caughtinanetwork | 32nd Combo

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32nd Combo - [Video]

[You know what's a really bad way to wake up? Waking up inside of a coffin is what's a really bad way to wake up! In his initial panic at waking up trapped in that small, tight space, Lloyd doesn't even register the pendant hanging around his neck, or the picture lying in the coffin with him. No, Lloyd's panic means he's slamming against the walls, the lid-

Oh. The lid isn't locked. It slams open, allowing Lloyd to sit up and gulp grateful breaths of air.

Grateful until he realizes just what it is he's sitting in. With a yelp, Lloyd all but flies out of the box. Wait. Holy crap, those aren't his arms! That's not his body!]

What's going on?!

[...that isn't his voice, either!

A few minutes later, after Lloyd's spotted his reflection...]

LAHARL!

[Vatheon, that's one angry face shouting through the SFC. One angry demon face, not an angry teen.]

I don't know what you're up to now, but I swear I'll put a stop to it! Now give me back my body!

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You don't know the first thing about magic, do you? It's a wonder you cast that spell on me at all.

Come on, I told you I'm working on it! What's so wrong with what I said?

At my level, it's instinct, but for a beginner like you, there's a lot more concentration that goes into spellcasting than just throwing your mana around and hoping it does what you want.

I bet you don't even know how to channel the right element for healing, and in my body the easiest one for you to use is fire. You really want to burn your own body again?

[Lloyd flushes at being scolded about this like he's some stupid little kid, but the truth is he hadn't really thought that much about it.]

I- I could do different elements if I tried! I'm not gonna burn myself! Or you! Or- Gah, you know what I mean!

[Oh, there's the plaza. The coral's just up ahead.]

[As far as Laharl is concerned, Lloyd pretty much is a stupid little kid. Well, maybe not so little. If nothing else, it's kind of cool being this tall. He can see the tops of some people's heads!]

You aren't, because you aren't going to try. Got that?

[All right, they're at the coral. Laharl walks up to place his hand on it, feeling the sting of the burns fade. That's better.]

[Not helping Lloyd's irritation with you, Laharl. The teen-turned-demon is fuming as he follows the other to the coral.]

You can't tell me what to do, Laharl. Maybe I won't try to practice on you, since you won't need it now, but I could still practice casting spells if I want.

[Laharl wasn't exactly intending a ban on all spells ever. Just the ones above Lloyd's ability, which is almost all spells ever. He turns from the coral and folds his arms.]

Fine. Then let's see some control first. Stick with fire, and keep it small, or at least focus it on yourself. You won't be able to burn my body.

[Yeah, watch him... continue to tell you what to do.]

[Lloyd doesn't quite pick up on that, hearing the command as a challenge. Lifting his chin stubbornly, he draws himself up to his full height. (That height is sadly lacking right now, especially since he's standing near Laharl.)]

I'm not about to cast a fire spell on myself. How stupid do you think I am?

[He looks around, searching for a target.]

How about I burn that paper on the ground?

Pretty stupid.

[Sorry, was that a rhetorical question? Laharl looks over at the piece of paper.]

Hm. You might be able to manage that.

[Grrr... If such things as storm clouds really formed over people's heads, there would be a dark little scribble above Lloyd right now.]

Dammit, I'll show you! Watch this!

[If he can cast Judgment, he can definitely cast this! Furiously focusing his mana, Lloyd thrusts his hands up, then down at the paper, imagining he's hurling his mana at it.]

Fireball!

[Or... fire torch? Fire definitely forms around Lloyd's arms, but when he tries to throw the spell at the paper, only a small 'glob' actually seems to do what he wants. Mostly. His aim isn't the greatest and it splashes on the ground. But hey, the sparks from that still manage to light the paper on fire!

Now if he could get the rest of the fire to go out! True to Laharl's words, it's not burning him, but it's still disconcerting to have fire dancing on his arms! He hastily tries to bat it out.]

D-dammit!

[Play it cool, play it cool.]

There! See?!

[Laharl snorts.]

So much for not setting yourself on fire. I can see you're going to need a lot of practice.

Hey, that was just my first try! I'd like to see you do any better in my body.

[Not that Lloyd has any affinity for fire. In fact, with his magic stemming from his fledgling angelic powers, probably the only element his body has any affinity for right now would be light. Have fun with that, Laharl.]

[Laharl grimaces at the suggestion.]

Like I want to use your magic. I don't know where a human picked this up, but it feels too... clean.

Picked what up? My magic?

[Even after almost a year, it still feels a little surreal to say that. Normal humans just aren't born with magic. He didn't have it for the first seventeen years of his life.]

Maybe that's because I'm an angel.

[Okay, so he usually identifies himself as human, but he's feeling particularly contrary right now. Besides, it's technically true.]

[Laharl isn't buying it, even if this guy is clueless enough for an angel. And, y'know, seems to have angel magic.]

You feel pretty human for an angel. And you definitely aren't old enough.

Everyone was young once. Can't angels be young, too?

[Clueless as an angel, clueless about angels, or at least angels in other people's worlds.]

I've only been an angel for a year. That's probably what's throwing you off.

Looking like this, an angel'd be at least 1600...

[Okay, he's just going to give you the weirdest look for that last statement.]

The hell do you mean, you've only been one for a year?

It takes you sixteen hundred years to look like you're nineteen? [Lloyd stares incredulously.] Man, what did you look like when you were nineteen, then? A tiny little baby?

I mean what I said. I only became an angel a year ago in this place. That's when my Exsphere evolved.

[And he's trying really hard not to think about how exactly that came about. A year is still not enough time to wipe away the trauma of being tortured and having his mana go out of control.]

I did not look like an infant. [More like a toddler.]

What the hell is an Exsphere?

How old, then?

[Oh crap, maybe he shouldn't have mentioned that. Laharl's still an enemy, even if they've got this weird sort-of-truce. If he knew about Lloyd's Exsphere, he could use that against him.

Then another, awful idea occurs to Lloyd. What if Laharl tries to take his Exsphere off while he's still in control of Lloyd's body? Lloyd eyes the demon uneasily. He needs to say something, but how much?]

It's... sort of a stone. That one on my hand. Don't take it off, or you'll regret it.

I don't know. I've never met a human who looked that age. [He'd be a terrible judge of human ages anyway.

He turns his hand to inspect it. He's not going to try harming this body while he's in it, but it doesn't hurt to know for later:]

What happens if I do?

[Lloyd scowls and folds his arms, trying to look as imposing as he can. Never mind that he has to look up to meet Laharl's eyes, or the fact that he's barely dressed.]

Just don't. If you don't know what you're doing, it'll be really bad.

[He's not even sure there is a good way to remove it, not now that it's fused with him. Can an angel ever take their Exsphere off? Even one who had a Key Crest first? Or has it changed his body and his mana so much that taking it off would send his mana spiraling out of control again? And this time Kratos wouldn't be here to help. He'd have to hope that Duke or Mithos or Dhaos would be able to manage it. Either way, it's not something he wants to find out with Laharl in control of his body.]

Just trust me on that, Laharl. You could get us both killed.

[Laharl is certain his attempt at being imposing would be more successful if he were wearing the scarf. It can't have anything to do with his height.]

I'll keep that in mind.

[Which would be a more reassuring statement if he weren't grinning. Sounds like a serious weakness right there.]

[You just keep telling yourself that, Laharl.

But dammit, didn't he hear the part about getting them both killed? This isn't something to smile about! Lloyd deepens his scowl.]

Make sure you do.

[The "or else" is implied in his growl. So is the warning not to mess with his Exsphere.]

I'll be keeping my eye on you.

[Laharl assumes Lloyd is underestimating him again. Once he's back in his own body, he's sure he could survive it.]

Sure. For all the good that'll do you.

32nd Combo - [Video]

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