in get's a good laugh out of me, but I particularly like his Red Barron story which is like a little film within the film.

Speaking of adaptations that probably would've made the original creator proud, I definitely agree with the general consensus that Horton Hears a Who is the best Dr. Seuss adaptation. Not that I think the other adaptations are bad (yes I have soft spots for How The Grinch Stole Christmas and The Cat And The Hat), I just think this film does an exceptionally great job adapting the source material in a funny and engaging way. Horton and Ned are both fully realized characters, with Ned trying to keep his sanity why Horton tries to keep the town of Whoville safe. I also really like how they made the Kangaroo the defacto leader of the jungle and basically make her a shrew who think she's right and Horton's wrong. This film also has some hilarious moments such as Horton holding his breath on the bridge and Vlad getting smacked in the beak.

Like I said before, I thought Spies in Disguise was great. It's premise may seem odd (a spy being turned into a pigeon as he tries to stop a bad guy is pretty out there) but the film itself is actually a great spy film with intense action, funny gags and well rounded characters. I especially love the dynamic between Walter Beckett and Lance Sterling because while they don't agree with each other's methods of stopping the bad guy, they do learn to compromise and work together as a team. I especially love this quote from Walter when he and Lance are on a yacht: "When we fight fire with fire, we all get burned. There's no good guys or bad guys, just people." I know people refer to the characters as the actors that portray them, but I honestly forgot Will Smith and Tom Holland were voicing these two as I was watching the film. You know an actor is doing a good job when you see the character before the actor.

I think Rio 2 is a good sequel to Rio. Yeah it would've been nice if it was told from Jewel's perspective instead of Blu's but the film we got is still good in it's own right. It's funny, the characters are well rounded, the songs are pretty catchy and Nigel returns to chew the scenery once again. This film also bring attention the deforestation of the Amazon and the climax is dedicated to our heroes stopping the deforesters. My personal favorite part of the film is Bruno Mars as Roberto, Jewel's old friend. Roberto feels like a genuine friend who's happy Jewel is happy and safe and rather than push Blu away he genuinely wants to help him fit in to the tribe. I also thought him freaking out before the climax was really funny and just goes to show that Bruno Mars has some good acting chops.

My personal favorite film from Blue Sky Studios is hands down Robots. It tells a really good story about pursuing your dreams even in the face of doubt and the film's main message resonates with me as a content creator: "See a need, fill a need." I also really like the characters, it's got plenty of hilarious moments and the voice acting was really on point. The true standout of the cast though is the late great Robin Williams as Fender. Every joke he made got a genuine laugh out of me and Fender is a fun and eccentric character that's also a good friend to Rodney. This film is worth seeing just for Robin Williams' performance alone.

I purposely saved the Ice Age series for last because this franchise is the studio’s legacy. No, seriously, for the past 20 years Blue Sky Studios has been known as the studio that created Ice Age. All 5 of the Ice Age movies made serious bank at the box office and yet most people just think the first one was the only good one while the sequels were either okay at best or tiresome at worst. Me though? I like all of them. Yeah, I think the first one and even the second one were really good, but I still really liked the other 3. I thought they were all funny, the characters were fun and the animation significantly improves with each passing installment. Of course my favorite part of all the movies was watching Scrat chase after that ever elusive acorn as they’re funny little sides to the main story.

👆Fanart by valentinefrench (https://www.deviantart.com/valentinfrench/art/Blue-Sky-Studios-RIP-870136771)

The big take away from this post is that Blue Sky Studios was an underrated animation studio that produced some great films during its 34 year run. Their films brought us into unique worlds, had well rounded likable characters, had tons of laughs and sent great messages to audiences. In closing, I would like to thank Chris Wedge, Carlos Saldanha, Jimmy Hayward, Steve Martino, Mike Thurmeier, Nick Bruno and Troy Quane as well as the 450+ employees for their contributions to these films. I look forward to all your future endeavors.

[nikothefox]

I wanted fluff but this ended up as angst ahaha

-----------------

Cale was never the type to share his pain. He would hide, hide, hide, because what was the point in sharing it?

It was an unconscious habit he had. He was always a quiet child, and after his parents passed in that accident, he somehow lost his words and tears in the pain. Which made matters worse when his uncle started abusing him, because he no longer knew how to tell anyone that it hurts.

At some point, he lost any desire for big dreams. What was the point of dreaming, of hoping, of wishing for something that will never happen? It was easier, not having expectations at all, then he wouldn't be disappointed.

When the apocalypse happened, he was trapped in the rubbles. He never expected to be saved by anyone, really. He would've been happy to die there. But then, Lee Soo Hyuk found him.

Lee Soo Hyuk, who took Kim Rok Soo to a safe zone, cared for him and ensured he ate. Lee Soo Hyuk, who made sure that Kim Rok Soo had the skills to survive.

Lee Soo Hyuk, his first hyung who could see behind his mask.

Actually, it was more accurate to say that Lee Soo Hyuk was the first to care enough about Kim Rok Soo to see behind his mask. And this skill was even picked up by Choi Jung Soo after they got into a team together.

They could always tell how Kim Rok Soo was feeling, no matter how much he hid. And while sometimes Kim Rok Soo found it annoying, he's happy, he's touched that they could understand him so well.

Which was why he was devastated at losing them.

Not that there's anyone left who could tell anymore.

Really, what's with people demanding him to cry? Why should he suddenly show such a large reaction? What is the point in crying, what good will that do?

His new team was great, and he protected them the best he could, but the pain and the hole left by Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo would never be filled.

When he got transported into 'The Birth of A Hero' universe as Cale Henituse, he didn't want to admit it, but a part of him was relieved. Relieved that he doesn't need to continue to fill up the space Team Leader Lee Soo Hyuk-hyung left behind. At least here, he had information, had a guide on how to tread his path so that he wouldn't fall.

He didn't expect the main characters to surround him at all.

Cale Henituse was supposed to be a side character, the first villain that the main protagonist – Choi Han – meets upon reaching the territory. That's all what he should be.

How did it all go wrong just because Cale didn't get beaten up?!

Instead, Cale now is a Commander, and 'Young Master Silver Shield' (Cale shudders at that thought). He is the closest person to the brightest sun of the Roan Kingdom, Crown Prince Alver Crossman – who is also a quarter dark elf in disguise. Somehow, the people around him are crazily strong people. And he's fighting a war with them on the front lines.

Where is his slacker life now? What happened to his lovely rich slacker life?!

But it's not all bad though.

Life, as it seems, has a way of circling back to you. And when you've gone through too much suffering, it rewards you so generously you have no idea how to even start appreciating.

And Cale is still in the middle of receiving.

In return for his loneliness in childhood, he is granted a family. In return for his pain in the past, he is granted wealth. In return for his weaknesses, he is granted overwhelming strength. All that Kim Rok Soo never had before, Cale had it now, and more.

Because now, now, so many people care for him.

Now, there are too many who can see through his mask.

Eruhaben-nim, Prince Alver, Choi Han, Ron, even the children – they know Cale far, far too well.

And it's touching as much as it is painful, since now Cale has to be mindful of his actions for them. He cannot risk himself, cannot put himself into danger because there's just too much for him to lose.

He's not alone anymore after all.

And he will never be, no more.

-----------

...well, at least the end is heartwarming?

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: West Coast Avengers #15: the LADY... or the TIGRA

December, 1986

Hawkeye: “The cat people are tearing Master Pandemonium limb from limb!”

Wonder Man: “Demon from demon!”

Hey. Hey, Wonder Man.

Did you feel good being pedantic like that?

Make you feel like an important part of the conversation?

Anyway.

Last times in West Coast Avengers: Tigra’s cat soul is out of control and she’s just been acting way too horny. Yes, out of all the behavior peculiarities of cats, this book just leans way into ‘cats be horny.’

Imagine if instead of wanting to hump every man, Tigra had an irresistible urge to leave hair all over everyone else’s clothes.

Tigra and the West Coast Avengers go visit the cat people responsible for Tigra becoming Tigra and the cat people cat king secretly promises her to remove one of her souls if she kills Master Pandemonium for him.

She promises but she’s been a lackadaisical cat about it. Plus, Master P is a slippery eel who keeps hidden.

While researching demon stuff, Hank Pym accidentally aggros Alletou, a powerful demoness who thinks Hank is working for Master Pandemonium. So she kidnaps him and Tigra.

The West Coast Avengers come to rescue them and Master Pandemonium tags along to get a chance at Alletou but she dumps all of them on a boat in a river and they’re stuck on the boat because its a hell boat.

Stuck until the hell boat makes hell port somewhere.

Which brings us to now.

Since they have nothing better to do while trapped on a hell boat, the heroes talk.

Iron Man mentions how his digital watch says they’ve been on the boat for three days but he doesn’t feel hungry or sleepy at all.

Hellstorm (actually Diamon Hellstrom in a shitty disguise) tells Iron Man that time is weird in hell and to “forget all your technology!”

Which is a rude thing to ask of Tony Stark.

Technology is all he’s got.

Hellstorm isn’t interested in all that though. He’s interested in Tigra because his Hellcat wife’s cool cat suit was originally made for Tigra.

Greer Nelson recaps that she tried to turn into Tigra last issue but couldn’t probably because hell rules. Like the hell rule that hell keeps you from your most fervent wish so it didn’t let Tigra become Tigra, proving that she really wants to be Tigra. Or something.

Hellcat tries to tell Greer that being just a human person isn’t so bad but this causes Greer to explode at her.

Greer Nelson: “What do know about it, Hellcat? That suit you’re wearing was designed for me -- I understand the difference between real powers and artificially-induced ones!”

Hellcat: “What? You were this suit maybe half a dozen times, then turned into a Cheshire Cat as Tigra -- mostly going -- while I put in solid years with the Avengers and the Defenders!”

Oh great, a cat fight.

Granted, Patsy has a point. She’s made the suit her own.

Also granted, Greer is under a lot of stress.

But less granted, her idea of a solid dunk on Patsy is to say that she sucked too much to get on the West Coast Avengers.

Ah, Greer. You know the West Coast Avengers is shit at recruiting. Patsy not being on the team doesn’t mean anything.

Hellstorm gets bored of two women talking and decides now he’s interested in Master Pandemonium.

What’s the idea sitting quietly and behaving??

Master Pandemonium mentions that even being watched by Iron Man and Wonder Man, he could destroy the West Coast Avengers and guests if he but wished it.

Which is something a lot of villains claim, for reasons of protecting their self-esteem.

But Master Pandemonium bickering with Hellstorm does remind Mockingbird to ask about “the Five”

The term has been sprinkled about during Master P’s time in the plot. Its that thing he’s looking for without explaining anything about what it means.

So time to explain. Can’t keep spinning your plot wheels. Progress, damn you!

Master Pandemonium does decide to spill the beans but only because it doesn’t really matter and won’t help the heroes so why not.

If you remember Master Pandemonium’s amazing backstory of drunk driving off a cliff and getting his arm ripped off, the occult dabbling actor promised his soul if his arm could be restored.

Mephisto showed up, I guess not having anything better to do despite ruling a hell, and took the case. By replacing the guy’s missing arm with a demon. And since he was on a roll, he also ripped off the guy’s perfectly healthy limbs and also replaced them with demons.

Actor guy passed out from the pain and wakes up the next morning thinking the whole thing was a weird nightmare until his arms rip open his pajamas on their own volition to reveal a star shaped hole in his tum tum.

Mephisto walks out of the mirror to explain the other half of Master Pandemonium’s backstory.

Despite disdaining the idea of taking actor guy’s soul, since he had so many souls, Mephisto found a different, more trolly use for it.

He’s split it into five pieces, gave the pieces to some demons, and had them hide them in ALL OF REALITY.

Its a fun scavenger hunt!

Just find and reassemble your soul! The soul you bargained away with very little hesitation but are now desperate to get back for some reason!

Maybe because you don’t want the food to fall out when you eat. Hey, that’s a good legit reason to want a soul.

My favorite part is when this idiot (apparently named Martin) asks this Totally Satan guy why he’s playing games with his soul.

Martin. Guy. You dabbled the occult. Did you not run into the universal truth that Mephisto is an asshole at any point?

Anyway, the real answer Martin Pandemonium gets for his dumb question is:

“Because you said you’d do anything to be saved -- and believe me, to get your soul back from the horrors I gave it to, you won’t be able to stop at anything! You’ll become the grandest villain the world has ever known -- as you strive for your redemption -- and that’s the kind of bargain Mephisto loves!”

The idea is sound but like. Master Pandemonium. Is a good effort. But far far far from the grandest villain.

Then again, maybe that’s what Mephisto is pulling on Doom. A big part of VICTOR VON DOOM’s motivation is that Mephisto has his mom’s soul and it has driven Doom to become a villain keeps eating cosmic powers.

Master Pandemonium even lampshades that after all the off-panel robbery and murder in his villain career, he’s completely failed to even get a lead on any of the Five Demons That Mephisto Gave a Soul Chunk To.

Actually, that’s related to my other favorite thing, although its to come at the cost of a really dumb plot. Mephisto, of course, completely lies when he’s setting the ground rules.

Anyway.

Master Pandemonium tells the heroes to not get in the way of his soul quest but Hellstorm doesn’t really care about his threats because at last an interesting topic of conversation. He starts telling Master P about how his tragic origin reminds him of an investigation he made in Austria.

Hmm. So. Like. Master Pandemonium is a huge dick.

But maybe the best solution to the problem of him being a dick is to help him find his soul chunks so he’ll stop causing trouble.

I can’t believe I’m saying this but potentially good job Hellstorm.

Anyway, then the hell boat crashes into a wall blocking the hell river.

Except its a magical wall and the hell boat goes right through and into the land of the cat people.

Apparently the cat people’s Land Within is part of hell.

Greer freaks out because the cat people aren’t supposed to be demons! So why is their land connected to the hell river?

But Master Pandemonium senses one of his soul chunks and gets all excited.

The cat people row out into the river to tow the hell boat to shore (this part of the hell river doesn’t cause you to combust if you touch it, conveniently).

The West Coast Avengers and guest stars and temporary teamed up enemy are soon surrounded by cat people warriors. Who are very irate.

The spokescat yells at them for coming back when the Avengers should know they don’t like outsiders, for bringing Master Pandemonium who the cat people all agree is a massive dick, and knowing that the river of oblivion led to the cat world like seriously Avengers what’s with that? But most insultingly, look at the Tigra not being the Tigra! This is somehow the Avengers’ fault!

Greer tries to explain that she’s not Tigra because she couldn’t transform in hell but then realizes that maybe that was only Allatou’s realm and manages to transform into Tigra.

Tigra: “See, boys -- everything’s okay! Your legendary were-woman’s back!”

Although, she really only transformed so the cat people would settle down a little.

Patsy starts worrying that if the cat people are demons then the Hellcat suit is maybe super cursed or something since they made it.

Hellstorm goes no, its not evil or possessed or anything. Because he’s been sharing closet space with it and probably would have noticed.

But anyway, its time for him to flex his demonology muscle.

Hellstorm: “These outworlders are under my protection, demon!”

A cat person: “We respect your reputation, Hellstorm -- but anything you need protect them from has yet to be decreed by our king!”

You respect his reputation?

He’s been using this identity for, what, a month??

Anyway, again, point being that nothing can be done until they all go to see how angry the king is going to be with the happenings.

Tigra decides that means they have nothing to worry about. The king is her friend! They came to an understanding!

A cat person asks what kind of understanding and Tigra suddenly remembers that the West Coast Avengers are in earshot and vaguely mumbles something about quid pro quo.

Which just makes Hawkeye suspicious. Although he was suspicious the first time they left the cat world and he didn’t do anything about it then.

Hawkeye: “Honey, did you ever have one of those days when everything seems to go wrong?”

Mockingbird: “You mean like the day we got married -- ?”

Oof.

Unless she means more generally the events of the Hawkeye limited series before their marriage. Didn’t happen on the same day as the marriage but she and Hawkeye did beat the shit out of each other during that series.

Wonder Man points out that he wasn’t present during the first trip to cat world but he can probably get them out of whatever trouble since he’s so super strong. Patsy just tells him to wait and see how things play out first.

So despite the king being Tigra’s supposed “friend,” he is sure pissed off about seeing the Avengers and Tigra and especially Master Pandemonium.

Cat king: “So -- the facts in this case are clear! I break our cardinal rule to allow you Avengers to leave the land within alive -- and you repay me by recruiting three new members, two of whom we know to be opposed to our kind -- ! -- And you attempt to attack destroy us!”

Hawkeye: “Have you been smokin’ the kitty litter again?”

Cat king: “You deny it? Then why pray tell have you brought our most hated enemy here? Master Pandemonium should have been dead by now, if the Tigra had done as she promised!”

Wuh oh.

Cat spilled the beans like it was a glass of water on a counter.

Reaction from the Avengers is.... I’d say overall negative.

Despite Tigra saying that it’s okay to murder bad people for personal gain, the West Coast Avengers don’t really go for that line of thought.

In fact, they seem to think that Tigra has betrayed not only the ideals of the Avengers but also some of them, personally.

Hellstorm is the only one that comes to Tigra’s defense. Although its less her defense and more telling the Avengers that they’re right but to ease off.

He actually sympathizes with Tigra. Her situation of having a cat soul trying to convince her to murder and be horny is similar to his situation where he had a darksoul and it made him super dramatic and kinda dickish.

Master Pandemonium feels uncomfortable when we are not about him and tells the cat king that he doesn’t give a shit about Tigra. He knows a chunk of his own soul is here and he wants it.

The cat king acknowledges that he does have a chunk of Master P’s soul and that he keeps it in a nice, decorative jar.

Since Master Pandemonium’s story had Mephisto say that he gave the soul chunks to demons and since the cat people have one, Tigra finally believes that the cat people are demons.

Which... yes and no. But mostly yes.

The story the Balkatar told her was mostly true and the cat people weren’t demons... at first. But being exiled to one of the pockets of hell turned them into demons.

ANYWAY, that’s not really important. Its more like furiously stitching plot threads together. The important thing is that the cat king still has the power to remove one of Tigra’s extraneous souls and that she still needs to kill Master Pandemonium to get that prize.

Since the secret is out and the damage is done, Tigra decides she has nothing left to lose by doing a murder and agrees to go to the arena to do a murder at Master Pandemonium.

Who is pretty confident in his chances, actually. Overconfident, I’d say.

Master Pandemonium: “I warn you, majesty -- I’ve beaten Tigra and all the Avengers three times already! Whatever you may be planning, I plan on winning again -- because its worth my soul!”

So... Two things Master Pandemonium.

One: you “beat” the Avengers in the sense that they weren’t able to beat your ass before you ran away. Yes, you weren’t a pushover in those fights but those fights ended with you running away. That’s not going to serve you here.

Two: the cats don’t play fair.

Cat king: “Go on, Tigra! We’ve made it as easy as possible for you!”

The cats pull out the demons that make Master Pandemonium’s limbs and hold them at bay so he’s just a defenseless no-limbs guy.

The Avengers react in disgust that the cats want to kill a defenseless man, even if he is Master Pandemonium and Wonder Man wants to interrupt this execution but Patsy Hellcat tells him now still isn’t the right moment.

The king apparently overheard that because he tells them that there isn’t a right moment for them and urges Tigra to just do Master Pandemonium a murder like she promised.

Master Pandemonium: “Do your worst, were-woman! He who must be Master Pandemonium will face his end like a man, whatever his state!”

Tigra: “I -- I told you before -- I have to do this -- !”

But she can’t.

She refuses to compromise her Avengers values actually!

So the cat king revokes her cat privileges.

He uses the soul jar to yoink the Tigra soul from Greer.

Then the cat king tells his cat people to throw soft, squishy human Greer and throw her and her friends in the cat brig.

And the cat people do.

Where the Avengers are all very proud of Greer for not doing a murder.

Hank Pym: “Each time I think I can’t get prouder of you, you get even better, honey!”

Well, Hank Pym is, anyway. The Avengers are more preoccupied with the situation. I’m sure they’re proud though.

Mockingbird does ask why Greer looks so bummed if she’s freed of the Tigra soul like she wanted.

Greer Nelson: “We’re all on a menu, and you’re short an Avenger --”

Hellcat: “Maybe not, cat-lady!”

And Patsy starts taking her clothes off.

As far as she’s concerned, this plot is Greer’s to resolve. And she’s more familiar with the cat people and this city (like by an hour) so maybe its time for Greer to once again become...

THE CAT!

... I don’t remember if you, the audience, have the context for that.

So before she was Tigra, Greer was the Cat and wore the Hellcat suit before Patsy slapped the Hell onto the name.

And that clears up that.

Anyway, the Balkatar returns to the cat people cat palace from some task in the human world and the king gleefully informs him that the Tigra he likes so much refused to do a murder.

The Balkatar does feel thats a shame, he quite liked Tigra but not much he can do if she was disobedient to the king.

But the king also mentioned some new Avengers (but not New Avengers. But hey, I’d rather have had Tigra than Wolverine) and the Balkatar is curious about that. The kind mentions one of them was a woman in a yellow suit with blue claws.

The Balkatar: “WHA-AT?!! Just because I’m the only one who ever gets to the outworld, am I the only one who knows who that is?”

Apparently!

Greer shows up, in her original the Cat outfit again, beating up a couple guards so she can make her entrance.

ALSO, she busted out the West Coast Avengers and guests too!

... I guess Patsy is just going to be spending the conclusion to this story in her underwear. Couldn't even lend your wife your cape, huh, Hellstorm?

I wonder if this is going to be a one-off Greer the Cat thing or whether that’s going to be how she continues as a hero with her cat soul gone.

If that does come true, sucks for Patsy, I guess.

Anyway, since there aren’t a lot of named cats for this catfrontation, the Avengers West and guests mostly fight nameless cats while The Greer Cat faces her boy toy the Balkatar.

He doesn’t want to fight. He doesn’t want to be her enemy. He wants to remind her of the good times they shared when they lay upon the rocks. It was the “most golden afternoon” of his life. And he hoped that it was the start of something that would grow into something great for both of them.

So, yeah, he’s trying to seduce her a little.

But while the Balkatar would rather make love than war with the former-Tigra, Greer has lost her horniness and would rather kick his ass.

So the Balkatar turns off the charm and turns on the shit talk.

He asks if she thinks a silly suit will make her as strong as she would have been as the Tigra?

Maybe he’s negging?

Greer Cat exposits that the suit amplifies a woman’s strength but that it’s especially designed for her.

So despite the Balkatar shredding the suit somewhat, Greer Cat ties him to a pillar with the suit’s cable claws.

I’ve got to wonder how the suit works. Is it technological or magical? Are the buffs it provides diminished by the suit being damaged?

Ah well.

The cat king is surprised, maybe impressed even, that Greer could beat the cat champion since never in his lifetime has he ever seen the Balkatar defeated.

But on the other hand, the cats still outnumber the Avengers ten-to-one so, uh, just keep going guys.

One of the cats suggests giving Greer back the Tigra-soul so that the two souls thing will confuse her. I mean, sure, she’s stronger as Tigra than she is with the suit but uh.... it’d confuse her!

I think this random cat might be an idiot.

Either way, Greer decides to react before the king can take the suggestion or not.

She shoots her cable claw at the jar... and pulls it off the throne, breaking it. But the Tigra soul beelines right for Greer.

The cat king claims that the Tigra soul has gotten even stronger while its been in the jar. Sure. But Greer was wearing the Cat suit, which made her human half stronger.

And... uh... I guess her human soul and Tigra soul fused together.

(I wonder if that was the intention of the Cat suit...)

So she gets a power boost from even her previous Tigra form (and a tail!) but she’s fully in control of herself.

This is mostly making me realize that Tigra didn’t have a tail before. Which feels weird.

Well, I’m glad everything is working out perfectly for Greer and will work out perfectly forever and she won’t lose control of her catness again and have to be put into a cat carrier. Everything is going to be great.

Sucks to be Patsy though. Greer shredded her outfit.

I know she has that same outfit in current times so I wonder when she gets it back.

Apparently, she gets a magic version of the outfit that she can manifest at will after she dies, goes to hell, and then gets rescued from hell.

Anyway.

The cats decide they couldn’t possibly fight the Tigra so she tells them that they’d best let her and her friends go home then.

Like a sneaky guy, Master Pandemonium took advantage of all this distraction to get his demon limbs back, sneak up behind the cat king, grab the other soul jar, and smash it to get his soul chunk.

Which he then shoves into the star shaped soul hole on his tum tum.

Which just. Like. The soul chunk is a triangle so it fills in a triangle but it looks bad. C’mon. Balance the star. Make it a four point star. It doesn’t have to make geometric sense, its magic.

I wonder what having one-fifth of a soul feels like.

Anyway, Master Pandemonium being Master Pandemonium, he delivers a big speech about how this doesn’t change anything. He and the Avengers will still be enemies when they meet again. But he’s vaguely grateful to them.

Hawkeye asks him why he thinks he can just walk out of here so Master Pandemonium jumps over the balcony into the river of oblivion and swims away.

He’s not swimming away all that fast.

The Avengers could totally just go and grab him.

But Hawkeye decides nah.

They’ll probably get another chance as he continues causing trouble on Earth but heck the guy solved one part of Mephisto’s scavenger hunt. Let him have that victory.

Hawkeye: “Anyway, our very own Tigra is probably five times that happy, since she got an entire soul outta the deal, an’ right where she wants it! Uh -- it is Tigra now? Not Greer?”

Tigra/Greer: “Both! Either! There’s no difference any more!”

As for being trapped in hell, well the West Coast Avengers know the spell to get home from specifically the cat world within so... let’s call it a day and have a barbecue?

That’s the West Coast Avengers’ thing. They barbecue. Thanks for inviting us to barbecue at your house, Hellstorm.

Hellstorm: “What?”

Hawkeye: “Hey, we got an Avenger back today, and that means we’re celebratin’, and when you’re with the Whackos, that means Hawkeye the archer’s world-famous barbecue!”

Tigra: “I’m ready, boss-man -- if I can have a hot dog!”

I can’t believe we got an everyone laughs ending! My god!

Soooooo.

Tigra’s arc.

If it ends here, please god let it end here, it was rough. I didn’t like it. Kind of like the resolution though. Lost the Tigra soul, shoved it back in, fits better now, also level up a few times. Got a tail. Stronger Tigra.

An ideal outcome, don’t you think?

Follow @essential-avengers​ because we’re going to be getting through the Siege of Avengers Mansion for a while. Like and reblog out of relief that the horny Tigra arc is over.

[thatoneao3writer]

I hope this isn’t too big to ask but can u do all the characters, their teams, and small bio. You can do this on your time

I am going to do a pro gamer move and assume that you're asking for a summary for all the characters and all the existing teams in the TT AU. (I really wish this is what you're asking for)

The Titans:

Awesamdude - an explosion expert hero. Goes by the name Sam in his civilian life. Made and manages the Pandora's Vault, in and out of costume (he is the head security guard of the prison as civilian!Sam). The boyfriend of Dropsbyponk, but the public eye is blind of this information. He made Pandora's Warden, one of the most powerful and feared villain in the city, if not, the world. Owns a wolf named Fran who he loves very much. Made Sam Nook and made Ponk's robotic limbs and suit. Very smart but can be the biggest troll in the universe. He wants to adopt a kid named Alex, who he doesn't know is actually Quackity, a villain in disguise.

Badboyhalo - is a demon that left his realm and became a hero in the Overworld. His father is Crimson, the ruthless and manipulative ruler of the Nether. BBH can fly, hide his demonic features and cloak himself as a human, manipulate shadows, teleport, and many other undiscovered things. He knows of Skeppy's flirtatious advances towards him, but he pretends to be naive in fear of burdening his frienemy. BBH goes by the name Darryl outside of his hero life and works at a pet shelter. He has a pet dog nicknamed Rat. Darryl has a friend named Zak, who he doesn't know is actually Skeppy. Also, he's now basically Sapnap's dad.

Dropsbyponk - a cyborg hero. He lost his feet in a terrible explosion while he lost his left arm to Pandora's Warden during a failed test on Sam's part. He skateboards a lot and thought George how to do it 'properly' as well. Don't flirt with Sam, he will try and get BBH to hex you. He has a cat named Sacrifice and a parrot named Wash Your Rice. His civilain name is Jack, but he doesn't usually go outside to be Jack because he doesn't like switching out his prostetics.

Captain Puffy - a pirate hero. She owns a flying ship and uses it as transport whenever she's in hero mode, it can compress into a hover board for some reason (is it technology or magic? who knows). She goes by the name Cara outside of her hero life and owns a flowershop downtown. She has a major crush on Nihachu, a member of the Syndicate but think's the other hero is too good for her so she doesn't act on it. She is also attached to Dream for some reason (she doesn't know they had a past and vise versa). Try and hurt her friends, you'll regret even looking at them wrong. Also, she 'adopted' another hero named Foolish.

Antfrost - is an animal shapeshifting hero who only favors turning into cats. He doesn't really have a civilian life because everyone knows who he is since he doesn't really wear a costume. He is in a relationship with Red Velvet, a villain who is also a part of the Hive. He chats with the Titans' pets and now he has a ton of blackmail material.

The Hive:

DreamwastakenXD - the leader of the Hive. His power set includes, invisibility, super speed, and high IQ. But he also has a hidden power which allows him to manipulate people like puppets, but he doesn't use it due to the terrible side effects. Has a crush on his friend George, but pretends he doesn't because he thinks love would just hinder his plans. The mans in such deep denial that he doesn't realize he's the most obvious shrimp there is. He got his powers through unwanted means (he got experimented on). He helped Quackity hide and is now protecting his fellow victim from Schlatt's grubby hands. He's also a DreamXD kinnie.

Quackity - a shapeshifter and the newest member of the Hive. He can shapeshift into anyone he sees, he doesn't need to hear their voice to pefectly copy it (it just happens). He used to work for Schlatt, but escaped and was found by the Hive. He got his powers through unwanted experimentation. Boyfriend of Karl and Sapnap. He goes by the name Alex whenever he goes to Uni (the Hive, except Sapnap, doesn't know he goes to school). Don't make him shapeshift into a girl, he will have a panick attack. Because of his shapeshifting powers and memory gaps, he doesn't have an identity of his own and suffers from constant identity crisis. He wants to be adopted by civilian!Sam but he doesn't like the idea of deceiving such a nice man.

Red Velvet - Antfrost's boyfriend and has the same abilities as Jinx. He can't go a day of fighting with the Titans without making out with Ant. All homophic bitches will die. (someone help me, Velvet needs more hcs but i dunno much about him).

Sapnap - a demon that accidentally imprinted on BBH. Dream and George's best friend. Karl and Quackity's boyfriend. Keeps trying and failing to get BBH and Skeppy together. Wants to kill Schlatt because of what happened to Dream and Q. He's still a child in demon years so he gets 'terrible twos' which is, in demon standards, unquenchable want to kill. Hence his thing with pets and murder. He goes by Rash whenever he goes with Quackity to school.

Skeppy - is a diamond manipulating villain. He can summon pillars and spikes of diamonds from the ground as well as materializing diamonds from thin air and use it as projectiles. A major shrimp for BBH. A very inappropriate flirt and a very naughty troll. Don't try to fight BBH because he likes to think only he can fight BBH. He tries to be creative with his diamonds statues, but he never gets good. Diamonds mean nothing to him. (Someone come up with how he got his powers quick- I don't wanna make him like Q and Dream because that would be repetitive).

George - he's not really a villain, he doesn't really have powers. He's just. There. He knows about Dream's feelings and he reciprocates, but if his friend doesn't want to act on it, then why would he?

The Syndicate:

Technoblade - leader of the Syndicate and is the Batman of this AU. He's an orphan lmao. He has a mansion that acts like the team's HQ. When he only started as a hero, he didn't care if he killed his enemies, but when that drove people away and when Phil arrived, he changed his ways. Touch his most prized possesion, Carl the horse, or Phil then prepare to die. He acts like he doesn't care about Tommy, but he does. He's also very sad abput what happened with Wilbur.

Philza Minecraft - a retired Green Lantern but only Foolish knows that. He saved Techno when he was a child and is now he works as the hero's butler/guardian. Takes good care of Tommy, Tubbo and Ranboo whenever he can. (I don't have a lot for him oops).

Nihachu - she has Aquaman's powers because fish~. Has a crush on Puffy but she's too shy to act on it. Was once a villain with Jack Manifold but turned good when she met Wilbur. She's very sad that both her best friends are now fighting against her.

TommyInnit - kid flash what will he do. He's not really a member, more like a hero in training. His parents know of him being a hero and are okay with it as long as he stays safe. His parents entrusted him with Techno and Philza. Tubbo's bestfriend and Ranboo's self-proclaimed rival.

Extras:

Tubbo - a random kid who knows everyone and befriends everyone. For some reason he knows all the heroes/villains/vigilantes/anti-heroes in town. If anyone trues to harm him, eveyone will band together and protect him (yes, even Schlatt). Is a super genius and can create anything he puts his mind into. Wants to help everyone, but he's too chaotic and only Ranboo can handle his inventions.

Ranboo - a vigilante that doesn't care about sides. He helps whoever he thinks is right. Is this au's Spiderman but in steroids. His powers include, webs, teleportation and fire breath. Only Tubbo, Techno and Phil knows what he looks like. An orphan that was unknowingly adopted by Phil.

Karl Jacobs - a college student that has time traveling powers. He doesn't like overusing his powers because reasons (i have an idea lol). He knows about his boyfriends being villains but doesn't tell them because he doesn't think it would be fair. He's half... eldritch being or something lmao.

Foolish - this man is ancient, a wise himbo. He has a past with Philza when he was still Green Lantern. Adopted by Puffy and Ponk's best friend.

XxRose - goes by Hannah in outside her villain role. Frequents Puffy's flower shop. Sam's 'annoying little sister'. No they're not related. She can control and talk to plants.

Schlatt - a villain boss. Has a super powered mech suit that Fundy made for the government. He inherited his father's 'company' and abused Quackity. He cares for Tubbo who is now trying to educate him on how to be a decent human being.

Fundy -a government scientist. Used to be good friends with Niki and Wilbur and the Syndicate as a whole. But they all had a fall-out when they blamed Fundy for Wilbur's downward spiral. He's Tubbo and Ranboo's supplier of tech stuff.

Wilbur/Ghostbur/Deadbur - was once a hero and a member of the Syndicate, but is now a villain because of what he saw in Fundy's secret government files. Is now working with Jack Manifold on planning the demise of the whole hero society as a whole. His powers include invisibility and... I forgot the words... er, he can make himself walk through walls.

Jack Manifold - a fire based villain who was once Niki's partner in crime. Is now working with Wilbur.

Additional (edit):

Punz - an anti-hero who specializes in daggers and *ahem* drugs. Not drugs drugs, just... sleeping pills and poison darts and what not. He flirts with Sam just to piss of Ponk, but genuinely has the hots for Sam Nook.

Sam Nook - a robot replica of Sam that serves as a butler for the Titans. He was once a little raccoon robot, but Sam upgraded him into a full scale replica of himelf.

Pandora's Warden - a failed and corrupted robot that Sam made. He was created to be the prison's main guard, but a virus made him act up and go rogue. (personification of dsmp's prison)

Crimson - the evil and manipulative ruler of the Nether. Also, he's BBH's dad. (personification of the Egg)

(did I miss anyone??) (edit: lmao i've gone past the tag limit-)

[crazy-sevens]

Writing Snippet #23

I have no restraint

Part one here

Part two here

***

One date turned into two dates. Two dates turned into four dates. And four dates turned into the villain and the hero going steady.

The hero didn’t know what to think. 

But it wasn’t like she could get away from it all seeing as her boyfriend was also her arch-nemesis. 

“So,” the villain said, “You still going out with what’s-his-face?” He was looking over the hero, who was occupied gripping the ledge of his building for dear life.

“Aw, you jealous?” She teased through gasps and nearly losing hold of the building. 

He smirked, grabbing her before she could fall. “You’re just mad you couldn’t get me. Does he know he was your second choice?”

She gripped his hand tight as he pulled her up from the ledge, disguising his rescue by throwing her across the top of the building. She hit the ground hard. She let out a soft groan.

His eyes flashed with concern for a moment. Then he tried to mask his concern with triumph. After all this time he still thought she was in the dark. How cute.

The hero stood up shakily. “You just wish you could be half as good looking as he is,” she shot back.

She saw him perk up. He liked it when she complimented him. But then he shrugged nonchalantly. “You haven’t seen me without the mask.”

She put a hand on her hip. “You gonna take it off?”

“Just a thought.”

She laughed, then looked at her watch. Woah she was going to be late to her-their date. He seemed to realize this too. He smiled. “Well I’d love to stay and chat, darling, but I’m going to have to go.” His eyes glittered. “Previous engagement.” And then, the ever dramatic person that he was, he jumped off the side of the building.

“See you at six,” the hero mumbled.

***

The villain knew it was only a matter of time before the hero found out. It was a miracle that it had lasted this long. But when she found out . . .

She would hate him. 

He couldn’t let that happen. It had all started as a trick, but things had changed now. A month ago he would have let her fall from that building. And now he was feeling guilty over accidently hurting her.

He was still thinking about what she said. She thinks I’m good looking. He smiled. At least she thinks they both looked completely different. 

She arrived at the park five minutes after six. A small smirk on her face and her eyes glittering. “Ready to lose?”

“Is it supposed to be a race?”

They were going to hike up a trail and have a picnic at the top. Nothing competitive about it. But she loved a competition. 

“That’s what I’d say too if I knew I was going to lose,” she said.

He smiled. She insisted on giving him a head start. And then she proceeded to beat him to the top. 

He wasn’t going to hear the end of that any time soon.

***

“YEAH! I win!” The hero cheered when she reached the picnic spot. 

The villain was only a few seconds behind her. “Yeah only because I let you win,” he panted. 

She laughed. “If that’s what you want to tell yourself.” But before she could do any further bragging, she felt a pang in her side. She held back a gasp. It must’ve been from earlier. 

The villain’s smile faded. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” She turned away from him to the food, closing off further questioning. “Wow this looks awesome!”

“Yeah I packed a lot of food.” He gave her a sideways glance. “For you.”

“I don’t eat that much.”

“My wallet begs to differ.”

“Fine I’ll buy from now on,” the hero relented, sitting down on the picnic blanket. He sat down next to her. She smirked. “You bring your guitar?” She wasn’t that surprised to find out that he couldn’t actually play the guitar. She was still teasing him about it.

He raised an eyebrow. “You bring your juggling knives?” He shot back.

“Alright you win.”

He laughed.

She had ‘revealed’ a week ago that the reason for her scars was that she was actually the hero. He was pretty good at acting, she almost believed he hadn’t known. 

After they finished eating, they watched the sunset together. The hero leaned against the villain, lost in thought. 

She had fallen for the villain. She could still try to pretend it was to gather intel, or getting the upper hand on him, but she knew that she was . . . in love. 

In love!

Before she could ponder further on this exhilarating horrifying fact, the villain spoke. “So did [Villain] give you any trouble today?”

“Yeah,” the hero muttered. 

“Did he get away?”

“He jumped off the building.” She shook her head, biting back a laugh. “He’s so dramatic.”

The hero could almost hear the villain resisting the urge to argue. “But you’ll get him next time right?” he asked. 

She chuckled. She already had him. “Right,” she answered

“So,” he said, “what’s it like being a superhero?”

“It’s pretty cool. Keys to the city, servants to do my bidding, guys left and right; I’m living the dream.”

“I’m your favorite guy right?”

“Second favorite. Steve gives excellent massages.”

The villain gave a soft chuckle. “So besides all that, what’s it really like?”

The hero sighed, leaning in further into the villain’s chest. “Stressful.”

“I can understand that.”

The hero shook her head slowly. “You're the first person I’ve gone out with in ages.”

“I can tell.”

The hero smacked him. He laughed again. She loved it when he laughed. And he laughed so easily with her. It made her feel like she was a world class comedian. 

But then his laugh died.

“Did he hurt you?”

She turned to him now, watching his eyes when she answered. “Yeah.” She put her hand to her side. “Right here.”

His eyes flashed with his usual concern–and guilt. “Hey Cas, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“[Villain] I know it’s you.”

His jaw nearly dropped. “You do?”

“Ever since I saw your picture.” She raised an eyebrow. “You really think I didn’t realize this whole time?”

He looked at her sheepishly. “Maybe.”

She laughed. “You know,” she said, “on our first date, my friends were waiting to ambush you.”

“I was going to kidnap you.”

“Real original.”

“Yeah.” He sighed with relief, silent for a moment. Then he turned to the hero. “You really think I’m dramatic?” he asked. 

“Definitely.”

“And we aren’t going to fight anymore?”

The hero smiled. “Well don’t get too crazy.”

 He smiled back. “And you aren’t going to break up with me?”

“Nope.”

“Well now what?”

“Haven’t you seen any movies? This is where we kiss.” 

“Oh.” 

The villain turned toward her, her eyes glinting with a challenge. He smiled at her, those eyes meeting the challenge.

And then they kissed, the sun completely falling behind the horizon.

It can’t get more movie than that.

[pocketramblr]

The followup to the Thought™

"Ugh." You say, waving to the screen. "Look at that, now that's who should have been the main character-"

"Oh?" I say, a small glowing figure appearing in front of you. "I can show you that if you want, wish granted." I wave my magic wand, and you blink to find yourself watching a different universe's show.

It's about a blond boy, with a minor superpower that's difficult to work with. He only has one friend, with major anxiety. Both of them want to be heroes, which is about the coolest and nicest thing anyone can be in this world.

But the blond boy is only in middle school. He doesn't get the best grades, he's a bit of a class clown, a bit of a delinquent. He's not exactly cool or over powered, but his earnest, bright nature endears him to the watchers and readers of the story. He's nice, and not worried about competition. He'll put cheering up his best friend over studying- and he'll put just enjoying video games together over training his power on his own.

He doesn't, by the way, train on his own. He makes meager progress in the class provided, and works hard when he's thinking about it, but he honestly doesn't even know where to start with his power.

He takes the entrance exam, and by some manner of luck, manages to permeate through blasts and rubble while shoving other students out of the way. He's used to watching out for his best friend, at least, and that carries over in his natural, if clumsy, attempts to help others here.

With more luck, he is accepted into the school on those points. So is his best friend, though they're in different classes. He still doesn't have many friends, but they meet a new girl in his bf's class: she's gorgeous and powerful- the most raw energy in any of their quirks, and no anxiety or complications holding her back.

She's a bit of a ditz, though, a bit much for others to hang around all the time, so even though she should be a shoe in fit the most popular, she slides easily into their group instead.

The fandom likes her a lot, and you feel impatient. This isn't the story you wanted to see, not really.

"Don't worry," I say. "Time flies when you're actually a school story instead of a daily battle with villains story."

And it does- they compete in the first sports festival. The main character, to little surprise, doesn't do well. But he manages to keep himself and the others smiling and laughing through it, and that brings the attention of the mentor.

The mentor that you like, of course, the mentor you believe was right.

The mentor trains the main character. It's hard, but he can actually break down what exactly he needs to improve on, and now that he has support, the main character takes it seriously. Like all children do, he rises to the expectations on him when he's given the material to do so.

Not made to find the material. The kid would have never dreamed of just assuming and asking such a high ranking hero to focus on him. Rather like another boy, but we'll get to him later.

It's another year. The girl tried her best at the beauty pageant. The best friend tried his best at the liscence exam. The main character has still been training at his internship.

"His second year." You say, thinking. "Now this is when All Might shows up in the timeline, ten months before February in what would be Mirio's second year."

I raise an eyebrow, but wave my magic wand.

All Might does appear. The mysterious top hero, always in the background- ads, all over the mentor's office. They used to work together, but no one in this universe knows anything more than that.

The mentor and the principal happily tell the main character that the number one hero wants to meet with him directly! The boy is nervous, of course, excited, of course, and a tad confused.

But meet they do.

And offer his quirk, he does.

The episode and chapter end on that, of course, and you feel a surge of excitement. Finally!

You look around and realize others in this fandom do not see it that way. Many critique the twist as coming out of nowhere, with no build up that it was even possible, breaking the established rules for no reason. Many others are proud of how much the main character has to work at the difficult power, and do not want him to have a second before he masters this one. Some feel it's a trap- a secret test of character, or a villain in disguise who will ruin him. Some wonder if it's more metaphorical- he's offering the power of support and more guidance, maybe a connection, but not his literal superpower.

You do not know how to feel about it, but you know this will be for the better. He will be perfect for it.

At the beginning of the next update, the boy turns down the quirk. Grateful, more than he could say, but he's worked so hard for his own power and he's not even up to snuff with it yet. He's unsure he's the best option. The girl, after all, is used to weilding such power, maybe he should try her, maybe he should keep looking.

The top hero nods, and asks if he can visit again later, if he can find no other. The boy is a good hero after all, and maybe he needs to believe in himself as much as he is telling his friend to. It will be hard to train a second quirk, yes, but he can manage. It will make him stronger and pay off, after all.

The boy agrees, tentatively. No one can really say no to the number one hero, after all.

"Ok." You say, nodding. "There's an opening. It can build more, since that's how the story is here, way more slowburn."

I shrug. That's what happens when you start the story three years early, but whatever.

The story goes on. The main character does better in the sports festival, but not by any measure good. His friend finds a mentor, a character popular. Much warmer than the blond's mentor. The girl gets a really good mentor, a top tenner.

And then they start to get really good. They're used to training now, and getting it all bit individually and together. The mentor is motivated as of by fury, pushing more and more. And the main character grows to reach it.

Another year. They're seniors, now. Just one year left before they're pros, but they're already about at that level. They're called the Big Three.

The third year is different. Chaos every few weeks. A class of first years attacked.

"Oh, because All Might is still looking for a successor among the students- checking over the freshmen but they won't be able to compare."

I hum in a way that could be interpreted as agreement.

The sports festival. Finally, real victory. They do so well, even with one anxious at crowds. And one that is seemingly allergic to staying clothed. They do well.

The chaos continues, always at the sides. The others in this universe who follow the story talk about that and the offer the top hero made. Is he getting weaker? Did that power leak somehow and now someone wants it?

The tension grows, especially for you. If the hero doesn't give the main character the power before the summer....

The main character doesn't get the power before the summer. The hero falls on tv while the blond and his friends watch in horror.

After the summer, the main character decides to meet the freshmen. You wonder who will replace a certain someone's seat, or if this is playing the original quirkless hero storyline.

When the main character challenges the class of freshmen and you see that sparking green, you seethe.

"I said I wanted Mirio to have OfA! Why is he-"

"Actually," when I speak, you cannot. "You asked for him to be the main character. He still is. A beloved one, even."

"You know what I meant!"

"Perhaps. But then you asked for another change, and so I allowed All Might to meet with him a few days before he would have in the old timeline. He had a chance, he turned it down. Why are you mad at him having his own ambitions and autonomy?"

"He was supposed to take it! He's the worthier option, and you know it."

"What makes him worthy?"

"He works hard!"

"So does Izuku."

"He worked hard before he was offered everything by All Might!"

"Yes," I will admit. "Though, that's only because he met Sir before he met All Might. Were you so focused on how slow it was going that you didn't actually watch what he was doing?"

You will not admit to anything, still angry.

"He'll get another chance." I remind you.

You huff, but the story continues on.

The main character takes a liking to the boy you despise. So does the fandom, dubbing him the cutest little kohai. He's awkward and eager and sunny, like a fusion of the main trio.

He's also impulsive, and on their first patrol together they run into who will obviously be the big bad of the arc- and his abused daughter.

The fandom is split on if the story is going to go with a "In this arc, the blond must pass his experience on patience to a boy who it all about speed and too naive" or if it's "In this arc, it's the mouth of babes- the boy will inspire the main character to do good more impulsively."

You sit and wait for it to be "the boy will finally fork over the power he's now spent over a year working to hold and use to the real main character."

The raid happens. We finally see how the main character met his best friend. It's very sweet. The girl is a lead character and gets focus on her fight too, though the two freshmen working with her don't really. There's another funky freshman boy who turns out to be more like the best friend than we thought.

Finally, we get to the main fight.

And the main character is shot, quirk erased. For good, if the villain who's really not actually that good an example of a scientist is to be believed.

"Oh. What if the former top hero offers his power again, after this arc? It's about loss but always moving on?" The fandom asks. They aren't sure if the buildup to this is better than before, but it's certainly am interesting turn, and not as controversial as the last time.

The best friend saves the day by awakening right at the perfect moment to drag the teacher in. The quirk is kinda super deus ex machina for this arc though.

At the hospital, the mentor dies. The former number one hero is there.

The fandom wonders whether to hope or fear how long he'll wait to replace the mentor and the quirk.

You wait, knowing it's soon.

Then the freshman offers his quirk, and the fandom flips again.

"We should have known!" They cry. "He had super speed and strength the whole time, maybe the sparks are from his own quirk, but it's the same power! Oh, this hurts much more than just if it had been the retired hero!"

Once again, the fandom divides. Many can't bear to see the kohai they love shoved aside after this one moment. Will be be able to use his original power? Then they won't mind the strength for the blond. Some say to wait for his power to come back. A few pipe up about the possibility of him doing it quirkless. He has trained physically too, after all these years.

"No thanks," he says again. He does smile though- just like Sir told him to- and tells his kohai that he’ll do great things with the power, just like All Might did. Tells him that he already has.

You're past the point of fury now.

"Why?" You demand.

"Keep watching." My tone is cold. "Keep watching, the next five months where he does nothing but babysit a girl in hopes she'll magically make himt not quirkless again. He doesn't even ask if he can be a quirkless hero. He doesn't even go to school to keep training. You demanded the other boy figure it out himself. This boy doesn't. He just hopes the same thing that did this to him can undo it."

You don't know what to say about that.

"Neither took it seriously in middle school. That's the nature of middle schoolers. Neither of them tried to go solo quirkless, when no support was provided. But they're both good kids. Hard workers. Heroic. They love each other, honestly, they're friends. It's sweet. And it's sad that it took me doing this for you to see it."

I shake my head.

"Sir Nighteye never saw how Mirio was much more like Izuku than All Might. That was his mistake, because he didn't know the meaning of worthy. Not that it was his choice to make even if he had. There's no magic to this. OfA isn't Excalibur or Mjölnir. All sorts of people have had it. And All Might wasn't doing much to train before he found Nana ether, as much as he got into trouble. OfA is more about connections they have to each other. It's about people's relationships. As it happens, that just doesn't include Mirio and wouldn't be at its most meaningful if it did."

"You just are too much a Deku stan and hate Mirio-"

"Accuse me of hating Mirio again, and I will leave you here." I threaten, pointing my wand at you. "Now. Did you learn your lesson?"

You grumble, but you do nod.

"Good." I say, before waving my wand one last time. You're back where you were before, not a trace of me or magic.

The lesson, though, sticks.

[akatsuki-shin]

REVIEW: 山河令 Shān Hé Lìng (Word of Honor)

Note(s):

(Very) long post ahead

Contains spoiler

This is my personal review and does not represent the entire audience.

This review is written by someone who has read the original novel, hence there will be reference and comparison between the two works

Summary:

After the sudden passing of his beloved master, young leader of the famous Four Season Manor, Zhou Zishu, brought his brothers and loyal followers to serve the Prince of Jin whose family had been the master of his predecessors, creating a secret organization of capable spies and assassins known as "Tian Chuang".

His decision later proved to be the downfall of his sect, however, for they were quickly swallowed into ruthless political conflicts and battle for power within the royal families, causing his brothers and followers to die unjustly one after another.

Ten years later, Zhou Zishu, now the sole survivor of the Four Season Manor, resigned from his position as the leader of Tian Chuang. In exchange for freedom, he bestowed upon himself the fatal punishment that is the "Nails of Seven Apertures for Three Autumns", a torture device created by Zhou Zishu himself that would gradually numb one's five senses and ultimately took their life within three years.

After several months passed, the now free Zhou Zishu had disguised himself as a wandering vagrant, enjoying his remaining time sightseeing, drinking, and sunbathing to his heart's content.

As fate would have it, however, his unshackled days abruptly ended when he saved a young boy, the only surviving descendant of the Mirror Lake Sect, one of the renowned Five Lakes Alliance, that was destroyed overnight by the mysterious ghosts of Mount Qingya. He was soon pulled into a conflict of the pugilist world dating back to twenty years ago, revolving around a legendary "Glazed Armor" said to hold the key to a secret armory filled with the secret techniques of martial sects from all over the world.

To further complicate matters, he somehow caught the interest of a strange young man of mysterious origin, Wen Kexing, who pursued him relentlessly with unknown motive.

---------

Before we get into it, I feel that it is worth to mention some of the major differences between the novel and live action because they do affect my impression and judgment over several points in the drama.

While there are always bound to be differences between an adaptation and its original works, most of these differences seem to have been made to avoid censorship, also in order for the drama to be able to become a "stand-alone" story (since the original work is a sequel to another novel).

1. Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing

In the drama, they are later revealed to have once been martial brothers of the Four Season Manor due to the fact that Zhou Zishu's master saved Wen Kexing's parents when they were pursued by both the righteous sects of the jianghu and the ghosts of Mount Qingya over the key of the Glazed Armor.

In the original story, they were strangers to each other that have no relationship whatsoever prior to their coincidental meeting at Jiangnan.

2. Prince of Jin and Tian Chuang

Word of Honor is based on the novel "Faraway Wanderers" by Priest, which is a sequel to her previous novel "Lord Seventh".

Originally, the master that Zhou Zishu and his Tian Chuang served should be the Emperor himself, Helian Yi, an important character from Lord Seventh - in which Zhou Zishu also made a major appearance. After Zhou Zishu punished himself with the nails and left Tian Chuang, Helian Yi and the Tian Chuang never pursued him. The story follows Zhou Zishu's journey in the jianghu and he never once went back to the capital city where Helian Yi was.

In the live action, Zhou Zishu and Tian Chuang served the Prince of Jin, a royal family tangled in internal strife for power. From what I understand, Prince Jin seems to have an ambition to overthrow the ruling Emperor to become one himself. After Zhou Zishu left, he kept an eye on him and later managed to capture Zhou Zishu, briefly bringing him back to the Jin as a prisoner.

3. The Scorpions

In Word of Honor, the Scorpion King Xie-er was portrayed as the adopted son of Zhao Jing, the main villain of the story. All the plots he devised, most of them were made with Zhao Jing's interest in his mind. There were also four remarkable assassins working under him (I don't remember their names, but you know who I mean, right?).

Originally, the Scorpions are an independent assassin group. Their relationship with Zhao Jing is that of client and service provider. The Scorpion King had his own plan to benefit himself and his organization with only his own interest in mind. There were no particular members of the Scorpions featured in the story other than him. Specifically, the Phantom Musician Qin Song was an independent assassin hired to kill Zhang Chengling, and he was believed to be dead after being defeated by Zhou Zishu on his very first attempt.

4. The Ten Ghosts of Qingya

Although the novel did mention the existence of the Top Ten Ghosts, only 4 (four) of them actually appeared in the story:

Xue Fang the Hanged Ghost (who was secretly killed by Wen Kexing in the beginning of the story, both in the novel and drama)

The Long-tongued Ghost who was also killed by Wen Kexing when he and Zhou Zishu were trapped underground in the graveyard (Zhao Family's Funeral Home in the drama)

Sun Ding the Delighted Mourning Ghost, one of the strongest ghosts who wanted to overthrow Wen Kexing's position as Ghost Valley Master; he was later killed by the Scorpions

Lao Meng (I forgot his title), also one of the strongest ghosts who wanted to overthrow Wen Kexing, but he was more lowkey and calm; he worked together with the Scorpions to first kill Sun Ding (his rival) and later to kill Wen Kexing when the jianghu heroes came to attack the Ghost Valley (although he didn't know that the Scorpion King had his own plan, hence meeting his demise during the war)

Wu Chang and his two henchmen, the Tragicomic Ghost, the Laughing Ghost, etc do not exist in the novel.

Additionally, Liu Qianqiao is also not part of the ghosts in the novel. She did have an affair with Yu Qiufeng and was manipulated by him until she died horribly in the hands of the two old couple (whose names I also forget).

5. The Ending

I think this is probably the biggest difference between the novel and the live action.

Originally, Zhou Zishu's nail wounds were removed and healed completely by Wu Xi AFTER the final battle at Mount Fengya (yes, the mountain's name is slightly different). He, Wen Kexing, Zhang Chengling, Jing Beiyuan, and Wu Xi lived temporarily at the top of Mount Changming because they need cold temperature for the healing method to work.

Wen Kexing did not sacrifice his life to restore Zhou Zishu's meridian and they did not become immortal.

Also, the Scorpion King was killed by Zhang Chengling and Gao Xiaolian after he got his hand chopped of by Zhou Zishu for trying to murder the already dying Wen Kexing (after he took his revenge on Mo Huaiyang).

There are of course, still many more differences, including when and where Cao Weining died, but the five things I mentioned above are probably the biggest ones because they directly impacted the entire plot.

---------

STORY: 8/10

Despite the changes and adjustments, the main plot of SHL amazingly remains loyal to the original story. The things they could not show, they would include it in the characters' dialog or tried to incorporate it in another way. Some examples:

Cao Weining and Gu Xiang's reincarnation story was included in Cao Weining's dialog (his dream and his wish to grow up together with her in their next life)

Wen Kexing's confession about wanting to build a grave for his parents from the Extra Chapter (where he cried and caused Zhou Zishu to let him top out of sympathy) was included in Wen Kexing's dialog when he got drunk and hugged Zhou Zishu after he defeated Zhao Jing (prior to Cao Weining and Gu Xiang's marriage)

In fact, I feel that most of the adjustments made to the story were able to deliver much better emotional aspects and intensity of the characters and important scenes.

Although more than half of the Ten Ghosts were made up solely for the drama, their existence was able to better portray Wen Kexing's image as the supreme leader of the Ghost Valley and why they all fear him.

Although many interactions between Zhou Zishu, Zhang Chengling, and Wen Kexing were either added or changed from the novel, here we could see them as a real, close family which is so much more heartwarming than the original.

Zhao Jing's pretense, evil deeds, and downfall were all arranged neatly from the beginning. If I hadn't read the novel, I probably would've been (pleasantly) surprised when it was revealed that he was the one plotting everything behind the scene.

The romance and relationship development of the main pairing (Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu, although it was masked as brotherhood as always) and side pairing (Cao Weining/Gu Xiang) were especially well done. It allows me, as the audience, to get to know them, sympathize with them, and ultimately rooting for them (despite already knowing how Cao Weining and Gu Xiang would end up).

Gu Xiang's anguish and fury after Cao Weining died were shown so clearly. Her final fighting scene until her death was particularly moving.

Explanations and plot twists were spread evenly so there was no info dump. The plot development was enjoyable to follow from the beginning, even if the ending felt a bit rushed.

This was a bit difficult to describe, but even if sometimes I feel like "hmm, this character did not do this in the novel", when I was following the drama from the first to the last episode, everything flows smoothly and does not feel out of place. So I realized that even if what the characters did was sometimes different from the original story, it is still loyal to the plot and circumstances of the drama, which is why their adjusted words and actions still felt natural to see.

Also, when reading the novel before, I have one critic about the Glazed Armor and the armory itself being the center of everyone's fight, but in the end they didn't seem to have much importance, especially because the armory was never found and opened. At the very least, although it was due to ending change and pretty much rushed, in SHL the Glazed Armor was actually used and the armory was shown.

Though there were indeed a few things that I do not quite agree(?) with:

Tian Chuang is supposed to be a secret organization that does their job secretly, but why is it that they always light so many lanterns when launching their attack?

The bond shared between Zhou Zishu and Prince Jin was pretty clear, but I don't think it's detailed and deep enough for Prince Jin to consider Zhou Zishu his soulmate. Furthermore, from the beginning we've never been told about Zhou Zishu's family, but in the last few episodes suddenly there were talks about his father being branded a traitor because of some secret hidden in the armory. While the story makes sense, to put new information out of the blue when the plot was about to end feels somewhat strange.

Lastly, I understand that danmei adaptations always face a lot of restrictions, as in they were not allowed to have a blatant happy ending - so most either resort to tragedy or open ending (cmiiw). However, I still feel that Wen Kexing faking his death without telling Zhou Zishu was......kind of silly.

After their life was spared by Ye Baiyi, Zhou Zishu had already warned him not to act without telling him again. When he wanted to fake his death, Wen Kexing told almost everyone except Zhou Zishu, the reason being they shouldn't make Zhou Zishu fight since he was in the middle of recovery.

Zhou Zishu is a rational person, I strongly believe that he would understand if Wen Kexing explained clearly. Him not telling Zhou Zishu led to:

Zhou Zishu actually ended up fighting to save him

Zhou Zishu thinking his soulmate is truly gone and proceeded to choose a suicidal move in order to avenge his (fake) death

Honestly, while I still enjoy following this drama until the end, I feel that the cause of Zhou Zishu dying when he could've been saved by Wu Xi, and Wen Kexing ended up sacrificing his life to save Zhou Zishu, was a bit ridiculous because really, Wen Kexing brought it upon himself.

In regards to this, even if I'm happy the two of them ended up living happily ever after as immortals on the mountain, it makes Jing Beiyuan and Wu Xi's existence almost pointless. They were literally included in the story of Faraway Wanderers to save Zhou Zishu's life from the nails. But here, other than providing shelter after the Four Season Manor was burnt down by Duan Pengju, I don't see any reason why they should be there.

CHARACTERS: 9/10

Perfect casts and perfect character portrayals, both from visual aspects and acting. Some may or may not necessarily look 100% similar to their novel description, but they managed to bring out the characters to life so well.

I've said before that most adjustments made to the drama were able to deliver much better emotional aspects and intensity, and this is especially true for the characters.

Honestly, when reading the novel, other than the few main characters, others did not leave a lot of impressions on me. I don't even remember what Zhao Jing was like when he was revealed as the true villain. Gao Chong's introduction was pretty good, but then we didn't hear much about him until he was finally declared dead. Shen Shen appeared only for one chapter and the next time I heard of him, he's already dead, too.

I love the novel, but really do have so many complaints about the characters in there. Fortunately, all of these flaws had been fixed in the drama, and boy they did it so well.

Some that I found amazingly written and shown:

Wen Kexing's emotional instability and his protectiveness whenever Zhou Zishu got hurt (good job, Gong Jun)

Zhou Zishu's rich emotions to those he hold dear (good job, Zhang Zhehan)

Zhang Chengling's character being more detailed and "alive", especially his diligence, growth, and occasional mischief; he was no longer just a useless dumb kid who can't do anything

Cao Weining and Gu Xiang's dynamic is so lovely

Zhao Jing's change from the seemingly weak guy to an ambitious, manipulative mastermind

Gao Chong, Shen Shen, and many other side characters were given enough screen time + sufficient important scenes so they weren't easily forgotten

Special shoutout and kudos to the actor who played Duan Pengju. I heard he was actually the Assistant Director, but because they didn't have much budget, he was casted to play this character and he did great 🥺 Thank you for helping the team to save hundred thousands yuan!

I don't really have any complaints about the character except when Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing have just delivered Zhang Chengling to Zhao Jing, Zhou Zishu clearly didn't want to mention his name (Zhou Xu), but Wen Kexing went ahead and introduced the both of them. Somehow I feel that Wen Kexing's character wouldn't disregard Zhou Zishu's opinion so lightly.

TECHNICAL ASPECTS: 9/10

Although this drama did not have much budget to start with, literally the only complaints I have about it is so minor, like:

A few scene transitions don't look smooth

Repeated use of sets, e.g. Gao Chong/Zhao Jing's residence is the same as Prince Jin's Palace, the Secret Armory Interior is the same as Tian Chuang's prison - but this has been mentioned in an interview with the Director(?) that they indeed use similar sets for multiple scenes to save budget

Other than that, I only ever have good things to say about this drama.

The fighting scenes should be given million kudos. Save for the flying and gliding part (which still looks kinda awkward, but better than some other Chinese dramas I've seen), the actions were just so cool and intense??? From the angle, the slow motion, to the techniques that are unique and different for each character. They even perfectly showed Zhang Chengling's awkward yet correct implementation of Zhou Zishu's teaching.

Costume designs are top notch. The visual of the seven nails on Zhou Zishu's body looks so real. His disguise was also very well done, I almost couldn't tell it's the same actor.

Some CGI and animations could've done better, but overall everything looks nice. I'm especially amazed at the visual of Longyuan Palace.

OVERALL SCORE: 8.7/10

At this point, I don't even know how to end this post other than saying please watch it, guys. It's a really well done job despite their limitations and restrictions. I've watched several Wuxia/Xianxia dramas before this and Word of Honor surprisingly exceeded every single one of my expectations. I enjoyed watching it so much, and I believe you guys will like it, too.

An additional kudos from me personally, because you can tell how the team creating this drama knows and appreciates the original author's works. It's a pleasant surprise when they incorporated a few things from Priest's other novel:

From Sha Po Lang: Zhi Liujin (the fuels used for the puppets in Longyuan Palace) and the Mechanical Birds used by Tian Chuang + Ping An Manor to deliver letters

From Silent Reading: The puppy that young Zhou Zishu and Zhen Yan played with, it was named after the cat owned by the main character of Silent Reading (also, fun fact, the name of Silent Reading's main character is "Wenzhou")

From Lord Seventh: Wen Kexing faking his death was exactly the same as how Wu Xi fooled the Emperor in order to "kidnap" Jing Beiyuan out of the capital.

Conclusion: Please watch it, guys.

[petrichormeraki]

Quirk Time!

I have come up with nearly everyone’s Quirk for my SMP Academia AU, so here’s a list and descriptions for each! 

Students:

Tommy

Quirk: INVENTORY

Inventory means the user of this Quirk can summon objects to their hand as long as they know exactly where the item is, and then return it to it’s old position. Tommy uses a chest in his room to put objects in that he can’t/doesn’t want to carry all the time, and summons items from there should he need them. 

Tubbo

Quirk: RAM

Ram is the Quirk that gives the user the ability and physicality of a ram. This means Tubbo’s legs are instead the hindquarters of a sheep, and he is amazingly agile in the face of physical obstacles. Tubbo also possesses horns, a thick skull, and can eat almost anything without any negative drawbacks. 

Ranboo

Quirk: ENDERMAN 

Enderman is a Quirk that allows the user to teleport short distances, and have a height of 7 feet at minimum. Eye contact sends Ranboo into a primal rage that is only calmed if the one who made eye contact disappears from line of sight. Ranboo is also extremely sensitive to water, and it will burn him like acid if he touches it with bare skin. 

Quackity

Quirk: DISGUISE

Disguise allows the user to transform into any other individual, whether or not they actually exist. Quackity can use this Quirk to shapeshift into anyone, including himself with different features should he wish. Quackity often uses his Quirk for humorous purposes. 

Sapnap 

Quirk: PYROKINESIS

This Quirk gives the user the ability to manipulate any open flame within line of sight. Sapnap often carries around matches to start a fire should he need it. 

Jack 

Quirk: VENGEANCE

Vengeance allows the user to be immune to death if they have unfinished business in the mortal realm. Jack often makes enemies to ensure he has a failsafe should he prematurely meet his demise. However, despite his Quirk, Jack’s body still endures the pain and consequences of anything that had killed him, causing him to be in pain almost constantly from past wounds that should not have been able to heal. 

Niki 

Quirk: UNKNOWN (aka i havent figured it out yet hgdffhjd)

Purpled 

Quirk: WHIPLASH 

Whiplash allows the user to directly return any force inflicted on them to the sender. Purpled does not use this ability often, and not even to its fullest extent unless it’s a life threatening situation, but when he does it is an incredibly debilitating attack. 

Teachers: 

Bad 

Quirk: INFERNAL 

Infernal is a Quirk that allows the user to transform into a giant demonic beast under immense pressure. Along with the other form, users of the Infernal Quirk can manipulate their life force in such a way to bind them to another individual. Bad has used this ability only once to bind his life force to the Pro Hero Diamond Man (Skeppy). 

George 

Quirk: LULL 

This Quirk gives the user the ability to instantly put someone to sleep if they make direct eye contact with the inflictor. This Quirk also effects the user, as the energy it takes to send someone into REM sleep is incredibly depleting. Because of this, George is almost always asleep. When he has regained the energy he spent on sending someone to sleep, he is surprisingly energetic and engaged, and wears tinted glasses to prevent eye contact in casual settings. 

Puffy

Quirk: EWE 

Variation of the Ram Quirk. 

Sam 

Quirk: UNKNOWN 

Connor 

Quirk: SONIC SPEED 

Sonic Speed propels the user 100 times faster than the running speed of a regular individual. (1600 km per hour) Connor has to eat ludicrous amounts of food to keep up with his enhanced metabolism. Sugary foods “recharge” him the fastest, but is not healthy or reliable for long periods of time.

Pro Heroes: 

Diamond Man (Skeppy)

Quirk: DIAMOND

This Quirk transforms the user’s skin into unbreakable diamond. Skeppy uses this advantage to be a powerhouse in a fight against a villain, since his only weakness is his own exhaustion. 

Foxheart (Fundy)

Quirk: SHIFT

Shift allows the user to change between having a human form and having an animal form. Fundy’s animal form is a fox. He uses this to heighten his senses and sneak into high security lairs to gather intel on villains. 

Slime Boy (Charlie) 

Quirk: VISCOUS

This Quirk gives the user the ability to be unrestrained to the limits of a human body should they choose. Charlie is able to save himself from damage by turning his body into a slime-like consistency at will. 

Stopwatch (Karl)

Quirk: TIME MANIPULATION

Karl’s Quirk gives him the ability to stop, reverse, forward, and slow the passage of time. As of now he can only do so for a few seconds at a time, as it takes an immense toll on him. The longest he has ever used his powers was to pause time for a full minute to rescue citizens from a collapsing building. The attempt put him in the hospital for a month and a half. 

Villains: 

Dream

Quirk: OMNIPOTENT

Dream knows all, and sees all. His Quirk has corrupted his mind, and has lead him down the path of apathetic destruction. He finds it entertaining to toy with mortals, but often underestimates what they can do since he sees himself as so much more powerful than them. Dream is threat #1 against the academy. 

Punz

Quirk: UNKNOWN 

Unaffiliated/Unknown Standing: 

Technoblade 

Quirk: WAR PIG

This Quirk gives the user the characteristics of a boar, including the ability to be an unstoppable force in battle. When Techno smells blood, he flies into a rage that is only calmed when any opposition is destroyed. This ability is blind, which has caused him to harm his allies more than once. Due to his past of bloodshed, he has been dubbed as the Blood God. 

Philza

Quirk: ELYTRON

This Quirk gives the user fragile, beetle-like wings that protrude from their shoulder blades. Flying takes about the same amount of energy as running, so Phil only really does it if he needs to. Due to his insectoid wings and his past of destruction, he has been dubbed as the Plague. 

Eret 

Quirk: LIAR LIAR

This Quirk gives the user the ability to completely waive all suspicion against them by crossing their fingers and telling a lie. (Ex. If Eret told a stranger he was their friend and crossed his fingers, they would accept him with open arms without any opposition.) Eret has used this ability to become the most powerful person in the city, but is lonely since he knows that none of his friends are truly his friends out of their own volition. 

HBomb (I KNOW WHAT I SAID BEFORE I CHANGED MY MIND BC THIS MAN IS AS STALE AS WHITE BREAD) 

Quirk: UNKNOWN

Deceased:

Wilbur

Quirk: SOULWEAVER 

This Quirk allows the user to freely manipulate souls of themself and others. Wilbur only discovered this Quirk after his death, when his Quirk brought his soul back in the form of a spirit. Prior to his death he was believed to be Quirkless. He has only used his Quirk one other time to bind two compasses to Tommy and Tubbo, using pieces of their souls so the compasses would always point to each other. 

Schlatt 

Quirk: RAM

(See above.) 

[usohtsuki]

sakuatsu fic recs!

*possibly haikyuu!! manga spoilers

the world needs to know about these beautiful miya atsumu & sakusa kiyoomi fics - let me know if i’ve missed any must-reads and i’ll update as i find more (last updated 30/04/2020). this does not include incompleted fics.

☆ = nsfw

Different Kinds of Dysfunctional (series) - DeathBelle ☆

(there’s no series description so this is just the description of the first fic)

Atsumu said into the heavy silence, “You can’t say you’ve never thought about it.”

"Thought about what?" said Sakusa.

Atsumu smiled to himself, smug. "You know."

"No, I don't."

"You know. Of course you’ve thought about it. There’s no reason to be ashamed, Omi-kun. I’m a real catch.”

Sakusa was appalled. "You're disgusting."

"You flatter me. I'm not judging you. I can't lie and say I haven't thought about it, too."

Sakusa shifted, slowly, to peer over his shoulder. He wasn’t scowling, but his expression was unreadable. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

Atsumu wasn't joking, and he was about to get more than he bargained for.

your highs and lows (series) - astroeulogy  ☆

a post-time skip canonverse series born from these two questions:

1. what if sakusa kiyoomi, known too-blunt jerk, is equally straightforward about his soft, tender feelings?

2. what if miya atsumu, resident big fat jerk who doesn't care if his teammates hate him, is too emotionally stunted to notice when his one of his teammates actually likes him?

did you get your wish? - bastigod

"Miya-san, do you have any regrets?"

Atsumu hummed in response. The fabric of his jacket crinkled as he shoved his hands into his pocket. "Getting sentimental, Sakkun?" He sighed. "I suppose after your last tournament is as good a time as any for it."

good is the life, the life is good - fiskanel  ☆

From time to time Sakusa wants to empty a full clip into the head of some criminal, chop their head off and to feed the remains to starved pigs. Or avoid feeding and have a ceremonial burning so that he gets the feeling that he has done it himself, with his own hands, because now his nerves are getting the best of him. The first rule of their agency is no killing until other options get irrelevant.

got sunshine in a bag - fiskanel ☆

‘Is everything okay?’ Sakusa asks, running through Atsumu’s hair and trying to catch his breath.

‘Yes.’ In his post-orgasmic bliss Atsumu doesn’t exist as a person. He has a hoarse voice, swollen lips, watery eyes, and his semen is smeared between their stomachs. ‘It's okay.’

the inherent romance of classical conditioning (or, the fine art of emotional recognition) - pseudoanalytics  ☆

It's stupid. Atsumu isn't a romantic, no matter how many times he's imagined laying Sakusa out and finally really touching him.

So there's no explanation for why Atsumu is constantly stuck thinking about brushing his fingertips against the meat of Sakusa's palms or the prominent tendons in his freaky wrists.

There's no explanation for why doing dishes sets off a warm burn in his ribcage, or why when he smells disinfectant he inhales like he's walking past a bakery.

Yer doin' this to me, he thinks furiously, as Sakusa derails his thoughts with kisses that come more and more frequently now. Yer conditionin' me, and I can't stop it.

School Bus Yellow - yuuki 

Atsumu has a crush on Sakusa, and it’s kind of ridiculous how much he likes a guy who wears ugly colored jackets and is afraid of germs.

Though, Atsumu’s probably not all that great himself. He’s still figuring that part out.

in disguise of revelation - wordstruck

“Did you need something, Miya-san?” Sakusa asks. Is this, Atsumu wonders wryly, how thieves feel when they’re caught.

“Omi-kun,” he replies with a slow-blooming foxkill grin. (And he hits a nail on the head — the unwelcome nickname makes Sakusa’s eye twitch just slightly.) “Lemme set for ya.”

Ah, there it is. A flicker of something colder behind that flat gaze, a there-and-gone-again that still hits Atsumu like a lightning strike. It makes his grin widen. Cavalier mischief is his best shield.

“My name,” the other boy says, in a voice of steel under paper, “is Sakusa.”

we are not shining stars - wordstruck

“I wanna see the Shinhotaka Ropeway,” Atsumu explains, as if this is a reasonable explanation for dragging your professional-volleyball-playing teammate out on an impromptu eight-hour road trip to a tourist attraction six hundred kilometers away.

“Uh huh.” Osamu pauses. Atsumu can hear his twin silently contemplating various reasons for Atsumu’s continued existence. “Is Sakusa-kun your hostage?”

“He wants ta see the Shinhotaka Ropeway too.” (This is a blatant lie.)

(Ten days after they lose to the Schweiden Adlers, Atsumu knocks on Sakusa Kiyoomi's door and invites him on a road trip.)

Notice - bastigod

Embarrassingly, Miya Atsumu is the third person to notice his crush on Sakusa.

And it's his crush in the first place.

The Germaphone and the Asshole (series) - metaandpotatoes  ☆

(there’s no series description so this is just the description of the first fic)

“The germ thing,” Atsumu says, looking as if he is intensely trying not to care. Eloquent as always. And unexpected, again. An inconvenient turn of events, if the habit persists. Adjustments will have to be made. Reaction times calibrated. Kiyoomi steps back again, what he hopes is an unnoticeable amount.

“The germ thing,” Kiyoomi repeats. Atsumu—headstrong, think-never Atsumu—hesitates. Kiyoomi briefly entertains the thought that he is trapped in a lucid dream.

flowers and all that bullshit - ugaytsu ☆

Atsumu asks for flowers, Sakusa gives him an interesting one.

On Edge - cajynn ☆

Atsumu needs to learn a lesson in patience. Thankfully Sakusa is a very skilled teacher.

Multiples of Two - yuuki

He does everything in multiples of two. The day Sakusa Kiyoomi died, Atsumu checked his pulse twenty-eight times. Okay, so Sakusa Kiyoomi has never died. And Atsumu has never been close enough to Sakusa to be able to check his pulse. So what if Atsumu is just being dramatic again? He’s allowed to be dramatic when he’s in love with a man who has less emotion than a rock.

after hours - novacaelum

"Are you scared of being caught, Omi-kun?"

"No." Sakusa's voice is strong despite his breathlessness, Atsumu smirks and crashes their lips together again.

crushed - strawberrycitrus ☆

"Can you crush a watermelon between your thighs?"

The entire team bursts into laughter, whereas Sakusa looks disgusted by the thought, because of course he would - Atsumu imagines that getting anywhere close to a food product with his legs would probably get him killed on sight.

The watermelon doesn't stand a chance.

show me how - emeraldpalace

Sakusa isn’t sure when or how it happened, but the fact remains: Miya Atsumu has become a comfortable constant in his life.

Black Jackals teammates verify controversial relationship announcement - pseudoanalytics

Despite initial public skepticism, sources close to Miya Atsumu (#13) and Sakusa Kiyoomi (#15) insist the relationship is authentic and not a publicity stunt.

Towers - slice_of_cheesecake

As the second prince of Inari Kingdom, Prince Atsumu has his duties to fulfill. Other than that, his twin brother, Crown Prince Osamu, just can't be bothered with such a troublesome quest, unless it's about food.

There's a nefarious sorcerer that is infamous for terrorizing neighboring kingdoms and Atsumu is given the task to slay the villain. But as soon as he sees the evil sorcerer, he suddenly forgot about his quest. Instead, he makes it his top priority to know more about this mysterious man and how he came to realize that all things are not always what they seem.

The MSBY Black Jackals Read Thirst Tweets - isaksara

Sakusa’s eyes are very dark naturally, sucking in all surrounding rays of light and crushing them in his pupils. For an athlete, he is rather pale. His lips look very pink in comparison. Atsumu is suddenly catastrophically aware that in this instance, ‘accent’ is a euphemism. “Good enough for your Olympic-size ego, Miya?”

(In which Atsumu realizes that he is attracted to Sakusa Kiyoomi in the most inconvenient way possible.)

touch me, hold your hand to the flame, keep it there as long as you can stand - kaashiboo  ☆

“I don’t trust you,” Sakusa says, and: “Don’t touch me.” Miya Atsumu does not flinch as grazed joints press against their shoulder, unfolding slowly, grasping onto them. Their breath hitches. Closed eyelids flutter, but don’t open up. “Don’t touch me,” Sakusa repeats, pleadingly, his fingers trembling so hard he thinks he can’t keep this up. Yet, he’s the one putting more pressure into it. Desperately, starvingly, longingly. “I won’t.” Atsumu promises. “I won’t touch ya, Kiyoomi-kun. I won’t.”

you make my heart burn - myhopeisjhope

“What’s up with that awful expression?” Atsumu asked. He leaned against the counter with his hip, looking directly at Kiyoomi, his regular fox-line grin plastered on his face.

Kiyoomi made eye-contact with him then, his eyebrows knotting in annoyance, but Atsumu was too interested in the cute pair of beauty marks above Kiyoomi’s eye to care about the glare that was sent his way.

“What’s up with that awful hair?” Kiyoomi shot back.

And that was exactly when Atsumu decided he liked the guy.

we’re falling out of touch - NovaCaelum

Sakusa loves Miya's hands. They look coarse from playing volleyball for long hours, they curve perfectly and set a ball as if he's reading the player's thoughts. As if he could. If it was true, then he'd know how Sakusa can't drag his eyes away from long fingers, rough calluses...How Sakusa wants to run the pads of his fingers over the shape, memorise it as if he'd never have the chance to do it again.

sometimes we have to wait (it takes time to find you) - ProudHaikyuuTrash

Three times Atsumu falls in love and is left heart-broken and the one time he gets his happy ending. 

The Misadventures of Crackshot and Limber - astroeulogy ☆

Six months ago, the hero known as Bloodhound became the latest in a long line of mysterious disappearances. When a sudden break in the case leads his old partner and twin brother to the home of Southpaw, the most famous hero in Osaka, things take a turn for the—strange. 

drive me mad (series) - Ceryna  ☆

snapshots of a tattoo & motorcycle AU fusion, featuring Kiyoomi with tattoos and a motorcycle, and head-over-heels pining Atsumu.

Heresy - honeybakedgrace

“I’d like to see that,” Kiyoomi jokes, a cheeky grin curling up the corners of his lips. Atsumu closes the gap, slowly, then all at once, until they can feel the other’s breath on their lips.

“It's too bad,” Atsumu trails off, eyes cast onto Kiyoomi’s exposed neck.

“Too bad?”

“Too bad,” Atsumu echoes, “in another life, maybe I coulda shown ya.”

Shades of Ink - DeathBelle  ☆

It’s fortunate that Miya Atsumu is such a good tattoo artist, because that appears to be his only redeeming quality. He’s too loud, too cocky, and so overtly flirtatious that Sakusa almost leaves the shop before he even steps inside. But he’s seen firsthand that Atsumu does good work, so he stays and suffers through it.

The longer he's there, the more he thinks maybe Atsumu isn't all bad.

When Atsumu asks for a tattoo from Sakusa’s shop in return, Sakusa knows he should turn Atsumu down. He doesn’t.

What should have been a routine business transaction turns into something more hands-on than either of them expected.

compositional control - almondblossom ☆

Sakusa Kiyoomi hated Miya Atsumu’s smug face, how bossy he was to the staff, and how full of himself he got. Even worse, he was outraged by how good Atsumu looked when he edited the photos from their shoot and how he ended up staring at them long after he was done. He loathed him and his pretty face and how it was all he could think about.

I Heard Your Voice - mrkscafe

Where Sakusa meets Atsumu while at work.

“Hey there, Pretty Moles-kun!”

Don’t turn off the light (I’ll give you what you like) - Liberty_Fede ☆

Atsumu thinks he can tease Sakusa, but gets completely wrecked instead.

three roses and a smile -  strawberrycitrus

“I just got this job, I’m not givin’ it up for some moral boost ‘cause I actually need to pay my rent, ya insensitive -” Atsumu waves his hands around, trying and failing to come up with the right word to convey the amount of injustice that this gaunt motherfucker has brought into his relatively simple life thus far.

“If you can’t pay your rent, go get a job at the McDonald’s over by 8th Street,” Sakusa growls, “it’ll pay more than your researcher position.”

If you even attempt assault on a coworker, forget teaching about cells - you’ll fucking be in one, Atsumu.

Live A Little - DeathBelle ☆

Sakusa's first mistake is getting on the motorcycle.

The second is his inability to walk away from Atsumu.

just a boy undercover (and a boy with a getaway) - volchitsae

Atsumu reaches out, clearly ready since birth to fuck with people. "Hey, I'm Atsumu Miya. Nice to work with The Lonely Lance." Osamu tries to kick at the back of his knee, but Atsumu is already moving toward Sakusa to get into his space.

Sakusa grasps the tips of Atsumu's fingers with his gloved hand for half a second before snatching it back. The warmth of the leather makes Atsumu's fingers twitch.

"It's Sakusa. I know who you are." Atsumu notes that he does not look pleased at all.

Instantly, his feud with Osamu hits the back burner. Atsumu wants to piss off the living shit out of this guy, 24/7, 365.

godeater - hozier

I’m still waitin’ for the day you consume me whole.

let them eat chaos - mirabilis

Standing between God and Ozymandias himself, Kiyoomi forges the remains of the boy who once challenged the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium and lost.

Saltwater - DeathBelle

“I said I was taking a walk alone.” Sakusa’s voice sounded odd, washed out by the low roar of the ocean. He sounded small, insignificant, and maybe he was.

“Yeah, I heard you.” Atsumu sounded the same as ever, loud and bold and always teetering on the edge of obnoxious. He stepped up beside Sakusa, maybe looking at him, maybe gazing out at the water.

“And you didn’t listen,” said Sakusa. “That’s typical.”

“I listened. I just heard what you didn’t say, too.”

an observational study of the modern desmodus rotundus - firtree

Ever since meeting Miya Atsumu, Kiyoomi's life has been a continuous stream of very unlucky incidents that have bled into a veritable sea of regret in which he finds himself, with no hopes of swimming back to the shore. In short, everything that is wrong with his life can (and will be) be attributed to making the acquaintance of Miya Atsumu.

Or: Some might think that becoming a vampire is the biggest problem that Kiyoomi will ever have to face. Wrong. His biggest problem comes in the form of Miya Atsumu and the crush he definitely does not have on him.

Reaching Through the Screen - cajynn ☆

“Oh my god.” Atsumu looks both shocked and thoroughly amused. “Omi-Omi. Is that porn?”

Euterpe - 09271996

Atsumu does not sing nor spare a glance at the instrument even once. His fingers alone do the wonders. Like a person meditating, only having his fingers move all according to instinct. He plays a hauntingly sad song, if Sakusa would describe it. He is not familiar with it but the way the chords resonate around the room and gives goosebumps to his skin, he knows that if he goes to sleep, it’s going to haunt him.

want you in my room - volchitsae ☆

"we hooked up and now the city has shut down for a week due to a pandemic and now we're stuck in your apartment" AU -- There’s a comfortable quiet while Sakusa butters some toast until Atsumu’s phone starts ringing from where it’s plugged into the wall. Sakusa scoops it up from the desk in the living room and hands it over to Atsumu, who puts it on speakerphone.

“Yo, ‘Samu,” Atsumu says, around a mouthful of cereal.

“Oh, so now you pick up.”

“My phone died!”

“We thought you died. It’s lucky you weren’t murdered. Unlucky for me, I’ve always wondered what it was like to be an only child.”

“You mean, I’m lucky I wasn’t murdered by his dick –“

“SHUT –“

Atsumu grins and shoots at look at Sakusa, who raises his eyebrows and takes a sip of coffee.

take what’s yours and make it mine - claudusdiei

atsumu falls in love four times in his life

(or: in which atsumu gets his heart broken twice, has the self-awareness of a sober mule and really likes yellow tulips)

nothing but some heartburn, baby - volchitsae

"your apartment is next to mine and i can hear you and your partner dancing and singing and the bed moving and you two laughing and talking in hushed tones and it won’t let me sleep so i bitch about it to you 24/7 and one day it stops and one day turns to one week and then months and i haven’t seen you smile in forever please let me in, i’ve been knocking for ten minutes" AU

Sakusa is just trying to pass med school.

as you are - waitaminute

Kiyoomi learns that falling for Atsumu is the easiest thing in the world.

bet on it - kambedon

Volleyball players are known for a lot of things.

Intense plays, long rallies, arm-breaking serves—those are only some of the things they are known for. But in Japan, the volleyball players (high school, college, and professionals alike) are infamous for something that no one really expected: their betting pool.

(or alternately, everyone finds out that one of the best spikers in Japan, Sakusa Kiyoomi, is dating someone and they try to figure out his identity while the person he’s dating remains clueless about it.)

two slow dancers - babbito

Atsumu smiles, Sakusas face still downturned in displeasure. It only makes butterflies storm his stomach, the fluttery feeling making him feel warm.

“You wanna know somethin’ Omi-kun?” He asks, Sakusas eyes still bore into Atsumus, waiting for him to continue. “You look really pretty when you sleep.”

my heart is thrilled by the still of your hand - volchitsae  ☆

“And that’ll be $27.50,” Atsumu says, fishing out a card machine from one of the bag pockets. “Debit or credit?”

Sakusa pulls out his wallet and pays with a credit card, and Atsumu dutifully packs it all away before extending the bagged blood over the threshold. Sakusa takes them but raises one eyebrow at Atsumu, a silent question at the maid costume and not the regular red and black polo shirt with slacks.

Atsumu fiddles with the bag strap. “Honestly, I was tryin' to come up with a pizza boy porn line, something about having ordered sausage and relating it to vampires, but I’ve got nothin’,” he confesses, which makes Sakusa laugh. Atsumu sees the flash of sharper than usual canines in his smile.

i keep a window for you, it’s always open - volchitsae

Atsumu scrolls around on YouTube, feeling like he's spiralling a little into the odd corners of it when some recommended videos are "I'm a Plague Doctor and You've Been Diagnosed with the Black Plague ASMR" or videos of people eating truly remarkable amounts of food. No judgement (maybe a little bit, he's no angel), but mukbangs make him hungry and whispering roleplay makes his ears itch. A video called "Study With Me: Pomodoro Technique #1" appears and he clicks on it.

The channel's name is endomiphins, and the thumbnail features a view of a man from the neck downward at his desk, notebook and laptop open.

Atsumu presses play. -- Sakusa is a barista by day, ASMR and study YouTuber by night, and Atsumu falls a little in love with both.

[zuffer-weird-girl]

Soulmate Au

Before you meet your soulmate you have to deal with a chibi version of them before actually meeting them. So can he handle it?

Dabi's point of view

Reader's view.

He grew up hearing that soulmates were a waste. Not everyone got together with the suppose love of your life, he was warned of that before his father discovered that... his quirk was almost perfect, almost... after this, he had to deal until the day he escaped from home a abusive and toxic family...

Reaching his 18 years old he was living on shelters and streets, during these times due to fighting for his own survival, his scars had marked half of his face and almost all of his body... damn the universe for giving him such a self destructive quirk...

During these times, he also saw many of people getting scared at the sudden appearance of the said chibis or carrying the little things around with eachother... their love was real? Could he really believe that?

His mother always encourage him and his younger sibling thhat they were getting their soulmates despite his father's harsh words.... But how coul someone like him have a soulmate? It was better this way... alone. He was better off alone and with no one with him.

Now, being part of the league of the villain came the said topic about chibis which always leaved him a little pissed off. Toga was rambling about that green haired kid from the USJ again, and he was so tired and annoyed that he got off from the couch and went to his quarters, merely flipping Spinner and Compress off when they asked him where he was going.

Closing the door, he let himself drop on what was suppose to be his bed with a sigh before he heard a sound. He tried to ignore it, but the constant squeaking was getting him crazy...

"Wanna play cat and mouse fucking rat? Let's make a barbecue then." He lighten his hand on fire before getting up with a gruff and looking at the corner of his small room to see a little person there, looking up at him.

"The hell?" He muttered as he tried to burn the thing but they squeaked and ran off to jump on his bed.

Looking at them with boredoom, he sighed and tried to aproach again, no more with his quirk activated in a attempt to not scare the poor thing again... Narrowing his eyes at its it only blinked at him before opening a open smile... Letting him know how much he was fucked and how those mom's stories were indeed true...

There in front of him was his chibi.

.

.

.

Despite trying to hidding it from everyone in the league, eventually they spotted him trying to get away from the chibi whose was trailing behind him. A sense of anger and jealousy burned inside him as Twice and Spinner talked and tried to at least poke at the chibi's cheeks, whose always squeaked in protest and ran towards him.

"Dammit Dabi! Your chibi is really clingy!" Spinner whined as Dabi only stared nonchantly at the chibi on his ankle.

"You can have it." He mumbled in annoyance before he walked out with the damn chibi on him.

The chibi suddenly squeaked and ran after something before coming back with a note of money... He hadn't notice it before and coincidentally he had complained to himself a bit yesterday that he was out of money... and there it was his chibi always glued to him with a smile offering it to him.

"Thanks.." he said with a smirk while kneeling down and grabbing as he widened his eyes at the kiss they blew at him... "Oh fucking god you're cute." He muttered whiel trying not to chuckle at it.

.

.

.

Weeks had passed and he tried to find his soulmate even on the day time as he walked with his chibi chilling on his shoulder... yet all in vain. It had been almost months already yet he hadn't found the actual version of doll.

"Neee Dabi???" Toga cooed behind him as he toon another gulp of his drink with his chibi swinging their legs up and down on his shoulder "Let me see that chibi of yours real quickly?"

"You psyco dont touch my doll." He muttered nonchantly as he finsihed his alcohol as Toga squealed.

"awww you call it doll! That's even cuter-" in one quick montion she snatched the chibi on his shoulder and aimed the knife to their little throat "I'm just curious about how it looks their blood after all!"

"Give them back right now you brat-" Dabi grunted while standing up before Shigaraki appeared out of no where and holded the chibi by their arm as they emmited a sound of pain.

"Such a bothering little thing. Tell me again why you're keeping this?" He showed the chibi with more emphasis as flames surrounded the indigo haired man's shoulders, arms and hands.

"Give. Them. Back." He growled the worlds as shigaraki only looked at Kurogiri before sighing at the way the golden orbs squinted abjt before throwing the chibi at Dabi.

"If you like playing with dolls whatever, as long as it doesn't bother us anymore." Dabi scowled at his boss before walking quickly to his room and placing the chibi carefully down.

"Fucking hell.. does it hurt?" The chibi only looked up at him with teary eyes but shocked their head while waving the arm.

"But does it hurt my soulmate?" He asked and felt a pain of guilt surround him as the chibi nodded sadly and hugged his scarred hand when he seemed down.

"... well." He smirked while cupping the chibi and already putting on his disguise "At least now I will finally know my real dollface." The chibi squeaked in glee before jumping out of his hand and grabbing his sunglasses and offering to him.

.

.

.

He walked carefully on the street and occasionally scoffed at some heroes doing patrols on the day light. The chibi grabbed on his ear suddenly and squeaked loudly as he groaned.

"What now?" He grunted while rubbing hjs now sore ear as the chibi squeaked more and more before he blinked and cursed out loud when they simply jumped away from him and ran towards teb entrance of the hospital.

"Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit-!" Just about when he went to call out for them, he accidentally bumped into someone, somehow hard enough to make both of him and the other person to fall straight to the floor.

He went to curse them out before he gasped at seeing his vision clear, he was without his sunglasses and went immediately to take them before he felt another warm touch on his hand to make joist of electricity roll over all his body from hand to head and toe.

The first thing he notice when he looked up was his own little shit of a chibi hugging a squirt version of himself... then he saw his soulmate... By God, no offense to the chibi version... hit you were way more prettier and beautiful than them.

He wished the moment could have last longer before he noticed a few people staring as he cursed under his breath, ignoring your attempts to apologize as he spoke:

"Here." He offered his hand to help you up, lifting your body up and trying not to wince and furrow his eyebrows at seing that you had actually an injury arm because of him not protecting your chibi enough "We wouldn't want any other person to see us."

"I-I sure." You nodded following him to a more secluded place, your chibis trailing after you both.

On a dark alley, he prepared himself mentally to show you his face... surely you weren't idiot enough to not know who he was and what he did... and he surely wasn't the best candidate to be someone's else soulmate... after all, he was a broken soul... not enough to anyone.

"You arent dumb. You know already who I am and what do I look like-" he turned to you, shoving his hood down to show you his face "Right? Dollface?"

He expected everything... you to flinch, scream or cringe at his appearance. Despite you seing how he was as a chibi, he knew that the real deal was horrible... yet, he felt your soft and gentle hands cup his face as while he could see the sincerity and love behind those beautiful (E/c) orbs.

"You're the most beautiful man I ever saw... You know how much I've been waiting to see you?"

Those words made him smile... right there, on the middle of alley that could hide you both, chibis on the ground staring up at you two... he knew. He knew that the person he was holding their wrist and looking lovingly at them...

Was his soulmate.