Krayzikk

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Speaking of the contest, I am not going to finish by the deadline. Just ain't going to happen. So I will endeavor to participate in the next one instead. XD

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

One day left on the writing challenge, people! Out of curiosity, is anyone else working on a submission? Agent, your mission has been approved, with some minor editations. Any mission with any real combat is by default a class C.

@Lugubrious

I'm working on a submission. Would normally have it done by now, but the week was more hectic than expected. XD Also, love the picture of Ben. I've been trying to pin his weapons in particular down in my head for ages, and those fit perfectly. Great work!

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Benjamin Lloyd: PE “Careful, angry classmates are more worrying than Sitting Bulls or Wendigo cubs.” Ben commented to Aurellius with a joking grin as he stepped into the room. In the back of his head, he had to admit that he didn’t entirely disagree with the other student. He wasn’t nearly suicidal enough to actually say it out loud, not with one of his own female teammates present. He’d hurried to PE as soon as the bell rang, just after passing off a second copy of the notes to Sangue and wishing both she and Trad luck in the next class. They’d actually split up, if he recalled their schedules correctly, so he and Amy were the only BAST members with a teammate in their class. For this period, at least. He didn’t quite remember if it changed for the next class. BAST’s leader had taken the time to change along the way, donning black exercise pants and a light weight gray t-shirt. It showed more of his physique than usual, but what did he expect? Anything light enough for PE was going to be a step down from his usual attire. Lawnslot and Artorius were tucked into the bag he’d been carrying earlier, just visible poking out from the top. He didn’t really know of anywhere to properly stow them, yet, and he wasn’t really inclined to simply leave them in a hallway locker. So in with his books and notes they went, carefully tucked into a locker in the boys’ locker room. Out in the main area, he stretched slightly in place. Grimm Studies had been a fantastic warm-up, even if longer ago than he would have really liked, and it didn’t take very long at all to get his muscles moving again. After a moment’s thought, he crossed towards Amy and her new acquaintance, raising a hand in greeting. “Hey, Amy. And hello, miss…?”

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

So, one quick question regarding the contest. Given that it's a noncanon story anyway, is it something that actually has to happen? For example, could a dream be used as a framing device for character behaviors that wouldn't be likely to happen in the canon timeline?

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Ben returned to his seat only long enough to grab his notebook and pencil before he followed the rest of the class outside. His heart was still beating loudly in his chest, the thrill of the fight far from faded. BAST’s leader couldn’t hide the satisfaction on his face at Port’s compliment, the swell of pride in his heart. He’d managed to make a good first impression on at least one of his teachers, and Port didn’t seem bothered by the fact that he was, technically, a dropout. Ben was certain he knew. None of them would have been on his initial roster, given that they were only admitted today. That Professor Port didn’t seem to think it worthy of comment… Actually went a long way towards making him feel better about it. He wasn’t going to stop working his hardest, because he knew that inevitably someone would object. Maybe not a teacher, maybe not a classmate, but someone would take exception to their presence. And he needed to be able to prove them wrong. But, not everyone would. And maybe he’d made a good enough showing to prove just why he was there. It wasn’t a fluke, he’d earned his chance, even if it wasn’t the same way as the rest. He watched the next student take on a Sitting Bull, and rather handily at that. His… Attitude was something of another matter. Even in class, a Grimm wasn’t something to take lightly. It was a dangerous creature, and a threat to every human and Faunus. But this student treated it like a party joke, and finished it off in a very… Brutal way. Brutal and inefficient. There was nothing gained by such a flashy takedown, not when it could have been done so much easier beforehand. But Ben supposed it wasn’t his place to judge; everyone fought a different way, and perhaps that was simply how this student operated. Best not to be judgemental. “... That shirt line was really uncool, wasn’t it?” He asked Trad, though the query wasn’t really directed at him specifically. Honestly, the comment had been the first thing that popped into his head. Adrenaline-powered as he’d been, he hadn’t really thought about it. … It sounded kinda vain, when he thought about it. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sangue without paper or pen. The reason, after a moment’s thought, was pretty clear. “Hey, Sangue. I could make a second copy of any notes we take out here, if that’d help.”

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Evening, folks. Poking my head in to let you all know that Kaithas has to sleep so he'll be posting tomorrow. The past few days have been a little busy for me, but I'll be posting tomorrow as well. I know the lack of a Ben post isn't holding anyone up, but I apologize anyway.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

<Snipped quote by McFazzer> ...someone who mentioned they failed there entrance exam...

@Prince of Seraphs

In fairness, this isn't a secret. All of BAST failed the exam. They got in by virtue of unofficial conduct, and even that was pretty contentious between Ozpin and Goodwitch from the look of it. It's not that it's secret, it's just that no one really knows because it just happened. Staff (as noted by Port) know and while the students haven't been told, it's pretty easy to guess that there's something up there. A whole team of freshmen, none of whom were present at or mentioned in the team announcement ceremeony/event/whatever you wish to call it? The exact truth isn't known, but a little thought and a few questions would turn up that particular fact without much effort.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

congratz to Ben for utterly brutalizing a Grimm :D On another note, @harinezumikouken might have stirred the pot a little too hard. Here's hoping that all goes well. Just a quick question though; Grimm Studies class isn't over, right? (it seems kinda short if it just ends there, so im just making sure lol)

@NarayanK

Pretty sure it's not, Port said there'd be multiple combat trials.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Well, that took a little longer to write than I expected. XD Killing of the Grimm cleared by Forsythe, just in case anyone thought he was supposed to control it.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

(Grimm Studies) Ben flashed his teammates an almost casual grin as he slid his chair back, leaving his pen on the desk in front of him. The easy, relaxed expression covered up the preparatory tightening of his muscles and the quickening of his heart. It only took him a moment to reach the room’s clear floor, obviously prepared for this very occasion, and he moved to take a position opposite the cage. Port was addressing the class as a whole, but Ben wasn’t really listening to it. He didn’t need to. All eyes, at that moment, were on him. Hs teammates’, his classmates’, the professor’s, they were all paying attention. Ready to evaluate his performance. Evaluate him. This was his only chance for a first impression. If, and he hated himself for indulging the hypothetical, he failed, he’d do harm to his reputation. Failure to pass the exam already marred his reputation. He needed to make up for that. No pressure. He thought dryly, reaching to his belt. Time to show them why we’re here. With practiced ease he pulled his tonfa from his belt, one in either hand. Lawnslot his left, Artorius his right. He pulled his shoulders back and held the position, the stretch loosening up his shoulders. With a deft flick of each wrist he flipped his tonfa out from his arms, facing the points forward, before bringing them back. Their spines ran along the bone of his forearm, cool even through the sleeves of his shirt. The shotgun barrels were loaded only with a shot or two each, things he’d prefer to avoid using in the classroom if he could. Granted, the classroom was set up so as to minimize the danger to observers. It wasn’t likely to be an issue. He could act without too much worry for restraint. Sinking into a light-footed stance, left foot and arm leading his guard with the right towards the rear, he waited. A single nod to Port confirmed his readiness. And a single move from the professor released his opponent. The beast was only a cub, he knew, but that didn’t make it any less inherently unnerving to have a wendigo charging at you. Thousand of years of human evolution, hardwired deep into the fabric of his being, kicked in. The first urge was to get out of the way, and this time, Benjamin obliged it. He stepped to his right, pivoting on the spot to keep his left forearm between him and the Grimm. He was rewarded, almost instantly, with the sound and feeling of claws raking down Lawnslot’s length, kept from his arm only by a few inches of metal. Bastion’s leader didn’t waste time, flipping Artorius’ tip forward with a flick of his wrist and driving it towards the wendigo’s exposed flank. The blade glanced along the beast’s side, but missed its mark as the Grimm lunged aside. It was now that Ben got his first real look at the creature. A Wendigo, one of the more menacing creatures that roamed the land. It was only a cub but it still stood as tall as, even slightly taller than, his waist. Its long scythe-like tail twitched, a low, quiet sign of the black beast’s rage. Its flanks were free from scars, save his own blow, unlike its fully grown kin; a fully grown Wendigo, a voice in the back of his head reminded him, would be both as large as a horse and criss-crossed with scars from previous wounds. They had an ability to heal, and each scar was a badge of honor. Proof of a fight survived. Ben had retreated a few steps, putting a little distance between him and the beast. The Wendigo didn’t contest the move, lips curled back in a silent snarl under cruelly intelligent red eyes. Stillness, for a moment, pervaded the room like an oppressive blanket. Nothing moved, not the Grimm, not Ben, and not the class. A low, hair-raising howl split the silence, growing in volume severity as it issued forth from the cub’s throat. It lunged without further warning, all four paws leaving the floor as it hurled itself at Ben with hatred in its eyes. The huntsman in training sidestepped again, and the Wendigo landed smoothly… Only to lash out with its tail, the scythe intercepted in the nick of time by Lawnslot. But the natural, curved blade, rather than being deflected, grabbed the weapon, yanking it down and aside while the Wendigo stabbed its claws for Ben’s unprotected gut. He batted its forearm aside with Artorius, but none too soon. One of its claws cut the side of his shirt, not far from his own side. This move, however, had forced the Grimm into an untenable position with a foreleg too far extended, and its second primary weapon occupied with Lawnslot. A fact that was soon demonstrated quite clearly when Ben planted his foot in its underside, causing it to stumble back with an angry growl. Wendigo, as far as Grimm go, are pretty smart. They learn. But… Means they can be tricked. The beast sensed weakness. It had found a chink in the armor, a flaw in the defenses, and it wasted no time in exploiting it, advancing with another swing of its tail. But this time Ben was ready. He blocked easily with Artorius, stopping the Grimm’s scythe easily. Blocking with the right, rather than the left, permitted the force to be distributed throughout his stance. Lawnslot’s blade lashed out, cleanly removing the scythe from its owner. The Wendigo shrieked in rage and pain, and Ben felt his blood chill at the sound, but it would not be deterred. It wasn’t as smart as older Grimm, and it threw caution to the wind with its rage, hurling itself at Ben with the intent to sink its teeth into his throat. But its jaws closed, instead, around Lawnslot’s blade and spine, stopped half a foot from his neck. A close call, at first glance. But the distance was intentional. His right leg was a half-step back, providing a bracing point to maintain his position, as well as enable him to step into his next strike. Ben flicked his wrist, realigning Artorius’ blade forward, also realigning its shotgun barrel to point back along his forearm. His right foot took a step forward, forcing the beast back on its hindlegs, exposing its underside as well as granting extra power to the thrust of his weapon that followed. He triggered the firearm even as he struck, the recoil combining with the strength of his arm to bury the blade deep in the Wendigo’s torso. The beast gave one last growl, more spiteful than menacing now, before petering off as the Grimm dissolved away to nothing. Bastion’s leader could feel the exhilaration of the fight rushing through his veins, good old fashioned adrenaline, and could feel his heart pumping rhythmically in his chest. Nothing got the ticker pumping like a brawl, and he knew it would be a moment before it started to settle to its normal resting pulse. Almost idly, he glanced at the tear the Grimm had left in his clothes. “Damn. I kinda liked this shirt.”