-redacted-

---

”Bahahahaha!” The laughter was deep and very loud. Orrin stood, throwing his head back and practically roaring. The back of his skull brushed against the hard metal of his shield, still suspended from his back. ”Did you see how they fell? Oh, we’re so good!” He was filled with pride, despite the fact that he’d had little to do with the temporary break in the Grimm.

He’d managed to keep almost quiet during most of the class, saying very little and generally managing to escape notice. This was a struggle, but Obi had been wanting to make a good impression, seeing as it was his first day and all. Make friends, and the such. The excitement of battle proved too much, however, and he’d erupted in laughter. He held Tandem aloft, but the girl with the sword and the boar faunus had left little for him to shoot at, for the moment. He doubted the Grimm were done for, though. He saw people starting to work their way toward the life boats, and figured he should follow them. Still giddy from the decimation from the Grimm, Orrin quickly checked the straps keeping the massive slab of metal on his back and then lumbered toward the lifeboats, a dumb smile plastered onto his face.

Krysanthe's shirt joined the pile of clothing on the ground(leaving a plain gray sports bra underneath), cementing her place in the team of skins. Also showing that she wasn't lacking the muscle department either, though not as brazenly as the boys. Plus her legs were stronger anyway. Trad showed off a bit and then brought up strategy. Krysanthe kinda knew most of the people here, but not really what they were good at very well. So Krysanthe figured she'd just bring up what she could do. "I bet I can kick it at least half the field, so as soon as we get it we just need someone to make it to the bad guy's goal and I'll get it to them. Easy peazy." Krysanthe said confidently. This was her strong suite after all. Furthermore the self-appointed ref Selena brought up they should be able to use their semblances in it. "I second the motion!" Krysanthe said boldly. The more exciting the game the better!

Yue finishes reinforces the lifeboats as well as protecting them should any grimm attack them directly. She uses up about half of the ice dust that Ashe gave her when some of the other students arrived. Yue hefts her sword onto her shoulder and bows her head to them. ”Hello! I’m glad to see you all safe. The boats are ready, we just need everyone to arrive first before we embark.” And of course just as Yue says this, she hears two grimm jump out of the water. She turns to face them and sees that it’s two Ogdoads. They shoot a spray of fetid and poisonous sea water at them, but Yue was quick to react by swinging her Moonlight Greatsword upward, creating a thick wall of ice that blocked the attacks and protect the others. However before she could retaliate they both landed on the opposite ends of the ship, ready for another fight.

The first thing Yue did was stab her blade into the ground, causing the dust in her sword to go towards both Ogdoads on the opposite ends and freeze their feet to the ground. It won’t hold them for long, but hopefully it’ll give the hunters time to lay on the pain before they get freed. Yue herself charged towards the one closest. She had just a little bit of dust left, enough for one strike, so she needed to make this one count. The monster spat a geyser of water at Yue but she was able to jump out of the way easily, though going just slow enough to make the Ogdoad think it could hit her. She didn’t want any of the others or the boats caught in the crossfire, so she was dangerously close to the water blast. But once she was close enough to strike the ogdoad she aimed her blade right into one of it’s sacks, stabbing through and freezing it solid. That stopped the ogdoad from spitting out water. However he also managed to get out of the ice that Yue had trapped him in and swung his tongue at Yue, who blocked it with her blade. It tried to pull her closer but after planting the tip of her sword down she was able to stop herself from moving forward, but only for now. But she also had the ogdoad preoccupied, hopefully giving someone else and opening to finish it off.

Gren and Sangue joined up with some of the other students at the lifeboats. It appears that they were reinforcing the lifeboats to make sure they didn’t get destroyed by Grimm. That was a pretty good idea he figured, though he hoped that the ice didn’t cause the boats to sink. He didn’t imagine that the lifeboats could handle the extra weight very well, but then again he didn’t know much about boats. ”Ayo. Looks like we found the boats. All we need now is for the rest of the class to show up. Let’s hurry before-” At that moment two ogdoad’s emerged from the water to attack them. Yue was on point and created ice walls to protect them from the toad’s attack while Gren revved up Annabeth. ”That. Before that happened.”

Yue went to deal with one so Gren went to deal with the other, charging forward to put himself between the grimm and his teammates. The Ogdoad fired a torrent of water at Gren, but his steady stance and semblance allowed him to withstand the gout of water easily, and his tightly sealed armor ensured that the poison acid didn’t hurt him directly. He revved up his gun and waited until the ogdoad was done firing before unleashing a hail of bullets right into the toad’s face. He got a few good shots into the monster before it hopped off trying to get to the others. ”You aren’t getting away that easily!” Gren fired some rockets in the path of the Ogdoad, doing enough damage to the creature that he fell from the air and onto the deck near Gren. Stomping his foot into the ground Gren used his Semblance to keep the Ogdoad rooted to the spot while on his back, allowing Gren or any of his other allies to finish the big toad off. It tried to attack by shooting it’s barbed tongues at Gren, but he predicted this would happen and planted Annabeth into the ground and blocked the attacks, using his semblance again to keep the tongues stuck to his weapon so that the Ogdoad couldn’t use them against the others.

”I got this one pinned! Someone finish em off!”

@Ryonara@Azereiah@NarayanK@Nevix

Physical Education

Cian could honestly say she was kind of lost and just going with the motions as the game moved on. It was clear to see that she was way out of her league and kind of lost. Her eyes kept darting back and forth trying to keep track of everything and she was sure if the situation allowed it she would be panicking more with the sheer chaos that was happening around her. Though keeping her cool or at least as well as she could she tried to keep track of the ball and which team she was on though in all honestly it was clear she was lost on what to do but at least the effort was being made.

---

The day was going swimmingly well. Totally. Huntsman academies were batshit crazy in Ashe's book before she'd ever gone to one, and her view had only gotten worse in the past couple hours. She'd been hanging on by a thread ever since Grimm Studies, and now, with the arrival of two simulated Ogdoads on the sinking ship, that thread was cut. No.

She wasn't going to have any part of this any longer than she needed to. She was here to learn how to kill Grimm and make herself useful, but that didn't mean that she had to be in life threatening situations at all times of the day. Walking down a wilderness road after getting a divorce was safer than this place. Being at gunpoint was safer than this place. In her mind, she imagined herself going back to Mistral to resume her life as a hustler. Squish.

Sure, she'd made a couple friends at Beacon already, or she at least hoped she had. Sure, there were friendly people all around. Sure, the campus was beautiful and full of good climbing spots. Sure, there was a chance for steady, honest income at Beacon. But it wasn't worth this kind of stress. Squelch.

She blinked away the murderous scowl on her face, and realized her arm was deep inside one of the Ogdoads' eyes and rapidly being soaked by its leaking aqueous humor. Her fingers were wrapped around something soft, thick, and cordlike, and the creature was thrashing about in pain. With a sigh, she yanked it hard, and the Ogdoad that had been attacking Yue crashed to the ground and spasmed violently as it evaporated. Perhaps things weren't quite as bad as she thought.

---

To others, she had been standing near the lifeboats, staring at the water as though she were going to jump overboard. After a few moments, her appearance shifted to that of a humanoid Grimm - black skinned with a white goat skull in the place of her face - and she walked calmly towards the fight. Yue had just finished fending off another attack from the creature's barbed tongue when Ashe stepped in front of the Grimm. It ignored her. Then she had thrust her right hand deeply into its eye, and returned to her usual appearance after it died. Only then did the other Ogdoad react to her presence by throwing one of its remaining unpinned limbs towards her.

@Lucius Cypher@Ryonara@Nevix@NarayanK

Yue’s feet dragged through the deck as the Ogdoad pulled her closer and closer. She still kept her steady stance but she simply didn’t have the weight to maintain he ground, and only Thanks to the Moonlight Sword was she able not to be pulled in. She was thinking of ways to counter attack when suddenly the Ogdoad died, vanishing into black dust. That’s when Tue finally noticed Ashe having slain the Grimm by plucking his eye out. ”Oh! Wonderful work there Ashe!”

Their work wasn’t finished yet however. As Yue pulled her sword out from the deck she saw the other Ogdoad launch an attack at Ashe. Yue reacted quickly, infusing lightning Dust to her blade and intercepting the attack with a slash. Yue cut the offending appendage down and stood in front of Ashe protectively. ”Ashe, could you go find the others and bring them to the lifeboats? We will defend this area until all the students have arrived!” Lifting the blade over her head, Yue fires a been of lightning infused laser through her blade and into the Ogdoad, doing more damage to the creature.

”Just leave it to us! I’ll make sure that we get out of here alive.”

@Azereiah

@NarayanK@HereComesTheSnow@Crimmy

Sarina Tala Dei – Hallway

The hallways were quite quiet where Sarina was now. Though she did hear some ruckus far down the hall, she wondered what it was while holding a Jasmine Green Milk Tea. Sarina knew most of her team. Sterling, she was alongside with him on caravan defense mission, a shameful failure of a mission. Shuai, an exuberant man she had small-talk with a few times. This Hana though, a newcomer transfer from Vale. Sarina wondered who she was as she was a transfer from Mistral as she walked down the hallways hearing voices of people. And that is when she noticed bodies of girls on the floor, were Shuai, Sterling, and a girl. That girl must be Hana by why was their bodies on the floor. At brisk pace Sarina got up to them, looked at the bodies with bewilderment as she got up to them. They are not dead so that’s good but making a glance to Hana then looking at Shuai “Hey uh…who are these girls on the hallway floor?” She then took a sip of her tea.

OOC: If y'all forgot how Sarina looked heres the anime character I based her looks on (static.zerochan.net/Yagiri.Namie.full…)

Sand frowned slightly as she eyed the pamphlet she had been given. She was not familiar with this version of football. It almost seemed likely that the professor had made it up in whatever mountain training pilgrimage he had been dragged out of.

She moved closer to the rest as the teams huddled, pausing only to blink at Trad’s waste of a good shirt and to ponder how he had done such a thing before concluding it was not worth the headache.

Instead, she joined the huddle, attention split between the pamphlet in front of her and the voices of the other students. As another student shared what they could do for the team, Sand found herself nodding. She might have been unfamiliar with this version of the sport in particular, but she thought he knew her strengths well enough to share.

“This is a bit different from what I’m used to, but I usually played defense. Tackling or intercepting passes tended to be my thing.”

Glancing up from the paper for once, she noted that the student that had been speaking before had also shed her upper garments. And here I thought the skin vs. shirts comment had been a joke.

As another girl spoke, Sand looked up with half-lidded eyes. She was not terribly surprised when a look at the one who’d spoken also showed more discarded sets of clothing.

A thought occurred to her, and she stifled a small smirk.

“I wonder about using Semblances in a PE class,” she offered matter-of-factly. “Might have to clear it with the professor. If we want a general strategy, though… I see. Dressing as distractingly as possible is certainly an option. It is good to lead by example, Trad.” Sand nodded, as though she had suddenly come across a great truth. She tilted her head slightly, giving the rest of the team a level stare. “Go on then, strip. Hurry.”

Despite her urging, her own arms remained notedly still before her, still holding on to her instructional pamphlet. As if anticipating protests, she added, “I’m playing defense, so it’s only natural that I’d have to camouflage myself like the shirts. Worry not, this is a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

In the back of her mind, Sand ignored the voice that told her she was making a questionable first impression on her new classmates.

@Awesomoman64@Norschtalen@Suku@Eklispe@harinezumikouken@SevenStormStyle@Forsythe@NarayanK@Krayzikk

"Woohoo! We're doing this guys!" Selena gave an almost lazy cheer as she heard Sand telling everyone else to strip off their shirts too. It just seemed like the right thing to do. However as they waited she also noticed that Sand wasn't taking her shirt off, which made Selena go over to the girl and poke her belly. "Ah c'mon, you gotta join in on the fun too. We're suppose to be a team. If you don't match our uniforms, our teamwork is gunna go down the drain. Plus what if your camo is too good? So good that we forget that you're on our team?" Selena faked a surprised gasped. She looked at Sand in abject horror and stepped back. "What if she's a spy for the other side? Someone sent over to sow chaos in our team? I think the only way you can prove you're on our side is if you match our resolve." Selena puffed out her chest and patted her fist over her own heart. "C'mon, don't leave us hanging. Gotta show your loyalty."

@Lazo

I'm not someone who likes to do things on the fly. Jumping headfirst into an unfamiliar situation, going off of an outdated or an incomplete understanding things... It's asking for trouble. This is something I've known to be eminently, unrepentantly, and mercilessly true for years.

I'm not the kind of guy that just goes with his gut and assumes he knows things, not at all. I like having a clear picture, and like finding it as firsthand as I can, so...

While the team began to plan and trade banter with our opponents, I was forced to direct my quipping towards the task at hand rather than anyone else.

"What on Earth is this ruleset?!"

A circular field, passing with punches or kicks, needing to bounce once every 15 meters or it's travelling—

Disregarding the former two, that one was just basketball!

Add in tackles, bumps, and the distinctions made between them regarding to how the victim must dispossess the ball, and this was getting ridiculously complex to just be picking up at the drop of a hat!

The more I flipped through, back, and even upside down the pamphlet for a laugh, the more the alien interpretations of the already hotly-debated term of "football" began to pile up. I, honestly, would have really just loved it if we could have stuck to one of the more popular two, which I had at least a modicum of familiarity with.

I've never been a particularly athletics-oriented guy, despite my intimate understanding of physical training; the sum total of sports I had any real interest in were, out of necessity, those directly applicable to a huntsman hopeful.

Judo.
Kickboxing.
Wrestling.
A smidge of weightlifting, powerlifting, and track— You know. So I knew what I was doing when I trained.

...Man, Dad didn't even get a proper chance to get me into shooting, huh?

"...Dressing as distractingly as possible is certainly an option."

But, the bottom line I'm getting at is that I'm already not a sporty person, so picking up this intricate mass of new rules that needed their own pamphlet was a big ask...

Then again, judging by the fact that Coach Roy had seen fit to distribute literature regarding how the hell to play this, I supposed our adversaries were stuck with the same predicament.

"How many people do we have who are confident in their kicking accuracy here? My first instinct's to go for the goal posts considering those are worth six points while the behinds are... one, right?"

I glanced over to the other huddle, blinking a couple times at the wild sports bra that had appeared, before refocusing and turning back in once the image had properly burned in.

"Th-Thing is... Ahem. They'll definitely stack their defense up down the midfield to limit our opportunities to score big. We need to know who can kick from far out or weird angles. I've got enough power to get the job done, like anyone else, but I haven't exactly dredged up my soccer skills at all since my second year of High School..."

Not even as part of a club or team, either.

I would probably be more shocked if my shots didn't go wide.

Amaranth Desire: OMAHA! BLUE 39!

The hawk's feathers twitched once and gradually rose as the rules for the game were (somewhat) explained and the teams were picked, her brain taking advantage of the welcome distraction from the rest of the day's thoughts to shift gears. She'd never played sports in any official capacity, really--opportunities to join varsity leagues had hardly been common growing up in an orphanage--but the one sport she'd played a lot of was soccer. A goal could be two posts, a field just the park nearby. A ball wasn't hard to find, even if most of the ones she'd dealt with were misshapen or under-inflated.

That last fact might end up working in my favor, she realized, looking at the oddly shaped ball in Fitzroy's hand. She had no doubt it was regulation for whatever variety of football they were playing, but it sure as hell wasn't a soccer ball. Still, it had been years since she'd even stepped on a field, and... rules weren't really a thing she'd had to worry about back then.

Amy might just want to play it safe.

"I... I'd suggest putting me on defense. I've not exactly got any Semblance abilities that'll allow me to move more quickly than I can normally or power through them, but my reaction time should help with guarding the goal. Alternatively, I can use it to try to aim shots. I'll... do whatever you say though, Cap."

@HereComesTheSnow @FlitterFaux @Plank Sinatra @Kaithas @Awesomoman64 @Tominas @Crimson Raven @Abillioncats

”I dunno, man, looks like you’re slacking.” Ben called back over to his former teammate, taking the time to undo the buttons on his own shirt. ”All you proved is the uniforms suck! Amy’s known that since week one!”

His own shirt stayed on, albeit unbuttoned. He wanted to be able to move without restriction. And, yeah, he wanted to keep playing along. It was stupid, but man it was fun. Blacksmith beats out lumberjack, my man. Bastille’s captain flexed for a moment, then clapped his hands and refocused.

”Alright, big man’s got a pretty good suggestion,” He inclined his head in Blaine’s direction, he didn’t know the man’s name yet. But anyone that stood that much taller than him, big man’d work for now. Then he nodded at Luke. ”And Luke makes a good point. I frankly do not get the finer parts of these rules, but I’d be willing to bet they don’t either. Even if they try defense most on midfield, I’m willing to bet we can probably bowl through ‘em.”

“Amy, should probably have you on defense. You’ll react faster than any of us. Skye can help you out, and uh…” He spent a second trying to remember a name, then snapped his fingers. ”Ferris. Ferris, you should help them out. With any luck we won’t let ‘em get that far, but it’ll be up to you guys to stop them if they get close.”

“Me, Luke, 007 here, the big man, and Miss Jane Doe’ll play offense. Between us I think we’ve got enough size, speed, and skill to handle it.” He clapped Luke on the back, and offered the whole team a wide grin. ”As far as I’m concerned, Luke here’s my second. He says something, pay attention. I don’t know all the names here, can we get a quick round of introductions? Better than nicknames.”

“And if anyone’s got anything else to add on strategy I’m all ears.”

---

"Come on... Come on... Spit it out already..." Robert groaned as he continued to stand by the vending machine he had inserted his loose change into. Eight minutes ago! Survival class would be starting in just a couple minutes and he was still standing by the lien eating machine which had stolen his hard earned money. When the candy bar inside had first been pushed against the glass and decided it didn't want to follow the silly laws set in place by gravity, the boy had sworn to the highest powers of this land that he would not leave until that snack was in his stomach. Now that the late bell was fast approaching with its ringing announcement that anyone not sitting down would be marked tardy, he was regretting his decision. There wasn't enough time. He had to leave now.

With one last frustrated kick to the large rectangular box, Robert grabbed his belongings and he took off down the hallway at speeds that would make some members of the track team look like snail faunas. Seconds after, the vending machine would let out a klunk as the candy bar finally slid down to the bottom, letting anyone who checked to discover a free snack for themselves.

When the redheaded student finally arrived in class, he'd take the first seat he saw open. Evidently, there were some greedy people in Ms. Nuit's Survival class as his desk appeared cupcake-less. Most likely some nameless random that wasn't important at all to the world with the exception of giving the young huntsman-in-training a bigger headache. There would be no time to dwell on that though as he'd only arrived in time for Ms. Nuit to lead them out of class.

Once she had explained what this large auditorium-like room was for, Robert had to use all of his self-control to not start shaking with excitement. It was just like a training room right out of the comics he often spent his free time and remaining lien reading every night. This was amazing! He couldn't help but wonder just how many different simulations this thing had stored in its databanks. He'd soon find out what one them was though as the entire class found themselves transported to the deck of a large sinking ship. It was good that he at least knew how to swim.

While everyone else was worried about their own survival, Robert couldn't help but geek out and bend down to inspect the ship. It all looked so real. He pressed his hand against it and, sure enough, the textures felt genuine. As he tried to think of another sense he could test the simulation on, a large wave hit the side of the ship and caused water to spray right into his face. "Yep, that definitely tastes salty. Oh right, we're supposed to be getting off," he said to himself before checking his surroundings and seeing what everyone else was doing.

"Oh, boats. That should make this easy, I thought we'd have to swim all the way there," Robert commented as he ran over to life boats that most people were gathering around. Of course anyone that knew him well enough would know that the bespectacled student had just set himself up for failure. Almost as soon as he had finished his sentence, one of the Grimm slashed at the cables that had held the supply crates the simulated ship was ferrying across the fake sea. The boxes now began to tumble all across the deck, mostly falling overboard and harmlessly sinking to the depths below. Except one. Blindsiding Robert, the crate began to take him for a ride toward the opposite end of the ship. Soon a loud splash would accompany his fall over the railing.

With the professer’s “encouraging” shouting, Ferris manged to figure all this racket was going to make it hard to continue napping. He opened his eyes and got to his feet with a sigh. This was probably going to be a drag, but he was goons to pretend to care. Besides, this was football. Both versions were fun.

He received the instruction pamphlet that was passed out with a raised eyebrow and regarded it like one would a week-old banana peel. Shaking his head, he opened it and began to read.

The first page in and he was aghast.

This was...football? This was football. This was football?! Well what the hell. Another game to attach to the highly contested name football that has little to do with the foot and more to do with the ball. It seemed to Ferris that the game was closer to basketball then the other two common games with the moniker ‘football’.

But, there was no point in complaining about it. Ferris made sure to read it several times before folding it up tight and sticking it in a pocket. Out of the same pocket, he idly produced a bullet casing of all things and began to twirl it between his fingers. Frowning in thought as they picked teams, he considered ways to use his semblance to his team’s advantage during the game. Unfortunately, nothing outstanding came to mind. Whether this was because of his unfamiliarity with the game, or because it was not suited to this sort of thing, he wasn’t sure. He suspected it was a combination of both. His, and he assumed, everyone else’s, unfamiliarity with the rules was going to make coordinating difficult for both sides. That meant the match was probably going to come down to a combination of semblances and physical ability. Those who relied on skill with weapons were at a disadvantage here. Following that thought, since intense physical contact was probably going to be at a minimum, one could afford to be more free with their aura usage then usual. All that made the most important thing was to identify semblances quickly and devise stratagems to counter while trying to prevent the other team from doing the same, while also devising creative ways to use the given semblances on one team.

In an odd moment of self reflection, Ferris realized he had been putting quite a bit of thought into this silly little game.

He was still considering the problem by the time the teams were picked. He wandered over to join his team in the loose huddle, mildly releved to not be on the skins side. There were a few faces he recognized, but most of their names escaped him.

The other team had started stripping. Like any hot-blood male, Ferris noted the eye-candy. “I think the ladies of the other team have us men at a disadvantage.” He noted to no one in particular.

Right, strategy.

“Actually, Cap, I think I’d be more of use on offense.” Ferris spoke up in an apathetic voice. “Unlike Ahoge boy here, I am confident on my kicking and passing accuracy, and with my spare parts,” Ferris lifted his prosthetic leg and gesturing in a way that brought attention to his Gauntlet. “I have power to spare. However, before we actually get into that, introductions are more important. But instead of just your name, explain what your semblance can do. I believe that understanding and coordinating these will be the lynchpin of our victory. We can decide positions with more emphasis on that then physical ability.”

Of course, that would include explaining his own. Crud.

He hated trying to explain his semblance to other people because he almost always received blank stares in return. It wasn’t his fault it was so bloody complicated.

@Krayzikk @HereComesTheSnow @FlitterFaux @Plank Sinatra @Kaithas @Awesomoman64 @Tominas @Abillioncats

Stella dutifully walked around the room, picking up the stray cupcakes and their wrappers. While she was narrowly avoiding bumping into desks her eyes stood transfixed on the display that was showing her students’ progress in the escapade. Escaping a sinking ship and making it to an island with enough resources to last the night. She was curious to see their approach.

She took a second, standing in the middle of the class watching the monitor to recognize where she was. How far she had come. She had been a nobody for her entire life, the Nuit that didn't matter. The Nuit that took after her mother. Hardly a Nuit at all. But now, she was Estelle, the teacher for Survival Studies. She had her own students, her own job, her own money. Her place in this world. She felt unshakeable.

She made it to the final cupcake that was still in the form of a nipple.

Right

Her hands came up to her face as she quickly tried to disregard the cupnipple… Nipplecake? Either way it had to go. She put it into a Tupperware container and threw it into her desk, just in case Lauren wanted it later.

“God I’m starting to become Bianca.” She said as her face launched past three different shades of red. But then she caught my eye… She was-

---

As soon as we were on the sinking ship I felt completely in my environment. While these Grimm weren’t real it was nice to finally have some target practice with the new wings. With a single elegant motion they extended fully to my right and left and with a single heavy flap I was spinning into the air. I’m sure I looked beautiful.

As soon as I entered their domain a few targeted me but shifting C’est la Vie into it’s spear form and letting it extend into one of their faces was all too easy. With one down and two more rapidly approaching I wrapped my arm around C’est la Vie and tilted it downwards, bringing my wings in in order to quickly use my body weight (as little as it is!) to dodge the blow with a sharp turn. A few Grimm appeared to be targeting my teammates in this situation and I didn’t think I was going to be able to reach them in time. Extending my arm and using my thumb as guidance I hurled C’est la Vie through the opposition, I made sure to wave in a pretty cute way at Gratia when she saw what I did.

It’d annoy her, sure. But it felt too good to be back.

I let the fire inside me grow as I continued my onslaught on the Grimm. One approached me talons outstretched and with a brief flex of my semblance, I pivoted as if I was taking a boxer’s stance in midair. C’est la Vie twirled back to my and a single back step was all it took for the spear to take the Grimm full throttle. But another had soon replaced it and C’est la Vie couldn’t change direction fast enough to strike this one as well.

I took the blow and cringed as the pain was simulated in my forearm, but the Grimm hadn’t expected my tenacity. I snapped my head forward and struck the beast, my head felt like it had just smacked steel – but sure enough the simulation dissipated. I was doing well.

C’est la Vie magnetized to my hand and I looked for my next set of targets. I hadn’t felt like this in ages. But soon it was over. My wings felt as though they doubled in length and just as I glanced out at them I dropped back down to the boat. I was barely able to catch myselfand immediately rejoined the fight from the ground. But all of the sudden I was exhausted. My chest rising and falling my wings felt as though they were back to being featherless. Though quick and careful examination would prove otherwise.

I could only think one thing.

Thank god Jer didn’t see that.

...God I’m starting to become Stella.

Listening to his teammates speak, Blaine gave them his utmost attention. This was made manifest in an unblinking stare, his stone brow knit together in the world’s single most intense gaze, unbroken by the womanflesh before him. Admiration could wait for a different time, now was football.

The small, belligerent man made a good point, though he seemed abrasive. That could be a problem. More so, the room suddenly became very hot as it dawned upon the faunus that he had failed to make his introductions. Blithering fool! How can you win a good first impression if they’ve no names to align with you? Blast! In the midst of his own berations, his gaze bore a large hole into the floor, a small vein beginning to pulse in his forehead as his vision stabbed the earth. He panicked internally, the only external hint of tension a single bead of sweat, ever so slowly making its way down his stoic cheek. In this state, he raised his eyes, lips pursed, the words on the tip of his tongue as he struggled to address those around him. His mouth was dry and the ill-fitting uniform seemed to tighten around his throat like a wounded lover, one of the buttons straining to hold the collar shut around his tree trunk neck.

“...”

Speak, damn you!

“I… am Blaine.” He paused, glancing as the group of expectant faces bore down on him, his voice being drug from his throat, slow and forced, like cattle to slaughter. “Big man is also acceptable. I am quite large. My Semblance makes things I touch larger or smaller while I touch them, in both mass and volume.” Another pause as he looked around, gaining confidence as the lack of torches and pitchforks became evident. A tiny rip indicated the expulsion of a button from his collar, allowing sweet, cool air to brush his neck. It was appreciated, though he would have to sew it back on at a later time. Stooping down to pick up the offending button and set it inside his breastpocket, the faunus continued, his voice settling into place like an old bull out to pasture, or James Earl Jones after a lunch break.

“Offense is doable, as I would prefer to be farther from our own goal in order to prevent use of my stature for marks by our scantily clad opponents. I will prevent our ballhandlers from being struck down best as I can. Shepherding, as it is stated on the rulesheet. Through my fellow offenders' feet, we will all march to glory.”

"I also believe that if they attempt to distract us with pleasures of the flesh, we may should try the same, captain Ben and second in command Luke. I believe that our coach most likely had a prior manner of identifying who is on which team, such as colored flags. With this in mind, I offer the idea of our most attractive removing their clothes as well. It may help us in the long run."

Hesitating for a moment, the faunus pressed on. His eyes were now focused on the one who previously spoken, gray in attire, grim in attitude. Though he did not judge him, his words must be addressed. Blaine’s facial expression was yet to change, the vein in his forehead continuing it's steady rhythm. “Additionally, I think we would be best served by keeping your powerful limbs in the back, grey one, where we need to be able to launch the ball downfield. I would refer to you as your name, but you had not given one. This is also to contend with your poor attitude and what I perceive as a lack of true confidence, going by your apathetic tone and rudeness to your own teammates, as well as our second-in-command. With all due respect, you sound as though you try to make up for something. Not to be rude. I often have problems with speaking to groups myself, so there is no need to be shy. Even if no one else does, I believe in you, despite your stature and lack of common manners.”

Internally, Blaine pumped his fist. His introductions seem to have gone quite well. Still, he would have to do his best to reassure the estranged teammate, let he think the faunus's words were meant to be aggressive. The last thing he wanted today was to be making enemies. In this state of mind, he offered his kindest smile, flashing his sharpened canines through the parting of his lips. It was obviously forced, but hopefully got the message across.

Amaranth Desire: Huddle: No Longer Used to Reference an Inferior Waffle House

Amy scratched her cheek, comfortable in athletic clothing rather than the school uniform everyone seemed to have forgotten to change out of. On the one hand, team chemistry and everyone getting along were both integral to everyone functioning as a team easily and smoothly.

At the same time, they were supposed to be a team-and they didn't exactly have time to figure out everyone's foibles and personalities to work together as a group of equals, nor did they have a coach. Following a captain and a second completely were their best option currently, though they'd have to find a better method if they were going to take this show on the road.

Not that Amy thought a career as a professional footballer was in her future.

She nodded in agreement with Blaine as he finished.

"I'm Amaranth. Most everyone calls me Amy. That being said..." Her blue eyes flicked to Ferris, taking on a predatory edge as they did, the feathers in her hair standing on end. "Nobody calls Ben 'Cap' except Bastille. Moreover, our captain has decided what role we're all supposed to take," she continued, her hand indicating his prosthetic arm. "And while you no doubt have 'power to spare' and that claw is obviously good against Grimm, I'd prefer to avoid any accidental destruction of the ball by popping it--meaning you'd be playing a hand down as far as actually carrying the ball and punching it forward go. Your best bet is to help a deflector on defense, and hammer it downfield with your leg as our large friend here just said."

Her eyes softened again. "In answer to your original inquiry though, my Semblance allows me to heighten my senses and reaction time. And sorry, big guy," she said, patting the lion faunus on his broad back. "But I doubt many of us really want to take our clothing off."

"...Dressing as distractingly as possible is certainly an option."

Dad...

“I think the ladies of the other team have us men at a disadvantage.”

Nicole...

"I also believe that if they attempt to distract us with pleasures of the flesh, we may should try the same, captain Ben and second in command Luke. I believe that our coach most likely had a prior manner of identifying who is on which team, such as colored flags. With this in mind, I offer the idea of our most attractive removing their clothes as well. It may help us in the long run."

General...

“Me, Luke, 007 here, the big man, and Miss Jane Doe’ll play offense."

Rich...

"007 here..."

You all knew what this place was like, didn't you. All I ever did was fight for you all...

"007 here..."

Jer's gloved hand clenched into a fist.

...and you abandon me to this.

This...

Is this why I was born?

Until proven otherwise...even if it wasn't...even if it wasn't!

To defeat them, one of us must become them.

Jericho Piper began to peel off his shirt.

Even as he pulled off the fabric, however, there seemed to be an unsettling shimmer about his body that couldn't be explained away by his usual bishounen sparkle. Instead, this seemed to be a very subtle morphing of Jericho's very being, as the Gold Stripe slimmed in some places and spread out imperceptibly in others, becoming an androgynous chimera of the human sexes before taking on a decidedly female body type - one with a tight-fitting top similar to that of one of Trad's chief lieutenants.

Jericho's dark hair lightened out, starting at the roots and eventually spreading even to his characteristic hair rune, which was lost in the all-around shortening of his long mane of hair. Though the cast of his face didn't change much, nor did his skin tone, it did soften somewhat around the cheeks and his (her?) eyes, which gradually faded from the intense amber of the Piper clan into a more familiar, warm coffee color.

"The name I was born with is gone now. I've buried it," said the chameleon. "On the pitch, my name is Sand Vespa."