01 [Video]

[growingshield]

[Incoming video transmission!

It's a new kid. Blond hair, big blue eyes - status might or might not be told even to anyone not familiar with absolutely everyone off the bat by his "costume cocky" tone. Too deliberately nonchalant, held lower but deliberately inflected. But hey, it's an effort - what's an introduction without at the least a voice to go with a name? It's that much more to make an impression with.

Flashes a smile.]

Hey-y-y...!

Name's Jaune Arc. You might've... seen me around campus by now? [That might've squeaked up a little unintentionally higher - quick twirl of his finger on "around".

Stops it for a moment - and points it upward.]

I got a quick poll for you here, since - you know - tons of us are probably new to this whole training-in-superhuman-powers thing and all that. Uh - [And loosens up.] What it is is...

How many of us -- have only defensive skills? Uh -- [Hasty:] -- and who's only got offense, too?

A-a-and those of us who've been in training longer, exactlyyy... - How far would you say you've -- you know, [Airquotes.] "evolved" whatever it is you got into the school with?

No -- ...special reason I'm asking. [Flips up his hands - and brings one to scratch the back of his head.] Just -- you know.

A little getting-to-know-you-and-your-powers thing in the first week of school...

Comments

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[tatatarata]

Some people aren't going to be good for either, honestly.

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[growingshield]

[His brow shoots up a moment, well then, but come on, boy, that wasn't meant to imply you.]

Oh, yeah?

What kind of power wouldn't be good for either, exactly?

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[knowitallgoddess]

What if I don't have defensive or offensive skills? There's all different kinds out there.

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[growingshield]

[And hello quite a reminder that Mutant School doesn't have a shortage of cute girls! Pre-emptive switching on caution mode holds back what he was going to say into an " -- uhh" for a moment, but get on with it, Jaune.]

-- Of course there are! There're, uhh -

[Think in video game terms if you have to. Just tell yourself you know what you're doing.]

Defensive, offensive, support skills, and, uh. [Aye, he tried.] Stuff. Isn't there?

[He can't exactly be wrong when he ended it with stuff.]

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[fuckuimametalbender]

There's no such thing as only defensive or only offensive, y'know. Just how you use 'em.

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[growingshield]

Exactly! [Interpretation completely mistaken thanks to having the first responder on the brain when he says that.] You could probably make any power work in combat if you had to, couldn't you?

[video reply]

[knighterrantofthedragon]

[Long black hair and light brown eyes--or, at a second glance, almost a golden/amber color--are the answer, along with a quite sincere, friendly, and casual smile.]

A pleasure, Mr. Arc. My name's Alric. Alric Caelegart.

[Depending on how much he's up on his small European countries and their local news, etc, that name may or may not mean anything at all.]

To answer your question, in my experience at least, 'offensive' and 'defensive' are highly situation--a sword parries, and a shield can strike. That said, I suppose my... abilities would be considered more obviously offensive.

[That last bit he says a touch more pensively, but moves on.]

Although I've trained a long time to... restrain them, I'm a new student, here, myself, and have had very little experience learning to master them. What of yourself, if I might ask?

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[growingshield]

[Unfortunately, Jaune doesn't so much as know most of the X-Men by name as opposed to epithets and indicators, but this fellow... definitely sounds like he knows what he's talking about. The casual grin he was returning with what would've been a comment over "Mr. Arc" mildens a little by about another dozen words in.

Trained a long time to restrain his powers, has he. And is a new student. Yes, he does know what he's talking about. And is also a new student.

By the time he's asked a question back the fake cockiness is leached out of him. Flash-freeze of mild nerve on the spot, and - runs through that question again, to be sure he's processing it right.]

Uh. Me, uh. Heh -- the controlling part's pretty easy with mine, so far.

I -- kinda didn't know I had powers at all till this year. Haven't had any training. Haven't got any experience. The whole being-a-mutant thing's still -- you know. Pretty new for me.

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[wholovesyou]

Oh, sweetie. Didn't your mother ever teach you?

It how you use it that counts.

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[growingshield]

[A little double-take that's a cross between wow and an honest excuse me?

...Just talk, Jaune, it's not that hard.]

She didn't know I was a mutant! [And that's not the point.] So, uh - basically it's -- what the others are saying. You just gotta get creative.

[Quick scratch at the back of his head. Not-so-calm calm smile.]

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[scorchedchivalry]

Powers that are believe to be only defensive or offensive in nature can be used for both. It takes an understanding of your own abilities, training to develop them, and some creative applications. Thinking you are locked into one or another will stunt your development.

I believe it is better to think of our abilities in terms of support or focal.

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[growingshield]

[Can they. Well, if so, he's going to need to bust the heck out of his brain on that point with regards to his own, but -

But the girl's talking, and like most of the others she seems to know what she's talking about. Snap back out of it.]

"Focal"? ["Support" makes obvious sense, but why "focal"?]

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[tofudog]

[Beast Boy is pretty tryhard himself, sometimes, but even he can tell this guy is working too hard at being casual.]

Did you lose the power lottery, dude?

[Like he can talk. He's green!]

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[growingshield]

[Quickly-lifted brow at this dude's look - huh and vague curiosity - but then steers right back into it - tightens a smile back up.]

Pff! I got great powers, and you know what? They're actually pretty useful. [There's rising and falling honest brightness to that! If some of it's got a trace of wryness.]

How hot're yours? [Asked emphatically as if it's tongue-in-cheek but in all honesty yes he is curious.]

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[anythingwithstrings]

...Are you planning who you want to pick fights with?

I'm sure there are plenty people with no offensive powers who can kick your ass if you want.

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[growingshield]

...What? [Kicks that into a "heh!"] No! Do I look like the kind of guy who picks fights for the heck of it?

[He's probably walking right into something there. Let's carry on!]

The - the real thing is I... [Lifts it light - a "how 'bout that" with some of the embarrassment hopefully hidden.] ...still don't - really know about what kinda powers are out there!

Or how you're supposed to train, or any of that.

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[kamiizumi]

In the right hands, anything can be a weapon.

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[growingshield]

[He double-takes and leans slightly in - there was that one green dude and now this. Is this just a - mutant thing?

...And that's enough, Jaune.] -- Uhh.

Like -- as a figure of speech?

[Or is that what you "do"? He just managed to rail himself out of making that his first question. And thank goodness, too, with every split second the less it does sound like it was meant as anything else.]

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[spes_phthisica]

[He presses a finger to his lips, thinking.]

Well, my power only works if I'm attacked, so that's pretty much defensive, right? Except it only seems to make me attack people, so in that way it's purely offensive. So you could say I'm not sure.

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[growingshield]

Huh? -- Yeah, that sounds, uh... [Vague enough to come off as a tiny bit creepy. What is it, a... fighting mode trance?] Not as clear-cut.

So -- when you say attack people, do you mean, like - your powers set the room on fire, or - or fill the air around you with a storm of angry bees or something, or does it make you yourself a better fighter?

Or -- something like that.

[eternalprincess]

[Well, here's a familiar face. She would know that awkward eager to please guy anywhere. She doesn't comment on that deliberately nonchalant pose, but there's some faint amusement in her smile.]

Why yes, I believe I have seen you around.

I think it's safe to say my power is strictly defensive.

[growingshield]

[Indeed! And that is a good smile, right...? Nervous "heh"...

And half-hearted double-point.] Kaguya!

I never forget a pretty face...

Um. [Let'sss turn away from that before he can decide that was going overboard. Or she can say it, with any luck!] Yeah - I'd guess so, kinda like mine. I mean - the others are saying it all depends on how you use it, but healing?

IIIII don't know how you'd do any damage with that.

[diabhal_beag]

Try asking that with a little more confidence and thinking ahead in your sentences.

[growingshield]

Oh, hey! ['Tis with good humor, playing it off!] My mom always reminded me to think before I speak - [That is just a comment, not a point.] - I-I knew what I was gonna say!

Just not. Really. ...How it was gonna sound when I actually said it, so. Yeah.

[This, meanwhile, is certainly showing neither confidence nor thinking ahead.]

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[ladyliberty]

Don't be so quick to divide stuff into 'just defensive' or 'just offensive.' You can make your powers do a lot if you just get a little creative with 'em.

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[growingshield]

Uhh. [Mouth hangs just barely open, eyes flick into a corner just a mo' - a silent "huh".

Voice flits to a high up-and-over starting pitch...]

What about - like, healing, though? O-or regenerating. -- Like I was talking about with Kaguya back there. [He kind of points over the screen to indicate "back there" - ]

Healing seems... pretty much just defensive!

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[tactlesstactician]

No special reason? I doubt that.

In any case, shouldn't you answer your own questions first?

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[growingshield]

[Ah-ha-ha.

But text! That's good. Easier to play confident through text.]

sure!

i guess i'm mostly a defensive guy, can regen and protect myself. haven't had a whole lot of training yet

[voice]

[teufelskerl]

Ah, but is not sometimes the best offense a good defense? [It's the other way around, Kurt.] If they cannot hit you, vhat vill zhe do, ja? Hurt zhemselves, of course!

[voice]

[growingshield]

[The best offense is a good defense - ahh, well, yes, he thinks he's heard so before! He's listening intently as he can, pauses to be sure he's parsing the point properly, especially what with this guy's accent...]

Uh - oh -- so you're saying, like...

[He is figuratively feeling and pawing up forward, hopefully - if they cannot hit you, they'll hit themselves...]

...if you can shield, the enemy's attacks will bounce off you back at them! [He thinks he completely missed the mark.] Or. Something.