Superhero Spam
By Lord Raa
Can 7
Disclaim-me-do: Can't this wait? I'm touching cloth!
Time for another AU, though this one may seem more than a tad familiar to some of you…
Shinji Ikari was looking around Tokyo, trying to recall his childhood memories from the last time he was here. For the strangest of reasons he found his attention drawn to the big screen in the street.
What he saw would change his life forever.
"And now, we have the main event. In this corner, the reigning champion of Angelic Layer: Asuka Langley Sohryu and her winning doll, Vermillion!"
The screen showed a blue eyed, red haired girl with her fighting doll that looked a lot like her standing on her shoulder, though this miniature version was dressed in a form fitting red vinyl suit as opposed to her yellow sundress.
The cheer from the crowd puzzled the young Ikari. 'Why is this so popular?'
The announcer continued. "Versus Sachiel!"
The crowd didn't boo as Shinji expected, but the cheers for the gangly looking doll were markedly less.
'Compared to that first one, that's ugly,' Shinji thought as the two fighting dolls squared off against each other.
But the aesthetics of Sachiel did not matter once the battle started.
Asuka's brilliant red device streaked across the layer and grabbed the arms of Sachiel in a moved that would have made most unarmed combat practitioners proud. Seconds later, the angel in scarlet removed the arms of its opponent and discarded them off the edge of the layer.
"Well that was anti-climatic," a voice called out from behind Shinji as Asuka tore off the limbs.
Shinji turned to see a pale skinned boy around his age. "What do you mean?"
"I expected Asuka to show a little more flair with this one," he answered. "Asuka is famed for her skill; I guess that she must be tired of the weaker opponents."
To prove his point, Asuka responded to an interviewer's question.
"¬I'm looking for a new challenge at the Kanto tournament. So far, I've not been pushed as much as I'd like. It's not a challenge anymore. Is there no-one that is ready, willing and able to stand up to me? Are you all wimps?¬"
Shinji knew a challenge when he saw one. "I'll give it a go."
Kaworu smiled, but before he could point Shinji in the right direction to acquire the necessary components, the young Ikari had wandered off.
'Damn,' Kaworu cursed internally. 'He was a cutie.'
A blonde woman in a lab coat noticed a lost looking young male browsing the Angelic Layer section of a toy store.
"I see you're interested in Angelic Layer," she casually addressed Shinji.
"Oh, yes. I just saw a match on the TV outside and I want to give it a go, it looks like a lot of fun."
The blonde smiled at Shinji's innocent appraisal of the latest toy. "Well, do you know what you need to get started?"
Shinji shook his head.
The blonde's smile grew. "Right, you'll need one of these, one of these and one of those. Best not forget this or this," the woman spoke as moved with a purpose around the shelves.
"Do I really need all of this?"
"This is just for starters."
"Umm, I don't mean to be rude, but what's your name?" Shinji was beginning to get a little weirded out by the manic blonde.
"I'm Dr Ak- , no it's best if you call me Ritsuchan," the woman introduced herself. "Now to purchase the goods," she pointed Shinji in the direction of the tills.
As Shinji paid for his new toy and accessories, one of the staff pointed to Ritsuchan.
"There she is! She followed that boy in. I bet she's one of those perverted old women that prey on innocent young boys."
"What?" Ritsuchan looked around and started to panic. "Unhand me, you thug!"
"Silence, degenerate!" a security guard insisted as he dragged the struggling lab coat clad blonde out of the shop floor.
"Ritsuchan, can you lend me some money for the train?" Shinji turned to ask his new friend only to be answered with silence.
"Just what were you thinking walking here all the way from Tokyo station?"
"I'm sorry, Auntie Misato," Shinji hung his head in shame only to have it painfully wrenched up by the cheeks.
"I'm not old enough to be referred to as 'auntie' yet Shinji. If you must point out that I'm older than you, Nee-chan will do just fine," Misato had a dangerous look in her eyes. It promised much pain to Shinji if he dared to make that same mistake again.
Misato wasn't really related to Shinji, but was a friend of the family, having worked with both of his parents before the unfortunate death of Yui Ikari. She was also only a few years older than Shinji.
"Of course, Nee-chan," Shinji responded through pinched cheeks.
"That's better," the scowl was replaced by shockingly cheery smile. "Now why don't you show me what it was that caused you spend your train fare on."
Shinji handed his room-mate the Angel Egg he had purchased on the advice of Ritsuchan.
"This is..."
"Yep, I'm going to play Angelic Layer. Though something does seem a bit odd. Fighting angels, I mean."
Misato laughed. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Angels are supposed to be the good guys."
Shinji joined in the mirth.
"So what are you going to call your Angel?" Misato asked.
"I was thinking Rei," Shinji replied as he gathered his things. "Is it ok if I take a bath?"
"Sure, I'll order take-out for dinner."
After Shinji had finished reading the water-proofed manual during his bath, he discussed the settings and appearance of Rei with his guardian over dinner.
"What kind of build should I go for, Misato?"
"I don't see an obvious powerhouse doll being your style, Shin-chan," Misato offered. "I say you go with an inner strength, like you."
Shinji blushed at his friend's habit of teasing and flirting. It was one of the things that he accepted as her way of showing affection. "I suppose. What colour hair should I go for?"
"Sky blue."
"Why?"
"Why not?" Misato was one of those people who often said that. She was a happy-go-lucky sort that enjoyed breezing through life.
"I can't argue with that now, can I?" Shinji chuckled.
"What about the red eyes that it came with? I like the distinctive appearance it'll give Rei," Misato said as she sipped her beer. It was the fourth can that Shinji had seen her drink that evening.
Shinji frowned at his room-mate's consumption of alcohol. "How often do you drink this much beer, Nee-chan?"
"This? This is a special occasion, Shin-chan. I knew you'd be tired so I didn't bother to throw a welcome party."
Shinji was a little suspicious of Misato's answer but didn't push it out of politeness. "I guess, but what outfit should I give her to wear?"
"I don't know much about the technical side, but I know that you can't put 'normal' doll's clothes on them. I think that what ever you decide will be fine, Shin-chan – as long as you don't dress Rei in S&M type bondage gear," the purple haired young woman joked.
Unsurprisingly, Shinji didn't get the joke. "What's S&M, Nee-chan?"
Misato suddenly felt more than a little uncomfortable at the idea of describing sexual practices to the innocent Shinji. "Don't worry about that now, Shin-chan, you should get some rest, you've got a big day ahead of you tomorrow."
"Ok Misato-chan." Shinji rose from the table to go to his own room.
To be continued…?
Yes, this is a repost of Evangelic Layer, but you know what? I don't care right now!
This one is up for grabs – if you want to write more of this one, contact me and we can work out some details.
Have a happy 2006, everybody.
Go on, I dare you.
Nay! I triple-dare every last one of you!