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

[Elf]

Forest

Forest grinned at Lancer and was about to ask him if he wanted to go now before the odd man with the parrot on his shoulder came back.  Before she could open her mouth to speak, Lancer started to fade.  Literally, turning into brilliant, shimmering sparks before her eyes. 

The blond cried out and automatically reached for him, not knowing what to do, but it was too late.  Her hand passed through warmth, but nothing solid.  And then Lancer was gone.

"Morrigan curse this place," she said between her teeth as she stood up from the bench.  Making sure that the rum was safe, she started to walk through the park.  Daylight was still a couple of hours away, but she wasn't overly concerned though.

She just couldn't go back to that empty stronghold just yet, so the vampire wandered.

[Knick]

Grenth

"So then, care to explain? You seem to have an idea of what is going on? Was this your doing? Some... Petty in an attempt to impress a noble for the purpose of fame?"

“Fame? What good would I have for something as pointless and ephemeral as fame?” Grenth said. There was a sense of amusement in his voice, like he found the notion comical.  “Nobles are so foolish at times, acting as if the lives of others are their playthings. I hope you are not such a person, one that views your life as greater than the lives of others.”

He said it jovially, like a joke. But the undertone of seriousness at that final sentence was present, despite how hard it might be to hear.

He placed a glass in front of Kayneth, and poured him a drink. Grenth was nothing if not polite, but he had no desire to make tea, that was more one of his student’s preference, and his minions were not that dexterous to do so without breaking something. Perhaps he should work on that.

“No, the reason you are here is far more simplistic; however it is more confusing if you attempt to think too deeply about it.” Grenth began to explain.

And they he told Kayneth, about the Nexus, about things being drawn here, about how there is no known way to leave. All the while he pulled out a book out of the pile on the desk and began to look over it.

He could work while discussing something that has become so trivial to him after all.

[MissingMandible]

"Well..." Adjutor trails off for a moment as an awkward silence falls over the scene, "...What about your place? Helka, was it?"

"I wasn't born until after the war started," Elyssa began, "so I can't describe what it was like.

"What I can say was that the capital city, Albion, was the grandest in the world. The Imperial Palace stood proud along the skyline, the Six Citadels flanking it. Sure, the city itself is a bit of a maze, but that is true for any settlement that old."

"I wonder how it is holding up now..."

[Panda]

"Well, I'd like to be an optimist and tell you everything's going to be fine, but that would just be cruel at this point," Adjutor admits, "All you can do right now is focus on surviving this place. It would hardly be any good to have discovered a way back if you can't use it, now would it?"

"I mean, hey, look on the bright side," Adjutor says with a shrug, "With luck, you might have something to go back to. I lost both my chance and my right to have anything like that a long time ago, so I guess this place hasn't really gotten to me as much as it should have."

Just go ahead and leave. You're going to go at some point, so just spare me the wait and leave.

"And there I go," he allows a chuckle, "Trying to be the optimist right after I said I wouldn't."

Suddenly, the cold night air cuts at the teen in a way that he can't block out with the impromptu fire. Deciding to try to get some rest while he can, he makes his way back to the crude shelter of the concrete ramp, huddling up next to Laivatain once more, the heat of the Fire Elemental doing nothing for the liquid ice now pouring through his veins.


Fortunately for Grendel's patience, the Medicae personnel are nothing if not resourceful. Entering the Vehicle once more, they start to make their way to another Hospital. Fortunately, the Dragoon seems to have stabilized by now, so the extra wait shouldn't be a problem.

The ride to the nearest hospital doesn't take as long as Grendel expected, the strangely boxy vehicle soon coming to a stop outside of the entrance as the Medicae quickly go about getting Blackburn out of the ambulance, bringing him in as everyone they pass by offers a wide berth for the strange group.

[Ivan The Mouse]

[...]
"...I'm sorry... I am sorry... sorry for showing my weakness like that... i'm being silly and pathetic, ain't I?"

Yukina felt all the sorrow, the sadness and the loathing released by Lorenzo during that time when he hugged her. She didn't exactly know what she did to make him come to the realization of how to face the fact that his fellows died to save him, but she was glad that it rekindled his desire to live some more after her reply. She was glad that whatever burdened the man's mind and soul can now be put down to rest, so she smiled serenely and hugged Lorenzo back.

"It is alright, Remei-san." Yukina assured him. "All of us can be weak sometimes. Do not hate yourself for it. Everything will alright, as long as we do our best. Right?"

[Kotomine_Rin]

"Yeah...", Lorenzo whispered in a serene tone. "Thank you so much, miss Yukina. I know not how to repay you in kind, but tell me, is there anything your heart desires?"

Now in his usual cheerful demeanour, Lorenzo lightly patted the girl's head in a friendly manner.
"Whatever your wish is, I promise you I go as far tearing the seas apart in order to find it."

[Ivan The Mouse]

"Yeah...", Lorenzo whispered in a serene tone. "Thank you so much, miss Yukina. I know not how to repay you in kind, but tell me, is there anything your heart desires?"

Now in his usual cheerful demeanour, Lorenzo lightly patted the girl's head in a friendly manner.
"Whatever your wish is, I promise you I go as far tearing the seas apart in order to find it."

"...Eh?" Yukina looked confused when he asked her the question. She really had no idea what she actually did to help him, but he seemed to be eager to help her back.

She then smiled sweetly and said, "I really do not know, Remei-san, but I will think about it some time!"

[Kotomine_Rin]

"Aye, I see."
In a sudden snap of fingers, one of the incandescent lightbulbs burst in flames. The flames flowed around Lorenzo, spinning in his hand as if it was mixing, one could say the fire itself was dancing around the pirate.

Before anyone knew it, the fire took the shape of a bird, a robin-like being made of flame.
"If it's not too much, I'd like you to keep him, it's for you. If you have any worries or troubles, speak to him, and I will listen."

[Ivan The Mouse]

"Aye, I see."
In a sudden snap of fingers, one of the incandescent lightbulbs burst in flames. The flames flowed around Lorenzo, spinning in his hand as if it was mixing, one could say the fire itself was dancing around the pirate.

Before anyone knew it, the fire took the shape of a bird, a robin-like being made of flame.
"If it's not too much, I'd like you to keep him, it's for you. If you have any worries or troubles, speak to him, and I will listen."

The lady in yukata was amazed when she saw what the pirate did with the fire coming out of the busted incandescent bulb nearby. He created a marvelous spectacle, she thought to herself, and created something really wonderful.

When Yukina saw the fire robin, she wondered and got curious. Lorenzo is presenting her a new pet, something borne out of flames and magic. She went closer to the peculiar creature and asked, "It is made from fire, Remei-san. I... might burn myself if I touch it..."

[Kotomine_Rin]

"Don't worry about that, theres no such danger". With a swift movement of the hand, the robin chirped before flying towards one of he towels in the bathroom, lying around the cloth as if it were a nest.

"Now, my good lass, why do you think nothing caught fire as of now?", he asked in a sly tone, as if lightly teasing Yukina.

"It's because the fire and the flames are contained in a shell, it keeps the familiars from burning everything they come in contact with, including me and my ship of course. Unless he was put in a combat situation, no flame or burning will come of him."

Taking hold of the fiery bird, he gently put it on the girl's shoulder, the Robin chirped merrily before lightly caressing her with his head, a sure sign of affection.

"Yohoho, it seems the lil' fellow took a liking to you. That's good, very good indeed. And do you see? It's just as warm as the bathwater."

[Ivan The Mouse]

"Don't worry about that, theres no such danger". With a swift movement of the hand, the robin chirped before flying towards one of he towels in the bathroom, lying around the cloth as if it were a nest.

"Now, my good lass, why do you think nothing caught fire as of now?", he asked in a sly tone, as if lightly teasing Yukina.

"It's because the fire and the flames are contained in a shell, it keeps the familiars from burning everything they come in contact with, including me and my ship of course. Unless he was put in a combat situation, no flame or burning will come of him."

Taking hold of the fiery bird, he gently put it on the girl's shoulder, the Robin chirped merrily before lightly caressing her with his head, a sure sign of affection.

"Yohoho, it seems the lil' fellow took a liking to you. That's good, very good indeed. And do you see? It's just as warm as the bathwater."

Yukina's eyes lit up with even more wonder as she felt the flaming robin land on her shoulder. She was astonished with the creature and the magic behind it, more so in Lorenzo's skill in being able to make one.

She then turned to caress the bird with her hands on its head, while saying "Uwaaa, its amazing...!" with all wonderment and child-like curiosity. She then let the bird perch on her finger, as she bowed towards the pirate and said, "Thank you so much, Remei-san!"

[Kotomine_Rin]

"Heh, don't mention it, miss Yukina.", Lorenzo replied with a warm smile.
With that, the pirate stretched before letting a slight groan.

"Well, I'll soon be on my leave lady. If you can not mention my earlier display to Rattus, that would be great.", he cheerfully spoke before going back to the bathroom, removing his towel in order to change to the clothes Rattus gave him.

The door was still open, but to be fair Lorenzo did not notice that, and he proceeded to dress, whistling a jolly tune without a care.

"Well then, I'll be on my way miss. But, um, where should I leave form? I doubt it would be wise to leave the same way I entered now would it?"

[Ivan The Mouse]

"Well then, I'll be on my way miss. But, um, where should I leave form? I doubt it would be wise to leave the same way I entered now would it?"

"Ah," Yukina exclaimed. "Um, it is just right here, in that double door in the living room." She then walked towards the after mentioned room to guide Lorenzo's way.

But then again, she remembered something. She then hurried back in the kitchen and, when she returned to him, she handed him a white business card, with a number in it. "Rattus-san said that the numbers written here can help you, Remei-san. You will soon know how to use them, if ever you want our help. Please take it."

[Kotomine_Rin]

"Aye, I see... I will gladly accept this parting present.", he cheered. Taking his sword and other possessions, he patted Yukina's head before waving.

And like the fleeting winds of the sea, Lorenzo marched forward to the endless horizon.
"Farewell, me hearties."

[Elf]

Forest

Dawn was coming, she could smell it in the air.  So she made it back to her Camaro and started to drive back to the compound.  The now familiar streets were a blur, and she wondered if she should call Saber and see how things were doing.  However she found she didn't want to talk to the former king at the moment.  She wasn't sure if she could talk to her at the moment without scathing sarcasm or insults.

The drive back to her stronghold was uneventful, but once she was parked and out of the pony car, she heard a familiar buzzing sound.  "Bugger and bollocks," she said to herself as she looked up at the humming amethysts on the garage ceiling. 

The Wards have been activated, so someone was here, but not long enough for them to get defensive, she thought to herself.  She pulled out her gun none the less and headed out of the garage.  The wards weren't reacting now, just the slow alarm signaling that someone had been in here, and she couldn't sense anyone else alive right now.

Still, doesn't mean I'm not alone here, she thought as she entered the kitchen at first, sweeping with the gun.  "Of course.  Someone broke my sodding kitchen table," she said as she lowered her gun.  "Can't something just go right for once in my bloody sorry existence?"