Cross Effects 3.0 - June 23, 2016—April 02, 2018

[Aiden]

Ron

Shit. He didn't have a car. Those things were expensive and gas was difficult to get in the Nexus. They were mostly luxuries for the wealthy, unless you took the few public transit lines some districts maintained. There were a few independent taxi companies, too, but those were hit and miss because they sometimes had gang ties.

"Unfortunately, I don't have a car," Ron said, shaking his head to her question. "But if I ever get one, you'll be the first I take on a drive."

On to safer topics.

"Have a little of everything, if you want. That's what a buffet is for!" He was certainly going to, after all. He was done with that second plate in record time, and now he was getting a nice fruity sherbet for himself. "Oh, and try this."

Ron showed Rikuyo how to use chocolate syrup. The dumb bastard.

[MissingMandible]

Fairies on the Loose:

They were compromised. The Squad Leader's hands were tied; She gave the order for the Sniper to take the shot...

The UNSC makes use of training rounds, to better mimic firefights for training. They are more or less glorified paintballs shoved into a shell casing compatible with whatever the weapon the individual had. Upon hitting another human being, the compound splatters and numbs/paralyzes the area it hits to simulate gunshot wounds - obviously it only takes a good shot to drop a person.

These were the kinds of bullets issued to the squad.

The Sniper on the lamppost aimed at the back of the blonde's head. She sucked in her breath, steadied her aim, and pulled the trigger...

[Aiden]

Muramasa Katase

The sword allowed Sakagami Kenzo, her wielder, to experience a gory recreation of the moment of her awakening. It was an intimate moment shared only because of the joy he was bringing her with every cut, and the appreciation he showed for her monstrous nature. For her need.

Kill everything.

So he did. Her wielder struck before him, reveled in the death and pain and sorrow of the oldest souls locked within her steel. The deepest, most fundamental parts of Muramasa Katase were laid out before him, and he gleefully made her kill them.

His pain was her joy. Her pain was his joy. She murdered his past, he butchered her birth. All that was her wielder and all that was her blended together in a wretched blend of sacred madness that could only be:

Love.


Then there was one, the first and the last. The girl whose lovely, innocent flesh was the start of Katase's hunger, and the shell she used to walk away. This puppet was the only innocence left in her, all that was human that could be found. She had walked the islands of Japan with those two feet, seeking battle and worthy wielders to satisfy her. None of it did; she merely added to the howling chorus within.

Those souls were quiet now. Katase was quiet now. There was no need for this Muramasa to speak. Her wielder saw through her, saw the truth within her, knew exactly why she was what she was. She did not so much hear his words as feel them, filling her cool and hungry steel and satisfying her in ways no other had. All she could do to honor this was smile, and lean her shell's flesh into his warm and filthy body. She paid no heed to that blood, for it was just a lingering phantasm of her power.

Her puppet kissed him back in earnest, her hands resting against his chest, her tongue wrestling with his in awkward inexperienced ways. She knew what was coming before he even moved her blade. She deepened the kiss, matching him, in anticipation of it-!

Our blood.

Ah. Now she had to say something. Her puppet choked on blood, and could not speak. Muramasa Katase let her steel, buried in his body, say it for her. Her feelings cut into Kenzo's heart with an answer, and scarred him with its edge.

Yes.

Her first shell's life faded. The adoration in her eyes did not.

[Panda]

Michael

The immortal barely restrained a wince at Breeze's declaration. From what he'd heard during his stay here, escape was practically impossible once someone ended up here. Of course, that didn't mean there was no way to do so, merely that it wasn't one that was common knowledge. Far less obscure than the reason for his immortality, but that was something to be considered later. Focusing on Oren for a moment, Michael allowed a moment to consider the conversation.

Those were fairly severe injuries I saw on her. That form doesn't seem to have self-healing capabilities, so perhaps the damage is forgotten when she switches between forms? Or perhaps she has a form that allows her to heal? Hmm...

The immortal showed nothing of his thoughts on his face, only cocking an eyebrow as Oren remarked on his...dragon-handling her.

 "Eh, tossing a fat person, tossing a dragon," he said with a shrug and a grin, "What difference is there? Just a matter of finding the right spot."

[SINIB]

Rider

"I understand", Rider said, sadly. "Sorry for being such a disappointment."

With that, she began to walk off, her head bowed, obviously saddened by Oka's apparent rejection of her. But, despite her sadness, she did not blame the girl. Oka was scared and confused, the last thing she needed right now was to talk to someone as unusual and different as her.

Oka Kurosawa

Oka grabbed the woman's hand before she could finish turning around. "Stop!" She exclaimed with teary eyes. "I didn't say I didn't like you, if I didn't like you, I would have just left!"

"Please don't leave! At least walk with me back to my house. I like you! You're my friend!"

[SINIB]

Archer

He sniled at Sakura as she grasped his hand between hers and told him of her thought about Rin. She then went on to say that she wanted things to be normal, normal huh. He had seen too much to truly know what normal was any more. Perhaps normality was just a fabrication of those to inexperienced to know anything else. Anyway he had had to answer her.

"I don't think you will ever be normal, nor will anyone else here. But don't you think being normal is boring? Because of who you are you'll be able to see an experience things an ordinary person could only dream off. Not being normal has it's benefits."


Jeanne

Jeanne shook her head as she heard him say that she shouldn't tease him about Sakura. The blonde couldn't help but give a small smile as Shirou relaxed his grip on her shoulder's a bit and leaned on her. In response she pulled him closer to her, pressing her breast against him. "I wasn't really trying to tease you, I meant what I said. You should hear it from her."

Shirou Emiya

Shirou frowned when she pulled him closer to her and pressed her breasts against his. He gently took a step back from her, rejecting her sexual advance. "Jeanne, what do you mean?" He asked in a sad, scared, and tired tone. "Why would you tell Sakura? Please tell me everything."

[SINIB]

Archer

He sniled at Sakura as she grasped his hand between hers and told him of her thought about Rin. She then went on to say that she wanted things to be normal, normal huh. He had seen too much to truly know what normal was any more. Perhaps normality was just a fabrication of those to inexperienced to know anything else. Anyway he had had to answer her.

"I don't think you will ever be normal, nor will anyone else here. But don't you think being normal is boring? Because of who you are you'll be able to see an experience things an ordinary person could only dream off. Not being normal has it's benefits."

Sakura Matou

"Maybe it does." Sakura conceded. "But when I say normal, I mean I want to simply be Shirou's wife, become a mother, be on good terms with my sister, and rebuild my former life here as much as possible." She leaned in and hugged Archer. "I feel like a spoiled brat when I say this, but I want the rest of my life to be mostly happy and easy. I've suffered enough."

[SINIB]

Theodore

Theodore sighed in relief. Well, she didn't try to kill him or enslave him yet, progress. If only nexus girls weren't all so batshit or downright stupid...

"Well, I'm kinda lost. Could you tell me where exactly is here?" He asked drowsily, rubbing the back of his head in embarassment. Really? Was this the best he culd come up with? How pathetic. It was kind of unpleasant to break the ice in such fashion, not that he cared, but one did need some standards. Maybe he should go for something a bit more casual.

"Your daughter's kinda cute." He added as matter of factly, pointing to the tiny old hag.

Shit.

Oren

The ground shook as the two creatures crashed into each other. Oren bashed her head against the spirit's with all the force of a wrecking ball. Its head split, but blossomed into a bush of razor thorns that tore into two of her eyes. An ear-rending roar escaped her, and with terrible ferocity she crushed a paw between her teeth and ripped it off before backing off.

But as they slammed into each other once more she felt her muscles strain with effort as she struggled to hold her ground. Green shoots of new growth were already repairing its face and paw, and Oren was beginning to think this was a really bad idea. But then she saw it. The green light passing up into the spirit's chest.

When she pulled back she let out another roar magnitudes larger than what she had done before. Then, instead of charging back into the elemental, she leaped. Her body crashed down onto the elemental and her short limbs clawed into the roots and burning wood to hold on. She opened her maw and began to eat.

Wood was splintered, and crushed, and swallowed she she tore through the titan of blackened bark to get to the core. But the response from the elemental was just as violent. Its jaw tore chunks out of her side, thorns and sharpened wood pierced scale and the other paw crashed against her underbelly like a wave. Burning cuts were carved into her, but the gushing brown blood only made her more relentless.

Then, just as the last of the lesser elementals were slain and the glimmer of the swirling energy was revealed, a massive thorn pushed out of its chest and sent her flying back with a gaping hole in her belly. She growled almost pitiably but remained prone on her side as the elemental advanced on her.


Erica

A contemplative look overcame the blue haired girl's face. An aching curiosity drawn out by the similarities in the smaller being. "But you are not human. Why desire to become something that you are not instead of advancing what you already are? It seems unhelpful. We do not need to become humans to be real and have our own will."

She moved with him through the districts with deadly purpose. At the sight of certain gang insignia the Mantle reformed into the Needle and mowed them down like cattle without a moment's hesitation. Certain threats were unacceptable risks considering her current charge.


Numina

The cultist's eyes widened as the sleeping child instantly woke up in the presence of the man and slipped onto her back faster than she could react. That was certainly disconcerting, and a few tales her mother told her of dark spirits and strange creatures that got the unaware lost came to mind. Small children in forests that led the overly kind astray. Presences that you should never open your door too.

But there was no proof of that. She would just need to make a few tests. She reached behind her back to gently push Sakura towards her front as she said, "Well, you're in a mall, obviously. This city is called the Nexus but I have no idea where it is physically. And thank you, but she isn't mine. I'm just watching her for a bit as I help her find her mom."

Numina focused her attention on the dark haired girl and almost whispered, "What's wrong? Is there something scary about this man?"

The fox whose name is definitely Sakura

"He…" She shuddered. "He smells awful. It scares me. He's very dangerous. I can sense it. You should stay away from him." She whispered back with a shakey voice that didn't really match her form all that well. Shiro stayed on Numina's back, refusing to budge from her perch.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Theodore

The demon frowned and raised his arms, sniffing as if to make sure he didn't smell foul. Damn brats, what happened to kids respecting their elders? On one hand, that brat had an annoying face tha reminded him of a failure long ago. The fact she of all people had it made it even worse, like it was being shoved down his face even more.

On the other, he didn't really care what she planned to do with that naive redhead, or him for that matter. Of course, if she opposed him he'd have to kill her, but her opinions mattered little to him. He didn't care if she thought he was dangeorous or not, and he cared even less if she liked him or not.

For a second, the white haired man seemed genuinely offended.

"Hey, don't be rude. It's not like I want to be here... Look, I know you have no reason to trust me, but I'm not trying to cause any trouble. It's pretty annoying for you two to start judging me when I already have this whole mess on top of me. "

He stepped back and shrugged nonchalantly. Despite his cynical attitude, his words weren't offensive or insulting. However, there was a sort of melancholy that lingered over to his voice.

"Besides,  if you're going to look for someone in such a large city, you might as well look for a needle in a house full of hay. At this rate, you're better off giving up. Well, I guess I could help, but you're going to say no and tell me to go away, aren't you? *sigh* Well, at least you haven't burned my face off like that annoying fox vixen. I guess I'm not so unlucky after all..."

He tried to smile weakly, but all that came was a pathetic grimace that could never pass as happy. Well, whatever. It's not like it worked the other times before.

[Break]

Coppelius
"You may be right, but following the path laid before me is all i can do; all anyone can do."

As they entered the store, he already knew that this wouldnt work, he couldnt work with these materials. Too brittle. Too weak. They had no soul to speak of.
"This place is no good... we will have to find a better place..."

[Kotomine_Rin]

Greyskull the Count

"Of course not! She is a loyal and faithful subject, and a precious friend. I don't believe she'd be that cruel." He stated abruptly, shaking his head to reasure the great creature. He fidgeted nervously, but then averted his eyes to the posters displayed.

"Are you intrested in those movers?" He asked.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Sakagami Kenzo

Kenzo allowed their lover's embrace to linger,  rubbing his forehead over the broken shell lovingly. However, those feelings were directed at her, the only one who made him feel such love in a long time and accepted him for it.

It's warm.

But suddenly, a groaning grumble could be heard from the depths of the cavernous abyss that was Kenzo's stomach. How silly of him, he had gotten so carried away by his enthralling sword that he had forgotten something important. He had barely eaten anything for a day!

"Oh! All this playing has left me hungry, and parched! Let's go, I'll prepare something for both of us." He said with a candid tone, but with a sultry undertone to his voice, the sort of teasingly happy words you'd truly expect from a lover. He caressed the puppet's head and closed her eyes, only to push her aside through the sword's blade in order to separate her from Katase without removing her from him.

If he pulled her out, he might bleed to death. That was no good, he did not have to die now, not yet. Besides, it felt kind of nice for a wretched creature like him to become her sheath, even if it was just for a while. He'd clean and take good care of her later, but there was still much to do until then.

Kenzo got up and looked down at the sword lovingly, tilting it upwards in a painful manner so he could reach its mune. It hurt, terribly so, but it felt nice. Love hurt, he knew that much, so as long as she could hurt him like this it meant that she loved him. Then, he gave her smooth and beautiful back section a hungry yet gentle kiss. Then, he began to look for the kitchen.

"Fufu, you're going to love this..." He whispered teasingly.

[Umbra of Chaos]

Numina

The redhead waved off Sakura's concerns. Things were different now. They had changed quite drastically in fact. This whole normal thing was doomed from the start, and if that was the case she didn't need to worry about anything. "Well, if you're going to help I won't stop you, but what kind of fox are you talking about? Did she have blue fire?"

If it was someone else that had met that self-righteous bitch and just ran into her that was in no way coincidence. There would have to be other, older forces at work than just chance.


Erica

Erica frowned before letting go of the kid's hand. Instead, she grabbed him and placed him onto her back as she strode out of the store. The Mantle extended and formed dark wings before she left the ground and began to fly. "The means we were using are too slow. If you spot anything that catches your interest then I will descend and we may take a closer look."

[Thedoctor]

Kuro

The white haired girl apologized to the blonde once more before a medic showed up who treated their wounds using some sort of healing magic. Both Kuro's burns and Mordred's cuts were almost healed perfectly but the medic told them to take it easy for a few hours at least.

When it was finally done Kuro turned to the two people she had met. "What are we going to do now?"


Jin

His graceful technique had been a success and the blow connected encasing the villain in a block of ice, however through shear stubbornness he broke free even faster than the last time. Despite being so hurt the monster kept coming at him with the same unrelenting force...no, the monster was actually geting stronger. Perhaps he got stronger the more damage he sustained?

The villain roared and striked the floor hard enough to shatter the concrete and break the floor. There was only one way out of this. "Take this!" With that Jin surged forward towards the monster on top of a big ice block, crashing into him with immense force.

[Break]

Coppelius
Surprised at first, the doll could not help but let out a childish cheer upon taking to the skies; he hadn't properly expressed it, but he was immensely thankful for having met this brethren who understood him.

Indeed, it felt almost like having a big sister.

"Thank you. Really."

Getting back to their intended purpose, he took in the landscape from a bird's eye view.
"This place seems promisong..."

With that, they took to land by a strange little etablissement, it's sign only saying "Relius' Clover"