Cross Effects 3.0 - October 21, 2015—June 23, 2016

[Aiden]

Forest

Forest tilted her head at Gadreel's confession and replied, I remember my childhood being rough, violent, and involving weapons and trying to make up to my uncle the fact that my bits don't dangle.  However, I've worked hard enough that I have a bit of leeway to do some immature things from time to time.

She chuckled at his sighing and replied, "Well, you can ask all you want, but my answer would be," she lifted her arms and wiggled her fingers, "It's magic, I can't explain sod all."

"Bah, boring.  Give me burgundy or purple.  Maybe they have the alternative colors hidden at the back of the store.  I'm old and dead, doesn't mean I should look like a grandma."

Gadreel

Maturity, he mused openly within his cranium, is a relative thing. While much can be said for the wisdom of experience, what one might consider a 'mature' response is what another might consider pitiful. And, far be it from me to speak ill of a childhood spent dealing in that which I sought to return to the world.

"I suppose I shall have to examine your 'sodden magic' by my own initiative, then," he lamented with a sigh, shaking his head to dismiss the thought.

Gadreel raised an eyebrow in curiosity at her derogatory opinion on the elderly. "I must say, there is far worse one could appear to be."

[Aiden]

Ron

The newbie werewolf went very still as the newcomer announced himself, the fury lurking within trembling as he finally caught the canine scent belonging to their voyeur. He kept Annabeth's words in mind as he turned, slowly, and took in the atrocious sight before him. Could you try again? "Guess I wasn't just being distracted before with the birds, huh?" he asked Annabeth rhetorically,

Oh, he could probably try now that he had someone other than her to let this loose on. He refused to take his eyes off the face of the lewd creature. He locked eyes with him. "Can't say I'm needin' much help, stranger," Ron said, his eyelids narrowing while his nostrils flared.

His heart pounded in his ears like a drum, calling him to reach for what his new drinking partner had helped him find mere moments before. Give me a reason.

[Elf]

Gabriel

Gabriel smiled at Emily and said, "It depends on the situation.  I can be brought to reason if the argument is good enough."

Then he blinked as Erica got up and approached the young woman.  "This could be interesting," he said as he lifted his coffee cup in a toast, "And why does she have a rocket launcher."


Corbin

The dhampir grunted as he exited the Uber vehicle.  With his main source of transportation ashes and slag, he had to rely on the stupid app until he had enough money to buy a new bike or some little hoopty.  No, I am buying a bike.  It's not like I shuttle people to and fro, and I don't have to worry about catching a cold or the like.  Besides, I can always keep a dry set of clothing at the station anyway if I do get caught in a downpour.

He also knew it meant him getting extra hours doing what he'd been doing for years and finally getting paid for it.  Being an Elite sucked sometimes, but it was also a lot of fun too.  He started to walk up to the HQ when he noticed some hobo harassing what looked like a taller version of that Saber cop and a teenage girl. 

With a water gun.  Who ran away on a pink trike because why the fuck not?

The women chased off the hobo and he sighed, shaking his head.  "Oy, I swear, this city is really going to the birds sometimes.  Bloody hobos.  You ladies good?"

Forest

The blond canted her head at Gadreel's turn of thought and replied, Or sometimes maturity brings a lack of empathy or compassion as well.  Then again, empathy and compassion have always been hard to find.

Something flickered through her eyes as she looked at him.  "My Godson could explain it better than I can.  The only thing I can do with magic is light simple, tiny fires on candle wicks."

She smirked and said, "Or maybe the clothing and makeup that the fashion industries want the elderly to wear.  Why do they assume people want to wear pastel floral prints once they reach a certain age?  I mean, corsets and hot pants should be out, but even I wouldn't wear hot pants."

[Aiden]

Auspicious Breeze

The only thing that stopped the former gladiator from smothering the adorable little Shiro in rubbing forever was seeing a strange moving thing on the street. It turned on wheels, and was covered in some kind of metal. There seemed to be people in them, and they didn't have any obvious mutations! It was really strange! Was this really the Demon City?

Where were all the demons?

The petting slowed to a halt as she thought about it really hard, but came up with nothing.

[Aiden]

Gadreel

It is easier than one might think to stumble across. It is when you seek it, actively, that it eludes us, because we may overlook it when it is not as we have experienced it before.

"I can make a structure quite secure," the exile conceded as the extent of his abilities. "Which has been helpful when I dwelt in locations with real estate values with six digits and my foes have somehow stumbled across me."

Gadreel's face twisted into a frown at the thought of currency. "Tell me, has inflation overtaken the money of this place as virulently as it has elsewhere?"

[Cherry Lover]

Rider

Hmm..., Rider thought. Well, I don't think Sakura would want him to stay there, and I don't know of anywhere else.

"Sorry, I don't know of anywhere. Like I said, I only just arrived here", she replied.

Then, her curiousity piqued by what he had said after, Rider continued.

"Hmm, so, what is it you sell, then?"

[Panda]

Annabeth

"It would seem so," Annabeth noted, letting her En slip away as she went into Ren, not entirely sure how to deal with the horrific sight before her. The bounty hunter's mind raced as she wondered what quarrel this being could have with them.

Well, if we're on its territory...I guess this could be a good time to see what Ron can do,  if it comes to that.

With that in mind, Annabeth called up Elephant Gun, the hand-cannon concealed from the eyes of most with In as it settled into the cowgirl's hand. Annabeth watched carefully, ready to move at the slightest provocation.

[Elf]

Forest

I gave up on looking for it for myself a long time ago. However, it doesn't keep me from letting strange and powerful fallen angels into my home.  Or former kings of Briton with Excalibur shoved up her arse.  Don't ask.

Forest raised her eyebrow at his words and replied, "That's a useful ability and thrifty one if your home is excessively expensive.  I had put up with an over-affectionate friend to put up wards at my place."

She gave him a rueful smirk, "I lament the days I could buy a book for a penny.  Now it's like $15.00 bucks for a bloody paperback.  So yes, there's inflation here as well, but most places pretty much take every form of legal currency at least."

[Kat]

Yamanashi

Please don't look over here with such a scary smile, Mitsuba-san. He knew how to behave, no need for a reminder on why she was 'ane-san' material. He cleared his throat and turned to regard the bouncer neutrally.

"Guess I'll be seeing ya. Don't worry, I won't give you reasons to kick me out." He said. "It's youkai brats and drunks that you need to be worried about."

And self-righteous chinese criminals, but he left that off. Don't go there, you're here to get work issues out of your mind, Yamanashi told himself.

Lumen

The Patchwork shifted a bit to put more of her weight onto the bar as she looked at the early customer. She wasn't entirely sure what youkai meant but she supposed that if there was anyone rowdy enough she could deal with them whether they were humans, monsters, or youkai. "I'll keep that in mind then. I'm Lumen and you're Yamanashi-san I suppose? Do you have any idea what's with those dragons and that tower? Mitsuba-san hasn't been very forthcoming about what's going on over there."

Mitsuba

She poured sake into a glass with ice cubes, preparing Yamanashi's favourite drink. Only to hear that Lumen interrogated him about the tower. First, people come here to forget about what troubles them unless they want to confess something (that's why a bartender was as good Cover to collect intelligence as a priest), it was insensitive of Lumen to remind the poor fellow of his boss. Secondly, who knows what she would do about learning the truth, as she was the one who suggested eradicating one of Shendu's pets. Knowing that there is even stronger dragon who the boss could push Lumen into something inconsiderate. She had to act!

"Here's you shochu!" She emerged, cheerfully announcing that Yamanashi's drink was ready. Maybe that would break up that awkward conversation subtly enough, as she couldn't be too overt about it.

[Panda]

Emily

The Changeling's eyes widened at the sight of the rocket launcher, before glancing over at Gabe, incredulous that he could be taking this development so well.

"I'm not sure, but I get the feeling it's about time we left," Emily said, a small amount of worry creeping into her voice.

With that in mind, the Changeling watched the situation with baited breath, ready to activate a Contract at a moment's notice.

[Panda]

Dante

Dante's bemused grin didn't fade in the slightest as Rider answered.

"Ah well, that can wait anyway," the half-demon said, "And I don't exactly sell anything aside from services. I've taken a few odd jobs every now and again, but aside from that I'm a Private Investigator and a demon hunter for hire. What about you?"

[Elf]

Gabriel

"That would probably be a wise idea.  What of Erica though?  However, it was her decision to talk to someone with a rocket launcher," Gabriel said in a soft voice.

He leaned over and whispered, "Make no sudden movements and do not raise your voice.  As to an escape, it is something I do very well."  With that he held out his hand to her as his demeanor changed.  Something in his eyes hardened as he watched Erica with the rocket launcher.

[Kat]

Rikuyo

Whoah. Was she a stage doll? She felt almost like a human, but she not only floated, but moved too precisely for her to be like fellow flesh and blood beings. Shinobu was dead, she admitted, but she moved more natural. And while Theodore and Michael were pretty bland (but at least Theodore gave her ramen, still superior to Michael in every way), their movements weren't as mechanical. Probably it was all a part of stage play or something, and maybe that handsome dude or the girly dude controlled her or someone off-stage. Or maybe even a small goblin inside her head.

"Ok." She handed over her weapon just like that. "Ya are puttin' on a show and you wanna audience help out? Just give me it back when ya are done. It's a gift from someone, I'm definitely taking it back later, or he maybe will don't like it" Or not, he didn't seem like a person to give much fucks about it.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Notorious D.O.G

The masculine figure smirked haughtily before turning his head away from that filthy bitch in disgust, instead focusing on the beautiful piece of work before his eyes. He could smell his wonderfully manly scent, like the faint aroma of a sensual pine forest.

It made him so goddamn hard, he barely resisted the urge to jump on him and sensually maul that cute chest of his. He walked up to him and gently pressed his waist on him, his considerable bulge exposing under his panties through his skin tight jeans.

"Then what brings you here?" He moaned.

[Panda]

Michael

The immortal continued on with the petting even after the woman stopped, rubbing the fox's belly for a little longer as skilled fingers stroked her fluffy tails. Eventually, though, he let the petting slow down a bit as he followed the woman's gaze, recognizing the confusion in her expression.

"I take it you've never seen cars before?" Michael mused, "They're basically like chariots, but they don't have horses, come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and can go pretty fast, depending on a few things. ...You have seen chariots before, right?"