Let the Class Begin | Part I

I'll live and I'll learn and I'll light and I'll burn till the flame simmers down to a spark. I'll go as far as I can go, I've to go that far to know that I have everything to gain.

Wax and Wane by Alana Henderson

Florence watches as the two classes shuffle in hesitantly, eying each other warily with uncertainty. Each is dressed in the simple UA gym uniform, the blue uniforms blending together in such a large group. She admits that she didn't expect so few to pass the exam, having prepared for a much larger first year class. But knowing Nezu, he would only want the ones with the best potential. If the rodent were present, she wouldn't hesitate to tell him that the only problem with potential is that it is never at face value. After all, at their core, these are just kids. Kids that until entering UA haven't received any formal training beyond the basic quirk control that they teach all young children.

With no desks, each student is left to stand with Florence waiting patiently at the front of the large dome. She glances up briefly to the viewing deck, knowing that even if she can't see them that the other teachers are there watching her. Some of the staff have already seen her in progress, having overseen her teaching the second year. Today, however, she expects more of the teachers to be present considering many were busy during orientation for the first years yesterday.

She takes a moment to observe the timid first years. Some have already noticed her presence; the green haired boy she recognizes as being the one who took out the zero pointer (who is already muttering to himself under his breath in a frantic manner), and a few of the more well put together students that seem to already be taking charge of their respective class. The one with engines in his legs is already trying (and failing) to discipline his more rowdy peers, who seem to talk among themselves and ignore him as his hands swipe through the air. She makes a note to keep an eye on the murderous looking blonde and the grape-colored boy who's muttering about pretty girls.

The other class seems a bit more well put together, if only barely. A blonde is muttering about beating the other class already; to be expected, she always expects at least one that comes into her class like that. But the girl with an expendable hand knocks some sense into him before Florence feels the need to get involved. Other than that, she wouldn't say that either class is necessarily being more talkative or rowdy than the other.

What's more apparent is that without any instruction, the two classes are visibly separated with a large gap in between them.

"It looks like they're already going to pit us against each other so soon, Class 1-A." The blonde seems to come to consciousness all too soon, a confident and arrogant grin stretching across his face. He goes on to continue, with some in Class A looking at him confused while others already looking ready to fight, but Florence steps in before it gets out of hand.

"Alright, that's enough."

Her voice is solid as it carries through the room over the noise. Immediately, the classes wind down looking more surprised to see her than anything considering most hadn't seen her. She steps in between the two classes, hands clasped just behind her back.

"My name is Talbot Florence, but please just call me Professor or Professor Talbot. For as long as you are here at UA, I will be one of your teachers and as long as you're in this room, I will be your dictator."

Florence continues, sending a pointed look toward the blonde in Class B. "-And I do not pit the classes against each other."

"So I will make one thing very clear. As soon as you step into this classroom, it doesn't matter whether you are from A or B and frankly, I don't even care either. For as long as you are with me, you are nothing more than my class and my class alone. That means working together when instructed and spars against each other will solely be on an individual level not by class. It also means that you are not going to have any of that petty class rivalry here, if you want to be competitive, let it be against all of your peers."

"-But Class B is -" the blonde speaks up in protest, but Florence sends him a pointed look.

"Detention."

Florence states simply, eyes meeting him. She really should take the time to look over the student files - or at least learn their names. He lets out a quiet protest, but she continues, "I gave you instructions which you then directly disobeyed. Let that be a lesson to all of you - disobey me directly and it's an automatic detention. I assure you that detention with me will make you wish I could've expelled you."

Florence looks over them all evenly, her expression solemn and deadly. She can see she has the attention of all the students now, with some looking more nervous about the idea of being in her class. Some still don't seem bothered, but they are at least paying attention to her.

"On that note, my class has rules. This is solely a strategy and hand to hand combat class. One that is centered around training you to be smarter heroes, not just stronger. As such, for as long as you are with me - you are not allowed to use your quirk unless I direct you otherwise. Using your quirk intentionally will be a detention for an entire week, of which I guarantee you that you will not disobey that rule a second time."

The look she sends them makes it clear that she is just waiting for someone to voice their complaints about her no quirk rule. Most of the students eye each other warily, unsure if they should speak up or not, while others look more openly upset about the rule being placed. The angry blonde looks absolutely murderous and she wonders just how far this class will push him before he lets his temper get the best of him. He mutters under his breath about extras and how stupid this is, comments that she would have addressed immediately if not for one student who raises their hand, her expression polite even if her eyes give away just how nervous she is.

Florence makes a motion for her to speak.

"Sensai -" The girl stops, flushes as she coughs politely into her hand before correcting herself, "Professor. If I may, why are we not allowed to use our quirks in your class?"

Florence makes a note to figure out this girl's name for later; she seems to have a smart enough head on her shoulders that she could prove to be a bright student. She sighs softly at the way the girl seems nervous, unsure if it was even okay to ask.

"You may." Florence explains, her voice a bit more gentle, "As long as you are polite and non-disruptive, I encourage all of you to ask questions. It would be unfair to expect you to know everything immediately considering this is only the second day of your first year. I am, after all, here to teach you. Granted, if the question is not related to the course, then I cannot say that I will give you an answer… What is your name?"

The girl looks surprised, but squares her shoulders and answers evenly. Yaoyorozu Momo. Florence's expression is softer, but her voice still carries.

"To answer your question, Yaoyorozu-san, I ask my own. What do you expect to do when a villain has a quirk like Eraserhead's? What do you expect any of your peers with less offensive or defensive quirks to do when they go against a villain?"

She sees the more angry looking blonde from Class A scoff, as if unconcerned with the fate of his peers. She knows that eventually that will be something that has to be addressed and corrected, especially for someone in the hero course, but also knows that is something for another day.

To her credit, Momo seems to think about the question fairly, but Florence answers it for her.

"One day, you will all face a villain that will not be stopped by your quirk alone. Whether you have to team up with another agency and come up with a plan, strategize what their weaknesses are and utilize it, figuring out how to capture them - or, they may have a quirk that contradicts or even cancels yours. If you're not prepared, if you are too cocky or rely on your quirk so much that you are lost without it, then you will - eventually - die."

Florence's tone is underlined with a sense of passion and conviction, as she continues, it is clear that her words start to reach some of the students. Maybe not as many as she hoped, but one student realizing the dangers of what it means to be a hero is better than none.

"But that is exactly what this class is for and what I am here to teach you. How to protect yourselves, your peers, civilians, how to be heroes, regardless of your quirk."

Aizawa watches the class closely in the viewing area, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and hands clasped. He is not the only one closely watching. Vladimir King is just as invested while Present Mic is unabashedly curious. Principal Nezu joins them, but he appears more interested in how Florence is going about teaching rather than being surprised by any of wonders just how much of this the rodent expected.

He, for one, didn't expect this. He will admit that any new teacher that comes to staff usually has delusions of how easy it is or isn't prepared for the type of students that occasionally make their way in. In his time at UA, he can count at least three teachers that never lasted more than maybe a few months. But Florence Talbot has made it clear that she has no plans on leaving any time soon, and she most definitely sees this as the tough position that it is, not sugar coating the potential danger. He already has suspicions on which students will end up with detention with her before the end of the week.

He leans back casually. These kids - they don't know what they are in for. Florence has made it clear that she has low tolerance for shit and some of the staff may argue that she is stricter than he is. Good. Maybe then some of these students will shape up faster than he can do on his own.

"A bit tough isn't she," Vlad comments, though he seems to be stating more of a curious fact than an insult. "Monoma's competitive nature is pretty strong for just the second day, but he seemed to think that we had the advantage since Class A didn't show for the orientation."

Aizawa huffs, crossing his arms, as Vlad looks up from the corner of his eyes, questionably. "Orientation is useless. That time is better spent getting a gauge for your students and their quirks. We had an assessment test that needed to be done and I didn't see any reason why it should be put off."

"At least you didn't expel anyone," Present Mic offers with a large smile, "I think that's a first."

Aizawa doesn't offer a comment, instead trying his best to focus on Florence's class again as she instructs the class into pairs for a spar.