I'm considering having the cast of  Haibane Renmei  (my favorite show) as the characters in need of lodging.

For those not in the know, Haibane Renmei is Yoshitoshi ABe (of "Niea Under Seven" fame, and the character designer of Texnohlyze and Serial Experiments Lain)'s emotional rollercoaster of a non-JudeoChristian[1] sin/redemption story, set in a town with walls no one can see beyond, with two races -- the humans, and the Haibane (halos and itty-bitty wings because that looks cute (paraphrasing the creator)), are hatched from a cocoon without any memories about who they are, and are named after the dream they had in the cocoon, they must work (librarian, clockmaker, baker, teacher's aide, temple assistant), they cannot directly handle money to pay for things for themselves (but can work a cash register), and can only own used goods (food, fuel, and Reki's cigarettes notwithstanding).

The Haibane each, individually, eventually undertake a "Day of Flight" and lose their wings and halo and ascend past the walls, once they've accomplished whatever it is they were supposed to accomplish.  No one knows where they go after their Flight.

The idea being that the remaining 5 Haibane (Rakka, Reki, Nemu, Hikari, Kana) -- after Kuu took hers early on in the series -- have each undergone their Flight, only to all all show up in Manhattan at the same time, same place, broke, in need of a place to stay, and thoroughly confused as to why there's no walls on Wall St.

It'd be a slice-of-life addition to KanriKyara, with five young women (I believe Rakka is 15(?) with Nemu at 21(?) and Reki (20?) -- those two are old enough to buy liquor, at least), with their halos and itty-bitty wings back on, adjusting to the mundane aspects of 2016 (or is it 2026 by now?), and trying to figure out why they've got the wings and halos back.

Not sure, though, if this would fit in given the rest of the characters listed on the Wiki.

This story is available on AO3

A while back we had a pretty long thread of "what would this title be about" but this one kind of needs the description to go with it:

"The Smoking Gun"
cover image is a revolver with a lit cigarette in the barrel

I can't come up with anything better than a tropey noir detective mystery, but I'm sure someone can.

And of course, chime in if you have any odd or interesting image/title/combos but nothing particularly hook-y of your own. It was a lot of fun the first time around even if it did eventually run out of steam, but a few years might have let some batteries recharge.

It seems odd to start a Dearly Departed thread with somebody like this...

Aldrich Ames, CIA turncoat.

Died in prison.

Hi, All~!

I thought I might as well say hello first.

My hobbies are reading, writing (and arithmetic too!), FFXIV, hockey, and being the pet-parent to my Yorkie (or is she my pet-parent?)

Oooh!  The forums are snowing!

Way back when DWII was the only story that Bob had released any part of, we all assumed that it was far enough in the future that anything we could suggest was probably in the shared history of both our timeline and MegaTokyo's timeline.

However, it's now 2026. A.D. Police Files, the prequel to BGC, is set in 2027... and its music scene is audibly different from our own. I think "Doug got a copy of this new song in MegaTokyo" isn't going to cut it any more. And none of the published Steps or Staggers have a local date any later than DWII's local date, if I recall correctly.

So, I see three possibilities:

1. Doug raided the TARDIS's music library when he met The Doctor and Rose in that one-line Nanostep (and the TARDIS actually has a music library).
   
2. Somebody in-universe used the Door to Space-Time to deliver a present from Crystal Tokyo for Doug in DW-S. This one means any of the newest songs are probably unavailable until Doug remembers he has them, which doesn't happen until (IIRC) DWX.
   
3. Somebody IRL is going to have to write a Stagger set somewhere in advance of anything we've got so far. (However, that somebody isn't going to be me -- my plate's full.)
   

click here

Effect: conjures a tiny humanoid in a leotard and tutu, around two inches tall but as strong and capable of moving and jumping roughly equivalently to a normal sized, athletic human. She may also manifest with a normal sized needle and thread to use as a prop like a cane or fencing epee, or for a quick spot of sewing to repair a tear or fasten a few inches of textiles (the results will persist as normal for the material.) Doug can see and hear through her senses separately from his own, and she can hear even a whisper from him at any distance he's managed to separate them within the song's duration regardless of obstacles, vacuum, environmental noise or deliberate jamming/sound absorption. The summon is a dancer of supreme skill and both willing and able to simply perform or give lessons for as long as she is manifested, along with the more tactical scouting or ambush possibilities, or hopping into a confined space to retrieve a small object that fell and bounced out of reach. Care must be taken when standing on or manipulating less durable materials, as while there is some degree of necessary-secondary-powers tactile TK involved to support herself and whatever she is touching, both her feet and hands are teeny tiny and can puncture things that would require tools for a normal sized person with equivalent strength let alone with her needle.

click

Effect: While playing, wounds bleed freely without clotting or closing, disease or poison rmemdies will have no effect, and no healing in general short of direct divine intervention will function within Doug's AoE. Unlike most song effects this tapers off slowly and lasts longer the longer the song was played. If allowed to run for its full duration the effect becomes a curse that lasts a full twenty four hours, although without actively being continually refreshed with the song playing normal magic can dispel the curse like any other temporary effect from a caster of Doug's power (very high) and skill (not so much when it comes to curses, since most of his effects are more along the lines of enhancements or external attacks/environmental manipulation.) As allies and Doug himself are also affected this is by any measure a double edged sword, but sometimes you need to deal with a regenerator or make a single light strike count badly enough to be worth that risk.

So.


The head composer of the critically acclaimed MMO Final Fantasy XIV TM is the legendary Masayoshi Soken, an all around badass who frequently writes the Boss themes for the particularly important story moments or characters. A lot of them are (respectfully) more generic battle themes that probably wouldn’t interest Doug’s mage gift.

But there are also more than a few that I’m pretty sure would do the opposite, and here’s a list of several and the powers I think they’d grant. 
Note these lyrics are all fan-transcribed and not guaranteed to be accurate.

(Minor spoilers, no story heavy or endgame content)



AAC Heavyweight M4 Theme Everything Burns Feat. Tom Morello & Beartooth



Never had a choice, never let the opps win
Calm them nerves, got the whole world watchin'
Ready, set, go, and there ain't no stoppin'
Only one option, light it up
Ha!


Heart is poundin' out my chest, the blood boils inside of me
Lookin' at the walls around me closin' in, I think, "What's it gonna be?"
Never had a choice, never let the opps win
Calm them nerves, got the whole world watchin'
Ready, set, go, and there ain't no stoppin'
Got one option, light it up


Everything burns
Light it up, let's go, light it up, let's go
Everything burns
Light it up, let's go, light it up, let's go
I'm on fire, burnin' brighter than anyone alive
I'm way too hot to touch, so just remember if you try
Everything burns


Everything burns
Bones are shakin' out my skin, I got tinglin' in my hands
Movin' like a lightning strike, I'm on tonight, so just catch me if you can
Never had a choice, never let the opps win
Calm them nerves, got the whole world watchin'
Ready, set, go, and there ain't no stoppin'
Got one option, light it up


Everything burns
Light it up, let's go, light it up, let's go
Everything burns
Light it up, let's go, light it up, let's go
I'm on fire, burnin' brighter than anyone alive
I'm way too hot to touch, so just remember if you try
Everything burns


Whole house packed, not here to make friends
Do or die moment, I love it this tense
Who am I takin' out? Thinking you're next
And now when the sky turns red, 'cause everything burns
'Cause everything burns


Everything burns
Light it up, let's go, light it up, let's go
Everything burns
Light it up, let's go, light it up, let's go
I'm on fire, burnin' brighter than anyone alive
I'm way too hot to touch, so just remember if you try
Everything burns
Everything burns




Power - A pretty obvious fire manipulation  body of fire song.






Sinister - Vamp Fatale Theme


Wet blood, fresh blood drippin' on the walls,
These screams, they're no dream, they're your curtain call
Looking for pleasure, waking up from the pain 
here, come get your fill


Gotta run, gotta crawl, back into the night
Baby hush, what's the rush, got you in my sights
Ain't my first time, we'll take it slow yeah
Going in for the thrill


Now get down on your knees
I'm asking please (ON YOUR KNEES)


I'm sinister
Under your skin, in lace and leather
Sinister, don't you know who I am
I'll make it better


You'll find what sort of master you'll take 
You're finally feeling love for who hates
Your sin, your soul, misfortune, your pain,
For I'll have it all



(ALL OF) I will take what I wanna
(ALL OF) Cause they'll take all they wanna
(WON'T STOP) Don't let me down
(WE WON'T) Or I'll chew you up and spit you out


(?) No I'll never surrender,
(?) Bow before some pretender,
(?) Now watch me go
(?) And claim my throne


Goin hard, goin soft, ain't no onus here
Free for all, consensual, I thought I made that clear
Ready or not, bottom or top, what you got in mind
A little more, I'll give you more, cause the chance is mine


Don't be the drones that mind who all diss me
I'm a B with an itch to scratch so don't mess with me
Lookin to squeal under my heel? Squeeze like this and turn
I don't hear no safe word, honey


Put down that magazine
All eyes on me (OBEY YOUR QUEEN)


I'm sinister
Under your skin, in lace and leather
Sinister, don't you know who I am
I'll make it better


You'll find you're better off as my slave
You're wrapped up helplessly in the chains 
Your faith, your freedom, fortune, your fame
For I am it all
(I AM YOUR ALL!)



Here on my own, atop this terrible throne
I reach for the stars, Why are they oh so far
And so I climb, I leave what's left here behind
So some day I'll find, what I want, all I want, I want, I want, after you're gone



Power - Either grant Doug the metaphorical control and influencing abilities of a Dominatrix, or maybe turns him into one physically for the song? (Don’t know that Maggie would approve…)





(Ramuh: Heritor of Levin Theme) | Final Fantasy XIV



Step in from the storm, praise its mercy
Let the sting of the rain ne’er stray far from thee
Lightning bright, thunder bold
Freeing us forevermore
Now lift thine heavy head and vanquish thy sorrow
Lightning doth strike
Thunder doth roll
Now turn thy gaze ahead and look to the morrow
Lightning shall strike
Thunder shall roll on


Power - Again, a pretty obvious lighting/thunder control song/ 





"Bee My Honey" (Honey B. Lovely Theme) with Lyrics | Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail

Bee is for beauty, obedient and sweet,
Bee-ware the sting, of your pitiful defeat,
Bee mine forever, and always play your part,
Bee-fore it's over, I'll capture your heart.
My wings are humming, honey stay a little while,
With just a pinch, you'll be delighted and beguiled,
I'm not your baby doll, but I can make you smile,
No nectar sweeter sweetie, I'll drive you wild.
My heart is pure as lace, and laced with purest pride,
My frills are wild flowers, begging for your eyes,
My lips are poison, and waiting to collide,
Come play with me darling, you'll be surprised.
This world is a weary place, hum-drum dreary eyed,
In all its monotony, I'm buried alive.
I want to outshine the stars in the sky,
I want to see my name painted in lights,
To win your love, I will do just anything,
But there's always something more, there's always something more.
I'll be the face you'll see on magazines,
Fill up my concerts, enthralling the streets,
I'll be your idol, your only one,
But it's somehow not enough, it can never be enough.
Look at me look, I'll take your breath away,
You'll pay the price, if you deny me,
My throne is here, at the arcadion,
Cross me and that's your head.
Oh Gods, again, I really should have said,
Give, me love, forever just because.
I'll be your queen bee Honey B. Lovely,
I'll be your one and only champion,
I'll be your full-time royal, worship me,
Love me again, until the end,
I'll be your queen bee Honey B. Lovely,
I'll be adored by workers near and far,
I'll let you be my lil drone honey,
So long as you never cross me,
Oh Gods, again, I really should have said,
Heed me well, or you're as good as DEAD!


Power - Create / Summon  / Control vast swarms of bees and wasps.





"Hic Svnt Leones" (Hesperos Theme) 


Wild shrieks knife through the deep
Natureless creatures perverted and evil
From foul nests rise
A vermin tide
Teeth bared, clawing the air
Sin wrapped in sinew the rats do not fear you
In slaughter’s keep
The piper weeps
Jaws slack, mark on your back
Here in the valley your Death casts no shadow
Seal this fate
Come storm the gate
Laid bare
Picked clean
Bred deep
In the bones that feed the menagerie
Burns hot
Burns brief
All hope
Till there’s nothing left but ash
Dark horizons, boiling seas (Pandemonium)
From the borders chaos bleeds
Savage nobles, cultured thieves (Pandemonium)
Here be lions, follow me
Dig in, pull back the skin
See what’s inside you, the sickness that drives you
Beating black
Demoniac
Pride, greed, in mud thrive these seeds
Rotten and reeking the fruits of your making
Testify
Come take a bite
Bite down, blood in the cut
Choking on life as your light’s slowly swallowed
Fade away
Or join the fray
Laid bare
Picked clean
Bred deep
In the bones that feed your insanity
Unwind
Unfold
Your mind
Till it shatters just like glass
Dark horizons, boiling seas (Pandemonium)
From the borders chaos bleeds
Savage nobles, cultured thieves (Pandemonium)
Here be lions, follow me



Power - Summon rats, insects and other ‘foul’ creatures as shadowy minions under his control, summon the swarm.

Light up the Dark - Cardcaptor Sakura


Spectrum - Various Magical Girls


and the recent one that got me watching their whole backlog again: Set in Stone - One Piece