Cross Effects 3.0 - November 16, 2014—April 13, 2015

[Puck-Chan]

Cu Chulainn

Forest

I am not going to cry.  I'm not going to cry.  I have to find the thing that killed that family and pummel it until it can't hurt another family, the blond vampire thought to herself as she drove.  Forest's fingers gripped the wheel.  She had changed her playlist from her normal metal to something that fit her melancholy state. 

Her previous student, the dhampire Quinn Frost had introduced her to the band she was currently listening to and she had been mesmerized by the vocals, however listening to their songs for too long had always blackened her mood.  Her mood was already black though, so it was fitting versus Priest's chorus of angry rebellion or her beloved Maiden's love of World War II and geeking out about the occult, or the Dungeons and Dragon tone of Dio.

She had been in the Nexus for over a year.  A year cut off from her godson, surrogate family, friends and . . . Hawk Hunters.  A decade ago she would have snorted at the thought of missing Hawk, but events had forced her to spend time with him.  She got to see who he really was and how he actually felt.

He treated her like a person, and not a possession to gain like so many others did. 

And yes, he's bloody good looking.

After failed relationships, the things the Roman Bastard did to her, and ready to give up any chance of real love, it turned out that Mr. Right was actually a cheeky bloke with hair the color of a startled carrot and right under her nose.

Before they could make anything of it, and the many centuries' worth of pretty intense sexual tension they'd built up, she'd been transplanted here.  Cut off from friends, family, and that cheeky bloke.  At first she had tried to make the best of it and searched for a way home.

Except she found out quickly that there was no way home. 

Finding Saber had saved her.  She'd been too preoccupied with proving to the former king that she wasn't some horrible monster and getting her to the police to help them.  Then Lancelot had showed up with his constant stream of Murder Death Kill thoughts towards Forest that she could hear with the fury of a Van Halen guitar solo.  So she started seeing Saber less and less to keep the girl's knight from going completely around the bend.

She hoped that maybe someone she was close to would show up in the Nexus, like King Arthur's bloody court that showed up.  Gabriel or Hawk would be ideal, but Ash, Wynn, Joshua Hunters, or even William Irons would have been more than welcome.  However the only people she had encountered from her home world were old enemies or knew her by reputation only.

Part of her was looking for that last glorious fight.  A battle she had no chance of winning where she could exit in a beautiful blaze of glory.  Part of her just wanted to curl up into a ball on her couch and marathon through the entire Bruce Campbell catalog.  Another part of her was tempted to drive to the redlight district and find some pretty redheaded boy whore and pay him an absurd amount to tell her that he loved her while going down on her or something.

She parked the camaro, not caring one whit about her lack of attire, made sure she had a few back up magazines and went out to greet the night in Nexus.

Cu swept back his hair absentmindedly, patting away the snow that had dotted it with white. A thankless evening greeted him with frost as he meandered through the streets with a bottle covered in a brown paper bag. It was already a month since he had been here, and now he was penniless. Maybe trying to shag the Casino manager's daughter was a bad idea after all. But damn was she a fine one to boot!

It would be too awkward to get back in there to get his belongings. Knowing the irate manager, it's very likely he took it as sufficient compensation. The spearman sighed heavily, allowing a white billow to puff from his lips. Tomorrow he still needed to pay off that odious apartment rent. To think he would be unable to pay off his bills on the first month. 

"I hate this place."

He was starting to miss home. Hell, he was starting to miss Fuyuki. The Grail Wars. Even if Kirei was one unlikeable scumbag, damn him. But at least he never had to worry about anything else but fighting against other Servants. It was a fun ride.

Lancer took a swig of his bottle and simply sat down at a nearby bench. It was going to be a few hours until daybreak. Maybe just enjoying the view of falling snow around here might be better. Out from the white, there was a noticeable gold that stuck out.

He blinked and let his lip curl slightly in a relaxed grin.

"Nice evening, ain't it?"

[Kotomine_Rin]

"How unfortunate for you to land like this in the vicinity, isn't it?" Rattus said, partly mumbling to himself and partly to ask the wounded man.

Lorenzo Remei

Lorenzo snickered drily at the stranger's question before answering in a jovial tone, almost detached to the situation. "Eh...I guess I've...had better days, but it could be w-", but before he could finish his response the wounded man hacked violently, the taste of his own blood and bile burning in his throat.

Lorenzo let out yet another pained moan, however he suddenly noticed a girl's presence, beautiful figure as bright as the moon and her eyes gorgeous alike the most valuable gems in the world. While the pain did not fade, her kind expression put his heart at ease; Lorenzo was most certain that he was in good hands.

The girl sat next to him and held flask containing some sort of green substance, most likely medicine. He nodded, holding the flask weakly, but making sure it wouldn't spill.

"Cheers buckos." mumbled Remei as he drank it's contents greedily... the taste was not quite pleasant, but it was by no means awful. And besides, he didn't feel like complaining.
Surprisingly the moment he drank the potion, the pain seemed to have lessened to a degree.

"...it isn't so bad, rather cozy in here... and got to meet a cute charming lass tonight... guess fortune's tryin' to play another jest on me." He humorously replied, doing his best to keep himself conscious.
With a weak groan, Lorenzo smiled warmly before looking at the two with a grateful expression, now using what little strength he had left to hold the young girl's hand, focusing on it's tender warmth.

"My name's Lorenzo Remei, how should I call you kind fellows?" he asked.

[Elf]

Forest

"I hate this place."

Forest blinked at the thought as clearly as she had heard it.  She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, the braid had given up the ghost a while ago during the fight with Calico, and looked around.  Sitting on a bench was a young man slightly older than her physical age.  Even seated, she could see he was slightly taller than her and lanky with a wiry, athletic build.  He had a wild mess of blue hair tied back at the nape of his neck and what was obviously a bottle in a brown paper bag in his hand.

He was striking.  The sort of man that would catch eyes in a room, beauty with an edge to it.  He had crimson eyes, like fine rubies or exceptional garnets. 

And even at this distance Forest could sense the sheer amount of power he wielded.  It was like being in the presence of a Faerie but different.  Power she'd never have.

He blinked  as he saw her and let his lip curl slightly in a relaxed grin.

"Nice evening, ain't it?"

Forest brushed snow from her hair and shoulders.  The warmth from Shirou's blood had already faded.  Cold was seeping into her veins again and instead of melting, the snow would just pile onto her.

The voice gave her pause.  More like the accent the voice had gave her pause.  It was melodic in only a Celtic accent could be, full of old Ireland when the Morrigan stalked blood stained battlefields.  She walked over to him and found herself sitting down on the park bench.

She almost yelped when the bare backs of her thighs hit the snow covered bench.

She met his eyes and said in her ancient Celtic tongue, "I bloody hate this place too."

[Mooncake]

Ezra Longinia

"Yes, I get it.  We're evil, we're corpses that have demons who set up shop who have our memories and personalities because our souls are wherever the hell they are. And we eat people. Angel gets off on torturing nuns."

Ezra didn't even blink, taking the probable joke in stride.

"What a strange fetish. Well, I've met some very attractive nuns, so I can't fault you for that."

Twirling his spear back on forth, the spearman kept talking and listening in turn, at ease with the threat of violence, the coil about the spring.

"Vampire's aren't inherently evil. They're just cowards. That's really it. I'm not doing this because God told me too, or because an angel appeared before me and told me to get to work. It's just me, really – I can dress it up behind anything else, but that's the truth."

"I hate the self-righteous bull shit. 'I'm so better because I got snockered on communion wine and think I'm chosen by Christ to hunt vampires.' Bloody hell. I'm going to enjoy ramming that spear straight up your sodding ass."

"You sound angry, kid; maybe too angry to listen to what I just said? Ah, but either way, I haven't been to Church in six years, so you might want to loosen up on all that snark."

"She's not one of us dearie. She believes she's God's Monster, culling the humans. Swish Swish. Like cattle."

Ezra tightened his grip on the Lance of Longinus, spinning it into its proper place at his side, ready to act.

"Well, that only cements that conclusion, then... Longinus was my ancestor, 'Dark Prophet' spewer. I know for a fact that he didn't become a vampire. Now, let's see here," He pointed the tip of the Lance at Drusillia's heart. "I think I'll start with you."

[Knick]

Hamara

The crisp air lightly brushed past Hamara’s face as he walked through the road. Fresh snow crunched below his shoeless feat, but yet he did not appear affected by the biting cold on his flesh.

Hamara wandered the city, he collected the sights, however as he walked away from the centered areas of the city. Slowly the dense spires of stone where replaced with occasional trees and small buildings.

But Hamara continued to wander, having no reason to stop, and familiarized himself with the land.  And the more he wandered the more nature took over, until he was in what was a simple forest. Within the darkness a small flickering light stood out, and he moved towards it.

And then he heard the roar, a loud, monstrous roar, coming from that direction. And his walk increased in speed. He saw movement, odd shapes lurking through the darkness, but they have yet to take notice of him. And he looked to the light, no doubt the light of a fire, he saw a girl and a beast.

The girl is what he focused on. She was small, but due to the light he could not say for certain her other features. But that did not matter. It was what Hamara saw in her that made him pause.

She was… different, even from his other brother and sisters. She was closer to the truth, closer to what humanity was at genesis. She was not like him, not an incarnation of the truth, but still closer than anything he had seen. And in the moment he decided, this girl must be protected and kept safe. This was his absolute pledge.

And then light began to dance, and a spear formed. More focus, more precise, more brilliant then his normal spears. It then shot from the darkness, shooting towards the beast, bent on removing that corrupted and fallen beast from the world.
 

[Puck-Chan]

Cu Chulainn

To Cu's satisfaction, the blonde woman came to sit by him. Perhaps this evening wouldn't be so bad after all.

"I bloody hate this place too."

The familiar tongue of Celtic caused him to blink, then he smiled wider at the familiarity of it. Even more so for the nice lilt in her voice that accompanied the words. Yes, it was nostalgia filling him inside. The days of old when he fought for Ulster and all of his other deeds. And here was a woman who knew of his language. This night was just getting better and better.

"Aye, that makes two of us," he happily agreed with her in the shared language.

It was good to know he shared something in common with someone around these parts. Hell, Cu was starting to feel a little lonely around here. He didn't bother questioning why she could read his mind. The miniscule need for camaraderie won out. He took another swig of his cheap alcohol before smacking his lips.

"Where ya from, lass?"

[Alice]

Rin

The girl simply stuck her tongue out at her in response to her explanation, and despite her specialty at putting up fronts, a faint sigh of exasperation escaped Rin's lips regardless. She straightened herself up.

“Saber, Tohsaka, this is Mia.”

Rin put on a friendly smile for Emiya-kun and Saber's sake. Irritating or not, it'd be rude and unelegant of her to express what she felt from her first impression so bluntly, especially towards a little girl.

Saber, unperturbed, spoke up next.

"Are you hungry?  I am famished.  Would you like to get something to eat with us?  Maybe even get a bath and a fresh change of clothes."

Rin nodded, keeping up her friendly facade as Mia's stomach growled. Maybe the girl would be a bit more friendly if-

Rin's thoughts were interrupted as several gazes turned towards one direction. It was Forest, the vampire from before. She was getting in a car, her expression indecipherable. With a roar, the engine came to life, and the car took off for God know's where.

“Forest…?” She whispered, so very confused.

Rin didn't take her eyes off the car. "Maybe the crime scene upset her. Or she's upset from earlier. Something like that. Could be a number of things."

[Elf]

Forest

The blond tucked the remains of her duster around her and found herself smiling even wider at her using her native tongue.   She could smell malt from his drink; even though she couldn't get drunk from a bottle, she wasn't going to begrudge his ability to do so.  In fact, if it helped him cope with this place she understood all too well.

Then he replied in turn.  "Aye, that makes two of us."

He didn't question how she had gathered that thought, but instead took another drink and asked her, "Where ya from, lass?"

There was a tiny thrill and more than a bit of nostalgia.  It had been far too long since anyone had addressed her as "lass".  Hell even when she had been warm it wasn't something she heard often.  It was as if her kinsman forgot she was a girl and instead treated her like a brother-in-arms.  Which was her fault because of something she had heard her aunt and uncle think when she was a child so she tried to do what she could to be what they wanted her to be.

She answered, "Scotland originally.  Right now I live in a stronghold on the other side of town.  From your accent and dialect, Northern Ireland?"


Saber

Saber frowned as Forest drove away and looked at Rin.  The blond folded her arms around her and said, "She's had a black mood since . . . Well, she has been in a melancholy mindset for most of the time I've known her.  Being in Nexus has not been a pleasant experience for her."

She looked at Mia and said, "She will return though.  She has not abandoned us."

Saber reasoned she had seen the crime scene, lost her temper and was looking for something to pummel without the rest of them seeing.  Or so she hoped. 


Fanged Foursome

Spike growled as he felt his features shift, is handsome countenance turning sharp and demonic while his blue eyes shifted to predatory yellow.  "Like hell you will.  You fuck with Dru, you fuck with all of us.  And I ain't a bloody coward."

"I think this guy needs a serious ass kicking," Buffy said as she took a stance.

Angelus grabbed Dru's arm and she giggled.  "Will my baby sister bring me his head?  We can put it on his lance and dance around it.  We can invite the King of Swords to our tea party."

"Suuurrrrreeee," Buffy said, looking at Angelus.  "I am so glad you didn't try to make me crazy before turning me.  So glad."

"Buffy, I want him a live," Angelus said with a shrug.

Spike whistled and said, "Well mate, now you're really buggered."

[Puck-Chan]

Cu Chulainn

"Scotland originally.  Right now I live in a stronghold on the other side of town.  From your accent and dialect, Northern Ireland?"

The Hound could really feel the nostalgia boiling now as he started to show his pearly white teeth in his smile. Scotland-- No, Alba. The memories of Ferdiad and Scáthach filled his head. They were very fond memories indeed. He was reminiscing really hard with Aife. Scáthach's sister and rival who was also the mother of his child. A grim curl of a lopsided grin grew on the left side of his face. Yes, Connla...

Cu quickly dismissed them away with another hard gulp of the bottle, before the woman could notice his unpleasant visage. He wiped the stray droplet on his lips with his hand.

"Aye," he answered in a happier affirmative, "Great to see a lass from the Shadows around these parts. Call me--"

There was a slight pause, but Cu quickly followed up with, "Lancer. Call me, Lancer. You?"

[Elf]

Forest

Forest found herself smiling at the blue-haired Celt's grin, before it changed, becoming slightly grim before he took another drink.  She watched as he wiped his lips off with his hand, an oddly attractive motion.  He had a wide mouth, one that probably could bare its teeth as easily as it smiled.

"Aye," he answered, his voice fairly bright, "Great to see a lass from the Shadows around these parts. Call me--"

She tilted her head at his pause before he finished with, "Lancer. Call me, Lancer. You?"

"I go by Forest, but my friends call me Fore," she said with a smile of her own as she held out her hand to him.  The nails were painted a bright, metallic violet that were currently pretty chipped after fighting earlier tonight and she was wearing fingerless gloves.  "I apologize about the cold hands.  It's . . . well. Yes."

[Puck-Chan]

Cu Chulainn

"I go by Forest, but my friends call me Fore," she said with a smile of her own as she held out her hand to him.  The nails were painted a bright, metallic violet that were currently pretty chipped after fighting earlier tonight and she was wearing fingerless gloves.  "I apologize about the cold hands.  It's . . . well. Yes."

Cu nodded and took her hands. It was fairly soft, but pretty cold. Understandable, since it is winter after all. The violet fingernail paint really accentuated the paleness of her hand. It was somewhat mesmerizing. As his fingers curled around her hand, he shook it.

"No problem," the Servant shrugged nonchalantly, "It's snowing these days. It's cold here, ain't it?"

It wasn't too cold for Cu. It came with a Servant's special "constitution".  Though he did admit he may need to find a warmer place later on. After all, drinking this alcoholic bottle here may not be quite wise.

"So, Forest? How bad did your day go, if ya mind little ol' me asking?"

[Arch-Magos Winter]

Law stared at the man in front of him for a few seconds. There was something slightly off, but he shrugged it away. He'd been around a creepy death god. That'd fuck up anyone's sense of scale.

"Uh, yeah. I'm Lawrence. I'd also like to file a police report against some crazy bitch who disintegrated all my clothes and tried to rape me in my car. She, uh, may or may not be Death. I'm leaning towards 'she is.' And now I really do sound and look crazy right now don't I?"

[Elf]

Forest

Forest swallowed as he took her hand, studying it before shaking it.  His fingers were warm and callused against hers and she resisted the urge to look away.  He then shrugged and made a comment about the weather being cold with the snow. 

Then he asked something that made her chest knot up.

"So, Forest? How bad did your day go, if ya mind little ol' me asking?"

She pushed more snow from her hair and said, "You're the first person since I've gotten to this Lord and Lady forsaken place to ask me how my day went."  She sighed, looked up to the snowing sky and felt the cold sting her eyes, nose, lips, and cheeks.

"Honestly, it has gone rottenly.  First off I'm minding my own business when this cosmic wanker takes a shot at my back.  I manage to dodge and then go after him and he's slinging magical arrows and whatnot like no one's business.  Which is why I'm lacking proper clothing right now.  Anyway, I get up to him and want to know why he wants to kill me.  I have no idea who this bloke is and he's like, 'You're a vampire and you're evil and there fore I have to kill you because I have a bloody White Knight Complex.'

"Oh, yeah, he stabs me with a magic blade and then proceeds to almost cut my leg off.  So I bite him.  I don't drain him; I have ridiculous morals after all, and he blows his load with the bite.  Luckily this calms him down from trying to kill me.  Then there's some lad who has a ghost riding shotgun in his head and this terrifying demonic girl that wants to play with the handsome wanker who tried to kill me.

"Then Saber calls and is like, 'I need you to come now because I was bloody King Arthur and I cannot wait and I need you to feed me because I am a bottomless pit.  Oh, there's a dead body too.  It's a little boy.  We want you to look at it.'

"And of course Shirou, the cosmic wanker who tries to kill me, knows Saber.  I get sucked into bloody Nexus and I'm here for a bloody year and . . . "  Her eyes stung and she wiped away bloody tears before they fell.  "And none of my friends or family show up.  And there's no coming back."

She shook her head and frowned before continuing, "So I round up this group, which is like herding bloody cats, and go to Saber.  Well this Lady Death stops and makes Law's, the boy with the ghost in his head, pants rot off before she decides she doesn't want to rape him.  We finally get there.  Another friend of Saber's from her world has found her and Shirou's making cow eyes at her and there's this fucking massacre and this dead little boy and all of his family eaten or only Lord or Lady knows what happened.  I leave to go find this monster even though he's out of my wheelhouse but mayhap I have a bit of a death wish.  Or I just want to go home and curl up watching Bruce Campbell movies.  Or want to pummel something.  Or go hire some attractive redheaded boy whore in the redlight district to love me for a night for an absurd amount of money."

She pressed her hand to her mouth as she realized she had literally told this virtual stranger everything.  Then she snickered at first before laughing.  "I . . . actually feel a bit better now."

She turned to him and said, "What about yours?  Colt 45 isn't exactly the drink of a good Irishman."

[Kaze]

EMIYA SHIROU

Shirou gave Saber a faint, slightly lopsided smile that contained both Archer's cynicism and genuine warmth, glad that Mia would be given professional aid.

"Food sounds good, and clothes..." Shirou trailed off, looking uncomfortable. "Yeah. I also want to know how you came to know a vampire while we're out eating. And why the two of you are here, for that matter."

[MissingMandible]

"wait, you had a machine that could return me to Helka?" Elyssa asked, "Where did you have it last?"