Author note: This is now being expanded into a full ecosystem for minimalist bureaucratic horror. You are welcome to use For the Safety of the Public entries as a resource for your fics. I just ask that you please link back to the document and credit. This will go up on AO3 eventually.
And, of course, thank you to @autumnmobile12, who sparked the process with her own brilliance.
[NPSC ARCHIVE]
FILE ID: Y23-MHRA-001
CLEARANCE: INTERNAL COUNCIL ONLY
DATE: June 15, Y.23
Act on the Rights and Regulation of Meta-Humans
[Act No. 42 of June 12, Y.23 — 23 years after Glowing Baby]
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ Article 1 (Purpose)
The purpose of this Act is to establish the legal status, rights, and obligations of individuals possessing meta-abilities (herinafter referred to as “Quirks”), and to ensure public safety and the promotion of public welfare by establishing necessary regulations regarding Quirk-Related manifestations and oversight.
§ Article 2 (Definitions)
In this Act, the meanings of the terms set forth in the following items shall be prescribed in each of those items:
“Baseline Human” (hereinafter referred to as ‘Baseline’): Individuals exhibiting no morphological or biological deviation from pre-Manifestation genetic norms;
“Meta-Human”: Any individual exhibiting a capability or a physiological trait categorized as non-Baseline;
“Quirk”: Any inheritable or spontaneously manifested meta-ability, including but not limited to:
• Emitter-type Abilities: abilities that produce, manipulate, or project energy, matter, or force;
• Transformation-Type Abilities: abilities that temporarily alter the user’s physical form;
• Heteromorphic Mutations: permanent or semi-permanent morphological deviations from Baseline human anatomy;
“Quirk Manifestation”: The initial presentation of a meta-ability, whether voluntary or involuntary;
“Quirk Use”: Any action, expression, or deployment of a Quirk, including passive biological functions that may impact the surrounding environment.
“Public Safety Risk”: Any circumstance, perceived or actual, in which Quirk Use or the presence of a Meta-Human Condition may disrupt public order or safety;
“Suppression Measures”: Medical, technological, or pharmacological intervention utilized to inhibit Quirk expression for the purposes of Social Integration;
“Authorized Personnel”: Agents of the National Public Safety Council (hereinafter referred to as the “NPSC”) or the National Police Agency (“NPA”) granted plenary authority to evaluate Public Safety Risk or administer Suppression Measures.
§ Article 3 (Classifications)
The NPSC shall classify Meta-Humans into the following conditions based on clinical evaluation:
Standard Condition: Meta-abilities that do not result in permanent morphological deviation and are deemed manageable;
Heteromorphic Condition: Individuals exhibiting permanent morphological deviations (hereinafter referred to as “Structural Anomalies”);
High-Risk Condition: Abilities that present substantial Public Safety Risk due to volatility or scale;
Restricted Condition: Individuals whose Quirk Use is subject to legal limitation or State-Sanctioned Procurement for the purpose of public service.
CHAPTER II - RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
§ Article 4 (Recognition of Rights)
Meta-Humans shall be recognized as persons under the law; provided, however, that their civil liberties may be curtailed to the extent necessary to ensure the safety of the Baseline Population.
The government shall endeavor to promote fair treatment of individuals with morphological variations; provided, however, that such measures are economically feasible and consistent with Public Safety.
Discrimination is discouraged; provided, however, that this shall not apply where Quirk Type constitutes a bona fide public fear or regulatory conflict.
Nothing in this Act shall limit the authority of the NPSC to enact Emergency Asset Seizure of High-Risk individuals in the interest of Public Safety.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the authority of the NPA to establish guidance for educational bodies managing Quirk Manifestations.
§ Article 5 (Obligations of Meta-Humans)
A guardian of a Meta-Human shall report the Quirk Manifestation to the appropriate municipal authority within thirty (30) days of said manifestation.
Individuals shall submit to psycho-social and biological testing by Authorized Personnel upon demand.
The NPSC may enact Emergency Asset Seizure of High-Risk individuals when deemed in the interest of Public Safety.
§ Article 6 (Liability)
A Meta-Human shall be strictly liable for all damages caused by their Quirk, regardless of intent, involuntary manifestation, or third-party provocation.
CHAPTER III - INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
§ Article 7 (Education)
Educational institutions may segregate students by Classification to prevent environmental contamination or manifestation of trauma among Baseline students.
§ Article 8 (Employment)
Employers may mandate the use of Suppression Measures as a condition of employment for individuals of non-standard classifications.
§ Article 9 (Medical)
Hospitals are granted Limited Immunity for injuries sustained by Meta-Humans during the administration of mandatory Suppression Measures.
CHAPTER IV - SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
§ Article 10 (International Recognition)
Equivalent regulatory bodies in allied nations shall be recognized as competent authorities for the purpose of information sharing, extradition, and cross-border enforcement.
The NPSC may enter into cooperative agreements with foreign agencies to ensure global standards for Quirk regulation and Public Safety.
§ Article 11 (Scope of Authority)
The NPSC is the primary regulatory authority.
§ Article 12 (Judicial Exception)
Actions taken by NPSC Authorized Personnel in the performance of their duties under this Act shall be exempt from standard civil review. Adjudication of such matters shall be the sole jurisdiction of the NPSC Oversight Council.
So y'know how 20% of the population is supposedly quirkless, but Izuku is singled out for being quirkless and it doesn't seem like it's that common?
THEORY. I think the 80/20 percent is based on the WORLDWIDE population. Japan has a lower ratio of quirkless people because of U.A- people with powerful quirks moved to Japan to access U.A, and as a result, more people in Japan have quirks, while quirklessness is probably more common in places with a strong anti-quirk culture or less hero culture.
This is basically a volume-version of my chapter thoughts posts, albeit a little less thorough and including somewhat more pictures. Particularly solid topics in this volume include:
Makoto - the worldbuilding she provides, the characterization cues in her social demeanor, her invisible law-breaking, etc.
An enumeration of just how many ways Captain Celebrity is very deliberately designed to contrast Koichi, far beyond simply being a poster boy for the kind of person who's doing Hero work for all the wrong reasons.
A lengthy consideration of Koichi's mother and how her treatment of Koichi is reflected in many, many aspects of his characterization and history, as well as how she's handled by the narrative and the rest of the cast who interact with her.
Some musings about how Vigilantes reads differently in comparison to BNHA now than it did when it was first coming out, focused (for now) primarily on the catbus chapter and the new dimension of Slide and Glide Koichi accesses, but alluding to more serious aspects of the two stories' overall themes as well.
For some sampler excerpts from, respectively, the analysis of Koichi's mother and the way the catbus stuff plays differently depending on whether or not the reader remembers that quirk-wielding animals are 100% BNHA Canon, see below the cut! Enjoy!
(...) the manga’s portrayal of Shouko (and non-portrayal of her husband) clarifies a lot about Koichi. Why was he so hesitant to jump in and help at the beginning? Why did he only ever try for a Hero school exam once and then give up on it completely? Why is he so unfamiliar with his own quirk’s capabilities despite using it daily just to get around? Why is he so tolerant of Pop’s temper and tendency to lash out at him? Why is he so unusually sympathetic and compassionate towards people causing problems long before he even knows why? Why is he so comfortable with ignoring black-letter quirk law in favor of following his own judgment? Why is he likewise so self-effacing, so comfortable concealing aspects of his life, while also so craving recognition?
While I don’t want to say that everything about him is due to his Shouko’s harshness – he’s been passionate about do-gooding his whole life, by her account – this chapter makes it clear that the answers to all those questions are rooted in his having to endure and learn to navigate his mother’s mistreatment from a very a young age indeed, with only minimal, indirect support from his father. Vigs doesn’t hammer it in at the outset like BNHA Core does with Deku’s history of bullying and underestimation, but it’s there all the same.
and
Vigilantes is a series that was written as a good-faith effort to create a spin-off that could have its own flavor but still remain true to the core of BNHA as Furuhashi understood it at the time of its writing. However, the core themes, messages and plot elements that one might assume BNHA to deal with are, it seems to me, pretty different halfway through the series than they turn out to be in the end! That has major ramifications for how Vigs ultimately treats its Trigger victims and its real-deal Villains alike, but it also shows up in more minor ways, like the inconsistencies with All Might and Tsukauchi’s history and also here, with this fantastic catbus-gone-rogue Totoro riff.
(...)
Rats as potentially connected to the origin of quirks, a distinctly rat-like heteromorphic animal as the canon’s example of an animal with a quirk – you can see why Furuhashi came up with the idea of a stray cat (which could conceivably include rats in its diet!) as a quirk-bearing animal! That he made the effort to deliberately echo the idea of animals with quirks right after the main series had raised the idea of quirks being spread by animals makes it a real shame to see reviewers now acting like animals with quirks is some weird invention of Vigilantes with no basis in the main series! It’s hardly Furuhashi’s fault that BNHA set up an idea with major implications about quirks as a whole only to then abandon it save for incredibly vague implications it leaves up to the reader to try and connect the dots on because only Villainous characters actually care about where quirks came from or how they’re evolving!
Act on the Rights and Regulation of Meta-Humans
[Act No. 42 of June 12, Y.23 — 23 years after Glowing Baby]
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ Article 1 (Purpose)
The purpose of this Act is to establish the legal status, rights, and obligations of individuals possessing meta-abilities (herinafter referred to as “Quirks”), and to ensure public safety and the promotion of public welfare by establishing necessary regulations regarding Quirk-Related manifestations and oversight.
§ Article 2 (Definitions)
In this Act, the meanings of the terms set forth in the following items shall be prescribed in each of those items:
“Baseline Human” (hereinafter referred to as ‘Baseline’): Individuals exhibiting no morphological or biological deviation from pre-Manifestation genetic norms;
“Meta-Human”: Any individual exhibiting a capability or a physiological trait categorized as non-Baseline;
“Quirk”: Any inheritable or spontaneously manifested meta-ability, including but not limited to:
• Emitter-type Abilities: abilities that produce, manipulate, or project energy, matter, or force;
• Transformation-Type Abilities: abilities that temporarily alter the user’s physical form;
• Heteromorphic Mutations: permanent or semi-permanent morphological deviations from Baseline human anatomy;
“Quirk Manifestation”: The initial presentation of a meta-ability, whether voluntary or involuntary;
“Quirk Use”: Any action, expression, or deployment of a Quirk, including passive biological functions that may impact the surrounding environment.
“Public Safety Risk”: Any circumstance, perceived or actual, in which Quirk Use or the presence of a Meta-Human Condition may disrupt public order or safety;
“Suppression Measures”: Medical, technological, or pharmacological intervention utilized to inhibit Quirk expression for the purposes of Social Integration;
“Authorized Personnel”: Agents of the National Public Safety Council (hereinafter referred to as the “NPSC”) or the National Police Agency (“NPA”) granted plenary authority to evaluate Public Safety Risk or administer Suppression Measures.
§ Article 3 (Classifications)
The NPSC shall classify Meta-Humans into the following conditions based on clinical evaluation:
Standard Condition: Meta-abilities that do not result in permanent morphological deviation and are deemed manageable;
Heteromorphic Condition: Individuals exhibiting permanent morphological deviations (hereinafter referred to as “Structural Anomalies”);
High-Risk Condition: Abilities that present substantial Public Safety Risk due to volatility or scale;
Restricted Condition: Individuals whose Quirk Use is subject to legal limitation or State-Sanctioned Procurement for the purpose of public service.
CHAPTER II - RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
§ Article 4 (Recognition of Rights)
Meta-Humans shall be recognized as persons under the law; provided, however, that their civil liberties may be curtailed to the extent necessary to ensure the safety of the Baseline Population.
The government shall endeavor to promote fair treatment of individuals with morphological variations; provided, however, that such measures are economically feasible and consistent with Public Safety.
Discrimination is discouraged; provided, however, that this shall not apply where Quirk Type constitutes a bona fide public fear or regulatory conflict.
Nothing in this Act shall limit the authority of the NPSC to enact Emergency Asset Seizure of High-Risk individuals in the interest of Public Safety.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the authority of the NPA to establish guidance for educational bodies managing Quirk Manifestations.
§ Article 5 (Obligations of Meta-Humans)
A guardian of a Meta-Human shall report the Quirk Manifestation to the appropriate municipal authority within thirty (30) days of said manifestation.
Individuals shall submit to psycho-social and biological testing by Authorized Personnel upon demand.
The NPSC may enact Emergency Asset Seizure of High-Risk individuals when deemed in the interest of Public Safety.
§ Article 6 (Liability)
A Meta-Human shall be strictly liable for all damages caused by their Quirk, regardless of intent, involuntary manifestation, or third-party provocation.
CHAPTER III - INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
§ Article 7 (Education)
Educational institutions may segregate students by Classification to prevent environmental contamination or manifestation of trauma among Baseline students.
§ Article 8 (Employment)
Employers may mandate the use of Suppression Measures as a condition of employment for individuals of non-standard classifications.
§ Article 9 (Medical)
Hospitals are granted Limited Immunity for injuries sustained by Meta-Humans during the administration of mandatory Suppression Measures.
CHAPTER IV - SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
§ Article 10 (International Recognition)
Equivalent regulatory bodies in allied nations shall be recognized as competent authorities for the purpose of information sharing, extradition, and cross-border enforcement.
The NPSC may enter into cooperative agreements with foreign agencies to ensure global standards for Quirk regulation and Public Safety.
§ Article 11 (Scope of Authority)
The NPSC is the primary regulatory authority.
§ Article 12 (Judicial Exception)
Actions taken by NPSC Authorized Personnel in the performance of their duties under this Act shall be exempt from standard civil review. Adjudication of such matters shall be the sole jurisdiction of the NPSC Oversight Council.
Mha world building hc: Quirk suppressants and pseudoscience
Does anyone think that quirk suppressant medication is a thing in the mha universe? It seems very in theme for the mistreatment of certain quirks before the paranormal liberation war. Kids with more "disruptive" quirks would have to take quirk suppressants to not disrupt other students.
I think there would be certain types based on the quirk. I think something like a neuromuscular blockade would be used. Obviously we need to suspend some disbelief because quirks don't exist therefore the medication doesn't actually exist and this is NOT how these medications work, but its a hypothetical.
The neuromuscular blockade would be applied locally to the quirk factor to suppress its usage. I can also see it used in small doses for quirks with a full body factor
There would probably be some pseudoscience quack doctors who would claim to be able to prevent "bad" quirks in babies and maybe even in utero.
They could lie to parents that their kid will have a terrible quirk and use that fear to sell them some medication or procedure.
In theory you could test for a child's quirk factor and make assumptions, but some "doctors" could just be saying anything.
There would also be mom groups who swear by a certain extremist method with the evidence of "all my kids have normal quirks" or "My son's quirk used to be out of control until I started xyz".
Given the diversity of mutant quirks, and how many characters in the story either have animal characteristic quirks, quirks based off of animal abilities, and are actually animals, then it's very possible that Mothman exists and is a pro hero in America.
In America, Heroes are definitely treated as more of celebrities and less of law enforcers. That doesn't mean most of them aren't taken seriously for crime fighting, it's just that more people tune in for hero TMZ.
There's actually a lot less heroes in the United States due to how little there are people born with Quirks (a la this post) so anyone that's born with a Quirk is automatically pigeonholed to be a Hero.
There are two major organizations for Heroes in America: the American Heroes Association and the Hero's Labor Union.
Much like how we have the dreaded presidential elections, American Heroes have the hero elections. And that in itself is a whole other level of mess.
Your ranking (and overall state of your job) as a Hero depends on how popular you are with both the masses and corporate. If you're a highly popular hero like, say, Stars and Stripes, then your career will rapidly increase.
There is extreme animosity between the Heroes and the police. While most have no problem working with cops, many others (usually from minorities) despise working with police and often refuse to work with them.
Remember in the beginning when I said there was no American version of the HPSC? Yeah I lied. The American Heroes Association is, if not, worse than the HPSC but that is a story for another time.
Heroes are still susceptible to being arrested and/or being investigated by government so no immunity there...unless you're rich or have connections-
Marriage between heroes and civilians is outright banned and considered illegal if done so due to a certain hero named Crusader.
Just a question regarding one of your previous posts: what do you think about the mutant-subplot? I was just hoping maybe you can expand on how you feel about it
I feel rather unconvinced, I have to say.
The whole "mutant discrimination" doesn't feel like much of a plot when it's only ever touched upon really in Spinner's plotline (and even there, it's about a fringe organization that hates heteromorphs).
Heteromorph people are everywhere in society, it seems extremely common-place: the Top 10 pros include a guy with permanent wings, a rabbit and a washing machine. The Hosu police chief has a dog-head. In Class A, we have Tsuyu, Shoji and Ojirou with mutant quirks (technically Jirou too and I'm guessing Hagakure as well, but we never got the official description of her quirk), plus Tokoyami, Kouda and Mina have heteromorph appearance not even tied to their quirks. That's 1/3 of the class in the nation's top hero school. Heteromorph discrimination has not been explored in any of their backstories in the main story and hasn't affected their characters in any way we know. (Shoji scaring children is a volume extra and Tsuyu's lizard friend being mocked is also a bonus comic).
And while we are supposed to believe that heteromorphs are over-represented among villains, the most prominent one we have is Spinner. There were barely any villain characters with spoken lines to delve into this.
And without any worldbuilding to speak of, it feels empty to me when Ordinary Girl mentions mutant harassment, and especially being turned away from evacuation shelters (which are hero schools!!!) feels like an eye-roll moment to me.
Let's see where the Spinner-unwilling-Messiah-of-mutants storyline is heading, but unless HK is willing to go deep into some backstories, it just feels like a very flimsy thread in the story.
