Cross Effects: Rebirth (2.0) The RP

[The Man With All The Cute Boats]

Paladin held up the pamphlet and compared the image on it to the place in front of him. A simple black gate with a large sign that had the words "Nexus Zoo" on it. There were people inside watching and feeding various animals.

"Well, this seems to be our destination, Hunter."

He got off the wagon, pushed open the gate, and walked into the zoo. Then he turned back and called out to his companion.

"Are you coming, Archive Hunter? Stribog's blessings await us!"

I eye the gate uncomfortably. Built for people, there was no way I could get the wagon in.

"I'm coming," I say as I get off the wagon's front seat. "Slip, stay with the wagon. Make sure no one breaks anything."

My feet touch the ground as Slip bleeps and bloops his understanding, and I pull out the half-meter long Inferno Revolver from its harness on the wagon. Better safe than sorry.

"So," I say as I catch up to the enthusiastic armored man. "You know where the penguin exhibit is?"

Thank god the zoo was closed this early in the morning, though. No children to traumatize with ritual sacrifices.

[Brahmastra]

"Who cares about your fellow peasant brother. You do not seem to understand just how uninterested I am in you or him", annoyed that the wench would even waste time on such useless words.

"Now, have at you, whore!". He charged forward at a speed exceeding sound, his khopesh swinging towards her neck, set for immediate decapitation.

[Alice]

Hakuno and Archer

"Oh!  Yes, she did mention Archer.  So Right, bigger room, probably a bigger bed or maybe two beds right?" Forest asked, her voice going an octave higher than her normal smokey voice.

Archer raised an eyebrow at the octave change, but didn't say anything. Hakuno also didn't say anything, but for her own reasons. Namely, she wanted to see what Archer would say in response to the bed question. Her cheeks had a faint flush to them. Before Archer could say anything, however-

Then she heard Karna speak and she grumbled, "He's an asshole."

"He definitely does... take some getting used to, at the very least. A lot of getting used to. Even more than Archer."
Archer shook his head. "I think Rin's rubbed off on you."
"More like you've rubbed off on me."

"You do know I can hear you even when you are being quiet, right Forest? It would not do for you to be spreading lies about me to the lovebirds."

The two had been so focused on talking to each other that they didn't even notice Karna approach.

Forest gritted her teeth and then said, "Well, its not a falsehood.  You are an asshole.  No, you're beyond an asshole.  You're a douche.  You're like the Douche Star of douches."

It's last night all over again. Hakuno spared the pair a wary glance, not wanting a fight to break out, but was more than a bit relieved to hear Archer speak up.

"Lovebirds? I don't really know if we're 'lovebirds,' but that's not what's important now anyway."
And just like that any enthusiasm Hakuno had sunk faster than a beetle with a large rock tied to it tossed into a deep lake.
"We'll take two separate beds if you have them. And we'll take that food I suppose, I need to make sure Hakuno gets some food in her."

Archer completely missed the pout on his Master's face. Even if he did notice it at that moment, however, he would still be completely clueless as to why it was there. 

[Brahmastra]

Forest gritted her teeth and then said, "Well, its not a falsehood.  You are an asshole.  No, you're beyond an asshole.  You're a douche.  You're like the Douche Star of douches."

"And you are a repressed Vetala who overvalues tin on wheels. But do not worry Forest, I do not hold it against you. Even as entirely flawed as you are, I could not hate you", said the monotone man, completely deflecting the insult or the silly nickname.

Hakuno and Archer

"Lovebirds? I don't really know if we're 'lovebirds,' but that's not what's important now anyway."

"We'll take two separate beds if you have them. And we'll take that food I suppose, I need to make sure Hakuno gets some food in her."

Archer completely missed the pout on his Master's face. Even if he did notice it at that moment, however, he would still be completely clueless as to why it was there. 

An ungraceful sigh came from the great hero. How did the man before him ever live like this.

"How I wonder that oblivious weaklings like yourself could ever be considered heroes. This is entirely pathetic. You have my sympathies, child", indicating the brown-haired girl who clearly wasn't excited at her protector's words.

[Alice]

Rin and Mille

Then he winked at Millie and said, "You can prove your boy kicking skills later.  Fiore's right, the lot of you could use rest.  I've got a tent that I live in that has room for another if they're so inclined."  He grinned at Rin when he said this.

"Probably..." Mille's features still showed visible traces of disappointment, but she tried to at least hide it somewhat.

Rin, meanwhile, had a more mixed reaction. "T-that confident, huh? As romantic as sleeping in the tent under the open sky is, this city's a bit smoggy for my tastes as far as camping's concerned. If you want to try and get cozy with me, it's probably better done in one of those hotel rooms." She turned to Fiore. "I'll take you up on your offer, though I'm more than happy to try and pay you back. Still, we appreciate it." She then turned to her "apprentice." "Are you okay with that, Garrison-chan?"

Mille shrugged. "More sensible than staying out in the open anyway. Though I don't mind earning my keep either. Even if it means working until my hands bleed." She said the last part without even twitching.

"There's such a thing as restraint you know," muttered Rin.

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing~" Rin said quickly, a rather fake looking smile on her lips.

Mille frowned in response. Then her frown became more contemplative. "What about Tokiomi?"

Any trace of cheer, false or otherwise, drained from Rin's face. "You're right. Hang on." She walked over to her father. "We're going to be staying with someone else so we don't cramp your workspace. Is that alright with you?"

[Knick]

Tokiomi

Tokiomi smiled, "That is fine. Do not worry about me." He reached into his pocket and handed Rin what looked like a finely cut quartz. "Here, you should know what this is right? If you need anything, anything at all, just contact me."

He chuckled a bit before talking in a more subdued tone, making it so the others wound not hear, "Not often you get to meet your daughter after all. I would like to get you know you better." He looked away scratching the back of his head a bit, obviously a little embarrassed "If ya would let me I mean."

[Umbra of Chaos]

"So," I say as I catch up to the enthusiastic armored man. "You know where the penguin exhibit is?"

"Ah. Good to see that you caught up so soon, Hunter! As for the penguins there is this convenient sign."

Paladin pointed towards a large sign that had a map of the entire zoo. "The penguins should be around here." Paladin pointed towards a little penguin on the map.
"It should take us a few minutes at most to get there."

With that said Paladin walked towards the penguin's home, and as he moved around the zoo he began to take in his surroundings. It was a noticeable change from the scenery he was used to. The buildings while numerous lacked the artistic flair the architects of his world gave their creations, but the biggest change was the people. They were afraid of the supernatural. Back home Paladin would give the average city a day before they exterminated any creature that dared to invade their home, but this was a different place filled with different people.

He broke away from those thoughts the moment he saw the little birds moving around their home. Now he just needed to wait for Archive Hunter to show up before beginning the sacrifice. It would be a shame for his friend to come all this way only to miss the miracle.

[Elf]

Lancer tilted his head and said, "Well, if Fiore doesn't mind me tagging along for a bit.  I'd like to catch up."

Then he watched as the lad who looked remarkably like Rin approach.  With his keen hearing, he could hear their conversation.  He frowned, realizing that this is the man that Kotomine killed when Rin was just a babe.  He wondered if he should warn the man about the arsehole priest.

******

Forest twitched as she looked at Karna.  Her eyes narrowed and then she heard Wynn chuckle from the kitchen when Karna called her repressed.  Seeing Hakuno's look of disappointment to Archer's over-protective obliviousness.  Well, she should have some fun if I can't, she thought to herself before sighing and shaking her head.

"Unfortunately, all I can do is give you a room with a bigger bed, Hakuno.  Is that okay?  The one across from yours has a queen sized bed versus your full.  You two can share and have plenty of room," then she gave the girl a wink.

Then she said, "Anyone else need anything?"  I need to go brood in private, she thought to herself.

[Brahmastra]

Forest twitched as she looked at Karna.  Her eyes narrowed and then she heard Wynn chuckle from the kitchen when Karna called her repressed.  Seeing Hakuno's look of disappointment to Archer's over-protective obliviousness.  Well, she should have some fun if I can't, she thought to herself before sighing and shaking her head.

"Unfortunately, all I can do is give you a room with a bigger bed, Hakuno.  Is that okay?  The one across from yours has a queen sized bed versus your full.  You two can share and have plenty of room," then she gave the girl a wink.

Then she said, "Anyone else need anything?"  I need to go brood in private, she thought to herself.

"They are not entirely helpless Forest. I am sure that even if you are a flawed host who puts brooding about your nonexistent sex life and loss of a transportation device on higher priority than your guests, your kindly guests will surely not hold it against you", Karna said, his deadpan verbal assault not letting up for even a moment.

"Alas, I too shall retire for the night. If you need anything come to me, I will be awake."

Having achieved Turiya, Karna had no true need of sleep, but it would be a worthwhile time to meditate on the day's happenings. With that, he turned tail for the living room once more, found himself a decently large pillow from a couch and took a seat on it, his eyes closing and his hands taking a relaxed posture.

There was much to think about.

[Kat]

"Who cares about your fellow peasant brother. You do not seem to understand just how uninterested I am in you or him", annoyed that the wench would even waste time on such useless words.

"Now, have at you, whore!". He charged forward at a speed exceeding sound, his khopesh swinging towards her neck, set for immediate decapitation.

The Servant was fast, faster than Mordred, but she was herself faster than average and had battle instincts of a wild animal. She did not go down easily as her opponent would expect, instead she parried the khopesh with her Clarent, Tch, he is no slouch she cursed to herself as she was impressed by the enemy's speed He summoned that thing and he's fast. Must be a Rider!

[Brahmastra]

"Then let's go find a place to sleep", letting Amy push her forward as the group began their search for a hotel that didn't look like a rundown wreck.



Some fifteen minutes later, Fiore and the group stood in the lobby of Hotel Monarch on the north end of the Business District, a five-starred hotel from which they'd acquired a trio of room keys for the night, now laid out on a table in the hotel lobby.

"Unfortunately, I couldn't acquire a key for each of us, though I suspect that would've been wasteful to begin with. Now, who wants to share room with who?"

[Knick]

Amy

Amy immediately pulled Fiore into a tight hug. Proxy seemed to come back out at some point and was sitting on her head.

"I am sleeping with Fiore. Got that?" She was glaring at the others in the group, almost daring them to challenge her.

She isn't sharing Fiore with anyone. But at least Tokiomi left after talking to Rin, he apparently already had a place to stay and he still had some work to do tonight.

[Arch-Magos Winter]

"The sheer scale of the architecture of the modern world is certainly something to be impressed by, but it feels like it lacks something...", Shirou started.

"It lacks uniqueness", continued Assassin, "It lacks the touch of artisans and the feeling that a great amount of time and care went into each every part of it.  All of the buildings here look the same, and repetitive architecture is among the worst kind", she said with a disdainful scoff.

"It does have a certain lack of heart to it, does it not?"

"Indeed, though I suppose humanity must have to settle with what they have. They no longer carry with them the strength they once did. "

"But are you and I both not also humans? And if that is truly the case, then is it not merely up to us to save those who cannot save themselves?"

"Of course".

Proudly, I shoved out my hand, a color changing ring upon it. "A ring that can predict the mood of it's wearer and change its color to match. Such an honest thing, for a cheap price. What other wonders await us here I can only begin to fathom!"

Shirou could not surpress a chuckle at the sight.

"I suppose the Grail really does not give us information about modern pop culture, huh, Caster? That's called a mood ring. It's something people wore a lot some forty years ago. The glass "stone" is full of liquid crystal, which changes color based on body heat. It's not exactly magic, you know?"

"How do you know this, Shirou? Did you not just say that us Servants are not given knowledge of petty baubles?"

"Well, unlike the two of you, I've been incarnated for quite a while, as you already know. It's incredible how much free time I had even while I was planning and searching for clues as to the whereabouts of the Grail. I saw quite a few people my age wear those things."

"But if you are amazed by so little, Caster, then I don't think you, or indeed I, will be bored", he continued. Truth be told, no matter how forward-minded Shirou was, Caster's overt reactions to everything was quite entertaining.

Assassin emitted a short scoff at the sight. Her business-minded self could not be said to be amused by Caster's antics. Something about him was entirely off to her. Perhaps it was the lack of ability to control him? Or that he was gaining the attentions of their Master more than her. Not that she particularly cared about the latter, or so she thought.

Shakespeare

"Liquid crystals? Truly a marvelous place if precious gems are sold on street corners for tuppence, and can change their colors." I said, gazing at the bauble with a new facination. "And I am happy to keep you happy Master! A pleased protagonist may not make the most interesting story, but it perhaps can in time. The world is an ever changing place, and all of it a stage, us mere players in the grand play of life itself." Ah, well done William! This line would surely melt the heart of any beauty, even the hardhearted Cleopatra before me. Truly I was the greatest of poets and authors. "See, even the buildings have their role, and not all of them alike. A story is alive on every story, each design not always the same - the architects dream is not always perfect when given physical form."

"After all, even the Gardens of Babylon, were once a dream. Oh, poisoner queen, they are one you made real." I bowed before her, like I had done once before Her Royal Majesty herself. "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date... so we should be on with it then, I believe! There is so much more to see and do here, Master."

[Brahmastra]

Shirou tried his hardest to surpress a chuckle, failing but contained the worst of it in his sleeve.

"You.. what?", a drop of cold sweat showing on Assassin's forehead mostly out of sheer confusion.

"I believe that must be part of one of his writings... which he is using in a rather courteous manner."

Her face turned angry.

"Master, can I hit him?"

"I'd rather you did not. Please, Assassin, you already know Caster is a bit... unique, don't let it get to you", he said in an apologetic manner. This was hardly a rare occurrence for Shirou; The temper of a queen was truly something difficult to control.

At the behest of Shirou, she tried her very best to calm down. Something about the sheer craziness in the head of Caster just rubbed her the wrong way, and she doubted they could ever entirely get along. Especially not when a creature like himself was sounding like he was courting her.

Changing the topic, Assassin spoke once more.

"To begin with, I predate the Hanging Gardens by centuries, Caster. I hear those who do not do research for their writing end up writing bad works", her tone now turning smug.


As the armored wench blocked his attack with relative ease, it was on. Silver sword met the golden scepter of authority hundreds of times a minute as the melee truly began. It seemed as though this knight, reasonably guessable to be a Saber that looked suspiciously like the Old Matou's broken little toy, could at least keep up with him in a straight battle.

Of course, Rider did not get as far as he had with straight battles. The King takes whatever advantage he can get.

"Hoh, so you're at least above garbage-grade, wench. So how about you try on some of this for size?!"

Once again, the air distorted slightly as a massive scaled claw lashed out of thin air, aiming for the left side of the knight as Ramesses's own weapon swung towards her right arm.

[Kat]

As the armored wench blocked his attack with relative ease, it was on. Silver sword met the golden scepter of authority hundreds of times a minute as the melee truly began. It seemed as though this knight, reasonably guessable to be a Saber that looked suspiciously like the Old Matou's broken little toy, could at least keep up with him in a straight battle.

Of course, Rider did not get as far as he had with straight battles. The King takes whatever advantage he can get.

"Hoh, so you're at least above garbage-grade, wench. So how about you try on some of this for size?!"

Once again, the air distorted slightly as a massive scaled claw lashed out of thin air, aiming for the left side of the knight as Ramesses's own weapon swung towards her right arm.

Wench

That one word made the adrenaline rush even stronger, as she hated few things more than being called a girl. She could bear it if when it came to her Master, but that pompous prick overdid it.

Then, suddenly a claw of a gigantic beast materialized out of thin air, it's swing forcing Mordred to evade. Moving out of it, reach, Rider's khopesh brushed across her face, cutting it, and while not too deep a wound, it still marked the first blood of this battle.