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

[Cherry Lover]

Shirou

Noticing that the girl had relaxed in response to his reply, Shirou too relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief at the peaceful resolution of a potentially-dangerous situation. It seemed like this woman was another bounty hunter and, more importantly, one who did not seem to view him as a threat to her income.

"Hm. Normally, I'd say no, but I think I can make an exception here", the woman said, "You got any leads on him?"

Realising that he knew very little and, thus, would be unable to help her in any useful way, Shirou looked at the woman apologetically.

"Not much, sorry", he said. "Only that he could be found around here, and basic details which I'm sure you already have if you are here to hunt him too, as I assume you are."

[Kotomine_Rin]

Lorenzo Remei

Lorenzo was surprised at the sudden mood swing, only to shortly realize he'd been had. He crossed his arms and pouted, but he had to admit... that was pretty funny. Her cheerfulness was contagious, so even he couldn't help but mellow out and chuckle along after a while.

"Heh! That was pretty amazing. I think I'm starting to fancy ya a little more milady." He said friendly, spinning around dramatically before taking a graceful bow. With a flich of his fingers, sparks flew and a rose made of fire appeared in his hand, held out towards her romantically.

"What's your name?" He asked with good cheer while holding the treasured gift towards her.


Vanguard

While it did take a while until now, but Vanguard realized that he did not like that mage. His attitude was irritating at best, and idiotically childish at worst. The way he smiled right now only confirmed his feelings, if there was any redemption to be found in him it was the fact that he wasn't him. His attitude and mannerisms were the revolting idiocies of a clown, but the power he had to back it up only made things more troublesome.

And the fact he knew so much about his goals was unsettling, to say the least. No, it was more akin to disgusting. If he couldn't control such an infuriating element, he'd rather he disappeared and never have to interact with him again. And yet...

Vanguard giggled.

"I don't see why not."

[yinsukin]

Relius Clover

The sparks stopped flying off of Vanguards body as Relius switched to a screwdriver.  With all of the repairs finished, the scientist focused on installing new technology.  It may be useful later.  He remained silent.

[YOLF]

Henry Barthow

The detective followed Noel's back as she left and turned back to Malcolm at the click of the door. His fingers steepled together on his lap with a hollow sigh, as his expression turned down to a pursed stare.

"Forget the fractured ribcage and cranial trauma, several of your organs nearly ruptured from contusion, and your spine is done to bits," he said, the inflation of his tired voice evened. "You have several fractured or dislocated vertebrae between your low cervical and thoracic nerves, and spinal cord lacerations from the same."

His eyes lidded at the crippled man, shining on him something that should have seemed relatable or human but was lacking in something unknowable, their focus giving nothing away. He tapped his right foot, and the sole echoed against the polished floor.

"This may be Nexus City, but you won't find an all-healing saint by turning a corner. Even if you come out of this with your upper body nerve functions intact and feeling below the waist, maybe even some shaky mobilty, you're never going to walk on your own again."

The wrinkles of his forehead formed a probing crease where his brows met. "Can you live with that?"

[Umbra of Chaos]

Lucy

"Meh. That's a two out of ten at best. Isn't the not entirely moral but charming swashbuckler routine supposed to involve actual charm?" She sighed and shifted a bit so that her elbow was on Mammon's knee and her hand was supporting her face. "Well, I suppose it's charm, but it's the entirely wrong kind. You save that for sappy teens and woman who never got over their high school crushes. Or were heavily repressed."

[Aiden]

Muramasa Katase

She did not have time to waste trying to kill these unknown antagonists. Katase would have to deal with them properly afterward, but for now words would suffice. It was good that it had already killed four people before this encounter - the worst of the demon sword's hunger had been sated already.

"You do realize that the 'monster' is going to come up from the ground and attempt to eat us, yes? And that it will have a greater likelihood of catching me off guard the longer you attempt to distract me?"

The shell shifted again to keep the human and the demonic interloper both in her line of vision, and to avoid remaining in one place for too long. This dragon was merely making it more aggravated.

[Elf]

Time-Skip Rin

It had been several months since Rin had arrived in Nexus City, and she was managing to carve somewhat of a life for herself.

She now lived in the guest house behind the Matou mansion with Schrol, the house cat that more closely resembled a panther than a normal kitty cat.  It had been a gift from Sakura after Sakura had gotten her therapy dog (something that both Rin, while not overly fond of the mutt, and Shirou had insisted on getting).  Admittedly, Rin reasoned that she would have been a lot more miserable without the 20 pound lap cat to keep her company.

Between Faust's notes and Sakura's help, Rin had recovered a good bulk of her research.  Then there was the boon of never having to worry about resources between Liseth and Sakura.  Still Rin was still looking for a place to set up a proper lab, daily scouting Nexus's leylines for a good source.

Still, it wasn't exactly ideal. 

While her relationship with Sakura was doing rather well, especially since Sakura started seeing a therapist, Rin was pretty much alone.  This version of Rider made her shudder.  After that heated night in the library, Archer had resumed his distance.  Jeanne was always at Emyia-kun's side . . .

And Sakura was very pregnant, a visual reminder of everything that Sakura had while Rin was going to probably end up a spinster aunt or, worse, in a loveless relationship to breed the best child to pass the Tohsaka crest on to.

Sometimes she felt like the reason why Sakura spent so much money on Rin's equipment was Sakura throwing money at a problem in hopes of fixing it.  She knew that wasn't exactly the case, but it seemed like if everyone thought she was working and doing research that would keep her happy.   Not that she didn't love her research, or the odd magus for hire jobs she'd taken on here, but she needed more.  She had friends in London and maybe something more with Roderick.

Here she had a loving sister, but who's support group only tolerated her for Sakura's sake.

She needed something for herself, which was why she took on the odd magus for hire jobs and looking for a place to set up her lab.

Which was why she was out today again, in the oppressive heat, comparing leylines for the best possible use to finally select a spot for her lab.

[Thedoctor]

William

"In that case I will take my leave."

With that the dark mage suddenly turned around and went to the stairs that led up to the shop. His footsteps were unusually light as he made no sound while walking up them. The only thing that could be heard was a slight giggle coming from him, that grew ever more distant as he ascended.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Lorenzo Remei

Lorenzo gasped in disbelief and stood, posing dramatically as if defending himself from an evil witch. How ridiculous, how absurd!! He crossed his arms into a defiant pount, clearly upset by her accusations.

"Nonsense! That is what you speak. My technique has been refined by years of practice, a small lady such as yourself would never comprehend the subtle strategies involved in courtship! BWAHAHAHAHAH!!"

Roaring out loud in laughter, the pirate patted the foolish girl's head and grinned. Well, he was always grinning, being a skeleton helps. But after a while, something started to bother him, something she said that troubled whatever laid inside his skull.

"...what's Highschool?"


Malcolm

Malcolm raised a disinterested eyebrow, something about that guy started to feel off. "Where are you gettin' at?"


Methuselah

Tch, the pressure... the way the two looked at him was so uncomfortable he couldn't help but wince. He wasn't used to combat, and the two warriors staring at him just made him feel even more inadequate. He had never been so emotionally cornered ever since the days he was subject to the Light Avatar's bullying.

No matter where he went, he had always been there to make his day utter pain, but these days were over. Fine, be that way! Ignis- fire Avatar, who had turned him down just so she could smoke with Azrael Bright, he didn't want her in his party anyway! They were married and lived a happy fulfilling life with a stable living, children and...

But this was different. Despite not having a pretty house, he had his own happiness to protect. Just like Ignis and Azrael Bright, he had something worth fighting for. E ven if this was terrifying he could not back down. He would show them... the power of a God.

"I don't care. I'm not going to let this continue any further, you are free to stop me." The idea of having to face such a monster was terrifying enough, no light wedgie or holy toilet-water dunking could even compare. But he was resolute, even as his teeth bared in fright, he could not back down. The aura intensified around his body and he pushed his fingers on the ridge of his nose, like raising an imaginary pair of glasses.

"But if that's the case, I'll have to erase your ambition." He said, frightened and insecure but with a firm resolve. And as he said that, his body began to float.

[YOLF]

Henry Barthow

"You don't need to. I know a channel which can restore your spine, for a symbolic price to be collected at a point in time where the benefits last."

Henry had gone still, not a shadow of duplicity on his face as he spoke. There was something synthetic about the cold severity of his voice, but his words were unfailingly true to their perceivable core.

"In exchange for the service, you'll owe some of your time, or a favor. Or it'll ask for some part of your history. The process has no legal binding or external enforcing. Your word's what matters."

[Kotomine_Rin]

Malcolm

Malcolm chuckled, so that's how it was gonna be huh? He pondered on the question for a bit, closed his eyes, and when he opened them there was nothing but a cold angry glare directed at the detective.

"I refuse."

Yes, even for such a small, broken man, there were some things one simply couldn't say. To wound his pride like this was a sin usually punished by death, the fury in his voice was simply uncontrollable.

"Do you really think you can trick me with a contract? I can live with this, even if I can't use my body as well, because this is a result of my own choices. To try such a cheap trick on me while I'm vulnerable, do I look like a gutless coward without pride?! Forget it!"

[Aiden]

Forest

Just how durable are you then? It wasn't exactly easy to bite you, Forest thought back at him.  Even with her remarkable regenerative abilities she could be cut and bled as any human.  Just she generally healed up moments later.  And you haven't driven in the right cars that's all. You could probably fit in an SUV or the like.

However to damage the vehicle was something else.

At the words of the driver, Forest looked towards Vermilion and saw just how nervous she was.  She asked in a soft voice, "Hey, Officer Vermilion, is everything okay?"

Gadreel

Most of my form is durable enough to withstand small caliber weapons as long as it does not strike from point blank range. I can overturn the average vehicle, though ones that can fit my size comfortably require... leverage. It was safe to share that much with her. These were simple facts observable without much effort.

He did his best to get comfortable. Further discussion could wait. The day had been long, and even his mind was starting to wind down. Sleep was not something Gadreel had ever required, but a period of rest at least would do him some good.

[Aiden]

IRON=SAKURA

"Oh, um... Thanks... I guess." Sakura said awkwardly, averting her eyes. She'd never really considered herself cute, really. She didn't really see how any man would consider a several-ton superhuman monstrosity like herself cute. Other than Tager, but her dad didn't really count. He was even bigger and more ridiculous than her, after all. She could get cool, maybe, but cute?

Tears began to stream out of her eyes, and she didn't understand why.

Auspicious Breeze

"You're welcome!" She said it with a big smile, but then something went wrong.

Oh. Oh crap, did I just make a girl cry?! No no no no, this isn't right! Auspicious Breeze did not make girls cry, that was the worst possible thing she could do right now. Something was very wrong here if just that was enough to make Sakura get upset, and here and now wasn't a good place to ask. So before it could get worse Breeze just moved her chair and sat it down next to Sakura and put a friendly arm around her.

[YOLF]

Henry Barthow

For a moment, the placidity of the detective strained itself, tapping his fingers on his thigh like a typing machine. Then Henry looked away with a raspy sigh, and his expression unwound into a healthy frown.

"Alright, don't get so worked up," he said, adjusting his seating so he could rummage through his pockets. "I'm not out to trick anyone. This can't come without a price, you know few things do. But it's your choice."

It would do no good to squeeze more words out for him. He wasn't going to consider it, at least for now, and the priority was minimal, nothing to be upset about or strongly pursue at the time. His current face wasn't in any danger or necessity, and he didn't know enough about the man to make some of his more esoteric prices desirable. Maybe when he'd had the time to think, Malcolm would come around. The policeman hoped he would, for their mutual benefit. Henry didn't want to think of that spirit wasted by pride.

The utilitarism inherent to the equation made him turn down the subsconscious desire to click his tongue. Instead, clicking the point of his pen, he tore off the black book page he'd been writing on, and left it on the bedside table.

"Think about it."

[Kotomine_Rin]

Malcolm Kimberlee

The mage glared at the detective silently, staring him down with all his contempt. But suddenly, something unimaginable happened. Something that would surprise even the most hardened men. The boy laughed. It wasn't a mad or a mocking laugh, in fact there was nothing overtly dramatic about it at all. It was the sort you'd expect from someone watching a comedic scene in a movie.

"Hey, hey, hey! I was kidding, kiiiidding! C'mon, haggle with me a little! Jeez, I swear if I keep playing tough, I really am gonna die. I might be foolish but I'm not insane, you know? I'm not gonna waste a chance like this, pride or not I wouldn't stay one second longer in this dump if I could help it."

No, that man had to truly be insane in order to joke like this, as if he was dancing with death and the mere thought of danger excited him. He was the sort of person who'd see a snapped arm as nothing more than a lost gamble, this whole thing was nothing more than a game to him.

Besides, he couldn't stay here, not after finding something so exciting. He was still alive, and so was that William. The game wasn't over just yet...