Cross Effects: Rebirth (2.0) The RP

[Umbra of Chaos]

Grigori

Zolgen

“True Magics preform the impossible, but I only know the exact domains of two. The second true magic is called the Kaleidoscope, and it domain is the operation of parallel worlds, and does as it would imply. The third is called Heavens Feel, a magic that materializes the souls, allowing it to exist in the world without an anchor, along with accomplishing many other feats involving manipulation of the soul.”

Zolgen simply looked at Grigori, “There is no learning them, rather they must be inherited from one user to the next.”

“The true magics are truly odd things.” He mentioned in a subdued tone, nostalgia swimming in the back of his mind, careful not to show it in any way.

“Now for my question, you mentioned how you only use one source of energy, do you have a system that processes it? A special organ, a function of the spell, anything?”

"Every spell naturally takes in external mana to power it, however they can also be powered by internal mana. That is the case of most magic. You rarely see a spell powered from internal mana alone. However it is possible to remove the component that draws in external mana. It is a very common tactic that magus hunters use. A type of dispelling magic that removes that one part. Most of the time the magus lacks the reserves to perform the spell and dies trying to fuel it."

Grigori downed the rest of the wine and began to speak again, "I suppose it's my turn to ask a question now. Do you have necromancy in your world?"


Asileron

"You may call me Asileron. I am here because I have a question for you, and a proposition if the answer you give me is satisfactory. There are rumors that say this organization plans to stop the violence and destruction in No Man's Land at any cost. Is this true?"

[YOLF]

Fate

Fate's eyes glinted warily at Asileron's words, but his smile remained professional.

"I would very much like to know where you acquired that information, but we can breach that matter at a different time. I will be forthright. AEGIS is seeking to clean up No Man's Land and improve the situation there. This is an important operation, and we will use extreme measures if necessary." he declared.

Fate steepled his fingers together, supporting his elbows on his desk, and peered carefully at his guest's face.

"What is your interest in this matter and what is your proposition?" he asked, eyes narrowing.

The mage had not mentioned that said plans also included the vampire territory, but he had nonetheless spoken honestly of what was supposed to be a confidential subject. He would hear the demon's interest in it, and would not allow him to spread the info or take it to his would-be enemies. Regardless of whether this conversation would gift him an ally, or a thorn at his side.

[Umbra of Chaos]

Asileron

"My interest? I was simply here to confirm a rumor. My proposition is that I work with this organization until its goals are met. Cleansing No Man's Land is something that would benefit me in many ways. The only thing I would ask in exchange for my services is always be deployed during missions that require the extermination of a target. I am much better at killing things then capturing them."

The demon smiled and leaned back into the sofa. He was obviously not taking this encounter very seriously, and he had no reason to. The situation was unpredictable and full of variables, but he was sure that he could escape if things became more dangerous.

[Elf]

"This one seems to do a lot of that," Wynn said in what Forest knew was one of her more droll voices.

She resisted the urge to rub her forehead.  Even though vampires didn't get ailments, they could still have stress headaches.  There was a dull thud behind her eye lids and her eyeteeth were still throbbing slightly.  The well-dressed man with his Eastern European accent would have intimidated most people, but Wynn and Forest weren't most people.

Forest didn't like handing people over in her care.  This man had come to her for help, but he'd wronged the man before her.  Obviously, the man before her wanted justice, which was something else she could understand.  Not like Quinn though, feeling a chill as she thought of her dhampire student and his sociopath tendencies.

Lucas obviously couldn't argue his case, but he did just try to kill Wynn.  Luckily, Archer had intervened.  Which, bonus points for him, she thought, suppressing a smile.

She looked over at the Space Marines (that's what they looked like and she'd seen Aliens seventeen times in the theater during its initial release, and seen the Director's Cut countless times after that, so she knew what a Space Marine looked like) as Karna continued to burn that poor woman's shadow away.   The room was starting to sink, like something rancid mixed with burning.   The poor soldier who had brought his friend in looked horrid himself.  She could feel the flicker of his thoughts. Running back to having to shoot her and being uneasy in this room.

Asking Karna would be like talking to a wall, but she'd probably get more from a wall. 

Wynn said, "This gentleman has a claim on the Elemental for disrespecting him.  He had an issue with him first, therefore we should relinquish him to pay his debt."

Forest sighed, rubbed forehead and looked to Archer and asked, "Any thoughts, questions, or concerns?"

******

Gabriel smirked and replied, "As an arms dealer you should be aware of certain parties in the area.  Get an idea of who to approach and how.  I understand good business, and that is admirable, but in a place such as this research is imperative."

He tilted his head and said, "However, I will allow you in and show you to her study.  I doubt she'll buy anything, but I will humor you because you are not as mundane as you appear."

******

Day Two: Afternoon
Lancer

After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, Lancer got ready to take Rin out on the town.  It was a chilly day, which didn't bother him, but he made sure to bring a jacket just in case.  He smirked  as he saw Rin sitting at the bar and waiting for him.

He walked up to her, tapped her lightly on the shoulder and said, "You ready?"

[Ivan The Mouse]

Gabriel smirked and replied, "As an arms dealer you should be aware of certain parties in the area.  Get an idea of who to approach and how.  I understand good business, and that is admirable, but in a place such as this research is imperative."

He tilted his head and said, "However, I will allow you in and show you to her study.  I doubt she'll buy anything, but I will humor you because you are not as mundane as you appear."

"I am sorry, then. To be honest, this is only my second day in this city." Rattus said, being direct to the point for the third time. "And because of such circumstances, I have yet to meet and know any available information consultants in this new area, so therefore I had to do my search in a more traditional and manual way. But despite that, I have established deals from three interested parties in the span of an hour and I could therefore say that it is a good start. However, if you know of any such persons who can provide me with services regarding researching and collecting data, then please do inform me now. Otherwise, I would have to proceed with searching contacts in the most basic and time-consuming way, and I would apply the same principle in finding an data broker."

"But as for allowing me to step inside your household, I thank you for doing so." He bowed subtly. "Please proceed and lead me to the lady's study."

[Arch-Magos Winter]

Lawrence

"I'm not a magus, so I don't know. You could ask that shady guy, but I bet he will milk us for a favor or plot behind us back. I could still put him down even if I'm not at my best."

"You've got to have some sort of idea." Law said, "I mean, I know I'm connected to you, but I need to supply you with magical energy, and I'd rather not go into that ritual. So is there anything you know with magical shit in it?" He pulled into the carwash, hearing the garage doors shut behind them.


Archer

"Oh, I'll keep that in mind madam." Archer let the blade fade away from reality, feeling it sheath itself back into his reality marble. The man's desire to take the Patient away was something Archer could share, but yet, in good conscious, he couldn't send him to the sort of suffering whoever this was would inflict on the Elemental. "Actually, I do. What about laws of hospitality? This man came to us in good faith seeking shelter. Even if he does have prior debts, he's suffered his punishment already, judging from his looks. I'd say he's payed that debt, and now is in ours. So, why should we let you make that debt null and void?"

[Kat]

"You've got to have some sort of idea." Law said, "I mean, I know I'm connected to you, but I need to supply you with magical energy, and I'd rather not go into that ritual. So is there anything you know with magical shit in it?" He pulled into the carwash, hearing the garage doors shut behind them.

"Uhh, I can't magic it up!" complained Mordred, flustered why Lawrence would go on asking her about something she did not have clue about. She was raised to be a knight, not a magus, after all. "I agree this guy is shady, but maybe there is another magus here who is at least more trustworthy? We could look for one if that's possible"

[YOLF]

Fate

Fate did not consider himself a very susceptible person. Few things were capable of spurring his emotions, but failure to take dire matters seriously was one of those.

"And what is the compensation you obtain from such a deal?" He asked Asileron in a stony tone, bringing his cup of coffee to his lips for a quick gulp.

[Knick]

Zolgen

“Of course, it is a field even explored by the mage association. There is even a family I have heard of that specialized in it, however poor circumstances have befallen them I have heard.” Zolgen simply said.

“To what degree are you capable of influencing the soul?” Zolgen asked.

[Alice]

Revya

Shiro smiled as the woman took the menus and left, “So, what is it like in your world.” Shiro started, “I bet you have some interesting stories you can tell.”

With each paragraph, Revya would push her piece of paper back and forth.

"Interesting" doesn't even begin to cover it. I'd definitely need more than just one sheet of paper to tell you all of it. Right now though? It's pretty peaceful. The land is still recovering, and much is still barren, but it's coming back. My companions have settled down since we went out to save the world. Running restaurants, hunting bandits, helping economies, raising children... each has gone off to do their own thing, and I've visited them all, helped where I can. Well, that, and trying to keep Gig from causing trouble at any of my friends' places that had an overabundance of hotpods.

"Heeeey, think of it this way. I was taking free samples for myself! Quality testing! Can't have the spy cooking with bad fruit or having Sluggo shipping out bad harvests, now can I?"

And my best friend, Danette. Heh, she wants me to train with her for when we have kids. It seems like such a sharp turn, she was so obsessed with violence before. Probably things being more quiet and happy and without a constant air of danger affected her just a bit.

"Oh yeah. That stupid cow got obsessed with you popping out a kid of your own, didn't she? All that 'be a man, take care of her' shit too. Who says we're gettin' together and having a brat of our own for sure, right Kid? Hell, why would we even want one?"

There was a moment of silence. Revya raised an eyebrow.

"What, you're interested in having one?"

I'm interested, maybe. Just not now. Maybe in three years. Or five. Right now I'm just not ready for a kid.

"Hah, and you don't want the stupid cow to know. Heeey, what's the harm in spilling the-"

Revya's eyes narrowed.

"Okay, okay, fine. Yeesh, didn't know you wanted to avoid it that much. But being willing to torment yourself too just for the sake of me keeping my mouth shut? Damn, Kid."

Rin

He walked up to her, tapped her lightly on the shoulder and said, "You ready?"

Rin had been paying attention enough not to jump. "That I am. You're right on time too, good job." She gave him a sly smile. "I won't have to punish you."

She hopped off the stool and looked up at him. "So, what's our first stop?"

Archer

Forest sighed, rubbed forehead and looked to Archer and asked, "Any thoughts, questions, or concerns?"

"While I doubt that was aimed at me, I have a few concerns. Though really, for now, maybe it's best if I just don't ask." Archer stopped rubbing his temples for a moment. "Anything you need my help with still? Or would you say this whole mess is about wrapped up for now?"

Archer watched as his other self threatened the man with the pale hair and shook his head, resuming the thorough massage he was giving a certain region of his forehead.

[Umbra of Chaos]

Asileron

"What I get from this deal is the chance to kill beings that no one cares about. I am very good at killing and it is something I enjoy, but I am not foolish enough to go around slaughtering humans. There are many people that would stop me if I did, but no one really cares about the creatures in No Man's Land. I could have just started butchering the inhabitants of No Man's Land instead of coming here, but I would rather get paid for doing it."

It was a decent lie. The only thing that was false was the idea that he enjoyed killing. It was simply a thing that made helped him gain more power. He did not like or dislike it.

[Knick]

Shiro

Shiro hummed and looked up at the ceiling, “A family huh?” He mumbled quietly, his voice barely a whisper and blank look on his face.

With his path he would never have a child, it was already too late for him and one who hunts monsters and heretics was not suited for such a role. Perhaps his fondness of children, and by extension his care for them, was him trying to obtain a thing he will never have. Then he thought about something Gig said for a moment.

Who says we're gettin' together and having a brat of our own for sure, right Kid? Hell, why would we even want one?"

Lowering his gaze he looked at the girl with a slightly puzzled look. “I did not know you two were that close. How would that work with you both sharing a body and all that.”

[Alice]

Revya

Revya blushed as she wrote down an answer.

That was before Gig and I got shoved into one body again. Well, the baby bit anyway. Like Gig implied, Danette is a bit... well, overly keen on the baby thing.

"Heh, it ain't like we aren't actually close. Comes with sharing a body twice in a row, ain't that right my widdle soulmate?" Gig's tone turned from mocking to more serious. "Me and the Kid gettin' together though? I dunno. That's more those dumbasses in the Village trying to shove us together. Kid ain't fugly or anything, but a couple?" His usual tone came roaring back. "Heh, well, I have seen just about everything about ya through our special bond whether mental or physical, eh Kid?"

Revya blushed at this. And also looked slightly peeved.

[Umbra of Chaos]

Grigori

“To what degree are you capable of influencing the soul?” Zolgen asked.

"It depends on what you mean by influencing. I can stitch two souls together into a single being with two personalities and two sets of memories. There is also the option of shredding the two souls and fusing the pieces together, which creates a single fractured being. There is also the practice of turning the soul into a record. The subject would constantly relive their lives and you could watch them. Of course, they eventually become aware of the fact that they've been reliving their lives and go insane, but that doesn't effect the record."

She refilled her goblet, took another sip, and said, "I'm afraid that this will be the end of the questions for now. Do you plan on staying here any longer, or are you willing to show me something more entertaining?"

[Kat]

Rodriguez woke up with a bad hangover. Stranded in an unfamiliar street, he only recalled visiting a Son of Ether he knew to "celebrate" the guy's new invention.

"Fuck, my head, I should be immune to that..." he complained as usually taking in copious amounts of booze and drugs was trivial for his body. However, he realized something was fishy about this place.

"Hey, Eu, that does not mean...?"

Yeah, we are in some Horizon Realm of sorts. That friend of yours probably sent you there by mistake. Not too shabby for a Disciple like him the female voice in his head seemed to be amused about whole situation.

"Shit, without good knowledge of Correspondence and Spirit I can't possibly leave it on my own. But it seems to be inhabited by more people than fucking Horizon, it's weird..."

Luckily, he had still his guitar on him, as well as his stash of drugs he used as foci.