deercountry | [Open] 🚬 September Flames

Entry tags:

[Open] 🚬 September Flames

Who: Dabi & others
What: September Catch-All
When: September
Where: Various

Content Warnings: Potential mentions of domestic/child abuse, potential mentions of murder, violence, adult language/subjects

Notes: General and specific starters and event prompts are found below. Contact under cut.

If you want to hit me up for ideas on prompts or plots, feel free to comment on Dabi's CR meme post or his Event plotting post, hit me up on my contacts – Plurk (

StarSeed69) / Discord (StarSeed#3572) – shoot me a PM, or drop an ooc comment down below, and we’ll hash it out. I'm down to write a unique starter for our threads if you prefer.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[bleh. please don't make it seem like he's part of ya life now. this is a temporary accident that neither of them actively sought out. had either a fair warning, they'd've opted for different teams or attended different days. but that's not the case now and what's important is focusing on making it through. well, that's dabi's selfish focus, at least. his survival. the rest can go to hell if they end up doing so; he'll be a team player to a certain point.

c'mon. push him. it feels great, especially watching him bounce and tumble down the steps. ah well. least she's laughing.]

Did I say ya were? [though he gets the meaning. even if the balloon weighs nothing, if it's still tied to something, you can't just yank it off with you. same with tree roots and walls buried in concrete. the pieces parts are what she needs, debris and separate items. that's easily doable, what it the bugge crashing its giant self around the woods.] It leaves a lotta debris once it starts to rampage. I can give ya the light.

[and glances at her hands for a second before looking to the side to watch others.] Heh. Try not to burn ya fingers.

[the plan works, only not in the way she'd intended. no flaming tree trunk spikes. but rocks, wood, people, all that can burn and be thrown at the same time. he can also make a wall of fire for her to throw things through rather than needing her to touch something already burning.]

Aa. Gettin it against one of the cliffs or a stone surface'd cut off the escape route. Takin out its legs'll bring it down as well. That's where we're aimin when we bring it down. Main issue's bein we gotta let it run around some first.

[She would love to never ever have to glance at Dabi's ugly mug for the rest of her life, but fate is not so kind. Ochako doesn't like Dabi on sheer principle (sorry, Shouto, but she's not exactly able to forgive the whole, uhh...sociopathic murderer shtick your big bro-bro adopted), but there's just been too many instances where he's caused trouble that directly effected the people closest to her. As polite as she is, as kind as she can be, this is only because there's high stakes at play here. People are depending on this thing to die so they can have food for the upcoming winter months. Ochako will bite her tongue and be civilized with Dabi, even nice, if she has to be. It's the least she can do.

And steal that joy away from you, Extra Crispy? Nah, you have the honors.]

...I'll cope.

[She says, but the grimace on her face definitely doesn't look like she believe that it'll be easy. She's see how how his flames can get, and Ochako needs to physically touch something to make it float. That's going to be literal hell on her fingerpads, but what choice does she have? A wall of fire would indeed be great, too - for herding, and it makes for a pretty good cover to toss things through. ~~Sneak Attack damage is 3d6~~]

That's fine. Maybe even for the best, so long as it's away from anything important. If it can tire itself out, it oughta be easier to take down, too. [Ochako stands, stretching her arms up above her head to loosen up. This is going to suck, but she's also kind of pumped? It's been a while since she had a good brawl, and got to really use her quirk.] Ready?

[wow, such viciousness coming from a so-called hero. personal attacks really do it for you, don't they, floater? well if she saw dabi's video and actually paid any attention to the life touya came from, then perhaps she might want to consider that in her calculations before judging him so harshly. after all, she wasn't the one getting abused by her father and told to give up by her mother and having her existence replaced by her siblings over and over until she literally burned herself to death thanks to a broken heart and shattered mind. no, even with her lower-income social class, she's lived a comfortable and happy life with her family, with little to no tragedy in her background. so don't go presuming to hate him on principle when she has absolutely no logical way to relate to the shit existence touya was dragged through. he has every damn reason to act the way he does. and most of its thanks to all you damn heroes in the first place.

*dumps responsibility where it belongs and walks off like the trash villain he is*

that'll teach her. while dabi literally stands near her, willing to work with ochako for the sake of this creature they're about to go after. he's had stranger team-ups. kind of amusing that they're in this together to murder the bugge so crops will grow. something has to die for the sake of others... ain't that interesting.

least they're not being catty towards each other. she's arguably the most tolerable out of the hero brats here.]

Dependin on where it is. The Bugge goes after anyone who looks at it. [dabi jerks his thumb over his shoulder towards a blonde-haired woman with a long braid down her back and what looks almost like viking-style armor on her body. strong and agile, she's agreed to be the triggering bait.] She's volunteered to grab its attention. If we don't kill it first, she's dead. And she's gonna be runnin for her life.

[So unless they find it against the cliffs or caves, then they're either going to have to lead it to an enclosed space or it's going to be a battle on the move until they bring it down.]

Don't think it gets tired on its own. Stamina seems pretty unlimited.

[She would certainly be sympathetic, and understand the reason why he became the way he is, yes...but it wouldn't do much to change her mind about what a horrible person he is now. Sad as what Touya Todoroki went through, what Endeavor put his children through over decades...the things Dabi's done were his own choice. The innocent people he killed were done by his own hands and had nothing to do with anything he dealt with because of his godawful family. No one held a knife to his throat and made him do any of what he did as 'Dabi'. It was all him. Besides, Ochako's not sure Dabi is the type of person to accept someone's sympathy and understanding. He doesn't want forgiveness, he wants blood.

That's how life is, though! Sad but true. Plants die to feed insects and herbivores. Herbivores die to feed predators and carnivores. There is always going to be that give and take, that balance of life and death. It's why Ochako is doing this, why she accepted the job, despite not enjoying the act of having to kill something. She just knows better - whether by her own reasonable attitude and rational nature, or because she's had a bit more growth in Nippon, who knows? Maybe it's both, but Ochako is here and she's ready to set out.

She can be, but he's being helpful. Ochako only gives what she gets.]

We're using live bait? [That, ah...that makes the young girl pause, and she bites her lip, clearly unhappy with that morsel of info, too. But looking at the stocky woman, and the determined glint in her eye, Ochako know she's already steeled her resolve. That takes guts, and Ochako's not going to undermine that.] ...A-Alright, but ma'am, if you're in serious trouble, I can get to you. Please don't risk your life unnecessarily.

[he knows he's a horrible person and has no qualms about accepting it. it's almost as if daddy's little disappointment decided to make sure he's the biggest goddamn disappointment to the family he could be. but dabi's good at dodging his own responsibility in his choices, despite what logical people like ochako and shouto can and will point out to him. in his mind, none of this would have happened if endeavor hadn't been who he was, done what he had. these flames that consumed these people, they're endeavor's flames. fanned by his ambition that went unchecked and wild. abandoning touya before he bothered to train him to curb the power of his flames, failing to give him any safety precautions. these flames consumed him, destroyed his own body, and endeavor didn't care. the heroes didn't care. so then why the hell should they care if these flames consume other bodies? hypocrites. all of them. turning a blind eye to the one responsible for dabi's actions and drive because it's so much easier to simply label him the problem, the failure, rather than face the ugly reality. why the hell wouldn't he want blood? why the hell is there anything HE should ask for forgiveness on? that's not how this world works, no matter how much the heroes pretend it does.

ochako has an interesting worldview on this. she's right about the predator and the prey. almost everything is one or the other at different points in time. it's a balance. dabi isn't doing this cause of that balance, however. he's in it because he was asked to and there's something extra for him for completing it. but since he agreed, guess he'll be working alongside the heroine. the other hunters are gearing up, weapons having their last check before slotting into place, the scouts already moving ahead to begin sweeping the forest in front of them.]

Oh right. This is ya first time chasin this thing. [dabi gives ochako a glance, not surprised, but not pitying either.] It's easier to attack when it's focused on one person.

[the hunter looks up at the young girl and hefts her battle axe. a giant one. she's a burly woman, definitely.] Appreciate it, gumball. But I've been doing this for years. If I need help, I'll hollar for yer name.

[The Todoroki history is...definitely a tricky one to dissect. Ochako doesn't like it, not even a little bit, and the more the truth and dark little secrets came out about it, she hated it more and more. She had to admit that such a horrible person being the so-called 'Symbol of Peace' made her want to laugh. Perhaps if she were older, more experienced, and...maybe even more jaded about life and how unfair, cruel, and wicked it can be. How the Heroes she grew up believing in may be just...actors on a large and extravegent stage. But, she's still a kid, and kids desperately need to cling onto something. Endeavor's not her Hero, and he never will be, but he's still part of her friend's family, as broken and, hah...burnt as it is. This flaming bag of shit in front of her is, too, actually. Ochako doesn't like Dabi, but she likes Shouto plenty, and knows that if anything happened to Dabi under her watch...ugh.

She'll never understand Shouto's obsession with his lost brother, but she'll at least do better for his sake.]

Yeah... [She meets those eyes curiously, for a moment, before glancing back at the woman, the 'bait' with a clearly unsure look. She obviously doesn't approve, but she won't fight the decision. There's clearly more experience here going into this, and she has to trust her teammates.] Alright...that does make sense. Just be careful - we'll back you.

[That's the royal 'we', definitely. Ochako isn't quire sure Dabi has anyone's back but his own, though he may shock her...who knows? At the least she's in this to make sure everyone makes it out alive. Other than, uhh...their target.]

On you mark, I guess. [Tallyho?]

[don't beat yourself up over it. if he dies, it'll be by his own choice and cause. dabi doesn't think anything is important enough to take his life except himself. and that being when he drags endeavor down to hell with him. but if something is gonna kill him here, he'll choose his own manner of death, usually by immolating himself and pulling a kamikaze on the impending murderer. it may not be the most glorious middle finger, but it's one he's a prick enough to give on his way down. that said, considering what he knows of trench, death for sleepers is little more than a massive pain in the ass after a few days of nothing. (he'll later find out just how big a pain in the ass...) it's too bad he's too much a dick (and ironically too stubborn and skilled) to ever get himself slaughtered over something he doesn't take personally. dabi has no plans on dying in this escapade against the bugge and he'll abandon them all to keep those plans. most of the hunters who've fought alongside him are aware of this, though generally his firepower (literally) is worth the tradeoff.

enjoy learning more history, ochako. it doesn't get any better. and honestly, he'll agree with the young hero on that other point: he has no clue why shouto's obsessed with him either. some foolish "family ties" sentiment or shit like that.]

Thank ya kindly, lassie. [~~piss off, trench has a small scottish section. fight me.~~] Makes me feel right better knowin you 'n yours are here with us. Includin you, patchwork.

[the woman gives dabi a firm, pointed look, deliberately grouping him in with his fellow sleeper whether he likes it or not. (gumball and patchwork, that's who you two are now, christened by scottina mclardson.) with that, she turns back forward and bangs her axe with her gauntlet.]

Move out, people! We got a Bugge to hunt and crops to feed! Olay!

[dabi's face is the visage equivalent of "ugh" and he shoves his hands into his pockets before moving with the company. perhaps for his own reasons, he opts to stay next to ochako rather than veering off elsewhere. though he may not have anyone's back but his own, he's silently slightly more loyal to people from his own world than the trench locals...]

[~~*~*Foreshadowing*~*~~ The latter of that is partially why Ochako's guard is way, way up. Unlike Dabi, she's here to make sure all the Hunters make it out of here alive, and the fact they're using live bait is putting her on edge quite a bit. She trusts Dabi's skill, sure - Ochako knows he's extremely powerful - but she sure as shit doesn't trust his character. Too well does she know he'd step over a dozen or more bodies to get what he wants, or save his own skin. He can 'play well with others', but for how long? If this little hunting venture goes south fast, Ochako knows she's on her own in terms of saving other people. At the least he's got the experience fighting the damn thing once before, so...there's that.

That, actually, is a curious question she may ask him one day...when they're not about to go to fight a large and dangerous Beast. Just what in the world is his relationship with his younger brother in Trench? It's certainly not good, but it's evolved beyond Kill On Sight, so she's definitely curious. The League is a huge question mark for Ochako, and she can't help put want to poke the proverbial beehive from time to time for answers.]

Pfft--! [Ochako stifles the snort that burst from her lips for a second, biting her lip to keep from grinning stupidly as well. What a nickname. She may adopt it, just to be an uppity brat if he's especially mean to her. Maybe make it a little cuter, like 'Patchy' or 'Patches'. In fact, seeing that look on his face is like a small gift in and of itself, and Ochako snickers as she ambles off with Dabi close by.]

Ehehe...I like her. [Okay, but for realsies now. Ochako's expression hardens and she's getting herself psyched up. Okay...let's do this. Plus Ultra!!]

[~~don't call me out.~~ good. dabi would've thought worse of her if she didn't have her guard up. she's not stupid, she knows he doesn't have loyalties outside of himself, and she's not about to believe otherwise. heroes are always like that, saying they're here for everyone, willing to make the sacrifice to protect people they don't even known. it's something everyone can count on, from other heroes, to civilians, to villains. of course she'd be wary of someone who doesn't give two shits about that mindset. lucky for her, dabi has zero reason to backstab her. doesn't mean he won't walk off if he feels like it, but killing her would be pointless. too bad he isn't gonna say that. she wouldn't believe him either if he did.

she could ask him now, since the first while of their hunting is little more than wandering through the woods looking for the damn thing. no one here's capable of flying outside of dabi and ochako and dabi's method of flight won't allow for any sense of stealthy and ochako'd be worried about leaving the others behind while she scouts ahead. besides, they have scouts ahead already, a few fast hunters moving through the woods in search of the bugge or traces of it left behind.

though really, what business is if of hers what his relationship is with his little brother? so far he hasn't killed him. (tried to, twice, but...)

dabi scowls slightly at ochako's laugh. very funny. it's no better than the woman's nickname for ochako either. stepping over logs and rounding about rocks, avoiding puddles and ducking branches, it's an active woodland track. meaning that dabi's not comfortable after half an hour of walking through the challenging terrain. physical excursion was never his forte, and his breath is slightly labored as he moves. it's what he gets for having a pathetic mother who couldn't even carry him to term. she gave up far too early and he paid for her weakness. passed it on to him. real fucking fair.]

Lemme set the forest on fire. That'll flush it out.

[~~Never. ♡~~ She's not stupid, and assuming Dabi's here for a "good" cause is downright laughable. He's probably here for the fun of killing the damn thing, or some kind of promised reward the Hunter Guild is offering him. As for backstabbing, well...she does hope he doesn't. Not exactly going to trust that he won't, no, but he's behaved himself this far. Though if he tries to goad her into doing anything beyond her moral code... Well, they'll have a conversation about that, too.

She could ask, yes, but keeping focused right now is important, and considering the creature they're tracking has already done damage to one of them already, Ochako isn't going to just start chatting and get distracted. Something stupid like that could cost their lives, and among the hunting party, the two with the quirks are undoubtedly the strongest here. He's also pegged her thoughts completely - without a direct means of communication like an earpiece or something, scouting ahead and leaving the party behind would be ill advised. It'll just have to wait when they've got a moment to spare.

Thing is, Ochako's conditioned to nicknames by living with and just being around Bakugou. Also a few of her friend from middle school that she still keeps in touch with on socials (or did, before all the mess of worldhopping and such) have given her cute nicknames, too. And Ochako, despite her much shorter gait and smaller stature, she's actually keeping up considerably in the forested area. It's definitely making her sweat, and pant, but she maintains a regular workout daily, and is rather fit and healthy without her quirk. She does, however, hang back some to make sure he never falls too far behind once she notices. It's, ah...definitely for his benefit, of course, but also she knows that if the Bugge finds them before they find it...it'd probably run on instinct, right? Attack whatever it perceives as the easiest target.

Ochako snorts, loudly, shaking her head.]

And it'd suffocate us all, too. The way the wind is, the smoke would blow right in our faces. Same with the ash.

[She opens her mouth to ask if he'd want her to carry him, but immediately closes it. Y-Yeah, no...not even going to humor that. Ochako'd rather knock him unconscious and drag his sorry ass through the air by his ankle.]

[depends on who's viewing his reason for being here. someone could see his very presence as a "good" cause even if it's fueled by selfish motives. after all, he's here, walking beside ochako without veering off to abandon them. apparently he's not going to get whatever he's made agreement for until the job's done, so at least the leader of the posse isn't an idiot when dealing with the villain. but ochako's right in assuming half his reason for being here is simply the joy of getting to kill something. bugge's a big target and he's a pyromaniac by nature. it's always fun to flex his quirk's power. stronger...

lucky him, dabi's not intending to try and goal the young heroine into doing something untoward. she's not under some influence and he acknowledges her drive to commit to her morals otherwise. there is a quiet murmur through the company, occasional whispers or murmurs to keep the weight of silence from churning their thoughts. the conversation that flutters between bearded mouths and masked lips ranges from recipes for crops and last-known sightings of the bugge. the only time dabi bothers to mention something is when there's a brief comment about some silver-haired bastard leading the bugge into town to try and get it healed at the sanctuary, which resulted in damaged property and finally ending its life in the streets.]

I know that bastard. Shoulda seen his face when he learned the truth.

[mostly an aside to his fellow worldmate. she can take it for a nettle or simply as information regarding dabi's experience with the monster they're hunting. though dabi doesn't say anything about it, he notes ochako slowing her steps every now and then to keep pace with his slowly-weakening gait. tsk, physical exertion is never his friend. he's pretty weak. good with bursts of speed and power, but drawn out exercises fuck with his stamina. it's rather annoying some high school girl has more physical endurance than he does. not that he's going to let anyone thing he's the "easiest" target. that's a good way of getting an attacker incinerated without hesitation. doesn't mean dabi's not eventually bristling in irritation at the walk and duress of the hunt. his sarcastic comment gets an answer too and he scowls beneath his rolling eyes.]

Ya can fly. What're you worried about?

[yeah no. he'd rather not get carried along like the world's gangliest charred human balloon. further comment's cut off when a quiet bird call echoes back through the group, the agreed-on (and demonstrated earlier) signal of the scouts. the bugge has been spotted and the scouts are on their way back to inform the group of their discovery. good news is, the creature is currently resting, sitting at the bottom of a short cliff they're heading towards. the bad news is, there's a short cliff between them and the bugge... so attacking it without jumping off said cliff or trying to descend and circle around to its front is going to be difficult.]

[If he abandonned them, well...he'd be on his own in a forest of god only knows what. The Bugge, that's one thing, but there's certainly other creatures and critters therein as well. Predators, other Beasts lesser than the Bugge, but still hardy and strong. Ochako would genuinely be more worried about him than the hunting party. Dabi's strong, sure, but he's still human...and he's injured already, too. Hell, by the looks of it, he's no survivalist, either. Weirdly enough, having him here, where he's safer and where Ochako can keep an eye on him actually makes her feel way less anxious.

Keeping up with the conversations of the group isn't difficult for Ochako - she's polite, friendly, personable; easy to get along with. She's among the several that talks mostly about recipes, trying to memorize what's been told and explained to her by several of the other Hunters. Someone mentioned something about a pumpkin soup recipe, and she's highly interested in something like that...it sounds divine. Though catching pieces of other information, Ochako does turn her head towards the patchwork man beside her with a raised brow for a moment. Okay, she...understands the person's want to try and heal the creature, but leading it to the city is dangerous and plainly idiotic, even she has to agree. Unsedated and unrestrained, that thing is just going to cause issues.

Ah, there's the spicy asshole she knows and loathes. Ochako shakes her head with a sigh, still managing to keep in step with him.]

Do you want the truth or a sassy remark laced with truth?

[Sadly, the banter stops there, because ochako's head is snapping forward and she's at attention right away, already switching into a more serious and resolute stiffness when she's in Hero Mode. Right...she knows the call. It's game on, and with this new development, well...that poses an obnoxious problem.]

...I can get people across, but it'll be a bit slow, and take up some of my stamina. Still, using my quir--eh...my powers to get the party across will be faster and safer than descending or changing our heading. I'll just...be at a slight disadvantage myself, once we fight.

[Depending on how bad her nausea gets.]

[dabi has pride in his power and ability, but he's not an idiot. he has a very selfish and intense survival instinct and isn't above sticking with other people when it's to his advantage. isn't above abandoning them either to save his own skin cause he's a careless wretch. but at the moment, he has no interest in leaving the pack. it's safer this way. besides, if something were to happen, he'd set the whole damn forest on fire to escape. most living creatures are instinctively frightened of fire.

thanks for noticing his less-than-stellar state, floaty girl. he'll stick by in case he needs a literal lift.

dabi keeps his silence during the walk, not bothering to chip in on the recipes or other pointless blather. though he pays attention on purpose, listening in to pick up something that might be useful. even if it's mostly cooking techniques. which he can take in and remember, but considering he's a todoroki, his cooking skills are complete shit. it's genetic. boiling and frying are about what he's able to do. and that's usually simplistic at best. when ochako looks at him regarding the man he said he knew, he gives her a mild shrug, noticing her agreement with the stupidity of it and accepting that judgement. something they can for once join on. it's the main reason why he disagrees with the "save the beasts" movement.]

Could go for both if ya still alive after this.

[last second shade. dabi approaches the rim of the cliff the other hunters are looking down. they could all jump down there right now and literally dogpile the sleeping beast. but if it woke up before they could immediately slaughter it, then they'd be in for a wild ride. getting tossed and thrown all over, dashed against the cliff wall... not a good idea without pinpoint accuracy.]

Instead of floatin people across, why dontcha drop a buncha shit on it and let the Hunters finish it off while it's gettin crushed? Ya got the vantage point from here.

[someone said something about flaming trees stakes earlier...]

[Most creatures are afraid of fire, yeah, but Trench has never been the sort of place to play by the usual rules. Ochako's experience comes from her own worldhopping, and though Dabi's heat range is...catastrophic, to put it lightly, she can't help but think that there's going to be creatures here who could, quite literally, "take the heat". And she doesn't want anyone to run into those kinda of creatures.

The idle chatter is pretty useless for the most part - just something to ease nerves and cull the silence, and Ochako is perceptive enough to notice that the Hunters are still on high alert - tense, poised, eyes still snapping left and right on sheer instinct. She's much the same, though not as perfected an art as those older than herself - she is still just a student, after all. First year at that, even if her real world experience could r=easily put her into a sidekick position in the future. As for Dabi's cooking skills...yeah. Yeah, that's a thing she actually worries about, despite herself - how in the hell are these people feeding themselves? Take out gets expensive, and being a Todoroki...even being taught feels like a loser's gambit. The only one that seems even remotely capable of learning is Toga, and that's...questionable, at best.

Who knows, maybe the League members will get an anonymous delivery of some good eats one day, as a treat. Depends on if her Omen can sniff them out.]

Don't worry, I'll haunt you if I do.

[Offhanded and quick, because now's not the time for their banter. Ochako hums thoughtfully, chewing her lip with a slow nod of her head. Honestly, that's a much better idea, and she's actually looking around to see if there's anything loose she could use right now.]

There's some loose debris here, but it's not heavy or damaging enough. If there's enough hands to cut down some of these trees, I can drop them on it. I'm just afraid it'll wake up if there's too much noise. A boulder would be more effective, I can aim for its head, but digging out one will take even more time.

[so far he's not run into a creature that could stand up (for too long) to his flames. but he's met enough that could still attack while engulfed to give them some begrudging acknowledgement. damn monsters. he'll stick around with the group and avoid wandering off on his own unless there's a reason to break away. while there's safety in numbers, there's also other advantages to be had. including nicking off the dead once things calm down.

oy, he's capable of learning. just doesn't see the need to learn how to make a bunch of fancy food when two minutes on high in a microwave is enough to get a nice plate (or cup) of food. stick with charbroiling fowl or mushrooms. other foods he can get from the marketplace and feed. all his young life, he's had other people cook for him and never really had the opportunity to catch interest in the activity. his mother did all the cooking until his father hired help to aid rei in handling the household and dealing with the kids. at least dabi learned basics while he was living on the streets.

such a gift would be highly suspicious and alarming...]

Uh-huh.

[not bothering with a last word, dabi leans over the cliff edge and peers down at the bugge once more. she's right that it'll take time to dig the boulder out, but then again, if they keep the scouts watching from above, they can retreat and be alerted if something starts to shift.]

There's a boulder that way. [he points in the direction behind them where he remembers passing the rock. a few of the hunters give him a curious look and dabi sighs. idiots weren't paying attention to the "member review" at the start.] The girl makes things float. [there. a summary. and jerks his thumb towards the rock.] Dig it out and we'll crush it's head before it's got a chance to wake up. Post the scouts to watch its sleep and two warriors to attack if it wakes. The rest of us get her rock.

[because while it'd be amazing to slam a flaming skewer through the creature, that'll make far more noise preparing it than a rock.]

[Dabi would by the damn rogue of the group wouldn't he? In both title and nature itself - looting a corpse would be something he'd do, just to get his hands on anything useful. Ochako is determined to keep everyone here alive and well, and limit injuries as much as possible (she'd really rather avoid another mass death like what happened against the Paranormal Liberation Army), but as she looks down the hole at the sleeping Bugge, she can't deny that injuries may arise. If this thing reallt starts to move, people will get hurt. Or worse.

Fair enough that the elder Todoroki at least has some skill. Shouto is just hopeless all around, even when attempts are made to teach him. As if ochako would ever try with Dabi, but there's good to be had in a decent meal that's not just "heat and serve". With some time and effort, even dollar-store meals can be made into a pretty decent, flavorful meal. She, ah...she would know. It was her life for a good, long while. Let's just say a lot can be used and made from a whole chicken and a few veggies.

Looking up at Dabi, Ochako's not even shocked he spotted a boulder on their wat here, and can place the location well enough. He's smart, perceptive, and actually a decent tactician in a fight. It's partly why having his help is such a boon here - Ochako can admit that freely. Dabi's a good ally to have, even if he tends to make her skin crawl and itch with the urge to hit him at least once. Or make faces behind his back (like a mature person would, obviously).]

Mm, he's right. Weight and size isn't an issue so long as it's not over my limit. [Though her 'limit' is a bit of a moot point as well. Ochako constantly pushes her own limit day by day. If she were to really weigh her capacity, it probably would startle her how much weight she can float when she goes Plus Ultra.] I'll go with the digging team, obviously. Dabi-san, can you stay with the scouts? If it does wake up, aim for its eyes.

[He said it terrifies people by sight, right? Blinding it would be the best thing to do. It'd also confuse and make it easier to take down, and eyes are usually soft, fleshy...unarmored and easy to sear away, as sick as the mental image is.]

[that's how it was in the league of villains and he's not changing it here. in the end, he cares about himself and his goals and very little for anyone or anything else. an extreme sociopath. she can thank endeavor for creating this monster. and don't get all huffy at him for looting a corpse; what good's a good gonna do on a dead person? gonna leave a radio on a dead cop or you gonna take it and radio in for help? sheesh. be practical. emotions suck. luckily or ochako, this isn't war and dabi at least sees the other hunters as valuable enough to not directly kill or abandon. herself included.

if the thing starts to move, endeavor's eldest son is ready and willing to fry it. not in the mood to play around with the bastard. as for cooking... really, don't get your hopes up, ochako. he knows how to fry and boil. that's about as good as he's gonna get. temperatures and ovens and cooking times are out the window. let him slap water in a microwave, boil it, and dump it in his instant ramen cups. at least he's willing to steal produce and not just gobble junk food. unfortunately, most of his cooking comes out, well... well done. is it any wonder any doctor checking him out would say he's kind of malnourished? villain life is hard.]

Yeah. Keep checkin back. You'll know if it wakes. [either from its roars or the sight of a bunch of forest go up in blue flames. he may not be the greatest team player, but if he's willing to work with someone, he'll work with them well enough. just don't get in his way and things are fine. he trusts ochako to get her job done and isn't at all doubting her ability to float that boulder. considering her performance at the schools little competition, it's obvious she has quiet a weight limit with her quirk. the main problem will be freeing that boulder without making a bunch of noise... ah well, that's her problem now since she's posted him with the scouts.

hey, an "ordered" excuse to avoid heavy labor? count him in.] Even if it wakes up, best if ya keep workin to get that boulder out. Crushin it's the better option.

[both to avoid as many deaths as possible and to free anyone who got caught in its sights. dabi's fairly certain his flames can keep it corralled against the cliff wall if need be. but he also knows the damn thing's smart enough to turn around and start climbing. and he can't exactly lean over the edge and fire down on it without looking at it... and having it look back.]

[What a sad way to live your life, but that's his prerogative, isn't it? Not like anyone could convince him otherwise, especially not a Hero. And speaking of, items to be used to help others she may take, maybe but anything left on the body should be given back once the body itself is returned to family or just put to rest as it should be. That's how she views it, anyway, but again...different strokes. They're agreeing now and that's all that matters.

Villain life is hard, definitely, though it could be easier if he learned a few basic recipes. Oh well, not her place, though Ochako is that sort of person who would probably try to feed a bastard like him anyway. She can't not seal away her compassion and kindness, even for someone like him, who's proven to not be that horrible, if he's willing to work towards an end goal with her. Call it a "you scratch my back" kind of reward thing. Everyone deserves to eat, at the very least.]

Mm... [An acknowledging hum, because yeah, she knows exactly what he's talking about. If she sees blue flames, or smells smoke, that's about as good a sign as any that the Bugge has woken up. The boulder won't be a problem to float, she's come a long way since the Sports Festival in terms of her quirk's strength and her own endurance, but getting it out will be the hard part indeed. Even so, her job right now is far less dangerous than Dabi's so--] Be careful. Don't hesitate to call us back if it gets to be too much to handle if that thing does wake up. Don't take any unnecessary risks. Even if we spare just a few hands on my side, I'd like for everyone to stay safe.

[And with that, Ochako turns and heads out with her group to being their task, leaving Dabi on watch duty for however long it takes to dig this boulder out. If it's sizable enough, it'll do some serious damage, but...she's not going to be without the side effects, either. Dizziness, headaches so intense they make her eyes blur, and of course the nausea and vomiting. Those suppression items in her suit are going to be working overtime once she gets it airborne.]

[his life is a tragedy. it really is. he's had enough of people trying to convince him to go one way, act another, do this thing, strive for that. it broke him and he's not going to let anyone else break him except for himself. on his own decision. while ochako's not going to convince him of anything, at least he might consider talking to her about stuff, should she bring things up in a time when they're not hunting down a monster that'd like to munch on their heads. still gonna loot the dead.

he... knows how to pan sear a fish and boil water? cook stuff over a flame, though that's little more than just skewering it and shoving it into or over the fire. while dabi's too proud to accept a handout, if the event comes around where she's offering food and he's too lazy to go get his own, yeah. being a dick can lead to stuff like that. never know, he just might burn someone bothering her. at least this one's showing they can work together if the situation calls for it.]

Yeah, yeah. Beat it. [the longer she stays here to prattle her heroics, the more time the bugge has to wake up and fuck over their plans. dabi approaches the cliff wall with the two scouts and peers down over it. while he's proud of his flames and the intensity of their power, his quirk has already been used on the bugge and he's aware that it can still charge clean through his fires and kill even while being immolated. no, it's a better idea to torch it while it's injured or trapped. the best course of action is to wait for the other team to come back with that boulder.

which should be pointed out as being a solid 10 ft in diameter at its widest. it's a heavy fucker and will definitely do some hefty damage if dropped even from the top of the cliff. provided they get a good shot.]

[The funny thing is, Ochako knows he can't change any of the members of the League. Not here, and not home. And even if she tried, well...justice has to be served, right? They're not getting off the hook for all their crimes just because one little girl wants them to have a happy ending. Life doesn't work that way and Ochako knows it. Also don't make her start carrying a spray bottle, you damn vulture. :|

Hey, rotisserie is a valid method of cooking a lot of various meats, and pan searing fresh fish is great for some texture. Hell, Dabi's already a gourmet fucking chef in relation to his little brother, who is a biohazard when making literally anything. There is hope yet for at least one of the Todoroki men. Or at the least ochako doesn't have to worry too much that they won't starve to death or something when winter comes or something. Still mind send a care package regardless, but hey...what he does with it is his prerogative. Just be nice to her Omen when it makes a very possible delivery.

Rolling her eyes, Ochako heads off with a slight shake of her head but she has a small smile on her face nonetheless. It's something - not being at each other's throats and wanting to just strangle one another. She still can't stand him, but it's nice to not be openly hostile when in close quarters. The work digging the boulder out takes some time, since a lot of the damn thing is buried in the earth, but once the majority is unearthed, a quick application of her quick and some ropes and a whole hecking LOT of pulling pops the rock out like a champagne cork. Ochako already feels her stomach cramp from the weight she's lifting, but it's definitely not the worst she's done. One of these boulders is nothing to the dozens and dozens or them she's released before. The pinch in her side is easily nullified by her costume's suppression gear, too.

It's about a half hour, maybe forty minutes of hard labor before there's noise, movement from below through the trees and Ochako up above moving the boulder through the air with her hands and the thrusters in her boots for movement. She's looking out below for hand signals on direction and keeping in line of sight, too. Not too high, just above the tree line for now... She can spot the cliff where the Bugge is, too, and she doesn't hear any noise or see any smoke or flames...yet. Dabit will get a blip on his Omni from up on high.]

I'm en route, how is everything there?

[by the same token, dabi has no intention of trying to change any o the heroes here. well... he's given two of them a subtle push or so when they were under event influence, but the original personality change wasn't his doing. after all, wouldn't it be "changing" them if he tried to snap them back to their senses? screw justice serving; any "justice" will only get served to *one* side of the equation. she knows it just as much as dabi does. otherwise, endeavor and hawks would be jailed.

oy, oy. vultures are nature's way of cleaning up the trash. he's simply doing a public service.

bleh... fresh fish. nah, he'll stick with searing chicken or maybe a fucking rat if he catches it. who cares. he's burned mushrooms to eat so he can avoid slapping a fish down on his damn table. and of course dabi's better than his brother! anyone but their shitty old man could see that! ... okay so probably 99% of the world can still cook better than dabi, who's main culinary accomplishments are searing, rudimentary frying, and boiling. don't ask him about spices beyond salt and pepper, or measurements. just put it in the skillet and let 'er rip. though he can't knock shouto's cooking too bad; those jellies were one hell of a rush (much to shouto's horror) and dabi's deliberately kept them in stock, not to mention procured more before his little brother discovered the criminal ramifications his cooking led to.

ah well. dabi will survive. that's what he's always done. hope for him, however, is likely a wasted effort. but he'll accept the care package. so long as her omen doesn't randomly show up at one of his rotating "homes" that he hasn't told anyone about.

when one of the scouts questions him about "what can one little girl do", dabi merely tells him to shut up because that "little girl" can get the job done better without his stupid, unrequested opinion. their business now is making sure the bugge doesn't wake up, and if it does, keep it caged against the cliff. making for a somewhat boring wait, leaning over the edge of the precipice in turns while the noises off in the forest threaten to rouse the monster from its slumber.

finally that connection's made and dabi glances at his omni once before looking down at the creature.]

Sleepin, but it's restless. Ya better speed up cause I ain't givin ya more than three minutes at this rate.

[He sure has, and that shit hasn't been forgotten in the slightest. Hence Ochako's hesitation and dislike of him just on that alone. She can play nice, do what she was trained to do, but will never trust nor like this man at all. There's simply too much he has done that has served his sense of "justice". Much like a lot of words in the world, that one is based entirely on emotional and moral input and is as fickle as the other two words that make it up. It is solely dependant on the person themselves.

Dabi, bin chicken confirmed.

...Double confirmed, rat-eater. Though what he puts in his mouth (take that as you will) is of no real concern to Ochako - she can only do so much and only offer a hand when the time and place calls for it. That's perhaps the one area, hilariously enough considering her own weird relationship with food, that she won't budge on - everyone should be able to eat, no matter who they are and what they've done. They should always be allowed to eat a good, healthy, warm meal. That's just basic, human right - being hungry sucks, and maybe because she's endured that, Ochako is more amiable to making sure others don't. Though her cooking won't be able to be weaponized unless Dabi wants to just waste good food. :\

Maybe, maybe not... It's really not like Ochako has much control over what her Omen chooses to do. But knowing how these villains are, and how they think, she'll at least leave them a message and pick up point first. If they want it, they can have it. If not, well...finders keepers and all that.

Aww, Dabi...don't let Ochako hear that, she might think you have a heart under all those staples and charred, blackened skin. And the naysayer will eat their words in just a minute or two, because as Ochako responds to Dabi, there is a shadow that starts to fall over them as the young Hero and her large boulder crest over the treetops.]

Noted, I'll be there in two.

[Probably. Her thrusters can only do so much, but Ochako's knowledge of aeronautics is working with her, too. She's reading the wind currents and using that to her advantage as well. A nice thermal updraft to lift her higher, a gentle tailwind to make her move forward faster...all this makes her arrive on the coattails of the timeframe she was given...and maybe a little extra effort on her part because of it. Is it spite to prove she can? Maybe. Probably. Ochako works good when put against a wall like that.]

I'm right above it; clear the area since I can't control the trajectory when I release my quirk... I can only calculate it based off what I know about the specs. [Hello, math whiz on deck.]

[oh? she remembers what she did during that time? interesting. dabi wouldn't be surprised to hear that, but he has little confirmation she remembers in detail beyond her network post apologizing for whatever she did. still has the video of their interactions, should she ever want to review the footage for nostalgic trips. dabi doesn't give ochako any demerits for hesitating and disliking him; he would consider her more an idiot if she blindly trusted him. there's something about her, the more grounded reality she carries, that makes her mildly more tolerable than some of the other hero types around here...

bin chicken, trash panda, alley cat, and bad rat. that's him. hey, rats are good when fried. people eat squirrels and bats too ~~the latter-most one probably should not be done~~ since meat is meat. fire purges almost all of the problems inside it as well. and no, he doesn't need ochako to consider what he puts in his mouth. he's not in the market to know her oral proclivities either. though despite his general disregard for other people, dabi would draw a line at human cannibalism. screw the basic right to eat; that shit's just gross and the world's better off without that practice. toga's blood drinking being an exception because, ya know, it's not exactly in the same vein (pun intended).

granted, ocahko will get a bit more "respect" if she opts for the message and pick up point. he doesn't trust her enough to be anywhere near remotely amiable with her, but he does acknowledge it's safe enough to get food from her.

he has a heart. it's just broken and burned black, with some sticky bits still managing to remain clinging around on the inside. dabi will acknowledge skill and effort at times, even telling twice to shut up when he complained about their teammate's lacking effort. everyone did their job well enough, twice included. so long as the objective is completed, a few slips and scrambling recoveries are fine.

he glances upward at the shadow looming overhead. well well well... lookit that. it's rather impressive. he leaves his omni on, just so ochako can hear one of the scouts say-]

Holy shit, she's doing that?

Uh-huh.

[two minutes is a small time, but when on a threatening schedule, it can take an eternity. he watches as she wrangles the massive boulder into place like some giant air balloon. despite the large rock overhead, there's little noise, making for a rather odd sight as the other hunters emerge from the woods to regroup with the two scouts and dabi.

they're all rather impressed with ochako's work and a few of them are conflicted upon learning that this little girl, both kind-hearted and well-suited for teamwork, is from the same world as the bastard asshole known as dabi. who doesn't mind murdering team members or leaving them behind if the situation calls for it. (not that he does either of those thing often but you know how ONE damn action can give you a hell of a reputation. jeeze, double standards much?)

ochako's in position and the group leader nods before turning and pointing to the cliff.] You two [the scouts] take Jarneen and Lore to the base of the cliff and set up there in case it gets out. Dabi, stay at the top of the cliff. If she misses, you need to keep it caged against the wall. The rest of you, spread out around the cliff and base. You have one minute to get into position. Little missy, in 60 seconds, whether we're in position or not, drop it.

[unfortunately they can't "clear the area" and still be ready in case something goes wrong. so they're setting up a wide perimeter around the area to be ready should the bugge manage to escape the trap.

though thirty seconds later, mid movement, the creature stirs and a rumbling noise echoes in the forest. akin to a yawn. yeah, it's waking up now. screw that. dabi's voice comes over the omni-]

Drop it.

[as much as he'd like to light the boulder on fire, since the damn thing's awake, a flare of light would give it a moment to startle and dodge. he'll keep his flames cocked instead for caging it against the cliff should the meteor fail.]

[She sure does, and pretty much doubled down her efforts to help others in the community afterwards. Volunteering, more and longer patrols, and just going small odd-jobs for the Trenchies as a means of trying to atone for what she did. It doesn't fix or change anything, those people are dead and gone, but doing nothing isn't an option. Not for her. She'll also bear the weight of what happened, what she did, until she's sent back home again. Remember and regret, and then work to help others, not harm them. And perhaps her grounding comes from her own upbringing - she's far less fortunate than the others in her class, after all. Still a happy, energetic thing, but she simply knows how the world works. It sucks, and it's hard. Heroes can help others and do good deeds, but they can't change the world. Because that, in and of itself, means changing people, and changing people takes eons and eons.

Dabi, how have you not died of a serious disease, my god... Ochako would actually be concerned for you if she heard half the things you put in your body. Love yourself a little?? Please??? And they share that thought - eating people is gross and just...not okay. She would absolutely abhor the idea of cannibalism. Hell, even Toga's blood-drinking makes her uncomfortable, but that's mostly because Ochako has a bad ipression of Toga, not the act itself. She's most definitely figured out that some people just have to consume blood for their diet and that's okay. Hell, Trench itself sometimes requires that, too, much to Ochako's chargin ~~and mild disgust~~.

Likewise, Ochako will recognize Dabi's efforts and if he does actually help her in a tight spot. It may just be a "you scratch my back" case, but it's a good value to have either way - reciprocation is still kindness, in its own right. She'll thank him either way, if the time ever calls for it. And maybe she does also smile a little bit at the obviously deliberate recording of one of the Hunters' astonishment at her skills. Yeah, she appreciates that...and there's no denying the satisfaction of showing her worth, either. She's strong, despite her looks, and not to be underestimated, or looked down on because of those soft features.

Ochako's listening to he instructions given to her before she, too, sees movement below and hears that loud, ominous groan. Shit, it's rousing, and Dabi's words are the only ones she hears in that moment, biting her lip for just a fraction of a second before taking the initiative. Move first, think later, she has to trust that her comrades will have the skills and intellect to run should her trajectory be off (it's not, she's too good at math), or the wind changes.]

Release!!

[Her fingertips touch and down they both go, the boulder falling with much higher speed and continuing to fall. Ochako, swiftly after releasing her quirk, activates it on herself again, to remain airborne and is shooting herself off to the side as well, in case she needs to move and move fast. That bonk on the head should do some serious damage, but she can't be sure it won't also damage the surrounding area, either, and she definitely does feel her stomach twist a little after the initial release. Ugh...going to be feeling that tomorrow. At least her spressors are working, cuz the twist sorts itself fast, too.]

Everyone get ready!! [It's officially go time.]

[what an idiot. you get kidnapped to a place against your will by people you don't know, and then afflicted by a "curse" you never asked for to do things you never would've done, and YOU'RE the one who has to apologize and feel guilty? fuck that bullshit. beyond his own general assholery, as far as dabi's concerned, if trench and the "gods" above them don't want to get burned to the ground, then they never should've kidnapped him and pissed him off with their games. every forest fire, every beast scorched to ashes, every person murdered is all "their" fault for caging him in this hellhole and forcing him into these damn monthly happenings. you heroes bleed out your hearts and take on burdens far too numerous and pointless than you should. no wonder you're all so tightly wound and overworked. there's only one instance of death/destruction he's caused in this place that has given dabi any sort of pause in the aftermath. but he'll keep that to himself, thanks.

probably because his body often gets so damn hot, any disease or harmful bacteria that'd plague him gets fried and killed while he slowly cooks himself to death from the inside out. ain't it grand to have a body that can't hold up to your quirk? like his scorched, scarred, and stapled external appearance is something to be unconcerned about in the first place.

... he doesn't know how to love himself. enji made sure of that after abandoning him.

he'll probably shrug off her acknowledgement of any potential aid, but won't refute it. why bother after the fact? even if he didn't trust hawks, he still worked with him a few times. dabi's capable of playing the "team player" role if it's to his advantage, or if he's simply bored and feels like it. while he'd be quick to point out someone owed him a favor for helping them, the same can't be said in reverse. he's a dirty scumbag like that. doesn't mean some people can't benefit from him being a dick, kinda like ochako getting to hear a compliment simply cause dabi wanted to give a middle finger to an idiot.

speaking of middle fingers, endeavor's unwanted spawn watches the entire scene unfold with a faint gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. the rock dropping down like a moon crashing towards the earth. or in this case, an ugly monster just waking it from its sleep. very few people can simply wake up alert and ready, so it's all the more worthwhile to see this bastard groggily blink an eye open just before the shadow of that oncoming plummet swallows its head.

*shkluntch!*

ew, that sounded wet. less a crack and more a sickly crunch of solid rock meeting bone. with enough height and weight, the impact is no small bounce on the top of the head. shoulders and arms jolt faster than dabi'd ever seen the bugge move in his previous killings. nerves firing off and pain receptors exploding. it's obviously not large enough to squash the beast flat like a rock on an ant, but as the boulder rolls off to the floor with a resounding crash, the bugge's left twitching on the floor. head caved clean open on one side, half its face a gory pulp, and its head sunken in towards it chest due to the shattered bones of its neck. gurgling breaths sputter between its lips as it flails about, trying to roar in pain through a crushed throat full of blood. look, how would you come out if someone dropped a stone the size of a basketball (approx ratio) on your head from a cliff above?]

Nice shot.

[there's a yell from the other hunters and the group of them charge into the cradle of rock to attack the downed and damaged creature. dabi lowers his hand, not feeling the need to add his flames to the mix for now. he's rather proud of his plan working. ~~suck it, dad.~~]

[Open] 🚬 September Flames

had a hurricane over here, so it's all good. hope ya feel better soon~

tyty. ♥♥ hopefully ian wasn't too much of a dick to you...

not to me personally, but it was a massive dick to other areas...

yeah, my parents live in naples. thankfully they're not on the beach, but i saw some BAD wrecks..

yeah it's smashed over there. i'm glad they're okay.

yeah, me too. I'm glad you're safe too.

same here. hopefully we'll have a quiet rest of the year.

god, me too.

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holiday work crunch SUCKS. again sorry for my slowness. ;;;

no problem. i was gone for vacay and some house issues. i'll be slow too.

Oh no, I hope all is well. :(

water leak in the walls. fun.

oh fuck, yikes...my neighbors had that at my complex a while back. "Fun" is a way to describe it.

yeaaah, totally what's wanted during the holidays.

yeah, i'll bet... bleh.

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wrapped! ♥