Cross Effects 3.0 - April 13, 2015—June 23, 2016

[Umbra of Chaos]

Urthemiel

One hand removed itself from its hold on Irisviel's stomach and instead played with a few strands of ivory hair. Urthemiel's eyes met Sakura's own but were more curious than piercing. "Lady Einzbern and I have the matter well under our control. He will be fine. But I am rather curious about who you've brought here, Sakura. Would you mind introducing them or will they do so themselves?"

Any annoyance she could have had was buried and she almost seemed rather pleasant. Even though there was virtually no space between Irisviel's body and her own she lacked the aura of superiority that would have made the action stiff and uncomfortable. The light smile on her face was even more charming than when she was male and there was a certain brightness in Urthemiel's eyes that easily drew attention.

[Elf]

Forest

Forest looked at the silent Kenzo and bit her lip, feeling as if she had just kicked a puppy. 

Then Victoria chided her about using her telepathy and Forest bit the inside of her mouth.  She wasn't looking forward to discussing her views on being a vampire and humanity or having someone enlighten her.  She could hear Hawk Hunters asking why she hadn't gone insane yet and then tease her about being overly moral.  And I miss Hawk.  Bloody hell, she thought to herself.

"We're almost there," Forest said as she pulled into the Emporium of Man's massive parking lot.  "In fact, there it is."  If here was one thing she liked in Nexus, it was this store.  It was open 24 hours and carried everything, even the Urban Decay cosmetics she so loved.  She pulled into a parking spot, parked, and then turned off the engine. 

"So, welcome to the Emporium of Man," she said as she got out of the car.   I don't care, I'm going to buy something I don't need and it's going to be expensive and it's going to make me feel good.


Rin

Rin sighed and said, "Fine fine, let's go and you can show Shirou off your ring . . ."


Saber

"I have a friend in my former world that you would have gotten along with," Saber said with a smirk, "He told me almost the same once."

[Kotomine_Rin]

Sakagami Kenzo

Kenzo sighed before stepping out of the car, shivering for a second. Then, he glanced at forest and smiled weakly. He was still pissed, but didn't want to ruin his mood over that. Besides, he liked what she said earlier. He trusted her, for now he just wanted to be close to her.

"Foreeeee, I'm cold." He whined before holding onto her arm and walking along, stepping into the giant shop.


Vanguard

"Very well, lead the way." He said simply, waving at Seras to follow them in turn. "You might want to bring your friend along for this, if possible." He told the blonde girl.

[Emperor's Hammer]

Victoria Ashworth

It seemed I had asked at a very appropriate time, as we had just arrived at the shop. Bracing msyelf agaisnt the inevitable itch I would feel from the artificial suns, I stepped out of the car and was greeted with a strange sight. No, it was not the fact that the place was absolutely massive, and open at this time of night, which was interesting in and of itself, something else caught my attention. The fact that Forest would let the simpering fool cling onto her like that was quite strange to me. Not only did I hate having ANYONE touch me, I hated people treating me so casually. Perhaps Forest had retained more humanity than I did?

That would certainly explain her more....moral, I guess would be the best way to describe it, behavior. I wonder how she was able to do it, after all she implied she is at least as old as me. Perhaps she was walking the path to Golconda, or something similar? I would have to ask her, and if not, tell her about it. To overcome one's desires as a vampire and become more human might be something she would find desirable.

As for myself? I was not too bothered with my state as a vampire. It was preferable to the life of a mortal, and it had far less ethical constraints. If I had to once again live and feel guilty for my vampiric condition, it would not be worth it to have the benefits of Golconda.

As I continued to ponder this, I followed the two of them into the shop, a bit lost in thought as I thought about the situation I was in.

[MissingMandible]

Lone Wanderer:

'Stupid, goddamn, idiotic sonuvabitch' Jeremy mentally self-berated, 'Rest in peace, Mom.'

Floor-based traps were always a...weak spot for him. Nowadays being smacked by a Brahman corpse or have a pipe bomb detonate were more of an annoyance. Before he got his T-45d, however, well, let's just say that bear traps can cut through combat armor as easily as business wear. Regardless, this time he wasn't endangering himself, but others.

Thankfully, Tenma was quick to react, creating some sort of shield domes over the group just as the flames were about to engulf them. Boy, he would love to take that backpack of her's apart to see how the goddamn thing works! There are so many possible applications for those tent - Focus, Jeremy. Focus! You just about got them killed.

When the domes lifted up, he grunted an apology. Is there really a way to say "I'm sorry that I almost got you killed" without it being awkward? Then head math happened: "Where's Shinobu?"

Shit, did he get her killed?

[Elf]

Forest

Forest heard Kenzo sigh as he stepped out of the car.  Being in this weird fake day made her skin craw, her canines ache - the bloody things were beginning to throb- and head spin.  Still she gritted her teeth and walked on until she felt Kenzo rush up and grab her arm.

"Foreeeee, I'm cold," he whined as he held onto her arm.

She laughed and reached up to pet his spiky, red hair with her free hand.  "We'll get you a proper coat while we're in here.  It doesn't take overly long to get hypothermia in these temperatures," she said with a smile as they stepped into the store with Victoria trotting behind them, an elegant little Gothic Lolita.   Once they were inside, Forest sighed with relief and looked around, tilting her head. 

"So, what did you need Kenzo and we'll get you a nice coat," she said as she grabbed a cart.  "Ah, I love this store . . . It really is the best thing in Nexus.  Oh! I need to go to the cosmetic's counter too . . ."

[Kat]

Mordred

"Your friend knows about how the world works, you should listen to him more if you ever get back. Now, excuse me, I have to finish my dinner" she declared, starting to eat the steak she ordered. After this, she would get back to retrieve Emily, make sure she sobered up and then go to join those Elites. Before that, finding a suit for the job interview would be nice.

[Knick]

Crest

‘Run!’

He ran down an ally, sliding along the surface of a metal box that got in his way, and then he continued to run. As metal baskets blocked his path his ribbons ripped them apart, it was sloppy but effective. As a couple of men, breathing in smoke from small burning sticks, tried to bar his way he responded the only way he knew how.

His fist struck the face of one while one of his knives found themselves imbedded into the wall next to the other’s head.

And then he continued to run. He ran, he just ran, his mind was blank. Instinct, that’s what it was, pure instinct. The white light, the shinning, warm, brilliant, wond-nononono. It wasn’t! It was cold, harsh, cruel, evil, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate…afraid. So very afraid. Cold sweet on the back of his neck. His bones shaking. His hands trembling.

Panic.

‘Run! Don’t stop!’

“Got. To. Keep. Running.” Crest gritted out between pants, desperate for the air. His body shook, until ultimately he fell, unable to keep up anymore. It took everything he had to even be able to get his back against a wall.

His eyes looked up. And the whiteness of the sky filled him with nothing but despair.

Viper’s Den

The flame danced along the quickly established defense, against the solid metal. It would normally not have any effect, but this was no mere flame.

It was flames infused with Truth, with the Truth of Humanity. And sadly the metal was not human. The flame did not burn away the steel, but the truth ate at it. Like acid it broke it apart, piece by piece, fragment by fragment, eating away at the metal dome.

But it did not last, the flame would only last a few moments, and by the time they passed, the dome was obviously damaged, some of the circuity between the metal revealed though holes scattered throughout it.

But it has passed, and down the hall was a closed metal door, waiting for them to pass though.

Suiren

“I’m Suiren, 7th of the Great Demons, possessing title of the Empress.” She finally introduced herself. All the while her hand remained in the air, letting more of the white flakes touch her hand and change as the one before.

“As for what I want most…” she hummed, “Just to be the greatest, to be greater then anything and everything.” She said simply, it’s not like she wasn’t clear on it.

“Now, why don’t YOU introduce yourself? Properly that is.” Suiren looked at her expectantly.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Hyoudo Tenma

No way.

Tenma's eyes were wide in disbelief. This didn't just happen, no way. It was, it was surreal. She didn't get it, why, why did this happen to her? She shouldn't be doing this, things should be nice. Thigs should be easy. SHe was the strongest, the bestest mad sicentist ever. She shouldn't have trouble with this. This, this...

My baby...

Tenma looked at the rubble around her, then at her poor TARANTULA. This didn't just happen, this didn't, this couldn't happen! She had spent so much time perfecting it, it should not have lost like this! All this time, all those memories from her preschool science fair. Her hopes, her dreams. They were crushed, burned down. And it was all his fault.

Soon, Tenma's look turned angry. Her eyes covered by messy brown hair, she muttered in a cold, trembling voice. It looked like she was about to cry any second now, no, she was definitely going to cry any second now. And then, and then-

And what then?

"You...fucking......"

With a silent glare, she turned her eyes to Jerry. That idiot, idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot! Without evne thinking things trough, she gave him a mighty kick in the dick.

"ASSHOLE!"She roared at the top of her lungs, not caring in the slightest if anyone heard her.

"Jerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerkjerk!!!" She kept yelling, beating on her armoured plate mercilessly with her feeble delicate fists.

[Thedoctor]

Shinobu

While Tenma was exacting her rightous fury on the poor soul known as Jeremy, Shinobu was comfortably relaxing in her own dimension. The light couldn't reach here so she was spared that unforgiving headache at least.

"The last time I had to use this ability like this we were under assault by that thing, right my master?" Shinobu whispered to the darkness. Of course, no response was given. This was only natural as the one she had adressed was now far far away, beyond her reach even with all her abilities. Shinobu knew that....yet, she had this uncomfortable feeling whenever she thought of him.

That feeling, it disturbed her, so she had suppressed it since she arrived but it kept eating at her, always there at the back of her mind.

" I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you,......". How dared he make her feel like that.

[Umbra of Chaos]

Aisha

Her voice was that of the primordial earth's. Chaotic and destructive. The undertones of burning magma hidden under the crashing sounds of the forces that shaped continents. "In this day and age I am only Aisha. Before that I was the First Mother, The Progenitor, The Original Ancestor. But those were titles given by my Children. When I was alone I only knew one thing. I was, am, and will always be The Heart of God. She Who Exists Because She Must. That is who I am and all that I am."

[Panda]

Seras

The vampire nodded at that and walked outside. The bright light that seemed almost like daylight caught Seras off guard, the feeling accompanied by a slight tingling. Deciding to ignore it for now, Seras looked around for Noriko for a bit before spotting her.

"Come on," she called out to the redhead, "We ought to get going."

[Panda]

Emily

Between white sky, the odd, painful tingling that had started to make itself known, the slight self-loathing her meeting with Rachel had brought on, and now getting bowled over by some random person and now lifted clean off the ground by that same person and being shouted at about someone else, Emily was starting to reach the end of her rope here.

"Yoooou...don't have to shout," Emily shot back, trying to break free of Noel's grasp, "And...whoooooo's...Tsu...Tsubaki?!"

[Kat]

Noriko

She heard the familiar voice calling her. Did that mean her pet also overcome the weakness to light? Truly fascinating, to betray her expectations more and more! She showed promise. If only she could tamper with her enough to make her able to connect with the supernal unlike those shoddy vampires she has encountered before. And be able to pass that trait on her progeny. Almost hopeless challenge, some could say, but there was nothing a genius like her couldn't accomplish, no matter how impossible it would seem to be. Assuming though that was absolutely impossible after all, well, she could gain invaluable experience through experimentation no matter the outcome.

"Yeah, I'm coming~~" Noriko replied cheerfully, her guinea pig to be probably not having any clue about her plans to improve her. She had a good reason to be so upbeat anyway.

[Cherry Lover]

Sakura and Shirou

Awaiting Irisviel's reply, Sakura and Shirou were surprised when six walking suits of armour came into the room, bowing in unison before informing them that they were here to take care of the injured man. Then, carefully but quickly, they picked up the man and carried him away, presumably to be given medical care. Shirou looked on with astonishment at the bizarre display whilst Sakura, who suspected Togan likely had some involvement, was less shocked, although still a little surprised by what had just happened.

Before they even had a chance to really comprehend what was happening, though,

"Lady Einzbern and I have the matter well under our control. He will be fine", the woman said. "But I am rather curious about who you've brought here, Sakura. Would you mind introducing them or will they do so themselves?"

Shirou blinked a few times at the sight of the armoured suits taking the injured man away, before turning to the woman. She had the same, unnatural beauty that Rider possessed, only even more so. Sakura, too, was in awe of her unnatural beauty. Still, she couldn't allow herself to be distracted.

"Yes, sorry. This is my husband, Emiya Shirou, and this is my se.. good friend Rider", she said with a smile, remembering just in time that the term "servant" would have different meaning for most people.

Shirou blinked once more, slightly overwhelmed by all the unusual sights, before bowing respectfully.

"Nice to meet you", he said with a smile, before turning to Irisviel.

"And, you must be Ilya's mother", he said with a smile, his excitement mixed with an undertone of sadness.

Rider

Whilst Rider too was somewhat surprised by the display put on by the armoured suits, having lived amongst gods, she had seen more impressive things. So, unlike the other two, she was instead more focussed on the two women in front of them. Both were highly attractive. However, whilst the white-haired woman, who she assumed was Irisviel, was undeniably beautiful, the woman who was nonchalently playing with her hair was simply beyond belief. Even Aphrodite herself couldn't compete with her.

Soon enough, the woman spoke but, before Rider could respond, Sakura introduced her. In response, Rider held out her hand to the black-and-purple haired woman, a smile on her face.

"It is a pleasure to meet you", she said, a slight hint of arousal in her voice. "As Sakura said, I am Rider, her friend and protector. Who might you be?"