Fanfic / OC Story

"Nature." The kids looked as though they discovered a new way of life, "No matter what, nature is always more powerful. So don't worry about the wind or the waves. Even the night owl shivers at the thought of them. Yet, the owl still continues to be strong and efficient. You might even say that it is only because the owl has nothing else to worry about that nature seems so scary. It is the only thing left to worry about for the shivering night owl."

—Arc 1 Chapter 13: Shivering Night Owl

The "OC Story" is an extended universe fanfiction of the manga and anime series, Hunter × Hunter. It is written by the Reddit user GuyWithSausageFinger, and originally posted to the subreddit r/HxH_OC. The story began as a writing exercise, where users would submit their own characters to be worked into an ongoing narrative, including input from the characters' creators as to their actions. It is currently ongoing, being in its third arc. The "OC" stands for "Original Character."

The story itself blends elements of several genres, similar to the canon material's own range of inspirations. These include elements of neo-noir, horror (psychological, slasher, surrealist, etc), political thriller, crime thriller, psychological thriller, action-adventure, comedy (including dark humor and surrealist humor). Also like the canon, it includes many concepts that could be considered sci-fi or fantasy. Some of these elements are due to the wide array of influences, spanning several mediums and many genres. Aside from the source material, the story is influenced by works of anime, manga, classic literature, movies (classic and contemporary), western television series, comics, music, video games, and real world historical events, including a plethora of references to works spanning the range of influences and similar properties.

One thing that differentiates the OC Story from many other fanfictions is that it doesn't include any canon characters, and is written to coincide with the canon without contradictions, hence the label of "extended universe." It also doesn't include the same focus on romance as many other fanfics, though there are romances from time to time.

The story is given a "mature" rating, due to its hyperviolent and brutal nature. There are instances of, or references to: drug use, dismemberment, child abuse, alcoholism, graphic depictions of "on-screen" death, Depression, War Crimes, and several other things that may be disturbing or emotionally unsettling. Sometimes when a chapter is linked on the main Hunter X Hunter subreddit, it comes with a "read at your own risk" warning.

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OC Story provides examples of:

• Ability Mixing: Most of the advanced techniques of Nen manipulation consist of using multiple basic techniques at the same time. A technique for focusing 100% of the user's aura into one part of the body, for instance, is described as a combination of the techniques for releasing, shaping and suppressing aura.
• Abusive Parents: Ksaksa and Thazath Cluth’s “mother.” For Thazath, he even had to endure a very unfortunate type of abuse. Not wanting Ksaksa to suffer the same fate, he got rid of their mother.
• Aerith and Bob: Staying true to the universe of Hunter x Hunter, character names are either very familiar or very different from actual real life names.
• Addict: Alicia and Dwyer. Also, formerly, Banda.
• Age-Gap Romance: Gorick and Kasumi. Though both are well-into adulthood, one is in their mid-30s and the other is in their mid-50s, creating a two decade gap.
• Anyone Can Die: Notorious for killing off all kinds of characters.
• Action Girl: The vengeful Emeralda.
• Alcoholic Parent: Jaune Gruber’s father, as shown in the spin-off backstory.
• An Arm and a Leg: Dahlia ends up losing one of her arms after confronting Shivra, leading her to create another one in its place using Nen. Alicia is also missing one of her arms.
• Armies Are Evil: More on the "misguided" part, the SMUPF is constantly portrayed and referred to as being "incompetent," to the point where they were rebranded as the UMP because of that reputation.
• Assassination Attempt: Several times in arc 3, including several nameless assassins.
• A Way Out of a Cave-In: Happened during the entrapment of the party including Rowen and the Argent Industry crew, alt ought here were mysterious side-effects such as uncontrollable laughter.
• Battle Aura: Nen. See also Ki Manipulation.
• Back for the Dead: Barrett Kal returning only to get killed by Klaus Bonaparta.
• Battle of Wits: As typical with Nen Battles.
• Beware the Nice Ones: Dahlia's constant dark thoughts behind her reserved demeanor. In one particular instance of her losing it, she told off a woman(who wouldn't stop shutting up about insurance fraud) during her hospital stay in a fit of rage.
• Bickering Couple, Peaceful Couple: When Zero and Candy met back up with Gorick and Kasumi. The former couple almost immediately got into a small fight. As for the latter, Gorick would even claim he and Kasumi never get into fights.
• Black Comedy Cannibalism: Basically the entirety of Ksaksa Cluth's character, whose powers are based on his cannibalistic tendencies (not to be confused with Cannibalism Superpower) and his non-sexually masochistic life views. His past includes a desperate case of eating into himself and plenty of trauma growing up. Despite this, he's a rather cheery and aloof person, having almost No Social Skills, sometimes bordering on obliviously eccentric territory... with a dash of Comedic Sociopathy. Sometimes he means to be funny, sometimes he can't quite understand what people are laughing at. His unique outlook on life can occasionally lead to moments of surprising (maybe even accidental) wisdom, existing somewhere between the realm of Simple-Minded Wisdom and being an Idiot Savant. Ksaksa's fighting style makes frequent use of Eating the Enemy, as well as self-mutilation due to the nature of his abilities. Even in combat Ksaksa sometimes can't help but resort to Gallows Humor instinctively.
• Blood Brothers: Subverted in that Riv and Lake are actual brothers. Their Nen Ability is literally called Blood Brothers, and functions as a blood pact between them to combine their own individual abilities.
• Brawn Hilda: Bertha. And more recently, Banda.
• Canine Companion: Shenaga, Whisk's best friend and dog, who was conjured from Nen after the original Shenaga had died. And later on, became Candy's companion after Whisk's death.
• Chase Scene: The entire desert sequence involving the junk gangs and Emerelda, in a Mad Max-esque chase for the relic.
• Chaotic Neutral: Sern, who does questionable things such as steal from and later kill Alecksander, and steal a Miniature Rose only to give it to fellow Chaotic Neutral Virgil. However, sometimes he will do more charitable things such as accompanying Mirko to the temple.
• Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Many characters will disappear from the story for an extensive amount of time, without necessarily being written off or Put on a Bus.
• Cooking Duel: When Candy and Fizzy engaged in a cooking contest to see who would gain ownership of the restaurant they'd been working at.
• Cold-Blooded Torture: The journalist kidnapped by the cartel obviously had to endure a terrible amount of torture, includinghis eyes brutally getting taken out. He didn’t seem too bothered about it, though.
• Cold Sniper: Barret Kal.
• Cult: Divine Statute.
• Death by Irony: Ksaksa getting devoured by a beast. Candy and Dahlia also found the cannibal's cause of death to be amusing.
• Defective Detective: Multiple examples. Including Celibate Eccentric Genius Jaune Gruber.
• Deliberate Injury Gambit: Pretty much any Ksaksa fight.
• Disney Death: Shenaga and Slackson both weren’t “dead” for too long.
• Drowning My Sorrows: Hohn Cronus, as a result of his friend Rafa Gi's disappearance and death. Although later on, he's seen well and recovered.
• Exiled to the Couch: Played with when Candy got mad at Zero for attempting to abandon her.
• Escaped from the Lab: A number of the characters from the story such as Shivra, Zero and Ele.
• Fanservice: Played with during the fight with Shivra. When Alecksander wanted to prevent Candy from killing Shivra, he resorted to using his clothes manipulation ability to put her in a situation where she contemplated stripping naked.
• Fantastic Fragility: The raw power of a Nen increases if you add weaknesses and conditions.
• Fiery Redhead: Although a Nice Girl, Candy inhibits traits of this trope, losing her temper relatively easily as typical with Enhancers.
• Fun with Acronyms - Similar to the Hunter x Hunter series and many manga, characters that are acronyms for something or someone else will usually appear.
• Functional Magic: The various "nen" powers.
• Gambit Pileup: Beginning in arc 2, thanks to several Greater-Scope Villains, contributing to the Big Bad Ensemble participating in this alongside anti-heroes, anti-villains, and the various protagonists.
• Gentle Giant: Banda, whose big stature also comes with a big heart(that she can also manipulate).
• Great Off Screen War: Literally, "The Great War," which is only referenced to have had happened and been a big influence.
• Head-Turning Beauty: Emeralda’s eyes, her most distinctive feature, and the reasoning behind her name Meaningful Name.
• Healing Factor: Ksaksa Cluth as part of his Nen ability. He is able to restore his severed limbs(also part of his Nen ability) by eating raw flesh. There’s also Candy with her Healthy Seasoning ability, using her spices to heal people from different types of injuries.
• High on Homicide: Referenced at the end of arc 1, when Ksaksa is trying to convince Candy not to seek revenge on Shivra.
• Hired Guns: The Ophiuchus Mercenaries.
• Hitman with a Heart: Secluded former hitman Klaus Bonaparta in Story 3 is this, though not for too long.
• I Am Not Left-Handed: This is the default attitude most Nen users have towards their powers. Many fighters go to great lengths to keep their opponents (along with anyone who might be observing the battle) from getting a proper understanding of what their particular Hatsu is and how it works, as doing so reveals the Nen's limitations and vulnerabilities. Being willing to reveal your Nen to another is either a gesture of complete trust or a sign of your confidence in your ability to use your Nen, despite your opponent knowing how it works.
• Identity Amnesia: Switch's entire personality. Err, personalities.
• Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: Following the naming scheme of the Hunter x Hunter series, chapter titles are put in between “x” and “x.”
• Improbable Weapon User: Many Nen users at this. Examples in this story include Alecksander with his thread manipulation, Vergil with his mancatcher, and so on.
• Innocence Lost: Many examples throughout the story, including Ksaksa and Thazath Cluth in their childhoods, Ele’s crippling experience at her young age, Thud, etc.
• Invisible to Normals: Nen and all abilities based on it are completely invisible to people who did not awaken their own Nen.
• Iron Lady: Minerva.
• It's Not You, It's My Enemies: Zero's attitude towards Candy after they developed feelings toward each other, leading to a failed break-up attempt on his part.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: River Mason has what many would call a terrible attitude towards other people, especially strangers or those that he doesn’t trust. But at his core, he cares deeply for his young brother Lake.
• Kick Chick: Candy Rye, with her Step-By-Step ability, enhances her legs in order to move around extremely quickly, jump very high, protect her legs from damage and, of course, kick really hard.
• Killed Off for Real: Though some characters might get an implied death before turning out fine, for the most part, if you're seemingly killed off, you're gone for good.
• Leave Me Alone!: Matthew Stark just can't seem to get rid of Banda, much to his overwhelming annoyance. He even challenged her to a fight to get rid of her.
• Long-Lost Relative: Matthew Stark’s entire story revolves around him trying to find his brother, Brandon.
• Life Energy: It's called Nen in this series, and per the norm, it enables Ki Attacks of various varieties, including the ability to enhance senses and shoot energy.
• MacGuffin: The relic, which was revealed to be cursed by the residual Nen of dying soldiers from The Great War, giving it great power and attracting many towards it.
• Magically-Binding Contract: Nen users are able to use this to bolster their abilities and become more proficient in nen types they aren't compatible with, usually by handicapping themselves in some way.
• Manipulative Bastard: Cojot.
• Mob War: The conflict between the various junk gangs during Story 2. Also, the ongoing conflict between Body and Marla's crews in Story 3.
• No Celebrities Were Harmed: Notable examples include Winston Church and Jewels.
• Not Evil, Just Misunderstood: Shivra Nyarl is revealed to be an example of this trope, as a result of Nen experiments.
• Nothing Is The Same Any More: The destruction of Auxilium, a major location within the story.
• Nuclear Weapons Taboo: The Miniature Rose. It even has radiation, called Rose Poison.
• Old Cop, Young Cop: Played with in the dynamic between Jaune and Souma, leading to friction due to Jaune's eccentric behavior and tests.
• Only Known by Their Nickname: The Gambler.
• Personality Powers: Nen is primarily based off of how the user is currently feeling. A particularly hateful or angry user, for instance, will produce a vile, stinging aura rather than the calm, neutral one that usually exudes from people.
• Open Secret: The training and use of Nen is supposed to be a big secret in the world, only known to those who walk deep into the path of becoming a hunter and rare individuals.
• Plucky Girl: Candy Rye, who always seems to maintain this nature of her personality no matter how hard things get.
• Precision F-Strike: Candy normally maintains a kind demeanor and does not use foul language, unless she has enough of your shit. Such as when Ksaksa tried to talk her out of fighting Shivra and avenging Whisk, and when Zero attempted to abandon her. In both cases, she used to word "shit."
• Psycho Serum: The test drug that was offered to Dwyer, which led him to automatically decimate a young group of gang members without remembering a thing.
• Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Thazath Cluth, after his brother Ksaksa had been killed.
• Rugged Scar: The most notable example being Zero.
• * Semantic Superpower: Not inherent, but the really strong abilities have certainly-worded rules placed on them. Nen-users are encouraged to do so, as the stricter the rules and conditions placed on an ability are, the more powerful they become, plus you can leave open (or even find by accident) loopholes to exploit. The enemy is able to exploit those loopholes as well, though.
• Shout-Out: Due to the nature of the story, sometimes references to elements from the main Hunter x Hunter series or other ongoing stories will be made.
• Sibling Yin-Yang: The Mason Brothers, idealist teen know-it-all Lake and conceded nihilistic shit-talker Riv, leading to a contrasting dynamic.
• Speech Impediment: Dwyer's stutter, as a result of a lengthy past of substance abuse.
• Spirited Competitor: Largely the character of Dredd Law, who seems to always be looking for a battle whenever he shows up. Though not quite sadistic, he's still always seeking out new opponents.
• Storming the Castle: Candy, Dahlia and Zero's attack on The Cartel, in order to rescue the journalist they'd been seeking.
• Super-Empowering: Libon’s speciality is crafting Nen abilities for other people.
• Super-Powered Alter Ego: Imaginihs, Thazath Cluth's Nen power and transformation.
• Superpower Lottery: Within some limits. There are six different schools of Nen you you can end up with that is random, and each school determines what type of powers you can develop for yourself. Ideally, the user develops the powers that are closer to his gradually and through a lifetime of training; this rule can only be averted if the user basically has a death wish and complete abandon and even that has its own limitations and rules.
• Super Wheelchair: Ele after receiving her Nen ability from Libon.
• The Alcatraz: Almost literally. Calatrac is a Nen prison, it was home to numerous inmates. That is, before Thazath's rampage led all the inmates to escape.
• The Conspiracy: The story's main conflict appears to stem from a country-wide conspiracy, involving one or more Covert Group.
• Theme Naming: Multiple characters have referential names. Including Brandon Stark, Candy Rye, Fizzy Brioche, Thazath and Ksaksa Cluth, and many more.
• There Is Only One Bed: Candy and Zero's bedtime routine before the ship sailed.
• Tragic Villain: Shivra Nyarl, who was experimented on and, in the end, decided to end his own suffering.
• Undignified Deaths: Due to the unforgiving nature of the universe and story, multiple notable characters go through this. Notably, Roy and Ksasa. Although with the latter’s case, it’s implied that he would have found the irony behind his cause of death amusing.
• We Hardly Knew Ye: Many characters endure cruel fates in untimely fashion, even some who were fairly young and relatively innocent.
• Wise Beyond Their Years: A fair amount of characters throughout the story embody this. Lake Mason is an amplified example of this because he had been wise beyond his years even before he went through the harsh realities of the world.
• Witness Protection: Attica during the third story.
• Worldbuilding: Lots and lots of it. The UPIO, its three provinces, The Great War, etc.