LuckyBlackCat

Be my Sanctuary

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

With a nod, Jess picked at her own meal. By the time she managed to properly eat, the quiche had gone cold. The air was a haze of uncertainty. Jess didn't want to think what could happen over the weekend. Just meeting the man would be bad enough, and much, much worse for Roxy.

The empath was almost glad when the time came to get back to work. Sticking the plate and cutlery in the dishwasher, she glanced over her shoulder at the clock. Soon they'd have something to focus on - that was, if they could focus at all. "Well, I guess we'd better head back down," she said, making her way towards the steps. "At least that's a distraction for now."

She and Roxy had several days of catching up on work ahead of them, but she had a feeling they'd seem to go by all too fast.

My Hero Academia: Another Story

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Kerianne Morley ~ Nightwatch

---

@Tenma Tendo @Aviaire @Nyahahameha

Sitting up, Kerianne looked over as Breeze shuffled forward, followed by a perpetually grouchy Eira. Although some of the dazed feeling had passed, the blonde spread out her hands for support as she nodded, keeping herself from swaying. Showing vulnerability was something she'd refused to do from a young age. She trusted Breeze, as well as Eira despite the attitude, but some habits were too ingrained to break.

"Well, we were told not to take it lightly," she replied. "To put this time to good use." Breeze had the right idea, training her own Quirk by melding wooden blocks into her skin. Backing up her own words, Kerianne extended her leg, reaching for her toes, feeling her muscles stretch. Future heroes didn't just need to develop their Quirks, but their physical skills in general. In her case, her balance and maneuverability. And as much as the others pushed themselves, she needed to push hardest of all. To have any chance of being accepted as a pro hero, she had to truly prove her potential.

She frowned as Breeze wished aloud that things could go back to normal. "I do too," she said, her expression softening a little when she went on. "You know, someone told me true heroes support each other. Hopefully everyone will."

Of course, that was when Eira put in her rather snarky two cents. Slowly standing, Kerianne fixed that steely glare on her, hands on hips. "Was that really called for?" While she didn't shout, her words were no less sharp-edged for it. "I think you'll find the reports say..."

Just then, she noticed two other people heading over. Freya and Renard, the latter still not himself judging by his scowl and the blunt response he spat. While Kerianne had been about to say exactly that regarding the casualties, it just didn't sound right coming from him, stated that way. Exhaling loudly, she rubbed the bridge of her nose. What could she say to get through to him if nobody else had succeeded so far?

Eira and Renard weren't the only ones to get mad. Gabby, who'd followed shortly afterwards and read Sofia's letter, marched to the punching bag, launching such a hard repulsion-enhanced blow that it swung in a circle and whacked her to the ground. "Gabriella! What was that about?" Kerianne's tone held no accusation, only concern, as she hurried over. Gabby already knew about Sofia, so what had brought on such uncharacteristic anger in her too?

---

Freya Leander ~ Cait Sith

---

@Heartfillia @Aviaire @Nyahahameha

The timing couldn't have been worse as Freya and Renard entered the gym.

Several people had already gathered, including Eira, whose scathing comment made Freya cringe. "Christ, it's as if someone's died." The feline girl closed her eyes, as if that would dispel the images of the motionless forms, the viscous pool, Renard shaking and snapping as memories surfaced. She didn't need to look up at her friend to know how he'd respond.

The anger was clear in Renard's voice as he filled Eira in, not just on the deaths, but on Sofia. A fresh pang hit Freya like a scab torn open. Surely Eira cared at least a little? Her attitude was as chilly as her Quirk, but she'd shown traits of a true hero back there, putting Sofia first, sticking by her classmates to help in any way she could.

"Eiraaa..." Passing by, Freya gave her a slight grimace. "I'm glad you're ok, but do you have to be like this?" She followed Renard, sitting next to him on the bleachers. The stiffness had yet to fully ease from her right arm, so she leaned on her left one as she lounged on the steps, eyes still on Eira. "Can't you just, you know, chill a little?"

With that, she cast a hopeful glance at the person she'd emulated. His cue to join in. Freya had no illusions that she could fix everything - if she could even help at all - but had to try to bring out a trace of his usual self.

As she'd expected, the atmosphere indoors remained as heavy as outdoors, emphasised by the thud of the punching bag. "Ah! You ok there, Gabby?" Freya called, sitting up and staring at the wrestler, who lay face down on a mat, laughing off the blunder. Shoulders sagging with relief, the catlike girl gave a tight smile, but didn't laugh along. On any usual day, Gabby could expect playful teasing from Renard. Today, that wasn't going to happen.

My Hero Academia: Another Story

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Freya Leander ~ Cait Sith

---

Once she'd headed home, Freya could barely bring herself to leave her room. She trudged over to her backpack, which her parents had brought back after their visit, and with a sigh, pulled out her hero costume. Right now, it looked like exactly that - a costume. Wearing it again would feel like playing dress-up. How could she call herself a hero after that? Why should she go back and complete her training if Sofia couldn't? Or face Renard again after what she'd put him through?

Holding up the outfit with one hand, she extended the claws on the other. She'd rip it to shreds, then quit the course. She'd known deep down she should. So why wouldn't her body comply with her mind? Just then, she heard the front door open, followed by footsteps up the stairs. Slumping her shoulders, she dropped the costume in a crumpled heap and sank onto the bed. As she'd expected, a knock sounded at her door.

"Freya? You in there?"

Freya swallowed down the tightness in her throat before replying. "Yeah... Come in."

The door creaked open, and her mother stepped in. Although clearly tired from work, she bore an expression of concern as she sat down next to Freya, hugging her. "Oh sweetie, I'm just so glad you're ok. And that it'll all be ok."

Freya shook her head. "No... No it won't be," she replied, eyes squeezing shut. "It won't be ok. M-Most of them got away with it. People got hurt, badly hurt, s-some of the workers didn't make it... Someone even got taken off the course, it was that bad. And... and Renard, he took the whole thing the worst of all, he just isn't the same any more, and it's all because of me..." The more she babbled, the more frantic her tone grew. "I can't go back. Felicity's right. Dad's right. I'm not meant for this."

Her mother made soft chirruping noises, like a parent cat towards a kitten. "Remember, it's early days yet. Of course it'll take a while for everyone to get through this, but people are pretty resilient. As for Renard, I can't imagine anything keeping him down for long."

A shudder ran through Freya. She'd thought that too, before this.

"Whether you go back or not," her mother continued, "it's your choice. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. If you still want to be the hero I have no doubts you can be, then go for it."

Freya stared in surprise. "But... Didn't I scare you?"

The grip around her tightened. "Of course I was scared," her mom replied. "I won't lie, I worry about you, and about Felicity, every day. But this is what you've both always wanted, and I'm not going to take it away from you." Another chirrup. "If you're not ready to go back on Monday, that's fine, I'm sure they'll understand. Just think it over before you do anything drastic. Because if you don't want to quit, there's no need to."

Sniffling, Freya nodded. "Thanks, Mom. Yeah... I-I'll think about it."

...

@Heartfillia

Her mind was made up by Monday, even if she didn't know if she'd made the right choice by going back.

To her relief, Renard still arrived to drive her to school, but barely said a word throughout the entire journey. It's early days yet. Freya kept repeating her mother's words in her mind as she stared out at the rain, but her worries still loomed large as the clouds overhead.

She barely paid attention in class. The nightmares hadn't let up, stealing much of her sleep over the weekend. More than once that morning, she woke to a teacher's scolding, finding herself slumped over the desk. The hours stretched out until lunch break, as well as an unexpected but welcome announcement. Physical training was cancelled.

With a sigh of relief, Freya shuffled from the room, lunch bag in hand. It wasn't just the lingering aches throughout her body that made her reluctant to train. In truth, despite her choice to continue the course, Felicity's taunt kept playing through her head. Told you - you don't have what it takes.

Normally, she'd see extra time as a chance for a good nap. Today, though, there was someone she had to at least try to help. No matter how badly she'd failed on Saturday.

Step by slow step, she made her way down the corridor, approaching Renard. He seemed in better shape physically, nothing left of his injuries but a few cuts and a slight limp. Emotionally, though... That was a different matter. "Hey," she called out, speeding her pace a little. "Just wanted to ask..." Catching up with him, she paused as she looked over his remaining wounds. "You ok there? Your leg, it isn't giving you too much trouble is it? And..."

As her eyes met his, she took a deep breath. It was time to confront him. "Please tell me the truth. How's everything otherwise?"

---

Kerianne Morley ~ Nightwatch

---

Kerianne hadn't slacked off that day. That was what Alex and Elaine had reassured her over and over again. Yet it still felt like she had.

Which was why, after the announcement that physical training was cancelled, she headed to the school gym anyway. Dressed in her sports kit, she dragged various pieces of equipment into the hall, those perpetually wary blue eyes flicking this way and that, noting where shadows fell. U.J provided some security, but she still had to prepare for any possibility. Friday's events were proof of that, as was the sudden cancellation of class. The fact that Mr Hayes of all people had called off the training... It couldn't mean anything good.

And if anything happened again, she wouldn't let her friends down.

Crouching in a shady corner, she set a stopwatch around her neck. In an instant, she dropped, staring ahead and pressing her hand to the planks as if pushing at a door. A lurching sensation jolted through her, black wisps rising where she disappeared. Her immediate surroundings changed like snapshots from different angles as she blinked through shadows cast by apparatus. Reaching the punching bag at the end of the hall, she drew back a wrap-protected fist and launched a jab. She then ducked as if from an enemy's counter strike, activating her Quirk the second she touched the bag's shadow, zipping in and out of portals to her starting point.

As she repeated the process, it wasn't long until the room started spinning. She crouched, ready to warp again despite her wobbling legs, but her guardians' words came back to her. Overtraining wouldn't help. Her sigh echoed through the room as she stood up, staggering to the mat where she'd left her bag. She should rest in between sessions, Elaine had said, wait until the dizziness passed, then start again.

Sipping from a water bottle, she checked the stopwatch and grimaced. Just a few days off sick and she was already out of practice. As much as she wanted to resume training, she set the bottle aside and lay back. As soon as she stopped feeling like she'd stepped off a rollercoaster, she'd continue the session. And she'd do better this time.

My Hero Academia: Another Story

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Freya Leander ~ Cait Sith

---

@Zaphander @Nyahahameha @Heartfillia

It wasn't fine. Renard's weak smile, his whisper of "I get it" like she'd upset him... That said it all.

"Please..." Freya took a step closer. "Don't blame yourself. For anything."

As someone else approached - Kerianne, who'd been lucky to have missed all that - Freya put on her own faint smile. "Hey..." Holding her stiff, sore hands out, she accepted the gifts from Keri and Gabby. "Thanks... Both of you, thanks." She sniffed the flowers and gently nuzzled them before tucking them into the crook of her elbow, then read the card, her heart warming from the kind gestures. Felicity may not have shown any concern, or bothered to visit, but here were people who cared.

At Peter's words, she nodded. "Well, I don't think they were going for us personally," she added to his speech, "so let's hope we don't run into any more villains before we become pro heroes. I'm with you on teamwork though."

That was when Renard spoke up, sounding so unlike his usual self, Freya's mouth fell open at his tone. That anger, that self blame, she'd never expected it of someone like him. "No!" she replied as he paused and looked away. "Don't do this to yourself! We all held out. You did great, the jokes, the chair, the..." She closed her eyes, images rushing into her mind like a nightmare. Renard kneeling in blood, shaking, launching a flurry of kicks and punches at the chainsaw woman, his face uncharacteristically contorted with fury...

She hadn't done great, Freya thought, suppressing a shudder. Not if she'd done that to him. Triggered something in him that had destroyed the good cheer his friends knew him for, all because she'd been careless enough to step into a villain's path.

Trying to push away the thoughts, she raised her head, glancing at him, then Gabby, then Peter. "You all did a good job. Teamwork, it really is the greatest Quirk."

Her words weren't enough to lift the mood. Especially when Renard broke the news about Sofia. Freya gasped, slumping her shoulders against the wall as numb disbelief sapped what little strength she still had. "But-But why? How bad was it?" Her voice wavered. "Please tell me she's going to be alright!"

Renard wasn't in the mood to talk any more. He simply turned and started on his painful way down the corridor. "Wait!" Freya hurried a few steps after him, then stopped. She'd already made things a great deal more awkward for him. The last thing he needed was 'help' from her, the person responsible for the mess he was in.

---

Kerianne Morley ~ Nightwatch

---

@Zaphander @Nyahahameha @Heartfillia

Giving out cards almost felt like an insult.

Even as her friends expressed gratitude, Kerianne's doubts weighed on her. She'd had to do something, but what difference could a few simple messages make? Once her hands were empty, she put them in her pockets, casting her eyes down at herself. Her neatly-pressed blouse, hiding scars from brawls. She'd known danger, had to watch her back as she'd kept to the shadows, literally and figuratively. She'd seen friends beaten and bloodied. Yet she'd never experienced anything on this level. And if she hadn't broken away from those crowds, turned from that path... She may well have ended up as one of the people who'd done this to the class.

"Heh... I hope that helps at least a little," she said nonetheless, voice soft. Gabby and Peter seemed in reasonably good spirits, at least, but Freya's shaken state didn't escape her notice, and Renard... Kerianne's eyebrows furrowed. It wasn't just his limp or his heavy bandages that were distressing to see. It was the complete and utter change in his attitude. "No jokes?" she asked. "No teasing that I must have a sentimental side after all? Renard, just how bad did things get?"

At that point, Peter looked over, attempting to rouse people's confidence with a speech. While he put up something of an overconfident tough guy act, Kerianne couldn't exactly fault him for it, given the situation. Somebody, however, did argue back - the last person she'd expected to.

Her normally stern eyes widened a fraction. Then, she stepped closer to Peter and Renard, hands raised, palms up. "Look." She kept calm, yet firm. "Peter, I get what you're saying. Got to say, I agree with Renard that there probably wasn't a reason for them to target the class, but it's good you're using this as motivation. Once you see certain things... It's kind of all you can do."

Falling silent, she cringed. Her words must sound so empty to people who didn't know she was talking from experience. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "And Renard, don't beat yourself up. Like you say, we've only just started on this course. None of you are to blame."

Renard didn't beat himself up any further. Instead, he announced something that stunned Kerianne speechless. Sofia wasn't coming back? The blonde shut her eyes, gritting her teeth. She should have known some people would get pulled out of the school after something like that, no matter how strong their drive to succeed. Still, she shook her head as if trying to deny what she was hearing. "Oh god..." she finally said. "And she was so set on getting through the course..."

It was with a hushed apology that Renard headed away, unusually subdued after that outburst. Not that she blamed him, particularly as he hadn't quite been a bearer of glad tidings just now. Still, as annoying as she found his contant pranks and joking around, the lack of such behaviour was nothing short of disturbing. "Don't be sorry," she called. She lowered her gaze to her feet. "I'm the one who owes everyone an apology. For not having been around."

Mahou Shoujo no Hex Night: A Magical Girl Battle RP

I'll try to have a post up soon!

My Hero Academia: Another Story

@Genon Yeah, looking over it again I've got to agree with SimpleWriter. The speed and strength don't seem to fit with what you're going for, and a stealthy character wouldn't need those anyway. Releasing the stored-up sound waves would be a good enough combat application.

My Hero Academia: Another Story

@Genon Nice, another Accumulation quirk! One thing I'll suggest, though, is either lowering the current strength/speed cap or shortening the time limit. Fights and similar situations aren't likely to last long enough for even the minor side effects to set in. Also, a fight is likely to get pretty noisy, so he'd be able to benefit easily from high-level sound absorption. If the backlash started earlier, that'd balance things out.

@Ryonara Yep, looks good to me, feel free to move him to the Characters section.

@Tenma Tendo Again, looks good, and I agree Transformation fits best. Post away (and ohh, SimpleWriter, why am I not surprised at your wording xD)

My Hero Academia: Another Story

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Freya Leander ~ Cait Sith

---

@Zaphander @Nyahahameha @Heartfillia

Hearing someone approach, Freya raised her head to see Peter, as well as Gabby behind a garden's worth of flowers in her arms. "Hey..." She reached out, wincing slightly as her forearm ached from the previous day's shock, and returned the hug. She needed comfort, more than she deserved it, and hoped she could provide it to at least some people. Even if she'd failed just now.

The thought made her blink back tears, which spilled anyway as a shuddering sob ran through Peter. Despite how much of a wreck she felt, she put on a smile when he expressed relief. "Thank god the two of you are," she replied. As she and her friend unwrapped their arms from each other, she forced a weak laugh. "Yep, don't worry, I've still got eight lives left," she joked, hoping to cheer her classmates up at least a little, not drag them down further.

Such hopes faded when she spotted Renard limping along the hallways. That stab of guilt came back full force. Would he be mad at her, avoid her? Instead of turning away like she expected, he gripped the railing and made his way towards the group.

"Renard?" Freya inched forward, catlike eyes widening. Would he ignore her? Was he just here for the others? If so, she wouldn't hold it against him. Nonetheless, she took a deep, shaking breath, and addressed him. "About just now... I'm sorry." For a moment, she lapsed into silence, before continuing in a whisper. "It wasn't your fault."

He needed to see he wasn't to blame. Neither for her stupid reaction, nor for the accident yesterday that had led to it. She was, for having put him in that situation.

Her sister's words echoed in her head. Told you - you don't have what it takes. How could help society if she couldn't even help a friend?

---

Kerianne Morley ~ Nightwatch

---

@Zaphander @Nyahahameha @Heartfillia

Kerianne had thought it couldn't get much worse than missing the combat simulation. She'd been wrong.

"I knew I should have been there," she muttered into the phone as she strode down the hospital hallway, squinting as the lights brought on that lingering trace of a headache. She almost wished her adoptive father were here to manipulate them, dim them a fraction, but she refused to impose on anyone. The concussion had been her own fault, after all. "Seriously, I'm pretty much fine now. But the others... I'll be here a while. I need to see them."

A sigh came down the phone. "Look, Keri, there's no need to beat yourself up," the older, male voice said. "Yes, I know Elaine and I warned you about overtraining, but... that's just it. That's all part of teaching people to use Quirks responsibly. Please give yourself a break from time to time, nobody was asking you to go through with the test just a few days after a fall."

A fall that only happened because I went and pushed too hard to prepare for that very test, Kerianne scolded herself. And she'd thought her days of skipping school were over. Ohh the irony.

"Besides," Alex continued, voice solemn. "Trust me, you really didn't want to be there. I can't tell you how glad I am you weren't."

Kerianne's fingers clenched around the device. "It was that bad, huh?" Her eyes shifted this way and that, full of concern, as she looked for her classmates. The welling nausea probably had nothing to do with the head injury. "I just hope they're ok..."

Her guardian's words brought some comfort. "You know, people don't get onto the course for nothing. I'm sure they'll support each other through this. That's what real heroes do."

The tiniest smile tugged at Kerianne's lips. "Yeah. I-I'll get back to you afterwards, about everything."

"Please do, including about how you are." There it was again, that insistence. As annoying as it could be, it was nice to have people care about her, like her birth family had. "That's important too."

The checkup wasn't even the main reason for her visit, he knew that, but she reassured him nonetheless. "Don't worry, I will," she said, heading in the direction of several voices. "Well, talk to you later... And thanks." She pocketed her phone, a bag swinging in her other hand as her steps clacked faster against the tiles.

Spotting the group, up and about despite their battered state, she gave a sigh of relief. "There you are," she breathed, hurrying over to them. "I heard about what happened... I'm sorry I wasn't there with you." The words, although she kept her tone calm and steady, came out hushed. "Just thought this would be something, at least."

She reached into the bag, pulling out several handmade get well cards and passing one to each person. Art therapy may have been something she'd once scoffed at, but it had proven surprisingly helpful. She could only hope such gestures would prove just as beneficial to others, although merely handing out cards was nowhere near enough. She swept her gaze around the area for any more classmates, then looked to each student present with a worried frown.

"You're all going to be alright, aren't you?" she asked. "And the others... Are they?"

My Hero Academia: Another Story

@Aerandir Oh wow, that's an intense sample post. I like it, and the fighting style you described, now to wait for SimpleWriter's verdict.

My Hero Academia: Another Story

@SimpleWriter So, since I'm co-GM and we now need more girls, I might as well...

Kerianne "Nightwatch" Morley

Appearance:

Regular

Costume

(With black tights and ankle boots)

Name: Kerianne Morley
Age: 17
Gender: Female

Hero Name: Nightwatch
Quirk Name: Shadow Warp
Quirk Type: Emitter
Quirk Description: By touching her hand to a shadow, she can turn it into a portal leading to another shadow within 10 feet and her line of sight. It cannot be her own or that of anything she's taking with her, as they would disappear and disrupt the link. She can transport objects as long as they're things she can physically carry, but at this stage, not people.

If she overuses this, she becomes increasingly dizzy and disoriented. This side effect sets in faster if she warps into or out of a moving shadow, or if the light is such that an object or person casts multiple shadows. In the case of these multiple shadows, sometimes she accidentally warps out of the wrong one.

Ironically she cannot use her Quirk in complete darkness, as she needs to be able to see where she's going.

Inventory & Possessions:

• Her clothes are always neat and tidy, casual wear and uniform alike. At school, she makes sure to have her shirt tucked in and her tie correctly done up at all times.
• A portable camping lantern, which helps with her training - she places it in ways that make objects cast several shadows, and tries to get around that issue.
• An iPhone with a surprising amount of rock, punk and metal music, as it helped her through some tough times, although she keeps her playlist a secret.
• A photo album with old pictures of her parents. There are no pictures of her foster families, except for the most recent one.

Sample Post:

Years on, Kerianne still couldn't get used to seeing her mother like this.

"Hey Mom..." Taking in the sunken-eyed figure behind the bars was harder than ever today, considering what she had to tell her. A ghost of a smile tugged at the girl's lips, before her expression settled back into solemnity. She took a deep breath. Best to get to the point. "I've, uh... I've got some news."

Her mother advanced, prison shirt hanging off her frame. "Hey Keri. Hm, would this be good news or bad news? If you've gotten yourself into trouble again..." She gave a hollow chuckle. "I guess I'm not exactly the right person to lecture you. That seems to be your newest family's forte, not mine."

Kerianne shook her head. "No, it's not that, in fact it's kind of the opposite. Whether it's good or bad depends how you see it." She paused, glancing down at the floor for a second. "I-I went through with it, Mom. I signed up for UJ. And... I'm in."

The seconds that ticked by felt like minutes, hours even.

"Ehh..." She shuffled her feet. "Probably not what you wanted to hear, but I've been thinking, and I decided it was for the best." Immediately she regretted her words. Here she was, trying to convince her mother that putting people like her - people driven by desperation - behind bars was the right career path. She looked at her shoes again, then into the former villain's eyes, expecting anger or disappointment to darken them. Instead, she saw relief, although a soft sigh accompanied the look.

"You know," her mom replied, "I can't say you're wrong. There are worse paths to go down. Much worse paths."

Kerianne bit her lip, unsure what to say. "Don't worry," she finally answered. "When you live with a Quirk counsellor, you kind of end up reining things in anyway. I mean this is the longest anyone's kept me. We discussed this, and decided it'd be a chance to go a step further. You know, make up for everything."

A grin brightened her mother's face, restoring that lively air Kerianne hadn't seen since childhood. "Keri, I'm so, so proud of you. So glad you're getting this chance." Her voice softened, trembled. "Please, take that road, not the one your father and I took. Believe me, it's not worth it. Not worth it at all."

Throat tightening, Kerianne nodded. "I'll do my best, Mom," she said, stepping forward and letting her mother wrap those frail arms around her through the bars. She returned the hug, her resolve strengthening as she spoke. "I'll do my best to really make you proud."

At the sound of a cough, she broke away to meet the glare of a guard. "Time's up, kid," the warden announced.

For a moment longer, Kerianne's gaze rested on her mom. "Well... I'll let you know how things go. And how Dad takes it." Once they'd said their goodbyes, the blonde headed from the room. The building's oppressive atmosphere did nothing to diminish the brisk purpose in her steps.

The daughter of villains, becoming a pro hero... Was it truly possible? Was there hope where there seemed to have been none? If her mom thought so, supported and believed in her despite everything, this truly was an opportunity she had to take.