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Heya, Momo. It's Darin.

Listen, if you're not too busy with school or whatever...think you could stop by my forge?

There's...something I kinda wanna pick your brain about. If you're busy, no worries.

Hi Darin!

[ Calling people by their first names is still a little strange, to Momo, but she's making an effort with the Westerners, at least. ]

I can come by this afternoon, if that's alright? I hope it's nothing too pressing...

No no no! It's not urgent at all! Kinda just...

[He pauses as he searches for the words.]

Something popped into my head recently and I wanted to ask you about something you mentioned back when we were talking about your world. It's nothing urgent or anything. I'll be there late so feel free to pop on by.

[ Hm? What could he mean? ]

Oh, alright. I'll come by after school gets out. Sometime around four o'clock?

[ And sure enough, true to her word, Momo shows up at the forge just after four, calling for Darin as she enters. ]

Hello? Darin-san?

[ Ah. So much for not using honorifics... ]

[Darin's currently working on hammering the dents out of what appears to be a large, ornate, tower shield. He looks up when Momo enters and smiles.]

Yo, Momo! Thanks for coming! Just grab a seat anywhere, I'm just finishing this up!

[He continues to bang away.]

I hope I'm not pulling you away from something important.

[ Momo looks around and finds a small stool to perch on, setting aside the tongs that were laying atop it. ]

Oh, no. I have some time before I am meeting my friends for patrol. You aren't pulling me away from anything.

What was it you wanted to talk about?

[Darin finishes his work and sets the shield aside against a rack. He grabs a stool of his own and sets it down across from Momo.]

Well...I kinda had a few questions about your world. I remember you and your friend Izuku mentioning that you were both enrolled in classes to become professional heroes. I...well, I was kinda wondering about that. And about your world in general.

Are...powers common in your world? And if so, can people just...use them? Whenever they want?

Ah. [ She's already had this sort of conversation a few times before, so she knows what to say, mostly. ] Yes, and no.

Quirks are common. About eighty percent of the population has a quirk of some kind, whether physical or otherwise. But you're not allowed to use your quirk in public, unless you're licensed to do so. Midoriya-san and I use our quirks at school, because we're in a program which allows us to use them under the supervision of trained and licensed adults.

So...it's like an apprenticeship. That makes sense. I guess being here is kinda similar to what it's like back home for you.

[He pauses and shifts a little uncomfortably in his seat.]

It's...different for me. I guess that's kinda why I wanted to talk to you. See...my powers are...well...

They're unique to my twin brother and I. No one else in my world can do what I can do. In fact, quirks on your world are similar to magic on mine. The majority of the people in my world have some sort ability to use and channel mana.

I can't. I suspect it's because I have these other powers but...

[He shrugs.]

There's less regulation, here. ImPorts are allowed to use their quirks-- their powers, whenever and wherever they feel like, with no oversight.

[ She doesn't sound too happy about that fact, but she has accepted it as the facts of this universe. ]

So... What you're saying is, that most people on your world can use magic, but yourself and your brother can do something... different?

That seems kind of dangerous, don't you think? I mean, there's no telling what people can do.

[He shifts a little awkwardly again.]

Yeah...there's a lot that's different about us. For one thing, blue hair isn't a common color for humans. It's...mostly considered a trait belonging to people of the demonkin and beastkin tribes. Same with my brother's green hair. So...not only did people just assume we were monsters as kids but...well...

[Darin stands up and walks over to the massive anvil at the center of his forge. He reaches down with one hand, grips the solid iron with one hand, with enough grip strength to physically leave dents with his fingers, and hoists the whole anvil above his hand with a single hand, as if he were lifting something as innocuous as a basketball.]

There's also the fact that I can do this.

[ If Darin was expecting some kind of show of surprise at the feat of strength, he picked the wrong person to show it to. Momo watches, her face curious but not amazed, as he lifts the anvil over his head singlehandedly.

The world she's from, she can count several people capable of such a feat. ]

I see. And, on your world, super strength and blue or green hair are rare? Is it... more like, everyone else has the same quirk, and you and your brother have a different one?

[While he wasn't expecting her to be floored, he was a little surprised at the complete lack of reaction. He's never going to be used to his abilities being considered normal.]

It's not that they're rare. They're non-existent. Humans can't do what I do and they don't have hair color like mine.

[He sighs and sets the anvil down.]

Back home, I was called a monster. Everyone thought my mother was a demon or that she'd offered her body to one. I've spent my entire life hiding what I can do because if I didn't, I'd be chased with torches and pitchforks. I've spent a lifetime turning something like 'blue hair' into a charm point instead of a stigma.

[He physically stops himself from being worked up.]

But...I'm getting off topic. My story...well, it's hardly important.

Recently, someone pointed out that I could be doing more with my powers. Something I'm...reluctant to do. I don't know what my limits are. I could easily kill someone with this strength. But then I look at someone like you. Someone who wants to be a hero and I guess...

...I guess I'm looking for a place to start. And...well, I trust you. And I trust your opinion. That's...why I called you out her to talk.

[ Momo's face turns sympathetic as she listens to Darin's tale. It's hard for her to imagine such a world, where a quirk like super-strength is so unique as to be forced into hiding for fear of derision or worse. To be called a monster, just for doing the things you were born to do? It's dreadful, and Momo's heart breaks for Darin.

Obviously, this is something important to him, so Momo treats his words with all the appropriate seriousness. ]

There are many ways to use your quirk for good, even without being a hero. But you strike me as a good person, with a kind heart, who genuinely wants to help others. If you truly want advice on how to use your strength to help people in need, then I will do what I can to give you advice.

[He offers her a small smile in appreciation.]

Thank you.

What made you want to become a hero, Momo?

[ It sounds so simple, but that's actually a fairly big question. Momo takes a deep breath before answering. ]

Well, at first I wanted to be a hero to follow in the footsteps of my parents, who were heroes themselves. But more and more, I want to help people. I have a very powerful quirk, if used correctly, and so I feel a duty to use it to save people.

[ ~~with great power comes great responsibility...~~ ]

[Darin laughs.]

Are you kidding? You have the single most powerful ability a hero can ask for!

[Darin bounds over and takes Momo's hands and turns them over to show her palms.]

I mean, think about it. What is the most important part about being a hero? It's not just being brave or strong or saving people. As a hero, you forge a path for others to follow. You create a better tomorrow for others to look forward to.

Momo, you have the power to be the greatest hero! With these two hands and a little imagination, you can create a future for everybody!

[ Momo's eyes go wide when he takes her hands, then she absolutely just gasps because Darin is being SO KIND, he might be THE KINDEST PERSON SHE'S EVER MET?!?? ]

Oh, Darin-san!! I think you can forge that path, too! You can really inspire people, with your strength and with your strength of character!

[ She stands suddenly, looking Darin in the eyes with a wide grin. ] Let's forge that path together!

[Darin lets out a laugh. It almost started as a scoff; he knew that he could never truly be a hero. His fate was far worse, his path far less bathed in light. He was destined to destroy, not create. He was born to be the antithesis of everything she stoof for.]

[But that wouldn't stop him from nurturing this young woman into being the best damn hero she ever dreamed of becoming. Her sheer earnestness made him want to work harder just to see to it she rose higher than anyone else.]

[And besides, who was he to steal her momentum? If she wanted to run this path with him, he'd take it as far as he could go. Until he was sure she could continue on without him.]

[His grin widens to match hers. If there was one thing Darin knew how to do, it was stoke a fire that was already lit.]

Well, who am I to argue with a sentiment like that? Just you wait, Momo. I'm gonna teach you everything I know. Every technique, every ounce of metallurgy and smithing that's been hammered into these bones? I'm gonna pass on to you. You're going to be able to forge a future so blindingly bright, that the sun itself will have to act as your forge!

[He pumps a fist into the air, really getting swept up in the mood.]

Let's show this world the path that real heroes can create!

Inbox - MoM

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