TO DESTROY!

an independent portrayal of tomura shigaraki from my hero academia. written by meri, sideblog to @herostoried.

[ruintouched]

I don't care if you understand. // THAT'S WHAT MAKES US HEROES AND VILLAINS.

ruintouched: an independent portrayal of tomura shigaraki / tenko shimura from my hero academia. written by meri, sideblog to @herostoried. please read my rules before following, and thank you!

[ruintouched]

"Hey, don't give me that look, Eraser."

Tomura's tone as he speaks is far too laid-back for this situation. And the way each syllable of Shouta's hero name leaves his tongue seems to be somewhere between taunting and teasing, caught in that strange space in-between, surprisingly hard to read...

Of course, the look in Tomura's eyes is as shrewd as ever, even if he's acting unbothered. It's a gaze that screams danger, fixed entirely on the older hero, making it clear that this is Tomura Shigaraki that Shouta is facing, no matter the circumstance. His sharp edges haven't dulled at all, and it'd be impossible to mistake him for anyone else... yet, Tomura has still yet to make a move - confidence, or perhaps calculation holding him back, waiting to see what Eraserhead will do.

"I'm harmless. Just your average civilian, see? There's really no need to make a fuss."

@keshimasu ( starter! )

[ruintouched]

NEW SHIGARAKI STARTER CALL while i work on replies....... you can never have too much shigaraki in your life tbh. >:)

[pallorpyre]

He could tell him. He could probably trust a guy like Tomura, as weird as he could be at times ━ hell, he could probably trust all of them. They were all a bunch of nobodies after all ━ Toya was the only one among them that could have been considered someone, and even then, it wasn't much. He wasn't any more than someone who should have burned away to nothing years ago ━ but that didn't mean he wasn't a Todoroki, the eldest son of the Flame Hero, and he was a pretty big deal.

Dabi didn't know how any of his new "friends" were gonna take that. It's not that he could really see them kicking him out, but would they look at him differently? He doesn't know.

❝ Pft, what's the point of having a villain name if we're just gonna give away who we are? I dunno about you, boss, but I respect the sanctity of anonymity, y'know? ❞ He made that up; he's not even sure if he's using the words right, so he continues ❝ Secret identities, like in the good ol' days when superpowers were somethin' for comic books. Can't just go giving your government name away when ya plan on comittin' a bunch of crimes, right? ❞ Yeah, that made sense, good save, Dabi.

But maybe… Maybe he did wanna tell Tomura who he really was, as stupid as it felt. Must have felt good as fuck to just run around doing whatever you wanted with your whole name and identity attached. There was some radical, progressive sense of liberation attached to it. He might not have had the education to put together the technical aspects of it, but he understood the spirit.

And Toya? He'd built Dabi out of ash and spite, out of the parts of him his family buried and "moved on" from. Toya Todoroki didn't matter, so the name… It felt strange to him now. Like he didn't exist anymore. Not really. He glanced away then, scoffing under his breath as if irritated with himself for something going on inside his head.

❝ Yeah, I've got a pretty good thing goin' here. ❞ Strange admission. Worse because it was completely true. ❝ You guys don't ask too many questions. Don't act like I oughta be grateful for anything. ❞ He'd almost say they acted like friends... Accepting each others faults, helping each other out... Maybe even family, in a weird way.

❝ So yeah. Maybe I wanna tell you. Maybe I don't know if I should. Maybe I'm not exactly eager to find out whether the League still wants me around afterwards.❞ He should have reminded himself to smile after he said that, might have looked mean and numb to the entire idea, held up his charade of not caring either way, oops.

[ruintouched]

"You really think that's gonna convince anyone?"

Tomura responds flippantly at first, clearly unimpressed by Dabi's obviously half-assed reasoning. It couldn't be any clearer that he's just making up nonsense - and for a moment, that does kind of piss Tomura off, but...

As Dabi continues, something in the air shifts. Tomura can feel it; and he finds himself suddenly focusing more carefully on the other man - his ally, but one who'd never quite fully opened up. It's not like anyone in the League is the type to spill out their stories, and no-one's the type to pry, either, but even among them, Dabi has always stood a little further away from everyone else than the rest of them.

Has something changed, now?

So after listening to Dabi's confession, Tomura doesn't actually answer straight away. It feels like he should at least give some actual thought to Dabi's concerns. It brings to mind the image of a dialogue tree in a video game... he's got to pick the right answer carefully, or he'll never progress to the next level.

"Where you come from and who you used to be doesn't matter. Why would they?" Tomura eventually adds as casually as ever. He can't be sure that it's his past that Dabi's worried the League might reject him for, but it's his best guess. Either way, Tomura means what he says - Tenko Shimura is already long gone too, after all.

"All I care about is right now. As long as you're not planning on selling us out to the heroes, I mean. It's not like I'm gonna kick you out."

Dabi's a valuable member of the League, anyway. It's not like Tomura can guarantee how he'd react to a secret he doesn't know yet, but he can't think of anything that'd genuinely upset him to a point like that. As far as he's concerned, he's just being honest... but if Dabi wants to keep his cards close to his chest, Tomura doesn't want to force him, either.

"Well - it's your choice, I guess. I'm just saying."

[ruintouched]

I ACTUALLY MADE GOOD PROGRESS ON SOME OF MY REPLIES THIS MORNING but i'm still uncertain in my characterization of tomura, so. i have decided it's time to lock in and finally do that rewatch i've been meaning to do for ages............ specifically i'm gonna watch all of tomura's scenes in mha from start to finish - it's been really hard to get myself started with it despite really wanting to for a while, but i've got a good feeling about today!

[ruintouched]

THINKING STRONGLY ABOUT THE HIMIKO-TOMURA DYNAMIC (again!!) AND IZUKU-TOMURA DYNAMIC TODAY........... i wish i had time to make some posts since i'm feeling motivated to do so, but. when i get back home i will be talking about them for sure!!

[ruintouched]

i hope you all know that whenever i get an ask in my inbox here for tomura i do a little happy dance in my head. i'm excited!! thank you! <333

[ruintouched]

"I get it, you'll 'tell me at the right time!' You can't blame me for asking, can you?"

Tomura throws his hands up in the air half-heartedly as he grumbles at Dabi - though the lack of genuine irritation in the gesture might be surprising to anyone who'd only known them back when they first met.

Sure, Tomura may have rolled his eyes, and what he said was technically a complaint, but there's no real heat to it. In fact, one could almost describe him as looking at ease. Maybe he's not exactly relaxed or entirely comfortable - the lives that the League are living don't allow for that kind of luxury. But his tone is casual, with no real hints of tension visible in his body or in his words.

...Of course, just because he looks calm doesn't mean that's what Tomura's feeling under the surface... but even as he fixes his gaze, sharp as a hawk's, on Dabi, as if he's calculating something; there's no hostility to it.

"As long as you're pulling your weight, I don't care what you get up to. But if you're gonna keep your secrets, don't act like you want to tell me. You can't have it both ways."

@umbysial ( starter for dabi! )

[mcflymemes]

PROMPTS FOR PRE ESTABLISHED CONNECTIONS AND CREATING HISTORY BETWEEN CHARACTERS *  assorted dialogue for giving your characters a history and giving them past things or events to talk about, adjust as necessary

do you remember what i told you last time?

have you been doing well since i saw you?

that's not what you told me back then.

when was the last time i saw you?

you were shorter then.

i'm picking the restaurant this time.

we've known each other since we were children.

always knew i could count on you.

that time was different. this is worse.

you're not going to let me live that down, are you?

i seem to remember a conversation we had back then.

so you changed your mind about it?

do you remember our encounter in paris?

you should know me by now.

am i the only one that knows the truth?

we had a lot of help back then.

your mom told me to look out for you.

you just love bringing that back up to annoy me.

maybe don't mention my past indescretions?

this was never going to work out between us.

i told you not to get attached.

i know more about you than you think.

i was there, remember?

i'm not about to forget all the shit you put me through.

you told me you were going to try and make this work.

remember what i said to you?

the last time i saw you, things were good between us.

you never mentioned this before.

that was the longest flight of my life, and you made it worse.

can i still trust you after all that?

at least we tried to make something work.

we never discussed what happened between us.

okay, but i'm driving the car this time.

i haven't forgotten what you said last week.

i'm still thinking about your comment.

i didn't realize it was you when i first saw you.

you seem to make a lot of enemies around here.

there's not much for us to talk about.

we worked it out last time.

i know you far better than you know yourself.

we have a long history.

is that the shirt you were wearing last time?

what don't i know about you?

i haven't told them about us.

you were the only person i could go to.

you know me.

this is bigger than both of us.

i can't stand your driving.

are you taking me to the place we had dinner last time?

that's not at all what you said.

didn't we agree on that?

i thought i made it very clear where i stand.

are these the same people that came after you last time?

are you still going on about it?

can we talk about it?

staying silent about it won't help.

you're the only person who knows the real me.

this is a bad time to talk about your problems.

[ruintouched]

NEW SHIGARAKI STARTER CALL while i work on replies....... you can never have too much shigaraki in your life tbh. >:)

[hollowprompts]

` * 𝐈𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐑𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒 : a mix of dialogue and action prompts. sent "+ reverse" to reverse the roles.

𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄 :

➔ you're gonna be okay , just keep your eyes on me. ➔ don't move - you're going to make it worse. ➔ it's not that bad. ➔ you saved me once before , now it's my turn. ➔ you fucking idiot , you weren't supposed to take the hit for me. ➔ i told you not to do that! now look! ➔ you're lucky that i know basic first aid , or you'd be dead! ➔ stay with me, okay? stay awake. ➔ i'll be as gentle as i can be , i promise. ➔ you're bleeding - oh my god , you're bleeding. ➔ you told me it was a scratch , this is not a fucking scratch! ➔ there's so much blood. ➔ next time you want to play here , just don't. ➔ stop fighting me and let me help! ➔ you're banned from doing anything remotely dangerous. ➔ you could have died , what were you thinking? ➔ if you die on me , i'm going to be pissed off. ➔ you didn't have to be so reckless just to prove a fucking point. ➔ the wound will heal but you'll have a scar.

𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 :

[ carry ] sender carries receivers muse to safety after finding them injured. [ stitch ] sender stitches receivers wound. [ hand ] sender holds receivers hand during a painful procedure. [ wound ] sender cleans receivers wounds with gentle and shaky hands. [ panic ] sender panics while trying to stop receiver's bleeding. [ patch ] sender patches receiver up using makeshift materials (i.e. torn shirt). [ fire ] sender drags receiver out of a burning building. [ pressure ] sender puts deep pressure on receivers wound while yelling for help. [ mouth ] sender gives receiver mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. [ change ] sender helps receiver change out of bloodied clothes. [ wash ] sender helps wash dried blood off of receivers face. [ shower ] sender helps receiver shower after an injury. [ broken ] sender tries to stabilize receivers broken limb with rope and sticks.

[mcflymemes]

"I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!" PROMPTS *  assorted dialogue for both sides of the argument, adjust as necessary.

for the "i don't need your help" one

you can get lost.

i thought i told you i had this under control.

you never listen to me.

i was taking care of it.

leave me alone.

are you happy now?

you just stepped in and ruined it for me.

that was completely unnecessary and you know it.

i had it under control.

you didn't need to show up.

can't you let me handle my own shit?

i would have appreciated it if you asked first.

i had it handled!

you didn't need to do all that!

what part of "i don't need help" do you not understand?

they were about to give it to me before you showed up!

i had something going and you ruined it!

what, you mean you don't trust me to handle it myself?

you trained me better than this.

you can't just show up every time and save me.

what's the point in putting me out here if you're not going to let me do it on my own?

i thought you trusted me to take care of this by myself.

you taught me this.

i'm never going to forgive you for this.

that was uncalled for.

what happens when you're not here one day and i have to take care of things on my own?

how am i ever going to learn if you keep stepping in?

i'm not you.

for the "i'm just trying to help you" one

i heard you struggling.

i was just trying to help you.

and this is the thanks i get for trying to help?

things were getting out of hand. i had to step in.

you never would have done that by yourself.

it's okay to ask for help.

it's not that i don't trust you. i don't trust [them].

a minute longer and you'd be dead in there.

i had to make sure you were okay.

of course i trust you. this was never about trust.

i'm not going to risk your life like that!

i should have been there sooner.

if i'd only reached you faster.

a simple "thank you" would suffice.

you could thank me for saving your ass back there.

sure didn't seem like you had it under control.

things were getting out of hand, and i stepped in.

i'm in charge here, not you.

i'm not going to put your life at risk like that again.

we're done here.

i'm not arguing with you.

i saved your life, and this is how you repay me?

i just wanted to make sure you were okay.

maybe i crossed a line back there, sure, but i did it for you.

it's because i care about you.

of course you're capable. that was never up for debate.

you're not ready.

next time, let me handle it.

clearly you need more time before i let you do that alone.

we'll try again tomorrow.

[vsagis]

Izuku turns his gaze away, as if Shigaraki's presence itself is causing him physical pain; a phenomenon of higher dimension not meant to be witnessed or tried to be understood by a human being.

And the saddest part is, this is exactly what Shigaraki Tomura is.

"Would you have thought any different if it had been me?" Izuku responds with a question of his own, only moments of hesitation preceding his words. Another one and he looks up again, ready to face the apparition of the former symbol of terror. Former and the last one, for nobody has dared to step up and fill the role. That phenomenon, for some, a man he couldn't save to him.

It would be easier to hold this conversation if he could convince himself it isn't truly real. Maybe then that pain of failure would subside by at least a little.

"Do you... do you know how you... remained?" With me, is the unspoken part, but one that should be as obvious to Shigaraki as it is to Midoriya. They were perfect foils, after all, each a perfect enemy to the other both in strength and mind. "Was it a quirk, or...?"

[ruintouched]

"Didn't I just tell you that I don't know?" Tomura remarks, almost raising an eyebrow. He's not quite unimpressed, though - after all, it's no surprise that Midoriya is shaken as he is. In the past, Tomura wouldn't have believed it, but he's witnessed all of the boy's regrets until now... Although, come to think of it, the memories are a little hazy. When he looks back, it almost feels like the flow of time wasn't quite right, or didn't exist at all. It's hard to explain, but... he feels more present now. At least to some extent. ...Huh.

"Must've been related to One for All... right? That's all I can think of." It's funny - to his own ears, Tomura's voice sounds strange. It must be because he hasn't used it in a long time. But- one thing he does remember is how Nana had stopped him from fading back then, when he should've been swallowed up by All for One without a doubt. He'd thought that was only a temporary salvation, but maybe he'd simply gone 'dormant' after that, instead of truly fading away? And yet - Midoriya shouldn't have One for All anymore, right? And it's been so long since then, too. Why would Tomura only fully manifest now?

"Does it matter?" he asks after a moment. Indeed, Tomura had never thought he'd be able to interact with anyone again, so having it happen now... it suddenly strikes him that this could be some kind of chance. That he might be able to do something, now, if actually he's being seen. But - what does he want to do? What should he? He's never thought about it, since he'd dismissed the possibility as impossible until now... And yet...

Suddenly, Tomura's face becomes near-impossible to read.

"You should really be more concerned that I'm still here at all. Midoriya Izuku... don't tell me you've forgotten who I am? I'm a villain, you know."

[ruintouched]

QUICK!! CELEBRATE HIM.

[ruintouched]

it's weird seeing people criticize the ending of mha but like, from the complete opposite direction that i do?? lol. like i just saw a post with the argument that mha doesn't want to go into/explore the actual hard work involved in saving the villains, essentially, which i actually agree with! but it was coming at it from a "and izuku never should've tried to save shigaraki and/or should've realized he was wrong to try" angle that i couldn't disagree with more LMAO

idk where i'm going with this, but i feel like you're missing the point of mha / just wanting a completely different story at that point............ now i suppose if you're arguing that the series didn't sell you on it's message well enough regardless of the intention, i suppose i get that. but how can you see the league's backstories and screentime and conclude they're completely unsympathetic / evil?? I DON'T UNDERSTAND, AM I STUPID.......... i suppose i can get the perspective that trying to save them is too risky, but when people are like "the show doesn't present them as sympathetic enough" that's what i just cannot get at all.

[ruintouched]

WAIT I THOUGHT I OWED NO STARTERS/REPLIES ON HERE. BUT I JUST SAW I ACTUALLY DO OWE A STARTER AFTER ALL-

[herostoried]

also godddddd i just started thinking about baby tomura/tenko with afo and the flashbacks we see of them, and it's just. so viscerally upsetting to me?? seeing tomura on the floor, scratching himself and writhing and in so much obvious pain and distress all while afo just stands there and encourages it... doing nothing to provide any sort of comfort or help him heal, all so that the only relief tenko can have is through using his quirk............ this kills the me!! this kills me!