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

[Panda]

Adjutor

The teen watched the glyph forming in front of him, eyes turning silver as he looks over the rune on the ground. Sitting down in front of the design, the teen takes a few minutes to memorize the design, burning it into his mind as he turns Ur's words over in his head.

So...an expression of Order...

As Adjutor focused on the Glyph, Xarrest went to work on Ur's other request, puzzling over the wardrobe for a moment before deciding to go with the tried and true outfit.

Once again, a simple black tunic appeared on the teen, settling in comfortably on his body as the colorless pants were replaced by the faded black ones. Xarrest observes his handiwork for a few moments, then decides to add a floppy purple hat to the ensemble.

[Cherry Lover]

Sakura

Sakura was mid-way through attempting to reassure the demon that his nature was not an issue for her when Irisviel placed her hand on her shoulder and rudely interrupted her.

“Excuse me Sakura, but I need to stop you there. I know your servant must be very important to you, but Togan asked me an important question and now isn’t the time to follow that thread of conversation", she said. “I know you weren’t trying to, but you were being kind of rude, ok? We can talk about your Rider later.”

Sakura turned and glared at her as she spoke.

That condescending....

Sakura opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, Irisviel had turned to address the demon. For a moment, she was about to speak over her, but then she calmed herself. Whilst Irisviel's attitude and tone was irritating, treating her as if she were a child, she had been nice up to now, and she was offering Sakura a place to stay. And, besides, whilst she could have waited five seconds for Sakura to finish, the conversation she was having right now was definitely more important than what Sakura had to say.

Apparently, he wants a contract with her....

Sakura was also suspicious. After all, a contract always had two sides to it. However, the demon responded by stating that it was payment for saving his life, and thus that, in this case, there would be no catch.

This time, Sakura simply looked at Irisviel in an annoyed manner and waited for her to respond. She had got on very well with Irisviel until now, she did not want to sour their relationship still further, and Irisviel did not seem to want her to speak.

[Puck-Chan]

Cu Chulainn

Forest

"You're welcome.  I mean, I can't die of hypothermia, but I still feel the cold and I'm not even in it so I figured you'd be freezing," Forest said with a small smile and a shrug, "I'm just glad it fits."

She then nodded and said, "Well, you brace the area with one hand and hold the gun right up to where you want to nail.  Don't put it at an angle or it won't go in right.  Then you just press the trigger and BOOM it should be nailed.  Technology, one thing I'll never get tired of."

He nodded at her instructions and held it up with a smile. Simple. Just the way he liked it.

"Thanks. I won't take long. I'll be back."

He opened the door and walked back out into the frosty cold. But it wasn't as harsh as before. With both the tarp and the gun in hand and arm, the ex-servant headed over. He felt a slight recoil, a staccato of nails pinning the expansive tarp over the hole. It might as well not have caused any recoil as Cu could barely feel it. Not a single inch was uncovered as he finished. With a satisfied nod, he headed back over. The snow followed him through the crack as he slipped back in while being careful not to douse the blonde vampire in the sun.

"It's done, lass. Anything else you need?"

[Elf]

Forest

"It's done, lass. Anything else you need?"

Now there's a loaded question if I've ever heard one, Forest thought to herself before grinning at Lancer.

She answered, "Thank you, that's great.  Now let's get inside before more than your hair starts to turn blue.  I could fix some tea or I have something a might bit stronger if you prefer."

[Puck-Chan]

Forest

"It's done, lass. Anything else you need?"

Now there's a loaded question if I've ever heard one, Forest thought to herself before grinning at Lancer.

She answered, "Thank you, that's great.  Now let's get inside before more than your hair starts to turn blue.  I could fix some tea or I have something a might bit stronger if you prefer."

His teeth flashed at her into a hopeful grin at her offer. Tea would be nice, but there is always something better.

"Got any booze?"

[Elf]

Forest

Forest found herself grinning in return and tilted her head towards the stairs.

"Of course I do.  Mead, cider, beer, whiskey, scotch, take your pick," she answered. 

Her smile stiffened; the real reason her liquor cabinet was stocked was someone she wasn't going to see again.  She shook it off, swung her arms and said, "I also have some peach schnaps too.  Its good with orange juice."

[Puck-Chan]

Cu Chulainn

Forest

Forest found herself grinning in return and tilted her head towards the stairs.

"Of course I do.  Mead, cider, beer, whiskey, scotch, take your pick," she answered. 

Her smile stiffened; the real reason her liquor cabinet was stocked was someone she wasn't going to see again.  She shook it off, swung her arms and said, "I also have some peach schnaps too.  Its good with orange juice."

"Did I already say that I like you?"

So many choices. And so little ti-- No wait, of course there's a lot of time. The demi-god was immensely pleased. A roof under his head with a plethora of alcohol to slake his thirst. This stay was just getting better and better. But something felt off. He couldn't quite put a finger on it, but it disappeared as the blonde quickly recovered her bearings.

"Schnaps? Then I'd better give it a try then."

He started to make his way down the stairs, but gestured her to lead him to the glorious booze to be had.

"Lead the way, lass."

[Elf]

Forest

"Did I already say that I like you?"

Forest would have blushed if she had fed recently at that, instead her smile grew.  She replied, "Not exactly, but if you want to say it again I'd really like to hear it."

She moved to lead him to the kitchen, trotting down the steps.  Part of her had been sad that everyone had left, but Lancer was still here and that was a nice thing.  "Admittedly, its fruity and sweet, pretty much the epitome of a fruity girly drink, but I like it in orange juice.  It can't get me snockered, but fermented liquor lost its kick to me."

She then sighed and said, "Part of the reason I have such an extensive collection was my godson loved it so, and with me here in the Nexus and him at home, he won't be able to drink it any time soon.  So I'm glad someone's using it, especially since they're a Celt."

They soon reached the kitchen and Forest started retrieving glasses, ice, and various bottles.  "Ah here we go."

[Puck-Chan]

Cu Chulainn

Forest

"Did I already say that I like you?"

Forest would have blushed if she had fed recently at that, instead her smile grew.  She replied, "Not exactly, but if you want to say it again I'd really like to hear it."

She moved to lead him to the kitchen, trotting down the steps.  Part of her had been sad that everyone had left, but Lancer was still here and that was a nice thing.  "Admittedly, its fruity and sweet, pretty much the epitome of a fruity girly drink, but I like it in orange juice.  It can't get me snockered, but fermented liquor lost its kick to me."

She then sighed and said, "Part of the reason I have such an extensive collection was my godson loved it so, and with me here in the Nexus and him at home, he won't be able to drink it any time soon.  So I'm glad someone's using it, especially since they're a Celt."

They soon reached the kitchen and Forest started retrieving glasses, ice, and various bottles.  "Ah here we go."

"Sure. I like ya," he repeated himself as they started to cascade down the stairs, "Ya're a great lass. What's not to like?"

After a couple of stairs down, they finally reached what looks like a kitchen connected to a huge dining room with three sets of chairs and tables. No doubt to accommodate the number of inhabitants in Forest's abode.

"Ain't that a shame. All that booze and he can't get his hands on it," Cu sadly smiled at her explanation of her god-son, "We can always toast in his honor if that means anything."

There wasn't much that he could do for her. Separation is always a painful thing, an awful and familiar agony. With the vampire finally retrieving the prize to the table, he eagerly picked out a piece of ice to occupy the glass and looked over at the variety of bottles that she had brought over. Cu started to survey through each one, until finding the schnaps that Forest mentioned earlier.

With a glass full of ice and the peach liquor, he raised it up.

"Cheers to your god-son."

[Elf]

Forest

Forest nodded at Lancer's words to toasting Gabriel.  She poured some orange juice in a glass and a bit of the peach schnapps, swirling it together.  Gabriel, if he had been here, would have cheered the situation.
 
He'd probably say something like, "Good for you, Godmother.  You're actually socializing with a man you find attractive.  There's hope for you yet."  Then he'd smirk in that infuriating way of his that's way too much like his mum.

Lancer poured himself a glass of pure schnapps with ice, lifted it up and said, "Cheers to your god-son."

The vampire lifted her glass and said, "To Gabriel.  May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door."  She took a drink, smiling at the mixture of juice and spirits and held the glass between her palms, rubbing them against the slick surface.  "And the same to you, Lancer.  Also, I doubt Archer's going to be staying here because his new master's apparently shacking up with Abigail.  So, there's that.  I do need to go out tonight though; there's an idiot I need to try to save."

[Kotomine_Rin]

Lorenzo Remei

As soon as Lorenzo heard Medaka’s words, his face fell flat, as if he had been slapped. He didn’t want this, he wouldn’t allow this. He would not lose someone he loved because of him, he would not HAVE ANYTHING TAKEN FROM HIM AGAIN.

Looking down, he clenched his teeth and his fist as if he wanted to scream in rage. Instead, the words that came out of his mouth were grim.

“Leave.”

There was something awfully aching in his throat, as if a dagger had been jammed inside. He could not speak, he could not breathe. He wanted to scream, to glare, to do something. But he could only beg for her to listen.

And yet he was smiling. He was truly blessed, to have met such a wonderful and selfless person. That naive kindness of her'

"I'll come back someday. If I don't, it means I'll be dead. No matter what happens, promise me to never look back."

[Cherry Lover]

Rider

As Rin approached the horse, Sakura started to stroke her sister's hair, noticing the ice crystals forming in it. Clearly worried about her sister's health, she cast a spell to melt the ice, before jumping down out of Rider's arms and draping the coat the other Shirou had abandoned over her sister's shoulders.

“Be careful with this, Brown Senpai gave it to me", she said, clearly very pleased with the "gift" from her other Senpai.

Rider was pretty sure he'd just abandoned it in order to escape, but if treating it as a gift from her beloved Senpai made Sakura feel better, Rider was certainly not in any hurry to correct her.

Then, with her sister having accepted the coat, Sakura turned to address Rider, responding to her reassurances about the other Shirou.

“Rider, don’t worry, I’ll make sure he’s ok when we get home”, she said, before walking towards Pegasus and attempting to get on board, struggling to climb onto the horse.

Sakura gave out a sigh of relief at Sakura's acceptance of the situation, although she did wonder how she intended to make sure he was OK. Hopefully it would just involve asking Faust to send a few familiars. Seeing her master struggling to mount the horse, Rider walked over to her and lifted her onto it. Then, she climbed on herself, sitting in front of her master.

"Sakura, hold on to me", she said.

Shirou followed, and then Rin. The four of them were packed tightly onto the horse, only barely fitting.

"Hold on to the person in front of you tight, I will stop anyone falling", she said.

Rider waited for them to follow her instructions and get settled in place before she made Pegasus lift off. She flew steadily but quickly in the direction of Sakura's house, being careful not to do anything that might make the others fall. After a few minutes in flight, they arrived back at the house, and Rider landed in the front garden.

"OK, we're here", she said, waiting for the others to dismount before doing so herself.

[SINIB]

Irisviel

Irisviel listened carefully to what Towuh was saying, she knew it very well could mean the difference between life and death, after all. She noticed Sakura giving her a nasty look, which she responded to with an apologetic smile.

“You say you don’t lie, but how do I know that itself isn’t a lie? Words alone have little weight here, your actions will need to back them up. Will you accept a contract as follows: You serve me unwaveringly, will never try to betray me, nor hurt someone I care about. That you will never attempt to misinterpret my words for your own benefit, and in return, I give you nothing. I keep my soul, my life, my wealth, everything. I keep it entirely to myself.” Irisviel seriously told him. “Surely, you’re not all talk?”

[Kotomine_Rin]

Tohuw Balagan

"Yes, absolutely." said the demon with a stern nod. He was pleased to have stumbled upon such a brillant woman, pleased to know she had the right idea of how things would work. However, the look he gave her was quickly turned into a look of irritance.

"You are intelligent, truly most intelligent. It is indeed wise to tread cautiously when dealing with my kin. However-"

If there was one thing he hated the most, it was to be assumed as a liar by humans. After all, a human is of a much more deceitful nature, such hypocricy was to Tohuw quite poor taste. Especially since he had been truthful from the start with her.

"-do not assume me as a cheap vermin who requires deceit in order to seize what he wants. I told you this contract was a mean to repay you for saving my life.  I told you I would serve you not due to any gain I could receive out of your wealth, your soul or anything else., but of my own will. If you saved me only to force me into a debt I could not repay, you should by all means have let me die." he snapped, his displeasure quite evident.

Even so, he couldn't be too mad about it. After all, it was completely understandable to show distrust towards demons.

"A contract is a very serious matter, Irisviel. If one states it is free, if one states there is no catch, he means it. All conditions set are an absolute truth that is inviolable by all. I accept your conditions wholeheartedly, but do you accept to trust me in that regard?"

[yinsukin]

Medaka

“Leave.”

As Medaka heard these words, she found herself feeling conflicted.  This wasn't Lorenzo throwing his life away as she once thought.  She could tell from the tone in his voice that he still had the intention of surviving.  Still, they were surrounded by police officers, all of which had their guns drawn ready to attack.  He was strong but would he be able to survive this ordeal?  Perhaps she was just being selfish.  She wanted to stay with him to not only ease his loneliness but hers as well.  He was the first person she met in this world.  It was hard to let him go.

"I'll come back someday. If I don't, it means I'll be dead. No matter what happens, promise me to never look back."   He said.

Yes, she was being stubborn and selfish.  She needed to trust in him, that he would be ok and that he would come back to her.  Medaka always considered it her life's purpose to help other people but with him she had grown attached.  She thought back to the bird.


"To be honest, im not completely sure what to think of him anymore.  I remember when I first came to this world, both confused and excited.  Lorenzo took me with him, showing me this grand city atop his ship.  Even back then, I had taken a liking to him as I do with all people.  You see back in my old world, I was referred to as a monster.  My "talent" scared other people and I tended to feel a bit detached from others.  Ill admit, my desire to help others comes from a desire to connect with people.  I was happy that Lorenzo would put up with my stubborn straightforward nature and even that he had a bit of that himself. He even started to remind me of my old childhood friend Zenkichi, whom I loved."


She was glad she had that time to talk to the bird.  She may have been born to love others but she realized that she loved Lorenzo just a bit more.

Medaka ginned. "Fine.  I understand. But, you better hope you either go quietly or defeat all these people at once or I am coming back for you."

She turned around and began walking back towards Guts.  She stopped about halfway between the man and Lorenzo, turning her head to say one last thing.  "Oh and your not allowed to die.  You still owe me a proper trip."  With that final goodbye, she turned her head forward once again.

She approached the other man.  "I'm sorry for ignoring you. My name is Medaka.  Shall we go?"