Azure Bubbles

Olympus Rising

I’m interested in being an Aphrodite successor

Tales From the Spider-Verse // Book One: Spidroin

Saturday, October 4th, 20XX

Greenwich Village, 6:00 pm EST

One month after the Recluse Incident

Danny Davis had made a list. That seemed like a reasonable response after waking up one morning with the ability to stick to his bedroom ceiling.

The list had started simple enough.

Web fluid stability.
Adhesion strength.
Dissolution time.
Maximum tensile load.
Do not die.

The last one had been underlined three times.

Now, standing on the roof of an apartment building in a pink hoodie with the hood up, jeans, sneakers, a mask covering his nose and mouth, his fake glasses in his pocket, and a homemade pair of wrist-mounted web shooters, Danny was beginning to think the list had not been thorough enough.

He stared over the edge of the building.

Then immediately took one step back.

“Nope,” he whispered. “No, that is still very high.”

He had been practicing for a few nights now. Nothing too crazy. Mostly wall-crawling, testing the web shooters, making sure the webbing actually dissolved after a couple hours like it was supposed to. Caty would probably have opinions about him being out here alone, and MJ definitely would have opinions. Loud ones. Possibly with hand gestures.

Danny tried not to think about that.

He also tried not to think about Dad.

That was harder.

He looked down at his web shooter instead and took a breath. Science. Testing. Controlled variables. That he could do.

“Test seventeen,” he said quietly, because apparently narrating his own stupidity made him feel better. “Short-distance swing. Low altitude. Minimal screaming.”

He aimed at a nearby ventilation unit and fired.

A line of pink webbing shot out and stuck to the metal with a soft thwip.

Danny breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay… okay… Good. That worked.”

Then he pulled.

The web yanked him forward a lot harder than he expected.

“Oh no.”

He stumbled, swung about two feet off the roof, flailed, and slammed shoulder-first into the brick wall beside a maintenance door. His hands stuck on impact, leaving him awkwardly plastered against it.

For a few seconds, he just stayed there.

Then, muffled against the wall, he said, “Great. Nailed it.”

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

Danny peeled one hand away from the brick and checked it.

MJ: Are you awake?
MJ: Wait, dumb question.
MJ: Are you doing weird spider stuff?
MJ: If yes, I’m mad. If no, I’m still suspicious.

Danny stared at the messages and felt a little guilty.

“I’m fine,” he said, even though MJ obviously couldn’t hear him.

He was, in fact, not fine.

Before he could figure out what to text back, the buzzing in the back of his skull changed.

Danny froze.

It wasn’t the sharp, painful warning he had started associating with immediate danger. This was different. In a way he couldn’t really explain.

He slowly turned toward the skyline.

“No,” he whispered. “Please don’t be another symptom.”

Then he heard it.

Somewhere between the buildings, someone shouted, “WOO!”

Danny blinked.

A dark shape swung across the street.

Not fell. Not jumped.

Swung.

Danny stared, because what else was he supposed to do? There was someone else out here. Someone moving through the air like this was normal. Like it was fun.

“Oh,” he said.

Every reasonable thought in his head told him to go home, text Caty, text MJ, and make this someone else’s problem until morning.

Instead, he aimed his web shooter at the next building.

“Okay,” Danny breathed. “Just observe. That’s all. Observing is safe. Mostly.”

He fired.

The webline caught.

“Please hold.”

Then he jumped.

For about one second, it was amazing.

The city dropped under him, the wind hit his face, and Danny actually swung. Badly, but still. He didn’t immediately die, which counted as progress.

Then he realized the other guy was much closer than he thought.

“Oh, come on.”

Danny panicked, fired another webline, and overcorrected. He clipped the corner of a fire escape, spun awkwardly, and hit the side of the next building with a sticky thwack.

Upside down.

About three feet away from the helmeted stranger.

Danny stared at him.

He waved awkwardly.

“Hi.”

A pause.

“I’m not following you in a creepy way,” Danny said quickly. “I mean, I was following you, technically, but there was this buzzing thing in my head, and you were also swinging around, so I thought maybe…”

He stopped.

“That sounds bad. Sorry.”

He glanced down at the street below, immediately regretted it, and looked back at the other guy.

“You are way better at this than me.”

Another pause.

“Please don’t punch me.”

@EnterTheHero

Pokemon: Valkyrie league!

Let me ask everyone still interested what they think works better for this rp.

Would you prefer this to being about pro pokemon battlers competing in high stakes competitions?

Or would you prefer being up and coming trainers trying to break into the big leagues, currently training at some training camp or other institution that will help them get there.

Potential I might try to do both as separate rps: the latter being here in casual and the former being in the arena threads.

@Birdboy

The latter imo.

Pokemon: Professor's Academy

Callum Hazelwood

Quote: “If you underestimate a Pokémon because it looks cute, that’s not the Pokémon’s problem. That’s yours.”

Full Name:
Callum Hazelwood

Age:
24

Year at the Institute:
Second Year

Favorite Color:
Pink

Thesis Subject:
“More Than Adorable: The Evolutionary, Social, and Behavioral Functions of Cuteness in Pokémon.”

Callum’s research focuses on how perceived cuteness affects Pokémon survival, human bonding, trainer behavior, adoption rates, socialization, threat reduction, and battle underestimation. He wants to challenge the idea that cute Pokémon are just ornamental, beginner-friendly, or less serious than stronger-looking Pokémon. In his eyes, cuteness can be a real adaptive advantage.

Appearance:

Callum has a soft, put together look that makes him seem a little more delicate than he actually is. He is around average height with a slender build, neat features, and the kind of carefully crafted appearance that makes it obvious he spent time getting ready, even if he insists he “just threw something on.” His hair is always styled, usually a bit too neatly for someone who claims not to care that much.

His clothes tend to lean soft and pastel, with a lot of blush pink, cream, powder blue, and lavender. He usually wears things like cardigans, pressed shirts, nice trousers, and small accessories that are cute without being too over-the-top. He likes embroidered details, enamel pins, and anything that makes an outfit feel coordinated. His research bag is usually stuffed with notebooks, field journals, Pokémon treats, sticky notes, and at least one fancy pen he absolutely did not need but bought anyway. He looks like someone who belongs at a Contest Hall and a research library at the same time, which is basically the point.

Personality:

Callum is sweet, polite, and usually very put together, though he is not quite as harmless as he looks. He has a soft way of speaking and tends to come across as gentle at first, but he can get surprisingly sharp when someone dismisses him or his research. He is used to people hearing the words “cute Pokémon” and assuming he must not be doing anything serious, so he has developed a bit of a quiet competitive streak.

He genuinely loves cute things, pretty things, and soft aesthetics, which probably does not help his case when he is trying to convince people that his work is serious. Still, he refuses to pretend he is less interested in those things just to seem more academic. Callum can be fussy, a little vain, and very particular about his notes and supplies, but he is also thoughtful and observant. He tends to notice when people or Pokémon are uncomfortable, even when they are trying to hide it.

Around friends, he is warmer and a little more dramatic. He fusses over people, gives unsolicited advice, and acts like he is above being emotionally attached to his research team despite being very obviously attached to all of them. He likes being right, which is not always his best quality, but he usually means well.

Callum has a special fondness for Fairy-type Pokémon, though his research is not limited to them.

Bio:

Callum grew up in Hearthome City, so Contests were a big part of his life from a young age. His family had connections to the Contest scene, and for a while it seemed obvious that he would become a Coordinator. He liked the costumes, the performances, the dramatic appeals, and the way a well-trained Pokémon could completely hold an audience’s attention. He still likes all of that, honestly. He just realized over time that he was more interested in studying the reactions than chasing ribbons himself.

The thing that really caught his attention was how differently people treated cute Pokémon. Trainers were often more patient with them. Strangers were more likely to approach them. People were quicker to help a small, cutesy Pokémon than one that looked intimidating. Even in battle, some trainers would hesitate or get careless against a Pokémon that looked harmless. Callum started wondering if cuteness could actually serve a purpose beyond just being appealing.

When he first tried to explain that he wanted to study cuteness seriously, a lot of people did not really take it seriously. Some thought it was funny. Some acted like it was basically Contest commentary dressed up as research. Callum took that personally, even if he would never admit that. He started keeping field notes, observing Pokémon in Contest halls, Pokémon Centers, parks, shelters, and beginner trainer programs. Eventually, one of his papers on how people respond to cute and baby-like Pokémon got enough attention that a mentor encouraged him to apply to the Laventon Institute.

Now Callum is in his second year at the Institute, where his thesis has gone from “oddly specific” to “surprisingly legitimate.” He has already done fieldwork in Sinnoh and Hoenn, but because of that travel, he missed a required Ecology 101 credit. That is why he is currently stuck in Professor Birch’s class with a bunch of first-years. He is trying very hard to be mature about it. He is only somewhat succeeding.

Pokémon:

Callum’s Research Team

Aria the Jigglypuff
Aria is Callum’s main partner and probably the closest thing his thesis has to a mascot. She is round, adorable, and fully aware that people think she is cute. Callum uses her in a lot of his research involving attention-seeking behavior, and how people respond to cute Pokémon. Unfortunately, Aria does not enjoy being ignored for too long, and her solution is usually to start singing until everyone in the room is asleep. Callum insists this is useful data. Everyone else would like him to stop calling it that.

Trinket the Skitty
Trinket is a mischievous little kitty with a cute face. She helps with Callum’s observations of affection-seeking behavior, social bonding, and how quickly people forgive a cute Pokémon for being an absolute menace. She likes stealing shiny things, batting at loose papers, and making Callum apologize to people on her behalf. Callum claims her behavior is spontaneous field data. Most people would call it “Skitty being Skitty.”

Buttons the Stufful
Buttons is part of Callum’s research into what he calls “dangerous cuteness.” He looks soft, cuddly, and harmless, which is exactly why people tend to make bad decisions around him. Callum is especially interested in how often people ignore obvious warning signs just because a Pokémon looks huggable. Buttons has proven the point several times by looking precious right before knocking someone over.

Patch the Mimikyu
Patch is probably the most emotionally complicated member of Callum’s team. Callum is fascinated by Mimikyu because its cuteness is something it has copied and constructed for itself, rather than something people naturally assigned to it. He treats Patch’s disguise as communication, not deception, and is very careful not to make it feel like a research subject first and a partner second. Patch has made Callum’s thesis a lot messier, but also a lot more meaningful.

Pollen the Ribombee
Pollen is Callum’s neatest and most reliable assistant, which is why he jokingly calls her his “one competent colleague.” She helps with field research, pollen collection, and observing how Pokémon respond to different emotional states. Her ability to sense moods makes her especially useful for Callum’s work, though he also appreciates that she is the least likely member of the team to knock over his notes, steal his pens, or put an entire room to sleep.

Quirks:

* Uses pastel-colored sticky notes for different categories of research and gets quietly distressed when someone uses the wrong color.
* Can identify several small Pokémon species from clues such as their pawprints, vocalizations, shed fur, or common behavioral patterns
* Keeps saying “this is not about aesthetics” while wearing an outfit that is absolutely about aesthetics.

Intriguingly's

I have returned

Intriguingly's

Dante froze. He definitely heard a voice down there. And a kid, no less. Or someone trying to sound like a kid…

Dante glanced toward the front of the shop. Mr. Imp was busy ushering the teenagers out. Nobody else seemed to be reacting to the voice. Either they hadn’t heard it, or he was losing his mind.

“Dios mío,” he murmured, mostly to himself. “This is how people die.”

He hesitated another second. Then, because curiosity got the better of him, Dante took a slow step closer.

“Hello?” he called, quieter this time, like he didn’t want Mr. Imp hearing him any more than he already had to. “…Who’s in there?”

He stopped again, glancing once toward the front of the shop before looking back toward the door.

“I’m not opening it,” he added quickly. “Just…” He exhaled. “Are you okay?”

Guardians Of Earth (A Superhero RP)

<Snipped quote by Azure Bubbles>
Here, here. I can't stand people who grandstand and virtue-signal against AI images in this context. I'm like, "Dude, it's a roleplaying game!".

@Hope Lover

Thank you!

Like people are ok with taking an anime image they clearly did not draw themselves, and go that’s my character, or use a image of a real life person that did not consent to have their likeness used to represent their character. But somehow having a machine generate an image for you is a problem.

Guardians Of Earth (A Superhero RP)

ooo i like it...where'd you find those pictures? @Azure Bubbles

@Floofenstein

It’s AI. I know some people don’t like AI, but the dollmaker websites were not giving what I need them to give.

Guardians Of Earth (A Superhero RP)

Spotlight

Name: Julian Mercer

Alias: Spotlight

Age: 26

Gender: Male



Appearance: Julian is strikingly handsome in a boy-next-door-meets-Hollywood-heartthrob kind of way. He stands at an even 6’0”, with a lean, athletic build honed more for aesthetics and agility than brute strength. His golden blond hair falls in lightly tousled waves, always somehow perfectly messy. His eyes are bright, ocean-blue, framed by long lashes and a dazzling smile that could probably get him out of a parking ticket. He keeps his skin glowing, sometimes literally, thanks to a meticulous skincare routine and his powers.

When not in costume, Julian leans into a soft luxury, with stylish trenchcoats, fitted tees, fitted jeans, trendy sneakers, and layered gold jewelry. You’ll usually catch him wearing light-reflective sunglasses, a perfectly curated outfit, and carrying his phone like it’s another limb (he is constantly updating his socials, after all).

His hero costume is sleek and futuristic: a white body suit with metallic gold panels. There are glowing accents that pulse with light as he uses his powers. His chest emblem is a stylized sunburst. He also wears a white cape for the drama.

Superpower: Photokinesis: Julian can generate, control, and shape light energy. He can emit brilliant bursts of light, create solid light constructs (like shields or platforms), form dazzling illusions by bending light, or blind foes with solar flare-like flashes. He can also glow softly or radiantly, controlling his brightness at will.

His powers burn stamina; overuse can leave him exhausted or faint. He has no power in total darkness or areas that absorb light

Skills: Media Training: Naturally photogenic and skilled at public speaking, interviews, and brand management.

Dancer’s Grace: Trained in basic choreography, allowing for stylish combat flourishes and stunning landings.

Social Media Expertise: Keeps his fanbase engaged and can spin PR disasters with a well-timed post.

Makeup & Style: Being hot is a skill, and Julian always looks good. He can do stage makeup in under five minutes, and he will make you try a filter.

Equipment: Spotlight Drone: A floating camera drone that captures his good side and streams it live.

Personality: He’s charming, expressive, and unapologetically extra. He leans into the glamorous side of hero work with genuine enthusiasm. He believes that heroism and theatricality can go hand in hand. After all, a well-timed dramatic pose can inspire the world. He flirts like it’s breathing, hypes his teammates constantly, and somehow makes even disasters sound like PR wins.

He can be a little vain, and maybe a touch addicted to the praise… but it’s part of the package. Behind the bravado, he’s sincere, vulnerable, and deeply driven to make people feel safe and inspired. Whether he’s hyping up his teammates or comforting a scared civilian, Julian brings warmth wherever he goes. He also hides a vulnerable side. The fear that without all the sparkle, he’s nothing special. That fear drives him harder than he’d like to admit.

Biography: Julian’s powers first emerged when he was 8 years old. He started glowing while sobbing during a sad scene in a movie he was watching. What others saw as a strange mutation, Julian’s mother saw as a brand opportunity. Vanessa St. Clair, a popular talk show host and media personality, immediately leaned into the photogenic glow. Her son wasn’t just gifted, he was marketable.

From then on, Julian’s life was scheduled around press opportunities, curated appearances, and perfectly framed social media moments. Vanessa documented everything. First glow, first controlled burst, first viral moment. She wasn’t malicious, just so consumed by the dream of fame that she couldn’t see her son as anything else. Julian’s father, Darius, quietly disapproved, but years in the entertainment industry had taught him that objections often went unheard. Vanessa didn’t listen. Her son was going to be a star, whether he liked it or not.

Julian tried to make the best of it. He liked the attention, the applause, the way people lit up when they saw him. But part of him always wondered if they’d still love him when he wasn’t shining.

In college, Julian took back some control. With no official costume and no team, he began doing small acts of heroism. Including rescuing people from fires, defusing fights, helping in disaster zones, and uploading short clips online. His kindness, stage presence, and thirst-trap charm quickly won over the public. One especially dramatic rooftop rescue went viral, and the nickname “Spotlight” was born.

He embraced it.

Since then, Spotlight has become one of the most recognizable young heroes in the country. To fans, he is inspiring, glamorous, and approachable. To critics, he is shallow, overexposed, and too concerned with his image. Julian knows what people say about him. He pretends it doesn’t bother him.

With the Guardians of Earth rebuilding after their losses, Julian finds himself facing the biggest opportunity and the most terrifying challenge of his career. Joining a legendary team could prove he is more than a celebrity hero. It could also get him killed.

Relationships: Vanessa St. Clair: Mother
Darius Mercer: Father
4.8 Million Followers

Extra: Insta handle: @spotlight.julian
Has a merch line. It includes scented candles, limited edition sunglasses, designer phone cases, and a custom Labubu
Has more followers than the Guardians official account. They pretend they’re not annoyed.
His shirtless selfies always go viral
He is openly gay

Guardians Of Earth (A Superhero RP)

I’m bringing this guy back.

Name: Julian Mercer

Alias: Spotlight

Age: 26

Gender: Male



Appearance: Julian is strikingly handsome in a boy-next-door-meets-Hollywood-heartthrob kind of way. He stands at an even 6’0”, with a lean, athletic build honed more for aesthetics and agility than brute strength. His golden blond hair falls in lightly tousled waves, always somehow perfectly messy. His eyes are bright, ocean-blue, framed by long lashes and a dazzling smile that could probably get him out of a parking ticket. He keeps his skin glowing, sometimes literally, thanks to a meticulous skincare routine and his powers.

When not in costume, Julian leans into a soft luxury, with stylish trenchcoats, fitted tees, fitted jeans, trendy sneakers, and layered gold jewelry. You’ll usually catch him wearing light-reflective sunglasses, a perfectly curated outfit, and carrying his phone like it’s another limb (he is constantly updating his socials, after all).

His hero costume is sleek and futuristic: a white body suit with metallic gold panels. There are glowing accents that pulse with light as he uses his powers. His chest emblem is a stylized sunburst. He also wears a white cape for the drama.

Superpower: Photokinesis: Julian can generate, control, and shape light energy. He can emit brilliant bursts of light, create solid light constructs (like shields or platforms), form dazzling illusions by bending light, or blind foes with solar flare-like flashes. He can also glow softly or radiantly, controlling his brightness at will.

His powers burn stamina; overuse can leave him exhausted or faint. He has no power in total darkness or areas that absorb light

Skills: Media Training: Naturally photogenic and skilled at public speaking, interviews, and brand management.

Dancer’s Grace: Trained in basic choreography, allowing for stylish combat flourishes and stunning landings.

Social Media Expertise: Keeps his fanbase engaged and can spin PR disasters with a well-timed post.

Makeup & Style: Being hot is a skill, and Julian always looks good. He can do stage makeup in under five minutes, and he will make you try a filter.

Equipment: Spotlight Drone: A floating camera drone that captures his good side and streams it live.

Personality: He’s charming, expressive, and unapologetically extra. He leans into the glamorous side of hero work with genuine enthusiasm. He believes that heroism and theatricality can go hand in hand. After all, a well-timed dramatic pose can inspire the world. He flirts like it’s breathing, hypes his teammates constantly, and somehow makes even disasters sound like PR wins.

He can be a little vain, and maybe a touch addicted to the praise… but it’s part of the package. Behind the bravado, he’s sincere, vulnerable, and deeply driven to make people feel safe and inspired. Whether he’s hyping up his teammates or comforting a scared civilian, Julian brings warmth wherever he goes. He also hides a vulnerable side. The fear that without all the sparkle, he’s nothing special. That fear drives him harder than he’d like to admit.

Biography: Julian’s powers first emerged when he was 8 years old. He started glowing while sobbing during a sad scene in a movie he was watching. What others saw as a strange mutation, Julian’s mother saw as a brand opportunity. Vanessa St. Clair, a popular talk show host and media personality, immediately leaned into the photogenic glow. Her son wasn’t just gifted, he was marketable.

From then on, Julian’s life was scheduled around press opportunities, curated appearances, and perfectly framed social media moments. Vanessa documented everything. First glow, first controlled burst, first viral moment. She wasn’t malicious, just so consumed by the dream of fame that she couldn’t see her son as anything else. Julian’s father, Darius, quietly disapproved, but years in the entertainment industry had taught him that objections often went unheard. Vanessa didn’t listen. Her son was going to be a star, whether he liked it or not.

Julian tried to make the best of it. He liked the attention, the applause, the way people lit up when they saw him. But part of him always wondered if they’d still love him when he wasn’t shining.

In college, Julian took back some control. With no official costume and no team, he began doing small acts of heroism. Including rescuing people from fires, defusing fights, helping in disaster zones, and uploading short clips online. His kindness, stage presence, and thirst-trap charm quickly won over the public. One especially dramatic rooftop rescue went viral, and the nickname “Spotlight” was born.

He embraced it.

Since then, Spotlight has become one of the most recognizable young heroes in the country. To fans, he is inspiring, glamorous, and approachable. To critics, he is shallow, overexposed, and too concerned with his image. Julian knows what people say about him. He pretends it doesn’t bother him.

With the Guardians of Earth rebuilding after their losses, Julian finds himself facing the biggest opportunity and the most terrifying challenge of his career. Joining a legendary team could prove he is more than a celebrity hero. It could also get him killed.

Relationships: Vanessa St. Clair: Mother
Darius Mercer: Father
4.8 Million Followers

Extra: Insta handle: @spotlight.julian
Has a merch line. It includes scented candles, limited edition sunglasses, designer phone cases, and a custom Labubu
Has more followers than the Guardians official account. They pretend they’re not annoyed.
His shirtless selfies always go viral
He is openly gay