Chapter 7
Around 6 in the morning my alarm clock went off, and I awoke on the floor. I don't remember slumping out of the recliner, but nevertheless I got up and made my way to the bathroom. I took off my clothes, and my piercings so that I could shower. After that, I walked towards the sink and brushed my teeth while only wearing a towel. Once I freshened up I returned to my room to grab some clothes and change. I walked out donning a black, sleeveless shirt, my military waistcoat, black jeans and boots. After showering, brushing my teeth, and changing, it was only 6:26, so I still had a good hour to kill. I wasn't really hungry, yet I cooked and ate two grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches and washed them down with an energy drink. Rather than sit around and waste any more time, I decided to quickly clean up my mess, and drive into town to avoid dealing with morning traffic.
I arrived in Death City with a little more than half an hour to spare, so I stopped at the closest Death Bucks. I figured since I'd be meeting the members in my assigned group, the least I could do to break the ice was show up with food. I went through the drive thru and ordered a dozen chocolate chunk muffins and 9 lattes. Once I paid for my order and it was ready, I once more proceeded to drive towards the DWMA. By the time I finally showed up, it was only 7:48 so it was easier to make my way up the steps and arrive in the library where they would hopefully be waiting. However while walking up the steps, I began to somewhat regret having brought the muffins and coffees, because walking up all those steps while carrying all that proved to be tedious. Yet I miraculously managed to make it up the steps without dropping anything or spilling hot coffee on myself.
Upon entering the library and setting everything down on a vacant table, I noticed that there was nobody there. I checked my phone and it read 8:00 A.M. which puzzled me. Yet it was brief because suddenly the doors opened and in they entered. They stood there in silence before walking collectively towards where I stood. I greeted them with warm smile and a tone of genuine kindness; "Hey guys, it's good to see you all again." Maka then smiled and she asked: "So you're going to be our leader during our missions, Mr. Blutmesser?" I nodded in reply and stated: "But please, call me Vladimir or Vlad, there's no need for such formality in addressing me." Soul responded while grinning: "That's cool. Anything's better than having anymore dissection labs." Everyone chuckled at his joke, even I did. I looked over behind Maka and saw a pink-haired student standing so timidly with his eyes fixed to the floor. I couldn't help but pity him. When I first entered the school, I was just as nervous and anxious as he seemed to be.
Regardless, I walked behind Maka approaching towards him, and I said to him in an even friendlier tone: "Hello, you must be Crona? I'm Vladimir, pleased to meet you." Suddenly a voice scowled: "No one cares who the hell you are, dumbass!" Then a black little figure emerged from his body and tried to punch me. I evaded it by swaying to the right, and asked aloofly: "I'm guessing you're Ragnarok?" His rude tone didn't change because he asked angrily: "No shit, Sherlock! Why don't you do us all a favor and hang yourself so we don't have to hear your crappy, annoying voice anymore?!" I could tell Maka was becoming aggravated by Ragnarok's attitude, because she growled: "If you don't behave yourself, you'll be getting twenty Maka-chops instead of candy." I wasn't gonna let the little turd upset me, so I said: "You know, you've got a lot rage for such a little guy. If I feed you will you be quiet?" His tone calmed some, because he chuckled before slyly saying maybe. I grabbed the three extra muffins from the box and handed them to him. He then threw them in the air and ate them as a shark eats smaller fish. After his meal he let out a small belch and merged himself back into Crona's body. I snickered somewhat and sighed with relief, "Well that takes care of that I suppose." "Th-thank you for quieting R-ragnarok", Crona shyly stammered. "I didn't think I could deal with him just now." I gently put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Think nothing of it. If we're gonna work as a team, the least I can do is help you to make things easier, right?" A faint smile formed on his lips and he nodded in reply.
I turned towards the the group and said, "Oh by the way, the coffees and muffins on the table are for you guys. Please help yourselves" They raced over to the table to grab their share, sans Death the Kid. He stood by waiting for the others and said: "I probably should have warned you, giving Patty caffeine will have consequences." To which I face-palmed and said, "Now you tell me? Sigh It's going to be a long day then." I walked over to grab the two remaining coffees and handed one to Kid, while taking the remaining one for myself. Then Black Star looked up and asked with a mouthful of muffin: "Does shumbody not want the extras?" I looked towards Kid who shook his head in refusal. So I said, "You guys can have em." Soul and Black Star grabbed the extra ones and gorged on them. Kid and I walked over to join the rest of them, taking seats from a nearby table, and seated ourselves at the vacant side of the table. Maka, Tsubaki, and Liz looked towards me while still chewing on muffins, but Maka was the one to speak first. "Thanks for the coffee and muffins." Liz then spoke, "Yeah thanks. I was trying to stay awake." Lastly Tsubaki said beguilingly, "Yes. Thank you for the kind gesture, and for volunteering to lead our group." "It is my pleasure", was all I could say before I raised my coffee cup and said so all could hear: "To our group. May these next few months be filled with successful missions, and great triumphs." Everyone mirrored my gesture and our coffee cups touched with each others'.
We continued to drink our coffee while I was being bombarded by questions from each individual. "Do you have any brothers or sisters?" Liz asked. I made eye contact with each person before replying: "Nope, no siblings. I'm an only child." Patty followed up that question with: "Do you ever get lonely?" That question had me do some brief, silent reflecting, and I responded while shrugging: "Ehhhh...sometimes truthfully." "Does your last name mean something" Maka would ask. I turned to her and answered: "Yeah, it roughly translates as blood knife or blood blade." "Where are you and your family from?" Tsubaki asked. "Our lineage is of German descent. My parents currently reside in Berlin, and sent me here when I was 10 to study." "So what is your weapon form?" Soul asked. I turned to him and said, "I turn into a Zweihä nder long sword. Should I show you?" He grinned and said, "Yeah that would be cool to see." So I changed into my weapon form which garnered awestruck glances from everyone. It was even funnier watching Black Star, Kid, and Liz try to lift and wield me smoothly. They'd try to lift and swing me, but they'd do so in such a clumsy fashion. I turned back to my normal form, and suggested: "Why don't we go outside and try that? I don't think the librarian or Sid would be happy with people trying to swing a massive longsword in here."