Masha's Roulette... 2!
Welcome to the SECOND issue of my weekly random grab-bag of recommendations newsletter, where I will show you some things to read and some things to listen to, and my solemn promise that at least one item in here will be new and interesting to you.
First, Some Things to Listen To
My mom is helping a musician guy she likes get US citizenship and you know, I actually really like his music and poetry too. This album's my favorite, I listen to it while I write a lot.
Someone made an AMV of my favorite song by him ("about the crazy Masha") set to Puella Magi Madoka Magica and retitled "about the crazy Homura" which I honestly think is brilliant. It's very well made too! You can pretty much get the meaning of a lot of the lyrics even if you don't understand them from these visuals.
As far as new (relatively) (like within the last few months new) music goes, I've been looping Gyutte by MIMI, an artist I just discovered due to the whims of the Youtube algorithm. I like how they tune Miku (and if you want to learn more of my thoughts on vocaloid tuning I've got a whole dreamwidth post about it here ) and I like the melody! I think it's cute and catchy.
Now, Some Things to Read
I have not kept up with My Hero Academia in like, 3 years. I think they're all at war or something now? Sometimes my friends who do still keep up with it tell me what's going on and I forget immediately because I don't really care anymore. But what I do care about is these ongoing epic alternate universe fanfictions for the Hero Academia, which never fail to make my heart beat faster in excitement when I get the update email in my inbox. And they are all updating regularly! So if you need a long read and are at least vaguely familiar with the MHA universe, give these a shot!
Ill-gotten Gains by ghostmaybite
Rating: M Word count: 214k+
Summary:
When his father and Tomura start planning the USJ attack, Izuku makes a plan of his own. It’s simple, only four steps:
1. Steal Eraserhead’s quirk
2. Use it to kill All for One
3. Give Erasure back, hopefully
4. Go to jail, probably
He’s prepared for the plan to fail at any time, but surprisingly, it’s not until step 4 that things fall through.
I don't normally like Villain Izuku stories because they're very bleak and depressing, but once you get past Step 3 of the plan listed in the summary it really picks up and a big hope spot opens up and that is very nice to read.
Q. A. B by jihnari
Rating: T Word count: 18.5k (part 1, sequel is ongoing)
Summary:
One month after @hawks_unofficial's initial viral post, the blog titled "Quirk Analysis Blog for the Future", otherwise known as "Q. A. B.", has gone from an average of 10 views per post to an average of 20,000 views per post.
Midoriya Izuku does not know how to view the impressions analysis for his suddenly popular blog, and only notices that sometimes, people actually comment on his posts now. He does not google himself or his moniker and thus does not see the rise in online articles and speculation.
He is unaware that the "kyuu-ei-bee" he begins to hear about in passing refers to his own blog. He does not have a Twitter account.
At the time, Midoriya Izuku is 15 years old.
Izuku (accidentally) starts a cult.
Extremely impressive and very funny mixed-media fic! Part 1 is complete, part 2 is ongoing and very good also.
By Any Other Name by SatelliteBlue
Rating: T Word count: 258K
Summary:
Through some freak accident of the universe, Dabi has been invited to compete on The Bachelorette. Have they actually seen his face? Surprisingly yes, and they still want him. For this season they apparently need a ‘bad boy’ to both balance out the hero contestant (why in hell is Hawks involved?) and to trash talk the show in interviews to appeal to audiences who don’t like the scripting. Getting sent on a vacation away from his annoying bandmates to complain and eat as much free food as he wants? Sold.
Part 1 is complete, part 2 is coming eventually, what I like about the Bachelorette AU is that everything is somehow as close to canon as possible and OP is really genuinely into the bachelorette and cites specific episodes and seasons as inspiration for every chapter. It's amazing!
With Confidence by TimelessTears
Rating: T Word count: 84k+
Summary:
“Midoriya also wants to go to Yuuei.”
At this statement, Izuku’s classmates mocked him and on any other day, he would have taken it. But getting hit with a quirk while watching a villain fight before school changes the scenario.
In which Izuku’s class learns you don’t need a quirk to take someone down a peg.
Slow updates.
Slow updates but SO worth the wait! A thoughtful for-want-of-a-nail AU.
Sour Grapes by HaneleHaralue
Rating: T Word count: 53k
Summary:
The original Mineta Minoru was a perverted teenaged boy who had wanted to be a hero to be popular with girls.
The Mineta Minoru who was now me still couldn’t decide on an age or a gender and had genuinely considered sleeping through the entrance exam to UA.
Or: A salty SI becomes Mineta, and Hound Dog may or may not be qualified to counsel this particular kid. But he is going to TRY. And maybe smother Eraserhead in the process. Vlad'll probably help.
This one hasn't updated in a while but I believe in OP because we have similar tastes in music based on a playlist included in one of the author's notes. A really interesting take on a familiar premise.
I finished a big project today and am very tired now. I hope these recs help you rest as well.
I'll be back next week with more things to listen to and read!