Crimmy

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

@Lucius Cypher@SevenStormStyle@MULTI_MEDIA_MAN@FlitterFaux@Forsythe@Kaithas@Abillioncats@Silvan Haven

Dust Applications - Lecture Hall I707

"Don't do that."

I step into the girl's line of sight, blocking the Schwarz brat from view. When you've taught for a while, you can tell when somebody's coming up with some bampot idea that's going to result in nothing but trouble. And what Miss Frost just then was a perfect example of one of those ideas. Some bloody idiotic brainwave that was just utterly unacceptable. I'm disappointed. I really am. The brat seemed so eager to take in all the theory and participate, but it looks like she missed the lessons on not putting her fellow Hunters at risk.

"I could sense your attempt at activating Mr Schwarz's vial," I continue, my eyes bearing down on her. This frustrates me, you know? I don't like dealing with troublemakers. Beacon is supposed to the premier hunting academy, a place where the trainees we're supposed to instill our wisdom into should already have a firm noggin on their shoulders. At minimum, these brats should be aware that they're going to be responsible for the lives of their fellows. I'm not expecting absolute units in the realm of good behaviour, but there's a bar that they should at least be able to cross: don't try and hurt other students on a lark.

Maybe that's too optimistic of me. Maybe that's not even possible. Youth are rowdy like that. But it's frustrating. Could Diamond Frost at least have made the effort to even pretend when in the middle of class? I've been standing right here. I can tell exactly what you're doing, you know?

"Catalysing a Dust reaction in another student's hands, without their knowledge, is absolutely unacceptable. Not only did it put Mr Schwarz at risk of injury, it's also an utter breach of trust."

A spark flicks out from my left pointer finger as I hold it up, an electromagnetic pulse pulling the two vials that the two brats were given back to my possession. I'm not letting them hold onto the Dust any longer. Not now.

"I'm disappointed, Miss Frost."

I really am.

Diamond's success might've been limited. Maybe. But her intent would still have involved a vial being set ablaze right underneath Luke Schwarz's nose. That wasn't right. A student here shouldn't have to worry about their classmates trying to kill them. Not when the Grimm were out there. It was frustrating. It was behaviour I couldn't, at all, condone.

"Stay behind after class," I say. I breathe out, disappointment and disgruntlement sagging out. "We'll need to talk about this. Now go back to your seat and wait there."

Persona in Wonderland: A Persona RP.

@CronicCrystalis

The High Priestess - Meredith Fong

Meredith nodded in acknowledgement, her brain soaking in the information that had been delivered to them by the dapper and cuddly-looking bug alien. The natives of this plane were definitely embroiled in quite the pickle, but that was why she and all these other folks had been brought in, right? That hadn't really been what she thought her day would end up being, but -

She'd vowed to help save those kiddies, so she was going to stick with it to the end!

Her drifting attentions were drawn back into the real world (her initial guess of a super vivid dream was super off now) by that bad landing by the glasses-wearing dude. He was a middle-aged guy, a lot older-looking than everyone else who was hanging around, but there was a kinda youthful way he was carrying himself that made Meredith think he was younger than he actually was.

Old guys never seemed super face-plant ... y (was that the word?) to her.

"Don't worry," she said with a reassuring smile, strolling over and holding out her hand to help Mark up. "Your glasses are still fine, Clark Kent."

A Certain Variegated Pseudepigraphum [Toaru/Raildex RPG]

@Krayzikk@Plank Sinatra

Bank

The teller glanced down at the cheque, taking a second to take hold of the slip as he tried to read what was written on the (slightly damp) financial document.

"Kiara ... Vinke? Vinke Kiara?" There was a slight bit of hesitation to his voice, for it was rather clear that he was not particularly familiar with the ways of foreign names. "A Miss Kiara Vinke gave you this, then?"

He tapped in a few numbers, making sure that the cheque was legitimate, before nodding to himself.

"You can get some of the money," he said. "She doesn't have enough in her checking account ... looks like she made a big transfer earl-" And upon realising he was infringing on the privacy of a customer, immediately paused. "Ah, don't tell anybody I said that. But ah, I can give you some of the money now while I check up on the rest later, is that fine?"

---

@GreenGoat@HereComesTheSnow

Ground Level, In Front of Harumi's Apartment Building - District 7

"That's great," said the teenage girl known only to her compatriots by the moniker of 'Hat-chan', her face brightening up at Harumi's confirmation. "We'll need you to sign this off when we get the package up to your apartment."

A Certain Variegated Pseudepigraphum [Toaru/Raildex RPG]

@Plank Sinatra@Krayzikk

Bank

The teller, a bored-looking (his expression immediately transformed into one expected of all customer service representatives around the globe when he caught sight of the duo of lovebirds) young man with curly black hair, took a moment to respond, a result of the decreasing use of cash amongst the youth of developed countries. With the advent of cards, fewer and fewer individuals world have physical currency on hand, with holdouts mostly residing in countries with a propensity for poorer digital security or in a higher age bracket. Given that Academy City was neither lagging behind in conventional data protections (with exception given to the ease with which its large population of Electromasters - 9000+ - could hack into seemingly secure systems) nor full of old geezers and hags, the teller was evidently somebody who was not used to cash, and thus the concept of a "deposit".

Employers just sent the money straight to your accounts anyway.

"Ah," said the teller. "A deposit, right? I can do that."

A quick nod followed the proclamation, as to emphasise that yes, he could overcome the circumstances of his birth to do his job in handling physical currency, even while the product of a cashless society.

"But what seems to be the problem?"

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Given that this thing started with V1, the divergence is probably considerable enough that you don't need to worry about V4.

Breaking Point

@Crimmy

Is she sword-dancing through the street? how would she even have room?

@ArmorPlated

Open field near the base.

Breaking Point

@ArmorPlated There are other characters watching the sword dance, which means there'll be a shared reason for him to converse with fellow folks interested in giant robot swords.

Breaking Point

@vietmyke@ArmorPlated

You guys can go check out the giant robot doing a sword dance.

Breaking Point

Name: Christoph Lockheed
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Profession: Captain - Arsenal Walker Original Line Development Test Team 4

Appearance: Despite his neatly-pressed captain's uniform's claims to the contrary, Christoph Lockheed does not - at first glance - strike people as a particularly military-minded individual. While he stands at six feet, with the lean build characteristic of athletes (like many fit men from the sports-loving city of Newcastle), the demeanour the messy-haired brunet projects does not exactly exude the aura of an experienced Walker pilot. Instead, he seems more of a quiet academic, somebody who would otherwise fade into the background had it not been for his striking yet warm green eyes and occupation. Of course, while the Australian man is aware of this perception, he does little to rectify these assumptions, finding them too insubstantial to really try and address.

Indeed, for while he would be considered conventionally handsome - with a strong, clean-shaven jaw and prominent high cheekbones - his simple, minimalistic fashion choices do little to accentuate it (and hide his build). Christoph's closet is rather wardrobe, with mostly basic shirts and trousers - accompanied by the rare sweater or bomber jacket (and three pairs of sunglasses) - packed into the shelves. Only a small gold necklace stands out amongst everything else on his person, and he keeps it dangling from his neck even when in his standard issue, blue-and-silver pilot suit (which unlike his other outfits, does in fact help his athleticism stand out). Like many other Federal soldiers, he has also emblazoned the symbol of his home nation onto the left shoulder of the suit, signifying his past service with the Federation Pacific Fleet.

When not piloting however, the Australian man wears the standard captain's garb over the Federation uniform, a navy and gold coat that represents his authority, and thanks to the logo of Test Team 4 present on the back, his position as the leader of the Horizon branch of Arsenal Walker Original Line Development as well.

Equipment: Standard issue.

Skills: Thanks to his experiences in the Federation military, Christoph possesses considerable skill in a Walker, just as one would expect from a member of the second generation of pilots and the leader of Test Team 4. Although rightfully considered a greenhorn as a leader, his strong sense of duty and responsibility, alongside a versatile approach to squad-based tactics, mark him to be somebody deserving of a command position. Outside of the military, Christoph is also a surprisingly great chef (for a single bachelor living on his own), although his baking is leaps and bounds ahead of his ability to cook other foodstuffs.

Personality: A quiet and rather reserved-seeming man, Christoph is very much a man of few words, preferring thoughtful silence over speaking his mind on whatever issue passes by. As a result, it has become a joke to many of Horizon's personnel that the only time he can actually speak is on duty, where his calm Australian brogue is a familiar sound to those who have attended his briefings with R&D. While this is true, he is much more open with those he would regard friends, such as the members of his squadron and long-term colleagues. They are more familiar with his inner musings, such as the mild, but constant, exasperation he has developed from needing to handle the eccentricities of the Test Team, or stubborn refusal to acknowledge any of the accidents that have befallen him as a victim of R&D's myriad neuroses. His tendency for sarcastic observations, delivered in his usual deadpan, also only emerge amongst friends, particularly in more bizarre situations.

However, it is still a rarity for the Australian man to be so unkindly to others. He may not seem like it, but he is quite empathetic, always willing to consider the situation and issues of any acquaintance who seeks his assistance. While he may not be able to offer many supportive words, he is willing to be a shoulder for them to lean on, for if there is assistance that he can offer to somebody, then he considers it his duty to provide it.

Indeed, duty is something he strongly dedicated towards. Christoph will always be ready to do what is asked of him by his superiors, and will strive to ensure the job is done with the best of his abilities. He may be rather mild, but the serenity with which he approaches his duty can be quite intense sometimes. After all, it was thanks to his calm and collected demeanour that he was chosen to lead the dysfunctional Test Team 4, with his ability to stay mostly unfazed under pressure a must in order to develop the weapons required by the soldiers of tomorrow.

Biography: Born the first son of a retired Federation officer and a local baker in the city of Newcastle in south-eastern Australia, Christoph Lockheed's career had all but been decided for him from youth: enlisting in the Federation military. Originally, it seemed likely that he would join the navy like his mother before him, but the introduction of the Arsenal Walker immediately fascinated him, even as a child. From the very first moment he laid his eyes upon the sight of those grand machines walking, he worked for nothing else but to become a pilot, eventually graduating from military academy to serve in a squadron attached to the Federation Pacific Fleet.

His career was a mostly quiet one, but the outbreak of minor insurrections in the region allowed Christoph to quickly distinguish himself as a dependable and efficient soldier. He would participate in a number of police actions against terrorists and other groups, and his efforts rapidly earned him several commendations. The Australian pilot was soon promoted to Captain and assigned leadership of a Walker squadron of his own, but it was a position that he would not remain in for too long.

A combination of personal unfulfillment and catching the eye of certain members in the military's upper echelons lead to his transfer to Panama, where he found himself attached to the R&D department. There, he was able to become head of Arsenal Walker Original Development Line Test Team 4, leading trials and evaluations of experimental weaponry that the military complex sought to integrate into regular operations. It was duty that Christoph found to be far more satisfying, and although he has only been in command for a few years, the successes of his team have outweighed any issues.

Weaknesses: Christoph is a quiet individual, but as a result he has some difficulty communicating his true thoughts to others. His demeanour has also lead to many considering him rather boring and stolid, which has become an obstacle to him connecting to many outside his colleagues.

---

Base Model: FAW-007[G] Warrior

Designation: FAW-007TC Colony Warrior Test Type "Lockheed Custom"

Appearance: Although utilising the same base frame and sharing similar aesthetics with the standard FAW-007[G] Warrior, Christoph Lockheed's test unit has a number of differences, such as more prominent shoulder pauldrons and a larger backpack to accomodate its unique armaments. Its head unit is far more stylised than that of the original walker's, abandoning the traditional rounded faceplates for a protruding visor and growing a long "horn" from the top of its helm. The entire machine is painted in all navy, excepting only a number of gold decals and the black on its shoulders. Also present is the emblem of Test Team 4, prominently displayed on one shoulder.

Armaments:
-NF GMG-Type.37/100mm Machine Gun: open-bolt, gas-operated, magazine-fed.
-Heat Hawk x2: giant axes with superheated edges to improve cutting power against enemy armour.
-"Rocket Anchors" x2: one mounted on each arm; fires off a clamp with two metal hooks and a central spike in order to grab onto enemies, objects and the terrain; attached to a long, polymer-coated cable with high tensile strength and durability.
-Shield: attached to its right arm is a large riot shield, which can also serve as a weapon rack for its heat hawks. Built-in solar panels also allow it to help reduce strain on the Lockheed Custom's reactor.
-"Shot Lancer": close-to-mid range weapon; backpack-mounted; uses electromagnetic forces to propel a javelin to impale enemies.

Weaknesses: The Lockheed Custom has traded speed for greater armour, and as a result is outclassed by the average Warrior in the agility department. Its reactor is also slightly more power-hungry than those of its compatriots thanks to the drain imposed on it by its weaponry, thus reducing its operation time.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

@Lucius Cypher@SevenStormStyle@MULTI_MEDIA_MAN@FlitterFaux@Forsythe@Kaithas@Abillioncats@Silvan Haven

Dust Applications - Lecture Hall I707

I'm not sure if I got my point too clearly to these two. Some people think otherwise, but teaching's a bloody hard job, you know? It hinges all on your ability to communicate, and if people hear what you're yapping on about and assume one thing when it's actually supposed to be another, then it's your fault. If you screw up the explanations, then all ye be doing is teaching your brats to cut about the actual key information you want them to get into their noggins.

If you're a terrible teacher, then you'd just blunder on without caring about that. Humans hate thinking that they're wrong. Supposedly it feels like being punched in the face to acknowledge that you've done a dobber. But if you've gone and grabbed yourself an education degree in the first place, then you should know that making sure your students get things right is more important than your face, you know? Society might judge you as lesser if you've been turned into a proper munter, but that's nothing new. Your brats thinking that the pish you've accidentally taught them is correct is far worse.

That's why I step in to help elaborate on the point I'm trying to make with this demonstration. Actually, this is one of those places where the brats getting things wrong is good. It's important to sometimes know what falling over's like before you can run, you know?

"If you've only funnelled Aura into Dust for the express purpose of activating it before, it is," I say, taking a look at their two vials. There's definitely a lot of energy being pumped in there - a bit of a wasteful amount actually - but that's what you'd expect when you haven't really tried doing things like that, you know? "Both of you were definitely racking your noggins for what the Dust was supposed to do."

Which is just a step too far.

"But it looks like you've gotten a bit of a hang of the exercise." I smile at them. A teacher's supposed to give their students positive reinforcement if you want them to succeed. And I do. "Your aura is both power and intent. It's what you can do and what you want to do. That's what the Dust reacts to. You put the energy in ... but it won't go off until you will it to."

It's something everyone does unconsciously. After all, why are they going to do something with their aura if they don't want to do it? That's the thought process, but knowing to differentiate there's pretty important and key to using Dust in more advanced ways.

"Think about your aura fields. If you've always got a layer ready to protect you, why doesn't Dust activate when you're holding it?"

I pick up another vial - this time one full of 'Crystal' - and pour a little bit into my left hand. Nothing happens. That's what everybody expects. Even if they think Dust is volatile, it shouldn't explode just because you're touching it.

I wiggle my fingers a bit.

There's no explosion, but the Dust converts immediately into glowing orange crystals.

Maybe it's my ego talking, but I still think it's bloody cool.

"Because I didn't will it to. I didn't want the 'Crystal' to explode or form."

Hopefully that's a good enough explanation for every one of the brats, because I'm going to take this a little further.

"Mister Schwarz, Miss Frost, please activate just the 'Water' now."

I take my own (prepared earlier, like in those cooking shows) vial and lift it up to the light. There's a lot less energy flowing through it than the ones the brats' have got, but most people should be able to unconsciously recognise that yeah, my Aura's parked inside.

"You should be getting something like this."

Water spins to life, filling up the vial as expected. And in the centre of the miniature maelstrom, uncatalysed particles of all sorts of Dust, as if a rainbow had been caught inside. A rainbow that hadn't been activated.

I did say it was only mostly 'Water', after all.