Match of the Millennium

Description: Banyu was just a man looking for some groceries. That's when he noticed them - massing outside the store, one by one...

[BANYU]
"Hmmmm."

In the corner of the local convinence store, yet another branch of the massive Seven Eleven company, Banyu Darma is browsing some of the ready-to-go meals. Turning over the packagings, curious about the contents as he takes his sweet, sweet time shopping. The clerk had been glancing over in his direction periodically... for that last, 20 minutes or so? "Maybe I should..." The man is mumbling to himself, in his deep voice. Seemingly planning on purchasing some sort of meal for the evening; He had rented a local crappy apartment, and he is not about to waste more money on expensive restaurants.

Banyu is stingy, and he's proud of it, darn it!

[LYRAELLE]
In one of the upper corners of the store, not far from where Banyu is browsing, a flatscreen television has been playing a local news broadcast quietly for some time. A few customers continue to go about their business; it's not peak hours for the convenience store, and most are in and out within a matter of minutes - the 'convenience' element of the convenience store is the draw for the consumer on the go, after all.

Depending on how much attention he's paying, Banyu might or might not have notice that, a few minutes ago, there were suddenly a few teenagers, all wearing purple and pink, standing outside the Seven Eleven, peering in as if they were looking for something.

And then, within a minute of the first arrivals, there were a dozen people of different ages, all lined up and peering into the shop through the glass.

Now, there's a veritable throng, pushing up against each other, scrabbling to try and get the best views. It's like an apocalyptic zombie horde has sensed fresh meat inside the store - perhaps the Nana chicken - but none of them have figured out how to work the door handle; strangely, none are coming in.

And about this time, the screen suddenly changes, the broadcast interrupted by the sudden appearance of a beaming, horny young woman with a bright pink ponytail.

"Hi there! It's me, Lyraelle~"

The camera pans out to reveal a pachinko game beneath the celebrity succubus' fair face. Close inspection would reveal that there are photographs and names at the bottom of each pachinko slot, though they're hard to make out.

"And it's time for Round One of Lyraelle's Neo-League Pachinko! If you're in the Neo-League, better pay attention, because you just might be the lucky winner!"

A red imp flies up next to Lyraelle, holding a large pachinko coin.

"Let's see who we'll be challenging today, Red Minion!"

"Yes, your Majesty, let's," Red Minion says flatly as he drops the pachinko coin into the machine.

The token drops down through the pegs, to and fro, before finally falling through one of the slots. The camera zooms in to show, strangely, a caricature picture of a grumpy old man's face, with the word 'BANYU' above it. The pachinko machine lets out a series of celebratory noises.


"And it looks like our winner is... BANYU DARMA! Heads up, old man! I'll be there in..."

Lyraelle flies off-screen as a count begins on the screen:

10...

9...

8...

It seems that there's a short heads-up before whatever's about to happen... but it's suddenly clear that there are official Neo-League camera crew being nearly crushed at the head of the flash mob outside!

[RAFFERTY]
Casually standing by the magazine section are two teenage boys. The dark haired one is dressed in a fairly typical fashion. A CYS t-shirt is worn with a pair of dark blue jeans and black sneakers. Other than his rather intense hazel eyes, there's nothing about him that would particularly stand out in a crowd. Then there's the other one.

He's tall and strikingly handsome, with a short mop of platinum locks. His eyes are piercing blue and his outfit...well his outfit is the kind of purple and pink combo that Barbie favours.

On his toned torso is an eyecatching bright purple t-shirt. On the front is a cartoonish picture of a pink haired woman, that may be recognised by some as Demon Queen Lyraelle Darkheart. Above the picture is the word "Minion" and below it the name "Rafferty" in a bright pink font. He's combined this with a pair of purple cotton pyjama bottoms covered in a print of Lyraelle's winking face. On his feet are a pair of oversized purple felt slippers in the shape of Lyraelle's head, complete with her bright pink locks. He's holding an iPhone in his hand, that's inside a glittery purple phone case, with a picture of Lyraelle on the front.

"You wonder why I chose to wear my pyjama bottoms and slippers to the store, Ryan?" the blond boy says loudly.

The look on Ryan's face suggests he was wondering no such thing.

"Well, I'll tell you. I just can't get enough of the stylish design and comfortable fabrics. When you invited me to the store to pick up our favourite magazines, I couldn't bear to get changed, if it meant taking them off. Plus, I get to show my love of Lyraelle, she's the best fighter there is."

He does a wink to an unseen camera, causing Ryan to turn his head to search for it.

"What are you doing, mate?" he asks in a London accent.

"This is kinda embarrassing. Also, isn't Nena a fighter? Surely she should be your fave, you know, being your lass and all."

He puts down the magazine he was browsing, which appears to be the kind usually found on the top shelf, just in case there is actually a camera watching.

"Shhh, play it cool" Rafferty whispers, shifting his weight from one furry felt slipper to the other and then checking his phone.

"Alright, it's time" he grins, his eyes shifting up to look at the TV screen on the wall.

After watching his employer deliver her speech, he grabs hold of Ryan's arm, pulling him towards the best position to view the action that's about to unfold.

[BANYU]
"What in the...?" The man would grumble, suddenly seeing the crowd gather outside. He had grabbed a rice-ball, and a jelly doughnut. "Let's get out of here.." He was just about to walk to the counter, when that broadcast suddenly came on, as the old man listens, and watches. He was about to dismiss the recording as 'some weird children's show' but then...

His name gets called out, and the man calls out. "What?!" But, he still finds the time to adress the Rafferty in a corner. "You look ridiculous, boy. Wear something else when you get home."
And he storms outside, ready to face the crowd while the clock is counting down, snacks still in-hand. Though then he recalls the 'lucky winner' part. And the 'If you're in the Neo-League' warning.

"Goddamn showboating, attention-seeking-" His words disolve into inaudible mumbling as he glances back inside to check the timer, trying to prepare himself for the sudden event he got caught up in. He looks pissed.

Because old, salty men do not like surprises!

[LYRAELLE]
The crowds are pushed back from the door as Banyu emerges, flowing like water around him. They step back, none daring touch him, though those closest seem to alternate between staring at the Indonesian man and searching the area - and the interior of the shop - for signs of... something.

3...

2...

1...

And then, an unintelligible shout rises from somewhere in the crowd, a finger pointing up at the sky. Heads look up all around the epicentre of recognition, and more fingers point upward, more shouts rising.

"There she is!"

"It's Her Majesty!"

"Queen Darkheart!"

As the silhouette descends rapidly from the grey sky, the flashes of phone cameras light up the evening like machine gun fire. As the bat-winged figure's trajectory becomes clear, a group in the middle of the crowd starts to instinctively step away, forming a circle.

A lone, unkempt otaku in a Lyraelle t-shirt stands in the middle of the gap, arms thrown wide.

"I'm ready, Your Majesty!!!-herk!!"

With near-sonic speed, the otaku suddenly finds himself flat on the ground, serving as a landing cushion and chair for the arriving infernal maiden.

The smiling hell-pixie strikes a pose, tilting her head, winking and forming a V next to her face with two fingers.

"Konichi wa, minions~"

Almost immediately, rows upon rows of followers prostrate themselves like falling dominoes around the Demon Queen, while the otaku-shaped chair blissfully faints.

Lyraelle rises up to her feet and stretches languidly, lacing her fingers above her head, a serene expression on her face. After a second of holding the pose for the benefit of the onlookers, she clears her throat. When she does, those between where Banyu is standing and that void in the mass of humanity also step back, forming an aisle of empty space between herself and the fisherman.

Still holding that stretch, Lyraelle giggles, then opens her green eyes, staring directly at Banyu as her serene smile turns into a smirk.

"Let's go, old man! You're the first stop on my Neo-League tour!"

COMBATSYS: Banyu has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Banyu            0/-------/-------|

[BANYU]
"By Allah, what have I stumbled into." Banyu looks at the scene in front of him. Fanboys, girls, and a few drooling fools to top it off. He in particular looks disgusted at the man that serced at Lyraelle's landing spot. "Were is your dignity, boy-- Pick yourself up."

But it gets worse with the prostrating.

"All of you- Fools! Learn to stand on your own bloody legs-- What hellscape is this.." When he finally finds himself face-to-face with Lyraelle, he groans, before responding. "So be it-" He enters his stance, open palms, horse stance. One palm facing Lyraelle, the other tucked into his side facing upward.

"My first impression of you is wholly negative.." And, he dashes in to take the first attack. The demoness said she was ready, after all. He gets in close, feinting a strike before raising his legg- stomping it downward on the ground- Channeling chi through his leg and into the earth, before it emerges below Lyraelle as a upward Geyser of force and water!"

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Lyraelle         0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0            Banyu

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle dodges Banyu's Madura Geyser.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Lyraelle         0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0            Banyu

[LYRAELLE]
Banyu's protests at the behaviour of the Minions seem to fall on deaf ears. Only a small girl - on the cusp of her teens, perhaps - turns to look up at Banyu with a strange smile.

"Her Majesty says to be nice to people, even when they're mean to you! Queens don't stoop!"

The pre-adolescent tilts her head and makes a V with two fingers, mimicking the Demon Queen's expression.

Meanwhile, Lyraelle lets her arms fall down to her sides, the tension in her posture increasing by a degree nearly imperceptible to those without a fighter's analytical eye; the self-assured curve of her lips remains, even as she exits her stretch. It's only when Banyu starts to bear down on her that the Demon Queen coils, then sways around the feinting strike, her green eyes remaining locked with the fisherman's even as her body turns away. There's a pricking of her sharp-edged ears as Banyu's chi channels into the Earth, and Lyraelle twirls to the side, barely managing to escape the surge from below. Several droplets of water spatter her side, leaving a glistening sheen on her pale skin and darkening the leathery hide of her purple wing.

"That's a shame, because my first impression of you has got me wet already~"

The demonette winks at Banyu as she addresses him over her shoulder, before suddenly lashing out - dipping down and pivoting on one narrow heel as she drives the other one toward Banyu's chest with a reverse kick, placing her devilish form and supernatural power on equal display!

COMBATSYS: Banyu blocks Lyraelle's Medium Kick.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Lyraelle         0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0            Banyu

[BANYU]
Banyu looks toward the small girl with a sad, empathetic expression. "Poor girl- You are way too young to be obsessing over a woman like this--" Banyu informs her, even though it is most likely to fall on deaf ears. Instead, he turns back to Lyraelle just in time to see, and react to her kick; Bracing himself to absorb, and then push away Lyraelle's kick with a circular motion of his arm. He grunts in pain, surprised at the woman's significant strength-- "Cease your depraved humor, I do not care of women such as you."

Well, he says that, but the somewhat frequent glances towards the more curvaceous parts of her build suggest otherwise.

At this point, he starts to realize that his opponent isn't just for show; And nor are those wings. His brow furrows, as he thinks and looks. He doesn't let that interrupt his attack, though; As he jumps straight up, raising up his front leg surprisingly high for a man of his age and posture, before coming down attempting to /slam/ it into Lyraelle, while peering into her with his grey eyes.

"What kind of creature are you, witch?"

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle dodges Banyu's Diving Kick.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Lyraelle         0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0            Banyu

[LYRAELLE]
Lyraelle's smirk only seems to somehow deepen at Banyu's protest against her depravity, her back arching and tail standing on end and waving as her extended leg drops back in line with its shapely twin.

"Tell your eyes that, old man - I'm not sure they got the memo~"

She keeps her backto Banyu, taunting him as he leaps upward, presenting what appears to be an easy target for the fisherman's foot as he attempts to slam it down on her.

Suddenly, she's not there.

It's no teleportation, but to the untrained eye, it might as well be - suddenly, she's the one in the air behind Banyu, the potent breeze from a single beat of her wings signalling her new location to the fisherman a moment before her honeyed voice rings out from her new vantage:

"You know, I get asked that question surprisingly not often!"

As Lyraelle lifts her arm aloft, a crackling snake of green flame extends from within her grasp. The minions in the audience quickly edge back from below their Queen as burning infernal chi drips like viridian molten magma from the weapon.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm a demon!"

The sizzling whip sweeps back.

"The clue's in the name..."

Lyraelle sends the blazing whip snapping toward Banyu's upper body.

"Demon Queen Lyraelle!"

Even as she twists with violent grace into the attack, she winks at her aged opponent.

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle successfully hits Banyu with Imperious Scourge.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Lyraelle         0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1            Banyu

[BANYU]
"Gah- Fast!" He exclaims when attack is again evaded, the man is getting frustrated, and it shows. As he was contemplating, Lyraelle was already preparing her attack. The fisherman only gets the barest hint of the attack's nature before that fiery whip soars out- In a desparate attempt, the fisherman attempted to limbo his body under it, with surprising flexibility; Yet the searing hot magma impacted way faster then he had anticipated.

And boy did it hurt.

Due to his attempted dodge, the whip actually ended up lashing his forehead- And not just striking, no. Connecting early in it's swing, the rest of the loose weapon ended up spinning back around; Coiling itself around his nose and mouth as the magma did it's work, burning his features with excruciating pain for almost three seconds before it finally unwrapped itself due to his struggling. (or perhaps due to the demon queen's mercy)

"U-GAAAAAAAH!"

Streaks of red, burned skin around his face remain, he is roaring and putting a hand over his face. "You will pay- YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT!" Uh oh, the old man had lost his composure. It seems as if it even scorched off part of his beard; Is the the reason for his furore? No matter, he simply rushes for the demoness, eager for an outlet to his anger. "THE SEAS HELD FAR LARGER DEMONS THAT YOU, AND YOU WILL FALL, AS HAVE THEY!" The old man actually goes into a split as he approaches Lyraelle. It's that flexibility again, crossing both arms before performing twin chopping-strikes onto the woman's knees, attempting to make her stumble and reel, before rising and stomping on her chest, which might carry her all the way to the ground, if successful. As she'd be pinned there, his hand would raise. A loose fist with the gap pointing downward, before water surges out to form a long, watery harpoon and an accompying cord wrapped around his wrist. He'd waste no time thrusting it downward, into the demoness, hopefully impaling her torso so that the rope is connecting the both of them!

COMBATSYS: Banyu successfully hits Lyraelle with Whale Burial.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Lyraelle         1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0            Banyu

[LYRAELLE]
To his credit, it's through Banyu's own efforts that he's able to escape from Lyraelle's winding whip; the ever-smiling Demon Queen has precious little mercy for the elder warrior.

"You know, I always heard that old fishermen were salty sea-dogs, but I don't think I ever really understood the phrase until now," she says with a sly grin as the whip is discarded from both her hand and its current plane of existence. Her open, gloved hands come up to fend off her fisherman foe. Even as he cracks his hands against her knees and she grimaces with one eye, she taunts, "Salty, barking, and out of your de-hrrgggh!"

It's the foot planting between the hell-babe's bosoms that finally interrupts her domineering banter, her hands clutching at Banyu's ankle as he drives her down to the ground, pinning her wings underneath her.

"Damn -"

Then, almost abruptly, Banyu is thrusting his mighty harpoon into her.

"- !!"

Lyraelle's eyes widen as she's impaled by the watery, lancing chi, her midsection flinching reflexively at the wound. A pool of red starts to flow from her stomach, aided by the aqueous nature of the weapon.

A cascading chorus of gasps erupts from the minions around the pair. Hands go to mouths; somet turn away.

Lyraelle, though, manages to grin through the grimace with clenched teeth.

"Oh, that's good..."

The succubus' salacious tone seems to take on a darker, seething edge as she writhes, attempting to slip from Banyu's control.

"...and I don't mind rough, but..."

She finally manages to slip her slick body out from beneath Banyu's foot, surging up to her feet with the help of her wings, though she remains tethered to Banyu's wrist by the weapon still stuck in her middle. One hand coils around the rope to attempt to assert control over it while the other flicks back, summoning the fiery whip back into being behind her.

"...I /prefer/ to be on /top!/"

Her own weapon flashes forward as she pulls the cord simultaneously toward herself in an attempt to imbalance Banyu. If she manages to catch the old fighter with the whip as intended, she'll then yank him toward her, reeling him in with the infernal weapon's strangely tangible nature, then pivot as he nears, slamming him over her shoulder and onto his back.

If successful, she'd then stamp her own foot down on his chest to pin him under the heel of her purple thigh high boot, before drawing back the whip to lash him all about the body repeatedly with the scorching weapon!

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle successfully hits Banyu with Royal Reprimand - Lashes to Ashes.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Lyraelle         0/-------/<<<<<<<|=======\-------\0            Banyu

[BANYU]
Banyu gives a satisfied nod as he pins the demoness, seemingly having calmed down a fair bit; Though her mocking dialogue does make him furrow his brow in frustration. "You talk too much-" He looks away to glance at the audience, feeling satisfied at landing such a hit against their queen, and seeing their horrified faces.

Yet, that was enough of an distraction, and Lyraelle slips away-- "Drat!" It looked as if he saw the attack, but decided to /push/ himself through; But unfortunately for the salty fisherman, that dastardly whip came in again- And he fails to resist it, as it wraps around his torso to sear the shirt and dungaree the fisherman is wearing, before he gets flipped over, slammed into the ground; And subsequently stomped, whipped, and seared. He roars out in pain yet again, that fury back on his features. He doesn't speak, but stretches out his palm toward Lyraelle amongst the lava and the pain. Building up a huge amount of Chi.

A second or so later, it would /erupt/. A crashing column of water surging out of his hand, the water from the harpoon and rope coalesce itself into this attack, battering and pushing at the on-top demoness, just how she likes it-- It might be enough to push her off, yet Banyu would in all likelyhood remain enwrapped, perhaps even pulled along!

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle endures Banyu's Longline Flooding.
-@- Dazing Hit! -@-

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Lyraelle         1/---<<<</<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0            Banyu

[LYRAELLE]
"Remember, the safeword is 'I surrender!'"

The Demon Queen's voice shouts out above the snapping, crackling and popping din of her weapon as it scores against the fisherman's flesh. The cheering of the crowd at the vicious treatment of the elder fighter at the pink-haired hellion's hands - which, one could say, is rather unnerving to contemplate in depth - invigorates Her Majesty's enthusiasm, and for a minute there, Lyraelle loses herself.

It is perhaps karmic, then, when Banyu's palm surges up, and, given their positions, only has one place to go -

The geyser of liquid chi surges up into the dark queen's core, washing over her body as it blasts her up into the air. The infernal tether stretches to the limit as it clings to Banyu; the crowd parts in a rippling effect to make room for the hell-maiden's wingspan as she falls back down to earth, crashing into the asphalt back-first, her pale skin and purple clothing dripping from the deluge. Even her ponytail is soaked as she groans on her back, knees curling toward her chest.

"Mmmm-nhh...~"

The she-fiend's green eyes flutter open as she seems to come to, dazed and dimly aware of her compromising position, the whip held faintly in her hands and clinging loosely to Banyu's leg.

"Not bad... for an old man...~"

There's a faintly swooning sigh in the succubus' tone as she forces herself to rise with an unsteady grace, dusting dirt and debris from her hips absently with her free hand. Her unfocused eyes find Banyu, and she smiles vaguely as her wings lift her up into the air.

"Let's have another taste of that energy... but on my terms~"

There's a faint murmur from the crowd that rapidly starts to build into a chant.

'D-Q-T! D-Q-T!'

Then, turning around so that she's facing away from Banyu, she draws the whip taut - then, with a delirious thrust of her wings, Lyraelle sends herself hurtling recklessly backside-first at the fisherman in an attempt to bowl him down with her demonic derriere before pinning him beneath it, using the line to try and hold him in her course!

If she manages to assert herself on the fisherman, she would practically collapse in a lounging daze atop him - though her tail, with a mind of its own, would seek to wrap around the nearest available limb like a cephalopod's tentacle before he'd feel a subtly intense sensation of his essence being sucked away!

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle issues a challenge!!

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Lyraelle         1/---<<<</<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0            Banyu

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle successfully hits Banyu with Royal Requisition - Dark Queen's Throne.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >                                ]
Lyraelle         0/-------/----===|=======\=====--\1            Banyu

[BANYU]
"E'gegege, take that.. hellspawn.." His weakly chukles, but he finds the energy to berate her through it, as she's seeing stars. However, the Fisherman is at the end of his line, and he is still caught! He attempted feebly to pry himself loose, but his body wasn't working with him-- He is forced to watch as the crowd starts to chant.. something. D-Q-T? It's meaningless to him. "S-Stay away, hellspaa-" "Do-Gaaaaaaah!"

And, bowled over, made into a chair. In all likelyhood, a position that induces jealousy from a good chunk of this crowd. For Banyu however- Well, Banyu is long gone. That impact was enough, and Lyraelle's tail easily finds his leg to feast on his energy.

COMBATSYS: Banyu takes no action.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Lyraelle         0/-------/----===|

COMBATSYS: Banyu can no longer fight.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Lyraelle         0/-------/----===|

[LYRAELLE]
For her part, Lyraelle looks vaguely flushed, unfocused and soaked as she rests against her palms, settling atop the seafisher with a vacant viridian stare into the middle distance as she breathes in and out heavily, chest heaving. The wound in her middle slowly starts to seal and mend itself before the crowd's very eyes as the fisherman's borrowed essence contributes to her restoration efforts.

Strangely, the influx of chi only seems to cause the Demon Queen to look even more zoned out rather than less, at first - though, to her audience the furtive theft of essence is a secret and invisible act.

Lyraelle's victory is announced by an overlay on the screens of viewers at home (and on phones, and on monitors - including the one in the convenience store) over her dripping and panting face - until she suddenly seems to regain focus, eyelashes fluttering before turning to the active camera instinctively.

Abruptly, she's got a cheeky smile and wink, and a sudden surge of heat seems to run through her body - possibly giving a minor Lyraelle-shaped scalding to her temporary human throne - and the water covering her rises off of her in puffs of steam, her hair instantly drying and reclaiming its (super)natural, artfully untidy ponytail shape, a few strands falling to frame her eyes.

The minions all around rise up and cheer as they start to swarm the Demon Queen and her throne, merchandise, photographs and writing extended to her like the ailing masses reaching for some messianic figure.

"Now, now, minions! Let's form a line, one at a time!" Lyraelle calls to the throng, before pulling a 10,000-yen Seven Eleven gift voucher from her cleavage and setting it down on Banyu's chest.

"Thanks for the dance, old man - and feel free get in line, if you want an autograph!"

Log created on 15:05:12 05/19/2021 by Lyraelle, and last modified on 09:29:31 05/21/2021.