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

[SINIB]

Shirou Emiya

"Uh-well, a hotel, maybe? I don't think going to a bar with your own alcohol would be something they'd appreciate."

[Aiden]

Ron

The werewolf could smell it through the narrow trees before it seemed the others took note. It smelled like something that had been missing to Ron all these months, as if he had been here once before, as if he belonged here. It was like that first time he went back to visit his parents after moving out, weeks later - an overwhelming nostalgia for home.

He took a deep breath before crossing over, and the moment after Ron felt his heart pound in his ears. His eyes opened, and the werewolf stared at the crimson fullness of an impossible moon. His muscles bulged, bones cracked, and in the next few steps forward Ron was a much hairier and larger beast than before. The intermediate stage between man and monster, easy passage and murderous rage. His clawed hands clenched into fists, and his deep breathing came out as faint growling.

He turned to look at Annabeth and Rikuyo, red lady and weird girl, and spared them a sharp toothy grin. "I could get used to this," he said in a harsh rumbling voice. "Everything smells so alive. There's definitely something here to hunt."

to kill

[Elf]

Rin

There's that hatred of vampires again.  I should really ask her why she hates them so much, but not right now, Rin thought.

Rin smiled as Sakura took her hands and replied, "Thank you."  She figured protesting that she could take care of herself, which she could, would possibly ruin this moment.  "Now if you can protect us from idiots, we'd be doing good.  Honestly, I'm surprised that there's not nightly witch hunts here."

She suddenly frowned and asked, "Are there?"

[SINIB]

Rin

There's that hatred of vampires again.  I should really ask her why she hates them so much, but not right now, Rin thought.

Rin smiled as Sakura took her hands and replied, "Thank you."  She figured protesting that she could take care of herself, which she could, would possibly ruin this moment.  "Now if you can protect us from idiots, we'd be doing good.  Honestly, I'm surprised that there's not nightly witch hunts here."

She suddenly frowned and asked, "Are there?"

Sakura Matou

Sakura looked at Rin with a confused face. "Witch hunts? You mean like, the general public goes and hunts us down?"

[Elf]

Rin

Rin nodded and replied, "Or any magic user down.  I figure if there's vampire hunters, then . . . I mean, no one's going to expect the Spanish Inquisition again."

[SINIB]

Rin

Rin nodded and replied, "Or any magic user down.  I figure if there's vampire hunters, then . . . I mean, no one's going to expect the Spanish Inquisition again."

Sakura Matou

"Not many people do that, only the idiots who have a death wish do it, Nee-san." Sakura asked her and cocked her head. "Why?"

[Panda]

Emily

The Changeling tried to smile, taking a steadying breath as she relaxed against Gabe.

"Well, she did," Emily said, "And that's what matters when all is said and done. Though, if that's what you're capable of...I suppose your brand of Fae is different from mine..."

"That aside," she continued, a hint of exasperation creeping into her voice for all of an instant before it vanished with a little smirk, "Now that the mood is in shambles, I suppose we should clean up a bit?"

[Elf]

Rin

"I mean, it's part of the reasons why magi are so secretive.  They're afraid of what would happen if magecraft and magic were discovered on a wide scale," Rin said with a shrug, "I mean, knowing that something exist doesn't mean you accept it."


Gabriel

Gabriel stroked Emily's hair and said, "A long bath might be in order.  They might have something where I can add bubbles to it."

[SINIB]

Rin

"I mean, it's part of the reasons why magi are so secretive.  They're afraid of what would happen if magecraft and magic were discovered on a wide scale," Rin said with a shrug, "I mean, knowing that something exist doesn't mean you accept it."


Gabriel

Gabriel stroked Emily's hair and said, "A long bath might be in order.  They might have something where I can add bubbles to it."

Sakura Matou

"Maybe, but here, it's so ubiquitous, so omnipresent, that most people don't even think about it anymore. They learn quickly not to care. There are far more dangerous things in this city than the rouge mage, things that mages help to protect against."

[Elf]

Rin

"I've seen what a few 'rogue mages' can do and it's sort of terrifying."

Rin grinned and nudged Sakura.  "Oh, say like bringing the spirits of heroes back into existence and having them fight a mythical war for the Holy Grail for you."

[SINIB]

Rin

"I've seen what a few 'rogue mages' can do and it's sort of terrifying."

Rin grinned and nudged Sakura.  "Oh, say like bringing the spirits of heroes back into existence and having them fight a mythical war for the Holy Grail for you."

Sakura Matou

"Kehehe." Sakura snickered. She couldn't help it, "Nee san, there are things far far more dangerous than servants here. Trust me."

[Kat]

Rikuyo

"Yeah, isn't it a great place? You could live here indefinitely without ever taking human shape and never run out of prey, but I guess there must be some balance to things in live." She could live here as half-wolf to the rest of her life too, but she was too prone to be distracted by the city to live more than few days at a time. "And yeah, Annie, if you Change here, you'll look like Ron for the rest of the trip. Not that it should bother you, you'll feel more at ease in such form than in human skin."

[Elf]

Rin

"Like vampires?" Rin asked with raised eyebrows.  She knew Dead Apostles were dangerous, yet she was the apprentice of one.  However, she had heard rumors of a "White Princess" who had extraordinary powers.

She tilted her head and asked, "Why do you hate them so much anyway?"

[Panda]

Emily

"Mmm, that sounds nice," Emily said with a hum, "Especially the bubbles. I don't think I can remember the last time I've had one of those..."

With that, the Changeling tried moving, only to find that her body simply wasn't cooperating with her. Granted, this could've easily been fixed with a quick Contract, but...

"Hmm, looks like I can't move," Emily mused, "I do hope you'll be willing to take responsibility for that, considering you're the reason I'm this way right now."

[SINIB]

Rin

"Like vampires?" Rin asked with raised eyebrows.  She knew Dead Apostles were dangerous, yet she was the apprentice of one.  However, she had heard rumors of a "White Princess" who had extraordinary powers.

She tilted her head and asked, "Why do you hate them so much anyway?"

Sakura Matou

Sakura sucked air into her lungs. She didn't exactly like talking about it. "Because they all need to be destroyed, Nee-san…" She mumbled under her breath. She really didn't want to talk about it at all, but…

Sakura closed her big purple eyes and flopped down into the chair behind her, sinking into the chair entirely before she slowly opened her eyes.

She had promised she would tell her at least something.

"Haaaa." Sakura sighed deeply, and began collecting her thoughts. "Well, put simply, because they're evil." Sakura finally began to speak after a long silence, looking at a painting that was hanging on the wall behind her sister. It was beautiful, she'd never taken the time to look at it in depth before. It was some ancient piece, from the looks of it, at least hundreds of years old. It looked like it was a simple painting of a large maple tree, but the detail was exquisite. The shading, the strokework, the colours, everything about it! She was sure it was someone's magnum opus. She didn't know why, but it was just so interesting all of a sudden.  She couldn't help but stare at it.

"That painting sure is something, isn't it?" She remarked idly, part of her hoping the conversation about her past didn't need to be had.