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Post by Beriadan on Feb 1, 2024 17:25:53 GMT
"You will all have heard by now, but this is a formal announcement from U.A.. From all of us. Nocturne was cut down by villains earlier this week."
Thunderclap stood on a make-shift stage, addressing the students gathered before him. First years through to second years, from the Hero Course all the way to General Studies. He was not his usual self, eyes soft and misted, expression forced into stone, arms clasped tight behind his back. Yoo had been Kagayaku's friend, as well as his fellow teacher. His death hit him as hard as anyone.
"You will hear rumours. Nocturne's long career as a pro-hero made many enemies, and he was not perfect. But at the same time, he was the best of us. His family were born into Yakuza, and most in his position become criminals or villains. Nocturne used his position for good, becoming a hero like no other. Willing to dive deep into the shadows where others feared to tread. Nocturne represented pro-heroes who got the job done, who were unpopular so that others could rise to fame. It is a side of our Hero Society that many of you won't even know about, but it is as vital as the Strives of this world."
Kagayaku paused, a lump in his throat. He was not a man often pushed to tears, but he looked very close. He took a moment before continuing.
"Nocturne was a first-rate teacher, as many of you can attest. U.A. will miss him deeply, and his loss will ripple outwards in our society. I hope you all take away fond memories of him, as a hero, a teacher, and a friend."
Kagayaku put both arms across his chest.
"May his memory live on! Plus Ultra!"
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After lowering her arms, Shinja turned away, striding away from the crowd before she shot into the air, her fans taking her away from the scene. She didn't want anyone to see her, just wanted to be alone. Her flight took her to the tallest building in Mustufu, where she went often if she wanted to think. Nobody went that high. The wind was her only companion, whipping and tearing at her uniform, filling her ears and her mind enough to drown out the thoughts that had been crushing her mind since she heard the news. Shinja landed, taking a deep breath as tears ran down her face.
And screamed, and screamed, and screamed.
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Yoichi felt her heart growing cold as Thunderclap spoke. It was like hearing the news all over again, feeling the shattering of something deep within her. She had never got the chance to tell him what she thought of him. How his presence had spurred her on, despite her mother, despite everything. Yoichi wanted to be like Nocturne in the end, a hero as cool and admirable as any other she knew.
Tears came freely to her as she bowed her head, shoulders shaking among the other students. She had wanted to be his sidekick, had wanted to be a hero alongside him, when she got her license. Now she wouldn't even get to hear his voice again.
Her legs buckled, and she sank to the floor, the ground dampening with falling rain.
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Post by notdomino on Feb 1, 2024 21:18:46 GMT
Koito sat low in his seat. It was a wonder he didn't slide off. He wasn't sure what to feel, but there was a pronounced feeling of emptiness. It was uncharacteristic for him to be so quiet, even more strange that he didn't try to spin this in a positive way like he did with everything else. He was certainly sure Nocturne wanted Koito to keep being his best self, and that there were other things worth crying over, but... The spiky-haired teen bit his lip and stared at the ground. In a heavy sigh, he stood up and exited. His mind came to his recent excursion with Yo and Ichor... His last words with Nocturne were about how he should be taking steps to become more serious. Inspecting his bandaged body, he thought to himself with tears rolling down his cheek. Liife wasn't a joke. These battles with villains weren't a joke. "I know you're watching us from heaven... , Nocturne sensei."
______________________________ Wakaba sucked his teeth at the news. Nocturne was one of the few teachers that fully understood him. Shoving his pants in his pocket, he got up and stormed. "Let's go, Ivan." Ivan was understanding of the loss, but he'd been a bit used to things like this. His whole family were either villains or heroes, perhaps he was jaded to this. "And where exactly are we going?" He inquired, expression stoic in response to Waka's seething gate. "OBVIOUSLY, To blow off some steam." It was clear Wakaba was picking a fight, though mainly to exert his frustrations. Rather than giving a snippy response or anything of the sort, Ivan would give an understanding nod. "I've always got a training room rented out. Let's go." Ivan wouldn't give much argument. He was always down to spar with someone. The two would leave and do battle in one of the quirk-proofed rooms. -Post Spar Ivan stood over an exhausted and crying Wakaba. "What even is the point? He was a good guy man..." He'd ask, staring at the ceiling. There were times when being hard on others wasn't the best, but in this case, Ivan was surprisingly the best person to talk to. Folding his arms, Ivan- "He was built for heroics and a level headed teacher, but death is a risk that comes with the territory. I suggest you find an answer for yourself because we're only going to get tested more by these villains. Looking toward the future is our only hope."
______________________________ Benkei sat. He was actually one of the first to know of Yoo's death when he received a call from his agency hero Rouge, and saw an obscenely large sum of money deposited into his account. There always was a failsafe in the cause of his untimely demise. Hearing the news again at school... It still felt unreal. Despair painted his face. He often told Yoo how grateful he was, but it still didn't feel like enough. Chiba City would never be home again and he knew that. It was just... It felt like maybe he had a second home with his older cousin. To be saved by him, and put on the right path to become a hero... Benkei hadn't even gotten to tell Yoo about his new hero name and how it was inspired by the man who saved his life. Nocturne would never know NightSky. His body felt weak as he got up. It made sense because he couldn't stomach anything. Bags sat under his eyes, and on his face a melancholic scowl. Was this how drained Yoo felt, stretching himself between creating school coursework and his heroics and detective work? Thinking about it now, Nocturne hardly slept in general. When were the moments that he got to be weak? When were to moments he got to truly cherish the small things? With him gone, Benkei only wished he could've gotten to know his big cousin more. Like a zombie, slow steps would take him back to his dorm room. He was still Benkei, but he no longer had that signature starry twinkle in his eyes. He was depressed, he was sad, he was angry, he was... hollow. |
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Post by cmd1095 on Feb 2, 2024 2:52:43 GMT
Tanzo was quiet at the news, he didn't have the strongest bond with Nocturne, not like many of the others here, but he had respected the man greatly. Even after his recent mishap on the news the metal giant had known that Nocturne was a true hero, he could tell just by how those around him who were closer to the man felt about him. He held back his tears though, now wasn't the time for him to be sad. Too many other people here needed him, he'd have time to mourn on his own... first priority was Shinja
Tanzo turned to comfort his classmate, right as she rocketed into the air, leaving the crowd behind before he could say anything. He paused... if he couldn't comfort those who needed it... what was he supposed to do here? How could he process this loss? He didn't know... unless...
Tanzo walked out of the crowd, finding an open area, then opened his bag, and ate a bunch of his most valuable art metals and pigments. A long pause followed as he smelted them with his eyes closed, coming up with the vision... then he began to forge, molten metal pouring from the nozzles on his hands and swirling in a vortex in front of him as they amassed and began to take shape, forming a large statue of Nocturne made of precious metals. He spared no effort, every detail was meticulous and immaculate, as the statue rose above him, taller than even the metal giant himself, it was a perfect recreation of Nocturne cast in gold and silver and platinum, colored by special metal powders to give detailed shading and hues as they were incorporated into the alloys.
The statue wasn't just a depiction of Nocturne though, but an encapsulation of him. Not just as he was physically, but the subtle detailing, the coloration, the expression, everything captured Nocturne as the hero everyone here viewed him as. Proud, stalwart, strong, noble... but also kind, in his own way, a softness to him beneath the gruff exterior that those who were lucky enough to be close to him could see and benefit from. Wisdom born through trials and tribulations, skill honed by experience and conflict, and compassion that sprung from the dark void of his past where there had been none given to him.
As the metals cooled, the statue of a hero remained, and it was a masterpiece on a level beyond anything even the master artist had made before. The materials alone were worth a small fortune... he'd have to sell a lot of other pieces just to break even... but he never did this for the money anyway. This... this is what his art was for more than anything else.
He looked to Kagayaku "Free of charge, a donation from the Camina estate... display it wherever you will" he said, tears glistening in his eyes
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Serena stood in the crowd, her eyes bloodshot and cheeks bright red from crying... she'd wrestled with her grief when the news first came in... and it had worn on her. Her body was covered in bandages, as if she'd just recently been badly injured in multiple places, it looked like she ought to be in a hospital bed, not standing here in the crowd... but she showed no signs of pain on her face... or if she did, they were overwritten by the determined steely look she bore instead. She was upset still, of course she was, anyone who looked at her could see it... and those who knew her better could tell how bad it really was. The subtle trembling in her hands, the absence of her usual aloofness and confidence... she was absolutely shattered and deep in her grief... but she was holding strong.
There was someone she had to be strong for right now, she might've still been battling her inner demons and grief... but someone needed her now. She left the crowd, intercepting Benkei on his way back to the dorms. She met his gaze, seeing the hollowness in his eyes, and without hesitation pulled him into an embrace. She spoke no words for the moment, but she wouldn't let him be alone right now. He had lost his only blood family... but he still had a family to hold on to. She would hold him tight, firmly... unshakably. An anchor of strength and reassurance that he wasn't alone, and that she wasn't going to leave him. She didn't know how to express it in any way except this... but she hoped he understood.
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Post by Kogashi on Feb 5, 2024 7:41:36 GMT
Atsushi kept near the back o the hall, this whole felt ... awkward felt too personal and small for what this was. So many other people here were grieving, feeling loss of an important part of their lives. People who trusted Nocturne, or knew him, or the ups and downs that Serena had gone through with him. But Atsushi he... He was grateful for the time they spent, along with Thunderclap, training him, to keep him in the A class. And he did intern under him, was shown some of the ropes of hero-ing first hand but... He saw Serena starting to leave, and hugging Benkei. Their sadness was, honest, deep, the kind of sadness that's right for this situation. Atsushi's was petty, inward. Of course he was sad about the loss of life, especially of such a public figure, especially of a teacher he knew but. But there was just this, nagging core of it all that he, couldn't stop himself from over thinking.
He had interned under Nocturne for one reason. Not because he thought they were a good match, or his agency spoke to him ideal wise. But because Nocturne had screwed up royal. He screwed up the way a hero in this world needed to never screw up. 'But', Atsushi thought, 'that makes it perfect. You intern with him, be a reason he'd keep to the straight and narrow, gets back into the groove, and that will prove, that blood on your hands doesn't define who you are'... He wanted to use Nocturne's situation for his own benefit. He thought, he was special enough to help a pro-hero back on their feet. And that doing so, would some how make the fear of what HE did lessen. That when it DOES come out, it won't sink him.
And that's why Atsushi was in the back of the hall, reflecting on everyone's rightful sadness. Reflecting on how unselfish Nocturne was. What kind of pit Atsushi dug for himself at this point.
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Post by ghostmytoast on Apr 2, 2024 19:00:47 GMT
Flynn stood in silent numbness as he watched the interpreter for the formal announcement. For once, he was fully devoid of color, actually wearing a full black suite that vastly contrasted with his usual flamboyant attire. He didn't have make up on and, most surprising of all, he didn't cover the scars on his face with anything.
Since the instance with Atsuro's father, Flynn had hardly ever revealed his face. Many people didn't even know it happened. But, in honor of his mentor, he wasn't going to worry about that, at least not for today. Instead, he thought back to the teachings of Shadow Daddy, which even on death he was still use as a term of endearment.
He followed Tanzo after the announcement and watched as he made the statue. He had his phone out and, aside from looking to see what Tanzo was up to every so often, stayed glued to it with a scowl that hadn't left since he heard the news. There had to something. Anything to give him a starting point. Somewhere to search. The news was plastered all over the web, surely SOMEONE knew where it happened. If he could just find that, he could start looking for the fucker that did it. Was it a stupid suicide mission? Yes. But no one ever said Flynn was rational. In fact, most said the opposite.
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