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

[Puck-Chan]

Forest

"Well. If you ever feel parched, I wouldn't mind giving you a sip."

Forest blinked at his wink and resisted the urge to look away.  And then he was gone from the room like a flash.   Then she felt her lips curving into a grin at the offer.

She called back, "I might have to take you up on that sometime."

Cu's lips curved into a satisfied smile. Oh there is something that's going on here. Something very good.

"Just give me a holler," he responded likewise as his fingers curled around the cool metallic knob of the door.

It didn't take him too long to get that tarp rolled up to heft it over his shoulder. Giving a slight kick to close the door shut, he walked on back over to the opening of the room where Forest would be. Cu gestured her over to his direction with a free hand.

"Show me the way, lass."

[Elf]

Forest

Forest felt herself smiling at Lancer's offer, surprised and delighted.  He's a Celt, he's almost sinfully handsome, and he didn't freak out when he found out I was a vampire.

True to his word he was back with the tarp and he waved her over with his free hand.  She carefully moved around the sunlight streaming in and said, "Right, let's go up stairs.  Thank you again, Lancer.  Once we get this done, I'll show you around and you can pick a room."  She grabbed the tool box on the way to show him to the steps.

[Puck-Chan]

Cu Chulainn

Forest

Forest felt herself smiling at Lancer's offer, surprised and delighted.  He's a Celt, he's almost sinfully handsome, and he didn't freak out when he found out I was a vampire.

True to his word he was back with the tarp and he waved her over with his free hand.  She carefully moved around the sunlight streaming in and said, "Right, let's go up stairs.  Thank you again, Lancer.  Once we get this done, I'll show you around and you can pick a room."  She grabbed the tool box on the way to show him to the steps.

"Sure, that sounds good to me."

He moved back away from the threshold to allow her to lead in front of him. Of course, while Lancer lacked familiarity of the whole place it was obvious that Forest should lead him upstairs. Yes, totally just that. Definitely not because he wishes to admire what assets she has from behind. Nope, definitely not.

"Lead on, lass."

[Elf]

Forest

The blond took the lead, marching up the steps, with Lancer behind her.  She suddenly wished she wasn't wearing pajama bottoms, but maybe jeans or a skirt with leggings.  If he wanted to watch, she wanted to give him something to look at that wasn't blue flannel. 

As they walked up stairs, she saw Abby, Law and Archer talking with Abby looking very much like an angry kitten. 

"That's Abby and Law.  They're kind of dating," the blond told him with a grin, "Abby doesn't like Archer much either."

[Puck-Chan]

Cu Chulainn

Forest

The blond took the lead, marching up the steps, with Lancer behind her.  She suddenly wished she wasn't wearing pajama bottoms, but maybe jeans or a skirt with leggings.  If he wanted to watch, she wanted to give him something to look at that wasn't blue flannel. 

As they walked up stairs, she saw Abby, Law and Archer talking with Abby looking very much like an angry kitten. 

Then she was wearing something that lacked the characteristic needed for viewing pleasure as Cu quickly realized. Oh what a shame. That's for another time, it seems. As they walked up the stairs, there seemed to be a bit of commotion. A red-head, a dude, and that "guy".

"Who are those two?" he asked curiously.

"That's Abby and Law.  They're kind of dating," the blond told him with a grin, "Abby doesn't like Archer much either."

"Huh. Good to know I don't like that old man either," Cu snorted at the sight.

[YOLF]

Shadowkhan

The staff smacked squarely against the corrupted shadowkhan. The beast was struck with such strength its skull was split and it crashed against the ground beneath, its large body falling with a resounding thud. It groaned in pain, festering black blood leaking from its head. Its muscled tightened as it prepared to retaliate despite the pain that was sending shocks through its insides, causing even more jagged edges to erupt from flesh.

But then, from the corner of its vision it saw the ninja onis seize the woman in the alleyway. She was surrounded from all sides, her arms and legs grabbed, her shoulders pulled back and her neck caught, physically restrained from every direction, but her hands never slipping from the chalice - the chalice that was being dragged away with her.

The darkness screamed. The monster rippled, suddenly even bigger. Leaping to its feet it swung its massive arm that had swelled even further in a wide arc, with the intent of barreling through the man while it dived forward, towards the chalice.

[Kat]

Irisviel von Einzbern

Irisviel looked on with concern while she waited for the purplehead to explain herself. 

"No, I don't think she's here." She said.

Irisviel sighed with relief. She was glad to hear she was still safe and sound at home.

"I'm not even sure where 'here' is, honestly. I'm from a different world, I came here to find my friend," she said.

Irisviel could tell the girl was hiding something from her, and was still uneasy about how strange the girl felt. Something suddenly clicked in Iri's head and she ended up tactlessly blurting it out.

"How are you a Holy Grail, you don't have any of the normal physical characteristics of one?" She asked without thinking. "And you feel different, almost artificial. What in the world could have happened?" She half asked, half wondered aloud.

"Tch, it serves him right." She heard a voice to the right of her. When Irisviel turned to face the newcomer, her heart skipped a beat from the surprise. "Did he try to preach in the middle of a road, that dumbass? I don't blame you two if you just ran over him for his idiocy" she said out loud, not hiding her opinion on Adjutor.

"Saber-" She happily began to address her before she noticed the big difference between her beloved and this person. The woman standing before her was far taller than Saber and had a far more vulgar vocabulary than her.


“No, wait.. I’m sorry, I mistook you for someone I know.” She apologized with a smile. “Did this man do something to offend you earlier?” Irisviel asked an innocent question before turning so she could see both the look-alike and the purplehead at the same time.

Mordred

She should have got used to it by now. Fortunately another person that mistook her for Saber apologized quickly, so it did not worsen her mood, even if she was already grumpy because of the events of the previous day and the present day.

"It's just we are not on the same wavelength. Or I developed allergy to him. Is he even alive? Even if I don't like him, I can give him a proper burial so the scavengers don't catch something bad from him. Just lend me a shovel."

[Panda]

It was always in the eyes, isn't it?

It is said that the eyes are windows to the soul, but the immortal had learned from long experience that they were also fairly decent skylights into the workings of the mind as well. While any martial artist worth their salt would watch the center mass for cues as to what their opponent would do, this method is best applied to fellow martial artists, and best used in the heat of the battle. When the fight stills for a few moments, either because both parties have reached an impasse or they're taking a moment to collect themselves and process whatever they've gleaned of their opponents style, it is then that what one can learn from their opponent's eyes can be enough for them. Watching the body will tell you what they mean to do, watching their eyes will tell you why.

So when Michael noticed the Shadowkhan glancing back to where Natara was before starting to move to get up, Michael spared a glance back to see that Natara was currently inundated with Shadowkhan, who were dragging her away.

Well shi-

A scream interrupted the immortal, who turn back to his opponent to find it rippling, somehow growing in size. Weakened as he is by the poison, Michael barely manages to bring the staff around in time to block the being's attack, jumping back just before impact to let the blow send him flying back at the ninjas, Michael turning with the blow to face the Shadowkhan as he brings the staff around in a massive sweeping blow.

[yinsukin]

Roxas

Roxas watched as Noel said her goodbyes and left. "Bye Noel good luck with your work!" he shouted as she walked away.  Once again he turned to Vanguard.

"You know watching Noel run around like that makes me think it might be best to get a job.  I don't have any money or a place to sleep yet.  Its a good place to start.  Come on, it will be fun to talk as we walk."

With that he began walking down the sidewalk of the city, away from the police station.

[Elf]

"Huh. Good to know I don't like that old man either," Cu snorted at the sight.

Forest chuckled and said, "He doesn't look overly old, but he does seem to be a bit of a curmudgeon."

She frowned at Abigail, even tough she was Seelie Forest knew that didn't make her dangerous.  Everyone thought the Seelie was the court of Light, Summer, and Flowers, which wasn't wrong per say, but wrote them off as the cute, cuddly faeries of children's stories.  New children's stories and not the Brothers Grimm stories.  However, most people were wrong. 

Seelie was the court of illusion.  They would be all smiles and sweetness on the forefront, but in their minds  they were wondering how to take everything you have or manipulate you into their service.  They also liked to manipulate with sex quite a bit.

Forest thought of poor Saul Mason, a Faerie Slave made immortal by his mistress and fucked with Faerie magic, figuratively and literally, so much that he became addicted to his mistress's touch while she manipulated him to be a sex addict. 

At least the Unseelie are upfront about most things, Forest thought.  Wynn's advances weren't subtle, if anything they were the complete opposite of subtle.  And Wynn was up front about most things she planned to do with someone.  It was more than just Faeries couldn't lie; it was more like Wynn, and a lot of the Unseelie she'd met, thought it was a lot of needless work.

While Abigail was adorable, bouncy, and somewhat flighty, Forest knew that there was more to the girl than that.  Abigail had already threatened Archer once and she did not like what was going on right now.  The blond focused on the girl's mind, knowing despite being a Changling her mind was going to be more open to read than Law and his Driver or Archer, who just spurted white noise and swords when Forest attempted to read him.

When Forest read the girl, she got: Fudge bunnies.  Why are men such IDIOTS?!

I tell Law not to make a deal with this guy, and he does!  Look at him, he's so not trustworthy and . . . someone's reading me.  Oh, hi Forest.  Um, why are you reading me?

Forest resisted the urge to chuckle and replied, You seemed upset about something and your mind is less terrifying than Law's.

What about Archer?  Why aren't you peeking into his head?

Because when I do, all I see is swords, gears and white noise.

[Kaze]

LANCELOT

Arturia’s knight took a moment to consider her question. He hadn’t really had the chance to recover from last nights events, so she was right to be concerned about his stability. On the other hand, the “voice” was blessedly absent. He wasn’t sure why, but it was always less likely to rear its ugly head when the former King of Knights was around.

Besides, this was an opportunity to do something meaningful again. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t just go back and wallow in Saber’s apartment, not when this chance was in front of him.

“I am capable, Saber. I will not allow myself to be distracted.”


AKIHOLARME

The dragonborn frowned, torn between wanting to soothe the distraught girl and snapping at her to shape up and stop bawling. She settled for turning to look across the lobby distantly. “I don’t hate you,” she said.

“So, you’re saying that you can read minds?” Aki asked with a mix of skepticism and mild surprise. Certainly it was outlandish and she wasn’t sure if she believed it, but it wasn’t as though she hadn’t seen the flat-out unbelievable before. Besides, Rebeca’s anxiety, while unsightly, seemed quite genuine. It didn’t feel like a lie.

But if it was true, that brought up a whole new set of problems. Aki didn’t feel easy about the idea that someone could just peek into her innermost thoughts, fears, and desires at will.


ANATU

The babylonian stared at the faintly glowing blue-white pendant with wonder. It’s beauty reminded her of the one who had saved her but half a day ago. She wanted to inquire about it, but then Just started pushing her to the door, and she decided to let it go for now, allowing herself to be walked to the exit. Perhaps she could bring it up over their meal.


BRIAN SLUGUS

A rather grumpy looking, overweight man sat on a bench, dressed in bulky winter clothes and a beanie, and holding a newspaper in his hands. He had only arrived a few minutes ago, called in on his day off out of the blue, his task being to keep and eye on some weird blond lady, something that wound up being easier said than done. The girl was getting herself into all sorts of trouble, one shenanigan after another. His feet were going to hate him when this was all said and done.

Screw this noise. He’d rather be back home sipping on hot coco while watching Firefly again.

At current the person he was supposed to watch was chatting with the hottest albino he had ever seen. At least that was a plus. Hopefully they just kept talking and didn’t wander off.

[SINIB]

Irisviel

"Well", she began, before she came to a sudden realisation that the woman knew more than she should have.  "Wait, how do you.. Oh, I see, you must be... Oh.... That's why you felt so familiar...” the purplehead said.

Irisviel had cocked her head in interest, the girl clearly was feeling the same about her. Before the conversation could continue however, the blond girl had come running around the corner.

"Tch, it serves him right." She heard a voice to the right of her. When Irisviel turned to face the newcomer, her heart skipped a beat from the surprise. "Did he try to preach in the middle of a road, that dumbass? I don't blame you two if you just ran over him for his idiocy" she said out loud, not hiding her opinion on Adjutor.

"Saber-" She happily began to address her before she noticed the big difference between her beloved and this person. The woman standing before her was far taller than Saber and had a far more vulgar vocabulary than her.


“No, wait.. I’m sorry, I mistook you for someone I know.” She apologized with a smile. “Did this man do something to offend you earlier?” Irisviel asked an innocent question before turning so she could see both the look-alike and the purplehead at the same time.

"It's just we are not on the same wavelength. Or I developed allergy to him. Is he even alive? Even if I don't like him, I can give him a proper burial so the scavengers don't catch something bad from him. Just lend me a shovel."

“No-no, he’s alive. We don’t have to worry about burying anyone today, thankfully.” Irisviel said nervously. “I just need to get him in my car over there.” She pointed at the car next to her. Irisviel turned back to the purple haired girl as she began to speak with a plastered on smile.

"I am not artificial, I am a normal human magus. But, yes, I am also a Grail. It.. it's difficult for me to explain how. My grandfather put... things in me to make me this way,” she said, looking down at the ground. "Anyway,” the purplehead continued, brightening up somewhat. "We should introduce ourselves. I am Emiya Sakura,” she said, putting emphasis on her family name.

Irisviel chuckled at Sakura’s insistence she was not a homunculus. “You misunderstand Sakura, it’s precisely because you’re a ‘normal human’ that you’re ‘artificial.’ I don’t know what your grandfather could have done to make you like this, really. You’re quite interesting. My name is Irisviel. Irisviel von Einzbern.”

[Kat]

Tohuw Balagan

"I like you more and more kid. Quite humane of you, to care to such an extent for strangers. How samaritan of you.", the demon chuckled.

"Well, they aren't alive any longer, and if you worry about them being stuck in a perpetual limbo... well don't. I don't like to have my food scream at me you see, so they are currently having a looooong nice nap. Trust me, whatever is happening to them right now, it's definitely better than what awaits them had I not collected them."

"They are already dead, it doesn't matter what afterlife they go to. Do you apologize to your hamburger before eating it? Hahahaha, what bullshit! What happens to you humans in your afterlife is of no concern to me. What matters is what uses you can fulfill after you croak, and this is one of them." He carried on, walking around the white haired man all while grinning, a bemused smile crawling up his face as if belittling and looking down on him. As he talked, he twirled the lollypop around his finger, toying with it in a clearly amused state. Yeah, that man was so foolish, so so foolish.

"Now, if you excuse me, there are good news in all of this! The kid is alive, soul's still kickin trough, which means there is no need to chomp it juuuuust yet. With that in mind, what will you do?" He asked the man, biting his finger in order to restrain yet another chuckle. Then he brought the lollypop in his mouth and began to suckle it greedily.

"Tsk, this one tastes awful..."

Gintoki

"What I will do, right? If the brat is alive, all I have to do is to smash your teeth and hit you so hard you will spit them along with your guts, bastard. Even if I retired from fighting a war, I will pick battles if some scum thinks humans are his possessions." Gintoki declared, pointing his sword at the demon "I assure you that samurai's soul is more than you can handle, soulsucker."

Mordred

"Huh, you want to drang along him with you? To the hospital or something? If he is just in coma, have him lie on a bench, stick a bottle to his hand and the authorities might take him. Maybe that would be a good lesson of humility for the boy" she shrugged. She felt it would be really amusing if someone else got into trouble this time. As if she wanted to take out her frustations on the teen who crossed her. "But never mind, if you know where Saber is, please take me to her" she adressed Irisviel "I really need to talk with her."

[Kotomine_Rin]

Tohuw Balagan

"Hahaha, what a funny kid." the demon slipped a laugh, grinning all while pointing at the swordsman.

"Very well, a deal. If you defeat me, I shall free all the souls I have collected here, and you get to do what you want to do to the boy. But if I win, your samurai soul and that child's is mine. Reasonable enough for you, kid?"

[SINIB]

Irisviel

Irisviel shook her head sadly at the blond. “I’m sorry, I don’t know where she is. All I know is that she’s a police officer, and seeing as you came from that direction, you probably already knew that. This is quite the conundrum...” Irisviel said. “Oh! I’ve got it! Do you have a phone number? We can call each other if the other finds Saber!” Iri suggested excitedly.