[Arno Mach]

Ah the first day. It was exhilarating being back in more a more organised place. As much as Arno enjoyed being without tethers the schedule kept him in a more motivated mood. The untapped energy he had been storing over those months had finally come back to him. It made him jumpy and Arno knew for a fact he was no good that jumpy. So he decided to work it out by practicing his heroic poses and catchphrases. Out in the quad. It was the closest place and it was large and open  It absolutely wasn't because of his inability to find his dorm. So there he stood, stretching his arms and readjusting his headband. He needed to look absolutely perfect for this. After all, what glorious knight or hero ever showed up disheveled? After a short moment double checking his clothes and hitting his arms together-A custom he'd picked up from his favourite tv show as a child, Masked Hunter X: Dawn of Re-Justice- He got into a proper stance, took a deep breath and-
"I AM THE WHITE VOID, I AM JUSTICE INCARNATE! I AM ARNO MACH, YOUR END HAS COME!"
Putting his hands forward and staring intensely forward, he was quite sure he looked the part of a hero. Though given his yelling moments earlier he was quite sure no one was around to witness this obviously very important pose. After a moment of silence Arno stepped out of his stance and tapped his foot against the ground. 
Perhaps dial back the Doom bit? it sounds rather cliché
Increase hand movement
Yes that'd work
Thanks me!
No problem me!
After that enlightening bit of inner dialogue Arno nodded to himself and got ready to do another stance. This time, he'd use his index finger to point forward dramatically. Something a bit more intimidating but still heroic looking. Another deep breath and-
"Rest assured citizens....I...am...HERE!" 
Pointing forward at whatever was in front of him- in this case a pillar- was both reassuring and meant to intimidate whatever Arno happened to gesture to. Presumably it'd be Grimm but mayhap it'd be ruffians someday. Well he didn't have anything to actually point at now considering everyone in the immediate vicinity had left because of how loud he was. Well maybe that was for the best. After all, these were trade secrets. If these got to any villains, why he'd be powerless! All of his best quips stolen! A true travesty. But now, he readied another stance. Perhaps this time he'd use his secret technique....but of course, he couldn't do that. It may doom them all! He couldn't unleash that yet. For now he'd keep practicing. Unless something else came up. 
(450/450)

[Rose Phoenix]

❝I Was Lightning,

Before The Thunder❞

430 w./ 430 w. total

d strength| e stamina| e Acrobatics| f Dust

d semblance| F weapon| f martial arts

She decided to branch out for a change and go even farther than she had before. Normally Rosalia would get up early and jog around the Academy to get her heart racing, but her current mood was different. As of late, she had been feeling very off kilter and...kind of angry. She hurt people and yelled at them, but she was learning to control her emotions. It was a difficult thing to do when your previous life had consisted of robbery, larceny, murder, and kidnapping. If only these people knew the kind of person she had been running from.

Today Rose was wearing her exercise clothes which was an orange sports bra and matching sweat resistant shorts. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail as usual that bounced back and forth freely as she began her run at a brisk pace. But she soon left her comfort zone at a sprint, threatening to burn a hole in her running shoes. She hurt the new girl because of her own petty reasons and didn't even get the chance to yell at Colt properly before he had left to become a Hunter.

That was what pissed her off the most. Being left behind. Knowing that she wasn't good enough...and soon red lightning cackled around her. Rose's semblance kicked in and she was running faster and faster! She grit her teeth in anger, feeling spit leak out but not caring as she rushed past the Quad. Though, oddly enough, something snapped her out of her haze of anger. Rose braked slowly and reverted the electric of her semblance, watching as people left the area in annoyance. But she was intrigued by the lone figure standing in the center of the vicinity.

He was...striking poses? Making speeches to villains? The scene was a bit on the absurd side and Rose couldn't help but be mesmerized by it. Why was he doing such a thing? She edged closer to him with a confused look, eyebrow raised and mouth slightly parted.

She wiped the faint sweat from her brow as she approached him at a brisk walk until she was a few feet away from him. Rose put her hands on her hips and let out a loud cough to get the man's attention.

"Excuse me, but just what in the hell are you doing? That pillar isn't going to talk back, no matter how loud you shout at it. Also are you...trying to be a superhero or something? 'Cause buddy I hate to burst your bubble but they don't exist in our world."

© SETHANIEL OF adox 2.0 + WW.

[Arno Mach]

Ah it was good to practice. Arno sighed happily as he stepped out of his stance and looked around him. His phrases needed work but his posing was on point. He still had to get down the poses from some of the more extreme shows he watched. Large pants and black socks were a favourite of his though perhaps the poses were more scandalous than a hero should be...but a glowing ring above his head and wings? That’d be so awesome! Ooh, perhaps he could use his semblance to create them? Drat! No water around these parts. Arno sighed in frustration and tapped his boots on the ground his mind preoccupied by the variety of mental calculations needed to figure out a proper pose. The wings would be a wonderful touch but the water would be hard to find and the aura cost might burn him through faster than he could get a proper pose out.
As he stood there engrossed in mental calculation Arno’s ears picked up something. Or rather someone. He figured all those around him had left to go find a more peaceful area to sit down and relax. Which was fine by him of course a hero could operate without the public, that just made him more awesome! After all a shadow hero was a different kind of cool than a public hero. Sure there were a different types of cool but shadow heroes were cooler. Where was he? Oh yes. The person. Arno took a moment to stand in silence before swinging around, ready to confront some sort of ruffian with his glorious weapon and his semblance ready to- oh. That was just some other student walking over to him. He’d never seen her before but as a student here. Well she must be a hero in training like he was! Ah, a question. Arno tapped his finger on his cheek before replying with gusto.
“Ah, I am practicing my poses! A protector of the peace must always be ready with catchphrases and poses for all occasions. “
As for her comments about super heroes, Arno simply chuckled and wagged his finger in a tsk~ sort of manner.
“But you and I are here! And we are protecting the peace are we not? “
After a brief pause he gestured to his chest and hit it.
“And we have our powers! What is more heroic than that?”
Arno smiled wide, convinced he’d sufficiently proved his point. For a moment he waited before he realised something and slapped himself on the forehead with his gloved hand.
“Ah! Forgive me. I’ve not even introduced myself! It is truly a pleasure friend, I am Arno Mach! And I am a new student here”
Posing dramatically for a moment to get his point across, Arno then extended a hand to this newcomer with that wide grin still painted on his face. (482/ 932)

[Rose Phoenix]

❝I Was Lightning,

Before The Thunder❞

314 w./  744 w. total

d strength| e stamina| e Acrobatics| f Dust

d semblance| F weapon| f martial arts

This guy was nuts, plain and simple. He was really loud and frankly was starting to get on her nerves the more she stood there. But, in some way, she found him to be quite endearing. The over the top nature of his attitude was so genuine that she really believed him to be an honest to nature superhero from one of those shows that she checked out on her tour.

He introduced himself as Arno and declared himself a protector of peace. Very cheesy stuff that left Rose staring in disbelief, mouth hung agape and eyes a bit wide at how ridiculous he was.

"Yeah I figured you were posing, dumbass. But why? It's so pointless! Like what purpose does it serve? Does delivering a righteous line and throwing your fist in the air really so cool? Good grief!"

Rose threw her arm over her body, resting her right hand on her hip while the other's elbow rested on that one's wrist. The left hand cupped her chin and she raised her leg up slightly, almost as if she were ready to kick someone in the gut.

And...

She blinked in a bit of surprise. While Rose felt a bit silly, she had to admit that she did feel better overall! Like she could take on the world and it made her grin like a badass.

"I...have I been missing out on something? This is oddly satisfying and thrilling at the same time."

Still holding the pose that felt 'oh so naturally free' she smirked at Arno. There wasn't anyone around anyway and if there were...well, she'd deck them in the face!

"I'm Rose Phoenix, though most people tend to avoid me since I scare them. Winner of the 15th Mistral Tournament and former leader of a formidable bandit faction of Vacuo! Show me, Arno! What more is there to this? It is...exhilarating!"

© SETHANIEL OF adox 2.0 + WW.

[Arno Mach]

Arno smiled at his new acquaintances disbelief. He could see quite plainly that she didn’t see how this could possibly be effective. But oh how wrong she was! The pose was a rule of almost all super heroes. It struck fear into villains and inspired hope in the innocent. It was a bit like branding but as a symbol of justice. Arno could go on many a ramble about how perfectly a pose represents a hero. The way their arms and legs symbolise things, how they announce themselves and how they project their voice. It was all so important! But then of course, one can be a different kind of hero without those things. Anti heroes use aggressively intimidating poses instead and usually use their weapons instead of poses. Which Arno supposed was fine. So many things he’d have to explain!

“Well of course it does! Villains and Grimm tremble with your resolve and citizens will rally around you. Truly righteous is a good way to describe its effect as your righteous power will become a beacon for those around you!”
Arno lifted his fist up and clenched it to indicate his point as if he was rallying people around him. For a moment though he truly thought that his new friend would walk away, shaking her head like his old school colleagues. Instead, she posed too and Arno could not be any more overjoyed. His smile was as wide as his mouth could manage. Her pose was magnificent, truly heroic! Arno took a moment to put a finger to his temple and then pulled it away rapidly to form a thumbs up.
“Yes, yes, yes! That’s what a pose is all about!”
When his new friend questioned if she was missing out on something, he nodded sagely. It was a shame, truly that more people like her didn’t exist. Poses should be shared with everyone if possible!
“Truly my friend, I can see you’ve the heart of a hero!”
Arno felt even more elated when his new friend told him her name. Rose Phoenix, that was an amazing name for a hero!
“Rose, Allow me to show you more of the art of poses. There are many more to introduce!”
Arno wasn’t one to show off his poses to just anyone. He was often laughed at for it, but she seemed not to care. Which in some way’s was even better. It meant she didn’t care how embarrassing it was! But enough happiness. He was to show off one of his own custom poses. He called it: Double Break, Justice Eye. For a moment, he was silent before raising two fingers up to the sky and bringing them down past his face as if he was dragging a glowing circle down his body. Once his fingers reached his chest, he opened his hand completely and put it over one eye before leaning backwards to highlight his other open eye.
“Well, how was that?”
(494/1426)

[Rose Phoenix]

❝I Was Lightning,

Before The Thunder❞

312 w./  1,056 w. total

d strength| e stamina| e Acrobatics| f Dust

d semblance| F weapon| f martial arts

She had to admit that seeing Arno smile so widely was infectious! Without even realizing it, Rose was beaming from ear to ear...something she rarely did. At first this guy was someone annoying to her, as if he was a showoff jerk who needed to be put in his place. But now? She realized that he was just a bit quirky, but ultimately harmless like a puppy. His enthusiasm made her snicker openly as she returned to a neutral position to observe his next pose.

It was quite impressive to behold the stamina the cheery young man was showing in the way he haphazardly bent his body awkwardly in open display. Rose grinned, clapping loudly and laughing bawdily.

"That was dope as hell, bro! Uh alright! Let me try one more...hold on!"

Adrenaline pumped through her muscles and excitement was evident on her face as Rose took a few steps back away from Arno, thrusting her knee into the air. As she landed, the blonde spun in a tumultuous circle that ended in facing her posing adversary. Rose spread her legs in a wide stance, stood proud, and tucked her fist firmly onto her waist while holding her hand over her forehead in a 'V Shaped' symbol.

"I am Rosalia Phoenix! The Bandit Queen of Vacuo! In the name of my Father, I shall right wrongs and triumph over evil..."

She brought her hand down slowly as her other arm was raised up. The hand rested in the crook of her elbow and she pointed her finger confidently straight at Arno with a look of conviction upon her face.

"And that means YOU!"

The wind flourished past her, scarlet lightning sparking dramatically all around her in a mild torrent and then the girl smirked.

"Welcome to Haven, Arno. I really hope you are in class Green so we can all hang out!"

© SETHANIEL OF adox 2.0 + WW.

[Jay]

XP Distribution:

Rose Phoenix:
161 + 10 = 171

Arno Mach:
233 + 14 = 247