Art of Fun

Tokyo Ghoul - District 8 [18+ - Mature & Graphic Content Inside]

"That it does, Matusoka-san. With whatever results we get from that breakdown, we can likely smell the ghoul on the list." He nodded to his superior."May I add, if he has such extensive knowledge on the camera network then he has likely grown confident. It's not really that important..." he begins to drift off as he sorts some of the papers back into the pile, "But it's just an interesting thought. If we let him think he can outmove us, and act with that in mind, then we will have the upper hand." Hisoka paused, staring at the table in a very...odd manner. Distant, as if viewing something somewhere else. A lesson from his youth suddenly surfaced. "'The successful hunter moves his prey without them knowing it'." He suddenly recited, blinking away whatever he was visualising. "Where should we start, Matsuoka-san?" Hisoka asked, slight smile returning to his face. He stood to join her, placing his hands in his hoodie pockets. He was the picture of youth, looking too damn young to be in this line of work.

Tokyo Ghoul - District 8 [18+ - Mature & Graphic Content Inside]

There were a few things about Knight which really stuck out to Hisoka, taking a few moments of silence to contemplate the information, ensuring what he was about to say was not utterly mad. "...A ghoul that owns both a horse and motorcycle and can afford to maintain them to the point of being able to shake pursuit. Properly looking after a horse in this climate can be anything from 170,000 yen upwards a year, and motorcycles are incredibly costly in their own right. We're looking for a person who is relatively comfortable, six foot, and possibly has an interest in Western History given their dedication to the role. Is there a blacksmith in either this District or the neighbouring ones?" It was verbal diarrhoea for the most part, but she did ask for his thoughts. Hisoka bit down on his thumb, more ideas coming to mind. It was difficult to know what exact year Knight became active, but a first recorded incident would be enough to work backwards from - enough to create a good assumption. "I think we should ambush the ambusher..." He started, looking up into the eyes of Yuuka. It appeared they were similar in some way, his red orbs carrying a completely different feeling than the kind, if confused, look that was in them before. "If we can start to figure out his identity, then we can catch him unaware in the middle of his cover life. More likely to bring him back in alive, less likely to be ready for a fight."

Tokyo Ghoul - District 8 [18+ - Mature & Graphic Content Inside]

The Special Investigators antics were unexpected. In Hisoka's mind, the Special Class of investigators were these aloof entities who were completely dedicated to the role of Ghoul Investigator. While he could certainly see aspects of the latter point in her body alone, Special Class Matsuoka was not exactly as...distant as he was expecting. She saluted, and she let out the slightest of chuckles. "Matsuoka-san, if anyone has earned the right to be a little unprofessional in the cafeteria, it is the Special Class investigators." He reassured her, reaching out to take her metallic hand without pause or shock, giving it a firm shake. "I hope our partnership will be fruitful, Matsuoka-san. I hear you are quite skilled." He finally moved to sit down across from her, about to try and strike up some more conversation until a stack of papers came slamming down infront of them, obscuring short Hisoka's vision of his partner and drawing his attention to Asuya. Hisoka had yet to meet the head of 8th Wards CCG, as his transfer and assigning had been handled by 1st Ward HQ. This first meeting said a lot about the man, from appearance and tone alone. Asuya got the job done, by any means necessary. Also a bit paranoid. "Don't screw up." Asuya said. Hisoka would be lying if he said that did not annoy him somewhat - as a child who had only really excelled at his role, it was something he was not used to and something he would have to get used to. It was one thing to get lucky to kill a B Rating ghoul and impress your teachers at the academy, but it was another to go out as an Investigator and actively hunt ghouls. A reality which would become clear to him in the future, for sure. "Yes sir, we will handle it." Hisoka said with a slight nod, reaching out to start parsing through the piles of paper. One of the things taught at the Academy was dissection and digestion of appropriate information from stacks of paper like this and, like anything else involving ghouls, Hisoka had grown quite good at it - although with a poor start. When Asuya was a distance away, Hisoka spoke up. "He's odd." A polite way of saying 'I'm not sure if I'm a fan of him'.

Tokyo Ghoul - District 8 [18+ - Mature & Graphic Content Inside]

Hey Hebi, is there any information in the papers which is important or should stick out to Hisoka and Yuuka?

Tokyo Ghoul - District 8 [18+ - Mature & Graphic Content Inside]

CCG Regional Headquarters, 8th Ward, Gym

High-kick, bounce off of grounded food, land on other, high-side kick - back into stance. Jab shadow-boxing, footwork and weaving. Hisoka's breathing did not falter, despite the hour of shadow-kicking and boxing which he had been working on. Sweat rolled from his brow and down his torso, but his breathing remained calm. That was the first lesson he'd been taught in the combat classes of the academy; breathing is everything. The last two years had been interesting for the newly instated investigator. Hisoka had quickly become a star pupil at the academy in everything but standard education. Mathematics? Fail. History? Barely a pass. Sciences? Middle of the lane. Once it became applied for Investigator work, however, Hisoka immediately became an A+ student. Ghoul Biology and Combat Education are the two which he stood out in, the latter due to him being the best in his class by a good skill gap and the former because of the stark contrast between that and the regular biology class. He could easily take up an apprenticeship at HQ and learn under Chigyou-sensei, but his calling was here, in combat. As far as Hisoka was concerned, this was the only thing his body was made for - 14 years of honing into a weapon. He was a loaded gun with an aim once, but after the Marrow incident that aim was suddenly gone. Ghouls were the only thing which could possibly take its place. The sound of the gym door opening served as a reminder. He was getting a partner today, wasn't he? Hisoka turned to the door from his spot in the open area, only to get a face full of towel. He yelped, pulling it off of his sweaty skin to look at the sudden assailant. "You're a damned savant, boy. Get some help." Said assailant was 1st Rank Investigator Ikiryo, the academy combat instructor who had effectively taken Hisoka under his wing for two years. An ever impassive and difficult to please man, he rarely smiled and when he did it was rarely a good sign. "First day on the new job and you somehow find a gym to hole yourself up in." With a respectful bow to his now-former instructor, Hisoka smiled up at the tall man. "Nerves." He answered simply, wiping around his forehead with the towel, brushing a scruffy fringe of unnaturally pale hair our of the way. "What're you doing here, Ikiryo-sensei?" He asked with an inquisitive edge. It was not like Ikiryo to come seeking one of his students, especially if they're so far from HQ. "Can't a guy go and personally wish good luck to one of his students?" "It's not usually in your character, sensei." "Yeah, well. Consider this an exception. I also knew you'd probably forget to go find your partner." It was very much out of character, from Hisoka's perspective. The pale, bald man walked up to Hisoka, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Seriously though. Good luck out there, Araújo - you've got talent, don't waste it and die early. Now go get changed and meet with your partner." Ikiryo nodded to Hisoka, pointing out his state of dress. Yeah, probably would not be a good idea to dress in fight shorts and a sports top for your first day of work. Hisoka nodded to Ikiryo. "Thank you, sensei. Good luck to you as well." With their brief and appropriate goodbyes all said, Hisoka bowed once more and hurried off to the changing room.

CCG Regional Headquarters, 8th Ward, Cafeteria

One would figure that getting changed into your work uniform would not take long, but the suit-and-tie appearance of the CCG did not really go down well with Hisoka. It was a nice look, but if he was going to be functional, he'd need freedom of movement. So he just went without the jacket and replaced it with a brown hoodie, feeling it was the most he could do while remaining in uniform. It got a few looks, but until he was a Rank 2 he could get away with it. Looking over the cafeteria, it was not exactly difficult to identify his new partner. Of course he had heard of Special Investigator Matsuoka previously through the grape vine, and he had had a look over her 'file' as it were, but seeing her in person was a different matter. He found himself sort of just blinking at her from across the room, trying to register what he was seeing. He had heard her be called a race traitor and a freak, but he simply did not see it. Yes, she was shocking, but he just saw...damage. She was damaged, evidently at more than face value given the extreme nature of her modifications. Either way, rank and track record did not lie - she's good at her job. For a few minutes, he contemplated how to go about introducing himself, sort of miming his greeting to the air while some Investigators and Bureau Investigators passed him with odd looks. He paid them no mind. Might as well get used to the shock-value before meeting her, right? Hisoka finally approached Yuuka, stopping just before the chair opposite her. "Special Investigator Matsuoka?" An entire rhetorical question. He tried to disregard the fact she had noodles hanging out of her hair, more so distracting than the fact part of her face seemed to be grafted on. "I'm His-" He stopped himself, remembering the formalities. "Rank 3 Investigator Araújo Hisoka. I'm your new partner, I think." With a respectful and trained bow, he looked back up to Yuuka with a slight smile. "Please take good care of me."

Titans Together!

"Die for Darkseid? I think not." [+]

Name: Bellona Alias: Gladiator Age: 18 Personality: Having been raised in an environment and culture completely alien from any found on Earth, Gladiator is rather ignorant of the customs and etiquettes of Earth, let alone those of the USA. Her approach to the world and people within is excessively blunt, nor does she pick up on the subtle things (like sarcasm and verbal expressions) very well. In some miracle of the universe, Gladiator is a good person at heart despite her upbringing, but she is still rather insensitive towards others - an issue she will have to work on while on Earth. She's the kind of person who if you said 'something went over your head' to them, they would respond with 'that is impossible, my reactions are too fast, I would catch it'. In line with her blunt view of life she believes in retributive justice, an eye for an eye and so on. Powers:

• New God Physiology: A former denizen of Apokolips called a New God, Gladiator is a "being of genetic perfection", whatever that might mean. This translates into her having invulnerability which makes blunt-force attacks ineffective unless dealt by a being of a similar strength level to hers or greater, but this does not extend to energy based attacks. Similarly, slicing/piercing attacks appear to be able to partially bypass this invulnerability. Gladiator's strengh level greatly exceeds that of the strongest human. The upper limits of a New Gods strength can be measured in hundreds of tons (and in one notable case, nearly limitless), but Gladiator is actually on the lower end of the New God strength scale. While she won't be punching out Superman, Orion or Wonder Woman any time soon, she still classifies as a Class 70 (capable of lifting 70 tonnes at least, although she is capable of greater when under duress or in extremely stressful situations).
• ???: It is common for New Gods to develop a unique ability or two past what their alien physiology gives them. As Gladiator is still young (incredibly so, by New God standards), she has yet to figure out what that is. Only time and experience will reveal what it is.

Weakness:

• Radion: All New Gods are inherently weak to this mysterious substance to a lethal extent. If applied as a bullet or bomb, radion can kill a New God in one go. In the case of a bullet it matters not where it hits, as it kills through the rapid and aggressive poisoning.
• Magic: Not really a weakness but, as in the case of Superman, she has no defences against the arcane. This is not to be confused with the idea of magic fire being able to harm her more than normal fire, or a magic hammer being able to hit harder against her, but more things like targeted transformation, teleportation, curses, and 'beams'. Natural phenomena recreated by magic will have the same effect as natural phenomena against her.

Bio: A New God born of secretive circumstances on Apokolips. Although not an orphan, Bellona found herself placed into the magnanimous and gracious care of Granny Goodness. Her early years were made up of non-stop indoctrination, military training and education. "Die for Darkseid," she was told, "Die for Darkseid" - over and over. Where most broke and became one of the many zealots of Apokolips, Bellona answered the same way each time in her head; "I refuse". She refused to die on anyone's will other than her own. Considered a problem child by Granny Goodness and her other tutors, she was none the less shaping up to be a fine warrior, earning the name 'Gladiator' among the orphanage and lining up to be a potential candidate for the Furies. That was until she escaped. It was difficult, but not impossible. The only other (known) escapee of Granny Goodness' care was Scott Free or 'Mister Miracle' as he is known on Earth. Bellona's own method of escape was very simple, using a little bit of sleight-of-hand (thanks to her training with Kanto) to acquire a rarity off of the body of Granny Goodness - a Motherbox. With its transportation capabilities, her escape to Earth was a breeze...apart from the bit where she ended up opening a Boom Tube miles above Jump City, approaching the ground at a terrifying rate. Her landing is going to create a mess, and it probably won't be her ending up hurt. Arc Ideas:

• The Call of Apokolips: Found by her home and with nowhere to go, Gladiator must turn her back on the Titans and even become their enemy, not for her own sake but the sake of those within Jump City and beyond. The grip of Darkseid operates in many ways, and sometimes it is not always willing.
• Die for Darkseid: "I am many things, Kal-El. You couldn't even begin to imagine half of them. But for now, I shall take the role of the executioner." An endgame scenario has arisen - Darkseid is attacking Earth. Parademons plague the skies without number, overwhelming any counter-attack, and Darkseid's lieutenants are clear matches for the Heroes of Earth. Darkseid himself, one of the most malicious and powerful entities in the universe, intends to sap the very spirit and will from the people of Earth, the adopted home of his enemy Kal-El, and then make them his mindless pawns. One mind. One Will. One Life that is Darkseid.

Other: Her weapon is the Thunderlance, a nigh-unbreakable weapon which appears/returns to her hands if she calls it, making a thundercrack sound as it does so. She is very much trained in its usage. Gladiator fulfils the niche of a team 'Brick' with hints an armsmaster thrown in there. While Apokolips would usually not bat an eye if one of their orphans did manage to leave (Scott Free being an exception due to his circumstances), Darkseid's forces will be looking for the girl for reasons known only to them...and possibly Gladiator. Creation was inspired by Drax the Destroyer and Big Barda. "Titans Forever"

Titans Together!

70 tonnes is the weight of a tank or a big truck, as far as DC brick superheroes go it's pretty lightweight. Pretty much all super strength Titans lift more than that (Superboy and Wonder Girl coming to mind). Even Cyborg can do 20, and he's not really a super strength guy. I can tone it down though, it just seemed reasonable when compared to other strong types who have been Titans.

Tokyo Ghoul - District 8 [18+ - Mature & Graphic Content Inside]

Yeah, I'm following :re. That in-the-air wait after TG ended feels so far away now.

Titans Together!

"Die for Darkseid? I think not." [+]

Name: Bellona Alias: Gladiator Age: 18 Personality: Having been raised in an environment and culture completely alien from any found on Earth, Gladiator is rather ignorant of the customs and etiquettes of Earth, let alone those of the USA. Her approach to the world and people within is excessively blunt, nor does she pick up on the subtle things (like sarcasm and verbal expressions) very well. In some miracle of the universe, Gladiator is a good person at heart despite her upbringing, but she is still rather insensitive towards others - an issue she will have to work on while on Earth. She's the kind of person who if you said 'something went over your head' to them, they would respond with 'that is impossible, my reactions are too fast, I would catch it'. In line with her blunt view of life she believes in retributive justice, an eye for an eye and so on. Powers:

• New God Physiology: A former denizen of Apokolips called a New God, Gladiator is a "being of genetic perfection", whatever that might mean. This translates into her having invulnerability which makes blunt-force attacks ineffective unless dealt by a being of a similar strength level to hers or greater, but this does not extend to energy based attacks. Similarly, slicing/piercing attacks appear to be able to partially bypass this invulnerability. Gladiator's strengh level greatly exceeds that of the strongest human. The upper limits of a New Gods strength can be measured in hundreds of tons (and in one notable case, nearly limitless), but Gladiator is actually on the lower end of the New God strength scale. While she won't be punching out Superman, Orion or Wonder Woman any time soon, she still classifies as a Class 70 (capable of lifting 70 tonnes at least, although she is capable of greater when under duress or in extremely stressful situations).
• ???: It is common for New Gods to develop a unique ability or two past what their alien physiology gives them. As Gladiator is still young (incredibly so, by New God standards), she has yet to figure out what that is. Only time and experience will reveal what it is.

Weakness:

• Radion: All New Gods are inherently weak to this mysterious substance to a lethal extent. If applied as a bullet or bomb, radion can kill a New God in one go. In the case of a bullet it matters not where it hits, as it kills through the rapid and aggressive poisoning.
• Magic: Not really a weakness but, as in the case of Superman, she has no defences against the arcane. This is not to be confused with the idea of magic fire being able to harm her more than normal fire, or a magic hammer being able to hit harder against her, but more things like targeted transformation, teleportation, curses, and 'beams'. Natural phenomena recreated by magic will have the same effect as natural phenomena against her.

Bio: A New God born of secretive circumstances on Apokolips. Although not an orphan, Bellona found herself placed into the magnanimous and gracious care of Granny Goodness. Her early years were made up of non-stop indoctrination, military training and education. "Die for Darkseid," she was told, "Die for Darkseid" - over and over. Where most broke and became one of the many zealots of Apokolips, Bellona answered the same way each time in her head; "I refuse". She refused to die on anyone's will other than her own. Considered a problem child by Granny Goodness and her other tutors, she was none the less shaping up to be a fine warrior, earning the name 'Gladiator' among the orphanage and lining up to be a potential candidate for the Furies. That was until she escaped. It was difficult, but not impossible. The only other (known) escapee of Granny Goodness' care was Scott Free or 'Mister Miracle' as he is known on Earth. Bellona's own method of escape was very simple, using a little bit of sleight-of-hand (thanks to her training with Kanto) to acquire a rarity off of the body of Granny Goodness - a Motherbox. With its transportation capabilities, her escape to Earth was a breeze...apart from the bit where she ended up opening a Boom Tube miles above Jump City, approaching the ground at a terrifying rate. Her landing is going to create a mess, and it probably won't be her ending up hurt. Arc Ideas:

• The Call of Apokolips: Found by her home and with nowhere to go, Gladiator must turn her back on the Titans and even become their enemy, not for her own sake but the sake of those within Jump City and beyond. The grip of Darkseid operates in many ways, and sometimes it is not always willing.
• Die for Darkseid: "I am many things, Kal-El. You couldn't even begin to imagine half of them. But for now, I shall take the role of the executioner." An endgame scenario has arisen - Darkseid is attacking Earth. Parademons plague the skies without number, overwhelming any counter-attack, and Darkseid's lieutenants are clear matches for the Heroes of Earth. Darkseid himself, one of the most malicious and powerful entities in the universe, intends to sap the very spirit and will from the people of Earth, the adopted home of his enemy Kal-El, and then make them his mindless pawns. One mind. One Will. One Life that is Darkseid.

Other: Her weapon is the Thunderlance, a nigh-unbreakable weapon which appears/returns to her hands if she calls it, making a thundercrack sound as it does so. She is very much trained in its usage. Gladiator fulfils the niche of a team 'Brick' with hints an armsmaster thrown in there. While Apokolips would usually not bat an eye if one of their orphans did manage to leave (Scott Free being an exception due to his circumstances), Darkseid's forces will be looking for the girl for reasons known only to them...and possibly Gladiator. Creation was inspired by Drax the Destroyer and Big Barda. "Titans Forever"

Tokyo Ghoul - District 8 [18+ - Mature & Graphic Content Inside]

More inclined towards free roam, myself. The Dining Hall sounds good as a starting point though, enough reason for everyone to be there.