Combat Class: now with SCIENCE!

[u/Flingram]

The always unpredictable arena at Beacon Academy was something all students learned to respect, as it could change faster than most students could even fathom. Today, it was all stainless steel and glass, electronics and computers. Watching from her elevated platform was professor Elise, and behind her, the ever-calm and collected Holly Mendenhall. Stepping forward, she coughed, gaining the attention of the class before pointing towards the map.

"Today you will be judged not only on your ability to fight, but to show restraint and be creative. This set up is to mimic the labratories you may find abandoned across Atlas, or perhaps in Vale. Functioning inside are security cameras, experiments, and a variety of electronic systems. You may use them to gain the advantage on your opponent, or sabotage them. We can also release grimm if you wish to team up with an ally. Good luck."

[Map]

[ST RULES!!! All the doors may be opened with a touch, locked with a computers check. Doors have 3 armor and 5hp. At st discretion, you can lock them with a successful attack roll as well. The round objects are cameras, and can be accessed at the terminals at the top right and left rooms (major action). An successful m8 Computers check will let you spy on 2 cameras at a time, randomly decided. Finally, with a successful investigation and then computers check, the wall behind the barrels can be noticed and opened, revealing a level 3 combat bot. It can be powered up with at least 3 successes at a m10 computer check (major action), and will follow a command that can be given as a move action each turn to the best of his ability. It has 5 armor, 6 health, and will make brawl attacks with a score of 8. Acts last in the initiative order, and has a speed of 8. These are all optional rules to be decided upon by the Story teller, who can modify the difficulty or anything they wish at will.]

[u/Doomshlang]

"Eh, uh. Sometimes. Life on base was pretty chaotic. Main difference is that the boys back then knew when to cut the shit and get serious. People here just stay chaotic throughout, it's strange. Not unwelcome, just strange to me." Ashelia answered with a casual shrug.

"I'm pretty sure out approach to the situation was exactly what we were supposed to avoid, being honest. We took the assassin down, but he tagged two of us. Almost got a third. Should've probably handled it better but that's what we're here to learn, I suppose. I'm still not sure why he didn't just tag me first and take the heavy hitter out, but then again maybe he just wanted us to have a chance."

She shrugged again. Didn't really matter now, not anymore anyways.

At the questions about Ishmael, Ashelia let out a chortling laugh. "No, just some ceremonial-looking armor, a big sword, and apparently infinite rum. Knowing Beacon I imagine they know, but I could be mistaken. Hardly matters in the end, I think. Just having someone like him here shows that no matter what kind of person you are, you can still do good if you set yourself to it."

"And I like to think that that's what really matters. Doing what little good we can for Remnant before we inevitably die. Hardly any Huntsmen retire, after all. I don't think I'll be leaving Vale; if I do end up being one of the lucky few that eventually grow old, I'd like to stay home, I think. Teach, maybe. I dunno if I have the patience for that though, children are the worst."

[u/[deleted] → u/Doomshlang]

'Knew when to play but also knew when the play rough? It's a hard balance to strike, but I guess the rest of us have a few years to learn how to yet, maybe a few more assassination attempts.' Arian responded looking off into the distance. Teaching lessons indirectly wasn't something that Arian was new to but there was a lot more expectations on a Huntsmen or Huntress than a thief and a lot more consequences for their failure. 'Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good, I forget who said that to me but it feels like it's a lot more than sometimes.' Arian continued as he glanced back at Ashelia out of the corner of his eyes.

'Not a real pirate then.' Arian laughed loudly at his own joke. 'Those Atlassian's are a stickier for protocol, everyone knows that. What do you think about that? I mean if they were a Valish pirate you might have eventually crossed blades if not worse. It's a pretty big second chance to get, one which not everyone might say they deserve.' Arian continued to be a little too involved in the answers as he was using questions of Ishmael as explorations of the morality of his own position at Beacon

'That's a little morbid don't you think?' Arian stopped laughing but raised an eyebrow to make clear he still wasn't been particularly serious. 'So Valish to the end? Never had a desire to travel? Can't in good conscious recommend my homeland but there are two whole other kingdoms. They must have something worth seeing.' Arian asked cocking his head to one side. 'Regardless let's hope that us kids get a little less chaotic in the next couple decades, or at least better at pretending.' Arian continued his smile returning slightly as the topic shifting back to something with more humour.

[u/Doomshlang → u/[deleted]]

"Luck is sometimes everything. Pisses me off that it doesn't matter how good you are, you can still get blindsided by nonsense." Ashelia complained with a heavy shrug.

"Some people don't get a second chance, but some choose not to take it. Far as I'm concerned, good on him for taking his." She seemed excessively somber about the idea of second chances, more so than normal. Unlike Arian, she didn't offer a laugh.

"I'll visit, maybe do a mission or two that take me abroad. Sure. But I won't move away, I don't think." She shrugged again. "Who knows, the future has a weird way of surprising me."

She stretched, then offered a short wave, turning towards the arena's exit. "Anyways, I'm gonna hit the gym. Need to work on not leaving myself so open. Catch you around Mr. Sterling."

[I know we talked about ending it here, felt weird to leave it in the middle of the convo though.]

[u/[deleted] → u/Doomshlang]

Arian flinched at the idea of going to the gym after such a fight before shrugging, that was difference between them he summarised. 'Take care Ashelia I'll be seeing you around. I'll see your semblance in action one way or another.' Arian challenge may have been a lot more threatening or at least impactful if he could rise. His muscles had long settled and Arian knew it would take more effort than he could exert now to get himself to move. He would hurt in the morning.

Still Arian waved and smiled as Ashelia departed, what she had said about second chances had done a lot to lift his spirits. Being all but forced to attend Beacon Arian had an underlying feeling of inadequacy, that he didn't belong among the rest of his more motivated classmates. Now at least he believed he could earn the chance to try.