[X] For this Villain might threaten everyone he knows and cares about.
Be the hero, whose friends and family means more to him than mere knowledge!
Though speaking of said knowledge... initially I didn't think much of Velvet & Steel. Admittedly, our dear principal specifying referencing Velvet should of gotten more of a reaction out of me.
Still, even if it is an oversimplified guess, I'm assuming Velvet-Steel at their core is about Bonds versus Isolation/Self-Focus? Huh, does an Arc ending in Velvet or Steel actually have a hidden purpose?
I don't think it's quite so clear cut as bonds vs. self focus.
My feeling so far is that it has something to do with the way the Jojos tend to be dangerous, powerful, brutal, and wickedly cunning, while also desperately trying to live up to their own definitions of good or proper behavior and other personal agendas. Velvet may mean embracing the new life of a pro/underground hero in japan. Steel may mean returning to Europe and carving a bloody path through his family and former friends.
[X] For this Villain might threaten everyone he knows and cares about.
+++++Velvet. ++Steel.
Johan steps back and falls down into his shadow, entering 「The Midnight Sea」 and allowing 「Holy Diver」 to carry him down to the street below.「Cactus」is patiently waiting for him below, red boxing glove inviting him to join the mysterious Stand on a convenient bench.
Slowly, cautiously, the catboy takes a seat next to 「Cactus」.
A huge, pink, human tongue rolls out of 「Cactus'」 empty mouth hole. "You can take out your 「Holy Diver」 if you want, I don't mind." They tease, their voice completely unimpeded by the fat tongue twisting around in their mouth.
Johan resists the instincts that scream at him to manifest his Stand and rip that undulating, drool-drenched tentacle right out of 「Cactus'」 mouth. Instead 「Holy Diver」 appears behind him, past the back of the bench. "Enough games, 「Cactus」. What do you want?"
The green Stand's tongue licks around their mouth, its mucus-covered flesh sliding unharmed across the needles that covers their cactus-shaped body, but they do not answer. They hum thoughtfully and look away from Johan.
"You see it too, don't you?" Sighs 「Cactus」 past their tongue as they look up at the orange sky, taking in the sight of the first few stars showing themselves to the world. "The 「Velvet」 draped across the world. Our world."
Johan shifts, not looking at the green Stand. "Yes… I do."
"I knew it!" Cackles 「Cactus」. "The fortune teller said that I would find someone who understood, a 「Kindred Sprit」, if I came to this country!"
The Norwegian boy blinks owlishly at them, 「Holy Diver」 aping the motion. "「Kindred Spirit?」" He parrots before his eyes narrow. "What do you mean?"
A red boxing glove almost pokes Johan in the chest, stopped only by 「Holy Diver」 intercepting it. "What I mean is this:" Says 「Cactus」 pleasantly. "You are the only Stand User I know who hasn't 「Given Up」."
「Holy Diver's」 fingers sharpen into claws.
"The spirit of the Johansen family is broken." Continues 「Cactus」 as if nothing is out of the ordinary, as if Johan's Stand is not standing at the ready to claw them into ribbons. "They are too fixated on keeping their heads down to accomplish anything, huddling within their tiny territory in Oslo whenever they are not wasting their waning power and wealth on failed endeavors."
Their empty gaze bores into Johan. "The von Stroheims are little better. They act, but they do not believe, not anymore."
The two of them keep their eyes locked onto the other's for a few long seconds before they both look away. 「Cactus」is the one to break the silence. "Then there is this 'Japanese Ally' that I sought out on Madame von Stroheim's behalf. He thinks the 「Velvet World」 is something to look forward to."
Those last few words are hissed past the still-extended tongue, and Johan keeps his own still as 「Cactus」 begins to rant.
"The world is changing, Johan Johansen. It has been changing for two hundred years. It won't be long now before the 「Velvet」 smothers it entirely, erasing us from the world..." 「Cactus」holds their gloved hands out towards Johan, who leans away as best he can while remaining seated. "Johan Johansen, 「JOJO」, you and I are the only ones who walk the path of 「Steel」 against the coming 「Velvet」. We might even be the only ones who even know that fighting back is possible, or that there is a battle raging at all!"
「Cactus'」 arms fall back down to their narrow waist as its bulbous body heaves with a deep sigh. "When I became what you now see, the world was one of 「Steel」, a world ruled by Stand Users with indomitable souls and the favor of 「Fate」. So much has changed; so much has been lost since that glowing Italian infant. I have to 「Stop It… Bend It To My Will」."
Johan's hands tighten on the bench as thoughts he had kept hidden inside, deep within small secret places, are thrown back into his face. The act is mirrored by 「Cactus」, whose superhuman strength actually rips off the outermost part of the wooden plank that they are sitting on.
"So what are you planning, 「Cactus」?"
The Stand, which has grabbed hold of their tongue and is yanking at it in frustration, stops upon hearing Johan's words. Wordlessly it lets go, allowing the long lump of flesh to return to its resting position.
"…I will build an alliance of Stand Users and their followers, and with it I will 「Reclaim The Past by Force!」" For a moment it looks as if 「Cactus」 intends to say more, but they stop themselves.
"If you want to know more, then you will have to swear allegiance to my cause. You are a powerful Stand User, you would be a tremendous asset to any patron. You-"
"「No.」"
「Cactus」stares at him, taken aback by the sudden interruption. "No?"
Johan shakes his head. "I haven't decided yet, but I want to give this 「Velvet World」 a chance to make its case before I do."
[] "There is still time to decide. And who knows? I could be wrong…"
++++++Velvet. +Steel. ++++Despair.
[] "「Fate」 has dictated that I will find my answer here, and come 「Velvet」 or 「Steel」 I will see this through!" +Velvet. ++++++Steel. --Despair.
[X] "「Fate」 has dictated that I will find my answer here, and come 「Velvet」 or 「Steel」 I will see this through!" +Velvet. ++++++Steel. --Despair.
Johan gets up from the bench and whirls on 「Cactus」, covering his face with his left hand as he speaks. "「Fate」 has dictated that I will find my answer here, and come 「Velvet」 or 「Steel」 I will see this through!"
"Besides," He continues, cutting 「Cactus」 off before the Stand can get a word in. "I refuse to be part of any「Steel-aligned Organization」 that I am not the leader of."
Behind him 「Cactus」 exhales disappointedly. "Because that has worked so well for you in the past." A small laugh escapes under their breath when they see Johan stiffen at the rebuke.
The laughter stops when 「Holy Diver's」 fist slams into the spot between 「Cactus'」 eyes with the force of an artillery shell. The green Stand is blown backwards into the back of the bench, the force of the punch bowling both them and it over before they crash into a wall.
「Cactus」leaps to their feet, red boxing gloves flying free to intercept and counter Johan and 「Holy Diver's」follow-up attacks. Their attack rushes thunder against each other, evenly matched in speed and strength. But not in durability, Johan notes, for 「Cactus」 sports a deep imprint of 「Holy Diver's」 fist where they were punched.
The catboy's head snaps to the side an instant later, a heavy bruise forming on the left side of his face. One of 「Cactus'」 arms had lengthened after the Stand, with their fat tongue still hanging out, took a deep, controlled breath. The elongated arm is pulled back a moment later, the blow having served its purpose of opening up some space between the fighters.
"Sophie was right." Says 「Cactus」 to themselves, still speaking past their tongue. "You really are still sore about that."
They shrug their needle-covered shoulders and put the bench back upright. "But it doesn't matter. The world waits for no one, and neither will I." When it becomes clear that Johan will neither answer nor attack, 「Cactus」 begins to walk backwards into the wall, phasing through to avoid whoever is coming to check out the commotion.
"This is not over, Johan Johansen. Mark my words…" And with that they finally vanish, leaving Johan alone on the street.
Johan shakes his head and sighs. "It will be, once I find my answer." He says to the empty air before stepping into a nearby shadow. Dealing with the police is the last thing he needs right now, and the principal can wait until tomorrow.
**********
"A-and that is why I want to recommend Uraraka and Iida to become Stand Users!" Finishes Izuku during a break between classes the next day. He, Johansen and the rest of Class 1-A's Stand Users (and Mineta) have brought their desks together to discuss who among their classmates are to receive their own Stands. He wanted to at least suggest Hatsume, but Johansen firmly told everyone that his offer was for 1-A alone.
Johansen, his 「Holy Diver」 diligently writing down everything that is being said, nods once as he considers Izuku's argument. "All right, putting down Uraraka-san and Iida-san as candidates… what about you, Tokoyami-san?"
Tokoyami leans forward and rests his elbows on the desk, all the while he gives Johansen that same suspicious look that he has been wearing whenever he and the catboy interact. "My recommendation of Kouda-san stands." He says flatly before hesitating. "Although, Uraraka-san was most helpful during the Cavalry Battle. I would like to second Midoriya-san's recommendation."
Izuku cannot help but beam. This meeting is not a democracy, the final decision is Johansen's, with the rest of them serving as advisors, but Tokoyami seconding his recommendation of Uraraka cannot hurt! One spot is already reserved for Tsuyu-san, so there are only three others who will become Stand Users this week.
Yaoyorozu is next up. "I would like to recommend Todoroki-san and Kaminari-san, as well as second Midoriya's recommendation of Iida-san." She says easily, and Izuku inwardly cringes as he realizes that he forgot Todoroki. "They performed admirably during the Sports Festival and at the USJ, and I believe that any three of them would make fine Stand Users."
"Tch, fuck Icyhot." Grumbles Kacchan before he takes his turn. "Listen, KitKat, I'm only recommending Kirishima, Pinky and Duct Tape because I have to."
Johansen just hums in the face of Kacchan's snarl and begins to write on the candidate list with his flesh and blood hands. "Kirishima-san… Ashido-san… and Sero-san." He glances over at Mineta. "..next you are going to say: 'Hagakure, Uraraka and Ashido!'"
Mineta doesn't seem to quite have heard him. He throws up his hands with a small cheer. "Hagakure, Uraraka and Ashido!" His eyes widen as he realizes what he just said. "I-! A-And Shouji!"
"Writing them down." Singsongs Johansen with a small smirk. "What about you, Ojiro?" He asks while making a beckoning gesture with his off hand.
Ojiro looks thoughtful for a moment before he sighs. "Aoyama-san."
With no further comment from Ojiro forthcoming, it becomes Jirou-san-s turn. The musical girl twirls one of her earphone jacks around a finger before she speaks. "I already told Johansen and Momo-san this, so I'll just say it so that you guys know. I want to recommend Denki, because we're friends and he did good when we were fighting villains at the USJ, and Kouda-san and Hagakure, because we were a team during the Sports Festival."
"And that makes everyone." Declares Johansen when it becomes clear that Jirou has said her piece. "Right then. I think I will Awaken two of those who got to the third round of the Sports Festival, and one who did not. Just let me take a quick look at the transcript before we start discussing-"
Iida interrupts him by slamming the palms of his hands on top of Johansen's desk with a loud smack. "Give me a Stand." He hisses less than a foot from Johansen's face. His expression is one far too twisted to feel natural on Iida, feels Izuku.
"Y-" Stutters Johansen, apparently as bothered as Izuku is even though he quickly rallies. "Your name is on the list, Iida-san. I am not against testing your Stand Potential now-" For emphasis Johansen takes out that elongated box whose contents rattle in the presence of those guaranteed to survive the Stand Ritual. "-but we are still discussing who to Awaken, so-."
"I need power, Johansen-san!" Grits Iida through clenched teeth. "My brother... I-!" His hand lashes out to grab onto Johansen's box and rips it out of the hands of their Norwegian classmate.
「Holy Diver」slams its palms into both sides of Iida's head before the instant passes, sending the bespectacled boy to the ground, unconscious. Johansen catches the box as it slips through Iida's lifeless fingers, carefully cradling it while inspecting it for damage.
Iida's body, on the other hand, is blessedly not lifeless as far as Izuku can tell from a second of observation after jumping from his seat. He stirs after a few seconds of unconsciousness, but he is still clearly disoriented from the powerful slaps to the head he just took. Johansen clicks his tongue at the display, glaring at their prone classmate as he puts the box back into his backpack.
Johansen puts the backpack onto his shoulder and has 「Holy Diver」 pick Iida up.
"We will continue this later. Can you tell Cementoss-sensei that I am taking this idiot to Recovery Girl?" He asks Yaoyorozu, too busy glaring at Iida with a frustrated expression to look at her.
If Yaoyorozu minds, then she doesn't show it. "Of course. Don't worry, Johan."
Johan? No honorific?
This time Johansen turns to look her way when he talks to her. "Thanks, Momo. I might have to speak with the principal about this, so can I copy your notes if I am late?"
There is was again! No Honorific!
Izuku and the others stare as Johansen, with Iida safely carried by 「Holy Diver」, leaves the room. Then they hurry to put everyone's desks back to their proper places. Cementoss may be one of the most calm and understanding teachers at UA, but all of them are facing detention if he sees the classroom in such a state when he arrives.
**********
Johansen must have been meeting with the principal, for he doesn't return until after Cementoss' class has ended. The first to meet him is-
Mainly because we've been kind of ignoring him for a while now, when the story started with Izuku's and Johan's "chance" encounter. Besides, I wanna know what weirdness is going on with Izuku.
And for the first time we have a tie that cannot just be broken by counting the votes that provide some justification for themselves twice.
[X] Izuku Midoriya.
-and-
[X] Minoru Mineta.
-both have a normal vote and a vote where the voter provides a reason for their choice. If the tie is not broken in 10 hours I will roll an in-thread die.
Izuku has just gotten back from the bathroom when Johansen returns to Class 1-A's classroom, meeting him at the door. "Johansen-san!"
The catboy starts as if woken up, Izuku's shout having brought him back to the present. "Midoriya?"
"You were gone for a while." Says Izuku, smiling. "Did you meet with the principal?" Or Recovery Girl, Izuku chides himself, but Johansen is already answering when he thinks to ask about UA's school nurse.
"I did, right after taking Iida to Recovery Girl." Answers Johansen tiredly, with a bitter twist to his mouth when he mentions Iida. "I have detention today, but that is just because the principal thinks that I was acting on reflex to protect the magical artifact in the box."
His expression darkens. "Shows what he knows." He mutters darkly. "Had I really been acting on reflex my 「Holy Diver」 would have taken Iida's head off."
Izuku swallows. The reason Iida was acting like that…"Please don't think badly of him!"
"Hm?"
He presses on despite Johansen's naked confusion. "He is just upset because his brother has been hospitalized! T-there is this villain called Hero Killer Stain. He attacked Ingenium during the Sports Festival-"
"Who?"
Izuku falters when Johansen interrupts him. "W-who?" He parrots.
"Who is 'Ingenium'?" Elaborates Johansen in an annoyed tone. "I am not Japanese, remember? I do not know that many Japanese Heroes."
Oh! Of course…
He feels his face heat up as he shares what he knows about Iida's older brother. "Well, Iida's big brother, Tensei Iida, is the Pro Hero Ingenium. He runs a big Hero Agency and employs over forty Sidekicks!"
Johansen answers with a non-committal grunt and a shrug, but motions for Izuku to continue.
"A-and like I said: There is a Villain called Hero Killer Stain, and – er – he has, has killed a lot of Heroes. And I think he attacked Ingenium during the Sports Festival." He pauses to breathe. "And I think that's why Iida had to leave in the middle of the third round. Maybe the call he got was from his family…"
Izuku trails off in the face of Johansen's decidedly unimpressed face.
"Cool motive." Sighs his Norwegian classmate, 「Holy Diver」 appearing behind him to rub his shoulders. "It still does not make it right for him to mess with my things."
「Holy Diver」takes the long box out of Johansen's bag and gently waves it in front of Izuku's eyes. "There is only about a dozen of these left in the world. People have been 「Killed」 so that I can hold it today, and I will risk it being broken, no matter why the person threatening it is doing it."
Killed? Izuku knew that Johansen's family were Villains in the distant past, while his distant relatives are Villains in the present, but was the thing in the box valuable enough to kill for. "It is important to you."
"…yes." He whispers, having taken the box out of 「Holy Diver's」 hands to cradle it while Izuku was thinking. "More than you know."
Izuku blinks when he sees a white line marking Johansen's left palm, and then his eyes widen as he understands what he might be looking at. "Y-your hand! If that where you were stabbed with the 「Stand Knife」?" Who did it? His parents? It is where he stabbed Izuku with it, so did it have to be on the left hand? Was it significant?
"Hm?" Johansen looks down at his palm and blinks when he sees the scar. "Oh right. That." He shakes his head, his eyes distant as if lost in a memory. "No, I was born with my Stand. I first manifested it when I was three years old. This is something else. My 「Holy Diver」 took a hit to the hand in a fight last year so I got a sympathetic injury."
Johansen's hands clench around the box. "Can we talk about something else?" He suddenly perks up, though his eyes never leave the box. "By the way, are you free this weekend, maybe Friday? We are all going to be busy this week with the new Stand Users and preparing for our on the job training next week."
Izuku nods, nervously beaming. It has been weeks since it was just him and Johansen spending time together. For the most part it seemed like he was hanging out with Yaoyorozu or Mineta.
Johansen gives him a small smile in return. "Awesome. We can work out the details later." His 「Holy Diver」 takes the box from his hands and puts it back in his pack, its hands lingering on its wooden surface before it zips the bag shut.
"You see, there is something I should have told you a while ago about the 「Stand Knife」…"
***
Aizawa-sensei heads the next class, and finally tells them more about the on the job training that they will be undergoing next week.
"As you can see here-" He drones wearily as a holographic projector projects a set of names and numbers onto the blackboard. "-some of you have gotten offers from numerous agencies."
Their teacher taps the three names on top of the list. "The distribution of offers are usually a lot more balanced than this, but some of you got a lot of attention this year."
Kacchan and Todoroki got more than four thousand offers each, with Kacchan in the lead by a few dozen. In third place with almost thirteen hundred offers is Tsuyu-san, and below her-
Is him with almost nine hundred offers!
The giddiness (and Uraraka's whispered congratulations) is almost enough to make him stop reading then and there, but he forces himself to go on.
Johansen, Yaoyorozu and Kaminari got a few hundred offers each. Iida and Tokoyami got over a hundred each. And finally Uraraka, Kirishima, Ashido, Shouji, Mineta and Sero all got between a dozen and a hundred offers, with Mineta at the lowest with a round dozen.
To be honest, Izuku thinks that Mineta is just happy to be included.
Aizawa-sensei chooses this moment to continue, the class' chatter dying down instantly as he straightens. "These offers are expressions of interest into your futures as Pro Heroes rather than offers of serious employment, so keep that in mind. Most of them are likely to lose interest if not picked now." He scans the room, giving each student a stern look. "Usually, these offers are only given to second and third years, but your and Class 1-B's performance in the Sports Festival, as well as your first-hand experience at the USJ, has led to this bothersome mountain of exceptions."
Their teacher grumbles something about bad precedent before he continues. "For those of you who did not receive any offers, you still have to take part. There are forty agencies who have expressed a willingness to take on UA students with no offers."
The five students who didn't make it to the third round cheer.
"And therefore-" Snaps Aizawa-sensei, silencing the cheering students. "It is time for the most fundamental preparation you can make before you begin your one week internships:"
On que the door opens, revealing another teacher: The R-rated Heroine Midnight.
"Who is ready to choose their Hero Names?" She croons with a wide smile.
Class 1-A's answer is wild applause.
***
Midnight-sensei gives them fifteen minutes to choose their Provisional Hero Name, warning them to think carefully about their choice. "Remember, the name you pick today could very well stick in the public consciousness." She explains seriously. "If you choose poorly, it is going to be really difficult to get a new one if Hero fans and the media latch onto it."
Still, as time runs out the braver students walk up to reveal their Hero Names.
The gentle parts of Izuku's soul quiver a little when Todoroki walks up with nothing but his given name, but the aggressive part of Izuku that awakened along with 「Take On Me」sings at Kacchan's expression when he reveals his hero name and is shut down by Midnight-sensei.
"「King Explosion Murder!」"
"No."
Twice.
"…「Lord Explosion Murder!?」"
"No!"
Kacchan seethes and is about to walk away from the teacher's desk when he suddenly stops and yells. "「Africa!」"
What?
"What?" Midnight-sensei is on the same train of thought as Izuku, it seems. "Africa? The continent? I don't think-"
"No, my Stand!" Explains Kacchan as he furiously erases the words on the small whiteboard that Midnight gave him(and everyone else). "It is really good at climbing shit!"
He presents the whiteboard to the class again. "「Bakuretsuzan!」"
"Exploding Mountain?" Asks Midnight-sensei rhetorically. "I don't think that will work either, Bakugou-kun."
Kacchan looks apoplectic, but he doesn't do anything but snarl at her and erase it again. "「Africa」 is also a beetle." He snarls as he presents the whiteboard for the fourth time. "I am 「Bombardier」."
Midnight-sensei gives her approval, and Kacchan stalks back to his seat, pointedly ignoring everyone else in the room.
Ojiro is next up:
"Tail and TV Hero: 「Tailshowman」!"
Tokoyami:
"Road to Nightfall Hero: 「Tsukuyomi」!"
Jirou:
"Sound of Silence Hero: 「Earphone Jack」!"
Mineta:
"Spinning Grape Hero: Purple Spin!"
Yaoyorozu has the most dramatic presentation so far:
"Mind, Body and Soul. Me, my Quirk and my Stand. I am the Eclectic Hero 「Trismegistus」!"
And then it is Johansen's turn. He walks up to the desk with his whiteboard facing himself, and when it is his turn to present his name he stops to take a deep breath.
"My Hero Name… is not really a name. It is 「A Title」." He begins. "Before the rise of Quirks, there were a lot of Stand User heroes who bore it. And now I will bear it to carry on that legacy."
Johansen turns the whiteboard around so that everyone can see.
"I am the Out Of Nowhere Hero, 「JoJo」!"
***
Izuku and the other Stand Users meet up in the cafeteria after class and sit down at a table in the quietest corner of the large room that they can find. To Izuku's shock, the first thing that Johansen does once they have all sat down with their meals is to take out the notebook with all their discussion and with a stroke of his pen draw a line across Iida's name.
"The artifact in the box did not react to Iida when he tried to take it, Midoriya." Sneers Johansen into his glass when Izuku protests his friend's removal. "As such, he is 「Off the List」."
Johansen refuses to bend on Iida's exclusion, and so the discussion of who among their Standless classmates should have their Stand Ability Awakened can begin.
First off where those who made it to the third round of the Sports Festival.
Choose 2.
[] Shouto Todoroki. (Recommended by Izuku Midoriya, Momo Yaoyorozu)
[] Mina Ashido. (Recommended by Katsuki Bakugou)
[] Denki Kaminari. (Recommended by Momo Yaoyorozu)
[] Hanta Sero. (Recommended by Katsuki Bakugou)
[] Mezo Shouji. (Recommended by Minoru Mineta)
[] Ochako Uraraka. (Recommended by Izuku Midoriya, Fumikage Tokoyami)
[] Eijirou Kirishima. (Recommended by Katsuki Bakugou)
And then, of course, it was time to discuss who the one person among the three who didn't make it should be.
Choose 1.
[] Yuga Aoyama. (Recommended by Mashirao Ojiro)
[] Koji Kouda. (Recommended by Fumikage Tokoyami, Kyoka Jirou)
[] Tooru Hagakure. (Recommended by Minoru Mineta, Kyoka Jirou)
[X] Ochako Uraraka. (Recommended by Izuku Midoriya, Fumikage Tokoyami)
[X] Denki Kaminari. (Recommended by Momo Yaoyorozu)
Kaminari is a cool dude Ochako already fights like a stand user
[X] Tooru Hagakure. (Recommended by Minoru Mineta, Kyoka Jirou)
Needs the expanded kit most
[X] Shouto Todoroki. (Recommended by Izuku Midoriya, Momo Yaoyorozu)
[X] Ochako Uraraka. (Recommended by Izuku Midoriya, Fumikage Tokoyami)
[X]Tooru Hagakure. (Recommended by Minoru Mineta, Kyoka Jirou)
I feel like out of the three options, Hagakure is the most likely to have the fighting spirit needed to manifest a stand. Especially since we know that Ilda doesn't have it so it is a concern that should be taken into account.
