Honestly, I love the little earth beanbag Grace has. Not only is it absolutely hilarious to see Grace tell the dictator of the world that the little beanbag she’s holding is lava, but also:
She’s the dictator of the world, who can do whatever she wants. The world is in her hands. The beanbag, that looks like the earth, is in her hand.
And then later, when Grace is on the Hail Mary, Stratt sent the beanbag up with him. Sure, part of it was probably because it’d be comforting for him, but it’s also because the fate of the world is in his hands now.
Yes yes yes. Not all symbolism has to be hidden and only discernable after long analysis, and that's great. Also, it's a great scene for stablishing personalities (at least at that point): Stratt waltzes in and starts touching things without permission. She goes as far as to grab something that is not hers and look at it as if she is judging it (and judging Grace and his position at the same time). Then Grace tells her it's lava, a joking, make-believe statement that is directly tied to his job as a teacher, and Stratt shuts it down without hesitation. Grace concedes the point without much fight, which is in line with his non-confrontational attitude at the time and tries to run away.
Furthermore, Stratt shutting down Grace is an early demonstration of how little she cares for his lies, as seen later when she asks him not to lie to her and say he doesn't want to go to space "for the children". Grace also doesn't stick with his reasoning in that scene, jumping to other points to explain why he won't go to space.
The little Earth is an intrinsic part of Grace's character, in a way, because is a direct connection to teaching that he has during the entire movie. His love for science not just as a researcher but as a communicator. His joy in what he does, which he is good at. Perhaps the act of sending the beanbag to space is, too, a reminder that what Grace needs to do is be himself. A little something so he knows who he is, like Carl said.
This has been said time and again, but I rewatched PHM with my family yesterday and it's just—
I could never explain the visceral reaction to the scenes of Grace being forced into the Hail Mary to them. Because they aren't aromantic. Because they don't even believe it's a real thing. Because not having a relationship that is seen as 'natural' is not a defining trait for them.
"You don't even have a dog," but it's aromantic people who get the crappy beds or rooms on trips bc they don't have a partner. Folks who don't get invited to things because they are 'couples' stuff' and will never be. The questions, the judging, the 'oh, you'll find someone's. Being less than others because romance isn't something they feel or want, because their life isn't lived in the way everyone else lives it.
"You don't even have a dog" and it's an aromantic person enjoying their life as they want.
Anyway, live laugh love Aromantic!Ryland Grace, my beloved. You have no idea how important you are to me.
Why on the Universe's not so green anymore Earth do I keep getting posts about formula 1 on my dash all the time? I don't like this sport?? I don't care about motors or racers or the stupid tracks???
Cannot imagine Rocky's thoughts about Stratt if he was told the full story. There's a lot of opinions about this going around, and I get the "Rocky would just hate her" theory, but it's so much more complicated. Like Grace's own opinion.
There's this woman who was doing everything imaginable to save her species, her planet. Your friend worked for her, trusted her, cared about her. You love your friend, and he's the first sentient being you have met in decades, half a century. He's the reason your world is saved and you can go back home. He's the reason you're alive and gave you hope. His mission was supposed to end in death, by design, but you saved him. He uses that gift to save you instead. Save your planet. There's a woman who did awful things for the sake of the world knowing she would pay the price. She (thought she) killed your friend. But he's not dead! But she couldn't know. The woman sent you a saviour, a gift from the sky beyond your perception. She betrayed your friend. She's the reason you can go home. She hurt him and made him scared scared scared. She saved her world, gave you your best friend. She took his memories (eridiana don't forget. Can't. Amnesia must be a horror story) and autonomy. She is the reason no other crew will die, because now you know the dangers of space.
I don't think Rocky hates Stratt, but I'm not sure he would like her either. Respect for doing what had to be done, anger for following through with it.
Chapters: 6/8
Fandom: 斉木楠雄のΨ難 | Saiki Kusuo no Sai-nan | The Disastrous Life of Saiki K., 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Saiki Kusuo & Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead & Kayama Nemuri | Midnight & Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic
Characters: Saiki Kusuo, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead, Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Nedzu (My Hero Academia)
Additional Tags: Dimension Travel, Mentioned Kaidou Shun, A few tdlosk characters are mentioned, Saiki Kusuo is so Done, POV Saiki Kusuo, Post-Canon, for saiki k, Pre-Canon, For My Hero, Saiki Kusuo Loves Coffee Jelly, Incorrect Japanese School Year, I pick and choose between anime and manga, no beta we die like nendou's dad
Summary:
Interdimensional travel? Sure. Of course. Just another useless power to add to his repertoire.
He can't activate it again? Of course not, when do his powers ever cooperate?
A world full of people with superpowers? None of them are as powerful as Saiki, but he's an expert at being normal by now. He can adapt.
Tedious work? A talking rat? An annoying pro-hero that won't stop popping up? Saiki wants to go home. Not even new brands of coffee jelly can make up for this bothersome situation.
He'll still take them, though.
----
Or: Saiki Kusuo and his accidental trip to the MHA universe. There's a kidnapping (he only wanted free ice cream), an accidental vigilante tenure (he can't just ignore people in great danger in front of him, his mother would be disappointed), a meddling hero (he thought that only happened in movies), and a temp job at a school (he just graduated and now he has to go back?) There really is no God.
Cannot imagine Rocky's thoughts about Stratt if he was told the full story. There's a lot of opinions about this going around, and I get the "Rocky would just hate her" theory, but it's so much more complicated. Like Grace's own opinion.
There's this woman who was doing everything imaginable to save her species, her planet. Your friend worked for her, trusted her, cared about her. You love your friend, and he's the first sentient being you have met in decades, half a century. He's the reason your world is saved and you can go back home. He's the reason you're alive and gave you hope. His mission was supposed to end in death, by design, but you saved him. He uses that gift to save you instead. Save your planet. There's a woman who did awful things for the sake of the world knowing she would pay the price. She (thought she) killed your friend. But he's not dead! But she couldn't know. The woman sent you a saviour, a gift from the sky beyond your perception. She betrayed your friend. She's the reason you can go home. She hurt him and made him scared scared scared. She saved her world, gave you your best friend. She took his memories (eridiana don't forget. Can't. Amnesia must be a horror story) and autonomy. She is the reason no other crew will die, because now you know the dangers of space.
I don't think Rocky hates Stratt, but I'm not sure he would like her either. Respect for doing what had to be done, anger for following through with it.
It's always "hail Mary, full of Grace" and never "Eva, the first woman, whose sins cast humanity away from Eden (but humanity found it's place out there)".
Anyway, Eva Stratt, you did everything correctly, you made the wrong choice, humanity is alive because of your determination, the most woman ever. They coul never make me pin your morals down as 'good' or 'bad'.
A really stupid drawing of Mullidet from my fic Fluffing Things Out, bc I never got around to drawing him. He may or may not be under the influence of magical catnip. We shall never know.
No one asked for this, but since I'm a self-declared expert on the matter (121 read & bookmarked fics) I'm here to give 10 recomendations of fics I enjoyed. If you couldn't tell between this and my own published fanfics, I love when 'mundane' stories have a bit of magic, so:
As a general rule, this fics happen in the canon universe, or somewhere close enough, so the 118 are still firefighters in LA and all that. If this is not the case, I'll say as much.
Iridescence by songbvrd: Mermaid Buck! It's a one-shot, around 10k and rated E. Buck's parents try to exchange his life for Daniel's, but, as it tends to happen with these things, they don't look at the fine print. Buddie.
devotion, be the death of me by cicelsticks: Uhhhh. Buck kinda gets cursed to make everyone who eats his food to fall in love with him. By a dream demon. This one does deal somewhat with the issues that come with that and how to break the curse. Typical 'nothing changes with a love spell because the spelled one was already in love' situation. One-shot, 7k, rated T. Buddie.
hippity hoppity by staticsilencee: Buck gets turned into a rabbit. Eddie finds out, tries telling the rest of the 118 and things go on from there. One-shot, 5k, rated T. Buddie.
lay right down in my favorite place by kermytheefrog (tardigradeschool): Buck gets turned into a dog this time. Eddie (and everyone else) is a little slower with the realization. Buck is declared dead and there's some angst about it, also I believe Buck kinda started to forget being human before he was transformed back. 2 chapters, complete, 9k, rated T. Buddie.
Penny For Your Th- Oh Shit That's A Lot of Thoughts by znks: Buck gets psychic powers (telepathy) and Eddie freaks out about it. A lot of panic about unsaid feelings. They fuck about it. One-shot, 12k, rated E. Buddie.
Dare to sit and watch what we'll become... by ReallySmartLadyMarieCurie: Buck has prophetic dreams about meeting Eddie long before they end up at the 118. There's a soulmate-esque quality to this one, if that floats your boat. It was pretty well written, if I remember correctly. Don't remember much more, but I liked it. 4 chapters, complete, 22k, rated T. Buddie.
floating in the blue lagoon (now's your moment) by intotheblue: Mermaid Buck again, except not really. He was a merman, then decided he wanted to live on land, so now he has legs and can breathe underwater. Short and sweet, kinda joint NDE except obviously Buck can't drown. One-shot, 2k, rated G. Buddie.
Check the date, darling, fall is almost there by thanatoskull: this one is lockedd, you need an account to read it. Buck dies, then goes back to life because he talked a grim reaper into it. The reaper is Eddie, although his arrangement is a bit complicated. It's more like a job instead of a state of being. 3 chapters, complete, 35k, rated T. Buddie.
to choose a soul by tawaifeddiediaz: Eddie is a fallen ange, Buck is the reason he fell. Reincarnation on Buck's part. Also, he's a dragon shifter. The do still work as firefighters. Soulmates, pretty much. They have monster sex. One-shot, 10k, rated E. Buddie.
Deviant (Savior, Bubble) by RB (BlueflowersandWings): Mostly canon, but Buck doesn't work as a firefighter. He's a merman who saves Chris during the Santa Monica pier tsunami. Short one, but it's interesting. One-shot, 3k, rated T. Buddie.
Also, honorable mentions to Siren song: start the show! and Fluffing things out, both by Revlynng (me). The first one has Siren Buck fighting a sea demon with magic and songs (Mermaid Melody system). Fluffing things out involves magic mascots, dimension travel and one giant squid. Both happen as much in the canon setting as they can.
There's a ton more still in my bookmarks, so I might make another list. See ya!!
If you can't tell, Knox likes green. And being an offense to fashion. ALL the green tones are necessary in a single outfit, yes.
I did end up removing the septum (tho ae does have a fake one ae puts on sometimes) and instead gave aem one singular real piercing: snake bites (or smth like that).
One way or another Aizawa and Saiki end up at UA, standing in Nedzu’s office. The entire conversation had felt like talking to that second-grade magician turned entertainer, unable to get the rat-bear-dog (the species didn’t matter, the principal was a pest much too similar to Kusuke for Saiki’s comfort) to back off.
A test. The principal wants to test Saiki before offering him summer school. For heroes. Technically it was to reform vigilantes, but Saiki knows better. Nedze doesn’t want him going around like a loose cannon with a power such as his. It’s not something Saiki wants to do, but Nedzu has some good offers. Like a steady income (utility pay, since he would be pulling Saiki away from his job) or an actual apartment he won’t have to use his powers to keep. The deal also involves putting his records straight and keeping him away from the police custody he should be in for his ‘crimes’. That’s what he says with Aizawa present.
As soon as the man is out of the room, Nedzu’s face turns more. . . creepy. The mask that had been there whilst talking to his employee disappears. There’s no need for it when Saiki can read his thoughts. They are fast and incomplete, but Saiki is nothing if not an expert at deciphering people’s thoughts. He prefers Nedzu’s thoughts to Nendou’s. . . situation.
Nedzu and Saiki reach an agreement where Saiki stays at UA and agrees to be essentially an adjunct professor until his situation (the transmigration) is solved and Nedzu helps him go back home.
“Why?” Saiki asks.
Nedzu, as it turns out, is worse at stopping his thoughts than Aizawa had been. There are too many things going though his brain for that. He’s good at misdirection, though, which is also annoying.
“We’re a hero school,” Nedzu says. “Helping people is our prerogative.”
How old do you think I am?
“In any case,” the principal continues, “it’s a good deal. You get a house and resources, and I get to observe.”
Figures. I just got rid of one crazy genius obsessed with me and now there’s another. He almost preferred his brother. At least Nedzu wouldn’t make him think there was a bomb in the middle of the city just to let off some fireworks. Or kidnap Toritsuka and brainwash him. Saiki looks at the principal, the way his muscles move and contract without his skin to hide them from view. Maybe.
“I’ve never met someone from another universe before,” Nedzu tells him, and Saiki can tell there is a sliver of thought that doesn’t quite believe him. Even behind the principal’s cheer, Saiki is being evaluated. “I’m sure you will find some way to entertain yourself.”
Don’t talk to me like I’m a snot-nosed brat.
“Shall we?”
Nedzu guides Saiki—more like herd him—to one of the training grounds in the school. It’s a gigantic place, the school, and it’s clear it must take a lot of money to maintain. Saiki knows Nedzu is glad to have the cement guy around. The training grounds he is taken to is a covered space, like a warehouse made entirely of cement, with overhead lights and a few windows without glass. A fully customizable playground. In the centre is a circle made of cement boulders of different sizes. Further away are a series of pillars. Telekinesis and teleportation. He supposes they have already observed his mind reading enough.
Saiki takes it easy—for the first five seconds. He lifts all the boulders at the same time and stares at the cement guy (Cementoss. What kind of name is that? Its almost as bad as Cyborg Cider-man no. 2) and drops the boulders. He knows, from the thoughts of the hero in front of him, that telekinesis quirks are not usually made for heavy things. That is not a problem for Saiki.
“Is there a weight limit to your telekinesis that you know of? Or any other drawback?” Aizawa asks with carefully constructed boredom behind Saiki’s back. “Distance?”
Has he tested that? Saiki is coming up blank on situations where he used his telekinesis over long distances when he couldn’t see what he was doing. Should he say he can’t control things he can’t see? That sounds troublesome to keep track of. Saiki shrugs.
“What’s next?” he asks.
Teleportation gets a different reaction. After all, Saiki does have a limit when it comes to it. A three minute cooldown he rarely wants to mess with. He took out his limiter (a placebo effect, he knows, but it helps him stay focused) and now there’s a rooftop with a crater somewhere in the city. Jumping from one concrete pole to the next at high speeds is what he decides on doing. The thoughts of the heroes are what was to be expected, incredulous and shocked. Saiki jumps down.
Aizawa is a very weird teacher is what Saiki has managed to glean in the five minutes he has been forced (via tricky deal with a talking rodent) to bear witness to his class. There are less students than he has ever had in a class, barely eleven. If Saiki hadn’t already learned why he might have thought it had something to do with being a hero school. Smaller classes are easier to control, and there’s no way Japan need that many new heroes each year. That’s not what happened at all. Aizawa Shouta is a serial expeller. He is famous and feared for that. Half his students are terrified of him. Saiki can’t say he doesn’t agree, but he also thinks a lot of rules regarding heroes are stupid.
‘Who is that?’
‘Is he a sidekick?’
‘Does Mister Aizawa have a sidekick? I thought underground heroes worked alone.’
‘Is that his kid? They don’t look alike at all.’
Because he’s not my father. He’s not even old enough for that. How old do you think I am?
‘Is it a transfer?’ Who are you calling it? ‘UA doesn’t do transfers.’ Then why did you think I was one?
‘What’s with the green glasses? Are they part of his quirk?’
They’re the only thing stopping you from turning to stone.
“This is Saiki Kusuo,” Aizawa introduced him, finally. “He will be accompanying us for a while.”
Saiki bows in greeting and goes to the corner to sit, where a chair had been placed for him. He hates it. It’s not normal at all. Why can’t I even be normal in a school for abnormal people? The announcement doesn’t do anything to quell the agitation. The students’ thoughts propose ideas, each thought more absurd than the previous one. The ‘secret child’ idea is repeated more times than it should have (and it should have not been thought at all).
“Is he a vigilante?” a student—thought either stupid or brave by their peers—asks. “Are you rehabilitating him?”
No, I’m not, Saiki thinks.
‘Yes,’ Aizawa thinks, wrongly.
“Don’t be stupid,” another student says. “Vigilantes break the law, he would be in jail.”
Aizawa thinks a few not-so-nice things about limelight heroes, but he doesn’t correct his student. Saiki guesses he can’t advocate for blatantly breaking the law, Even if Aizawa routinely works with vigilantes himself. Not that it matters to Saiki, because he wasn’t a vigilante.
The quirks of the class Aizawa teaches are. . . interesting. Not all of them. in fact, half of them are your typical superpowers, like the author hadn’t wasted any effort in thinking about it. Super strength, laser eyes, geokinesis, elastic body, etc. The most original quirk is something called ‘soul construct’, and the drawbacks makes it lame. Like Toritsuka’s inability to keep spirits out after letting too many of them use his body. None of it matters, though, because Aizawa hates Saiki. The Hero Training teacher also hates him, there’s no other explanation. Why else would he be forced to participate in this exercise?
The students are playing ‘hunt the flag’, as their thoughts call it. It’s a game normally played in teams, similar to the regular ‘capture the flag’ from American TV shows, except the flag moves. A team of five versus a team of six (teams modified to fit the number of students, which Saiki has also learned from reading thoughts) that must either protect or steal a flag. The student that guards the flag cannot use offensive attacks. The rest of their team has to protect the flag bearer from the opposite team (the larger one, the game is skewed in favour of the hunters) with whatever means they deem necessary. It’s supposed to teach about unfair odds and winning through adversity, or something like that. All this means for Saiki is that he now has to win a skewed game. Not hard, even if he is somewhat restrained by the powers he showed to the principal, Aizawa and Cementoss.
Hero students have loud thoughts. There are hundreds of half-arsed plans running through their heads, strengths and weaknesses of their quirks in plain sight for Saiki to see. Not being able to defend himself is a problem, but he will make due.
There is no way I’m losing to a bunch of kids.
Saiki gets trapped with the sould construct quirk bc his soul is so big. He panics, breaks the construct, and the backlash of braking his own ‘soul’ hits him hard. He uses telekinesis to form a barrier around him ‘cause he kinda panics and gives in to the impulse of keeping himself safe and ends up winning the match since no one manages to get his flags. Later he gets an apology from the student and a theoretic explanation about what happened. It makes Saiki think of Aiura.
Saiki stays as an assistant teacher for a while longer, maybe a week, before they manage t get something that can send him home. Perhaps Kusuke is involved in some way, from Saiki’s own dimension. The thing is: Saiki can go home.
