[ open ] Givin' my all, givin' all that I've got

[apshot]

🧙 WHO: Bakugou Katsuki + YOU
⚔️️ WHAT: Quests, Open Prompts
🕒 WHEN: All throughout March
🗺️ WHERE: Various!
⚠️ WARNINGS: Spiders in Prompt 3


( Librirynth )

[ A quest to take down monsters? To test his skills through sheer combat? Like anything else is going to really appeal to Bakugou, let's be real. Now that he has more than one magic type to master, it's more important. His philosophy is that he would best develop under pressure. Through practical means rather than being tied up at the training grounds.

It's with a feral expression that he takes on this task, cracking his knuckles as he dips into the labyrinth. ]

DON'T BOTHER SENDING ANYONE ELSE! JUST WAIT AND SEE!

[ Time for a classic RNG adventure! Just how far will our heroes get, because Bakugou isn't actually going in there alone is he? ]


(  These Bumbles Don't Bounce )

You're going about this shit all wrong.

[ So says the blonde just sitting there with his hands in his pockets. Bakugou doesn't seem to be offering any assistance and will not elaborate unless asked further. Instead he just keeps watching with judging expression. This isn't something that is going to really be something done for "notoriety" so it's not something he's interested in doing. ]

Don't you have any brains in that head of yours?

[ It's not that, really. Not everyone is a nerd like Katsuki secretly is and has weird personality quirks. The reality is that Bakugou knows things that people wouldn't expect for him to. This is just one of those things... ]


( Vital Venoms ) **SKIP FOR SPIDERS**
[ Isn't spider venom a pretty common ingredient used in magic and potions in general? So it's not surprising that there's a quest to go out to collect some since apparently they are getting a little too active and coming out and saying hi to people. That's why he's out here and not because a certain nerd would also probably want some but likely get bitten in the process to deal with them even though this usually isn't something he'd be bothered with doing. ]

The hell does it matter if they are alive or not? Venom works regardless of the host still breathing!

[ Wouldn't it just be easier to collect the venom producing parts and bring them in? Katsuki is kind of grumbling about it when, wouldn't you know, he is the one walking right into one of those icky sticky webs! ]

Shit!


( Very Friendly Vines )

BACK OFF!

[ Anyone else coming into the forest is going to be met with a rather interesting sight - Bakugou dangling in the air by the ankle. One of those vines has wrapped itself around the area. Missing people is definitely something to look into but he hadn't anticipated this. ]

Shitty plants!

[ He blasts at the vine with a weakish fireball. Enough to be let go - only for another one to grab him by the arm. ]

Argh!

[ To be honest... Bakugou is going to keep trying to break free with sheer force and destructive magic. ]


( Double Trouble )

[ Let's say you're enjoying your day in Camelot City. Maybe you're having a good time shopping or eating at one of the cafes in the area. It's a great day and even better weather. It should be spent outside, right? Yeah, well... There's a loud blast that's going to totally ruin the ambience. Smoke billows into the air and being thrown from it is one Bakugou Katsuki. He rolls across the ground a little, looking a bit roughed up as he catches himself. Pushing himself up, he coughs.

That's when his opponent then launches themselves from the dust cloud, another fireblast obscuring everyone's vision. Bakugou throws up a barrier to block the incoming attack - smoke once again billowing all around them...

And when the smoke clears... It's not one Bakugou Katsuki that stands there. It's two. ]


( Wildcard )

[ You know what to do! If you want a closed prompt or to plot, hit me up on plurk @ jarddan or on Discord at verthunder#9612 ! ]

Comments

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Sure, sure. Later.

You want to take point on this? Or is this the rare chance you're gonna give me to show you what I can do?

[apshot]

[ Bakugou stands there for a moment, considering. Then he steps aside. ]

All yours, Blueberry.

[ Show him what you can do, buddy. ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin whistles, impressed that Bakugou isn't leaping to take point. Regardless, he calmly steps forward, hand still resting on the hilt of his sheathed weapon.]

If you insist. Just don't complain if there's nothing left for you.

[The first few creatures come into view; a small battalion of slimes and large, chittering bugs. Darin honestly looks kind of bored. After all, everyone knows slimes are beginner level enemies.]

Geez, I won't even have to use my magic on these...

[Regardless, before they can get much closer, Darin closes the gap in a flash. He unsheathes his weapon, a jet black dao, and cuts in precise arcs, splitting the slimes into quarters. He reaches into a pouch on his belt and with one hand, strikes some flint against tinder, creating a spark, which he deftly brings to his blade and lights the slime residue on fire.]

[Weapon engulfed in flame, he finishes off the slimes before they can regenerate, then sets upon the bugs. They hardly get close enough to attack before he slips his blade between the chitinous plates of their exoskeletons, killing them with pinpoint, flaming strikes. Once they've fallen dead at his feet, Darin plunges his dao deep into one of the carcasses to douse the flame on his blade.]

You're lucky you didn't take point. That wasn't even worth my time.

[apshot]

[ To be fair, Katsuki had not known what to expect from Darin. He doesn't really know what magical talents that the other has. Nor does he know about the other skills. Now to say that he's impressed with the display wouldn't be accurate. There are a lot of flashy Quirks and battles and displays of skill where Bakugou comes from. It's not like he really allows for himself to be impressed by anything.

However, he can respect it. Which, in some cases, is actually better. At least it means that someone should be treated like an equal rather than some dirt or grime from the bottom of a boot. ]

That didn't take long.

[ It's right about now that Bakugou really realizes that he's at a disadvantage here. His magic is where he excels at. He's okay with hand to hand, but literally has no weapon talents at all. ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Of course not. Those things aren't terribly hard. Monsters like that rarely attack humans unless their territory is encroached on.

Or someone's controlling them.

[He crosses his arms.]

Honestly, we should be thankful. I'd rather not use my new offensive magic unless I need to.

[...Speaking of.]

I think there's more coming. You want this batch?

[apshot]

I don't think someone's controlling them in here. Set them loose, maybe... We don't know how long they've actually been here, right?

[ Could be long enough for them to think of this area as their territory. Anyway, Darin speaking about his offensive magic like that makes Bakugou wonder if it's something like blood magic. That wouldn't really be a type that someone would want to use at the start. Blood loss is a bitch. ]

Yeah, I'll handle the next group.

[ with flame in each hand! ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Fair point. We don't. These monsters can reproduce quickly so it's hard to nail down a time frame for the infestation.

Show me what you got, kid.

[For once, it's not meant to be goading. Bakugou's clearly not some idiot who runs his mouth. The kid's got insight to back up his words, so it safe to assume he's got the necessary skills too. If anything, it's meant to be encouraging.]

[But then a small pack of fire elementals rounds the bend, illuminating the passageway. Darin whistles.]

Fire elementals? Wasn't expecting those...

[apshot]

Pssht.

[ Show Darin what he's got... Fine. Bakugou rolls shoulders and pops his knuckles. He has a few ideas, really. While he is usually the type to go charging in, that's probably not the wisest thing to do when dealing with elementals.

So he waits for them to draw near. Then Bakugou creates a barrier around the group. This Darin has already seen... But then Bakugou looks at his hands and then the fire elementals, as if to analyze something.

Water and and wind. Bakugou isn't really familiar with the concept of water but he knows the concept of rain and how it forms. Doesn't take him long to form a raincloud to douse those fire elementals with water. With the way they fall apart... Well obviously they don't much care for Bakugou's method of dealing with them. ]

Not flashy but -

[ Effective. ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Heh, the way I see it, save the flash for human opponents. In my experience, monsters don't really appreciate the theatrics.

[Darin had been leaning against the wall, watching. Looked like Bakugou picked up elemental magic.]

Looks like you picked up something good. Light and elemental? With some more training you can really control the pace of a fight. You got yourself a good combo going there.

[Not that Darin's own combo of healing and blood magic wasn't a good combination. He could push himself to some dangerous limits, then heal himself back up to speed, but it wasn't something to be abused.]

I gotta say, I was hoping for something a little more formidable. Thoughts?

[apshot]

Nah, they can't. Not like there is anyone to watch and judge either.

[ Though Bakugou has always been flashy regardless. Then again, that is mostly because of his Quirk. Explosions... It's hard to do something like that with subtlety! Light Magic is kind of the same in that regard. When he's casting, the area naturally brightens up. It's inevitable.

He pauses and flexes his hands as Darin pays him a complement. Usually this is where he should break out an arrogant comment but - ]

Like hell it's enough.

[ Because it's not. Yes, he's been gifted a good combination. However it's no good if he doesn't use them the way that they are intended. It's no good if he can't continue to use his magic and wears himself out. Therefore he has to be better and faster. ]

Anyway... That's usually how this shit works, right? Weaker crap usually lingers on the outskirts and the tougher shit is more towards the center?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Usually. But, if I'm being honest here, I've got a bad feeling about this. Why's this place tethered to the library? I feel like I'm missing something here...

[He's tempted to start wandering the labyrinth but...it might be a bad idea. He'd need more supplies.]

I think we should double back for now. Come back with more supplies and really clear this place out.

...So why is it not enough? Is this about saving your world? Or something else?

[apshot]

We've barely scratched the surface here. I thought you were in for a longer haul than this.

[ Irritating to be turned to turn back. To be better prepared. In a sense that's correct and Bakugou knows this. That doesn't mean it doesn't aggravate him. Darin is right about the concerning parts of this too.

Augh. ]

Anyway. I'm not here to spill my life's story. If you wanna turn back, then turn back.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

What about you?

Don't tell me you're gonna deeper by yourself.

[apshot]

Why not? I'm not ready to head back just yet.

[ Surely a little deeper isn't going to stir up too much? ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Because without proper supplies, we could get lost down here. We don't know how far this labyrinth, stretches, we don't know where we'll surface. It's unmapped.

Walking away now doesn't mean we've lost.

It means we're smarter. Give me an hour and we'll have what we need to tackle this place for real.

[apshot]

[ Bakugou gives him a long, hard stare. Darin is at least smart enough to phrase it like he has. This isn't really a retreat. This place hasn't beaten them.

It's coming back with a smarter plan. And it's not even coming back in a day or two. It's almost immediately right back. ]

Fine.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Alright.

In the meantime, you've got a big job to do. See, it doesn't take two people to get supplies. You can leave that to me.

But you? Guard this door. You're the only thing stopping anything else in here from making it out there. And you're the only person who can stop clueless idiots from stumbling in here and getting themselves killed.

[He holds out a fist.]

You got this, right?

[apshot]

How is playing guard duty -

[ Oh. Because that's the reason why. Because Bakugou is stubborn and capable. However it does sound like Darin is just trying to appease him as well. ]

I don't need any bones thrown at me you know.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Bones?

Don't mistake what I'm doing here. If I thought you wouldn't complain every three seconds while I was picking out supplies, I'd bring your noisy ass.

But at least here you won't cause anyone any headaches.

[apshot]

Maybe I should just follow you along just to show you how fucking annoying I can get.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Sure, you can come along. Maybe learn a thing or two about how to deal with monsters on the regular.

[apshot]

Because you're the end all be all when it comes to knowledge about this shit?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

No, I'm not.

[He turns around and jabs a finger into Bakugou's chest.]

But I do know more than you.

[apshot]

Not for long you won't! So come on! Stop wasting my time and let's get going!

[ SLAP SLAP. DON'T TOUCH HIM!? ]