#Proof of a Hero

[cainballad]

Making music by the campfire with your buddies

This was so nice to hear Proof of a Hero done here like this 🥹 (With @kiome-yasha on stomp, @lastaim on drums, and another long time friend from ffxiv on clap and fire duty)

[spectraltenkai]

Song: Proof of a Hero (Final Phase Ahtal-ka)

AND HERE COMES THE MANTIS WITH THE STEEL ANTI-HUNTER WHEEL!

'Wheel' hint is one that only the most seasoned of hunters would get, as that tool, above all the ones this crafty mantis uses, does the MOST damage

As someone who loves bugs, seeing a bug elder dragon is INSANE, especially considering how Ahtal-ka is terrifying with the level of intelligence possessed. Imagine being small enough to infiltrate civilizations to steal weapons and scrap metal to make things for self defense! WILD

[vgmremixtape]

OCR04598: Monster Hunter: Heroes - Thennecan feat. Fredrik Häthén, Andrew Thompson, JohnStacy, Allison Martin, Gamer of the Winds, Cradius, Matheus Manente, Leo Miyata

[Proof of a Hero (Main Theme)]

from OverClocked ReMix; more by the artists linked below.

song credits:

Arrangement: Thennecan feat. Fredrik Häthén Strings: Orchestral Fantasy Brass: JohnStacy & Allison Martin Woodwinds: Gamer of the Winds Guitars: Thennecan & Cradius Bass: Matheus Manente Drums: Leo Miyata

[nirahsaooc]

Man I love the lyrics they made for this theme so much. It really just hits the whole vibe of the game world, how the point of the The Guild is to protect civilization and try to keep the ecological balance.

Since while game mechanics wise you grind out the same monster over and over for materials to upgrade armor. A very addictive game loop. Lore wise you are only going after the trouble monsters, the ones that are out of control or otherwise threatening the village or other people in some manner.

Plus even though story isn't the strongest in the games, the ones I've played have always made it apparent that your Hunter is part of a community/group. You are not a loner just taking random guild contracts you are doing this to help protect your home. There are ruins in a lot of the games, and from what i've heard it sounds like in the distant past the Wyverians and Humans had a similar mindset that we do. The land is ours to do with as we please and take what we want. Which caused a calamity that nearly got them wiped out. (I'm not 100% on this though.)

And since then the mindset of 'Being one with nature' became dominant, and civilization flourished again by taking just what they needed to as opposed to complete hedonistic excess.

So this song really just hits those vibes and I love it.

[niraff14]

Random musing, if I chose a theme for Yesuntei as her WoL theme for those epic climatic moments. Like her embracing being the WoL for the first time after coming to Eorzea. Or during certain pitch fights when the WoL starts to break the limits as only the WoL can do against insurmountable odds.

Then it'd probably have to be "Proof of a Hero" rendition from Monster Hunter World. It has some really nice triumphant build ups with horns that really give the sense of you conquering all adversaries both internal and external.

Just feels like it would fall into place with someone from a place like the Steppe among other more wild locales.

[snakeredbirdbatkatana]

Dick: I am the worse person imaginable and unredeemable.

Tim: Impossible.

Damian: We would love you anyway

[ravstar52]

A trope I live for in gaming tbh. More games need it.

Today's aesthetic: when you get into a boss fight in a video game and it starts playing your theme.

[somewhereincairparavel]

whenever there are jason slander reels on instagram and basically 99.9% of the comments are defending him and saying 'you aren't cool for hating on him for absolutely nothing' and 'its not 2013 anymore, all of us have matured now, and we realize how overrated jason slander is' angels gain their wings :)

[tea-cat-arts]

The thing that gets to me with Old Man E-Soul is just how badly Mighty Glory screwed him over every step of the way.

Like, first you've got their shit show of a marketing strategy: They take this dude who's entire image comes from accessibility and heroism- he's the man who's on the ground working and anyone could be him so long as they're brave and do the right thing- and lock him away from crime fighting and make all his products completely unaffordable for most people. Then they stick him in press tours and advertising exclusively despite him being bad at public speaking and having no interest in doing it in the first place.

So then a new guy comes along and fills all the niches E-Soul used to while also being a young, pretty boy and takes some of that audience, and what do they do? A) Adjust their own marketing strategy in order to actually play to E-Soul’s strengths or B) try and work with the new guy? Nah, they go for C) dox the new guy, try and frame him for crimes that their own fucking boss was responsible for (covering up for him), hit him with a copyright strike (even though it goes against the spirit of "anyone can be E-Soul") against E-Soul’s wishes, and put the new guy in position where if he budges on any of their demands, it will look like he's admitting to the crime and the dude who actually did it will get away. And then when they lose the legal case- cuz of course they would, the new guy actually had recites- they just end up making E-Soul look like a jackass.

And then the final nail in the coffin is how they handled Shang Chao's murder. Child of a former manager of their own company/ current manager of a rival company, and known friend of the new guy gets shot and what do they say/do? Absolutely fucking nothing. No public announcement, no investigation, doesn't even try and de-escalate the conflict with the new guy after he accuses E-Soul of murder. Also, pretty weird of blonde manager to insist that showing up to the death fight was absolutely mandatory for clearing E-Soul’s name 🤨🤨🤨. You'd think a guy as publicly known as E-Soul would have an alibi 🤨🤨🤨

But ya, tldr- Rock can eat shit and die, idk if the manager was directly in leagues with Rock or not but fuck him either way, and I think OG E-Soul would've been better off and happier if he did community service work when he wasn't fighting crime. Free my man- he was a real ass hero, not an idol.

[mishy-mashy]

(Google translate)

Chasing crumbs chasing crumbs CHASINGCRUMBS—

[tiredandoptimistic]

What I enjoy so much about Angel's curse as a plot device is how it works to expose who he is as a person and call up questions about what it means to be good or evil.

The intent of the curse was nothing but punishment. Angel would be forced to feel the guilt of everything he'd done, and if he ever let go of the guilt enough to experience pure joy, it would all be stripped away from him. It wasn't about giving him a soul so that he could be a better person, it was all just to maximize his suffering. And well, it does a pretty damn good job. For almost a hundred years, Angel spent his time wallowing in guilt and misery. He wasn't contributing anything to the world, but he wasn't taking anything away from it either (unless you count the rats he was eating). Until Whistler comes along and shows him a glimpse of Buffy Summers, and suddenly his life has a purpose again.

In the first season and a half of Buffy, Angel tries to actually do some good for the first time in his life. He makes the choice to use his abilities to help people, and it changes everything. He lets himself fall in love with Buffy, and as a side effect he concentrates more on the positive potential of his future than the shadows in his past. Turning evil is his punishment for allowing himself to be happy, and it exposes the hypocrisy of the original curse. Guilt and punishment was effective in keeping Angelus out of the world, but it's also what brought him back. Angel lost his shot at joy, and so did Buffy and Giles and Jenny and all the others. It's such a good representation about how punitive justice cannot lead to positive change. Arguing that his past crimes make him unworthy of any hope just leads to him going back to his wicked ways. If he'd been allowed to be happy, the Scoobies wouldn't have lost one of their most powerful allies and the world wouldn't have been nearly swallowed by Acathla.

Having a soul was never meant to be a reward. It wasn't supposed to be a shot at redemption, but he found his way to Buffy and was redeemed anyways. The hundred years of sitting around being sad did a lot to shape who Angel is, but it didn't motivate him to try and be better. It was Buffy that made him genuinely strive for a brighter future and save hundreds of lives along the way. It wasn't guilt that made him a good man, it was hope.

[velcrodoesstuffsometimes]

Therapy

"I don't wanna fucking be here."

A few months back, Villain became "reformed." The H.L.A (Hero League Agency) put the poor evil mastermind in therapy after an incident that involved fire and a lot of words.

"I don't need to be here either. I only reformed for Hero. If it was anyone else, I wouldn't have done it."

Therapist listens with a small nod of their head. The room is too empty for Villain. Nothing to break other than a few paintings, but there's no glass covers so it won't be fun. Villains eyes dart around the room as Therapist writes a few notes without speaking.

"Aren't you supposed to be talking to me? You're bad at your job." Villain hisses and man-spreads on the couch while slumping back.

Therapist nods and writes more notes on a large clipboard. Villain tries to get a glimpse, but they can't see the words.

"How are you, Villain?"

"Wouldn't you like to fucking know."

"I would. That's why im asking."

"Fuck you."

Therapist merely hums. Its enough for Villain to get pissed off and look away while kicking the side desk with a lamp on it. The lamp falls but it doesn't break.

"I am Therapist. The H.L.A assigned me to you as a safe space for you and to help your progess in being reformed to a true hero. But you already know all of that, don't you?"

Villain rolls their eyes and scoffs. "Fucking clearly." They say with disinterest and fully slump on the couch. Therapist nods.

"Good. With that being said, let's start with an ice breaker. How does that sound Villain?"

"No. Look, therapist," villain straightens. "I already know what's wrong with me. You think you're the first person to try and help me?"

"I dont put thought into that."

"I've bad 7 therapists before you. Before i even became a villain, and they all said they can't help me because I'm too self aware. You're not gonna help me, you can't force that on someone. I'm only a 'reformed villain' because Hero wanted me to be."

Therapist writes that down. They take each word carefully in their mind and store it, making a mental pin to go back to that topic later when Villain is ready.

"Well, that is true. Can't force someone to get help, not at all. You're very smart, but let's wait on that thought and get to know eachother a little."

Villain groans. The session is just as unsuccessful as Villain wanted it to be.

--

"How'd it go, my love?" Hero asks with a sweet smile. It makes Villains whole body feel like mush and feel soft as they enter the front seat of the car.

"Unsuccessful, as i said it would go. But I'm forced to go back next week, I hate the Hero League." Villain scoffs at the simple thought of the agency and slumps back in the passenger chair. Hero pulls out of the parking lot with a frown.

"W-well I'm sure next session will be better... are you hungry? Let's get some lunch and then head home, they released new episodes of the show we like!"

"Sounds.. fine." Villain murmurs and looks out the car window as Hero drives. They didn't mean to sound so dismissive, but they'll figure out things when they want to. Not on some stupid schedule.

Villain already dreads the idea of going back, but what they dread even more is Heros frown. They straighten up again and shift uncomfortably.

"Uh... I'll try to make the next one better if it makes you happy."

"It does. But I want you to be happy... im sure it'll come naturally. I believe in you, Villain, just take each session one at a time.

"...I love you..."

"I love you too, Villain."

[ghqstwriter]

Hello!! Can you please do a flirty hero and a flirty villain who cant keeps their hands off eachother, even in the presence of both boss, just leading them to be more discreet

“Of all the fake covers in the world, the two of you chose this?” Sidekick whispered, already reaching a state of utter disbelief and borderline disappointment in record time. A feat that seemed to be achieved every time their mentor spoke with the criminal before them.

Villain’s arm squeezed tighter around the hero’s waist, who squirmed slightly in response. Pretending as though they ever had to pretend to like it. It was a difficult trick to balance; act too disgusted towards their supposed partner, their cover is blown out the water, and they risk the mission collapsing like a house of cards. Play too well into the role of the lovestuck fiance, and risk their teams growing suspiscious.

Sure, every hero and every villain in the area knew how the pair acted when they were together. When the city’s darling heartthrob and the criminal known for catching rookies off guard with flirtation and seduction first met, nobody had really expected things to end differently, much to the dismay of their respective bosses. However, this was different. Sincere, almost. Lovers: that’s what they were playing. The type of honeymooners with sticky sweet pet names and long, drawn-out kisses that always seemed to linger. The type of connection that, if genuine, would raise the alarm bells of every one of their superiors within seconds.

“You know me, Sidekick, all my best roles have been of the… romantic sort. Nobody’ll bat an eye if I don’t leave their sights, and we don’t want to be split up on a case with stakes as high as this,” Hero muttered back, hoping that there was enough of the truth sprinkled in there to stop their teammate from locking onto the lies immediately.

Sidekick took another breath in, the realisation that this was what they’d be dealing with all mission settling in like an anvil meeting hard concrete. They could hardly mask the exasperation in their tone as they raised their voice, careful to stay in character now that their words could be heard. “It’s really so nice of you both to come out here to the countryside to visit. I’d be happy to point you to some of the best places to stop by whilst you’re here, what kind of things are you two looking to do?”

“Oh, a little bit of everything, I’m sure. You only get one honeymoon, why limit yourself, I say,” Villain spoke up, vague enough to let Sidekick point them in the right direction. Neither super had been properly briefed on the actual location. Then, they leaned closer towards the Hero, their breath warm against the protagonist’s skin. “Though, we won’t want to stray too far from the hotel room, if you know what I mean.”

Their voice dropped at that last part as they shot a grin, and Hero had to grit their teeth in order to keep their composure. The bastard wasn’t even trying to take a character here, just attempting to rile up the hero as much as they could. Usually, their nemesis would retort back with an even more sultry remark, free to match their energy. Now, Hero was writhing under the pressure of maintaining image, and it was clear they relished the opportunity to tease.

“Honey, we’re in one of the most beautiful country towns of the country, and the sights are stunning. What’s the point of coming if we spend our time in the bedroom?” Hero chastised playfully.

“I’ll have to agree with you there, the sights are just mesmirising. Can’t take my eyes off of them.”

Hero choked internally at that response. They had expected this, sure, and had even gone over some lines with Villain on the drive here. However, there was something unfamiliar in the way they spoke, something resting underneath the surface that seemed to bubble. Perhaps it was Villain’s tone. It didn’t seem as sweet and fake as they had expected, in fact they weren’t putting on any type of voice. The criminal spoke as though this was usual banter; as though the words that dribbled like honey out of their mouth weren’t a lie made to help solidify a fake cover.

“Baby, you can’t just say these things, we’re in public. I told you in the car not to act so brashly in front of my cousin,” Hero laughed slightly, trying to cover the frustration and get Villain to behave. Yet, they were relentless. The criminal leant impossibly closer, intertwining their fingers with the hero, a gesture so genuine it felt foreign, especially coming from them. Hero blushed slightly.

“Well, I told you not to look so sultry or else we wouldn’t be out for long, but here we are,” the criminal was fully murmuring in Hero’s ear now, a symphony only meant for them. The recipient was far too flustered to respond, so Villain kept on pushing. “I’m just saying, you know how I much I like you in that colour, and with that shirt too? You’re practically trying to make me swoon at that point, sweetheart—“

“Oh hey, would you look at that. I think I left my… bag in the car,” Hero started awkwardly. Then, they sprung up, grabbing their jacket. “Mind coming with me to fetch it, darling?” They sped away without even looking back, heading for the mostly empty parking-lot. They didn’t have to glande behind them to know Villain would be following close. As soon as they reached the parked vehicle they arrived in, Hero spun around, looking more than midly infuriated.

“What on Earth do you think you’re doing in there?”

“Hmm, that’s a funny question. Here I thought it was your idea for us to play lovers,” Villain remarked, moving closer to Hero until their figure was touching the cold metal of the car.

“I didn’t mean you should turn every other sentence into some euphemism about sleeping with me. We’ve both been lectured about this countless times, you know this.”

The lectures, oh, the lectures. As though the reason that Hero was burning up was because they feared reprimanding from their superiors. No, there was something else teetering at the edge of secrecy here. A flicker in Villain’s eyes that left them on the edge of their seat, practically writhing in anticipation. They both knew it.

“But that was the reason you wanted this role, wasn’t it? To not have to hide behind discretion with me anymore? To finally, after months of frustration, get to feel me again in a touch softer than a punch?” Villain only stopped moving when they were a few inches away from Hero’s face.

They were right. Of course, they were right. Hero wanted nothing more than to get back to their old routine of playful banter and persisting touches. It was their own version of a fight in a way, more akin to roulette than anything else. To the both of them, it was a game of endurance: whoever folded under the other’s flirations lost, and Hero’s scale seemed to be tipping against their favour. Maybe it was in the way Villain had spoken to them, and how their gaze seemed to always follow Hero’s movements. Maybe it was a few too many comments about a hotel room for it to come across as casual. Hero gulped.

“Yeah, the usual routine. Not whatever this is. You can push all the blame on me, Villain, but you’re the one who’s looking at me like you want to smooch me,” Hero responding, pretending that all they were feeling was annoyance.

The two had never actually kissed before. Thus far, they had been meeting on a purely professional basis. No time to sneak off and pursue any type of intimacy when there’s a bomb threatening to bring you to a different type of high. Besides, their relationship wasn’t about the pleasure, Hero thought to themself, though the look in Villain’s eyes made them doubt everything.

The villain in question didn’t follow that up with a crude or suggestive joke. They stared for a beat, almost smug. And then, when they did, their words didn’t feel as smooth and calculated.

“Is that what you want, hm? For me to kiss you? Is that what you’re so desperate for that you dragged me out of the room for?” Villain smirked slightly, drowning any sincerity in a flirtatious tone. They wanted Hero to admit it first, the jerk. That way, they wouldn’t be losing the game, because it was Hero falling to their knees, begging. Villain would just be giving them what they wanted. There was no attempt to hide it, not even an attempt to hide that they wanted it to. Because out of the two of them, Villain knew that Hero’s resolve would break first.

And it did. It shattered into a thousand glass shards as Hero clutched at Villain’s shirt, fists balling in frustration, and pulled them into a long overdue kiss. To both of their shocks, it was rather less aggressive than they had both imagined it to be. As their lips entangled, they were both struck with the horrifying realisation that this was a terribly sweet first kiss, and they weren’t even playing a part anymore. What was supposed to be an accumulation of years of tension and flirting had ended up being something more akin to a gentle confession.

When the two parted briefly, panting mostly due to the worry lodged in their throats, Villain started fumbling for the car keys, an uncharacteristically uncoordinated sight. Breathless, Hero spoke.

“I’ll tell Sidekick to email us the location,” they gasped, swinging the car door open carelessly. There were more important things to focus on. “I think we should get back to the hotel room first.”