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

[Cherry Lover]

Rider

Rider looked at Shirou with confusion, wondering how, exactly, she was supposed to know what the house had looked like four or five years before she had been summoned. Before she could give a response, however, she sensed an approaching servant. Instinctively, she tensed up, before realising that it was almost certainly just Faust who, whilst an asshole, was no threat to Sakura.

No, Sakura said to be nice to each other, so I should be nice to him, she thought.

However, any thoughts of niceness quickly evaporated when Faust approached her, patting her on the shoulder and “congratulating” her for her success in bringing everyone home safely in an extremely condescending manner.

An annoyed scowl came across Rider's face as she heard his words.

What an asshole, she thought.

However, she did not feel the need to dignify his words with a direct response just yet. After all, Shirou, as Sakura's beloved, was a far more important person than Faust and, besides, he had spoken first. So, she simply “ignored” Faust's assholery, instead choosing to continue her conversation with Shirou.

“Well, I don't know what the house looked like before I was summoned, but the only change from when I last saw it, well, aside from not being a pile of rubble, that is, is that the basement is now Faust's workshop. It's a perfect place for him, really...”, she said, unable to resist taking a subtle dig at the servant standing behind her.

“And, don't worry about Sakura too much,” she continued, “she's a strong girl. If she can survive three years away from her family, living in this house and with the company she's had, I'm sure she'll be just fine now that she's got you, me and Rin to look after her.”

Then, she turned to address Faust, a clearly-exaggerated fake smile on her face.

“Oh, hi there Faust, nice to see you. We should try to get along, like Sakura ask...”, she started, before abruptly stopping as she noticed the disembodied head of Vanguard in his arms.

“How did he get like that?” she asked, shocked at the state their ally was now in.

[Kaze]

EMIYA SHIROU

Shirou was worried. He’d spent the better part of a day searching high and low (mostly high, in his case) for the little girl he’d taken upon himself to help, but there hadn’t been any sign of her. It wasn’t surprising. The Nexus was an enormous city, larger than he had ever seen. He’d known the chances of finding her were not in his favor. That didn’t make him any less concerned for her well being. He was pretty sure she was supernatural in some way, but she was still a little girl, and the city was unspeakably dangerous.

For all he knew, Mia had returned to Saber’s apartment, only to find him absent. He briefly considered going back, then dismissed the idea. The chance that he would run into her back there were infinitesimal… and he wasn’t certain if his presence would be welcome. Saber was different now, and so was he. It had been good to see her again, but he no longer knew where they stood with each other.

Shirou took a flying leap from one roof to another, still determined to continue his search even as the sunlight began to fade. His knees bent as he touched down, then stood back to his full height. The freelancer gazed down at the streets below, his reinforced eyes able to clearly make out each individual pedestrian. Freezing winds blew at him, ruffling his messy hair and making him shiver. A few sparse snowflakes floated past him from a grey, cloudy sky. Just another winter evening.

At least, until all the world’s evil made its sudden appearance within the bowels of the city.

In the distance, a wave of darkness swelled, pitched forward, and devoured an entire building whole. Shirou’s eyes widened in horror. He could still remember the terror, the sickness of being exposed to the tainted contents of the holy grail. And now it had returned to destroy anew.

The archer ran and jumped, hopping rooftops to close in as fast as he could, all thoughts of Mia set aside in the face of this threat. With a leap, he cleared the tallest building in the area and got a good look at the situation unfolding below.

The source of the taint was a cup, held in the hands of a painfully thin young woman. She stood there passively, merely watching as a strange man in old, western-looking clothes launched flames in the shape of birds at her. Something in Shirou’s gut rebelled at the mere sight of the chalice. It was disgusting, an abomination. It was the corrupted holy grail reborn.

“Trace, on.”

In a flash of blue light, the sniper held his bow and a dazzling golden sword in his hands. Notching Caliburn into the bow and pulling the string back until taut, he took aim directly at the girl holding the chalice. A twinge of regret pricked at him, that he was about to take another life. Indignation, that he wasn’t fighting on the frontlines like he was meant to. He suppressed it like he always did and channeled his prana into the golden sword of assured victory, the air around him glowing blue as he channeled such a large amount of power at once. Hopefully she wouldn’t be able to sense what he was doing.

[SINIB]

Sepulchure
Some Time Later. . .

Sepulchure had spent the last several hours searching for a suitable base of operations. Sadly, all of the few places that he’d found had been unsuitable for one reason or another. Some vampires had taken offense to his proclamation that their mansion was now his, and had attacked him. Utter foolishness, but in their futile struggles they’d managed to devastate the building, which had been somewhat too small anyway. As a result, his search had continued until he’d sensed a large gathering of evil power. It felt great, it felt ancient, it felt—similar to his master.

 So he’d made his way there through the darkness posthaste, arriving nearby and surveying the situation from above. There was a large black wave melting through many feeble magical wards and the building itself, consuming everything in its path. There were a few people running around, trying to either stall or save as many people as possible, but on the other side. . .

On the other side, there was a pale thin girl wearing a black dress. She was holding something. Sepulchure looked closer, and saw it was a cup. Sepulchure felt a great evil aura emanating from it, one that long ago, may have repulsed him. However, he was not the same being as he had been all those years ago, and now he only wished to take control of it, to harness its power. It was his for the taking; all he had to do was to grab.

His form glowed with a dark power, black light emanating from his form as he pointed at the girl, pulling dark elementals from the realm of darkness and surrounding the building with them. After he gathered a suitable amount, he would strike, and take hold of his prize.

[SINIB]

Noel

Noel stared at Lancelot with an unwavering glare until he broke eye contact and wordlessly continued on, leaving Noel in the back.
Yes! She silently exclaimed while pumping her fist, I did it! I showed him! Her short celebration ended as she hurried forward to catch up with the group, which was now trodding along through the dank sewers. After wading through the unspeakable filth for a while, they came upon a masked woman, who asked them what they were doing down here in a rather rude manner, Lancelot answered her question in kind: short, blunt, and to the point.

“We are here to find a creature murdering families. It is believed to live down here”, he answered her query in an equally curt manner. “Would you know anything about that?”

Noel didn’t really like that he was here, let alone that he was answering questions for them. As far as she knew, he wasn’t even in the force! But she knew voicing any such complaints was pointless, and kept her objection to herself.

After a short pause, the woman burst into laughter and disparaged them, claiming they’d never cared before, that everyone down here had killed people. That they only were down here because someone important had died. Noel was angry. She’d heard these complaints countless times before in her work as a NOL officer. It had been a common sentiment that the library was evil, and she’d gotten many nasty looks and had heard many comments spoken behind her back. And oftentimes, she’d been unable to disagree. The Librarium had been extremely oppressive and often had violently quelled malcontents. But she’d left the Library. She wanted nothing to do with such an organization, and she knew that the Elites in the Nexus were not the same. Sure, she’d heard of the corruption and the malpractice, but those were the outliers. She earnestly believed that most of the people working as officers and enforcers were doing so because they wanted to make their new home a safer place. And this woman was stomping all over that.

“You don’t need to know what it did, or why we’re here.” Noel began with a huff, walking to the front of the group and looking Mata square in the eyes. “However, just because we haven’t been able to come down here before doesn’t mean we shouldn’t start today! If all you’re going to do is talk down on us, then I’m going to have to ask that you get out of our way and allow us to continue onwards.”

[SINIB]

Sakura

Rin lightly hit her palm with her fist and said, "Well, I need to figure it out.  To get you home and to maybe fix your Shirou as well.  Your Rin misses you terribly.  Rider too!"

She gave Sakura a wry grin and said, "Part of me is horrified about being sucked here, but another large part is excited about all I can learn here."

Sakura smiled at Rin’s enthusiasm at the prospect of sending them all back home. It was exactly what she’d expected her sister to do, and it was comforting to see that she was the same, even if Senpai wasn’t. “I really hope you’re able to figure it out, Rin. That’d be great!” Sakura cheerfully said. However, underneath the mask of positivity she wore, she was feeling very differently.

She had spent nearly three years here, and at first she'd desperately tried to find a way out, an escape. She’d found nothing, nothing at all. She’d been unable to even find a reliable story of someone managing to leave, let alone of their volition. And as the days had turned into weeks, and weeks into months, she’d slowly lost hope in that possibility, and she had gradually turned her focus away from leaving to finding her loved ones, it seemed like a much more likely scenario. And now, Rin was saying much of the same things she had before. Sakura felt strange, almost—nostalgic. Part of her wanted to try to convince Rin of the foolhardiness of this venture; that it would inevitably lead to a dead end, however. . . Another part of her wanted to let Rin try; to try to help her. After all, Rin was Rin. Maybe she’d find a way where Sakura hadn’t been able to, maybe, just maybe. And so, Sakura sat there, looking at Rin and trying to work out her roiling emotions and which path she should take now.

[Kat]

Richard Maxwell

"Ah, that's good. Good indeed. Man, this was just terrible. And I put all I had into that too, took me everything I had. No-"

Then, he chucked. He didn't seem to be quite there, as if he was lost in his thoughts. It's not like he was mad or anything, no no no. It's just that when seeing that meat doll regenerate like that, he couldn't help but get in his bad habits again. Just a little.

"I see. I lost because I went all out. It's only natural, I should have judged better than to focus on offense. Using mindless brute force was never my forte, unlike you. And yet I did get carried away. Maaaan, this is embarassing. So embarassing, so embarassing so embarassing. This is so embarassing I feel like puking, haha. And look, now I have no arms! Haha, hahahaha. Man, so embarassing. Embarassing embarassing embarassing embarassing." he raved with an oddly flat voice before laughing his heart out. He laughed so much, so hard, that it looked like he was about to die from it.

After a little while, he regained his composure. Getting up sloppily yet with a certain grace, he smiled and spoke once more. This time, he was calm. After all, being calm suited him better, keeping calm meant he wouldn't do mistakes like that again.

"Well, bravo. You won. Congratulations. With that, how about I treat you all to something to eat? I'll get you some clothes while you are at it."

"Hmmphh, if I could get in close I would show you I'm skilled too. My Monkey Kung Fu is really good! Hmmm, maybe I should become a part monkey next time?" she wondered, her thoughts drifiting already towards planning out a future duel with anybody willing even if she acknowledged she needed a break. "Anyway, thanks for treating me, but let's wait until they are do-"

Roxas sighed.  "Look, all I was trying to do was stall until I had an opening to stop Rikuyo.  I didn't really want to fight you."  He said, a bit tired of being dragged around.

He turned around and began walking to where the other pair had fought, not waiting for a response out of fear that Rikuyo would do something else drastic.  "You cant just attack people after they do you a favor!"  He said, a bit annoyed that he had to fight when he was against it.

"Uhh, he attacked first and I didn't mind it, so no big deal, kid!" she laughed, dismissing the boy's scolding.

[YOLF]

Sarse

The seraphim hoped everything would be alright with Just and the girl, disagreements over the gift of the woman nonwithstanding. Sarse felt like they were good people, and in a vague instinctive way, sensed they were... more aligned to the symphony than most humans. It made them feel closer to him, somehow. He thought about making use of the Song Of Tongues when he noticed they didn't speak the same language, but in the end decided against it. There was no point in butting in when they were getting along anyhow. There was also the fact his essence reserve was down to less than half currently.

He still didn't know what to make of Gintoki. The man seemed more off in the clouds with every sentence that came out of his mouth. It's not that he was that uncommon (by the standards of this city that he was admittedly still getting used to), but he came off as a little outlandish. As a person, that is.

"There are a lot of hotels and pensions around where you could rest for a night. Just need to find one," Sarse said, facing the roughshod samurai (?). "But I take it you don't exactly have money on you right now either?"


Butler

Butler chuckled, his skull shaking with liveliness.

"So you are," he said. He paused for a moment and looked back over the city, before asking "What now then, milady? Any big ideas? Or shall we simply enjoy this peace and quiet for a while longer?"

[Puck-Chan]

Cu Chulainn

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."

"Cheers," Lancer smiled as he raised his glass towards her as well.

He sipped at the liquor and smacked his lips. A soft sweetness compared to everything he tried. It was a nice change for once.

"Well, it all works out after all," the former servant snorted, but he was undoubtedly pleased by this. It was some good news to hear that that annoying Archer was going to leave this place.

He emptied a glass with another gulp and started to pour another.

His ears perked up and his eyes glanced back at her need to leave while the booze started to fill up the cup, "Yeah? Ya need any help? I can come if ya want, lass."

[Elf]

Saber

Saber felt her eyes narrow at the source of laughter and the woman mocking them.  Said woman began to ask rhetorical questions and talking about the cesspool of the sewer and the sorts of creatures that dwelt there.  It was a well known fact that vampires and other unsavory sorts took refuge here during the hours where the sun was overhead, but not every creature that lurked in the sewer's protective darkness was malignant.

So Saber, still walking on top of the fetid water, approached the woman and angled her sword at her.  "Give us your name before we become offended by your slanderous words."


Rin

“I really hope you’re able to figure it out, Rin. That’d be great!”

Rin frowned at the expression on Sakura's face and the tone of her voice.  She realized that her sister was very good at hiding her emotions; she had to have been living in the Matou household with Zouken doing horrid things to her and Shinji's less than proper attentions.   When she wanted to, Sakura could appear to be a perfect doll.  Luckily over the years, with Shirou's help, Rin had gotten fairly decent at reading her sister.  No where near as adapt as Shirou was, but she knew enough to realize that her sister was miserable. 

The raven haired magus reached out and stroke Sakura's hair.  She met Sakura's misty violet eyes and said, "I know its been rough and you've lost hope, but one ting I know about my little sister is that she's strong.  Stronger than anyone else realizes.  If you can put up with Zouken and Shinji for over a decade, then this with the help of Faust should be nothing.  Besides, you have your Shirou now, and a Rider who is a little more verbose than the one I'm use to, but devoted to the point where it's an obsession!  You have to realize that there are people who care about you and want to look out for you here, Sakura."

She sighed, stood up from the bed and began to pace the room.  "I might not be able to find a way home, but things could be a lot worse."  She threw herself on the bed, kicking her legs up into the air.  "And maybe I can find someone cuter than Roderick who isn't be pining after a boy who belongs to my sister or the spirit of his future, alternative self."


Forest

"Well, it all works out after all," Lancer said with a snort before emptying his glass and moving to pour another glass of schnaps.

His ears perked up before he looked back at her and asked,  "Yeah? Ya need any help? I can come if ya want, lass."

Forest perked up at his offer, smiled and nodded.  "Actually, that would be great.  I could use someone to watch my back, and considering what this guy can pull out, it would probably be a good thing.  I feel a little outclassed."

She laughed as she sipped at her Fuzzy Navel.  "Me outclassed.  I'm an ancient vampire and now I'm a little fish in a huge ocean.  Subjected to all the sharks' whims."


Abigail

Abigail's eyes widened as Emily pulled Mordred into a hungry kiss.  Well that's one way to shut that angry twit up, Abby thought to herself.  She noticed that Archer had vanished, probably going intangible at the sight of the two Changlings necking like horny teenagers. 

She looked to Law and whispered, "We can't let her try to kill Forest.  One thing Forest probably doesn't even know who she is and another is Forest hasn't done anything to deserve to be killed.  Also last reason is if she managed to pull it off, she's signed her own death sentence too."

[Knick]

Suiren

“Ya, that sounds nice.” She responded as she continued to look out to the city, absorbing the city scape, absorbing the landmarks, and feeling the snow fall on her skin.

It was peaceful, it was relaxing. And then her eyes landed on a figure, a figure that stood on the other side of a window. It was a distinct figure, a man, a man dressed in a white robe.

And Suiren rose herself to a crouch, placing her circuit around her head, “Well, it looks like I found something to do.” And then she let her form fall of the edge. And with all her force she launched herself like a rocket at the man, her body radiating golden light.

Hamara - A few minutes earlier

Hamara looked into the box before him; he looked into it and saw the six pendants that sat within, each one radiating pure white light. His guard was able to convince him, they were able to convince him to assist him in his endeavor.

He would respect their wishes, he would accept their resolve.

And so he completed his preparations. Closing the box he handed it to one of the guardsmen remaining in the building, many of which had gone out to observe the town, and the man took it away.

And then Hamara returned to his chamber and walked to the window. From there he watched the city, he saw the falling snow and the bustling below, and from there he drew solace and peace.

And then a golden flash occurred and golden meteor collided with his Sanctuary. It would not move, and in that moment Hamara moved to the side, to allow it to pass though and smash though the wall to his chambers.

And there was a woman, a woman with brilliant dark blond hair, a woman dressed in an elegant dress. She was crouched as golden light danced off her form. And then she turned around, rising her fists and keeping her legs bent, preparing to fight.

“Lookie at who I found!” She yelled as she gave a toothy, combat hungry, grin.

[Puck-Chan]

Cu Chulainn

Forest

"Well, it all works out after all," Lancer said with a snort before emptying his glass and moving to pour another glass of schnaps.

His ears perked up before he looked back at her and asked,  "Yeah? Ya need any help? I can come if ya want, lass."

Forest perked up at his offer, smiled and nodded.  "Actually, that would be great.  I could use someone to watch my back, and considering what this guy can pull out, it would probably be a good thing.  I feel a little outclassed."

She laughed as she sipped at her Fuzzy Navel.  "Me outclassed.  I'm an ancient vampire and now I'm a little fish in a huge ocean.  Subjected to all the sharks' whims."

"Always means there's gonna be a great challenge ahead," Cu said as he also emptied the glass again in a few gulps. He set it back on the table and started to get back up to his feet. Of course, it would take more than two glasses to get him buzzed. But, never mind that. This was a good opportunity to pay back his new landlady.

"Makes things less boring if ya ask me. Let's go. Explain to me along the way, lass."

[Elf]

Forest

"Makes things less boring if ya ask me. Let's go. Explain to me along the way, lass."

Forest put the glasses in the sink with a nod.  "Ah, first I need to change and get ready.  I mean, going out to pummel some sense into someone wearing my PJs is kind of ridiculous.  I'd be really comfy, but get cold really quickly.  Well, come along, at least I can show you were my quarters are."

[Puck-Chan]

Cu Chulainn

Forest

"Makes things less boring if ya ask me. Let's go. Explain to me along the way, lass."

Forest put the glasses in the sink with a nod.  "Ah, first I need to change and get ready.  I mean, going out to pummel some sense into someone wearing my PJs is kind of ridiculous.  I'd be really comfy, but get cold really quickly.  Well, come along, at least I can show you were my quarters are."

"Makes for a funny story," Cu cracked a grin at the imagery. He gestured her to go out first, "Looking forward to it. Lead the way."

[Cherry Lover]

Sakura

Almost as soon as Sakura had mentioned asking Irisviel where the kitchens are, her mother-in-law re-entered the room, now dressed in a more casual red blouse, a short white skirt and stockings.

“Um. . . Are you looking for something?” she asked in a cautious manner.

Sakura was about to address her, and ask where to find the kitchen when Togan spoke up.

"Erm, what are you doing? The kitchen is over here", he said, sounding puzzled.

Sakura turned around, wondering how he had suddenly managed to find it without Irisviel telling him, only to find him pointing at a pink polka-dot door that had suddenly appeared on the wall, seemingly out of nowhere.

She looked on in utter bemusement as he approached and opened the door, only to reveal another door behind it, and another door behind that, and another door, and another door....

What the hell?

After opening about ten doors in a row, the demon finally seemed to give up.

"Oh, whoops. It seems that was the wrong door", he said, nonchalantly as Sakura looked on, utterly confused as to what the hell was going on.

He snapped his fingers, and another door appeared in the wall, this time neon-striped. He opened it to reveal a pristine-looking kitchen, which he beckoned her to enter. Sakura looked at the door for a moment with uncertainty, wondering if there could be something dangerous behind it, or if it could be a trick.

However, she quickly dismissed that notion. Whilst the demon was extremely odd and sometimes rather unthinking in his actions, she hadn't seen any indication whatsoever of actual malice on his part and, besides, he had given Irisviel his word that he would not harm her in any way, which she saw no reason to expect him to break given that he had offered his services to her freely and without hesitation.

Oh, right, yes, Irisviel. I need to explain this to her..., Sakura suddenly realised, her confusion and amazement at Togan's actions having caused her to forget all about her newly-discovered mother-in-law.

“Oh, sorry, Irisviel, I was caught-up watching what Togan was doing”, she said. “I offered to help him make food for the banquet, we were just looking for the kitchen. Togan seems to have found it, though. Well, he's found a kitchen, at least....”

[YOLF]

Butler

"Milady?" Butler asked at her declaration. He received no answer but the sound of her form falling from the rooftop, and then rocketing through the air. He followed the ray of light that she left where it crashed below, breaking through the front of a building with a thunderous shockwave.

The air had changed around her just before she soared. There was a feeling of anticipation that told Butler she had leapt into battle on more than whimsical determination. He personally and dutifully wondered about it, and gripping his cane warped away as he jumped off the building.

He came down on the side that had been broken open by Suiren in her descent, and evaluated the situation. He saw the serene man, white and pristine, and his master, raring to go, standing behind the former and facing the latter holding his weapon defensively.

Butler did not know the circumstances, but he could tell when Suiren was truly burning to fight, her heart and body incandescent like a forge of gold. Though he knew the answer already, he called out, "Do you require any aid, milady?"