soul_logs | From Coffee to Demons

Entry tags:

From Coffee to Demons

Characters: Lezard, Lily, Keroro & Eve
Location: Macedonia, Greece
Rating: PG-13-is we should suppose.
Time: April 25th, late afternoon
Description: Something's been wrecking the crops for quite some time. An unlikely team head in to take care of the threat!

So this was Greece, that region he'd read so much about in his free time leading up to this mission. The region was green and beautiful, quiet and calm as the farmers and winemakers carefully tended their crops, the occasional staccato of Greek ringing from afar as the people would converse or direct another worker elsewhere to complete the day's long to-do list. Others sighed and grew what they could, their livelihood recently attacked by a strange monster made of hail and wind: Their target for today, and any friends it may have brought along for its feast of souls.

Mind still abuzz from that coffee he'd had earlier that day - and still stuck in his Weapon form, no thanks to the caffiene - he remained comfortably at Lily's hip, that bookmark a makeshift bookstrap around the shoulder as he pored over the information given to them by local authorities and both Shibusen branches.

"Our target focuses on the crops in the region, but follows the weather patterns- where the rain would go, it would go. Well, at the very least, it's suitably overcast today... and I dare say our souls would be particularly decadent compared to those of the farmers. Shall I attempt to make us look a little more enticing?"

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Lily should have known agreeing to have coffee with that sorcerer was a bad idea. Somehow, he’d gotten stuck in his spellbook form and after several hours of trying to run the shop while listening to his remarks on the frilly petticoats and other lingerie pieces she had for sale, she’d almost been ready to toss him out into the street. So, she had stashed Lezard under the counter for a few minutes and locked herself in the back room to change into an old black dress that had been part of a lot from an estate auction. Then, she asked Yuugi to watch the shop for the rest of the day, grabbed the ornate blue book, and headed for the steps of the school. Because—dag nab it!—if she was going to have to babysit him for the rest of the day, she might as well get some money out of it to help with the shop expenses!

She tugged at the strap hanging from her shoulder, tempted to ask if he had spent a past life as a purse but refrained and rolled her eyes instead. “With all that coffee you drank earlier, I reckon you already smell like a cup of cappuccino to any lurking monsters.”

So, this demon liked rainy weather, huh? She looked up at the clouds but noticed nothing amiss yet. Turning in the other direction, she saw someone familiar across the field and blinked in disbelief as she approached.

“Eve, what in the Sam Hill are you doing here?!” Someone didn’t get the memo that this was a two-pair mission or who the other pair was!

Weather was, unfortunately, something Eve actually did have to pay attention to, due to Keroro's reaction to humidity. Still, this place wasn't that bad right now, and there was not Maddness Wavelength to make things worse. They should be fine, right?

That doesn't mean she isn't watching her partner like a hawk, though, because she is. The moment it looks like he might try to punch a Kishin Egg in the face she is forcing him to either transform or to retreat, which ever was most possible.

"I read that there's a special kind cheese they make here that uses a mix of cow, goat and sheep's milk." Maybe they could bring some back?

She looked up when she heard her name being called by a familiar voice. She craned her head around to look over her shoulder.

"Oh. Hello, Lily." Eve did know it was a two-pair mission, though she hadn't really known who was going to be here with them.

And now she did.

"Are you here for the mission too?"

He doesn't need to be watched, Eve! Keroro (obviously) has the situation and the humidity under control even as he looks much more energetic and excited than usual. He gives a little twirl at the mention of cheese, but stops halfway when he hears Lily's voice.

"Kero?"

When he recognizes his fellow shop-owner (and...was that a book?) he waves, "We're on a mission, de arimasu~"

"I do not suspect the demons would take to coffee, or this war would have ended over a century ago," he noted loftily. Ah, and it seemed like there were others hunting the same quarry.

Oh, that meant he had to 'share', didn't he? What a shame. Still, the extra bodies would ensure that Lily - and by extension himself - would see less harm than attacking their foe alone. Lezard would not speak aloud just yet, content merely to allow the three of them to chat among themselves.

Yet as time passed, that unusual yet familiar scent would build. A rain would begin soon...

"Yes, but no one said anything about this being a group thing!" If Lily had known, she would have insisted on choosing a different mission. The fewer who saw her using Lezard's fire magic, the better.

And that suspicious alien was here, too! Keroro received a frown. "Was this your idea?"

"I think y'all should go back. This demon sounds dangerous and I'd hate to see you get hurt." More important than not wanting witnesses, she couldn't let a young girl like Eve try to fight it!

The temperature dropped a degree or two and the wind picked up slightly, bringing with it the faint smell of rain.

It was, Eve thought, a little ironic that Lily's Weapon was a book (she assumed that was a Weapon. Otherwise they had a very serious problem) and Eve's was a ball. What were the chances that both of them would have such unconventional Weapons?

"I'll be fine." Her expression was flatter than her usual one. It wasn't the first time that she'd had her abilities to fight doubted because of her age. However, it never got any less exasperating. Especially since it hadn't come up as often in Death City. "I can fight."

Eve stiffened though, at the smell of rain. Great. Just great. This was just what she needed.

She held a hand out to her partner. "Keroro, transform."

Keroro hasn't noticed the weather at all, much more occupied with the fact that there was a plant he'd never seen before, cheese, what they were going to eat for dinner, and where the word 'panda' came from.

He takes the time to turn to Lily with a cheerful thumbs-up and a grin before he takes Eve's hand, "Of course not, de arimasu. Eve-dono and I decided on this together, de arimasu. That way we can organize the shifts at work, de arimasu. Organizing shifts is hard work, you know. And we haven't even decided what colour to paint the employee lounge, de arimasu. Are green-yellow and yellow-green the same colour, de arimasu?! Maybe we should paint a green Zaku II, de arimasu!"

Thought after thought running through his head, Keroro kind of forgets that he was supposed to be transforming even as a single drop of rain falls on his head, followed by another. And another.

"It would appear the Meister is the brains behind that particular outfit," he noted dryly through his link.

"Should you wish to forfeit your life to our adversary by neglecting to arm your Meister, be my guest," he spoke aloud. Hey, so the book wasn't just an accessory after all. And when it rains, it pours: After the first few drops of warning, it seemed the farmers in the distance were quickly retreating to their homes, knowing what's coming. What followed was a torrential downpour, all sound drowned out by the rushing water.

Lezard sighed, rather put off by the weather conditions. Not in the mood for soggy pages, he established a basic Soul Resonance and worked to craft available spells in those familiar drops of flame. They seemed unfazed by the rain, and he directed some of this lost energy to provide warmth and attempt to dry...

But rain turned to hail, and among the wind that picked up came an unusual sound, like whispers growing louder and louder... angrier as well.

Lily would have protested more about letting Eve fight but Keroro had started rambling about shop things and decorating ideas before she could. What was wrong with that critter? "Does he always act this weird on missions?"

And then the deluge began. Dag nab it! She could have done without another damp mission, especially one with witnesses. But it was too late now that Lezard had formed the connection and the bits of fire came into being around her.

As the ice pellets started to come down, she held the book over her head as a makeshift umbrella and scanned the skies as best she could with the dark clouds and falling hail. Raising her voice to be heard over the wind and those disquieting whispers, she asked, "Do you sense where the demon is?"

"It's the weather." She replied to Lily distractedly, focusing mostly on Keroro. She did take a moment though, to shoot the Weapon in Lily's hands a dirty look, though. She was incredibly fond of her partner, after all despite his faults.

Her grip on Keroro's hand tightens. "Keroro, transform now." And though her voice remained firm there was an under current of worry there. She reached out with her own soul for Keroro's hoping that, like with the Maddness Wavelength, she could help steady him.

Though to be honest she wasn't sure it would work the same way.

Keroro couldn't focus on any one thing right now, because his attention was trying to be in a million different places all at once. But Eve's grip on his hand, and the comforting feeling of her soul reaching out for his briefly breaks him out of his thoughts about domesticating exploding goldfish.

Just brief enough for him to give her a smile that is just a touch too cheerful for someone who is being pelted with ice pellets, "Understood, de arimasu! Let's finish this quickly!"

The change itself isn't hard, although Keroro suspects it's because he's done it so often (his overactive brain gives him a quick estimate and he reminds himself to go home and check the math over later). He still did it the way Eve taught him though. Think: Round. Round and covered in buttons.

"...Amphibious imbecile," he muttered over the link, and expanded the reach of his soul wavelength. The weather was merely flashes of cold and soaking rain - he would grump about his soaked pages and cover later, choosing instead just to allow her to use him as an umbrella - but he felt beyond that for... hmm... a hunger. A malice.

It was like plunging your hand into freezing water. His soul quickly withdrew, transferring the information to his Meister: The hail was forming something nearby - something with similar but smaller fragments of what could only be described as an anger - while a large mass of malice was emerging from the orchard nearest them to the east.

But that malice would not be the immediate threat... the weather was forming small, icy imps of sorts that were coming right for them with mouths agape and burning eyes.

The weather? Lily couldn't really see what that had to do with that suspicious alien's hyperactivity. But there was a much more important matter at the moment, those ice creatures Lezard had directed her attention towards.

"Land sakes! How many of them are there?!" Even that time on the mountain, there hadn't been a swarm like this.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Eve was now holding a strange ball. That's what that frog turns into? A ball? Did they intend to play dodgeball with the demons?! She couldn't see this plan working well and firmly told Eve, "Stay behind me."

Taking a step forward, Lily began chanting, concentrating on her connection with Lezard and invoking his fire magic. As their resonance strengthened, the fireballs hovering in the air around her burned a bit more brightly and then flew towards the approaching imps. It might have looked dramatic if it weren't for the book on top of her head.

Eve let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding when Keroro transformed.

She didn't immediately press the Realization button, however, because she wanted to know what Lily's Weapon could do first (it just made more sense to her that way).

...though if the end result was her being treated like a kid, then maybe she should reconsider it in the future.

Seeing that Lily was using fire (how did her Weapon work? Eve made a note to herself to ask later) it wouldn't be a good idea to engage the current enemies in close combat in case of friendly fire.

With Keroro in this state she would have to be a lot more specific. Luckily for her, she actually pays attention to Keroro when he starts to babble about Gundams.

She pressed the Realization button. "I want a beam smart gun. It was, if she remembered correctly, a weapon well-known for its accuracy and ability to shoot rapidly.

Out loud, she said, "I'm not a child who needs to be protected."

If he had been his normal self, Keroro would probably have started panicking at the creatures coming for them. But the thought of fighting and winning crowds any such thoughts from his head, and it's with absolute conviction and belief in his Partner, that he Realizes the weapon, a long rifle-like gun with a scope.

He's muttering intently to himself while the gun forms, partly for Eve and partly out of habit, "High output beam weapon, known for its deadly accuracy, de arimasu. Able to shoot a beam with an energy reading of 56 Megawatts that is capable of turning 20 degrees, meaning that it doesn't have to be pointed at your intended target, de arimasu. One of the most lethal beam weapons, de arimasu."

Well, at least here were creatures he was accustomed to bringing utter annihilation upon back home! Lily let fly the Fire Lance spell, the fireballs spiraling through the air before, with a gesture from Lezard within that soul space, they came crashing down, slowing one down severely as it mildly liquefied and tried to solidify again while pinning the remainder in a tight group in their quick approach.

Even with the rain, this would be no trouble, but Lezard wanted more...

And just like that, the combined energy of the collected souls within him flared to life, and he furrowed a brow. What in Hel...?

Light poured from between the pages, and Lezard felt the soft click of something unlock. Text flowed across a fresh page, detailing the history of another spell - Fire Storm - while depicting a werewolf engulfed in a wall of flame. How in Midgard had he- oh, never mind-

"My sweet... more of my sealed magic has been released from BREW's wretched grip!" But that laugh just then... it was mingled giddiness and a tinge maddened. The wavelength seemed strong here.

"Allow me to set the stage - these minions are a waste of our time!" The book spoke aloud, and Lezard extended a hand and focused. His Soul Wavelength burst with a new vigor, and more of those drops of unused flame magic flared to life around his Meister. In the meantime, runic rings began to burn to life in the ground, directly in the path of the approaching imps.

This Keroro was a ranged weapon now, correct? Ahhh, let's give him some target practice.

The imps stepped across the ring and Lezard released his hold on the soul energy stored in the ground. A pillar of flame erupted from the ground, searing heat, light and sound, and sent the imps hurtling into the air...

At Eve's declaration that she didn't need to be protected, Lily just shook her head, an exasperated look crossing her face. Why didn't people listen to her when it came to these things? But she was too busy chanting to argue further about the matter now or notice the gun that Keroro had formed.

The light from between the pages drew her eyes upwards. What in the Sam Hill?! The book was glowing? She pulled the tome down—she was already drenched anyway—and glanced at the new page. Fire Storm... That was the spell he had mentioned during a previous mission, wasn't it? But the giddiness worried her as more flames formed in the air. And was the ground starting to burn, too?

"Lezard, what are you doing? You aren't losing your mind again, are you?!" That was the last thing she needed right now! And then the pillar of fire burst from the ground, leaving her gaping as the disoriented imps flew in all directions.

The decal on this weapon, she remembered from when Keroro showed her one of his models, was supposed to be blue. The one in her hand, however, was a shade of green she was quickly coming to associate with her partner.

She reached out to snatch the rifle out of the air with one hand. The recoil on beam weapons was a little different than on normal weapons, so this one she should be able to use with one hand without hurting herself. She had it ready just in time for the pillar of fire to burst from the ground. It was, she had to admit, really impressive. But there wasn't time to be awed, not if she wanted to prove that she could hold her own.

They'd tried it out before coming, to see how many items Keroro could Realize and discovered something new. Being able to create three items also means being able to create a weapon with three separate parts.

Which was why the rifle in her hand included a scope as well as the disk radar. The small circular disk parallel to the scope lit up, identifying the multiple enemies scattering in the air.

She didn't hesitate when she fired at the imps, taking advantage of both the smart beam rifle's rapid shooting capabilities as well as its ability to bend the beam it shot at an angle by not even turning the muzzle for some of her shots.

It was all about knowing how many shots she had (which she can estimate based on hers and Keroro's resonance) and where the closest enemies are. Her weapon allowed her good enough accuracy that every shot she took hit home.

Being a beam-based weapon meant that the smart beam rifle's shots could hit and go straight through the targeted imps to maximize the six shots they had from it, although it was still nowhere near enough for the situation or for Keroro.

Not to mention the fact that after seeing that pillar of fire, Keroro was itching to show off, Quick, let's Realize something else, Eve-dono!

The imps they hadn't managed to kill were regrouping, after all, and they had to maximize their time.

"It is as I've said before: Those from my own world would have claimed I lost my mind years ago!" He replied with a laugh, the beam rifle's shots shattering the imps they struck. The rest hurtled back to the ground as he dusted off his bare hands and worked to re-secure his resonance with Lily.

It was strange... her chanting seemed not only to keep her focus, but his as well. Whether it was because he was so used to it or not remained to be seen.

He broke from his thoughts immediately when he turned, looking behind him. He hadn't meant to let that spark of panic flit between the link between himself and his Meister.

"It's coming in quickly!" He warned to the witch, feeling an immense wall of Madness and hunger hurtling in from that field.

That display of magic and gundam alerted their main target to their presence, and all thoughts of destroying the crops and feasting on farmers was replaced by the idea of four much stronger, much tastier souls lingering nearby. It was comprised of ice, hard plates forming body armor and easily standing a solid twenty feet in height. A swirling tempest of wind and hail seemed to only partially-solidify to make up its legs, the Kishin Egg seeming to be made of a hail storm all on its own. The remaining imps had begun to retreat, chittering in glee at the sight of it.

Edited 2013-02-04 05:17 (UTC)

As the first few shots hit, Lily had glanced over, still gaping. "Eve?" The girl still had the strange ball but where had that gun come from? She supposed she shouldn't worry about the weapon's mysterious appearance much right now since Eve managed to destroy some of the imps with it.

Trying to refocus, she turned back to Lezard and felt that flicker of panic. And soon had her own moment of panic as a chill ran through her that had little to do with the cold rain and bits of ice coming down on them. A malevolence like that time in the park before the island fell. Then, Lily spotted the massive demon and the book nearly slipped from her hands.

"Great balls of fire!" She stared down at the spellbook's pages. "I hope you have something big enough to melt that thing!" And then she started chanting again, focusing and trying to channel as much magic as possible. Defeating something that size was going to be a tall order!

Eve found Lily and Lezard's conversation, what she can hear of it, to be a little strange. Then again, she thought as she discarded the smart beam rifle after the sixth shot, given that she has a partner who tried to punch a Kishin Egg in the face once, she realy has no room to say anything. It would be like the pot calling the kettle black. So she decided against commenting in the end.

The beam rifle fell the the ground, smoking a little before fading away completely.

When she felt the Madness and she instinctively reached out to Keroro's soul, in order to steady him. Just in case it was strong enough to affect him.

And then she actually saw it and suddenly she understood why this was a mission for two pairs of partners.

She pressed the Realization button again, "We're going to need to hit it with something big."

Keroro stops when he feels Eve reaching for him, and instinctively reaches back. He can't help but to be reminded of Fuyuki when he was around her. That same feeling of acceptance and belonging, knowing that no matter what he did there would be someone by his side.

He smiles even in the face of the huge demon because he knew that even if he was scared, he wasn't facing this alone. Somewhere, Fuyuki and the others, they were cheering for him as well. (Except for a certain blue childhood friend of his because Keroro had the bad habit of forgetting he existed if he didn't show up from time to time.)

GN Bazooka.

He doesn't even hesitate, already picturing a beam large enough to envelope and destroy a squadron of mobile suits. That would be more than enough, and then he could get back at that dirty book for calling him names at the same time.

It didn't even occur to him that maybe accidentally incinerating the crops while they were at it wasn't such a good idea. But then again, crops and buildings were always being destroyed by Godzilla, so what was a few acres of spindly grape vines being destroyed by a Shibusen operative?

More determined than ever, GN Bazokka, de arimasu!

Because you should have realized by now, Eve, that when it is something "big" in terms of Gundam weapons, nine times out of ten it will be big enough to cause an apocalypse.

"Perhaps I might," he replied breathlessly, drawing on the strength of his amassed souls. The hailstones pelted his cover, pelted his pages, and his poor soaked pages would take an age to dry... but now would be no time to complain.

So he had Fire Storm and Fire Lance... logically, his next ability would be Calamity Blast, which would no doubt incinerate this maelstrom of a creature, but no matter how much he focused, BREW's chains saw fit to maintain their hold until he was strong enough to break them.

But what was he if not a resourceful and clever genius? Lezard boosted the strength of his wavelength, testing himself as he produced a cool two dozen sparks of unused magic for Lily to use as she sees fit.

"This beast is comprised of frost. With enough heat, surely we can cripple this beast. A freak like this should be useless without its arms... or its head~"

Whether it would work or not remained to be seen, the Kishin Egg roaring, a torrent of freezing wind and rain rushing toward them as the imps began to climb on and 'build' upon its form.

Focused on the monster and her and Lezard's own efforts to get rid of it, she wasn't really paying attention to what Eve and Keroro were doing. Or even to the nickel-sized pieces of ice that struck her.

Lily grabbed one of the flames that had materialized around her, continuing to chant and willing it to take on the shape of her athame. Pointing the ceremonial dagger at the frosty creature, she mentally commanded the remaining fireballs towards its head. "Demon be gone! Leave this place!"

Some bits of half-melted ice fell from the creature but it wasn't inclined to obey so easily.

When the GN Bazooka appeared in front of her, it occurred to Eve that maybe she should have been a little more specific.

However, she was reasonably certain that, with their current resonation, she should be able to fire this thing without it blowing up in her face. That's why she grabs it in her hand and steadies it, aiming for the enemy.

As Lily chanted, the inside of the GN Bazooka lit up and there was a faint whirr as it warmed up. She waited until Lily's fireballs shot towards the demon before pulling the trigger. She knew she'd probably only get once shot with this, and, unlike the Smart Beam Rifle, it's harder to adjust the shot.

A giant beam of energy shot out of the GN Bazooka, with enough force that it made Eve slide back an inch or two.

The beam hits the demon. Or to be more precise, it hits and after the barest moment of resistance, goes straight through. There is a good sized hole left in the creature's side, imps chattering as they crowd around it, trying to regroup.

The rest of the beam, unfortunately, travels through two vineyards and leaves a deep furrow bordered by the steaming remains of grape vines.

Keroro, completely unfazed by the property destruction, waves to Eve from his reflection in the Kero-ball, "Eve-dono! Lily-dono! One of us should concentrate on those imps while annother concentrates on the demon, de arimasu!"

Edited 2013-02-12 03:32 (UTC)

Even Lezard was granted pause as the weapon blows a hole clean through the thing, but also granted himself a little property damage. It was enough that he had to shake his head, even if he knew damned well that he may very well do the same once the remainder of his magic was unlocked.

The assault to the face and body slows its approach, leaving behind a face of warped ice and a hole clean through it, anyone able to peek through it and see the vineyard. The imps moved quickly to try and seal the hole, sacrificing their own souls into patching up their master.

As it stood, a solid, relentless assault was needed for this creature. Perhaps Keroro was right- so long as the imps were ignored, they could keep patching up the larger wretch. He reached into his own soul, and prepared only more magic.

"Ha! A strategy! It would be my pleasure..." But there was still a matter of the demon itself, who turned and slammed a fist into the ground, calling forth a minor tremor, a wave of ice and snow coming the group's way. Lezard gave his resonance a brief boost, like a punch of adrenaline. The outline of those imps on the demon's body were suddenly clear as day, and the Spellbook took any fatigue between them upon himself. He could deal with the exhaustion later, so long as Lily remains in one piece...

Eve didn't really think much about property damage, so she simply discarded the GN Bazooka (which was crackling in a most unsettling way) leaving it to disappear.

"We can take the imps." She pressed the Realization button, not once, but twice.

"I only have one hand, so I'd like at least one weapon I can use without my hands."

Instead of two weapons though, Keroro Realizes a large shield with a Gundam motif first. He didn't know what that wave of ice and snow would do, but he wasn't about to have Eve test it out for him.

The second item appears after a brief pause because Keroro had a lot of options.

A weapon that you can use without hands, huh... How about some sort of headband, de arimasu?

He decided to go with the one that would be easiest to use. What appears is a headband with gatling guns on the sides, Try that, Eve-dono!

...Now Lezard really needed to figure out what in the known universe Keroro's Weapon form and its functions were. To achieve so many forms took considerable energy, to the best of his knowledge.

"Then we shall handle the beast proper!" Done deal. Guided by Lily's chanting, Lezard released a little more of that soul energy and began to weave the runic circle- not beneath the monster itself, but upon it. With a laugh, he released his focus, and a pillar of flame erupted to engulf the monster's head in flame, and he called upon those flame arrows to strike in time. As long as those imps were active, it would only fix itself... for now, he could be a suitable distraction, a decoy!

This would require a one-two punch- imps, then beast in short order!

A circle of protection as she often drew before casting in her own world would have been helpful about now; like an invisible shield, it would have deflected much of the snow and ice coming their way.

But all Lily had was a few bits of fire and her attempt to jump out of the way wasn't entirely successful. The shaky ground made her stumble when she landed and fall to her knees. Clutching the spellbook to her chest, the witch centered herself and continued to chant, not bothering to climb to her feet. Kneeling intensified her power back home although it was admittedly not the best idea when fighting a demon that wanted to turn you and your friends into a frozen dessert...

Concentrating on her connection with Lezard, she pointed the athame and threw whatever fire was left at the ice monster as the imps rushed to try to reform its head, currently a half-melted ball of ice.

Eve felt a weight settle on top of her head. She wasn't entirely sure what was there, but she decided to trust Keroro's judgment.

Eve brought the shield up to block the wave of ice and snow, though it still ended up pushing her back a bit. She caught sight of Lily's stumble from the corner of her eye, but Eve hadn't expected the woman to just...stay on the ground.

When the wave was over, Eve lifted her head and the gatling guns spun, firing bullets at the imps. Her aim wasn't particularly good with this thing, but with so many imps clustered near the monster, it didn't need to be.

When she stopped breifly, she slowly backed up until she was in front of Lily, with her shield help at ready.

"Just focus on what you're doing. I'll protect you in the mean time."

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From Coffee to Demons

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